GoogleBot seems to not like blogs anymore, on the other hand, Yahoo! welcomes them and keeps them higher up in the rankings than Google. We'll see what Google's PageRank update in the coming weeks will do about blogs.
However, you may have noticed that over the past month, and specifically since the last Google algorithm change that happened early In February the situation is slightly different. Many bloggers have experienced dramatic falls of their blogs in the SERPs and as a result it appears that Google has decreased the importance of 'blog content' and quite possibly 'blog backward links' for the hierarchy of the pages in the Google results.
However, there is still some good news for bloggers. The yahoo! search technology that replaced Google last month seems to have a very good relationship with blogs. Blog content is ranked pretty high and is crawled and updated very frequently - similar to the situation that Google offered before.
1. Gmail by Google
Google has started testing its free web based email module called Gmail. Amongst privacy debate, the launch appears to have shaken up free web email and advertising market. Analysts say Gmail is not only an expansion of Google business but is also likely to change how people use their email, number one activity on the web.
I am using Gmail since some email aficionados were offered to give the preview test version of Gmail a whirl. I already am relying on the search box in my inbox even with a small quantity of emails there. It seems to be a simple, powerful and feature-packed email service: 1 gigabyte of emails (eight billion bits, that is 500 times the size of Hotmail and 250 times of Yahoo Mail), keywords (called labels) based email storage and management system, inbox Google search, easy spam reporting and filtering. Emails are threaded in context called conversation and all connected emails can be viewed, one on top of the other, and All Mail users' personal searchable and permanent email achieve. Advertisements are there but no annoying pop-ups, under-pops or banners.
The interface is simple and easy but those who have been using Microsoft's Hotmail and Yahoo Mail and or Outlook will need getting used to it. There are about 20 handy keyboard shortcuts that allow doing everything without lifting the hand from the keyboard, which can be activated and practised. New lingoes like newer and older, expanded all and collapse, conversation and star system look strange in the beginning. Rich and searchable help section is available. Registration is neat; simple.
Gmail inbox is uncluttered, aesthetic and practical. Along with the subject header, a line in the inbox demonstrates the sender, respondent and the total number of emails represented in particular conversations. Click on that line and see all the replies to a message stacked below the original, making it easy to follow a conversation thread. Next to each message is an indication of when it was sent (two minutes ago, three days ago). Subject is displayed at the top in bold when email opens. By typing in a search query, Gmail explores any sent or received message(s) in an archive, showing entire sequence of email messages related to the conversations.
Presently, Gmail is in English and only supports Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape, and Mozilla browsers. The users of other browsers may have to wait a little more before service is available for them and in various languages.
Getting past the pluses, and they are big one, privacy proponents have based their case against Gmail on two points basically: First, scanning of emails in order to send users relevant sponsored adverts (and unpaid Web page links) related to the content of messages and second, a permanent storage of messages. Targeted text ads are delivered with emails coming to Gmail inbox. They are placed in the emails after automatic scanning through Google's famous AdSense program - same technology that is used by Google in its search engine to present users with targeted ads when they enter search queries.
Ads do not seem to be intrusive for now. They do not appear in outgoing emails, so there is no spamming of non subscribers. And they do not come in with each and every email. The first commercials that I noticed in the right margin of my email were of herbal company (no, not distributing Viagra but dealing with other medicines, henna and shampoos) and of a firm that sells world maps. The mail from an environmentalist friend with which I received these ads contained information on Himalayan ecology. I assume that Google system might have 'assessed' relevancy of fauna with the herbs that grow in Himalayan Range and machines might have 'sensed' my requirement of buying a map to know the area. May be self emailing becomes another effective ways to search the web one day, who knows? I forwarded the same mail to another inbox and the ads were stripped off before it was delivered there. Anyway, who bothers about the ads found every where on the World Wide Web these days. Users have learnt to conveniently ignore them.
Second objection to the service that is not commissioned yet is to its permanent storage. Gmail Terms of Service reads, "The contents of your Gmail account also are stored and maintained on Google servers in order to provide the service. Indeed, residual copies of email may remain on our systems, even after you have deleted them from your mailbox or after the termination of your account." The idea, according to Google, is to let users to keep their email forever and to provide efficient ways to search for old messages. Some will certainly find it useful whereas for some it may be a turn-off as it is better to forget some things at times.
How many users need 1 GB storage and how are they going to use it? Google said the storage allotment means that people will never have to delete messages. Despite that an average user may never need that enormous amount of email storage space. When asked, some said that they will make it a repository for any thing they have to store and spare their hard disks.
Some are looking forward to it to keep MP3 files. Mostly users were relieved that they will not have to delete email to keep the inboxes under limits.
"Gmail is the best that has happened since we got sliced bread. And they said they will be making improvements all the time," remarked a users in a discussion board comparing Gmail with Spyware - another company that is offering 1GB space along with more facilities. The finding of some discussions by techie communities that I followed are that Spyware may not compete with Google as it is not backed with search and other utilities.
Those who are using Google since 1998 may remember how it has developed and its services have "stretched into millions of computers" as IT analyst Bill Thompson puts it. If their prudent Gmail beta test phase is any indication then Google might introduce major structural changes in addition to adequately addressing users' concerns before the service is made available to every one who is interested. Google can learn a lot from the feedback which will primarily come from those Internet savvy fans who have been using services like Hotmail, Yahoo or AOL and who would certainly want to see all familiar features they are used to before they make a decision to shift to Gmail.
It will be a best add on if Gmail link is built in Google toolbar along with a way to notify of new email arrivals. The option to turn of threading might also help attract more users. The Gmail contact list that opens in a separate window reminds of older days of the web and needs to be made more functional. The best feedback will come from common users so it might be better if Google immediately makes the Beta version available.Personally, I am very much hooked with Gmail, and I find it both useful and very interesting to beta test. Though using an email service is more of a personal preference yet I hope that my elucidation of the service helps users make up their minds before they sign in when it comes.
(www.itasiseeit.blogspot.com)
Posted at 4:40AM on Dec 19th 2005 by S A J Shirazi