Something for the geeks: A command line tool to access the API´s of Google. My first idea: This can be the base for new plugins for wordpress or custom-made online-applications like CRM or shops. Like a calendar application, a synchronisation of contacts, archiving of invoices to Google Docs, publishing of new videos to Youtube and so on.

Google has launched a simple but very useful app for computer nerds everywhere: GoogleCL, a command-line tool that allows users to do everything from upload folders to Picasa to adding appointments to a Google Calendar.

Google CL is a Python application that makes Google Data API calls through the command line. A command-line interface (CLI) is an interface where the user can tell the computer to perform specific tasks by typing commands. You’ve probably seen them before, most likely via the MS-DOS command-line interface. The CLI is in contrast to the mouse-based interface that we all use today, known as the graphical user interface (GUI). [more...]

Ein sehr lesenwerter Artikel auf Netzwertig über den geplanten Dienst Google Newspass. Wieder einmal geht es um die Monetarisierung von Inhalten der großen Verlage durch Google. Einziges Ziel: Kohle machen/Provisionen einstreichen, nach Vorbild des Apple AppStore. Ich stehe so einem Dienst sehr skeptisch gegenüber. Die Bedenken von Martin Weigert teile ich.

Google scheint sehr daran gelegen zu sein, die angeschlagenen Beziehungen mit Verlegern zu verbessern. So zumindest muss man Pläne interpretieren, über die das Blog Paid Content in Bezug auf einen Artikel der italienischen Zeitung La Repubblica berichtet: Demnach hat Google vor, Ende des Jahres unter dem Namen “Newspass” ein Bezahlsystem für Onlineinhalte einzurichten, an das sich Medienanbieter anschließen können.
 
Nutzer von Newspass erhalten der Meldung zufolge die Möglichkeit, sich bei teilnehmenden Sites mit einem universellen Zugang einzuloggen und Inhalte käuflich zu erwerben. Contentanbieter sollen frei über die Preisstruktur entscheiden können. [Weiterlesen...]

This is something for the geeks and SEO people. To have "nice" URLs the CMS must be capable of rewriting/translating them. If not, it can be done within the .htaccess-file to let the webserver do this task. In my eyes the webserver will do it faster, but several extensions for popular applications like Wordpress or Joomla will do it more comfortable. Get some insights into this topic by reading the SEOmoz post.

First, a quick refresher:  URL prettying and 301 redirection can both be done in .htaccess files, or in your 404 handler.  If you're not completely up to speed on how URL rewrites and 301s work in general, this post will definitely help. And if you didn't read last week's post on RewriteRule's split personality, it's probably helpful background material for understanding today's post. [more...]

Do you have an iPad? Check out the new Google Earth App. The size and usability of the Apple-device seems to be the perfect match. It´s free, so what are you waiting for.

Google Earth's iPhone application has just been updated with iPad support, allowing you to now touch and swipe your way through the high-resolution satellite and aerial imagery available in the desktop version of Google Earth and its prior mobile counterparts. [more...]

Auch ich bin dem Twitter-Hype erlegen. Mittlerweile ist die Euphorie aber verflogen. Das Rauschen auf Twitter ist auf dauer nervig und geeignete Tools zur "Rauschunterdrückung" wie Brizzly sind eher rar. Im Einzelfall bringt Twitter vielleicht mehr Aufmerksamkeit für jemanden, aber ohne konkretes Konzept zur Nutzung für Conversions, ist das Engegement auf Twitter für eine Firma nur "notwendiges Übel". Aber wie sieht es mit Google Buzz aus? Läßt sich die Informationsflut damit bändigen?

Robert Scoble sieht gute Chancen für ein Comeback von Google Buzz. Zwar sei der Start alles andere als glücklich gewesen und viele der anfänglich begeisterten Nutzer hätten zwischenzeitlich das Interesse an Buzz verloren, doch es mehren sich seiner Meinung nach die Anzeichen für eine Kehrtwende. Im Vergleich mit Twitter und Facebook bekommt Scoble sogar schon mehr Interaktionen über Buzz.
 
Insgesamt hat Robert Scoble neun Argumente für ein erfolgreiches Comeback von Google Buzz gefunden: [Weiterlesen...]

You have videos on your site, that have not been indexed, or that do not rank to the terms they represent? Check out the article at Google Webmaster Blog to get a clue what maybe is the problem.

We'd like to highlight three best practices that address some of the most common problems found when crawling and indexing video content. These best practices include ensuring your video URLs are crawlable, stating what countries your videos may be played in, and that if your videos are removed, you clearly indicate this state to search engines. [more...]

Finally Google had to accept, that computers can not rate the quality of news. This is a great step for them. The main asset of my project AUTO Blogger is the editor´s pick. Now they try to copy that. ;-) Check out the news at Mashable.

After years of having its news generated by algorithms, Google News is testing a new “Editor’s Pick” section with publishers, enabling them to select and promote specific content to users.

The new feature — a module of content that is hand-picked by editors at partnering news organizations — with a “small percentage” of users, according to report by Megan Garber of Nieman Lab. Partners include less than a dozen publishers, such as Reuters, Slate and The Washington Post. [more...]

SEOmoz is a great source for knowledge on SEO. Check out this article on how to get your new stuff indexed fast. PubSubHubbub is one thing to think about. What is "PubSubHubbub"? Check out the article.

When you're covering poppin'-fresh, trending, news-worthy content, there's no time to sit around whittling miniature canoes and waiting for Google to come crawl your site and index your new content. That sort of passive attitude will allow your competitors to dominate all of that awesome Query Deserves Freshness search traffic and make enough money to go buy real, full-size canoes whittled by fine Native American craftsmen.  You'll be poor and jealous, and we just can't have that. Watch this week's video to learn several near-magical strategies to get your fresh content indexed faster than meth-fueled panther (that's fast, people)! [more...]