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New Media News Every Morning

Google acquires Tonic Systems, Powerpoint competitor on its way

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tonicGoogle has acquired Tonic Systems, a Silicon Valley based firm with roots in Australia as well, that has in its kit bag of goodies a java based Powerpoint clone.

The acquisition sees Google now officially announcing that the missing leg in the hat trick of Office functionality will soon be available at Google: Google Presentations, an online Powerpoint style service that makes working online all that much more appealing to the business world.

The dollar figure of the acquisition was not disclosed.

Originally posted on April 17, 2007 @ 10:33 pm

Dodgeball founders dodging the end?

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dodgeballThe founders of the Google acquired Dodgeball have abandoned ship, according to Valleywag.

What is Dodgeball I hear most people say? Dodgeball was acquired by Google in 2005, no idea for how much, but given the fact that most people have no idea what Dodgeball is, it’s fair to say, not a lot.

But from all accounts Dodgeball was the Twitter that never happened in its time. The service was all mobile phones and location, but that’s about as far as it got, having stagnated in the Google pile of companies they bought just because Sergey got out of bed on the wrong side one morning.

RIP Dodgeball. You were a service before your time, or as the case may be a service who sold out too early because your founders were too greedy. May our children and childrens children say “Dodge what” for all the time to come.

Originally posted on April 16, 2007 @ 3:44 am

Introducing the Bloggers Code of Conduct: Not Safe on a Full Stomach

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badgeWeb 2.0 guru..and the once credible Tim O’Reilly has followed up on his threats to unleash weapons of mass stupidity on the world, posting live once and for all a draft copy of his “Bloggers Code of Conduct” that he’s hoping to impose voluntarily on over 200 million bloggers world wide, then probably by force in countries stupid enough to think this is all a good idea (and yes, Australia will probably be top of that list, it is the Nanny State after all).

Now some people suggested I was a little tough on O’Reilly in my March 29 post on the subject. To those people I say, once again, bollocks, because you haven’t read this stuff.

*901AM HEALTH WARNING: DO NOT READ ON A FULL STOMACH*

Just when you thought the concept of a bloggers code of conduct was a running joke, Tim O’Reilly delivers the actual punchline. Try some of this hippie shit on for size:

“We celebrate the blogosphere because it embraces frank and open conversation. But frankness does not have to mean lack of civility. We present this Blogger Code of Conduct in hopes that it helps create a culture that encourages both personal expression and constructive conversation.”

Oh yeah, censorship has such a wonderful track record in history for fostering personal expression. BTW who defines personal expression and constructive conversation?

We are committed to the “Civility Enforced” standard: we will not post unacceptable content, and we’ll delete comments that contain it.

BUTTON2Unacceptable to who? A pro George W Bush comment is as an unacceptable post at Kos as a 2 guys rimming is on Michelle Malkin. Is Tim O’Reilly judge, jury and executioner?

It goes on to say that we won’t tolerate unacceptable behavior, defined as

– is being used to abuse, harass, stalk, or threaten others
– is libelous, knowingly false, ad-hominem, or misrepresents another person,
– infringes upon a copyright or trademark
– violates an obligation of confidentiality
– violates the privacy of others

So that’s just about EVERY single blog post covered in the above points (well at least the last 2 points). Of course this post is probably covered in 1 + 2 :-)

But get this, the blogging code is conduct is all about civility, but apparently it’s civility defined by Tim O’Reilly because we can lynch others, as long as they were uncivil first:

When we believe someone is unfairly attacking another, we take action.

Yep, truth be told it’s really more like a set of club rules, you’re with Tim or you’re against him, and if you’re against him you can and will be subject to mob rule lest you be lynched by them for non compliance with The Borgs O’Reilly’s rules.

buttonYou can read the whole thing here, and if you’re really keen, you get to display badges on your site as well. Note to Krug, if these become compulsory, we’ll need the dynamite one for 901am ;-)

I’ll conclude in saying this: those who think that a blogging code of conduct is the antidote to death threats and misogyny have about as much hope of success as I’ve got of space walking on Jupiter next year, or Tim O’Reilly has of ever being taken seriously again by anyone except some rabid feminists and professional victims. Civility is subjective, and controlling what people say and do on blogs can only be a recipe for the decline of the medium and the introduction of totalitarianism online, outcomes none of us want nor desire.

Originally posted on April 9, 2007 @ 2:25 am

Text Link Ads launches Post Level Text Link Ads

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Text Link Ad sellers Text-Link-Ads.com has announced the launch of a new product, Post Level Text Link Ads, a sort of automated post-text footer advertising system.

The new advertising option uses an updated version of the existing TLA WP plugin.

Ads will look something like this:

tla

According to an email from TLA:

– You will still have editorial control for each link purchased if you have opted for editorial control for your regular Text Link Ads.

– Pricing is set automatically and is lower on a per link basis then typical homepage placed Text Link Ads.

– No extra coding work for you, we sync all of your posts automatically with our new WP plugin.

– If you regular Text Link Ads are sold out you will now have new inventory to sell.

Looks like a good offering that will find decent support in the blogosphere, a sort of nice and ethical version of Pay Per Post.

Originally posted on April 10, 2007 @ 1:51 am

LinkBlitz: Google Easter Edition

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It’s Easter and there’s far too many Google tales to post separately, so for those munching on hot cross buns and planting Easter eggs, all the Google News for Easter that’s fit to post:

Google Launches Free 411 Service
Google has launched it’s own automated 411 directory assistance product, Goog411. If you’re in the US (and maybe Canada, not sure) dial 1-800-GOOG-411 to find the number you’re looking for: the GoogleBot is on standby and is waiting for your call! Call in the next 15 minutes and receive a free….whoops, wrong spiel, but you get the idea.

Google Adsense payout rates exposed
ThreadWatch reports that one of the biggest Adsense publishers in the business, Markus of PlentyofFish has let slip Google’s publisher payout rate on Adsense: 43%. At rates that low you’ve got to wonder why there’s not stronger competition out there.

AOL To Sell Ads Direct, Using Google’s Tools
Search Engine Land reports that the AOL/ Google advertising deal embargo has been lifted: the deal allows AOL to sell ads directly using a white label version of Adwords.

Moves against Google Bombing not effective
Also from Search Engine Land, US President George W Bush is once again ranking highly in Google’s search results for the term “failure”. So much for the much written about crackdown/ fix on Google Bombing.

Originally posted on April 6, 2007 @ 5:39 pm