Google to Introduce Streetview Advertising.

Most people loathe advertising, and generally with good reason. It's annoying, time-consuming, distracting and frankly a major deterrent to most forms of media. However, you have to admit Google's recent patent to advertise using streetview is just damn brilliant.

According to a new patent that was just granted to Google, the company could soon extend the reach of its advertising program in Google Maps to Street View. This patent, which was originally filed on July 7, 2008, describes a new system for promoting ads in online mapping applications. In this patent, Google describes how it plans to identify buildings, posters, signs and billboards in these images and give advertisers the ability to replace these images with more up-to-date ads. In addition, Google also seems to plan an advertising auction for unclaimed properties.

In Google's example, the software could identify the marquis and individual window posters on a theater property and replace them with new information. Through this, a theater could promote a new play in Street View, even if the actual Street View image is completely out of date.The patent describes a two-step process for identifying potential advertising real estate in these images. Google's software first identifies interest points in the image (e.g. the edges or corners of an object) and then generates features around these interest points. Google can then augment this region of the image with a link or replace a part of the current Street View image with a new image.

It's genius. Sure, advertising is still annoying, but if done correctly this could be a milestone in how marketers convey products to their customers. Think about the future generations of this--will movies that show Coke cans or other subtle branding be able to manipulate this as the years go by? Will TV shows be able to change their characters clothing to reflect current trends? Whatever the outcome, Google continues to lead the forefront in technology and innovation, and its a trend that seems to have no end in sight.

I Broke Down...

...and finally gave into technology. Say hello to my new cell phone, Sylvia, the Google Phone Nexus One.



I just hope I don't lose this...I have a bad habit of losing EVERYTHING....

Oh, and it arrives tomorrow. One more day of using a retro cell phone!

Praise Thy Holy Name, Google!

Somewhere on this blog I said I should start a Google church. Turns out, it's already happened.

Is Google God? Here are just three of many proofs that Google is in fact, God.

» PROOF #1

Google is the closest thing to an Omniscient (all-knowing) entity in existence, which can be scientifically verified. She indexes over 9.5 billion WebPages, which is more than any other search engine on the web today. Not only is Google the closest known entity to being Omniscient, but She also sorts through this vast amount of knowledge using Her patented PageRank technology, organizing said data and making it easily accessible to us mere mortals.

» PROOF #2

Google is everywhere at once (Omnipresent). Google is virtually everywhere on earth at the same time. Billions of indexed WebPages hosted from every corner of the earth. With the proliferation of Wi-Fi networks, one will eventually be able to access Google from anywhere on earth, truly making Her an omnipresent entity.

» PROOF #3

Google answers prayers. One can pray to Google by doing a search for whatever question or problem is plaguing them. As an example, you can quickly find information on alternative cancer treatments, ways to improve your health, new and innovative medical discoveries and generally anything that resembles a typical prayer. Ask Google and She will show you the way, but showing you is all She can do, for you must help yourself from that point on.

I guess I'll have to switch to, "Google damnit!" and "Oh, Google!" and "Google Bless you!". I'm ok with that, I'll support it. Praise Google! At least she's done more for me than Jesus ever did.

More Uselss Google Apps!

You ready for this one? A country-wide flu detector.




I love Google, but I find this utterly useless. "Hey, guess what? When Decemeber comes around, people get the flu more often. Big revelation!"


But, err, thank you?

Why Google Owns Teh World.

Google is amazing. If I could, I'd start a Google church. Every Sunday we would sing songs to Google's glory, hand over 10% of our earnings so others can hear the good news and then learn we'd new wonders about what Google can do for us.

Ok, maybe that's a bad idea. But Google does have plenty of good ideas, including the "define" option! Did you know about this? If you're ever confused about the correct use of a word (affect/effect) or its actual definition (anfracturous/perennial), just load up Google and type "define:affect". Suddenly, the definition of the word will come up, and in many cases a sentence using the word will accompany it. It's amazing!

To make it just over the top, it even does it for Spanish. Just type "define:cumpleanos" and you'll see! (Quotation marks not necessary in either language).

Let's just go ahead and crown Google King of Teh World.

Transit, Googlized.

Great news for transit fans in Columbus, Ohio!

Google Transit, a program that helps users plan their trips around their city solely using public transportation, has finally come to Columbus!

The Columbus Dispatch:
Fred Huffman, a 42-year-old homeless man who was waiting for a High Street bus near campus last week, thinks Google Transit will come in handy for people who don't know their way around Columbus.

"You always have someone who is new on the bus, and they are scared to ask questions," said Huffman, who uses the bus sometimes. "And a lot of times, bus drivers are a little too busy to answer questions, or they don't know."

I'm a little curious why The Columbus Dispatch chose a 42-year-old homeless man to interview about a internet-only product targeted at those who never use the bus, but, heck, they're the professionals, not me!