Google has launched its map service “Google Maps Beta” in the states, letting anybody cleanly and simply search for almost any location in the US and instantly get a zoomable street map. The map technology is also integrated into their local search tool, allowing detailed “how to get there” location instructions for listed US businesses.
Zeitgeist, the montly statistical analysis of search phrases used on Google, now also has local versions of it data, including Zietgeist New Zealand. The top phrases used in Google NZ for January 2005 were as follows
- trademe
- tsunami
- nzdating
- air new zealand
- real estate
- qantas
- angelina jolie
- avg
- freedom air
- brad pitt
Google has released a beta version of its new toolbar. The new version offers a feature that automatically inserts links to Google and other major web sites on web pages, thus changing the content and driving traffic to other web sites.
When web surfers install the v3 toolbar in their Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser and click the AutoLink button, web pages with street addresses suddenly sprout links to Google’s map service by default. Book publishers’ ISBN numbers trigger links to Amazon.com, potentially luring shoppers away from competing book sellers. Vehicle ID licences spawn links to Carfax.com, while package tracking numbers connect automatically to shippers’ websites.
Google, the world’s most widely used search engine, denied that the AutoLink feature is an attempt to control which destinations web surfers visit. A company representative said on Friday that people can already choose between several map services, including Yahoo! and MapQuest, and choices for book retailers may be added in the future.
Nevertheless, some critics charge that AutoLink takes the liberty of modifying web pages to direct people the way Google sees fit.
Microsoft took the same approach with its SmartTags feature years ago and eventually pulled it because of trust and trademark concerns. Interestingly enough, the new feature has been created by the same person who created the controversial SmartTag feature.