Tag Archives: Search

Google Autocomplete Search – Not Always Nice!

Google Autocomplete Search Not Always Nice!

The Tokyo District Court approved a petition demanding that Google Inc. suspend its autocomplete search feature for Internet browsers after a man alleged that it breached his privacy and got him fired, his lawyer said Sunday.

Google is refusing to suspend the feature, saying that its headquarters in the United States will not be regulated by Japanese law and that the case does not warrant deleting the autocomplete suggestions related to the petition under its in-house privacy policy, lawyer Hiroyuki Tomita said.

The case, which was adjudicated on March 19, is believed to be the first to order the suspension of the Web search feature, which attempts to instantly anticipate and list the words or phrases a person will type into a browser’s search box, Tomita said.

The man, whose name was withheld, decided to seek a court injunction after learning the autocomplete feature likely played a role when he suddenly lost his job several years ago and caused several companies to subsequently reject him when he applied for new jobs, Tomita said.

The man discovered that when people type his name into Google’s search engine, words suggesting criminal acts, which he is unfamiliar with, appear. If the computer-suggested words are selected, more than 10,000 items defaming or disparaging him show up in a list, Tomita said.

via Google ordered to suspend autocomplete function over cyber-harassment | The Japan Times Online.

Be Warned: Google Is Following You

google

Google Inc. is overhauling the way it treats user data, linking information across its array of email, video and social-networking services so that information gathered in one place can be used in another.

For example, if you spent the last hour logged into Google to search the Web for skateboards, the next time you log into YouTube, there’s a good chance you’ll get recommendations for videos featuring Tony Hawk.

The changes take effect March 1 and remove some of the legal hurdles that Google faced by having more than 70 different privacy policies across various services. Now, there will be one main policy covering services such as Google Plus, Gmail, search, YouTube and Maps, with separate ones covering sensitive services such as Google Wallet.

via Google has an offer you can’t refuse | StarTribune.com.

Rebecca Black Had Huge Success…At Least On Google

Rebecca Black

How will people remember 2011? As the year of Rebecca Black, if the results of Google’s Zeitgeist list are to be believed. The momentarily famous “Friday” singer topped Google’s annual year-end list of hot search terms, followed by the software giant’s own Google+ social network and deceased Jackass star, Ryan Dunn. The top five is rounded out by the acquitted Casey Anthony and the ultra-hot FPS, Battlefield 3. Apple made three appearances in the top ten, courtesy of the iPad 2, the no-show iPhone 5 and its late founder, Steve Jobs. On the other side of the coin, social networks Myspace and hi5 topped the fastest falling lists. Celebrate the year that was with a video after the break.

via Google Zeitgeist goes live, reminds the world of Rebecca Black’s existence — Engadget.

App Alert: Forget Waldo…”Look And Find Santa” Rules!

Look through piles of stuff and try to find items.  Yes, it’s been done before, but this festive take is a sure winner.  Find 15 items each in 6 different scenes.  Is it Fun?  Let’s just put it this way….. You won’t be able to stop playing  “Look and Find Santa“.  O.K., technically you could stop the game, but you won’t want to.  We had the urge to find every single item in every single scene, and were determined not to stop until we did.  Yes, it’s that much fun.   Great seasonal music, fun sound effects, and a whole lot of searching makes this holiday filled app one not to miss.

For the iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad

$1.99 in the App Store

App Alert: Forget Waldo…”Look And Find Santa” Rules!

Look through piles of stuff and try to find items.  Yes, it’s been done before, but this festive take is a sure winner.  Find 15 items each in 6 different scenes.  Is it Fun?  Let’s just put it this way….. You won’t be able to stop playing  “Look and Find Santa“.  O.K., technically you could stop the game, but you won’t want to.  We had the urge to find every single item in every single scene, and were determined not to stop until we did.  Yes, it’s that much fun.   Great seasonal music, fun sound effects, and a whole lot of searching makes this holiday filled app one not to miss.

For the iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad

$1.99 in the App Store