Not all countries have the resources needed to communicate with the outside world through online means, and this is what is exactly happening in Iran, Sudan, and Cuba.

Software exports

In an effort to help address this issue, U.S. officials have released in a statement that they are permitting technology companies in the country to make chat and social media software exports to the said countries. After a request has been passed by the State Department to release waivers under existing sanctions, the U.S. Treasury Department made the decision to allow technology companies to send mass-market types of software overseas for free. Some of the companies include Google Incorporated and Microsoft Corp.

U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Neil Wolin has stated recently that such actions by the American government will allow the citizens of Iran, Sudan, and Cuba to exercise their basic rights, as far as communication and online interaction is concerned.
 
Internet and social networking
 
The Treasury has furthermore stated that the waiver will result in the easy downloading of software for Internet browsing purposes, as well as for email, chat, blogging, and instant messaging. And with the current trend on social networking and photo and movie sharing, citizens of Iran, Sudan, and Cuba will have an easier means of reaching out to a vast global network.

The case on Iran

In the previous year, the Internet played a major role when Iranian protesters disputed the results of the elections. The United States, in reply, blamed Iran for not providing enough Internet access to its citizens.

Because Iran calls itself a democratic state, Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State, says that its government should allow its citizens to exercise democratic rights and respect the rights to free expression. This statement followed the news conference held recently with the president of Gabon.

Ms. Clinton states furthermore that expression and assembly are now made possible through online means as well as in person. She is adamant about supporting Iranians who have the desire for free expression and communication, without having to experience pressures from their own government.

Collective national interest

The State Department has made a request to the Office of Foreign Assets Control to slacken their export rules, making a reference to the collective interest of the American nation to help citizens in the aforementioned countries to have access to the programs. This request was mentioned in a letter to the chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Carl Levin, on December 15, 2009.

The U.S. Institute of Peace supports these actions of the U.S. Government, with Sheldon Himelfarb, technology expert at the said agency, stating that the move does not necessary mean that the governments of those countries no longer have the authority to control or censor what is being posted on the Internet as far as domestic issues are concerned. At the very least, the citizens of those countries will have access to the most outstanding communication tools, generally designed and developed in the U.S.

For most of you who have been following the computer and technology industries, you are probably well-aware of Google's efforts to slowly, but surely, take over the world.  Google has revolutionized the way that we use our computers, utilize the Internet, do business, communicate with others, and it has simply changed the way that we live our lives.  With all of the Google apps, products, and services out there, it's quite easy to get caught up in the Google craze that seems to never end as the company continues to release innovative technologies.  In this article, you will learn about a number of Google settings that you can use to take full control of your Google use.

Turn off Google's search history logging

Google keeps a log of your search history, tracking what phrases you have entered into the search bar, the web pages that you have visited, and some of your other activity on Google.  Basically, the web history feature is meant to make users' search experience more personal and customized.  If you want to turn this feature off, for privacy purposes or otherwise, all you have to do is sign in to Google and visit Google.com/history.  From this site you can access the settings on your search history, and you can clear your web history, pause the tracking of your history, or permanently turn the service off.

Take control of Google Buzz

Google Buzz is a relatively new technology that helps to integrate your social networking, email, and chat features.  Through Buzz, you can share videos, pictures, updates, and conversations, right from your Gmail account.  The main difference between Buzz and other similar services is that Buzz gives you control to be more private or public about your sharing.  One feature that you may want to monitor and set up properly is the follower/followed settings.  Make sure to check your profile to ensure that Buzz isn't sharing private information, such as private email messages, private email addresses, and your public profile.

Turn off the auto-display feature for images sent from Gmail contacts

Now, as many of you may already know, spammers and malware often make use of tracking tactics through attachments and embedded data, such as embedded pictures.  For privacy and security, Gmail blocks images sent from unknown contacts.  For convenience, Gmail auto-displays images from contacts that you have sent email to in the past.  This can be quite frustrating and harmful to your privacy, especially if you have friends or relatives who are always sending you forwarded emails, chain mails, and spam disguised as humor or some supposedly life-changing email.  If you want to disable all auto-displayed pictures, whether from unknown sources or other Gmail contacts, then you can do so by heading to the "external content" setting in your Gmail settings page.

Just recently, Google hosted a big event launching its latest Nexus One, the first model created on the Android 2.1 operating system (OS). The event mostly centered on the Android 2.1 OS and what the user's can expect from Google's latest. And now, the developers and users can get their hands on the Android 2.1 SDK and start availing of its features. So what exactly would make users love this Android 2.1? Here are some of the features you might love about the new OS:

Multiple emails

The new OS is capable of opening more than one Gmail account via the same inbox. This is especially useful for people who have multiple Gmail accounts, which when you think about it is practically everyone. Hence, you don't have to make switches anymore, subtracting the hassle of setting up two separate accounts.

Photo gallery

The photo gallery will be grouped according to dates, time, and location. This translates to a much more coordinated album. What's more, you'll be able to do your browsing via a 3D wall, which Google has adapted from COOLIRIS.

Living wallpapers

Although for some, this feature could just be one way of wasting your battery, others may find an interactive wallpaper a novelty. Especially for those who want their phones to look pretty, the interactive wallpaper feature can be one of the most attractive attribute of the Android 2.1.

Voice controls

Some people count this as an amazing feature. Imagine being able to send emails and tweets via voice directions. Now, isn't that cool? You can tell the phone what you want and it will take you there via specific voice directions. With this feature, people could find greatly increased efficiency in their daily lives, not to mention that it sounds like something out of a futuristic movie.

Weather application

It provides per minute updates via GPS and gives information ranging from temperature and humidity in your location.

Google Earth

Granted, this is not entirely new since iPhone already has Google Earth. However, some users may find that Android 2.1's Google Earth has a few tweaks that put it a few notches cooler than iPhone's.

Automatic phonebook

This device is relatively easy to use. The only thing you have to do is sign up on your Google account via phone, and just like that, everything's updated. User friendly at its best, once connected, it can automatically pull up relevant information without too much problems.

The application becomes more efficient too. No longer do you have to drag--all you have to do is tap and the application zooms in. Now, isn't that great? There are actually various features that you might love about Google's Android 2.1, but so far these are the ones you might want to watch out for.

The news about Google’s Nexus One smartphone was, of course, met with much enthusiasm and excitement. After all, leaked plans point to a Google that didn’t hold back in terms of features and options. Techie fans can’t wait. But questions are rife. People are asking if there are more to expect from the company, especially since they seem to have gone all out on the Nexus One smartphone.

Introducing Nexus One

The anticipation for Nexus One is not surprising. After all, the Android phone is packed with so much, and can easily be projected as one of the most in-demand phones once it becomes available.

Of course, a phone such as this comes with an above average price tag. The unlocked and unsubsidized price of Nexus One phone is $530. Single line plan holders can get it for $80 a month while new T-Mobile subscribers can have it for $180 for a two-year locked contract. Others will have to get the phone for its retail price.

Perfect timing

In any case, the product launch couldn’t come at a better time. With just two days before the Consumer Electronics Show, the Nexus One is clearly set to become one of the expo’s main draw. And what better way to create buzz than through the expo’s tech industry movers and shakers. By announcing the product before the expo, Google is preempting other mobile industry announcements scheduled during the conference.

Turning partners into competition

One of the criticisms put forth regarding Google’s Android phone is how it might have inadvertently caused a rift between the company and its partners. For one thing, the Android technology was developed for these partners, such as Motorola and T-Mobile. Instead, Google turns around and releases its own phone.

Of course, Google has the freedom to do this. And, it has the might to take on any industry or sector that it wants. However, industry analysts are quick to advise the corporate giant to rein itself, else it might lose credence with the other industry players.

Future releases

This early, there are already talks about future Nexus One releases. After all, a company like Google is not likely to sit on its laurels.

Many are saying that there are going to be changes in the Android OS this early. Add to that, they say that Google may have other tech goodies up its sleeve today and in the near future. Likewise, people are waiting for announcements on the number and list of handset makers that the company has agreed to work with.

In all, this sums up to a great buzz for Google’s Nexus One. Surely, there are more to expect from the company.

Google continues its quest for greater reach. The search engine magnate wants to prove that it can develop and acquire other forms of software. However, its Chrome operating system project is already under fire.  Consumers and possible software competitors all want to know if the project will come into fruition. Even Google’s turn at web browsers has been criticized. Still, Google trudges on to make itself more than a search engine developer.

Google acquires EtherPad

On December 4, 2009, Google acquired a word processor called EtherPad. The search engine magnate actually acquired the company behind EtherPad and included it into its roster of Google Wave team members.

For those who are unfamiliar with EtherPad, a brief introduction should make the situation a little bit clearer. EtherPad, developed by a small company called AppJet, Inc. is an application that enables the editing of one particular text by several users located in different places. This is made possible because the word processor is web-based.

Several groups, official or unofficial, have enjoyed and made use of the EtherPad when they meet online. Discussions are easily documented through the online web processor. In fact, activists make use of EtherPad for online meeting documentations.  Telecomix used the application to create documentations in different languages.

Rising issues

On the Google side of the issue, things are turning upside down. Consumers are not sure what Google is brewing, but EtherPad’s free pads are no longer available to new users. Free pads cannot even be accessed by old users. Even those who have been using EtherPad may find their access cut off by March 2010. This enraged several groups, including Telecomix.

Groups who are unhappy about Google’s announcement are taking their feelings out in social networks, including Twitter. They are not only complaining about the loss of access but are also calling out to programmers who could design a new and better version of EtherPad.

Google's plans

Google has its own plans with EtherPad; it is using the application as an open source. Google hopes that its Google Wave project could make use of EtherPad technology to make it much better. Google Wave is a hosted collaboration application that operates in real time. The application allows e-mail, document sharing, and instant messaging. The Google team recognizes the fact that Google Wave is not yet as developed as EtherPad, but plans to make significant changes that will make the application an online team’s dream in progress.

The AppleJet team responds to the complaints by posting a blog stating that pad creation has been re-enabled. Users need only visit the official EtherPad website. Also, AppleJet promises that though Google Wave is not quite mature yet, it should deliver consumer satisfaction in the near future. One of the main purposes of the team is to help in moving collaboration technology forward.

As if its decided lead in spiders, searches, and engines is not enough, Google launches its new Chrome OS, the company’s browser-based operating system. The new OS offers marked differences in data handling, such as cloud data storage, adding more user security and ease of use. It is also a very light operating system and does not eat up a lot of RAM. This is ideal for netbooks and systems that rely on cloud computing.  Being a by-product of the Chrome browser, the Chrome OS also boasts of similar security features that the browser has been known for.

How it works

Security is one of the key components in the Chrome OS. The system fuses typical system-level security systems with exploit mitigation techniques. Thus, it successfully decreases the venues for attack and the system codes that can be attacked by malicious programs. And because all applications run through the browser, the operating system is more compact and easier to control and protect.

Sandboxing has been crucial in how Chrome functions. Through sandboxing, processes and applications have minimal interactions with each other and the operating system kernel. This partitioning of processes and applications makes it difficult for any malicious attacks to affect the whole system. Crashes become seldom, if these occur at all.

Security

Security is also one of the trademarks of the Chrome OS. Contrary to current trends in operating systems, Chrome limits the ability of applications to download and run any binary. This minimizes any application compromises that open up the whole system to attacks.

Likewise, the Chrome OS boasts of a verified boot process. This boot process allows the system to start up and boot without possible harm to the system’s memory, the Linux kernel, and the partition tables. This is done through cryptography.

Since the whole Chrome OS  is secured by Google, it is close to impossible for any malicious program to penetrate and run. And even when some freak malicious programs do manage to get through the doubly secured kernel hardening and processing infrastructure, this will be immediately detected upon reboot. This sends a prompt to the user. It also initiates  self-cleaning program within the system.

The cleaning process has less hassle too than the others. Since the system data is set apart from the user data, the system can fix itself without causing the user any setting changes and lost data. Cached data is also kept intact, within the “cloud” of Google servers. Adding to user specification security, the user data within the browser, OS , and plug-ins are encrypted. Devices cannot share user data.

For any bugs found upon installation, the Chrome OS has set up an auto system update and patch. All this is done in the background, even while the user keeps on working online.
Now, that makes for a lot of exciting new stuff from a technology company that’s been very reliable and attentive to its users.

What may be too good to be true may just be that -- not true at all.  In the case of the Google Chrome operating system (OS) leaks that has got some software users excited, it was a case of a disappointing hoax.  The hoax may not have been mean-spirited, but for people who have raised expectations because of it, it may just well be.  It was a believable fake.  How can you not believe that you are looking at the real thing if Google itself has announced the development of an operating system to be appropriately named as Google Chrome?  It would not then be a surprise to find updates and news about the Google Chrome OS.

Story from trusted sources

If a trusted Internet source reports something, readers will believe it.  What else can you believe over the Internet if trusted sources fail?  In the case of the fake Google Chrome leak, this is what happened.  Gizmodo, what should have been a trusted site, made readers believe that the OS is available to buy.  How else would you interpret a heading like this: "Google OS now Available.  Go Get It.  Though Gizmodo made good by later publishing an article that clears up the news as fake, it can make believing anything else on the Internet much more difficult.  Even Twitter has some published tweets that got some people excited.

The wait for the real Google Chrome OS

The real Google Chrome OS will take time to get through development.  This is true for all types of software.  The development team needs to carefully remove all sorts of bugs and test the software for user-friendliness.  If a company delivers software in no time and is similar in look to other software, it may be accused of making use of existing codes and altering them just a bit.  In short, the company will be accused of copyright infringement.  Google Chrome OS is right to take its time as it will be contending with other OS powerhouses such as Mac and Microsoft.  Google has a lot of catching up to do and yet it can still surprise would-be users if the company plays its cards right.

Google's reaction to the leaks

The site that "leaked" the so-called Google screenshots had put up a disclaimer.  The disclaimer stated that Google had nothing to do with the Google OS that the site was featuring.  Still, Google disabled the said site.  Google is not in a hurry to release the real Google Chrome OS.

What consumers can do

Consumers should not believe everything that they read over the Internet.  It is always imperative to check on the accuracy of information especially now that anyone can post and edit articles on the World Wide Web.

Several industries and business sectors have been drastically affected by the economic crisis. One of these is advertising. Print advertising has been declining steadily since the recession. As more and more businesses are trying to hold on to their profits, advertising in traditional media such as newspapers have significantly lowered in recent months. Experts even predict that, even when the economy has recovered from the crisis, profits from traditional advertising will never reach the same trends as the time before the recession.

While television and newspapers still remain the top media in terms of advertising, Internet advertising has become the third-largest marketing medium, with expected global revenues of almost $87 billion in 2013.

Why Internet advertising is slowly catching on

Basically, every person who is connected to the Internet is a potential customer, and the number of people being connected online is increasing exponentially. This group is akin to a gold mine in terms of market penetration. More people are getting emails every day, more people are spending their free time in social networking sites, and more people are using the Internet for their work. Add these ideas to the fact that Internet advertising is significantly cheaper than newspaper and TV advertising. As a result, many businesses are allocating a growing portion of their budget to online advertising.

Also, when you think about it, the results or effectiveness of online advertising can be easily studied. If you're an advertiser, how would you know whether your TV ad has made an impression on viewers? But if you advertise online, you can easily quantify the results of your ads by simply looking at the number of clicks on your ad.

What people caution about online advertising

Many experts feel, however, that the positive trend on the popularity of Internet advertising can fizzle out any time. They mention that it's still too early to tell whether this advertising practice would catch on. They also cite the fact that online advertising in real estate, employment, and travel and recreation have dropped during the recession.

Still, there's one Internet giant that appears to profit significantly from online advertising -- Google. As of this year, the company has reported earnings of $22 billion in online ads. Google insiders also state that the company is projected to increase its profits in the coming months. A huge reason for the success of Google in this area has something to do with search requests, which is still the simplest and most effective way to identify people who are looking to buy a particular product and use a particular service. Further, if you're an advertiser working with Google, you only pay the company if people actually click on your ad.

So, would online advertising be the next big thing? Only time can tell. Nevertheless, it appears that online advertising, with its flexibility, is definitely here to stay.

Armed with complaints that Google’s voice service blocks users from calling certain numbers, AT&T is urging the FCC to look into Google for the sake of net neutrality, saying that this action by Google is against FCC call blocking regulations. The rules that govern what telephone companies can do are clear and heavily enforced. However, the rules are less clearly defined when it comes to Internet calls, a fact that AT&T obviously wants to change, saying that the FCC "cannot, through inaction or otherwise, give Google a special privilege to play by its own rules."

If the major telephone networks have to abide by the same rules set by the FCC, Internet companies have to do so as well. AT&T further asserts that Google is using this call blocking capability to attract more customers, something which traditional call services cannot do, saying that, by doing so, Google is violating net-neutrality principles.

Google blocks users from calling adult entertainment phone numbers, numbers in rural areas, as well as some conference networks due to the high fees required to use these numbers, which is one way to reduce the operating cost of Google Voice.

What Google has to say

In response, Google stated in a blog that its voice service is not required to follow the traditional protocols governing AT&T and other phone carriers because it is not a telephone communications network but a voice service. Google Voice is only effective when one already has an existing phone connection. It is also free and customers cannot make any outbound calls through Google Voice on a traditional phone device. One needs to be online in order to make voice calls with this software. This is also invitation-only software and is currently serving a limited number of customers.

Net neutrality principles set forth by the FCC only apply to broadband carriers and does not have over its jurisdiction the ability to control web-based computer software. Google went on to say that AT&T was only filing its complaint in order to undermine its online competitors. Others are calling this move by the AT&T a "political stunt." The Free Press warned that this was a "red herring," an attempt by AT&T to distract attention from the FCC’s efforts on net neutrality.

Previously AT& T was also involved in the minor scuffle between Google and Apple Inc. during the latter’s alleged rejection of Google Voice as an iPhone application. AT&T allegedly was urging Apple to block the app because it would allow customers to make long distance calls. The telecom giant has also expressed in previous press statements that the FCC should not regulate and prohibit telecom companies from managing the networks that they spent millions of dollars to build.

With its triumph over its arch rival Yahoo on the text-based web ad market, Google is now setting its tracks to start exploring the market for graphical display web advertisements. Finally, the web industry giant launched its revamped DoubleClick Ad Exchange, which allows for the growth of its graphical ad market through expanded access to publishers.

DoubleClick Ad Exchange is the merger of the ad exchange technologies of DoubleClick and Google. It will serve as a public exchange system through which publishers can look for bargains and offer available ad inventories to interested parties. Through this gateway, publishers will have a means to find advertisers for their excess ad inventory.

Features of the DoubleClick Ad Exchange

The newly refurbished ad exchange will include real time bidding for easy and convenient web ad shopping. It will also feature a new API specially designed for advertisement networks, as well as the AdSense and AdWords programs from the Google technology. According to Google’s vice president of product management, Neal Mohan, having better technology can help make graphical display advertising more beneficial to all parties involved. With this collaboration, the DoubleClick Ad Exchange team aims to expand the market reach of display advertising and allow practically everyone to gain access, especially publishers and advertisers. By providing a convenient and technologically advanced venue to connect the important stakeholders in the production of display ads, Google hopes to allow for the expansion of its display ads market and of the display ads industry as a whole.

The competitive sphere of the online ad exchange industry sets Google’s DoubleClick Ad Exchange to contend with today’s largest online ad exchange run by Yahoo. Rightmedia, the ad exchange that Yahoo bought in 2007 for $680 million, currently dominates the online ad exchange scene. Such is instrumental in Yahoo’s current domination of the display ads market, while Google conquered the world of text ads, thus fueling Google’s domination of the search engine ad market.

Google purchased DoubleClick in 2008 for $3.1 billion, hoping to activate its display ad market just as much as that of its text ad. By continuously exploring and expanding its reach to various areas in the web market, Google aims to strengthen its thrust in the web market. Figures from the Interactive Advertising Bureau show that in 2008, display web advertising accumulated about one-third of the $23.4 billion total income of Internet advertisements with its approximate total revenue of $7.6 billion.

While graphic banners and other image-based advertisements haven’t turned out the same profit as search engine text ads have, these display ads are still an important part of most websites and of the whole web marketing industry as well. The power of images in advertising has long been established in the marketing industry and the web is no exception.