InfoSpace, Inc an online provider of search and directory services has launched a new search engine aimed at children between the ages of 8 to 13. The new search engine is called Zoo.com. The goal is minimize the exposure to explicit content while providing a solid search engine.

Zoo.com has a Web filtering system that restricts 50,000 plus "adult" words or phrases. You are not reading that number wrong. When I typed in the word "playboy" the search results were "Sorry, Zoo does not provide results for this search term."

When you search the Web you get results from Google, Yahoo and Wikipedia. When searching for news the results are from ABC, FOX and Yahoo News. The site itself has a jungle theme going along with the name Zoo.com There is also a window with animal facts.

When I was on the site there was information about the Green Sea Turtle and its ability to hold its breath underwater. When you click on the picture it takes you to the search results for the Green Sea Turtle.

Parents will probably welcome this new search engine site even though there are others out there like Yahooligans and AskForKids.

InfoSpace generates revenue whenever a user clicks on a result that is sponsored by an advertiser. The vice president of local and online search Rod Diefendorf said they will judge their success by how many visitors they attract.

On the site itself Diefendorf said ""With Zoo.com, we're tapping our extensive history and expertise in Web search to deliver a relevant, broad, and fun search experience for kids, while offering the filtered results often requested by parents."

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Two of eBusiness's most "informal" companies are top performers when it comes to making good use of their money, according to a new study. It may not come as a surprise, but Google and Apple are both extremely efficient at translating their research and development funds into products.

Consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton put out the report, and John Potter, a vice president, spoke about its conclusions. "Our research found that most companies can achieve a greater return on their R&D spending if they view innovation as an end-to-end process that begins with a new idea and ends with a satisfied customer," he said.

Potter noted, however, that "the most effective innovation is often not the most expensive." Sandisk, which manufactures flash memory, proved his point by making the efficiency list - Sandisk's pockets are, of course, considerably less deep than those of Google and Apple.

Sandisk, Apple, and eBay number among 91 other companies that, as the San Francisco Chronicle's Tom Abate describes it, "outperformed the rest of the thousand companies in sales and profit growth while spending less on R&D as a percentage of sales." Other "high leverage innovators," as defined by Booz Allen Hamilton, include Dell, eBay, Yahoo, and a personal favorite - Toyota.

Owners of Google's stock are likely to be especially happy about the study's results. The company's frivolous (and/or fun) spending on items like a replica spaceship has raised a few eyebrows, but this report confirms that Google isn't exactly throwing its money away. It's also probable that Yahoo is quite pleased with itself right now, having managed to keep up with one of its major competitors. Microsoft did not make Booz Allen Hamilton's list.

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Tag: Google, Apple

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Since October 2005, Volkswagen and Google have been collaborating to develop a revolutionary new kind of navigation system that will change the way we travel.

Over the weekend, when I thought I was off the clock, I found myself grabbing a pen and paper after viewing a television advertisement for Volkswagen's Google car navigation system. What can I say, except that when an idea is so revolutionary, I will do a little off-duty research.

Volkswagen, Google, and graphics card manufacturer nVidia have been developing the new navigation system for the past year at Volkswagen's Electronics Research Laboratory in Palo Alto, California. The prototype was debuted in January 2006 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and is said to be closer to "virtual reality travel information" than any other product on the market.

Data from Google Earth is used in this revolutionary new system to generate a three-dimensional image of specified routes. In addition, the navigation system gathers online data to relay real-time information, such as traffic and weather, to the driver.

Using a touch-screen interface linked to Google Earth the driver may utilize precise 3-D maps, real time traffic and route guidance updates, as well as the actual Google search engine. Because it is as an open system, the specifications of the system can be modified to the individual driver's needs.

You might find yourself asking yourself what is so fantastic about this system that I would use the word "revolutionary" to describe it. The answer lies in three different features incorporated into the navigation system, which set it apart from its predecessors.

The first feature being the 3-dimensional, photorealistic display of the area surrounding a destination. This feature makes it easier for the driver to identify and passengers to identify that they are on the correct route, as opposed to simply wondering if they are headed in the right direction.

Secondly, real-time data is fed to the system via a link to the Internet that enables the driver with knowledge of current traffic and weather conditions. Even the closing times of gas stations and restaurants on their route can be accessed.

Lastly, the Google search engine link allows the driver and passenger to access information regarding business and attractions en route to the specified destination. Current movie ticket and merchandise prices are even included in real-time updates.

There is no word yet as to when the prototype will be released, or if Google will only install the navigation system into other company's cars. One thing is for certain though, if utilized correctly this navigation system has the potential to revolutionize travel.

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Mozilla users nearly took to the streets in protest when confronted with the news that Microsoft had acquired the increasingly popular Firefox web browser. Fortunately for Firefox users, reports of Mozilla's death have been greatly exaggerated.

In browsing the morning news today, I came across a headline that nearly knocked me out of my chair:

"Microsoft Unleashes Improved Firefox"

Waves of panic and paranoia began to wash over me, eventually giving way to gloom and finally topped off with an inevitable sense of despair as I conceded to myself that Microsoft had finally driven the final nail into Mozilla's coffin.

In case it hasn't become apparently clear yet, I'm an avid Firefox enthusiast. After having completed a rigid twelve-step program to finally ween myself off of Internet Explorer, I was utterly dismayed to find that Microsoft had apparently weaseled its way back into my web browsing life.

Luckily for both Mozilla and me, the launch of Microsoft Firefox is little more than a prank gone awry.

In following the link I was given, I found the Microsoft Firefox "official" website to be a moderately realistic forgery. Of course, the tag line "It's better now… like seriously" lends itself and the rest of the site to a heaping helping of scrutiny.

However, these are a few of my favorite "features" included in the bundle:

Googling Filter - Proactively warns and helps protect you against potential or known fraudulent sites such as Google.com, blocks the site and shuts down your computer if necessary. The filter is updated several times per hour using the latest security information from Microsoft.
Parental Controls - To help keep kids safer online, parents can control browsing behavior through the parental control settings built into Microsoft Firefox with an extensive range of options - on or off. Force your child to browse educational Microsoft based content sites only. Teaching your children programming for "native Javascript objects for rich AJAX-style applications" has never been easier. Browsing sessions are automatically examined by Microsoft marketing representatives 24/7.
RSS (Real Simple Sex) - RSS is a relatively new algorithmic technology fueled by the continued hot desires of many online web users. Accessed by an illuminating icon on the toolbar - a single click allows you to view and optionally download anything that resembles a tit, a boob or a breast - rendered directly in the browser with speeds up to 10 times faster than the competition. Real Simple Sex can scan and arrange explicit images/pictures in order of quality and effectively filters out irrelevant content such as balloons or soccer balls.
On second thought, maybe Microsoft can make Firefox even better… like seriously.

Not surprisingly, however, representatives from Microsoft could not immediately be reached for comment.

Tags: Microsoft, Mozilla, Firefox

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Yahoo is making its way, one step at a time, into the mobile market. The search engine company announced a "strategic alliance" with Vodafone earlier today, which may act to give it leverage in a number of European countries.

The deal only names the UK, however, in which "Yahoo will become Vodafone's exclusive display advertising partner." Together, the companies will "pool their expertise to create an innovative mobile advertising business that will enhance the customer experience on mobile phones while providing both companies with a new revenue stream."

Marco Boerries, the senior vice president of Connected Life at Yahoo, commented on the alliance. "This partnership demonstrates Yahoo!'s continued focus on extending our leadership in graphical advertising across multiple platforms," he said. "We are excited to work with a global leader such as Vodafone to help us define the emerging world of mobile advertising and create superior experiences that deliver the most value to advertisers and mobile users alike."

Yahoo is very much on the move within that world of mobile advertising. News of Yahoo's "graphical advertising platform for its Web service" broke one week ago, and about a month before that, the search engine company began to test sponsored search results on mobile handsets.

The Vodafone deal puts Yahoo in a prime position to gain access to an even wider audience. A description of the telecommunication corporation states that it "has ownership interests in 26 countries across 5 continents. In addition, the Group has Partner Networks in a further 34 countries." This translates into about "191.6 million proportionate customers in its subsidiaries, joint ventures, affiliates and investments," and "at 30 September 2006, there were 577.4 million venture customers."

For now, though, the agreement is limited to the UK. Yahoo is probably quite pleased with that, even as it plans to further expand its range of mobile services.

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Tag: Yahoo, Vodafone

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The House of Mouse has given former Rocketboom anchor Amanda Congdon a new home, where she will contribute to ABC News online and television broadcasts.

She's also planning to develop a comedy series for HBO. Freed from the three-minute, small-screen constraints of the Internet, the one-time host of the Rocketboom video blog is capitalizing on her 15 minutes of fame as quickly as she can.

An ABC executive must have glowed when discussing Congdon's potential in a BusinessWeek interview:

"She certainly has the eyes and ears of a great many people who may have only trafficked in Internet information," says Michael Clemente, executive producer of ABC News Digital Media. "I would love to see her talking to [Illinois Senator] Barack Obama, new people with new products, and all sorts of things."
Catherine Holahan, the writer who crafted the article as well as a mild Q&A session with Congdon, dubbed her a "cewebrity" for her web celebrity. Though Congdon isn't the first person to crossover from online to traditional media, she is probably the best known right now.

Amit Agarwal suggested how others might follow Congdon out of the Internet tubes:

Female vloggers with pretty faces and huge fan-following are just few in number but very much in demand especially among the TV channels who are keen on exploring this new world of vlogging.
Frank Barnako's take on the Congdon buzz shifted quickly into gleeful prodding at the new "cewebrity" on his blog at MarketWatch:

"While I will be giving commentary," the 25-year-old actress continued, "this will be information that has been verified."
(Now, THERE's a concept!)
"It isn't going to be something that we throw together and hope the facts are right," she added "It's ABC News, so it definitely needs to be not false information." At Rocketboom, Congdon said she did her own "fact checking. "At ABC, I will have people to help me."
(I couldn't make this stuff up.)
It's one thing to make it up the hill, but another to stay there. Congdon is hooking up with very big media today. Tomorrow, who knows where she may be?

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Tag: Amanda Congdon

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Reuters and Pluck have announced a strategic partnership aimed at syndicating third-party blog content as part of Reuters news and information service. In return for its $7 million investment in Pluck, Reuters will receive an undisclosed share of ownership of the company.

Pluck's blog syndication network, BlogBurst, acts as a conduit between traditional media sources, such as newspapers, and a library of over 2800 hand-picked blogs -all with the purpose of enhancing traditional journalism by adding a touch of social media.

BlogBurst syndicated blogs are already being integrated into the Reuters network. In the coming weeks, BlogBurst will be offered to media partners who use Reuters content as part of their own news services.

Chris Ahearn, Reuters Media President, comments on the deal, "With Pluck, we will help our worldwide media partners offer their readers smart and fast access to the best in the blogosphere. This is part of Reuters continuing strategy to embrace new digital platforms, including user-generated and moderated content as well as community tools, to deliver next-generation news and information."

Dave Panos, Pluck Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, adds, "This alliance with Reuters will deliver the most extensive network of blog content through the world's largest international news and financial information source. The combined service will provide a turnkey solution for traditional media companies who want to deliver a richer and more personalized news and information experience to their audience."

This is the question on my mind. How does BlogBurst choose which blogs it syndicates? Apparently the company has an internal system for determining whom the "top bloggers" are, but what sort of criteria must a blogger meet to measure to BlogBurst's syndication standards?

Do they look at straight statistics like visitors and page views? Is there a focus on the size of a particular blog's community, particularly the volume of comments received? Does the total amount of advertising revenue generated by the blog play any role in BlogBurst's decision whether or not to syndicate?

Mainstream syndication for a blog that is already generating healthy revenues from advertising could be the springboard into untold bogging profits. Consequently, it will be paramount for A-list bloggers to keep a close eye on which blogs get picked up by BlogBurst, and ascertain what criteria may have been met in order to merit syndication.

Tags: Reuters, Pluck, BlogBurst, Blogs, Blogging

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As of late, the press and reviews for Microsoft's digitial music player Zune have been less than stellar. Bearing that in mind, does that give Microsoft the right to disassociate itself from websites or bloggers which they consider disparaging?

Personally, I have written several articles comparing Microsoft's Zune digital music player to Apple's iPod and came to the conclusion each time that iPod was the superior product. Each article was written after careful research, comparison, and analysis of strictly the factual data regarding each product. Apparently the facts do not matter to Microsoft, only good press.

Microsoft sent out agreements to bloggers and sites which it advertised on stating that, "You may not display the Logo(s) on any site that disparages Microsoft or its products or services, infringes any Microsoft intellectual property or other rights, or violates any state, federal or international law."

Words of censorship are not taken so kindly by free-speech minded bloggers and some website owners such as Andrew Baron of Rocketboom. Baron had been asked by Microsoft not to disparage the Zune player as part of an advertising deal with Rocketboom.

Rocketboom claims to be completely unbiased in terms of a digital music player, and Baron even says that, "I hope that people who do enjoy the Zune will enjoy watching Rocketboom on their Zune players."

Upon further consideration, Baron decided that he could not agree to the deal with Microsoft and later said that, "I have been losing sleep over it and decided this is just not going to be right for Rocketboom," in his personal blog.

The general public, however, cannot be censored or asked to sign agreements with Microsoft not to give Zune a bad review. The digital music player was released today in the United States and is available for purchase at the reported price of $229, lowered from the original $289 price tag to compete with iPod.

User reviews as well as consumer reports will speak loudly and perhaps the general public will take kindly to Zune. Who knows, maybe Zune will corner the market for digital music players, but only time will tell.

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Google has announced they have cemented the purchase of YouTube. The price of the acquisition is $1.65 billion. Google issued 3,217,560 in shares to buy the video giant. YouTube has been wildly popular for the past year and has also seen sky rocketing growth.

Google announced in early October they were purchasing the web video-sharing site.
Critics have cautioned that YouTube would have to resolve the use of copy written material with a number of media companies.

To offset the copyright issue Google and YouTube have been trying to make deals for revenue sharing when such content is viewed. On the purchase it self Google CEO Eric Schmidt said, ""YouTube and Google will together provide innovative and exciting services for our users that will add a new dimension to on-line media entertainment. We look forward to working with content creators and owners large and small to harness the power of the Internet to promote, distribute and monetize their content."

Co-Founder and CEO of YouTube Chad Hurley on the purchase said ""Google's expertise, technology leadership, and resources will provide us with the flexibility to innovate and build the best, most entertaining service on the Internet. In the coming months, we will roll out many new exciting features and programs to benefit the creativity and participation of our community."

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Today marks the first day of PubCon Las Vegas 2006, and the event promises to help attendees "get the edge." The conference will run through the Friday, and speakers will offer their insights on topics ranging from specific things like search and net marketing to "general webmastery."

WebProNews will have its own representatives there - Mike McDonald and Chris Richardson, along with the WebProNews video team, plan to cover (and participate in) the festivities. Mike and Chris may well end up rubbing elbows with keynote speakers Danny Sullivan, John Battelle, and Jon S. von Tetzchner.

Brett Tabke, the CEO of WebMasterWorld, should also be present - he founded that forum, as well as PubCon. Tabke spoke to WebProNews contributor Lee Odden, and commented on the positive effects of the event. It's nice to see it "serve the community," he said, and good to watch "these people that have little in common culturally work past the differences and do good business and build friendships in the process."

According to the PubCon site, this year's conference will continue to spread goodwill and good business practices. Amidst proclamations of "Everyone Loves Vegas Baby!" it says that the "conference is jam packed with leading-edge sessions and one-of-a-kind presentations.

Looking at the current speaker list (which includes about 122 names), that's easy to believe. Andy Beal, who's on that list, spoke to WebProNews writer David Utter just the other day. PubCon has some prominent "Gold Signature Sponsors," as well, including Yahoo, Google, Opera, Ask, and Text Link Ads; Microsoft was noticeably absent.

PubCon Las Vegas 2006 looks like it will be an extremely successful event - "full of energy and excitement" - and we'll bring you updates as they occur.

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Tag: PubCon

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