google

Privacy: What should Google do?

Public interest groups, academics and members of the press have hammered Google for its lax privacy policies. The criticism has mostly focused on the log deletion practices and browser cookie policies at the search giant. Google claims that search quality and user privacy are a zero-sum game: deleting log data makes it more difficult to improve search results. Perhaps the company is right. However, there are several other pro-privacy steps that Google could take to significantly protect its customers--which it has not done, and continues to reject.

Over the last few months, a number of Google's engineers have issued … Read more

Google to lay off 300 at DoubleClick

Google is laying off about 300 employees in its newly acquired DoubleClick ad business, according to a source familiar with the matter.

A Google spokesman said the company could not confirm the number of workers laid off.

"Since our acquisition of DoubleClick closed on March 11, we have been working to match and align DoubleClick employees in the U.S. with our organizational plan for the business," the company said in a statement.

"As with many mergers, this review has resulted in a reduction in headcount at the acquired company," the statement said. "Today, we … Read more

Rumor confirmed: Google may buy my car

I was surprised this has become public, but I suppose I should weigh in now that reports have filtered onto the blogosphere: It's true. Google is in talks to buy my car.

I was reluctant to discuss this for obvious reasons. These talks could break down at any time and there is no clear indication when they'll be concluded and the final price could change dramatically before negotiations have completed.

Nonetheless, with the equally odd acquisition rumor floating Wednesday that Google could acquire the travel site Expedia (now watch them actually do this and make me look like … Read more

Will former Google exec help save the music industry?

Douglas Merrill is everything one would expect from a former Google exec.

The new chief of EMI's digital unit is a Googler down to his soul, which means he's extremely bright, a techie, and dead set against suing fans for file sharing.

"I'm passionate about data," Merrill said during a phone interview Wednesday with CNET News.com. "For example, there's a set of data that shows that file sharing is actually good for artists. Not bad for artists. So maybe we shouldn't be stopping it all the time. I don't know...… Read more

Google to buy Expedia? That's the rumor

Updated 1:55 p.m. PDT with no comment from Expedia.

Correction 12:45 p.m. PDT: This blog initially misstated the day the price of Expedia shares rose on rumors of a possible bid by Google. It was Tuesday.

Does Google want to buy travel site Expedia? A Wall Street analyst referred to rumors Tuesday morning that Google could make a bid and that drove up the stock of Expedia about 9 percent at one point, according to Reuters.

The rumors are just that though, at this point.

The move doesn't exactly make sense given that Google has … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 694: Know your zombies

It's zombie-preparedness day, and may we suggest you also prepare yourself for a barrage of rumors of the eBay and Blu-ray variety. Also, today, Amazon reaches right inside Molly's brain and launches shopping via text-message (hello, impulse purchase heaven!), and one listener defends the sacred honor of the Chevy Nova. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 694

Voicemail - Dark Zombie Preparedness Day!

Judge to RIAA: You can’t sue over songs ‘made available’ via P2P http://www.news.com/8301-13578_3-9908353-38.html

eBay’s power sell: Skype to Google? http://www.news.com/8301-13577_3-9908959-36.html

Amazon launches … Read more

eBay's power sell: Skype to Google?

This post was updated at 9:45am EDT with comment from Google.

Will eBay sell Skype to Google?

It's no secret that many in Silicon Valley regard eBay's 2005 acquisition of the telephony service as a $2.6 billion misstep. But new rumors, reported late Tuesday night on TechCrunch, suggest that eBay may be negotiating Skype-related partnerships with Google or even selling it outright.

"We do not comment on market rumor or speculation regarding acquisitions," a Google representative told CNET News.com in an e-mail. "Generally speaking we are constantly in discussions about potential partnerships … Read more

Google Docs Offline: It works, sort of

I finally got access to Google Docs offline, the launch of which I covered yesterday. I understand why Google is pitching it as a safety net for a flaky online connection, as opposed to an honest-to-goodness offline application. As we noted yesterday, you cannot yet create a new document when offline. And something we weren't told: when working offline, you can't insert a picture into a file nor review its revision history.

Furthermore, offline edit reconciliation isn't quite what I was told it would be. I fired up a shared Docs file, pulled the Ethernet plug on … Read more

Google's CIO leaves search giant for job at EMI

Updated 5 p.m. PDT with more information and context.

Google Chief Information Officer Douglas Merrill is leaving Google to become president of EMI's digital unit, according to sources.

A Google spokesman confirmed that Merrill is leaving but said he could not confirm the other information. A spokeperson for EMI Music Group declined to comment.

A separate source familiar with the matter said Merrill will be starting at EMI later this month and that the position was created specially for him. He is staying in California, the source says. EMI, the fourth-largest record label, is based in London.

The … Read more