Vicky Lalwani

We all know about Google News, surely most of us have used it at least once. So the question is - how does Google monetise from it?

From a new article that was on Google News, I recently read that Marissa Mayer (Vice President Search Product and User Experience, Google - pictured) stated that Google News generates US$100 million in revenue.

I scratched my head going - “A hundred mil? How?”

Surely she had accidently slipped her tongue with that figure. Google simply directs any one who clicks on a new link straight through to news publisher’s site.

Also the News section is an ad-free area so Google isn’t making any ad-revenue which the company is ever so famous of normally doing.

But then I used Google’s search engine to begin my research - I found this - http://bigtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/07/22/whats-google-news-worth-100-million/

The figure comes from a referral technique, where it is assumed that Google News funnels readers to the main Google search site. So while we don’t realise this, it’s one way of Google’s free service, that somehow in the background makes money.

And this article is a perfect example. I read about the news headline at Google News (an ad-free environment) and it took me to Forbes. I read the article there, but I was intrigued. So what did I do, I went to Google search to get my research results (an ad-full environment).

This sort of ad-free service at one side to somehow lead us to the opposite end with ads, is a how Google News makes it’s US$100 million revenue referral.

So if Google is making $100 million from its News service, will the news publishers ask for that extra bit of cash? Clearly they already get traffic from users through Google, but if it wasn’t for them, Google wouldn’t have had the content in first place.

The same will come about when Google launches it’s digital consumer health records, a service that allows people to store and access their medical records online. At first there were thoughts of having ads around this service - but it was later decided that they are better off. This is because Google is hoping that the Google News strategy flows through - where it assumes that someone using Google to store medical records, will likely use Google Search when it comes to finding medication, doctors, hospitals or even to just general research.

The above almost defines the Google ecosystem.

I have decided to share some images with you all that I have come across during the week. This will be uploaded for your viewing pleasure every fridays. Here is today’s:

I can’t remember the first time I went to this restaurant, but I can never forget the way it’s food taste. One thing about Chinta Ria that I love, is consistency!

They always have that same great flavour and aroma, and never have I felt the need to return a dish back. Overall, it comes with a reasonable price tag - a little pricey, but reasonable.

The menu stocks a good variety of Malaysia style food, and it appeals from vegetarians through to seafood lovers. The curry puffs, tofu quartets and fried Lohbak (mince chicken wrapped in bean curd) are great entree choices. For mains, I have previously had the Red Temple chicken (red curry), Curry lamb, Ayam Ria (stir-fried chicken with spices and veg) - and they all taste amazing. I suggest you try them with coconut rice for a change. I hear the Beef Randang isn’t bad either.

The wine list isn’t short and it gives you a good variety of reds, whites and sparkling. My favourite from their list is - Juniper Crossing Margaret River Chardonnay (Margaret River) and Boat O’Craigo ‘Rob Roy’ Pinot Noir (Yarra Valley).

I haven’t had dessert at this restaurant, because I don’t know if they actually have a menu for that course.

Located at Cockle Bay wharf, near the Darling Harbour in Sydney, the ambience hasn’t been sacrificed in order to provide good food. Their interior is dim lighted and calm, and a large Buddha statue at the entrance almost amazes everyone who comes in for the first time.

One thing that I noticed when I last went to Chinta Ria, was the background music. It’s not pop, nor techno, nor anything commercial - instead it’s repeated chants that Monks listen to when praying. I think it subliminally calms your mind.

Now there are couple of things that disappointed me:

1) You cannot make a reservation. It’s first come, first serve
2) The place can get very crowded and you can end up close to another table
3) It can get loud depending on where you sit, making it a little hard for friendly conversation.
4) A busy night means lack of service - we waited a while before we could place our order and another again before we received our glass of wine
5) The food came out very quick, almost too quick where I felt we were being asked to eat up and leave

Overall, I love dining here and its always had great memories. It is a great experience in itself and I would highly recommend it.

Food: 8/10
Wine: 7/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Staff: 7/10
Value for money: 8/10

This is beginning to take the piss. Since I got the IQ2, I have started to record TV shows that I can’t see at it’s broadcast time, to then later watch at my own convenience.

Gordon Ramsay’s The F Word was scheduled on Channel 9 at 9:30pm. So I decided to have it recorded and watch it later on.

At 11:30pm I started to watch the recorded show. At the start of the recorded video, I noticed that the first 10-15 mins was of the previous show “The Farmer wants a wife” - who bloody cares!

So I fast forward through that, and start watching the beginning of The F Word.

Now you have to remember something about the IQ2, it only record’s a few mins before and after the show ends - I am in no way blaming them for that. The IQ2 is not smart enough to know exactly when a show starts and stops other than relying on the TV guide provided by the broadcasters.

But if Channel 9 is running late on one shows (”Current Affair” always runs over time), then all the later shows are also delayed.

And no, Nine doesn’t cut any ads to ensure it’s following programs all start on the time that it provided to the IQ2 TV Guide.

So my recording from 9:28 to 10:32 included 15 mins of some shepherd looking for love (go smack your sheep!!), and it therefore meant that I lost the last 10 mins of the F Word - where I missed the result of final cook off and the result of the brigade’s performance.
   
Surely you readers think that I am crazy to complain and you think that I absolutely adore The F Word, but it’s a matter of principle.

What if you recorded a movie and then missed the last 10 mins of the ending - disappointed?

When a network is in control of what they broadcast, surely they can control their content and ads to ensure that their programs start on the time it provides to the TV guides.

If it’s running late, then cut your ads back! Channel Nine, pick your socks up!

6 months ago, LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) filed a case in the Paris Court against eBay for selling fake Louis Vuitton goods on the world famous auction site.

LVMH has various sister brands that include Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Dom Perignon and Moet & Chandon to name a few.

LVMH won the case and the courts ordered eBay to pay 19.28 million euro to LVMH, 17.3 million euro to Christian Dior Couture and an additional 3.25 million euro to various perfume brands (Christian Dior, Kenzo, Givenchy and Guerlian).

The multi-million dollar luxury lifestyle company won on the basis that eBay failed to make any attempts to prevent the sale of the counterfeit items. Also, eBay is not an authorised site to sell and advertise the LVMH branded products.

Not long ago, eBay also had to pay Hermes 20,000 euros in damages for selling its counterfeit goods (3 Hermes handbags of which 2 were fake - all sold for 3000 euros). The case against Hermes was bought forward by the traditional auctioneers in France who claim that eBay encourage trade of pirated and stolen items.

eBay has 84 million active users and 39 markets worldwide and in 2007 they recorded sale of all items on its auction platform to a total of $US60 billion.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/ebay-cops-hefty-penalty/2008/07/01/1214677979204.html

I came across this article, on The Big Chair, that was written earlier this year - and I laughingly agree with Conrad Walters on this following extract from the article:

10 things that won’t change in 2008

1. Google will still have access to more information about you than your mother has.
2. The DVD drive on your computer will still be ideal for holding your first cup of coffee while Windows Vista loads.
3. Internet filters will still require children to help their parents view the websites they want.
4. Spammers will still exploit the inverse relationship that exists between IQ and greed.
5. Social networking sites will still be the best place for identity thieves to refine their craft.
6. People will still visit Second Life trying to discover if there’s something to do other than to see if there’s something to do.
7. YouTube will still be the definitive source for guidance on how to train cats to flush a toilet.
8. Mobile phones will still come with a choice of 200 ring tones, none of which anyone wants.
9. Broadband in rural Australia will still involve paper cups and string.
10. Video iPod users will still squint into postage-stamp screens and convince themselves they’ve enjoyed watching something.