Google Search blog

Today we had this error:

Can’t open file: ‘wp_comments.MYI’. (errno: 126)

Nothing seemed to work as far as repairing goes, so I dropped the table. That means we lose all comments. It’s terrible, but I don’t know what else could be done. If anyone has a fix for this, let me know.

I might have a backup somewhere that I’ll use to restore this table someday.

Looks like a move to grab customers from PayPal. Google is paying for everyone’s credit card fees through the year 2007, so merchants can use Google Checkout with no fees. Awesome deal. Thanks, Google!

It’s a great idea, but why does it have to be integrated with a cell phone? I already have a cell phone. Well, I already have a GPS for that matter, but it doesn’t use Google Maps

President George Bush uses Google Maps to look up his ranch

This is very interesting because I’d been thinking this would happen ever since I saw JotSpot early this year. It definitely fills a space between Google Groups and Google Pages which has been severely lacking.

According to InfoWorld, JotSpot would have struggled to be a viable business. But together with Google, it’s a perfect “Office 2.0″ venture. InfoWorld also notes that Microsoft (or WordPerfect/Novell) has been supplanted by Google, an upstart, in terms of mindshare. There’s little doubt that most people find Google’s products much more appealing than Microsoft’s.

Interesting entry in the Google blog about using the “Google” trademark. I think we’re making it clear in our name, “Google Search blog”, that we’re referring to Google, Inc., the company.

Q: What do zippers, baby oil, brassieres and trampolines have in common?

A: No, the answer isn’t that they’re all part of the setup for a highly inappropriate joke. In fact, the above list (along with thermos, cellophane, escalator, elevator, dry ice and many more) are all words that fell victim to those products’ very success and, as they became more and more popular, slipped from trademarked status into common usage.

Do you “Google?”

And use Google technology to do it.

In a matter of minutes you can create a search engine that reflects your knowledge and interests; looks and feels like your own; and, if you choose, you can make money from the traffic you receive through Google’s AdSense program. You can even invite your friends and trusted community members to add to and help build your search engine.

I created a computer search engine. It’s so fast, easy, and fun, that I think it’ll catch on very quickly. Another awesome innovation from Google. I’m also impressed that:

• You can show search results on your own website (with a clever bit of Javascript)
• You can use the Ajax search API
• You can make money by linking your AdSense account

You can collaborate with me and help me improve my search engine. Try it out.

Google is having solar panels installed on the roofs of many of their buildings at the Mountain View campus.

This reminds me of the Walnut High School Solar Car Project, which of course caused most of us students on the project to think about the implications of implementing solar power in other environments. Driving solar panels around isn’t very practical, but I can see a time when every roof in California has solar panels on it. Why not?

I just want to point out some interesting articles on other sites since I don’t have time to do extensive in-depth opinions right now:

Fool.com - Gauging Google’s Future

Search Engine Watch - Yahoo Hurting, Google Healthier Than Ever

Forbes - Google’s Keeping It Simple

NY Times - All Not Well At Yahoo

A bug in Blogger enabled an unauthorized user to post a bogus notice on the Google Blog Saturday, claiming Google Inc. discontinued its AdWords click-to-call test with eBay Inc. The bug was fixed and fake notice promptly removed from the site, according to a Google blog post that appeared late Sunday.

The click-to-call test is “progressing on schedule, and we’re pleased with the results thus far,” the new post from Google reads.

The fake post headline said “Google Click-to-Call project cancelled.” The copy went on to explain: “Google has decided not to continue with Google Click-to-call project. The project has been in the media on last days because of the notice of Google agreement with eBay. We finally consider click-to-call agreement with eBay a monopolistic approach that would damage small companies in the CRM area.”

Google began testing the service in November 2005, and later signed a multiyear contract with eBay for service through its Internet telephony.

Google and eBay in August unveiled a multiyear agreement that makes Google the exclusive provider of text-based advertising outside the United States, and extends both companies’ Internet telephony services onto each other’s platforms, Google Talk, and Skype Technologies SA., respectively.