theEweekly Wrap: Search, think and protest

Yahoo Instant

Yahoo! has launched a new feature named Search Direct, seemingly in an attempt to snatch some of the search engine market share back from its rivals. Search Direct is similar to Google Instant, predicting search results which change with every additional letter in a 'streaming' style. However, the service touts itself as providing "answers not web links". This is partly because the results come from the Yahoo! web index, which is much smaller than Google's almost complete index. Like Instant, Direct features rich results such as images and videos. When nothing is typed in the search box, the drop-down results box displays the top ten most popular searches in the US. However, there is no preview function yet, allowing users to see what is on the page before they click it; Google Instant Previews for mobile rolled out in early March 2011.

LGBT 'cure' app removed

Apple has removed a controversial app from the app store after receiving a petition of over 146,000 signatures to that effect. The app, produced by Christian group Exodus International, claimed to provide "freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus". This 'gay cure' became available on 15 February 2011 but was removed on Tuesday night, after the campaign to have it removed gained momentum. The Change.org petition claimed, "Apple doesn't allow racist or anti-Semitic apps in its app store, yet it gives the green light to an app targeting vulnerable LGBT youth". A similar app was removed in 2010 after a petition attracted 7,000 signatures. Both apps were awarded a 4+ rating by Apple, meaning they contain no offensive material and are suitable for everyone. Although Apple has been praised for removing the app, questions are being asked about how it ever slipped through the app store guidelines in the first place.

Mobile search at home

US performance marketing company Performics has conducted a survey into mobile search behaviour. The study was limited to those who use their mobile to surf the internet on a weekly basis, but found that 57 per cent of this group go online more than once a day. An incredible 75 per cent of respondents said mobile search makes their life easier, while 32 per cent claimed to use mobile search more often that they use desktop search. However, the most interesting results concern where people use mobile search. The most popular answers, perhaps surprisingly, were 'at home in the evening' with 81 per cent, and 'at home on the weekends' with 80 per cent. Answers which reflect the on-the-go nature of mobile search were less popular, such as 'at a social gathering' with 56 per cent, and 'while commuting' with 47 per cent.

Google glossy

Google has produced a 68-page Flash magazine all about data. The first edition of Think Quarterly was written and produced in the UK, under the leadership of UK & Ireland MD Matt Brittin. Described by the search giant as "a breathing space in a busy world", the magazine features articles on the history of data collection and the top ten places to view data online, as well as PPC and AdWords tips from Tony Fagan, director of research at Google. Mashable commented: "It's unclear whether the new online magazine is another sign that Google is entering the media business or whether it's just a project to feed the company's intellectual curiosity. Google doesn't describe its newest project as a magazine or a publication. Instead, Google calls it a book on its website and a "unique communications tool" on its Twitter account."

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Private lives

US consumers are to get a bill of rights regulating their online privacy, reports the Guardian. Concerns are mounting over the amount of information gathered by sites such as Facebook, Google and Twitter. The proposals – set out by Lawrence Strickling of the commerce department – would see the introduction of a privacy bill, stating the required levels of protection and revealing how the authorities would regulate this. Ideas from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) include limiting the use of tracking technology such as cookies. This shows similarity to the impending EU directive on online privacy, and echoes fears expressed by the German government leading them to ban Google Analytics in January 2011. However, FTC chairman Jon Leibowitz emphasised that the purpose of the bill would be to improve consumer trust and therefore boost e-commerce.

Apple in Japan

Apple has decided to delay the release of the iPad 2 in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami disaster. Although many technology firms in the country shut down in the aftermath of the quake, Apple said the delay was not due to a supply shortage. Company spokesperson Natalie Kerris said: "We are delaying the launch of the iPad 2 in Japan while the country and our teams focus on recovering from the recent disaster". According to MacRumours, Steve Jobs sent an email to Apple staff in Japan, telling them to take whatever time and resources they may need, and offering to arrange delivery of supplies. The Apple homepage and iTunes are accepting donations to the Red Cross appeal which will help victims. Meanwhile, Microsoft attracted anger by offering to donate $1 in exchange for every RT on the Bing Twitter account.

Bizness advisor

Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter, has taken on a second job at AOL. On Monday, Stone took to Twitter and his personal blog to explain: "My role at Twitter has not changed. I'm keeping my day job in addition to accepting a role as Social Impact Advisor at AOL". According to the Telegraph, the job will include advising the tech behemoth on "developing a platform to help people share their work in their local community". AOL acquired the Huffington Post for £196 million in February 2011. The deal saw co-founder Arianna Huffington become editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group, a media conglomerate with an audience of over 270 million. Since the buyout, 900 jobs have been cut across AOL, while Arianna Huffington has been hiring from the US media elite.

SXSW 2011

The tech and interactive section of the annual SXSW conference drew to a close on Tuesday. The five-day event saw a horde of almost 20,000 tech fans descend on Austin, Texas, hoping to find out what will be the next big thing. SXSW 2007 saw the launch of Twitter, while Foursquare premiered in 2009. This year, the BBC concluded the apps to watch in 2011 were Scvngr (a check-in game), Hashable (mobile business networking) and Instagram (a retro-style camera); meanwhile, TechCrunch predicted that the temporary Apple store set up outside the convention centre would "sell a metric ton of iPad 2s". In the awards section of the event, The Arcade Fire won two awards for their HTML5 music video, The Wilderness Downtown. The Old Spice 'Smell Like a Man, Man' viral video won the award for best digital marketing campaign, while the crowd-sourced Johnny Cash music video project won the art award.

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Google breaks new toy

Google purchased comparison site BeatThatQuote.com on Monday for a reported £37.7 million. The site, set up in 2005, compares financial services such as insurance, mortgages and credit cards. 90 per cent of the company was owned by London businessman John Paleomylites, who will pocket most of the cash. However, according to the Guardian the site made a £2 million loss in the year ending January 2010; the Google acquisition is understood to be a genuine attempt at providing a comprehensive price comparison site. Unfortunately, things got off to a bad start. Search Engine Land reported that within a day of buying the site, Google had penalised BeatThatQuote in its rankings, so that it doesn't even appear on the first page of search engine results. The site does however still exist, and is indexed, but may be being punished for what Search Engine Land called "aggressive SEO tactics".

Status saviours

From this Monday, the Facebook help centre will include a form where users can report their friends' worrying behaviour. The Facebook charity initiative sees the social network team up with Samaritans, the UK organisation that provides counselling to those in distress or contemplating suicide. As well as an awareness campaign on the Samaritans Facebook page, the report form has been launched in case users are concerned by a friend's status updates or other online behaviour. Samaritans chief executive Catherine Johnstone told the Guardian: "Through the popularity of Facebook, we are harnessing the power of friendship so people can get help". According to The Next Web, emergency links with the equivalent charities in the US and Norway are already in place, with Facebook working to add support in more countries.

Cookie consent

Web businesses will soon be legally obliged to inform users that they are being tracked with browser cookies. The e-Privacy directive, which affects all of the EU, states that users must give their "explicit consent" before their data can be tracked; saying no might affect personalised PPC ads and information stored on sites. The directive is set to be enforced from 25 May 2011; however, many have voiced concerns that the EU is drastically unprepared. Alex Hanff of Privacy International told the BBC "the industry and governments are simply not ready for it". Meanwhile, Nick Stringer of the Internet Advertising Bureau described the law as "potentially detrimental to consumers, business and the UK digital economy". However, Culture, Communications and Creative Industries Minister Ed Vaizey speculated that there would be no strict enforcement in the short-term.

Petbook

Dogs in the US can now join their own social network. Pawsley allows dogs – or rather, their owners – to share photos, videos and status updates, as well as connect with friends or meet new people. However, TechCrunch insists that this site is different to the countless other doggy blogging sites, such as Dogster and Dogbook. One reason is the Groupon-style daily group-buying deal, tailored of course towards pet owners; in addition, four per cent of proceeds is being donated to dog charities. One potential new member of Pawsley could be Beast, Mark Zuckerberg's new dog. The Facebook founder and his girlfriend wasted no time in creating a Facebook profile for his pet, which promptly racked up over 40,000 fans.

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Olympics go online

The official website for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has been launched, as the marketing campaign for the games went into overdrive. London 2012 merchandise shops have been opened in Heathrow Terminal 5, St Pancras International station, and various other locations around the capital. Meanwhile, mascots Wenlock and Mandeville star in a promotional video alongside celebrated UK athletes. The site allows users to create their own mascot avatar, find news and tickets for events, and see photo updates of building work at Olympic Park. Committee chairman Sebastian Coe told New Media Age news site: "The new Games site will engage young people digitally." A mobile site is set to be released soon. An official website for the royal wedding was also launched this week, built using Google's App Engine platform.

Anomaly Farm

The Google algorithm change known as the Farmer update has apparently affected some 'good' sites. Intended to lower the rankings of content farms and copy-paste sites, it went live last week and affected around 12 per cent of US search results, according to Search Engine Land. Their stats show numerous sites have dropped dramatically in the SERPs, and have experienced a decline in traffic as a consequence. Although some of these are precisely what Google intended to target, an anomaly appears to have resulted in damage to some blogs and other 'good' sites too. Google is apparently aware of the problem, as Fellow Amit Singhal told Wired.com: "Our engineers are working as we speak building a new layer on top of this algorithm to make it even more accurate than it is." How the algorithm changes may affect SEO best practice remains to be seen.

Appazon

Details have emerged about the rumoured Amazon app store. The retailer launched an Appstore Developer Program in January 2011, including a Twitter account, blog and portal where developers can submit work for verification. Apps will be a new category on the Amazon website, with the retailer and developer sharing the revenue; how the split shapes up in comparison to Android and Apple appstore charges is yet to be revealed. Speaking to Mobile-Device blog, Appstore project manager Chris Rubenson said: "Although the store will feature Android apps at launch, we will evaluate opportunities to expand our selection on an ongoing basis." It seems the Amazon Appstore will therefore be in direct competition with the Apple and Android stores. Although rumours suggest the Appstore will launch very soon, Amazon isn't giving the game away just yet.

TED 2011

The annual TED conference kicked off in California on Wednesday, promising the usual mix of sleek technology, novel ideas, and the celebration of unlikely figures. The Technology, Entertainment and Design convention is now in its 27th year, and is host to 50 speakers and 1,000 prestigious guests. Talks so far have included National Geographic photographer Paul Nicklen discussing the future of the polar bear, Jamie Oliver on bringing his healthy ethos to the US and the head of Al Jazeera TV channel lauding the social media fuelled revolution in the Middle East. As for the technology talks, they have not disappointed. Innovations showcased have included the crowd-sourced Johnny Cash music video, a 3D mapping programme, the Google Art Project and Push Pop Press – a new e-book format for iPad that allows users to explore interactive images and content.