Google Reader Upgrades while Yahoo buys Jumpcut

Google Reader has some new upgrades. Not only does it look different, they also have lots of new features to boot.

It features folder-based navigation, has a "mark all as read" and shows how many are unread. The folder-based navigation also has an expanded view that lets you see more items at once. They also made sharing a lot easier. By just clicking the "shared" icon, you can let your friends see what files you have shared on your public page.

Yep, another one of my Google posts, seems to amaze me to find something new or upgraded by Google everytime I go online.

Now Yahoo isnot just sitting around all day and does nothing. Recently, they have acquired Jumpcut. Jumpcut lets users post pictures and videos, share them with others and grab other pics and videos. yeah, you can do that almost anywhere else but what I find cool about their site is the "Remix" button. Using this you can do your own versions of other members uploads.

I think Jumpcut will be better in the days to come, partnering with Yahoo definitly has its perks.

Google Notebook Upgrades and Reporting Adsense Violations

Recently I have been a bit a bit biased on reporting Google Products. It seems like this is one of those days. I recently started using Google Notebooks. I know, I know, I am four months late on featuring this Google Product, but I just started blogging recently and I am just in time for featuring the new improvements for this product :D

Now you can collaborate on a notebook with your friends and contacts but you can still publish it for the whole world to see if you think it is worth publishing. The guys at Google are really trying to make things easier for their users, aside from the new collaborating option other new features such as, a new User Interface which is much better than before has been introduced. Files that you have trashed can now be recovered and you can also create a direct link from your Google homepage to your Google Notebook. Isn't that quite handy? :D

By the way, Google values user feedback, just give them a buzz so they can know what you want.

To those of you who have encountered some Adsense Violations, Do you know what to do?

Here are the steps to follow in reporting an Adsense Violation:
To bring a site to our attention, follow these steps:

1. Draft a new email. If possible, please use the email address currently associated with your AdSense account
2. Write 'AdSense Policy Violation' as the subject of your message
3. Please include all of the following in the body of your message:
   
   • The URL of the violating website
   • A description of the violation
   • The specific location of the violation, if applicable
     
4. Send this email to adsense-abuse@google.com

Also, you can try the site exclusion feature whenever you feel a certain site is not doing justice to your ad or deliberately tells users to click on the ads.


PS: A late Birthday greeting for Mr. Danny Sullivan! He just turned 41 last Sunday

Dreaming of becoming a Google Tester?

Ever dreamed of testing out new Google products before majority of your friends and acquaintances even knew it existed? I know some people who would really love to do these things. Maybe now they can fulfill that dream.

Google User Research Experience actually pays you for doing these things. It can range from trying out existing Google products to testing unreleased ones. Google requires your feedback on the product and may even interview you to help plan for a new product.

The testing out process and interview usually last for an hour to about an hour and a half. Most tests are run in the Googleplex but still Google encourages those who want to try it out to sign up even if they are not from the San Francisco bay Area because they have offices all over the world.

This would be really cool to try out, after blogging on this, I might just sign up. Did I forget to tell that they pay $75 an hour for doing this? :) Just remember that you need to be at least 18 years old to participate.

If you want to know more, just look at the FAQ page of Google User Research Experience.

Got to go, have some signing up to do :)

UPDATE - Invitation to participate in a Google Focus Group

Someone I know who tried was interested in participating in Google usability studies received this email. For those of you who are wondering what questions they may ask you before asking you to come to the Googleplex, hope this helps:

Hello,

You previously expressed interest in participating in usability studies at Google.
We are currently scheduling participants for a focus group study.

If you're still interested, please reply to this e-mail after filling out the questionnaire below .
We will then schedule appointments on a first come, first served basis.


The details of the study:

- the duration of the study is 60 minutes (plus your travel time)
- the study will be conducted at Google Headquarters in Mountain View, CA
- compensation is $75 in American Express Gift Checks


To participate you will need to:

- be at least 18 years old
- have a car and be able to drive to our offices in Mountain View, CA
- be willing to sign our Usability Non-Disclosure Agreement

QUESTIONNAIRE:


1. Availability:

Please mark ALL time slots for which we could schedule an appointment with you.
If you have a preference with regard to specific times/dates, please mark the corresponding line with a "P"


Wednesday, May 17
[  ] 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
[  ]   3:00 pm - 4:00 pm


2. Are you currently the webmaster or publisher for your site?
[  ] Yes
[  ] No


3. Do you currently use AdSense?

[  ] Yes
[  ] No


4. Do you find site targeting useful?
[  ] Yes
[  ] No
[  ] Somewhat


5. How many websites do you currently have? _______________


6. Please list each site: ___________________________________



7. Are any of these sites related to each other (i.e., a network of sites)?
[  ] Yes
[  ] No


8. Do you sell ad space directly your site?
[  ] Yes, I currently sell ad space directly on my site

[  ] No, but I used to sell ad space directly on my site
[  ] No, I have never sold ad space directly on my site


9. Have you ever participated in any focus groups or user studies
[  ] No
[  ] Yes


if yes: when and with which companies? _______________________________


10. Phone number at which you can be reached: __________________________________


11. Your full name: __________________________________


Thank you!
--
Patrick Bowen
User Experience Research Coordinator/Recruiter
Google User Research
direct: 650-253-6583
email: jpbowen@google.com 

Adbrite Upgrades

Adbrite sells online advertising competing with other Ad serving companies like Google and Yahoo.

Recently, they made certain changes to Adbrite's CPC Targetting. Back then, the system they are using worked in such a way that the highest bidder for a certain ad gets the exposure. The improvement to their system includes the clickthrough ratio as a factor in computing whether the ad will get the spot or not.

The reason behind this, as Philip Kaplan, The CEO of Adbrite Inc., was to show more relevant ads. Higher clickthrough ratios may mean that the ads are serving their purpose well and are therefore, more relevant.

Also, their site finally has an about page. :)