Google Watch
PageRank: Google's Original Sin 
This was the first essay that was posted on Google Watch, in August 2002. So much has happened since then that it is no longer a good description of how Google works. But it is still valid as a critique of the philosophy behind PageRank. Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08
This was the first essay that was posted on Google Watch, in August 2002. So much has happened since then that it is no longer a good description of how Google works. But it is still valid as a critique of the philosophy behind PageRank. Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08
We asked Google about privacy
Serious questions about privacy issues are ignored. We're still waiting for a non-dismissive reply to our email of March 21, 2002. But wait, here's a clue: CEO Eric Schmidt announced in February 2005 that "we are moving to a Google that knows more about you." Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08
Serious questions about privacy issues are ignored. We're still waiting for a non-dismissive reply to our email of March 21, 2002. But wait, here's a clue: CEO Eric Schmidt announced in February 2005 that "we are moving to a Google that knows more about you." Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08
Is Google God, or is Thomas Friedman an idiot?
A 2003 column by that Pulitzer-winning NYT columnist, in which he seriously wonders whether Google is God. A few years earlier Friedman was telling us that you can sell books on the Internet from your bedroom, and put Amazon out of business. Friedman is good for laughs, and he's not even trying to be funny. Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08
A 2003 column by that Pulitzer-winning NYT columnist, in which he seriously wonders whether Google is God. A few years earlier Friedman was telling us that you can sell books on the Internet from your bedroom, and put Amazon out of business. Friedman is good for laughs, and he's not even trying to be funny. Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08
Should Google index telephone numbers?
Valerie the spy is the talk of Washington. Google coughed up two maps to her house and information about her community activities -- all by entering her telephone number. Spooky. (2003-10-08) Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08
Valerie the spy is the talk of Washington. Google coughed up two maps to her house and information about her community activities -- all by entering her telephone number. Spooky. (2003-10-08) Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08
And then there were four: Why we target Google
There are four search engines that matter, and Google has a 75 percent monopoly. In 2003 we nominated Google for a Big Brother award. Here are nine reasons for our nomination. Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08
There are four search engines that matter, and Google has a 75 percent monopoly. In 2003 we nominated Google for a Big Brother award. Here are nine reasons for our nomination. Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08
Google offers more shares (August 18, 2005)
More billions are created out of thin air, and more risk factors are described in this new S-3 filing (639K HTML file). Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08
More billions are created out of thin air, and more risk factors are described in this new S-3 filing (639K HTML file). Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08
A zipped copy of Google's S-1 (as amended on August 18)
No wonder some of us are choking on the SEC's copy of Google's S-1 -- it's a 3 meg HTML file! Even if everyone's bandwidth is perfect, some browsers have difficulty digesting this. You can download a zip file from our link and it's only 305K -- one-tenth the size. Unzip it yourself (you need your own unzipper) and load it into your browser from your local desktop. That way you don't have to wonder who's stopping the show -- the SEC's server, the screwy Internet backbone, or your browser. This version of the prospectus includes the Playboy interview. Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08
No wonder some of us are choking on the SEC's copy of Google's S-1 -- it's a 3 meg HTML file! Even if everyone's bandwidth is perfect, some browsers have difficulty digesting this. You can download a zip file from our link and it's only 305K -- one-tenth the size. Unzip it yourself (you need your own unzipper) and load it into your browser from your local desktop. That way you don't have to wonder who's stopping the show -- the SEC's server, the screwy Internet backbone, or your browser. This version of the prospectus includes the Playboy interview. Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08
Google buries noncommercial links
Cheryl Woodard, the executive director of AskQuestions.org and a cofounder of PC Magazine, PC World, Macworld and the Macworld Expos, studies Google's commercialized, spammy results for the phrase "troubled teen." Parents will not find what they need if they depend on Google alone. Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08
Cheryl Woodard, the executive director of AskQuestions.org and a cofounder of PC Magazine, PC World, Macworld and the Macworld Expos, studies Google's commercialized, spammy results for the phrase "troubled teen." Parents will not find what they need if they depend on Google alone. Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08
It's high time for opt-in
Webmasters and surfers are at the mercy of big corporations. More regulation, centered around a philosophy of opt-in, is needed to restore balance to the Internet. Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08
Webmasters and surfers are at the mercy of big corporations. More regulation, centered around a philosophy of opt-in, is needed to restore balance to the Internet. Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08
Playboy printed our letter, sort of
Google put the Playboy interview into the public domain by copying it into a public document. We downloaded the document from the SEC and extracted the interview. Here's the whole interview. Then Playboy asked us for a letter to the editor about this interview. We sent them a brilliant 2096-word analysis. They printed less than four percent of it, so here's the whole letter. Too many boobs at Playboy leave too little space for important social issues. Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08
Google put the Playboy interview into the public domain by copying it into a public document. We downloaded the document from the SEC and extracted the interview. Here's the whole interview. Then Playboy asked us for a letter to the editor about this interview. We sent them a brilliant 2096-word analysis. They printed less than four percent of it, so here's the whole letter. Too many boobs at Playboy leave too little space for important social issues. Google Watch, 2006-12-03 02:40:08