Google launches alternative DNS resolver

The goal is to make web browsing faster and more secure

Google has created a new system to resolve DNS (domain name system) queries that the company claims will speed up web browsing for end users, as well as make it more secure.

It attempts to improve on existing DNS resolver technology with faster, more efficient caching and additional security safeguards against spoofing attacks that try to dupe users into visiting malicious websites. Read more at computerworld.co.nz

Google Image Swirl Brings the Wonder Wheel to Photo Search

Google just announced a new product in Google Labs: Google Image Swirl. Image Swirl introduces a Wonder Wheel-like user interface for Google Images. The new search interface combines the Wonder Wheel experience with Google’s ability to find similar images and discover faces in these images. Instead of just showing one image, the Image Swirl interface displays a stack of photos. Clicking on this stack opens up a Wonder Wheel with related images clustered around the original photo.Read more at www.readwriteweb.com

Google VP describes the perfect search engine

Last month, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said during the company’s earnings call that Google had implemented about 120 search quality improvements during the third quarter, as the company moves toward its ultimate goal: “We want to get to the perfect search engine.”

No one asked him to elaborate on that lofty goal, so when IDG News Service recently had a chance to interview Marissa Mayer, Google’s vice president of Search Products and User Experience, we promptly asked her to explain what Schmidt meant. She also talked about what keeps Google ahead on search, how the company views semantic technology and what’s next in its Universal Search efforts to combine links to a variety of file types — news articles, images, videos, books, maps — in a single results list.Read more at computerworld.co.nz

Google, TiVo Partner For TV Data

TV advertisers can look forward to a deeper understanding of how TiVo viewers receive their ads.

TiVo on Tuesday said that it had entered into an agreement with Google (NSDQ: GOOG) to provide the search company with anonymized TiVo viewing data for use with the Google TV Ads platform. The deal will help Google’s television advertisers measure how ads placed using the Google TV Ads platform perform. Read more at www.informationweek.com

Google Search Visualizes Global Data

Data made available by the World Bank is now being used to provide visual support for statistical queries.

Google’s ability to generate data set graphs from search keywords is the result of its acquisition of Trendalyzer in 2007. Read more at www.informationweek.com

Google Introduces ‘Go’ Programming Language

Go aims to combine the benefits of rapid application development with program execution speed.

Compiled Go code runs at close to the speed of C, says Pike, adding that compilation happens almost instantly. “It’s like using an interactive language,” he explained.

Additional details and documentation can be found at golang.org and on YouTube. Read more at www.informationweek.com

Google and the Energy Detective Join Forces

Google’s foray into the world of home energy management – first announced in February 2009 – took what looked like a substantial step forward on Monday, as the Internet media giant unveiled its partnership with Energy, Inc, maker of the Energy Detective.

That device, which allows consumers to monitor their home energy use in real time, has been modified to upload its data via the Internet, where it interacts with Google’s PowerMeter — a free, Web-based program that visualizes power usage via charts and graphs. Read more at greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com

Kiwi authors left out of Google book deal

New Zealand has been left out of a deal to digitise books with internet search giant Google, due to complications over copyright issues.

The company announced the reduced scope of the rights deal with publishers’ organisations on Thursday, now covering just the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

The company also limited its scope to solely English texts, following formal complaints from France and Germany.

Director of the Digital Publishing Forum Martin Taylor said the settlement had come a long way and changed a great deal since it was initially proposed.

Essentially, the initial interpretation of the law meant a domestic United States issue - which would be handled by US civil courts - had been extended to the rest of the world.

He said New Zealand’s exclusion from the settlement allowed for a New Zealand project to protect the country’s literary heritage to be carried out, for the benefit of the people of this country. Read more at www.stuff.co.nz

Google Offering Free Airport Wi-Fi For Holidays

In what could be called a thinly veiled attempt to shine up its image, Google (NSDQ: GOOG) is offering holiday travelers free Wi-Fi at approximately 47 U.S. airports from now until January 15, 2010. Make sure your employees are protected. Read more at www.informationweek.com