Official Google Blog and non-English speaking visitors

A recent post by Karen Wickre on the official Google blog mentioned some interesting visitor statistics

Readers have come from all over the world, not just English speaking countries: 53,001 visitors from Turkey have stopped by, for example; so have 155,691 from France, 29,614 from Thailand and 8,233 from Peru.

So a good number of non-English speaking visitors are reading the Official Google blog but wait, how do they read the blog when the blog is written only in English ?

It’s strange that Google has not yet added language translation buttons to their blog.

Otherwise, how do non-english speaking people translate the Google blog into their native language ? Neither every browser on this earth has Google Toolbar installed nor every site visitor is geeky to be aware of Google Translate lets people convert webpages in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean and Chinese (Simplified).

Download the Official Microsoft patch for WMF flaw

Due to a major security hole in WMF files, your computer could be infected with viruses, spyware or other malicious programs just by viewing a Web page, an e-mail message, or an Instant Message that contains one of the contaminated images. The problem has existed for years, but its discovery was publicly announced in late December 2005.

In a somewhat unusual development, an unofficial, third-party patch was posted on the Web several days before Microsoft’s official fix.

Microsoft has finally released a official patch for the Windows WMF (Windows Meta File) Graphics Rendering Engine vulnerability that left millions of PCs open to viruses, spyware.

Microsoft originally planned to release the update on Tuesday, January 10, 2006 as part of its regular monthly release of security bulletins, once testing for quality and application compatibility was complete. However, testing has been completed earlier than anticipated and the update is ready for release. In addition, Microsoft is releasing the update early in response to strong customer sentiment that the release should be made available as soon as possible.

Microsoft did not release a WMF patch for Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, or Windows Millennium Edition.

Download WMF patch for Microsoft Windows XP SP2 (may require WGA)
windowsxp-kb912919-x86-enu.exe
Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003

The change introduced to address this vulnerability removes the support for the SETABORTPROC record type from the META_ESCAPE record in a WMF image. This update does not remove support for ABORTPROC functions registered by application SetAbortProc() API calls.

The WMF vulnerability applies to all versions of Windows from 98 onward, Microsoft XP Pro, Microsoft XP Home, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition.

Microsoft will also release an updated version of its malicious-code-removal tool on Tuesday as part of its monthly security updates.

Security Update for Windows XP (KB912919)

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-001

The Best of CES 2006 - Day 1

The largest electronics trade show gets off to a roaring start in Las Vegas. Digital Inspiration will bring you daily highlights from this greatest electronic show on earth.

Digital Inspiration 2006 CES Coverage

Bill Gates takes wraps off Windows Vista displaying features aimed at positioning the software giant as the entertainment hub for a future of digitally connected homes. Microsoft also unveiled a search function within Vista that cuts across the content within a PC and its network, aimed at not conceding search on the desktop or the Internet to Google. Microsoft also unveiled MTV Network’s Urge Music Service, which will be built into Vista’s new Windows Media Center. It will offer users instant access to 2 million songs and videos in MTV’s library.

Intel launched its Core Duo chip that has lower power requirements and higher performance. The processor which has two computing engines built into a single chip, is expected to enable smaller, living-room friendly Viiv systems and will power the next-generation mobile platform, the Centrino Duo.

Pallm announced the immediate availability of Treo 700w, a Windows-based version of Treo. The Treo 700w comes with Microsoft’s standard application set for Windows Mobile 5, including readers and editors for Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint, a pocket version of Outlook and Pocket Internet Explorer. The built-in Windows Media Player 10 syncs music and video with PCs, including protected WMA content bought from online stores like Napster and Yahoo!. Palm has enhanced Pocket Outlook with support for MMS picture messaging and added the well-regarded Picsel PDF viewer.

Eastman Kodak introduced the world’s first dual-lens digital still camera, the Kodak Easyshare V570 zoom digital camera. Using proprietary Kodak Retina Dual Lens technology, the elegant V570 camera wraps an ultra-wide angle lens (23 mm) and an optical zoom lens (39 - 117 mm) into a small, sleek package less than an inch thin.

Google plans to announce a new service that will allow consumers to buy and download videos from Google Web site, such as television shows, on their computer from Google content partners such as TV companies.

Google also plans to announce Google Pack, a bundle of software from Google and other companies that consumers will be able to download and install on their computers. The software bundle will include the open-source Firefox Web browser, a version of Norton AntiVirus software, Adobe Reader software and RealPlayer multimedia software.

Both Pioneer (Inno) and Samsung (Helix XM2go) introduced MP3 players that also include satellite radio service from XM Satellite Radio. The players are about the size of a deck of cards and can store a listener’s own music collection ripped from CDs as well as XM programming. Both devices save music in the popular MP3 and WMA formats.

Sony showcased the Librié e-1000 electronic book, a next generation e-book Reader that lets users to store and read digital books. Roughly the size of a paperback novel, but thinner than most (about .5 inches thin), the device can store hundreds of books in internal memory with the addition of an optional Memory Stick or Secure Digital (SD) card. The electronic Reader can also store and display personal documents in Adobe PDF format, favorite web content like blogs or news feeds, and JPEG photos.

Dell showed off Limited Edition XPS 600 Renegade, a new gaming PC that includes several high-end components, including a “factory overclocked” 4.26GHz Intel Pentium Extreme Edition. It also includes four Nvidia graphics processors in an airbrushed fiery red case designed by Michael Lavallee.

Dell also showed off a concept laptop design that folds out and resembles a desktop computer with a detachable keyboard. The computer included a 20-inch widescreen display and the company has at least 10 patents. A release date has not been determined.

Sources: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Apple IPod Shuffle for Adobe employees

At a recent press conference, Bruce R. Chizen, Adobe chief executive officer said “2005 was another remarkable year for Adobe” [they released the successful Adobe Creative Suite 2 and acquired rival Macromedia]

As part of the celebration, every Adobe employee was given a 1GB Apple iPod Shuffle engraved with the words “Adobe 2005: Thanks for a Record Year!”. (Look at the Adobe iPod picture above)

Early last year, all Apple employees were given a 1GB iPod shuffle. Steve Jobs announced the gesture during a company meeting following Apple’s blockbuster earnings report.

Looks like Adobe liked Apple’s idea.

Source: 1 | 2 | 3

Google Logo for blind using Braille signage

Google unveiled a new Google Doodle celebrating the life and birth of Louis Braille. Google is in a way recognizing the efforts of great minds that have made the world more accessible to people with disabilities.

Braille invented a method used by blind and visually impaired people for reading and writing. Braille is read by passing one’s fingers over characters which are made up of an arrangement of one to six embossed points.

Each Braille character or “cell” is made up of six dot positions, arranged in a rectangle containing two columns of three dots each. A dot may be raised at any of the six positions to form sixty-four combinations, counting the space, in which no dots are raised.

Braille has been adapted to almost every known language, from Albanian to Zulu.

Online Keyword Suggestion Tools

Pay-for-placement advertising has been called by some the most effective method of direct marketing today. Finding the most obvious keywords for your website pages requires simple logical thinking but to choose high-performing keywords, word combinations and phrases that people search for, you need the help of tools to build a more effective keyword list.

Search engines such as Google, Yahoo or MSN allow advertisers to bid against each other for the placement of ads tied to keywords. An account for your business can be opened for $5 to $50, and bids typically start at 5 cents or 10 cents per click. Paying one penny above another advertiser moves your listing above his. Beyond the account set-up fees, your credit card is charged only for the clicks on your listings. So, the more you pay, the more ad viewers are clicking through to your Web site.

How to Find more keywords relevant to your website? Here we discuss the best online keyword research tools that help your find the best keywords relevant to your blog or website. Try to choose popular and narrowly targeted keywords.

This keyword tools guide is split in two parts. In part 1, we discuss the more popular keyword tools like Wordtracker and Overture while in Part 2, we will mention about lesser known and even unexplored keyword research tools that are also free to use.

1. Overture Inventory Keyword Selector Tool # | #
How many searches can your business get? Enter a keyword to see how many searches have been conducted on that term in the last month.

The Overture keyword suggestion tool displays the most popular keyword combinations for a given keyword or phrase. The suggestions are based on the number of times similar phrases were searched on the Overture network the previous month. The Overture tool is very fast, displays related keywords and also the search statistics for that keyword.

2. Overture View Bids Tool #
To use the Overture Bidding Tool, enter your search keyword and it displays the Advertiser’s Max Bid and listing of the ads. (A Max Bid is the highest amount an advertiser is willing to pay for each click.)

Though the OVBT displays what Overture adervtisers are bidding for keywords, it can be used in combination with the Overture Inventory tool to shortlist keywords that can attract higher bids.



3. WordTracker keyword research tool #

Wordtracker is the keyword search tool of choice for professionals worldwide. Wordtracker keyword research reports contains thousands of keywords being used across the major search engines. Using the online Wordtracker interface, you can cherry-pick keywords with high popularity and low competition.

This is how the trial verion of wordtracker works. Enter a keyword or phrase, WordTracker extracts keyword suggestions from 200 related web pages across the internet. Using search data from Dogpile and Metacrawler queries over the last 120 days, Wordtracker displays the search statistics for the top 15 related keyword searches. [Start WordTracker Trial]

If you want to test-drive Wordtracker to discover its true potential of the Wordtracker keyword system, buy a 24 hour pass (1 day account) for $4.20. Wordtracker is a decent resource and well worth paying for to get full access. Wordtracker sends a free weekly Wordtrack Top 500 frequently searched words on the Internet. You can view the top 30 search terms for various metacrawlers (Dogpile, Metacrawler) over the past 48 hours here

4. Google Suggest #
As you type into the Google search box, Google Suggest guesses what you’re typing and offers suggestions in real time based on the overall popularity of various searches.

Though Google Search is built for suggesting more refined searches up front, SEO and web authors can use Google Suggest as a keyword suggestion tool to quickly discover related keywords and how many results will be returned for that query on Google. Google Suggest might offer suggestions that you will find novel or intriguing.

Google, someone who really knows how people search, has compiled a comprehensive database of keywords or search phrases that people search for. Google also has indirect access to reports of what people are searching for on other search engines through Google Analytics.

If you are an Adwords advertiser, Google provides you full access to this keyword database.


5. Google AdWords Keyword Tool #

Type in keyword(s) or website URL into the keyword tool to view additional related keywords. The google keywords tool generates a list of the most popular synonyms and related phrases based on searches performed by user on Google search. Keyword results can be limited to countries and languages.

Google AdWords Keyword Tool shows three kinds of related keywords:
More Specific Keywords - Broadly matched keywords are replaced
Shows relevant, more specific alternatives to your general keywords

Similar Keywords - Expanded Broad Matches
Shows related search queries

Similar Keywords - Additional Keywords
Users who searched for your keyword(s) also searched for these terms.

Keyword Suggestion Tools by Google & Yahoo

This is the concluding part of our search keyword research tools guide. In the previous article, we mentioned Overture advertising, WordTracker keyword popularity checker, Google Suggest and Google Adwords Keyword Tool. In this article, we share even more amazing keyword research tools like the which are less popular but offer an impressive array of features like keyword ranking, keyword generator. At the end, we mention a few websites that provide a simple interface to Overture keyword suggestion and Wordtracker data to roughly estimate the popularity of keywords and their variations.

1. Yahoo! Search Marketing Keyword Selector Tool #

The Yahoo! Keyword Selector Tool is a rebranded Overture keyword tool with one difference. Simply enter a relevant keyword into the box on the left side of the page. The system will provide a list of other suggested keywords.YSM displays a monthly search volume- the number of searches the keyword received across the Yahoo network in the last month. This data is updated at the end of each month and is usually available by the 10th of the next month.



Now this is the most useful feature. Unlike Overture, Yahoo keyword selector also displays Estimated Clicks - how many clicks you can expect to get over a month using a standard click-through rate of 5%. This value is actually based on the clicks received by an average of the top three positions. The next screen displays cost statistics for those keywords from the Overture View Bids tool. Nice.

The keyword tool converts keyword misspellings, singular/plural combinations and other variations to a primary keyword (singular, non-punctuated, non-hyphenated, spelled correctly and without “noise” words such as “a,” “the,” “of” and “for”).

* We have used the Self-Serve Sign-Up process to access this tool without signing up. Overture is owned by Yahoo! but operates as a separate business entity.

2. New Google Adwords Keyword Tool #
Google AdWords is remarkably good at finding related keywords and phrases for you. The Google keyword research tool is an interface to the Adwords inventory. The keyword tool allows you to build extensive, relevant keyword lists from one easy, simple interface. Google recently added new features to the Google keyword sandbox that make this tool one of the best in the category.

You don’t have to an Adwords advertiser to play with the Google Adwords keyword tool. All you need is a free Google Account which you probably have already if you are an Adsense publisher or use GMail or Orkut. To access a standalone version of the Google keyword tool, click the Tools link on the Campaign Summary tab.



Simply enter your keywords and the Google keywords suggestion tool, in its new avatar, provides you keyword suggestions, additional variations, traffic estimations and even related keywords. It also shows advertiser competition (statistics for advertisers bidding on the same keyword - keyword popularity) and search volume (user searches for that keyword on Google). The suggested keywords can be exported to an excel csv file for offline research. Keyword Variations works much the same way as the previous version except now you can sort the data by popularity, performance history, cost and predicted ad position. The green bars shown represent a general low-to-high quantitative guideline to help you choose your keywords.

You can even use the Adwords Keyword tool as keyword extractor to improve you website ranking. Type in your website URL into the Site-Related Keywords Tab of the keyword tool and Google provides you a set of keywords related to your website content. The keyword results are sorted in groups organized by relevance to the content of the webpage you provided. The site keyword tool can also analyze content from other pages linked to from that URL. The option to generate site-related keywords is only available for English language users at this time.

3. Other Third-Party keyword suggestion tools

Digital Point Keyword Suggestion Tool #
This online tool shows how many times a keyword and its variations were searched for in a day. The results are gathered from Wordtracker and Overture data.

Overture’s data is based on more searches, so the values are going to be higher than Wordtracker’s in most cases. This does not mean Wordtracker’s data is less valuable (keep in mind that they are relative to each other). Also, Wordtracker differentiates between plural and singular forms (which Overture does not).

Submit Express Keyword Suggestion Tool #
This tool accepts multiple keywords and phrases. It also uses WordTracker data to show how many times a query and related terms were searched for.