Geek News: Latest Technology, Product Reviews, Gadgets and Tech Podcast News for Geeks



Tag: Yahoo

Google Groups New Interface Looks More like Email

Posted by Jeffrey Powers at 11:39 AM on September 9, 2011

If you use Google groups, you might have noticed the switch to the new version. It is a little more colorful, using html5 and integrating into the other Google properties.

Google Groups Interface

Google Groups Interface

Google Groups is Google’s answer to message boards. Just like with Yahoo! groups, you can create a new group and invite friends to it. They can then read the messages, or interact (depending on how you have the group set up). For example, Todd uses groups to message subscribers of Geek News Central podcast.

Switching is not that difficult. Just choose to use the new Google Groups interface, then (when comfortable) select the button on top called “Switch to the new Google Groups”.

It’s got an email feel to this new version. The left pane is the groups you are in. When you select a group, the list of messages show up on the right. At the top, you are asked to adjust your profile – either update your name or attach this group to your Google profile. Then you can message away!

Does it change the email version?

So you don’t go to this interface. You end up emailling to [whatever]@googlegroups.com. You get emails and respond that way.

So far, nothing has changed there. You can still email to google groups and get messages either when they come out, on a daily digest or never.

Carol Bartz Out, Where Does Yahoo! Go? Time to Change the Name!

Posted by Jeffrey Powers at 11:48 AM on September 7, 2011
Yahoo!

Yahoo!

It’s another chapter in the failing Yahoo! book. Yesterday, Carol Bartz – then CEO of Yahoo! got an ceremonious firing from the board. Now, with the dust settling, and Jerry Yang saying the company is still not for sale, where does the now-less diminished company go from here?

Rebuilding Phase – a Name Change, perhaps?

I get told time and again – If you want a fresh start, infuse with a new name. Yahoo! is pretty much a name dragged in the mud. Yahoo! represents the internet from 1999. It’s 2011 – Time to get with the times. Put away the preppy clothes, the teased hair and go with something a little more modern.

A new name could bring confidence back in the company and the customers. A fresh logo that means “The future of computing is here”. Then, of course, you will have to back that statement up…

Fire the Board of Directors? Including Jerry Yang.

Jerry Yang

Jerry Yang says "Yahoo is not for Sale"

Om Malik said it best – Fire the Board. If you’re gonna shake up things, do it right. The board has been flailing since the Microhoo! days. Get a new cast to make decisions and get things done. Om has a great list of who should be on this board.

I am going to take it one step further. Jerry needs to step back even more. The new board has to have free-thinkers with no pressure from Yang. They have to take a major left-turn to keep their businesses satisfied.

Get Back in the Game

During Bartz’ 2 year CEO run, a lot of programs were shut down or sold. Whatever is left should also get some type of a face-lift. Collect the patents and figure out a new plan.

Yahoo might even want to start talks with Facebook. Put a new presence in this social network (since they’ve pretty much destroyed all their social network opportunities). Since they also have a partnership with Microsoft, this might be a really nice fit overall.

Open Up to Everyone

Google does this so well (ok, maybe not with YouTube, but everything else) – Open up to the community. Ask what you want. It worked with Linus Torvolds in creating Linux. Take the information and create something around that.

With items like business email, you cannot do that, but with consumer products like search and home page, open it up and let the consumer feel they have a hand in sculpting.

There has to be 3 items that people are clambering for in the last few years that could be easily integrated. Show the people that you are listening to them.

These are just a few ideas. In thinking of it more, the name change most likely be the best move. After all – if you think Yahoo!, what do you think of? A website that is the future, or a company that represents the past?

Time for Yahoo to Close Groups?

Posted by Jeffrey Powers at 11:16 AM on August 22, 2011

It’s another Monday and seems to be another day of inbox Spam. However, I’ve noticed recently how more and more spam groups are being created on Yahoo! and joining me. They basically say the same thing:

I’ve added you to my akljsdfklj group. a free Yahoo! Group to send and receive group messages.

Description: asdflkhasdf

To gain access, click the link…

This is another reason that Yahoo! just doesn’t care about their product. I use Google Groups all the time and don’t get any spam messages like this. Yet, every week I am removing stupid posts like in the image.

Where is the confirmation? I really have to click on a link and tell them this group is spam? Why not have some protocols in place to avoid me getting annoyed like this?

Here are some ideas that anyone running a group website could implement:

1. Multiple fields on form

Make them fill out more information than your name and small description. Make them enter in some contact information. Require a description field to be 20 words or more (not just characters). Have an algorithm determine if the description is jibberish or actually says something.

2. CAPTCHA

It’s annoying, but in a way, it’s meant to be annoying. That way, you know someone is human. Yahoo! does have some CAPTCHA algorithms that they could use in this group. It also kills the bots attempts to register groups.

3. Confirmation

Email confirmation means they have to register an email address first. That might also stop some bots from creating groups.

These are not revolutionary ideas. They have been used before and can be used again. The more we can stop spammers and bots, the less phishing scams and malware can be created. When that happens, people and companies save millions of dollars.

So Yahoo! – If you’re just going to let it continue, then why not shut down YahooGroups and get out of the business. It’s what you’re doing anyway…

GNC #695 Free Speech Watch

Posted by geeknews at 1:30 AM on August 12, 2011

Thank you for your amazing support of the show. At 695 Episodes they are as exciting for me to do as the day I recorded the first one. Do you have a prize you would like to donate for show #700. Several companies have already stepped up and we are going to have a huge giveaway pool of gadgets and gear.. Speaking of Gear make sure you check out the latest episodes of The Gadget Professor and Robot Underpants!

Are you a Fan of this show or others at TPN follow the producers? Click Me!
Mobile Video Feed!

Sponsored by:

"New GoDaddy Customers" save 25% off on your entire order use promo code 25MAY3
GNC GoDaddy Promo Code save you money See Full List Here!

Subscribe Today:  Audio Video (HD) |  Mobile Video iTunes Zune
Download the Show File

Follow @geeknews on Twitter
Geek News Central Facebook Page
Purchase GNC gear from the Ohana Store!
Show Hotline 24/7 1-619-342-7365 or e-mail geeknews@gmail.com

Listener Links:
Apple is King!

Show Links:
Happy Birthday PC @ 30!
Chill.
Free Speech Watch.
What’s good for the Goose is good…..
Don’t Cry!
CrowdMug?
Parking in Motion!
1.2 Billion on What?
Don’t send me your email!
Cancer Cure?
New Patch Monitoring.
Ford Net?
Sony cuts Prices on Google TV.
Carbonite IPO!
Amazon Flips Apple the Bird.
Apple is King of the Hill.
USB 3.0 @ 100 Watts.
Google + Games Implemented the Right way!
Power Consumption of Gadgets.
Privacy at Linked In?
Block Sites – Lower Prices.
New Zealand 3 Strikes on Clock!
DtecNet Evil Empire.
Apple Projectors.
Breaking Netflix Down.
Vudu Flips Apple the Bird.
Yap.Tv makes you Yap?
Disney Pay for Cable or No Net Media!
P2P moving on up!
Zediva Shutters.
**** Social Media Propaganda ****
Yahoo Ups their Image.
FTC Crawls through Google.
Google Video App 2.2 and Up 4×4!
Shuttle Head to Head.
Rover oh Rover Where are Though Rover!
Mach 20 and then Warp!
Facebook Slows Down.
T-Mobile more Like AT&T everyday!

PlayPlay

Yahoo Steps Up Image Search

Posted by Alan Buckingham at 4:32 PM on August 10, 2011

yahoo image search

Yahoo announced today that they are enhancing their image search.  It has a new tiled interface, a “latest” tab for trending results, a “galleries” tab, and Facebook integration that displays pictures from your friends with your results.  The biggest change is, perhaps, the way clicked images are displayed.  According to the Yahoo announcement:

“By clicking on any image on the search results page, the image will appear on a fresh page allowing users to browse effortlessly through full-size images with a simple click on the desktop browser.”

The new tiled interface renders all images in equal size, which I actually like better than Google’s “mismatched” look.  Like Google and Bing, Yahoo enlarges an image if you hover your mouse over it.

Yahoo is also claiming that more improvements are on the way.  These changes are worth checking out because I think this may be the cleanest, prettiest image search of any of the big three search engines.  Of course, the bottom line is the results your query gets, and that remains to be seen.  You can test it out at images.yahoo.com.

 

GNC #693 Plank Owner

Posted by geeknews at 9:21 PM on August 4, 2011

Ok Folks new Studio will be a go. In order to make it happen I am introducing the Plank Owner program tonight.. If we can get 1000 Plank Owners we will hit the goal for the new studio plans.. If we reach half that amount the studio goes to the Garage believe me I do not want to go to the Garage :)

Are you a Fan of this show or others at TPN follow the producers? Click Me!
Mobile Video Feed!

Sponsored by:

"New GoDaddy Customers" save 25% off on your entire order use promo code 25MAY3
GNC GoDaddy Promo Code save you money See Full List Here!
.

Subscribe Today:  Audio Video (HD) |  Mobile Video iTunes Zune
Download the Show File

Follow @geeknews on Twitter
Geek News Central Facebook Page
Purchase GNC gear from the Ohana Store!
Show Hotline 24/7 1-619-342-7365 or e-mail geeknews@gmail.com

Listener Links:
Coppa.
Splitting Atoms at Home.
Drudge on iTunes.
Alamo Drafthouse in Austin.
Mobile Versus Toliets.

Show Links:
Is Smart Power too Smart.
NASA Sends Lego to Jupiter?
Siemens 7 Hack.
Copyright Infringement Win.
Righthaven bunch of Idiots.
Rare Earth Elements.
New Federal CIO.
Atlas 5 for Manned Flight Tests.
Feds Remove 72 Perverts from Society.
Martian Water.
Yahoo WebPlayer.
Symantec Behind 8 Ball?
LinkedIn Grows but not cash.
Roku Update.
ISP Spying Plan.
P2P Users Catch a Break.
Hard Drive for iPad Users.
iCloud Pricing.
Time Magazine All in.
Google Chrome 13.
Chrome OS Hacked.
Cable Subs Down in Q2.
KarmaDecay for Reddit.
NFL for Internet.
RunKeeper.
Amazon App Store.
$1.00 HIV Test Set.
Worlds Most Efficient Bulb.
Jailbreakers Beware AT&T on Hunt!
Two Brits Visit First Walmart.
Cool Video!
Magic Mouse RIP?

GNC #683 Congrats Angelo

Posted by geeknews at 12:58 AM on June 28, 2011

Getting back into the groove here in Hawaii, body is adapting back to HST which will take a few days. Your continued support of all our shows is greatly appreciated. Family Update: Shoko made it to Japan without her father passing, situation remains touch and go info on show.

Sponsored by:

"New GoDaddy Customers" save 25% off on your entire order use promo code 25MAY3
GNC GoDaddy Promo Code save you money See Full List Here!

Subscribe Today: Audio | Video | iTunes | Zune
Download the Show File

Follow @geeknews on Twitter
Geek News Central Facebook Page
Purchase GNC gear from the Ohana Store!
Show Hotline 24/7 1-619-342-7365 or e-mail geeknews@gmail.com

Listener Links:
Set top Boxes suck Power.
TSA Dirty Deed!
Pocket Cast App!

Show Links:
Red Flag Act.
Verizon May be fast in a “few” places!
TSA Cancer Cluster!
TSA has lost their minds!
Rico for Righthaven?
Police now searching for Apps in Arizona!
Is the PC on the way Out?
Wi-Fi 2010 vs 2011.
To many fake Geeks?
Firefox versus the Enterprise!
Data Plans of the Future?
Mouse Diet?
iOS 5 Beta 2.
Human Errors lead to Security Issues.
50+ Flocking to Facebook.
Wi-Fi Testing in UK.
Answers.com cleans house.
FCC No Opinion with Report.
Goggles for Getty Museum!
Genome Contamination (Deep).
East Coast Missile Launch.
7500 Mile Asteroid.
Yahoo Connected TV.
Slingbox in Boxee?
Hotfiles Battle with RIAA!
Hollywood versus UK ISP BT.
5 Cars in a 100 to control Traffic.
Scribbly!
10 Gmail Gadgets.
Sage TV Upgrades.
Yahoo Connected TV watches with your?
Tom Tom App Cool Update.
iPhone 5?
Paypal at 100 Million Users.
Supreme Court ruling on Video Games.
Fring 4 way Video Chat App.
26 Countries and User info Request at Google.
Geohot gets job at Facebook.
Rootkit Infection requires complete re-build.
TurnTable.FM

PlayPlay