SEO News
Microsoft's adCenter Live in Singapore & France
A Microsoft press release confirms, that as shceduled Microsoft have debuted their contextual search ad service -- branded adCenter / MSN Keywords -- but at this time only in France and Singapore.
Updates on further developments are available directly from MSN. SearchEngineWatch also has a bit more on this story.
Micrsoft Unveil Search Ads, Today
The New York Times reports, that Microsoft are today scheduled to launch their own service to sell search ads, which will compete with Yahoo! Search Marketing and Google Adwords.
To help strengthen their late entrance into the market, Microsoft will offer ads targeted by demographic for their publishers. Something, neither Google, or Yahoo currently offer.
It's unclear at this time if the service will be available to everyone at launch, or only to a limited number of testers.
SEO Book has more take on this story
Google Video Switches to Flash
Google Video, which launched in January, has switched to using flash based video playback. Formerly the service required the installation of Google's proprietary video player plugin (based on the VLC media player).
The move will likely increase the service's user-base, given the new delivery method is more compatible with Mac and Linux based operating systems, and is now accessible to anyone who initially refused to install Google's proprietary video player plugin.
Will Yahoo Bring TV and Net Together?
The New York Times has an interesting piece on how Lloyd Braun -- the guy behind Lost, who supposedly has a predisposition to off-beat and big ideas -- and how he plans to transform Yahoo into the next generation medium:
At Yahoo, why not create programs in genres that have worked on TV but not really on the Web? Sitcoms, dramas, talk shows, even a short daily humorous take on the news much like Jon Stewart's "Daily Show" are in the works.
...
"It will almost be like a television set," Mr. Braun said, except as people watch one program, on the center of the player, other areas will offer additional programming choices, based on their past viewing habits. It will let them use Yahoo's video search to find programs from amateur videographers and video bloggers. And it will, of course, promote the glitzy shows Mr. Braun is creating.
The article goes on to note, how convergence of television and the internet is not happening from the top down, as many surely will have anticipated, but from the bottom up with video on the web becoming more accessible, and easier to use.
O'Rielly Radar also has some interesting thoughts on the subject.
FirstGov Switch to Vivisimo and MSN Search
FirstGov -- the U.S. government's official information and service portal -- previously powered by Norway's FAST, has switched to MSN Search combined with Vivisimo technology to power the site's search facility needs. According to SearchEngineWatch they reportedly made the switch because the new deal offerered more value for money than the previous one.