EtherPad: What Happens when Google Docs Developers Go Crazy

By George Norman - Software News Editor

Have you ever wondered what could happen if some of the people behind Google docs would leave Google and start working on a similar product? With support from Y Combinator and Friendfeed they would come up with EtherPad – one piece of software that does not score high points in the looks department, but really racks up the points in terms of group productivity.

“It’s comparable to Google Docs or a wiki, but it’s far more useful. You start off by creating a new workspace. You type basic text on numbered lines at will. Then invite someone else in and have them type as well. Each user’s edits are highlighted a different color. Changes are made in absolute real time, something even Google hasn’t been able to do,” says Michael Arrington from
TechCrunch

The software was launched earlier this week, and if you thought Google Docs was a good product, then EtherPad will really blow your mind. There are other useful features, besides the ones presented above. With a few clicks of the mouse you can customize EtherPad to your liking – you do not like the line numbers for example, just take them out; you want JavaScript syntax to be highlighted, set up EtherPad to do this automatically. In order to aid with communication, there is a built-in chat feature in the sidebar, meaning that you can instantly convey your message to your collaborator or collaborators.


The platform on which the EtherPad application was built upon is AppJet. The thing is that the ex-Google developers did not use just any AppJet platform; they got the chance to build up EtherPad on a brand new version of AppJet that has not been released to the general public yet. The whole process was beneficial to EtherPad as well as to AppJet – the two grew synchronously.


Additional details on Etherpad, as well as a minute and a half screencast are
available here


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Tags: EtherPad, Google Docs, AppJet

YouTube new ad platform called Sponsored Videos.

SAN BRUNO, Calif.--YouTube on Wednesday said it's rolling out a new ad platform called Sponsored Videos.

According to YouTube, which held a press conference at its headquarters, Sponsored Videos lets users promote their videos by bidding on keywords. Here's how it works: First, YouTube users, whether individuals or corporations, decide which of the videos they've uploaded they want to promote through site search. Then they decide which keywords they want to target.

Google, YouTube's parent company, has created automated tools that help users place bids for the keywords in an automated online auction, as well as set spending budgets. When people use keywords in search terms for videos, YouTube will display relevant videos alongside the search results. If you're, say, a Hollywood film studio, maybe you bid on the words "movie trailer."

Wow. Selling keywords on YouTube's search. What a great idea!

It only represents the single most important concept in online advertising, and it's the inspiration on which Google built an advertising dynasty. So why has it taken so long for YouTube to adopt a similar strategy?

The Web's largest video site has been casting about for a way to cash in on its 80 million users. Google CEO Eric Schmidt has said several times this year that YouTube was not generating the kind of revenue the company hoped it would. Wouldn't creating an Adsense-like offering on YouTube have been one of the first things Google did after purchasing YouTube for $1.65 billion two years ago?

As one reporter asked YouTube executives: "Wasn't this a no-brainer?"

It's not as easy as it looks, according to Matthew Liu, a YouTube product manager.

"You're absolutely right," Liu told reporters. "In hindsight, it is a natural transition for YouTube to make. We've been working on this for months. The key was, we wanted to make sure we got it right. There are a lot of intricacies involved. YouTube is a video discovery platform. We've been integrating with Google AdWords for some time, and now we're at a place where it can be win and win."

Sponsored Videos, labeled as such when they appear following a keyword search, are priced on a cost-per-click basis. Currently, only U.S. users can bid on video keywords.

So how much could this be worth to Google? It's hard to say, at this point, whether Sponsored Videos will be the answer to YouTube's revenue problems, but consider that the site recently surpassed Yahoo to become the No. 2 Web search provider, behind Google.

To squeeze more money out of YouTube, Google has launched other ad formats, such as posting links near videos, enabling visitors to purchase goods found in the clip. Google has also worked to repair its reputation in Hollywood and has recently signed deals that will bring full-length TV and film content to the site.

Google shares closed trading on Wednesday at $291, down more than 6 percent. This was the first time the stock fell below $300 in three years.

By

Greg Sandoval covers media and digital entertainment for CNET News. He is a former reporter for The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. E-mail Greg.

The Google 2009 Online Marketing Challenge

The Google Online Marketing Challenge is a global student online marketing competition open to any higher education institution, anywhere in the world.

Registrations for the 2009 Challenge are now open!

Developed by professors in collaboration with Google, the Challenge is a great opportunity for students to gain practical, real world online marketing experience. Students also get the excitement of competing on a global level, with the overall winners and their professor/lecturer receiving a trip to the Googleplex in Mountain View. In addition, regional winners and their professor will receive a trip to their local Google office.

The 2008 Google Online Marketing Challenge saw more than 1600 student teams from 47 countries around the world taking part in this global competition. Find out more about our 2008 winners and finalists here.

How does it work?

Student teams receive US$200 of free online advertising with Google AdWords and then work with local businesses to devise effective online marketing campaigns. Teams outline a strategy, run a campaign, assess their results and provide the business with recommendations to further develop their online marketing. Teams submit their reports and are judged by a panel of independent academics from all over the world

Who can enter?

The Challenge is open to any higher education institution from anywhere in the world. Registrations for 2009 are now open. If you are a professor or lecturer and want your class to compete, register now!

Still Havent Upgrade it until i have time

Will Upgrade it soon