There has recently been some gossip about Google’s project which involves 3D maps of San Francisco, as well as other cities. More details have been disclosed today (Kudos to Slashdot) including some pictures and related research papers (PDF).

An example of output maps, which can be generated by trucks with laser tracers

lpha trial of one excellent Web-based aggregator is on its way. Yet another Web-based feed syndication service? Definitely not. Feedlounge features AJAX, tags, keyboard navigation and an excellent overall integration. The user experience equates to that of a native program.

The world’s leading search engine breaks through boundaries and continues to expand, diminishing many smaller companies in its path. Google have already acquired many small companies; Among the list:

• Blogger
• Deja News (for Google Groups)
• Picasa (Photo organiser)
• Applied Semantics (for AdSense/AdWords)

Slashdot have just unveiled the fact that Google Maps now cover the entire world . There has been no formal announcement from Google, yet. Google Maps must already be gnawing at the share of giants like MapQuest, MapBlast or even more localised mapping sites like Streetmap in the UK. Google’s equivalent is simply by far better in terms of technology and hence its usability.

Only yesterday, the Wall Street Journal revealed that Google might put PayPal and eBay under threat by introducing Google Wallet.

Many of us are fond of Google, but it is worrying how much power they can gain so rapidly.

In the past two days, I noticed the Nazi analogy being used twice in two separate newsgroups in UseNet. That was when the point when members brought Godwin’s Law to everyone’s attention.

As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one…

…whoever mentioned the Nazis has automatically lost whatever argument was in progress…

he great news to Webmasters is that Google have filed a patent and, in the process, exposed some secrets. One of the interesting revelations, for example, is that Google prioritise domains which have been registered for a long time. Google also maintain a link ‘sandbox’, which prevents quick growth of sites with spam content.

…Gone are the days of pages and pages full of link farms. You must grow your links slowly to stay below the radar and be careful who you exchange links with. That means no more buying hundreds of links at once or other underhand tactics…

Webmasters, read the site carefully. Many valuable tips are listed.

n this day and age when people become more familiar with the term “blog”, there is a certain dissatisfaction — some would say an anti-climax.

Blogs are a linear form of publishing. There is barely any hierarchy and rarely a connection between items. There are no levels, sub-levels, or context and hence there is little or no interest in blog archives, which often become a graveyard. Fortunately, only about 5-10% of this site’s content is arranged in the form of a blog.

Also see contextually-related items called Blogging Burnout or Business Week Blogs and Business.

CNN have published an insightful article on the rebound of big dot-com Web sites. Although their arguments seem convincing, many will remain skeptical. Scott Kessler is among the skeptics:

I’d hesitate to characterize this is as comparable to what was going on in the late 1990s,” said Scott Kessler, an equity analyst with Standard & Poor’s. “Not every Internet stock is doing well.

Picture from CNN