Google sends Android into Space

Google attached Nexus S phones running Android to weather balloons in order to capture data about how the Nexus S's sensors (GPS, gyroscope, accelerometer, and magnetometer) perform in extreme temperatures, high wind speeds and changes in pressure.

The Android character was attached to the payload and was filmed by the Nexus phone at 100,000 feet. Google explained, "We secured a nylon load line to the cooler and attached to it a radar reflector, a parachute, and finally, a weather balloon.

Every payload had an APRS transmitter attached to a GPS that was known to work at high altitudes, as well as batteries for power. The remainder of each payload was different for each balloon: some had digital cameras taking pictures and some had video cameras mounted at various angles (up, down, and at the horizon)."

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The world mapped by Facebook friendships

Paul Butler from the Facebook data infrastructure engineering team wanted to visualise the way political borders affect friendships and realationships around the world. This map of the world was created by sampling data from Facebook's 500 million user base.

The map displays friendships as lights. The USA and Europe shine the brightest.  Parts of the world where Facebook is banned or has little presence are dark or missing.

Poor customer service can boost search engine rankings

DecorMyEyes, an online retailer of contact lenses and glasses stumbled across a unique way of boosting their Google rankings.  The New York times story explains that due to their poor customer service, DecorMyEyes received a large amount of negative customer reviews on Get Satisfaction, ComplaintsBoard.com, ConsumerAffairs.com and other similar sites.

However, the Google algorithm only saw a hive of activity and due to its lack of sentiment analysis, perceived this 'social buzz' as a positive thing.  As the poor reviews increased, the website rose higher and higher for a number of very competitive keywords and phrases.

In one cheeky response to the criticism on the Get Satisfaction site the owner posted:

“I just wanted to let you guys know that the more replies you people post, the more business and the more hits and sales I get. My goal is NEGATIVE advertisement.” 

Now that Google have heard about the controversy, the site has disappeared from the search results.  Google employee Amit Singhal is part of the team convened to look at the issue, he said:

"We were horrified to read about Ms. Rodriguez’s dreadful experience, even though our initial analysis pointed to this being an edge case and not a widespread problem in our search results, we immediately convened a team that looked carefully at the issue. That team developed an initial algorithmic solution, implemented it, and the solution is already live. I am here to tell you that being bad is, and hopefully will always be, bad for business in Google’s search results."

Chrome OS Pilot Program

Google are looking for users to test their new operating system known as Chrome OS.  Each participant is to receive a brand new Cr-48 Chrome notebook and in return is expected to provide regular feedback.  The cut off date for applications from US users is the 21st December.  Testing will begin in other countries in 2011.  The Chrome OS Pilot program page states:

"We have a limited number of Chrome notebooks to distribute, and we need to ensure that they find good homes. That’s where you come in. Everything is still very much a work in progress, and it’s users, like you, that often give us our best ideas about what feels clunky or what’s missing. So if you live in the United States, are at least 18 years old, and would like to be considered for our small Pilot program, please fill this out. It should take about 15 minutes. We'll review the requests that come in and contact you if you've been selected."

                                      The Cr-48 Chrome Notebook