Search Engine Optimization News Blog

Google has a new toy. At the Consumers Electronic Show (CES), a device similar to the iPod Touch is also running Android. The is basically a small tablet running Android. It’s Wifi-enabled, has a touch screen and plays music. The screen is 4.3 inches with a resolution of 480 x 272. It only comes with 256mb of storage, but a microSD slot allows users to add memory cards, similar to the Sansa SlotMusic player. Queries about pricing received a very vague answer – supposedly cost will undercut the iPod Touch.

Microsoft beat out Google for the Verizon portal, local and Internet search contract, as well as providing mobile advertising services to customers on its devices. In addition, they are releasing an update to the Live Search for Mobile client for Windows Mobile phones. The update will include several new features, including Query Autosuggest, Bird’s Eye View imagery, and LocateMe, which helps people automatically know their approximate location, even without GPS. Also, beginning February 1, Dell will offer Live Search on the majority of its consumer and small business PCs in 23 countries, with Live Search as the default search engine in the browser. Dell will also include a Live Search-powered toolbar and Windows Live Essentials on new PCs.

Yahoo has developed a Widget Channel for new LG and Samsung televisions that are Internet connected. “Yahoo! has combined key attributes of the Internet, including openness, community, and personalization, with the power of television,” said Patrick Barry, vice president, Connected TV, Yahoo!. “By creating this revolutionary new Internet experience, and combining our technology with the global distribution of major consumer electronics partners, we enable consumers to access the relevant information and content to enhance their television watching experience.”

TiVo has also updated the search on their digital video recording service.”What Google did for the Internet, TiVo is now doing for the TV, bringing people a combination of excellent search results and innovative discovery that can’t be found anywhere else,” said Tom Rogers, CEO and President of TiVo. “TiVo has always been known as the best way to watch what you want, when you want it. Now we’re taking that to a new level, using TiVo technology to find just the right program from hundreds of channels and thousands of broadband options, all in seconds. It is clear TiVo is leading the way in providing more choice, and also leading the way in finding content quickly. TiVo Search is a new way to find what you’ve been missing.”

With the digital changeover looming, this is the future of TV watching, and sites such as YouTube and Hulu are expected to take off.