Nick Simpson

In the next few days, you may notice a different appearance to your Google search results. This is because Google will be revealing their new search feature: real-time search.

Photo from Macworld.com

Sites such as Twitter Search are already providing real-time updates of present gossip in social-media sites and in current news events. Now, Google is pursuing the same approach to searching the World Wide Web.

Google’s new look search results will appear more dynamic compared to their usual simple, bare structure. The real-time results for a searched topic will appear at the top and will contain results from sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Myspace. Google’s latest results also will provide the ability to check on current traffic conditions, weather and construction in your area.

A shortcoming of the new feature is that the real-time results are based solely on the current interests of the entire population which may or may not be what you personally are searching for.

Continue reading "Google's New Search Feature" »

Posted by Nick J Simpson at 01:06 PM | Permalink

As mobile phone technology continues to advance, the future of Web 2.0 is progressively refocusing towards a new market. Mobile device owners check their phones numerous times a day, but not only for phone calls and text messages. The creation of mobile phone operating systems has allowed for applications to run on them just as they would on a computer. The result has been a thriving market for companies to create their own mobile applications and increase their revenue. In a recent Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco, Web 2.0 giants Google, Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo, Microsoft, AOL and MySpace all gathered to discuss the future of their industry and the most discussed topic was mobile phones. Mary Meeker, a technology analyst at Morgan Stanley, stated that “(smart phone technology) is ramping faster than any tech cycle I've seen in modern times" (Graham, 2009).

There are many companies that are focusing their efforts towards the application market for mobile phones. One of those companies, Paypal.com (a leading global e-commerce site), is opening to outside developers to allow them to create mobile applications for transferring money. "Developers can build things as simple as payment apps for social-networking sites, or a payroll system for a foreign country," said Scott Thompson, president of eBay.com which acquired PayPal in 2002. "You can pay for items on the phone, or even the TV in your living room," (Graham, 2009). The future of mobile phone technology is concentrated on convenience and could eliminate the need to carry certain personal items. David Ko, a Yahoo senior vice president, believes that very soon mobile phones will be an all-in-one tool. "(Your phone) will turn on the car, be your office key, wallet and badge for work," (Graham, 2009).

Continue reading "The Future of Web 2.0: Mobile Phone Applications" »

Posted by Nick J Simpson at 09:39 PM | Permalink