Google Reconnects With/Acquires Aardvark
February 12, 2010
Aardvark has, in a sense, returned to its roots. Or in other words: Two of the four men who created the social search engine are former Googlers, and now, it's been confirmed that the search giant's acquired Aardvark.
Details regarding timeframes and the fate of Aardvark's technology and employees are sadly lacking at this point. "[A] source that has been briefed on the deal" just puts the purchase price at "around $50 million," according to Michael Arrington.
Still, we can at least say a fair amount regarding what Aardvark was like before Google pulled out its checkbook. Aardvark essentially operated by posing different users' questions to one another. The trick was that it would try to seek out the most qualified individuals to answer a given query, and then deliver a personal response to the original person.
Aardvark had the social bases pretty well covered, boasting availability via email, instant messenger, the iPhone, and Twitter. It was receiving a lot of positive attention, too, with the New York Times checking in on a regular basis and Time Magazine, USA Today, and PBS all taking a look.
As for the business side of things, Aardvark employed about 20 people, and had received financial support from August Capital.
We'll try to relay additional details when they become available.
UPDATE: Aardvark's become available in Google Labs.
Mark Cuban Updates His Stance on Google
February 4, 2010
Update: Cuban has now posted a lengthy explanation of his stance on Google. Essentially, he appears to view Google as helpful if not necesary for lesser known brands, but as a bad business decision for big names in the news industry.
Oriinal Article: The always outspoken Mark Cuban has contributed his thoughts on the whole news aggregation/Google News/publisher debate, one that is most often credited to Rupert Murdoch. It appears that Cuban has a similar opinion on the matter.
Cuban spoke at a keynote address this week at the AlwaysOn OnMedia NYC 2010 Conference, and is quoted by numerous sources as calling Google in particular a "vampire."
"When you think about vampires, they just suck on your blood," he is quoted as saying, reportedly telling newspapers and other publishers to "show some balls" and block Google News and, "There's absolutely no reason for you guys to be indexed on Google News ... if they don't pay you."
Michael Arrington points out that at the TechCrunch50 conference in 2008, Cuban said he'd like to be an investor in TechMeme, which provides a similar service to Google News and other aggregators. In addition, Danny Sullivan at Search Engine Land notes (in great detail) that Cuban is an investor in Mahalo, which actually "touts to advertisers how it taps into Google to generate page views."
While on the topic of the news industry debates, the topic of charging for news is always a conversation starter. The Wall Street Journal has taken down its pay wall for the day, giving users access to articles that would otherwise require a subscription to access. The effort comes as the result of a sponsorship from Acura (Via SIA).
Have You Read This?
> News Corp. Blocks Content from News Aggregation Site
> Do You Have the "Right" to Link?
> Murdoch On Blocking Search Engines: "I Think We Will"
> Murdoch's War with the Aggregators
> Is it Really Crazy to Block Google?
Report: Google To Snap Up DocVerse
December 21, 2009
So much for the idea of December being a quiet month. First we witnessed the acquisition of AppJet, and now, a new report's indicated that Google's more or less sure to buy a company called DocVerse.
The two deals are taking place in the same space, since, like AppJet, DocVerse is focused on allowing people to collaborate on documents in real-time. The trick is that, while AppJet has its own software (EtherPad), DocVerse would provide Google more of a link to existing Microsoft products.
DocVerse was founded by two Microsoft veterans, and as explained in an "About Us" section, "combines the benefits of web-based collaboration tools like Google Docs and Zoho with the power and familiarity of the world's most popular productivity application, Microsoft Office. DocVerse offers the first ever product to truly enable real-time sharing and editing of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel files."
So Google's acquisition of DocVerse could greatly increase the appeal of Google Docs and/or Google Wave (depending on what the search giant decides to do with the technology), bringing it into equal footing with a competitor.
Anyway, Michael Arrington puts DocVerse's price at "around $25 million," and there's no word on when the deal might officially close.
Have You Read This?
> Google Adds Relevance Option To Docs Search
> Google Ready To Advance In Russia With New Search Deal
Important Product Director Moving From Google To Digg
December 1, 2009
When Google's current director of product management arrived at his desk this morning, he did so for the last time, according to a new report. Keval Desai is supposed to be leaving Google in order to start a position at Digg.
Desai - who's been with Google for about six and a half years - didn't exactly do unimportant work. In fact, he led the development of AdWords, which is one of the search giant's most recognizable products, and was also a force behind TV Ads, which has outlived Audio Ads and Print Ads.
Previously in his career, Desai cofounded a company with Michael Arrington and put in some time at Morgan Stanley Venture Partners, too.
As for what Desai's supposed to do for Digg, Arrington wrote this afternoon, "He'll be Digg's first head of product, a responsibility that has been shared at various times by founder Kevin Rose, CEO Jay Adelson and Chief Strategy Officer Mike Maser."
It seems Desai's headed almost to the top of the organization, then, and will probably exert a big influence over whatever "ballsy" changes are on the way.
Have You Read This?
> More Stories Get A Shot At The Digg Homepage
> Digg To Get All Twitter This Year?
> Digg Does It Again With Advertising
