Google is changing search results bad but offering a new privacy tool good HEAD TOPICS
Google is changing search results bad but offering a new privacy tool good
10/22/2022 3:25:00 PM Google is changing search results bad but offering a new privacy tool good Watchdog
Source Dallas Morning News
Google is changing search results bad but offering a new privacy tool good Watchdog Some changes are coming to Google, the advertising and search giant. They may not be great for consumers, Watchdog Dave Lieber says. 12:41 PM on Oct 21, 2022 CDT — Updated at 3:36 PM on Oct 21, 2022 CDTGoogle is messing with its search function in a big way, and I don’t like it. Some good news: there is a new major privacy tool I want to tell you about to protect your phone number, home address and email address from appearing in Google searches. Text is out. Images and videos are in. For me, it’s a lot of unnecessary clutter.Google has a slogan for this: “Search outside the box.”It was there I learned about a new “Results About You Tool.” When fully released it should allow you to ask Google to remove “sensitive, personally-identifiable information” from its search results. This includes phone numbers, email addresses and home addresses. Read more:
Dallas Morning News » Google fined $162 mln by India antitrust watchdog for abuse of Android platform Google fined over $160M by Indian watchdog over market dominance Google wants us to invest in an ecosystem we can't trust Digital Trends Google adds replies and stars to Messages — and is taking the RCS fight to iPhones Feeding San Diego accepts challenge from Philabundance in spirit of NLCS -
SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – As the Padres and the Phillies face off on the field, Feeding San Diego has accepted a challenge from Philabundance to see which city can raise more funds to help their communities end hunger while the NLCS takes place. Organizers say the friendly fundraising will help raise awareness on the demand for food as people across... Read more >> Google fined $162 mln by India antitrust watchdog for abuse of Android platformIndia's competition regulator on Thursday ordered Alphabet Inc's Google to change its approach to its Android platform and fined the U.S. tech company 13.38 billion Indian rupees ($161.95 million) for anticompetitive practices. pocket change for google lol Google fined over $160M by Indian watchdog over market dominanceThe Competition Commission of India says Google configured the platform to unlawfully crowd out rivals to its popular apps, including YouTube and web browser Chrome. Google wants us to invest in an ecosystem we can't trust Digital TrendsGoogle has a promising ecosystem with its Pixel line, but the company's frequent U-turns and strategy shifts make investing a hard sell. Google adds replies and stars to Messages — and is taking the RCS fight to iPhonesGoogle’s new plan for RCS: annoy iPhone users into forcing Apple to support the new messaging standard. iMessage has had most of these features for years. Why would Apple compromise for a Google owned technology in a segment where they are the market leaders? I like how you bury the part they mention RCS doesn’t have encryption support. Yeah I’d never want Apple to support RCS cause I remember when Google was dominating over Microsoft they refused to build a simple YouTube app for them. Google likes to switch things up a lot, abandon technology, sell it off, and sometimes make it crappie for no reason, maybe this is Apples fears. Six months from now Google decides to abandon RCS, calling it a test to collect user data Google sued by Texas attorney general over alleged biometric data violationsTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Google, alleging the California-based tech giant violated a state identity law, his office announced Thursday. People in Texas are.... Google unveils Android 13 (Go edition): More than just the basicsGoogle announced Android 13 (Go edition) brings some advanced new features to entry-level smartphones Watchdog Dave Lieber: You can ask Google to remove your phone, email and address from search results Some changes are coming to Google, the advertising and search giant.A man walks past the sign of "Google for India", the company's annual technology event in New Delhi, India, September 19, 2019.The Indian commission levied a fine of 13.The Google Pixel 7, Pixel Watch, and Pixel Tablet all have something in common other than being Google-branded products with generic names. They may not be great for consumers. (Dave Lieber) Dave Lieber 12:41 PM on Oct 21, 2022 CDT — Updated at 3:36 PM on Oct 21, 2022 CDT I’ve noticed something is wrong with my favorite, most powerful Internet tool.O) Google to change its approach to its Android platform and fined the U. This tool is so extraordinary that I turn to it dozens of times a day. The California-based company's Android mobile operating system is by far the dominant player in India and is run on 95 percent of all the country's smartphones, according to research agency Counterpoint. I’m certain I couldn’t serve as your watchdog without it. tech company 13. What am I talking about? Google. They exist in a world where Google has attempted various iterations of its ecosystems ‘for real this time’ before scuppering them. Google is messing with its search function in a big way, and I don’t like it.95 million) for anticompetitive practices. "Markets should be allowed to compete on merits and the onus is on (Google) that its conduct does not impinge this competition on merits," it added. Some good news: there is a new major privacy tool I want to tell you about to protect your phone number, home address and email address from appearing in Google searches. Google changes The search and advertising giant, in my opinion, wants to be more like Instagram and TikTok, which publish your photos and videos with captions. CCI also restricted Google from certain revenue sharing agreements with smartphone makers, noting that such practices helped Google to secure exclusivity for its search services "to the total exclusion of competitors. Google is moving away from giving you text lines of results to your query. It also told Google not to enter into any agreement with smartphone makers that would encourage them to only sell Android-based devices or exclusively use its software. Now on mobile phones it throws up photos and videos and plenty more.com Register Google declined to comment on the order. The Killed By Google site chronicles services the company has championed before dumping. Text is out. Images and videos are in. The U. More than 60 percent of phones sold in the country come from leading Chinese manufacturers including Xiaomi and Oppo. For me, it’s a lot of unnecessary clutter. Google says it is going more visual because that’s the way the world is turning. company is facing a series of antitrust cases and the tightening of existing tech-sector regulations in India. As someone who deals in text, I find that utterly depressing. Now, a new report from The Information claims that Google is diving into hardware full-throttle to beat back Apple. This is supposed to roll out next year, but I’m seeing it in mobile search results now. The Android-related probe, started in 2019, was sparked by a complaint from two junior Indian antitrust research associates and a law school student. I have to scroll and scroll past the clutter, mostly videos and pictures, on my phone to get information I need. It’s annoying. Google was ordered by India on Thursday not to restrict smartphone users from uninstalling its pre-installed apps like Google Maps and Gmail. Previously, you would toggle between web results, images and videos. Now you will see all that displayed on the front page. Google's Android operating system powers 97% of India's 600 million smartphones, according to Counterpoint Research. There’s no guarantee there’ll be a Pixel Watch 2 next year or even the year after, nor is there the same for a Pixel Tablet 2. Google has a slogan for this: “Search outside the box.” What does that mean? The camera on your phone will now recognize places when you point it in Live View.6180 Indian rupees) Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters. Google calls it and the new layout I just described as key components of what it labels “the age of visual search.” “Your camera is the next keyboard,” said Prabhakar Raghavan, in charge of Google Search. He explained this at #SearchOn 22, a Google product rollout I attended virtually. How much confidence should one have in Google following up on the Pixel Watch a year or two from now based on that track record? To be very fair to Google, it’s kept at Pixels longer than one would expect given their market performance, but one has to imagine the bean counters are getting increasingly nervous. New privacy tool It was there I learned about a new “Results About You Tool.” When fully released it should allow you to ask Google to remove “sensitive, personally-identifiable information” from its search results. This includes phone numbers, email addresses and home addresses. I tried to test it, but I landed on a support page; it’s not ready yet. Google explains in a blog post titled “ Remove your personal information from Google at support. It’s the company’s first smartwatch, it’s never done its own processor before, it has a small retail footprint. google.com that it’s “important to note that when we receive removal requests, we will evaluate all content on the web page to ensure that we’re not limiting the availability of other information that is broadly useful, for instance in news articles. “And of course, removing contact information from Google Search doesn’t remove it from the web, which is why you may wish to contact the hosting site directly, if you’re comfortable doing so.” Google's new personal information removal tool is almost ready. (Dave Lieber) Using Google Google is the single most important tool to use as a smart consumer. Certainly, there are good reasons to delve into why these issues are being experienced for those inclined to be sympathetic or analytic — but those are neither here nor there. Before you buy anything of value or hire someone to do work for you (roofer, plumber, pool builder, electrician, etc.), you must play private detective and hit that Google box hard with questions about them. Research the company or individual using their name and adding words like scam, fraud, complaints, reviews. The difference in search results between searching for “Garage Door Repair of Eastlake” (made up company name and town) and “Garage Door Repair of Eastlake complaints reported , in this case of garage doors, an honest repair person might charge $200 to fix a door. But a dishonest one will charge $2,000 for the same task. If Android tablets had Android 13 en masse, that’s yet another piece. On my desk now — and always — is a pile of letters from readers who’ve gotten scammed by local businesses who take the money and run. In the lone-scam state, not finishing a promised job is the easiest crime to get away with. Police and prosecutors usually only chase these lowlifes when there’s a pattern of multiple victims. They consider it to be a civil matter, not criminal. You have to protect yourself. But what these complaint letters all have in common is that the writers failed to do a thorough search beforehand. If only they had. When I say “thorough” I mean scroll down. Don’t only look at page 1 or page 2 of results. Scammers know how to push their negative results down. Keep going. Google says that consumers will benefit because it’s also altering its algorithm to push smart, helpful, expert information higher up in results. Overusing keywords, which was the magic sauce previously for top search results, is no longer going to work. With all the added clutter, I’m worried that “the age of digital search” might not be all that wonderful for consumers. It might be harder, not easier to find what you need on scammers. If you want to learn more, Google it. Ha! Become a citizen of Watchdog Nation. Join Dave Lieber and learn to be a super-consumer. Watchdog newsletter: click here . Subscribe: PLEASE support The Watchdog’s brand of straightforward journalism designed to save you time, money and aggravation. Treat yourself to a digital subscription (and make him look good!) by visiting https://dallasnews.com/subscribe Watchdog Home Page: You can’t afford to miss The Watchdog’s two reports each week. Follow our latest reporting always at home page which features all recent columns. Watch this free training video from Dave: .