Google has given clear instructions on how add the Google+ button to your website: http://bit.ly/GPlusButton

Google has begun to allow integration of its +1 button into 3rd party social media platforms. PowerReviews, BazaarVoice are among the first to integrate the button. From the Google webmaster central blog, movie review site can now allow visitors to share posts containing the title, movie poster and a brief synopsis:

Are you ready to add the Google+ button to your site?

“News near you” in Google News – How does it impact the users?
‘News on the move’ is more than just an accessory it is a necessity. Most of us like to hear the news and keep an eye on the pulse of the things happening around them, especially if it is happening in our community. In addition, if you are travelling to a new place then it is very important that you know what is happening around you so that you are aware of any closed roads, events and even the traffic situation. By Combing the rising trend of community news with news on the move Google has launched a feature called ‘News Near You’.
History
Localized news has been available on Google news since 2008. It allows you to update your location and get and instant access to the events and happening near and around your location. Now users can use this feature on their Android based smartphones and Apple iPhones by activating a feature called ‘News near you’.
How to activate ‘News near you’ on your phone
Activating this feature is simple. On your phone log in to news.google.com, a pop up will appear asking if you want to share your location. Click on ‘yes’ and the new section of news near you will appear at the bottom of your homepage.
Going on a vacation? Or want to shop on a new location? Don’t forget to activate this feature on your mobile. You will have instant and correct access to the happenings on your locations and new events, on-going sales etc. on your fingertips.
This wonderful feature eliminates the need of having to read all the irrelevant news on when you are looking for some important information in the local area. Another big advantage of using this feature on your mobile phone is that you get instant updates of the local happenings around you and even the videos (in collaboration with YouTube).

‘News on the move’ is more than just an accessory it is a necessity. Most of us like to hear the news and keep an eye on the pulse of the things happening around them, especially if it is happening in our community. In addition, if you are travelling to a new place then it is very important that you know what is happening around you so that you are aware of any closed roads, events and even the traffic situation. By Combing the rising trend of community news with news on the move Google has launched a feature called ‘News Near You’.

History
Localized news has been available on Google news since 2008. It allows you to update your location and get and instant access to the events and happening near and around your location. Now users can use this feature on their Android based smartphones and Apple iPhones by activating a feature called ‘News near you’.

How to activate ‘News near you’ on your phone
Activating this feature is simple. On your phone log in to news.google.com, a pop up will appear asking if you want to share your location. Click on ‘yes’ and the new section of news near you will appear at the bottom of your homepage.
Going on a vacation? Or want to shop on a new location? Don’t forget to activate this feature on your mobile. You will have instant and correct access to the happenings on your locations and new events, on-going sales etc. on your fingertips.

This wonderful feature eliminates the need of having to read all the irrelevant news on when you are looking for some important information in the local area. Another big advantage of using this feature on your mobile phone is that you get instant updates of the local happenings around you and even the videos (in collaboration with YouTube).

Well, here is another move that gets Google closer to their quest for world domination. Now, using Gmail you can call your friends and family on home phone or cellphone.

Calls to the U.S. and Canada will remain free through the rest of the year. The unlimited voice plans for top providers Verizon and AT&T are $69.99 per month. The international rates, too, seem reasonable for now: 2 cents a minute for calls to the U.K., France, Germany, China and Japan. Over 1,000,000 calls placed from Gmail in just 24 hours, as per tweet from Google.

Google has plans to release this feature for businesses soon….with a fee of course. Google has been generally slow to tap the corporate market — which could be a driver for Google to offer Gmail calls at a competitive rate.

Here is an excerpt from CNN:

“Google is taking the easy road of arming their army of fans and users with something just good enough to use — but not necessarily good enough to meet enterprise requirements — and standing back and watching to see how they can shape the market,” said Tom Austin, Google applications analyst at Gartner.

As a result, Austin said he believes Google’s paid revenue stream for the service will be quite small: just $20.3 million per quarter, or 0.3% of Google’s second quarter revenue.

What are your thoughts?

TubeMogul research sample spans 60.2 milion views of 25 major video advertising campaigns that ran identical videos within Facebook ad units (four types) and comparable click-to-play video ad units on publisher sites (i.e. standalone 300×250 ad units). The results were compared based on resulting cost, viewing-time and much more.

Facebook ranked as the 5th most popular video site in April according to Comscore, putting it above other popular properties like Hulu. Surprisingly, Facebook also surpassed other sources, like Google, Twitter, Yahoo and Bing, in video discovery. Video completion rates on Facebook compared with offsite revealed Facebook to have superior completion rates around 40% +, nearly 6-10% higher than offsite views.

Another interesting statistic revealed was that videos related to virtual currency and in-banner video ads in apps were about 20% greater than offsite displays. Viewers on Facebook and twitter were found more likely to share, nearly 2% more, virtual currency and in-banner display videos ads with friends compared to other sites.

In conclusion, virtual currency was the leader in most metrics, including price which makes sense as the views are incentivized. Offer platforms like Gwallet specialize in offering developers an frame with branded videos their consumers can watch in exchange for virtual currency. Virtual currency ads also experienced higher click through rates and turned out to be the best buy on a cost-per-view basis.

It’s finally here…for the longest real conversations were not possible on YouTube like on other social sites like Facebook & Twitter. Not anymore!! YouTube is offering the ability to use Google Moderator in every YouTube channel.  What does Google Moderator do? It allows YouTube channel creators the ability to connect with their subscribers.

Now you can ask for feedback, share ideas for new videos and ask questions.  You can vote for best comments, ideas and questions….so true conversations are in. You can check out Google Moderator in action on The New York Times channel.

How to enable this for your channel? Very simple, click on “My Channels” then “Modules” tab and check the “Moderator” box and you are all set.

So do you think that real time interactions change the future of YouTube?

The Google Buzz has its share of issues after its launch. The real power that Buzz had was the existing170+ million gmail users.

Easy enough, Google thought that, WE the users, would want to follow the people we mostly chat or send emails to OR create a auto-follower list from our Gmail address book. This way Google’s develops the Buzz network faster than any other network a.k.a. Facebook or Twitter.

Lo and  behold, little did WE know that our privacy could be compromised and all our Gmail addresses could be exposed through Google Buzz. Well it takes FTC’s attention and leaking of White House Deputy CTO’s Gmail address list to have Google take action on their mistake.

So, what comes out of Buzz’s product manager Todd Jackson “Rather than automatically setting you up to follow the people you email and chat with most, Google Buzz now suggests people for you to follow instead,”.

Love Google but that does not mean I love everything they do, what are your thoughts, are you Buzzin or Buzzin’ off?

Read more: Google changes Buzz privacy settings – San Francisco Business Times: