Google, Search Engine | featured news

Google’s core business, search advertising, seems so far to have weathered the economic doldrums that have hurt other sites and publications relying on ads.

As search spending continued to rise in the just-ended third quarter, Google regained market share lost during the last couple of quarters to Microsoft's Bing search engine, according to a new report to be released Tuesday morning by Efficient Frontier, which manages about $1 billion in search, display, and social advertising for agencies and advertisers. ...

Rick Santorum has lost control of his online identity, a predicament that stands as a chilling example of what it means to be at the mercy of the Google algorithm.

The Muppets Take Mountain View. Today, Google’s Bay Area-based imagineers and the Muppets’ digital puppeteers have teamed for a new, interactive “Doodle.” The home-page logo animation — refashioned with six Muppets that the user can manipulate by clicking on “hand” buttons — celebrates what would have been the 75th birthday Saturday of late Muppets creator Jim Henson.

Google's executive chairman denies that the company fixes its search results to promote its own websites and services.

Google+ is being opened up for anyone to join after two-and-a-half months is closed testing.

Following a nearly four-month trial period, Google is taking its mobile commerce application, Google Wallet, nationwide. In a blog post announcing the news, the search giant said it needed the time to extensively test the app, which lets users pay for goods by tapping their smartphones against special wireless readers, which are powered by MasterCard’s contactless “PayPass” technology.

Google announced the launch of its new flight search tool, challenging sites such as Kayak and Orbitz.
The company acquired travel-search software maker ITA in April, following a Justice Department probe into how the merger would affect competition with other travel sites. This latest product seems to be a direct result of that acquisition.

Google Inc. announced Thursday that it has acquired Zagat Survey LLC, the restaurant review and ratings service that is a go-to source for foodies everywhere.

Google said it will discontinue several products, as the Internet giant narrows its focus and doubles down on new efforts, including its Google+ social networking service, under CEO Larry Page.