Silverlight 3 keeps the heat on Flash

Silverlight, Microsoft's competing technology to Adobe's Flash is ratcheting up soon.

In this piece, I mentioned that I had been using the Silverlight 3 Beta client with Windows 7 RC (along side Flash).
At least on this 'test notebook', no issues to report.

Today came word from ZDNet's Mary-Jo Foley that Silverlight 3.0 will go final on July 10th.

Rich Media, as it's been called, whether it be Flash or Silverlight, has been an issue for the SEO community although Google has addressed it directly with a partnering of sorts with Adobe.

Most SEO companies are still advising clients to limit the animations, videos etc. in these formats on their primary landing pages so that search engine bots have an easier time picking up the important and relevant content.

On the other hand, the newer website technologies are providing platforms for not only 'fancy presentations' but easier site navigation and just more content in a smaller space.

Still a touchy one for most small webmasters.  On the other hand, take a look at many major retailers (and many others) and you will notice an ongoing evolution embracing rich media for product demos and more.

Just Bing and Wave! (Update 1)

Unfortunately, I'm not in a position to do an extensive blog post today (It never fails?).

On the other hand, at this hour ... hundreds of others already have (see below).

The buzz is hot from both Google and Microsoft and is more than overshadowing news from Hulu and elsewhere.


I'll share some of the key stories and press releases in our shared feed (lower right) shortly.

Bing it is for Microsoft's new search launch (with a whole family of ''Baby Bings' ... including the re-branding of numerous products, and Bing Travel born out of the Farecast acquisition ...) and from Google, it's Google Wave which by all accounts looks like it has the potential to take 'real-time' (ala FriendFeed) and social networking  to a whole new dimension.

This is not just exciting 'geek stuff'.  It is, very possibly, 'the next big thing' as well as another huge web marketing shift.

So much for the so-called echo chamber .... There are plenty of 'takes' at this hour. Pick up a few of your favorite publications (free) at TechMeMe here :)

Update: I thought a few of you might find the below screenshot a little more than interesting.
Yes, Bing is buying PPC (Pay-per-click ads) on Google!

edited 9 PM ET 5/28/2009

One of today's Windows 7 Updates was real

Microsoft quietly rolled out an automatic update late Tuesday for Beta testers of Windows 7 RC.

Included were 3 'test updates' and 1 update for the compatibility view in Internet Explorer 8.

In addition, a host of new Windows 7 language packs were released  (as optional) and can be downloaded by visiting Windows Update.

Note: Depending on your settings, you may already have them or need to visit Windows update for the IE8 patch.

More on the Windows 7 RC (which is still available for download) can be found here.

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 now available

A short time ago, Microsoft released Service Pack 2 for Vista and Windows Server 2008.

Available from the Microsoft Download Center, the new SP2 's are available as stand-alones and/or a burnable ISO for DVD.

"The latest service pack for both Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista, supports new types of hardware and emerging hardware standards, includes all of the updates that have been delivered since SP1, and simplifies deployment, for consumers, developers, and IT professionals".

Sidenote for the Beta crowd: Microsoft has also recently released Visual Studio 2010 and .Net Framework 4 Beta 1, as well as Silverlight 3.0 Beta for developers.  These betas, at least for me under Windows 7 RC,  have been running without issues so far and are worth checking out on a non-mission critical PC for forward looking developers.


Great week all
Charlie

Microsoft Search Engine - Looks like Bing, not Kumo (Update 2)

While Microsoft was planning the announce their new search engine initiative at the upcoming D7 conference, it appears AdAge is breaking the news a little early.

In an article revealed a short time ago on the web (dated tomorrow ??), AdAge discusses an 80 million dollar advertising campaign to be orchestrated by JWT for Microsoft's new search engine ...... Bing.

Search Engine Land's Danny Sullivan, among others, have had Bing on their list of potential names for Microsoft's upcoming new search product.

While screenshots of Kumo did leak in early March, Sullivan commented "I really doubt that will be the final name".  (Numerous screen shots were inadvertently delivered to the web in early March branded Kumo).

Microsoft responded at that time.

In a Search Engine Land post on May 20, assuming this all pans out, Sullivan pretty much nailed it.

Microsoft has been seriously trailing market share leader Google (approx 62%) and Yahoo! (20%) with their MSN and Live.com products.  Recently, it was revealed that Digg would be dropping their content network as well.

The question on everyone's mind is whether or not yet another identity will help Microsoft capture a reasonable share of the lucrative search market and, whether or not Kumo, (I mean Bing ?) .... will be better.

As for me .... I'm likin' Bing a lot more than Kumo :)

A little discussion is evolving on Friendfeed here. 
Sidenote: The D7 conference will be held May 26 though May 28.  The schedule can be found here.

Edited with additional references May 25 1 AM ET

The analysts are wrong - Get used it it.

It takes a lot more to get people to your website (and returning) than it did 6 months ago.

I read a lot of stuff, almost daily, from a variety of sources.  Solid online marketing requires a keen knowledge of today's trends and where things seem to be going.


Just as 'hot media' and cable news changed the world as we knew it, the Internet and rapid technology advances are changing at an absolutely unprecedented pace.

Last year, I did a couple of pieces on how Google was 'hyper-indexing' some blogs and websites.  That was, for all intents and purposes, a BIG deal.  Within seconds of a post here (when I was writing daily), it would be indexed by Google (as well as many, many other blogs and websites).

TechMeMe's bot was also indexing within minutes and there were other examples.

The landscape has changed again.

Where is it going?

Global log-ins, hyper-fast import and export from services such as Friendfeed, breaking news from 'citizens journalists' with Twitter and trends now monitored on services such as TwitScoop (lower right) and TweetMeme, plus the ultra-huge and still growing community we know as Facebook opening up for importing and exporting as well .... and in real-time.

Yes, the real-time web is here.  It takes 'hot media' and global communications to a whole new level.

Networks are connecting with each other.  Digg to Facebook.  57 services (You read that right) to Friendfeed. Thousands of apps being written for Twitter and hundreds of millions of users with access from Facebook.  There are MANY more examples including startups that many of us haven't even heard of yet.

Not only does this effect Internet Marketing in a huge way but it is, in fact, part of the 'worldwide economic shift' continuing. Media, whether it be TV, Radio, Newspapers etc. will never be the same.

More than ever, those marketing on the Internet (large and small) need to be tuned to everything that is happening.  They need to be engaged daily, or have advisors that are.

We've reached yet another turning point, and we, as an industry, need to continue not only using the tools, our past knowledge and our relationships .... but we need to be testing different vehicles.

Why the headline?  The Internet Marketing space is now what I'll call 'hyper-dynamic'.  While subscribing and absorbing published information is still healthy and useful, it's a 50 / 50 proposition at this juncture.  In-person networking at the analysts' seminars is probably a lot more important for most.

As I write this piece and keep an eye on the marketing vehicles being used by a variety of Fortune 500 companies, I can say, in my humble opinion, that about 20 per cent of them 'get it'.

As the economies of the world begin to turn around, there's no doubt, that if they stay 'tuned and flexible', they'll win.

Good Weekend my friends, and,
Take a few moments to thank a vet or someone in the military on Monday...
Charlie

Update:  It appears 'hyper-indexing' by Google is alive and well :)

staff edit 5/23/2009 10 PM ET

Microsoft refreshes AdCenter for Spring

Late yesterday, Microsoft launched their Spring Upgrade for ad buyers as well as a feature guide for those using the Microsoft / MSN / Live.com ad platform (and it's content network).

New additions include more control over ad distribution, time-saving shortcuts, and additional control over targeting and bidding.

The AdCenter post (which includes an extensive PDF with more information) can be found here.

Google moving to new Adwords Console

Google Adwords PPC (pay per click) buyers began receiving notices by e-mail that effective in 30 days,  the online Adwords interface will be migrated to the new 'look', which is currently in Beta.

As mentioned here, I have been using the newer console since it's introduction.

On the surface, it appears Google is simplifying many of their online offerings including Adwords, to make it easier for the 'non-tech' audience.

Google might want to be looking for a little feedback on the timing of this transition.

It's likely that many existing users could get caught off guard.  (This happened to tens of thousands of  disgruntled users a few years back, when Yahoo! moved to their Panama platform ..... leaving many wandering to re-group).

Google's Adwords change is generally positive, not as dramatic as what Yahoo! did, and does make the program easier to manage while offering numerous 'quick' features.

Google has also been selectively previewing a new look at Google Webmaster Tools (formerly Google Webmaster Central).

It appears currently that on or about June 15, the new Adwords online inferface will become the default.

If you haven't received the e-mail or tested the beta, the time to get used to it is NOW.

Update:  A preview of the new adwords console for those that wish to check it out outside of Adwords can be found here.

Google News gets a new look

Now confirmed on the Google News Blog, Google News is now sporting a new look and new features.

On the heels of an announcement just a few days ago of a new story landing page, Google news is now integrating YouTube videos, a touch of color around the various topic links, and a variety of new section pages.

The new pages make full use of newer 'wide page' formats by including videos and images for top stories on the right side.

The message, with somewhat subtle announcements from a variety of Google product managers over the past month, seems clear.

Google is working closer with partners. They're working hard to keep their audience at any at all level,s while linking and localizing many offerings not only to improve the user experience, but also with a keen eye on getting as many users as possible to log-in.

'Everyday' Internet users have seen this recently with improvements in products such as iGoogle. The tech community has seen Blogger integrated with Reader (at log-in), and more recently, Adsense publishers being offered Google Analytics. There are a slew of other examples not exclusive of a host of new gadgets for Google's Friend Connect.

The roll-out of the latest version of Google News appears to be completed worldwide and you can check it out here.

staff edit May 15, 2009 12:15 AM ET