Why is Google selling off its satellite fleet?

Google’s parent company, Alphabet, may have sky-high ambitions, but for now, it looks like they’ll be capped at around 60,000 feet.

With the sale of recently acquired satellite imaging company Terra Bella, Alphabet trades direct control over its own fleet of satellites – and all the hassles that can bring – for rights to purchase pictures for Google Earth from a third party. This reorganization is the latest in a series of moves focusing on balancing the company’s eclectic interests with investors’ desire for profits.

BIG CHANGES ARE AFOOT IN THE WAY THE INTERNET WORKS

BIG CHANGES ARE AFOOT IN THE WAY THE INTERNET WORKS and 'net neutrality' is a conundrum with so much misinformation, confusion and media lip service floating around that no one seems to really know what's going on. Two things are for sure: it is NOT going away, and it IS going to be a media feeding frenzy.

Upside-down pros and cons

This is going to be a long, miserable, and potentially damaging struggle; primarily because the two sides of the argument have gotten themselves upside-down. Those in favor of neutrality are crying: please don't regulate so the 'little guy' and everyone else can be free to do as they please. Yet those are the ones currently exploiting and profiteering off 'the little guy.'

 

Google algorithm tweak spooks WWW

All those who wanted to monetize their web sites had a big boost a couple of years ago when Google rolled out their AdSense program. I jumped on board, just like I jumped on the new upstart named "Amazon" when they first appeared on the scene. Amazon has cut its affiliates commissions back to near-oblivion, in the interest of their profits -- why did we think Google wouldn't do the same?

But, as it goes on the web, most players weren't content with running an honest web site with honest content. I've complained and complained to deft ears about how so many sites are 'cheating' by stacking their links and all manner of other tricks to increase their clicks. Google finally caught on.

Giving Up on AdSense

[Fred says: If you've surfted to web sites that seem to be only Google links, or clicked on a link that took you somewhere you didn't want to go, then welcome to the club. Google's reach has grown to astronomical proportions. With their recent 3.1 billion purchase of DoubleClick they are poised to be one of the biggest players in the internet advertising business. But not all is well in paradise... ]

Giving Up on AdSense

by Sramana MitraSramana Mitra

I am a painful critic for Google's AdSense program, as it pertains to Content (not Search). My beef is that it doesn't take into account any understanding of the target audience of a publisher, nor does it take into account Context or Intent.