It’s a G4S Yes for Google Apps

70,000 G4S staff switching to Google Apps for Work

G4S flags Google Apps image — G4S aims to keep the flag flying for Google Apps. Image by Holger Ellgaard, 2009 (Creative Commons License: Attribution-Share Alike).

G4S, the global outsourced services provider, has decided to cut its IT spending by turning to cloud-based computing. 70,000 of its 620,000 staff will be switching to Google Apps for Work, which offers productivity software at a much lower cost than paying higher prices for Microsoft Office packages. Furthermore, G4S’ switch to cloud computing also means more manageable IT infrastructure. It also means a greater degree of standardisation across the board – important for a conglomerate of G4S’ size. Continue reading “It’s a G4S Yes for Google Apps”

Facebook or Twitter: Which Works Best?

Net66 looks at the two social networking sites and as to which of the two works best for small businesses

For many businesses, Twitter and Facebook are the main two social media channels. They might choose a significant third channel such as LinkedIn or Google+. As following your company’s Facebook and/or Twitter feed no longer means PC access (smartphones and digital tablets are more common), this equates to a wider potential audience. Continue reading “Facebook or Twitter: Which Works Best?”

Google Announce New Tool Which Tests Your Website Mobile Friendliness and Page Speed.

Gone are the days where you have to navigate to 2 different websites in order to find out how quick and how mobile friendly your website is. Google have recently launched a new tool where users can enter their website address and get the page speed and mobile friendliness score all on the same page. The report is simply a combination of the page speed insights and the mobile friendly testing tool; Continue reading “Google Announce New Tool Which Tests Your Website Mobile Friendliness and Page Speed.”

Project Abacus: The End of Passwords?

Could Google’s Project Abacus herald the end of passwords?

Project Abacus Image by Alberto Masnovo — **Could we count on Abacus being a success for Google?** Though Project Abacus is likely to win, owing to instant brand recognition, a rival challenge from Nok Nok could make things interesting for both parties. *Image by Alberto Masnovo (via Shutterstock).*

Imagine you’re reading this article 10 years from now. By then, the very thought of trying to remember a Google, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram password will be laughable. Online banking could be done through biometric means. Facial recognition may be the norm. Google’s Project Abacus could see the end of passwords as we know it. Continue reading “Project Abacus: The End of Passwords?”

Hello Allo, Google’s Instant Messaging App

Allo set to wrestle market share from WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger

Hello Allo smartphone image by Macrovector — Image by Macrovector (via Shutterstock).

Allo, Google’s answer to WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger could be the search engine’s elusive instant messaging app. It aims to steal a march on the existing market leaders with more intelligent functions. As a fully-fledged member of the Google family, brand recognition and association would be a selling point. Continue reading “Hello Allo, Google’s Instant Messaging App”

Google Set to Bash Adobe Flash

Adobe Flash set to be phased out on Google Chrome browsers – though with ten exceptions

Web developers: if you’re thinking of going all ‘old-school’ by developing an all Flash website, think again. Google is getting tough on all things of an Adobe Flash nature. Unless your website is one of the ten most visited sites to have a Flash movie, you run the risk of alienating almost everyone in cyberspace. Almost everyone with a copy of Google Chrome that is. Continue reading “Google Set to Bash Adobe Flash”

Yahoo Crisis Sees High Profile Departures

Uncertainty over proposed sale sees loss of key names and contracts

Yahoo search engine screen. — **Beleaguered:** Yahoo, once top dog in the search engine world, now second only to Google.

Newscaster Katie Couric considers position;
Yahoo email accounts hit by hack attack;
AT&T ends contract after 15 years;
Yahoo chief to pocket $55 million if ousted.

This week has been a wretched one for Yahoo, one of the elder statesmen of the internet age. Within the last three days alone, it is having to face up the loss of a star newscaster, a lucrative contract, and a security alert. Much of which has been exacerbated by its proposed sale. Continue reading “Yahoo Crisis Sees High Profile Departures”

Google’s Driverless Cars: Ford Penguin Anyone?

Google, Ford, Uber, Lyft and Volvo in the race to boost driverless cars

Driverless Cars image by Chombosan — Driverless cars image by Chombosan/Shutterstock.

Imagine it’s 2030. You walk up to your garage or parking space. Your car is a far cry from the ones your parents drove. It recognises you as its headlights make ‘eye contact’ with you, thanks to its optical technology. They used a key; yours unlocks the doors on ‘seeing’ you before you climb aboard. The car asks for your journey based on Google’s technology and takes you there. This, 14 years from now, could be the norm. At this moment, driverless cars are being developed by Google and the Ford Motor Company. Other partners in the coalition are Uber, Lyft, and Volvo. Continue reading “Google’s Driverless Cars: Ford Penguin Anyone?”

For Sale: One Slightly Used Search Engine

Any reasonable offer accepted for search engine with great potential

Yahoo!, The World’s Favourite Search Engine before Google came on to the scene, could be taken over by the end of this week. The Sunnyvale, California-based search engine, and media company has struggled alongside the shadow of Google, in spite of strong legacy brands. Continue reading “For Sale: One Slightly Used Search Engine”

Secure Domains for All on WordPress Sites

WordPress blogs on custom hosting packages set to gain HTTPS domains

WordPress secure domain image. — Image via Shutterstock.

Automattic, owners of the WordPress blogging platform, have extended the use of secure domains to websites using their custom hosting packages. Since 2014, weblogs hosted on a subdomain of WordPress.com have had a secure domain. Its extension brings them in line with WordPress.com hosted sites. Fears of increased surveillance and security concerns have prompted the company’s decision. Continue reading “Secure Domains for All on WordPress Sites”

Apply These 5 Secret Techniques to Improve the Net66 Blog

Net66 looks at blog title generators

Ground coffee, an iMac, and a flash of inspiration: essential tools for many a blogger. Blog image by RawPixel.com/Shutterstock.

Here are the five secrets of our blog:

High-quality content;
Striking imagery;
Current and relevant blog posts;
Effective use of social networking sites;
Eye-catching titles.

O.K., forget the above list, we know there’s nothing better than blowing our own trumpet every now and again. The whole point of our blog post title is the way it was constructed. Whereas all our blog titles are beautifully crafted, this one was created with a blog title generator. Yes, we at Net66 cheated a little by using a title generator. Oh, the shame. Continue reading “Apply These 5 Secret Techniques to Improve the Net66 Blog”

Lee Sedol versus Google: An ‘Aye’ for AI?

AlphaGo’s emphatic victory over human opponent

A completed Go board, though not a game between Lee Sedol. — **Popular:** Go, mastered by Lee Sedol and – as we have found this week – Google’s ActiveGo AI engine. 60 million people saw the clash in South Korea on Chinese and Korean televisions. Image by Saran Poroong/Shutterstock.

The battle between man and machine has been contested since the Industrial Revolution. In recent times, this has seen Deep Blue beat Gary Kasparov at Chess in 1997. Over the last week, a similar contest has taken place between Lee Sedol and a Google AI robot at the Four Seasons hotel in Seoul, South Korea. This time with the Chinese board game of Go. Continue reading “Lee Sedol versus Google: An ‘Aye’ for AI?”

PageRank: Its Part in its Own Downfall

The end of an era as PageRank fades from public view

For nearly 16 years, Google’s PageRank has been, simultaneously, a help and a hindrance. It has created a cottage industry in its own right with search engine consultancies working on improving PageRank figures. This meant emphasising on link building and aiming to link with higher ranking pages. Sometimes at the expense of high-quality content and creating an audience for your website. Continue reading “PageRank: Its Part in its Own Downfall”

They’re Just Burning Doin’ the Google Dance

Google Dance reunion evokes memories of one of Google’s social events, inspired by one of the search engine’s most infamous updates

Almost the Google Dance going off the colour scheme. — **Havin’ a Party:** image by Zeber/Shutterstock.

Where were we in 2008? Well, back then, Net66 was only four years old. The top tunes of that year included Duffy’s Mercy and The Ting Tings’ That’s Not My Name. Top of the SEO technician’s hit parade was – and remains – the power of Google. The key to this was Google’s algorithm changes, known as the Google Dance. Continue reading “They’re Just Burning Doin’ the Google Dance”

I’m Free With Google Hands Free

New hands free payment process tested in San Francisco

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qxet1VdpOQ4

Imagine it’s a fair to middling day in central Manchester. You have just arrived at Piccadilly station after an irksome commute. You nip towards the coffee shop in the main concourse. Then you find there’s no change in your front pocket. Instead, you can pay from your smartphone, but they’ve brought this new-fangled system out, where the ‘phone can stay in your pocket. Luckily, you have an Android device and it works with… Google Hands Free. Happy days indeed! Continue reading “I’m Free With Google Hands Free”

Kiddle: A Look at the Junior Google

Introducing a new child-friendly take on Google

The internet can be an exciting yet daunting place for young children. Search engine results (unless you turn the search engine’s Safety Mode on) could lead children to unsavoury websites. Some of which could expose children to, for example, violence, pornography or gambling. Using Google’s results as its base is a new search engine, Kiddle. Continue reading “Kiddle: A Look at the Junior Google”