AFP - google's chief executive admitted Thursday there was a "defensive component" to the Web search giant's launch of its own internet browser, thereby pitting it against Microsoft's dominant software.

by Sage Lewis According to Sage, the best things about google's new web browser Chrome are how speedy it is and the ultimate usability of the address bar. Now, we're just waiting for the add ons and plug ins. Search Engine Roundtable talks about Google's increased ability to search Flash sites, and Microsoft updates their adCenter Keyword Research tool. Free White Paper: How to Optimize for GoogleA free 10 page white paper on how to optimize a website on google the right way - so the website succeeds.

Online video competition has just gotten a little more heated. Amazon Video On Demand is making over 40,000 movie and television show titles available for streaming. Before, customers could only download titles and watch them on a PC via Amazon's Unbox or on their TiVo box. Now you can do that or stream the titles to watch them instantly.read more

The NFL and NBC announced today that the 17-game Sunday Night Football schedule will be streamed live on NFL.com and NBCSports.com, a first for the league.To attract fans to view games that are already broadcast on network television, NBC will have a number of extra features available online including additional camera angles, in-game highlights, picture-in-picture technology, live statistics and other interactive elements.read more

Anyone wanting to learn about where $1 billion in U.S. aid is going is in luck; although the info might have been more relevant when Russian tanks were still rolling around, google's finally added some data to its maps of Georgia.read more

The LinkedIn network is all about business. CNBC has the word right in its name ("Consumer News And Business Channel"). So a new partnership between the two entities seems logical as well as productive.read more

Yesterday I posted an article on SmallBusinessNewz about targeted ads insulting customers, in which I referenced a Washington Post story from writer Rachel Beckman. read more

by Stoney deGeyter What this is about: This checklist covers multiple elements concerning the visual aspects of the website development. Some of the information here can be dismissed, depending on the type of site, but overall these are good points to consider during the design process. Why this is important: The site design is essentially the first impression that someone gets when they land on your site. You may have all your usability and SEO elements in place, but if the design is lacking then your visitor's impression of you will be lacking as well. A visually appealing site can not only bolster trust and credibility, but it can make you stand out among other less-appealing sites in your industry. What to look for: Instant site identification: As soon as landing on any page the visitor must be able to tell what website they are on. Crisp, clean image quality: Don't use old or blurry images. Keep them neat, clean and sharp. Clean, clutter-less design: Av

by Jennifer Laycock The ALT attribute is one of those bits of code that's been abused since day one. People can't remember it's name, they stuff it full of keywords or they ignore it entirely. So with my tongue planted firmly in my cheek, I thought it might be fun to create a graphic that tells you what you need to know about using the ALT attribute. With that in mind, here's my visual representation of the four primary reasons to use the ALT attribute. Let's break these down a bit further by quadrant. Text Only Browsers Back when the ALT Attribute was originally created, its primary purpose was to serve users of text only browsers like Lynx. Surfers would browse a site and would be served up text-only content. Where an image might have appeared, the text browser displayed the alternative text. While it's true that very few people surf the web with text-only browsers these days, there are people who still pay for their internet usage by bandwidth who choose to turn imag

by Stoney deGeyter What this is about: This list contains a few items that pertain to site logo, how it's placed and it's functional implementation. Why this is important: The logo lends directly to brand identity and site identification. It also creates a certain element of appeal and professionalism in the mind of the visitor. It holds an important role in visitor assurance and navigation. What to look for: Displays company name clearly: Your company name should not be lost in the logo. Eliminate unnecessary eye-candy so company name is proudly displayed. Isn't hidden among clutter: Don't clutter up your top navigation to the point that the logo is lost in the mess. Make sure it stands out from the rest of the header info. Links to home page: Logo should always link to the home page. Even if you have a "home" navigational link many users attempt to click the logo first. Unique and original: Make sure your logo isn't copied or near-duplicated from othe