Google Earth is a brilliant innovation that has opened up a new way of looking at the world in which we live. Unfortunately, it has also opened up a new way for criminals to find targets.

The line between news on the television and online just got a little bit more blurred as Google News has announced it will now include YouTube videos.

Despite the worries of privacy advocates, Google is beginning a limited introduction of its new Voice service, which consolidates a broad variety of telecom features under one roof.

Recently representatives from Microsoft and Google duked it out at the Structure 09 Conference. The two sides discussed some of the challenges as well as approaches to honing in on infrastructure performance. One of the claims made from Google is that the company practices a more absolute cloud computing implementation than Microsoft.

The HTC Hero will be the first Android phone to integrate Flash movies and Web navigation, moving to the head of the pack in supporting standards on the mobile Web. The good news for iPhone lovers is that maybe eating dust will be enough motivation to get Apple on board the Flash train.

An interpreter’s illness has delayed a trial in Italy where four Google execs are accused of defamation and privacy violations for failing to block a video showing a disabled child being bullied. The delay means further uncertainty over the potential restrictions an unfavorable verdict could mean for all sites allowing user-created content.

Microsoft Bing’s fight for market share and relevance in the search arena is turning into a feature-for-feature slugfest against industry stalwart Google. Might Microsoft’s engineers be ready to outfox and out-maneuver Google’s famously-brilliant minds?

Internet censorship is nothing new in China, but now the mere suggestion of something the communist government doesn’t approve of is enough to get Google in trouble.

Google is test marketing a new sort of context sensitive search ad. The search giant is planning to move away from the all-text ad and towards more visually interesting ads with pictures, prices and more.

With protests over disputed elections in Iran continuing to attract international attention, two major Web sites are aiming to help the information flow. Both Google and Facebook are making efforts to overcome the language barrier affecting some communications.

Collecta’s new real-time search engine has an impressive interface that allows for amazingly fast delivery of results. The problem is that in such a short timeline, the results can lose context and relevance to users.

China has ordered Google to disable several key functions on the local edition of the search engine after accusing it of failing to control access to pornographic sites. But it appears Google is only partially complying with the demands.

It seems like it’s difficult to go a day without hearing about Microsoft’s new search engine Bing. There is a rumor going around that Google is scared of Bing, or is threatened by it at least. The amount of R&D and marketing being poured into Bing by Microsoft is telling of how confident the execs at the company feel about their new search engine.

After declining search ad revenue growth and problems with gaining a foothold in radio and television advertising, Google is focusing on the Web’s elusive display ad marketplace.

Microsoft is dead serious about its new Bing search engine. Microsoft even bought out a company just to use its technology to build up Bing. The company is showing the world that it means business with a series of ads that targets the pitfalls of all search engines with the promise of a “cure.” However, is Microsoft promising something Bing can’t deliver?

The Department of Justice appears to be stepping up its investigation into Google’s deal with the publishing industry to settle a copyright case. Both the search giant and publishing groups are getting formal demands for information, equivalent to subpoenas.

Google maintains a playful appearance with its offices and products decorated in primary colors, however its latest tool comes as a serious upgrade for small businesses and a real threat against Microsoft Exchange. Now companies can cut out the expensive email servers and use Google Email, Contacts and Calendar from Microsoft Outlook.