Google’s ‘Health’ And Yahoo’s Tardiness

Fourteen months after re-launching Netscape as a Digg-like
social news site, AOL announced on Sept. 6 that it
would turn the site back into a “more traditional news experience.”

But don’t stop the clocks or cut the telephone just yet.
AOL’s Digg clone isn’t dead. It’s just getting a new brand. The
latest is that it’s coming back as Propeller.com.

I know. Big sigh of relief, right? Cause who doesn’t have enough spam
in their life that they couldn’t use a little in their news?

Bebo and Yahoo sign UK agreement, keep annoying names

Yahoo UK & Ireland will sell the majority of social network Bebo’s
display advertising in the UK and Ireland under the terms of an
agreement the two companies announced today. Yahoo will also provide
search advertising, help develop a new browser toolbar and integrate
Yahoo Answers.

According to a statement, it’s Yahoo’s “first agreement of its kind
with a social networking site.”

Right. That’s because Microsoft and Google signed Facebook and
MySpace to similar deals a year ago. And in the U.S. no less.

Meanwhile, Yahoo has re-shuffled its management three times, the most recent being just a few weeks ago.

But all is not well at Google

At least not in terms of Google Health. That’s because according to
Danny Sullivan over at Search Engine Land, vice president Adam
Bosworth has decided to turn a vacation permanent. Google won’t say why,
but Bosworth may be leaving because he never got much done.

Other than getting a health information search box included in the
Google Co-op rollout last year, that is. And you can’t underestimate
how critical a role that product has played in all our lives since.

Some failures, however, are merely successes in disguise

Disguised in a rhinestone-speckled two piece and moving slowly around
stage, that is. At least that’s the word from PaidContent.org on the Britney
Spears fiasco at
MTV’s Video Music Awards (VMA).

Though commentary following the VMAs has ranged from unkind to
brutal, the numbers indicate MTV and parent-company Viacom got what
they wanted out of the deal at least. Following the show and up till
1pm the following day, MTV.com attracted 4.7 million unique visitors.
That’s the highest-trafficked day on the site ever and up 140 percent
from the day after the 2006 edition.

The New York-based gossip blog Gawker.com even suggested that MTV might have hoped Spears
would flop and generate more buzz.

I’m not sure I buy it. When has the public ever shown any interest in
lives of Hollywood starlets? It’s good news the people want.

Nicholas Carlson is a senior writer with InternetNews.com.