The Verge: Google is experimenting with a new verification feature in search that should make it easier for users to avoid clicking on fake or fraudulent website links. Some people are seeing blue verified checkmarks beside business links in Google search results that indicate the company — like Meta or Apple — is genuine, and not some copycat attempting to benefit from a recognizable brand. “We regularly experiment with features that help shoppers identify trustworthy businesses online, and we are currently running a small experiment showing checkmarks next to certain businesses on Google,” Google public affairs spokesperson Molly Shaheen told The Verge. My colleague Jay Peters spotted checkmarks next to official site links for Microsoft, Meta, Epic Games, Apple, Amazon, and HP, but these were no longer displayed once he logged into a different Google account — meaning this experiment isn’t being rolled out widely just yet. Hovering over a checkmark will display a message that explains “Google’s signals suggest that this business is the business that it says it is,” which is determined by things like website verification, Merchant Center data, and manual reviews according to Shaheen.
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Category Archives: Search Engines
How to Spot a Bad Prime Day Deal
Gizmodo: “We are all better off being more savvy consumers. When Amazon’s big shopping holiday, Prime Day, rolls around—now twice a year—we’re doubly incentivized to not fall for any bad deals. Prime Day is routinely subsumed with dishonest sales exacerbated thanks to a heavy dose of FOMO, or “fear of missing out.” Getting an honest… Continue Reading
Campaign Finance Made Easy: Announcing DataTalk
Cheryl Phillips, Founder and Co-Director, Big Local News: “DataTalk is an experimental system that makes it easier to follow the money flowing through national campaigns for the Nov. 5 U.S. election. It allows for natural-language queries of large public datasets from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and OpenSecrets.org to help journalists and other researchers tap… Continue Reading
Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, October 5, 2024
Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, October 5, 2024 – Privacy and cybersecurity issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, finance, health and medical records – to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on the increasingly complex and… Continue Reading
License Plate Readers Are Creating a US-Wide Database of More Than Just Cars
Wired [unpaywalled]: “…License-plate-recognition systems, broadly, work by first capturing an image of a vehicle; then they use optical character recognition (OCR) technology to identify and extract the text from the vehicle’s license plate within the captured image. Motorola-owned DRN sells multiple license-plate-recognition cameras: a fixed camera that can be placed near roads, identify a vehicle’s… Continue Reading
Google – Ask questions in new ways with AI in Search
Google Blog: “Over the years we’ve continually reimagined Google Search, so you can ask your question in any way you want — whether you type a query, search with your camera or simply hum a tune. The advanced capabilities of AI have been integral to expanding what Search can do, and our Gemini model customized… Continue Reading
Microsoft brings AI-powered overviews to Bing
TechCrunch: Microsoft has launched its answer to Google’s AI-powered search experiences: Bing generative search. On the heels of a pilot in July, Bing generative search — albeit still under development — began rolling out to all U.S. users this morning. The easiest way to invoke it is by searching “Bing generative search” on Bing; Microsoft also… Continue Reading
Google Flights now uses Amtrak data to show ‘trains to consider’ alongside flights
9to5Google: Google Flights has started showing “trains to consider” alongside flights in a new partnership with Amtrak. First announced earlier this year, Google Flights is offering train routes as an alternative to airlines. This functionality allows customers to find a more sustainable transportation option as well as perhaps finding something less expensive or closer to… Continue Reading
Download Over 33,000 Sounds from the BBC Sound Effects Archive
“The BBC Sound Effects Archive is available for personal, educational or research purposes. There are over 33,000 clips from across the world from the past 100 years. These include clips made by the BBC Radiophonic workshop, recordings from the Blitz in London, special effects made for BBC TV and Radio productions, as well as 15,000… Continue Reading
Explore Sea Level Change in the Coastal U.S.
View past, present, and future sea level rise and related flood impacts for the coastlines of the United States. Select a state and location or search by region. The Federal Government delivers essential science and services to help our nation understand and address the challenges that sea level rise poses for coastal communities. Through interagency… Continue Reading
6 Tips to Make You a Better Reddit User
Gizmodo: “Reddit isn’t difficult to use, and you don’t even need an account to browse through everything ‘the front page of the internet’ has to offer. Recent and popular posts are just a click away from the main homepage, and you can use the search box at the top to look for posts on almost… Continue Reading
NIH Discovery Portal for Women’s Health Research Now Available
Partnering with the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) launched the first phase of a novel discovery resource for women’s health research (WHR), called DiscoverWHR. This innovative resource simplifies the finding of women’s health information by patients, caregivers, medical professionals, researchers, and the public. Users can explore… Continue Reading
