Google.cn being blocked by China’s government

Google’s China news can’t stop at the moment. Since Google’s controversial decision to launch Google.cn with results being filter, news are being pop up day after day.

If this news is true, this might be a big crush between Google and China Goverment.

Tests on a Shanghai-based trace-route server, located at http://www.linkwan.com/vr2/, indicated that the site was being blocked at the government-operated backbone server. The analysis from the trace route said ‘IP packets are being lost past network CHINANET backbone network at hop 4.’

The same message is displayed when the test is run on websites that are blocked by the government, such as the BBC’s news website. A trace route could not be conducted from Beijing, although attempts to load the site in an internet cafe resulted in ‘time out’ errors.

Source : Forbes.com

Google China tricks

Until Google patch this, hopefully this would works inside china too.

Chinese web users can see full, uncensored results for their Google search by replacing “&meta=” with “&meta=cr%3DcountryBR” in the URL. Once the string is replaced, the censorship will not affect the results.

Link ( Test )

Thanks to Digg!

Google changes answer to “Does Google Censor search results?”

I told you guys yesterday about Google explanation for their decision to filter results in Google’s China. Now I just found out from theregister( they are really fast finder ) that Google had to change their FAQ of Does Google Censor search results.

The original answer of Google before their China decision is as here:

After their China decision is here ( I take a screenshot, even though I am sure u can see directly on Google’s site ):

Google’s explanation for its china service

Well, first when I found out on the net that Google is giving limited ( filtered ) search results in China, I am really suprised. Why? So many whys are going on around the globe.

But I read on Google’s official blog, it says:

Our continued engagement with China is the best (perhaps only) way for Google to help bring the tremendous benefits of universal information access to all our users there.

As of now, that’s the way it is, that’s the way we ( all people on earth ) have to be. But one day, I hope Chinese Government may change their decisions for the sake of their people and any search engine robots could freely crawl everywhere.

Until then, I have to agree with what Google said because it is very reasonable:

Filtering our search results clearly compromises our mission. Failing to offer Google search at all to a fifth of the world’s population, however, does so far more severely. Whether our critics agree with our decision or not, due to the severe quality problems faced by users trying to access Google.com from within China, this is precisely the choice we believe we faced. By launching Google.cn and making a major ongoing investment in people and infrastructure within China, we intend to change that.

My opinions are based on what Google said on its official GoogleBlog.

Will Google defeat Yahoo! ?

Google.com has been user’s favorite search engine for quite few years now. Since Google.com started developing new services for its users, it’s user base grew. Nowadays there is no nobody that would have not heard of Google.com. For more than a year, Google.com has been ranked (according to Alexa.com) as the 3rd biggest website in the world, right behind MSN.com and Yahoo.com. According to Alexa.com, less than a week ago, Google.com took over the 2nd place in the world, beating MSN.com.

Source : Digg

Google start 2006 with Google Pack!

In just a few clicks, users can easily discover, install and maintain software to surf the web faster and safer, communicate better, and effectively manage information.

Google Pack offers programs that meets Google’s high software standards and are considered best in their class, including:

Adobe Reader 7
Ad-Aware SE Personal
Google Desktop
Google Earth
Google Pack Screensaver
Google Talk
Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer
Mozilla Firefox with Google Toolbar
Norton AntiVirus 2005 Special Edition
Picasa

Google Pack also includes Google Updater, a new tool that intelligently downloads, installs and maintains all the software in the Google Pack. Google Updater alerts users when updates and new programs become available and ensures each program is always up-to-date. Google Updater can also be used to monitor the status of installation, run software that’s been installed, or easily uninstall software.

Users can easily select which programs they want to install. For programs already installed on a computer, Google Updater checks whether the latest version is running. If not, Google Updater will install the latest version.

New applications of adsense need valid phone numbers

You can apply for Google Adsense from now on only if you provide a valid phone number. New Adsense applications will not be accepted if they do not provide valid phone number. Google then verifies the phone number automatically.

This Phone verification PIN is kinda like the Address verification PIN that is mailed by post to each AdSense publisher when earnings have reached $50 on their account. The Address PIN is to verify publisher contact address and is sent by snail mail.

Phone verification is completely automated – you’ll only need to key in a 6-digit personal identification number (PIN) using your touch-tone telephone.

When you’re ready to verify your number, click the link provided in the email you received from Google AdSense. This link will bring you to the Phone Verification Setup page, from which you’ll be able to initiate the call or set a convenient time for our system to call you. Have your PIN ready – the number of PIN entry attempts is limited.

Go to Google

What is Google doing in 2005?

This year was no different. Google just keeps getting better.

Picasa, Google Video, Adwords, Google Talk, Google Earth and many more.

Want to know details for all of this? Go to here

Don’t forget to check “>Google Lab for year 2006! It keeps you inform what Google will bring to you.

How to use Google as a proxy

Maybe you might have heard it already. But I wrote this for some of you probably have not heard about it. This is my Christmas present.

You can use the google translate feature to visit webpages that are blocked by your company or isp. For example, if your company bans www.somesite.com, you could use this feature to visit that site.

This technique is very simple, use the following address:

http://www.google.com/translate?langpair=en|en&u=www.somesite.com

Change somesite.com to the site you desire and it will display.

Tips: Use this to bypass only your isp or company proxy server, if you are banned from somesite.com, you won´t be able to visit that site.

Google Translate