Usually I try most new Google services shortly after their release. I did with Google Buzz as well and I didn't like it because it didn't even show up for 24h while the call to action "Try Google Buzz in Gmail" was already in place. Thus I decided to abandon Google Buzz for good like I did with Google Wave. Also I almost never use Google SearchWiki, Google SideWiki and other old and new Google attempts to get into social media.

The rumor that Google might build a data center in Australia has been circulating for some time; our first report on the subject was written in October of 2008. Now, although construction crews haven't exactly been mobilized, there's at least been a sign that Google hasn't given up on the idea. Deepak Ramanathan, the head of Google's enterprise marketing arm in the Asia-Pacific region, recently spoke at an event in Sydney.

United States Speedskating is turning to social media to connect with fans and build on publicity generated by the recent sponsorship of Stephen Colbert and The Colbert Nation. "US Speedskating is taking a leadership position by embracing opportunities to connect with fans on social networks," said Libby Issendorf, a social media strategist with the Flint Group,

QR (or Quick Response) code is not a new technology. Actually it's been around for sixteen years or so, but the ever-increasing popularity of smartphones and their support of QR-code-reading apps is making use of the codes more popular than ever. It's a very easy way to attract the attention of a potential customer with a scannable (often curiosity-inducing) link to your website or latest promotion.

It's been no secret that the Android operating system will wind up on all sorts of devices; last year, for example, we talked about home phones and set-top boxes that were in development. Now, however, it may almost literally wind up on "all sorts of devices," as the BUG 2.0 platform has introduced support for Android. Bug Labs is an interesting little company specializing in modular, open source gear. The pieces - which may be cameras, LCDs, GPS units, accelerometers,

The number of people who went online while watching the Super Bowl increased 2 percent this year to 14 percent, according to Nielsen. Time spent online for those multitaskers was up from 24 minutes last year to 29 minutes with much of that time spent on social networks. Overall, Google and Facebook were the most visited sites while watching the game. Preliminary analysis of Nielsen's single-source measurement of Internet and TV,

Microsoft has unveiled its Windows Phone 7 Series, a new mobile platform. The phones will bring Microsoft's XBox Live service and its Zune music and video experience together on phones. Perhaps more interesting, at least to enthusiasts of the search industry, is that Windows Phone 7 devices will come with "a dedicated hardware button for Bing." Microsoft says this will provide one-click access to search from anywhere on the phone.

The automotive industry has seen its ups and downs in recent months. While the Cash for Clunkers promotion was successful for many automotive advertisers, advertisers faced an uphill battle to sell vehicles during the fall as consumer spending declined. With the economy trending upwards, many families receiving tax returns and new car models being released, the automotive industry is expected to grow year over year in the upcoming months.

comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released a report on the top online classifieds sites in Brazil for January 2010. The data showed that OnLine eXchange (OLX) led this fast-growing category, which now reaches more than 30 percent of Brazilian Internet users in a given month.

Phones are due out by the 2010 holiday season. Click to read the rest of this post.