Here's The Real Reason Google Changed Its ... - Business Insider

Yesterday, we noted that a bunch of advertisers were unhappy about Google's changes to its Adwords search advertising product, which will allegedly increase prices for advertisers.

Today, let's hear from one of their competitors who says they're wrong, and who believes that Google got this right.

The new ad buying interface will consolidate buying so that ads are placed on both mobile and desktop devices at once. The system will be simpler, but it will be harder for advertisers to compare the performance of campaigns targeting different mobile devices, especially tablets.

Critics say this will raise the cost-per-click of ads that run on mobile devices; mobile ads are generally cheaper than desktop ads when bought separately. At the same time, performance may go down. And advertisers won't be able to buy separate campaigns on tablets to compare performance on those devices with others.

Larry Kim, the CTO of search ad agency Wordstream, worked with Google on the changes. He says those who are complaining about the end of separate device-specific campaign buys are full of it. "I?m thrilled that it?s going away because it was so complicated that almost nobody used it (around 5%)," he tells us.

The reason it was rarely used is because it's so convoluted: "It looks like some kind of complicated nuclear submarine control panel ? there are so many different device and network combinations."

Here's a screengrab (at right, click to enlarge).

The world of devices is only going to get bigger and more complicated. (Is a Microsoft Surface a laptop or a tablet?) Most advertisers simply won't want to run 100 different campaigns on 100 different devices.

Kim notes that the people who are complaining the loudest ? like Adobe ? are the tiny number of elite advertisers who have big budgets and sophisticated operations.

They spend so much that incremental differences between tablet and laptop performance might be meaningful.

Larry Kim

Wordstream's Larry Kim

But most Google advertisers aren't those kind of clients, he says.

"The companies who are most likely to get the most from mobile search are local businesses (like dentists, or restaurants, car dealerships, etc.). [They] happen to be the least sophisticated advertisers, yet in the old Adwords system, the mobile search options were the most complicated things to properly implement."

For those advertisers, tablets and laptops are pretty much the same thing, Kim believes. "Tablet searches are largely a replacement for searches that would have otherwise been conducted in the home on a laptop/desktop. Since the search intent is similar, then the need for tablet-specific ad targeting is lessened."

It's also worth noting that although the new Adwords will lump desktop and mobile buying together, clients can still buy mobile-only, or desktop-only, campaigns. If they move the mobile/desktop weighting to -100 percent, for instance, campaigns won't run on any mobile devices.

Kim does, however, agree with one point Google's critics make: Prices will likely go up for Google's advertisers. "Yes, certain targeting options are going away, and mobile CPC?s are likely going up. No push-back there. I can certainly understand the anxiety from the elite [pay-per-click] marketers out there," but, he says, "My bottom line: The vast majority of advertisers are more likely to see positive ROI from mobile search than before."

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-the-real-reason-google-changed-its-mobile-search-rules-2013-2

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Beyonce's Super Bowl outfit ripped by PETA

By Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, TODAY

Beyonce's Super Bowl costume drew some criticism for being too sexy, but now the materials in the outfit are being called into question by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Jeff Haynes / Reuters file

Beyonce's Super Bowl outfit upset folks at PETA.

"We would take a bet that if Beyonce watched our video exposes here and here, she'd probably not want to be seen again in anything made of snakes, lizards, rabbits or other animals who died painfully," PETA said in a statement. "Today's fashions are trending towards humane vegan options, and Beyonce's Super Bowl outfit missed the mark on that score."

The links go to animal-rights campaigns supported by fellow celebrities Joaquin Phoenix and Tim Gunn.

PETA had good things to say about the rest of the Super Bowl though.

"The game was great, however, and so is Baltimore Ravens linebacker and (Sunday's) Super Bowl champion Terrell Suggs, who has just joined PETA in protesting the fur industry by starring in PETA's 'Ink, Not Mink' campaign."

Designer Rubin Singer said Beyonce's costume included python, iguana and leather, and that it was originally planned to be even more risque than the costume worn for the show.

Related content:

Source: http://todayentertainment.today.com/_news/2013/02/06/16872197-beyonces-super-bowl-outfit-ripped-by-peta?lite

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Judge: Handcuffed teen to stay with foster family

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) ? A Kansas City teenager who was found handcuffed to a steel pole in his basement will continue to stay with a foster family and plans to start attending classes again next week, a court officer said Thursday.

At a probable cause hearing in Clay County, juvenile court officer Alan Gremli urged a judge to allow the 17-year-old to stay with foster parents because the living conditions at his home were dangerous. Circuit Judge K. Elizabeth Davis agreed and set a March 7 hearing to revisit the custody issue.

One of the teen's neighbors, Crystal Anderson, contacted the Missouri Children's Division on Monday and said she suspected the boy was being abused. Kansas City police found him in the dark basement curled in a fetal position, shivering on the cold, concrete floor and appearing frail.

Police spokesman Capt. Steve Young said no charges against the teen's father, stepmother or stepbrother were expected Thursday, and it could be days before anything is filed.

Gremli told The Associated Press on Thursday that since being rescued, the boy has enrolled in school and will start attending next week.

"Prior to the hearing, he talked about how he was doing well at his foster home, and that his foster parents had made homemade pizza the night before," Grimli said. "He's doing well and feels good about where he is."

Anderson, 24, said she had seen the boy handcuffed to a door in his home about two weeks ago, and decided to call authorities after hearing a commotion in the residence the night before.

Investigators arrived at the north Kansas City townhome less than an hour after her call and found the teen, his face "sunken in on the sides and his eyes had a look of desperation," according to the police report.

A Kansas City police officer who responded to the home Monday wrote that the teen repeated, "I didn't do anything" several times. The boy was wearing dirty blue jeans, a dirty, long-sleeved shirt and socks. He had only a few thin blankets to keep warm.

He told investigators he had been kept in the basement since his father took him out of school in late September ? first with the door locked and later handcuffed to a bed rail. The teen said in November, after the second time he tried to escape for food, he was handcuffed to the steel support pole.

He said he was fed a packet of instant oatmeal around 4 a.m. each day, a pack of noodles during the day and bologna sandwiches at night.

Paul Fregeau, assistant superintendent with the 19,000-student North Kansas City School District, said news of the teen's condition greatly affected some teachers and staff members.

"I continue to run across people who were extremely moved and touched ? some to tears ? when they found out what kind of conditions this boy was allegedly subjected to in his home," Fregeau said. "We have some staff getting get-well and thinking-of-you cards together, and now they're trying to figure out how to get them to him."

Anderson said she became friends with the teen after she moved into the apartment complex in August. For the first month, she said she usually saw him playing outside from the time she got up until about 10 p.m.

After that, Anderson said did not see him until she went to his home about two weeks ago and saw him handcuffed to a basement door. Several days later, after hearing loud arguing and strange sounds coming from the house, she decided to contact authorities.

"I heard a lot of fighting and thought probably something was going on over there," Anderson said.

Anderson said she also had become friends with the teen's older stepbrother, who gave her assorted reasons about the teen's disappearance.

"At first he told us he had moved," she said. "Then he said he was grounded, pretty much on house arrest."

The stepbrother also said the boy had gotten into the trash and eaten raw meat, and that he had behavioral problems, Anderson said.

She said she has received messages from the teen's biological family, thanking her for making the call and saying the abuse had been going on for years.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/judge-handcuffed-teen-stay-foster-family-205335159.html

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Chicago Auto Show: 2014 Dodge ProMaster

If you live in Europe you've seen the Ram ProMaster before, but it was called the Fiat Ducato and was the most popular heavy duty van on the continent. For 2014 Ram is bringing the heavyweight front-wheel-drive-only van to the US to replace the spot vacated by the very aged Ram Van. It comes in three different styles: Chassis cab (a cabin and ladder frame popular with box vans), a low height roof which looks like a regular van, a high-roof version, and a cutaway version where there's no back wall to the cab - these are popular with RV manufacturers. There are also three different wheelbases and an extended body option. All told there are 13 variations to choose from.?

As mentioned, the ProMaster is a front-wheel-drive only platform, even in chassis cab configuration. Engine options are a 3.6-liter gas V6 that maks 280 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque or a 3.0 liter inline four turbodiesel that musters 174 hp or 295 lb-ft of torque -- both get six speed automatics. Under the back end: Just a leaf spring suspension over a stick axle, not terribly different than a trailer. The van hangs everything from?a unitized frame design so even the customary body-on-frame construction is gone. As alien as all this sounds, it's a proven formula and offers several benefits. First of all, lighter overall construction means better fuel economy and more capacity for cargo within the limits of the tires. It also mean lower maintance and a simplified parts cache for fleet operators.

As far as swallowing payload goes, the ProMaster is a monster. Total payload weight is between 4,600 and 5,200 lbs, maximum volume is somewhere around that of a supertanker. The the rear doors open 260 degrees and the opening width is 62" wide with a maximum height of 70". The side door is wide enough to comfortably accept a fully laden shipping pallet. The Promaster also comes with a full suite of management tools like Uconnect and speed limiters as well as overhead storage, super durable seating surfaces and all manner of work-related touches. We're going to have to get very creative in a Promaster vs Ford Transit comparison testing.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/auto-blog/2014-Ram-ProMaster-Van?src=rss

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Today's Match Game Contestant is... Maggie Dewitt! - From Tv Food ...

Says Maggie: ?I?m originally from Phoenix, Arizona and now I live in beautiful Santa Barbara! ?I?m a cashier clerk. ?And I?ve just recently celebrated my tenth wedding anniversary to a great guy who?s sitting out there in the audience! And my hobbies are bowling, tennis, golf, and riding my motorcycle? they call me Motorcycle Mama!?

Gene: ?That?s an inexpensive way to get around.?

Maggie: ?You?re darn right with gas prices what they are these days!?

Year or Appearance: 1975

Total Winnings: $0 and a parting gift, along with the embarrassment of having worn white yarn in her hair on national television. Sorry Maggie. Cue the Sad Horns.

Tags: Match Game 1970s, Match Game Brett Somers, Match Game CBS, Match Game Charles Nelson Reilly, Match Game Gary Burghoff, Match Game Gene Rayburn, Match Game Jimmie Walker, Match Game Joyce Bulifant, Match Game Lee Meriwether, Match Game Marc Breslow director, Match Game Richard Dawson, Match Game theme music

Posted in Game Shows and TV Retro 2 hours, 18 minutes ago at 10:09 am. Add a comment

Source: http://tvfoodanddrink.com/2013/02/match-game-contestant-maggie-dewitt/

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Applebee's Facebook faux pas a 'learning experience'

Herb Weisbaum, NBC News contributor ? ? ? 20 hrs.

When the Internet attacks, you?d better be ready. This runaway train can move at lightning speed and if you don?t know how react, you could get crushed.

Applebee?s felt the fury of the Internet after a waitress in St. Louis was fired for posting a customer?s receipt (including a legible signature) on Reddit and the story went viral.

Read: Applebee?s waitress canned after posting pastor?s tip

?Obviously, this was a learning experience for us,? said Applebees' spokesman Dan Smith.

Chelsea Welch posted the receipt online ? in violation of corporate policy ? because the customer, a local pastor, had written a snarky comment about the 18 percent tip automatically added to the bill for service to a large party:

?I give God 10% why do you get 18??

Welch, who did not serve the table in question, said she thought the comment written to her co-worker was insulting, but comical. ?I posted it to Reddit because I thought other users would find it entertaining,? she told The Consumerist.

Trying to respond to the growing news coverage and share its side of the story with customers, Applebee?s posted a message on its Facebook page. ?We wish this situation hadn't happened,? the post began.

The negative comments poured in, thousands an hour.

R.L. Stollar, news editor at the Eugene Daily News, stayed up all night to watch and document what he described in his blog as a ?social media meltdown.? Stollar said it was like watching a train wreck.

?This is a company that didn?t understand how to respond to an Internet mob,? he said. ?This whole thing would probably have gone away if they hadn?t kept pouring gasoline on the fire.?

What went wrong?
Applebee?s says its social media policy is simple: to be as open and accessible as possible.

?Transparency matters to us,? said spokesman Smith. ?We want to hear from our guests regardless of the subject matter.?

Smith said the company?s four-member social media team gives a personal response to more than 90 percent of the posts. But until this incident, most of the posts dealt with questions about menu items or store locations, nothing like the venom being expressed in these comments.

One example: ?I don't even eat here, so I can't quit eating here. But I would! You guys just suck that much.?

Smith told me they tried to respond to every comment, in many cases simply cutting and pasting the corporate policy statement ? something that didn't go over very well. Social media has a new and different set of rules and people who use it have different expectations than other forms of communication.

?It seemed as if they didn?t know what they were doing,? said Travis Mayfield, director of digital social strategy for Fisher Interactive Network. ?It came across as snarky, maybe even angry.?

Finally, unable to keep up with the torrent of posts, the company decided late Thursday night to disable user posts on its Facebook page. On Friday they posted a status update containing the corporate statement and hid their previous post, along with its comment thread that had amassed more than 20,000 responses.

?That was a terrible idea,? said Mayfield. ?It seemed like they were deleting posts, which is the worst thing you could possibly do.?

Applebee?s Smith insisted the company did not delete or block any comments. He said everything that had disappeared when the company turned off comments and hid its initial post, reappeared when the post was restored and the page's wall was re-enabled.

?At no point was this done to mislead or delete comments, we simply couldn?t keep up,? Smith said.

Smith explained that they even reviewed all the posts caught by the Facebook filters and added those comments back into the stream, except for the ones that were racist or pornographic.

?Our message going forward: We want the feedback,? Smith said. ?We read every post and are responding as quickly as we can.?

I asked Smith if Applebee?s made a mistake by turning off the wall, which appeared at the time to be an attempt to delete unfavorable comments?

?We?ll need to have a conversation about that,? he said.

Lessons learned the hard way
While many will want to attach sinister motives to Applebee?s actions, it appears this was another case of not being digitally literate.

?It?s very complicated to respond to negative social media,? explained Louis Richmond, crisis management expert at Richmond Public Relations in Seattle. ?We tell our clients to respond, but don?t criticize. And never hide posts because people see that as censorship.?

William Ward, social media professor at Syracuse University, urges companies to be prepared for a social media disaster because the wrong response can make things much worse.

?You need to have internal policies and procedures on how to handle something like this,? he said. ?If you address the negative comments in a positive way, it?s an opportunity to show people you?re listening. You may actually create a more loyal customer or fan just from engaging with them the right way.?

Companies also need to learn that not responding is sometimes the correct response. If you?re under attack, you may need to get out of the way and let it play out. This is especially true when the conversation has turned so angry and negative that any response will just fan the flames.

As Mayfield puts it, ?You don?t wrestle with a pig because you get very dirty and the pig just loves it.?

And now what?
Applebee?s will be dealing with this issue for awhile. There are already calls to boycott the restaurant and a online petition to get Chelsea Welch her job back.

The company says it does not plan to rehire the waitress.

?There was a clear violation of policy here, one that was a condition of employment,? Smith said. ?We respect that some people do not agree with our position.?

Will this hurt business?

PR expert Louis Richmond believes the company could lose some customers in the next few weeks , but he doesn't think the brouhaha will have a long-term negative impact on the business.

?They?ll just have to weather the storm,? he said. ?And not do anything else stupid.?

More information:

Herb Weisbaum is The ConsumerMan. Follow him on Facebook and Twitteror visit The ConsumerMan website.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/applebees-social-media-faux-pas-learning-experience-1B8251556

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Mars rover hammers down into rock

4 February 2013 Last updated at 01:57 ET By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent

The Mars rover Curiosity has used its drill system for the first time.

The robot's tool bit hammered briefly, without rotation, into a flat slab of rock on the floor of Gale Crater, the huge bowl where it landed last August.

Pictures taken before and after the operation reveal the indentation left by the tool's action.

Although previous rovers have scrubbed the surface of rocks, Curiosity is the first to carry the capability to drill inside them.

US space agency (Nasa) engineers are taking a step-by-step approach to the procedure.

They need to check both the rock and the drill are behaving as expected.

If the target slab is deemed suitable, a number of test holes are likely to be drilled - using the rotation as well the percussive action - before a powdered sample is picked up and delivered to Curiosity's onboard laboratories.

"The drilling is going very well so far and we're making great progress with the early steps," said Curiosity project scientist Prof John Grotzinger.

"The rock is behaving well and it looks pretty soft, so that's encouraging," he told BBC News.

The rover's mission is to try to determine whether Gale has ever had the environments in the past that were capable of supporting bacterial life.

Detailing the composition of rocks is critical to this investigation as the deposits in the crater will retain a geochemical record of the conditions under which they formed.

Drilling a few centimetres inside a rock provides a fresh sample that is free from the alteration that can occur at the surface as a result of weathering or radiation damage.

Curiosity landed on the Red Planet on 6 August last year.

It has since driven east of its touchdown point to a location that satellite images had identified as an intersection of three distinct geological terrains.

The robot is currently in a small depression dubbed Yellowknife Bay. The rock selected for the first drilling is a very fine grained sedimentary rock cut through with veins of what appear to be a calcium sulphate.

This rock also has a name - John Klein, taken from a recently deceased Nasa engineer who worked on the rover project.

Scientists are thrilled with the progress of the mission so far. Many of the rocks, like the ones in Yellowknife Bay, show clear evidence of deposition in, or alteration by, water.

Shortly before rolling into the bay, Curiosity identified conglomerations containing small rounded clasts, or pebbles, indicating the past presence of fast running water, most likely in a network of streams.

You can see more Curiosity mosaics by Ken Kremer and Marco Di Lorenzo at Ken's website.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21312821#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

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