This is one of those unfortunately rare times when a new ad platform actually adds relevance and value to a user experience. When you're using Google Street View and see a billboard for a movie that hasn't been in theaters for 12 months? Imagine that instead it's for a movie now playing just around the corner.

Great overview of Google Apps, and the power of cloud computing. Particularly noteworthy is the speed at which Google can react to needs and improve an experience across the entire user base. While so many companies talk about their listening skills, Google's demonstrating it. The ongoing stream of improvements and new features is the first thing I noticed when I started using Apps.

One of the more impressive stats I've seen in a while. When you think that after 2 years, the Apple store has hit 100,000 apps, 20k in this short of time is remarkable. They've taken steps to make it easy to convert existing iPhone apps to Android. That tactic must be working very well.

The way people go about their lives online is an endless source of amusement. Much of it trending to whatever is the easiest gets the most use. That could be the same here. The comparison is between long and short URLs, and how that effects how people access related sites. The longer the URL, the less likely people are to type it directly into the address bar, vs. using Google. Maybe not a huge surprise, but worth keeping in mind, as many businesses have longer URLs. A good reason to make sure your search marketing is alive and kicking.

Four things Google's Real Time search means for brands. The bottom line is, what's said about you on the Web will be easier to find, and more influential, than ever before. For companies that participate in and drive that conversation, there's an enormous power to shape those conversation. For those that don't, they're leaving their brand to drift whichever way the conversation flows.