Microsoft Outlook Attacks Gmail Over Privacy Concerns

Microsoft has been promoting its revamped Outlook email client in continued attacks on Gmail in its “Scroogled” campaign. With the tagline of “Think Google respects your privacy? Think again,” Microsoft systematically explains how Google looks through emails for keywords which translate into personalized ads. Microsoft attempted a similar takedown last year with a full page ad in newspapers like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, but this time around Microsoft is really pushing its Outlook platform while simultaneously attacking Google, rather than just lashing out at its opponent. But where is the distinction between how Outlook and Gmail tailor their ads? The Wall Street Journal claims that Outlook looks at the subject lines of emails for ad content, while Microsoft claims it doesn’t use email subject lines to target ads at users. Despite how private, or not, Outlook is in relation to Gmail, Microsoft is making privacy a prime selling point, playing on consumer fear that everything they do on the Internet is tracked and recorded. 

The buzz around Google buzz

The buzz about Google Buzz Google built an empire with a simple approach– make innovations to existing ideas and offer the best user-friendly product on the market.  The formula worked with online search as it did with Google’s email service Gmail.  Follow-up launches of Gchat and Gchat video were logical progressions that integrated seamlessly with the Gmail platform and quickly became a part of our day to day interactions.  Google’s latest launch of Google Buzz pushes one step further by trying to enter the social networking space.  And if Google’s Buzz Press Conference is any indication, the company has been quietly planning to enter that space via Gmail all along.

Despite some problems out the starting gate, Google Buzz may be an attempt to jump on the microblogging bandwagon. But GoogleBuzz features several innovations that improve the Twitter platform it appropriates. Users can create custom groups with updates viewable only to family, coworkers, or relevant friends. “Recommended Buzz,” is a smart tool that magically sorts your friends updates by relevance.  The mobile version of Buzz even allows you to post your location based on GPS. Continue reading “The buzz around Google buzz”

When did you first hear about Twitter?

This week was a big week for the Lab. Not only did Google announce a new feature for Gmail that finally cracks the code on un-sending emails that were a bad idea, and not only did our favorite video recording device, Flip Video get bought for a ton of cash by Cisco, but the Lab has been immortalized in our first-ever cartoon by Ad Land on AdWeek:

AdLand's take on Twitter (AdWeek)

See David T. Jones’  full Ad Land cartoon.

And yes, we too have given up and are throwing ourselves at the mercy of Twitter.