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Is Google going to introduce Google Plus Stories? Maybe, according to domains

Google Plus Stories

Last November, Twitter introduced Twitter Stories, which allows users to share how they used the social media platform in an interesting way.  Facebook launched its own Facebook Stories application back in 2010.  Now, Google has registered the domain GooglePlusStories.com, hinting that it may roll out its own user testimonial campaign to showcase how people are using its Google Plus social networking tool.

On May 24, 2012, Google Inc. registered the domain names gplusstories.com (Whois) and googleplusstories.com (Whois) through the online brand protection company MarkMonitor.

It’s unsure what exactly Google will publish on its own Stories site, should it launch one.

Twitter’s site highlights tweets which gained noticeable attention, like the story of one user who wrote a book, found an agent, got published and landed a movie deal using Twitter every step of the way.  Or how one user inadvertently live-tweeted the raid on the Osama bin Laden compound.

Whereas Facebook and Twitter users have been credited with helping to topple dictators, Google+ is still relatively new to the social arena.

Still, there have been notable stories.  In February, Agence France Presse reported hundreds of Chinese flooded President Obama’s Google+ page, apparently taking advantage of a glitch in China’s censorship system to post about human rights and green cards.

At the time of this posting, neither domain resolves to a web page and Google has made no official announcement regarding Google+ Stories.

Talking about this story: Marketing Land

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News Technology

Google finally launches Cube, play your way through a cubic Google Maps world

Google Maps Cube game

Back in January, Google released a teaser video for a Google maps-based game that was set to be released in February.  But February, came and went and the game wasn’t released.  Now, Google has finally quietly launched the game online at www.playmapscube.com.

Travel through New York, Tokyo and many other cities and learn all about the Google map features.   You can even bike your way through San Francisco as fast as possible and Google recommends you pay attention to the biking layer on the map to see which roads are safer.

To play, you navigate the marble by using your cursor.  As you finish each level, your time is recorded.

I stumbled upon the newly launched game after checking the web address which Google registered (Whois) earlier this week.  The website went live in the past 24 hours.

The game is split up into eight levels.

Level 1 has you maze your way through the busy streets of Manhattan to reach your friends at the Brooklyn Bowl.

Level 2 has you in San Francisco on two wheels, biking your way to four different landmarks.

You’re finding your way through Paris traffic to the Eiffel tower on Level 3.  Google recommends you pay attention to the traffic layer to see which roads are fast and which will grind you to a halt.  If you take a busy route, your marble slows.

On Level 4, you’re in the London Underground trying to get to the Big Ben during rush hour. Google points out the subway lines are connected by color and you need to find the fastest combination possible.

Visit Tokyo on Level 5.  You need to find your way through the complex streets of the city, visiting all the tourist locations while paying close attention to the road network.

Dine in Las Vegas on Level 6. You must visit all the six reviewed restaurants in central Las Vegas in the smallest time possible.

Go indoors finally on Level 7.  Find your way through the Mall of America and collect all of the Google Offers on each of the four floors.

On Level 8 you step it up a notch using your knowledge of the previous levels to find your fastest route to your objective in the ever changing cubic city.

At the time of this story, the fastest total time is 2 minutes 45 seconds.

Talking about this story: Techmeme, Engadget, TechRadar UK, VentureBeat, 36kr, NevilleHobson.com, netzwertig.com, Tech2, SlashGear and Gizmodo

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Disputes National Arbitration Forum News Technology

Google takes control of the domain GooglePlay.com [UPDATED]

GooglePlay.com

Back in early March, Google filed a complaint (Case No. 1432449) over the domain name GooglePlay.com with the National Arbitration Forum.

The complaint came shortly after the launch of its new entertainment hub Google Play.

Despite a ruling not yet being published, part of the Whois information for the name was updated this week and now reflects Google Inc. as the registrant.

Google registered several googleplay domain names in late February through the brand protection company MarkMonitor, but wasn’t able to get its hands on GooglePlay.com at the time since it was already registered.

At the time of this story, GooglePlay.com still doesn’t direct users to the official Google Play website.

Because a decision hasn’t been posted online, it’s unknown whether the owner decided to give up the name or the name was ordered transferred by a panel.  If a decision is posted, it’ll likely be available here.

[Update 1 on May 18, 2012:. The Whois record has now been fully updated and reflects Google as the owner, however the domain still doesn’t resolve to the Google Play website.]

Talking about this story: Android Police, 9to5Google and Marketing Land

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Disputes National Arbitration Forum News

Google files complaint over hundreds of domains with “Google” in the name

Googleplex

Googleplex

Google Inc. has filed one complaint (Case No. 1434643) with the National Arbitration Forum that encompasses well over 700 domains with the word “Google” in the name like GoogleBills.com and GoogleSony.com.

Google filed the Uniform Domain Name Resolution Policy (UDRP) complaint this week against one person: Chris Gillespie.

According to UDRP rules, if more than one domain name held by the same Respondent is in dispute, all may be included in one complaint. Rule 3(b)(vi).

In order for the National Arbitration Forum panel reviewing the case to issue a decision in Google’s favor, the panel will determine if the disputed domains meet the following three elements required under the ICANN policy, which are:

(1) the domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark in which the complainant has rights
(2) the owner has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name and;
(3) the domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith. 

The Google domains being disputed are all over the board and many use Go Daddy’s CashParking, a service that lets domain owners earn money on parked domains.

Here’s a sample of the names:

google10g.com, googlejcp.com, google3dblueray.com, googlejerry.com, google3dtv.info, googlejesuschrist.com, google49ers.com, googlejinan.com, google4glte.com, googlejnj.com, google5hourenergy.com, googlejohnsonandjohnson.com, google6g.com, googlejpmorgan.com, google7g.com, googlejpmorganchase.com, google8g.com, googlejrs.com, google9g.com, googlejuliet.com, googleabidjan.com, googlejxholdings.com, googleadam.com, googlekarachi.com, googleaddthis.com, googlekatharinemcphee.com, googleadobe.com, googlekatowice.com, googleaegon.com, googlekellyclarkson.com, googleaeon.com, googlekfc.com, googleaflac.com, googlekindle.com, googleagriculturalbankofchina.com, googlekindlefire.com, googleaig.com, googlekinsha.com, googleala.com, googlealexandria.com, googlekmart.com, googlealger.com, googleknicks.com, googlealipay.com, googlekobe.com, googleallah.com, googlekoch.com, googleallianz.com, googlekochindustries.com, googleallrecipes.com, googlekohls.com, googleallstate.com, googlekoln.com, googleamericanexpress.com, googlekpcb.com, googleamericaninternationalgroup.com, googlekpcb.info, googleamerisourcebergen.com, googlekpmg.com, googleamex.com, googlekpmg.info, googleaminoacids.com, googlekroger.com, googleangels.com, googlekuwait.com, googleangieslist.com, googlekuwaitpetroleum.com, googleappleinc.com, googlekuwaitpetroleumcorporation.com, googleappleipad.com, googlekyle.com, googleappletv.com, googlelaclippers.com, googleaquarius.com, googlelahore.com, googlearcelormittal.com, googlelakers.com, googlearcherdaniels.com, googlelalakers.com, googlearcherdanielsmidland.com, googlelarealestate.com, googlearies.com, googleleatherpride.com, googleassicurazioni.com, googleleo.com, googleassicurazionigenerali.com, googlelevis.com, googleathina.com, googleliberal.com, googleatkearney.com, googlelibra.com, googleatt.com, googlelima.com, googleattphones.com, googlelimbaugh.com, googleavengers.com, googlelinkedin.com, googleaviva.com, googlelions.com, googleaxa.com, googleliveinternet.com, googlebabyclothes.com, googlelivejournal.com, googlebabyfood.com, googlelloyds.com, googlebabylon.com, googlelloydsbankinggroup.com, googlebabynames.com, googlelloydsoflondon.com, googlebadgers.com, googlelonghorns.com, googlebadoo.com, googlelonnie.com, googlebaghdad.com, googlelowes.com, googleballeys.com, googlelsu.com, googleballys.com, googlelsutigers.com, googlebama.com, googlelte.com, googlebangalore.com, googlelukoil.com, googlebangdung.com, googlelunch.com, googlebangkok.com, googlemacys.com, googlebankofamerica.com, googlemanila.com, googlebankofchina.com, googlemanning.com, googlebarack.com, googlebarackobama.net, googlebarbershops.com, googlebarclays.com, googlebarclaysbank.com, googlemaputo.com, googlebart.com, googlemarathon.com, googlebasf.com, googlemarathonoil.com, googlebatman.com, googlemarchmadness.com, googlebaylor.com, googlemarriott.com, googlebc.com, googlemartin.com, googlebcg.com, googlemavericks.com, googlebcs.com, googlemavs.com, googlebcsprojections.com, googlemcdonalds.com, googlebcsrankings.com, googlemckesson.com, googlebdo.com, googlemckessoncorporation.com, googlebe6.com, googlemedco.com, googlebears.com, googlemedcohealthsolutions.com, googlebelohorizonte.com, googlemedellin.com, googlebengals.com, googlemelbourne.com, googleberkshirehathaway.com, googlemetlife.com, googlebestdroidapps.com, googlemetroag.com, googlebestiapps.com, googlemets.com, googlebestnotebooks.com, googlemexicocity.com, googlebestonlinestores.com, googlemiamiheat.com, googlebestsellers.com, googlemichaelkors.com, googlebestvideogames.com, googlemitsubishi.com, googlebestwestern.com, googlemitsubishicorporation.com, googlebhp.com, googlemitt.com, googlebhpbilliton.com, googlemittromneysdog.com, googlebills.com, googlemoneyorders.com

The full list of domains identified in the complaint can be seen here.

Discussion: Marketing Land and NamePros

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News

Google was buyer of Wallet.com domain

Wallet.com Whois

Wallet.com Whois

Back in June 2011, DotWeekly editor Jamie Zoch spotted a change in the Whois records of the domain name Wallet.com.  Jamie speculated that either Zynga or Google was the buyer of the domain, which was privately registered making it difficult to know the owner’s identity.

As of today, the buyer is no longer a secret, thanks to another change in the Whois records. 

Whois Privacy was removed this week from Wallet.com revealing Google Inc. as the official owner, who paid an undisclosed amount of money for the name.

When you type wallet.com into your browser, you are taken to google.com. 

In May 2011, Google announced Google Wallet, a mobile app that allows users to make their phone a virtual wallet.  The web address for the site is <www.google.com/wallet>.