ATBOM

After much speculation and waiting and hacks to see it early...the new Google "Search Menu" has started to arrive.  It's big, it's grey and it has a drop down menu and integrates Google plus.  Did I mention that it's big?  I actually don't care for it.  It takes up too much real estate.  In fact, I put this as the number two worst Google change to their homepage, after the forced backgrounds incident. Anyway, if you don't already have the new Search Menu, try your other browsers.  I found it when I launched Firefox.  At the same time, my Chrome browser didn't have it.  Google assures us however, that in a few days everyone will have it everywhere, whether they like it or not.

Atbom caught wind of a startup from our very own Jamal P. Le Blanc called Stonecharm Solutions.  Stonecharm has been set up as a "public affairs startegy firm" that can provide tech, media and communications companies up-to-the-minute intel on the industry around them, so that they can make informed decisions on how to move thier business forward. In full disclosure, Jamal is my brother, but Atbom has been listening to his insight for years.  Many of our articles include insight from his mind, and now we are happy to see that through Stonecharm, his insight can reach even more people. Jamal P. Le Blanc is a contributor for Atbom, former Analyst for Fujitsu and a pioneer in resolving the Digital Divide with the Benton Foundation.  Check out some of his work here . If you know of a tech, media or communications company in need of an edge to propel their business, please have them check out Stonecharm Solutions .

This week, Google has been busy.  Earlier they announced Instant Pages which preload websites based on the probability that you will click on them.  So combined with their Instant Search, you could be just one-click and seconds away from being on the page that you want to be on. Then they announced Related Searches, which places suggestions at the bottom of the page relating to certain topics that you search for, providing an overall better search experience. But today, they added Voice Search to their search bar.  If you have a microphone, just click the microphone icon, speak your search and go! Equally as impressive, or maybe more impressive is the ability to search by photo.  Upload a photo into images.google.com and see what happens. Most of these features only work with Google Chrome, a smart move that will allow the giant to increase their market share in the browser world. Awesome.

Just an FYI, ATBOM tweets technology news articles and they look awesome on Flipboard for your iPad!!!  Plus, you can keep up with the latest original content from ATBOM. Check us out at @atbomblog on Twitter