Google-owned Youtube has introduced a new ad platform to turn the heads of advertisers. In addition to traditional text ads YouTube now allows search term based adverts that are displayed on the top of the search results. Like the ones on Google search the YouTube search term ads are separated from the actual results by their background color.
Costing Google a hefty $1.76 billion YouTube has not yet turned into a money making machine. However, the integration of the new ad platform was not as an easy task as one could’ve thought.
“In hindsight, it is a natural transition for YouTube to make. We’ve been working on this for months. The key was, we wanted to make sure we got it right. There are a lot of intricacies involved. YouTube is a video discovery platform. We’ve been integrating with Google AdWords for some time, and now we’re at a place where it can be win and win,” said YouTube product manager Matthew Liu to CNET News.
There are no limitations regarding who can buy the ads but due to the formula used to determine ad placements - combining popularity of the video and money paid - companies will most likely buy off the most popular search terms. There will be however a chance to buy yourself the 15 seconds - or minutes in this case - of fame.
Search ads are currently used only in the U.S. but will be expanded to other countries and regions in the future as well.
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According to a report from China.org.cn, Chinese citizens are upset over Microsoft’s latest anti-piracy tactics.
The software giant is bringing its Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) and Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) software to China next week, but the software will be more intrusive then it is for US users.
Users of pirated Windows will see reminders every few hours that they should purchase legitimate software and occasionally the software will turn your screen black. A Microsoft official described it this way:
“The user may reset the background to a wallpaper or another background color, but every 60 minutes, the desktop will be reset to a plain black color until the copy of Windows passes validation. In addition, a persistent notification will appear in the lower right corner of the desktop.”
Luckily for Chinese pirates, the software is opt-in so if they do not want it they do not have to download it.
