Google has not changed its decision to stop censoring its Chinese search site even if it means leaving that market, a senior executive told a U.S. Congressional panel on Wednesday.

"Te Taka Keegan , a university lecturer in New Zealand, is betting that Google can help him preserve the Maori language of his ancestors. Mr. Keegan uses a tool called the Google Translator Toolkit to upload Maori translations of English texts to Google."

From BITS.BLOGS.NYTIMES.COM

Google on Wednesday launched bicycle directions for Google Maps making it easier for cyclists to plan routes in 150 U.S. cities including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Portland and Washington, DC. You can use Google Maps to find cycling-specific directions in urban areas, and by default Google Maps will plan your route to avoid steep hills whenever possible. The new maps ...

The store, whose unveiling has been expected for several weeks , is called Google Apps Marketplace and will initially have offerings from 50 companies, including Intuit, Concur, Jobvite, eFax and others.

Google Inc. is adding a bike lane with its latest online mapping option. The new bicycling directions available on Google Maps starting Wednesday supplement the guidance already provided to motorists and pedestrians.

Google has partnered itself with Dish Network to test a television search engine that would compile results from both traditional programming and web video services.

Lawrence wrote:

I came across this post today and thought I would pass it along.

"Google on Wednesday will unveil a new service that offers bicycling directions on its Google Maps feature, which until now has been limited to helping drivers and mass-transit users navigate their way around. The new software program, which covers Chicago , includes recommended cycling routes for specific point-to-point travel and maps that show bike trails, on-street bike lanes and bike ..."

Would anyone care to comment on this?

"Google Inc. will sell the online services of other business software makers in an effort to fill its own product gaps and persuade more companies to rely on applications piped over the Internet."

Diane is looking for more info.

Amy Wrote: Here's one for you - "Google has teamed up with Dish Network to offer a set-top box based on the Android operating system, the Wall Street Journal reports. The box is said to be operated via a keyboard and will serve YouTube videos straight to a TV set."

My friend told me about this.

"Seven useful Google services you may not have tried yet, from a free phone number to a cool new way to peruse the news."

I found this article and thought I would pass it along.

"Cyclists will be able to use Google Maps to plot directions around 150 U.S. cities when bike directions go live on Google later on Tuesday."

Google wants to bring its search expertise to the boob tube. The tech giant is reportedly testing a search service with Dish Network, the No. 2 satellite-TV provider, that would allow viewers to surf for TV shows as well as Web content on sites such as YouTube through their set-top...

A senior Google executive welcomed on Tuesday a U.S. decision to relax restrictions on exporting Internet communications services to Iran, Sudan and Cuba.