Apple and Google are currently rumoured to be working on any number of deals that could greatly benefit both companies. The thing is though, no one is quite sure what the two have up their sleeves.

So far, it is rumoured that Apple and Google are working on an advertising deal. It would likely be a traditional advertising partership much like Google has struck with other high profile online companies. The addition of Apple, and most especially Apple’s iTunes websites, to their roster would me a major boost to the business.

The other possible partnership is that of a video deal. One rumour is that Google will supply video to Apple’s upcoming iTV service.

Many also believe that whatever deal is struck, it could be the beginning of a very long and mutually beneficial collaborative partnership. Both companies share similiar work cultures, and each has several things that the other does not.

Users viewing AdSense ads in Internet Explorer 6 and 7 over the last few days were prompted to install third-party software, according to forum posts on the well known WebmasterWorld. The applications included QuickTime, Acrobat, Flash and Windows Media Player. The problem was first brought to Google’s attention on August 11 and was addressed August 15. According to a forum post by AdSenseAdvisor, the problem has now been fixed.

Google did not immediately return a request for comment. Some forum posters, however, said they believe that Google was intentionally trying to install software without users’ knowledge. And some users report that the issue has not been entirely rectified.

Personally I didn’t experience anything of this so far, did you?

Google announced Monday that registration is now open for Google Code Jam 2006, Google’s annual online coding competition. The competition is set to run through October 27, culminating with the Championship round held at the Google offices in New York City.

The tournaments are a series of timed competitions in which programmers work to solve the same problems using the programming language of their choice: either Java, C++, C#, VB.NET, or Python.

Up for grabs is $165,000 worth of cash, with $10,000 going to the first place winner. 2nd through 10th place winners will each snag $5,000, 11th-25th get $2,500 each, 26th-50th each get $1,000, and lastly, those who place 51st through 100th each score $750. The top 250 in the second round of competition each get a t-shirt. Only 100 move on to the final round.

Want to learn more? Visit the Google Code Jam 2006 competition page to find out more information and register today.

In yet another failure to take that left toin on Albuquerque, the AOL Thought Police gathered and published 10 million queries from 657,426 AOL users.

Unique numbers identify the searchers, but since many of the surfers ego searched and ran their own social security numbers some identities are easy to piece together.

The massive privacy breach is irretrievable as the data is already bit-torrented outside of AOL’s control.

Zoli’s Blog revealed the disaster on Aug 6, the day it occurred. Elliot Back did some quick egreps to find approximately 200 social security numbers. Researchers identified and outed at least one formerly-anonymous AOL user. Since AOL is now a re-branding of Google search marketers are using the data to refine AdSense ventures (ring tone, ring tones, ring tones for cell phone, ring tones for cell phones, ring tones garth brooks…).

I found several dozen references to “suicide” and “murder.” Presumably these terms correlate with the fact that the searchers are AOL subscribers.

 

 

Today Google and Fox Interactive Media announced a multi-year agreement, calling for Google to provide search service and advertising across Fox’s growing online network, including MySpace.

In accordance with the terms of the agreement, Google will be the sole provider of search services and contextually target advertising on MySpace.  With over 99 million members, this represents not only a huge influx of cash for Google, but also the opportunity to put its product and brand in front of a large audience.

On the heels of the annoucement, Google’s stock rose from $371.50 per share up to $377.95 at market close.  That represents a 1.1% increase.  In after hours trading, the stock rose even more, up to $381.84, up another 1.03%.  Look for this one to fly to $400 in the near future.

Could this new deal be the beginning of GoogleSpace, the biggest cash cow to hit the net?

 

In a press release issued today, Google announced that they have struck a deal with XM Satellite Radio, the nation’s largest satellite radio service, to introduce and make available commercial advertising inventory on XM’s non-music channels Google’s extensive advertising base through its dMarc media network.

Google’s advertisers will now have a simple, automated way to reach the more than 7 million subscribers of XM Satellite Radio.  Both small and large advertisers will have the opportunity to serve up relevant, targeted advertising to listeners.

dMarc was acquired by Google in January 2006, and allows for easier purchasing, delivery, reporting, and tracking of advertising on terrestrial radio, and now also on XM Satellite Radio.  The technology automatically allows Google to schedule advertising on XM, opening them up to a larger advertising base as well as reducing costs formerly associated with the processing of advertising sales.

Adwords’ customers will be able to purchase both terrestrial and satellite radio advertising when the dMarc platform is fully integrated into Adwords during the fourth quarter of this year.