Google have announced that they are now able to index flash files better than before. I’m hoping Google have tightened things up before launching as otherwise this could give a short period of opportunity to abuse the Google index if loopholes have been left open.

I can’t say this with absolute certainty of course because Google keeps its cards very close to its chest at all times. However the nature of flash movies does give developers different ways of trying to manipulate the Googlebot.

Due to the non linear format of flash movies is it possible to add false frames into a movie containing keyword rich copy that the end user is not going to see? This of course is against the webmaster guidelines but people won’t be able to spot this kind of thing as easily as on a standard HTML page and therefore reporting offenders isn’t going to happen so often.

I’m sure Google have taken steps where they can to try and avoid this but people will always find a way around measures. I’ll be keeping a close eye on search results!

Also the lack of search engine indexing has always been a major reason not to have a flash only website and this might mean more flash only sites will spring up than before. I don’t have a problem with this as long as they are developed as websites with usability in mind rather than just having a splash movie that look pretty but does little else.

I had to laugh at an article I saw on the BBC about people hoarding old fashioned light bulbs. Basically some people don’t like energy saving bulbs as they don’t look as nice, take longer to switch on and don’t produce so much light.

Ben Stewart from Greenpeace says “The time has come to move into the 21st century” but in some ways I have to agree with the hoarders. Moving in the 21st century should mean not taking a step backwards which unfortunately the energy saving bulbs do in one respect.

I’m gradually changing over to energy saving bulbs purely to save cash but they are sooooo dim in comparison to the old bulbs! Unless they come up with better replacement technology we’ll end up back in the dark ages!

I read a post today about the new ability to add comments to the Facebook mini-feed items. This happened on the 25th apparently.

Who noticed? I certainly didn’t!

All very good adding new functions into Facebook but what use if they are so subtle they aren’t noticed and you don’t highlight it anywhere how are people supposed to use them?

Perhaps something in the notification area Facebook?

With a title like that I’m sure to be walking straight into another load of comments claiming I don’t know what I’m talking about. However after reading an article today on CNET about how Apple are charging significantly more for upgrades I had to post something.

Now you might be thinking it’s because I want to shout from the hilltops “Rip off!” however the thing that’s actually wound me up is the comments from various Apple fanboys after the post.

I agree that not all hardware comparisons are like for like however the ones that are clearly show Apple are charging more to upgrade components within a system than Dell. Do I have issue with this? No not really - businesses will make the most margin they see fit and Apple can charge extra as the type of people that buy Apple are generally able to afford it and won’t question it. If you can get away with it why not? Apple leaning on their brand to get some extra cash isn’t wrong in any way.

However the outrage from Apple fans that such a thing can be reported is unbelievable! Comparisons can now be made now that Macs are on effectively the same hardware platform so why try and deny it?

Apple is a top end manufacturer so why be so worried when someone says they are making a better margin than a competitor?

I can’t in this case say it’s just the Apple fans that have stooped to insults - the PC fans too have decided to bypass sense in some of the comments. Does it help the argument? What do you think?

In the end it seems Apple fans are looking for every single argument to stick back at the PC fans and the fact there is a pretty solid one on price stick in the gullet a bit (this is not to say it wouldn’t be the same if the other way around).

There are bound to be points where people will disagree however on some occasions there should be the ability for a party to accept a point? I thought so but clearly I’m wrong?