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News

• Google seeks to boost geo apps with new Maps API

  Google has released a new API for Google Maps designed to relieve developers of the burden of maintaining their own repositories for geographical data.

• Google: 'rough' talks ahead on privacy with Korea

  The South Korean government could force Google to block access to its YouTube Web site in an ongoing dispute over user privacy, Google's deputy counsel said Monday.

• Australia hits Google swine flu map

  Two suspect cases of the swine flu virus - which has killed more than 80 people in Mexico and infected 20 in the United States - have been pinned on a map of Queensland on a Google map tracking the global movement of the possible pandemic.

• Google to boost local businesses with AdWords offer

  Google Australia today announced it will offer a free $75 search marketing campaign to help more than one million Australian small and medium businesses.

• Google enhances and open sources its Update software

  Google has both refreshed and open sourced its Google Update software, which is code-named Omaha. By making the software available under the open source Apache license, developers working on an auto-updater can use Google's code, which also enables Google to publish updates and plug security holes.

• Google lays off 200 in sales and marketing

  Proving that it is not immune to the economic downturn, Google plans to lay off 200 people, including 15 across Australia and New Zealand, in its sales and marketing group.

• Google Apps missing enterprise social-networking revolution

  By now, many collaboration software providers consider it a must to have an enterprise social-networking component in their suites, but Google, which shook up this market with its Web-hosted Apps product in 2006, stands out for lacking this capability.

• Judge dismisses Google Street View case

  A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Pennsylvania family against Google after the company took and posted images of the outside of their house in its Maps service.

• Victim of bullying video withdraws from Google case

  The boy at the center of a trial of Google executives for alleged violations of Italy's privacy law withdrew from the case Wednesday, his lawyer said.

• Google swamped with ideas to change the world

  So many ideas to change the world -- and so little time.

• Google Q4 earnings plummet, revenue up 18%

  Google's profit took a dive in the fourth quarter, which ended Dec. 31, while revenue grew almost 20 percent, the company announced Thursday.

• Google's inauguration searches show a changing Internet

  People weren't just sitting back and watching President Barack Obama's inauguration last week.

• Google unwraps Apps partner program

  Google on Wednesday detailed a new program under which resellers can now offer Google Apps to businesses -- effectively meaning that companies considering the alternative to Microsoft Office don't have to go it alone. But the search giant has yet to prove its strength in supporting a partner ecosystem that could bring enterprises much needed assurances.

• Report Claims Google Layoffs: 10,000 Jobs Being Cut

  Google may be preparing to lay off thousands of workers, if a Silicon Valley information service is to be believed. WebGuild cites anonymous inside sources as saying up to 10,000 Google jobs could be on the way out, with smaller scale layoffs already underway.

• Google's Schmidt: Innovation must come first

  Google's Eric Schmidt calls for new government spending to improve broadband and encourage alternative energies.