G$$gle

14 Apr 06

It's been a strange week for me & the GOOG. First, Rob pointed this out in the new Adwords API T&C:

3. Inspection for Compliance.

1. User-Interface Inspection. You agree that Google may inspect your AdWords API Client user interfaces up to 3 times per calendar year. Any such inspection must be during normal business hours. You must allow Google to visit your place of business, or inspect your AdWords API Client in some other manner agreed between you and Google, within 7 days after notice from Google that Google desires to inspect your AdWords API Client interfaces...

2. Systems Inspection. In addition to Google's rights under Section IV(3)(a), at Google's expense (except as set forth below) Google may appoint (subject to the below) a Third Party inspector (the "Inspector") for a systems inspection, only as set forth in this section, of your AdWords API Use...

Que? For the pleasure of talking to you we get a day trip from an 'inspector'? Whilst i like catching up with GOOG folk to talk falling stock and vint cerf's breakfast habits, i think this is over-stepping the mark a little. Both parties using an API can pretty clearly discern who's playing nice and who isn't without visiting each other's premises and inspecting products.

This came with the news that the Adwords API has a new 'feature'. Usage is not free anymore! The old quota caps system has been replaced with a pay-as-you-go type deal. Coupled with the fact that google doesn't provide test accounts, this could mean that if you're developing an Adwords client for your app you'll be spending every step of the way. Still got to wait on this, but it sounds both more flexible and more costly.

Finally, Google Calendar came along, with great desktop UI touches like cell dragging to define event duration:

GOOG calendar

And google map integration and all sorts of other treats.

And suddenly everything is ok again with me & the GOOG and i forgive them and they can send inspectors to my house to question my family about my API usage and i'll even make them continental breakfast. With fresh croissants. On a Sunday morning.

No says

Can you make your full post available in Newsreaders? Like your stuff but visiting the site every time is starting to sh!t me.

anil says

Ok. Not sure if you're a spambot or not, but use the atom feed for full posts. It's here.

No says

Ah that's way better.....fantastic!