zagat

Google draws new battle line with Frommer's acquisition

Google is known as the search company that makes money on advertising -- nearly $38 billion in revenue for 2011. It's also a company that has tentacles gripping almost every corner of the digital world, competing with Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Amazon, Yahoo, GroupOn, Expedia, Open Table, Yelp, Square, phone companies and a host of others. It's a company that appears to know no boundaries in its quest to digitally reengineer the planet, other than those placed on it by government bodies.

Google's latest grab, Frommer's travel guides, expands its content base in an … Read more

Google acquires Frommer's, pushes further into travel info

Google is once again investing in the travel space.

The search giant is acquiring travel guide provider Frommer's from John Wiley & Sons. It's not immediately clear what Google might have planned for Frommer's, and a purchase price has not been divulged.

Wiley announced earlier this year that it would put Frommer's, which includes everything from travel guides to hotel ratings, on the purchasing block, though the company did not have any potential suitors in mind.

It's not all that surprising that Google has jumped in to swipe Frommer's. The company has been making … Read more

Google+ Local app hits iPhone with voice search, Zagat ratings

The Google Places iOS app has a new name and new features.

Redubbed Google+ Local as of yesterday, the travel app now offers iOS users several handy, new options.

First up is voice search. You can speak the name or description of what you're seeking.

For example, saying the phrase "Mexican restaurants" displays a list of places serving Mexican cuisine in my local area. Uttering the words "Dunkin' Donuts" shows me a list of all Dunkin' Donut establishments nearby. And speaking the name of a local restaurant calls up its specific listing. Simply tap the … Read more

Google fills search with Zagat ratings

It's time to rate your world on Google+ Local, double down on secrets and lose the hashbang:

Google+ has teamed up with Zagat to add a new feature encouraging users to review local establishments. It's called Google+ Local, and even if you don't use Google+, you'll start to see these ratings pop up around Google search and maps.

Apple CEO Tim Cook shared some interesting comments at the D10 conference Tuesday. To summarize, Cook didn't say if Apple was working on a television set, he vowed that the company will "double down" on … Read more

IPO mania: Angie's List soars and Yelp wants in

It might be coincidence, but somehow I doubt it.

Customer-review site Yelp filed to go public today--the same day that a key rival, Angie's List, started trading. And given how well Angie's List did, the folks over at Yelp must be pretty happy.

Shares of Angie's List, which serves up reviews of businesses to 1 million playing subscribers, jumped 25 percent in its first day of trading, closing at $16.26.

The company, which Angie Hicks began in 1995 and rates everything from plumbers to doctors, raised about $114 million and now brags a market value … Read more

Google reveals it paid $151 million for Zagat

Google, which didn't disclose the amount it paid for Zagat when it announced plans to acquire the restaurant-rating service last month, revealed the price in a regulatory filing today: $151 million.

The Web giant also disclosed in its quarterly filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it bought the German Groupon-like service, Daily Deals, for $114 million. Google began its own Offers service in June.

For the first nine months of the year, Google said it completed 54 other acquisitions and purchases of intangible assets for about $502 million.

The Zagat deal boosts Google's local business strategy, … Read more

Google's price for Zagat $125 million, says WSJ

One Motorola Mobility is worth 100 Zagats. That's the latest rate on the Google currency exchange, from a company that acquires historic brands with as much gusto as Jay Leno scoops up vintage rides at an antique car show.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Mountain View, Calif.-based Google paid $125 million for the legendary restaurant review company, or about 1 percent the proposed purchase price for Motorola, which Google came to terms with last month.

Zagat put itself on the block three years ago. Back then its estimated value was $200 million, but apparently there were … Read more

Does Google want to own or organize information?

No doubt that Google decision to acquire Zagat gives its local business strategy a nice boost.

But it's not without some tension. Google, which likes to think of itself as the great organizer of the world's information, is increasingly owning important chunks of it. And that raises questions about whether the company will give the information it owns preferential treatment over information owned by others.

"This is exactly why Google is on the hot seat for antitrust," said Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court, an activist and frequent thorn in Google's side. "This is when … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1548: Carol Bartz? Unprofessional? Say it ain't effin' so. (Podcast)

The Yahoo aftershocks continue as Carol Bartz gives an angry, expletive-filled interview to Fortune and employees give Jerry Yang an angry, expletive-filled earful at an all-hands meeting where Yahoo tries to explain what comes next. Also, Apple upholds its reputation as a silent impenetrable fortress that doesn't care much for your security, by failing to patch Safari against fraudulent Web certificates and not saying a dang thing about it.

The 404 899: Where we take you to school (podcast)

Wilson begins this episode of The 404 Podcast with a few words of encouragement to our young listeners starting their first day of school today.

Unsurprisingly, Mr. Tang excelled in all his classes and never once printed a cheat sheet on a Coke-bottle wrapper--unfortunately Jeff and I can't say the same for our own salad days. Anyone know how to calculate the area of a triangle?

Aside from recalling our high-school days, today's show rundown kicks off with Nike's announcement of the long-awaited shoes from "Back To the Future II." Nike's head designer Tinker Hatfield invited members of the press to a big announcement that's likely to coincide with this preview trailer showing Marty McFly's closet full of Air Mag 2015s. Power laces and light-up soles!

We'll also break news about a partnership between Google and Zagat's (rhymes with "da cat") Restaurant Guide, shed some light on reports about Netflix capping multiple streams, and you'll also find out how you can rent the studio set from the Conan O'Brien late-night show!

The 404 Digest for Episode 899

It's about time: Nike goes "Back to the Future." Conan writers put studio up on AirBnB. Scan shows what the right 3DS thumb stick add-on might look like. Google buys Zagat, in original-content gambit. Video voice mail from David showing a retro pinball arcade.

Video voice mail from Tessa and Matt on a backpacking trip in the Sierras. Justin's Daily Bathroom Break Video: Going to the Store: Normal Guy, Normal Walk.

Episode 899 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more