Google Adsense Enlarges First Ad for More Clicks

Google Adsense is enlarging text of the first ad in all ad unit sizes to increase visibility to get more clicks. This test is visible as we browse around websites, most Adsense ads show the first ad text slightly enlarged. Usually Adsense publishers can choose the ad text size, but this time the first ad text is being automatically enlarged in all ad units.

See the ad units below and see the first ad is enlarged in all the ad units.

Facebook iPad App Secretly Revealed

An iPad-specific version of Facebook's official iOS app has been discovered.

Some clever Apple fanatics managed to discover that code for the iPad version of the long-awaited official Apple Facebook app was embedded within the code of the iPhone app, which was released earlier this year.

The discovery occurred after Facebook released an update to the iPhone app, which included a handful of minor changes to the untrained eye, but obviously it also updated the app such that it now uses the same kind of code for both iPhone and iPad content.

Tech Crunch reports that the leaked iPad version of the app will have a special menu on the left-hand side of the screen for seamless access to all of the social network site's main features.

In addition, the site found that the code itself has changed from a proprietary iOS format to a combination of native code and HTML5, which is a more universal Web-based language.

It seems as though the app is started to bleed into the experience users will have if they simply go to Facebook.com from the iPad's Web browser.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Facebook is working on overhauling its website so that users who go to the site on an iPad will have a special kind of experience - it's almost as if Facebook is building its own platform specifically for iPad users.

This comes after the social network had seemingly snubbed Apple, offering very little in the way of official support for the iPhone and iPad, but it appears as though there was just a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes.

Facebook has not revealed any details about when it plans to launch the long-awaited official iPad app, but given how complete the hidden code within the new iPhone app is, it seems likely the release will happen soon.

3 Tips for Choosing a Usenet Provider

Guest post by Jared. There are a number of factors you need to consider when choosing a Usenet provider. When you think of Usenet chances are good that pictures of dial-up modems and black screens with green text pop into your mind. And who could blame you. Usenet had already been around for 10 years by the time the World Wide Web came into existence.

But the years have been kind to Usenet. Far from being tossed in the scrap heap of history, in many ways, Usenet is more popular than ever. The recent shift from Usenet service provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or local University to premium Usenet providers has brought both more choice and more confusion.

Upload / Download

If you download a lot from the Internet, there is nothing better than downloading from Usenet. Here are three tips for choosing the Usenet provider that’s right for you.
1. How Long is Their Binary Retention?

Retention refers to the amount of time text messages or files (a.k.a. binaries) are stored on the Usenet server. For example, if you are looking for a file that was uploaded 365 days ago, but the server only has retention of 300 days, you won’t be able to find and/or download that file.

Any good Usenet provider is going to offer binary retention of at least 1,000 days with text retention at 1,500 days or more.
2. What Kind of Security is Offered?

When you think of security on Usenet, there are really two things to consider. First, do they offer a secure SSL connection to the Usenet server? An SSL connection creates a direct link between you and the Usenet server making it impossible for prying eyes to see what is happening inside the connection.

The second security issue to consider is server logs. Does the server keep a log of the transactions? No server log means there is no record of that transaction. True Usenet security is 256-bit SSL encryption with no server logs.
3. Are There Any Speed or Data Caps?

One of the major benefits of Usenet is speed. A premium Usenet connection should allow you to download at speeds as fast as your internet connection will allow. Some providers may cap the speed at which you can download in order to limit the strain on their servers. Likewise, some providers may also cap the amount you can download each month. Real unlimited Usenet will allow both unlimited speed and downloads.

There are a number of good Usenet providers available. Sites like Comparere and NewsGroupReviews do an excellent job of giving you the pros and cons of each. Retention, security and speed are three important pieces that allow you to get the most out of your premium Usenet connection. Make sure your provider is meeting your needs.

Google Doubling Google+ Population

The Google+ team, facing strong demand for the new social-networking service, has expansion on its mind.

Google briefly let Google+ users invite new members last night in a plan to double the social network's population. And Google has begun detailing its plans for letting business users, not just individuals, use the service starting later this year.

Google has been limiting the individual sign-up rate, leading to frustration among many who want to get in. But Dave Besbris, the Google+ engineering director, said last night it was time for another growth spurt.

"Things are going well with the systems right now so we feel comfortable enough to open up invites for a brief period. Our goal is to double the user base in the field trial from its initial group," he said in a Google+ post.

Apparently the moment was indeed fleeting, because I couldn't find an invitation mechanism by the time I woke up here in England. That means Lutz Beyer's amusing cartoon about Google+ exclusivity remains relevant.

Google had opened invitations briefly last week, shortly after the mostly-closed beta test began. I've had success getting quite a few people in by a somewhat circuitous Google+ invitation route that involves sharing a Google+ post by e-mail with their Gmail addresses.

It's been an irregular process: some people told me they never got an invitation, and sometimes the message took days to arrive. And because Google throttles the sign-up rate, many of those I've invited had to check back several times before they happened to click when the window was open.

In a comment, Besbris apologized for the sporadic availability.

"We are also ensuring, as we grow, things keep working well, so occasionally we may have to pause/slow down/speed up the signup rate to keep the service smooth and fast. The combo can make it seem unpredictable," he said. "I'm sorry [about] that and thanks for your patience."

An official invitation clearly would be a far better way to handle this than the e-mail technique. Google, though, is proceeding cautiously.

"I wanted to take a moment to explain why we're growing the system slowly," Besbris said. "First, we want to make sure our infrastructure scales so the service remains fast and reliable. Second, we want to ensure that bugs are fixed while there are still a relatively few people in the field trial."

Google has made a couple tweaks--shutting down the ability to publicly share an initially private post last week, for one thing. Another change came yesterday involving profile pictures. "Changing your public profile picture or scrapbook photos will no longer generate a public post to the stream, just to the people you have in your circles. So only people in your circles will engage in discussions about the photos you post," Google+ product manager Shimrit Ben-Yair said in a Google+ post.

Backlit keyboards returning to MacBook Air

It's not unusual for Apple to remove features in new versions of things. It happens in software, and it happens in the company's computers, too. One notable removal that accompanied the MacBook Air's overhaul last October was the nixing of the backlit keyboard--the feature that lights up the keys so you can see them in the dark.

According to AppleInsider, the eyeball-friendly feature is making a comeback in the much-expected refresh of the MacBook Air line, which is the same update that's expected to bring Intel's Sandy Bridge Core i series processors, along with a Thunderbolt port to bring high-speed I/O connectivity. The MacBook Pro and iMac lines already received those last two features in updates earlier this year.

Apple first introduced its backlit keyboard technology as a top-of-the-line feature in the 17-inch model of its PowerBook G4 notebook, later adding it to the rest of the Pro notebook line. The original MacBook Air, which made its debut at the Macworld expo in 2008, came with the feature from the get-go.

In a poll last month, CNET readers voted it the second-most wanted feature in an updated Air, beating out Thunderbolt, a black version, and a mobile broadband antenna.

Alleged part numbers for the new MacBook Air models, along with new versions of Apple's Mac Pro desktop towers, popped up yesterday. New versions of those products are expected to coincide with Lion, Apple's upcoming Mac OS X update, scheduled for release this month.