Google/AOL Deal ...

Kate Mackenzie and Aline van Duyn reported on FT:

"Most controversially, the companies have indicated that Google will provide AOL with “technical assistance” to improve the ranking of AOL content in Google’s search results.

Granting favoured status to AOL content could weaken Google’s brand, which has been built in part on the promise of objective search results, though it remains unclear what the final deal will entail.

...

The deal could also see the introduction of graphic advertisements on Google’s own website, marking a departure from the search engine’s trademark stark, minimalist look which is popular with many users."

More at ft.com .