Jimmy Wales on Google
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Saturday, September 13, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
15 Ways Microsoft Can Reinvent Itself for the Post-Gates Era
Its cofounder is retiring, its latest big product has been vilified, and potential partners are spurning its advances. So what does Microsoft do to remain relevant? Here are 15 ideas.eas.
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Wednesday, June 11, 2008
iphone 2.0
The new iPhone is the second model out from Apple.It delivers most of the widely rumoured and hoped-for features such as fast mobile broadband, instant email delivery, GPS and a sleeker shape.
Price: The most astonishing news is the price. In the United States the new iPhone will sell for $US199 (about $210) for the 8GB and $US299 (about $315) for the 16GB models on 24-month plans.
Lust factor: The desire one shiny little object can inspire is quite disturbing. Just look at it. You know you want one.
Connectivity: The new iPhone has quad-band GSM, tri-band HSDPA, Wi-Fi, 3G and EDGE. Doesn't matter if you don't know what all that stands for - just rest assured you'll have the best possible web, email and phone access wherever you are.
Software: The new iPhone runs on a new operating system, called iPhone 2.0. Just as thousands of applications have been created to run on your computer, developers are busily beavering away at creating "Apps" to install on your iPhone. Download them straight to your phone from Apple's new App Store. Some are likely to cost about $10 to $20 here, others will be free. App categories include games, business, news, sport, health, reference and travel.
Emails: Sounds boring, but support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync has many potential corporate customers excited. Emails will arrive instantly - not just when you check for them.
New features: GPS for real-time mapping functions, a scientific calculator, parent controls to restrict content, the ability to save images from websites and overseas roaming (iPhone 3G will work in more than 70 countries).
Old features: Same as the first iPhone: browsing the web's a breeze and so is taking and showing off photos and using the iPhone as an iPod to listen to music or watch videos on the large screen. There are easy touch gestures for expanding and shrinking images or websites, and for flicking through your photo library. Whatever's on the screen automatically orientates for vertical or horizontal viewing.
Better battery life: Apple haven't always delivered on claimed battery performance, but are promising 10 hours' talk time on 2G networks and five hours on 3G (which can be switched off to save battery life), up to five hours' web browsing, up to seven hours' video viewing and up to 24 hours for playing audio.
MobileMe: Visit http://www.me.com/ to read about how the new MobileMe service synchronises emails, contacts and calendar details between your PC or Mac and your iPhone so everything's always up to date. Very handy.
What's not so hot? With rumours flying hot and fast before the launch, expectations of the new iPhone were sky-high. Not everyone's impressed. Here's what's missing.
Videoconferencing and picture messaging: Not supported out of the box, but stay tuned for third-party apps which may add this feature.
Wi-Fi: Still 802.11b/g; no support yet for the new 802.11n standard. A user-replaceable battery: The new iPhone has a sealed, non-changeable battery. Batteries fail. Then what? Off to Apple for an expensive service call for them to replace it. How annoying.
Bluetooth: Well, it's there - but not the A2 DP profile for using it properly. Gigabyte upgrade: iPods now come in 80GB and 160GB models, yet the iPhone has only 8GB and 16GB options. The iPhone still has too little media storage space for too many music and video-file collectors.
A better camera: The quality's not great and only two megapixels is tired.
Cynical critics claim Apple's history of regularly releasing upgraded models boils down to shortening a gizmo's lifespan so customers make repeat purchases in the same product category.
Courtesy:
Price: The most astonishing news is the price. In the United States the new iPhone will sell for $US199 (about $210) for the 8GB and $US299 (about $315) for the 16GB models on 24-month plans.
Lust factor: The desire one shiny little object can inspire is quite disturbing. Just look at it. You know you want one.
Connectivity: The new iPhone has quad-band GSM, tri-band HSDPA, Wi-Fi, 3G and EDGE. Doesn't matter if you don't know what all that stands for - just rest assured you'll have the best possible web, email and phone access wherever you are.
Software: The new iPhone runs on a new operating system, called iPhone 2.0. Just as thousands of applications have been created to run on your computer, developers are busily beavering away at creating "Apps" to install on your iPhone. Download them straight to your phone from Apple's new App Store. Some are likely to cost about $10 to $20 here, others will be free. App categories include games, business, news, sport, health, reference and travel.
Emails: Sounds boring, but support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync has many potential corporate customers excited. Emails will arrive instantly - not just when you check for them.
New features: GPS for real-time mapping functions, a scientific calculator, parent controls to restrict content, the ability to save images from websites and overseas roaming (iPhone 3G will work in more than 70 countries).
Old features: Same as the first iPhone: browsing the web's a breeze and so is taking and showing off photos and using the iPhone as an iPod to listen to music or watch videos on the large screen. There are easy touch gestures for expanding and shrinking images or websites, and for flicking through your photo library. Whatever's on the screen automatically orientates for vertical or horizontal viewing.
Better battery life: Apple haven't always delivered on claimed battery performance, but are promising 10 hours' talk time on 2G networks and five hours on 3G (which can be switched off to save battery life), up to five hours' web browsing, up to seven hours' video viewing and up to 24 hours for playing audio.
MobileMe: Visit http://www.me.com/ to read about how the new MobileMe service synchronises emails, contacts and calendar details between your PC or Mac and your iPhone so everything's always up to date. Very handy.
What's not so hot? With rumours flying hot and fast before the launch, expectations of the new iPhone were sky-high. Not everyone's impressed. Here's what's missing.
Videoconferencing and picture messaging: Not supported out of the box, but stay tuned for third-party apps which may add this feature.
Wi-Fi: Still 802.11b/g; no support yet for the new 802.11n standard. A user-replaceable battery: The new iPhone has a sealed, non-changeable battery. Batteries fail. Then what? Off to Apple for an expensive service call for them to replace it. How annoying.
Bluetooth: Well, it's there - but not the A2 DP profile for using it properly. Gigabyte upgrade: iPods now come in 80GB and 160GB models, yet the iPhone has only 8GB and 16GB options. The iPhone still has too little media storage space for too many music and video-file collectors.
A better camera: The quality's not great and only two megapixels is tired.
Cynical critics claim Apple's history of regularly releasing upgraded models boils down to shortening a gizmo's lifespan so customers make repeat purchases in the same product category.
Courtesy:
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Top 10 Google Flubs, Flops, and Failures
Not everything Google touches turns to gold. These are some of Google's biggest nonstarter Web services, software programs and business moves.
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Saturday, April 12, 2008
Hands on: new Microsoft Live Maps improvements impressive
Microsoft's Live Maps team has rolled out a number of improvements to the mapping service this week, including newly-improved 3D view for some cities, GPS file export, RSS feeds for neighborhoods, improved traffic mapping, and more. Google Maps should take note.
read more | digg story
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Thursday, April 10, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Newsmaker: Gates explains why Microsoft needs Yahoo - CNET N
Top technical hurdles;The Microsoft chairman is looking ahead to the time later this year when he will be focused full-time on fighting disease and poverty, while also trying to do everything he can to help his software company in its battle against Google. These days, that includes trying to sell Microsoft's $40 billion plus offer
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Monday, February 11, 2008
This time, Microsoft may meet its match in Google - Los Ange
WASHINGTON -- Bill Gates worried that something like Google would come along before it even existed.
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Thursday, February 7, 2008
Microsoft's Ballmer: More Investments Coming
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says future growth for the company hinges on continued investment, especially in eight core areas.
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Analyst predicts future of Microsoft-Yahoo! versus Google
Should Yahoo! decide to merge with software giant Microsoft, the market will see a strong contender against Google both in the Internet and the mobile Internet business, market analyst Ovum said.
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Google's warning to competition authorities - Times Online
Google has fired the opening salvo in what looks like this year’s biggest competition battle. Within 48 hours of Microsoft announcing its $44.6 billion offer for Yahoo!, Google, the company with the most to lose from the deal, was on the offensive
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Wednesday, February 6, 2008
IF yahoo rejects microsoft
Steve Ballmer spent plenty of time talking about Yahoo during Microsoft's just-concluded meeting with financial analysts on Monday. However, the CEO offered little news with regards to the company's $44.6 billion bid for Yahoo.
He reiterated many of the things he said in announcing the deal Friday, talking about the need for scale in the business and the benefits of combining the two companies' research-and-development efforts.
Balmer also echoed General Counsel Brad Smith's comments Sunday--that Microsoft buying Yahoo would increase competition by creating a stronger alternative to Google, while other potential options for Yahoo would ultimately reduce competition.
Asked whether Microsoft had purchased any Yahoo shares on the open market, Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell declined to comment.
Asked what would happen if Microsoft's bid does not go through, Ballmer said Microsoft would continue full steam ahead with its existing plan to build its online-ad business.
"We have a chance to get further sooner through the acquisition of Yahoo," Ballmer said, adding that Microsoft is "on a path, and we'll stay on that path, regardless."
He reiterated many of the things he said in announcing the deal Friday, talking about the need for scale in the business and the benefits of combining the two companies' research-and-development efforts.
Balmer also echoed General Counsel Brad Smith's comments Sunday--that Microsoft buying Yahoo would increase competition by creating a stronger alternative to Google, while other potential options for Yahoo would ultimately reduce competition.
Asked whether Microsoft had purchased any Yahoo shares on the open market, Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell declined to comment.
Asked what would happen if Microsoft's bid does not go through, Ballmer said Microsoft would continue full steam ahead with its existing plan to build its online-ad business.
"We have a chance to get further sooner through the acquisition of Yahoo," Ballmer said, adding that Microsoft is "on a path, and we'll stay on that path, regardless."
Microsoft planning new services
Microsoft is planning a new release this spring of its Live search product, code-named Rome.
That tidbit was mentioned Friday as part of the software giant's employee Webcast to discuss the Yahoo bid. Microsoft filed a transcript of the employee meeting on Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This is just the first of many product tidbits one can expect as part of the regulatory filings being made in conjunction with the offer.
Unfortunately, Microsoft didn't share much on what can be expected with Rome. Microsoft updated its search product last September, although the company has continued to remain a distant third to Google and Yahoo in the search market.
Microsoft said it is also planning its next update for Windows Live. The company began the second generation of the Internet services suite last July.
"We are now in vision phase for Windows Live wave 3, working to get that out later this year," division President Kevin Johnson told employees during the Webcast.
We'll be doing our best here at CNET News.com to ferret out more product details, but we wouldn't say no to some help. Whether you are at Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, or somewhere else in searchland, feel free to send along your tidbits to ina dot fried at CNET dot com. There's a lot to go through, and we're bound to miss something. Plus, not all of Ray Ozzie's thoughts get filed with the SEC.
Also, I forgot to mention this, but CFO Chris Liddell noted at this morning's financial analyst meeting that Microsoft would likely have to raise money--a first for the company--to finance its Yahoo purchase.
That tidbit was mentioned Friday as part of the software giant's employee Webcast to discuss the Yahoo bid. Microsoft filed a transcript of the employee meeting on Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This is just the first of many product tidbits one can expect as part of the regulatory filings being made in conjunction with the offer.
Unfortunately, Microsoft didn't share much on what can be expected with Rome. Microsoft updated its search product last September, although the company has continued to remain a distant third to Google and Yahoo in the search market.
Microsoft said it is also planning its next update for Windows Live. The company began the second generation of the Internet services suite last July.
"We are now in vision phase for Windows Live wave 3, working to get that out later this year," division President Kevin Johnson told employees during the Webcast.
We'll be doing our best here at CNET News.com to ferret out more product details, but we wouldn't say no to some help. Whether you are at Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, or somewhere else in searchland, feel free to send along your tidbits to ina dot fried at CNET dot com. There's a lot to go through, and we're bound to miss something. Plus, not all of Ray Ozzie's thoughts get filed with the SEC.
Also, I forgot to mention this, but CFO Chris Liddell noted at this morning's financial analyst meeting that Microsoft would likely have to raise money--a first for the company--to finance its Yahoo purchase.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Linux vs. Windows Vista vs. Leopard
I attended the Linspire-sponsored Linux Desktop Summit last week, where the discussion included reasons the folks who build PCs don't want to do Linux. Indeed, some of the commentary at the event related to Microsoft and its vulnerability when it comes to large business and government accounts.
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The Brighter Side of Bill
Melinda Gates, funnier, smarter, more fit than her husband is one half of the philanthropic team that is set to donate more than 100 billion dollars in their life time. Find out what makes her tick and where their foundation is headed.
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Google questions Microsoft's intentions
“Could a combination of the two take advantage of a PC software monopoly to unfairly limit the ability of consumers to freely access competitors’ e-mail, IM, and web-based services?” - David Drummond, the company’s senior vice president for corporate development and chief legal officer.
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Monday, February 4, 2008
google decided to leave internet
Mountain View, CA – After the announcement of a possible merger between Microsoft and Yahoo, Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, announced that the search engine giant would be exiting its entire line of Internet businesses.
"I think you're going to be seeing many other Internet companies doing the same, because the combined power of Microsoft and Yahoo will be overwhelming," said Schmidt. "The synergies created by Yahoo Search and Microsoft Live would soon lead them to dominate the market and frighten young children. That's not a world in which Google wishes to compete."
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said that indeed Facebook would be considering shuttering its site after hearing the news. Other sites such as CNN.com and Ask.com were also considering shutting down.
Schmidt said that users of Google's online services would have two weeks to download data such as email messages and search histories then they were "pulling the plug."
Schmidt said Google would instead focus on its non-Internet businesses like Google Ponies and Google's line of premium pasta sauces. "They are not as profitable, but they're a lot more fun. Who doesn't have fun with ponies?"
To many, Google is the Internet, so the news was devastating. "I've sold my online soul to Google. The things they know about me, even my best friends don't know. When they're gone, it'll be like a part of me is missing. It's a nightmare," said Valerie Keenan from Rancho Cucamonga, California.
It's nothing like the nightmares Schmidt has been having since hearing the news. "In my dreams everywhere I turned I saw the hideous faces of Steve Ballmer and Jerry Yang lording over me. Sergey and Larry were having the same visions. We decided it was best just to end it now."
Many analysts were confused by the move. "Google would still have a leadership position in many of the Internet segments it competes, especially in the valuable search market," said Frank Stanley from Merrill Lynch. "I think those guys have been spending too much time on the party plane."
Google's stock was down on the news.
Ballmer explained Microsoft's strategy, "We're not about dominating markets, we're about eliminating markets for others," he said.
Microsoft has a history of ending products as soon as the competition has been eliminated. Most famously, Microsoft discontinued their graphical "Bob" operating system once competitors from Hasbro and Coleco were eliminated.
Microsoft's stock was up on the news.
"I think you're going to be seeing many other Internet companies doing the same, because the combined power of Microsoft and Yahoo will be overwhelming," said Schmidt. "The synergies created by Yahoo Search and Microsoft Live would soon lead them to dominate the market and frighten young children. That's not a world in which Google wishes to compete."
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said that indeed Facebook would be considering shuttering its site after hearing the news. Other sites such as CNN.com and Ask.com were also considering shutting down.
Schmidt said that users of Google's online services would have two weeks to download data such as email messages and search histories then they were "pulling the plug."
Schmidt said Google would instead focus on its non-Internet businesses like Google Ponies and Google's line of premium pasta sauces. "They are not as profitable, but they're a lot more fun. Who doesn't have fun with ponies?"
To many, Google is the Internet, so the news was devastating. "I've sold my online soul to Google. The things they know about me, even my best friends don't know. When they're gone, it'll be like a part of me is missing. It's a nightmare," said Valerie Keenan from Rancho Cucamonga, California.
It's nothing like the nightmares Schmidt has been having since hearing the news. "In my dreams everywhere I turned I saw the hideous faces of Steve Ballmer and Jerry Yang lording over me. Sergey and Larry were having the same visions. We decided it was best just to end it now."
Many analysts were confused by the move. "Google would still have a leadership position in many of the Internet segments it competes, especially in the valuable search market," said Frank Stanley from Merrill Lynch. "I think those guys have been spending too much time on the party plane."
Google's stock was down on the news.
Ballmer explained Microsoft's strategy, "We're not about dominating markets, we're about eliminating markets for others," he said.
Microsoft has a history of ending products as soon as the competition has been eliminated. Most famously, Microsoft discontinued their graphical "Bob" operating system once competitors from Hasbro and Coleco were eliminated.
Microsoft's stock was up on the news.
Would a Microsoft-Yahoo deal out Google Google?
As Microsoft Corp. tries to take on search company Google Inc. for more advertising revenue by offering to acquire Yahoo Inc., a big question remains: Can Microsoft and Yahoo together best Google?
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Gates v Google: Microsoft's search for a future on the net
It is a multi-billion deal that will transform cyberspace. But days before news of Microsoft's $44.6bn bid for Yahoo became public, there were few signs that Bill Gates was about to unveil an acquisition that would transform the company and pose a major threat to Google, arguably the greatest success story of the internet age.
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Google launches its 'let's annoy Microsoft' plan: Pings Yaho
Google has reportedly reached out to Yahoo to thwart Microsoft’s unsolicited $44.6 billion bid. And in case that doesn’t work Google has already started working policymakers. Simply put, the games have begun (Techmeme). Get ready for the FUD fest folks. As noted on Friday just a few hours after Microsoft...
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Saturday, February 2, 2008
Microsoft bids yahoo
Since Microsoft's hostile bid for Yahoo! -- initially valued at $44.6 billion but now pegged at $42 billion by the Associated Press (AP) -- there's been endless deliberation as to the possible outcomes of this formidable marriage. Microsoft hasn't been very vocal about what they intend doing with brand Yahoo! in the event their multi-billion dollar bid goes through. What most analysts are agreed upon though is that the changes will be huge, to say the least.
Possibly, the combined companies will continue to retain some of their separate free services such as instant messaging and email programs. A mid-term change could be some of Microsoft's Web content disappearing or getting added to Yahoo!. For instance, MSN might fold into Yahoo! simply because keeping it separate may not prove profitable. Not that MSN is a loser but with Yahoo! still profitable, Microsoft may be inclined to do away with its not-so-profitable online properties. A long-term change could be the creation of a better way to combine the Web with desktop computing, and all those devices that might some day plug into the Web. Another change might be a complete re-think on the PC Desktop. All said, Microsoft Windows is still there on 90 percent of the world's PCs, which presents the combined companies a fabulous opportunity to put wide-ranging Internet data and applications onto PC desktops the world over. Possibly, Microsoft may even leverage Yahoo!'s online strengths to develop better Web-based versions of some of its powerful desktop software applications like Word and Excel. Meanwhile, the biggest change, according to analysts, will come as a renewed ability of the combined companies to deliver their ad networks all over the Internet -- something that till now, only Google has succceeded in doing. With observers ready to bet upon 'advertising reach' as being the biggest motivator behind the proposed acquisition, it's quite clear that even if the marriage occurs, noone's really going to 'Microsoft' or 'Yahoo!' anything on the Internet. They may of course continue to 'Google' a Microsoft
Possibly, the combined companies will continue to retain some of their separate free services such as instant messaging and email programs. A mid-term change could be some of Microsoft's Web content disappearing or getting added to Yahoo!. For instance, MSN might fold into Yahoo! simply because keeping it separate may not prove profitable. Not that MSN is a loser but with Yahoo! still profitable, Microsoft may be inclined to do away with its not-so-profitable online properties. A long-term change could be the creation of a better way to combine the Web with desktop computing, and all those devices that might some day plug into the Web. Another change might be a complete re-think on the PC Desktop. All said, Microsoft Windows is still there on 90 percent of the world's PCs, which presents the combined companies a fabulous opportunity to put wide-ranging Internet data and applications onto PC desktops the world over. Possibly, Microsoft may even leverage Yahoo!'s online strengths to develop better Web-based versions of some of its powerful desktop software applications like Word and Excel. Meanwhile, the biggest change, according to analysts, will come as a renewed ability of the combined companies to deliver their ad networks all over the Internet -- something that till now, only Google has succceeded in doing. With observers ready to bet upon 'advertising reach' as being the biggest motivator behind the proposed acquisition, it's quite clear that even if the marriage occurs, noone's really going to 'Microsoft' or 'Yahoo!' anything on the Internet. They may of course continue to 'Google' a Microsoft
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
microsoft:king of kings
Similar to a stash of weapons a player might rack up during an online adventure game, high technology companies for more than two decades have racked up as many patents as possible.
Patents can come in handy, for instance, as a defense – or an offense—when one company sues another for patent infringement.
On the other hand, cross-licensing patents between two or more companies can cement business collaborations.
For years, IBM has been one of the most prolific tech companies in terms of piling up patents.
Now, it's Microsoft's turn.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers' (IEEE) IEEE Spectrum magazine listed Microsoft as the leader in new patents awarded in 2006 in its November 2007 issue. In addition, intellectual property consultancy the Patent Board this week ranked Microsoft first on its Patent Scorecard of top IT patent holders.
The software titan has racked up a total of around 8,500 U.S. patents granted, the company said this week.
Microsoft also has more than 15,000 additional patents pending, and is applying for about 3,000 per year, according to a company statement. That's partly due to the company's aggressive R&D budget—a war chest of $7.1 billion in 2007 alone. While most of that money goes to creating products, it also yields a bounty of intellectual property.
"We pursue patents on only those inventions that are in line with our business objectives and have strategic value to the company," Bart Eppenauer, Microsoft's chief patent counsel and associate general counsel, said in a statement. "Close alignment with our business strategies, goals and priorities has enabled Microsoft to become the new standard bearer for patent quality in the technology industry."
Like virtually anything having to do with Microsoft these days, defending and protecting patents and other forms of intellectual property is highly controversial. Patents can, after all, be used as weapons and also as a means of intimidation.
Last year, CEO Steve Ballmer and other executives asserted that Linux vendors, especially Red Hat, are in violation of as many as 235 of Microsoft's patents – although the company would not disclose which specific patents it believes are being infringed upon.
However, that sword can cut both ways. Last year, Microsoft settled out of court with tiny Eolas Technologies, which holds a patent that lower courts found Microsoft had infringed upon with its Internet Explorer browser.
In November 2006, in one of its most controversial patent deals to date, Microsoft signed an IP cross-licensing and collaboration deal with Linux vendor Novell. The deal was roundly criticized by other members of the open source community who claim Novell sold out by joining forces with Microsoft.
Meanwhile, in September, the European Union's Court of First Instance upheld a European Commission (EC) order that Microsoft license IP, including patents, required for interoperability with its products to competitors.
Patents can come in handy, for instance, as a defense – or an offense—when one company sues another for patent infringement.
On the other hand, cross-licensing patents between two or more companies can cement business collaborations.
For years, IBM has been one of the most prolific tech companies in terms of piling up patents.
Now, it's Microsoft's turn.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers' (IEEE) IEEE Spectrum magazine listed Microsoft as the leader in new patents awarded in 2006 in its November 2007 issue. In addition, intellectual property consultancy the Patent Board this week ranked Microsoft first on its Patent Scorecard of top IT patent holders.
The software titan has racked up a total of around 8,500 U.S. patents granted, the company said this week.
Microsoft also has more than 15,000 additional patents pending, and is applying for about 3,000 per year, according to a company statement. That's partly due to the company's aggressive R&D budget—a war chest of $7.1 billion in 2007 alone. While most of that money goes to creating products, it also yields a bounty of intellectual property.
"We pursue patents on only those inventions that are in line with our business objectives and have strategic value to the company," Bart Eppenauer, Microsoft's chief patent counsel and associate general counsel, said in a statement. "Close alignment with our business strategies, goals and priorities has enabled Microsoft to become the new standard bearer for patent quality in the technology industry."
Like virtually anything having to do with Microsoft these days, defending and protecting patents and other forms of intellectual property is highly controversial. Patents can, after all, be used as weapons and also as a means of intimidation.
Last year, CEO Steve Ballmer and other executives asserted that Linux vendors, especially Red Hat, are in violation of as many as 235 of Microsoft's patents – although the company would not disclose which specific patents it believes are being infringed upon.
However, that sword can cut both ways. Last year, Microsoft settled out of court with tiny Eolas Technologies, which holds a patent that lower courts found Microsoft had infringed upon with its Internet Explorer browser.
In November 2006, in one of its most controversial patent deals to date, Microsoft signed an IP cross-licensing and collaboration deal with Linux vendor Novell. The deal was roundly criticized by other members of the open source community who claim Novell sold out by joining forces with Microsoft.
Meanwhile, in September, the European Union's Court of First Instance upheld a European Commission (EC) order that Microsoft license IP, including patents, required for interoperability with its products to competitors.
Microsoft: King of The Patent Hill
Microsoft emerges as top tech patent holder with more than 15,000 patents pending.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
When Google visited Insead's French campus in 2005, Jason Chuck was not the only MBA student to be impressed by the US internet search company. "They were the company that everyone wanted to see, to find out what they had to offer," says Mr Chuck. "They had the biggest amphitheatre, and probably got the largest crowd."
Google's recruitment team are now used to this kind of response at business schools worldwide. "We turn up on campus and are told we will get 80 students attending, but that turns into 250 or 300 regularly," says Alison Parrin, head of MBA recruitment for Google in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. "It's wonderfully, wonderfully overwhelming."
Canadian-born Mr Chuck, aged 28, now works as a product marketing manager for the company in Hong Kong.
With an engineering degree, an early career that included a spell as a telecoms engineer, and a strong continuing interest in technology, he sounds right up Google's street. But it was the broader range of skills and knowledge acquired on the MBA that also attracted the company to him.
"We are definitely a technology company, but as we grow in other areas we recognise that some of the skills learned in MBA programmes are really critical for us in a variety of different functions," says Yvonne Agyei, Google's director of global university programmes.
The company has had MBAs on its staff since its inception, she says, but in the past three years it has had a global programme to recruit them regularly. It appreciates their analytical skills and their ability to come up with new strategies. Also, the fact that they normally have work experience before doing their MBA programmes, and can then apply what they have learnt, means that they enter the company with management skills, says Ms Agyei.
For current MBA students, Google's popularity as a career choice may be due partly to its not being directly exposed to the volatility of the financial markets. However, first and foremost, it is the opportunity of what MBAs can achieve at Google that attracts them, says Ms Agyei.
"A lot of people who get MBAs want to be entrepreneurial, to run their own companies," she says. "Google is not a start-up any more, but does offer an opportunity to do that within various areas of the business, so there is a lot of appeal for MBAs."
Beyond the diverse opportunities offered by their regular jobs at Google, Ms Parrin sees a further attraction for MBA students in Google's "20 per cent time" policy, encouraging staff to work on ideas that interest them personally and which may later develop into a Google product. Google Mail (Gmail) is an example of just such a product.
Mr Chuck had been attracted to Insead in part by the strengths of its teaching on entrepreneurialism, and was able to apply the skills he had acquired when he joined Google's London office in 2006. "The office was quite small then and still had a very strong start-up feel to it," he says. "It was really up to us to shape the strategy."
Google's recruitment team are now used to this kind of response at business schools worldwide. "We turn up on campus and are told we will get 80 students attending, but that turns into 250 or 300 regularly," says Alison Parrin, head of MBA recruitment for Google in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. "It's wonderfully, wonderfully overwhelming."
Canadian-born Mr Chuck, aged 28, now works as a product marketing manager for the company in Hong Kong.
With an engineering degree, an early career that included a spell as a telecoms engineer, and a strong continuing interest in technology, he sounds right up Google's street. But it was the broader range of skills and knowledge acquired on the MBA that also attracted the company to him.
"We are definitely a technology company, but as we grow in other areas we recognise that some of the skills learned in MBA programmes are really critical for us in a variety of different functions," says Yvonne Agyei, Google's director of global university programmes.
The company has had MBAs on its staff since its inception, she says, but in the past three years it has had a global programme to recruit them regularly. It appreciates their analytical skills and their ability to come up with new strategies. Also, the fact that they normally have work experience before doing their MBA programmes, and can then apply what they have learnt, means that they enter the company with management skills, says Ms Agyei.
For current MBA students, Google's popularity as a career choice may be due partly to its not being directly exposed to the volatility of the financial markets. However, first and foremost, it is the opportunity of what MBAs can achieve at Google that attracts them, says Ms Agyei.
"A lot of people who get MBAs want to be entrepreneurial, to run their own companies," she says. "Google is not a start-up any more, but does offer an opportunity to do that within various areas of the business, so there is a lot of appeal for MBAs."
Beyond the diverse opportunities offered by their regular jobs at Google, Ms Parrin sees a further attraction for MBA students in Google's "20 per cent time" policy, encouraging staff to work on ideas that interest them personally and which may later develop into a Google product. Google Mail (Gmail) is an example of just such a product.
Mr Chuck had been attracted to Insead in part by the strengths of its teaching on entrepreneurialism, and was able to apply the skills he had acquired when he joined Google's London office in 2006. "The office was quite small then and still had a very strong start-up feel to it," he says. "It was really up to us to shape the strategy."
Friday, January 25, 2008
The Brighter Side of Bill
Melinda Gates, funnier, smarter, more fit than her husband is one half of the philanthropic team that is set to donate more than 100 billion dollars in their life time. Find out what makes her tick and where their foundation is headed.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
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