Google takes aim from "the Knol"

Potential pressure for the likes of Mahalo & Wikipedia, and a others, as Google creates a new "currency" of knowledge: the knol

Interesting aspects are clear article attribution and an income stream to the author via (optional) on-page advertising.

Google Enters the Wireless World

Google Enters the Wireless World - New York Times

“We are not building a GPhone; we are enabling 1,000 people to build a GPhone,” said Andy Rubin, Google’s director of mobile platforms, who led the effort to develop the software.

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Ghostly pumkin carving....

PC Magazine Editor-in-Chief Lance Ulanoff's ghostly pumpkin carving video; via Cranky Geeks.

Read how, with 400 stills, he achieved this creepy stop-motion animation.

 

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Back to the Earth...

Mission accomplished, Batman & Scooby return to Mother Earth...

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I, Robot: The Man Behind the Google Phone

Google Phone - New York Times

A fascinating NYT insight into the career of Andy Rubin, architect of Google's phone strategy. November 5th will see Google light the blue touch paper, and launch a few fireworks over the Apple, Microsoft, handset & carrier party.

I for one wont retire to a safe distance to watch this one.

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Social Networking: The Daily Show

Social Networking; why it's hot.....

Batman & Scooby

Batman & Scooby
Originally uploaded by David Peacock.

This years fine effort from Amy.....

The Day the Routers Died

RIPE 55 is an annual event, this year in Amsterdam, where European ISPs, network operators and other interested parties gather for a week long event to review and discuss internet policies.

The event closed October 26th with this rendition of "The day the routers died", to the tune of American Pie. And this is Europe, so that'll be a "rooter", not a "rauter" :-)

Be aware it's rich in geekness, so it may not push your button ;-)

Jonathon heads south...to the Pole....on foot

BBC TV South today coverage 25th October 2007.

Follow the exploits of my intrepid friend Jonathon here.

The expedition site Beyond Endurance

May the Force be with them.....

iPhone? No, you want oPhone

If you liked the re-designed iPod packaging, you'll love the oPhone.

I share my birthday with...

:-)

Unfinished Symphony?

So today, IBM launches Lotus Symphony, a free, open-source "suite" of office apps in an attempt to challenge the dominance of Microsoft Office.

Who remembers the first incarnation? I do, I was working for Lotus Development when we launched "innovative" integrated office app, Lotus Symphony for DOS, back in the mid-80's; remember the hard plastic, strangely shaped, large slip case for all the manuals & (floppy!) disks?

A bit of deja vu occurring for me here!

Another option for my retirement planning?

Alan Partridge managed only 182 days,
the Davidson's have just clocked up
22 years as Travelodge guests!

Russian woman sets fire to ex-husband's penis

"I was burning like a torch"

New spin on the concept of pissing on fires, I guess.

Source: Oddly Enough | Reuters

Facebook opening up a little?

Check your "Inbox", and the "Notifications" tab; Notice the new "Subscribe" to you notifications option? Subscribe with your favourite Reader!

Look for more RSS feeds on your "Friends" status updates tab, and "Posted items".

Vermont town voted Simpsons home

TEST POST via Flock 0.9

The US town of Springfield, Vermont, has beaten 13 rivals and will host the premiere of the film about the animated family The Simpsons.

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Vermont town voted Simpsons home

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Am I for real?

...for what it's worth, yes.

As for others....

Are my online friends for real?

Microsoft Surface - The video parody

Microsoft Surface Technology Parody - Watch more free videos

The Secrets behind PostSecret

If you don't subscribe to PostSecret, an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard, you might want to. I have been since its inception as an early art show exhibit.

Frank Warren (here's recent profile of Frank & PostSecret via Orato) posts each Sunday, and in amongst all your own fog and troubles, a review of the postcards can put much of our own mess in to a very different perspective.

What it is not is a Web 2.0 thing! It is however a riveting insight into often troubled minds of youth and adults of today, brought to us by the reach and anonymity of the web.

PostSecret has saved lives. Donate with cash in the UK or US or support by buying the books, and try and make sad stories like this (BBC video) not to appear so often.

Social Surge, and the BBC jumps in feet first

Reports are that Facebook subscribers are now increasing at the rate of around 1m a week since they opened up the "applications" platform element, the first spike being when non-academia registration opened late 2006.

Here's an illustration of Facebook usage via a WSJ article, where even Murdoch recognises the rise of Facebook.

I continue to admire the BBC who, despite going through major change, don't hesitate to push the new media envelope, whether it's the via the recent Hack Day, a venture between BBC Backstage & Yahoo!, or this experiment combining Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, Twitter & del.icio.us, using the web social tools as a reporting platform to reach new audiences.

» ‘Google Gears’ vies to be de facto tech for offline Web apps

 

Good summary of Gears. My GReader's already now equipped for offline catchups :-)

» ‘Google Gears’ vies to be de facto tech for offline Web apps | Berlind’s Testbed | ZDNet.com

Test Posting from Live Writer Beta 2

 

Online and offline worlds merge

Online maps from Google could be available offline

Google has launched a tool designed to make it easier for computer users to use online applications offline.

BBC NEWS | Technology | Online and offline worlds merge

Microsoft Surface

See it to believe it; videos on the Surface website.

Behind the scenes with Popular Mechanics (video).

The "ingredients" behind a good viral TV commercial

A visually intriguing Skoda Fabia TV commercial that generally makes the viewer wonder "was that for real?".

The additional, inevitable, "behind the scenes" documentary puts the icing on the viral (pun intended).

I suspect this as close as I'll ever get!

Simulate 17,500mph shuttle launch....

"Lookout, Superman, it's pinkish-orange Kryptonite!!"

....I always knew it was out there somewhere...

Presentations Component coming soon to Google Apps

From the Official Google Blog, the next element coming soon to enhance the Apps offering. I'm also looking forward to hearing how Jotspot makes its appearance/contribution to the "suite".

Step away from the computer: Google Voice Local Search

Google Voice Local Search has just slipped out of the Labs, and makes an experimental appearance in the US only for now. It will be interesting to see how this service develops over time; will it start to leverage location-based information from cellphones (especially with more phones appearing with GPS on board), how the service integrates inevitable ad-support (it's not in there for the time being, the FAQ reports), and then, of course, to see how the traditional phone based directory services react and evolve.

How long is it before, after a long evening, you just jab a speed-dial, and yell "Taxi!"?

Let's hope the voice recognition can interpret a little shlurred shpeech now & then.

Kushal; Google Notebook is all grown up!

Kushal; Google Notebook is all grown up!

The Google ecosystem continues to consume me. Google Notebook gets an AJAX makeover; cleaner UI, faster, map integration & generally more pleasing to use. I get best value by using Notebook with the Firefox extension.

Tom Hanks is James Bond

A well-cut collage from Casino Royale & raft of clips from the Tom Hanks portfolio clearly demonstrates that Tom Hanks is James Bond.