By Evan Ackerman If you’ve ever wanted to destroy an ichthyophobia convention, now is your huge chance. This is the Aqua Bomb, a six and a half foot tall self contained fish tank manufactured using components from an actual Mark 84 “Hammer” 2,000 pound bomb. The MK-84 is capable of making a crater 50 foot wide […]
By Evan Ackerman
If you’ve ever wanted to destroy an ichthyophobia convention, now is your big chance. This is the Aqua Bomb, a six and a half foot tall self contained fish tank manufactured using components from an actual Mark 84 “Hammer” 2,000 pound bomb. The MK-84 is capable of making a crater 50 foot wide 40 foot deep in the surface of your choice, after penetrating 11 feet of concrete. No word on how much the fish will improve the effectiveness of this weapon, but is probably depends on the payload, which in this case (according to the resident OhGizmo marine biologist) consists of a Clown Triggerfish and a juvenile Blue Tang that are most likely fake. The pump, filter, and lighting are all built in, and the Aqua Bomb is available in “seven beautiful powder-coated colors” for just shy of $4,000.
The European Union just bought every one of their citizens a cup of coffee. Or at least, they’re giving them the equivalent. Their most recent fine against Micrsoft - a whopping $1.35 billion, will go directly into the EU’s budget. It works out to about $2.75 for every EU citizen. Some notable publications are blinking, […]
The European Union just bought every one of their citizens a cup of coffee. Or at least, they’re giving them the equivalent. Their most recent fine against Micrsoft - a whopping $1.35 billion, will go directly into the EU’s budget. It works out to about $2.75 for every EU citizen.
Some notable publications are blinking, at, among other things, the size of the fine (a record), the possible lack of legal justification and the potential costs of doing business in Europe. The NYTimes said “The commission’s willingness to enforce vigorously its interpretation of what constitutes unfair competition potentially raises the costs of running a successful business in Europe for many American companies. It might pose problems for companies like Apple, Intel and Qualcomm, whose market dominance in online music downloads, computer chips and mobile phone technology is also being scrutinized by the European Commission.” The UK’s Guardian went further, saying “But some legal experts questioned the EU’s move. Denis Waelbroeck, competition partner at the lawyers Ashurst in Brussels, said: “While such a fine will no doubt do wonders for the commission’s image as a tough regulator, some might consider it unfair, not least since the commission refused to tell Microsoft what would be a ‘reasonable’ amount to charge for patent licences despite being asked several times.””
This isn’t a crushing blow to Microsoft by any means. It’s equal to about two weeks of operating profit. And they have a long history of paying fines for antitrust abuses - $750 million to AOL/Time-Warner in 2003, $1.1 billion to California in 2003, $536 million to Novell in 2004, $1.6 billion to Sun in 2004, $775 million to IBM in 2005, $776 million to Real Networks in 2005. Etc.
But EU fines against Microsoft over the years now total €1.68 billion. And they are far from done - last month the EU opened two new cases against Microsoft, on behalf of a group of European software companies. This is despite the fact that Microsoft is routinely raked over the coals by U.S. regulators for the same issues the Europeans bring up.
The last time the EU visited the Microsoft ATM machine, a few congresspeople sent them a letter telling them to back off, that it was their job to police U.S. companies against antitrust abuses. That letter pretty much went nowhere.
EU’s chief Microsoft-taxer, errr, antitrust chief, Neelie Kroes, seems determined to make a name for herself by filling the EUs coffers. But perhaps it’s time for Europe to stop looking for the Microsoft handouts, and start promoting actual capitalism within their borders. Google, Apple and Mozilla, among others (including Germany’s SAP), seem perfectly able to compete against Microsoft without crying for help every time users decline to use their products.
Those who can, do. Those who can’t apparently live in Brussels and engage in a legalized shakedown of Microsoft every couple of years.
Watch out, Google. You’re next.
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Google has quietly updated the look of Google Docs, offering a more Microsoft Office (pre 2007) like interface. First spotted by Philipp Lenssen, the changes aren’t huge, but visually they’re pleasing. Gone is the Google Docs blue background toolbar with its unique layout. In its place is a grey toolbar that will be immediately familiar to […]
Google has quietly updated the look of Google Docs, offering a more Microsoft Office (pre 2007) like interface.
First spotted by Philipp Lenssen, the changes aren’t huge, but visually they’re pleasing. Gone is the Google Docs blue background toolbar with its unique layout. In its place is a grey toolbar that will be immediately familiar to users of other offline and online office packages. Fonts now have a dedicated box with the list being rendered in the particular font listed. Text sizing also gets a familiar drop down box as well.
The changes have been rolled out across the three core Google Docs products (Writely, Spreadsheets and Presentations).
Although still not as fully featured as offline alternatives, and even some online competitors as well, Google Docs has gained strong support in the first adopter community and is slowly finding a market in the business world as Google pushes its corporate packages. The new look will make it easier for new users to immediately use Google Docs and that will help sell the package.
Crunch Network: CrunchGeardrool over the sexiest new gadgets and hardware.
By Andrew Liszewski The Kiddo Kidkeeper from Smart Target is like a 21st century version of those ‘kid leashes’ you see some parents using with their toddler. Except it doesn’t look as stupid. The system consists of a transmitter which you attach to the kid and a receiver which is carried by an adult. The transmitter […]
By Andrew Liszewski
The Kiddo Kidkeeper from Smart Target is like a 21st century version of those ‘kid leashes’ you see some parents using with their toddler. Except it doesn’t look as stupid. The system consists of a transmitter which you attach to the kid and a receiver which is carried by an adult. The transmitter continually emits a signal which is picked up by the receiver and is used to determine how far away the kid has wandered. When they go farther than a preset distance a warning sound and visual alarm on the receiver will go off allowing the adult to retrieve the child.
In terms of range settings the Kiddo receiver actually only has 2 options. The short range setting will alert the adult if the child has gone more than 4 meters (about 13 feet) away while the long range setting will sound the alert when a distance of 8 meters (or 26 feet) has been reached. The transmitter is also waterproof which means it’s pool and beach-friendly and can even be used at airports and on airplanes without disturbing the avionics.
Google acquired hosted wiki service Jotspot in October 2006. The service immediately stopped taking new users, although existing users were supported. Now, almost sixteen months later, Jotspot has been relaunched under the Google Apps team, as Google Sites. Google Sites looks absolutely nothing like Jotspot, other than the fact that both are hosted wikis. All […]
Google acquired hosted wiki service Jotspot in October 2006. The service immediately stopped taking new users, although existing users were supported. Now, nearly sixteen months later, Jotspot has been relaunched under the Google Apps team, as Google Sites.
Google Sites looks completely nothing like Jotspot, other than the fact that both are hosted wikis. All of the structured data templates launched by Jotspot in July 2006 have been stripped out. Users now have a choice between just five basic templates - a standard wiki, a dashboard where google gadgets can be embedded, a blog-like template for announcements, a file cabinet for file uploads, and a page for lists of items. Instead of creating structured templates, users will now simply embed spreadsheets, presentations and word documents from Google Docs, as well as Google Calendars, YouTube Videos and Picasa Albums.
Like Google Docs, Google Sites wikis can be made private, shared with others, or made public. Users can choose from a variety of templates, but cannot yet customize the look and feel of the site. Somewhere down the road, Google states, they’ll release an API for the new service as well. Editing is done with a rich text editor that allows for basic formatting.
Google Sites is a free product, with limitations on support and storage (10 GB). Users can upgrade their Google Apps account to a standard edition, also free, and map their own domains to the site. A premier edition is also available for $50/user/year that includes a service level agreement, support and more admin abilities.
All wiki pages have RSS feeds associated with them to allow users to track any changes.
Existing Jotspot users will continue to be supported on the old platform for the near future, and they’ll also be given instructions for porting their Jotspot wikis to Google sites.
In an interview this day, Google’s Management Director of Enterprise Matthew Glotzbach called the combined products under Google Apps a “Microsoft Sharepoint killer” because it’s allowing businesses to collaborate without all that high-priced Microsoft software. It might not be a Sharepoint killer yet, but Google Apps constitutes 2-3% of Google’s total revenues. Some point soon, its going to start hurting Microsoft.
By Evan Ackerman This animated short from Pixar, entitled Lifted, was shown in theaters just before Ratatouille. If you missed out, it’s worth watching, and if you’ve seen it already, I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s worth watching again. Enjoy. [ Direct link to video ] [ Lifted ] VIA [ io9 ] Video
By Evan Ackerman
This animated short from Pixar, entitled Lifted, was shown in theaters just before Ratatouille. If you missed out, it’s worth watching, and if you’ve seen it already, I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s worth watching again. Enjoy.
By Luke Anderson I’m fortunate to work in an environment where I don’t have anyone looking over my shoulder, making sure that I’m staying on-task. I’ve had those jobs in the past, and I’ve discovered that I am less productive when my work is constantly monitored. In those days I would have loved for a mouse […]
By Luke Anderson
I’m fortunate to work in an environment where I don’t have anyone looking over my shoulder, making sure that I’m staying on-task. I’ve had those jobs in the past, and I’ve discovered that I am less productive when my work is constantly monitored. In those days I would have loved for a mouse such as this one, which will bring up a specific program with the click of a button.
This of course would be useful in a situation when one is surfing the net or brushing up on their solitaire skills. Just click the side button and it’ll pull up Excel or whatever important-looking program you choose. You can pick one up for just $19.99.
By Evan Ackerman This, right here, is the solution to all violent conflicts everywhere. When real weapons eventually, inevitably, are replaced by glitter guns, peace will reign and 70s pop icons will once again roam the earth. Each cartridge contains 6 shots of glitter; $8 gets you the gun and 3 cartridges. So far all that […]
By Evan Ackerman
This, right here, is the solution to all violent conflicts everywhere. When real weapons eventually, inevitably, are replaced by glitter guns, peace will reign and 70s pop icons will once again roam the earth. Each cartridge contains 6 shots of glitter; $8 gets you the gun and 3 cartridges. So far all that seems to be available is this small revolver version… I’m going to hold out for a glitter sniper rifle, myself.
Thursday morning LinkedIn will roll out a new site-wide design featuring a tab-less header and a persistent left column with personal, account-related options. LinkedIn is also adding status updates with which users can broadcast their current activities (professional or otherwise) to their connections and/or networks. Just as when the company added portraits, these updates feel like an […]
Thursday morning LinkedIn will roll out a new site-wide design featuring a tab-less header and a persistent left column with personal, account-related options.
LinkedIn is also adding status updates with which users can broadcast their current activities (professional or otherwise) to their connections and/or networks.
Just as when the company added portraits, these updates feel like an attempt to mimic Facebook. The new design bestows upon LinkedIn a similar layout to Facebook’s, with the page divided into a header, a thin left column, and a wide right one. Facebook has also had featured status updates for quite some time.
There are differences, of course, between the two. LinkedIn has decided to place a box at the bottom of the left column that continually reminds you how many connections you have, how many people have recently joined your network, what your status is, and more. The homepage will also have modules that you’ll be able to drag around to reorder.
Crunch Network: CrunchBoardbecause it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0
In other Microsoft news, the company purchased an Israeli startup this day called YaData, which makes analytic software for marketers to help them micro-segment consumers. (Redmond isn’t going to let a little thing like a $1.4 billion fine slow it down). The purchase price was undisclosed, but Israeli newspaper The Globes is reporting […]
In other Microsoft news, the company bought an Israeli startup this day called YaData, which makes analytic software for marketers to help them micro-segment consumers. (Redmond isn’t going to let a little thing like a $1.4 billion fine slow it down). The purchase price was undisclosed, but Israeli newspaper The Globes is reporting that the price is between $20 million and $30 million.
YaData will be folded into Microsoft’s Israeli R&D center in Herzliya, Israel and its product will be sold through Microsoft’s Advertiser and Publisher Solutions group. Maybe this will help Microsoft do some of that mysterious “engagement mapping” it’s been speaking about. From the press release:
YaData’s technology will enable Microsoft to provide its advertisers with richer targeting capabilities so they can connect with their audience in more efficient and engaging ways, at the same time providing its customers more relevant and focused ads.
YaData’s technology will be integrated into Microsoft’s Advertiser and Publisher Solutions group and will add advanced behavioral targeting tools and capabilities to Microsoft’s on the internet advertising platform. The addition of YaData’s technology will help Microsoft’s efforts to improve advertisers’ ROI and to provide more focused and relevant advertising, tailored to specific client needs.
The company, which was founded in 2005, raised a $4 million series A financing from Giza Venture Capital and Ofer Hi-tech. And back in 2006—you’ve got to love this—it raised a seed round from Oracle. Larry Ellison, the check from Microsoft is in the mail.
By Evan Ackerman
The European Union just bought every one of their citizens a cup of coffee. Or at least, they’re giving them the equivalent. Their most 
By Andrew Liszewski
Like Google Docs, Google Sites wikis can be made private, shared with others, or made public. Users can choose from a variety of templates, but cannot yet customize the look and feel of the site. Somewhere down the road, Google states, they’ll release an API for the new service as well. Editing is done with a rich text editor that allows for basic formatting.
By Luke Anderson
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