Who’s suing who? Perhaps this chart (courtesy of Reuters) will help make sense of the whole mess. Or maybe not. It looks like a giant spaghetti bowl.
If you don’t know what I am talking about, take a look at this gorgeous infographic on Business Insurance Quotes:
Courtesy of BusinessInsurance.org
PageRank is a patent owned by Stanford University and will expire in 2017 (more info here). Google hold a one time paid license of this patent and in 2003, the exclusivity license was extended till 2011. After that period, Google’s exclusivity on PageRank will expire and license will become non-exclusive. What does that mean?
Sure, regarding the exclusivity period, as they did in 2003, they can renew that license again in 2011 and own the exclusive rights for this technology. But think about this: what about a page ranking based not (only) on an algorithm, but on explicit indications made by users? And what if this users were people that you know and trust becuse already added to your “circle of friends” on Google+ or other social networks?
Yesterday, Google launched his +1 Button extension for Chrome browser. Using it, you no longer have to rely on a site to implement the +1 Button: you can invoke the functionality through your browser.
Imagine if Facebook made their own browser and offered an extension to “Like” any page on the web through it — same idea (BTW, they will do it, sooner or later…).
As also TechCrunch notices:
Right now, the +1 Button just shares content you like on the web. But eventually, the plan is to look at this data as a way to affect Google Search itself potentially. That’s huge. The button also is starting to play a role in how Google serves up advertising to you.
Last but not least, here is what Google states in the +1 app description:
In addition to the practices described in the Google +1 Button Privacy Policy, by installing this extension, all of the pages and URLs you visit will be sent to Google in order to retrieve +1 information.
They are an advertising company. Draw your more appropriate conclusions… 😎
Soon, the websites you visit while watching TV could adapt in real time to the shows being watched — automatically presenting information relevant to the show, or even tuning their ads in response to what’s on screen.
Flingo, which developed the technology, known as Sync Apps, says the new set is already being mass-produced by one of the top five television brands in the U.S. and will retail for less than $500.
A new type of Internet-connected television, due out before the end of the year, has built-in software and hardware that send data about what is on-screen to an Internet server that can identify the content. Web pages being viewed using the same Internet connection as the TV set can then tap into that information. The system can identify any content onscreen, whatever the source, whether live TV, DVDs or movie files playing from a computer.
Ashwin Navin, Flingo’s CEO, says he expects people to opt in because the service offers an automatic way to do what people are already doing manually.
Source and original article: Technology Review
The announcement that Steve Jobs is to resign as Apple’s CEO should come as no surprise.
There is no doubt the influence of Jobs has been hugely important in making Apple the company it is today.
However, IMHO will continue its onward march, not least because the market has been well aware of Jobs’ health issues and there is certainly no ‘Jobs premium’ built into Apple’s valuation.
It is not by chance that Apple is the success it is. This is a company that:
This company does not wait to see what the market wants – it creates what the market did not know it wanted but when it has it, it wants more. It will continue so to do.
It also have a strong competitive position: Apple has developed some quite unique barriers to entry through the iTunes store and the AppStore – which has the effect of creating much ‘stickier’ customers. Additionally, through being vertically integrated they can now not only produce the best product but can do so at the best prices – their competitors are desperately struggling to match the iPad price without making losses.
For sure, Apple will not be better without Steve Jobs but I hope that he has injected enough of his DNA into the company to let her continue this success story without him.
All the best to Tim Cook, new CEO, who has already proved himself extremely capable.
Other interesting articles on the same subject:
Freakonomics: Was Steve Jobs’ Retirement Already Priced into Apple Stock?
The Economist: Steve Jobs resigns. The minister of magic steps down
Update: Aug. 25, 2011
What did I say about a “sudden drop in gold”? Is -8% enough?
Somebody has to stop them.
Nokia has released three new phones.
“What?“, you could say, “Is the Android-killer Iphone-slasher Windows-equipped device already out?”
Nope. They all come with Symbian OS but, hey, it’s the new version – called Symbian Belle .
Nokia claims that the 701 has the brightest phone screen the world has ever seen. The 600 is their loudest smartphone to date. The tiny 700 is the smallest monoblock phone on the market. Sounds good, uh? Well, you can’t judge a book by its cover but…
Really, Nokia: stop that. We don’t want these to be your final days. Gizmodo is begging you too:
Then Nokia up and comes out with three new Symbian phones today. QUIT IT. Seriously. Finland. Do you read me? Stop making Symbian handsets. Repeat: kssshhhh Stop making Symbian handsets. Save your money for the Mango models. Wow us in October with something unexpected: competition for the iPhone. I’ll switch in a hummingbird’s heartbeat. And I won’t be alone.
Simone Calamai 