Feb. 19, 2008
Trying to throw the brick through the cloud – Microsoft/Yahoo vs. Google
IT World Canada
Paul E. Rummell notes that Google has been successful because it focuses on the people and enterprise aspect of things. He also says if Microsoft wins the Yahoo bid, questions about these things will be asked.
“What we see is a binary with Microsoft and Yahoo on one side and Google on the other. What about the customer here? It is the CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CIOs and CTOs who are ultimately going to pay the freight for this acquisition. They are going to ask the Microsoft account people, if the deal goes through, ‘what are the new solutions?’ Based on my experience…senior IT people will be asking: ‘How does this fit to my enterprise IT operation?’ How will these merger ‘mash-ups’ fit back into our operations and large complex enterprise databases which we rely on?”
Powering your iPod with your clothes
Network World
Forget batteries and chargers for your electronic devices. According to Alpha Doggs, soon all you may need are just your clothes.
“Nature reports that nanotechnology researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology are working on a shirt that converts the wearer’s motion into energy to electronic devices from iPods to wireless devices worn by soldiers on the battlefield. The National Science Foundation is funding the effort, which exploits something called the piezoelectric effect.”
Colorware offers MacBook Air paint jobs
Wired
Good news for colour enthusiasts. Charlie Sorrel writes of a company that will colour your new MacBook Air notebook.
“For just $660, Colorware PC will make your beautifully designed and finished MacBook Air (coloured or multi-coloured). To be fair, you needn’t choose the nastiest colors or throw so many of them on there: Colorware will finish the whole thing in sleek, glossy black if you prefer. If you opt for the case-only option, it will cost $500, or you can order a brand new MacBook Air, pre-painted, for $2500.”