Microsoft, Google Battle on

Received this in a daily e-newsletter.

Gartner: Microsoft after Google’s advertising jugular
[Linda Tucci, Senior News Writer]
ltucci(at)techtarget(dot)com

The battle between Microsoft and Google Inc. took a lively turn last
week, when reports surfaced and then were quickly batted down that
Microsoft was once again in merger talks with search firm Yahoo Inc.

Whether the discussions are happening or not, any doubts that
Microsoft — not Google — is the company on the offensive can be
dismissed, said David Mitchell Smith, an analyst at Gartner Inc. in
Stamford, Conn.

“Microsoft is clearly going after Google’s core business,
advertising,” Smith said. “Google is trying to distract Microsoft, so
a company with its resources can’t apply 100% of its focus on the
attack.”

The chatter in recent months has been that Google is going after
Microsoft where it hurts — in the realm of work. Last year’s
acquisition of Writely by Google shows that office applications —
albeit Web-based, free and available at the click of a mouse — are
of interest to the Mountain View, Calif.-based search engine firm.

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Don’t follow Google blindly

Try this

1. open Google
2. click on “maps”
3. click on “get directions”
4. type “London” in the first box (the “from” box)
5. type “New York” in the second box (the “to” box)
6. scroll to step 37.

easier way to do it.

Click me to do it for you

This showed up when a friend’s wife wanted to take a flight from London to New York and thought of checking directions from google map.

Step # 37 says – swim across the atlantic ocean 3,462 miles

another interesting fact.

atleast google gets you the directions from London to New York, otherwise Yahoo maps & Windows live maps say that “no route exists” meaning that you can not go from London to New York

try it for yourself

Yahoo Maps

Windows Live Maps

The first million dollar laptop

March 23, 2007 UK-based bespoke luxury goods creator Luvaglio has created the first million dollar laptop. That’s what the first of their luxury laptops will sell for.

Full details of the laptop have not been released at this point, but it is known that it incorporates a 17″ widescreen LED lit screen with a specially designed anti-reflective glare coating for clear and brighter image, 128GB of Solid State Disk space and a slot loading Blue-Ray drive. There is an integrated screen cleaning device and a very rare coloured diamond piece of jewellery that doubles up as the power button when placed into the laptop and also acts as security identification. Images here, video here.

Luvaglio CEO Rohan Sinclair Luvaglio told Gizmag earlier today: “Unlike many of the highly priced products being released, we took our time to develop something out of the ordinary with real attention to detail. “

“I didn’t want us to simply re-house a laptop into a diamond studded casing, or diamond encrust the entire thing simply to make it expensive. We’ve put thought in from the keyboard down to the power charger. There is an integrated screen cleaning device and a very rare coloured diamond piece of jewellery that doubles up as the power button when placed into the laptop and also acts as security identification. We have used diamonds elsewhere but have given them purpose.”

According to Luvaglio, “the brand is committed to re-defining luxury in a few sectors, technology being one of them.

“Many claim to produce luxury goods but we believe that the true element of luxury is having something that says “YOU”, that money can’t buy.

“At present and from our previous luxury work, our initial clients will be chosen from this selection as we have already established trust.

“The range to be released shortly would allow the owner to become the creator and visit our showroom at two or three well known upmarket stores we are in discussion with, whereby our selection of materials, finishes and accessories will be available to view and a choice selected.

“The choice will be based on our selection but of course other colours and finishes can be done on request. We have access to diamonds that are simply rare and near impossible to get hold of, so are able to offer a very embodied choice.

“The presentation boxes are of course supplied and finished in the choice that is selected by the client. Exact figures I am unable to provide at present due to negotiations but will certainly be more obtainable then our master piece.”

The first such masterpiece will sell for more than US$1,000,000.

My Source: The first million dollar laptop