Infographic by PPC Blog
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How Does Google Work?
Written by Will on July 3rd, 2010NBC and Time Warner Staying with Adobe Flash
Written by Shawn on June 1st, 2010
We have all heard about the Steve Jobs of Apple versus Adobe over Flash debate. Apple is really pushing the HTML5 format as the choice that content providers should adopt. Steve Jobs may in fact be correct that HTML5 will be how content is delivered in the future. Currently Adobe Flash still dominates the desktop users. Many content providers have already begun moving content over to HTML5. According to the New York Post Time Warner and NBC Universal at this time has decided to continue using Flash.
This doesn’t necessarily mean Time Warner and NBC Universal content will not show up on your iPad or iPhone. These companies could release a custom made app for this content. Which ABC and Netflix has already done. The battle between Flash and HTML5 is far from over.
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Windows Not Allowed at Google
Written by Shawn on June 1st, 2010
The employees at Google using Microsoft Windows will need to select “Shut Down” for the last time. Google is no longer allowing Microsoft Windows to be used unless you get special approval from the CIO. Google will give the employees the choice of OS X or Linux.
Google is transitioning away from Windows over security risks. This could be an overreaction to the hacking incident that occurred in China. The exploit was due to Microsoft Internet Explorer 6. Google could just ban the use of Internet Explorer instead of the entire operating system.
This is certainly a blow to Microsoft and the license fees they would have received over time. Not sure you will see other companies making such a dramatic change. Most large companies do not even give employees a choice of operating systems. Then again, Google is not your typical company.
[FT]
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The Next Apple TV
Written by Shawn on May 31st, 2010
The current Apple TV never seemed to catch on with consumers. Apple classified it as a hobby and has never made any real improvements to the Apple TV. It seems Apple is starting to take the whole set top box seriously now. The next generation Apple TV will be the size of an iPhone and will come with 16GB of flash memory, says Josh Topolosky at Engadget. The box will stream content from the cloud and use Time Capsule for external storage. The cost is going to be somewhere around $99.
[Engadget]
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3G Calling with Skype 2.0 for iPhone
Written by Shawn on May 29th, 2010
The latest update to Skype for the iPhone now gives you the ability to make calls over 3G networks. The quality of a few calls I made sounded really clear.
Now that you are excited and thinking about making Skype calls for free over 3G. Well you are not going to like this. Skype-to-Skype calls on 3G are free until the end of August 2010. Then you will have to pay a small monthly fee. Skype is not saying what the fee is at this time. My guess it will be somewhere around five dollars a month.
Update: Seems Skype has decided to give you a little extra free calling time over 3G. The free calls will last until 2011.
Here is what’s new in Skype 2.0:
- Call using your 3G connection. Skype-to-Skype calls on 3G are free until at least the end of August 2010, after which there will be a small monthly fee (operator charges for data will still apply).
- Near CD-quality sound for Skype-to-Skype calls using wideband audio (SILK codec) on iPhone 3GS and 2nd generation iPod touch.
- Enhanced call quality indicator.
- Improved start-up time.
- Fast access to the dial pad from iPhone home screen.
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Google Acquires AdMob
Written by Shawn on May 27th, 2010
FTC’s final approval last week paved the way for Google to acquire AdMob. Now that the acquisition is completed. What does this mean for the end user? No matter what mobile platform you are using Google can now serve up a slick ad for you to see.
[Google Blog]
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Google Encrypted Search
Written by Shawn on May 26th, 2010
These days many of us are concerned about our online privacy and security. Last week Google announced Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) – encrypted searches. Type in https://google.com to try it out. Google says “Searching over SSL doesn’t reduce the data sent to Google – it only hides that data from third parties who seek it.” Google over the last couple of years has added SSL to Gmail, Google Docs and other services.
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“Artificial life” created in lab
Written by Will on May 23rd, 2010We knew the time was coming. The first “artificial” life has been created in a lab. The positive potential to society will be astounding as this technology progresses (as will the potential negatives).
Scientists in the US have succeeded in developing the first living cell to be controlled entirely by synthetic DNA.
The researchers constructed a bacterium's “genetic software” and transplanted it into a host cell.
The resulting microbe then looked and behaved like the species “dictated” by the synthetic DNA.
via BBC News – ‘Artificial life’ breakthrough announced by scientists.
Below is a video interview with Dr. Venter:
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Disrupters wanted?
Written by Will on May 23rd, 2010A survey from IBM’s Institute for Business Value shows that CEOs value one leadership competency above all others – creativity.
CEOs identify “creativity” as the most important leadership competency for the successful enterprise of the future.
That’s creativity—not operational effectiveness, influence, or even dedication. Coming out of the worst economic downturn in their professional lifetimes, when managerial discipline and rigor ruled the day…
via what-chief-executives-really-want: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance.
With the more complex, more dynamic world, leaders are needed to be creative. A creative person who can lead can be a disrupter. They can do 3 things that are needed by companies:
Disrupt the Status Quo. Every company has legacy products that are both cash—and sacred—cows. Often the need to perpetuate the success of these products restricts innovation within the enterprise, creating a window for competitors to advance competing innovations. As CEOs tell us that fully one-fifth of revenues will have to come from new sources, they are recognizing the requirement to break with existing assumptions, methods, and best practices.
Disrupt Existing Business Models. CEOs who select creativity as a leading competency are far more likely to pursue innovation through business model change. In keeping with their view of accelerating complexity, they are breaking with traditional strategy-planning cycles in favor of continuous, rapid-fire shifts and adjustments to their business models.
Disrupt Organizational Paralysis. Creative leaders fight the institutional urge to wait for completeness, clarity, and stability before making decisions. To do this takes a combination of deeply held values, vision, and conviction—combined with the application of such tools as analytics to the historic explosion of information. These drive decisionmaking that is faster, more precise, and even more predictable.
via what-chief-executives-really-want: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance.
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The game of life
Written by Will on May 3rd, 2010Below is a presentation by Jesse Schell at DICE 2010 “Design Outside the Box” Conference explaining what’s next in gaming. Interesting points throughout. Great food for thought.
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