It has to be a really slow news day if we get an article explaining what is in specific pieces of spam.
I'm waiting patiently for Slashdot to post the Nigerian folks that always email for the millions they have to give away. Because you know -- that is real news. For nerds. Stuff that matters.
What kind of business are you in? I don't want to work there:p
Jokes aside -- "cool things on the internet" and "inventions on the internet" are great, but they don't put money into your coffers. They advance technology as a whole, but if they don't have a proper business plan, and they are just random projects, they actually create competition for you as a company. It is a companies goal to be profitable (which Google is through almost entirely its ad serving). Everywhere else, it's unprofitable. The rub is in the details -- the ad serving is SO vastly profitable it offsets all other aspects of Google's business.
And what would happen if for example, Google took a big hit on ad revenue because MS or Yahoo came up with better technology to monetize more sales for end companies, or to give more leads to sales people? Google would pop entirely.
They float entirely on the ad revenue business and while that's all well and dandy, I do not see them coming up with products that are money makers, rather 'neat' applications which we all appreciate, but cost Google significantly, to the point where if their core business is threatened, they have no fallback to make up the losses.
It's been my experience that the least turnover rate in companies is where you have the most time with your family or free time (out of work entirely). You know, the ones that provide a decent work/life balance.
What I'm saying is that Google's employee retention is actually poorer than the industry as a whole (and there was a Slashdot article to support that earlier this week I think). I'm saying that if you believe that having perks like 'free time' to work on projects that eventually get taken outside the company to be floated individually, while all paid for by Google is absolutely stupid. And if you believe otherwise, then yes I believe you're drinking too much of their kool aid.
You're confusing management with employee retention, and they are two very separate things. I like what Google does for its employees, its' a great perk but actually discourages the retention of a really intelligent employee, because they can go solo and start their own projects. Some of which may take away from other initiatives Google may be doing, and by your logic -- they can "buy them back", which actually makes them lose even MORE money because the development work for that company was free, and now they are paying to recoup it.
The 20% deal creates a lot of capital, but if you read the Slashdot article earlier -- it also causes them to hemorrhage employees that take their ideas on the public market.
To boot, they don't have the infrastructure in place that allows them to start managing projects that could be something great for the company to spin off. It's an employee's responsibility to do that, and as a result Google's mismanagement of the time they are allocating can be dangerous (as it is showing to be).
Don't get me wrong.. it's still a great thing, but I don't see it as a business savvy move to make, especially when they are showing time and time again, all the good ideas are up and leaving the company.
Anybody else feel that Google is biting off more than they can chew?
I mean, smart people work there to be sure, they have a neat work environment and they excel at search. But everything else they do, and there might be a few exceptions here and there, doesn't hit the mark as far as being "top tier" like their search is. Gmail is probably their best product, albeit free but subsidized by advertising, and then Picasa and Google Analytics. Otherwise a lot of things are very 'meh'... their online office suite, Picasa Web, etc...
Dunno, I think they need to reorganize themselves a bit before they spiral out of control with 'extra' projects, that they lose control of the one thing they are best at -- search.
Using the new Apple "cloud" feature, you can create software that sends messages and recieves messages from your friends, and using the cloud to do the communication.
You give this out as free software, Apple already said they will host it for free to boot. You circumvent using text messages.
Alternatively, you could use AIM or whatever, but I don't like AOL either.
I lost a very low 6 digit UIN (I was an early starter with it), due to the fact I couldn't recover any password or anything. I was extremely pissed off, so I just stopped using it.
One of the main reasons I go back to Amazon time and time again, is for no sales tax. The savings are usually good too, and the MP3 download service rocks.
I really like how Amazon has matured over the years.
They all take money from the same coffers -- would not serve the greater good. Greater good, being themselves.
Yes, I am a conspiracy theorist at small levels. Just too easy to see all this information out there and think otherwise. I swear though -- no tin foil hats.
I know there are a lot of contenders in this arena -- and honestly, at the price it seems very high.
But think about it -- you own a car that you like. You spend maybe what, an hour, or two a day in it? You spend maybe $400 for the car payment plus insurance and gas.
And you sit in a chair for 5-7 hours a day. You should make a good investment for the sake of your back, your butt, and your comfort. I have the Aeron and the only quip I have with it, is that it doesn't match the height of my desk (which is actually a writing desk, incorrect height for a mouse/keyboard).
I like the Aeron -- it has a lot of adjustments, it's built very solid, it has a good warranty and you can get them serviced a LOT of places (casters and such). It's NOT cheap, but refer to what I said earlier on why you SHOULD spend the money.
The optimist in me says it's real, and I hope that it is.
The realist in me gave up a long time ago -- but it doesn't mean that I don't still want a game LIKE what it has promised to come out.
Either way, I will count myself in the camp of "a believer" -- since well, there's no harm in thinking that way.
Besides it seems like a lot of effort (movie, media, etc) to perpetuate a hoax, and they don't even have any Google ads up to let them make money off of it.
World of Warcraft is very cookie cutter -- X class will beat Y class, armor and weapons make a HUGE difference, etc.
I have been waiting for Darkfall Online for 6 years (and am still optimistic), but it seems like that will be the only game that fulfills the idea that an individual player can beat somebody else because of innate ability rather than what class you played.
That said, the only other good PvP game has been Ultima Online. I've tried EVERYTHING since then -- AC/EQ/AO/EQ2/WOW/AoC, and more that I forget.
Either way, they made an OS that is pretty, works pretty solid (on their own hardware), and has some nice creature comforts that make it a pleasure to use.
How is that "innovation"? An OS that works well? Innovation? I thought innovation is something NEW. I'm sorry, but since for the last few years that all Apple came out with is iPod after iPod, my patience level for them has dwindled.
I never made the argument that Microsoft *is* innovating either you know:)
I'm just saying that Apple isn't the "big" innovator they are being made out to be. Google, perhaps... but most things nowadays are evolutionary rather than revolutionary.
I'm actually a big Exchange fan, though I know people here will have me tarred and feathered for saying that.
It's open source though. There's no reason why somebody else can't pick up the slack and start the development on it if Microsoft decides to kill it off. That, more than anything would show the success and power of open source.
Slashdot Mirror
If hell froze over they wouldn't have to worry about the cooling on their chips.
I guess that's a plus.
Did spam make it to the front page?
It has to be a really slow news day if we get an article explaining what is in specific pieces of spam.
I'm waiting patiently for Slashdot to post the Nigerian folks that always email for the millions they have to give away. Because you know -- that is real news. For nerds. Stuff that matters.
What kind of business are you in? I don't want to work there :p
Jokes aside -- "cool things on the internet" and "inventions on the internet" are great, but they don't put money into your coffers. They advance technology as a whole, but if they don't have a proper business plan, and they are just random projects, they actually create competition for you as a company. It is a companies goal to be profitable (which Google is through almost entirely its ad serving). Everywhere else, it's unprofitable. The rub is in the details -- the ad serving is SO vastly profitable it offsets all other aspects of Google's business.
And what would happen if for example, Google took a big hit on ad revenue because MS or Yahoo came up with better technology to monetize more sales for end companies, or to give more leads to sales people? Google would pop entirely.
They float entirely on the ad revenue business and while that's all well and dandy, I do not see them coming up with products that are money makers, rather 'neat' applications which we all appreciate, but cost Google significantly, to the point where if their core business is threatened, they have no fallback to make up the losses.
It's been my experience that the least turnover rate in companies is where you have the most time with your family or free time (out of work entirely). You know, the ones that provide a decent work/life balance.
What I'm saying is that Google's employee retention is actually poorer than the industry as a whole (and there was a Slashdot article to support that earlier this week I think). I'm saying that if you believe that having perks like 'free time' to work on projects that eventually get taken outside the company to be floated individually, while all paid for by Google is absolutely stupid. And if you believe otherwise, then yes I believe you're drinking too much of their kool aid.
You're confusing management with employee retention, and they are two very separate things. I like what Google does for its employees, its' a great perk but actually discourages the retention of a really intelligent employee, because they can go solo and start their own projects. Some of which may take away from other initiatives Google may be doing, and by your logic -- they can "buy them back", which actually makes them lose even MORE money because the development work for that company was free, and now they are paying to recoup it.
You really don't see the monetary loss to Google if they have to buy back the project that they subsidized the development and testing for?
I understand liking Google and all, but to not see the stupidity in these actions is drinking a little too much of the Kool Aid.
They make huge profits off of their ad revenue.
Everything else is either a loss or a drop in the bucket.
Again, they lose employees with the good ideas on a regular basis, who try to take their ideas to market on their own, all on Google's dime.
Nerds can start a business, it doesn't mean they are good business people.
The 20% deal creates a lot of capital, but if you read the Slashdot article earlier -- it also causes them to hemorrhage employees that take their ideas on the public market.
To boot, they don't have the infrastructure in place that allows them to start managing projects that could be something great for the company to spin off. It's an employee's responsibility to do that, and as a result Google's mismanagement of the time they are allocating can be dangerous (as it is showing to be).
Don't get me wrong.. it's still a great thing, but I don't see it as a business savvy move to make, especially when they are showing time and time again, all the good ideas are up and leaving the company.
Anybody else feel that Google is biting off more than they can chew?
I mean, smart people work there to be sure, they have a neat work environment and they excel at search. But everything else they do, and there might be a few exceptions here and there, doesn't hit the mark as far as being "top tier" like their search is. Gmail is probably their best product, albeit free but subsidized by advertising, and then Picasa and Google Analytics. Otherwise a lot of things are very 'meh'... their online office suite, Picasa Web, etc...
Dunno, I think they need to reorganize themselves a bit before they spiral out of control with 'extra' projects, that they lose control of the one thing they are best at -- search.
Using the new Apple "cloud" feature, you can create software that sends messages and recieves messages from your friends, and using the cloud to do the communication.
You give this out as free software, Apple already said they will host it for free to boot. You circumvent using text messages.
Alternatively, you could use AIM or whatever, but I don't like AOL either.
I lost a very low 6 digit UIN (I was an early starter with it), due to the fact I couldn't recover any password or anything. I was extremely pissed off, so I just stopped using it.
That was 3 years ago.
One of the main reasons I go back to Amazon time and time again, is for no sales tax. The savings are usually good too, and the MP3 download service rocks.
I really like how Amazon has matured over the years.
Too convenient.
They all take money from the same coffers -- would not serve the greater good. Greater good, being themselves.
Yes, I am a conspiracy theorist at small levels. Just too easy to see all this information out there and think otherwise. I swear though -- no tin foil hats.
What kills me is at the >75k range, I've paid over $8000 in interest on my student loans THIS YEAR ONLY -- and I can't deduct a damn penny of it.
Sounds like you need to change your diet too :)
I know there are a lot of contenders in this arena -- and honestly, at the price it seems very high.
But think about it -- you own a car that you like. You spend maybe what, an hour, or two a day in it? You spend maybe $400 for the car payment plus insurance and gas.
And you sit in a chair for 5-7 hours a day. You should make a good investment for the sake of your back, your butt, and your comfort. I have the Aeron and the only quip I have with it, is that it doesn't match the height of my desk (which is actually a writing desk, incorrect height for a mouse/keyboard).
I like the Aeron -- it has a lot of adjustments, it's built very solid, it has a good warranty and you can get them serviced a LOT of places (casters and such). It's NOT cheap, but refer to what I said earlier on why you SHOULD spend the money.
Best workaround is to use Firefox.
Oh wait..
I'm past UO right now ... I did a bunch of different 3rd party servers, but for now I'm just trying to spend my time wisely :)
The optimist in me says it's real, and I hope that it is.
The realist in me gave up a long time ago -- but it doesn't mean that I don't still want a game LIKE what it has promised to come out.
Either way, I will count myself in the camp of "a believer" -- since well, there's no harm in thinking that way.
Besides it seems like a lot of effort (movie, media, etc) to perpetuate a hoax, and they don't even have any Google ads up to let them make money off of it.
I signed up for the beta... let's see :)
I am willing to give it a chance, but at least you understand my frustration on lack of PvP options.
How much PLAYER SKILL does it take to compete?
World of Warcraft is very cookie cutter -- X class will beat Y class, armor and weapons make a HUGE difference, etc.
I have been waiting for Darkfall Online for 6 years (and am still optimistic), but it seems like that will be the only game that fulfills the idea that an individual player can beat somebody else because of innate ability rather than what class you played.
That said, the only other good PvP game has been Ultima Online. I've tried EVERYTHING since then -- AC/EQ/AO/EQ2/WOW/AoC, and more that I forget.
You're right -- it's not. It's NEXT.
Either way, they made an OS that is pretty, works pretty solid (on their own hardware), and has some nice creature comforts that make it a pleasure to use.
How is that "innovation"? An OS that works well? Innovation? I thought innovation is something NEW. I'm sorry, but since for the last few years that all Apple came out with is iPod after iPod, my patience level for them has dwindled.
And I own an iPhone to boot. Heh.
I never made the argument that Microsoft *is* innovating either you know :)
I'm just saying that Apple isn't the "big" innovator they are being made out to be. Google, perhaps... but most things nowadays are evolutionary rather than revolutionary.
Thank you for that very insightful reply.
Now I know exactly why you think I'm wrong.
I'm actually a big Exchange fan, though I know people here will have me tarred and feathered for saying that.
It's open source though. There's no reason why somebody else can't pick up the slack and start the development on it if Microsoft decides to kill it off. That, more than anything would show the success and power of open source.