I cancelled my Facebook account last night since I don't trust them with my data. (Actually, you can't cancel your Facebook account, you can only 'deactivate' it. Figures.)
But I still trust Google with my email and with my clickstream. Google isn't selling my data, Google isn't spamming me, Google isn't pretending that advertisers are my friends. Google has always had a big wall between algorithmic content (unbiased), and clearly labeled advertising (bought and paid for).
Like a well run newspaper, Google separates the advertising from the content and clearly labels it as such. Facebook has mashed the two together, and I'll no longer use their service.
Re:Since nobody's mentioning HOW they're gonna do
on
Google Goes Green
·
· Score: 1
The press release didn't say HOW, but it did say WHO - they specifically mentioned Makani Power.
Cringely (I know, I know) had a lot to say about these guys and Google's $10M investment in them a few weeks ago.
It's all about high-altitude kites!
Pete Lynn works for Makani, and had a series of posts to Google Groups in 2003 that explained the concept. There's also an old web page of his that's only available on the Internet Archive.
That's the interesting part about Google's initiative -- they're looking to solve this problem on the (relative) cheap, in years and with millions instead of decades and billions.
It's been a while since I read Snow Crash, but I think Hiro Protagonist spent most of his time in two "gated communities" -- the Black Sun (a private club) and Rife's HQ (heavy security to keep out the uninvited). Not much time spent in public spaces. Seems like you'd want both public and private spaces, just like in Real Life.
Guns may be outlawed in Japan, but school violence continues. Didn't some lunatic stab 7 kids to death in a Japanese school a few years ago? Ahh, yes, here's the story: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2001-06/08/con tent_62607.htm
Guns are outlawed in the UK too, but there was a triple shooting in a Birmingham pub a couple weeks ago: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_mi dlands/6559035.stm
Sorry to say it, but there's no such thing as complete safety. Banning guns might make you *feel* safer, but it's just security theater.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but it's not the revenue that matters, it's what's left of the revenue after costs are paid. In IBM's case, using your 10-Q:
Hardware revenue of $5,583M less hardware costs of $3,481 nets $2,102M.
Services revenue of $12,017M less services costs of $8,676 nets $3,341M.
Software revenue of $4,406M less software costs of $647M nets $3,759M.
So software is still the biggest contributor to net income, with services a close second.
It's not AI, but it doesn't have to be. Routine tasks, simple logic, productivity standards for each task, and humans controlled by voice command.
http://www.voxware.com/index.php?id=dudos
The BSA's latest study says $200 billion in software will be pirated in the next 4 years. Is software piracy "theft" like robbery is "theft"? If the software publisher prefers people to steal their software rather than use alternatives, how is that "theft"? Does the jewelry store prefer that their diamonds get stolen rather than having the thief wear cubic zirconia?
http://www.bsa.org/globalstudy/upload/2005%20Pirac y%20Study%20-%20Official%20Version.pdf [PDF]
The past background of our founder, Chairman and Chief Strategist, Jeffrey A. Citron, may adversely affect our ability to enter into business relationships and may have other adverse effects on our business.
Prior to joining Vonage, Mr. Citron was associated with Datek Securities Corporation and Datek Online Holdings Corp., including as an employee of, and consultant for, Datek Securities and, later, as one of the principal executive officers and largest stockholders of Datek Online. Datek Online, which was formed in early 1998 following a reorganization of the Datek business, was a large online brokerage firm. Datek Securities was a registered broker-dealer that engaged in a number of businesses, including proprietary trading and order execution services. During a portion of the time Mr. Citron was associated with Datek Securities, the SEC alleged that Datek Securities, Mr. Citron and other individuals participated in an extensive fraudulent scheme involving improper use of the Nasdaq Stock Market's Small Order Execution System, or SOES. Datek Securities (through its successor iCapital Markets LLC), Mr. Citron and other individuals entered into settlements with the SEC in 2002 and 2003, which resulted in extensive fines, bans from future association with securities brokers or dealers and enjoinments against future violations of certain U.S. securities laws. The NASD previously had imposed disciplinary action against Datek Securities, Mr. Citron and other individuals in connection with alleged violations of the rules and regulations regarding the SOES. These and other matters are discussed under "Information Concerning our Founder, Chairman and Chief Strategist."
There is a risk that some third parties will not do business with us, that some prospective investors will not purchase our securities or that some customers may be wary of signing up for service with us as a result of allegations against Mr. Citron and his past SEC and NASD settlements. We believe that some financial institutions and accounting firms have declined to enter into business relationships with us in the past, at least in part because of these matters. Other institutions and potential business associates may not be able to do business with us because of internal policies that restrict associations with individuals who have entered into SEC and NASD settlements. While we believe that these matters have not had a material impact on our business, they may have a greater impact on us when we become a public company, including by adversely affecting our ability to enter into commercial relationships with third parties that we need to effectively and competitively grow our business. Further, should Mr. Citron in the future be accused of, or be shown to have engaged in, additional improper or illegal activities, the impact of those accusations or the potential penalties from such activities could be exacerbated because of the matters discussed above. If any of these risks were to be realized, there could be a material adverse effect on our business or the market price of our common stock.
Google always does things a little bit differently. And if you look at their history, you can envision how Google could do music differently.
If you squint your eyes, you can see that Google is in the business of making markets more than they are in providing search results. Google's biggest market is in advertising, where a real-time auction determines placement and price. Google supplies the auction and the market, while the free market determines the price of a click.
Google took the same marketplace approach to video. Unlike iTunes Video, which provides limited content at a fixed price, Google has created a free market for video. Video producers provide content, set a price, and specify what level of DRM they want -- from a Day Pass, to perpetual ownership, to no DRM at all. Users decide what they're willing to pay for DRM'd content vs. unrestricted content. And since each provider sets individual prices for each video, the free market can determine pricing and DRM controls.
Seems like a pretty small conceptual leap into music. The big labels and independents could all provide content for the Google Music service, set their own pricing and DRM level, and let the market decide what's worth what. Could be that labels will maximize profit with DRM'd tracks at 69 cents each. Or maybe people are willing to pay $1.49 for unrestricted MP3s as long as it's easy and legal.
Or what about a Month Pass for $0.29?
As with advertisements and video, Google might just let each producer and consumer decide in what the fair price is, and what DRM restrictions are acceptable at that price.
Slashdot Mirror
But I still trust Google with my email and with my clickstream. Google isn't selling my data, Google isn't spamming me, Google isn't pretending that advertisers are my friends. Google has always had a big wall between algorithmic content (unbiased), and clearly labeled advertising (bought and paid for).
Like a well run newspaper, Google separates the advertising from the content and clearly labels it as such. Facebook has mashed the two together, and I'll no longer use their service.
Cringely (I know, I know) had a lot to say about these guys and Google's $10M investment in them a few weeks ago.
It's all about high-altitude kites!
Pete Lynn works for Makani, and had a series of posts to Google Groups in 2003 that explained the concept. There's also an old web page of his that's only available on the Internet Archive.
That's the interesting part about Google's initiative -- they're looking to solve this problem on the (relative) cheap, in years and with millions instead of decades and billions.
Huh? Gore's record is mixed? This is the guy who invented the freakin' internet.
It's been a while since I read Snow Crash, but I think Hiro Protagonist spent most of his time in two "gated communities" -- the Black Sun (a private club) and Rife's HQ (heavy security to keep out the uninvited). Not much time spent in public spaces. Seems like you'd want both public and private spaces, just like in Real Life.
Guns may be outlawed in Japan, but school violence continues. Didn't some lunatic stab 7 kids to death in a Japanese school a few years ago? Ahh, yes, here's the story: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2001-06/08/con tent_62607.htm
Guns are outlawed in the UK too, but there was a triple shooting in a Birmingham pub a couple weeks ago: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_mi dlands/6559035.stm
Sorry to say it, but there's no such thing as complete safety. Banning guns might make you *feel* safer, but it's just security theater.
Hardware revenue of $5,583M less hardware costs of $3,481 nets $2,102M.
Services revenue of $12,017M less services costs of $8,676 nets $3,341M.
Software revenue of $4,406M less software costs of $647M nets $3,759M.
So software is still the biggest contributor to net income, with services a close second.
It's not AI, but it doesn't have to be. Routine tasks, simple logic, productivity standards for each task, and humans controlled by voice command. http://www.voxware.com/index.php?id=dudos
The BSA's latest study says $200 billion in software will be pirated in the next 4 years. Is software piracy "theft" like robbery is "theft"? If the software publisher prefers people to steal their software rather than use alternatives, how is that "theft"? Does the jewelry store prefer that their diamonds get stolen rather than having the thief wear cubic zirconia? http://www.bsa.org/globalstudy/upload/2005%20Pirac y%20Study%20-%20Official%20Version.pdf [PDF]
If Firefox 3 supports offline apps http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/firefox_3_off line_apps.php, maybe that could fix this "obvious flaw".
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1272830/000 104746906006601/a2169686zs-1a.htm
The past background of our founder, Chairman and Chief Strategist, Jeffrey A. Citron, may adversely affect our ability to enter into business relationships and may have other adverse effects on our business.
Prior to joining Vonage, Mr. Citron was associated with Datek Securities Corporation and Datek Online Holdings Corp., including as an employee of, and consultant for, Datek Securities and, later, as one of the principal executive officers and largest stockholders of Datek Online. Datek Online, which was formed in early 1998 following a reorganization of the Datek business, was a large online brokerage firm. Datek Securities was a registered broker-dealer that engaged in a number of businesses, including proprietary trading and order execution services. During a portion of the time Mr. Citron was associated with Datek Securities, the SEC alleged that Datek Securities, Mr. Citron and other individuals participated in an extensive fraudulent scheme involving improper use of the Nasdaq Stock Market's Small Order Execution System, or SOES. Datek Securities (through its successor iCapital Markets LLC), Mr. Citron and other individuals entered into settlements with the SEC in 2002 and 2003, which resulted in extensive fines, bans from future association with securities brokers or dealers and enjoinments against future violations of certain U.S. securities laws. The NASD previously had imposed disciplinary action against Datek Securities, Mr. Citron and other individuals in connection with alleged violations of the rules and regulations regarding the SOES. These and other matters are discussed under "Information Concerning our Founder, Chairman and Chief Strategist."
There is a risk that some third parties will not do business with us, that some prospective investors will not purchase our securities or that some customers may be wary of signing up for service with us as a result of allegations against Mr. Citron and his past SEC and NASD settlements. We believe that some financial institutions and accounting firms have declined to enter into business relationships with us in the past, at least in part because of these matters. Other institutions and potential business associates may not be able to do business with us because of internal policies that restrict associations with individuals who have entered into SEC and NASD settlements. While we believe that these matters have not had a material impact on our business, they may have a greater impact on us when we become a public company, including by adversely affecting our ability to enter into commercial relationships with third parties that we need to effectively and competitively grow our business. Further, should Mr. Citron in the future be accused of, or be shown to have engaged in, additional improper or illegal activities, the impact of those accusations or the potential penalties from such activities could be exacerbated because of the matters discussed above. If any of these risks were to be realized, there could be a material adverse effect on our business or the market price of our common stock.
Google always does things a little bit differently. And if you look at their history, you can envision how Google could do music differently.
If you squint your eyes, you can see that Google is in the business of making markets more than they are in providing search results. Google's biggest market is in advertising, where a real-time auction determines placement and price. Google supplies the auction and the market, while the free market determines the price of a click.
Google took the same marketplace approach to video. Unlike iTunes Video, which provides limited content at a fixed price, Google has created a free market for video. Video producers provide content, set a price, and specify what level of DRM they want -- from a Day Pass, to perpetual ownership, to no DRM at all. Users decide what they're willing to pay for DRM'd content vs. unrestricted content. And since each provider sets individual prices for each video, the free market can determine pricing and DRM controls.
Seems like a pretty small conceptual leap into music. The big labels and independents could all provide content for the Google Music service, set their own pricing and DRM level, and let the market decide what's worth what. Could be that labels will maximize profit with DRM'd tracks at 69 cents each. Or maybe people are willing to pay $1.49 for unrestricted MP3s as long as it's easy and legal.
Or what about a Month Pass for $0.29?
As with advertisements and video, Google might just let each producer and consumer decide in what the fair price is, and what DRM restrictions are acceptable at that price.