Thursday, February 05, 2009

No more "what will be" from WalMart

read at Bloomberg.com: Worldwide:
"Feb. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, reported January sales that exceeded its projection and said it will stop giving a monthly forecast, citing difficulty in predicting consumer behavior."

IBM partners with Google Health

read at he Technology Chronicles
"IBM partners with Google Health

People who use Google Health will now be able to automatically stream data from medical devices - such as those used to monitor glucose levels and blood pressure - into their personal health records.

In a partnership announced Thursday, Google Health users will be able to use IBM software to connect their personal medical devices to their health record. That will allow patients to exchange the data with their doctors or other authorized parties in real time."

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Google Earth Blog: Google Earth 5 - Initial Reactions

Google Earth Blog: Google Earth 5 - Initial Reactions: "Google Earth 5 was released on Monday February 2nd. Overall, it appears the reaction globally has been very positive. Lots of excitement over the four major new features: Ocean, Recorded Tours, Historical Imagery, and Mars. Many other significant features have been discovered in the last two days especially for developers.

Here are some notes on initial reactions so far to Google Earth 5:"

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Wal-Mart Tops Zogby Poll of Fave Stores

@ shoppingblog.com
: "A new Zogby poll asked consumers where they would shop if they could only shop at one store for the rest of their lives. The winner? Wal-Mart, followed by Target."

Google brings Gmail tasks to iPhone

@ Ars Technica:
"After introducing tasks for Gmail on desktop browsers, Google has produced an optimized Web app for managing Gmail tasks on your iPhone. It isn't quite as full-featured as its desktop counterpart, but Gmail users who are looking to get a little more productive will surely appreciate the gesture.
By David Chartier | Last updated February 3, 2009 10:40"

Doodle 4 Google calling all students | Webware - CNET

@ - CNET:
"Google announced its 'Doodle 4 Google 2009' competition Tuesday. According to the company, all kindergarten through 12th grade U.S. students can design a Google logo based on the theme, 'What I wish for the world.' Applications will be accepted until March 31 and the winner's doodle will be displayed on Google's homepage on May 21. The winner will receive a $15,000 college scholarship and a $25,000 technology grant for their school. Google will also award a school district $10,000 for the 'greatest quality participation.' Student drawings will be evaluated by a panel of independent judges and Google employees."

Google, NASA Launch Singularity University

@ MediaPost Publications 02/03/2009:
"Google and NASA have partnered to back a new school for futurists dubbed 'Singularity University.' Ray Kurzweil, 'whose predictions about the exponential pace of technological change have made him a controversial figure in technology circles,' will run the school, writes David Gelles. The school will sit at the Ames Research Center near Google's headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., and offer courses on biotechnology, nano-technology and artificial intelligence."

Wal-Mart tests diesel-electric trucks

@ FT.com / Companies

"Wal-Mart is testing hybrid diesel-electric trucks in a step towards extending the energy saving technology to the workhorses of the US road transport system.

Chris Sultemeier, head of Wal-Mart’s transport, said on Monday the retailer would operate trucks in different US cities over the coming year, to “determine if these technologies will help reduce our environmental footprint, are viable for our business and provide a return on investment”."

Google Earth 5 - Video Showcase

@ Google Earth Blog: Google Earth 5 - Video Showcase:
"Here is some visual delights showing new features of Google Earth 5 by video (including three I created and added to my posts yesterday). You can download Google Earth 5 for free and try these features out yourself. Check out GEB's main post on GE 5 which includes links to other feature stories."

Google Earth Goes Deep With Ocean Simulations

@ NYTimes.com:

"On Monday, the ocean images will undergo the most significant of several upgrades to Google Earth, with the new version downloadable free at earth.google.com, according to the company.

Another feature, Historical Imagery, provides the ability to scroll back through decades of satellite images and watch the spread of suburbia or erosion of coasts."

Click a function called Touring and you can create narrated, illustrated tours, on land or above and below the sea surface, describing and showing things like a hike or scuba excursion, or even a research cruise on a deep-diving submarine.

Monday, February 02, 2009

Google Error Sends Warning Worldwide - NYTimes.com

read @ NYTimes.com:
"Google’s Internet search service malfunctioned for nearly 55 minutes Saturday morning, upending users around the world with search results that carried false safety warnings and Web links that did not work.

The company acknowledged Saturday that all searches produced links with the same warning message: “This site may harm your computer.” Clicking on any of the links led to an error message stating that the desired site could not be reached.

“What happened?” Google explained in its blog. “Very simply, human error.”

Google said it periodically updates its list of sites suspected of carrying dangerous software that could harm computers, and that Saturday morning a Google employee mistyped a Web address for one such site, causing all sites to be flagged harmful."

Shit happens.

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Google releases Android open-source code: company

read at canada.com
"WASHINGTON — Google on Tuesday released the open-source code which powers its Android mobile operating system and invited outside programmers to tinker with the software to develop their own features."