Compass -- Direction and Drive for Excellence: August 2006

Google: These books are free | Tech News on ZDNet.

Delighted to see e-books being available on the Internet. Just wondering why Amazon is not doing this sooner than Google? If a purchasing strategy can be placed for copyrighted electronic copies this can be a whole new era of knowledge distribution.

By far NetLibrary is serving as a popular e-Library with OEB ebook formats. Now Google is again joining the marketing with a more popular user interface. God knows why far this empire can expand…

Google CEO Dr. Eric Schmidt Joins Apple’s Board of Directors

Google CEO Dr. Eric Schmidt Joins Apple’s Board of Directors.

Wowowo…. What’s going on? Seems there is something big happening behind the scenes.

August Jukebox -- The Maiden's Prayer

The Maiden’s Prayer
Badarzewska-Baranowska

Dilbert Comic Strip Archive - Dilbert.com

Dilbert Comic Strip Archive - Dilbert.com - The Official Dilbert Website by Scott Adams - Dilbert, Dogbert and Coworkers!.

Google Apps for Your Domain

Google Apps for Your Domain.

Soon after Gmail for Your Domain we have Google Apps for Your Domain. With the tiny applications already in place there seems a be a lot to be played with. More applications of such kinds will surely emerge from the Google team and I am always looking forward to how much further they can go.

Google to target software market

BBC NEWS | Business | Google to target software market.

So in the end the market becomes red. Sooner or later Google and Microsoft may have a head-on collision fighting for the same market. It has long been talked about that software is becoming a service that should be provided on-demand via the internet, so in the end the market is merging, the two giants will inevitably nail one another.

Google, eBay Form Advertising Alliance

ABC News: Google, eBay Form Advertising Alliance.

I always love seeing deals like this to happen. As far as business is concern there are so many possibilities to make things more convenient. A wider scope of advertisement and a quicker way to settle auction deals can really help frequent bidders.

SAN FRANCISCO Aug 28, 2006 (AP)— In a deal between two of the Internet's most prominent properties, Google will begin selling advertising for Web auctioneer eBay outside the United States and help buyers quickly ring an online merchant to do business.

Technology lets ads get personal

BBC NEWS | Programmes | Click | Technology lets ads get personal.

Everything is getting on the right path. In fact all the big corps are placing investment on how to collect audiences’ interests and living habits. While the technical barriers involved are relatively low, I believe that advertising through ‘narrowcasting’ approach will become much more mature within a short period of time.

Advertising is huge business. Companies are constantly looking for new ways to reach consumers and some are turning to new technology to make their brands stand out from the rest.

China-Russia plan joint mission to Mars - Aug 24, 2006

CNN.com - China-Russia plan joint mission to Mars - Aug 24, 2006.

Happy to see that China is actually taking a proactive role in space research. I am looking forward to a Chinese landing to the moon and then Mars.

Maybe within our lifetime we can really take a trip to Mars?

Yahoo Kills Blog Search?

Yahoo Kills Blog Search?.

In fact I am just wondering why search engines have to distinguish between ‘web search’ and ‘blog search’? For Web 2.0 to become generic and a basic groundwork, it is particularly important for normal users (both technical and non-technical) to just ‘search’.

As more information abound everywhere, as time goes by my searching practices become lazier. Most of the time I just want to type one word and expect to reach the correct destination. Unless I have particular criteria to add, the essence of searching are just simple and quick.

Sooner or later searching engines should fuse everything up. Being in the software industry myself, I can see that users normally don’t care about the difference between backend searching mechanisms.

Pluto Not a Planet, Astronomers Rule

Pluto Not a Planet, Astronomers Rule.

Finally the deal is settled. But seems that previously there were others new planets voted to join the Solar System, the true picture is yet to be revealed.

According to the new definition, a full-fledged planet is an object that orbits the sun and is large enough to have become round due to the force of its own gravity. In addition, a planet has to dominate the neighborhood around its orbit.
Pluto has been demoted because it does not dominate its neighborhood. Charon, its large "moon," is only about half the size of Pluto, while all the true planets are far larger than their moons.

Logitech unveils new cordless laser mice

USATODAY.com - Logitech unveils new cordless laser mice.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Computer accessory maker Logitech (LOGI) is introducing a mouse with a free-spinning motorized scroll wheel it believes will help people more efficiently race through pages on their computer screens.
The company said Thursday it is launching cordless laser mice with an alloy wheel that spins for up to 7 seconds and can scroll through up to 10,000 Microsoft Excel lines with a single flick. Users can stop the wheel by tapping it.