See this article. Microsoft hopes to better compete with Google and to do so it is offering $44 billion for Yahoo.
There were many rumors of this kind of thing happening at various times in 2007. John Gruber had this post in May, which is worth a read.
Today, Sun Microsystems announced an agreement to acquire MySQL AB, the developer of the open source MySQL database that powers Google, Facebook, and any number of other websites around the world. Interesting news.
For everyone who uses PayPal and/or eBay: the PayPal Security Key.
It’s a device that generates a temporary 6-digit security code every 30 seconds. Use it every time you log in for added security.
Brilliant idea, and one that really shows that ebay/PayPal are really taking security seriously, regardless of issues they have had in the past. I feel much better about using their services. In addition to this, this device is developed by VeriSign, who is used by approximately everyone. It could only be a good thing if more ecommerce sites and shoppers began to use this device.
75-year-old Sigbritt Lothberg is now cruising the Internet with a dizzying speed. Lothberg’s 40 gigabits-per-second fiber-optic connection in Karlstad is believed to be the fastest residential uplink in the world, Karlstad city officials said. In less than 2 seconds, Lothberg can download a full-length movie on her home computer…
I’m amazed by this. The implications of Internet connections becoming this fast are insane. I think this is another pointer to Everyware. While that excites me, it scares me.
Scientists in Dundee have announced plans to create a “robot village” in an effort to learn how different cultures emerge in society.
And Isaac Asimov rolls over in his grave. I’m not sure what to think about this. It raises several questions, at best. At worst, of course, it leads us in the direction of I, Robot. Which will it be?
Some weird news for today: IBM is helping the search for the paranormal
IBM wants to help you find out if UFOs are real. Well, sort of. With UFO sightings seemingly on the rise, Big Blue is teaming with The Anomalies Network to offer UFO Crawler, a new search engine specifically tuned to search for information about the paranormal, unexplained or just plain bizarre.
I am totally entertained by this thought. I’ve always been attracted to the bizarre and the odd, but aside from that I just think this is really funny.