New Cuil search engine by former Google employee
An Ex Google employee along with her husband has launched a new search engine today called Cuil, which is pronounced cool. The couple aim to topple Google, they hope to do this by indexing more web pages than Google.
Anna Patterson was Google’s former leader of the search index, her husband Tom Costello, used to research and develop search engines at Stanford University and IBM. The third co-founder of Cuil is Russell Power; he also worked at Google as part of the search indexing team, as well as spam detection and Web rankings. Power is vice president of engineering for the new search engine.
Cuil have said that they have indexed 120 billion Web pages; they have also organized their results by ideas with complete privacy for users.
Cuil say that they aim to be bigger than Google, well they have a long way to go as Google have just announced that they have discovered 1 trillion unique web pages however; it is not certain how many of those have been indexed by Google.
So Cuil said they will be bigger than Google, does not mean to say they will be better. Yahoo is bigger than Google, but we know that Google is better.
Proposed acquisition by IBM of ILOG
July 28, 2008
Filed under Business, News, Press Releases
IBM and ILOG today announced they have signed an agreement regarding a proposed acquisition by IBM of ILOG to be implemented by way of concurrent cash public tender offers in both France and the United States. Through this proposed transaction, IBM will combine its business process management (BPM), business optimization, and service oriented architecture (SOA) technologies with ILOG’s Business Rules Management Systems software. This will enable IBM to help clients deliver critical business information in real-time, allowing them to make better business decisions faster Read more
Fords $100-million profit turns to $8.7-billion shortfall
Ford are reporting an $8.7-billion shortfall, making it their largest quarterly loss ever. This is the result of falling sales of trucks and SUV’s, as more people look to purchase more fuel-efficient cars.
Just three months ago, Ford Motor Co. had reported a first-quarter profit of $100 million, it seems that reality has now come back to bite Ford. The automaker has also blamed this $8.7-billion shortfall in the soaring gasoline prices.
Chief Executive Alan Mulally, has said that Ford will aggressively move toward producing smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. Mulally also added that Ford will have to reduce their costs as well as cutting their workforce. In the first since months of 2008, Ford sold 1.11 million cars; this is down by 14% on the same period last year.
Alan Mulally has said “We continue to take decisive action in response to the rapidly changing business environment,” he said. “The second half will continue to be challenging, but we have absolutely the right plan to . . . begin to grow again for the long term.”
For a full report on this, visit: ABC News
Read more news on Ford
Microsoft ends Yahoo takeover bid
Microsoft executives have said that they have now ended their bid to takeover Yahoo, which means that they will now have to find other ways to gain ground in online search.
Microsoft Corp. executives have now ruled against a acquisition of Yahoo Inc., they still acknowledge that Yahoo would have given them a much needed boost in the online search industry.
Latimes reports that Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell has told Microsoft investors that the odds of a takeover were “so small as to be essentially negligible.” He said that both sides still continue to disagree about how much Yahoo is worth.
Liddell also added that the value of Yahoo is now declining, so the $33 per share that Microsoft had offered is no longer worth the price, so they are not willing to pay that.
Liddell has said that Microsoft will not get as far as they would like online, as they would if they had Yahoo.
Dollar decline boosts Amazon overseas sales
Not all businesses are suffering from the current credit crunch, Amazon.com Inc., who are the worlds largest Internet retailer have reported a better than forecast second-quarter profit.
Many Amazon customers have been purchasing items such as flat-panel TVs and jewelry, and Amazon have said that it is because of the decline of the dollar that has boosted their overseas sales.
Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos managed to double Amazon’s net income thanks to some great promotions, such as free shipping and lower prices in the hope of enticing customers who do not have as much money to spare.
Amazon.com shares rose 8.6 percent yesterday to $76.58; this is a stark difference as their shares earlier in the year reported a 24 percent drop.
A forecast for full-year sales look set to be as much as $20.1 billion. It looks as though the idea of buying online is more of an attractive offer to people now. Firstly you save money purchasing items online, also you do not have to waste fuel going to a store to pick up an item.
Motorists beating credit crunch by repairing old cars
Motorists are fighting the credit crunch by deciding not to purchase new vehicles, instead they decide to repair their existing vehicles.
Halfords have said that they have noticed an increase in sales in this current credit crunch, Nick Wharton, the retailer’s joint managing director has said that motorists are now holding on to their older cars for longer.
Mr. Wharton told Times Online that although other retailers are in a vulnerable situation with the current credit crunch, Halfords are less vulnerable.
Consumers are now spending less as food and fuel bills have increased, so they are now less likely to spend a huge sum of money on a new car. Halfords have said that car owners are now choosing to purchase more new stereos or Sat-Navs for the cars that they already own.
Halfords have also noticed an increase in bike sales, a direct result of high petrol costs.
Ford third Flex shift cancelled: 350 jobs at risk
Ford workers who were due to start the third Flex shift have had their orientation cancelled, Ford decided to hold of on the third shift as vehicle sales have been much lower than expected.
According to Read more
ISP Tiscali is considering legal action against BT
Its being reported that BT sent emails to Tiscali’s customers about the company’s future existence as an ISP, these letters apparently went to Tiscali’s associates as well (Nildram and Pipex).
ITProPortal is reporting the news and said that letter was titled, “Tiscali Chief Plots Sell-Off”, this could have been extremely damaging to Tiscali and if true could leave BT in hot water.
In the letter its being reported that it said the customers should look for “an alternative broadband service”, the letter claimed the future of the Tiscali broadband service was unknown.
Its Interesting that the letter talks about an alternative broadband service, and goes on to talk about switching to BT’s broadband services.
If this letter really came from BT, what do you think of BT trying to take Tiscali’s customers in this way?
Its hard to believe the letter to be true when you think the letter also included the privacy details, would BT really use peoples personal details to get new business without your permission?
Read more on ITProPortal.
Britain’s top brand now Google not Microsoft
Today saw the YouGov survey published that shows Britain’s top super brands and the premier spot held by Microsoft previously has been replaced by another brand.
That’s right; Google has overtaken Microsoft and holds the first place position in a list of 500 brands. Google started out with the aim to keep search simple and do it the best. This is just what they have done.
Now days Google is much more than just a search engine, they are a Global brand that is expanding into many areas including the Android open source mobile OS.
In 2007 we saw Google come third, but 2008 is another year and they have beaten the likes of Royal Doulton, British Airways, the BBC and Mercedes-Benz.
Surprisingly, Apple narrowly missed a place in the top 10 even after its launch of the iPhone and Touch. Apple products are loved by their users for the style and security, but this is not enough to even make the top 10.
Sony did well by taking 10th place, Nike could have been higher than ninth, Bosch surprised us at eighth and BMW also did well with seventh.
This year Microsoft will have to settle for second place but with Google continuing its dominance, it seems clear it’s a brand that people trust.
You can read more about the top brands on The Guardian
Erik Huggers appointed BBC’s director of future media and technology
Ashley Highfield has been replaced at the BBC by Erik Huggers, while in the new role as director of future media and technology he will have to shape an important part of the BBC.
Huggers will be responsible for directing mobile, interactive TV and Internet based BBC content. Looking at what he did with the launch of the BBC iPlayer, it will be interesting to see what Huggers does will other new emerging platforms.
The future of content distribution will be on mobile platforms, the Internet and interactive TV. So what decisions Huggers makes will have a major impact on the future of the BBC.
Huggers CV is pretty impressive, before he was at the BBC he was responsible for Windows Media in Europe, launching the MSN portal in the Benelux countries and other innovation.
The Financial Times has said that the first major task for Erik Huggers will be to solve the row between internet service providers and the BBC, ISP’s are asking for compensation because of the load iPlayer puts on their systems.
YouTube users identities kept secret in Viacom case
There has been a lot of debate about the privacy of users data on many online sites and more recently users of YouTube have been worried about their personal data.
Google was ordered by a court to turn over log files that show how users browse YouTube; this was because Viacom International wants to use this information as evidence to show how their copyrights are being breached.
Today we have heard that Google will be able to conceal YouTube user identities when it has to hand the database to Viacom that shows viewing habits on YouTube.
Many users were in uproar over the request that they thought would lead to their personal details being revealed, they can now rest in peace knowing that Viacom will know what people viewed but not what IP address.
Viacom will still get to see unique values for each IP address so that they can see peoples viewing habits, but this will be replacing IP Addresses.
This current lawsuit was filed against Google and their YouTube subsidiary back in 2007, they claim that YouTube is illegally distributing Viacom’s copyright content.
If you’re a YouTube user, is this the result you wanted?
Source: Read
What Credit Crunch? New iPhone 3G selling out
The reason we ask if there is a Credit Crunch, it seems hard to believe that we are actually in one when you see how the consumer keeps spending like there is no tomorrow.
Today has seen nearly every Apple, O2 and Carphone Warehouse store sell out of iPhone 3G’s, if they have not yet then they will do buy the end of the day.
100 Mortgages has raised this point and why spend like we do with the economy in the state it is? Interest rates feared to increase to keep inflation down, house prices dropping, oil prices extremely high and food prices increase thanks to the cost of fuel.
Have you bought the new iPhone 3G today and if so, does it not worry you with budgets getting tighter?
If your in a contract already then we can understand that you can get the iPhone 3G for free on a price plan £45 or more and its only £99 for the iPhone this time.
Some families will need this £99 in the months to come and the £45 a month will be near impossible to find, so looking at the demand for the iPhone 3G today, we guess inflation may keep rising and the consumer is not that worried about the future.
New buyers will have to keep up this contract for 18 months, even if they have no money.
Via 100 Mortgages
Is judge ordering Google to violate privacy law in Viacom case?
The outcome of the Viacom vs Google’s YouTube is still unclear but what’s even more confusing is how a judge could order Google to violate existing privacy law, according to some legal experts.
We reported a couple of days ago about the $1 billion copyright infringement lawsuit against YouTube and how users may worry where their personal information ends up.
Google is very willing to help in this matter but did state that it will ask Viacom to respect users’ privacy, but can we trust that this information will never be used in the future and how can we tell if it has?
YouTube just might have to turnover its viewing logs to Viacom, we understand why they want this information but the privacy aspects involved can be far reaching.
Viacom say they do not want any personally identifiable information but this is just what the court has ordered Google to hand over in the form of log files. If the judge is ordering Google to violate a privacy law the in Viacom case, how is this possible and what could the outcome be?
The truth will be that its near impossible to ever prove how someone has attained your personal information and if this involves the end user being accused of copyright infringement, proving these records weren’t used is near impossible.
Should YouTube give this information and if the logs are anonymized, will YouTube users be happy with that?
Viacom and the YouTube privacy problem
YouTube is an amazing site and one that has changed the way web users watch videos; people will now listen to music by playing different YouTube videos on their home computers and on the move via cell phones like the Apple iPhone.
Today we hear that a U.S. judge has ordered Google Inc to hand over YouTube user data to Viacom Inc, this has caused outcry from some web users because of privacy fears.
Viacom owns MTV Networks and Paramount and they are currently in the middle of a $1 billion copyright infringement lawsuit against YouTube.
What would worry some YouTube users is the fact that the Southern District of New York Judge wants information on users IP addresses, what videos they watched, usernames of YouTube viewers and more for evidence.
The difficult part is being able to ensure personally identifiable information is secure and to comply with the court order, some blogs are claiming that this order will violate the 1988 Video Privacy Protection Act.
Viacom has said in a statement that they have no plans on identifying individual users and just want to show video piracy patterns in the court case against YouTube.
Source: Read
Search deal with Google over Microsoft: Yahoo’s Roy Bostock and Jerry Yang explain
Its been some time now since we had all the statements flying back and forth from Yahoo and Microsoft over the possible purchase of Yahoo, today we are hearing that Yahoo has issued a letter to its shareholders to explain why they have made recent decisions. In the letter Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang and Chairman Roy Bostock explain in detail why they made a deal with Google over search and not with Microsoft.
The Washington Post have got the full letter that you can read by hitting the read link below this post, in a nutshell it seems that Google may have been the right deal and although Yahoo have steep fees now, they can decide to sell the Yahoo brand at a later date if thats convenient.
When we say Yahoo have done the right thing, we are taking into account they may be signing a search deal with Google to get Microsoft back to the table. Also the deal with Google could have been a way to make the stock market calm down a little and at least keep Yahoo share prices steady. Did this work?
Looking at the Yahoo share prices, this did not work and Yahoo has got to really make some tough decisions. Yahoo needs a Microsoft full buyout and Microsoft need Yahoo’s search business to have any real chance at taking some of Google’s market share.
This letter to shareholders confirms that Yahoo is sending a message to the market and Microsoft, as Washington Post put it, “If they want Yahoo’s search milk, they’re going to have to buy the cow”.
What have you made of Yahoo’s discussions with Microsoft regarding a potential transaction and where do you think this will be going?
Read the letter in full.
July: T-Mobile USA will offer to pay off your mortgage
As we know T-Mobile USA are now starting up a new home phone telephone service, and they are making a huge push to promote this. T-Mobile are doing all they can to sign people up to their new service, and you would not believe some of the promotions that they are offering. In July T-Mobile are offering to pay off your mortgage or take over your rent payments, not only that, they are also giving away two new homes.
The new service is called T-Mobile @Home and will be launched today June 25. What this service allows you to day is switch over their existing home phone numbers quickly, and then they will be able to start receiving calls over a broadband connection cheaper than before.
Many people will be thinking, “how come T-Mobile is late to the ball game on this”, Vonage (VG) pioneered this service back in 2001. When you look at this kind of service today, some of the big providers are already doing it like Verizon (VZ) and AT&T (T). T-Mobile have a different goal for their new service, they do not wish to become a major force in a dwindling home phone services, T-Mobile what’s to deliver a blow to wireless competitors.
According to Business Week, the U.S. wireless market has been saturated, service providers in the business have to do what ever they can to steal customers from each other, and this is done by offering the best deals. Looking at T-Mobile’s deal, it seems as if they are offering the sweetest.
T-Mobile @Home at $10 per month is just half the price of Vonage’s lowest-priced plan, and when you think that an average telco phone-line user pays at least $65 per month, it seems that T-Mobile are certainly offering a sweet deal.
Surfing Costs Business £10.6bn a Year
The average office worker in the UK spends an hour and a half a week of work time surfing the web for personal use, according to research by the CBI.
The findings showed that this is costing the economy £10.6bn a year and while many organisations are supportive of staff visiting non-work related websites, and view it as a motivational perk or a modern-day tea break, others are troubled by the amount of use, or have had to sack staff for serious abuse.
CBI South East Regional Director Malcolm Hyde said: “Employers understand that the Internet has become a part of everyday life and are prepared to be flexible. Many firms feel that, as long as the job gets done, there is no problem with staff surfing for personal use.
“While an hour and a half a week may sound like a lot, it is not always wasted time. Productivity and morale can increase when firms trust staff to use the web sensibly to catch up with friends on Facebook, pay household bills, or search for a cheap flight.
“However, £10.6bn a year is a significant sum and this is an issue that firms need to be aware of. It can become a problem where staff are spending excessive amounts of time online, are downloading porn or software, or are putting the organisation’s reputation at risk.”
The survey of 503 organisations across the country, which together employ over one million workers, revealed that nearly two-thirds (60%) of employers think staff regularly use office time outside of lunch hours and formal breaks to look at non-work sites, like those involving social networking, web email, shopping and holidays.
Employers across the public and private sectors estimate that 4.4% of working time is lost in this way, which accounts to 95 minutes a week, or ten days a year, at an average annual cost of £939 per employee.
Mr Hyde added: “Nobody wants to behave like Big Brother and there is no epidemic of misuse, but there needs to be a bit of give-and-take from all parties. Employers need to decide for themselves what level of non-work surfing is acceptable and then set out clear boundaries.”
Over half of organisations (54%) restrict Internet access at work, although the extent of that control can vary widely. 14% deny access altogether, while a quarter (25%) have no limits on access. The remaining 7% are considering imposing limits on web use.
Organisations, both private and public sector, with 200-499 employees, suspected the highest proportion of working time lost to leisure-surfing (5%), while the lowest rate (2.7%) was reported by those with 5,000 or more staff. This may be because larger firms have clearer usage policies or have installed IT systems that regulate web usage.
A third of respondents (32%) disciplined an employee for Internet misuse during 2007, while 13% took action to dismiss an employee for persistent misuse.
Source: Maxim PR
Apple’s share price affected by worldwide developer conference (WWDC)
June 9, 2008
Filed under Business, Cell Phones, WWDC 2008
The world of Apple could change in a lot of ways today, not only with the launch of new software and products around the Apple iPhone 2, but also with Apple’s share price.
The WorldWide Developer Conference is known to bring us interesting news every year but the WWDC also brings change to the path of Apple and their products. Not only will the 3G iPhone have an affect on the Apple share price, but also the many other yet-to-be-known announcements and launches. While it’s unpredictable what will happen with the price of shares, its surly got to be good news.
Analysts are trying to predict what products and services will be launched today and also what affect they will have on the shares. Today could see Apple release a new form factor for multi-touch devices at WWDC; this would see Apple’s entrance into the future of mobile Internet devices. The MID market will be massive and Apple is sure to want many devices launched in this area.
Pocket Lint reported a rumor today that Apple will show 4-inch and 7-inch touchscreen devices that are a cross between an iPod touch and a Mac, these devices are also said to be passed the prototype stage.
Whatever happens today, it would be a good guess that owners of Apple shares will do well from today’s announcements, but then the world of business is never straightforward. Do you own Apple shares and if so, are you expecting the share price to increase today?
Signed Agreement $13.9 billion Deal: HP purchase EDS at a price of $25.00 per share
Yesterday we reported that HP was to buy EDS where we said “HP to Buy EDS: Would this mean the ability to compete against rivals IBM Corp? (Read Here), well today we have the latest information that HP and EDS have announced that they have finally signed a definitive agreement where HP will purchase EDS at a price of $25.00 per share which actually means an enterprise of around $13.9 billion; this has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of HP and EDS.
This new transaction is expected to close in the second half of calendar year 2008 which will more than double HP’s services revenue at $16.6 billion in fiscal 2007, as of the end of each company’s 2007 fiscal year where annual revenues of over $38 billion and 210,000 employees doing business in over 80 countries. HP are intending to establish a new business group to be branded EDS and HP company which will have their head quarters at EDS’s existing executive offices in Plano, Texas. HP do plan on EDS to continue to be led after the deal closes by EDS Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Ronald A. Rittenmeyer who will indeed join HP’s executive council and report to Mark Hurd, HP’s chairman and chief executive officer.
HP to Acquire EDS for $13.9 Billion, Transaction expected to more than double HP’s revenue from services, furthering its standing as world’s largest technology company and EDS shareholders to receive $25.00 per share in cash for each EDS share, this is all good news where the company will definitely be able to compete even more so now with rivals. The combination of the two companies HP and EDS will bring a force of leading global IT services which means a stronger business partner, most competitive portfolio of products and services in the industry and delivering customers the broadest services.
Looks like technology will only get stronger; Rittenmeyer said “First and foremost, this is a great transaction for our stockholders, providing tremendous value in the form of a significant premium to our stock price. It’s also beneficial to our customers, as the combination of our two global companies and the collective skills of our employees will drive innovation and enhance value for them in a wide range of industries. In addition, our Agility Alliance will be significantly strengthened.”
Because HP have acquired EDS this actually advances the HP objectives which even more so makes the company so much stronger in the way of its services business and the new offerings delivered by the two companies mean including data center services, IT outsourcing, networking services and managed security, workplace services, CRM and HR outsourcing; applications, including development, business process outsourcing, modernization and management; consulting and integration; and technology services, solutions to customers in the areas of government, healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, energy, transportation, communications, and consumer industries and retail and so much more.
HP to Buy EDS: Would this mean the ability to compete against rivals IBM Corp?
Hewlett-Packard Co purchasing Electronic Data Systems Corp (EDS) could mean something special and analysts are expecting this deal to happen. So HP to buy EDS means for EDS the deal would represent a very good chance to cash in after some considerable years of cost cutting and even reorganization failed to give the company’s shares a very good lift indeed.
The main thing that pops in our minds is the fact that of HP does buy EDS an acquisition would surely boost the company’s ability to compete with the likes of their rivals IBM Corp in the services area plus for EDS employees the purchase would surely mean some job cuts. Electronic Data Systems Corp (EDS) specializes in the management of information technology operations of other government agencies and companies.
HP and EDS have confirmed on Monday that they were in talks but have said there is no confirmed guarantee that the deal will go ahead but they did say that they will not comment further until they at least make a decision. Basically what is know is that there is nowhere for EDS to go, yes they can do small acquisitions but it is so hard to see exactly how they can drive stock prices.
The HP deal was reported by The Wall Street Journal and is estimated to be worth $13 billion, if the EDS deal does go ahead it would mean the end of the road for a company which was founded by Ross Perot in 1962 for $1,000. EDS are indeed the 3rd largest public company in Dallas where their revenue of $22.1 billion was made last year. EDS has 7,200 employees in this region and around 48,000 in the U.S, in total they have worldwide 140,000 employees.
We can see HP and EDS signing a deal, just so you know shares of EDS gained $5.27 – 28% to close at $24.13.
Please answer this question “If the deal went ahead would this mean the ability to compete against rivals IBM Corp?
