Last May Microsoft bought aQuantive for $6 billion in cash. Now, they’re kicking off 2008 with the purchase (the most ever offered for a Internet company) of Yahoo for $44.6 billion. That’s $31 a share which is a 62% premium over Yahoo’s closing shares Jan. 31. To Businessweek’s point this would merge the World’s largest software maker with the most used Internet portal. Shockingly - at least to me - Microsoft has been trying to court Yahoo for the past 18 months. Microsoft expects the merger to cut costs by $1 billion a year going forward. In the wake of the merger, if it goes through - Google and a few others might cry monopoly - Yahoo’s workforce will be minimized. Yahoo currently has over 14,000 workers. Microsoft’s bid is further motivated by the rise of web software competitors, such as Salesforce.com. Purchasing Yahoo would increase their reach and enable a massive distribution platform of web based software.
Did you by the iPhone before the rumored Q1 ‘08 release of the iPhone with GPS and much more? Well, if you’re sick of holding your breath, or just need directions ASAP, then a quick drive down loco (as in crazy in Spanish) lane will assist you on your merry ole way. How so you ask? Well, Aving’s got the scoop and it’s the Loco GPS. It’ll launch February ‘08, cost $89 and expect the eagerly lost to knock down local Apple stores to nab one. I can already hear the toilet flushing on my iPhone’s battery life. Oh well, at least I’ll be able to find a place to stop and charge it.
Note: You’ll need to hack (i.e. Jailbreak) your phone to get it to work. WEAK!
If you’ve been using Google Maps to get around town, you no doubt know how frustrating it is to punch in the cross street to begin your directions. Starting today, or in the last few days, those using select devices (Blackberrys, Motorolas, etc, but NOT the iPhone) will be able to find their location via cell phone tower triangulation on Google Maps Mobile. If you recall, Navizon offered an iPhone app, albeit hacked, but nonetheless uses the same process to determine your location minus the indexed/logged WiFi locations. Google says that the service will come within “1000m close, on average” of your location. I don’t have a device in my hands to test with right now, but it probably takes a few seconds at least - no GPS like speeds. To use, just download Google Maps for your mobile, start the app and hit “0″. The service will then display your location with a blue dot surrounded by a transparent blue circle (this is the nonGPS version). The GPS version of the service represents you as a blue dot only, since it’s more accurate.
Google will begin to offer a web based storage system in the coming months - no word on official release date just yet. Dubbed “My Stuff” - at least that’s the internal name - will be free and then cost the user a few green backs (no word on price) if they’d like additional storage beyond a certain point. Google intends to make the service seamless, such that you can access the device from your desktop, or phone, as if it were an external hard drive on your desktop - bandwidth allowing of course. A number of services, such as iBackup and Yahoo’s Briefcase, already exist. Just do a Google search for ‘free online storage’ or checkout the below chart (credit to WSJ). Currently, Google offers a number of free storage systems such Picasa for pictures and GMAIL email (it can be modified to serve as storage system). The addition of “My Stuff” to Google’s arsenal of free tools is yet another means of pushing folks to a ‘web based computing world’ where they can monetize your eyeballs.
According to Reuters, Google has been in talks with Verizon Wireless about the possible implementation of the Google phone. No one knows what the “Google Phone” means, as theories run from an actual phone developed by Google to a phone running Google based software supporting their Adwords product. This article says its all about putting their applications on Verizon phones, but since they’re a carrier and not a manufacture I wouldn’t rule it out. Google will purportedly announce, in two weeks, “advanced software and services, enabling handset makers to sell Google-powered phones by mid-2008…”. Good news is that it will be ‘open source’.
In an effort to stay on top, Google is changing their ‘email capacity algorithm’. Makes sense considering today’s file sizes - especially photo file sizes - are growing every year. Course our compression technology will get better and so will the cost of storage.
Jump into Google maps and plots some directions in CA, FL, NV, TX, VA, OR, etc and Japan (complete list here) and you’ll see an option for public transportation. Google will show you various ways, if they exist, on how to travel to your destination. You can even input your departure/arrival time. I’d expect this feature to roll out geographically over the next year or so depending on goverment/transportation cooperation. Question is, when will this feature show up on the iPhone?
If you didn’t know about Grandcentral then you’re missing out. I got wind of them just as I was searching for a ‘forwarding service’ for my front door (I have an out of state cell phone and that doesn’t work with my apt’s front door…blah blah…so I wanted something free and convenient). I have had an account for about 2 months, used it primarily to let my friends in and have no qualms whatsover (even got to use the ring back service until it was cut short by copyright issues). The service - all for free and too many features to mention - is a god send for those with multiple phones and a tendency to travel. The company caught the eye of many print pubs and Google just picked them up for an undisclosed sum (Techcrunch thinks $50 mill). Google is cutting off sign ups, but if you know anyone who is a member (like me) then you can score an invite (they are giving 5 per current user). If you’d like an invite just comment below and then ping me via our ‘contact us’ lin - I’ll give 4 away so first come first serve.
Last May Microsoft bought aQuantive for $6 billion in cash. Now, they’re kicking off 2008 with the purchase (the most ever offered for a Internet company) of Yahoo for $44.6 billion. That’s $31 a share which is a 62% premium over Yahoo’s closing shares Jan. 31. To Businessweek’s point this would merge the World’s largest software maker with the most used Internet portal. Shockingly - at least to me - Microsoft has been trying to court Yahoo for the past 18 months. Microsoft expects the merger to cut costs by $1 billion a year going forward. In the wake of the merger, if it goes through - Google and a few others might cry monopoly - Yahoo’s workforce will be minimized. Yahoo currently has over 14,000 workers. Microsoft’s bid is further motivated by the rise of web software competitors, such as Salesforce.com. Purchasing Yahoo would increase their reach and enable a massive distribution platform of web based software.
before the rumored Q1 ‘08 release of the iPhone with GPS and much more? Well, if you’re sick of holding your breath, or just need directions ASAP, then a quick drive down loco (as in crazy in Spanish) lane will assist you on your merry ole way. How so you ask? Well, 
