Google's rooftop solar panels

As if it has nothing left to conquer in its niche IT sector, Google Inc. is now eyeing to expand its footprint in the energy business.

According to reports, the search engine giant is seeking the approval of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to become an electricity vendor that would allow it to trade power at market prices.

Last week, the California-based firm formally sought the approval of the energy commission via Google Energy LLC, its Delaware subsidiary formed on December 16 last year.
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And who said mapmaking isn’t exciting, especially with Google Maps upping the ante and Microsoft’s Bing Maps joining the fight?

For its part, the Internet giant is taking the next step in a move that has global GPS device makers shaking in their boots. The Mountain View-based company recently announced that they’re offering a free GPS software for the Motorola Droid handset sold by Verizon Wireless. continue reading…

Image from IAB

Online advertising has always been a mixed proposition but the global recession hasn’t helped it one bit. Thankfully, it seems like the worst for them is over.

According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau and Pricewaterhouse Coopers, online advertising revenues in the US seem to be stabilizing after a rough year. Third quarter figures show that US online advertising was up by $5.5 billion or 1.7 percent from the second quarter of 2009. continue reading…

Microsoft is walking on air these days after their launch of the Microsoft Windows 7 OS. How could they not as the winning Windows 7 sales have topped all previous OS sales?

During a recent annual shareholders’ meeting, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was quoted as saying that the Win7 had a “fantastic start.” How fantastic?

“We’ve already sold twice as many units as any OS in a comparable time frame,” Ballmer said. “Windows 7 is simply the best PC operating system that we or anyone else has ever built.” continue reading…

Remember that item about News Corp magnate Rupert Murdoch and his plan to take on the Internet head-to-head? Well, it seems like there’s one way he can do so: get another search engine to pay for exclusive dibs on the News Corp material.

Reports indicate that Murdoch, in response to search engines “stealing” content from his news properties, is planning to block Google and search engines like it from gaining access to the content. This plan includes making the websites of his newspaper empire—including the Wall Street Journal, The Australian, the New York Post and The Times of London—invisible to Google. continue reading…

Take a byte out of this: Microsoft is developing a computer that allows different users to work from it. Users will be able to use a single PC but with different interfaces, or having different sets of mouse, keyboard and monitor.

The computer, which runs on a new version of Windows Server OS, is called Multipoint Server.

As a new concept, the set-up is seen as having great potential in schools where computer workstations usually have excess computing power, but which now can be exploited and be utilized by a bigger number of users, especially students and teachers in developing countries. continue reading…

Photo Credit: Xbox

“You get what you pay for,” is the hard lesson learned by Xbox 360 owners who were told that they need to purchase a new console if they want to play online again.

“To be honest, I’ve contemplated whether to move to PlayStation 3 or buy another Xbox,” Raz, a 25-year-old Xbox player, told BBC News.

“I wouldn’t do it again but I really don’t know if I’m going to get the Xbox again now,” a regretful Raz added, referring to modifying his game console. continue reading…