Alphabet Inc. (formerly: Google)

European antitrust becoming a tool to depress competitor...

Google target of Microsoft-led antitrust complaint

BRUSSELS - Google is using unfair practices to cement its control over mobile internet usage on smartphones, a group of companies led by Microsoft alleged in a European antitrust complaint today.

The FairSearch initiative of 17 companies - which includes Microsoft, Nokia, and Oracle - claims Google is acting unfairly by giving away its Android operating system to mobile device companies on the condition that the United States online giant’s own software applications like YouTube and Google Maps are installed and prominently displayed.

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/google-t...-complaint

Hi CityFarmer,

In case you get too lonely in this thread, here's something to share with you.

Google Paid This Man $100 Million: Here's His Story

Two years ago, Twitter was in disarray.

On April 14, 2011, Fortune's Jessi Hempel blasted Twitter for failing to launch exciting new products, generate meaningful revenues, or hang on to executive talent.

None of this was news to Twitter's board members or CEO Dick Costolo, of course.

They'd spent the months prior trying to turn Twitter into "a real company" after years of neglectful management.

The first step: hire a chief product officer. The board wanted someone who could fix the company's internal turmoil, revamp its product lineup, and get advertisers spending billions of dollars on the platform.

David Rosenblatt, the former CEO of DoubleClick and Google executive who joined Twitter's board in December 2010, believed he had the perfect candidate.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/neal-moha...z2Pz7IN7zT


__________________________________________________
My Margin Of Safety Investing thoughts http://www.mosi.sg

Highly appreciated Thanks

With Google market cap of $256 Billion, paying a executive $100 million is not too much a surprise IMO, especially so with payment in stock

Isn't it a world of knowledge (talent)? According to the article, Google's share price had increased about 35% since he retained, which is much more than $100 million. It is a hundred-bagger gain...

(10-04-2013, 12:35 AM)mosi Wrote: Hi CityFarmer,

In case you get too lonely in this thread, here's something to share with you.

Google Paid This Man $100 Million: Here's His Story

Two years ago, Twitter was in disarray.

On April 14, 2011, Fortune's Jessi Hempel blasted Twitter for failing to launch exciting new products, generate meaningful revenues, or hang on to executive talent.

None of this was news to Twitter's board members or CEO Dick Costolo, of course.

They'd spent the months prior trying to turn Twitter into "a real company" after years of neglectful management.

The first step: hire a chief product officer. The board wanted someone who could fix the company's internal turmoil, revamp its product lineup, and get advertisers spending billions of dollars on the platform.

David Rosenblatt, the former CEO of DoubleClick and Google executive who joined Twitter's board in December 2010, believed he had the perfect candidate.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/neal-moha...z2Pz7IN7zT


__________________________________________________
My Margin Of Safety Investing thoughts http://www.mosi.sg

well, still production for selected group, not general public. Hope it will reach there soonest possible...

Google Glass hits production

SAN FRANCISCO — The first Google Glass devices have been finished and are expected to ship imminently, the company has confirmed.

A day-long battery, a 5-megapixel camera and WiFi will all be built in to Google Glass, newly released specifications have also confirmed.

Devices will be sent to those ‘Explorers’ who have pre-ordered, but Glass is not yet going on sale to the general public. In an email to the Explorers, Google confirms “The hardware and software are now ready for you. We’re seeing the first few devices come off the production line right now.”

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/gadgets/...production

Google’s Q1 Internet revenue grows 23%

NEW YORK — Google’s core Internet business grew net revenue 23 per cent in the first quarter to a better-than-expected US$9.99 billion (S$12.35 billion) as the company’s search advertising business continued to show strength.

Google shares, which reached an all-time high of US$844 in March, were up 2 per cent to US$783.08 in after-hours trading yesterday.

http://www.todayonline.com/business/goog...e-grows-23

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Google bans sale of Glass

SAN FRANCISCO — Users who sell or loan Google Glass, the wearable computer, could find their device deactivated, Google has said.

The £1,000 Glass units are being sent out to developers who pre-registered, but the company’s terms of service on the device state “you may not resell, loan, transfer, or give your device to any other person. If you resell, loan, transfer, or give your device to any other person without Google’s authorization, Google reserves the right to deactivate the device, and neither you nor the unauthorized person using the device will be entitled to any refund, product support, or product warranty”.

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/google-bans-sale-glass

work with competitor might not always a bad idea...

Google Now hits iOS

SINGAPORE — Previously limited to Android devices, Google’s personal assistant service has now been been released for Apple devices on iOS.

First announced at the tech giant’s developer conference Google I/O, Google Now was released on Android last June. With this iOS release, Google promises to provide the similar experience that Android users get.

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/google-now-hits-ios

Part of the purpose in a public trial...

Google Glass security failings may threaten privacy

LONDON — Google Glass, the wearable computer being developed by the search giant, might be a threat to its owners’ privacy because it has no personal identification number (PIN) or authentication system, hackers have discovered.

Mr Jay Freeman, a Santa Barbara-based programmer who specialises in cracking smartphone security for both iPhone and Android devices, discovered that Glass has a “root” capability which can be enabled by attaching it to a desktop computer and running some commands.

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/google-g...en-privacy

New revenue source for Google... Will it become competitor to current paid-TV service providers, as OTT service providers...?

YouTube set to launch pay channels: Source

LOS ANGELES — YouTube is set to announce within a few weeks a series of channels that will require payment, a person familiar with the matter said yesterday.

The content on the new pay channels will be in addition to the millions of videos viewers watch for free on YouTube. It is not clear whether the paid videos will come with advertising.

The person was not authorised to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Financial Times reported earlier that viewers would be charged as little as US$1.99 (S$2.45) a month for subscriptions

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/youtube-...els-source

this is good. i got a feeling a lot of business will start attacking google. they will do the hbo and netflix model by having marquee content. that subscription is low! if the programs are good i will subscribe! (likely it is only for us folks)

I think this means a lot of trouble for traditional media (which is already under a lot of pressure). Getting people to pay for content will only drive more quality folks to start working for money to provide quality online content (much like the success of House of Cards on Netflix), which will in turn drive more people to seek quality information/content online.