Alphabet Inc. (formerly: Google)

[CityFarmer]

IMO, tax avoidance is nothing to do with evil. It is just a smarter way of playing with the rule of game.

Google ‘does evil’: UK MP

Google and Amazon came under fierce attack from United Kingdom Members of Parliament (MPs) and tax campaigners after fresh whistleblower allegations put further strain on claims by the Internet giants that their multibillion-pound businesses should not be taxed by the UK’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Ms Margaret Hodge, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee in the UK, told Google’s northern Europe boss, Mr Matt Brittin, that his company’s behaviour on tax was “devious, calculated and, in my view, unethical”.

http://www.todayonline.com/business/goog...evil-uk-mp

[kelvesy]

I really like what I saw in Google I/O. link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pmPa_KxsAM

Innovation has always been the key to technology companies' success. Apple has fallen, Google has risen.

[CityFarmer]

Another scapegoat..., not in US, but in UK

Google tax behaviour ‘wrong’: UK Labour leader

LONDON — Google’s tax affairs will come under renewed scrutiny in Britain today (May 22) when the leader of the opposition Labour party accuses the Internet company of wrongly going to “extraordinary lengths” to avoid paying tax.

In comments designed to politically outflank Prime Minister David Cameron ahead of next month’s G8 summit on what has become a high-profile issue, Mr Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, will say he is disappointed that Google pays so little tax.

http://www.todayonline.com/business/goog...our-leader

[CityFarmer]

I respect Google for its contribution on building useful things, instead of only lucrative things.

It had Google Books Library Project previously, now the wireless network...

Google to bankroll, build wireless networks across Africa: Report

SAN FRANCISCO - Google intends to finance, build and help operate wireless networks from sub-Saharan Africa to Southeast Asia, hoping to connect a billion or so people in emerging countries to the Internet, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday (May 24).

The Internet search giant - which has for years espoused universal Web access - is employing a patchwork quilt of technologies and holding discussions with regulators from South Africa to Kenya, the WSJ cited people familiar with the strategy as saying.

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/google-b...ica-report

[CityFarmer]

Not too sure on its features meeting consumer needs...

Smart TV getting popular nowadays, is Smart TV uses similar platform? Need to find out more...

Samsung Chromebook review

SINGAPORE — When Google decided to create its own computer operating system (OS), it chose a strategy that left some people scratching their heads. It did not build a cutting-edge, fully-featured operating system, but released a bare-bones version of the Linux operating system capable of running only one application: A Web browser.

That resulted in the Chromebook. The latest versions of the popular device have now reached our shores, with the Samsung, Acer and Hewlett-Packard versions going on sale today.

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/gadgets/...ook-review

[CityFarmer]

I respect Google for its contribution on building useful things, instead of only lucrative things.

It had Google Books Library Project previously, now the wireless network...

Google to bankroll, build wireless networks across Africa: Report

SAN FRANCISCO - Google intends to finance, build and help operate wireless networks from sub-Saharan Africa to Southeast Asia, hoping to connect a billion or so people in emerging countries to the Internet, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday (May 24).

The Internet search giant - which has for years espoused universal Web access - is employing a patchwork quilt of technologies and holding discussions with regulators from South Africa to Kenya, the WSJ cited people familiar with the strategy as saying.

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/google-b...ica-report

Further update on the initiative

Google blimps to bring the web to Africa

SAN FRANCISCO - Helium-filled airships and balloons will bring internet access to a billion people in Africa, Google hopes.

The search giant intends to finance, build and help to operate wireless networks in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, Wired reported.

“To help enable the campaign, Google has been putting together an ecosystem of low-cost smartphones running Android on low-power microprocessors,” Wired said. “Rather than traditional infrastructure, Google’s signal will be carried by high-altitude platforms - balloons and blimps - that can transmit to areas of hundreds of square kilometres.”

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/google-b...web-africa

[CityFarmer]

I wonder the diff with Samsung S4's eye sensor technology... The patents is on apps, rather the technology. Will it cause future law suit between Samsung and Google?

Google patents eye tracking system to unlock display screens

SAN FRANCISCO - Google Glass wearers will only need a flicker of the eye to unlock their display screens under plans described in a Google patent for eye tracking.

The eye tracking system, a form of wearable technology, will allow anyone wearing the device to look at a moving object on the glasses’ projected screen to unlock the display.

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/gadgets/...ay-screens

[CY09]

Came across a china mobile handset maker that sells their phone with android OS. Decent review on their high-end phones as well

http://www.xiaomi.com/mi2s

Btw the dollar sign is RMB and not yen. They are selling about s$400 w/o contract. I wonder if our mobile providers will sell their brand. I want to try it out!

Good news for Google, Bad news for Samsung, Sony, HTC and gang

[CityFarmer]

Came across a china mobile handset maker that sells their phone with android OS. Decent review on their high-end phones as well

http://www.xiaomi.com/mi2s

Btw the dollar sign is RMB and not yen. They are selling about s$400 w/o contract. I wonder if our mobile providers will sell their brand. I want to try it out!

Good news for Google, Bad news for Samsung, Sony, HTC and gang

Yes, i noticed that too. I had read a cover story of the founder recently, but forgot the source, er.. sign of getting old...

It's popularity is confined within China at the moment, not sure why? It is interesting to follow-up the trend...

[CityFarmer]

I respect Google for its contribution on building useful things, instead of only lucrative things.

It had Google Books Library Project previously, now the wireless network...

Google to bankroll, build wireless networks across Africa: Report

SAN FRANCISCO - Google intends to finance, build and help operate wireless networks from sub-Saharan Africa to Southeast Asia, hoping to connect a billion or so people in emerging countries to the Internet, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday (May 24).

The Internet search giant - which has for years espoused universal Web access - is employing a patchwork quilt of technologies and holding discussions with regulators from South Africa to Kenya, the WSJ cited people familiar with the strategy as saying.

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/google-b...ica-report

Further update on the initiative

Google blimps to bring the web to Africa

SAN FRANCISCO - Helium-filled airships and balloons will bring internet access to a billion people in Africa, Google hopes.

The search giant intends to finance, build and help to operate wireless networks in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, Wired reported.

“To help enable the campaign, Google has been putting together an ecosystem of low-cost smartphones running Android on low-power microprocessors,” Wired said. “Rather than traditional infrastructure, Google’s signal will be carried by high-altitude platforms - balloons and blimps - that can transmit to areas of hundreds of square kilometres.”

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/google-b...web-africa

What an innovation..., update on the Google initiative...

Google launches internet-beaming balloons

CHRISTCHURCH - Wrinkled and skinny at first, the translucent, jellyfish-shaped balloons that Google released this week from a frozen field in the heart of New Zealand’s South Island hardened into shiny pumpkins as they rose into the blue winter skies above Lake Tekapo, passing the first big test of a lofty goal to get the entire planet online.

It was the culmination of 18 months’ work on what Google calls Project Loon, in recognition of how wacky the idea may sound. Developed in the secretive X lab that came up with a driverless car and web-surfing eyeglasses, the flimsy helium-filled inflatables beam the Internet down to earth as they sail past on the wind.

Still in their experimental stage, the balloons were the first of thousands that Google’s leaders eventually hope to launch 20 kilometres into the stratosphere in order to bridge the gaping digital divide between the world’s 4.8 billion unwired people and their 2.2 billion plugged-in counterparts.

If successful, the technology might allow countries to leapfrog the expense of laying fibre cable, dramatically increasing Internet usage in places such as Africa and Southeast Asia

http://www.todayonline.com/tech/google-l...g-balloons