Google Office?

At a Sun-Google conference today, the two companies announced a new joint venture. Google will be distributing Sun’s OpenOffice.org software for personal computers and some Sun programs will contain the Google Toolbar. The companies did not say how Google will distribute the software or when it will be available. (I’m guessing soon. Google has been moving FAST these days.) Google will also be paying Sun each time a customer downloads Sun’s Java desktop software with the Google toolbar. Google is really moving in on Microsoft’s territory now, aren’t they?

Still, I’m not sure that the move will topple the Microsoft Office empire anytime soon. We do have Open Office installed on some PCs at work, but it’s just not that great…well, it’s great that it works and it’s free, but it’s no Microsoft Office. For one thing, when it’s installed under one user name, it doesn’t automatically appear under the other user’s Programs list. Difficult. It doesn’t integrate with Sharepoint Services. Difficult. Users save files in the native format and then MS Office users don’t understand why the files won’t open. Difficult. And things just don’t work the same, aren’t in the same menus, and aren’t called the same (ex: instead of "Print Preview" it’s "Page Preview"). Difficult. I’m not saying it’s so hard that you can’t learn it — it’s just not Microsoft Office, a product that companies have used for years, a product people are used to…so it’s difficult to change.

Google Office…I’m just not sure on this one.

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BitTorrent, a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) client that allows for the easy distribution of large files online, has just received $8.75 million from venture capitalists in order to "go legal." Long favored by those engaged in internet piracy, the plan now calls for establishing a viable, legal business model involving the BitTorrent program. Specifically how this is going to happen has not been spelled out yet. But David Chao, co-founder of the VC firm DCM Doll states: "We believe BitTorrent’s cooperative distribution technology will become the leading platform for the legal and secure distribution of large-file content for a wide range of commercial purposes around the globe. By substantially reducing technology costs, the BitTorrent model will enable organizations across many industries to quickly and efficiently distribute value-added digital content to their stakeholders and consumers in volumes that, until now, have not been realized." Speculation as to how the company plans to generate revenue has already begun. For example, an article at ars Technica guesses that either we’ll be paying for content or revenue will be generated by ads. I hope it’s ads, personally.

I love ABC’s "Lost." It’s definitely one of the best shows on television. If you haven’t gotten into the show yet, thinking you’re too far behind to bother…well, you’re really missing out on some quality TV. Just go get the Season 1 DVD and catch up with the rest of us, already! If you already watch "Lost," then you probably have been coming up with your own theories for a while now. Co-creator dismissed the "purgatory" theory, which was what I had been going along with since the beginning. So, when I saw this great new theory online last night, and I had to share: Scalar Electromagnetics. I know…WHAT?! Scalar electromagnetics is complex, but there’s a nice beginner’s guide online.

An excerpt from the site states "Scalar EM is the brainchild of Lt. Col. (retired) Thomas E. Bearden, a systems analyst and wargames specialist who has been advocating a view of electromagnetics which is based on the notion of a vast, unseen background of scalar energies (as opposed to vector energies) which underlie all physical reality. "If Bearden is correct in his Scalar EM theory, then we can build devices which would enable us to alter gravity, time, inertia, and the apparent mass of an object. This of course has ENORMOUS implications for military applications, space-vehicle drives, time-travel, teleportation, paranormal phenomena, and just about every other area one can think of." It’s a little sci-fi, but that’s okay with me. And yes, it’s a little out there and more than a bit over my head, but I think it’s going to be "dumbed down" for television. I really think this is the one. Well, for now.

In my second podcast, I claim that I’m "not really doing the podcasting thing." But clearly, I am. I just don’t know how committed I am to it yet. In this "episode," I discuss 2 free anti-virus programs. Oh, fun!

Here’s the podcast.

Via CNET: Google Inc. wants to connect all of San Francisco to the Internet with a free wireless service, creating a springboard for the online search engine leader to leap into the telecommunications industry. The Mountain View, Calif.-based company filed an application late Friday to provide wireless, or "WiFi," service that would enable anyone in San Francisco to connect to the Internet. If Google is picked for the San Francisco project, it would provide a testing ground for a national WiFi service — something that many industry observers believe the company is pondering as a way to ensure people can connect to its search engine anytime, from just about anywhere.

And so it begins. I wonder if the civic leaders of San Francisco know what an important decision they are about to make. If they choose some other provider over Google, they will definitely be putting a kink in Google’s plans to take over the world…er…I mean, provide free Wi-Fi for the U.S. However, the Google spokesperson says "this proposal is limited to San Francisco and we don’t have any plans to expand this community service beyond the (San Francisco) Bay Area."  Uh, yeah right. Then what did you buy all that dark fiber for?  You heard it here. The Google ISP is being built before your eyes. I’m sure Google would find another testing ground even if they don’t win the San Francisco bid, but they would really benefit from being able to test this service in their hometown first. Should we start a "Vote Google" campaign?