Google vs. Microsoft, it’s finally getting interesting!

Microsoft has taken a lot of flack over the past few years for largely failing in their online efforts. Granted it’s no easy feat for the king of the desktop to achieve the same success online, but it has been a long time coming. With the release and early success of Bing, they might just have a (surprising) success. This is only the beginning of what is sure to be an interesting series of battles:

1. Search: Will Bing really gain on Google?

2. Google Apps is ok but Microsoft Office online (set to launch Monday) will get a lot more attention

3. Chrome OS vs. Windows XP (or a new MS OS) for netbooks

One thing is for sure, when these guys battle the consumers win. Let the battle continue!

Who invented Email? This guy!

It’s a part of our everyday lives, home, work or on the phone – we’re all addicted to email. Today, The Boston Globe reports that the man that started this revolutionary form of communication is recieving a very nice reward for his efforts.  Article is re-printed below, or you can read it here. Oh, and the guy that invented the mobile phone got his dues as well.

Facebook is great but these are the guys we should be celebrating!

A Boston engineer who is credited with the development of e-mail was honored with an international award.

Raymond S. Tomlinson, a principal engineer at BBN Technologies in Cambridge, was presented with the 2009 Prince of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research for his “advancement of human communications.”

Martin Cooper, who created the first mobile telephone, was also honored with a twin award. He is shown (left) with Tomlinson in this image from the foundation’s website.

The accolade, meant to honor achievements in technology and science, is funded by the Prince of Asturias Foundation of Oviedo, Spain. It accompanies a cash prize of more than $69,000.

“It is a privilege to have my name associated with this prestigious foundation and added to the very impressive roster,” Tomlinson said.

In 1971, while working for BBN, Tomlinson developed a program that allowed messages to be sent between users on different computers, according to the foundation’s website. He chose the sign @ to separate local from global e-mails.
(By Sean Sposito, Globe correspondent)

Goodbye Analog, TV Goes All Digital

So today is finally the day. After being re-scheduled, debated in Congress, and some unwarranted anxiety TV goes all digital today in the U.S.! Bottom line, unless you have ears sticking out of your set (i.e. you have cable or satellite) you’re already digital.  If you do have an antenna and waited until the last minute to get your coupon and go get the box!

What happens now? The big significance is more wireless specturm. So, more wireless hits the grid while the TV world keeps trying to innovate and figure out how to keep you glued.