The whole Google/Firefox issue is an interesting one: Google is the default search engine in Firefox because it pays to be there. The three-year deal expired in November 2011. Would they renew? Some thought no. They were wrong. Not only has Google renewed the deal whereby it effectively bankrolls Firefox, but it’s the first time … Read more
Some folk have suggested that because Sony is behind the new version of the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo all the product placements are Vaio: This would be a slap in the face of the original novel and the Swedish version, which stuck pretty closely to the text. But I’m not sure. Here’s another picture … Read more
This is a slightly longer version of a piece I’ve recorded for the BBC World Service I’ve long dreamed of an Internet of things, where all the stuff in my life speaks to each other instead of me having to the talking. The vision is relatively simple: each gadget is assigned an Internet address and … Read more
The BBC World Service Business Daily version of my piece on The Web of Things to Come (The Business Daily podcast is here.) Loose Wireless 122111 To listen to Business Daily on the radio, tune into BBC World Service at the following times, or click here. Australasia: Mon-Fri 0141*, 0741 East Asia: Mon-Fri 0041, 1441 … Read more
Cleaning house of the many services which drain my bank account monthly without me noticing, I observed what I have decided to call the Cancellation Ease and Sleaze Scale in action. At one end there’s Questia, the online research portal, where cancelling is relatively straightforward. Click on a link called “Account information” and there’s a clear … Read more