Thursday, October 15, 2009
Get the flu? Don't bother with a doctor. Call the help desk.
Get the flu? Don't bother with a doctor. Call the help desk.: "
Jon Brodkin writes on NetworkWorld.com, "Kurzweil has written extensively about laws of accelerating returns related to IT, and predicts that humans will eventually be able
to overcome age and disease by combining artificial systems with our mortal bodies"
Personally, I like the idea of merging IT and human physiology. Technologically optimized organs and muscles. Of course it may mean bigger problems. For example, if I outsource all memories of my children to Microsoft, I may want to have my own backup at home.
"
to overcome age and disease by combining artificial systems with our mortal bodies"
Personally, I like the idea of merging IT and human physiology. Technologically optimized organs and muscles. Of course it may mean bigger problems. For example, if I outsource all memories of my children to Microsoft, I may want to have my own backup at home.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Invite a friend to Google Voice
Invite a friend to Google Voice: "(Cross-posted from the Google Voice Blog)
Since the debut of Google Voice, our early users have shared lots of feedback that has led to some exciting new features, like the ability to receive SMS messages via email and the option to change your Google Voice number. But one of the most frequent requests we've received is for the ability to share Google Voice with friends and family.
Starting today, we're beginning to give out invitations to Google Voice users. If you currently use Google Voice, over the next few weeks, you'll see an 'Invite a friend' link appear on the left-hand side of your inbox.
We'll be rolling out these invitations gradually, so don't worry if you don't see your invitations immediately. We're initially giving out three invites to each account, but we're planning to provide more invitations in the future.
If you don't have an account yet, you can request a Google Voice invitation at google.com/voiceinvite.
Posted by Craig Walker and Vincent Paquet, Product Managers, Google Voice
"
Since the debut of Google Voice, our early users have shared lots of feedback that has led to some exciting new features, like the ability to receive SMS messages via email and the option to change your Google Voice number. But one of the most frequent requests we've received is for the ability to share Google Voice with friends and family.
Starting today, we're beginning to give out invitations to Google Voice users. If you currently use Google Voice, over the next few weeks, you'll see an 'Invite a friend' link appear on the left-hand side of your inbox.
We'll be rolling out these invitations gradually, so don't worry if you don't see your invitations immediately. We're initially giving out three invites to each account, but we're planning to provide more invitations in the future.
If you don't have an account yet, you can request a Google Voice invitation at google.com/voiceinvite.
Posted by Craig Walker and Vincent Paquet, Product Managers, Google Voice
"
Sunday, October 11, 2009
REPORT: More Europeans prefer to go shaved for the discreet look
REPORT: More Europeans prefer to go shaved for the discreet look: "
Filed under: Car Buying, Europe
Don't be surprised if you pull in to a drive-through overseas for a Royale with Cheese, only to find yourself guessing what the S-Class in front of you has underhood. Because, you know, it's the little things: according to a report in The New York Times, European car buyers tend to have the nameplates removed from their vehicles in far greater numbers than those of us on the western shores of the Atlantic.
Although many European automakers don't even offer the factory nameplate-delete option in North America (one exception being Porsche), in their home markets, many customers prefer not to advertise, for example, which engine is under the hood. And it's not for some sort of sleeper effect to burn flashier cars at traffic lights, either: European buyers of German cars in particular (which tend to offer a wide range of engines in each model class) prefer to keep the specifics to themselves, regardless of what they've got sitting in the engine compartment.
Audi, for example, reports that a quarter of its buyers go for the badge-delete option, predominantly among top-end models in European markets. (Intriguingly, however, while forging the path between our hotel and the convention center for the recent Frankfurt show, we noticed almost every Audi on the road was equipped with the S-Line package for the faux-super-sedan look.) Conversely, American buyers tend to add badges - how many stock Mercedes and BMWs have you seen sporting AMG and M badges that didn't belong there? Meanwhile, in the Persian Gulf, they dunk 'em in chrome or gold plating. It's a case study in automotive sociology if we've ever seen one.
[Source: The New York Times]
Filed under: Car Buying, Europe
Don't be surprised if you pull in to a drive-through overseas for a Royale with Cheese, only to find yourself guessing what the S-Class in front of you has underhood. Because, you know, it's the little things: according to a report in The New York Times, European car buyers tend to have the nameplates removed from their vehicles in far greater numbers than those of us on the western shores of the Atlantic.
Although many European automakers don't even offer the factory nameplate-delete option in North America (one exception being Porsche), in their home markets, many customers prefer not to advertise, for example, which engine is under the hood. And it's not for some sort of sleeper effect to burn flashier cars at traffic lights, either: European buyers of German cars in particular (which tend to offer a wide range of engines in each model class) prefer to keep the specifics to themselves, regardless of what they've got sitting in the engine compartment.
Audi, for example, reports that a quarter of its buyers go for the badge-delete option, predominantly among top-end models in European markets. (Intriguingly, however, while forging the path between our hotel and the convention center for the recent Frankfurt show, we noticed almost every Audi on the road was equipped with the S-Line package for the faux-super-sedan look.) Conversely, American buyers tend to add badges - how many stock Mercedes and BMWs have you seen sporting AMG and M badges that didn't belong there? Meanwhile, in the Persian Gulf, they dunk 'em in chrome or gold plating. It's a case study in automotive sociology if we've ever seen one.
[Source: The New York Times]
REPORT: More Europeans prefer to go shaved for the discreet look originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Shelby tops Iacocca at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas
Shelby tops Iacocca at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas: "
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Ford, Luxury
It looks like the top-shelf, one-off 550-hp engine upgrade for that new Iacocca Mustang is worth about $362,000, at least to one buyer. The fifth of just 45 2009 1/2 Iacocca 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustangs to be made crossed the block on Saturday at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Las Vegas with a winning bid of $320,000. After fees, the car's final selling price was a whopping $352,000. That's well above the $89,950 MSRP of the other 44 limited-edition, coachbuilt specials. We just wrote about the Iacocca 'Stang and said that the car's exclusive dealer, Galpin Motors of California, would offer engine upgrades for an undisclosed premium. We seriously doubt that the actual surcharge will come anywhere close to the premium secured on the Barrett-Jackson car.
So what made this particular Iacocca attractive enough to bring such a lofty price? Well, for one, it had that upgraded, supercharged 550-horsepower engine. Another reason this one sold for a price nearly four times higher than the base model was that it was sold at auction, with the bidders getting whipped into a typical Barrett-Jackson feeding frenzy. Finally, it was in Las Vegas, a city where fiscal responsibility takes a backseat to, well, pretty much everything. While we love the custom composite coachwork on this special fastback Mustang, and acknowledge that this one is unique with its supercharged engine, that price just seems completely insane. The Iacocca topped many impressive other rides that were up for grabs; follow the jump to read more results. Apparently, everything that happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas.
Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips/Weblogs, Inc.
Continue reading Shelby tops Iacocca at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Ford, Luxury
2009 1/2 Iacocca 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang - Click above for high-res image gallery
It looks like the top-shelf, one-off 550-hp engine upgrade for that new Iacocca Mustang is worth about $362,000, at least to one buyer. The fifth of just 45 2009 1/2 Iacocca 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustangs to be made crossed the block on Saturday at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Las Vegas with a winning bid of $320,000. After fees, the car's final selling price was a whopping $352,000. That's well above the $89,950 MSRP of the other 44 limited-edition, coachbuilt specials. We just wrote about the Iacocca 'Stang and said that the car's exclusive dealer, Galpin Motors of California, would offer engine upgrades for an undisclosed premium. We seriously doubt that the actual surcharge will come anywhere close to the premium secured on the Barrett-Jackson car.
So what made this particular Iacocca attractive enough to bring such a lofty price? Well, for one, it had that upgraded, supercharged 550-horsepower engine. Another reason this one sold for a price nearly four times higher than the base model was that it was sold at auction, with the bidders getting whipped into a typical Barrett-Jackson feeding frenzy. Finally, it was in Las Vegas, a city where fiscal responsibility takes a backseat to, well, pretty much everything. While we love the custom composite coachwork on this special fastback Mustang, and acknowledge that this one is unique with its supercharged engine, that price just seems completely insane. The Iacocca topped many impressive other rides that were up for grabs; follow the jump to read more results. Apparently, everything that happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas.
Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips/Weblogs, Inc.
Continue reading Shelby tops Iacocca at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas
Shelby tops Iacocca at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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