The most important thing Yahoo!'s done this year?

Grok Headline matches for The most important thing Yahoo!'s done this year?

"if accurate, it's the most important
story of the year:"

"if accurate, it's the most important
story of the year:" 07/21/2004 02:39 PM

Why Yahoo buying ODDpost is so important

Why Yahoo buying ODDpost is so important 07/10/2004 06:41 AM

Wow - OK we start off with some different opinions on this historic deal from (it's 3:30AM and I just gotta blog this NOW!):

Ev (Evan Eliiams of Blogger/Google)

Congrats to the Oddposters!

I always liked those guys (though we never got around to having lunch... damn, and
now, between their supermodel dates and rockstar parties, I doubt they'll return
my emails. I shoulda made friends with them when I had the chance... Then again, it's useful now that we're sworn enemies that we were never friends...)

Here's to the web world continuing to heat up with new and interesting things brought to more people!

Dave Winer......

A couple of weeks ago I got a heads-up that this deal had been consumated and would be announced shortly. Little did I imagine then that they would pick a Friday evening to make the announcement, but that's the way it goes. It's
a big one.

Oddpost turned the idea of what you could do with a browser upside down, by producing a clone of Microsoft Outlook in JavaScript and DHTML running in MSIE. Since then, they have labored in relative obscurity, growing a customer base, raising VC money, adding people, and staying out of the way. Then Google launches Gmail, with a
very Oddpostish interface, and someone at Yahoo says "Hmmm, I've seen that somewhere," calls up Ethan and Iain and their new VCs and asks "Are you for sale?" and the rest is history. Now Google has competition on elegance of user interface. Sorry the announcement comes at such an awkard time, everyone in the tech press must be getting in their cars and driving to the beach or the mountains. Congrats to the Oddpost guys, and their users and investors, and congrats to Google for getting some new worthwhile competition. Now who is Microsoft going to buy?

Techdirt... .

So, we actually heard about this a couple weeks ago, when someone (who knew) passed
on the fact that Yahoo had bought Oddpost in an attempt to fight back against the Gmail craze. Now, though, the deal is official, so it's okay to talk about it (though it had been hinte d at earlier this week). It's really not that surprising, after all. Yahoo knew
they needed to upgrade their email, and Oddpost has a great reputation for their
interface. You can be sure that Yahoo wasn't the only company sniffing around
and debating whether or not to buy up Oddpost. While it's probably not going to
be the lead in most stories, it is quite interesting that one of Oddpost's nicer
features is an integrated RSS reader. Yahoo keeps talking up the power of RSS,
and perhaps this will allow them to make a bigger commitment. However, in all
likelihood, it was just the mail interface that fascinated them. It seems like a
good move by Yahoo who needed to do something.

OK - here's where my opinion starts......

This story is much more than Yahoo buying ODDpost to compete with GMail. Sure - that's part of it - and I'm sure that's what Terry Semel et al have in thier heads, but it's this sort of viral infusion into Yahoo that was needed.

This is much bigger than the search engine battles or even Yahoo versus Google.

This is about RIAs (rich internet apps), integrated web services and open standards being fused with productivity software, micro-content and social networking and offered as hosted experiences.

Does this sound like anything familiar?

Yahoo has defined what portals have been - since day one - but their UI just plain sucked! Even the valiant attempts at providing "customization" features in MyYahoo - were tolerable at best.

Yahoo supports RSS and has over 120M active end-users. Yahoo is showing how portals and ISPs can work together by providing software bundled with services - to the masses.

But ODDpost makes it a whole new ball game.

Now Yahoo can step up to teh front on "end-user" experience. That holey grail that's been eluding them since day one. HTML was never desigend and will never fulfill the end-user quotient. The human factor.

The essence of compelling experiences.

HTML will also suck. But once you can truly integrate rich interactive experienecs in teh browser, and tie it into services and functionality - you got a winnign formula for digital lifestyle aggregation!

And once you have email, why stop there? Why not jukeboxes (like MySpace has) or photo blog objects (like Flickr) or Tribe Listings, Friends and Tribes appearing in blog gutters - as well?

Why stop there? Why not support an Open Listings standard and just completely screw Google completely?

Certainly let's hope that Yahoo will support FOAF.

Google is (or will) or (I sure hope they will.)

Rich Get Richer - Why Yahoo, DMOZ,
Google and PageRank are Important

Rich Get Richer - Why Yahoo, DMOZ,
Google and PageRank are Important 11/12/2003 05:40 PM

Yahoo should do the right thing!

Yahoo should do the right thing! 12/24/2004 12:46 PM

I have about a dozen e-mail accounts spread all over the net but I keep a printout in our safety deposit box along with many other things a print-out of all of my login names and passwords in a sealed envelope.

But not everyone has pre-planned for something bad happening to them. A Marine who was unfortunately killed in action in Iraq has a Yahoo e-mail account that the family is trying to secure before the account expires. Yahoo has refused to give the account password to the family.

E-mail accounts could contain information that the family would cherish but it also could contain information that would leave a bad taste in their mouth. I think Yahoo should give in to the families wishes, but I would hope with enough public pressure they would turn the account over. [CNN]

Yahoo: Not Enough of a Good Thing

Yahoo: Not Enough of a Good Thing 07/07/2004 01:13 PM
Source: BusinessWeek - To maintain its lofty stock price, it must deliver earnings even more stellar than recent results -- while competition grows....

And On Subject of Web Email, This Yahoo
Thing

And On Subject of Web Email, This Yahoo
Thing 06/15/2004 10:08 AM

Believe it or not, web email isn't really our bailiwick, at least until it starts intersecting with mobile devices and what have you, but it is at least worth mentioning that Yahoo has upgraded its existing free email service from 4MB to 100MB, and is offering a 2GB ad-free version for $20 a year. Good news for those of you that don't want to change email addresses. (Thanks to everyone that sent this in.)
Read [NYTimes]

2004 the year of search says Yahoo! CEO

2004 the year of search says Yahoo! CEO 01/06/2004 04:32 AM
Silicon.com Jan 6 2004 3:48AM ET

Year End Earnings Come Out and Yahoo
Looks to be a Winner

Year End Earnings Come Out and Yahoo
Looks to be a Winner 01/16/2004 11:04 AM

Yahoo! News - US manufacturers hit
20-year record pace

Yahoo! News - US manufacturers hit
20-year record pace 12/02/2003 07:39 AM

story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1519&ncid=749&e=6&u=/afp/2 0031201/bs_afp/us_economy_ism
track this site | 8 links

Yahoo Japan's full year net profit
doubles on strong ad sales (AFP)

Yahoo Japan's full year net profit
doubles on strong ad sales (AFP) 04/21/2004 03:37 AM
AFP - Yahoo Japan, the nation's top Internet portal and online auctioneer, full year net profit doubled to a record 24.8 billion yen (230 million dollars) thanks to strong advertising sales.

Yahoo Japan's full year net profit
doubles on strong ad sales

Yahoo Japan's full year net profit
doubles on strong ad sales 04/21/2004 04:56 AM
Channel NewsAsia Apr 21 2004 9:16AM GMT

JAPAN: Yahoo Japan's full-year profit
doubles on strong ad sales

JAPAN: Yahoo Japan's full-year profit
doubles on strong ad sales 04/22/2004 05:18 AM
Asia Media Apr 22 2004 9:19AM GMT

What's Really Important

What's Really Important 03/19/2003 10:25 PM
This VP wants a second laptop to use during the few hours a week she's at the main office, because her regular laptop is too heavy to carry. That'll bust our budget, says pilot fish -- can't we just install a desktop PC to save money?

It's MUCH more important than that!

It's MUCH more important than that! 05/30/2004 05:00 AM
USA soda/coke/pop stats by county .. Mapped, colorized and scrutinized .. displayed on this map .. now i understand why .. What do you call it? .. (new window) .. re-work

popvssoda.com/countystats/total-county.html
track this site | 10 links

"MP3.com - Important MP3.com
Announcement"

"MP3.com - Important MP3.com
Announcement" 11/15/2003 03:18 AM

How Important is The Internet?

How Important is The Internet? 01/25/2003 11:42 AM
Googling' for information or googling other people is quite popular.". "Google" - the name of just one of the Internet search engines, has become a verb. ...

Small but important

Small but important 01/22/2004 02:59 AM
Had a small revelation today: If you position your hands under a hot air dryer - the kind you find in toilets - in just the right way, you can redirect the airflow into your sleeves, resulting in a wonderfully warm and fuzzy feeling all over your upper body.

It's the kind of stuff you appreciate when it's -9C outside. :-)

How Important is PageRank, Really?

How Important is PageRank, Really? 04/13/2005 03:04 PM

Upstream Speeds Getting To Be More
Important

Upstream Speeds Getting To Be More
Important 06/08/2004 12:26 PM
Broadband companies have been so focused on downstream speeds, they've pretty much ignored the fact that one of the benefits of having an always on connection is that it allows people to do things upstream as well. It's a symptom of the "broadcast" mentality of broadband companies who think the only reason to go online is to download content - and not to communicate with others or to create and offer your own content. However, what things like peer-to-peer systems have shown is that upstream speeds are increasingly important as well - and we're starting to see a tiny shift where broadband providers are starting to increase the speeds and talk about their upstream speeds as well (rather than hiding them in the fine print). Of course, many are still worried about any kind of server application coming out of the home and how it will impact bandwidth, but as with downstream broadband, there isn't going to be much they can do to stop it. As new applications come out that make more use of upstream bandwidth providers who offer higher bandwidth heading upstream will start to get more business.

Net more important than morning coffee?

Net more important than morning coffee? 04/28/2004 04:03 PM
Given the choice at work between personal use of the Net or a morning cup o' joe, employees say the joe can go, a survey says. The study also looks at security issues.

Why Removal of DRM from iTunes is So
Important

Why Removal of DRM from iTunes is So
Important 03/25/2005 05:28 PM

We have all read about Jon Johansen’s PyMusique application which allowed purchasing and downloading of music from iTunes Music Store without the normal DRM attached. Since you still have to pay for the songs, many folks have asked me why it’s so important. Here’s why.

Apple plans on starting a subscription service to compete with Napsters. But if they have no control over the songs downloaded from a subscription service, they have no method of stopping the music after you stop paying. Right now, Napster takes back your music when you stop paying. Imagine subbing for one month and downloading thousands of songs and then walking away with them. It will never happen. As long as the DRM busting software is out there, you will never see a subscription service from Apple.

Important Win for Trustworthy E-Voting

Important Win for Trustworthy E-Voting 07/07/2004 11:04 AM

A federal judge has ruled (960k PDF) that California's tougher new rules on touch-screen video voting systems are valid. This is extremely good news for everyone except the recalcitrant local voting officials who've been trying to block Secretary of State Kevin Shelley's efforts to clean up a process that invited voter distrust.

Answering a Very Important Call

Answering a Very Important Call 04/09/2004 05:14 PM
It's been a few hours beyond 365 days since I last hosted Call for Help on TechTV. That streak is about to be broken. I've been invited to "fill in the blank" for a couple of non-live shows on Monday; these recordings will air on Wednesday and Thursday. My schedule was clear, my mind was ready, and my heart is willing. There has been much speculation as to what happened to me - even though most Gnomies know that I've been here all along, long before the first ZDTV broadcast. I don't know if I'll be asked to help them again in the future, but I'll welcome this opportunity (and any others) with open arms. Take it for what it is: another chance to say 'hello' to millions of old friends. No doubt, this bit of news will shock a few faithful viewers, but I'm doing what I can do to ensure that the show (proverbially) goes on until Leo can return. I promise to cut my coffee consumption in half that morning, just to be on the safe side. Not nervous, just very excited - overjoyed, actually. If you can tune in, please do. If you can send feedback, it's most welcome. I'll probably photoblog my fingers off, since I won't be staying in SF for much longer than a day. I hate saying this because it sounds incredibly trite, but this is a dream come true. Yes, I've had nocturnal visions about returning to the set I once called 'home base.' Just for grins, I'll be active in the official CFH chat room when the episodes are first run - a luxury one host can afford when everything's produced to tape. Perhaps we'll be able to break a few records before all is said and done? They don't really make LPs anymore. I wonder if busting a cassette tape is just as good? Regardless, a fun time is set to be had by all involved. From director to production assistant, it takes a lot of hands to make one hour come off without a hitch. To some, I'll be a new face. To others, old hat. To everybody else, the same little guy who fell off a 14' camper when he was in the seventh grade. True story, and I've got the slightly-curved spine to prove it. I'd tell you more about that, but... I've got an overnight bag to pack. FYI, I'll be on David's show to talk about this whole thing in a few hours....

A Small Victory - Important: Please Help

A Small Victory - Important: Please Help 07/20/2004 04:05 PM
might be able to help with .. Michele Catalano .. A Small Victory

asmallvictory.net/archives/007241.html
track this site | 4 links

A Small but Important Win for Fair Use

A Small but Important Win for Fair Use 09/01/2004 11:45 AM

Computing Research Policy Blog: Court Rules 3rd Party Garage Door Openers Don't Violate DMCA. In an affirmation of fair use rights -- at least, as long as they don't conflict with any other rights -- a federal court ruled yesterday that a company that makes interoperable remotes for other companies' garage door openers isn't violating federal copyright law.

urgent/important request

urgent/important request 11/29/2002 09:27 PM
------=_NextPart_000_0065_749315C7.D4B41CC0 Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 U2lyDQoNClVSR0VOVCBCVVNJTkVTUyBQUk9QT1NBTA0KDQpGaXJzdCwgSSBtdXN0IHNvbG lj aXQgeW91ciBjb25maWRlbmNlIGluIHRoaXMNCnRyYW5zYWN0aW9uOyB0aGlzIGlzIGJ5IH Zp cnR1ZSBvZiBpdHMgbmF0dXJlIGFzIGJlaW5nDQp1dHRlcmx5IGNvbmZpZGVudGlhbCBhbm Qg dG9wIHNlY3JldC4gVGhvdWdoIEkga25vdw0KdGhhdCBhIHRyYW5zYWN0aW9uIG9mIHRoaX Mg bWFnbml0dWRlIHdpbGwgbWFrZSBhbnkgb25lDQphcHByZWhlbnNpdmUgYW5kIHdvcnJpZW Qs IGJ1dCBJIGFtIGFzc3VyaW5nIHlvdSB0aGF0DQphbGwgd2lsbCBiZSB3ZWxsIGF0IHRoZS Bl bmQgb2YgdGhlIGRheS4gV2UgaGF2ZQ0KZGVjaWRlZCB0byBjb250YWN0IHlvdSBkdWUgdG 8g dGhlIHVyZ2VuY3kgb2YgdGhpcw0KdHJhbnNhY3Rpb24sIGFzIHdlIGhhdmUgYmVlbiByZW xp YWJseSBpbmZvcm1lZCBvZiB5b3VyDQpkaXNjcmVldG5lc3MgYW5kIGFiaWxpdHkgaW4gdH Jh bnNhY3Rpb24gb2YgdGhpcw0KbmF0dXJlLg0KDQpMZXQgbWUgc3RhcnQgYnkgaW50cm9kdW Np bmcgbXlzZWxmIHByb3Blcmx5IHRvIHlvdS4gSQ0KYW0gRHIuIFBhdHJpY2sgT21vLCBDcm Vk aXQgT2ZmaWNlciB3aXRoIHRoZSBVbmlvbiBCYW5rDQpvZiBOaWdlcmlhIFBsYywgTGFnb3 Mu IEkgY2FtZSB0byBrbm93IHlvdSBpbiBteQ0KUHJpdmF0ZSBTZWFyY2ggZm9yIGEgUmVsaW Fi bGUgYW5kIFJlcHV0YWJsZSBQZXJzb24gdG8NCmhhbmRsZSB0aGlzIENvbmZpZGVudGlhbC BU cmFuc2FjdGlvbiwgd2hpY2ggaW52b2x2ZXMNCnRoZSB0cmFuc2ZlciBvZiBIdWdlIFN1bS Bv ZiBNb25leSB0byBhIEZvcmVpZ24gQWNjb3VudA0KcmVxdWlyaW5nIE1heGltdW0gQ29uZm lk ZW5jZS4NCg0KVEhFIFBST1BPU0lUSU9OOg0KQSBGb3JlaWduZXIgYW4gT3JpZW50LCBMYX Rl IEVuZ3IuIFNlaWppIEthdG8gT25vKFNuci4pDQphbiBPaWwgTWVyY2hhbnQgd2l0aCBUaG Ug RmVkZXJhbCBHb3Zlcm5tZW50IG9mDQpOaWdlcmlhLCB1bnRpbCBoaXMgZGVhdGggbW9udG hz IGFnbyBpbiBLZW55YSBBaXIgQnVzDQooQTMxMCAtIDMwMCkgRmxpZ2h0IEtRNDMwLCBCYW 5r ZWQgd2l0aCB1cyBhdCBVbmlvbg0KQmFuayBvZiBOaWdlcmlhIFBsYywgTGFnb3MgYW5kIG hh ZCBhIGNsb3NpbmcgYmFsYW5jZQ0KYXMgYXQgdGhlIGVuZCBvZiBTZXB0ZW1iZXIsIDIwMD Ag d29ydGgNClVTJDMwLDAwMCwwMDAuMDAgKFRoaXJ0eSBNaWxsaW9uIFVuaXRlZCBTdGF0ZQ 0K RG9sbGFycyksIHRoZSBiYW5rIG5vdyBleHBlY3RzIGEgbmV4dCBvZiBraW4gYXMNCmJlbm Vm aWNpYXJ5LiBWYWx1YWJsZSBlZmZvcnRzIGFyZSBiZWluZyBtYWRlIGJ5IHRoZQ0KVW5pb2 4g QmFuayBvZiBOaWdlcmlhIHRvIGdldCBpbiB0b3VjaCB3aXRoIGFueSBvZiB0aGUNCk9OTy dz IEZhbWlseSBvciBSZWxhdGl2ZXMgYnV0IHRvIG5vIHN1Y2Nlc3MuDQoNCkl0IGlzIGJlY2 F1 c2Ugb2YgdGhlIHBlcmNlaXZlZCBwb3NzaWJpbGl0eSBvZiBub3QNCmJlaW5nIGFibGUgdG 8g bG9jYXRlIGFueSBvZiBMYXRlIEVuZ3IuIFNlaWppIEthdG8NCk9ubyhTbnIuKZJzIG5leH Qg b2Yga2luIChIZSBoYWQgbm8gd2lmZSBvciBjaGlsZHJlbg0KdGhhdCBpcyBrbm93biB0by B1 cykuIFRoZSBNYW5hZ2VtZW50IHVuZGVyIHRoZQ0KaW5mbHVlbmNlIG9mIG91ciBDaGFpcm 1h biBhbmQgTWVtYmVycyBvZiB0aGUgQm9hcmQgb2YNCkRpcmVjdG9ycywgdGhhdCBhcnJhbm dl IGhhcyBiZWVuIG1hZGUgZm9yIHRoZSBmdW5kIHRvDQpiZSBkZWNsYXJlZCCTVW5jbGFpbW Vk lCBhbmQgc3Vic2VxdWVudGx5IGJlIGRvbmF0ZWQgdG8NCnRoZSB0cnVzdCBmdW5kIGZvci Bh cm1zIGFuZCBhbW11bml0aW9uIHRvIGZ1cnRoZXINCmVuaGFuY2UgdGhlIGNvdXJzZSBvZi BX YXIgaW4gQWZyaWNhIGFuZCB0aGUgV29ybGQgaW4NCkdlbmVyYWwuDQoNCkluIG9yZGVyIH Rv IGF2ZXJ0IHRoaXMgbmVnYXRpdmUgZGV2ZWxvcG1lbnQsIHNvbWUgb2YNCm15IHRydXN0ZW Qg Y29sbGVhZ3VlcyBhbmQgSSBub3cgc2VlayB5b3VyIHBlcm1pc3Npb24NCnRvIGhhdmUgeW 91 IHN0YW5kIGFzIG5leHQgb2Yga2luIHRvIExhdGUgRW5nci4gU2VpamkNCkthdG8gT25vKF Nu ci4pIHNvIHRoYXQgdGhlIGZ1bmQgVVMkMzAgTWlsbGlvbiB3aWxsIGJlDQpyZWxlYXNlZC Bh bmQgcGFpZCBpbnRvIHlvdXIgQWNjb3VudCBhcyB0aGUNCmJlbmVmaWNpYXJ5knMgbmV4dC Bv ZiBraW4uIEFsbCBkb2N1bWVudHMgYW5kIHByb3Zlcw0KdG8gZW5hYmxlIHlvdSBnZXQgdG hp cyBmdW5kIHdpbGwgYmUgY2FyZWZ1bGx5IHdvcmtlZA0Kb3V0LiBXZSBoYXZlIHNlY3VyZS Bm cm9tIHRoZSBwcm9iYXRlIGFuIG9yZGVyIG9mDQptYWRhbXVzIHRvIGxvY2F0ZSBhbnkgb2 Yg ZGVjZWFzZWQgYmVuZWZpY2lhcmllcywgYW5kDQptb3JlIHNvIHdlIGFyZSBhc3N1cmluZy B5 b3UgdGhhdCB0aGlzIGJ1c2luZXNzIGlzIDEwMCUNClJpc2sgRnJlZSBpbnZvbHZlbWVudC 4g WW91ciBzaGFyZSBzdGF5cyB3aGlsZSB0aGUNCnJlc3QgYmUgZm9yIG15c2VsZiBhbmQgbX kg Y29sbGVhZ3VlcyBmb3IgaW52ZXN0bWVudA0KcHVycG9zZS4gQWNjb3JkaW5nIHRvIGFncm Vl bWVudCB3aXRoaW4gYm90aCBwYXJ0aWVzLg0KDQpBcyBzb29uIGFzIHdlIHJlY2VpdmUgYW 4g YWNrbm93bGVkZ21lbnQgb2YgcmVjZWlwdCBvZg0KdGhpcyBtZXNzYWdlIGluIGFjY2VwdG Fu Y2Ugb2Ygb3VyIG11dHVhbCBidXNpbmVzcw0KcHJvcG9zYWwsIHdlIHdvdWxkIGZ1cm5pc2 gg eW91IHdpdGggdGhlIG5lY2Vzc2FyeQ0KbW9kYWxpdGllcyBhbmQgZGlzYnVyc2VtZW50IH Jh dGlvIHRvIHN1aXRlIGJvdGgNCnBhcnRpZXMgd2l0aG91dCBhbnkgY29uZmxpY3QuDQoNCk lm IHRoaXMgcHJvcG9zYWwgaXMgYWNjZXB0YWJsZSBieSB5b3UsIGRvIG5vdCBtYWtlDQp1bm R1 ZSBhZHZhbnRhZ2Ugb2YgdGhlIHRydXN0IHdlIGhhdmUgYmVzdG93ZWQgaW4geW91LllvdS Bj YW4gcmVhY2ggbWUgdGhyb3VnaCBteSBwcml2YXRlIGUtbWFpbCBhZGRyZXNzOnBhdHJpY2 tv bW9fdW5pb25iYW5rQGZzbWFpbC5uZXQNCg0KQmVzdCBSZWdhcmRzLg0KDQoNCg0KRFIuIF BB VFJJQ0sgT01PDQpDUkVESVQgT0ZGSUNFUiAoVUJOKQ0KICAgIA== ------=_NextPart_000_0065_749315C7.D4B41CC0--

Hold on while we take a more important
call

Hold on while we take a more important
call 07/26/2004 01:59 PM
Sympatico Jul 26 2004 6:33PM GMT

Two Important Things Every Mac User
Ought To Know

Two Important Things Every Mac User
Ought To Know 04/24/2004 03:39 AM
About the mouse, and about the keyboard. By Bob LeVitus, Mac Observer (via MyAppleMenu)

One of the most important jobs in Iraq

One of the most important jobs in Iraq 03/22/2005 03:24 PM
Armed Forces Press Service.  Emergency Reaction Pipeline Repair Organization.

One major attack, during the last week of January, threatened to leave Baghdad in the dark during Iraq’s national elections Jan. 30.  But thanks to a quick response by the Emergency Reaction Pipeline Repair Organization and its partners here, the voting proceeded without disruption.

“Without this task force, in a lot of cases there would be no lights,” he said. “They would cease to exist for several days.”

Life's really important
questions.......

Life's really important
questions....... 05/26/2004 03:21 PM
Who really wants to know the meaning of life when the real questions of life are............ If Hooters were to...

Martha: I'm too Important for Jail

Martha: I'm too Important for Jail 05/11/2004 11:57 AM
Stewart's lawyers try to pull heartstrings in latest bid to keep Martha out of the slammer.

How Do You Save Important Emails?

How Do You Save Important Emails? 12/24/2003 02:36 PM
You know all those books full of letters written by famous people? Now that everything is email, will such things be possible in the future? The first reaction is that it only makes it more likely, since people are much more likely to write down their thoughts these days and send them to people, but some folks are concerned about how such correspondences will be saved. They're worried that there's no good way to save digital contents, and that anything you do will be obsolete a decade from now. Many people even recommend printing out and keeping a paper archive of important emails. Of course, these days, it seems that most systems have a pretty straight upgrade path from old formats to new. The only area where a real problem may arise is if someone didn't upgrade their email system for ages and all the standards changed and the digital media storage eroded. I think a bigger problem may be in picking out the valuable correspondences from all the spam and forwards and junk and unimportant emails.

Innovation Is More Important Than
Invention

Innovation Is More Important Than
Invention 04/29/2004 04:25 PM
We recently posted an MIT Tech Review story looking at the return of "inventors" instead of innovators. The article named the well known "great inventors" from a century ago. In the comments, someone properly took me to task for simply parroting the line about these inventors, when most of the stories about their "inventions" were mythical. Now, Michael Schrage (again at MIT's Tech Review) is arguing convincingly that for all the hype around inventors, in novation is much more important - and (more importantly) is entirely separate from invention. He names the same "inventors" named in the original article and points out that the truth of the matter is that they were all innovators rather than inventors (and its only the distance of history that has rewritten their stories as if they were inventors). He points out that invention has nothing to do with commercial success - whereas innovation has everything to do with it. Furthermore, this ties into the ongoing debate over patent reform: "If you want to learn about the importance of "invention" over the past 300 years, talk to the lawyers. If you want to hear about the importance of "innovation," however, talk to anyone else." So, the real question then, is whether or not our intellectual property system should be encouraging invention or innovation? I'd vote for innovation, as that's what drives the economy, and that would suggest we need fewer lawyers involved with the patent system, and perhaps more innovators. The following point is also important: "the technical excellence of an invention matters far less than the economic willingness of the customer or client to explore it." In other words, any system designed to encourage innovation needs to encourage actually making use of the innovation - and not, for example, sitting on a patent and doing nothing with it, while waiting for others to innovate and then hitting them with a patent infringement lawsuit.

Why Steve Jobs is still important

Why Steve Jobs is still important 05/11/2004 01:24 PM
After writing off Apple's co-founder way back when, Forrester CEO George Colony is ready to eat his words.

Ask Jeeves' Head Says Tukaroo Important
(AP)

Ask Jeeves' Head Says Tukaroo Important
(AP) 06/09/2004 04:04 PM
AP - Ask Jeeves Inc.'s purchase of software startup Tukaroo Inc. is a model of the kind of small acquisitions the Web-search company expects to continue to make, chief financial officer Steve Sordello said.

Important Security Update for Firefox
Available

Important Security Update for Firefox
Available 12/17/2004 06:41 PM

An important concession: MGM says
ripping MP3s is OK

An important concession: MGM says
ripping MP3s is OK 04/02/2005 09:20 AM
ZDNet Apr 2 2005 12:40PM GMT

Is It Important To Lead In Broadband
Adoption?

Is It Important To Lead In Broadband
Adoption? 01/19/2004 05:05 AM
USA Today is freaking out because they suddenly noticed that there are some other countries that have more broadband penetration than the US does. Of course, in most cases, these are much smaller nations where it's much easier and cost efficient to roll out broadband. The article suggests that we need more government incentives to roll out broadband, and ignores the argument that, perhaps, the market will do okay on its own. The real question is whether or not being the first to roll out widespread broadband is all that important. These arguments come up all the time. Should the government support certain industries that they believe are core to their economic survival? The US has historically gone with an open market approach - and that's worked out quite well. They don't make big bets on things that it turns out the market doesn't want. Yes, things sometimes take more time, and there are companies that fail spectacularly in the meantime - but the end results are much stronger. So, I don't think there's any reason to get too worried about US broadband rollouts just yet.

Ask Jeeves' Head Says Tukaroo
Important

Ask Jeeves' Head Says Tukaroo
Important 06/09/2004 06:54 PM
Atlanta Journal Constitution (subscription),GA-57 minutes ago ... Analysts and search-software makers who have talked with Google say they expect the company to release it's own desktop search tool before long. ...
Grok Description matches for The most important thing Yahoo!'s done this year?
GrokA matches for The most important thing Yahoo!'s done this year?

The most important thing Yahoo!'s done this year?

The following phrases have been identified by the grok system as matching this entry: