Erich Stauffer

Blog

  • Google Will Probably Buy Ebay. Why? Skype Mostly.

    [Update: Microsoft bought Skype from Ebay on May 10, 2011.]

    Crunch Gear recently reported on Ebay‘s recent quarterly loss due to the purchase of Skype.  Ebay also owns Paypal, a strong competitor to Google Checkout.  Ebay is also a big search company.  Google could only improve on that.  Google wants to get into the phone industry with their new gPhone.  Skype will probably run on the gPhone as Skype is already part of the Google Pack.  Aquiring Ebay would net Google Paypal to replace or add to Google Checkout.  It would also give it control of the worldwide phone company, Skype for its cell phone.  Whats one reason why they may not?  Ebay is a major advertiser with Google.  Google and Ebay had a high profile fight back in June 2007.  It showed that Google was vunerable to advertising pull-out.  Advertising is still a primary part of Google’s business.  It could be assumed though, that if Ebay is making money, then Google could make more money by owning Ebay.  If Google is going to do it, they are going to need to do it before Microsoft does.

  • Could we be running Skype on the iPhone soon?

    Apple to open iPhone to outside developers:

    http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/apple-open-iphone-outside-developers/story.aspx?guid=%7B62B086CA-60B4-4378-913E-FD0C21A97BCE%7D

    My hope is that Skype will be able to run from an iPhone, allowing
    Skype access from wi-fi spots. This would mean that you wouldn’t be
    using your ATT minutes while at hot spots or at your home wifi as you
    would be making calls through Skype’s network instead. For now, here is the workaround:

    http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/skype/skype-on-iphone.asp

    This software lets you use Skype on an iPhone or a Windows Mobile Phone (like Tilt):

    http://www.shapeservices.com/en/products/details.php?product=skype&platform=none

  • Bill Gates Breaks Copyrights – Illegally Shares Music with Friends!

    http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/corporatenews/2007-10-03-bill-gates_N.htm
     
    Q: What's the coolest thing about the upgraded Zune?

    A: Look at this thing! (Holds up a Zune 8) Three or four years ago there was nothing like this. This is cool as heck. I'm finding music I haven't seen in 20 years. Hey, the Lovin' Spoonful? They're in this thing. I find one of their songs. I send it to friends I had an apartment with, it was actually 30 years ago. I can send it out to them and say, "Remember when we listened to this?" It's amazing.

  • Sleep Less, Do More, Be Vital

    How to stay awake during the day.
     
     
    Three things these two articles have in common:
     
    1. Reduce alcohol intake.
    2. Drink caffeine midday, but not 6 hours before bed.
    3. Wake up at the same time everyday, no matter what.
     

  • Windows Office Live Workspace

    http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/officelive/fx102390721033.aspx

    Once signed up, here are the sites you’ll need to know. They don’t really tell you where to login to Windows Office Live Workspace:

    Sign in to Windows Office Live at: http://www.officelive.com
    Edit your Windows Live account at: http://login.live.com/

    If you have a domain, you can DNS point it to Microsoft’s servers, but if you don’t Microsoft will give you one domain free. It’s pretty sweet deal. The free account can have up to 10 email accounts and it makes managing users easy. Compare it to Google Apps for Small Business.

  • Wi-Fi Cell Phone Plans from T-Mobile

    To learn more:
    http://www.t-mobile.com/hotspotathome

    Get the 5 step plan:

    1. home broad band – check!
    2. qualifying t-mobile individual or family voice plan –     No!
    3. a t-mobile hotspot phone – No!
    4. a wireless router – check!
    5. get the hotspot@home add-on for unlimited calling for $9.99 a month – No!

    To purchase:
    http://www.t-mobile.com/promotions/TwoDeviceHotSpot.aspx

    Choose from two phones, $49.99 each

    		  
    Samsung T409
    • Wi-Fi and Mobile Calling
    • 1.3 Megapixel camera
    • Bluetooth® enabled
    Instant Discount
    Suggested Retail: $169.99
    Instant discount: -$120.00
    Final price: $49.99
    		 
    Nokia 6086
    • Wi-Fi and Mobile Calling
    • Integrated camera
    • Bluetooth® enabled
    Instant Discount
    Suggested Retail: $169.99
    Instant discount: -$120.00
    Final price: $49.99
    		 

    This offer only good for individual plans starting at $39.99/mo or higher or family plans starting at $49.99/mo.  Plans would actually be $49.98/mo or $59.98/mo respectively with $9.99 add-on.  2-year activation required for savings.  New activation required.  Taxes and 911 are extra, but mandatory making actual plan prices at least $55.00 and $65.00 respectively.

    We use Nokia phones already and have all the chargers from other phones, so we would choose the Nokia 6086.  T-Mobile does not currently provide service in our area, but they are continuously expanding service, so please check back again later.

  • The Yahoo! User Interface Library (YUI)

    The Yahoo! User Interface (YUI) Library is a set of utilities and controls, written in JavaScript, for building richly interactive web applications using techniques such as DOM scripting, DHTML and AJAX. The YUI Library also includes several core CSS resources. All components in the YUI Library have been released as open source under a BSD license and are free for all uses.

  • IBM is Cool

    IBM is relentless in its pursuit of computing technology. Recently they were able to use a single atom as a transistor by detecting its on and off states with an electron microscope. This is insane, but I’m glad to have a behemoth entity like IBM which can spend the time and money delving into new technology that will take us forward in our pursuit of speed and energy reduction.

    Working at IBM

    I worked at IBM for about 5 days in 2007 where I trained to be a customer service representative at a call center. We were all given IBM Thinkpads and IBM email addresses. The thing I remember the most was how strict the rules were and how you weren’t allowed to type something first in Notepad, you had to type it first into the ticketing system. I left that job to do IT work full time.

  • Stock Simulation Games; Fantasy Stocks

    Virtual Stock Exchange
    From Market Watch, a Dow Jones Company
    http://vse.marketwatch.com/Game/Homepage.aspx

    Investopedia
    A Forbes Media Company
    http://simulator.investopedia.com/
    Interested in joining?  Send me an email to info@watershawl.com.