Monthly Archives: September 2007

Bringing email into the 21st century

Posted on September 14, 2007 by Rakesh Agrawal

John McKinley, former AOL CTO and now VC, asks “Who will be the first major (Google/Yahoo/Microsoft/AOL) to break ranks and apply a fundamentally new metaphor to email?” There’s been a proliferation in ways to communicate — IM, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, … Continue reading →

Posted in aol, email, facebook, google, microsoft, social networking, yahoo | Comments Off on Bringing email into the 21st century

Barack Obama seeks answers on LinkedIn

Posted on September 12, 2007 by Rakesh Agrawal

Barack Obama has joined LinkedIn, asking the LinkedIn community about what the next president can do to help small business. Back in January, Hillary Clinton asked Yahoo! Answers users about ways to improve health care. Obama’s LinkedIn profile outlines his … Continue reading →

Posted in advertising, elections, social networking | Comments Off on Barack Obama seeks answers on LinkedIn

#1 rule of economics: customers don’t want to feel like chumps

Posted on September 10, 2007 by Rakesh Agrawal

If you’re like me, you’ve read way too much about Apple’s $200 price drop on the iPhone. But there’s one more worth reading. Economist Steven Levitt (author of Freakonmics) asks “Should Apple Burn Its Economics Textbooks?” Apple’s $599 initial price … Continue reading →

Posted in apple, marketing | Comments Off on #1 rule of economics: customers don’t want to feel like chumps

Chili’s directors don’t want their baby back ribs

Posted on September 10, 2007 by Rakesh Agrawal

It’s not unusual for corporate board members to get perks. Board members of Brinker International, which franchises Chili’s, Macaroni Grill, On the Border and Maggiano’s can eat for free at the company’s restaurants using a complimentary dining card. For some, … Continue reading →

Posted in fun, random | Comments Off on Chili’s directors don’t want their baby back ribs

I’m a criminal, but you can’t prove I made a profit

Posted on September 9, 2007 by Rakesh Agrawal

Can you be convicted of money laundering if the government can’t prove you made a profit? That’s the question the Supreme Court faces in United States v. Santos (pdf) when it comes into session in October. Efrain Santos was convicted … Continue reading →

Posted in fun, random | Comments Off on I’m a criminal, but you can’t prove I made a profit

Comparing Google News to other news outlets (screencast)

Posted on September 3, 2007 by Rakesh Agrawal

There’s been a lot of discussion about Google’s move to host wire service content on Google News instead of linking off to other Web sites. Much of the discussion has focused on decreased traffic to newspaper Web sites from Google … Continue reading →

Posted in google, journalism, media, newspapers | Comments Off on Comparing Google News to other news outlets (screencast)

CNN launches in HD

Posted on September 3, 2007 by Rakesh Agrawal

CNN is now transmitting an HD feed, making it the first American news network to broadcast in HD. Most people won’t be able to see it just yet because the cable companies aren’t carrying the HD feed. CNN’s shows from … Continue reading →

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Google News starts hosting wire service content

Posted on September 2, 2007 by Rakesh Agrawal

In more bad news for the newspaper industry, Google is now starting to host its own versions of content from the Associated Press, Agence France-Press and UK and Canadian wire services. Here’s a screen shot of an AFP story: Yahoo! … Continue reading →

Posted in google, journalism, media, newspapers, search | 2 Comments