News In Briefs
last updated: 8 June 2006
Just a few quick snapshots today looking at Google and why you should be careful when selling faulty goods on eBay.
Google has released Google Spreadsheets. No prizes for guessing what it does although calling it released is a bit strong. It's open to limited beta use, that is, it's probably going to be buggy and Google will only let a certain number of people use it. At the end of the day the hype surrounding web-based apps is being shown to be just that. Microsoft won't be quaking its boots as it's been proved that people would rather work on their own computers rather than a remote server they have no control over. Google Spreadsheets, just like the word processor Writely, will be perfect for those who occasionally need these applications but don't want to shell out for Office. The Guardian's exposition that Google can now compete directly with Microsoft Office is way off the mark.
Sergei Brin, co-founder of Google, has acknowledged that the search giant may have undermined its principles when giving in to China's censorship demands. He did say that they were continuing to battle with the Chinese Government to make the agreement work before reversing their decision.
Finally, if you want to see why selling misrepresented faulty goods on eBay is not a good idea visit the website of Amir Tofangsazan. This isn't infact Amir's website but one dedicated to him by a disgrunted purchaser of his old laptop. Thomas Sawyer, a 23 yr old student from Exeter paid £375 for a laptop in working order from the online auction website, eBay. To his dismay, upon booting up for the first time, he found that the laptop did not in fact work. After unsuccessfully attempting to get a refund from Amir, Thomas recovered the hard drive and found it full of the alleged scamster's personal files. What you now see, on full view for the wired world, is Amir's CV along with examples from his gay porn collection and voyeuristic leg shots taken on the London Underground. Police are investigating a complaint made about the website but since the publicity surrounding the website a second person has come forward alleging that Amir scammed them out of a £147 iPod.
Sergei Brin, co-founder of Google, has acknowledged that the search giant may have undermined its principles when giving in to China's censorship demands. He did say that they were continuing to battle with the Chinese Government to make the agreement work before reversing their decision.
Finally, if you want to see why selling misrepresented faulty goods on eBay is not a good idea visit the website of Amir Tofangsazan. This isn't infact Amir's website but one dedicated to him by a disgrunted purchaser of his old laptop. Thomas Sawyer, a 23 yr old student from Exeter paid £375 for a laptop in working order from the online auction website, eBay. To his dismay, upon booting up for the first time, he found that the laptop did not in fact work. After unsuccessfully attempting to get a refund from Amir, Thomas recovered the hard drive and found it full of the alleged scamster's personal files. What you now see, on full view for the wired world, is Amir's CV along with examples from his gay porn collection and voyeuristic leg shots taken on the London Underground. Police are investigating a complaint made about the website but since the publicity surrounding the website a second person has come forward alleging that Amir scammed them out of a £147 iPod.