Robert X. Cringely's blog

Fixing Google, slinging Bing

Robert X. Cringely — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:27:35 +0000

Dan Lyons, perhaps better known to residents of Cringeville as the evil genius behind the Secret Diary of Steve Jobs blog, has a curious piece in the current issue of Newsweek talking about the rivalry between Google and Microsoft.

The biggest tech turkeys of 2009

Robert X. Cringely — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:49:24 +0000

Once again it's time for my pre-Thanksgiving feast, where I honor the individuals who acted the most like turkeys over the last 11 months. (Next month I'll get to my awards for malfeasance and general asshattedness by groups and corporations.)

Last year I honored rocker Axl Rose, escort-friendly ex-governor Eliot Spitzer, Chinese Premier Jen Waibao, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, and Yahoo's Jerry Yang with virtual Gobbler statuettes (cranberry sauce not included).

Is there a Fox in Microsoft's hen house?

Robert X. Cringely — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:35:26 +0000

Is Microsoft planning a secret news cartel that will ace out Google? Are Steve Ballmer and Rupert Murdoch in cahoots? That's the butt scuttling across the blogosphere this morning, as reports leak that Bing has offered to pay News Corp. actual cash dollars for exclusive rights to index its various properties (Wall Street Journal, FoxNews.com, et al).

Welcome to the Golden Age of Vaporware

Robert X. Cringely — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:41:17 +0000

I've been in this business for 357 years, but I can't recall a time when we've had more written about products that do not actually exist. We are truly living in the golden age of vaporware.

Exhibit A: This week TechCrunch's Michael Arrington caused a stir when he insisted -- really, he was almost banging his shoe on the table over it -- that Google would come out with its own cell phone, free and clear of any carrier. Per L'Arrington:

Google and the collapse of Western civilization

Robert X. Cringely — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:41:03 +0000

I've come to the conclusion that the end of civilization as we know it is indeed upon us. And I blame Google.

Though all search engines are at fault, Google in particular is contributing the most to the dumbing down of the Web, which in turn leads to the dumbing down of everything else. Eventually we'll get so stupid we'll forget how to feed ourselves.

Will Apple force you to watch ads?

Robert X. Cringely — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:59:08 +0000

And now, a word from our sponsor.

Yes, this is true: Last year Apple Inc. filed for a patent on technology that would force you to watch advertisements, no matter how hard you tried to avoid it.

Hey AT&T: The map is the least of your problems

Robert X. Cringely — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:17:16 +0000

The Verizon and AT&T dustup is turning out to be far more entertaining than any tired old Microsoft vs. Apple campaign. After a series of scorching "there's a map for that" TV ads by Verizon mocking its competitor's spotty 3G coverage, AT&T ran to a federal judge crying "Daddy daddy daddy, that mean old man is making fun of me."

Reader rabid: Fox News, Windows 7, and Winnie the Pooh

Robert X. Cringely — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:52:18 +0000

While you're doing whatever you do on Vets' Day, I'd like to reach deep into the mailbox and share some stuff the fine folks of Cringeville have been e-mailing me.

Fox News takes on Google

Robert X. Cringely — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:02:24 +0000

Will the Internet kill newspapers, and is Google holding the pistol? That's this morning's big theme here in Cringeland. But before I get into that, I'd like to make a modest proposal.

Google Dashboard: Transparent, maybe. Private? Not so much

Robert X. Cringely — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:13:46 +0000

What does Google know about you and when did they know it? Those are the questions Google claims it's trying to answer with the new Google Dashboard unveiled yesterday.