Randall Stross of The New York Times takes a look at the hiring practices of Microsoft and Google, specifically focusing on their approach to PhDs. Working in Google’s favor is its practice of putting new Ph.D.’s to work immediately in the exact areas where they have been trained – in systems, architecture and artificial intelligence. Google, the company, may falter, but Google, the human resources experiment, is unlikely to be the cause. Microsoft has yet to disavow old templates for hiring. Its chief college recruiter, Ms. Roby, says that among computer science Ph.D.’s, “it’s less likely to find someone with…
Category Archives: Google
CNET : Google’s desktop bet
Google is reportedly preparing to release desktop search software: project Puffin. CNET News.com analyzes Google’s move to the desktop, similar attempts by other companies past and present, and why Google needs to make this move well before Longhorn ships….
Google search of your hard drive
John Markoff of The New York Times writes about Puffin, Google’s consumer local search application expected any day now. Will it be ad free?…
Gmail invitations auctioned on eBay
A search for Gmail on eBay shows there are currently 47 auctions selling free e-mail accounts for Google’s new mail service currently in beta testing. News.com reports $61 bids on some of these listings. Nelson Minar was kind enough to hook me up with a Gmail account a few weeks ago, but I have not been a heavy user. I have two invitations available, probably the same for these eBay users. There is nothing in the Gmail terms of use or Gmail program policies against selling these invitations. If this practice bothers you, the only e-mail address listed for feedback…
Google files for initial public offering
Google filed with the SEC today for an initial public offering. Some quotes from the Letter from the Founders, apparently written by Larry Page: “Google is not a conventional company. We do not intend to become one.” “We encourage our employees, in addition to their regular projects, to spend 20% of their time working on what they think will most benefit Google.” “As a public company, we believe a dual class voting structure will enable us to retain many of the positive aspects of being private.” “We provide many unusual benefits for our employees, including meals free of charge, doctors…
Gmail, free Google e-mail, offers 1GB storage
News.com reports Google has launched a test of its new mail service, Gmail, and invited 1000 guests to participate. Hotmail presently offers 2MB of free e-mail storage. Yahoo offers 4MB. Gmail will dwarf those offerings with a 1GB storage limit. Update: Gmail has an About Gmail page, including a form field for signups….
Defining yourself on Google
Robert Scoble would like to be the top result for Microsoft tech blogger. Don Park is a phishing researcher. I have not given it much thought, but I will set up a Feedster ego feed now….
Wired Magazine : redesigning Google’s interface
How would you redo the Google interface? Artists Joshua Davis, Jenny Holzer, Shepard Fairey, and Ideo all gave Wired Magazine their thoughts and drawings. I like Fairey’s the best….
Wired Magazine : The (Evil) Genius of Comment Spammers
Steven Johnson writes in this month’s Wired Magazine about the battle over content spam in weblogs. “[S]pammers weren’t trying to win the attention of the bloggers or their readerships. They were trying to win the attention of Google, like the high school bully beating up the class nerd to impress the homecoming queen. The nerd feels violated, but the truth is that it isn’t really about him at all.”…
Searching Google for local WiFi
Google’s Search By Location service provides a quick way to find WiFi access points near your zip code. Yes, there are more comprehensive lists out there, but a quick Google search is a good way to find more authoritative lists for your specific area….