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Is Silicon Valley the new Detroit for electric cars?

SAN JOSE, Calif.--Silicon Valley is sparking a revolution in alternative-fuel autos, but it may take awhile--too long perhaps--to effect change in Detroit, according to a panel of auto executives.

A group of electric and traditional carmakers spoke here Friday at the Joint Venture Silicon Valley conference about innovation, why alternative carmakers are attracted to the Valley, and whether nimble upstarts can overshadow the big Detroit automakers. The consensus was that Silicon Valley is commanding the attention of the auto world, whether it will dominate or not.

"We're not going to take over China or Detroit, but every … Read more

Google gives respite from a raw camera deal

I was in a pinch a few weeks ago, and Google's Picasa software saved my skin. But now my warm glow of gratitude has begun wearing off, replaced by a simmering annoyance with camera makers for their profusion of proprietary raw formats.

Let me explain. I was covering the Photo Marketing Association trade show in Las Vegas, toting my Canon EOS Rebel XT camera to photograph products and people. For my personal photography I usually shoot in raw format to maximize the detail and flexibility, but for work purposes I use JPEG because it's faster to process and … Read more

Google's Brin fears the Microhoo borg

Speaking at an event for the Google Lunar X Prize on Thursday, Google co-founder Sergey Brin reiterated his company's position on a Microsoft-Yahoo union, the Associated Press reported.

"The Internet has evolved from open standards, having a diversity of companies. And when you start to have companies that control the operating system, control the browsers, they really tie up the top Web sites, and can be used to manipulate stuff in various ways. I think that's unnerving," Brin said.

It's the same argument Google used when the Microsoft bid for Yahoo was first unleashed.

In … Read more

Google unleashes even more ads, now in video

Google has launched AdSense for Video, enabling Web sites another way to push ads in our faces.

I'm not complaining...well, actually I am. The ads don't offer much, except more distraction to already ad-filled Web sites.

Viewing the ads on My Damn Channel, for instance, you can't always tell an ad from actual entertainment content. I know the lines between advertising and entertainment are blurring. But this seems like overkill. There are banner ads on the sides, top, and bottom of the page. There are text ads on the sides and the same text ads are … Read more

GTD for students: The Class Connection

Getting things done service The Class Connection is nowhere near as exciting as The French Connection, but potentially useful for students looking to organize the whirlwind of planning and information sharing that getting a modern day education entails. The service combines calendaring, messaging, flash cards, and social networking to help students manage their work and daily schedules alone or with others. The hope is that students can become better organized, and if everyone in the class uses it, they'll have a centralized place to share files, notes, and study materials with one another.

The most useful part of the … Read more

Microsoft's proxy slate profile

With the deadline fast approaching for Microsoft to name an opposition slate to Yahoo's board of directors, chances are that the software giant is looking at corporate governance experts, academics, bean counter types, and former or retired Internet executives.

That's the assessment of proxy solicitors and executive search recruiters, as the March 14 deadline approaches for Microsoft to announce its dissident slate. The software giant, which launched an unsolicited $44.6 billion buyout bid for Yahoo on February 1, is likely planning to offer candidates for 10 director seats that are up for re-election at Yahoo's next … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 665: Run, Alex, run!

EPISODE 665

Google to kick-start medical records program with Cleveland Clinic

Update at 12:19 PM PT: This story was updated to reflect the World Privacy Forum's position on PHRs in general.

Google is set to announce on Thursday that it will be using the Cleveland Clinic hospital in Cleveland, Ohio as the pilot site for its new personal health records initiative.

Between 1,500 and 10,000 patients at the Cleveland, Ohio, facility will participate in the project's test run, volunteering to have their medical records transferred to their Google accounts. The hospital already keeps electronic records for over 100,000 patients in an internal system called MyChart, … Read more

Google says ISP glitch exposes Gmail data in Kuwait

Updated February 21 with further comments from the Gmail customer in Kuwait, plus comments from eBay and a reader from Sri Lanka.

A glitch with an Internet service provider in Kuwait has enabled at least one Gmail user to access others' Gmail accounts, Google said Wednesday.

A Gmail user in Kuwait reported to CNET News.com over the weekend that he had been having trouble for most of the day logging into his account. More troubling, though, was the fact that he was able to see other people's private information, including scores of personal e-mail messages, "keycodes for … Read more