Business

Google has released a new feature for their Google Health service that allows users to share their online health records with specified friends, doctors and family members. Google Health is a service that allows users to input their medical data ... into an online system. The system merges all separate records into one centralized account for the user. Since it uses the Internet to collect data, Google Health also gathers information on medical conditions and interactions between drugs and allergies. (Source: twine.com ) Google Health for Friends and Family Before the feature was introduced, only ... (view more)

The EU-emblazoned noose wrapped around Microsoft's neck might soon be loosening. According to reports today, the EU (European Union) has announced that it will discontinue constant monitoring of the Redmond-based company for anti-trust violations. ... The EU has regularly attacked Microsoft over anti-trust matters and has for some time used a special, independent committee to constantly watch Microsoft's every move overseas. "Changes in Microsoft's behavior..." However, that's now changed and it appears that Microsoft might be owed some credit for the let-up. In a statement, EU ... (view more)

A leading consumer group has condemned the high cost of phone-in technical support offered by British technology firms. At least 70% of the firms studied charge more than a standard phone call, with Internet service providers rated as the worst ... offenders. "Which? Computing", a magazine produced by the Consumer Association, looked at 45 firms in the country to test the price and response time of their telephone support. It found that 32 firms only offer phone support through numbers which cost more than a standard call, with the firms themselves taking a cut of the revenue. Four ... (view more)

Apparently, economic stagnation can't stop Google executives from getting their big bonuses. According to reports, Google's top brass have accepted impressive hand-outs, ranging from $675,000 to over $1.6 million. This news comes only weeks after ... the search giant laid off over 100 employees. The bonuses of four Google executives were made public yesterday when the search giant submitted its 8-K filing with the SEC. Although CEO Eric Schmidt and co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page were not awarded impressive bonuses, five other executives were handed a massive sum, totaling some $6,309,000 ... (view more)

Microsoft has made headlines in recent weeks for devising new ideas to bolster a struggling global economy. While the software giant expects to lose significant revenue this year, Microsoft is looking at the bigger picture in an attempt to stop the ... bleeding and start on the road to recovery. One of the new Microsoft-endorsed initiatives is an online program called Elevate America , which hopes to teach, certify and secure employment for close to 2 million people. Now, Microsoft is once again giving hope to an ever-increasing unemployment demographic by making way for an additional 3,000 ... (view more)

Software giant Microsoft has expanded its tentacles over an even greater part of the earth's crust this week, after it announced that the Business Productivity Online suite has been made available on a trial basis for businesses around the world. ... The plan has, according to some insiders, been in the works for some time. Most believe Microsoft began preparing itself for this step when it extended hosted software services to companies across the United States late last year. Also in the works is a worldwide release for Microsoft's Office Communications Online tool, which allows users access to ... (view more)

According to reports, Microsoft is getting ready to release a re-branded version of its "Live Search" in an attempt to become a major player in the search engine game. Since Microsoft recently attempted to join forces with Yahoo , it's not ... surprising that they are looking for new and improved ways to increase their status as a go-to company for online searching. What will come to The Market and When? Messages from Microsoft insiders that were observed on Twitter this week indicate that a pre-beta test version of the "new Live" already exists, and that users can expect some form of ... (view more)

It's now official: Windows Vista, Microsoft's over-hyped, underachieving operating system took top honors, winning the first-ever Fiasco Award announced in Barcelona, Spain. The Fiasco Awards consists of a group of people linked to the Information ... and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector, which wants to reward the best non-successful projects in the area. (Source: itwire.com ) Out of 6,043 votes, 5,222 were garnered by Windows Vista, beating out other contenders including Google's Lively virtual world, the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) computer, and many others. (Source: sciam.com ) In 2005 ... (view more)

It seems the world's most popular social networking site was just moments away from acquiring another -- and few of us ever knew about it. A Facebook executive has revealed that a planned takeover of Twitter only fell apart because of a disagreement ... over stock valuations. Despite the rather miserable economy, Facebook is still looking to buy out other firms and says it could make a billion dollars a year from advertising. Peter Thiel, a venture capitalist who put up some of the money behind Facebook, discussed the deal in a Business Week interview. (Thiel was discussing the business aspects ... (view more)

The Vista Capable lawsuit -- like the consumer and business market's dissatisfaction with Windows Vista -- refuses to go away. Shortly after a federal judge revoked the class-action status of the Vista Capable lawsuit, lawyers for the plaintiffs are ... now reportedly asking the judge to reconsider that decision. Originally, the class-action suit involved all parties who purchased Vista Capable PCs, but a recent court ruling narrowed it down to six individual plaintiffs. (Source: crn.com ) Plaintiffs Attempt To Recertify Class-Action Status Lawyers for the plaintiffs are attempting to recertify ... (view more)