FB is simply going to utilize a different vector which as other posts have suggested may or may not be better than search history, among the other piece of data utilized by Google. FB has data that Google has been eagerly attempting to garner (with little success) and exploit to enhance targeted advertising. In this environment, one is not only able to take advantage of the direct personal information revealed by the user but also able to infer additional information by analyzing the users social network and it's complex relationship web. This is extremely powerful. In fact, a particular advantage of utilizing such a vector proposed by FB is that it does not rely on search history. Just because I'm searching for "Albert Einstein" does not mean I'm interested in a book on relativity or a search for Bob Dylan I'm suddenly going to buy his CDs. In stead, analyzing my social network will allow for the ability to display ads generated by my social network which in theory are relevant irrespective of my search history profile. Example, FB can easily deduce that a close friend of mine with whom I frequently attend "clubs" (by analzying event history) has purchased a clubbing shirt. An ad of this type may be more relevant than a Bob Dylan CD. This could even go further and this interference could occur in a completely different social circle that happens to correlate with my social network. Extremely powerful tool.

there won't be a need for WP7 in 2015 since we'll have reached singularity by that time. nice try though.

In publishing the 600 million statistic, FB has accounted for duplicate accounts, since a "user" is not an "account". And I have as much evidence for my position as you have for yours. Moron.

Wtf is android thinking? They are decades behind the OS technology and they think their entire platform is innovative? Yeah, right. Pay up buddy. Maybe Google should have bought Palm!

"They didn't actually test the Safari browser on the iPhone," Kerris argues. And, We hope Apple will help us enable those [browser] optimisations and repeat the measurement. Until then, for all we know the missing optimisations may not make a big impact." So, yeah, fix your shit and stop crying.

The Egyptions protests have demonstrated the incredible utility of social networking sites in enabling a large pool of people to organize around a common idea. Furthermore, the online presence of these discussions stipulates that many of the individual contributing their thoughts have not actually met in person. It is a group of anonymous souls with a common idea attempting to reach out to as many people as possible. I'm do not claim to be an expert in the group dynamics or how revolutions begin, but it is quite clear that the pool of people draw from mutual influence. Now, I can imagine a system of hundreds of fake, (semi-)automated profiles capable of infiltrating these discussion with IBM Watson type NLP precision and disrupting their progress. The exact method in how this is accomplish is quite complicated but with current technology it is not far from reality. The group dynamics would be quite different from reality and perhaps disturbed enough to prevent reaching a critical mass. I can parallel such a system to the effect of the news generated by CNN and Fox News--far from reality but quite influential. The opinions of those articulating reality is effectively be muddled, and now even in the social networking forum.

the aviation industry won't allow this.

So from your list, unless you're job hunting or shopping you use Google. Google must really suck.

"Apple should allow them to get at if via a native app instead of suffering a potentially buggier, less secure browser-based experience" mmm kay, that's a leap.

The image with the crosshairs can be found below, http://www.businessinsider.com/gabrielle-giffords-was-on-sarah-palins-hit-list-2011-1

I would wait until HP releases the much awaited tablet with webOS. Analysts are anticipating 40 tablet models from HP in 2011. http://pulse2.com/2011/01/04/hp-hosting-webos-event-on-february-9th-will-we-see-a-palmpad/

as far as i'm aware, there is no organization granting or requires one to have a license in order to be a practitioner of software development. for instance, the medical field requires that practitioners hold a specific license and in addition, requires that said practitioner also seek continuous development throughout ones career in order to maintain a valid license. in this sense, software engineering is an immature field. The ACM organization does however publish a Software Engineering Code of Ethics that I was asked to agree to upon graduating from my institution and being granted a degree. This of course, is not at all enforced in practice as employers do not request a legal document stating that I've agreed to that code. http://www.acm.org/about/se-code

good thing HP bought Palm then.

"The United States, which last year generated less than 5 percent of its power from newer forms of renewable energy, will lag behind..." Drill baby, drill.

I'll be looking forward to discuss these developments at the Singularity Conference this weekend!