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Submission Summary: 0 pending, 18 declined, 8 accepted (26 total, 30.77% accepted)

Submission + - Why Email Has Become Dangerous

mikkl666 writes: "The Sydney Morning Herald runs an interesting story dealing with a study about email user behavior, explaining how and why email can be a terrible distraction: "It takes an average of 64 seconds to recover your train of thought after interruption by email. So people who check their email every five minutes waste 8 1/2hours a week figuring out what they were doing moments before." Email is also compared to slot machines in the way it works psycholgically: "So with email, usually when I check it there is nothing interesting, but every so often there's something wonderful — an invite out or maybe some juicy gossip — and I get a reward." There are also some hints offered on how to keep control of the inbox, for those of us already addicted."
Google

Submission + - Google Crawls The Deep Web 1

mikkl666 writes: "In their official blog, Google announces that they are experimenting with technologies to index the Deep Web, i.e. the sites hidden behind forms, in order to be 'the gateway to large volumes of data beyond the normal scope of search engines'. For that purpose, the engine tries to automatically get past the forms: 'For text boxes, our computers automatically choose words from the site that has the form; for select menus, check boxes, and radio buttons on the form, we choose from among the values of the HTML'. Nevertheless, directions like 'nofollow' and 'noindex' are still respected, so sites can still be excluded from this type of search, and forms requiring personal information are promised to be a no-no: 'We omit any forms that have a password input or that use terms commonly associated with personal information such as logins, userids, contacts, etc.'"
Microsoft

Submission + - ISO Takes Control Of OOXML

mikkl666 writes: "Alex Brown, head of the ISO work group responsible for OOXML, has posted a summary of their latest meeting, and he also comments on the resolutions discussed there. The basic message is that ISO now has 'full responsibility for the standard', and that several workgroups will be established to work on OOXML. An interesting point here is that 'setting up a maintance procedure for ODF, and then working on cross-standard initiatives' is one of the explicit goals. On a side note, they also reacted to the very emotional discussion on OOXML by posting an open letter: 'We the undersigned participants [...] wish to make it clear that we deplore the personal attacks that have been made [...] in recent months. We believe standards debate should always be carried out with respect for all parties, even when they strongly disagree.' As he correctly points out, 'this content speaks for itself'."
Space

Submission + - Smallest Planet Outside Our Solar System Found

mikkl666 writes: "Following the recent story about the discovery of the youngest planet outside our solar system, Spanish researchers now report that they found the smallest exoplanet observed so far. The planet, known as GJ 436c, was found by analyzing distortions in the orbit of another, larger planet, and its radius is only about 50 percent greater than the Earth's. The scientists are confident that their new method will lead to a series of further discoveries: 'I think we are very close, just a few years away, from detecting a planet like Earth.' See the original paper for further details."
Yahoo!

Submission + - Yahoo!/Microsoft Clash Heating Up 1

mikkl666 writes: "Much to report in the ongoing fight between Microsoft and Yahoo!. After Yahoo! announced yesterday that they are testing Google AdSense, Microsoft reacted with a comment pointing out that 'any definitive agreement between Yahoo! and Google would consolidate over 90% of the search advertising market in Google's hands.' Ironically, they complain that 'this would make the market far less competitive.' Regarding the possible takeover of Yahoo! by Microsoft, both companies try to team up with strong partners: While Yahoo! and AOL are closing in on a deal to combine their Internet operations, Microsoft and Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. are apparently in talks for a joint bid for Yahoo!"
Yahoo!

Submission + - Shareholder Backs Yahoo!, Supports Independence

mikkl666 writes: In a follow-up to yesterday's story about the struggle between Microsoft and Yahoo!, major Yahoo! shareholder Legg Mason has announced that they are ready to back the company in their effort to keep away from Microsoft's grip. According to portfolio manager Bill Miller, 'the problem is Microsoft blundered with the letter this weekend. Telling the shareholders you're going to take something away from them is not a way to get their support'. Nevertheless, he believes Microsoft will end up paying what it takes to own Yahoo.
Yahoo!

Submission + - Yahoo! Says "Microsoft Is Still An Option"

mikkl666 writes: "In response to an open letter from Steve Ballmer, Yahoo! posted a press release claiming that Microsoft's offer 'substantially undervalues Yahoo!' and is therefore not in the best interest of the company. They also bemoan that the letter 'mischaracterizes the nature of our discussions' and that the threat to make an offer directly to the shareholders is 'counterproductive and inconsistent with the stated objective of a friendly transaction'. Nevertheless, they explicitly point out that a transaction with Microsoft is still an option, but only if they are willing to pay 'a price that fully recognizes the value of Yahoo!'"
Google

Submission + - Google Sued Over Privacy Invasion on Street View

mikkl666 writes: "A couple from Pittsburgh sues Google for a photo of their house appearing on Google Street View. They demand 25.000$ to make up for the 'mental suffering' and diminishing value of their home. Their street is apparently marked with a 'Private Road' sign and they claim that putting a photo of their property online is an 'intentional and/or grossly reckless invasion' of their privacy. Google, on the other hand, claims that this lawsuit is pointless since anyone can ask them to have pictures removed without legal action."

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