The problem is the way Microsoft has always framed the “cloud computing” transition:

• paid desktop software licenses giving way to
• free web-based software supported by advertising

A better way of thinking about the “cloud computing” transition, in our opinion, is:

• paid desktop licenses giving way to
• paid web-based licenses

Corporate applications will never be supported by advertising, and if Google really wants to unseat Microsoft’s Office monopoly, it will have to build up the same sort of corporate sales and service organization that Microsoft already has. Microsoft should stop trying to go into a business it doesn’t have to be in–advertising-supported consumer media–and concentrate on protecting the core corporate business it already rules–by committing wholeheartedly to Office Live.

Head on over to the SAI blog for the complete post.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/TkCoknkwua4" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

Here’s an embedded version of ‘The Global Indian Magazine’ from Issuu (which I found to be a bit cumbersome) – Update – I removed this cause it seemed to break my blog.

There’s a lot of buzz about a new beta release today from Israeli startup Oovoo – Free calls to landlines and mobiles in the USA and Canada till March 1, 2008.

Features -

• Six person video conferencing & chatting
• Record calls
• Call long distance (free for 3 more weeks)
• Find & add friends
• File transfers
• Sidebar view (Vista)

The most interesting of their experiments is My Oovoo Day With… which gets the top bloggers to interact with their audience beyond their blogs posts and comments. Beginning on Feb 10, this week long experiment will be something that I am looking out for.

Apparently, this is a Windows only release, but Mac users rejoice – I found this link for a beta alpha download for OS X (though I haven’t tested it on my 2.2ghz santa rosa). Also, check out the Mac Forums at Oovoo.

Update - Thanks to Scott, I now have the beta version for Mac as well. Check out MyOoVooDay.

Update – Turns out that even the beta version doesn’t have the free calling, that’s PC only. Sucks.

WordPress.com just upped the bar for blog platforms. They did it once when SixApart dropped the ball with Movable Type years ago and I, for one, have never looked back. They rule as far as open source blogging platforms go and basically are a really solid CMS. But now that they have gone beyond the call of duty and given us a free 3gb hosted solution, its a very compelling argument to switch. It’s not just about the technology (a debate in which WordPress is the clear winner for the majority of us), but about a real rich online experience. Post all sorts of media and host files for your community without paying up those hard-to-find benjamins. Unless Blogger and SixApart come back with enough ammo, they will be left behind, google’s support notwithstanding. Besides, their software simply rocks. Phenomenal support, great development and a dedicated community.

I wish I owned some equity shares in Automattic right about now.

A few interesting trends are revealed:

• The web has yet to reach its “Social Peak”
• Online daters would much rather be subjected to ads than a checkout form
• New Social Networks still have a chance…as long as they find their niche
• People place a high value on peer opinion

[via Compete.com]

The overall trend is towards video and networking. Linked In is showing some significant growth, but is it too little too late? They are going the Facebook way as well with opening up their system, but will they be able to capture enough market share is to be seen. The blog sites have shown great positive growth as well – WordPress.com and SixApart.com. Personally, I am glad to see my favorite blog Techcrunch.com in the greatest gainers’ list.

Yahoo! launched its mobile interface Go with 3.0 (beta) a couple of days ago and its been an anxious wait. I have a Blackberry 8700g and my friends all carry Nokia and Moto Razr2 or alike and none of our devices are supported yet. Now that Yahoo! is doing something about Android in it’s own meager way, it supports 3rd party widgets for this application. Google is going down a different path but I wish Yahoo! wouldn’t forget all of us who aren’t running the latest of the phones and still spend significant amount of time on GPRS/EDGE.

I can’t wait to try out this on my phone but if anybody out there has a nice video of the interface, I would love to see it.

Just when I thought maybe I should start saving up to buy the uber-gadget – Microsoft Surface,  I run into this hilarious video by SarcasticGamer.com on Techcrunch. Now I know that if I were to ever splurge on this ‘Big Ass Table’, my friends would send me this video along with their pre-recorded laugh to watch on the Surface itself!

This  new unofficial ad showing the sexy iPhone ad through different New Yorkers eyes, almost like a global view. Such a melting pot, this city. Another reason its my favorite in the world.

I just kept this movie in repeat cause the song was so catchy. In case you are wondering as well, it’s Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John.

RSS Readers – Windows

RSS Readers – OSX

RSS Readers – Linux

RSS Readers – Cross Platform

RSS Readers – Web Based

Mobile RSS Readers

RSS to Email Converters

RSS Feed Validators

RSS Plugins – Firefox

RSS Plugins – WordPress

RSS Plugins – Misc

RSS Managers

RSS Mixers

RSS Ping Tools

Feed Directories

RSS Tips

RSS Tools – Misc

Phew! Yeah, and they came up with more than just the headers. A lot of work. A great resource!

We can write our own apps on our favorite phone.

Such apps are crazy easier to write compared to all traditional apps. And I can get what I want on my phone. Sure, I wont write everything that I will crave. But, there are thousands of experienced coders out there who will. Its going to be awesome. Imagine Greasemonkey gone ape crazy on the iPhone. I can’t browsing Flickr without the Auto-Pagination and Instant Zoom scripts buzzing smoothly on Firefox. I can’t stop thinking about what all we can do on that beautiful little screen.

Let’s just get over the fact that Jobs & Co have not kept this awesome device locked up only for the hardcore coders. That is big news! B-I-G!