jeeves

IAC bows to Google, kills search at Ask.com

Add another name to the list of technology departments destroyed by Google.

IAC, the parent company of storied search engine Ask.com, has decided to cut 130 engineering jobs and halt all work on developing an algorithmic search competitor to Google, according to a report from Bloomberg. Ask.com will still operate as a questions-and-answers site, but plans to use search technology from another company--not named in the report--to power search on its site.

An Ask.com representative confirmed the news and issued a statement.

"Today's move is a reflection of our shift in strategy to focus on … Read more

Symantec CEO Thompson to retire

Symantec Chief Executive John Thompson will retire in the spring, according to a press release from the company on Monday. Thompson, who ran the company for the past 10 years, will continue as a non-executive chairman of the board.

Enrique T. Salem, Symantec's current chief operating officer, will replace Thompson at the helm effective April 4 and will also join the board of directors.

In a press conference, Thompson said: "I always thought 10 years was about the right amount time for any CEO at any company."

In January, Salem was named Symantec's chief operating officer. … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 824: I am the thumb

In today's show, featuring co-host Dan Ackerman, we discuss the benefits of being an independent musician (Dan says it's a great time!), the increasingly furious-yet-futile fight between the MPAA and RealDVD, Delta preemptively filtering porn on planes, and Kid Rock finding a home on the Web, regardless of whether we want him there.

Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 824

eBay buys Bill Me Later, lays off 1,000 http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10058660-92.html

Judge temporarily halts sales of RealDVD in wake of lawsuit http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081005-judge-temporarily-halts-sale-of-realdvd-in-wake-of-lawsuit.html http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10058574-93.html… Read more

An English butler to awaken m'lady

Once the madness that is holiday shopping is finally over, what better antidote could there be than an English butler? The lady of the household can now unwrap one of her very own--that is, in the form of an alarm clock that utters gender-specific greetings.

Several months ago we were quite taken with the idea of being awakened in a most civilized manner by the "Jeeves" clock from U.K.-based (naturally) Voco, which featured scores of British quips from the magnificent Stephen Fry. Now a version for m'lady is available as well, with 150 or so … Read more

Robot as 'intelligent companion'

Where robots are concerned, it's always seemed to make sense that tasks would become increasingly specific. Whether it be detecting smoke or taking patients' temperatures, researchers have traditionally worked to refine their skills to make them more valuable.

In Japan, however, we've detected a trend toward bots geared toward more everyday tasks, such as washing dishes--perhaps to help that country's rapidly aging population. To that end, Japan's Raytron has developed a small "intelligent companion" that can help with such basic things as flipping light switches or turning on the telly, according to Akihabara … Read more

Finally, a civilized way to wake up

Now this is our kind of alarm clock. Forget about those other ones that blow out your eardrums or fly and run away from you.

The "Jeeves" clock from Voco awakens you with one of 49 British quips from the voice of Stephen Fry himself, classically designed with Roman numerals and Ionic columns. An example from Pocket-lint: "Good morning, Sir. The prime minister phoned again. I told him you were not available. We shan't be treated like THAT again!" Indeed.