Google began its billion dollar journey when it converted the dictionary and searches into a stock exchange with real-time bids. The Adwords model has proved to be a money-spinner that is the envy of every other media organisation on earth. The mantra in the dot-com mania was eyeballs till Google stumbled upon the way to …
Does poor spelling turn you off? Apparently, it sends a considerable number of shoppers away. Especially those who are all set to buy from you online. Charles Duncombe, who runs travel, mobile phone, and clothing websites from the UK has come up with a surprising statistic. Even a single spelling mistake can cut sales by half. That’s …
First the books, then the movies. The Harry Potter series has ended on a stratospheric note, giving JK Rowling and Warner Brothers the kind of record that will be hard to beat in the years ahead. Now that the last book, milked into 2 movies has finally run its course, there is sadness that the …
At an age when most teenagers are agonising over their pimples and awkward social relationships, a chosen few are blazing a trail of real achievement. The Google Online Science Fair has declared the winners – and girls have pipped boys to the post. The overall winner – Shree Bose will travel on a National Geographic expedition to …
It’s a cliche. Why work on something where a solution has already been found? A lid to pour liquids? Why on earth would we want something new there? But for the finicky designer of the snap-on lid, the problem of drips was all too real. Pouring out of spouts or the little ‘v’ shaped indentation …
Last evening, we went for a wedding reception. South Indian receptions are by custom, less boisterous and sedate as compared to the typical Punjabi wedding that goes on for days and has lots of drinking, dancing and singing. This one was somewhere in between. There was the customary South Indian Classical music being played ‘Live’ …
It’s the kind of place where you kill time reading a book, or play games on your mobile while you wait for your train to arrive. But the subway has found a new position in Korea. It doubles up as a supermarket. Tesco just launched an interesting experiment where the walls are full of virtual merchandise. But …
It’s easy enough to understand money when it passes through your hands. Comfortable denominations, a feeling of solidity and remarkably efficient for transactions. The credit card changed all of that. Suddenly, you could sign off on a receipt and your bank account got a little lighter every time you filled up at the petrol bunk, …
When Novak Djokovic crashed to the ground after defeating Nadal and became the 2011 Wimbledon Champion, he lay on his back looking up at the sky. Crossing over from competitor to victor, he savoured the moment and the most telling gesture afterwards was the bit of the hallowed grass he plucked and stuffed into his mouth. The …
It’s the lazy commenters’ favourite tool – needs no effort apart from a click. The numbers pile up, provide gratification for those who receive it and according to the Wall Street Journal article, encourage conformity. In an age when the average comment is the meaningless ‘Nice post’ or ‘Great’, there is a rationale for the ‘Like’ …
