Category: computer

Buying Google Stock

Alright, Shinnfans. I bought Google shares when they were $190 each, about 8 months ago. 20 minutes ago their stock price hovered at $309.40. I know this because I have stock ticker in my Google Desktop Bar that’s always giving me current quotes. Well, I just read a Reuters article (also via my GDB) that announced Google’s next round of stock offerings will be tomorrow. So, for those of you who said to me, “Wow. Those are amazing returns. How can I invest like that?”, you now have the chance to own a little slice of one of the most innovative companies on the web today. Here’s my analysis:

  • Personnel outlook: Google’s been hiring some of the software industry’s top talent. From the guy who invented the TCP/IP protocol for the U.S. Military while working at Stanford in 1977 (Vincent Cerf) to one of Microsoft’s Heavy Hitters (Dr. Kai-Fu Lee), Google is hiring some interesting folks. Which leads to my next point:
  • Strategic outlook: All this has raised speculation about their future directions. No one quite knows where Google’s going to go. Possible competitors: Microsoft, Yahoo, Skype (who was just purchased by E-Bay), E-Bay, and almost anyone else. Again, no one quite knows where Google is going to go. 5 years after everyone concluded nothing new could come from the web-based e-mail gig, Google introduced Gmail. This caused an e-mail revolution that’s left Yahoo and MSN struggling to catch up. Gmail is also a prime example of a Web 2.0 interface: one of the leading new kinds of web applications that rely on Javascript and XML, simple technologies, to deliver new whiz-bang interfaces that don’t require pages to reload to display new information. Gmail may ultimately be more important for where it pushes interface design than for its 2.4 gigs of free storage space. What does this mean? It means you can count on some wacky new solutions and you can expect to see them pop up in some unexpected places in the market.

What does all this mean for you? It means that if you’re looking for my investment advice, you’re got it: buy Google tomorrow. Lots of it. And if you make astronomical gains, thank me. If Google spreads too thin and enters markets that don’t work for them or cause them to lose their edge in the compeition, don’t blame me. It IS the stock market, after all.

Cheers,
Andrew

On becoming a redneck

In the past two weeks, I’ve found myself mired in no less than three conversations about truck parts. I don’t know anything about truck parts. All I do is shake my head and mutter about carbeurators. I’ve been complaining about it (to those who wouldn’t be offended), but today I accepted it. I realized that it’s a fact of rural life as much as riding the T is a fact of life in Boston. So I went about redneck-ifying myself (sorry Gwen) in a rather net-gen way: reading up on Ford truck engines on the wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org). I now know the difference between a Windsor V-8 and a Cleveland V-8 with a 2-barrel or 4-barrel carb. It’s not much, but it’s a start. It just goes to show that anything can be learned (and most things faked). It also shows that no matter what your interest, the internet CAN BE a shortcut to expert status.
Cheers,
Andrew (or Buck if you prefer)

Shinn Photography
Get the picture? Get the picture.
www.shinnphoto.com

Blingo

Alright, friends, here’s the latest in the wide world of cool new internet stuff. It’s called Blingo. You use it as a serch engine (it’s powered by Google, so you know you’ll get good searches), and the first 10 times you search every day, you run the risk of winning cool prizes, like an iPod. If you invite someone else to join and they win, you win the same prize! So, in the grand tradition of tupperware, pyramid schemes, and other offenses against humanity, I’m inviting YOU (yes, YOU!) to join Blingo as my Blingo friend. Use it and try to win, and maybe I’ll win something cool, too! Just click on the icon below, and all will be cool.

Cheesily,
Andrew

Blingo

Google Blog: “Sign up for Gmail”

Alright, so this has been a very long time coming, but Google (unoffical motto:”Favourite Web Company of the Shinn Boys”) is now offering their ledgendary Gmail service to ANYBODY for FREE! Yesterday, if you didn’t have a Gmail account, it’s because either a) you weren’t cool enough or b) you didn’t know the right people. To get an account, you had to be invited by someone who already had an account (classic viral marketing). But TODAY, if you don’t have a Gmail account, it’s simply because (despite your best intentions) you haven’t visited gmail.com yet. Not to worry, though, I’m sure you’ll do it. Right after reading this blog post, in fact! And when you do, you’ll revel in the glory of e-mail organized by conversation and frolick in the meadow of 2+ gigabytes of free space. You’ll spend the rest of the day logged into gmail, thinking up labels with which to organize your correspondence instead of creating folders for your various e-mail interactions. Eventually you’ll get around to creating filters, so that your incoming e-mail ALREADY KNOWS where you want it to be! Oh, glorious day! And you’ll never lose information buried in your e-mail program, because with Google every scrap is available to you at the click of the “search” button. Yes, friends, today is a good day. A very good day. And the rest of us (who have been using Gmail since we were yeah-tall) are very happy for you.

Personalized Google

Ok, at the risk of angering my patient audience, I’m posting yet ANOTHER non-“Where I Do Stuff” post. Let me assure you, again, that the next episode of that is in development, and it’s a doozy! But for now, I MUST tell you about something I’ve found that is so incredibly cool, and getting cooler. I’m doing this because I believe in something: I believe in the power of one really cool company to do many really cool things in their quest to organize the world’s information. Enough buildup, already? I agree. Here it is:

A personalized Google search page. It sounds a lot less sexy than it really is. Below is a screenshot of my Google personalized search page. As always, clicking on the picture will bring up a new window with a larger, easier-to-see version. You can have all kinds of neat stuff on your page, and the interface is continuing to improve. I have my 6 most recently recieved e-mails from my Gmail account, tech and business news, a stock quote for Google (I own 5 shares that are doing really well), some daily quotes, personalized bookmarks, and other cool stuff. The only reason I don’t have the local weather on there because I don’t have a zip code right now. By now you’re asking, “How can I get this cool thing so I can be as web-savvy as you, Andrew?” Great question! All you have to do is go to www.google.com/ig (new window) and create a google account. Last I heard, anyone could create a google account. I don’t know if that means anyone can have a Gmail account, but if you want one and it doesn’t come with the google account, just ask me in the comments below. Be sure to include your e-mail address and I’ll send you an invitation to join Gmail. Let me know what you think and how you’ve personalized YOUR Google page in the comments below! I can answer any questions you have in getting it set up, too.

Cheers,
Andrew

My personalized Google page!