Google’s share of web searches for Feb 2009 was at  72.11%, up 8 percent year-over-year. Still not quite at the 90% share predicted by one Jason Calacanis one year ago, but, hey, it’s getting there.

Google Ups Share of Search To 72%; Yahoo, MSN and Ask Continue To Tank - Search Insider, March 11 2009

The curiously quixotic ads by Microsoft circa September 2008 that featured Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates were officially deemed a failure a few days ago. The NY Times quotes customer-loyalty researcher Brand Keys as sayings that the 1st ad in particular, called Shoe Circus, resulted in a more negative view of Microsoft among users and was thus a poor ad.

We’re not so sure, however. Shoe Circus, while a curious commercial was also somewhat compelling, and got Microsoft a boatload of publicity, admittedly not all of it good. Also, Microsoft’s guidance for 2Q09  (the 1st quarter after Shoe Circus was aired ) expects revenue to be in the range of $17.3-17.8B , an increase of almost 11% from the preceding quarter…not bad…might be due to S.C., or more likely due to increased Xbox sales, but at least the effort by ad authors Crispin Porter + Bogusky appears not to have caused a negative result.  

In Campaign Wars, Apple Still Has Microsoft’s Number - New York Times, February 3 2009

LG announces the Prada II mobile phone aka LG-KF900, successor to the original Prada phone.

The main improvements are the 5 megapixel camera (up from 2 MP), 3G and 7.2Mbps HSDPA.

€600 in IT, UK, FR, DE, ES and NL in 4Q2008.

Introducing the second Prada phone by LG - another quantum leap in mobile phone innovation and design by Prada and LG Electronics - LG press release, Oct 13 2008

Steve Wozniak of Apple Inc fame predicts the demise and eventual death of the iPod. Steve sez all good things must come to an end, and iPods and iPhones will join transistor radios and Walkmans in the ash heap of history.

While iPods are getting stale and the iPhone is too proprietary, Woz suggests that the mysterious iWatch is the one to watch.

Steve Wozniak interview: iconic co-founder on the iPod, iPhone, and future for Apple - Telegraph, 07 Oct 2008

DigiTimes reports that Asus moved 700,000 Eee PCs in September of this year. Thats a lot of netbooks, and management must be happy. There are about a dozen different variations of the Eee PC theme ranging from 7 to 10 inch screens, with more models on the way, such as the ASUS Eee PC 904HA.

In the current economic climate namely ” It’s really scary what’s going on out there“, with the S&P 500 Index closing at 1,056.89 down 28% YTD, it’s probably safe to say that while PC sales will be below expectations, netbooks, with their low prices, will almost certainly gain market share.

Asustek shipped 700,000 Eee PCs - DigiTimes, October 6 2008

The Daily Telegraph complements their list of most the 100 most beautiful cars published March/2008, with the opposite, i.e. a list of the ugliest cars of all time. Telegraph readers voted as follows…

1 - Pontiac Aztek (above) received the most votes

2 - Fiat Multipla
3 - SsangYong Rodius
4 - Austin Allegro/Vanden Plas
5 - Porsche Cayenne
6 - AMC Pacer
7 - Ford Scorpio
8 - Hummer
9 - Austin Princess/Ambassador
10 - Chrysler PT Cruiser
:

…somewhat reminiscent of Time Magazine’s The 50 Worst Cars of All Time, and yes the Aztek is on that list as well.

The 100 ugliest cars - The Daily Telegraph, 29 Aug 2008

In case you’re still not rich, Mark Cuban explains how it’s done.

0. Spend less…cut up your credit cards…eat macaroni and cheese if necessary.
1. Accumulate cash.
2. Find something you love to do.
3. Get a job in that field and learn everything about it.
4. Wait for a cyclical downturn in your sector.
5. Then use your cash to launch or buy a business in that field.
6. Cash out at the top.

How to Get Rich - blog maverick the mark cuban weblog, October 4, 2008

Three touch screen phones compared…

Nokia announced their Nokia 5800 Xpress Music 640×360 touch screen phone (above) a few days ago… also called the Tube, this music phone comes with the Nokia Comes With Music 1-year no limits music subscription service. The Tube/5800 will be available later this year, specs here.

And then there’s the T-Mobile G1 Android-based 480×320 touch screen mobile phone, available in a few weeks on October 22 2008.

TechRader compares the 5800 and the G1 to the original touch screen phone, the Apple iPhone. Areas of comparison were Home screen, media, OS, internet, gaming, camera, maps, texting and email. The verdict: a tie between the G1 and the iPhone.

Nokia Tube vs Apple iPhone vs Android G1/The ultimate battle of the touchscreens - TechRadar, October 3 2008

BoyGenius presents what is probably the new Kindle e-book reader. The Kindle 2 is apparently longer and wider than the original, but thinner. It has better buttons, a joystick, recharge by miniUSB and downloads via EV-DO.

…seemingly unsullied by professional product designers.

Amazon Kindle 2 e-books its way to BGR - BGR, Oct 3 2008

Lamborghini introduced their new Estoque at 2008 Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris a few days ago. Lamborghini president Stephan Winkelmann states that the Estoque is a ‘prototype’, and it’s “for everyday use”.

Not a bad-looking sports car considering it’s an AWD four-door four-seater. The front-end grill and air dams define it as a Lambo for sure, but the side view bespeaks a different influence…Jaguar C-XF perhaps?

2009 Lamborghini Estoque - SuperCars.net