Google’s Sergey Brin defends Book Search settlement
The New York Times just published an op-ed piece from Google co-founder Sergey Brin, in which Brin defends the settlement between his company and a group of authors and publishers over Google’s right to scan books and publish excerpts on its Book Search site. That… Continue Reading
Does Google Wave mean the death of Gmail and Google Docs?
The question and answer session for the unveiling of Google Wave, the search giant’s attempt to reinvent communciation, just wrapped up. My biggest impression is that many journalists drank the Kool-Aid — they really believe that Wave has the potential, at least, to become the… Continue Reading
Roundup: Brin backs Parkinson’s study, iPhone gets shakable ads, and more
Google co-founder backs major Parkinson’s study – Sergey Brin says he plans to contribute money and DNA to a study run by his wife Anne Wojcicki’s startup 23andMe.
Dockers introduces shakable iPhone ad — Users can shake their iPhones to make urban street dancer Dufon perform his moves…. Continue Reading
Mark Zuckerberg, top VCs drop off Forbes’ billionaire list
Financially, it’s been a tough year for almost everyone, even the absurdly rich. Some of the tech world’s richest men are billionaires no more, according to Forbes’ new list of the world’s billionaires. Among the most notable dropoffs (for VentureBeat readers) are Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg,… Continue Reading
Roundup: Facebook growing around the world, inventor tests jetpack and more
Here’s the latest action:
Facebook growing quickly all around the world — The social networking site is seeing rapid growth in Latin America (it’s growing fastest in Chile, with 2,197 percent growth in 2008) as well as continued expansion in Europe. Inside Facebook has more numbers.
New Zealand… Continue Reading
Could a big geothermal energy play be next for Google.org?
Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, has taken a number of stakes in solar and wind startups over the past year, most recently joining a $115 million investment in solar thermal firm BrightSource Energy. It now seems to be focusing its attention on the bustling geothermal energy… Continue Reading
Google invests in biotech company, 23andme, to form genetic database
Updated
In one of the more eye-opening investment moves we’ve seen lately, Google has invested $3.9 million into a biotech company run by Google co-founder Sergey Brin’s new wife.
VentureBeat’s life sciences blogger, David Hamilton, who formerly covered biotech for the WSJ, has done some digging and… Continue Reading
Google, Genentech fund personal-genetics startup 23andMe
(UPDATED: see below.) 23andMe, a stealthy Mountain View, Calif., “personal genetics” startup, has raised a first round of funding from some heavy hitters — Google, Genentech and two blue-chip VC firms, Mohr Davidow Ventures and New Enterprise Associates.
That’s some significant megatonnage for a low-profile and potentially… Continue Reading
Story of Sergey Brin
A long piece from Moment, entitled The Story of Sergey Brin, has just been published.
It is a tale about the Google co-founder, from his birth in Russia and move to the U.S and, finally, success at Google. Nothing earth-shattering, though we think the theme… Continue Reading
Roundup: Genetics, Semel’s choke, Wikiseek, MySpace story and more
Round-up of the latest in Silicon Valley tech stuff:
Google-funded genetic start-up? — Anne Wojcicki, the biotech analyst who is reportedly engaged to Google co-founder Sergey Brin, has co-founded a Mountain View personal genetics startup, 23andMe, according to ValleyWag. According to the company’s site, it develops “tools… Continue Reading