This was Google's first attempt at a public meetup (they're doing meetups in several cities), and no one really knew what to expect. It turned out to be a fairly informal happy hour--Googlers circled the room wearing nametags (see Exhibit A, right) and you'd just flag one down and say something like, "So, like, explain this API thing to me." more ›

You can download the beta 2 version of Microsoft's IE8 if you want. We are not that brave, but you should totally do it and tell us what it's like, maybe after the reinstall. While IE Ocho is supposed to be "quicker" than something slower, the new, counterintuitive feature that has previewing journalists in a lather is something called "InPrivate Browsing" (aka "porn mode"). We say counterintuitive, because Redmond has not established themselves as basecamp alpha of privacy concerns. Yet here they are with a browser that lets you selectively keep or delete cookies. Also, for the rest of today, up is down, black is white. [UPDATE:] Alert reader Bilco tips us off that XP service pack 3 may lock in IE8, so once it's installed, you're stuck with it. Now, that's more like the Microsoft we know and love. Of course a beta install should be permanent. more ›

Goofus, Schmoofus. Microsoft asks "Where do you want to go today?" Then Microsoft invests in an investigation service to track your movements and figure out if you're really doing what you said you'd be doing:

IF YOU thought you could protect your privacy on the web by lying about your personal details, think again. In online communities at least, entering fake details such as a bogus name or age may no longer prevent others from working out exactly who you are. more ›