What's on my mind? What's on my mind?

What's on my mind? What's on my mind? Gah... I don't know - wait, let me think... oh, I've blocked up, I'm sure there was something...

I mean, what's with Facebook? You knew where you were with "What are you doing?", or just plain old "status" - now they want a period of deep self-examination before you change your status. I can imagine men the world over, a cold chill running down their spine - "Oh no, they want to know what I'm thinking - where've I heard that before?" Well, I'm just not sure I'm ready to lay my soul bare on Facebook.

Two cynical theories:

1) Twitter - nuff said

2) They figured that they could target more keyword-based advertising that way, because if they know you're thinking about shopping, well, the sky's the limit...

So please, before you reveal your innermost thoughts to the world at large - THINK!

Too late for netBook genericide?

Are you the proud owner of a netbook? Perhaps an Asus, Dell or MSI netbook?

No you're not - according to Psion there is only one "netBook" and that trademark was registered by them as early as 1996.

A number of sites using "netbook" in one generic sense or another received cease and desist letters from Psion at the end of December informing them as much, and many, like this site selling used netbooks, have opted to shut up shop rather than risk legal problems.

The story continues in the last few days with Dell pushing to "relieve" Psion of their trademark.

With Amazon and eBay sellers using the term "netbook" with impunity, and most customers using the term generically, probably unaware that there even is a Psion netBook, it is hard to see how a claim to the trademark can be sustained by Psion for much longer.

Microsoft now bribing you to use their search

Microsoft are so desperate to get a piece of the Google search pie that they are resorting to bribery again! Yes, in a repeat of their UK Big Snap campaign from February 2008, they have launched Big Snap Search II, in which you can possibly (not) win some prizes in the form of - TA-DAAA, some John Lewis coupons - nice!

What's the catch? Well, for a chance to match two different-valued coupons and win the prize, you have to, wait for it, USE Live Search TO SEARCH FOR SOMETHING!

Now come on, what do they take us for...? If they think we're going to fall for that...

Still, if you really want those coupons and you are furiously typing random search terms into the search field as we speak, think about the possibility that it is on some kind of timer and totally disregards the actual quantity of searches made.

As for dislodging the big G with the help of bribery, it just ain't gonna work, Google has it sewn up, end of story. Anyway, Live Search has hardly even indexed The StoreMinator yet - it can't be much good.

Hmmm, still, John Lewis you say... Might as well have ONE more try...