June
18


In honor of today’s Firefox 3 release, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer team gave a cake to Mozilla. The tasty treat, which prominently displays IE’s blue “e” icon, just arrived here at Mozilla headquarters in Mountain View.

The cake congratulates Mozilla on shipping Firefox 3 and expresses love from the IE team. Microsoft’s IE developers also sent a cake to Mozilla in 2006 following the release of Firefox 2, so this is clearly becoming a tradition.

Portal jokes aside, the cake is a very friendly gesture of goodwill. As we have noted recently, the Internet Explorer team could learn a lot from Mozilla. Closer cooperation between Microsoft and Mozilla on standards and web innovation would be a big win for everyone. But until Microsoft gets its act straightened out, Mozilla will be eating Internet Explorer’s marketshare in addition to cake.

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February
11


Google is introducing an online business software package designed to make it easier for people in the same organization to share documents and information. The free “Team Edition” software, scheduled to debut Thursday, represents the Internet search leader’s latest attempt to attract more users to free applications, which poses a potential threat to rival Microsoft Corp.’s highly profitable word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and calendar programs. More than 500,000 businesses have signed up to use Google’s applications, according to figures to be released Thursday by the Mountain View-based company.

Some businesses pay $50 extra per user for a souped-up version of the applications, but the fees so far account for only a sliver of Google’s $16.6 billion in annual revenue. Google last year collected $181 million for software sales and other services besides online advertising.

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November
17


Hitech top British team in F3’s Jewel in the Crown

Marko Asmer took the runner-up spot in today’s qualifying race to secure a front row start for tomorrow’s Polytec Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix. The Hitech Racing driver took the early lead in the qualifier from pole-sitter Oliver Jarvis as the pack entered the first corner.

A multi-car accident ensued behind which eliminated Sebastien Buemi and Edoardo Mortara and held up many drivers behind. Further round the opening lap, Esteban Guerrieri also hit the wall, forcing the deployment of the safety car.

With the British F3 Champion at the front leading Jarvis and his team-mate Kazuya Oshima, things were looking good for Asmer to take victory. However when the race resumed after three laps behind the safety car, Jarvis got into the slipstream of the Hitech ace and powered his way past into the lead.

Asmer wasn’t giving up though and for the remaining laps, was right with the British A1GP race winner, pushing him all the way to the flag, which signalled a premature end to the race when first Niko Hulkenberg and Bruno Senna collided and then Atte Mustonen crashed out. With the race declared at just seven laps, Asmer crossed the line just over a second and a half adrift of Jarvis to secure another front row start for tomorrow’s main race.

“Marko did exactly what he needed to do today to guarantee a front row start for the main race,” said Hitech Racing team Principal David Hayle. “The real race is tomorrow and it was important to drive sensibly to get to the finish in a strong finishing position for it and that’s exactly what he did.”

For Asmer’s young team-mate, Austrian Walter Grubmüller, the qualifying race saw another mature drive from the 18 year-old on his first visit to the Guia street circuit. Starting from 27th position, Walter kept his head when those around him were losing theirs, gradually picking off cars ahead to get up to 16th place at the flag which will ensure an eighth row start for the F3 rookie in tomorrow’s Macau Grand Prix.

“Walter did an excellent job today,” said Hayle. “He started 27th and got up to 16th at the flag. If he can continue that performance tomorrow we could be looking at a top ten finish, which would be a fantastic result for him on his first visit here.”

The team’s third driver Michael Ho was unfortunately forced out after three laps after a collision with another car which caused a broken rear wishbone and front wing.

Tomorrow’s 54th running of the Macau Grand Prix, the Polytec Formula 3 Grand Prix, will commence at 15.30pm local time.

Results of the Qualification Race – 7 laps

1. Oliver Jarvis Team Reckless Tom’s Dallara-Toyota Tom’s 20min 35.911secs

2. Marko Asmer Hitech Racing Dallara-Mercedes +1.687secs

3. Kazuya Oshima Team Reckless Tom’s Dallara-Toyota Tom’s +3.159secs

4. James Jakes Manor Motorsport Dallara-Mercedes +4.722secs

5. Sam Bird Carlin Motorsport Dallara-Mercedes +5.595secs

6. Yelmer Buurman Manor Motorsport Dallara-Mercedes +6.563secs

16. Walter Grubmüller Hitech Racing Dallara-Mercedes +23.579secs