Gates Retires

Breaking News Headlines and Video from CBS News

Just in from CBS news that Microsoft Corp. has announced that co-founder and chairman Bill Gates is relinquishing daily duties in 2008 to work more closely with his foundation. Gates will continue to serve as chairman and adviser on key projects. Details promised at the above link shortly.

Whether this will result in major policy changes for the monolith corporation remains to be seen. Although the new Vista operating system is due shortly, there are rivals available. More importantly, their services are under threat from Google's online facilities and other specialised portals. Gates is clearly rich enough not to worry, but the days of patching together a commercial implementation of other people's ideas are over. Microsoft need to find themselves a new direction - one which doesn't rely on monopolisation. Their leading user interface is probably their most valuable property - it needs to become more adaptable and friendly for those who seek its co-operation with systems of the future.

As Bill continues with other pursuits, maybe a new visionary will take the helm.

Change could be in the air. Today, the chief of IBM (they of the original operating systems) has called for An end to "Colonial Attitudes" in companies. CBS also have a feature on Closing the Digital Divide.

The US government is increasingly resorting to data mining as, Google are launching a sub-search-engine specifically designed to sort through all the data the government has. Another of Google's technologies now actually "listens" to TV broadcasts over the web to index the content.

On the ground and over here, Ireland will now be searching all US planes landing on its soil after allegations of rendition flights got serious as the cleaners found a prisoner. In Iraq, around 60 British soldiers a month are being diagnosed with mental illness whilst the new local government is pardoning many insurgents - some of which are known US attackers. Maybe the latter is in return for Bush's presumptive behaviour a few fews ago.

The UK labour governmet has been revealed to have forced near one and a half million pensioners onto state benefits by implementing tax rises they cannot afford by themselves. Our law lords have also decided that Britain's arms deals are more worthy of protection than torture victims by refusing to allow a prosecution of Saudi Arabia.

Thanks to some great facilities from the folks at "You Tube" you will now be seeing more video features directly in this blog. Primarily, this will allow you to listen to some great historical music clips while you read and also re-run key political programmes and satire. Enjoy.

Later.