a new version of the Google Toolbar was launched. if you already have the version 2.x, the toolbar is checking and downloading new versions by itself. you surely heard something about the “spyware” controversy (eg : an article in pcmag) on the Net if you are activating the advanced features (PageRank). i must say, the official Toolbar Privacy Policy is very clear concerning the information which are sent or not. take 2 minutes to read it! do not forget that you can turn off this advanced option whenever you want ;-)

Google Toolbar v2.0.108

a quite interesting article from Jeff Sonas about the “man vs. machine” chess fight. He doesn’t “believe that computers will inevitabely surpass the top humans”! Another refreshing perspective concerning this discussion.

i could visit Seville in the South of Spain for about 2 years. You can find some pictures of this trip here (also night shots). i’ve also integrated some pictures from a nice place where i am working (switzerland – zurich), ie the so-called top-of-zurich, where you have a quite marvelous view on the city and its lake. last but not leat, i’ve added some shots from the Vienna city in Austria.

you have surely already heard something about Skype, the P2P telephone tool. we tested it this morning (between France and Switzerland) and it is really working great!! the sound quality is better than the one with cell or fix phone, definitely. No latency appeared. And…last but not least, no “special” configuration to do, although my contacts and i were behind firewalls / routeurs / proxys :-) i must say, i am impressed.

skype beta v0.97.0.3

if you are interested in – confronted with the IT outsourcing theme , i can really recommend you the following article. A great summary of the (underestimated) challenges in this field ;-)

The dangers of outsourcing (and what to do about them), CIO magazine, D. Clarke