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Is Google Poised for a New Push into the Information Industry?
Leigh Watson Healy, Google as Publisher: Is Google Poised for a New Push into the Information Industry? Outsell, May 2007. The report is not OA and not even close (it costs $1,295). But the thesis is interesting. From the press release:
by Peter Suber
A new Outsell, Inc. report on Google’s technology reveals that Google can enter the publishing industry at any time with the “flip of a switch.”
“News publishers and providers, book and magazine publishers, and directory providers are all in Google’s line of fire,” said Leigh Watson Healy, Chief Analyst, Outsell.
[The report]…looks at how Google’s technical infrastructure, patents and agile development processes give the company the readiness to enter the publishing segment, whether accidentally or intentionally. A unique feature of the report is a comprehensive list of Google’s publishing-related patents, which can be “powered up” under the right circumstances. Google has also assembled technologies that extend along the entire spectrum of publishing’s core functions—-from content acquisition to e-commerce and royalty payments.
According to Stephen E. Arnold, GGReport’s technology analyst, “Pundits focus on Google’s search and advertising business. Google has developed powerful content acquisition and publishing tools under the radar of most Wall Street analysts and publishers. Combined with Google’s Checkout, a payment system similar to eBay’s, Google can become a one-stop shop and disintermediate anyone between the author or content creator and the buyer.”
The Outsell report analyzes:
- Google’s content creation engine.
- The cost and automation advantages of Google’s “intelligent” publishing system over a traditional publisher’s operation—which represent formidable barriers to entry.
- Essential actions for existing publishers and information providers that want to remain competitive should Google make a move, such as quickly adopting an agile publishing platform.
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Jayawardene to lead Asia
Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene will lead Asia in three one-day internationals against Africa for the Afro-Asia Cup in India next month, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) said on Friday.
Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who missed the World Cup due to injury, has been included in the 14-member squad that also features axed India spinner Harbhajan Singh.
The one-dayers, which have been granted official status by the International Cricket Council, will be played in Bangalore (6 June) and Chennai (9 and 10 June).
The series will be preceded by a Twenty-20 match between the reserve players of the two continents in Bangalore on 5 June, ACC chief executive Ashraful Haq told reporters.
Asia’s one-day squad features five Sri Lankans who reached the World Cup final in the Caribbean: Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga and Upul Tharanga.
Two other Sri Lankan stars, Kumar Sangakkara and Muttiah Muralitharan, were not available for the series due to commitments in English county cricket, Haq said.
The squad includes five Indians in Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan. Indian captain Rahul Dravid opted out due to personal seasons, Haq said.
Pakistan will be represented by Mohammad Yousuf, Mohammad Asif and Akhtar while Mohammad Rafique is the lone player from Bangladesh which qualified for the second round of the World Cup.
The Asian squad was picked by the ACC’s four man selection panel of Chetan Chauhan (India), Mohsin Khan (Pakistan), Lalith Kaluperuma (Sri Lanka) and Abdul Farooque (Bangladesh).
Former India all-rounder Roger Binny was nominated coach of the continental team.
Africa will be captained by South Africa’s Graeme Smith, Haq said. The inaugural Afro-Asia Cup, which was played in South Africa in 2005, ended at 1-1 with the third match rained off.
Asia’s one-day squad: Mahela Jayawardene (SRI-capt), Sanath Jayasuriya (SRI), Sachin Tendulkar (IND), Virender Sehwag (IND), Mohammad Yousuf (PAK), Yuvraj Singh (IND), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (IND), Harbhajan Singh (IND), Chaminda Vaas (SRI), Shoaib Akhtar (PAK), Lasith Malinga (SRI), Mohammad Rafique (BAN), Mohammad Asif (PAK), Upul Tharanga (SRI).
Asia’s Twenty-20 team: Shoaib Malik (PAK-capt), Tamim Iqbal (BAN), Imran Nazir (PAK), Mohammad Ashraful (BAN), Tillekeratne Dilshan (SRI), Shahid Afridi (PAK), Kamran Akmal (PAK), Abdur Razzak (BAN), Farveez Maharoof (SRI), Mashrafe Mortaza (BAN), Munaf Patel (IND)
AFP
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Sri Lanka Cricketers Reception at President’s House
The politicos were up to it again. They flocked to where the cricketers were in droves, this time at President’s House on Tuesday evening where President Mahinda Rajapaksa hosted the team for a felicitation after the World Cup.
Some of the politicians were attired in casual wear that even the players were unsure of the people who came up to chat with them.
Pix: Sudath Silva – via Pat and Mangala LA
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Jayasuriya to sign up for Lashings
London, May 1 (IANS) Fresh from the World Cup, three Sri Lankan players – Russel Arnold, Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya – have committed their immediate futures to Lashings World XI, the Kent-based Harlem Globetrotters of cricket.
Alongside the players who have become the backbone of the club are team manager Alvin Kallicharran, captain Richie Richardson, vice-captain Chris Harris and Rashid Latif. Also new to the squad is South Africa’s Hashim Amla.
All four players will be heading for Britain this summer to join the Lashings squad for the start of their season.
“We are thrilled to be welcoming some of the world’s most exciting players to Lashings for the 2007 season. For the past 11 years, we have continued to strive to provide our audiences with some of the biggest names in world cricket, right here in the UK,” said David Folb, Lashings World XI chairman.
“Our aim is to inspire and entertain cricket fans of all ages, keeping the passion for the game alive. All our players are of equal value to us but we are delighted that from the youngest players at our school fixtures to the oldest armchair fan, everyone will be able to get close to some of big names they have been watching on TV throughout the World Cup,” he said.
The first fixture on Lashings World XI busy schedule is against Sedburgh School, Kendall, Cumbria May 25. This year, Lashings will be appearing at more venues across Britain than ever before, including – for the first time in the club’s history – a game in Northern Ireland.
The squad: Richie Richardson (WI), Henry Olonga (Zim), Chris Harris (NZ), Russel Arnold, Marvan Atapattu, Sanath Jayasuriya (all SL), Nantie Hayward, Hashim Amla (both SA), Greg Blewett (Aus), Rashid Latif (Pak), Alvin Kallicharran (WI), Phil DeFreitas (Eng)
Indo-Asian News Service
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The moment the cricketing world has been waiting for has dawned
Incidentally this is a repeat of the 1996 final when these two teams met in Lahore and the Lankans carried away the trophy.
Will history repeat itself? Well your guess is good as mine.
What happened in Lahore is now just a memory and what matters is how the teams will play today.
Man to man there is little to choose between the two teams.
And the team that will climb the podium and hold aloft the trophy for the cricketing world to see, would be the team that is not overawed by the occasion, riding the pressure and playing the better cricket.
Here, not only in the other Caribbean Islands, they all want Sri Lanka to win the final. The Aussies are anathema to them.
Firstly to the wicket and viewing it from the Crozier Stand where the media box is housed, it looks devoid of grass and seems to be a good one to bat.
The side aiming for 250 and over should hold the advantage.
‘As for the Lankans every member of the team is fit and well and available for selection.
We have still not decided on the playing eleven’, said manager Michael Tissera.
The Sri Lankans cotton wooled Lasith Malinga, Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitheran when they last played the Aussies hoping to unleash them against the opponents today.
However Muralitharan is the one the Aussies batsmen fear most. His ‘doosra’ – the one that goes the other way – spits venom at the batsmen and it is instant death to those who cannot read the delivery.
However the Australian supporters who are here in their numbers are sure to try and unsettle him by chanting ‘chuncker’, ‘chucker’ or ‘No ball’ even time he begins bowling.
That’s how cowardly the Aussies are. But Muralitharan is made of different stuff and the shouts should inspire him.
When the Lankans bat, it is paramount that Sanath Jayasuriya gets back into run making. He has the temperament for the big occasion and there is no doubt that the Aussies would be targeting him, for if they allow him to cut loose, then they will have to chase a lot of leather.
Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, skipper Mahela Jayawardena, Chamara Silva, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold and Chaminda Vaas are all capable of making runs and must do it.
In Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitheran and Chaminda Vaas are three match winning bowlers, with Jayasuriya and Dilshan for support.
The Lankans will target opener Matthew Hayden who is enjoying a harvest of runs with three centuries already in the bank, and skipper Ricky Ponting.
The Lankans know that if they can get these two early, then they can run through the rest of the Kangaroos batting.
Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait and Glen McGrath have all proved how good they are. If the early Lankan batsmen don’t gift them wickets, they could be frustrated.
The sides have some of the best fielders in the world and this aspect could play a big role if a team is to win.
Aussies are a bit jittery, knowing that they have still not had a bad day so far. And all Sri Lankans and their supporters are confident that today will be the day.
Kensington Oval, Barbados, Friday Courtesy:Daily News
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