Google and the seven dwarfs

Google's collection of Web properties somtimes seem unconnected and disorganized. But there's a common thread between Print Ads, Audio Ads, TV Ads, Checkout, YouTube, Postini and DoubleClick. Can you guess what it is? More »

The poetic stylings of Sand Hill Road

We're used to venture capitalists having, um, "wild" and "exciting" hobbies in their downtime. Like Bill Tai of Charles River Ventures, who spends his time kitesurfing. Or Kleiner Perkins founder Tom Perkins, the yachting enthusiast. Or First Round Capital's Josh Kopelman, who dabbled in indoor skydiving. Venture capitalists are supposed to be daring and innovative, which is why we can't get our heads around this latest trend: VC as poet. After the jump, a brief history of the genre — and the latest atrocious example. More »

Yet another Google acquisition

Google trumpets its legions of PhDs, exorbitant benefits, and 20-percent time for side projects as incubators for innovation which produces its industry-leading software. So why is Google acquiring Postini, makers of enterprise communication security products, for $625 million? Because 20-percent time is a myth: Few employees use it, and those who do mostly waste it on cute tech indulgences, not credible and profitable business-class products. And because Google's developer expertise is specialized and consumer-focused, not enterprise-ready. More »