16 posts and columns on computer science

Silicon Valley's Latest Geek: Barbie Gets a CS Degree

in News on November 23, 2010 at 11:00 am PT

Of course, All Things Digital went. How could we not, what with Microsoft, Mattel and the Girl Scouts of America holding a joint event last week to talk up their new partnership aimed at halting the expanding gender gap in the tech sector. Their weapon of choice? Barbie.

FTC Gives Ed Felten Freedom to Tinker

in News on November 4, 2010 at 11:55 am PT

Looks like the Federal Trade Commission got its first choice of Chief Technologist, because it’s hard to think of anyone better to serve in that capacity than Princeton computer science professor Ed Felten, a guy whose CV makes everyone from Microsoft to Diebold shudder in embarrassment.

Video: Marc Andreessen Talks About the New $650 Million Fund Burning a Hole in His Pocket

in News on November 3, 2010 at 5:23 am PT

As BoomTown wrote recently, Andreessen Horowitz finally officially announced a new investment fund it had been raising. The high-profile entrepreneur-led venture firm pulled in $650 million from its existing limited partners, as well as some new ones. Its last fund was $300 million. Here is partner Marc Andreessen in a video interview talking about what his firm is going to do with the new pile of moola.

Almost Famous: Pat Hanrahan of Tableau

in News on February 26, 2010 at 6:16 pm PT

This week: We dropped by the Gates Computer Science building at Stanford University for an interview with Pat Hanrahan. He isn’t just a professor of computer science and electrical engineering–he’s also the chief technology officer at Tableau, a software start-up that specializes in data visualization for businesses. Why do we think he’s the epitome of geek-chic? Maybe because he’s also a two-time Oscar winner. Seriously.

World War WAN: Google Hack Traced to Schools in China

in News on February 19, 2010 at 5:33 am PT

The online attacks that inspired Google’s “new approach to China” have been traced to computers at two educational institutions in the country, including one with ties to the Chinese military. Anonymous sources close to the investigation into the attacks, which targeted dozens of American corporations, tell the New York Times they originated at Shanghai Jiaotong University and the Lanxiang Vocational School.

CES: Steve Ballmer Keynote

in News on January 6, 2010 at 6:00 pm PT

Steve Ballmer is delivering his annual state-of-Microsoft address at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas tonight–the second he’s given since taking over the duties of former CEO Bill Gates. If anything like last year’s, Ballmer’s address will offer a broad overview of Microsoft’s consumer strategy for the year, touching on everything from the company’s hardware-software ecosystem to its home entertainment offerings. Likely to figure prominently in tonight’s address: Windows 7 and the new touch-enabled PC form factors it has evidently inspired; Bing; and Natal, Microsoft’s controller-less game control system, which will launch in time for the 2010 holidays.
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New Yorker: Bezos' Initial Google Investment Was $250K in 1998 Because "I Just Fell in Love With Larry and Sergey"

in News on October 5, 2009 at 9:30 pm PT

Considering the ongoing skirmishes going on right now between Amazon and Google over digital book publishing, it’s more than ironic that Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos was one of only a few initial investors in the search giant. But–in one of the many interesting details in New Yorker author Ken Auletta’s new book, “Googled: The End Of The World As We Know It”–it was indeed Bezos who invested $250,000 in the start-up in 1998 at four cents a share. Not that there’s anything wrong with that! There’s a great excerpt in the New Yorker this week.
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Bartz to Be Named Yahoo CEO: Now What's Next?

in News on January 13, 2009 at 10:12 am PT

It looks like Carol Bartz will be taking on the thankless role as new Yahoo CEO. Sources close to the situation told BoomTown–which had first named the former Autodesk CEO the top pick for the top job at the troubled Internet company last week–that Bartz has been approved for the job by the Yahoo board and has accepted it. The Wall Street Journal is also reporting the move. But can the experienced tech exec turn Yahoo around?