Chapter 5: Fruitful functions

scaffolding : Code that is used during program development but is not part of the final version.
guardian : A condition that checks for and handles circumstances that might cause an error.

Why Python? | Linux Journal

Why Python? | Linux Journal: "A language that makes it hard to write elegant code makes it hard to write good code."

Now, Google Is Tackling Talk

Now, Google Is Tackling Talk

Nickname: Amber Ved
Review: Release of Google "Talk? & "Desktop? is good. Interoperability between various chat and telephony s/w like from Yahoo, MSN will be a windfall for the users. Finally, we might be able to use one software to chat and/or talk with everyone we know. But, before this, it would be interesting to see how the big (Yahoo MSN) & elder (Skype AOL) brothers will respond, given the fact that the two new offerings from Google are directly pointing guns at Yahoo and menacing Microsoft, while competing with AOL and Skype. Surely, we are in for some nail-biting times. Exciting as these times may seem for Google, it needs to answer the three big questions, which it faces today: How to generate revenues from these products? How to keep up the pace with the competition? And how not to became a traditional software company? Well, whatever it may be we all investors, users, and the tech community are in for exiting times along with the bellwethers of the software world.
Date reviewed: Aug 24, 2005 10:09 AM

Now, Google Is Tackling Talk

Google Talk

Google Talk: "We have anew IM client on the horizon now, called “Google Talk”

As the name it’s from Google & allows its text and voice chat both.

Here are few pictures


When you add a friend this is what he hears from Google

I've been using Google Talk and thought you might like to try it out.

We can use it to call each other for free over the internet. Here's an 

invitation to download Google Talk.  Give it a try!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Vikram Jain has invited you to sign up for Google Talk so you can

talk to each other for free over your computers.

To go to the Google Talk download page, visit:

http://mail.google.com/mail/talk/download

Google Talk is a downloadable Windows application that offers:

- Free calls over your computer anytime, from anywhere, and for as long 

  as you want

- A simple and intuitive user interface for sending instant messages 

  or making calls--no clutter, pop-ups or ads

- Superior voice quality through just a microphone and computer speaker 

- A shared Gmail contacts list that updates automatically with the 

people 

  you communicate with most often

Once you download Google Talk, just sign in with your Gmail username 

and password. You can then begin inviting anyone you want to talk to 

for free. Google Talk lets you email your contacts directly using 

Gmail and you can even receive new Gmail message notifications.   

Google Talk works with any computer speaker and microphone, such as 

the ones built-in to many PC laptops today, as well as with wired 

and wireless headsets and USB phones. Google Talk also works across 

all firewalls.

Google Talk is still in beta. Just like with Gmail, we're working 

hard to add features and make improvements, so we might also ask for 

your comments and suggestions periodically. We appreciate your help 

in making it even better!

Thanks,

The Google Talk Team

Now a million $ Question…What’s new with this IM ?

This is what Google has to says Page from Google website

Client Choice with Google Talk

The Google Talk service is built to support industry standards. You can connect to the Google Talk service using Google's own client, as well as many other IM clients developed by third parties. Use the table below to help you choose which client is best for you.


So is Google getting ready to go after Yahoo, MSN and Skype? Seems so to me..
But can Google pull this one off too? The time will tell

"

Skype: On The Block

Skype: On The Block

Nickname: Amber
Review: Quality of voice calls via Skype is simply great. Compared to what other competitors offer (including MSN and Yahoo), Skype seems to have superior technology and, from a business point of view, they have the early bird advantage. Skype has been projected to be a disruptive technology to telecom (as E-mail was to vs. P-mail). That's correct. But, that's also what is technology and the technology business model. Also, when everyone agrees to view Skype as a destructive technology, competing directly with Telecoms, $3 billion doesn't seem to be that huge. Does it?
Date reviewed: Aug 12, 2005 5:26 AM

what goes around comes around

Rightly so..