[SpikeMonday] Google indexes 0.003% of the Internet, Robots make it in the desert, USB pencil sharpener

300 years is an awfully long time, and apparently thats how long it would take for Google to index all of the content available on the internet.  They reckon there is some 5,000,000 terrabytes of data and to date they are only crawling 170 terebytes of it.  Eh?  No wonder I can never find the answers I am looking for.  But it does illustrate just how vast the Internet really is and while we think that Google is the all powering mirror of the Internet, they have a long way to go in the journey and plenty of time for the search engine wars to heat up once more.

• http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=26803

With the X-Prize having now been won, one of the other long standing competitions has also now been nailed over the weekend.  The DARPA agency has been sponsoring a program to have completely autonomous vehicles travel unaided 240km over rough terrain.  This weekend was the latest annual attempt and for the first time, not only did 1 vehicle manage it this year, but 4 of them did!  The vehicles are not remotely controlled and are completely on their own.  Quite a remarkable feat, and no doubt this technology, once been deployed to blow up some rogue nation will eventually makes it way to the main stream.

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4319570.stm

It has been a wee while since we brought you some cool, but completely useless, USB gadget.  That said this one I wouldn't say is that useless, but definitely falls under the category of why?.  Akihabara news this mornings spots a pencil sharpener that is powered from the USB port.  And if thats not enough features for you, then how about if I told you it flashes neon in a funky style?  You're wanting one now aren't you?

• http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news-10386-The+USB+pencil+sharpener.html

tags: usb  google  robots  

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