Latest news with #InternetExplorer
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Primary election is May 20. Learn who is running for Waynesboro Borough Council in Ward 2
Pennsylvania's primary election is May 20 and one of the positions on the ballot is a Second Ward seat on Waynesboro Borough Council. The Second Ward is north of Main Street and west of Church Street. Brandon Boldyga and Ascohi Helman are running in the primary for the opportunity to be the Republican candidate in the November general election. More election information: Learn about First Ward Waynesboro Borough Council candidates No Democrats are running for borough council. We asked the GOP candidates in the borough council race to respond to a few questions via email. Below are their responses, listed in the order their names appear on the ballot. Their responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length. Age: 39 Town: Born in Annapolis, Maryland; Raised in Deale, Maryland; Live in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania (Ward 2) Education: Bachelors in Urban and Regional Planning from Frostburg State University (2007) Professional Experience: Department of Defense (DoD), 2008-2013; Town of Myersville Planning and Zoning Administrator, 2013-2025; Waynesboro Shade Tree Commission, 2020-2022; Waynesboro Zoning Hearing Board, 2022-2025 I decided to seek this office to use my skills and knowledge of municipal government to serve my local community. In my opinion, the top three issues facing the Borough of Waynesboro are: 1. Funding road and street maintenance projects 2. Funding public safety programs and public safety staffing for both fire and police protection 3. Smart growth and downtown redevelopment These are the predominant issues raised while campaigning thus far. Citizens should vote for me because I am the most qualified candidate to serve Waynesboro Ward 2. I have 13 years of municipal government administration experience and currently serve on the Waynesboro Zoning Hearing Board. I understand the parameters of municipal government and the issues that municipal officials face. If elected, I will do everything in my power to pursue the best interests of the residents of Ward 2 and the Borough of Waynesboro. I pledge to follow core conservative values and fiscally responsible practices, putting the Borough in a position to succeed moving forward. Age: 59 Town: Waynesboro Education: Experienced in utilizing computers and information technology within the context of business and management. This expertise encompasses a thorough understanding of how digital tools and systems can enhance operational efficiency, data management, and overall strategic decision-making in a business environment. Professional Experience: Proficient in Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, Google Drive, and Google Calendar, with strong expertise in spreadsheet applications. I excel in navigating computer and IT applications in a business environment, consistently delivering tasks efficiently and punctually. I have effectively managed all aspects of personnel functions, including staff supervision, hiring practices, store policies, and employee terminations when necessary. I have established a stellar reputation with customers as a knowledgeable, capable, and approachable professional. My decision to seek Borough Council office stems from my deep belief in the transformative power of local government to enhance lives and strengthen our community. I am driven by a passion for making Waynesboro a better place for everyone, and I view serving on the borough council as a meaningful opportunity to bring that vision to life. 1. Economic Development & Job Creation: It is essential for the Borough to take proactive steps in attracting new businesses and supporting the growth of existing enterprises. This can be achieved by creating incentives for small and medium-sized businesses and promoting Waynesboro as an ideal location for investment. By focusing on technology, manufacturing, and tourism, we can stimulate job growth, reduce unemployment, and enhance the overall economic vitality of the community, ultimately improving the quality of life for all residents. 2. Infrastructure & Public Services: The foundation of any thriving community lies in its infrastructure. Waynesboro must prioritize the maintenance and enhancement of its roads, public transit systems, and utilities to ensure they meet the needs of a growing population. Additional investment in modern public services such as waste management, water supply, and emergency services, is crucial. Upgrading these systems not only supports current residents but also attracts potential newcomers by demonstrating our commitment to a safe and efficient living environment. 3. Community Engagement & Planning: Active participation from residents in shaping the Borough's future is paramount. Developing avenues for community engagement, such as public forums, surveys, and workshops, will enable residents to voice their opinions and contribute to planning initiatives. I firmly believe that I would excel in this position for several reasons, most notably my unwavering commitment to high expectation in every role I accomplish. If granted this opportunity, I will wholeheartedly represent the interests of all individuals, regardless of their backgrounds or perspectives. I am dedicated to ensuring that every voice is both heard and truly valued. My pursuit of excellence uniquely positions me as a strong candidate for this role. In previous positions, I have consistently thrived in dynamic and high-pressure environments, delivering remarkable results. I have fostered effective working relationships with colleagues, which contributes to a professional and positive team atmosphere. Furthermore, my optimistic approach and customer service skills enable me to adapt swiftly and efficiently to a variety of business challenges. Polls will be open for in-person voting from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 20. Mail-in and absentee ballots must be returned to the Franklin County Voter Registration Office by 8 p.m. on May 20. Ballots must physically be in the office by that time, a May 20 postmark is not sufficient. More election information: Learn about who is running for mayor of Waynesboro Only registered Republicans and Democrats can vote in the primary election. Additional information, including sample ballots, can be found on the Franklin County website. This article originally appeared on Waynesboro Record Herald: Brandon Boldyga, Ascohi Helman running for Waynesboro Borough Council
Mint
13-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Why AI is central to the new browser wars
Despite launching Chrome only in 2008, Google turned it into the world's most popular browser, with a 65% share. Chrome played a key role in Google retaining its monopoly in search, where its share is nearly 90%. Now, in an ongoing trial, the US government may force the tech giant to sell its browser as a remedy for its monopoly in search. Some see similarities between this and a landmark case in 1998, when the US government alleged that Microsoft abused its monopoly in operating systems by bundling its Internet Explorer browser with Windows, making it difficult for rival browsers like Netscape to compete. While there are parallels, this time it is different because artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the entire digital landscape, including how users search for information online. Also Read: OpenAI follows Google's product-marketing playbook to steal search giant's lunch The ongoing remedies phase follows an August 2024 ruling that the company illegally maintained a monopoly in online search and used a flywheel effect to establish dominance. A key focus was on Google's deals with smartphone manufacturers. This included, for example, a payment of $26 billion in 2021, including $18 billion to Apple. With a large user base, it could collect more data, which improved the product, attracting even more users. The US government has proposed behavioural and structural remedies, the most significant of which was to force Google to sell its Chrome browser. It has also proposed that Google should end its exclusive default search agreements with device manufacturers like Apple and that it should license its search results to competitors. The AI effect The current case is also important in the context of AI, which has impacted both browsers and search. Now, many users get information online through conversations with chatbots, rather than through search engines. As a result, Google is facing the heat on multiple fronts: from search-focused AI companies such as Perplexity (which has about 15 million active users) to AI model creators such as OpenAI and Grok (with integrated search features in their chatbots). They are all well-funded. Then, there are traditional rivals such as Microsoft, integrating AI into its browser, Edge. New AI players are getting into browsers, too. Perplexity plans to launch Comet, integrating autonomous AI agents for tasks like research and decision-making. OpenAI reportedly also plans to launch its browser. Both Perplexity and OpenAI (besides Yahoo!) have expressed interest in buying Chrome, as it would give them control over a key 'access point' and also valuable data. Intelligent devices New AI companies are also equally worried about the deals Google has made with smartphone makers to consolidate its position in search because it is extending to AI, too. Google reached a deal with Samsung to pre-install the Gemini AI app on its devices, and hopes to reach an agreement with Apple to make Gemini available through Apple Intelligence on iPhones. Also Read: Google's ad-tech dominance is easier to fix than its search monopoly Last month, Perplexity AI's chief business officer, Dmitry Shevelenko, testified that Motorola was unable to change the default assistant from Google due to existing obligations, 'despite both parties wanting it to be". Similarly, OpenAI indicated that Google's ability to outspend startups kept device makers like Samsung from making pre-installation deals. Apple and Samsung had a 39% share in smartphone shipments in Q4 of 2024, according to Counterpoint Research. They have little incentive to switch to other services since they get billions of dollars from Google. Marketing muscle Outspending competitors in such deals has long been part of the traditional playbook for big companies to maintain dominance. However, with disruptive technologies such as AI, product innovation plays a bigger role. That's how OpenAI could garner a billion users in less than three years. Yet, startups tend to struggle to break the well-entrenched connections forged by incumbents beyond a point. It's especially true with Google, which has also been innovating on AI. The gap between its marketing spend and research & development expenses has widened in the past three years. Still, an adverse ruling could open the gates for newer players. Besides the ongoing trial, Google is also preparing to face another remedies trial, scheduled to begin this September, in the online advertising market. AI will play an increasingly important role here, too. In both cases, Google has vowed to appeal if there is an adverse ruling. Also Read: Mint Primer: What if ChatGPT's AI search engine clicks with users? is a database and search engine for public data.
CNA
05-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
Skype to ring for last time today after over two decades of connecting people across the world
After two decades of connecting people, Skype will ring for the last time on May 5. Microsoft is retiring the internet calling pioneer, as it sharpens focus on its newer flagship platform, Teams. Skype's sunset marks another chapter in Microsoft's graveyard of mishandled high-stakes bets — joining the likes of Internet Explorer and Windows Phone. Microsoft bought Skype in 2011 for US$8.5 billion, outbidding Google and Facebook. Back then, Skype had 150 million monthly users. But in 2020, that dropped to just 23 million. Microsoft says Teams has 320 million active users today.
RTHK
05-05-2025
- Business
- RTHK
Microsoft to shut down Skype on May 5
Microsoft to shut down Skype on May 5 Skype will become the latest in a series of high-flying bets that Microsoft has mishandled, such as the Internet Explorer web browser and its Windows Phone. File photo: AFP Skype will ring for the last time on Monday as owner Microsoft retires the two-decade-old internet calling service that redefined how people connect across borders. Founded in 2003, Skype's audio and video calls quickly disrupted the landline industry in the early 2000s and made the company a household name boasting hundreds of millions of users at its peak. But the platform has struggled to keep up with easier-to-use and more reliable rivals such as Zoom and Slack in recent years. The decline was partly because Skype's underlying technology was not suited for the smartphone era. When the pandemic and work-from-home fuelled the need for online business calls, Microsoft batted for Teams by aggressively integrating it with other Office apps to tap corporate users. Skype will become the latest in a series of high-flying bets that Microsoft has mishandled, such as the Internet Explorer web browser and its Windows Phone. Other big tech firms have also struggled with online communication tools, with Google making several attempts through apps including Hangouts and Duo. Microsoft declined to share the latest user figures for Skype and said there would be no job cuts due to the move. It added that Teams has about 320 million monthly active users. When Microsoft bought Skype in 2011 for US$8.5 billion after outbidding Google and Facebook – its largest deal at the time – the service had around 150 million monthly users. By 2020, that number had fallen to roughly 23 million, despite a brief resurgence during the pandemic. (Reuters)
Globe and Mail
04-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Do Google's Antitrust Woes Make Alphabet Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold?
Shareholders of Google's parent Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL)(NASDAQ: GOOG) are going through a rough patch. In the past year, Google lost two major antitrust cases aimed at the heart of its business. Last August, Google's search engine was deemed an illegal monopoly. Then in April, the tech giant suffered another legal defeat in an antitrust case involving its digital advertising business. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More » Does this double blow signal it's time for Alphabet shareholders to sell their stock? Perhaps the prudent approach is holding shares and waiting out the storm. Or considering Alphabet stock is well below the 52-week high of $207.05 reached in February, is now the time to scoop up shares? Evaluating a course of action requires diving into the company in more detail. A look at Alphabet's antitrust losses The court rulings against Google understandably raise concerns about the company's future. After all, the search engine brought in $50.7 billion of Alphabet's $90.2 billion in first-quarter revenue through advertising. However, the company plans to appeal the verdicts, so the antitrust cases could play out in court for years. Additionally, it's insightful to examine a similar situation Microsoft faced when it lost an antitrust lawsuit in 1998 over bundling its Internet Explorer web browser and ubiquitous Windows software. The court ordered the breakup of Microsoft, but the tech titan won its appeal, and the case was settled without a breakup. So Alphabet's defeat in these antitrust cases doesn't signal a dire situation for the company at this point. That said, rather than the antitrust lawsuits, an arguably bigger challenge to Google's business is the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Is AI the real threat to Google? According to research firm Gartner, search engine usage is set to drop by a massive 25% in 2026 as people favor AI tools instead. These apps include OpenAI's ChatGPT. Google is racing to stay relevant to consumers with the creation of its own AI capabilities. The company injected AI-generated results in searches, and is experiencing excellent outcomes. Google's Q1 search revenue rose from $46.2 billion in 2024 to $50.7 billion this year. Its new AI Overview is used by over 1.5 billion people per month, and Google is generating revenue at the same rate as before the introduction of its AI features. AI is a key component in many areas of Alphabet's company. For example, its Waymo autonomous car business relies on AI to make driving decisions. Waymo serviced 4 million passenger trips in 2024, and at the end of Q1, weekly paid passenger rides were up fivefold from the prior year. Waymo is expanding into new markets in 2025, demonstrating the success of Alphabet's AI under the demanding conditions of vehicle driving. Artificial intelligence is so important to Alphabet's future, the company is investing heavily in its AI infrastructure. Last year it spent $52.5 billion in capital expenditures, and it's spending even more in 2025, upping the investment to $75 billion. The company can do this because of its hefty free cash flow (FCF). In Q1, Alphabet produced $19 billion in FCF. What to do with Alphabet stock After unpacking Google's situation post-antitrust verdicts, selling Alphabet shares seems a hasty move right now. The court cases are likely to drag on for some time as Alphabet appeals. So any impact to its business could be years away, or even minimal, if Alphabet wins an appeal as Microsoft did. Therefore, if you're a shareholder, hang on to Alphabet stock. But what about investing in Alphabet? Its stock price dropped over recent weeks due to a stock market crash, which hit after President Donald Trump unveiled his "Liberation Day" tariff plans on April 2, and the second antitrust ruling, announced April 17. These factors contributed to Alphabet stock's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio falling to its lowest level in a year. Data by YCharts. Consequently, Alphabet's P/E multiple is the lowest among its top competitors in the digital advertising space, meaning its stock is the best value. Facebook parent Meta Platforms is second only to Google in the digital ad industry, while Amazon is in third place. Google's ability to increase revenue, and successfully incorporate AI, coupled with Alphabet's attractive P/E ratio, makes its stock a worthwhile long-term investment. So if you own shares, consider adding to your position. If you don't have Alphabet stock, now is a good time to buy. Should you invest $1,000 in Alphabet right now? Before you buy stock in Alphabet, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Alphabet wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $623,685!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $701,781!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor 's total average return is906% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to164%for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of April 28, 2025 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Robert Izquierdo has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends Gartner and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
