SAN FRANCISCO - Google Inc. is releasing its own Web browser in a long-anticipated move aimed at countering the dominance of Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer and ensuring easy access to its market-leading search engine.

The Mountain View-based company took the unusual step of announcing its latest product on the Labor Day holiday after it prematurely sent out a comic book drawn up to herald the new browser's arrival.

The free browser, called "Chrome," is supposed to be available for downloading Tuesday in more than 100 countries for computers running on Microsoft's Windows operating system. Google said it's still working on versions compatible with Apple Inc.'s Mac computer and the Linux operating system.

Google's browser is expected to hit the market a week after Microsoft's unveiling of a test version of its latest browser update, Internet Explorer 8. The tweaks include more tools for Web surfers to cloak their online preferences, creating a shield that could make it more difficult for Google and other marketing networks to figure out which ads are most likely to appeal to which individuals.

Although Google is using a cartoonish approach to promote Chrome, the new browser underscores the gravity of Google's rivalry with Microsoft, whose Internet Explorer is used by about 75 percent of Web surfers.

Google's lead in the lucrative Internet search market is nearly as commanding, with its engine processing nearly two-thirds of the Web's queries.

For the past few years, Google has been trying to take advantage of its search engine's popularity to loosen Microsoft's grip on how most people interact with personal computers.

The assault so far has been focused on a bundle of computer programs, including word processing and spreadsheet applications, that Google offers as an alternative to one of Microsoft's biggest money makers, its Office suite of products.

Google has tried to make its alternatives more appealing and accessible by hosting them for free over Internet connections instead of requiring users to pay a licensing fee to install them on individual computers, as Microsoft typically does.

Meanwhile, Microsoft has tried to thwart Google by investing billions in the development of its own search engine and making an unsuccessful attempt to buy Yahoo Inc. for $47.5 billion.

The tensions between Microsoft and Google now seem likely to escalate with Google's foray into Web browsing.

Until now, Google had been trying to under

After an intense 12-hour competition, Kavitha Yalavarthi of Odessa, TX emerged the champion of FUN Technologies’ first-ever WorldWide Web Games (W3Games) and winner of the million-dollar grand prize. Yalavarthi outlasted 70 of the world’s top casual gamers, who made the trip to Hollywood for a chance to be named the “World’s Best Casual Gamer.”

The head-to-head event, hosted by Todd Newton (“WHAMMY”, “Game$how Marathon,” “Made in the USA”), and produced by Base Camp Films, took place on September 9th and will air on GSN (Game Show Network) in December 2006. The competition consisted of six rounds of strategic game play in three of the most popular casual games, Bejeweled 2, Solitaire and Zuma. Gaining top rankings early on,
Yalavarthi established herself as the competitor to beat.

Yalavarthi, an aspiring law student and honors graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, got her start playing casual games by challenging her mother to friendly competitions online. She plans to use her winnings to purchase her first home with her new fiance, who accompanied her to the competition.

Shortly after winning the million-dollar prize, Yalavarthi woke her parents with a late-night call to break the news. “Mom, Dad, you know those casual games that I play online?” Yalavarthi asked. “Well, they’re not so casual anymore. I just won the $1 million grand prize.”

Each participant in the W3Games qualified by playing online tournaments at FUN Technologies’ casual games sites, WorldWinner and SkillJam, or at any of FUN’s partner sites including GSN.com, MSN Games and Real Networks. The 71 contestants, ranging in age from 20 to 63, represented six countries and 22 U.S. states.

“Yesterday’s competition elevated skill games to a new level,” said Lorne Abony, CEO, FUN Technologies. “For the first time, online casual gamers faced off in a live event that culminated with the largest prize ever awarded in a skill games championship.”

Yalavarthi won by the narrowest of margins, defeating Amy Demerath of Green Bay, Wis. Speaking of her future plans, Yalavarthi commented, “I just got engaged two weeks ago. I have no idea what I’m going to do next. Life is unbelievable. Life is good.”


http://www.funtechnologies.com/image...s_09_10_06.pdf

Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros has come out on top in a new poll of the greatest games of all time.

The list was voted for by over 2,000 gamers through onepoll.com.

‘Old skool’ titles such as Pac Man, Donkey Kong and Frogger did particularly well in the list.

John Sewell, spokesman for Onepoll :: Homepage, said: "Games which were invented years ago, like Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, Super Mario and Pac Man all appear in the top ten.

"This shows that classic games will live on forever in the hearts of computer game fans.

"The gaming industry is getting more and more competitive, releasing more and more innovative games by the minute - but this survey proves that sometimes the most simple formats work well to keep game players hooked."

The top five was made up of Super Mario Bros, Pac-Man, Tetris, The Sims and Sonic The Hedgehog.


by Top 20 games list topped by Mario | Gaming Industry | News by MCV

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