Google Gmail outage compensation: $2.05 per user

So...did anyone notice a lack of response from Google's mail service, Gmail, yesterday? Firstly it seemed the whole internet connection was slow, but I soon realised it was Gmail, and Gmail only!....at a time i needed to use it!

If your business used Gmail and the service went out for two and a half hours, do you think you lost $2.05 per user in productivity?

That's the monetary equivalent of what Google offered to compensate Google Apps Premiere Edition customers after Gmail was unavailable for about two and a half hours on Tuesday. And it was being generous: All it had to offer was the equivalent of 41 cents per user.

According to a Gmail outage blog posting by Gmail site reliability manager Acacio Cruz, the outage lasted "approximately two and a half hours." By my math, assuming there were no other outages in February, that means uptime of 99.63 percent for the month.

Google offered an explanation of what happened on another blog post:
"This morning, there was a routine maintenance event in one of our European data centers. This typically causes no disruption because accounts are simply served out of another data center," Cruz said. "Unexpected side effects of some new code that tries to keep data geographically close to its owner caused another data center in Europe to become overloaded, and that caused cascading problems from one data center to another. It took us about an hour to get it all back under control."

So here's hoping Google manage to keep on top of things. They provide one of the largest and most popular email services used by millions.

Microsoft Heading for Retail?

Microsoft Corp. has made a bold move in a bid to stay in touch with major competitors Apple Inc. It has hired a former Wal-Mart Stores Inc. executive to aid the company in opening its own retail stores. This proves a strategy shift that borrows from the playbook of rival Apple Inc.

In a statement, Microsoft said their first priority for the former exec., will be to define where to place the Microsoft stores and when to open them. The company's current plans are for a "small number" of stores.

It remains to be seen whether the effort can add some sparkle to Microsoft's unfashionable image. They are hoping create a "world-class shopping experience" for the company's customers.

The move is a sign of the deeper role consumer-technology companies are playing in the retail business, despite the many risks of straying from their core original businesses of making hardware and software. Apple, of Cupertino, Calif., faced widespread doubt when it first lauched its retail chain in the early millenium. Now, eight years down the line, Apple's chain of more than 200 stores around the world are widely credited with helping the company boost sales of its Mac, iPod and iPhone product lines. The Apple stores, with their eye-catching architecture, highly-trained sales staff and "genius bars" that provide technical support, gave Apple a way to showcase its products in an clean environment.

Like its fierce competitor Apple, Microsoft is set to open its own retail shops.
Microsoft has long flirted with the idea of doing its own store. In a 20,000-square-foot warehouse near its campus in the suburbs of Seattle, Microsoft has tested various retail concepts, complete with shelves displaying Xbox games and big computer monitors with touch-sensitive screens.

One task will be to figure out whether to actually sell computers rather than just simply show off their features.....watch this space!!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!!

While many of us thought February was supposed to introduce us to the Spring season, this year is proving slightly different, with it seemingly being smack in the middle of winter at the moment. The last few weeks have seen a sharp cold snap circulating around the country, while it has deteriorated substantially in recent days. Stormy conditions which began in Russia have gradually moved through Europe and reaching the UK and Ireland. The last few days have seen sleet, rain, and yes...snow. While Connacht has had a few bouts of snow in recent weeks, it finally made its way to Cork.

So, while it may be good to enjoy the snow and take it in for a while, we do still need to be aware of the severity of the cold outside, so wrap up. And also drive safe, as roads can prove hazardous.

Motorists are being advised to take extra care when driving as road conditions remain treacherous in many parts.

Around the country drivers must contend with snow, slushy and slippery roads and some flooding following severe weather overnight.

Pension Levy Under Fire as Dail Debates Cuts

The Dáil is to debate the Government's unpopular spending cuts package, which is aimed at saving €2bn this year.

Legislation dealing with the public service pension levy is to be introduced by the beginning of next month.

With the majority of people previously willing to accept a cut in actual income, this replacement proposal has not been well-received. Public service unions have reacted angrily to the pensions levy on public servants, which will cost an average of 7.5% of gross income.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny yesterday described the plan as a sticking plaster to cover a gaping wound in the public finances.

While Labour leader Eamon Gilmore claimed the Government had added to the difficulties and increased public confusion, while Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin urged the Government concentrate on job creation rather than spending cuts.

Why should us, as the Irish Nation, suffer the consequences of the government's inept approach to running our country. The lack of leadership, common sense and logic that this set of ministers has is seriously disheartening. We need a leader, someone who is willing to do all is necessary to get our economy back on track, WITHOUT making the people suffer.

The pension levy rates are as follows:

A person earning €15,000 gross would pay a pension levy of 3% and the levy rises gradually thereafter.

* 5% on a salary of €25,000
* 6.4% on €35,000
* 7.2% on €45,000
* 7.7% on €55,000
* 8.1% on €65,000
* 8.5% on €85,000
* 8.8% on €100,000
* 9.2% on €150,000
* 9.4% on €200,000
* 9.6% on €300,000.