I read a lot of online news.  A ton. RSS feeds, Twitter feeds, news blogs, Google Alerts showing me new stuff; it never ends. Some of the things I really went nuts over this past week had to do with two new applications from Google and Microsoft as well as something I am still trying to swish around in my brain to fully understand that has something to do briefly with women in tech.

Bing

I of course am speaking of the new search engine just released from Microsoft known as “Bing“, a much nicer and more stylish search engine that is basically an extension of Microsoft’s Live Search. But nicer. Like ten times nicer. I know; it sounds shocking that I would say so, but give it up to Microsoft for doing a nice job. Will it replace Google as my search engine on my Firefox browser? Not so fast. But I will continue to play with it and check it out daily. It is still in its infancy so the bugs will work themselves out and the honeymoon will be over. Time will tell if people are willing to part from their search addiction from Google, especially when so many of us our addicted to all their free add-ons as well such Gmail, Alerts, Analytics, Docs, iGoogle, etc., etc.. Kind of hard to divert yourself from not just one technology, but a whole slew of free web tools that are just so darn awesome.

Wave

Speaking of Google, they have come up with the most incredible teaser that just might be one of the most exciting things to happen to live search. Google released a teaser of “Wave” last week, which is being touted by Google on its website as “a new tool for communication and collaboration on the web” and it will be coming live to us later this year.

What is Wave? In simplistic terms, think about this. Do you use email? Do you use Twitter? Do you like to share? What Wave will enable us all to do is combine elements of text, photos, video, maps, and more so that collaboration is much more effective and efficient. It will be able to allow participants to read each other’s “waves” and allow for live tranmissions with what you are doing with whomever you choose. Even email!

For some, this may seem like more Big Brother than you want, but it is all participant-based, so you do not have to have this. But for some of us who spend a lot of time working through tedious protocols for collaboration either within our own company, our groups, our communities that easily slow down progress and cause frustration, this is going to be a perfect tool to keep everything within one place. And it is live!

As I have been saying forever, live search is going to be the biggest thing that is coming to the web. Twitter has brought live interaction to the forefront of online voyeurism. Wave will only increase our ability to collaborate live with more tools, faster and more efficient then ever before.

It. Simply. Rocks. Say no more.

The Garage Factor

This also brings up a good point about if this will be a Twitter killer or not, with live conversation. Only time will tell, but the beauty of the Internet and computer technology as seen through the next innovator’s eyes, of the next generation, with new technology, we will always have the next big, pardon the over-used expression, killer app that will mesmerize us until, when of course, the next killer app comes out. Which reminds of a story every time someone asks me what the “next greatest thing on the web is”. To which I always respond, “whatever some kids in a basement/barn/garage are doing right now…”

Bill Gates has this “garage factor” thesis; there is always going to be a new kid thinking of the next killer app in his basement or garage. It was true for Mr. Hewlett and Mr. Packard in their garage in the ’50’s, Steve Jobs and Woz in the ’70’s and Sergey Brin and Larry Page in the ’90’s.There will always be a new killer app on the horizon by perhaps another kid in the garage, but, as you can see, HP is still a major force in the computer world, as is Apple and Google. And Microsoft. I guess hope does still spring eternal…

The Curse Heard ‘Round the World

One of my favorite journalists in the tech world is Kara Swisher from BoomTown on All Things D, a Wall Street Journal website and community based of course on all things “Digital”. The highly read Walt Mossberg and many other talented tech writers are also top presences on there.

Kara has been called a “gonzo” journalist, for her no-holds barred approach to asking the tough questions to the Silicon Valley glitteratti and is in no way a wallflower. Recently, at the D7 conference, she was interviewing the newest Chair of the “down but not out” search giant Yahoo!, Carol Bartz. Now, Carol is quite different from Jerry Yang, the former guy in charge, and what I am still trying to figure out is if this is a good thing. If you know the 60 year old Bartz, she tends to have a “saltiness” around her, as Swisher says – others call it a potty mouth – and she does come across quite brash, as evidenced in the video here.

What I am having a tough time with is, on one side, I am ecstatic that a woman is finally in charge again of a large tech company and getting some awesome visibility to make a difference. Like Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman before her, this is a tough road to walk. I am not saying this merely because they ARE women – I am saying this because there are hardly any women in charge of major Internet companies and what I have learned myself in business is trying to “fit in with the boys” will either get you exalted or fired.

My point being is this one thing that always get women in trouble. Swearing. The F Bomb. Being salty. On one-hand, women are supposed to be, well women. Pleasant, demure, the kinder sex. A lady. On the other side, if you do not whip out your balls and become a tiger, you are often dismissed. Though I know there is a balance, I just don’t see it. I guess for me, I am not looking to be liked as much as I want the company to be successful and profitable. Isn’t that what women and men are hired to do as CEOs?

I will leave it all to you to determine if the “Curse Heard Round the Globe” was right or wrong, and will it really make a difference to Yahoo! who are in quite a pickle about perhaps being bought by another company (Microsoft) or continuing to stand on their own. One thing I must say; this was not an isolated incident. It appears Ms. Bartz has a “thang” for the F-bomb. Especially in shareholder meetings.

So, what say you all on Bing, Wave and Cursing? Let us know!