Here in the United States we always take things for granted that alot people around the world don’t have. The PC is just one of the many things on that list, but a start-up company, Jooce, is trying to bring it to people who are without them.

Jooce isn’t going to ship actual computers around the globe, but are taking an “outside the box” approach. For many people where computers aren’t easy to come by, there are public cybercafes where people can walk in and get on the internet. The problem is while it’s fun to browse the internet, they have no options in terms of saving files, or storing emails, or instant messaging. This is where Jooce comes in, they have developed a web-based desktop, that can be accessed from remote PCs and will act as a “lite” version of an Operating System. While Jooce won’t provide all the options that Window’s Vista or Linux has; it will provide some of the comforts and options of an OS that alot people have gone without.

Jooce Founder, Stefan Surzyck speaks on the importance of web-based desktops, “It’s a platform that will make it much easier for the world’s cybernomads to manage their digital lives”

There are some faults to the web-based OS, and alot of them will hit home for cybercafe users. Jooce and other web-based OS’s are bandwidth hogs and require alot of muscle to be able to run efficiently. The problem is alot of cybercafe PCs aren’t the top-of-the-line computers therefore struggle in running the web-based desktop.

Even with its’ problems, Jooce is a very ambitious project and any help bringing the digital world to those less fortunate is a good thing. While it might not be as important as food or water, staying informed and in contact with others around the globe is never a bad thing.

Usually when people are fined it’s for speeding, public intoxication, or even the occasional public nudity. These fines generally range from the $100-$500 range. For Microsoft their fine was $1.3 billion, the largest ever given to a person or business.

Microsoft was fined for charging too much for software developers that wanted to make their software Windows compliant. Windows might not have the stranglehold it once had, with Apple making a strong push along with Linux, but it’s still the most popular OS out there. So with this popularity Microsoft is able to profit from software developers using their operating system as a platform. The problem is the EU (European Union), had enough of Microsoft’s Ebenezer Scrooge tactics, and told them to lower their royalties fees. Microsoft complied but not quick enough as the EU slapped them with the fine.

Microsoft’s original royalty fee for patents was 3.87%, they drasitcally reduced the fee to 0.7%. Later Microsoft would eventually scratch the royalty fee in Europe and make flat fee of $14,000 to software developers, and lowered their worldwide rate to 0.4%.

This fine was the first time the EU charged a business with an anti-trust violation. Well atleast Microsoft can say they were the first, just isn’t an impressive feat as being the first home-used PC operating system.

MySpace is quite close to letting developers loose on its huge user base. The social network has launched the MySpace Developer Platform as a way of allowing developers to get in some practice.

It’s being called “1-month application development period” and it is giving developers a chance to familiarize themselves with three sets of APIs. To a limited extent, they can build and test applicaions. Developers are thrilled.

Over 1,600 people have joined the MySpace Developer Platform’s forum in the last day. Over 200 posts have been made the majority of members have joined out of an interest in the subject rather than a need to get questions answered.

One can’t help but wonder how many applications will result from this effort. Still, the month-long sandbox period should give everyone a chance to iron out some kinks, and certain applications have always seemed like they’d be a match for MySpace’s more “colorful” profiles.

Being how it’s almost Super Bowl Sunday, why not look at a Super Bowl tech story.

Mike Sachoff at WebProNews writes that EA Sports through simulated play via Madden 08, has predicted that the New England Patriots will beat the New York Giants, 38-30.

EA Sports says the Patriots and Giants got off to a close start with two touchdowns by running back Laurence Maroney and three field goals by Giant’s kicker Lawrence Tynes who helped the Giants get to the Super Bowl by kicking the game winning kick over the Green Bay Packers.

Towards the end of the third quarter the Patriots led by only one 24-23. They added to their lead with a 31-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tom Brady to wide receiver Randy Moss. In the fourth quarter the Giants were down 31-23 and a chance to tie the game. A tipped pass by quarterback Eli Manning dashed those hopes as the Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel made an interception. The Patriots would score one more time to take the lead 38-23.

Apparently they have predicted the correct winners the last 5 years. I personally don’t think we really need a simulation to tell who’s going to win this one. I wish there was a way they could both lose.

Who do you think the most influential person in past 150 years of technology was the most influential? If you said one of the Wright brothers, you’d be dead wrong according to a panel of experts assembled by Intel. In fact, you won’t even find those guys in the top 45.

As Doug at WebProNews notes, “Mind you, the list covers the last 150 years, and that’s where we see some objections coming in; Google’s only about ten years old, and has yet to help defeat Nazis, for example.”

You will however find names like Larry Ellison and Michael Dell. You’ll find Bill Gates in the 31st spot.

You’ll find Sergey Brin and Larry Page a 2 and 3 respectively. So who gets the honor? Tim-Berners-Lee. I’m sure Wilbur and Orville just missed the list at 46 an 47.

You can find the entire list here.

After delay, after further delay Microsoft pulled the chain and released the versions of its new operating system, Windows Vista. Previously tagged “Longhorn”, Windows Vista is the successor to the late Windows XP OS which was released over 5 years ago! It’s been a long time. Time to make a massive leap forward.

However, I will not be buying any version of Vista in the near future. My first impressions were good, a nice clean kind-of sleek design and a few widgets I can push around! But Vista is really just a cosmetic make-over when you consider the time Microsoft have had to catch up with Apple’s Mac OS X. Microsoft should have pushed the boundaries. The company makes billions off CDs which cost a few pennies. Where’s the R&D? Ok, it’s a little more secure. But many are going to have to upgrade your computer to get the most out of Vista. At least 1GB RAM and a new graphics card. Just for starters.

For many, Vista is just a novelty not anything to get too excited about. I won’t be buying the new operating system. Windows XP is doing just fine and I don’t fancy the idea of having to start over again - reinstalling programs and copying all my files. No thanks!