Microsoft are reportedly in talks to acquire 5% of Facebook.

The numbers involved (between $300-$500m) are, as usual, staggering, but it would seem a wise move for Microsoft, especially with the burgeoning Facebook application scene.

Google must be chuckling though, just days after the rumours of them out opening Facebook, a move like this could taint the perceived freedom of the Facebook APIs going forward…playing into the mighty G’s hands.

• 0 Comments

The Flex framework for building Rich Internet Applications (RIAs) got a major boost today with the news that Adobe and BEA Systems have agreed a deal that will see the Adobe Flex Builder 2 software bundled with BEA’s flagship Workshop Studio product.

I’m mightily impressed at the traction that Flex has already gained within the Java community and corporate buy-in from the likes of BEA will further cement its position as a significant player in the future of Java front-end development.

Whether this is enough to steady the exodus to other web development platforms such as Ruby on Rails remains to be seen.

• 0 Comments

TechCrunch has the scoop on the Delicious 2.0 preview.

Key features :

• new, clean interface
• improved search / sort options
• delicious.com - bye bye periods

As a heavy user (> 2000 bookmarks) of Delicious (see - I’m adapting already) I look forward to these changes, although I’m sure part of me will miss the rough and ready look of the current design, it always seemed the kind of site you could knock-up in your lunch break.

The curious thing about my use of Delicious is how seldom I go through my bookmarks. Whilst I’m diligent about tagging useful sites I come across “just in case”, I very rarely go back through my tags trying to find something previously stored.

The sad truth is that doing a quick Google search is often snappier…

• 2 Comments

“Yes, but you’ll never see Photoshop on the web” - the hackneyed retort of desktop software advocates can now be firmly laid to rest as the first screenshots of Photoshop Express are revealed by John Nack

At the moment it seems the application will be used as bait to the established desktop apps and perhaps, more importantly, to cast their shadow over any pesky startups who dare think they can topple the mighty Adobe at their own game.

• 1 Comment