Google has announced a contest called Pwnium at the CanSecWest security conference in Vancouver this month. It would give out rewards worth up to $1 million to anyone who can hack its Chrome web browser. The contest is a kind of CanSec’s annual Pwn2Own competition, where IT-minds are challenged to hack targeted web browsers and mobile operating systems. The Pwn2Own competition kicks off on March 7.
Fast Company, the journal covering the latest news in the technology, ethonomics (ethical economics) and design fields, has unveiled its annual ranking The World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies. Apple, Facebook, Google and Amazon are taking the lead (they are No. 1, 2, 3, and 4 correspondingly). Traditionally, the biggest intrigue here is not who will occupy the top lines (these several leaders are featured on most of ‘the best, the most successful, etc.’ ranks), but in which order they will do it (though, there are some newcomers as well). The most unpredictable thing here is what companies will take the rest of the positions and rule in their industries.
YouTube offers its global audience a unique opportunity to see the large-scale events live even if they can’t be there in person. Last year, the video-sharing website invited people from all over the globe to see the royal wedding ceremony straight from Westminster Abbey and watch the ritual of the Hajj on November 5 in Mecca to name but a few. The service is going to bring every major occasion online for those who can’t be there. Now, YouTube is streaming fashion shows live from the runaway of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (February 9-16), and is going to make this winter hot by showing its audience what will be going on at Brazil’s Carnival from February 16 to 21.
Google+ is gaining momentum as an online destination for photographers from all around the globe. In November 2011, the network encouraged student photographers to share their stills with public for a chance to get their photos on a public display in an offline gallery. This prize is for younger generation, which may need some encouragement and support to step out—but some photographers on Google+ didn’t wait for any calls and developed their own collaborative project, a book titled ‘Plus One Collection’ under Google+ name. The new product is celebrating the art of photograpy, provides an opportunity to see photos in print (in our digital era, this becomes a rare thing) and offers a nice contribution to a philatrophic community.