Brin

The decision to hand Google's CEO reins from Eric Schmidt to Larry Page was born not out of internal dissent or competitive fears over Facebook but rather out of the need to tighten up management.

That's the message Schmidt himself has been trying to get across. Though he's spent the past week defending and explaining the impetus behind the executive shuffle, he once again tried to set the record straight yesterday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Schmidt worked to quash rumors spread by those claiming to have the inside scoop.

"All of the … Read more

Links from Friday's episode of Loaded:

Google's Eric Schmidt steps down as CEO

A new Logitech mouse is designed to work on your couch

Verizon files an appeal against the FCC's Net neutrality rules

HP replaces four board members with five new ones

Google is getting ready to compete with Groupon with Google Offers

A German software program could set an expiration date for your online photos

Angry Birds is being developed into an animated series

The 2011 Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition is released with all sorts of useless gaming facts

Back in 2001, Larry Page wasn't ready to lead Google's 200 employees. Ten years later, with 24,400 employees, Page takes control of a much more complex operation, and both still have much to prove.

Ready or not, it's Page's company now, following news that former CEO Eric Schmidt would be moving up and out of the way to assume a traveling statesman role as Google's public face. Page's longtime partner Sergey Brin will focus more on product and technology direction while Page assumes control of Google's overall strategy and financial performance, which … Read more

Google shook up its ruling triumvirate today, announcing that CEO Eric Schmidt would be taking the role of executive chairman, while co-founder Larry Page will become CEO. Sergey Brin, who has also shared power with the two others, will work on "strategic projects," Google said.

Schmidt, who was hired by the co-founders to be Google's CEO in 2001, will focus on external partnerships and business deals starting on April 4, when Page will take over the day-to-day management role. Schmidt said in a blog post that Page, "in my clear opinion, is ready to lead."… Read more

Google, the movie?

We couldn't believe it either, but in yet another example of Hollywood rushing to jump on a meme, Deadline brings word that a movie is in the works based on the book "Googled" by Ken Auletta that will chronicle the rise of Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page. No timetable was provided for the film, which will be "about these two young guys who created a company that changed the world, and how the world in turn changed them," said Michael London of Groundswell Productions, in an interview with Deadline.

"… Read more

SAN FRANCISCO--Google co-founder Sergey Brin didn't mince words in addressing one of the worst privacy-related gaffes his company has ever committed.

"In short, let me just say it: we screwed up," Brin said in response to a question on Wednesday here at the Google I/O conference about the company's disclosure last week that it had been collecting personal Internet usage data through its Google Street View program. "I'm not going to make any excuses about it."

Google is facing a litany of complaints and possible government actions against its Street View program, … Read more

At a gala charity event Saturday night featuring "Avatar" director James Cameron, Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, and a who's who of tech industry luminaries, the X Prize Foundation laid out its vision for the next five years.

Already in 2004, the foundation has paid out $10 million in prize money for the winner of the Ansari X Prize, which in 2004 went to the first non-governmental team to launch a vehicle into space twice in two weeks. The prize winners were Burt Rutan and the Paul Allen-backed team that built SpaceShipOne.

The foundation offers … Read more

Google CEO Eric Schmidt got the memo on Google's cost-cutting efforts in 2009.

Schmidt's 2009 compensation fell 52 percent as Google spent less on his personal security expenses and the cost of ferrying his friends and family around on Google jets. Schmidt's total compensation for 2009 was $245,322, almost all of which was related to security and travel expenses, according to Google's proxy statement released Tuesday.

Schmidt, like co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, receives just $1 a year in salary and does not receive stock options. However, he's entitled to the use of … Read more

Today's show opens with a not-unexpected rant about AT&T trying to sell you a $150 MicroCell to "supplement" the "coverage" you already pay for. A bit more on Google and China, Apple's unbelievably bizarre sandbox behavior in approving the otherwise super cool Line2 app, and cheap photos from space.

Improve Your 3G Connection with an AT&T MicroCell http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/192557/improve_your_3g_connection_with_an_atandt_microcell.html

China issues media rules for stories … Read more