fortune

Easy fortune teller

Catfood Fortune Cookies provide users with a new piece of wisdom, like cracking open a brittle fortune cookie, each time they log on. With fool-proof use and surprising results, users looking for a little illumination will love this simple program.

This program's interface could not be much easier. Once loaded, Fortune Cookie does all the work. Since there is nothing that can be adjusted or changed about this download, users can sit back and enjoy. There is a slim Help file, but it certainly is not necessary reading for anyone simply wanting a fortune. The program displays itself automatically … Read more

Baby gender predictor

MB Chinese Pregnancy Calendar helps users get a better idea of what sex a child will be, based on a very simple premise. This is a fun option for anyone thinking about starting a family.

The program's interface could not be much simpler. First, you are directed to some pull-down menus to fill in dates. From there, the results screen is static and cannot be navigated through. This program works well by keeping its navigation as simple enough as its results. An online Help file is available, though completely unnecessary. The program functions very primitively, as you need only … Read more

Bill Clinton: Business is the key to climate change

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif.--Absent having a vote in Congress, the best way for people to tackle climate change is to make clean energy cheap, said President Bill Clinton at a green business conference here on Wednesday.

Speaking at the Fortune Brainstorm Green event, Clinton said through the Clinton Climate Initiative philanthropy, he is involved in a number of projects which show how environmental awareness makes sense for business.

Successful sustainability efforts help provide the political leverage for passing climate change regulations in the U.S., and internationally, Clinton argued.

The House this week is having hearings on a energy and … Read more

Bill Ford: It's a great time to be in auto business

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif.--Even though the U.S. auto industry has been badly weakened by poor decisions and falling sales, new technologies are bringing a new vibrancy to the industry, said Bill Ford, the executive chairman of Ford Motor.

In an effort to make more fuel-efficient vehicles, Ford Motor is placing its bets on a number of alternative technologies, including electric vehicles, biofuels, and clean diesel, Ford said during a talk at the Fortune Brainstorm Green conference here on Monday.

Ford himself was integral in the company adopting sustainability and environmental awareness in its operations. He spearheaded the construction of … Read more

Can Washington make a carbon cap fit?

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif.--Despite formidable political challenges, the United States has a good chance of passing legislation to regulate greenhouse gas emissions in the next nine to 12 months, energy industry experts said here on Monday.

The critical factor to passing climate change laws is managing the transition to low-carbon energy sources without sharply raising prices for consumers, said panelists at the Fortune Brainstorm Green conference.

The House on Tuesday will begin hearings on an energy and climate bill its sponsors hope to pass this summer. The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday issued a preliminary finding that greenhouse gas could … Read more

Innovation gap? Blitz survey among professional innovators

Despite an over-abundance of media coverage about the importance of innovation in recent years, it seems the business media may not have gotten its point across. Instead of hailing innovation as The Next Big Thing, journalists and book authors now wonder if there's an Innovation Gap in U.S. business. The September 22nd issue of BusinessWeek, "Keeping America Competitive," is coupled with online articles like "Firing Up America's Idea Economy" and "Can America Invent Its Way Back?." Judy Estrin also examines flagging innovation culture in her new book, "Closing the Innovation Gap." … Read more

Would Apple really shutter iTunes? Unlikely

Apple did indeed say that if it couldn't make a profit, it "most likely" will not continue to operate iTunes. You can find a copy of the statement here on page 4 (PDF).

Fortune magazine published a bombshell of a story on Tuesday by reporting that Apple once threatened to close iTunes if forced to pay more for music royalties. A more careful reading of the statement from an Apple executive shows that it was more of a veiled threat. Regardless, it's possible Apple could shut down iTunes.

But is it likely? No. Here's why: … Read more

Coming this fall: The 160GB PS3

If news of an upgraded PSP wasn't enough for you, how about a new PS3 bundle? Sony has announced a 160GB PS3 that will hit stores in November for $500. The limited-edition system will also include the rumble-ized DualShock 3 controller and two games: Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and (via a voucher for the PlayStation Store) Pain. Sony was less specific on other details, but the presence of just two USB ports on the spec sheet would seem to indicate that this is basically a "Core" model with a bigger hard drive--which means no built-in flash card reader, and no backward compatibility with PS2 games.

The addition of the 160GB model comes as the 40GB Core PS3 is being replaced by an 80GB Core model--meaning anyone buying the entry-level PS3 will soon be getting twice the capacity for their $400.… Read more

Message to Microsoft: Google's gunning for ya--again

HALF MOON BAY, Calif.--What's Google's next big revenue stream? Text ads remain the cash cow for the present, but the company's future includes a big role for display advertising.

"I think the opportunity for display is pretty large because people are shifting what we think of as offline budgets to online," said CEO Eric Schmidt at Fortune's Brainstorm Tech conference here.

"The reason I say it's the next logical one--customers who buy text ads are also busy buying display ads from other sources...So, it's a big space," said … Read more