Let me see if I can hit the high points and save you from reading the rest if you are in a hurry this morning: The NBA and CBS on Google Video “coming soon”, Mork entertaining, car that won the DARPA desert competition, Google Local on mobile phone and Google Pack with software most readers are likely already using or have used in the past.

Google beamed in Mork (Robin Williams), but no Mindy for their CES 2006 keynote last night. They had that cool Darwin car drive in. Seems like the WSJ was pretty accurate after all with their leak information for Google Pack.

The following Google programs include:
Google Earth
Google Desktop
Picasa
Google Toolbar
Google Pack Screensaver
(unchecked) Google Talk

The following non-Google programs include:
Firefox with the Google Toolbar
Norton AntiVirus 2005 Special Edition (6 month protection update for free)
Ad-Aware SE Personal
Adobe Reader 7
(unchecked) RealPlayer
(unchecked) GalleryPlayer HD Images
(unchecked) Trillian

Engadget has the live blogging coverage of the keynote which included a demo of Google Local Mobile, Google local on your cell phone.

Also, the new iteration of Google Video (not available yet), will be selling CBS TV classics like Star Trek for $1.99 each. I saw the whole first three seasons of Star Trek the original series for $239 USD at COSTCO, something to keep in mind. Since CBS owns the Twilight Zone archives, I wonder if TZ will be part of this download plan?

Larry Page answered the question of whether there was a Google PC and OS coming out with a question (sidestep) and later in the press briefing in the backroom Eric Schmidt said: “With all due respect, we issued a statement that we have tremendous partners in the PC space, so we have no interest in doing it. I guess some people don’t believe it.”

Summary
Overall, the best coverage by the Engadget team including pictures by Jason Calacanis. Underwhelming in content, but seems like the humor was welcomed as Calacanis labels it: “the greatest keynote ever.”

Agree or disagree, the fact is GOOGle stock rose to record levels. What happened to Microsoft stock after Bill’s keynote? Nothing.

Ouch.

Video / Audio
CNET has a snippet of keynote video (9:08).

Thanks to John Furrier there is an abridged podcast of the keynote. Too bad he snipped out what seemed like the most entertaining part. (Starts chant): we want Mork! We want Mork! We want Mork!

Other perspectives
John Battelle: “What I really wonder is what the split to producers like CBS or the NBA is with traditional players like Comcast. I’m guessing it ain’t even close to 70/30.”
Sid Yadav thinks it’s an excellent move: “… not too exciting for us techies but for the consumers, oh surely.”
Andy Beal: “Yahoo may have had Ellen and Tom Cruise, but Google trumped that with a cameo appearance from funny-man Robin Williams.”
Guardian Unlimited: “As usual, Mac and Linux users are second class citizens. Google Video and Google Pack are both for Windows only. However, a Mac version of Google Video is in the works.”
Phillip Lenssen comments on a Yahoo News slipup which gives Larry Page the title of Google CEO.
Tech Digest: “… it still lacked that little spice us techies were hoping for – the unveiling of a Google PC.”
David Card gets out the spellchecker: “… doesn’t Google know these kinds of things are spelled “pak?”
Seattle PI reporter Todd Bishop notes an oversight with RealPlayer not being referenced during the event.
Henry Blodget: “Google Pack is smart, too; I’m looking forward to using it (and not having to install and maintain programs from a dozen companies).”
Nick Carr calls this fierce competition for the default settings: ‘Google’s trojan horse’ - “The Pack is a preemptive strike against Microsoft, which Google knows will use its upcoming updates to Windows, Internet Explorer, and Office to lead users as far away from Google as possible.”

Did this post make you go hmm?

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