Download In San Francisco this week, two remarkable events took place just

www.technologyblogged.com
In San Francisco this week, two remarkable
events took place just blocks away from each
other: Google announced its ambitions to
dominate the world of entertainment, through
music and movie services, and even unveiled
wireless-controlled light bulbs.
On the same day, Microsoft’s chief executive Steve Ballmer took to the stage to reveal that
they had spent $8.5 billion on phone and web communications tool Skype. The next day,
Google announced that it was launching an operating system and computers of its own, called
“Chromebooks” that will compete directly with Windows.
www.telegraph.co.uk, 14 May 2011
1. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form.
Samsung Series 5 is the first Google Chrome
OS laptop, Acer is next
Google ______________ (unveil) the first Chrome
OS laptop, the Samsung Series 5. The
'Chromebook' ________ (be) available for
purchase in the UK on 24 June.
Chrome OS ____ (be) Google's cloud-based
operating system. Chromebooks ___________
(run) all of your software on the Web.
http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/whygoogles-chromebooks-are-born-to-lose/
Acer _________________ (also, make)
Chromebooks. Their first Chrome computers __________________ (arrive) in the UK, US,
France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands in June. Google _______________ (offer)
discounted Chromebook packages to schools and businesses.
The 12.1-inch Samsung Series 5 ____________ (pack) a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N570 dualcore processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. The battery _________________ (last)
8.5 hours, and the whole unit _____________ (weigh) around 1.4kg. It __________ (have)
two USB slots, an SD card slot and space to insert a SIM card for 3G connectivity when
there's no Wi-Fi about.
The computer _______________ (start) up in less than 10 seconds and __________ (wake)
from sleep mode almost instantly. Indeed, one of the main selling points of Chrome OS is
that, because you work online, you don't have a computer full of software slowing things
down. Google also ______________ (reckon) that cloud computing ____________ (get) rid
of the danger of viruses and spyware _______________ (install) themselves on your
computer.
Google _____________ (claim) you can use the Chromebook on a train or boat. Some train
operators ___________ (offer) Wi-Fi, but most don't, and neither do most boats that we
______________ (come) across.
That's the problem with the Chromebook concept -- it _______________ (require) a decent
Web connection. There are still plenty of places in Britain and around the world that don't
have a decent Internet connection.
The Samsung Chromebook ____________ (be) available from Amazon and PC World. The
3G and Wi-Fi model ______________ (cost) around £400, and the Wi-Fi-only model £350.
__________ (be) you ready to live your life in the cloud? When Google first _____________
(announce) Chrome OS, we ______________ (question) whether the world ___________
(be) ready to wave goodbye to Windows. A couple of years down the line, though, and we're
used to _____________ (use) an assortment of operating systems and ____________ (keep)
our stuff in the cloud.
Adapted from: http://crave.cnet.co.uk/laptops/samsung-series-5-is-the-first-google-chromeos-laptop-acer-is-next-50003729/
2. Fill in the gaps with word(s) from the text.
Key word
Description
A temporary storage area on the computer.
An electronic circuit that can execute computer programs.
A Google-powered portable computer optimised for the web.
A type of malicious software which collects information about
users without their knowledge.
A group of technical standards enabling the transmission of data
over wireless networks. Known as Wireless Fidelity.
A memory card format used in portable devices.
3rd generation mobile telecommunications.
Contains a circuit called Subscriber Identification Module. Used
to identify a subscriber on mobile telephony devices.
The brand name for a range of processors from Intel, designed for
netbooks, and mobile internet devices.
A low power mode for electronic devices such as computers,
televisions, and remote controlled devices.
3. Put the words in brackets in the correct form.
Microsoft Buys Skype in $8.5 Billion Deal
http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/
microsoft-skype-8.5-billion-q211/
Microsoft have purchased VoIP service giant Skype for
$8.5 billion. The all-cash deal makes Microsoft a
____________________ (power) player in Internetbased voice and video ____________________
(communicate) overnight. Microsoft issued a press
release Tuesday morning making the rumoured
____________________ (acquire) official.
Previous reports suggested the purchase price would be somewhere between $7 billion and
$8 billion. Skype had been on sale for a while, and a number of companies
____________________ (report) showed interest in purchasing the Web-based phone and
video chat service, including Facebook, Google, and Cisco.
The $8.5 billion purchase is Microsoft's largest acquisition in nearly three decades. Until
now, Microsoft's most expensive acquisition was its 2007 purchase of digital
____________________ (market) services agency aQuantive for $6 billion.
Despite Skype's having a debt of $686 million, the deal should be a plus for Microsoft. After
all, Microsoft will ____________________ (final) have a brand-name Web service under its
wing, though it's believed Microsoft plans to integrate Skype into Microsoft Live.
Microsoft's Plans for Skype
Microsoft says Skype will support Microsoft devices such as Xbox and Kinect, Windows
Phone and a wide array of Windows devices. It added the Skype service will be integrated
into Microsoft communities such as Lync, Outlook, and Xbox Live. It also added that it will
continue to invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms.
"Skype is an ____________________ (exception) service that is loved by millions of people
around the world," said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. "Together we will create the future of
real-time communications so people can ____________________ (easy) stay connected to
family, friends, clients and colleagues anywhere in the world."
If Microsoft plans to use Skype on its Windows Phone 7 platform, it will have a
____________________ (compete) alternative to Google's Google Voice and Apple's
Facetime services.
Microsoft now has a new tool to try to ____________________ (terror) Google with.
Adapted from:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/227495/microsoft_buys_skype_in_85_billion_deal.html
Google v/s Microsoft: Answers
Google has unveiled the first Chrome OS
laptop, the Samsung Series 5. The
'Chromebook' will be available for
purchase in the UK on 24 June.
Chrome OS is Google's cloud-based
operating system. Chromebooks will run
all of your software on the Web.
http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/whygoogles-chromebooks-are-born-to-lose/
Acer is also making Chromebooks. Their first Chrome computers will arrive in the UK, US,
France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands in June. Google will offer discounted
Chromebook packages to schools and businesses.
The 12.1-inch Samsung Series 5 packs a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N570 dual-core processor,
2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. The battery will last 8.5 hours, and the whole unit
weighs around 1.4kg. It has two USB slots, an SD card slot and space to insert a SIM card
for 3G connectivity when there's no Wi-Fi about.
The computer will start up in less than 10 seconds and wake from sleep mode almost
instantly. Indeed, one of the main selling points of Chrome OS is that, because you work
online, you don't have a computer full of software slowing things down. Google also reckons
that cloud computing gets rid of the danger of viruses and spyware installing themselves on
your computer.
Google claims you can use the Chromebook on a train or boat. Some train operators offer
Wi-Fi, but most don't, and neither do most boats that we've come across.
That's the problem with the Chromebook concept -- it requires a decent Web connection.
There are still plenty of places in Britain and around the world that don't have a decent
Internet connection.
The Samsung Chromebook will be available from Amazon and PC World. The 3G and Wi-Fi
model will cost around £400, and the Wi-Fi-only model £350.
Are you ready to live your life in the cloud? When Google first announced Chrome OS, we
questioned whether the world was ready to wave goodbye to Windows. A couple of years
down the line, though, and we're used to using an assortment of operating systems and
keeping our stuff in the cloud.
Adapted from: http://crave.cnet.co.uk/laptops/samsung-series-5-is-the-first-google-chromeos-laptop-acer-is-next-50003729/
Fill in the gaps with word(s) from the text.
Key word
Description
RAM
A temporary storage area on the computer.
Processor
An electronic circuit that can execute computer programs.
Chromebook
A Google-powered portable computer optimised for the web.
Spyware
A type of malicious software which collects information about
users without their knowledge.
Wi-fi
A group of technical standards enabling the transmission of data
over wireless networks. Known as Wireless Fidelity.
SD-card
A memory card format used in portable devices.
3G
3rd generation mobile telecommunications.
SIM card
Contains a circuit called Subscriber Identification Module. Used
to identify a subscriber on mobile telephony devices.
Intel Atom
The brand name for a range of processors from Intel, designed for
netbooks, and mobile internet devices.
Sleep mode
A low power mode for electronic devices such as computers,
televisions, and remote controlled devices.
Microsoft Buys Skype in $8.5 Billion Deal
Microsoft have purchased VoIP service giant Skype for $8.5 billion. The all-cash deal makes
Microsoft a powerful player in Internet-based voice and video communications overnight.
Microsoft issued a press release Tuesday morning making the rumoured acquisition official.
Previous reports suggested the purchase price would be somewhere between $7 billion and
$8 billion. Skype had been on sale for a while, and a number of companies reportedly
showed interest in purchasing the Web-based phone and video chat service, including
Facebook, Google, and Cisco.
The $8.5 billion purchase is Microsoft's largest acquisition in nearly three decades. Until
now, Microsoft's most expensive acquisition was its 2007 purchase of digital marketing
services agency aQuantive for $6 billion.
Despite Skype's having a debt of $686 million, the deal should be a plus for Microsoft. After
all, Microsoft will finally have a brand-name Web service under its wing, though it's believed
Microsoft plans to integrate Skype into Microsoft Live.
Microsoft's Plans for Skype
Microsoft says Skype will support Microsoft devices such as Xbox and Kinect, Windows
Phone and a wide array of Windows devices. It added the Skype service will be integrated
into Microsoft communities such as Lync, Outlook, and Xbox Live. It also added that it will
continue to invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms.
"Skype is an exceptional service that is loved by millions of people around the world," said
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. "Together we will create the future of real-time
communications so people can easily stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues
anywhere in the world."
If Microsoft plans to use Skype on its Windows Phone 7 platform, it will have a competitive
alternative to Google's Google Voice and Apple's Facetime services.
Microsoft now has a new tool to (try to) terrorise Google with.
Adapted from:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/227495/microsoft_buys_skype_in_85_billion_deal.html
Google vs. Microsoft
No. of Lessons
Grade
Teachers
Objectives/
Learning Outcomes
1
3rd Gimnazija, 3rd and 4th Computer Engineering class
Mojca Fink and Amresh Prakash Torul
In this lesson, students will practise grammar, vocabulary and word
formation with professional text concerning the rivalry between Google and
Microsoft. At the end, they will be able to explain what a “Chromebook” is
and how Microsoft can use their most recent acquisition, Skype.
Teachers activities
English teacher
Foreign teacher
Time
10 min
Support the discussion and
help students with grammar
and pronunciation.
15 min
Grammar exercise
(Chromebooks)
Ask students to complete the
exercise.
Check answers with
students.
10 min
Help students with Slovene
translation of the technical
terms.
Write answers on the board.
10 min
Word formation (Skype)
Ask students to complete the
word formation exercise.
Check answers with
students.
Warm up
Open a discussion about the
two rival I.T companies. Ask
students to talk about their
favourite products by the two
companies.
Student activities
Participate in the
discussion.
Explain any difficult words in
the text.
Complete the exercise.
Write answers on the board.
Correct answers.
Vocabulary
Ask students to complete the
gap filling exercise.
Complete the exercise.
Check answers with
students.
Correct answers.
Explain difficult words to
students.
Complete exercise.
Write answers on the board.
Correct answers.
Evaluation
The rivalry between Microsoft and Google proved to be a very interesting theme for the students. It
served as a motivation to make them practise grammar, vocabulary and word formation. It was noted
that some students still had problems with tenses and the English teacher had to take some time to
revise some grammar rules. With half the class having chosen Computer Science as area of
specialisation, the technical content of the text went under close scrutiny by the students. Some of
them were not happy with the definition of RAM as being “A temporary storage area on the
computer.” It was later agreed that under general circumstances, RAM can be considered as a
storage area. Nevertheless, it was nice to see students reacting to information presented to them and
thinking critically during the class