James.Random()

I can understand why google would do something like that.  They don't want other companies stealing ideas and then repackaging them with their own name and selling it.  There are companies out there that do this to get their "innovation".  I won't mention any in this comment....

Blimey, his email was short and sweet ! Thanks but no thanks :P

I guess preaching about colaboration behind 'closed' doors is a bit of an odd place to be.

If this event was for 'customers' then surely most of you guys (I don't work for Microsoft)are already aware of their products and services, so what's the big deal ?

They should be blowing their trumpets, not hiding them!

I agree, from the horse's mouth is the way to go. Indeed, that's why I made the recent trek up to see you guys at TVP, for your Vista After Hours event :) (which was very good I might add).

Google clearly feel threatened by a competitors presence at this kind of event which is understandable, if the content could aid a rival to gain a competitive advantage. Although as I previously mentioned, I would be surprised that a customer focused event would contain any technical information, that could be used to gain an advantage in this way.

I would imagine that the  majority of a product's features are established by the time it reaches it's beta stage, by which time these features will be/or are known to communities and competitors alike, so why the big deal.

I work in a technical role within the IT department at a Brewery (yes I do get free beer, no there aren't any jobs). We often have public tours around our brewing facility which are open 'to all'. We have products that we are proud and a brand that we want to promote.

Maybe the chaps at Google need a beer or two and relax at little.

Alas, no blogs (yet):(

We're looking at implementing a Sharepoint solution later this year, which will be a major leap forward for the business.

We'll be primarily setting up an Extranet (for business needs) with our Freetrade (free houses) customers, and also an company Intranet (for techies needs :P) for the rest of the business.

For the ale, CAMRA (http://www.camra.org.uk/) are a group dedicated ale evangelists !! As for our business, you can find us at http://www.hall-woodhouse.co.uk/.

BTW, the SideShow gadget for the fridge looks like a novel invention (cool pun narrowly avoided) !