BEST OF OUR BLOGS @WORK blogs.pcmag.com/atwork Google Means Business with Analytics Google announced that it is rolling out enterprise-class features for its Google Analytics Web service. The search giant is going after Microsoft’s key enterprise markets (Microsoft’s adCenter Analytics and its Analysis Services) in a big way. The Analytics service comes with richer data visualization capabilities, an API, better reporting and navigation screens, integration with Google AdSense, and Motion Charts, which provide multidimensional analysis. The API is certainly a sign that Google is aggressively looking to penetrate the business intelligence market. Ultimately, however, the success of the service will depend on what the community creates with the API.—Mario Morejon TECHNORIDE www.technoride.com In-Car Computer Hits the Outback Westwell and Azentek announced the world’s first fully integrated in-car PCs, the Azentek CPC-1200 and CPC-1100 in-dash car computer systems, in Australia. The PCs act as high-end car stereos, and also offer GPS navigation, mobile-phone integration via Bluetooth, multimedia playback, and automobile diagnostics. The CPC-1200 is a complete Microsoft Vistabased PC with a 1.66-GHz Intel Core Duo T2300 processor and 1GB of RAM. It plays DVDs, music and Internet radio, offers GPS functionality with a touch screen, can make and receive mobile calls, and offers voice-enabled e-mail. Pricing is still undetermined.—Jamie Lendino
GOODCLEANTECH www.goodcleantech .com Cali Upstart Brings Solar Power to Main Street Want to go green and reduce energy costs, but can’t afford photovoltaic solar panels? Luckily, California’s SolarCity, a solar market innovator we first mentioned last year, has come up with a way to make solar energy affordable. Rather than selling costly PV equipment at face value, the company decided to lease solar panels to homeowners for a monthly payment. How much? A typical 2.8-kilowatt system yielding roughly 10 to 15 percent in monthly savings costs $125 per month. And here’s the best part: All installation work is included, and a minimum level of power production is guaranteed.—Steven Volynets
GEARLOG www.gearlog.com On: Audio Bone Headphones Japan-based company Goldendance has released the Audio Bone ($189): bone-conduction headphones that sit in front of your ears and amplify your music by vibrating your skull. Bone conduction has a number of advantages over traditional headphones, such as being less likely to contribute to hearing loss because they bypass the ear drum. When I tested the Audio Bone, I found that the sensation isn’t off-putting at all. The sound quality, however, is not so great.—Brian Heater
