Google Struggles To Give Away $10 Million

theodp writes "On Google's 10th Birthday in 2008, the search giant promised $10 million to the best five ideas for using technology to improve the world, through Project 10^100. CNN reports that while Google's intentions were good, of course, the company's follow-through leaves much to be desired. Google announced the cash prize contest in September 2008 and closed public voting on 16 finalists chosen from over 150,000 ideas in October 2009. Over eight months later, the company has yet to announce the winners. 'While genocide and other pressing problems relentlessly advance,' remarked contest finalist Daniel Meyerowitz to Wired.com, 'it would seem that Project 10^100 does not.'"

Maybe...

[BronsCon]

They can't find the winners?

Re:Problem?

[oodaloop]

Try reading for comprehension. The verb is advance. The problems advance, but the Google project does not advance. Read it again. He is not saying they are both problems.

Give them time...

[Zocalo]

After all, almost everything else they do goes through a length beta programme before it's ready; several years in the case of GMail. Why should we expect "Google 10^100 Winner Section Process (Beta)" to be any different?

Re:Maybe...

[Anonymous Coward]

Maybe they could try Googling their names?

Solution to everything

[Midnight's Shadow]

I have a fix for this along with:

genocide

hunger

crime

pollution

war

greed

stupidity

and almost everything else.

I call it the Dr. Strangelove solution, however I don't think the money will do any good afterwords. Don't worry the cockroaches will survive.

Re:Maybe...

[bberens]

Well, the system which counts the votes is still in Beta.

Already notified of winning

[PlanetX 00]

Dang, I got an email just the other day saying I won this contest, but I threw it out because it was in all caps!

Re:Priorities?

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

Be fair. Once I announced that I would be leveraging the social graph and web2.0 crowdsourced collaboration to enable grassroots Ethnic Cleansing Beta, Google acquired me for a juicy pile of stock almost immediately.

Microsoft responded by announcing the imminent release of an enterprise-grade PurityPoint Ethnicity rights management server, complete with robust AD integration, and a bookburning management console snap-in to allow administrators to easily purge documents from SharePoint, or delegate purging rights to their most depraved henchmen. Unfortunately, their truth_and_reconcilation_ml, an ostensibly open-standard XML-based atrocity documentation markup language turned out to be a ghastly quasi-proprietary mess, rammed through ECMA...

Re:16 finalists?

[Xest]

I wish I'd entered now. My "Free HD porn for everyone" idea would've been in with a chance of first place after all :(

On things advancing

[Captain Spam]

'While genocide and other pressing problems relentlessly advance,' remarked contest finalist Daniel Meyerowitz to Wired.com, 'it would seem that Project 10^100 does not.'

Wow. I love that quote. While it may be true and relevant, at face value, it's perfectly smug and smartass. I've gotta remember to use quotes like that in day-to-day life...

"While genocide and other pressing problems relentlessly advance, it would seem that my order at Taco Bob's does not."

"While the plans and schemes of terrorist organizations relentlessly advance, it would seem that this line at the DMV does not."

"While the oil spill in the gulf relentlessly advances, it would seem that, due in large part to the ladies nearby, my love life does not."

Re:On things advancing

[Monkeedude1212]

While the rating of your comment is relentlessly advancing, it would seem that your karma does not.

Re:Maybe...

[Anonymous Coward]

New? Microsoft has labeled their betas as release versions for ages.