Yes, this can be used as a payment gateway option for ECommerce platforms (including Woocommmerce). It's already available through both Bigcommerce and Weebly.
That's the funny thing about startup valuations; they are not an apples-to-apples comparison to a public market. In fact, a savvy investor may be willing to invest $100M at a $25B valuation knowing full well there will never be a liquidation event worth $25B. It all depends on the deal terms (preferences, ratchets, etc.).
It's entirely rational to invest $XM at $YB valuation when your deal terms stipulate a minimum return of ($XM * 1.25), regardless of valuation.
You are correct. The article incorrectly quoted the source:
"we’ll increase the company’s 401(k) match from 50 percent of the first 6 percent that employees defer, to 50 percent of all regular deferrals. With the current IRS regular deferral limit of $18,000, this means employees will have the opportunity for Microsoft to match their contributions up to $9,000 per year."
Google matches the greater of something like 100% of $3000 - or - 50% of the max employee contribution.
A 100% match from Microsoft would mean an annual 2015 contribution of $36,000 ($18,000 employee + $18,000 employer match) versus $27,000 maximum ($18,000 employee + $9,000 employer match) from Google. That's a $9000 difference.
EDIT: Looks like the article is incorrect. Correct numbers are 50%, as stated in parent comment.
It's likely this was a conscious business decision; PayPal derives value through its brand, which is lost to consumers (buyers) using the platform if the platform becomes a white label solution.
PayPal wants customers to know they can pay with PayPal at business/merchant X, not just their credit card.
I love the execution, but I also see inherent problems.
Robots.txt is just a convention to advise crawlers. I'm confident most sites explicitly state this is against their terms of service.
You will encounter terms along the lines of:
"Unauthorized uses of the Site also include, without limitation, those listed below. You agree not to do any of the following, unless otherwise previously authorized by us in writing:
Use any robot, spider, scraper, other automatic device, or manual process to monitor, copy, or keep a database copy of the content or any portion of the Site."
Google | Customer Solutions Engineer | Full time | Mountain View, CA
As a Customer Solutions Engineer, you will utilize both your technical aptitude and exemplary communication skills to drive business with Google's top-tier customers. You will work with our Sales, Sales Operations, Product Management, and Engineering teams to improve the online presence of our clients by providing technical solutions that include products such as the AdWords API and YouTube custom channels. You will develop value propositions, present business arguments, create proofs-of-concept, and evangelize Google technologies. You will interact frequently and closely with our customers on both technical and non-technical levels. The CSE role allows you to apply both your technical skills and business acumen in the fast-paced world of Google sales.
Requirements:
Minimum: BS degree in Computer Science or related major (In lieu of degree, 5 years of work experience in relevant field).
Minimum: Application development experience within the UNIX and/or Windows environments.
Minimum: 2 years coding experience in Java, Python, C++, or PHP
Minimum: 2 years technical background in Web technologies such as HTTP, HTML, XML, DNS, and TCP/IP.
Minimum: 2 years Technical sales or field sales experience, with strong business knowledge; sales engineering or professional consulting experience
Minimum: Excellent communication skills.
Preferred: MS degree in Computer Science or related major.
Preferred: 5+ years Technical sales or field sales experience, with strong business knowledge; sales engineering or professional consulting experience
*Preferred: Proven ability to adapt your message to the technical level of the audience and comfort presenting technical materials to large groups.
It's been beat to death, but everything of substance that I took away from college came from outside the classroom.
Socialize. Network. Further develop your relationship building skills.
The way I see it: I entered college as a smart, but normal guy. I had no special connections or family ties, and I subscribed to the 6 degrees of separation mentality. I'm now 23 and I'd be willing to be I could meet anyone in the world with through 3 degrees of separation.
College was that extra 3 degrees, and it was well worth it.
Back when I used AOL/AIM in high school there was an explosive adoption of "always on" internet services such as DSL and cable. During this time, it became fashionable for teens to express their current emotions/actions/likes as their "Away Messages" on AIM, which was something new compared with the limitations their previous dial-up connections. I'd go as far to say these messages were the precursor to services like LiveJournal.
Since college, with the mass adoption of social networks, I would guess that 95% of all my friends no longer use independent chat services, like AIM.
I see twitter as the next iteration of "Away Messages" - or, what they now call status updates.
Personally, I dislike Twitter for my personal use. I think it is a fascinating way for brands to sell products to unsuspecting consumers, but there is no value as a standalone "Away Message" platform... that would be the job of something like Facebook status updates, since all of my friends are already connected on there.
As for how it grew? It both filled the need for people to continually express themselves and that other really important thing... celebrity endorsements.