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Google lunch Pay-Per-Action (beta). Pay only for actions that you define.

MagicWords is an improved command line tool, that give you the ability to create ‘Magic Word’ that can run any program (with parameters), launch any url or files. This application is inspired by the awesome SlickRun, and intend to give users an OpenSource alternative.

There were a lot discussion about start/run. You can find podcast or list of tools replace Start|Run  very helpful (Scott Hanselman blog). When I read Jef Raskin’s Humane Interface, I understood that you can not come right now with new OS, but if someone can built some software that work with existing operating system with new rules. The guys from humanized.com did it. You can download their Enso Launcher. Enso Launcher is designed to give you instant access to your applications and windows.  

People are expected for Vista coming, but real thing is Windows Home Server. Announced on January 7, 2007 at the Consumer Electronics Show by Bill Gates, Windows Home Server is intended to be a solution for homes with multiple connected PCs to offer file sharing, automated backups, and remote access. (wikipedia)

If you like to view overview, Channel 9 has coverage of Home Server .
If you like to view demonstration and feel the product.

It is like to have Distributed file system at home. I tried to built Home Server with open source like Hadoop tools but it was to big for me.
In a Channel 9 video interview, Windows Home Server General Manager Charlie Kindel said that early Home Servers will cost about the same as a low-end PC, or around $500.

From FAQ:

Website Optimizer is a tool that can help you improve the effectiveness of your website in getting a return on your investment. By allowing you to test different versions of your site content, you can determine what will best attract users and lead them to convert on your site.

So Google helping you to build Usability Lab in Home.

This interview with usability guru Jakob Nielsen can be very useful for programmers.
Some of programmers may forget that they are not the actual ’users’ of the systems that they develop.
See this video via devsource.com

“Focus on he user and else will follow”.
Jen Fizpatrick’s video from Google will take you through the art and science behind google’ design process.

The Science and Art of User Experience at Google