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Google search google earth and google street view 2Posted October 30th, 2011 at 06:21am
Chromium 11.0.696 2011-04-27 534.24 3.1.8.16 HTML5 Speech Input API.[58] Updated icon.[59] tab on foreground on open. Experimental new tab page. Add grouping to tab context menu. Run PPAPI Flash in the renderer process. Multiple Profiles. Removed Google Gears. Print and Save buttons in the PDF viewer.[61] Sony VAIO VGN-FW31E Akku
14.0.835 2011-09-16 3.4.14.21 Native Client (NaCl) enabled for apps in the Chrome Web Store.[63] Web Audio API. Additional Mac OS X Lion feature support. Sync Encryption for all data. Print Preview on Mac. Experimental Web Request extension API. Experimental Content Settings extension API.[64] DNSSEC validation of HTTPS sites.[65] Sony VAIO VGN-FW31Z Akku
The results of the Acid3 test on Google Chrome 4.0
Web standards conformance tests On the official CSS 2.1 test suite by standardization organization W3C, Webkit, the Chrome rendering engine, passes 89.75% (89.38% out of 99.59%) of covered CSS 2.1 tests.[79Sony VAIO VGN-NW11S/T Akku Chrome will typically allocate each tab to fit into its own process to "prevent malware from installing itself" and prevent what happens in one tab from affecting what happens in another; however, the actual process-allocation model is more complex.[ Sony VAIO VGN-NW11Z/S Akku A private browsing feature called Incognito mode is provided that prevents the browser from storing any history information or cookies from the websites visited.[89] Incognito mode is similar to the private browsing feature in Internet Explorer 8 (and up), Mozilla Firefox 3.5 (and up), Opera 10.5 (and up) and Safari. Sony VAIO VGN-FW11S Battery Security vulnerabilities No security vulnerabilities in Chrome have been successfully exploited in three years of Pwn2Own.[91] Sony VAIO VGN-FW21L Battery Malware blocking Speed However in more recent independent tests of JavaScript performance, Chrome has been scoring just behind Opera's Presto engine since it was updated in version 10.5.[102] Sony VGP-BPS13B/S Battery real programs. He stated that Firefox 3.0 performed poorly on recursion-intensive benchmarks, such as those of Google, because the Mozilla team had not implemented recursion-tracing yet.[106] Sony VAIO VGN-NW11Z/T Battery Two weeks after Chrome's launch, the WebKit team announced a new JavaScript engine, SquirrelFish Extreme,[107] citing a 36% speed improvement over Chrome's V8 engine.[108][109][110] Sony VAIO VGN-NW11Z/S Battery Chrome uses DNS prefetching to speed up website lookups, as do Firefox[111] and Safari.[112] This feature is available in Internet Explorer as an extension, and in Opera as a UserScript. Stability Chrome includes a process management utility called Task Manager which allows the user to see what sites and plugins are using the most memory, downloading the most bytes and over-utilizing the CPU and provides the ability to terminate them.[15] Sony VGP-BPS13A/Q Battery User interface
Sony VAIO VGN-FW411ZRU Battery of sites visited often.[15] If a user types several keywords into the Omnibox and press enter, Chrome will conduct the search using the default search engine.
Sony VAIO VGN-FW21J Batteryit has a full-screen mode that hides the operating system's interface as well as the browser chrome.
It also features a "Recently closed" bar that shows recently closed tabs and a "tips" section that displays hints and tricks for using the browser.[123]
4] However, this functionality is currently unavailable on the Linux and Mac platforms.[125]
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For web developers, Chrome features an element inspector similar to the one in Firebug.[111]
In March 2011, Google introduced a new simplified logo to replace the previous 3D logo that had been used since the project's inception. Google designer Steve Rura explained the company reasoning for the change, "Since Chrome is all about making yourSony VAIO VGN-FW51ZF/H Battery Desktop shortcuts and apps
This feature, according to Google, will be enhanced with the Chrome Web Store, a one-stop web-based web applications directory which opened in December 2010.[130][131] Sony VAIO VGN-NW20EF/W Battery Chrome Web Store Criticism of the idea came quickly. Ryan Paul of Ars Technica wrote on December 9, 2010: "The way that users consume applications in the desktop and mobile world is fundamentally different than they (sic) way that they do it on the Web where paywallsSony VAIO VGN-NW11S/S Battery The Chrome Web Store was opened on February 11, 2011 with the stable, non-beta, release of Google Chrome 9.0.597.98.[133] Google has included aero peek capability for each tab on Windows 7. This has not been added by default but can be user enabled,[134] resulting in a displayed thumbnail image of the tab. This will create similar functioning to that which is already included Sony VAIO VGN-SR19VN Battery Extensions Along with Google Chrome 4.0, the extension gallery was officially launched on January 25, 2010, containing over 1500 extensions.[138] Sony VAIO VGN-SR29VN Battery Google became leaders in the field of Search engine optimization and have even published an SEO Starter Guide[139] which provides valuable information on how to optimize your site in the Google era. Matt Cutts who works for the Search Quality group in Google, Many Chrome extensions, once installed, have access to your data. According to the Chrome Web Store Help, there are three levels of permissions that an app or extension may request: Medium Alert - "This item can read every page that you visit -- your bank, your web email, your Facebook page, and so on." And, "Besides seeing all your pages, this item could use your credentials (cookies) to request or modify your data from websites." Sony VAIO VGN-SR11MR Battery Low Alert - "This item can read data that you copy into your operating system clipboard, which might include sensitive or private information." Among other things. Themes Automatic web page translation Release channels and updates Google uses its Courgette algorithm to provide the binary difference of the user's current version in relation to the new version that's about to be automatically updated to. These tiny updates are well suited to minor security fixes and allow GoogleSony VAIO VGN-NS20M/S Battery RLZ identifier[166] Encoded string, according to Google, contains non-identifying information how Chrome was downloaded and its install week, and is used to measure promotional campaigns.[165] Google provides the source code to decode this string.[38] HP Pavilion DV5Z-1000 Battery
7] Unofficial builds, such as SRWare Iron and ChromePlus, seek to remove these features from the browser altogether.[164] The RLZ feature is not included in the Chromium browser either.[38] COMPAQ PRESARIO CQ61-100 Battery installation statistics: the unique ID token included with Chrome is now only used for the first connection that Google Update makes to its server. This sole remaining non-optional user tracking mechanism is removed following the server ping.[170] The recommended requirements for optimal performance of Chrome are:[171]
Usage share of web browsers according to StatCounter, Chrome was 23.16% in August 2011.[1] Initially, Microsoft reportedly "played down the threat from Chrome" and "predicted that most people will embrace Internet Explorer 8." Opera Software said that "Chrome will strengthen the Web as the biggest application platform in the world."[17COMPAQ PRESARIO CQ71 Battery Chrome's design bridges the gap between desktop and so-called "cloud computing." At the touch of a button, Chrome lets you make a desktop, Start menu, or Quick Launch shortcut to any Web page or Web application, blurring the line between what's onlineCOMPAQ PRESARIO CQ45-307TX Battery PC World[179] On September 30, 2011 Microsoft Security Essentials incorrectly tagged Google Chrome as malware and began deleting it from user's systems. Responding to this Andrew Storms, director of security operations at nCircle Security stated: COMPAQ PRESARIO CQ40-315TX Battery User tracking In April 2011, Google was criticized for not signing onto the Do Not Track feature for Chrome that is being incorporated in most other modern web browsers, including Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Opera. Critics pointed out that a new patent GoogleHP Pavilion DV5-1015ED Battery HP Pavilion DV5-1032EG BatteryBakke of Conceivably Tech wrote, "Google said that it intends charge advertisers based on click-through rates, certain user activities and a pay-for-performance model. The entire patent seems to fit Google's recent claims that Chrome is critical for Google to maintain search dominance through its Chrome webHP Pavilion DV6-3013SL Battery Google argued that the technology is useless at the present time, as advertisers are not required to obey the user's tracking preference and as it is still unclear on what constitutes tracking (as opposed to storing statistical data or user preferences). HP Pavilion DV5-1005EL Battery On Windows, Chrome comes bundled with the installers of various other applications such as the Adobe Flash Player plug-in (when installing it for Firefox, Opera, or Safari)[197] and Skype. In the case of Skype, the installer makes Chrome the default browser unless the user explicitly opts out. [198] HP Pavilion DV5-1020TX Battery Criticism of Google includes possible misuse and manipulation of search results, its use of others' intellectual property, concerns that its compilation of data may violate people's privacy, possible censorship of search results and content, and the energy consumption of its servers as well as concerns over traditional business issues such as antitrust, monopoly, and restraint of trade. HP Pavilion DV4-1030EE Battery Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products,[1] and generates profit HP Pavilion DV5-1030EE Battery A group of Austrian researchers warns that page rank can be influenced by individual views of the Google staff: "it became clear that not only mathematical algorithms and software, but also human brains in the Google headquarters will edit information processed by Google and decide what will go online and in which form."[5] HP Pavilion DV4-2012LA Battery Daniel Brandt started the Google Watch website and has criticized Google's PageRank algorithms, saying that they discriminate against new websites and favor established sites.[8] Chris Beasley started Google Watch Watch and disagrees, saying that Mr. HP Pavilion DV4-2013LA Battery
In testimony before a U.S. Senate antitrust panel in September 2011, Jeffrey Katz, the chief executive of NexTag, said that Google's business interests conflict with its engineering commitment to an open-for-all Internet and that: "Google doesn't HP Pavilion DV4-2015BR Battery In 2006, the parental advice Internet site Kinderstart.com sued Google for setting its Page rank to zero, claiming that the reset caused the site to lose 70 percent of its audience. In this lawsuit, it was stated, that "Google does not generally inform Web sites that they have been penalized nor does it explain in detail why the Web site was penalized".[1HP Pavilion DV4-2030BR Battery Numerous companies and individuals, for example, MyTriggers.com[12] and outspoken, controversial transport tycoon Sir Brian Souter[13] have voiced concerns regarding the fairness of Google's PageRank and search results after their web sites disappeared from Google's first-page results. In the case of MyTriggers.com, the Ohio-based shopping comparisonHP Pavilion DV6-1000EG Battery
Google Print, Books, and Library On October 28, 2008, Google announced a proposed agreement with the Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers in which Google would pay $125 million to settle the lawsuit.[20] The agreement also included licensing provisions, HP Pavilion DV6-1145EG Battery Privacy After privacy concerns were raised, Google's CEO, Eric Schmidt, declared in December 2009: "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place. If you really need that kind of privacy, HP Pavilion G62-106SA Battery HP Pavilion G62-110SW Battery Potential for data disclosure Microsoft's Bing uses cookies which expire after 18 months.[39] Yahoo! Search had been holding most data for 90 days, but changed to an 18 month retention period in mid-2011.[40] An alternative, Scroogle Scraper, uses Google search, but does not store cookies on users' computers.[41] HP Pavilion G62-110EO Battery There is no evidence that Google shares this information with law enforcement or other government agencies, though some users remain anxious about the possibility[37]. And newspaper articles about the October 2011 Quebec murder trial HP Pavilion G62-110EY Battery only one that publicly admits it is unknown. The privacy policies of other popular email services, like Hotmail and Yahoo, allow users' personal information to be collected and utilized for advertising purposes, but do not specify precisely what information and which services.[48][49] HP Pavilion G62-120SS Battery
In February 2010 Google was reported to be working on an agreement with the NSA to investigate recent attacks against its network. And, while the deal did not give NSA access to Google's data on users' searches or e-mail communications and accounts and Google was not sharing proprietary data with the agency, privacy and civil rights advocates were concerned.[56][57] HP Pavilion G62-115SE Battery In October 2004 Google acquired Keyhole, a 3D mapping company. In February 2004, before its acquisition by Google, Keyhole received an investment from In-Q-Tel, the CIA's investment arm.[58] And in July 2010 it was reported that the investmentHP Pavilion G62-115SO Battery Google has been criticized for both disclosing too much information to governments too quickly and for not disclosing information that governments need to enforce their laws. In April 2010, Google, for the first time, released details about HP Pavilion G62-120EE Battery For the period between July and December 2009 Brazil topped the list for user data requests with 3,663, while the US made 3,580, the UK 1,166, and India 1,061. Brazil also made the largest number of requests to remove content with 291, followedHP Pavilion G62-120EK Battery
Google's chief legal officer said, "The vast majority of these requests are valid and the information needed is for legitimate criminal investigations or for the removal of child pornography".[61] Main articles: Google Street View and Google Street View privacy concerns Google apologized, said they were "acutely aware that we failed badly here" in terms of privacy protection, that they were not aware of the problem until an inquiry from German regulators was received, that the private data was collected inadvertently, and that none of the private data was used in Google's search engine or other servicesHP Pavilion G62-125EV Battery Google Buzz The launch of Google Buzz as an "opt-out" social network immediately drew criticism for violating user privacy because it automatically allowed Gmail users' contacts to view their other contacts.[69] HP Pavilion G62-134CA Battery Google search google earth and google street viewPosted October 30th, 2011 at 06:20am Google or Google Web Search is a web search engine owned by Google Inc. Google Search is the most-used search engine on the World Wide Web,[3] receiving several hundred million queries each day through its various services.[4] Sony VAIO VGN-SR11M Battery
The order of search results on Google's search-results pages is based, in part, on a priority rank called a "PageRank". Google Search provides many options for customized search, using Boolean operators such as: exclusion ("-xx"), alternatives ("xx OR yy"), and wildcard ("x * x").[5] Sony VAIO VGN-SR11MR Battery Sony VAIO VGN-SR51MF/W Battery The frequency of use of many search terms have reached a volume that they may indicate broader economic, social and health trends.[10] Data about the frequency of use of search terms on Google (available through Google Adwords, Google Trends, Sony VAIO VGN-SR21RM/H Battery Google's rise to success was in large part due to a patented algorithm called PageRank that helps rank web pages that match a given search string.[1Sony VAIO VGN-SR31M Battery The exact percentage of the total of web pages that Google indexes is not known, as it is very difficult to accurately calculate. Google not only indexes and caches web pages, but also takes "snapshots" of other file types, which include PDF, Sony Vaio VGN-CS11Z/R Battery Users can customize the search engine, by setting a default language, using the "SafeSearch" filtering technology and set the number of results shown on each page. Google has been criticized for placing long-term cookies on users' Sony Vaio VGN-CS21S/P Battery search engines.[15] The deep Web contains library catalogs, official legislative documents of governments, phone books, and other content which is dynamically prepared to respond to a query. Sony Vaio VGN-AW21M/H Battery Sony Vaio VGN-NW21ZF Battery It has been hypothesized, and, allegedly, is the opinion of the owner of one business about which there has been numerous complaints, that negative publicity, for example, numerous consumer complaints, may serve as well to elevate page rank on Google Sony Vaio VGN-CS31S/W Battery Functionality
Image of definition link provided for many search terms. Google's search engine normally accepts queries as a simple text, and breaks up the user's text into a sequence of search terms, which will usually be words that are to occur in the results, but one can also use Boolean operators, such as: quotations marks (") for a phrase, a prefix such as "+" , "-" for qualified terms (no longer valid, the Sony Vaio VGN-CS21S/W Battery Query expansion Stemming is used to increase search quality by keeping small syntactic variants of search terms.[22]
On October 30, 2009, for some users, the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button was removed from Google's main page, along with the regular search button. Both buttons were replaced with a field that reads, "This space intentionally left blank." This text faded Sony Vaio VGN-NS38E/S Battery Special features weather - The weather conditions, temperature, wind, humidity, and forecast,[7] for many cities, can be viewed by typing "weather" along with a city for larger cities or city and state, U.S. zip code, or city and country for smaller cities (such as: weather Lawrence, Kansas; weather Paris; weather Bremen, Germany). Sony Vaio VPC-CW1S1E/R Battery
stock quotes - The market data[7] for a specific company or fund can be viewed, by typing the ticker symbol (or include "stock"), such as: CSCO; MSFT; IBM stock; F stock (lists Ford Motor Co.); or AIVSX (fund). Results show inter-day changes, or 5-year graph, Sony Vaio VPC-CW1S1E/W Battery Sony Vaio VGN-NS20EF/W Battery time - The current time in many cities (worldwide),[7] can be viewed by typing "time" and the name of the city (such as: time Cairo; time Pratt, KS). Sony Vaio VGN-NS20EF/S Battery calculator - Calculation results can be determined,[7] as calculated live, by entering a formula in numbers or words, such as: 6*77 +pi +sqrt(e^3)/888 plus 0.45. The user is given the option to search for the formula, after calculation. The calculator also uses the unit and currency conversion functions to allow unit-aware calculations. For numeric ranges - A set of numbers can be matched by using a double-dot between range numbers (70..73 or 90..100) to match any positive number in the range, inclusive.[8] Negative numbers are treated as using exclusion-dash to not match the number dictionary lookup - A definition for a word or phrase can be found,[7] by entering "define" followed by a colon and the word(s) to lookup (such as, "define:philosophy") movie showtimes - Reviews or film showtimes can be listed for any movies playing nearby,[7] by typing "movies" or the name of any current film into the search box. If a specific location was saved on a previous search, the top search result will display showtimes for nearby theaters for that movie. public data - Trends for population (or unemployment rates)[7] can be found for U.S. states & counties, by typing "population" or "unemployment rate" followed by a state or county name. travel data/airports - The flight status for arriving or departing U.S. flights can be displayed,[7] by typing in the name of the airline and the flight number into the search box (such as: American airlines 18). Delays at a specific airport can also be viewed (by typing the name of the city or three-letter airport code plus word "airport").. package tracking - Package mail can be tracked[7] by typing the tracking number of a Royal Mail, UPS, FedEx or USPS package directly into the search box. Results will include quick links to track the status of each shipment. patent numbers - U.S. patents can be searched[7][27] by entering the word "patent" followed by the patent number into the search box (such as: Patent 5123123). area code - The geographical location (for any U.S. telephone area code)[7] can be displayed by typing a 3-digit area code (such as: 650). Search options
"+" - (Removed on 10/19/11[20]) Force inclusion of a word, such as "Name +of +the Game" to require the words "of" & "the" to appear on a matching page.
allinurl: - Only the page URL address lines are searched[29] (not the text inside each webpage). The page-display options (or query types) are: related: - The prefix "related:" will list webpages that are "similar" to a specified web page. Sony VAIO VGP-BPS13B/Q Battery
Google's Server Error page In June 2009, after the death of pop superstar Michael Jackson, this message appeared to many internet users who were searching Google for news stories related to the singer, and was assumed by Google to be a DDoS attack, although many queries were submitted by legitimate searchers. Sony VGP-BPS21 Battery January 2009 malware bug
A screen-shot of the error of January 31, 2009. Encrypted Search
Google Instant, a feature that displays suggested results while the user types, was introduced on September 8, 2010. Google expects Google Instant to save users 2 to 5 seconds in every search, which they say will be collectively 11 million seconds per hour.[5Sony VAIO VGN-FW21I Battery
updates to our look and feel."[57] The new navigation bar has been negatively received by a vocal minority.[58]
Google Co-op, Google Earth, Google Docs, Picasa, Panoramio, YouTube, Google Translate, Google Blog Search and Google Desktop Search.
Sony VAIO VGN-FW51MF/H Battery Google claims that a search query requires altogether about 1 kJ or 0.0003 kW h.[61]
Gmail Labs
Spam filter
Gmail Mobile
Screenshot of Gmail Mobile It must be XHTML compliant Gmail on iPad Sony Vaio VGN-Z41WD/B Battery Main article: Google Buzz Sony Vaio VGN-Z41MD/B Battery The service logged over 1 million calls in 24 hours on 26 August 2010.[37] Interface Main article: Gmail interface
The "Google+" Project's Preview UI History Main article: History of Gmail announced Gmail to the public on April 1, 2004.[41] IMAP support was added on October 24, 2007.[3] Before its acquisition by Google, the gmail.com domain name was used by a free e-mail service offered by Garfield.com, online home of the comic strip Garfield. After moving to a different domain, that service has since been discontinued.[42] Sony VAIO VGN-FW21I Battery As of June 22, 2005, Gmail's canonical URI changed from http://gmail.google.com/gmail/ to http://mail.google.com/mail/.[43] As of November 2010, those who typed in the former URI were redirected to the latter. Sony VAIO VGN-FW21L Battery Requirement for mobile phone number When attempting to create a Gmail account from some countries, Google requires a mobile phone number that supports text messaging. In other countries this is not required for sign-up, according to Google due to service limitations.[44] Sony VAIO VGN-FW21Z Battery One of the reasons we're offering this new way to sign up for Gmail is to help protect our users and combat abuse. Spam and abuse protection are two things we take very seriously, and our users have been very happy with the small amount of spam they've received in Gmail. We take many measures to ensure that spammers have a difficult time Sony VAIO VGN-FW31M Battery
In some cases, Google may allow a certain number of accounts to be created per IP address without requiring a phone number. In certain countries, one can also request a voice call with a verification code as an alternative to the text message. Voice calls are only available during certain hours and will not be listed as an option outside those hours.[citation needed] Sony VAIO VGN-FW11ZRU Battery Gmail hoaxes See also: Google's hoaxes Gmail Custom Time hoax Gmail Autopilot hoax Gmail Motion hoax Code changes Gmail's JavaScript was rewritten in the middle of 2007 and was released to users starting on October 29, 2007. The new version had a redesigned contacts section, quick contacts box and chat popups, which were added Sony VAIO VGN-FW46M Battery These coding changes mean that only users of Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 2, Google Chrome and Safari 3.0 (or more recent versions) are officially supported by Gmail and can fully use the new code. Opera 9.5 and more recent versions are not officially Sony VAIO VGN-FW51MF/H Battery During the week of January 18, 2008, Google released an update that changed the way Gmail loads JavaScript. This caused the failure of some third-party extensions.[59]
Privacy Gmail's privacy policy used to contain the clause: "residual copies of deleted messages and accounts may take up to 60 days to be deleted from our active servers and may remain in our offline backup systems". However, this statement does not Sony VGN-CS21S/R Battery Google defends its position by citing their use of email-scanning to the user's benefit. Google states that Gmail refrains from displaying ads next to potentially sensitive messages such as those that mention tragedy, catastrophe, or death.[67] Sony VGN-CS21S/V Battery Gmail accounts of human rights activists in China were hacked in sophisticated attacks thought to use phishing and exploit a vulnerability in Internet Explorer[68][69][70] in late 2009. Any (web mail or other) mail system which stores and retains user's emailSony VGN-CS21S/W Battery Technical limitations POP or IMAP access, Gmail fails to deliver messages that users have sent to themselves if the client has a copy of it already.[76] It also does not deliver to a user's inbox (via any access interface) those messages that users have sent to mailing lists and which they might expect to receive back via the mailing list.[77] Sony VGN-CS31S/T Battery Before September 29, 2010, Gmail sorted e-mail only by conversations (threads), which can be a problem for large conversations. For example, if a user sends a query to a large group of people, all of the responses are stored in a single conversationSony VGN-CS31S/V Battery Gmail has been unavailable on several occasions. On February 24, 2009, the Gmail service was offline for 2 hours and 30 minutes, preventingSONY VGN-FW41E/H BATTERY In 2009, Google continued to experience outages across its network, leaving users without access to their email, calendars, and virtual files.[84] Sony VAIO VGN-NW31JF/S Battery If an algorithm detects what Google calls "abnormal usage that may indicate that your account has been compromised", the account can be automatically locked down for between one minute and 24 hours, depending on the type of activity detected. Listed reasons for a lock-down include:[86] Sony VAIO VGN-NW21ZF/T Battery
"Receiving, deleting, or downloading large amounts of mail via POP or IMAP in a short period of time. If you're getting the error message, 'Lockdown in Sector 4,' you should be able to access Gmail again after waiting 24 hours."[86] Sony VAIO VGN-NW21ZF/S Battery "Sending a large number of undeliverable messages (messages that bounce back)."[86] "Leaving multiple instances of Gmail open."[86] On behalf of Reception Awards Gmail has drawn many favorable reviews from users for generous space quotas and unique organization.[96] will reach the user. When registering for an online service, Google Mail users must use the googlemail.com form of their email address to ensure that any administrative emails they send to the service, such as confirmation messages, are recognized.[98] Sony VAIO VGN-NS11S/S Battery In February 2007 Google filed legal action against the owners of gmail.pl, a poet group known in full as Grupa M odych Artyst w i Literat w abbreviated GMAiL (literally, "Group of Young Artists and Writers").[101] This lawsuit was lost and the website today remains the writers' website.[citation needed] Sony VAIO VGN-NS11Z/S Battery Russian Federation
Users who registered before the switch to Google Mail were able to keep their Gmail address, although the Gmail logo was replaced with a Google Mail logo. Users who signed up after the name change receive a googlemail.com address, although a reverse of either in the sent email will still deliver it to the same place. Sony VAIO VGN-NS12M/S Battery
Competition See also: Comparison of webmail providers These were all seen as moves to stop existing users from switching to Gmail and to capitalize on the newly rekindled public interest in web mail services. The desire to catch up was especially noted in the case of MSN's Hotmail, which upgraded its e-mail storage from Sony VAIO VGN-NS21S/S Battery In June 2005, AOL started providing all AIM screen names with their own e-mail accounts with 2 GB of storage.[112] As well as increasing storage limits following the launch of Gmail, Yahoo! Mail and Hotmail also enhanced their e-mail interfaces. During 2005 Yahoo! Mail and Hotmail matched Gmail's attachment size of 10 MB. Following the footsteps Sony VAIO VGN-NS31M/P Battery Google Chrome is a web browser developed by Google that uses the WebKit layout engine. It was first released as a beta version for Microsoft Windows on September 2, 2008, and the public stable release was on December 11, 2008. The Sony VAIO VGN-NS31M/W Battery BSD license,[6] which allows portions to be incorporated into both open source and closed source software programs.[7] Other portions of the source code are subject to a variety of open source licenses.[8] Chromium implements a similar feature set asSony VAIO VGN-SR11MR Battery However, after co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page hired several Mozilla Firefox developers and built a demonstration of Chrome, Schmidt admitted that "It was so good that it essentially forced me to change my mind".[Sony VAIO VGN-SR21M/S Battery Public release
An early version of Chromium for Linux, explaining the difference between Chrome and Chromium In early January 2009, CNET reported that Google planned to release versions of Chrome for Mac OS X and Linux in the first half of the year.[22] The first official Chrome Mac OS X and Linux developer previews[23] were announced on June 4, Sony VAIO VGN-SR41M/P Battery 29] The JavaScript virtual machine was considered a sufficiently important project to be split off (as was Adobe/Mozilla's Tamarin) and handled by a separate team in Denmark coordinated by Lars Bak at Aarhus. According to Google, existingSony VAIO VGN-SR51MF/W Battery
Usage share of web browsers (excluding IE) according to StatCounter[30] and fuzz testing, as well as WebKit's layout tests (99% of which Chrome is claimed to have passed). New browser builds are automatically tested against tens of thousands of commonly accessed websites inside the Google index within 20-30 minutes.[15] Sony VGP-BPS13B/B Battery The Windows version of Chrome includes Gears, which adds features for web developers typically relating to the building of web applications (including offline support).[15] However, Google is phasing out Gears in favor of HTML5.[31] Sony VGP-BPS13A/B Battery In December 2010 Google announced that to make deploying Chrome easier in a business environment they would provide an official Chrome MSI package. The normal downloaded Chrome installer puts the browser in the user'sSony VGP-BPS13/S Battery no longer support H.264 video codec for its HTML 5 player, citing the desire to bring Google Chrome more inline with the currently available open codecs available in the Chromium project, which Chrome is based on.[34] Sony VGP-BPS13/Q Battery Pre-releases The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 3Posted October 29th, 2011 at 09:23am
The path to independence for the white colonies of the British Empire began with the 1839 Durham Report, which proposed unification and self-government for the two Upper and Lower Canada, as a solution to political unrest there.[11HP Pavilion G62-121EE Battery The last decades of the 19th century saw concerted political campaigns for Irish home rule. Ireland had been united with Britain into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland with the Act of Union 1800 after the Irish Rebellion of HP Pavilion G62-130SL Battery HP Pavilion G62-165SL Battery1798, and had suffered a severe famine between 1845 and 1852. Home rule was supported by the British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, who hoped that Ireland might follow in Canada's footsteps as a Dominion within theHP Pavilion G62-134CA Battery HP Pavilion G62-154CA Battery HP Pavilion G62-153CA Battery
Soldiers of the Australian 5th Division, waiting to attack during the Battle of Fromelles, July 19, 1916. HP Pavilion G62-150SL Battery of Vimy Ridge in a similar light.[124] The important contribution of the Dominions to the war effort was recognised in 1917 by the British Prime Minister David Lloyd George when he invited each of the Dominion Prime Ministers to join an Imperial War Cabinet to coordinate imperial policy.[125] HP Pavilion G62-145NR Battery Under the terms of the concluding Treaty of Versailles signed in 1919, the empire reached its greatest extent with the addition of 1,800,000 square miles (4,700,000 km2) and 13 million new subjects.[126] The colonies of Germany and the HP Pavilion G62-149WM Battery Inter-war period & Irish War of Independence In 1919, the frustrations caused by delays to Irish home rule led members of Sinn F in, a pro-independence party that had won a majority of the Irish seats at Westminster in the 1918 British general election, to establish an Irish assembly in Dublin, Dell Studio 15 Battery at which Irish independence was declared. The Irish Republican Army simultaneously began a guerrilla war against the British administration.[133] The Anglo-Irish War ended in 1921 with a stalemate and the signing of the Anglo-Irish Dell Studio 1537 Battery
King George V with the British and Dominion prime ministers at the 1926 Imperial Conference Dell Latitude E5410 Battery Egypt until the signing of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty in 1936,[139] under which it was agreed that the troops would withdraw but continue to occupy and defend the Suez Canal zone. In return, Egypt was assisted to join the League of Nations.[140] Iraq, a British mandate since 1920, also gained membership of the League in its own right after achieving independence from Britain in 1932.[141] Dell Latitude E4300 Battery the previous year had been turned down by Canada and South Africa, and Canada had refused to be bound by the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne.[143][144] After pressure from Ireland and South Africa, the 1926 Imperial Conference issued the Balfour Declaration, declaring the Dominions to be "autonomous Communities within the British Empire, Dell Latitude E6500 Battery Second World War
The Eighth Army was made up of units from across the empire and fought in the Western Desert and Italy. Dell Inspiron 9400 Battery Britain's declaration of war against Nazi Germany in September 1939 included the Crown colonies and India but did not automatically commit the Dominions. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa all soon declared war on Germany, but the Irish Free State chose to remain legally neutral throughout the war.[149] After the German occupation of France in 1940, Dell Latitude E5500 Battery Decolonisation and decline (1945-1997) Though Britain and the empire emerged victorious from the Second World War, the effects of the conflict were profound, both at home and abroad. Much of Europe, a continent that had dominated the world for several centuries, was in ruins, Dell Inspiron XPS M1710 Battery At the same time, anti-colonial movements were on the rise in the colonies of European nations. The situation was complicated further by the increasing Cold War rivalry of the United States and the Soviet Union. In principle, both nations were opposed to European colonialism. In practice, however, American anti-Communism prevailed Dell Latitude E6400 Battery Initial disengagement When the urgency of the situation and risk of civil war became apparent, the newly appointed (and last) Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, hastily brought forward the date to 15 August 1947.[164] The borders drawn by the British to broadly partition India into Hindu and Muslim areas left tens of millions as minorities in the newly independent statesHP Pavilion DV6-1120EK Akku Suez and its aftermath
British Prime Minister Anthony Eden's decision to invade Egypt during the Suez Crisis ended his political career and revealed Britain's weakness as an imperial power.
MP to describe it as "Britain's Waterloo"[182] and another to suggest that the cou
Wind of change
British decolonisation in Africa. By the end of the 1960s, all but Rhodesia (the future Zimbabwe) and the South African mandate of South West Africa (Namibia) had achieved independence.
in 1964 and was renamed Belize in 1973, achieving full independence in 1981. A dispute with Guatemala over claims to Belize was left unresolved.[198]
administered as a condominium with France.[199] Fiji, Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea chose to become Commonwealth realms.
In September 1982, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher travelled to Beijing to negotiate with the Chinese government on the future of Britain's last major and most populous overseas territory, Hong Kong.[205] Under the terms of the 1842Sony VGP-BPS22A Battery Legacy Britain retains sovereignty over 14 territories outside the British Isles, which were renamed the British Overseas Territories in 2002.[213] Some are uninhabited except for transient military or scientific personnel; the remainder are self-governing HP Pavilion G60-415SA Battery
The fourteen British Overseas Territories Decades, and in some cases centuries, of British rule and emigration have left their mark on the independent nations that arose from the British Empire. The empire established the use of English in regions around the world. Today it is the primary HP Pavilion DV6-1220EO Battery Political boundaries drawn by the British did not always reflect homogeneous ethnicities or religions, contributing to conflicts in formerly colonised areas. The British Empire was also responsible for large migrations of peoples. Millions left theHP Pavilion DV5-1121EM Battery The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2Posted October 29th, 2011 at 09:21am
The Bank of England; the central bank of the United Kingdom.
The Airbus A380 has wings and engines manufactured in the UK.
The UK service sector makes up around 73% of GDP.[195] London is one of the three "command centres" of the global economy (alongside New York City and Tokyo),[196] is the world's largest financial centre alongside New York,[184][186][197] Sony VPC EC Battery of any city in the world.[201] The creative industries accounted for 7% GVA in 2005 and grew at an average of 6% per annum between 1997 and 2005.[202] Sony Vaio VGN-Z11VN/X Battery The Industrial Revolution started in the UK[203] with an initial concentration on the textile industry, followed by other heavy industries such as shipbuilding, coal mining, and Steelmaking.[204][205] The empire created an overseas market Sony Vaio VGN-Z11WN/B Battery The poverty line in the UK is commonly defined as being 60% of the median household income.[note 8] In 2007-2008 13.5 million people, or 22% of the population, lived below this line. This is a higher level of relative poverty than all but four otherSony Vaio VGN-Z31XN/B Battery Science and technology
Charles Darwin (1809-82), whose theory of evolution by natural selection is the foundation of modern biological sciencesSony Vaio VGN-Z31VN/X Battery England and Scotland were leading centres of the Scientific Revolution from the 17th century[216] and the United Kingdom led the Industrial Revolution from the 18th century,[203] and has continued to produce scientists and engineers creditedSony Vaio VGN-Z31ZN/X Battery
9] Major scientific discoveries from the 18th century include hydrogen by Henry Cavendish,[220] from the 20th century penicillin by Alexander Fleming,[221] and the structure of DNA, by Francis Crick and others.[222] Major engineering projects and applicationsSony VAIO VGN-SR11MR Battery The modern UK plays a leading part in the aerospace industry, with companies including Rolls-Royce playing a leading role in the aero-engine market; BAE Systems acting as Britain's largest and the Pentagon's sixth largest defence supplier, Sony VAIO VGN-SR21M/S Battery
Heathrow Terminal 5 building. London Heathrow Airport has the most international passenger traffic of any airport in the world.[235][236] Sony VAIO VGN-SR41M/S Battery A radial road network totals 29,145 miles (46,904 km) of main roads, 2,173 miles (3,497 km) of motorways and 213,750 miles (344,000 km) of paved roads.[99] In 2009 there were a total of 34 million licensed vehicles in Great Britain.[237] Sony VAIO VGN-SR41M/W Battery Energy
An oil platform in the North Sea In 2009 the UK was the 13th largest producer of natural gas in the world and the largest producer in the EU.[244] Production is now in decline and the UK has been a net importer of natural gas since 2004.[244] In 2009 the UK produced 19.7 million tons of coal and consumed 60.2 million tons.[242] In 2005 it had proven recoverable coal reserves of 171 million tons.[24Sony Vaio VGN-CS21S/P Battery Sony Vaio VGN-CS21S/T Batterybetween 200 and 400 years.[246] The UK is home to a number of large energy companies, including two of the six oil and gas "supermajors" - BP and Royal Dutch Shell - and BG Group.[247][248] Main article: Demography of the United Kingdom England's population in mid-2008 was estimated to be 51.44 million.[252] It is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with 383 people resident per square kilometre in mid-2003,[255] with a particular concentration in London Sony Vaio VGN-AW21Z/B Battery In 2008 the average total fertility rate (TFR) across the UK was 1.96 children per woman.[257] Whilst a rising birth rate is contributing to current population growth it remains considerably below the 'baby boom' peak of 2.95 children perSony Vaio VGN-CS31S/T Battery Historically, indigenous British people were thought to be descended from the various ethnic groups that settled there before the 11th century: the Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Norse and the Normans. Recent genetic studies have shown thatSony Vaio VGN-CS31S/V Battery Since 1945 substantial immigration from Africa, the Caribbean and South Asia has been a legacy of ties forged by the British Empire. Migration from new EU member states in Central and Eastern Europe since 2004 has resulted in growth in these population groups but, as of 2008, the trend is reversing and many of these migrants are returning Sony Vaio VGN-NW21JF Battery Ethnic diversity varies significantly across the UK. 30.4% of London's population[268] and 37.4% of Leicester's[269] was estimated to be non-white as of June 2005, whereas less than 5% of the populations of North East England, Wales and theSony Vaio VGN-NW31EF Battery Languages
The English-speaking world. Countries in dark blue have a majority of native speakers; countries where it is an official but not a majority language in light blue. English is also one of the official languages of the European Union[272] and the United Nations[273] Sony Vaio VGN-CS11S/Q Battery The UK's official language is English,[1][2] a West Germanic language descended from Old English which features a large number of borrowings from Old Norse, Norman French and Latin. The English language has spread across the world, largely becauseSony Vaio VGN-NS38E/S Battery Gaelic and Irish is increasing.[280] Welsh and Scottish Gaelic are also spoken by small groups around the globe with some Gaelic still spoken in Nova Scotia, Canada (especially Cape Breton Island),[281] and Welsh in Patagonia, Argentina.[282] Sony Vaio VGN-NS10L/S Battery Across the United Kingdom it is generally compulsory for pupils to study a second language to some extent: up to the age of 14 in England,[283] and up to age 16 in Scotland. French and German are the two most commonly taught second languagesSony Vaio VGN-NS11J/S Battery
Westminster Abbey is used for the coronation of British monarchs Catholic, 6% Presbyterian, 3.4% Methodist with small numbers of other Protestant denominations and the Orthodox church.[299] Sony VAIO VGP-BPS13B/Q Battery Estimated foreign-born population by country of birth, April 2007 - March 2008 In 2010, there were 7.0 million foreign-born residents in the UK, corresponding to 11.3% of the total population. Of these, 4.76 million (7.7%) were born outside the EU and 2.24 million (3.6%) were born in another EU Member State.[303Sony VAIO VGP-BPS13/S Battery 195,046 foreign nationals became British citizens in 2010,[311] compared to 54,902 in 1999.[312][311] A record 241,192 people were granted permanent settlement rights in 2010, of whom 51 per cent were from Asia and 27 per cent from Africa.[3Sony VGP-BPS21A Battery
Estimated number of British citizens living overseas by country, 2006 Citizens of the European Union have the right to live and work in any member state, including the UK.[320] Transitional arrangements apply to Romanians and Bulgarians whose countries joined the EU in January 2007.[321] Research conducted by the Migration Policy Institute for the Equality and Human Rights Commission suggests that, Sony VGP-BPS21A/b Battery Education Education in England is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Education, though the day-to-day administration and funding of state schools is the responsibility of local authorities.[330] Universally free of charge state education Sony VAIO VGN-FW21L Battery
Queen's University Belfast, built in 1849[337]
pay neither tuition fees nor graduate endowment charges, as fees were abolished in 2001 and the graduate endowment scheme was abolished in 2008.[342]
Healthcare
The Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital is a specialist children's hospital, part of NHS Scotland.
healthcare in the United Kingdom as fifteenth best in Europe and eighteenth in the world.[345][346]
Sony VAIO VGN-FW51MF/H Batterythe Northern Ireland Executive; healthcare in Scotland is the responsibility of the Scottish Government; and healthcare in Wales is the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government. Each National Health Service has different policies and priorities, resulting in contrasts.[347][348] Sony VAIO VGN-FW21E Battery Since 1979 expenditure on healthcare has been increased significantly to bring it closer to the European Union average.[349] The UK spends around 8.4 per cent of its gross domestic product on healthcare, which is 0.5 percentage points below Sony VAIO VGN-FW21I Battery the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average and about one percentage point below the average of the European Union.[350] afflicted by malaria, the colony was abandoned two years later. The Darien scheme was a financial disaster for Scotland a quarter of Scottish capital[40] was lost in the enterprise and ended Scottish hopes of establishing its own overseas empire. COMPAQ PRESARIO CQ45-307TX Battery The episode also had major political consequences, persuading the governments of both England and Scotland of the merits of a union of countries, rather than just crowns.[41] This occurred in 1707 with the Treaty of Union, establishing the Kingdom of Great Britain. COMPAQ PRESARIO CQ45-306TX Battery Rivalry with the Netherlands in Asia
Fort St. George was founded at Madras in 1639 stronger colonial power than the Dutch, who were forced to devote a larger proportion of their military budget on the costly land war in Europe.[44] The 18th century would see England (after 1707, Britain) rise to be the world's dominant colonial power, and France becoming its main rival on the imperial stage.[4HP Pavilion DV5-1015ED Battery
Defeat of French fireships at Quebec in 1759 The Seven Years' War, which began in 1756, was the first war waged on a global scale, fought in Europe, India, North America, the Caribbean, the Philippines andHP Pavilion DV5-1121EM Battery
Robert Clive's victory at the Battle of Plassey established the Company as a military as well as a commercial power. HP Pavilion DV5-1032EG Battery Company rule in India
Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. The loss of the American colonies marked the end of the "first British Empire".HP Pavilion DV4-2012BR Battery The loss of such a large portion of British America, at the time Britain's most populous overseas possession, is seen by historians as the event defining the transition between the "first" and "second" empires,[55] in which Britain shifted its attentionHP Pavilion DV4-2012LA Battery Events in America influenced British policy in Canada, where between 40,000 and 100,000[60] defeated Loyalists had migrated from America following independence.[61] The 14,000 Loyalists who went to the Saint John and Saint Croix river valleys, then HP Pavilion DV4-2015BR Battery Exploration of the Pacific During his voyage, Cook also visited New Zealand, first discovered by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1642, and claimed the North and South islands for the British crown in 1769 and 1770 respectively. Initially, interaction between the indigenous HP Pavilion DV6-1100EG Battery War with Napoleonic France The Battle of Waterloo ended in the defeat of Napoleon.
colonies were attacked and occupied, including those of the Netherlands, which was annexed by Napoleon in 1810. France was finally defeated by a coalition of European armies in 1815.[78] Britain was again the beneficiary of peace treaties: HP Pavilion DV6-1130EG Battery Britain's imperial century (1815-1914)
British India, 1909
An elaborate map of the British Empire in 1886, marked in the traditional colour for imperial British dominions on maps Victory over Napoleon left Britain without any serious international rival, other than Russia in central Asia.[85] Unchallenged at sea, Britain adopted the role of global policeman, a state of affairs later known as the Pax Britannica,[86] and a foreign policy of "splendid isolation".[87] Alongside the formal control it exerted over its own colonies, Britain'sHP Pavilion G62-101TU Battery British imperial strength was underpinned by the steamship and the telegraph, new technologies invented in the second half of the 19th century, allowing it to control and defend the empire. By 1902, the British Empire was linked together by a network of telegraph cables, the so-called All Red Line.[90] HP Pavilion G62-103XX Battery East India Company in Asia
An 1876 political cartoon of Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) making Queen Victoria Empress of India. The caption was "New crowns for old ones!" From its base in India, the Company had also been engaged in an increasingly profitable opium export trade to China since the 1730s. This trade, illegal since it was outlawed by the Qing dynasty in 1729, helped reverse the trade imbalances resulting from the British imports of tea, which saw large outflows of silver from Britain to China.[9HP Pavilion G62-106SA Battery The 1857 mutiny of sepoys, Indian troops under British officers and discipline, grew into a wider conflict which ended with the dissolution of the company and the assumption of direct control by the British government.[93] The Indian Rebellion took six monthsHP Pavilion G62-110EE Battery HP Pavilion G62-112EE Batterythe Empress of India. The East India Company was dissolved the following year.[94] Rivalry with Russia
The Rhodes Colossus Cecil Rhodes spanning "Cape to Cairo" in 1806, having occupied it in 1795 in order to prevent its falling into French hands, following the invasion of the Netherlands by France.[101] British immigration began to rise after 1820, and pushed thousands of Boers, resentful of British rule, northwards to found their own mostly short-lived independent republics, during the Great Trek of the lateHP Pavilion G62-117SO Battery In 1869 the Suez Canal was opened under Napoleon III, linking the Mediterranean with the Indian Ocean. The Canal was at first opposed by the British,[105] but once open its strategic value was quickly recognised. In 1875, the Conservative government of Benjamin HP Pavilion G62-120EG Battery As French, Belgian and Portuguese activity in the lower Congo River region threatened to undermine orderly penetration of tropical Africa, the Berlin Conference of 1884-85 sought to regulate the competition between the European powers HP Pavilion G62-120EP Battery British gains in southern and East Africa prompted Cecil Rhodes, pioneer of British expansion in Africa, to urge a "Cape to Cairo" railway linking the strategically important Suez Canal to the mineral-rich South.[111] In 1888 Rhodes with his privately owned British South Africa Company occupied and annexed territories subsequently named after him, Rhodesia.[112] HP Pavilion G62-120SL Battery Changing status of the white colonies The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandPosted October 29th, 2011 at 09:23am
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that shares a land border with another sovereign state the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Sony VAIO VGN-FZ11L Battery [33]
History See also: History of the British Isles
Stonehenge, in Wiltshire, was erected around 2500 BC.
Settlement by anatomically modern humans of what was to become the United Kingdom occurred in waves beginning by about 30,000 years ago.[45] By the end of the region's prehistoric period, the population is thought to have belonged, in the main, to a culture termed Insular Celtic, comprising Brythonic Britain and Gaelic Ireland.[4Sony VAIO VGN-NR21S/T Battery
Thereafter, Scotland maintained its independence, albeit in near-constant conflict with England. The English monarchs, through inheritance of substantial territories in France and claims to the French crown, were also heavily involved in conflicts in France, most notably the Hundred Years War.[54] Sony VAIO VGN-CR41SR Battery Ireland, the lands of the independent Catholic Gaelic nobility were confiscated and land given to Protestant settlers from England and Scotland.[58] In 1603, the kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland were united in a personal union when James VI, Sony VAIO VGN-CR41ZR Battery the basis of constitutional monarchy and the parliamentary system.[63] During this period, particularly in England, the development of naval power (and the interest in voyages of discovery) led to the acquisition and settlement of overseas colonies, Sony VGN-CR42Z Battery
The Treaty of Union led to a single united kingdom encompassing all Great Britain. Sony VGP-BPL9 BatteryTreaty of Union that had been negotiated the previous year and ratified by the English and Scottish Parliaments passing Acts of Union.[66][67][68] In 1800, while the wars with France still raged, the Parliaments of Great Britain and of Ireland each passed an Act of Union, uniting the two kingdoms and creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, which came into being on 1 January 1801.[71Sony VAIO FW Battery
The Battle of Waterloo marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars and the start of Pax Britannica. Sony VGN-FW31ZJ battery Pax Britannica.[74] It was also a period of rapid economic, colonial, and industrial growth. Britain was described as the "workshop of the world",[75] and the British Empire grew to include India, large parts of Africa, and many other territories across the world. Alongside the formal control it exerted over its own Sony VAIO VGN-FW21E Battery Sony VAIO VGN-FW31M Batterycolonies, Britain's dominant position in world trade meant that it effectively controlled the economies of many countries, such as China, Argentina and Siam.[76][77] Domestically, there was a shift to free trade and Sony VAIO VGN-FW21I Battery
Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme. More than 885,000 British soldiers lost their lives on the battlefields of World War ISony VAIO VGN-FW21Z Battery the United Kingdom received the League of Nations mandate over former German and Ottoman colonies, and the British Empire had expanded to its greatest extent, covering a fifth of the world's land surface and a quarter of its population.[82] However, Sony VAIO VGN-NW11S/T Battery The United Kingdom was one of the three main Allies of World War II. Following the defeat of its European allies in the first year of the war, the United Kingdom continued the fight against Germany, notably in the Battle of Britain and the Battle of Sony VGP-BPS13 Battery
Territories that were at one time part of the British Empire. Current British Overseas Territories are underlined in red. ] Domestically, major industries and public utilities were nationalized, a Welfare State was established, and a comprehensive publicly funded healthcare system, the National Health Service, was created.[88] In response to the rise of local nationalism, the Labour government's own ideological sympathies and Britain's now Sony VGP-BPS13/S Battery Although the new post-war limits of Britain's political role were illustrated by the Suez Crisis of 1956, the UK nevertheless became one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and was the third country to develop Sony VGP-BPS13/Q Battery Geography Main article: Geography of the United Kingdom
The topography of the UK.
Sony VAIO VGN-FW51ZF/H Battery
Ben Nevis, in Scotland, is the highest point in the British Isles
Northern Ireland accounts for just 14,160 square kilometres (5,470 sq mi) and is mostly hilly. It includes Lough Neagh which, at 388 square kilometres (150 sq mi), is the largest lake in the British Isles by area.[109] The highest peak in Northern Ireland is Slieve Donard in the Mourne Mountains at 852 metres (2,795 ft).[100] Sony VAIO VGN-FW41M Battery Climate and bears frequent spells of mild and wet weather from the Atlantic Ocean,[99] although the eastern parts are mostly sheltered from this wind as the majority of the rain falls over the western regions the eastern parts are therefore the driest. Sony VAIO VGN-AW11S/B Battery Administrative units of the United Kingdom administrative unit encompassing the United Kingdom".[111] Until the 19th century there was little change to those arrangements, but there has since been a constant evolution of role and function.[112] Change did not occur in a uniform manner andSony VAIO VGN-AW21XY/Q Battery Sony VAIO VGN-NW11Z/S Battery Sony VAIO VGN-NW11Z/T Battery of England are the nine Government office regions or European Union government office regions.[113] One region, Greater London, has had a directly elected assembly and mayor since 2000 following popular support for the proposal in a referendum.[114] It was intended that other regions would also be given theirSony VAIO VGN-AW31XY/Q Battery Sony VAIO VGN-NW11S/T Battery own elected regional assemblies but the rejection of a proposed assembly in the North East region, by a referendum in 2004, stopped this idea in its tracks.[115] Below the region level England has either county councils andSony VAIO VGN-AW31ZJ/B Battery Sony VAIO VGN-NW11S/S Battery district councils or unitary authorities and London which consists of 32 London boroughs. Councillors are elected by the first-past-the-post system in single-member wards or by the multi-member plurality system in multi-member wards.[116] Sony VAIO VGN-NW20EF/P Battery Local government in Scotland is divided on a basis of 32 council areas, with wide variation in both size and population. The cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee are separate council areas as is the Highland Council which includes a third of Scotland's area but just over 200,000 people. The power invested in local authorities is administeredSony VAIO VGN-NW20EF/S Battery Local government in Wales consists of 22 unitary authorities. These include the cities of Cardiff, Swansea and Newport which are unitary authorities in their own right.[120] Elections are held every four years under the first-past-the-post system.[121] The most recent elections were held in May 2008. The Welsh Local Government Association Sony VAIO VGN-SR19VN Battery Main articles: British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies
The fourteen British Overseas Territories are indicated in red The fourteen British Overseas Territories are: Anguilla; Bermuda; the British Antarctic Territory; the British Indian Ocean Territory; the British Virgin Islands; the Cayman Islands; the Falkland Islands; Gibraltar; Montserrat; Saint Helena, AscensionSony VAIO VGN-SR51MF/P Battery Sony VAIO VGN-SR41M/W Battery Politics Main articles: Politics of the United Kingdom, Monarchy of the United Kingdom, and Elections in the United Kingdom
HM Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms Sony VAIO VGN-CS21Z/Q Battery Sony VAIO VGN-CS21S/W Battery The prime minister and cabinet are formally appointed by the monarch to form Her Majesty's Government, though the prime minister chooses the cabinet and, by convention, HM The Queen respects the prime minister's choices.[136] Sony VAIO VGN-NS20J/S Battery The Palace of Westminster, seat of both houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
whom are sworn into the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, and become Ministers of the Crown. The Rt. Hon. David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party, has been Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service since 11 May 2010.[1Sony VAIO VGN-NS30E/S Battery The UK's three major political parties are the Conservative Party, the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats. During the 2010 general election these three parties won 622 out of 650 seats available in the House of Commons; 621 seats at the 2010Sony VAIO VGN-CS11Z/R Battery
facilities available at Westminster.[142] For elections to the European Parliament the UK currently has 72 MEPs, elected in 12 multi-member constituencies.[143]
Main articles: Northern Ireland Executive, Scottish Government, and Welsh Government
The Scottish Parliament Building in Holyrood is the seat of the Scottish Parliament
administration since December 2009.[153]
deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness (Sinn F in).[154]
The Royal Courts of Justice of England and Wales.
The High Court of Justiciary the supreme criminal court of Scotland.
Foreign relations
Military
Examples of the modern equipment used by the British Armed Forces.
8] The British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy are collectively known as the British Armed Forces and officially as HM Armed Forces. The three forces are managed by the Ministry of Defence and controlled by the Defence Council, chaired by the Secretary of State for Defence.
The British Armed Forces are charged with protecting the UK and its overseas territories, promoting the UK's global security interests and supporting international peacekeeping efforts. They are active and regular participants in NATO, including Sony VPC EA38 Battery
Economy Main article: Economy of the United Kingdom
London is the largest financial centre in the world alongside New York.[184][185][186] The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandPosted October 29th, 2011 at 09:23am
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that shares a land border with another sovereign state the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Sony VAIO VGN-FZ11L Battery [33]
History See also: History of the British Isles
Stonehenge, in Wiltshire, was erected around 2500 BC.
Settlement by anatomically modern humans of what was to become the United Kingdom occurred in waves beginning by about 30,000 years ago.[45] By the end of the region's prehistoric period, the population is thought to have belonged, in the main, to a culture termed Insular Celtic, comprising Brythonic Britain and Gaelic Ireland.[4Sony VAIO VGN-NR21S/T Battery
Thereafter, Scotland maintained its independence, albeit in near-constant conflict with England. The English monarchs, through inheritance of substantial territories in France and claims to the French crown, were also heavily involved in conflicts in France, most notably the Hundred Years War.[54] Sony VAIO VGN-CR41SR Battery Ireland, the lands of the independent Catholic Gaelic nobility were confiscated and land given to Protestant settlers from England and Scotland.[58] In 1603, the kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland were united in a personal union when James VI, Sony VAIO VGN-CR41ZR Battery the basis of constitutional monarchy and the parliamentary system.[63] During this period, particularly in England, the development of naval power (and the interest in voyages of discovery) led to the acquisition and settlement of overseas colonies, Sony VGN-CR42Z Battery
The Treaty of Union led to a single united kingdom encompassing all Great Britain. Sony VGP-BPL9 BatteryTreaty of Union that had been negotiated the previous year and ratified by the English and Scottish Parliaments passing Acts of Union.[66][67][68] In 1800, while the wars with France still raged, the Parliaments of Great Britain and of Ireland each passed an Act of Union, uniting the two kingdoms and creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, which came into being on 1 January 1801.[71Sony VAIO FW Battery
The Battle of Waterloo marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars and the start of Pax Britannica. Sony VGN-FW31ZJ battery Pax Britannica.[74] It was also a period of rapid economic, colonial, and industrial growth. Britain was described as the "workshop of the world",[75] and the British Empire grew to include India, large parts of Africa, and many other territories across the world. Alongside the formal control it exerted over its own Sony VAIO VGN-FW21E Battery Sony VAIO VGN-FW31M Batterycolonies, Britain's dominant position in world trade meant that it effectively controlled the economies of many countries, such as China, Argentina and Siam.[76][77] Domestically, there was a shift to free trade and Sony VAIO VGN-FW21I Battery
Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme. More than 885,000 British soldiers lost their lives on the battlefields of World War ISony VAIO VGN-FW21Z Battery the United Kingdom received the League of Nations mandate over former German and Ottoman colonies, and the British Empire had expanded to its greatest extent, covering a fifth of the world's land surface and a quarter of its population.[82] However, Sony VAIO VGN-NW11S/T Battery The United Kingdom was one of the three main Allies of World War II. Following the defeat of its European allies in the first year of the war, the United Kingdom continued the fight against Germany, notably in the Battle of Britain and the Battle of Sony VGP-BPS13 Battery
Territories that were at one time part of the British Empire. Current British Overseas Territories are underlined in red. ] Domestically, major industries and public utilities were nationalized, a Welfare State was established, and a comprehensive publicly funded healthcare system, the National Health Service, was created.[88] In response to the rise of local nationalism, the Labour government's own ideological sympathies and Britain's now Sony VGP-BPS13/S Battery Although the new post-war limits of Britain's political role were illustrated by the Suez Crisis of 1956, the UK nevertheless became one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and was the third country to develop Sony VGP-BPS13/Q Battery Geography Main article: Geography of the United Kingdom
The topography of the UK.
Sony VAIO VGN-FW51ZF/H Battery
Ben Nevis, in Scotland, is the highest point in the British Isles
Northern Ireland accounts for just 14,160 square kilometres (5,470 sq mi) and is mostly hilly. It includes Lough Neagh which, at 388 square kilometres (150 sq mi), is the largest lake in the British Isles by area.[109] The highest peak in Northern Ireland is Slieve Donard in the Mourne Mountains at 852 metres (2,795 ft).[100] Sony VAIO VGN-FW41M Battery Climate and bears frequent spells of mild and wet weather from the Atlantic Ocean,[99] although the eastern parts are mostly sheltered from this wind as the majority of the rain falls over the western regions the eastern parts are therefore the driest. Sony VAIO VGN-AW11S/B Battery Administrative units of the United Kingdom administrative unit encompassing the United Kingdom".[111] Until the 19th century there was little change to those arrangements, but there has since been a constant evolution of role and function.[112] Change did not occur in a uniform manner andSony VAIO VGN-AW21XY/Q Battery Sony VAIO VGN-NW11Z/S Battery Sony VAIO VGN-NW11Z/T Battery of England are the nine Government office regions or European Union government office regions.[113] One region, Greater London, has had a directly elected assembly and mayor since 2000 following popular support for the proposal in a referendum.[114] It was intended that other regions would also be given theirSony VAIO VGN-AW31XY/Q Battery Sony VAIO VGN-NW11S/T Battery own elected regional assemblies but the rejection of a proposed assembly in the North East region, by a referendum in 2004, stopped this idea in its tracks.[115] Below the region level England has either county councils andSony VAIO VGN-AW31ZJ/B Battery Sony VAIO VGN-NW11S/S Battery district councils or unitary authorities and London which consists of 32 London boroughs. Councillors are elected by the first-past-the-post system in single-member wards or by the multi-member plurality system in multi-member wards.[116] Sony VAIO VGN-NW20EF/P Battery Local government in Scotland is divided on a basis of 32 council areas, with wide variation in both size and population. The cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee are separate council areas as is the Highland Council which includes a third of Scotland's area but just over 200,000 people. The power invested in local authorities is administeredSony VAIO VGN-NW20EF/S Battery Local government in Wales consists of 22 unitary authorities. These include the cities of Cardiff, Swansea and Newport which are unitary authorities in their own right.[120] Elections are held every four years under the first-past-the-post system.[121] The most recent elections were held in May 2008. The Welsh Local Government Association Sony VAIO VGN-SR19VN Battery Main articles: British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies
The fourteen British Overseas Territories are indicated in red The fourteen British Overseas Territories are: Anguilla; Bermuda; the British Antarctic Territory; the British Indian Ocean Territory; the British Virgin Islands; the Cayman Islands; the Falkland Islands; Gibraltar; Montserrat; Saint Helena, AscensionSony VAIO VGN-SR51MF/P Battery Sony VAIO VGN-SR41M/W Battery Politics Main articles: Politics of the United Kingdom, Monarchy of the United Kingdom, and Elections in the United Kingdom
HM Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms Sony VAIO VGN-CS21Z/Q Battery Sony VAIO VGN-CS21S/W Battery The prime minister and cabinet are formally appointed by the monarch to form Her Majesty's Government, though the prime minister chooses the cabinet and, by convention, HM The Queen respects the prime minister's choices.[136] Sony VAIO VGN-NS20J/S Battery The Palace of Westminster, seat of both houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
whom are sworn into the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, and become Ministers of the Crown. The Rt. Hon. David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party, has been Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service since 11 May 2010.[1Sony VAIO VGN-NS30E/S Battery The UK's three major political parties are the Conservative Party, the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats. During the 2010 general election these three parties won 622 out of 650 seats available in the House of Commons; 621 seats at the 2010Sony VAIO VGN-CS11Z/R Battery
facilities available at Westminster.[142] For elections to the European Parliament the UK currently has 72 MEPs, elected in 12 multi-member constituencies.[143]
Main articles: Northern Ireland Executive, Scottish Government, and Welsh Government
The Scottish Parliament Building in Holyrood is the seat of the Scottish Parliament
administration since December 2009.[153]
deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness (Sinn F in).[154]
The Royal Courts of Justice of England and Wales.
The High Court of Justiciary the supreme criminal court of Scotland.
Foreign relations
Military
Examples of the modern equipment used by the British Armed Forces.
8] The British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy are collectively known as the British Armed Forces and officially as HM Armed Forces. The three forces are managed by the Ministry of Defence and controlled by the Defence Council, chaired by the Secretary of State for Defence.
The British Armed Forces are charged with protecting the UK and its overseas territories, promoting the UK's global security interests and supporting international peacekeeping efforts. They are active and regular participants in NATO, including Sony VPC EA38 Battery
Economy Main article: Economy of the United Kingdom
London is the largest financial centre in the world alongside New York.[184][185][186] |
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