Google [NSADAQ:GOOG], the search engine giant, has announced plans to launch a browser.  The announcement is seen as an attack on Microsoft [NASDAQ:MSFT] that dominates the market with its Internet Explorer product.  Google announced on its website that software called Chrome would be available for download on Tuesday.  Microsoft currently owns 72% of the browser market; the closest rival is Firefox with 20%.  Apple's Safari has 6.5%.  It's believed that Google wants to make sure it can control the all important real estate of the computer screen; in this regard, it is seeking a degree of independence from Microsoft.

Houston, Texas, August 31, 2008: Continental Airlines [NYSE:CAL] continues to monitor Hurricane Gustav as it moves toward the Gulf Coast.

On Saturday, Continental began adding larger aircraft and additional flights into and out of New Orleans to assist with evacuation efforts. The extra capacity will provide space for more than 1,200 additional customers through Sunday. To assist the affected areas, Continental has transported employees into the region to provide additional staffing.

Minneapolis, Minnesota–August 21, 2008: The board of directors of Medtronic, Inc. [NYSE:MDT], today approved a cash dividend of $0.1875 per share of the company's common stock.  Medtronic has paid a dividend for 32 consecutive years and on June 26, 2008, announced an increase of 50 percent in the dividend payment to shareholders, with a commitment to return 40 to 50 percent of free cash flow to shareholders in dividends or share repurchases.

The dividend is payable on October 24, 2008, to shareholders of record at the close of business on October 3, 2008.

About Medtronic

Medtronic, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology - alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's Quarterly Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 25, 2008. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

Atlanta, Georgia, August 21, 2008: The Home Depot [NYSE:HD], the world's largest home improvement retailer, today announced that its board of directors declared a second quarter cash dividend of 22.5 cents per share. The dividend is payable on September 18 to shareholders of record on the close of business on September 4. This is the 86th consecutive quarter the Company has paid a cash dividend.

The Home Depot is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer, with 2,259 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces, Mexico and China. In fiscal 2007, The Home Depot had sales of $77.3 billion and earnings from continuing operations of $4.2 billion. The Company employs more than 300,000 associates. The Home Depot's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange [NYSE:HD] and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500 index.

SOURCE The Home Depot