Canon U.S.A. in encouraging its customers to take a walk outside and get some fresh air. And, of course, take lots of pictures. The company will be offering free workshops (that’s right, free) in Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Parks on selected dates throughout the summer.

Yosemite sessions will run from June 15-29, in Grand Canyon from July 9-29 and in Yellowstone from August 6 to the 12th.

Rumor has it, that with Apple and Cingular teaming up with the iPhone, Google wants in. A recent job opening posted on the Google Web site appears to confirm the company may now be tinkering with more than just an idea but with some real hardware in its engineering labs.

"Google is experimenting with a few wireless communications systems including some completely novel concepts," according to the Web-site recruitment text. "We are building a small team of top-notch Logic Designers and Analog Designers aimed at nothing less than making the entire world’s information accessible from anywhere for free."

"In the wake of Apple and some other big-name brands moving into the handset business, why not Google?" said Phil Taylor, senior analyst with Strategy Analytics Ltd.

But Google isn’t the only one. Yahoo Inc. has also been striking deals and offering search-engine services to their mobile phone customers and manufacturers interested in embedding search functions directly in their handsets, according to Taylor.

Google? Yahoo? Apple? All in one place at the same time? Besides the world imploding, this means good news for us Nerds. With the top brands and minds competing for our dollars, we could see a tech explosion that hasn’t been seen in the last 20 years! That’s not all folks, it would be for dirt cheap too!

Which means futuristic ideas and toys in our hands, because in order for these search engine giants to grab our attention, they would have to come out with such a novel and original idea that it will secure not only attention but create a niche in the mobile industry.

All I can say is hold on to your underpants, it’s going to be a wild ride!