It had then turned into Luc's 20% project - the blue sky ideas Google engineers are encouraged to work on for a fifth of their time - and had been launched in five US cities in 2007.

BBC: Google Street View - a closer look

In recent weeks Sky has stopped using Google to provide email services in favour of Yahoo.

BBC: Sky customers complain after Yahoo email switch

Cloud storage services with two-factor include Dropbox, Google Drive and Microsoft's Sky Drive.

CNN: Six tech resolutions for 2013

His battles have ranged from the famed lifelong rivalry with fellow Aussie and one-time partner Kerry Packer to fierce competition with The New York Times, Time Warner Cable and most recently Google (in an interview last year with Sky News Australia, he threatened to remove stories from the search engine so readers would pay for content).

FORBES: Billionaire Smackdown: Redstone vs. Murdoch

Google cofounder Sergey Brin orchestrated a jaw-dropping demo that included sky divers wearing the glasses.

FORBES: Are You Geeky Enough For Google Glass? [Video]

The billionaire told Sky News Australia he will explore ways to remove stories from Google's search indexes, including Google News.

BBC: Murdoch may block Google searches

In a few years, it's likely we'll see an all-out battle between the likes of Virgin, Sky, Microsoft, Sony and even the BBC, Apple or Google to own your home's de facto entertainment hub - providing movies, music, television and games via a web connection in your living room.

BBC: Sony crisis: The expert panel