Latest technology news, updates and reviews: December 2009

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Shares Rise in Graphics Firms After Intel Delays Chip

Shares of Nvida and Advanced Micro Devices jumped higher on Monday after the companies’ mighty foe Intel revealed a lengthy product delay.

Intel had once looked to get a product code named Larrabee out the door this year or next. Larrabee marked Intel’s move into the standalone graphics chip market and posed a real threat to Nvidia and A.M.D., which sell most of the graphics chips. But Intel’s graphics project has now shifted from “soon to be released” to “please standby.”

“Larrabee silicon and software development are behind where we had hoped to be at this point in the project,” Intel said in a statement. “As a result, our first Larrabee product will not be launched as a standalone discrete graphics product, but rather be used as a software development platform for internal and external use.”

Text Messages: Digital Lipstick on the Collar

There is a question that has crossed the mind recently of anyone who has sent a cellphone text message while cheating on a spouse: What was I thinking?

Text messages are the new lipstick on the collar, the mislaid credit card bill. Instantaneous and seemingly casual, they can be confirmation of a clandestine affair, a record of the not-so-discreet who sometimes forget that everything digital leaves a footprint.

This became painfully obvious a week ago when a woman who claims to have had an affair with Tiger Woods told a celebrity publication that he had sent her flirty text messages, some of which were published. It follows on the heels of politicians who ran afoul of text I.Q., including a former Detroit mayor who went to prison after his steamy text messages to an aide were revealed, and Senator John Ensign of Nevada, whose affair with a former employee was confirmed by an incriminating text message.

A Web of Classified Ad Rivals Challenges Craigslist

Fabrice Grinda is bullish on Brazil and betting big on Internet classified ads in South America's largest country. This year, Grinda's New York-based company OLX opened an office in São Paulo, hired locals to translate the OLX site into Portuguese, asked top real estate brokers and auto dealers to offer low-priced listings, and recruited an executive from eBay (EBAY) in Latin America.

That approach has worked well for OLX in Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Russia, and a handful of other countries. And in September, OLX became the leading classifieds site in Brazil, surpassing local rival QueBerato in visitors, according to researcher comScore (SCOR). Craigslist, which has come to dominate the U.S. and other markets by charging no fees for most ads, is a distant No. 42 in Brazil, according to comScore. "I would like to think we have a chance to become the Craigslist of the rest of the world," Grinda says.

Why Google should buy Sprint

Google should buy Sprint and lead the drive to making ubiquitous wireless data access available, affordable, and capable. Why Google? Because the major U.S. carriers -- Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile -- certainly won't. They've been promising a mobile data future for more than a decade.

Yet what do we experience? Poor 3G coverage from AT&T, which unfortunately happens to offer the mostly widely used mobile device to access the Web, the iPhone. So AT&T's puny 3G network has to be overwhelmed.

Intel Puts Larrabee Chip on Ice

Just one month after setting a new processing speed record with its Larrabee project, Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) has shelved plans to put out a new graphics chip based on that technology.

Instead, it will use the technology as a software development platform for internal and external use in high-performance computing.

However, Intel has not killed plans for Larrabee-based graphics chips entirely. "Additional plans for discrete graphics products will be discussed sometime in 2010," Intel spokesperson Nick Knupffer told TechNewsWorld.

Congress probes Visa, AmEx role in Web scam

For years, baffled consumers looked to Visa, MasterCard, and American Express for answers when mysterious charges from "shadowy companies" began appearing on their credit card statements.

Even though all three card companies have rules designed to protect users from unauthorized charges as well as to weed out problem-plagued merchants, thousands of people appear to have complained to their card companies for years about three post-transaction marketing companies: Webloyalty, Vertrue, and Affinion. Perhaps as many as 30 million people were affected, according to a government report.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation launched an investigation last May after learning of the thousands of consumer complaints from online shoppers. As a result of the investigation, lawmakers have concluded that the three marketing firms employed deceptive practices in order to fool consumers into signing up to loyalty programs and paying monthly fees. Now, the commerce committee wants Visa, MasterCard, and American Express to explain how all this went on for years under their noses.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Genesis Of A Genius Community

Thekkiam, an online company based out of Bangalore runs an interesting monthly contest/quiz called ‘IAmAGenius’ that’s spread over 3 levels with a total of 12 questions. The website was launched in October 2008 and receives visitors from around 58 countries with an average of 800 hits per day. “Almost 95% of the people who visit this site / play this quiz are from premium institutions such as Harvard, Georgia tech, IIT, IISC, IIM etc. and from offices such as IBM, Dell, Infosys, Wipro, Texas instruments etc.” according to Mr. Dhananjay, Director at Thekkiam.

IAmAGenius’ monthly winners are showcased on the ‘Hall of Genius’ section within the website and every participant that passes level 1 has the chance to become the member of a parallel digital world called ‘Digital Geniuses’. Launched on the 26th of September 2009, the digital world received close to 4000 hits a day and is meant specifically for the quiz contestants. When asked about the purpose behind the website, Dhananjay said, “Imagine how it would be if the able, interested, intelligent and knowledgeable like minded souls get to interact with one another freely. It would definitely make a world of a difference to the real world that we live in. Thekkiam and Digital Geniuses would definitely help bring this above said community closer to one another. This site helps one send & receive mails within the community, create and join Groups and Companies, make friends, Blog, 2weet, Advertise, inform events, hold their thoughts etc., – all under one roof. Also, DeeGees (digital money earned through ‘IAmAGenius’ contests) helps one determine their strength in the community.”

Building the Google smartbook dream machine

The netbook promises convenience and capability in a small, lightweight, and generally inexpensive package, and the concept of a smartbook goes even further: a handy-dandy combination of smartphone and notebook. Alas, most netbook offerings come burdened with a full-blown Windows operating system, which runs slowly on performance-limited netbook hardware and saps battery life. And Windows is not exactly smartphone-oriented.

Could Google's Android come to rescue the netbook and enable the smartbook vision? After all, Android is a fast, lightweight OS, proven in the mobile phone market, with an elegant user interface and application portability. It's a natural candidate for the OS inside your dream netbook.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Promoting the Car Phone, Despite Risks

Martin Cooper, who developed the first portable cellphone, recalled testifying before a Michigan state commission about the risks of talking on a phone while driving.

Common sense, said Mr. Cooper, a Motorola engineer, dictated that drivers keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

Commission members asked Mr. Cooper what could be done about risks posed by these early mobile phones.

“There should be a lock on the dial,” he said he had testified, “so that you couldn’t dial while driving.”

Can Google really hack it in business?

After conquering the search world, Google is now pushing hard to be a major provider of business software, tackling longtime dominator Microsoft over productivity and collaboration apps. But does this company, most famous for free consumer-oriented offerings like search and basic apps, have what it takes to be taken seriously by business? Can you really rely on Google Apps?

Ken Godskind thinks so. The chief strategy officer at AlertSite moved his company's 45 employees to the Premier Edition of Google Apps in late 2008. He likes the fact that he gets not only e-mail but word processing, spreadsheets, a Web-based calendar, Web-based collaboration, Google Talk, and Google Video for $50 a year per user. That's a third or less of what he would pay to get the same from an internal, Microsoft-based environment.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Webmail services should help protect against scams

A friend of mine has lost her life savings in an online scam. She had attempted to buy a car via AutoTrader.com, a reputable car sales site. The seller offered the perfect car for my friend -- at a substantial discount, of course, with free shipping.

Had I heard these words before my friend had gone through with the transaction, I would have warned her off the deal. Better yet, had her Webmail providers used their mail-snooping technology for good rather than just generating targeted ads, she might still have her life savings.

Microsoft and Yahoo finalize search deal

Microsoft and Yahoo have finalized the terms of a broad search and advertising agreement intended to help them compete more effectively with Google.

The companies announced the agreement in July, in which Microsoft’s Bing search engine would power Yahoo’s search results, and Yahoo would provide premium search-advertising services for both companies.

They had hoped to finalize the deal in late October but needed more time to work out the details.

In a statement on Friday, the companies said they hope that the transaction will close in early 2010 and that they welcome the broad support the deal has gotten from key players in the advertising industry.

Nokia E72 Out In Stores Now

Nokia E72 has been a device that has been made for business as well as personal usage in the greatest ways. This is quite available in stores right now with their well tailored features now out there to bring you all the necessary help that you can expect from Nokia E72.

There has been much going on with the people relying on emails and text messages currently rather than making traditional phone calls. This greater response has been one of the most revealing experiences for today’s generation and the way people relate to communicating now-a-days.

Ukko Lappalainen has seen that researches have come up with some heavy relying on texting and their easy accessibilities in recent times. There have been great results showing that people are spending more days per year at full work and so responding through emails or text messages have become a priority. The report has also shown that 46% has chosen emails over voice messages and this can be of greater importance for most. Nokia E72 has been designed with particular thought to these recent developments among people’s kind of use.

What Do You Hate About Backing Up Your Data?

Backup is one of those things that we rarely think about until it is far too late. It’s usually a task that’s somewhere buried on your to-do list. It may even be a high priority task on your list, but somehow weeks and months pass and still, no backup. Could it be because too much pain is associated with the process? Or maybe it’s just being a bit lazy? Or more likely, we are all too busy and just don’t make the time.

Here, we take a look at some of the painful aspects of backing up our PCs and laptops and how we can easily overcome that pain to make sure we don’t end up losing our valuable data.

Information Builders Upgrades Performance Management Software

Information Builders released a new version of its performance management software Thursday. Enhancements include features related to predictive analysis and forecasting alert management and businessprocess management.

Performance management is a new area for business intelligence software vendors including Information Builders (IBI) Cognos and Hyperion. Performance management refers to the use of data analysis and business scorecard applications to set goals for a business and then measure progress toward meeting those goals. While most vendors have concentrated on financial performance management IBI has focused more on operational performance management and linking business strategy to operations.

The WebFocus Performance Management Framework is based on IBI's core WebFocus business intelligence platform and uses that tool to deliver performance management information to users through reports and dashboards. The product also uses IBI's iWay connectivity software to tap into multiple data sources including realtime data feeds from applications and other operational systems.

Comcast-NBC deal shows future is in content

PHILADELPHIA – Comcast Corp. is buying control of NBC Universal from GE largely because Comcast wants to own more movies and TV shows. The point is to give it a position of strength if fewer people sign up for its cable TV services and watch more video online.

It's understandable why the strategy might seem dubious: Another media company, Time Warner Inc., just gave up on that and spun off its cable TV division.

Yet while Comcast seems to be taking a different approach — marrying entertainment content with the largest cable TV system in the nation — it and Time Warner have arrived at the same conclusion: The future is in content, and the pipes that carry it matter less.

That's why Time Warner could jettison the business of selling subscription TV service and focus on the Warner Bros. movie studio, cable channels such as CNN and HBO and magazines such as People and Sports Illustrated.

Web ad group launches privacy education campaign

A group of leading Internet publishers and digital marketing services on Thursday launched an online campaign to educate consumers about how they are tracked and targeted for pitches on the Web.

The Interactive Advertising Bureau, based in New York, unveiled its "Privacy Matters" Web site. The site explains how Internet marketers track where people go and what they do online and then mine that data to serve up targeted ads. The practice, known as behavioral advertising, has raised concerns among privacy watchdogs and lawmakers in Congress.

A number of IAB members plan to run banner spots on their Web pages linking back to the Privacy Matters site. Those include Internet-only players such as Yahoo Inc. and Google Inc. and traditional media outlets such as Walt Disney Co. and The New York Times Co.

Sony signs 3-D video deal for 2010 World Cup

Sony Corp. said Friday it has signed a deal with FIFA, the international football governing body, to record up to 25 World Cup games in 3-D — a technology that gives viewers an illusion of depth on the screen.

The Japanese electronics and entertainment company is one of several electronics makers planning or working on 3-D technology for TVs and movies. Sony makes 3-D capable video cameras, and plans to sell 3-D TVs for homes next year.

People wear special glasses to see 3-D footage because the illusion of dimension is created by sending different images to the left and the right eye, although manufacturers are working on upgrades that will show 3-D without glasses.

Bing's iPhone plans (and more)

Although Microsoft would rather everyone ran out and bought a Windows Mobile phone, the software maker is aware of reality. And, since it wants people to use Bing on their phones, it knows it needs to have software that works on other devices.

"Everyone understands the popularity and the pervasiveness of the platform," said Microsoft principal group program manager David Raissipour, following a Bing event Wednesday. "We are actively working on it."

Raissipour confirmed Microsoft is working on a mobile Bing application that will combine a number of features--more than just mapping and search. However, he declined to say what all of those features are or when the software will be ready.

Panasonic to invest $1 billion in green tech

Panasonic plans to invest $1 billion by 2012 to develop green technologies for the home that would include energy-monitoring systems, marking a major shift in the company's focus.

Panasonic President Fumio Ohtsubo said in an interview with the Bloomberg news service this week that growing consumer interest in more efficient products has led Panasonic to decide to develop new core businesses.

"Our growth is not enough . So we want to change our fighting ring from our current categories to a different field," Ohtsubo told Bloomberg.

The company plans to offer home energy management systems, as well as develop existing interests in lithium ion batteries for electric cars, solar panels, and smart appliances.

Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean that the world's leading plasma-TV manufacturer is getting rid of its star product.

Google wants to unclog Net's DNS plumbing

Google wants to speed up a key part of the Internet's inner workings called the Domain Name System and is inviting technically savvy folks to try their ideas out.

The DNS is a crucial part of the Internet. It converts the text addresses people can remember into the numeric Internet Protocol addresses actually used to locate information on the Internet. For example, CNET.com's IP address is 216.239.122.102.

When you visit a Web page, a DNS server that's part of a vast distributed network often must perform that conversion--called resolving a host--many times. With the Google Public DNS service, Google wants to be that server.

Web Site Directory Has Been Launched

Now, a lot of people and businesses don’t care to have their profiles/pages made public. These kinds of people and businesses are happy with their inner circle of friends and aquaintances, which is fine, but I find an ever increasing amount of people and businesses such as myself want to get the word out not just of their website(s) but their social networking profile(s). This is how the Socialrific Social Networking Web Directory was born.

It all started when I was looking for a web directory that would allow me to list my social networking profiles as well as my websites. Well I don’t have to tell you I couldn’t find any. Not one. So I decided to create my own.

I created a new web directory with a new format and new layout. It took me awhile to get everything working properly. I knew it was a good idea to let people and businesses promote their social networking profiles but I increasingly felt it was a mistake to change the look and feel of a web directory. I mean, everyone knows how to navigate and use a traditional web directory. It isn’t very hard.

My web directory was finished, but always having this issue of usability eating me up I decided to test my new web directory on a few people. I purchased a few commonly known web directory scripts, got them up and working properly and was ready for a good ‘ol fashioned test to see which web directory was the easiest to use.

You can add your website links to this directory at free of cost: CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT

Latest technology news, updates and reviews