HP's reworked MediaSmart home servers now get along better with Macs, function better as photo-video servers within your home on across the Internet, and use faster processors. They will, for instance, automatically convert and rip to the server any DVD video on your PC. Any unprotected DVD, that is. The two models are the MediaSmart EX490, $550 with one 1 TB hard drive and Intel Celeron processor, and the MediaSmart EX495, $700 with a 1.5TB drive and an Intel Pentium Dual Core processor. Earlier versions, including the HP MediaSmart EX487, have won PCMag.com's Editors' Choice award for home servers.
One of the most useful new features is the Media Collector, which searches for and copies over media files across Macs and PCs. But if you've got, say, 12 copies of the same song, it only copies them over twice, once for the studio version that runs 3:51 and once for the live version that runs 4:08, along with pointers to all the locations.
Video including (unprotected) DVDs will be converted so you can stream it on home media devices or remotely. iPods and iPhones can download an app that streams music, photos, and video. It's controlled by an improved Web-based home page and can be controlled from Mac or PC. Anything you can see on your local PC you - or relatives, or clients if you're a small business - can see online if they have the proper permissions and passwords.
HP launched the MediaSmart line two years ago. Ongoing enhancements last year improved the Mac's ability to work with the MedarSmart servers. Now as then you get a four-bay network attached server (NAS) running Windows Home Server and the ability attach more drives externally, now allowing up to 17TB total, HP says. Think of it as a shoebox full of external hard drives you connect to over the network or Internet, not just a USB cable. The MediaSmart servers will automatically back up data on one or two drives, providing a duplicate copy if needed. This is boring but valuable stuff, especially if your Windows or now Mac PC goes south and you need to do a bare metal recreation of the hard drive including the operating system.
If you just want backup, there are cheaper solutions available. HP's MediaSmart servers aim to combine backup, ease of use, and more bells and whistles than most other home servers.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Move Over, U2: Foo Fighters Concert Streams Tonight
On Friday, the Foo Fighters are following in U2's footsteps, offering a free global stream of a live show.
Where Bono and company opted for YouTube, however, Grohl's gang is using Facebook. The set will be streaming from the Foo Fighters' own Studio 606 in California--a decidedly more intimate occasion than U2's Pasadena show.
The gig kicks off at 7PM PDT, 10PM EDT. Nearly 11,000 people have RSVP, as of this morning. The stream will be available to Facebook users and non-Facebook users alike around the globe.
Where Bono and company opted for YouTube, however, Grohl's gang is using Facebook. The set will be streaming from the Foo Fighters' own Studio 606 in California--a decidedly more intimate occasion than U2's Pasadena show.
The gig kicks off at 7PM PDT, 10PM EDT. Nearly 11,000 people have RSVP, as of this morning. The stream will be available to Facebook users and non-Facebook users alike around the globe.
IBM Replaces Exec Arrested for Insider Trading
NEW YORK, Oct 30 (Reuters) - IBM has replaced senior executive Robert Moffat as the head of its hardware division, saying he left the company two weeks after he was arrested in a high-profile insider trading scandal.
Moffat, once widely seen as a possible successor to IBM Chief Executive Sam Palmisano, was placed on a leave of absence on Oct. 19 following his arrest in the largest-ever insider trading scheme involving a hedge fund.
He is being succeeded as senior vice president of IBM's systems and technology group, the world's biggest maker of mainframe computers, by Rod Adkins, a 28-year company veteran who is IBM's highest-ranking black executive.
Moffat was charged with passing on insider information to a hedge fund, the Galleon Group.
"Bob Moffat, who had been placed on leave of absence as a result of a U.S. federal investigation into his personal activities, is no longer an employee," IBM spokesman Edward Barbini said on Friday.
He declined to elaborate, saying IBM does not discuss "personal issues" of current or former employees.
Moffat's attorney declined comment.
Adkins, 51, has served in a variety of management positions across the company, including general manager of IBM's PC division, which it has since sold to China's Lenovo Group.
IBM named him interim head of the hardware group after Moffat was put on administrative leave. (Reporting by Jim Finkle and Anupreeta Das; editing by Andre Grenon)
Moffat, once widely seen as a possible successor to IBM Chief Executive Sam Palmisano, was placed on a leave of absence on Oct. 19 following his arrest in the largest-ever insider trading scheme involving a hedge fund.
He is being succeeded as senior vice president of IBM's systems and technology group, the world's biggest maker of mainframe computers, by Rod Adkins, a 28-year company veteran who is IBM's highest-ranking black executive.
Moffat was charged with passing on insider information to a hedge fund, the Galleon Group.
"Bob Moffat, who had been placed on leave of absence as a result of a U.S. federal investigation into his personal activities, is no longer an employee," IBM spokesman Edward Barbini said on Friday.
He declined to elaborate, saying IBM does not discuss "personal issues" of current or former employees.
Moffat's attorney declined comment.
Adkins, 51, has served in a variety of management positions across the company, including general manager of IBM's PC division, which it has since sold to China's Lenovo Group.
IBM named him interim head of the hardware group after Moffat was put on administrative leave. (Reporting by Jim Finkle and Anupreeta Das; editing by Andre Grenon)
ICANN Approves Non-Latin Domain Name Characters
The Internet's governing body has approved a new domain name process that will allow for non-Latin characters.
The Fast Track Process will launch on November 16, and will allow countries and territories to apply for domain names in their native language with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). If ICANN approves the application, those countries will then be able to start approving registrations.
"The coming introduction of non-Latin characters represents the biggest technical change to the Internet since it was created four decades ago," ICANN chairman Peter Dengate Thrush said in a statement. "Right now Internet address endings are limited to Latin characters - A to Z. But the Fast Track Process is the first step in bringing the 100,000 characters of the languages of the world online for domain names."
Rod Beckstrom, ICANN's President and CEO, speculated that the move could bring billions of more people online - people who have never used Roman characters in their daily lives, he said.
The effort has been in the works for years, ICANN said, but organizers had to get around technical issues, policy development, and global cooperation.
"Our work on IDNs [internationalized domain names] has gone through numerous drafts, dozens of tests, and an incredible amount of development by volunteers since we started this project," said Tina Dam, ICANN's Senior Director for IDNs. "The launch of the Fast Track Process will be an amazing change to make the Internet an even more valuable tool, and for even more people around the globe."
The Fast Track Process will launch on November 16, and will allow countries and territories to apply for domain names in their native language with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). If ICANN approves the application, those countries will then be able to start approving registrations.
"The coming introduction of non-Latin characters represents the biggest technical change to the Internet since it was created four decades ago," ICANN chairman Peter Dengate Thrush said in a statement. "Right now Internet address endings are limited to Latin characters - A to Z. But the Fast Track Process is the first step in bringing the 100,000 characters of the languages of the world online for domain names."
Rod Beckstrom, ICANN's President and CEO, speculated that the move could bring billions of more people online - people who have never used Roman characters in their daily lives, he said.
The effort has been in the works for years, ICANN said, but organizers had to get around technical issues, policy development, and global cooperation.
"Our work on IDNs [internationalized domain names] has gone through numerous drafts, dozens of tests, and an incredible amount of development by volunteers since we started this project," said Tina Dam, ICANN's Senior Director for IDNs. "The launch of the Fast Track Process will be an amazing change to make the Internet an even more valuable tool, and for even more people around the globe."
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Amazon Launches 'PayPhrase' for Partner Shopping
Just in time for the holiday, Amazon is introducing PayPhrase, a new, easier way to help you part with your hard-earned cash. The feature lets users create "phrases"--up to 20 per user, in fact--which can be associated with such vital cash funneling information as credit card numbers, PINs, and shipping address.
Examples of phrases (theirs, not mine) include "Knick Knack," "Home Sweet Home," and "Jake's Allowance." Users enter the phrase on a partner site, then a four-digit PIN, and the purchase is automatically sent to the registered address using the credit card Amazon has on file.
The feature works with both Amazon and Amazon partner sites like KNY, Jockey, Patagonia, Buy.com, and J&R Electronics. PayPhrase lets users buy items without having to give vital information to third-party sites, Amazon said.
"PayPhrase solves the headache of trying to keep track of all the different usernames and passwords people use to shop on various sites across the Web," said PayPhrase general manager, Matt Williams. "With PayPhrase all you need is one phrase and one PIN to pay online."
Another application for the feature, according to Amazon: "PayPhrase also makes it easy for parents to set up an online allowance and monitor their teens' purchases." Happy holidays, kids.
Examples of phrases (theirs, not mine) include "Knick Knack," "Home Sweet Home," and "Jake's Allowance." Users enter the phrase on a partner site, then a four-digit PIN, and the purchase is automatically sent to the registered address using the credit card Amazon has on file.
The feature works with both Amazon and Amazon partner sites like KNY, Jockey, Patagonia, Buy.com, and J&R Electronics. PayPhrase lets users buy items without having to give vital information to third-party sites, Amazon said.
"PayPhrase solves the headache of trying to keep track of all the different usernames and passwords people use to shop on various sites across the Web," said PayPhrase general manager, Matt Williams. "With PayPhrase all you need is one phrase and one PIN to pay online."
Another application for the feature, according to Amazon: "PayPhrase also makes it easy for parents to set up an online allowance and monitor their teens' purchases." Happy holidays, kids.
Scareware Tops Microsoft's Malware List
An entry in the Microsoft Malware Protection Center's Threat Research & Response Blog shows that rogue AV, also known as scareware, is ruling the malware roost, as 6 top of the 10 malicious programs removed by the MSRT (Malicious Software Removal Tool) in the US in October were rogues.
Overall the MSRT has cleaned 2,516,235 machines world-wide, with different malware families predominating in different countries, as you would expect. The Microsoft blog shows data from the US, China and Brazil; no rogues are in the top 11 list (yes, 11, I'm not sure why) for China and only one in Brazil, while the majority in the US are rogues.
This list shows the top malware for the US:
Malware Family
# Threats
# Machines Cleaned
Alureon
147,387
117,351
Taterf
121,988
116,217
FakeXPA(R)
108,026
103,578
Renos(R)
69,147
55,461
FakeRean(R)
78,067
53,376
Yektel(R)
52,259
51,061
FakeScanti(R)
70,120
50,260
Frethog
51,038
49,526
Daurso
32,205
32,150
Koobface
43,640
27,793
FakeSpypro(R)
26,530
26,242(R)—denotes rogues.
Koobface shows up on the list, but not near the top. Conficker is huge in the rest of the world, but not in the US. 6 of the top threats in Brazil and China are password stealers. Microsoft claims that in China these are used for stealing gaming credentials, whereas in Brazil they are used to steal bank account credentials.
Overall the MSRT has cleaned 2,516,235 machines world-wide, with different malware families predominating in different countries, as you would expect. The Microsoft blog shows data from the US, China and Brazil; no rogues are in the top 11 list (yes, 11, I'm not sure why) for China and only one in Brazil, while the majority in the US are rogues.
This list shows the top malware for the US:
Malware Family
# Threats
# Machines Cleaned
Alureon
147,387
117,351
Taterf
121,988
116,217
FakeXPA(R)
108,026
103,578
Renos(R)
69,147
55,461
FakeRean(R)
78,067
53,376
Yektel(R)
52,259
51,061
FakeScanti(R)
70,120
50,260
Frethog
51,038
49,526
Daurso
32,205
32,150
Koobface
43,640
27,793
FakeSpypro(R)
26,530
26,242(R)—denotes rogues.
Koobface shows up on the list, but not near the top. Conficker is huge in the rest of the world, but not in the US. 6 of the top threats in Brazil and China are password stealers. Microsoft claims that in China these are used for stealing gaming credentials, whereas in Brazil they are used to steal bank account credentials.
PayPal Gets an Early Jump on Holiday Deals
While the holidays aren't quite upon us, retailers and e-tailers would love for you to start planning your holiday shopping. If you're in that kind of mood, PayPal would like to alert you to its holiday deals Web site, where the online payment merchant has begun collecting incentives with some of its premium partners.
According to Giles Cassels, a seasonal shopping expert at PayPal, the company will be hosting weekly updates to the PayPal.com/holiday site, with even sweeter deals set for Black Friday. PayPal launched a similar program last year, but Cassels said that PayPal has expanded the program to more point-of-sale discounts, as well as free shipping offers.
PayPal has already added numerous deals, including a $20 discount on all Best Buy purchases.
November 27, or "Black Friday," is typically considered to be the most popular shopping day of the year in terms of purchases made at brick-and-mortar stores. The following Monday, however, has been known as "Cyber Monday" because analysts expected online purchases to peak then. According to PayPal, that's not true; last year, the second Monday in December, now characterized as "Green Monday," represented the highest point of online sales. If history holds, that will be December 14.
According to Cassels, most of the deals before "Green Monday" will focus on physical goods and gifts. On or around December 14, however, PayPal will shift to deals that involve electronic transactions (online purchases of MP3s, for example) where shipping is instantaneous.
A PayPal spokesperson said that the site was unable to offer any predictions of how holiday sales would fare this year. Cassels said that the mood was one of "cautious optimism," a phrase I've heard on numerous occasions already.
And now, the deals:
Discounts:
Best Buy will offer $20 cash-back on purchases of $100 or more when you pay with PayPal between November 10 and November 16.
Southwest Airlines, Omaha Steaks and Smart Bargains will offer up to 20 percent savings on all PayPal purchases.
Free shipping:
Walmart.com will offer free Site to Store shipping.
Beauty.com will offer PayPal customers free shipping from November 3 through November 9.
Zappos.com will offer free shipping both ways on shoes and free overnight shipping on clothing from November 10 through November 16.
PayPal said it is also working with MicroPlace.com, a microfinance Web site. Shoppers who purchase a gift certificate on MicroPlace.com will get a free $20 gift certificate to give to someone else on their list.
According to Giles Cassels, a seasonal shopping expert at PayPal, the company will be hosting weekly updates to the PayPal.com/holiday site, with even sweeter deals set for Black Friday. PayPal launched a similar program last year, but Cassels said that PayPal has expanded the program to more point-of-sale discounts, as well as free shipping offers.
PayPal has already added numerous deals, including a $20 discount on all Best Buy purchases.
November 27, or "Black Friday," is typically considered to be the most popular shopping day of the year in terms of purchases made at brick-and-mortar stores. The following Monday, however, has been known as "Cyber Monday" because analysts expected online purchases to peak then. According to PayPal, that's not true; last year, the second Monday in December, now characterized as "Green Monday," represented the highest point of online sales. If history holds, that will be December 14.
According to Cassels, most of the deals before "Green Monday" will focus on physical goods and gifts. On or around December 14, however, PayPal will shift to deals that involve electronic transactions (online purchases of MP3s, for example) where shipping is instantaneous.
A PayPal spokesperson said that the site was unable to offer any predictions of how holiday sales would fare this year. Cassels said that the mood was one of "cautious optimism," a phrase I've heard on numerous occasions already.
And now, the deals:
Discounts:
Best Buy will offer $20 cash-back on purchases of $100 or more when you pay with PayPal between November 10 and November 16.
Southwest Airlines, Omaha Steaks and Smart Bargains will offer up to 20 percent savings on all PayPal purchases.
Free shipping:
Walmart.com will offer free Site to Store shipping.
Beauty.com will offer PayPal customers free shipping from November 3 through November 9.
Zappos.com will offer free shipping both ways on shoes and free overnight shipping on clothing from November 10 through November 16.
PayPal said it is also working with MicroPlace.com, a microfinance Web site. Shoppers who purchase a gift certificate on MicroPlace.com will get a free $20 gift certificate to give to someone else on their list.
Hands On with Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala)
Ubuntu Linux is one of the most popular Linux distros around and this week we're blessed with another release of it. The last version of Ubuntu I looked at for ExtremeTech was version 9.04 (Jaunty Jackelope). There have been some significant changes since that release in April, so read on to find out what they are and why you might want to consider upgrading to Ubuntu Linux 9.10.
What's new in this Release
There's some juicy stuff in this upgrade and here's some of what you'll find:
Gnome 2.28
Upstart (faster booting)
Empathy IM (replaces Pidgin)
New login manager
Quickly (easier application development)
Ubuntu One (cloud-based sharing and storage)
Linux Kernel 2.6.31
Changes to power management
New Intel video driver architecture
Ext4 file system default
Grub 2 default
General Impressions
The new Ubuntu Software Center has an excellent selection of software. Even if you feel that your computing needs are fine with the default software included with Ubuntu 9.10, it's still worth browsing around the Software Center to check out some additional stuff.
When I booted into my Ubuntu Linux 9.10 desktop, I heard the Ubuntu theme play. So sound worked fine right from the start. No need to fiddle with any settings to get it working. Ditto with networking.
When I went to play a YouTube video, however, I found that Flash wasn't installed. I pulled up the Ubuntu Software Center, typed the word "flash" into the search box, and up came a list of goodies to install on my system. The first thing on the list was Ubuntu Restricted Extras. Wow, with a name like that I just HAD to install it!
What's new in this Release
There's some juicy stuff in this upgrade and here's some of what you'll find:
Gnome 2.28
Upstart (faster booting)
Empathy IM (replaces Pidgin)
New login manager
Quickly (easier application development)
Ubuntu One (cloud-based sharing and storage)
Linux Kernel 2.6.31
Changes to power management
New Intel video driver architecture
Ext4 file system default
Grub 2 default
General Impressions
The new Ubuntu Software Center has an excellent selection of software. Even if you feel that your computing needs are fine with the default software included with Ubuntu 9.10, it's still worth browsing around the Software Center to check out some additional stuff.
When I booted into my Ubuntu Linux 9.10 desktop, I heard the Ubuntu theme play. So sound worked fine right from the start. No need to fiddle with any settings to get it working. Ditto with networking.
When I went to play a YouTube video, however, I found that Flash wasn't installed. I pulled up the Ubuntu Software Center, typed the word "flash" into the search box, and up came a list of goodies to install on my system. The first thing on the list was Ubuntu Restricted Extras. Wow, with a name like that I just HAD to install it!
Facebook Revamps Privacy Policy
Score one for the Canadians. Facebook on Thursday unveiled an updated version of its privacy policy – changes that were made, in part, to appease Canadian privacy officials.
The revamped policy spells out the social networking site's privacy rules in a "clearer and more comprehensive" manner, Facebook said in a blog post. As part of its April pledge to operate in a more democratic manner, Facebook will accept comments on the proposal until noon Pacific time on November 5.
"In this revision, we're fulfilling our commitment to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada to update our privacy policy to better describe a number of practices," Facebook said.
In August, Facebook announced plans to beef up its privacy notifications and embark on a year-long overhaul of its developer platform after the Canadian privacy commission expressed concern about the social networking site's current policies.
Facebook split its privacy policy into eight sections, including sections that covered the information the company receives and how it is used and shared; how customers can view that information, change, or remove it, and how Facebook protects information.
The site also provided more details on its advertising network. Social Ads, for example, are sponsored promotions shown to your friends. "For example, if you become a fan of a Page for your favorite new movie, your friends may see an ad that includes that information," Facebook said.
The company also stressed that all person data is anonymized for advertising purposes. "For example, we won't tell an advertiser that you clicked on an ad, but we might report that, of the 100 people who clicked on the ad, 63 percent were female," Facebook said.
Facebook said that it does not use conversion tracking, which allows advertisers to measure the effectiveness of their ads. If Facebook does, however, the company promised to treat any information it collected confidentially."We'll continue to respect your privacy by not sharing your information with advertisers, and we'll anonymize any information we receive," the company said.
Facebook did not provide a side-by-side comparison of the changes to its privacy policy because the update is "so different from the current policy."
The revamped policy spells out the social networking site's privacy rules in a "clearer and more comprehensive" manner, Facebook said in a blog post. As part of its April pledge to operate in a more democratic manner, Facebook will accept comments on the proposal until noon Pacific time on November 5.
"In this revision, we're fulfilling our commitment to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada to update our privacy policy to better describe a number of practices," Facebook said.
In August, Facebook announced plans to beef up its privacy notifications and embark on a year-long overhaul of its developer platform after the Canadian privacy commission expressed concern about the social networking site's current policies.
Facebook split its privacy policy into eight sections, including sections that covered the information the company receives and how it is used and shared; how customers can view that information, change, or remove it, and how Facebook protects information.
The site also provided more details on its advertising network. Social Ads, for example, are sponsored promotions shown to your friends. "For example, if you become a fan of a Page for your favorite new movie, your friends may see an ad that includes that information," Facebook said.
The company also stressed that all person data is anonymized for advertising purposes. "For example, we won't tell an advertiser that you clicked on an ad, but we might report that, of the 100 people who clicked on the ad, 63 percent were female," Facebook said.
Facebook said that it does not use conversion tracking, which allows advertisers to measure the effectiveness of their ads. If Facebook does, however, the company promised to treat any information it collected confidentially."We'll continue to respect your privacy by not sharing your information with advertisers, and we'll anonymize any information we receive," the company said.
Facebook did not provide a side-by-side comparison of the changes to its privacy policy because the update is "so different from the current policy."
Motorola: Can We Make Android Phones Cheaper?
On Thursday, we wondered whether or not HTC would deliver a cheap Android phone. Now we know one vendor that will: Motorola. And, interestingly enough, it may not even qualify as a smartphone.
Motorola posted a third-quarter profit of $12 million on lower revenues of $5.45 billion, following the launch of the Droid and Cliq, although it was the profit that pleasantly surprised Wall Street. Motorola also predicted a heartening outlook, based on its commitment to Android phones.
Motorola has launched all the phones it plans to for the remainder of 2010, Sanjay Jha, the co-chief executive of Motorola and head of its Mobile Devices unit, told analysts. But in 2010, the company plans new phones (obviously) and new carriers, although Jha did not specify whether he was referring to domestic carriers or an expansion of its international customer base.
However, it appears that Motorola has about 40 phones on tap for 2010: 20 smartphones, of which most if not all will run the Android operating system. However, expanding into foreign markets may also require Motorola to adopt other operating systems or services, which Motoroa will have to consider, Jha said.
"Smartphone success for us in 2010 will drive, almost singularly, our financial performance in 2010," Jha said, according to a SeekingAlpha transcript.
Motorola still manufactures so-called "feature phones," more low-end devices that aren't optimized for the data-intensive, always-connected smartphones like the Droid. In this space, Jha noted, profits are rapidly declining. However, Motorola plans to use a pool of overseas ODMs, where Motorola will aggressively engage with to eke out a modest profit.
"In the ODM pool, I would say, that we expect similar scale of additional product portfolio to the smartphone product portfolio," Jha said, a statement that would imply that feature phones would make up the other twenty or so phones that the company plans to launch.
For Motorola, however, the key may be how cheaply Motorola can make an Android phone, and even whether it can manufacture an Android-based non-smartphone. For those who can't afford the initial $199, much less the $3800 or so a Droid will cost over the life of its contract, this may be the key quote:
"On the ASP, to the question of whether Android can be taken below $200 for wholesale -- without being specific about the negotiation and pricing, and so on and so forth, it's that kind of a range of pricing that will enable us to go address the feature phone marketplace with Android," Jha said. "And we have various different strategies for doing that but without saying whether it is 2010, 2011, whether it's $200 or $150 or $250, but it's that kind of a range that we need to deliver to really expand the scope of where Android can play and that's part of our strategy."
Those phones will likely run MOTOBLUR, Motorola's own interface and service layer. Jha described Droid as a "Google experience phone," where the look and feel of the device was set by Google.
"And MOTOBLUR will be in vast majority of our devices and as I mentioned earlier we are working to evolve MOTOBLUR to address other experiences which will deliver similar aggregation, similar solving of the problem, similar push to the home screen," Jha said. "And our testing so far has indicated there has been a very good consumer response to our new experiences also."
Motorola posted a third-quarter profit of $12 million on lower revenues of $5.45 billion, following the launch of the Droid and Cliq, although it was the profit that pleasantly surprised Wall Street. Motorola also predicted a heartening outlook, based on its commitment to Android phones.
Motorola has launched all the phones it plans to for the remainder of 2010, Sanjay Jha, the co-chief executive of Motorola and head of its Mobile Devices unit, told analysts. But in 2010, the company plans new phones (obviously) and new carriers, although Jha did not specify whether he was referring to domestic carriers or an expansion of its international customer base.
However, it appears that Motorola has about 40 phones on tap for 2010: 20 smartphones, of which most if not all will run the Android operating system. However, expanding into foreign markets may also require Motorola to adopt other operating systems or services, which Motoroa will have to consider, Jha said.
"Smartphone success for us in 2010 will drive, almost singularly, our financial performance in 2010," Jha said, according to a SeekingAlpha transcript.
Motorola still manufactures so-called "feature phones," more low-end devices that aren't optimized for the data-intensive, always-connected smartphones like the Droid. In this space, Jha noted, profits are rapidly declining. However, Motorola plans to use a pool of overseas ODMs, where Motorola will aggressively engage with to eke out a modest profit.
"In the ODM pool, I would say, that we expect similar scale of additional product portfolio to the smartphone product portfolio," Jha said, a statement that would imply that feature phones would make up the other twenty or so phones that the company plans to launch.
For Motorola, however, the key may be how cheaply Motorola can make an Android phone, and even whether it can manufacture an Android-based non-smartphone. For those who can't afford the initial $199, much less the $3800 or so a Droid will cost over the life of its contract, this may be the key quote:
"On the ASP, to the question of whether Android can be taken below $200 for wholesale -- without being specific about the negotiation and pricing, and so on and so forth, it's that kind of a range of pricing that will enable us to go address the feature phone marketplace with Android," Jha said. "And we have various different strategies for doing that but without saying whether it is 2010, 2011, whether it's $200 or $150 or $250, but it's that kind of a range that we need to deliver to really expand the scope of where Android can play and that's part of our strategy."
Those phones will likely run MOTOBLUR, Motorola's own interface and service layer. Jha described Droid as a "Google experience phone," where the look and feel of the device was set by Google.
"And MOTOBLUR will be in vast majority of our devices and as I mentioned earlier we are working to evolve MOTOBLUR to address other experiences which will deliver similar aggregation, similar solving of the problem, similar push to the home screen," Jha said. "And our testing so far has indicated there has been a very good consumer response to our new experiences also."
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Broadband Grant Rollout Delayed One Month
The government has received more than 2,200 applications for the $7.2 billion in broadband loans and grants provided by the stimulus package, but that demand will delay the first round of funding for another month, officials told a Senate committee Tuesday.
At this point, project proposals have come from all 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia. They request nearly $28 billion in funding, a number that jumps to $38 billion when considering the $10.5 billion in matching funds from applicants, according to Larry Strickling, administrator for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
Many applications, particularly for infrastructure projects, have been very complex, Strickling said. As a result, the department will expand its review period and award its first grant in mid-December, about a month later than originally planned.
The first of three rounds of funding, meanwhile, is now scheduled to be completed in February 2010 rather than at the end of this year, Strickling told the Senate Commerce Committee.
The stimulus package passed earlier this year included $7.2 billion for broadband grants. The funds are split between the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service – which gets $2.5 billion – and NTIA within the Commerce Department, which gets $4.7 billion.
An additional $350 million was set aside for a broadband inventory map. At this point, NTIA has allocated $14 million to seven states and D.C. to fund mapping activities, Strickling said. These states – Indiana, North Carolina, West Virginia, Arkansas, Vermont, California, and New York – must use the money to collect and verify the availability, speed, and location of broadband in their states.
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Texas Republican, expressed concern that this map is not due to be completed until February 2011 – well after the first grant is handed out.
"We have the mapping that is required to see where the real priorities are … and yet the funding has to start before the mapping is finished," Hutchison said. "I'm concerned that we're not going to be using the right priorities for the taxpayer dollars."
Strickling acknowledged that his job would be "simpler" if NTIA already had access to the completed broadband map, but said that the agency has other resources in the interim.
Applicants, for example, are required to provide as much information about their potential coverage area as possible. NTIA has also asked states to provide input on what regions they would consider priority areas. Service providers, meanwhile, have been asked to submit comments by this week about subscriber numbers and broadband availability in their coverage areas.
"I think we have a pretty good picture," Strickling said.
Hutchison also expressed concern that applications are first reviewed by a team of volunteers. Strickling said that all volunteers – about 1,100 in total – have expertise in the broadband field. The current team includes former telecom executives and academics, and up to 300 applicants were rejected for not having the right qualifications, he said.
"Their role is a first-round screener," he said. After that, a team at NTIA does a "top-to-bottom scrub. Our mission is to make sure we don't fund any bad applications."
There was also much discussion about definitions, particularly the difference between a rural and remote area. The funding notice defines a "rural area" as one with a population less than 20,000 people or an urbanized area not adjacent to a city or town with a population greater than 50,000. A "remote" area, meanwhile, is one that is 50 miles or more from a non-rural area.
Democratic Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and John Rockefeller of West Virginia took umbrage at the definition of remote. Both said that portions of their states would definitely be described as "remote" but were not necessarily 50 miles from a city.
Jonathan Adelstein, a former FCC commissioner and new administrator of RUS, said his agency would "completely revisit" the definition during the second round of funding. RUS is looking at other factors besides remoteness, like density and income, he said.
The goal is to provide loans to areas that are relatively easy to reach and provide grants to the more far-flung, "remote" areas, Adelstein said.
Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat, was annoyed that RUS even took the time to define "remote" after Congress had already done it in the Farm Bill. She also urged RUS to fund projects that will actually help communities in need instead of just blindly following arbitrary metrics.
"I just don't want federal money competing with people who have made investments without that federal money. I don't think it's fair to those companies and I know how many communities there are in my state that are not going to get help under this [rulemaking] because they happen to be within 50 miles of a community," she said.
McCaskill pointed to Albany, Mo., a town of 1,900 that is about 50 miles from the city of St. Joseph, which has about 76,000 residents. Albany has a 25 percent unemployment rate, but its proximity to St. Joseph would make it ineligible as a "remote area."
At this point, project proposals have come from all 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia. They request nearly $28 billion in funding, a number that jumps to $38 billion when considering the $10.5 billion in matching funds from applicants, according to Larry Strickling, administrator for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
Many applications, particularly for infrastructure projects, have been very complex, Strickling said. As a result, the department will expand its review period and award its first grant in mid-December, about a month later than originally planned.
The first of three rounds of funding, meanwhile, is now scheduled to be completed in February 2010 rather than at the end of this year, Strickling told the Senate Commerce Committee.
The stimulus package passed earlier this year included $7.2 billion for broadband grants. The funds are split between the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service – which gets $2.5 billion – and NTIA within the Commerce Department, which gets $4.7 billion.
An additional $350 million was set aside for a broadband inventory map. At this point, NTIA has allocated $14 million to seven states and D.C. to fund mapping activities, Strickling said. These states – Indiana, North Carolina, West Virginia, Arkansas, Vermont, California, and New York – must use the money to collect and verify the availability, speed, and location of broadband in their states.
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Texas Republican, expressed concern that this map is not due to be completed until February 2011 – well after the first grant is handed out.
"We have the mapping that is required to see where the real priorities are … and yet the funding has to start before the mapping is finished," Hutchison said. "I'm concerned that we're not going to be using the right priorities for the taxpayer dollars."
Strickling acknowledged that his job would be "simpler" if NTIA already had access to the completed broadband map, but said that the agency has other resources in the interim.
Applicants, for example, are required to provide as much information about their potential coverage area as possible. NTIA has also asked states to provide input on what regions they would consider priority areas. Service providers, meanwhile, have been asked to submit comments by this week about subscriber numbers and broadband availability in their coverage areas.
"I think we have a pretty good picture," Strickling said.
Hutchison also expressed concern that applications are first reviewed by a team of volunteers. Strickling said that all volunteers – about 1,100 in total – have expertise in the broadband field. The current team includes former telecom executives and academics, and up to 300 applicants were rejected for not having the right qualifications, he said.
"Their role is a first-round screener," he said. After that, a team at NTIA does a "top-to-bottom scrub. Our mission is to make sure we don't fund any bad applications."
There was also much discussion about definitions, particularly the difference between a rural and remote area. The funding notice defines a "rural area" as one with a population less than 20,000 people or an urbanized area not adjacent to a city or town with a population greater than 50,000. A "remote" area, meanwhile, is one that is 50 miles or more from a non-rural area.
Democratic Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and John Rockefeller of West Virginia took umbrage at the definition of remote. Both said that portions of their states would definitely be described as "remote" but were not necessarily 50 miles from a city.
Jonathan Adelstein, a former FCC commissioner and new administrator of RUS, said his agency would "completely revisit" the definition during the second round of funding. RUS is looking at other factors besides remoteness, like density and income, he said.
The goal is to provide loans to areas that are relatively easy to reach and provide grants to the more far-flung, "remote" areas, Adelstein said.
Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat, was annoyed that RUS even took the time to define "remote" after Congress had already done it in the Farm Bill. She also urged RUS to fund projects that will actually help communities in need instead of just blindly following arbitrary metrics.
"I just don't want federal money competing with people who have made investments without that federal money. I don't think it's fair to those companies and I know how many communities there are in my state that are not going to get help under this [rulemaking] because they happen to be within 50 miles of a community," she said.
McCaskill pointed to Albany, Mo., a town of 1,900 that is about 50 miles from the city of St. Joseph, which has about 76,000 residents. Albany has a 25 percent unemployment rate, but its proximity to St. Joseph would make it ineligible as a "remote area."
Google Shows Android 2.0 to Developers
Google rolled out the Android 2.0 SDK to developers today, just a day before the announcement of the first Android 2.0 phone, the Motorola Droid for Verizon.
Here are some of the highlights of the new OS:
Email and contact syncing with multiple accounts, from multiple sources.
Microsoft Exchange syncing support.
A combined inbox for multiple email accounts (yay!)
Quick Connect, which lets you tap on a contact photo and choose to call, SMS or email someone (shown at left).
Lots of camera improvements: flash, digital zoom, scenes, white balance, color effects, and macro mode.
A better virtual keyboard with better word completion
Three-point multitouch support
Browser improvements: visual thumbnail bookmarks, a tappable address bar, double-tap zooming, and HTML5
Bluetooth 2.1 with peer-to-peer connectivity and Phonebook Access Profile
Support for different screen sizes
Google has a full rundown of the new OS features over at its Web site. Some of these features (such as Exchange support) are things that manufacturers have been putting into their own devices; some (such as a better camera app) have been desperately needed for a while. It'll be interesting to see whether this makes the stock Google Android experience on the Motorola Droid as punchy and effective as, say, HTC Sense on the HTC Hero.
Here are some of the highlights of the new OS:
Email and contact syncing with multiple accounts, from multiple sources.
Microsoft Exchange syncing support.
A combined inbox for multiple email accounts (yay!)
Quick Connect, which lets you tap on a contact photo and choose to call, SMS or email someone (shown at left).
Lots of camera improvements: flash, digital zoom, scenes, white balance, color effects, and macro mode.
A better virtual keyboard with better word completion
Three-point multitouch support
Browser improvements: visual thumbnail bookmarks, a tappable address bar, double-tap zooming, and HTML5
Bluetooth 2.1 with peer-to-peer connectivity and Phonebook Access Profile
Support for different screen sizes
Google has a full rundown of the new OS features over at its Web site. Some of these features (such as Exchange support) are things that manufacturers have been putting into their own devices; some (such as a better camera app) have been desperately needed for a while. It'll be interesting to see whether this makes the stock Google Android experience on the Motorola Droid as punchy and effective as, say, HTC Sense on the HTC Hero.
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Monday, October 26, 2009
Microsoft: Office 2010 Public Beta Due in November
Microsoft said Monday that the public beta of Microsoft Office 2010 will go live in November, as well as a public beta of SharePoint Server 2010.
PCMag.com has already written that Office 2010 looks to be the smoothest upgrade for the Office productivity suite ever; our hands-on of the technical preview of Office 2010 was quite favorable. Office will also come in the form of ad-supported Web apps; last month, Microsoft invited PCMag.com to take an early look.
SharePoint 2010 is designed to tightly integrate with Office in any event, via social tagging, backstage integration and document life-cycle management, Microsoft said. Rich video, audio and Silverlight, will also be integrated. Likewise, SharePoint will also be integrated with Visual Studio 2010, which was also announced on Monday.
Microsoft also said it would add two new versions of SharePoint, including an on-premises and hosted version. Other features include the ability to connect capabilities to line-of-business data or Web services in SharePoint Server and the Office client; rich APIs and support for Silverlight, representational state transfer (REST) and Language-Integrated Query (LINQ), to help developers rapidly build applications on the SharePoint platform; and enterprise features like Excel Services and InfoPath Forms Services, to use, share, secure and manage interactive forms across an organization, Microsoft said.
The new version of SharePoint also includes the now-familiar version of the Office ribbon interface.
PCMag.com has already written that Office 2010 looks to be the smoothest upgrade for the Office productivity suite ever; our hands-on of the technical preview of Office 2010 was quite favorable. Office will also come in the form of ad-supported Web apps; last month, Microsoft invited PCMag.com to take an early look.
SharePoint 2010 is designed to tightly integrate with Office in any event, via social tagging, backstage integration and document life-cycle management, Microsoft said. Rich video, audio and Silverlight, will also be integrated. Likewise, SharePoint will also be integrated with Visual Studio 2010, which was also announced on Monday.
Microsoft also said it would add two new versions of SharePoint, including an on-premises and hosted version. Other features include the ability to connect capabilities to line-of-business data or Web services in SharePoint Server and the Office client; rich APIs and support for Silverlight, representational state transfer (REST) and Language-Integrated Query (LINQ), to help developers rapidly build applications on the SharePoint platform; and enterprise features like Excel Services and InfoPath Forms Services, to use, share, secure and manage interactive forms across an organization, Microsoft said.
The new version of SharePoint also includes the now-familiar version of the Office ribbon interface.
Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Tied to 'Ultimate Offer'
Microsoft said Monday that Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Beta 2 and Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Beta 2 are now available to MSDN subscribers.
Microsoft also added what the company is calling the "Ultimate Offer," making it available to all active MSDN Premium subscribers at the official product launch on March 22, 2010. Under the offer, all active MSDN Premium subscribers will be transitioned to a higher-level Visual Studio 2010 with MSDN subscription at the product's launch.
The beta will also be made available generally on Oct. 21, Microsoft said. Microsoft will provide more details at its Professional Developers Conference (PDC) in Los Angeles on November 17 to 19.
Microsoft also added what the company is calling the "Ultimate Offer," making it available to all active MSDN Premium subscribers at the official product launch on March 22, 2010. Under the offer, all active MSDN Premium subscribers will be transitioned to a higher-level Visual Studio 2010 with MSDN subscription at the product's launch.
The beta will also be made available generally on Oct. 21, Microsoft said. Microsoft will provide more details at its Professional Developers Conference (PDC) in Los Angeles on November 17 to 19.
Yahoo Confirms Mail Outage
Yahoo on Monday confirmed a Mail outage that affected a small number of its users.
"A small fraction of Yahoo! Mail users may have experienced intermittent email issues earlier today, October 26, but the problem has now been resolved. We believe this was an isolated incident. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused," a Yahoo spokeswoman said in an e-mail.
The downtime comes the same day Yahoo shuttered its Geocities Web site building service, 10 years after acquiring the company.
Some Twitter users affected by the Yahoo outage suggested that they might have to switch to Google's Gmail, but that service has not been any more reliable lately. Gmail suffered outages in February, March, and two times in September.
"A small fraction of Yahoo! Mail users may have experienced intermittent email issues earlier today, October 26, but the problem has now been resolved. We believe this was an isolated incident. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused," a Yahoo spokeswoman said in an e-mail.
The downtime comes the same day Yahoo shuttered its Geocities Web site building service, 10 years after acquiring the company.
Some Twitter users affected by the Yahoo outage suggested that they might have to switch to Google's Gmail, but that service has not been any more reliable lately. Gmail suffered outages in February, March, and two times in September.
Nokia's N900 Delayed Until November
HELSINKI (Reuters) - Top cellphone maker Nokia said on Friday its flagship N900 phone will start selling in November, a month later than originally scheduled, as the company awaits feedback from developers.
The N900—seen as key for Nokia's future in the high-end of the market—is the company's first phone running on Linux software.
It will come with a touch screen and a slide-out keyboard, and will retail for around 500 euros ($750), excluding subsidies and taxes.
The N900—seen as key for Nokia's future in the high-end of the market—is the company's first phone running on Linux software.
It will come with a touch screen and a slide-out keyboard, and will retail for around 500 euros ($750), excluding subsidies and taxes.
ICANN Weighs Non-Latin Domain Names
The Internet is ruled by Latin script. Those accustom to writing in Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, et al, are out of luck when it comes to plugging domain names into their address bar. Now ICANN, the that controls domain names, is looking to change that. The organization is meeting this week in Seoul to discuss the addition of non-Latin characters to its list of domain fodder.
"This is the biggest change technically to the internet since it was invented 40 years ago," ICANN chairman Peter Dengate Thrush said of the proposal. If the move goes through, the organization will likely begin rolling out domains in the middle of next year.
According toThrush, the organization has been testing a translation system to enable the change for a couple of years.
"This is the biggest change technically to the internet since it was invented 40 years ago," ICANN chairman Peter Dengate Thrush said of the proposal. If the move goes through, the organization will likely begin rolling out domains in the middle of next year.
According toThrush, the organization has been testing a translation system to enable the change for a couple of years.
Tilera Tips 100-Core Microprocessor
Multicore chip specialist Tilera said Monday that the company is planning its next iteration, which will hold a whopping 100 cores.
Don't expect the 100-core chip until 2011, however. That will be well after a new 36-core Tile-Gx chip, scheduled to debut this fourth quarter, followed by a 16-core version soon afterward. This is the third generation of chips for Tilera. which began life five years ago.
Tilera's iMesh two-dimensional interconnect essentially places a communications switch on each core and eliminates the need for an on-chip bus. Tilera has received funding from DARPA ((Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) and most recently from Quanta Computer, which announced Oct. 12 that it was investing $10 million in Tilera.
Don't expect the 100-core chip until 2011, however. That will be well after a new 36-core Tile-Gx chip, scheduled to debut this fourth quarter, followed by a 16-core version soon afterward. This is the third generation of chips for Tilera. which began life five years ago.
Tilera's iMesh two-dimensional interconnect essentially places a communications switch on each core and eliminates the need for an on-chip bus. Tilera has received funding from DARPA ((Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) and most recently from Quanta Computer, which announced Oct. 12 that it was investing $10 million in Tilera.
Ubuntu 9.10 Sets Thursday as Download Date
Users will be able to download Canonical's Ubuntu 9.10 Linux Desktop Edition on Oct. 29, Canonical said on Monday.
The new "Karmic Koala" Ubuntu 9.10 features a redesigned, faster boot and login experience, a revamped audio framework, and improved 3G broadband connectivity, according to Canonical. It will be accompanied by Ubuntu 9.10 Server Edition, also a free download, and based on the same APIs as Amazon's EC2 cloud-based service.
Both can be downloaded via Ubuntu.com.
Finally, the reskinned Ubuntu Notebook Remix will include Empathy, an instant messaging program for text, voice, video, and file transfers designed for notebooks and smartbooks, according to Ubuntu. A list of supported netbooks is listed here.
"Ubuntu 9.10 gives users more reasons than ever to seriously consider Linux at a time when many are thinking again about their operating system options. We are delivering a platform for users interested in an easy-to-use, great-looking, web-friendly operating system," says Jane Silber, chief operating officer at Canonical, in a statement. "A faster, more beautiful boot and login sequence, file and contact synchronisation through online services and great experiences on the most popular notebook, desktop and netbook models continue to drive Ubuntu into the mainstream of computing choices."
Obviously, Ubuntu's launch comes on the heels of Windows 7, an operating system that was sold on the promise of simplicity. Both Windows Vista and Linux and general have struggled with third-party drivers; some have worked wonderfully, but others haven't. Ubuntu has challenged its users to help identify and solve annoyances and more serious hurdles, which it has called "100 Paper Cuts". Over 50 of these annoyances have been found and dealt with; interested users can sign up at the 'Paper Cuts' Web site and help work out the others.
The Server Edition, meanwhile, will appear on the Amazon EC2 environment as an Amazon Machine Image. Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud (UEC) is a cloud-computing technology, powered by Eucalyptus Systems. Additional features include MySQL 5.1, an improved directory stack and single sign-on tools, and Django support. Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud is preparing a store capability that will provide users with easy access to ready-to-deploy appliances in the UEC environment. A first preview of this store is available in Ubuntu 9.10, Ubuntu said.
The cloud has also been brought into the consumer release as well. Ubuntu One, a cloud-based storage service, offers 2 Gbytes of storage for free, and 50 GB for $10 per month.
The new "Karmic Koala" Ubuntu 9.10 features a redesigned, faster boot and login experience, a revamped audio framework, and improved 3G broadband connectivity, according to Canonical. It will be accompanied by Ubuntu 9.10 Server Edition, also a free download, and based on the same APIs as Amazon's EC2 cloud-based service.
Both can be downloaded via Ubuntu.com.
Finally, the reskinned Ubuntu Notebook Remix will include Empathy, an instant messaging program for text, voice, video, and file transfers designed for notebooks and smartbooks, according to Ubuntu. A list of supported netbooks is listed here.
"Ubuntu 9.10 gives users more reasons than ever to seriously consider Linux at a time when many are thinking again about their operating system options. We are delivering a platform for users interested in an easy-to-use, great-looking, web-friendly operating system," says Jane Silber, chief operating officer at Canonical, in a statement. "A faster, more beautiful boot and login sequence, file and contact synchronisation through online services and great experiences on the most popular notebook, desktop and netbook models continue to drive Ubuntu into the mainstream of computing choices."
Obviously, Ubuntu's launch comes on the heels of Windows 7, an operating system that was sold on the promise of simplicity. Both Windows Vista and Linux and general have struggled with third-party drivers; some have worked wonderfully, but others haven't. Ubuntu has challenged its users to help identify and solve annoyances and more serious hurdles, which it has called "100 Paper Cuts". Over 50 of these annoyances have been found and dealt with; interested users can sign up at the 'Paper Cuts' Web site and help work out the others.
The Server Edition, meanwhile, will appear on the Amazon EC2 environment as an Amazon Machine Image. Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud (UEC) is a cloud-computing technology, powered by Eucalyptus Systems. Additional features include MySQL 5.1, an improved directory stack and single sign-on tools, and Django support. Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud is preparing a store capability that will provide users with easy access to ready-to-deploy appliances in the UEC environment. A first preview of this store is available in Ubuntu 9.10, Ubuntu said.
The cloud has also been brought into the consumer release as well. Ubuntu One, a cloud-based storage service, offers 2 Gbytes of storage for free, and 50 GB for $10 per month.
Graphics Surges to Strongest Growth in Nine Years
In unit sales of graphics processors, AMD gained share at the expense of Nvidia, market researcher Jon Peddie Research said Monday.
In total, third-quarter graphics shipments soared 21.2 percent to 119.45 million units, with notebooks leading the way. Notebook graphics sales soared 36.2 percent to 56.2 million units.
It was the strongest overall sequential growth for the graphics market in nine years, Peddie reported.
"A total of 119.45 million units were shipped in the third quarter, exceeding the record 111 million units that shipped in Q3, 2008," Peddie said in a statement. "So the market has caught up with, and exceeded, last year's highs. The crash of fall 2008 is now behind us."
Intel, as expected, continued to hold the top spot, bolstered by its installed base of integrated graphics chipsets. But AMD surged back, although it still lags behind Nvidia.
In total, third-quarter graphics shipments soared 21.2 percent to 119.45 million units, with notebooks leading the way. Notebook graphics sales soared 36.2 percent to 56.2 million units.
It was the strongest overall sequential growth for the graphics market in nine years, Peddie reported.
"A total of 119.45 million units were shipped in the third quarter, exceeding the record 111 million units that shipped in Q3, 2008," Peddie said in a statement. "So the market has caught up with, and exceeded, last year's highs. The crash of fall 2008 is now behind us."
Intel, as expected, continued to hold the top spot, bolstered by its installed base of integrated graphics chipsets. But AMD surged back, although it still lags behind Nvidia.
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