Sunday, September 30, 2007
Make Money Blogging
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Labels: Adbrite, Adsense, Adsense4Dummies, Blogging, Earning, Make Money
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Music Mag Charts New Territory on iTunes
Just as easily as you can download a single to listen to, you can now download a magazine to read. Fader magazine has made its entire summer music issue available for download on iTunes, in what it says is a publishing first.
The full issue is free to download as a PDF file, which offers a digital copy of every page -- article and ads -- in the magazine.
It's accompanied by a 47-minute podcast featuring music covered by the magazine.
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Buzz Builder
The leap off the page and into an area of the Web typically reserved for audio files, is one considered natural by Fader, which has covered emerging music since 1998.
Rob Stone, co-founding publisher of the magazine, hopes the effect to be similar to how free downloads helped build buzz -- and eventually sold records -- for Eminem years ago, or the Arctic Monkeys more recently.
"This is going to help expand our audience, as opposed to cannibalize our newsstand sales," Stone said Wednesday.
Resistance Is Futile
Stone, who began his career at Arista Records, recalls the resistance the music industry initially showed to the Internet and new digital technologies.
"I've always been of the belief that you need to embrace it and see where this thing can take us," he said. "It just opens endless possibilities of building a connection."
The print version will still be Fader's focus, but Stone believes the days of magazines existing purely on paper are over. For a brand like Fader that often writes about new, potentially hard-to-find music, a podcast helps readers get their ears to it.
New Relationship
In the future, Stone expects advertisements to be linked to the product's home Web sites, or a story to link to a related interview.
That, of course, isn't much different than what your standard Web site provides, but it still offers a newly direct relationship between a magazine's print copy and its digital version.
Stone isn't sure if Fader will continue to be free to download, adding: "We're figuring that out. I think we're in uncharted territory in that regard."
The full issue is free to download as a PDF file, which offers a digital copy of every page -- article and ads -- in the magazine.
It's accompanied by a 47-minute podcast featuring music covered by the magazine.
//-->
//-->
Buzz Builder
The leap off the page and into an area of the Web typically reserved for audio files, is one considered natural by Fader, which has covered emerging music since 1998.
Rob Stone, co-founding publisher of the magazine, hopes the effect to be similar to how free downloads helped build buzz -- and eventually sold records -- for Eminem years ago, or the Arctic Monkeys more recently.
"This is going to help expand our audience, as opposed to cannibalize our newsstand sales," Stone said Wednesday.
Resistance Is Futile
Stone, who began his career at Arista Records, recalls the resistance the music industry initially showed to the Internet and new digital technologies.
"I've always been of the belief that you need to embrace it and see where this thing can take us," he said. "It just opens endless possibilities of building a connection."
The print version will still be Fader's focus, but Stone believes the days of magazines existing purely on paper are over. For a brand like Fader that often writes about new, potentially hard-to-find music, a podcast helps readers get their ears to it.
New Relationship
In the future, Stone expects advertisements to be linked to the product's home Web sites, or a story to link to a related interview.
That, of course, isn't much different than what your standard Web site provides, but it still offers a newly direct relationship between a magazine's print copy and its digital version.
Stone isn't sure if Fader will continue to be free to download, adding: "We're figuring that out. I think we're in uncharted territory in that regard."
MobiTV Expands Reach to Windows Mobile Devices
In a move that could further accelerate the adoption of mobile video, MobiTV said Thursday it would make available a version of its software designed for smartphones and handheld devices running Windows Mobile 5.0.
Windows Mobile devices join the list of gadgets that can be loaded with MobiTV software, which is being offered at US$9.99 per month, a cost that comes on top of monthly data and voice charges. The service lets cell phone users view video, including downloaded clips and live television feeds, in full-screen format. It can also be used to access other content, including digital radio.
Windows Mobile is "particularly well-suited for multimedia," said Ben Feinman, director of product management for Emeryville, Calif.-based MobiTV. "The experience is amazing," he added. "We think everyone needs to see it to believe it."
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//]]>//-->
The launch adds to the 100 different devices already supported by MobiTV, Feinman said.
Slowly but Surely MobiTV can be accessed by Alltel (NYSE: AT) and Cingular Wireless customers, and Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) customers in the U.S., as well as some international users of Verizon (NYSE: VZ) International. Last month, it unveiled a plan to offer its services to users of AT&T's (NYSE: T) WiFi hotspot network.
Typical channel lineups include video from the major TV networks and cable channels, as well as niche channels such as ESPN. The content is usually modified to be viewed on mobile devices.
Propagating devices is one of several key elements needed to be in place before mobile video can become a mainstream technology. That work is well under way, with some 1.1 million video-ready devices sold last year and some 30 million people in the U.S. expected to have both devices and services to handle mobile video by 2010, according to research firm In-Stat.
More work remains, however, including the need to seed demand among the public for the service, said telecom analyst Jeff Kagan.
"Eventually, people will treat their mobile phones as the third screen, as much a part of their lives as the TV and the PC," Kagan said. "That will take time, however, as the early adopters are still just beginning to take mobile video out for a spin."
Speed Kills
Costs will likely need to come down before video on mobile handheld devices can go mainstream, Kagan said, predicting that would happen in short order as competitors vie for market share in the device space.
Also needed are more fast wireless networks, with high-speed broadband wireless still being rolled out in the U.S. In contrast, in markets such as Korea and Japan that are all but saturated with high-speed wireless access, it is much more common to see people watching mobile video on the sidewalk or on subways, Kagan noted.
For Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) , meanwhile, the addition of MobiTV means it can promote its platform as a way to make a single device an all-in-one tool that "goes beyond e-mail and can be customized to suit [a user's] active lifestyle," said James Pratt, lead product manager for mobile at Microsoft.
Microsoft is seen gaining traction with Windows Mobile as more devices are being built to handle it and as more carriers jump on board. Competitors such as Research In Motion's (Nasdaq: RIMM) BlackBerry had early traction, but may not be able to translate that into broad consumer adoption. Microsoft may have an edge because its devices offer similar functionality to its desktop applications, which are among the most widely used by both businesses -- the early adopters of smartphone technology -- and consumers.
Microsoft has made big strides in the mobile space, most notably by burying the hatchet with Palm (Nasdaq: PALM) to introduce a Windows Mobile-loaded Treo last year, noted JupiterResearch analyst Michael Gartenberg. Though it had some stumbles out of the gate and lost precious time, "Microsoft has the potential to be a very strong player in the mobile space," he said
Windows Mobile devices join the list of gadgets that can be loaded with MobiTV software, which is being offered at US$9.99 per month, a cost that comes on top of monthly data and voice charges. The service lets cell phone users view video, including downloaded clips and live television feeds, in full-screen format. It can also be used to access other content, including digital radio.
Windows Mobile is "particularly well-suited for multimedia," said Ben Feinman, director of product management for Emeryville, Calif.-based MobiTV. "The experience is amazing," he added. "We think everyone needs to see it to believe it."
');
//]]>//-->
The launch adds to the 100 different devices already supported by MobiTV, Feinman said.
Slowly but Surely MobiTV can be accessed by Alltel (NYSE: AT) and Cingular Wireless customers, and Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) customers in the U.S., as well as some international users of Verizon (NYSE: VZ) International. Last month, it unveiled a plan to offer its services to users of AT&T's (NYSE: T) WiFi hotspot network.
Typical channel lineups include video from the major TV networks and cable channels, as well as niche channels such as ESPN. The content is usually modified to be viewed on mobile devices.
Propagating devices is one of several key elements needed to be in place before mobile video can become a mainstream technology. That work is well under way, with some 1.1 million video-ready devices sold last year and some 30 million people in the U.S. expected to have both devices and services to handle mobile video by 2010, according to research firm In-Stat.
More work remains, however, including the need to seed demand among the public for the service, said telecom analyst Jeff Kagan.
"Eventually, people will treat their mobile phones as the third screen, as much a part of their lives as the TV and the PC," Kagan said. "That will take time, however, as the early adopters are still just beginning to take mobile video out for a spin."
Speed Kills
Costs will likely need to come down before video on mobile handheld devices can go mainstream, Kagan said, predicting that would happen in short order as competitors vie for market share in the device space.
Also needed are more fast wireless networks, with high-speed broadband wireless still being rolled out in the U.S. In contrast, in markets such as Korea and Japan that are all but saturated with high-speed wireless access, it is much more common to see people watching mobile video on the sidewalk or on subways, Kagan noted.
For Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) , meanwhile, the addition of MobiTV means it can promote its platform as a way to make a single device an all-in-one tool that "goes beyond e-mail and can be customized to suit [a user's] active lifestyle," said James Pratt, lead product manager for mobile at Microsoft.
Microsoft is seen gaining traction with Windows Mobile as more devices are being built to handle it and as more carriers jump on board. Competitors such as Research In Motion's (Nasdaq: RIMM) BlackBerry had early traction, but may not be able to translate that into broad consumer adoption. Microsoft may have an edge because its devices offer similar functionality to its desktop applications, which are among the most widely used by both businesses -- the early adopters of smartphone technology -- and consumers.
Microsoft has made big strides in the mobile space, most notably by burying the hatchet with Palm (Nasdaq: PALM) to introduce a Windows Mobile-loaded Treo last year, noted JupiterResearch analyst Michael Gartenberg. Though it had some stumbles out of the gate and lost precious time, "Microsoft has the potential to be a very strong player in the mobile space," he said
Military Applications to Drive Wireless Innovations
Military and high power electronic (HPE) applications are driving the development of new wireless technologies, especially those using Gallium Nitride (GaN) devices.
Growth of the market for these GaN devices -- used in the infrastructure of wireless telephony -- is expected to be at an annual rate of 151 percent for the next four years.
"The military and high power electronics markets both have future needs that will make use of the advantages offered by wide bandgap materials such as GaN; and this will help the developing GaN device market," said Asif Anawar, a director of research at the Boston-based research firm Strategy Analytics.
Classifieds
//-->
HP Home & Home Office Store: Official SiteGet the latest offers and deals on HP Home and Home Office products at the official HP Home Store. Save on desktop systems, noteb...
Accounting & CRM Software-MAS 90 500 SalesLogix NYShelko Consulting is a solution provider they will design, implement, customize, manage, & support Sage MAS 90, MAS 200, MAS 500 ...
eBook:Automating Network Management and ComplianceNetworks are growing fast, and companies are faced with increasing outside requirements for management - what we call compliance ...
Anawar is one of the authors of a report called "Gallium Nitride Markets: Commercial Markets Drive Power Electronics," a copy of which was provided to TechNewsWorld.
The findings are conclusive, Anawar said. Military and HPE applications will be the catalysts for the development of a GaN device market through to 2010. Commercial wireless infrastructure applications will also somewhat drive demand for GaN microelectronic devices in the future.
Unique Properties
As a material, GaN possesses many "unique properties" which would make it possible to create new devices with high breakdown voltage, as well as extremely high power density, and high gain at microwave frequencies, Anawar said. What is more, GaN's "high temperature tolerance," alongside excellent thermal conductivity properties, make it an ideal material for high power applications as well as for high temperature, extreme-environment applications, he said.
The market has had the potential to develop for some time -- the military is moving along a somewhat sluggish commercial sector.
"On the other hand, the needs of the commercial telecommunications wireless market have yet to really place the incumbent technologies, Si LDMOS and GaAs pHEMT, under major competitive strain, although GaN will start to penetrate these markets over the next few years regardless," said Anawar.
Future GaN device production will continue to be centered around non-native substrates, according to Stephen Entwistle, vice president of strategic technologies at Strategy Analytics. "We expect SiC material will continue to be the primary substrate of choice, while silicon substrates will also gain traction," Entwistle added.
Homeland Defense
Military contractors are interested in the new technologies for a specific purpose -- new applications for homeland defense. One contractor, RAE Systems, recently developed wireless and portable hazard detection systems solutions for the 2006 FIFA Football World Cup in Germany, using an array of new wireless technologies.
The wireless system provides for the detection and measurement of airborne toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) and weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The equipment delivers risk warning to the homeland security on both the city and state levels.
The system is integrated in a wireless mesh network solution, which brings real-time, continuous multiple-sensor measurement and detection capabilities to an emergency operations center.
Another defense application is wireless backbone networks. The Finnish Defense Forces recently deployed new wireless backbone technology from Siemens (NYSE: SI) and Juniper Networks (Nasdaq: JNPR) , enabling the creation of new IP-based services and preventing malicious attacks from compromising data security. At the same time, the transmission network will offer the flexibility to rapidly respond to the demands imposed by potential crises and network outages.
Catching Investors' Eyes
In the meantime, investors are getting excited about GaN-related wireless applications, now that the military is validating the technology. EntreMetrix recently launched a portfolio investment within the semiconductor materials industry, called Advanced Nitride Devices, which will focus on the commercial market entry of GaN and Aluminum Nitride (ALN) materials into three primary sectors which include Blu-ray and high density optical storage, and power transistors.
As a semiconductor material, GaN is also a primary component in the manufacturing of blue laser diodes which enable Blu-ray technology. With Sony (NYSE: SNE) beginning to sell Blu-ray versions of its movies, the commercial market for GaN may well ignite.
"The opportunity to bring these advanced semiconductor materials into a market where demand is very rapidly expanding is exciting," said Scott W. Absher, chief executive officer of EntreMetrix, based in Irvine, Calif. "Our investment and support efforts will include immediate market entry."
Growth of the market for these GaN devices -- used in the infrastructure of wireless telephony -- is expected to be at an annual rate of 151 percent for the next four years.
"The military and high power electronics markets both have future needs that will make use of the advantages offered by wide bandgap materials such as GaN; and this will help the developing GaN device market," said Asif Anawar, a director of research at the Boston-based research firm Strategy Analytics.
Classifieds
//-->
HP Home & Home Office Store: Official SiteGet the latest offers and deals on HP Home and Home Office products at the official HP Home Store. Save on desktop systems, noteb...
Accounting & CRM Software-MAS 90 500 SalesLogix NYShelko Consulting is a solution provider they will design, implement, customize, manage, & support Sage MAS 90, MAS 200, MAS 500 ...
eBook:Automating Network Management and ComplianceNetworks are growing fast, and companies are faced with increasing outside requirements for management - what we call compliance ...
Anawar is one of the authors of a report called "Gallium Nitride Markets: Commercial Markets Drive Power Electronics," a copy of which was provided to TechNewsWorld.
The findings are conclusive, Anawar said. Military and HPE applications will be the catalysts for the development of a GaN device market through to 2010. Commercial wireless infrastructure applications will also somewhat drive demand for GaN microelectronic devices in the future.
Unique Properties
As a material, GaN possesses many "unique properties" which would make it possible to create new devices with high breakdown voltage, as well as extremely high power density, and high gain at microwave frequencies, Anawar said. What is more, GaN's "high temperature tolerance," alongside excellent thermal conductivity properties, make it an ideal material for high power applications as well as for high temperature, extreme-environment applications, he said.
The market has had the potential to develop for some time -- the military is moving along a somewhat sluggish commercial sector.
"On the other hand, the needs of the commercial telecommunications wireless market have yet to really place the incumbent technologies, Si LDMOS and GaAs pHEMT, under major competitive strain, although GaN will start to penetrate these markets over the next few years regardless," said Anawar.
Future GaN device production will continue to be centered around non-native substrates, according to Stephen Entwistle, vice president of strategic technologies at Strategy Analytics. "We expect SiC material will continue to be the primary substrate of choice, while silicon substrates will also gain traction," Entwistle added.
Homeland Defense
Military contractors are interested in the new technologies for a specific purpose -- new applications for homeland defense. One contractor, RAE Systems, recently developed wireless and portable hazard detection systems solutions for the 2006 FIFA Football World Cup in Germany, using an array of new wireless technologies.
The wireless system provides for the detection and measurement of airborne toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) and weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The equipment delivers risk warning to the homeland security on both the city and state levels.
The system is integrated in a wireless mesh network solution, which brings real-time, continuous multiple-sensor measurement and detection capabilities to an emergency operations center.
Another defense application is wireless backbone networks. The Finnish Defense Forces recently deployed new wireless backbone technology from Siemens (NYSE: SI) and Juniper Networks (Nasdaq: JNPR) , enabling the creation of new IP-based services and preventing malicious attacks from compromising data security. At the same time, the transmission network will offer the flexibility to rapidly respond to the demands imposed by potential crises and network outages.
Catching Investors' Eyes
In the meantime, investors are getting excited about GaN-related wireless applications, now that the military is validating the technology. EntreMetrix recently launched a portfolio investment within the semiconductor materials industry, called Advanced Nitride Devices, which will focus on the commercial market entry of GaN and Aluminum Nitride (ALN) materials into three primary sectors which include Blu-ray and high density optical storage, and power transistors.
As a semiconductor material, GaN is also a primary component in the manufacturing of blue laser diodes which enable Blu-ray technology. With Sony (NYSE: SNE) beginning to sell Blu-ray versions of its movies, the commercial market for GaN may well ignite.
"The opportunity to bring these advanced semiconductor materials into a market where demand is very rapidly expanding is exciting," said Scott W. Absher, chief executive officer of EntreMetrix, based in Irvine, Calif. "Our investment and support efforts will include immediate market entry."
Monday, June 12, 2006
The Wonders of Computex, VIA, AMD, Intel and Origami
Processor cooling solutions that looked like sculpture were all over the place as were water cooling solutions that looked to be designed for nuclear reactors. There were even a number of new refrigerated coolers which pushed the envelope with regard to how much you can cool an over-clocked processor. LCD displays were everywhere, and I saw quite a few stunning 42-inch displays that appeared to be looking for a home on my wall. I'm glad you can't actually buy any of this stuff at the show. Even with all these products, though, the story this year wasn't the products -- it was vendor drama.
AMD-ATI Combo The big rumor at the show involved speculation over AMD's (NYSE: AMD) possible plans to buy ATI (Nasdaq: ATYT) . Interestinly, the same Web publication, The Inquirer, which broke the "rumor" also later announced that it was false. Nevertheless, this speculation eclipsed nearly everything else both companies were doing at the show -- and there were strong arguments and views on both sides of the discussion.
On the pro side was the view that Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) was planning to merge the GPU and CPU into one high performance part, which would effectively lock out AMD, Nvidia and ATI. In addition AMD has never been able to successfully compete on the business desktop because it lacked a stable chipset that it both owned and could credibly speak for.
On the con side was that AMD is currently making a huge deal about the fact that it provides choices that Intel doesn't provide and that much of the really advanced performance work it is doing is going on with Nvidia, which often appears to be a closer partner than ATI is.
What is interesting to note is that VIA, who wasn't a part of this, showcased its own combination GPU/CPU on a chip design at the show which does suggest that if both Intel and VIA are going in this direction AMD will have to counter at some point.
AMD vs. Intel
Call this Intel strikes back, but much of the buzz at the show was that Intel's next generation processor, due in the fourth quarter, would be substantially faster than anything AMD has. Some early tests support this conclusion and comments from motherboard partners for both companies indicated that this appeared to be true.
AMD did release a surprise dual socket configuration that would allow it to double up chips to address this shortcoming -- but at a rather steep price penalty. Interestingly, dual socket configurations have traditionally been discouraged by Intel for consumer use and this new AMD configuration is clearly a consumer offering. One notable aspect, though, is that you only have to have one socket populated, providing an upgrade path similar to what Nvidia has with SLI and ATI has with Crossfire.
Intel's Computex booth was full of Viiv logo products. A variety of interesting prototypes clearly showcased that the firm is stepping up to compete for the hearts and minds of the PC buyer again. As I walked through the booth I really got the feeling that Intel was working hard to get back in the game. Much of what I saw was, in fact, impressive.
AMD has had a clear advantage over the last couple of years but what I saw from Intel coupled with what I heard from the motherboard folks suggested they were back on track. Of course, when asked about this the AMD execs just smiled slyly, suggesting perhaps that they've got another surprise coming. What that means is that there is only one sure thing in this fight: it is going to get a lot more interesting in the next few months.
VIA's Visions
Speaking of interesting, VIA, which typically has specialized in ultra small desktop computers and embedded devices, showcased two initiatives. The first involved a project called Vogue, a PC skinning effort where a small form factor PC was modularized and then skinned in steel, leather, or other materials to better match the decor of an office or home.
Models demonstrated these prototypes in a fashion-show like event -- and they did kind of look cool (the products, not the models). Their research, much like my own, indicated that buyers increasingly want to personalize their devices and are likely to favor machines, particularly second or third PCs that might be in guest rooms, living rooms, or bedrooms, that better match their own personal tastes and furnishings.
VIA had also retained a designer to look at concepts for future Origami products. Recall that the other name for Origami is the Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC), and is actually a very small, fully functional entertainment/communications-focused device. Coming up with this required real out-of-the-box thinking. VIA's designer had formed teams of thinkers who took the Origami concept and morphed it into a number of consumer-oriented products. This really got me thinking that maybe we weren't all being as creative as we could be in thinking about the potential that this offering actually might have.
Pushing the Envelope
Showcasing a range of artistically rendered prototypes, many targeted at women, VIA pushed well beyond what I and most people had in mind for Origami. Their concepts ranged from technology-embedded purses that could share pictures of children and family, to Origami wallets, which not only had keyboards but places for makeup and embedded mirrors.
Super remote controls which could morph into refrigerator-mounted note devices were also shown. An executive version sort of combined two old IBM (NYSE: IBM) concepts -- the famous butterfly laptop (a very small laptop that came out in the mid '90s with an expandable keyboard) and the Transnote (a linked laptop and electronic pad of paper). While both of the older IBM products failed it could be argued they failed because the technology wasn't ready -- but it may be ready now.
One of the coolest concepts was a digital movie camera, which had a fold-out screen and full editing station built in. This device would also morph into an e-mail configuration so you could stay in touch and e-mail your creations in real time to your jealous friends and colleagues. I'll be thinking of these prototypes for some time.
It's great to see companies like Intel and VIA really starting to drive design again. The PC market needs folks to think out of the box to help create a brighter future of things we want to use and can get excited about. Computex guarantees cool toys, lots of drama, and a lot of imagination, so it's no wonder that I'm already looking forward to next year
AMD-ATI Combo The big rumor at the show involved speculation over AMD's (NYSE: AMD) possible plans to buy ATI (Nasdaq: ATYT) . Interestinly, the same Web publication, The Inquirer, which broke the "rumor" also later announced that it was false. Nevertheless, this speculation eclipsed nearly everything else both companies were doing at the show -- and there were strong arguments and views on both sides of the discussion.
On the pro side was the view that Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) was planning to merge the GPU and CPU into one high performance part, which would effectively lock out AMD, Nvidia and ATI. In addition AMD has never been able to successfully compete on the business desktop because it lacked a stable chipset that it both owned and could credibly speak for.
On the con side was that AMD is currently making a huge deal about the fact that it provides choices that Intel doesn't provide and that much of the really advanced performance work it is doing is going on with Nvidia, which often appears to be a closer partner than ATI is.
What is interesting to note is that VIA, who wasn't a part of this, showcased its own combination GPU/CPU on a chip design at the show which does suggest that if both Intel and VIA are going in this direction AMD will have to counter at some point.
AMD vs. Intel
Call this Intel strikes back, but much of the buzz at the show was that Intel's next generation processor, due in the fourth quarter, would be substantially faster than anything AMD has. Some early tests support this conclusion and comments from motherboard partners for both companies indicated that this appeared to be true.
AMD did release a surprise dual socket configuration that would allow it to double up chips to address this shortcoming -- but at a rather steep price penalty. Interestingly, dual socket configurations have traditionally been discouraged by Intel for consumer use and this new AMD configuration is clearly a consumer offering. One notable aspect, though, is that you only have to have one socket populated, providing an upgrade path similar to what Nvidia has with SLI and ATI has with Crossfire.
Intel's Computex booth was full of Viiv logo products. A variety of interesting prototypes clearly showcased that the firm is stepping up to compete for the hearts and minds of the PC buyer again. As I walked through the booth I really got the feeling that Intel was working hard to get back in the game. Much of what I saw was, in fact, impressive.
AMD has had a clear advantage over the last couple of years but what I saw from Intel coupled with what I heard from the motherboard folks suggested they were back on track. Of course, when asked about this the AMD execs just smiled slyly, suggesting perhaps that they've got another surprise coming. What that means is that there is only one sure thing in this fight: it is going to get a lot more interesting in the next few months.
VIA's Visions
Speaking of interesting, VIA, which typically has specialized in ultra small desktop computers and embedded devices, showcased two initiatives. The first involved a project called Vogue, a PC skinning effort where a small form factor PC was modularized and then skinned in steel, leather, or other materials to better match the decor of an office or home.
Models demonstrated these prototypes in a fashion-show like event -- and they did kind of look cool (the products, not the models). Their research, much like my own, indicated that buyers increasingly want to personalize their devices and are likely to favor machines, particularly second or third PCs that might be in guest rooms, living rooms, or bedrooms, that better match their own personal tastes and furnishings.
VIA had also retained a designer to look at concepts for future Origami products. Recall that the other name for Origami is the Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC), and is actually a very small, fully functional entertainment/communications-focused device. Coming up with this required real out-of-the-box thinking. VIA's designer had formed teams of thinkers who took the Origami concept and morphed it into a number of consumer-oriented products. This really got me thinking that maybe we weren't all being as creative as we could be in thinking about the potential that this offering actually might have.
Pushing the Envelope
Showcasing a range of artistically rendered prototypes, many targeted at women, VIA pushed well beyond what I and most people had in mind for Origami. Their concepts ranged from technology-embedded purses that could share pictures of children and family, to Origami wallets, which not only had keyboards but places for makeup and embedded mirrors.
Super remote controls which could morph into refrigerator-mounted note devices were also shown. An executive version sort of combined two old IBM (NYSE: IBM) concepts -- the famous butterfly laptop (a very small laptop that came out in the mid '90s with an expandable keyboard) and the Transnote (a linked laptop and electronic pad of paper). While both of the older IBM products failed it could be argued they failed because the technology wasn't ready -- but it may be ready now.
One of the coolest concepts was a digital movie camera, which had a fold-out screen and full editing station built in. This device would also morph into an e-mail configuration so you could stay in touch and e-mail your creations in real time to your jealous friends and colleagues. I'll be thinking of these prototypes for some time.
It's great to see companies like Intel and VIA really starting to drive design again. The PC market needs folks to think out of the box to help create a brighter future of things we want to use and can get excited about. Computex guarantees cool toys, lots of drama, and a lot of imagination, so it's no wonder that I'm already looking forward to next year
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Google Puts Firefox in Sync
Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) on Wednesday released a Firefox extension to keep browser settings in sync across multiple computers.
Google Browser Sync is a free plug-in for the popular open source browser that continuously synchronizes bookmarks, history, persistent cookies, tabs and saved passwords across different PCs.
"What could be worse than forgetting to bookmark the obscure page you found that maps out the perfect walking tour of Venice? Having bookmarked it on the computer sitting on your desk back at home, 6,000 miles away, instead of on the laptop you brought along?" asked Google product manager Brian Rokowski.
Alleviating Browser Frustration
Rokowski also pointed out the frustration of using a new computer and not remembering your passwords because your browser on your old computer automatically filled them in for you. Those types of frustrations are what inspired Google to build the new Firefox extension, he said.
Besides synchronizing bookmarks, it also remembers which tabs and windows users had open when they last closed any of their browsers and gives them a chance to reopen them. The plug-in is designed to handle sync conflicts on any computer.
"Google wants as much presence as possible and the presence that matters to them most is on the Web browser. This gives Google another way to stay in front of the customers using the browsers," JupiterResearch analyst Joe Wilcox told LinuxInsider.
Not a New Concept
Portable favorites is not a new concept, however. Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) has a similar synchronization feature with its .Mac service. The utility allows users to sync their files, including Safari settings, between multiple Macintosh computers.
Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) also features portable favorites via its Live service. This allows users to transfer their favorite Web site links from IE and access them from a portable favorites folder.
Firefox and its users stand to benefit from the new plug-in.
"This is especially good for Mozilla because Firefox is available for so many different platforms. It's not inconceivable for somebody to be working on Linux or Windows at work and a Mac at home or maybe Windows at work and a Linux at home," Wilcox noted.
Google also announced it has been improving version 2 of the Google Toolbar for Firefox. "We've fixed a bunch of bugs and made it more stable, so we're stripping off the 'beta' tag," he shared, noting plans to update users on this new version sometime within the next two weeks
Google Browser Sync is a free plug-in for the popular open source browser that continuously synchronizes bookmarks, history, persistent cookies, tabs and saved passwords across different PCs.
"What could be worse than forgetting to bookmark the obscure page you found that maps out the perfect walking tour of Venice? Having bookmarked it on the computer sitting on your desk back at home, 6,000 miles away, instead of on the laptop you brought along?" asked Google product manager Brian Rokowski.
Alleviating Browser Frustration
Rokowski also pointed out the frustration of using a new computer and not remembering your passwords because your browser on your old computer automatically filled them in for you. Those types of frustrations are what inspired Google to build the new Firefox extension, he said.
Besides synchronizing bookmarks, it also remembers which tabs and windows users had open when they last closed any of their browsers and gives them a chance to reopen them. The plug-in is designed to handle sync conflicts on any computer.
"Google wants as much presence as possible and the presence that matters to them most is on the Web browser. This gives Google another way to stay in front of the customers using the browsers," JupiterResearch analyst Joe Wilcox told LinuxInsider.
Not a New Concept
Portable favorites is not a new concept, however. Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) has a similar synchronization feature with its .Mac service. The utility allows users to sync their files, including Safari settings, between multiple Macintosh computers.
Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) also features portable favorites via its Live service. This allows users to transfer their favorite Web site links from IE and access them from a portable favorites folder.
Firefox and its users stand to benefit from the new plug-in.
"This is especially good for Mozilla because Firefox is available for so many different platforms. It's not inconceivable for somebody to be working on Linux or Windows at work and a Mac at home or maybe Windows at work and a Linux at home," Wilcox noted.
Google also announced it has been improving version 2 of the Google Toolbar for Firefox. "We've fixed a bunch of bugs and made it more stable, so we're stripping off the 'beta' tag," he shared, noting plans to update users on this new version sometime within the next two weeks
'Grand Theft Auto' Game Makers Settle With FTC
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported on Friday that a settlement has been reached with the companies behind the popular video game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas," Take-Two Interactive (NYSE: TTWO) and subsidiary Rockstar Games, which were sued for deceptive practices over hidden sexual content in the game.
The companies originally denied incorporating into the game the explicit content, which was unlocked by a program called Hot Coffee that was available on the Internet and made possible on gaming consoles with "mods" and "cheats" popular among gamers.
However, the development of the code behind the hidden sexual part of the game, a best-seller on all platforms, was tracked back to Take-Two and Rockstar, which were forced to shell out almost US$25 million to re-rate and re-release the game without the Coffee code.
"We allege that Take-Two and Rockstar's actions undermined the industry's own rating system and deceived consumers," said FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Lydia Parnes.
The FTC action highlights an evolving gaming industry that may be forced to shed its immaturity and the kind of stunts that the Hot Coffee code represented, Gartner research director Michael King told TechNewsWorld.
"The video game industry has been immature, and never had to worry about regulation," King said. "They could slip things in and it was a nod to the industry that, 'We're playing games.'"
Now, however, the maturing of the marketplace is pretty clear, and the FTC and lawmakers, or as King put it, "Big Brother," is watching.
"The industry is big enough that now we have regulation," he said.
Racier Ratings
The FTC chastised the game companies for deceiving parents and the market, charged them with corrupting the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating system, and warned of the penalties, $11,000 per violation, if the company does not comply with reporting and game ratings requirements.
However, Take-Two once again ran afoul of ESRB ratings more recently when its title, "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" was re-rated from Teen to Mature, with the board alleging Take-Two downplayed both violence, and sexual content -- which was once again unlocked with additional code -- with its rating request.
As part of the "GTA: San Andreas" case settlement, Take-Two and Rockstar agreed to establish and implement a system to ensure all content in a video game is considered and reviewed before a game is submitted for rating.
Irreverent Industry
The "Oblivion" move might sound like repeating the same mistake, but as Gartner's King pointed out, the gaming industry is different.
"I wouldn't be surprised if they were hiding stuff as a way to thumb their nose at the people they feel are regulating them," King speculated. "In gaming, that kind of irreverence holds cachet."
King added all indications are that the next "GTA" release this fall will be "pretty huge," and he does not think the Hot Coffee controversy or recent industry sales slump will negatively impact game companies.
"Realistically, with this industry experiencing such rapid growth, I don't think it's going to hurt them," he said.
Titles Take a Hit
However, Take-Two failed to impress Wall Street with disappointing financial results in a recent second-quarter earnings report, including $24.3 million in charges for the write-off of several titles in development, and another $2 million for closing two development studios.
"Responding to the current difficult business environment and market conditions, the company has taken steps to reduce costs, resulting in asset write-offs and studio closings," said a Take-Two statement blaming weak retail sales and a high bar set by "GTA: San Andreas" last year.
While it did forecast a return to profitability in the fourth quarter of this year, Take-Two also signaled additional charges of $3 million to close a third development studio, and another $3 million to move its headquarters out of New York to Geneva
The companies originally denied incorporating into the game the explicit content, which was unlocked by a program called Hot Coffee that was available on the Internet and made possible on gaming consoles with "mods" and "cheats" popular among gamers.
However, the development of the code behind the hidden sexual part of the game, a best-seller on all platforms, was tracked back to Take-Two and Rockstar, which were forced to shell out almost US$25 million to re-rate and re-release the game without the Coffee code.
"We allege that Take-Two and Rockstar's actions undermined the industry's own rating system and deceived consumers," said FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Lydia Parnes.
Time to Grow Up
The FTC action highlights an evolving gaming industry that may be forced to shed its immaturity and the kind of stunts that the Hot Coffee code represented, Gartner research director Michael King told TechNewsWorld.
"The video game industry has been immature, and never had to worry about regulation," King said. "They could slip things in and it was a nod to the industry that, 'We're playing games.'"
Now, however, the maturing of the marketplace is pretty clear, and the FTC and lawmakers, or as King put it, "Big Brother," is watching.
"The industry is big enough that now we have regulation," he said.
Racier Ratings
The FTC chastised the game companies for deceiving parents and the market, charged them with corrupting the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating system, and warned of the penalties, $11,000 per violation, if the company does not comply with reporting and game ratings requirements.
However, Take-Two once again ran afoul of ESRB ratings more recently when its title, "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" was re-rated from Teen to Mature, with the board alleging Take-Two downplayed both violence, and sexual content -- which was once again unlocked with additional code -- with its rating request.
As part of the "GTA: San Andreas" case settlement, Take-Two and Rockstar agreed to establish and implement a system to ensure all content in a video game is considered and reviewed before a game is submitted for rating.
Irreverent Industry
The "Oblivion" move might sound like repeating the same mistake, but as Gartner's King pointed out, the gaming industry is different.
"I wouldn't be surprised if they were hiding stuff as a way to thumb their nose at the people they feel are regulating them," King speculated. "In gaming, that kind of irreverence holds cachet."
King added all indications are that the next "GTA" release this fall will be "pretty huge," and he does not think the Hot Coffee controversy or recent industry sales slump will negatively impact game companies.
"Realistically, with this industry experiencing such rapid growth, I don't think it's going to hurt them," he said.
Titles Take a Hit
However, Take-Two failed to impress Wall Street with disappointing financial results in a recent second-quarter earnings report, including $24.3 million in charges for the write-off of several titles in development, and another $2 million for closing two development studios.
"Responding to the current difficult business environment and market conditions, the company has taken steps to reduce costs, resulting in asset write-offs and studio closings," said a Take-Two statement blaming weak retail sales and a high bar set by "GTA: San Andreas" last year.
While it did forecast a return to profitability in the fourth quarter of this year, Take-Two also signaled additional charges of $3 million to close a third development studio, and another $3 million to move its headquarters out of New York to Geneva
Mobile Phone Converging With 'Flash,' Other Apps
New applications keep converging with cell phone technology -- and the latest, hottest combination seems to be "Flash-enabled" phones.
Research by the Boston-based consultancy, Strategy Analytics, forecasts that there are 38 million flash-enabled mobile phone handsets today, but that number is going to grow to 216 million by 2010. The firm reports that during the last two years, growth has been in the "triple digits" realm for the phones which have Adobe (Nasdaq: ADBE) "FlashLite" and "FlashPlayer" technology, enabling the creation of more intuitive, wireless applications, and easier mobile Web surfing.
"Over 100 handsets that support FlashLite are already available or pre-announced," said Stephen Entwistle, vice president of the strategic technologies practice at Strategy Analytics. "The top seven handset manufacturers and several others have signed up with Adobe to license FlashLite on their handsets."
Macromedia (Nasdaq: MACR) -- acquired by Adobe last year-- redesigned its famous PC-based Flash technology for use on cell phones and other portable devices in 2003, said Stuart Robinson, director of the Strategy Analytics handset component technologies service. "Demand has taken off," he added.
Japan's NTT DoCoMo (NYSE: DCM) offered the first FlashLite-enabled handsets. "They are now available on numerous wireless networks in the Far East, with plans to spread worldwide this year," said Robinson, co-author of the study, "Flash-Enabled Handset Forecast: Flash Lite Ready for Global Penetration."
The FlashLite 2 and FlashPlayer SDK 7 technologies are the latest in the line of developments which are enabling Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), consumer electronics device manufacturers and operators to provide customizable user interfaces, while delivering more consistent consumer experiences across devices, operating systems, processors and even screen sizes. The technologies are built on the ubiquitous Flash Player 7, and include ActionScript 2 support, Unicode support for international markets, tighter device integration, persistent data management, reduced memory consumption and improved XML data handling.
"Flexible user interfaces are a key differentiator and a significant part of the value creation on devices," said John Jackson, senior analyst at Yankee Group.
Jackson said the technologies open the mobile market to a broader base of content and prolific developers. "This UI [User Interface] and application layer offers enhanced potential for competitive differentiation, compelling branding and personalization options for operators, content providers and device manufacturers alike," said Jackson.
Adobe said a number of the world's biggest electronics manufacturers are currently shipping Flash technology-enabled mobile phones and consumer electronics devices, including Nokia (NYSE: NOK) , Samsung , Sony (NYSE: SNE) Ericsson (Nasdaq: ERICY) , Kodak (NYSE: EK) , Reigncom and more.
Shipments of mobile devices running Flash have more than tripled from 12 to 45 million units within the last twelve months, the company said.
Other Approaches
"Consumers worldwide demand engaging content and services on their devices ... from mobile phones to cameras, televisions and more," said Al Ramadan, senior vice president of mobile and device solutions at Adobe. These technologies, he added, help unlock the potential for mobile handset and consumer electronics manufacturers "to successfully deploy truly compelling digital experiences."
The Flash technolgy is one approach to a persistent industry problem -- of mobilizing Web applications.
"Most have tried to solve it by stuffing the entire application into the device. But the form factor and way people use mobile devices doesn't map to the Web experience. There's a huge disconnect and, as a result mobilizing enterprise applications hasn't taken off as many of these companies hoped it would," said Melissa Klein, a spokesperson for ClairMail, another developer of Web-based apps for the mobile market.
Rather than rev-up mobile phones, ClairMail cools them down, with a more practical approach, that focuses on the precise pieces of information people need to access, rather than concentrating on entire applications, she said.
Research by the Boston-based consultancy, Strategy Analytics, forecasts that there are 38 million flash-enabled mobile phone handsets today, but that number is going to grow to 216 million by 2010. The firm reports that during the last two years, growth has been in the "triple digits" realm for the phones which have Adobe (Nasdaq: ADBE) "FlashLite" and "FlashPlayer" technology, enabling the creation of more intuitive, wireless applications, and easier mobile Web surfing.
"Over 100 handsets that support FlashLite are already available or pre-announced," said Stephen Entwistle, vice president of the strategic technologies practice at Strategy Analytics. "The top seven handset manufacturers and several others have signed up with Adobe to license FlashLite on their handsets."
Macromedia (Nasdaq: MACR) -- acquired by Adobe last year-- redesigned its famous PC-based Flash technology for use on cell phones and other portable devices in 2003, said Stuart Robinson, director of the Strategy Analytics handset component technologies service. "Demand has taken off," he added.
Japanese First
Japan's NTT DoCoMo (NYSE: DCM) offered the first FlashLite-enabled handsets. "They are now available on numerous wireless networks in the Far East, with plans to spread worldwide this year," said Robinson, co-author of the study, "Flash-Enabled Handset Forecast: Flash Lite Ready for Global Penetration."
The FlashLite 2 and FlashPlayer SDK 7 technologies are the latest in the line of developments which are enabling Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), consumer electronics device manufacturers and operators to provide customizable user interfaces, while delivering more consistent consumer experiences across devices, operating systems, processors and even screen sizes. The technologies are built on the ubiquitous Flash Player 7, and include ActionScript 2 support, Unicode support for international markets, tighter device integration, persistent data management, reduced memory consumption and improved XML data handling.
"Flexible user interfaces are a key differentiator and a significant part of the value creation on devices," said John Jackson, senior analyst at Yankee Group.
Jackson said the technologies open the mobile market to a broader base of content and prolific developers. "This UI [User Interface] and application layer offers enhanced potential for competitive differentiation, compelling branding and personalization options for operators, content providers and device manufacturers alike," said Jackson.
Adobe said a number of the world's biggest electronics manufacturers are currently shipping Flash technology-enabled mobile phones and consumer electronics devices, including Nokia (NYSE: NOK) , Samsung , Sony (NYSE: SNE) Ericsson (Nasdaq: ERICY) , Kodak (NYSE: EK) , Reigncom and more.
Shipments of mobile devices running Flash have more than tripled from 12 to 45 million units within the last twelve months, the company said.
Other Approaches
"Consumers worldwide demand engaging content and services on their devices ... from mobile phones to cameras, televisions and more," said Al Ramadan, senior vice president of mobile and device solutions at Adobe. These technologies, he added, help unlock the potential for mobile handset and consumer electronics manufacturers "to successfully deploy truly compelling digital experiences."
The Flash technolgy is one approach to a persistent industry problem -- of mobilizing Web applications.
"Most have tried to solve it by stuffing the entire application into the device. But the form factor and way people use mobile devices doesn't map to the Web experience. There's a huge disconnect and, as a result mobilizing enterprise applications hasn't taken off as many of these companies hoped it would," said Melissa Klein, a spokesperson for ClairMail, another developer of Web-based apps for the mobile market.
Rather than rev-up mobile phones, ClairMail cools them down, with a more practical approach, that focuses on the precise pieces of information people need to access, rather than concentrating on entire applications, she said.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Sprint, ACLU Ally in Attempt to Thwart AT&T-BellSouth Merger
The American Civil Liberties Union, a group of small telecommunications companies and Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) have joined to opposed AT&T's (NYSE: T) bid to acquire BellSouth (NYSE: BLS) .
In filings with the Federal Communications Commission , the ACLU said it wants the commission to hold up approval of the merger until the phone companies settle allegations that they had released customer information to the National Security Agency.
Sprint and the telecom group, meanwhile, are looking to squash the deal completely, with the group citing "irreparable harms to competition" from a combination.
Experts, however, still believe the deal will go through.
AT&T dismissed the claims. "There is little overlap between the two companies and competition is well established in the markets where both companies now operate," said spokesperson Michael Coe. "There are always those who'll try to use these proceedings to advance their own, narrow special interests."
San Antonio-based AT&T, which is the No. 1 phone service provider in the United States, will further cement its top position after acquiring Atlanta-based BellSouth, which is the No. 3 player and dominates the Southeast region, in the US$67 billion deal. AT&T will also take full control of Cingular Wireless , the largest wireless carrier by customer base.
Sprint argued that the combination would mean that it would be more dependent on AT&T for connecting to its cell-phone towers. "Sprint Nextel has no alternative to BellSouth or AT&T for more than 99 percent of Sprint Nextel's PCS cell sites in the BellSouth and AT&T service areas," the company said in its filing.
Recreating the Old Bell
In a separate filing, the telecom group, led by XO Holdings, said the merger only creates a larger monopoly with a greater ability to thwart competition between rival providers, as well between AT&T and BellSouth.
AT&T is "quickly reassembling the old Bell System," XO Communications spokesperson Heather Gold said.
Other members in the group include Talk America Holdings, Cbeyond Communications and privately held companies NuVox Communications, Grande Communications, Supra Telecom and Xspedius Communications.
Noise from smaller companies are typical during the merger process. "Normally, you have these kinds of complaints in these transactions," said Tom Burnett, director of research at Wall Street Access. "The applicants are looking to extract a favorable negotiating strategy.
"You don't get through these things without a lot of complaints."
The complaint from Sprint was more unusual, especially since it had just recently completed its own $35 billion merger with Nextel Communications, he added. Still, Burnett said he expects the merger to close by the end of the year.
Domestic Spying Program
The ACLU, meanwhile, is seeking to end the alleged NSA spying program, first reported on last month by USA Today. The story claims that the Bells -- AT&T, BellSouth and Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) -- have been releasing customer information to the government. The companies have denied doing anything illegal.
"The fact is, AT&T does not give customer information to law enforcement authorities or government agencies without legal authorization," Coe said. "We have an obligation to assist law enforcement and other government agencies responsible for protecting the public welfare, whether it be an individual or the security interests of the entire nation."
BellSouth has denied participating in the NSA program. "The ACLU letter is moot to us, because we haven't had any involvement," said spokesperson Jeff Battcher.
The ACLU claims that under existing law, the FCC cannot permit the pending merger between the two companies to proceed without first investigating the merits of the allegations.
The FCC "has a statutory duty as part of its review of the AT&T-BellSouth merger application to perform a full investigation of the claims reported in USA Today," the ACLU said in a statement Tuesday.
It's unlikely that the FCC will base its decision on the ACLU complaint due to the national security issues involved, Burnett said.
In filings with the Federal Communications Commission , the ACLU said it wants the commission to hold up approval of the merger until the phone companies settle allegations that they had released customer information to the National Security Agency.
Competition Issues
Sprint and the telecom group, meanwhile, are looking to squash the deal completely, with the group citing "irreparable harms to competition" from a combination.
Experts, however, still believe the deal will go through.
AT&T dismissed the claims. "There is little overlap between the two companies and competition is well established in the markets where both companies now operate," said spokesperson Michael Coe. "There are always those who'll try to use these proceedings to advance their own, narrow special interests."
San Antonio-based AT&T, which is the No. 1 phone service provider in the United States, will further cement its top position after acquiring Atlanta-based BellSouth, which is the No. 3 player and dominates the Southeast region, in the US$67 billion deal. AT&T will also take full control of Cingular Wireless , the largest wireless carrier by customer base.
Sprint argued that the combination would mean that it would be more dependent on AT&T for connecting to its cell-phone towers. "Sprint Nextel has no alternative to BellSouth or AT&T for more than 99 percent of Sprint Nextel's PCS cell sites in the BellSouth and AT&T service areas," the company said in its filing.
Recreating the Old Bell
In a separate filing, the telecom group, led by XO Holdings, said the merger only creates a larger monopoly with a greater ability to thwart competition between rival providers, as well between AT&T and BellSouth.
AT&T is "quickly reassembling the old Bell System," XO Communications spokesperson Heather Gold said.
Other members in the group include Talk America Holdings, Cbeyond Communications and privately held companies NuVox Communications, Grande Communications, Supra Telecom and Xspedius Communications.
Noise from smaller companies are typical during the merger process. "Normally, you have these kinds of complaints in these transactions," said Tom Burnett, director of research at Wall Street Access. "The applicants are looking to extract a favorable negotiating strategy.
"You don't get through these things without a lot of complaints."
The complaint from Sprint was more unusual, especially since it had just recently completed its own $35 billion merger with Nextel Communications, he added. Still, Burnett said he expects the merger to close by the end of the year.
Domestic Spying Program
The ACLU, meanwhile, is seeking to end the alleged NSA spying program, first reported on last month by USA Today. The story claims that the Bells -- AT&T, BellSouth and Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) -- have been releasing customer information to the government. The companies have denied doing anything illegal.
"The fact is, AT&T does not give customer information to law enforcement authorities or government agencies without legal authorization," Coe said. "We have an obligation to assist law enforcement and other government agencies responsible for protecting the public welfare, whether it be an individual or the security interests of the entire nation."
BellSouth has denied participating in the NSA program. "The ACLU letter is moot to us, because we haven't had any involvement," said spokesperson Jeff Battcher.
The ACLU claims that under existing law, the FCC cannot permit the pending merger between the two companies to proceed without first investigating the merits of the allegations.
The FCC "has a statutory duty as part of its review of the AT&T-BellSouth merger application to perform a full investigation of the claims reported in USA Today," the ACLU said in a statement Tuesday.
It's unlikely that the FCC will base its decision on the ACLU complaint due to the national security issues involved, Burnett said.
Software Squashes Bugs With Help From Users, Open Source
The best software developers in the world know you can't create code without bugs -- it's just not possible. However, new open source software being put to use by open source projects including Evolution, Gaim, theGimp, Gnome, Rhythmbox and others can more quickly find the worst bugs, including those that are causing hangups for most users. In turn, users can automatically report back on software quality with a program known as the Cooperative Bug Isolation Project.
Created by University of Wisconsin-Madison Assistant Professor of Computer Sciences Ben Liblit, the software code is available under the open source BSD license, partly because the project originated at the license namesake Berkeley, and partly because that was the license that could be used "without raising lawyers' eyebrows," Liblit told LinuxInsider.
He described the software and strategy as offering a different way to view software use, feedback and debugging, which has typically centered on software developers making detailed bug reports to one another.
"It provides a different sort of channel," Liblit said. "What I'm trying to provide is a different view of the software." Finding Biggest Bugs
Liblit explained that while software bug reporting has largely been limited to those with technical understanding of the software, even with the highly collaborative and transparent communication of open source software development, his bug-busting software harnesses the larger pool of software users, who may simply report properly functioning applications if no bugs are encountered.
While general users of software will not provide the highly technical descriptions of glitches or holes that come in today's bug reports, these regular users can offer a glimpse into the real-world performance of the software, Liblit said.
"If there are 10,000 users, what are the bugs they're tending to hit?" he said. "You give up a detailed view in favor of an overall view of the software from the user community."
Calling the Cooperative Bug Isolation Project complimentary to traditional bug reporting, Liblit said the open source software could be integral to bug triage, the prioritization of bugs by degree of severity.
At first it was difficult to understand the user feedback, Liblit said. However, with the help of some popular open source projects, development of the software is moving along, as is its potential to help users.
"There is a certain consistency to the data we collect because it's built in, and it's [from] the real users," Liblit said. "At the end of the day, the bugs you're trying to fix are the ones affecting users."
Potential With Practice
While typical user or developer feedback about crashes typically cannot point to specific sections of code that are at fault, Liblit's software helps identify those specific sections of the code, offering information about how often code paths are used in the wild, according to software developer Luis Villa, on staff at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School, and described by Liblit as a "Gnome QA God" for his work on the open source Gnome Bugsquad.
"Both of these are quite important," Villa said of the specific sections and code paths revealed with the Bug Isolation Project software.
Liblit said developers were sometimes stunned by the data his software could capture, including a view of software through its run, which can be used to identify earlier precursors of problems.
"This creates a much more informative feedback pipe back to developers," he said.
Model Open Source
The software has big potential, but that potential isn't being fully explored yet, according to Villa, who said too few people are skilled in the art of interpreting the results of Liblit's software, and not enough people are running the instrumented software.
"But the potential is definitely there," he said. "Any tool that can provide all kinds of new debugging information while not requiring additional work by developers is potentially very useful," Villa said. "Tools that require extra work by developers tend not to get used much."
Villa praised Liblit not only for his software, but also for his approach, which he says has been "a model for how open source research projects should work."
"I've been involved in a lot of research into open source, but this is the first I've personally worked with where the researcher not only came up with a new tool, but worked with the community to implement it and feed some results back," Villa said.
Info for Eyeballs
For his part, Liblit said it has been easy to work with the open source projects, particularly given the "culture of volunteerism" present in the community.
"They are happy to have people help in any way they can," he said.
Liblit also explained how his software and its use build upon the transparent, cooperative nature of open source software and development.
"It doesn't increase the eyeballs," he said. "It increases the amount of information available to those eyeballs."
Created by University of Wisconsin-Madison Assistant Professor of Computer Sciences Ben Liblit, the software code is available under the open source BSD license, partly because the project originated at the license namesake Berkeley, and partly because that was the license that could be used "without raising lawyers' eyebrows," Liblit told LinuxInsider.
He described the software and strategy as offering a different way to view software use, feedback and debugging, which has typically centered on software developers making detailed bug reports to one another.
"It provides a different sort of channel," Liblit said. "What I'm trying to provide is a different view of the software." Finding Biggest Bugs
Liblit explained that while software bug reporting has largely been limited to those with technical understanding of the software, even with the highly collaborative and transparent communication of open source software development, his bug-busting software harnesses the larger pool of software users, who may simply report properly functioning applications if no bugs are encountered.
While general users of software will not provide the highly technical descriptions of glitches or holes that come in today's bug reports, these regular users can offer a glimpse into the real-world performance of the software, Liblit said.
"If there are 10,000 users, what are the bugs they're tending to hit?" he said. "You give up a detailed view in favor of an overall view of the software from the user community."
Calling the Cooperative Bug Isolation Project complimentary to traditional bug reporting, Liblit said the open source software could be integral to bug triage, the prioritization of bugs by degree of severity.
At first it was difficult to understand the user feedback, Liblit said. However, with the help of some popular open source projects, development of the software is moving along, as is its potential to help users.
"There is a certain consistency to the data we collect because it's built in, and it's [from] the real users," Liblit said. "At the end of the day, the bugs you're trying to fix are the ones affecting users."
Potential With Practice
While typical user or developer feedback about crashes typically cannot point to specific sections of code that are at fault, Liblit's software helps identify those specific sections of the code, offering information about how often code paths are used in the wild, according to software developer Luis Villa, on staff at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School, and described by Liblit as a "Gnome QA God" for his work on the open source Gnome Bugsquad.
"Both of these are quite important," Villa said of the specific sections and code paths revealed with the Bug Isolation Project software.
Liblit said developers were sometimes stunned by the data his software could capture, including a view of software through its run, which can be used to identify earlier precursors of problems.
"This creates a much more informative feedback pipe back to developers," he said.
Model Open Source
The software has big potential, but that potential isn't being fully explored yet, according to Villa, who said too few people are skilled in the art of interpreting the results of Liblit's software, and not enough people are running the instrumented software.
"But the potential is definitely there," he said. "Any tool that can provide all kinds of new debugging information while not requiring additional work by developers is potentially very useful," Villa said. "Tools that require extra work by developers tend not to get used much."
Villa praised Liblit not only for his software, but also for his approach, which he says has been "a model for how open source research projects should work."
"I've been involved in a lot of research into open source, but this is the first I've personally worked with where the researcher not only came up with a new tool, but worked with the community to implement it and feed some results back," Villa said.
Info for Eyeballs
For his part, Liblit said it has been easy to work with the open source projects, particularly given the "culture of volunteerism" present in the community.
"They are happy to have people help in any way they can," he said.
Liblit also explained how his software and its use build upon the transparent, cooperative nature of open source software and development.
"It doesn't increase the eyeballs," he said. "It increases the amount of information available to those eyeballs."
Developers Head Back to the Garage
Last week I mentioned a white paper I wrote a couple of years ago that addresses some of the changes we can expect to come from the on demand development and deployment paradigm and I thought it would be interesting to examine some of the main points here.
The title of the piece is "The New Garage" for a very specific reason. I believe that on demand development and deployment will significantly reduce the investment required to build a software product and the company around it. With the capital requirements greatly reduced, we won't likely again see a situation like the one that existed in 2001 where venture capital firms were pouring money into businesses that were at best questionable.
The garage is where many entrepreneurs have historically gotten their ideas off the ground and with on demand tools and infrastructures, we could again see developers creating software in their garages or spare rooms without all the trappings and pressure of 1999. That was the idea behind the title and the paper.
While I don't see The New Garage as a zero sum game in which for every winner there is a loser, I do believe that it has the potential to shake everything up and in the process leave us with a very different paradigm for the business software industry. There are many different players who will be affected in this scenario, some for the better, some not. Here's my rundown of some of the more obvious groups.
Developers and Publishers First, I believe we will see two types of software houses emerge and I call them developers and publishers. Developers will retain many of the functions of traditional software companies, but they will standardize on a small number of platforms to deliver their wares on. For my purposes, a platform will include a typical stack of services and tools such as operating system, database, middleware, development tools, etc. Developers will use these stacks or platforms and be more or less committed to working with the stack owner which I call the publisher.
Listen to Denis Pombriant (7:05 minutes)
Publishers will not only own the stack and the on demand delivery system, they will also be the primary face to the end customer. They will own the delivery mechanism and will sell and market software titles in their inventories. This represents a much lower cost sales and marketing model. Since the publisher will also understand aggregate use patterns, it will also consolidate demand and be in a great position to know what customers will want in the way of enhancements or whole new products.
Developers will want to work with more than one publisher for the simple reason that with multiple outlets to the market it will be hard for a publisher to set prices to the detriment of the developer.
Similar to the Publishing Industry
I use the word "publisher" in the same sense that I think about book publishers. Publishing houses own a distribution channel, and that's what authors look for when trying to sell a book. Publishers look for salability of an idea, and a good acquisitions editor knows what subjects are timely in the industry and what subjects to stay away from.
Let us then suppose that the software industry evolves that way -- publishers with platforms and developers using on demand tools and infrastructure to make new applications -- who benefits and who stands to lose out?
If the industry does indeed go in that direction, any vendor caught in the old licensing paradigm will find it hard to make a living if only because over time the new paradigm will disrupt the old pricing model by one or two orders of magnitude. I believe there is an inherent economic bias which will help the new model to succeed. This won't happen overnight, but just as there are almost no new applications for mainframes today, the market for traditional applications will dry up.
Already there are very few new software companies operating within the old licensing paradigm. Virtually every new company I see is building itself around the hosted delivery model, the primary difference is that I see these emerging companies beginning to cluster around platform providers.
Venture Capital
If there are more companies forming around the new paradigm, the individual needs for capital might also be greatly reduced. This idea is based on the implicit assumption that publishers will take new products to market which will obviate most of the need to build large sales forces and generate massive marketing campaigns. The publisher will, by definition, have a more direct and lower cost route to the customer.
With lower capital requirements in the emerging companies, venture capital will have less leverage meaning that entrepreneurs may in some cases avoid VC money entirely, preferring to self-fund and retain all voting interests in the future direction of the company. I have seen companies taking this route already and the trend should accelerate. Venture capital will not go away but it will most likely look for bigger opportunities in biotech and alternative energy sectors.
Systems Integrators
By definition, SIs live for complexity. Their world is the complex systems model; they take big undifferentiated systems and customize them for the unique business processes of large corporations for which they are paid handsomely. That world is ending at least in part due to the success of the on demand model, but also because there are very few green fields left to exploit. In its place a model based on volume operations is growing and this model is what the New Garage is all about.
Like VCs, integrators face some tough decisions. While there might still be work for integrators as the volume operations model takes hold it will be vital to their survival for SIs to identify potential products within their intellectual property. The most successful integrators will transition to become publishers in their own rights or they will team up with a few significant independent publishers. Regardless of the path each chooses, it is likely they will have lower labor requirements.
Good Time to Be a Customer
There has never been a better time to be a software customer and that situation should only improve. Today there are on demand versions of word processors, spreadsheets, contact managers, e-mail and more available for free so there is little reason to buy shrink-wrapped versions. The big fly in the ointment is how all this software gets paid for. Right now, many software companies are using an advertising model and that might work, but the danger is that the customer gets fed up dealing with the ads and reverts to a license. The key for both vendors and customers will be creativity in ad development and deployment. Then too, most of the ads are not aimed at people like me, they are targeting the iPod generation and they don't know any better.
The title of the piece is "The New Garage" for a very specific reason. I believe that on demand development and deployment will significantly reduce the investment required to build a software product and the company around it. With the capital requirements greatly reduced, we won't likely again see a situation like the one that existed in 2001 where venture capital firms were pouring money into businesses that were at best questionable.
The garage is where many entrepreneurs have historically gotten their ideas off the ground and with on demand tools and infrastructures, we could again see developers creating software in their garages or spare rooms without all the trappings and pressure of 1999. That was the idea behind the title and the paper.
While I don't see The New Garage as a zero sum game in which for every winner there is a loser, I do believe that it has the potential to shake everything up and in the process leave us with a very different paradigm for the business software industry. There are many different players who will be affected in this scenario, some for the better, some not. Here's my rundown of some of the more obvious groups.
Developers and Publishers First, I believe we will see two types of software houses emerge and I call them developers and publishers. Developers will retain many of the functions of traditional software companies, but they will standardize on a small number of platforms to deliver their wares on. For my purposes, a platform will include a typical stack of services and tools such as operating system, database, middleware, development tools, etc. Developers will use these stacks or platforms and be more or less committed to working with the stack owner which I call the publisher.
Listen to Denis Pombriant (7:05 minutes)
Publishers will not only own the stack and the on demand delivery system, they will also be the primary face to the end customer. They will own the delivery mechanism and will sell and market software titles in their inventories. This represents a much lower cost sales and marketing model. Since the publisher will also understand aggregate use patterns, it will also consolidate demand and be in a great position to know what customers will want in the way of enhancements or whole new products.
Developers will want to work with more than one publisher for the simple reason that with multiple outlets to the market it will be hard for a publisher to set prices to the detriment of the developer.
Similar to the Publishing Industry
I use the word "publisher" in the same sense that I think about book publishers. Publishing houses own a distribution channel, and that's what authors look for when trying to sell a book. Publishers look for salability of an idea, and a good acquisitions editor knows what subjects are timely in the industry and what subjects to stay away from.
Let us then suppose that the software industry evolves that way -- publishers with platforms and developers using on demand tools and infrastructure to make new applications -- who benefits and who stands to lose out?
If the industry does indeed go in that direction, any vendor caught in the old licensing paradigm will find it hard to make a living if only because over time the new paradigm will disrupt the old pricing model by one or two orders of magnitude. I believe there is an inherent economic bias which will help the new model to succeed. This won't happen overnight, but just as there are almost no new applications for mainframes today, the market for traditional applications will dry up.
Already there are very few new software companies operating within the old licensing paradigm. Virtually every new company I see is building itself around the hosted delivery model, the primary difference is that I see these emerging companies beginning to cluster around platform providers.
Venture Capital
If there are more companies forming around the new paradigm, the individual needs for capital might also be greatly reduced. This idea is based on the implicit assumption that publishers will take new products to market which will obviate most of the need to build large sales forces and generate massive marketing campaigns. The publisher will, by definition, have a more direct and lower cost route to the customer.
With lower capital requirements in the emerging companies, venture capital will have less leverage meaning that entrepreneurs may in some cases avoid VC money entirely, preferring to self-fund and retain all voting interests in the future direction of the company. I have seen companies taking this route already and the trend should accelerate. Venture capital will not go away but it will most likely look for bigger opportunities in biotech and alternative energy sectors.
Systems Integrators
By definition, SIs live for complexity. Their world is the complex systems model; they take big undifferentiated systems and customize them for the unique business processes of large corporations for which they are paid handsomely. That world is ending at least in part due to the success of the on demand model, but also because there are very few green fields left to exploit. In its place a model based on volume operations is growing and this model is what the New Garage is all about.
Like VCs, integrators face some tough decisions. While there might still be work for integrators as the volume operations model takes hold it will be vital to their survival for SIs to identify potential products within their intellectual property. The most successful integrators will transition to become publishers in their own rights or they will team up with a few significant independent publishers. Regardless of the path each chooses, it is likely they will have lower labor requirements.
Good Time to Be a Customer
There has never been a better time to be a software customer and that situation should only improve. Today there are on demand versions of word processors, spreadsheets, contact managers, e-mail and more available for free so there is little reason to buy shrink-wrapped versions. The big fly in the ointment is how all this software gets paid for. Right now, many software companies are using an advertising model and that might work, but the danger is that the customer gets fed up dealing with the ads and reverts to a license. The key for both vendors and customers will be creativity in ad development and deployment. Then too, most of the ads are not aimed at people like me, they are targeting the iPod generation and they don't know any better.
Microsoft Kicks Off Security Push With Antigen
A big new wave of Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) security products began rolling in this week as the software giant announced the Antigen security line for e-mail and messaging servers.
Aimed primarily at Exchange Server and other Windows Server customers, the new software suite is stirring controversy in the security software industry, where the major antivirus vendors and others stand to lose significant numbers of customers to the Redmond, Wash.-based firm.
As for users, they are cautiously anticipating Microsoft's security push, waiting to see if the software company has improved its security efforts, but interested in comprehensive IT security coverage from one place
"There's a spectrum from 'no way, ever,' to 'wait and see,'" IT-Harvest Chief Research Analyst Richard Stiennon told TechNewsWorld. "This is going to be a product, certainly in the enterprise , that people aren't going to deploy just because it's Microsoft. Maybe in one or two years, when it will be tested, they will. People like to buy it all in the box."
Antigen Lineup Microsoft said its new Antigen security products -- a result of its acquired antivirus and anti-spam technology from Sybari, which it bought a year and a half ago -- would be available July 1, and would also be made available for a free, three-month trial.
The company this week rolled out Antigen antivirus and filtering for the following: Exchange Server 2000 and 2003; SMTP Gateway security for Windows Server 2000 and 2003; and Spam Manager for Windows-based SMTP and Exchange servers. Microsoft also released Antigen Enterprise Manager, Antigen Messaging Security Suite, and Antigen Management Pack for its Operations Manager 2005 software.
"Antigen's unique multi-engine solution integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Exchange Server to provide customers with the benefits of layered protection, while minimizing cost, complexity and impact on performance," said Microsoft Vice President of Security, Access and Solutions Ted Kummert.
Uptake Expected
Antigen is a solid product, and Microsoft's marketing and industry power may further propel what was a successful security software package from Sybari before Microsoft bought the company, Forrester senior analyst Laura Koetzle told TechNewsWorld.
"I fully expect seeing lots more uptake for it from folks running Exchange Server," Koetzle said.
Although she cautioned against Microsoft claiming to provide all the security software a company needs, when in fact there is "a world of security things they don't make," Koetzle said Microsoft's security suite would likely appeal to smaller businesses using Exchange and Windows servers, particularly if the price was attractive.
IT shops and customers have been anticipating Microsoft's security products, and have been renewing antivirus and other security software agreements for shorter terms so they can try the software giant's solution, Koetzle reported.
Big Challenge
The security software market, and particularly antivirus and related software, is a difficult one to enter given the size of dominant players, such as Symantec (Nasdaq: SYMC) and McAfee .
"This is a big test for anybody who gets into antivirus," Stiennon said.
The challenge is even more difficult for Microsoft, facing a lawsuit from Symantec, which may be joined by other vendors in trying to stem Microsoft's security offerings, according to Stiennon.
The analyst added while there is no doubt Microsoft has the marketing and promotion ability to push its security software, whether it has the technical ability to protect and win over customers remains to be seen.
Aimed primarily at Exchange Server and other Windows Server customers, the new software suite is stirring controversy in the security software industry, where the major antivirus vendors and others stand to lose significant numbers of customers to the Redmond, Wash.-based firm.
As for users, they are cautiously anticipating Microsoft's security push, waiting to see if the software company has improved its security efforts, but interested in comprehensive IT security coverage from one place
"There's a spectrum from 'no way, ever,' to 'wait and see,'" IT-Harvest Chief Research Analyst Richard Stiennon told TechNewsWorld. "This is going to be a product, certainly in the enterprise , that people aren't going to deploy just because it's Microsoft. Maybe in one or two years, when it will be tested, they will. People like to buy it all in the box."
Antigen Lineup Microsoft said its new Antigen security products -- a result of its acquired antivirus and anti-spam technology from Sybari, which it bought a year and a half ago -- would be available July 1, and would also be made available for a free, three-month trial.
The company this week rolled out Antigen antivirus and filtering for the following: Exchange Server 2000 and 2003; SMTP Gateway security for Windows Server 2000 and 2003; and Spam Manager for Windows-based SMTP and Exchange servers. Microsoft also released Antigen Enterprise Manager, Antigen Messaging Security Suite, and Antigen Management Pack for its Operations Manager 2005 software.
"Antigen's unique multi-engine solution integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Exchange Server to provide customers with the benefits of layered protection, while minimizing cost, complexity and impact on performance," said Microsoft Vice President of Security, Access and Solutions Ted Kummert.
Uptake Expected
Antigen is a solid product, and Microsoft's marketing and industry power may further propel what was a successful security software package from Sybari before Microsoft bought the company, Forrester senior analyst Laura Koetzle told TechNewsWorld.
"I fully expect seeing lots more uptake for it from folks running Exchange Server," Koetzle said.
Although she cautioned against Microsoft claiming to provide all the security software a company needs, when in fact there is "a world of security things they don't make," Koetzle said Microsoft's security suite would likely appeal to smaller businesses using Exchange and Windows servers, particularly if the price was attractive.
IT shops and customers have been anticipating Microsoft's security products, and have been renewing antivirus and other security software agreements for shorter terms so they can try the software giant's solution, Koetzle reported.
Big Challenge
The security software market, and particularly antivirus and related software, is a difficult one to enter given the size of dominant players, such as Symantec (Nasdaq: SYMC) and McAfee .
"This is a big test for anybody who gets into antivirus," Stiennon said.
The challenge is even more difficult for Microsoft, facing a lawsuit from Symantec, which may be joined by other vendors in trying to stem Microsoft's security offerings, according to Stiennon.
The analyst added while there is no doubt Microsoft has the marketing and promotion ability to push its security software, whether it has the technical ability to protect and win over customers remains to be seen.
OSDL Grants Debian Linux CGL Status
The Debian Linux distribution has been certified under the Open Source Development Lab's (OSDL's) Carrier Grade Linux (CGL) specifications.
The certification indicates that the Linux distribution meets a set of requirements for availability, reliability and performance, as well as the service response times typically required by telecom providers.
"CGL registration marks an important milestone in Debian's support for Linux in communications infrastructure," said Debian project leader Anthony Towns.
"With the assistance of our industry partners in meeting OSDL's CGL specifications, we look forward to better addressing the needs of the increasing market for Linux systems in telecoms."
HP has been pushing the CGL registration, and uses Debian on servers for telecom applications.
The CGL certification is limited to the Debian 3.1 version, code named "Sarge." The new release also offers security updates and deploys the 2.6.8 Linux kernel.
Immature Tech?
There are currently eight Linux distributions that meet the CGL criteria, including SuSE Linux Enterprise Server, MontaVista and Asianux.
Red Hat (Nasdaq: RHAT) does not sign up to the standard because it finds some elements lacking. Compliance is not audited, for instance, forcing users to rely on the distribution's reputation and track record.
Red Hat claims that its Linux distribution incorporates about 85 percent of the CGL's requirements and dismisses the remaining 15 percent as " immature technologies."
The certification indicates that the Linux distribution meets a set of requirements for availability, reliability and performance, as well as the service response times typically required by telecom providers.
'Sarge' Gets the Promotion
"CGL registration marks an important milestone in Debian's support for Linux in communications infrastructure," said Debian project leader Anthony Towns.
"With the assistance of our industry partners in meeting OSDL's CGL specifications, we look forward to better addressing the needs of the increasing market for Linux systems in telecoms."
HP has been pushing the CGL registration, and uses Debian on servers for telecom applications.
The CGL certification is limited to the Debian 3.1 version, code named "Sarge." The new release also offers security updates and deploys the 2.6.8 Linux kernel.
Immature Tech?
There are currently eight Linux distributions that meet the CGL criteria, including SuSE Linux Enterprise Server, MontaVista and Asianux.
Red Hat (Nasdaq: RHAT) does not sign up to the standard because it finds some elements lacking. Compliance is not audited, for instance, forcing users to rely on the distribution's reputation and track record.
Red Hat claims that its Linux distribution incorporates about 85 percent of the CGL's requirements and dismisses the remaining 15 percent as " immature technologies."
Nvidia Beefs Up Highest-End Video Cards
Graphics silicon giant Nvidia doubled up on graphics processors for its latest high-end graphics processing card, touting the new GeForce 7950 GX2 as the "world's fastest."
The new GeForce 7 series cards draw on two graphics processing units (GPUs), dramatically increasing single video card performance and ushering two-card, four-GPU "extreme" high-definition resolutions, smooth frame rates and stunning visuals, the company said.
Nvidia spokesperson Brian Burke told TechNewsWorld the new GeForce 7950 cards were priced between about US$599 and $649, and were immediately available to the public.
Performance Times Two
Nvidia touted the coupling of two GeForce 7950 GPUs on a single graphics card , described in some reports and discussions online as a technical truth, but perhaps a stretch since the unit consists of two cards mounted together.
Nvidia was nevertheless praised for its design, which packs more graphics punch into nearly the same space as a single video card, uses a single PCI Express slot, and delivers cutting edge graphics.
"The GeForce 7950 GX2 is a great card for the gamer that's looking for the absolute best performance in a single graphics card solution," said Nvidia General Manager of Desktop GPUs Ujesh Desai.
Desktop and Widescreen
Although the new 7950 may be using some of the same technology that powers the Nvidia graphics of Sony's (NYSE: SNE) next-generation gaming console PlayStation 3, the new high-end desktop graphics card is not the same technology as the PS3 graphics silicon, according to Burke.
"This is a desktop GPU part, it's not part of what we're working on with Sony on PS3," he said.
In addition to the twin GPUs running on one card, the 7950 GX2 also features 48 pixel pipes, 16 vertical shaders, more bandwidth and memory, and DVI support for widescreen flat panel displays and resolution as great as 2,560 x 1,600.
Nvidia also stressed the support for its Quad Nvidia SLI technology, which will allow Nvidia system builders to combine two 7950 GX2 cards for even more graphics horsepower the higher resolutions.
Integration Pros and Cons
At the Computex tradeshow in Taipei, Taiwan this week, Nvidia also showcased its nForce graphics processing technology support for Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) Core 2 Duo processors, which the two companies said would result in faster, feature-rich motherboards for enthusiasts.
The advantage of the technology is that the Core functionality is integrated into the Nvidia motherboards, which remain nicely packaged, small chipsets, Gartner Research Vice President Martin Reynolds told TechNewsWorld.
The only issue with the processor integration -- which may be ideal for desktops, notebooks and even servers -- is that an all-Nvidia chipset may be missing out on some of Intel's other technologies or capabilities, while Intel's chipset technology may be missing Nvidia features or functionality
The new GeForce 7 series cards draw on two graphics processing units (GPUs), dramatically increasing single video card performance and ushering two-card, four-GPU "extreme" high-definition resolutions, smooth frame rates and stunning visuals, the company said.
Nvidia spokesperson Brian Burke told TechNewsWorld the new GeForce 7950 cards were priced between about US$599 and $649, and were immediately available to the public.
Performance Times Two
Nvidia touted the coupling of two GeForce 7950 GPUs on a single graphics card , described in some reports and discussions online as a technical truth, but perhaps a stretch since the unit consists of two cards mounted together.
Nvidia was nevertheless praised for its design, which packs more graphics punch into nearly the same space as a single video card, uses a single PCI Express slot, and delivers cutting edge graphics.
"The GeForce 7950 GX2 is a great card for the gamer that's looking for the absolute best performance in a single graphics card solution," said Nvidia General Manager of Desktop GPUs Ujesh Desai.
Desktop and Widescreen
Although the new 7950 may be using some of the same technology that powers the Nvidia graphics of Sony's (NYSE: SNE) next-generation gaming console PlayStation 3, the new high-end desktop graphics card is not the same technology as the PS3 graphics silicon, according to Burke.
"This is a desktop GPU part, it's not part of what we're working on with Sony on PS3," he said.
In addition to the twin GPUs running on one card, the 7950 GX2 also features 48 pixel pipes, 16 vertical shaders, more bandwidth and memory, and DVI support for widescreen flat panel displays and resolution as great as 2,560 x 1,600.
Nvidia also stressed the support for its Quad Nvidia SLI technology, which will allow Nvidia system builders to combine two 7950 GX2 cards for even more graphics horsepower the higher resolutions.
Integration Pros and Cons
At the Computex tradeshow in Taipei, Taiwan this week, Nvidia also showcased its nForce graphics processing technology support for Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) Core 2 Duo processors, which the two companies said would result in faster, feature-rich motherboards for enthusiasts.
The advantage of the technology is that the Core functionality is integrated into the Nvidia motherboards, which remain nicely packaged, small chipsets, Gartner Research Vice President Martin Reynolds told TechNewsWorld.
The only issue with the processor integration -- which may be ideal for desktops, notebooks and even servers -- is that an all-Nvidia chipset may be missing out on some of Intel's other technologies or capabilities, while Intel's chipset technology may be missing Nvidia features or functionality
Consumers Turn to Web for 'Media Snack' Fix
A growing number of user-generated video Web sites are supplanting iTunes and Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) Video as the place to go for so-called "media snacks," bite-sized tidbits of fun that satisfy today's need for entertainment on the go.
The sites -- which include Metacafe.com, YouTube.com, Vimeo.com, Heavy.com and ifilm.com -- compete for millions of viewers without cost, although some sites are starting to run very short ads.
"Consumer-generated content [such as] YouTube is the millennial version of 'America's Funniest Home Videos,'" said Jack MacKenzie, senior vice president of Frank N. Magid Associates, a media research firm. However, now it's portable and offers users a huge community to interact with.
Charlie Todd, 27, posts to video sites because he enjoys "the ability for your users to rate and comment on your work," he said. He also posts because he doesn't have the server space or bandwidth to host memory-intensive video. Todd is the founder of Improv Everywhere, a New York-based improvisational comedy troupe that organizes heavily planned "missions" around the city to make people laugh, and then posts the results on the different video Web sites. They garner high ratings in the process.
Higher ratings means more views, which push the videos onto the front pages of the sites, which then guarantees more views. If it's good, it stays on the home page, said Arik Czerniak, CEO of Metacafe. At Metacafe, a top video could get half a million views in 24 hours. "You don't need to get lucky ... because we've streamlined the viral process, if something is good it will be noticed by the community. You don't need to have 1,000 people on your mailing list," he said.
Hollywood-generated content such as reruns of "Survivor" or "Desperate Housewives" is available for US$1.99 a pop on sites such as iTunes or Google Video. (Google Video offers both a pay site like iTunes and a free site like YouTube.) NBC is offering reruns of some of its sitcoms for free.
Most, but not all, of the content is viewed on computers. You can watch some iTunes and Google Video programming on your computer, or you can download it onto portable devices such as iPods and Sony (NYSE: SNE) PlayStation Portables. With the rise of portable devices and increasingly sophisticated cell phones, eventually "multiple platform distribution will be required by this next generation," MacKenzie told TechNewsWorld.
Video Web sites have been growing quietly in the background for the past few years. In December, though, something happened that made people realize just how viable Internet video is. Someone digitized a "Saturday Night Live" music video parody called "Lazy Sunday" and posted it to YouTube. The site exploded from about 600,000 daily users to three million overnight, according to MacKenzie.
More importantly, "it was the huge viral breakthrough," MacKenzie said, because tens of thousands of people were sharing the video with tens of thousands of other people.
"Viral" is the holy grail of Internet communication because it's the fastest way of exposing the most amount of people to your product for the least amount of money. Viral has been around since the forward button on e-mail, but it's grown exponentially with the pre-existing social networks such as myspace.com and the video sites.
Cultural Shift
These sites may be loaded with viewers now, but do they have sticking power? "It's not a fad, not a craze, it's a very major cultural shift that's happening," Czerniak said.
Metacafe, one of the fastest growing video Web sites, certainly has the numbers. For April, Metacafe averaged more than 600,000 unique visitors per day, and that number is rising. Like most of the competing sites, the numbers have increased substantially since January, the month after the Lazy Sunday video ran.
Even though the videos are generally very short -- one to two minutes -- there are thousands of them at any given time, and video takes up a lot of bandwidth. In April Metacafe saw 300 million video transfers, according to Czerniak. The site relies on over 100 servers just for processing the data and information needed to run. On an average day Metacafe runs millions of lines of codes at 4 GB per second, or 40 terabytes of traffic per day over its content delivery network, which relies heavily on caching.
In fact, there's starting to be some talk that the Internet backbone won't be able to tolerate the drain from these Web sites.
All this heavy equipment takes money, and Metacafe is about to go into its second round of financing. The three-year-old start-up, which first got $5 million seed money from Benchmark, the founders of eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) , was expected to inject another $15 million at the end of May.
The big question now is, is there money to be made from free video? There are several ways to make money off this: advertisement, selling the content, or being bought.
For Metacafe, being bought is not the goal. Rather, Czerniak wants to "create a business model where you license your materials hand in hand with users." He said if the site would run 30-second ads today they would make $20 million a month, but that would alienate their users. The way to advertise to an audience with a short attention span is "monetizing on the traffic, but trying to be gentle about it."
Richard Lent, CEO of AgencyNet, an interactive solutions agency that creates advertisements for the Internet, agreed. "We feel the more the brand integrates themselves directly with the content the less it looks like advertising," he said.
There is also the issue of selling to different demographics, the 80 million-strong millenials currently between the ages of 10 and 28, said MacKenzie.
"Like any generation they're not all equal but what they want is increasing convenience. They've come to expect their ability to dictate what they do and when they do it and I mean that broadly, not just in TV, but it relates to news & information," MacKenzie said. Most importantly, "they believe they will rule the world and it turns out they probably will."
One thing's for certain: For now, advertising seems to be the way to go. "All significant human behavior finds an advertiser," MacKenzie said.
The sites -- which include Metacafe.com, YouTube.com, Vimeo.com, Heavy.com and ifilm.com -- compete for millions of viewers without cost, although some sites are starting to run very short ads.
"Consumer-generated content [such as] YouTube is the millennial version of 'America's Funniest Home Videos,'" said Jack MacKenzie, senior vice president of Frank N. Magid Associates, a media research firm. However, now it's portable and offers users a huge community to interact with.
Charlie Todd, 27, posts to video sites because he enjoys "the ability for your users to rate and comment on your work," he said. He also posts because he doesn't have the server space or bandwidth to host memory-intensive video. Todd is the founder of Improv Everywhere, a New York-based improvisational comedy troupe that organizes heavily planned "missions" around the city to make people laugh, and then posts the results on the different video Web sites. They garner high ratings in the process.
Attracting Eyeballs
Higher ratings means more views, which push the videos onto the front pages of the sites, which then guarantees more views. If it's good, it stays on the home page, said Arik Czerniak, CEO of Metacafe. At Metacafe, a top video could get half a million views in 24 hours. "You don't need to get lucky ... because we've streamlined the viral process, if something is good it will be noticed by the community. You don't need to have 1,000 people on your mailing list," he said.
Hollywood-generated content such as reruns of "Survivor" or "Desperate Housewives" is available for US$1.99 a pop on sites such as iTunes or Google Video. (Google Video offers both a pay site like iTunes and a free site like YouTube.) NBC is offering reruns of some of its sitcoms for free.
Most, but not all, of the content is viewed on computers. You can watch some iTunes and Google Video programming on your computer, or you can download it onto portable devices such as iPods and Sony (NYSE: SNE) PlayStation Portables. With the rise of portable devices and increasingly sophisticated cell phones, eventually "multiple platform distribution will be required by this next generation," MacKenzie told TechNewsWorld.
Video Web sites have been growing quietly in the background for the past few years. In December, though, something happened that made people realize just how viable Internet video is. Someone digitized a "Saturday Night Live" music video parody called "Lazy Sunday" and posted it to YouTube. The site exploded from about 600,000 daily users to three million overnight, according to MacKenzie.
More importantly, "it was the huge viral breakthrough," MacKenzie said, because tens of thousands of people were sharing the video with tens of thousands of other people.
"Viral" is the holy grail of Internet communication because it's the fastest way of exposing the most amount of people to your product for the least amount of money. Viral has been around since the forward button on e-mail, but it's grown exponentially with the pre-existing social networks such as myspace.com and the video sites.
Cultural Shift
These sites may be loaded with viewers now, but do they have sticking power? "It's not a fad, not a craze, it's a very major cultural shift that's happening," Czerniak said.
Metacafe, one of the fastest growing video Web sites, certainly has the numbers. For April, Metacafe averaged more than 600,000 unique visitors per day, and that number is rising. Like most of the competing sites, the numbers have increased substantially since January, the month after the Lazy Sunday video ran.
Even though the videos are generally very short -- one to two minutes -- there are thousands of them at any given time, and video takes up a lot of bandwidth. In April Metacafe saw 300 million video transfers, according to Czerniak. The site relies on over 100 servers just for processing the data and information needed to run. On an average day Metacafe runs millions of lines of codes at 4 GB per second, or 40 terabytes of traffic per day over its content delivery network, which relies heavily on caching.
In fact, there's starting to be some talk that the Internet backbone won't be able to tolerate the drain from these Web sites.
All this heavy equipment takes money, and Metacafe is about to go into its second round of financing. The three-year-old start-up, which first got $5 million seed money from Benchmark, the founders of eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) , was expected to inject another $15 million at the end of May.
The big question now is, is there money to be made from free video? There are several ways to make money off this: advertisement, selling the content, or being bought.
Achieving Monetization
For Metacafe, being bought is not the goal. Rather, Czerniak wants to "create a business model where you license your materials hand in hand with users." He said if the site would run 30-second ads today they would make $20 million a month, but that would alienate their users. The way to advertise to an audience with a short attention span is "monetizing on the traffic, but trying to be gentle about it."
Richard Lent, CEO of AgencyNet, an interactive solutions agency that creates advertisements for the Internet, agreed. "We feel the more the brand integrates themselves directly with the content the less it looks like advertising," he said.
There is also the issue of selling to different demographics, the 80 million-strong millenials currently between the ages of 10 and 28, said MacKenzie.
"Like any generation they're not all equal but what they want is increasing convenience. They've come to expect their ability to dictate what they do and when they do it and I mean that broadly, not just in TV, but it relates to news & information," MacKenzie said. Most importantly, "they believe they will rule the world and it turns out they probably will."
One thing's for certain: For now, advertising seems to be the way to go. "All significant human behavior finds an advertiser," MacKenzie said.
