The Tech Hog

Google Strengthens Its India Story - Launches India Labs, Local Search and Local Business Centre

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Fri, 5 Oct 2007 11:13:00 -0700

Bangalore (August 20, 2007) - Google India today announced the launch of an India serving innovation platform, Google India Labs, and two new India facing products- Google Local Search and Google Local Business Centre. The announcement is further evidence of the global search giant's commitment to providing locally relevant information and opportunities for its Indian users.

Google Local Search promises to be a useful tool for Indian users who are looking for locally relevant information on the web. With the launch of this product users will now be able to search for information on local businesses like restaurants, shops, and hotels by simply doing a search on http://local.google.co.in.

Google Local Business Centre is available at www.google.co.in/local/add and will allow any business to add its information to Google Local for free. When users search on Google Local Search, the listed business information will be displayed. Local Business Centre already exists in other geographies and has provided owners with means to provide visibility to their businesses.

"Local Search and Local Business Centre will provide our users with better local business results by increasing the corpus and depth of business listings, and benefit local businesses by ensuring visibility on the Internet for free," said Vinay Goel, Head of Products, Google India.

Google Labs™ is a technology playground for products that are in the process of development and require market feedback to improve. Launched under the sub domain labs.google.co.in. This launch makes India one of the few countries to have a country-focused labs program. Globally, Google has 7 labs across US, China, Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain.

India labs will serve as a platform to showcase innovations that are particularly relevant to the Indian market and will also allow users to take a peek into Google's future offerings. These products will come from Google offices across the globe, including the India R&D centre in Bangalore, but will specifically cater to the needs of Indian users. It will also give users a platform to provide valuable feedback to further improve the products. India Labs would initially showcase two India-centric products -

The Indic On-Screen Keyboard iGoogle Gadget™ will offer users the ability to type search queries in 14 Indic languages. These iGoogle™ gadgets will enable users to type in Indic languages by choosing letters from an on-screen keyboard using a mouse. Users would be able to add the gadget of their chosen language to their personalized iGoogle home page and use it to search for content in their language.
Google Indic Transliteration allows the user to type in Hindi using phonetically equivalent English text entered through an English keyboard. For instance, typing "Bharat" would give "भारत" on the screen. Hindi transliteration was launched on the Blogger™ service earlier this year, and this labs service (http://www.google.com/transliterate/indic/) is a standalone offering of the same technology. Users can create Hindi content and use it in applications of their choice, such as mails, documents and so on. The product uses a machine learning based approach that can learn from corrections made by the users.

Speaking on the launch of Google India Labs, Dr. Prasad Ram, Head of Google R&D, India said, "Our vision for India's 60th year of independence is to empower our Indian users by providing organized, easily accessible information and products which encourage the creation and consumption of locally relevant content. India Labs is one such effort that will enable users to test and provide valuable feedback on products that are most relevant to them."

Source: google.com

Mahindra & Mahindra to make 2 wheelers in India!

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Fri, 5 Oct 2007 10:51:00 -0700

Yup, you heard that right! SUV major M&M is now thinking of entering the 2 wheeler market in India. It is supposed to be in talks with Chinese auto major "Lifan". The rural market is what seems to be drawing M&M towards the two wheeler segment which has not been as exciting in the recent past. 2 wheeler majors have faced a down trend in sales as customers are either buying cars or the high prevailing interest rates are keeping them from buying a two wheeler. However, M&M might price their products very competitively to beat the other players. Since the products are for the rural market, this could well be a stint at capturing the profits at the base of the pyramid. Lets see how this brews up! Here is a glimpse of what could be riding into India.

Supercomputers the size of atoms? - IBM makes it possible

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 08:27:00 -0700

IBM Unveils Two Major Nanotechnology Breakthroughs as Building Blocks for Atomic Structures and Devices

Magnetic Atom Milestone Brings Single-Atom Data Storage Closer to Reality; Single-Molecule Switching Could Lead to Molecular Computers

IBM today announced two major scientific achievements in the field of nanotechnology that could one day lead to new kinds of devices and structures built from a few atoms or molecules.

Although still far from making their way into products, these breakthroughs will enable scientists at IBM and elsewhere to continue driving the field of nanotechnology, the exploration of building structures and devices out of ultra-tiny, atomic-scale components. Such devices might be used as future computer chips, storage devices, sensors and for applications nobody has imagined yet. The work will be unveiled in two reports being published by the journal Science.

In the first report, IBM scientists describe major progress in probing a property called magnetic anisotropy in individual atoms. This fundamental measurement has important technological consequences because it determines an atom’s ability to store information. Previously, nobody had been able to measure the magnetic anisotropy of a single atom.

With further work it may be possible to build structures consisting of small clusters of atoms, or even individual atoms, that could reliably store magnetic information. Such a storage capability would enable nearly 30,000 feature length movies or the entire contents of YouTube – millions of videos estimated to be more than 1,000 trillion bits of data – to fit in a device the size of an iPod. Perhaps more importantly, the breakthrough could lead to new kinds of structures and devices that are so small they could be applied to entire new fields and disciplines beyond traditional computing.

In the second report, IBM researchers unveiled the first single-molecule switch that can operate flawlessly without disrupting the molecule's outer frame -- a significant step toward building computing elements at the molecular scale that are vastly smaller, faster and use less energy than today's computer chips and memory devices.

In addition to switching within a single molecule, the researchers also demonstrated that atoms inside one molecule can be used to switch atoms in an adjacent molecule, representing a rudimentary logic element. This is made possible partly because the molecular framework is not disturbed.

The Science of The Small: Understanding the Magnetic Properties of Atoms

In the paper titled “Large Magnetic Anisotropy of a Single Atomic Spin Embedded in a Surface Molecular Network,” the researchers used IBM’s special scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to manipulate individual iron atoms and arranged them with atomic precision on a specially prepared copper surface. They then determined the orientation and strength of the magnetic anisotropy of the individual iron atoms.

Anisotropy is an important property for data storage because it determines whether or not a magnet can maintain a specific orientation. This in turn allows the magnet to represent either a “1” or “0,” which is the basis for storing data in computers.

“One of the major challenges for the IT industry today is shrinking the bit size used for data storage to the smallest possible features, while increasing the capacity,” said Gian-Luca Bona, manager of science and technology at the IBM Almaden Research Center in San Jose, California. “We are working at the ultimate edge of what is possible – and we are now one step closer to figuring out how to store data at the atomic level. Understanding the specific magnetic properties of atoms is the cornerstone of progressing toward new, more efficient ways to store data.”

Lilliputian Scale Devices: Single Molecule Logic Switching

In the paper titled “Current-Induced Hydrogen Tautomerization and Conductance Switching of Naphthalocyanine Molecules,” IBM researchers describe the ability to switch a single molecule “on” and “off,” a basic element of computer logic, using two hydrogen atoms within a naphthalocyanine organic molecule. Previously, researchers at IBM and elsewhere have demonstrated switching within single molecules, but the molecules would change their shape when switching, making them unsuitable for building logic gates for computer chips or memory elements.

Switches inside computer chips act like a light switch to turn the flow of electrons on and off and, when put together, make up the logic gates, which in turn make up electrical circuits. Having ever smaller switches allows the circuits to be shrunk to ever smaller sizes, making it possible to pack more circuits into a processor and boosting speed and performance.

These molecular switches could one day lead to computer chips with speeds as fast as today's fastest supercomputers, but much smaller in size; with some speculating even building computer chips so small they could be the size of a speck of dust or fit on the tip of a needle.

Development of conventional silicon-based CMOS chips is approaching its physical limits, and the IT industry is exploring new, truly disruptive technologies to achieve further increases in computer performance. Modular molecular logic is a possible candidate, though still several years from reality. The next step for the Research team is to build a series of these molecules into a circuit, then figure out how to network those together into a molecular chip.

The concept of using molecules as electronic components is still in its infancy. Only a few examples of individual molecules serving as switches or memory elements have been demonstrated to date. Most of these molecules are complex, three-dimensional structures and change their shape when switching. Placing them on a surface while maintaining their function is extremely difficult, making them unsuitable as building blocks for computer logic.

The switching within the molecule used by the IBM researchers is well-defined, highly-localized, reversible, intrinsic to the molecule, and does not involve changes in the molecular frame. Therefore, this molecule could be used as a building block for more complex molecular devices that serve as logic elements. As the shape of the molecule does not change during switching, single switches can be coupled in a controlled way. The switching process should also work with molecules embedded in more complex structures.

Aviation industry uses NASA Wind Tunnels to design new airplanes

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Sun, 9 Sep 2007 09:09:00 -0700

NASA-developed wind tunnel technology is being used by the aviation industry to perfect new airplane designs throughout the entire development process.

The Boeing Company, Seattle, is one manufacturer purchasing wind tunnel time in the U.S. National Transonic Facility at NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., to test new aviation concepts, before applying them in flight.

Boeing is evaluating high-lift system designs for its new 787 jet aircraft. High-lift systems include the flaps and slats used to increase the lift performance of the wing, allowing the airplane to take off and land safely and efficiently.

"Unlike conventional wind tunnels, the National Transonic Facility can duplicate the aerodynamics of the flight environment, even with small scale models," said facility chief aerodynamicist Rich Wahls. "That allows the aircraft manufacturers to produce better performing airplanes with less risk."

To test its new high-lift concepts, Boeing developers designed new 787-style trailing edge flaps and fit them to an existing 5.2 percent scale 777 semi-span model. The stainless steel model, which looks like one-half of an airplane cut down the middle from nose to tail, is mounted on the sidewall of the wind tunnel.

Even small improvements in performance of a high-lift system can significantly improve the take-off field length, weight carrying capability, and range of a transport aircraft. The improvements can also help reduce aircraft noise. But making improvements is not easy, because of the complex airflow issues encountered when flaps and slats are extended from a wing.

The National Transonic Facility is a unique wind tunnel developed by NASA that uses super cold nitrogen gas at high pressure to duplicate true flight aerodynamics. It can accommodate models as small as one-fiftieth the size of the actual aircraft. Unlike conventional wind tunnels, this facility can adjust the characteristics of the airflow to match the size of the model. Results help engineers determine how new designs will work on real planes in flight.

"In the past, engineers have come to the National Transonic Facility to further understand and solve problems with systems that have already been developed," Wahls said. "Now we're also seeing this test capability being used during the aircraft design phase."

Boeing has purchased additional time in the facility during February to evaluate the final 787 high-lift configuration.

Source: nasa.gov

Wii System 3 Update Available Now

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Wed, 5 Sep 2007 12:19:00 -0700

Update your Wii console today!

Nintendo just launched the Wii System 3 update to Wii consoles around the globe. To update your Wii System from version 1 or 2 to version 3, simply connect your Wii console to the internet and manually select "Wii System Update" from the Wii System Settings. The new update has contains a variety of enhancements to the Wii Menu, Wii Message Board and Wii Shop channel. For a complete list of enhancements, visit Wii.Nintendo.com.

Source: nintendo.com

Hyundai to Unveil Trio of New Vehicles

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Tue, 4 Sep 2007 23:51:00 -0700

• i-Blue third generation Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle

• i-30 Crossover Wagon expands C-segment offering

• Veloster sporty coupe concept targets Y-Gen

At the IAA 2007 which opens in Frankfurt on Sept 13, Hyundai Motor Co. will unveil three new vehicles led by the i-Blue Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle which demonstrates the company"s strengthening commitment to the development of environmentally responsible transportation.

i-Blue will be joined by the Veloster, a sporty coupe which caters to the unique requirements of the Y-generation and the i-30 Crossover Wagon (CW), styled at the company's European Design Center in Russelsheim.

i-Blue

Hyundai"s new hydrogen-powered, zero-emission concept, the i-Blue Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) was developed at Hyundai"s Design and Technical Center in Chiba, Japan. The all-new i-Blue platform is tailored to incorporate Hyundai"s third-generation fuel cell technology, currently being developed at Hyundai"s Eco-Technology Research Institute in Mabuk, Korea. pany's European Design Center in Russelsheim.

In keeping with this year"s show theme, "See What"s Driving the Future," which focuses on sustainability and climate protection, the i-Blue demonstrates a significant step towards commercialization of Hyundai fuel cell vehicles. Unlike its predecessors which were built on SUV platforms, the i-Blue features a new D segment 2+2 crossover utility vehicle (CUV) body type.

"The i-Blue is Hyundai"s first-ever model designed from the ground up to incorporate fuel cell technology, marking a tremendous leap forward for our R&D program," said Dr. Hyun-Soon Lee, President of Research and Development. "Our engineering team has successfully designed a more compact fuel cell vehicle, while still realizing the safety, comfort, convenience and driving range of a tradition internal combustion engine vehicle."

Hyundai is making tremendous efforts to reach mass production of hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles a reality in the next decade.

Veloster

Styled at Hyundai"s Design and Technical Center at Namyang, the Veloster (codenamed HND-3) coupe is the third in a series of daring concept cars to be developed by the central styling studio in Korea. The Veloster name, a compound of velocity and roadster evokes the sporty characteristics of a classic two-plus-two. A panoramic glass roof and other futuristic styling cues help project a high-tech image.

Designed to cater to the tastes of the Y-generation, Veloster combines simple, iconic design with good value and robust construction.

"With Veloster, we wanted to try something really different. We"re keenly aware that we need radically new products for the Y-generation, the first-time twenties something buyer," said Oh Suk-Geun, Hyundai"s vice president of design. "This is really a bold new direction," he added.

i30 Crossover Wagon

Following the introduction earlier this year of the i-30 5-door hatchback at the Geneva Auto Show, Hyundai is proud to introduce an extension to the i-30 family, the i-30 CW which marks Hyundai"s long-awaited return to this popular and hotly contested segment in Europe. Like its 5-door hatchback sibling, the i-30 CW was styled at the European Design Center in Russelsheim ensuring that is perfectly in tune with continental tastes.

Source: hyundai.com

Boeing Delivers First Emirates 777-200LR Worldliner

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Tue, 4 Sep 2007 23:06:00 -0700

Boeing and Emirates completed the delivery of the airline's first 777-200LR Worldliner this past Friday. Boeing's 777-200LR is the world's longest-range twin-engine commercial jet and Emirates is one of the largest operators of the 777 family. The airline's first of 10 777-200LRs on order is shown here departing Paine Field during flight testing. Emirates placed an order for 24 777-300ERs, 10 777-200LRs and 8 777 Freighters at the Dubai Air Show in 2005.

Source: boeing.com

The Indian Hummer - Mahindra Axe

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Sun, 2 Sep 2007 01:49:00 -0700

The new vehicle will replace the Jeeps in the Indian army, civilian version expected soon!

Mahindra & Mahindra, India's largest SUV brand has done a humvee! Yes, the Mahindra Axe is a replacement for the current Mahindra Jeeps serving the Indian army. This monster of a SUV is built for rough terrains and to carry more ammo than the current Jeep in the Indian army. A civilian version is also expected shortly. Don't care too much about the mileage though. It will give about 8-9 kms per litre of petrol. AXE will be the first of its kind in India. Watch this space for more on the "AXE".

Calling All Software Developers: Motorola Introduces Global Series of MOTODEV Summits

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Sat, 1 Sep 2007 11:03:00 -0700

Developers Invited to “Create Magic” by Exploring Innovation Opportunities with Motorola

Motorola, Inc. today announced a global series of MOTODEV Summits -- exclusive, one-day events that offer today’s most creative and innovative application developers the opportunity to participate in advanced training, understand market opportunities and get a sneak peek at the next generation of Motorola devices, technology and platforms, including the MOTOMAGX mobile Linux® platform.

Hosted by Motorola’s MOTODEV developer network, the company’s global program for developers and independent software vendors (ISVs), MOTODEV Summits will offer technical expertise, practical advice and guidance for developers seeking to create their own magic in the mobile space. The MOTODEV Summits will be held in North America, Europe and Asia at the following dates and locations

Sept. 10-11, 2007 at The Fairmont Hotel, San Jose, Calif.
Nov. 9, 2007 at The Brewery, London, England
Nov. 12, 2007 at The Westin Hotel, Financial Street, Beijing, China

With more than 35 program sessions and tutorials, MOTODEV Summits are designed to enable developers to explore new solutions and resources, learn new ways to design for the ever-changing needs of enterprises and consumers, and understand the current trends that may impact their development strategy and execution. MOTODEV Summits provide every attendee with relevant information, detailed technical training, hands-on workshops and the opportunity to brainstorm with members of the MOTODEV team as well as developers from across all industry disciplines.

“To provide the next generation of great product experiences for consumers and enterprises, Motorola is working closely with the best developers in every industry, and in every market, who share our desire to innovate,” said Christy Wyatt, vice president, ecosystem and market development, Motorola. “We are pleased to offer software developers a chance to experience all that Motorola has to offer through our series of MOTODEV Summits, which will provide an environment of collaboration and learning so they can successfully develop the next application for our products.”

The Summits are open to all software developers that are interested or involved in application development for any of Motorola's devices. Structured to address nearly all aspects of application development, the MOTODEV Summits efficiently condense months of potential experimentation and development into one day.

Designed with your Success in Mind

Throughout the summit, developers will have the opportunity to hear inspiring keynotes, meet industry leaders, share ideas with other developers and experiment with the latest tools. Following the keynote address, attendees are invited to participate in a series of detailed training break-out sessions and tutorials that deliver comprehensive technical content and define business opportunities. These tracks are comprised of:

Platform & technology sessions providing technical insight and in-depth perspective on all Motorola-supported platforms (including MOTOMAGX, Java ME™, UIQ, Windows Mobile®, AJAR, Brew® and WiMAX)
Tutorials offering deep dive discussions on everything a developer needs to know to design, develop, debug, deploy and distribute compelling enterprise, vertical business or consumer applications with Motorola

Additional MOTODEV Summits highlights include:

An interactive and experiential Showcase that allows attendees to view Motorola’s latest products and platforms. Fast Track service providers will also be present to demonstrate their offerings, answer questions and provide real-time support.
A Tech Lab, providing developers the opportunity to work one-on-one with MOTODEV support specialists and engineers to create some “magic” of their own.

RegistrationAttendance is free for all MOTODEV members and space is limited. To register for a summit or to obtain more information on joining Motorola’s MOTODEV Developer network, please visit http://developer.motorola.com/summit.

Source: motorola.com

IBM Supercomputer boosts Olympic weather forecasts

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Sat, 1 Sep 2007 10:52:00 -0700

Rain or Shine, IBM Supercomputer to Power Official Weather Forecasts for Beijing

China taps IBM for meteorological expertise

Chinese weatherman will use an IBM supercomputer to make their predictions for the Olympic Games. The system will also help the Beijing Meteorological Bureau forecast air quality.

Capable of sweeping an area up to 44,000 square kilometers (about 17,000 square miles), the computer can provide hourly numerical weather forecasts for each square kilometer.

The Beijing Meteorological Bureau (BMB) announced today that it has acquired a new IBM supercomputer to aid in weather forecasting and air-quality control. The system is capable of sweeping an area up to 44,000 square kilometers to provide hourly numerical weather forecasts for each square kilometer. The new computer, an IBM System p575, will provide ten times the computational power of the BMB’s current weather forecasting system. In addition to providing up-to-the-hour forecasts, the supercomputer will also be used to help predict air quality in Beijing. The system will be employed by BMB to improve the accuracy of forecasts in the regions surrounding Beijing.

“The IBM supercomputer will allow for much more fine numerical weather forecasting for the Beijing area during the Olympics and afterwards,” said Liu Xulin, director of the Beijing Meteorological Information Center. “IBM brings many resources to help us improve forecasting, especially their world-class scientists and researchers, who combine meteorology with computer science.”

“IBM is very proud to be supporting the Beijing Meteorological Bureau,” said Fan Yu, Director of IBM’s Public Sector in China. “We look forward to working with the BMB in their ongoing efforts to improve the forecasting accuracy in the Beijing area.” The 80-node IBM System p575 employs leading edge POWER5+ microprocessors, and can deliver peak performance of 9.8 teraflops -- or trillion operations per second. This initial configuration of the system would rank it among the ten fastest supercomputers in China, according to the Top 500 list of the world’s fastest supercomputers.

Source: ibm.com

The world's first 10.5 million dollar mobile phone - only for billionaires

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Sat, 1 Sep 2007 10:35:00 -0700

FREE private island with your next mobile phone!

If you have a billion dollars in your kitty and have your 6 digit BIN (Billionaire Identification Number) and have your bank account in one of the banks which can accomodate all your money, then you could own the world's first US $10.5 million mobile phone! If you were thinking why the phone costs US $10.5 million and which phone it really is, then its the Blackberry 8830 World edition smart phone bundled with a "Private Island"!! Now, if you have that kind of cash head right up to http://www.privateislandoffer.com/ and purchase the phone. Its available on the Sprint network with a new service plan only in the USA but will work worldwide (do you really care about the phone?? The phone costs a mere $200). This offer is available to a limited 100 billionaires on this planet.

Source: sprint.com

ubroadcast Launches LIVE Broadcasting

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 23:23:00 -0700

SAN DIEGO - ubroadcast, Inc. today announced that it has officially released its much anticipated “Station Manager” software which allows users to host a LIVE Internet talk radio or music show.

Pre-Registered broadcasters have been testing and providing feedback on the software which has led to several improvements over the past few weeks. The Patent Applied for Technology in the Station Manger software allows the user to broadcast LIVE at any time to ubroadcast Listeners, as well as upload MP3’s and WAV files of music, commercials and other pre-recorded content that plays on their ubroadcast station 24 hours. Several enhanced features will soon be released to provide a full interactive experience between broadcaster and listener unlike anything else currently available in traditional or Internet Radio.

In addition to the LIVE and uncensored user generated content (which is not subject to FCC
restrictions), ubroadcast also offers HD quality music and other premium content stations which the company hopes will make it a superior offering to Satellite radio providers such as XM and Sirius.

The Company has experienced a great deal of exposure for its potential for growth in popularity such as other companies like MySpace have experienced, and has been called “Radio’s YouTube” in recent articles. ubroadcast’s “Player” software, which allows Listeners to hear user generated broadcasts and other content, was launched last year and is available as a free download on the ubroadcast.com web site.

Visit http://www.ubroadcast.com/ for more information about the company and to download the software.

Source: ubroadcast.com

iTunes Store Tops Three Billion Songs - are you serious??

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 23:11:00 -0700

CUPERTINO, California—Apple® announced that more than three billion songs have been purchased and downloaded from the iTunes® Store (http://www.itunes.com/). iTunes is the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store featuring a catalog of over five million songs, 550 television shows and 500 movies. iTunes recently surpassed Amazon and Target to become the third largest music retailer in the US.

“We’d like to thank all of our customers who have contributed to this incredible milestone,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes.

With Apple’s legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as Cover Flow™, integrated podcasting support, iMix playlist sharing, seamless integration with iPod® and iPhone™, and the ability to turn previously purchased songs into completed albums at reduced prices, the iTunes Store is the best way for PC and Mac® users to legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.

Source: apple.com

Shell Wants to Help the World’s Motorists Save - HongKong motorists second worst at saving fuel

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 20:28:00 -0700

Hong Kong Drivers are the Second Worst at Improving Fuel Economy, According to a Report

Shell Hong Kong unveils a new global initiative to help motorists save 10% or more fuel while driving today.

The programme, which will investigate how much fuel drivers can save, will consist of three elements: first, understanding how drivers think and feel about fuel economy; second, equipping drivers with information and skills to drive more efficiently; and third, helping stimulate drivers’ awareness of fuel efficient driving practices by demonstrating the impact of using Shell fuel with fuel economy formula and Shell FuelStretch tips combined can have.

The “understanding” element begins today in Hong Kong, with the publication of a new Shell-sponsored report revealing how motorists in 11 countries might be inspired to modify their driving habits to save fuel. Findings reveal a gulf in knowledge and action, with very few motorists being aware of the range of things they can do to help save fuel. The report highlights are:

4 in 10 of us have never checked our mileage
Over 6 in 10 of us have never tried to improve our fuel economy
If we knew it would help the environment, over half of us would try new ways to save fuel but saving money beats benefits to the environment as a reason to save fuel
75% of drivers in Hong Kong have never tried to improve fuel economy, ranked second worst among all 11 countries and only slightly better than the worst performing country, Singapore
6 in 10 of drivers in Hong Kong would be persuaded to be more fuel economy active if there was proof they could save money

Wilson Li, General Manager – Retail of Shell Hong Kong Limited commented, “If collectively the world’s motorists were to save 10% of the fuel we use, we can calculate roughly that 176.5 billion fewer litres could be used each year; that’s about 70,000 standard swimming pools!”

Wilson Li continued, “If every driver were to use 10% less of fuel in Hong Kong, we could save roughly 98.4 million fewer litres of fuel each year - which is approximately the same amount of water contained in 39 standard swimming pools.”

Ringo Lee, Vice Chairman of The Institute of the Motor Industry Hong Kong, supported the findings, and said, “In general, drivers in Hong Kong are not knowledgeable about how to save fuel and how improving fuel economy can save money and help the environment. Education should be a priority.”

The report also found that motorists need proof of the benefits of improving fuel economy. As a result, Shell Hong Kong has begun working with real life drivers to show how savings of 10% or more fuel is achievable using a combination of Shell fuel with fuel economy formula and Shell FuelStretch Tips.

Shell has a long heritage of innovation in fuel economy. In the 1920s demand for motor cars and gasoline increased significantly so Shell introduced Shell Dynamin, a fuel that offered some of the most advanced engine efficiency of its time. In the 1950s Shell fuel included a proven mileage ingredient, Shell ICA.

In 2006 Shell launched “Shell Unleaded with fuel economy formula” and set a Guinness World Record for fuel economy by helping a couple from Australia, John and Helen Taylor, to circumnavigate the globe using only 24 tanks of Shell Unleaded with fuel economy formula, which is now available at 8,752 Shell stations.

Source: shell.com

Sun Microsystems to Change Stock Ticker Symbol to JAVA

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 05:19:00 -0700

Ubiquity of Java Technology Brand Connects Sun to Investors, Consumers and Opportunities

SANTA CLARA, Calif. August 23, 2007 Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq: SUNW) today announced that it will change its Nasdaq stock ticker symbol from SUNW to JAVA, the ubiquitous technology and brand it created in 1995. The stock ticker change will go into effect for the trading community on Monday, August 27, 2007.

"The Java brand and technology have evolved to be among the most pervasive on the internet, yielding extraordinary awareness for Sun and opportunity for the community that leverages it," said Jonathan Schwartz, president and CEO of Sun. "More than a billion people across the globe, representing nearly every demographic, market and industry, rely upon Java's security, innovation and value to connect them with opportunity. That awareness positions Sun, and now our investor base, for the future."

The Java economy as a whole includes a broad array of businesses built with Java technology, from Google and eBay, to some of the world's largest financial and telecommunications companies. The Java platform powers and is made visible via more than 2.1 billion mobile devices (Ovum 2007), nearly every PC on the internet and numerous consumer electronics and embedded systems products such as Sony's Playstation 3 video game console. Sun estimates the number of consumers that recognize the ubiquitous cup and steam on Java's brand logo to be in excess of a billion people.

Sun today generates license revenues from Java technology, but more significantly derives revenue from the software, storage, servers, services and microelectronics that power the datacenters behind global Java deployments - whether on handsets, personal computers, or in the network. Sun believes its business is advantaged by such exposure, and the change in ticker symbol more effectively connects it with the marketplace. A complete history of Java is online at http://www.sun.com/java/.

source: sun.com

QUALCOMM Equips 300 Million Mobile Handsets Worldwide with GPS

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 05:11:00 -0700

Company Marks Milestone in Enabling Navigation, Community and Personal Location Services on Cell Phones

SAN DIEGO — August 14, 2007 — QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), a leading developer and innovator of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA ) and other advanced wireless technologies, today marked a milestone in the adoption of the Company's gpsOne® position-location technology. More than 300 million mobile handsets worldwide have now been shipped with the gpsOne solution, helping the wireless industry meet worldwide user demand for accurate, easy-to-use location services on mobile devices.

“QUALCOMM powers the majority of mobile location services that have been deployed thus far, and this milestone reflects the accelerated expansion of GPS capabilities on mobile handsets using QUALCOMM's gpsOne solution,” said Jason Bremner, senior director of product management for QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies. “We anticipate even stronger growth in the upcoming years as new mobile-based applications such as location-aware shopping, friend finder and community-type location services become more mainstream in consumers' daily lifestyles.”

The gpsOne solution is the most widely deployed position-location solution in the world. It currently provides the position-location technology behind the majority of location services offered by more than 50 major network operators worldwide. Supporting Assisted-GPS and Standalone-GPS modes, as well as gpsOneXTRA™ Assistance technology for enhanced Standalone-GPS performance, the gpsOne solution is integrated into most of QUALCOMM's Mobile Station Modem™ (MSM™) chipsets to enable manufacturers to more cost effectively offer positioning capabilities on wireless devices. Numerous leading developers have taken advantage of the gpsOne solution on MSM chipsets to offer a wide range of compelling applications currently available on global wireless networks.

Source: qualcomm.com

The Microsoft Server OS comparison site launched! (Read Linux is obviously not better for your enterprise!)

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 03:26:00 -0700

Informing Decision-Making for Customers at the Crossroads in Their Server-Purchasing Choices

www.microsoft.com/windowsserver/compare

Announced today, the Windows Server/Compare site provides customers with in-depth resources and comparative information about Windows Server, Linux and UNIX.

REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 23, 2007 — Enterprise customers at the crossroads of their server platform investments must weigh numerous considerations.

To name a few: What server technologies are best suited to particular workloads? Which platform will deliver the desired security, reliability and cost savings while interoperating smoothly with disparate technologies? And what can be learned about Windows Server and competitive offerings such as Linux and UNIX from third-party analysts and from customers who have had direct experience with the alternatives?

To help customers answer these and other questions, Microsoft today launched a new Web site, Windows Server/Compare. Designed to help enterprises with their server purchasing decisions, and provide customers with real-world examples of comparative evaluations, the new site is an evolution of the Microsoft “Get the Facts” Web property.

For more information on the new site and the changes in the marketplace that led to its creation, PressPass spoke with Ryan Gavin, director of Platform Strategy at Microsoft.

PressPass: How are enterprise customers thinking about Microsoft and Linux or open-source software (OSS) today?

Gavin: There’s been quite a dramatic evolution in the IT marketplace. As recently as four or five years ago, Linux was considered a relatively new alternative to existing platforms like Windows Server, Netware, UNIX and Mainframe. At the time, there was a lot of discussion about Linux and open-source software, but customers were hard pressed to find firsthand, practical information to help inform their decision-making. Today, a lot of the ambiguity about Linux and OSS in general has been addressed, and customers are reverting to the same type of pragmatic decision-making that they’ve always used. Not surprisingly, the things that mattered to them yesterday still matter today — things like reliability, security, total cost of ownership (TCO), interoperability and manageability.

PressPass: What can customers expect from Microsoft when it comes to making informed technology decisions?

Gavin: The type of information customers tend to ask for really depends on where the organization is in the technology evaluation process and what that specific individual’s role is in the decision-making process. Broadly speaking, IT organizations at the beginning of a purchasing decision really want to have some sort of validation at the platform level. How does a given platform perform against the fundamentals — such as reliability, application availability, skills to support, and security? They also want to hear from their industry peers to better understand what the experience of other customers similar to them has been.

Beyond that, you start to get into a very specific, detailed assessment of how the technology or solution maps to that customer’s particular requirements. The customer is evaluating technical integration, deployment specifications, standards support, application integration and interoperability, as well as looking forward to planning their future technology road map.

So, to answer your question, while we work to provide customers with information that spans that gamut of decision-making criteria, we’ve learned that what customers appreciate most is the customer-to-customer connection. This is arguably the most trusted source of information, and we have a wealth of customer insights and experience that we can share broadly.

PressPass: How has Microsoft evolved its approach to Linux and OSS?

Gavin: I think there are three key points here. First, we’re continuing to work extremely hard every day to provide the best value for customers with Windows Server over the alternatives. Simply put, we believe that Windows Server provides greater business value and lower long-term costs for customers than competing platforms, including Linux. We always want Windows Server to be the operating system of choice.

Second, we understand many of our customers operate in mixed environments. In the enterprise in particular, heterogeneous environments are a de facto standard, so we are committed to working together with our customers, partners and the industry to provide solutions that meet customer needs via interoperability.

Third, it’s important to clarify that we don’t compete with OSS per se, but with some products or technologies that may come out of open source. There will naturally be products that compete with Microsoft products, from commercial or open-source companies. Open source is a software development model; it’s a way of licensing technology, and it’s something that Microsoft participates in. We have open-source projects, an open-source community site Port 25 and even an open-source software lab here on campus that does a lot of work with the community, including looking at how we can improve interoperability. We’ve evolved our approach through open-source partnerships with companies like Novell, SugarCRM, Zend, MySQL, XenSource and SpikeSource, as well as through our own technologies and Web sites like CodePlex, which is a source-code sharing site for Windows-based projects.

PressPass: What information will be available to customers on the new Compare site?

Gavin: When we launched our “Get the Facts” Web site in 2003, we focused on providing customers with access to third-party facts and evidence to help them cut through the hype about Linux and OSS in the marketplace at that time. On the Compare site you’ll see a much richer, more dynamic conversation with a broader cross-section of information to help customers as they make pragmatic investment decisions — whether they’re trying to better understand how various platforms compare against broad business requirements like reliability, security, TCO, or even more specific comparisons like side-by-side demos, deployment best practices, and so on.

One of the things you’ll see in spades, however, is customers talking to customers. This is one of the most powerful elements of the site because, frankly, while customers are interested in what we have to say, they’re really interested in what their peers who have gone through similar experiences have to say. They value the access we provide to other CIOs and the candid interviews about the decisions other customers have made, including the implementations they’ve completed and the results they’ve achieved.

For instance, how did the state of Illinois’ IT department save the state US$10.5 million over five years while also delivering improved security and communications? The Compare site includes many of these customer references in a variety of formats — from formal case study reviews and less formal CIO interviews to webcast discussions and video summaries. All of this content highlights scenarios where customers have gone through fact-based decision-making processes and rolled out implementations — whether it’s looking at Windows vs. Linux, Windows vs. UNIX or even the mainframe.

Swiss Air is another great example. In an incredibly tough business climate, they are looking for technology to improve their ability to serve customers while driving down overall cost of delivery. What did they learn when they performed a deep analysis of platform alternatives? Why did they choose Windows Server? Sharing these experiences is a big part of what the Compare site is about.

PressPass: How does this complement the interoperability efforts between Microsoft and open-source vendors?

Gavin: We’re making sure our platform is accessible to the open-source community — to developers and independent software vendors writing open-source applications. We want a diverse group of developers to be able to take advantage of this amazing Windows Server platform that spans the entire IT industry. We are working hard to help ensure the open-source community can be successful on the Windows platform, while also working on the product interoperability that our enterprise and midmarket customer might expect.

People often think of Microsoft and OSS as polar opposites, but in reality OSS is another method for us to find and present solutions to customers. That’s why we not only actively participate in open-source development, but also participate with the community through sites like Port 25. In fact, we recently launched a new site called microsoft.com/opensource where people who are interested in OSS can understand our position, including how we collaborate, how we integrate and how we can amplify open-source efforts.

PressPass: How will the Compare site forward the company’s evolving competitive strategy?

Gavin: We are going to continue to work to help demonstrate to customers the power and capabilities of the Windows Server platform versus the alternatives that are available to them. At the same time, we’re going to make sure that the Windows Server platform supports the vibrant ecosystem of open-source developers and ISVs who wish to take advantage of it. We’re also going to do an increasingly good job of helping customers see that value through the lens of other customers, through third-party facts, and through insights we’ve had over the last four to five years of working deeply with customers and analysts in this space who are going through these comparative and fact-based decisions. And we’re going to continue to build bridges with open-source developers.

PressPass: Where can customers go to get started on this new site?

Gavin: The new Compare site is located at www.microsoft.com/windowsserver/compare. It includes great information resources for server OS-focused evaluations, as well as links to additional hands-on technical resources.

Source: microsoft.com

NASA's Mars-Bound Phoenix Adjusts Course Successfully

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 02:32:00 -0700

NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander today accomplished the first and largest of six course corrections planned during the spacecraft's flight from Earth to Mars.

Phoenix left Earth Aug. 4, bound for a challenging touchdown on May 25, 2008, at a site farther north than any previous Mars landing. It will robotically dig to underground ice and run laboratory tests assessing whether the site could ever have been hospitable to microbial life.

Phoenix today is traveling at about 33,180 meters per second (74,200 miles per hour) in relation to the sun. The first trajectory-correction maneuver was calculated to tweak the velocity by about 18.5 meters per second (41 miles per hour). The spacecraft fired its four mid-size thrusters for three minutes and 17 seconds to adjust its trajectory.

"All the subsystems are functioning as expected with few deviations from predicted performance," said Joe Guinn, Phoenix mission system manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

Key activities in the next few weeks will include checkouts of science instruments, radar and the communication system that will be used during and after the landing.

The second trajectory-correction maneuver is planned for mid-October. "These first two together take out the bias intentionally put in at launch," said JPL's Brian Portock, Phoenix navigation team chief. Without the correction maneuvers, the spacecraft's course after launch day would miss Mars by about 950,000 kilometers (590,000 miles), an intentional offset to prevent the third stage of the launch vehicle from hitting Mars. The launch vehicle is not subject to the rigorous cleanliness requirements that the spacecraft must meet as a protection against letting Earth organisms get a foothold on Mars.

The burn began at 11:30 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time. Each of the four trajectory-correction thrusters provides about 15.6 newtons (3.5 pounds) of force. Smaller, attitude-control thrusters pivoted the spacecraft to the desired orientation a few minutes before the main burn and returned it afterward to the right orientation for catching solar energy while communicating with Earth. Their thrust capacity is about 4.4 newtons (1 pound) apiece. The twelve largest thrusters on Phoenix, delivering about 293 newtons (66 pounds) apiece, will operate only during the final minute before landing on Mars.

The Phoenix mission is led by Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson, with project management at JPL and development partnership at Lockheed Martin, Denver. International contributions are provided by the Canadian Space Agency; the University of Neuchatel, Switzerland; the universities of Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark; the Max Planck Institute, Germany; and the Finnish Meteorological Institute. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

Additional information on Phoenix is available online at: http://www.nasa.gov/phoenix and at http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu . Additional information on NASA's Mars program is available online at: http://www.nasa.gov/mars .

Source: nasa.gov

NAM and Philips help birds migrate safely across North Sea - the birds need SOME respite!

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 22:21:00 -0700

The world’s first offshore platform to be equipped with bird friendly lighting

Amsterdam/Assen, The Netherlands – Royal Philips Electronics and NAM (Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij) have developed a new type of lighting, which radiates only a limited part of the colour spectrum. Due to the resulting unique colour, the lighting on offshore platforms less distracts birds during their migration across the North Sea. The new type of lighting has already been installed as a pilot project on one of NAM’s platforms - L15 in the Dutch part of the North Sea - with very promising results so far.

Every year some 60 million birds migrate across the North Sea. Most make the trip across without any problems. But under a certain combination of weather conditions many migratory birds are attracted and disoriented by traditional lighting on oil and gas platforms. They fly around aimlessly or alight on the platforms and spend a long time there, often becoming too weak to reach the coast. The risk of the birds encountering such specific weather conditions en route is about 10%.

NAM spent many years studying this problem and involved Philips. The studies showed that the key to solving the problem lies mainly in the colour of the lighting currently being used on the offshore platforms. Birds are distracted predominantly by the red part of the spectrum, and much less by blue or green. Blue lighting would however mean less safe conditions for the people working on the platforms, partly because that kind of light impairs the sharpness of one’s sight. Fire extinguishers are also less clearly visible in lighting without the red part of the spectrum. NAM and Philips got round the table with this information and jointly set about developing a new type of light that would not distract birds whilst at the same time and will at the same time not impair safe working conditions.

Platform L15, just off the island of Vlieland along the Dutch coast, is the first platform in the world to be equipped with the new type of lighting developed by Philips. Almost all the floodlights – no fewer than 380 lamps - have been replaced by a mixture of new special TL and HID lamps (36W TLD and 400W HPI lamps). During the present trial period the number of distracted birds is being counted whilst at the same time the welfare of the people working on the platform is also being studied. The trial is being carried out entirely in accordance with the regulations for safe, healthy working conditions. The platform workers are enthusiastic about the project and far fewer disoriented birds have been observed. The first scientific results will become available after the main bird migration season this autumn.

NAM and Philips are delighted about their joint project. “Philips is committed to improving the quality of life and sustainability is part of our heritage. This is a fantastic example of how different industrial organisations can jointly solve an environmental problem,” says Philips’ Marketing Manager Kay Rauwerdink. “The NAM carries out a lot of research into the impact of its activities on the environment with as aim to minimize these. I have high expectations for the new lamps,” adds Joop Marquenie, an environmental specialist working for NAM.

Source: philips.com

FREE music on demand by DEEZER.COM! - yaaay!!

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 10:48:00 -0700

DEEZER.COM LAUNCHES THE FIRST FREE AND LEGAL MUSIC ON DEMAND WEBSITE

After SACEM closed down Blogmusik.net in February 2007, the site, which is now called Deezer.com, has announced that an agreement has been reached with the societies that protect
copyright royalties.

Deezer.com is now the first global website for music on demand with no restrictions: listening to all kinds of music is now free, unlimited, legal and accessible to all Internet users via a Web browser. At a time where most Internet users access music in a non-paying and illegal manner, a practice against which professionals and artists are legitimately fighting a never-ending battle, Deezer.com has announced a long-awaited revolution.

The site, which was created in France and is available in 16 different languages, is already successful on an international level with hundreds of thousands of members in different countries. Thanks to the agreement with SACEM, Deezer.com has become the only site to offer Internet users a non-paying solution whilst still remunerating those involved in the creation of the music (artists, record companies etc.) through the advertising revenues generated.

In allowing Deezer.com to offer this kind of distribution, SACEM and SESAM have shown that they are aware of the need to adapt to an ever-changing world. Deezer.com offers thousands of different tracks, of all styles, all accessible via a simple and userfriendly interface. Users can also manage their own musical universe by creating their own playlists, and can freely share their lists of tracks with other users.

Deezer.com is already in talks with major music labels and the SPPF (Society for the Management of Independent Producers’ Rights), and will soon be announcing that new agreements have been reached.

ABOUT DEEZER.COM:
Deezer.com (formerly Blogmusik.net) is the first website for music on request that is free, unlimited and legal. The site was created in France in June 2006 by Daniel Marhely and Jonathan Benassaya, and has been translated into 16 languages. Deezer.com offers all kinds of musical styles through hundreds of thousands of different tracks, and adds to its catalogue on a daily basis.

Source: deezer.com

Samsung’s 50nm-class, 1Gb DDR2 Memory Validated to Support Intel-based Platforms

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 03:09:00 -0700

Seoul, Korea – July 19, 2007: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced memory technology, announced today that its 50 nanometer (nm)-class DDR2 (double data rate) DRAM – the industry’s most advanced DRAM (dynamic random access memory) – has been certified by Intel Corporation to work with Intel’s existing and next-generation chipsets at speeds of 800 megabits per second (Mbps). Samsung’s 1Gb DDR2 DRAM that uses the 50nm-class process technology was developed in October 2006. No other company has yet developed similar process technology for DDR2. Processing 1Gb DDR2 DRAMs in the 50nm range doubles the productivity of a 1Gb DDR2 DRAM fabricated using 80nm process technology, while improving production efficiency by 50% over DRAM produced using the 60nm fabrication process. As the use of Windows Vista-based PCs is expected to grow significantly in the enterprise markets during the second half of this year, demand for higher-capacity main memory should increase proportionately. The market is expected to shift from 512Mb DRAM to 1Gb DRAM memory and set manufacturers will transition from DDR2 to DDR3 beginning in late 2007. Samsung’s 50nm-class DRAM processing technology, now validated by Intel, will be used in mass producing DDR2 beginning the first half of next year, as well as other next-generation DRAM memory, including DDR3, GDDR4 and GDDR5, plus the latest mobile DRAM. Intel validated Samsung’s 60nm-class chip design technology last March. Samsung was the first to begin mass production at the 60nm-class earlier this year and will be the first to start mass producing in the 50nm range next year. Other companies are still employing the 60nm, 70nm or 80nm design rule.

Source: samsung.com

Solar power: the next generation

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 01:06:00 -0700

When it comes to energy, it’s easy to be a sun worshipper. Solar power converts the sun’s abundant rays into quiet, emission-free energy. Those are compelling qualities in a world of booming energy demand, anxiety over fossil fuel supplies and environmental concerns.

But solar is still too expensive to be a viable widespread electricity source. So Shell’s research focuses on one major goal: driving down cost.

Shell has pioneered CIS (copper indium diselenide), a new generation of solar technology. Copper, indium and selenium particles are coated onto a glass sheet in layers 20 times thinner than a human hair, and are heated to form a compound that converts the power of the sun into electricity for consumers.

CIS solar modules use 100 times less raw material in the electricity-producing layer than their crystalline silicon counterparts. Lower material and manufacturing costs mean the CIS modules promise to be cheaper in high-volume production. They have a smooth black exterior, which makes them particularly suitable for integration into walls and roofs of buildings.

The biggest European application to date is in Wales, a striking 85-kilowatt installation that forms an entire side of an innovation and business centre. Shell and leading glass-maker Saint Gobain have formed a joint venture for largescale production and commercialisation of CIS solar technology.

Source: shell.com

GE Healthcare and Sprint Deliver Enhanced Wireless Connectivity to Hospitals Across North America

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 09:24:00 -0700

Patients, Visitors and Care Providers Benefit from Secure, Reliable Voice and Data Communications

WAUKESHA, Wis. & RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Uninterrupted communication within a hospital is a requirement for physicians, patients and visitors and is essential to quality care. Sprint and GE Healthcare announced today their collaboration to provide in-building wireless communications services to hospitals in North America. Patients, clinicians and hospital visitors will benefit from secure, reliable voice and data communications, supporting an environment conducive to higher levels of patient care.

Historically, the use of mobile phones in hospitals has been limited due to unreliable wireless support and the risk of interference between wireless phones and medical equipment. Using the new combined offering, physicians and caregivers will be able to communicate amongst each other and securely access patient information from almost anywhere in the facility.

The new in-building cellular communications network from GE Healthcare and Sprint’s Custom Network Solution (CNS) team leverages GE’s CARESCAPE™ Enterprise Access™, a single, universal wireless platform powered by MobileAccess, and includes Sprint handsets. This solution will provide hospitals with a comprehensive platform for voice and data communications over secure cellular, Wi-Fi and telemetry infrastructure that requires only one installation. Using the combined offering, clinicians, patients and hospital visitors can communicate more efficiently and with ease.

“Sprint CNS provides scalable coverage and a high-capacity platform for wireless voice and data services on the Sprint National Network and Nextel National Network, enhancing the mobility and productivity of staff at hospitals and other businesses,” says Darlene Braunschweig, vice president of CNS at Sprint. “We are very excited to partner with GE Healthcare to provide differentiated and innovative mobile solutions that are critical for every business. This new solution facilitates constant communication of secure information amongst hospital staff; an aspect very critical to patient care.”

GE CARESCAPE Enterprise Access, built on the MobileAccess technology platform, enables critical patient data to be securely coordinated, managed and distributed without the type of communications failures, interference or interruptions that can be caused by un-integrated systems. It is designed to transparently incorporate new systems and services without the need to install parallel, standalone infrastructures. CARESCAPE Enterprise Access is part of GE Healthcare’s CARESCAPE portfolio, an integrated suite of patient monitoring devices, communications networks and IT systems designed to transform traditional patient monitoring data into clinical intelligence. The CARESCAPE portfolio, released in May 2007, reflects a new approach to patient monitoring that provides clinicians with the opportunity to act earlier in the care process when compared to traditional patient monitoring and communication methods.
“The CARESCAPE portfolio represents our commitment to providing customers with a wide range of products and services that work together to help clinicians improve patient care,” said Munesh Makhija, General Manager of Systems and Wireless for GE Healthcare’s Monitoring Solutions business. “Our agreement with Sprint reflects this commitment. By harnessing the power of in-building cellular communications, hospitals will be able to offer secure, reliable voice and data communications throughout a campus, which can support improved communication and ultimately, patient outcomes.”

Source: http://www.ge.com/

Capture and share life’s precious moments: The new Sony Ericsson K770 Cyber-shot™ phone

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 00:13:00 -0700

Slimline Cyber-shot™ phone Just 14.5 mm thin!

Your camera always with you 3.2 megapixel camera with Photo fix
Your memories shared Easy printing to A4 size and fast sharing over on-line picture gallery

London, 14th August 2007. Sony Ericsson’s new K770 Cyber-shot™ phone, announced today, is a digital camera, a photo album and an elegant phone all in-one. Still a phone first and foremost, it allows you to send and share your photos as soon as you’ve taken them.At just 14.5mm slim and finished in a fashionable Truffle Brown, the K770 can take pictures as good as a standalone digital camera; pictures can be printed up to A4 size. The camera can also be used for video and comes with a powerful photo light for indoor photo-taking and filming. As with all Sony Ericsson Cyber-shot™ phones, ‘ease of use’ sits at the heart of the experience. To take a picture, just slide open the lens cover, find your subject and shoot.

“The best moments in life always seem to happen when you don’t have a camera,” says Helene Barnekow, Head of Central Marketing at Sony Ericsson. “If you like the idea of having a snapshot camera on your phone, and want shots that look good in your family album, then the K770 is perfect.” Barnekow continues, “The real beauty of the K770 is that you can let your friends and family share your experiences. Once you’ve captured the moment, it’s easy to print the picture or upload it immediately to your personal on-line gallery.”

Great results Capturing the perfect picture is easy with the K770 Cyber-shot™ phone. Just slide open the lens cover and you’re ready. Once in camera mode the 1.9inch screen becomes the viewfinder, the Cyber-shot™ based menu becomes visible and you’ll also see eight lit icons appear across the phones keypad. These serve as 1-click shortcuts to each of the camera’s key functions, such as picture size and photo light.

If you take a spontaneous snapshot and the light conditions are poor, simply select Photo fix for PC-free photo editing on your phone.

Shared instantlyThe most direct way to share your photos is perhaps through a slide show on the K770’s screen. When you want to show them to people that are not around, though, you can post your pictures to your own ‘blogsite’ or on-line gallery. Share the web site address to share your photos.

If you want to transfer photos swiftly from the K770 Cyber-shot™ phone to your PC or laptop, then simply use the USB Cable provided in-box to drag and drop them from one to the other. Alternatively, if you prefer to print your pictures, the 3.2 megapixel camera with auto focus delivers picture quality that is good enough to print your photo out at upto A4 size (297mm x 210 mm). You can even connect your K770 direct to a printer using PictBridge™ for PC-free printing.

Expect moreThe K770 is about much more than just camera features. Supporting Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™), the K770 comes with a 256 MB memory card that lets you store up to 200 photos of the best quality. Peruse your photo album whilst listening to your favourite music tracks on the in-built media player. Or tune in to the FM radio with RDS that seeks out clear reception when you’re on-the-move.

With all of this music at your fingertips, it’s worth investing in a Stereo Bluetooth Headset that will stream music wirelessly from your phone and let you enjoy your favourite songs hands-free. The Stereo Bluetooth™ Headset HBH-DS200 can be auto-paired with the K770 and offers up to 6 hours of talktime or music listening time.

The K770 Cyber-shot™ phone is all about understated style. It’s a discreet, grown-up looking phone that slips neatly into your pocket or bag. Yet when you need it there is a digital camera on-board that can give results as good as you expect from a digital camera.
The K770 is a GSM/GPRS 900/1800/1900 and UMTS 2100 phone that will be available in Truffle Brown in selected markets from autumn 2007.

Source: http://www.sonyericsson.com/

Energy Security and the Leadership Challenge - Speech by Chevron chief David J. O'Reilly

noreply@blogger.com (The tech hog) — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 23:59:00 -0700

A recent speech made by Chevron Corp Chairman and CEO David J. O'Reilly looks at the burning issues of energy management and on how to maintain energy leadership

It's a privilege to be speaking again at the Commonwealth Club. This club has a distinguished history of engaging in the critical issues facing our state and our nation - and there are few issues that are more critical today than energy.

So I appreciate the opportunity to offer some thoughts on ways we can build a secure energy future for Californians, and for Americans - because reliable, affordable and responsible energy is one of the fundamental building blocks of our economy and our quality of life.

When I last spoke here seven years ago, I was optimistic about the future of global energy markets and California's energy future. At that time, a barrel of oil sold for about $30 and gasoline sold for about $1.50 a gallon. There was enough spare capacity in global oil markets to absorb minor supply disruptions. We were at the top of the technology bubble, a time when some people believed in the emergence of a so-called "new economy" in which the business cycle was a relic of the past.

Today, we face a different equation. Rising demand, constrained supplies, and very little spare capacity are creating volatility in energy prices. Oil reached a high of $78 a barrel in 2006 and today is selling for about $65 a barrel. Gasoline sells for just under $3.40 a gallon in California. Spare capacity in global oil markets is at historic lows, meaning that small supply disruptions - or even the threat of disruptions - can cause a sharp jump in prices.

The business cycle that some had thought was a relic is still a reality and is still very much a function of supply and demand, which is evident in everything from energy to housing markets.
America is at a crossroads when it comes to energy - a critical intersection created by growing demand and constrained supplies. To quote Wallace Stegner, "California is like America, only more so." The state's demand for energy, driven by a growing economy, is challenging our ability to deliver reliable, affordable supplies.

It wasn't always this way. California's energy profile has changed dramatically over the last several decades. California, in fact, played a pioneering role in the modern oil industry.
In 1876, one of Chevron's predecessor companies, California Star Oil Works, discovered the state's first commercial oil field with a legendary well called Pico No. 4 in San Joaquin County's rugged Pico Canyon.

By 1910, California supplied almost 25 percent of the world's oil production. In 1985, California was still producing more than 60 percent of the crude oil that was consumed in the state, and most of the remainder was shipped from Alaska. Foreign producers only supplied five percent.
By 2005, however, California produced less than 40 percent of the crude oil it needed. Alaska supplied about 20 percent and foreign imports had grown to 40 percent. Production of natural gas, which supplies about a third of California's electricity, has also shifted dramatically. In 1985, California produced about one third of its natural gas demand, with the remainder coming from the Southwest and Canada.

Today, California imports almost 90 percent of its natural gas requirements through pipelines from Canada and other states in the United States. Those sources are expected to decline in the future, and yet California is not allowing liquefied natural gas as an alternative to make up the shortfall.

The trend is clear. There has been a steady decrease in energy production in the state and a corresponding rise in imports. California, increasingly, is at the end of the pipeline when it comes to energy supplies. And at the same time, demand for energy in California is going in one direction - up.

Today, California has 36 million people. By 2025, the population is projected to increase to more than 45 million. Our state's economy - which is among the top 10 in the world - will continue growing. More people and a larger economy will mean more demand for energy.

Over the next 10 years, California's use of natural gas will increase nearly 25 percent. Demand for electricity will increase nearly 20 percent and gasoline consumption by 10 percent.
The challenge is clear. To sustain economic growth, we'll need energy - and we'll need a lot of it. The best way to do that is to increase and diversify our energy resources and to use these resources more efficiently. We need to think of energy as a broad portfolio and make policy and investment decisions accordingly.

Thinking of energy as a portfolio begins to shift the frame of reference in the energy debate. Just as there are fundamentals to managing an investment portfolio, there are fundamentals to managing an energy portfolio.

To start with, we need a savings plan. Energy efficiency is the cheapest and most plentiful form of new energy that we have. Energy saved is quite literally energy found.

Energy efficiency is a priority for our company. Chevron has reduced our own energy consumption by 27 percent since 1992. We also market energy efficiency to other businesses and institutions through a subsidiary called Chevron Energy Solutions (CES).

For example, CES installed solar panels and a hydrogen fuel cell system at the Alameda County Jail, lowering electricity use by more than 80 percent. Solar power systems we installed at post office facilities in the Bay Area have cut their electricity use by as much as 50 percent.

California is a proven leader in energy efficiency. We were the first state to adopt efficiency standards for household appliances in 1976. Other states followed our lead and a national standard for appliance efficiency was signed into law in 1987. But there is still more that we can do, especially from a global perspective.

A new study by McKinsey & Company, for instance, estimates that by using existing technologies, the world could effectively reduce its energy use in 2020 by nearly 30 percent over projected levels. And that could be done without compromising economic growth.

There are barriers to achieving this level of efficiency, but the potential is enormous. We should work together as consumers, businesses and policy-makers to make it a reality.

A second principle in managing the energy portfolio is to enhance our core investments in the so-called "blue chips" of the portfolio - oil, natural gas, coal and nuclear. In financial terms, we need to protect our principal.

Hydrocarbons are the most plentiful and economic source of energy we have. And even with major advances in energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy, hydrocarbons will continue to be the world's leading source of energy for decades.

Fortunately, in spite of predictions that the world is running out of oil, we continue to discover new resources and to get more out of the resources we've already discovered. Let me give you two examples.

In 1899, oil was first discovered in the Kern River Field in the San Joaquin Valley. By 1965, oil production had dropped significantly. We began experimenting with a technology called steam flooding, which is a process of injecting steam to coax more oil out of the ground. Today, production is greater than 80,000 barrels a day. Eventually, we'll recover up to 80 percent of the oil in the Kern River field, compared to an average industry recovery rate of 35 percent.
While we're using technology to extend the life of a 100-year-old asset in San Joaquin Valley, we're also using technology to explore for oil in frontier areas like the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. For example, Chevron recently conducted a well test called "Jack" about 175 miles off the Louisiana coast. It's located in 7,000 feet of water and more than 20,000 feet below the seabed - the deepest well ever tested in the Gulf.

Not so long ago, the Gulf of Mexico was referred to as the "Dead Sea" regarding its potential for new oil and gas supplies. But the application of new technology has enabled us to see further and deeper into the Gulf. The results are a discovery like Jack, which leads us to believe there may be 3 billion to 15 billion barrels of oil and natural gas in that part of the Gulf of Mexico. The high end of that range would be the equivalent of 50 percent of America's current oil reserves.
All told, the Department of the Interior estimates that technically recoverable oil on the Outer Continental Shelf of the United States could run as high as 115 billion barrels. Yet the federal government has placed 85 percent of the Outer Continental Shelf off-limits to exploration, including major oil and gas resources off the Pacific coast.

It defies logic and common sense to call for energy independence in America while denying access to American resources. Any plan to enhance energy security must include an open discussion of ways to increase access to domestic supplies. We have to find a way to set aside outdated attitudes about energy and the environment. Instead, let's recognize the advances we've made in technology that enable energy production and environmental stewardship to co-exist.

When Californians think of offshore oil production, for example, an image that commonly comes to mind is the Santa Barbara oil spill in 1969. But let's look at the present. When hurricanes Rita and Katrina ripped through the Gulf of Mexico two years ago, they caused major damage to drilling platforms. But due to advanced technology, there were no major offshore oil spills in an area containing more than 1,000 wells.

The oil industry has greatly elevated our ability to recover resources without adverse environmental impacts. 21st century energy policies should reflect these capabilities. A realistic debate about energy security should also address coal and nuclear - and should consider how we can make them safer, more efficient and environmentally benign.

U.S. energy policy should focus on accelerating the development of clean-coal technology - including breakthrough solutions like carbon sequestration - so we can take advantage of a resource that exists in vast quantities in this country. This is particularly important for California, which gets more than half of its imported electricity from coal.

Nuclear power provides 13 percent of California's electricity and about 20 percent of the nation's electricity. Technology has improved the economics and safety of nuclear power. And nuclear power, of course, emits zero greenhouse gases. It's critical that we invest in a new generation of nuclear power plants as current facilities age and are taken off-line.

A third principle of managing the energy portfolio is investing in emerging energy. The successful management of California's energy portfolio over the long term will require strategic investments in the next generation of energy, including non-carbon sources.

We can't lose sight of the primary role that hydrocarbons will play for decades to come. But renewables and advanced technologies clearly have the potential to reshape the energy portfolio over the long term.

That includes ethanol, a renewable resource that is becoming an important part of the transportation fuel portfolio. Chevron supports a national goal of E-10 - or 10 percent ethanol - on average, per gallon of gasoline. This would effectively triple the volume of ethanol that was used in gasoline last year.

Here in California, state air quality regulations currently place a limit on the ethanol content in the state's gasoline blends. However, based on proposed ethanol level changes by the Air Resources Board, I think California can reach 10 percent ethanol within a few years.

There are several benefits to adopting a national standard of 10 percent ethanol:
E-10 can be accommodated with the existing vehicle fleet and the existing distribution system.
E-10 is likely to be economically and technically achievable, while allowing enough time for the next generation of fuel technologies to be developed.

And E-10 could lower imports of petroleum products into the United States by more than 25 percent.
But getting beyond E-10 with corn-based ethanol will be a challenge.
Today, ethanol makes up 3 percent of every gallon of gasoline on average, and consumes one-fifth of the U.S. corn crop. This has led to a rapid run-up in corn prices, which has affected the cost of food ranging from cereal to beef and poultry. Increased production of corn ethanol will further strain the food supply - and food prices.

The real promise - and the real challenge - of biofuels is developing technology that will allow non-food sources such as wood pulp or agricultural waste to be used for ethanol. This will liberate us from the food vs. fuel debate.

Our company sees a viable future for biofuels and we're committing significant resources to make it a reality. We have research partnerships with UC Davis, Georgia Tech, Texas A&M and the federal government to develop the next generation of ethanol technology.
We also recently struck an alliance with Weyerhaeuser, the forest products company, to conduct advanced R&D into commercial-scale biofuel production using wood fiber and other cellulose-based materials.

The market today is witnessing an unprecedented flow of capital into alternatives and clean technology. Globally, it's estimated that over $70 billion was invested in renewable energy and clean technology in 2006. Chevron will spend approximately $2.5 billion on alternatives, renewables and energy efficiency between 2007 and 2009.

When resources of this scale are directed at developing new technology, breakthrough solutions can't be far behind.

There's one other element of energy policy I'd like to address today and that is the subject of climate change. There are few issues where the need for policy alignment is greater.
California is at the forefront of the climate change debate and has already set ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But ultimately, we can't solve this problem at the state or local level. Meaningful advances in carbon management require a national framework that is rational, cost-effective and equitable.

Otherwise, we run the risk that state and local actions - no matter how well-intentioned - will create a patchwork of regulations that impose high societal costs with limited benefits.
In California's case, we run the risk of putting the state's economy at a competitive disadvantage, if carbon mitigation measures aren't put in the context of an equitable, national framework.

Reaching consensus on the components of a national framework should be guided by several principles.

First, we should acknowledge the critical need for global engagement. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions should involve all the major emitting nations in the world.
Second, there should be broad and equitable treatment of all sectors of the economy to ensure that no single sector is unfairly burdened.

And third, there should be open communication about the costs, risks and trade-offs associated with climate change policies.

The world has clearly reached a point where integrated carbon management is needed. Now we need to exercise the leadership that is required to create policies that are balanced, practical and flexible.

These fundamentals of managing the energy portfolio - efficiency, protecting core investments, investing in alternatives, and environmental stewardship - are the building blocks of responsible energy policy.

But knowing the right thing to do is one matter. Finding the political will to get it done is another. For too long, energy policy in this country has defaulted into predictable positions - Republicans against Democrats, business against environmentalists, hydrocarbons versus renewables.
We need to bridge these divides. We need to shift our perspective from the special interests to the common good - from the tyranny of the "or" to the genius of the "and."

This is something California needs to understand. The strength of this state is built on the diversity of its people, its geography and its economy. We should also value the same principle of diversity when it comes to energy.

Californians seem to want the benefits of affordable and reliable energy without taking the steps necessary to secure it. I believe the steps we need to take are very clear.
We need to continue to use energy more efficiently.

We need to enhance and diversify traditional sources of energy. Today that would include liquefied natural gas infrastructure, streamlining the permit process for refinery expansions, and the responsible exploration of oil and gas resources. In the future, it will include the accelerated development of biofuels and other emerging energy sources.

California's history is one of rising to great challenges and seizing great opportunities, from projects like the Golden Gate Bridge and the California Aqueduct, to the creation of entire industries such as oil, technology and entertainment.

Energy is no less a challenge and opportunity.

If we seize that opportunity, and create the leadership necessary for a successful energy policy, I believe that several years from now we'll look back on this time as a turning point, a time when we finally approached energy issues strategically and pragmatically, a time when we realized that the solutions were right in front of us.

And a time when we acted on those solutions, when we summoned the courage to make the necessary trade-offs required for an effective energy policy, and stayed committed to that policy for the long term.

Our shared future demands nothing less.

Thank you.

Source: chevron.com