Computer Technology

2011-08-17T06:20:00.000-07:00

XSEDE Cyber-Science to Exceed Teragrid

The Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE) exceeds its predecessor--the Teragrid project--by linking the most advanced U.S. supercomputers into a cyber-infrastructure provisioned with simplified user-access software enabling researchers to address more diverse projects extraordinaire.

The National Science Foundation has kicked off a successor to its popular Teragrid project, that links together 17 of the nation's fastest supercomputer and software development centers with infrastructure support to realize the world's most advanced applications in materials science, medicine, genomics, astronomy, biology and specialty fields like earthquake engineering.

The new Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE) “will expand on the range of services offered by TeraGrid," said John Towns of the University of Illinois's National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Towns, who had a variety of roles in the TeraGrid project, will lead the XSEDE project. "XSEDE will establish a distributed environment that increases the productivity of researchers with collaborative tools and direct access to instrument data in addition to high-performance computing resources."

The result will be a cyber infrastructure that encompasses resources from XSEDE and other providers, creating a living ecosystem of services that researchers and educators can use to develop capabilities that go beyond the raw supercomputer power provided by the previous TeraGrid program.
XSEDE will create immersive 3D simulations like this one of a blowout similar to that which destroyed the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico where "ribbons" of color indicate flows. (Source: LSU Center for Computation and Technology)

"XSEDE will put processes in place that evolve the environment over time as new technologies emerge and as new requirements are understood from the user community," said Towns.

The NSF Office of Cyberinfrastructure will coordinate the addition of new disciplinary areas to engage more research areas that were included under the TeraGrid umbrella. The NSF has already allocated $121 million to kick-off XSEDE which will be led by the University of Illinois's National Center for Supercomputing Applications and will link 16 supercomputer sites nationwide at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Carnegie Mellon University/University of Pittsburgh, University of Texas at Austin, University of Tennessee, University of Virginia, Southeastern Universities Research Association, University of Chicago, University of California San Diego, Indiana University, Jülich Supercomputing Centre, Purdue University, Cornell University, Ohio State University, University of California Berkeley, Rice University, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

The Shodor Education Foundation will also participate, helping to develop new software tools that propel scientific discovery. A simplified User Access Layer--managing authentication and job monitoring--will be developed to enable applications to be run on its resources without the detailed knowledge that was typically necessary to make optimal use of previous TeraGrid resources.

More than 10,000 scientists used the TeraGrid supercomputer resources over its 10-year lifetime--2001 to 2011--all at no cost. XSEDE will likewise provide integrated supercomputer, networking, and software infrastructure resources to needy scientists and engineers nationwide, but will broaden its application base to include new kinds of community-based projects.

2011-07-24T00:35:00.000-07:00

The Backstory on China's 'Block' of Google+

Little media buzz and speculation has been directed at how Google (Nasdaq: GOOG)'s acrimonious relationship with China has affected the Google+ rollout and Google's expanding war with Facebook.

It was initially reported that less than a day after the new service was unveiled, the so-called "Great Firewall of China" moved to block access to Google+.

It turns out that those reports are overstated. The Great Firewall of China has not blocked access to Google+ entirely. Techniques such as "throttling" and DNS blockages appear to be the censorship tool of choice in this instance. Internet users within mainland China can ultimately still access the Google+ Website, but only at access speeds so painfully slow they're practically useless. This is the same method that the Chinese state uses to restrict access to Gmail and achieve its goal of reducing the use of Western Internet services without having to say that Websites are actually blocked.

It seems like the Chinese government has not done itself any favors by refusing to comment on the situation. Despite the fact that clarifications and corrections are circulating throughout the Web apologizing for initial reports that the site has been completely blocked in China, it seems unlikely that these secondary reports will grab the attention of the public the way the seemingly more likely story did. China has consistently made a habit of taking away tools that might help dissenters to organize and gain attention for their cause. Older social networks, such as Twitter and Facebook, have long been banned within the People's Republic.

Perhaps the most amusing aspect of the coverage surrounding Google's product launch has been the lack of attention devoted to the company's gleeful advertisement of its privacy controls in a way that appears to be explicitly focused on drawing attention to how China and other nondemocratic states handle user data.

For example, accompanying the product launch was a video from a group that referred to itself as the Google+ Data Liberation Front. It features Google employees clad in gray and red military uniforms. Most of the faux soldiers seen in the video are posed in a way that mocks Maoist-era propaganda, while a Communist Party apparatchik hands the narrator tape-reels of user data. In contrast, the privacy-friendly Google Takeout appears on the table as a literal chicken fried rice container (an oddly coincidental choice!) that "allows you to take your data out of multiple Google products in one convenient package."

It seems entirely likely that Google's entertaining video was created with the express purpose of tweaking the nerves of China's 100,000 cyber-cops.

The ultimate fate of Google+ within China remains unclear -- but so does the eventual status of Google+ in the Western world. Google has attempted to enter the world of social networking twice before with Buzz and Wave, both of which flopped. One might question why Google+ would be different. Its proponents seem to believe that the answer lies in a feature known as "Circles." The timing may also be better for Google this time around. Facebook lost nearly 6 million members in the US alone during the month of May.

One thing: The more successful Google+ is in gaining a foothold as a social networking destination, the more likely it is that the People's Republic of China will contemplate a total block on the service.

Hannah Thoreson, a physics student and blogger at Arizona State University, contributed to this blog.

— William Foster is a faculty associate in the Science, Technology, and Society Program at Arizona State University, where he teaches classes on information technology and globalization.

2011-07-24T00:31:00.000-07:00

Apple kills 13-inch MacBook, but is the new MacBook Air a good replacement?

Say it ain’t so! We heard rumors yesterday that Apple may be phasing out its entry-level laptop, the white 13-inch white MacBook, but we weren’t necessarily sure if the news was actually happening. After Apple launched a new line of MacBook Airs today, we can tell you that it is, in fact, true.

Though it hasn’t been officially announced by Apple, we can confidently say that Apple will no longer offer the white MacBook. To confirm the information, Apple has already taken the MacBooks off of its online store. All you’ll find now is the new line of MacBook Airs, the MacBook Pro, the new Mac mini, the iMac, and the Mac Pro. The URL “www.apple.com/macbook/white” now redirects us to the new page for today’s announced MacBook Air.

The MacBook was originally released in 2006 as a replacement for the iBook. In 2008, Apple released an updated version that traded Apple’s white plastic material for aluminum, but also got rid of the Firewire port and features that could be found in the MacBook Pro. The last version, released a little over a year ago, went back to the iconic white polycarbonate but in a unibody version.

We can see why Apple decided to stop selling the MacBooks. They just don’t fit into Apple’s sleek design, the one that encompasses the Airs and the Pros. The aluminum unibody has been a smashing success, while plastic had issues over the years. Plus we know that Apple doesn’t play in the entry-level market–the $999 MacBook Air is a very good system for its size while the $999 MacBook seemed like a lackluster offering compared to the 13-inch Pro (even if it did end up being a very good deal for a period).

The 11-inch MacBook Air, which is supposed to be the replacement for the MacBook, will start at $999 and boasts some pretty awesome features. The 11-inch and 13-inch models now offer Intel Sandy Bridge Core processors, a Thunderbolt port, a backlit keyboard, and OS X Lion. The base 13-inch model ships with a 1.7GHz dual-core Core i5 processor. Apple is claiming that the processors will make the MacBook Air up to twice as fast as its predecessor. It also has amazing battery life, lasting up to 7 hours during regular web usage. Plus, the machine boots up in about 12 seconds due to its Flash storage drive.

However, one thing missing that many people wanting to buy an entry-level MacBook will be upset about is an optical drive, which means customers will have to spend an additional $79 on an external SuperDrive to be able to use CDs and DVDs with their laptop. Then there is the screen size–an 11.6-inch display is no replacement for a 13-inch one. And the lack of ports on the Air wil cause headaches as well.

So, yes, the MacBook Air is close to being a replacement, but it’s not quite there. If you absolutely must have a laptop with an optical drive, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is going to be your only option, and that starts at $1199 –$200 more than the original MacBook price.

So, what do you think? Is the Air a sufficient replacement for the MacBook, a computer that’s been the “Average Joe” of Macs for the past five years? Also, will you go with the MacBook Air or the MacBook Pro if you’re looking to buy a basic entry-level MacBook?

2011-07-24T00:29:00.000-07:00

Is Apple planning to buy Hulu?

According to a new report from Bloomberg, Apple may be considering a bid for Hulu, which put itself on the market several weeks ago. So far, Hulu hasn’t managed to attract many bidders, but rumor has it that a number of large companies including Amazon and Microsoft are interested in purchasing the company.

Aside from the company behind it, the newsworthy part of this is that Apple is the first company rumored to be preparing an actual bid to buy Hulu. Hulu is currently owned by a consortium of media companies, including Disney, Comcast, NBC Universal, and News Corp, some of the companies that have been instrumental in providing licensing rights for content streaming on Hulu.

In order to sweeten the pot, those companies have offered bidders extended rights to the licensing and content agreements that Hulu already has, so the company doesn’t change hands and immediately have to renegotiate all of its content agreements.

There may be other buyers waiting in the wings however, as part of the reason the company went up for sale initially was because the equity firm that manages holdings in Hulu said there was a suitor ready to make an offer at that time. Whether they’ve backed out and Apple has stepped in or that suitor has been Apple all along is unclear, but if it is Apple, Hulu would make an interesting jewel in its media crown.

Apple currently doesn’t offer much in the way of streaming services that it controls: video rentals from iTunes are the extent of its product offerings, and in many cases consumers who do use iTunes for video prefer to buy and download than rent and stream. Apple has long avoided subscription-based content, and the company usually avoids large acquisitions, but it would be an attractive buy for Apple, which is clearly making a play for streaming, web-based entertainment and media.

2011-07-23T04:27:00.000-07:00

Microsoft invented the magic stylus

Very interesting development, the research team has demonstrated in the Microsoft TechFest 2011. New, yet located at the prototype stage, is actually a capacitive stylus-enabled multi-touch and built-in orientation sensor that can change its functionality depending on how the user holds the instrument in his hand.

As shown in the submitted promotional video, with the help of this pilot stylus to simulate the function of the pen, airbrush, a compass and even a virtual flute, as well as implement a number of other scenarios by simply changing the manner of the capture device in your hand. Looks really quite interesting, although it is unclear whether something similar is implemented in commercial products and exactly when it happens.

Note that with the development of sensor technology and multi-touch interface with support for gestures of the stylus as a tool for data entry was on the second pushing of the role. Indeed, the average consumer is much more convenient to use for management, for example, with a touchscreen media player of their own fingers rather than a separate decision. However, new development of Microsoft, I think, may well come to prefer some fans of digital art and a professional graphic designer.

2011-07-23T04:24:00.000-07:00

32-inch multi-touch display from SKR Technology runs on Android

We're used to seeing Android operating system for portable devices with a relatively small screen, for example, smartphones and Tablet PCs. However, the developers of the Japanese company SKR Technology, seems to have say a new word to use small robots greens from the nursery Google and use their opportunities in the digital scoreboard with a 32-inch display.

In fact, in the development of Japanese experts, yet existing in the form of a prototype, uses a software platform Android 2.2, as well as sensory system that allows you to implement multi-touch functionality. In this case the panel itself is capable of showing digital display video in Full HD resolution and has an HDMI interface and USB (the latter is used to connect a standard Android terminal with said sensor system).

According to the SKR Technology, the product was developed in response to the needs of clients who need a device with a large screen and multi-touch functionality as a smartphone. I wonder what the developers originally tried to use the software platform of Windows 7, but it does not quite meet the requirements of customers. Also reports on the Japanese company plans to create analogs with screen sizes 23 and 46 inches, and the system should be ready as a commercial decision by September.

2011-07-23T04:22:00.000-07:00

Gigabyte unveiled its first motherboard based on AMD A75

The Taiwanese company Gigabyte Technology, one of the leading manufacturers of motherboards, graphics cards and other key components for desktop PCs, has officially announced its first motherboard based on chipset AMD A75, designed to interface with the hybrid A-Series processors in the performance of FM1, known also code-named Llano.

The new line of motherboards from Gigabyte includes seven models under the name GA-A75-UD4H, GA-A75-D3H, GA-A75-DS3P, GA-A75M-UD2H, GA-A75M-D2H, GA-A75M-S2V and GA -A75N-USB3, including three board in ATX form factor and micro-ATX plus a mini-ITX offer. In this case, all of them are made with regard to the requirements of high reliability design Ultra Durable various versions and carry on board two or four slots for DDR3 memory modules 1866 +, as well as from one to three (on GA-A75-UD4H) expansion slots PCI-Express x16 with support for Dual Graphics.

In addition, in the presence of two or more slots PCI-Express x16 mode is also available CrossFireX. There are up to 8 USB 3.0 ports, plus slots and SATA 6.0 Gbps Gigabit Ethernet, as well as built-in 7.1-channel audio chip and DualBIOS (with support for hard drives with a capacity of more than 3 TB) technology plus USB Power Boost. Among other things, on some motherboards there are ports eSATA and FireWire. Models of Gigabyte GA-A75-UD4H, GA-A75-D3H, GA-A75M-UD2H and GA-A75M-D2H already appeared in the European market at a price of 109.89, 92.31, 98.84 and 83.52 euros respectively.

2011-07-23T04:20:00.000-07:00

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is updated to the Android 2.3 Gingerbread summer

Sony Ericsson has announced that its smartphone Xperia X10 still get an official update to the Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread. This was reported in the official blog of Sony Ericsson, as well as the Russian LiveJournal Sony Ericsson. Previously, the company announced that it will not update the firmware on the device Android 2.1, but now she has decided to revise their plans. An update is planned in the late second or early third quarter of this year.

It is also reported that the interface is the same as that of Sony Ericsson devices in 2011, that is, Xperia PLAY, Xperia arc and Xperia neo. Download the Update for Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 it will be possible only through a computer, and then we can no longer return to the Android 2.1, the company noted. And finally, the developers said that at the moment they have no plans on upgrading to Android 2.3 smartphones such as Sony Ericsson Xperia X8, X10 and X10 mini mini pro, and it is not clear whether they will in the future.

Stellar unveils world's first FileMaker database repair utility for MAC

2011-07-23T04:17:00.000-07:00

Stellar unveils world's first FileMaker database repair utility for MAC

Stellar Data Recovery a leading name in recovery products and services launched world’s First FileMaker database repair utility Stellar Phoenix FileMaker Recovery v1.0. The new Phoenix file maker database repair utility repairs & recovers inaccessible tables and data from severely corrupt FileMaker databases, created on apple Mac desktop and servers.

This Phoenix FileMaker repair utility is safe and uses powerful algorithms to thoroughly scan the corrupt database files. It repairs back corrupt data and restores to a new database. Stellar Phoenix FileMaker Recovery is a Do-It-Yourself tool that works well with Mac OS X 10.5 and later versions. Stellar offers a try before buy product. Affected users can download free FileMaker repair trial version that scans a damaged FileMaker database and displays recoverable records.

Stellar Phoenix FileMaker Recovery is available for immediate download in Admin, Technician, and Academic licenses. The software can be purchased online at a starting price of Rs. 8600 and is backed with 30 days money back guarantee.

Apple orders 15 million iPhone 5s?

2011-07-15T06:51:00.000-07:00

Apple orders 15 million iPhone 5s?

Apple reportedly has ordered the production of 15 million iPhone 5s. It will start shipping the models in September. The company, it is reported, has sealed the order with Taiwan-based Pegatron to build 15 million units of the next iPhone.

This is considered to be an aggressive rollout, as it shipped nearly four million iPhone 4s in the first quarter of this year. Insiders revealed that Taiwan-based Pegatron has also started hiring more workers at its manufacturing plants.

The upcoming iPhone will not be key improvement over the iPhone. Many Apple loyalists are anticipating a September launch for the new iPhone. The imminent device is hugely expected to sport Apple's A5 dual-core processor, which was integrated in iPad 2.

In addition, an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera, aluminum back and a curved glass screen are expected.

There is no confirmation on figure but if Apple is producing 15 million new iPhones for September, one question remains: Will Apple have enough phones to fulfill demand?

Microsoft tops Cisco, IBM in UC Vendor Matrix

2011-07-15T06:49:00.001-07:00

Microsoft tops Cisco, IBM in UC Vendor Matrix

Microsoft has outpaced Cisco, IBM to achieve top position in Unified Communications Vendor Matrix. The Vendor Matrix is an analytical tool developed by ABI Research to render a clear understanding of vendors' positions in specific markets.

It is reported that Microsoft has resulted in the strongest growth among the UC vendors, empowering its position as a leader in desktop applications. To present a forceful and effective software-based UC solution in Lync, Microsoft has incorporated multiple solutions in its portfolio.

Microsoft also has the extensive range of partners for Lync and is amplifying this ecosystem at a rapid pace. It has an equally significant role both on the premises and in the cloud.

Cisco, which ranked second in the Vendor Matrix, has evolved superbly in UC segment. All prominent system integrators see Cisco as one of the top two key vendors in this space.

ABI Research under this matrix has scrutinized the vendors' UC channel ecosystems, the cost of licensing and equipment, mobility, technology partners, variety of professional services vendors offer, the reach of their product portfolios and the nature of their application development efforts.

TCS, Infosys estimate growth in dollar revenues

2011-07-15T06:47:00.001-07:00

TCS, Infosys estimate growth in dollar revenues

The leading IT companies are estimated to register growth of 4-6 per cent in dollar-denominated revenues during the quarter ended June 30, 2011. According to a latest report, the growth is better than the previous quarter, courtesy the strong demand in key markets of North America and Europe.

The productivity of big IT players like Infosys and TCS, could encounter trivial economic pressure due to wage hikes but it won’t affect the overall profitability of companies.

IT outsourcing demand is going to benefit TCS and HCL Technologies in a major way. Investors are expecting a 5-7 per cent orderly growth during June.

Sources have also revealed that Infosys and Wipro, the second and third-largest IT companies, will most probably witness higher revenue growth than the previous quarter, but may continue to lag behind their competitors.

Infosys is expecting sequential revenue growth between 2.6 per cent and 3.6 per cent in dollar terms. But the average estimates of seven brokerages is higher. They predict a 4-5 per cent revenue growth in June.

Intel showcases world's smallest Cloud Data Center

2011-07-15T06:45:00.001-07:00

Intel showcases world's smallest Cloud Data Center

Intel has unveiled its latest cloud technology to exemplify the power and worthiness of cloud computing. Dubbed ‘Cloud-in-a-Box’ system, the technology is touted to be “the world’s smallest Data Center”, sources informed.

The technology demonstration is meant to emphasize Intel’s endeavors to bring their Cloud 2015 vision to reality. The technology or in other words suitcase-ready miniature cloud computer is comprised of only two 1U servers.

The servers are used to display a range of Intel technologies, initiating with the latest advances in the Xeon processor family. At the same time, they are also promoting numerous security and optimization technologies like Intel AES New Instructions for well-organized encryption, Intelligent Power Node Manager to effectively manage power requirements for increased server density and Intel's Virtualization Technology.

Beyond the hardware level, Intel's single-sign on software technologies, Expressway Access 360 and the Expressway Gateway Service are important components of the critical demonstration capabilities.

Coming soon: Google+ for businesses

2011-07-15T06:44:00.000-07:00

Coming soon: Google+ for businesses

Google is working on business-centric features for Google+ to make the social-networking site popular among the enterprisers. According to the latest piece of information, apart from Facebook, the Internet giant is set to challenge professional sites like LinkedIn to acquire decent share in the enterprise segment.

Google plans to add features that will meet the needs of corporate people. The company believes that currently Google+ is not ready for the enterprise. The business tools are expected to be available later this year, company insider revealed.

Currently, Google is focused on optimizing Google+ for the consumer experience. It will conduct tests with a chunk of businesses and brands to perceive how their users cooperate with them via the Google+ circles and the news stream function.

Many companies who have joined Google+ have curtailed their corporate activity after the company announced that businesses should not create Google+ accounts with the current consumer version.

The corporate sector is reportedly awaiting the apt feature set that will enhance the value of their company on Google+.

Google+ was launched in June end, marking a fresh attempt to compete with Facebook.

Only time will decide, whether or not Google+ can become successful among the enterprisers?

HP reshuffles webOS management

2011-07-15T06:42:00.000-07:00

HP reshuffles webOS management

Hewlett-Packard is making a shuffle in its management for webOS platform. The company has realigned its personal-computer division to widen its reach across the places.

Trusted aides informed that HP has appointed Stephen DeWitt as General Manager of its webOS unit. He will be accountable for developing and promoting the WebOS computer operating system. He will oversee the engineering, research and development, and sales and marketing for WebOS.

Jon Rubinstein, who led webOS at Palm and HP, will take charge of product development and innovation at HP’s PC unit which includes tablets and smartphones as well.

Both will be liable to Todd Bradley, who runs Personal Systems Group.

The reorganization comes in wake of HP's webOS-powered TouchPad tablet. The tech major aims to increase the number of apps allied to the webOS as well as integrate it with the company’s PCs and printers.

HP CEO Leo Apotheker has earlier said that all of the company's PCs will incorporate webOS by the end of next year. This would lessen the Hewlett- Packard's reliance on Microsoft's Windows software.

Indian IT Services market to touch $9.5 billion in 2011

2011-07-15T06:40:00.000-07:00

Indian IT Services market to touch $9.5 billion in 2011

The Indian IT services market will increase 18 per cent in revenue terms to touch $9.5 billion in 2011. India’s domestic IT services is a large emerging market in high growth mode and acquires third position, in Asia-Pacific region. The market is estimated to increase to $15 billion by the end of 2014.

India's IT services market is quite undersized as compared with large markets, but it does render a growth opportunity to the service providers because of the upbeat market conditions.

Presently, only four industry verticals add up to the majority of the market, which is 85% of all IT services spending. The industries include banking, financial services and insurance; manufacturing; telecommunications; and government. This indicates that other industry verticals provide a brilliant opportunity of growth as they start opening up and start connecting with external service providers (ESPs).

It is believed that government infrastructure projects are effectively driving IT, in union with the development of the financial services and manufacturing subsectors.

Microsoft gives a bribe to Nokia

2011-07-15T06:38:00.000-07:00

Microsoft gives a bribe to Nokia

Portal Bloomberg issued shocking information about what Microsoft is going to pay by Nokia more than a billion dollars forchoicein favor of the operating system Windows Phone. More precisely, it is decorated as an agreement between two companies in which this amount will go to the creation and promotion of Windows Phone PDA Nokia. Data came directly from two knowledgeable sources. They argue that in fact this billion dollars - a kind of insurance, preventing a possible deal with Google and Nokia go to a competing platform, Android.

At the same time, Nokia also will make payments to Microsoft for each copy of OS Windows Phone, which it will install on their mobile devices. True, the size of these payments is not specified. It is not known whether this is about mutual payments between Microsoft and Nokia accurate, since official sources refused to comment on this information.

Bangalore based 'Marathon' to take on iPad

2011-07-15T06:36:00.000-07:00

Bangalore based 'Marathon' to take on iPad

In order to challenge iPad, Indian domestic vendors have also started exploring the tablet making arena.

According to a latest piece of information, EAFT Technologies, a start-up based in Bangalore, has unveiled an Android based PC tablet ‘Marathon’ to challenge Apple’s iPad.

The locally developed tablet is 3G-enabled and comes with features like USB and HDMI ports, 16 GB storage and HD video playback.

Keeping in view the demands and software understanding of its Indian customer base, EAFT has priced Marathon at Rs 29,990, which is much lesser than the iPad. Though, the lower-end version of the iPad is available at a little over Rs 29,000.

Based on Android OS, Marathon renders users access to the whole spectrum of Android's apps. The company has maintained that its users will reportedly have access to over 70,000 apps and 30,000 e-books. Though the number is far less than Apple's apps market, it’s still going to gain traction among Indian tablet lovers.

The Marathon has been introduced with an initial production run of 10,000 tablets, sources informed. The tablet will soon be available across the country.

Cisco boosts data center networking gear

2011-07-15T06:34:00.000-07:00

Cisco boosts data center networking gear

In a bid to improve the capability and performance of its data center consolidation system, Cisco has extended its Unified Computing System(UCS) networking portfolio.

Cisco has added various elements to its UCS portfolio, which include a chassis I/O module, a virtual interface card, fabric interconnects and a revamped UCS management software. The extensions will deal with the situations IT managers face while taking up virtualization, controlling costs, and scaling to fulfill their growing business demands.

UCS increases the server performance eightfold and effectively tackles the traffic growth that strains a company's network and IT infrastructure. UCS' impetus recently made Cisco the third leading blade server vendor worldwide.

The networking extensions for UCS are an added benefit to the company.

Cisco’s updated UCS Manager Software not only manages all system configuration and operations for UCS, but also backs VMware vCenter virtualization management to facilitate IT managers to organize, provision and configure the virtualized environment across branch offices and data centers.

Cisco, at present, claims to have approximately 5,400 UCS customers and is adding around a 1,000 each quarter.

Lenovo passes Acer for third place in global PC sales

2011-07-15T06:32:00.001-07:00

Lenovo passes Acer for third place in global PC sales

Lenovo has replaced Acer to acquire third spot in global PC sales, and is inching closer to steal the second position from Dell, a report revealed.

Lenovo's aggressive approach towards expansion of distribution channel and steady PC growth in Asia-Pacific region has majorly benefitted the company.

Acer plunged to fourth position in wake of its management shakeup. The company’s CEO Gianfranco Lanci quit the post which further led to the mismanagement of inventory in the company's distribution channel in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Though overall PC shipments grew in Asia-Pacific, the U.S. and Western Europe witnessed weak PC demand because of tablet-driven market. Worldwide PC shipments summed 84.4 million units during the second quarter, increasing by just 2.6 percent compared against the last year’s quarter.

Lenovo's global PC shipments amounted to 10.3 million units during the quarter, while Acer's shipments totaled 9.2 million units, losing ground by 10.1 percent.

Lenovo now is fast approaching towards the second slot. The PC maker’s market share during the quarter was 12.2 percent, closing in on Dell, which reported a 12.9 percent market share.

ITVoir NewsDesk

India losing its sheen as IT outsourcing hub?

2011-07-15T06:31:00.000-07:00

India losing its sheen as IT outsourcing hub?

India may lose its outsourcing ground as UK companies are gradually shifting back their work to their home country. According to a report, India may no longer be the favored destination for call centres from the United Kingdom.

This shift in trend is expected to be triggered by the high jobless rate in UK coupled with growing costs in India. In addition, UK companies have realized the need to maintain better relationships with their customers. All these factors have strained companies like Aviva, BT and Santander to move their call centre services back home.

UK insurer Aviva shifted some jobs from its Indian BPO partner WNS to UK, earlier this year. Sources revealed that it was facing quality issues in terms of customer services.

Seeing the change, UK BPO majors Serco and Capita have also been vigorously tapping UK-based call centres' capability in recent months, experts cited.

Santander is likely to create 500 new jobs in the UK while New Call Telecom will generate about 100 to develop in-house service segment.

Though these figures seem small in India, it has a significant value in the UK. The shift will not immediately affect India considering over 2 million people are employed by the Indian IT-BPO sector.

AMD targets Indian gaming market

2011-07-15T06:30:00.000-07:00

AMD targets Indian gaming market

With the increasing gamer population in India, AMD is planning to cash in on Indian gaming market. The US-based chipmaker is seeing India as one of the strategic markets for its growth.

Trusted aides reported that the growing population of gamers in India and increase in consumption of multimedia content, the country has become a viable target for graphics companies to boost their business.

AMD already have an R&D centre in India, which takes charge of the lot of designing work for the company’s global product portfolio. The company also claims to have around 1,100 engineers in India.

Earlier, AMD’s product portfolio was unknown in India. But this time, the company has kept Indian consumers in mind while designing its new range of products. AMD is investing deeply to promote its products and brand. The company aims to capture bigger market with its promotional strategies.

Recently, AMD has introduced world’s fastest mobile GPU, Radeon HD 6990M to meet the requirement of hardcore gamers.

Windows face risk as IT spends on Cloud, not PCs

2011-07-15T06:28:00.000-07:00

Windows face risk as IT spends on Cloud, not PCs

Apart from the increasing demand for tablets and smartphones, a shift in spending to cloud and virtualization technologies has also softened the PC demand. According to the report, the hype for media tablets has slowed down the consumer PC demand.

On the enterprise front, PC demand has undermined this year as big businesses reallocated their budgets. New PCs are no longer the priority as IT departments migrating to cloud infrastructure. It is reported that corporate buyers are focusing on new IT solutions like cloud and virtualization.

The news is even worse for Microsoft. Only Mac sales have registered a growth, while other PC vendors have lost share. Microsoft's Windows platform is gradually losing traction as enterprises are investing dollars toward cloud and virtualization technologies over PCs.

Moreover, consumers are turning to smartphones and tablets thereby resulting in weak consumer PC market.

Seeing the rising demand for mobile devices, many PC makers are exploring the tablet market to drive growth in their business.

Google AdSense and AdWords

2011-07-15T06:23:00.001-07:00

Google AdSense and AdWords

Many websites include a section or two with the "Ads by Google" above it or below it. These are ads displayed via Google's AdSense. When you do a search on Google and see ads in the search results pages, they are generally AdSense ads.

AdSense

Google's AdSense is programming that "senses" the content of a page or search. It finds keywords on a web page or in a search phrase to determine the subject of the content. It does this by either "reading" the page, or taking a look at the search term that was typed into Google Search. It can "Sense" which ads in the system are relevant to the content or search and display them - thus: "AdSense."

Before ads on a page are displayed, AdSense searches its database of advertisers and finds ads that are associated with keywords on the page or in the search. Now AdSense needs to decide which of the thousands of ads vying for position are actually displayed. To make this decision, AsSense looks at the advertiser's bids for the relevant keywords. The advertisers that have a combination of the highest bid, keyword relevance and best click through get displayed first.

Google tracks clicks on ads and advertisers pay Google the bid price for each click. When the AdSense ad is on someone's web page, Google pays the website owner a portion of the payment for each click. The term "monetizing" your site refers to taking your existing site and placing ads like AdSense on it to make money (or finding other way to make money with websites). If you get 10,000 visitors and 10% of them click an ad that pays you, theoretically, $0.75 per click, you just made $750! Not bad for just copying some AdSense code (which Google provides) into your popular website's HTML (if your site is not popular, learn about SEO - Search Engine Optimization - from sites like AcmeWebResources).

AdWords

The other side to AdSense is AdWords. AdSense ads have lists of relevant keywords associated with them. Each keyword is bid on by the advertisers for placement in the results pages and on web sites around the world. The words that will prompt a display of an advertiser's ad are bid on by the advertiser. When an ad matches the words on a page, the ads are displayed; thus: AdWords. AdWords is the system in Google that is used to place ads that display in AdSense.

You can enroll in AdWords to pay for AdSense ads to drive traffic to your site. The first step is to sign up with Google. The next step is to associate keywords to associate with your site.

The idea is to drive traffic to your site through the use of relevant ads. The more relevant the ad to your content, the more targeted your traffic will be. Compose your articles around your list of keywords. Next, write an ad based on the keywords and assign keywords to the ad. You will bid on the keywords at the time you associate keywords with the ad. If one of your keywords is searched for or relevant to a site, and you have a good bid and relevant ad, your AdWord ad will be displayed. Only when someone clicks your ad are you charged by Google.

The more popular keywords are wanted by many competitors, so the prices per click can get pretty high. It is not uncommon for a click to cost $5 or even $10. If you have 10,000 ad clicks, after you account for your conversion rate (the rate that you convert visitors into buyers) you better be sure you are making more than the ad click costs! But it should never break your bank because you can set the bid limits and the monthly budget.

What if you can't afford $5.00 per click? Since the more popular keywords are so expensive, it is best to bid on less popular keywords because the cost per click is lower. Google presently has a minimum bid of $0.05 per click. If you can get those, you can reduce your advertising budget.

A popular site can make a lot of money, however, a lot of money and time can be wasted. To avoid waste, you have to learn as much as possible and get the right tools to do the research.

Apple's next generation A6 chips.

2011-07-15T06:19:00.000-07:00

Apple's next generation A6 chips
Apple has finally dumped its traditional chip supplier, Samsung Electronics for its next generation A6 chips. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has started manufacturing Apple's ARM-based A6 processor, sources informed.

Presently, TSMC is manufacturing test chips. It would get actual orders for the chips would depend on its yield rate, or the amount of chips per batch that come out with no defects, insiders revealed. However, TSMC has got all the authorization and details ready.

Samsung and Apple are suing each other over tablet-related patents. This has severed the business ties between the two companies. Apple has sued Samsung in the US, alleging that the Galaxy products replicate the designs and technologies used for the iPad and iPhone. Later, Samsung countersued Apple for copying its Galaxy products.

Many analysts are dubbing the move as a riskier option. Apple holds a greater responsibility for testing its designs and supervising the production process. However, TSMC has worked with ARM architecture, widely used by Apple to create power-efficient mobile chips.