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Nadal sets up Federer final after record Aussie semi

2009-01-30T10:10:00.000-08:00

MELBOURNE (AFP) – Rafael Nadal survived a record five-set battle with fellow Spanish left-hander Fernando Verdasco on Friday to set up a classic Australian Open final with arch-rival Roger Federer.

Nadal lost his first sets of the tournament but showed incredible resilience to win the epic 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-5 (7/2), 5-7 (1/7) over five hours and 14 minutes, the longest match in the tournament's history.

"Right now I feel more happy than tired," Nadal told the crowd. "For sure it's going to be a tough final. But it was amazing for me to play that match here. It was one of the best matches of my career."

On Sunday Nadal will play his seventh Major final against Federer, who can equal the Grand Slam titles record. Nadal beat Federer in both the French Open and Wimbledon finals last year and holds a 4-2 edge in the matches.

The Open's previous longest match was Boris Becker's 1991 win over Omar Camporese, which lasted five hours and 11 minutes.

Friday's match also surpassed Nadal's epic Wimbledon final with Federer last year, (four hours and 48 minutes), and equalled his longest ever match (five hours 14 minutes against Guillermo Coria in the 2005 Rome final).

In a semi-final of remarkable quality, Verdasco looked to have thrown the first set away when he smashed a routine overhead out on his only break point at 2-2.

But he saved break points at 5-5 and edged the tie-break, helped by a huge stroke of luck when a ball which was heading out caught the net and bounced in.

Nadal was rattled but he forced break points at 4-3 in the second and broke for the set when Verdasco went long. With fatigue setting in, both were broken twice in the third before Verdasco sprayed errors to hand over the tie-break.

Nadal was in the ascendancy and Verdasco was struggling as he twice took treatment to his left lower leg, but he quickly recovered and dominated a rousing tie-break 7-1 in the fourth.

It was a fight to the finish and Verdasco saved five break points in the decider before crumbling at 4-5 as he netted on the third match point.

"It's going to be a little bit tough on Sunday. Roger had today off and only three sets in his semi-final so now, for sure, he's the favourite," added Nadal.

"But I'll try my best."

Both Nadal and Verdasco are strapping left-handers from Spain, but their careers have been vastly different.

While Nadal is seeking his sixth Grand Slam title, Verdasco had never been past the fourth round in a Major before this tournament.

Nadal added eight titles last year to take his career total to 31, while Verdasco's only successes have been in Valencia in 2004 and Umag last year.

Verdasco also has a playboy reputation, reportedly dating tennis stars Ana Ivanovic and Gisela Dulko and being linked with a string of Spanish beauties.

But he became a sensation in Spain by subduing fierce partisan crowds and Argentina's Jose Acasuso over five sets to seal the Davis Cup title, with Nadal out injured.

Benzema ponders Lyon exit

2009-01-29T06:07:00.001-08:00

Lyon striker Karim Benzema has admitted that he is tempted to leave the French champions in the near future, with the likes of Manchester United and Barcelona on his trail.

The 21-year-old is one of the hottest properties in European football, but Benzema says he wants to see Lyon progress to the latter stages of the Champions League before pledging his future to the club.

He told French newspaper 10 Sport: "I have reflected a bit on this subject during the winter break.

"I'd like to keep my opinion to myself before speaking about it to my family and my agent. But yes, we will have to see what happens after Barcelona.

"We have to stop all this talk about Lyon underachieving and to do that, we need to get past the quarter-finals.

"I love this club. I want to stay, but I would also really like it if we stopped getting knocked out in the last 16. For the moment, I am finishing the season here.

"I get on very well with president Jean-Michel Aulas and I have spoken to him about certain things, like about staying until 2010.

"But we have to have special aims in the Champions League."

Benitez fumes after Reds setback

2009-01-29T05:58:00.000-08:00

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez blamed a "crazy" second half after his team dropped more Premier League points with a 1-1 draw against Wigan.

Mido's late penalty saw Liverpool fall to third in the table and further dented their title hopes.

"I prefer not to say too much but I am not happy with a lot of things," said Benitez, whose team have drawn their last three league games.

"The second half was crazy and when it is crazy you cannot control things."

Steven Gerrard had to deal with the attentions of Wigan's Michael Brown

Benitez did not expand on what he meant by "crazy", and refused to say whether his opinion was linked to several physical challenges on Steven Gerrard by Wigan midfielder Michael Brown.

"I am disappointed with a number of things but no, the Wigan approach I will not talk about them," he added.

"It has happened in the last three games. They have something in common I don't like. I know why but I cannot say anything."

Prior to Wednesday's match at the JJB Stadium, Liverpool's previous two games were against rivals Everton and both finished 1-1.

Liverpool's latest result is their third consecutive draw in the league, and the Reds have not won a game since Benitez's outburst about title rivals Manchester United and their manager Sir Alex Ferguson at a news conference.

Yossi Benayoun had given Liverpool a first-half lead against Wigan with a brilliant finish from a tight angle - and it looked as though it would be enough to move the Reds level on points with United at the top of the table.

But Mido struck from the penalty spot on 83 minutes after Lucas Leiva had brought down Jason Koumas in the box.

"We are really disappointed," added Benitez.

"In the first half we played really well and controlled the game.

"We have lost two points. We were much better in the first half. We had control of the game. We didn't kill the game."

Benitez's team now face a huge game against Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday.

Chelsea and Liverpool are level on points, though the London club have a superior goal difference.

"We have an important game on Sunday," said the Reds boss. "And if we play like we did in the first half we can beat anyone.

"All the games will be important until the end of the season. It depends on the other teams too but we have to try to play well and try to win."

Wigan boss Steve Bruce paid tribute to his players after Mido's late goal ensured that the Latics avoided a third straight Premier League defeat.

"The resilience was there for all to see," said Bruce. "And we might have nicked it at the end.

"The squad are all playing well and bursting at the gut to get a game.

"We hope that Mido will be a really good addition. I have to say that all he has wanted to do since he got here is play football."

And with the result further undermining Liverpool's title campaign, former Manchester United defender Bruce added: "I'm sure Sir Alex Ferguson will be delighted."

Cadillac Presidential Limousine

2009-01-29T05:53:00.000-08:00

President Obama arrived at his inauguration earlier this week in a new Cadillac Presidential Limousine, which includes many of the brand's signature design elements.

As the first all-new Presidential limousine since the 2004 Cadillac DTS built for President George W. Bush, the new car has roughly the same overall footprint as the previous model and similar proportions. The dual-textured grille and vertical head- and taillamps are reminiscent of those seen on Cadillac's STS and DTS sedans, while the technologically advanced cabin features executive seating with upholstery that has been cut and sewn by hand. An embroidered presidential seal is positioned in the center of the rear seat back and on each rear door trim panel.

The purpose-built vehicle has been specially designed for presidential use to specifications provided by the US Secret Service. Developed and tested by specialists, the vehicle features an armored body, 8-inch-thick doors, bulletproof glass, a separate oxygen supply and an airtight interior to protect against a chemical attack. It was subjected to an extreme testing regimen to ensure performance in the field.

Mitsubishi i MiEV Sport Air

2009-01-29T05:45:00.000-08:00

Mitsubishi Motors will reveal a new i MiEV Sport Air concept at the 79th Geneva International Motor Show in March. Using the same nomenclature as the Saab 9X 'Air', the new car is an open top variant of the i MiEV Sport design study first unveiled at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show.

Like its hardtop counterpart, the two-door concept has a bold, wheels-at-each-corner stance and accentuated fenders, while chiseled body lines guide airflow to cool the rear-mounted electric motor. Above the cabin, a 'clear cutaway' roof is said to enable the driver to 'enjoy the exhilaration of fresh-air motoring while also highlighting its eco-friendly qualities', according to the Japanese automaker.

Claimed to emphasize exhilarating driving pleasure by providing a balance between environmental and dynamic performance, the car has a lithium-ion battery pack mounted in the floor for a lower center of gravity. It measures 3450mm long and has a 2550mm-long wheelbase.

Opel Ampera preview

2009-01-29T05:43:00.000-08:00

Opel has released a teaser sketch of its new five-door extended-range electric car ahead of its public debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March.

Based on the Voltec powertrain and chassis architecture of Chevrolet's Volt, the Ampera promises to surpass that car in terms of style by some margin. The body appears to be nearly identical between the A- and C-pillars, but the deformed horseshoe-shaped headlamp design and two-bar grille come straight from the 2007 Flextreme concept, as do the car's tree-branch alloy wheels. Sadly, the Ampera prototype will feature a conventional rear hatch rather than the Flextreme's novel two-piece gullwing design.

Living on Windows 7: Can It Bring Back the Windows 95 Glory Days?

2009-01-28T13:11:00.000-08:00

TechNewsWorld columnist Rob Enderle has put the beta version of Windows 7 through its paces, and he's pleased with what he sees so far. With Microsoft in the condition it's in, thanks in part to the Vista disaster, it needs a successful launch like the one it had with Windows 95.

Windows 7 is coming, and even major Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) fans like Walt Mossberg are saying some rather surprising things about it. With the layoffs and financial results that Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) announced last week, you have to wonder whether it will be enough to light a fire under the market like Windows 95 did. A lot has changed, and I'm beginning to wonder if, like it was in the '80s, the market is getting ready to move to something else.

Recall that the hot products for 2007 and 2008 were iPhones and the hot product so far in 2009 is the Palm (Nasdaq: PALM) Pre (which Apple is ironically trying to FUD out of existence). Even Apple isn't holding much PC interest at the moment. So let's talk about my Windows 7 experiences and whether the market is getting ready to move to something else.

We'll close with my product of the week, a product that took what is likely the last Macworld ever by storm and isn't even from Apple.

Living on Windows 7

I've actually put Windows 7 on four machines: Two desktop computers running Intel's (Nasdaq: INTC) new I7 processor and my new HP (NYSE: HPQ) Mini 1000 netbook. The fourth machine was a cutting edge water-cooled desktop and it ran into driver problems, which showcased why beta testing isn't without risks, as I spent several hours getting it back to where it was (hint: Always do a full backup before you mess with beta software).

As others have found, Windows 7 feels like what Vista should have been. It is slick, fast, doesn't drive you nuts with warnings (though it still has some) and much more intuitive. It is particularly handy when you, like I often do, run multiple monitors and have a tendency to open lots of windows.

I'm also getting the hang of moving between a netbook for ultra portable computing and a desktop for full-power work. This week I wrote one column on the netbook and this column on my primary I7 and, once I got used to the netbook's smaller keyboard, I found both experiences very nice. One of the things Windows 7 seems to do vastly better is connect to wireless network .

I've run a series of games, including the full set of Futuremark benchmarks and, so far, everything seems to work more seamlessly than it did with Windows Vista, suggesting some strong improvements in compatibility.

Overall, this is easily the best first beta experience I've ever had with a Windows product, but I wonder if any product could be good enough to bring the excitement back to Windows.

Can the PC Become Exciting Again?

There may be potential, because the Apple MacBook Air did capture a lot of excitement when it was launched even though it was priced out of the market and made some ugly tradeoffs to get as thin as it needed to be. At CES, one of the hot products was the HP DV2, which was nearly as thin as the MacBook Air but priced much more aggressively, and even the expected to be more expensive Dell Adamo pulled a lot of interest. But it was the Palm Pre that took the show, and that, coupled with the fact that the hottest single product for the last two years has been the iPhone, has me wondering if the market has moved on and forgotten to leave a note.

We had terminals for a long time, and PCs were brought in by users and line management long before IT blessed them because they fulfilled a very real need. In fact, as Microsoft grew to dominance, it did so while being accused of "not getting the enterprise." Apple, which clearly doesn't get the enterprise , is gaining share against Microsoft and, according to a recent Laura DiDio survey, is being considered by a large number of companies at the moment.

This points to the fact that the user is key to both getting into and holding the enterprise, and right now, the buyers actually seem vastly more excited about phones like the iPhone, Palm Pre, and Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) Android phones than they do about any Microsoft product.

I notice in my own behavior that increasingly I'm not opening my laptop but working off my cell phone, and currently, I panic more if I forget my phone than if I forget my PC. Apple is rumored to be building a bigger iPod touch, and Google is rumored to be testing Android on netbooks, so it may not be long until we see a true alternative to both Apple and Windows PC emerge.

Seeing the Old PC With New Eyes

The trick may be for Microsoft and the OEMs to get people to look at the PC with fresh eyes and see it differently than they now do. I've seen a number of designs that will be coming later in the year and will challenge how small, how thin, how connected and how inexpensive really cool personalized PC hardware can become.

At the right price point, with the right appearance, the right user experience, and strong benefits-based marketing, the PC could be made relevant again. You get something as small and sexy as the Sony Vaio P at the right price -- it's a little pricey at the moment -- and you might actually have something folks will line up for.

Given the diversity of hardware that is coming, the challenge for Microsoft and the OEMs is to get folks excited about the top offerings without overwhelming them with so many choices it dilutes the focus of the launch. One of the reasons the iPhone and Palm Pre get so much attention is that attention is focused on these singular products and not spread across a diverse product landscape.

Windows 95 got focus as an operating system, but the market is clearly now favoring solutions, and that increases the degree of difficulty here substantially. I'm impressed with Windows 7, but I have to admit, I'm more impressed with how difficult it will be to make the product a star in the current environment.

Product of the Week: Second Generation MediaSmart Server

At a Macworld, you expect that the "Best of Show" award would always go to an Apple product and that a company like HP winning this award would be impossible. Yet that was what happened at what was likely the last Macworld ever to have been held. It wasn't even a desktop product that won but a home server, and the reason it won was because it integrated so well with Macs and the make backup solution Time Machine. I've been using the first-generation MediaSmart server for over a year now, and it remains an amazing product. It quietly hums along in the background and serves up my files around the home, and in case I forget something, up on the Web under a secure link.

Because this product is one of those that quietly backs up my own machines, but especially because it is the first time an HP Server has ever won Best of Show at a Macworld, the MediaSmart Server Generation 2 is my product of the week.

The MacBook Interface Dilemma: So Many Ports, So Little Space

2009-01-28T13:05:00.000-08:00

There's a wide variety of hardware interfaces associated with personal computers, and laptops simply don't have room to accommodate them all. In recent MacBook models, Apple has had to sacrifice some interfaces in the name of size -- and in the name of progress. But all those ports do basically the same thing: move data. Might we one day see one interface to rule them all?

Look on the side of any MacBook or PC laptop, and you'll see a Swiss-cheese-like array of holes. They're all interface ports for plugs of various shapes and sizes. Mini DisplayPort. HDMI. 8P8C. FireWire 400. FireWire 800. DVI. VGA. WUXGA. And good old USB 2.0. They're all there for connecting peripherals -- mice, monitors, hard drives, MP3 players, cell phones, and even weird little things like flexible gooseneck lights for working in the dark.

These ports have evolved over the years, changing in size and spec, and Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) , in fact, created a tempest in a teapot a few months ago when it dumped FireWire 400 ports from its new aluminum unibody MacBook line.

Still, it seems that we're getting closer to a single interface. USB is now the standard way to connect mice and printers, whereas a few years ago those devices had their own specialized ports. iPods and iPhones sync and charge via USB. Now even some monitors can plug in via USB. And now that USB 3.0 has been standardized, might it become the port through which all data flows? Or will we forever inhabit a land of diverse wires, all of which need a special home of their own in the back of one's computer?

Will FireWire die? Will Ethernet live forever? And what of HDMI, which in an Apple world so far only exists on the Apple TV ?

Shrinking Laptops, Shrinking Ports

As laptops get increasingly smaller and thinner -- like the MacBook Air -- a key design challenge becomes fitting the most important ports in the least amount of space.

"Certainly manufacturers want to have as few connectors as possible on a PC, particularly as form factors shrink and there's an increasing premium placed on design," Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis of consumer technology for the NPD Group, told MacNewsWorld.

"The 'Universal' Serial Bus [USB] has lived up to its name pretty well over the past few years as it's taken the place of many legacy ports, but few monitors support the DisplayLink USB video standard, so it appears that we will still continue to see some kind of video connector such as HDMI or DisplayPort on PCs for some time to come," he explained.

"If, for example, you have a media center PC designed to be connected directly to an HDTV, it certainly makes sense to have HDMI on board," he added.

There is pressure to drop other connectors, though, as manufacturers seek to build thinner, simpler PCs.

"The RJ-45 connector used by Ethernet was too thick for the MacBook Air, so Apple dropped it on that model with the rationale that its increasingly common for highly mobile notebook computer users to connect via WiFi. FireWire was the dominant standard for connecting to tape-based camcorders, but nowadays most camcorders use either USB or a memory card," Rubin noted.

Incidentally, "USB can also take the place of microphone and headphone jacks, but these are still included as a convenience so that PCs can be used with standard headphones," he added.

If USB and WiFi Are Strong, Is FireWire and Ethernet Weak?

"Convergence on USB seems reasonable, but Ethernet has its own path and achieves higher speeds," Roger Kay, president Endpoint Technologies Associates, told MacNewsWorld.

"I think Ethernet will survive. FireWire might slowly die, but Apple is a big supporter, and a lot of consumer electronic peripherals use it; however, Apple has a tendency to drop legacy faster than the PC gang," Kay explained.

"The interface in greatest flux right now is video out, with legacy VGA, DVI, HDMI, Component, Composite, and S-video ... clearly, something has to give there," he noted.

When it introduced is new MacBook line in October, Apple moved its video out standard to the Mini DisplayPort, which can support larger, higher-resolution monitors than the popular HDTV and HDTV device peripheral video out leader, HDMI.

Long Live USB!

While Apple has retained FireWire ports in its MacBook Pro line, though, few seem to expect it to live long.

"The upcoming 3.2 Gbps (gigabits per second) FireWire standard is still slower than USB 3.0's 4.8 Gbps," Mel Beckman, an independent network and Internet security consultant, told MacNewsWorld.

"FireWire likely won't survive, as USB 3.0 encompasses its capabilities," he added.

As for video out ... USB 3.0 may also provide some answers.

"USB 3.0's high speed will eventually usher in USB monitors -- even HD monitors -- as well as provide a solid interface for yet-unrealized devices such as fully volumetric 3-D displays, which were demonstrated this fall at the TED conference," Beckman said.

"While monitor ports may be relegated to USB dongle converters eventually, for now monitor ports will continue, mostly due to the available small DVI connectors," he added.

As for Ethernet ports, Beckman believes they will persist for quite some time because so many office-oriented devices use Ethernet ports.

It's worth noting that while peripherals like keyboards, mice, and printers have evolved away from dedicated ports in favor of USB, they continue to evolve into needing ports at all. Wireless Bluetooth connectivity is steadily replacing USB in some cases -- as long as the device can get by on relatively slow speeds. External hard drives, for example, go with USB for speed and reliability.

However, some, like Apple's wireless router/hard drive combo Time Capsule, use WiFi for data transfer to and from connected Macs -- though the Time Capsule retains both Ethernet and a USB port on the device itself.

It's All About Growing Up

"The FireWire brouhaha last year was a good example of what happens as an industry matures. It seems to me that in less mature industries, vendors develop proprietary technologies to gain competitive advantage and product differentiation," Charles King, principal analyst for Pund-IT , told MacNewsWorld.

"For a long time, FireWire made sense for Apple, but as other technologies like USB caught up and PC consumers moved more and more toward notebooks -- reducing the literal footprint of space available -- proprietary interface technologies became a burden both for Apple and its developers and partners," he explained.

"It's not unlike other industries' moves toward standardization -- including the emergence of SAE standards for screws, nuts and bolts, or electrical manufacturers adopting standardized fittings for light bulbs. The benefits of gained from adopting standardized technologies -- simplified design, development and manufacturing -- easily outweigh the competitive advantages of locking customers and partners into proprietary technologies," he added.

Bringing Up Open Source, Part 3: The Mobile Movement

2009-01-28T11:55:00.000-08:00

The arrival of Android was a boon for relatively young mobile open source developers like a la Mobile, which quickly changed its business course to cater to Google's handset platform. Other startups have also made headway in the open mobile space.

Part 1 of this three-part feature explored startups that focus on open source software in the enterprise space. Part 2 highlights startups with consumer-oriented open source products. Part 3 profiles three startups with an emphasis on mobile open source software.

Open source is out of the closet and is being accepted as the new kid on the block by mobile device makers. The use of open source products in both enterprise and consumer circles is unprecedented. However, the mobile marketplace, until recently, was more like a wayward stepchild to Windows-based parents.

Despite the growing foundation of the Linux OS in the mobile market, the development of applications to embed in handheld open source development has been sluggish. Last year, Nokia (NYSE: NOK) pledged to open up the Symbian platform. Google's (Nasdaq: GOOG) November 2007 announcement of its plan to introduce a new open source mobile platform called "Android" caught the mobile communications industry by surprise. The subsequent absence of any definitive information until recently about this new platform scattered momentum for new products in the mobile space.

While product developers waited for Android to become more than vaporware, a la Mobile, a young startup in the mobile apps space, made a business decision that thrust it into the catbird's seat. It jettisoned the nearly two years of product development it had done for existing mobile phone devices and rushed to develop applications for Android devices that, at the time, it didn't know anybody would want or use.

"We made a very bold strategic decision a month after Google made the Android announcement. On Dec. 7, we switched entirely to Android and left behind everything we had done. At that time, no one knew much about Android. It was just a lot of noise. Some call this a risky move on our part. But today we are very happy with that decision," Pauline Alker, CEO of a la Mobile, told LinuxInsider.

Android Anxiety

As one of the newest technologies in the mobile communications field, Android is off to a solid start. That puts a la Mobile in a very good position, according to Bill Hughes, principal analyst for Instat's Wireless Group.

"I'm very optimistic about Android, but is it a sure thing? The Novus operating system was pretty good, too. There are a number of Linux initiatives out there. So Linux is a platform -- definitely optimistic. Android has good momentum. I think that a la Mobile putting its efforts in Android is a good move," Hughes told LinuxInsider.

As the new kid on the block, Android has generated a decent following. Actually, it's better than what Hughes would have thought, he allowed. On the negative side, Google is coming into this market without a lot of history. In addition, though many big-name mobile hardware makers say they're working to create new Android handset, there is currently only one phone on the market using the software stack.

Superstar Status?

Android is not a quantum leap in the mobile space, according to Hughes; however, considering that Google has never done a mobile operating system before, it will be significant. In fact, he already sees very solid interest among a large number of players.

"The metrics in the wireless industry are different, so it tends to skew what 'successful' is. The net of Google is that people in the industry for a while will work with them to modify their ambitions to be realistic. They will use their market power to change things," said Hughes.

"Android will certainly sell in the millions of units and will be one of the major players. We're certainly tracking them as a major line item in terms of our smartphone OS," he concluded.

No-Man's Land

Founded in June 2005, a la Mobile focuses on developing mobile Linux solutions. Up to November 2007, the task at hand was putting a whole Linux system stack together. At that time, there was no single standard, according to Alker.

"Our job was to step in and put a whole Linux stack together, test it, certify it so it was ready to bring to market for a hardware device," she explained, adding that back then Linux on mobile devices was a niche market.

As a young startup, a la Mobile focused on bringing Linux apps to the small OEMs. Linux was not in the mainstream in the U.S. So the company took it to a market where Linux was much more talked about -- China and Taiwan, for instance.

"We knew until there was some kind of standard around an application framework we would not become a mainstream. We used the time to gather a lot of experience in Linux and got very comfortable working with a lot of different devices," she said.

A Sea Change

By November 2007, a la Mobile was getting traction with several customers. All that changed when Google announced Android.

"We felt good about this. Android was the breakthrough we were waiting for. We knew until something like this happened, Linux would always be a niche for mobile devices," Alker said.

It was still a difficult road to pave. People were very skeptical about it. Google was just getting an SDK (software developer kit) out to developers. So her company tooled around writing apps for it on a PC. No one knew when the first Android device would come out, she noted.

Starting Over

Still betting that the hunch would pay off, Alker made the life-or-death decision to reorganize her company around Android apps development. She put three teams together in key locations based on skill sets.

The biggest team was deployed in China to develop the kernel. She gathered application developers to an office in Belarus and placed the systems architecture team at the corporate headquarters in the U.S.

"We are very comfortable working in different time zones. It gave us the ability to work around the clock," said Alker.

Those efforts produced seven applications built on an old smartphone. The program coders completed this task in one month. In January 2008, a la Mobile made a public announcement about the Android apps' availability.

Frustration Festered

Alker continued to push her programmers to develop applications through 2008. Because Android wasn't happening yet, people were really skeptical.

"We went through a period of frustration. We told people that they didn't have to wait. We could help them get to market very quickly when it happened. But nobody wanted to listen. We continued to develop our core applications," she said.

Last September, the first Google phone -- known as the G1 -- came out, and everything changed. A la Mobile got its apps on the G1 in two days. With the race to market on, the company was ready to go.

Framework Formed

The last few years have seen a battle for a framework standard. Now the lines are drawn -- LiMP, LiMo, and now Android. The fields are cleared up, according to Alker.

"We pretty much stand alone as the full supplier of applications for Android. We have at least 14 applications that we wrote. The momentum for Android is tremendous in the U.S. and the UK," she said.

Vendors have already sold 1.5 million G1 units. The projection for 2009 is between 7 million to 10 million units. For 2011, predictions are for a 20 to 25 percent share of the total handset market worldwide, Alker detailed.

"The openness of Android and its deep branding and customization are its big advantages. The market is changing rapidly. 2009 is a critical year in the adoption of Android," Alker concluded.

Varia Variety

Another newcomer to the mobile open source space is Varia Mobile, which had its birth throes in September 2007. Its founders divested from Tegic Communications, an AOL property, to form this new endeavor. This company is concentrating on Linux devices.

Based in Seattle, Varia made its mark as the developer of one of the first Linux-based cellular phones available in the consumer marketplace. That product is an example of the company's prominence in the mobile space. It's a business-to-business software development company that specializes in developing custom branded Linux-based OS solutions.

Perhaps having an edge over other startups, it forged its own identity from the start with an existing staff that worked together for some seven years. Its software inventory includes a suite of software applications and a significant patent portfolio.

Varia Mobile is pursuing solutions for bringing content providers, mobile operators and hardware manufacturers together to build innovative, content-rich applications for the mobile ecosystem. The company hopes to achieve this goal by making personal mobile devices that are easy to use.

Adhere Ad Platform

Citex Software, based in Egypt, also cut its teeth as a newcomer to the open source mobile space in early 2007. It offers a suite of software products for the mobile advertising community. In all likelihood, its offerings will serve the ad revenue needs of vendors and carriers regardless of the platform embraced.

Its free, open source Adhere Ad Server forms the core of the platform. It supports numerous ad formats, including text, pictures, Web banners, audio and video. In addition, the ad platform supports advanced ad targeting criteria to ensure the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

Adhere Ad Server includes the Adhere User Profiles Server, which is key to Adhere's targeting capabilities. The platform also includes sample applications and engines to manipulate various mobile media and to utilize them effectively as advertising channels.

The current release of Adhere includes sample SMS (short message service) advertising applications packaged as a weather forecast service and a currency exchange rates service. The next release will introduce an SMS Tagging and Forwarding Engine (STAFe) and a Mobile Web Ad Serving and Tracking Engine (WASATe).

The company's future product plans will add support for other mobile advertising channels including MMS (multimedia messaging service), audio and video content.

Nic's Man Grilled By PCDs

2009-01-28T11:52:00.000-08:00

There's no scarier prospect for a man than his partner's friends.

Especially when they're a scantily clad gang of outspoken sexpots.

But the Pussycat Dolls didn't show any mercy when they first met Nicole Scherzinger's fella.

The girlies - Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta, Melody Thornton and Kimberly Wyatt - have revealed that they were immediately suspicious when they heard their band mate Nic had hooked up with racing pro Lewis Hamilton.

"When we found out Lewis was a racing driver we were like: 'Hold on a minute, he better not be a playboy,'" Melody told the Daily Mirror.

"So we asked him all sorts. What were his intentions, if he was a nice guy, did he know how to treat her right, did he bring her flowers and pull out chairs on dates?

"We didn't mess about and gave him a tough time as we do with all new boyfriends."

Luckily, Lewis managed to pass this daunting PCD initiation test.

"Lewis is so quiet and well mannered and he makes Nicole happy," Kimberly gushed.

"We love the fact that he's British."

High praise indeed. But we pity the poor bloke who doesn't cut the Pussycat mark. He'll be roadkill in no time at all, we're guessing...

Jess: I'm Not Dumb

2009-01-28T11:50:00.001-08:00

Don't you dare mess with Jessica Alba...

The hot brunette has lashed out at claims that she's stupid.

It's all to do with rather a random comment that Jess made last week about Sweden being neutral during World War II.

TMZ called her a "ditz" and an "arrogant buffoon" for naming Sweden rather than Switzerland.

Meanwhile, political commentator Bill O'Reilly said she was "misguided" in the apparent error.

But now Jess has provided a rigorous defence for her comment.

Writing on her MySpace blog, the 27-year-old mum raged:

"I want to clear some things up that have been bothering me lately. I find it depressing that in the midst of perhaps the most salient time in our country's history, individuals are taking it upon themselves to encourage negativity and stupidity.

"Last week, Mr Bill O'Reilly and some really classy sites (i.e.TMZ) insinuated I was dumb by claiming Sweden was a neutral country," she continued.

"Seriously people... it's so sad to me that you think the only neutral country during WWII was Switzerland."

She ended sarcastically: "I appreciate the name calling and the accurate reporting. Keep it up."

Phew. We think a few people might be thinking twice before they engage Jessica's wrath again.

This lady ain't afraid of a war of words...

How to Build a Small-Business Web Site, Part 4: Web 2.0 Tools

2009-01-23T10:26:00.000-08:00

Interactive tools can add tremendous value to a business Web site, but it's not obvious where to begin -- or where to stop. Blogs, social networking connections and widgets will not only keep visitors coming back, but also provide conduits for increasing your site's exposure across the Internet.

Part 1 looks at essential elements of a business Web site. Part 2 offers basic site design guidelines. Part 3 tackles some advanced design issues.

When it comes to Web 2.0 tools and your business Web site, there's a time and a place for everything. Web master wannabes with businesses to run often go overboard with the plethora of social networking tools at their disposal and end up wasting a lot of time and effort on frivolous undertakings.

"It's important not to get carried away and implement every last widget you can find," Jim Keller, CEO of Context Technology Solutions, told TechNewsWorld. "If it's not going to be relevant, then you are investing time that could be better spent on other aspects of running your business."

On the other hand, some business owners with an aversion to social networking and all associated tools might be missing out on opportunities to improve sales, increase traffic to their sites, and engage in one-on-one communications with their colleagues and customers.

Know Your Traffic Patterns

As a small-business owner and consultant, Kathleen Gilroy, cofounder of Swift Media Networks, is all for leveraging what you can to build relationships with customers.

"Some very basic Web 2.0 tools can be remarkably effective in getting your message out, communicating your vision and direction and driving people to your site," she said. "You can get a lot of leverage for very little money."

She has her own personal catalog of favorite Web 2.0 tools that she uses to improve the effectiveness and reach of her site, starting with Google Analytics.

"To get started, you want to track traffic to and from your site," said Gilroy. "It's free and easy to set up, and is an important first step in creating a Web 2.0 strategy for your business."

A good analytics tool can show you why people are visiting your site, what they're doing when they get there, what keywords they're using to find you, and even if traffic is going through social media sites such as Twitter , noted Gilroy. "You can look at where they are coming from geographically, which can help you formulate a strategy to reach them."

Moving Up the Ranks

Leveraging tools is not just about creating outreach programs. They can play an integral role in moving you up the search engine rankings as well. "Getting your site visible on search engines is critical," Gilroy said. "Having a blog embedded on your site is a great way to do that, because search engines like to see new content. If you are posting on your blog regularly, using the right keywords, you'll push up your ratings."

"Blogging is very important for search engine optimization," observed Dan Hobin, CEO of G5 Search Marketing. "The problem, however, is that it's time consuming. If you have a blog and do it right, it's great. Before you start one, though, be realistic about how much time you can put into it. Don't have one if you can't update it regularly."

If a business does want to get into blogging, it needs to make sure it also has some checks and balances in place, advised Shawn Moore, CEO of Solodev. "Sometimes you can leak too much company information, or a disgruntled blogger in your company could wreak havoc."

Movable Type and WordPress are among the more highly recommended free tools available for the do-it-yourself blogger.

Getting Connected

A social networking vehicle -- whether it's Facebook , MySpace , LinkedIn , Twitter or any of a multitude of others -- can be an effective way to drive a steady stream of traffic to your site and keep your business contacts up to speed on your activities.

"If you are a consultant, you need to try and get your message out -- and as frequently as possible across as many platforms as you can," Swift Media's Gilroy said. "These can be really powerful for advancing your interests, and the best part is they're free or very inexpensive. For the amount of dollars you spend, you can get very, very powerful returns."

She particularly likes Yelp.com, a community site for posting reviews of local services. "A consultant or service provider can send customers an e-mail asking them to post reviews of their business on Yelp, which includes links back to their Web site to drive traffic and help improve their ranking in search engines."

Wonderful Widgets

Even the simplest of tools can make your site stand out and deliver some compelling reasons for people to stick around.

"Perhaps the best 2.0 application on a Web site is Google Maps," said Solodev's Moore. "Just about all businesses are taking advantage of that on their sites."

Another application that is rapidly gaining momentum with business owners is AddThis. A simple copy and paste of AddThis code to your site lets visitors click on an icon to bookmark and share your Web site content with others. It also sends content to social bookmarking services and networks, and it includes analytics on how visitors are sharing content from your site.

Digg is an aggregate news site where visitors explore and share content from anywhere on the Web. Yahoo Answers provides the opportunity to post answers to questions, which can help boost the credibility of your business or service. Disqus is another comment system that tracks conversations across the Web; it also bridges discussions with services such as FriendFeed and Plaxo.

"Regular RSS feeds to readers are also worth investigating, because it's quick and simple to implement," Keller adds. "People can follow what goes on your site elsewhere, and gain a little window into how they can view your site."

Google Custom Search Engine is a low-cost subscription service that allows you to create a customized, branded search engine on your site. "You get a great-looking search engine and actually increase your ranking in Google when it's used," said Moore.

Universal Access

Universal login capabilities with the likes of Facebook Connect and Google Friend Connect can engage visitors more deeply with your Web site. "The whole idea of getting people to socialize on your site without them having to register will do wonders for encouraging people to interact, building communities and encouraging adoption," said Scott Aikin, founder and lead developer of Hawkee Technology Social Network.

"It's really nice to have something that facilitates a higher level of social networking functionality," he told TechNewsWorld.

Whatever the motive behind your Web 2.0 tool choices, common sense should always prevail, cautioned Context Technology Solutions' Keller. "The one mistake I see businesses make is overusing integrating links and tools, and getting too involved in their own development. If you monetize your time, you might find it's worth your while to hire a developer instead."

Harvard Physicist Sets Record Straight on Internet Carbon Study

2009-01-23T10:21:00.001-08:00

A Harvard researcher spent much of Monday setting the record straight about his research and how it relates to Google's energy consumption. A Sunday Times of London story reported that conducting two Google searches generates as much carbon dioxide as boiling water, though the researcher denies singling out Google.

A story in the Sunday Times of London sent Google's (Nasdaq: GOOG) public relations machine into an advanced search for answers. The Times reporters wrote about a new Harvard study that examines the energy impact of Web searches. The story's lead paragraph: "Performing two Google searches from a desktop computer can generate about the same amount of carbon dioxide as boiling a kettle for a cup of tea, according to new research."

One problem: the study's author, Harvard University physicist Alex Wissner-Gross, says he never mentions Google in the study. "For some reason, in their story on the study, the Times had an ax to grind with Google," Wissner-Gross told TechNewsWorld. "Our work has nothing to do with Google. Our focus was exclusively on the Web overall, and we found that it takes on average about 20 milligrams of CO2 per second to visit a Web site."

And the example involving tea kettles? "They did that. I have no idea where they got those statistics," Wissner-Gross said.

Was Google Burned by Energy Story?

The Times story is giving Google a chance to talk about the company's green initiatives and its efforts to pursue cleaner energy technologies on several fronts, Google spokesperson Jamie Yood said. "This comes from the top, from (cofounders) Larry (Page) and Sergey (Brin), who are really dedicated to this. There's an acknowledgment that Google is using energy and on the business front it makes sense to get this energy cost as low as possible," Yood told TechNewsWorld. "And on the environmental front, they are passionate about climate change and are really involved. They recognize that if we're going to use energy, let's try to figure out how to do this as minimally as possible."

That includes the use of biodiesel shuttles and electric cars to and from its Mountain View, Calif., campus, offering bikes for employees to ride from building to building on that campus, and using recyclable materials throughout those buildings. And when it comes to its server farms, "we do believe we have the most energy efficient data centers."

Google takes exception on its Official Google blog to the statistics quoted in the Times story regarding the energy used to Web search vs. boiling a kettle of water. A speedy search uses less energy, the company claims; about the same amount of energy as the human body uses in about 10 seconds.

Google has asked to see a copy of the study, and Wissner-Gross says he is more than happy to send them one.

One of the Times article's authors had interviewed a Google engineer "whose job is to look at data centers to make sure they're more energy efficient, and he didn't really use any of his material," Yood said.

Google's Side of Things

Greenpeace doesn't really focus on the energy efficiencies used by Google or Web companies in general, said spokesperson Daniel Kessler. It is more focused on electronics products, the toxic materials used and company recycling initiatives. However, Google gets high marks for its green efforts in Washington D.C., Kessler said. "I commend Google for its lobbying and the legislative work they're doing when it comes to clean energy," Kessler told TechNewsWorld. "In the whole tech sector, they're really on the forefront on taking action regarding the climate."

Google's data centers burn through a lot of energy in the course of providing answers to search queries around the world, and the cheapest form of that energy right now is coal, said Roger Kay, principal at Endpoint Technologies Associates, who keeps a close eye on the environmental policies at IT companies.

"It's taking that electricity bill they've got and kind of making it a proportion of the total expenditure of the generation of electricity, and then allocating that as a cost to Google and saying that's their responsibility, their piece of it," Kay told TechNewsWorld. "It's just modeling, a modeling exercise that may not necessarily be a reflection of reality."

The location of the information needed in a Web search may also play a part, Kay said. "If you're looking for the latest on Brad Pitt, then that's likely to be stored in multiple servers towards the edge of the network, where it will be an easy search. Google through its traffic management knows a lot of people are interested in that. But if you want to read Cicero's works, which haven't been read for a while, you may have to go deep into the network."

The Researcher's Take

Wissner-Gross, who manages the Web site CO2stats.com to help educate people about energy efficiencies on the Internet, has been inundated with press requests since the Times story was published. The Times quoted him correctly in the story as saying, "A Google search has a definite environmental impact" and "Google operates huge data centers around the world that consume a great deal of power," he confirmed.

"I don't think anybody would disagree with those statements," Wissner-Gross said. "Everything online has a definite environmental impact. I think everybody can agree on that, including Google."

There's a difference between regular servers and those used in advanced data centers, Wissner-Gross said, and he acknowledges that Google would have a financial interest in maintaining an energy-efficient infrastructure. "Energy consumption may be a higher fraction of infrastructure costs for large companies like Google than the hardware itself."

In between answering reporters' e-mails and appearing on CNBC, Wissner-Gross has had a lot of time to think about why the Sunday Times focused on Google in its story. "The short answer is, it's a really easy way to sell papers. Google is a very successful company and it's a very easy way to get readership by making grandiose claims about them."

Is Cisco Spoiling for a Server Market Brawl?

2009-01-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

Cisco may be taking a big step in the direction of reinvention if rumors about its plans to get into the blade server business can be believed. The network gear giant reportedly plans to launch virtualization technology that will put it in direct competition with HP, Dell and IBM.

Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO) , the dominant maker of routers and switches, appears to have designs on the blade server market. It has begun working on its own virtualized technology code-named "California Server," according to The New York Times.

It is said to run on Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) processors and Cisco's own Nexus switch.

Details are murky, but questions are plentiful: For instance, there is speculation as to whether Cisco is planning a general-purpose blade server or one designed for a specific use case, such as telephony.

Cisco did not respond immediately to a request for comment by E-Commerce Times.

Time for Bold Moves

How wise this move will be -- if it is true -- is a point of debate. Cisco will be entering a space in which it does not currently compete and does not have a track record -- a space that is already dominated by well-established companies such as HP (NYSE: HPQ) , Dell (Nasdaq: DELL) and IBM (NYSE: IBM) .

None of those companies is going to be inclined to give up market share without a fight -- especially now, with hardware and related products not selling well. Cisco can expect tough competition on pricing and service if it does indeed try to establish a foothold in the blade server market.

It is the suffering economy and the need to expand and diversify, however, that lends credence to the rumors. Cisco may believe that conditions warrant the risk entailed in making a bold move into the US$67 billion market.

Smart Move

The strategy makes sense for Cisco, despite its risks, said Charles King, principal of Pund-IT .

"Cisco has increasingly built IT management capabilities into network offerings. In particular, I am thinking of smart switches leveraged by companies like EMC (NYSE: EMC) to handle storage and information management solutions," he told TechNewsWorld.

"Also, the Intel-based server market is one where there is a lot of latitude for companies to get involved," he continued. "Frankly it is hard to tell the difference from one Intel server to another."

Going after the virtualization part of the server market is also smart, because that is the easiest way to compete with HP, IBM and Dell, added King.

"It would also be a bit of tit for tat. Under Hurd, HP has built out its own networking hardware, and this may be a simple statement of recognition on Cisco's part that if vendors like HP can create competitive products, then [Cisco] can turn around and do a good job of producing industry standard servers."

Microsoft Opens Floodgates for Windows 7 Beta

2009-01-23T10:11:00.000-08:00

Microsoft faced a barrage of criticism from indignant users last week, after a spike in demand for its limited Windows 7 beta crashed the site where downloads could be accessed. Redmond responded quickly with a conciliatory move: It lifted the cap on the total number of downloads it would permit, making the beta available to all comers during the designated period.

Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is making Windows 7 available as a public beta on an unlimited basis following a surge in demand that crashed the site after it first posted the code.

Microsoft had originally planned to roll out the Windows 7 public beta on a limited basis; initially, it was to have become available to the first 2.5 million users for a period beginning last Friday and extending through Jan. 24.

When the site went back up a day after the crash, Brandon LeBlanc, Windows communications manager on the Windows client communications team, addressed irate users in a blog, saying that the limit on the number of downloads had been removed.

Now, anyone can access Windows beta 7 through Jan. 24, with no cap on the total number of downloads.

"Due to an enormous surge in demand, the download experience was not ideal so we listened and took the necessary steps to ensure a good experience," LeBlanc wrote.

As with previous betas, Microsoft is making Windows 7 available in download-only format -- it is not sending out physical media. It is available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

In other ways, however -- starting with the removal of the cap -- Microsoft appears to be following a different playbook this time.

Vista, it is largely acknowledged, fell far short of expectations both in terms of features and in the number of glitches that have plagued the operating system. Redmond's goals, it appears, coincide with one of these story lines: a) For those users still clinging to XP, give them enough support so they won't jump to another system; or b) For Vista haters who have already migrated and wished they hadn't, roll out Windows 7 as soon as possible. Also, make the introduction process as painless as possible.

Mistakes Were Made

Microsoft has been contrite about Vista's failings in public comments and blogs -- at least, as contrite as it seems possible for it to be, Charles King, principal with Pund-IT Research, told the E-Commerce Times.

"They have admitted problems exist with Vista, particularly with compatibility, and they are moving forward aggressively to ensure that these problems don't happen again," he said. Microsoft is also incorporating features in Windows 7 that are deemed either weak in Vista or missing altogether -- another nod to the legions that have been critical of Microsoft's most recent OS.

Windows 7, based on previews of the application, promises to refine certain aspects of the Vista. It gives users more control over Vista's User Account Control feature, for example, while improving performance. It also is supposed to be lean enough to run on netbooks, a rapidly growing computer category.

"The basic message is, 'We learned from mistakes, it won't happen again, now let's move on to Windows 7,'" King said. "It's a very pragmatic approach and the best approach Microsoft could be taking at this point."

General availability for Windows 7, which is still on track, according to Microsoft, is slotted for early 2010.

Competitive Factors

Even if Vista had been a success, Microsoft would likely have been forced to change its marketing strategy, Scott Testa, a professor at St. Joseph's University, told the E-Commerce Times.

"Traditionally, Microsoft has released its applications in baby steps, pushing it out gradually to developers in alphas and betas. Once they have a good sense that it is stable, then they start rolling it out through the channels to end users."

Clearly, Microsoft now wants to speed up that process, he said, and get Windows 7 into the hands of end users -- not only to erase the bad taste from Vista, but also to pre-empt competitive offerings from Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) and other vendors, he said.

"There is a mindset there now that the traditional marketing channels in the software world are starting to change," Testa observed. "There are companies like Google which are launching a variety of products quickly and just as quickly incorporating user feedback."

This rollout will be a turning point for Microsoft, Testa predicted, with future rollouts taking place faster than in the past.

Browser Wars, the 'Linux Killer' and the Free Software Ditty

2009-01-23T10:02:00.000-08:00

The Linux blogs continued to buzz about the Wisconsin woman who dropped out of college because her Dell running Ubuntu wasn't meeting her expectations, with rational discussion winning out over vitriol. Meanwhile, Firefox continues to steal market share from Internet Explorer.

Now that President Obama has taken office at last, hopes are high around the globe for an era of recovery and change.

Coincidentally, similar hopes were evident on the Linux blogs in recent days following last week's lambasting of the Wisconsin college student who claimed that Ubuntu forced her to drop out of school. Throughout the blogosphere, Linux geeks not only pondered the ferocity of the verbal attacks that greeted her claim, but also turned their thoughts to related topics such as technology policies in higher education andDell"s (Nasdaq: DELL) apparent open source ambivalence.

"I think that schools should require their vendors to support the big three of OSes... Win, Lin, and Mac," asserted buckrogers1965 on Digg.

On the other hand: "Linux doesn't donate buildings," robrohan pointed out.

Dell (Heart) Linux?

Similar notions were explored over on the Linux Loop in Thomas Teisberg"s post, "Realistically Allowing for Numerous Software Preferences in Education."

Then there was the post, also from Blog of Helios, asserting that "the Linux Community is having an on-again off-again love affair with Dell." More than 700 diggs and 150 comments followed from that one, along with many more on the Helios site, and Teisberg addressed the issue on the Loop as well.

All this controversy, even asbloggers celebrated the fact that Ubuntu 9.04 boots in only 21.4 seconds!

IE's Loss, Open Source's Gain

In fact, more cheerful news emerged recently in the form of a report indicating that internet explorer continues to lose market share to open source browsers such as Firefox and Google(Nasdaq: GOOG) Chrome.

More than 1,700 Diggs and 300 comments greeted the Ars Technica article on the topic, as bloggers cheered Redmond's loss.

"I'm not surprised that IE keeps losing market share," Slashdot blogger Mhall119 told LinuxInsider. "Browsers are a commodity now -- almost every Web site works exactly the same in Firefox, Safari, Opera and now Chrome. If anything, IE just doesn't fit in anymore."

'Not Something to Sneeze At'

Actually, "the only thing that kept IE set apart -- ActiveX -- is now viewed as a blight on the World Wide Web. Its selling point of the past is now considered a defect, even by newer versions of itself," he added.

The lack of "a serious Linux port" makes it hard to think of Google Chrome as an open source browser, Monochrome Mentality blogger Kevin Dean told LinuxInsider.

It's also important to note that "IE still holds an 89 percent share, and that's not something to sneeze at," Dean pointed out. "I think it goes to show just how powerful pre-installation is, and -- more than that -- with all the alternative browsers out there for Windows users, most people don't know they have other options."

Free Software Song

Nevertheless, "it's great to see that Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is slipping," he said. "Internet Explorer 7 is actually decent enough that I'm able to use it without trying to claw out my eyes, but that's mainly because it incorporated some features of Firefox."

Firefox is also building on the some of the things that made IE 7 nicer than its predecessor, Dean added. "I love to see the competition: It generates an all-around better internet experience for everyone," he said.

With so much good news and optimism, it's enough to make a geek want to burst out singing a spirited rendition of Richard Stallman's Free Software Song. Go ahead -- join in anytime!

A 'Linux Killer'?

We'd be remiss not to mention, however, a discussion that's been going back and forth on the topic of Windows 7. The debate has been going on for some time now -- but even in the last week or two, it continued unabated.

Specifically, two separate articles on Digg -- one focusing on a ZDNet blog and the other on a NetworkWorld.com article -- pondered assertions that Windows 7 will be a "Linux killer," while the Linux Loop's Teisberg tried to cut through some of the surrounding hype.

"Windows 7 will probably be a good release as far as I am concerned, if only for the performance improvement," Teisberg concluded. "It just won't be the ground breaking, new and amazing release that some people say it will be."

'I Think Not'

Yet there are those -- perhaps most vocally of late, Network World's Ron Barrett -- who believes Windows 7 will "crush" Linux. Them's fighting words, so we here at LinuxInsider belted out one last refrain ("join us now and share the software...") and then took to the streets for some more insight.

"Linux killer? I think not," Montreal consultant and Slashdot blogger Gerhard Mack told LinuxInsider. "It will take more than a new interface to make Linux users switch back."

In the meantime, "Windows 7 still requires a more powerful system than XP while Linux can manage Vista-style effects on a machine fast enough for XP," he said.

"The Linux folks aren't relaxing, either, and now that they have the pretty graphics they are working to make Linux less resource-intensive -- so expect things to only get better from here," Mack added.

Microsoft 'Is Killing Itself'

"I believe GNU/Linux has been making progress over that other OS since before XP -- only now, in 2009, is M$ beginning to implement some of the security/performance features we have enjoyed all these years," blogger Robert Pogson told LinuxInsider. "Vista was so bloated that even normal users of that other OS were shocked. They were getting performance similar to malware-infestation out of the box."

Windows 7 may be "a service pack of Vista or it may be the result of removing some excess bloat -- a nip and tuck job -- but it will not likely be anywhere as good as what we get with GNU/Linux," Pogson said.

In fact, "if 7 is as similar to Vista as described, there is no need to migrate to it, just away," he added. "I think M$ is killing itself. GNU/Linux does not have to do much except pick up the pieces from the collapse."

Two Markets

Similarly: "I predict that Windows 7 will be spectacular in exactly how irrelevant it is long-term," Dean said. "The general tone of the reviews I've seen so far kind of emphasize that not much has changed from Vista except for performance. Why, then, do the speculators think it is going to do anything significant in terms of attracting users?"

Others saw it differently: "Since Windows 7 isn't designed for servers or phones, it really has two markets: desktops/laptops and netbooks," Mhall119 asserted. "I see it doing very well on the desktop, because of market share and OEM commitment, and it will probably slow the adoption of Linux on the desktop as the remaining XP holdouts will switch to 7 instead of Linux."

'I Don't Think 7 Can Compete'

In the netbook market, however, "I don't think 7 can compete," he said. "As Windows advocates have been saying for years about the desktop, people use applications. Even if 7 will run on netbooks, the applications that keep people on Windows won't."

Vista, and now 7, "come with lots of new features and visual effects, and the computers they run on come with more memory, bigger hard drives and more powerful graphics cards," Mhall119 pointed out. "Windows application and game developers have and will continue to take advantage of them.

"As a result, most Windows applications and games won't be running on a slow processor, small SSD drive and little memory," he concluded. "And without the applications, there's no incentive to use Windows."

Mac Bloggers Hail White MacBooks, Salute Apple TVs, Chuck iPhone Nanos

2009-01-23T09:53:00.000-08:00

Thought Apple intended to bleed its supply of plain-vanilla MacBooks dry in favor of the newer, more expensive aluminum models? Not quite -- the low-end line just got an Nvidia-caliber upgrade. Also, comments from Apple during a financial conference call indicate nothing you could call an iPhone nano is on the way anytime soon, and Apple TV sales are doing just fine, thank you.

There's a lot of news in the Apple-focused blogosphere this week, and picking the most interesting tidbits is quite a chore.

In any event, Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) quietly upgraded its polycarbonate entry-level white MacBook, announced record profits and nixed the notion that Apple might introduce an "iPhone nano" anytime soon. Plus, the Apple TV "hobby" picked up some steam.

Long Live the Whitebook

When Apple announced its new unibody aluminum MacBook and MacBook Pro line in October, most everyone seemed to think the white old-school MacBook simply gave Apple a sub-US$1,000 notebook it could sell out and allow to fade away. Surprisingly, though, the company instead upgraded it. Apple added the Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics processor -- which is already in its more powerful siblings -- bumped the default RAM to 2 GB, and beefed up the frontside bus from 866 MHz to 1,066 MHz. The 2.1 GHz Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) core2duo processor slipped to 2.0 GHz, most likely so that the white MacBook shares the same guts as the low-end unibody version. Bluetooth also hopped to version 2.1.

Obviously, all the major Apple-focused blogs picked up on the news, but TheAppleBlog's Tom Reestman jumped into nitty-gritty: comparing the new white Macbook to the aluminum unibody MacBook.

"The bigger issue, to me, is discussing the relative 'worth' of the $1,299 unibody MacBook in comparison to the updated white model," he wrote.

The white MacBook's RAM is slightly slower -- DDR2 vs the newer DDRM -- and the LED-backlit screen on the unibody gives it a usage edge. Reestman noted that the MacBook unibody screen is much richer and brighter than the white MacBook screen -- but not as good as the MacBook Pro's screen.

"I was really astonished to learn that the entry level White MB had got the new videocard, but still remained at the low price. This is very tempting, but also tempted to save for the unibody one. Trouble is ... once I start that path, I can easily see that I'll be tempted to up-sell again for the larger hard disk and the backlit keyboard! Sigh ..." commented Michael Cheung.

Still, unibody MacBook users seem reluctant to recommend the polycarbonate option.

"The biggest difference is the trackpad. My girlfriend has the white MB and I have the new unibody. The trackpad on the white MB is not smooth and feels tiny when compared to the aluminum. Plus all the gestures on the aluminum are amazing. It frustrates me when I can't do them on the white one," commented David.

Placeholder for a Netbook?

Apple's white MacBook just invites speculation. Perhaps Apple is just trying to keep a lower-cost portable option available in the market as the consumer economy falters. Or maybe there's more to it.

"It seems interesting that Apple is keeping the white MacBook around so long. The MBP 17-inch is now replaced, and maybe the white will be soon, too; however, the white may be just place-holder for the netbook that Apple says it's 'watching' now," Sven Rafferty, founder of hyperSven and SvenOnTech blogger, told MacNewsWorld.

"I do think the upgrade is a better value at $999. I wish Apple would just have a loss-leader like every other company and eat the $100 price slash and have a true sub-$900 notebook. But again, it may be gone soon anyway," he added.

Apple's Stellar Financial Results

The company in Cupertino reported a record $1.61 billion in profit for its most recently finished financial quarter, on top of record revenue of $10.17 billion, which compares to $9.6 billion in revenue and $1.58 billion in profit from the year-ago quarter. Mac shipments came in at 2.524 million -- a tidy 9 percent growth. As for stagnation in iPods? Hardly: Apple sold 22.727 million, a company record (though growth was just 3 percent). And the iPhone? 4.463 million sold for the quarter, up 88 percent.

Even more interesting is the question and answer session following Apple's official report. In the call, COO Tim Cook noted, "We're not going to play in the low-end voice phone business. That's not who we are, that's not why we're here. Goal is not to lead unit sales, but to build the world's best phone."

While many analysts have been expecting Apple to introduce an entry-level iPhone, that just hasn't happened -- even with Wal Mart(NYSE: WMT) coming on board to sell iPhones.

As for possible users, what if Apple did deliver a low-cost iPhone?

"I really don't think a low-end iPhone would be useful. I love the iPhone for its connectivity (internet, mail, apps) and I feel that a basic iPhone would be very basic, unable to do some of the great things that the iPhone can. So I agree with Apple for this move, or lack there of," commented Jonny Ques on the MacRumors.com post on the subject.

"All the people that were waiting for the iphone nano are going to be so disappointed," added jmann4489.

Of course, then there's a whole 'nother direction: "Bring on the iPhone Pro already!" added =MuLti-CeLL=.

Maintaining the Brand

While Apple's next move is anybody's guess, an iPhone nano is looking more and more like wishful thinking.

"Tim Cook said Apple doesn't want to be the shipment leader, Apple wants to be the maker of the best phone out there -- and I think that speaks to Apple maintaining the iPhone brand and maintaining the value, and a huge part of that value is the size and resolution of the screen," Chris Hazelton, research director of Mobile and Wireless for The 451 Group, told MacNewsWorld.

"There are going to major reductions in the size of components in the next iPhone, but I don't think that will equate to a smaller screen," he added, noting that he would expect to see the extra space used for more storage and a bigger, longer-lasting battery.

"Do I see Apple releasing an iPhone nano? I don't see that," Hazelton said.

From a developer standpoint, much of Apple's success and future success can be attributed to the widely successful App Store and the developers who extend the value of the iPhone via software.

"Having the large touch screen gives them the ability to build a custom user interface for their applications," Hazelton noted. A smaller screen would limit their abilities, and may do little to create awe-inspiring app value.

Long Live the Apple TV?

"Purportedly left for dead and mocked by pundits," the Apple TV has turned into a productive hobby for Apple that will see continued development in the future, AppleInsider reported.

During an Apple financial conference call, Cook noted that Apple TV sales were up more than 3 times over the year-ago figures, according to AppleInsider. However, he maintained the company still considers it a "hobby."

Hobby or not, the Apple TV is popular among its owners -- some of which indubitably wish it would do more, like let them surf the Web or view non-Apple video streams.

"Frankly, it'll continue to be a hobby till they improve the software and take on board what their customers (and more importantly, potential customers) want. For example, I want to be able to watch things I download from the internet (not via iTunes). I also want to be able to watch the BBC iPlayer (a UK specific hulu-like service from the BBC). Neither of those two things are possible with Apple TV, but both are possible with a number of competitors (e.g. Boxee). So, I'll probably buy a Mac Mini instead, and do it that way (if they ever update it) ... They're really missing so many opportunities here," commented eAi on the AppleInsider post.

"The Apple TV needs to stop masquarading around as a computer imitating a CE device. Apple should slap an ARM (Nasdaq: ARMHY) proc, better video decode and open it up to Hulu and Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) amongst others. I know this sounds crazy. Why would you let your competitors hitch a ride? Because once you get people comfortable with the idea of streaming content it means they become hungry and iTunes would still be the premiere service," added hmurchison.

"I like my AppleTV just fine. It's nice, but it could be awesome! If they could make it work with a wireless keyboard/mouse, it could be what WebTV should have been. WebTV is the coolest idea that has had the most disappointing execution -- no wonder Microsoft(Nasdaq: MSFT) bought it," commented macFanDave.

NasserAE, however, was ready to toss a dose of reality onto the wishful thinking: "I don't know why some people are obsessed in considering AppleTV a failure! It is the best product in its class. The problem is not AppleTV, the problem is with ISP limitations in regard to bandwidth, speeds, and availability. Until this problem is solved we will never see AppleTV or any other similar product takes off no matter how good or cheap it is."

Intel Paints Worst-Case Scenario for 2009

2009-01-23T09:47:00.000-08:00

Intel is cautioning investors to prepare for the worst in the coming year, which may position the company to deliver better-than-expected results if economic conditions should improve. The trouble is that neither Intel nor anyone else can predict with any certainty when a turnaround is likely to begin.

Intel(Nasdaq: INTC) appears to be playing it safe with an ugly first-quarter forecast.

The chipmaker reported Thursday that profit plunged 90 percent and sales slipped 23 percent during the last three months of the year, matching analysts' subdued estimates.

Wall Street was braced for the bad news: Intel had lowered its fourth-quarter guidance twice, including once just last week, warning that weaker-than-expected PC demand was hammering down demand for its microprocessors.

So what about 2009? Intel said it doesn't know when demand will pick back up, so the Santa Clara, Calif.-based company set the bar low and offered first-quarter guidance at the low end of what analysts were expecting.

Good Place to Start

Intel said it 2009 sales will likely be around US$7 billion, which translates to a decline of more than 25 percent from the first quarter of 2008. Gross profit margin should also sink sharply, falling from more than 50 percent of sales to the low-40 percent range, it said.

Gross profit is a key measure of how well a company is controlling its costs, but falling demand, heavy investment in factory upgrades and big costs for running factories at less than full throttle will all take their toll on Intel's bottom line.

Intel said the financial crisis has made it so difficult to predict revenue that the company wouldn't offer a precise estimate. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters were expecting $7.3 billion in sales, on average, but estimates ranged from $6.6 billion to as high as $9.3 billion.

The profit forecast was below many estimates, but was good enough to send Intel's shares up 3.8 percent in after-hours trading.

"I don't think they're good numbers, but they're good numbers to start from," said Cody Acree, senior semiconductor analyst with Stifen,Nicolaus & Co "We all knew they would be bad and that they'd come down, but they've set a base to work from."

Economy Hasn't Hit Bottom

Intel's Chief Financial Officer Stacy Smith said in an interview that computer makers' inventory levels fell in the fourth quarter and continued falling into the first quarter, which means they're not buying as many new chips.

He said Intel's product lineup positions the company well to take advantage when demand starts rising again, but Smith cautioned that no one knows yet when that might be.

"It's very difficult to precisely call when we'll hit the bottom," he said.

In the fourth quarter, Intel's net income was $234 million, or 4 cents per share, compared with $2.3 billion, or 38 cents per share, in the year-ago period.

Profits were squeezed by a freeze in information technology spending and a shift toward low-margin processors for a class of little laptops known as "netbooks." A big reason for the severity of the fourth-quarter drop, though, was a $1 billion writedown of the value of Intel's investment in Internet provider Clearwire.

Clearwire specializes in a new type of wireless broadband technology called "WiMax" that Intel is building into its chips, and has stumbled on fears the credit crunch will derail its ambitious network buildout plans.

Intel's sales were $8.2 billion, a 23 percent shortfall from last year.

For all of 2008, Intel earned $5.3 billion, 24 percent lower than a year ago, on sales of $37.6 billion, a 2 percent decline.

45nm Advantage

PC demand is sinking fast, which takes its toll on Intel because Intel owns 80 percent of the market for microprocessors, the brains of personal computers. Market research firmsIDCand Gartner(NYSE: IT) reported this week that PC sales growth in the fourth quarter was the worst it's been in six years, with the slump expected to drag out until possibly 2010.

Bobby Burleson, managing director of equity research for Canaccord Adams , called Intel's profit forecast disappointing, but said it likely indicates that Intel has "come clean with what sounds like a worst-case scenario for this year."

One area where Intel shines is controlling its manufacturing costs, where it enjoys a big advantage over smaller rival Advace Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) . Intel's quicker transition than AMD to 45-nanometer manufacturing technology, which shrinks the size of the chips' circuitry, has made each chip cheaper to produce. That has helped cushion the blow of falling sales.

AMD -- which has lost billions of dollars over the past two years, recently changed CEOs, and is spinning off its factories to save money -- warned that its fourth-quarter sales will likely come in 33 percent lower than last year. AMD reports quarterly results Jan. 22.

During the regular trading session before the earnings report, Intel stock rose 21 cents, 1.6 percent, to close at $13.29. The shares hit $13.85 in after-hours trading.

Report: Intel Cooking Up More Robust Low-Power Processors

2009-01-23T09:42:00.000-08:00

Intel is reportedly cooking up a new entry in the consumer ultra low voltage market. CULV chips are built for highly mobile consumer products like very small laptops. Intel's Atom chips can already be found in many netbooks, but a new CULV offering may go up against Yukon, a recently unveiled platform from rival AMD.

Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) is reportedly preparing a new consumer ultra low voltage (CULV) platform aimed at small, highly portable notebook computers.

The new push will focus on ultra-mobile PCs (UMPCs) priced between US$700 to $900, according to Digitimes. Consumers should look for the new platforms in hardware beginning in the second quarter of 2009.

Intel would not confirm or deny the information in the report.

"We have not made an announcement concerning plans for consumer ULV. We have seen a lot of rumor and speculation in several reports; however, it is our policy not to comment on speculation or rumor," Connie Brown, an Intel spokesperson, told TechNewsWorld.

Processing Rumor Mill

Despite the lack of any immediate and specific word from Intel regarding its CULV plans, the company has spoken about turning out a CULV platform for some time, Jon Peddie, president of Jon Peddie Research, told TechNewsWorld.

"It's a nifty segment in the mobile market and provides price points and features -- like screen size -- for several categories. The OEMs love it," he said.

While no specifications or details are available for the upcoming platform, Peddie confirmed that HP(NYSE: HPQ) will be one of the first manufacturers to feature it in its notebook computers.

"Where HP goes the others will follow," Peddie pointed out.

Dividing the Market

The new CULV platform is reportedly part of Intel's 2009 master plan to divide the market into four categories: traditional notebooks 12.1 inches and above; netbooks running Atom processors or technology based on Pineview; mobile Internet devices (MIDs) sporting the Menlow chip; and 11-inch to 13.3-inch ultra-portable notebooks.

Any upcoming CULV platform from Intel would pit the company against its arch-rival AMD(NYSE: AMD) , with its Yukon platform.

Announced two weeks ago at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the Yukon platform is designed for ultrathin notebooks and will enable hardware makers to design very light machines with entertainment features and functionality normally associated with larger systems, according to AMD.

Based on the new AMD Athlon Neo processor with ATI (Nasdaq: ATYT) Radeon X1250 integrated graphics and an optional ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3410 discrete graphics card , the platform is scheduled to make its debut in the HP Pavillion dv2 Entertainment Notebook PC ultra thin, a less-than-1-inch-thick notebook. The machine includes a 12.1-inch diagonal LED BrightView display, a nearly full-size keyboard and an optional external optical disc drive with Blu-ray capability.

"This is a bit of a reaction to [the Yukon]. Intel's entry into any market segment is not good news for its competitors," Peddie noted.

Nash to Toronto? Don't get sucked in

2009-01-19T10:17:00.000-08:00

The rumor mill has begun churning again on the possibility of the Phoenix Suns trading Steve Nash to the Toronto Raptors. Allow me to let the air out of that balloon please. Steve Nash will not be traded. Again I repeat, Steve Nash will not be traded.

The speculation began with Sam Smith's midseason on NBA.com several days ago. Within the article, Smith suggests that the Suns’ first and only priority should be retaining Amar’e Stoudemire, thus opening the door to trade Nash since he hasn’t openly denied the possibility of finishing his career in New York or Toronto after his contract is up in Phoenix (which isn’t until after next season).

Admitting that Toronto has “little of great value,” and that his suggested trade is “bold,” he proposes sending Nash, Leandro Barbosa, and Robin Lopez to Toronto for Jose Calderon, Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Parker, and Jason Kapono, as well as Jamario Moon if needed to make the salaries work.

Why would the Suns have traded for Jason Richardson, the shooting guard they felt they needed for the current roster to make a stretch run, just to turn around and trade the farm?

But, as only the internet can do, Smith’s column began to be misinterpreted across search engines, and soon enough, Smith’s suggestion turned into, “the Phoenix Suns have been offered a deal from the Raptors ,” as well as,NBA.com is reporting that a Steve Nash to Toronto deal could happen pretty soon .”

If you’re skimming through this article, let me again repeat, Steve Nash will not be traded this season.

To end his suggestion, Smith says, “though they (Phoenix would) take on some contracts.” Obviously he hasn’t followed the Suns too closely then, because that’s the last thing Robert Sarver and the Suns’ brass are trying to do.

Bennifer Name Their Bub

2009-01-14T04:58:00.001-08:00

It's been a week since Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck welcomed their second baby into the world.

And now they've finally revealed the little nipper's name.

The golden showbiz couple have called her Seraphina Rose Elizabeth Affleck.

Hmm.

While they've given no explanation as to why they chose the name, it seems that in true celebrity fashion, Bennifer (the second) have put much thought into the decision.

Because this name has one spiritual and heavenly meaning.

According to a website specialising in the origin of names, Seraphina is derived from the Biblical word seraphim, which is Hebrew in origin and means fiery ones.

Seraphim is also supposed to be one of the highest orders of angels.

The choice for the middle name is a bit of a no-brainer, with the couple being a bit partial to flowery styles after calling their three-year-old, Violet.

Sony Positions Featherweight Vaio P as Full-Featured Notebook

2009-01-14T04:52:00.001-08:00

You say "mini-notebook," I say "netbook," and Sony's still going with "UMPC." Whatever you call them, pint-sized personal computers like Sony's newest Vaio are not only smaller, but also lighter, thinner, faster and more loaded with features and functionality.

Sony (NYSE: SNE) introduced its latest entrant to the ultra mobile PC (UMPC) class of computers on Wednesday at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas. Billed as the world's lightest 8-inch notebook, the Vaio P Series Lifestyle PC is roughly the size of a business envelope and about as thin as a cell phone. However, unlike most systems in the UMPC category, Sony said the Vaio P is not a netbook PC.

"We don't call the category 'netbooks.' I would call it a 'mini-notebook' because it looks and functions like a notebook," said Bob O'Donnell, an analyst at IDC.

Is That a PC in Your Pocket?

The Vaio P weighs a scant 1.4 pounds and is small enough to fit in a handbag or jacket pocket while offering users the same features they would find in a full-sized notebook or desktop PC.

It includes a 1600x768, LED backlit 8-inch ultra-wide display that incorporates Sony's Xbrite-Eco LCD technology . The system also features built-in wireless WAN 3G Mobile Broadband, 802.11n WiFi and Bluetooth technologies, which lets users adjust their wireless options to suit their location. They can opt for WiFi while at a local coffee shop or other hotspot, choose Bluetooth to connect with peripherals, or subscribe to and use mobile broadband service via the Verizon Wireless network for trips beyond the scope of a hotspot.

Sony has also added a few smartphone-esque type features to the Viao P. In addition to a webcam that can be used for video chats, the mini-notebooks include real-time GPS functionality that allows users to search for local sites such as restaurants or hotels, and get turn-by-turn directions for specific destinations. The GPS also includes drive times, and in the U.S. and Canada will function without an Internet connection .

A mini, ultraportable machine needs to be highly responsive. Mindful of that fact, Sony equipped the Vaio P with an instant-mode option that launches its XrossMediaBar interface for rapid boot-ups and fast access to music, video, photos and the Internet.

The notebook runs the Windows Vista operating system , supporting office applications and all the software programs typically found on a full-sized machine. To accommodate fingers of all sizes and prevent typing mistakes, the keyboard of the Viao P is engineered to give users the feel of larger notebook. The keyboard extends to the perimeters of the chassis, and spacing between the keys makes it suitable for long fingers, according to Sony.

"You can run anything on it," said O'Donnell.

The UMPC has up to four hours of battery life with the standard battery and up to eight hours with a larger capacity battery that is sold separately.

The Vaio P will sell for around US$900 and can be preordered starting Wednesday. It will hit store shelves in February.

More Than a Netbook

"It is certainly an interesting device," IDC's O'Donnell told TechNewsWorld. "The form factor is good; however, the price is a problem. This is another example of the hyper-specialization of notebooks. We're seeing everything from different colors to a variety of form factors. You're seeing [mini-notebooks] in a whole bunch of styles and types."

The new netbooks and UMPCs that hardware makers have begun rolling out have serendipitously hit the market just when consumers are likely to want alternatives to more expensive full-sized machines.

"There's clearly interest in lower-cost devices," said O'Donnell, "and for Sony, $900 is lower-cost. The other thing is, we're seeing more and more people getting used to having multiple notebooks. They have multiple TVs and PCs. [The Vaio P is] clearly a companion device, and Sony is making moves in a direction that will let people purchase another device."

Ashlee Simson

2009-01-14T04:48:00.000-08:00

Angelina Jolie

2009-01-14T04:45:00.000-08:00

Adam Brody

2009-01-14T04:42:00.000-08:00

Amy Winehouse

2009-01-14T04:38:00.000-08:00

Formula 1 Photos

2009-01-14T04:26:00.000-08:00

Raikkonen ready to regain top form

2009-01-14T04:23:00.000-08:00

Kimi Raikkonen insists he has moved on from his disappointing title defence and is ready to fight to reclaim the drivers’ crown in 2009.

After finally winning his maiden championship at the end of his first season at Ferrari, Raikkonen failed to build on that achievement last year and slipped behind team-mate Felipe Massa as he struggled to consistently get the best out of the F2008.

But on the day the team launched its new F60 car, the 29-year-old was keen to look forward to the new campaign – one in which he is expecting Ferrari to adapt well to the major regulation changes.

“Last year was not exactly what I wanted and it’s in the past now and we try this year again,” he said in an interview with Ferrari’s official website.

“Of course it’s a big question mark over how good the car is and who makes the best car because the rules have changed a lot.

“But we are very confident that the car should be very good and we will see in the next few weeks how good it is against the others.

“For sure we will try to win both championships and we will go testing and see how it is and go from there."

While Massa was given the honour of giving the F60 its track bow at Mugello on Monday, Raikkonen was eager to get back to both testing and racing action following the winter break.

“Racing is the most important, most exciting thing for us and it is nice to get back in the car, especially with a new car as it is always good fun,” he said.

“But I’m also waiting for the first race and it will be very, very nice to get back in racing when we start in Melbourne.”

He also gave the thumbs-up to the aesthetics of the new Ferrari, saying: “It looks different because of the new regulations, but I think after looking at it for a little while you get used to it and for me, while it looks different, it looks very good.

“I’m happy to see it running on the circuit to see how it goes.”

Tennis Photos

2009-01-14T03:59:00.000-08:00

Federer wins Kooyong opener

2009-01-14T03:57:00.000-08:00

Roger Federer is preparing for the Australian Open with a tune-up at the exhibition event in Kooyong. He defeats Carlos Moya in his opening match on Wednesday.

Roger Federer defeated Carlos Moya 6-2, 6-3 in his opening match of the Kooyong Classic on Wednesday. Federer, who lost to Andy Murray in the Qatar Open semifinals last week, is looking to get back on track in time for the Australian Open with this eight-man exhibition tune-up.

The second-ranked Swiss had no trouble dispatching Moya, and he felt good about his performance.

"It was still pretty hot out there but yesterday was even warmer and it was good getting used to the conditions here," Federer said. "I was a bit rusty in the beginning and I missed three or four forehands but it was a good match overall.

"I thought I played OK today. I was just feeling out...trying a few things here and there; it was just a matter of getting used to the conditions, getting my footwork right, the bounce, seeing how high it was and how the spin was."

Federer's compatriot and gold medal-winning partner Stanislas Wawrinka also got off to a winning start. He took out Marcos Baghdatis 6-2, 6-2 to open Wednesday's play.

"What can I say? I didn't play very good; that's all I can say," quipped a disappointed Baghdatis.

Philippoussis won't predict his tennis future

2009-01-14T03:54:00.000-08:00

It will be baby steps in tennis for Mark Philippoussis as the hard-luck, injury-prone former star competes in this week's exhibition in Adelaide.

After multiple knee surgeries and more than two years out of the game, the 32-year-old Philippoussis is unsure about any tennis future.

"I have no expectations", the two-time Grand Slam finalist told Adelaide media. "I don't need to prove anything to anyone or even to myself, it's just about me loving the game and getting back out and playing the game. There's no way I'm looking too far ahead".

Philippoussis is testing his knees and his body at the World Tennis Challenge, a hybrid team event at Memorial Drive where he is teaming with 1987 winning compatriot Pat Cash.

Philippoussis last took to a court in December, 2007, at the Australian Open wild card playoffs, where he again hurt his right knee. He is playing this week heavily strapped.

"It's in my heart to give it one more go and I would love to", he said, while admitting that he probably won't make it back onto the ATP.

The three-day team event with one current and one former player per side, also features team USA with Taylor Dent and Jim Courier, Sweden with Joachim Johansson and Mats Wilander and France with Gael Monfils and Henri Leconte.

NBA photo galleries

2009-01-14T03:29:00.000-08:00

Miles attempts to make case that he 'can still play'

2009-01-14T03:27:00.000-08:00

Needing to play just two more games coming into Tuesday to unintentionally sock it to the Blazers' pocketbooks, Darius Miles stepped onto an NBA floor for the ninth time this season in the Grizzlies' 102-87 loss to the visiting Cavs.

With nine games under his belt, Miles is one game away from reaching the 10 appearances that would put the remaining $18 million of his salary back on Portland's payroll.

Despite blowing an uncontested dunk in the open court, Miles finished with 13 points in 13 minutes on 4-of-6 shooting, proving he's still got something in his tank.

"I've shown the teams that haven't really seen me that I can still play," said Miles, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

No one needed to be reminded that LeBron James can play. After scoring only nine points in the first half, James ignited in the third quarter. James scored 17 points in the third on his way to pulling off his second triple-double of the season, finishing with 30 points along with 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

"I was taking what the defense gave me in the first half,'' James said. "I play the game the right way. I let the game come to me. I took advantage of it in the third quarter.''

Eastern Conference Insider: Orlando finds a mix that works

2009-01-14T03:25:00.000-08:00

By beating the Spurs in Texas on Sunday, Orlando swept San Antonio for the first time in franchise history. Smith looks at the roster and sees a maturing point guard in Jameer Nelson, last season's Most Improved Player in Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis (who takes and makes more 3-pointers than anyone in the NBA) and a perennial All-Star and MVP candidate in Dwight Howard. And unlike other teams, Smith doesn't have to make moves to get under the luxury tax because the trade deadline is approaching.

"You're always examining your team and seeing how you can get better," Smith said. "But you also have to be cognizant of your chemistry. And right now, we have very good chemistry. If you start to tinker with that, it's possible you mess some things up."

At 30-8, the Magic have the second-best record in the East, a half-game behind the 29-6 Cavaliers and in a virtual tie with the 31-9 Celtics. "We're getting better by the day, our confidence is growing by the day," Smith said.

Smith, who averaged 10.5 points a game in his six-season NBA playing career, may enjoy the view from atop the Southeast Division, but he still isn't satisfied.

"We're not where we want to be by any stretch, but our guys are playing hard," Smith said. "I think we're still striving to be the best. At this point, we haven't done anything. We're still a young basketball team that's trying to put it together to win a championship. Until you do that, you're chipping away at it."

Orlando continues to carve out a place among the league's best thanks to the 23-year-old Howard, who is tied for the NBA lead in rebounding (13.8 per game) and leads the league in blocks (3.3 per). It's Howard's ability to grab boards and erase shots that has allowed the Magic to be aggressive with their perimeter defense.

"I think they're defending better than they did last year," said an NBA scout. "I think Mickael Pietrus helped that before he was injured. They're able to put more pressure on the ball knowing Dwight is back there to protect the rim."

Smith notes that everything in the Magic universe revolves around their two-time All-Star.

"He's the anchor of our offense, he's the anchor of our defense," Smith said. "He controls the paint. The other guys have the confidence they can close out on shooters or send them in there and Dwight can block shots. Offensively, everything starts and stops with him."

Howard leads the team in scoring at 20.1 points per game, but the Magic do an excellent job of maintaining an inside-outside balance on offense. Lewis, who has hit a league-leading 111 3-pointers, is second with 19.1 points per game and Turkoglu, who can run the offense on occasion, averages 16.9 points per game.

"Stan Van Gundy has done a very good job with this team," said the scout. "They put four out on the perimeter and one in the post. If you double on Dwight, he can pass it out and the other guys can knock down shots. If you don't double Dwight, he can power to the rim or get fouled.

"They're also a big-time pick-and-roll team. That helps spread the floor and the Magic get defenses out of position so they're helping on the wrong guys. And if you do that, they're going to knock down shots."

Then there's Nelson, who is often seen by scouts as the weak link in the Magic's title aspirations. Whether he's exploiting mismatches and making good decisions from the Magic's pick-and-roll set or shooting .504 from the field, Nelson, the fifth-year point guard, has become the Magic's offensive engine.

"He makes us go, there's no doubt about it," Smith said. "When he's playing aggressive and attacking the basket, we're a pretty good team. When he's content to stay on the perimeter and pass the ball around and take spot-up jumpers, we're just an average basketball team."

Recently, the Magic have followed Nelson's aggressive lead. On Christmas, Orlando built a 30-point halftime lead over the Hornets en route to an 88-68 win. The Magic have clobbered the Atlanta Hawks, their Southeast division rivals, twice in the last week, including a 121-87 win in Orlando in which the Magic had built a 101-51 lead. Even when the Magic haven't been on cruise control, Smith has been pleased with his team's grit.

"We're showing good resolve," he said. "We're sharing the ball particularly well. Our guys are battling to win every game. That's the key. Even if we haven't shot the ball well, we've found a way to win, and that's what championships teams do."

But are the Magic championship caliber?

"I don't know how you guys do it, but I can only look at the records," Smith said. "I can't guess or speculate like the experts do. I'm not an expert. But we're sitting here at 30-8 ...

"The key to us is to play healthy basketball leading into the postseason and give yourself a chance. And that's what we're trying to do. Trying to play healthy basketball. We really don't care if our name is mentioned with those other teams or not, because up until you win a championship, you really haven't done anything. I think our guys realize that."

Layups

Earlier in the season, the Hawks went 6-6 when Josh Smith was out with a high-ankle sprain. Now, they face the prospect of not having second-year power forward Al Horford because of a bone bruise in his right knee. The Hawks have no timetable for his return. Zaza Pachulia will start in Horford's place ... The Nets also received some bad news when they found out Yi Jianlian will miss four-to-six weeks with a broken pinkie. Yi had just started to warm up, too, averaging 17.6 points and seven rebounds in the four games before his injury ... With the trade deadline approaching on Feb. 19, talk is heating up. The Racine Journal-Times reports the Bucks and Grizzlies have a deal in the works to send point guard Ramon Sessions and the No. 8 overall pick in the 2008 Draft, Joe Alexander, to Memphis in exchange for point guard Michael Conley ... Welcome back, Mike Dunleavy. The Pacers' swingman missed the first 34 games of the season with a knee injury. While Indiana is just 1-3 in his four games back, Dunleavy has made the most of his limited court time by averaging 16.3 points in 22.5 minutes per game ...

Belokon refutes loss rumours

2009-01-13T10:53:00.000-08:00

Blackpool president Valery Belokon insists he has no plans to walk out on the club despite reports suggesting he recently lost £100million from his personal fortune.

The Latvian bank magnate owns 20 per cent of the club and plans to pump more money into the Seasiders.

He told the Blackpool Gazette: "Not only am I planning on staying with Blackpool, but I am currently considering the possibility of increasing my shares in the club.

"That obviously means my further involvement with the club's progression.

"It seems to me that somebody else is more aware of my current financial capital than me, as I personally have not noticed such a tragic loss.

"The economic situation which is going on in the world is not affecting my progress plans for Blackpool FC."

Rovers allow duo to leave

2009-01-13T10:50:00.000-08:00

Doncaster Rovers duo Craig Nelthorpe and Andrew Boyce have had their contracts cancelled by mutual consent.

Both players had deals with the club that were set to expire at the end of this season, but have been allowed to leave the Keepmoat Stadium early after failing to break in to Sean O'Driscoll's first-team plans.

Nelthorpe signed his first professional contract in 2005 after coming through the club's youth team ranks but made only three starts for Rovers and was loaned out to Kidderminster Harriers, Gateshead, Halifax Town and Darlington in the last two years.

Boyce penned his first professional deal with Rovers last summer, but has failed to break into the first-team squad and has spent most of this season on loan at Worksop Town.

Charges over Campbell abuse

2009-01-13T10:47:00.000-08:00

Eleven people have been charged with indecent chanting at a football match following arrests over alleged racist and homophobic abuse aimed at Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell.

Hampshire police launched an investigation following complaints after Campbell was targeted during a match against former club Tottenham Hotspur at Fratton Park on September 28, 2008.

The 11 individuals, of which three are juveniles and one is aged just 13, have been bailed by police to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on January 20.

A police spokeswoman also confirmed that a further five men, whose images were caught on camera, are still being sought.

The Football Association has already said it will ban for life any fans proven to have been chanting abuse.

Evra set for injury absence

2009-01-13T10:42:00.001-08:00

Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has been ruled out for three weeks with a foot injury.

The France international was replaced midway through the second half in Sunday's 3-0 win over Chelsea at Old Trafford.

Evra was making his comeback following a four-game ban for his part in a post-match fracas in a game against the Blues last season.

However, the left-back will now definitely miss Wednesday's Premier League visit of Wigan Athletic, plus the forthcoming trips to Bolton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion, after scans confirmed ligament damage in his foot.

Speaking before his diagnosis, Evra had said: "It's something I've had since the Romania match with France in October.

"My foot tensed up after the cross, but for the moment I'm just thinking of the victory."

Meanwhile, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has received a boost with the news that scans on Rio Ferdinand's back problem have revealed no major problem.

The England defender was expected to return following a four-game absence against Chelsea, but suffered a second back spasm on the morning of the game and was not risked.

He could now return in time to face Tottenham in the fourth round of the FA Cup on January 24.

Audi Sportback concept

2009-01-13T10:15:00.001-08:00

Audi unveiled the Sportback concept at the 2009 NAIAS today. With systematic refinements to the brand's characteristic design elements, the five-door model offers a glimpse at the Audi's future design vocabulary.

The Sportback concept - which measures 4950mm long, 1930mm wide and 1400mm high - features a pronounced coupé-like silhouette and a large rear hatch, providing access to a 500-liter trunk. According to Audi, the vehicle is 'boldly progressive for the luxury class'.

Check out the gallery below for more images of the Sportback, and be sure to read our 2009 Detroit Auto Show Contest for more details on the five-door luxury concept.

Kia Soul'ster concept

2009-01-13T10:13:00.000-08:00

Kia unveiled a two-door concept based on the recently released Soul at the 2009 NAIAS. Called the Soul'ster, the four-seat concept's elemental design was inspired by basic, utilitarian vehicles like the International Scout. It is the first vehicle born out of Kia's newly opened design center in Irvine, California.

For additional details on the concept and to see our own unique photographs, read our forthcoming Detroit Auto Show Highlights, coming soon.

Lincoln MKT

2009-01-13T10:12:00.001-08:00

Ford's Lincoln division unveiled the all-new 2010 Lincoln MKT at the 2009 NAIAS in Detroit today. The new luxury crossover enters the segment with the brand's signature exterior design theme, a three-row interior and intuitive technologies - including optional Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Warning with Brake Support, Active Park Assist and Blind Spot monitoring.

The Lincoln MKT, larger than the two-row MKX mid-size premium crossover, joins the MKS luxury sedan launched in 2008 and the new MKZ sedan that hits the US market this spring.

For more details on the design of the new crossover read our forthcoming Detroit Auto Show Highlights. Until then, see the 43 images in the photo gallery below.

Volkswagen BlueSport concept

2009-01-13T10:09:00.000-08:00

The 2009 NAIAS was the venue chosen to debut Volkswagen's latest concept: the BlueSport.

"It is the symbiosis of outstanding technology and timeless Volkswagen design that makes this car an exceptional sports car. Its styling is clear and is reduced to the essentials; the car body itself has a lean and linear structure," explained Volkswagen chief designer Walter de'Silva.

The interior features interesting details, such as lightweight, leather-upholstered, single-piece seatbacks and a touch-screen interface.

Read our forthcoming Detroit Auto Show highlights for more information on the new concept and see the photo gallery below.

Scolari calls for Chelsea unity

2009-01-13T07:48:00.000-08:00

Luiz Felipe Scolari has taken the blame for Chelsea's loss at Manchester United on Sunday, but says they must now pull together if they are to bounce back.

The Blues boss said he was wrong to open up the midfield at Old Trafford, and conceded his poor set-piece planning cost them in the 3-0 defeat.

"It's more my error than the players," said the Brazilian. "Now I need to change systems and start from new.

"We need more to work together and when it is wrong we need more togetherness."

The damaging defeat left Chelsea four points adrift of league leaders Liverpool and only a point ahead of United, who have two games in hand over their title rivals.

And the defeat extended the Blues' current run of just three victories in their past 11 games in all competitions.

Sunday's performance has led to some critics questioning Chelsea's title aspirations, with newspaper reports suggesting that a breakdown in the relationship between Scolari and his players - in particular Nicholas Anelka - is at the heart of the Londoners' recent struggles.

But Scolari said: "I read that the press said that I opened the midfield against Manchester United - sure, this is the reality.

"I say this to the press - I opened the midfield and I am responsible for us conceding the goals because I tried to change the result. (Losing) 1-0, 3-0 or 5-0 is the same to me.

"Other coaches try to say 'no'. I say 'yes, I am wrong' - this is my style.

"But after one victory, or two or three, we will relax and win more. We just need more attention and more togetherness."

Scolari's men face a potentially tricky FA Cup third round replay against Southend on Wednesday, and the Brazilian admits that match has taken on extra significance.

"Southend is the game of the year," he said. "We need to think the same way.

"It's the FA Cup. If our spirit is not the same as Southend's, then it's difficult, but if our spirit is the same then we have good chance because we have better players than Southend.

"But we need to prove it on the pitch."

Choose your favourite star

2009-01-13T02:48:00.000-08:00

Amy Winehouse
Adam Brody
Angelina Jolie
Ashlee Simson
Ashton Kutcher
Beyonce
Brad Pitt
Britney Spears
Cameron Diaz
Carmen Electra
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Charlize Theron
Christina Aguliera
Claudia Schiffer
Colin Farrell
Daniel Radcliffe
David Beckham
Eddie Murphy
Eminem
Enrique Iglesias

Blake Files For Divorce

2009-01-13T02:35:00.000-08:00

We can finally sigh a big breath of relief, folks...

Because the marriage between Amy Winehouse and Blake Fielder-Civil appears to be o-v-e-r. At last.

Yesterday, we heard natterings about an impending divorce between the troubled couple, but now we have official word.

Blake's lawyer confirmed last night that Blake's definitely filing for divorce.

Henri Brandman released a statement citing that Blake will seek on the grounds of adultery.

"I can confirm that I have been instructed to commence divorce proceedings," he said.

The news comes after Amy's explosive interview with News Of The World where the singer slammed her jailbird hubby.

In the interview, Amy clearly expressed ill feelings towards Blake, comparing him to her reported new love interest, Josh Bowman, whom the singer has been seen cavorting around the Caribbean island of St Lucia with of late.

"I've finally escaped from hell. I'm in love again and I don't need drugs. Look at me, I'm glowing. Especially as I met Josh here. He couldn't be more different from my husband, which is not a bad thing.

"Blake looks like me, a right mess," she continued. "But Josh is all handsome and clean and that's what I love about him."

So, it appears that the interview was the final nail in the coffin for Blake, who reportedly instructed his lawyer to commence proceedings after seeing pics of Amy and Josh together.

Amy's spokesperson confirmed the singer has in fact got the papers: "Papers have been received, and the matter is with Amy's lawyers."

The split is set to be a shaky one, with the couple known to be fond of airing their dirty laundry.

It'll also be interesting to see how much of Amy's large fortune Blake will be seeking.

Let the games begin...

Kate's A-Rod Date

2009-01-13T02:33:00.000-08:00

Is Kate Hudson Alex Rodriguez's new girly pal?

Well, the two certainly seem like close mates.

The actress has been spotted hanging with the Yankee star.

The pair shared a dinner with some other friends at New York restaurant Lure, on the weekend.

And this isn't the first time Kate has been seen out and about with A-Rod.

Back in November, the pair partied together at a club opening in Miami alongside their other pal, Gwyneth Paltrow.

As we all know, A-Rod's a close friend of Madonna.Alex Rodriguez Although there's never been any confirmation as to how close.

However, after the baseball hunk and queen of pop were spotted together on various occasions during the second half of last year, the pair seem to have cooled their relationship.

So what's a better replacement than Kate?

The bubbly actress has a great sense of humour, likes to party and is hot to trot.

In fact, we think she'd make a great pal, or even better, a fab girlfriend.

After Kate and A-Rod's cosy nosh, the pair moved on to the Rose bar where they met up with more of Kate's mates.

Sounds like fun...

Jennifer's Court Drama

2009-01-13T01:59:00.001-08:00

It's been a tough couple of weeks for Jennifer Love Hewitt.

First it was reports of her engagement being over.

And now the lady's been elbow-deep in another serious matter.

A judge in California has granted Jen's request for a three-year restraining order against a 62-year-old man, David Nolte, whom she alleges has been stalking her.

Reports say that in court Jen stated in her petition that David allegedly moved from Colorado to Los Angeles to be nearer to her.

Other documents produced in court included letters allegedly sent by Nolte.

Jen also stated she became even more fearful after she claims David appeared at her mother's house in December.

Just last week reports broke saying her engagement to Ross McCall had been called off.

When contacted by our LA reporter, Dionne Clarke, Jen's people told us there was 'no comment' about the engagement reports.

Char Names Her Bub

2009-01-13T01:50:00.001-08:00

We brought you the news that Charlotte Church gave birth to a boy on the weekend.

Now we can reveal the name of the little nipper.

And we're not passing judgement.

Char and her rugby player boyf Gavin Henson have chosen the name Dexter Lloyd Henson for their second bub.

The Welsh warbler says that the middle name runs through Gav's side of the family.

"In keeping with Henson family tradition, Dexter will also have the name Lloyd as a middle name," Charlotte said on her website.

Little Dex, (as he is now affectionately known in the Showbiz Shed) will no doubt make a great playmate for the couple's first child, one-year-old Ruby Megan.

Dex was born at the couple's estate in the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales, on Sunday.

Dex will take the surname of Gav, even though the couple have not yet wed - they've said that they do not have any plans to get hitched "any time soon".

Now all we need is to see pics of the little guy.

LG at CES: Look Ma, No Wires!

2009-01-13T01:46:00.001-08:00

At the Consumer Electronics Show, device maker LG showed off new technology that sends a 1080p picture from a set-top box to a high-def television wirelessly, with no compression. Other television advances include TruMotion blur reduction and a set that streams Netflix content.

Wires will find few friends in Las Vegas this week. Companies showing off their wares at CES are committed to cutting the cord and going wireless, whether you're talking about home network connections or high-definition TV content.

Wireless HD was one highlight of LG's showcase here Wednesday morning. The company showed off technology that uses a 60 GHz channel to send an uncompressed 1080p picture from a set-top box to a wall-mounted TV without unsightly wires.

It gives you a clean look for a wall-mounted TV, but it left me wondering where the TV's power cord went. Newly built homes might have a high-mounted electrical outlet in the living room , but others might still need to drill a hole in the wall if they really can't stand the sight of wires.

Blur Reduction

Other home entertainment technologies on LG's list included TruMotion, a system for reducing the blur associated with fast-moving images by making the TV's backlights flicker at high speeds.

Of course, the company also shone a spotlight on its new TV that brings in online Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) content without the aid of a set-top box, news of which preceded the show by a few days. More models with this feature should be on the way.

Upcoming additions to LG's line of Blu-ray disc players will also include the feature, as well as the ability to bring in YouTube videos, Yahoo (Nasdaq: YHOO) Widgets and CinemaNow content.

Speak to the Wrist

As for phones, LG's only noteworthy not-yet-released product was a touchscreen cell phone watch. Talking into your wrist in public might make you look like you're having some sort of Secret Service fantasy, so thankfully the phone also supports a Bluetooth headset.

"This is definitely something you'd expect to see in a 007 movie as a James Bond gadget," said Woo Paik, president and CTO of LG.

Besides that, LG didn't offer many hints about future phone models, instead spending time talking about handsets like the Dare and the Decoy -- phones that have been in circulation since last year.

The company did present a new noise cancellation technology called "DSE," which utilizes two microphones to allow you to have a normal phone conversation while in a loud environment.

TomTom Adds Live Services to Navvy

2009-01-13T01:43:00.000-08:00

TomTom's new navigation device, the Go 740 Live, has an integrated cellular chip that allows it to receive updates such as gas prices and traffic information continuously. The $499 device includes the first year of connected services. It doesn't make voice calls, but it will allow hands-free calling with a Bluetooth connection to a phone.

TomTom has announced a new GPS navigation device, the Go 740 Live, which includes a built-in SIM card and GPRS modem for connectivity that can deliver real-time traffic information and a variety of other services, including TomTom's Fuel Price Service, Local Search powered by Google, TomTom Weather, QuickGPSfix, and TomTom Buddies.

All of the TomTom Live Services work out of the box for the first year as part of the US$499 price. The Go 740 Live will ship in the second quarter of this year.

What happens after the first year of free connectivity services comes to an end?

"Details on pricing for connected services following the first year are forthcoming," Kevin Carter, a spokesperson for TomTom, told TechNewsWorld.

Next-Generation Routing

The Go 740 Live comes preprogrammed with a new and extended version of TomTom's IQ Routes Technology, which calculates routes based on historical travel time information for every road, every day of the week -- and now even the time of day, TomTom said.

Millions of global TomTom customers have anonymously reported historic traffic flow data as they drive, and in two years, more than 1.8 trillion miles of roads have been recorded by the TomTom community to provide the IQ Routes data.

As for the wireless connectivity, the Go 740 Live automatically and wirelessly receives real-time traffic speed and incident reports every two to five minutes. So what happens when the TomTom notices a delayed route? Drivers can either choose to remain on their current routes based on the new estimated time of arrival, or they can take advantage of a faster alternative route suggested by the TomTom device, based on its knowledge of traffic conditions, TomTom says.

Cheaper Gas

TomTom's over-the-air fuel price search is refreshed up to six times a day from 120,000 gas stations across the U.S. Drivers can choose which type of gas they would like tracked -- regular, mid-grade, premium or diesel -- and find the lowest prices along their route or in their local area.

"The addition of connected services is a critical evolutionary step for navigation devices," noted Thilo Koslowski, vice president and automotive practice leader at Gartner (NYSE: IT) .

"Connected services offer daily relevance and create contextual value propositions for the user. This will ultimately enrich the navigation experience and create new business opportunities," Koslowski added.

The Go 740 Live's form has been enhanced, and it has a better user interface. It also sports an enhanced Advanced Lane Guidance feature that makes it easier to figure out which lane users should choose to hit the right on and off ramps on freeways and the correct lanes at complicated intersections.

No Voice Calls - and Yet, Voice Calls, Too

While the Go 740 Live has a built in SIM card and obviously uses cellular service towers to deliver its information, it doesn't offer voice-calling features directly as a TomTom service. Still, the unit does have built-in Bluetooth , which users can connect to their existing cell phones for hands-free calling.

The TomTom Live Services are available in the United States only.

TV Station Bumps Guests: KRON's Misguided Author Snub

2009-01-13T01:41:00.000-08:00

A San Francisco television station blew an opportunity for intelligent discourse on the subject of new- vs. old media, opting instead to cancel a segment featuring the authors of a book on the effects of the sped-up news cycle. What the station got was a backlash over a poorly executed decision.

A television station in San Francisco invites the authors of a new book that's highly critical of TV news, the blogosphere and the "menace of media speed" for a Jan. 3 interview. Then, in a speedy development that turns out to be menacing for the authors, the TV station cancels the invitation, claiming a sudden change in format.

It was a lie. The station's news director admitted it in a note to the authors' publicist: "The format hasn't changed. We still do guests. But I am not all that interested in a book that is going to be critical of what we do as a business. So I am going to pass on this one."

Obviously, here's a news director who knows the first rule of 21st-century journalism -- don't just report the news, become the news.

The station is ratings-challenged, financially troubled KRON-TV. The news director soon to find a rewarding career as a media consultant is a man named Aaron Pero. The book is No Time To Think: The Menace of Media Speed and the 24-Hour News Cycle, by Los Angeles Times television critic Howard Rosenberg and former CNN correspondent Charles S. Feldman.

I learned about this from the Lost Remote blog, which covers the convergence of news, media and technology. Most of the LR comments that followed were what you would expect from the blog's readership; this guy's a coward, TV news doesn't get it, etc. But the episode moved from farce to tragedy for me when somebody admitting to be KRON's online news editor chimed in, saying he agreed that viewers should be allowed to criticize local TV, but "a former newspaper hack" and "a former CNN hack" don't have the same rights. After crowing about KRON letting viewers talk back to the station on its Web site, and being one of the first to live-blog breaking news, the editor defends Pero with a line that's right out of the last 20 minutes of "Frost/Nixon:" "His only mistake in my view was being honest with them instead of just saying, 'we made a decision to go another direction in this segment.'"

I see. Instead of pursuing his brief fling with telling the truth, Pero should have kept on lying. This is coming from journalists, folks.

I'm guessing both Pero and that online news editor had no time to think.

No Time to Argue the Point

I would hope that by now, somebody has informed that online news editor that the "former newspaper hack" won a Pulitzer Prize in 1985 for his television criticism and the "former CNN hack" spent 20 years in print and TV, covered some big stories for CNN in its formative years and used to teach journalism at USC. I would also hope that somebody told the news editor that by de-booking Rosenberg and Feldman, KRON missed a chance to challenge them and talk up their own web newsgathering strategies. But that would probably have necessitated actually reading the book, which really doesn't criticize local news so much as it takes to task cable news networks, political Web sites and blogs, and the lightspeed pace at which opinions masquerading as news -- not to mention errors, propaganda, lies and damned lies -- can now travel thanks to technology.

"No Time To Think" is a lively read; Rosenberg brings the biting sarcasm and humor from his LA Times columns, but writing the book must have been liberating for Feldman, who gets to tell some great behind-the-scenes CNN stories, especially in the chapter called "Mr. Inside, Mr. Outside: A Conversation." There are also interviews with a Who's Who of those formerly and currently involved in the newsgathering and news dissemination process, including Tom Brokaw, CNN/US president Jon Klein, Arianna Huffington, Jim Lehrer, former NBC News president Michael Gartner, former "Nightline" reporter Dave Marash, CNN co-founder Reese Schonfeld, former presidential press secretaries Ron Nessen, Marlin Fitzwater and Mike McCurry, NBC correspondent Pete Williams.

The interviews help the authors make their case that modern journalists have no time to think their stories through -- making more calls, doing more research, checking out sources and leads -- because of technology putting the spurs to the need for speed; the need to beat the competition, to feed the 24-hour news beast, to pump up the ratings and charge advertisers higher rates. And if journalists don't have enough time to think their stories through, then citizens don't have enough time to think the stories through, and that hurts democracy. Rosenberg and Feldman are particularly scathing in their reviews of the 2008 primary elections, singling out CNN and MSNBC for their use of gimmicks and lack of objectivity.

And then there's the Internet. Technology has always driven the pace car in the news race, from letters to telegraphs to telephones to satellites to broadband, and while the authors aren't complete Luddites, they ask some tough questions; can "the wisdom of the crowds" really be trusted to correct factual errors on the Web? What about that first wrong draft of history that's still floating around the Internet? Is "getting it right -- eventually" the death knell of credibility?

You won't get much of an argument from me with most of No Time To Think, but I don't have as jaundiced a view of the Web's influence on news. Rosenberg and Feldman cite several examples of technology beating journalism to death with a crowbar, but not a lot of time is spent focusing on possible solutions that could help the news media pry open new, positive directions in newsgathering. Yes, citizen journalists probably won't be filing a lot of legwork-intensive investigative series like the New York Times' expose of retired generals serving as TV military analysts who were getting their talking points from the Pentagon. But citizen journalists can fill some of the gaps left by cutbacks in local journalism. Hell, even some of the neighborhood events and stories that are ignored by fully staffed newspapers and TV stations can now get a full hearing on the Web.

Which brings us back to KRON. Its misguided news managers have only helped to prove Rosenberg and Feldman's point about the speed of news on the Internet. It didn't take long for blogs and Web sites to broadcast the station's boneheaded move to the multiverse. The authors posted an angry letter to Pero after being disinvited, but they may end up sending a thank-you note for all the extra copies of No Time To Think -- the book critical of what it does as a business -- that KRON helped them sell.

This Story Brought to You by ... You

The New York Times has a new feature on its front page: an advertisement. It might as well have set a 96-point headline in Bold Italic saying, "This should give you some idea how bad things are for newspapers."

Follow the money. How will newspapers and other major media find the funding to stay in business? I asked Dianne Lynch, dean of the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College and a contributor to the PBS "MediaShift" Web site, for thoughts on what 2009 holds for the media as news maintains its collision course with technology. One of her predictions: get your checkbook ready.

"They'll either start charging for it, or they'll stop publishing," Lynch said. "I know that's heresy online, but the free ride is over, folks. We pay for magazines, we pay for books, and eventually, audiences who can afford it and are of the right demographic to value it will end up paying for 'the best' American journalism. And I don't buy the argument that the audience will 'never' pay for content online; the question is whether the brand's added value will make it marketable when readers can no longer get it for free."

Public funding and philanthropists could end up paying for those who won't pony up. Lynch argues that public funds help pay for clean air, water and good schools, along with the arts, as part of the continued good health of towns and cities. "The public funds those; it will need to begin funding news and information for its citizens who can't afford to buy it for themselves. Models like Pro Publica, the Center for Investigative Reporting, the Center for Public Integrity, and the Knight Foundation's News Challenge grants are breakthroughs in terms of philanthropy stepping up to fill the news and information gaps in the media marketplace. I think that's just the beginning.

"We need news and information to function as a democracy, as a community, and as a marketplace. And the good news is, journalism is alive and well; we're just finding new ways to pay for it."

Google Adds Magazine Annex to Online Library

2009-01-12T06:23:00.000-08:00

Google Books now has a magazine section. The search engine -- which only recently settled a longstanding dispute with book publishers over making their literature searchable on the Web -- put content from popular magazines online, though much of it will be years old. It's worked out a linking and revenue sharing plan with rights owners.

Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) has added a magazine rack to its Internet search engine.

As part of its quest to corral more content published on paper, Google has made digital copies of more than 1 million articles from magazines that hit the newsstands decades ago.

Links and Revenue

For now, the old magazine articles can be found only through Google's search service for finding digital copies of books. However, the Mountain View, Calif.-based company plans to eventually include magazine articles in its general search results.

Users who want to restrict the scope of their inquiries to magazines can choose that option through the book search's "advanced" function.

Dozens of magazine publishers have agreed to let Google index their archives. The incentive: Google will link to the Web site of a participating magazine publisher and share some of the revenue that is expected to be generated from ads shown alongside the old articles.

Beyond the Net

The list of old magazines already available through Google includes past issues of New York Magazine, Popular Mechanics, Popular Science and Ebony.

Google has been trying to reel in more content from non-Internet sources for the past four years. The crusade began with agreements to copy books sitting on the shelves of several major libraries -- an ambitious project that triggered a copyright battle with publishers and authors that was finally settled in October.

Besides books and magazine articles, Google also provides a digital gateway to the archives of several newspapers and millions of old photos from Life magazine.

'We Didn't Want to See the Future': Q&A With Ex-Sony Lawyer Steve Gordon

2009-01-12T06:17:00.001-08:00

Steve Gordon was in the room the day Sony executives learned about Napster. He also took part in some of the decisions on how to deal with the advent of digital music. Now, he's written a book on how to succeed in the new digital age. Blake Glenn interviews him.

In 1999 at a Sony (NYSE: SNE) Music corporate meeting, the room was filled with Sony executives and attorneys from across the globe. At one point, one of the Sony attorneys gave a presentation on two music services. One was the Sony music service and the other was a tiny, fledgling service.

The Sony service required users to go through multiple layers of Web sites in order to get to the songs they wanted. And even then, there were severe restrictions on the use of those songs.

Then the Sony attorney demonstrated the other service. She typed in the name of a Beatles song, "Hey Jude." Not only did the the Beatles version appear, but so did other versions created by multiple artists.

And -- it was free.

And by the way, the name of that service was Napster.

New Digital Age

Steve Gordon was one of the Sony executives present at that meeting.

Gordon is the author of The Future of the Music Business: How to Succeed With the New Digital Technologies, a book that lays out the rules for independent artists and entrepreneurs to distribute music digitally.

Almost 10 years later, the music industry is still reeling from the "Napsterization" of its business model.

In an interview with the ECT News Network, Gordon provides his insight into the impact of Napster and other digital technologies on the music industry.

According to Gordon, the music industry has already gone over the cliff, revenue has steadily declined over the last decade and the only remaining question is: How hard will the industry finally land when it does hit bottom?

Gordon also offers key insights into how independent artists especially have an opportunity with digital distribution. Using digital technology, he says, they can produce and distribute fairly cheaply and keep most of the profits for themselves.

Here are some excerpts of the interview:

E-Commerce Times: In a nutshell, could you briefly talk about Napster and the music industry and what really happened?

Steve Gordon: I remember when Napster came out very well because we had a business affairs conference in New York at the time, and for the first time, all the lawyers from Sony -- where I was still an executive -- from all over the world attended this conference, and for the first time, they addressed digital music. The discussion on digital was led by a litigator, for reasons that will become clear in a second.

What happened was she showed us what Sony was doing with digital, and then she showed us Napster. What Sony was doing with digital in 1999 was offering two Mariah Carey singles for sale, and you had to go to the Sony Music Web site, then to Columbia Records' Web site, and then inside Columbia Records, which was owned by Sony, you'd find Mariah Carey's Web site -- and then inside that Web site, you'd find these two singles for sale, and they were both around (US)$3. For $3, you could listen to each song on your desktop, but you couldn't download it to your computer, you couldn't share it with your friends, and you certainly couldn't press a CD, or burn a CD.

Then she showed us Napster, and the glowing skull came up -- it's still around now, but in legal form. And she asked for a song from the audience, and somebody requested "Hey Jude." She put it in the browser, and not only did the Beatles version come up, but every other artist who ever recorded the song -- there were around dozens of versions, and they were all downloadable, they were all freely shareable with your friends, and they could all be burned to a CD, and they were all free.

ECT: Amazing difference between what Sony was doing and what Napster had done.

SG: Then, we all got the impression that we were in trouble. And then it got worse -- she requested another song and somebody came up with an obscure song from the '50s, and again, dozens of different versions came up and they were all downloadable, burnable, shareable and free. So, we knew that we had a problem. So what did the record companies do, including Sony? Well, there were some that argued that we should make a deal with Shawn Fanning or create a Web site of our own to compete.

And we chose not to do this -- we chose to sue Napster instead of creating an alternative and instead of licensing Shawn Fanning, which he requested that we do. He wanted to negotiate and pay us. But the business model in 1999 was so successful that we couldn't get off of that approach -- which was to sell records like no tomorrow and hope that a few would sell incredible numbers, which happened.

ECT: What you're saying is that the cash cow was so great that you couldn't see the future coming at that point?

SG: Well, we didn't want to see the future. Let's give you a concrete example: For less than $1 million we could create a Mariah Carey CD, compared to Hollywood, where their blockbuster movies cost $25 to $50 million, even then. And if we sold 5 million units, which we often did of artists like Mariah or Pearl Jam, or Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, we could make $10 wholesale for every record. If you sold 5 million, that's a hell of a lot of money.

ECT: That's $50 million.

SG: And only with an investment of about a million. So the record companies, all five of them -- the majors at the time -- they resisted the change that they saw in Napster, because they were making so much money the old-fashioned way. So they sued Napster, and they sued it out of existence. It took two years, but they were successful.

However, while they were suing Napster, other peer-to-peer systems were growing, like Kazaa, created by other teenage technologists. And in fact they were faster, easier to use than Napster, and offered more music because they allowed people to share directly with each other instead of through a central database. So while the record companies were resisting the growth of digital and trying to shut down peer-to-peer, the world was going in a different direction. In fact, the world of the fans and the major consumers of recorded music was going in a different direction.

CES Wars: Apple vs. Microsoft vs. Palm and Other Battles

2009-01-12T06:10:00.000-08:00

Microsoft squandered a knockout opportunity when it toned down its hype at CES, writes TechNewsWorld columnist Rob Enderle. The PC makers came out with the gloves off, however, and Palm returned to the market with a product that might just save it from obscurity.

This was the first chance since Steve Jobs returned to Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) that Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) had to slam-dunk Apple. The biggest thing at Macworld was Tony Bennett. Windows 7 was releasing in Beta and reports have been glowing, with a number of the folks I travel with actually living on the pre-beta code and raving about it so this should have been like shooting ducks in a barrel. Palm (Nasdaq: PALM) was bringing out a new phone and a lot of folks thought they were simply done and not worth seeing, good lesson in the dangers of preconceptions here. Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO) was going to take a run at the gold standard in home music -- Sonos -- and the PC vendors went to war.

We'll talk about how all of this worked out and conclude with my product of the week -- the first Linux-based PC platform I think is truly right-headed.

Apple vs. Microsoft vs. Palm

At Macworld Apple demonstrated why Steve Jobs is so critical to their future. It was the worst Macworld since Steve Jobs came back. No real content and it was deadly dull. It contained some minor updates, an overpriced (in a market that is buying US$500 netbooks by the dozen) laptop, and the tardy elimination of DRM on iTunes. The only thing I walked away with is that Steve Jobs is now only a figure head who remains in place because the board knows Apple Stock will drop like a rock if investors figure out that he left, but he is clearly not there at the moment.

Microsoft's keynote was so devoid of excitement that a 12-year-old girl named Sparrow, who had more stage presence than anyone else the company brought out, stole the show. Microsoft seemed to go out of its way to avoid building excitement; it even showcased the Halo update, Halo being one of the most popular Xbox properties, in a way that was excitement-free. For long parts of this I could swear I heard crickets. The next day they announced an offering out of Microsoft Labs that automatically created music that turned the lyrics you wrote into a song, presented right, that could have made this a success. I began thinking that this didn't bode well for tech.

Palm owned CES. This company presented a phone that took all of what most of us didn't like about the Android platform, and didn't like about the iPhone, and liked about the old Palm platform, and created magic. Throughout the presentation folks around me gasped, applauded, or hooted. It felt like a Steve Jobs Apple event and, even at the end, they introduced that one more thing which, in this case was an intelligent inductive charger for the phone.

I can't do justice to this phone in one paragraph but it was the star of the show and, if you search on the Palm Pre, you'll see that the general consensus is this is an Android and iPhone beater. Palm created it by doing with Linux what Apple did with UNIX, designing hardware that was better looking than Google's (Nasdaq: GOOG) and more functional than Apple's, and presenting it the way Steve Jobs would. It was brilliant, though it will compete with vastly better Android hardware and the third-generation iPhone. Still if Apple can do a better job presenting a product than Apple or Google can, Palm could own this market.

Cisco vs. Sonos

Sonos is the gold standard when it comes to moving music around the home. It's like Apple except it doesn't have the brand, the money, or Steve Jobs. But Sonos actually is ranked higher in quality, using NPS, than Apple is (80 to 60). The last to try to bring out a better product was Logitech (Nasdaq: LOGI) , which failed miserably.

The Sonos music system is simply the easiest to use and provides the best whole home system that mortals can still afford. The line consists of a color screen remote control and two media extenders, one with and one without amplifier. And it is the only technology product I own my wife can consistently use successfully. Sonos recently brought out an iPod Touch and iPhone application that turned those devices into an incredibly cool remote control.

Cisco entered with a broader line of products. Its lineup consists of a color screen remote, three extenders (one an all-in-one with built-in speakers) and a Media Hub. Cisco doesn't support as many music streaming services and doesn't support the Mac yet, but its hardware offering is clearly deeper than Sonos has and it doesn't require the expensive remote, making it less expensive in some configurations. But Cisco went on to articulate a vision surrounding its Visual Network strategy that integrated video, cell phones , and potentially automotive entertainment systems into an ecosystem where you could start listening or watching your media on one, and continue it on another. If it can execute on this vision, and Cisco has historically been rather impressive on execution, it could own this segment.

Dell vs. HP vs. Lenovo

I have never seen so many amazing PCs at one event than I saw at this CES. The best from Dell (Nasdaq: DELL) was a new line of XPS Studio Laptops trimmed in high-gloss paint, stainless steel and real leather. The one to get was the product sporting one of the first 16-inch 16x9 aspect ratio displays which are as short as a 13 inches (think airplanes) and panoramic in width. They also picked up on the green trend at the slow releasing a line of LED backlit monitors which were very bright and highly color accurate while being very power efficient. Finally they launched an AMD (NYSE: AMD) Dragon-based XPS desktop for under $1,000. The AMD Dragon platform packs a ton of performance into an affordable package and I'm a huge fan of dragons, so had to love the new AMD Dragon logo -- they should have painted it on the side of the case.

HP (NYSE: HPQ) released the coolest MMO gaming desktop I've ever seen. Called "Firebird" and sporting on-board Nvidia-based SLI graphics in a hybrid array with an integrated graphics chip that can do physics in gaming mode or switch on the fly to economy mode and do the graphics. It also released the first touch desktop system for business, giving HP touch leadership as we ramp toward the first touch version of Windows. This will be ideal for companies planning to move to Windows 7 early and given how old XP is not getting there are probably a number of companies that will soon have to start trials and HP will be the only game in town for them. Nicely done.

Lenovo released the first twin-screen workstation laptop with a built-in digitizing pad. You had to see this puppy because it was huge. The second screen nested in the back and would slide out next to the massive 17" primary screen. The digitizer is for artists or engineers who plan to use this monster as the portable workstation it is designed to be and this has to be one of the most incredible notebook products I've ever seen. In addition, Lenovo brought out a line of ThinkVision monitors, all of which surpass the draft new energy star 5.0 certification, their best line of Ideapad consumer PCs ever, and an all-in-one PC that may be the thinnest in the market and had a Nintendo Wii-like control. Oh, and they also worked a tie-in to the really cool new "Star Trek" movie (I am so going to see that on the first day).

There was no clear winner -- every one of these guys came to play and the market will decide who kicks the other's butt. But, being a "Star Trek" fan going back decades, I can tell you where I was leaning.

Product of the Week: Hyperspace

How could you not like a product named "Hyperspace?" For a long time I've said that the only way for Linux to win on the desktop is to do what Apple did to Unix to it. Palm did this with its WebOS and, if it executes, there is no doubt it will be in the running for my product of the year in 2009. What Phoenix Technology did is take Linux and make it into what is likely the safest and fastest browsing experience you can get on a PC. Using a virtual machine approach, you load this on an existing Windows machine and when you need to get online fast, you boot to this environment. While you are browsing on the Web, Windows loads in the background, and when you are ready to go to Windows, you can then switch immediately.

It seems to improve suspend, even with Windows. But the real benefit in what is increasingly a hostile world is that this provides a secure browsing environment where Web attackers are physically blocked from the rest of your computer. 2009 is looking to be very hostile and this helps keep you safe which is why Phoenix Technologies' Hyperspace is my Product of the Week.

Linux Guy and Windows Guy Walk a Mile in Each Other's Shoes

2009-01-12T06:06:00.000-08:00

What would happen if a Linux user switched to Windows. How about if a Windows enthusiast tried Linux? The results were surprising to both, and they illustrate just what needs to happen in order for Linux to finally break into the mainstream PC market.

There's nothing like the dawn of a new year to give a person a fresh perspective, and that's probably never been more true than it is now, as we begin this year of monumental change.

So it's not surprising that the conversations on the Linux blogs over this past week seemed to be taking place on a somewhat higher plane than usual, and to touch upon questions from more of a bird's eye view.

On the Linux Loop, for example, Thomas Teisberg presented some of the highlights of the Linux dreams for 2009 that readers had submitted over the past few weeks -- both the popular ones (more games and better hardware support, for instance) and the particularly interesting ones (dual-boot PCs straight out of the box was one).

Never underestimate the power of dreams -- particularly as Martin Luther King Jr. Day approaches!

Biggest Moves for Linux in 2008

Over on LXer, meanwhile, bloggers debated what were the biggest moves and non-moves for FOSS in 2008.

The fact that more mainstream computer sellers shipped Linux, for example, was one big move named by number6x -- "either that or Linux on smartphones."

"I think those guys pretty much hit it on the head," Monochrome Mentality blogger Kevin Dean told LinuxInsider. "I'd have to say that the netbook surge was probably the biggest move for Linux, followed behind with the press about and release of Android," he said.

'That Nails the Coffin Shut'

"That's a tough one, because there were so many watershed events," blogger Robert Pogson began.

"From the viewpoint of adoption, I believe the move by many OEMs to support/use/distribute GNU/Linux will build user-base/exposure to GNU/Linux assuring vibrancy for the foreseeable future," Pogson told LinuxInsider.

Close upon that, however, "is the admission by M$ that Vista does not deliver," he added. "That nails the coffin shut on the monopoly."

Indeed, "I think the biggest moves towards free software this year had more to do with external forces such as the flop that is Vista being forced on the masses of unwilling victims that are Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) customers and the continued downward trend in notebook prices that have caused netbooks to happen," Montreal consultant and Slashdot blogger Gerhard Mack told LinuxInsider.

'All Eyes on Vietnam'

Then, of course, there was the news that Vietnam is requiring all government computers to move to Linux, which attracted significant attention on blogs including Digg (with more than 700 Diggs and 150 comments), Slashdot (with close to 400 comments) and Pogson's own, among others.

"That's kind of cool," Slashdot blogger yagu told LinuxInsider. "Maybe that government gets it. Or maybe it's simply a move to save money. Or, as we've seen previously, it's just a veiled plea for yet another sweetheart deal from Microsoft: 'Give us a break, or we'll go to Linux...'"

Microsoft not only "usually capitulates" in such cases, yagu noted, "they turn it into a great PR coup for themselves.

"What I'd rather see in the news is a story about a government that has gone strictly Open Source and been successful for some time, say, at least 2 or 3 years," yagu added. "All eyes on Vietnam in the meantime."

'I See No Good In This'

On the other hand: "The reason I love Linux is that it's an alternative, a choice," Dean said. "Linux is the essence of my philosophy, turned into code. It's all about choice, about benefit to self without bringing harm to others."

While it's good to see more and more people make that choice, "I'm greatly saddened that Linux is being forced upon people in such a manner," Dean explained. "You can't force people to be free, so I see no good in this at all. Of course, I'd feel the same if it were Windows . It's the force, not the OS, that takes center stage on this issue to me."

Strangers in Strange Lands

Finally, it was with much interest that we discovered an interesting juxtaposition on the blogs last week in which the OS *did* take center stage -- front and center. Specifically, on two separate blogs, we heard the tales of one Linux guy who spent a week using Windows, and one Windows guy who spent a week on Linux.

The Linux guy trying out Windows was none other than Dean, who asked, "Can a Linux man survive in Windows land?"

From there, Dean chronicles his adventures in "The Windows Seat," including looks at BIOS, "Virtualization and Bitness," Shutdown and Interfaces.

'Penguins and Crazy Beards'

Visiting Linux land for the first time, meanwhile, was zMogo's AshPringle, who spent his week on Ubuntu as part of a New Year's Resolution.

"Step one is to research what Linux has to offer nowadays," AshPringle began in his Day One report. "I know absolutely nothing about it, other than the fact that it is associated with penguins and guys with crazy beards, and that I remember it having all the subtlety and ease of use of a sledgehammer to the patience-center of your brain."

Could one ask for a more perfect comparison? We couldn't suppress our glee, and so took to the streets to explore what conclusions might be drawn.

Different Expectations

"The first thing that really jumped out to me starts at the beginning for him," said Dean, who hadn't seen AshPringle's series. "Specifically, he mentioned 'a moment of apprehension' as he feared he selected the wrong drive.

"When I did my review, I didn't even address the installer since I felt it was unremarkable," Dean explained. "But I suppose that highlights a point. As a Linux user, I fully expect to install my operating systems myself. Even though I have three drives in my home system, I know by partitioning scheme which is which in both C:\ jargon, /dev/mapper jargon AND GRUBs (0,0,0,) disklabels. It's almost instinctual, actually."

The fact that Linux came pre-installed on several devices was perhaps a "much bigger deal than I gave credit to," Dean now says.

'The Community Came Through'

"The second thing I point out is that while Ubuntu's install actually failed for him, the community support came though," Dean added. "I think the community of users and wealth of tutorials and documentation is a strong plus for Linux in general."

Finally, "he seemed to find Linux enjoyable only after obtaining a computer that worked well with Linux," Dean noted. "I always build my own PCs from parts, so I always know what's in them. But since I'm also a Linux user, I tend to build with parts that I expect will work with Linux."

Dean's conclusion after his week on Windows? "The biggest thing I saw wasn't about Linux or Windows, but myself and how I compute. Dramatics shifts from that home base tend to make things falter, but there can be some very pleasant surprises there. :)"

Back to Competition

Others also found lessons to be learned in the comparison. "It seems to me that Linux users can adapt and exist in a Windows world (I'm one of them!)," yagu said. "It's also clear the opposite is true -- a Windows user can live happily using Linux (I'm one of them, too!)."

The missing piece, however, is competition, yagu added.

"Unless and until some perfect storm of the marketplace repositions Linux prominently, Linux has to work harder and be better, far better, to even compete for consideration," he explained. "Maybe the new administration will have some appetite for more and better scrutiny of Microsoft's continued battering of the computing market."

Linuxy New Year's Resolutions

2009-01-11T10:51:00.000-08:00

Bloggers took a moment to contemplate the upcoming year and what it means for open source software and Linux in particular. There were some New Year's resolutions and a few holiday gifts still floating around in the week between Christmas and New Year's Day.

So 2009 is here at last, and not a moment too soon! Finally we can put another Holiday Season behind us and get back to work.

Some of us, of course, are still recovering from the seasonal merriment; others are still pondering gifts they received. To wit: On Digg, Rekzai earned more than 3,340 Diggs and 345 comments for posting a photograph titled, "I like Linux, so my aunt sends me this for Christmas!"

No shortage of penguins in that thoughtful assortment -- lucky geek, that Rekzai! We can only assume the aunt in question got some of her ideas from our own Linuxy holiday shopping guide ... always glad to help out!

'10 Coolest Open Source Products'

Also on Digg, meanwhile, some bloggers saw fit to think over the past year and the advances that were made for our favorite operating systems . Specifically, inspired by an article on Channel Web, bloggers contemplated what the article called "The 10 Coolest Open Source Products of 2008."

Many of the 100-plus comments that ensued in the next day and a half or so quibbled with the article's choices, or made suggestions of their own. Others, however, devolved into all-too-familiar terrain as they shifted their focus to the year to come:

"Dare I say it... 2009 will be the YEAR OF LINUX!" quipped reddikilowatt.

Aaaaaah! Not that -- anything but that!

'3% by 2010'

Seriously, though, there were also more substantive predictions on hand.

"OK, hear me out," reddikilowatt continued. "We're going to see more Android phones (if can stay in business), netbooks, media servers and players, hand held media players, the Kindle is set to ramp up, Canonical seems to be getting a lot of mindshare in the blogosphere and MS is chasing Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) instead of putting out product.

"I think the community's slogan should be '3% by 2010'...," reddikilowatt added. "Hey, stranger things have happened," he said. "I'll get working on the T-shirts."

Along similar lines, an article in Open Mode titled "Why You Might Be Using Linux in 2009" inspired quite a discussion on Digg as it outlined some major products and trends likely to attract new attention to Linux this year.

No fewer than 1,036 Diggs and 360 comments met the article's posting on the site within three days, but reactions appeared to be a generally mixed bag.

Noob Majority

"Another year, another 'year of Linux' story," wrote Hellman109. "*yawn*"

On the other hand: "I mean no disrespect to you Linux guys and gals out there, but these sensationalist/speculative articles aren't helping encourage people to switch over to Linux," asserted jaygeeze.

"The normal, mainstream individual does not even know about KDE4, cloud computing, and doesn't care about netbooks," jaygeeze explained. "They care about user interface and not having to install something through the command line and hardware/software compatibility (and yes, using WINE is kind of cheating). They care about customer support and documentation.

"You wonder why Ubuntu is a popular distro (even though we call Ubuntu users noobs, but that's just it, a majority of the people in the market for computers *are* noobs) - it's because they focus on these things," jaygeeze added. "We need more articles that advocate and share these improvements, not a geeky list saying people will be switching over because of the cloud."

Stepping Into Action

All in all, the outlook for 2009 was an overarching theme throughout the Linux blogosphere, as geeks around the world tried their hand at predicting what may come.

Now, we here at LinuxInsider have already delved into what bloggers are hoping will happen for Linux over the course of this new year. What we haven't yet heard, however, are what they're planning to do themselves, whether for the sake of Linux or just in their personal lives.

To illustrate: Thomas Teisberg over at the Linux Loop made some suggestions for how to help the Linux community as a whole in a post he made on Christmas Eve.

On a less altruistic note -- but no less interesting -- LXer bloggers spent some holiday time comparing notes on which sites they think are worth visiting every day. Joining the predictable ranks of Slashdot, Digg, Dilbert and LXer itself were a few interesting surprises sure to help get 2009 off to a good start -- even if LinuxInsider wasn't top of the list. Just an oversight, we're sure!

InaTux, meanwhile, recently posted "20 Early Linux New Year's Resolutions," including suggestions for hackers and companies alike.

New Year's Resolutions

But what kinds of New Year's Resolutions are actually being made by those who participate in the Linux blogs, we couldn't help but wonder? So we took to the streets and asked around.

Some resolutions were universal in nature: "I hope to get more work done!" Monochrome Mentality blogger Kevin Dean told LinuxInsider.

Others were more specific: "My GNU/Linux resolution for 2009 is to introduce as many teachers as possible to GNU/Linux in my last year of teaching," educator and blogger Robert Pogson said.

'The Wonderful World of Linux'

Some were positively sunny about technology: "My personal Linux resolutions for '09 are to spend more time on my blog and to spend more time introducing users in and around my life to the wonderful world of Linux and open source in general," Foogazi blogger Adam Kane told LinuxInsider.

Others were less so: "My New Year's resolution for this year is to spend more time on non-computer-related hobbies," Montreal consultant and Slashdot blogger Gerhard Mack said.

Then, perhaps most admirably of all, was the response of Mhall119, a Slashdot blogger who operates Quinn Co., a charity that uses a version of Ubuntu customized for kids 3 years old and up to help special-needs and low-income children.

Giving Away Computers

"I had been assembling second-hand PCs on my living room floor and an end table, due to lack of space," Mhall119 explained. "However, my wife and I just bought our first house, and it has a _huge_ workshop, with plenty of space to store and work on three times the number of PCs I currently have -- which is good since we've just been offered a dozen iMac G3's.

"So, my 2009 Linux Resolution is to seriously step up my work for our charity," he told LinuxInsider.

Among Mhall119's specific plans for this year are re-basing Qimo, his Ubuntu re-spin, on XFCE instead of Gnome "to get better performance," and then making a PowerPC port of it to run on the newly donated iMacs, he said.

"We've placed a couple of computers in a local preschool already, and have promised 10 or so to disadvantaged students at a nearby elementary school," Mhall119 explained. "I'd like to ultimately give away 100 or more computers in 2009."

What are *your* resolutions for this new year, dear readers -- Linuxy or otherwise? We'd love to hear about them. One last toast to the promise and the potential of 2009!

Can't We All Just Get Along? Q&A With OSA Community Dev Chair Gopi Ganapathy

2009-01-11T10:45:00.001-08:00

What the open source community needs is a more streamlined way to bring everyone together to collaborate and ensure interoperability, says Gopi Ganapathy, president and CEO of Essentia and the new Community Development Chair of the Open Solutions Alliance.

The Open Solutions Alliance (OSA), a federated community of open source business and developer communities, opened in early December a community portal built upon technology from one of its newest member organizations, Essentia. The company develops software platforms and solutions for online communities and commerce.

The EssentiaESP is a community-engagement platform designed specifically for commercial open source and taps into the latest trends in social networking to encourage greater collaboration among companies and open source communities.

The EssentiaESP environment supports multiple project types. Some of the core projects hosted there include the Common Customer View (CCV) project; Interoperability projects between OSA member companies like the Hyperic/Jaspersoft integration; and member projects for OSA companies including Hyperic, Ingres, Jaspersoft, Openbravo, SpikeSource and others.

"What the OSA is trying to do is ensure that all of the different companies can cooperate and integrate. And it wants to make sure that there are a set of standards that all companies can publish to," Gopi Ganapathy, president and CEO of Essentia and new OSA Community Development Chair, told LinuxInsider.

OSA's choice of EssentiaESP reaffirms Essentia's leadership in community development, collaboration, commerce and open source development, he said. His company's involvement with OSA will foster deeper interoperability efforts among OSA member company that will be open to the worldwide community of open source developers, he explained.

Ganapathy recently addressed the second annual Malaysian Government Conference (MyGOSSCON) in Kula Lumpur, Malaysia. MyGOSSCON is a conference designed to support the Accelerated Adoption (Phase II) of the Malaysian Public Sector OSS Master Plan Program.

He addressed the conference on the topic of Building Vibrant Open Source Communities drawing on his experience from the OpenOffice.org, java.net, NetBeans and JasperForge.org communities.

LinuxInsider met with Ganapathy to discuss Essentia's interest in the OSA and the goals of the new community portal.

LinuxInsider: What sparked your enthusiasm for working so closely with the OSA?

Gopi Ganapathy: Open source has a couple of key drivers. One obviously is the ability to get source code software distributed fast. The second is the supporting community that actually comes together to build the software. OSA is very interested in insuring that open source gets adopted. One of the challenges for OSA is that there really wasn't a deep system integrator that really understands all the options and the offerings and how to put it all together.

LI: What role is Essentia playing with helping the OSA meet this challenge?

GG: The problem for OSA is getting software adopted and building cross-product traditions that comprise a number of member companies' products. This demonstrates how fairly complex this system is to work under a common framework. To make all these things happen you need to have a suitable open source platform or environment where companies can collaborate through the use of a mega community that is basically a community of communities.

LI: How unique is the platform Essentia developed for the OSA portal?

GG: I think there is no other product out there that can actually handle the federation of communities and allow broadening participation of community members from different communities to participate in wide dissemination of knowledge and adoptions of products and be able to create vertical solutions or localized solutions for specific markets.

LI: Is EssentiaESP something your company already had, or is it something you created for the OSA?

GG: We always had a history of working with open source platforms. Back in the 1980s we were involved in developing platforms for fairly large software deployments in OpenOffice. I was personally responsible for running the dream team for developing several products. Since then we have built a couple of generations of community platforms.

LI: What changes in community use are you noticing with this current platform generation?

GG: The interest in the current generation is that several communities have moved from being very developer-centric to becoming primarily business users rather than developers. The interest is really to figure out how to experience the information that exists among the broad users and ensure that we have a low risk in terms of adopting.

LI: How else are open source communities adapting to the use of a massive collaboration portal?

GG: We also see that there are new paradigms of social networking developing that people have become quite comfortable using. These include all the video collaborative capabilities like Skype and IM and Twitter and everything else that is going on.

LI: Have you integrated these communication trends into EssentiaESP?

GG: We decided to basically bring together all the core software tools for open open source development with social networking to provide a modern platform that can fully scale. When we say scale, we are talking about hundreds of thousands of users who can come together to work on a product.

LI: Is there any cost for members to participate in this portal, or do they have access by virtue of belonging to the OSA?

GG: OSA underwrites the cost of writing this platform and supporting members use of it. OSA wants to ensure that they have a highly stable environment in which a lot of talented open source communities like SourceForge and JasperForge are all in one place. That really shows the strength of the participation that is possible among open source companies.

LI: Who actually runs the portal?

GG: We [Essentia] not only designed the solution, we actually handle the whole operation. So the entire solution is built and managed and hosted by us. So now everything happens through EssentiaESP and all the team members are based in California and the East Coast. We also have community management with people who really understand how to build an active and viable open source community and ensure that participation happens and support the users of the platform.

IBM Hits Its Stride in Unix Server Race

2009-01-11T10:41:00.000-08:00

IBM entered the Unix server market in 1988, trailing HP and Sun Microsystems in the race. Now it has 35 percent of the market. Its latest round of Power Systems releases aims to expand that lead with servers that contain multicore processors to increase speed and power efficiency.

"It is a race, and we're not slowing down."

That is how Ross A. Mauri, the general manager of IBM's (NYSE: IBM) Power Systems product series, describes competing against Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq: JAVA) and HP(NYSE: HPQ) for the Unix server market.

IBM announced a number of new products and upgrades Tuesday to help keep its current lead in revenue -- 35 percent of the market in the second quarter of 2008 compared to Sun's 29 percent and HP's 26.

Servers With History

The Power Systems product line is the latest generation of business computer servers that started with the AS/400 in 1988 in Rochester, Minn.

Earlier this year, IBM consolidated the System i and System p servers -- heirs to the AS/400 legacy -- into the Power Systems line.

Then during the Large Users Group conference at the Mayo Civic Center Tuesday, IBM rolled out the second piece of that move.

That includes upgrades to the Power 570 server and the addition of a Power 560 model along with many other hardware and software developments.

The Power 570 and 560 are manufactured in Rochester and are largely designed here as well.

"Rochester is the brains of the Power Systems," Mauri said.

Scalability Upgrade

The new Power 570 was given a bump in speed by the addition of processors that double the number of cores in a system. That simply means twice the power and twice the efficiency under the hood with the no change to the exterior.

And the machine can be tailored to a business's specific demands and can be expanded without tweaking the software systems or data on the server.

IBM also added the new 560 to the Power line-up. It logically fits into a niche between the 570 and the 550 models. It boosts 4-, 8- and 16-core configurations and is designed to help businesses consolidate multiple workloads in different formats onto less machine.

IBM says it can handle the work of 13 of Sun's Fire V490 servers or four of its Sparc Enterprise M5000 machines.

Add IBM's Power VM energy management software and a single 560 can use 83 percent less electricity than those groups of Sun servers, according to Big Blue.

The race between the three technology giants was very different in 1998, when IBM trailed the other two.

Race Is On

The Power4 processor hit the market in 2002, bringing IBM into the race, but still in third place.

In 2005, Power5 rolled out and IBM moved ahead of Sun in the Unix server market and brought it neck and neck with HP. Power6 came out in 2007, along with software that reduced the need for IT staff attention and cut electricity use. "We left them (Sun and HP) in our wake," says Mauri.

"They are now about five years behind us," he says.

And yet looking to the future, IBM does not want to rest and let them catch up.

"We are working on Power7 and next week I have a meeting to hear about research on Power8," Mauri said. "We're not slowing down."

AMD's Big Hopes Ride on Small Shanghai Chips

2009-01-11T10:37:00.000-08:00

AMD has announced the immediate availability of its new quad-core Shanghai 45-nanometer Opteron processors for servers. The chip's design focuses on virtualization features. It represents a follow-up to the company's Barcelona processor, which suffered delays that effected the brand's overall image. With the on-time arrival of Shanghai, AMD hopes to recover.

AMD (NYSE: AMD) on Thursday began shipping its latest quad-core Opteron processor, codenamed "Shanghai."

Shipping earlier than previously planned, the chips arrive on the market shortly before the expected arrival of new Nehalem processors, competing hardware made by rival Intel.

The new offering, according to the company, provides up to 35 percent better performance than the company's Barcelona quad-core Opteron, and as much as a 35 percent decrease in power consumption at idle. The new server chip also features improvements in the chip design for enhanced virtualization performance and increased performance per watt, according to AMD.

However, Shanghai's release has greater significance beyond it technological specifications. It is an indicator that AMD is attempting to regain its footing after the lukewarm launch of its previous quad-core chip, Barcelona, in September 2007.

That roll-out was marred by protracted delays, bugs and generally lower-than-expected performance.

"[Shanghai] shows the execution issues of Barcelona seem to be behind [AMD]. They look to have hit their announced time lines, which is great, versus the misses that happened with Barcelona," said Ian Lao, an analyst at InStat.

With the Barcelona stumble behind AMD, Shanghai could be what the No. 2 chipmaker needs to help rebuild confidence in its brand.

"The biggest is showing AMD resolving development issues of their house, and [it] goes a big way to re-establishing their credibility. The customers of AMD's customers view this credibility as important as they make their IT purchasing decisions," Lao told TechNewsWorld.

Shanghai Surprise

Rather than go out and design a completely new quad-core chip, Shanghai is really an upgraded version of Barcelona with some enhancements in virtualization and increased speeds. Those are the results of moving to a 45-nm layout and re-architecting parts of the cores, explained Jim McGregor, another InStat analyst.

Improvements to the chipmaker's Direct Connect Architecture and AMD Virtualization technology have enabled the processors to deliver faster "world switch" time, enhancing virtual machine efficiency. The new chips offer optimizations targeted toward server platforms, said Lao.

"[The] biggest win is keeping the same power envelope so OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) don't have to re-design their power supplies and power backplanes. For customers, they can get more servers/performance/server for a given physical footprint, power footprint," explained Lao.

The Shanghai line of server processors consists of nine models, all of which have four cores -- five from AMD's two-way Opteron 2000 server system series and another four from the eight-way Opteron 8000 series. The Opteron 2000 line will include 2.3-, 2.4-, 2.5-., 2.6-, and 2.7-GHz speed grades. The Opteron 8000 line will forgo the slowest 2.3-GHz version.

Prices for the two-socket variety will range from US$377 to $989 at launch, with the 8000 series priced between $1,165 and $2,149.

Shanghai "extends the AMD64 architecture in the same socket, power envelope and thermal model as the previous generation," McGregor told TechNewsWorld.

Constant Competition

With Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) set to launch its second-generation Nehalem 45-nm server chip within a matter of days, AMD must execute, said Lao.

"The big thing is to consolidate their messaging and execution. If a product or tech is announced with a schedule, show it when promised," he pointed out.

The release of Shanghai is a critical moment for AMD to re-establish credibility in the market and maintain -- or potentially grow -- its presence in the server market, but it is only part of what AMD needs to regain its footing, said McGregor.

"Intel is not going away and only is becoming more competitive with the upcoming launch of Nehalem, so the environment [from here] on gets more competitive. As for the economic environment, both companies face challenges. With its high presence in the retail channel, AMD faces an immediate hit, but this is also likely the first segment to return during the upswing. The corporate market, which Intel dominates, may face a more challenging environment for a longer period of time, but Intel is in a great position to weather this storm," McGregor pointed out.

"The good news is that AMD is regaining its footing a bit, and other companies are focused on being competitive. In the end, the market wins from having this level of competition and two healthy competitors. AMD just needs to complete that transition to being financially healthy, which is the company's primary focuses," he concluded

Lenovo Bites the Bullet, Cuts Jobs and Executive Pay

2009-01-11T10:34:00.000-08:00

A combination of economic pressure and market unpopularity is taking its toll on computer maker Lenovo. The company, which bought IBM's personal computing division in 2005, is cutting jobs, reducing executive salaries and consolidating some divisions in an effort to reduce costs.

Chinese PC maker Lenovo will cut 2,500 jobs, or about 11 percent of its workforce, during the first quarter, the company said Wednesday.

The cuts will include management and executive positions. In addition, Lenovo will cut executive compensation by 30 percent to 50 percent, and trim bonuses.

Lenovo will also consolidate its China and Asia Pacific operations, which are currently run as separate business units, into a single business unit -- Asia Pacific and Russia, or APR.

APR will be run by Chen Shaopeng, currently a senior vice president at Lenovo and president of its Greater China unit. An apparent casualty of the restructuring, SVP David Miller, current president of the company's Asia Pacific unit, will stay on through the transition period before leaving Lenovo.

Call Center Move

Lenovo will move its main call center operations from Toronto to Morrisville, N.C., the company's main site in North America. Yet another executive loss due to the restructuring is Scott DiValerio, senior vice president of the Americas Group sales organization.

Lenovo expects to save US$300 million as a result of the restructuring in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010, and take a $150 million restructuring charge in the fourth fiscal quarter.

Lenovo's stock was hammered by the announcements, plummeting nearly 26 percent to $1.91 per share in mid-day trading Thursday in Hong Kong.

Recession Strikes Again

Like many companies in the technology sector, Lenovo's decision to slash employees is a response to the global recession, said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group .

"You're going to see this behavior across the entire segment," Enderle told the E-Commerce Times. "Companies are going to try and stay ahead of the curve and bring costs in line with revenues."

However, Lenovo's decision to cut executive compensation is unusual, he said.

"The CEO is sharing the pain," Enderle said. "A 30 percent to 50 percent salary decrease is almost unheard of. I think the company can be credited for engaging in something that is a much better practice than what we've seen in the past."

The falloff in spending by banks and other financial institutions has hit Lenovo and other PC makers hard, he said.

Can't Crack Consumer Market

Lenovo's troubles are exacerbated by its inability to establish a foothold in the consumer market overseas and in the U.S., said Gartner (NYSE: IT) analyst Mikako Kitigawa.

The company bought into the U.S. market when it acquired IBM's (NYSE: IBM) struggling PC and laptop business for $1.25 billion in 2005. Big Blue's PC business and brand has resonated strongly with corporate customers for years, but its appeal to consumers waned long before Lenovo bought the unit.

"[Lenovo] tried to use its position as a major sponsor of the Beijing Olympics to establish some kind of brand name in the U.S. and other mature markets, but it wasn't really successful," Kitigawa told the E-Commerce Times.

At the same time, the consumer side of the business in the U.S. has come under severe price pressure from low-cost PCs like netbooks, she said.

"Systems that would usually sell for $699 have to go down to $599," Kitigawa noted. "There are already too many PC brands at the retail stores. At this point, I don't know if it's a good idea for Lenovo to stay in the consumer market because the profit margins are extremely thin."

Recovery May Come Later in 2009

Lenovo isn't the only PC maker struggling with the downturn in corporate and consumer demand for its products. HP(NYSE: HPQ) , IBM, DellNasdaq: DELL) and even Apple(Nasdaq: AAPL) are all trading well below their 52-week highs due to weakness in the PC business.

"We saw a significant decline in Q3 [PC sales] and we're expecting to see even worse numbers in Q4," Kitigawa said.

However, the sector could begin to recover some time in the second half of 2009 with the advent of President-elect Barack Obama's planned economic stimulus package. Part of that package calls for an increase in new and better PCs in public schools, as well as an upgrade of IT infrastructure in the federal government, Enderle said.

Rumor Mills Buzz Over Qualcomm-Chipped iPhone Nano

2009-01-11T10:22:00.000-08:00

Macworld might be the place where consumers get a first look at a smaller version of the iPhone. Two accessory makers have briefly listed cases for such a device on their Web sites, and expectations have been growing ever since. The rumor on top of that rumor is that Qualcomm, not Infineon, might supply the chips for an iPhone nano.

Quallcomm (Nasdaq: QCOM) Chief Executive Paul Jacobs generally has the latest and greatest cell phones. But he's never owned the uber-trendy Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) iPhone.

"Not until they put a Qualcomm chip in it," Jacobs said in a September interview.

It could soon be time for Jacobs' first Apple phone. The company is widely rumored to be planning an iPhone nano, a smaller touchscreen version of its popular phone. One industry analyst says it will run on Quallcomm chips.

Deal on the Way?

The weeks leading up to the annual Macworld conference are typically filled with rumors of expected product announcements. This year, there has been much speculation in advance of Macworld that Apple will announce a smaller version of the iPhone, dubbed the "iPhone nano" by bloggers.

Two iPhone accessory manufacturers,

Deal on the Way?

Two iPhone accessory manufacturers, Vaja andXskn, briefly listed protective cases for the iPhone nano on their Web sites. Both companies have removed those listings.

Further fueling the rumors, Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group analyst Craig Berger said in a report Wednesday that industry sources told him there will be a smaller version of the iPhone in the second half of the year and it will "apparently" run on a Qualcomm chip.

Qualcomm declined to comment, but industry observers say there's no question that Qualcomm would love to add Apple to its list of customers.

"It would be a big deal for them," said semiconductor industry analyst Will Strauss of Arizona-based Forward Concepts . "I've heard nothing credible at this point from Qualcomm or others. But there's no doubt that Qualcomm has been knocking on (Apple CEO) Steve Jobs' door for a long time."

Strauss said that in the competitive phone chip business, Qualcomm recently added Taiwanese manufacturer HTC as a customer, a deal that led to a Qualcomm chip inside the first Google(Nasdaq: GOOG) Android phone. But Qualcomm lost some of its business with key customer Samsung when the company recently said it would buy some chips from competitors Broadcom (Nasdaq: BRCM) and Infineon.

Business with Apple, which currently buys iPhone chips exclusively from Infineon, could help Qualcomm maintain its status as the top wireless chipmaker.

The Fragmented Approach

Strauss questioned the logic of a nano version of the touchscreen phone, which would not be as good at Web browsing with a smaller screen.

"The trend seems to be toward bigger screens, not smaller," he said.

Others say it's likely that Apple will follow a game plan that worked with the iPod music player: multiple products aimed at various market segments.

"With the iPod, Apple had a fragmented approach, with different devices, features and price points," said Michael Gartenberg, vice president of mobile strategy for Jupitermedia. "It makes sense that they would do the same thing with the iPhone."

Apple fans tend to circulate a lot of rumors. Some hit the target. Some miss. The iPhone was rumored for years before it materialized, Gartenberg said.

On the other hand, first word on the supposed nano leaked from manufacturers of cases, which lends credence to this year's rumor, he said.

"I'm not going to try and predict what they'll announce next week or next month," Gartenberg said. "I do think it (a lower-priced iPhone) would make a lot of sense in the current economic slowdown."

and Xskn, briefly listed protective cases for the iPhone nano on their Web sites. Both companies have removed those listings.

Qualcomm declined to comment, but industry observers say there's no question that Qualcomm would love to add Apple to its list of customers.

Strauss said that in the competitive phone chip business, Qualcomm recently added Taiwanese manufacturer HTC as a customer, a deal that led to a Qualcomm chip inside the first Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) Android phone. But Qualcomm lost some of its business with key customer Samsung when the company recently said it would buy some chips from competitors Broadcom(Nasdaq: BRCM) and Infineon.

Business with Apple, which currently buys iPhone chips exclusively from Infineon, could help Qualcomm maintain its status as the top wireless chipmaker.

The Fragmented Approach

Strauss questioned the logic of a nano version of the touchscreen phone, which would not be as good at Web browsing with a smaller screen.

"The trend seems to be toward bigger screens, not smaller," he said.

Others say it's likely that Apple will follow a game plan that worked with the iPod music player: multiple products aimed at various market segments.

Apple fans tend to circulate a lot of rumors. Some hit the target. Some miss. The iPhone was rumored for years before it materialized, Gartenberg said.

On the other hand, first word on the supposed nano leaked from manufacturers of cases, which lends credence to this year's rumor, he said.

"I'm not going to try and predict what they'll announce next week or next month," Gartenberg said. "I do think it (a lower-priced iPhone) would make a lot of sense in the current economic slowdown."

AMD Aims to Smash Petaflop Barrier With Graphics Supercomputer

2009-01-11T10:15:00.001-08:00

AMD is working on a supercomputer that will do much of the graphics processing for you, rather than delivering raw data that is then rendered at the client side. The AMD Fusion Render Cloud will render graphics, then compress and deliver them, the company said, saving processing power and battery life.

AMD (NYSE: AMD) is working with leading software and content developer Otoy to develop and deploy applications, high-definition (HD) content and even games in the cloud using a massively parallel supercomputer.

Details of the AMD Fusion Render Cloud were unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas during a keynote by AMD president and chief executive Dirk Meyer, along with Otoy chief executive Jules Urbach and spokespeople from Lucasfilm, Dell(Nasdaq: DELL) , HP (NYSE: HPQ) and Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS) .

Seasoned Veteran

"AMD has a long track record in the supercomputing world. Seven out of 10 of the world's fastest machines, including the fastest two computers on the planet, are powered by AMD hardware," said Meyer.

"Today, AMD is pleased to announce a new kind of supercomputer unlike any other ever built. It is being designed to break the one petaflop barrier, and to process a million compute threads across more than 1,000 graphics processors."

Meyer claimed that the AMD Fusion Render Cloud will be the fastest graphics supercomputer ever built, and will be ready in the latter half of 2009.

"It will be powered by Otoy's software for a singular purpose: to make HD cloud computing a reality," he added.

Render First, Deliver Second

The system aims to use server-side rendering to allow content providers to deliver PC applications, video games and other graphics-intensive applications to virtually any type of mobile devices with a Web browser, without killing battery life and alleviating the need for powerful client-side processors.

Once rendered and stored in this cloud environment, the data can be compressed and streamed in real time over a wireless or broadband connection to devices such as smartphones, set-top boxes and ultra-thin notebooks.

"By fusing industry leading CPU technology with computationally dense, massively parallel graphics processors, the AMD Fusion Render Cloud can rival the world's most powerful industrial computing devices, but requires just a fraction of the floor space, power envelope and cost associated with many of today's leading supercomputers," said Urbach.

The AMD Fusion Render Cloud will be powered by AMD-optimized hardware including the newly announced AMD Phenom II processors, AMD 790 chipsets and ATI (Nasdaq: ATYT) Radeon HD 4870 graphics processors, while Otoy will provide technical software development and a middleware layer.

Breaking Bottlenecks

"The AMD Fusion Render Cloud will allow directors like Robert Rodriguez of Troublemaker Studios to break through existing CPU-only and graphics processor-only render bottlenecks which have imposed limitations on the creation of true HD assets," said Charlie Boswell, director of digital media and entertainment at AMD.

"Imagine watching a movie halfway through on your cell phone while on the bus home, then switching over to your HD TV and continuing to watch the same movie from exactly where you left off, seamlessly and at full-screen resolution.

"Imagine playing the most visually intensive first-person shooter game at the highest image quality settings on your cell phone without ever having to download and install the software, or use up valuable storage space or battery life with compute-intensive tasks.

"Those are just some of the experiences that AMD and Otoy plan to make possible with HD cloud computing of visually rich entertainment content."