When will the Blu-ray market 'kick into gear?'
Although not everyone agrees with the prediction, analysts at ABI Research are now saying that the Blu-ray high definition DVD market won't "kick into gear" for another 12 to 18 months.
Until prices reach the $200 level for full-featured players, people who don't own HDTVs will "certainly favor standard DVD players" over Blu-ray drives, according to a report issued by the industry analyst firm.
Telecom firm turns to open source model for its VoIP platform
Companies are beginning to transition away from traditional phone lines towards voice over IP technology, but several price and support-related issues haven't made it as cost effective as it could be.
To help combat these growing cost and support issues, Fonality released a new program for validating other companies' components for use with its VoIP software platform, citing what it calls an "open source ecosystem." The interoperability program could potentially make it easier for companies to deploy a working VoIP system by giving them more choices.
Roxio gains foothold in online photo sharing with Simple Star
Roxio parent Sonic Solutions acquired privately-owned Simple Star for an undisclosed sum on Tuesday.
Simple Star produces PhotoShow, a tool that allows users to assemble their photos and videos into multimedia presentations that can be shared online or through a host of devices.
About 13 million copies of the PhotoShow software have been installed since its 2002 introduction. Approximately five million new installations now occur each year, according to company statistics.
Windows XP SP3 official release delayed, but download still available
Download Windows XP Service Pack 3 from FileForum now (316 MB).
Future Cray supercomputers will have Intel Xeon processors
An Intel spokesperson confirmed to BetaNews this morning that an alliance between the manufacturer and Cray Inc. will lead to future Cray supercomputers being endowed with Intel Xeon processors.
Itanium processors -- which are designed with explicit parallelism from the outset will not be involved in this partnership, according to Intel spokesperson Nick Knupffer. Instead, the partnership will center around what Knupffer described as "Cray's interconnect to Intel's future generations of processor technology."
Comcast business customers get free speed boost
The CATV provider's Business Class Internet service is increasing its speeds to 16 Mbps download/2 Mbps upload nationwide at no additional cost to subscribers.
Previously, these speeds were only attainable when the company's PowerBoost speed enhancement was active in the "Enhanced" package deal.
The patent-pending enhancer was introduced in 2006, and affords an additional amount of bandwidth to downloads when available, typically doubling the transfer rate, which then gets throttled back to the capped speed. Today's announcement increases the capped speed to all business class customers, and subsequently raises the PowerBoost ceiling as well.
Blockbuster expands gaming section in stores
Blockbuster has expanded its video game presence, now offering retail video games, hardware, and accessories in all of its company-owned stores.
Previously, the company had only offered game rentals and limited retail gaming items in its stores. In select locations, the company had a shop-within-shop Game Rush operation selling new and used games.
It had also owned southeastern US game retailer Rhino Games for a short period of time, although that was sold to GameStop in 2007. Regardless, with Monday's announcement, the movie renter now appears ready to move fully into the retail video game business.
Verizon makes gains in FiOS and wireless customers
Verizon today announced the addition of 1.5 million new wireless customers and 263,000 new FiOS TV customers, on a net basis, in delivering financial results showing a 5.5% rise in revenues to $23.8 billion.
"Results for the first quarter were strong and demonstrate that we weathered the economic uncertainty," said Verizon CFO Doreen Toben, in a conference call with financial analysts today.
Apple refreshes its iMac line
Apple's consumer desktops have received faster processors and better graphics cards, which may only add momentum to a product line analysts are saying may finally be stealing market share from Vista.
In fact, Apple credits the iMac as contributing to the ability for the company to grow its overall computer business at a rate of almost three times the industry average: Apple reported a 51 percent increase in computer sales last quarter.
Gigabyte's low-cost Atom-powered portable gets a name
The much anticipated, 8.9-inch, Intel Atom-powered ultra-low-cost PC from motherboard manufacturer Gigabyte, expected to hit the market in June, now has a name: M912.
Unfortunately, that's still all it officially has. As DigiTimes reported this morning, The M912 is reportedly being both designed and manufactured in-house so the company can release it in a timely fashion. If Gigabyte's current UMPC/MID offerings are any indication, the device could take on the "slider" form factor instead of the traditional "clamshell" laptop/notebook design.
Milpitas, California joins the great muni-Wi-Fi reclamation
An April 15 vote by Milpitas, California's City Council was 4-0 in favor of transferring the Earthlink Wi-Fi assets back to the city. In 30 days, Milpitas will be the among the first cities to assume ownership of Earthlink's network.
Earthlink's Milpitas launch took place in December 2006, opening the ten square mile mesh network of Tropos Wi-Fi routers to residents for rates raging from $3.95 an hour to $21.95 a month. This service will no longer be offered once Milpitas has assumed control, and total coverage will be stripped down to a size that will not present operating costs that are too restrictive.
Microsoft plans search software for Linux and Unix
Linux and Unix software from Microsoft? That will be one of the upshots of Microsoft's proposed buyout of Fast Search & Transfer, Microsoft officials said today. But that doesn't mean you'll see Microsoft software shifting platforms.
"You shouldn't expect to see SharePoint running on Unix," according to Kirk Koenigsbauer, general manager of Microsoft's SharePoint Business Group.
"Speaking of Linux and Unix, some people may be (mis)interpreting our continued support and investment in these platforms as a broader change for Microsoft -- so here's some color. We're making a pragmatic decision to continue to delight a core part of Fast's customer base that has chosen the Linux/Unix OS. You can bet that we'll innovate on Windows, too, and over time we hope customers will see .NET as a preferred platform choice," Koenigsbauer wrote in a blog entry on Microsoft's Web site today.
Court: Border search of laptops without cause permissible by law
In a decision that could anger some privacy advocates, a US appeals court said that border and airport security agents can search laptops without cause.
Surprisingly, the unanimous 3-0 decision came from the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals, which has otherwise been a target of criticism for its alleged liberal bias.
The decision overturns a US District Court ruling stating that agents must have reasonable cause to perform a search of electronic devices. That case was brought by Timothy Arnold, a 43-year old teacher and California resident.
LG's Secret 'iPhone killer' turns up in Britain
LG Electronics has launched its new Secret line in the UK -- a sleek, stylish new camera phone with a shiny carbon fiber casing whose emphasis is not only on "smarts" but also on "trends."
Originally leaked several weeks ago, the Secret follows the LG Chocolate and LG Shine phone models in the Black Label Series, which has helped boost LG's phone sales with more than 25 million sales worldwide.
Microsoft plans search software for Linux and Unix
Linux and Unix software from Microsoft? That will be one of the upshots of Microsoft's proposed buyout of Fast Search & Transfer, Microsoft officials said today. But that doesn't mean you'll see Microsoft software shifting platforms.
"You shouldn't expect to see SharePoint running on Unix," according to Kirk Koenigsbauer, general manager of Microsoft's SharePoint Business Group.
"Speaking of Linux and Unix, some people may be (mis)interpreting our continued support and investment in these platforms as a broader change for Microsoft -- so here's some color. We're making a pragmatic decision to continue to delight a core part of Fast's customer base that has chosen the Linux/Unix OS. You can bet that we'll innovate on Windows, too, and over time we hope customers will see .NET as a preferred platform choice," Koenigsbauer wrote in a blog entry on Microsoft's Web site today.
Analysts: 3G iPhone to debut June 9
Citigroup's Richard Gardner and Yeechang Lee said in a research note Thursday that they expect Apple to introduce the 3G iPhone during Job's keynote at the Worldwide Developers Conference.
That date makes some degree of sense, considering WWDC is also a likely candidate for the introduction of the final release of iPhone Firmware 2.0. Jobs speaks at the beginning of each conference, this year being held from June 9-13.
Milpitas, California joins the great muni-Wi-Fi reclamation
An April 15 vote by Milpitas, California's City Council was 4-0 in favor of transferring the Earthlink Wi-Fi assets back to the city. In 30 days, Milpitas will be the among the first cities to assume ownership of Earthlink's network.
Earthlink's Milpitas launch took place in December 2006, opening the ten square mile mesh network of Tropos Wi-Fi routers to residents for rates raging from $3.95 an hour to $21.95 a month. This service will no longer be offered once Milpitas has assumed control, and total coverage will be stripped down to a size that will not present operating costs that are too restrictive.
Pint-sized but versatile Linux server hits North America
A pint-sized, multi-functional Linux server small enough to hold in the palm of your hand, was released this week into the North American market by Japan-based Plat'Home.
Designed to work as an Apache Server, MySQL database server, or just about any other type of larger Linux server, the new OpenMicroServer is particularly geared to places that are short on space, or where systems need to be remotely managed due to an absence of on-site administrators.
Analysts differ: Is the mobile phone market up or down?
In the US, 83 percent of consumers plan to keep their landline phones, even if they also own mobile phones. But on a worldwide basis, the cell phone market is now showing its fastest growth since 2006, according to new research.
New analysts' surveys making the rounds late this week may not entirely conflict with one another, though they are presenting different pictures of complex patterns on the topic of mobile phone adoption.
Skype testing software for mobile phones
Skype is looking to expand its mobile offerings and is opening up a public beta for its mobile software.
About 50 different phone models are compatible with the Java-based software. It allows users to chat, show their online presence, and receive both calls from other users as well as through SkypeIn.
The company had been distancing itself from mobile Skype due to handset and technical issues for some time. However it now appears those hurdles have been overcome, and the VoIP software is ready for prime time on mobile devices.
Yahoo's open platform now has a name and a mascot
If the software industry truly is to transcend the PC level and start an entirely new economy on a Web platform, then it doesn't appear any one player will have an automatic, native advantage. Yahoo is gambling it will be one of those players.
There are four centers of gravity emerging in the complex and semi-defined social Web services field, where the application platform is moved from the local or company network to the Web. The proprietors at these four points include Microsoft, whose Live Mesh concept was given more definition just two days ago. Then there's Adobe, which is constructing a Web services platform around Flash using AIR. Also there is Google, whose tenacity alone is testament to its formidability.
Apple's PA Semi buy may leave some out in the cold
It appears that PA Semi's chip business may not have a place in Apple's future plans, which could spell trouble for the chipmaker's clients, including the Defense Department.
An EETimes report cites sources close to companies affected by the merger in reporting that Apple seems more interested in PA Semi's intellectual property and development side, rather than its chips.
In short, it likely means that production and development of these chips may be ended. The only hope would be for another company to pick up production, which has worried its customers.
