Friday, April 9, 2010

After Google, GoDaddy, and Dell China could leave Yahoo.

Image representing Yahoo! as depicted in Crunc...Image via CrunchBase

Just recently, Google has ceased to censor Chinese users search queries. Immediately thereafter, the world's largest domain name registrar GoDaddy has announced the termination of registration sites in the Chinese area of CN, but Dell has now started to consider the possibility of transferring their production from China to India.

And last week brought new news. Now another major U.S. asset, namely Yahoo, as before Google, too, was subjected to hacker attacks. Reportedly hacked mailboxes some users - namely, foreign journalists working in China.

The company itself is still in a rather general statement, which states that "Yahoo condemns all cyber attacks, whatever their origin or destination. We are determined to protect the security and privacy of our users and take appropriate action in case of any violation of this kind."

Experts believe that in Yahoo, apparently, still thinking about strategy - how to respond to harsh actions of hackers.

Nevertheless, the overall situation around China is gradually heating up. According to many, a new attack on Yahoo could escape the U.S. high-tech business from China to India. Discussions about this are already in many formal and informal community

In turn, the PRC on quarrel with Internet giant Google have responded very seriously, banning exaggerate the topic in the media and the press owned by internet forums. In addition, students in the institutions in the best traditions of Soviet-invited to write an essay "How I feel about Google". Thus the authorities are trying to let off steam from the youth and make them even aloud to say what "should". But at the same time you can analyze the mood of youth environment in relation to the events.

At the same time, the reaction of Chinese authorities said, and a fairly high level of importance they assigned to this incident with Google and other American IT companies.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Windows for free?

Image representing Microsoft as depicted in Cr...Image via CrunchBase

More interesting news comes from the camp Microsoft. Just recently, the corporation announced that in May this year bring to market a new Office application Microsoft Office 2010, and free. During that users will run ads, but who wants ad-free, he will be able to pay for the appropriate version.

And now the Internet has appeared a lot of unofficial information about how Microsoft is going to earn a promotion. In particular, it is a platform under the name Madison. It can be used in various products of the company, including operating systems. The idea here is the same - users enjoy free software in exchange for displaying advertising messages. Based on these rumors so far some IT publication has to speculate that in the future, and the operating system is Windows can thus become free.

An indirect confirmation of this is the number of recent actions and statements of the company development of its representatives. For example, in Windows 7 in the "Personalization" ("Topics") will be chosen design of the operating system in the style of famous brand advertising. But John Nicol, a senior manager in the group of Microsoft Consumer & Online, recently told reporters that "Windows 7 is an excellent platform for any advertiser who wants to reunite with their customers. Yes, it goes beyond traditional advertising and building new relationships with users of computers .

Another aspect of the issue - analysts have suggested that some features of the new OS will be sold as a "cloud" services. Among other things, this will allow users to sell and a number of additional services.

Cheapest music online store in the USA.

Hacker George Hotz apologized to the Linux-community.

The new version of firmware for the PlayStation 3, which was released on April 1, disappeared the menu to install alternative operating systems. Representatives of the company's corporate blog explained that this thing is done for security purposes. The fact is that recently appeared in an exploit that allows you to install on Linux any software, including pirated games from the very Sony.

History has caused an unexpectedly large response. For example, to post on the new firmware on your blog Sony USA has published two and a half thousand comments. A hacker George Hotz in his blog apologized Linux-community for what made them exploit caused such unpleasant consequences.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Solaris is no longer free.

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 14:  A sign is seen...Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Oracle is slowly beginning to cover the "free shop" to get her to load with Sun Microsystems. The first came under the distribution of the operating system Solaris, more precisely, after the rebranding has officially Oracle Solaris.

Last week, posted a new licensing agreement under which Oracle Solaris ceases to be a free OS. After the registration is only available 90-day trial version, and then have to buy a paid license.

Also announced that some of the features Oracle Solaris no longer be represented in OpenSolaris, which could mean the gradual extinction of the project. From that day on OpenSolaris is a direct competitor business Oracle, and the future of this open operating system at great risk.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Japan is willing to launch LTE networks

NEC Corporation of Japan issued an official press release, which, inter alia, announced the availability of mobile phone operator NTT DOCOMO in Japan their new base stations designed for use in commercial networks, LTE.

As stated in a press release, LTE base stations are built on the processor-based NEC, developed in accordance with the recommendations of an international consortium 3GPP - it was he who determined the development of networks of the future. Along with the base stations NEC Corporation introduced the switches, which can in a network of mobile devices from the LTE network and desktop PCs.

Now on stage - delivery of equipment to other LTE-operators in different countries.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Yahoo closes advertising platform.

Image representing Yahoo! as depicted in Crunc...Image via CrunchBase

Internet company Yahoo plans to close its regular online project launched back in "fat" pre-crisis time. This is the advertising platform Yahoo Publisher Network Beta - it is designed specifically for smaller advertisers with limited budgets.

Service Yahoo Publisher Network Beta was launched in 2005, and since then he had existed in the form of beta, but access to it has been possible only by invitation. This platform is designed for small businesses, small ad agencies, bloggers, etc. users. Business Model Yahoo Publisher Network Beta was a classic - Yahoo disseminated advertisements on their portal and partner sites, taking his commission. The scheme of pay per click and display content relevant advertising.

Announced the closure of Yahoo Publisher Network Beta, in Yahoo, however, did not report how many companies used the service. The only official representative of Yahoo, so this is what customers were "a little".

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

50 copier

A half-century marks one of the most widespread office dwellers - copier. His "career" began in March 1960 - it was then a small American firm Haloid Xerox (Rochester, New York) will deliver the first so-called office "Electrophotographic apparatus indirect copying.

Dimensions of these devices were comparable with two washing machines, they weighed approximately 295 kg and consumed a lot of electricity. It is not surprising that for a long time customer of early Xerox has been, basically, the U.S. government like the State Department, FBI, etc. And, of course, large libraries.

The success was astounding. While in 1959 income Haloid Xerox has made $32 million, then two years after the presentation of the legendary 914-th model revenue tripled. And after 6 years of rapid development of Xerox became a multibillion-dollar corporation.

Interesting fact: the proposed Xerox then, in the early 1960's, the technology of copying the image - xerography - still used in many modern copiers. Themselves, however, is copied in real life in the digital age are used less frequently. In place of large and heavy marker devices, also harmful to the health office workers come to the IFIs, ligaments, Scanner - PC - Printer and other solutions.

Cheapest music online store in the USA.

The feeling of deja vu.

At times, the global IT-industry news issues that cause sustained sense of déjà vu. And because you know for certain that this is exactly news - but from a sense of deja vu is impossible to escape. But everything else was good: IT-economy once again on the rise. If someone does not understand - I once again became Head talk about semiconductors.

I have often written about the fact that Russia persists in trying to buy somewhere abroad microprocessor production. So how to create your own elusive. Well, in fact, do not take as seriously Zelenograd chips, which, according to a popular joke, basically all the same tube.

But turn to the substance. The Russian state-owned corporation Rosnano, also known as holding AFK "System" agree to buy the French company - the manufacturer of microelectronics Altis. It admitted the Russian business newspaper Vedomosti some official from the administration Dmitry Medvedev, the question of the transaction Rosnano Altis and was recently discussed at a meeting of the commission on modernization. In the autumn of 2009, the Russian president advised the state-owned corporation to spend money on the purchase of innovative enterprises abroad and in this context that the deal between Rosnano and Altis was mentioned at a recent meeting of the committee as a positive example.

But, in fact, it will be just another attempt to get the French microelectronic enterprise. Initially - in 2006 - tried to buy Altis Russian producer of microchips, "Angstrom." However, the price of 350 million euros for the deeply unprofitable enterprises was clearly excessive. Then, in 2007 shareholders Altis (German manufacturer Infineon chip, and the American IBM) once again decided to sell the company, and even announced a deal with Advanced Electronic Systems - and she, in turn, controlled by Russian holding Global Information Services. But the deal never took place. Now shareholders Altis expect to sell the company in the first half of 2010 - and again the Russians.

I recall that last year, Sistema supported by the Russian government tried to buy at least a 51% stake in Infineon. This was even agreed to personally Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel. But then the German government still block the deal - "This cow is needed most." Instead, the Russians reportedly was offered the Altis for 150-200 million euros.

However, it is difficult to say how this will be good deal.

Altis - deeply unprofitable company. In 2009, Infineon has written off losses of 130 million euros, and most of this sum was exactly at Altis. Besides, the whole of last year, French trade unions have protested against plans to reduce staff Altis. Trade unions propose to extend the deadline by which the company may be bought investor, IBM and Infineon would bankrupt the Altis.

Go ahead. The gap between Intel and AMD in the market of computer chips fell. However, quite a bit. According to analyst firm iSuppli, in the last quarter of 2009, the share of AMD rose by 1,6%, while the share of Intel fell 1%. Market share of Intel and AMD in the IV quarter amounted to 80,6% and 12.1%, respectively. For all the same in 2009 the proportion of the two largest manufacturers of chips were distributed as 80.3% for Intel and 12.1% for AMD. The growth of their performance, albeit slight, occurred at the expense of long-suffering VIA Technologies.

But the big race between Intel and AMD, in fact, now only beginning. Leading analyst firms - IDC and Gartner - unanimously promise that the microprocessor market is expecting substantial growth. IDC predicts increase in supply by 15% compared with the year 2009. Gartner said the growth of sales of processors for PCs by 13%.

Of course, Intel, and AMD bets on the growth of the PC market. And rightly so: how to analysts Gartner, worldwide PC sales in 2010 will increase by 20% and will exceed 366 million units. According to recent report, the engine of the market should be mobile PCs, whose contribution to growth will be 90% over the next three years. According to Gartner, the volume of the PC market in terms of money can grow over the year by 12,2%.

Other notable events: Intel and Nvidia to sign agreement on cross-licensing. This will allow Nvidia officially enter the market with a chip x86 (rumors about him walking long ago), and Intel - to embed graphics technology into its chipsets and CPU.

Much of this initiative is Intel: Microprocessor giant in the U.S. and Europe is about to receive new claims for unlawful use of its monopoly position. To avoid that, Intel must sign licensing agreements x86 with other companies. And this despite the fact that the Gaza graphics cores Intel so far has the most significant market share.

Now, it turns out, Intel will not only provide all licensed Nvidia to produce chipsets for its processors, but also give the opportunity to develop and manufacture x86-compatible CPU. In turn, Intel will license to the best computing GPGPU market (technology, CUDA). The dog was buried in the fact that both companies will compete directly with systems AMD Fusion - they combine the CPU and graphics core with support functions GPGPU.


Help IT SECTOR

Altis Semiconductor: manufacturer of microchips. The company was founded in July of 1999 at the German semiconductor manufacturer Infineon Technologies and Microelectronics America IBM. It manufactures components for the automotive industry, telecommunications, and applications in the field of security technology 0,25-0,13 microns. The total investment in its joint venture owners of a business - 1 billion euros. Turnover in 2005 - 450 million euros (this is the last published data on the turnover).

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Apple is preparing a search engine?

According to U.S. research firm Piper Jaffray, over the next five years, Apple could bring to market its own search engine. In particular, the expert Piper Jaffray Gene Munster, who specializes in insider information about Apple, wrote in the analytical paper that the probability of this event - 70%. Munster can trust - before he had accurately predicted the yield of the tablet iPad.

For Apple, with all her experience, search engine - it is absolutely, fundamentally new product. Of course, the "apple company" have enough money to invest in the project, but now it employs no relevant expertise, and they will have to lure away competitors. The threshold to enter the market find is very high, not only in terms of finance and personnel, but also in terms of marketing activities. In short, Apple will have very hard to make all the talents and charisma of Steve Jobs to roll out new product and achieve success.

According to Gene Munster, Apple uniqueness of the search engine can provide, in particular, the data store for mobile applications App Store, which are not available to Google. But above all, Apple can transfer into your search engine of iPhone users and iPod Touch - and this multi-million "guaranteed" audience.

But it is unlikely Apple will create "iPhone-searcher" completely "from scratch". More likely, the corporation will acquire a small company, a startup that indexes sites on the Internet, or engaged in software development in the field of Internet search. For example, the object of purchase may be a small search engine Cuil, whose inventors claim that managed to index 120 billion web-pages.

According to one of the creators of "Rambler" Igor Ashmanova of the company Ashmanov and partners, create your own search engine would cost Apple, at least in the $ 150-300 million, but money from Apple, there is, and much larger - in the accounts of "apple company" According to Steve Jobs remains at $ 25-40 billion of free capital. Enough for any IT-project. But to begin, of course, will have to attract qualified developers. That is, simply, brain drain at Google, Yahoo and Microsoft.

A spokesman for Yandex "Ochir mandzhiks agree that Apple should first assemble a team of talented developers with experience. "We have to find and assemble such a team is not easy - universities do not produce ready-made professionals, and, as a rule, large companies themselves train prospective employees and try to stop them."

It is worth noting that in the U.S. press is dubious to learn about the prospective searcher Apple. So, for example, an authoritative tehnoblog CrunchGear wrote: "Apple needs its own search engine as a fish a bicycle. At most, what will Steve Jobs, is to create" smart "search software for the iPhone App Store".

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]