BAK2u.com distributor (Dubai, UAE)

BAK2u is proud to appoint Microvision International BVI as the exclusive distributor for the country, Dubai, UAE.

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Disappointing News On MacThemes For BlackBerry...

Occasionally a good idea catches on and becomes wildly successful. Our recent release of the PocketMac MacThemes for BlackBerry has been one of those, and we are grateful for so much enthusiasm around this product. The look and feel makes Mac users feel right at home.

Now we have some disappointing news… the folks at Apple feel that our look and feel is TOO similar to the Macintosh, and have asked us to stop selling it. Because we have great respect for Apple specifically, and for the principles of copyright protection in general, we are going to do as they request immediately.

Our plan is to rework the designs so that we can provide a similarly comfortable user interface on the BlackBerry that also respects everyone's copyrights. So, we'll have our artists come up with something dazzling that we can share with you without accidentally stepping on anyone's toes.

Anyone who purchased our first version will be eligible to a free upgrade to our next version, of course!

Thank you so much for your enthusiasm, and now for your patience, as we retool this product for the next great round!

It's great having you as a customer,

Your friend,
Lauren
PocketMac Team

New colour iPod shuffles!

Put some color on. iPod Shuffle

What to expect from Microsoft's Vista

The task is daunting: Make a product that works with tens of thousands of devices and software programs, and will be used by perhaps 800 million people or more. Anticipate their needs and wants now and years in the future. Prepare to be attacked by haters and hackers.

Oh, yeah, and get ready to rake in billions of dollars in profit.

More than five years after Microsoft started on the road to building the next version of the Windows computer-operating system, it's finally ready to give Vista to the masses.

The company is planning a launch celebration in New York City on Monday before Vista and Office 2007, Microsoft's other leading product, go on sale Tuesday. A few retailers are staying open late to accommodate those enthusiasts who want to be the first to get their hands on them, though it's hard to imagine the kind of craziness that surrounded earlier Windows launches.

Millions of software testers have been tinkering with Vista and it was released to large-business customers in November.

Eventually Vista will be on board virtually every new PC sold. Windows expert Brian Livingston expects 400 million people -- college students and seniors and everyone in between -- to be using the software within 24 months.

Here's a look at some of what's inside: Details

Fox Vs YouTube

Is Fox Preparing to Fight YouTube?

It had to happen! Fox sent a subpoena to YouTube requesting that the site provide identification info on the user who uploaded the first episodes of 24's sixth season, as well as 12 episodes of ‘The Simpsons.’

The subpoena reads: "On or about January 8, 2007, Fox became aware that a subscriber ("The Subscriber") of YouTube Inc.'s internet-based service uploaded pirated copies of the works onto YouTube, making it available for illegal viewing over the internet to anyone who wishes to watch it.

"Fox has not authorized this distribution or display of the works. The subpoena request YouTube, Inc. to disclose information sufficient to identify the Subscriber so that Fox can stop this infringing activity."

The videos that angered fox were submitted by a user who chose the user name ECOTotal. Don’t bother searching for his name on YouTube because his name and video content have been deleted by now.

LiveDigital, another video sharing site, is in the same situation as YouTube, having received the same request from Fox.

In both subpoenas, Fox alleges the trademark-infringing 24 videos were "pirated copies" of this season's first four episodes, aired Jan. 14-15 on Fox, released on DVD Jan. 16—and spotted on YouTube and LiveDigital Jan. 8.

Copyright problems related to content posted by users has not been news for YouTube for long now, and the moment Google acquired YouTube, there were several analysts who foresaw lawsuits connected with this topic.

So far, problems of this ilk have been ironed out once the video content breaching copyright policies was erased from the site, but this time around Fox is going one step further, by asking for the user’s IPs.

YouTube can take time to think things through until February 9 – company officials have refused to comment on aspects concerning this matter before that date.

Each time there was a similar situation, YouTube was adamant, emphasizing that it was not responsible for its users’ copyright breach....more

HD-DVD cracked!

Hollywood bosses not likely to be best pleased with hackers’ latest game.

It was only a matter of time: HD-DVD has reared its head on BitTorrent sites across the globe. It seems that hackers have managed to crack the top notch format’s copy protection, AACS, and started posting links to their favourite films.

Hollywood big hitters were assured the code could not be broken when talk of a switch to HD began to gather steam. Except now it appears their advisors underestimated the world’s hardcore hackers.

Copies of King Kong, Batman Begins and Serenity are just three of the movies up for grabs.

Things are only likely to get worse when HD-DVDR drives start to hit the market over the next year. So not exactly a Happy New Year if you happen to run a Hollywood studio.

Source: http://www.t3.co.uk/news/247/dvd/hd-dvd_cracked

Cool stuff: Emoze Push Mail (Free download)

Emoze is at the forefront of Push email simplicity.

Emoze turns mobile phones and mobile devices in to fully functional personal communication devices with a single, simple and free download for the individual user.

It delivers real-time, secure synchronization of emails, calendars, contacts and tasks - pushing data and updates to you anytime, anywhere.

Emoze supports all popular email data sources (e.g. Lotus Notes and Domino Servers, Microsoft Outlook and Exchange, , PoP3 and Web-Access) and mobile device operating systems, and provides a simple user interface and high level security for emails and data.

Download Emoze Today Free! www.emoze.com

Exclusive pictures of BAK2u interview (Channel 8)

Kym Ng , Dennis Chew, camera crew & Paddy.

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East Europe - PhoneBAK softwares now available

PhoneBAK softwares now available for online purchase at "PROMOTEUS" Ltd (Countries: Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia)

Website

Open Source Business Plan

For consumers who want gadget personalization that's more permanent than vinyl decals, Adafruit offers custom laser etching of laptops, iPods, phones, cameras and more.

It isn't the first company to offer laser etching (see Etchamac, Powerbook Laser Engraving and others), but it is the first to freely share its business model with other entrepreneurs interested in setting up a customization shop...more

Apple looks peachy

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates likes to boast that his company is a leader in innovation. But Apple’s announcement last week of the iPhone demonstrates that it is Apple, not Microsoft, that is leading innovation in consumer electronics.

You would be forgiven for not knowing that Gates delivered a keynote address at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas last week. Apple CEO Steve Jobs, speaking in San Francisco at the Macworld expo, stole all the attention from the Microsoft cofounder. Jobs had the Mac faithful — and technology journalists — eating out of his hand last Monday when he announced details of the long-awaited iPhone. “Today,” he told 4000 cheering Macworld delegates, “Apple is going to reinvent the phone.” ...more

Apple sells 21.1 million iPods during Christmas quarter

Apple reported yet another strong quarter with record sales results throughout its product portfolio. Driven by strong demand for notebooks, iPods and the iTunes music service, revenues came in at $7.1 billion, which translates into a year-over-year increase of 22%. Apple's profit surged 78% from $565 million top $1.0 billion.

The iPod product line continues to carry Apple from one record quarter to another. According to the company, 21.06 million music players were sold during the Christmas quarter, representing a 50% increase year-over-year and a 142% increase over Apple's fiscal fourth quarter of 2006...more

PhoneBAK PDA Anti-theft software bundled with Qoollabs QDA ICON

PhoneBAK PDA Phone software bundled with Qoollabs QDA ICON PDA phones for selected markets! Qool Labs Pte Ltd

Review: Cnet

BAK2u.com - Exclusive iPhone images

From Mr Larry of DigitalAge.com

Apple crunches websites over iPhone skins

Australian Apple devotees may not have to wait until next year to get their hands on the iPhone, as its user interface (UI) can be downloaded onto competing devices that are available now.

Savvy coders have developed iPhone "skins" that work with most smartphones based on the Windows Mobile and Palm operating systems.

The issue has angered Apple to such an extent that it has sent its lawyers after a number of those involved - both directly and indirectly...more

BAK2u.com distributor (Singapore)

BAK2u is proud to appoint GetzMobile Pte Ltd as the exclusive distributor for the country, Singapore.

GetzMobile will distribute and retail PhoneBAK Mobilephone and PDA phone anti-theft softwares.


Purchase your copy here @ Getzmobile.com online store.

BBC plans to join social networking Web site bandwagon

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) plans to develop its online presence by providing social networking sites based on its most popular brands such as Top Gear, a BBC spokeswoman, quoted by a Reuters report, said.

The Reuters report said the world-renowned broadcaster is looking to tap into the popularity of such sites as MySpace, in which users contribute comments and video footage to share with other users.

The report also quoted the spokeswoman for BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the corporation, as saying that there was no time plan in place but that it expected to continue to develop its online service over the next year...more

The Apple iPhone runs OS X

Capping literally years of speculation on perhaps the most intensely followed unconfirmed product in Apple's history -- and that's saying a lot -- the iPhone has been announced today. Yeah, we said it: "iPhone," the name the entire free world had all but unanimously christened it from the time it'd been nothing more than a twinkle in Stevie J's eye (comments, Cisco?). Sweet, glorious specs of the 11.6 millimeter device (that's frickin' thin, by the way) include a 3.5-inch wide touchscreen display with multi-touch support and a proximity sensor to turn off the sensor when it's close to your face, 2 megapixel cam, 8 GB of storage .. more

Hiring: Symbian OS Programmer

We are expanding the team and now seeking another freelancer programmer for another project, to work with Europeans and Middle East customers.

Update: HIRED.

Bankrupt BenQ German unit attracts possible buyers

The bankrupt German handset business of Taiwan's BenQ has attracted several possible buyers, including an unidentified German-US investor, its insolvency administrator, quoted by an Associated Press report, said.

The Associated Press report said Munich-based BenQ Mobile filed for insolvency protection in September, a year after the Taiwanese firm took over the struggling unit from Siemens and began an unsuccessful bid to turn it around.

Though no investors came forward to buy the business as a going concern, a spokeswoman for administrator Martin Prager was quoted as saying that "several" have shown interest in its assets...more

Cisco System US$830 million purchase.

Cisco Systems said Thursday that it has agreed to pay $830 million in cash and stock to acquire privately held IronPort Systems, a maker of anti-spam and anti-virus security products.

The deal is the latest in the quickly consolidating security-software market. Microsoft, Symantec and others have scooped up smaller firms so they can offer comprehensive consumer packages amid a wave of computer viruses, spam and phishing scams.

It also highlights Cisco's efforts to shed its image as solely a maker of networking infrastructure gear and capitalize on products and services that utilize the network itself, analysts say.

Cisco, which makes the routers, switches and other devices used to link networks and direct traffic on the Internet, has established itself in the network security arena. But Gartner analyst Peter Firstbrook says he expects Cisco to pursue more acquisitions this year, including security companies in the instant messaging and intrusion-prevention markets...more

PacNet - Wireless@SG

Singapore, 1 January 2007 - Pacific Internet customers will be able to enjoy free access to Wireless@SG services - a national wireless broadband initiative to allow Singaporeans to surf for free at selected public hotspots. This service will be made available to customers from end January 2007. PacNet has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with iCELL, one of three wireless operators chosen by the Infocom Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) to develop the national wireless broadband network under the Wireless@SG initiative. As such, customers will not need to register for an account with any of the Wireless@SG operators. Customers will receive more information by mid January on how to start using this service. This collaboration with iCELL is brought about to enable more innovative services for PacNet customers.

With this latest service, customers of PacNet can enjoy:

Free wireless connectivity at speeds of up to 512kbps at public hotspots.
Surfing at 5,000 WIFI hotspots by September 2007.
Roaming within any of Wireless@SG's coverage areas (regardless of the operators' network).
To connect to the Wireless@SG wireless broadband network, a user just needs a WIFI-enabled device, such as a laptop computer or a PDA and a web browser.

For customers who are currently on the premium Wireless@hotspots plan, you may continue to login at the various WIFI hotspots using either your domain <@pacnet> or <@pacific.net.sg> to enjoy the service. The charges will remain at the prevailing rates until further notice.

Wishing all customers a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

HD DVDs cracked?

An anonymous computer programmer may have skewed the competition over standards for high-definition DVD discs by possibly defeating a scheme that both sides use to protect digital content.

The standards, HD-DVD and Blu-ray, are being backed by rival coalitions of Hollywood studios and consumer electronics and computer companies that are eagerly marketing a new generation of digital media players and video game machines tailored for widescreen TVs.

The HD-DVD coalition includes companies like Microsoft, Intel, Toshiba and NEC; the Blu-ray camp has Sony, Philips and Samsung. Among studios, Universal is exclusively backing HD-DVD. Paramount and Warner Brothers also support HD-DVD, but not exclusively. Representatives of Walt Disney, 20th Century Fox and Warner Brothers are on the board of the Blu-ray group...more