Google Inc. said Tuesday it plans to join an antitrust case launched by the European Union against Microsoft Corp.
Mountain View, Calif.-based Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) will apply to become a third party in the proceedings against Redmond-based Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), which in January was accused of unfair competition in the browser market by tying Internet Explorer to Windows.
The E.U. case began after a complaint from a company in Oslo that makes a competing browser.
Also joining the proceedings is Mountain View-based Mozilla Corp., maker of the Firefox browser.
Google -- which last year launched another competing browser, Chrome -- made a similar complaint against Microsoft in 2006 to the Justice Department, which investigated and found that a threat was not posed to competition.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Google, Mozilla join antitrust case against Microsoft
Excessive PlayStation gaming causes new skin condition
The condition was identified in a 12-year-old girl in Switzerland who developed lesions on her hands after playing for several hours every day.
Dermatologists have called the condition PlayStation palmar hidradenitis and said the condition cleared up after the patient stopped paying altogether for ten days.
The lesions in the standard version of the disorder normally appear on the soles of the feet in children who play lots of sport or take part in intensive physical exercise such as jogging.
It it thought to be connected to intense sweating but it is very unusual for it to appear on the hands..more
Friday, February 27, 2009
Nokia considering entering laptop industry
The world's top mobile phone maker Nokia is eyeing entering the laptop business, its Chief Executive Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo said in an interview to Finnish national broadcaster YLE on Wednesday.
"We are looking very actively also at this opportunity," Kallasvuo said, when asked whether Nokia plans to make laptops.
Industry has rumored about Nokia's possible plan to enter the PC industry since late last year, but Kallasvuo's comment was the first official admittance of such plans.
"We don't have to look even for five years from now to see that what we know as a mobile phone and what we know as a PC are in many ways converging," Kallasvuo said.
"Today we have hundreds of millions of people who are having their first Internet experience on the phone. This is a good indication," he said.
Nokia's comments come a week after No 3 PC brand Acer launched a foray into the phone business with eight mobile phone models, joining leader Hewlett-Packard and No. 4 Lenovo in the high-growth space.
While strong profit margins in the smartphone industry attract PC brands, the attraction of the low-margin computer industry is less obvious.
"Nokia maybe nervous about entering a market segment that is already heavily commoditized, but it would be in a position to exploit its enormous scale in manufacturing, supply chain and distribution," said Ben Wood, research director at CCS Insight.
"All leading mobile network operators and retailers are adding connected notebooks and netbooks to their portfolios alongside mobile phones. On this basis it comes as no surprise that Nokia is evaluating this segment," he said.
The global PC industry was resilient for most of last year when other technology sectors were ailing, but it too has now been caught up in the deepening economic downturn that has hit demand from consumers and corporate buyers.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Pocketwit - A twitter client for the Windows Mobile Professional (PocketPC) platform
- A unique user interface
- Works on VGA, QVGA and SmartPhone devices
- Support for multiple twitter and identi.ca accounts
- Maps view shows users on a world map and allows searching by region
- "Conversation View" shows a what this status was in reply to.
- Uses standard notifications to alert you of new friends statuses or replies
- URL shortening with is.gd
- Integration with shorttext.com for tweets longer than 140 characters
- Take photos and send to TwitPic
- Integrated search.twitter.com
- Clickable @names, URLs, and #Hashtags
- Option to check for new version on startup
- Themes
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
[BAK2u] iCabSG v1.2
Updated with more taxi companies numbers and a change in design.
Submitted to Apple App Store for approved.
Price: Freeware
Why netbooks are killing Microsoft
When Microsoft laid off 5,000 people in January, analysts and pundits pointed to plenty of reasons for the first major layoffs in the company’s history. The obvious culprits included the overall economic meltdown, Apple’s continued success and Wall Street’s desire to see a leaner Microsoft.
But the real cause of the layoffs can be summed up in a single word: netbooks. These lightweight, stripped-down laptops that sell for between $200 and $400 have taken a big chunk out of Microsoft’s bottom line. Unless the company comes up with a plan to handle them, its revenue will stagnate.
In announcing the layoffs, Microsoft said that its revenue had increased an anemic 1.6 percent in the quarter that ended Dec. 31 compared to the same quarter a year earlier. But that number doesn’t tell the whole story. Windows took the biggest hit, while systems for servers and related tools had hefty increases in sales. Windows sales were down an eye-popping 8 percent; server and related revenue grew 15 percent.
Microsoft clearly blames netbooks for the drop in Windows sales. Here’s what it said in its statement: “Client revenue declined 8% as a result of PC market weakness and a continued shift to lower priced netbooks.”
Netbooks have become the only bright spot for PC makers, with sales accelerating while the rest of the PC market stays in the doldrums. According to IDC, 10 million netbooks were sold in 2008 and that number should double to 20 million in 2009.
Why is all this bad news for Microsoft? First, an estimated 30 percent of all netbooks ship with Linux. That means Microsoft doesn’t get a penny for Windows from 30 percent of all netbooks being sold. Given that netbooks represent the fastest-growing PC market segment, the company’s problem may get worse with time...more
Monday, February 23, 2009
[BAK2u] iCELL Network & National Library Board Singapore
Together with iCELL Network, BAK2u exhibits at National Library Board Singapore of its mobile security software to protect students' laptops, mobile phones and provide free backup service to their contact list.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
iCabSG for Android
Hi all,
we are pleased to share BAK2u iCabSG for Android was reported in today newspaper at http://mypaper.sg (chinese edition)
iCabSg for BlackBerry will also be available soon.
Despite the recession, we are still making inroad together with our other software (best selling and most downloaded freeware - PhoneBAK, iCab, PhoneSCREAM) into the newer operating systems like Android.
iCabSG Android will be independent (non exclusive to any telcos) as a freeware to all Android users when made available in Singapore.
Paddy Tan
CEO
Source: Mypaper.sg
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Microsoft announces mobile apps store, backup service
Microsoft will introduce an application store with its newest version of Windows Mobile software, it planned to announce at Mobile World Congress, where it also was to formally open a limited beta for its My Phone data backup offering.
Windows Marketplace for Mobile will come with Windows Mobile 6.5, the newest version of the operating system, and will give users access to thousands of applications, said Scott Rockfeld, group product manager for Windows Mobile. Microsoft also introduced Windows Mobile 6.5 at MWC on Monday, saying the software should become available on phones early in the second half of the year.
While applications stores have been around for some time, Apple’s easy-to-use App Store, accessible from the iPhone, popularized the idea of buying and downloading mobile applications. Now, independent companies, operators and mobile phone makers are building stores that are accessible from handsets and that offer wireless downloads.
Nokia also planned to announce at MWC a new application store that will carry content and programs for users of its phones that run the S60 and S40 operating systems...more
LG Goes 3D with Windows Mobile
The LG-Microsoft alliance was highlighted by LG Mobile's chief executive, Dr. Skott Ahn, using LG's watch-phone to conduct a live video call with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. The two companies have committed to release at least 10 LG Windows phones in 2009 and as many as 26 in 2012. The first phone coming from the alliance is the GM730, a touch-screen phone that will feature Windows Mobile 6.1 at launch and Windows Mobile 6.5 later this year. The GM730 runs LG's new 3D, "S-Class" user interface, which uses lots of big, tactile graphics to make complex phones more fun and easy to use. "Users don't need to dig to manage to find information or to utilize features ... S-Class will ... become standard on all of our handsets, and this includes smartphones," said Chang Ma, LG Mobile's vice president for marketing strategy. For instance, to tune the FM radio on an S-Class phone, you turn a virtual dial with your finger. To set the clock, you move the hands with your finger. And to scroll through a menu, you flick a line of icons. S-Class seems to reach into all areas of the GM730. On the demo unit we saw, the calendar and address book were both customized to look a lot more fun than the standard Windows Mobile applications. LG isn't the only company seriously hacking Windows Mobile; HTC announced earlier today that the company is bringing new address-book and call-organization technology to their own Windows Mobile phones...more
LG made a major commitment to producing Windows Phones on Monday, unveiling a new, 3D interface for its high-end phones at the Mobile World Congress (MWC 2009) show in Barcelona.
LG made a major commitment to producing Windows Phones on Monday, unveiling a new, 3D interface for its high-end phones at the Mobile World Congress (MWC 2009) show in Barcelona.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
[BAK2u] Review of Phoenix for Mac & Windows
Status: Closed (23 Feb 09)
If you are a blogger or webmaster that enjoy doing review of software, let us know.
We have 100 copies of Phoenix for Mac and Windows (newest version) to be given away free. Visit BAK2u.com
Phoenix (Windows and Mac) will officially begin retailing in stores from March onwards.
To get a copy now, you can visit BAK2u.com website.
------
Sample of email alert when Phoenix is triggered:
(Email from stolen laptop)
From: bak2utesting@gmail.com
Date: February 12, 2009 9:45:00 PM SST
To: predefined-email@gmail.com
Subject: Phoenix Alert message
Date & Time: 2009-02-12 21:44:32 +0800
Location
------------
Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1.299381,103.852814
Latitude: 1.299381
Longitude: 103.852814
External IP Addresses
------------------------------
IP: 220.255.24.47
Proxy Information
-----------------------------
IP: 220.255.24.47
HOST: bb220-255-24-47.singnet.com.sg
PROXY: 220.255.7.144
MacBook Pro Information
-----------------------------
Serial Number: System Serial#
MAC Address: 00:1b:63:97:1d:75
Host Name: John-lim-macbook-pro.local
------
All these to help the owner when reporting it to the authorities to help in the retrieval.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Microsoft plans stores, hires Dreamworks exec
Microsoft plans to open its own retail stores to "transform the PC and Microsoft buying experience," the company said Wednesday as it hired an executive to run the retail operation.
The stores will help Microsoft engage more deeply with consumers and learn firsthand about what they want to buy and how, according to a Microsoft press release. Deciding where the stores will be located and what they'll look like will be the first order of business for David Porter, who will report to work on Monday as corporate vice president of Retail Stores.
Microsoft has long been perceived as lagging behind rival Apple in appealing directly to consumers, and Apple has a head start of several years in running a chain of stores. While Microsoft makes its own Xbox game terminals, Zune media players and some other devices, it doesn't have a branded PC product of its own like Apple's Macintosh.
In December, Apple neared 10 percent of personal computer sales while Windows lost a full percentage point of share for the second month in a row.
With the retail strategy, Microsoft said it hopes to articulate and demonstrate its innovation and value proposition. It will pass on lessons it learns from the stores to its retail and OEM (original equipment maker) partners.
The move comes as the company gears up for the release of the Windows 7 PC operating system as well as new releases of Windows Mobile and of the Windows Live online portal. It follows changes Microsoft has made to its marketing efforts as the Windows Vista operating system took on a negative image.
Porter has been head of worldwide product distribution for Dreamworks Animation SKG since 2007, but before that, he spent 25 years at Wal-Mart Stores. His last position there was vice president and general merchandise manager of entertainment.
Microsoft has already had at least one retail store. In 1999, it opened a large store on the second floor of Sony's Metreon entertainment and shopping complex in downtown San Francisco. Among other things, visitors to the store could try out Windows CE-based handhelds and buy Microsoft apparel, souvenirs and shrink-wrapped software. The shop closed several years later, as did most of the other non-Sony-related businesses in the complex.
Source: http://www.macworld.com
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Fortylove.tv
Remember postcards — when we used to send them? Fortylove.tv is an account of May and Adrianna’s travels out of London and Dubai to Europe, the Middle East, India and everywhere else in between.
Whether they’re traipsing through sand dunes, hanging out with Syrian sweetmakers and Yemeni qat-chewers, or gazing into the future with Turkish coffee cup fortune-tellers and London bartenders, they shoot a short video every week for twenty weeks to document their travels. The short videos are sent through fortylove.tv as video postcards to each other in forty takes, back and forth. Tune in twice weekly to May and Adrianna’s video postcards to see what they’ve been up to on this adventure...more
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Microsoft® My Phone
* Back up phone information to a password-protected web site Microsoft My Phone syncs information on your mobile phone to a storage space on a web site hosted by Microsoft. If your phone is lost or stolen, or if you upgrade to a new phone, you can easily restore the contacts, calendar appointments, photos, and other information that you stored on My Phone to a compatible new or replacement phone. Most phones that run the Windows Mobile 6 operating system are compatible with My Phone service.
* Access and update your contacts and appointments on the web Microsoft My Phone enables you to view and manage phone information by using a web browser. In your web account, you can add, edit, and delete contacts and calendar appointments, and the changes will appear on your phone the next time that you sync.
* Share photos with friends and family Microsoft My Phone makes it easy to view photos on your computer that were taken with your camera phone. From your web account, you can save photos to your computer or can e-mail them to family and friends.
* How much does the Microsoft My Phone service cost? Microsoft does not charge a fee for the My Phone service at this time. But the data plan you have with your mobile operator may require you to pay data-transfer charges when you use the service. If you are unsure of your plan coverage, please contact your mobile operator.
* What information can I back up on Microsoft My Phone? The first time that you run the My Phone application on your mobile phone, you will be asked to accept or change the recommended settings. Recommended settings will synchronize contacts, calendar appointments, tasks, photos, videos, text messages, music, and documents between your phone and your My Phone web account. However:
o If you have an active connection with Microsoft Exchange server (which is frequently used for corporate e-mail), My Phone will not synchronize your contacts, calendar appointments, or tasks.
o If you have Windows Live installed on your phone, it will synchronize your Windows Live contacts with the Windows Live web site, and My Phone will synchronize your other contacts to your account on the My Phone web site.
o If you have an external memory card and selected My Phone's recommended settings, information on the external memory card will not be synchronized.
o If you store contacts on the SIM card provided by your mobile operator, My Phone will not synchronize these contacts.
o If you have any documents stored outside the My Documents folder on your phone, My Phone will not synchronize these documents...more
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Tech perks in hotel
Technology-enabled hotels seem to be popping up all around the globe, and recently one of our spotters alerted us to a new one in Germany that's aimed specifically at budget-oriented youthful travellers.
Similar in many ways to New York City's Pod Hotel and Parisian Mama Shelter—both of which we've featured in the past year—Superbude is a hotel, hostel and lounge located in the heart of Hamburg. Both double and quadruple rooms are available in the six-floor hotel, with the option of adding extra beds, and a defining design colour for each prevents them all from looking the same. Rooms all feature flat-screen TVs and connections for a variety of tech gadgets, while cordless Skype phones are available for rent at a minimal charge. Superbude also boasts a private theater, Nintendo DS and a Wii sports room, and the self-serve kitchen features three packed fridges from which guests can choose and pay for only what they'd like to eat. Superbude's prices begin at EUR 59 for a double room.
When targeting young travellers, low budget and high connectivity would have to be a winning combination, particularly when presented with a bright, playful style. One to emulate in a tourist destination near you...moreThursday, February 5, 2009
Windows 7 will ship in 6 different versions
Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday said it will heavily promote two main versions of the next Windows operating system in an attempt to avoid the problems it faced by marketing four tiers of the Windows Vista system. But while the Redmond-based company said it will simplify its message, it did not give up the multitiered approach with Windows 7, which is officially expected at the end of January 2010. All told, there will be at least six different versions. Microsoft said the primary version for consumers will be called Windows 7 Home Premium, and the one for businesses will be called Windows 7 Professional. Prices have not yet been disclosed. In addition, it will sell two lower-end versions, Home Basic and Starter edition, to PC makers.
The Home Basic edition is intended for sale in developing countries, while computer makers can install the Starter edition on PCs intended for sale anywhere in the world. Neither sport the sleeker appearance introduced with Vista, which is getting a makeover in Windows 7. The company will also sell a top-end Enterprise version for big corporate customers and a similar Ultimate version for consumers. Those versions will include security features and a few other tools not available in the two main versions. When Microsoft started widely selling Windows Vista in January 2007, it offered four options: Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate. Some people who purchased Home Basic complained that they did not realize it lacked the updated user interface....more
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
[BAK2u] Review - Phonescream is Loud and Startling
If iPhone theft worries you, then PhoneSCREAM may be the app to calm your fears. PhoneSCREAM lets out a series of eardrum-destroying noises in the event the phone is lifted off of a surface. If the standard sounds are not quite annoying enough for you, there is an option to record a voice message of your choice.
PhoneSCREAM works like this: launch the app and then press the pad lock icon. Then, set the iPhone down on a surface. When it is picked up, an “Alert” signal pops up on he screen and whatever alarm sound that was selected sounds. Turning it off is quite simple, however. Just hit the home button to close PhoneSCREAM . The alarm also still works if the phone powers down or is put into standby. In this case, upon pressing the home button and sliding the slider bar, the user is greeted with an Alarm sound and screen instead of a typical page filled with apps...moreMotorola Swings To 4Q Loss, Suspends Dividend
The Schaumburg, Ill., company has aggressively cut costs in a bid to survive the downturn, enacting such moves as the dividend cut and taking "aggressive measures" in areas such as Mobile Devices. Last month, it said it would cut 4, 000 jobs, or about 6% of its work force. That comes on to of 3,000 cuts announced in the fall.
"They better hurry and fix mobile devices or it will become irrelevant," said RBC Capital Markets analyst
Revenue fell 26% to
Wall Street, on average, forecast break-even bottom line results, and revenue of
Monday, February 2, 2009
[BAK2u] INSEAD High Tech Club
INSEAD High Tech Club - Featuring Technopreneur Paddy Tan
I was lucky to be invited by Ms. Vanessa Tan (Lady in Red) to chat with some participants of INSEAD High Tech Club on what it's like to be a technotrepreneur.
Shared some slides about what BAK2u is about and some other businesses.
Photos by Ms. Vanessa Tan
