The pervasiveness of the Internet allows for a new definition of a “global market,” opening doors not only for businesses, but also labor forces. While a corporation may cater its products and services to a worldwide audience, it must adhere to strict rules with it comes to their human resources. One such regulation by the U.S. government is the H1-B non-immigrant visa, which allows employers to seek temporary help (six years per visa) from skilled foreigners who have the equivalent U.S. Bachelor's Degree education. The most well known example of H1-B visa holders are workers from India providing IT duties to In the early 1990s, the quota on the number of H1-B visas issued was rarely met, but in the last few years, all H1-Bs were snapped up in just a matter of months. Companies who are unable to acquire adequate number of visas will have to wait until the next fiscal year before refilling their applications. For the fiscal year 2008, the entire quota was exhausted before the end of the first day on which applications were accepted. The U.S. government caps the number of H1-B visas at 65,000, with provisions for more workers with foreign graduate degrees and when the quotas are met. In May of this year, the Senate voted to increase H1-B visa fees from $1,500 to $5,000. Proceeds from the fees are used to fund U.S. educational programs. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a strong supporter of the bill who originally sought for a greater fee increase to $8,500, explained his reasons for the increase to the Senate: "What many of us have come to understand is that these H-1B visas are not being used to supplement the American workforce where we have shortages but, rather, H1-B visas are being used to replace American workers with lower cost foreign workers." The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), a group that represents a collection of Indian companies, was quick to refute the Senators’ claim, citing information that says there is no link between U.S. job losses. "These two do not seem to go hand in hand as exhibited through the 2006 survey by Money Magazine," NASSCOM said regarding Sander’s statement. The group also pointed out that U.S. firms also benefit from its relationship with Indian companies. "India is a major buyer of a whole host of US goods and services, including aircraft, wheat, branded garments and accessories etc... An overwhelming majority of the computers and software used by India's IT industry as also other sectors of the economy are those produced by US companies like HP, Dell, Microsoft and Oracle," it said. The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) also opposes the recent changes in the H1-B bill because it "seems to give short shrift to innovation and the competitiveness of America’s high tech industries." The ITAA expressed its concerns (PDF) in a letter to Senate leaders (PDF) on both sides of the aisle as well as the negotiators of the compromise measure. "America’s economy is strong and vibrant, but the country’s future competitiveness rests on the ability of firms to recruit globally. As you know, the H1-B cap for FY `08 was reached in April, shutting out US employers from recruiting highly skilled foreign nationals who are graduating from US institutions with degrees in computer science, engineering, mathematics and other scientific and technical fields. Vacancies go unfilled and highly valued workers are forced to leave the country," the letter read. The letter later concludes, "There is no doubt that immigration reform is needed that is tough and protects our border. But we have the opportunity to pass a law that is fair, practical and strengthens our economy. Most importantly, we need to have workplace enforcement that is effective, and uses the best available technology." Regardless of job loss statistics, Sanders believes that large corporations like Microsoft should divert some of its off-shore spending back home. "To win favor in China, Microsoft has pledged to spend more than $750 million on cooperative research, technology for schools and other investments," Sanders believed. "If Microsoft and other corporations have billions of dollars to invest in technology…in China, these same companies should have enough money to provide scholarships for middle-class kids in the United States of America." This shortage of visas is an issue that many tech firms have been wrestling with for a number of years. Bill Gates said in his congressional testimony in 2005, "You can't imagine how tough it is to plan as a company where we say, 'let's have this engineering group and staff it' ... we'll have Canadians waiting at the border until some bureaucratic thing happens where a few more [visa spots] get opened up. That's just wounding us in this global competition." Gates was hoping to convince politicians to remove the caps on H1-B visas. Although it is not in the top 10 companies receiving H1-B visas, Google strongly urged the U.S. government to raise the quota on H1-B visas. Google Vice-President of People Operations, Laszlo Bock, made pointed out in his congressional testimony that the Internet giant was built on the foundation of foreigners, citing Google co-founder Sergey Brin’s Soviet Union family origins. "We opened our doors to Sergey's parents – a mathematician and an economist," said Bock. "Our educational system served Sergey well – he attended the University of Maryland and Stanford University. Our free market economy supported Sergey and Larry's entrepreneurship and rewarded it when they proved that they could turn their idea into a successful business." Bock also said that Google’s principal scientist and one of the chief creators of Google News, Krishna Bharat, was born in India and is a direct addition to the company through the H1-B visa. About eight percent of Google’s U.S. workforce is on a six-year H1-B visa. Bock wasn’t campaigning only for his company’s interests, but rather of the entire IT industry. "In fact, Google is just the most recent story for immigrants in Silicon Valley. Intel, eBay, Yahoo, Sun Microsystems, and many other companies were all founded by immigrants who were welcomed by America," he said. "We are not the only ones recruiting talented engineers, scientists and mathematicians. We are in a fierce worldwide competition for top talent unlike ever before. As companies in India, China and other countries step up efforts to attract highly skilled employees, the U.S. must continue to focus on attracting and retaining these great minds."
Indian outsourcing firms, Microsoft, Google and others speak out on the restrictions on hiring foreign help
large Indian outsourcing firms and U.S. corporations. Out of the top 10 companies receiving workers thanks to H1-B visas, seven of them are Indian outsourcing firms, while the remaining three are Microsoft, IBM and Oracle.
6/9/07
U.S. Tech Industry Pleads for Fewer Restrictions on Foreign Workers
ISIS, World's Thinnest Chair
The world's thinnest most compact folding chair. The design allows the ISIS chair to fold completely flat to a depth of just 3cm, in one effortless movement. The chair is made from a series of flat geometric panels that are linked together and contained within its own frame. Each panel is constructed from several high strength laminations which are designed to ensure that the chair flexes and supports the user, providing an unexpected level of comfort.
Designer: Jake Phipps [ Via: Pan Dan ]
Webble, Active Foot Rest
BriteObjects, a new Silicon Valley design firm focused on improving the office experience, introduces the Webble™, a new kind foot rest that isn't about resting. Instead, the Webble™ enables free motion that gets your legs moving while you work. Complementing its unique functionality, the Webble's iconic shape breaks from the norm and encourages your feet to go for a ride.
Developed by three award-winning product designers, the Webble™ embraces the concept of mobility and a belief that ergonomic can be stylish and fun. "When we looked at the best foot rests available today, we saw a huge oppor opportunity for innovation in both function and form," says Steve Vassallo, founder of BriteObjects. "Upon investigating the category further, we became encouraged by the research that pointed to the physiological benefits of leg activity while seated, and with this in mind, we decided to depart from the static, almost orthopedic aesthetic of most foot rests, and instead focus on the positive expe experiences associated with free motion and flexibility," he adds.
The Webble™ will be available in two versions: Webble™ and Webble™ AIR. The Webble™ offers a grippy hardshell surface while the Webble™ AIR extends the concept further with a flexible mesh membrane that offers the ultimate in comfort and free motion. Both versions ride on ultra smooth casters and a patent-pending spring suspension and self-braking mechanism to keep your office mates from zooming away with your legs' new best friend.
Designer: BriteObjects [ Product Page ] [ Via: Gizmodo ]
The Attraction of Spice
Design Concept "The Attraction of Spice" is a set of elegant spice bottles to be the centerpiece of a dining experience. It takes a wine bottle tray made of wiredrawn stainless steel, as the showpiece, with magnets lining the mouth of every container – stuck to the center tray. In addition, the magnet acts as a seal keeping its contents fresh. Once a bottle has adhered on the side of the wine bottle tray, the freshness is locked in and you will never worry about mixture flavorings. It is convenient to use and full of fun.
Designer: Qian Jiang
Snap Cups
Each cup holds three ounces of drink; perfectly sized for double shot of espresso/shot of sake/tajut of wine. Included with each cup are spare snaps and some epoxy, just like a nice shirt that comes with extra buttons and thread. Use the extra snaps to install your cup where you wish: to your bike, your desk, under a cabinet, or on the wall. Should a snap become separated during use, reattach it to the cup with a bit of epoxy.
Designer: Angela Schwab
Balance, Cup for Everybody
he cup is conceived for a broader group of clients. Designed for people with fully functional hands and also people with disfunctional hands. The open handle is created to enlarge the grip area. The inside of the cup is bowl-shaped which makes it easy to drink. The Braille dotted pattern isolate against heat as well as it gives a better grip around the cup.
Designer: Pamela Lindgren
Report: 3 Million iPhones Ready for Launch Day
Worried about not being able to grab an iPhone when it launches on June 29? Don’t be. According to BusinessWeek’s sources, Apple plans to have a whopping 3 million iPhones for sale on launch day, dwarfing nearly all other consumer device launches in history. While the iPhone’s pricy entry of $499 may initially scare off enough consumers so that the device won’t immediately sell out, Apple still maintains a goal of selling 10 million units by the end of next year. Analysts are pegging the iPhone to sell only 3 million this year, which could mean no further iPhone shipments until 2008, when sales are estimated to surge to 10 to 12 million. Piper Jaffray Cos. analyst Gene Munster believes Apple could sell 40 million iPhones in 2009, majorly boosting Apple’s bottom line, but that may not happen without a lower-cost model intended for the more casual phone user. The iPhone’s June 29 date was revealed last week through a series of 30-second television spots, with one ad even showing the device’s superiority over the iPod. At the end of each spot is the reveal of the June 29 launch date, along with the AT&T smaller print reading, “Use requires minimum new 2 year activation plan.” Last month, a report stated that the iPhone would be an AT&T network exclusive product for five years. Verizon, who turned down the chance to carry the iPhone, says it will have a comparable product announced late summer.
Analysts believe iPhone will sell 3 million in 2007, and Apple plans to ship them all in one day
Seagate Announces Density Achievement with 250GB Platter
Seagate sent out a press release announcing that it has begun worldwide volume shipments of the industry's highest areal density desktop hard drive. At 250GB-per-disc, 3.5-inch disc relies on Seagate’s second-generation perpendicular magnetic recording technology to achieve its high density. Packing a data density of 180 Gbits per square inch, Seagate says its one-disc Barracuda hard drive sets new benchmarks for power consumption, acoustics and performance for its desktop PC hard drives product line. The Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 drive is built with an SATA 3Gb/s interface and will serve as the foundation for Seagate's 1-terabyte desktop, enterprise, consumer electronics and external hard drives. "Seagate remains focused on leading the hard drive's pivotal transition to perpendicular recording technology and maintaining our areal density leadership in order to meet our customers' growing storage capacity and reliability needs," said Brian Dexheimer, chief sales and marketing officer for Seagate. "This product's leading areal density epitomizes our efforts to deliver technologies that are unmatched in allowing organizations and consumers to store, protect and share digital content." Reference:Marcus Yam,dailytech
Seagate's drives are dense: 180 Gb per square inch
Amtek Hops on UMPC Bandwagon
Intel launched its Ultra Mobile PC 2007 platform in April and a number of UMPCs using the platform have since been announced. We've seen offerings from Samsung, Fujitsu and Asus. Amtek is adding its name to the list with the new U560. The U560 makes use of an 800MHz Intel A110 processor and comes equipped with 512MB of RAM and a 40GB 1.8" 4200RPM HDD. The display used is a 4.8" 1024x600 which slides up to reveal a backlit split-qwerty keyboard. One of the main complaints of Sony's VAIO UX series has been its small 4.5" 1024x600 display which causes many users to squint in order to read text. The U560's 4.8" screen isn't likely to be much better in this regard. Samsung's Q1 Ultra lineup also offers a 1024x600 resolution, but is available with a larger 7" display. Other features of the U560 include a 1.3MP webcam, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, 802.11a/b/g, Synaptics-based pointer, CompactFlash slot, two USB 2.0 ports and an integrated stand. A docking station with a built-in slot-loading optical drive is also available. The Amtek U560 is expected to launch in the second half of this year with an expected price tag of around $1,200 USD.
Amtek announces Intel-based UMPC with 4.8" display
Interview with Prada Phone Designer Kang-Heui Cha
Inspired by the luxury and fashion orientation of the design sector, the South Korean mobile telephone manufacturer LG Electronics joined forces with the fashion organisation Prada to develop and market a new mobile telephone, red dot online interviewed the designer Kang-Heui Cha.
What inspired you to create this particular product and what was the intention behind it?
The Prada Phone by LG has changed the perceptions that a mobile phone must be under the conditions of “Form Follows Emotion. Technology Follows Emotion.” and has differentiated itself by allowing satisfaction to the consumer through user experience. It is not just another phone amongst many other phones or a phone that contains many complicated functions, but which is capable of combining technology and minimal design, being understood as a Luxury product. Especially under intense competition with other manufactures, LG has continuously developed the line of minimal design such as “Chocolate” and “Shine” phones and is reflected as an identity for LG's Mobile phone designs.
What particular challenges do you think designers have to face these days?
As the consumers need change rapidly, the role of designers are not limited to packaging technology in an attractive way, but to quickly read the market flow before others and grasp the consumers' buying motivation to create innovative form and value accordingly.
As a designer, what would you still like to accomplish in the future?
I believe that design requires not only a deep insight but also a broad aspect of thinking. I hope to lead and make the trend through a wide range of design experiences to fulfill consumer satisfaction.
What do you think is the economic significance of design?
As the technology is rapidly evolving, the needs of the consumer are also rising quickly. Especially through internet and other forms of communication, the role and expectation of designers are being emphasized. It has come a time that low quality products are no longer a concern, since the technology, insight and knowledge is continuously being leveled between companies, and therefore the design have a greater value as the deciding factor. Major companies face challenges to differentiate themselves through technology advancement but instead, one great design could create a new market and also influence even the life and death of a company.
Designer: Kang-Heui Cha [ Source: Red Dot ]
6/8/07
3G Phones Using Qualcomm Chips Banned from Entering U.S. Shores
Mobile communications is a market that's home to a large number of players, all of which are vying for a top spot, whether it’s in actual handhelds, phones or integrated electronics. This week however, a ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) throws a big wrench at major wireless carriers and handset makers. AT&T uses a different type of 3G network, one that is not limited to chips from Qualcomm and is therefore excluded from ruling. The company however is testing out technology from Qualcomm that works around Broadcom's patents. AT&T representatives indicated that the company is already testing the new technology. AT&T imminent release of Apple's iPhone will not be affected since the iPhone is not a 3G phone.
Mobile phones and carriers heavily affected; Broadcom says its happy
The ITC put forth a ruling this week barring the import of mobile phones using chips from Qualcomm Inc. According to the ITC, Qualcomm's chips used in mobile phones infringe on patents belonging to Broadcom Inc. The chips from Qualcomm specifically deal with 3G communications and other advanced features.
Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel are the two major carriers in the U.S. that rely on Qualcomm's products to support their 3G networks. Qualcomm is the primary chip provider to 3G EVDO networks, and the ITC ruling will prevent any future phones using infringing chips from entering the U.S. Despite the shock to the industry, the ITC is allowing violating products that are already on sale to still be imported, but nothing else.
Verizon Wireless spokeswoman Nancy Stark told reporters that the ruling is a major hit to the industry.
"This is a bad order for the industry. It really impedes our ability to innovate," said Stark.
With the news, the top 3G networks in the U.S. are banding together in an effort to get President George W. Bush to veto the ruling. Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel and Vodafone Group are seeking a reversal of the decision by the Bush administration. At this time, the ITC ruling is not yet final but will become so in 60 days if it is not disapproved by the U.S. Trade Representative.
"The way for the industry to move forward is for the president to veto this misguided order," noted Paul Jacubs, chief executive officer of Qualcomm.
Broadcom however disagrees, stating that Qualcomm knowingly violated U.S. patent laws. "Qualcomm was trying to sidestep U.S. patent law, and it is not going to be successful," said Broadcom vice president David Rosmann.
According to the ITC statement: The Commission is issuing a limited exclusion order that bars the importation of Qualcomm's infringing chips and chipsets and circuit board modules or carriers containing them. In addition, the exclusion order bars the importation of certain handheld wireless communications devices, such as cellular telephone handsets and personal digital assistants ("PDAs"), that contain Qualcomm's infringing chips and chipsets.
Last week, a San Diego jury ordered Qualcomm to fork over $19.6 million USD due to violations of Broadcom patents. The patents in question dealt with features such as push-to-talk and video compression.
Qualcomm's list of problems is now longer than ever. Earlier in May, Qualcomm along with ATI and Motorola became the subjects of a patent probe, raised by Tessera Technologies. The ITC launched the probe and is still investigating the claims. Qualcomm and Nokia are also suing each other in court over licensing agreements which expired in April of this year. Nokia is also working with Broadcom to raise antitrust objections to Qualcomm's business practices with European regulators.
Despite the ITC ruling, Qualcomm holds significant 3G related patents, many of which force Broadcom to pay royalties. The two companies started filing patents suits against each other after patent-licensing negotiations failed.
GoDaddy.com Takes Over RegisterFly Domain Names and Customers
This week marked a big week for two major domain registrars, GoDaddy.com and RegisterFly. With the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers' (ICANN) approval, GoDaddy.com this week obtained all 850,000 generic top-level domain (gTLD) names previously held by RegisterFly. Existing RegisterFly customers will be able to access and manage their domain names from GoDaddy's website. Over the last year, much has occurred at RegisterFly; and the result was unhappy customers, phone calls unanswered and a barrage of mismanagement. In March of this year, ICANN terminated RegisterFly's status as an ICANN-accredited registrar due to allegations of corporate fraud. It was noted in a lawsuit that co-owner Kevin Medina used corporate funds for personal use. In fact, co-owner John Naruszewicz filed a suit claiming that Medina had spent $27,000 on escort services, $6,000 on liposuction and $10,000 per month on a penthouse in Miami. Medina then countersued by claiming that Naruszewicz spent $60,000 on Moroccan furniture and payments on a home. RegisterFly owners Kevin Medina and John Naruszewicz were in a downfall situation of their own. The two were reportedly boyfriends for several years but the relationship broke down at the time of ICANN's demands. The result was an attempt for a business takeover by Naruszewicz but due to complications, RegisterFly continued to have compounding problems. Because of top level management issues, RegisterFly's customer service was negatively impacted. This resulted in disgruntled customers and a large number of complaints to ICANN. On March 16 of this year, a class action lawsuit was filed, claiming that RegisterFly knowingly defrauded customers. According to the press release: RegisterFly customers have been affected by recent problems and the impending loss of RegisterFly’s accreditation as a domain name registrar. GoDaddy.com will notify RegisterFly customers of the switch and automatically move their domains for them. Those who still go to the RegisterFly Web site will be directed to Go Daddy.com for managing and renewing their domain names. However, some RegisterFly customers had chosen to move their domain names to GoDaddy.com even before this deal. "The RegisterFly situation has been extremely difficult -- first and foremast for registrants, as well as for the entire registry and registrar community," said GoDaddy.com CEO Bob Parsons. RegisterFly is currently under legal scrutiny for failure to oblige to several court orders. Medina is the primary blame for the trouble at the company and he failed to show up in court several times in the past. ICANN pursued a solution to RegisterFly's problems and on May 29 of this year, GoDaddy.com purchased RegisterFly's customer database for an undisclosed amount. ICANN said it will ensure that RegisterFly customers will be well taken care of and indicated that it was excited to see GoDaddy.com willingly lend a hand. "I want to commend the organizations that have come to the table to ensure people's domain names were protected to the extent possible," ICANN CEO Dr. Paul Twomey said. Reference:Tuan Nguyen,dailytech
RegisterFly crumbles under relationship problems of its two co-owners
funGaia Announces Two New Mobile Solar Power Banks
funGaia, a division of Golden Bridge Electech, announced two new solar mobile power banks this year at Computex. The company specializes in the development of solar energy products that provide power to handheld devices such as cell phones, MP3 players, and digital cameras. Reference:Gabriel Ikram,dailytech
funGaia's solar power banks power mobile devices ranging from cell phones to digital cameras
The solar power banks are comprised of two parts: a control module and a solar module. The solar module is laminated with durable and waterproof material, allowing it to be used in various weather conditions. The solar bank also features a "triple-junction amorphous" silicon solar cell, which enhances its ability to absorb different wavelengths of light and increase efficiency. The power cells are able to absorb all photons of visible light. In addition, the solar module remains completely flexible making it easier transport.
Once solar power has been absorbed, it is transferred to the control module, which can be charged through either solar energy or through a wall plug. A lithium-polymer battery powers the control module. The control module supports 5V/6V voltage adjustments and outputs power to devices through a built-in USB 2.0 connector. Three status LEDs -- red, orange, and green -- show the charging status of the control module.
funGaia will be selling two versions of the solar power banks: the "Regulus" and the "Zubene." Both versions are identical to each other in terms of features; however, the only difference is the color of the control module. The Zubene and Regulus will both launch around September for $129.
Nanotechnology Toxicity Controls Proposed
Do we need new legislation to regulate Nanotechnology?
J. Clarence Davies, Senior Advisor for the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies and Senior Fellow at Resources for the Future, last week released a report titled “Managing the Effects of Nanotechnology.” Davies had two purposes for writing this report: first, to describe the “menu of possibilities” of laws that exist under which the adverse effects of nanotechnology (NT) may be dealt with, and second, to “provide evidence relevant for determining what needs to be done to manage NT.”
Nanotechnology is currently used in everything from nanoelectronics to the generation of biomaterials; its possibilities are almost limitless. “It has implications for almost every type of manufacturing process and product,” says Davies, such as in “therapies for several different types of cancer, much more efficient lighting and battery storage, a major reduction in the cost of desalinating water, clothes that never stain and glass that never needs cleaning.”
However, even though nanotech is rapidly developing, Davies points out that “the toxicity aspects of [nanotechnology] are just beginning to be explored.” He discusses several existing regulations such as the Toxic Substances Control Act, enacted in 1976 to “prevent new chemicals from being marketed without adequate safeguards”, under which NT may be regulated because all nanomaterials are similar in the physical property of size. NT may also be regulated under the Occupational Safety Hazard Act of 1970, but the actual methods and equipment used to detect nanomaterials are expensive, and OSHA, says Davies, “traditionally has been starved for resources.”
Davies believes the existing laws could be coordinated, amended and strengthened in order to properly assess the risks of NT. Another option, however, is the creation of a new law, which would be implemented in the next five to 10 years.
This law, as proposed by Davies, would focus on the nanomaterials themselves, before they are distributed to consumers, so as to analyze the materials before they are exposed to the environment. Manufacturers would be required to do toxicity testing on new products, just as in drug or chemical research and development.
There are four stages in Davies’ proposal. First, the regulatory agency in charge, such as the EPA, would establish ground rules. What are covered, what are not, are old NT products subject to the law, etc. Second, each material or product would require a “sustainability plan,” which would include Life Cycle Analysis, results from testing, proposed restrictions on use, etc, to be submitted to the regulatory agency. The general public would get a review period, and the material/product would be approved or not. The final stage would involve “follow-up,” and continued toxicological investigations, if needed.
The implementation of a new law such as this would not be an easy task. Not only is the law-making process slow and arduous, manufacturers will surly balk at footing the bill for the required tests. “The law,” says Davies, “would need to be balanced between giving the government the information it would like but not imposing on manufacturers burdens that would stifle entrepreneurship.”
Furthermore, Davies believes that “the drawbacks of trying to fit NT under existing laws make the attempt [to create a new law] worthwhile.” As NT is not currently regulated, and not much toxicity testing has been done, “Society”, says Davies, “must openly face the issues of whether the technology has or could have adverse effects, what these effects are, and how to prevent them in the future.”
Davies was trained as a political scientist at Dartmouth College (B.A.), and Columbia University (PhD). He received financial support from the Project on Emerging Nanotechnology, which is supported by a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts, from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and from Resources for the Future.
Reference:Leona Scanlan,dailytech
IBM Settles SEC Securities Probe
IBM is no longer in the SEC's crosshairs
IBM settled its case in which the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accused the company of misleading investors during a 2005 investor conference call. IBM told financial analysts the company would report stock options as a financial expense in future financial statements. The company went on to say it expected first-quarter earnings to be reduced 14 cents per share and reduce full fiscal year earnings by 55 cents per share, according to the SEC.
In reality, IBM really forecasted the stock options expenses to reduce earnings by a total of 10 cents per share and only 39 cents for the fiscal year. While most financial analysts were able to adjust estimates properly, others accused IBM of wrongly making them believe the impact of the stock options expenses to be larger than expected.
"The facts here are particularly troubling because the disclosure decision was driven, in part, by management's perception of how the news would be interpreted by analysts," said Scott Friestad, SEC associate director of enforcement.
IBM's stock price dropped 8 percent after the company announced its earnings.
The SEC declined to penalize IBM -- instead making the company promise not to violate federal financial reporting regulations in the future.
Reference:Michael Hoffman,dailytech
Microsoft, LG Electronics Sign Patent Cross-License Pact
Microsoft announced it has agreed to a cross-licensing deal with LG Electronics Inc. The agreement between the two companies covers hardware and software intellectual property, including the Linux operating system. It took the two companies more than four years to finalize the deal, which began in late 2003. Reference:Michael Hoffman,dailytech
Microsoft has signed another licensing deal -- totaling six in the past year
The deal will allow LG Electronics to have access to Microsoft patents which can be used in computer and home appliance products. Microsoft will have access to LG patents that deal with LG computer-related products.
"We believe that the license agreement with Microsoft provides appropriate recognition of the value of LG's computer system-related patents, which includes patents directed to computer architecture utilized in game consoles and other products," said Jeong Hwan Lee, LG's executive vice president of intellectual property.
Analysts expect LG to be able to better compete with companies such as Samsung in the next-generation mobile devices market.
"This agreement is another example of how Microsoft is continuing to build bridges with others in the industry through intellectual property licensing," said Horacio Gutierrez, vice president of Microsoft Intellectual Property and Licensing.
Both companies chose not to disclose financial terms of the deal.
Some analysts and critics accuse Microsoft of a "de facto advance for Redmond's unproven claims to Linux-related intellectual property." In November, Microsoft's Steve Ballmer made a claim on Linux code -- then Novell and Microsoft signed a deal to work together. More recently, Microsoft announced it wants royalties from Linux and other open source technology.
Microsoft has agreed to similar deals with Novell, NEC, Samsung Electronics, Seiko Epson, Nortel Networks and Fuji Xerox.
Quick and Dirty AMD K10 Cinebench
An early AMD "Barcelona" revision gets its first non-simulated benchmark
Earlier today, AMD announced that it successfully demonstrated Barcelona across the server market. The company did not publically state how fast the processor was running, the stepping of the processor, the processor thermal envelope or the eventual ship date.
We had the opportunity to benchmark the AMD Barcelona, native quad-core on an early stepping. We only had a few minutes to test the chip, but we were able to run a quick Cinebench before we were instructed to leave.
The AMD benchmark ran on a single-socket, K10 CPU running at 1.6 GHz on NVIDIA's nForce Professional 3400 chipset. According to the system properties, the AMD system used 4GB of DDR2-667.
The most similar Intel system we could muster up on such short notice was an Intel Xeon 3220. The Xeon X3220 is clocked at 2.4 GHz, and ran on Intel's Garlow platform (Intel X38). This system property profile stated the system utilized 4GB of DDR2-800.
Cinebench completed the default benchmark in 27 seconds for the 1.6 GHz K10; 17 seconds for the Intel Xeon X3220. The Kentsfield Xeon was 58% faster with a 50% higher clock frequency for Cinebench.
Both systems ran Windows 2003 R2, 64-bit.
AMD partner engineers tell DailyTech the chip we tested was the latest revision silicon. The same engineers claim 2.0 GHz Barcelona chips are making the rounds, with 2.3 GHz already on the desktop and server roadmaps.
AMD's current guidance suggests a late July announcement for Barcelona. However, when DailyTech tracked down the individual partners named in AMD's press release, all cited "optimistic September" ship dates for motherboards.
Reference:Kristopher Kubicki,dailytech
Memo Whiteboard Clock
The natural action of looking at the clock means that the unit will be viewed on a regular basis and as a result that written notes will be kept “fresh” in the mind of the user. This means that the user is far less likely to forget important messages to themselves. The graphics of the memo clock were developed around the existing language of a clock's graphic system and the existing language of a whiteboard's grid system, allowing straight writing and structuring of information written on the board.
Designer: Luke Forsythe
6/7/07
AMD Partners Demonstrate "Barcelona" at 1.6 GHz
Quad-Core AMD Opteron demonstrated by MSI, Supermicro, TYAN and Uniwide
AMD took the opportunity at Computex to server platforms running the Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors, codenamed Barcelona, with the help of MSI, Supermicro, TYAN and Uniwide
The AMD quad-core processors are designed to drop-in (following a BIOS upgrade) with all existing AMD Opteron processor-based systems using DDR2 memory, while also enabling new platform capabilities such as those being demonstrated today.
One vendor demonstrated Barcelona to DailyTech running at 1.6GHz. Current AMD Barcelona samples are not scaling too well. AMD partners confirmed the highest running, POST and OS capable, Barcelona processor is 2.0 GHz. AMD previously posted benchmarks of a simulated 2.6 GHz Barcelona.
“We commend AMD for its non-disruptive roadmaps, allowing for a smooth upgrade from dual-core to quad-core,” said Danny Hsu, president, TYAN. “Streamlining and mitigating the complexities customers often face when upgrading their IT infrastructure is especially important in today’s competitive marketplace. TYAN has collaborated with AMD since 2001, and we will continue to support and take advantage of the customer-centric innovation AMD is offering in its quad-core processors when they are made available later this year.”
AMD roadmaps show Barcelona-based Opteron processors will launch in July, but the general consensus from partners is the processor isn’t performing well enough for a July launch.
“Quad-core, codenamed Barcelona will launch later this summer, in the July, August kind of time frame -- followed by [consumer chips] on the desktop... You'll see that in the Christmas line-up,” stated Robert Rivet, AMD executive vice president and CFO, just a few months ago.
Reference:Kristopher Kubicki&Marcus Yam,dailytech
Thermoacoustic Devices Recycle Excess Heat Into Sound and Energy
A U.S. Army-funded research project at the University of Utah has resulted in a crop of unusual devices that turn waste heat into sound energy, then into electricity. A team led by physics professor Orest Symko is scheduled to demonstrate the thermoacoustic engines Friday at the Acoustical Society of America's annual meeting in Salt Lake City. One doctoral student participating in the project created a cylindrical device smaller than a penny that can pump out 120 decibels of sound -- roughly equal to that produced by a rock concert or a police siren. In a statement released by Symko, the researcher said he plans to test a range of thermoacoustic designs developed by the 2-year-old Thermal Acoustic Piezo Energy Conversion (TAPEC) project later this year. The tests will be conducted at an Army radar installation and at the Utah campus' hot water plant. The Army hopes to harness the technology to reduce waste heat from devices such as radar, and for "producing a portable source of electrical energy which you can use in the battlefield to run electronics,” Symko said. The TAPEC devices developed so far first convert heat into sound using cylindrical "resonators," which place a sound-producing surface between cold and hot heat exchangers. The resulting pressurized air travels across the surface, producing sound in the same way air pressure across the mouthpiece of a flute creates a musical tone. The sound is then used to drive piezoelectric devices that turn the acoustic pressure into electrical current. Symko says the noise produced in the process can be mitigated with "sound absorbers." He anticipates that thermoacoustic devices will continue to shrink in size, allowing them to be incorporated in MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) for cooling and powering computers and other electronic devices.
Tiny "screaming machines" could stretch battery life in laptops
Report: Children Tech Savvy at Younger Ages
NPD recently released the third published report of ongoing studies of kids' technology habits
Research firm NPD found that the average age of children using electronic gadgets lowered to 6.7 years of age in 2007; a drop from 8.1 years of age in 2005. In the report, "Kids and Consumer Electronics Trends III," NPD used an online questionnaire aimed at adults at least 25 years of age who have children in the household between 4 and 14.
"Kids are drawn to the latest and greatest digital just as their parents are. They appear to have no fear of technology and adopt it easily and without fanfare, making these devices a part of their everyday lives," said Anita Frazier, NPD Group industry analyst.
Televisions and desktop computers are commonly the first forms of consumer electronics children are exposed to - usually starting at age 4 or 5 years old, but most common for 7 year old children. Devices such as portable digital media players and satellite radios are used more often by children who are around 9 years old.
On average, parents participating in the study observed children using various forms of technology three times per week. Furthermore, children appear to favor using a kids' version of a product instead of the adult versions.
Devices sold include digital cameras, mobile phones and portable media players are among the top gadgets for young people. Even though children use electronics at younger ages, the number of devices in a household and percentage of children with their own electronic devices fell.
Reference:Michael Hoffman,dailytech
Western Digital Bumps Passport Drives to 250 GB
In addition to shipping its 750 GB Caviar drive this week, WD is also sending out its new 250 GB Passport portable drives. While WD’s MyBook line will give the user more storage space, it also does so at the cost of a larger form factor. WD Passports use 2.5-inch hard drives, allowing for their plug-and-play, ultra-portable design. WD announced last month that its launch of the 250 GB Scorpio notebook hard drive – a product that paved the way for the latest Passport. "The rich, storage-hungry media content generated by 10 mega-pixel digital cameras and HD video camcorders makes the one-quarter terabyte WD Passport Drive a compelling solution," said Jim Welsh, vice president and general manager of WD's branded products group. "WD Passport is a travel-friendly gadget for consumers who want to carry their entire digital portfolio with them." Estimated pricing for the WD Passport Portable Drive 250 GB is $199, or roughly the same pricing as the 250 GB Scorpio.
WD's biggest notebook drive gets enclosed
MSI Brings Turbo Back
Earlier today MSI demonstrated the new GX600 gaming notebook at Computex 2007. The GX600 packs quite a few features into its welterweight 5.7lb package. But arguably the best feature on the GX600 is the Turbo Drive Engine technology. When the GX600 is plugged in with AC power, the push of the turbo button automatically turns on Acceleration Mode. Acceleration Mode increases the processor’s front-side bus and raises the overall clock speed by 20%. A quick press of the button a second time returns the processor back to stock clock speeds. Intel’s recently announced Santa Rosa platform forms the base of the MSI GX600. The MSI GX600 features Intel’s PM965 Express chipset, a Core 2 Duo processor and 802.11n wireless networking technology. A GeForce 8600M GT graphics card delivers DirectX 10 compatible graphics. MSI equips the GeForce 8600M GT mobile graphics with 512MB of video memory. MSI pairs the GeForce 8600M GT with a 15.4” WXGA widescreen display. The MSI GX600 also features HDMI and S-video outputs for external display connectivity. Other notable features of the GX600 include an integrated 1.3 megapixel camera, Gigabit LAN, optional Bluetooth, PCMCIA Type II expansion and a separate NUMPAD on the keyboard. Reference:Anh Huynh,dailytech
MSI GX-600 notebook reintroduces the turbo button
GM Awards Battery Contracts For Chevy Volt
Although there were some previous concerns over the feasibility of General Motors' Chevrolet Volt electric car, it appears the company is ready to charge ahead with production. GM is making the necessary steps to ensure that the Volt makes use of best available battery technology to achieve its project goals -- something that Toyota is having a few problems with right now. The company announced yesterday that 13 companies sent in proposals regarding the advanced lithium-ion batteries used to power the Volt. When the dust settled, two companies were selected. The first contract was awarded to Compact Power (a subsidiary of LG Chem) while the second contract went to Continental Automotive Systems. "The signing of these battery development contracts is an important next step on the path to bring the Volt closer to reality," said GM Chairman and CEO, Rick Wagoner. "Given the huge potential that the Volt and its E-Flex system offers to lower oil consumption, lower oil imports, and reduce carbon emissions, this is a top priority program for
The Chevrolet Volt moves closer to production
The Chevrolet Volt uses a tiny, turbocharged 1.0 liter internal combustion engine (ICE) to charge its onboard lithium-ion battery pack. The ICE is not, however, used to provide propulsion for the vehicle -- that is left to the electric motors. GM says that the Volt can travel 40 miles on battery power alone before the ICE needs to kick in to charge the batteries back up again.
A second version of the Volt is also in the works. GM unveiled a fuel-cell v
ariant of the Volt built on GM's E-Flex architecture in April. This Volt comes equipped with an 8kWh lithium-ion battery pack, three electric motors and a 4kg hydrogen fuel tank. The vehicle is capable of traveling over 320 miles with a fully topped off battery, can zip from 0 to 60 in around 8.2 seconds and has a top speed of 120 MPH.
