The overseas travel insurance segment is expected to grow by nearly 20 per cent in 2010-11, in terms of premium collection, with corporates and tourists stepping up international travel.
The segment had suffered a decline of 25-35 per cent in some companies during the recent slowdown.
The insurance policy, which provides health cover along with some associated benefits such as compensation for loss of luggage, is one of the few profitable lines of business for general insurers. The claims ratio in the segment is 40 per cent on an average compared with over 100 per cent in mediclaim policies.
In 2007-08, a total of 14,70,607 overseas health insurance policies were sold by all general insurers with the premium collection amounting to Rs 296 crore. This was roughly 6 per cent of the total health insurance premium collected by the industry. The total claim settled during the period under the category was Rs 91 crore.
�With the increase in IT deals in the last few months and rising movement of employees overseas, the foreign travel insurance spend is expected to go up this year. The insurance companies should, however, take another look at the tariff rates, Mr V.V.R. Babu, Senior Vice-President, ITC Infotech, said.
A senior official at National Insurance Company said that NICs premium collection from the segment had dropped by nearly 50 per cent in recent times to Rs 10 crore. �We are expecting over 10 per cent growth in the segment in the next fiscal,� NICs Chairman, Mr N.S.R.C. Prasad, said. Private companies with foreign stake, however, dominate the segment because of better access to international travel agents and foreign third party administrators (TPA).
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Hundreds of Twitter Accounts Hacked
It seems hundreds of Twitter accounts have started to Tweet out �weight loss� product spam today.
Specifically, users who have had their accounts hijacked are Tweeting the message �I lost 20 lbs in 2 weeks!� and links to diet sites. Our source counts over 200 rogue tweets so far tonight.
Its not just new users getting caught out: famous tech pundit John C. Dvorak (@therealdvorak) got caught up in the attack, and was none too pleased.
At this point we�re unsure of the cause: Access could have been gained through previous phishing schemes. However, one factor points to a likely suspect: all the Tweets are posted via �API�, meaning the spammers do not have direct access to the accounts. Rather, there�s likely some third party application that�s been compromised (or a rogue one permitted by the users) that�s pushing spam Tweets.
Suffice to say: If your friends start tweeting links to diet sites tonight, don�t click the links!
We�ll let you know when we learn more.
Specifically, users who have had their accounts hijacked are Tweeting the message �I lost 20 lbs in 2 weeks!� and links to diet sites. Our source counts over 200 rogue tweets so far tonight.
Its not just new users getting caught out: famous tech pundit John C. Dvorak (@therealdvorak) got caught up in the attack, and was none too pleased.
At this point we�re unsure of the cause: Access could have been gained through previous phishing schemes. However, one factor points to a likely suspect: all the Tweets are posted via �API�, meaning the spammers do not have direct access to the accounts. Rather, there�s likely some third party application that�s been compromised (or a rogue one permitted by the users) that�s pushing spam Tweets.
Suffice to say: If your friends start tweeting links to diet sites tonight, don�t click the links!
We�ll let you know when we learn more.
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Friday, February 26, 2010
3D display made of flying pixel-copters on the anvil
The idea of pixels flying around like helicopters and coming together to form a coherent image in three dimensional space may sound pretty farfetched, but researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology think it's possible.
Two teams at MIT are working on a unique 3D display dubbed Flyfire, in which a flock of tiny aircraft carrying multicoloured LEDs hover in front of the viewer to form an image.
As pixels that can move through space, the free-flying LEDs could form a shape-shifting 3D display.
As well as the pixels displaying moving images like a normal screen, they could change their position to add real depth.
"We're fascinated by the idea of flying pixels. It's a 3D display with a dual aspect - it can show an image like a traditional display, but then those pixels can move and transform into another shape," New Scientist quoted E. Roon Kang at the SENSEable City Laboratory, as saying.Emilio Frazzoli, head of MIT's Aerospace Robotics and Embedded Systems lab, coordinated the initial proof-of-principle experiments using quad-rotor helicopters, each a few tens of centimetres across.
"We have run experiments with up to 10 quads," he said.
Frazzoli's team can precisely control each helicopter's altitude to within 3 centimetres.
"Horizontal positioning is harder - I would say to within 10 centimetres. We're working on it," he said.
Kang said that the ultimate goal is to make a Flyfire display containing 1000 or more much smaller flying pixels.
"If, when that happens [in five years or more], there are other smaller-scale technological or even biotechnological solutions, we should use those instead of the helicopters," he said.
Frazzoli said that with that number of pixels flying around, manoeuvres would have to be carefully choreographed to minimise collisions.
A combination of onboard controls and a central control system that communicates with all the aircraft will be needed to coordinate pixel movement, he said.
Two teams at MIT are working on a unique 3D display dubbed Flyfire, in which a flock of tiny aircraft carrying multicoloured LEDs hover in front of the viewer to form an image.
As pixels that can move through space, the free-flying LEDs could form a shape-shifting 3D display.
As well as the pixels displaying moving images like a normal screen, they could change their position to add real depth.
"We're fascinated by the idea of flying pixels. It's a 3D display with a dual aspect - it can show an image like a traditional display, but then those pixels can move and transform into another shape," New Scientist quoted E. Roon Kang at the SENSEable City Laboratory, as saying.Emilio Frazzoli, head of MIT's Aerospace Robotics and Embedded Systems lab, coordinated the initial proof-of-principle experiments using quad-rotor helicopters, each a few tens of centimetres across.
"We have run experiments with up to 10 quads," he said.
Frazzoli's team can precisely control each helicopter's altitude to within 3 centimetres.
"Horizontal positioning is harder - I would say to within 10 centimetres. We're working on it," he said.
Kang said that the ultimate goal is to make a Flyfire display containing 1000 or more much smaller flying pixels.
"If, when that happens [in five years or more], there are other smaller-scale technological or even biotechnological solutions, we should use those instead of the helicopters," he said.
Frazzoli said that with that number of pixels flying around, manoeuvres would have to be carefully choreographed to minimise collisions.
A combination of onboard controls and a central control system that communicates with all the aircraft will be needed to coordinate pixel movement, he said.
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The Age Prediction Machine that tells person's age using mosquito noises
Japanese experts have created a device that can help determine the true age of a person using high-pitched mosquito-like noises.
The Age Prediction Machine makes use of high-frequency buzzing noises to asses people's years based on how well they can hear it.
The pocket-sized device, costing around 10 dollars, breaks down noise levels by age range: teens, 20s, 30s and 40-plus, the New York Daily News reported.
People less than 25 years of age apparently responded to the quieter settings, while those over 40 would only be able to hear the loudest, the paper said.
The Age Prediction Machine makes use of high-frequency buzzing noises to asses people's years based on how well they can hear it.
The pocket-sized device, costing around 10 dollars, breaks down noise levels by age range: teens, 20s, 30s and 40-plus, the New York Daily News reported.
People less than 25 years of age apparently responded to the quieter settings, while those over 40 would only be able to hear the loudest, the paper said.
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Lowdown on Google Buzz
Google continues to spread its wings, most recently launching a social networking service to compete with the likes of Facebook and Twitter. Here's the lowdown.
WHAT IT IS
Google Buzz is for users of Gmail - Google's email program. It allows people to follow others they email and chat with regularly by receiving their Buzz comments and updates of their internet activity through their Gmail accounts. For example, users can post links to Google services such as YouTube, photo sharing site Flickr and websites and can import posts from micro-blogging service Twitter.
Google Buzz users can choose to make their updates private, available to certain people or public - in which case Google's search engine can find and display their posts.
Buzz users can see lists of your followers and people who you are following, but again, you can choose to make these lists private. You can also block people from following you.
Google is planning to launch a version of Buzz for mobile phones. This version will make use of the GPS available on many smartphones, identifying where the mobile user is and showing them Buzz posts from other users nearby.
The service will also be integrated into Google's Place Pages - more than 50 million locations have their own Google websites, which feature a map, photos from Google's Street View service, reviews and information about the location. Buzz posts that are made in these locations will be added to their Place Page.
So why has Google launched Buzz? Google says it is trying to deliver a social networking service that will filter out meaningful information from the endless stream of updates flowing from other services.
Commentators say Buzz is Google's attempt to claw back internet audiences from Twitter and Facebook, which has more than 400 million users around the world. Google's own social network, Orkut, has largely failed to attract a following.
WHAT IT IS
Google Buzz is for users of Gmail - Google's email program. It allows people to follow others they email and chat with regularly by receiving their Buzz comments and updates of their internet activity through their Gmail accounts. For example, users can post links to Google services such as YouTube, photo sharing site Flickr and websites and can import posts from micro-blogging service Twitter.
Google Buzz users can choose to make their updates private, available to certain people or public - in which case Google's search engine can find and display their posts.
Buzz users can see lists of your followers and people who you are following, but again, you can choose to make these lists private. You can also block people from following you.
Google is planning to launch a version of Buzz for mobile phones. This version will make use of the GPS available on many smartphones, identifying where the mobile user is and showing them Buzz posts from other users nearby.
The service will also be integrated into Google's Place Pages - more than 50 million locations have their own Google websites, which feature a map, photos from Google's Street View service, reviews and information about the location. Buzz posts that are made in these locations will be added to their Place Page.
So why has Google launched Buzz? Google says it is trying to deliver a social networking service that will filter out meaningful information from the endless stream of updates flowing from other services.
Commentators say Buzz is Google's attempt to claw back internet audiences from Twitter and Facebook, which has more than 400 million users around the world. Google's own social network, Orkut, has largely failed to attract a following.
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Gunning for Google
After last week's fallout over Buzz, the folks at Google must now be checking their back for a bull's-eye, especially considering this week's one-two punch from Europe.
European regulators opened their first antitrust investigation of Google with a letter asking the company to explain how it ranks search results and advertising. The letter followed complaints from European businesses such as Foundem, a price comparison site, and Ciao, another price comparison site owned by Microsoft. Those companies--Foundem in particular--have long complained that Google penalizes their Web sites in search results under competitive pressure.
Google confirmed that it has received an inquiry from European regulators but denied any wrongdoing. Google's share of the search and search advertising markets in Europe is even higher--around 90 percent--than it is in the U.S., where Google has come to know its regulatory counterparts quite well during the first year of the Obama administration.
In the second hit, an Italian court handed out guilty verdicts on for three of four Google employees charged in a case concerning a 2006 Google Video clip posted of classmates taunting a teenager with autism. The judge in the case gave suspended six-month jail sentences for two current employees and one former employee. They weren't convicted on defamation charges, though, and a fourth Google employee was cleared of all charges. In a Google blog post, the company criticized the decision and said it will appeal.
European regulators opened their first antitrust investigation of Google with a letter asking the company to explain how it ranks search results and advertising. The letter followed complaints from European businesses such as Foundem, a price comparison site, and Ciao, another price comparison site owned by Microsoft. Those companies--Foundem in particular--have long complained that Google penalizes their Web sites in search results under competitive pressure.
Google confirmed that it has received an inquiry from European regulators but denied any wrongdoing. Google's share of the search and search advertising markets in Europe is even higher--around 90 percent--than it is in the U.S., where Google has come to know its regulatory counterparts quite well during the first year of the Obama administration.
In the second hit, an Italian court handed out guilty verdicts on for three of four Google employees charged in a case concerning a 2006 Google Video clip posted of classmates taunting a teenager with autism. The judge in the case gave suspended six-month jail sentences for two current employees and one former employee. They weren't convicted on defamation charges, though, and a fourth Google employee was cleared of all charges. In a Google blog post, the company criticized the decision and said it will appeal.
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LG designs Watch Phone with touch technology
LG has crafted the Watch Phone for those who don’t just like to carry gizmos on their person but prefer to wear them if possible. This gizmo is claimed to be the first ever touch-enabled watch phone that accommodates 7.2MB/s 3G HSDPA for speedy data transmission and video phone calls through the embedded camera.Flaunting a sharp design and accompanied by a Bluetooth headset, this device looks more like a high-end watch than anything else. The Watch Phone displays a curved tempered glass face that is touch-sensitive. Its exterior boasts of being 13.9mm slim and the appearance is enhanced by a high-quality metal casing. Apart from that, the gadget also allows for 3G VT service and GSM network connectivity.
It is difficult to imagine gadget fanatics not giving the LG Watch Phone a lot of attention for its interesting chassis design. This device which is constructed out of materials used in actual timepieces is proffered with a Rs.49,990 price tag attached to it.
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So stupendous living in this YouTube
Thanks to users around the world watching hundreds of millions of videos each week, YouTube has taken self-produced video to another level. Sure, we still watch and rewatch silly cat videos, ranting diatribes, and painful accidents, but as the Google site grows, it is becoming an important distribution platform for more serious forms of films, news and music entrepreneurs.
Behind the scenes, the 300 employees at the San Bruno, Calif.-based company are seeking new ways to energize and monetize the medium. Engineers and product managers are integrating new elements into the YouTube platform every day, finding ways to build the site and share more video experiences.
From rentals, to API development to the future of YouTube viewing, take a look inside the world's most popular video-sharing venue
Behind the scenes, the 300 employees at the San Bruno, Calif.-based company are seeking new ways to energize and monetize the medium. Engineers and product managers are integrating new elements into the YouTube platform every day, finding ways to build the site and share more video experiences.
From rentals, to API development to the future of YouTube viewing, take a look inside the world's most popular video-sharing venue
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Microsoft exec avoids the penalty box
Microsoft Business Division President Stephen Elop looked up as he delivered a presentation to his top managers on Microsoft's campus on Wednesday.
As Elop had been speaking, one of those managers, Kirill Tatarinov, had groaned several times.
As Elop had been speaking, one of those managers, Kirill Tatarinov, had groaned several times.
"Was it something I said," Elop asked Tatarinov, who runs a division that creates business software for midsize companies.
Sheepishly, Tatarinov confessed that he had been watching the Russia-Canada Olympic hockey game. If Tatarinov worked for some other bosses at Microsoft, that could have been what is known in Redmond as a "career limiting move." Luckily, Tatarinov works for Elop, himself a huge hockey fan.
"I respected his choice of priorities," Elop told me. "He didn't take a ding on it at all."
Plus, it was hard to be too mad. Each groan meant that Elop's beloved Canadian hockey team was winning.
"I was more pleased that Canada was winning," Elop said.
Elop even managed to wrap the meeting up a bit early so that he, Tatarinov, and the rest of the team could catch the action at the nearby Spitfire Grill. When the Russians finally pulled their goaltender after the deficit grew to 6-1, Elop lovingly put his arm around Tatarinov.
And being the hockey fan that he is, Elop, of course, found his way to Vancouver. In a bold move of his own, Elop showed up to the USA House on Thursday, hours before the gold medal game, decked out in his Team Canada jersey, getting quite a bit of ribbing from those at the U.S. Olympic Committee-run pavilion.
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Twitter’s Impending Ad Platform
The guessing game surrounding Twitter’s imminent launch of an ad platform just got a little bit more focused. The Wall Street Journal’s All Things Digital blog reports that Twitter’s ad plan is tied to Twitter search (and third-parties that use the API), uses Twitter’s 140 character limit, and includes a self-serve platform akin to Google AdWords. Succinctly, it describes the plan as “Copy Google.”
As Twitter’s been implying all along, the idea here is to be as non-invasive as possible. As opposed to inserting ads into your stream, Twitter is only going to place ads in search. On the other hand, if third-party apps like TweetDeck or Seesmic jump on board (and WSJ says a revenue share will incentivize them to do so), the searches you run and set up inside the program would conceivably include ads.
Rumor has it that Twitter will reveal some of its advertising strategy when CEO Evan Williams keynotes at SXSW in two weeks, but All Things Digital isn’t so sure, writing only that a launch within “the first half of this year is a very safe bet.”
My initial thought is that while this sounds like a win for users (no annoying ads in stream), it might not be the huge windfall you’d expect for Twitter. When you search Twitter, you’re typically looking for comments and conversation about a topic — not necessarily products or services to buy that relate to it. While the 140 character twist sounds interesting, I’d expect the payout to be a lot more like AdSense (contextual ads) than AdWords (search ads).
As Twitter’s been implying all along, the idea here is to be as non-invasive as possible. As opposed to inserting ads into your stream, Twitter is only going to place ads in search. On the other hand, if third-party apps like TweetDeck or Seesmic jump on board (and WSJ says a revenue share will incentivize them to do so), the searches you run and set up inside the program would conceivably include ads.
Rumor has it that Twitter will reveal some of its advertising strategy when CEO Evan Williams keynotes at SXSW in two weeks, but All Things Digital isn’t so sure, writing only that a launch within “the first half of this year is a very safe bet.”
My initial thought is that while this sounds like a win for users (no annoying ads in stream), it might not be the huge windfall you’d expect for Twitter. When you search Twitter, you’re typically looking for comments and conversation about a topic — not necessarily products or services to buy that relate to it. While the 140 character twist sounds interesting, I’d expect the payout to be a lot more like AdSense (contextual ads) than AdWords (search ads).
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Baidu Gets $50 Million to Bring New Video Site to China
China’s 400 million or so Internet users will soon be able to enjoy a new online video service. Baidu, the country’s top search provider, has announced plans to create a new video-on-demand website.
With the domain name Qiyi.com registered, Providence Equity Partners (a global private equity investment firm that put $100 million into the Hulu pot) will invest $50 million to develop the advertising-supported online video business — with Baidu retaining majority ownership.
Rather than user-generated content, Qiyi.com will provide “premium licensed content” OK’d by regulators for the “lawful distribution of professionally produced media and entertainment content on the Internet,” according to the announcement.
Baidu has previously offered video search, as well as the Baidu Internet TV Channel, where Internet users can download movies and TV programs. It is also said to have some strategic investment in PPLive, a Chinese P2P site.
According to Robin Li, CEO of Baidu, “The online video market has great potential for growth in China.” So these plans will be watched with interest, especially with the Hulu investment link.
With the domain name Qiyi.com registered, Providence Equity Partners (a global private equity investment firm that put $100 million into the Hulu pot) will invest $50 million to develop the advertising-supported online video business — with Baidu retaining majority ownership.
Rather than user-generated content, Qiyi.com will provide “premium licensed content” OK’d by regulators for the “lawful distribution of professionally produced media and entertainment content on the Internet,” according to the announcement.
Baidu has previously offered video search, as well as the Baidu Internet TV Channel, where Internet users can download movies and TV programs. It is also said to have some strategic investment in PPLive, a Chinese P2P site.
According to Robin Li, CEO of Baidu, “The online video market has great potential for growth in China.” So these plans will be watched with interest, especially with the Hulu investment link.
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Twitter Phished
Twitter phishing attacks caught some users off-guard this week, and some expressed surprise that such attacks remain effective.
Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised: Not only do we tend to trust direct messages sent by friends, but the rise of short URLs and a trend towards federated login systems (Facebook Connect et al) may further confuse new users.
Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised: Not only do we tend to trust direct messages sent by friends, but the rise of short URLs and a trend towards federated login systems (Facebook Connect et al) may further confuse new users.
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Google Adds New Location-Based
Google has just added a new “Nearby” tool to the Search Options panel that lets users refine results for a custom search experience centered around location.
The new location-based search option is now available to English users of Google.com. To access it, simply conduct your search as normal, select “Show Options” -> “Nearby.” From there you can switch between your default location and a custom (manually entered) location. Results can also be filtered by city, state or region for broader or narrower results.
The addition of Nearby to web results is yet another way Google is highlighting its location savvy and pimping out its Place Pages service.
As you may recall, Google recently released Near Me Now for location-based mobile queries, and Google Buzz for mobile offers a check-in based social experience. In the future we expect all of Google’s location services to complement each other more and create a complete picture for an entire location-aware Google experience.
The new location-based search option is now available to English users of Google.com. To access it, simply conduct your search as normal, select “Show Options” -> “Nearby.” From there you can switch between your default location and a custom (manually entered) location. Results can also be filtered by city, state or region for broader or narrower results.
The addition of Nearby to web results is yet another way Google is highlighting its location savvy and pimping out its Place Pages service.
As you may recall, Google recently released Near Me Now for location-based mobile queries, and Google Buzz for mobile offers a check-in based social experience. In the future we expect all of Google’s location services to complement each other more and create a complete picture for an entire location-aware Google experience.
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5 Opportunities for Small Businesses : Google Buzz
1. Gathering Customer Feedback
Like Twitter, Buzz lets you post a message to a group of “followers” that subscribe to your updates. However, there are a few differences, namely that messages can be longer than 140 characters (and include supporting images and links) and that replies are all grouped under the original message. This makes conversations easier to track and follow up on. There are also built-in features to reply in a one-on-one way, via either e-mail or Google Talk.
2. Engaging With Others
If you use Gmail, there’s a good chance you already have a built-in network on Google Buzz. The service helps you get started by letting you connect with those you e-mail or chat with frequently. Once you’re following some people, clicking the “Buzz” link from Gmail’s main navigation will let you see their most recent updates. You can comment on them, “like” them, or follow up personally with an e-mail or chat message.
3. Collaboration
Buzz can be used both for broadcasting a message to all of your followers and to select groups of them. If you’ve already set up Groups in Gmail, they’re already available in Buzz. If not, you can create new ones on-the-fly. Posting a private message on Buzz works exactly the same as posting a public one – you just select the Group you want to be able to see it, and then only those people will be able to view and comment on it. It’s instant, private collaboration.
4. Marketing
It’s too soon to tell whether Buzz will have the type of impact for brick-and-mortar businesses that services like Yelp and increasingly Foursquare have had, but it has a very similar feature set. Users can “check in” at business locations, in turn notifying their followers of their whereabouts. Thus, encouraging your customers to check in on Buzz (and other location-based services) can be a way to drive free word-of-mouth marketing for your business.
5. Sharing Content
Just like Twitter and Facebook, Buzz has the potential to be a powerful medium for sharing content. You can use it to share blog posts, special deals, or interesting links related to your niche. Just like other social media services, you shouldn’t overdo it though – you want to mix promotional messages with a balance of other useful information and conversation for your followers.
Like Twitter, Buzz lets you post a message to a group of “followers” that subscribe to your updates. However, there are a few differences, namely that messages can be longer than 140 characters (and include supporting images and links) and that replies are all grouped under the original message. This makes conversations easier to track and follow up on. There are also built-in features to reply in a one-on-one way, via either e-mail or Google Talk.
2. Engaging With Others
If you use Gmail, there’s a good chance you already have a built-in network on Google Buzz. The service helps you get started by letting you connect with those you e-mail or chat with frequently. Once you’re following some people, clicking the “Buzz” link from Gmail’s main navigation will let you see their most recent updates. You can comment on them, “like” them, or follow up personally with an e-mail or chat message.
3. Collaboration
Buzz can be used both for broadcasting a message to all of your followers and to select groups of them. If you’ve already set up Groups in Gmail, they’re already available in Buzz. If not, you can create new ones on-the-fly. Posting a private message on Buzz works exactly the same as posting a public one – you just select the Group you want to be able to see it, and then only those people will be able to view and comment on it. It’s instant, private collaboration.
4. Marketing
It’s too soon to tell whether Buzz will have the type of impact for brick-and-mortar businesses that services like Yelp and increasingly Foursquare have had, but it has a very similar feature set. Users can “check in” at business locations, in turn notifying their followers of their whereabouts. Thus, encouraging your customers to check in on Buzz (and other location-based services) can be a way to drive free word-of-mouth marketing for your business.
5. Sharing Content
Just like Twitter and Facebook, Buzz has the potential to be a powerful medium for sharing content. You can use it to share blog posts, special deals, or interesting links related to your niche. Just like other social media services, you shouldn’t overdo it though – you want to mix promotional messages with a balance of other useful information and conversation for your followers.
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Sunday, February 7, 2010
The Internet Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
If it was US President Obama who made news with Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to bring about world peace, this time there is a possibility of another surprise winner. The Internet, which has virtually revolutionised the world and broke the walls of censorship quite often, has been nominated for the '2010 Nobel Peace Prize'.It was the Italian edition of the Wired magazine which came with the idea, thus making Internet the first inanimate object getting the recognition. Wired reportedly nominated Internet for promoting "dialogue, debate and consensus through communication" as well as democracy, according to a PTI report.
As part of the campaign, 'Wired Italy' has also launched a dedicated campaign, 'Internet for Peace' (www.internetforpeace.org/), which will carry on till September 2010, featuring different stories and experiences of those who with the web have tried to do something concrete to promote peace and harmony in the world.
The project's ambassadors include: the Nobel Peace Prize winner Shrin Ebadi, the first signatory of the manifesto; Prof Umberto Veronesi, scientist; Giorgio Armani, fashion designer; Wired Italia Editor Riccardo Luna among others.
"We have to look at the Internet as a huge community where men and women from all over the world and with very different religious views can communicate and sympathise, spreading a new culture centred on collaboration and sharing of knowledge that breaks all barriers," said Wired Italy.
A Russian human rights veteran and her group, Memorial as well as a jailed Chinese dissident have also been nominated. and the Internet for promoting dialogue and democracy.
So, do you want to see the revolutionary net bagging the coveted prize? It's your turn to be part of the campaign.
And we wonder what would be China's preference from the list; a tough choice, isn't it?
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Saturday, February 6, 2010
Flash on iPad
As developers dug into the iPad SDK and unearthed previously unknown gems, there was more discussion about 27" iMac issues, Flash support in iPhone OS, and why the Apple TV remains a hobby in Apple's eyes. Oh, and did you know that the 2010 Macworld Expo is next week?
Tablet makers rethinking things in wake of iPad's $499 price: Rumor has it that MSI, ASUS, and other companies that will put out competing tablets this year have been knocked back on their heels by the iPad's low launch price. The $499 model's apparently thin profit margin is also a massive change for Apple, so it's worth thinking about how and why the company did it.
Three years later, Apple TV remains a hobby: Apple largely focused on the iPad in its most recent employee Town Hall, but one employee ventured a question about the Apple TV. Yep, it's still a hobby, and we believe it will be stuck that way until the content offerings are more interesting.
Poll Technica: do you want Flash on the iPad? The argument over whether Apple should allow Flash on the iPhone OS is even more heated now that the iPad has been announced. Ars readers voted last week and, with the help of some Adobe evangelists on Twitter, the pro-Flash contingency won out.
Nehalem Mac Pros take 20% performance hit when playing audio: Users have discovered an issue with the late-2009 Mac Pros that can cause unusual amounts of heat and power use during audio playback. The real problem is performance, though, which can drop as much as 20 percent while playing songs in iTunes.
The iPad doesn't have a camera, but does it matter? Evidence suggests Apple may have considered putting a camera on the iPad, though the product unveiled this week didn't have one. We argue that it may not even need one.
Apple may have business-friendly iPad features up its sleeve: Some iMac users have been affected by a flaw that causes areas of the large LCD screens to appear yellow. Apple hasn't publicly acknowledged the issue, but internal support documents say that a fix is expected soon.
Apple kills USB syncing for apps, but alternative is coming: Lexcycle's iPhone-based e-reader app Stanza is the latest to succumb to stricter enforcement of the ban on private APIs in App Store apps. However, Apple has a feature planned for iPhone OS to address file syncing between desktop and mobile devices.
iPad SDK holds hints of video calls, handwriting "keyboard": As developers dig into the iPhone OS 3.2 SDK, exclusively made for the iPad, more details about possible future functionality are turning up inside the code.
Apple internally acknowledges more 27" iMac screen issues: Some iMac users have been affected by a flaw that causes areas of the large LCD screens to appear yellow. Apple hasn't publicly acknowledged the issue, but internal support documents say that a fix is expected soon.
Sling reduces 3G bandwidth use enough to make AT&T happy: AT&T has given the thumbs-up for SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone to include 3G streaming. The move comes after Sling Media made changes ostensibly to reduce bandwidth use over 3G connections, although Sling denies having made any changes at all.
Tablet makers rethinking things in wake of iPad's $499 price: Rumor has it that MSI, ASUS, and other companies that will put out competing tablets this year have been knocked back on their heels by the iPad's low launch price. The $499 model's apparently thin profit margin is also a massive change for Apple, so it's worth thinking about how and why the company did it.
Three years later, Apple TV remains a hobby: Apple largely focused on the iPad in its most recent employee Town Hall, but one employee ventured a question about the Apple TV. Yep, it's still a hobby, and we believe it will be stuck that way until the content offerings are more interesting.
Poll Technica: do you want Flash on the iPad? The argument over whether Apple should allow Flash on the iPhone OS is even more heated now that the iPad has been announced. Ars readers voted last week and, with the help of some Adobe evangelists on Twitter, the pro-Flash contingency won out.
Nehalem Mac Pros take 20% performance hit when playing audio: Users have discovered an issue with the late-2009 Mac Pros that can cause unusual amounts of heat and power use during audio playback. The real problem is performance, though, which can drop as much as 20 percent while playing songs in iTunes.
The iPad doesn't have a camera, but does it matter? Evidence suggests Apple may have considered putting a camera on the iPad, though the product unveiled this week didn't have one. We argue that it may not even need one.
Apple may have business-friendly iPad features up its sleeve: Some iMac users have been affected by a flaw that causes areas of the large LCD screens to appear yellow. Apple hasn't publicly acknowledged the issue, but internal support documents say that a fix is expected soon.
Apple kills USB syncing for apps, but alternative is coming: Lexcycle's iPhone-based e-reader app Stanza is the latest to succumb to stricter enforcement of the ban on private APIs in App Store apps. However, Apple has a feature planned for iPhone OS to address file syncing between desktop and mobile devices.
iPad SDK holds hints of video calls, handwriting "keyboard": As developers dig into the iPhone OS 3.2 SDK, exclusively made for the iPad, more details about possible future functionality are turning up inside the code.
Apple internally acknowledges more 27" iMac screen issues: Some iMac users have been affected by a flaw that causes areas of the large LCD screens to appear yellow. Apple hasn't publicly acknowledged the issue, but internal support documents say that a fix is expected soon.
Sling reduces 3G bandwidth use enough to make AT&T happy: AT&T has given the thumbs-up for SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone to include 3G streaming. The move comes after Sling Media made changes ostensibly to reduce bandwidth use over 3G connections, although Sling denies having made any changes at all.
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Internet nominated for Nobel Peace Prize 2010
The Italian edition of the Wired magazine has nominated the Internet for the ‘2010 Nobel Peace Prize’ for its role in promoting “dialogue, debate and consensus through communication” as well as democracy. The nomination has already been endorsed by the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi.
Wired Italy has also launched a dedicated campaign, ‘Internet for Peace’, which will carry on till September 2010, featuring different stories and experiences of those who with the web have tried to do something concrete to promote peace and harmony in the world.
“Internet has clearly shown to be not only a network of computers connected together across the world or a container for web pages accessible to users, but a precious and powerful tool for global communication, capable to overcome walls and distances imposed by political and military constraints,” according to Wired Italy.
Wired Italy has also launched a dedicated campaign, ‘Internet for Peace’, which will carry on till September 2010, featuring different stories and experiences of those who with the web have tried to do something concrete to promote peace and harmony in the world.
“Internet has clearly shown to be not only a network of computers connected together across the world or a container for web pages accessible to users, but a precious and powerful tool for global communication, capable to overcome walls and distances imposed by political and military constraints,” according to Wired Italy.
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Nexus One Sales : Only 80,000 in First Month
It looks like sales of Google’s Nexus One haven’t really improved since we checked in on them last. According to the same Flurry mobile analytics team who estimated 20,000 sales in week one, the Nexus One at least held pace to turn in about 80,000 sales in its first month.
As compared to first month sales of the iPhone (about 600,000) and the Droid (about 525,000), sales of the Nexus One do appear to be moving along rather slowly. A lot of factors probably contribute to the relatively low numbers, key among them the lack of traditional marketing expenditure (as compared to, say, the $100 million ad campaign for the Droid) and Google’s direct-to-consumer sales approach, which, although innovative, is simply not something the typical mobile consumer is used to.
Add to that its support for 3G on T-Mobile only, reports of support problems for the device, plus reports of 3G issues — although the latter has reportedly been addressed in the latest software update.
As compared to first month sales of the iPhone (about 600,000) and the Droid (about 525,000), sales of the Nexus One do appear to be moving along rather slowly. A lot of factors probably contribute to the relatively low numbers, key among them the lack of traditional marketing expenditure (as compared to, say, the $100 million ad campaign for the Droid) and Google’s direct-to-consumer sales approach, which, although innovative, is simply not something the typical mobile consumer is used to.
Add to that its support for 3G on T-Mobile only, reports of support problems for the device, plus reports of 3G issues — although the latter has reportedly been addressed in the latest software update.
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Online Video Continues Steady Growth Streak
Online video viewing is more ubiquitous than ever. According to comScore, in the month of December 178 million people watched 33.2 billion videos, with the average viewer watching 187 videos per month in the U.S.
The astronomical numbers for December mean that viewers tuned into two billion more videos than in November, and that, as expected, a majority — nearly 40% — of those videos were YouTube videos, with Hulu still coming in a very distant second place and accounting for 3% of video views.
What’s most interesting to us is that while these video-viewing numbers are giant, we’re not seeing too much fluctuation as to where online denizens are consuming this video content. Month-to-month Google’s YouTube maintains its commanding lead, while everyone else battles it out for a marginal piece of the video pie.
The month-to-month data clearly points to the fact that watching videos online is a trend that will continue to gain momentum, meaning that we can expect to see a few billion more videos added to next month’s total. The video sites we turn to for content, however, aren’t likely to change, so we can expect YouTube, Hulu and all the rest to continue to grow at the approximately the same rate.
The astronomical numbers for December mean that viewers tuned into two billion more videos than in November, and that, as expected, a majority — nearly 40% — of those videos were YouTube videos, with Hulu still coming in a very distant second place and accounting for 3% of video views.
What’s most interesting to us is that while these video-viewing numbers are giant, we’re not seeing too much fluctuation as to where online denizens are consuming this video content. Month-to-month Google’s YouTube maintains its commanding lead, while everyone else battles it out for a marginal piece of the video pie.
The month-to-month data clearly points to the fact that watching videos online is a trend that will continue to gain momentum, meaning that we can expect to see a few billion more videos added to next month’s total. The video sites we turn to for content, however, aren’t likely to change, so we can expect YouTube, Hulu and all the rest to continue to grow at the approximately the same rate.
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Facebook's Photo Uploader Plug-in
Facebook has just started rolling out a new photo uploader, one that the company promises will be faster, easier and more stable than the current one.
In an announcement on Facebook’s blog, the company revealed that the new Facebook uploader is actually a browser plug-in. In order to upload photos, you have to install it.
Once that’s done, though, you will be greeted by a new interface for uploading photos that connects to your computer’s file directory. From Facebook, you can navigate your hard drive and pick out the photos you want. A preview function on the bottom of the uploader makes it simple to pick the right pics out.
In an announcement on Facebook’s blog, the company revealed that the new Facebook uploader is actually a browser plug-in. In order to upload photos, you have to install it.
Once that’s done, though, you will be greeted by a new interface for uploading photos that connects to your computer’s file directory. From Facebook, you can navigate your hard drive and pick out the photos you want. A preview function on the bottom of the uploader makes it simple to pick the right pics out.
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Google Maps Suggests New Places You Might Like
Google keeps adding new features to Google Maps and Google Earth. The latest: As of today you can type in a restaurant or other place you like in Google Maps and receive recommendations of nearby places you might like just as much or more.
Sure, it’s not quite as radical as something like the rumored store interior pics in Google Street View, but it’s always good to see more robust location services. Yelp offers something vaguely similar with a “people who viewed this also viewed” box, but Google’s algorithm is probably more sophisticated.
Google has beaten location-focused services like Foursquare to the punch with this. That’s too bad, because we imagine Foursquare could in theory use your check-in history to provide much better suggestions just like Netflix suggests films based on which movies you’ve already rented or streamed and how you’ve rated them. It’s not surprising that Google did it first, though; Google has a lot more experience using algorithms to determine what you’re looking for than Yelp or Foursquare do.
Google wasn’t very clear about how its algorithm works in its blog post on the subject. You’ll just have to try it for yourself to see if the results are helpful to you, but your mileage may vary.
Sure, it’s not quite as radical as something like the rumored store interior pics in Google Street View, but it’s always good to see more robust location services. Yelp offers something vaguely similar with a “people who viewed this also viewed” box, but Google’s algorithm is probably more sophisticated.
Google has beaten location-focused services like Foursquare to the punch with this. That’s too bad, because we imagine Foursquare could in theory use your check-in history to provide much better suggestions just like Netflix suggests films based on which movies you’ve already rented or streamed and how you’ve rated them. It’s not surprising that Google did it first, though; Google has a lot more experience using algorithms to determine what you’re looking for than Yelp or Foursquare do.
Google wasn’t very clear about how its algorithm works in its blog post on the subject. You’ll just have to try it for yourself to see if the results are helpful to you, but your mileage may vary.
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10 Oddest Apple-Themed Products
1. 500XL Giant Earbud Speakers
Apple’s iconic white earbuds have become a symbol of the iPod, despite the fact that many real music connoisseurs will swap them for a better pair. These speakers then, shaped like gigantic (500 times the size) earphones are a witty audio accessory for your desk.
2. AirMail Manila Envelope
When Steve Jobs unveiled the MacBook Air on stage at Macworld ‘08 by pulling it out of a manila envelope, the crowd gasped at its slimness. Two Apple geeks saw an opening and created the AirMail sleeve for the slimline laptop, ensuring all Air owners could re-live the moment again and again –- as well as receive knowing nods from other fans when out and about.
3. iClooly iPhone Stand
The iClooly stand makes your iPhone or iPod touch look just like a mini-me for your iMac. Described as “the perfect little buddy for your iMac,” the iClooly is made out of aluminum and features a 90-degree pivot joint to hold your favorite gadget in landscape or portrait mode. It also offers tilt functionality, and a speaker cable cut-out. So cute!
4. iMac Aquariums
The kind of Mac-themed innovation we love, Jake Harms takes old, unloved iMacs and converts them into cozy homes for our fishy friends. Holding 3.5 gallons of water, a converted Mac-quarium is a great way to celebrate the iconic, semi-see-through design of the G3 iMac, long after its computing powers have been eclipsed by more modern machines.
5. iShelf
Li Jianye’s brilliant storage unit may not be able to display your entire CD collection, but it does offer a fantastic real-world representation of iTunes Cover Flow functionality. Someone should really make this.
6. iTables
These coffee tables from Italian design house Mirko Ginepro are shaped as huge iPods with glass for the screen and hollow innards, meaning you could, theoretically, use them to store your CD collection — a sort of Gulliver-scale physical format version of the original digital music device.
7. Notepods
Originally designed for iPhone developers to get a to-scale, real-life canvas to sketch their app ideas and designs on, the Aussie creators behind the Notepods also suggest they are ideal for “jotting down the phone number of a hot geek,” so good luck with that. At the very least, they might make for a good conversation starter.
8. RetroPod
Described by the inventor as a “retro-kitsch ‘love it/hate it’ thing,” the RetroPod took a big, heavy, yellow Sony Walkman from the 80s and turned it into an iPod case, either to repel muggers or show off some ironic retro-chic. Unfortunately, Sony shut the outfit down with some threatening legal letters, but they can’t stop us from remembering such a witty idea.
9. Snow White MacBook Sticker
A fairy tale figure with a penchant for apples, and a high-tech laptop make for a pleasing contrast. The vinyl graphic cleverly puts the poisoned apple right into Snow White’s hands, adding a little knowing whimsy to any MacBook. The alternative apple-lover would be Eve of course, but the laws of decency might not allow that.
10. TwelveSouth BookBook
So you’ve got a MacBook right? Well the BookBook hardback leather case for MacBooks and MacBook Pros makes your Apple laptop look just like that, providing not only protection, but a cunning disguise for your pricey portable.
Apple’s iconic white earbuds have become a symbol of the iPod, despite the fact that many real music connoisseurs will swap them for a better pair. These speakers then, shaped like gigantic (500 times the size) earphones are a witty audio accessory for your desk.
2. AirMail Manila Envelope
When Steve Jobs unveiled the MacBook Air on stage at Macworld ‘08 by pulling it out of a manila envelope, the crowd gasped at its slimness. Two Apple geeks saw an opening and created the AirMail sleeve for the slimline laptop, ensuring all Air owners could re-live the moment again and again –- as well as receive knowing nods from other fans when out and about.
3. iClooly iPhone Stand
The iClooly stand makes your iPhone or iPod touch look just like a mini-me for your iMac. Described as “the perfect little buddy for your iMac,” the iClooly is made out of aluminum and features a 90-degree pivot joint to hold your favorite gadget in landscape or portrait mode. It also offers tilt functionality, and a speaker cable cut-out. So cute!
4. iMac Aquariums
The kind of Mac-themed innovation we love, Jake Harms takes old, unloved iMacs and converts them into cozy homes for our fishy friends. Holding 3.5 gallons of water, a converted Mac-quarium is a great way to celebrate the iconic, semi-see-through design of the G3 iMac, long after its computing powers have been eclipsed by more modern machines.
5. iShelf
Li Jianye’s brilliant storage unit may not be able to display your entire CD collection, but it does offer a fantastic real-world representation of iTunes Cover Flow functionality. Someone should really make this.
6. iTables
These coffee tables from Italian design house Mirko Ginepro are shaped as huge iPods with glass for the screen and hollow innards, meaning you could, theoretically, use them to store your CD collection — a sort of Gulliver-scale physical format version of the original digital music device.
7. Notepods
Originally designed for iPhone developers to get a to-scale, real-life canvas to sketch their app ideas and designs on, the Aussie creators behind the Notepods also suggest they are ideal for “jotting down the phone number of a hot geek,” so good luck with that. At the very least, they might make for a good conversation starter.
8. RetroPod
Described by the inventor as a “retro-kitsch ‘love it/hate it’ thing,” the RetroPod took a big, heavy, yellow Sony Walkman from the 80s and turned it into an iPod case, either to repel muggers or show off some ironic retro-chic. Unfortunately, Sony shut the outfit down with some threatening legal letters, but they can’t stop us from remembering such a witty idea.
9. Snow White MacBook Sticker
A fairy tale figure with a penchant for apples, and a high-tech laptop make for a pleasing contrast. The vinyl graphic cleverly puts the poisoned apple right into Snow White’s hands, adding a little knowing whimsy to any MacBook. The alternative apple-lover would be Eve of course, but the laws of decency might not allow that.
10. TwelveSouth BookBook
So you’ve got a MacBook right? Well the BookBook hardback leather case for MacBooks and MacBook Pros makes your Apple laptop look just like that, providing not only protection, but a cunning disguise for your pricey portable.
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You Should Pay More for eBooks
Macmillan printed books and eBooks began to return to Amazon last night following a dispute over Amazon’s $9.99 eBook pricing scheme. Under the agreement, publishers can now raise prices to up to $14.99.
Macmillan, which was later joined by fellow publisher Hachette, requested the price increases over fears that Amazon would undercut its hardcover sales.
Macmillan, which was later joined by fellow publisher Hachette, requested the price increases over fears that Amazon would undercut its hardcover sales.
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Google Joins HTC to Create Chrome Based Google Tablet PC
Constant strive to outperform and eclipse Apple's gadgets, Google has provided a possible peek at what their rival tablet computer may look like. To develop the tablet, Google is reportedly teaming up with Taiwan-based HTC, the same company it worked with to create its Nexus One phone.
The images, which popped up this week on their Chromium site, reveal a glimpse at how Google's OS would work on the tablet. The photos were reported to be developed by Glen Murphy, the company's UI lead on its OS and browser. It features a configurable keyboard, zooming functionality, and resizable windows that can be altered by dragging your fingers across the screen.
The Google Chrome tablet concept designs showcases a range of touchscreen tablet PC features, including:
A range of touch-screen keypad configurations, including a split keyboard with keys assigned to left and right hands
Different methods of launching Google Chrome applications
Tabs presented along the side of the screen of the Google Chrome interface
Creating multiple Chrome web browsers on screen using a launcher
Although intended to show off the OS, these images could suggest how the tablet itself will look and function.
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