BOSTON (Reuters) - International Business Machines Corp plans to launch cloud computing services this year, taking on companies such as Amazon.com Inc, Microsoft Corp and Google Inc.
Company spokeswoman Kelly Sims said on Thursday the first of these new services will enable developers to write software that works with the emerging new technology. Cloud computing systems run software and store information in remote, large-scale data centers that users and programmers access over the Internet.
In addition to the service for developers, the company also plans to introduce clouds that allow businesses to run business applications and virtualize personal computer networks, Sims said.
Much of the technology was developed using know-how that IBM developed through a partnership with Google to develop cloud services for academic computing that dates back to 2007, she said.
"IBM is applying those skills for the commercial offerings that will be launched in 2009," she said.
The company got its feet wet in the field last year when it launched an Internet-based data backup and recovery service.
Kamis, 23 April 2009
IBM Plans Cloud Services
Echelon to Connect Smart Meters Via T-Mobile
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Smart power grid company Echelon Corp and T-Mobile USA said on Thursday they had formed an alliance to use T-Mobile's wireless network to link "smart meters" to utilities.
T-Mobile will provide embedded SIMs inside a cellular radio module in Echelon's smart meters, which collect power usage and other data for the company's network. Several U.S. utilities have begun testing smart meters in pilot projects that are designed to measure power demand at the consumer level and help the electricity providers generate and distribute power more efficiently.
Smart meters are a key part in the rollout of "smart grid" technology that power companies hope will enable the United States to use electricity far more efficiently.
Experts say upgrading the nation's power grid is essential to help accommodate the growth of green power sources such as wind and solar, as well as enabling the system to eventually supply a fleet of electric cars.
Echelon, which has shipped more than 100,000 of its smart meters to U.S. utility owner Duke Energy and more than 1.6 million worldwide, said the partnership with T-Mobile would provide a cost-effective communications tool for the meters.
Its meters cost about $100 apiece excluding installation.
Eventually, companies like Echelon hope to link smart meters to "smart appliances" which consumers can program to operate during hours when electricity demand is low.
Currently, utilities pay more for power generated during "peak" daytime hours. They hope to shift some of that usage to early morning or evening hours when demand is lower, allowing them to buy cheaper power and pass the savings on to consumers.
That technology is already in use for some businesses and factories that have agreed to reduce their electricity usage during periods when supplies are stretched. Those companies receive power at lower prices in exchange for agreeing to reduce their demand during those periods.
T-Mobile USA said the embedded SIM, slightly larger than the head of a pin, will be built of silicon rather than plastic, making it very durable, since too much heat, vibration, or humidity can damage traditional SIM cards.
Durability problems have been a key obstacle for the adoption of remote, smart grid devices, and T-Mobile expects the potential market to be huge.
"There are 300 million electric meters. You've got gas and water on top of that. It's a very, very large opportunity ... billions of dollars," John Horn, national director of T-Mobile USA's M2M division, told Reuters.
The partnership's wireless technology will be deployed on low-voltage transformers, which typically provide electricity connections to between four and 10 homes or businesses.
Data provided from the transformers to a central collection point at the utility will allow the power provider to easily pinpoint problems in the network and reduce cost and duration of power outages, the companies said.
Look to This Seal for Green LCD Displays
Eco-friendly computer displays have long carried the TCO certified seal, which covers with the environmental impact of materials and product content and takes into account impact on the climate as well as a commitment to corporate social responsibility by all companies certifying to the TCO standard. We told you about the changes introduced in TCO Monitors 5.0 back in December, and noted that a new logo was in the works. The group has finally unveiled the logo--Pretty, ain't it?--as well as a crop of monitors to earn it, from companies like Eizo, Fujitsu, Lenovo, and more.
TCO Development has traditionally focused its attentions on computer monitors, but that's changing too: A draft of TCO Notebooks 3.0 was just unveiled, and the group turns its attentions soon to projectors. In other words, as you're shopping for gear, keep your eyes open for that big green eye.
Eizo Nanao Adds Presence Sensor to LCDs
Presence sensors are most often seen in air conditioning units, but Eizo Nanao announced an integration of the technology to its new LCD monitor models.
Two models - one a 20-inch display, the other a 23-inch model - will be fitted with infrared sensors that can detect the presence of a user and distinguish it from inanimate objects directly in front of the monitor such as office chairs. This feature, called the "EcoView Sense" can scan the area within 120 cm right in front of the LCD. If, within a 40-second scan, it fails to determine the presence of a human user, the monitor shifts to a power-saving mode that adjusts the screen display.
But the sensor doesn't just work to determine a user's presence, it also scans for the degree of ambient lighting and adjusts the backlight intensity to complement it. In power-saving mode, both models consume only 0.7 watts or lower, whereas the 20-inch and 23-inch monitors would normally use 25 watts and 18 watts of electricity respectively. Of course ordinary monitors available in the market today would already have a feature that could turn itself off after a pre-determined time of inactivity. The difference lies in the presence sensor's ability to adjust backlighting as was mentioned and, for what it's worth, the ability to quickly revert back to regular mode upon detection of a user.
Google Brings Product Search to iPhone, Android
Not sure which HDTV is best? Wondering if that Bluetooth headset is compatible with your phone? Those with iPhones and Android-based handsets can now access Google Product Search to check prices and read reviews before buying."Say you're in a store and having a hard time deciding between two products. Instead of waiting to go home to check the internet for ratings and reviews, you can now get all of this information right there on the spot," Rob Stacey, a software engineer on Google's mobile team, wrote in a blog post.
To access, go to Google.com on your browser and type in the product in which you're interested. Click on the "shopping" link at the top of the results page, and info on the product will pop up. Users can also click "more" and then "shopping" to get to Product Search directly.
"Google Product Search for mobile gives you the same product information that you would get at your computer," Stacey wrote. "And when you click on products like electronics and video games, you'll see dedicated product pages that include ratings charts and technical specifications."
iPhone Boosts Apple; Execs Float Netbook Idea
Apple reported a second-quarter profit of $1.21 billion on revenue of $8.16 billion, versus a profit of $1.05 billion a year ago, when Apple reported revenues of $7.51 billion. Apple still expects chief executive Steve Jobs will return at the end of June, Peter Oppenheimer, Apple's chief financial officer, said during a conference call Wednesday afternoon. Apple also resuscitated thoughts of a netbook.
Apple reported iPhone sales of 3.79 million units, a sharp 123 percent increase from a year ago. Apple Macintosh unit sales fell by three percent versus a year ago to 2.22 million units, while iPod sales grew by three percent to 11.01 million units, a new record for the March quarter.
Unexpectedly strong sales of both iLife and iWork also contributed positively to Apple's gross margin of 36.4 percent, up from 32.9 percent for the same period a year ago.
"We are extremely pleased to report the best non-holiday quarter revenue and earnings in our history," Oppenheimer said, both in a prepared statement, and again on the conference call.
Apple's App Store is expected to sell its 1 billionth app on Thursday, bringing to a close a contest that began earlier this month. All told, there are now 35,000 apps available, Oppenheimer said, up from 15,000 apps a quarter ago.
Associated iPhone revenue grew to $1.52 billion, up over 300 percent from the same period a year ago. Apple's iPhone OS 3.0 will launch this summer, with push, MMS support, and cut-and-past features. Although subsidy payments from AT&T have apparently ceased, Apple chief operating officer Tim Cook called AT&T the "best wireless provider in the USA". "We have a very happy relationship with them and plan to maintain it," he added.
Apple hopes to sell the iPhone in China within the next year, Cook added.
Apple executives pooh-poohed the drop in Mac shipments, noting that both the education market and professionals have been tightening belts during the economy. Cook nearly chastised an analyst for asking about the numbers: "Cycles come and cycles go; what we're about is making the best computers in the world."
Instead of concentrating on a number, Apple wants to make computers it's proud of, Cook said. "We believe if we do that, over time, we will gain share," he said.
Interestingly, Cook didn't shoot down the idea of an Apple netbook. "If people want a small computer for Web browsing... they might want to buy an iPod touch or an iPhone, he said.
But Cook also hinted that Apple's researchers might have some ideas that they could bring to market. "If we can find a way to deliver an innovative product that really makes a contribution we'll do that, and we have a few interesting ideas in that space," Cook said.
In March, patents surfaced that suggested Apple was working on a touchscreen netbook.
Cook was again asked about veiled threats to sue a PDA competitor, thought to be Palm, about a device that would mimic the iPhone. This time, however, Cook was a bit more circumspect. Cook, who said he believed Apple was leading by years over rivals, said that Apple welcomed competition as long as "other companies invent their own stuff".
Jumat, 17 April 2009
Hands On with T-Mobile's New Sidekick LX
The 854-by-480 screen on the new Sidekick LX is by far the highest resolution on any device near its price of $199. The new handheld also comes with MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter clients.T-Mobile announced a powerful new Sidekick today that kicks almost all of the cult handheld's specs up a notch and ties it in with Facebook and Twitter.
The Sidekick LX (2009) runs on T-Mobile's and foreign 3G networks and has an amazing 3.2-inch, 854-by-480 screen. It also offers an autofocus 3.2-megapixel camera with video recording, a Qualcomm MSM7201A 400 MHz processor, and built-in MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter clients.
Slideshow | All Shots
The 854-by-480 screen—by far the highest resolution on any device near its price—also lets Sidekick owners take advantage of a dramatically improved Web browser and a Microsoft Live Search mapping client with satellite view.
I had a little time with the Sidekick LX (2009) last month, and I was pleasantly surprised. While the original Sidekick and Sidekick 2 were great messaging devices for their day, I felt that the Sidekick iD, original LX, and Slide were a bit behind the times.
Sidekicks are all smartphones running their own operating system designed by Danger, now a subsidiary of Microsoft. There are several dozen applications available in the onboard app store, but the phone's real strength is messaging. Where the original Sidekicks were top-notch e-mail machines, the newer ones focus more on instant messaging, SMS, and social networking like MySpace and Facebook.
The new Sidekick is about the same size as the Sidekick LX (in other words, big), but a little heavier at 5.12 by 2.36 by .63 inches and 6.02 ounces. The screen is slightly separated from the body—it still swings open, but it doesn't snap totally flush like the original Sidekick LX's did. The whole device feels classy and powerful, not toy-like.
The big keys on the keyboard are round rather than square-like, but otherwise all the traditional Sidekick controls are there, including the track ball and various action buttons.
The new screen is drool-worthy. It has an extremely high-pixel density, which really pops out at you when running something like the Microsoft Live Search satellite view. It's a good thing Sidekicks are aimed at young people, because the extreme detail of this screen really rewards sharp eyes.
Web browsing using 3G felt fast, but not blindingly so; I'll have to do some more tests there. The Twitter client was impressive, showing little icons of my friends. And the 3-megapixel camera was a huge step up from any previous Sidekick; I noticed the device I used was packing an 8GB memory card, too. (The retail model comes with a 1GB card.)
All in all, the device felt fast and powerful enough for any messaging task. It might be the first Sidekick in years I can recommend enthusiastically.
The Sidekick LX (2009) also has GPS, the usual SMS/MMS/IM clients, an automatic YouTube video uploader, a basic music player, a video player, and stereo Bluetooth. The phone comes in "carbon" and "orchid" colors, which in English seems to be gray and maroon.
The Sidekick's one Achilles heel seems to be the size of its mailbox. When I spoke to T-Mobile a few weeks ago, they said the new LX would still have a 6MB mailbox. I get 6MB of mail in two days. In this era of huge cloud storage, it's really unclear why T-Mobile is keeping such a stingy limit.
The Sidekick LX (2009) will cost $199.99 for existing users who want to upgrade, $249.99 for everyone else, and $449.99 on prepaid. That makes it one of only two viable prepaid smartphone options in the U.S., along with MetroPCS's $449.99 BlackBerry Curve.
Available for presale starting today, the Sidekick LX (2009) won't hit store shelves until May 13, according to T-Mobile. PCMag will have a review closer to the retail date.
Hands On with T-Mobile's New Sidekick LX
The 854-by-480 screen on the new Sidekick LX is by far the highest resolution on any device near its price of $199. The new handheld also comes with MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter clients.T-Mobile announced a powerful new Sidekick today that kicks almost all of the cult handheld's specs up a notch and ties it in with Facebook and Twitter.
The Sidekick LX (2009) runs on T-Mobile's and foreign 3G networks and has an amazing 3.2-inch, 854-by-480 screen. It also offers an autofocus 3.2-megapixel camera with video recording, a Qualcomm MSM7201A 400 MHz processor, and built-in MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter clients.
The 854-by-480 screen—by far the highest resolution on any device near its price—also lets Sidekick owners take advantage of a dramatically improved Web browser and a Microsoft Live Search mapping client with satellite view.
I had a little time with the Sidekick LX (2009) last month, and I was pleasantly surprised. While the original Sidekick and Sidekick 2 were great messaging devices for their day, I felt that the Sidekick iD, original LX, and Slide were a bit behind the times.
Sidekicks are all smartphones running their own operating system designed by Danger, now a subsidiary of Microsoft. There are several dozen applications available in the onboard app store, but the phone's real strength is messaging. Where the original Sidekicks were top-notch e-mail machines, the newer ones focus more on instant messaging, SMS, and social networking like MySpace and Facebook.
The new Sidekick is about the same size as the Sidekick LX (in other words, big), but a little heavier at 5.12 by 2.36 by .63 inches and 6.02 ounces. The screen is slightly separated from the body—it still swings open, but it doesn't snap totally flush like the original Sidekick LX's did. The whole device feels classy and powerful, not toy-like.
The big keys on the keyboard are round rather than square-like, but otherwise all the traditional Sidekick controls are there, including the track ball and various action buttons.
The new screen is drool-worthy. It has an extremely high-pixel density, which really pops out at you when running something like the Microsoft Live Search satellite view. It's a good thing Sidekicks are aimed at young people, because the extreme detail of this screen really rewards sharp eyes.
Web browsing using 3G felt fast, but not blindingly so; I'll have to do some more tests there. The Twitter client was impressive, showing little icons of my friends. And the 3-megapixel camera was a huge step up from any previous Sidekick; I noticed the device I used was packing an 8GB memory card, too. (The retail model comes with a 1GB card.)
All in all, the device felt fast and powerful enough for any messaging task. It might be the first Sidekick in years I can recommend enthusiastically.
The Sidekick LX (2009) also has GPS, the usual SMS/MMS/IM clients, an automatic YouTube video uploader, a basic music player, a video player, and stereo Bluetooth. The phone comes in "carbon" and "orchid" colors, which in English seems to be gray and maroon.
The Sidekick's one Achilles heel seems to be the size of its mailbox. When I spoke to T-Mobile a few weeks ago, they said the new LX would still have a 6MB mailbox. I get 6MB of mail in two days. In this era of huge cloud storage, it's really unclear why T-Mobile is keeping such a stingy limit.
The Sidekick LX (2009) will cost $199.99 for existing users who want to upgrade, $249.99 for everyone else, and $449.99 on prepaid. That makes it one of only two viable prepaid smartphone options in the U.S., along with MetroPCS's $449.99 BlackBerry Curve.
Why the Spam Carbon Footprint Study is Wrong
McAfee just released the details of a new study, conducted and published by ICF International, which seeks to measure the carbon footprint of spam. The study's conclusions: The global annual energy used to transmit, process, and filter spam is the equivalent to powering 2.4 million homes, and spam filtering saves 135 terawatt hours--the equivalent of taking 13 million cars off the road. The study decides that the average greenhouse gas emissions associated with an individual spam email are about 0.3 grams of CO2. Fascinating, right? But it's completely wrong.
There's one basic tenet of this study I take issue with, and it centers around the finding that most of the energy consumption associated with spam (nearly 80%) comes from end-users deleting spam and searching for legitimate email.
The study doesn't detail the methodology , but we can conclude that the real carbon footprint of a spam message lies in the energy wasted by PCs, notably the fixed amount of time users spend dealing with spam. The math sounds solid: Figure out the average power that a PC draws, the average amount of time spent dealing with each message, and the total volume, and calculate away.
But is that energy wasted really associated with spam? Do people turn on their PCs, read their email, and then turn them off? Or would their PCs simply be on anyway? If you had absolutely no spam in your inbox, would you turn your PC off earlier--or use the extra time you've saved to play more World of Warcraft? Business users leave their PCs on all day regardless of whether they've finished sorting their inboxes, so in my eyes you can't count any of the energy exhausted by their PCs. Besides, many email users don't have to deal with (much) spam anyhow, with filters on the job. (Well, my old Hotmail account gets hundreds of spam mails a day, but really, I only have to deal with them when the computer is supposed to be on anyway).
In my eyes, you could really substitute "Bejeweled" or email in general or any other computing activity for spam and reach a similar computing, if all we're doing is quantifying uptime. Bottom line: PCs waste energy, and humans leave them on too long, wasting energy. But spam? It's kind of meaningless here.
Google's Revenues Dip From Fourth Quarter
Google saw a 3 percent drop in revenue from last quarter, the company said Thursday, the first time the company has posted a quarter to quarter loss. Revenues climbed 6 percent from last year, however. Total revenue for the first quarter was $5.51 billion. Net income for the first quarter was $1.42 billion, up from $382 million from the last quarter and $1.31 billion during the same period last year. Last quarter, net income was affected by a $1.09 billion investment in WiMAX provider Clearwire that the company wrote down, as well as an investment in AOL.
"Google had a good quarter given the depth of the recession," Google chief executive Eric Schmidt said during a conference call with analysts. "No company is recession-proof. Google is absolutely feeling the impact. Users are still searching, but they're buying less [so] ads are converting less."
Google also announced that Omid Kordestani, who has served as senior vice president of Google's Global Sales and Business Development for 10 years, will leave his role to become senior advisor to the office of the CEO and the company's founders. Nikesh Arora, currently president of international operations at Google, will step into Kordestani's old job.
"No one is better placed to advise us on future growth," Schmidt said of Kordestani. On specific products, Google.com was up 9 percent from last year, driven primarily by traffic growth, said chief financial officer Patrick Pichette. AdSense, meanwhile, was down 3 percent from last year to $1.6 billion.
Google's integration with DoubleClick has gone smoothly, Pichette said. "I don't know how we define full integration, but those efforts as well as efforts on ad exchange are coming along nicely," he said.
Schmidt was asked about licensing deals for YouTube. The Google-owned video site recently signed a lucrative deal with Universal Music Group, but has been locked in a battle with Warner Music Group over licensing fees.
Google has "made progress" with the studios and will be "announcing additional things in that area literally very, very soon," Schmidt said.
Google has been rumored to be in talks with micro-blogging site Twitter, and while Schmidt did not address those rumors when asked about the company, he did say that Google would be "very happy to pursue" any sort of ad-related monetization plan Twitter might put in place in the future.
