Data performance software crucial in battle for maximum system performance

BURBANK, USA: What makes a “fast computer” fast? Some will say it takes a high-speed CPU and RAM. However, while both of these contribute to the overall system performance of the workstation or server, by far the most important factor is the disk storage system. Not because of how fast it can make a system run, but because of how much it can slow a system down, presenting the need to defrag.

The disk drive is the bottleneck in any computer system for one simple reason: Information can only be processed as fast as it can be delivered. Even the fastest disk drives and disk arrays cannot deliver data anywhere near as fast as RAM can store it and the CPU can process it. From that, we can derive a simple fact: Anything that slows down the disk storage system will slow down the entire computer. That's why disk fragmentation is such a huge barrier to system performance. Files can be fragmented into hundreds or even thousands of pieces.

The key to computer speed, then, is to handle fragmentation early enough that it can't make a significant dent in performance, which is why preventing fragmentation before it even happens is vital is for each and every system.

Many enterprises the world over have found that effective handling of file fragmentation begins—and ends—with Diskeeper data performance software. Once installed, fragmentation is never again an issue, and system performance and reliability are maximized from there on out. Diskeeper 2011 goes beyond defrag with key technologies to give optimum system performance and reliability.

Efficient Mode new in Diskeeper 2011 minimizes the time and resources used by Diskeeper to restore and maintain peak performance and reliability. New Efficient Mode is smart enough to detect fragmentation that is a problem and targets it for priority handling.

The software further contains two unique technologies closely married together to achieve the ultimate in system performance: IntelliWrite technology to prevent up to 85 percent of fragmentation before it ever happens—an industry first—and New Instant Defrag, which understands how files are used and immediately defrags the ones that will be used right now.

Simply put, without data performance software in your corner, you may find your servers and workstations soon laying facedown on the mat.

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LCD panel pricing rises slightly as companies boost purchases to mitigate risk from Japan disaster

EL SEGUNDO, USA: Despite feeble end-market demand in June for televisions and other products using large-sized liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, a slight increase in overall LCD pricing is expected this month as companies rebuild their inventories to serve as insurance against supply disruptions related to the Japan disaster, according to new IHS iSuppli research.

For each of the three main applications of large-sized LCD panels—i.e., televisions, monitors and notebook computers—pricing in June is projected to rise by an average of 0.2 percent, the first time all three applications have experienced an increase in 14 months dating back to April 2010.

The figure presents the IHS iSuppli forecast of global month-to-month pricing changes for large-sized LCD panels, described as those 10.1 inches or larger in the diagonal dimension.Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.

“Consumer demand for the major products using LCD panels, like televisions and computers, remains weak, especially in the United States and Europe,” said Sweta Dash, senior director for liquid crystal displays at IHS.

“Despite this alarming sales situation, pricing is on the rise for all of the major LCD applications with panel buyers replenishing their stockpiles in order to build buffer inventory, in case of further supply disruptions spurred by the Japan disaster, and as panel suppliers reduced utilization rates to control production. This is driving up pricing for panels in all major applications.”

For June, all three applications for large-sized LCD panels are expected to post slight increases, rising 0.1 percent for desktop PC monitors, 0.2 percent for televisions and 0.5 percent for notebooks.

This contrasts with previous months when pricing increased in only one or two of the panel applications—while prices in other areas fell steeply, dragging down the overall average.

Japan concerns drive panel sales
Buyers still are purchasing panels to mitigate the risk of any shortages of components used to make LCD panels following the Japan quake disaster in March. Japan is a major source of production of components for use in LCD panel manufacturing.

Furthermore, buyers are increasing their LCD purchasing as they prepare for the upcoming summer and back-to-school seasons, generally periods of hot activity for the market.

Nonetheless, some major brands continue to report high channel inventory. This is preventing the price increases from rising higher in June and keeping them at moderate levels during the month.

Demand remains a concern
The primary concern at present for the LCD market remains the sluggish state of demand among consumers in the United States and Europe, with several branded vendors lowering their second-quarter sales targets.

The weak end-market demand remains a distressing sign for future panel pricing. Several panel suppliers had planned to return to their full factory utilization rate in June as they were still receiving stable-panel demand. However, several brand vendors have lowered their second-quarter sales targets.

In one sign of potential trouble, the panel inventory replenishment efforts in China could slow in July, prompting panel suppliers to cut utilization rates of their fabs in June. Panel demand from international brands in particular will be critical to support panel pricing in the second quarter of 2011 and in the third quarter of 2011.

Panels on hand
Total large-sized LCD panel inventory in June is anticipated to stay at approximately 30 days, following a 5 to 10 percent increase in demand during May.

Among individual panel applications, notebook panels will show a slight price increase in June as branded vendors start ramping up production plans to meet annual and semiannual financial reporting periods. Panels in tight supply include the 14.0 inch size, owing to an upside in demand from China and the rest of Asia. In comparison, demand continues to lag for the 15.6 inch because of slow demand from the US and European markets.

For television panels, inventory is being controlled successfully by panel suppliers. Television panel demand in June is expected to grow about 10 percent compared with May, in anticipation of the hot selling season to come. For international brands, any increase in panel pricing will have to be borne and accepted, especially for models based on the older backlighting technology of cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), the precursor to the newer light-emitting diode (LED) technology in more advanced panels today.

In monitors, price increases are expected to slow in June after having climbed 0.4 percent during each of the last three months. Pervasive weak demand continues to hobble the sector.

Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.

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McAfee changes security landscape with new consumer mobile devices offerings

INDIA: McAfee announced the it is extending its mobile device portfolio for consumers with McAfee Mobile Security and McAfee WaveSecure Tablet Edition. These mobile device offerings change the mobile security landscape by offering security safeguards that help consumers secure their mobile devices for personal use, commerce and work.

According to a mobile security report released last week by McAfee and Carnegie Mellon University titled, “Mobility and Security: Dazzling Opportunities, Profound Challenges,” respondents named their top three security concerns to be the loss of personal or work data through the accidental loss of a device, physical theft of the device, or loss of their data due to their device “crashing.”

In addition, close to half of all respondents said they were using their smartphones both for personal use and work, demonstrating that consumers want more than just personal device security.

McAfee Mobile Security software, available for both smartphones and tablets, provides a comprehensive mobile security solution by combining three leading McAfee mobile security products: WaveSecure, VirusScan Mobile and SiteAdvisor for Android. It is ideal for users who want protection for their data and privacy in the event of loss or theft, protection against the growing threats of viruses and spyware targeting mobile devices as well as protection from Web based threats, such as phishing sites that probe for personal and sensitive information.

With McAfee Mobile Security, consumers can now access the following features and functionality in a single download:
* Back-up and restore data to help protect sensitive information and irreplaceable photos. Even if the device is missing, it can be backed up before it is wiped clean of information.
* Protection against misuse (such as excessive phone charges) as well as safeguarding personal data with remote locking capabilities.
* An audible alarm to help users find the device or disrupt a thief, and or pop-up a notification with instructions for returning the device.
* Remotely remove data from a lost or stolen device via the McAfee Web portal, mobile Web portal or via a SMS message from a buddy device.
* 24/7 real-time anti-malware protection against viruses, worms and spyware, Trojan horses and battery sapping malware
* Protection from malicious Web sites, phishing, identity theft, and credit card fraud when shopping online. SiteAdvisor software for Android provides color coded site ratings appear right next to the search results, allowing Android users to confidently browse and search the mobile Web.
* Management of mobile device protection allows consumers to quickly execute needed security tasks, backup, locate, wipe, etc.via the McAfee Web portal and simple device interface
* All backed by McAfee Labs with its 24/7 global presence and dedicated team of threat researchers.

The WaveSecure Tablet Edition offers Android users with WiFi the ability to find their missing device with alarm and location tracking, prevent misuse with remote lock and wipe and preserve important memories and personal data with remote backup, even from a lost or misplaced device. Users can also trigger an audible alarm to help them find the device or disrupt a thief, and send a brief SMS message with instructions for returning it.

“With device growth eclipsing PCs, consumers need tools to not only protect their personal information, but also to provide safeguards for business data should they decide to use that device for work,” said Todd Gebhart, senior vice president and general manager of consumer, small business and mobile, McAfee.

“It’s far too easy to leave a mobile device in a cab or at the airport, which can mean lost photos, contacts and other important content. Also, the threats to mobile devices are in many ways the same as in the online world. Beyond device lost or theft, users can be hacked, infected or phished on a mobile device just as easily as they can online.”

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GETIT announces robust business plans to double business in Karnataka

BANGALORE, INDIA: GETIT Infoservices Pvt Ltd., the leader in directional advertising in Bengaluru and pioneers of Yellow Pages in India has announced the launch of getitFREEADS on voice, for the first time in India, along with GETIT SMS App and its foray into WAP service with ‘m.getit.in’ and ‘m.freeads.in’ as part of its growth plans in Karnataka.Getit in its next phase of expansion in Karnataka is targeting 100 percent growth this year. The company is targeting 20,000 SME advertisers. GETIT database has listings of over 0.5 million SME and utilities in Karnataka which is being enhanced to cover more businesses in existing locations and penetrate new towns. Getit is also planning to launch new mobile applications for its information services and is exploring alliances with various media companies.

Ramesh Gupta, founder and chairman, GETIT Infoservices, said: “GETIT pioneered Yellow Pages in India and introduced directional advertising to the country. Having completed 25 years in Karnataka, we are proud to launch a new media agnostic identity where information is available across new digital platforms as well as in print.”

Sidharth Gupta, CEO, GETIT Infoservices, added: “GETIT has serviced the Karnataka market for 25 years successfully. We have a presence in Bengaluru, Mangalore, Mysore, Hubli, Dharwad, Belgaum and other adjoining areas and we are the only company to service these markets.

“We are now introducing our integrated digital services to be able to bring a host of powerful services for consumers both in the metros and the mini-metros as well as to local businesses across Karnataka so as to help them grow their business and find new customers.

“We all are aware of the near 100 percent tele-density for markets that lead consumption. With the advent of 3G services, search is bound to shift to mobile devices and it is important that with our pioneering tradition we bring in products & services to capture these markets. That is why we are introducing a slew of apps, both for smartphones across all platforms as well as for low end phones so that all consumers can, with ease, have the power on their fingertips whenever they are searching for information and classifieds.

“This year, we expect to have 100 percent growth in markets across Karnataka in terms of number of businesses that will benefit from advertising on our services which will mean an overall revenue growth of over 65 percent.”

Bengaluru itself has released 19 issues of GETIT Yellow Pages directories. GETIT is the only information service provider that is present in Mangalore, Hubli, Belgaum, Mysore in addition to Bengaluru. The company has served 1000s of businesses and lakhs of consumers through our services, both in the b2b and b2c segments.

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Global PC market

DUBLIN, IRELAND: The PC industry will celebrate its 35th year anniversary in 2010. From its humble beginning as hobby computer kits in the spring of 1975, the PC industry has come a long way.

In 1975, less than 50,000 PCs were sold with a value of about $60 million. From this limited start the PC industry has grown to unit sales of over 280 million units in 2009. PC retail revenue topped $330 billion in 2007 and 2008, but is in a declining phase due to continued price declines and a shift to low-cost products such as netbooks. The next table shows the tremendous growth of the PC industry in the last 30+ years. And the growth of the PC industry will continue, but at much lower rates than previously-at least in terms of unit sales.

The sheer size of the PC industry limits its growth rate, but the yearly worldwide sales will grow by over 36 percent in the next five years-from 281 million units in 2009 to nearly 384 million in 2014 or a 6.4 percent CAGR. Worldwide PCs in-use surpassed 1.3 billion units in 2009 and will reach nearly 1.9 billion units by year-end 2014. Worldwide cumulative PC sales topped 1 billion units in 2002 and 2 billion in 2007, and will surpass 4 billion in 2013. PCs in-use reached 281 million in the US in 2009 and will top 350 million in 2014.

PC revenue was growing slower than unit growth due to considerable price declines and is now declining due to lower unit sales growth than price declines. The worldwide PC revenues were $251 billion in 2000, which increased to over $333 billion in 2007. Worldwide PC revenue will decline to $300 billion in 2010, and will remain in this range for the next five years.

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Zynga prelim IPO filing legitimizes social gaming market

EL SEGUNDO, USA: Zynga is expected to file the required S-1 financial form as a precursor to its initial public offering (IPO) during the next few days. Zynga’s S-1 will reveal the company’s incredible growth since its founding in 2007. IHS Screen Digest estimates Zynga content generated $544 million in 2010 from PC social network games alone—excluding the company’s activities in the mobile space, revenues from its own direct portal, and revenue from highly lucrative and one-off brand sponsorship deals.

“Although Zynga’s S-1 filing has been widely anticipated, the impact of this event is likely to be significant,” said Piers Harding-Rolls, head of games at IHS. “Not only will this preliminary filing completely legitimize the social network games market, which has experienced tremendous growth since its inception three years ago, it will also underline the game sector’s increasing shift away from a traditional product-based business to a digital, online and service-based growth opportunity. The filing will also demonstrate the games sector’s central role in growing and engaging users of social networks. I believe that Facebook’s incredible growth in users has been aided significantly by the rollout of its app platform, a central element of which is represented by gaming titles from Zynga and other companies.”

Global social gaming revenue exploded to $1.4 billion in 2010, up by a factor of 20 from $66.7 million in 2008, according to IHS. Revenue by 2015 will increase to $2.7 billion, or approximately double the total in 2010.

Zynga in 2010 expanded its leadership in the social gaming market based on the success of its CityVille and FarmVille offerings, new IHS Screen Digest research indicates. Zynga held a 39.1 percent share of the global market in 2010, a 4.2 percentage point increase over 2009. This represented the largest increase among the Top 5 operators.

Revealing Zynga’s performance will legitimize the use of freemium and microtransactional business models for games content in Western markets, Harding-Rolls added. Asian consumers are well-accustomed to buying virtual currency and items while playing online games, and there has been a shift toward using freemium models in massively multiplayer online games in the West as a result. However, exposure to Zynga’s 300 million monthly active users means mainstream adoption has been realized and will drive adoption of this monetization approach in the West.

Revenue details in the filing also will show the massive difference in scale between Zynga and its competitors in the social network games market. IHS Screen Digest estimates revenues for EA Playfish, the second biggest company in this games segment, to be between six to eight times smaller than Zynga’s. Like Blizzard with its dominant role in the massively multiplayer online games sector, Zynga’s scale will not be matched by another competitor in the medium term, but this fact is unlikely to deter some of the more tardy investors and startups from trying their luck as a result of Zynga’s performance revelations, in what is already a highly competitive segment.

Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.

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Apple Post Final Cut Pro X FAQ

In order to help alleviate user's confusion over the new and improved(?) version of Final Cut Pro, Apple has release an FAQ. In it, they answer a number of concerns users have expressed over the update. Some answers may trouble users. Apple says you will not be able to import projects from older versions of Final Cut Pro into the latest version. They say that there are too many differences between the two suites. It seems as though they may have tried a solution, but couldn't find a good one. They do assure users though, that they can have both Final Cut Pro X and an older version on their Mac, and they will both work in Lion.

The FAQ can be found here.
via AppleInsider

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Apple: We Make the Best Gear for College

Apple has posted three new sites on their students page, on why a Mac is the best computer for college students, the iPhone is the best phone, and the iPad is the best tablet.

My 2006 MacBook made it through 4 years of college, and it's still running strong. And I can't argue that the iPhone 4 is the best phone I've used (by far). So, I'm going to have to agree with Apple here. If you want to get some great hardware for college, you can't go wrong with a Mac and an iOS device.
via CultOfMac 

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Rumor: Mac OS Lion, New MacBook Airs Coming July 19th

This is just a rumor, however, it's backed by two separate sources. According to these sources, Lion will be released on the 19th of July, alongside of new MacBook Airs. Apple had announced that Lion would ship in July, and the 19th seems like a logical date for the release. MacBook and MacBook Air supplies have been dwindling, which is normally a sign of a refresh. Others have speculated that the MacBook line would be canceled, and the MacBook Air would take its place. I think it's more likely that Apple will price the MacBook Air lower, giving the MacBook a speed boost. While they're priced the same, the MacBook Air couldn't replace the MacBook unless it could match it in speed and storage capacity.

Either way, July is going to be an important month for Apple.
via CultOfMac

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New Anna Updates are coming for Symbian S60v5 - Nokia 5800, X6 and 5530

According to a recent post in allaboutsymbian.com website, it is confirmed that Nokia is rolling out few updates for Symbian S60v3 and S60v5 based mobiles. These updates are mainly related to browser, OVI maps and emoticons in SMS and MMS. As per the news, There will be an updated version of the browser (Web v7.3 - Symbian Anna has the same browser). These updates will be available as firmware updates.

The upcoming firmware update will include changes in both the rendering engine (WebKit) and the UI of the the browser application. On demand new browser window provides multi-tab-like feature.  It is such a great news that Nokia is still supporting some of it's old smartphone like Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. The updates as usual will be available sooner or later for all product codes.

The mobiles which are supposed to get new updates are-

• Nokia 5800 XpressMusic
• Nokia 5530 XpressMusic
• Nokia 5230
• Nokia 5250
• Nokia X6
• Nokia N97 Mini
• Nokia 5235
• Nokia C6-00
• Nokia C5-03
• Nokia E72
• Nokia E52
• Nokia E5
• Nokia C5-00
• Nokia 6700 slide

I will keep you informed if I gets this update on my Nokia 5800 XM. Let's wait for these updates! Please share your experience/comments if you get this update.

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• Download Application CameraPro for Nokia 5800, N97, X6, 5235 and 5530
• Download Digia Mobile Browser v2.3.0 for Nokia 5800, N97, X6 and 5530

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Download Application Sketch Effect for Nokia 5800, N97, X6 and 5530

Sketch Effect is a very useful fun application for Symbian S60v5 touch screen mobiles such as Nokia X6, N97, N97 Mini, 5800 XpressMusic, 5530 XpressMusic, 5228, 5230, 5233 and 5235. Take any photo from your mobile camera and you can then quickly convert it into a sketch.

Along with saving sketch on your mobile, Sketch effect application also helps you share your sketch with your friends on Facebook. You can now have a different profile picture to attract your friends. You can also do use the sketch as wallpaper or post to your Facebook wall. It's an ultimate fun that you experience with this app.

Making a Sketch with this app is as simple as taking a picture from your mobile camera. The application is developed by Twist Mobile. The application comes with Advertisements which you can simply ignore each time you see them. The version 1.1.0 of Sketch Effect app can  be downloaded from the following link.


Related Posts:

• Download Anti-virus Application Rising Antivirus for Nokia 5800, N97 and X6


• N-Desk Becomes More Hot With v2.6.8 for Nokia 5800, N97, X6 and 5530


• Download Application CameraPro for Nokia 5800, N97, X6, 5235 and 5530


• Download Digia Mobile Browser v2.3.0 for Nokia 5800, N97, X6 and 5530

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NDS joins MoCA

SAN RAMON, USA: NDS, a leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, has joined the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) as an Associate member.

NDS is engaged in a number of service provider projects featuring MoCA. NDS is responsible for the middleware and user experience in Liberty Global's planned Multimedia Home Gateway, which includes MoCA technology.

NDS is also a professional services and integration partner of MoCA Board member, Cox Communications. NDS was the prime integrator for Cox Communications' next-generation HD EPG, which included the implementation of Cox's MoCA-based multi-room DVR solution as part of the service.

"A significant number of our service provider customers are looking at rolling out whole-home entertainment networking solutions so now is the right time to join MoCA. The home network will likely be a blend of different wired and wireless networking technologies, and MoCA technology is a proven wired contender," said Jesper Knutsson, vice president and general manager of sales, NDS, Americas.

"NDS' decision to join MoCA underlines how important in-home networking is becoming for service providers. NDS' membership represents a significant first for MoCA: it is the first conditional access and middleware vendor to join the alliance," said Charles Cerino, MoCA president.

MoCA is the worldwide standard for home entertainment networking and the only standard in deployment in all three pay TV segments (cable, satellite and telco/IPTV). MoCA is included in the DLNA stack and the IEEE 802.1AS standard.

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MS Noise expanded product line increases lab productivity by significantly reducing noise

EVANS MILLS, USA & GANANOQUE, CANADA: MS Noise of Sens, France, recently introduced an extensive range of soundproofing products for the analytical laboratory. The company has been delivering soundproof enclosures for vacuum pumps since 2004. Typical sound reduction is 12 dbA or more, or 50-75 percent reduction in noise.

Vacuum pumps, also known as roughing pumps, are commonly used for mass spectrometry, electron microscopy, and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. They are a significant contributor to annoying and distracting ambient noise in the laboratory.
Laboratories are much noisier than a typical work setting.

Excessive noise levels even below the OSHA standard increase hypertension, affect concentration and impair safety. As expectations for greater productivity in research, testing and contract labs accelerate, the more critical the need for better environmental conditions.

MS Noise soundproofing enclosures are solidly manufactured with 6mm thick ABS and 45-50 mm of heat-, oil-, and flameproof insulation material. Robust and quiet cooling fans dissipate internal heat build-up. The enclosures accommodate the entire device and have an internal buffer zone to prevent pump over-heating. Convenient slots and windows simplify installation and maintenance, and enable a clear view to check system status.

"Due to rising demand, MS Noise now offers soundproof enclosures for not only vacuum pumps, but also for water chillers, ultrasonic baths, nitrogen generators and more. Very soon we shall be delivering laboratory furniture with soundproofing capability built-in," stated Tim Hawkins, co-principal of FarHawk Marketing Services, distributor of MS Noise products in the USA and Canada. "Our goal is to be the single source for all sound reduction products for the analytical laboratory. MS Noise is very responsive to the needs of the customer.

"Customized enclosures are common, delivered in a timely fashion and are not overly expensive. Another example of meeting customer needs is the company's introduction of a vacuum pump oil drain kit that converts a difficult and messy task into a fast and clean one."

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View from the middle

I went up to my roof to get to thinking a few nights ago and I discovered my favorite places have more in common than I thought. A relief, really, to bend the laws of time and space to go somewhere your heart wants to be.

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4th Anniversary of the First iPhone

4 years ago today, Apple revolutionized the cell phone industry with the release of the very first iPhone. It employed an innovative touch screen interface that made other cell phones look like dinosaurs. Despite the fact that it didn't launch with an App Store, only offering web apps to users, it was a huge success, and immensely popular. It's design has since been imitated and duplicated by Apple's competitors. Before the iPhone, few would think of owning a "smartphone", which, at the time, was awkward to use. Now you'd have trouble finding people who wouldn't like a smartphone.

The iPhone changed the cell phone, and possibly the computer markets forever. With the release of the 5th generation iPhone coming later this year, the question isn't whether or not Apple's going to release a new iPhone, but how it's going to revolutionize the industry further.
via tuaw

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Worldwide cloud server revenue to reach $9.4 billion by 2015

FRAMINGHAM, USA: Eager to simplify their current IT environments and introduce new initiatives to enhance overall business value, IT leaders are embracing server cloud computing as a viable option for decreasing complexity by adopting converged systems that arrive pre-integrated and ready for use (private cloud) or are offsite entirely (public cloud). According to new research from International Data Cor. (IDC), worldwide revenue for servers deployed to public clouds will reach $3.6 billion in 2015 while private cloud server revenue will balloon to $5.8 billion.

"These evolutionary, and revolutionary, changes in IT deployment and business attitudes are having a profound impact on traditional IT environments," said Katie Broderick, senior research analyst, Enterprise Platforms and Datacenter Trends and Strategies.

"Cloud computing can dramatically simplify administrating and managing many companies' datacenters and position IT as a service organization for the rest of the company. Off-loading some of the more mundane tasks to the cloud (public or private) and freeing up manpower to focus on adding value to the business is critical to driving cloud adoption. But, up-front costs are real, and choosing the right vendor to manage or deploy an environment is equally important."

IDC's research found that public clouds are generally being built on simpler server hardware with a focus on energy efficiency, density, and cost control. The reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) for public clouds tends to be built into the software layer (through failover and virtualization). As a result, public cloud computing is a unit story with lower average selling values (ASVs) than an average x86-based server. IDC forecasts the number of servers shipped for deployment in public clouds will reach more than 1.2 million in 2015, representing a 2011-2015 CAGR of 21.1 percent.

In contrast, private cloud systems are being built on higher-end hardware with more memory, I/O bandwidth, and advanced CPU capabilities. Private clouds are also more reliant on the hardware for their RAS capabilities. Consequently, private clouds represent a value market with larger converged systems selling at higher ASVs than the average x86 system. IDC expects more than 570,000 servers will be shipped for deployment into private clouds in 2015, representing a five-year CAGR of 22.4 percent.

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My Girlfriends Quilt Shop

I stopped into Kris's new fabric shop this weekend! My Girlfriends quilt Shop is DARLING!!!!

Talk about fabric envy! How fun would it be to be surrounded by all those colors, patterns, inspiration and people that love it as much as you do! Kuddos to Kris for going for it! 

It was fun to see some of my patterns hanging up around the shop. (here's a picture of me being a dork!) Ok - moving along.....

I was actually able to SHOP because of the great kids area they have set up! My kids were pleased as punch to play and hang out while I chatted, got a tour and picked out some fabric. 

Even Kris's hubby Mike was in the on fabric action! He cut my fabric yardage for me :) 

and I snagged a photo with Kris too before leaving! We sat on the couch because I am Miss Gi-normica and Kris felt that she looked like a shorty in the first pictures we took. 

Her online store isn't up and running yet but it will be! She has a great selection but if you are local they are offering GREAT classes and designer meet ups too!

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IDC Tech Outlook 2011 Emerging Markets Conference looks beyond BRIC

FRAMINGHAM, USA: The emerging markets of Asia/Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMA), and Latin America are forecast to be among the growth leaders in information and communications technology (ICT) spending.

To understand and succeed in these markets, businesses and investors need reliable local knowledge and insight. On July 14th and 19th, the International Data Corp. (IDC) Tech Outlook 2011 Emerging Markets conference will feature some of the industry's most knowledgeable and trusted analysts from these markets, who will share their research and opinions on the most significant technologies, trends, and opportunities in these up and coming economies.

The two one-day events, to be held in San Mateo, California (July 14) and New York City (July 19), will provide an overview of emerging market opportunities by technology and geography. From the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) to the next set of fast-growth economies, the presentations will highlight some of the critical differences among three categories of emerging markets: Maturing (relatively developed), Mainstream (developing/emerging), and Incubating (immature/underdeveloped).

"The countries that are leading the recovery in IT spending are remarkably diverse and offer a wealth of opportunities, if one knows what to look for and how to proceed," said Philippe de Marcillac, IDC's Executive Vice President, International Business Units. "It's important to understand the dynamics that are driving growth and development in each of these countries, including cultural and demographic trends as well as economic ones. With analysts located in all the key emerging economies, IDC has first-hand knowledge of how these forces are playing out within a particular market."

IDC's Tech Outlook 2011 Emerging Markets conference will feature leading IDC analysts from outside the United States, who will provide new insights into their home markets in Asia/Pacific, CEMA, and Latin America. The presentations will explore a variety of socio-economic factors, including demographic trends, government-led development and investment initiatives, and emerging industries that are investing in technology. In addition, the analysts' comments will focus on the technologies, such as mobile devices, cloud services, and broadband connectivity, that are taking hold in these markets and accelerating the pace of development and modernization.

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HID Global delivers multi-technology national ID cards to Saudi Arabia

BANGALORE, INDIA: HID Global, trusted leader in solutions for the delivery of secure identity, announced that Saudi Arabia has increased requirements for national ID cards based on the company’s LaserCard OSM (optical security media) technology. The multiple technology smart cards are issued to Saudi citizens for identification, e-government, and regional travel purposes.

“The Saudi Arabia program is a leading example of how a single card that integrates multiple technologies can deliver world-class protection and functionality,” said Uwe Ludwig, LaserCard’s vice president of sales in EMEA. “After six years, we are proud that the program continues to provide security and law enforcement authorities with a key asset in preventing counterfeiting and fraudulent use of vital documents.”

LaserCard, part of HID Global, is a trusted supplier of secure Government ID solutions that are at the forefront of advanced ID credential design, manufacturing, ID system integration and end-to-end support services. Together with its partners, LaserCard enables government customers to protect their borders, citizens and services, and helps commercial clients safeguard their employees and assets.

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VMware intros vFabric 5 integrated application platform for virtual and cloud environments

INDIA: VMware Inc. has announced VMware vFabric 5, an integrated application platform for virtual and cloud environments. Combining the market-leading Spring development framework for Java and the latest generation of vFabric application services, vFabric 5 will provide the core application platform for building, deploying and running modern applications.

vFabric 5 introduces for the first time a flexible packaging and licensing model that will allow enterprises to purchase application infrastructure software based on virtual machines, rather than physical hardware CPUs, and to pay only for the licenses in use. This model will eliminate the decades old need for organizations to purchase excess software in anticipation of peak loads, incurring significant costs and allowing software licenses to sit dormant outside of peak periods.

The model in vFabric 5 more closely aligns to cloud computing models that directly link the cost of software with use, consumption and value delivered to the organization.

“Cloud computing is reshaping not just how IT resources are consumed by the business, but how those resources are purchased, licensed and delivered,” said Tod Nielsen, President, Application Platform, VMware.

“While application infrastructure technologies have advanced to meet the needs of today’s enterprise, to date, the business models have remained rigid and out of date. With the introduction of VMware vFabric 5, VMware will inextricably link the cost of application infrastructure software to volume utilized by the organization and the value delivered back to the business, helping all organizations advance further toward a cloud environment.”

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Symantec: iOS Is More Secure than Android

Symantec recently did a review of the security implemented by the two most popular smartphone platforms, iOS and Android. What they found won't surprise anyone. iOS is far more secure than Android when it comes to defending against malicious attacks. Although, iOS, like any platform, is not invulnerable to attack. Symantec figures the best way to hit either platform would be a social network based scheme, presumably to steal user data. iOS bested or tied Android in every test involving resistance to malicious attacks, as well as the implementation used to protect users, save for one: "isolation". This means that they believe iOS could be vulnerable if apps are created to share data with other apps. Still, this wouldn't be very easy to do, especially since the attacker would need to get an app approved on the App Store. The code in question would most likely raise red flags at Apple, and the attacker would be out the money for the developer kit.

Android has had a number of issues with malware already, proof that what Symantec is saying is true. The open nature of Android makes it easy to slip powerful malware into a user's device. With Android, be careful what you download and what apps get permissions. Otherwise, an attacker would have no trouble gaining control of your handset. Of course, these malicious apps are getting more tricky every day, appearing to be normal apps, with the very functionality they advertise. It's getting harder to discern the difference between malware and a normal app.

As always, be careful on the internet, regardless of the operating system you're using. Symantec was careful to point out that while iOS has far better security than Android, there is still the possibility of an attack. Though they don't detail how an attacker would be able to accomplish this, it is still a possibility. Always exercise caution on the web.
via AppleInsider

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Google Announces Swiffy Flash to HTML 5 Converter

Google sure was busy today. Of course, the Swiffy tool has been a work in progress for some time now, Google launched it today. Originally, it was seen as a tool that would enable web developers with Flash-based advertisements to display content on computers and devices that did not have the Flash plugin installed. However, it quickly grew to be a great conversion tool. It's not perfect, but it will be able to convert a number of Flash animations to HTML5. The animations will work best in a browser with strong SVG (scalable vector graphics) support, such as Safari or Chrome.

If you're a developer looking to replace Flash on your site, check out Swiffy here.
via MacWorld

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Google Updates Home Page

Google's homepage hasn't seen a refresh in quite a while. Sure, they change the doodle (the Google logo) on special occasions, but no big changes. In fact, the last big change allowed users to set their own background image for the site, which, while it created interesting possibilities, wasn't all that popular. With most people using a search bar on their browser to perform web searches, why bother with the design of your search page?

Google updated the look of the website today, in preparation for their new Google+ social sharing feature, which Google claims will make it easy to share results, and even video chat with a group of friends. The update includes a new links bar at the top, with a red highlight for the service you're currently using. Search results will include this new look as well.

While it isn't a big change, it doesn't look bad, and it should pave the way for Google+.

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Final Cut Pro X Refunds and Hidden Features

Apple has heard their customer's complaints. Despite the fact that the App Store has a "no refund" policy, Apple has began issuing refunds to people who are dissatisfied with Final Cut Pro X. This is a one time deal, according to Apple. Want a refund yourself? Try complaining to Apple, you may just get one.

Are you one of those unhappy professionals? You can leave the pitchforks and torches at home, Apple is working on adding the features users have requested. In fact, the latest version of the video editing software may be already capable of performing one of the most requested features.

Final Cut Pro X may be capable of importing projects from older versions of Final Cut Pro. Evidence in system files for the application reveal the option to import a Final Cut Pro project. However, it seems Apple decided not to include it at the time of launch, for one reason or another. Apple may enable this feature in the near future. It may have been excluded from the application at the time of launch because it wasn't ready yet. It shouldn't take Apple too long to implement the features users have requested.

Final Cut Pro X has a lot of potential, that much is obvious. But perhaps Apple should have waited to release the application, as it's clearly lacking a number of the features that professionals need.
via CultOfMac

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World Micro opens Asian hub in Penang, Malaysia

ATLANTA, USA & PENANG, MALAYSIA: Electronics distributor World Micro Inc., has sealed an agreement with the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA), the statutory body responsible for the development of the Northern Corridor Economic Region of Malaysia (Koridor Utara, or NCER) to formalize the opening of its Asian distribution hub in Penang, Malaysia.

Besides, three World Micro executives, including, World Micro CEO, Dan Ellsworth, and the company's Vice President of Global Quality, Art Ogg, an official signing event held Saturday, June 25 in Los Angeles, was attended by twelve senior delegates representing NCIA, the US-ASEAN Business Council, IDEA, the Independent Distributors Of Electronics Association, and MIDA, the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority.

World Micro's Asian presence is expected to improve Malaysia's ability to rid the global supply chain of counterfeit electronic parts through various training programs, provide excess inventory disposition programs to local and regional businesses and help support the economic growth within the region. Through the agreement, NCER is set to host World Micro's first overseas base in Malaysia.

World Micro, based in Atlanta, is a recognized leader in inspection, detection and abatement of counterfeit parts. Through collaboration with the NCIA, World Micro will conduct training, development and counterfeit awareness programs for small and medium enterprises as well as large multinational corporations throughout Malaysia.

"We are proud to welcome World Micro into NCER's ecosystem as its leadership in the electronic components distribution chain worldwide will contribute significantly to the continuous development of NCER. We look forward to leveraging World Micro's expertise to heighten process and quality awareness while building counterfeit detection skill sets," said Dato' Redza Rafiq, chief executive of the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA).

NCER, which encompasses the northern states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang and the north of Perak, aims to leverage the traditional economic strengths of the northern region. The E&E Electronics and Electrical (E&E) sector features prominently within the NCER with companies such as AMD, Intel, Motorola, Plexus and Altera, having chosen it as a gateway to the world market.

"The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority or NCIA plays a vital role in ensuring that the NCER continues with its consistent and sustainable development, as a regional enabler, facilitator, and also business partner to the private sector; as well as a friend to the community," Dato' Redza added.

"This unique partnership will help make Malaysia a safe harbor for non counterfeit parts and a regional center of excellence in electronics manufacturing," said Dan Ellsworth, president and CEO of World Micro. "In addition, the new initiative will reduce costs devoted to logistics as Malaysian companies now often have their excess parts shipped to the US for inspection or disposition, then shipped back to assembly facilities in Asian countries," added Ellsworth.

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Quarch Technology intros physical layer switches for storage interfaces

AVIEMORE, SCOTLAND: Quarch Technology Ltd announced a range of physical layer switches to complement their existing innovative range of storage test products. These new products allow the user to remotely and automatically switch connections between multiple host and target ports.

This release includes a 4-to-8 SAS/SATA 6Gb/s multiplexer and a 1-to-8 USB 3.0 SuperSpeed multiplexer. Automatable applications include hot-swapping between multiple devices and switching instrumentation into different paths of a system. These devices will make testing faster and more efficient for manufacturers.

Andy Norrie, technical director, Quarch, said: "Switching products are a great addition to the Quarch range, they are very easy to use and far more cost effective than anything else on the market today. Whether you need to switch in an analyzer or automate an entire motherboard test suite, these modules enable our customers to save time and money through automation."

The modules are transparent to hosts and attached devices. Their unique signal forwarding capability allows users to easily observe high speed data from multiple paths using a protocol analyzer, while causing minimal effect on signal timing. Modules include programmable signal conditioning, allowing equalization and de-emphasis to be applied on individual ports.

As with all Quarch products the modules are designed to integrate into existing test systems with minimal effort and a range of control interfaces are available to suit customer requirements.

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Download Application CameraPro for Nokia 5800, N97, X6, 5235 and 5530

CameraPro is an utility application which offers powerful access to your camera and video. It was never possible with default camera application on your mobile. It offers features such as -

• Near continuous digital zoom,


• Raw jpeg,


• Flash,


• Whitebalance,


• Exposure(compensation),


• Effects,

• Virtual horizon,


• Compass,


• Anti-shake,


• Time lapse,


• Bracket(HDR),


• Continuous autofocus,


• Macro,


• Manual ISO,


• Presets,


• Self timer,


• Burst shooting,


• Video (15,25,30 fps),

• Expert video with custom frame sizes,


• Bitrate,


• Video/audio codec,


• Frame rates.


• Social Network - Facebook, FlickR, TwitPic and Picasa support

CameraPro application is developed by Harald Meyer for Symbian S60v5 touch screen mobiles such as Nokia X6, N97, N97 Mini, 5800 XpressMusic, 5530 XpressMusic, 5228, 5230, 5233 and 5235. The version 2.0.1 of CameraPro application is available to download.


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AUO Slovakia module plant dedicated

HSINCHU, TAIWAN: AU Optronics Corp. announced the inauguration of AU Optronics Slovakia s.r.o. in Trencin, Slovak Republic. The ceremony was attended by AUO President of Display Business Operation Paul S.L. Peng, Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova, Taipei Representative Nan-Yang Lee, and Trencin Mayor Richard Rybnicek.

As one of the two AUO production bases in Europe, AUO Slovakia will play a key role in the manufacturing, assembly, and selling of large-sized LCD modules for renowned TV set makers nearby, enabling more effective supply chain management.

"It gives me great pleasure to dedicate this facility and celebrate the important milestone in Europe," said Paul S.L. Peng, president of AUO's Display Business Operation. "With the establishment of AUO Slovakia, we are building an even more complete network with our clients to effectively deliver quality LCD products worldwide. We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for the full and continuous support from the Slovak government and Taipei Representative Office, Bratislava."

"We greatly look forward to the inauguration of the AUO Slovakia module plant, which is one of the country's major projects in collaboration with Taiwan," said Richard Rybnicek, Mayor of Trencin. "It is expected that the operation of AUO Slovakia will bring fresh impetus to Trencin, creating bountiful job opportunities and boosting the local economy."

AUO Slovakia is located in Trencin, a city in western Slovakia near the Czech border. The decision to establish a LCD module plant in Trencin was made in December 2009. The 200,000-square-meter (over 2 million square feet) construction project was completed in April 2011, with mass production took place in May and first shipment delivered in the same month. The plant will be able to reach a capacity of 240k per month by the end of 2011. With the joining of AUO Slovakia in LCD module manufacturing, high quality and value-added support will be offered to the European clients. When fully online in 2012, AUO Slovakia is expected to generate as many as 3,000 job offers.

AUO chose to set up its second European production base in Slovakia because of the country's unique strategic location, positive business investment climate, and competitive talent pool. The Trencin city is in a euro-zone country located in the center of Europe, which allows AUO to provide its clients with prompt support. The quality workforce also guarantees better products and services to AUO's global clients, helping them to better manage their supply chains.

It is expected that the inception of the LCD module plant in Slovakia will contribute to impressive growth for both AUO and Slovakia in the near future. Customers will also profit from the substantial synergies generated by this collaboration.

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Download Anti-virus Application Rising Antivirus for Nokia 5800, N97 and X6

A new anti-virus software Rising Antivirus is now available for Symbian S60 5th edition based touch screen mobile devices. Rising Antivirus defense your mobile away from all types of viruses, trojan, worm, and other malicous viruses threats in real time.

Rising is a Chinese software company that produces Rising Antivirus application for both PC and mobiles. The application is very advanced and provide more features than most other mobile anti-virus apps. You can perform quick/full/options scan of your mobile to ensure that it's virus free.

The real time monitor function provided in this application lets you enjoy your mobile without any worry. The application also provide a process manager which shows all running processes on your mobile. You can then kill any process.

Rising Antivirus application works with Nokia X6, N97, N97 Mini, 5228, 5230, 5233, 5235, 5530 XpressMusic and 5800 XpressMusic. The version 3.10 of this application is available to download.


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N-Desk Becomes More Hot With v2.6.8 for Nokia 5800, N97, X6 and 5530

N-Desk, one of the great application for replacing the original menu of mobile is getting much better with every new version release. The version 2.6.8 of N-Desk application brings many new features, enhancements and bug-fixes. The application is now mature enough to make you love your phone much more than before.

By using N-Desk, you can

• Slide the screen smoothly


• Changing the icon's position smoothly


• Customizing the image color


• Customizing the background picture


• Customizing the icons layout ( 5x3, 5x4, 6x3 and 6x4)


• Customizing the text color


• Use the best screen locker which is supported by ultra skin!

This version of N-Desk application is very stable and provides very smooth experience. In earlier version, there was a bug with Gmail icon showing too big. This is resolved now. Colors are much natural now and more customize options available.

N-Desk application works with Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, 5228, 5530 XpressMusic, N97, 5230, N97 Mini, 5233, X6 and 5235. Download the version 2.6.18.98 (build 312) from the following link.


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Leading high-tech companies convene to share brand protection strategies, best practices

LOS GATOS, USA: The Alliance for Gray Market and Counterfeit Abatement (AGMA), a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing the gray marketing, counterfeiting, software piracy and warranty and service abuse of branded goods around the globe, recently held their quarterly industry forum to discuss various topics related to brand protection issues. Hosted by Dolby Laboratories Inc. in San Francisco, the meeting featured interactive discussions and presentations focused on brand protection strategies and best practices.

Andy Sherman, Dolby's general counsel, opened the meeting by discussing the challenges intellectual property rights holders face, and the importance of organizations such as AGMA where IP rights holders can come together and share their experiences and best practices.

Following Sherman's presentation, Steve Jeffords, director of sales engineering and advanced support at Dolby, went on to describe Dolby's licensing business and the challenges faced by the company in enforcing licensing compliance. Jeffords shared the entire Dolby licensing process from implementation through the royalty model, including best practices related to contractual compliance and intelligence and enforcement tools.

A key focus for this meeting was to discuss recent legal victories in an effort to guide AGMA member companies through the often complicated litigation process. Cisco's Jeff Bonham reviewed a warranty and service abuse case which involved an estimated $33,000,000 loss for Cisco.

According to Bonham: "Historically, warranty and service abuse investigations have focused on the lack of a return, or the return of a lesser (genuine) product. However, this has shifted recently. Fraudsters are now returning altered or 'frankenstein' parts, which are legitimate-looking parts consisting of old and scrapped components that have been assembled to appear as actual 'broken' parts. The purpose is to receive genuine, refurbished parts to sell for profit on the gray market."

The defendants in the recent Cisco case involving this scheme were recently sentenced to pay restitution and serve a combined total of more than eight years in prison.

Michael Morrissey, a member of EMC's Corporate Investigative Services team, reviewed a recent "E-Fencing" case which began as an internal investigation, and ultimately resulted in the convictions of two former EMC employees and an EMC Value Added Reseller (VAR). An outcome of the legal proceedings was EMC's implementation of a ground-breaking compliance program that establishes measures to ensure that VARs do not improperly use manufacturer's updates for used equipment, and requires confirmation that their retailers are legitimate. This compliance program is expected to provide a model for all online equipment resellers in the future.

According to AGMA president, Ram Manchi: "AGMA member companies have been stepping up efforts to take legal action in the brand protection fight. There is much to be learned by sharing the details of these recent successfully litigated cases -- collectively, our efforts to protect intellectual property rights can make an impact on a much larger scale than individually."

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UK mobile gambling revenue more than doubles in 2010

EL SEGUNDO, USA: The market for mobile gaming in the United Kingdom more than doubled in 2010 as the rising respectability of online wagering and the proliferation of smartphones attracted new users, new IHS Screen Digest research indicates.

Net mobile gambling revenue in the United Kingdom in 2010 rose to £41 million, up from £19 million in 2009. According to the UK Gambling Commission, the percentage of the UK population participating in remote gambling, defined as wagering via a communications medium such as the Internet, a telephone or the television, tied a record high of 13.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010, up from 9.8 percent four years earlier in the first quarter of 2007.

Gambling goes legit
“The full implementation of the 2005 UK Gambling Act in 2007 helped change the public perception of mobile gambling by allowing online betting sites to advertise their services on television and radio for the first time,” said Ronan De Renesse, senior analyst, head of mobile, at IHS.

“During the past 12 months, there has been a rapid increase in advertising spending from mobile gambling operators and other wagering operations to promote their services. Partly because of this, the opinion of gambling has changed in the country. No longer does gambling conjure an image of a smoky betting shop hidden from the public. Instead, betting has crafted itself into a respectable enterprise by using ad campaigns featuring the endorsements of sports pundits.”

UK betting organizations Paddy Power, Betfair and Ladbrokes all have launched campaigns aimed at the new generation of smartphone users. And Blue Square, part of the largest UK gambling conglomerate the Rank Group, attributed 20 percent of its revenue from mobile gambling in 2010, a 300 percent increase year-over-year.

Smart wagering
The proliferation of the smartphone has helped the mobile gambling market to experience breakthrough years in 2009 and 2010. But with the launches of 4G and spectrum auctions coming in the upcoming months, 2011 looks to be a year where UK gambling operators reinforce mobile as a substantial source of revenue.

“Today’s mobile gambler is very different from the mobile gambler five years ago,” De Renesse said. “Previously, aesthetics and speed were sacrificed for accessibility over a variety of devices. Today, consumers want a quick, good-looking application that provides additional content and allows them to place bets, spin a roulette wheel or buy a bingo ticket with the same level of ease that they currently can find online. As a result, a new wave of speedy, glamorous mobile gambling applications is emerging, which can be promoted in the wider media with ease. IHS expects this trend to continue.”

Revenue boost
In other industries mobile handsets are cannibalizing tradititional revenue streams like mobile games. However, the same can’t be said when it comes to mobile gambling. Instead, mobile gambling is expected to increase an online user’s average revenue per user (ARPU) by 10 percent to 20 percent during the next couple of years.

This is due to location-based use. For example, with mobile gaming, a user can bet on a sports event at any location and doesn’t necessarily have to be at the event to do so. Plus, with live events being streamed more and more via mobile, users enjoy access to many more events that they can gamble on.

The majority of bets and stakes are taken from an account balance already established by a user—similar to Amazon or PayPal. However, with the growing popularity of e-wallets and e-commerce, as well as the rising use of m-commerce, these approaches may become a more common way of betting. Therefore, IHS does not believe that mobile operators will become billing centers for gambling.

Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.

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FlashSoft secures $3 million in first round of funding to deliver flash virtualization software to enterprise IT

MOUNTAIN VIEW, USA: FlashSoft Corp., the Flash Virtualization company, announced its Series A funding of $3 million, led by Thomvest Ventures, and the introduction of the first commercial offering of software to enable enterprise flash as a cost-effective, server-tier computing resource. The company’s product, called FlashSoft SE, is commercially available today and is already being used in business-critical production environments by several customers. FlashSoft SE is available for free evaluation through a 30-day “Try Before You Buy” program.

Flash technology has gained traction in enterprise computing due to its ability to reduce input/output (IO) latency, and to increase scalability and performance for databases, enterprise applications and virtualization environments. The analyst firm Objective Analysis has forecast that shipments of enterprise SSDs will grow to 4 million units by 2015, more than 50 times the number shipped in 2010.

Despite the performance advantages of flash SSD, two barriers have inhibited its adoption in the enterprise. First, when used as primary data storage, flash memory cannot easily integrate with and leverage the benefits of existing storage systems infrastructure. Secondly, storing all of an application’s data on server-attached flash memory remains expensive. FlashSoft overcomes both of these objections.

FlashSoft SE is the first commercially available, all-software “tier minus one” solution for Flash Virtualization. Enterprise IT can now provide databases, applications and virtual machine environments with the performance benefit of having the entire data set on flash, with only a fraction of the data actually stored in flash. This innovation makes enterprise flash a cost-effective performance solution that works seamlessly with existing storage infrastructure.

In fact, FlashSoft actually reduces the IO burden on storage, producing even greater cost savings. FlashSoft’s technology is designed to deliver flash-grade performance within a standalone server, across server clusters, and throughout the data center.

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Summertime!!!!!

What have you been up to this Summer? Have you been traveling.......have you been relaxing......have you been running around crazy keeping the kids entertained? 

Maybe you read a great book, maybe you went to the beach or maybe you braved a swimsuit and went for a dip!

 

July's theme for photos on my I AM MORE blog is all of this - SUMMERTIME! Share 1 snapshot from 1 moment this summer and submit it to be featured! 

We'd all love to see what summertime looks like in your neck of the woods! 

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Jays brings award-winning audio to the masses with new streamlined v-JAYS

SWEDEN: v-JAYS, the award-winning headphone from Swedish audio equipment manufacturer Jays AB (publ), is undergoing an update and re-launch at an even more attractive price.

v-JAYS headphones are defined by their clear musicality, ease of use and authentic approach to music and sound. With a prestigious victory at the Bristol Shows HiFi World Awards 2010, top-ratings in iCreate, The Sunday Times and host of Swedish and international awards since their launch, v-JAYS have successfully managed to convey the passion, innovation and pure love of music that form the basis of the JAYS brand.

The new v-JAYS model has been updated with a matt finish and completely new packaging, but is otherwise completely unchanged…except for the price. Due to the success of the model Jays is now able to reduce the price of the v-JAYS and offer the best possible audio quality to the widest possible audience. New model v-JAYS are launched on 6 July and during the first week will be sold exclusively in Sweden by CDON.COM.

“We are very pleased with how v-JAYS have evolved since their launch in 2009” says Rune Torbjörnsen, CEO of Jays AB (publ). “It’s not often that a product is still gathering momentum a few years after its launch. We’re proud to have developed v-JAYS all by ourselves with relatively little funding and we’re even more proud that the product has been able to speak for itself in a crowded international market.

“We know our success is thanks to the music loving users who have responded to our music obsessive brand-DNA and we’re grateful for their support. That we can now make v-JAYS even more accessible with a more attractive price is simply a natural part of our effort to share our passion for music and joy for what we do with as many people as possible.”

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Link_A_Media Devices announces customizable controller platform for enterprise, client, hybrid and consumer SSD apps

SANTA CLARA, USA: Link_A_Media Devices (LAMD), a leader in the development of custom System on a Chip (SoC) solutions for the data storage market, announced the availability of its 6G SATA and PCIe, FlashLINK2 SSD controller technology platform. Using the FlashLINK2 platform, LAMD can develop and ship samples of a new, custom SSD controller product, complete with NAND management and host interface firmware, in as little as five months.

The FlashLINK2 is a highly scalable platform, capable of supporting a broad spectrum of SSD applications ranging from 2 Channels for Hybrid Hard Disk Drive and Consumer products to 16 Channels for the enterprise segment. It combines a highly robust data recovery sub-systems, based on LAMD’s second generation proprietary Adaptive DSP Error Recovery technology, with a data transport sub-system and user-customizable host interface block to deliver leading-edge Read/Write transfer speeds and throughput (IOPS), as specified below.

The Adaptive DSP Error Recovery is specifically designed to increase the endurance of current and future generation MLC NAND devices to meet the lifetime requirements of enterprise-class usage while maintaining high performance throughout the drive’s life. It achieves these key system objectives through the use of proprietary adaptive signal estimation methods and powerful on-the-fly error correction technology.

The FlashLINK2 platform comes with complete, qualified NAND management and host interface firmware to support all NAND Flash supplier interfaces, along with hardware design that uses patented micro architectures for error-correction decoder and sophisticated power management to deliver low power consumption.

According to Gartner Inc.’s latest research*, the enterprise SSD market will grow from 1.3 million units shipped in 2010 to over 11.6 million units in 2015, a CAGR of 54 percent. MLC flash based enterprise SSDs are predicted to be the fastest growing segment within this market.

“The endurance, performance and data integrity requirements for MLC flash based enterprise controllers are very stringent,” said Joseph Unsworth, Research Director for NAND and SSD at Gartner. “MLC flash technology is an imperative for driving enterprise SSD adoption through lower prices and companies that can provide solutions that are easy to integrate and have compelling benefits and cost structure will be increasingly attractive.”

“We are very pleased to announce the availability of our proven FlashLINKTM2 SSD controller platform, which features our endurance enhancing technologies to enable the widespread adoption of next generation MLC Flash in data storage devices,” said Dr. Hemant Thapar, CEO, Link_A_Media Devices. “Our versatile platform is designed to enable our customers to suitably add their own hardware or firmware blocks to create custom controller products and deliver differentiated NAND-based system-level storage solutions. LAMD’s FlashLINK2 platform is significant because it enables manufactures to get to market quickly with a reliable, MLC flash based SSD.”

The FlashLINK2 SSD technology platform is comprised of customizable hardware intellectual property (IP) blocks and firmware modules, implementing a complete 6Gbps end-to-end NAND Flash controller. Unique FlashLINK2 platform technology dramatically improves the endurance, reliability, cost and performance of NAND Flash storage for all applications (enterprise, client (PC, notebook) and embedded mobile storage). LAMD is currently shipping MLC enterprise level products to a major OEM drive manufacturer.

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