Who are the most popular bloggers? -- Voting Result

The voting result is out. The following table is the total number of vote by each candiate. Let's congratulate the winner and thank all of your colleague for providing so much good information over the semester!

Microsoft to buy Yahoo?

Forbes reports that Microsoft is negotiating to buy Yahoo. The deal could be worth $50 billion. What do you think? Do you think the combination of the two would be enough take on Google?

Surfpup

http://www.dailytech.com/Microsoft+in+Talks+to+Buy+Yahoo+For+50+Billion+USD/article7162.htm

Computer slowing down?

This is a nifty utility that I've discovered lately. It's called CCleaner. It removes the clutter from your Windows based PC hard disk. Unused files, cookies, etc. I thought I kept a pretty clean hard drive, but it found over 5 MB of junk on there. It's very quick, too.
I probably wouldn't mess with the default settings. Did I mention it's free?

Surfpup

http://www.ccleaner.com/

IBM expanding to more locations and countries

Customers are increasingly demanding their technology providers to operate globally. IBM acts as a consultant to ISVs as they look to establish themstlelves in new markets. The vendor provides technical help, advice on the localization of their products, and how to get connected to local partners. IBM currently has 33 Innovation Centers around the world where partners can go to for such assistance, or they can connect with the centers virtually. IBM expects to launch an additional three centers later this year, mostly in Eastern Europe.

The Internet Is (Still) Broken

One of the suggested readings this semester in HTM 304 was from MIT Professor David D. Clark, originally published in three parts on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, December 19 through 21, 2005, in Technology Review, an MIT publication. In the series of articles, the author talks about how the Internet was created, how it has evolved, the inherent problems with it, and what the future holds for a system that has nearly one billion users. He should know, because he is an "Internet elder statesman and onetime chief protocol architect". His message is simple: the Internet is broken. Nearly a year and a half later, it is still broken.

Yes, I'll admit, the Internet is a modern marvel. It has allowed the sharing of text, photos, audio, and video around the globe. It has allowed electronic commerce to grow by leaps and bounds. No longer are we required to travel to a physical location to purchase goods or services. This enormous collection of new virtual locations will do just fine, thank you. The Internet has allowed important industries such as banking and financial services to host critical information and share data nearly anytime and anywhere. It has also transformed the way we receive news and information, and the way we entertain ourselves. But our reliance on this wonder of engineering, science, and technology has also created an electronic and telecommunications Achilles Heel in the modern societies that rely so heavily on it, in particular the United States.

Unfortunately, Mr. Clark sees the future of the Internet in its current state as limited at best, and he says that time is running out. The biggest problem according to Clark is its lack of inherent security and inability to absorb new technologies. Unless something is done soon to correct these deficiencies there may come a time when "the Internet stalls - and perhaps turns downward".

To read each of the three portions of the article in their entirety click on the links below:

Part 1: http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/16051/

Part 2: http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/16055/

Part 3: http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/16056/

Court rejects Vonage request for retrial

The supreme court has rejected Vonages' request for retrial and has asked them to work a on the existing appeal with verison. Vonage is a new phone company using Internet for cheaper phone services and is targeting large and medium-size businesses with its new V-Phone, a USB flash drive loaded with VoIP calling software. These phones cost half the cost of the larger companies such as Cingular and Verison but many people are tranfering their numbers or getting new lines at vonage. Although Vonage charges less for its services which comes with unlimited Internet and texting but there are still questions about its receptions in different states of the country. Vonage is currently facing a law suit by Verison but today the court has ruled Vonage may continue to sign up new customers while appealing a patent infringement loss to Verizon, a federal appeals court ruled the April 24th.

Google goes Wireless

Google has hired many top guns is the wireless industry to help shape the way the auction for the 10 billion in licesnces to provide wireless access will be caried out. They want to expand the competition in the market for high-speed Internet access. Google is working with earthlink in San Francisco and there are reports that its building its own wireless handset. Google may be bidding in the 700 mhz auction.

You can read the entire article at:
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2007/tc20070503_030284.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_businessweek+exclusives

A bad deal

Nvidia released the Geforce 8800 Ultra today. This new top-end graphics board costs $830. It's clocked a measly 6% faster than the 8800 GTX which costs 38% less.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2979

For a good deal, Baskin Robbins is having .31 cent scoop night tonight, May 2, from 5-10 PM.

http://www.baskinrobbins.com/Promotion/31cent.aspx

Surfpup

DirectX 10 on Windows XP?

DirectX is the set of Microsoft libraries that programmers use in order to create sound, graphics, animation, and more.

DirectX 10 is the latest version, and it's a Microsoft Vista Exclusive. So, let's say Microsoft decided to bring out Halo 3 for DirectX10 only. That means you wont' be able to play it on Windows XP, 2000, etc. It's one of the draws for getting Vista. Microsoft, of course, went on about how it was integrated with Vista, couldnt' be brought out for other operating systems, etc. Funny how a single, 19-year old programmer was able to port DirectX 10 for XP. It isn't finished, but you can download a prelease version now from here:

http://alkyproject.blogspot.com/

So now, what do you do if you're Microsoft? Do you think their lawyers are filing as I write? Should they allow this to happen? Offer the clever guy a job? What would you do?

My guess is their lawyers will write him a cease and desist letter. Even if his coding doesn't contain any Microsoft code, the ordinary guy just doesn't have the financial reserves to mount a legal defense against a giant like Microsoft.

Surfpup

For screenshots from some DirectX 10 games visit:

http://www.tweak3d.net/joomla/news/pc-gaming/directx-10-games

"Oscars of the Internet."

This is the 11th annual of the webby awards. You tube, ebay, and David Bowie were some of the winners in the in this years webby awards. The founders of You Tube got the award because they transformed the media landscape and reshaped everything from politics to pop culture, said the webby organizor. Ebay for won for "a cultural phenomenon" because it changes the way people connect, discover, and interact with eachother. The winners will be honored in a ceremony in New York june 5th.

Reading brain waves...

New technology has been created...

Now we can use our brain waves to play with toys..

There is a light saber that from Starwars can feel your brain waves to be lighten up.

Basically you wear the brain censor on your forehead, and then it get attached with the light saber.

But you have to concentrate to light up the saber. Now you really feel like you are in Starwars.

tech guys said they are creating more breain reading toys and vide games...

it is pretty scary to me..

I really am glad that I am not into game stuff much. I used to like tv games tho..

brain games are too much for me.

PEACEEEE

Do the Right Thing With Your References

This is an interesting article that tell you what and what not to do with your references. When applying for a job, its not just your resume and cover letter that needs your attention. Your references could problaby close the deal when getting a job.

To read the Do's and Don'ts click on the link below.
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/jobseeker/tools/ept/careerArticlesPost.html?post=93

Apple still vulnernable

http://www.nytimes.com/cnet/CNET_2100-1002_3-6180679.html

Apple released a quick fix for QuickTime on Tuesday. The update is to fix a security flaw that was used to break in the MacBook Pro. Apple has a great way to try and find its flaws. It has a competition with a prize of $10,000 to try and hac-a-Mac. The winner of this competition found the flaw and Apple released the fix in just over a week. Apple is known for its lack of viruses and the walls to protect hackers. With the competition and the quick release of the fix, Apple should stay on top of the game ahead of Microsoft.

Old School is out

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/26/technology/26bike.html?_r=1&ref=technology&oref=slogin

New generation is now incorporating video games for learning. Pre-schoolers now can ride a stationary bike while they avoid potholes to learn their ABCs. Where were all these cool toys when I was growing up? Kids these days have it so easy. I guess the new technology needs to be learned at a young age. I know we barely had computers when I went to high school. Now my daughter is doing computer presentations in fifth grade. Technology is definitely the future.

Software war

http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9714598-7.html

With all the things going on in the world, Microsoft still wants to run the world. Microsoft has Silverlight that is competing with Adobe. They are piling on the applications. The newest is geared to compete with Adobe Flash. "Microsoft is making the source code for the Dynamic Languages Runtime available under its Permissive License, which allows for commercial distribution and modifications to the code without having to pay royalties to Microsoft." Microsoft is really trying to take over the Internet application niche.

World's most powerful supercomputer = 1/2 mouse brain (almost)

I guess the blog site is still open.

According to the Top 500 list, the IBM Blue Gene/L is currently the world's fastest supercomputer
http://www.top500.org/lists/2006/11
Researchers recently ran a "cortical simulator" that was about as complex as 1/2 of a mouse brain. The simulation could only run for 10 seconds, and it was about 10x as slow as a real mouse brain.
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=7094

Surfpup

Gamers go to laptops

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/ptech/05/01/dell.laptop/index.html

Gamers will be pleased that Dell is putting a laptop on the market that can support the requirements for hard core gamers. Usually gamers have a desk top tower to support all of the computer hardware needed to play sophisticated game. As technology is getting better for computer hardware, the components are getting smaller. The ability of Dell to put the required components in a laptop is a new wave of what the future might bring. I am not a gamer and don't know much of the requirements needed to support the new games that are being played. I do have some friends that spend way too much for a computer solely to play these types of games.

Blind Users

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/ptech/04/26/schroeder/index.html

Technology has gone blind, in a sense. New software is helping the blind use their computers more efficiently. The new capabilities of speech recognition software as well as read back software are aiding the blind using documents. There is also a brail note taker. This enables the user to input information by using a special keyboard. The new technology is helping the handicap be more efficient in the today's fast paced business world.

Slippery Phones

http://blogs.business2.com/apple/2007/04/apple_iphones_s.html

With all the new technology that has gone into the new apple iPhone, they couldn't make it not slip. The new iPhone runs for about $500 and has a laundry list of capabilities, but there seems to be a common complaint. The new material that the outside of the phone is made up off seems to be very slippery. Some critics say that the new material causes the phone to slip out of your hand and drop to the ground. The durability of the phone is yet to be seen. Maybe apple will have great success on selling replacement parts.

Online business

Online business is one of the most efficient way to use the Internet.

You can sell whatever you want unless the product are banned by law.

Online auction is one of the fastest and cheapest way to have your own store...

Here is what my friend is doing. Selling perfumes and agarwood chips all over the world.

There are a lot of sales to Japanese people in Japan.

http://stores.ebay.com/Agarscents-Bazaar_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZQ2d33QQftidZ2QQtZkm

If you are into them please let me know

thanks!

Fuel of the Future

The technology that is being developed to produce ethonal will be a huge part of our future.

"Allison, of Silverton, filled up his 1985 Volkswagon Golf for the first time last week on biodiesel, a fuel made from vegetable oil that is touted as an environmentally friendly way to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.In addition to Allison’s car, biodiesel has found its way into many more vehicles on Oregon roads this year.“In the state of Oregon, we used about 1 million gallons (of biodiesel) on roads last year,” said Tyson Keever, a managing partner for biodiesel distributor SeQuential Biofuels. “This year, we are scheduled to double, if not triple it.”Salem is adding fuel to this new trend.Two stations and a production facility opened in Salem this year, making the capital one of the most biofuel-friendly communities in Oregon.Biodiesel is any liquid biofuel suitable as a diesel-fuel substitute or diesel-fuel additive and it typically is made from oils such as soybeans, grapeseeds or sunflowers, according to the federal Department of Energy.“Until (this station opened), I was going up to Portland with four 5-gallon tanks and filling up every three to four weeks,” said Sydney Levin, while filling her 1985 Mercedes Wagon at Marc Nelson Oil Products in Salem. “Now I can just come here.”Marc Nelson Oil Products on Claxter Road NE opened the biodiesel fuel station in June, and the first Salem biodiesel cooperative, where members join to have access to the 275-gallon biodiesel tank, opened in August.SeQuential Biofuels and Pacific Biodiesel opened a joint refinery in South Salem to process used cooking oil for running diesel-fueled cars.“It is a little bit of a trend with the price of fuel going up and (biofuels) being environmentally friendly,” said Peter Nelson of Marc Nelson Oil Products. “There is a niche market for it.”Straight biodiesel can reduce particulate emissions — linked to asthma and other respiratory diseases — by 50 percent compared with regular diesel.Carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons also are reduced with the use of biodiesel, said Kevin Downing of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.Although actual tailpipe emissions of carbon dioxide increase with biodiesel, petroleum products such as gasoline and diesel put more carbon into the atmosphere because they otherwise would be stored in the earth, Downing said.Marc Nelson Oil Products sells both 20 percent biodiesel and 99 percent biodiesel.Right now, it is only a small fraction of their total sales; in two months, MNOP sold about 12,000 gallons of biodiesel compared with 3 million gallons of other fuels in one month.Biodiesel in Oregon is also a small percentage of total diesel fuel. In 2003, 126 million gallons of diesel fuel was consumed in the state compared with less than one million gallons of biodiesel.But for those in the biodiesel business, the future looks bright. Diesel costs about $2.98 a gallon and biodiesel is about $3.25, so people are noticing the vegetable-based fuel more. And experts say that biodiesel lubricates engine parts, extending the life of vehicles."


"To study the potential effects of increased biofuel use, we evaluated six representative analyses of fuel ethanol. Studies that reported negative net energy incorrectly ignored coproducts and used some obsolete data. All studies indicated that current corn ethanol technologies are much less petroleum-intensive than gasoline but have greenhouse gas emissions similar to those of gasoline. However, many important environmental effects of biofuel production are poorly understood. New metrics that measure specific resource inputs are developed, but further research into environmental metrics is needed. Nonetheless, it is already clear that large-scale use of ethanol for fuel will almost certainly require cellulosic technology. "

http://www.hvwc.org/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=274

Pharming

A pharming scam is where a poison program introduced to the main website, which will automatically redirect you to a false front website to gain personal information. What makes this such a terrible scam is that most common users would not recognize the redirection to a false front website. There has been many articles addressing the pharming issue but yet it continues to happen all to frequently. Users must be aware of these scams and realize that any legitimate account would not ask for the same personal information that they already have.

The real China

DarwinSuzsoft is a CEO which has six offices in China, each with its own expertise and access to a different labor pool in that country. The office in Suzhou province, employs about 800 people and has access to 150,000 computer science graduates annually in Suzhou province . To get a glance of what china really is, the government recently completed a two-year project that built a million housing units. Darwin says "if the wage rate for a standard software developer in India is a fourth of what it is in the States, a Chinese developer gets about an eighth. So, if the U.S. rate is $100 per hour, it is $25 per hour in India and $11 per hour in China. For a Java developer in China, the hourly rate is $7 to $9. For BPO (business process outsourcing), where a minimal level of education is required and the job is basically data capture and data entry, the rate is $2 to $3 per hour. In IT software and services, Chinese companies are hoping to allay enterprise fears about IP (intellectual property) protection by bidding on complete IT solutions and services that include the software, the service. This way they can not only provide themselves with a larger revenue stream but they can ensure that parts of their business will remain viable in the event that other parts are found to be using unauthorized technology."

Google rejects Viacom's copyright claims

Google has rejected claims that it broke copyrght laws on its YouTube.com website. Viacom filed a Billion Dollar lawsuit agains google in March. After Google showed their plan to defend itself against these alligations they also requested a jury trial.
"By seeking to make carriers and hosting providers liable for Internet communications, Viacom's complaint threatens the way hundreds of millions of people legitimately exchange information, news, entertainment, and political and artistic expression," Google said in its response.
Viacom has demanded that Google remove 100,000 clips from YouTube.