IT News HeadLines (HardOCP) 25/09/2010

Google Finally Announces Project 10^100 Winners
Google has finally announced the winners of Project 10^100. Unfortunately for you and I, our names are not on the list. The contest was first announced back in 2008 but has taken quite a long time to reach its conclusion, after Google changed the project to focus on "themes" rather than specific ideas. Sixteen themes were selected exactly a year ago, and the public was given an opportunity to vote on the themes most worthy of funding. Comments
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Restrictions On Android Would Violate Principle Of Open Source?
Google CEO Eric Schmidt, while attending a recent press luncheon, gave an interesting answer when asked about forcing carriers to allow "clean" Android installations on mobile devices. Schmidt said that it would "violate the principle of open source." Comments
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Intel's App Store Renamed
I just noticed that Intel has renamed its app store and has decided to waive its $99 registration fee as well. If you are an app dev, head on over and check out AppUp. If you are a developer, find everything you need to easily develop and sell applications for the Intel AppUpSM center here: Powerful tools—including an SDK, easy deployment and validation, Developer Catalog to buy and sell application components, Application Labs in addition to a vibrant online community for support. Comments
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Microsoft Wants to Lead PC Revolution
The GM of Microsoft Games Studios says the company needs to step up and put more resources behind PC gaming. Amen to that. I think we can all agree that it would be nice to see the gaming industry refocus its efforts on the PC. "There's been a fair bit of criticism aimed at Microsoft that we were spending a lot of our focus on console, and we need to be putting resources behind PC as well," Microsoft Games Studios' general manager Dave Luehmann told MCV in an interview. Comments
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Netflix CEO Apologizes for "Awkward Joke"
Reed Hastings has issued an apology for the moronic statement he made yesterday about American's being "self absorbed." My Big American Foot is in my mouth. Yesterday, I made an awkward joke with a reporter in Toronto about Americans (like me) being self-absorbed relative to Netflix pricing in Canada. I was wrong to have made the joke, and I do not believe that one of the most philanthropically-minded nations in the world (America) is self-absorbed or full of self-absorbed people. Ongoing Discussion
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DSL, Now Offering Speeds of 700 Mbps
Have you ever noticed that, regardless what internet service provider you are with at the time, it's always some other ISP setting records like this? Huawei, the telecom gear maker, today said it has achieved speeds of 700 Mbps over DSL using a prototype shown in Hong Kong: the fastest DSL we've seen. Earlier this year, Alcatel-Lucent showed off 300 Mbps over DSL that could travel for 400 meters , because with copper, it's not just speed, but how far an ISP could deliver those speeds. Huawei has managed its top speed for 400 meters as well. Comments
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Verizon CEO: Get Ready for Tiered Data Plans
Verizon's CEO Ivan Seidenberg, during a conference yesterday, said the public should get ready for tiered data plans. Why not, AT&T did it and no one complained. Monkey see, monkey do? Following in AT&T's footsteps, Verizon Wireless will roll out a tiered pricing structure for its data plans within four to six months, according to Verizon's chief executive, although details of the tiers — which could coincide with the launch of the carrier's first 4G LTE markets — haven't been hammered out yet. Also: Verizon would "love" an iPhone, but it would have to "earn" it first. Comments
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Are Intel, AMD Six-Core Chips Worth It?
C|Net's Brooke Crothers asks the question, are six-core processors really worth it? I think we all know the answer to this question, don't we? All of this means more choice at the high end for consumers, but are those extra cores really necessary? Do the newest six-core systems, such as the HP Pavilion Elite HPE-460z series and Dell Studio XPS 9100, offer an appreciable spike in performance? Comments
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Microsoft Applauds FCC's "Super Wi-Fi" Ruling
Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to finalize rules that will enable the use of TV white spaces to provide wireless broadband connectivity. "As more people access information via mobile and other intelligent devices, additional strain is being put on existing wireless networks," said Craig Mundie, Microsoft's Chief Research and Strategy Officer. "Microsoft appreciates the hard work by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and the other FCC Commissioners and Congress leading up to this vote. Their action will deliver greater broadband connectivity to consumers, and promote growth and investment in a new generation of wireless broadband technologies. Comments
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AMD Warns on Third-Quarter Revenue
According to this report, AMD released a statement today saying it expects lower third quarter revenue (compared to last quarter). The Sunnyvale, Calif. chipmaker's terse release said that revenue in its third quarter, ending September 25, will be in the "range of down one to four percent as compared to revenue of $1.65 billion for the quarter ended June 26, 2010." "The sequential decrease is due to weaker than expected demand, particularly in the consumer notebook market in Western Europe and North America," the company said. AMD will report third-quarter 2010 results on October 14. Comments
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