Catch Up On Resident Evil...Everything
Remember how it's Resident Evil's 15th birthday? Well the Capcom Store is making it economically efficient for Wii players to catch up, with added incentive even.
This week, Capcom is offering a Resident Evil Wii Bundle for $70, which includes Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil (the original!), Resident Evil 4, and Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, which features locations from RE 0, 1, 2 and 3. If that's not enough, Capcom is throwing in the Umbrella Chronicles Shot Blaster on top of everything else.
Not a bad deal if you wanted to refresh before the upcoming spree of Resident Evil games hitting the shelves in the next 6 months.
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MIT Labs Develops Kinect-Based Teleconference Interface
Lining Yao, Anthony DeVincenzi, Ramesh Raskar, and Hiroshi Ishii from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab have developed a prototypal teleconference interface demonstration using Microsoft's Kinect sensor array.
Featured in their demo video, Lining (Lizzie) and Anthony (Tony) show off some of the features they managed to successfully implement. In their interactive interface, speakers will be given time-bubbles that pop up over their respective heads, tracking the length of time that each is speaking. Amazingly, the clock stops as soon as the person stops speaking, meaning the program is recognizing voices individually. A cool feature (that may need a bit of tweaking, but cool nonetheless) they also included is the automation of focus- when a person is speaking, the focus of the camera changes, ensuring that everything but the speaker is blurry. This wasn't as successfully implemented as the time-tracker, but a very interesting idea, especially for someone like me with rampant ADD.
Speaking of ADD, I have many problems when it comes to not answering or responding to portable phone vibrations, so this next feature made me sigh in relief that someone was actually working on it. The MIT team developed a way that a person in a teleconference can actually freeze an image of themselves, for instance sitting at a table with a rapt expression, while the person (unbeknownst to the people on the other side of the video chat) can check their phones, scratch their armpit or play Angry Birds (picture above).
The team also managed to integrate Spatial Augmented Reality (SAR) into their demo, illustrating the uses an interface like that could have for interaction with objects on the other side of the screen. Want to display that new architectural CAD model your team just finished? Instead of sending everyone a bulky file they all have to download, why not just display it from an image marker on a block of wood? Also, why not just give each user the ability to manipulate and select marker objects at will? Why not, indeed, asks MIT Media Labs.
We're really looking forward to future progress on this- the Kinect is a wonderful development tool and projects this are the best part. Keep up the good work guys! Video below:
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Opera Mini Hits 100 Million Users: Sweet!
The browser war continues, and it just got mobile.
In a press release yesterday, the Norwegian-based browser Opera announced that their mobile browser had reached 100 million monthly users, with 2 billion daily page views. Two months ago, Opera Software had announced 100 million users combined as a combined total for Opera Mini and their other mobile browser, the aptly named Opera Mobile- meaning that Opera Mini's user base has impressively doubled since February this year.
Opera Software boasts "the worlds most used mobile browser" with Opera Mini, a browser that generates faster page views and site loading by compressing as much as 90% of the content prior to loading the page.
Upon hearing the news, CEO Lars Boilesen responded with "Sweeeet!", with 4 E's. Is that a Norweeeegian thing?
Also, the title of the image above when it was sent to me in email format was "100mill.jpg". No reason this can't be fun, right guys?
Opera reaches (another) 100 million users
Oslo, Norway - April 7, 2011
Opera Software today tinkered in its giant statistics machine and found that Opera Mini reached 100 million monthly users in March and two billion daily page views - new peaks for the world's most used mobile browser.
"Sweeeet!" said Lars Boilesen, CEO, Opera Software.
Hold the phone: didn't Opera just announce 100 million mobile users two months ago? They sure did; though that number represented the combined total for both its mobile browsers, Opera Mini and Opera Mobile. Now, Opera Mini has rocketed ahead to 100 million users in its own right.
The number of monthly Opera Mini users across the globe has grown by 11 million since February 2011 and doubled from the 50 million mark celebrated in February 2010.
Opera Mini's twin March milestone, two billion daily page views, already doubles the one billion daily page views achieved in July 2010.
About Opera Mini
The Opera Mini mobile browser works on more than 3000 different mobile phone models, from basic feature phones to high-end smartphones. The unique Opera Mini technology compresses web content by up to 90 percent before sending it to the phone, resulting in faster page loading and lower browsing costs. It shares many features with Opera's browsers for computers, including tabbed browsing, password manager, bookmarks and Speed Dial. Opera Mini is the world's most popular browser and available as a free download from m.opera.com.
About Opera Software ASA
About Opera Software ASA
Opera Software ASA has redefined web browsing for PCs, mobile phones and other networked devices. Opera's cross-platform web-browser technology is renowned for its performance, standards compliance and small size, while giving users a faster, safer and more dynamic online experience. Opera Software is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with offices around the world. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OPERA. Learn more about Opera at http://www.opera.com/.
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US Department of Justice Approves Google's ITA Bid
In an interesting game of cat and mouse, the United States Department of Justice has approved Silicon Valley's most successful tech company's intent to acquire ITA, a travel information search service based in Cambridge, MA.
The DoJ filed a consent decree with the conditions that Google continue to license ITA"s tech to existing clients such as Kayak and maintain the fairness of its current availability. Also in the decree consent were stipulations that Google erect firewalls to ensure that ITA data is blocked from other areas of Google.
Interestingly enough, the DoJ has evidently filed a civil antitrust lawsuit to block the impending acquisition of ITA if Google did not consent to the conditions. Google really didn't have a choice, especially with the rampant antitrust allegations running around, as recently reported by Bloomberg.
Google was very happy to accept the terms and conditions, and posted the following on their blog today:
It's important to us that ITA continue with business as usual, providing great service to its business partners. We indicated last July that we would honor ITA's existing contracts. Today we've formally committed to let ITA's customers extend their contracts into 2016. We've also agreed to let both current and new customers license ITA's QPX software on "fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms" into 2016-along with related commitments aimed at making ITA's technology available to other travel sites.
The above quotation came directly from the DoJ's press release, which we have embedded below. Also interesting that Microsoft complained to the DoJ and Federal Trade Commission that Google's purchase would be an unfair advantage. Does anyone else think the world of Tech Corps is as hypocritical and neurotic as that of Mean Girls?
Friday, April 8, 2011
Justice Department Requires Google Inc. to Develop and License Travel Software in Order to Proceed with Its Acquisition of ITA Software Inc.
Mandatory Licensing, Research and Development Commitments and Firewall Requirements Will Preserve Competition in Online Airfare Search in the United States
WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice announced today that in order for Google Inc. to proceed with its proposed acquisition of ITA Software Inc., the department will require Google to develop and license travel software, to establish internal firewall procedures and to continue software research and development. The department said that the proposed settlement will protect competition for airfare comparison and booking websites and ensure those websites using ITA's software will be able to power their websites to compete against any airfare website Google may introduce. The department said that the acquisition, as originally proposed, would have substantially lessened competition among providers of comparative flight search websites in the United States, resulting in reduced choice and less innovation for consumers.
The department said that Google will also be required to provide mandatory arbitration under certain circumstances and provide for a formal reporting mechanism for complainants if Google acts in an unfair manner.
The department said that Google will also be required to provide mandatory arbitration under certain circumstances and provide for a formal reporting mechanism for complainants if Google acts in an unfair manner.
The Department of Justice's Antitrust Division filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., to block the proposed acquisition. At the same time, the department filed a proposed settlement that, if approved by the court, would resolve the competitive concerns of the lawsuit.
"The Department of Justice's proposed remedy promotes robust competition for airfare websites by ensuring those websites will continue to have access to ITA's pricing and shopping software," said Joseph Wayland, Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division. "The proposed settlement assures that airfare comparison and booking websites will be able to compete effectively, providing benefits to consumers."
Under the proposed settlement, Google will be required to continue to license ITA's QPX software to airfare websites on commercially reasonable terms. QPX conducts searches for air travel fares, schedules and availability. Google will also be required to continue to fund research and development of that product at least at similar levels to what ITA has invested in recent years. Google will also be required to further develop and offer ITA's next generation InstaSearch product to travel websites, which will provide near instantaneous results to certain types of flexible airfare search queries. InstaSearch is currently not commercially available, but is in development by ITA.
To prevent abuse of commercially sensitive information, Google will be required to implement firewall restrictions within the company that prevent unauthorized use of competitively sensitive information and data gathered from ITA's customers. The proposed settlement delineates when and for what purpose that data may be used by Google. Google is also prohibited from entering into agreements with airlines that would inappropriately restrict the airlines' right to share seat and booking class information with Google's competitors. Finally, the proposed settlement provides for a formal reporting mechanism for complainants if Google acts in an unfair manner.
Google Inc. is the largest search engine in the United States. Google is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Mountain View, Calif., and with 2009 revenues of more than $23 billion.
ITA Software Inc. is a leading producer of airfare pricing and shopping systems in the United States. ITA is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass.
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed five-year settlement, along with the department's competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement during a 60-day comment period to James J. Tierney, Chief, Networks and Technology Enforcement Section, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Suite 7100, Washington, D.C. 20530. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia may enter the proposed settlement upon finding that it is in the public interest.
"The Department of Justice's proposed remedy promotes robust competition for airfare websites by ensuring those websites will continue to have access to ITA's pricing and shopping software," said Joseph Wayland, Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division. "The proposed settlement assures that airfare comparison and booking websites will be able to compete effectively, providing benefits to consumers."
Under the proposed settlement, Google will be required to continue to license ITA's QPX software to airfare websites on commercially reasonable terms. QPX conducts searches for air travel fares, schedules and availability. Google will also be required to continue to fund research and development of that product at least at similar levels to what ITA has invested in recent years. Google will also be required to further develop and offer ITA's next generation InstaSearch product to travel websites, which will provide near instantaneous results to certain types of flexible airfare search queries. InstaSearch is currently not commercially available, but is in development by ITA.
To prevent abuse of commercially sensitive information, Google will be required to implement firewall restrictions within the company that prevent unauthorized use of competitively sensitive information and data gathered from ITA's customers. The proposed settlement delineates when and for what purpose that data may be used by Google. Google is also prohibited from entering into agreements with airlines that would inappropriately restrict the airlines' right to share seat and booking class information with Google's competitors. Finally, the proposed settlement provides for a formal reporting mechanism for complainants if Google acts in an unfair manner.
Google Inc. is the largest search engine in the United States. Google is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Mountain View, Calif., and with 2009 revenues of more than $23 billion.
ITA Software Inc. is a leading producer of airfare pricing and shopping systems in the United States. ITA is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass.
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed five-year settlement, along with the department's competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement during a 60-day comment period to James J. Tierney, Chief, Networks and Technology Enforcement Section, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Suite 7100, Washington, D.C. 20530. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia may enter the proposed settlement upon finding that it is in the public interest.
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'Server on the Go' Reshaping Enterprise Computing Possibilities
Mobile technology has been transforming enterprises for almost three decades, but, strangely, the server room has remained untouched. So long as businesses had plenty of room, available power, and customers that didn't expect a higher level of service, there was no problem with keeping servers tied into racks. But those expectations have changed. Big iron chained into big racks is a 20th century model that doesn't meet all the needs of modern businesses. Increasingly often, enterprises need servers that consume less energy, deliver more compute resources, and work wherever customers need help in order to deliver finished products more quickly. Without these capabilities, the businesses are locked in place and can't grow.
This is why you're now seeing the birth of Server on the Go (SotG) computing. Already, hundreds of enterprises and government agencies around the world have adopted SotG, but the next wave of adopters still have no idea that this option exists.
Server on the Go marks a sea change in IT, but the story seems deceptively simple: "It's a server that looks like a notebook." When Intel first debuted the Centrino concept, the story was similarly brief: "Well, it's just a notebook with wireless LAN and a lower-power CPU." But in hindsight, we know that Centrino's impact was immense. It literally reshaped mobile computing, shifted the course of processor development, and opened up vast fields of potential business applications. Server on the Go sets the stage for a similar transformation. Enterprise-class servers have never existed in this form factor before. What does this make possible? How is this going to change business computing? Sooner or later, SotG is going to have a profound effect on every one of your readers.
Below are several editorial concepts you may consider related to Server-on-the-Go technology and its impact on organizations and computing landscape:
1. Server On-The-Go: Benefits, Beneficiaries, and the Future of Business. This paper defines the mobile server segment and the need for it in today's enterprise environment. We explore different ways in which SotG can be deployed in organizations and how these approaches solve various, increasingly common business constraints?
2. Engineering On-The-Go: How Modern Businesses Harness Mobile Server Technology To Provide Superior Engineering Services. Current users of SotG technology have applied solutions into workstation and engineering applications. Used together with mobile servers, this creates a full OTG Enterprise environment, allowing engineering teams to create very powerful development infrastructures at a client's site-or anywhere. This paper will profile various EotG users and see the ways in which these new capabilities are expanding and evolving their businesses.
3. Do You Need Mobile Servers? We identify the overall decision process a business should step through in order to determine if SOTG technology meets existing and/or future needs. We'll also speak with end-users and key vendors for their perspectives.
4. Breaking the Infrastructure Bottleneck: How Server On-The-Go Accomplishes More With Less. Companies continue to add server technology, but many are now facing the limits of what their buildings or utility grids can accommodate. From weight to watts, SotG can add server capacity to a facility and help delay prohibitively expensive infrastructure expansion. We run through the numbers to see how and when it adds up.
5. Why Your Energy Strategy Sucks. Today's enterprises, particularly in North America, give lip service to being green. Unfortunately, most have no clue about their true energy usage or a practical strategy for identifying and reducing energy waste. We'll explore why this is essential to sustainable business growth and discuss how SOTG adoption can play a key role in a broader solution.
I will be available to answer any questions, provide more information, or assist with adapting these (or other SotG topics) to your needs.
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