Facebook adds Skype video chat feature

Facebook has announced a partnership with Skype to add video chat to the social networking site

The move is likely to be seen as a shot across the bow of Google, which recently launched a Facebook rival, Google+, also featuring video calling.
This is not the first time Facebook and Skype have teamed up - they already share some instant messaging tools.
Skype is in the process of being bought by Microsoft, which is a major shareholder in Facebook.
The new video-call service was launched by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who also revealed that the site now had more than 750 million users.
However, he said that the total number of active users was no longer a useful measure of the site's success.
Instead, the amount of sharing - of photographs, videos and web links - was a better indication of how people engaged with the site, explained Mr Zuckerberg.
One to one At launch, Facebook's video chat service will only be able to connect two users face-to-face, whereas Google's system allows group video calls, known as Hangouts.

SOURCE : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
AUTHOR :Allison Liss

CVT Technology In New PROTON Cars

SUBANG JAYA, 4 JULY 2011 – PROTON Holdings Berhad announced today that it will be introducing Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) technology to its upcoming range of cars. “We have been conducting comprehensive development and integration tests of the CVT with our CamPro engines and we are happy to be able to provide this option to future buyers soon,” said Dato' Sri Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, Group Managing Director of PROTON Holdings Berhad.

CVT technology has been growing in popularity amongst high-end auto manufacturers globally as it provides a smoother drive and more efficient performance to their cars. This technology, though not new, has only recently made its way into cars on a large scale with many major automotive companies successfully developing advanced CVT mechanisms that are able to take heavier drive loads compared to earlier variations.

“In the near future, CVT will be mated to our CamPro engines as an option to our range of cars along with the conventional four speed automatic gear transmission that is currently being used,” Dato’ Sri Haji Syed Zainal said. “This feature will not only provide more than just a smoother drive but it will also contribute towards fuel efficiency and savings to the user,” he added.

In comparison to traditional automatic gear transmissions, the utilization of CVT in an engine system reduces transmission weight by up to 20 percent without compromising output capabilities. It allows the car to change gear ratios seamlessly, eliminating transmission shock, facilitating greater responsiveness and smooth, consistent power delivery. CVT also offers various driving modes to suit the driver’s preference and feel.

“In view of fuel price pressure on consumers, we know that the introduction of CVT will contribute significantly to improving their lives as it not only provides them with a smoother drive but also helps reduce fuel consumption.”

Dato’ Sri Haji Syed Zainal highlighted that PROTON tests show that the utilization of CVT in a car can reduce fuel consumption by up to 4% with regards to urban driving and almost up to 10% for highway driving.

“Lower fuel consumption also impacts the environment significantly by reducing CO2 emissions,” he said, elaborating that the efficiency of the CVT technology integrated into Proton engines has resulted in a 5% emissions improvement.

“PROTON is consistently improving its cars; from build quality to the introduction of various technologies to enhance its engine and driving capabilities,” said Dato’ Sri Haji Syed Zainal. “The inclusion of CVT to our next generation of cars will not only keep us on a technological par with major automakers but will also contribute positively towards providing Malaysians with greater value for their money.”


SOURCE : http://www.proton.com/Media-Centre/News

July 6, 2011 12:28pm EST 26 Comments Apple Planning to Sell 25 Million of 'iPhone 5' in 2011, Says Report

Whatever the next iPhone turns out to be, Apple is planning to sell gobs and gobs of it. The latest word, reported by the Wall Street Journal, is that Apple is telling its suppliers that it expects to sell 25 million of the "iPhone 5" before the end of 2011.
The report cites unnamed sources at Apple's suppliers. Apple's products are assembled by Taiwan's Hon Hai, the world's biggest contract manufacturer of electronics, says the Journal. Hon Hai gets its parts from other companies in Taiwan and other parts of Asia, and people said to be from those suppliers revealed some details about the next iPhone, dubbed the "iPhone 5."
Besides the usual rumors about an 8-megapixel camera and a thinner design, the unnamed sources said the new iPhone would use wireless baseband chips from Qualcomm instead of the ones from Infineon Technologies, which are in the current iPhone 4, according to teardowns of the product.
One of the sources revealed Apple's sales goals, telling the Journal, "Apple's sales estimates of the new iPhone is quite aggressive. It told us to prepare to help the company meet its goal of 25 million units by the end of the year. The initial production volume will be a few million units... we were told to ship the components to assembler Hon Hai in August."
The 25-million target, while high, is realistic for the iPhone. Apple is reported to have sold 3 million iPhone 4s in the first three weeks of its release. In its most recent quarter, Apple reported selling 18.65 million iPhones, though that figure includes the older 3GS model as well. A previous report said Apple had ordered 15 million 'iPhone 5s' from notebook maker Petagron.
Most reports point to Apple announcing the next iPhone in the late summer, with a September launch. There's alse been speculation that Apple may announce more than one iPhone when the time comes. For a run-down of the most prevalent rumors surrounding the iPhone 5, check out our slideshow of the most buzzed-about new features.

SOURCE:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2388127,00.asp AUTHOR:
Peter Pachal

APPLE: 15 Billion iOS Apps Downloaded

Apple just released some impressive numbers on the App Store.
It has seen 15 billion downloads from 200 million iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch users. In other words, the average iOS user has downloaded 75 apps.
At Apple's developer conference in June it announced 14 billion downloads, which means users downloaded 1 billion apps in the last month, notes Peter Kafka at All Things D.
For some context on that number, consider this: It took Apple 9 months to reach the first billion app downloads.
Here's the release:

Apple today announced that over 15 billion apps have been downloaded from its revolutionary App Store™ by the more than 200 million iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users worldwide. The App Store offers more than 425,000 apps and developers have created an incredible array of over 100,000 native iPad apps.

“In just three years, the revolutionary App Store has grown to become the most exciting and successful software marketplace the world has ever seen,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Thank you to all of our amazing developers who have filled it with over 425,000 of the coolest apps and to our over 200 million iOS users for surpassing 15 billion downloads.”

“We sparked musical magic when iPhone users experienced Ocarina three years ago,” said Dr. Ge Wang, a Smule co-founder and assistant professor at Stanford’s Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics. “And now with iPad, we’ve created the Magic Piano and Magic Fiddle apps. Who could’ve dreamt an iPad would make its way into the San Francisco Symphony?”

“iPad provides us with an unparalleled mobile device for creating gorgeous, immersive games,” said Mark Rein, vice president and co-founder of Epic Games. “Infinity Blade has been a runaway hit with customers around the world and we couldn’t be more excited about our success on iOS devices.”

“We’re bringing Martha Stewart, Angelina Ballerina, Sesame Street and many more of the world’s most popular books and magazines to iPad,” said Nicholas Callaway, CEO of Callaway Digital Arts. “We knew the iPad was going to be a revolutionary storytelling device, but never could have anticipated it would become so popular, so quickly.”

More than 15 billion apps have been downloaded from the revolutionary App Store and more than 425,000 apps are available, including more than 100,000 native iPad apps, to consumers in 90 countries. Users of the more than 200 million iOS devices around the world can choose from an incredible range of apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, education, sports, health, reference and travel. Apple has paid developers over $2.5 billion to date.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

SOURCE:

http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-app-downloads-2011-7
AUTHOR:
JAY YAROW

Apple issues patent infringement suit against Samsung in South Korea

Apple has stepped up its legal fight against rival smartphone manufacturer Samsung by filing a patent lawsuit in South Korea claiming that the electronics giant has infringed upon a number of its patents, Reuters reports.
The lawsuit follows action by the Cupertino-based company in the US, accusing Samsung of copying the design and packing of its iPhone and iPad devices. The Korean vendor replied by issuing patent suits of its own in South Korea, Japan and Germany, a reversal of Apple’s case by accusing the it of violating its patents in producing the iPhone and iPad.
Samsung filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Court over alleged patent infringement of five patents, issuing a complaint over two patents in Tokyo, Japan and three violations in Mannheim, Germany.
Apple recently amended its complaint against the Korean electronics giant, increasing the ferocity of its copycat claims and asserting more patents against it. The amended complaint, full of fresh accusations, states that Samsung “has been even bolder” than its competitors in “blatantly [imitating] the appearance of Apple’s products to capitalize on Apple’s success”.
It is likely that Apple will not succeed in its attempts to restrict the sales of infringing Samsung devices, which is why it may have pursued legal action in South Korea.

SOURCE:
http://thenextweb.com/apple/2011/06/24/apple-issues-patent-infringement-suit-against-samsung-in-south-korea/ AUTHOR:
Matt Brian

Microsoft working on new software for mobile payments

SEATTLE: Microsoft is working on a version of its Windows Phone software that will let users buy merchandise with a flick of the handset at a checkout counter, two people familiar with the plans said. Microsoft plans to include mobile-payment technology in new versions of its operating system for smartphones as part of an effort to narrow Google's lead in handset software, said the people, who asked to remain anonymous because the features aren't public. The first devices boasting these features may be released this year, the people said.
The company joins a growing list of software providers aiming to benefit from rising demand for ways to purchase products and services on the go. Mobile payments may be used in $245 billion in transactions in 2014, up from $32 billion in 2010, according to Gartner chief executive officer Steve Ballmer is under pressure to regain mobile-software market share lost to Apple, maker of the iPhone, and Google's Android.

The phones running Microsoft's new software will be based on so-called Near Field Communication, which lets devices communicate wirelessly with objects immediately nearby. NFC technology enables payments and also lets consumers use a handset for other tasks, such as redeeming coupons and loyalty points at local merchants.
Mobile-software providers are weaving NFC support into their operating systems. Google has made NFC part of Android for mobile devices and in December introduced the first Android phone with NFC capabilities. Apple is said to be working on adding the feature to its mobile operating system, people familiar with the company's plans said in January.
Having NFC features may be crucial to Microsoft's efforts to boost shrinking market share. Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft is expected to hold about 5.5% of the mobile operating system market this year, compared with 39.5% for Android, 15.7% for Apple's IOS, and 14.9% for Research In Motion's BlackBerry, according to IDC, a consulting firm in Framingham, Massachusetts.
Microsoft is likely to get support in its mobile payments effort from Nokia, the handset maker that recently said it will use Windows Phone software on its devices. Nokia said it will make NFC a standard feature of its 2011 smartphones based on the Symbian operating system.
The number of phones with NFC will double in 2012, from 35 million shipped in 2011, consultant ABI Research estimated. In 2014, 340 million global wireless users will use mobile payments, according to research firm Gartner.
Microsoft holds 14 patents referencing NFC, most recent of them awarded on March 22, according to the US Patent Office.

SOURCE:
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-03-31/news/29366156_1_mobile-payments-steve-ballmer-microsoft-plans
AUTHOR:
Bloomberg

Microsoft makes money off Android

In the hunt for the next billion-dollar business, Microsoft may have discovered one in mobile software. It costs Microsoft nothing to produce and sell, and it's not Windows Phone.
It's Android, the wildly popular — and free — mobile-phone software made by competitor Google.
In the past nine months, Microsoft has gone after a handful of companies that make Android phones and tablets.
It has either sued or persuaded the companies to pay it license fees for some technologies found in certain Android features. Microsoft contends it has patents on those technologies.
Four companies in the past two weeks said they will pay licensing fees to Microsoft for selling tablets and phones that run on Android.
HTC, a major Taiwanese smartphone maker, entered into a licensing agreement in April to pay Microsoft a reported $5 per Android phone
Microsoft has begun talking to Samsung, the world's largest maker of Android phones, about a licensing agreement, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing South Korean media reports.
Microsoft, Google and Samsung declined to comment for this story.
But Brad Smith, Microsoft's chief attorney, addressed the issue in a wide-ranging discussion with reporters in June. Asked whether Android is a new business for Microsoft, Smith said, "We've been open that we're happy to enter into a licensing agreement" with companies that make Android devices.
Asked about a Citi analyst report that HTC was paying Microsoft $5 per Android phone, Smith said, "That seems like a fair price." He said $5 is less than how much Microsoft charges for each Windows Phone license.
"At Microsoft, we stand behind our products and customers," Smith said. "Google says it stands behind its products, but some days they stand so far behind, I'm not sure anyone can see them."
If Microsoft managed to get all Android phone and tablet makers to cough up $5 per device, Microsoft could make more than $913 million a year, using Google's figure of 500,000 new devices per day.
At Microsoft, any business that can bring in $1 billion annually is significant. In fiscal 2010, the Entertainment and Devices division, which includes the Xbox business and mobile software, made $8.1 billion in sales and $679 million in operating profit.
Google has said its mobile business, including search, advertising and services, is a $1 billion enterprise. The company gives away Android, but it sells deals to phone and tablet makers who want exclusive rights to offer the latest software for a limited period.
Android is the world's fastest-growing mobile operating system. Google said 100 million people are using Android devices and, by year's end, it's projected to have 40 percent of the worldwide smartphone market, according to Framingham, Mass. research firm IDC.
Nokia's Symbian software, which topped the market for a long spell, is expected to shrink to 21 percent; Apple will maintain a share of 16 percent and Research in Motion's BlackBerry will slip to 15 percent.
Microsoft's share, which includes both Windows Phone and its older Windows Mobile software, will grow slightly to 6 percent. Analysts think Microsoft has the potential for faster growth over the next few years because of a partnership with Nokia that makes Windows Phone the primary software for phones Nokia says it will start selling in the fourth quarter.
Tablet and phone makers flocked to Google because Android is a royalty-free alternative to Apple's iPhone and iPad software (Apple does not license its software to other companies, in any case). Android was more technologically advanced than Microsoft's previous phone software, Windows Mobile.
Microsoft has yet to develop an operating system designed specifically for tablets. It said it is building its next operating system, Windows 8, to run tablets and traditional PCs. That system is expected to be finished between October 2011 and 2012.
In October 2010, Microsoft launched the first volley at Android, suing Motorola Mobility in U.S. District Court of Western Washington and complaining to the International Trade Commission. Microsoft claims Motorola's Droid phones, which use the Android platform, infringe on nine of Microsoft's patents.
In November, Motorola countersued Microsoft in federal courts in California and Florida, saying Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Phone 7, Hotmail and Exchange Server software infringe on its patents.
Microsoft also sued Barnes & Noble in U.S. District Court in Western Washington over its Nook e-reader, claiming the book giant copied Microsoft's intellectual property as well. The Nook runs on Android.
Smaller companies Onkyo, Velocity Micro, General Dynamics Itronix and Wistron said in the past two weeks they will pay Microsoft license fees for devices they sell that run on Android.
Microsoft could potentially target many other companies with Android devices, including Dell, Sony, Sony Ericsson, Asus, Acer, LG and Toshiba.
One company is absent from Microsoft's cross hairs: Google.
Law professor Mark Lemley said large companies in the IT industry normally avoid suing each other directly.
"It's kind of like in the Cold War, this idea of mutually assured destruction," he said. "You have the power to take me out of the market and I have the power to take you out of the market, so why should either of us exercise that power?"
Lemley, the William H. Neukom professor at Stanford University, has represented Google's book-search business, but not its mobile-software business. He said it's not unusual for companies to sue each other's customers.
"What's interesting about smartphone litigation is that we're seeing that traditional détente in the IT industry breaks down," he said. "It's because companies are aggressively jockeying for market share, and nobody really knows how the market is going to shake out."
He said the lawsuits could stifle innovation; that happened during the early days of the aviation and radio industry.
Colleen Chien, a patent-law professor at Santa Clara University Law School in California, said Microsoft has become much more aggressive about intellectual property.
Microsoft and Google, along with other companies, recently bid against each other for a set of Nortel mobile-technology patents. Microsoft's consortium won.
"They're fighting over patents in the courtroom, and in the auction house, and for the customer in the marketplace," Chien said.

SOURCES:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2015541246_microsoftandroid08.html
BY:
Sharon Pian Chan