Tom Krazit
CNET News.com
January 20, 2006, 10:10 GMT
The wireless industry has given draft approval for 802.11n, which promises much faster wireless connectivity
ZDNet UK
A faster Wi-Fi standard appears to be about a year away, after a task group unanimously approved a proposal for an update to the 802.11g standard.
The 802.11n task group of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers approved the first draft of the new standard at a meeting in Hawaii on Thursday. Passage of the draft required 75 percent of the group to approve, but the final vote was 184 to 0, with four abstentions. Final ratification of the standard is not expected until next year, and several revisions are expected to take place before that final standard is ratified.
802.11n will allow notebook users to connect to wireless access points at much faster speeds than currently available with 802.11g technology. It will use a technology called MIMO, which allows the chips to use multiple antennas that can each handle more than one data signal at a time. This is expected to improve the range and throughput of 802.11n products to the point where they should be able to send video content around a house without interrupted playback. Products with 802.11n chips will be able to work with older 802.11a/b/g products at their slower speeds.
The draft standard is similar to the one proposed late in the evaluation process by the Enhanced Wireless Consortium (EWC), which consists of companies such as Broadcom, Intel and Linksys. The EWC made a proposal for the 802.11n standard just as two other groups were preparing to merge their competing proposals for the final standard last October.
Broadcom announced Thursday that it was immediately shipping a new group of Wi-Fi chips called Intensi-Fi that is compatible with the draft standard. The company claimed the new chips could provide data rates up to 300Mbps, although real-world speeds are likely to be lower.
Broadcom also claimed that the Intensi-Fi chips would be compatible with the final version of the 802.11n standard through firmware upgrades to products using the chips. This touched off a heated rebuke from Airgo Networks, which already makes chips that use the MIMO technology at the heart of the 802.11n draft standard.
"The only event that consumers can count on to guarantee compatibility is Wi-Fi Alliance certification," Greg Raleigh, chief executive officer of Airgo, said in an interview Thursday.
Usually the IEEE and the Wi-Fi chip vendors reach a point in the draft revision process where everyone feels comfortable that the final standard will not change much further, Raleigh said. At that point, the Wi-Fi Alliance starts preliminary testing of wireless clients and access points, and Airgo will be ready with products that will help kick off that testing, he said. Those products will be upgradeable to comply with the final standard through a software download.
Broadcom believes it has designed its Intensi-Fi chips in such a way that products with the chips will be upgradeable with software no matter what twists and turns the draft proposal takes on the final road to ratification, a Broadcom spokesman said. The company is not guaranteeing that compatibility, however, he said.
Consumers should be wary when purchasing any wireless device that does not bear the stamp of the Wi-Fi Alliance, said Will Strauss, principal analyst with Forward Concepts.
If a home user has two draft-standard chips on both ends of their network, they'll get the advertised performance, Strauss said. But if they try to take a notebook with one of those chips to a coffee shop that's using a Wi-Fi Alliance certified 802.11n access point, they might not get the advertised performance, he said.
Chipmakers that release silicon based on draft standards are essentially making a bet that their products will need only software upgrades to the final standard, Strauss said. That strategy allowed Broadcom to jump out to an early position as a pre-eminent supplier of 802.11g chips, he said.
If it works, the chipmaker has a jump on larger competitors such as Intel, which is forced to wait until the final standard is released because of the scope of its Centrino marketing campaign, Strauss said. But if it doesn't, any chipmaker that comes out with pre-certification products will bear the wrath of their customers, he said.
The Wi-Fi Alliance is expected to begin certifying products in early 2006, Airgo's Raleigh said. Final ratification is expected to follow soon after, he said.
Source here
Friday, January 20, 2006
Digital music sales triple to $1.1 bln in 2005
Digital music sales triple to $1.1 bln in 2005: "LONDON (Reuters) - Worldwide digital music sales surged threefold to $1.1 billion in 2005, the industry trade body said on Thursday, as consumers flocked to buy music for their computers, iPods and mobile phones.
"
"
Inside IT: Regulations strangle energy innovation
Inside IT: Regulations strangle energy innovation: "Fuel-cell technology will be the next big thing to power consumer devices, but it needs to clear a few hurdles, explains Danny Bradbury."
Murdoch: Business model for mobile TV unclear
Murdoch: Business model for mobile TV unclear: "The business model for distributing TV programming over mobile phones is still unclear, according to James Murdoch, who said 'we don't know yet' which technology, business model or content would work best."
~~~
Murdoch questions mobile TV investment
By Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson in London
Published: January 18 2006 18:29 | Last updated: January 18 2006 18:29
James MurdochThe business model for distributing television programming over mobile phones is still unclear, according to James Murdoch, who said on Wednesday “we don’t know yet” which technology, business model or content would work best.
The BSkyB chief executive’s comments to an FT.com online question and answer session come as broadcasters, content owners and mobile network operators are investing heavily in video services.
Mr Murdoch said BSkyB, the UK satellite operator, had been “encouraged” by the early response to its mobile services. More than 5m streams of live television channels had been accessed since it launched the service with Vodafone in November.
Sky was interested in other platforms than the mobile phone, he suggested, saying: “It’s not complete to suggest that people won’t watch TV on their phones. That’s not the point. Products as diverse as Sony’s PlayStation Portable, the Archos portable hard drive or Motorola’s 3G RAZR all in different ways allow customers to consume content on the go.”
However, he added: “Let’s not expect any one device... to be the Swiss Army knife of mobile content. They all do different things, and they are all changing fast.”
Mr Murdoch, who launched new broadband and mobile versions of Sky’s service this month, said the benefits of new distribution methods would have to be shared among a variety of players, but indicated that he still saw a central role for television companies.
~~~
Murdoch questions mobile TV investment
By Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson in London
Published: January 18 2006 18:29 | Last updated: January 18 2006 18:29
James MurdochThe business model for distributing television programming over mobile phones is still unclear, according to James Murdoch, who said on Wednesday “we don’t know yet” which technology, business model or content would work best.
The BSkyB chief executive’s comments to an FT.com online question and answer session come as broadcasters, content owners and mobile network operators are investing heavily in video services.
Mr Murdoch said BSkyB, the UK satellite operator, had been “encouraged” by the early response to its mobile services. More than 5m streams of live television channels had been accessed since it launched the service with Vodafone in November.
Sky was interested in other platforms than the mobile phone, he suggested, saying: “It’s not complete to suggest that people won’t watch TV on their phones. That’s not the point. Products as diverse as Sony’s PlayStation Portable, the Archos portable hard drive or Motorola’s 3G RAZR all in different ways allow customers to consume content on the go.”
However, he added: “Let’s not expect any one device... to be the Swiss Army knife of mobile content. They all do different things, and they are all changing fast.”
Mr Murdoch, who launched new broadband and mobile versions of Sky’s service this month, said the benefits of new distribution methods would have to be shared among a variety of players, but indicated that he still saw a central role for television companies.
Shoppers log on to record surge in online sales
Shoppers log on to record surge in online sales: "Online shopping grew at its fastest-ever rate at Christmas as UK shoppers spent nearly £5bn on internet purchases in the 10-week run-up to the holidays, helping to make Britons Europe's top online consumers."
~~~
Shoppers log on to record surge in online sales
By Maija Palmer, IT Correspondent
Published: January 19 2006 22:02 | Last updated: January 19 2006 22:03
internet shoppingOnline shopping grew at its fastest rate at Christmas, as UK shoppers spent nearly £5bn on internet purchases in the 10-week run-up to the holidays, helping to make Britons Europe’s top online consumers.
This was a nearly 50 per cent increase on Christmas 2004, when £3.33bn was spent. Internet shopping now accounts for about 9 per cent of all retail spending.
The figures, released on Friday by the Interactive Media in Retail Group, the industry body for electronic retailers, show that about 24m people shopped for Christmas presents online, spending an average £208. This rapid growth in internet shopping contrasts with a sluggish performance overall for the retail sector, where like-for-like sales rose just 2.6 per cent in December, following a 0.8 per cent rise in November.
For 2005, overall, online shopping grew 32 per cent to £19.2bn, with shoppers spending an average of £816 each during the year. Another study, published yesterday by the European Interactive Advertising Association, estimated that the average UK online shopper spent £875 last year, nearly double the average £452 for the rest of Europe.
Digital music sales pass $1bn
Click here
The IMRG estimates the average annual individual spend will exceed £1,000 for the first time in 2006. The group expects the UK e-tail market to grow 36 per cent in the current year to £26bn.
The increase in online shopping comes amid a rapid increase in the uptake of broadband connections, which grew 60 per cent last year, with more than 37 per cent of UK homes now having a high-speed internet line.
Online shopping sparkles for retailers
Click here
The contrast between the growth of online retailers and falling sales for traditional retailers is strong evidence that e-tailers are cannibalising high street sales.
Play.com, the online entertainment and electrical goods retailer, for example, reported a 37 per cent increase in music sales in the fourth quarter and a 130 per cent increase in book sales. By contrast, HMV’s underlying sales fell 8.9 per cent at its core music chain in the 10 weeks to January 7. Ottakar’s, the US-based bookshop chain, reported a 4.9 per cent decline in sales in the 23 weeks to January 7.
Ebay China forced to scrap seller’s fee
Click here
Electronic goods, such as Apple’s iPod music player, Sony’s PSP handheld games console and Microsoft's XBox 360 games machine dominated Christmas on the internet. Online sales rose 19 per cent in 2005 to £2.46bn.
Clothing and footwear sales on the internet have increased 24 per cent to £1.47bn. The sustained increase in music downl
oads, thanks to the popularity of Apple’s iTunes, has seen some 26m single tracks sold on the internet in the UK, a threefold increase over the year. The UK is now the largest and fastest growing online music market in Europe, according to the IFPI.
Additional reporting by Emiko Terazono
~~~
Shoppers log on to record surge in online sales
By Maija Palmer, IT Correspondent
Published: January 19 2006 22:02 | Last updated: January 19 2006 22:03
internet shoppingOnline shopping grew at its fastest rate at Christmas, as UK shoppers spent nearly £5bn on internet purchases in the 10-week run-up to the holidays, helping to make Britons Europe’s top online consumers.
This was a nearly 50 per cent increase on Christmas 2004, when £3.33bn was spent. Internet shopping now accounts for about 9 per cent of all retail spending.
The figures, released on Friday by the Interactive Media in Retail Group, the industry body for electronic retailers, show that about 24m people shopped for Christmas presents online, spending an average £208. This rapid growth in internet shopping contrasts with a sluggish performance overall for the retail sector, where like-for-like sales rose just 2.6 per cent in December, following a 0.8 per cent rise in November.
For 2005, overall, online shopping grew 32 per cent to £19.2bn, with shoppers spending an average of £816 each during the year. Another study, published yesterday by the European Interactive Advertising Association, estimated that the average UK online shopper spent £875 last year, nearly double the average £452 for the rest of Europe.
Digital music sales pass $1bn
Click here
The IMRG estimates the average annual individual spend will exceed £1,000 for the first time in 2006. The group expects the UK e-tail market to grow 36 per cent in the current year to £26bn.
The increase in online shopping comes amid a rapid increase in the uptake of broadband connections, which grew 60 per cent last year, with more than 37 per cent of UK homes now having a high-speed internet line.
Online shopping sparkles for retailers
Click here
The contrast between the growth of online retailers and falling sales for traditional retailers is strong evidence that e-tailers are cannibalising high street sales.
Play.com, the online entertainment and electrical goods retailer, for example, reported a 37 per cent increase in music sales in the fourth quarter and a 130 per cent increase in book sales. By contrast, HMV’s underlying sales fell 8.9 per cent at its core music chain in the 10 weeks to January 7. Ottakar’s, the US-based bookshop chain, reported a 4.9 per cent decline in sales in the 23 weeks to January 7.
Ebay China forced to scrap seller’s fee
Click here
Electronic goods, such as Apple’s iPod music player, Sony’s PSP handheld games console and Microsoft's XBox 360 games machine dominated Christmas on the internet. Online sales rose 19 per cent in 2005 to £2.46bn.
Clothing and footwear sales on the internet have increased 24 per cent to £1.47bn. The sustained increase in music downl
oads, thanks to the popularity of Apple’s iTunes, has seen some 26m single tracks sold on the internet in the UK, a threefold increase over the year. The UK is now the largest and fastest growing online music market in Europe, according to the IFPI.
Additional reporting by Emiko Terazono
Surging mobile phones sales lift Motorola
Surging mobile phones sales lift Motorola: "Surging sales of mobile phones including its ultra thin RAZR handset helped Motorola, the world's second-largest mobile-phone maker, report sharply higher profits – up 87 per cent over the previous year."
~~~~~
Motorola profits up 87% on record handset sales
By Paul Taylor in New York
Published: January 19 2006 21:46 | Last updated: January 20 2006 00:00
Motorola logoMotorola, the world’s second-largest mobile phone maker, on Thursday reported an 87 per cent increase in fourth-quarter profits boosted by record handset sales.
ADVERTISEMENT
Ed Zander, Motorola chief executive, said that “2005 was the year of the RAZR [Motorola’s best selling ultra thin mobile phone]”, and promised “more of the same in 2006 . . . It is only going to get better.”
Net income rose to $1.2bn, or 47 cents a share, from $647m, or 26 cents, a year earlier on sales that gained 18 per cent to $10.4bn.
Despite the strong results, Motorola’s stock fell more than 6 per cent in after hours trading, perhaps reflecting investors’ disappointment that the company did not raise its first-quarter financial forecast.
The shares fell as much as $1.65 to $22.70 in after hours trading, after closing at $24.35 on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday.
Mr Zander said he was pleased but never satisfied with the results.
“We never take anything for granted,” he said. However, he added: “To grow a $40bn-a-year company by 18 per cent is pretty good.”
Motorola, which added pink and blue versions of the hugely popular RAZR to its line-up during the quarter and launched a total of 26 new handsets, said it sold a record 44.7m mobile phones during the quarter, including about 13m RAZRs or other phones such as the PEBL and SLVR based on its “thin” platform.
As a result, Mr Zander said the Schaumburg, Illinois-based company’s share of the global handset market in the latest quarter increased to 19 per cent, up about 3.1 percentage points from a year earlier. The market share gains came despite component shortages which held back sales of some handsets.
“We further distanced ourselves from number three, four and five,” said the Motorola chief executive.
“We are now the clear number two and gaining.”
~~~~~
Motorola profits up 87% on record handset sales
By Paul Taylor in New York
Published: January 19 2006 21:46 | Last updated: January 20 2006 00:00
Motorola logoMotorola, the world’s second-largest mobile phone maker, on Thursday reported an 87 per cent increase in fourth-quarter profits boosted by record handset sales.
ADVERTISEMENT
Ed Zander, Motorola chief executive, said that “2005 was the year of the RAZR [Motorola’s best selling ultra thin mobile phone]”, and promised “more of the same in 2006 . . . It is only going to get better.”
Net income rose to $1.2bn, or 47 cents a share, from $647m, or 26 cents, a year earlier on sales that gained 18 per cent to $10.4bn.
Despite the strong results, Motorola’s stock fell more than 6 per cent in after hours trading, perhaps reflecting investors’ disappointment that the company did not raise its first-quarter financial forecast.
The shares fell as much as $1.65 to $22.70 in after hours trading, after closing at $24.35 on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday.
Mr Zander said he was pleased but never satisfied with the results.
“We never take anything for granted,” he said. However, he added: “To grow a $40bn-a-year company by 18 per cent is pretty good.”
Motorola, which added pink and blue versions of the hugely popular RAZR to its line-up during the quarter and launched a total of 26 new handsets, said it sold a record 44.7m mobile phones during the quarter, including about 13m RAZRs or other phones such as the PEBL and SLVR based on its “thin” platform.
As a result, Mr Zander said the Schaumburg, Illinois-based company’s share of the global handset market in the latest quarter increased to 19 per cent, up about 3.1 percentage points from a year earlier. The market share gains came despite component shortages which held back sales of some handsets.
“We further distanced ourselves from number three, four and five,” said the Motorola chief executive.
“We are now the clear number two and gaining.”
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Broadband divide getting wider
Graeme Wearden
ZDNet UK
January 19, 2006, 13:40 GMT
High-speed Internet is available to almost everyone but take-up is still much greater in and around London
Research firm Point Topic has warned that the take-up of high-speed Internet access is still skewed in favour of prosperous urban areas, and the problem may be getting worse.
Figures released on Wednesday showing the top ten areas for broadband take-up indicated that areas in and around London still dominate the charts, even though BT's DSL broadband is available to around 99 percent of the population.
Wandsworth topped the national table, with an average of 25 broadband lines per 100 people. The lowest was Eilean Siar, or the Western Isles, with 4.9 per 100.
In some urban areas, broadband line density was boosted by the presence of small businesses that use DSL to get online. Experts have predicted that the rise of teleworking could boost broadband take-up in rural areas, as people choose to base themselves some distance from their place of work.
Point Topic's figures, though, show some big differences around the country, especially now that BT's DSL is proving more popular than cable broadband. Back when cable broadband was cheaper and more available than DSL, areas such as South Wales were among the leaders for broadband density, but this is no longer the case.
The analyst group also reported that it has carried out 2,000 face-to-face interviews and found that poorer families were much less likely to have broadband, despite prices having dropped sharply in recent years.
"Most important of all, the publication of DSL numbers for different regions by BT has showed that there are big differences in density between different parts of the country which are independent of social factors or cable competition," the report stated.
"Rural areas often have lower density than the suburbs even where broadband is equally available. Some parts of the country, such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the North-east of England, just seem to have less interest in the Internet than others."
Point Topic's report did not look into the different broadband speeds used in each area. BT is gearing up to offer speeds of up to 8Mbps, but people — typically in rural areas — whose home or office is a long way from the local exchange will not get such high speeds.
The digital divide has long been identified as an issue that needs addressing. Before BT made DSL available to almost all its customers, it had been assumed that the limited rollout of broadband infrastructure was to blame.
The government identified the digital divide as a problem several years ago, but one rural broadband activist pointed out that people need a reason to get connected.
"The government has rightly focussed on the mantra of "Internet access for all", but people need to have everyday work, family and leisure reasons for taking advantage of access," said John Wilson, coordinator for the Wales Broadband Stakeholder Group.
Wilson added that the Internet had a lot to offer those in rural locations, even if they weren't going online as part of their job.
"Market towns in rural areas are abuzz with conversation... the challenge is to create the online as a vital social space," said Wilson, suggesting that education projects and details of local services would be popular.
The top ten areas for broadband density were Wandsworth, Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham, Tower Hamlets, Windsor and Maidenhead, Chiltern, Mole Valley, Kensington and Chelsea, Islington and South Buckinghamshire.
Source here
+ See also:
Broadband divide widens in U.K.
By Graeme Wearden
Special to CNET News.com
Published: January 20, 2006, 12:37 PM PST
Here
ZDNet UK
January 19, 2006, 13:40 GMT
High-speed Internet is available to almost everyone but take-up is still much greater in and around London
Research firm Point Topic has warned that the take-up of high-speed Internet access is still skewed in favour of prosperous urban areas, and the problem may be getting worse.
Figures released on Wednesday showing the top ten areas for broadband take-up indicated that areas in and around London still dominate the charts, even though BT's DSL broadband is available to around 99 percent of the population.
Wandsworth topped the national table, with an average of 25 broadband lines per 100 people. The lowest was Eilean Siar, or the Western Isles, with 4.9 per 100.
In some urban areas, broadband line density was boosted by the presence of small businesses that use DSL to get online. Experts have predicted that the rise of teleworking could boost broadband take-up in rural areas, as people choose to base themselves some distance from their place of work.
Point Topic's figures, though, show some big differences around the country, especially now that BT's DSL is proving more popular than cable broadband. Back when cable broadband was cheaper and more available than DSL, areas such as South Wales were among the leaders for broadband density, but this is no longer the case.
The analyst group also reported that it has carried out 2,000 face-to-face interviews and found that poorer families were much less likely to have broadband, despite prices having dropped sharply in recent years.
"Most important of all, the publication of DSL numbers for different regions by BT has showed that there are big differences in density between different parts of the country which are independent of social factors or cable competition," the report stated.
"Rural areas often have lower density than the suburbs even where broadband is equally available. Some parts of the country, such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the North-east of England, just seem to have less interest in the Internet than others."
Point Topic's report did not look into the different broadband speeds used in each area. BT is gearing up to offer speeds of up to 8Mbps, but people — typically in rural areas — whose home or office is a long way from the local exchange will not get such high speeds.
The digital divide has long been identified as an issue that needs addressing. Before BT made DSL available to almost all its customers, it had been assumed that the limited rollout of broadband infrastructure was to blame.
The government identified the digital divide as a problem several years ago, but one rural broadband activist pointed out that people need a reason to get connected.
"The government has rightly focussed on the mantra of "Internet access for all", but people need to have everyday work, family and leisure reasons for taking advantage of access," said John Wilson, coordinator for the Wales Broadband Stakeholder Group.
Wilson added that the Internet had a lot to offer those in rural locations, even if they weren't going online as part of their job.
"Market towns in rural areas are abuzz with conversation... the challenge is to create the online as a vital social space," said Wilson, suggesting that education projects and details of local services would be popular.
The top ten areas for broadband density were Wandsworth, Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham, Tower Hamlets, Windsor and Maidenhead, Chiltern, Mole Valley, Kensington and Chelsea, Islington and South Buckinghamshire.
Source here
+ See also:
Broadband divide widens in U.K.
By Graeme Wearden
Special to CNET News.com
Published: January 20, 2006, 12:37 PM PST
Here
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
HP to sell Linux PCs across Latin America
HP to sell Linux PCs across Latin America: "Computers pre-loaded with Mandriva Linux will soon be available in every Latin American country"
Joining the dots
Joining the dots: "Bobbie Johnson hears Bill Gates predict a 'connected future' in which 'it's not just software for the PC ... it's software for the user'."
Bobbie Johnson in Las Vegas
Thursday January 5, 2006
Imagine a world in which you pick the information you are interested in and it follows you everywhere - your home, your car, your phone or your office.
To some, that may sound like science fiction, or about as likely as the eternally-heralded paperless office. But the Microsoft chairman, Bill Gates, said he believed it could be achievable within three or four years when he outlined his vision of a "connected future" at this week's annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Mr Gates, who became the world's richest man on the back of the personal computer explosion of the 80s and 90s, said he believed the next few years could herald another revolution in the way we use information.
In a demonstration to technology industry experts, he put forward a concept of kitchen-based video screens showing personalised information as well as TV and internet news, all linked wirelessly to mobile phones and office computers.
"Five or six years ago, if you'd said to people that software would make photos, music and TV better, they'd have been sceptical," Mr Gates told an audience of technology industry experts. "This really is the symptom of the great progress of the digital decade."
Thanks to the rocketing growth in mobile phones, computers and broadband internet connections, he said the potential to link up the disconnected streams of information in people's lives was greater than ever.
"My preferences, my interests are reflected on those devices," he said. "It's not just software for the PC, software for the phone, software for the video game - it's software for the user."
The Microsoft boss - recently voted Time magazine's person of the year alongside his wife, Melinda, and the rock star Bono - was in bullish mood as he outlined the corporation's strategies for the coming year.
He trumpeted an 11% increase in sales of Windows-compatible PCs over the past year, including a sizeable boost for the living room-friendly Media Center PC line, and predicted good sales for Microsoft's new videogames console, the Xbox 360.
With the living room now seen as the biggest battleground for electronics, internet and broadcasting companies alike, Microsoft is placing great emphasis on its involvement in the future development of TV technologies.
Mr Gates revealed that Microsoft and the satellite TV firm Sky were teaming up to create an internet-based video on demand service for the UK, and said more deals were in the pipeline.
"We're working with BSkyB: they'll be setting up a video on demand capability that will be for Windows Media Center customers," he said. "More than 8 million subscribers in the UK will be able to get this."
Many other companies are using the international CES - one of the world's leading technology showcases - to map out the future of internet TV.
Many of the 2,500 companies are exhibiting products for video over the web, and large areas of the 1.6m sq ft show floor will be given over to high-definition TV.
The chip-maker Intel is showcasing its new range of TV-friendly hardware, while manufacturers including Panasonic are unveiling television sets able to connect directly to the web to display internet pages and video.
"The power of the internet players, and the investment they're making in video is a threat in and of itself," Saul Berman, a partner in IBM's media and entertainment consultancy, said.
Mr Gates's speech was also used to unveil a new music download shop backed by MTV. The service, called Urge, could prove a stern challenge to the dominant iTunes Music Store because it offers not only extensive music downloads but also a large amount of video content from MTV's family of television stations.
Bobbie Johnson in Las Vegas
Thursday January 5, 2006
Imagine a world in which you pick the information you are interested in and it follows you everywhere - your home, your car, your phone or your office.
To some, that may sound like science fiction, or about as likely as the eternally-heralded paperless office. But the Microsoft chairman, Bill Gates, said he believed it could be achievable within three or four years when he outlined his vision of a "connected future" at this week's annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Mr Gates, who became the world's richest man on the back of the personal computer explosion of the 80s and 90s, said he believed the next few years could herald another revolution in the way we use information.
In a demonstration to technology industry experts, he put forward a concept of kitchen-based video screens showing personalised information as well as TV and internet news, all linked wirelessly to mobile phones and office computers.
"Five or six years ago, if you'd said to people that software would make photos, music and TV better, they'd have been sceptical," Mr Gates told an audience of technology industry experts. "This really is the symptom of the great progress of the digital decade."
Thanks to the rocketing growth in mobile phones, computers and broadband internet connections, he said the potential to link up the disconnected streams of information in people's lives was greater than ever.
"My preferences, my interests are reflected on those devices," he said. "It's not just software for the PC, software for the phone, software for the video game - it's software for the user."
The Microsoft boss - recently voted Time magazine's person of the year alongside his wife, Melinda, and the rock star Bono - was in bullish mood as he outlined the corporation's strategies for the coming year.
He trumpeted an 11% increase in sales of Windows-compatible PCs over the past year, including a sizeable boost for the living room-friendly Media Center PC line, and predicted good sales for Microsoft's new videogames console, the Xbox 360.
With the living room now seen as the biggest battleground for electronics, internet and broadcasting companies alike, Microsoft is placing great emphasis on its involvement in the future development of TV technologies.
Mr Gates revealed that Microsoft and the satellite TV firm Sky were teaming up to create an internet-based video on demand service for the UK, and said more deals were in the pipeline.
"We're working with BSkyB: they'll be setting up a video on demand capability that will be for Windows Media Center customers," he said. "More than 8 million subscribers in the UK will be able to get this."
Many other companies are using the international CES - one of the world's leading technology showcases - to map out the future of internet TV.
Many of the 2,500 companies are exhibiting products for video over the web, and large areas of the 1.6m sq ft show floor will be given over to high-definition TV.
The chip-maker Intel is showcasing its new range of TV-friendly hardware, while manufacturers including Panasonic are unveiling television sets able to connect directly to the web to display internet pages and video.
"The power of the internet players, and the investment they're making in video is a threat in and of itself," Saul Berman, a partner in IBM's media and entertainment consultancy, said.
Mr Gates's speech was also used to unveil a new music download shop backed by MTV. The service, called Urge, could prove a stern challenge to the dominant iTunes Music Store because it offers not only extensive music downloads but also a large amount of video content from MTV's family of television stations.
Half the world will have no mobile by 2009
Half the world will have no mobile by 2009: "Even the US has room for growth..."
By Jo Best
Published: Wednesday 18 January 2006
While the UK passed 100 per cent penetration for mobile phones some time ago, half the world still won't be using one by 2009, researchers believe.
According to a report from Portio Research, the number of mobile users worldwide – currently around the two billion mark – will reach nearly four billion by 2011.
Within the next five years, India's mobile market is expected to enjoy the most subscriber growth, followed by China. Brazil, Indonesia and Nigeria are all expected to add substantial numbers of mobile users between now and 2011.
However, the US is also expected to see more of the wireless-less taking up mobiles – 66 million new mobile users will sign up before 2011, the research company predicts.
By Jo Best
Published: Wednesday 18 January 2006
While the UK passed 100 per cent penetration for mobile phones some time ago, half the world still won't be using one by 2009, researchers believe.
According to a report from Portio Research, the number of mobile users worldwide – currently around the two billion mark – will reach nearly four billion by 2011.
Within the next five years, India's mobile market is expected to enjoy the most subscriber growth, followed by China. Brazil, Indonesia and Nigeria are all expected to add substantial numbers of mobile users between now and 2011.
However, the US is also expected to see more of the wireless-less taking up mobiles – 66 million new mobile users will sign up before 2011, the research company predicts.
Welsh desktop Linux project is making slow progress
Welsh desktop Linux project is making slow progress: "'It's a bit like painting the Forth Bridge,' says the co-ordinator of the Kywaith Kyfieithu project"
BT: We weren't forced to play fair
BT: We weren't forced to play fair: "Telecoms convergence is a real opportunity for all and not just so much BS, says BT, as it launches its access services division"
Telecoms convergence is a real opportunity for all and not just so much BS, says BT, as it launches its access services division
Click here for another great offer.
BT launched its Openreach access division on Wednesday with a bullish denial that it had been forced into the move because of pressure from regulators and rivals.
Openreach, which will maintain BT's telecoms infrastructure, must ensure that all the UK's communications providers get equal, fair access to BT's network. BT offered to create Openreach last year after Ofcom threatened the company with the possibility of break-up unless it gave its rivals the same access to its wholesale network, at the same price, as BT's own retail arm.
But Openreach chief executive Steve Robertson insisted that the division had been created because of the fundamental changes that are taking place in the industry, rather than because of BT's misdeeds.
"I'm always asked by people whether it's true that we were forced to do this [by Ofcom], but I believe this was an inevitable consequence of what was happening in industry," said Robertson. "I'm not here today because someone dragged me here to say we should do something for those service providers."
In response, one communications provider who declined to be named was adamant that the catalyst behind Openreach was Ofcom's Strategic Review, in which the regulator warned that it wouldn't tolerate BT hampering competition in the telecoms sector: "BT may think that the formation of Openreach was inevitable but would they really have done it had they not been legally obliged to do so? That's hard to visualise."
The UK Competitive Telecommunications Association (UKCTA), a body made up of several of BT's rivals, agreed that the Strategic Review was crucial.
"BT had three options. Do nothing, which was pretty rapidly discounted; put something like Openreach in place to create the structural separation that Ofcom was looking for; or go down the Enterprise Act route," said Christine Roberts, UKCTA's director of external affairs. An Enterprise Act investigation could have resulted in BT being split into separate companies.
Roberts said that UKCTA will be watching Openreach closely over the next few months to see if it delivers on its promise to create a level playing field for all operators.
"We have got an organisation in place that we can interface with. Now it's down to the detail about how Openreach works with other operators, and other parts of BT," Roberts added.
Robertson also urged his audience of industry representatives and BT staff not to miss the chance to deliver converged services, citing BSkyB's announcement on Tuesday that it will soon start delivering films over broadband as an example of an innovative offering.
"We've been through the Internet bubble, but money is back on the table. We have a great chance to grasp this opportunity, and that's what Openreach is all about... we're not here today because of management bullshit, we're here because that's what's influencing your business plans and changing the world," explained Robertson.
Telecoms convergence is a real opportunity for all and not just so much BS, says BT, as it launches its access services division
Click here for another great offer.
BT launched its Openreach access division on Wednesday with a bullish denial that it had been forced into the move because of pressure from regulators and rivals.
Openreach, which will maintain BT's telecoms infrastructure, must ensure that all the UK's communications providers get equal, fair access to BT's network. BT offered to create Openreach last year after Ofcom threatened the company with the possibility of break-up unless it gave its rivals the same access to its wholesale network, at the same price, as BT's own retail arm.
But Openreach chief executive Steve Robertson insisted that the division had been created because of the fundamental changes that are taking place in the industry, rather than because of BT's misdeeds.
"I'm always asked by people whether it's true that we were forced to do this [by Ofcom], but I believe this was an inevitable consequence of what was happening in industry," said Robertson. "I'm not here today because someone dragged me here to say we should do something for those service providers."
In response, one communications provider who declined to be named was adamant that the catalyst behind Openreach was Ofcom's Strategic Review, in which the regulator warned that it wouldn't tolerate BT hampering competition in the telecoms sector: "BT may think that the formation of Openreach was inevitable but would they really have done it had they not been legally obliged to do so? That's hard to visualise."
The UK Competitive Telecommunications Association (UKCTA), a body made up of several of BT's rivals, agreed that the Strategic Review was crucial.
"BT had three options. Do nothing, which was pretty rapidly discounted; put something like Openreach in place to create the structural separation that Ofcom was looking for; or go down the Enterprise Act route," said Christine Roberts, UKCTA's director of external affairs. An Enterprise Act investigation could have resulted in BT being split into separate companies.
Roberts said that UKCTA will be watching Openreach closely over the next few months to see if it delivers on its promise to create a level playing field for all operators.
"We have got an organisation in place that we can interface with. Now it's down to the detail about how Openreach works with other operators, and other parts of BT," Roberts added.
Robertson also urged his audience of industry representatives and BT staff not to miss the chance to deliver converged services, citing BSkyB's announcement on Tuesday that it will soon start delivering films over broadband as an example of an innovative offering.
"We've been through the Internet bubble, but money is back on the table. We have a great chance to grasp this opportunity, and that's what Openreach is all about... we're not here today because of management bullshit, we're here because that's what's influencing your business plans and changing the world," explained Robertson.
UK lagging on innovation
UK lagging on innovation: "The EU has slated a 'major failure of UK innovation policy' after publishing a Europe-wide league table
"
"
London 2012 to be boon for UK IT
London 2012 to be boon for UK IT: "£7.2bn will be spent on IT systems in the run-up to the London Olympics, according to a report"
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
South Wales school gets £70K LAN
pingwales.co.uk
By Basheera Khan | 6 Jan 2006
Cardiff-based Capital Network Solutions (CNS) has added another string to its bow with the design and installation of an advanced network at a school in Barry, South Wales.
Bryn Hafren Comprehensive's new network was developed from the ground up, incorporates a £10,000 wireless network, and is of a complexity not seen in most small businesses, let alone in schools. The £70,000 investment into the school's IT infrastructure enables a cashless environment, opens up avenues for e-learning, and also allows for closer monitoring of children's attendance and even their diet.
The client's desire for Cisco kit to enable the new network was the deciding factor in the school's selection of CNS as a delivery partner, says business development director, Sarah Edwards. CNS has premier partner status in the networking giant's reseller programme, and is a Cisco-accredited wireless specialist.
CNS rolled the network out over the school's summer closure, having been given a blank slate to begin with after the older network was completely stripped.
The new system at Bryn Hafren Comprehensive brings a number of benefits to teachers and pupils alike.
The latter have been issued with individual key-fobs bearing memory chips that allow for high speed electronic registration every morning.
Monitoring and reporting is built into the system, with unexpected absenteeism triggering an automated text message that is sent to the parent’s mobile phone. Texts are also sent as reminders of parent evenings, and notification of school reports being sent home.
The registration system keeps track of pupils between classrooms as well; if a child goes missing, even within the school premises, teachers and parents are alerted far more rapidly than they would be in any traditional system. Bryn Hafren plans to develop a system where parents can check on their children's whereabouts online, throughout the school day.
The key-fobs are also used in the school’s cashless canteen, powered by an alternative payment system provided by the Lyons Group, and as head teacher Phil Whitcombe explains, it's just the tip of the e-commerce iceberg.
“Parents will be able to go online to allocate money to their child’s account, see what they have been eating and credit money to it for school dinner as well as school trips, so children won’t have to bring in cash or cheques to pay for it.”
CNS says the system marks a real investment in the school’s technological future, as the capacity of the network is as yet nowhere near its full potential.
Pupils will be able to save classwork online and study remotely from home. Teachers issued with laptops can work from any ‘quiet’ corner of the school, or work from home and email lesson materials directly to the school photocopiers and printers.
Edwards comments: “The far reaching benefits of introducing such a cutting edge network are enormous for both teachers and students. The ability to work flexibly, to access information from anywhere within the school or from home, to share resources and use the technology to enhance the whole learning experience for both teachers and pupils cannot be underestimated.”
"The way that staff and pupils have embraced the network and all the capabilities it enables is staggering," she says.
Source here
By Basheera Khan | 6 Jan 2006
Cardiff-based Capital Network Solutions (CNS) has added another string to its bow with the design and installation of an advanced network at a school in Barry, South Wales.
Bryn Hafren Comprehensive's new network was developed from the ground up, incorporates a £10,000 wireless network, and is of a complexity not seen in most small businesses, let alone in schools. The £70,000 investment into the school's IT infrastructure enables a cashless environment, opens up avenues for e-learning, and also allows for closer monitoring of children's attendance and even their diet.
The client's desire for Cisco kit to enable the new network was the deciding factor in the school's selection of CNS as a delivery partner, says business development director, Sarah Edwards. CNS has premier partner status in the networking giant's reseller programme, and is a Cisco-accredited wireless specialist.
CNS rolled the network out over the school's summer closure, having been given a blank slate to begin with after the older network was completely stripped.
The new system at Bryn Hafren Comprehensive brings a number of benefits to teachers and pupils alike.
The latter have been issued with individual key-fobs bearing memory chips that allow for high speed electronic registration every morning.
Monitoring and reporting is built into the system, with unexpected absenteeism triggering an automated text message that is sent to the parent’s mobile phone. Texts are also sent as reminders of parent evenings, and notification of school reports being sent home.
The registration system keeps track of pupils between classrooms as well; if a child goes missing, even within the school premises, teachers and parents are alerted far more rapidly than they would be in any traditional system. Bryn Hafren plans to develop a system where parents can check on their children's whereabouts online, throughout the school day.
The key-fobs are also used in the school’s cashless canteen, powered by an alternative payment system provided by the Lyons Group, and as head teacher Phil Whitcombe explains, it's just the tip of the e-commerce iceberg.
“Parents will be able to go online to allocate money to their child’s account, see what they have been eating and credit money to it for school dinner as well as school trips, so children won’t have to bring in cash or cheques to pay for it.”
CNS says the system marks a real investment in the school’s technological future, as the capacity of the network is as yet nowhere near its full potential.
Pupils will be able to save classwork online and study remotely from home. Teachers issued with laptops can work from any ‘quiet’ corner of the school, or work from home and email lesson materials directly to the school photocopiers and printers.
Edwards comments: “The far reaching benefits of introducing such a cutting edge network are enormous for both teachers and students. The ability to work flexibly, to access information from anywhere within the school or from home, to share resources and use the technology to enhance the whole learning experience for both teachers and pupils cannot be underestimated.”
"The way that staff and pupils have embraced the network and all the capabilities it enables is staggering," she says.
Source here
BT launches access services division
Graeme Wearden
ZDNet UK
January 11, 2006, 12:25 GMT
Openreach may offer the UK its best chance for a generation of a truly fair and competitive telecoms market
BT will launch a new access services division called Openreach on Tuesday, which could bring more competition to Britain's telecoms sector.
Openreach will oversee the maintenance of BT's national telecoms network and the installation of new infrastructure. Although it is still part of BT, it has been fenced off from the rest of the organisation with its own headquarters and staff.
A crucial part of Openreach's role is to give every telecoms service provider fair and equal access to BT's network.
Last year, Ofcom threatened BT with a review under the Enterprise Act, which could have led to the company being split up, unless it took action. BT's response was to offer to create Openreach, which Ofcom accepted as part of a regulatory settlement in September.
Openreach will consist of around 30,000 employees — 25,000 of whom will be engineers — and is being headed up by chief executive Steve Robertson.
Analysts at Ovum met with Robertson last month, and reported that they were impressed with the progress made in the creation of Openreach.
"Some in the industry hope BT's undertakings will enable the industry to reach settlement on the arguments that have characterised the sector for the past 20 years. It is early days, but on the evidence so far, Openreach could be the catalyst around which the industry can achieve this," said Ovum analyst Mike Cansfield.
Source here
ZDNet UK
January 11, 2006, 12:25 GMT
Openreach may offer the UK its best chance for a generation of a truly fair and competitive telecoms market
BT will launch a new access services division called Openreach on Tuesday, which could bring more competition to Britain's telecoms sector.
Openreach will oversee the maintenance of BT's national telecoms network and the installation of new infrastructure. Although it is still part of BT, it has been fenced off from the rest of the organisation with its own headquarters and staff.
A crucial part of Openreach's role is to give every telecoms service provider fair and equal access to BT's network.
Last year, Ofcom threatened BT with a review under the Enterprise Act, which could have led to the company being split up, unless it took action. BT's response was to offer to create Openreach, which Ofcom accepted as part of a regulatory settlement in September.
Openreach will consist of around 30,000 employees — 25,000 of whom will be engineers — and is being headed up by chief executive Steve Robertson.
Analysts at Ovum met with Robertson last month, and reported that they were impressed with the progress made in the creation of Openreach.
"Some in the industry hope BT's undertakings will enable the industry to reach settlement on the arguments that have characterised the sector for the past 20 years. It is early days, but on the evidence so far, Openreach could be the catalyst around which the industry can achieve this," said Ovum analyst Mike Cansfield.
Source here
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Behind the magic curtain
Thursday January 5, 2006
The Guardian
Next week Steve Jobs of Apple will grab media attention with another simple-looking stage show. Mike Evangelist tells the insider secrets of his gruelling preparation
If the chief executive of Cadbury-Schweppes speaks at a conference, or Nike's boss introduces a new kind of trainer, you might expect to see it covered in specialist magazines, then quickly forgotten. But on Tuesday a chief executive will stand up and announce something, and within minutes it will be scrutinised across the web and on stockbrokers' computers. It will be in newspapers. They'll talk about it for months.
That chief executive is Steve Jobs, and I know why that speech makes an impact. To a casual observer it is just a guy in a black shirt and jeans talking about some new technology products. But it is in fact an incredibly complex and sophisticated blend of sales pitch, product demonstration and corporate cheerleading, with a dash of religious revival thrown in for good measure. It represents weeks of work, precise orchestration and intense pressure for the scores of people who collectively make up the "man behind the curtain". I know, because I've been there, first as part of the preparation team and later on stage with Steve.
Source here
Apple Leaps Ahead With Intel-based Computers
InformationWeek - 49 minutes ago
Steve Jobs showed off a retooled iMac with the new Intel Core Duo processor, the MacBook Pro, and upgrades to Apple's consumer content creation suite, iLife '06, and its presentation and productivity package, iWork '06.
Update 11: Apple Unveils New Macs Using Intel Chips Forbes
Apple Shipping New Macs With Intel Chips Today Washington Post
CNET News.com - Apple Insider - BusinessWeek - Pocket-lint.co.uk - all 781 related »
Source here
reuters.com
Apple debuts Intel iMac after record sales
Tue Jan 10, 2006 5:30 PM ET170
By Duncan Martell
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday introduced new Intel-powered desktop and notebook computers and said its wildly popular iPods helped drive a 63 percent jump in holiday quarter sales, sending shares up more than 4 percent.
Chief Executive Steve Jobs said the company sold 14 million iPods music and video players during the holiday quarter and 42 million to date. Speaking at the company's annual Macworld conference in San Francisco, Jobs also said the company's online iTunes store has so far sold 850 million songs.
The strong demand for iPods helped fuel a 63 percent jump in revenue to a record $5.7 billion during the holiday quarter compared with a year earlier, and was near the high end of Wall Street forecasts.
"Apple blew away revenue and iPod estimates," Soleil-Cross research analyst Shannon Cross said.
Jobs also told the packed convention center that Apple could have sold even more of the portable music players. "And it still wasn't enough," Jobs said. "More iPods are on the way."
FAST CURVE
Apple also introduced new computers based on Intel Corp. (INTC.O: Quote, Profile, Research) chips, the first to result from its decision to switch from IBM PowerPC chips it had used for years. Paul Otellini, Intel's CEO, appeared on stage in a bunny suit to help with the introduction.
"We told Paul that we had spent the last decade learning everything there was about PowerPCs and we needed to learn that much about Intel processors in three to four months," Jobs said in an interview.
Said Otellini in the same interview: "The teams had this kind of instant bonding, not just because it was an exciting product, but because both sides love their technology."
Jobs said the company's new line of iMac computers -- two to three times faster than their G5-powered predecessors -- would come in the same shape and sizes as the existing G5 line of iMacs, with starting prices at $1,299.
The new Apple computers are based on Intel Core Duo microchips and are set to begin shipping on Tuesday with the entire Macintosh line moving to Intel chips this year, Jobs said. It also introduced a new high-end laptop called the MacBook Pro that will replace its PowerBook series, starting in February at prices beginning at $1,999. It comes with a remote control and Apple's Front Row technology.
SURGING iPOD SALES
The company also updated its iLife photo and media software as a new version of its suite of digital media editing tools for use in organizing and editing music, photos and movies and Web sites. ILife, which costs $79, also includes the ability to edit high-definition videos.
"Everybody expected to see the Intel notebook computer at Mac World," said Ted Schadler, a technology analyst with Forrester Research. "But people did not expect to see the new iMac."
While the iPod faithful focused on new products, investors and analysts cheered the company's strong holiday quarter.
Wall Street analysts on average were expecting Apple to post revenue for the fiscal first quarter ending in December of $5.04 billion compared with $3.49 billion a year ago, according to Reuters Estimates. Forecasts ranged from $4.69 billion to $5.85 billion.
Jupiter Research digital music analyst Michael Gartenberg said the iPod's strong holiday sales provide more evidence that rivals are having a tough time in their bid to unseat Apple as the dominant player in the digital music business.
"It clearly solidifies their position, not just as the leading player, but the dominant player," he said.
$1 BILLION QUARTER IN RETAIL
Analysts have credited the popularity of the devices with reversing Apple's fortunes and have also said Apple's reemergence in personal computers has hurt the sales of Dell Inc. (DELL.O: Quote, Profile, Research)
Apple sold 1.25 million of its Macintosh computers during the holiday quarter when sales at its retail stores were about $1 billion, Jobs said during his keynote.
Meanwhile, despite a decades-old rivalry with Apple, Microsoft said on Tuesday it would continue to supply versions of its Office suite of business productivity software to run on Apple Macintosh products. Microsoft is the biggest outside provider of software to Apple.
Apple shares rose $4.81, or 6.3 percent, to close at $80.86 on Nasdaq. Shares of Intel fell 35 cents, or 1.3 percent, to close at $26.12, also on Nasdaq.
The stock also trades at 46 times projected fiscal 2006 earnings, compared with 54 times for shares of Google, another high-flying company, and with 17 times projected earnings for Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ.N: Quote, Profile, Research)
Source here
The Guardian
Next week Steve Jobs of Apple will grab media attention with another simple-looking stage show. Mike Evangelist tells the insider secrets of his gruelling preparation
If the chief executive of Cadbury-Schweppes speaks at a conference, or Nike's boss introduces a new kind of trainer, you might expect to see it covered in specialist magazines, then quickly forgotten. But on Tuesday a chief executive will stand up and announce something, and within minutes it will be scrutinised across the web and on stockbrokers' computers. It will be in newspapers. They'll talk about it for months.
That chief executive is Steve Jobs, and I know why that speech makes an impact. To a casual observer it is just a guy in a black shirt and jeans talking about some new technology products. But it is in fact an incredibly complex and sophisticated blend of sales pitch, product demonstration and corporate cheerleading, with a dash of religious revival thrown in for good measure. It represents weeks of work, precise orchestration and intense pressure for the scores of people who collectively make up the "man behind the curtain". I know, because I've been there, first as part of the preparation team and later on stage with Steve.
Source here
Apple Leaps Ahead With Intel-based Computers
InformationWeek - 49 minutes ago
Steve Jobs showed off a retooled iMac with the new Intel Core Duo processor, the MacBook Pro, and upgrades to Apple's consumer content creation suite, iLife '06, and its presentation and productivity package, iWork '06.
Update 11: Apple Unveils New Macs Using Intel Chips Forbes
Apple Shipping New Macs With Intel Chips Today Washington Post
CNET News.com - Apple Insider - BusinessWeek - Pocket-lint.co.uk - all 781 related »
Source here
reuters.com
Apple debuts Intel iMac after record sales
Tue Jan 10, 2006 5:30 PM ET170
By Duncan Martell
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday introduced new Intel-powered desktop and notebook computers and said its wildly popular iPods helped drive a 63 percent jump in holiday quarter sales, sending shares up more than 4 percent.
Chief Executive Steve Jobs said the company sold 14 million iPods music and video players during the holiday quarter and 42 million to date. Speaking at the company's annual Macworld conference in San Francisco, Jobs also said the company's online iTunes store has so far sold 850 million songs.
The strong demand for iPods helped fuel a 63 percent jump in revenue to a record $5.7 billion during the holiday quarter compared with a year earlier, and was near the high end of Wall Street forecasts.
"Apple blew away revenue and iPod estimates," Soleil-Cross research analyst Shannon Cross said.
Jobs also told the packed convention center that Apple could have sold even more of the portable music players. "And it still wasn't enough," Jobs said. "More iPods are on the way."
FAST CURVE
Apple also introduced new computers based on Intel Corp. (INTC.O: Quote, Profile, Research) chips, the first to result from its decision to switch from IBM PowerPC chips it had used for years. Paul Otellini, Intel's CEO, appeared on stage in a bunny suit to help with the introduction.
"We told Paul that we had spent the last decade learning everything there was about PowerPCs and we needed to learn that much about Intel processors in three to four months," Jobs said in an interview.
Said Otellini in the same interview: "The teams had this kind of instant bonding, not just because it was an exciting product, but because both sides love their technology."
Jobs said the company's new line of iMac computers -- two to three times faster than their G5-powered predecessors -- would come in the same shape and sizes as the existing G5 line of iMacs, with starting prices at $1,299.
The new Apple computers are based on Intel Core Duo microchips and are set to begin shipping on Tuesday with the entire Macintosh line moving to Intel chips this year, Jobs said. It also introduced a new high-end laptop called the MacBook Pro that will replace its PowerBook series, starting in February at prices beginning at $1,999. It comes with a remote control and Apple's Front Row technology.
SURGING iPOD SALES
The company also updated its iLife photo and media software as a new version of its suite of digital media editing tools for use in organizing and editing music, photos and movies and Web sites. ILife, which costs $79, also includes the ability to edit high-definition videos.
"Everybody expected to see the Intel notebook computer at Mac World," said Ted Schadler, a technology analyst with Forrester Research. "But people did not expect to see the new iMac."
While the iPod faithful focused on new products, investors and analysts cheered the company's strong holiday quarter.
Wall Street analysts on average were expecting Apple to post revenue for the fiscal first quarter ending in December of $5.04 billion compared with $3.49 billion a year ago, according to Reuters Estimates. Forecasts ranged from $4.69 billion to $5.85 billion.
Jupiter Research digital music analyst Michael Gartenberg said the iPod's strong holiday sales provide more evidence that rivals are having a tough time in their bid to unseat Apple as the dominant player in the digital music business.
"It clearly solidifies their position, not just as the leading player, but the dominant player," he said.
$1 BILLION QUARTER IN RETAIL
Analysts have credited the popularity of the devices with reversing Apple's fortunes and have also said Apple's reemergence in personal computers has hurt the sales of Dell Inc. (DELL.O: Quote, Profile, Research)
Apple sold 1.25 million of its Macintosh computers during the holiday quarter when sales at its retail stores were about $1 billion, Jobs said during his keynote.
Meanwhile, despite a decades-old rivalry with Apple, Microsoft said on Tuesday it would continue to supply versions of its Office suite of business productivity software to run on Apple Macintosh products. Microsoft is the biggest outside provider of software to Apple.
Apple shares rose $4.81, or 6.3 percent, to close at $80.86 on Nasdaq. Shares of Intel fell 35 cents, or 1.3 percent, to close at $26.12, also on Nasdaq.
The stock also trades at 46 times projected fiscal 2006 earnings, compared with 54 times for shares of Google, another high-flying company, and with 17 times projected earnings for Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ.N: Quote, Profile, Research)
Source here
Digital revolution leaving Scotland behind
sundayherald.com
11 December 2005
By Senay Boztas
THE director of Ofcom Scotland will issue a call for the Scottish Executive to improve the country’s media literacy, digital television and broadband access .
At a debate tomorrow in the Centre for Cultural Policy Research at Glasgow University, Vicki Nash will point out that Scotland is behind in the broadcasting revolution – and it is down to the Executive to ensure it catches up.
She told the Sunday Herald: “It is self-evident that Scotland has less access than England, and access to digital radio is not as good as the rest of the UK.
“In dense urban areas such as London there will be a choice of two or three broadband providers, but Scotland is not so well placed.
“The Executive has always said that broadcasting services are a reserved matter , but they have so many points of influence that impact on broadcasting: media literacy, economic development, how Scotland is placed in the digital revolution. It is related.”
She said Ofcom had established a relationship with the Executive to discuss matters such as media literacy and the telecoms industry, and urged ministers to keep these high on the agenda.
The seminar on public service broadcasting and culture in Scotland will be led by Professor Philip Schlesinger, director of the Stirling Media Research Institute at the University of Stirling, with contributions from senior executives at the BBC and Scottish TV.
According to Nash, future opportunities will be linked to the development of the internet, including increased local broadcasting, and more channel space with the switch to digital television.
Source here
11 December 2005
By Senay Boztas
THE director of Ofcom Scotland will issue a call for the Scottish Executive to improve the country’s media literacy, digital television and broadband access .
At a debate tomorrow in the Centre for Cultural Policy Research at Glasgow University, Vicki Nash will point out that Scotland is behind in the broadcasting revolution – and it is down to the Executive to ensure it catches up.
She told the Sunday Herald: “It is self-evident that Scotland has less access than England, and access to digital radio is not as good as the rest of the UK.
“In dense urban areas such as London there will be a choice of two or three broadband providers, but Scotland is not so well placed.
“The Executive has always said that broadcasting services are a reserved matter , but they have so many points of influence that impact on broadcasting: media literacy, economic development, how Scotland is placed in the digital revolution. It is related.”
She said Ofcom had established a relationship with the Executive to discuss matters such as media literacy and the telecoms industry, and urged ministers to keep these high on the agenda.
The seminar on public service broadcasting and culture in Scotland will be led by Professor Philip Schlesinger, director of the Stirling Media Research Institute at the University of Stirling, with contributions from senior executives at the BBC and Scottish TV.
According to Nash, future opportunities will be linked to the development of the internet, including increased local broadcasting, and more channel space with the switch to digital television.
Source here
Scottish Parliament/ Broadband
Broadbandforscotland.co.uk
here
hie.co.uk
100 per cent community access to broadband achieved
10 January 2006
The commitment by the Scottish Executive to roll out broadband to every community by the end of 2005 has now been fulfilled they say.
As 2006 gets underway, a total of 378 remote and rural telephone exchange areas now have access to affordable broadband services.
Hailing the success of the joint Scottish Executive/BT project, Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen said that the business and educational benefits of broadband coverage to every community are far-reaching. He commented: “Scotland's future economic prosperity depends on our having fast, reliable connections to worldwide communications networks.
“Broadband can make a real difference to businesses, particularly for those in rural areas. It helps them become more efficient, promote their products and services and break into new national and global markets. It is also an important training and educational tool.”
General Manager at BT Scotland, Brendan Dick added: “To bring broadband to 378 exchange areas in just eight months is a great engineering achievement.
“The completion of this project is a significant milestone in the delivery and exploitation of broadband enabled communications for Scotland.”
Indeed, the rural broadband roll out in Scotland is to date the largest project of its kind in the UK and funded as part of the Executive's £24 million broadband initiative for Scotland.
The project also received financial support of up to £5 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme in Scotland. It was run in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Scottish Enterprise.
A contract was signed with BT in April 2005 following an open procurement exercise. This was to provide access to ADSL broadband in 378 telephone exchanges in rural and remote Scotland for which there were no plans for commercial services. This accounts for one-third of all Scottish exchanges. Only one of these exchanges is still to be fully enabled - in Foula in the Shetland Isles. However, an interim broadband solution is already providing broadband access in that area.
The Executive's commitment was to deliver broadband to every community in Scotland by the end of 2005. For the purpose of defining 'community', the Executive used 'census output areas' (COAs) which are the smallest building blocks for the higher order definitions of communities within the census. A typical COA will contain around 50 households. There are 1,615 COAs in the Executive's project. Several COAs - representing just 0.3 per cent of the total covered by the project - currently have no coverage, but these will be provided with broadband access by spring.
There are also 21 (non-commercial) exchange areas in the Western Isles, covered by a separate project called Connected Communities, led by HIE. This largely wireless network has launched services in the majority of these areas - see www.hebrides.net - with the remainder expected to receive access in the next few months.
There may be some instances where households who live distant from their exchange cannot access broadband, because of the technical limitations of ADSL (copper) technology. This 'out of reach' issue is UK-wide. Whilst the Executive is not committed to providing broadband to every household, it has however been working to identify any clusters of 'out of reach' households in Scotland where there is a demand for broadband. The Executive is developing the next steps for providing solutions to these 'clusters' over 2006, subject to criteria, including budget and value for money.
Source here
+ Related
bbc.co.uk
Last Updated: Thursday, 29 December 2005, 12:39 GMT
Communities get broadband access
A project which aimed to give every community in Scotland access to broadband services has been completed, ministers have announced.
Over the last eight months some 378 remote and rural telephone exchanges - a third of the Scottish total - have been upgraded.
The Scottish Executive said the scheme would bring "far-reaching" business and educational benefits.
The project is part of the executive's £24m broadband initiative.
It was run in partnership with BT, which said it was "a great engineering achievement" to bring broadband to so many exchanges in such a short period of time.
Broadband can make a real difference to businesses, particularly for those in rural areas
Nicol Stephen
Deputy First Minister
"The completion of this project is a significant milestone in the delivery and exploitation of broadband-enabled communications for Scotland," said BT Scotland general manager Brendan Dick.
Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen said it was "very good news" that the executive had met its broadband commitment.
"Scotland's future economic prosperity depends on our having fast, reliable connections to worldwide communications networks," he said.
"Broadband can make a real difference to businesses, particularly for those in rural areas.
Interim solution
"It helps them become more efficient, promote their products and services and break into new national and global markets. It is also an important training and educational tool."
The scheme brought broadband to exchanges where there were no plans for commercial services.
The only one which has still to be fully enabled serves Foula in Shetland, although an interim solution is already providing broadband access in the area.
The exchanges serving the Western Isles are covered by a separate project being led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Out of reach
Services have been launched in most of its areas, with the remainder due to come on stream within the next few months.
The executive said some people who live far away from the exchanges were unable to access broadband due to the limitations of ADSL technology.
"While the executive is not committed to providing broadband to every household, it has however been working to identify any clusters of 'out of reach' households in Scotland where there is a demand for broadband," said a spokesman.
"The executive is developing the next steps for providing solutions to these 'clusters' over 2006, subject to criteria, including budget and value for money."
Source here
Scottish Parliament
Committee News Release
CENT 02/2004
20 May 2004
ENTERPRISE COMMITTEE LOOKS TO SCOTLAND ’S BROADBAND FUTURE
The Enterprise and Culture Committee published their latest report on the state of “broadband Scotland ”. The Committee welcomed the Executive’s contribution to the widespread roll-out of high-speed internet access, but are calling for the target to be increased to 100% coverage. This was a key recommendation in a 2001 broadband report to Parliament.
The Executive’s target was for 70% of the country to have access to broadband by March 2004, and the Committee’s research shows that actual figure is now around 80%. The latest plans also show a target of 95% coverage to be achieved by summer 2005, but the Committee was critical of the fact that uncertainty remains about how and when the final 5% of the population will have access to broadband.
Members were impressed by the work of local community groups in pressurising for broadband connections, and concluded that policy must now focus on encouraging usage of broadband across the country, and set targets for that take-up.
The report also highlights problems with the Executive’s ‘Pathfinder’ projects. These were set up in 2001 to use the power of the public purse to speed up access to broadband, but are still, disappointingly, only at the procurement stage.
Committee Convener Alasdair Morgan said:
“The rate of growth in access to broadband since 2001 has been impressive, and both business and the Executive can take credit for that.
“However, the Executive should now go the final mile, and aim to achieve the same level of near 100% coverage for broadband that is currently provided for other basic public services like electricity and water. This will mean that the 5% of Scots living and working in more remote areas aren’t left behind. Universal access to broadband must be a crucial part of our approach to both competitiveness and social inclusion.”
Deputy Convener Mike Watson MSP added:
“The next big challenge will be to increase take-up. The Executive’s focus must shift towards helping businesses, particularly small businesses, to see how broadband can benefit their bottom-line.
“Broadband also opens up massive potential for public information and public services to be provided online. It is essential that access to these services be made available throughout Scotland .”
The Committee’s report builds on the ‘Report on the Inquiry into the Impact of the New Economy’ published by the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee in the first session of the Parliament.
The full report is available online (- Vol 1 Report here and Vol 2 Evidence here).
(...)
Source here
here
hie.co.uk
100 per cent community access to broadband achieved
10 January 2006
The commitment by the Scottish Executive to roll out broadband to every community by the end of 2005 has now been fulfilled they say.
As 2006 gets underway, a total of 378 remote and rural telephone exchange areas now have access to affordable broadband services.
Hailing the success of the joint Scottish Executive/BT project, Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen said that the business and educational benefits of broadband coverage to every community are far-reaching. He commented: “Scotland's future economic prosperity depends on our having fast, reliable connections to worldwide communications networks.
“Broadband can make a real difference to businesses, particularly for those in rural areas. It helps them become more efficient, promote their products and services and break into new national and global markets. It is also an important training and educational tool.”
General Manager at BT Scotland, Brendan Dick added: “To bring broadband to 378 exchange areas in just eight months is a great engineering achievement.
“The completion of this project is a significant milestone in the delivery and exploitation of broadband enabled communications for Scotland.”
Indeed, the rural broadband roll out in Scotland is to date the largest project of its kind in the UK and funded as part of the Executive's £24 million broadband initiative for Scotland.
The project also received financial support of up to £5 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme in Scotland. It was run in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Scottish Enterprise.
A contract was signed with BT in April 2005 following an open procurement exercise. This was to provide access to ADSL broadband in 378 telephone exchanges in rural and remote Scotland for which there were no plans for commercial services. This accounts for one-third of all Scottish exchanges. Only one of these exchanges is still to be fully enabled - in Foula in the Shetland Isles. However, an interim broadband solution is already providing broadband access in that area.
The Executive's commitment was to deliver broadband to every community in Scotland by the end of 2005. For the purpose of defining 'community', the Executive used 'census output areas' (COAs) which are the smallest building blocks for the higher order definitions of communities within the census. A typical COA will contain around 50 households. There are 1,615 COAs in the Executive's project. Several COAs - representing just 0.3 per cent of the total covered by the project - currently have no coverage, but these will be provided with broadband access by spring.
There are also 21 (non-commercial) exchange areas in the Western Isles, covered by a separate project called Connected Communities, led by HIE. This largely wireless network has launched services in the majority of these areas - see www.hebrides.net - with the remainder expected to receive access in the next few months.
There may be some instances where households who live distant from their exchange cannot access broadband, because of the technical limitations of ADSL (copper) technology. This 'out of reach' issue is UK-wide. Whilst the Executive is not committed to providing broadband to every household, it has however been working to identify any clusters of 'out of reach' households in Scotland where there is a demand for broadband. The Executive is developing the next steps for providing solutions to these 'clusters' over 2006, subject to criteria, including budget and value for money.
Source here
+ Related
bbc.co.uk
Last Updated: Thursday, 29 December 2005, 12:39 GMT
Communities get broadband access
A project which aimed to give every community in Scotland access to broadband services has been completed, ministers have announced.
Over the last eight months some 378 remote and rural telephone exchanges - a third of the Scottish total - have been upgraded.
The Scottish Executive said the scheme would bring "far-reaching" business and educational benefits.
The project is part of the executive's £24m broadband initiative.
It was run in partnership with BT, which said it was "a great engineering achievement" to bring broadband to so many exchanges in such a short period of time.
Broadband can make a real difference to businesses, particularly for those in rural areas
Nicol Stephen
Deputy First Minister
"The completion of this project is a significant milestone in the delivery and exploitation of broadband-enabled communications for Scotland," said BT Scotland general manager Brendan Dick.
Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen said it was "very good news" that the executive had met its broadband commitment.
"Scotland's future economic prosperity depends on our having fast, reliable connections to worldwide communications networks," he said.
"Broadband can make a real difference to businesses, particularly for those in rural areas.
Interim solution
"It helps them become more efficient, promote their products and services and break into new national and global markets. It is also an important training and educational tool."
The scheme brought broadband to exchanges where there were no plans for commercial services.
The only one which has still to be fully enabled serves Foula in Shetland, although an interim solution is already providing broadband access in the area.
The exchanges serving the Western Isles are covered by a separate project being led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Out of reach
Services have been launched in most of its areas, with the remainder due to come on stream within the next few months.
The executive said some people who live far away from the exchanges were unable to access broadband due to the limitations of ADSL technology.
"While the executive is not committed to providing broadband to every household, it has however been working to identify any clusters of 'out of reach' households in Scotland where there is a demand for broadband," said a spokesman.
"The executive is developing the next steps for providing solutions to these 'clusters' over 2006, subject to criteria, including budget and value for money."
Source here
Scottish Parliament
Committee News Release
CENT 02/2004
20 May 2004
ENTERPRISE COMMITTEE LOOKS TO SCOTLAND ’S BROADBAND FUTURE
The Enterprise and Culture Committee published their latest report on the state of “broadband Scotland ”. The Committee welcomed the Executive’s contribution to the widespread roll-out of high-speed internet access, but are calling for the target to be increased to 100% coverage. This was a key recommendation in a 2001 broadband report to Parliament.
The Executive’s target was for 70% of the country to have access to broadband by March 2004, and the Committee’s research shows that actual figure is now around 80%. The latest plans also show a target of 95% coverage to be achieved by summer 2005, but the Committee was critical of the fact that uncertainty remains about how and when the final 5% of the population will have access to broadband.
Members were impressed by the work of local community groups in pressurising for broadband connections, and concluded that policy must now focus on encouraging usage of broadband across the country, and set targets for that take-up.
The report also highlights problems with the Executive’s ‘Pathfinder’ projects. These were set up in 2001 to use the power of the public purse to speed up access to broadband, but are still, disappointingly, only at the procurement stage.
Committee Convener Alasdair Morgan said:
“The rate of growth in access to broadband since 2001 has been impressive, and both business and the Executive can take credit for that.
“However, the Executive should now go the final mile, and aim to achieve the same level of near 100% coverage for broadband that is currently provided for other basic public services like electricity and water. This will mean that the 5% of Scots living and working in more remote areas aren’t left behind. Universal access to broadband must be a crucial part of our approach to both competitiveness and social inclusion.”
Deputy Convener Mike Watson MSP added:
“The next big challenge will be to increase take-up. The Executive’s focus must shift towards helping businesses, particularly small businesses, to see how broadband can benefit their bottom-line.
“Broadband also opens up massive potential for public information and public services to be provided online. It is essential that access to these services be made available throughout Scotland .”
The Committee’s report builds on the ‘Report on the Inquiry into the Impact of the New Economy’ published by the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee in the first session of the Parliament.
The full report is available online (- Vol 1 Report here and Vol 2 Evidence here).
(...)
Source here
Broadband/ Scottish Executive
scotsman.com
Our broadband promise is met, says Executive
NEARLY 400 telephone exchanges in rural Scotland have been converted to broadband, with the result - says Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen - that the Executive has now met a commitment to provide affordable broadband to every community in Scotland.
Source here
Our broadband promise is met, says Executive
NEARLY 400 telephone exchanges in rural Scotland have been converted to broadband, with the result - says Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen - that the Executive has now met a commitment to provide affordable broadband to every community in Scotland.
Source here
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