Jul
28
2010
Technology News By Parul Sharma | No comments yet

Ask.com brings new site on Q&A -based queries increases competition

The search engine Ask.com is currently placed fourth in terms of market share has come up with new solution to reclaim its popularity and move up in charts. The site has brought about a new site that will focus on the question-answer based queries rather than relying solely on the web as is seen till now.

The site plans to combine the internet search with interactive features to customize the user’s searcher and make them more appealing. The site is not new to such question answer based searches as it had begun its operation with a similar approach. The site is only going back to its roots to gain on its popularity back. The feature has been very smartly incorporated by the site directly in its search engine.

The working of this new feature will be very simple and as much same as the one users are used to seeing on a search engine. The query of the users will be typed on the home page and as before the ‘search’ button needs to be clicked. The site will return the web searches on the topic along with the ‘ask the community’ button too for further assistance.

This link allows you to get the exact answers you have been looking for by listing a series of keywords to help the system categorize the query. Ask.com actually routes ones questions to other users who have indicated that they’re experts in the areas to which the query belongs.

However the picture presented by the site is in real not very rosy. The feature suffers from man flaws that can’t be overlooked. When scrutinized for the actual performance of the feature it was found that most recent queries had zero to four responses, which is not very impressive. Ask.com’s new community answer feature suffers from the problem that  not many have signed up for it as yet so the number of answers is sure to increase as the service opens up further and more people come forward to ask queries and others to solve them as well. As per the site, only about 13,000 people are signed up so far, which is a very small number.

The big question of this hour is that whether this new strategy of the site is good enough to pull ardent Google fans towards it.

Jul
28
2010
Technology News By Parul Sharma | No comments yet

Intel replaces copper wire with light for data transfer

In an announcement on Tuesday Intel announced that it has developed a new prototype interconnect that will use light instead of the conventional copper wires for data transfer in computers. The interconnect will be capable of transferring at a speed of 50 gigabits per second. As per the researchers the entire movie can be transferred in just a matter of a second with the use of the prototype. The technology is built on silicon photonics technology.

The data can be transferred at longer distances with the technology rather than the previous used technologies like electrons. The new technology was particularly necessary as the data transfer with copper wires were reaching its limits. As the amount of data to be transferred is ever increasing and that too at greater speeds the copper wires were posing a challenge for the same.  Its even difficult to get the transfer done for long distances if the speed is met with the wires.

Intel’s chief technology officer Justin Rattner discussing the importance of the technology that Optical interconnects solve that problem by allowing data transfers at much faster rates approx 10Gbps and over longer distances. He added “Photonics gives us the ability to move those mass quantities of data across the room… in a cost-effective matter.” The technology has the potential of reaching up to terabit range.

The optical technology will be an answer in the PCs or even handheld devices. A similar technology is already seen in devices such as DVD players, and also for applications such as long-distance communication. At first the technology will not be integrated into CPUs but will be used as an optical data link between devices.

The next target is to build an entire manufacturing process for the technology to be used in bigger way. A cost of a dollar per optical port is what the company is aiming to take the technology.

The official added “Once we’re confident that we have a high-volume manufacturing process in our hands, then we’ll turn to the business perspective: what markets are attractive to Intel, what markets do we need partners to satisfy.”

Jul
28
2010
Gaming, Technology News By Parul Sharma | No comments yet

GameStop all set to buy the online gaming site Kongregate

The corporate unit of GameStop made the official announcement of the deal in a press release. The amount of the deal is yet to be declared but it has been announced on Kongregate’s blog also.
The CEO and co-founder of Kongregate Jim Greer said to its users, ”the offer by GameStop was one among the many but that GameStop’s was the best fit for the site because of the degree to which they get what we are doing and value it for what it is.”
Greer also talked about an PwerUp rewards program by GameStop which will be offering in-game bonuses and savings for both the free and the paid subscribers. Greer also said “We have always wanted to give people some kind of tangible rewards for the achievements and rewards they earn on Kongregate and GameStop has a great way of doing it. To date,l our company‘s unique DNA has given more than 8,500 game developers the tools mane their game social, reach a huge audience and make money from over 30,000 innovative games.” Greer also added that the site will continue to offer frre games or host to independent developers and said that the deal with a bigger company will help in expanding its resources. Greer further said that the current five on staff programmers will also be  increased in number.
The site is surely expected to develop and offer better features in coming days but lets see what actual ways the company’s association makes to the site.

The corporate unit of GameStop made the official announcement of the deal in a press release. The amount of the deal is yet to be declared but it has been announced on Kongregate’s blog also.
The CEO and co-founder of Kongregate Jim Greer said to its users, ”the offer by GameStop was one among the many but that GameStop’s was the best fit for the site because of the degree to which they get what we are doing and value it for what it is.”
Greer also talked about an PwerUp rewards program by GameStop which will be offering in-game bonuses and savings for both the free and the paid subscribers. Greer also said “We have always wanted to give people some kind of tangible rewards for the achievements and rewards they earn on Kongregate and GameStop has a great way of doing it. To date,l our company‘s unique DNA has given more than 8,500 game developers the tools mane their game social, reach a huge audience and make money from over 30,000 innovative games.” Greer also added that the site will continue to offer frre games or host to independent developers and said that the deal with a bigger company will help in expanding its resources. Greer further said that the current five on staff programmers will also be  increased in number.
The site is surely expected to develop and offer better features in coming days but lets see what actual ways the company’s association makes to the site.

Jul
28
2010
U.S. By Hema Manchanda | No comments yet

Oil spill in Louisiana, Southern U.S. region

U.S. record oil spill in Louisiana: A boat smashed into an oil well in Louisiana (southern U.S.), provoking a new oil spill in the region, said the coast guard said Tuesday. However, the Coast Guard has seen a thin layer of oil on the surface.

“There are gas and water vapor that rise to the surface,” plus a small amount of oil, said Admiral Thad Allen, entrusted by the government to fight the oil slick caused by BP.A team of coastguards and a helicopter from New Orleans with an inspector of contamination were sent to the site.

The well is located 104 km south of New Orleans, was damaged after colliding with the boat “Captain Buford, which was towed by the” Pere Ana C “, completed the authorities, endorsing the incident has nothing to do with the platform’s “Deepwater Horizon,” Britain’s BP, which caused the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history.
Witnesses said they saw the oil leak at 6 feet tall from the base of the well – installed two meters below the water .

Jul
28
2010
Technology News By Parul Sharma | No comments yet

Google apps approved by the United States government

On the morning of 27th July 2010, Google announced a new version of its Google Apps that is certified by the US government at a press event organized at its headquarters. The Google app have qualified for the FISMA-Moderate rating. That makes it suitable for use with data that’s sensitive but unclassified and it comes when the apps have been found to meet all security criteria of the US government. The certification was given to Google on July 22nd.

Google announced this news on its official blog as the Google app has become “the first suite of cloud computing applications to receive Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) certification and accreditation from the U.S. government.”

The version suitable for the government work is an upgraded version of Google Apps Premier Edition and it comes with all the core apps provided by the company. Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Sites and Video are the apps Google currently offers for government use and charges US$50 per user per year for the same.

Google went on to elaborate the benefits and usefulness of cloud computing. Google enumerated that the companies pay only for what they use without worrying about maintaining servers besides getting new features automatically, and can access services from any device. The service also comes with best security features.

The new certification for the Google apps will bring it into use for the small and medium businesses and with the government seal of approval Google’s other cloud-based solutions will also benefit.

FISMA is basically, Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002, as per the act the federal agency develops and documents as well as undertakes the implementation of an programs that will eventually provide security for the data and the information systems that support its operations and assets. Such systems also include the ones that are provided or managed by another agency, contractor or other source; and here is where Google steps in.

It is mandatory in the act that the agency’s program officials, chief information officers, and inspectors general will review agencies’ information security annually and report the results to the Office of Management and Budget.

The certification did not come easy. For this Google had to make changes in its security controls. The data secured in the site will now be stored in the servers in US only and only the US citizens who have the required authority and with due permission can access that data.

Microsoft is pursuing similar certification for its Web-based Exchange messaging services. This will again bring the two technology giants against each other yet again once Microsoft clears the hurdle.

However, it is important to add that the FISMA certification does not include classified information and before embracing any such services proper analysis of the security controls in place and whether or not they are sufficient to comply with any applicable requirements need to be done.

Jul
28
2010
Technology News By Parul Sharma | No comments yet

Google Maps for Android 4.4 with ‘Places icon’

In a move that will make the Android phones more appealing to the users Google has launched the Google Maps for Android 4.4. The 26th July launch makes it all the more easier for people to find places near by to their places and to choose a particular location f their choice from Google Maps Places page by adding a new icon as the ‘Places icon’ to it.

The app comes as very good news for travelers and is especially handy when we land in an unfamiliar place looking for directions to our places of need. The app will be useful in finding any type of local business for us at any place whenever we want such as a restaurant, shoe store or movie theater, coffee shops, bars, hotels, and gas stations and many.

On use of the app one can easily get a detailed list of all the options available for us and users can tap on a listing to learn more about it on its Place Page. The page can also be customized by adding our own categories for frequent searches. We can also get the answers for any of our queries for better details by using the search bar at the top to either type or speak our query. Besides the places we can also help ourselves with the prices, parking and menu links in addition to photos and reviews of the places like a restaurant.

Place Pages for Google’s mobile app have been totally revamped and shows great improvement over the previous versions.

The Place Page and search result updates are coming soon for BlackBerry users, but as of now it is available only for devices running Android 1.6 or higher versions.  Much of the information to be displayed in the search result is aggregated from Internet sources like Zagat, Yelp, and Urbanspoon.

The app can be easily bought from the Android market by Google to get working with all the searches about the places nearby or upgraded to this version if you already have if.

Google has continued to invest a lot of technical resources to improve Android’s map software to provide navigation at no cost. The results are showing and will boost Google’s location-sensitive advertising as well.

Apple in is process of bringing a similar feature to their iPhone 4 as well and we may hear of it very soon.

Jul
28
2010
U.S. By Hema Manchanda | No comments yet

Black to remain in the United States to appear again

A new development in the lawsuit against Conrad Black could delay his return to Canada, according to an expert in legal circles. A US appeals court has ordered lawyers to submit written arguments on the Prosecution and defense former media baron to appear before a judge in Chicago about his financial situation.

According to the expert in crime Administrative Jacob Frenkel, the fact that the written submissions must be submitted on August 16 suggesting that the case is progressing at a significant pace.

That is to say that Mr. Frenkel Judge Amy St. Eve – who presided over the original trial of Black for fraud and obstructing justice – will likely require Black to remain in the United States to appear again as soon as possible.
The appeals court of the 7th Circuit of the United States has a prescription to Black’s bail after the Supreme Court of the United States had limited the scope of the statute under which Black has been convicted of fraud.

The highest U.S. court did not exempt Black as such, but the fraud charges against him should be reassessed by another court.

Jul
28
2010
Technology News By Parul Sharma | No comments yet

Apple brings Magic Trackpad at $69 with battery charger at $29

In an announcement this morning Apple has launched two new products while it has upgraded two more. The devices that were brought out today are the upgraded iMac and Mac Pro desktop computers, a multi-touch trackpad and a Cinema Display.

Firstly, lets come to the iMacs, these all in one device can be made your at a price of $1,199. The latest upgraded version brings us faster Intel microprocessors i3, i5 and i7 along with much improved graphic chips. There are two screen options of 21.5 inches and 27-inches at $1,699.

But the star of the show is the Magic track pad that is the new device that is unveiled today. The device is available for retails at $69. This new technology will let users to employ the same gestures available to those using its laptops and are all supported in the latest versions of the Mac iOS version 10.6.4. The device would run on two AA batteries; can be configured for single or two buttons commands and connect wirelessly to the computer via Bluetooth and does feature quite similar as seen on the iPhone devices. The gestures that the user will be able to accomplish are pinch and spread to adjust size, rotating, and swiping on the screen. Apple has confirmed that the device is similar to the trackpad on the MacBook Pro , the only difference being the size. The device is 5.17 inches long by 5.12 inches wide in dimensions.

Along with all the hardware the company also launched a battery charger for the Magic Trackpad, Magic Mouse and Apple’s wireless keyboard. The charger that will cost you $29 comes with six AA NiMH reusable and ready to use batteries. Describing them Apple has said “The reusable batteries are exceptional at holding a charge and last for up to 10 years.”

Also unveiled was a 27-inch LED Cinema Display with 2,560-by-1,440 resolution and 60 percent more “screen real estate” than Apple’s previous 24-inch LED Cinema Display, the company said. The new display costs $999 and will be available in September. This is the first upgrades into the range of the iMac and LED Cinema Display lineup since last fall.

The new iMacs and Magic Trackpad are available in the markets immediately for purchase. Apple built itself on the Mac desktop and that brought it all the revenues before the huge success of its other devices like the iPhone but the business has become one of the company’s smallest lines. With the latest releases, Apple seems to be making its way back in this arena with a greater gusto.

Jul
28
2010
Science News By Parul Sharma | No comments yet

Russians astronauts complete six hours of space walk

Two of the astronauts at the ISS successfully completed a spacewalk that officially started on Tuesday at 12:11 a.m. EDT (0411 GMT). The tour outside the space station in the wee hours of the morning was undertaken to replace a video camera and to improve a cable connection to a new module to the station to enable it to park at the station. The astronauts were from mission that was named as Expedition 24 saw a space flight that lasted six hours.

The walk was completed by flight engineers Fyodor Yurchikhin and Mikhail Kornienko among the total six crew members of the mission. During the time this spacewalk the other members were working on other maintenance activities that were required in the space station. Their spacewalk was a little delayed and began about half an hour beyond the scheduled time.

In a press briefing NASA’s Expedition 24 spacewalk flight director, Chris Edelen.said “The crew is going to replace a degraded video camera at the aft end of the Zvezda module and replace it with a new one that was recently delivered to the station. The video camera currently on orbit has numerous bad pixels resulting in degraded picture quality.”

The two purposes of the spacewalk were successfully completed. Firstly, a broken camera was replaced with a new camera that was recently delivered to the station. The camera is very essential in tracking the European Automated Transfer Vehicles or in other words the unmanned cargo ships that are used to transfer supplies to the station. The broken camera will be removed with a ratchet and finally replaced with a new one. Then after dealing with the camera problem, the astronauts will then get busy in connecting the $200 million room was delivered to the station in May by the visiting space shuttle Atlantis.

This task will be accomplished by connecting a series of cables. The first of the cables will link the module with Russian Command and Data Handling computers. Another set of cords will connect Rassvet with the station’s Kurs automated docking system to allow incoming vehicles to automatically connect with Rassvet’s docking port. After all the work the hardware debris will be jettisoned into space. From here the orbiting space junk will eventually loose altitude and enter the Earth’s atmosphere after about 120 days, the junk will then burn up in the atmosphere itself due to friction.

Jul
27
2010
Science News, Technology News By Parul Sharma | No comments yet

Thief got unlucky: Stole iPhone on test for GPS tracker

According to the crime statistics, iPhones are one of the most commonly stolen mobile devices but, for 31 year old thief Horatio Toure, stealing an iPhone during the demonstration of the new tracking software turned out to be a flop show. The company had given the device to one of its employee for real time testing of the new tracking application of the phone.
In San Francisco, the  CEO David Kahn was providing a demo on his latest software, Alert and Respond. To simulate how it worked in real life situations, he asked Jordan Sturm, assistant to the CEO to take his phone on a walk around the block.
According to San Francisco police, Toure rode the bicycle up to Sturm this monday afternoon in the South of Market neighborhood, snatched the iPhone out of her hands, and then pedaled away. Sturm went back into the building  and informed her Boss. Obviously the police was called and was explained what has just happened.
Police stayed on the phone and were informed about the position given by the iPhones tracking device. The thief was tracked and was captured half miles away in just 10 minutes and was arrested for grand theft and possession for stolen property.
If the bandit would had taken a peek at the screen, he would have seen himself traveling across a map of San Francisco. The software has other features, which Kahn considered using — such as turning on the phone’s camera to remotely take a photo, or turning on the phone’s microphone to remotely record what is being said. Kahn decided not to use these features in this particular chase, lest the thief realize that he was being tracked.
This reminds me of the bank robber who arrives during the security test,” Kahn told The San Francisco Chronicle, “What are the odds that you would grab someone’s cell phone during a demonstration of the ability to track a phone’s location in real time?”
Stealing phone not easy anymore with the new GPS tracker application.

According to the crime statistics, iPhones are one of the most commonly stolen mobile devices but, for 31 year old thief Horatio Toure, stealing an iPhone during the demonstration of the new tracking software turned out to be a flop show. The company had given the device to one of its employee for real time testing of the new tracking application of the phone.
In San Francisco, the  CEO David Kahn was providing a demo on his latest software, Alert and Respond. To simulate how it worked in real life situations, he asked Jordan Sturm, assistant to the CEO to take his phone on a walk around the block.
According to San Francisco police, Toure rode the bicycle up to Sturm this monday afternoon in the South of Market neighborhood, snatched the iPhone out of her hands, and then pedaled away. Sturm went back into the building  and informed her Boss. Obviously the police was called and was explained what has just happened.
Police stayed on the phone and were informed about the position given by the iPhones tracking device. The thief was tracked and was captured half miles away in just 10 minutes and was arrested for grand theft and possession for stolen property.
If the bandit would had taken a peek at the screen, he would have seen himself traveling across a map of San Francisco. The software has other features, which Kahn considered using — such as turning on the phone’s camera to remotely take a photo, or turning on the phone’s microphone to remotely record what is being said. Kahn decided not to use these features in this particular chase, lest the thief realize that he was being tracked.
This reminds me of the bank robber who arrives during the security test,” Kahn told The San Francisco Chronicle, “What are the odds that you would grab someone’s cell phone during a demonstration of the ability to track a phone’s location in real time?”
Stealing phone not easy anymore with the new GPS tracker application.

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