Sun Mulls Deeper Open-Source Dive

It has been five years since Sun Microsystems (SUNW) Chairman Scott McNealy donned a penguin suit at a San Francisco conference to demonstrate Sun's détente with Linux. Rather than dis the open-source operating system as an inferior competitor, Sun would sell it, albeit in select corners of the market.

McNealy's now off stage, having stepped down as chief executive in April, 2006, but his successor, Jonathan Schwartz, is still trying to make Linux fit. Sun's new boss is even more willing to embrace open-software development methods, letting programmers contribute to the code used in what were once some of Sun's most closely guarded products, including Java and Solaris.

By June, Sun plans to complete the release all of the source code for its widely used Java programming language under the General Public License, the same agreement that governs Linux. And Sun has spent the past two years trying to drum up interest in OpenSolaris, a version of its Unix operating system that developers can download free from Sun's Web site.
Price Is an Issue

Now, amid falling sales of its bread-and-butter servers and mounting pressure on Schwartz to cut more jobs and boost a stock price that's dropped more than 22%, to $5.26, since early February, Sun is considering its most radical open-source move yet: releasing Solaris under the love-it-or-hate-it GPL. The move could reinvigorate Sun by putting one of its crown jewels into the thick of the open-source movement—or it could diminish the worth of one of Sun's most valuable pieces of intellectual property.

Even Schwartz concedes that while customers value Solaris, they're often tempted by less expensive systems. "If you force them to buy Solaris, that works for a short time," he said at a presentation to reporters on Mar. 23. "But eventually they find a way to get rid of Solaris. It happened." Sun wants to make sure it doesn't happen again, now that the company has eked out a profit after years of losses following the dot-com meltdown and IT spending slump earlier this decade.

How Sun ventures further into the open-source waters remains under debate inside the company. More answers could come at the company's JavaOne conference in San Francisco May 8–11. The theme of this year's show: "Open Possibilities."
Regaining Credibility

Releasing Solaris under the GPL—an idea Schwartz first broached publicly in a January, 2006, blog post—could catalyze large numbers of developers to write software that runs on Sun gear. Technology in Sun's newest Sparc microprocessors, which have won rave reviews for performance, is also available under the GPL, as is most of Java.

Aligning the licensing rules for Sun's operating system, programming language, and chips could give companies new incentives to use them in tandem (see BusinessWeek.com, 5/8/06, "Sun's Big Open-Source Bet"). It could also give Sun more firepower against IBM (IBM), which makes a fortune selling software and consulting services to companies that run Linux.

And unlike the Sun-crafted license that governs OpenSolaris, a GPL version of Solaris could give Sun instant credibility in the open-source world, a mantle it lost years ago. "When Sun grew up they were the developers' platform of choice," says Fred Killeen, chief systems and technology officer at General Motors (GM), a big Sun shop. "That whole generation now is going open source. This takes them back to their roots to get that population reinvigorated."
Preserving Value

But releasing Solaris as GPL software also poses high risks for a company struggling to hang on to every shred of value in a computer industry that's rapidly shifting from specialized products to low-cost machines that run Linux and Microsoft (MSFT) Windows and feature Intel (INTC) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) chips.

Under the GPL, developers are free to lift and modify portions of the code that makes software products run, without the company that owns the code deriving any exclusive benefit from the changes. When GM signed a broad deal to license Java-based software from Sun in 2005, it built in an escape clause in case Sun's open-source plans for the software stripped away its value, says Killeen. Still, Sun may have little choice. "They aren't really competing with proprietary operating systems anymore," he adds. "They're competing with Linux."

Even if Sun takes the GPL plunge with Solaris, many industry observers say it may be too little, too late. "They're moving in the right direction," says Jim Zemlin, president of the Linux Foundation, an industry group that counts the major computer suppliers among its members and pays Linux creator Linus Torvalds' salary. "The question is, How fast can they move? Solaris is great technology and has a large ecosystem. But the Linux community has critical mass," says Zemlin.

Others are even blunter. "It's all for naught," says Scott Kveton, CEO of software company JanRain and former head of the open-source computer lab at Oregon State University, which ran many of the servers used by the Mozilla Foundation, creators of the Firefox Web browser. "If they'd done this three years ago, they'd have a fighting chance, but people see Solaris as an irrelevant platform. I don't see them stemming the tide of people switching to Linux or Windows."
Fast Action Is a Must

Whatever it does, Sun needs to move fast. Its $3.28 billion in revenue for the quarter ended Mar. 31 was short of analysts' forecasts, and a slowdown in demand for servers, the computers that run Web sites and corporate networks, may be to blame (see BusinessWeek.com, 4/25/07, "Sun Micro Gets the Cold Shoulder").

Goldman Sachs (GS) analyst Laura Conigliaro estimated in an Apr. 24 research note that Sun's server sales fell more than 9% in the quarter, and she expects Sun to lay off more staff soon to reach profit goals. Bear Stearns (BSC) analyst Andrew Neff, in a note released the same day, said it's "not clear if [Sun] can re-accelerate growth on a sustainable basis."

In Sun's view, more developers writing to its platform equals more revenue. To get there, the company needs to make Solaris "palatable and effective for people who traditionally use Linux," says Bob Brewin, Sun's chief technology officer for software. "And Solaris is seen by that community as lagging." Sun has been adding support for Web-friendly programming languages—like Perl, PHP, and Ruby—to Java, to appeal to the Silicon Valley startups the company is eager to court.
Big Companies Cutting Back

Emerging Web companies including Twitter, online video company Joost, and Marc Andreessen's social-networking site Ning are using Sun technology, says Peder Ulander, vice-president of software marketing. But a GPL version of Solaris wouldn't be groundbreaking unless lots of developers write for it, says Chris Beard, vice-president of products at Mozilla. "Licensing your source code under an open-source license is just one step in being open source," he says.

At the other end of the spectrum are big companies like FedEx (FDX), eBay (EBAY), Exxon Mobil (XOM), and Verizon (VZ) that are bulking up on computing to run programs that can route trucks and planes, track packages, and run networks, Schwartz said in March. The same can't be said for a wide swath of Corporate America, which is slowing IT spending on systems that manage payrolls, inventories, and general ledgers, as increases in processing power outpace business growth. "You don't want to hang out too long in that part of the marketplace," Schwartz said. "We want to be on the right side of that split."

Yet releasing a GPL version of Solaris could obviate some of the technologies that make Solaris most appealing. The operating system includes powerful software like DTrace, which can analyze why a program's running slowly, and ZFS, a file system that heaps performance gains on a Web site or program, that nothing in the Linux world can touch. Under the GPL, "those would very quickly show up inside Linux," says Mark Shuttleworth, CEO of Canonical, which distributes a version of Linux that runs on Sun's Niagara chips. "Then it's legal to take code out of Solaris and put it into Linux."
Linux Community in Flux

The trade-off may be unavoidable, says Jonathan Eunice, founder and principal IT adviser at industry consultancy Illuminata. "That's what open sourcing is all about. You have to give up something to get community involvement," he says.

On the other hand, OpenSolaris' Common Development & Distribution License has been criticized since the rights to any changes users make to Solaris' code revert to Sun (see BusinessWeek.com, 11/14/06, "Sun's Surprising Openness"). Further muddying the waters is the chaotic state of affairs at the GPL license administrator, the Free Software Foundation, which is struggling to write a new version of the license and has taken fire from Torvalds for threatening the intellectual property of companies that might use it. On Apr. 25, Eben Moglen, who ran the foundation's legal affairs, resigned.

Perhaps most important, not everyone at Sun thinks GPL Solaris is the right way to go. "It's way primitive to be thinking about this," says Simon Phipps, Sun's chief open-source officer. The license was "perfect for Java," since its requirement that users republish their modifications to Java's source code prevents proprietary versions (see BusinessWeek.com, 7/5/06, "Sun: Brew-It-Yourself Java?"). But Solaris, an outgrowth of the Berkeley Software Distribution version of Unix that Sun co-founder Bill Joy wrote in the '70s, comes from a different tradition. More than 30,000 programmers have worked on OpenSolaris projects, and things won't change without their say-so, Phipps says. "They're pretty skeptical about using the GPL," he says, "no matter how enthusiastic Jonathan is."
New Management Team

Other executives are angling to put their stamp on Sun's open-source efforts too. In May, 2006, the company rehired veteran Rich Green as executive vice-president of software, following the departure of software chief John Loiacono to Adobe Systems (ADBE). "Rich is really about driving innovation and change," says Brewin. Loiacono, he says, "comes from a different background." Then there's Ian Murdock, the creator of the Debian version of Linux, whom Sun hired on Mar. 19 as chief operating platforms officer to help attract Linux developers to Solaris. His job, says Phipps, is to steer the future course of Solaris. Exactly how that might unfold isn't clear. "Whenever we ask him, he says, 'Well, I'm still looking. Ask me in a few weeks.'"

The irony, of course, is that if Sun had done all this a decade ago, it might have avoided many of its current problems, perhaps even positioned Solaris where Linux is today. Some gadflies at Sun were advocating for open-sourcing Solaris in the '90s, but it never got done. "The debate at Sun hasn't been about whether we should do it or not, it's been about how we should do it," says Phipps. "Those are the questions that bog Sun down." Maybe settling the debate will help get the growth engine revved back up.

Source : http://www.businessweek.com/

Revamped Google tools let you be you

The search giant is renaming and adding new features to Google Personalized Home Page, a product team said during a briefing with the media at company headquarters here on Monday.

In an effort to clarify Google's strategy on customization, the company is changing the name of its Personalized Home Page product to iGoogle and announcing new features that were set to go live Tuesday after midnight PDT. The personalization product allows people to create a customized portal with news, blog postings and other interactive information modules called "gadgets" for things like the local weather and--the most popular--the day and time. More than 25,000 gadgets have been created.

iGoogle, as it will be called as of Tuesday morning, was the fastest-growing product at the company last year, said Marissa Mayer, vice president of search products and user experience at Google. Personalization is "one of the biggest advances we've made."

Among the enhancements, Google is announcing a new Gadget Maker feature that will let people create their own gadgets with their own content without having to know code or HTML. There are seven templates of gadgets that people can create and share with others: Framed Photo for creating and updating photos; GoogleGram, an unfolding "greeting card" gadget that shows different messages and images over seven days; Daily Me, which lets people share snippets about their daily lives like a miniblog, such as how they are feeling or what they are thinking or doing; a YouTube gadget for a favorite video clip; Free Form, which is simply any text and image; Personal List, of things like favorite songs; and Countdown, for counting down days to events.

The company also is announcing a new area on the gadget directory called My Community that will let people share the gadgets they've created with anyone in their Gmail contacts list.

Google also is expanding iGoogle globally to new languages and countries, reaching 26 languages and more than 40 countries, and launching themes for iGoogle users located outside the United States. "I think that themes will be an area in which we will continue to invest resources because they delight people," said iGoogle Product Manager Jessica Ewing. One concept the team is working on is creating themes that simulate specific artists. For instance, a French version of iGoogle could feature an image of brushstrokes from Monet's haystack paintings.

In addition, Google is launching location-based personalized search results so users who have provided a default location in Google Maps will see results based on that location.

Earlier this month, Google launched Queryless Search, which lets people include on their toolbar a button that provides pages the system thinks the user might be interested in. Google also launched a "recommendations" tab on the home page that offers up searches, pages, groups and videos that might be of interest to the individual.

I'm an eclectic person but everybody is," said Sep Kamvar, technical lead of personalization. "We can't just go about designing products for the average person."

There are no ads on iGoogle now, but Mayer wouldn't make any promises about the future. "I think of gadgets themselves as a unique and neat form of personalized advertising," she said. "Like our text ads, they are more useful and more relevant."

Google is working to not only make it easy for people to create customized home pages with colorful and fun gadgets but also to make it even easier to use Web search when trying to get to information, Mayer said. Eventually, 15 years out or so, Google wants to know enough about you that you don't have to type in long keyword queries.

For example, "when you type things into the search box it basically augments your query," she said. "If I type 'broadway shows' into Google, it would actually come back and understand that I like musicals and (prefer) peppy to sad...on the whole that's what we're really shooting for."

Source : http://news.com.com/

Gesturing 'may be aping chimps'

Italians who talk as much with their hands as their voices may be aping the way chimpanzees communicate.

Scientists have discovered chimps and bonobos communicate more freely using gestures than they do by means of vocal sounds and facial expressions. Their findings support the theory that human language evolved from Latin-like gesturing.

US experts from the Yerkes National Primate Research Centre at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, worked with two groups of 13 bonobos and 34 chimpanzees. Bonobos, which live in just one part of Africa and resemble small chimps, are the world's most human-like apes.

Both species used almost identical facial and vocal signals, but the same was not true for manual gestures.

Gestures were less closely tied to a particular emotion and served a more adaptable function. A single gesture could communicate an entirely different message depending on the social context in which it was used.

Differences in the use of gestures not only existed between the two species, but between individuals within the same species. Bonobos used gestures more flexibly than chimpanzees.

However one gesture - holding out an open hand to beg - was common to chimps, bonobos and humans.

Dr Frans de Waal, a member of the research team whose findings appear in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, said: "This gesture can be used for food, if there is food around, but it can also be used to beg for help, for support, for money and so-on. It's meaning is context-dependent."

The begging gesture may have been inherited from the last common ancestor of apes and humans, said the scientists. Both bonobos and chimpanzees engaged in multi-modal communication, combining hand or feet gestures with facial expressions and vocalisations.

"While chimpanzees produce more of these combinations, bonobos respond to them more often," said Dr Amy Pollick, another of the study's authors. "This finding suggests the bonobo is a better model of symbolic communication in our early ancestors."

Source : http://www.channel4.com

Next-gen Burnout named

Electronic Arts has announced that the Burnout game in development for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 will be called Burnout Paradise.

Set for release this winter, the game promises an "unprecedented level of crash deformation" and a large free-roaming world. According to EA this was the original vision of the series' creators.

"We have been working towards Burnout Paradise for quite some time. Next generation consoles have opened up a raft of new gameplay opportunities and the Criterion team has leapt at the chance to innovate and raise the bar to an all-new high," said Pete Hawley, Executive Producer, Burnout Paradise. "There are going to be some big surprises and a lot of new features but the core of the game is still pure Burnout. Instant accessibility will be reinforced by innovative on-line capabilities which will see Burnout Paradise smash racing conventions."

Source : http://www.boomtown.net/

New law could save internet radio

A law has been proposed in the US Congress that would overturn a recent ruling on internet radio royalty payments. The bill could save internet radio, according to activists.

Earlier this month the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB), which reports to the Library of Congress, increased the charges which internet radio stations will have to pay in order to broadcast music. Stations claim that the charges in many cases represent more than their total revenues, and that they make it impossible to build a business out of online radio.

The CRB is answerable to Congress, and two members of the House of Representatives have proposed a law which would withdraw the CRB's recent ruling and propose a compromise system of payments.

Internet radio activists say that the system is unfair because it penalises online radio stations unduly. Broadcast radio pays no royalty fees, they say, while satellite radio pays far less than internet radio's new charges.

The new law will charge the same fee to radio stations whether they are provided via satellite, cable, or the internet. It will offer stations the chance to choose to pay 7.5 per cent of their revenues or 33 cents per hour per listener.

The bill was introduced by Democrat Jay Inslee and Republican Don Manzullo.

"Since the CRB's decision to dramatically and unfairly increase webcaster royalty rates, millions of internet radio listeners, webcasters and artists have called on Congress to take action," said Jake Ward of lobby group SaveNetRadio. "Today Congress took notice, and we thank Mr Inslee for leading the charge to save music diversity on the internet."

Speaking this month to OUT-LAW Radio's Joe Kennedy, chief executive of Pandora, one of the internet's largest radio-style services, said the threat to online radio was severe.

"The judges adopted the proposal to triple the rates for large webcasters, and for small webcasters it's actually closer to a 12 times increase in the rates that they pay," said Kennedy. "It's an extraordinary increase in the rates that will effectively kill internet radio as we know it today.

"Over 90 per cent of internet radio will simply be gone. The net result will be a huge loss of diversity, a huge loss for music artists and a loss of virtually all of the internet radio that exists."

"You can't put an economic chokehold on this emerging force of democracy," Inslee said, according to CNet News. "There has to be a business model that allows creative webcasters to thrive and the existing rule removes all the oxygen from this space."

Source : http://www.theregister.co.uk/

Samsung mass producing 16Gb NAND flash on 51nm

Samsung Electronics announced mass production of 16Gb multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash on a 51nm process, stressing that it has achieved this new migration milestone after announcing production of its 60nm 8Gb NAND flash in August of 2006.

This high-density NAND flash chips can be produced 60% more efficiently than those that made on 60nm and has accelerated the chip's read and write speeds by approximately 80% over current MLC data processing speeds, Samsung noted. According to Samsung, the read speed for a MLC 60nm-made NAND flash is 17MB/second, whereas a 51nm-made NAND flash is 30MB/second. Write speed for the former is 4.4MB/second while the later is 8MB/second.

NAND flash memory reads and writes data in units called "pages" and this 51nm 16Gb NAND can process data in a 4-kilobyte (KB) page size, doubling the data rate from the 2KB page size of 60nm NAND flash, Samsung said. By maintaining the same 4 bit error-correcting code (ECC) capability as that of 60nm NAND, customers can use existing system interfaces with only minor firmware upgrades, the company added. Samsung will also offer a suite of software and firmware-incorporated storage devices for music phones and MP3 players to support 4KB pages.

Source : http://www.digitimes.com/

Nostalgia getting old? Virtual Console sales heading south

Very few people would question the current success of Nintendo’s latest console. Whether you like it or not, the numbers simply don’t lie. However, while the console is still selling out consistently, not all aspects of the sales data surrounding the Wii is quite as positive. Despite the ever-increasing user base of the Wii, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata noted that the Wii’s Virtual Console sales have been slowing down.

As of January 24, over 1.5 million games had been downloaded from the Virtual Console. Given the low cost for Nintendo inherent in the Virtual Console system, this was a remarkable show for a collection of age-old games that would have otherwise been mere memories. From February until now, though, sales were in the 1.8 million range; a strange occurrence given that the console's user base has grown substantially since early January. Iwata's comments suggest that in the first two months Nintendo was selling 750,000 titles each month, but that has dipped to 600,000/month since February. Those aren't bad sales numbers, but with many more Wiis in use today than in December, the downturn is surprising.

The blame game

Though I've downloaded and enjoyed a few choice games from the Virtual Console, I believe that the sales decrease is a reflection of both the limited selection of the VC and the fact that none of the games have been tuned or refined in any way—some have even been limited on the new downloadable platform. With the games found on the PSN and Xbox Live Arcade, users are attracted to the new upgrades, online multiplayer, and other various additions that go alongside the expected gameplay.

Unfortunately, the Virtual Console has no such luxury. This leads to more stringent purchasing decisions, which I'm sure most Wii users could attest to. At $5 for an NES game, $8 for a Genesis/SNES/Turbografx game, and $10+ for the latter consoles, most users will buy only their most favorite games from the past and not take the chance on a dated experience they aren't familiar with. To combat this, Nintendo has been playing it slow with the big titles that everyone wants to buy, which is likely a move to sustain the platform. Whether or not the current sales trend will continue, and if Nintendo’s current strategy will continue to work, is anyone's guess.

Source : http://arstechnica.com/

Centipede, Millipede, Catan joining Xbox Live Arcade roster

Atari's Centipede and Millipede were arcade favourites, requiring the player to defend against onslaughts of insects. The Xbox Live Arcade versions of both games can be played in the traditional style or in 'evolved' versions with higher resolution graphics and improved visual effects. These Xbox 360 ports also include support for 16:9 screens (including 1080i) and Dolby 5.1 sound.

The pair will be offered as a single download for 400 points.

The other game to debut on Xbox Live Arcade this week is Catan, an adaptation of the board game Settlers of Catan. Players take on the role of colonists of a newly discovered island with the goal of controlling territory and resources through strategy and trading.

Gamers can choose to play against AIs in the style of various historical personalities such as Alexander and Cleopatra (giving a variety of styles and difficulty), or go online and play up to three real opponents with voice chat. A 'learn as you play' tutorial is provided for beginners.

Microsoft claims the skill levels of the artificial opponents can challenge everyone including expert players. Since there's no provision for multiple players on one console, that's probably a good job.

As with the Centipede/Millipede combo, Catan requires an Xbox 360 and features HDTV and Dolby 5.1 support.

Catan will cost 800 points.

Source : http://www.itwire.com.au

Xbox 360 Elite Hits the Street

The latestet iteration of Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) Free 30-Day Trial. Seamlessly Integrate UNIX & Linux systems with Active Directory. Latest News about Microsoft next-generation gaming console, the Xbox 360 Latest News about Xbox 360 Elite, hit store shelves Sunday. The new model boasts a 120 GB hard drive, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port for connecting to HDTV, a wireless controller and a premium black finish on the console's exterior

"Today's games and entertainment enthusiast has an insatiable appetite for digital high-definition content," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft said as the Elite edition was unveiled last month. "Xbox 360 Elite's larger hard drive and premium accessories will allow our community to enjoy all that the next generation of entertainment has to offer."

With a 12-month head start on competitors Nintendo Latest News about Nintendo and Sony (NYSE: SNE) Latest News about Sony, the Xbox 360 boasts the most total sales, with some 10 million units sold around the world. The new Elite version fulfills gamers' desire for a hardier hard drive and moves another step in Microsoft's quest make the console an entertainment and media device for the living room.

In the Box

Buyers will pay an US$80 premium over the next-most expensive edition of the Xbox 360 -- which lists for $499. Buyers of the Xbox 360 Elite will receive a console with a premium black finish and three core processors capable of emitting a 1080p high-definition (HD) signal, 16:9 cinematic aspect ratio, antialiasing for smooth textures, full surround sound, HDMI output and DVD playback.

The Elite's 120 GB hard drive offers roughly six times the storage of the standard and premium Xbox 360 models and is twice the size of the PlayStation 3 Latest News about PlayStation 3. The larger hard drive will allow gamers to save their games and store television shows, movies, music, pictures, trailers, levels, demos and other content from the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft said.

The new model also includes a wireless controller, also black, with a range of up to 30 feet. The controller features the Xbox "Guide Button" for quick in-game access to friends and music. There is also a black headset that lets gamers send voice messages to friends, an HDMI cable for HD Video, and an Xbox Live Silver membership with a one-month subscription to Xbox Live Gold.

The Elite does not match Sony's PlayStation 3 feature-for-feature, as the Microsoft offering does not have WiFi capabilities (it's Ethernet-only) or an HD DVD player. Existing Xbox 360 owners can spruce up their system with the accessory version of the expanded hard drive for $180.

"It's not a total revamping," Brian O'Rourke, a principle analyst at InStat, told TechNewsWorld. "It's more of a refreshing with essentially more storage and a higher resolution connector."
Another Living Room Box?

"The Elite serves a perceived need for more storage and for HDMI. I say 'perceived' because, as a practical matter, most consumers will never fill the standard 20 GB hard drive, nor will most need an HDMI interface," Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Morgan, told TechNewsWorld.

Pachter refers to it as "a perceived need" because, as a practical matter, most consumers will never fill the standard 20 GB hard drive, nor will most need an HDMI interface. Twenty GB of storage, he explained, is sufficient for most demo downloads, provided that the consumer cleans up the hard drive every 30 downloads.

It is a similar case for the HDMI interface. A DVI interface is fine for all 720p displays and will be fine for a 1080p for at least three more years, if not forever, Pacther continued.

"It's one of those things that is nice to have, and the HDMI cable has less interference than a DVI cable, but not enough for most consumers to even see," he noted.

"The console is quite similar to the $599 PS3, without a WiFi Internet Save 15% on Your Next Domain Purchase. Click Here. connection and without Blu-ray. Again, those features are not necessary for most consumers, but are nice to have for another $120. The Elite has a bigger hard drive than the PS3, but the excess is overkill. To paraphrase from another context, size doesn't really matter," he added.

Microsoft, Pachter predicted, has plans to turn the Elite into a digital video recorder (DVR), and to offer other media content through Xbox Live. If the company offers movie and television downloads, the extra storage will matter a lot. "They have yet to market the device this way, so it's impossible to know."

However, InStat's O'Rourke has long believed that both Microsoft and Sony would like to see their gaming consoles become the newest residents of consumers' media and entertainment centers. "That's where most video game consoles would like to be," he explained "and this, they think, will further cement their place [in the living room]. With more advanced features and storage, they are hoping that Xbox 360 users will download movies, download video that is available on the Xbox Live Marketplace."

Source : http://www.technewsworld.com/

Slingbox TV streaming device comes to Mac

Sling Media has announced the release of SlingPlayer for Mac, software that enables Mac users to watch their TV on the Mac. SlingPlayer works in cooperation with the Slingbox, a “placeshifting” device that lets you watch your TV on your computer over a local network or the Internet. SlingPlayer is a free download.

Slingbox comes in three different varieties — a basic device that lets you watch basic cable programming; the Slingbox AV, which lets you watch and control digital cable, satellite or DVR programming; and Slingbox Pro, which lets you configure up to four home theater devices. SlingPlayer for Mac supports all Slingbox hardware. In all three cases, the devices stream content to your computer (or select mobile devices), so you can watch TV while you’re away from home.

SlingPlayer for Mac supports more than 5,000 AV devices, and includes support for the Apple TV, AT&T U-verse and TiVo Series 3 DVR. It also works with iPods.

Sling Media’s Web site still listed SlingPlayer for Mac OS X as a beta version as Macworld posted this article, and the download also identifies itself as a beta. The company has been offering public beta releases of SlingPlayer for Mac for some time. Sling Media has announced the release of the “final” SlingPlayer 1.0 for Mac, however, so it is expected to be available for download shortly.

System requirements call for a G4/700MHz or faster (including Intel), 512MB RAM, Mac OS X v10.3.9 or later, 100MB hard disk space, 1024 x 768 resolution and Ethernet network connectivity or 802.11a, b or g Wi-Fi networking.

Source : http://www.macworld.com/

Apple issues MacBook battery alert

According to an alert on the Apple website, some batteries for the company's new notebook range may have performance issues. Specifically, MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks bought between February 2006 and April 2007 may need to run battery update software. Apparently, running this software will improve battery performance.

Like all major notebook manufacturers, Apple's portable computers use high performance lithium ion batteries. In August last year, Apple like Dell, Lenovo and other first tier vendors using Sony batteries, was forced into a massive worldwide recall of 1.8 million batteries suspected of suffering a manufacturing defect that could cause the batteries to short, overheat and explode into flames in a process called thermal runaway.

While there is no suggestion that the current battery issue at Apple has anything to do with overheating, the vendor does issue a request for owners to return notebooks with batteries to authorised Apple shops if, among other things, the "battery pack is visibly deformed." How a battery could come to be visibly deformed is left unsaid.

In an effort to keep good faith with customers, Apple has extended the battery warranty on notebooks with Core Duo processors to up to two years from the date of purchase. More details are available on the Apple site.

Source : http://www.itwire.com.au

Google Knows Where You Live

Still at Google--the company's personaization guru, Sep Kamvar, is telling us about new refinements to how the company uses what it knows about you to give more relevant results with less work on your part.

He's mentioned Google Web History, last week's update to Search History that remembers not just what you've Googled for, but everything you've looked at on the Web.

Now he's pointing out that it's tough for a search engine to know what you want when you search for something that could refer to multiple things--like, for instance, a beach name that could be one of several beaches in different places that have the same name.

If you've set your home as your default location in Google Maps, he's saying, Google knows where you are--and that can help it figure out what you want when you Google for something with geographical implications.

So, he's announcing, Google will now use your default location in Google Maps (if you have one) to push stuff located near you up to the top of search results in the main Google search engine.

Cool idea...it'll be fun to see how much it helps with search relevance. (I just did a query for "mazda dealer," wondering if Google would automatically focus in on ones here in the Bay Area. It didn't. But I'm not sure if Google's saying the engine is smart enough to do that yet, and I'm not sure the new feature is up and running...)

Last minute update: Google says the stuff they're showing us today will go live at midnight tonight. I'll try my search again then.

Source : http://blogs.pcworld.com/

Samsung Starts 16Gb Flash NAND Mass Production

The giganormous industrial machine and secret inter-dimensional empire, also known as Samsung, has started mass producing 16Gb chips. These are the biggest flash NAND memories ever, just in time to feed that Godzilla monster that lives in Cupertino.

According to Samsung, the 51-nanometer wonder supports 30MB/s transfer rates and 4-bit error-correcting code. They will offer software to support its new 4KB page structure and they believe that "demand for 16Gb NAND flash memory is expected to grow rapidly, pushing this new chip into the mainstream market beginning late this year". After consulting my Kabbalah for Dummies book and my Frosties' Secret Code Wheel, I believe the secret message there is that we will see a solid-state iPhone-like iPod at MacWorld San Francisco 2008. However, read the complete press release after the jump for your own head-hurts-post-party-weekend-aw-shaddap interpretation.

Samsung First to Mass Produce 16Gb NAND Flash Memory

Using Finest Process Technology to Accelerate Data Speeds

Seoul, Korea - April, 29, 2007 - Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a leader in advanced semiconductor technology, announced today that it has become the first to begin mass producing 16 gigabit (Gb) NAND flash, the highest capacity memory chip now available. The company said it will fabricate the devices in 51 nanometers (nm), the finest process technology to be used in memory mass production to date.

"In rolling out the densest NAND flash in the world, we are throwing open the gates to a much wider playing field for flash-driven consumer electronics," said Jim Elliott, director, flash marketing, Samsung Semiconductor. "To minimize production costs and improve performance, we have applied the finest process technology a 'half generation' ahead of the industry, which is introducing 55nm and higher."

Samsung's 51nm NAND flash chips can be produced 60 percent more efficiently than those produced with 60nm process technology. Samsung achieved this new migration milestone just eight months after announcing production of its 60nm 8Gb NAND flash last August.

The new 16Gb chip which has a multi-level cell (MLC) structure can facilitate capacity expansion by offering 16 gigabytes (GBs) of memory in a single memory card. Furthermore, by applying the new process technology, Samsung has accelerated the chip's read and write speeds by approximately 80 percent over current MLC data processing speeds.

NAND flash memory reads and writes data in units called "pages." The 60nm NAND flash memory is designed with a 2 KiloByte (KB) page size, but the 51nm 16Gb version can process data in 4 KB pages, nearly doubling the data rate. The product also maintains the same 4 bit error-correcting code (ECC) capability as that of 60nm NAND, allowing customers to use existing system interfaces with only minor firmware upgrades. With its 4 bit ECC, Samsung eliminates the need to secure a better ECC capability to assure sufficient reliability, which would have required new costly controllers.

Samsung will offer an optimized suite of Flash software and firmware-incorporated storage devices for music phones and MP3 players to support 4KB pages. It also will provide a multi-plane performance optimization feature and wear-leveling for improved reliability. Memory cards and MP3 controllers to support the 4KB-page are already available,

Technology migration to 16Gb is expected to boost the recent explosive demand for high-density data storage in high-end music phones and the phenomenal trend toward user created content (UCC). As the demand for video content grows stronger by the day, products that feature extended recording time of high-resolution video footage, including mid-to-high-range digital cameras, will particularly benefit from the high capacity and performance of 16Gb NAND flash memory.

With support technology in place, demand for 16Gb NAND flash memory is expected to grow rapidly, pushing this new chip into the mainstream market beginning late this year. Aggregate global sales through 2010 are estimated to be US$21 billion.

source : http://gizmodo.com/

Game On for Sony PlayStation's New Chief

Sony's new video games chief might best be described as the anti-Kutaragi. On Apr. 27, the Japanese electronics and entertainment giant tapped Kazuo "Kaz" Hirai to take over Sony Computer Entertainment after founder Ken Kutaragi says his final sayonara this summer. The promotion of Hirai, a marketing whiz who got his start in the music business, underscores how Sony (SNE) is steering the gaming unit away from its roots as a semi-independent startup run by the autocratic Kutaragi.

But when he assumes the gaming unit's top post, Hirai will have one of the hardest jobs at Sony. Since the launch of the PlayStation 3 console in November, Sony's ultra-high-tech machine has trailed the competition from Microsoft (MSFT) and Nintendo (NTDOY). Lately the gaming unit's cost overruns and ongoing technology investments have hurt Sony's bottom line. They have also caused a headache for Chairman Howard Stringer, who has spent the past two years pushing through reforms and selling off assets aimed at turning around the company's key electronics division. The game division's bigger-than-expected losses appear to be the impetus behind Stringer's reshuffling of the unit's management last November.

JPMorgan (JPM) analyst Yoshiharu Izumi reckons Sony's gaming business lost $2 billion last fiscal year (which ended in March), with operating profits expected to come in at just $635 million. Results are expected to improve this year, but to realize substantial improvement, Hirai will have to figure out how to make better use of the division's assets—and do so without the deep technological knowledge that was the key to Kutaragi's success.
Smooth Operator

No doubt, Hirai, 46, will run things far differently than his predecessor. Analysts and industry executives describe him as affable and articulate. Born in Japan, Hirai speaks English fluently, thanks to his education at the American School and the International Christian University in Tokyo. He has spent the bulk of his 23-year career at Sony in the U.S. and is widely expected to refashion Kutaragi's Japan-centric empire into a more global organization.

Analysts and former colleagues say Hirai is both a deft administrator and an expert at finessing ties with distributors, game software developers, and others. In fact, it was Hirai who signed many key U.S. developers to create games for the iconic PlayStation machines, which made them a must-have among hard-core gamers. He also led Sony's tough negotiations with Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) to sell consoles through the discount retailer's extensive network.

That ability to land deals will be crucial as he rethinks how Sony can boost the PS3's appeal with more games and other killer content. "I think he is far more in touch with the U.S. [game] publishers, and probably in a good position to enlist their support for PSP [the handheld PlayStation Portable], PS2, and PS3," says Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Morgan Securities in Los Angeles, Calif.
Tough Act to Follow

Contrast that with Kutaragi, 56, whom one industry executive described as demanding and "a very difficult person to do business with." Others say Kutaragi's need for complete control had become untenable as the division mushroomed into a $9 billion operation. "Kutaragi likes to decide everything himself," says Yuji Takahashi, a former senior Sony music executive who worked with both Kutaragi and Hirai. "That worked in the early days of the video game business. But in the next phase Sony needs someone who is a better listener."

But the biggest question facing Hirai is whether he—or anyone else—can truly fill Kutaragi's shoes. Though he's no Mr. Personality, Kutaragi has been the driving intellectual force behind Sony's gaming business.

A former engineer, Kutaragi came up with the business model of pouring billions into new hardware technology and then recouping costs through licensing deals with game creators.

He demonstrated a knack for anticipating technology trends, timing a new product rollout just as new gadgetry became available on the market. His decision to outfit the PS2 with a DVD player, for instance, made the new technology instantly affordable and helped it spread quickly.
Less Tech Expertise

Hirai isn't a techie and won't have the pull with engineers that helped make Kutaragi an effective leader. He's also a stranger to many at Sony Computer Entertainment headquarters. Until his rise to the No. 2 post in November, Hirai's dealings with Tokyo staff had been limited to a few senior executives.

That's both an opportunity and a risk. As he implements reforms to make the PS3 profitable and encourage more interaction with other Sony divisions, he will need to do so without alienating the rank and file. Over the past six months, Hirai has been easing into his role running the day-to-day operations. In late March, he oversaw the PS3 launch in Europe, approved staff cuts there, and hosted the first-ever gathering of regional heads and software studio executives.

But even those who are rooting for Hirai worry that he may be in over his head. Once Kutaragi's retirement is approved by shareholders (which is expected to happen on June 19), Hirai won't have the tech guru nearby to help with big strategic decisions, although Kutaragi will become honorary chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment and a tech consultant for Sony.
Time for a Change

"Hirai knows when to say no to development projects that he thinks aren't worth it, and he's good at explaining his rationale," says Shinichi Okamoto, the gaming division's former chief technology officer who left to start his own tech consulting firm. "But his weakness is technology. Hirai will need to learn the production supply chain and parts procurement, and he'll have to make snap strategic decisions based on five-year forecasts. Normally by now he should also start thinking about a next-generation machine."

Sony declined requests for an interview with Hirai. But in an e-mail sent to financial analysts following a Mar. 14 meeting, Hirai expressed confidence about his reforms. He noted that he had separated strategic planning from daily decision-making and had given regional heads more responsibility over console shipments, inventories, and new game titles.

Hirai's big push has been in encouraging collaboration. He has been reaching out to game creators and has devoted resources to global in-game advertising. He has also worked to tighten the bonds between headquarters and Sony Online Entertainment, the studios in charge of Net-based gaming and downloads. "Believe it or not, I never even met Kaz Hirai—which goes to show just how segmented" Sony was, says Raph Koster, former chief creative officer at Sony Online Entertainment.
Trailing the Competition

Though Sony's PSone and PS2 broke all industry sales records, the PS3 and its online service, Station.com, lack the street cred that Microsoft's popular Xbox Live site enjoys among online gaming fans. "Shattering the perception that Microsoft is the leader [in online gaming] will be very difficult without some sort of quantum leap in ease of use and capability," Koster wrote in an e-mail reply to questions.

And while the ultra-fast Cell microprocessor and high-definition Blu-ray DVD player give the PS3 a technology advantage over Nintendo's Wii, the Wii's innovative motion-sensing remote controllers have been a bigger hit with a broader audience. Marketing the PS3 as the ultimate home-entertainment hub, not just a game machine, still looks to be a tough sell.

In the U.S., as of March, Sony had sold a total of 1.2 million PS3s, vs. 2.1 million Wii machines, and 5.3 million Xbox 360 consoles, according to market researcher NPD. All of Hirai's changes won't matter unless he can narrow the gap with rival machines and restore the division's profitability.

Source : http://www.businessweek.com/

Apple releases fix for MacBook/MacBook Pro battery problems

Apple on Friday announced that the batteries embedded inside these machines may have performance problems, but MacBook and MacBook Pro owners should not get alarmed because these batteries do not pose a safety risk.

The computer maker said instead of overheating and exploding, the problems with affected batteries include not charging when the computer is plugged into an outlet. "The issues are not a safety risk, so consumers can continue using their batteries," the company said in a statement.

MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks containing the affected batteries were sold worldwide between February 2006 and April 2007, Cupertino, California based Apple said.

In order to enable people charge their batteries properly, Apple has issued a software update designed to improve battery performance. Users can upload the battery update software on their MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks that will improve battery performance.

If the problem still persists, users can take their machines with its battery to their local Apple Retail Store, or contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP), or call your local Apple Support Contact Center.

And, if Apple or an AASP determines that the battery is eligible for replacement, user will receive a new battery, free of charge, even if his/her MacBook or MacBook Pro is out of warranty, Apple said on its Website.

Apple has mentioned some symptoms on its Website to identify an affected battery. The battery with the problem will have one or more of the following symptoms: 1. Battery is not recognized causing an “X” to appear in the battery icon in the Finder menu bar. 2. Battery will not charge when computer is plugged into AC power. 3. Battery exhibits low charge capacity/runtime when using a fully charged battery with a battery cycle count (as shown in System Profiler) of less than 300. 4. Battery pack is visibly deformed.

The electronics giant said if the battery does not have any of the above mentioned symptoms, then it does not need to be replaced. Apple added that it has also extended the battery warranty on notebooks with Core Duo processors to up to two years from the date of purchase, apparently trying to keep good faith with customers.

Similar to other leading notebook manufacturers, Apple's portable computers use high performance lithium ion batteries. Last year, Dell, Apple, Lenovo, Toshiba and other PC makers were forced to recall notebooks using Sony-made Lithium-ion batteries after it came to light that a flaw in Sony's manufacturing process could lead to short circuits, sparks or fire.

As a result Dell, which had the most highly publicized incidents of notebook battery issues, recalled over 4.1 million laptop batteries in the largest computer related recall to that point in history. Following suit, Apple Inc., Toshiba, Lenovo and IBM recalled 1.8 million, 34,0000 and 52,6000 Sony laptop batteries respectively in September 2006.

The problematic lithium-ion batteries were related to overheat and catching fire hazards in the Dell and Apple cases, whereas Toshiba clarified that batteries were prone to failing regardless of how carefully it is used, but did not say it had anything to do with overheating or fire hazards.

Recently, Acer Inc. has joined the battery recall forces. Acer’s U.S. division, which is based in San Jose, last week announced a recall of 27000 Sony made Lithium Ion notebook batteries. Acer America said that the problem has occurred in Acer TravelMate and Aspire brand notebook PCs sold in the U.S. and Canada from May 2004 through November 2006.

After igniting the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II, the Cupertino, California-based Apple reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Continuing with its tendency of revolutions, Apple is leading the industry with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. In digital music segment, it is moving ahead with its iPod portable music players, iTunes online store and most recent its upcoming much-hyped, iPhone.

Despite the issues, the MacBook range of laptops has been very successful for Apple, and the strong sales of the machines recently helped Apple sales soar to $5.2bn in the first three months of 2007. Apple said it does not expect the battery update to have a material impact on earnings.

Apple owns up to MacBook battery problems

last Friday acknowledged that some batteries in its MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks aren't up to snuff, but said that they posed no safety risk.

The Cupertino, Calif. computer maker issued a firmware fix, dubbed Battery Update 1.2, that users should download and install to deal with problems such as the notebook not recognizing the battery or the battery not charging.

"Apple has recently discovered that some batteries used in its MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks may have battery performance issues," the company said in a statement. "The factors causing the performance issues do not present a safety risk. You may continue to use your current battery."

If the update does not solve a battery's problems, users are to contact Apple, which will determine if the battery will be replaced. At the same time, Apple extended the warranty for batteries in Core Duo MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks to two years.

MacBooks and MacBook Pros purchased from February 2006 to this month may be affected, Apple said.

Battery problems are nothing new for Apple. As long ago as May 2006 reports surfaced of failing MacBook Pro batteries, with Apple quietly replacing defective batteries. Last August, Apple recalled 1.8 million lithium-ion batteries made by Sony Corp., part of a much larger recall of batteries used in notebooks sold by Dell Inc., Toshiba Corp., Lenovo Group Ltd., and most recently, Acer America Corp.

Nor is Apple the only operating system maker to unveil battery performance patches. Last May, Microsoft Corp. issued a fix to Windows XP to correct a power drain of batteries in Core Duo-equipped laptops.

Source : http://www.computerworld.com/

PlayStation's pop

The father of PlayStation, Ken Kutaragi, last week announced his intention to retire from his executive role at Sony Computer Entertainment.

Today Screen Play pays tribute to a man who has made one of the most significant impacts on the video games industry in its 30-year history.

Kutaragi joined Sony Corporation in 1975. After working on digital signal processing at Sony labs, he headed a five-man team developing a CD-ROM add-on for the Super Nintendo, a project that would eventually lead to the release of the PlayStation console in 1994.

While he could often be bafflingly oblique and PS3's uncertain fate has prompted some analysts to suggest he was pushed out, Ken Kutaragi is a unique visionary who changed the games industry forever. Today Screen Play pays tribute by looking at the machine that started it all - Kutaragi's first "baby", the original PlayStation console.

In late 1993, Sony Japan announced the development of a project code-named "PS-X". In the following years, Kutaragi's Sony Computer Entertainment division left an indelible mark on the interactive entertainment industry, carving out the lion's share of the booming video games industry for more than a decade with an unswerving confidence in its products.

Kutaragi tackled rivals previously thought to be untouchable giants and attracted countless millions of new consumers to the interactive medium.

Through Kutaragi's PlayStation, Sony was almost single-handedly responsible for making video games cool, transforming what was almost exclusively a geeky bedroom hobby into a mainstream entertainment behemoth.

Kutaragi produced the right machine and astute marketing that appealed to the huge and virtually untapped market of twenty-something's who had largely stopped playing games in the mid-eighties.

The PlayStation first went on sale in Japan on December 3, 1994. It cost 39,800 Yen - around $400. The games available on day one in Japan were the magnificent Ridge Racer from Namco, and the uninspiring A-IV and Parodius.

In an Australian newspaper a week before local launch, Screen Play wrote prophetically: "The launch of the Sony PlayStation in Australia on November 15 will be one of the most exciting product launches of the 90s. The exceptional standard of the first games and the wealth of leading designers that Sony has signed to produce titles for the PlayStation should ensure the console is a spectacular success."

Over 200 million PlayStation-branded consoles later, "spectacular success" now seems a massive understatement. However, it must be remembered that Sony was the unlikely underdog when it first announced plans to enter the video games business.

After the PSone and PS2's dominance, it is easy to forget how video games analysts gave Sony little hope of taking on Sega and Nintendo at their own game.

Sony had virtually no experience in the industry. Yet now PlayStation is one of the most widely recognised and valuable brands in the world.

PlayStation begun life in the midst of the now-legendary Sega versus Nintendo video game wars. Sega had unveiled plans for its ill-fated Mega CD add on to the rampaging Megadrive, and Nintendo needed a counterstrike to buoy its SNES console.

Nintendo forged a partnership with Sony to develop a CD add-on for the SNES. The companies had already worked together in the past, with Kutaragi designing the SNES sound chip.

In addition to creating a CD drive for the SNES, the Nintendo deal was to allow Sony to release a Sony-branded standalone console. The machine was to use cartridges as well as CDs, and also play video movie discs, which were growing in popularity in Japan.

But Nintendo, obviously nervous about Sony's growing interest in the videogames business, ended the partnership abruptly just a day after Sony had revealed the PlayStation project at the 1991 Chicago Consumer Electronics Show. It was an embarrassing and significant blow to Sony.

Defiantly, the electronics giant decided to pursue its PlayStation project. Now without the constraints of cartridge and 16-bit technology, Kutaragi spent the next three years developing a "next-generation" games console.

Kutaragi's most significant decision was to focus on shifting polygons in 3D worlds instead of manipulating the 2D graphics that had defined previous generations of videogames.

Kutaragi's team also recognised that as a newcomer to the industry and lacking games development expertise, it needed to recruit strong third-party developers for the format.
The signing of Namco provided strong impetus for the PlayStation's launch and importantly, brought leading arcade titles to the platform.

Namco provided a near-faultless conversion of arcade racer Ridge Racer for the PlayStation's launch, and would later provide some of the machine's best titles. Other leading third-party developers like Konami, Capcom and later Square were also to prove crucial for the PlayStation's success.

The build-up to the Japanese launch was strong, and Sony claimed it would be the company's most significant hardware launch since the Walkman. Early sales were good, but not as strong as Sega's Saturn, with 100,000 machines sold on the first day in Japan.

By May 1995, Sony had sold one million consoles. Meanwhile, dedicated Australian gamers were paying up to $1500 to buy an imported machine and a couple of games.

The PlayStation was launched in Australia on November 15, with launch titles including Ridge Racer, Wipeout, Destruction Derby and Battle Arena Toshinden. Tekken was released within weeks.

In contrast to videogame marketing of the past, Sony devised an ambitious advertising campaign that positioned the PlayStation as the ultimate boy's toy for the then non-existent lifestyle games market. The launch was successful. Titles like the spectacular 3D beat 'em up Tekken, and Wipeout, with its selection of techno tracks from leading dance bands, helped define the PlayStation's street-cool image.

The battle between the PlayStation and Saturn had promised to be a long and bloody one, but despite Sega's leading arcade titles such as Virtua Fighter, Sega Rally and Daytona, the superior 3D power of the PlayStation and its more comprehensive third-party support meant the war was won very quickly.

By Christmas 96, the battle was all over, and PlayStation had the market almost to itself with the no-show of the successor to the SNES, the Nintendo 64.

By the time the Nintendo 64 was launched, Sony had sold 11 million PlayStations around the world. Economies of scale had meant Sony was able to drop the price of the PlayStation in Australia to $299, and CD format meant games were significantly cheaper than the N64's cartridges. Some N64 cartridges in Australia were released for $129.95.

Meanwhile, Sony was able to launch an incredibly successful Platinum range of titles - popular best sellers for under $50.

The PlayStation simultaneously managed to become both a mass-market consumer item and a cult icon. The console hosted some of the best games yet released, including Final Fantasy VIII, Wipeout 2097, Metal Gear Solid, Tekken 3, Chrono Cross, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Resident Evil and Gran Turismo. In its lifetime, over 500 PlayStation games were released in Australia, and over 3000 worldwide.

Sales of 100 million PSone consoles worldwide and hundreds of millions of games made PlayStation one of the most successful brands of all time and helped ensure PS2 would be even more successful.

Source : http://blogs.theage.com.au

Game On for Sony PlayStation's New Chief

Sony's new video games chief might best be described as the anti-Kutaragi. On Apr. 27, the Japanese electronics and entertainment giant tapped Kazuo "Kaz" Hirai to take over Sony Computer Entertainment after founder Ken Kutaragi says his final sayonara this summer. The promotion of Hirai, a marketing whiz who got his start in the music business, underscores how Sony (SNE) is steering the gaming unit away from its roots as a semi-independent startup run by the autocratic Kutaragi.

But when he assumes the gaming unit's top post, Hirai will have one of the hardest jobs at Sony. Since the launch of the PlayStation 3 console in November, Sony's ultra-high-tech machine has trailed the competition from Microsoft (MSFT) and Nintendo (NTDOY). Lately the gaming unit's cost overruns and ongoing technology investments have hurt Sony's bottom line. They have also caused a headache for Chairman Howard Stringer, who has spent the past two years pushing through reforms and selling off assets aimed at turning around the company's key electronics division. The game division's bigger-than-expected losses appear to be the impetus behind Stringer's reshuffling of the unit's management last November.

JPMorgan (JPM) analyst Yoshiharu Izumi reckons Sony's gaming business lost $2 billion last fiscal year (which ended in March), with operating profits expected to come in at just $635 million. Results are expected to improve this year, but to realize substantial improvement, Hirai will have to figure out how to make better use of the division's assets—and do so without the deep technological knowledge that was the key to Kutaragi's success.
Smooth Operator

No doubt, Hirai, 46, will run things far differently than his predecessor. Analysts and industry executives describe him as affable and articulate. Born in Japan, Hirai speaks English fluently, thanks to his education at the American School and the International Christian University in Tokyo. He has spent the bulk of his 23-year career at Sony in the U.S. and is widely expected to refashion Kutaragi's Japan-centric empire into a more global organization.

Analysts and former colleagues say Hirai is both a deft administrator and an expert at finessing ties with distributors, game software developers, and others. In fact, it was Hirai who signed many key U.S. developers to create games for the iconic PlayStation machines, which made them a must-have among hard-core gamers. He also led Sony's tough negotiations with Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) to sell consoles through the discount retailer's extensive network.

That ability to land deals will be crucial as he rethinks how Sony can boost the PS3's appeal with more games and other killer content. "I think he is far more in touch with the U.S. [game] publishers, and probably in a good position to enlist their support for PSP [the handheld PlayStation Portable], PS2, and PS3," says Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Morgan Securities in Los Angeles, Calif.
Tough Act to Follow

Contrast that with Kutaragi, 56, whom one industry executive described as demanding and "a very difficult person to do business with." Others say Kutaragi's need for complete control had become untenable as the division mushroomed into a $9 billion operation. "Kutaragi likes to decide everything himself," says Yuji Takahashi, a former senior Sony music executive who worked with both Kutaragi and Hirai. "That worked in the early days of the video game business. But in the next phase Sony needs someone who is a better listener."

But the biggest question facing Hirai is whether he—or anyone else—can truly fill Kutaragi's shoes. Though he's no Mr. Personality, Kutaragi has been the driving intellectual force behind Sony's gaming business.

A former engineer, Kutaragi came up with the business model of pouring billions into new hardware technology and then recouping costs through licensing deals with game creators.

He demonstrated a knack for anticipating technology trends, timing a new product rollout just as new gadgetry became available on the market. His decision to outfit the PS2 with a DVD player, for instance, made the new technology instantly affordable and helped it spread quickly.
Less Tech Expertise

Hirai isn't a techie and won't have the pull with engineers that helped make Kutaragi an effective leader. He's also a stranger to many at Sony Computer Entertainment headquarters. Until his rise to the No. 2 post in November, Hirai's dealings with Tokyo staff had been limited to a few senior executives.

That's both an opportunity and a risk. As he implements reforms to make the PS3 profitable and encourage more interaction with other Sony divisions, he will need to do so without alienating the rank and file. Over the past six months, Hirai has been easing into his role running the day-to-day operations. In late March, he oversaw the PS3 launch in Europe, approved staff cuts there, and hosted the first-ever gathering of regional heads and software studio executives.

But even those who are rooting for Hirai worry that he may be in over his head. Once Kutaragi's retirement is approved by shareholders (which is expected to happen on June 19), Hirai won't have the tech guru nearby to help with big strategic decisions, although Kutaragi will become honorary chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment and a tech consultant for Sony.
Time for a Change

"Hirai knows when to say no to development projects that he thinks aren't worth it, and he's good at explaining his rationale," says Shinichi Okamoto, the gaming division's former chief technology officer who left to start his own tech consulting firm. "But his weakness is technology. Hirai will need to learn the production supply chain and parts procurement, and he'll have to make snap strategic decisions based on five-year forecasts. Normally by now he should also start thinking about a next-generation machine."

Sony declined requests for an interview with Hirai. But in an e-mail sent to financial analysts following a Mar. 14 meeting, Hirai expressed confidence about his reforms. He noted that he had separated strategic planning from daily decision-making and had given regional heads more responsibility over console shipments, inventories, and new game titles.

Hirai's big push has been in encouraging collaboration. He has been reaching out to game creators and has devoted resources to global in-game advertising. He has also worked to tighten the bonds between headquarters and Sony Online Entertainment, the studios in charge of Net-based gaming and downloads. "Believe it or not, I never even met Kaz Hirai—which goes to show just how segmented" Sony was, says Raph Koster, former chief creative officer at Sony Online Entertainment.
Trailing the Competition

Though Sony's PSone and PS2 broke all industry sales records, the PS3 and its online service, Station.com, lack the street cred that Microsoft's popular Xbox Live site enjoys among online gaming fans. "Shattering the perception that Microsoft is the leader [in online gaming] will be very difficult without some sort of quantum leap in ease of use and capability," Koster wrote in an e-mail reply to questions.

And while the ultra-fast Cell microprocessor and high-definition Blu-ray DVD player give the PS3 a technology advantage over Nintendo's Wii, the Wii's innovative motion-sensing remote controllers have been a bigger hit with a broader audience. Marketing the PS3 as the ultimate home-entertainment hub, not just a game machine, still looks to be a tough sell.

In the U.S., as of March, Sony had sold a total of 1.2 million PS3s, vs. 2.1 million Wii machines, and 5.3 million Xbox 360 consoles, according to market researcher NPD. All of Hirai's changes won't matter unless he can narrow the gap with rival machines and restore the division's profitability.

Source : http://www.businessweek.com/

Beam Me Up, Scotty

Nearly two years after his death, the man who made "beam me up" a household phrase has finally been beamed up himself.

James Doohan, famous for his role as Scotty on "Star Trek," is one of about two hundred people whose ashes blasted off from New Mexico's Spaceport America on Saturday.

"This is the best final tribute for someone like James Doohan," said Charles Chafer, owner of Space Services Inc., the company behind the launch. "Really, it was James's wish to join his buddy Gene [Roddenberry] in space."

Roddenberry was the creator of the "Star Trek" series. His ashes were on the company's first memorial spaceflight in 1997, along with those of the controversial 1960s icon Timothy Leary. Since then, Space Services has sponsored four more memorial flights, including one to the moon.

Doohan will not get quite the ride Roddenberry got, at least not yet. Saturday's launch is a suborbital mission, meaning the spacecraft -- and the remains onboard -- reach the outer reaches of the atmosphere and fall back to Earth.

"We launch his remains into space and return them so there's a keepsake of a little bit of Scotty who has flown to space," Chafer said.

But Chafer said another portion of Doohan's ashes will fly on a future mission, when they will be released into orbit.

Not Just for Scotty

Also on board Saturday's flight were the ashes of a man who's been to space before -- Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper, who orbited the Earth in 1963 and 1965.

Although it's the more well-known passengers on memorial flights who grab the headlines, hundreds of ordinary citizens are buying the service, which can cost as little as $1,000 for a suborbital flight.

"I think people are generally surprised when they begin to see that it's a memorial service that really almost anyone can afford," Chafer said. "Of course memorials are for the living and, as a result, we work very closely with the families…Actually our service is much more for the families than it is for the person that's departed."

Nontraditional Memorials

But Space Services has competition in providing nontraditional memorials. Author Hunter S. Thompson had his ashes launched, not in a rocket, but from a cannon, as fireworks exploded to the tune of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man.

More and more families are looking for dramatic send-offs for their loved ones, and the options range from merely unusual to truly bizarre.

LifeGem creates memorial diamonds using the carbon from a person's ashes or a lock of hair.

Another company, Eternal Reefs, combines ashes with concrete to make artificial coral reefs, which are then placed in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico.

A loved one's remains can also nourish the lawn or garden, in the form of a special potting soil made by a new company called Floramorial. The price tag? About $250 for pets, or $350 for people.

Eternal Ascent in Florida will send ashes up to five miles above the Earth's surface in a large balloon that explodes when it reaches a certain altitude, scattering remains in the upper reaches of the atmosphere.

"Once they see that balloon leave their hands and go up to heaven…it's a closure like none other," said Joanie West, owner of Eternal Ascent.

Why so many options? And why now? Chafer believes it's reflective of the baby-boom generation, which he said expects to shake things up even after death.

"As we baby boomers are getting to the age where we're thinking about what our memorial services will be, we want to do something a little bit different from what our parents and grandparents did," Chafer said.

"We want something that's less focused on grief and mourning…something that celebrates the life that we lived or makes a statement about what's important to us." Now that's telling it from the grave.

Source : http://abcnwews.go.com

Google Helping State Government Sites Get Indexed

Google has teamed up with four state governments – Arizona, California, Utah and Virginia – to make public information on their Web sites more searchable. The four states have made their public databases more accessible to Google's crawler by using sitemaps to identify the structure of their sites. They have also used Google's Custom Search Engine service to include the Web sites of various state agencies in a site search.

"Connecting citizens with their government by offering the public better access to public sector information and services is consistent with our broader vision – to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful," Eric Schmidt, Google's chairman and CEO, said in a statement. "These partnerships are among many that Google is pursuing with government agencies to better serve the public."

Source : http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/

Game Over for Father Of The PlayStation

Ken Kutaragi, the father of the PlayStation, stepped down as head of Sony Computer Entertainment on Thursday, falling victim to the disappointing sales of the PlayStation 3 and rising tensions between the executive and Sony Corp.’s top brass.

In an upbeat statement, the company announced that Kutaragi would stay on as an honorary chairman and senior technology adviser, while Kazuo Hirai, the current president of the key unit, would take his place as CEO and chairman.

“I am happy to graduate from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.” said Kutaragi. “It has been an exciting experience to change the world of computer entertainment by marrying cutting-edge technologies with creative minds from all over the world. I’m looking forward to building on this vision in my next endeavors.”

Sony Corp.’s CEO, Howard Stringer, called Kutaragi a “rare combination of a powerful visionary and entrepreneur in one figure.”

But behind the bright harmony of the press release, there was reportedly a protracted tug-of-war between the high-profile executives.

Many believe that Kutaragi is another casualty in Stringer’s campaign to transform Sony (nyse: SNE - news - people ) into a leaner, more profitable and software-centric company.

The clash between Kutaragi and Stringer, which is said to have simmered since Stringer became CEO in June 2005, was typical of the collision between the old style of business at Sony and the new ethos Stringer is trying to foster.

In one corner stood Kutaragi, a 32-year Sony veteran who epitomized the independent and innovative spirit that was key to the company’s rise. As the father of three generations of the PlayStation console and the handheld version, he also represented the company’s longtime hardware and engineering focus.

In the other corner was Stringer, the new CEO eager to reduce each business line’s independence and bring about integration. Since his arrival, Stringer has “made it clear that software — and inter-unit cooperation — is a priority for his historically siloed and hardware-centric company,” Prudential Equity Group said in a March research note.

The ideological chasm that separated Kutaragi and Stringer may have been immaterial, if it wasn’t for Sony’s major financial setbacks, which likely pressured Stringer to act.

The PS3, with its high overhead costs, production shortage problems and low penetration rate, has stumbled against the attractively priced Nintendo (other-otc: NTDOY - news - people ) Wii and Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) Xbox 360, falling to No. 3 in sales. While Sony sold 1.8 million consoles through the end of 2006, Nintendo sold almost double that: 3.2 million units.

The dissapointing console is expected to drag on Sony’s earnings for the remainder of the year: “it will be difficult for the Games division to achieve break-even status in fiscal 2007, as our analysis indicates that Sony is currently losing close to $300 per PlayStation 3 unit sold,” John McPeake, a Prudential Equity Group analyst, said in a research note last month.

In a harbinger of things to come, Stringer removed Kutaragi from the post of president of Sony Computer Entertainment last November, effectively cutting him off from day-to-day operations. (See: " Sony Shuffles Gaming Team")

Kutaragi, known for his outspoken and independent management style, (See: " Exec Slams Sony Mangement for Failure to Exploit Content") may have been perceived as a hurdle in reining in the embattled games division.

The lack of communication between the computer entertainment arm and the rest of Sony made Kutaragi a volatile element. According to an interview with Stringer in the Wall Street Journal, Kutaragi surprised his boss by exceeding production budgets. In one particularly illustrative moment, Kutaragi startled management with an impromptu 20% price cut for the Japanese 20GB PlayStation 3 model. “It wasn’t financially one of my best moments,” Stringer told the paper. “The budget implications were self evident. I agreed because I wanted the launch to be successful.”

Wrangles aside, Prudential analyst John McPeake said Kutaragi’s departure and Hirai’s ascension is a logical and positive step for the beleaguered company. “This management change is expected," he said in an interview on Thursday. "Kutaragi was almost 60 years old and Kazuo Hirai has a good relationship with the game industry and game publishers."

Scientists find most Earth-like planet yet

An Earth-like planet spotted outside our solar system is the first found that could support liquid water and harbor life, scientists announced today.

Liquid water is a key ingredient for life as we know it. The newfound planet is located at the "Goldilocks" distance — not too close and not too far from its star to keep water on its surface from freezing or vaporizing away.

And while astronomers are not yet able to look for signs of biology on the planet, the discovery is a milestone in planet detection and the search for extraterrestrial life, one with the potential to profoundly change our outlook on the universe.

”The goal is to find life on a planet like the Earth around a star like the sun. This is a step in that direction,” said study leader Stephane Udry of the Geneva Observatory in Switzerland. “Each time you go one step forward you are very happy.”

The new planet is about 50 percent bigger than Earth and about five times more massive. The new “super-Earth” is called Gliese 581 C, after its star, Gliese 581, a diminutive red dwarf star located 20.5 light-years away that is about one-third as massive as the Sun.

Smallest to date
Gliese 581 C is the smallest extrasolar planet, or “exoplanet,” discovered to date. It is located about 15 times closer to its star than Earth is to the Sun; one year on the planet is equal to 13 Earth days. Because red dwarfs, also known as M dwarfs, are about 50 times dimmer than the Sun and much cooler, their planets can orbit much closer to them while still remaining within their habitable zones, the spherical region around a star within which a planet’s temperature can sustain liquid water on its surface.

Because it lies within its star’s habitable zone and is relatively close to Earth, Gliese 581 C could be a very important target for future space missions dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial life, said study team member Xavier Delfosse of Grenoble University in France.

“On the treasure map of the universe, one would be tempted to mark this planet with an X,” Delfosse said.

Two other planets are known to inhabit the red dwarf system. One is a 15 Earth-mass “hot-Jupiter” gas planet discovered by the same team two years ago, which orbits even closer to its star than does Gliese 581 C. Another is an 8 Earth-mass planet discovered at the same time as Gliese 581 C, but which lies outside its star’s habitable zone.

Possible waterworld
Computer models predict Gliese 581 C is either a rocky planet like Earth or a waterworld covered entirely by oceans.

“We have estimated that the mean temperature of this super-Earth lies between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius [32 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit], and water would thus be liquid,” Udry said.

The scientists discovered the new world using the HARP instrument on the European Southern Observatory 3.6 meter telescope in La Sille, Chile. They employed the so-called radial velocity, or “wobble,” technique, in which the size and mass of a planet are determined based on small perturbations it induces in its parent star’s orbit via gravity.

Blu-ray Disc Sales Surpass One Million

The Blu-ray Disc Association has announced that its high definition format is the first to sell more than one million discs, a milestone it has achieved in less than a year. Blu-ray Disc sales also accounted for 70 percent of the high-definition movies sold during the first quarter of 2007, according to sales figures published by Home Media Research.

Blu-ray Disc titles accounted for eight of the top ten selling high definition titles in the first quarter of this year and since the introduction of both high definition formats, seven of the top ten selling high definition movies are on Blu-ray Disc.

“Sales of Blu-ray Disc titles have taken off since the first of the year,” said Andy Parsons, Chairman of the Blu-ray Disc Association’s U.S. Promotion Committee and Senior Vice President New Product Development at Pioneer Electronics. “Blu-ray Discs have been outselling HD DVD by more than two to one since the beginning of the year and the gap is steadily widening. It’s exactly what we’ve said all along would happen - the strong support for Blu-ray among movie studio and equipment manufacturers means that consumers have more choices when it comes to players and titles. And they’re choosing Blu-ray by an ever-increasing margin.”

This is the latest string of announcements in the ongoing format war between Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD. Last week, the North American HD DVD Promotional Group revealed at the format’s first birthday party that more than 100,000 dedicated HD DVD players have sold in the U.S. in its first year since the format’s introduction to the market.

Time Warner Partners With FON For WiFi Network

FON recently announced a partnership which will give Time Warner Cable broadband users access to the growing FON WiFi network. Time Warner customers are now able to create FON access points -- via home or business broadband connections while also having access to free WiFi access across the country.

The company is also offering discounted FON La Fonera routers, which have been designed for easy install and setup. FON software allows users to split their connection -- secure connection indoors and a public connection outside of the residence.

“We are pleased to welcome Time Warner Cable subscribers to the global FON community,” said Joanna Rees, CEO of FON U.S. “Success for FON depends on extending Internet access to our user bases outside the home or office without requiring individuals to rely on costly and problematic remote access solutions.”

The FON service has almost 60,000 members in the U.S., making it the largest WiFi network in the country.

FON plans on working with other U.S. ISPs and companies in the future, according to Rees.

The company has also secured numerous partnerships with large ISPs and other companies in Europe, helping gain credibility with its service. More than 375,000 La Fonera routers have been sold or given away across the world so far.

3-D images put NASA up close with sun

In a now classic interview, British prankster Sacha Baron Cohen asked Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon, if one day a human being might step foot on . . . the sun.

The flabbergasted former astronaut responded no because, first of all, it's really, really hot there -- 27 million degrees Fahrenheit at its core.

Suggested Cohen: "We could go in da' winter, when it's colder."

Astronomers love that Ali G joke. It reminds them there's still a lot to be taught -- and learned -- about that big, ol' burning ball in the sky.

Scientists say they are making progress on both fronts. On Monday, NASA released the first 3-D images of the sun -- pictures showing solar explosions that can cause electrical power blackouts and scramble airline communication on Earth.

Through the 3-D images, taken by a pair of unmanned, golf cart-sized spacecraft, astronomers hope to better forecast solar activity, said Therese Kucera, an Evanston native who is serving as deputy project scientist for the NASA effort.
Air travelers may benefit
Speaking to school groups Monday at the Adler Planetarium, Kucera explained that for every question scientific advancement answers, it raises "10 more."

"There's still a lot to learn about the sun," she said.

The Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory spacecraft, launched in October 2006 for a two-year, $500 million multination mission, will help. The three-dimensional images the ships are producing will better help calculate movement, distance and speed of the stormy clouds of electrically charged particles that can foul up technology on Earth, some 93 million miles away.

The storms can change the voltage in power lines, overheating transformers and blowing out electrical service. Knowing such trouble is coming, energy companies may enable parts of power grids to be temporarily disconnected, said Kucera.

Jet pilots can avoid sun-related radio communication problems by altering routes away from the Earth's poles, she added.

The daughter of a chemist, Kucera, 41, became interested in astronomy as a student at Evanston Township High School. Regular visits to the Adler furthered her curiosity. She went on to earn a doctorate in astrophysics and has worked with NASA for 13 years, currently at the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.

As a kid, "I'd read astronomy books and think, 'This is the neatest stuff,'" she said.

Yahoo Music Promises the Last Word on Lyrics

Yahoo (Nasdaq: YHOO) Latest News about Yahoo has teamed with digital entertainment company Gracenote to provide supposedly official lyrics to hundreds of thousands of popular songs.

Yahoo said the lyrics, for songs from almost 100 music labels, will be free. The company also stressed that, unlike lyrics widely available at other Web sites, those on Yahoo Music will be the real deal: legal, licensed and accurate.

Just Guessing

As anybody who has ever tried to settle a song lyric dispute can attest, many existing Web sites offering words to songs are not exactly trustworthy. Often the lyrics they provide seem to be guesses, and the sites tend to be riddled with pop-up adds and other annoyances, said Gracenote CEO Craig Palmer.

Yahoo insists its new service does it the right way. Gracenote began developing its lyrics program more than two years ago, company spokesperson Allison Vano told the E-Commerce Times. Gracenote, formerly known as CDDB, calls its lyrics system Forge ahead and stay on budget with simple to install HP server technology. "the first and most comprehensive database of legal, accurate song lyrics for consumers."
Quality Control

In announcing the new service, Yahoo Music General Manager Ian Rogers suggested many popular songs, such as Bob Dylan's "Blowin in the Wind," are sometimes terribly butchered.

"You mean Bob Dylan isn't actually saying 'The ants, my friend, are in a bowling pin?'" asked Rogers. "Finally, a free, legal and definitive way to settle a bet with the guy sitting next to you at the bar who is certain the Ramones' most famous anthem declares, 'I wanna piece of bacon.'"

Just how accurate even Gracenote's lyrics can be is perhaps dubious, said Jupiter Research analyst Barry Parr.

"I am sure there are songs where there are no authorized lyrics or with lyrics are genuinely mysterious because nobody ever printed the official, authorized lyrics," he told the E-Commerce Times.

Gracenote does extensive research to ensure the lyrics are as accurate as possible, said Vano. It gets many of them directly from the music publishers, but it also finds the words through Internet Save 15% on Your Next Domain Purchase. Click Here. searches, album liner information and official songbooks. When all else fails, Gracenote engaged in in-house "lyrics transcription" wherein employees listen closely and take notes.
Missing Ingredient?

Song lyrics are "continually among the top 10 searches" performed on major search engines, according to Gracenote.

"In many cases you got lyrics when you bought the album, but if I get a song from iTunes why aren't I also getting lyrics?" asked Parr, who said he sometimes wonders about the plight of music fans who enjoy knowing the words to songs but are left clueless when they download tracts from Web sites. "You've got to believe that adding lyrics like this is an important thing for customer satisfaction."

Offering lyrics sets Yahoo Music apart from all other music download sites, Katy Lim, a public relations representative for Yahoo Music, told the E-Commerce Times.

While Parr questioned whether the feature would be significant enough to draw more customers Email Marketing Software - Free Demo to Yahoo Music, he agreed that "it's probably the right thing to do from a customer service point of view."
Paying the Poets

While many online searchers may not be overly concerned with the legalities of downloading song lyrics, Yahoo points out that doing so from unauthorized sites is a form of copyright infringement. Its deal with Gracenote, Yahoo said, not only enhances digital music downloading but also protects "the legal and artistic rights of songwriters and music publishers."

Gracenote pays royalties for lyrics downloaded from Yahoo Music, said Vano.

People can get the lyrics from the Yahoo Music Search box, Yahoo Music Artist Pages, the Yahoo Music Top Songs page, regular Yahoo Search and Yahoo Audio Search

Kryptonite Is Real, Says Natural History Museum

A new mineral matching kryptonite's unique chemistry, as described in the film Superman Returns, has been identified by scientists at the Natural History Museum and Canada's National Research Council.

As you might remember from Superman movies, the large green crystals of kryptonite have a devastating affect on the superhero. However, unlike its famous counterpart, the new mineral is white, powdery and not radioactive. And, rather than coming from outer space, the real kryptonite was found in Serbia.

Geologists and mineralogists from mining group Rio Tinto discovered the unusual mineral. It didn't match anything known previously to science so they sort the help of mineral expert Dr Chris Stanley at the Natural History Museum.

'Towards the end of my research,' says Dr Stanley, 'I searched the web using the mineral's chemical formula, sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide , and was amazed to discover that same scientific name written on a case of rock containing kryptonite stolen by Lex Luther from a museum in the film Superman Returns'.

'The new mineral does not contain fluorine and is white rather than green, but in all other respects the chemistry matches that for the rock containing kryptonite. We will have to be careful with it - we wouldn't want to deprive Earth of its most famous superhero!'

The mineral could be used as a source of lithium , which has many uses including in batteries, or as a source of borate, which is used for cleaning, also known as borax.

Approximately 30-40 new mineral species are discovered each year. It is very unusual to find a new mineral in this quantity. New minerals generally come in the form of a few grains only visible under the microscope, but this one has several centimeters of drill core as well as a few bags of fragments.

Before it can be classified as new, a mineral's chemical properties must be rigorously tested, including its crystal structure. The crystals of the new mineral were too small to be tested through standard techniques. So Dr Stanley used the sophisticated analytical facilities at Canada's National Research Council (NRC) and the expertise of its researchers, Dr Pamela Whitfield and Dr Yvon Le Page.

Additionally, scientists from Natural Resources Canada, the Geological Survey of Canada and the Canadian Museum of Nature have collaborated to ensure that the new mineral is recognised by the international scientific community.

The mineral will be formally named Jadarite when it is described in the European Journal of Mineralogy later this year.

India puts Italian satellite into orbit

India’s space agency placed an Italian satellite in orbit Monday, bolstering the South Asian nation’s efforts to win a slice of the billion-dollar global launch market.

The India-made Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) put the Agile astronomical satellite into its intended orbit about 550 kilometres (325 miles) above the earth 20 minutes after blast-off.

It was India’s first commercial space mission and the rocket’s 11th flight.’It’s a historic moment for the entire space community: an Italian satellite being placed in precise orbit by a totally Indian-built vehicle,’ Indian Space Research Organisation chief G. Madhavan Nair said on state-run TV.

‘We have proven the reliability of the PSLV, its cost-effectiveness and given on-time delivery,’ he added from Sriharikota spaceport, 80 kilometres (50 miles) from Chennai in southern India.

Leaving behind a massive trail of orange and white smoke, the rocket blasted off on schedule at 3:30 pm local time (1000 GMT).

‘I’m really proud to be here today,’ Giovanni Bignani, the head of the Italian space agency, said on Indian television.

‘This marks a new era of cooperation between Italy and India,’ he added, while praising the professionalism of Indian space scientists.

The 352-kilogramme (774-pound) Italian astronomical satellite will be used to gather information about the origins of the universe.

India wants to compete with the United States, Russia, China, the Ukraine and the European Space Agency in offering commercial satellite launch services, a market worth up to 2.5 billion dollars a year.

For Monday’s launch, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which runs India’s space programme, is charging 11 million dollars, the Press Trust of India has reported. Space agency officials have confirmed the fee is close to that figure.

‘The launch itself is a matter of minutes but years of work have gone into it,’ K.R. Sridhara Murthi, of the Indian Department of space, said, adding about 1,000 technical personnel had been involved in pre-launch preparations.

India started its space programme in 1963, and has since developed and put its own satellites into space. It has also designed and built launch rockets to reduce its dependence on overseas space agencies but has only recently begun exploring commercial spin-offs.

It carried out the first successful launch of a domestic satellite, which weighed 35 kilogrammes, by a home-built rocket in 1980.

The PSLV, which has previously launched eight remote-sensing and one amateur radio satellite, is capable of placing 1,500-kilogramme satellites into orbit.

The rocket had been modified to launch the much smaller Agile, together with which it carried a space module to test aviation and electronics systems.