New competitors YouTube Born

MUZU.TV

So far, YouTube is still the king of video sharing sites although the fans had to settle for low quality of the displayed image. Well, this gap is finally used by similar sites to match the popularity of YouTube.

Muzu, based in Ireland, is the name of the new site. In order to strengthen its network, they have to pick up 4 giant record label: Universal, Sony BMG, Warner and EMI. For his own independent label, as many as more than 7,000 labels have agreed to shelter.

What is offered by Muzu? In addition to hundreds of music videos with excellent quality, Muzu also allows users to create playlists that contain video and their favorite clips and share them with others via the Internet, including on-site networking site.

In a statement quoted from the Telegraph, Friday (2/10/2009), the Muzu looks very confident with their service. "Not any more, each video has received a permit and approved by the artist. You do not have to see the video with the look of freckles anymore,"

Oprah dragged Software Patent Case

Oprah Winfrey (wikipedia)

Famous host, Oprah Winfrey, dragging the software patent infringement cases. Oprah's company, Harpo Productions, a breach of software copyright books online.

Is Iilionis Computer Research (ICR) Harpo Productions, claiming the software violates patents. Harpo is a patent violation of ICR in Oprah's Book Club site.

Allegations were also dragged the big companies Sony Corporation of America and Sony Electronics. Sony claimed misuse of patents through Sony Bookreader.

ICR admitted holding the patent to improve 'touch and feel' on the internet. Patents were mentioned included 'means and how to view and review quotes from a digital book for review before purchase, but the reader can not get to see the whole book before you buy'.

Quoted from theregister, Friday (9/1/2009), in this case Oprah Winfrey did not personally set as defendants. ICR claim damages for the amount that is not mentioned.

ICR is to acquire patents from a man named Scott Harris. The inventor was a lawyer who had issued from work.

Harris issued because tekait in the Google lawsuit over infringement of patents similar to that now used for suing Harpo and Sony. Yet, when it, Google is a client company where Harris worked.

In the case against Google, ICR also ultimately be the ones to sue. Google and the ICR to peace in the outer court and the lawsuit dropped.

Greet Windows 7, AMD releases quad-core Cheap

AMD

As part of the desktop platform in mainstream classes, AMD today introduced the Quad-Core their first cheap, less valuable than U.S. $ 100.

With the balance of power of AMD Athlon II X4 quad-core processors, and AMD 785G chipset featured ATI Radeon HD 4200, AMD seemed to welcome the arrival of Windows 7, the HD spec the computer graphics.

When juxtaposed with the processors 'neighbors' that class, but valuable competitive, AMD Athlon processor 620 II X4 more likely to be superior in terms of multi-tasking, in addition to the price that much cheaper.

AMD products in mainstream classes are also designed to be more effective in working with HD graphics. For example ATI Stream Technology, which allows hardware acceleration which makes the conversion rate increased HD video formats.

AMD's products were welcomed with open arms by HP, as topnotch IT companies in the world.

"Our goal is to produce a superior computer performance, and maximize the value of these computers to our customers," said John Cook, Vice President of Marketing, the global PC business, HP, as quoted from Techpowerup, Friday (18/9/2009) .

"Quad-Core Processors AMD's latest offering perfect balance between performance and price. It makes HP provides leading-class PCs for our customers," he added.

This is also in line with the words of Mike Ybarra, as general manager of Microsoft's Windows Product Management.

"Designed for the needs of consumers, Windows 7 will be added to the Windows user experience. With the introduction of Mainstream Desktop Platform AMD and in combination with Windows 7, it will increasingly deliver digital entertainment more attractive," he said.

British citizens Hide 90 Million Mobile Old

What do British people if the cell is no longer used? Stored, donated or recycled?

oldphone

As a precaution, it was the British people would rather save a cell phone at home. Just in case the point here is that if only their new phone later stolen, lost or damaged, then they can continue using his old phone.

From the survey conducted, as many as 52% of respondents admitted doing the above. While those who do actively recycle cell phone number much less the 22% only, while 21% of the respondents chose to give relatives or friends.

The trend toward the purchase of British citizens are also not known phone depending on the age of mobile phones. Although the average age is 7 years old phone, they usually upgrade the phone every one or two years.

This survey shows that the behavior of people on their mobile phones tend to opportunistic and often fickle.

Seeing the results of a survey that was held, now the result is much more than 90 million phones obsolete 'stranded' all over the UK. Therefore, they are encouraged to recycle their communication devices on behalf of the environment.

Tammy Arya general manager of a recycling company, The Recycling Factory, Boston said "It is important to encourage the public to start recycling their cell phones to donate to the environment,"

Better Place software tallies electric cars' charge

Better Place founder Shai Agassi is ready to show off that he's applying his software industry experience to improve electric vehicles.

At the Frankfurt Auto Show on Tuesday, the electric car service company will show off in-car software designed to ensure that electric car drivers have enough charge to keep driving.

Code-named AutOS, Better Place's software alerts drivers to a car battery's charge status and points them to battery charging spots and swapping stations in the company's network.

In conjunction with the launch, partner Renault is also expected to debut a concept car called Fluence ZE, a five-seat all-electric passenger car that will be able to operate at Better Place's battery-swapping stations. The two companies have committed to producing 100,000 of the sedans, which have a 100-mile-driving range, for Better Place customers in both Israel and Denmark by 2016.

Better Place's answer to range anxiety: software that keeps you informed about charging options.

(Credit: Better Place)

One of the biggest challenges to introducing plug-in electric vehicles to consumers is "range anxiety," or the fear of not being able to replenish a car battery.

Better Place's solution to the shorter range that battery electric cars offer is to build a network of charge spots at people's homes, offices, and public places. In addition, the company has developed automated battery swapping stations, where a driver rolls up to a spot and a machine slips in a fresh battery.

The business model mimics the cell phone business where consumers purchase a plan that covers a certain number of miles for a monthly fee, which also includes free access to charge spots and swapping stations. Better Place owns the batteries, rather than the car owner.

The software, too, is a key piece of easing range anxiety because it will inform consumers of their fueling options, said Sidney Goodman, the vice president of auto alliances at Better Place.

"It's an energy-management system for ensuring that you never get stuck basically," he explained. "We relieve you from having to start guessing and dealing with that."

Goodman said that the software "learns" from a person's driving habits. For example, the system can tell a driver that there's a battery swapping spot nearby. If the driver ignores the alert, it will adjust and offer other options, such as other charge spot or swapping spots, and tell drivers how they can go with the current charge.

The more information that a person provides, such as a trip's destination and starting point, the more accurate the information and driver profile is, Goodman said. "Based on how your react, the software will adjust," he said.

Built using Windows Embedded and running Intel Atom processors, the software taps into the existing diagnostic messaging system in cars.

Utilities, too
Behind the scenes is another portion of the overall AutOS system designed to ensure that Better Place can operate the network without causing crippling spikes in electricity demand.

The arrival of hundreds of thousands or millions of plug-in electric vehicles onto the grid complicates life for utilities and grid operators. If vehicle charging en masse causes big spikes in demand, utilities will need to add additional capacity by building more power plants.

A screen shot of how Better Place's energy-management software can be used with a mobile device.

(Credit: Better Place)

To prevent spikes, the charging rate of plug-in electric vehicle batteries can be adjusted, which is called smart charging. Topping off a battery overnight, for example, could be done over several hours and not impact the driver.

In Better Place's case, its back-end software was written to ensure that it will not exceed the amount of electricity it has contracted from utilities. In the first two countries it will operate--Israel and Denmark--it plans to make bulk power purchases from utilities and use its software to stay within its budgeted amount, Goodman said.

Energy management is expected to be an important component to a coming wave of plug-in electric vehicles built for everyday use. Nissan's battery-electric Leaf has software to monitor and manage battery charge. It has energy-saving features, such as allowing a consumer to turn on air conditioner with a mobile phone while a car is still plugged in to conserve battery power.

Better Place is in the process of building out the charging and battery-swapping infrastructure in Israel in Denmark which are projected to be operating in 2011 with early pilots this year and next, Goodman said.

Although the company has gotten a lot of attention for its novel business model, Better Place so far has only signed on Nissan-Renault as a partner willing to produce electric vehicles with switchable batteries. Some executives from other auto makers have said that the swapping system is not practical because battery sizes are not standardized.