Digit LIVE news - Sony to sell hard disk camcorder
Sony's new DCR-SR100 will cost $1,100 in the US when introduced in March. It has a 30GB hard disk and stores in MPEG2 format.
All cameras will eventually use hard disks, especially with disk capacities increasing and the availability of decent editing packages for both PC and Mac users.
There are 3 modes, HP, SP and LP storing at 9, 6 and 3Mbps respectively allowing between 7hrs 20 mins and 20hrs 50 mins of recording time.
UK availability hasn't been announced.
2006/01/30
Manga Studio 3.0 Debut Full Version - e frontier Global
Manga Studio 3.0 Debut Full Version - e frontier Global
Want to be a Manga Artist, now's your chance with the release of Manga Studio. There are two versions, Debut for 41.07 Euros and EX for 246.46 Euros, the EX version has more features and templates.
Budding comic authors get going.
Want to be a Manga Artist, now's your chance with the release of Manga Studio. There are two versions, Debut for 41.07 Euros and EX for 246.46 Euros, the EX version has more features and templates.
Budding comic authors get going.
Digit LIVE news - Sony puts down Aibo robot dog
Digit LIVE news - Sony puts down Aibo robot dog
Sony is killing of it's AIBO range as well as the future homonoid QRIO.
Though they were expensive toys, it's a shame that economic pressure has forced them to concentrate on more mainstream products.
It just shows that big gants are feeling the pressure.
Sony is killing of it's AIBO range as well as the future homonoid QRIO.
Though they were expensive toys, it's a shame that economic pressure has forced them to concentrate on more mainstream products.
It just shows that big gants are feeling the pressure.
Ofcom Website | Report on the implementation of BT's Undertakings
Ofcom Website | Report on the implementation of BT's Undertakings
Ofcom have released their second in a series of quarterly reports on BT's progress towards implementions of its Undertakings.
It only contains up to date info and historical information should be taken from previous reports.
Ofcom will in February publish a statement on how it intends t evaluate the outcome of the Undertakings and shortly and the Stratgic Review of Telecommunications.
Any statements within the reports may not be definative as Ofcom needs to utilise the full process of enforcement action to put them into context.
Ofcom have released their second in a series of quarterly reports on BT's progress towards implementions of its Undertakings.
It only contains up to date info and historical information should be taken from previous reports.
Ofcom will in February publish a statement on how it intends t evaluate the outcome of the Undertakings and shortly and the Stratgic Review of Telecommunications.
Any statements within the reports may not be definative as Ofcom needs to utilise the full process of enforcement action to put them into context.
2006/01/25
IEEE gives up on UWB standard - Network IT Week
IEEE gives up on UWB standard - Network IT Week
The IEEE standards group known as 802.15.3a Task Group (TG3a) held two votes, one to give up trying find a standard and the second to dissolve itself. They've left it to industry to decide which way to go.
Initially there were 23 competing standards which was reduced to two, MultiBand Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing UWB, supported by the WiMedia Alliance, and Direct Sequence-UWB, supported by the UWB Forum.
Unfortunately the two standards are completely non-interoperable.
This means that each group will push their own specifications and manufacturers in the groups will produce hardware based on that standard.
It doesn't mean UWB wont succeed, just that they'll be a VHS/Betamax war for a while.
The IEEE standards group known as 802.15.3a Task Group (TG3a) held two votes, one to give up trying find a standard and the second to dissolve itself. They've left it to industry to decide which way to go.
Initially there were 23 competing standards which was reduced to two, MultiBand Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing UWB, supported by the WiMedia Alliance, and Direct Sequence-UWB, supported by the UWB Forum.
Unfortunately the two standards are completely non-interoperable.
This means that each group will push their own specifications and manufacturers in the groups will produce hardware based on that standard.
It doesn't mean UWB wont succeed, just that they'll be a VHS/Betamax war for a while.
2006/01/24
RIM loses High Court Appeal
RIM the maker of the ubiquotous Blackberry devices has lost an appeal to overturn the injunction that could take Blackberries off the air.
If the injunction is upheld (RIM are alleged to have infringed patents) then they could be forced to suspend their service, so turning millions of devices into expensive bits of plastic.
They can still be used as phones, but all the Email/Calendaring/etc functionality will go.
Something is bound to give and it's probably just a matter of money, but 3m Blackberry users wont be happy if it doesn't.
Microsoft and others who are in the push Email market must be chomping at bit to woo customers away from RIM.
If the injunction is upheld (RIM are alleged to have infringed patents) then they could be forced to suspend their service, so turning millions of devices into expensive bits of plastic.
They can still be used as phones, but all the Email/Calendaring/etc functionality will go.
Something is bound to give and it's probably just a matter of money, but 3m Blackberry users wont be happy if it doesn't.
Microsoft and others who are in the push Email market must be chomping at bit to woo customers away from RIM.
Ofcom Website | Using your mobile abroad
Ofcom Website | Using your mobile abroad
Ofcom have produced their consumer guide to using your mobile abroad. It shows roaming tarriffs and various examples on various networks, even recommending people buy a local SIM and get their phone unlocked.
Hopefully this will encourage operators to standardise roaming and make it simple and not charge huge premiums.
The document covers voice tarrifs, but data tarrifs are even worse.
Ofcom have produced their consumer guide to using your mobile abroad. It shows roaming tarriffs and various examples on various networks, even recommending people buy a local SIM and get their phone unlocked.
Hopefully this will encourage operators to standardise roaming and make it simple and not charge huge premiums.
The document covers voice tarrifs, but data tarrifs are even worse.
Ofcom Website | Wholesale Line Rental: Reviewing and setting charge ceilings for WLR services
Ofcom Website | Wholesale Line Rental: Reviewing and setting charge ceilings for WLR services
Ofcom has set new Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) charges for business lines, these are now in-line with residential lines and cover ISDN services.
Residential WLR Business WLR
Install Ceiling £ 88.00 £ 88.00
Transfer Charge £ 2.00 £ 2.00
Annual Charge £100.68 £110.00
This should please many carriers who have resisted offering business services as the price differential was too great, which will put even more pressure on BT's declining market until they launch their 21CN.
Ofcom has set new Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) charges for business lines, these are now in-line with residential lines and cover ISDN services.
Residential WLR Business WLR
Install Ceiling £ 88.00 £ 88.00
Transfer Charge £ 2.00 £ 2.00
Annual Charge £100.68 £110.00
This should please many carriers who have resisted offering business services as the price differential was too great, which will put even more pressure on BT's declining market until they launch their 21CN.
2006/01/18
Apple & Microsoft extend Office software contract. - Jan. 13, 2006
Apple & Microsoft extend Office software contract. - Jan. 13, 2006
Why is this such a suprise, even though Apple have moved to Intel they are still using MacOS X which only runs on Apple hardware.
Microsoft's Mac Business Unit is still the largest provider of software for MacOS and though they've killed of IE (which is free and all Macs come with the Safari browser) and more recently Media Player (though there's still the current one available which they wont kill) many Mac users still want to use Microsoft Office.
Office for Mac is undoubtable better than Office for Windows, and the new version of Messenger is also an improvement over the PC variant.
Killing off such a large part of Microsoft's revenue is plain dumb.
Signing a 5 year agreement just means more money for the MS empire, which makes even more sense since MS bought into Apple (with a $250m cash injection when they were going through a very bad patch and MS thought they might become the single OS for personal computers - this was before Linux rose to popularity).
If Apple do gain more market share in laptops and desktops, then it's still more money for MS.
Why is this such a suprise, even though Apple have moved to Intel they are still using MacOS X which only runs on Apple hardware.
Microsoft's Mac Business Unit is still the largest provider of software for MacOS and though they've killed of IE (which is free and all Macs come with the Safari browser) and more recently Media Player (though there's still the current one available which they wont kill) many Mac users still want to use Microsoft Office.
Office for Mac is undoubtable better than Office for Windows, and the new version of Messenger is also an improvement over the PC variant.
Killing off such a large part of Microsoft's revenue is plain dumb.
Signing a 5 year agreement just means more money for the MS empire, which makes even more sense since MS bought into Apple (with a $250m cash injection when they were going through a very bad patch and MS thought they might become the single OS for personal computers - this was before Linux rose to popularity).
If Apple do gain more market share in laptops and desktops, then it's still more money for MS.
Digit LIVE news - Adobe upgrades video tools
Digit LIVE news - Adobe upgrades video tools
Adobe has upgraded it's video suite as Ceative Suite Production Studio in both standard and pro verions which include new versions of of After Effects, Premiere Pro, Encore DVD and Audition.
The standard collection contains After Effects 7.0 standard, Premiere Pro 2.0, Photoshop CS2 and Adobe Bridge, while the pro version also contains Audition 2.0, Encore DVD 2.0, Illustrator CS2 as well as After Effects 7.0 Pro.
The bundles utilise Adobe's new Synamic Link technhology allowing After Effects compositions in Premiere and Encore without pre-rendering.
The bundles allow direct HDTV editing and support for both 720p and 1080i formats, as well as directly supporting newer cameras which support HDTV. Premiere will also drive standard editing decks through RS-232.
Encore DVD now supports a flow-chart system for navigating DVDs and supports DTS audio (including the 6.1 channel ES format).
All the packages now utilise the After Effects interface.
Adobe has upgraded it's video suite as Ceative Suite Production Studio in both standard and pro verions which include new versions of of After Effects, Premiere Pro, Encore DVD and Audition.
The standard collection contains After Effects 7.0 standard, Premiere Pro 2.0, Photoshop CS2 and Adobe Bridge, while the pro version also contains Audition 2.0, Encore DVD 2.0, Illustrator CS2 as well as After Effects 7.0 Pro.
The bundles utilise Adobe's new Synamic Link technhology allowing After Effects compositions in Premiere and Encore without pre-rendering.
The bundles allow direct HDTV editing and support for both 720p and 1080i formats, as well as directly supporting newer cameras which support HDTV. Premiere will also drive standard editing decks through RS-232.
Encore DVD now supports a flow-chart system for navigating DVDs and supports DTS audio (including the 6.1 channel ES format).
All the packages now utilise the After Effects interface.
2006/01/16
Google bundles up desktop tools - IT Week
Google bundles up desktop tools - IT Week
Google has bundled various packages together, it includes Google Earth, Google Talk, Google Toolbar, Google desktop, Mozilla Firefox, Norton AntiVirus and Adobe Reader 7. There's also an update system that keeps all the packages updates.
Though these are all indivually available, the Google Pack makes it easy to install them and ensure they are up to date.
This is potentially a direct move against Microsoft by moving into the traditional desktop envirtonment. It's likely Google are looking for an "office" environment, though they may wait until they have a hosted version.
This is likely to raise the profile of Google in both the consumer and maybe enterprise markets.
Google has bundled various packages together, it includes Google Earth, Google Talk, Google Toolbar, Google desktop, Mozilla Firefox, Norton AntiVirus and Adobe Reader 7. There's also an update system that keeps all the packages updates.
Though these are all indivually available, the Google Pack makes it easy to install them and ensure they are up to date.
This is potentially a direct move against Microsoft by moving into the traditional desktop envirtonment. It's likely Google are looking for an "office" environment, though they may wait until they have a hosted version.
This is likely to raise the profile of Google in both the consumer and maybe enterprise markets.
2006/01/11
MPs demand wi-fi access in Houses of Parliament - Public Sector - Breaking Business and Technology News at silicon.com
MPs demand wi-fi access in Houses of Parliament - Public Sector - Breaking Business and Technology News at silicon.com
MP's want Wireless networking in the Houses of Parliament. Apart from the obvious security issues, the main difficulty in installing networking equipment is that the main Parliament building is listed (and to the highest level) which means installing anything is a complete PITA.
Portcullis House would be easier as it's a new building and almost certainly has networking installed that could easily be tapped and access points installed.
MP's want Wireless networking in the Houses of Parliament. Apart from the obvious security issues, the main difficulty in installing networking equipment is that the main Parliament building is listed (and to the highest level) which means installing anything is a complete PITA.
Portcullis House would be easier as it's a new building and almost certainly has networking installed that could easily be tapped and access points installed.
Wired News: Ultrawideband's Macworld Twirl
Wired News: Ultrawideband's Macworld Twirl
UWB is here, well almost - consumer devices are starting to appear in the US where the FCC has allowed the use or low power short range (wire replacement) UWB.
Of course in the UK it's a different story and UWB isn't allowed yet, though Ofcom have submitted proposals to CEPT (The EU radio standards lot) - but they are different from the US standards, so US kit isn't legal.
One day the EU will catch-up, but it might be a while, but by that time there may be various manufacturers of UWB chips and some conformance tests from the WiMeda Alliance (currently only Freescale have a UWB chipset).
UWB is here, well almost - consumer devices are starting to appear in the US where the FCC has allowed the use or low power short range (wire replacement) UWB.
Of course in the UK it's a different story and UWB isn't allowed yet, though Ofcom have submitted proposals to CEPT (The EU radio standards lot) - but they are different from the US standards, so US kit isn't legal.
One day the EU will catch-up, but it might be a while, but by that time there may be various manufacturers of UWB chips and some conformance tests from the WiMeda Alliance (currently only Freescale have a UWB chipset).
Exchange moves to 64bit path - Network IT Week
Exchange moves to 64bit path - Network IT Week
Now that support for Exchange 5.5 has ended many people will be thinking of upgrading (there's a lot of 5.5 users out there), should they upgrade to Exchange 2003 or wait for 12?
Version 12 will ONLY run on 64bit architechtures which may be a good thing in terms of server software, but users will also be forced to upgrade their hardware.
It should mean a much more scalable platform. MS were thinking of replacing the datastore that Exchange users to MS SQL (or a derivative) - which may still happen, the current store uses the JET database engine (like Access), however with the move to 64bit the speed and other advantages aren't so apparent, which means they are likely to stick with what they've got for a while.
So it might be worth waiting and just jump to Exchange 12 on upgraded hardware.
Now that support for Exchange 5.5 has ended many people will be thinking of upgrading (there's a lot of 5.5 users out there), should they upgrade to Exchange 2003 or wait for 12?
Version 12 will ONLY run on 64bit architechtures which may be a good thing in terms of server software, but users will also be forced to upgrade their hardware.
It should mean a much more scalable platform. MS were thinking of replacing the datastore that Exchange users to MS SQL (or a derivative) - which may still happen, the current store uses the JET database engine (like Access), however with the move to 64bit the speed and other advantages aren't so apparent, which means they are likely to stick with what they've got for a while.
So it might be worth waiting and just jump to Exchange 12 on upgraded hardware.
2006/01/05
Ofcom Website | Scoping an NGN industry body - an independent report by Spectrum Strategy Consultants
Ofcom Website | Scoping an NGN industry body - an independent report by Spectrum Strategy Consultants:
Ofcom commissioned Spectrum Strategy Consultants to help develop the scope for a new New Generation Networks industry body. Based on the report Ofcom have recommended setting up an NGN body.
They propose
The body’s purpose should be to develop a joint vision and framework for the transition to NGNs that encompasses commercial, technical and operational issues.
It will issue recommendations to the industry
In order to function effectively, the body will require a stringent governance and organisational structure:
its membership should be inclusive; stakeholders will be able to participate in workgroups on specific issues independent of size and degree of infrastructure ownership
in order to function effectively, the NGN body will need a strong figurehead as a chairman supported by a well-resourced management team equipped with strategic, technical and programme management expertise
a board consisting of 8-10 industry representatives needs to be appointed to approve the body�s recommendations and to drive its agenda forward
the organisation will be independent, accountable only to its members
Ofcom should adopt the role of an active observer
The body should be owned and funded by industry in order to enable its independence. However, Ofcom will need to play a leading role during the set-up phase
The body is required as soon as possible and should be set up within the next six to seven months; it is expected to have a lifetime of 3-4 years
Why is Ofcom proposing this? Well yes the industry is moving to NGN, but it's BT they are really worried about. BT's 21CN will completely change the face of telecoms in the UK and Ofcom need to be able to ensure that the rest of the industry doesn't get left behind and suddenly everyone becomes a BT reseller once again.
This way they can support an industry body - steered by Ofcom initially that actually understands what's going on and the future implications for the industry.
Ofcom commissioned Spectrum Strategy Consultants to help develop the scope for a new New Generation Networks industry body. Based on the report Ofcom have recommended setting up an NGN body.
They propose
The body’s purpose should be to develop a joint vision and framework for the transition to NGNs that encompasses commercial, technical and operational issues.
It will issue recommendations to the industry
In order to function effectively, the body will require a stringent governance and organisational structure:
its membership should be inclusive; stakeholders will be able to participate in workgroups on specific issues independent of size and degree of infrastructure ownership
in order to function effectively, the NGN body will need a strong figurehead as a chairman supported by a well-resourced management team equipped with strategic, technical and programme management expertise
a board consisting of 8-10 industry representatives needs to be appointed to approve the body�s recommendations and to drive its agenda forward
the organisation will be independent, accountable only to its members
Ofcom should adopt the role of an active observer
The body should be owned and funded by industry in order to enable its independence. However, Ofcom will need to play a leading role during the set-up phase
The body is required as soon as possible and should be set up within the next six to seven months; it is expected to have a lifetime of 3-4 years
Why is Ofcom proposing this? Well yes the industry is moving to NGN, but it's BT they are really worried about. BT's 21CN will completely change the face of telecoms in the UK and Ofcom need to be able to ensure that the rest of the industry doesn't get left behind and suddenly everyone becomes a BT reseller once again.
This way they can support an industry body - steered by Ofcom initially that actually understands what's going on and the future implications for the industry.
IBM buys into network management - Network IT Week
IBM buys into network management - Network IT Week
The acquistion of Micromuse by IBM will probably see Micromuse being saved and also extending IBM's Tivoli managanent system by incorporating NetCool, Micromuse's product.
NetCool is quite sophisticated in that it has active agents which can not just detect whether a server is there or not, but how the applications running on it are performing i.e. say how a web server is performing.
As the world moves to converged networks, being able to monitor how the networks and services are performing is going to be very important rather than in today's world were you know if the network is working or not.
The acquistion of Micromuse by IBM will probably see Micromuse being saved and also extending IBM's Tivoli managanent system by incorporating NetCool, Micromuse's product.
NetCool is quite sophisticated in that it has active agents which can not just detect whether a server is there or not, but how the applications running on it are performing i.e. say how a web server is performing.
As the world moves to converged networks, being able to monitor how the networks and services are performing is going to be very important rather than in today's world were you know if the network is working or not.
2006/01/03
BBC NEWS | Technology | City-wide wi-fi rolls out in UK
BBC NEWS | Technology | City-wide wi-fi rolls out in UK
The Cloud is rolling out WiFi Hotzones in London, Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Oxford and Cambridge.
In London the 3 boroughs of Islington, Kensington and Camden will get WiFi'd. The Cloud has already WiFi'd Canary Wharf (in Docklands) and is using the success of this to move to other areas.
Anyone with a BT Openzone, O2, SkypeZones or Nintendo WiFi but the Cloud are hopeing to attract other operators.
Hopefully WiFi pricing will come down as it is still too expensive - but it may appeal to business users.
The Cloud is rolling out WiFi Hotzones in London, Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Oxford and Cambridge.
In London the 3 boroughs of Islington, Kensington and Camden will get WiFi'd. The Cloud has already WiFi'd Canary Wharf (in Docklands) and is using the success of this to move to other areas.
Anyone with a BT Openzone, O2, SkypeZones or Nintendo WiFi but the Cloud are hopeing to attract other operators.
Hopefully WiFi pricing will come down as it is still too expensive - but it may appeal to business users.
Skype targets mainstream consumers | CNET News.com
Skype targets mainstream consumers | CNET News.com
Skype has launched various new products to make it easier for consumers to use the service and to make it appeal to customers who might normally go for a service like Vonage or other VoIP provider.
The new products range from handsets that can work away from the PC, to a standalone unit from D-Link that allows a normal phone to be plugged-in and just has an Ethernet connection.
The investment from Ebay is obviously paying off, but Skype need to increase their market from their 70m existing users.
Skype has launched various new products to make it easier for consumers to use the service and to make it appeal to customers who might normally go for a service like Vonage or other VoIP provider.
The new products range from handsets that can work away from the PC, to a standalone unit from D-Link that allows a normal phone to be plugged-in and just has an Ethernet connection.
The investment from Ebay is obviously paying off, but Skype need to increase their market from their 70m existing users.
2005/12/30
Digit LIVE news - Wireless USB creeps nearer
Digit LIVE news - Wireless USB creeps nearer
Wireless USB, which will work at 480Mbps using short-range ultra-wide band (UWB) radio has been specified by a group led by Intel, and has its standards published online.
Wisair has produced a device which plugs a dongle into the PC and has a hub that connects wirelessly to the dongle, in future there wont be a need for dongles at all and USB devices with have the UWB technology built-into the devices themselves and PC manafactures will put the UWB technology into the PCs or motherboards.
This all assumes UWB gets regulatory approval, and though the UK (Ofcom) has put forward a spec for UWB, it differs from the US version. It also needs to go through the EU approvals process so it's an EU harmonised standard, which could take a while.
Wireless USB, which will work at 480Mbps using short-range ultra-wide band (UWB) radio has been specified by a group led by Intel, and has its standards published online.
Wisair has produced a device which plugs a dongle into the PC and has a hub that connects wirelessly to the dongle, in future there wont be a need for dongles at all and USB devices with have the UWB technology built-into the devices themselves and PC manafactures will put the UWB technology into the PCs or motherboards.
This all assumes UWB gets regulatory approval, and though the UK (Ofcom) has put forward a spec for UWB, it differs from the US version. It also needs to go through the EU approvals process so it's an EU harmonised standard, which could take a while.
Digit LIVE news - IE gains Firefox RSS icon, loses Mac version
Digit LIVE news - IE gains Firefox RSS icon, loses Mac version
Microsoft is jumping on the open source bandwagon, well maybe not, they're just using the orange Firefox icon to show RSS feeds, though MS do point out they have exchanged technology with the Mozilla lot in the past and will no doubt in the future.
They've also announce dthe dealth-bell for IE on Mac and recommend users upgrade to newer browsers such as Safari.
Microsoft is jumping on the open source bandwagon, well maybe not, they're just using the orange Firefox icon to show RSS feeds, though MS do point out they have exchanged technology with the Mozilla lot in the past and will no doubt in the future.
They've also announce dthe dealth-bell for IE on Mac and recommend users upgrade to newer browsers such as Safari.
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