Wigital - Digital Entertainment, Gadgets & Software

Spotify on Android and iPhone Coming Soon…

Dave — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:05:35 +0000

Just seen these two very interesting videos on Youtube for Spotify mobile applications. Enjoy…

Industry giants promote new wireless technology

Dave — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:23:03 +0000

Mobile handset vendors Nokia, Samsung and LG are among more than 15 high-profile names that have joined together to develop a new 60GHz wireless technology known as WiGig. The WiGig Alliance said it is working on a specification - scheduled to be released before year-end - that will allow devices to communicate without wires at gigabit speeds within a typical room. The group’s vision is to create a global ecosystem of interoperable products based on this specification, which will unify the next generation of entertainment, computing and communications devices at speeds more than 10 times faster than today’s wireless LANs. The Alliance said the technology will be able to connect consumer electronics, handheld devices and personal computers.

Companies in the alliance include: Atheros, Broadcom, Dell, Intel, LG, Marvell, MediaTek, Microsoft, NEC, Nokia, Panasonic, Samsung and Wilocity. “Our member companies are leaders in the wireless, CE, PC and handheld markets,” said Dr. Ali Sadri, president and chairman of the Alliance. “They have the technical acumen and business experience to make the 60GHz wireless technology a reality for both the home and enterprise.”

Owners may need to rescue Sony Ericsson

Dave — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:22:15 +0000

Sony and Ericsson are reportedly preparing for the possibility of having to secure new financing at their struggling handset joint venture, with analysts speculating each could have to make a capital injection of EUR500 million before the end of the year. A Financial Times (FT) report claims that Japan’s Sony and Sweden’s Ericsson are considering a capital injection, or acting as guarantors on a loan for Sony Ericsson, to strengthen the joint venture’s balance sheet.

The venture is burning up cash as it runs up losses. Last month the company reported a first-quarter pretax loss of EUR358 million after sales dropped 36 percent from the year earlier. A 35 percent fall in handset shipments saw its market share plunge to 5.9 percent, ranking it as the fifth-largest global handset vendor. According to the FT article, Sony Ericsson’s president, Dick Komiyama, now admits his target for the group to become the world’s third-largest handset maker by 2011 might not be met until 2012. Last month Komiyama said he was confident of turning the company around and returning to profitability with the launch of new products. Sony Ericsson is hoping to begin selling at least two new smartphones by the end of this year - a market it has failed to break into - and a third early in 2010, using a variety of operating systems such as Symbian, Android and Windows Mobile. The company recently announced the loss of another 2,000 jobs as it targets a further annual operating expense reduction of EUR400 million, to be completed by mid-2010.

Deutsche Telekom hit by EUR1.8B UK write-down

Dave — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:20:37 +0000

Deutsche Telekom reported a EUR1.124 billion net loss for first-quarter 2009 as the German telecoms giant was forced to book a EUR1.8 billion write-down at its struggling UK mobile unit, T-Mobile UK. This compares to a net profit of EUR924 million in the year-earlier period. In the first three months of 2009, the operator reported revenue of EUR15.9 billion, a 6.2 percent rise over the year earlier quarter, and EBITDA up 2.7 percent to EUR4.8 billion. However, with the figures adjusted to exclude Greek operator OTE (which was added to the company’s books during the quarter), revenue in the first quarter was stable at EUR15.0 billion and EBITDA declined 4.8 percent to EUR4.5 billion. The company’s EBITDA outlook for 2009, reduced last month by 2 to 4 percent compared with last year’s EUR19.5 billion, was raised by around EUR2 billion to take into account OTE. Revenues at its mobile communications business increased by 9 percent to EUR9.2 billion, while mobile customers reached 148 million (including 19.9 million OTE mobile customers), a year-on-year increase of 20.6 percent. T-Mobile Deutschland, the operator’s largest mobile unit, saw a 5 percent rise in subscribers to 39 million, while customers at T-Mobile USA rose 7.7 percent to 33.2 million. However, T-Mobile UK saw customer numbers decline 2.6 percent to 16.7 million.

In a statement, chairman René Obermann described the results as “a mixed picture,” noting that the financial performance of its mobile units in the US, UK and Poland had been affected by the economic downturn, an intense competitive environment and (in Europe) significant changes in exchange rates. The company had cited the same markets in a profit warning last month and is now reportedly under pressure to sell-off some of its struggling units, most notably in the UK. However, Deutsche Telekom seems intent on reviving the UK business and this week appointed Richard Moat, the former boss of France Telecom’s Orange Romania, as T-Mobile UK’s new managing director.

Adobe and Texas Instruments Bring Flash and AIR to OMAP™ Platform

Dave — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:38:56 +0000

At the CTIA Wireless conference, Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) and Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) today announced a technology collaboration to optimize Adobe® Flash® Player and Adobe AIR®, two key components of the Adobe Flash Platform, for the TI OMAP™ mobile applications platform. TI’s collaboration with Adobe will allow manufacturers and developers to fully leverage the benefits of the OMAP platform to reduce time to market while increasing performance and reducing power on devices. A pre-release of the optimized Adobe Flash Player 10 for devices is expected to be available to manufacturers this summer with an official production release expected in Q1 2010. OMAP solutions supporting the pre-release of Adobe Flash Player are expected to be available for manufacturers and developers in the second half of 2009.

This engagement furthers TI’s long standing commitment to supporting Flash technology and will make it easier for manufacturers to enable uncompromised web browsing on their devices. It also lets them quickly update and run Flash technology based third-party content and applications while reducing time to market on smartphones, mobile Internet devices (MIDs) and other mobile computing devices. TI will also provide Adobe Flash technology support on the Zoom™ OMAP34x-II Mobile Development Platform (MDP), with future support for additional planned OMAP processor-based reference platforms, allowing developers to create rich, Flash technology based content that enhances the overall user experience for a variety of markets. By optimizing Flash technology for the OMAP solution, manufacturers and developers can fully exploit offerings of the platform when accessing content developed with Flash technology. For example, leveraging the OMAP platform’s hardware acceleration capabilities allows for improved video and graphics performance at lower power.

“Adobe Flash is the leading platform for rich applications, content, and video on the web today and this collaboration is an important step towards bringing web content and complete Internet experiences to mobile devices,” said David Wadhwani, general manager and vice president, Platform Business Unit at Adobe. “Mobile users expect to access their favorite content anywhere, at any time, and much of that content is based on Adobe Flash technology. The work with TI on the OMAP platform and the Zoom OMAP34x-II MDP will help deliver these rich experiences to a new range of devices, including smartphones and MIDs, worldwide.”

“Archos has always led the way in providing an uncompromised web browsing experience on its Internet Media Tablets,” said Henri Crohas, CEO and founder of Archos. “As Flash based videos and content keep on dominating the web, Archos will support again the latest Adobe Flash technology on its 2009 devices, leveraging TI’s OMAP platform.”

“TI has a long standing history of shipping devices with Flash technology and we are pleased to incorporate Adobe Flash Player 10 for devices and Adobe AIR into our portfolio, enabling our customers to deliver a desktop-compatible Internet browsing experience on the OMAP platform,” said Remi El-Ouazzane, vice president and general manager for TI’s OMAP Platform Business Unit. “The collaboration allows our customers and partners to advance the user experience, expanding the accessibility of Flash technology from the PC to the mobile environment. This ability will open the door for the creation of new smartphone, MID and other OMAP processor-based devices that deliver full Internet browsing functionality without sacrificing power consumption, performance or cost.”

As an innovator of hardware, software and power management technology for smartphones, MIDs, and other consumer technologies, TI also participates in the Open Screen Project, a broad industry initiative to deliver a consistent runtime environment across devices. Announced in May 2008, the initiative is dedicated to enabling web content, standalone applications and uncompromised web browsing across televisions, desktops, mobile devices and other consumer electronics that take advantage of capabilities of the Adobe Flash Platform, including Adobe Flash Player and AIR. For more information, visit www.openscreenproject.org .

About Flash Platform

The Adobe Flash Platform is a complete system of integrated tools, frameworks, clients and servers for the development of web applications, content and video that runs consistently across operating systems and devices. Adobe AIR, which enables developers to use proven web technologies to build applications that extend outside the browser, and Adobe Flash Player are key components of the Adobe Flash Platform. Adobe Flash Player content reaches over 98 percent of Internet-enabled desktops, and Adobe Flash technology is the number one platform for video on the web. In addition, the mobile runtime has shipped and delivered Flash technology based content on close to 40 percent of all new mobile phones and devices in 2008. For more information about the Adobe Flash Platform visit www.adobe.com/flashplatform .

Adobe Flash Platform for the Digital Home

Dave — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:25:37 +0000

The Adobe Flash Platform for the Digital Home now enables the delivery of HD Web videos to digital home devices via the Flash Video (FLV) file format. Consumers will be able to enjoy rich, interactive viewing experiences and amazing new ways to engage with HD content on televisions. Flash technology-based applications will allow users to quickly switch between television programming and Web content outside the Web browser. With the optimized implementation of Flash technology, content providers are able to extend their reach to millions of connected digital home devices, and cable operators and device manufacturers are able to develop new services and powerful user interfaces that deliver immersive experiences. A preview of Adobe Flash technology for digital home devices is being shown in the Adobe booth (SL3320, South Hall) and during Adobe’s NAB Super Session today.

“Adobe Flash Platform for the Digital Home will dramatically change the way we view content on televisions,” said David Wadhwani, general manager and vice president, Platform Business Unit at Adobe. “Consumers are looking to access their favorite Flash technology-based videos, applications, services and other rich Web content across screens. We are looking forward to working with partners to create these new experiences and deliver content consistently across devices whether consumers view it on their desktop, mobile phone or television.”

Key industry partners also announced support for the optimized Flash technology for digital home devices:

“Comcast is constantly working to deliver richer user interfaces and services to our customers,” said Labeeb Ismail, vice president, Technology at Comcast. “As an active participant of the Open Screen Project, we are working closely with Adobe to integrate the optimized Flash runtime with tru2way technology, enabling a new range of engaging, interactive services to consumers.”

“As a new contributor to the Open Screen Project, Disney shares Adobe’s vision of extending HD video and rich, engaging experiences across multiple screens,” said Bud Albers, CTO and executive vice president at Disney Interactive Media Group. “Adobe Flash Platform-based applications and services play an important role in delivering the latest Disney content via the Web, mobile phones and other consumer electronics. As a leading innovator for media and entertainment, we are excited about the opportunities of Flash based applications and services coming to televisions.”

“Intel and Adobe have a long history of collaboration and have worked together to optimize Flash technology for the digital home on the Intel® Media Processor CE 3100, the first in a new family of purpose-built Intel System-on-Chips (SoCs) for CE devices,” said William O. Leszinske Jr., general manager of Intel’s Digital Home Group. “As an active participant of the Open Screen Project, we recognize the value of extending rich, Flash based Internet content and applications to a broad range of devices in your pocket, on your lap, at the office and now in your living room. We are excited to integrate the optimized Flash runtime into digital home platforms featuring Intel’s SoC, such as advanced set-top boxes, high-definition digital televisions, Blu-ray Disc players and other connected AV devices.”

“As the world’s leading online movie rental service, Netflix always seeks new ways for subscribers to find and enjoy the movies they’ll love,” said Bill Holmes, vice president of Business Development at Netflix. “Adobe’s Flash Platform for the Digital Home offers great promise as Netflix continues its expansion directly to the television with our consumer electronics partners.”

“The New York Times is pleased to work with Adobe on the Open Screen Project,” said Michael Zimbalist, vice president of Research and Development Operations at The New York Times Company. “The extension of Flash technology to digital home devices is an important step in delivering applications consistently across screens and will help the Times Company better deliver our high quality news, information and multimedia to the digital living room.”

“Sigma Designs has long recognized that IPTV is the future, and has been a constant innovator of SoC solutions for IP-connected set top boxes and Blu-ray players,” said Ken Lowe, vice president for Business Development and Strategic Marketing at Sigma Designs. “Consumers clearly want to access Flash based HD videos and other rich Web content on their televisions. We are working closely with Adobe to integrate the optimized Flash runtime into our SoC solutions to enable a better, more interactive user experience on connected digital home devices.”

Delivering Flash technology to the digital home builds on the vision of the Open Screen Project, a broad industry initiative to deliver a consistent runtime environment across devices. Announced in May 2008, the initiative is dedicated to enabling Web content and standalone applications across televisions, desktops, mobile devices and other consumer electronics that take advantage of capabilities of the Adobe Flash Platform. For more information, visit www.openscreenproject.org .

About Flash Platform

The Adobe Flash Platform is a complete system of integrated tools, frameworks, clients and servers for the development of Web applications, content and video that runs consistently across operating systems and devices. Adobe Flash Player content reaches over 98 percent of Internet-enabled desktops, and Adobe Flash technology is the No. 1 platform for video on the Web. In addition, the Flash runtime has shipped and delivered Flash technology-based content on close to 40 percent of all new mobile phones and devices in 2008. For more information about the Adobe Flash Platform visit www.adobe.com/flashplatform .

Bsquare To Port Adobe Flash Onto Android Mobile Device For Tier 1 Carrier

Dave — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:09:20 +0000

Bsquare Corp. has announced that it will port Adobe’s Flash technology onto Google’s Android platform for a global Tier 1 carrier. Flash ships on more than 800 million devices worldwide while more than 1 million designers and developers use it to build video and rich media applications. According to industry analyst firm Strategy Analytics, Android will take a 12% market share of global smart-phone shipments by 2012. The analysts also expect Android to gain traction on other types of smart devices used in a range of industries.

“Integrating Adobe Flash technology with the functionality of Google’s Android platform will afford consumers the rich content and unprecedented applications they demand and is key to achieving success for our OEM and ODM customers,” said Bsquare CEO Brian Crowley. “We believe that our value-added products and services can improve the Android experience for users and help our customers get their devices to market faster.”

In the last 12 months since its acquisition of NEC America’s Adobe Flash Technology Consulting and Distribution business, Bsquare has worked on more than 40 different customer devices, including handsets, set-top boxes, digital signage, consumer devices, and netbooks. The company also says that it has built an Android competency in its professional engineering services group through several customer engagements.

http://www.bsquare.com/flashlite/default.asp

Gardners Offer White Label Book Websites for £10 a Month

Dave — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:05:07 +0000

Gardners Books is the largest book wholesaler in the United Kingdom. Based in Eastbourne, East Sussex, Gardners supplies books to a number of British retailers including Waterstone’s, Tesco.com Books, TheHut.com, The Book Depository, Play.com and WHSmith. They have a stock catalogue of over 850,000 titles from over 4,000 publishers, with around 400,000 in stock at any one time.

They have created a new service that allows customers to set up their own site selling books for only £10 a month with a 12 month contract.

http://www.easyentertainment.co.uk/

Installing VMware ESX and ESXi 3.5 on an HP Proliant ML115 G5 Quad Core

Dave — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:15:48 +0000

Fantastic article on installing VMware ESXi on the cheapest server hardware you will find that will support ESXi…

http://www.techhead.co.uk/installing-vmware-esx-and-esxi-35-on-an-hp-proliant-ml115-g5-quad-core

A Look Inside Facebook’s Data Center

Dave — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:10:55 +0000

If your users are uploading 40 million photos a day, what does your data center look like? A new video seeking to recuit engineers for Facebook provides a glimpse of one of the social network’s data center facilities, along with some facts about the social network’s amazing growth. The company’s data centers store more than 40 billion photos, and users upload 40 million new photos each day – about 2,000 photos every second. Not surprisingly, the racks are packed. The facility is using a raised-floor design, with no containment but generous spacing between racks. Here’s the video, which runs about 2 minutes, 30 seconds.