Google Android : Its Showtime for Google Mobile

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Google Inc. showed off its nearly completed mobile software system to about 3,000 computer programmers Wednesday, hoping to cultivate more services and advertising for people on the go.

Although brief, the demonstration at the Internet search leader's annual developer conference in San Francisco represented the most extensive public look so far at "Android" - an open-source platform being designed for "smart" phones and other mobile devices that surf the Web. Android was first announced nearly seven months ago.

The bells and whistles unveiled Wednesday included: a way to unlock phones by drawing a specific shape on the touchscreen instead of entering a password; bookmarks for favorite Web sites on the device's home page; a "compass" tool that automatically roams with the phone while a user looks at photographic images of a city map; a magnifying tool to zoom in on Web content; and a mobile version of the video game "Pac Man."

The demonstration relied on touchscreen technology similar to Apple Inc.'s iPhone, but Android can also be tailored to work with a tracking ball, said Andy Rubin, who is overseeing the project.

While acknowledging the work on Android is nearly done, Rubin deflected a question about how much longer consumers will have to wait for a phone powered by the new software. Sticking to the timetable Google has used throughout the project, Rubin said Android will hit the market some time during the final six months of this year.

Several handset makers, including Samsung Electronics Co., HTC and LG Electronics Inc., are among the 34 partners that Google has recruited to help launch Android.

Google also hopes programmers will create a wide variety of products that will run on Android. That's one of the reasons the Mountain View-based company chose to flaunt the free software at the developers' conference.

By making it easier and more appealing for people to access the Internet on their cell phones, Google believes it eventually will make more money from the ads it shows next to search results and other Web content. The company also is starting to show more video advertising on its YouTube subsidiary, which already is a staple on the iPhone and received a special button in Wednesday's demonstration of Android.

Google is expected to generate more than $20 billion in advertising revenue this year, but most of that money will come from ads viewed on personal computers.

With about 3 billion mobile phones already on the market, some analysts believe Google could pull in nearly $5 billion annually from the mobile market within five years.

Google is also trying to boost its profits by selling more software services over Internet connections to businesses, universities and government agencies.

The company also wants to make it easier for outside developers to create applications on the Web. Even if those applications aren't on Google's Web site, the company figures it is bound to get more search requests - and more advertising opportunities - if people are doing more things online.

In April, Google handled nearly 62 percent of the search requests in the United States, according to comScore Inc.

Google's success so far is the primary reason Microsoft Corp., the world's largest software maker, spent several months trying to buy Yahoo Inc. before withdrawing its oral offer of $47.5 billion 3 1/2 weeks ago when the two sides couldn't agree on a price.

Microsoft currently is discussing a smaller deal with Yahoo but hasn't ruled out the possibility of renewing its takeover attempt.

To help developers introduce more online products, Google last month began offering free computing power and storage on a limited basis under a service called "App Engine."

Google opened App Engine to all comers Wednesday and disclosed plans to begin offering extra capacity, for a fee, later this year. The service will remain free for up to 500 megabytes of storage and enough computing capacity to support 5 million monthly views of a site's Web pages.

Each additional gigabyte will cost 15 cents to 18 cents per month. Google estimated a user would pay $40 to $50 per month for enough capacity to support up to 10 million page views per month.

Adobe Releases 3 New Public Betas

Adobe gave a sneak peek at three applications from the next release of Adobe Creative Suite

The company released public beta of new versions of Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Fireworks and Adobe Soundbooth as free downloads on Adobe labs. Once downloaded and launched, the betas will be active for 48 hours after which time only Creative Suite 3 customers will have an extended ability to use the betas until the next release of Creative Suite becomes available.The Dreamweaver public beta includes a new Related Files Toolbar and Code Navigator feature that allows users to dive into complex pages that include HTML files, links to JavaScript documents and integrated XML data. Users can see related files in the Related Files Toolbar and with Code Navigator make changes to code that appears in various parts of a document just one update.

The update to Dreamweaver also features a new Live View Mode, which is based on the open source rendering engine Webkit. It enables users to see content in real-world, real-time environments without having to leave Dreamweaver to preview in a browser. This feature also gives users the ability to freeze JavaScript language to debug interactive pages as well as view and interact with Flash content.New features in Fireworks beta include a new user interface that is now consistent with other applications within the Creative Suite making it easier for users to switch between applications that now have a universal look and feel. In addition, Fireworks beta now allows users to export design comps as high fidelity, interactive, and secure Adobe PDF documents for enhanced client communication. Fireworks beta is also now compatible with Adobe AIR, HTML, Adobe Flash and Adobe Flex Builder so users can create their design once and deploy to whichever application platform is required by clients.The Soundbooth beta showcases a host of new features for creative professionals to complete their audio production tasks more efficiently, including the new multiple track support, which allows users to edit multiple audio clips on a number of tracks, and the new ability for users to match volume levels across audio files.

Also included is the capability to preview MP3 compression settings before saving them and a new speech recognition technology that lets users create transcripts of dialogue tracks quickly and search them for words and phrases within a timeline."Dreamweaver, Fireworks and Soundbooth are the major applications we're unveiling as public betas before the next release of Creative Suite," said David Burkett, vice president of product management for Adobe Creative Suite. "This early release software gives our loyal customers a taste of the radical workflow enhancements that we have in store, as we redefine how designers and developers collaborate to deliver stand-out digital experiences."

HTC Touch Diamond : iPhone Killer

The HTC Touch Diamond that was launched only a little while ago has made its way to India and rather quickly I might add. This new handset for HTC features their new 3D TouchFLO interface and will be exclusively available with Bharti Airtel as of now.

"We are proud to launch the HTC Touch Diamond for our valued customers in India. The Touch Diamond, HTC’s new flagship product, packs diverse functionalities into an attractive form factor with consummate ease", said Ajay Sharma, Country Manager, HTC (India).

Its new sharp design, updated interface and integrated GPS should make this new handset running on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional something to reckon with. The HTC Touch will be available through Airtel in 25 cities across the country at a Market Operating Price of Rs. 27,500 (inclusive of all taxes) and all authorized HTC resellers.

Yahoo-Microsoft pact could lead to merger: Analysts

NEW YORK: A potential partnership deal between Microsoft Corp and Yahoo Inc the companies revealed over the weekend may prove to be a stepping stone to an outright acquisition, analysts said on Monday.

UBS analysts said in a research note that the business discussions between Microsoft and Yahoo could be a prelude to an eventual outright acquisition offer because it was vital for Microsoft to acquire Yahoo on friendly terms.

"A near-term deal could act as an intermediate step that would go a long way toward testing the waters," UBS wrote.

The brokerage said a Microsoft-Yahoo partnership is likely to focus on search advertising and should be seen as an alternative to a scenario in which Yahoo would outsource to Google Inc part of its Web search ad sales.

Stifel Nicolas argued that Microsoft may be seeking to buy Yahoo's search and search-advertising business outright, leaving Yahoo independent but smaller, focused on display advertising and Internet media businesses.

Stifel analysts George Askew and Scott Devitt warned that Yahoo must reach a deal with either Google or Microsoft or face a bruising proxy battle with activist investor Carl Icahn, who is seeking to install his own slate of Yahoo directors.

Icahn launched a proxy campaign last Thursday to replace Yahoo's board with directors who would reopen talks with Microsoft, saying Yahoo had acted irrationally in refusing the software company's $47.5 billion bid.

The proxy battle "may ultimately drive a damaged Yahoo into Microsoft's arms" at around $31 per share, Stifel said.

Microsoft made a $31-per-share cash and stock offer in late January. Earlier this month, Microsoft discussed raising that offer to $33 a share, but backed away after Yahoo management held out for $37 per share.

The software giant's move to court Yahoo was likely to prompt the Icahn to press Yahoo to further pursue an alliance with Google, a person familiar with the billionaire investor's thinking said on Sunday.

Bill Gates decides to sell OFF Microsoft?

Why Bill Gates decides to sell OFF Microsoft?

Letter from Banta Singh of Punjab to Mr. Bill Gates of Microsoft


Subject: Problems with my new computer


Dear Mr. Bill Gates,


We have bought a computer for our home and we have found some problems, which I want to bring to your notice.


1. There is a button 'start' but there is no 'stop' button. We request you to check this.


2. We find there is 'Run' in the menu. One of my friends clicked 'run' he ran up to Amritsar ! So, we request you to change that to 'sit', so that we can click that by sitting.


3. One doubt is whether any 're-scooter' is available in system? I find only 're-cycle', but I own a scooter at my home.


4. There is 'Find' button but it is not working properly. My wife lost the door key and we tried a lot trace the key with this ' find' button, but was unable to trace. Please rectify this problem.


5. My child learnt 'Microsoft word' now he wants to learn 'Microsoft sentence', so when you will provide that?


6. I bought computer, CPU, mouse and keyboard, but there is only one icon which shows 'MY Computer': when you will provide the remaining items?


7. It is surprising that windows say 'MY Pictures' but there is not even a single photo of mine. So when will you keep my photo in that.


8. There is 'MICROSOFT OFFICE' what about 'MICROSOFT HOME' since I use the PC at home only.


9. You provided 'My Recent Documents'. When you will provide 'My Past Documents'?


10. You provide 'My Network Places'. For God sake please does not provide 'My Secret Places'. I do not want to let my wife know where I go after my office hours.

Regards,

Banta

Last one to Mr Bill Gates :

Sir, how is it that your name is GATES, but you are selling WINDOWS?

10 rules for investing in gold

Timothy Green, a well-known international gold expert, reminds us of a historical truth: "The great strength of gold throughout history has not been that you make money by holding it, but rather you do not lose. That ought to remain its best credential". A research study on gold established a remarkable consistency in the purchasing power of gold over four centuries. Its purchasing power in the mid-twentieth century was found to be nearly the same as in the middle of the seventeenth century.

An investment in gold should be based on macro economic con-siderations

If one expects or fears rising inflation, destabilizing deflation, a bear market in stocks or bonds, or financial turmoil, gold should do well and exposure is warranted.

Understanding the internal dynamics of the gold market can be helpful as to investment timing issues

For example, the weekly position reports of commodity trading funds or sentiment indicators offer useful clues as to entry or exit points for active trading strategies. Reports on physical demand for jewellery, industrial, and other uses compiled by various sources also provide some perspective.

However, none of these considerations, non-monetary in nature, yield any insight as to the broad market trend. Reports of central bank selling or lending may influence the market in the short term but cannot counteract macro economic factors.

Excessive reliance on trading strategies to generate returns can be dangerous and counterproductive

Returns from a 'buy and hold' strategy should be more than sufficient to compensate for the inherent volatility. Many who have tried to outsmart this market by hyperactive trading have under-performed. Success is de-pendent in large part on the occurrence of 'fat tail' events that lie outside the parameters of trading models.

Every investor should have some gold

A reasonable allocation in a conservative, diversified portfolio is 0 to 3 per cent during a gold bear market and 5-10 per cent during a bull market.

Equities of gold mining companies offer greater leverage than direct ownership of the metal itself

Gold equities tend to appear expensive in comparison to those of conventional companies because they contain an embedded option component for a possible rise in the gold price. The share price sensitivity to a hypothetical rise in metal price is related to the cash flow from current production as well as the valuation impact on proven and probable reserves.

Watch out for companies that have hedged their gold exposure

Although a rising tide may lift most boats, financial statements should be reviewed with special attention to hedging arrangements that could undermine participation in higher gold prices or even jeopardize financial stability. The carnage of the last twenty years has simplified the task of individual stock selection because so few have survived the gold bear market. But individual stock selection is less important than identification of the primary trend.

Don't get caught up in gold fever

Even though gold itself is a conservative investment, 'gold fever' attracts a crowd of speculators, promoters, and charlatans who only want to separate investors from their money. Avoid offbeat 'exploration' companies with little or no current production and gargantuan appetites for new money.

Bullion or coins are a more conservative way to invest in gold than through the equities

There is also greater liquidity with bullion for large pools of capital. Investing in the physical metal requires scrutinizing the custodial arrangements and the creditworthiness of the financial institution. Do not mistake the promise of a financial institution to settle based on the gold price, for example, a 'gold certificate' or a 'structured note' (i.e., derivative), for the actual physical possession of the metal. Insist on possession in a segregated vault, subject to unscheduled audits, and inaccessible to the trading arrangements or financial interest of the financial institution.

Gold is a controversial, anti-establishment investment

Therefore, do not rely on conventional financial media and brokerage house commentary. In this area, such commentary is even more misleading and ill-informed than usual.

Don't settle for too little

Should outlier events now deemed unimaginable by consensus thinking actually occur, the price target for gold would be several multiples of its current depressed price. Gold represents insurance against some sort of financial catastrophe. The magnitude of the upside is a function of the amount of paper assets that would be converted to gold irrespective of price..

Indian modern art fetches 4.28 mn pounds in London auction3

LONDON: A painting by Francis Newton Souza fetched the top price of 580,500 pounds - outperforming old masters Tagore and Jamini Roy - at an auction of Indian modern and contemporary art at Sotheby's on Friday. The painting, titled The Red Road, was hotly contested by at least seven bidders before selling to a client on the telephone, Sotheby's said. One of the stars of the sale, the canvas was a gift from Souza, who died in 2002, to his wife Maria in 1962, a period widely acknowledged as the artist's most successful. The painting was exhibited at the Hayward Gallery in London in 1989. The Souza was among 120 paintings, which together fetched a sum of 4.28 million pounds, showing the continuing appeal of modern Indian art, a Sotheby's specialist said. "Indian Art continues to prosper - it's a market on the move," said Zara Porter-Hill, head of Indian Art at Sotheby's. She said the auction house was "thrilled with the response that we've witnessed."
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"Bidding came from a very international audience, which included private collectors, institutions and the trade. The auction was a great success and we now look forward to the international Contemporary sale in New York later this month which features a select group of works by Indian Contemporary artists." Sixty-seven percent of the paintings sold for prices in excess of their pre-sale high estimates. Among the contemporary group, an untitled canvas by young cutting-edge artist Subodh Gupta fetched the top price of 264,500 pounds. Two works by Akbar Padamsee were other strong performers in the modern section of the auction, a nude selling for 252,500 pounds and an untitled landscape fetching 264,500 pounds. Rabindranath Tagore's Death Scene made 144,500 pounds against an estimate of 15,000-20,000 pounds and his Bird sold for 70,100 pounds; and Jamini Roy's Santal Couple sold for 29,300 pounds. Tagore's Death Scene established a new auction record for the artist.

Funny Computer Tech Support Calls

Friday, May 2, 2008
Funny Computer Tech Support Calls...These "silly tech support calls " have been around in e-mails and online since the dawn of tech support. They are always fun to read. I'm in the mood for a good laugh. How 'bout you?

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Customer: Hi, this is Celine. I can't get my diskette out.
Tech support: Have you tried pushing the Button?Customer: Yes, sure, it's really stuck.
Tech support: That doesn't sound good; I'll make a note.
Customer: No, wait a minute... I hadn't inserted it yet... it's still on my desk... Sorry....

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Tech support: What kind of computer do you have?
Female customer: A white one...
Tech support: Click on the 'my computer' icon on to the left of the screen.
Customer: Your left or my left?

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Tech support: Good day. How may I help you?
Male customer: Hello... I can't print.
Tech support: Would you click on "start" for me and...
Customer: Listen pal; don't start getting technical on me! I'm not Bill Gates.

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Customer: Hi, good afternoon, this is Martha, I can't print. Every time I try, it says 'Can't find printer'. I've even lifted the printer and placed it in front of the monitor, but the computer still says he can't find it...

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Customer: I have problems printing in red...
Tech support: Do you have a color printer?
Customer: Aaaah....................thank you.

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Tech support: What's on your monitor now, ma'am?
Customer: A teddy bear my boyfriend bought for me at the 7-11.

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Customer: My keyboard is not working anymore.
Tech support: Are you sure it's plugged into the computer?
Customer: No. I can't get behind the computer.
Tech support: Pick up your keyboard and walk 10 paces back
Customer: OK
Tech support: Did the keyboard come with you?
Customer: Yes
Tech support: That means the keyboard is not plugged in. Is there another keyboard? Customer: Yes, there's another one here. Ah...that one does work...

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Tech support: Your password is the small letter "a" as in apple, a capital letter V as in Victor, the number 7.
Customer: Is that 7 in capital letters?

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Customer: I can't get on the Internet.
Tech support: Are you sure you used the right password?
Customer: Yes, I'm sure. I saw my colleague do it.
Tech support: Can you tell me what the password was?
Customer: Five stars.

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Tech support: What anti-virus program do you use?
Customer: Netscape.
Tech support: That's not an anti-virus program.
Customer : Oh, sorry...Internet Explorer.

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Customer: I have a huge problem. A friend has placed a screen saver on my computer, but every time I move the mouse, it disappears.

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Tech support: How may I help you?
Customer: I'm writing my first e-mail.
Tech support: OK, and what seems to be the problem?
Customer: Well, I have the letter 'a' in the address, but how do I get the circle around it?

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A woman customer called the Canon help desk with a problem with her printer.Tech support: Are you running it under windows?Customer: "No, my desk is next to the door, but that is a good point. The man sitting in the cubicle next to me is under a window, and his printer is working fine."

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And last but not least...Tech support: "Okay Bob, let's press the control and escape keys at the same time. That brings up a task list in the middle of the screen. Now type the letter "P" to bring up the Program Manager"Customer: I don't have a P.Tech support: On your keyboard, Bob.Customer: What do you mean?Tech support: "P".....on your keyboard, Bob.Customer: I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT

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