New hardware specs allegedly meant for Zune phone
Reports continue to appear about the long rumored Zune Phone. Ever since the successful launch of the first iPhone in 2006 there has been speculation that Microsoft intends to create a so-called ‘iPhone killer’ based on the Zune and running a future version of Windows Mobile.
The iPhone, of course, runs a stripped down version of OS X and includes iPod functionality.
Mary-Jo Foley of ZDNet is speculating that a new set of specs from Microsoft is part of a Zune phone project. She notes that the CPU and RAM requirements would make it faster than the iPhone, although that doesn’t take the operating system into account.
OS X, being a UNIX derivative, is well suited for running on a mobile device like the iPhone or iPod Touch.
So far no one knows enough about where Windows Mobile is headed to say for sure how it would perform on any particular hardware.
Sony Reader will get third-party ads
Sony has announced that its popular e-book reader, the Sony Reader, will soon be getting third-party advertisements in an effort to gain revenue from the platform.
Steve Haber, president of the company’s digital reading division, adds that the Reader is giving publishers new ways to generate revenue, especially as traditional media continues to see declining profits.
“There are so many avenues for the [e-reader] industry to grow, including advertising; this is truly the beginning,” Haber notes.
“Advertising is not part of the business model at the moment but I would imagine that when it comes to periodicals, newspapers and magazines, those businesses are built around the advertising model so I would imagine it going in that direction,” Haber added.
Earlier this month, the company launched an updated version of the device, dubbed the Danielle Steel Limited Edition.
‘Redesigned’ PS3 coming soon?
Although this is rumor for the time being, a PlayStation Lifestyle article is stating that Sony will introduce a newly ‘redesigned’ PlayStation 3 at the upcoming E3 event, alongside the imminent release of the PSP Go! updated handheld.
There were no other specifics posted, but PSL posts a few possibilities including the fact that the redesign may just be new colors, such as white or silver to match current peripherals available.
Another interesting option is that the upcoming console will be a ‘PS3 Slim,’ adding some small updates such as Bluetooth 3.0. The console would also be lighter, and more streamlined, somewhat like the PS2 Slim models and the updated PSP models.
We will keep you updated on any developments
.
Windows 7 coming in time for the holidays
Microsoft has confirmed this week that it expects Windows 7 to ship before the end of 2009, in time for the holiday season.
Previously, it was believed the company would ship the new operating system around the three-year anniversary of Vista (in early 2010), but Windows VP Bill Veghte has now admitted different. Veghte also notes that Windows Server 2008 R2 will ship at the same time.
The news comes one week after Microsoft made available the Windows 7 Release Candidate. A few notable PC builders, such as Acer, have even been publicly stated they believe a final version of Windows 7 will be available in October.
Veghte also says that Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, when used together, will “deliver significant cost savings and productivity gains with features such as DirectAccess and BranchCache. Microsoft is making sure to tell businesses—now more than ever—about how the new versions of its software can help save them money in the long run.”
‘Three strikes’ law passes in France
Last month the French National Assembly surprisingly shot down the extremely controversial ‘three strikes’ laws which would disconnect alleged pirates from the Internet after two warnings.
This week however, the legislation, backed by President Nicolas Sarkozy, has been passed by the Assembly, putting the laws in the hands of the Senate after over a year of debate.
The bill, dubbed The Creation and Internet bill, passed 296 to 233 and will now head to the Senate on Wednesday for final approval.
The three strikes laws would work as follows: A new regulatory body would send alleged pirates a warning e-mail, then a written letter, and finally cut them off the Internet for one year for a third offense.
Critics of the bill have warned that the bill may lead to innocent people being punished, if their computers or networks are hacked.
The socialist Patrick Bloche adds that the bill is “dangerous, useless, inefficient, and very risky for us citizens”.
John Kennedy, chairman of the IFPI, applauded the move, adding that the bill is “an effective and proportionate way of tackling online copyright infringement and migrating users to the wide variety of legal music services in France”.
Piracy cost software industry $50 billion, says BSA
According to a new annual study from the Business Software Alliance, losses related to software piracy amounted to $50 billion USD last year, an 11 percent increase from last year.
The study did note however that most of the increase was a result of the weakening U.S. dollar.
Notable members of the BSA are Microsoft, Dell, Intel and IBM.
For the United States, the number related to piracy was $9 billion USD, and the study concluded that piracy rates were among the lowest in the world, with a number around 20 percent. However, because the US dominates the software market, the losses where higher than any other one nation.
A few of the notable findings, from the report are:
* While emerging economies account for 45 percent of the global PC hardware market, they account for less than 20 percent of the PC software market. If the emerging economies’ PC software share were the same as it is for PC hardware, the software market would grow by $40 billion a year. Lowering global piracy by just one point a year would add $20 billion in stimulus to the IT industry.
* The lowest-piracy countries are the United States, Japan, New Zealand, and Luxembourg, all near 20 percent. The highest-piracy countries are Armenia, Bangladesh, Georgia, and Zimbabwe, all over 90 percent.
* The highest-piracy regions are Central/Eastern Europe (67 percent) and Latin America (65 percent). The lowest regions are North America (21 percent) and the European Union (35 percent).
European Parliament says court order required for ISP disconnection
The European Parliament has blocked a proposal that would clear the way for internet users to be disconnected on nothing more than accusations by copyright holders. Their amendment to a proposed telecom reform directive states “No restriction may be imposed on the fundamental rights and freedoms of end users, without a prior ruling by the judicial authorities.”
This language is clearly directed at legislation which lobbyists for the recording industry have been demanding for some time. In last year’s Digital Music Report the IFPI (an international equivalent of the RIAA) said “In 2008 [ISP Responsibility] must become a reality.”
They were referring to proposals in several countries that would force ISPs to disconnect customers who have been accused of copyright infringement via P2P network.
The legislation being considered, most notably French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s 3 strikes plan, hasn’t become a reality yet. But proponents of disconnecting internet service from accused copyright infringers are still trying hard to push the legislation through.
In France they have even gone so far as to suggest ISPs should be allowed to continue billing disconnected users, hoping to win support from that industry.
The debate among EU officials isn’t done yet either. The MEPs’ overwhelming vote to amend the proposed directive means they will attempt to reach some compromise with the Council of Ministers and European Commission.
Viviane Reding, commissioner for Information Society and Media and the EU’s highest telecom official, has come out in support of Parliament’s decision.
[More]>>
Nokia Ovi Store will launch with 20k items
The much anticipated Nokia Ovi Store will launch with 20,000 items, says Executive VP of services Niklas Savander, a number much higher than that of most rivals when they just launched.
The store is set to launch in mid-June and will include short-form videos, games and other general apps.
Nokia will also use the GPS in many of its smartphones to filter content, with most “local tools getting more prominence when a user is in the area.”
In comparison, Apple launched the App Store with 500 apps, and the Android Market recently opened with only 70 apps. Apple now has over 40,000 apps however.
Handhelds lead the way in Japanese console sales
For the week ended May 3rd, handhelds lead the way in console sales for Japan, with the DSi and DS Lite at the head of the class with 56,673 units sold for the period.
The data, from Media Create, shows that the Sony PSP came in second, moving 49,557 units.
For full consoles, the PlayStation 3 led the way again in the region, selling 23,588 units for the week.
The rest of the list looks as follows:
* PSP - 49,557
* DSi - 49,133
* PS3 - 23,588
* Wii - 21,546
* DS Lite - 7540
* Xbox 360 - 7313
* PS2 - 5479
Nintendo beats out rivals in ‘most reputable’ list
According to a new Forbes report, Nintendo is the sixth most reputable company in the world, beating out its console rivals Sony and Microsoft.
The firm Reputation Institute rated over 1000 companies for the report and placed Microsoft at #30 and Sony at #126, although it is notable to remember that Nintendo is the only purely videogame company in the list.
Using 65,000 online interviews from interviewees in 25 countries, each company was given a “pulse” rating from 1 to 100, with 100 being the peak of reputation “strength.”
Nintendo scored a very high 81.63, while Microsoft scored a 78.05 and Sony had a decently high 72.21. Year-on-year, Sony fell while Microsoft rose. Nintendo was a new addition to the list.
Possibly surprising, the top ranked company is Ferraro the maker of the extremely popular Ferrero Rocher chocolates. Furniture maker Ikea finished second and Johnson & Johnson came in third.
View the whole list here: World’s Most Reputable Companies: The Rankings
