Japan's Toshiba joins Blu-ray camp, post-HD-DVD

Japan's Toshiba Corp (6502.T) said on Monday that it will join the Blu-ray Disc Association -- its former enemy in a bitter format war -- to make blu-ray players by year-end to tap demand for high-definition home movies.

Toshiba pulled the plug on its HD-DVDs last year, conceding defeat to the Blu-ray camp, led by proponents Sony Corp (6758.T) and Panasonic Corp (6752.T).

Toshiba, whose digital products segment reported a nearly 65 percent tumble in profit in the year that ended in March, is trying to raise market share and cut costs as it fights increasing price competition in PCs and TVs.

It will now procure key Blu-ray parts from other companies to make Blu-ray players and recorders, as well as PCs with Blu-ray drives.

Samsung phones to come with AM-OLED

Sprint Nextel will sell Samsung Electronics phones including an advanced display technology that will improve battery life and video and photo quality, according to executives for the companies.

David Owens, Sprint's director of customer acquisition, said on Thursday that the No. 3 U.S. mobile service provider would sell high-end phones with displays based on Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode, an emerging technology Samsung is pushing for cellphones.

While the vast majority of cellphones still have displays based on Liquid Crystal Display, Samsung has been touting the advantages of AM-OLED, which shows colors much more clearly and conserves power as screens do not need a screen backlight.

Because AM-OLED is relatively new manufacturing costs are higher. As a result Sprint plans to introduce the technology in its phone line-up starting with more expensive phones that are suited for viewing media such as video.

"That's typically more in a high-end phone ... It won't be across the portfolio," said Owens, who sees such phones becoming available for Sprint customers next year.

"The vibrancy of the screen is world class," said Owens who sees some phone customers paying extra for a better screen as they are increasingly buying advanced phones for features like Web surfing and video downloads.

"Consumers are willing to pay more as long as they're getting value," Owens said.

Casey Ryan, a product manager for Samsung confirmed that his company would sell a phone with an AM-OLED to Sprint.

Currently Samsung Impression, sold by No. 2 U.S. mobile operator AT&T Inc is the only AM-OLED Samsung phone available in the U.S. market.

The executives were speaking at Sprint's New York launch of another phone the Samsung Reclaim, which includes bioplastic materials and uses a charger that beeps when the phone is recharged so the user can plug it out to avoid wasting power.

Ryan said Samsung's goal was to have energy efficient chargers with these alerts for all its phones no later than 2011. "Over the next couple of years we'll start to streamline our manufacturing," for more eco-friendly phones, he said.

The reclaim will go on sale Aug 16 for $49.99, after rebates, for customers who sign up for a two-year service plan. The device will go on sale at Wal-Mart in September.

The Smartphone Industry Has Some Clunkers of Its Own

After a few months of rapid progress this summer, the smartphone industry probably deserves some time off in August. And to judge from two new, Web-connected, GPS-enabled, photo-and-video-capable phones, it's doing exactly that.

In another year, T-Mobile's myTouch 3G and Verizon Wireless's BlackBerry Tour 9630 might have counted as breakthroughs. But after such products as Palm's Pre, Apple's iPhone 3GS and (more important) its iPhone OS 3.0 software and Google's Android 1.5 software, the two new devices seem unremarkable.

They don't represent a step back, but they don't count as a major advance, either. At best, they suggest better things to come if manufacturers and wireless carriers drop some bad habits first.

The myTouch -- notwithstanding its comically awful moniker -- offers more cause for hope. Like its predecessor, last year's T-Mobile G1, it combines decent hardware with Google's smart, elegant Android operating system. But this time around, the myTouch ($199.99, with voice and Web service starting at $54.98) employs an on-screen keyboard instead of the G1's external keyboard.

That change makes the myTouch slimmer and lighter than the G1 but less useful for prolonged writing -- the older phone's keyboard is as big as the newer device's screen. Even with the Android software's decent auto-correction, that makes for cramped, error-prone typing.

T-Mobile advertises better battery life with the myTouch. In one test, a myTouch stayed on the line for an extraordinary 7 1/2 hours of calling -- but for much of that time, the phone couldn't pick up T-Mobile's broadband service and had to fall back to a slower connection that didn't drain the battery as quickly.

As with the G1, the real reason to buy the myTouch isn't hardware but software. Android, like the iPhone and the Pre's operating systems, combines an outstanding Web browser, touch-screen controls and blissfully simple management of add-on programs.

The selection of third-party software for Android has grown immensely since the G1's debut -- Google says its Android Market now stocks 6,300 applications. The iPhone's App Store carries more titles (over 67,000 by one count), but Google has not engaged in the kind of control-freakery that has led Apple to reject seemingly harmless iPhone applications.

The myTouch doesn't include software to synchronize its calendar and address book with those on your computer. Instead, you're expected to use Google's free online applications, which sync over the air.

So if the myTouch's hardware is decent and its software is great, what's not to like? Its carrier. T-Mobile offers low voice and data rates, but this Bellevue, Wash.-based firm offers the worst mobile-broadband coverage out of all the big, nationwide carriers. Android deserves better.

Verizon's BlackBerry Tour doesn't have that problem -- whatever else you say about Verizon, it's hard to fault its coverage. But the Tour itself -- $199.99 to new and renewing subscribers, $489.99 to those in the middle of a contract, with voice and Web plans for $69.98 and up -- does little to distinguish itself.

As the name implies, its main addition to Verizon's BlackBerry lineup is a second wireless radio and a SIM (subscriber identity module) card slot that let it operate on GSM networks as well as Verizon's own signal, making the phone usable in most other countries. But you'll need to call Verizon to have that SIM card slot unlocked, lest you pay roaming rates that usually exceed a dollar a minute. You can't use WiFi Internet access overseas either, since the Tour -- unlike the myTouch and many other smartphones -- doesn't include a WiFi receiver. The rest of the Tour should look familiar. Its keyboard matches that on the older BlackBerry Bold, while its battery life (about six hours and 10 minutes of calling) just beat that of the touch-screen BlackBerry Storm.

The Tour's software continues a pattern of disappointing releases from BlackBerry manufacturer Research In Motion. Although its fonts and icons look prettier than before, it continues to rely too much on lengthy menus cluttered with irrelevant commands.

As an Internet device, the Tour actually represents a step back from the Storm. Sites that looked correct on that older device -- including one formatted specifically for mobile use -- showed up partially jumbled on the Tour.

Verizon ships the Tour with RIM's BlackBerry App World, its belated attempt to compete with the App Store and the Android Market, but did not think to put a shortcut to it on the Tour's home screen.

The software RIM provides to synchronize your contacts, calendars, to-do lists and memos is as bad as ever. The Windows version is a bolted-together assemblage of third-party components, while the Mac release is so out of date the company is now advertising the September arrival of a different Mac application.

And yet for all its flaws, the Tour could fairly be called the most exciting phone Verizon sells. AT&T has the iPhone, T-Mobile has Android phones and Sprint has the Pre, but Verizon has nothing remotely as thrilling. The Tour isn't even exclusive to Verizon; Sprint sells a version of it, too.

Toshiba Planning Blu-ray Disc Players, Laptops

Toshiba is planning to launch players and laptops with support for Blu-ray Disc later this year, it said Monday. The company was the primary backer of the HD DVD optical-disc format that had been battling Blu-ray Disc until last year.

In a brief statement Toshiba said it had applied for membership for the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), the standards setting and licensing body behind the format and would launch products before the end of 2009.

"In light of recent growth in digital devices supporting the Blu-ray format, combined with market demand from consumers and retailers alike, Toshiba has decided to join the BDA," it said

Twitter Continues to Battle DDoS Attack

More than two days after experiencing a complete outage as a result of a distribute denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, Twitter and other social networking sites such as Facebook are still battling a surge in traffic related to the attack. Twitter has taken some steps to mitigate the spike in traffic and ensure that the site is not knocked offline again, but some of those steps are having an impact on third-party tools that link to Twitter through API's (application programming interface).

Evidence gathered thus far from Twitter and other sites targeted by the DDoS attacks seems to suggest that the attack is actually a politically motivated attack aimed at silencing a Georgian activist. The victim, known by the online handle Cyxymu, uses blogs and social media sites like Twitter and Facebook to express views related to the tensions between Russia and Georgia. In a blog post, Mikko Hypponen, Chief Research Officer of Internet security firm F-Secure, said "Launching DDoS attacks against services like Facebook is the equivalent of bombing a TV station because you don't like one of the newscasters.

To defend itself against the ongoing DDoS attack, Twitter has implemented various defensive actions, some of which are blocking third-party Twitter applications from being able to connect with Twitter API's. The mitigating steps are also affecting the ability of many users to post to their Twitter accounts via SMS (short message service) text messages.

Twitter is working diligently for a more permanent solution that doesn't impact third-party applications or SMS messaging. In the meantime though, Twitter has stated that as long as the attacks continue they can't guarantee that things will get better or provide any assurances that they won't get worse. The best they can do is to promise to do everything they can as fast as they can to ensure the site remains available.

Other steps that can be taken involve identifying and isolating sources of attack traffic and simply dropping all incoming packets from those sources. That can have some affect, but when an attack leverages a botnet and the attack traffic is literally coming from hundreds of thousands of sources simultaneously it quickly becomes cumbersome and impractical to try and filter the traffic in this way. Another temporary solution could be to filter all traffic intended for the suspected victim, Cyxymu, and block that so that it does not hog the network bandwidth or server processing horsepower.

When the dust settles, Twitter should look at ways they can build scalability and redundancy into their network to better withstand similar attacks in the future. Stuart McClure, VP of Operations and Strategy for McAfee's Risk and Compliance Unit and co-author of Hacking Exposed 6, says "Many of these newly emerging social engineering sites weren't built with security or high performance scalability in mind. They need to look at their current and desired states and make tough decisions that migrate them from homegrown applications to highly available cornerstones of commerce."

Tony Bradley is an information security and unified communications expert with more than a decade of enterprise IT experience. He provides tips, advice and reviews on information security and unified communications technologies on his site at tonybradley.com.

Sprint to sell Samsung’s AM-OLED mobile devices in Q4

Sprint Nextel will sell Samsung’s handsets sporting the sophisticated AM-OLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) display technology, an upcoming technology that the company is pushing for mobile handsets, to bring out better battery life and advanced video and photo images, said the company executives.

To begin with, Sprint will incorporate the technology in its more expensive phones that have video capabilities as the costs of manufacturing the technology is quite high, said David Owens.

“That'''s typically more in a high-end phone ... It won't be across the portfolio,” said Owens.

According to a Samsung executive, the company will start rolling out AM-OLED device in the fourth quarter.

As of now, the Samsung Impression, sold by AT&T Inc, is the only AM-OLED Samsung phone available in the US market.

Separately, Sprint said it will also sell another Samsung phone, the Reclaim which includes bioplastic materials and uses a charger that beeps when the phone is recharged so the user can unplug it to avoid wasting power

LG GC900 Viewty Smart 8 MP phone @ Rs. 27,500

LG Electronics has revealed out its most unique creation i.e. LG Viewty Smart GC900 especially for the Indian market. The phone comprises 8 MP camera, along with other luxuriant features and intelligent shot modes.

Now, users can easily store and memorize their beautiful moments with clear, crisp images captured from extraordinary 8 MP camera. The intelligent shot mode examines scenes and adjusts camera settings according to the user preference and suitability, granting him/her to capture best shots and share them with friends, family and relatives.

Some other unique features of the phone include new 3D S-class user interface, onscreen camera mode selector dial, Power LED flash facility, 1600 ISO sensitivity, Mobile communications and lots more. Embellished with a brushed metal finishing, the phone appeals very classy, durable and tough. This feature can be really helpful for the individuals who are engaged in photographing the exotic world. As per Business group marketing head of Mobile communications.

LG Electronics, Anil Arora, “Viewty Smart is a real digital camera in a really stylish phone. Perfect for those dedicated to fashion and who like to be one step ahead of the technology crowd, LG GC 900 allows you to take your best shot and share your photos with friends and family quickly and simply. The Viewty Smart has a gorgeous display and best-of-class user interface. It has the potential of becoming a bestseller as it takes the pleasure of taking pictures to newer horizons”. He also added, “LG Viewty Smart changes are a treasure trove, giving you pictures that look exactly like what you see. It is the best 8 megapixel camera phone on the market not only because of its specs, but because of the unparalleled user experience it delivers”.

The thickness and weigh of the handset is 12.4mm and 102g respectively. Having razor sharp WVGA touchscreen, user can watch Xvid and DivX movies and do their entertainment. In a nutshell, all across the country, LG GC900 Viewty smart phone is available at all the retail outlets and centers at Rs. 27,500.

Is front facing camera phone on RIM's cards?

Research in Motion, the famous BlackBerry maker is apparently planning to bring the latest iterations with front facing camera.

The company is planning to tweak the design of its Blackberries and making them more useful for corporate users. The front facing camera will be a help for video conferencing and the launch is expected by early 2010.

The front facing cameras have utilities attached to them; the most prominent among them is video conferencing. Nokia has already its products in the market supporting the same form factors.

The innovation will surely set the benchmark for mobile industry and will surely change the mobile landscape.

The news also emerged in the past, but this time it is expected that updates will gain real grounds.

In the meantime, RIM has just announced a new Smartphone, BlackBerry Curve 8520, which is carrying nine unique features, as cited by reports

IIMs to conduct online CAT from this year

Common Admission Test (CAT) of the Indian Institute of Managements (IIMs) will become computer based tests (CBT) from this year onwards and will be held in two sessions, IIM-A officials said.

"CAT of the IIMs is going to be a computer aided test from this year onwards, and shall be conducted in two sessions (morning and afternoon) each day, in a span of about 10 days," IIM-A official said.

According to IIM-A website, CAT will be held during November 28, 2009 to December 7, 2009. A candidate can choose the test date, session (morning/afternoon), and venue across thirty centres (cities) all over India, subject to availability.

IIM's till now have been conducting CAT in paper and pencil format for the last 33 years.

According to IIM-A website, a prospective candidate has to buy a scratch-voucher from the deisgnated bank branches, and later register online for CAT 2009.

"Sale of vouchers and registration for CAT will start from September 9 and end on October 1, 2009," IIM-A official said.