A strategic alliance inked by Microsoft and Chunghwa Telecom Co. Ltd. (CHT) is designed to enable the latter to deliver services that span across the PC, mobile devices, and TV, both to businesses and to end users in Taiwan. According to the Redmond company, Simon Leung, corporate vice president, chairman and CEO of Microsoft Greater China Region, and Shyue-Ching Lu, chairman and CEO of CHT, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) defining the future collaboration focused not only on Cloud services but also on software applications. The agreement involves SaaS (software as a service), PaaS (platform as a service) and IaaS (information as a service) cloud app, Microsoft explained.
Present at the MOU signing, Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer commented that the two companies shared the same vision when it came down to delivering products and services set up to enhance user experience associated with mobile technologies. “We’re expanding the scope of our collaboration because CHT is a great partner in these efforts and because we are committed to working closely with companies in Taiwan to help strengthen the Taiwanese IT industry,” Ballmer revealed. When it comes down to SaaS, the software giant revealed that CHT would be the local partner which would serve Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS) online services to customers.
In addition, by joining Microsoft in the Cloud, CHT also embraces the company’s upcoming Cloud platform. The PaaS aspect of the strategic alliance involves a CHT and Microsoft collaboration for the Windows Azure Platform Metro Early Adoption Program. Essentially, CHT will leverage Windows Azure for its own Cloud services. “Through this agreement, Microsoft and CHT will work together to deliver a new generation of seamless, connected experiences that bring the power of cloud computing to consumers and to business of all sizes here in Taiwan,” Ballmer added. “These efforts will include everything from the implementation of an optimized, dynamic datacenter to hosted services for businesses and new cloud-based services for consumers that span PCs, mobile phones and the television.” As a part of the IaaS deal between the two, CHT will be able to take advantage of the Microsoft Global Foundation Services and Dynamic Data Center Toolkit. Microsoft noted that, in this regard, CHT would offer optimized dynamic datacenter cloud services.
On top of this, CHT will also make sure that custom versions of Internet Explorer and Silverlight will be installed on its netbooks, in addition to Windows Gadgets for Windows 7. “We hope that our strategic alliance with Microsoft will result in a more convenient mobile experience for consumers,” Shyue-Ching revealed. “CHT has continuously enhanced our software applications and service scopes, and devoted ourselves to digital services including audio, video, information security and entertainment services. The combination of Microsoft’s innovative technologies and CHT’s resources is intended to accelerate the application of cloud technologies on actual services, bringing consumers convenient services and fresh user experiences."
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Download Google Chrome 4.0 Beta - 400% More Performance over v1.0
A new release of Google Chrome 4.0 is now available for download, full build string 4.0.223.16. Loyal to a Cloud-tailored mantra of simplicity and performance, Google has kicked up a notch its open source browser, revealing the first Beta development milestone of version 4.0. Ahead of the November 2nd launch of Google Chrome 4.0 Beta, version 4.0 was offered exclusively through the Mountain View search giant’s developer channel. This is no longer the case. With the unveiling of the Beta Build 4.0.223.16, Google is now offering Chrome 4.0 to the public.
However, not all users will be able to install the release. Version 4.0.223.16 is Windows only, Google informed, giving no indications as to any future plans to offer Chrome 4.0 for users of Linux and Mac OS X platforms as well. In this regard, early adopters looking to start test driving Google Chrome 4.0 Beta will need to do it on Windows XP SP2, and SP3, Vista RTM/SP1/SP2 and Windows 7.
“The Beta Channel is being updated to 4.0.223.16 which is our first Beta release for 4.0. This release includes many bug fixes and for the first time Bookmark Sync is enabled. Extensions are disabled until the final API changes arrive. Please use the dev channel for the latest extension API,” revealed Jonathan Conradt, Engineering Program Manager.
One aspect of Google Chrome’s evolution that is also characteristic of version 4.0 Beta, is the added horsepower introduced by the Mountain View search giant. Google’s Idan Avraham and Anton Muhin, Software Engineers, explained that Google Chrome 4.0 Beta delivers 400% more performance compared to Chrome 1.0, and 30% more over Chrome 3.0 Stable (according to Mozilla's Dromeao DOM Core Tests).
Google Chrome bookmark sync is a new feature introduced with version 4.0 Beta, with a self-explanatory moniker. Google Chrome 4.0 Beta allows users to synchronize bookmarks across multiple devices that are running v4.0 of the open source browser. The synchronization is done in the Google Cloud, more specifically, the XMPP-based servers for Google Talk.
However, not all users will be able to install the release. Version 4.0.223.16 is Windows only, Google informed, giving no indications as to any future plans to offer Chrome 4.0 for users of Linux and Mac OS X platforms as well. In this regard, early adopters looking to start test driving Google Chrome 4.0 Beta will need to do it on Windows XP SP2, and SP3, Vista RTM/SP1/SP2 and Windows 7.
“The Beta Channel is being updated to 4.0.223.16 which is our first Beta release for 4.0. This release includes many bug fixes and for the first time Bookmark Sync is enabled. Extensions are disabled until the final API changes arrive. Please use the dev channel for the latest extension API,” revealed Jonathan Conradt, Engineering Program Manager.
One aspect of Google Chrome’s evolution that is also characteristic of version 4.0 Beta, is the added horsepower introduced by the Mountain View search giant. Google’s Idan Avraham and Anton Muhin, Software Engineers, explained that Google Chrome 4.0 Beta delivers 400% more performance compared to Chrome 1.0, and 30% more over Chrome 3.0 Stable (according to Mozilla's Dromeao DOM Core Tests).
Google Chrome bookmark sync is a new feature introduced with version 4.0 Beta, with a self-explanatory moniker. Google Chrome 4.0 Beta allows users to synchronize bookmarks across multiple devices that are running v4.0 of the open source browser. The synchronization is done in the Google Cloud, more specifically, the XMPP-based servers for Google Talk.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
100 million Need for Speed Games Have Been Sold to This Day
1994 was the year in which the most popular racing game franchise was born. In that year, Electronic Arts released the first Need for Speed game for the 3DO console, but it would have never guessed just how much of an impact it would have. Right now, the game has gathered 14 sequels spread across 14 consoles. Today, these titles, along with the original, have sold over 100 million copies and make for the only racing game to ever reach this number. This milestone isn't a first achievement for Electronic Arts, as its Sims series has managed to cross the 100-million line as well.
All NFS games ever made have amounted to a total sales income of $2.7 billion, a number that exceeds the gross national product of some smaller countries. Of course, EA takes great pride in watching these crumbling territories from far above in its tower built of money and the dreams and hopes of developers. It also takes pride in many other achievements of some of its Need for Speed games. 2005 was the year of Need for Speed Most Wanted, as it sold 16 million copies worldwide and 3.9 million in the US. EA itself was the one that measured their global sales, while the localized ones were supervised by the NPD Group.As one could have expected, the 16 million copies were the top bar for sales, as far as a single title was concerned. The following installments in the series could not match up to Most Wanted, but that doesn't mean they didn't do very well on their own. In the US alone, Need for Speed: Carbon sold 3.2 million units, ProStreet 2.4 million and 1.4 million Need for Speed: Undercover copies landed in the hands of the American fans.
To try and relieve the glory of Most Wanted, Activision has two new games in the series planned for this year alone and another one coming fresh in 2010. Need for Speed Shift was launched in September on the PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable and has gathered only 309,000 units across all platforms so far. With Nitro coming out on November 3 and Need for Speed World Online announced for next year, it seems like Most Wanted was a one-time hit
All NFS games ever made have amounted to a total sales income of $2.7 billion, a number that exceeds the gross national product of some smaller countries. Of course, EA takes great pride in watching these crumbling territories from far above in its tower built of money and the dreams and hopes of developers. It also takes pride in many other achievements of some of its Need for Speed games. 2005 was the year of Need for Speed Most Wanted, as it sold 16 million copies worldwide and 3.9 million in the US. EA itself was the one that measured their global sales, while the localized ones were supervised by the NPD Group.As one could have expected, the 16 million copies were the top bar for sales, as far as a single title was concerned. The following installments in the series could not match up to Most Wanted, but that doesn't mean they didn't do very well on their own. In the US alone, Need for Speed: Carbon sold 3.2 million units, ProStreet 2.4 million and 1.4 million Need for Speed: Undercover copies landed in the hands of the American fans.
To try and relieve the glory of Most Wanted, Activision has two new games in the series planned for this year alone and another one coming fresh in 2010. Need for Speed Shift was launched in September on the PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable and has gathered only 309,000 units across all platforms so far. With Nitro coming out on November 3 and Need for Speed World Online announced for next year, it seems like Most Wanted was a one-time hit
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