News, computers, technology, machinery

Microsoft’s new proprietary stores

admin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:44:05 +0000

During the weekend of Microsoft opened its second shop, this time in Mission Viejo, California. As reported by CNN, referring to the relationship first guest lounge computer giant Microsoft shop confusingly similar to its largest stores trade competition from Apple.

Great space, simple design, clear colors and large tables mortgaged computer hardware, from which customers can use the store. Generally reception by Microsoft branded stores is positive, many customers, however, draws attention to the fact that they are twins like most competition from Apple’s mark. – It seems that Microsoft living in Mission Viejo dressed up for Halloween for the Apple store – one customer joked.

In a commentary on cnn.com was written, however, that is the right step on the part of Microsoft, which benefits from good practice – one of the keys to the success of Apple’s stores were the aesthetics of his salons.

Microsoft’s first shop opened on 22 October, on the release of Windows 7, in Scottsdale, Arizona. How to ensure that Microsoft, in 2010 the company intends to open another, first in the U.S. and later also in other markets.

Grow Mac market share

On Sunday, Net Applications reported the results of the market shares of various operating systems used by Internet users. And even though undisputed leader is still Windows (92.54 per cent. Market share in October), but in comparison with September the company recorded a slight decline at 0.25 percent. The scale of the month by 2.7 percent. increased as the number of users of Mac OS – in October branded Apple operating system was 5.26 percent. market share.

It is difficult to say how the market can cope with the latest Microsoft Windows 7 child, but the published research shows that the end of October it has benefited from about 2.85 percent. Internet.

Net Applications does not investigate the sale of operating systems. Its monthly survey is based on an analysis of 160 million web pages, which draws on this data, from which the systems used by their users.

Google’s best employer

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:29:10 +0000

Released a list of fifty most attractive employers in the world – from business and engineering. Number one is Google.
Universum has issued a list of Top 50 most attractive employers in the world, with which it is clear that Google is among the students is second to none. Cooperation, invited 120 thousand students from top universities around the world, so that was the first global index of the attractiveness of the employer. Best were selected from two areas – engineering and business. In both cases, Google is sovereign, but Microsoft is also at the forefront – both for the future engineers and businessmen, occupying respectively the second and third place.

The studies took students from the United States, Japan, China, France, Great Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy, Russia, Canada and India. Full results will find an index

Internet cure?

admin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:39:24 +0000

Using the Internet improves brain function in older people – reported researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles. They invited a group of people aged 55 to 78 years to surf the Internet, while connecting them to a magnetic resonance imaging. After the initial registration of brain scans, subjects were instructed that the next two weeks to enjoy the Internet for an hour a day. Then they were re-examined.

Prior to the test half of the seniors used the Internet daily, while the other half was with him only sporadic contact. At the beginning of the study the brains of people used the Internet showed a higher level of activation, but after two weeks of Internet novices quickly match for their more experienced colleagues.

Even the old brain can learn to associate with new technologies – said prof. Gary Small, co-author of the study. – As a result of Internet use clearly increased brain activity, especially in parts responsible for making decisions about what seems so sensible that surfing the Web, after a lot of decisions we make – he adds.

The same study researchers at the University of California, is another argument for the thesis that the key to maintaining mental capacity until old age is the continuous stimulation of the brain, for example by learning new skills or activities that require frequent decision-making.

Google’s books violates the law?

admin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:29:18 +0000

A lot of talk recently about the Google Books result of an agreement that Google intends to conclude with U.S. publishers. The proposal of the agreement fell in October last year and was the result of class action lawsuit brought by organizations representing writers and publishers against the giant.

The agreement provides that, for U.S. $ 125 million, Google will be able to significantly increase the number of items available online without worrying about copyright infringement. It was agreed that Google will provide up to 20% of selected items for free. Universities and libraries will be able to pay lump sum for access to the entire book collection. Revenues will be split between Google, publishers and authors.

Proceedings of the agreement opened the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). In the U.S., oppose the agreement some smaller publishers and companies from IT sector, who fear Google’s monopoly on the market for books online. There is even an organization called the Open Book Alliance, whose main purpose seems to be against the agreement.

Agreement also objected to the publisher and European politicians. The governments of Germany and France say that Google is in accordance with the law should be agreed at European authors that their work reproduced or published on the Internet. Google did not respond to these concerns directly, but sent out letters to the representatives of 16 European publishers, which offered them two seats on the board directing the organization of the Books Rights Registry.

Now performed strongly against the agreement, Chinese writers. Representatives of China Written Works Copyright Society (CWWCS) told AFP that according to their data at least 17,922 books have been scanned and included in the Google Books.

According to the representatives CWWCS is a violation of the accepted world-wide rules to scanning, copying and use of the copyrighted work has been after obtaining the approval and payment of a fee (source: AFP, the Google Books project draws fire in China).

The reactions of Chinese writers can be read better by reading text on the site Juliet Ye Wall Street Journall Fri Google Books Settlement: The Chinese Chapter. Currently, authors do not plan to fight in court with Google, but seem to have no doubt that the California company is doing something wrong and illegal. This view is cited by the WSJ Chinese lawyer. In his opinion the agreement between Google and publishers will not be able to defend the company in court.

Google defends itself by claiming that the company’s goal is to restore life to the books already niewydawanych. The company stresses that the controversial agreement covers the U.S., is to be concluded in accordance with U.S. law and U.S. readers only through him will have access to books.

Google intends to allow foreign authors obtain remuneration when their works were in American libraries and collections have been scanned. It should be noted, however, that the author will need to claim for salary. Such an approach to the issue is really controversial and difficult to be surprised angry authors. Their books have been scanned without asking for permission and will be available on the basis of an agreement with overseas organizations, unknown to them.

On the other hand Google is a little wrong, saying that the book has already niewydawane may now be available online. Noticed that the European Commission, which is inspired by the idea of Google’s decided to start work on the changes in copyright law, in particular concerning the works of “orphan”.