Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile Communication Services on Aircraft) (Exemption) Regulations 2008 | Ofcom
Ofcom are holding a consultation on the use of mobile phones on aircraft.
They are intending to make the use of mobile terminals license exempt when operating on a licensed system on aircraft.
The consultation closes at 5pm on 29th August 2008
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31 Temmuz 2008 Perşembe
NVIDIA speeds folding proteins
Stanford University has been running the Folding@Home project for a while. This uses a highly complex mathematical system to see how proteins fold, proteins that fold in a different manner are thought to be part of the process that leads to certain diseases.
NVIDIA GPUs are really highly optimised engines that can work on mathematical data in a very parallel manner (that's really what a lot graphics programming is). They have a programming interface into the GPUs and the NVIDIA folding@home client uses that interface. It can speed up mathematical operations by up to about 140x compared to a standard CPU.
A team running the NVIDIA client has moved to the top 0.1% of the folding@home teams in under a month.
Other mathematical solutions may also speed up drastically using this technology, unfortunately NVIDIA have charged for access to their CUDA libraries.
NVIDIA GPUs are really highly optimised engines that can work on mathematical data in a very parallel manner (that's really what a lot graphics programming is). They have a programming interface into the GPUs and the NVIDIA folding@home client uses that interface. It can speed up mathematical operations by up to about 140x compared to a standard CPU.
A team running the NVIDIA client has moved to the top 0.1% of the folding@home teams in under a month.
Other mathematical solutions may also speed up drastically using this technology, unfortunately NVIDIA have charged for access to their CUDA libraries.
30 Temmuz 2008 Çarşamba
25 Temmuz 2008 Cuma
THUS announces extension to SkyTalk contract
Press Releases
That's a nice spin anyway. Sky announces they are using BT for their future CPS SkyTalk service, THUS announces an extension of contract for a year to "ease" the migration, not of course they've lost the contract.
Good thing C&W are taking over?
That's a nice spin anyway. Sky announces they are using BT for their future CPS SkyTalk service, THUS announces an extension of contract for a year to "ease" the migration, not of course they've lost the contract.
Good thing C&W are taking over?
18 Temmuz 2008 Cuma
3G on 3
The 3 dongle arrived and a working SIM inserted (Powerbook G4 12" running Leopard).
Then the fun started with trying to install software to drive the thing. It wasn't fun and the drivers from the Huawei site (it's a Huawei E220 USB dongle) didn't really seem to work, various others didn't either.
Then the suggestion was given for Launch2Net and after a quick download and install, everything sprung to life and the Internet appeared. Launch2Net has all the settings for various networks built-in, including 3 in the UK. They also support various dongles/PC Cards/etc.
The E220 only supports 3.6Mb/s download speed (didn't seem to quite manage it), but that's good enough for Email and general out of office business use. After playing with it for around 15 minutes, around 8MB of data had been downloaded, so data charges could easily mount up.
Well worth the €79.
Then the fun started with trying to install software to drive the thing. It wasn't fun and the drivers from the Huawei site (it's a Huawei E220 USB dongle) didn't really seem to work, various others didn't either.
Then the suggestion was given for Launch2Net and after a quick download and install, everything sprung to life and the Internet appeared. Launch2Net has all the settings for various networks built-in, including 3 in the UK. They also support various dongles/PC Cards/etc.
The E220 only supports 3.6Mb/s download speed (didn't seem to quite manage it), but that's good enough for Email and general out of office business use. After playing with it for around 15 minutes, around 8MB of data had been downloaded, so data charges could easily mount up.
Well worth the €79.
17 Temmuz 2008 Perşembe
16 Temmuz 2008 Çarşamba
BT to fibre the UK (well bits)
BT has said it will spend £3bn to get fibre to 10m homes (that's about 40% of the homes in the UK) and it will only cover urban areas, rural areas will have to stick with copper.
BT are already spending £10bn on their 21CN, so that's £13bn ... not just a little spend.
The fibre upgrade works out at £300 per home (which doesn't seem that much on a per household basis).
Their reasoning is to deliver IPTV and other services and it is entirely possible that a household could spend more than £300 to get HDTV and VoD services.
BT are already spending £10bn on their 21CN, so that's £13bn ... not just a little spend.
The fibre upgrade works out at £300 per home (which doesn't seem that much on a per household basis).
Their reasoning is to deliver IPTV and other services and it is entirely possible that a household could spend more than £300 to get HDTV and VoD services.
1m iPhones sold in 3 days
Apple sold 1m 3G iPhones worldwide in 3 days and 10m apps from the app.store.
Not all could be activated initially as Apple had problems with their activation server, but these problems seem to have been cured, though there's still a lack of iPhones and O2 in the UK are taking orders and phones will be delivered at a later date.
Google having previously denied it is producing a Google branded (G)Phone - is still denying it, but rumours are spreading that they are indeed talking about manufacturing a device to head of the iPhone.
Not all could be activated initially as Apple had problems with their activation server, but these problems seem to have been cured, though there's still a lack of iPhones and O2 in the UK are taking orders and phones will be delivered at a later date.
Google having previously denied it is producing a Google branded (G)Phone - is still denying it, but rumours are spreading that they are indeed talking about manufacturing a device to head of the iPhone.
15 Temmuz 2008 Salı
14 Temmuz 2008 Pazartesi
iPhone App Store Downloads Top 10 Million in First Weekend
iPhone App Store Downloads Top 10 Million in First Weekend
Apple have sold over 10 million iPhone/iPod touch applications in the first weekend (3 days since Fri).
iPod touch users will have had to pay $9.95 (in the US) for the software upgrade to the v2 software.
As the weeks progress the number of applications will also increase (currently around 500) and the number of sales are also likely to increase as more people actually get their phones and the variety of applications also increase.
Apple have sold over 10 million iPhone/iPod touch applications in the first weekend (3 days since Fri).
iPod touch users will have had to pay $9.95 (in the US) for the software upgrade to the v2 software.
As the weeks progress the number of applications will also increase (currently around 500) and the number of sales are also likely to increase as more people actually get their phones and the variety of applications also increase.
Play.com 3 dongle
It's Pay As You Go (i.e. no contract) and only £40 - which seems quite a good price. Just insert a 3 SIM and away you go. It can probably be unlocked too with the relevant software,
Get it at Play
Get it at Play
10 Temmuz 2008 Perşembe
iTunes 7.7 released - now with app.store
As expected Apple have released an update to iTunes to take it to v7.7 and the new feature is the App Store.
There are around 100 free apps and quite a few commercial ones too.
Existing iPhone users will have to wait for the version 2 software update and the 3G iPhone should be available tomorrow [11/07/08] (depending on stock - which in the UK is meant to be severely limited).
Customers can select software by category, whether it's "free" or not and for the iPhone or iTouch.
Though there's quite a bit of software for the launch, it's somewhat surprising there isn't more, though developers may not be too pleased with the current system as the app is tied to the dowloading version of iTunes which means it can be saved on any iPhone/iTouch which has a relationship with that system.
There are around 100 free apps and quite a few commercial ones too.
Existing iPhone users will have to wait for the version 2 software update and the 3G iPhone should be available tomorrow [11/07/08] (depending on stock - which in the UK is meant to be severely limited).
Customers can select software by category, whether it's "free" or not and for the iPhone or iTouch.
Though there's quite a bit of software for the launch, it's somewhat surprising there isn't more, though developers may not be too pleased with the current system as the app is tied to the dowloading version of iTunes which means it can be saved on any iPhone/iTouch which has a relationship with that system.
9 Temmuz 2008 Çarşamba
Touchscreen BlackBerry Thunder Keyboard To Utilize Haptic Technology... AMAZING Implementation! | CrackBerry.com
Touchscreen BlackBerry Thunder Keyboard To Utilize Haptic Technology... AMAZING Implementation! | CrackBerry.com
The Crackberry rumour site are reporting that the Blackberry Thunder will contain haptic technology that will give positive feedback on the virtual keyboard i.e. so when a user touches the screen on a certain letter, the screen will "push back" or slightly raise against the touch.
The screen is 360 by 480 and made of glass or a glass like substance. The web browser in the Blackberry is also based on the same engine that the iPhone uses.
If true it will certainly be a blow to Apple as the Thunder may well be the iPhone killer.
The Crackberry rumour site are reporting that the Blackberry Thunder will contain haptic technology that will give positive feedback on the virtual keyboard i.e. so when a user touches the screen on a certain letter, the screen will "push back" or slightly raise against the touch.
The screen is 360 by 480 and made of glass or a glass like substance. The web browser in the Blackberry is also based on the same engine that the iPhone uses.
If true it will certainly be a blow to Apple as the Thunder may well be the iPhone killer.
Inside Microsoft’s Internet Infrastructure & Its Plans For The Future - GigaOM
Inside Microsoft’s Internet Infrastructure & Its Plans For The Future - GigaOM
Microsoft is building it's own CDN (content delivery network), they currently have a 100Gb/s backbone which they'll increase to 500Gb/s. They seem to be using Level 3 for the network (who already provide CDN services themselves).
They are linking 99 datacentres and adding 10,000 servers a month.
It looks like MS are gunning for Google/Amazon in the cloud-computing/data storage markets.
Microsoft is building it's own CDN (content delivery network), they currently have a 100Gb/s backbone which they'll increase to 500Gb/s. They seem to be using Level 3 for the network (who already provide CDN services themselves).
They are linking 99 datacentres and adding 10,000 servers a month.
It looks like MS are gunning for Google/Amazon in the cloud-computing/data storage markets.
O2 sites crashes with 3G iPhone demand
O2's site went down this week due to the massive demand for iPhones.
When the initial iPhone was announced O2 has 35,000 initial web inquiries, with the 3G variant they had 200,000 inquiries.
O2 say that Apple is restricting supplies and they may have difficulties satisfying demand.
The iPhone is still considered a consumer phone even with its push email and VPN capabilities, though O2 has announced business tariffs.
RIM's new Blackberry Bold (which seems to be delayed until August) has missed a trick as it could have caused a dent to Apple's launch, especially as it now has the iTunes (iPod) client software built-in.
When the initial iPhone was announced O2 has 35,000 initial web inquiries, with the 3G variant they had 200,000 inquiries.
O2 say that Apple is restricting supplies and they may have difficulties satisfying demand.
The iPhone is still considered a consumer phone even with its push email and VPN capabilities, though O2 has announced business tariffs.
RIM's new Blackberry Bold (which seems to be delayed until August) has missed a trick as it could have caused a dent to Apple's launch, especially as it now has the iTunes (iPod) client software built-in.
8 Temmuz 2008 Salı
telecoms.com
telecoms.com
The EU has backed plans to allow both TDD (Time Division Duplex) and FDD (Frequency Devision Duplex) in the upcoming 2.6GHz spectrum auctions. It will be up to the market to decide what should be used.
WiMAX advocates are happy about this as WiMAX is based on TDD.
The EU decision is supported by CEPT.
Ofocm have been a major supporter of allocating spectrum on a technology neutral basis and allowing the market to decide its use (though ensuring interference issues don't occur).
The EU has backed plans to allow both TDD (Time Division Duplex) and FDD (Frequency Devision Duplex) in the upcoming 2.6GHz spectrum auctions. It will be up to the market to decide what should be used.
WiMAX advocates are happy about this as WiMAX is based on TDD.
The EU decision is supported by CEPT.
Ofocm have been a major supporter of allocating spectrum on a technology neutral basis and allowing the market to decide its use (though ensuring interference issues don't occur).
Market Impact Assessment: new Local Video proposals - Terms of Reference | Ofcom
Market Impact Assessment: new Local Video proposals - Terms of Reference | Ofcom
The BBC is proposing to launch an on demand Local Video Service available over fixed and wireless broadband services. As a public service they are required to undertake a Public Value Test (PVT) before launching such services. The BBC has conducted a Public Value Assessment while Ofcom is conducting a Market Impact Assessment - and as such Ofcom are continuing the consultation until 5pm on August 4th 2008.
The BBC is proposing to launch an on demand Local Video Service available over fixed and wireless broadband services. As a public service they are required to undertake a Public Value Test (PVT) before launching such services. The BBC has conducted a Public Value Assessment while Ofcom is conducting a Market Impact Assessment - and as such Ofcom are continuing the consultation until 5pm on August 4th 2008.
innovation | Digium® - The Asterisk Company
innovation | Digium® - The Asterisk Company:
Digium the company that produces Asterisk have announced their 2nd innovation awards.
The catagories are: -
* Pioneer Award: Most innovative implementation
* Big Biz Asterisk: Largest enterprise class installation
* ROI: Best measurable ROI from implementing Asterisk based solution
* Inside Out Award: Best use of Asterisk in a business outside of telecommunications
Awards will be presented for each category on a global basis.
Asterisk is dual licensed in an open source version and commercial version (Asterisk Business Edition being an example of the closed source version), but enhancements tend to be cross developed. Asterisk is an IP PBX supporting both telephony interfaces (POTS, ISDN, etc) and VoIP protocols (SIP, H.323, etc), however it is much more than that and can be used as an IVR (interactive voice response), there are even speech-to-text engines available for integration.
Digium is also now starting to support SS7 (the protocols telecoms carriers use) natively within the telephony interfaces so Asterisk can be used as a "real" telephony switch.
Digium the company that produces Asterisk have announced their 2nd innovation awards.
The catagories are: -
* Pioneer Award: Most innovative implementation
* Big Biz Asterisk: Largest enterprise class installation
* ROI: Best measurable ROI from implementing Asterisk based solution
* Inside Out Award: Best use of Asterisk in a business outside of telecommunications
Awards will be presented for each category on a global basis.
Asterisk is dual licensed in an open source version and commercial version (Asterisk Business Edition being an example of the closed source version), but enhancements tend to be cross developed. Asterisk is an IP PBX supporting both telephony interfaces (POTS, ISDN, etc) and VoIP protocols (SIP, H.323, etc), however it is much more than that and can be used as an IVR (interactive voice response), there are even speech-to-text engines available for integration.
Digium is also now starting to support SS7 (the protocols telecoms carriers use) natively within the telephony interfaces so Asterisk can be used as a "real" telephony switch.
» iCall App Enables GSM to WiFi / VoIP Switching On The iPhone iPhone Hacks: Downloads, Cracks, Mods, Homebrew, Utilities - Hack & Unlock Apple iPhone
» iCall App Enables GSM to WiFi / VoIP Switching On The iPhone iPhone Hacks: Downloads, Cracks, Mods, Homebrew, Utilities - Hack & Unlock Apple iPhone
iCall are releasing an application that will switch calls between a regular line and VoIP when in range of a WiFi connection. It meets Apple's guidelines as it only uses VoIP when in range of the WiFi network and they only uses Apple's standard SDK (i.e. no hacks involved).
Since iCall are a telephony provider too, they must somehow bounce the call through their network and then switch it to WiFi when a network is detected.
The application will be available through Apples app store.
iCall are releasing an application that will switch calls between a regular line and VoIP when in range of a WiFi connection. It meets Apple's guidelines as it only uses VoIP when in range of the WiFi network and they only uses Apple's standard SDK (i.e. no hacks involved).
Since iCall are a telephony provider too, they must somehow bounce the call through their network and then switch it to WiFi when a network is detected.
The application will be available through Apples app store.
3 Temmuz 2008 Perşembe
2 Temmuz 2008 Çarşamba
Computer Weekly Blog Awards
Seems that Euro Tech News has been short listed in the Wireless/Mobile category at Blog Awards.
Unfortunately I'm not really around in the next week, but do vote for me if you can.
Thanks
Steve
Unfortunately I'm not really around in the next week, but do vote for me if you can.
Thanks
Steve