Apple cuts iPhone price

Apple unveils a faster iPhone and slashes prices on the original 3G to $99.

Carmen Roberts reports.

Big laser, bigger implications

Scientists hope the home of the world's largest laser will change the way the world produces energy.

EA "changing the game" with FIFA 10

Jun 8 - The games manufacturer Electronic Arts says consumer feedback from online gamers has helped it deliver a new level of authenticity with its new soccer game.

Matt Cowan reports.

Microsoft's campus of dreams

Jun 3 - A 'whereabouts' clock, 'sensecam' and Second Light are just a few of the futuristic visions revealed at Microsoft's flagship European research laboratory in Cambridge.

Matt Cowan reports.

Plane's sensors under scrutiny

Jun 12 - An aviation expert takes a closer look at speed sensors, known as pitot tubes, which have become central in the investigation of the Air France 330 crash that killed 228 people.

Wind power makes strides in China

Jun 12 - China's wind power generation has doubled in the last year as the country looks for greener ways to wean itself off cheap, but dirty, coal.

Kitty Bu reports.

Sony's new handheld game device

Sony has unveiled its new portable gaming device, the PSP Go.

Video and photos of the PSP Go were leaked online before the official announcement, revealing a lighter, slimmer console.

Speaking after the launch at the E3 gaming conference in Los Angeles, Sony Computer Entertainment chief, Kazuo Hirai, told the BBC's Daniel Emery that the media giant had received "a good buzz" from the event and did not think the leaks had done any harm.

Real-life relationships with Xbox

Lionhead Studios' Peter Molyneux has shown off a game character that recognises and responds to a player's mood.

The human interaction system is possible with Natal, a system being developed for the Xbox 360.

It monitors and reacts precisely to the player's movements and the way they talk.

Microsoft demonstrated Natal at the start of the E3 gaming conference in Los Angeles.

Virtual pet at tech show

A computer generated animal and a skateboard game with players riding real boards are among the big hits at the E3 gaming show in LA.

The exhibition's organisers say 40,000 people are attending the event.

Ellie Gibson has toured the stands.

Common GPS could help better track airline flights

Get lost in the woods and a cell phone in your pocket can help camping buddies find you. Drive into a ditch and GPS in your car lets emergency crews pinpoint the crash site. But when a transcontinental flight is above the middle of the ocean, no one on the ground can see exactly where it is — in the air, or worse, in the water.

The disappearance of Air France Flight 477 and its 228 passengers over the Atlantic Ocean this week has critics of radar-based air traffic control calling on the U.S. and other countries to hasten the move to GPS-based networks that promise to precisely track all planes. Current radars are obsolete more than 200 miles from land.

"The technology's there — we've had this stuff for 15 years and little's happened," said Michael Boyd, a Colorado-based airline analyst. "My BlackBerry can be used to track me, so why can't we do it with planes?"

U.S. officials have discussed setting up such a network since the 1990s and the technology is being tested in parts of the country, including Alaska and off the Gulf Coast. A few carriers, like Southwest, already use GPS to help planes make quicker landings that burn less fuel.

But full implementation, estimated at a cost of $35 billion, has languished amid funding delays and disputes over technical complexities. Although Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has said the project will be among the Federal Aviation Administration's top priorities in the Obama administration, the existing radar system is likely to remain for at least another decade.

"It's a crude system they're using now," said Robert Poole, an aviation expert with the free market-oriented Reason Foundation. "For 100 dollars, you can run down and buy a GPS system, put it in your car and know exactly where you are. But planes don't have it."

Some European and Asian countries are moving more quickly toward establishing pricey satellite systems. But many other countries lag behind, including Brazil, where the ill-fated Air France took off Sunday.

Current air traffic systems do not allow controllers to see a transoceanic plane on radar until it is within about 200 miles of land. Instead, controllers often estimate a plane's location based on flight plans and departure times. Such imprecision leaves planes vulnerable in emergencies, such as water landings, Boyd said.

"If a plane ditches and there are survivors, you may not be able to get to it fast enough," he said. "And if an airplane was hijacked in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, we wouldn't know until it pops up somewhere else."

A reported electrical system failure aboard Flight 477 likely would have knocked out any GPS devices even if the flight had been equipped with that technology. But under a satellite system, rescuers would have known the aircraft's precise location when the failure occurred, presumably making the search area much smaller and helping authorities locate the wreckage faster. That timeliness that can also be crucial in determining a cause of a crash.

Radar quality varies from country to country. For example, many U.S. control centers at least enable planes to send more frequent updates about their location, even when beyond radar's reach.

But over oceans, including vast blind spots in the middle of the Atlantic on U.S.-European routes, pilots usually have to resort to calling controllers with estimated positions every hour or so. The call-ins can frustrate pilots, especially in and around South America, where radio and radar coverage can be patchy, said retired airline pilot Vaughn Cordle, who lives in the Washington area.

"There's nothing worse than going through the painful exercise of trying to talk to someone and letting them know where you are," Cordle said. "The South American region can be more dangerous because pilots are sometimes on their own."

A plane failing to check in after more than two or three hours can be an air traffic controller's worst fear, said New York-based controller Pat McDonough.

"It's very disturbing to the controller to lose an aircraft — you feel responsible," he said. "I sympathize with those guys watching the Air France flight."

GPS proponents say satellite-based air traffic systems provide another benefit that could have directly affected Flight 477, which disappeared into a band of towering thunderstorms. Such systems would collect information from around the globe and allow for real-time weather maps to appear on cockpit displays, giving pilots a tool to better determine how to navigate oncoming weather.

"The point is if we have GPS to monitor airplanes, could it save lives?" Boyd said. "The answer is clearly yes."

Intel unveils chip for ultra-thin laptops

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -

Intel Corp on Monday launched a lighter, power-saving microprocessor intended for use in ultra-thin laptops, a move by the top chip maker to shore up its lead in mobile computing.

The new processor, dubbed the Pentium SU2700, comes amid investors' fears that cheaper processors such as the Atom, designed for use in ultra-cheap netbooks, are cannibalizing the market share for higher-margin, more expensive chips.

Acer and Asustek have said they will build laptops with the chip, and Microsoft will ensure its software supports it.

Intel expects that by the fourth quarter of 2009, about a fifth of its consumer shipments will be for the new-generation laptops, slimmer and more energy-efficient.

Intel is upbeat on the ultra-thin market and expects "explosive growth in 2009, very similar to the netbook growth," Intel's director of mobile platforms product marketing Uday Marty said on a conference call.

Asustek, which in 2007 pioneered the successful low-cost, no-frills netbook PC in 2007, is expected to unveil five new laptop models based on the technology this year.

Analysts say Intel's CULV platform may offer a cheaper -- but virtually as powerful -- alternative to the traditional processors it makes for laptops, while enabling laptops to begin to approach the diminutive size of netbooks.

Intel on Monday also released three new Core 2 Duo processors and a new mobile chipset.

Nokia says started deliveries of N97 phone

HELSINKI (Reuters) -

The world's top cellphone maker Nokia started on Tuesday deliveries of its new top-of-the-range smartphone model N97, a spokeswoman for the company said.

The firm said in a statement the model would go on sale in more than 75 countries this month.

Acer May Be First With Android Netbook

Acer plans to launch a version of its Aspire One netbook with Google's Android mobile operating system in the third quarter of this year, a top executive at the company said Tuesday.

The device carries the same Intel Atom microprocessor as on any Aspire One, and it sports a 10-inch screen. A similar Aspire One is currently available from Acer but it comes with Microsoft Windows XP.

The device could be the first Android netbook available worldwide if Acer can beat some rivals, such as China's Guangzhou Skytone Transmission Technologies, which has said its Android netbook is undergoing final testing.

Android is a smartphone operating system developed by Google that is meant to make communications and Web browsing easy, especially on Google sites such as YouTube and Google Maps. The majority of netbooks today use Microsoft's Windows XP.

"We are seeing that Android is becoming more common," said Jim Wong, president of global product operations at Acer. Acer decided to move more quickly to work with Android because there is a strong development movement behind the software, he added.

The Aspire One netbooks Acer displayed at its news conference on Tuesday at Computex were running a dual-boot system allowing users to switch between Android and Windows XP, but Wong said the device that goes on sale later this year will only have Android and another Linux OS.

He declined to comment on pricing, saying only that it will likely be slightly less expensive than an Aspire One with Windows XP.

But he also said the device will not offer any additional power savings compared to an Aspire One with Windows XP. Companies showing other new Android-based netbooks at Computex have said the battery life will be much better.

Current netbooks with Atom microprocessors and Windows XP have around six or seven hours of battery life, but netbooks with ARM microprocessors and Android at Computex are said to offer eight to 10 hours of battery life before needing a recharge.

The difference is the microprocessor. Acer is the first company to show an Android-based netbook with an Intel Atom microprocessor. Other companies have shown Android netbooks with chips from Qualcomm, Texas Instruments and Freescale Semiconductor that have ARM processing cores. These devices offer better power savings.

Acer worked with a Taiwanese Linux outfit called Insyde Software to port Android over to a netbook with an Atom microprocessor.

Running Android on the Aspire One took a lot of work, said an Acer representative, but they were able to modify the software because it's open source.

Netbooks centre stage at Taipei trade fair

TAIPEI Asia's biggest information technology trade show opened in Taiwan Tuesday, with the spotlight on low-priced notebook computers and advanced broadband Internet mobile technology.

The event was given extra significance this year by the participation of 36 Chinese exhibitors in the Computex Taipei, the first time since its launch 29 years ago.

Their participation has been made possible by the rapid improvement in ties between Taiwan and its former bitter rival China since President Ma Ying-jeou came to power on the island in May last year.

The five-day event will also enable Taiwanese notebook PC companies to grab the spotlight ahead of competitors as they showcase their new "netbook" models -- laptops designed primarily for web browsing and emailing.

With many netbooks weighing less than a kilogram (2.2 pounds) and costing as little as 250 US dollars, the crowded market is heating up as the cheaper products gain traction over higher priced computers in the economic downturn.

Worldwide demand for netbooks is expected to more than double this year to 32 million units from 13 million units last year.

Asustek Computer Inc, known for its popular "Eee PC" family launched in 2007, demonstrated its latest items shortly after the opening of the exhibition.

Equipped with a 10-inch (25 cm) display, Asustek's Eee PC Seashell 1008HA touts a 18 mm profile and weighs only 1.1 kilograms (2.42 pounds), making it easy to carry. Its battery lasts up to six hours.

Asustek's rival Acer Inc, the world's number two PC vendor behind Hewlett-Packard, meanwhile unveiled its first Aspire One netbook featuring the partly Google-developed Android operating system and faster Internet speeds.

Analysts say Taiwanese computer makers are expected to take a 60 percent share of the global netbook market in 2009.

Microsoft adds touch screen to zune

REDMOND, Wash. -

The next generation of Microsoft's Zune music player, due in the fall, will have a touch screen, Web browser and an HD Radio receiver.

The new device, called the Zune HD, will also carry a high-definition video output that will let people play files through a docking station on HD televisions, Microsoft said Wednesday. And the Zune's screen will use organic light-emitting diodes, a technology that helps improve battery life and image quality.

Microsoft has managed only single-digit market share for the Zune since its 2006 debut, but the company is continuing to invest in the device as an alternative to the dominant portable music player, Apple Inc.'s iPod. Microsoft says the new Zune will be the first with a receiver for HD Radio, which lets radio stations transmit extra channels alongside their regular broadcasts.

Microsoft also plans to link the Zune video service and the Xbox video game console.

(This version corrects that the Zune video service, not its music service, will be tied to Xbox.)

What the Bing is Microsoft Thinking?

If I was Microsoft, and I was coming out with a new search engine, I would make all efforts to disassociate it from the name Microsoft. Let’s face it, when it comes to new tools, we all want the little guy to win. Now that Google is itself a monolith, we’re all looking for the next underdog.

What we get instead is Bing.

Bing may be brilliant, and it will have to be in order to knock down Google. But not only does it need to be brilliant, it needs to have a name worthy of verbification (with apologies to my English teacher). Everyone knows that Google is the Kleenex of search engines. We even have sites like www.letmegooglethatforyou.com for those who feel the need to be condescending toward the search-handicapped. What was search called before Google? Nobody ever said “Let me AltaVista that for you.”It is clear that, in choosing the name “Bing,” Microsoft is hoping people will use it as a verb. They even went with a single syllable, possibly thinking that it would more easily roll off the tongue.

What if they’re right? What if “Bing” does become incorporated into our vocabulary? The new Microsoft search engine had better be good. It must be leaps and bounds ahead of the competition. If it is not, people might use its name in a way that Microsoft hadn’t intended.

The preview does look promising. Bing appears to organize data in useful ways. It tells you which direction plane ticket prices are going? (How do they know?). In giving results to health questions, it gives weight to reputable sources. When searching for products or businesses, it appears to sort data in useful ways across sites. Let’s hope it is better at finding us what we want and isn't just better at promoting its partners.

For Microsoft's sake, I hope they don't bing this one up.

Sony Ericsson Unveils PS3-compatible Cell Phone

It's not the PSP phone, but it's close. Sony Ericsson yesterday unveiled three new mobile phones including Aino, a cell phone that can sync with both your PlayStation 3 and PC. Aino also features an 8.1-megapixel camera with geotagging capability; 3G, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity; a physical keypad; and a three-inch touchscreen.

Pull From PS3

Using the Remote Play feature designed for the PSP, Aino can pull almost any content off your PS3, including music, videos, and photos. What about games, you ask? Sorry, HD video and games are not syncable, but like I said, this is not the fabled PSP phone that first hit the rumor mill in 2007; Aino is just a phone that happens to talk to your PS3.

The upside is you can use the Remote Play feature to pull files from your PS3 wherever you are in the world. Sony Ericsson didn't specify whether Remote Play will work over a 3G connection. Aino will also sync with the media files on your PC via Sony Ericsson's proprietary Media Go multimedia manager. Just drop your Aino into its charging stand and Media Go takes care of the rest via Wi-Fi. Aino users in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, and the U.K. will also be able to take advantage of the PS3's TV place-shifting and DVR feature PlayTV. Sony first unveiled PlayTV in 2007, but the feature has not yet come to North American PS3 models. PlayTV lets you use your PSP or Aino to remotely watch recorded and live television over the Internet via your PS3.

Out of the box, Aino comes with a charging stand, wireless stereo headphones, and an 8GB SD card -- Aino is not compatible with Sony Memory Sticks. Aino will come in black and white, and be available in select markets this fall. Sony Ericsson did not specify when or if Aino will be coming to North America, but I'd say its arrival here is a pretty safe bet.

Other New Phones

Alongside Aino, Sony Ericsson also announced two other phones: Satio and Yari. Satio is the ultimate camera phone, including a 12.1-megapixel camera, a 3.5-inch widescreen touch display; and running the Symbian OS. Satio previously debuted as Idou at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Sony Ericsson's Yari packs a respectable 5-megapixel camera, but is designed for the gamer with a built-in accelerometer for iPhone-style gesture and motion gaming. Satio and Yari will be available this fall; U.S. release dates were not announced.

In addition to announcing three new phones, Sony Ericsson said it will release details about its own application store during next week's JavaOne conference in San Francisco.

iPhone 3G price drops almost $100 in Indonesia

To celebrate Telkomsel's 14th anniversary this month, Indonesia's sole iPhone 3G provider is cutting Rp. 1 million (approximately $96 at this writing) off both the 8GB and 16GB models, bringing the prices down to Rp. 2,999,000 ($289) and Rp. 3,999,000 ($386) with a 12-month contract.

 

The timing of the promotion seem to coincide nicely with the rumored announcement of the third generation iPhone, but for those who are not aware of Apple's supposed plans, this latest price drop may leave an unpleasant taste.

Having launched the iPhone 3G barely two months ago, this is the second time Telkomsel has altered the price of the phone. Initially available at varying prices across three different plans, they evened the prices in early April to Rp. 3,999,000 for the 8GB and to Rp. 4,999,000 ($482) for the 16GB.

Unlike with providers in some other countries, such as the U.S., Singapore, or Australia, Telkomsel only imposes a 12-month contract instead of a 24-month period, mainly due to local market's unfamiliarity with this particular model of purchase, and possibly due to the proximity of a new iPhone release.

In fact, aside from iPhone 3G customers, no such contract exists between the providers and the customers. It is only recently that RIM has started working with the three local telcos who offer BlackBerry services to lock customers to some sort of contract. Only a small number of wireless broadband customers are locked under contract to their respective providers.

When Telkomsel announced iPhone 3G  pre-order in January, roughly 39,000 people registered interest within the first month, but less than 6,000 actually purchased the iPhone when it was finally made available in late March, due to the confusion surrounding conditions and eligibilities.

Those who were not existing Telkomsel customers or whose average bill was not at or above a certain amount could not buy an iPhone under contract and could not therefore take advantage of the more affordable pricing option. They were instead offered the ability to purchase iPhones at the pre-paid option, which meant bearing the full brunt of the cost upfront at Rp. 9.6 million ($926) for the 8GB iPhone and Rp. 11.2 million ($1081) for the 16GB model, including in both cases tax and 500MB of mobile data package per month for 12 months. With this anniversary promotion, the pre-paid option also received a million Rupiah price drop.

The big question among Indonesian minds now is whether Telkomsel will offer the next iPhone model as soon as it is made available by Apple or whether they will make their customers wait several weeks to allow for the older iPhone 3G to fully run out.

Samsung Recalls 160,000 Jitterbug Phones

Thousands of phones sold by Jitterbug, a mobile operator that specializes in simple handsets for limited uses such as emergency calls, are being recalled because they can't be used to call 911 in some rare cases.

Jitterbug sells bare-bones handsets and no-contract service plans geared toward seniors and other consumers who don't make heavy use of cell phones. One of its phones, the Jitterbug OneTouch, has dedicated buttons for the Jitterbug operator, one preset number, and 911 in place of a numeric keypad. Jitterbug has service and roaming agreements with many CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access) operators around the country.

That phone, as well as the standard Jitterbug phone with a keypad, have been recalled because they can't be used to call 911 emergency lines in some areas where they should be able to. Manufacturer Samsung Telecommunications America is recalling about 160,000 of the phones for a free software upgrade that can't be done over the air, according to Jitterbug Founder and Chairman Arlene Harris. There have been no reported accidents or injuries caused by the phones, according to a notice by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Users would only run into the problem in rare circumstances, according to Harris. In an area where there is a CDMA network but Jitterbug doesn't have a roaming agreement with the carrier, the phones can't be used for regular calls and users receive an "out of range, try again later" message on the handset's screen. While the phones should still be able to reach 911 through the local network, the recalled handsets cannot.

Customers could only encounter this problem in a few small areas of the country, Harris said. Samsung is conducting the recall voluntarily and is helping Jitterbug reach its customers by letter. Phones purchased from Jitterbug today don't have the flaw, Harris said.

Palm's new smart phone synchronizes with iTunes

NEW YORK - Palm Inc. said Thursday that its much-awaited new smart phone, the Pre, can connect to Apple's iTunes software and download music and photos just as if it were an iPod or iPhone.

The feature might be unique for a device not made by Apple Inc., though third-party software is available that lets some digital music players masquerade as iPods in iTunes.

Palm Inc.'s new phone goes on sale June 6, with Sprint Nextel Corp. as the exclusive launch carrier. It will be $200 with a two-year contract and a rebate, competing with Apple's iPhone in the market for high-end smart phones.

Jon Rubinstein, Palm's executive chairman and former Apple executive, said he didn't worry about objections from his former employer.

"We're trying to make customers happy," he said at The Wall Street Journal's D: All Things Digital conference in Carlsbad, Calif., where he offered a demonstration. "It's a great feature."

Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr declined to comment.

Also Thursday, the chief executive of Verizon Wireless, Lowell McAdam, said his company will carry the Pre within six months, although a Sprint Nextel spokesman said Sprint will be the exclusive carrier until at least the end of the year. Palm's Rubinstein declined to comment.

AT&T eyes sale of Palm Pre

AT&T Inc's (T.N) Chief Executive Randall Stephenson said on Wednesday that the No. 2 U.S. mobile service would be keen to sell Palm Inc's (PALM.O) high-profile Pre phone at some point in the future.

Pre -- due to go on sale on June 6 exclusively at AT&T's smaller rival Sprint Nextel (S.N) -- is seen as Palm's best hope to win back market share lost to rivals such as Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) iPhone.

AT&T is the exclusive U.S. provider for the iPhone. In response to a question about the Pre at the All Things Digital conference near San Diego, Stephenson said Sprint currently has the exclusive rights for Pre but added that he would like to sell the Pre one day.

"Would I like to see that on our network some day? Of course I would," said Stephenson. "We obviously talk to all the handset manufacturers. We want a broad selection of devices in the lineup. That's important. Devices right now are what's driving the customer adoption as much as anything."

Verizon to sell Palm Pre, new BlackBerry phones

Palm Inc's (PALM.O) iPhone competitor Pre got an unexpected boost on Thursday as No. 1 U.S. mobile service Verizon Wireless said Pre would be part of its upcoming device line-up, sending Palm shares up 8.8 percent.

Palm is depending heavily on Pre to revamp its own business and regain market share from rivals such as Apple Inc (AAPL.O). Pre is also seen as key to helping stem customer losses at Verizon's smaller rival Sprint Nextel Corp (S.N), which is launching the Pre exclusively on June 6.

Verizon, the No. 1 U.S. mobile service, will offer Pre in the next six months or so, company Chief Executive Lowell McAdam said during a conference webcast.

Verizon Wireless said its phone line-up would also include a new version of the touchscreen controlled BlackBerry Storm from Research In Motion Ltd (RIM.TO)(RIMM.O) and a new BlackBerry called Tour. Also slated are devices from Motorola Inc (MOT.N) and phones based on Android, the Google Inc (GOOG.O) mobile system.

"Over the next six months or so you will see devices like Palm Pre and a second generation Storm," on the Verizon Wireless network, McAdam said. "You can expect to see us launch a steady stream of new devices from multiple vendors."

Some analysts had worried that Palm was limiting Pre's success by forging an exclusive agreement with Sprint, which lasts at least until year end, as first reported by Reuters in February and confirmed by Sprint on Thursday.

As a result, UBS analyst Maynard Um said Verizon's Pre news was encouraging for Palm investors. But the analyst predicted increasing competition in the advanced phone market, saying that Motorola "could be the wildcard in the smartphone race" as it has the potential to be most aggressive on price.

"However, visibility in an increasingly competitive market is still limited," the analyst said in a research note.

Um also said he expects other new Palm phones based on the same operating system as Pre. For example Randall Stephenson, the chief Executive for AT&T Inc (T.N), the No. 2 U.S. mobile service, had said during a conference on Wednesday that his company would also like to sell Pre but he did not give a timeframe. AT&T uses a different network technology to Sprint.

The comments come ahead of Sprint's long-awaited Saturday, June 6, launch of Pre and the expected announcement of a new iPhone from Apple in the week after that.

Top executives from both Palm and Sprint have said they expect Pre shortages around the launch because of strong demand.

McAdam's announcement was also a boost for Motorola Inc (MOT.N), which has been steadily losing market share and is pinning its hopes on the launch of a new line-up of advanced phones based on Android later this year.

Source NEW YORK (Reuters) -

Sony Ericsson Offers Nintendo-Like Gaming Phone

Sony Ericsson took a step closer to integrating with parent Sony on Thursday by announcing the Aino, a touchscreen mobile phone that synchronizes with Sony PlayStation 3 video-game consoles.

The Aino comes with an eight-megapixel camera and connects to the PlayStation through an included charging stand. It offers wireless connectivity through GSM, UMTA, HSPA and Wi-Fi. The phone also has a microSD card slot.

The handset maker also showed off the Satio mobile phone, which it had previously announced as the Idou. The Satio has an unusual 12-megapixel high-resolution camera and a 3.5-inch touchscreen. It will be the first Sony Ericsson smartphone to use the Symbian Foundation operating system.

Also introduced at an event in London was the Yari, a 4.1-ounce mobile phone built for gaming. It has a slider keyboard and an accelerometer so the user can wave it like a Nintendo Wii controller to interact with games. The phone also has a five-megapixel camera and GPS. It can use GSM, UMTS and HSPA wireless services.

All three phones are expected to become available in the third quarter.Prices were not given

3G Auction a Priority for India's Communications Minister

India's auction of 3G licenses will be a priority, A. Raja, the country's minister of communications and information technology, told the Press Trust of India news agency on Thursday after he was sworn in to the post.

Raja did not specify a timeline for the auction.

The auction has been frequently postponed because of differences between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology on the floor price for the auction. The Ministry of Finance favored an increase in the floor price to raise more revenue from the auction, according to sources.

Elections to the federal parliament, started in April, further delayed the auction.

Raja, who was minister of communications and information technology before the elections, was sworn in again on Thursday after the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was re-elected this month.

No longer dependent on communist members of parliament for its majority in parliament, the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to push through economic reforms in a number of sectors, including communications.

The communications ministry announced in December plans to auction 3G licenses and spectrum by January 16. Both Indian and foreign bidders were to be allowed to bid, though the foreign winning bidders would be limited to a 74 percent stake in companies operating 3G services.

Sony Ericsson introduces Christmas line-up

Sony Ericsson introduced a new phone on Thursday that allows consumers to connect to their PlayStation3 gaming consoles, part of its Christmas line-up and its strongest sign yet of integration with parent Sony Corp.

The world's fifth-biggest handset maker, which has slid down the rankings as the mid-market handset segment has been squeezed, said telecoms operators were hungry for phones that could drive data usage without needing huge subsidies.

"What they are looking for are chances to offer unlimited broadband data tariffs while reducing customer acquisition costs," Lennard Hoornik, Sony Ericsson's global head of marketing, told Reuters.

Sony Ericsson said it would launch a virtual software applications store -- joining a host who have rushed to ape the phenomenal popularity of Apple's AppStore -- and would announce details at next week's JavaOne Conference.

Money-losing Sony Ericsson is in need of new models to renew its offering since the appeal of the years-old Sony-branded Cybershot cameraphones and Walkman music phones has faded.

The Aino phone will allow users to manage media stored on their PlayStation3, much like the PSP mobile console and helping position the video-gaming console as a media hub, but will not allow them to play games or access high-definition video.

Sony Ericsson has rapidly lost market share in recent quarters as demand for so-called feature phones has suffered during the recession. Market expansion has been seen at the high-end smartphone and low-end emerging-markets extremes.

"At last there's a cooperation between a Sony product and a Sony Ericsson phone," said Ben Wood of UK-based research firm CCS Insight. "Previously, it was just branding. We see it as a statement of intent."

Sony Ericsson, a joint venture of Japanese electronics maker Sony and Swedish telecoms gear maker Ericsson, is battling with deep losses and is expected to need at least 100 million euros ($139 million) in extra funds in the next year.

Sony Ericsson said the Aino, which will allow consumers to access media content from their PlayStation gaming machine on the move, would be available in the fourth quarter, along with two other phones presented at a London event.

The Satio, previously announced at February's Mobile World Congress as the Idou, has a 12-megapixel high-resolution camera, while the Yari contains a Nintendo Wii-like gesture sensor for gaming.

Satio will not go on sale until the fourth quarter, which could mean Sony Ericsson would miss the chance to be first to market with a 12-megapixel camera phone, said CCS's Wood.

Japan university gives away iPhones to nab truants

TOKYO -

A prestigious Japanese university is giving away hundreds of iPhones, in part to use its Global Positioning System to nab students that skip class.

Truants in Japan often fake attendance by getting friends to answer roll-call or hand in signed attendance cards. That's verging on cheating since attendance is a key requirement for graduation here.

Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo is giving Apple Inc.'s iPhone 3G to 550 students in its School of Social Informatics, which studies the use of Internet and computer technology in society.

The gadget will work as a tool for studies, but it also comes with GPS, a satellite navigation system that automatically checks on its whereabouts. The university plans to use that as a way check attendance.

Students who skip class could still fake attendance by giving their iPhone to a friend who goes to class. But youngsters aren't likely to lend their mobile phones, which are packed with personal information and e-mail, according to the university.

U.S. universities use the iPhone for various, other purposes. At Stanford University, students have developed iPhone applications in a course. At Duke University, the gadget is used to get around the campus and find information about course listings and other events.

Aoyama Gakuin signed a deal earlier this month with Softbank Corp., the exclusive vendors of the iPhone in Japan.

The number of students using the iPhone is expected to reach 1,000 in the program — the first time the iPhone is being used on such a scale at a Japanese university.

The iPhone will be used to relay course materials, lecture videos and tests. The university hopes students will develop software applications and other lifestyle uses for the cell phone.

Melissa Weber, Queens NY Teacher Arrested for having Sex with 14yo Student

Melissa Weber, 27, a middle school social studies teacher in Queens New York is accused of having sex on 7 different occasions with one of her 14 year old students.

The incidents allegedly started on or around April 13 and continued for about a month. The boys mom was encouraged by friends and members of the school’s PTA to investigate after they told her they suspected inappropriate behavior between Weber and her son.

The boy’s mother found out Melissa Weber’s phone number and checked her son’s cellphone, finding that there were literally hundreds pf phone calls and text messages between the two. Some of the text messages from Weber warned the teen boy to not tell anyone about their relationship and near the end when Weber feared getting caught, one message simply said “Erase your phone.”

Weber, of West Babylon, New York is awaiting an arraignment hearing for the charges of statutory rape, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. She could face up to seven years in prison if convicted.

[Source: New York Post]

Kavya Shivashankar

Kavya Shivashankar, a 13-year-old girl from Kansas, won the Scripps National Spelling Bee 2009, outspelling 11 other finalists. The word that gave her the win was "Laodicean." Ahem, to be honest with you guys, this is a new word for me, this is the first time for me to meet this word. The meaning of the word is "lukewarm or indifferent, esp. in religion, as were the early Christians of Laodicea."

Kavya, a sweet smiling girl brought home $40,000 and a big trophy. Wow, I have about 10 years in my hand to prepare my little boy for a contest like this :)

Noemi Letizia, the mistress to 72 -year-old Italian PM and billionaire Silvio Berlusconi. He denied having an improper relationship with Noemi Letizia. The 72-year-old said he would resign if caught lying about it.

Political scandals in Italy are not uncommon like Noemi Letizia and the PM. News comes that finally the wife of PM Silvio Berlesconi, Beronica Laro, wants a divorce to the billionaire tycoon and head of the Italian government after knowing about Noemi Letizia. Now, meet the girl who was the last straw in the long suffering Italian saga, Noemi Letizia.

Noemi Letizia has been quoted as saying she calls Berlusconi “papi” or “Daddy” and has been photographed sporting a gold and diamond necklace the premier reportedly gave Noemi Letizia as a birthday gift.

Noemi Letizia: Pictures of Noemi Letizia

Noemi Letizia, the mistress to 72 -year-old Italian PM and billionaire Silvio Berlusconi. He denied having an improper relationship with Noemi Letizia. The 72-year-old said he would resign if caught lying about it.

Political scandals in Italy are not uncommon like Noemi Letizia and the PM. News comes that finally the wife of PM Silvio Berlesconi, Beronica Laro, wants a divorce to the billionaire tycoon and head of the Italian government after knowing about Noemi Letizia. Now, meet the girl who was the last straw in the long suffering Italian saga, Noemi Letizia.

Noemi Letizia has been quoted as saying she calls Berlusconi “papi” or “Daddy” and has been photographed sporting a gold and diamond necklace the premier reportedly gave Noemi Letizia as a birthday gift.

Naoemi Letizia Pictures below

ROLAND GARROS 2ND ROUND: RAFA NADAL VS TEIMURAZ GABASHVILI

After a day’s rest and a ‘full-on training session’, Rafa will return to his beloved French Open clay courts today in the last match of the day. The World No.1 will face Russia’s Teimuraz Gabashvili in the second round of the tournament, in front of hundreds of fans who will be waiting for him at the Suzanne Lenglen stadium.

Yesterday afternoon, Rafa trained for a couple of hours under a dull Paris sky, and prepared himself for his second meeting against the Russian. The pair met for the first time at the beginning of the season at the Miami Masters Series event, which Rafa won in straight sets: 6-2, 6-2.

Against Gabashvili, Rafa expects to play better than he did in the first round because he felt “he was standing around more than usual, and that extra hundredth-of-a-second [wasted] could change things [drastically],” said Rafa, “I’ve played short, without a real game plan and without consistency. I have to [make sure] I play more inside the court and that my shots hurt more.”

“I trust and hope [my presence at] the tournament is long, so that I can adapt, get better and have a better feeling,” concluded Rafael.

Now, let’s not forget that today is also a very exciting day for soccer fans, who like Rafa, will be following closely tonight’s Champion’s League final between Manchester United and Barcelona.

Rafa of course, is very excited about it and as he shared with his fans yesterday on his blog, he hopes he can watch it “on-site after my match,” depending what time he finishes. Otherwise he will watch it “at my hotel with my team and other players staying there as well”.

And for those who are wondering, Rafa will be supporting Barcelona. “I like ManU a lot and I always play with them at Play Station but Barcelona is Spain so I will cheer for them.”

Russian Security Camera Films a UFO.

An apparent UFO caught on cam in Russia and seemingly taking its time so it could be filmed for proof. =)

Comes in from the top left off the screen at 00:11.

It looks like an UFO to me - I surely can’t identify it. Although.. In a way, it looks a lot like all the other dots we’ve seen in videos. Not sure whether that classifies as an identification though. Let’s call it unidentified till we can create a magical zoom-in-and-fill-up-missing-pixels software that shows us what it really is. Which of course will turn out to be CGI.

Mia Michaels

Mia Michaels is an Emmy Award-winning American choreographer. She has worked with Celine Dion, Madonna, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, and Prince, among others, and is best-known for contemporary dance choreography. Michaels is a regular guest judge and choreographer on the television program So You Think You Can Dance, and in 2007 won an Emmy for her work on the show. She has choreographed Celine Dion's Las Vegas show "A New Day...,"^[1] as well as a Cirque du Soleil's world tour, "Delirium," along with several television commercials.

Early life

Michaels was born in Coconut Grove, Florida in 1965, to a family of dancers.^[2] Her father Joe Michaels taught her jazz, tap and ballet from the age of two. Her sister Dana Michaels taught Mia for several years in contemporary dance ^{[3] [4]}. For years she attended summer sessions at Interlochen Arts and Jacob's Pillow. ^[2][3]

Career

Mia’s choreography for "Celine Dion’s A New Day" under the direction of Franco Dragone at Caesars’ Palace in Las Vegas has received stunning reviews. The show features a cast of 50 dancers. Currently her work can be seen on Cirque du Soleil’s first touring show, Delirium, which premiered March 2006. She has also created works for numerous recording artists including Madonna, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, Anna Vissi, and Prince.

On television, Mia is the ever-popular judge and contributing choreographer for Fox’s hit TV show (and touring company) “So You Think You Can Dance.” Mia won an Emmy award for choreography on a television series for her work “Calling You” on SYTYCD. Other work in film and television includes “Cool Women” for AMC/DreamWorks Television and award winning commercials for Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Bacardi, Coldwell Banker, and Ziper.

Included in her diverse concert and stage work is the critically acclaimed New York based dance company, RAW for which she is the founder, artistic director and choreographer. She has created works for the Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of “Hello Dolly!” starring Tovah Feldshuh, Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal, Jazz Dance Chicago, and Oslo Dance Ensemble. Her choreography has been seen off-Broadway with “If These Shoes Could Talk,” and “Fort Chaffee.”

Michaels' career began when she worked with her father Joe at the Miami Dance Center^[2][5] She is also the founder, artistic director and choreographer for the New York-based dance company RAW (Reality At Work), which began in 1997.^[6][2]

Michaels has been on the faculty of schools including the Harid Conservatory, the Ailey School of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Broadway Dance Center, in New York City ^[7], and her alma mater, the New World School of the Arts. Her choreography has been enlisted for the Miami City Ballet, Joffrey II, the Kirov Academy and the Jazz Theater of Amsterdam.^[2]

Awards

• Silver Leo Award, Jazz Dance World Congress, 1992^[2]
• Gold Leo Award, 1998, Best Choreography
• Dance Educators of America's President Cup^[2]
• 2007: 59th Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Choreography:So You Think You Can Dance (Season 2): Calling You^[8]
• Nominations
  • 2002: American Choreography Awards: Outstanding Achievement in Commercials: Coldwell Banker “Buying” ^[3]
  • 2003: American Choreography Awards: Outstanding Achievement in Television - Variety Series: Celine in Las Vegas: Opening Night Live! ^[9]
  • 2003: 55th Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Choreography: Celine in Las Vegas: Opening Night Live! ^[10]