Tuesday, March 26, 2013

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Google forces new word - "ogooglebar" - out of the Swedish language

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 04:42 AM PDT

Google is reportedly interfering in the Swedish language - putting pressure on the Language Council not to include "ogooglebar" in its yearly list of new words.

"Ogooglebar" means something that can't be found on the internet using a search engine. Speaking with Sveriges Radio, the Language Council's Ann Cederberg said: "It's not just about our definition of the word, we also tried to describe how users define the word and Google had opinions about that".

TheLocal.se reports that Google had a problem with the Council's decision - and it wanted it to make clear that the word only applied to Google. The company's lawyers got involved, and the Council reported that they "tried to influence our way of defining the word". Ultimately, it was more hassle than it was worth and the word was removed.

This is the very first time the Language Council has had to remove a word, and it was allegedly at the bullying behest of one of the wealthiest IT corporations on the planet. Clearly in a resource battle, Google outgunned Sweden's language council. Fighting the behemoth took "too much time and resources".

But the council pointed out whether Google likes it or not, the word exists in Sweden and there's not much the company can do about that. "It's the users of the language who decide if it will remain," Cederberg said. "If the word exists, use it if you want. That's something Google can't decide".

"Google hasn't won anything with this," Cederberg said.

The case mirrors Intel's efforts in the nineties to copyright the letter "i". Fortunately that didn't work. Google initially tried to stop the word "googling" - and back in the 1990s NCR wanted to put a stop to the word "tower" because it had a tower PC and claimed it was the first.

Speaking with TechEye, one Swedish student living in London said: "I think it's incredible that Google attempts to control the Swedish language. We also have a verb – 'googla' which means 'to google', but I guess they wouldn't have anything against that.

"It's scary how everything is becoming increasingly controlled by corporations, but do they really believe that they can govern our language? People will obviously still use the word, whether it's in a dictionary or not."

With that, we recommend "ogooglebar" leaps Sweden's borders and makes it into the international lexicon. Ogooglebar: something that cannot be answered with a web search (Google, Bing, Duckduckgo, Yahoo, or otherwise). 

At press time, Google had failed to respond to us for comment.

Scientists prove learning hurts your brain

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 04:04 AM PDT

A team of scientists based at UCSF has established a link between learning and brain damage. Researchers found that brain activity could lead to DNA damage within brain cells, and although the damage is repaired quickly, it might explain the mechanism behind some neurological diseases. So thanks a lot, mum, I told you nothing good would come of law school.

The DNA damage is negligible and it is quickly repaired, but in theory at least it is possible that too much brain activity could result in some physical damage to the nerve cells in your brain. Alcohol and drugs tend to kill brain cells faster than watching a political debate, so the learned among us are safe. Probably.

The researchers used genetically modified mice that were tailored made to mimic some mutations associated with early onset Alzheimer's disease. They found indications of brain damage went up when the brains of the mice were active, when they were given a new environment to explore. The control group of mice also showed signs of DNA damage, but at somewhat lower levels.

The scientists then tried to figure out whether the damage was caused solely be neural activity, by shining a bright light into the mice while they were anesthetised. That also worked and it seems the DNA damage is inflicted by neural activity. Then they tried using a range of inhibitors and found that the damage is caused by a single neural signalling molecule - glutamate.

Fortunately the researchers found that the damage usually repairs within a single day. However, if you want to stay on the safe side, we recommend watching a few extra hours of reality TV or joining the Tea Party. 

European Investment Bank throws cash at STMicro

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 03:55 AM PDT

STMicro has been given some extra pocket money by the European Investment Bank, following it dumping the money pit chip venture STEricsson. 

It has secured a loan of $450 million, which it has said it will spend on funding research and development in its technology. This specifically relates to its Power, MEMS, Microcontrollers, Advanced Analog and products in the healthcare sector.

The research will be mainly carried out at ST's Italian sites of Agrate Brianza, Castelletto and Catania. 

ST has an option for disbursement until September next year with final maturity eight years thereafter.

And despite claiming it would pay back $350 million of senior bonds, there was no more news of what would happen when its divorce from ST-Ericsson came through.

The breakdown of the venture, which was created in 2009, means that 1,600 people could be out of jobs after failing to live up to its promises. In the last quarter of 2012 it reported net sales of $358 million, along with a $133 million operating loss and a $1.5 billion write down in Q3 2012.

Saudi Arabia mulls banning messenger apps

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 03:09 AM PDT

Saudi Arabia might pull the plug on a number of popular messenger applications such as Viber, Skype and WhatsApp. The trouble with instant messaging apps is that they can't be censored and that's not what the House of Saud likes to hear.

According to Saudi news site Sabq, the country's Communications and Information Technology Commission is working with application developers on the question. We are not entirely convinced that the Saudi request to open up the apps to censorship will go down well with developers, especially Viber, which was created by an American-Israeli entrepreneur.

The move is hardly surprising, as the Wahhabi kingdom already targeted BlackBerry a few years ago, when it was concerned its messaging service could be used by dissidents, or, God forbid, women talking about lace undergarments. In the meantime BlackBerry chose to shoot itself in the foot and die a slow death, but iOS and Android apps have taken its place.

When they banned BlackBerry messaging, the Saudis claimed they were concerned about the encrypted nature of communications, which hindered the country's ability to fight terrorism and crime. Then again we are talking about a country that still sentences people to death for witchcraft. 

$599 Ultrabooks coming for Christmas

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 02:54 AM PDT

Chipmaker Intel is still struggling to market sleek and pricey Ultrabooks, which are facing more competition than ever from high-end tablets and hybrids. However, it could finally be about to make them a bit more appealing to cash strapped consumers who won't have their savings taxed by the Cypriot government.

During a recent event in Los Angeles, Intel promised that upcoming Ultrabooks, based on fourth generation Haswell chips, will have a starting price of $599. This sounds like a pretty competitive price point, as high-end tablets and hybrids usually start at about $500.

In addition, quite a few Haswell based Ultrabooks are expected to feature touchscreens, all-day battery life and high resolution displays, although they probably won't sell for $599.

Kirk Skaugen, SVP and manager, Intel PC Client Group, stressed that Intel designed Haswell from the ground up for the Ultrabook, reports CRN.  He added that the new generation of Ultrabooks will allow users to leave their battery pack at home, although we're pretty sure that's what most users do anyway.

Ultrabook shipments are relatively slow at the moment and analysts, including IHS iSuppli, were forced to slash 2012 Ultrabook sales forecasts in half. It is not looking very good this year, either. IHS iSuppli cut its 2013 forecast from 61 million units to 44 million units.

However, as Ultrabooks get cheaper Intel might find itself competing against ultrathins based on AMD APUs, including upcoming Richland ULV parts and perhaps even some Kabini chips, based on the all-new Jaguar core. 

T-Mobile puts an end to subsidies

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 02:04 AM PDT

T- Mobile USA has decided to bite the hand that feeds it, moving away from offering its customers smartphone subsidies.

Carriers and phone manufacturers have for many years worked hand in hand scratching each others backs in a bid to make cash, offering deals on smartphone handsets when customers sign up to specific contracts.

However, it seems T-Mobile has tired of these deals becoming the first company to make the split and shunning mobile subsidy deals.

It means that new and upgrading customers will have to pay a lot more for their handset.
The WSJ explained that for example a standard issue iPhone 5, sells for $199 with the subsidy and a two-year contract, but it costs consumers $650 if bought without carrier support.

The paper pointed out that the split could drive consumers to opt for a smartphone cheaper than Apple's and Samsung's offerings, just like the trend seen in countries that don't offer subsidised deals. Of course this could end up damaging the big brands with cheaper handsets filtering into the market and forcing prices to drop.

However, savvy consumers could end up saving money as part of the plans, snapping up the   Samsung Galaxy Note II for around $20 a month for two years with a $200 downpayment as opposed to a subsidised deal which could see a two year contract costing on average $680.

The company is currently teaching staff how to explain the new deals, investing in around 20 hours of training per person.


Taiwan chip makers respond to Samsung threat

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 02:02 AM PDT

The world’s largest semiconductor foundry – Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) – is ready to react to threats to its business from Korean giant Samsung.

Morris Chang, CEO and chairman of TSMC, and regarded as the “father” of chip foundry business, was reacting to a threat made last week by Samsung that it would “kill” Taiwan.

Chang said, according to a report in Taiwan wire Digitimes, that the Samsung threat should not be underestimated. But, he indicated, TSMC – which is the largest foundry player in the world – is ready to engage in battle with Samsung.

Many manufacturers of devices – including Apple – do not want to put their eggs into the Samsung basket because they view the vertical giant as a potential threat to their own businesses.

Competition in the foundry business is fiercer than ever before, with semiconductor giant Intel reportedly touting for business too. Other players in the field include Abu Dhabi firm GlobalFoundries (GloFo), UMC, IBM Microelectronics, and Chinese foundry SMIC.

Few can compete, however with TSMC, which has a broad reach of expertise in many semiconductor sectors.

M&S swats sweat with military-grade stink-snuffing suit

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 09:38 AM PDT

Although Brits haven't been troubled by the typical one week of sunshine yet this year, UK retailer Marks & Spencer is preparing to help sweatier sections of society by introducing B.O.-free blazers - which utilise gas mask technology from World War 2.

Stink-prone Brits will be happy to hear M&S will be sewing in patches developed by Odegon Technologies into its Superlite suits and Performance blazers. The DeoTag patches are made up of nano-porous fibres that are designed to snuff out stench, a mesh of absorbent material that can cover a full tennis court if stretched out, the Grocer reports. 

Unlike the Be Good To Yourself range, M&S will help customers Be Good To Others in packed tubes and buses later this year when Britain gets its day of Summer. Pongy molecules are trapped and absorbed by the patches, then, when the clothes are washed, the molecules are washed away too. It's claimed that the patches can be reused again and again, meaning funk-ridden fashionistas need not worry about visible stinklines.

Odegan says that the tech is easy to manufacture and can be built into all sorts of clothes for peanuts compared to chemical finishes. 

The reek-ridding material was first patented by sharp-nosed scientists at the MoD in 1942 for gas masks, but is still used in hazard suits. 

Early Windows Blue build appears online

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 08:56 AM PDT

An early copy of Windows Blue, the rumoured Windows OS, has leaked online and it looks more like a minor update than an overhaul. 

Build 9364 is a partner version that appeared on file sharing networks. The tile arrangement is slightly different to Windows 8. Primarily, the focus appears to be more ways to personalise the experience.

Apps can now be snapped next to each other, taking up one half of the screen each. Up to four apps can be put next to each other. Some fairly standard widgets including an alarm, a microphone, a sound recorder and a calculator are also all on hand. There's also a hint of a tab sync feature.

All in, early indications suggest a smoother user interface, reminiscent of the flashy experiences demonstrated in demo videos but not neccessarily typical of the actual user experience. 

Our impression is that Windows Blue looks like an effort to merge Windows across multiple devices - Microsoft is keen to build its own ecosystem across different devices to make all your screens work with each other. At the moment it has a reputation for the opposite.

There are screenshots available here spotted by the Verge, which reckons public previews will appear shortly.

With recent rumours suggesting Microsoft will end of life Windows Phone 8, there's a chance Windows Blue could be a more integrated approach to all of its devices. This would, of course, only present an interesting update if consumers begin, er, buying PCs and other Windows products.

Mystery telcos push EC to investigate Apple

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 07:50 AM PDT

Apple risks being held under the scrutiny of the European Commission over its practices selling the iPad and iPhone, if a group of unnamed phone operators get their way.

European telcos are urging the EC to launch an antitrust investigation looking into Apple's contracts with operators, claiming the company's contracts are too strict. However, Commissioner Joaquin Almunia insisted that there is not yet a formal investigation, Macworld UK reports.

The terms of the contracts are blurry. If or when an investigation opens we are likely to get some further clarity about the concerns. A source allegedly told Reuters that Apple demands a "certain level of subsidies and marketing for the iPhone".

An Apple spokesperson insisted to the Independent that the company's contracts "fully comply with local laws wherever we do business, including the EU".

Apple is not a stranger to the scrutiny of the pesky European Commission. Late last year, it dropped a case against Apple and four other publishers over accusations of ebook price fixing.  

The company has run afoul of other watchdogs, including in Belgium which accused Apple of promoting AppleCare rather than acknowledging existing European consumer law.  
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