Archive for August, 2009

Before: HTC phone with Google Android, Now: Nokia follows with its first Linux phone

Monday, August 31st, 2009

With Google’s Linux-based Android powering the HTC Magic (Now in the Philippines through Smart Communications. I also heard Globe is offering HTC Magic and its available in Globe’s outlet in SM Mega Mall — this has to be verified since HTC Magic is not included in the Globe’s website’s list of phone offerings as of today), Nokia is following suit in the use of Linux for its new phone.

The use of Linux will be in parallel with Symbian in Nokia’s high-end product range. Symbian also an open source software and the main platform in Nokia’s phones “controls half of the smartphone market volume — more than its rivals Apple, Research in Motion and Google put together,” according to the article: Nokia Unveils First Linux Phone in Channel Insider.

Although the celphone giant has kept a stable total market share, it is losing “share among more expensive models to the likes of Apple” and this “high-end products are important for Nokia because the company has not only lost market share there but its average selling prices have declined faster than the industry average.”

And “analysts see Linux as a key for Nokia to gain back ground in the coming years” since the focus of business now have shifted from just selling phones to providing “services and software following Apple and Google’s entrances to the market in the last two years.”

Reference: Nokia Unveils First Linux Phone in Channel Insider

Philippine Youth Congress in Information Technology (Y4iT), 08-11 Sept 2009

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

Philippine Youth Congress in Information TechnologyNow on its 7th year, the Philippine Youth Congress in Information Technology is expected to be bigger and better. Held annually, the “Youth for IT” or Y4iT Congress is consistently flocked by delegates from different regions of the country for a new perspective on the current trends, innovations and career opportunities in ICT. It also provides a venue for discovering and evaluating the new technologies that impact our lives. Y4iT 2009 will be held on 08-11 Sept. in UP Diliman. It is hosted by the UP ITTC and UP SITF in cooperation with the Student Volunteer Corps, PSITE, CSP, PCS, JICA, PSIA and itprosasia.com.

Registration is still ongoing. Click here to register or for more info.

FOSS Event: ASIA SOURCE 3, 07-12 November 2009, Silang, Cavite, Philippines

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

Announcement from the International Open Source Network (IOSN) ASEAN+3

MABUHAY! (Long live!) and get ready for Asia Source 3!

If you are a FOSS advocate, an enthusiast or end-user, a developer or even a newbie who strongly believes in building capacities and empowering humanity with the use of Free/Open Source Software, we look forward to welcome you to Asia Source 3 to connect, cooperate, and collaborate – the FOSS way.

The International Open Source Network (IOSN) ASEAN+3 with support from InWEnt Capacity Building International, Germany, ASEAN Foundation, and Open Society Institute Information Program and co-organized by Tactical Technology Collective and Aspiration bring ASIA SOURCE 3 to the Philippines on 7 to 12 November 2009.

The third event of the Asia source camp series, two of which have been held so far – in Bangalore, India in 2005 and Sukabumi, Indonesia in 2007 – the 6-day learn-and-share event will be held at the lush greens
and quiet cool environs of the YEN CENTER – home to the Headquarters and Regional Center for Asia of the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) – located in Silang, a landlocked municipality south of Metro Manila, within the historic Province of Cavite.

In the tradition of previous camps, Asia Source 3 will bring in participants from the Asia, who share common goals of pursuing the Free/Open Source Software advocacy and its promotion and use among non-
profit organizations, small-to-medium enterprises and youth networks. (more…)

Featured Photo: Motorcycles side street parking, Bintang Walk, KL

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

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Another one for Moore’s Law: IBM and CalTech are working on DNA to reduce microchips beyond 22 nm limit

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

IBM and CalTech are working to put more power and performance in smaller sized microchips. IBM claims that these chips will be more energy-efficient and less expensive to manufacture compared to current microchips.

The possibility of having smaller, powerful and less-expensive microchips is now being developed using “DNA molecules to act as scaffolding for self-assembling nanotubes that could form the basis for future microprocessors that can be built via manufacturing processes of 22 nm and smaller.”

Microchip manufacturers are currently using a 45-nm manufacturing processes and are said to be moving towards the 32 nm limit.

Read more of the article: IBM, CalTech Use DNA for Future Microchips by Jeffrey Burt in eweek.com.

A paper of the IBM and CalTech researchers: “Placement and orientation of individual DNA shapes on lithographically patterned surfaces” will be published in the September issue of Nature Nanotechnology.

More on Moore’s Law can be found here.

IPV6 is enabled by default: Do you need it turned “ON” or “OFF” for security or speed gain?

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

Do you know that most recent versions of OSes whether Microsoft, Apple, Linux or Solaris are shipped with IPV6 enabled by default? And this has both security and network speed implications?

“Do you know whether your computers are actively using IPv6 or not? Better check, as the bad guys probably already know.

Microsoft began enabling IPv6 protocol by default with the release of Vista.

That policy continued with Windows Server 2008 and will with Windows 7. Apple, Linux, and Solaris are also shipping their latest distributions with IPv6 enabled.”

Computers with their IPV6 turned “ON” are estimated to be around 300 million computers and most users probably are not aware of it.

An article by Michael Kassner in ZDNet AsiaIPv6: Oops, it’s on by default” [url: http://www.zdnetasia.com/techguide/security/0,39044901,62056959,00.htm?scid=nl_z_tgis] discusses the implications (security and network speed) and several reasons or situations why you need IPV6 turned “OFF” or “ON”, what you need to do if you need it turned “ON” and provides links on references on how to turn them “OFF” for several OS: Microsft, Apple and Linux.