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  • LG Launches First Eyestrain-Minimising HD Monitors


    LG Electronics’ HD widescreen LCD monitors – the W53 series – will be available in the UK from next month, the company announced today.

    The monitors are the first with automatic brightness control technology specially designed to reduce eyestrain during extended use, according to LG.

    This feature apparently automatically optimises the picture settings and the brightness of the screen based on the light in the room and the content being viewed.

    The company says that by lowering the intensity of the backlight, it also reduces the W53’s power consumption, making it a more energy efficient option.

    Another little innovation aimed at further avoiding eyestrain is a timer that reminds users to take a break from their work at predetermined intervals.

    Soyeon Shin, marketing manager, LG Electronics Business Solutions Company, said LG conducted extensive research around monitor usage in Europe and found one of the main complaints people had was eyestrain, caused by the screen being either too bright or too dark.

    "To address this, LG has incorporated the world’s first full suite of features that optimises the brightness of the screen in its new W53 series, ultimately reducing eyestrain," he said.

    The W53 series’ Cinema Mode feature enables users to eliminate distractions often found when watching online videos, such as pop up adverts, by blacking out everything except for the video clip.

    There is also a proximity sensor under the monitor’s bezel which detects when a hand approaches the screen and activates lights to make buttons easy to find. When not in use, the lights disappear.

    Screen sizes for the W53 series range from 18.5" to 27" and all monitors larger than 21.5" offer a 1920 x 1080 full HD resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio.

  • Handset Shipments Expected To Drop 20% in 2009


    While cellphone shipments and subscription numbers have held up relatively well during the global recession, the outlook is more tumultuous for the mobile industry.

    In-Stat forecasts that both handset sales and subscriptions will take a hit this year.

    Allen Nogee, In-Stat analyst, said that subscriptions, however, are expected to weather the financial crisis better than handset shipments.

    "People that are unemployed are less likely to replace their cellphones, and businesses will not pay for cellphone subscriptions for employees they’ve let go," he said.

    "Even those with existing subscriptions are more willing to ‘make do’ with their existing handsets.

    "As the wireless industry matures, replacement handsets make up three-quarters of handset sales; handset sales are now particularly vulnerable to economic contraction."

    Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

    • After experiencing a 19.3 per cent growth in subscriptions in 2008, subscription growth will fall by more than half to 8.9 per cent in 2009 and by 6.3 per cent in 2010.
    • Worldwide, In-Stat is forecasting a 20.5 per cent drop in handset shipments for 2009 compared to 2008.
    • It will take until 2011 for shipments to regain robust growth, a forecasted 9.6 per cent increase.
    • Middle East and Africa will have 75.2 million WCDMA/HSPA/HSPA+ subscriptions by 2013.
    • SC-SCDMA subscriptions in Asia Pacific will rise more than ten-fold between 2009 and 2013.

  • Strong Q1 Expected from Nokia's 5800 Smartphone


    Nokia’s Q1 sales are expected to be down when accounced tomorrow – despite the success of its 5800 XpressMusic smartphone launched last year.

    Analysts estimate 2.5 million 5800s may have been sold in the first three months of the year – helped by repeated sell-outs in the UK and roll-outs into new markets.

    Key to the Nokia smartphone’s success is its cost – often undercutting the iPhone while offering comprehensive features.

    Despite the device’s strong sales, however, the Finnish mobile giant is expected to report a drop in overall shipments of 20 per cent, with revenues around USD $12.6 billion.

    The company had sales of USD $16.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008.

    While Nokia remains the leading global mobile maker, its position has been under fire recently – not least in the smartphone category where the iPhone and BlackBerry have nibbled at its market share.

    However, there may be positive news for Nokia. Some analysts expect the company to announce that it has reduced inventory levels from the fourth quarter of 2008, raising the prospect of an upswing in the second quarter.

    Recent measures have seen Nokia streamline its operations, cutting 1,700 jobs worldwide and temporarily suspending outsourcing for handset manufacturing.

    Nokia is also expected to provide more details tomorrow on reports that its joint venture with Siemens is bidding for parts of Nortel Networks’ CDMA carrier networks business.

  • Litigation Issues May Hamper Ebay's Skype Spin-off


    eBay today announced it plans to spin Skype off as a stand alone publicly traded company in the first half of 2010.

    Action at last. But surely the VoIP provider’s parent company has to resolve legal issues centred around its core P2P technology – and involving Skype’s founders – before the planned Initial Public Offering (IPO) can take place?

    The IPO move follows mounting pressure for eBay to act over Skype’s future, which despite its success has "limited synergies" with the ecommerce giant.

    As eBay’s President and CEO, John Donahoe, said in a company statement: "Skype is a great stand-alone business with strong fundamentals and accelerating momentum.
    "But it’s clear that Skype has limited synergies with eBay and PayPal.

    "We believe operating Skype as a stand-alone publicly traded company is the best path for maximizing its potential.

    "This will give Skype the focus and resources required to continue its growth and effectively compete in online voice and video communications.

    "In addition, separating Skype will allow eBay to focus entirely on our two core growth engine – e-commerce and online payments – and deliver long-term value to our stockholders."

    While the IPO move suggests eBay is preparing to sell Skype to an outside buyer, there is still the question of a possible bid from the founders of Skype Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis.

    The London-based pair are reported to have approached a number of private equity firms and are gathering their own personal resources to make an offer for Skype.

    To complicate issues, a company controlled by Niklas and Janus, JoltID, sued Skype over the issue of core P2P technology. Skype/EBay later filed a counter suit.

    So the possibility of on-going litigation will surely need to be cleared up before an IPO can be considered.

    The thorny question of a realistic price – and willing buyer – for Skype is another hindrance to eBay off-loading it.

    Analysts believe eBay wants at least USD $1.7 billion, this being the value of the calling service on its balance sheet after it wrote off part of the acquisition in 2007.

    eBay bought Skype in 2005 for USD $2.6 billion,, with subsequent payments raising this sum to USD $3.1 billion.

    Skype had sales of USD $551 million in 2008 and ended the year with 405 million registered users. Skype expects to top USD $1 billion in revenue in 2011, nearly doubling 2008 revenues.

    Should be an interesting few months ahead for everyone involved.

  • LG-Nortel Launches New Line Ahead of Expected Surge in IP Phone Demand


    LG-Nortel has responded to an expected doubling of IP phone penetration in businesses this year by launching a new line of desktop IP Phones.

    Geared towards business users and carrier-hosted VoIP services, JD An, vice president, Enterprise Solutions at LG-Nortel, said the IP Phone 8800 series had been designed to meet rising demand for IP phone solutions from enterprises.

    "LG-Nortel has worked diligently to meet this demand with the industry’s most feature-packed, cost-effective IP phones," he said.

    An said models in the series extend from entry-level units designed for ease of use by employees, to feature-packed models providing a range of communications features.

    These include:

    • multi-line support
    • a phone directory screen
    • Bluetooth wireless headset support

    The series also provides support for common protocols, including Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP) ensures compatibility with a broad range of VoIP call servers, according to An.

    "In an era where businesses are looking for the most cost-effective telephony solutions possible, VoIP has become the option of choice for businesses of all sizes," he said.

    An said the standards compliance LG-Nortel IP Phone 8800 series makes it easy to install and manage, while providing employees with the right mix of features to help them work more efficiently and become more productive.

  • EU Rules May Force Operators to Allow VoIP


    The European Union (EU) is preparing legislation to force carriers to allow VoIP to run on their cellular networks.

    EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding has said that "action" should be taken against carriers that use their market power to block "innovative services".

    The EU has already prepared draft legislation that would open smartphones to the technology, according to a report published in Germany’s Handelsblatt newspaper.

    European carriers view VoIP technology as a threat to their business model and have widely banned VoIP from being used on their networks.

    Currently each EU country has to decide on how they deal with blocked Internet services. The recent decision by Germany’s Deutsche Telekom to block VoIP could lead to the EU raising antitrust charges against the carrier.

    It wants to ban use of Skype on both its 3G network and its extensive Wi-Fi hot spot network.

    The company’s reasoning is that the program’s high data use would choke the network infrastructure and that it violates the customer contract.

    T-Mobile USA is a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom.

    The issue is also likely to come to the fore in the US.

    Last week, an open-Internet advocacy group asked the Federal Communications Commission to investigate whether Apple and AT&T are violating federal rules by limiting use of Skype’s iPhone service.

    The request by Free Press could open up a broader review of the ways in which wireless companies control the use of their networks in the US.

  • Dell's Smartphone Preparations Gain Pace


    Dell’s plans for entering the smartphone market have gained some more meat.

    The world’s second largest PC brand is working with two companies to develop software and hardware for new mobile devices.

    Accel’s Jim Breyer join Dell’s board

    Chi Mei Communications – an unlisted unit of Taiwan’s Hon Hai – is involved with the hardware, while China-based Red Office is engineering the operating system, according to Reuters.

    The outcome is expected to be the launch of multiple smartphones in the Chinese market before the end of the year.

    If all goes well, the US and Europe would then get the PC maker’s devices.

    Dell’s move into the smartphone market – and China, where China Mobile is seen as the favored operator – could be part of the reason why it has appointed Jim Breyer, of Venture firm Accel Partners, to its board.

    Already on ten boards, including Facebook, Etsy, Wal-Mart and Marvel, his company launched a USD $250 million fund in China in 2005.

    Breyer’s experience of finding the right partners and market could be important to Dell as it prepares new devices.

  • Palm's App Catalog v. Apple's App Store. How Do They Compare?


    Mobile application stores are becoming ten-a-penny these days, what with Nokia’s Ovi Store set to launch within a month and Palm’s App Catalog expected with the eagerly-anticipated arrival of the Pre (next month?).

    But as the potential market for app developers expands, how do the six "stores" (iPhone App Store, Android App Market, BlackBerry App World, Windows Mobile Marketplace, Nokia Ovi Store and Palm App Catalog) compare?

    Gizmodo has done a good job on listing the pros and cons of each mobile OS’s offerings, including providing a point-by-point comparison table.

    While its review doesn’t come down in anyone’s favor, it does highlight some of the lesser known issues facing newcomers.

    So while information is still scare on Palm’s App Catalog, what is certain is that it will only be dishing out locally-stored web apps – not local natively running apps.

    As Gizmodo points out, this is likely to have strong influence on the nature and quality of the apps that are listed in the store.

    Just as influencial is Apple’s App store, which has just clocked up it’s billionth download.

    It remains the one to watch – and based on Gizmodo’s comparisions – copy.

    We’d be interested to hear your comments on how Apple’s rivals are faring in their bids to develop worthy competitor mobile app outlets.

  • Optimism Seems High in the Storage Efficiency World

    Optimism remains high in storage efficiency world despite recession and talks of possibly impending depression. The focus seems to be on doing more with less and optimizing on existing capacities.

    Nick Broadbent, UK Managing Director of DataCore Software says: 
“Virtualisation and hence consolidation has transformed all that with IT managers able to meet the business data growth needs by re-utilising external storage solutions already in their network.”

    Joyce Putscher, In-Stat analyst feels that there is a significant shift towards higher capacity models. He says, "While the overall market is maturing, growth is shifting towards higher capacity models… The 1.5TB+ segment is forecasted to see the highest growth, exceeding 100 per cent CAGR."

    Data deduplication, 6 GB’s SAS, FCoe, Virtualization, automation, optimization and cost savings seems to be the mantra that is doing the rounds.
    Deduplication is seen as a means of generating a quick return on investment and several vendors are pushing the technology this week.
    Storage capacity optimization appliances for primary and backup storage also have generated a lot of interest.
    Data reduction solutions from Hifn, backup acceleration options for virtual tape libraries, data reduction technology for cloud form Nirvanix and Ocarina are significant in this scenario. Virtualization and automation gained favor and disaster recovery advisor from Symantec was unveiled. NetApp has announced new storage and data management features for VMWare for virtual desktop environments. SAS attracted attention for its high performance, low cost solution, while ATTO announced FastStream SC 8200 controller and 3PAR unveiled its InSery F-Class Storage Servers. Data Robotics announced its DroboPro.

    In this backdrop there the venture funding announcement from Lightspeed Venture Partners, New Enterprise Associates, Dell ventures and Focus Ventures, Jerusalem Venture Partners, Menlo Ventures, Valhalla Partners and HarborVest Partners, further signals that the interest in the Storage sector has not died down. Fusion_IO received a whopping $47.5 million and Sepaton netted $15.5 million.

    All this keeps optimism high and market watchers agree that while the Storage industry seems to be slowing down due to the recession the slow down is minimal and not very alarming. It is true that external disk storage system numbers are being affected by market conditions, but storage efficiency technologies are picking up. Sean Haffey, storage product manager at FSC, says that there is no doubt that the external disk market is slowing. “When things were booming 18 months ago it was a question of how fast you could go to market,” he said. “Now it is a case of how efficiently you can run.

  • Drobo Goes PRO, Let Your Data Grow


    DroboPro is the latest storage array that has been released by Data Robotics. The earlier versions of the device were known as Drobo External Storage Device. This version of the storage array is designed to manage itself. It is bigger, stronger and more capacious. It has 8 bays and is targeted for use by small businesses and creative professionals.

    Drobo Pro is similar to the earlier versions in looks. It supports up to 16 TB of storage and features the proprietory BeyondAID technology which was the mainstay of its predecessors. The technology permits a number of hard drives of varying capacities to be aggregated into one volume for redundancy and data protection. It cannot be used with networks. However, the subtle changes that distinguish this product are that it has integrated power supply and fully supports dual drive redundancy. Users can also switch between single and dual drive redundancy from a user friendly dashboard. The time that will be taken to shuffle the data around is displayed while we wait for the process to complete. This device is compatible with a 3U rack mount attachment that will have to be purchased separately. Hotswap is possible up to one drive at a time in single redundancy mode and two drives in a dual redundancy mode.

    The array has a USB 2.0 port, twin Fire Wire 800 sockets and gigabit Ethernet jack. The FireWire supports both 800 to 400 adapters. The Ethernet jack cannot be used to set it up for NAS. It is there to take advantage of iSCSI that is a fast interface that is used with severs and workstation rigs. OS X users get a homegrown iSCSI driver free.

    Data Robotics has clearly indicated that it prefers that the DroboPro should be used for direct attached storage with an option to connect it to a Windows Home Server or a networked computer if network access is essential. It is also possible to do professional video work on Drobo Pro.

    Tom Loverro, Director of Product Marketing at Data Robotics says: "One of the beta testers, who is well known in the video editing and animation community, is editing on DroboPro using Final Cut Pro with three video streams of 720p using Apple’s ProRes with no problems. That’s not to say you can do 5 streams of uncompressed 4K on DroboPro though — that sort of situation obviously calls for a different type of solution. But I do think we address 75% of the video editing market with this product according to our research."

    The price of the completely empty Drobo Pro is $1299. Pre stocked options cost $1599-$1949 and the top of trees version costs $3999 with 16 TB capacities. Existing Drobo Pro customers will receive a discount of $200 on the MSRP as an appreciation of their loyalty. The product has been shipped on April 7th.