Reality Reviled

Apple and Nike want to go jogging with you.

The two popular brands announced Tuesday a jointly developed technology for runners to track on their iPod Nano how far they've run and how many calories they've burned during their workout. If that's not enough motivation, Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong will also offer audio encouragement.

The exclusive partnership marks another sign of how deeply the iPod digital music player has penetrated American culture. It holds close to 80 percent of the MP3 player market, according to market research firm NPD Group. In the first three months of the year, Apple sold more than 8.5 million iPods. In addition, thousands of accessories, from the Nike+iPod device to jeweled cases, have been made for the iPod.

"The iPod is a fantastic sports device," said Stefan Olander, Nike's global director of digital media. "There was a very natural fit."

The Nike+iPod works by placing a sensor into a small pocket in the shoe and a wireless receiver on the iPod Nano. The two devices communicate wirelessly so users can track their pace, the distance they've traveled, calories they've burned and time spent exercising, either by looking at a menu on the screen or by clicking a button and hearing it through their headphones. All the while, runners can still listen to their favorite tunes and program a special song to pump them up when they start to flag.

"It becomes a personal coach in your ear," Olander said.

Once the iPod syncs with a computer, runners can also monitor their workouts online, tracking how far they've run or even seeing how they measure up to their friends. They can also purchase audio workouts and heart-thumping music at the iTunes music store.

Having seen how many athletes listen to music as they work out, Nike approached Apple. In the past, it teamed up with Phillips to sell a Nike-branded MP3 player.

The Nike+iPod is not the only attempt to turn the iPod into a personal trainer. PumpOne sells programmed workouts, such as yoga or cardio training, which users can download onto their iPods.

"A lot of people think of the iPod as something they bring to the gym to listen to music," said Craig Schlossberg, co-founder and president of PumpOne. "What we've been trying to get across is to let your iPod help you work out. (The Nike+iPod) validates what we're doing."

The $29 Nike+iPod sport kit, including the sensor and wireless receiver, hits stores in late June. In mid-July, Nike will start selling the Air Zoom Moire, a $100 pair of sneakers with a pocket to hold the sensor, as well as workout gear to hold the iPod Nano.

Its autumn line of shoes also will have pockets for the sensor.

"Invisible"

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said the company isn't really committed to a widespread January rollout for consumers, as other company executives said two months ago.

Just days after saying that Windows Vista's release wouldn't be delayed by Symantec's lawsuit, Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer on Wednesday hinted that the next-generation operating system might not make its announced January delivery date.

On Monday, Ballmer told reporters in Beijing that he didn't think Vista would be postponed because of the Symantec suit, which demands that the operating system be barred from release until Microsoft removes code Symantec claims it stole from storage maker Veritas, which is now owned by Symantec.

Wednesday, however, Ballmer said that the company wasn't really committed to a widespread January roll-out for consumers, as other company executives said two months ago when the latest delay in a string of Vista push-backs was announced.

"Certainly, when Windows Vista comes to the market next year, and it will be next year, we will make sure that we make a high quality product, ship a high quality product, when it's ready," Ballmer told the Agence France-Presse (AFP) wire service in Tokyo. Ballmer was in Japan to announce an expanded partnership in server, networking, and VoIP business with Japanese electronics giant NEC.

Ballmer went on to say that Microsoft would take feedback from the just-released Vista Beta 2, and decide "in the next few weeks" whether to stick to January or shift the date.

He also noted that since Vista's already missing the fourth quarter sales season, it would be smart to wait until the next "machine cycle" to release the OS.

"What we are discussing...with hardware partners is when they would really like it -- early January, late January, February," Ballmer told the AFP. "We are on track for shipping early in the year."

Analysts have pooh-poohed the January release almost from its announcement. One Gartner researcher, for instance, has warned users not to expect Vista until the second quarter of 2007.

Perhaps Ballmer heard a second Gartner analyst, who said in April that by delaying Vista until July 2007, PC makers could sell an additional 1.1 million PCs during the year.

Microsoft's recent messages on Vista, however, can only be described as mixed. Tuesday, Jim Alchin, co-president of the company's platforms group and the man responsible for bringing the OS to market, told reporters at the WinHEC confab that he was "confident" Vista would make its January ship date.

"Invisible"

New Dell computers will have Google's home page and search tools preloaded, not Microsoft's

When consumers boot up their new Dell desktops and notebooks next week, they will find a Google home page and search tools, not the familiar Microsoft versions, the world's largest PC vendor confirmed Thursday.

Dell will factory-install the Google desktop, toolbar, search engine, and home page on desktops and notebooks shipping to consumers and small and medium-size businesses worldwide, said Dell spokesman Jess Blackburn.

It will also be installed on certain enterprise systems, unless the buyer specifies its own corporate software tools. Dell will begin shipping the new configuration by the end of May.

Microsoft Tools Still an Option

Google Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt also confirmed the deal on Thursday at a Goldman Sachs Group conference. "Dell is the pioneer in this. They've figured out a way to work with other partners to essentially fill out the Windows platform," he said at the event, which was Webcast. "Windows lacks certain features, and Dell figured out a way to add them."

The Microsoft versions of those tools will still be installed on the PCs, but they will not boot up automatically unless a user changes his default settings. Dell also preinstalls software such as office productivity, Internet connectivity, and security tools, depending on customer requirements.

Dell did not disclose the terms of the agreement, which had been rumored as long ago as February.

Good News for Microsoft?

Though the news may appear to be a blow to Microsoft, Rob Enderle, analyst with the Enderle Group, said it actually could serve the company well in the near term as it continues to battle antitrust charges in the European Union.

"Initially this works in Microsoft's favor, because they're trying to showcase that there is no lock-in on the desktop," he said. "Right now, a couple of the big [hardware] guys going with Google is a good thing."

However, the PC desktop is increasingly becoming a battleground for companies such as Google, Yahoo, and eBay that want to drive PC users to their Internet-based services to earn ad revenue, Enderle said. "Microsoft will have to respond" as competition for that visibility grows, he said.

"Invisible"

Samsung Samsung Samsung Samsung Samsung Samsung Samsung Samsung

Samsung Electronics will launch two portable computers next month that use flash memory in place of a hard-disk drive for data storage, the company said Tuesday.

Flash memory has long been eyed as a potential replacement for hard-disk drives because it works faster, is lighter and more shock-resistant, but it’s still more expensive. Despite the costs, flash memory chip prices are coming down to a range that some specialist users might be willing pay for the benefits.

Samsung has built 32GB of NAND flash memory into a case the same size as a 1.8-inch hard-disk drive. The so-called "solid state disk" (SSD) has the same interface as a hard-disk drive, so it can be directly substituted with little extra work.

There are several benefits to using flash memory, Samsung said. The flash drives can withstand about twice the impact that would cripple a similar hard disk, and are much less affected by harsh environmental conditions. Read speed is 300 percent faster and write speed 150 percent faster than a hard-disk drive, so Windows boots faster and data can be loaded more quickly. The solid-state disks also make no noise when in use.

Until now, Samsung has been coy on the price of the drives, but with the announcement of the two new computers—a version of its Q1 ultra-mobile PC and Q30 laptop—the price premium is clear.

The Q1-SSD will cost 2.3 million won (US$2,452) and the Q30-SSD will cost 3.5 million won. Equivalent models of the same computers with hard-disk drives cost 1.2 million won and around 2.6 million won, respectively, putting the SSD premium at about US$1,175.

Samsung said nothing has been decided regarding an overseas launch of the SSD-based computers.

Other computer makers are expected to soon announce computers with flash memory-based drives. Samsung, which is a leading maker of flash memory, has started offering the drive to its customers. Sony last week said it plans to use an SSD in a new version of its UX50 portable PC due out around the middle of this year.

"Invisible"

THE TECHNOLOGY DOOR STEP

Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices Inc. has developed a new socket that supports faster DDR2 memory and its version of virtualization technology. This will mean that a user can run more than one operating system on a machine. The socket, called AM2, streamlines the work for motherboard makers, while reducing costs through economies of scale.

Socket AM2 adopts 940-pin technology replacing the company's Socket 939 on motherboards, and it works only with new AMD processors that support DDR2 memory. The new socket also includes a new 4-bolt tray to offer a more stable platform for the processor heat sink.

While the company has introduced AM2 versions for most of its existing 939 technology-based Sempron, Athlon 64 and Athlon 64x2 processors, it has announced two new AM2 only processors.

The company said its new top-of-the line 2.8-GHz Athlon 64 FX-62 will sell for about $1031 and supports up to 800-MHz DDR2; the new 2.6-GHz Athlon 64 X2 5000+ will sell for about $696. This and other new AM2 X2 chips support up to 667-MHz DDR2.

In addition to these products, the company is now offering lower-watt versions of its X2 processors for use with Socket AM2 motherboards. The new energy-efficient models can reduce the maximum power specification from 110 watts to 85 watts. Each reduced-power X2 chip carries a small price premium over the standard X2 version.

AMD said motherboards that support the new AM2 standard will be in markets immediately from vendors, including Abit, Asus, Biostar, ECS, EPox, Gigabyte, Leadtek, MSI and Shuttle.

Among the computer makers using the new chips are Alienware, Fujitsu Siemens, HP and Lenovo.

AMD's corporate vice president, desktop division, Bob Brewer said the introduction of socket AM2 is another example of AMD delivering on its customer promise, on time and with industry support from its AMD64 ecosystem. "We are again pushing new levels of performance in our dual-core processors while enabling meaningful innovations like AMD Virtualization and DDR2 memory."

All AMD64 processors are ready and capable to deploy Windows Vista. The company has been working closely with Microsoft to identify and develop key hardware and system requirements for the new operating system.

Microsoft's vice president for Windows Client Marketing Mike Sievert said the company is excited about the socket AM2 processors. He said the AMD Athlon 64 FX and AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processors offer powerful capabilities for new business and consumer scenarios using Windows XP today and will enable even more compelling business and consumer breakthroughs for users of Windows Vista.

With socket AM2, AMD also makes its virtualization properties available to computer users. Virtualization allows a single PC to act as multiple virtual machines. Client computers can seamlessly support multiple operating environments, a property that will enable IT managers to develop and test software across multiple operating systems on a single computer, besides several other similar uses.

"Invisible"

Microsoft is launching its second major test for the Windows Vista operating system.

Bill Gates announced today at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2006, the immediate availability of beta 2 versions of Windows Vista, the 2007 Microsoft Office system and the next version of Windows Server, code-named Windows Server "Longhorn." It is the first time that Microsoft has simultaneously released the test versions of all three of the company's flagship products.

Speaking before a nearly sold-out crowd of over 3,500 hardware technologists and business planners, Gates outlined a vision for the future of the PC and hardware devices.

Gates demonstrated how Windows Vista will drive innovation across the industry and support the rich ecosystem of hardware manufacturers that continue to expand choices for customers in everything from computers to peripherals to mobile devices and entertainments systems.

"The release of these three betas is a significant milestone for Microsoft and a major step toward delivering the platforms that will drive the next decade of computing," Gates said. "The combination of these innovative platform technologies and the new hardware and software being developed by our partners will make PCs and other devices more powerful, more useful and more intelligent for businesses today and into the future."

In his keynote address, Gates formally delivered the first beta 2 copies of Windows Vista, the 2007 Microsoft Office system and Windows Server "Longhorn" to a representative of Chevron Corp. Chevron is one of many customers conducting early deployment and testing on all three platforms to hundreds of desktops and servers.

"Invisible"

Siemens has signed an agreement with Hutchison Essar for its music download technology, "Music2You".

This unique, new technology will enable full-length songs to be previewed, purchased, and downloaded on Siemens handsets.

According to Siemens, the move would enable service providers to set up a download service over the Internet or a mobile communication network.

The company also said that the selection of music offerings would comprise titles from a variety of major labels, including local content providers; while the cost of downloads would be charged to the user's wireless telephony bill.

Announcing the new technology, Michael Kuehner, managing director, Siemens, said that music download is today one of the most sought after applications over the mobile, and that globally digital music is creating new benchmarks. Kuehner said that they are proud that Hutchison Essar has chosen to partner with them, in implementing its music download service.

Kuehner said that this technology would also serve to restrict unlawful copying of download music, and that Hutch customers can now purchase their favourite songs at their convenience, anytime, anywhere, on their Hutch phones.

Naveen Chopra, chief marketing officer, Hutchison Essar, elaborated that the new technology would help Hutch customers to download full songs of good sound quality at a faster download speed.

"Invisible"