Tuesday, January 11, 2005

Yahoo Follows Google with Desktop Search Application. Yahoo Competes with Google, Microsoft for Desktop Search

1:24 pm | Anton Shilov

Yahoo Inc. unveiled Monday its desktop search tool that is intended to compete with similar apps from Google and Microsoft Corp. released in 2004. The move outlines importance of comprehensive desktop search machines for search-engines and business software developers as usual instruments for searching desktops become uncomfortable for customers, which paid-search online ad market is growing rapidly.

“Yahoo! Desktop Search application now available as a beta release. The free download indexes the information and content users have on their computer – emails, attachments, documents, music, images, videos, and more – making it easy to search for almost anything on their hard drive,” Yahoo Inc. said in its statement.

• Download: Yahoo! Desktop Search.
• Press Release: Battle for the Desktop Rages as Yahoo Announces Search Application.
• SearchEngineWatch: A Few Thoughts about Yahoo Desktop Search.
• Download: Google Desktop Search.
• Download: Microsoft Desktop Search.

Video Surfers Can Watch Security Cams Without Permission. Google Allows to Find Network Attached Cams

12:56 pm | Anton Shilov

While web-cams used for security reasons and connected to the web can actually provide some additional security in addition to professional services, sometimes they can actually compromise safety, as some skilled users have learnt how to find, use and control networked cams around the globe using Google search system.

“Searching on certain strings within a URL sniffs out networked cameras that have Web interfaces permitting their owners to view them remotely, and even direct the cameras’ motorized pan-and-tilt mechanisms from the comfort of their own desktop. Video surfers are using this knowledge to peek in on office and restaurant interiors, a Japanese barnyard, women doing laundry, the interior of an Internet collocation facility, and a cage full of rodents, among other things, in locales scattered around the world,” claims The Register web-site.

• The Register: Google Exposes Web Surveillance Cams.
• Boing Boing: More Googleable Unsecured Webcams.

FIRST Robotics Competition 2005 Kicks Off. Over 25 Thousand Students to Participate in Robotics Competition

12:37 pm | Anton Shilov

As technology evolves, more and more things can be outsourced to robots, saving time, money and health of people. To demonstrate their latest achievements and learn something new about robots, around 25 thousand of students from countries like USA, Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, Mexico, Ecaudor and Israel come together to FIRST Robotics Competition, a set of events where high school students, sponsored and assisted by local companies and volunteers, design, assemble, and test a robot capable of performing a specified task in competition with other teams.

“The 2005 game, ‘Triple Play’ is a sort of massive three on three tic tac toe that takes place on a 27x54 foot field, where robots attempt to stack tetras (the game pieces are tetrahedrons in shape) in one of 9 goals. Three goals are at midfield and three at either end. Robots will claim ownership of goals by stacking tetras; the highest tetra wins the goal. Each match will last 2 and 1/4 minutes and feature two three-team alliances. The game features a mixture of autonomous and remote controlled periods, with the bulk of the match being under remote control,” reports ExtremeTech web-site.

• ExtremeTech: Dean Kamen Kicks Off 2005 FIRST Robotics Competition.
• USFIRST.org: FIRST Robotics Competition.
• USFIRST.org: Download the 2005 FIRST Robotics Competition Manual.

Various DDR2 SDRAM DIMMs Reviewed. DDR2 Memory Roundup Hits the Web

12:03 pm | Anton Shilov

As much as enthusiasts loathe the “slow” performance of DDR2 over standard DDR, nothing can stop DDR2 from taking over DDR. Whether you transit to DDR2 now or later, you should know the manufacturers that make the best modules for your needs and preferences: be it affordable price, high performance or extreme overclockability. A recent review from Motherboards.org tries to answer the mentioned questions by testing PC2-4200 DDR2 products from six manufacturers.

“All the contenders today were exceptional. They all performed superbly well and are pretty much more than capable of pushing your system to the limits. My motherboard seemed to be the limiting factor here and I was unable to find any other motherboard that would allow me to overclock to or beyond 265FSB. Perhaps when I upgrade to a 925XE board I might be able to go further. Overall in the end, consumers like you and I will want something that provides the best performance and price ratio,” Motherboards.org web-site concludes.

• Motherboards.org: DDR2 Memory Shootout.

CES 2005 Special Report: Intel and AMD’s Plans Revealed. AMD, Intel’s Plans Discussed at CES

11:40 am | Anton Shilov

Being full of PC-related devices, Consumer Electronics Show 2005 was expected to bring a lot of news about leading technology companies, such as leading makers of microprocessors – Advanced Micro Devices and Intel Corp.. Nevertheless both companies were fairly quiet about their plans, since their launches are still far away and the information is too early to discuss openly, but they did offer some insightful information.

“As far as Intel’s dual core strategies are concerned, they will most likely bring their dual core additions by the very end of Q2 or Q3 this year, so for those waiting for these next generation chips are better off with a due upgrade,” writes CoolTechZone web-site.

“AMD, on the other hand, is also working on a similar time frame launch, so you can expect to see the products from both companies around the same time,” the web-site assumes.

• CoolTechZone: CES 2005 Special Report: Intel and AMD’s Plans Revealed.

IBM Provides 500 US Patents to Open Source Community. IBM Gives Away 500 US Patents

11:12 am | Anton Shilov

IBM has pledged open access to key innovations covered by 500 IBM software patents to people and groups working on open source software. The pledge applies to any individual, community, or company working on or using software that meets the Open Source Initiative (OSI) definition of open source software.

“True innovation leadership is about more than just the numbers of patents granted. It's about innovating to benefit customers, partners and society. Continuing IBM's legacy of leadership in the strategic use of intellectual property, our pledge today is the beginning of a new era in how IBM will manage intellectual property to benefit our partners and clients. Unlike the preceding Industrial Economy, the Innovation Economy requires that intellectual property be deployed for more than just providing the owner with freedom of action and income generation,” said Dr. John E. Kelly, IBM senior vice president, Technology and Intellectual Property.

• Press Release: IBM Pledges 500 Patents to Open Source in Support of Innovation and Open Standards.
• List of Pledged Patents.

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