Calling it “the next generation of realism” Google has introduced the latest version of Google Earth, promising more seamless interactivity with Mother Earth and some unusual new features. “In Google Earth 6, we’re taking realism in the virtual globe to the next level with a truly integrated Street View experience — and 3-D trees,” explains [...]
Microsoft has filed a patent application for a display screen that would dynamically give users the feeling of pushing buttons when they touch it. It filed patent application 20100295820 last week. The patent’s for a “light-induced shape-memory polymer display screen” that would give users the sensation of actually touching buttons as they’re displayed on a [...]
High-performance computing applications such as numerical simulation — whether for forecasting, mechanical and structure simulation, or computational chemistry — require a large number of CPUs for processing. To meet these needs, customers must buy a large-scale system that enables parallel processing so that the simulation can be completed in the shortest possible time. [...]
I firmly believe that one of the reasons Apple has enjoyed such generally excellent customer satisfaction ratings over the years is that the company usually delivers an excellent device or solution, then builds on it, giving customers new features and functionality. When it works right, it can create a snowball effect of functionality that continues [...]
Despite talk of dire consequences for U.S. foreign policy and military intelligence, online publisher Wikileaks Sunday began releasing more than 250,000 leaked cables between 274 worldwide embassies and the U.S. State Department. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange calls the leaked cables “the largest set of confidential documents ever to be released into the public domain” on [...]
The end of Thanksgiving means the beginning of holiday shopping season, and as usual, a great deal of that shopping will be done online. But while online shopping is easy and convenient, it’s also fraught with dangers. Sure, it’s easy to search the Web for the best price on that laptop or video gaming console [...]
This has been an interesting month when it comes to tablets. Apple has pretty much owned the segment, but Samsung reports it shipped 600,000 of its Galaxy Tablets in the first month, which may mean it’s a player. HP almost had a surprise winner in its Windows 7 Tablet, but it under-forecast demand. Acer ended [...]
There is a quiet but persistent buzz that IT budgets will grow in 2011. CIOs are hinting at this during analyst meetings, and a recent poll at Interop, the leading business trade show for IT executives, showed that more than half of IT professionals are projecting an increase in their budgets going forward. But as [...]
It’s often useful to interview customers to understand their perspectives about their suppliers. In these discussions, open-ended questions about supplier “success stories” and “horror stories” can prompt enlightening replies. Answers in the latter category invariably connect to some supplier failure to deliver, an implementation problem that had implications for the customer’s business. And a [...]
Motorola announced Wednesday that it will develop a hands-free wireless computing headset with micro-display specialists at Kopin — a move reminiscent of previous attempts to create wearable computers and communications devices. The device will offer voice, audio and PC capabilities on a virtual reality-style 15-inch monitor that will also support simulation software and streaming [...]