Dash for Gold at London 2012 Olympics

July 26th, 2012

Dash for Gold is a free and interactive online app that provides intuitive dashboards to analyse past and present medal counts to enable anyone to predict outcomes at sports competitions.

Try out Dash for Gold to predict the results of events in the London 2012 Olympics.

Try out Dash for Gold to predict the results of events in the London 2012 Olympics.

Dash for Gold is the result of collaboration between Actuate and KXEN.

Actuate produces Business Intelligence software while KXEN is its Big Data partner provides predictive analytics software for business users.

Dash for Gold enables users to leverage Business Intelligence and predictive analytics to discover hidden trends that can be used to help predict performance and outcomes in sports competitions.

The app includes predetermined dashboards but allows users to perform their own analytics.

The app can be used by everyone to analyse competition results (not just the Olympics) since 1900 against 52 years of world statistics to hypothesize which statistics are determinants of medal success.

Dash for Gold, which covers sporting history for every competing country, is available as a mobile app, with a comprehensive browser version in English, French, German and Simplified Chinese.

People using Dash for Gold will be able to analyze massive data sets, via an intuitive user interface and also have the ability to share and publish their findings. No prior experience with analytics is necessary to find answers to questions such as:

  • Which country has won the most medals in your favorite sports?
  • Does the host nation have a home field advantage?
  • Does your country send better men or women to major global sporting competitions?
  • Does per capita wine consumption affect who stands on the podium?

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Posted in App, Contest, Enterprise IT, Figures, Software | No Comments »

Gigapixel image for London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony

July 26th, 2012

Super high-resolution image will capture each of the 70,000 spectators in detail. The 20-Gigapixel photograph will be uploaded and spectators will be able to zoom in, locate and tag themselves.

Getty Images is the official Photographic Agency for the London 2012 Olympic Games which opens tomorrow.

Getty Images is the official Photographic Agency for the London 2012 Olympic Games which opens tomorrow.

Ahead of tomorrow’s Olympics Opening Ceremony in London, Getty Images and Fujitsu have announced that they will be snapping a gigapixel photograph of the event, enabling spectators – all 70,000 of them! – to zoom in, find and tag themselves.

This is the camera set up that Getty Images’ gigapixel photographer Henry Stuart will be using at London 2012 Olympics. It’s a Nikon D800. (Photo credit: Henry Stuart)

This is the camera set up that Getty Images’ gigapixel photographer Henry Stuart will be using at London 2012 Olympics. It’s a Nikon D800. (Photo credit: Henry Stuart)

Images of such a high resolution usually take days to upload but thanks to leading-edge speed and performance of the Fujitsu CELSIUS R920 workstation, the image will be available to view on www.gettyimages.com overnight – up to 12 times faster than previously possible.

This will be the 13th consecutive Olympics for which Getty Images has been appointed as the Official Photographic Agency to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

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Posted in Cameras, Contest, DSLR, Fujitsu, Gadgets, Nikon, Photography, Photos | No Comments »

SolarWinds Web Help Desk to boost IT management

July 26th, 2012

SolarWinds has announced today that it is launching the SolarWinds Web Help Desk. Prices for the IT Help Desk solution start at US$495.

SolarWinds has announced today the launch of the SolarWinds Web Help Desk.

SolarWinds has announced today the launch of the SolarWinds Web Help Desk.

SolarWinds Web Help Desk is a boost to the growing portfolio of IT Management products from SolarWinds, which provides powerful and affordable IT management software for companies.

SolarWinds Web Help Desk highlights:

  • Easily perform help desk ticketing support and management operations from a single, centralized web-console, purpose-built for IT processes and organizations.
  • Automate change management operations with powerful and customizable change management functionality.
  • Simplify asset management for both hardware and software assets through a centralized IT Asset Repository.
  • Leverage the extensive KnowledgeBase Engine for capturing and sharing ITSM best practices and solutions.

SolarWinds Web Help Desk is a cross-platform, web-based solution that allows IT professionals to remove complexity from their IT service processes and to improve service to their end-users through practical, flexible tools.

Read the press release below for more details.

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TODAY! Mountain Lion available from Mac App Store

July 25th, 2012

The ninth major release of Apple’s desktop operating system is now available as a download from the Mac App Store. Mountain Lion is available as an upgrade from Lion or Snow Leopard for S$25.98.

Mountain Lion OS X, Apple's new desktop operating system is available for download today.

Mountain Lion OS X, Apple’s new desktop operating system is available for download today.

Mountain Lion features more than 200 new features, including iCloud integration, the all new Messages app, Notification Center, system-wide Sharing, Facebook integration, Dictation, AirPlay Mirroring and Game Center.

Pricing & Availability

OS X Mountain Lion is available from the Mac App Store for S$25.98.

Mountain Lion requires Lion or Snow Leopard (OS X v10.6.8 or later), 2GB of memory and 8GB of available space.

A complete list of system requirements and compatible systems can be found here.

OS X Server requires Mountain Lion and is available from the Mac App Store for S$25.98.

The OS X Mountain Lion Up-to-Date upgrade is available at no additional charge from the Mac App Store to all customers who purchased a qualifying new Mac system from Apple or an Apple Authorised Reseller on or after 11 June, 2012.

Below are some of these key new features.

  • iCloud integration, for easy set up of your Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Messages, Reminders and Notes, and keeping everything, including iWork documents, up to date across all your devices.
  • The new Messages app, which replaces iChat and brings iMessage to the Mac, so you can send messages to anyone with an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or another Mac.
  • Notification Center, which streamlines the presentation of notifications and provides easy access to alerts from Mail, Calendar, Messages, Reminders, system updates and third party apps.
  • System-wide Sharing, to make it easy to share links, photos, videos and other files quickly without having to switch to another app, and you just need to sign in once to use third-party services like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Vimeo.
  • Facebook integration, so you can post photos, links and comments with locations right from your apps, automatically add your Facebook friends to your Contacts, and even update your Facebook status from within Notification Center.
  • Dictation, which allows you to dictate text anywhere you can type, whether you’re using an app from Apple or a third party developer.
  • AirPlay Mirroring, an easy way to wirelessly send an up-to-1080p secure stream of what’s on your Mac to an HDTV using Apple TV, or send audio to a receiver or speakers that use AirPlay.
  • Game Center, which brings the popular social gaming network from iOS to the Mac so you can enjoy live, multiplayer games with friends whether they’re on a Mac, iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
  • The new Gatekeeper, which makes downloading software from the Internet safer.
  • Power Nap, which automatically updates your apps and system while your Mac is asleep.
  • A faster Safari browser.

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Posted in App, Apple, Availability, Browser, Cloud, Mac, Mac OS, Mobile, Notebooks, Operating Systems, Prices, Safari, Software, Specifications | No Comments »

New BlackBerry smartphone: Curve 9320

July 25th, 2012

RIM has announced that the BlackBerry Curve 9320 is now available in Singapore at S$328. Get it from authorised BlackBerry partners including local carriers SingTel and M1.

BlackBerry Curve 9320 is now available in Singapore for S$328.

BlackBerry Curve 9320 is now available in Singapore for S$328.

The Curve 9320 has the traditional half-body screen cum signature hardware keypad design of BlackBerry smartphones.

BlackBerry Curve 9320
OS BlackBerry 7.1 OS
Screen 2.44″ TFT
Resolution 320 x 240, 164 ppi
Battery 1,450 mAh
Processor Single-core, 806 MHz
Camera Rear: 3.2mp
Front: Nil
Video VGA, 640 x 480
Memory Int: 512 MB
Ext: 32 GB microSD
Size /mm 109 x 60 x 12.7
Weight 103 g
Price S$328

Customers can interact with their social network in real time, using preloaded apps for Facebook and Twitter.

The new Social Feeds 2.0 app is also preloaded, allowing customers to post updates to multiple social networks simultaneously and capture updates from news sources (RSS), social apps and instant messaging apps all in one consolidated view.

The integrated camera includes a flash and supports video recording, and pictures can be tagged with their location thanks to the smartphone¹s built-in GPS.

The budget smartphone includes a built-in FM radio, allowing customers to tune into their favorite local stations.

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Posted in App, Availability, BlackBerry, BlackBerry OS, Curve, Gadgets, Operating Systems, Phones, Prices, RIM, Specifications | No Comments »

Apple misses analysts’ predictions amid wait for iPhone 5

July 25th, 2012

Apple has just announced its financial results for its fiscal 2012 third quarter ended 30 June, 2012. Profits missed analysts’ predictions.

“Shares of the world's most valuable technology company shed more than 5 percent of their value after Apple - which beats Wall Street expectations with near regularity - reported its second quarterly miss on results in less than a year,” Reuters reported.

Major news agencies reacted negatively towards Apple’s quarterly results.

Compared to analysts’ predictions for a profit of $10.37 a share on revenue of $37.2 billion, net income was reported as $9.32 a share on sales of $35 billion.

“Apple’s profit and sales fell short of analysts’ projections for only the second time since 2003 as customers held off on iPhone purchases while waiting for a new model to be introduced later in the year,” reported Bloomberg today.

The major news agencies don’t seem to have taken the results in positive light.

The consensus seems to be that customers are holding off on iPhone purchases in anticipation of a new model, which is expected to be introduced later this year.

Shares fell some 6 percent in late trading.

This is the first full quarter of sales for Apple’s latest iPad, which was released in March.

Note the 84% growth in iPad sales over the same quarter last year.

Some 17 million iPads were sold in the quarter alone!

Sales growth this quarter
Device Number of units sold Compared to year-ago quarter
iPhone 26 m 28%
iPad 17 m 84%
Mac 4 m 2%
iPod 6.8 m -10%

It’s interesting to note the 10% decline in iPod sales.

It is an indication that it may be made redundant by the proliferation of smartphones which can fulfil the functions of a mobile personal music player cum entertainment device.

On the other hand, Sony is still launching new models in its rejuvenated Walkman media players cum entertainment devices.

Apple’s Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $2.65 per share of the Company’s common stock.

“Apple disappointed analysts despite reporting profits up 21% year-on-year to $8.8bn (£5.6bn) and revenues up 23% to $35bn, after missing targets that Wall Street had forecast,” Guardian reported.

The dividend is payable on August 16, 2012, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 13, 2012.

This continues Tim Cook’s announcement in March to pay dividends – something that Apple had not done in 17 years until then.

The dividends are estimated to cost Apple about $10 billion a year.

Apple has around $100 billion in cash which many investors have called over the years to be returned to investors.

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Posted in Apple, Figures, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Phones, Tablets, Tech news, Tickers, Walkman | 2 Comments »

TomTom to help ease London traffic congestion during the Olympics

July 24th, 2012

There will be numerous road disruptions in London during the 2012 Olympics. TomTom will be providing – at 6pm every day – the latest map updates on road changes for the following day, via the Map Share community.

TomTom will provide free map updates to help alleviate traffic congestion during the London 2012 Olympics.

TomTom will provide free map updates to help alleviate traffic congestion during the London 2012 Olympics.

Good news for those driving in London during the Summer Olympics, which opens on 27 July and ends on 12 August.

TomTom’s map experts have predicted that 28 July is likely to be the most disrupted travel day in and around London with more than 9000 road changes.

The next most congested day is likely to be August 1 when more than 3000 changes will be made.

With the temporary road closures, changes in traffic flow and turn restrictions, TomTom will be helping drivers avoid travel disruptions with additional daily updates to their maps via the Map Share community.

After 6pm (GMT) every day, TomTom users will be able to download – for free – the following day’s road changes to their navigation device and reset any changes no longer required from the previous day for free.

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Posted in Accessories, Announce, Gadgets, GPS, Tech news, TomTom, Utility | 1 Comment »

Executive briefing: IBM X-Force on emerging threats in 2012

July 24th, 2012

CIO Asia magazine organised the half-day event at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore. Due to the overwhelming response, the invitation-only briefing was extended from a 10-pax roundtable to a five-table seminar.

IBM X-Force Executive Briefing on Evolving Threat.

IBM X-Force Executive Briefing on Evolving Threat.

IBM promised that attendees would leave the briefing better prepared to protect their organisations against evolving threats in the security landscape.

Organised by CIO Asia magazine at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore.Key personnel from the new Security Systems unit in IBM updated CIOs and key IT managers on the numerous reports of data leaks, Denial-of-Service attacks, and social Hacktivisim in 2011.

The pace of such attack have continued into 2012.

Traditionally, IBM as well as other large companies have already incorporated security considerations in individual solution domains.

However, IBM has taken the additional step to adopt a holistic approach towards ensuring security for all of their solutions.

Its acquisition of Q1 Labs has provided the tools that integrated the security needs and considerations across the hitherto siloed domains.

This security layer straddles the various siloed domains and serves as the bedrock upon which the domain solutions are built.

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Posted in Cloud, Events, IBM, Mobile, Security, Seminars, Study | No Comments »

Live Event: “The Arrival of a New Milestone” – Canon launches the EOS M

July 23rd, 2012

After much anticipation and speculation, Canon has finally launched its first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera – the EOS M (79,800 yen including the EF-M 22mm f/2.0 STM lens).

It is the last of the major camera makers to join in the fray. The camera will be available in early October.

Canon's first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, the EOS M. Available in four colours.

Canon’s first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, the EOS M. Available in four colours. Looks like a typical compact camera?

14:00 The launch has ended. This marks the end of the Livecast. I’ll be adding photos and press releases of the EOS M as they become available.

Canon EOS M

Red Canon EOS M

13:50 The EOS M records Full HD video. Able to shoot at high maximum ISO of 6,400, and has Movie Servo AF (like in the EOS 650D) which enables continuous auto-focus during movie shooting.

Also comes with Video Snapshots feature (common in Canon LEGRIA camcorders), which records short video snippets of 2, 4 or 8 seconds, before stitching all of them sequentially into video snapshot albums.

13:40 Seven built-in creative filters: Graniny Black & White, Soft Focus, Toy Camera, Miniature, Art Bold, Water Paintin,g and Fish-eye filters.

White Canon EOS M, with 18.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor. To sell in Japan for 79,800 yen (S$1,280 including the EF-M 22mm f/2.0 STM lens).

White Canon EOS M, with 18.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor. To sell in Japan for 79,800 yen (S$1,280 including the EF-M 22mm f/2.0 STM lens).

13:30 Multi Shot Noise Reduction takes four consecutive shots, then merge and align into single shot (in-camera) for cleaner final image.

Black Canon EOS M, with an EF-M 22mm f/2.0 STM lens.

Black Canon EOS M, with an EF-M 22mm f/2.0 STM lens.

13:20 HDR Backlight Compensation brackets three shots and merges in-camera.

13:10 Multi FlexiZone AF divides the scene into 31 AF zones. Single FlexiZone allow users to move the AF point via the LCD touchscreen.

13:00 Hybrid CMOS AF system combines Phase-difference AF and Contrast AF. Face Tracking tracks moving objects by switching AF points.

12:50 The Speedlite 90EX is a compact and lightweight flashgun equipped with wireless master function via optical transmission.

Silver Canon EOS M with EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5/5.6 IS STM lens.

Silver Canon EOS M with EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5/5.6 IS STM lens.

12:40 Lenses launched together with the EOS M are the EF-M 18-55mm f3.5/5.6 IS STM and the EF-M 22mm f/2.0 STM. These lenses have been specially designed for this camera.

12:30 The Canon EOS M will be available in early October, local prices will be announced later, but the camera will go on sale in Japan from 79,800 yen (S$1,280 including the EF-M 22mm f/2.0 STM lens).

12:20 Weight 265 g. Dimensions: 108.6 x 66.5 x 32.3 mm. 3-inch Touch screen. Four colours available – black, red, silver and white.

12:10 18.1-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, DIGIC 5 imaging processor, ISO 12,800 (expandable up to ISO 25,600), 4 fps continuous shooting. Full compatibility with existing Canon EF/EF-S lenses with adapter (EF-EOS M) without any impact to FOV etc. Update: Canon tells Bloomberg that the adapter will cost about 12,000 yen – that’s about S$195.

12:00 Andrew fishes out the Canon EOS M from his pocket!

Andrew Koh fishes out the EOS M from his pocket. Koh is the Senior Director and General Manager of the Consumer Imaging and Information Products Group, Canon Singapore.

Andrew Koh fishes out the EOS M from his pocket. Koh is the Senior Director and General Manager of the Consumer Imaging and Information Products Group, Canon Singapore.

11:45 MC Gene Danker giving a run down of Canon history. Andrew Koh is going to make THE announcement now.

MC Gene Danker giving a run down of Canon history.

MC Gene Danker giving a run down of Canon history.

11:30 Lunch has started. Canon still tight-lipped about the product. But my sources tell me it’s a mirrorless indeed. I believe it’ll be able to leverage on the current system of Canon lenses.

11:25 Going up to Level 62 now to Stellar, 1-Altitude on top of OUB Centre.

11.00: Heading out to Canon’s event at Raffles Place, Singapore.

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Posted in Cameras, Canon, DSLR, EOS, Events, Launch, Lens, Live Event, Prices, Specifications, Tickers | 13 Comments »

Event forecast: Canon launch on 23 July 2012

July 22nd, 2012

Canon will be having a launch event tomorrow titled: “The Arrival of a New Milestone”. Many are speculating that Canon will finally be launching its first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera.

Update (23 July, 2012):

Okay, so I was both right and wrong. Canon has indeed launched its first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera – the EOS M. But it looks nowhere like the Hansa – it doesn’t even look retro.

1:1.4 scale model of the beautiful Hansa Canon.

1:1.4 scale model of the beautiful Hansa Canon.

But as a consolation, Canon did give each attendee a nice Hanso scale model (1:1.4).

To find out the details of the EOS M, check out the Livecast for the launch event here.

I’m purely speculating but I believe if Canon is launching an MIL camera, it will have a retro design inspired by the Hansa - Canon’s first commercial camera. Canon has been touting the camera as part of the camera’s 75th anniversary celebration.

I’m purely speculating but I believe if Canon is launching an MIL camera, it will have a retro design inspired by the Hansa – Canon’s first commercial camera. Canon has been touting the camera as part of the camera’s 75th anniversary celebration.

I received Canon’s invitation to tomorrow’s event some two weeks back.

It said simply, “Technological innovation has always formed the core of Canon’s pursuits. Come 23 July, Canon once again reaches a new milestone. On behalf of Canon Singapore, we cordially invite you to join us in this special occasion. ”

Stay tuned and check back tomorrow to find out.

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Posted in Cameras, Canon, Event forecast, Events, Gadgets, Live Event, MIL, Opinion | 5 Comments »

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