Adobe goes environmentally friendly as it installs wind turbines, generating friendly electricity for its offices. During the recent December holidays, Adobe System had the turbines installed at its offices at Park Avenue and Almaden Boulevard. According to Adobe's officials, the installation of the turbines is part of a bigger plan to obtain renewable power supply for all their facilities globally, running electricals such as computers and lights.

Adobe's wind turbines

However, the hype is not really about the move for renewable energy. A few big companies -- like Microsoft and Google -- have already adapted this move, installing solar panels to supply their energy needs. However, the decision for harnessing wind power is somewhat out of the setting. After all, you will generally see these turbines in suburban or rural areas and not in high-rise offices.

Taking a different approach, Adobe installed 20 small wind turbines. Each turbine measures 30 feet in height and 4 feet in width and is installed vertically. The turbines are created to rotate slowly. This is to avoid possible bird-crashes especially since some peregrine falcons have been spotted nearby . Although Adobe won't say how much the overall construction costs, it is said that the amount is slightly lower than creating a solar system. Adobe senior director Randy Knox also admits that the reduction in electricity costs is large enough that they could cover the cost of the installation in around eight years. Knox refers to it as an "investment that needs to be developed."

The reason behind the move

But why wind turbines? After all, we often see them in big, empty spaces. The thing is that the Adobe area is not big enough to install sufficient amount of solar panels. However, it seems that they are not lacking in the wind department. Randy Knox, the head of Adobe's wind power project, mentions that "In an urban environment, there's a lot of wind tunnels, even at ground level."

Perhaps that's the reason why the new installation works. Together, the wind turbines are expected to produce 50,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. Although it's enough to provide power to more than one home, the expected output will only cover around 2 percent of Adobe's electrical consumption.

So far, Adobe has already garnered the "green building" certification because of its efforts to lower electricity consumption. Still, Knox reveals that the company is also looking at solar panels as well as fuel cells as possible sources of renewable energy.

Adobe obtained the turbines from Mariah Power, which calls them Windspires. Each one can produce around 1.2 kilowatts of electricity. From where it stands, the wind turbines of Adobe can be easily seen by people who pass. This is excellent since it can make people more aware of alternative energy sources.

Just recently, the Chinese Writers Association had posted Google’s apology statement for scanning their books in an online search system. It was a move to appease copyright concerns. The Chinese Author Society had demanded a resolution plan from Google to properly compensate the affected authors. They also asked for a complete list of books that were scanned and said they can no longer scan more books. Asia-Pacific’s Google Book representative Erik Hartmann made a public apology aired by China’s state broadcaster.

Google's legal issues

China is only one of the countries that Google has experienced legal problems with. The United States and France are included in this mix. The Chinese group had demanded compensation for the authors whose works were placed in the database without their permission. At least 17,000 Chinese books were scanned by Google Book’s program.  Google has been guilty of scanning so many works without seeking the writer’s permission beforehand. This enables internet users to view content on the Google Books services without the author or publisher’s knowledge.

Google has learned from its past mistakes and said in the statement to the Chinese that it would stop its questionable practices. They are targeting March as the end of their copyright troubles. Hopefully by then they’ll reach a general agreement and sign the final one during the second quarter.

The problem stems from the differing copyright system of US and China. Even author Mian Mian sued a copyright infringement lawsuit to Google for scanning her novel “Acid Lover” and showing this online. Google is more than willing to apologize and take responsibility for its actions. Communication with the Chinese has been tricky. But the online giant has made efforts to discuss the matter with a local copyright protection group.

Google's response to the copyright conflicts

Despite complaints, a spokeswoman from Google says that it still complies with copyright law since it only shows parts of the books. Since they do not show the whole book, they do not need the prior permission of the works’ authors. Just a week before, the Chinese settled a dispute with Microsoft, with the court ruling that Chinese fonts were used without permission. The fonts were sold along with its operating systems. The Beijing Number One Intermediate People’s Court demanded Microsoft to stop selling Windows systems with the Chinese fonts. The enthusiastic action to settle copyrights in China is strong, despite piracy being a common practice around the country. Ironically, pirated software of Windows 7 and other computer programs are sold in the country’s bargain bazaars and street stalls. Windows 7’s pirated versions were readily available to budget customers in China weeks before Windows itself released the software.

A Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas, Nevada was able to stun attendees with a display combining 3-D, entertainment, Internet, and software. Before this bounce, CES was still recovering by the economic recession as sales were put on hold in 2009. Customers did not have enough money to spend on the consumer electronics’ 3-D television sets and electronic readers.

The best of CES

Rob Enderle, analyst of the Silicon Valley Enderle Group, says that CES is definitely back based on this show. Lead technology analyst of Digitaltrends.com Scott Steinberg says that it’s “one of the most exciting CES events we’ve had in years.” The event promises new beginnings in technology and guarantees more steady profit. Techies can anticipate a long wait but the wait will involve some very important small steps towards innovation.

The event had over 2,500 exhibitors. Exhibits were dominated by tablet, slate, and e-reader devices. This products show that companies are keeping up with the “iSlate” of the iPhone and Apple’s other tablet-related products. Tablet devices will have outsmart one another as they try to stand out in the new competitive market.

Several device manufacturers revealed a new set of netbooks, tablets, and smartphones based on the Android software of Google. The Nexus One smartphone was revealed in private meetings and in a Las Vegas hotel event. Unfortunately, it was not revealed in the CES show itself. Instead, the Google Androids were spread about the show’s displayed devices.

As for television technology, there is an obvious shift from hardware-based technology to software-based devices. Many companies are keeping up with this shift. It won’t be an easy transition, considering both technologies are sort of in opposite ends. Enderle even predicts that TVs will be connected to the web in the future. The online innovation of TV began in last year’s CES, when Yahoo! included software “widgets” in some televisions. This year, the technology has improved, impressing guests with a diverse set of television software and online services.

3-D technology at CES

As for 3-D technology, it is still not ready for commercial use, sales, and consumption. The price and unnecessary technological need of 3-D won’t have customers flocking to shops to get 3-D glasses. Technology still needs to be developed to refine its programming. However, CES controllers and chips can improve the video game experience with 3-D graphics. Video game geeks will have a ball as soon as they get hold of and experience this piece of information.

These various displays obviously indicate it was a successful event. Attendance count is over 120,000 guests, 20 percent more than those present in the previous years. Garnter, a tech industry research firm, hopes the people’s enthusiastic response will improve the economy and eventually consumer electronics sales.

The government of China and seven computer companies were sued by a software maker in the United States after allegations of piracy have been brought to court, particularly on account of the company’s Internet filtering software.

Charges of piracy and stealing

The complainant is Cybersitter LLC, maker of software created specifically for parents, providing them with a means to sort out which types of content may be seen by their children or otherwise. According to Cybersitter LLC, the Chinese were able to copy and use its codes, integrating them into software used by the Chinese government in order to stop citizens from getting access to sites which are not politically favorable. The software company also filed a suit against computer manufacturers, including Lenovo, Toshiba, and Sony, for allegedly incorporating the program into computers sold within the borders of China.

Lawyer Gregory Fayer represents Cybersitter, which is currently based in Santa Barbara, and in his statement he maintains that what the Chinese have committed is blatant stealing. According to him, the theft was brought into attention after a researcher at a university published an online report on web-based filtering programs. As it appears, after the software makers from China were able to download the program through the server, the codes were then integrated into the program, also known as Green Dam Youth Escort.

The other side of the coin

Questions were posed to the foreign ministry of China. However these were passed on to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which weren’t able to give out comments immediately upon request. Also, a representative from the Lenovo Group announced through e-mail that the company has no further comments on the case, except that the Lenovo has stopped shipping computer units with Green Dam for a few months.

As for Sony Corporation and Benq Corporation from Taiwan, both refused to comment stating that they lack sufficient details on the pending litigation. Other computer companies involved in the case, such as Toshiba Corp, Acer Inc., and Asustek Computer Inc. of Taiwan, and Lenovo Group and Haier Group of China, all refused to give out comments or answer questions.

Cybersitter also filed charges on two software makers in China, Zhengzhou Jinhui Computer System Engineering and Beijing Dazheng Human Language Technology Academy. Both were not able to comment on the said pending case filed against them.

Cybersitter seeking royalty damages

Cybersitter is actually a family-owned business. Accordingly, the company is set to fight for royalty damages due on the software, which retails at $39.95 per copy. According to the company lawyer, Gregory Fayer, Cybersitter is offering the world a unique product, and such original ideas should be subject to intellectual property rights. Protection for these products should be made available at all times.

Although Apple has no present plans of supporting Adobe Systems’ Flash multimedia software to any of their line of smartphones, other telecommunications companies and handset manufacturers see the need for Flash 10.1 support and are currently planning to make available software updates in the very near future.

The need for broader web content range and access

Among the handset manufacturers who trust that consumers want broader access to web content through their mobile devices are Palm and Motorola. Both Palm and Motorola have plans of adding Flash 10.1 support to their range of smart phones, as stated by chief executives of both companies, at the Las Vegas-held International Consumer Electronics Show or CES.

It was only last year that Flash 10.1 was publicized by Adobe. It was also announced during that time that about 19 handset vendors have plans of shipping their models along with the software, beginning the mid of 2010. Motorola was one of the staunchest supporters of Adobe Flash 10.1, assuring Adobe that it will support the software on their Android models starting the first quarter of 2010.

The unveiling of the Backflip

It was on Wednesday that the Backflip Android handset model was first announced and made public, by the Chief Executive Office of the handset division of Motorola, Sanjay Jha. It was also during the same event that Jha mentioned about how Motorola has been preparing for a software update that will work with Flash 10.1. Nonetheless, no specific date has been given as to when this update may be utilized by users, although the plan has been going on already for not less than a year.

Adobe announced at the start of the week how they have been partnering with Google in an effort to add Flash 10.1 to the recently unveiled Android Nexus One phone, manufactured also by HTC.
 
Palm to support Flash

Other than Motorola, Palm is also prepared to add Flash 10.1 support to their range of smartphones. Paul Cousineau, director for the product marketing division of Palm, has announced in a press conference that the WebOS operating system of Palm is prepared to accommodate Flash 10.1 support. Furthermore, this support will be made available to users through a downloadable and easy-to-install plugin for their mobile handsets.

In an attempt to show how users can be benefited by a Flash content access on the Internet, Paul Cousineau played a Flash movie trailer for the film, Avatar, using a Pre handset.

Again, no specific date has been announced yet as to when the Flash support will be enjoyed by Palm users. However, representatives for the company have given the assurance that the plugin will be available soon. Blackberry and Windows mobile handsets are also set to receive Flash 10.1 support, along with Android handsets and models running on WebOS.

One of the more immediate plans of Motorola is the introduction of more Android handsets. The company strives to offer a range of devices that utilize the mobile operating system, in an effort to target the different buying preferences of the market. This piece of news has been announced just recently by the Chief Executive Officer of Motorola’s handset division.

The latest from Motorola

The latest Android handset from Motorola is the Backflip. There are two distinguishing, impressive features of the Backflip. Not only does it have a keyboard that is easily foldable behind the screen, it also comes outfitted with a 3.1-inch touch screen. Due to the distinctive design of the folding keyboard, Motorola was able to affix a keyboard that is much bigger in size. Sanjay Jha, one of the CEOs of Motorola and the Chief Executive Officer of the Motorola handset business, was giving a speech at a press conference in Las Vegas when he announced the individual features of the Backflip.

Jha was quoted as saying, “We are hoping to launch the product during the first quarter.” Also, it was mentioned how the Android handset is going to be marketed through operators on a global scale.

Backflip users will be able to get the best use out of the touchscreen feature, as the handset comes with a small touchpad at the back of the screen, allowing them easy touch navigation without having to worry about blocking screen display information with their fingers. Jha also mentioned that in the future Motorola has plans of releasing APIs which will permit developers to utilize the touchpad in a more innovative manner.

How the Android has helped Motorola

Although Motorola has had less than stellar sales performances in the past, the Android was able to stimulate brisker sales for the handset business, also taking into consideration the warm reception of the consumer market for the Cliq and Droid handsets offered during the last quarter of the previous year. It is the goal of Motorola to take advantage of the initial success of the aforementioned handsets and to design more prototypes that serve the needs of customers with varying preferences and buying power, said Jha.

Also, Motorola is poised to release two other models in China, along with the other Android handsets already developed by Motorola. These models include the MT710 Zhiling and the XT800. The MT710 Zhiling will be marketed by China Telecom no later than February 15 of 2010 while the XT800 is a model created for China Mobile. TD-SCDMA support and 3G are just some of the features inherent in the XT800.

Adobe Flash 10.1 for the Android handsets

Motorola has also plans of adding Adobe Flash 10.1 to the Android handsets as a software update, other than the Backflip feature. Jha said that this will enable mobile users to access more options on the Web through their handsets. Nonetheless, no date has been announced yet as to when Motorola users will receive the Flash 10.1 software update.

The news about Google’s Nexus One smartphone was, of course, met with much enthusiasm and excitement. After all, leaked plans point to a Google that didn’t hold back in terms of features and options. Techie fans can’t wait. But questions are rife. People are asking if there are more to expect from the company, especially since they seem to have gone all out on the Nexus One smartphone.

Introducing Nexus One

The anticipation for Nexus One is not surprising. After all, the Android phone is packed with so much, and can easily be projected as one of the most in-demand phones once it becomes available.

Of course, a phone such as this comes with an above average price tag. The unlocked and unsubsidized price of Nexus One phone is $530. Single line plan holders can get it for $80 a month while new T-Mobile subscribers can have it for $180 for a two-year locked contract. Others will have to get the phone for its retail price.

Perfect timing

In any case, the product launch couldn’t come at a better time. With just two days before the Consumer Electronics Show, the Nexus One is clearly set to become one of the expo’s main draw. And what better way to create buzz than through the expo’s tech industry movers and shakers. By announcing the product before the expo, Google is preempting other mobile industry announcements scheduled during the conference.

Turning partners into competition

One of the criticisms put forth regarding Google’s Android phone is how it might have inadvertently caused a rift between the company and its partners. For one thing, the Android technology was developed for these partners, such as Motorola and T-Mobile. Instead, Google turns around and releases its own phone.

Of course, Google has the freedom to do this. And, it has the might to take on any industry or sector that it wants. However, industry analysts are quick to advise the corporate giant to rein itself, else it might lose credence with the other industry players.

Future releases

This early, there are already talks about future Nexus One releases. After all, a company like Google is not likely to sit on its laurels.

Many are saying that there are going to be changes in the Android OS this early. Add to that, they say that Google may have other tech goodies up its sleeve today and in the near future. Likewise, people are waiting for announcements on the number and list of handset makers that the company has agreed to work with.

In all, this sums up to a great buzz for Google’s Nexus One. Surely, there are more to expect from the company.

Participants of the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show will get an extra treat this 2010. For the first time, they will catch a glimpse of the “Magic Kitchen,” the highly anticipated project of a core group of consumer and technology industry leaders. This core group is made of “venerable” names, such as Verizon, Texas Instruments, Whirlpool, Sensory, Tyco Electronics, and other members of the Continental Automated Buildings Association's (CABA) Connected Home Research Council.

The Magic Kitchen

The Magic Kitchen is a compendium of the companies’ core research and development efforts. The design incorporates gesture-based technologies, voice commands, and visual aids. Controls are designed for kitchen convenience and personalized preferences. the project is currently at its first phase.

Much of the Magic Kitchen is about clutter-free use of technology, and allowing users to use their voice and gestures conveniently and “safely.” According to the Texas Instruments director of business development, Debasish (Ron) Nag, “The kitchen is the nerve center of the entire house. Home builders need to wire the kitchen so data flows seamlessly. The issue is that the kitchen countertop is unrealistic for a PC.”

Typical technology, such as a laptop, while portable, is not really kitchen-friendly. Users are likely to get afraid to drop the gadget or spill liquid on it. Said Carol Priefert, Whirlpool’s senior manager of global consumer insights and technology for the global product organization, "We found that consumers are not happy with having their laptops on the counter top. It's too risky that the laptop will fall or liquid will spill on the keys. So the ability to project displays onto flat surfaces is a better solution."

The kitchen has always had a different computing environment, while sharing similar computing needs. There are just certain kitchen chores that make handling the usual computing technologies harder. Plus, there are aspects that can be improved on for specific kitchen needs. Thus, the Magic Kitchen project has come about.

Design made for the kitchen

The Magic Kitchen is envisioned to have command screens for the different work areas. It is expected that this will center on the kitchen’s center island, where a lot of tasks, such as slicing and dicing, and ingredient preparations, get done. Kitchen tops can become projector surfaces, with LED lights beaming down from the ceiling or cabinets. The idea is to replace typical information resources in the kitchen – post-it notes, recipe books and the like – with digital information.

And the core group deems the Magic Kitchen to just be the start of digitalizing the whole home. While the concept seems futuristic, it does not really seem too far ahead. With the technologies available now, and as presented in the expo, the digital kitchen and home are something we can look forward to soon enough.

Even before Apple announced plans for a tablet computer, Freescale has already ventured into a computing device portable enough like a smartphone while not being as hefty as a netbook. The company envisions this technological development as having a mere $200 price tag, which, along with its similar features, may pull the rug from under Apple’s tablet development.

Apples and oranges

Apple’s iSlate – its tablet computer development – and Freescale’s new sub-tablet designs are similar and yet different, like apples and oranges are.
For one thing, the iSlate will feature a 10-inch screen, while Freescale will be the smaller 7-inch one. After all, the vision of Freescale is to merely improve on the viewing area of the usual smartphone.

The size of a Freescale sub-tablet is projected at one-third of the usual netbook. Average weight would be at 376 grams.  Its size is small enough for the gear to not need a fan or cooling system. Such simplicity allows for a much friendlier price scale.
Freescale will use the i.MX515 processor. This provides instant-on and persistent connectivity and function. The battery can last all day, making it somehow like a second generation smartbook.

The announcement

According to Freescale’s senior vice president for sales, Mr. Henri Richard, “Freescale's new tablet opens the door to an exciting new world of compelling form factors specifically designed and optimized to support common online activities including social media, high-quality audio/video playback and light gaming.” Richard believes that the tablet will be part of the next generation of smartbooks.

The sub-tablet runs on both Linux and Android technology. And aptly, all these will be presented in the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show.

All about Freescale’s tablet

This new sub-tablet design is actually a part of the company’s SABRE (Smart Application Blueprint for Rapid Engineering) series. The series aims to put together features in smartbook technology, as well as user testing feedback. This was facilitated in coordination with the Savannah College of Art and Design.

This new design incorporates the MC13892 power management system, the MMA8450Q 3-axis accelerometer, SGTL5000 audio codec, WiFi and Bluetooth technology, touchscreen technology, 3G modem, QWERTY keyboard, and the 3-D desktop framework.

The 3-G modem component is an open system where system designers get to choose from different carrier-specific air interfaces. Precertified carrier modules will allow easy migration between modem technologies.

The sub-tablet will also have a 512 MB DDR2 memory, removable micro SD, 4-64 GB internal free memory, and camera and video capabilities. The sub-tablet will have a browser, media center, PDF viewer, email client, office document software, and a slew of widgets and gadget sure to make any techie salivate. Clearly, Freescale’s sub-tablet is the crossover device to watch out for in the near future.

The Snow Leopard is the much vaunted Apple malware blocker. However, just half a year since its release, the software seems to have retreated into sleep mode, even with the increasing threat to Mac OS computers.

Stagnant releases

So far, the XProtect.plist has not updated its malware database with the expected signature updates. Its last known updates include cures for the OSX.RSPlug.A and OSX.Iservice Trojan horse malware. These Trojan horse malware target Mac OS computers specifically. While in the past, much of the attacks focused on Windows PC computers, the increased popularity of Macs has encouraged a shift in malicious focus among hackers.

The update that included cures to the OSX.RSPlug.A and OSX.Iservice malware also has several other antidotes to different malware strains. Theoretically, this should cover a typical Mac computer’s malware protection needs. However, the networking landscape has changed, and there are real dangers now for Mac computers.

DNS-changer Trojan danger

As quickly as the preference for Mac computers surged, so did virus and malware attacks on them.

One particular danger lurking on the net for Mac users is the DNS-changer Trojan. This Trojan malware is used by phishers to steal online identity and hijack other important information. It makes use of bogus websites that trick users into downloading malicious software.

A typical source of these DNS-changer Trojan is the slew of porn sites on the web. Users are attracted via streaming porn on the Internet. In normal scenarios, users shouldn’t have problems with online streaming. However, with malicious sites, these users will encounter codec issues, seemingly normal if the videos aren’t optimized for Macs. While there are set protection for malware attack, these DNS-changer Trojans come in innocent packages that Apple’s security allows.

The scheme was first discovered by Intego. Mac users are sent links to adult content videos. Once on the site, a pop-up opens informing the user of codec issues. This prompts them to download a disk image file, which does not alert Mac virus/malware protection. Since Mac browsers deem this safe to open, the disk image file runs and launches the malware installer. The interface looks legitimate enough that many users follow through with the installation. Once full installation is done, the Trojan takes over the computer. It is programmed to redirect the DNS  queries of the users onto malicious websites that hijack the user’s identity and other information.

Bigger expectations from Mac’s Snow Leopard

While the Mac does not attract the bigger chunk of online malware, it is poised to be a big target in the near future. Its users are expanding at a fast rate. Likewise, there are now several more software and other installations designed specifically for Mac computers, making them very attractive to hackers.