Nokia to discontinue its gaming cell - Ngage

The favourite gaming cell devised by Nokia - Ngage will be soon out of stores. Nokia is going to discontinue Ngage cell till the year 2007. The reason behind this is that Nokia expected to sell around 6 mn Ngage in 3 years, but could sell only 2 mn pieces. Although after launching the Ngage QD Silver edition sales did not pick up.

Although the Ngage game features would be made available in Nokia's N Series.

Apple covers iPod Nano

Apple's flagship product the iPod Nano was in the news for not so good reasons. With lawsuits filed against Apple Computers from errate users of iPod Nano, Apple has quietly started bundling a cover with its scratch-prone iPod Nano.

Posts made on several iPod fan sites says that the nano now includes a white fabric and plastic slipcover that resembles the one shipping with the new iPod video. More iPod Nano cover photos can be seen here.

Happy Birthday Dear Mr.Firefox

Firefox, the much acclaimed browser from Mozilla Foundation celebrated its one year of existence on November 9, 2005. Reachning another milestone, till date 106.5 mn copies of Firefox has been downloaded.

Firefox enters its second year with numerous changes up its sleeve. The latest release is the Firefox ver. 1.5 test. The final version of this release would be made available very soon.

In the meanwhile, Flock, a blog enable browser based on the Firefox engine is gaining popularity. Long Live Open Source!

Yahoo n Google on Mobile!

Search Engine giant Google Inc. and it's competitor Yahoo! Inc. are expandint content for on mobile phones.

Using Google's software one will be able to search for local businesses, view maps and satellite images on handsets.

According to Gartner Cell phones outsold PC last year by 4 : 1.

Google's software will allow users to search for driving directions and zoom in and out of digital maps. Although this service would be free, but the cell operators might levy charges for the data transfers.

Avalanche is here!

Microsoft researchers in Cambridge, UK, are developing their own peer-to-peer file-sharing software. Codenamed Avalanche, the program makes it easy to share content by dividing files such as software, audio or video, into chunks, much like BitTorrent. Using "network coding", it can re-create missing blocks of data that can be used in place of missing chunks.The reputation of file-sharing has been damaged by legal action after it was adopted to share copyrighted files.BitTorrent usesIn BitTorrent systems, server sites do not host the files being shared. They host links, called "trackers" that direct people to where they can download the pieces of a file instead.Since December, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), representing the global movie industry, has been targeting BitTorrent sites because they have been used to share copyrighted material. The action, and the threat of action, has forced many of them to shut down.Such sites say they can not be held responsible for people who use the technology to distribute illegally-copied content.Peer-to-peer file-sharing is being adopted for downloading and distributing legitimate content.The BBC is currently trialling an interactive media player (iMP) based on file-sharing technology to let people download programmes they have missed up to seven days after it is first broadcast.Microsoft researchers said Avalanche could be used to help distribute software, security patches, as well as content like TV-on-demand."Avalanche provides a cost effective, internet scalable and very fast file distribution solution," say the researchers on their website."By leveraging desktop PCs, Avalanche aids in the distribution process, relieving congested servers and network links from most of the traffic."Swarming and magicPeer-to-peer systems use what is called "swarming techniques" to distribute files.This means after a file is divided into smaller pieces of data, the parts are downloaded from different nodes, or sources.But unlike BitTorrents, Avalanche does not depend on trackers. The Avalanche program on each computer shares the files automatically, without having to search a user's hard drive. The problem with many file-sharing applications is that not all the pieces to make a complete file may be obtainable.Sometimes there is heavy demand on the file-sharing network, which can slow download times, when people try to find missing parts.Through its network encoding, Avalanche is designed to rebuild the required part of a file once it has enough other pieces of a file to work on; this means Avalanche can turn any part of a file into what it needs.Avalanche would also make it harder to files to be corrupted, say the researchers.Microsoft says that the system stops people re-distributing content because it will only forward files that have been "signed" by the publisher.The researchers say they are in talks with other companies about Avalanche and it could be turned into a product soon.The movie, music and TV industries are keen to clamp down on file-sharing programs because they say they are responsible for much of its lost revenue.But fans of the technology argue that file-sharing is a sensible way to distribute legitimate content, without putting pressure on servers and networks.In recent research, web tracking company Envisional said downloads of TV programmes had increased by 150% in the last year. About 70% were using BitTorrent to get files, the firm said.

Source: BBC online

Guide to Podcasting

You've probably been hearing a lot about podcasting, a kind of mix of RSS technology, pirate-radio sensibilities, and iPod portability. Steve Jobs even announced that the next version of iTunes will support podcasting. But what the heck is podcasting, and how can you get in on the action?

In short, a podcast is MP3 audio content, such as a radio show or an audio blog, that is distributed through RSS feeds. You can subscribe to these feeds as with any other RSS content. New podcasts are automatically downloaded and added to your favorite player software or portable MP3 player without your having to lift a finger. Because these free-form audio broadcasts are distributed on the Internet, they fly well outside the reach of radio's regulation and broadcasting licenses. Thus, the content is completely free in every sense of the word.

In the current climate of media consolidation and content crackdowns, podcasting scratches an itch for users looking for inventive, challenging, or just plain different audio content. With its no-holds-barred approach and home-brewed distribution methods, podcasting upsets the very medium that inspired it. Oh, and it's terribly addictive.

The first program to take advantage of the cross-pollination of technologies was an open-source project called iPodder.NET, created by Adam Curry, one of the original MTV veejays. Since the program's inception, developers have built on Curry's invention, creating new and exciting ways to discover, listen to, create, and aggregate podcasts all over the Internet.

We particularly like iPodder, which comes with all the necessary tools for seeking out and downloading podcasts. Some of its exemplary features include a healthy directory of podcasts, links to specialized podcasting software, and handy filters to keep you from downloading outdated podcasts. The program organizes content with tabs for downloads, subscriptions, and a podcast directory, as well as a cleanup tab for keeping your playlists tidy. We also appreciate that the program is available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux systems.

Think of a podcast as an audio blog. The content is completely free-form. Whether you're obsessed with tube socks or social justice, at least one other person online shares your passion. You can record your rambles in most audio programs, but many applications focus specifically on recording and publishing podcasts. One of our favorites is Propaganda. This handsomely designed program features multitrack recording, some hokey sound effects and transitions, a gorgeous arrangement window, and plenty of tools for exporting your show. The simplified step-by-step process makes it easier to tackle the more technically advanced elements of podcasting, such as the creation of the XML files RSS requires.

Source:www.download.com