Friday, October 5, 2007

Halo' Creator Bungie to Become Independent


Microsoft will retain an undisclosed equity interest in Bungie. The announcement, made Friday, follows a post on the 8BitJoystick blogfrom earlier this week that leaked the news.


Microsoft Corp. confirmed that it will spin off Bungie Studios, developer of the "Halo 3" video game that recently set records for opening day sales


Practically speaking, not much will change, said Frank O'Connor, writing lead at Bungie. While he said that the move is "fiscally prudent" for Bungie because it will get a better share of profits, the company will continue to work closely with Microsoft on developing games for the Xbox console.


He left open the answer to a burning question from fans of other gaming platforms: Will Bungie write games for non-Xbox consoles? "In theory, yes," he said. But for a while the relatively small staff of 120 will continue to work on Xbox 360 games, he said. Projects for the midterm are already lined up and they're all based on the Microsoft console, he said.


"Honestly, we're really happy working on the 360," he said. "It's our platform of choice."


Bungie was once an independent company. Not quite 10 years ago it was acquired by Take 2 Interactive Software Inc. Later, Microsoft took a share in Bungie and then bought it outright.


Microsoft owns the intellectual property for "Halo," a series that just released its third and final game. "Halo 3" brought in sales of US$170 million in the U.S. the first day it became available. Microsoft says that's the best video game and entertainment launch in history. "Halo 3" sales reached $300 million globally on the first weekend.


Microsoft `Halo' Creator Bungie to Become Independent


Microsoft Corp.'s Bungie Studios, creator of the best-selling ``Halo'' video games, will become an independent company to build on the success of the alien-shooting title.


Microsoft, the world's biggest software maker, will maintain a stake in the company, which also developed the ``Marathon'' trilogy and the first two ``Myth'' games. Bungie will stay focused on games for Microsoft's Xbox system, according to a statement today. Terms of the agreement weren't disclosed.


Bungie, acquired in 2000, sought more independence from Microsoft as its ``Halo'' games drew millions of players to the Xbox system. The game's latest installment brought in sales of $300 million in the week after its Sept. 25 debut, making it the fastest-selling video game ever.


``The success of the `Halo' franchise gave us the kind of leverage where we could keep hedging further away from Microsoft,'' Frank O'Connor, the lead writer at Bungie Studios, said in an interview from Kirkland, Washington. ``Microsoft realized the best thing for our creativity and for Microsoft's profitability was to let us spread our wings.''


Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, will continue to support Bungie's development of ``Halo'' games. The company is banking on future editions to help make its Xbox unit profitable and close a gap with Nintendo's best-selling Wii system.


Bungie, founded in 1991, has been in spinoff talks with Microsoft for about a year, O'Connor said.


`Best Interest'


``It was in our best interest to support Bungie's desire to return to its independent roots,'' Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft game studios, said in an interview. ``There's really no change except Bungie's employees work for Bungie instead of Microsoft, and that's important to them.''


Microsoft shares rose 23 cents to $29.94 at 3:08 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. The stock was little changed this year before today.


The success of ``Halo 3'' in its first week propelled sales of the Xbox 360 machine to double their weekly average, Microsoft said.


``It was a nit in the back of employees' minds that they just wanted to be independent,'' said Harold Ryan, Bungie's studio head. ``The idea of being independent was something they were all romantically attached to.''


Chasing the Wii


Microsoft has pledged to make the Xbox division profitable this fiscal year, which ends next June. The business has lost $7 billion since the game machine first went on sale in 2001. Microsoft cut the price of the console by $50 to $349.99 to compete with the Wii, which sells for $249.


Nintendo's Wii sold about 400,000 units in August, compared with 277,000 for the Xbox 360, according to Port Washington, New York-based NPD Group Inc. Since its debut in November 2006, the Wii has sold 4 million units in the U.S. The Xbox, which came out a full year earlier than the Nintendo system, has sold 6.3 million. .




Technorati :

Thursday, October 4, 2007

For Global Warming Remedies


Nearly three-quarters of Americans are willing to pay more taxes to support local government efforts aimed at mitigating global warming, according to the findings of two recent national surveys conducted by Yale University.
Americans were willing to pay more money in property taxes, home costs and utility fees to support initiatives that would encourage people to use less energy and get that energy from alternative sources, the surveys showed. They follow other polls that have found concern for the environment is growing among Americans and bolder action is desired.
A poll conducted by the Associated Press and Stanford University last month found that Americans are pessimistic about the current state of the environment and disapprove of how the government has been handling environmental issues.
Another national Yale poll conducted in July found that a majority of Americans believe that society must take action to reduce the effects of global warming, partly by enacting a new national treaty that would require much more drastic reductions in carbon dioxide than those required by the Kyoto Protocol (which the United States never ratified). This earlier poll also showed that about 50 percent of Americans say they are personally worried about global warming.
"Nearly half of Americans now believe that global warming is either already having dangerous impacts on people around the world or will in the next 10 years-a 20 percentage-point increase since 2004. These results indicate a sea change in public opinion," said Anthony Leiserowitz, director of Yale Project on Climate Change, in response to the findings of the earlier poll.
The results of the new surveys found that this worry has seemed to translate into willingness to take action:
74 percent of those surveyed would support local regulations requiring all newly constructed homes to be more energy efficient, even if it would increase the initial cost of the new home.
72 percent of respondents said they would support local subsidies aimed at encouraging homeowners to install solar panels on their homes, even if it would increase property taxes, because of potential savings in energy and utility bills.
71 percent would pay higher property taxes to support local subsidies aimed at replacing old furnaces, water heaters, air conditioners, light bulbs and insulation.
69 percent would pay higher taxes to require utilities to produce 20 percent of electricity through renewable energy sources.
68 percent would approve changing local zoning rules to decrease sprawl.
and 53 percent would support fees on electricity bills aimed at encouraging people to use less electricity.
"City and local leaders are critical players in the effort to reduce global warming, and it's clear that their constituents want action," Leiserowitz said. "The public is on board and willing to help foot the bill. All that's left to do now is act."
On the other hand, the results, culled from two national telephone surveys conducted in September, showed that most of those surveyed were unwilling to change zoning rules to encourage apartment buildings over single-family homes or support local fees on gas to promote less fuel consumption. (However, the earlier Yale study found that people were willing to pay more to require auto manufacturers to make more fuel efficient cars, trucks and SUVs.)
The results of these latest surveys stand in stark contrast to some conducted just a year ago. A 2006 poll conducted by ABC News, Time, Stanford University and Ohio State University found that only 3 in 10 Americans thought that global warming is caused by humans and less than 40 percent thought it was an immediate threat.


TIPS: Green Your Home


Trees, in a word, rock. They absorb heat-trapping carbon dioxide, hold soil together to prevent landslides, and provide a rich habitat for diverse plants and animals. Choose furniture made from eco-friendly sources such as sustainably managed forests, bamboo, and reclaimed wood. Buying vintage wherever possible, rather than adding something new into the waste stream, is always in style. Also, look for furniture that is durable and likely long-lived-you'll save money on replacements in the future and prevent more wasted materials from winding up in the landfill. And, if for some reason, that dresser or dining table no longer suits your needs, something in fine shape will always have takers via Craig's List, eBay, or Freecycle.







Technorati :

Yahoo, PayPal, eBay acting for Authentication Technology


Yahoo Inc., eBay Inc. and PayPal have joined forces to protect customers against fraudulent e-mails and phishing attacks with the implementation of new authentication technology.


From today, eBay and PayPal customers worldwide using Yahoo! Mail and Yahoo!7 Mail in Australia can expect fewer fake e-mails claiming to be sent by eBay and PayPal. Yahoo! Mail is the first Web mail service to block these types of malicious messages for eBay and PayPal through the use of DomainKeys e-mail authentication technology, which is already available in Yahoo!7 Mail.


The technology upgrade will be rolled out globally over the next few weeks to users of the service.


PayPal CISO, Michael Barrett, said the adoption of digital e-mail signing technology and the aggressive collaborative stance being taken by all three companies is a significant step forward in the fight to protect customers against e-mail based crimes. "While the battle against phishing and identity theft scammers will continue to require a multi-faceted approach, today's announcement demonstrates the power of DomainKeys and the security benefits to be gained by e-mail users worldwide," Barrett said.


PayPal operates more than 153 million accounts in 190 markets and in 17 currencies around the globe.


Both eBay and PayPal are early adopters of DomainKeys technology. It provides a unique way to verify the authenticity of e-mail messages, allowing Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to determine if messages should be delivered to a customer's inbox.


The collaborative effort between Yahoo!7, eBay and PayPal will block unauthenticated e-mail, reducing the volume of counterfeit e-mail and lowering the risk of unauthorized account activity and identity theft due to phishing attacks. eBay CISO, Dave Cullinane, said through cooperation the industry can collectively stamp out phishing and other e-mail scams.



Why 'authentication' technology can help your business


Today, more than ever, protecting one's electronic identity has become a top priority


And well it should. As identity thieves and computer hackers devise increasingly- sophisticated methods to steal confidential data, computers users must take greater precautions to protect their vital information.


With so much at stake, more than antivirus software and system patches are needed. Authentication technologies - and you - can help. As a financial advisor to small businesses, you have a unique opportunity to educate clients about available technologies that can validate the security and integrity of their confidential information. You may also want to implement these technologies at your office to better protect your clients' information, too.


While authentication technology has been around since the early days of computing, increased awareness due to more information security threats and greater affordability are pushing the use of these technologies to the forefront. In simplest terms, authentication technologies help to ensure an individual is who they claim to be. They "authenticate" or validate an individual's identity and control access to resources in three broad categories: something you know, something you have and something you are.


While authentication technology has been around since the early days of computing, increased awareness due to more information security threats and greater affordability are pushing the use of these technologies to the forefront. In simplest terms, authentication technologies help to ensure an individual is who they claim to be. They "authenticate" or validate an individual's identity and control access to resources in three broad categories: something you know, something you have and something you are.



Something you know: passwords


Passwords are the least expensive and most common type of authentication technology. Based on "something you know," passwords require a user to remember a string of characters and enter this information to gain access to a desired resource. Unfortunately, passwords are also one of the weakest forms of authentication technology, most often because of the users themselves. Passwords that are shared, left blank, unchanged for long periods of time, reused across multiple accounts or overly simplistic, leave the user at risk to even the most novice identity thief or simple hacking tool. Ultimately, passwords should continue to play a role in user authentication, but should be used in conjunction with other technologies for adequate security


Passwords are the least expensive and most common type of authentication technology. Based on "something you know," passwords require a user to remember a string of characters and enter this information to gain access to a desired resource. Unfortunately, passwords are also one of the weakest forms of authentication technology, most often because of the users themselves. Passwords that are shared, left blank, unchanged for long periods of time, reused across multiple accounts or overly simplistic, leave the user at risk to even the most novice identity thief or simple hacking tool. Ultimately, passwords should continue to play a role in user authentication, but should be used in conjunction with other technologies for adequate security




Technorati :

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Lubrication oil appears to be an important yet little-recognized source of toxic particle emissions from motor vehicles


Lubrication oil appears to be an important yet little-recognized source of toxic particle emissions from motor vehicles -- even those fueled by clean-burning hydrogen, according to a joint study by government and academic researchers in Washington State and Minnesota


Their study, a step toward more cleaner-burning engines, will be published in the Oct. 1 issue of ACS' Environmental Science & Technology.


Scientists have long recognized diesel-fueled vehicles as important sources of air pollution that can increase the risk of asthma, bronchitis, and other health problems. Most research, however, has focused on diesel soot, rather than emissions produced by lubrication oil.


In the new study, Arthur L. Miller and colleagues modified a truck diesel engine to run on clean-burning hydrogen instead of diesel fuel, allowing the researchers to focus solely on particle emissions from lubrication oil.


They found that the hydrogen-powered engine emitted higher levels of metal-rich particles than the diesel-fueled engine. Lubrication oil was the primary source of these increased emissions. Emission particles identified include calcium, phosphorous, zinc, magnesium, and iron nanoparticles, all of which have the potential to cause lung damage when inhaled over long periods, they say.


"This study's findings may increase current knowledge about the role of lubrication oil in particle-formation dynamics as engine technology improves and cleaner internal combustion engines are developed," the researchers state.


More about toxic air


Dioxin, lead and particulate matter emissions from diesel-fueled engines are three of five toxic air contaminants that may cause children and infants to be especially susceptible to illness, according to a new evaluation conducted by the California Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).


Polycyclic organic matter and acrolein are the other two toxic air contaminants identified in the evaluation.


"This was one of the most extensive evaluations to date of the effects that toxic pollutants in our air may have specifically on children and infants," said OEHHA Director Dr. Joan Denton.


"There is increasing evidence that children and infants may be more vulnerable than adults to the toxic effects of many pollutants," Dr. Denton said. "However, most past scientific research focused on the effects of pollution on adults. For that reason, most air-quality regulations are based on the effects of air contaminants on adults, rather than children. This evaluation is a key step in California's efforts to ensure children receive the protection they deserve from toxic air contaminants."


The OEHHA evaluation was mandated by the Children's Environmental Health Protection Act (Senate Bill 25), which was authored by Senator Martha Escutia and signed into law by Governor Gray Davis in October 1999. The Act requires OEHHA to evaluate available information on toxic air contaminants and develop a list of up to five toxic air contaminants that may cause children and infants to be especially susceptible to illness. OEHHA is forwarding the list to the California Air Resources Board (ARB), which is required by the Act to review existing regulations for those contaminants and, if necessary, amend them or develop new regulations to ensure the adequate protection of children and infants.


The Act also requires OEHHA to continue evaluating the health effects of other toxic air contaminants on children and infants. Beginning in 2004, OEHHA will annually evaluate at least 15 contaminants and then present an updated list of contaminants to ARB, which will review and revise its regulations as needed.


Children may face greater risks than adults from air pollution, in part because their exposure to airborne pollutants is greater. Infants and children generally breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults, which increases their exposure to any pollutants in the air. Infants and children often breathe through their mouths, bypassing the filtering effect of the nose and allowing more pollutants to be inhaled. Children also tend to be more active physically than adults, and spend more time outdoors.


Exposure to toxic air contaminants during infancy or childhood could interfere with the development of the respiratory, nervous, endocrine and immune systems, and could increase the risk of cancer later in life.


Beginning in early 2000, OEHHA scientists conducted an initial review of the toxicity and prevalence of more than 200 toxic air contaminants. OEHHA then oversaw focused reviews of the scientific literature on 36 of those contaminants, and selected 17 contaminants for further evaluation based on evidence of their potential effects on children. The state's Scientific Review Panel on Toxic Air Contaminants, a committee of independent scientists affiliated with the University of California, reviewed OEHHA's draft report and endorsed the selection of the final five contaminants, as described below:


Dioxins are a family of chemicals that include polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). Dioxins typically are released to the air during waste incineration, the burning of fuels to produce power for industrial purposes, and motor vehicle use. Dioxins persist for long periods of time in the environment. Airborne dioxins can settle on crops, which are then eaten by humans directly, or by livestock that humans later consume.


Fetuses and newborns are particularly vulnerable to dioxin exposure. Dioxins have been found in amniotic fluid and placenta samples, and breast-fed infants can have blood levels of dioxin greater than in their mother. Evidence indicates that exposure to dioxins during infancy may affect the development of the immune system and later make the child more susceptible to infectious diseases. Fetal exposure to dioxins may be associated with low birth weight. Early dioxin exposure may also increase cancer risk later in life.


Regulatory efforts have led to a substantial decrease in dioxin emissions. By 1995, dioxin releases were 80 percent lower than in the 1970s. Federal and state regulations in recent years have targeted municipal waste and medical waste incinerators. ARB is initiating a new evaluation of the sources of dioxin emissions.


Lead has long been associated with toxic effects in children. Low levels of lead exposure have been associated with delays in mental development; decreases in intelligence, short-term memory and visual motor functioning; and aggressive behavior in children.


Airborne lead levels have decreased dramatically in recent decades, primarily due to the ban on leaded gasoline. Deteriorating lead-based paint is now a more significant source of lead exposure for California's children than lead in the ambient air. However, lead emissions still occur from a number of industrial facilities in California. Children living close to these facilities may face an increased risk of lead-related health effects, especially if they are further exposed to lead from paint and other sources.


Polycyclic Organic Matter (POM) consists of a family of more than 100 chemicals, including benzo[a]pyrene and napthalene. They are produced by the combustion of fossil fuels, vegetable matter and other carbon-based materials. POM is present in exhaust from diesel- and gasoline-powered motor vehicles, fireplace smoke, tobacco smoke, and emissions from paper mills, industrial machinery manufacturing plants, and petroleum refineries. POM can be a significant indoor air pollutant due to smoking, wood burning, and infiltration of outdoor polluted air.


A number of POM substances have been identified as causing cancer in humans or animals. Early-in-life exposures to POM may increase the risk of cancer later in life. Transfer of POM from the mother to the fetus has been well documented, and several studies indicate POM exposure in the womb may result in low birth weight, birth defects or cancer.


ARB regulations have significantly reduced POM emissions from motor vehicles, and new ARB motor vehicle measures are expected to further reduce POM emissions. Industrial facilities with significant POM emissions are required by state law to submit health risk assessments for OEHHA's review and, if necessary, implement risk-reduction measures.


Particulate matter emissions from diesel-fueled engines are microscopic particles present in diesel exhaust. These particles can inflame the airways, enhance allergic responses and may make children more susceptible to allergies and asthma. They also contribute to overall levels of airborne particles, which have been associated with exacerbation of asthma, bronchitis, cough and wheeze in children. Diesel particles also contain a number of toxic substances, including POM.


ARB has previously approved various regulations to reduce diesel-exhaust emissions. In September 2000, ARB approved a risk reduction plan that is expected to reduce diesel particle emissions by 85% by 2020. ARB will determine whether any changes in its diesel regulatory program are needed as a result of OEHHA's identification of diesel exhaust particles.


Acrolein is present in motor vehicle exhaust, tobacco smoke, wood smoke and some industrial emissions, and is used as an herbicide in irrigation canals. It can also be formed in the atmosphere from chemical reactions involving 1,3-butadiene, another pollutant present in motor vehicle and industrial emissions. Acrolein is very difficult to measure in ambient air, but studies indicate it is routinely present in urban settings at concentrations that may affect the respiratory system.


Several studies in animals strongly suggest that acrolein may exacerbate asthma. OEHHA believes this is of special concern for children, because asthma is more prevalent among children than adults, and because asthma episodes can be more severe in children than adults due to their smaller airways.


Other toxic air contaminants that may make children and infants especially susceptible to illnesses and that will be given a high priority in future OEHHA reviews are arsenic, benzene, carbon disulfide, chlorine, formaldehyde, glycol ethers, manganese, mercury, methyl bromide, methylene chloride, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and vinyl chloride.


In other activities related to the Children's Environmental Health Protection Act, OEHHA and ARB are studying whether the state's ambient air quality standards for particulate matter and other pollutants adequately affect the health of children. For more information, please see the fact sheet, "Air Pollution and Children's Health" on OEHHA's Web site at www.oehha.ca.gov/public_info/facts/airkids.html. (updated 2/28/02)


The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment is one of six entities within the California Environmental Protection Agency. OEHHA's mission is to protect and enhance public health and the environment by objective scientific evaluation of risks posed by hazardous substances.






Technorati :

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

The first BlackBerry with Wi-Fi support debuts.


The exterior of the new BlackBerry 8820 may look familiar. After all, the device has the same sleek black design as the BlackBerry 8800, which was launched earlier this year. The new phone has one important upgrade under the hood, however: Wi-Fi.


This is the first BlackBerry with Wi-Fi support, and the addition is a welcome one, as it means the phone can provide wireless voice and data access over both cellular and Wi-Fi wireless networks.


Like the 8800 and the more consumer-oriented BlackBerry Curve, the 8820 will be available from AT&T. Starting tomorrow, you can get the 8820 for $300 with a two-year service contract. In addition to Wi-Fi, the quad-band GSM phone includes support for the carrier's EDGE network--but not its true 3G HSDPA service.


Easy Setup
The 8820 can connect to 802.11a/b/g networks; connecting to my 802.11g wireless network at home was a breeze. I simply launched the Wi-Fi Setup wizard, selected my network from the list of available choices (you can either scan for available networks or manually enter the name of the network to which you'd like to connect), typed in the WEP key, and was connected in seconds. You can choose to automatically connect to your favorite wireless networks when they're available, and also can store any login info that is needed to connect to public hotspots.


The device will default to a Wi-Fi connection when one is available; a small icon on the top of the screen tells you which network you're using. Surfing the Web and sending and receiving e-mail messages via Wi-Fi was speedy, especially where the EDGE network coverage was spotty--as it often is inside my house.


When the 8820 connected to my Wi-Fi network, I was able to send an e-mail message and surf the Web while on a phone call without a problem. You can't, however, make voice-over-Wi-Fi calls on the device just yet. RIM says that this feature will be offered at the discretion of the carrier; AT&T says that the Wi-Fi capabilities on the 8820 are "data only" at this time.


Other than the Wi-Fi support, the 8820 is almost identical to the 8800 (which will be replaced in AT&T 's lineup by the 8820). The phone includes built-in GPS functionality (no hardware add-ons required) and comes with access to the easy-to-use TeleNav GPS service from AT&T, which is available for an extra $10 per month.


E-Mail Is Easy
Also like the 8800--and all BlackBerry devices--the 8820 is a champ when it comes to e-mail. The phone supports up to ten e-mail accounts, including POP3, IMAP, and Web-based e-mail. Corporate e-mail access is available through the BlackBerry Enterprise Server; I tested the personal e-mail capability with the BlackBerry Internet Service and a POP3 account. I simply entered my e-mail user name and password; within minutes, mail from my personal account was arriving in my hand. The inbox is neatly organized and superbly easy to read.


The 320-by-240 display is gorgeous, and navigating the device via the small--but very usable--QWERTY keyboard and BlackBerry Pearl-like trackball is quite comfortable. At 4.5 inches tall by 2.6 inches wide by 0.6 inch thick and 4.7 ounces, the 8820 can feel slightly boxy when held next to your ear. Call quality was quite good, though, and the included speakerphone worked well. We are currently in the process of testing the phone's talk-time battery life; we'll add that information (and a PC World rating) to this review as soon as it is available.


While the 8820 lacks the camera found on the Curve, it does include a media player for playing back audio and video files and a microSD card slot for storage. In addition, it includes AT&T 's Mobile Music service, which lets you access subscription services such as eMusic and XM Satellite Radio.


The business-oriented 8820 lacks a camera and some of the other consumer-friendly applications (such as access to popular instant messaging clients) found on other BlackBerry devices. The support for Wi-Fi is an excellent tradeoff, however, and the result is a sleek cell phone that delivers speedy data service even when your cellular coverage is spotty.





Technorati : ,