Microsoft abandon Encarta
March 31, 2009
Microsoft has decided to do away with its Encarta software, which has suffered from competing against Wikipedia.
Microsoft has entered into several different markets since company formation in the mid-Eighties and its attempts with its encyclopaedia were a major part of its focus. However, after 15 years of life, Encarta is being killed off as of October this year.
This is a sign that Microsoft simply could not compete with Wikipedia, the free, user-created online encyclopaedia which receives 97% of online encyclopaedia traffic in the US. Encarta was the second most popular, but with only 1.27% of encyclopaedia visits, it was a distant second.
The statement announcing the discontinuation of Encarta made no reference to Wikipedia, but it would be naive to think that site’s popularity was not greatly influential in the decision. Microsoft instead made reference to people’s changing ways of consuming information, which may refer to the constantly updated nature of Wikipedia versus Encarta’s static and quickly dated content.
Shortly after the company’s formation, Bill Gates approached Encyclopaedia Britannica regarding a project to translate the book into a new media format. They rejected his approach and this inspired him to start Encarta in partnership with Funk and Wagnalls reference books. Now that project is at an end.
Microsoft will develop Windows for ARM architecture
March 21, 2009
The head of the OLPC (One Laptop per Child) project, Nicholas Negroponte, is expecting Microsoft to develop Windows version for ARM-based architecture in next 18 months. The first version XO of the OLPC educational laptop, was built with x86-based AMD chipset. OLPC is now switching over from x-86 architecture in order to build more power-efficient next generation low-price laptops.
ARM-based architecture, having established its dominance in mobile-phone chipsets, is making way into the next generation netbooks. Currently, Windows Mobile is the lone Windows version that runs on ARM architecture. Nicholas announced that next version of XO would be based on ARM architecture, and the first XO 2.0 will be out in 12-18 month’s time. He said he was confident that Microsoft will develop Windows version on ARM by that time.
The existing dual-boot XO laptop gives user options of using either Linux-based or Windows XP operating system. Negroponte in his email mentioned that OLPC has to decide its funding model out of 3 options, including single sponsor approach, consortium approach and ‘Give One, Get One’ approach, which is extensively availed by the people in developed countries, where they keep one for themselves and lend one to a child.
He declared that more details about XO laptops will be released in next 3 weeks.
Developers rushing to reap advantage of social networking
March 20, 2009
The growing trend of social networking has lured large number of developers to develop applications on these platforms. Malaysian programmer and founder of, SharedCopy, Chew Choon Keat, in an interview said that there is good scope of earning in development of web app riding on Facebooks and other giants. He added that web apps that involved building of a community and integration with OpenSocial and Facebook Connect are in big demand.
The single sign-on service, Facebook Connect, enables sharing of content between affiliated sites. OpenSocial is a set of Google’s “Application Programming Interfaces” (APIs) joined by other networks, that enables running of developers’ app on supporting member sites. Both the tools were released by different website owners to attract developers’ interest.
According to Yahoo’s head of developer network, Chris Yeh, many website owners are embracing ‘open’ platforms to lure developers from competitors’ camps. He added that every major web company, with objective to integrate third-party developer applications, has opened its own website properties.
The developer community has grown in number in last 2 years, particularly outside the US, and most projections are putting this growth two to four times the US developer market growth, primarily due to current trend towards ‘open’ technologies, informs Yeh.
Netbooks can be easier prey for hackers and viruses
March 15, 2009
Netbooks that gained popularity since their launch in 2007 due to lower costs may pose bigger security risk to businesses because of lax security that makes them vulnerable to hackers and viruses.
Since its introduction by Taiwan’s Asus, all major players in PC business including HP, Dell, Lenovo and Acer jumped into netbook manufacture. Read more
BT introduces VPN service for global 21st Century Network
March 14, 2009
BT has launched Intelligent Virtual Private Network (iVPN) service for its 21st Century Network, enabling businesses to access their corporate networks across 172 countries covered by it.
iPVN service will strengthen all IT services on next generation network, such as videoconferencing, call centres, data centres, application optimisation, unified communication and security. Read more
Barclaycard, Orange enter into partnership on mobile-payment technology
March 13, 2009
Credit card company Barclaycard and mobile phone operator Orange UK have entered into a strategic partnership to develop mobile-wallet handsets and mobile- payment technology.
Two partners will launch new services and products to enable their combined customer base of 28 million to use their mobiles and make payments with adoption of mobile contactless technology. Read more
60% of world’s population using mobile phones, says United Nations
March 12, 2009
According to a latest survey conducted by the United Nations, sixty percent of people in the world are now using mobile phones, at the subscription rate of 4.1 billion per year. The data reveals increase of around 1 billion in number of mobile phone users since 2002. Read more
At CeBIT conference out-of-work developers urged to take up open source
March 10, 2009
Recession is a blessing in disguise for out-of-work developers to lay their hands on open source software, George Greve, president of the Free Software Foundation Europe, suggested in a speech he was delivering at the CeBIT technology conference being held in Hanover, Germany. Read more
Asus plans phase out of 7-inch Eee PC netbooks in mature markets
March 9, 2009
Asus chairman Jonney Shih announced phase out of company’s 7-inch screen Eee PC netbooks, at the CeBIT technology show.
He informed that Asus would concentrate on manufacture of 10-inch netbooks, which is widely preferred by customers. He ruled out phase out of 8.9-inch netbooks. Read more
Yahoo spent $79 million (£56m) to fight off Microsoft
March 5, 2009
According to Yahoo’s filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it spent $79 to fight off Microsoft last year. Read more
