Singapore, May 4, 2007 -- Sun today announced wider international availability and addition of new features to the Sun Grid Compute Utility available from Network.com.
In addition to the United States, the $1/CPU-hr, pay-per-use Network.com utility offering is now available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom. Developers, independent software vendors (ISVs) and end-users from these countries will now have immediate access to Network.com’s powerful, on-demand computing infrastructure powered by the Solaris 10 OS, as well as to the open source and ISV applications published in Network.com Application Catalog. Users signing up for a Network.com account will get 200 CPU-hrs free for a limited time.
"International availability is an important milestone for Network.com. A large number of new developers who specialize on building compute intensive applications can now deploy on Network.com," said Aisling MacRunnels, vice-president of Software Marketing, Sun Microsystems, Inc. "SVs publishing applications in Network.com Application Catalog will find their addressable market segments rapidly increasing with the broader international access."
The newly announced features include Network.com Internet Access that enables applications running in Network.com to securely access external data and services over the Internet. This feature allows applications running on Sun Grid Compute Utility to access data irrespective of its location on the Internet. This opens the possibility for Network.com to offer new services that are mashups of data and services from multiple sources thereby enabling the developers to take advantage of the online services and databases in innovative ways.
Customers across a wide range of industries – from life sciences to education to manufacturing have already started leveraging the new features of Network.com in their applications. The Solenoidal Tracker at RHIC (STAR) project at Brookhaven National Laboratory is using the Network.com to supplement its massive computational needs. "We have recently ported Starsim, the mainstay simulation application for the STAR project, to the Solaris 10 OS to take advantage of the new features of the Network.com computing infrastructure," said Maxim Potekhin, the simulation leader of the STAR project. "We are approaching the next frontiers in our studies of the "perfect liquid" formed from nuclear matter under extreme conditions, and Network.com is helping us move our simulation effort forward efficiently and without additional infrastructure investment. Looking forward, the STAR project offers a unique opportunity to bridge commercial and non-commercial grids, making a step towards realization of the Sun Microsystems vision of computing power as a utility."
Sun is also announcing the start of a limited Beta program for developers to try out the new Network.com Job Management Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). The APIs provide programmatic access for the most commonly used tasks such as transferring data, applications and results to and from the Sun Grid Compute Utility. The APIs enable integration of Network.com into the enterprise data center. They allow for automated offloading of peaks capacity requirements when demand exceeds available capacity in the enterprise data center.
"The availability of APIs is an important milestone in delivering developers with the ability to perform production scale tests right from their development systems" said Mark Herring, Director of Marketing for Network.com. "It provides developers with the necessary mechanisms to build applications that can truly harness the dynamic compute capacity provided by Network.com."
Friday, May 4, 2007
MOTOSLVR L72 Delivers Style and Performance
Singapore, May 4, 2007 -- Motorola, a global leader in wireless communications, today introduced the new MOTOSLVR L72, a premium handset that merges powerful multimedia features within Motorola’s sleek MOTOSLVR form factor.
MOTOSLVR L72 provides users with a rich multimedia experience with impressive features including an integrated music player and FM radio, outstanding performance, powerful imaging and features Motorola’s new CrystalTalk technology, making it easy to hold conversations in noisy environments.
MOTOSLVR L72's integrated music player with stereo Bluetooth wireless technology(1) allows users to freely enjoy music wirelessly on the go. Even when travelling, users can listen to their music uninterrupted in airplane mode.
The complete music experience doesn’t just end there. MOTOSLVR L72's integrated FM radio supports Radio Data System (RDS), providing radio station information - including such details as the song genre, song title, or radio station name - all on the handset's main screen.
MOTOSLVR L72 also provides users with a rich visual entertainment experience via a 2.0 mega-pixel camera with 8x digital zoom, video capture with 4x zoom and full screen landscape playback. In addition, MOTOSLVR L72 supports progressive downloading and video streaming, enabling quick music and video downloads.(1)
This compelling handset is powered by GPRS and provides quick downloads and easy information exchanges enabling users to share pictures, videos and music with family and friends seamlessly.
"MOTOSLVR L72 takes Motorola’s breath-taking MOTOSLVR design and packs it with outstanding music and imaging capabilities." said Lok Kwok Leong, Country Manager, Mobile Devices Business, Motorola Singapore. "The handset has an eye-catching mirror-reflective finish with feature rich functionality to deliver an entertaining mobile experience that matches today’s digital lifestyle."
MOTOSLVR L72's multimedia prowess is further backed up by MegaSIM (3V) support and external microSD memory card support capable of up to 2GB.
Availability
The MOTOSLVR L72 in pearl grey and black slate is available in Singapore now at all SingTel outlets at an estimated recommended retail price of S$98 with two year operator contract and S$428 without operator contract.
MOTOSLVR L72 provides users with a rich multimedia experience with impressive features including an integrated music player and FM radio, outstanding performance, powerful imaging and features Motorola’s new CrystalTalk technology, making it easy to hold conversations in noisy environments.
MOTOSLVR L72's integrated music player with stereo Bluetooth wireless technology(1) allows users to freely enjoy music wirelessly on the go. Even when travelling, users can listen to their music uninterrupted in airplane mode.
The complete music experience doesn’t just end there. MOTOSLVR L72's integrated FM radio supports Radio Data System (RDS), providing radio station information - including such details as the song genre, song title, or radio station name - all on the handset's main screen.
MOTOSLVR L72 also provides users with a rich visual entertainment experience via a 2.0 mega-pixel camera with 8x digital zoom, video capture with 4x zoom and full screen landscape playback. In addition, MOTOSLVR L72 supports progressive downloading and video streaming, enabling quick music and video downloads.(1)
This compelling handset is powered by GPRS and provides quick downloads and easy information exchanges enabling users to share pictures, videos and music with family and friends seamlessly.
"MOTOSLVR L72 takes Motorola’s breath-taking MOTOSLVR design and packs it with outstanding music and imaging capabilities." said Lok Kwok Leong, Country Manager, Mobile Devices Business, Motorola Singapore. "The handset has an eye-catching mirror-reflective finish with feature rich functionality to deliver an entertaining mobile experience that matches today’s digital lifestyle."
MOTOSLVR L72's multimedia prowess is further backed up by MegaSIM (3V) support and external microSD memory card support capable of up to 2GB.
Availability
The MOTOSLVR L72 in pearl grey and black slate is available in Singapore now at all SingTel outlets at an estimated recommended retail price of S$98 with two year operator contract and S$428 without operator contract.
Creative ZEN Stone 1GB
Rumors had been rife in the online community of a new digital audio player (DAP) from Creative and that this mysterious product will be locking horns with Apple’s iPod shuffle. True enough, what you are looking at now is Creative's response to Apple's effort and what a tiny player it is.
Solid as Stone?
The feather light (18.5g) and compact ZEN Stone is clearly inspired by small smooth pebbles often found in ZEN gardens (how poetic), but despite its name, the ZEN Stone is not built as what its name suggests. Because of its glossy exterior, there is always a concern of scratching the ZEN Stone with sharp items such as keys and coins in your pocket and what not. However, as we found, its glossy surface is tough enough to take on the rigors of everyday use. Size wise, the ZEN Stone is delightfully small and light, so much so it's easy to forget that it's sitting in your pocket – not to forget it can also be quite easily misplaced.
Follow the Path
The ZEN Stone has a simple interface: forward, rewind, play/pause and volume controls are all clustered together right smack in the middle of the player. Along its side profile is a handy switch that scrolls through folders alphabetically, randomizes your songs and sets the player to repeat every music file it supports. Since folders are supported, songs can be sorted in a pseudo genre/playlist fashion, giving you some form of control over the songs you want.
Loading the ZEN Stone up is a simple Plug and Play process (through a Mini USB port), exactly in the same way as you would with a flash drive. In fact, there is not a single trace of driver or software in the box. The only software that Creative thought you might need is the Creative Media Lite CD ripping software, and guess what, it's available as a free download on Creative's website - sweet.
True to its simple styling and interface, the ZEN Stone is a joy to use. If you know how to copy files into a flash drive, you'll know how to operate the ZEN Stone. There is however, a short but noticeable playback lag from the time the player is unplugged till it starts playing, but that's just us nitpicking, really. The ZEN Stone supports MP3 and WMA formats.
Being a Creative product, the ZEN Stone sure did not disappoint where its bread and butter (audio quality) was concerned. Some of you might find the audio output to carry a bit too much bass, although that being said, we could find no distortions or hissing whatsoever. When it came down to battery life, the ZEN Stone easily clocked 10hrs of playback time.
Solid Accessories
Creative has always furnished their new DAPs with accompanying accessories at launch and it isn't any different this time around. To that end, Creative offers no less then three kinds of protective skins, each serving its own purpose. Upon closer inspection of these protective silicon skins (and armbands), we were impressed that they were all very well made with no excess silicon or rough edges in sight.
Our Thoughts
Although nothing revolutionary, the ZEN Stone pretty much satisfies users in ways the iPod shuffle would. Compared to the latter however, it does carry a slight edge by having a universally compatible mini-USB port, unlike the iPod shuffle which requires an external dock running via a propriety jack. Looks and performance aside, the one big point that really allows the ZEN Stone to take the cake is its incredible retail price of just US$45 (~S$69). You could skip a ZEN Stone on water and still afford a replacement all for the price of one Apple iPod shuffle - not bad for a reply wouldn't you say?
Solid as Stone?
The feather light (18.5g) and compact ZEN Stone is clearly inspired by small smooth pebbles often found in ZEN gardens (how poetic), but despite its name, the ZEN Stone is not built as what its name suggests. Because of its glossy exterior, there is always a concern of scratching the ZEN Stone with sharp items such as keys and coins in your pocket and what not. However, as we found, its glossy surface is tough enough to take on the rigors of everyday use. Size wise, the ZEN Stone is delightfully small and light, so much so it's easy to forget that it's sitting in your pocket – not to forget it can also be quite easily misplaced.
Follow the Path
The ZEN Stone has a simple interface: forward, rewind, play/pause and volume controls are all clustered together right smack in the middle of the player. Along its side profile is a handy switch that scrolls through folders alphabetically, randomizes your songs and sets the player to repeat every music file it supports. Since folders are supported, songs can be sorted in a pseudo genre/playlist fashion, giving you some form of control over the songs you want.
Loading the ZEN Stone up is a simple Plug and Play process (through a Mini USB port), exactly in the same way as you would with a flash drive. In fact, there is not a single trace of driver or software in the box. The only software that Creative thought you might need is the Creative Media Lite CD ripping software, and guess what, it's available as a free download on Creative's website - sweet.
True to its simple styling and interface, the ZEN Stone is a joy to use. If you know how to copy files into a flash drive, you'll know how to operate the ZEN Stone. There is however, a short but noticeable playback lag from the time the player is unplugged till it starts playing, but that's just us nitpicking, really. The ZEN Stone supports MP3 and WMA formats.
Being a Creative product, the ZEN Stone sure did not disappoint where its bread and butter (audio quality) was concerned. Some of you might find the audio output to carry a bit too much bass, although that being said, we could find no distortions or hissing whatsoever. When it came down to battery life, the ZEN Stone easily clocked 10hrs of playback time.
Solid Accessories
Creative has always furnished their new DAPs with accompanying accessories at launch and it isn't any different this time around. To that end, Creative offers no less then three kinds of protective skins, each serving its own purpose. Upon closer inspection of these protective silicon skins (and armbands), we were impressed that they were all very well made with no excess silicon or rough edges in sight.
Our Thoughts
Although nothing revolutionary, the ZEN Stone pretty much satisfies users in ways the iPod shuffle would. Compared to the latter however, it does carry a slight edge by having a universally compatible mini-USB port, unlike the iPod shuffle which requires an external dock running via a propriety jack. Looks and performance aside, the one big point that really allows the ZEN Stone to take the cake is its incredible retail price of just US$45 (~S$69). You could skip a ZEN Stone on water and still afford a replacement all for the price of one Apple iPod shuffle - not bad for a reply wouldn't you say?
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