Microsoft Office 2010 will be available free usage online
Jul 14, 2009 Technology
Microsoft the defender of paid software – announced what was once believe to be unthinkable. The tech giant reported to be offering a version of its Microsoft Office Suites (Word, Excel) dubbed Office 2010 for free online.
According to Fortune both the online and desktop versions are scheduled to arrive in the first half of next year.
However, unlike Google Docs, the online version of Word, Excel and PowerPoint will be ad-supported. It is said to be part of the strategies to tightwads who weren’t going to buy a copy of the Office into Google’s arms.
This way, rather than force those folks into Google’s arms, Microsoft can hook them into its online world and tempt them with its latest technology.
Tags: Microsoft
Will Google Chrome OS breaks Microsoft Windows dominant?
Jul 11, 2009 Technology
Google often shying away from directly taking on Microsoft in the past.
However, over the years, the online advertising giant have been introducing ranges of products that directly compete with Microsoft.
Take for example, Google chrome – against Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Google Apps competing against Microsoft Office Suites (Word, Excel).
And on July 7, Google announced plan to launch lightweight operating system dubbed Chrome OS (operating system) – directly targeted at Microsoft Windows OS. The OS, will be made available by middle of next 2010 as a free OS.
What Google Chrome OS will be like?
Sundar Pichai in a blog post hinted that Chrome OS will be about speed, simplicity and security.
“We’re designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you on the web in a few seconds,” Pichai, vice-president of product management, and Google engineering director Linus Upson.
Both men said they are completely redesigning security architecture of the OS so that users don’t have to deal with viruss, malware and security updates.
Positive responses
Several PC makers have shown interest to test the new OS. Acer, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Toshiba were among top companies Google said supporting the OS.
Dell on Friday said it would also consider testing Google’s upcoming Chrome operating system, but didn’t commit to offering the Linux-based OS in future products.
Personally I’m exhilarated by the announcement of the OS. For the first time, Microsoft finally have a real, credible competitor. Will definitely try the new OS once it available made available to the public.
Malaysians have to wait for another 10 years for broadband internet
Jun 24, 2009 Technology
According Dr Ongkili high-speed broadband Internet infrastructure was being rolled out currently and would take about 10 years to complete. He said it’s going to cost RM11.2 billion of which RM2.4 billion from the government another RM8.9 billion from Telekom Malaysia.
“We need major roll-out of the broadband plan in order to reduce costs. Pikom (Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia) has proposed that the cost should be no more than RM30 a month to make broadband accessible to all and increase Internet access.
He said he believed that target broadband speeds of 20Mbps for the commercial sector and not less than 2Mbps for the general population could be achieved within the next three years.
He added that while high-speed broadband Internet development was in the purview of the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry, his ministry was responsible for content development.
Tags: Sarawak
Google finalising Digg acquisition
Jul 23, 2008 Technology
Google is reportedly in the final stages acquiring Digg. Micheal Arrington of Techcrunch said the two companies are close to a deal that will bring Digg under the Google News property.
“The companies are now in final negotiations according to our sources, although it could be a couple of weeks before it closes” said Arrington.
Google previous big acquisitions include Youtube to the tune of US$1.6b and recently DoubleClick at US$3.1b. Youtube is yet to be profitable and it would take another year to see is DoubleClick really worth it.
Nuclear power and Saharan solar potential
Jul 23, 2008 Technology
Can this be one of the solution for power hungry Europe one day? Photo by NPJB
Malaysia is tinkering with the idea of building it first ever nuclear power plant as oil prices soaring high.
“We are looking at about US$3.1 billion for a 1,000 MW plant,” Mohamad Zam Zam Jaafar, head of Tenaga’s nuclear energy taskforce, was quoted as saying by the Edge financial daily newspaper.
However do Malaysia really need a nuclear power plant yet. In recent debate with Shabery the Minister of Information Anwar said Malaysia has ‘excess capacity’ as high as 45 percent? Government could have save at least RM2 billion of public fund if they can reduce the ‘unnecessary reserve’ by half argued Anwar!
On the other part of the world, yet another ambitious project “harvesting the hot Saharan sun” solar power potential. The Times Online says the project, estimated to cost up to £35.7 billion, is backed by Gordon Brown and President Sarkozy of France.
The project is still at an early stage and faces daunting financial and technological obstacles. Solar power’s supporters say it will take ten years for it to become economically competitive, and while undersea cables to Sicily and Spain are planned for construction in 2010-2012, it is not known how they will be financed.
The EU last year set a mandatory target of producing 20 per cent of its energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020, and there are also big political imperatives in play.
iPhone will reach our shore very soon
Jul 19, 2008 Technology
iPhone is more likely to reach Malaysian shore sooner rather than later. (photo Apple)
Malaysian consumers probably have been praying quietly after they heard this piece of news. Sandip Das yesterday revealed that Maxis is trying to convince Apple to sell iPhone to Malaysian.
But before that happen there are several things they need to sort out. Apple was struggling to meet the increasing demand, its distribution policy plans for Malaysia had not been finalised yet.
The next question is – if Maxis were to successfully introduce the iPhone here, how much would they charge for it usage? 3G penetration rate in Malaysia is still very low and I don’t think Maxis would be ready to subsidize iPhone prices or reduce it 3G rate!
Tags: iPhone