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Let’s say hello to Facebook music and media platform: the world’s largest social networking to partner with at least three providers include Spotify, MOG and Rdio and will be announced at f8 developer conference on September 22, 2011



Engineers at the Palo Alto-based company will be super busy for the next three weeks, as the world’s largest social networking company is rumored to announce Facebook music and media platform.  The platform is build by partnering with at least three providers include Spotify, MOG and Rdio, as reported by Mashable the popular tech blogger.

The music platform announcement will take place during this year’s f8 developer conference on September 22, 2011.  Many Facebook’s great features were previously announced during this event include “Like” button and others.

Schedule for Facebook f8 Developer Conference in San Francisco, Thursday, September 22, 2011:

• 8:30am PDT   Registration
• 10:00am PDT   Opening Keynote
• 11:30am PDT   Lunch and networking
• 12:30pm PDT   Breakout Sessions
• 8:00pm PDT   After8 Celebration

(Image: Facebook f8 Developer Conference in San Francisco)

Just two choices of smartphone on the shelf in America in July 2011, Google Android or Apple iOS: the search engine giant’s mobile operating system captured 41.8% market share while Steve Jobs’ company snatched 27.0% market share

The choices of smartphone handsets in America have narrowed to two, Google Android or Apple iOS.  Google Android mobile operating system continued to grab more market shares from other phone makers.  According to comScore MobiLens service, the Mountain View-based company has a total of 41.8% market share in July 2011, compared to 36.4% shares in April 2011.  This was an increase of 5.4% points within the past three months.

While Steve Jobs has decided to retire as CEO of the Cupertino-based company last week, Apple continued to maintain the number two position in America.  The maker of iPhone, iPad, and iPod, has captured 27.0% share of smartphone market in July, compared to 26.0% shares in April, an increase of 1.0%.

RIM BlackBerry ranked number three with 21.7% share of smartphone market in July, compared to 25.7% shares in April, or a drop of 4.0% shares.  In the past two weeks, the Waterloo Canada-based company has started to launch new handsets catered for users in America and the world including the new Bold Touch 9900 and upgrade version of Torch 9810. 

Steve Ballmer’s company mobile operating system remained weak in the smartphone market for Americans.  Windows Phone 7 OS has only 5.7% shares in July compare to 6.7% shares in April, or a drop of 1.0% share.  Windows Phone 7 was launched in late October 2010.  The Redmond-based mobile operating system received plenty of positive reviews from analysts and tech watchers.  An upgrade version Windows Phone 7.5 OS dubbed as “mango” has been sent to phone manufacturers by the end of July.  New handsets from Nokia, Samsung, HTC, and other phone makers, are set for sales in the next few weeks.

(Chart: comScore MobiLens)

Popular Japanese video game maker, Nintendo, to launch gold Wii remote (Wiimote) on November 20, just one week before the start of Thanksgiving holiday shopping in America

In order to revive its video games sales in America, Nintendo, the most popular Japanese video game maker will start selling gold Wii remote (Wiimote) on November 20.  This is an interesting date as annual largest sales usually occur during the Thanksgiving weekend in America. 

As per the press release, the latest addition of gold Wiimote into kids’ wish list for this year’s holiday season was announced during a meeting between Nintendo’s executive, marketing team, and GameStop’s store managers.

The special gold color Wiimote will be included in one package with the popular game title The Legend of Zelda™: Skyward Sword.  The remote and the game software will cost about $69.99.  Users can buy a single copy of the game at price tag of $49.99.  However, users must buy the gold Wiimote with the game altogether at $69.99.

(Images: Gold Wiimote and The Legend of Zelda™: Skyward Sword)

Let’s say hello to Xalkori, a new generation of lung cancer drug from Pfizer the world’s largest and top-selling drug-maker of cholesterol fighting pill Lipitor

America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the selling of new generation of lung cancer drug from Pfizer dubbed as Xalkori.   Pfizer is the world’s most popular drug-maker of cholesterol fighting pill Lipitor.  

According to reuters.com, for individual who has private health insurance, they must pay at least $100 monthly co-pay to obtain the new drug.  Citing data from Pfizer, reuters.com reported that Xalkori will actually cost about $9,600 per month. 

Stamp of Approval: America’s Aviation Administration (FAA) certified the newest airplane from Boeing, 787 Dreamliner, to start operating for services

America’s top agency for handling airline matters, FAA, has handed Boeing executives their certification for approval for 787 Dreamliner to start operation. According to Seattle Times, the world’s largest airplane company has conducted over 20 months of flight testing and analysis on the new plane. 

The plane has been delayed for delivery for over 40 months from its original schedule.  Experts believe the cost of development could goes as high as $18 billion, compared to the initial cost of about $5 billion.

Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) will be the first airline company to operate the new Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.  First plane is scheduled for delivery by the last week of September this year.  ANA will fly the new plane for Japanese market and later will expand to International routes.  The maiden flight will go to Hong Kong from Narita Tokyo on October 26, 2011, with a return flight on the following day.

(Image: ana.co.jp)

Let's say hello to BlackBerry Messenger cloud-based music service (BBM Music) powered by Omnifone, and share 50 favorite songs with friends worldwide

One of the world’s most popular smartphone makers, RIM BlackBerry, added new feature to its Messenger system.  The new feature dubbed as BlackBerry Messenger cloud-based music service, or short BBM Music.  According to RIM press release, the new feature is outsourced and fully powered by Omnifone, a top cloud music service provider.  Omnifone will manage music content and host all music related content for the Waterloo, Canada-based smartphone company.

BBM Music is catered to attract BBM users to share 50 favorite songs with friends and using music as social networking.   RIM BlackBerry believes there are over 45 million BBM users worldwide.  BBM is one of the top features for the BlackBerry phone maker with users spread out in America, Europe, and Asian countries includes Indonesia, Malaysia, India, and many other Middle-Eastern nations.

While BBM Music users can hold up to 50 songs in their library, they can also swap 25 songs per month.  BBM friends can also keep 50 songs in their library and they can share among BBM Music Community. One of the setback of the new feature is each user must pay a monthly subscription fee of $4.99 USD.

(Image: BBM Music)

The rate of unintended pregnancies for poor and unwed American women has risen significantly, about five and six times higher than the rate for middle class and high-income population

Using the U.S. government data, a study conducted by a team of researchers led by Lawrence B. Finer of Guttmacher Institute, a non-profit organization for studying sexual and reproductive health, found opposite pregnancies rates among poor and unwed American women, and middle class and high-income population.  The study is being published in an upcoming issue of the Journal Contraception.

According to the study, the average rate of unplanned pregnancies in America remained stable at about 5% per year, however, for poor and unwed American women, the rate has risen significantly.   The rates of unplanned pregnancies for poor women were about five and six times higher than more affluent population, reported usnews.com.

Who needs statins pills when you can eat beans and nuts for lowering cholesterol? Soy beans, oats, barley, almonds, walnuts, and plant sterols may work better than statins and low-fat diet

A study led by David J. A. Jenkins, MD at the University of Toronto, found cholesterol-lowering foods work better and more effective than traditional low-fat diet.  The study was based on sample of 351 people with high cholesterol, conducted between June 25, 2007, and February 19, 2009.  It is being published by the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Using FDA approved guidance, researchers classified cholesterol-lowering foods include soybeans-related products (soy burgers, tofu, soy milk), sticky fibers (oats, barley), plant sterol esters (butter and margarine from plant), and tree nuts (almonds, walnuts). 

Based on a series tests on those 351 people with high cholesterol after six months on the diet, researchers found that cholesterol-lowering foods could drop low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels by close to 13%, compared to only 3% drop if they applied a regular low-saturated fat diet, reported webmd.com.

With the latest findings, this could change Americans lifestyle as many people are still taking cholesterol-lowering medications include statins pills (i.e., Lipitor, Crestor, Vytorin, Zocor).   Researchers believe that cholesterol-lowering foods (soybeans, sticky fibers, plant sterols, and tree nuts) may be enough to maintain healthy cholesterol levels in adults.

The world’s new superpower for personal-computer: China surpassed America as the largest market for PCs and sold over 18.5 million units during Q2 2011, compared to 17.7 million units in the U.S.

The PCs era has moved to China, as the Great Wall nation is now the superpower for personal-computer.  Citing data from IDC, bloomberg.com reported that PCs shipments in China increased about 14% with a total PCs sold over 18.5 million units during Q2 2011.

PCs sales in America continued to drop while new generation users are buying tablets and other form of mobile devices.   The former superpower for PCs recorded sales of 17.7 million units, or a drop of 4.8% from Q1 2011.

According to data from IDC, bloomberg.com reported the accumulate value of PCs shipments in the Panda nation equal to $11.9 billion, compared to $11.7 billion for America during Q2 2011.  China captured 22% share of world PCs market while America has about 21% shares of the global market.

The Mobile Operating System Total Domination in America: Google's Android OS captured 52% market share of handsets sold in the second quarter (Q2) of 2011

Google's Android OS continued to lead mobile phone market share in the second quarter (Q2) of 2011 (April to June).  The latest data from The NPD Group showed that the giant search engine’s OS for mobile phone captured 52% share of handsets sold in Q2 2011.  This makes Google Android as the dominant player in America in 2011.

Steve Jobs’ company iOS operating system remained at number two with a total of 29% shares in Q2 2011.  Apple iOS is one of the fastest growing operating system in America.  There are three most popular products made by the Silicon Valley’s Cupertino-based company include iPhone, iPad, and iPod.

The old-timer RIM BlackBerry OS share continued to drop during Q2 2011.   BlackBerry has only 11% share of handsets sold in the second quarter (Q2) of 2011.  BlackBerry's new handsets include Torch 9810 and Bold Touch 9900, are going for sale starting this week via AT&T, T-Mobile, and other top carriers.  Torch 9810 was released by AT&T yesterday (Sunday, August 21, 2011).

The world’s newest mobile operating system made by the giant software company Microsoft dubbed as Windows Phone 7 remained weak to capture market share in America.  It has only 5% of the mobile phone market in Q2 2011.  Windows Phone 7 has released an upgrade with more features dubbed as Windows Phone 7.5 or better known as “mango” by late last month.  New handsets with Windows Phone 7.5 OS are set for release for consumers in early September 2011.

A controversy book for children with a title "Maggie Goes on a Diet" as advance orders available online thru Barnes & Noble and Amazon websites

A new and controversy children book will be available in October, but several online bookstores are taking advance orders include Barnes & Noble and Amazon websites.  The book is targeted for kids at age group between 6-12-year-old.  The main author is Paul M. Kramer with co-author Mari Kuwayama and printed colorful in 44-page hardcover.

The new book story lines are about a young girl who tried to lose weight by going on a diet.  As the publisher website wrote “…This inspiring story about a 14 year old who goes on a diet and is transformed from being overweight and insecure to a normal sized teen who becomes the school soccer star. Through time, exercise and hard work, Maggie becomes more and more confident and develops a positive self image.”

(Image: alohapublishers.com)

The side effects of being bachelor men and bachelorette women: single men have 32% higher risk of dying young than the married men while single women have 23% higher risk of dying young than the married women

A research study conducted by David Roelfs at University of Louisville, Kentucky, found single people may die younger than married people.  The data for analysis was collected previously by over 90 studies for a period of 60 years and involved 500 million people worldwide.  The study is being published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Roelfs found that bachelor men and bachelorette women have poorer health than married men and women, as reported by msnbc.com.  Single men have 32% higher risk of dying young than the married men.  For single women, they have 23% higher risk to die young than the married women.

According to the study, single men could die 8 to 17 years younger than married men, while single women could die between 7 to 15 years younger than married women.

See you in early 2012: Apple iPad 3 is set to launch in early 2012 with a high resolution display 2048 by 1536

There is no question that Apple will maintain its domination in tablet PC wars for months to come.  Early this week, research firm DisplaySearch showed Apple delivered about 13.6 million units of personal computer during Q2-2011 (80% sales were iPads).  The research firm also crowned Steve Jobs' company as the world’s largest PC maker.  In late of this week, a piece of news from a prominent Wall Street Journal speculated that the next generation iPad 3 is set to launch in early 2012.

According to wsj.com, the new iPad 3 will offer a standard high resolution display 2048 by 1536.  The screen resolution will double from iPad 2 which has only 1024 by 768.  The new device will maintain its screen size at 9.7-inch.

During its recent quarterly earnings report, Apple sold over 9.2 million iPads.  The iPads sales jumped over 183% from Q2-2010.

The New World Order: Apple is the world’s largest personal computer maker, surpassing HP

The world largest tablet maker, Apple Company, is now the world’s largest personal computer maker.  Apple shipped close to 13.6 million units of personal computer during Q2-2011.  Citing data from tech research firm DisplaySearch, gigaom.com reported that of those 13.6 million units, 80% sales were tablet-related PC.  Apple’s share of world’s PC shipment jumped to 21.1%.

Former world’s top PC maker, HP shipped only 9.7 million units in Q2-2011, representing 15.0% share of world market. This indicated the fall of laptop popularity worldwide.

 
(Chart: DisplaySearch)

Skype launched cheaper WiFi access to target Apple iOS users include for iPhone, iPad, and iPod, which charging per minute basis

Skype added new app dubbed as WiFi (used to be known as Skype Access) targeting Apple iOS users especially users who installed version 4.1 or newer.  According to Skype blog post, Apple iOS mobile devices can now use the app to connect over 1 million WiFi hotspots worldwide.  Travellers can use Skype WiFi at airports, hotels, and any travel destinations around the world. 

One hour access thru Skype WiFi would cost about $3.60 or $ 0.06 per minute.  In order to work properly, Apple iOS users must download the Skype WiFi app at App Store.

Workout as little as 15 minutes per day (50% of standard requirement) could provide health benefits

Using sample of 416,175 adults who had routine medical checkup, two doctors in Far East, Chinese doctor Dr. Chi-Pang Wen and Taiwanese doctor Jackson Pui Man Wai, found men and women who exercise just 15 minutes per day has health benefits for long run.  Exercising for only 15 minutes for almost every day or 50% of doctors’ recommendation could make a difference in a person life-style. The study is being published via the journal Lancet.

Citing the two East Asians doctors, latimes.com reported that 15 minutes workout could reduce death risk by 14%.  Short exercise also cuts cancer fatality risk by 10% and reduces heart disease by 20%.

I now pronounce you Googler and Motorolan: the giant search engine company to sign a prenuptial agreement of $12.5 billion to purchase Motorola Mobility

The world’s largest search engine company Google will acquire Motorola Mobility, as per a blog posted by its CEO Larry Page on Monday morning. The price tag is $12.5 billion.  Motorola Mobility is one of the oldest mobile handset makers with over 80 years of technology achievements.

One of the top reasons Google bought Motorola is that the Mountain View-based company has been competing heavily with other technology companies such as Microsoft and Apple in term of patent wars.  Tech experts believe each Android powered handset will cost about $10 to $15 for patent loyalty fees that have been paid to Microsoft alone.  As Page wrote “Our acquisition of Motorola will increase competition by strengthening Google’s patent portfolio, which will enable us to better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies.”

Smartphone users around the world continue to subscribe to Google’s Android mobile operating system since its launch over three years ago.  According to Google CEO, there are over 150 million Android powered devices have been activated globally.  In recent months, Android has taken more market shares of mobile operating system from RIM BlackBerry and Microsoft Windows Mobile/Phone.   

No Mo No Mail: America’s Postal Service considers to lay-off 220,000 full-time jobs and closing over 300 mail and parcels processing facilities by 2015

As information technology continue to take over the need of mailmen services, America’s Postal Service (USPS) considers to lay-off 220,000 full-time jobs and closing over 300 mail and parcels processing facilities by 2015.  According to reuters.com, one of the oldest agencies in America reported loss of $3.1 billion in its recent earnings quarter.  The agency continues to owe money from its retiree health payment which could exceed over $5.5 billion, reported reuters.com.

The advanced in information technology has harmed the classic mail carrier, as more people rely on email to communicate to others.  While at the same time more people pay their monthly bills via online banking system.  Also, the uses of fax machines have also replaced the need of express mail services.

QR (“Quick Response”) usage on the rise in America, 14 million smartphone subscribers (or 6.2% of the total mobile users) scanned QR codes or bar codes in June 2011

QR (“Quick Response”) or bar code usage is getting popular in America.  comScore reported that there were 14 million mobile subscribers using their mobile devices to scan QR codes in America in June, or equal to about 6.2% of the total population. 

According to comScore, the majority smartphone users who had used their smartphones for code scanning in June 2011 were affluence young males.  This group of young users represented 60.5% of total male users in America.   They also has a household income of at least $100k, or representing 36.1% of total smartphone subscribers.  The young users were at age group of 18-year-old to 34-year-old, representing 53.4% of the total mobile audience.

The side effects of cigarette smoking for women versus men: female smokers has 1.25 times higher chance to get heart disease than men

A research study using sample of two million people and conducted by two researchers, Dr. Rachel Huxley at the University of Minnesota and Dr. Mark Woodward at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, found that women smokers face higher heart risk than men.  Women smokers have about 1.25 times higher chance to get heart disease than men, as reported by Canadian Broadcasting Corp. News.  The study is being published online by the Lancet.