IndoPost.com Breaking News and Opinion

Java drinkers: the benefit of drinking coffee included helping to prevent heart failure and other medical conditions

A team of researchers analyzed five independent studies dated from January 1966 through December 2011, and using samples of more than 140,220 men and women, found that the benefit of coffee consumption and heart risk.  The early four studies were conducted in Sweden while another one was conducted in Finland.  Researchers found that participants who drank coffee at least two cups of 8-ounce per day may gain 11 percent chances of protective benefits against heart failure. 

The study led by Elizabeth Mostofsky and is being published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation Heart Failure. The lead author is associated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA.

Previous studies have reported that the benefit of drinking coffee could also reduce the risk of other sickness, including stroke, depression, dementia and some type of cancers.

Coffee beans contain many great composites to lower the risk of developing heart failure.  Those compounds include antioxidants which also helping to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and other medical conditions.

(Image: Starbucks coffee)

As Nevada’s gaming business softening, Northern Nevada’s city of Reno to welcome Apple’s new data center and potential of a $1 billion investment over the next 10 years

The world’s most valuable company has approached Northern Nevada’s city of Reno local and state officials since early 2012 to build a new datacenter in a district known as Reno Technology Park.  With sales of iPhone, iPad, and other gadgets continue to be strong, more customers rely on cloud computing service, therefore, Apple needs more datacenters to house files, photos, documents, music, and others.

After a lengthy negotiation, Apple decided to start building a new datacenter near downtown Reno, east of Sparks.  The project will cost about $1 billion over the next 10 years.

Citing data from Applied Economics, renomemo.rgj.com reported that the overall economic impact of Apple’s datacenter to local economy could reach as high as $343 million while the Silicon Valley-based company will hire 41 full-time employees to taking care of the data center and 200 additional contract employees to handle securities, transportations, and other duties.

Let’s say hello to Cisco’s Linksys Wi-Fi Router EA6500, a 801.11ac gigabit wireless router, with a price tag of $219.99 and available for shipment in August 2012

One of the largest networking companies, Cisco, announced a new router catered for users who really need 801.11ac gigabit wireless router.  The new generation of router is called Linksys EA6500 router.  The router is equipped to handle 802.11n connectivity on the 2.4GHz band.  It also provides 802.11ac signals.  The new router will provide ultimate speeds of up to 1300 Mbps on 5 GHz band.

EA6500 is equipped with 3D Antenna Array for providing better reception.  It has four 10/100/1000 gigabit Ethernet ports.   By connecting to Cisco Connect Cloud, users can also boost their connected home with several apps which can be customized.  It also has 2 USB ports to connect printers and storage at the same time.

The price tag for the router is $219.99 and available for shipment in August 2012.  Home users can pre-order at Cisco's web store site or call 877-959-7467.

(Image: Linksys Wi-Fi Router EA6500)

Microsoft operates about 25 stores in America and will soon add one more store in Toronto (Canada), the first store outside of the United States

Microsoft executives have previously planned to open about 75 additional stores in America over the next few years, and also will expand outside the United States.  The world’s largest software company has been running about 25 stores in America, including one in Century City Mall (Los Angeles), and one in South Coast Plaza (Orange County, California).

One of top local newspapers, the Toronto Star, has confirmed that Microsoft has filed for building permits to operate a store at the Yorkdale Mall in Toronto.  This store will be the first store outside of the United States.

The latest expansion of Microsoft Stores around the world is considered as part the company’s new strategy to target local buyers thru a brick-and-mortal store.  Those stores will act as a distribution channel, especially for the company’s hot products such as Xbox Kinect and the upcoming Surface tablet computer.

(Image: microsoftstore.com logo)

10 million units in one month and counting: sales of Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone to hit over 10 million units in July 2012

The new Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone could surpass over 10 million units in just one month in July.  The unit count of the new smartphone was based on info from JK Shin, a Samsung's business telecommunications spokesperson, as reported by reuters.com. 

In conjunction with the 2012 Olympics activities, the South Korean-based company introduced Galaxy S III in London in early May.  Samsung is also one of the major sponsors this year summer’s largest sport event which will be held for two weeks, from July 27 until August 12.

Samsung Galaxy S III is expected to compete very closely with top seller Apple's iPhone. Apple has been very busy preparing legal paperwork to fight Samsung in court due patent rights than trying to invent a better smartphone system.  With all top lawyers fighting, however, no one has been named the winner of those patent cases.

Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone has been delivered to several countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia by the end of May.  Americans users also started to pre-order in early June through mobile operators including the two top providers AT&T and Verizon.  Other smaller mobile operators such as Sprint and T-Mobile have also started selling the smartphone. 

(Image: Samsung Galaxy S III)

 

Silicon Valley’s Tesla launched the Model S, a first electric car targeting middle-class buyers in America with a price tag at around $60,000 to $80,000

Tesla executives, workers, special invites, government official, and the press corps gathered at one of Tesla’s factory in California on Friday (June 22) for the launch of the Model S. The factory is located in Fremont, the same region as the popular technology hub Silicon Valley.

One of the top government officials at the event was California Governor Jerry Brown.  Gov. Brown praised the company effort to create cutting-edge technology industry.  At the same time Gov. Brown also believes that the electric car industry will help to create more manufacturing jobs in the largest state in America, as the state has suffered from economy recession and high unemployment rate at above 10% rate.

The asking price for the electric car is between $57,400 and $77,400.  President Obama administration will give incentive (rebates) for electric car buyers, so the price could be reduced a little bit.

Tesla plans to build 5,000 Model S cars this year and will grow to 20,000 next year.

At the launch, Tesla will start selling the deluxe Signature Series Model S.  The company plans to build about 1,200 units of this kind with asking price of $105,400 before rebates.

(Image: Tesla Model S)

Microsoft launched Windows Phone 8 operating system for mobile devices at "Windows Phone Summit" in San Francisco with a ton of new features

Ten days after Apple’s “Worldwide Developer Conference” (WWDC) was held in San Francisco on June 11, Microsoft’s "Windows Phone Summit" was also held in the same city on June 20, 2012.  At this event Microsoft introduced Windows Phone 8 operating system for mobile devices.  Microsoft uses the same branding (“Windows 8”) for the latest software for mobile devices and desktop/laptop/tablet.  The difference between the two brandings is only on the word “Phone.”  Windows Phone 8 will share the same core or source of coding with Windows 8, so the two OSs will be running the same way. 

At the event, Microsoft announced that the company will work with four manufacturers to produce the handsets and will be ready at the launch date sometime in October 2012.  Those four partners are Nokia, Huawei, HTC, and Samsung.

Microsoft also announced that the “old” generation Windows Phone version 7.0 and 7.5 (such as, handsets made by Nokia version Lumia 900) cannot be upgraded to version 8.  In order make everyone happy,  Microsoft will create a new version 7.8 which will allow early adopters to utilize some of special features, for example to modify the “Start” wall and change the Live Tiles icon size into a smaller size or larger size.

(Image: Windows Phone)

America’s automobile industry quality rankings for 2012: vehicle manufacturers produce better cars than ever as Lexus is still the best brand for two consecutive years

According to the J.D. Power and Associates, initial quality for the cars industry in America in 2012 has improved significantly over 2011.  Using the research firm’s Initial Quality Study (IQS) measurement, the quality of cars has improved by 5 points in 2012 which was averaging 102 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100).  Compared to 2011, the average was at 107 problems per 100 vehicles.  With very tight competitions, manufacturers are making better cars than ever before. 

Japanese-based Toyota Luxury brand, Lexus, was selected as the top rank in term of quality for the past two years in a row.  Lexus received an average of 73 problems per 100 vehicles.  Two European brands, Jaguar and Porsche, were at the second spot and received an average of 75 problems per 100 vehicles.  It followed by American car maker Cadillac at number four which received 80 problems per 100 vehicles.  Another Japanese-based company, Honda was ranked at number five and received 83 problems per 100 vehicles. 

Using standard measurement, problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), here is a list of top ranking brands:

• Lexus: 73
• Jaguar and Porsche: 75
• Cadillac: 80
• Honda: 83
• Acura: 84
• Infiniti: 84
• Toyota: 88
• Mercedes-Bens: 96
• BMW: 97
• Mazda: 97
• GMC: 99
• Nissan: 99
• Ram: 99
• Chevrolet: 100
• Industry Average: 102

(Image: J.D. Power and Associates)

Live from Googleplex: Google adds “Google Developers Live” and offers support from Googlers to developers around the world

Google is trying to simplify conversation between its in-house experts and every developer from around the world by launching a developer hangout place called “Google Developers Live.”  The purpose of this hangout place is to establishing a strong developer ecosystem as most of those developers using Google APIs.

Google engineers will share knowledge, tools, and others with developers to building a project, creating an app, or accomplish something meaningful.  Googlers will also show developers what kind of tools available to be used.  Developers will be able to know more closely other developers in the community.

According to a blog post written by Louis Gray (Google’s Developer Relations Team), the method of sharing will be broadcasted live from Googleplex with interactive system.  Developers can connect, talk, and chat with Google engineers in live broadcast. 

(Image: right, Google logo)

Let’s say hello to Microsoft Surface: a new tablet from the world’s largest software company which was introduced in Los Angeles on June 18, 2012

Microsoft has presented a new tablet called Surface.  In today’s presentation in Los Angeles, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Windows Division President Steven Sinofsky were on stage to showcase Surface.

The new tablet will run on Windows 8 operating system, version RT and Pro.  The device has about 10.6-inc screen and 9.3 millimeters thin.  The device has a weight of 1.5 pounds or about 676 grams.  The tablet's cover is functioned as a wireless keyboard.

The new tablet will be launched sometime in October 2012, in conjunction with the Windows 8 operating system launch date.  There was no price tag yet.  It should be around $500 for the basic model.

The device will run Office software.  It can connect to Internet and other entertainment networks such as Netflix and Xbox Live.

Watch video via YouTube, click here:

 

(Image: Microsoft)

Burger King is planning to open 1,000 fast-food restaurants in China by the end of 2019 to target over 1 billion people

The most populated nation will welcome more fast-food restaurants as Burger King Worldwide Holdings (BKW) has decided to expand into China.  The second largest fast food hamburger chain in the world has partnered with a joint venture to open 1,000 fast-food restaurants in China in the next five to seven years.  Expect to finish the project by the end of 2019.

According to a press release, BKW signed a partnership with the fast-food master franchisee and members of the Kurdoglu family, with the help of a global private equity firm Cartesian Capital Group.  Burger King has already opened 63 locations in China while the joint partnership will have the solely right to operate in China.

Today, Burger King has opened its stores in over 12,500 locations around the world.  The fast-food chain was founded in 1954, is considered as the number two largest in the world and serving at least 11 million guests per day.  In term of global market, the fast-food chain has location in 82 countries and territories.

Stress levels increased in America since 1983, an increase of 30% during the past 30 years

A team of researchers led by Sheldon Cohen at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh found that stress levels in America jumped at least 30% in 30 years span from 1983 to 2009.  The study was based on analyzing over 6,300 people across America, using three surveys that were conducted in 1983, 2006, and 2009.  Cohen is a director of Laboratory for the Study of Stress, Immunity and Disease at Carnegie Mellon University.  The study is being published via the Journal of Applied Social Psychology.

The recent economic crisis and high unemployment rates in America have impacted the stress levels, as unemployed Americans have higher levels of stress than retired Americans as the retired group of citizens reported to have low levels of stress. 

Researchers found stress levels for women increased 18% from 1983 to 2009.  While for men, it increased 24% during the same span.

Data from the study suggest that age plays critical roles in stress levels.  30-something groups have less stressed than 20-something groups.  Similarly, 40-something groups have less stressed than the 30-something groups.  Other factors that play critical roles in stress levels include lower socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and education levels such as college versus high school.

Los Angeles Special Event: Microsoft is getting ready to announce a tablet device to be called "Xbox Tablet" or "Xbox Pad" or "XPad"

The world’s largest software company, Microsoft sent a special invitation to some tech analysts and news writers on Thursday, June 14, and scheduled a special event to announce "something" on Monday June 18 in Los Angeles.  Before we heard the real Microsoft‘s announcement, let's check out some signs that occurred during the past one month.

At Computex conference in Taiwan which occurred during the first week of June 2012, computer manufacturers were told that the cost of licensing Microsoft operating system Windows 8 RT will be around $85 per license. With this high asking price, many think it is a bad move by the giant company. Compared to two leading OS for tablets, Google Android is free and Apple iOS is almost free.  The high licensing cost will hurt the hope of PC manufacturers (i.e., Samsung, Acer, Dell, and HP) to produce such devices.  It appears that Microsoft is distanced itself from manufacturers.  The giant could lose the tablet war with Android and iPad.  Therefore, to cover the licensing cost, Microsoft is more likely to produce its own tablet device.

In the first week of May 2012, Microsoft signed an agreement with Barnes & Noble to use the second largest bookstore catalog and content thru electronic reader called Nook.  This device is resembled of an Amazon Kindle Fire. In order to take advantage of this partnership, Microsoft could launch a new generation e-reader to fight the Kindle Fire.

Why in Los Angeles?  This place signals that Microsoft will be building something with the help of the entertainment industry and Hollywood moguls.  Consumers may need a device to watch movies, listen to music, and play games.  A tablet will fit these needs.

With these signs, speculation of Microsoft to announce a tablet device will come true this Monday.  Microsoft is very capable to build its own device similar to the success of Xbox game console.  The company will be never say "it's too late" to be the tablet manufacturer. The device is expected to be called "Xbox Tablet" or "Xbox Pad" or "XPad."   This will put the company head-to-head competition with Apple and Amazon.

(Image: Microsoft)

Microsoft’s Bing search engine remained at steady level and captured 15.4% share in May 2012, while its rival Google increased to 66.7% share of search engine market in America

Search engine market in America remained at stable level between April and May 2012.  According to data published by comScore, Microsoft Bing search engine maintained a steady level in May and captured 15.4% share of search market, compared to 15.4% in April 2012.  This was unchanged for the past two months.

The world largest search engine Google share increased to 66.7% in May 2012, compared to 66.5% share in April 2012.  This was an increase of 0.2% during the past one month.

Bing-powered search engine and also the 10-year-contract search partner Yahoo continued to experience drops in search market during the past few months.  The search engine pioneer dropped to 13.4% share in May, compared to 13.5% share in April.  This was a drop of 0.1%.

The combination of Bing and Yahoo totaled 28.8% share in May 2012.  The combo had a total of 28.9% share in April 2012.

Table: comScore

Linux operating system creator Linus Torvalds wins 2012 Millennium Technology award that is presented every two years by Technology Academy Finland

Open source pioneer and Linux operating system inventor, Linus Torvalds, was named co-winner of Millennium Technology Prize.  The award is presented every two years by Technology Academy Finland.  The grand prize is 1.2-million-euro (or $1.5 million USD).  Since there are two winners this year, each winner will receive about $750,000 USD.

Torvalds is a Finnish-American software engineer and created the open source operating system which he named it as Linux.  The operating system is very popular among software developers, mostly used to operate datacenters, computer servers, websites, smartphones (Google Android), and video recorders.

The other winner is Dr. Shinya Yamanaka who works on stem cell.  Yamanaka is a Japanese biotechnology researcher who invented a new method to study and analyzing stem cell to improve drug testing.

The award is fully funded by the Finnish state and first presented in 2004 to Sir Tim Berners-Lee who invented WWW system.

(Image: Linux)

Back-to-school deals from Apple Store: a $ 100 gift card for Mac buyer or a $50 gift card for the New iPad buyer

Apple executives and developers are busy attending the WWDC conference which has started on June 11 in San Francisco.  While everyone busy at the conference, the world’s largest mobile device company marketing department announced deals for high school seniors who have been accepted into college in public or private university and the current active students of higher education to receive a gift card of $100 or $50.  The gift card can be used to purchase apps, books, music, and film at the Apple iTunes store.

Each buyer of Mac series personal computers will receive a $ 100 gift card.  Each buyer of the New iPad (3rd generation) will receive a $ 50 gift card. The promotion starts on June 11, will end on September 21, 2012.

According to the rules, each household may only purchase a maximum of two computers during this promo (i.e, 1 Mac and 1 iPad).  However, the website’s also noted “A maximum of four (4) cards per household may be obtained for the purchase of (2) qualifying Apple Computers and two (2) qualifying iPads.” So, the maximum purchase for each household could be four units of computers.

Parents of high school seniors who have received the acceptance letter to college may represent their kids to purchase at an Apple Store or online Store as long as they carry a copy of student ID.   Similarly, parents can purchase an iPad or a Mac for a college student who is still at a university.

Apple also wants to make all elementary and middle school teachers and employees happy in America if they have proof of ID as a teacher or employee.  They will receive one $100 or $50 gift card per purchase.  Similarly to university lecturers and professors, they will get the gift card as well with a new purchase of a Mac or an iPad.

(Image: Apple Back-to-school deals)

Three most popular features from Apple iOS 6 operation system, as the announcement was held at WWDC Conference in San Francisco (June 11-15, 2012), iOS 6 will be available for general public in October

On Monday morning June 11, 2012, the largest conference for Apple application developers called Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) was officially opened.  The event is held in San Francisco from June 11 until June 15.  The main speaker at this morning’s session was Apple CEO Tim Cook.  At the session, the giant mobile device company announced a new operating system called iOS 6 which will be available for release in the fall (October 2012). Users can upgrade for free via wireless.  For Apple fans, iOS 6 only compatible with iPhone 3G, 4, 4S, iPod Touch 4th generation, iPad 2, and the New iPad.  There will be no upgrade for iPad 1.

Apple iOS 6 top three features include the following:

1. Siri: this feature was made popular in iPhone 4S (“S” means “Siri”).  Siri capabilities will expand to understand human conversation from different cultures.  The upgraded Siri is being developed to understand multi languages.  With Siri, Apple users can visit or work abroad.  For tablet, Siri is only available for the New iPad.  New features will be added including providing more information on daily activities.  Those activities include get sports info and match results, find restaurant reviews and reserve seats at a restaurant, find movie show times at local movie theaters, and create a list of flight schedules. User may also ask Siri to send a short message to social networks such as Twitter and Facebook.
2. Facebook: Apple is keeping an eye on the growth of Google Android operating system, so Tim Cook’s company is now joining force with Mark Zuckerberg’s company to fight the giant Google.  iOS 6 will be integrated with Facebook with additional new features to help users to use the social network without leaving other applications. The new features will let users to share photos easily by taking pictures directly from the device’s camera.  Users do not need to type a message as users will be able to ask Siri to send a message using voice or update their wall’s status easily.  Other cool features include a very neat integration between Facebook’s calendar and the gadget’s calendar to handle list of events, birthday dates, and others. The new feature will also let users to automatically update their friends’ information between Facebook and mobile phones and tablets.
3. Maps: Apple dumped Google Maps and created their own mapping system with the help of a third party provider.  The new Maps will provide detailed information in text form and better graphic form. It will provide directions on the road, provide navigation services, and provide real-time update on the state of traffic flow. The new Maps will also provide features similar to a bird’s eye view of a city and its surrounding areas with high resolution images.

(Screenshot: Apple iOS 6 website)

Online trends in America: over 20 million senior citizens always access Internet and their knowledge of technology beyond what was originally thought

Forrester Research just published a study with a title "Digital Seniors" regarding the activities of senior citizens online.  Researchers were surprised to see senior citizens go online very often and their knowledge of technology beyond what was originally thought.  Senior citizens love to use technology to share information with their friends and family.

The study found that 60% of senior citizens prefer to access Internet which representing 21 million senior citizens in America. The remaining 40% of this age group do not care about the Internet.

Forrester researchers found that senior citizens have very different online activities than adults on daily basis.  Senior citizen activities include using email, which representing 91% of seniors activities on daily basis.  They also like to go shopping online, where 59% of this age group had bought something online in the last three months.   Seniors also like to connect to friends and family members as 49% of this age group have a Facebook account.  Sharing and sending photos via e-mail is part of seniors activities which representing 46% of their online activities.   Seniors also love to play video game which representing 44% of their time using the Internet.   Getting discount coupons is also one of those online activities which representing 24% of their online activities.

(Image: Forrester Research)

Smartphones operating system market share worldwide in 2016: Google Android #1, Microsoft Windows Phone #2, Apple iOS #3, and RIM BlackBerry #4

Early this week, research firm International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker published a report and concluded that Google Android operating system will maintain its dominance for the next five years.  The OS market share will reach its peak in 2012.  South Korean-based company Samsung will be the most beneficial from the growth of Android OS, as the company is now selling million units of handsets called Galaxy S III.  Android market share is projected to maintain at a stable level with 52.9% share in 2016, compared to 61.0% share in 2012.

The second spot will go to Microsoft Windows Phone OS.  The mobile OS was released about two years ago.  The OS is now projected to take the number two position in 2016.  Windows Phone is estimated to grab market share as much as 19.2% in 2016, compared to 5.2% in 2012.  IDC also warned that the number two spot will only be reached if Nokia will still maintain its cellphone dominance in developing countries.

Apple iOS has grabbed a very large market share in recent years with the sales of iPhone version 4 and 4S.  Apple’s market targets include America, Europe, and Asian countries in the Pacific Rim region (incl. China, Far East, and Southeast Asia). IDC predicted that for years to come, Apple’s growth will rely on replacement cycles and phone carrier contracts. iOS is projected to grab 19.0% market share in 2016, compared to 20.5% in 2012.

RIM BlackBerry’s market share will continue to be suffered due to change of leadership at the company. IDC projected that the BlackBerry will retain some users who have familiar with the device and users who less likely to change OS due to learning curve.   However, apps developers have stayed away from developing BlackBerry apps in recent years which could hurt BlackBerry users’ base in the future.

(Images: top left, Google Android logo; top right, Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone; middle, table by IDC)

The beginning of privatization of UCLA: faculty leaders approved plan to make the world’s top-25 Anderson School's MBA program self-supporting and will soon rely on students tuition fees and alumni donations

The continuing budget crisis in the largest state in America has led to extensive cuts to fund public schools and colleges in California, including UC higher education system.  State funding for public universities are limited and there will be very little hope to recover in years to come as America’s economy remains weak.

On Thursday afternoon, June 7, the UCLA’s faculty leaders voted 53-46, with three people voted absents, to support a controversial plan to stop receiving state funding, as reported by dailybruin.com.  The world’s top-25 MBA program will stop taking state fund and hoping to survive on tuition fees, fundraising and donations.

The change may start a trend of privatization of public universities in America, especially for professional, business and law schools.  Those programs could charge high tuitions and get some wealthy alumni to donate their fortunes.

UCLA Anderson school dean, Judy Olian, is the forefront person of the plan.  After winning the votes, Olian is now working hard to get approvals from the UC Office of the President, as reported by latimes.com.   

Many top business schools in America such as Harvard, Stanford, USC, rely heavily on students’ tuition, alumni donations and organization gifts.  The latest move to be financially independent will help Anderson to compete in term of more innovative teaching methods and freely to collaborate with other institutions.  It will be good for Anderson as it will compete with other top-25 business schools to get the best potential students from around the world.

(Image: UCLA logo)