IndoPost.com Breaking News, Opinion, Indonesia and USA

India to wait for BlackBerry solution for interception of the popular messenger services until January 2011

As growing global concerns over BlackBerry messenger services in many Asian countries since this past summer, India has joined United Arab Emirates to ask Research in Motion Ltd. (RIM) to find solution by January 2011, reported AP.  Due to high risk with national security, BlackBerry maker has promised to provide a solution by early 2011. 

Countries such as India, UAE, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and others in the region had threatened to ban BlackBerry e-mail and messenger services since early August and about to officially ban the services by October, but those countries have now delayed their actions beyond October.

Kinect Mania: Microsoft executives change their mugshots with games avatars in anticipation of Xbox 360 motion sensor launch on November 4

The top selling games console in North America Xbox 360 is getting fanfares from Microsoft executives including its big boss Steve Ballmer.  Each executive changed their mugshots with Xbox Live games avatars (still not seeing Bill Gates avatar yet).  The new mugshots are now on display at Microsoft PressPass website as Xbox 360 motion sensor is going to be launch on November 4.  This is one of the best marketing ideas coming from the giant software company for many years.

 
(Screenshot: Microsoft PressPass)

YouTube reaches a new record high of 1 billion subscriptions worldwide

The official YouTube blog announced that the giant search Google’s streaming video provider has reached a record high of 1 billion subscriptions on October 28, 2010.  YouTube is a very popular site for users to share their amateur or professional videos. 

The streaming video website divided categories into several favorite channels, such as music, film, news, sport, etc.  YouTube also announced 15 of their popular channels have received over one million subscribers each. 

As it hit 1 billion subscriptions, YouTube also launched several updates to help its users to gain more subscribers including to embed new coding system into users’ website or blog.

Variant spellings of Mohammed, Muhammad, Mohammad, is now the top baby boy’s first name in Britain ahead of Oliver, Jack, Harry, and Alfie

Based on official data for newborns in Britain for 2009, variant spellings of Mohammed have taken the top spot for baby boy’s first time.  According to dailymail.co.uk, baby boy called Mohammed has increased significantly since 1999.  There were 7,549 newborns named after Islamic prophet Mohammed’s name in Britain in 2009, compared to only 7,364 babies first name as Oliver, reported by dailymail.co.uk.

Other popular western first name such as Oliver is now number two and Jack is number three.  Then, it follows by Harry at number four, and Alfie at number five most popular boy first name in Britain.

(Screenshot: dailymail.co.uk)

First week of November: smartphone users will get the new BlackBerry Bold 9780 running on 6.0 OS with 5 MP camera, 512 MB flash memory, and 32 GB of memory card slot

BlackBerry maker RIM has just announced the new BlackBerry Bold 9780 for all smartphone users around the world as the newest handset will be out of the door in the first week of November.  There are high concentration of happy BlackBerry users in Asia countries including Indonesia, India, and middle-eastern regions.  At the same week of November, top phone carriers AT&T will also start selling Windows Phone 7 handsets in America.

Key features:

• BlackBerry 6.0 operating system
• 5 MP camera
• 512 MB flash memory
• 32 GB of memory card slot

(Photo: blackberry.com/bold)

New milk product with high levels of hormone melatonin could help people with sleep disorder

Milchkristalle Company in German has invented a new type of milk product to help people with sleep disorder or insomniacs.  The nigh milk product contains high levels of hormone melatonin.  According to abcnews.com, about 1,400 cows in a Germany farm that are being milked during dawn hours between 2:00 am to 4:00 am.  As abcnews.com wrote “under the theory that [cows] will produce more sleep inducing melatonin in their milk at a time when [cows] are usually lying down in the dark."

After milked in the early morning, the Germany Company which uses “Night Milk” brand (nacht-milchkristalle.de) condensed the milks into dried milk and sold in boxes.  One box of 144 grams of Night Milk could cost about 25 Euro or $35 US dollar.

American doctors' salaries gap: primary care physicians earn about $60 per hour versus specialist doctors earn a minimum of $85 per hour

A study conducted by researcher J. Paul Leigh at University of California Davis School of Medicine found there are more specialty doctors than primary care physicians in America.  According to the research, specialty doctors earn almost doubled the primary care physicians which are about $60 per hour.  This wage gap caused to shortage of primary care doctors in America, as more young doctors pursue their career to be specialized in areas such as surgery and oncology.

Based on the research study, as reported by reuters.com, here are few examples of specialist doctors’ salary per hour:

• Neurologic surgery:  $132
• Radiation oncology: $126
• Surgeons: $92
• Internal medicine and pediatric docs: $85

Potentially lethal superbug causing worry to Chicago hospitals and nursing homes

A dangerous superbug and resistant to the strongest antibiotics is spreading in Chicago hospitals and nursing homes.  Based on a new study presented at a conference for the Infectious Diseases Society of America and published by chicagotribune.com, each of 37 health facilities in Chicago has an average of 10 superbug cases during the first half of 2010, compared to an average of four cases in 26 locations during 2009.

Technology clusters of Silicon Valley continued to add more jobs than other places

While California economy is still in crisis with layoffs in most major metropolitans including Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland and Riverside-San Bernardino, local economy in Silicon Valley continues to prosper as the top technology clusters in America to add more jobs than other counties. According to mercurynews.com, more jobs were added this year than during the past two years.

As mercurynews.com wrote "Total payroll employment in the San Jose metro area -- which includes Santa Clara County, home to most of Silicon Valley's big tech employers, and mostly agricultural San Benito County -- was up year over year for the first time after 23 consecutive months of declines, with the region gaining 6,700 jobs, a 0.8 percent increase since September 2009."

Virgin Galactic spaceship project officially opens a remote spaceport in the state of New Mexico

Over 340 rich people who have purchased seats for private spaceship will soon be flying outer space from a remote spaceport in America.  Airfare for the space trip is $200,000 with 10% refundable charge, reported AFP via yahoo.com.

Sir Richard Branson, who funded of the mega project, will officially open a main runway at Spaceport America in the state of New Mexico this week.  The initial plan is that customers will start orbiting into space in early 2012. 

(Photo: AFP)

First anniversary of Microsoft Windows 7 and over 240 million licenses have been sold worldwide

An interesting post written by Microsoft Windows blogger Brandon LeBlanc that proclaimed over 240 million licenses of Windows 7 have been sold worldwide.  Microsoft also said that Windows 7 is the top and fastest selling operating system in the giant software company’s history.  According to the blog post, Windows 7 OS controls over 17% world PCs market share and over 18,000 of the company’s partners have been selling Windows 7 PCs worldwide.

California's $14 billion pot agriculture business model, as the largest state in America is waiting to legalizing marijuana

Lawmakers and voters are waiting to see whether Prop 19 will be passed in coming election in early November.  A recent state report shows that the Golden state’s pot agriculture business model is worth about $14 billion per year, compared to wine business which totaled only $2 billion annually.  

While the largest state in America is still dealing with its budget crisis, the state could collect about $1.4 billion in taxes.  As reported by nbcbayarea.com, state of California may allow pot agriculture; however, America’s federal government would disagree with the business model.

Microsoft rebranded its Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS) cloud services as Office 365 which includes Office, SharePoint, Exchange and Lync

Another big day for the giant software company as it announced a new brand for cloud services after the departure of its Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie on Monday.  Microsoft has rebranded its Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS) cloud services as Office 365.  The new brand cloud services will include Office, SharePoint, Exchange and Lync, and later next year will add other services, such as Dynamics CRM. 

Office 365 is cloud-based apps, almost similar to Google Apps, and can be accessed via popular browsers, smartphones and desktop applications.

According to the press release, a limited beta program for Office 365 will be available in 13 countries.  After the beta testing ended, each user will be tentatively charge $6 or 5.25 euros per month.

Say bye-bye to Ray Ozzie as Microsoft's chief software architect and a potential return of Bill Gates

The giant software company Microsoft just announced the departure of its chief software architect Ray Ozzie.   Ozzie joined Microsoft in mid-2005 after his company Groove Networks was acquired by the giant software.  When Microsoft’s big boss Bill Gates left the position as chief software architect, Ray Ozzie was named as his successor. 

Soon after joint Microsoft, Ozzie worked mainly on Windows Live web-based services, Mesh synchronization software, and later on Azure cloud computing services.

Many tech watchers speculated that the departure of Ray Ozzie could indicating the return of Bill Gates as the giant software’s next chief software architect while Microsoft is fighting really hard to recapture its mobile computing market share from Apple iOS and Google Android OS.

Google Android operating system naming convention: Cupcake, Donut, Éclair, Frozen Yogurt (Froyo), Gingerbread, Honeycomb, and soon Ice Cream

One of the top mobile platforms in America’s smartphone market, Google Android OS, names each new version of the operating system after a dessert since mid-2009.  The naming convention is set in alphabetical order. 

According to forbes.com blog, the future Android version 4.0 is rumored to be dubbed as Ice Cream and to be released in mid-2012.  In the meantime Google is working on version 3.0 and is scheduled for release sometime before Xmas of 2010 or after New Year 2011.

A list of Google Android operating system naming convention:

• Android version 1.5: Cupcake
• Android version 1.6: Donut
• Android version 2.0: Éclair
• Android version 2.2: Frozen Yogurt (Froyo)
• Android version 3.0: Gingerbread
• Android version 3.5: Honeycomb
• Android version 4.0: Ice Cream

No defects: first three super babies born via in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and a new technique known as comparative genomic hybridization (CGH)

A team of scientists in European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) has confirmed that two women have given birth to three super and healthy babies this past summer.  The creation of the first three super babies was produced via in-vitro fertilization (IVF), a technique known as comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) by microarray, reported reuters.com.  

Human eggs were screened for genetic defects, and then healthy eggs are fertilized with the father sperm which later implanted into a mother womb.  Over the weekend, scientists confirmed the birth of a set of twin girls in Germany in June and a healthy boy born in Italy in September.

Worldwide slate devices or tablet computers (i.e., Apple iPad) to hit record sales in 2010 and the next five years



  
According to Gartner, Inc., worldwide consumers are flocking to purchase tablet computers and projected sales to hit 19.5 million units in 2010.  About 50% to 60% of world tablets are being sold in North America. 

Slate devices or tablet computers are manufactured by several gadget companies include Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, and Cisco Cius.  The current average price for a tablet computer is about $500 per unit.

Based on Gartner data, here are their sales projections for tablet computers for the next five years:

• 2010 sales: 19.5 million units
• 2011 sales: 55 million units
• 2012 sales: 103 million units
• 2013 sales: 154 million units
• 2014 sales: 208 million units

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth cancelled the Buckingham Palace Christmas party that was held every two years with 1,200 guests

As Britain’s economy is still in crisis since in the late 2007, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has decided to cancel this year Christmas party at the Buckingham Palace.  This type of royal party with 1,200 guests usually held for every two years and this year was scheduled for December 13, as per thesun.co.uk.   Although the party is mainly funded by the Queen's private money, after receiving advises from royal senior staffs, Her Majesty decided to cancel the party as Britain's deterioration economy and its recovery remained uncertain for several years, reported thesun.co.uk.

Americans life expectancy: Hispanics people live longer than white and black people

Only in America, Hispanics people outlive other population including whites and blacks.   Hispanics people outlive whites for more than two years.  The Latinos also outlive blacks for more than seven years.  Although Hispanics has a large share of poor and undereducated population, they live longer than anyone in America.

Based on life expectancy data published by America’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and reported by AP, a person of Hispanic decent and born in 2006 is estimated to live for 80 years and seven months.  The life projection for a white is at 78 years.  The America’s government agency also estimated for a black to live up to only 73 years.

For Sale: California to sell several government office buildings to private investors as the Golden State needs revenues to pay off bonds and helps state budget crisis

While the largest state in America is still facing budget crisis, California is desperately needed cash to operate the state.  In order to pay off bonds and helps state budget crisis, the Golden State has to let go several government office buildings in Los Angeles and San Francisco. 

The first set of buildings has been sold to a group of investors with a total value of $2.3 billion, reported cnbc.com.  After changing of ownership of the properties, California must rent those building spaces for another 20 years at market value.

Microsoft starts brand new mobile operating system Windows Phone 7 and brings together Live, Xbox, Office, and Bing, and will available in Europe on October 21 and in America on November 8

The new Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system will integrate many of the giant software company’s platforms, including Windows Live, Xbox, Office, and Bing decision/search engine.   The new OS will be a hub for accessing games and connecting with other gamers.  It will also serve as hub to view and edit Office documents using popular applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.  

On November 8, America’s wireless carriers including AT&T and T-Mobile will start selling Windows Phone 7 powered handsets, as per Microsoft.  While in some European markets they will start selling earlier than American, users can start ordering on October 21.

(Photo: Microsoft)

Boston area public schools system to start one Muslim holiday in 2011 to let students celebrating Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha

Muslim students around the world always have holiday during school year to celebrate Eid al-Fitr by the end of Ramadan (the month of fasting) or Eid al-Adha as the Festival of Sacrifice, but American students must made tough choice every year to go to school or not.  This will soon change in America starting next year, reported local Boston online news. 

Boston area public school system in Cambridge will close during Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha starting 2011.  According to boston.com, this is the first attempt to close public schools  on Islamic holy days in Boston area.

(Photo: wikipedia.org)

Soaring corn, barley, rice, and wheat prices threaten worldwide food crisis as global climate disruption hit crops in Northern America and European nations

This year’s global climate disruption hit crops badly, including dry summer in America, Russia and Brazil, and heavy rain in Canada and Europe.  At the same time, America Department of Agriculture warned of lower supplies which affecting prices among world’s commodity markets.  According ft.com, corn prices in America has increased by 13.3% during trading on Friday in Chicago, while in Paris, Europe, wheat prices increased over 10% for the day.  Prices for other commodities including soybeans, sugar, cotton, barley and oats also increased significantly for the week, reported ft.com.

Can you hear me? America’s Transportation Department considers banning all type of mobile phones use in cars including texting and making calls

Due to distractions while driving, America’s Transportation Department Secretary Ray LaHood has ordered a comprehensive research study on mobile phones use in cars, reported bloomberg.com. 

While majority states in America have banned texting and making calls while driving, America’s Transportation Department has also urged car manufacturers to limit implementing vehicle features to support mobile phones use for motorists, including hands-free calls. 

According to bloomberg.com, car manufacturers continue to add new features to support mobile phones use while driving to attract young generation car buyers, such as voice activated phones and audio updates for social networking websites.

Food stamps recipients cannot purchase sugary soft drinks (soda) in New York City as the Empire State experiencing high costs to tackle obesity-related illness

The Empire State governor and New York City mayor have asked America’s Department of Agriculture to prohibit food stamps recipients to purchase sugary soft drinks (soda) for two years, reported bloomberg.com.  Public officials believe that sugar-sweetened drinks are one of the main causes of high numbers of obesity-related illness, especially for low-income individuals.  The total count of food stamps recipients welfare program continue to skyrocket as America’s economy remained weak since global crisis started at the end of 2007.

A record high of 41.8 million Americans rely on food stamps in July 2010, or with a ratio of 1:8 of total population

As unemployment rate hit high level in America, based on the latest data provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 41.8 million Americans depend on government to support their daily life in July.  This was a new record high for the total number of food stamps recipients, reported bloomberg.com. 

An early prediction for unemployment rate for September conducted by bloomberg.com show that last month’s rate was at 9.7 percent, compared to 9.6 percent in July.

Smartphone operating system market share in America (January to August 2010): RIM BlackBerry OS 31%, Apple iOS 28%, and Google Android OS 19%

The latest smartphone operating system (OS) data for the month of August from The Nielsen Company show Google Android OS continues to gain market share in America with 19% share in August, compared to January which was at 8% share. 

RIM BlackBerry OS dropped slightly to 31% share in August, compared to January at 36% share.

Apple iOS remained at stable level with 28% share in August, compared to January at 29% share.

 
(Screenshot: The Nielsen Company)

The side effect of prolonged laptop use on bare legs (or 'toasted skin syndrome') as temperature underneath a moveable computer can reach 125F (52C)

A team of researchers of the University Hospital Basel from Swiss has published a report via medical journal Pediatrics and found that computer laptop users who resting their laptops on bare legs for a few hours a day for several months could damage their skin and can lead to skin cancers.  The new term for the side effect of computer heat on skin is also known as 'toasted skin syndrome.'   The skin around legs of computer laptop users could show very wild looking mottled skin damage which similar to long-term sun exposure.   According to the medical study which was also cited by dailymail.co.uk, temperature underneath laptop computer can hit 125F (52C).

(Photo: AP via dailymail.co.uk)

Bad foods for children: top-3 sources for American kids' calories are baked goods, pizza, and soda

A study published by Journal of the American Dietetic Association found American kids aged 2 to 18 years consumed mostly baked goods, pizza and soda.  Researchers believe American kids eating habits could endanger their health for many generations to come especially from fat and sugar sources.  Based on the study by Journal of the American Medical Association and published via healthland.time.com, it found that over 23 million American children are considered as overweight kids.

In order to protect Americans overseas, government will issue warning to people who are planning to travel in European countries

The latest news report citing The Sunday Telegraph of London and published by msnbc.com found that America’s government will issue warning to its citizen when visiting tourist spots in Europe in the next 24-hours.  Tourists are urged to take precaution when taking local transportations and visiting other hot targets for terrorists (i.e., bars, cafeterias, and nigh clubs).  The latest blow in security concerns will have huge implications for tourism.