Intel unveils super-chip technology

Intel has touted a diminutive new microprocessor that it said could deliver "supercomputer-like" performance to home computers and handheld devices.

Intel said its unprecedented programmable processor was not much larger than a fingernail, used less power than a typical home appliance and could perform more than a trillion calculations per second -- a "teraflop."

Such "tera-scale computing" could make possible artificial intelligence, real-time speech recognition, realistic video games, instant online film viewing and other stuff from the realm of science fiction, according to Intel.

"Our researchers have achieved a wonderful and key milestone in terms of being able to drive multi-core and parallel computing performance forward," said Intel chief technology officer Justin Rattner.

"It points the way to the near future when teraflops-capable designs will be commonplace and reshape what we can all expect from our computers and the Internet at home and in the office."

The first computer to run at a teraflop speed was an Intel-built machine at Sandia National Laboratories in 1996.

That ASCI Red Supercomputer took up more than 2,000 square feet (185 square meters) and used 500 kilowatts of electricity.

Santa Clara, California-based Intel's "80-core" research chip attains teraflop performance using 62 watts.

Intel had no plans to market the new chip but said it would be used to develop compatible software and computer connections capable of handling fast-moving avalanches of data.
-- AFP

BPO sector to employ 1-M Pinoys by 2010

The business process outsourcing industry in the country is expected to employ at least a million Filipinos by 2010 as more BPO firms are being set up in the provinces, officials said yesterday.

Trade and Industry Undersecretary for regional operations Carissa Cruz-Evangelista said regions outside Metro Manila are becoming attractive for "offshore e-Services" as a result of improved infrastructure and abundance of IT (information technology) manpower.

"Notable BPOs are now in the regions which include InfoNXX, ePLDT Ventus, Client Logic and Teletech. These are multimillion investments that translate to jobs that will further spur the development of the countryside," Evangelista said in a press conference at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City.

The Department of Trade and Industry Regional Operations Group hosted the two-day Regional IT hubs forum as part of the government’s 7th e-Services Philippines (ESP) which concluded yesterday.

Todate, there are 45 BPO firms located in Baguio City, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Iloilo, Leyte, Sta. Rosa and Clark. Firms operating in the regions include call centers, medical transcription, software development and animation graphics, she said.

Evangelista added these BPOs do not include firms in Cebu and Dumaguete, which are also major areas of IT investments.

"With this development, we are now seeing these regions developing as regional IT hubs that will host more BPO firms," she said, adding this would also provide remarkable economic activity to the provinces.
By Helen M. Flores - The Philippine Star

Porno’ng animé

ANG cartoon o animé, ay palabas na pambata. Iyan ang akala natin. Pero may lumalaganap ngayon sa internet na cartoon nga pero malaswa. Iyan ang kinalolokohan ng mga teen-agers ngayon.

Ang tawag diyan ay "hentai animé cartons" na produksyon ng bansang Japan. Pumalag dito kamakailan si Alliance of Volunteers Educators (AVE) party-list Rep. Amang Magsaysay. Bilang kinatawan ng education sector, sinabi niya na dapat kumilos ang pamahalaan upang mapigil ang pagpasok sa bansa ng mga pelikulang ito. Alam niyo naman na malamang kumalat pati mga pirated copies ng mga pelikulang iyan.

Nanawagan si Magsaysay sa MTRCB at Optical Media Board na magsanib ng lakas para mahadla- ngan ang pagpasok sa bansa ng mga malalaswang panooring ito. Ang problema kasi ay ang prodyuser ng mga panooring iyan. Alam nilang maglilimas sila ng limpak-limpak na pera sa kanilang bagong kalakal. Pero ang nakataya ay ang pagkawasak ng moralidad lalu na ng mga kabataan.

May katuwiran si Magsaysay. Bilang kinatawan ng education sector, obligasyon niya na pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mga kabataan na balita ko’y patuloy na nahahaling sa "bagong usong" ito na lumalaganap sa maraming bansa sa Asia.

Lalong nakababahala na may mga Pilipino artists diumano na kasangkot sa paggawa ng mga animation na ito. Tapos, may mga Pinoy na voice talents na naglalapat ng boses at salita sa mga cartoon na ito.

Nanawagan din si Magsaysay sa Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI) na tanuran ang sariling hanay nito para mahadlangan ang partisipasyon ng mga Pilipino sa ganitong karumaldumal na kalaswaan.
AKSYON NGAYON Ni Al G. Pedroche - Ang Pilipino STAR Ngayon

Globe: Isn’t telecoms a deregulated industry?

Still on government matters, I did get a lot of e-mails from that consumer group that calls itself TxtPower, complaining about the hike in Globe Telecom’s unlimited texting rates. Somehow, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), in a knee-jerk reaction to that e-mail and text messages sent by TxtPower, immediately ordered Globe Telecom to rollback its rates back to pre-Feb. 5 levels. This is what we call shooting from the hip, with a foot in the mouth!

The official statement coming from Globe Telecom is that there was no legal basis for NTC to order a rollback, as due process was not observed, which means there should be prior notice and hearing. Call this a technicality if you wish, but Globe Telecom is right, there was no hearing hence there could never be a legal order to cease and desist!

Moreover, Globe also insisted that the NTC has no authority to impose a specific tariff for the text service. Indeed, Globe’s position paper was virtually a reminder to the NTC that the Supreme Court had, in a case filed by Globe Telecom against the NTC several years ago, affirmed that the text messaging service was classified as a special feature of the network, and therefore deregulated under NTC Memorandum Circular 14-7-2000. Telecom carriers are authorized to fix their own rates for deregulated services, and need only notify the Commission of their new rates but do not need the Commission’s approval.

Now, as far as Globe subscribers are concerned, the Telecoms industry is truly a deregulated industry where there is a free market of ideas and the spirit of competition is alive and well. Globe Telecom knows too well the risks they are taking in making such low-priced promos for pre-paid subscribers, as they can easily migrate to another telecom firm giving lower rates. Some of these subscribers even have two cellphones.

In truth, there’s no brand loyalty from these subscribers who would never hesitate to desert their current service provider and sign up with a competitor that can offer cheaper rates. But then, it should be told that cheaper rates doesn’t translate to quality service, which Globe Telecom always gives to postpaid subscribers.
INSIDE CEBU By Bobit S. Avila - The Philippine Star

NBI raids company using pirated software

The Philippine Star

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has scored anew in its anti-piracy campaign with the recent confiscation of some P2.5 million worth of personal computers using unlicensed software from a computer solutions company in Makati City.

Agents of the NBI Intellectual Property Rights Division said they seized computer units allegedly carrying unauthorized AutoCAD software from the office of T & S Global Solution Inc. (TSGSI) last Feb. 1.

Lawyer Jose Justo Yap, chief of NBI – IPRD, said the case stemmed from a complaint of Autodesk, Inc., owner of the software. The company said it did not issue a permit to TSGSI to use its programs.

Yap said charges of copyright infringement are being readied against TSGSI. – Edu Punay