Archive for the ‘TECHNOLOGY’ Category

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Sony Offers PS3 and PSP Warranties

Tuesday, October 5th, 2010

Customers who bought video game consoles at stores like Best Buy or GameStop in the past years were given notice of retail-supported extended warranties. The warranty plans, however, go by many names. Among its aliases are “customer care plans” and “product replacement plans.” Despite having different names, they function similarly; they allow consumers to return any defective purchased products without going through the hassles of customer service.

Sony Computer Entertainment aims to eliminate middleman activity by offering PlayStation Protection Plans for both the PlayStation Portable (PSP) and PlayStation 3 (PS3). Consumers who bought a PS3 game console within the last year can now extend their repair warranties by a year for an affordable price of $45 and $60 for a two-year warranty. PlayStation Portable owners can likewise avail of the same offer: $30 for a one-year extension and $40 for two years. They can also choose to extend their plans in covering “accidental damages,” such as a cracked screen. This warranty should be purchased within its first month.

The PlayStation 3 is the third home game console manufactured by Sony, succeeding the PlayStation 2. The PS3, as part of the seventh generation of consoles, is a competitor of the Nintendo Wii and the Microsoft Xbox 360.

The PlayStation Portable, on the other hand, is a handy video game console also made and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment.

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Burj Khalifa, World’s Tallest Structure, Re-opens Observation Deck

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

The observation deck of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, has finally been re-opened. The deck was shut two months ago after an elevator accident caused visitors to be trapped more than 120 stories above the ground. During the opening ceremony, dozens of tourists visited and bought tickets to take an elevator ride to the top floor of the half-mile high superstructure located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Burj Khalifa’s was forced to close its observation deck in February after an elevator filled with visitors malfunctioned, leaving visitors trapped in the tower for 45 minutes. Rescuers had to drop a ladder to into the shaft so that those inside could escape the defective elevator. Two months after the incident, people still have no clue as to what caused the elevator to fail.

The unforeseen accident was very embarrassing for Dubai for its leaders hoped that the soaring building could attract more tourists as well as revive the advanced, cosmopolitan image the metropolis has earned in the past.

With a height of 2,717 ft (828 meters), this sky high tower not only is the world’s tallest skyscraper, but is also the tallest freestanding building in the world.

Burj Dubai has over 160 stories, although the number of floors isn’t exactly known.

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Profiles in Business: Intelius

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

After resigning from his post as Chief Executive Officer of Infospace, former Microsoft executive Naveen Jain and several associates established Intelius Inc at the start of 2003. Naveen Jain is also Intelius’ current CEO.

Initially, Intelius’ array of services focused solely on information commerce, offering individuals and businesses access to information for purposes such as background checks, identity verification, and medical and health history.

Intelius Inc aims to give small and big companies access to relevant details that allow them to make intelligent business decisions and map out effective business strategies. The company does this by merging accessible information found in public records, telephone directories, and other sources of information.

However, Intelius’ services are not limited to business. They also give their clients access to the company’s database so they can scan for information about individuals. This way, Intelius helps their clients find out who among these people are dangerous and who are not.

Aside from giving their clients access to information relevant to their companies’ success, Intelius expanded its range of services by providing anti-identity theft services.

As a company committed to corporate social responsibility, Intelius is active in helping the community in every way possible. During the identity theft threat where the identities of millions of American military veterans were in danger, Intelius offered a huge discount on their anti-identity theft products and services. According to Intelius, it was the company’s means of saluting men and women who served the United States of America.

Last 2007, Intelius reached a notable milestone as the company celebrated its fourth anniversary by serving its four millionth unique customer. This achievement is a testament of the company’s contribution and significance to the business and corporate industries.

Today, Intelius continues to provide small businesses and mega corporations the information and details they need to propel forward. It also gives individuals a great sense of security.

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Profiles in Business: Michael Dell

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

Michael S. Dell is a 45-year old American businessman who serves as the current chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer of Dell, Inc, a Texas-based multinational company that produces and sells personal computers and other related products and services. He has led Dell as its chairman and CEO since he established the information technology company in 1984. He is a self-made billionaire, with a net worth of $12.3 billion as estimated by Forbes Magazine in 2009.

Born on February 23, 1965 in Houston, Texas, Michael Dell attended the University of Texas at Austin for college, where he started his own company called PC’S Limited. The business became a huge success and he decided to drop out of school and continued to run his own business. Eventually, his small business evolved into Dell Computer Corporation, which later became Dell, Inc.

Michael Dell founded his own company, Dell, Inc, with roughly $1,000 and he slowly turned it into one of the largest information technology companies in the world. His IT empire became the largest manufacturer and seller of personal computers from the 1980s until the 1990s. Currently, Dell, Inc is the third largest computer manufacturer in terms of sales, only behind Hewlett-Packard and Acer. His corporation currently sells a variety of desktops, laptops, data storage devices, servers, software and other accessories made by separate manufacturers, such as digital cameras, portable music players and printers.

His enormous success led Michael Dell to become the youngest CEO ever to be included in the Fortune 500 rankings in 1992. Additionally, he was recognized and given various awards by different publications throughout his career, including “Entrepreneur of the Year,” “Man of the Year,” “Top CEO in American Business,” and “CEO of the Year.”

Aside from his chief post in Dell, Inc, Michael Dell has served other roles in various organizations. He is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Foundation Board and a part of the International Business Council’s executive committee. He also plays an active role in the U.S. Business Council. Likewise, he is a philanthropist, establishing the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation with his wife in 1999.

Michael Dell currently lives in Austin, Texas with his wife and their four children.

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Zerona Laser: The Latest Innovation in Cosmetic Treatment

Friday, March 5th, 2010

A lot of people have been talking about the Zerona laser, one of the latest innovations in laser technology used in cosmetic treatments. The Zerona laser is a relatively new technique that was only introduced in the market last 2008. Developed by Erchonia, one of the leaders in laser technology used in healthcare and wellness industries, Zerona is a new, non-invasive body-sculpting laser that works by stimulating the fat cells in the body. This causes the fat cells to burst, eliminating the fat stored inside. The fat is then released from the body through the lymphatic system during the normal course of detoxification. The whole treatment takes about six visits, with each session lasting forty minutes. It is clinically proven to be effective in reducing a patient’s waist, hips, and thighs by a couple of inches.

Initial tests were conducted to analyze the procedure’s effectiveness. It was also presented to the American Society of Lasers in Medicine and Surgery in 2008, and it received FDA market clearance for usage in the United States. In May 2009, it was featured in Cosmetics Surgery Times in a controlled study. The study revealed that the Zerona laser was proven to reduce body fat and the size of waist, hips, and thighs by an average of four inches.

This procedure is a slimming technique that is safe because it is painless during and after the procedure and it has no downtime. It is a convenient means to contour one’s body as it doesn’t need incision or marks from the treatment, doesn’t require wearing compression garments, and has no reported side effects. Thus, this technique, unlike other traditional procedures like liposuction, allows the treated patient to function normally throughout his or her daily regimen without the hassle of experiencing discomforts such as pain from surgery, wounds, or garments.

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“Invisible Bracelet” for Emergency Health Alerts

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

America’s emergency health care system just got an upgrade with a virtual medical ID. Called the Invisible Bracelet (iB), the device would help emergency responders deliver optimum service to patients.

iB lets Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers know the patient’s personal health history at a glance. In case of a crisis, the bracelet would automatically notify the patient’s kin and acquaintances.

Using an HIPAA-compliant web service, iB lets responders in on vital health details crucial to maximum EMS. Among others, the device can temporarily equip EMS providers with read-only information like the patient’s allergies.

Better yet, iB can automatically send a text message to loved ones in case of an emergency. Should an ambulance be required, medics on standby in call centers can notify the patient’s In Case of Emergency (ICE) contacts. With so much as a button push, the medic can likewise notify a hospital in the vicinity.

Renewable yearly for $5, the service gives members a card with a computer-assigned PIN number. It can hold as much as 10 ICE contacts. It may also come as keychain flash drives or implanted microchips.

iBs are designed to set off tangible medical bracelets, like those for diabetics and asthmatics. In some ways, it could be better, insofar as healthy people can wear invisible bracelets.

iB was initiated by invisibleBracelet.org in Oklahoma in April and done in partnership with the American Ambulance Association, the largest network of EMS providers in the US.

Now it is set to take off nationwide, as the American Ambulance Association prepares to train medics in January 2010. Nearly 100,000 people have applied as medics since it launched. In addition, the University of Oklahoma is integrating it into its campus services.

When fully available in early 2010, the iB would be the first national emergency health registry system in the US.

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Shoppers Scramble for Zhu Zhu Pets

Friday, January 15th, 2010

Parents across the US are dashing to buy the mechanical rodent known as the Zhu Zhu, currently the most in-demand Christmas gift for children.

They could be hard to come by though.

Retailers like Toys “R” Us and Walmart have been losing stock of the toys as parents continue to make requests for them. Meanwhile, opportunists at eBay have been selling them for as much as $100 each; the elusive toys otherwise only retail for $8.

In research conducted by the NPD Group, Zhu Zhus now rank among the five fastest-selling toys of 2009, in league with old favorites like G.I. Joe. In this view, Zhu Zhu’s maker, Cepia, could pocket $70 million in profits.

Loosely translated in Chinese as “piglet,” the Zhu Zhu is essentially a squeaking and chirping piece of artificial intelligence covered in faux fur. It is engineered to respond randomly to a touch and can scoot around reflexively.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. Largely made for 4-year old tots, the Zhu Zhu comes with a wide array of accessories, for which parents stand to shell out as much as $50. A single slide costs around $35, while a skateboard retails for nearly $13, the full-fledged “hamster city” selling for $130.

With daughters Natalie and Ashley, Cepia founder Russell Hornsby started conceiving the Zhu Zhu in 2008. At that time, the trio just discovered a 45-million strong demographic for live hamsters; they were willing to gamble on such market to splurge on artificial pets.

Such sales pitches grew to a crescendo this Yuletide, spawning a hysteria unseen since the debuts of Tickle Me Elmo, Pokemon, and Cabbage Patch dolls.

So-called Zhu Zhu parties have even been held. Throughout 2009, there were 300 of these affairs, in which parents could bond over their children, who would in turn bond over Zhu Zhus.

Now Wal-Mart has ordered more of the toys, to be shipped via 747s from China. In addition, the store has started holding Zhu Zhu sales twice a week, just so parents could satiate their children in time for Christmas morning.

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Texting Grows Among Americans

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

More Americans are using their thumbs rather than their mouths to communicate. In figures released Dec. 15, 2009 by the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of text messages sent in 2008 doubled from the previous year. In 2008, Americans sent more than 110 billion text messages. In comparison, only 48 billion messages were sent in 2007.

Interestingly, it appears as though Americans prefer to conserve their voices when contacting persons via cellphone. On average, they only spent 2.3 minutes each on a mobile phone call in 2008.

All in all, more than 270 million mobile phone and texting device users were accounted for in 2008. This number represents a 70% jump from 2003, when there were only around 159 million subscribers.

Merely 2.1 billion text messages were sent that year. That number has since risen more than 52 times in the six years leading to 2008’s record breaker. From two billion, the number of sent text messages rose to 4.7 billion in 2004, 9.8 billion the following year, 18.7 billion in 2006, and finally a quadruple billion in 2007.

Still, the average monthly cellphone bill relatively stayed the same throughout this six-year period. Since 2003, it has remained at approximately $55.

Talk time reached its pinnacle in 2004, even as call plans and mobile phones became increasingly available and affordable for everyday consumers. The average user talked for 3.05 minutes on the cellphone that year.

These numbers are largely based on a survey conducted by the nonprofit group known as the CTIA-Wireless Association. The Census Bureau used the data for their yearly Statistical Abstract, known in American terms as Uncle Sam’s Almanac.

Now on its 129th outing, the Statistical Abstract contains figures and tables about the economy, politics, society and everyday life in the United States. The abstract has been a traditional source of statistical information for many researchers and businesspersons.

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YouTube Lists Most Viewed Videos

Friday, January 8th, 2010

For the first time ever, YouTube counted down its most watched videos for the year.

In the list published Dec. 16, singing phenomenon Susan Boyle tellingly got the most popular video of 2009. Approximately 120 million views worldwide went to a clip of her debut appearance on Britain’s Got Talent, the reality contest where she emerged as runner-up.

She bested the second-most watched video by a huge margin. “David after Dentist,” a clip of a seven-year-old boy dazed and disoriented after a dentist’s appointment, was viewed 37 million times the world over.

Up next, with 33 million views, was the “JK Wedding Entrance Dance.” Minnesotan newlyweds Jill Peterson and Kevin Heinz star in the clip, which features their July wedding’s unconventional intro. To the tune of Chris Brown’s “Forever,” the couple and their entourage walked and danced their way down the aisle.

“Forever” re-entered the music charts shortly after the video went viral. Sony, which owns the song’s rights, shared in ad revenues from the clip.

Meanwhile, “David” of dental fame has become a precocious public speaker of sorts. Even more successful was Boyle, whose debut CD has topped the US album charts for multiple weeks in December.

Coming in fourth was the trailer for the blockbuster film New Moon. At 31 million views, it gave a titillating sneak peek into the film, which chronicles the travails of a teenager caught in the romantic advances of a vampire and a werewolf. The movie was starred in by heartthrobs Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, along with Kristen Stewart.

Another commercial rounded out the top five. Bottled water maker Evian garnered 27 million views for its ad showing diaper-clad infants on rollerblades.

On top of the most watched videos, YouTube listed the year’s most popular music videos produced by record labels. At 82 million views, “I Know You Want Me” by Pitbull claimed the top spot. Teen pinup Miley Cyrus acquired 118 million views collectively for “The Climb” and “Party in the USA.”

YouTube, which debuted in 2005, is currently one of the world’s most famous websites. Every minute, 20 hours of new material are uploaded into the site.

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Unveiled: World’s First Commercial Spaceship

Monday, January 4th, 2010

Ending months of conceptual drawings, space tourism outfit Virgin Galactic undraped its first commercial spaceship in glitzy ceremonies held on Dec. 7, 2009 in the Mojave Desert.

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson was on hand to reveal the spaceship, named the Virgin Space Ship Enterprise (V.S.S. Enterprise). Joining him in the customary breaking of champagne bottles were Virgin Galactic President Will Whitehorn and California and New Mexico governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bill Richardson.

VSS Enterprise promises to send people into space in 2011, following lengthy safety tests. At most, the Enterprise would offer five minutes of weightlessness and a view of the globe’s curvature.

Would-be astronauts need to cough up $200,000 (£122,000) for a space trek. Already, 3,000 individuals have booked the flights, 300 of whom have paid $20,000 each as a deposit. Many of the latter were seen at the ceremonies in the Mojave Air and Space Port.

“NASA spent billions of dollars on space travel and has only managed to send 480 people into space. We’re hoping to send thousands,” said Sir Branson, who, with his family, would take the first flight.

Scaled Composites, the company of 2004 Ansari X Prize winner Burt Rutan, built VSS Enterprise, otherwise known as the first of the planned SpaceShipTwo fleet. Rutan created the Enterprise’s predecessor SpaceShipOne, which already flew twice into space.

Measuring 60 feet long, VSS Enterprise is attached to a double-fuselage craft called WhiteKnightTwo, in turn nicknamed VMS EVE. The latter would convey VSS Enterprise to an altitude of 50,000 feet, after which a rocket would propel the spaceship further above the planet.

In seconds, the spaceship would ascend towards the fringes of the earth’s atmosphere, 62 miles above the earth. At this point, the passengers have reached suborbital space, where they can unfasten their seatbelts and float around.

Passengers in the Enterprise would then become astronauts in their own right. In comparison, NASA gives astronaut wings to people who have flown 50 miles above the planet.

Branson’s Enterprise will undergo a series of flight and ground safety tests for the next 18 months.

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