HTML 5 may not be finalized before 2022

The next version of the HTML Web programming standard is unlikely to be finalized until 2022, according to a source within the Web standards community.
"The current best estimate for final delivery is 2022," the source told ZDNet Asia's sister site ZDNet UK last week.
Officially speaking, HTML 5 is on track to "reach the W3C Candidate Recommendation stage during 2012", but the source said the target is off by around a decade. It's already been 12 years since HTML 4.0 hit its W3C Candidate Recommendation stage.
The idea of HTML 5's final publication being so far off is both bad news and, in some ways, irrelevant. The new generation of Web standards is crucial for widgets and, perhaps more importantly, handling Web video sans Flash, but it doesn't require final publication to start being used. Elements of HTML 5 have already found their way into Internet Explorer 8 and the latest version of Chrome.
READ MORE - HTML 5 may not be finalized before 2022

Microsoft to announce Azure business plan next month

Microsoft plans to announce next month more of the business details behind its Windows Azure operating system.
The software maker unveiled the cloud-based operating system at a developer conference last year. It has said that some of the services, currently in free testing, will be released in final form this year. The company has said that it will run Azure applications in its data centers and will charge users based on the computing resources they need.
In an interview on Monday, Corporate Vice President Allison Watson said that the company will get concrete about the financial details and say how partners can help sell Azure at Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference which runs July 13-16 in New Orleans.
Until now, Microsoft has said merely that it plans to be "competitive with the marketplace" when it comes to pricing Azure.
Microsoft has also talked about perhaps having partners run Azure data centers in other locations, but Watson said that announcements on that front are probably further out.
"The economics of running a giant hosted business are different," Watson said. "They are interesting."
Microsoft is still trying to figure out exactly which businesses it wants to be in and which should be left to partners, she said. When Microsoft announced Azure, it said that all of the applications would be run from its data centers. However, Watson said the company is also looking at ways that partners can host cloud-based solutions.
"We've had some interesting conversations," Watson said.
Microsoft already competes directly with its hosting partners in other parts of its services business. For example, Microsoft offers online versions of SharePoint and Exchange, but also has partners that host their own copies of those products for customers.
Even in a world where Microsoft is selling services as much as software and using the Internet to deliver many of those products, Watson says that partners remain key to Microsoft's strategy.
"Partners have been our secret ingredient for how we grow and how we get things done," Watson said.
She noted that some of the key growth areas of technology--virtualization, mobility, and unified communications are places where customers need the skills of a partner as opposed to buying a software or service "off the shelf."
Even many of Microsoft's longtime competitors, folks with big internal sales efforts like IBM and Oracle, are starting to place more emphasis on the role of partners, she said. Even Google, she said, is starting to get in the partner game, announcing a program earlier this year.
For Microsoft, it continues to invest in that area despite the economy, Watson said.
While Microsoft has cut some from its internal field sales ranks, Watson said the company has actually added some to its partner sales channel in hopes that third parties might be able to pick up some of the slack on the sales front.
And while the overall enterprise software business is projected to be roughly flat this year, Watson notes that rate is better than on the hardware side. Since last October, Microsoft has been trying to convince partners that selling Microsoft's software can be a bright spot in an otherwise tough economy.
As for the Azure push, Watson didn't want to give away too much more. He also spoke about his cloud-based vision in a recent speech at the Churchill Club in Silicon Valley.
READ MORE - Microsoft to announce Azure business plan next month

Pacnet goes to Vietnam via new partner

SINGAPORE--Telecommunications service provider Pacnet has launched a point of presence in Vietnam, through a partnership with FPT Telecom.
The partnership with the Vietnamese Internet service provider (ISP) will enable Pacnet to sell services in the country, as well as Cambodia and Laos, Pacnet CEO Bill Barney said at a press briefing Monday.
Pacnet hopes to provide broadband connectivity to the MNC (multinational coporation) base in Vietnam--some 360 of the Fortune 500 companies have set up presence in the country, he said.
These companies do not have large bandwidth requirements, but need their networks to be resilient for mission-critical appications, he noted.
Quoting figures from the United Nations Conference of Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Vietnam bucked the global trend of falling foreign direct investment (FDI) and saw its FDI triple from US$20.3 billion to US$64 billion in 2008, he said.
The FPT Telecom partnership is also primed for an explosion of bandwidth needs in the country, Barney said. Pointing to its current Internet penetration of 24 percent, with less than 3 percent broadband penetration, he said Vietnam has "huge potential" for growth.
The new alliance also enables Pacnet to establish a landing station in the country, he added. "The biggest challenge in the telecoms business is getting government approval to build a [landing station]," Barney explained.
Unlike Vietnam, countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan, allow telecoms service providers to wholly own landing station assets without the need to partner a local business, he said.
Surge in Asia's bandwidth demands
Vietnam's appetite for bandwidth is part of a global phenomenon that is seeing bandwidth needs double every five months, said Barney.
To meet this demand, Pacnet in April completed a 3,200Gbps upgrade of the EAC-C2C subsea cable system that it owns and runs. It has also accelerated the next phase of upgrades, which will add 2,000Gbps of capacity to the network, because of the surge in demand, Barney said.
He added that the mobile application industry has "pulled the market forward", driving an increase in mobile data consumption. This has in turn resulted in mobile services providers buying more bandwidth from wholesale providers such as Pacnet, to meet the growing consumer demand, he said.
Pacnet was established in January 2008 following the merger between Asia Netcom and Pacific Internet, Pacnet earlier this year opened its fourth regional customer service center in Malaysia.
READ MORE - Pacnet goes to Vietnam via new partner

Honda small car Jazz launched in India

The much awaited car honda jazz is finally set to hit Indian roads. With a futuristic aerodynamic exterior and spacious interiors, Jazz is equipped with four-cylinder 1.2-liter i-VTEC engine and is priced between Rs 6.98 - Rs 7.33 lakh.

CAR MAJOR Honda on Wednesday (June 10), launched its latest global car – the honda jazz in India. Boasting an optimum balance between a futuristic aerodynamic exterior and spacious interiors, the company said Jazz is a segment-defining car that has won accolades and adoration all over the world.

The honda jazz is priced between Rs 6.98 - Rs 7.33 lakh and will be available in three types in manual transmission – Jazz, Jazz 'Mode' and Jazz 'Active' in six vibrant colours – Habanero Red, Deep Sapphire Blue, Sherbet Blue, Alabaster Silver, Taffetta White and Crystal Black Pearl.

The honda jazz comes with a two-plus-two years or 80,000 kms warranty and four years roadside assistance as standard value for all Jazz buyers.

Speaking on the occasion, Masahiro Takedagawa, president and CEO, Honda Siel Cars India Ltd said, “The honda jazz is a segment defining car and is loaded with all the values that are associated with Honda – global design, great drivability, fuel efficiency and safety. The Jazz will cater to a unique group of people who want the latest and most stylish models with the best of technology, safety and practicality in their car.

We are confident that like our other products, the Jazz will be well accepted in the country.”

The Jazz’s dynamic performance is achieved by a newly developed four-cylinder 1.2-liter i-VTEC engine. Jazz is available in five-speed manual transmission with gear ratios optimised for a sporty driving experience, while ensuring good fuel economy.

Jazz is E10 compatible and has Euro IV emission levels and the company says it has been especially developed for Indian markets.

The Electric Power Steering aids the driver to steer the car with less effort and gives better handling.

The honda jazz comes fully loaded with various active and passive safety features including ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) with EBD (Electronic Brake-Force Distribution System), Dual SRS airbags and pre-tensioner seat belts. Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering Body (ACE) and G-CON (G-Force Control Technology) provide a high integrity survival zone that enhances self-protection and better compatibility in collisions with other vehicles.
READ MORE - Honda small car Jazz launched in India

Sign the Petition for the Water for the World Act

In his Inaugural Address, President Obama said, “let clean waters flow.” With those words, he brought recognition to the suffering of 884 million people who do not have access to clean water and 2.5 billion without adequate sanitation.
Senators Durbin and Corker introduced S. 624, The Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2009, a bipartisan bill to make clean water a reality. But with only five cosponsors, the bill isn’t getting the attention it needs for a hearing and further action by Senate leaders. It must have at least 20 cosponsors to move forward.
Now is the time to follow through on Obama’s inaugural pledge to poor countries. Ask your senators to cosponsor S. 624 now:
http://www.one.org/us/waterfortheworld
The petition reads:
Please cosponsor the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2009 (S. 624), and help provide 100 million people with first-time, sustainable access to clean water and sanitation by 2015.
Together, unclean water and poor sanitation are a leading cause of child mortality: an estimated 4,100 children die every day from diarrheal diseases spread through poor sanitation and hygiene. That such conditions continue to exist demonstrates a failure on the part of all nations to provide access to the most basic life-sustaining element: clean water.
The Water for the World Act targets underdeveloped countries with focused initiatives to improve access to clean water and sanitation; fosters global cooperation on research and development; provides technical assistance and capacity-building; provides seed money for the deployment of clean water and sanitation technologies; and strengthens the human infrastructure at USAID and the State Department to implement clean water and sanitation programs.
This bill will help establish the capacity and momentum we need to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on increasing access to water and sanitation by 2015. If those MDG targets are met, the benefits will include a total annual economic return of $22 billion for Africa in saved time, increased productivity and reduced health costs. And 203,000 fewer children will die in 2015 from lack of access to clean water and sanitation.
READ MORE - Sign the Petition for the Water for the World Act

Web 2.0 beats ‘Jai ho’ as millionth word

Houston, June 11 : Hinglish term 'jai ho' along with other Indian entry 'slumdog' failed to make it as the 1 millionth word or phrase in English lanuguage with web 2.0 clinching the honours, a US-based language
monitoring group said on Wednesday.

The Global Language Monitor announced that Web 2.0 has bested Jai Ho, N00b and Slumdog as the 1,000,000th English word or phrase.

Web 2.0 is a technical term meaning the next generation of World Wide Web products and services. It has crossed from technical jargon into far wider circulation in the last six months.

'Jai ho' -- a song composed by A R Rahman -- and 'slumdog' achieved English-language popularity through the multiple Academy Award Winner film 'Slumdog Millionaire.'

'Slumdog' refers to those residing in the slums of India while 'cuddies' used to refer to ladies' underwear or panties.

The Indian terms -- Jai ho and Slumdog -- finished no. 2 and no.4 respectively.

The Global Language Monitor, which uses a math formula to track the frequency of words and phrases in print and electronic media, said web 2.0 appeared over 25,000 times in searches and was widely accepted, making it the one millionth word.

"As expected, English crossed the 1,000,000 word threshold on June 10, 2009 at 10:22 am GMT," said Paul JJ Payack, president and chief word analyst of the Global Language Monitor.

"However, some 400 years after the death of the Bard, the words and phrases were coined far from Stratford-Upon- Avon, emerging instead from Silicon Valley, India, China, and Poland, as well as Australia, Canada, the US and the UK."

GLM had earlier said that due to the global extent of the English language, the millionth word is as likely to appear from India or China as it is to emerge from tratford-upon-Avon (Shakespeare's home town).
READ MORE - Web 2.0 beats ‘Jai ho’ as millionth word

The Saturdays nose around for Comic Relief



The Saturdays

By Fiona Pryor
Entertainment reporter, BBC News

Nuts, mirrors, Red Bull and fruit are the only things girlband the Saturdays require to keep them happy backstage at a gig.
"I think Red Bull is the most rock and roll thing on there [the band's rider]," laughs Frankie.
"We only just started asking for mirrors," Rochelle giggles.
"And that wasn't even us, that was our tour manager."
The five-piece group, who are reduced to a foursome during the interview because Vanessa is not well, are full of enthusiasm for their next single, for two reasons.
First, it is only their fourth single and secondly, the track is for Comic Relief.
"We were honoured to be asked so early on in our career," says Molly.
"We're so happy to do it, and do everything we can to help it. It's amazing we can."

Rochelle
There is the fact that for seven years running every Comic Relief single's been number one. So, obviously that's what we want
Rochelle
Frankie adds: "We're working the hardest we've ever worked to promote a single because it's so important to us that people go out there and buy it because it's for such an important cause."
In fact, they are so enthusiastic to promote their cover version of Depeche Mode's Just Can't Get Enough, they launch into singing it just before the interview starts.
However, after further questioning, it is not just the charity that is on their minds.
"Everyone keeps asking us, 'Do you feel pressure to get to number one?'" says Rochelle.
"There is pressure but we put it on ourselves, as we know the money's needed.
"We don't want to let anyone down - that's the main thing. But there is the fact that for seven years running every Comic Relief single's been number one. So, obviously that's what we want."
'Compliment'
So, there could have been a bit of disappointment all round for the girls when the single only reached number two on Sunday.
However, once the single promotion is over, the group, who only released their debut album, Chasing Lights, last year, are on to bigger things.
"We're going to the US, that's always been the plan," says Frankie.
"But we want to set our place in stone here first, before we go over there, so no one forgets us."
Predictably, the group is often compared with fellow girlband and label-mates Girls Aloud, but the Saturdays insist there is no real competition.

The Saturdays
The Saturdays reached number two with their charity single
"It's inevitable that we will be compared and it's a compliment," Uma says.
"They've been around for a long time, both those bands have been so successful and we're just at the start.
"We don't know how big we're going to be. The fact that people are already starting to make comparisons is really nice for us."
Despite that, Rochelle is keen to point out that although both bands record pop music, their sounds are very different.
"If you listen to our album, I think it kind of speaks for itself," she says.
'Amazingly successful'
"I think people see five girls singing and they automatically think we're going to be the same. But that is part of the job.
"We've just been on tour with Girls Aloud and they've been nothing but nice to us and they're amazingly successful, we always say if we could have a bit of their success we'll be flying so we hope it keeps going well for us."
When asked what it is like to be famous, all four girls start talking at once, insisting they do not yet count themselves as celebrities.
Rochelle, who says she "hates" the word fame, admits she finds being recognised in the street strange.
"I was out with my mum the other day and there was a girl staring at me and I was getting really paranoid.
"She was looking at me and talking about me and I felt really bad, thinking I had something on my face."
READ MORE - The Saturdays nose around for Comic Relief

Motbung gets an HIV/AIDS care centre from Assam Rifles

Imphal, June 2: The Mangkhokai Institute of Medical and Research Centre (MIMSARC) HIV/AIDS patient care centre was inaugurated by Maj Gen AK Choudhary, IGAR (South) at Grace Bhavan in Motbung this morning.

Maj Gen AK Choudhary while attending the inaugural function as chief guest emphasised the need for preventing social discrimination against people suffering from HIV/AIDS.

He also mentioned that the people were now aware of what HIV/AIDS is and that people living with HIV/AIDS have the same rights as others. There is no harm in living together with these people and cooperation from the general public could improve the situation and give confidence to those affected, the Maj Gen added.

He further mentioned that for smooth and efficient functioning of such patient care centres certain infrastructure and equipments were required, including laboratory for an effective and efficient testing and diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, power generator for regular power supply and proper sanitation and toilets for the patients as well as for the staffs of the centre.

In connection with the inaugural function, the IGAR (South) donated an ambulance to the patient care centre

In the meantime, Paominlen, chairman of the MIMSARC, in his presidential speech said that opening of the patient care centre at Motbung would give the necessary facilities to persons suffering from HIV/AIDS in Motbung and its neigbouring villages.

He further mentioned that the newly opened patient care centre will have one doctor, two nurses, and one counsellor along with six beds. Following information about the opening of the centre about 15 HIV infected persons turned up for admission to the centre for treatment. However, due to limited beds the centre will be giving priority to the serious patients, Paominlen added.
READ MORE - Motbung gets an HIV/AIDS care centre from Assam Rifles

Tendulkar's 'most embarrassing moment' not captured on camera!

Kolkata: Sachin Tendulkar in tie without a shirt, in socks without shoes and with a towel wrapped around him! This would have been any shutterbug's dream photo. But luckily for the Indian cricket star, there was no lensman to capture him in that "most embarrassing moment".

The year was 1992, and Tendulkar was then turning out in the English county cricket for Yorkshire.

"In Yorkshire we had a Sunday Club. For fun one Sunday we decided on a particular dress. We were all with ties without shirts and socks without shoes. It was the most embarrassing and funniest moment. Fortunately I could not capture it on camera," Tendulkar told newspersons at a programme organised by leading camera manufacturer Canon India.

Tendulkar also termed the Test against England in Chennai last December as one of the most memorable ones of his life.

"The way we played and made a comeback was special. We won the match on the last day. We did not play well on the first three days.

"From the post lunch session fourth day we turned things around. I scored a hundred which gave me one of the most memorable moments of my career," he said.

"Always a terrific feeling to be in Kolkata. The first time I played here was in 1990 at the Eden Gardens when I played an international game. Since then every outing has been special. The support here is truly special. The crowd has been right behind us in every win," the little master said.
READ MORE - Tendulkar's 'most embarrassing moment' not captured on camera!

Asia moving to smart grids, cautiously

Governments in Asia, including Singapore, are starting to explore smart grid technology, while being cautious over security risks associated with new infrastructure.
Cisco, which is making moves in the smart grid space, is in talks with a number of administrations in the region and expects pilot projects within the next six months, according to Dirk Schlesinger, Cisco Systems' global lead for manufacturing industries and Asia-Pacific managing director for its Internet business solutions group.
Smart grids refer to the overlaying of digital communications infrastructure onto the electricity grid. These intelligent grids would allow smart meters in a consumer's home to, for example, communicate near real-time data on energy usage to utility providers.
"The region in general is still in the early stages but certain countries are more advanced than others, even when compared internationally," Schlesinger said in an e-mail interview. "Various pilots including one sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest Laboratory have shown a 10 to 15 percent reduction in household energy consumption when smart grid technologies are used.
"Obviously this cannot be generalized, since per capita electricity consumption and usage patterns in the United States are different than in, say China, but clearly it is indicative of the potential of smart grids," he explained.
The challenges, he noted, are more diverse in Asia than in Europe or the United States, where "the challenge is more grid refurbishment than grid extension".
To manage security risks, Schlesinger said Cisco will apply best practices developed from securing other critical infrastructures "to the smart grid to segment business functions and provide the authentication, authorization, integrity, confidentiality and threat prevention necessary to realize a secure smart grid".
Singapore's smart meters on trial
In Singapore, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) has initiated the Electricity Vending System (EVS) pilot, where selected households can monitor their real-time electricity consumption using smart meters.
David Tan, deputy chief executive (energy policy & planning) at EMA, told ZDNet Asia in an e-mail that the pilot program involving some 1,000 households in the Marine Parade and West Coast areas will run till December. Through the EVS, participating users can also select electricity packages from a retailer of their choice.
The EMA, he noted, will take into account vulnerability to physical and cyberattacks to the country's smart grid system, and implement measures to ensure robust power operations. "In ensuring a secured smart grid, the key considerations are to identify the threats and vulnerabilities; protect the network; reduce or eliminate system vulnerability to physical or cyberattack; and minimize consequences of any disruption," he added.
Over in Australia, the government said it would dedicate up to A$100 million (US$79 million) in the development of smart grid technology in 2009. China, according to the Renewable Energy World, has plans to build a smart grid by 2020 and may be in a position to influence smart grid development in the Philippines.
The China State Grid Corporation and Tenaga Nasional did not respond at the time of writing. Google declined comment for the story.
READ MORE - Asia moving to smart grids, cautiously

Five Things That Are Wrong with Twitter

Inverted failwhale, by Rob Cockerham
Some notes from a newbie Twitterer:
1. It is fun to twitter @ other people, but it's only fun for you and the person you're twittering @. To all third parties, it is boring
2. It adds one more link to the chain of things I do to avoid working (checking work e-mail, checking blog comments, checking home e-mail, checking Facebook, and now ... )
3. It is wrong to be obsessed with how many (= how few) Followers you have
4. One day Tinyurl will break, then we'll all be screwed
5. It keeps you from blogging
Bonus list: one thing that is wrong with the flamethrower in Killzone 2: once you have it, you try to beat every level with it. Because burning Helghast is even funner than shooting them.
READ MORE - Five Things That Are Wrong with Twitter

Twitter Users Join Psychic Powers Study

Twitter users will attempt to prove whether psychic powers really exist when they take part in an experiment this week.

Twitter
Any Twitter user can take part in the survey

The test, conducted by university professor Richard Wiseman, requires Tweeters to correctly guess a location from five photographs.

Prof Wiseman said: "The instant nature of Tweets allows thousands of people to take part in real time, making it perfect for an extra-sensory perception experiment.

"If the effect does exist then having so many people participate will help detect it."

The University of Hertfordshire lecturer will travel to a mystery UK site, where he will send a tweet asking users to reply with their impressions of his chosen spot.

Professor Richard Wiseman
Prof Wiseman Pic: Antje M Pohsegger
They will then receive a website link via Twitter where they can vote on a set of five photos, one of the actual location and four decoys.

The telepathic test, being conducted with New Scientist magazine, begins on Tuesday and will be repeated at a different location each day until Friday.

Prof Wiseman said there is a one in 125 chance that Tweeters will correctly guess three out of four sites correctly.

Anyone can take part in the experiment by visiting twitter.com/RichardWiseman.

The results of the test should be known on Friday.
READ MORE - Twitter Users Join Psychic Powers Study