Posted by : admin in (Computer Hardware)

Ultra-Wideband Wireless Technology Poised to Fundamentally Change Local Device Interaction

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AUSTIN, Texas, May 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — MCCI, a leading developer of Universal Serial Bus (USB) software technology, announced that it will host a one-day meeting on June 11, 2008 in Austin, TX for the Portable computer and Communications Association (PCCA) entitled “Advances in Ultra-Wideband and Wireless USB.” The meeting will provide technical and market-driven insight into the emergence of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and Certified Wireless USB (WUSB) in the handheld, laptop, hub, and adapter markets.
“In the same way that WLANs have transformed laptop connectivity, UWB will liberate us from the tangle of wires that clutter our desktops and entertainment systems. Certified Wireless USB over UWB will move us away from PC-centric communications, providing a new communications platform for intelligent and dynamic interaction between devices in local environments. Moreover, it will support the extremely high data rates required for applications such as HD video and syncing handheld devices that have increasingly large amounts of storage,” stated Terrill Moore, CEO of MCCI. However, this assumes that key issues are addressed correctly. Identifying these issues and discussing potential solutions are some of the objectives of this meeting.
Hosted by MCCI Corporation, a leading supplier of USB software and support IP to the mobile device industry, speakers and attendees will examine UWB’s standardization status, productization challenges, and future. Presentations will be made by MCCI, Ericsson Mobile Platforms, Dell, Realtek, NXP, WiQuest, Microsoft, and Alereon.
The meeting will address questions such as:

— What are the usage scenarios that could propel UWB to widespread
adoption?
— What is the timeframe for widespread UWB and Wireless USB deployment?
— How will UWB and Bluetooth co-exist?
— Will the market be fragmented across competing technical approaches?
— How will UWB products address pairing issues that have complicated
Bluetooth usage?
— What are future directions in laptop/phone tethering using UWB?
— Will business or consumer applications drive adoption?
— How do UWB developments relate to Wi-Fi developments?

To register, visit .

About the PCCA

Founded in 1992, The Portable computer and Communications Association is a nonprofit trade association whose mission statement is to promote interoperability and deployment of mobile computing and communications through standards, recommendations, testing, education and technical assessment. PCCA members include wireless operators, wireless device vendors, computer companies, infrastructure vendors, and networking companies. Membership is open to all companies and individuals with an interest in these disciplines. For information on PCCA committees, standards and membership, visit the Web site .
About MCCI
MCCI is a leading developer of USB drivers and firmware for the high volume handset and mobile device markets. The company provides firmware and system software, including CWUSB, OTG and Embedded Host, PictBridge, and MTP middleware solutions for OEM manufacturers of handsets, PDAs, and other computer devices. Hundreds of millions of cellphones have been delivered with MCCI technology. MCCI experts are actively involved in worldwide technical standard activities, chairing the USB-IF Device Working Group and the Communication Device Class Committee, as well as participating in MCPC and the WiMedia Association. A privately held corporation, MCCI has its headquarters in Ithaca, USA and offices in Austin, USA, Seoul, Tokyo, and Taipei.
Note to Editors: MCCI is a registered trademark of MCCI Corporation. All proper names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Portable computer and Communications Association

Posted by : admin in (Computer)

Mercury Computer Systems Unveils Ultra-Compact Rugged Computer that Puts More than 100 GFLOPS of Processing Power in the Palm of Your Hand

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Mercury computer Systems, Inc. , a leading provider of specialized, high-performance computing solutions for complex applications, unveiled its smallest embedded system yesterday at an exclusive event in conjunction with the Critical Embedded Systems (CES) MediaFest 2008, which commences today at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas in Scottsdale, AZ.
The PowerBlock(TM) 50 system from Mercury computer Systems is a high-performance, ultra-compact embedded computer designed for maximum performance in a minimal footprint, for small platforms in the 6- to 10-pound range. Optimized for real-time image, sensor, and signal processing and ruggedized for harsh environments, it is fully integrated and programmable, with state-of-the-art liquid cooling. The PowerBlock 50 extends Mercury’s robust offering of computing solutions available in very small to large form factors to suit a broad range of customer applications.
The system’s modular architecture allows for flexible configurations of multiple processors, delivering well over 100 GFLOPS of processing power in a small, lightweight package. A fully configured PowerBlock 50 weighs less than 10 pounds, measuring approximately 4″ x 5″ x 6″ — and can be held comfortably in one hand.
“The PowerBlock 50 was specifically designed to help our customer base pursue 6- to 10-pound payloads, and revolutionizes the ability to perform extreme computing in space- and weight-constrained applications,” said Brian Hoerl, Vice President of Sales for Advanced Computing Solutions at Mercury computer Systems. “With groundbreaking processing density and a flexible development environment, the PowerBlock 50 extends Mercury’s strategy of enabling new levels of computing power for systems embedded in small platforms.”
The system is available now as the PowerBlock 50 EDK (Engineering Development Kit), which is a complete software development platform. The EDK includes a PowerBlock 50 system, Linux BSP development environment, and a desktop heat rejection unit (HRU) to support the PowerBlock 50’s cooling requirements. As the first in a series of small form factor platforms, the PowerBlock 50 EDK is designed for desktop use in a laboratory or software development environment, for development and optimization of runtime software deployable on PowerBlock 50 systems.
The PowerBlock 50 EDK is customizable into configurations that include PowerQUICC(TM), Virtex(TM)-4, and Intel processors, and SATA storage. Each configuration includes Gigabit Ethernet and RS-232 I/O interfaces.
The PowerBlock 50 EDK is available today. For more information, visit Mercury at CES May 5-6 at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas in Scottsdale, AZ; visit ; contact Mercury at (866) 627-6951, or e-mail your request to .
Mercury computer Systems, Inc. - Where Challenges Drive Innovation
Mercury computer Systems () provides specialized, high-performance computing systems and software designed for complex HPC and embedded applications in a range of industries that include aerospace and defense, telecommunications, medical imaging, semiconductor, EDA, and more.
Our products blend unmatched expertise in algorithm optimization and silicon design with software application knowledge and industry-standard technologies. Mercury’s comprehensive, purpose-built solutions capture, process, and present data for the world’s largest medical imaging companies, 8 of the 10 top defense prime contractors, and other leading Fortune 500 and mid-market companies in semiconductor, energy, telecommunications, and other industries. Our dedication to performance excellence and collaborative innovation continues a 25-year history in enabling customers to gain the competitive advantage they need to stay at the forefront of the markets they serve.
Mercury is based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and serves customers worldwide through a broad network of direct sales offices, subsidiaries, and distributors. We are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market .
Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those relating to the PowerBlock 50 system or Engineering Development Kit. You can identify these statements by our use of the words “may,”"will,”"should,”"plans,”"expects,”"anticipates,”"continue,”"estimate,”"project,”"intend,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, including unforeseen weakness in the Company’s markets, effects of continued geo-political unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, delays in completing engineering and manufacturing programs, changes in customer order patterns, changes in product mix, continued success in technological advances and delivering technological innovations, continued funding of defense programs, the timing of such funding, changes in the U.S. Government’s interpretation of federal procurement rules and regulations, market acceptance of the Company’s products, shortages in components, production delays due to performance quality issues with outsourced components, inability to fully realize the expected benefits from acquisitions or delays in realizing such benefits, challenges in integrating acquired businesses and achieving anticipated synergies, and difficulties in retaining key customers. These risks and uncertainties also include such additional risk factors as are discussed in the Company’s recent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made.
PowerBlock is a trademark of Mercury computer Systems, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Contacts onsite at CES:
Tom Roberts, Product Marketing Manager Leigh McLeod, Media Relations
Mercury computer Systems, Inc. Mercury computer Systems, Inc.
978-967-1291 / 978-967-1120 /

Corporate contact:
Kathy Sniezek, Public Relations Manager
Mercury computer Systems, Inc.
978-967-1126 /

Mercury computer Systems, Inc.

Posted by : admin in (Computer)

Efficient Computer Use Can Help Save the Planet

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, May 29 /PRNewswire/ — Our use of PCs and other IT products has a significant impact on the climate. The impact worldwide equals that of the entire aviation sector. A more efficient use of IT products and climate friendly purchases of new equipment could reduce the climate impact by more than 80 per cent, according to a new study by TCO Development.
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“The 1000 million computer monitors that are in use all over the world generate 53 million tons of CO2, and need as much electric power as the yearly consumption of Sweden (10 million citizens). This clearly shows that the use of IT products has a negative impact on the environment, but also that by changing the way we use these products, we can be part of the solution,” says Haakan Nordin, Project Manager for Climate and Environment at TCO Development.
TCO Development lists three easy steps that everyone can take, and that taken together could reduce the climate impact from computers with more than 80 per cent.
- Choose computer equipment based on power consumption in active mode. An energy efficient desktop PC uses up to 65 per cent less energy than a standard desktop PC. If energy efficient notebooks are compared with advanced desktop PCs used for CAD/CAM the difference is over 1,000 per cent.
- Activate energy settings on your computer. 65 per cent of the CO2 emissions are attributed to computers that are not turned off or do not have energy save functions activated. The simplest solution is to use notebook computer settings, even when using a desktop.
- Turn off your computer when not in use. User studies show that an average office computer is turned on, but not in use, more than 50 per cent of the time.
“If we change our ways of using IT equipment, and make full use of all the environmental features of this technology we can reduce CO2 emissions without any impact on our daily lives,” comments Haakan Nordin.
TCO Development - The TCO certification system makes it easy to choose IT and office equipment that is designed for the benefit of both the user and the environment. The TCO certification is internationally recognised and products bearing the TCO label can be found throughout the world.
More information:

TCO Development

Posted by : admin in (Education)

Middle School Students Exhibit Technology Skills at 4th Annual Computer Fair

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Nearly 200 tech-savvy students today demonstrated their talents at the 4th annual Middle School computer Fair, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Berks County Intermediate Unit.
“Our world is more connected than ever and it is essential that our students have the skills necessary to succeed in this changing environment,” said Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak. “The students who compete in the Middle School computer Fair are given the opportunity to demonstrate the high-tech skills that are going to help them succeed in the globally competitive economy.”
Students from across Pennsylvania, in grades 6, 7 and 8, advanced to the state level by qualifying in a school district and intermediate unit competition. More than 750 students participated in the competition at some level.
The categories for competition were desktop publishing, multimedia, graphic design, digital movie, logo design, and Web page design. Projects were scored using rubrics developed to assess skills in each area. Judges included staff from PDE, participating intermediate units, local colleges, and technology businesses.
Students exhibit their projects at the computer fair and the top performing students are selected. An awards ceremony at the State Museum recognizes the winners, who receive trophies and gift certificates.
For more information on these efforts, visit . Additional information on the computer fair can be found at .
2008 computer Fair Winners

Student Names School District IU Project Title Placed Category

Jennifer Ahern, Saint Anastasia 25 Simply Life 3rd Desktop
Julia Clay, School Publishing
Jessica McTaggert

Gia Bitonti, California Area 1 Duke’s 2nd Desktop
Breanna Lincoski, Middle School Restaurant Publishing
Kadie Clancy

Priyanka Nadar Harrisburg 15 Children’s Book 1st Desktop
Academy Publishing

Andrew Bloomsburg Middle 16 The Lego Music 3rd Digital Movie
Zimmerman School Video

ReJeana Governor Mifflin 14 The Dog Days 2nd Digital Movie
Goldsborough Middle School

Jack Huang Parkland - 21 Searching for 1st Digital Movie
Matthew Stein Springhouse MS the Middle
Ground:
Formation-U.N.

Stephanie Daniel Boone 14 Rairingomara 3rd Graphic Design
Walters Area MS v. Shippomaru

Blake Mudry, California Area 1 Global Warning 2nd Graphic Design
Gia Bitonti, Middle School
Boyd Stinnett

Priyanka Nadar Harrisburg 15 Anti Smoking Ad 1st Graphic Design
Academy

Eilish Miller, California Area 1 computer Fair 3rd Logo
Kim Sears Middle School Logo

Devin Hilliard, Homer-Center 28 Middle School 2nd Logo
John Cook, High School computer Fair
Jon Gibbons Logo

Cassandra Greater 18 2009 Middle 1st Logo
Yalch, Nanticoke School Computer
Kelly Kreitzer, Area Ed Cntr Fair Logo
Brittany
Suglaski

Caroline Van Northern York 15 Laminitis in 3rd Multimedia
Pelt County - Horses
Northern MS

Lunda Philadelphia 26 A Tribute to 2nd Multimedia
Saimesier, - Grover Philly’s
Felicia Walker, Washington Finest
Hoang Bui

Lance Lyons Frazier Middle 1 Green Power: 1st Multimedia
School Saving Our
Planet

Nathaniel Coatesville 24 The Black 3rd Web Page
Keegan, Area - North Death Design
Jonathan Webster, Brandywine MS
McElory Collin

Ben Dallastown 12 Coral Reefs 2nd Web Page
Holtzapple Middle School Design

Ron Miller Frazier Middle 1 Coal Mining 1st Web Page
School in Southwest Design
PA

CONTACT:
Michael Race
(717) 783-9802

Pennsylvania Department of Education

Posted by : admin in (Computer)

Microsoft Announces Vida Digital Latina Campaign

REDMOND, Wash., April 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Microsoft Corp. today announced the official launch of the Vida Digital Latina campaign to promote computer literacy among Hispanics. Microsoft joined forces with ASPIRA, a national nonprofit organization devoted to the education and leadership development of Latino youth, and Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association (LISTA), an organization founded to close the digital divide among Latino communities. Together they will offer free computer literacy education to Hispanics in Los Angeles, Miami, New York City and San Francisco. A series of free Spanish-language classes will be offered in each market and will highlight the safety features of Windows Vista and the overall program benefits.
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As part of the educational seminars, technology expert and Latino cyberguy Jose Ulloa will join local Windows Vista Ambassadors to share their expertise and personal stories on integrating technology and Windows Vista into their daily lives.
“Latinos are more likely to adapt to new technology such as computers, mobile phones, cameras, MP3 players and game consoles than the general market consumer,” Ulloa said, on behalf of Microsoft’s Vida Digital Latina program.
The Vida Digital Latina platform was created to further engage and increase technology education among U.S. Latinos. Windows Vista classes and presentations are free and open to the public and will be held on the following dates:
* New York: April 25, Compass Community Center, Bronx, 10:30 a.m.
* Miami: May 14, Jobing.com offices, 8:30 a.m.
* San Francisco: May 20, Hilton San Francisco, 8:30 a.m.
* Los Angeles: June 11, Jobing.com offices, 8:30 a.m.

“Microsoft is excited to partner with organizations such as ASPIRA and LISTA to further promote computer literacy and educational outreach among the Hispanic community. Together, we hope to empower Hispanics to use technology in ways that allow them to advance in the workplace, promote communication with loved ones back home and retain valuable family memories,” said Jose Pinero, director of multicultural marketing at Microsoft. “By entering these markets and providing interactive events that allow the Hispanic community to engage and learn one-on-one, we hope to increase awareness of technology tools that widely go unused or unnoticed.”
Windows Vista provides innovative tools to help create a safer computing experience for the family and allow parents to better manage and monitor their children’s PC and Internet activities. Parents can manage and monitor PC and Internet access with a few simple clicks in the new Windows Vista Parental Controls center and decide what kinds of TV, music and games are appropriate for their children. New features in Windows Vista include the following:
* Parental Controls with monitoring and activity reports. Windows
Vista allows parents not only to set the rules, but also to
supervise how the rules are followed by the different users of a
Windows Vista-equipped PC. The new monitoring system provides
parents with reports that show computer activity and time online per
user, and also has the ability to limit Internet access to certain
times for specific users.
* Multilingual User Interface. Windows Vista Ultimate edition with
Multilingual User Interface allows users to keep one or several
languages installed on the same computer. Now, depending on the
user, the Windows menus can appear in English or Spanish.
* Windows Media Center music. With the Windows Media Center in Windows
Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate, consumers are the
disc jockeys of their own music and can control the mood. Users will
be able to find their music by looking at the compact disc covers on
screen. They can select music by genre, artist, year, song or album,
and can then transfer it to their MP3 player or sound system, or
burn a CD with their favorite mix.
* Windows Aero graphical interface. The new Windows Aero user
interface offers special features, such as the “glass” effect that
makes a clear and transparent difference by allowing users to locate
information at a glance. In addition, with live thumbnails, users
can take a look at the content of a given window from the taskbar,
without fully opening that particular window.

About ASPIRA

ASPIRA of New York is a Hispanic youth services agency founded in 1961 whose goal is to foster the social advancement of the Hispanic community by helping Latino young people aspire to improve their lives through educational excellence and to better their communities through enlightened leadership. ASPIRA serves more than 8,000 young people and their families across the city through a variety of initiatives, including school-based leadership development clubs, dropout prevention programs, college and career advisement, SAT prep and parent engagement, among other efforts.
About Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association (LISTA)
LISTA promotes the utilization of the technology sectors for the empowerment of the Latino community. We are an organization that is committed to bringing various elements of Technology under one central hub to facilitate our partners, members and the community with the leverage and education they need to succeed in a highly advanced technologically driven society. LISTA Mission is to educate, motivate and encourage the use of technology in the Latino community and empowering them to bridge the digital divide.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Some product features are only available in certain Windows Vista editions and may require advanced or additional hardware and Internet service (provider subscription or other service fees may apply). For details, visit .

Microsoft Corp.

Posted by : admin in (Education)

Amazon.com Founder Jeff Bezos to Speak at Carnegie Mellon Business School and Computer Science Diploma Ceremonies

PITTSBURGH, April 22 /PRNewswire/ — Amazon.com founder and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos will be the guest speaker at Carnegie Mellon University diploma ceremonies for its Tepper School of Business and School of computer Science during the university’s commencement weekend, May 17-18.
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Bezos will speak to business school graduates receiving master’s and doctor’s degrees at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 17 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, 4141 Fifth Avenue in Oakland. He will receive an honorary doctorate in science and technology during the 11 a.m. university-wide commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 18. At 1 p.m., Sunday afternoon, he will speak to graduates of the School of computer Science at the Carnegie Music Hall, 4400 Forbes Avenue in Oakland.
In 1994, Bezos created a business model that leveraged the Internet’s unique ability to deliver huge amounts of information rapidly and efficiently, and founded Amazon.com Inc. Today, it is the leading online retailer.
Before heading west to start Amazon.com, Bezos worked at the juncture of computer science and finance, helping to build one of the most technically sophisticated quantitative hedge funds on Wall Street for D.E. Shaw & Co.
He also led the development of computer systems that helped manage more than $250 billion in assets for Bankers Trust Company.
“Tepper School graduates around the world are renowned for their innovations within the intersection of business and technology, so it is a special privilege to host a leader whose vision both reflects and inspires our own school’s mission,” said Kenneth B. Dunn, dean of the Tepper School of Business.
“We are pleased that Jeff Bezos, an executive with a deep understanding of how computer science is transforming our world, will be sharing his insights with our graduates this year. Much of Amazon’s success stems from the sophistication of its computer and networking technology and we are proud that Amazon has hired a number of our students over the years to help build that technology,” said Randal E. Bryant, dean of the School of computer Science.
Some 58 alumni of Carnegie Mellon work for Amazon, including 16 with degrees from the School of computer Science.
About Carnegie Mellon: Carnegie Mellon is a private research university with a distinctive mix of programs in engineering, computer science, robotics, business, public policy, fine arts and the humanities. More than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students receive an education characterized by its focus on creating and implementing solutions for real problems, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovation. A small student-to-faculty ratio provides an opportunity for close interaction between students and professors. While technology is pervasive on its 144-acre Pittsburgh campus, Carnegie Mellon is also distinctive among leading research universities for the world-renowned programs in its College of Fine Arts. A global university, Carnegie Mellon has campuses in Silicon Valley, Calif., and Qatar, and programs in Asia, Australia and Europe. For more, see .

Carnegie Mellon

Posted by : admin in (Defense)

GENCI Together With the CEA Order a Bull NovaScale Supercomputer to Speed Up Innovation and Fundamental Research

- The New Supercomputer:

- Is Designed Around a Hybrid Architecture, to Respond to the Needs of
Both Production and Research Applications

- Takes the Available Power at the Scientific Computing Complex in
Bruyères le Châtel (In the Île de France Region) to More Than 300
Teraflops, Thus Making it Europe’s Leading Civil Computing Facility

GENCI (Grand Equipement National de Calcul Intensif) - the French national High-Performance Computing organization - together with the CEA (Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique) - the French Atomic Energy Authority - have placed an order for a Bull NovaScale(R) supercomputer, to speed up the process of innovation and fundamental research. The new computer will be used by the research community in France in key areas such as climatology and sustainable development, space and aeronautical research, energy, and life and materials sciences.
Designed and developed by Bull, the supercomputer features a hybrid architecture, enabling it to deliver both a great deal of power for production tasks and to act as a research platform into a new form of architecture, which is based around the use of so-called GPU processors (designed primarily for computer games and graphics applications) for scientific computing. This, the first such hybrid machine in Europe, is the result of R&D work carried out by Bull, experts from the French Atomic Energy Authority’s Directorate of Military Affairs (CEA/DAM) and their partners in the SYSTEM@TIC Paris-Region competitiveness cluster.
With the new supercomputer, the overall power available at the scientific computing complex in Bruyères le Châtel (to the south of Paris in the Île de France region) will be in excess of 300 Teraflops, making this the leading site in Europe in the area of civil computing.
An architecture combining Linux and Open Source software
The architecture for the new system designed by Bull combines both specialist and ‘generalist’ servers in a very large-scale cluster. The aim of this is to effectively meet the needs of both production and research, while at the same time offering the ease of use of a single system. Bull Advanced Server - the suite of software provided by Bull to be used by the system engineers - draws very heavily on the Open Source world, guaranteeing that it is open and accessible to the various different user communities, in contrast to proprietary systems.
The new Bull NovaScale supercomputer consists of a cluster of 1,068 8-core ‘generalist’ computing nodes (Intel(R) processors), delivering some 103 Teraflops of power, and 48 specialist 512-core GPU nodes, providing additional theoretical power of up to 192 Teraflops.
The applications involved, whether they run on the generalist or GPU processors, will have access to 25 TB of memory. They will also be connected - via the Lustre(R) Open Source file system - to the entire data storage capacity of the CCRT (the Center for Research and Technology computing), which extends to one petabyte of disk space.
The supercomputer is due to go into service towards the beginning of 2009.
“This order is absolutely in line with our strategy to finance and implement the computing infrastructures needed to assist the development of scientific research. It is a testament to the importance that the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research places on High-Performance Computing as an essential technology for accelerating innovation and strengthening competitiveness,” confirms Catherine Rivière, President of GENCI.
“Acquiring a Bull supercomputer follows on from the demand from our users for access to a great deal of computing power for their research applications,” explains Christophe Béhar, President of CEA/DAM, Île de France. “By offering a unique, but hybrid, machine, it seemed to us that Bull had come up with the perfect answer to deal with the diverse nature of our applications, while at the same time guaranteeing that we had an open infrastructure, rather than a proprietary one, at a very competitive cost.”
“We are particularly proud to have been chosen to supply this supercomputer by GENCI, which brings together the CEA (the French Atomic Energy Authority), the CNRS (the national center for scientific research) and the French universities,” adds Philippe Miltin, Vice-President of Bull’s Products and Systems Division. “It confirms that our strategy in HPC is the right one: to develop solutions that are based on the very best industry standards to ensure the right combination of performance, openness and competitiveness. It is this strategy that has enabled Bull to reach its current position in under four years, with over 100 HPC customers in 15 countries across three continents.”
About GENCI
GENCI, Grand Equipement National de Calcul Intensif, is a legal entity taking the form of a société civile (civil company) under French law, owned 50 % by the French State represented by the Ministry for Higher Education and Research, 20 % by the CEA, 20 % by the CNRS and 10 % by the universities.
Created in January 2007, GENCI has the following mission:

- To promote the use of modeling, simulation and High-Performance
Computing (HPC) in fundamental and industrial research

- To promote the organization of European HPC and participate to its
actions

- To set in place and co-ordinate the major computer hardware for the
French computer centers for civil research, by providing for their
financing and assuming their ownership

- To perform all research required for developing and optimizing the
utilization of computing hardware

- To open up the hardware it owns to all interested scientific
communities, academic or industrial, national, European or international.

For more information, visit:
About the CEA

The French nuclear energy authority, or Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique (CEA) is a major player in research, development and innovation, and a contributor to three key sectors: energy, information technology and healthcare, and defense and security; building on its excellence in fundamental research.
With 15,000 researchers and staff, the CEA is an important resource for the public sector, offering a wealth of expertise and consultancy services. A driving force for industrial innovation, the CEA has developed a number of partnerships with French and European businesses.
For more information, visit:
About Bull, Architect of an Open World

As one of the leading European IT companies, Bull delivers open, flexible and secure information systems. The group helps public and private sector customers transform their information systems, applying its know-how and expertise in three main areas:
- Capitalizing on its extensive mainframe experience, Bull designs and
produces robust, innovative and open servers, based on industry-standard
technologies;

- Building on its alliances with leading ISVs, Bull develops and
implements flexible and interoperable application infrastructures which
give business processes the freedom to evolve;

- Bringing together recognized expertise in end-to-end IT security, Bull
secures data and exchanges that are so critical in preserving customers’
business integrity.

Bull has a particularly strong presence in the public, healthcare, finance, telecommunications, manufacturing and defense sectors. Its distribution network and business partners cover more than 60 countries worldwide.
For more information visit:
Press contacts:

Bull - Anne-Marie Jourdain - Tel: 33(0)1-30-80-32-52 -
Financial Dynamics - Elodie Marchand - Tel: 33(0)1-47-03-68-17 -
Bull

Posted by : admin in (Computer)

SonicWALL Sports New SSL VPN Look

SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — SonicWALL, Inc. , a leading secure network infrastructure company, today announced the release of flexible new enhancements to its SSL VPN product line, making it even easier for small to mid-size businesses to use and manage their secure remote access and technical support.
The new 3.0 firmware release for the SonicWALL(R) SSL-VPN 2000 and 4000 platforms streamlines remote access administration with a more intuitive interface and builds upon the recent successful launch of SonicWALL(R) Virtual Assist clientless remote support module with improved features that increase IT staff productivity and decreases time-to-resolution for incidents.
SonicWALL’s SSL VPN is really a fantastic device,” said Ben Gray, Director of IT at Palm Beach Tan. Gray uses a SonicWALL SSL-VPN 2000 with Virtual Assist to remotely deploy computer systems to new franchises. “Anything related to computers out in the stores is our responsibility — voice, data and the POS systems. The new features have made remote deployment of franchisees way more flexible. It’s a huge time saver for us, bottom line.”
With this enhanced platform release, customers benefit from easier-to-use remote technical support using new enhanced hot keys such as the ability to instantly launch a real-time chat session with a technician during a support session. Customer experience is also improved by more flexible accommodation of a wide range of computer displays.
Technicians can leverage new shortcuts to instantly initiate chat, transfer files, or launch the customer’s start menu or task manager. In addition, there exists a new quick-diagnostic utility that provides instant insight into the customer’s computer configuration which may significantly decrease time-to-resolution of an incident. Technicians can be automatically notified by email upon initiation of a customer request, enabling greater productivity.
The SonicWALL SSL VPN 3.0 firmware improves the remote access administration experience with a next-generation intuitive interface using icon-based visual aids for easier configuration and management of the SSL VPN appliances, while retaining a familiar navigation system. Furthermore, new Virtual Assist logging and reporting functionality in the administrative portal ensures IT accountability by providing detailed logs of remote support sessions, which can be used to generate automated reports for export or email according to predefined schedules.
“The increasing costs of doing business combined with a soft economy makes it more important than ever for IT to consider cost-effective solutions like Virtual Assist,” says Upa Hazarika, SonicWALL SSL VPN Product Manager. “Both channel partners and end customers can reap benefits from increased security, productivity, and user satisfaction, while leveraging existing infrastructure using this appliance-based solution. At SonicWALL, we strive to drive down the costs and complexity of security, so that businesses can be more productive.”
The SSL-VPN 2000 and 4000 appliances are available for sale today via the channel. SonicWALL(R) Virtual Assist may be bought as a perpetual license for these platforms based on the maximum number of concurrent technicians required at any given time.
About SonicWALL, Inc.
SonicWALL is committed to improving the performance and productivity of businesses of all sizes by engineering the cost and complexity out of running a secure network. Over one million SonicWALL appliances have been shipped through its global network of ten thousand channel partners to keep tens of millions of worldwide business computer users safe and in control of their data. SonicWALL’s award-winning solutions include network security, secure remote access, content security, backup and recovery, and policy and management technology. For more information, visit the company web site at .
Safe Harbor Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements regarding the benefits associated with implementing SonicWALL’s Virtual Assist as part of a SonicWALL SSL-VPN solution. These forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the time the statements are made and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. In addition, please see the “Risk Factors” described in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, for a more detailed description of the risks facing our business. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based upon information available to SonicWALL as of the date of the release, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement.
NOTE: SonicWALL is a registered trademark of SonicWALL, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
SonicWALL, Inc.

Posted by : admin in (Computer)

Apple Updates iMac

CUPERTINO, Calif., April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple(R) today updated its all-in-one iMac(R) line with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors and the most powerful graphics ever available in an iMac. With prices starting at just $1,199, iMac includes faster processors with 6MB L2 cache and a faster 1066 MHz front-side bus across the entire line, and 2GB of memory standard in most models. The 24-inch iMac now offers a 3.06 GHz Intel processor and the high-performance NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS graphics as options, extending iMac’s lead as the ultimate all-in-one desktop computer for both consumers and professionals.
“The iMac’s gorgeous aluminum and glass all-in-one design has been an incredible hit with our customers and is just one of the reasons Mac sales are growing three and a half times faster than PC sales,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With the latest Intel processors, a faster new graphics option and more memory, customers now have even more reasons to love the iMac.”
Packing dual-core performance into the convenience of a striking all-in-one design, the new iMac includes faster Intel Core 2 Duo processors across the line; a 1066 MHz front-side bus; up to 4GB of 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory; and a widescreen flat-panel display supporting millions of colors. For the first time, the 24-inch iMac features an optional NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS with 512MB of video memory, to deliver up to two times standard performance for graphic intensive applications*. Providing the latest in high-performance connectivity options to quickly and conveniently transfer digital photos, music and video, iMac includes built-in AirPort Extreme(R) 802.11n Wi-Fi networking for up to five times the performance of 802.11g**; Bluetooth 2.1 EDR; Gigabit Ethernet; built-in iSight(R) video camera; a total of five USB 2.0 ports (including two on the Apple Keyboard); and one FireWire(R) 400 and one FireWire 800 port.
The iMac furthers Apple’s commitment to environmental progress with highly recyclable and durable materials including scratch-resistant glass and professional grade aluminum. Every model in the iMac line is rated EPEAT Silver and the power-efficient iMac also meets the stringent Energy Star 4.0 requirements for power consumption. Customers who purchase any qualifying Apple computer can recycle their old PC or Mac(R) for free via the Apple Recycling Program.
Every Mac in the Apple lineup comes with iLife(R) ‘08, the most significant update ever to Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications, featuring a major new version of iPhoto(R) and a completely reinvented iMovie(R), both seamlessly integrated with the new .Mac Web Gallery for online photo and video sharing. Every Mac also includes Leopard(R), the sixth major release of the world’s most advanced operating system which features Time Machine(TM), an effortless way to automatically back up everything on a Mac***; a redesigned Finder(TM) that lets users quickly browse and share files between multiple Macs; Quick Look, a new way to instantly see files without opening an application; Spaces, an intuitive new feature used to create groups of applications and instantly switch between them; a brand new desktop with Stacks, a new way to easily access files from the Dock and major enhancements to Mail and iChat(R). .Mac members can use the new Back to My Mac feature to browse and access files on their home computer from a Mac over the Internet while on the road****.
Pricing & Availability
The new iMac line is available immediately through the Apple Store(R) (), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.
The new 20-inch 2.4 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,199 (US), includes:
* 20-inch widescreen LCD display;
* 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with a 1066 MHz front-side bus;
* 1GB of 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable to 4GB;
* 250GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
* a slot-load 8x SuperDrive(R) with double-layer support
(DVD /-R DL/DVD /-RW/CD-RW);
* ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128MB GDDR3 memory;
* built-in iSight video camera;
* built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking &
Bluetooth 2.1 EDR;
* mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold
separately);
* built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
* the Apple Keyboard, Mighty Mouse and infrared Apple Remote.

The new 20-inch 2.66 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US), includes:
* 20-inch widescreen LCD display;
* 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with a 1066 MHz front-side bus;
* 2GB of 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable to 4GB;
* 320GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
* a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support
(DVD /-R DL/DVD /-RW/CD-RW);
* ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB GDDR3 memory;
* built-in iSight video camera;
* built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking &
Bluetooth 2.1 EDR;
* mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold
separately);
* built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
* the Apple Keyboard, Mighty Mouse and infrared Apple Remote.

The new 24-inch 2.8 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,799 (US), includes:
* 24-inch widescreen LCD display;
* 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with a 1066 MHz front-side bus;
* 2GB of 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable to 4GB;
* 320GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
* a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support
(DVD /-R DL/DVD /-RW/CD-RW);
* ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB GDDR3 memory;
* built-in iSight video camera;
* built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking &
Bluetooth 2.1 EDR;
* mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold
separately);
* built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
* the Apple Keyboard, Mighty Mouse and infrared Apple Remote.

Build-to-order options and accessories include: a 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB DDR2 SDRAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS with 512MB of video memory and up to a 1TB Serial ATA hard drive on the 24-inch iMac; up to 4GB DDR2 SDRAM and up to 750GB Serial ATA hard drive on the 2.66 GHz 20-inch iMac; and up to 4GB of DDR2 SDRAM and up to 500GB Serial ATA hard drive on the 2.4 GHz 20-inch iMac. Additional options include: Apple Wireless Keyboard and Wireless Mighty Mouse; AirPort Express(R) and AirPort Extreme Base Station; the AppleCare Protection Plan; and pre-installed copies of iWork(R) ‘08, Logic(R) Express 8, Final Cut(R) Express 4 and Aperture(TM) 2.
*Testing conducted by Apple in April 2008 using preproduction 24-inch iMac units with 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processors. Based on Quake 4 using 1920 x 1200 High Quality setting. Performance tests are conducted using specific computer systems and reflect the approximate performance of iMac.
**AirPort Extreme is based on an IEEE 802.11n draft specification. Actual performance will vary based on range, connection rate, site conditions, size of network and other factors.
***Time Machine requires an additional hard drive (sold separately).
****The .Mac service is available to persons aged 13 or older. Annual membership fee and internet access required. Terms and conditions apply.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award- winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.
(C) 2008 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, iMac, AirPort Extreme, iSight, FireWire, iLife, iPhoto, iMovie, Leopard, Time Machine, Finder, iChat, Apple Store, SuperDrive, AirPort Express, iWork, Logic Express, Final Cut Express and Aperture are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Apple

Posted by : admin in (Real Estate)

Colliers International Announces Completion of Seven Silicon Valley Deals Exceeding 1.2 Million Square Feet

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 29 /PRNewswire/ — Colliers International announced today that it has finalized seven commercial real estate transactions in Silicon Valley in the last sixty days in excess of 1.2 million square feet. “Putting together deals like these in a tough market really demonstrates the caliber of our professionals,” said Jeff Fredericks, Senior Managing Partner of Colliers International. “Each of these transactions was 100,000 square feet or more and completing any one of these deals would be a noteworthy accomplishment. Having Colliers agents participate in all seven is extraordinary.”
Corporate users involved in the transactions were FedEx Ground Package System, Citrix Systems, Data Domain, Supermicro Computer, XenoPort, ASUS computer International and Philips Electronics North America. Notably, Sobrato Development Companies was the landlord in all of the transactions except for the FedEx Ground and Super Micro computer deals.
Topping the list at 320,875 square feet is the planned FedEx Ground expansion at 8333 Central Avenue in Newark, the former corporate headquarters for Ross Stores. The shipping company leased the entire building plus 6.16 acres of vacant adjacent land. The 10-year lease “is believed to be the largest industrial lease transaction completed so far this year in the Bay Area,” said Greig Lagomarsino, the Colliers International agent representing the landlord, LBA Realty.
Lagomarsino and partner Todd Severson were also a part of the Supermicro computer deal, a 246,450-square-foot expansion at Bayside Business Park, 48350 Fremont Boulevard in Fremont. Lagomarsino and Severson were a part of the Pinole Point Properties landlord representation team while Colliers San Jose brokers Mike Rosendin and Dion Campisi represented Supermicro Computer, a designer of high-end motherboards and servers.
Colliers International agents Terry Bell and Joe Elliott represented ASUS computer International on a long-term 152,675-square-foot industrial lease at 800 Corporate Way in Fremont. The facility will serve as the ASUS Computer, Inc. US Headquarters. ASUS is a leading provider of 3C (computers, communications and consumer electronics) total solutions. In 2006, ASUS shipped 55 million motherboards, which means that one in three desktop PCs sold that year was powered by an ASUS motherboard.
Citrix Systems is expanding their presence in Silicon Valley with a new, 140,935-square-foot lease at 4980 Great America Parkway, negotiated by Colliers International agent Jim Abarta. Citrix previously subleased 141,000 square feet from Terayon Communication and Sobrato Development at 4988 Great America Parkway, also through Jim Abarta. The new lease gives Citrix long term control over the combined 281,935-square-foot site with Sobrato.
Colliers’ Jim Abarta also represented Data Domain on a 100,272-square-foot expansion with Sobrato Development Companies at 2441 Mission College Boulevard in Santa Clara. In July of 2007, Data Domain leased an initial 100,113 square feet of space from Sobrato at 2421 Mission College Blvd, for its new headquarters. The additional 100,272 square feet next door is not expected to be occupied until January of 2009. “Data Domain was focused on keeping its operations together in Santa Clara because of their state of the art data center/lab expansion,” according to Abarta.
Colliers International represented XenoPort, Inc., on a new 58,744-square-foot lease at 3400 Central Expressway in Santa Clara as well as a 102,759-square-foot-lease renewal at 3410 Central Expressway. Sobrato Development Companies is the landlord on both transactions and Colliers agent Craig Fordyce worked with XenoPort.
Finally, John McMahon, Steve Prehm and Greg Galasso of Colliers International co-represented Philips Electronics North American Corporation, on a 107,500-square-foot lease at 3860 North First Street in San Jose. Sobrato Development Companies was the landlord in that transaction as well.
Colliers is one of the largest commercial real estate firms in the world with more than 267 offices in 57 countries in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and greater Asia. Colliers International manages more than 404 million square feet of commercial property and has revenue of $1.6 billion. Each Colliers office is privately owned. Colliers International Partnership, headquartered in San Jose, has 11 offices in California and Nevada.
Contact:

Jeff Fredericks, Colliers International
408.282.3801,
Colliers International