IBM Tries to Bring Brain Power to Computers

BM Research on Thursday is expected to uncover work it is doing to bring the brain's processing power to computers, in an effort to make it easier for PCs to process vast amounts of data in real time.

The researchers want to put brain-related senses like perception and interaction into hardware and software so that computers are able to process and understand the data quicker while consuming less power, said Dharmendra Modha, a researcher at IBM. The researchers are bringing the neuroscience, nanotechnology and supercomputing fields together in an effort to create the new computing platform, he said.

The goal is to create machines that are mind-like and adapt to changes, which could allow companies to find more value in their data. Right now, a majority of information's value is lost, but relevant data can allow businesses or individuals to make rapid decisions in time to have significant impact, he said.

"If we could design computers that could be in real-world environments and sense and respond in an intelligent way, it would be a tremendous step forward," Modha said.

For the research IBM is working with the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency and universities including Stanford, University of Wisconsin in Madison, Cornell, Columbia University Medical Center and University of California at Merced.

Microsoft Zune Users Now Get to Keep Some Tracks

Microsoft announced Thursday changes to the terms of its Zune Pass subscription service, allowing subscribers to keep some tracks each month as part of their permanent collections.The company also announced that it will soon offer over 90 percent of its music in MP3, a format that does not come with DRM (digital rights management) restrictions.Until the changes announced Thursday, the Zune Pass subscription service gave consumers unlimited access to millions of tracks for US$14.99 per month. But the tracks were rented to users, and their access to these tracks lapsed if they discontinued the service.Starting Thursday, subscribers will be able to select 10 tracks per month to keep and add to their permanent collections, which is an estimated $10 value, according to Microsoft. These tracks can be burned to a CD or moved to other devices even if the subscription ends.The new subscription model is the outcome of agreements signed by Microsoft with top music labels such as EMI Music, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group (UMG) and Warner Music Group, as well as independent distributors INgrooves, Independent Online Distribution Alliance and The Orchard, the company said.Zune Pass subscribers will be able to retain MP3 tracks from Sony BMG and UMG, in addition to MP3 tracks from EMI Music, Warner Music Group and a large number of independent music labels, Microsoft said.With the addition of tracks from UMG and Sony BMG, Zune will soon be able to offer over 90 percent of its music in the MP3 format, the company added.Microsoft is also offering a free, 14-day trial to new customers to the Zune Pass subscription, but the facility to retain 10 tracks permanently is not available to customers using the free trial.

Steve Ballmer maintains Yahoo acquisition deal is over

Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer has said the company will not look to buy Yahoo but would still consider a search deal.Speaking at the internet company's annual general meeting Ballmer said, "We are done with all acquisition discussions with Yahoo".Yahoo first rejected Microsoft's $47.5bn (£32bn) takeover bid in February and also turned down an offer for the search engine alone.Ballmer's comments come after speculation this week that Microsoft may re-enter talks with Yahoo following the resignation of co-founder Jerry Yang as CEO.Earlier this month Google abandoned its paid search advertising deal with Yahoo after the US Justice Department said it would seek to block the partnership.Yahoo shares dropped to $9.14 (£6.15) - its lowest in more than five years - following Ballmer's comments.

Gmail Gets Free Video Chat!

The users of Gmail service can now choose to communicate with friends not only through chat and e-mail but also through voice and video.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008: Giving a boost to its free Web-based e-mail service, Internet giant Google is now adding voice and video chat to Gmail. With this initiative, Google wants to give a tough competition to Yahoo! and Microsoft, who offer video with their instant messaging services, but have not integrated it into e-mail.

Bill Gates Opens New Company

Friday, October 24, 2008: If you are a Bill Gates, you can't sit at home after an early retirement. You will do something; Bill Gates is doing a lot more. After stepping down from his position at Microsoft and handing over the helm to Steve Ballmer, Gates is reportedly setting up a new company. The new company, called bgc3 (the website is still under construction, check out http://www.bgc3.com/), is reported to deal with broad range of topics such as 'scientific and technological services', 'industrial analysis and research' and 'design and development of computer hardware and software'.

Hackers Hit U.N. Web site

Peace activists have attacked the United Nations Web site, accusing the United States and Israel of killing children and fomenting war, according to The Register. Anti-war slogans appeared on pages with statements from U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. Other pages also were taken down after the unidentified hackers’ “cyberprotest.”

In other attacks, the hackers, who use the names “kerem125,” “Gsy” and “M0sted, have claimed to be from Turkey, according to BBC News.