In no less than two days I've read a flurry of articles pooh-poohing the Linux desktop as a veritable delusion and a fairy story -- something to tell young GTK+ coders before you tuck them in at night. It isn't the year of the Linux desktop; it's the year of the Linux catfight.
One such declaration comes courtesy of, oddly enough, Matt Asay -- open source blogger for CNET. In "Yet again, desktop Linux won't claim a year", he insists that it's the cloud, the Big PC In The Net, that will be our next "desktop":
... we already have the Linux desktop: it runs in the cloud and is called Facebook, Google (NSDQ: GOOG), etc. There is little need to have Linux running on my local laptop when the real game is in the cloud now.
It's time to move on. Next year won't be the year of the Linux desktop anymore than 2010 will be. Why? Because we don't need a Linux desktop. We need to accelerate efforts toward the cloud, which is open source's game to lose.
All of this is true, but only up to a point. The cloud -- or Cloud, I guess we should call it -- is only of importance to people who need such a thing, and at the moment they need it. I'm not particularly interested in a cloud when I'm trying to work in a six-layer image in Photoshop; I want a good, responsive GUI and a logically-designed workflow. I am interested in the cloud the minute I publish my finished work to Flickr, though. Both experiences demand radically different kinds of engineering, and if Linux can give me good experiences in both camps, bully for Linux.
Alex Zaharov-Reutt's article "2009: Year of the Linux Delusion" for iTWire is even more venomous. The title alone tells it, but he goes on to slam the whole concept of Linux-powered netbooks as productivity devices:
... when you want to get some real work done, you’ll certainly be turning to a real desktop, notebook, or netbook, not one of these "web" devices with little processing power that relies on a non-flaky Internet connection.
He leaves it to us to define what "real work" is (as opposed to, what, all that "fake" work going around?). From what I've seen, there's more than enough "real work" that can be accomplished through one's e-mail clients or word processors, two applications that don't exactly require devastating amounts of CPU or graphics power to be usable.
Each of these two arguments seems to only encompass half the issue. There is as much a need for a robust local desktop as there is a slimmed-down, nothing-extra desktop, as there is for a desktop-in-the-cloud. I have found myself using any one of these things, or some combination of them, at any given time. To assume that any one of these will rise to the top and lord it over the rest is myopia.
I don't believe for a second that Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) or Windows will go completely off the map, whether due to their own incompetence or because of open source making something as good or better for less. I do believe that Windows will no longer be the de facto choice, that having competition from everything from Linux to the Mac to the Cloud will be and is exactly the kick in the rump it needs. And vice versa, too -- that future editions of Windows ought to have the same effect on those concerned with desktop experiences.
Here's another way to put it: 2009 will be the year of choice on the desktop. Better?
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Two Predictions 2009
As 2008 comes to a close, I'd like to share three predictions for the technology space in 2009. The predictions are: more utility-based web applications will launch and mobile usage will grow but content won't be monetized.
Utility-based Web Applications Will Be Visible
I've been reviewing utilities for a long time now and while they aren't as "sexy" as Twitter or Facebook, these utilities can provide more usefulness than any social network. Many of these utility applications generate real revenue and have more opportunities for revenue than just running ads. Some examples of utility web applications include:
- GoMobo - provides a way to order food online from local fast food establishments and have the food ready when you arrive so you don't have to wait on line
- ZocDoc - check out doctors, read reviews from other patients, make appointments
- 37Signals - offers a variety of web-based productivity applications
- BeenVerified - run background checks on potential employees along with the ability to use verified credentials across the Web
- Zoho - offers a suite of online office applications
Most early adopter and Web 2.0 review sites shy away from reviews of utilities because they typically don't drive massive traffic and it's harder to push the reviews to social news sites including Digg or Slashdot. I do believe we will see these review sites starting to cover more utilities in 2009 because of the multi-tiered revenue approach that many of the utilities exhibit. This visibility will help to push developers into creating more utilities.
Mobile Usage
As more people move to "smart" mobile devices, mobile usage will continue to grow and will rapidly accelerate in 2009. Developers will continue to build applications for the iTunes App Store. These applications will provide a stream of mobile monetization for both the developers and for Apple. As for mobile content, usage will also have a rapid growth curve. Sadly though, monetizing content will be more difficult than monetizing mobile applications.
Most smart mobile devices have great Web browsers but in my tests, users only engage with the content and not the ads (even less than in a traditional Web environment). The new Skyfire mobile browser can actually resize a page so you can scroll through the content without any of the sidebars where the advertising typically is placed. Traditional display andGoogle (NSDQ: GOOG) AdWords ads just won't work on a mobile device. The first company to figure out how to actually monetize mobile content will do very well in the market.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Hands-Free Calling No Safer For Drivers
American drivers who believe talking on a hands-free cell phone while driving is safer than talking on a handheld handset are fooling themselves, according to the American Automobile Association.
Resource: http://www.techweb.com
AAA said this week that studies of crash-involved cell phone records show that the use of cell phones makes drivers four times as likely to be in a crash.
"Evidence shows that using a hands-free phone while driving impairs your reaction time to critical events and increases your crash risk about the same as if you were using a hand-held phone," said AAA Foundation CEO Peter Kissinger in a statement. "Too many Americans are driving with the false sense of security that hands-free devices are somehow safer, which would be a deadly mistake."
AAA Foundation surveys also have found that drivers generally look down on cell phone use while driving, but then in a "do as I say, not as I do" example, they talk on cell phones when they drive. Even worse, nearly half of drivers between 18 and 24 said they occasionally text while driving. In one AAA survey, 60% said they use handheld phones when driving, while 34% use hands-free handsets.
AAA surveys produced interesting data on teen drivers, the group often singled out as being most likely to talk and text on cell phones. AAA noted that 18 states and the District of Columbia ban all cell phone use while driving by teens.
"Given the trouble new teen drivers have managing distractions and making safe driving decisions, AAA encourages all states to enact laws banning teens from using any wireless device while driving," said Kathleen Marvaso, AAA's VP of public affairs, in a statement. "Texting while driving poses even greater safety concerns." AAA has proposed that texting be banned for all drivers.
In reviewing regulation of cell phone use while driving, AAA said no U.S. state or jurisdiction currently bans all cell phone use in moving vehicles, but there is a rising trend toward introducing legislation to stem cell phone use considered to be dangerous. Where states have failed to act on the issue, local jurisdictions have sometimes stepped in, banning hand-held use of cell phones. Included in this group are Chicago; Santa Fe, N.M.; Detroit; and Brooklyn, N.YResource: http://www.techweb.com
AMD Faces 25% Revenue Drop Due To Weak Demand
Advanced Micro Devices on Thursday said revenue in the fourth quarter would be 25% lower than the previous quarter, because of weaker-than-expected demand for its products.
AMD's warning came about three weeks after rival Intel lowered its fourth-quarter earnings forecast. Both companies said they were experiencing lower-than-expected sales across all geographies and businesses. AMD said sales were particularly weak in the consumer market.
AMD said it expected revenue, excluding process technology license revenue, to be a quarter less than the $1.585 billion reported in the third quarter, when the company reported its eighth consecutive quarterly loss. The loss, however, was significantly narrower than the same quarter the year before, and the company said it reached its goal of operational profitability.
Nevertheless, chipmakers are struggling within an economic downturn that has taken a serious toll. The global semiconductor industry this year is projected to see its first revenue decline in seven years, brought on by lower spending on PCs and other electronic devices by consumers and businesses, according to iSuppli. Gartner also lowered its revenue projection for the industry, as well as the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics, an industry trade group.
AMD has taken steps to reduce expenses. The company has said it would cut its workforce by 3% and plans to spin off its manufacturing operations in a joint venture with Advanced Technology Investment Co., formed by the Abu Dhabi government. ATIC would have a 55.6% stake in the company, but AMD would have equal voting rights. The deal is expected to close in the beginning of 2009
Resource: http://www.techweb.com
Symbian's Move Toward Open Source Gathers Steam
The momentum to turn Symbian into an open source mobile operating system is strong, and developers can expect to see a preliminary version in the first half of 2009, said Lee Williams, nominated executive director of the Symbian Foundation.
Symbian is the dominant mobile operating system, with nearly 50% of the global market. But it has faced increased competition from entrenched players like Research In Motion, Microsoft's Windows Mobile, and relatively new players like Apple and the Google-backed Android platform. In June, Nokia announced plans to purchase the remaining stock in Symbian and spin it into a royalty-free operating system under the Eclipse Public License. The goal was to harness the innovation of the open source environment to increase market share, as well as to attract application developers.
The Symbian Foundation was created to steward that transition, and it includes industry heavyweights such as AT&T, Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and T-Mobile. During a roundtable event at the Symbian Partner Event in San Francisco Thursday, executives from AT&T, Nokia, Symbian, and Visa discussed the progress and obstacles of moving to open source.
Williams said the foundation has hit or surpassed many of its internal milestones regarding operations and processes, and it will begin recruiting and hiring soon. Foundation members are still in the process of "code bashing" Symbian with Nokia's S60, DoCoMo's Mobile Oriented Applications Platform, and UIQ to create the new platform.
Symbian and S60 in particular have been optimized around the "scroll and select" input method. This makes devices like the Nokia E71 easy to use one-handed, but it has also led to a somewhat stagnant user interface, particularly in comparison to the iPhone 3G and even the Android-powered G1. Williams said the foundation has the opportunity to blend the functionality of the existing Symbian with advanced touch and sensor methods that could ultimately lead to a more usable and visually pleasing UI.
Applications and developers will be crucial to the success of the new Symbian, and a developer relations program is being set in place. One knock on Symbian has been that it's a powerful operating system, but developing for it can be costly and difficult. Williams said the foundation wants to ensure that developers of all kinds will be able to create content with programs they are familiar with such as Flash. He also praised how Apple and Google have made creating applications for their mobile platforms easy, particularly for small companies, hobbyists, and content providers.
While popular across the globe, Symbian devices have not been able to capture a large market in North America. The United States is behind many other advanced countries in smartphone adoption rates and 3G networks, but it remains one of the largest potential markets. One major factor in the paltry U.S. adoption rate of Symbian phones is the relatively weak carrier support. That could change as AT&T appears to be taking a large role in the foundation.
Roger Smith, director of next generation services for AT&T, said the mobile operator is looking to standardize on as few mobile platforms as possible over the next few years in order to avoid fragmentation. With its rich history in the mobile space, Symbian is a "credible candidate" to be one of the few operating systems that AT&T backs, Smith said.
"If done well and done right, this can be a game-changing event," Smith said of the open source Symbian.
Being involved with the mobile operating system potentially lets AT&T play a larger role in the ownership of the customer experience. For example, the iPhone 3G has been a big hit for AT&T, but users have virtually no contact with the carrier besides billing and customer service. Smith said a percentage of its customers may want the experience that the iPhone or BlackBerry provides, but there is a large chunk of its subscriber base that isn't being addressed.
"We're going to take more control over our destiny in the mobile operating space," Smith said.
resource: http://www.techweb.com
Opera Offers Sneak Peek At Next Browser
Opera Software on Thursday offered the first look at Opera 10, which the company is touting as much faster than previous generations.
The alpha version of the Web browser, available for download at the Opera site, gives people a sneak peek at the browser's Presto 2.2 rendering engine, which will be the foundation of all future Opera 10 products. The new engine delivers a 30% faster browsing experience as compared with Presto 2.1 introduced in Opera 9.5 in June, the company said.
Along with the new engine, Opera 10 has improved standards support and better technologies for building and viewing Web sites. Other new features include spell-checking as a person types and auto-updating to the latest versions as they become available.
"My favorite development in this release is the support for new Web technologies, which allows people to explore new ways of using the Internet," Johan Borg, VP of consumer engineering for Opera Software, said in a statement.
The Opera 10 alpha release follows last week's introduction of the latest version of Opera Mini, a mobile browser that the company claimed also is faster than previous generations. Opera also added to Mini 4.2 support for T-Mobile's Android-powered G1 phone, which ships with the "Chrome light" browser. G1 users would have to download Opera Mini from the Android Market.
Opera Mini is designed to provide fast access to the Internet no matter what device or network speed the user has, and it's available on handsets such as the Samsung Instinct, Windows Mobile smartphones, and BlackBerry devices. The Java ME-based browser works by rendering pages on a server and then sending them to the device, thus easing the connectivity demands of the phone. Opera said it has been able to improve speeds in the United States by 30% thanks to a new server park.
As of the end of November, the Opera browser was the fifth-most-used browser for accessing the Web, with a 0.71% market share, according to the Web metrics firm Net Applications. Microsoft Internet Explorer led the market, followed by Firefox, Safari, and Chrome.
Top 10 Apple Stories Of 2008
When I started working on this guide to the top 10 Apple stories of 2008, I thought that this was a relatively quiet year for Apple. After all, this wasn't a year for blockbuster product introductions like the iPod or iPhone. It was, I thought, a year of incremental changes.
resource: http://techweb.com
By the time I was done with my research, I'd changed my mind. This was a huge year for Apple. While there was no single triumphant product introduction, the company moved forward briskly on all fronts. It accelerated the iPhone's revolution of the smartphone industry by upgrading hardware and software and introducing the App Store. It reversed its previously poor record on environmentalism. It continued to be financially successful in an economy where blue-chip companies are failing. And it bolstered its notebook and desktop computer line, struggled with false rumors about Steve Jobs's health, fought a company looking to make Mac clones, and struggled with its MobileMe service.
Apple Floats On Air
Steve Jobs kicked off the year with a bang, unveiling the "world's thinnest notebook," the MacBook Air, a notebook so slender that it fits into a manila envelope.
The $1,799 notebook, weighing in at just 3 pounds, includes 2 GB memory, Intel Core 2 Duo 1.6-GHz or 1.86 GHz processor, supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and has a five-hour battery life. Storage is either a 120 GB hard disk drive, or 128 GB solid state drive.
But the most impressive specs are the measurements: three quarters of an inch at the hinge, tapering to a nearly razor-sharp 0.16 inches at the front, where it closes with a magnetic, rather than mechanical, latch.
InformationWeek reviewer Richard Hoffman said the machine is a "study in compromises," praising its size, weight, style, and overall portability. The processor is fast enough, but slower than other Macs; the battery is long-lived, but not user-removable, meaning you can't carry around an extra battery. Memory is good, but not expandable.
The Air helped drive strong Mac sales. It also drove competition: Toshiba introduced a 2.4-pound notebook in June that it said was the world's lightest, and Hewlett-Packard introduced the Vooodoo Envy 133.
The compact Air also drove accessory sales, such as this $55 case that resembles a manila envelope, but is made of leather.
For the fashionable business traveler, the MacBook Air is the must-have notebook.
resource: http://techweb.com
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
How to find a way out of the difficult situation?
Practically all people are satisfied with their life which s great. You do not even think that you can experience different help of professional lawyers who can suggest the only way out of the problem.
Only imagine that you can get into a car accident when you were just crossing the street and you were hit by the car. Of course you first desire will be to get medical help in the nearest hospital. But after that you can think about compensation done to your health. In this case it would be better to contact car injury attorney who can help to win your case in the course. These Minneapolis lawyers will collect all the evidences and find the witnesses who can help to get a compensation for the injury which you got because of the car accident. One of the advantages of such law firm is that you do not have to pay anything before they win your case in the court which is great because you have to spend money on rehabilitation at the hospital. So you see that lawyers can help to find the way out of your problems if it happens to you.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Systems
Welcome to a journey in the realm of systems. The journey is still unfolding as this web site continues to evolve over time. Yet, even with the endless changes, there continues to be a connection, in one fashion or another, with systems. And, I continue to find that the lens which provides a systems perspective is the most revealing of understanding found to date.
The real intent here is not to study systems as a discipline, though more an intent to study lots of things and employ a systems perspective to foster understanding. Agreed, this requires some understanding of systems. As such, information is provided to enable one to develop a level of understanding sufficient to delve into the rest of what resides at this web site.
Every attempt will be made to avoid the major failing of "system science." In the words of Ludwig von Bertalanffy, "The student in 'system science' receives a technical training which makes systems theory -- originally intended to overcome current overspecialization -- into another of the hundreds of academic specialities."
Welcome to a journey in the realm of systems. The journey is still unfolding as this web site continues to evolve over time. Yet, even with the endless changes, there continues to be a connection, in one fashion or another, with systems. And, I continue to find that the lens which provides a systems perspective is the most revealing of understanding found to date.
The real intent here is not to study systems as a discipline, though more an intent to study lots of things and employ a systems perspective to foster understanding. Agreed, this requires some understanding of systems. As such, information is provided to enable one to develop a level of understanding sufficient to delve into the rest of what resides at this web site.
Every attempt will be made to avoid the major failing of "system science." In the words of Ludwig von Bertalanffy, "The student in 'system science' receives a technical training which makes systems theory -- originally intended to overcome current overspecialization -- into another of the hundreds of academic specialities."
Enjoy the journey!
System
The word system probably has more varied meanings than any other word in use today. The definition I have become comfortable with I owe to the late Austrian Biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy.
A system is an entity which maintains its existence
through the mutual interaction of its parts.
The key emphasis here is "mutual interaction," in that something is occurring between the parts, over time, which maintains the system. A system is different than a heap or a collection, mostly.
This definition of a system implies something beyond cause and effect. Rather than simply A affects B, there is an implication that B also affects A. Examples of systems are particle, atom, molecule, cell, organ, person, community, state, nation, world, solar system, galaxy, and universe, in increasing levels of complexity. In truth there is only one system, "the Universe," and all other systems are really just sub-systems of this larger system. The relevant question has to do with where one chooses to draw boundaries.
Emergence
Associated with the idea of system is a principle called emergence. From the mutual interaction of the parts of a system there arise characteristics which can not be found as characteristic of any of the individual parts.
Stumbling across this as I did was most enlightening. It was probably in high school that I was first acquainted with the idea of synergy; the idea that the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. And, for all the examples ever used, emergence never really hit me until I ran into the right example. The right example just happened to be water! Amazing it took so long since there's so much of it around.
One could study hydrogen and oxygen in isolation from each other forever and never discover the characteristic of wetness. Wetness is an emergent characteristic of the mutual interaction of hydrogen and oxygen when combined to produce the molecular form called water. One has to study the system to get a true understanding of wetness. Studying the parts will not provide an appropriate understanding.
A systems view is somewhat in contradiction to the concept of analysis, which is breaking things down into smaller pieces to simplify the study. Analysis brings with it the risk of potentially loosing the most relevant characteristics of the system, and possibly developing a less than complete understanding. Yes, analysis is an important technique, and at the same time another method of study is also warranted, something I have seen called anasynthis. Anasynthis being the study of the whole, and the parts, in the hopes of developing an appropriate level of understanding.
The real intent here is not to study systems as a discipline, though more an intent to study lots of things and employ a systems perspective to foster understanding. Agreed, this requires some understanding of systems. As such, information is provided to enable one to develop a level of understanding sufficient to delve into the rest of what resides at this web site.
Every attempt will be made to avoid the major failing of "system science." In the words of Ludwig von Bertalanffy, "The student in 'system science' receives a technical training which makes systems theory -- originally intended to overcome current overspecialization -- into another of the hundreds of academic specialities."
Welcome to a journey in the realm of systems. The journey is still unfolding as this web site continues to evolve over time. Yet, even with the endless changes, there continues to be a connection, in one fashion or another, with systems. And, I continue to find that the lens which provides a systems perspective is the most revealing of understanding found to date.
The real intent here is not to study systems as a discipline, though more an intent to study lots of things and employ a systems perspective to foster understanding. Agreed, this requires some understanding of systems. As such, information is provided to enable one to develop a level of understanding sufficient to delve into the rest of what resides at this web site.
Every attempt will be made to avoid the major failing of "system science." In the words of Ludwig von Bertalanffy, "The student in 'system science' receives a technical training which makes systems theory -- originally intended to overcome current overspecialization -- into another of the hundreds of academic specialities."
Enjoy the journey!
System
The word system probably has more varied meanings than any other word in use today. The definition I have become comfortable with I owe to the late Austrian Biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy.
A system is an entity which maintains its existence
through the mutual interaction of its parts.
The key emphasis here is "mutual interaction," in that something is occurring between the parts, over time, which maintains the system. A system is different than a heap or a collection, mostly.
This definition of a system implies something beyond cause and effect. Rather than simply A affects B, there is an implication that B also affects A. Examples of systems are particle, atom, molecule, cell, organ, person, community, state, nation, world, solar system, galaxy, and universe, in increasing levels of complexity. In truth there is only one system, "the Universe," and all other systems are really just sub-systems of this larger system. The relevant question has to do with where one chooses to draw boundaries.
Emergence
Associated with the idea of system is a principle called emergence. From the mutual interaction of the parts of a system there arise characteristics which can not be found as characteristic of any of the individual parts.
Stumbling across this as I did was most enlightening. It was probably in high school that I was first acquainted with the idea of synergy; the idea that the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. And, for all the examples ever used, emergence never really hit me until I ran into the right example. The right example just happened to be water! Amazing it took so long since there's so much of it around.
One could study hydrogen and oxygen in isolation from each other forever and never discover the characteristic of wetness. Wetness is an emergent characteristic of the mutual interaction of hydrogen and oxygen when combined to produce the molecular form called water. One has to study the system to get a true understanding of wetness. Studying the parts will not provide an appropriate understanding.
A systems view is somewhat in contradiction to the concept of analysis, which is breaking things down into smaller pieces to simplify the study. Analysis brings with it the risk of potentially loosing the most relevant characteristics of the system, and possibly developing a less than complete understanding. Yes, analysis is an important technique, and at the same time another method of study is also warranted, something I have seen called anasynthis. Anasynthis being the study of the whole, and the parts, in the hopes of developing an appropriate level of understanding.
Dynamic Modeling
Models are the things we build to help us understand things better. When dealing with concepts of reality we have as the only alternative those abstractions we develop as models, or in situations where it is simply to costly to build the real thing, we build models to help us understand. In short models are simplifications, or abstractions, of reality intended to promote understanding. Whether the models we create are good models or poor models depends on the extent to which they aid us in developing the understanding we seek. As to whether a model is correct or incorrect is probably something which will only become evident in time.
The difficulty, or I should say limiting characteristic, of most of the models we build is that they are static in nature. That is, they are models that represent a snapshot of something at a particular point in time. Yet, reality is not static. Reality is constantly changing through our interactions with it, and the interactions between all of its parts, reality is dynamic in its nature. The question arises as to how we can believe that it is possible to build static models of dynamic reality and expect them to aid our understanding to anything more than a very limited extent.
The answer to this question is provided by something call Dynamic Modeling, or as it was probably better known in a prior incarnation, Simulation. Reality operates "in" time, real time. Dynamic Modeling operates "on" time, serving to compress it in such a way that it provides us with a view of the evolution of our constructions through time.
As an example consider the interpretation we have of a bank savings account. We know that if we put money in our savings account the bank will periodically pay us interest on the money in the account. This may be represented by the following very simple model.
Figure 1
This diagram, a very simplistic model, says if I give Money to the Bank then the Bank will give Interest to Me. Pretty simple, yes? Yet what does this model tell us about how things change over time? Not much.
Now consider the following diagram.
Figure 2
This is what is typically called a Systems Thinking, or Causal Loop, Diagram. The intent is to add a bit more information than is found in Figure 1. If you're not familiar with these diagrams don't let it get to you. They're not as difficult to read as you might think. For addition information on reading diagrams see: Introduction to Systems Thinking.
What the diagram indicates is simply influences between various parts of the system, with indicators as to the nature of the influence being either the same (S) or opposite (O).
Figure 2 reads as follows: Money and Interest both serve to increase the Principal. Principal, acting in conjunction with Interest Rate, both serve to increase Interest. This Interest then feeds into Principal serving to increase it even more. The snowball rolling down hill at the center of the diagram indicates this is a reinforcing structure, reinforcing in that it feeds upon itself.
Figure 2 gives some additional information over what was provided in Figure 1. Some additional information in terms of how the parts of the system influence each other, yet Figure 2 still gives us little information about how the system operates "in" time.
Suppose we consider the following scenario. If I put $100 in the bank and the bank pays an interest of 6% quarterly, how much money will I have in 8 years? Yes, there is a mathematical formula by which you can calculate this. In most dynamic systems the formulas are of such complexity as to become completely unmanageable.
Figure 3
Figure 3 is the result of associating, or embedding, equations into the model and running it with quarterly calculations. As a result, the model indicates you would have $161.03 at the end of the 8th year.
Now suppose the bank was paying 8% interest as opposed to 6%. How would this change the result? This is presented in Figure 4, which compares the result with Figure 3. This would result in $188.45 at the end of 8 years.
Figure 4
Now suppose I also put another $10 in the account every quarter.
Figure 5
Figure 5 indicates that simply adding $10 a quarter to the account will produce $630.72 at the end of 8 years. A substantial increase, when compared with the result of Figure 3 and Figure 4, for a small ongoing addition to the principal.
In each of these examples the static model of the system has not changed, yet the dynamic result is markedly different in each of the examples cited.
Now let's consider an example which isn't quite as simplistic as the Interest and Principal one.
Consider a rather high profile consulting company with 120 employees. Of these 120 employees 60 are professionals and 60 are rookies in training to be professionals. The company bills their clients at a rate of $15k per month for professionals and $5k per month for rookies. Also, it takes 6 months to train a rookie to be a professional. Currently the company wants to remain at 120 employees, and since there are 5 professionals that quit each month, the company hires a new rookie for each professional that quits. Figure 6 is a systems thinking diagram of this description.
Figure 6
The overall result of this system is that it is in a steady state. The 120 employees of this company will generate $1.2 million a month in revenue, if they're all on billing, which I understand is a somewhat far fetched assumption.
Now, what happens if the Pro Quits rate jumps from 5 to 7 per month beginning in the 4th month? I don't think you're going to find a straight forward mathematical formula which will provide an indication of the implications of this change in the system operation. Plugging this change into the model in Figure 6 and running the simulation produces the following operational changes in the system.
Figure 7
What Figure 7 portrays is that in month 4 Pro Quits jumps from 5 to 7. This one time change sets off a 12 month transition in the system where the number of Pros declines from 60 to 48 and the number of Rookies increases from 60 to 72. While this transition is in progress revenue drops accordingly from $1.2 M per month to $1.08 M.
This example should provide a foundation for the value of Dynamic Modeling in terms of providing a capability for seeing the time compression of reality.
Discrete Simulation
Discrete simulation is a technique where the simulation is advanced from event time to event time rather than using a continuously advancing time clock as in continuous simulation.
Suppose we consider the example of the interaction of the principle and interest associated with a savings account. This can be represented by a systems thinking diagram as follows:
This diagram indicates that Deposits increase the Principal and Withdraws decrease the Principal. Also, the Principal interacts with the Interest Rate on some periodic basis to create Interest. The Interest then serves to increase the Principal.
If we then turn this into a 10 year simulation with the assumptions that the Principal is initially $100, there are no Deposits or Withdraws, and an Interest Rate of 5% is paid once a year it might look like this in Extend.
In the above diagram the Generator function schedules events, which in this particular example just happen to be once a year. When the event happens Interest is computed based on the Principal and the Interest Rate and is tacked on as a value for the event. The event value is extracted in the Get Value function and added to the Principal. The event itself then exits the system.
The above graph show the result of running the model for 10 years. Note that the Interest is computed and added to the Principal at the end of each year and the discrete nature of the simulation is very evident.
Updating Blog Offline
Blog writing has become a habit and hobby many people nowadays. I also like, who also have the desire to have their own blog. But because of bandwidth limitations (it can be said that the lack of) the gold Viko I can update this blog regularly. I also realize many other bloggers also the same boat, following my serve in the way I overcome this limitation.
Required in writing this blog offline computer is offline at home, online at the school, to bring> 128 MB, and perseverance in writing a blog should be the main capital to develop the blog. With equipment in the combat you are ready to follow this tutorial.
actually there are many blogging software is a good offline at once free, the following list.
1.Windows Live Writer
Microsoft blogging software is made (if I know the new Microsoft would also make a good free) that made with other softaware windows live. Many fans and the people users. This software is actually a portable, but with the help of good people in the virtual universe, make the launcher .
Until now, the author can not make a portable (not yet Live Writer, which can be downloaded directly portable, so should make their own) nginstall portable who said I should update said. I love the original, to create a portable install must be first in the company. If there is a successful to make it portable please help and tell me yes!
2.Post2Blog
Applications include rival weight of WLW, the application is so sophisticated it. used this application is an application service, but then digratiskan and portablenya version prepared by the author. To create a portable, you must first installing (but this is easy, like kayaking WLW) continued from the start menu you can create portablenya.
3.ScribeFire
ScribeFire is addon (progaram additional) on broeser Mozilla Firefox (the browser, so this one mad drama). To portablenya problem we can akali using FirefoxPortable. Information about the addon and Portable Firefox, and you can see the link.
Back to ScribeFire, compared to two rivalnya Scribefire is very minimal but also very powerfull.
features that play other blogs are: QuickAds, QuickBlogging and save drafts.
4.BlogDesk
As ScribeFire, Blogdesk is also a blogging tool that simple. Blogdesk must also "make it portable" own and the author has not been successful to do it.
Because of personal experiences that the author can only use ScribeFire then I also write ScribeFire. to make it then you should install FirefoxPortable in Flashdisk, can be a long and the new firefox 3. Close Firefox "ancient" and then you open the FirefoxPortable to feel the grandeur portabilitas (Lifestyle Portable). After that, please go to this address addon ScribeFire. Downloadnya right-click button and select save as. Select a location to save the download.
After you finish downloading the file and drag it to your portable cell phone, click install and waiting until there is a command to restart Firefox. Close Firefox, and you run again so that ScribeFire installed.
Now there should be a key note at the bottom of the firefox bar, click the image. In a bizarre and the supernatural will be out of the frame where you can write your blog.
Congratulations you can now write a blog in Offline.
ScribeFire easy to use, note the tab-tab on the left, and learn the settings.
Okay, please experiment with this new toy, and safe Berblogging
Required in writing this blog offline computer is offline at home, online at the school, to bring> 128 MB, and perseverance in writing a blog should be the main capital to develop the blog. With equipment in the combat you are ready to follow this tutorial.
actually there are many blogging software is a good offline at once free, the following list.
1.Windows Live Writer
Microsoft blogging software is made (if I know the new Microsoft would also make a good free) that made with other softaware windows live. Many fans and the people users. This software is actually a portable, but with the help of good people in the virtual universe, make the launcher .
Until now, the author can not make a portable (not yet Live Writer, which can be downloaded directly portable, so should make their own) nginstall portable who said I should update said. I love the original, to create a portable install must be first in the company. If there is a successful to make it portable please help and tell me yes!
2.Post2Blog
Applications include rival weight of WLW, the application is so sophisticated it. used this application is an application service, but then digratiskan and portablenya version prepared by the author. To create a portable, you must first installing (but this is easy, like kayaking WLW) continued from the start menu you can create portablenya.
3.ScribeFire
ScribeFire is addon (progaram additional) on broeser Mozilla Firefox (the browser, so this one mad drama). To portablenya problem we can akali using FirefoxPortable. Information about the addon and Portable Firefox, and you can see the link.
Back to ScribeFire, compared to two rivalnya Scribefire is very minimal but also very powerfull.
features that play other blogs are: QuickAds, QuickBlogging and save drafts.
4.BlogDesk
As ScribeFire, Blogdesk is also a blogging tool that simple. Blogdesk must also "make it portable" own and the author has not been successful to do it.
Because of personal experiences that the author can only use ScribeFire then I also write ScribeFire. to make it then you should install FirefoxPortable in Flashdisk, can be a long and the new firefox 3. Close Firefox "ancient" and then you open the FirefoxPortable to feel the grandeur portabilitas (Lifestyle Portable). After that, please go to this address addon ScribeFire. Downloadnya right-click button and select save as. Select a location to save the download.
After you finish downloading the file and drag it to your portable cell phone, click install and waiting until there is a command to restart Firefox. Close Firefox, and you run again so that ScribeFire installed.
Now there should be a key note at the bottom of the firefox bar, click the image. In a bizarre and the supernatural will be out of the frame where you can write your blog.
Congratulations you can now write a blog in Offline.
ScribeFire easy to use, note the tab-tab on the left, and learn the settings.
Okay, please experiment with this new toy, and safe Berblogging
10 ethical computer
From time to time the use of computers and the Internet continues to increase at the current estimate is 150 million people worldwide who use the internet facilities and the growth of the Internet is estimated to reach 10% per month. Goals and behavior also different indeed. Generally, adults use the Internet as part of the job and to get information, while the children access the Internet for entertainment needs such as gaming, music, hanging out with other people, finding pictures, song lyrics, writing an email, and others. With the number of internet users this can be ascertained there is always positive and negative side. Cyberbullying (harassment or behavior disrupt the cyber world) is one of the negative impact that often occurs and the behavior of this survey have the mental teenage children. Therefore we must learn how to have good ethics in using the computer. Here are ten ethical computer use, if implemented by young people and IT professionals would negatively impact from the use of the Internet will be reduced and the level of security and convenience in accessing and using computers and the Internet will become more enjoyable.
10 ethical computer use:
1. Do not use a computer to harm other people
In using a computer we can not harm other people, for example, use a computer to break the bank, using a computer to create a virus, using the computer to damage a security system
2. Do not violate the rights of the computer or another person or the
work other people's computer
For computer users, is not expected to disrupt and use the computer for the rights of others, such as piracy of works to do other people, meginstal a program that is not legal.
3. Do not see the files - files that are not our rights
Snoop, spy and to take other people's data is not right, it should not be done by computer users because it is very harmful, and other activities is usually done by the cracker and Hacker is not responsible.
4. Do not use a computer to steal
This is normally used by the hijacker, a thief and a plunderer of using computers to break a bank's security system, and is used by the terrorists to look for funds with a target break personal identity.
5. Do not use a computer to give false testimony
Using a computer to spread false news and not in accordance with the facts, and interfaces information about someone that all forms of lies, and tend violations of law that is damaging the good name of a person.
6. Do not duplicate or use illegal software
It is possible that the public is usually not a sin to show duplicate the software or data sources to include someone without a capture
7. Do not use the computer resources of others without the owner's
computer
If we want to open a computer with other people, we expected to ask permission from the owner first.
8. Do not steal the intellectual property of others
Like duplicating a software and then commercialize it.
9. Consider the consequences of the program that created or computer
system designed
In creating a program should we assess the positive and negative, if we make the program more impact on the poor better we stop making that program.
10. Always consider and put to respect each other when using the
computer
In using the computer we must consider every side of good or bad, until we do not harm others. If each user's computer and the Internet, applying the 10 ethics in berkomputer in using computers or the Internet, we can be sure that the security and comfort for the user and the computer or internet user can be more fun.
resource: www.beritanet.com
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Launch Jack Audio Connection Kit daemon with realtime scheduling
Today, it is very simple to launch the Jack Audio Connection Kit daemon with realtime
When Jack Audio Connection Kit is installed, it adds specific "limit" to jackuser group, into Pluggable Authentication Modules (pam).
Cf. the /etc/security/limits.conf file.
So the only need is to add the user which must need to launch the Jack Audio Connection Kit daemon with realtime scheduling into the jackuser group:
/usr/sbin/usermod -G jackuser "username"
Then, use the -R option when launching Jack Audio Connection Kit daemon:
jackd -R ...
N.B.: those instructions have been performed (at least) under Fedora 8 scheduling, with a no-root user.
When Jack Audio Connection Kit is installed, it adds specific "limit" to jackuser group, into Pluggable Authentication Modules (pam).
Cf. the /etc/security/limits.conf file.
So the only need is to add the user which must need to launch the Jack Audio Connection Kit daemon with realtime scheduling into the jackuser group:
/usr/sbin/usermod -G jackuser "username"
Then, use the -R option when launching Jack Audio Connection Kit daemon:
jackd -R ...
N.B.: those instructions have been performed (at least) under Fedora 8 scheduling, with a no-root user.
Data, Information, Knowledge, and Wisdom
There is probably no segment of activity in the world attracting as much attention at present as that of knowledge management. Yet as I entered this arena of activity I quickly found there didn't seem to be a wealth of sources that seemed to make sense in terms of defining what knowledge actually was, and how was it differentiated from data, information, and wisdom. What follows is the current level of understanding I have been able to piece together regarding data, information, knowledge, and wisdom. I figured to understand one of them I had to understand all of them.
According to Russell Ackoff, a systems theorist and professor of organizational change, the content of the human mind can be classified into five categories:
- Data: symbols
- Information: data that are processed to be useful; provides answers to "who", "what", "where", and "when" questions
- Knowledge: application of data and information; answers "how" questions
- Understanding: appreciation of "why"
- Wisdom: evaluated understanding.
A further elaboration of Ackoff's definitions follows:
Data... data is raw. It simply exists and has no significance beyond its existence (in and of itself). It can exist in any form, usable or not. It does not have meaning of itself. In computer parlance, a spreadsheet generally starts out by holding data.
Information... information is data that has been given meaning by way of relational connection. This "meaning" can be useful, but does not have to be. In computer parlance, a relational database makes information from the data stored within it.
Knowledge... knowledge is the appropriate collection of information, such that it's intent is to be useful. Knowledge is a deterministic process. When someone "memorizes" information (as less-aspiring test-bound students often do), then they have amassed knowledge. This knowledge has useful meaning to them, but it does not provide for, in and of itself, an integration such as would infer further knowledge. For example, elementary school children memorize, or amass knowledge of, the "times table". They can tell you that "2 x 2 = 4" because they have amassed that knowledge (it being included in the times table). But when asked what is "1267 x 300", they can not respond correctly because that entry is not in their times table. To correctly answer such a question requires a true cognitive and analytical ability that is only encompassed in the next level... understanding. In computer parlance, most of the applications we use (modeling, simulation, etc.) exercise some type of stored knowledge.
Understanding... understanding is an interpolative and probabilistic process. It is cognitive and analytical. It is the process by which I can take knowledge and synthesize new knowledge from the previously held knowledge. The difference between understanding and knowledge is the difference between "learning" and "memorizing". People who have understanding can undertake useful actions because they can synthesize new knowledge, or in some cases, at least new information, from what is previously known (and understood). That is, understanding can build upon currently held information, knowledge and understanding itself. In computer parlance, AI systems possess understanding in the sense that they are able to synthesize new knowledge from previously stored information and knowledge.
Wisdom... wisdom is an extrapolative and non-deterministic, non-probabilistic process. It calls upon all the previous levels of consciousness, and specifically upon special types of human programming (moral, ethical codes, etc.). It beckons to give us understanding about which there has previously been no understanding, and in doing so, goes far beyond understanding itself. It is the essence of philosophical probing. Unlike the previous four levels, it asks questions to which there is no (easily-achievable) answer, and in some cases, to which there can be no humanly-known answer period. Wisdom is therefore, the process by which we also discern, or judge, between right and wrong, good and bad. I personally believe that computers do not have, and will never have the ability to posses wisdom. Wisdom is a uniquely human state, or as I see it, wisdom requires one to have a soul, for it resides as much in the heart as in the mind. And a soul is something machines will never possess (or perhaps I should reword that to say, a soul is something that, in general, will never possess a machine).
Personally I contend that the sequence is a bit less involved than described by Ackoff. The following diagram represents the transitions from data, to information, to knowledge, and finally to wisdom, and it is understanding that support the transition from each stage to the next. Understanding is not a separate level of its own. (look the pictures above)
Ex: It is raining.
Information embodies the understanding of a relationship of some sort, possibly cause and effect.
Ex: The temperature dropped 15 degrees and then it started raining.
Knowledge represents a pattern that connects and generally provides a high level of predictability as to what is described or what will happen next.
Ex: If the humidity is very high and the temperature drops substantially the atmospheres is often unlikely to be able to hold the moisture so it rains.
Wisdom embodies more of an understanding of fundamental principles embodied within the knowledge that are essentially the basis for the knowledge being what it is. Wisdom is essentially systemic.
Ex: It rains because it rains. And this encompasses an understanding of all the interactions that happen between raining, evaporation, air currents, temperature gradients, changes, and raining.
Yet, there is still a question regarding when is a pattern knowledge and when is it noise. Consider the following:
- Abugt dbesbt regtc uatn s uitrzt.
- ubtxte pstye ysote anet sser extess
- ibxtedstes bet3 ibtes otesb tapbesct ehracts
It is quite likely this sequence represents 100% novelty, which means it's equivalent to noise. There is no foundation for you to connect with the pattern, yet to me the statements are quite meaningful as I understand the translation with reveals they are in fact Newton's 3 laws of motion. Is something knowledge if you can't understand it?
Now consider the following:
- I have a box.
- The box is 3' wide, 3' deep, and 6' high.
- The box is very heavy.
- The box has a door on the front of it.
- When I open the box it has food in it.
- It is colder inside the box than it is outside.
- You usually find the box in the kitchen.
- There is a smaller compartment inside the box with ice in it.
- When you open the door the light comes on.
- When you move this box you usually find lots of dirt underneath it.
- Junk has a real habit of collecting on top of this box.
What is it?
A refrigerator. You knew that, right? At some point in the sequence you connected with the pattern and understood it was a description of a refrigerator. From that point on each statement only added confirmation to your understanding.
If you lived in a society that had never seen a refrigerator you might still be scratching your head as to what the sequence of statements referred to.
Also, realize that I could have provided you with the above statements in any order and still at some point the pattern would have connected. When the pattern connected the sequence of statements represented knowledge to you. To me all the statements convey nothing as they are simply 100% confirmation of what I already knew as I knew what I was describing even before I started.
References:
- Ackoff, R. L., "From Data to Wisdom", Journal of Applies Systems Analysis, Volume 16, 1989 p 3-9.
- Gadomski, Adam Maria, Information, Preferences and Knowledge, An Interesting Evolution in Thought
- Sharma, Nikhil, The Origin of the Data Information Knowledge Wisdom Hierarchy
Friday, October 3, 2008
Why do people prefer custom cars
Many people are not satisfied with the present state. Of course there are a lot of modifications of modern car which can suit every desire of every customer. But it is always sad to have the same car as you neighbor.
In is case car customization is way out. There is not need to buy cars which cost hundreds of thousands of dollar. People can make custom cars from their present one just adding some useful details which make it look different. For example, there is always a possibility to add car body kits which can be even offered by your car producers. All these will make people like your car and respect the driver which is sometimes more important then money. Also you can change your interior by adding special car interior accessories which give you a possibility not only to personalize your car but make you feel more comfortable when you are driving in the streets. For example, you can order special seat covers which can be made of different material to match the overall design of you car interior. These seat covers can prevent from such diseases as back pain or something like that. So you see why people prefer custom car.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Before You Choose a Notebook PC
Notebook systems have grown in popularity due to their increasing performance and portability. Many systems are even now being marketed as replacements for desktop systems, but few can perform at the same level as a desktop system particularly when it comes to graphics. This guide will help you to look at some of the key items you want to look at before you purchase your next PC notebook system.
Size and Weight
Obviously the size and weight of a notebook is important. Ultraportables offer light weight and sizes but sacrifice items such as drives. Desktop replacements have equivalent power to desktop systems, but they are heavy and bulky making them difficult to carry around. When shopping for a laptop, make sure to pick up the systems and verify its something you are willing to carry. Don't forget to also consider the weight of accessories such as AC adapter when carrying around the notebook. Understanding Notebook Size/Weight
Processors (CPU)
Notebook processors typically were slower than desktop CPUs, but that has changed. Dual-core processors are starting to become common and help with multitasking. The type of processors found in the notebook will vary based upon the size and purpose of the notebook. They have a direct impact on performance as well as battery life so comparison can be difficult. Check out my listings for suggested processors for the various types of notebook PCs available. Understanding Notebook PCs
Memory (RAM)
Notebooks are generally more restricted in the amount of memory they can have compared to desktops. When looking at computers you want to make sure to check out the maximum memory the system can handle as well as the amount that is installed in the computer. It's also useful to find out if a memory upgrade can be done yourself or if it has to be done by a technician. One Gigabyte should really be the minimum amount of memory to consider with at 2GB for improved performance. Understanding Notebook Memory
Displays and Video
The video on a notebook computer is comprised of the display and the video processor. The display is comprised of the screen size and the native resolution. The larger the display, the higher the resolution will typically be, but it also will impact how portable the system is. Wide screen displays are also becoming more popular. The graphics processor will determine the performance of the computer in things such as 3D graphics and PC gaming. Understanding Notebook Video
Drives
How much storage space will you need? Hard drives are fairly straight forward in terms of the size and the performance may be impacted by the rotational speed. Optical drives play a more important role when purchasing a notebook PC. These can either be fairly simple CD-ROM drives for installing software all the way up to the latest high definition DVD burners. In most cases, notebook comptuers now come standard with a dual layer DVD burner. HD-DVD and Bluray are starting to show up, but still extremely expensive Understanding Notebook Drives
Networking
The ability to connect to the net is integral to most notebooks today. Look for systems that include a built in 56Kbps modem and Fast Ethernet. With the rise of wireless networking, this is also found in most new notebooks. For the minimum amount of wireless connectivity, look at getting a notebook with 802.11b/g. Systems with an 802.11a/b/g will give you the most amount of connectivity. Understanding Notebook Networking What is Networking?
Battery Life
How good is a portable computer going to be if you are only able to get 30 minutes of computing time on a single charge? Try to find the manufacturer’s listed battery life for the standard battery. Look to get a system with at least 2 hours of battery life under normal conditions. If you need extended time unplugged, look for laptops with media bays that can double as extra battery slots or have extended life batteries that can be purchased. 10 Battery Life Tips
Warranty Plans
Laptops take a lot of abuse and are more prone to breakdowns due to their portability. When buying a system, make sure to get at least a 1 year warranty from the manufacturer. If you will be using the system heavily, a system that comes with a 3 year warranty might be a better choice but it will cost more. Third party extended plans are not a good choice unless service is done through the manufacturer.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Scion xD Review
Introduction Scion xD
The 2008 Scion xD replaces the Toyota division's cute, efficient xA. Introduced four years ago, the xA was a popular subcompact. Scion's grand plan is to offer new models frequently, so it was time for the xA to go. While the xD is all new, shoppers can think of it as the second generation of the xA. In spirit and execution, it remains essentially the same: A small, efficient, relatively inexpensive four-door hatchback aimed at young, stylish buyers.
The new xD has a boxier roofline and more bulbous hood. We think it has lost some of the distinctiveness of the xA, but the xD can be dressed up into a unique, good-looking car, and that remains part of the Scion plan. The new xD is designed for easy personalization, and Scion offers dozens of dealer-installed parts, starting with an array of custom wheels.
On paper, the Scion xD has the right stuff. It has a longer wheelbase and wider track yet virtually the same overall length as the xA; that means shorter overhangs for a sportier appearance suggesting more agile handling. With a 1.8-liter engine making 128 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque, the xD is substantially more powerful than the 1.5-liter xA model it replaces (by 20 hp). The new xD's engine also benefits from the latest version of Toyota's VVT-i, or variable valve timing, technology for strong power and good fuel economy.
The xD comes well equipped, with air conditioning, a high-watt Pioneer stereo and a full complement of power accessories.
The xD sets the class benchmark for safety equipment. Front, side and curtain-style airbags are standard, as is a sophisticated anti-lock brake system. The xD is available with optional electronic stability control, which isn't even offered on most cars in its class.
In some respects, however, the xD falls short of the xA it replaces. The xD is heavier than the xA, by 300 pounds, so acceleration is diminished, particularly with the automatic transmission. Also, EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings are poorer, but that's complicated by the EPA's new testing methods for 2008 models which degrade on paper fuel economy for most cars. The xD is rated at 27/33 mpg City/Highway with the manual transmission. And despite its slightly larger exterior dimensions, the xD provides less interior space than the old xA did, and less than key competitors such as the Honda Fit. The xD's interior loses 1.5 cubic feet of volume overall, and a significant four inches of rear legroom.
The good news is that the Scion xD is a roomy little car, with lots of headroom and comfortable space for four medium-size adults. The new rear seat is particularly handy. It reclines, slides fore and aft to maximize passenger or cargo room, or quickly folds totally flat, creating an excellent cargo space measuring a maximum 35.7 cubic feet.
The xD's overall performance is spry. Ride quality is acceptable in most circumstances, and while it isn't the sportiest performer in its class, it can be fun to drive. We recommend the five-speed manual transmission, because the weakest link in the xD package is the optional automatic. It's a conventional four-speed and, with the XD's free-revving engine, it feels like it needs more gears.
Model Lineup
The 2008 Scion xD comes with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and a choice of five-speed manual ($14,550) or four-speed automatic ($15,350) transmission.
Standard equipment includes cloth upholstery, air conditioning, power windows, door locks and mirrors, remote keyless entry, tilt steering wheel with audio controls, first-aid kit, a 60-40 reclining, sliding and flat-folding rear seat, 16-inch steel wheels and a 160-watt, six-speaker Pioneer sound system wired for MP3, iPod and satellite radio.
Vehicle Stability Control ($650) is optional, and more than 40 dealer-installed accessories developed by Scion are available, including a plug-and-play navigation system ($1,950), Sirius or XM satellite radio ($449), a remote starter ($529), 16-inch alloy wheels ($795), and a cargo cover ($259). Speed and style parts are available from TRD (Toyota Racing Development). And aftermarket suppliers are supporting the Scion xD with a wide range of products, ranging from an supercharger to carbon-fiber body trim.
Safety features include dual-stage front airbags, front passenger side-impact airbags and curtain-style head protection airbags front and rear. A tire-pressure monitor is standard. Active safety features include anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist. As noted, VSC electronic stability control with traction control is optional, but many competitors in this class, including the Honda Fit, do not offer electronic stability control.
Source: auto.yahoo.uk
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Skoda Superb lives up to title
Introduction
With a name like Superb, Skoda's biggest saloon is going to have be pretty special. This third-generation model does a reasonably decent job living up to that moniker, with more space than ever, a beautifully finished interior and a decent driving experience. If only it looked a little bit more distinctive, as among its rivals it falls into the rather forgettable category.
If you're looking at a Superb then it's likely you'll have looked at the mainstream saloon and hatchback offerings from numerous firms. Think Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall's new Insignia, the Citroen C5, Peugeot 407, Renault Laguna and, hell, even its cousin the Volkswagen's Passat along with a host of Japanese alternatives. The Superb solves the problem of producing both a hatchback and a saloon model, Skoda engineering a system called 'Twindoor' that allows you to choose from either a hatchback opening or a saloon one. Neat, admittedly, but perhaps a solution to a question nobody asked?
How does it drive?
The Superb is huge, but it belies its size on the road. The 2.0-litre turbodiesel here is the 168bhp common-rail version, giving the big Skoda plenty of punch. Lower output 1.9 and 2.0-litre turbodiesels are also offered, but they use Volkswagen's old Pumpe Duse technology and lack this 2.0-litre common-rail's refinement.
The steering is decently weighted and although it's not a car that's likely to be hustled down a country road the Superb does a rather fine job with neat body control, precise steering and a neutral, balanced stance. Where it really majors though is on comfort, the Superb doing a good impression of a car in the premium class above with its big-car feel and comfort.
Courtesy ukcars.yahoo.com
With a name like Superb, Skoda's biggest saloon is going to have be pretty special. This third-generation model does a reasonably decent job living up to that moniker, with more space than ever, a beautifully finished interior and a decent driving experience. If only it looked a little bit more distinctive, as among its rivals it falls into the rather forgettable category.
What are its rivals?
How does it drive?
The Superb is huge, but it belies its size on the road. The 2.0-litre turbodiesel here is the 168bhp common-rail version, giving the big Skoda plenty of punch. Lower output 1.9 and 2.0-litre turbodiesels are also offered, but they use Volkswagen's old Pumpe Duse technology and lack this 2.0-litre common-rail's refinement.
The steering is decently weighted and although it's not a car that's likely to be hustled down a country road the Superb does a rather fine job with neat body control, precise steering and a neutral, balanced stance. Where it really majors though is on comfort, the Superb doing a good impression of a car in the premium class above with its big-car feel and comfort.
Courtesy ukcars.yahoo.com
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Car and Auto Forum
American automobile Automotive Chrysler Message Board manufacturer that has been producing automobiles since 1925 and from 1914 under the Dodge name. From 1998 to 2007, Chrysler and its subsidiaries were part of the German based DaimlerChrysler (now Daimler AG). Prior to 1998, Chrysler Corporation traded under the "C" symbol on the NYSE. Under DaimlerChrysler, the company was named "DaimlerChrysler Motors Company LLC", with its U.S. operations generally referred to as the "Chrysler Group".
On May 14, 2007 DaimlerChrysler AG announced the sale of 80.1% of Chrysler Group to American private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., Chrysler's Founding Forum although Daimler continues to hold a 19.9% stake. It is then that the company gained its current name. The deal was finalized on August 3, 2007.
On August 6, 2007, after the announcement 2008 Chrysler Town & Country Community of the spin-off to Cerberus, the Chrysler LLC, or "The New Chrysler", unveiled a new company logo and launched its new website with a variation of the previously used Pentastar logo. Robert Nardelli also became Chairman and CEO of Chrysler under the ownership of Cerberus.
On May 14, 2007 DaimlerChrysler AG announced the sale of 80.1% of Chrysler Group to American private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., Chrysler's Founding Forum although Daimler continues to hold a 19.9% stake. It is then that the company gained its current name. The deal was finalized on August 3, 2007.
On August 6, 2007, after the announcement 2008 Chrysler Town & Country Community of the spin-off to Cerberus, the Chrysler LLC, or "The New Chrysler", unveiled a new company logo and launched its new website with a variation of the previously used Pentastar logo. Robert Nardelli also became Chairman and CEO of Chrysler under the ownership of Cerberus.
Monday, July 7, 2008
The BMW 123d
Article by Shane O' Donoghue
Source: uk.cars.yahoo.com
Arrived: Dec 2007
List price (including options): £30,835
Average economy: 39.7mpg
The BMW 123d Coupé has been rather busy in its last month with us. The very last journey was its longest yet, as the 123d was enlisted to drive three of us (and our camping gear) to Le Mans for the annual 24-hour epic. The trip itself was fairly epic; never mind the race. Starting out in Dublin with a gleaming car and a full tank of diesel, I boarded the fast Irish Ferries craft to Holyhead. Two hours later the nose of the BMW was pointed towards Birmingham to pick up the first of my passengers, then onto Luton Airport before hightailing it to Folkestone to catch the Eurotunnel to Calais.
Incredibly, we didn't need to top up with diesel until about a hundred miles south of Calais, and even then it was for fear of having to deal with closed fuel stations at night. We eventually rolled into our campsite at about 1am, which was no time to have to put up a tent...
We're loving the -
Range. Despite carrying three 'well-fed' lads and all their camping accoutrements, the 123d managed nearly 450 miles on that single tank of fuel. Given that we were 'pressing on' for much of our journey, the average fuel consumption is pretty impressive too.
Along with the fuel economy and range, the Coupé attracted praise for how surprisingly large its boot is and even in M Sport guise was exceedingly comfortable on France's excellent motorway network.
But not so impressed by -
The lack of cruise control. We spent hours and hours at a high-speed cruise on the motorway and my right leg and knee were aching by the end of the weekend from holding the throttle at a constant angle. It's also too easy to let your speed creep up in these circumstances, especially given the mid-range urge of the 123d's twin-turbo engine and that's not a good idea on the Autoroutes around Le Mans, as the Gendarmes patrol for speeding Brits with real vigour.
We're looking forward to -
Well, there's nothing more to look forward to with this car unfortunately, as BMW has cruelly taken it from us - not before we gave the Coupé a thorough valet first though, to remove all trace of the Le Mans weekend from it...
My next steed is VW's parsimonious Polo BlueMotion. I already know that it won't be as much to drive in the traditional sense as the BMW, but with diesel prices escalating out of control, it's perhaps no bad thing to be driving a car that requires so few fuel stops. Anyway, there's fun to be had in watching the instantaneous economy read out and eking out those extra miles per gallon. More on that soon.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Auto Insurance and Leasing
When leasing a car, it’s easier to stick with the same company for your auto insurance. What you don’t know, however, is that you may end up paying too much for your coverage and it’s better to look elsewhere for lower rates.
When you lease, the vehicle that you will drive belongs to the leasing company. They want to make sure that their investment is covered in the event the vehicle gets damaged, totalled or stolen. They typically want to get covered for the difference between what your auto-insurer pays and your outstanding leasing obligations at the time of the accident or damage. This is called GAP, short for Guaranteed Auto Protection, and is usually included in the leasing contract.
If your leasing company is called BMW Financial Services, Chrysler Financial or any other finance division of an automaker, then chances are your GAP insurance will be offered by the same lease company. You are under no obligation to accept GAP insurance included as part of
your lease agreement. Why pay an insurance premium if you could get the same coverage for a lower price? Invest some time shopping by comparing quotes from other insurance companies, including your existing one. Ask for discounts that you already qualify for and adjust your coverage accordingly.
When you lease, the vehicle that you will drive belongs to the leasing company. They want to make sure that their investment is covered in the event the vehicle gets damaged, totalled or stolen. They typically want to get covered for the difference between what your auto-insurer pays and your outstanding leasing obligations at the time of the accident or damage. This is called GAP, short for Guaranteed Auto Protection, and is usually included in the leasing contract.
If your leasing company is called BMW Financial Services, Chrysler Financial or any other finance division of an automaker, then chances are your GAP insurance will be offered by the same lease company. You are under no obligation to accept GAP insurance included as part of
your lease agreement. Why pay an insurance premium if you could get the same coverage for a lower price? Invest some time shopping by comparing quotes from other insurance companies, including your existing one. Ask for discounts that you already qualify for and adjust your coverage accordingly.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
ZENN prices previously announced preliminary short form prospectus financing
ZENN Motor Company Inc has entered into an agency agreement with Paradigm Capital Inc. and Cannacord Capital Corporation in respect of the best efforts offering of common shares contemplated by the Corporation's preliminary short form prospectus dated May 7, 2008. Under the terms of the agency agreement, the Corporation will offer up to 3,735,000 common shares at a price of $3.75 common share for gross proceeds to the Corporation of up to $14,006,250.
The Agents have been granted an over-allotment option for a period of 30 days following the closing of the offering to arrange for the sale of up to 325,000 Common Shares sold under the offering at $3.75 for total additional proceeds of up to $1,218,750.
The Corporation anticipates filing a final prospectus in respect of the offering on May 23, 2008 with closing expected to occur on or about May 30, 2008.
The Corporation intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to fund working capital and general corporate purposes, including engineering and new product development, market development for new and existing offerings, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, acquisitions or investments should the appropriate opportunities arise.
Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, ZENN Motor Company is dedicated to being the global leader in producing zero emission transportation solutions for markets around the world. Our current ZENN car is the perfect vehicle for urban commuters, fleets (such as resorts, gated communities, airports, college and business campuses, municipalities, parks and more), the environmentally conscious driver, and consumers who just want to save money.
The ZENN is a fully electric low speed vehicle (LSV) with European styling and appointments that offers customers tremendous operational cost savings compared to a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. The ZENN is sold through a growing network of retailers across the United States.
Source:infibeam.com
The Agents have been granted an over-allotment option for a period of 30 days following the closing of the offering to arrange for the sale of up to 325,000 Common Shares sold under the offering at $3.75 for total additional proceeds of up to $1,218,750.
The Corporation anticipates filing a final prospectus in respect of the offering on May 23, 2008 with closing expected to occur on or about May 30, 2008.
The Corporation intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to fund working capital and general corporate purposes, including engineering and new product development, market development for new and existing offerings, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, acquisitions or investments should the appropriate opportunities arise.
Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, ZENN Motor Company is dedicated to being the global leader in producing zero emission transportation solutions for markets around the world. Our current ZENN car is the perfect vehicle for urban commuters, fleets (such as resorts, gated communities, airports, college and business campuses, municipalities, parks and more), the environmentally conscious driver, and consumers who just want to save money.
The ZENN is a fully electric low speed vehicle (LSV) with European styling and appointments that offers customers tremendous operational cost savings compared to a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. The ZENN is sold through a growing network of retailers across the United States.
Source:infibeam.com
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Hyundai Genesis coupe
Hyundai hopes the new Genesis coupe
sports car will provide performance and
looks to compete with the famous pony car, and on paper it looks like a close
fight. These latest images give us details and angles not seen before. The
power source for the Tiburon replacement is still up in the air, but
speculation runs from a 2.0L turbocharged mill for the base model - to start
under $20,000 - to a 300hp 3.8L V6 mid-range variant to a range-topping ‘Tau’
V8 producing as much as 380hp. Optional accoutrement are rumored to include a
limited slip differential and Brembo brakes. Aside from some obvious
concessions to practicality - the heavily louvred carbon fiber hood is gone,
for example - the production car looks to stick remarkably close to the
concept’s lines, right down to the funky rear window notch. The side rear
brakes duct is gone, and the front intake/air dam area is tamed a bit, but
overall the car provides a very aggressive and sleek demeanor due to its
wheels and tires. The
Mustang’s blocky retro looks are aging, and the Genesis may be just the thing
younger buyers are looking for. Hyundai’s performance coupe is not to be
confused with the luxury sedan of the same name - they share some design cues
and possibly some engines, but little else is the same. The large, luxurious
sedan will be priced well above the coupe, and though performance should be
swift with the 368hp 4.6L V8 under the hood, it is being pitched as a
BMW 7-series or Mercedes E-class fighter,not a sports sedan.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
New Materia Car
With its striking looks and spacious interior the Materia offers style and practicality.
A split, folding, reclining and sliding rear seat means that the accommodation is flexible enough to meet all your needs – be it luggage space or more leg room for those rear seat passengers.
Standard equipment includes air conditioning, alloy wheels, CD Tuner with 6 speakers, rear parking sensors, electric mirrors and head turning looks.
Whatever your hobby, whatever the task, you'll be amazed at how the Materia swallows up luggage, golf bags, picnic baskets and even surf boards with ease.
A 1.5 litre engine guarantees lively performance with economy giving 39.2 mpg (manual transmission) on the Combined Cycle with a 0 – 62 mph acceleration time of 10.8 seconds.
With its striking looks and spacious interior the Materia offers style and practicality.
A split, folding, reclining and sliding rear seat means that the accommodation is flexible enough to meet all your needs – be it luggage space or more leg room for those rear seat passengers.
Standard equipment includes air conditioning, alloy wheels, CD Tuner with 6 speakers, rear parking sensors, electric mirrors and head turning looks.
Whatever your hobby, whatever the task, you'll be amazed at how the Materia swallows up luggage, golf bags, picnic baskets and even surf boards with ease.
A 1.5 litre engine guarantees lively performance with economy giving 39.2 mpg (manual transmission) on the Combined Cycle with a 0 – 62 mph acceleration time of 10.8 seconds.
New C3 Pluriel Car
Released in May 2003, the C3 Pluriel stands out with its inimitable exterior and interior styling and its panoramic roof. Like the C3 and C2, it sports a new dashboard with a modern and refined design that confirms the vehicle’s place at the top of the supermini segment. Furthermore, all versions of the C3 Pluriel now come with the unique dark-grey interior design scheme (Tramontane) for the upper parts of the vehicle, including the inside of the sunroof, the wood trim on the arches, and the upholstery on the windscreen pillar and cross-members. These additions help to enhance the stylish look of the passenger compartment.
New C4 Picasso Car
Following the successful launch of the Grand C4 Picasso (7-seater) visiospace, Citroën is continuing to extend its MPV range with the launch in first-quarter 2007 of its second visiospace, the uniquely styled C4 Picasso (5-seater).
As with its saloon models, the Marque has created a real range of MPVs with differentiated design and specifications. The range now includes the compact MPVs, Xsara Picasso, C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso, together with the large MPV, the C8.
Citroën is the only manufacturer to market three compact MPVs, each with its distinctive personality and styling.
With its dynamic, assertive and unique styling, together with its dimensions (4.47 m long, 1.83 m wide and 1.66 m high), road performance, and innovative visiospace features, the C4 Picasso fits naturally into Citroën’s compact MPV range between the Xsara Picasso and the Grand C4 Picasso.
New 2008 Chrysler 300C CRD Car
Saint-Genis, France - It's always nice to get a gift from your rich German uncle.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
New Chrysler 300
It's hard to know whether Chrysler's gamble of building an unashamedly old-fashioned, American-style sedan-big inside and out, rear-wheel drive, with the option of a honking V-8-will get buyers flocking into its showrooms, but the 300 is pretty sweet. Driving around Palm Springs in a 300C equipped with the bodacious 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 seemed appropriate, because this artificial oasis a couple of hours east of Los Angeles, with its endless golf courses and stylish mid-century architecture, reflects more of the optimism of the immediate postwar era than almost any other place in the United States. From the high-set driving position to the rumble of the V-8, the 300C is a throwback to the time when big was better, bigger was best, and no one had heard of Toyota.
American cars used to look distinctive, drive distinctively, and offer more for less. Sometime between the late 1960s and now, the ineptness (and arrogance) of the domestic auto industry, an oil crisis that was manna to import automakers, and changing consumer tastes led the major domestic automakers to build ersatz import cars rather than American ones.
The 300, though, actually looks like an American car. At 196.8 inches long and 74.1 inches wide, it's large enough to make the Mercedes-Benz E500 we brought along for comparative purposes seem like a waif. The 300 looks very distinctive on the road, glamorous even, with its baby Bentley proportions, lead-sled chop top, and showy details. If there's any American car that's going to appeal to the rap pack, this is it. In fact, 50 Cent already has shot a video with a 300C, tricked out with the 22-inch wheels that seem to be a prerequisite for hip-hop acceptability.
The confident exterior is matched by a stylish interior. Chrysler has made a quantum improvement in the quality of the bits you touch, even if they aren't always up to Lexus standards. In many cases, the materials are better than those used by the Japanese competition, with soft-touch surfaces as opposed to hard plastics, for instance. The design is very attractive, with great-looking gauges and chrome accents everywhere, and the tortoiseshell finish on the C's steering wheel, shifter, and door handles is delightful. Just like the outside, the interior is massive-similar in size to the BMW 745i, believe it or not. Headroom, shoulder room, and legroom are not only superior to mid-size cars' but are comparable to those of short-wheelbase luxury cars such as the Jaguar XJ8 and the Infiniti Q45.
When it comes to trim, the base 300 ($23,595) has cloth upholstery, a power driver's seat, and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel; leather is standard on the 300 Touring ($27,395). The 300 Limited ($29,890) adds heated seats, a power passenger seat, dual-zone climate control, and one-touch front windows. The 300C ($32,995) gets a power tilt/ telescoping steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, and a 288-watt stereo as standard. Options include a navigation system, power-adjustable pedals, xenon headlamps, a 380-watt sound system, and a power sunroof.
The big news for people who enjoy driving is that the 300 is rear- (or all-) wheel drive. Chrysler has spent years telling people about the traction advantages of its front-wheel-drive cars, but now the company has reversed course and is spinning the virtues of traction and stability control systems like crazy. (Traction control and ESP are optional on the base 300 and standard on the other models.)
New 2005 Chrysler Town amp Country - IntelliChoice
The realities of teenagers and clients are getting in the way of your mid-life crisis plans. You need something roomy and safe. But you're not dead yet, so you want a little driving excitement and flair in a car that's not going to cost you your collection of Thriller-era Michael Jackson-worn gloves.
We examined three of the newest and best full-size family cars under $30,000 through our speed-obsessed lenses. We tested well-optioned cars: the Chrysler 300 Touring, the Ford Five Hundred Limited, and the Toyota Avalon Touring. The Chrysler and the Toyota Touring packages were mid-level offerings for the models, while the Limited was the top trim option currently offered on the Five Hundred. Despite that, the Ford sported the least expensive as-tested price at $27,390 as delivered, with only front-side and side-curtain air bags chosen as options. The Chrysler came in next at $28,865, which included a power moonroof and Sirius Satellite Radio. Our Avalon wore a $30,669 sticker price and was optioned with an anti-theft system, a power moonroof, a six-disc in-dash CD changer, and carpeted floor and trunk mats. Factor in the incentives currently offered on domestic cars, though, and the transaction prices of the Chrysler and Ford models undercut the Toyota even more. Overall, we found the Chrysler and Ford entrants much improved since their most recent marque predecessors (the LHS and the Crown Victoria, respectively), but they're not yet on even ground with the Toyota from a quality standpoint.
From the OutsideThe exterior of the Chrysler is the most interesting of the bunch, and based on the sales success of the car, we're not the only ones who think it looks cool. We chose the 300's V-8-engined brother--the 300C--as our Automobile of the Year for 2005, and the extroverted looks and presence of the car influenced our choice. Styling-wise, the 300 makes the most confident and bold statement of this group, and we appreciate that.
The Five Hundred and the Avalon have inoffensive (read: boring) appearances that may make them popular with less-adventurous buyers. We find their conservative approaches largely uninspiring, however. The Avalon had a bit of coolness to its jagged rear-end lines and graphite-colored wheels, but our interest peaked there. Ford has begun offering meaner grille inserts for the Five Hundred to help add some flavor to the over-rounded shape, but it still falls short of distinction in our eyes.
Looking InAll of these cars feature ample interior and cargo space for four adults and a good chunk of their gear. Each car seats five, but quarters might be a bit too tight for three full-size folks in the back seat during longer trips. All three sedans boast similarly roomy measurements for head and leg room in the front and rear seats; the back seats in each car could qualify as approved make-out territory for high schoolers, no doubt to the chagrin of their parents.The 300's cool exterior styling unfortunately causes the inside to have some shortcomings. Even with the large sunroof and competitively sized cabin, the interior often feels dark and small as a result of its smallish windows and consequently limited visibility, especially through the short rear window. The darkness can't hide the Chrysler's poor-fitting trim pieces and mediocre materials less attractive than those in the other cars. A perfect example is the down-market center-stack trim piece, which is covered with a chintzy (compared with the Ford and the Toyota) interpretation of Cyclone fencing. The seats, however, are probably the weakest part of the Chrysler's interior, as they are covered in an unattractive and slippery vinyl-like surface and felt a bit over-firm during lengthy drives.
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