Altegrity Risk International, Inc. (ARI), president and CEO Michael Beber today announced that ARI—an Altegrity, Inc., company providing high-quality due diligence, investigative, analytic, consulting, intelligence, and security solutions to organizations around the world—has acquired Corporate Risk International (CRI), a global, full-service business intelligence and risk management firm. CRI has provided due diligence, investigative, and crisis management services globally for almost 20 years. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“The marriage of CRI’s broad industry and process expertise and ARI’s investment in technology, databases, and analytics, creates a winning combination,” said Mr. Beber. “Together under the Altegrity Risk International brand, we will provide enhanced due diligence, investigative, analytic, consulting, and intelligence solutions to our growing U.S. and international customer base.”
CRI specializes in U.S. and international due diligence and investigative projects, white collar crime investigations, business intelligence gathering, undercover investigative operations, and anti-money laundering analyses. The company also conducts security and risk assessment surveys and provides crisis management and executive protection services.
Founded in 1991, CRI is headquartered in the Washington D.C. area and has offices in Houston (which serves customers in the U.S. and Latin America), Hong Kong, and London. The company has a network of analysts, investigators, consultants, and crisis response specialists around the globe with experience in more than 150 countries. Over the past five years, CRI has conducted more than 65,000 diligence reviews and investigations, over 60 percent of which had an international scope.
In addition, through a long-term relationship with Professional Indemnity Agency (PIA), CRI handles cases involving kidnapping, illegal detention, and extortion. Since 1993, CRI has successfully responded to more than 500 such crises in every major country around the globe. ARI will continue to provide these services under the CRI brand.
“This acquisition brings together many of the top professionals in the risk management, investigations, business intelligence, and due diligence fields,” said Lee Spirer, ARI chief operating officer. “Working closely with the CRI leadership team, I have gained tremendous respect for their capabilities and the quality of their professionals at all levels. Their wealth of global experience and significant
international customer base provides a strong platform upon which we will grow. Together, we have significant aspirations for what we can help our clients achieve.”
Sean McWeeney, CRI founder and chairman, will continue to provide advice and counsel to the ARI leadership team. Jim McWeeney, CRI president and CEO, will serve as senior managing director and leader of ARI’s Decision Intelligence practice area. Tom McWeeney, CRI chief operating officer, will serve as managing director and leader of the Washington, D.C., area office.
“This is a great opportunity for CRI, our employees, and our customers,” said Jim McWeeney. “The strategic combination provides additional resources to grow our business and expand our customer-focused solutions around the world. Together, this new team will extend our solutions that help clients anticipate, prevent, and resolve issues, reduce fraud and loss, and maximize business opportunities.”
Altegrity Risk International (ARI) provides high quality due diligence, investigative, analytic, consulting, intelligence, and security solutions to multinational corporations and other organizations around the world. The company’s multidisciplinary team of experts from the fields of investigations, forensics, data intelligence, and financial technology provides its clients with specialized solutions to identify, analyze, prevent, and remediate the entire range of financial,
legal/regulatory, and reputational risks. Headquartered in New York City, ARI provides global coverage through offices in Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.
Corporate Risk International (CRI) employs a domestic and international network of 400-plus highly experienced security consultants, investigators and specialists. CRI specializes in major domestic (USA) and international due diligence and investigative projects, white collar crime investigations, business intelligence gathering, undercover investigative operations and anti-money laundering analyses. CRI also conducts security and risk assessment surveys, executive protection, emergency evacuations, and responds to cases involving kidnapping, illegal detention and extortion.
This press release contains “forward-looking” statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements identify prospective information. Important factors could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from those stated in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by which, such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Competitive Technologies Commercially Launches Pain Management Medical Device in U.S.
Calmar Pain Relief's First Treatment Center Site of Launch
Competitive Technologies, Inc. (NYSE Amex:CTT) announced that its Calmare(R) Therapy Treatment medical device has been commercially launched at Rhode Island-based Calmar Pain Relief, LLC's first Pain Therapy Center in North Providence, RI. CTT and Calmar demonstrated and reviewed the benefits of this innovative, non-invasive pain management therapy at a press briefing here, today.
"Calmare Therapy Treatment is a non-invasive medical device for treating high intensity oncologic and neuropathic pain, including pain resistant to morphine, without the adverse and harmful side effects linked to narcotic painkillers," said John B. Nano, CTT's Chairman, President and CEO. "We are thrilled to showcase this success story to the media and to a Korean delegation that included company leaders from GEOMC Co, Ltd., our device manufacturer, as well as representatives from an institutional investment group. Everyone is impressed with Calmar's state-of-the-art facilities in North Providence where, with four of our Calmare Therapy Treatment devices, as many as 30 patients can be treated each day."
"As a physician, I appreciate the opportunity to participate in the continuing evolution of pain relief therapy,'' said Dr. Stephen D'Amato, Calmar Pain Relief's Medical Director, ''and be able to relieve the suffering of patients, particularly within the context of my medical oath 'Primum Non Nocere' (first do no harm). Calmare is a non-addictive therapy, in sharp contrast to the host of pain killers on the market today." A 1976 graduate of the University of Padua, in Italy, Dr. D'Amato used his fluency in Italian when he met with Calmare inventor Prof. Giuseppe Marineo, in Rome last year to learn the advanced applications of the pain therapy medical device. Dr. D'Amato is the premier U.S. medical expert in the use of CTT's Calmare Therapy Treatment.
"We are quite pleased to be here due to the importance of the U.S. market for our overall commercial success," said Seung Bum Oh, GEOMC's Executive Vice President. "We are impressed with this business model and are fully committed to ensuring that our manufacturing capacity supports the growing worldwide order pattern."
"Calmar Pain Relief is excited about our first clinic here in Providence, which has been successfully treating patients suffering from severe pain since November of 2009," said Robert Smith, Calmar Pain Relief Managing Member. "Our business plan calls for the opening of similar pain treatment clinics featuring CTT's Calmare Therapy Treatment devices in ten additional U.S. cities in the next 24 months."
"The Calmare Therapy Treatment is a prime example of CTT's strategy to connect clinical science to patient care with proven efficacy and safety as validated by our U.S. FDA acceptance and European Union CE Certification," Mr. Nano said. "We currently have distribution agreements in place covering 45 countries around the world, accounting for nearly 55% of the world's population."
Developed in Italy by CTT's client, Professor Giuseppe Marineo, this non-invasive medical device was brought to CTT through the efforts of the Zangani Investor Community(TM) and with the cooperation of Mr. Guiseppe Belcastro, Legal Counsel for Professor Marineo. The device, with a biophysical rather than a biochemical approach, uses a multi-processor able to simultaneously treat multiple pain areas by applying surface electrodes to the skin. For more information on the device, visit www.CalmareTT.com.
About Calmar Pain Relief, LLC
Calmar Pain Relief, LLC, the privately held company based in North Providence, RI, was established to provide medical equipment, office leasing, and other business services to medical doctors looking to offer this non-invasive pain therapy to patients in a clinical setting. For more information about Calmar Pain Relief, please visit www.calmarpainrelief.com.
About GEOMC Co Ltd.
GEOMC Co. Ltd. of Seoul, Korea, has current manufacturing facilities capable of commercially producing 200 pain therapy medical devices per month and the partners have agreed to expand production capacity to an increased production level of 600 units per month to match increased order demand. GEOMC has invested over $3 million for the design, tooling and manufacturing facilities for the Calmare medical device.
About Professor Guiseppe Marineo
Professor Guiseppe Marineo is a researcher and bioengineer, who advanced theories to reformulate the concept of disease and the corresponding treatment from a biophysical rather than a biochemical point of view. He is the founder of Delta R&D, a bioengineering research center. Visit Delta R&D's website: www.deltard.com/eng.
About Competitive Technologies, Inc.
Competitive Technologies, established in 1968, provides distribution, patent and technology transfer, sales and licensing services focused on the needs of its customers and matching those requirements with commercially viable product or technology solutions. CTT is a global leader in identifying, developing and commercializing innovative products and technologies in life, electronic, nano, and physical sciences developed by universities, companies and inventors. CTT maximizes the value of intellectual assets for the benefit of its customers, clients and shareholders. Visit CTT's website: www.competitivetech.net.
Statements made about our future expectations are forward-looking statements and subject to risks and uncertainties as described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2009, filed with the SEC on October 27, 2009, and other filings with the SEC, and are subject to change at any time. Our actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement.
Competitive Technologies, Inc. (NYSE Amex:CTT) announced that its Calmare(R) Therapy Treatment medical device has been commercially launched at Rhode Island-based Calmar Pain Relief, LLC's first Pain Therapy Center in North Providence, RI. CTT and Calmar demonstrated and reviewed the benefits of this innovative, non-invasive pain management therapy at a press briefing here, today.
"Calmare Therapy Treatment is a non-invasive medical device for treating high intensity oncologic and neuropathic pain, including pain resistant to morphine, without the adverse and harmful side effects linked to narcotic painkillers," said John B. Nano, CTT's Chairman, President and CEO. "We are thrilled to showcase this success story to the media and to a Korean delegation that included company leaders from GEOMC Co, Ltd., our device manufacturer, as well as representatives from an institutional investment group. Everyone is impressed with Calmar's state-of-the-art facilities in North Providence where, with four of our Calmare Therapy Treatment devices, as many as 30 patients can be treated each day."
"As a physician, I appreciate the opportunity to participate in the continuing evolution of pain relief therapy,'' said Dr. Stephen D'Amato, Calmar Pain Relief's Medical Director, ''and be able to relieve the suffering of patients, particularly within the context of my medical oath 'Primum Non Nocere' (first do no harm). Calmare is a non-addictive therapy, in sharp contrast to the host of pain killers on the market today." A 1976 graduate of the University of Padua, in Italy, Dr. D'Amato used his fluency in Italian when he met with Calmare inventor Prof. Giuseppe Marineo, in Rome last year to learn the advanced applications of the pain therapy medical device. Dr. D'Amato is the premier U.S. medical expert in the use of CTT's Calmare Therapy Treatment.
"We are quite pleased to be here due to the importance of the U.S. market for our overall commercial success," said Seung Bum Oh, GEOMC's Executive Vice President. "We are impressed with this business model and are fully committed to ensuring that our manufacturing capacity supports the growing worldwide order pattern."
"Calmar Pain Relief is excited about our first clinic here in Providence, which has been successfully treating patients suffering from severe pain since November of 2009," said Robert Smith, Calmar Pain Relief Managing Member. "Our business plan calls for the opening of similar pain treatment clinics featuring CTT's Calmare Therapy Treatment devices in ten additional U.S. cities in the next 24 months."
"The Calmare Therapy Treatment is a prime example of CTT's strategy to connect clinical science to patient care with proven efficacy and safety as validated by our U.S. FDA acceptance and European Union CE Certification," Mr. Nano said. "We currently have distribution agreements in place covering 45 countries around the world, accounting for nearly 55% of the world's population."
Developed in Italy by CTT's client, Professor Giuseppe Marineo, this non-invasive medical device was brought to CTT through the efforts of the Zangani Investor Community(TM) and with the cooperation of Mr. Guiseppe Belcastro, Legal Counsel for Professor Marineo. The device, with a biophysical rather than a biochemical approach, uses a multi-processor able to simultaneously treat multiple pain areas by applying surface electrodes to the skin. For more information on the device, visit www.CalmareTT.com.
About Calmar Pain Relief, LLC
Calmar Pain Relief, LLC, the privately held company based in North Providence, RI, was established to provide medical equipment, office leasing, and other business services to medical doctors looking to offer this non-invasive pain therapy to patients in a clinical setting. For more information about Calmar Pain Relief, please visit www.calmarpainrelief.com.
About GEOMC Co Ltd.
GEOMC Co. Ltd. of Seoul, Korea, has current manufacturing facilities capable of commercially producing 200 pain therapy medical devices per month and the partners have agreed to expand production capacity to an increased production level of 600 units per month to match increased order demand. GEOMC has invested over $3 million for the design, tooling and manufacturing facilities for the Calmare medical device.
About Professor Guiseppe Marineo
Professor Guiseppe Marineo is a researcher and bioengineer, who advanced theories to reformulate the concept of disease and the corresponding treatment from a biophysical rather than a biochemical point of view. He is the founder of Delta R&D, a bioengineering research center. Visit Delta R&D's website: www.deltard.com/eng.
About Competitive Technologies, Inc.
Competitive Technologies, established in 1968, provides distribution, patent and technology transfer, sales and licensing services focused on the needs of its customers and matching those requirements with commercially viable product or technology solutions. CTT is a global leader in identifying, developing and commercializing innovative products and technologies in life, electronic, nano, and physical sciences developed by universities, companies and inventors. CTT maximizes the value of intellectual assets for the benefit of its customers, clients and shareholders. Visit CTT's website: www.competitivetech.net.
Statements made about our future expectations are forward-looking statements and subject to risks and uncertainties as described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2009, filed with the SEC on October 27, 2009, and other filings with the SEC, and are subject to change at any time. Our actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ESCAP, Myanmar development partnership seeks to boost agricultural sector and enhance rural livelihoods
Nobel laureate Stiglitz leads expert discussions on restoring country as rice bowl of Asia
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Government of the Union of Myanmar today held a wide-ranging dialogue aimed at boosting the countrys agricultural sector and to help it reclaim its status as the rice bowl of Asia.
At the invitation of ESCAP, Nobel Prize-winning economist Prof. Joseph Stiglitz and other eminent experts discussed strategies for Myanmar to cut poverty in light of Asias regional and subregional experiences.
It is my hope these ideas and analysis will open a new space for policy discussion and a further deepening of our development partnership, UN Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer said at the event held in Myanmars capital, Naypyitaw.
These development objectives can only be achieved through the successful engagement of local experts and people who know what is happening on the ground. This development partnership, requested by the Government of Myanmar, provides a unique platform for eminent international scholars and local researchers to exchange experiences and ideas with government agencies and civil society, Dr. Heyzer added.
This is the second in a series of events launched by Dr. Heyzer during her visit in July to Myanmar, and was organized by ESCAP with the countrys Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation and Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development.
In his presentation, Towards a more productive agrarian economy for Myanmar, Professor Stiglitz noted that Myanmar was well-positioned to learn from other countries in the region that have developed on the back of gains in agriculture. There are large opportunities for improvement. Myanmar should take a comprehensive approach, he said.
He urged the Government of Myanmar to: promote access to appropriate agricultural financing; take measures to boost access to seeds and fertilizers; dramatically boost spending on health and education; and create well-paid jobs in construction of rural infrastructure in order to stimulate development and raise incomes and spending.
Professor Stiglitz also noted that well-functioning institutions were critical to success, and that Myanmar could learn from the mistakes made by other resource-rich countries. Revenues from oil and gas can open up a new era, if used well. If not, then valuable opportunities will be squandered, he said.
Economics and politics can not be separated, Professor Stiglitz added. For Myanmar to take a role on the world stage and to achieve true stability and security there must be widespread participation and inclusive processes. This is the only way forward for Myanmar.
Maj. Gen. U Htay Oo, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation of Myanmar, noted that climate change has had significant effects on the countrys agriculture and livelihood, particularly in the dry zone. To mitigate such pressure we are implementing short-term and longer term measures, such as promoting access to irrigation water to increase productivity, and developing resource-based as well as knowledge-based sustainable agriculture and livelihoods built on existing infrastructures, he said.
We are adopting a holistic approach informed by the human development perspective to address the needs of the most vulnerable, he added. We cannot afford to be complacent thus the tasks for agriculture and rural development must be implemented through mass movement.
The Minister also welcomed and supported the continued close cooperation and collaboration of ESCAP in the development partnership series. I look forward to the joint activities to come in 2010, in particular the regional development programme for sustainable agriculture towards inclusive rural economy development, he said.
Col. Thurin Zaw, Deputy Minister of National Planning and Economic Development, delivered a presentation on Myanmars National development plans and the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The meeting was organized into two segments: The morning roundtable was devoted to expert discussions and included presentations on Recent socio-economic development, by Daw Khin Ma Ma Swe of the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development, and on Approaches for agriculture and rural development, by Daw Dolly Kyaw of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation.
There were also presentations on Establishing the virtuous cycle of food security, sustainable agriculture and rural economy development, by U Tin Htut Oo and U Tin Maung Shwe of the Academy of Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock and Fisheries Sciences, and on Enhancing Myanmars rural economy, by Ikuko Okamoto of the Institute of Developing Economies-JETRO.
The afternoon high-level development forum covered, Economic policies for growth and poverty reduction: lessons from the region and beyond.
On 21 December in Singapore, Professor Stiglitz and Dr Heyzer will hold a press conference about the forum at the Singapore Foreign Correspondents Association. The press conference will take place at the Singapore Management University, Administration Building, from 9am-10am.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Government of the Union of Myanmar today held a wide-ranging dialogue aimed at boosting the countrys agricultural sector and to help it reclaim its status as the rice bowl of Asia.
At the invitation of ESCAP, Nobel Prize-winning economist Prof. Joseph Stiglitz and other eminent experts discussed strategies for Myanmar to cut poverty in light of Asias regional and subregional experiences.
It is my hope these ideas and analysis will open a new space for policy discussion and a further deepening of our development partnership, UN Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer said at the event held in Myanmars capital, Naypyitaw.
These development objectives can only be achieved through the successful engagement of local experts and people who know what is happening on the ground. This development partnership, requested by the Government of Myanmar, provides a unique platform for eminent international scholars and local researchers to exchange experiences and ideas with government agencies and civil society, Dr. Heyzer added.
This is the second in a series of events launched by Dr. Heyzer during her visit in July to Myanmar, and was organized by ESCAP with the countrys Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation and Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development.
In his presentation, Towards a more productive agrarian economy for Myanmar, Professor Stiglitz noted that Myanmar was well-positioned to learn from other countries in the region that have developed on the back of gains in agriculture. There are large opportunities for improvement. Myanmar should take a comprehensive approach, he said.
He urged the Government of Myanmar to: promote access to appropriate agricultural financing; take measures to boost access to seeds and fertilizers; dramatically boost spending on health and education; and create well-paid jobs in construction of rural infrastructure in order to stimulate development and raise incomes and spending.
Professor Stiglitz also noted that well-functioning institutions were critical to success, and that Myanmar could learn from the mistakes made by other resource-rich countries. Revenues from oil and gas can open up a new era, if used well. If not, then valuable opportunities will be squandered, he said.
Economics and politics can not be separated, Professor Stiglitz added. For Myanmar to take a role on the world stage and to achieve true stability and security there must be widespread participation and inclusive processes. This is the only way forward for Myanmar.
Maj. Gen. U Htay Oo, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation of Myanmar, noted that climate change has had significant effects on the countrys agriculture and livelihood, particularly in the dry zone. To mitigate such pressure we are implementing short-term and longer term measures, such as promoting access to irrigation water to increase productivity, and developing resource-based as well as knowledge-based sustainable agriculture and livelihoods built on existing infrastructures, he said.
We are adopting a holistic approach informed by the human development perspective to address the needs of the most vulnerable, he added. We cannot afford to be complacent thus the tasks for agriculture and rural development must be implemented through mass movement.
The Minister also welcomed and supported the continued close cooperation and collaboration of ESCAP in the development partnership series. I look forward to the joint activities to come in 2010, in particular the regional development programme for sustainable agriculture towards inclusive rural economy development, he said.
Col. Thurin Zaw, Deputy Minister of National Planning and Economic Development, delivered a presentation on Myanmars National development plans and the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The meeting was organized into two segments: The morning roundtable was devoted to expert discussions and included presentations on Recent socio-economic development, by Daw Khin Ma Ma Swe of the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development, and on Approaches for agriculture and rural development, by Daw Dolly Kyaw of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation.
There were also presentations on Establishing the virtuous cycle of food security, sustainable agriculture and rural economy development, by U Tin Htut Oo and U Tin Maung Shwe of the Academy of Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock and Fisheries Sciences, and on Enhancing Myanmars rural economy, by Ikuko Okamoto of the Institute of Developing Economies-JETRO.
The afternoon high-level development forum covered, Economic policies for growth and poverty reduction: lessons from the region and beyond.
On 21 December in Singapore, Professor Stiglitz and Dr Heyzer will hold a press conference about the forum at the Singapore Foreign Correspondents Association. The press conference will take place at the Singapore Management University, Administration Building, from 9am-10am.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Microsoft and consumers take action against global software piracy
Microsoft has announced a surge of voluntary reports – more than a 150,000 – from consumers who unknowingly purchased counterfeit software and found it riddled with viruses or malware. This increase, triple the amount of previous records, reflects consumers’ growing concern for the harm caused by counterfeit software and Microsoft’s efforts to give consumers a voice in the fight against software counterfeiting.
In response, Microsoft today announced a surge of its own, ‘Consumer Action Day’, a simultaneous launch of education initiatives and enforcement actions in more than 70 countries to protect consumers and increase awareness of the risks of counterfeit software.
“Consumers want action. The majority of our enforcement cases announced today resulted from tips and reports from consumers,” said David Finn, Associate General Counsel for Worldwide Anti-Piracy and Anti-Counterfeiting. “Consumers who are duped by fraudulent software encounter viruses, lose personal information, risk having their identities stolen and waste valuable time and money. Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to working with others, including our partners, government agencies, and NGOs, to protect people from the ill effects of counterfeit software.”
The software industry has long studied the black market for pirated software and its effects on consumers. One seminal study by IDC in 2006 showed that one in four Web sites offering counterfeit software attempted to install unwanted or malicious code upon downloading. This rate is rising, as found by Media Surveillance, an anti-piracy solutions company based in Germany, when it recently downloaded several hundred pirated copies of Windows and hacks and found that 32% contained malicious code. The IDC report also described a review of counterfeit Microsoft software purchased at resellers in 17 countries: more than 50 percent contained phony code, had malware, or could not even be installed. And, just two months ago, the BSA October 2009 Internet Piracy Report showed countries with high piracy rates often have high malware infection rates.
As part of Consumer Action Day, more than 70 countries are launching educational initiatives and enforcement actions to protect consumers from counterfeit software. Highlights include an intellectual property rights education program in schools across China, an “originals club” for software resellers in Germany, a risk-of-counterfeit training course for the consumer protection authority in Mexico, a children’s online safety program in Greece, and a study of piracy’s impact on small and medium businesses in Argentina.
The effects of malware can range from annoying advertisements to a severe breach of information security. In a recent Harrison Group study, it was found that companies using unlicensed or counterfeit software were 73 percent more likely to experience the loss or damage of sensitive data, and 73 percent more likely to have critical computer failures lasting 24 hours or more.
Thai consumers speak out
Moreover, most people simply find themselves without the software they thought they were paying for. Unable to get a refund from the dealer, consumers end up having to purchase the product all over again.
“I didn’t want to face any security problems and knew that if I used genuine software I would get good support, not only in terms of security and patches, but also the latest updates for new programs and applications which are important to me,” said Patranun Limudomporn, a student from the Faculty of Political Science at Chulalongkorn University and one of the first people to buy Windows 7 at the Thailand launch event at Siam Paragon. “I think more people in Thailand are starting to understand the risks of pirated software and many of my friends have told me of times when they’ve experienced difficulties after using cheap fake software. For example, the installation often does not reach 100% or they experience black screens and no option to update security patches. For me, I only have one PC to rely on so these problems make the risk of using pirated software too high.”
Worse yet, today’s counterfeiters are often large criminal syndicates that don’t stop at distributing hundreds of copies of unlicensed software. “Software pirates are likely to create Botnets, which are armies of compromised computers controlled by cyber-criminals and used to perform a host of illegal Internet activities,” said Markus Schweitzer of Media Surveillance. In just one recent example, software pirates helped create a Botnet army by offering a phony version of Windows, rife with malicious code, which compromised PCs and then ordered them to connect to a server controlled by cyber-criminals.
To address the increasing sophistication of software counterfeiters, Microsoft is enhancing its anti-piracy work on all three fronts: education, engineering and enforcement. Today’s actions around the world emphasize the company’s growing commitment to protect consumers. Tips from customers and partners are vital in helping law Microsoft address piracy. Microsoft encourages users who suspect they have been sold a pirated copy of Microsoft software to contact the Microsoft Customer Contact Center by calling 02-263-6888. For the latest information about genuine Microsoft products, licensing and labels, Thai consumers are advised to visit www.microsoft.com/thailand/genuine/howtotell.aspx.
On the engineering front, Microsoft has improved the product activation and validation process with Windows 7. Windows Activation Technologies in Windows 7 are built off our Software Protection Platform introduced with Windows Vista, which enabled Windows to protect itself by detecting when attempts have been made to circumvent or tamper with built-in product activation technology and helped customers more easily activate the product and resolve potential issues. Windows 7 includes the latest generation of this technology, including changes we have made so users will see more informative notification messages and be able to more easily complete the steps in the process.
And, when it comes to enforcement, Microsoft has invested in nine Product Identification (PID) Analysis Labs around the world. Forensic experts in these labs use sophisticated tools, such as digital disc fingerprinting and optical manufacturing tracking, to examine counterfeit software and provide critical information to local law enforcement agencies to use in their pursuit of criminal software counterfeiting syndicates. The results are tangible and impactful: Microsoft’s work in its PID Analysis Labs has led to more than 1,000 customs border patrol seizures of counterfeit software in just over two years.
“The global problem of counterfeit software calls for an international response and a strategy which targets sophisticated crime syndicates taking advantage of unwary consumers,” said Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General, World Customs Organization. “Through vigilance and active feedback to public institutions and companies like Microsoft, consumers and businesses will be instrumental in overcoming this problem. The serious economic consequences generated by this illicit trade make it imperative that we urgently pool our efforts, strengths and expertise to fight this crime.”
In response, Microsoft today announced a surge of its own, ‘Consumer Action Day’, a simultaneous launch of education initiatives and enforcement actions in more than 70 countries to protect consumers and increase awareness of the risks of counterfeit software.
“Consumers want action. The majority of our enforcement cases announced today resulted from tips and reports from consumers,” said David Finn, Associate General Counsel for Worldwide Anti-Piracy and Anti-Counterfeiting. “Consumers who are duped by fraudulent software encounter viruses, lose personal information, risk having their identities stolen and waste valuable time and money. Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to working with others, including our partners, government agencies, and NGOs, to protect people from the ill effects of counterfeit software.”
The software industry has long studied the black market for pirated software and its effects on consumers. One seminal study by IDC in 2006 showed that one in four Web sites offering counterfeit software attempted to install unwanted or malicious code upon downloading. This rate is rising, as found by Media Surveillance, an anti-piracy solutions company based in Germany, when it recently downloaded several hundred pirated copies of Windows and hacks and found that 32% contained malicious code. The IDC report also described a review of counterfeit Microsoft software purchased at resellers in 17 countries: more than 50 percent contained phony code, had malware, or could not even be installed. And, just two months ago, the BSA October 2009 Internet Piracy Report showed countries with high piracy rates often have high malware infection rates.
As part of Consumer Action Day, more than 70 countries are launching educational initiatives and enforcement actions to protect consumers from counterfeit software. Highlights include an intellectual property rights education program in schools across China, an “originals club” for software resellers in Germany, a risk-of-counterfeit training course for the consumer protection authority in Mexico, a children’s online safety program in Greece, and a study of piracy’s impact on small and medium businesses in Argentina.
The effects of malware can range from annoying advertisements to a severe breach of information security. In a recent Harrison Group study, it was found that companies using unlicensed or counterfeit software were 73 percent more likely to experience the loss or damage of sensitive data, and 73 percent more likely to have critical computer failures lasting 24 hours or more.
Thai consumers speak out
Moreover, most people simply find themselves without the software they thought they were paying for. Unable to get a refund from the dealer, consumers end up having to purchase the product all over again.
“I didn’t want to face any security problems and knew that if I used genuine software I would get good support, not only in terms of security and patches, but also the latest updates for new programs and applications which are important to me,” said Patranun Limudomporn, a student from the Faculty of Political Science at Chulalongkorn University and one of the first people to buy Windows 7 at the Thailand launch event at Siam Paragon. “I think more people in Thailand are starting to understand the risks of pirated software and many of my friends have told me of times when they’ve experienced difficulties after using cheap fake software. For example, the installation often does not reach 100% or they experience black screens and no option to update security patches. For me, I only have one PC to rely on so these problems make the risk of using pirated software too high.”
Worse yet, today’s counterfeiters are often large criminal syndicates that don’t stop at distributing hundreds of copies of unlicensed software. “Software pirates are likely to create Botnets, which are armies of compromised computers controlled by cyber-criminals and used to perform a host of illegal Internet activities,” said Markus Schweitzer of Media Surveillance. In just one recent example, software pirates helped create a Botnet army by offering a phony version of Windows, rife with malicious code, which compromised PCs and then ordered them to connect to a server controlled by cyber-criminals.
To address the increasing sophistication of software counterfeiters, Microsoft is enhancing its anti-piracy work on all three fronts: education, engineering and enforcement. Today’s actions around the world emphasize the company’s growing commitment to protect consumers. Tips from customers and partners are vital in helping law Microsoft address piracy. Microsoft encourages users who suspect they have been sold a pirated copy of Microsoft software to contact the Microsoft Customer Contact Center by calling 02-263-6888. For the latest information about genuine Microsoft products, licensing and labels, Thai consumers are advised to visit www.microsoft.com/thailand/genuine/howtotell.aspx.
On the engineering front, Microsoft has improved the product activation and validation process with Windows 7. Windows Activation Technologies in Windows 7 are built off our Software Protection Platform introduced with Windows Vista, which enabled Windows to protect itself by detecting when attempts have been made to circumvent or tamper with built-in product activation technology and helped customers more easily activate the product and resolve potential issues. Windows 7 includes the latest generation of this technology, including changes we have made so users will see more informative notification messages and be able to more easily complete the steps in the process.
And, when it comes to enforcement, Microsoft has invested in nine Product Identification (PID) Analysis Labs around the world. Forensic experts in these labs use sophisticated tools, such as digital disc fingerprinting and optical manufacturing tracking, to examine counterfeit software and provide critical information to local law enforcement agencies to use in their pursuit of criminal software counterfeiting syndicates. The results are tangible and impactful: Microsoft’s work in its PID Analysis Labs has led to more than 1,000 customs border patrol seizures of counterfeit software in just over two years.
“The global problem of counterfeit software calls for an international response and a strategy which targets sophisticated crime syndicates taking advantage of unwary consumers,” said Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General, World Customs Organization. “Through vigilance and active feedback to public institutions and companies like Microsoft, consumers and businesses will be instrumental in overcoming this problem. The serious economic consequences generated by this illicit trade make it imperative that we urgently pool our efforts, strengths and expertise to fight this crime.”
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Central Asian States Agree to Coordinate Efforts to Combat Economic Crisis
UN forum in Bishkek focuses on subregional cooperation in dealing with crisis
High-level government officials from Central Asian and neighbouring countries, international organizations and financial institutions today pledged to work together in strengthening regional economic cooperation in order to diminish the consequences of the global economic crisis.
The decision came at the 2009 UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) Economic Forum on “The Role of Sub regional Cooperation in Mitigating the Consequences of the Global Economic Crisis” for the SPECA countries, which comprise Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The main objective of the Forum was to examine ideas for developing optimal regional strategies which can bring about an early recovery of Central Asia from the economic crisis.
“While economic stimulus packages and other special budgetary measures are important for reviving the economy, regional economic cooperation could be another driver of growth,” Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), said in her address. “There are enormous opportunities to promote intra-regional trade and investment in this region. SPECA provides an excellent framework for addressing a broad range of regional connectivity issues.”
Dr. Heyzer also said the main challenges faced by the subregion in the short- and medium-term remained multifaceted, and ranged from geographical disadvantage of being landlocked with small domestic markets.
Jan Kubis, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), said in his address, “Let me here commend the comprehensive anti-crisis policy measures taken by governments of SPECA countries which have greatly helped to alleviate economic and social pain in the region induced by this external factor of the crisis.”
Mr. Kubis also noted the SPECA Project Working Group on Knowledge-based Development, which started operations in November 2008 and was an important initiative of both ESCAP and ECE to promote economic modernization and knowledge-based development in Central Asia. “This new SPECA Project Working Group is mandated to support the further integration of member
countries into the global economy by promoting innovation and knowledge-driven development,” he said.
H.E. Mr. Akylbek Japarov, First Vice Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic and SPECA National Coordinator, in his opening address said, “One of the major areas of SPECA activity is meant to promote dynamic development and efficient use of economic capacity in all countries of the region in order to increase living standards and well being of the nations as well as to ensure secure and sustainable development of Central Asian Sates.”
The Forum was jointly organized by ESCAP and ECE in cooperation with the Government of Kyrgyzstan within the framework of the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA).
The participants of the Forum discussed how external shocks were aggravated by the combined water, energy and food crisis and reviewed individual as well as collective policy responses to the emerging challenges. The meeting also considered how knowledge and innovation could contribute to successful economic recovery and, on the longer term, reduce the vulnerability of Central Asian economies to fluctuations in energy and commodity prices.
Before the Forum, Dr. Heyzer and Mr. Kubis met with H.E. Daniyar Usenov, Prime-Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic, and H.E. Mr. Kadyrbek Sarbaev, the State Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrygz Republic. Today, Dr. Heyzer, and Mr. Jan Kubis will pay a courtesy call after the Forum to H.E. Mr. Kurmanbek Bakiyev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The Economic Forum was preceded by the second session of the SPECA Project Working Group on Knowledge-based Development and a regional capacity-building seminar on financing innovative enterprises, commercialization of intellectual property and public-private partnerships from 9 to 11 November in Bishkek.
The Governing Council of SPECA is expected to be held on Friday to discuss and approve a new biennial Work Plan for 2010-2011 and review cooperation between SPECA and partner organizations.
For further information please go to http://www.unescap.org/oes/speca
High-level government officials from Central Asian and neighbouring countries, international organizations and financial institutions today pledged to work together in strengthening regional economic cooperation in order to diminish the consequences of the global economic crisis.
The decision came at the 2009 UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) Economic Forum on “The Role of Sub regional Cooperation in Mitigating the Consequences of the Global Economic Crisis” for the SPECA countries, which comprise Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The main objective of the Forum was to examine ideas for developing optimal regional strategies which can bring about an early recovery of Central Asia from the economic crisis.
“While economic stimulus packages and other special budgetary measures are important for reviving the economy, regional economic cooperation could be another driver of growth,” Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), said in her address. “There are enormous opportunities to promote intra-regional trade and investment in this region. SPECA provides an excellent framework for addressing a broad range of regional connectivity issues.”
Dr. Heyzer also said the main challenges faced by the subregion in the short- and medium-term remained multifaceted, and ranged from geographical disadvantage of being landlocked with small domestic markets.
Jan Kubis, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), said in his address, “Let me here commend the comprehensive anti-crisis policy measures taken by governments of SPECA countries which have greatly helped to alleviate economic and social pain in the region induced by this external factor of the crisis.”
Mr. Kubis also noted the SPECA Project Working Group on Knowledge-based Development, which started operations in November 2008 and was an important initiative of both ESCAP and ECE to promote economic modernization and knowledge-based development in Central Asia. “This new SPECA Project Working Group is mandated to support the further integration of member
countries into the global economy by promoting innovation and knowledge-driven development,” he said.
H.E. Mr. Akylbek Japarov, First Vice Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic and SPECA National Coordinator, in his opening address said, “One of the major areas of SPECA activity is meant to promote dynamic development and efficient use of economic capacity in all countries of the region in order to increase living standards and well being of the nations as well as to ensure secure and sustainable development of Central Asian Sates.”
The Forum was jointly organized by ESCAP and ECE in cooperation with the Government of Kyrgyzstan within the framework of the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA).
The participants of the Forum discussed how external shocks were aggravated by the combined water, energy and food crisis and reviewed individual as well as collective policy responses to the emerging challenges. The meeting also considered how knowledge and innovation could contribute to successful economic recovery and, on the longer term, reduce the vulnerability of Central Asian economies to fluctuations in energy and commodity prices.
Before the Forum, Dr. Heyzer and Mr. Kubis met with H.E. Daniyar Usenov, Prime-Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic, and H.E. Mr. Kadyrbek Sarbaev, the State Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrygz Republic. Today, Dr. Heyzer, and Mr. Jan Kubis will pay a courtesy call after the Forum to H.E. Mr. Kurmanbek Bakiyev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The Economic Forum was preceded by the second session of the SPECA Project Working Group on Knowledge-based Development and a regional capacity-building seminar on financing innovative enterprises, commercialization of intellectual property and public-private partnerships from 9 to 11 November in Bishkek.
The Governing Council of SPECA is expected to be held on Friday to discuss and approve a new biennial Work Plan for 2010-2011 and review cooperation between SPECA and partner organizations.
For further information please go to http://www.unescap.org/oes/speca
Star Scientific Plans Worldwide Marketing and Sales of CigRx(TM) Nutraceutical in Partnership with inVentiv Health
Star Scientific, Inc. (Nasdaq: STSI) announced today that the company plans to introduce the CigRx(TM) nutraceutical product developed by its subsidiary, Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, for worldwide marketing and sales in partnership with inVentiv Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: VTIV). inVentiv Health offers a complete range of commercialization solutions for every stage of the product lifecycle, in a range of healthcare categories that includes nutraceutical products. The company has marketing and sales capabilities in 40 countries around the globe.
Jonnie R. Williams, Star's CEO, stated, "Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the world. However, the globa lcigarette business, which now exceeds $300 billion, continues to grow. Our
goal is to make CigRx(TM) available to adult smokers worldwide who wish to maintain a nicotine-free metabolism." Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals will be responsible for the manufacturing of CigRx(TM), and the company anticipates that inVentiv Health will be involved in the product marketing and sales, with a focus on product education for physicians and health care professionals, as well as consumers.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090317/STARSCIENTIFICLOGO )
Star also announced that it has retained McColl Partners LLC to advise the company on a range of corporate finance matters, including the assessment of strategic initiatives involving new products. McColl Partners, an independent investment banking firm co-founded by Hugh McColl, former Chairman of Bank of America, specializes in the needs of management and owners of middle-market companies. The firm offers strategic advice and assistance to its clients regarding mergers and acquisitions.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Star Scientific, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, the
"Company") has tried, whenever possible, to identify these forward-looking statements using words such as "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions. These statements
reflect the Company's current beliefs and are based upon information currently available to it. Accordingly, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could
cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such statements. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies include, without limitation, the
challenges inherent in new product development initiatives, the uncertainties inherent in the progress of scientific research, the Company's ability to raise additional capital in the future necessary to maintain its business, potential disputes concerning the Company's intellectual property, risks associated with litigation regarding such intellectual property, potential delays in obtaining any necessary government approvals of the Company's low-TSNA tobacco products, market acceptance of the Company's new smokeless tobacco products, competition from companies with greater resources than the Company, the Company's decision not to join the Master Settlement Agreement ("MSA"), the effect of state statutes adopted under the MSA, and the Company's dependence on key employees and on its strategic relationships with Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation in light of its combination with RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, Inc. The impact of potential litigation, if initiated against or by individual states that have adopted the MSA, could be materially adverse to the Company.
Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that the expectations will be attained or that any deviation will not be material. See additional discussion under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC on March 16, 2009, and other factors detailed from time to time in the Company's other filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov . This information is current as of this date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or advise upon any such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to
reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
About Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals
Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals develops pharmaceutical products for treatment of addiction and other neurological disorders, and other products such as nutraceuticals. The company supports third-party academic, educational and therapeutic advances in both these areas of research. Rock Creek has scientific and research offices in Gloucester, MA and a regulatory office in Washington, DC.
About Star Scientific
Star Scientific is a technology-oriented tobacco company with a toxin reduction mission. It is engaged in the development of dissolvable smokeless tobacco products that deliver fewer carcinogenic toxins (principally tobacco specific nitrosamines, or TSNAs), through the utilization of the innovative StarCured(R) tobacco curing technology, and in sublicensing that technology to others. Star Scientific has a Corporate and Sales Office in Petersburg, VA, an Executive, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs office in Bethesda, MD, and manufacturing facilities in Chase City, VA. For more information, visit http://www.starscientific.com
About inVentiv Health
inVentiv Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: VTIV) is an insights-driven global healthcare leader that provides dynamic solutions to deliver customer and patient success. inVentiv delivers its customized clinical, sales, marketing
and communications solutions through its four core business segments: inVentiv Clinical, inVentiv Communications, inVentiv Commercial, and inVentiv Patient Outcomes. inVentiv Health's client roster is comprised of more than 350 leading pharmaceutical, biotech, life sciences and healthcare payor companies, including all top 20 global pharmaceutical manufacturers. For more information, visit www.inventivhealth.com
Jonnie R. Williams, Star's CEO, stated, "Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the world. However, the globa lcigarette business, which now exceeds $300 billion, continues to grow. Our
goal is to make CigRx(TM) available to adult smokers worldwide who wish to maintain a nicotine-free metabolism." Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals will be responsible for the manufacturing of CigRx(TM), and the company anticipates that inVentiv Health will be involved in the product marketing and sales, with a focus on product education for physicians and health care professionals, as well as consumers.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090317/STARSCIENTIFICLOGO )
Star also announced that it has retained McColl Partners LLC to advise the company on a range of corporate finance matters, including the assessment of strategic initiatives involving new products. McColl Partners, an independent investment banking firm co-founded by Hugh McColl, former Chairman of Bank of America, specializes in the needs of management and owners of middle-market companies. The firm offers strategic advice and assistance to its clients regarding mergers and acquisitions.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Star Scientific, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, the
"Company") has tried, whenever possible, to identify these forward-looking statements using words such as "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions. These statements
reflect the Company's current beliefs and are based upon information currently available to it. Accordingly, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could
cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such statements. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies include, without limitation, the
challenges inherent in new product development initiatives, the uncertainties inherent in the progress of scientific research, the Company's ability to raise additional capital in the future necessary to maintain its business, potential disputes concerning the Company's intellectual property, risks associated with litigation regarding such intellectual property, potential delays in obtaining any necessary government approvals of the Company's low-TSNA tobacco products, market acceptance of the Company's new smokeless tobacco products, competition from companies with greater resources than the Company, the Company's decision not to join the Master Settlement Agreement ("MSA"), the effect of state statutes adopted under the MSA, and the Company's dependence on key employees and on its strategic relationships with Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation in light of its combination with RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, Inc. The impact of potential litigation, if initiated against or by individual states that have adopted the MSA, could be materially adverse to the Company.
Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that the expectations will be attained or that any deviation will not be material. See additional discussion under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC on March 16, 2009, and other factors detailed from time to time in the Company's other filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov . This information is current as of this date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or advise upon any such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to
reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
About Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals
Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals develops pharmaceutical products for treatment of addiction and other neurological disorders, and other products such as nutraceuticals. The company supports third-party academic, educational and therapeutic advances in both these areas of research. Rock Creek has scientific and research offices in Gloucester, MA and a regulatory office in Washington, DC.
About Star Scientific
Star Scientific is a technology-oriented tobacco company with a toxin reduction mission. It is engaged in the development of dissolvable smokeless tobacco products that deliver fewer carcinogenic toxins (principally tobacco specific nitrosamines, or TSNAs), through the utilization of the innovative StarCured(R) tobacco curing technology, and in sublicensing that technology to others. Star Scientific has a Corporate and Sales Office in Petersburg, VA, an Executive, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs office in Bethesda, MD, and manufacturing facilities in Chase City, VA. For more information, visit http://www.starscientific.com
About inVentiv Health
inVentiv Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: VTIV) is an insights-driven global healthcare leader that provides dynamic solutions to deliver customer and patient success. inVentiv delivers its customized clinical, sales, marketing
and communications solutions through its four core business segments: inVentiv Clinical, inVentiv Communications, inVentiv Commercial, and inVentiv Patient Outcomes. inVentiv Health's client roster is comprised of more than 350 leading pharmaceutical, biotech, life sciences and healthcare payor companies, including all top 20 global pharmaceutical manufacturers. For more information, visit www.inventivhealth.com
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Magnificent seven
In the most important, most revered event since the invention of the brontosaurus trap,Microsoft shipped the most incredibly fabulous operating system ever made; the release of Windows 7 also spurred a new generation of personal computers of all sizes at prices well below last month's offers.The top reason Windows 7 does not suck: There is no registered website called Windows7Sucks.com
Kindle e-book reader maker Amazon.com and new Nook e-book reader vendor Barnes and Noble got it on; B&N got great reviews for the "Kindle killer"Nook, with dual screens and touch controls so you can "turn" pages, plays MP3s and allows many non-B&N book formats, although not the Kindle one;Amazon then killed the US version of its Kindle in favour of the international one, reduced its price to $260(8,700 baht), same as the Nook; it's not yet clear what you can get in Thailand with a Nook, but you sure can't (yet) get much, relatively speaking, with a Kindle;but here's the biggest difference so far,which Amazon.com has ignored: the Nook lets you lend e-books to any other Nook owner, just as if they were paper books; the borrowed books expire on the borrower's Nook in two weeks.
Phone maker Nokia of Finland announced it is suing iPhone maker Apple of America for being a copycat; lawyers said they figure Nokia can get at least one, probably two per cent (retail) for every iPhone sold by Steve "President for Life" Jobs and crew via the lawsuit,which sure beats working for it -$6 (200 baht) to $12(400 baht) on 30 million phones sold so far, works out to $400 million or 25 percent of the whole Apple empire profits during the last quarter;there were 10 patent thefts, the Finnish executives said, on everything from moving data to security and encryption.
Nokia of Finland announced that it is one month behind on shipping its new flagship N900 phone, the first to run on Linux software; delay of the $750(25,000 baht) phone had absolutely no part in making Nokia so short that it had to sue Apple, slap yourself for such a thought.
Tim Berners-Lee, who created the World Wide Web, said he had one regret:the double slash that follows the "http:"in standard web addresses; he estimated that 14.2 gazillion users have wasted 48.72 bazillion hours typing those two keystrokes, and he's sorry; of course there's no reason to ever type that, since your browser does it for you when you type "www.bangkokpost.com" but Tim needs to admit he made one error in his lifetime.
The International Telecommunication Union of the United Nations, which doesn't sell any phones or services, announced that there should be a mobile phone charger that will work with any phone; now who would ever have thought of that, without a UN body to wind up a major study on the subject?;the GSM Association estimates that 51,000 tonnes of chargers are made each year in order to keep companies able to have their own unique ones.
The Well, Doh Award of the Week was presented at arm's length to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; the group's deputy secretary-general Petko Draganov said that developing countries will miss some of the stuff available on the Internet if they don't install more broadband infrastructure; a report that used your tax baht to compile said that quite a few people use mobile phones but companies are more likely to invest in countries with excellent broadband connections; no one ever had thought of this before, right?
Sun Microsystems , as a result of the Oracle takeover, said it will allow 3,000 current workers never to bother coming to work again; Sun referred to the losses as "jobs," not people; now the fourth largest server maker in the world, Sun said it lost $2.2 billion in its last fiscal year; European regulators are holding up approval of the Oracle purchase in the hope of getting some money in exchange for not involving Oracle in court cases.
The multi-gazillionaire and very annoying investor Carl Icahn resigned from the board at Yahoo ; he spun it as a vote of confidence, saying current directors are taking the formerly threatened company seriously; Yahoo reported increased profits but smaller revenues in the third quarter.
The US House of Representatives voted to censure Vietnam for jailing bloggers; the non-binding resolution sponsored by southern California congresswoman Loretta Sanchez said the Internet is "a crucial tool for the citizens of Vietnam to be able to exercise their freedom of expression and association;"Hanoi has recently jailed at least nine activists for up to six years apiece for holding pro-democracy banners. Iran jailed blogger Hossein "Hoder" Derakshan for 10 months - in solitary confinement.
Kindle e-book reader maker Amazon.com and new Nook e-book reader vendor Barnes and Noble got it on; B&N got great reviews for the "Kindle killer"Nook, with dual screens and touch controls so you can "turn" pages, plays MP3s and allows many non-B&N book formats, although not the Kindle one;Amazon then killed the US version of its Kindle in favour of the international one, reduced its price to $260(8,700 baht), same as the Nook; it's not yet clear what you can get in Thailand with a Nook, but you sure can't (yet) get much, relatively speaking, with a Kindle;but here's the biggest difference so far,which Amazon.com has ignored: the Nook lets you lend e-books to any other Nook owner, just as if they were paper books; the borrowed books expire on the borrower's Nook in two weeks.
Phone maker Nokia of Finland announced it is suing iPhone maker Apple of America for being a copycat; lawyers said they figure Nokia can get at least one, probably two per cent (retail) for every iPhone sold by Steve "President for Life" Jobs and crew via the lawsuit,which sure beats working for it -$6 (200 baht) to $12(400 baht) on 30 million phones sold so far, works out to $400 million or 25 percent of the whole Apple empire profits during the last quarter;there were 10 patent thefts, the Finnish executives said, on everything from moving data to security and encryption.
Nokia of Finland announced that it is one month behind on shipping its new flagship N900 phone, the first to run on Linux software; delay of the $750(25,000 baht) phone had absolutely no part in making Nokia so short that it had to sue Apple, slap yourself for such a thought.
Tim Berners-Lee, who created the World Wide Web, said he had one regret:the double slash that follows the "http:"in standard web addresses; he estimated that 14.2 gazillion users have wasted 48.72 bazillion hours typing those two keystrokes, and he's sorry; of course there's no reason to ever type that, since your browser does it for you when you type "www.bangkokpost.com" but Tim needs to admit he made one error in his lifetime.
The International Telecommunication Union of the United Nations, which doesn't sell any phones or services, announced that there should be a mobile phone charger that will work with any phone; now who would ever have thought of that, without a UN body to wind up a major study on the subject?;the GSM Association estimates that 51,000 tonnes of chargers are made each year in order to keep companies able to have their own unique ones.
The Well, Doh Award of the Week was presented at arm's length to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; the group's deputy secretary-general Petko Draganov said that developing countries will miss some of the stuff available on the Internet if they don't install more broadband infrastructure; a report that used your tax baht to compile said that quite a few people use mobile phones but companies are more likely to invest in countries with excellent broadband connections; no one ever had thought of this before, right?
Sun Microsystems , as a result of the Oracle takeover, said it will allow 3,000 current workers never to bother coming to work again; Sun referred to the losses as "jobs," not people; now the fourth largest server maker in the world, Sun said it lost $2.2 billion in its last fiscal year; European regulators are holding up approval of the Oracle purchase in the hope of getting some money in exchange for not involving Oracle in court cases.
The multi-gazillionaire and very annoying investor Carl Icahn resigned from the board at Yahoo ; he spun it as a vote of confidence, saying current directors are taking the formerly threatened company seriously; Yahoo reported increased profits but smaller revenues in the third quarter.
The US House of Representatives voted to censure Vietnam for jailing bloggers; the non-binding resolution sponsored by southern California congresswoman Loretta Sanchez said the Internet is "a crucial tool for the citizens of Vietnam to be able to exercise their freedom of expression and association;"Hanoi has recently jailed at least nine activists for up to six years apiece for holding pro-democracy banners. Iran jailed blogger Hossein "Hoder" Derakshan for 10 months - in solitary confinement.
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