Sony’s Target-exclusive Bravia LCDs now available online

Posted in partner, partnership (August 19, 2007 at 4:13 am)

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Making good on a promise made earlier this year, Sony has apparently made available a duo of cheaper, smaller LCDs to discount retailer Target as it attempts to cater to a different sect of customers. Reportedly, the 26- and 32-inch 720p Bravias won’t be available in Target B&M locations until next month, but both sets are showing up on Target’s website right now. Also, we should see a similar infiltration into Wal-Mart and possibly a few other big box retailers in the coming months, but those looking to snag a Sony LCD on the (comparatively) cheap can head on over to Target’s virtual storefront and procure the 32-inch KDL32ML130 for $899.99 or the slightly smaller KDL26ML130 for a Benjamin less.

[Via CNET]
Read - Sony’s 32-inch KDL32ML130
Read - Sony’s 26-inch KDL26ML130

 

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Intel and OLPC join hands in collaborative harmony

Posted in partner, partnership, intel (July 14, 2007 at 1:20 am)

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Revived from the depths of “no way this will happen,” Intel has gone and shook hands with OLPC, disregarding prior quibbles and announcing that the two will “will explore collaborations involving technology and educational content.” Presumably deciding that two heads were better working together than butting into one another, both firms have agreed to “bring the benefits of technology to the developing world through synergy of their respective programs.” Phil Otellini, Intel’s CEO, went so far as to state that joining forces with OLPC is just another example of his company’s “commitment to education,” and while absolutely no elaboration was given on what exactly the duo planned on completing together, at least we now know to be on the lookout.

 

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Sprint explores options for WiMAX, ponders Clearwire deal

Posted in Outlook, business, industry, partner, partnership, sprint, wimax (June 16, 2007 at 1:19 am)

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Looks like Sprint’s feverish approach to WiMAX just swallowed a chill pill, as the firm is reportedly “exploring new options for financing its ambitious plan.” In a presumed effort to “soothe investor concerns about the cost of the WiMAX plan,” the company is actually investigating a partnership or joint venture with Clearwire in order to simultaneously remove a potential competitor and gain access to the critical Clearwire markets in the southeastern US. Of course, Clearwire isn’t one to shy away from high stakes partnerships, and the FCC nod for a WiMAX-class laptop card that it garnered just last month could fit in quite well here. Still, Clearwire is refusing to comment just yet on whether this possibility is even feasible, but the mere mention of a spinoff likely means that Sprint isn’t feeling all too peachy about future WiMAX profitability. [Warning: Read link requires subscription]

[Via InformationWeek]

 

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Hitachi and Oracle introduce anti-piracy tags in China

Posted in partner, partnership, china, crime (June 6, 2007 at 1:06 am)

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Considering the sensational amount of knockoff gadgetry and counterfeit software that manages to emerge in China, it’s only surprising that it has taken this long for a company (or two) to unveil a legitimate solution to at least curb the amount of black market goods that leave the country. Reportedly, Oracle will be teaming up with Hitachi to “jointly market wireless IC tags in China that can be used to identify whether products are real or not,” meaning that tagged goods can now be easily identified as authentic when placed over a reader. The tags will be made and distributed by Hitachi and the duo of firms will promote the usage of said anti-piracy measures with the Tokyo-based Ubiquitous ID Center which issues and manages IC tags. Initially, the tags will purportedly be used with tickets for the upcoming Beijing Olympics and Expo 2010 in Shanghai, but there was no word on any planned rollouts or potential takers outside of these two events. Still, for Japanese wares makers that operate in China, ¥10 ($0.08) a pop for these piracy-thwarting tags sounds like an awfully fair deal. [Warning: Read link requires subscription]

[Via Yahoo]

 

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Microsoft briefy ignores beef with Linux, signs IP deal with Xandros

Posted in microsoft, partner, partnership, legal, patent, patents, linux, issue, problem (June 5, 2007 at 1:06 am)

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It seems the love / hate relationship between Microsoft and all things open source is swinging back to the mushy side of the equation, and while this isn’t exactly the retaliation we were expecting after getting blasted by Linus Torvalds, it’s intriguing nonetheless. In an agreement that eerily resembles that drawn up with Novell, Microsoft has reportedly “announced a broad collaboration agreement based on a set of technical, business, marketing, and intellectual property commitments” with Linux platform provider Xandros. The deal seeks to provide customers working in mixed operating system environments with “enhanced interoperability, more effective systems management solutions, and intellectual property assurances,” and the four major focal points include systems management interoperability, server interoperability, office document compatibility, and intellectual property assurance. Interestingly, that also means that Redmond won’t be suing Xandros for so-called patent infringement anytime soon, and the partnership even suggests that Microsoft will be “endorsing Xandros Server and Desktop as a preferred Linux distribution.” So while we may never know Microsoft’s true feelings towards the passionate open source community, there should be a whole lotta love spread to Xandros customers over the next five years.

[Via InformationWeek]

 

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IBM and friends buddy up on 32-nanometer semiconductor

Posted in partner, partnership, ibm, processor, samsung (May 24, 2007 at 1:07 am)

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IBM has most certainly been on a tear of late when it comes to microprocessors, as this tidbit comes right on the heels of the firm’s 4.7GHz POWER6 and self-assembling CPUs. Presumably thinking that two five heads are better than one, IBM has garnered support from Chartered, Samsung, Infineon, and Freescale to “develop and manufacture advanced 32-nanometer semiconductors.” Of course, we’re still not sure if the loose ends surrounding IBM’s 65-nanometer team effort are all tied off, but onward and upward they go regardless. The collaborative agreements between the firms “include 32-nanometer bulk complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process technologies and joint development of process design kits (PDKs) to support that technology,” which basically means that the companies will attempt to work together at IBM’s East Fishkill plant through 2010 to produce “high-performance, energy-efficient chips at 32nm.” Unfortunately, we’ve no idea when these speedsters will be ready for the commercial world, but it’s pretty safe to assume it won’t be soon.

[Via PCWorld, photo courtesy of Semiconductor-Technology]

 

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Dell joins the Microsoft-Novell alliance, hopes for Windows / Linux harmony

Posted in microsoft, business, industry, partner, partnership, linux (May 8, 2007 at 1:07 am)

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The adoration for Linux that has been flowing from Round Rock of late is both refreshing and curious, and Dell has just taken its respect for the open-source OS to another level by signing on with Microsoft and Novell. While Linux users have long griped (and protested) about Microsoft, it’s been no secret that Michael Dell has a thing for Ubuntu, and now it sounds like Dell will be “buying SUSE Linux Enterprise Server certificates from Microsoft,” and moreover, “will be setting up a services and marketing program aimed at getting users of open-source platforms to switch to the new SUSE Linux offering.” With the agreement inked, the Texas Powerhouse becomes the “first major systems provider to align with Microsoft and Novell in the collaboration,” and judging by all the other recent Linux happenings in the Dell arena, we’d say this deal aligns perfectly with its current strategy.

 

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Mitac International to acquire Tyan

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Before long, Mitac International just might own every other Taiwanese company currently out there, as the corporation is swallowing up yet another subsidiary by reportedly acquiring Tyan. The merger is slated to hit completion by the third quarter of this year, but the two firms aren’t entirely strangers as it stands. Currently, the Mitac Group holds a 35-percent stake in Tyan, but the deal should allow for Tyan’s products to be “more competitive in the market.” Stockholders were apparently pleased with the announcement, as shares for both firms raised during public trading hours, and you can probably assume the newfound company’s new supercomputer will be even more sensational (and hopefully cheaper) than the existing iteration.

[Via Inquirer]

 

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XM / Sirius to offer new pricing schemes after merger

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We already know just how “priceless” the XM / Sirius merger will be, that your current radio will probably still function just fine, and that both firms are still facing legal heat in one way or another, but we hadn’t heard just how the newlyweds would handle the pricing of the new service — until now. In a decision sure to make a few people elated while giving a hint of suspicion to most others, the merged company will offer customers a package that includes “less channels” at a monthly price lower than $12.95, one that seems “substantially similar” for exactly $12.95, and finally, a third option that touts even more channels for “a modest premium.” We can only assume that the pricey third alternative will boast a nice mixture of both companies’ existing lineups, but unfortunately, it also leaves open the possibility that the cheaper two options might exemplify the “you only get what you pay for” tagline.

[Thanks, Frankenstein B.]

 

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