Apple iPhone 3G - 16GB, black (AT&T)

Editors' note: CNET is continuing to monitor the iPhone 3G's software updates. For ongoing coverage, please see our full coverage of the Apple iPhone.

Just over a year after Apple birthed the first iPhone, the long-awaited, next-generation iPhone 3G has arrived bearing a mildly tweaked design and a load of new features. With access to a faster 3G wireless network, Microsoft Exchange server e-mail, and support for a staggering array of third-party software from the iPhone App Store, the new handset is the iPhone we've been waiting for. It still lacks some basic features but when compared with what the original model was year ago, this device sets a new benchmark for the cell phone world.

With the iPhone 3G, Apple appears to have fixed some call-quality performance issues we had with the previous model--in our initial tests, the volume is louder with less background buzz than before. The 3G reception could be improved, however. Music and video quality were largely unchanged, but we didn't have many complaints in that department to begin with.

Price may well remain our largest concern. New AT&T customers and most current AT&T customers can buy the iPhone 3G for $199 for the 8GB model and $299 for the 16GB model. If you don't qualify for that price--check your AT&T account to find out--you'll pay $399 and $499 respectively. Either way, you'll pay $15 more per month ($74.99 total) for a plan comparable with the original iPhone ($59 per month). So, while you'll pay less outright to buy the handset, you'll make it up over the course of a standard two-year AT&T contract.

So should you buy an iPhone 3G? If you haven't bought an iPhone yet, and have been holding out for a new model, now is the time. If you're a current iPhone owner and you're yearning for a faster cellular network, then you should take the plunge. But if you're an iPhone owner who won't use 3G (or can't; check your coverage at AT&T), then you should stick with your current model. The iPhone 2.0 software update provides Exchange server support, third-party apps support, and many new features without the added cost.

Prizefight: BlackBerry Storm vs. iPhone 3G

Design
You'd be hard-pressed to notice any design differences on the front of the iPhone 3G. The minor changes--the silver rim is thinner and the silver mesh behind the speaker--are so minimal we didn't notice them for a few hours after picking up the device. Turn the phone on its side, however, and you'll see more changes. Apple has replaced the aluminum silver back with a plastic face in either white or black. The black version (our review model) is attractive, but we admit that we miss the original silver, which shows fewer fingerprints and smudges than the shiny black version. The white model is not our cup of tea.

From the front, the two iPhones look almost identical.

The iPhone 3G's edges are slightly tapered to accommodate the curved back, making the device thinner around its perimeter than its predecessor, but a hair thicker (0.48 inch versus 0.46 inch) in the gut. Unfortunately, the curved back makes the iPhone 3G wobble slightly if you use it while resting on a table--which quickly becomes annoying. The phone's height and width measurements (5.5 inches by 2.4 inches) remain the same, though it weighs just a tiny bit less (4.7 ounces versus 4.8 ounces).

We love the iPhone 3G's flush headset jack.

At 3.5 inches and 480x320 pixels, the display is the same size as its predecessor, but displays slightly more dots per inch (163 vs.160), and still cranks out brilliant colors, sharp graphics, and fluid movements. The layout of the home screen is identical to that on the first version, though you'll see two new icons from the outset: A Contacts icon takes you directly to your phone book, and the App Store icon opens the iTunes App Store. The display's glass surface, accelerometer feature, touch interface, and secondary menus remain the same.

Tiny screws can be found on the bottom of the iPhone 3G.

The iPhone's 3G controls reveal a few changes, but none will surprise a current iPhone user. The Home button sits below the display, while the volume rocker and ringer mute switch rest on the left spine. The Power/sleep button rests on top of the phone in its normal position. All controls are now silver instead of black. The SIM card slot hasn't moved either, and Apple now includes a SIM removal tool in the box. The bottom of the iPhone houses the speaker, the microphone, and the charger port, but you'll also notice two tiny screws on either side of the charger jack. Think maybe you'll be able to replace your own battery now? Bummer: The battery is still not user-replaceable, so we don't recommend trying it (although we hear the battery is no longer soldered down). We're very pleased that the iPhone 3G's 3.5mm headset jack now sits flush with the surface of the phone allowing you to use any 3.5mm headset you like; you're no longer restricted to a headset that can fit in the previous phone's inane recessed jack.

In the box you'll find the syncing cable, a display cleaning cloth, a headset, user documentation, the aforementioned SIM removal tool, and an electrical outlet plug. The plug is pleasantly smaller than on the original iPhone's, but it's compatible with a standard USB cable. On the downside, you don't get a syncing dock. If you want one, you have to shell out $30 for it (boo!), and Apple made sure the iPhone 3G won't fit in the first iPhone's dock.

Features
The iPhone 3G hangs on to all the original iPhone features and throws in a few more, so we'll concentrate on what's new. Lucky for first-gen iPhone owners, most of the impressive array of additions--save 3G support and enhanced GPS--come along with the free 2.0 software update. For more on the organizer features, stocks and weather widgets, YouTube app, notepad, threaded texting, and visual voicemail, see our original iPhone review.

Exchange server support
Worker bees worldwide have awaited the iPhone 3G's full support for Microsoft Exchange server. In our tests, adding an Exchange account was ridiculously easy once we had the correct settings from our IT department--simply choose to add a new e-mail account in the main Settings menu, and you'll be taken to the standard list of available e-mail systems. "Microsoft Exchange" and "MobileMe" will appear at the top of the list just above the choice for Gmail. You'll then be prompted to enter the applicable e-mail address, domain/username, server, and password. The authentication process took just a couple of minutes. Installing CNET's security certificate posed a bit of a challenge, but we eventually succeeded by mailing the certificate to ourselves through Yahoo Mail.

The iPhone 3G offers settings for Exchange server and MobileMe e-mail accounts.

Once you're ready to go, the iPhone will sync your Outlook e-mail, contacts, and calendar. Be advised that while the iPhone can support multiple POP3 accounts at once (two Yahoo accounts, for instance), it syncs with only one Exchange server and, worse, with only with one calendar or contacts list at a time. If you have a separate personal calendar, your work calendar will replace it once you start the sync. (You'll be notified before it happens.)

As an alternative, though, you can sync e-mail without syncing your contacts and calendar. Also, you can keep work and personal e-mail accounts open at the same time, although you'll have to switch between the two (unlike on a BlackBerry). MobileMe is another way to work around this restriction, but we'll talk about the later.

When using Wi-Fi, e-mail syncing went quickly. As new messages came in, the iPhone registered them almost immediately. It seemed to bog down when we received a large clump of messages at one time, however. In those cases, we had to update the phone manually, but even then the connection could freeze. In one instance, an update took almost 5 minutes--long enough that we had to back out of the e-mail app and try again later. We also noticed that if the iPhone loses its Wi-Fi connection, the syncing is interrupted even if the phone has 3G service. The Syncing via 3G was just as quick; if there was a difference, we didn't notice it. But if the 3G connection is shaky, it will take longer.

When we deleted a message on our phone, the same e-mail vanished on our PC just a couple of seconds later. Messages deleted on the PC took longer to disappear from the phone; typically, we had to do a manual update to see them gone. Messages deleted on the phone will show up in your PC's Recycle Bin and vice versa. When the data connection is weak, deleting and moving messages can be problematic. There were a few instances when the iPhone would not let us delete a random message. But when we go back to our computer, the message was indeed in the Trash.

You can access all folders in your in-box and move messages from your in-box to a specific folder. You can't search for messages, but you can call a contact if they include their phone number in their e-mail. Opening attachments worked as promised, and we like how you now can save attached images directly to your photo gallery simply by tapping the image. To e-mail photos, you will need to do so in the traditional manner by opening the photo, selecting the e-mail option, and choosing which account you'd like to send from. We had some difficulty forwarding big attachments--on a couple of occasions we had to try multiple times to send the message on to a colleague. Also, the iPhone was not able to show imbedded JPEG images on e-mails.

The e-mail syncing is not without its faults, and it can't measure up to a BlackBerry just yet, but it is a good step toward making the iPhone a business device. Your experience will depend on how you use e-mail throughout the day. If you get scores of messages, and you must respond to each one, then we'd suggest holding off for now. But if you get scores, and only respond to a few (or you just get a few), then you could be perfectly content with the experience. Though according to AT&T, using Exchange server support on the iPhone 3G will require the business data plan (the one that costs $45 per month), we're not sure how AT&T will enforce this rule. The iPhone does not prompt you of this restriction in any way.

MobileMe
The iPhone 3G supports Apple's new MobileMe service, which synchronizes from Mac's Mail, Address Book, and iCal applications: contacts, calendar appointments, e-mail messages, photos, and browser bookmarks. One advantage of MobileMe is that it allows you to sync personal and work calendars, and contacts. Check out our MobileMe review for a full analysis.

App Store
When you select the iTunes Store, you're taken to the App Store main menu, which somewhat resembles the mobile iTunes store in design. You search applications by name and category and you can browse through the lists of Featured applications or the Top 25. There also is a feature for seeing if your purchased applications have any updates.

The mobile iPhone App Store.

We purchased a few apps for the iPhone. Downloads over Wi-Fi were pretty quick; most apps took just a few seconds, but keep in mind it will vary by the size of the app. Though you can purchase iTunes songs wirelessly only through a Wi-Fi connection, you can download applications of 10Mb or less over a 3G network and even over EDGE (if 3G isn't available).

Downloads over 3G took about the same time as they did over Wi-Fi, give or take a few seconds, but apps over EDGE are quite pokey. We also purchased applications through the online iTunes (7.7) store. We downloaded Super Monkey Ball and then synced it to our phone--a new applications tab appears under the iPhone menu. The process was quick and painless. What's more, navigation through the online apps store is easy. After loading apps, the icons will appear on the Home screen.

What's most remarkable about the online applications store is the sheer breadth of titles available, many of which take full advantage of the accelerometer. As of this writing, there are 27 pages available in a extensive range of categories. If there is one thing about the iPhone that's to love, it's the App Store--even if not all the applications are keepers and Apple is maintaining strict control over who gets in. Sure, Apple is not the first company to build a phone that takes third-party applications, but like the iPhone itself, the App Store is unique not for what it does, but for how it does it. The process is so easy that we can't imagine having the same experience on a Windows Mobile device. Of course, before you get carried away, remember that some apps are free but others will cost you.

3G
The iPhone 3G's support for AT&T's wireless UMTS/HSDPA wireless broadband network comes too late for original iPhone buyers who grew frustrated with the slow Web-surfing speeds over the 2.5G EDGE network, but it makes for a much more satisfying second-generation device. Safari consistently delivered speeds of about 300Kbps to 500Kbps and even faster at times in our tests. That's a huge jump over the typical EDGE speeds of less than 100Kbps. Web pages that used to take minutes took only seconds to load via 3G.

In preliminary testing, the iPhone 3G blew away its predecessor. When using the 3G network, WorldofWarcraft.com (a very bandwidth-heavy Web site) loaded as quickly as 38 seconds and as slowly as 47 seconds. In contrast, the same site loaded anywhere from 2 minutes to 2 minutes and 45 seconds on the original iPhone using EDGE. We also tried accessing WorldofWarcraft.com on the iPhone 3G using EDGE. Its fastest speed also was 2 minutes but the slowest speed was a painful 3 minutes 30 seconds. The mobile site of CNET.com loaded in just 12 seconds on the 3G network but up to 23 seconds using EDGE. For more on Internet speeds, check out this Prizefight.

The iPhone 3G's Safari browser.

Of course, the 3G experience is all relative. Your experience will depend on many factors including 3G coverage in your area, the number of people on the network at a given time, and the kind of pages you're trying to access--as a rule, busier pages will load more slowly. Also, it's absolutely essential that you test 3G coverage in your area using another AT&T 3G handset before buying the new iPhone. AT&T can give you guidance, but there's no substitute for real-world experience. Outside of the United States, the iPhone's tri-band (850/1900/2100) UMTS/HSDPA support will deliver 3G coverage around the world. One final point is that 3G will suck juice from your phone, so you should consider switching it off (there's an options in the Settings menu) when you're not using it. At that point, the handset will default to EDGE.

Find your way with the iPhone 3G's Assisted GPS.

Source: http://reviews.cnet.com/apple-iphone-3g/?tag=tpr

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T500 Review

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T500 is a slim and stylish ultra-compact digital camera featuring a metal body, sliding front plate and folded optics. Highlights of the T500 include a 10 megapixel sensor, 33-165mm equivalent 5x zoom lens, large 3.5-inch touch-sensitive rear screen, Super SteadyShot optical image stabilisation, face and smile detection technology, ISO 3200 and intelligent scene recognition. The Sony T500 also boasts 1280x720 pixel 720p HD movie recording with stereo sound and HDMI output. Available in silver, black and red, the Sony DSC-T500 currently retails for around £289 / $399 - carry on reading our in-depth review to find out if it’s worth considering.

Ease of Use

Resembling an old-fashioned cigarette case, courtesy of its silver brushed metal front - 5x Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar zoom lens hidden by slide-open lens cover that stretches the width of its faceplate - the 10.1 effective megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-T500 continues Sony's successful run of minimalist and slender Cyber-shot compacts. Not much larger than a credit card, their ethos appears to be mainly one of simplicity. A case in point: Like the T300 we rated last summer, the T500 panders to the iPhone generation with almost its entire back plate being given over to a 3.5-inch, 230,400 dot resolution touch screen LCD. Only a thumb switch for alternating between stills and video capture modes, itself encircling the shutter release button, intrudes top right. There's obviously no optical viewfinder to fall back on. Although it also features a top mounted power button, the act of sliding open the faceplate activates the T500, so the user can be up and shooting with a similar ease to taking snaps on their Sony Ericsson mobile phone.

Boasting a list price of £289 at the time of writing, the mostly metal Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T500 feels rock-solid sturdy yet lightweight at 180g when gripped in the palm, although admittedly there are very few protrusions on this camera with which to achieve said grip. The one concession is a raised lip - grey on our silver review sample, with a stippled appearance - that forms part of the right hand side of the sliding lens cover. This provides purchase for your fingers as your forefinger hovers over the shutter release button and your thumb inevitably smears the screen at the rear with greasy marks.

Like its predecessors the T500 features Sony's double anti blur technology, which translates as Optical SteadyShot plus additional high sensitivity, the latter maxing out at ISO 3200. Also present and correct is this year's must have of High Definition video clips, here in PC friendly MPEG-4 format with use of the optical zoom and the ability to fire off a snap in the middle of filming - though the T500 boasts a maximum 1280x720 pixels video at 30fps as opposed to a full HD 1920x1080. Still, this is an improvement on the T300's standard 640x480 pixels video, and comes with stereo sound too. So what if individual clips are limited to 10 minutes duration, that's more than enough for most of us, with Sony suggesting 60 minutes of footage can be captured if opting for a 4GB removable Memory Stick Duo (or Pro Duo).

HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) output is additionally offered - via a desktop docking station into which the camera slots, upright - being useful for those who already own one of the company's Bravia HD sets, though the requisite cable is again an optional extra (at £39). AV out, USB in and mains power connections complete the available ports - again these are accessed via the docking station, with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T500 in situ, rather than being featured on the camera itself.

Press the top-mounted power button or slide open the faceplate and the T500 readies itself for action in a second or so, the rear LCD bursting into life sound tracked by an ident-like 'sting'. With a definite halfway point you can feel when depressing the shutter release button just enough for it to determine focus and exposure, a task it achieves quickly. With maximum resolution JPEG images committed to memory in around three seconds, the screen blanks and then displays the captured image momentarily before you can go on to take another.

Front	Rear

Sliding down (and open) the lens cover also reveals the stereo microphone, built-in flash, self-timer lamp window plus of course the lens itself. Incidentally, as with its forbears it's all too easy for fingertips to stray into shot, the lens positioned as it is to the far right hand side (if viewing from the front). Around the front of the shutter release button is a spring-loaded switch for operating the zoom and alternating between wideangle and telephoto. This felt slightly loose on our review sample, the action of the zoom itself leisurely smooth and steady, rather than rapid.

Moving to the back of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T500, the central portion of the screen displays the image before your lens in 4:3 ratio, while two menu bars with white text or icons on an all-black background frame it on either side - in effect cropping the screen's full 16:9 ratio. Top of the left hand bar, in regular stills capture mode, is a means of accessing Sony's 'Home' menu with the jab of a finger. Press this lightly and the user is instantly provided with an overview of the camera's main functions - shooting, playback, direct printing, 'memory tool' (with the ability to format the media in use, copy or create new recording folders) plus a composite set up menu that includes the ability to deactivate the camera's annoyingly cheery 'bleep' that otherwise sounds at every button press.

If we've one complaint about the screen it's that if anything it's a bit too sensitive, and so those with sausage fingers (or even the rest of us in a rush to get the possible shot we've just seen) may well find themselves inadvertently selecting features adjacent to the ones they actually wanted. It's not quite as bad for this as Samsung's competing NV100HD however.

Bottom of the left hand bar is a second virtual button marked Menu. As we've remarked before, we don't know why Sony, unlike every other manufacturer, doesn't combine the functionality offered by Home and Menu. Here the latter provides access to the likes of record mode (single or continuous shooing), exposure compensation (+/- 2EV), switching red eye reduction and/or face detection on/off, or jumping straight to the set up menu that mirrors exactly what you can access via the Home button. On one hand, dividing up the functionality in this manner creates confusion for those well used to handling cameras from other brands, though, in concession, 'Home' with its very naming has a friendly feel about it; a comforting place for the uninitiated to return perhaps should they feel overwhelmed or lost.

Returning our attention to the left hand bar, between the Home and Menu buttons we find an icon providing access to JPEG image sizes and ratios via a fold-out menu that extends from left to right across the screen. Here there's everything from the full 10 megapixels in 4:3 ratio to two megapixels in 16:9 ratio (at which point the black bars left and right of screen disappear and you have its entirety at your disposal for composition), with an email friendly VGA quality 4:3 ratio option thrown in for good measure. No RAW or TIFF here.

The next icon down gives the self timer options (off, ten seconds or two seconds), while the final icon sandwiched between Home and Menu lets the user switch between auto capture, scene modes (where we also, slightly inexplicably, find the means of manually adjusting ISO alongside the more regular pre-optimised snow, beach and firework options) and program mode. Press Menu again while in the latter mode and as you'd expect there are a wider range of options at your disposal, including manually adjusting white balance, adjusting flash intensity and choosing which SteadyShot anti shake mode to use: either active when the shutter button is pressed halfway, always on or off.

Battery Compartment	Memory Card Slot

In Program mode a further toolbar appears along the bottom of the T500's screen, with, moving from left to right, an additional choice of focus options - multi AF, centre AF or spot, plus manually selectable ranges of between one to seven metres and infinity. Next along this bar is a choice of metering modes - the standard multi, centre or spot - plus, next again, a more literally 'to hand' means of adjusting ISO and exposure compensation.

Finally, the bar to the right hand side of the screen (in standard 4:3 ratio capture modes) features icons for turning flash on or off (along with forced flash, and slow synchro settings) plus macro on/off. Book-ending these two options are, at the top of the bar, a self-explanatory and useful 'back' button, and at the bottom a display button. This provides the choice of the default 'normal' display as described above, a 'simple' version or an image-only option, which as it sounds turns off all the toolbars and buttons (apart from display itself). In display mode users can also call up a live histogram or switch it off, plus adjust LCD brightness. Switch the capture mode from stills to video, and users have the ability - again via the left hand bar - to adjust image size and alter compression levels, plus, via the Menu button, select a normal colour, sepia or black and white mode to shoot in.

Staying with the rear screen menus and options, switch to playback mode via the top-mounted button adjacent to its on/off control, and review options are again presented left and right of screen and top to bottom. Down the left, users have the ability to dip in and out of created folders of images, select slideshows, or delete duff shots - with the 'back' button again coming in handy if you want to change your mind. Also useful is the fact that you can scroll up and down through an entire folder of images, presented on screen as a grouping of six visibly large enough thumbnails at once, which saves time. This number can be bumped up to 20 on screen at one time if your eyesight is particularly impressive.

Press Menu in playback mode and there's the ability to protect an image from accidental deletion, or earmark it for direct printing. Press the shutter button halfway at any point and the user is helpfully catapulted back into capture mode. And that's basically it. Touch screen operation is either love it or hate it - luckily the buttons and icons (not to mention 3.5-inch screen itself) are just large enough for finger operation (no alternative stylus is provided), though with the caveat it's occasionally fiddly and the conflagration of options around the screen (especially in Program mode) can be rather distracting from the central image itself.

The bottom of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T500 features the standard screw thread for attaching it to a tripod, alongside which is a narrow flap with lockable catch that protects the shared lithium ion battery and removable media (an optional Memory Stick Duo with a hardly worth it 4MB internal memory to fall back on). Incidentally the battery didn't last long enough for our liking - Sony suggesting a paltry 80 minutes or 160 shots - which is half as long as rivals in its class. As a result the on-screen icon was showing it was almost spent after a day and a half of occasional use, so if you're heading off on holiday you'll want to drag its charger with you.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T500 is best viewed as a premium quality snapshot camera. Like a Mercedes car it's flash looking yet ultimately sensible, it functions well (for the most part) and doesn't really claim to do anything else than what it actually does.

Source: http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/sony_cybershot_dsc_t500_review/

About serversdirect.com

Since 1998, Servers Direct has provided advanced, custom server and storage systems to some of the most sophisticated local, domestic and global enterprises in the government, higher education and private sectors. An exclusively server/storage technology focused company, Servers Direct employs one hundred technology professionals (procurement, logistics, product management, hardware and software engineers) in the United States. Our success and commitment to customers isbuilt on the business strengths:

Built to your Configuration. We completely customize our servers and storage systems to match your individual needs. Every configuration is tested and certified by industry certified System Engineers to perform as advertised.

Easy to Order. Our online quoting and ordering system has more customizable options than any other server system builder on the web. This selection guarantees that you will receive the ideal solution for your needs.

Broad Product Selection. We offer a wide range of “best in class” brand selections in order to give our clients as many options as possible. If you cannot find exactly what you need on our site, give us a call and we would be more than happy to help you.

Impeccably Built Systems. All Servers Direct server and storage systems are manufactured under ISO 9001:2000-certified processes and lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methods

Price Leadership. Our business was formed around assisting our customers in planning, budgeting, and implementing complete solutions. We deliver them to our customers at truly competitive pricing.

Top Technical Staff and Industry Partnerships. Servers Direct is recognized by Intel as one of the preferred providers of Intel technology-based solutions. As a Premier Provider, Servers Direct is validated by Intel through training, industry certifications and demonstrated customer implementations. To maximize technology investment, Premier providers have access to training on the latest Intel products and solutions that are compatible with existing hardware and software solutions.

Personalized Customer Service. We offer consultative account management to all our customers and product warranty programs with world-wide capabilities. Our service is proven by a 98% customer purchase repeat ratio.

Source: http://www.serversdirect.com/aboutus.asp

Sharp rise in corporate liquidations

by Gill Montia

Story link: Sharp rise in corporate liquidations

The Insolvency Service has reported a sharp rise in the number of companies going bust.

The figures, which cover England and Wales, show a 51.6% year-on-year rise in corporate liquidations in the final quarter of 2008, to 4,607.

Compared with the third quarter of last year, the number of businesses wound up because of debt rose 11.9%.

A shortage of credit and the recession have meant that for the entire year, the number of firms liquidated increased by 24% to 15,535.

According to insolvency practitioner Alan Tomlinson, the UK’s small and medium-sized businesses have suffered the most.

Speaking to BBC News, Mr Tomlinson said he expects the situation to deteriorate even further in 2009.

Meanwhile, individual bankruptcies and people entering Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) increased to 29,444 in the three months to the end of December, up 18.5% on a year earlier and 8.2% on the previous quarter.

In addition, experts are warning that creditors could become less likely to agree to IVAs as the economic downturn continues, fuelling the rise in personal bankruptcies.

In December, accountants KPMG predicted that up to 150,000 people will either be declared bankrupt or enter into IVAs or Debt Relief Orders (DROs) during the course of 2009.

DROs are being introduced in April and are aimed at people who have less than £15,000 in debt, less than £300 in assets and less than £50 per month to repay their debt, after all their essential expenditure is covered.

A successful application for an order will mean the debt is wiped out.

Source: http://www.bankingtimes.co.uk/06022009-sharp-rise-in-corporate-liquidations/

Intel Warns AMD About Patent Breach

Chip maker Intel on Monday sent a notice to rival Advanced Micro Devices that it violated a patent cross-licensing agreement when it spun off a manufacturing arm into a separate company.

Intel licensed AMD the rights to make and sell x86 chips under a 2001 patent cross-licensing agreement, said Chuck Mulloy, an Intel spokesman. AMD transferred the right to make x86 chips to its manufacturing spin-off GlobalFoundries, which Intel alleges violates terms of the original agreement.

Intel considers GlobalFoundries a separate company and not a manufacturing subsidiary of AMD. Though AMD has the right to make x86 chips, transferring those rights to a separate company was not part of the patent cross-licensing agreement with Intel, Intel said.

AMD last October announced it would focus on chip design and move its manufacturing operations to a separate company. AMD early in March closed a deal with investment firm Advanced Technology Investment Company to spin off manufacturing operations to GlobalFoundries. AMD received US$700 million from ATIC as part of deal, while getting a 34.2 share of GlobalFoundries. The rest of GlobalFoundries is owned by ATIC.

Breach of the agreement terms could result in the loss of licenses and rights Intel has granted to AMD, the company said. Both companies earlier tried to settle the dispute through negotiations but didn't reach an agreement. By sending the notice, Intel enters the next phase of talks with AMD under a mediator in an attempt to settle the dispute, Mulloy said.

Intel has asked AMD to make public portions of the agreement between AMD and ATIC, which is owned by the Abu Dhabi government.

In a filing with the SEC, AMD said it has not breached the terms of the cross-licensing agreement and that Intel had no right to terminate the company's rights and licenses. AMD has commenced the procedure to respond to "Intel's purported attempt to terminate the rights and licenses," the company said in the filing.

The notice represents an ugly escalation in the battle between the rival chip makers over the years. AMD has continuously accused Intel of anticompetitive behavior in the x86 microprocessor market by allegedly offering rebates and selling chips below cost to PC makers and retail stores. AMD helped initiate a European Commission investigation in Intel's business practices in 2000.

The notice is the latest ploy by Intel to divert attention from the antitrust suits it faces worldwide, AMD claimed.

"Intel's action is an attempt to distract the world from the global antitrust scrutiny it faces. Should this matter proceed to litigation, we will prove not only that Intel is wrong, but also that Intel fabricated this claim to interfere with our commercial relationships and thus has violated the cross-license," AMD said in a prepared statement.

Source:http://www.pcworld.com/article/161311/intel_warns_amd_about_patent_breach.html

About paypal.com

PayPal is the safer, easier way to pay and get paid online. The service allows anyone to pay in any way they prefer, including through credit cards, bank accounts, buyer credit or account balances, without sharing financial information.

PayPal has quickly become a global leader in online payment solutions with more than 153 million accounts worldwide. Available in 190 markets and 18 currencies around the world, PayPal enables global ecommerce by making payments possible across different locations, currencies, and languages.

PayPal has received more than 20 awards for excellence from the internet industry and the business community -most recently the 2006 Webby Award for Best Financial Services Site and the 2006 Webby People's Voice Award for Best Financial Services Site.

Located in San Jose, California, PayPal was founded in 1998 and was acquired by eBay in 2002.

Source: http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/about-outside

About ccbill.com

Welcome to CCBill, your personal resource to the most popular online venues on the Internet. We sell E-Tickets to thousands of online entertainment and subscription-based websites, and our list of E-Venues continues to grow each day. The CCBill Online Consumer Support Center provides consumers with access to 24/7 multilingual support with their CCBill subscriptions.

CCBill gives consumers the ease of a virtual box office in their homes and offices, providing instant and anytime access to the hottest entertainment sites on the World Wide Web. Purchasing E-Tickets with CCBill is easy, safe, fast and convenient. And, we do not sell or share consumer information with any other sites or organizations (see our privacy statement).

CCBill was created to serve the needs of consumers looking for a fast, safe and convenient way to purchase access to online venues. CCBill has been a trusted E-Merchant since 1998, processing millions of online transactions each year and earning its reputation as a leader in the industry.

Source: https://support.ccbill.com/index.cgi?language=english&page=about

About legacylocker.com

The inspiration for Legacy Locker came about through two family events for one of the company's founders, Jeremy Toeman. First, a happy event, the birth of his son. Several months after the birth, he and his wife proceeded to create a will with the help of a local estate planner. During this process, every single physical asset the family owned was accounted for, along with the preferred beneficiary for the item.

Unfortunately, in that same year, Jeremy's grandmother passed away at the age of 94. She was an avid emailer, was quite comfortable "Googling" for things, and even played bridge on Yahoo! Games. When she died, the family had no way at all to get into her email account or to reply to any of her emails.

Through these events, Jeremy recognized that should something happen to him, his family would have the same issues (if not worse, considering his "digital" lifestyle). Further, his business partner would not be able to take over the Web domains he owned nor login to his computer.

So we built Legacy Locker, the safest and most convenient way to pass your logins and web passwords to your family and loved ones.

Legacy Locker Inc. is a private company based in San Francisco, CA.

Source: https://www.legacylocker.com/company/about

Top megaupload files 03/09/09

Mega Manager

size: 11.15 MB

Mega Manager is a standalone Windows client application for Megaupload and a generic download accelerator that we provide to our users free of charge. You don't have to buy a premium account or even register to use it. Some of the features are as follows: powerful uploading and downloading, resume broken downloads, integrated file manager and generic download accelerator. You can download any number of files in a single mouse click, unlimited unattended batch downloads and a lot more for premium users.

Mega Toolbar

size: 1.71 MB

The Megaupload toolbar was developed to make your uploads faster and more convenient. It is available to all Megaupload users free of charge. It gives you the following benefits: powerful high-speed uploading, upload resume, integrated search and Alexa site info.

Defense Grid: The Awakening - Game Demo

size: 237.23 MB

Defense Grid: The Awakening is a strategy game where players place defense fortifications (towers) to stop invading aliens from stealing power cores from their bases. It is up to the player to select the towers, placement, and timing to best protect the base. This mix of strategy and puzzle gameplay promises to be very fun and engaging.

Grand Ages: Rome - Game Demo

size: 829.58 MB

Grand Ages: Rome, the follow-up to Kalypso Media's Imperium Romanum, is a city-building game. The player takes the role of a Roman patrician, a nobleman, who has just started his political career. His ultimate goal is to become the Governor of Rome. Throughout the game the player can develop his game character by gaining favor with various historical figures such as Julius Caesar, Pompey and Octavian.

The Mastermind: Deluxe Edition - Game Demo

size: 34.27 MB

The Mastermind deluxe edition is a AAA-quality turn-based strategy game from Total Gameplay Studio. Deluxe edition offers stunning visual quality, improved and smoother gameplay, and easy mode offers relax gameplay while hard mode remains as challenging as the original Mastermind. As a Mastermind, you are in control of a gang of thugs and criminals, who execute various criminal activities in order for you to get wealth and power.

StuntMANIA!pro v3.0.6 - Game Demo

size: 37.07 MB

StuntMANIA!pro is a fast paced 3D car stunt driving game, where you get to perform the most amazing tricks and stunts in some really cool environments. You can select any of the nine amazing stunt cars and play either timed games, challenge games or just go crazy and have fun.

Art of Murder: Hunt for the Puppeteer -Game Demo

size: 636.77 MB

Art of Murder: Hunt for the Puppeteer was made by City Interactive S.A. The game is a continuation of a popular and well received Art of Murder: FBI Confidential. It is a classical point & click adventure game. Like in every detective game the player is required to think logically and to link facts quickly. The player will once again assist Nicole Bonnet, an FBI agent, who has to deal with a different dark case.

Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus 8.2.0.337

size: 21.04 MB

Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus is a comprehensive, easy to use antivirus program for home use only. It constantly and rapidly scans your computer for any or malicious programs such as viruses, Trojans, backdoor programs, hoaxes, worms, dialers etc.

Ashura - Dark Reign Game Demo

size: 58.48 MB

Ashura: Dark Reign is an upcoming Total Conversion mod for the PC game Unreal Tournament 2004. The player assumes the role of Sonic the Hedgehog (and friends) to save planet Mobius from his nemesis Dr. Ivo 'Eggman' Robotnik and the nefarious Ashura. The Tech Demo offers a single player mode, a long level with five different environments, Sonic as the playable character, badnik enemies and a boss to smash.

Monster vs Alien Movie Trailer

size: 171.06 MB

When a meteorite from outer space hits a young California girl named Susan Murphy and turns her into a giant monster, she is taken to a secret government compound where she meets a ragtag group of monsters also rounded up over the years. As a last resort, under the guidance of the General, on a desperate order from The President, the motley crew of Monsters is called into action to combat the aliens and save the world from imminent destruction!

http://www.flipdrive.com

FlipDrive is your Internet Hard Drive. It is your own virtual online storage space, where you will be able to store, access, share, and backup all your data. Securely store your files, contacts, photo albums, favorite sites, calendar, and other information on FlipDrive. Protect your data from computer crashes and viruses. FlipDrive also lets you share all your data and control who has access to it. Share your files, photo albums, favorite sites, and any other data virtually with anyone. You chose which data to share and with whom. FlipDrive puts you in full control of your data.

Secure Online Storage
Store all your data online in one convenient and secure location. Only FlipDrive allows you to store all your data (your documents, photos, and any other files, plus your contacts, favorite sites, daily tasks and events). All your data stored in one convenient location. There is no need to jump from website to website, to access different information, when you can do it all here at FlipDrive.


Anytime - Anywhere
Our Easy to Use interface gives you instant access to all your data no matter where you are. Access your account from any Internet connected computer. There is no need to carry around memory cards, hard drives, CDs, or any other external storage devices. By uploading your data to FlipDrive, it goes wherever you go.

Anything with Anybody
Tired of sharing files via email, or inability to share large files which are too big to share as an email attachment? There is a better and faster way to share. With FlipDrive you will be able to share any file of any size with anybody. Its fast and easy. Whether you share your data privately or publicly, your account always stays safe and secure.

Don't Lose It. Protect It!
Do you have a backup plan and a way to recover your data in case of a computer failure? What would you do if all your data stored on your hard disk would disappear? Just the thought of this probably makes you frustrated. But wait. There is no need to panic. FlipDrive securely stores and protects your data from any harm. While normal backup solutions are vulnerable to the same threats and attacks as your computer, FlipDrive safely keeps your data online, providing you with an truly secure offsite backup.

Source: http://www.flipdrive.com/?overview

About ebgames.com

GameStop is the world's largest video game retailer. With over 6,100 stores located throughout the United States and 17 countries, we are the retail destination for gamers around the world.

Our GameStop, EB Games and Electronics Boutique retail locations set us apart in the industry. Everything that we offer our customers-from our expansive selection of new products, to our knowledgeable associates and our value-added pre-owned products-is geared to deliver customer satisfaction. We complement our store network with GameStop.com and EBgames.com, and publish Game Informer, one of the industry's largest circulation video game magazines.

Together, we hold a passion for gaming, a commitment to our industry and a disciplined business perspective to continuously drive value with shareholders, customers, vendors and employees.

Still have Questions?
Contact us at help@gamestop.com or call (800) 883-8895. Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. (CST) Monday through Friday and 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. (CST) Saturday and Sunday

Source: http://www.ebgames.com/gs/help/About_Us.aspx

• EB Games

  Click linkenter code youll free 3-day...

  Code: 3DAYDSi | Expires 03/05/09

# Abt : 5% off coupon (some exclusions apply;... Code: MARCHSALE | Expires 03/09/09

Use the discount code MARCHSALE on the shopping cart page to save 5% off our already low prices.
Valid through Sunday, 03/08/2009.

* The following are excluded from this promotion - Electronics: Apple, Bose, Definitive Technology**, Denon**, JL Audio**, Kef**, Kenwood - Excelon**, Key Digital**, Klipsch**, Linksys**, M&K**, Pioneer - Elite**, Polk Audio**,Velodyne**, Sonance**, SONOS, Sony (ES/XBR)**, Tom Tom**, Garmin**. Appliances: Dacor, DCS, Dyson**, Electrolux, Fisher & Paykel, Gaggenau, LG, Marvel**, Miele**, Scotsman, Thermador, Uline**, Weber**, Zephyr. Gourmet Shop: All -Clad**, Breville**, Capresso**, Cuisinart**, DeLonghi**, Dualit**, Enclume**, John Boos**, Le Creuset**, Nespresso**, Rosle**, Swiss Diamond**, Wusthof**. Also Excluded: Gift Cards, Camcorders, Digital Cameras, Desktop PC's, LaCie Hard Drives, Laptops, Monitors, Printers, Projectors (Certain Brands), Sunglasses (Certain Brands), Watches (Certain Brands), Video Game Hardware, & Accessories.

** Web only exclusion - Call 888-228-5800 or visit store for a promotional discount.

Please Note

- This offer is not applicable with other offers or discounts, gift certificates, clearance section items or previously placed orders.
- The discount is reflected on the product pages and in the shopping cart online.

Source: http://www.abt.com/promo/customer_sale.php3/?utm_source=gantext&utm_medium=aff&utm_campaign=gan

About thebodyshop-usa.com

The Body Shop® believes that there is only one way to beautiful — Nature's Way.

For many years, The Body Shop® has constantly sought out wonderful natural ingredients from all four corners of the globe, and brings you products bursting with effectiveness to enhance your natural beauty. While doing all of this The Body Shop® also strives to protect this beautiful planet and the people who depend on it — not because it's fashionable, but based on the belief that it's the only way to do business.

More than 30 years have passed since Dame Anita Roddick began her extraordinary journey with The Body Shop® and pioneered the simple idea that "businesses have the power to do good," leading to the birth of the original, ethical cosmetics company. Today, this philosophy continues to drive everything we do and we celebrate this as "Nature's Way to Beautiful."

You'll find Nature's Way to Beautiful being celebrated across more than 2,500 The Body Shop® stores in over 55 countries worldwide from 24th August 2008. Invigorated visuals and copy will be evident instore, online and through external communications.

Discover more about The Body Shop®

The Body Shop® believes that business has the power to make the right kind of difference to the world. This principle allows our customers around the world become "activists," simply by choosing from our range of products. As Dame Anita Roddick said: "Activism isn't listed on The Body Shop® labels as an ingredient, but it is there as surely as the bergamot and hemp oil."

Here are examples of just some of the initiatives our customers have recently supported:

• We became the first cosmetics company to source sustainably harvested palm oil and introduce the ingredient into the beauty industry, working in partnership with a certified organic producer in Colombia, in 2007.
  
  
• In early 2008 we introduced 100% PCR bottles (post consumer recycled) while all our PET bottles (polyethylene terephthalate) currently contain at the minimum 30% recycled material, with a target to convert to 100% within the next 12 months.
  
  
• Our unique Community Trade program creates sustainable trading relationships with disadvantaged communities around the world and provides essential income to more than 25,000 people across the globe.
  
  
• The Body Shop® continues to raise awareness and funding for women across the world affected by domestic violence in 2008. Our Stop Violence In The Home campaign runs in more than 55 countries and has raised in excess of US$4 million.
  
  
• In 2008 we continued to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS among young people, working with MTV Networks International. This campaign funds the Staying Alive Foundation, a grass roots organization supporting young people internationally.
  
  
• We have committed to becoming Carbon Neutral by 2010, ensuring that carbon dioxide emissions from the company's core retail business worldwide are reduced.
  
  
• We're committed to trading ethically - our sourcing team is trained in ethical audits and we only trade with suppliers who are committed to our Code of Conduct for Suppliers.
  
  

To learn more, click here or check out our blog.

Source: http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com/bodyshop/beauty/about-us;jsessionid=84KbdxXLI7-BnmEthBYrdw**.bsbwilapp03-bsprd-app-101

About SkreemR

About SkreemR

SkreemR is a search engine for locating audio files on the web. We don't actually host any files--we index what exists on the publicly accessible reaches of the internet. Our goal is to make this content as searchable and useable to the internet community as possible.

We currently index over 6 million mp3 files from over 100,000 web sites.

We don't just want you to find and experience music and audio that interests you. SkreemR wants to launch you into the internet music community. When you find something you really like, check out some suggestions of where you can buy the music and support the artists. Visit the sites that host the audio content and read what they and others are saying about the music you love. Find out facts about the artist and their songs, find concert tickets, and share your experience with your friends.

We may be the new kid on the block, but we think we have some good ideas and plan on being around for a while. We hope you enjoy our service and check back in from time to time to see what we're up to.

SkreemR now has

! learn more

"Music search engine SkreemR turns up a nice selection of MP3 files from all over the web..." - lifehacker.com

"If you are looking for a great mp3 search engine you should head over to Skreemr immediately." - gHacks.net

"Skreemr is a great music search engine." - techcrunch.com

The Daily Telegraph put SkreemR at the top of their list of
"10 of the best websites that should be bookmarked on everyone's internet browser" - telegraph.co.uk

Source: http://skreemr.com/about.jsp

About seek

About seek

Need some new music for the coffers of your digital library? If all those social music sites don’t make the cut, and you want something sleek and simple, SeekMp3 is worth a try. SeekMp3 is an Mp3 search engine, pure and simple. Music is pulled from all over the web—blogs, music sites, personal websites, etc. There’s nothing to install and you needn’t register. To use it, enter the artist or song of your choice. You have the option to listen to the results on site, or to download them. Check it out, it’s free.

Source: http://www.seeekmp3.info/about.html

About ccmixter.org

What is this site all about? This is a community music remixing site featuring remixes and samples licensed under Creative Commons licenses. Music on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons license. You are free to download and sample from music on this site and share the results with anyone, anywhere, anytime. Some songs might have certain restrictions, depending on their specific licenses. Each submission is marked clearly with the license that applies to it. Sometimes, however, a contributor might accidentally upload copyrighted materials he or she doesn’t have permission for. If you know of such a case or are the copyright holder of something posted here without your permission or a Creative Commons license, please let us know.

Can I post my remix to my own site or AP? Yes, provided you’re not making commercial use of the thing. Many tracks on this site (e.g. by the Beastie Boys, Chuck D and the Fine Arts Militia, and My Morning Jacket) are under some form of Noncommercial license, which allows file-sharing and sampling but prohibits any commercial use whatsoever. Many other tracks on the site are under licenses which allow noncommercial file-sharing and even commercial use of samples. (Be careful: the uploads under the Sampling licenses can not be used in advertising or to promote anything other than the songs involved.) So you don’t have to post your remix to ccMixter. Yes you can post it to say, Acid Planet. The licenses do not require that you post your creations here.

Who Should Register on ccMixter? Music Lovers If you are just here to browse and listen to music then you don’t need to do anything more. Please enjoy the music. A good place to start is with our editorial staff that watches for the best of the site. If you do chose to register you can create recommendations and playlists that you can then easily download to music players. You can leave reviews, and interact in the forums, pick favorites and more. Producers, Singers, Sound Designers Registering gives you all the benefits and privileges that come from having an account. You get your own artist’s page where you can upload your own music, cut-ups of other artists and loop libraries. If you would like to submit a remix ccMixter then you need to register and create an account. Once logged in, you will see options for submitting sampled remixes and samples to the site. Songwriters We encourage artists who produce original material to post submissions of their work to ccMixter in order to make even more music available for legal sampling. However, you should submit individual tracks (a.k.a. stems) of your work to give the producer or DJ an even richer, more creative chance at reworking your material. ccMixter is a remix site, we will not accept your back catalog. Creative Commons also sponsors and partners with other sites (such as the The Internet Archive and Our Media) where it is more than appropriate to put all of your material into the Commons.

Who Owns My Music? You the music you make. If you used samples, then the sampled artist still owns the copyright to his or her samples — you can use them as part of your music as long as you live up to the conditions and restrictions of whatever license applies to the samples you used. Is music I submit automatically under a Creative Commons license? Yes. Whether I like it or not? Yes. If you would prefer to keep your music “all rights reserved,” that’s your choice — just don’t submit it to ccMixter.

What file formats does ccMixter accept? We accept most popular formats of audio (mp3, wmv, ogg, etc.) For sample library submissions we also accept .ZIP archives. There is are hard limit of 10 MB per upload for either case.

I'm having trouble uploading... First of all we are sorry you are having problems. There are several known issues with uploading that are being addressed. In the meantime here are some things that might help the process: * Remember that files over 10 megabytes will not upload. * Turn off all spy-bot, firewall and other resident blocking software. Sorry, but these have been known to interfere with uploading. * If you have a file that close to 10 megabytes and you are on a slow Internet connection may also be an issue because our site may ‘time out’ thinking something has gone wrong and abort the upload. If you suspect this may be happening and you do not have access to a broadband connection then you might consider re-encoding your music file with lower resolution quality (96kbs or in the case of VBR a lower quality setting). If you are trying to upload a sample library try breaking up the ZIP archive into smaller pieces. * If you are trying to upload fully mixed original song and don’t see the proper menu items it is because you have reached the quota for non-remixes. * We have recently fixed a problem with older Safari browsers when uploading. Or at least we think and hope we fixed it. If you are having problems uploading with an older Safari please let us know. * Our MP3 verifier is very particular about the validity of MP3 files so if there is any issue in the file it will be rejected. There are two known issues with MP3 encoders that we have caused these issues: o Some tools like iTunes and Audacity use the LAME MP3 installed in your system (usually by some other tool like Quicktime). All versions of LAME between 3.90 and 3.92 have a frame synch bug in the DLL when running in CBR mode. These versions are over four years old and you should upgrade to the latest version — typically this should happen when you upgrade the program that installed it in the first place (like Quicktime). If you use a VBR mode in your current LAME encoder or simply use another tool to encode the MP3, then you should be fine. If you are brave you can upgrade your system’s LAME encoder to the latest one by tracking one down yourself from say the old MAZ site which may may still work or from free-codecs.com but Creative Commons does NOT stand by the veracity of those sites, use them at your own risk.

More Questions? We’ve been collecting an EMFAQ (Even more frequently asked questions)

Source: http://ccmixter.org/isitlegal

About amiestreet.com

Amie Street is a place to discover, download and share music of every genre, from all over the world. Whether you come for two minutes or two hours, we'll help you find new music you'll love.

How do we do this? It starts with a new approach to selling music:
1. Dynamic Pricing

On Amie Street, the community determines the price of music. Every song starts free, or very cheap, and increases in price (up to 98 cents) as more and more people purchase it.

This system ensures that the public gets music at a fair, community-driven price point. It's literally free to download new music on Amie Street, and you know when you pay top price for an album a lot of people think it's really good.
2. RECs and Rewards

To encourage members to share and talk about the music they love, Amie Street gives you money back when you REC (recommend) your favorite songs. If you find a great new song when it's free and REC it to your friends, and that song eventually increases to 98 cents, you get that 98 cents back into your account to spend on more music.
3. Personalized Browsing

As you browse Amie Street and purchase music, the site learns more and more about your taste and quickly becomes customized. You can make it even better by filling out your profile, rating everything you listen to, and fanning your favorite artists and labels.

We’re also very proud of our own recommendations, and encourage you to sign up for our weekly newsletter and visit our blog, updated constantly by our editors.

At Amie Street, we're committed to giving every artist a shot at being the next big thing, and you the chance to discover them first.

Source: http://amiestreet.com/page/about-us

About Union Bank of California professional man and woman shaking hands

About Union Bank of California

More than 130 years ago, our founders had a vision of offering comprehensive financial solutions to individuals and businesses. Today, Union Bank of California honors that history with a commitment to superior service for our customers, employees, shareholders, and the communities we serve.

• Browse our Web site for detailed information about Union Bank
• Access important information for your financial decisions in Investor Relations
• Visit News to read the latest Union Bank press releases
• Meet Union Bank's Executive Management
• Learn about the vision of the Union Bank of California Foundation and its involvement in the community
• Find out what markets we serve and where we're located
• Check out what job openings are available in career opportunities

Advance your career

Find career opportunities at Union Bank

Investing in Communities

Request our grant guidelines to help your neighborhood grow

Source: https://www.uboc.com/company_information/

Artist Dave Gibbons' Gut Feelings on the Watchmen Movie

Artist Dave Gibbons' Gut Feelings on the Watchmen Movie


Watching the Watchmen
Filming the Unfilmable: Behind the Scenes of the Watchmen Movie
Legendary Comics Writer Alan Moore on Superheroes, The League, and Making Magic
Video: Dave Gibbons on Watchmen's Big-Screen Transition

Wired: Before we start, I've been a fan for a long time—of Watchmen, but I loved The Originals and your work on Green Lantern.

Dave Gibbons: Oh, thanks. I'm even more happy to talk to you in that case.

Wired: My secret plan is working ...

Gibbons: Good.

Wired: So, in reading Watching the Watchmen I was struck by the reprints of your sketches of the intersection where a lot of the action in the comic takes place, and the exterior of the brownstone, where you drew the whole elevation. Is that a standard approach to drawing a comic?

Gibbons: Well, I don't know if it is a standard approach in comics, but the thing with Watchmen was that we were always revisiting the same locales, and I was going to have to draw them from lots of different angles under lots of different lighting conditions, different times of day, with different stuff going on. So, particularly with the intersection, which was one of the major repeating locations, I wanted to know and have clear in my head exactly what it was like. Now, before I started in comics I used to be a building surveyor. So, I've always thought in terms of feet and inches and plans and elevations. So, it was no great difficulty for me to kind of draw some, if not actually scale drawings, then drawings that had measurements marked on them. And I found that once I'd done that fairly comprehensively, I really didn't have to refer to the drawings because, you know, just by processing it I'd actually internalized it.

That happened to me once before. Alan [Moore] and I did a Superman Annual that had a character in it called Mongul, who had this really peculiar head that nobody ever seemed to draw consistently. So, I actually made a model out of clay. But the irony was, once I'd made the model I'd so internalized it I never really had to look at it. So, yeah, those kind of things seem to take a lot of time when you're doing them, but actually they save you time in the long run.

Wired: It just struck me that it did seem a little bit like the process of building a set to shoot the action on—another parallel between doing the comic books cinematically versus making a real movie out of them. You were building the location, in a way.

Gibbons: Well, that's true. One thing that I've always liked in comic books, right back to when I was a kid and I used to read a strip over here called Dan Dare, which was a science fiction strip drawn by a wonderful artist called Frank Hampton. They had enough budget and enough people working on it to actually build these models, so, when you read the strip you knew there'd be something that was fairly incidental, like a bunch of guys in a car going through some, you know, space fleet headquarters. So there was this subliminal feeling that this place really existed, that it was consistent. No matter where you looked it would all make sense. And that's the kind of feeling that I wanted to have with Watchmen.

You know, because this is such a dense book, and it runs backwards and forwards in time, Alan had gone to a lot of trouble to make sure that all the storylines married up and that time-wise everything was consistent. So, it seemed only right to make it three-dimensionally consistent in space as well. And although probably some of the stuff I did, like that blocking out of the front of Moloch's townhouse, people wouldn't check it and say, "You know, that's exactly right. This fits with that." I think there still is on a subliminal level the fact, the feeling that it does exist somewhere. And the opposite of that is the thing that's always annoyed me in comics is where characters will be talking in a room and it will suddenly become apparent that one of them has to walk out through a door. So, all of a sudden the artist will draw a door where none had existed before. It just breaks the spell. It's like seeing a magic trick done badly. You know, comics is all about making it believable and helping people to get completely lost in a fictional world. All those things are really all in service of doing that.

Wired: Well, do you think that that plays out on screen in what Zack Snyder is doing? Is there a relationship between the believability of the world or the concreteness of the world and being able to make a movie out of it? Being able to move it to another medium?

Gibbons: I think so. I have seen a rough cut of the complete thing, and I've been on sets, and I've seen lots of set photos. Everything is done exactly like the comic book. I mean I guess in some ways by having such a comprehensively drawn comic book, they had a really good basis to build everything on. But certainly the amount of detail and the consistency of the characters aging or the way the action takes place in a given setting does have that ring of absolute believability.

Obviously it goes beyond that, because there is motion and there's sound. But I think that the film does have the same richness as the comic book. Certainly, because I've been to a few press screenings, I've seen the opening 10 minutes of the movie maybe five or six times, and I'm still seeing things that I didn't see the first few times. So, I think it's going to be a great thing to click through on your DVD players, just as the graphic novel is something that you can read and then go back and find all the Easter eggs.

Source:http://www.wired.com/entertainment/hollywood/magazine/17-03/ff_gibbons_qa

FOUR SEASONS NEW YORK

57 EAST 57TH STREET - New York, NY, United States 10022


The Four Seasons Hotel New York Is A Sleek Monument To New York Sophistication. Exterior And Interior Walls Of French Limestone, Pierced By Elegant Paned Windows, Reflect The Distinctive Style Of Architect I.M. Pei In This Impressive 52-storey Building. Sunset Over The Park From Your Terrace, Sycamore-paneled Dressing Rooms, Marble Bathrooms With Steeping Tubs That Fill In 60 Seconds, A Lobby Lounge Fit For Spectacle, The American Grill-redefined And Service That Never Sleeps, Four Seasons Establishes A Dramatic New Standard. ALL ROOMS FEATURE MARBLE BATHROOM WITH DEEP SOAKING TUB THAT FILLS IN 60 SECONDS GLASS-ENCLOSED SHOWER STALL SOME WITH PRIVATE CHANGING ROOM WHILE SOME WITH SEPARATE ONE EXCEPT C1K - MODERATE ROOM U1K * FOUR SEASONS EXECUTIVE PARK VIEW SUITE KING BED * - LOCATION 31ST FLR, 33RD TO 49TH FLR - 800 SQFT OR 74 SQM - OFFER VIEW OF CENTRAL PARK - SECLUDED BEDROOM FROM THE LIVING AND WORKING AREAS TO ENSURE ABSOLUTE PRIVACY DURING INFORMAL MEETINGS AND ENTERTAINING - MARBLE WET BAR - MAX OCCUPANCY 3ADULTS OR 2 ADULTS AND 1 CHILD - 1 EXTRA BED OR 1 CRIB ALLOWED P1K * FOUR SEASONS EXECUTIVE CITY VIEW SUITE KING BED * - LOCATED ON 31ST FLR - 800 SQFT OR 74 SQM - OFFER CITY VIEWS - BEDROOM SEPARATED FROM LIVING ROOM BY SOLID WOOD DOORS TO ENSURE ABSOLUTE PRIVACY DURING INFORMAL MEETINGS OR WHILE ENTERTAINING - COMPREHENSIVE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE - MARBLE WET BAR - MAX OCCUPANCY 3 ADULTS OR 2 ADULTS AND 1 CHILD - 1 EXTRA BED OR 1 CRIB ALLOWED - WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MARBLE BATH WITH SINGLE VANITY AND GLASS ENCLOSED SHOWER WITHOUT TUB K1K * PARK VIEW TOWER ROOM WITH KING BED * - LOCATION 31ST FLR, 33RD TO 50TH FLR - 500SQFT OR 46 SQM - OFFERS PARK AND CITY VIEWS - MARBLE TOP BAR - COMBINED LIVING AND BEDROOM AREA - MAX OCCUPANCY 3 ADULTS OR 2 ADULTS AND 1 CHILD - 1 EXTRA BED OR 1 CRIB ALLOWED I1K * DELUXE ROOM WITH TERRACE KING * - LOCATED FROM 5TH TO 19TH FLR - 600SQFT OR 56 SQM - MARBLE TOP BAR - MAX OCCUPACY 3 ADULTS OR 2 ADULTS AND 1 CHILD - 1 EXTRA BED OR 1 CRIB ALLOWED J1K * CITY VIEW TOWER ROOM WITH KING BED * - LOCATED FROM 31ST TO 50TH FLR - 500 SQFT OR 46 SQM - OFFER CITY VIEWS - FURNISHED TERRACE - MAX OCCUPANCY 3 AUDLTS OR 2 ADULTS AND 1 CHILD - 1 EXTRA BED OR 1 CRIB ALLOWED A1K/A2D * DELUXE ROOM WITH KING BED OR 2 DOUBLE BEDS * - LOCATED FROM 5TH TO 23RD FLR - 600 SQFT OR 56 SQM - OFFE

Area Attractions
Broadway - 10 Min No Traffic/ 20 Min With TrafficEmpire State Building - 10 Min No TrafficGreenwich Village - 15-20 Min No TrafficGuggenheim Museum - 15 Min No TrafficLincoln Centre - 10 Min TaxiMadison Square Garden - 5-10 Min No TrafficMetropolitan Museum - 15 Min No TrafficMuseum Of Modern Art - Walking Distance 10 MinutesRadio City Music Hall - 15 Min Walking/5-10 Min TaxiRockefeller Plaza/Center - 15 Min WalkingSt. Patrick*S Cathedral - 10 Min Walking/5 Min TaxiStatue Of Liberty - 10 Min No TrafficTimes Square - 10 Min TaxiUnited Nations - 10 Min TaxiWorld Trade Centre - 20 Min TaxiGiants Stadium ?Site Of World Cup Soccer - 30 Min.

Property Information
364 Rooms Handicap Rooms Meeting Facilities Non-smoking Rooms Spa And Fitness Ctr Car Rental Private Mini Bar Personal In-room Safe Shops Food And Beverage Facilities Business Centre High Speed Internet Access At A Cost Physically Challenged Facilities In Superior And Moderate Rms
Small, Housebroken Pets Allowed On Leash. The Hotel Does Not Allow Dogs Over 15 Lbs. On The Premises. They Do However Utilize A Reputable Kennel Called American Kennel On Lexington Ave. Between 61st And 62nd Streets. Please Inform Guests That For Any Pet In The Hotel, There Is A 100usd Cleaning Fee To Creat An Allergen Free Environment For All Their Guests.

Policies & Disclaimers
# Your charge card will be charged for the full payment upon submitting your reservation request. See New-York-Hotels-USA.com User Agreement.
# Requests for bed type and smoking preferences will be submitted to the hotel but are not guaranteed.
# Room pictures may differ from the actual room you receive.
# You must present a photo ID upon check-in.
# By proceeding with this reservation, you agree to all terms and conditions, which include the Cancellation Policy and all terms and conditions contained in the New-York-Hotels-USA.com User Agreement.
# You agree to pay the cost of your reservation. If you do not pay this debt and it is collected through the use of a collection agency, an attorney, or through other legal proceedings, you agree to pay all reasonable costs or fees, including attorney fees and court costs, incurred in connection with such collection effort.
Payment - American Express Card, Diners Club Card, Jcb Card,Enroute Card, Mastercard, Visa Card, Carte Blanche,Discover Card, Mastercard Universal Travel Voucher.family Plan - Child Under 19 Years Stay Free In Parent*Sroom. If 2 Rooms Are Required, Book Both Rooms Each Atsingle Occupancy Rate.pet Policy - Pet Allowed Only Under 15lb, Quietand On Leash,Attended At All Timesnational Corp - Pax Company Name Is Required In /Si-fieldfor Details - See Y/Hhl/Qfs/Corptravel Agent Rate - See Y/Hhl/Qfs/Agentgovernment Rate - See Y/Hhl/Qfs/Govtnegotiated Rate - See Y/Hhl/Qfs/Negotiated

Guarantee Policy: All Reservations Must Be Guaranteed By A Major Credit Card, Or 1 Night Plus Tax And Service Deposit, Otherwise Reservation Will Be Automatically Released. Pls Note Follows On Dates With Special Deposit Requirement - Sepcial Deposit Policy Applied To - 22nov-19dec, 2008 Non-refundable 1nt Deposit Is Required At Time Of Booking. Special Policy Pls Refer To Cancel Policy Section For Details.
Cancellation Policy: Rsvns Must Be Cancelled 24hours Prior To The Scheduled Arrival. For Exceptions Note System Generated Cxl Policy In The Segment. ***Winter Holiday Period 22nov-19dec, 2008*** **2 Nights Minimum Stay Is Required For Arrival Friday And Saturday. - One Night Deposit Of Room And Taxes To The Credit Card Provided At The Time Of Booking. This Deposit Will Be Posted To The Last Night Of The Stay. - To Receive A Full Refund - Cxl Must Be Done No Later Than 72hoursprior To 6pm On The Date Of Arrival. - Deposit Will Be Forfeited In The Event Of No- Show/ Cancellation/Shortening Of The Stay Or Change Of Dates Within 72 Hours Prior To Arrival. - Any Material Changes Requested Within The Cancellation Period Are Subject To Approval By The Hotel.

Source: http://travel.ian.com

Multimedia Design

Multimedia Design
Students interested in multimedia design programs can find work in almost any career field.

Multimedia design programs prepare students for careers in any number of possible fields. Students will learn more than just how to create computer based designs. Programs also feature drawing, design and typography courses, digital music courses, and courses in creative design. Students will also learn about computer programming, network administration, writing for business, and publishing.

Students studying in multimedia design programs can choose between several specialties and degree options. Digital media design and digital visual media design programs teach students how to use modern computer programs to create 2D and 3D designs and animations. There are web and print production programs that feature work in drawing and typography. These are perfect for artists interested in developing a career in design. Multimedia studies may also include work with web design, visual communication, and digital music formats.

There is a variety of work available for students upon the completion of multimedia design programs. A student's choice of concentration within the multimedia program can open up several pathways. Multimedia design students can work as webpage designers, database specialists, or network designers. Some can work in visual communications, designing signs, corporate logos, and illustrations for print and online media. Students may also get careers designing and running flight simulators, creating walk-through designs for architects and building planners, and working with a movie or television production team.

Multimedia design programs can help students to achieve career goals in almost any industry imaginable, from agriculture and farm management, to recreating crime scenes for law enforcement agencies, or designing interactive websites for some of the country's top companies.

Source: http://www.design-training.com/multimedia/p/multimediadesign.html

About www.aryty.com

Aryty lets you send communication credit.

Aryty allows people in the United States and Canada to send prepaid mobile phone credit to friends and family overseas either from their mobile phones or online at Aryty.com. It's a great tool to help your friends and family stay connected.


A bit about our name, Aryty.

The world "aryty" is a slangy SMS (text message) abbreviation of "all righty." It means 'everything is all right,' 'no worries,' or 'it's all good.' But no matter how you say it, we hope that's what you'll feel once you send mobile minutes to loved ones overseas, Aryty!?


Great uses for Aryty

* Stay connected with friends and family. Send phone credit to start an SMS chat with a friend overseas. Just a few dollars will allow your friends to send you all the news from home!
* Send a gift. Mobile phones are such an important part of life for many people overseas. Sending a small gift of prepaid credit can go a long way help people connect with information, friends and family.
* Send minutes so they can call you. Sending just a few dollars of prepaid mobile phone credit to your family allows them to call you whenever they want to talk to you. They won't have to wait until they get prepaid credit in their country.
* Support your family at home. If you pay for their mobile phone, then they can use their pesos for other expenses. This is a simple and easy way to support the folks at home.
* No matter how you chose to use Aryty, it's always secure and easy.



Here's our plan.

Our vision for Aryty continues beyond sending prepaid mobile phone credit. We are expanding into new locations and innovating new services to keep you connected with friends and family abroad -- as well as with folks who are close to home. Stay tuned; you'll be saying "Aryty" more and more often.


We're expanding all the time.

At the moment, Aryty is only available to send mobile credit from the U.S. and Canada to the Philippines but we hope to offer service in many more destinations soon. Please contact us to let us know you're interested in using our service in your area.

Source: https://www.aryty.com/About.aspx

USA - Travel Tips

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Source: http://www.usatourist.com/english/tips/Tips-Main.html