The organization responsible for managing the assignment of domain names and IP addresses has approved a new plan to allow non-Latin characters in Web extensions.
Known as Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs), the system is designed to globalize the Net so regions around the world can use their own local alphabet characters to surf in cyberspace, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, said Friday.
Calling IDNs the "biggest technical change" to the Internet since its birth 40 years ago, ICANN unanimously approved the plan on the final day of its six-day conference in Seoul.
IDNs will allow domain names to be to be written in native character sets, such as Chinese, Arabic, and Greek. In charge of managing domain names, ICANN has argued that IDNs are necessary to expand use of the Web in regions where people don't understand English. Since its inception, the Internet has been limited to the Latin character set used by the U.S. and many other nations.
"The coming introduction of non-Latin characters represents the biggest technical change to the Internet since it was created four decades ago," said ICANN chairman Peter Dengate Thrush in a statement. "Right now Internet address endings are limited to Latin characters--A to Z. But the Fast Track Process is the first step in bringing the 100,000 characters of the languages of the world online for domain names."
To expedite the new plan, ICANN will launch a Fast Track process on November 16. At that time, the organization will begin accepting applications from countries for new top level domains, or Internet extensions, based on each nation's character set.
Initially, the change will apply only to local country codes, such as .kr for Korea and .ru for Russia. Major top level domains (TLDs) such as .com, .net., and .org won't see non-Latin editions just yet. But ICANN is pushing to make progress on these major TLDs and hopes to include them in the IDN system before long.
ICANN had discussed and debated IDNs for years, during which time much testing, development, and global cooperation were needed to jump start the new system.
"This is a culmination of years of work, tests, study and discussion by the ICANN community," said Thrush. "To see this finally start to unfold is to see the beginning of an historic change in the Internet and who uses it."
Not only is this Super Mario costume homemade and hilarious, the guy sure can boogie.
(Credit: Caroline McCarthy/CNET)Really, America? Can we talk?
You see, I received this press release from Experian Hitwise in my in-box about the most-searched-for Halloween costumes in the U.S., based on searches in the month ending October 24 that ended in "costume." And the ranking was led by "Michael Jackson costume" and "Balloon Boy costume." OK, so those are timely, albeit a little bit more than unimaginative.
But it doesn't stop there. Following that were "Tinkerbell," "Catwoman," and "Poison Ivy," indicating that most costume searches are either on behalf of women or men who really want to make a fool of themselves. Among the top costume searches beginning with the word "sexy" were "sexy sailor costume," "sexy nurse costume," "sexy witch costume," and "sexy Queen of Hearts costume." (What would Lewis Carroll think?) And high-ranking costume searches beginning with "adult" include "adult cat costume," "adult Snow White costume," and "adult Care Bear costume."
I don't care what you dress up as for Halloween. Have fun with it. But just think about it. Adult Care Bear costume. Really. It's a costume that's probably itchy and uncomfortable, unflattering, and will embarrass the heck out of your kids if you have any. Not to mention that there's no obvious relevance to current events or pop culture that would negate the creepiness factor, considering the last time I checked the Care Bears have been around since 1981. Whatever happened to cowboys and pirates and disgraced politicians? Hitwise stats have officially weirded me out.
More depressing figures: Compared with the same time period last year, Hitwise found a 97 percent jump in searches for "pet costumes" this year. Those poor dogs.
A simple phrase and pin code may be all you need the next time you pay for that book or CD at Amazon.
The online retailer on Thursday debuted a new feature called Amazon PayPhrase, designed to let busy shoppers store their name, address, and payment information in a single phrase and pin code. Instead of entering all that data at the online checkout counter, you type your phrase and pin number when it's time to cough up the cash.
PayPhrase doesn't just work at Amazon--it can be used at any online retailer that lets you pay via Amazon Payments. That covers a range of cyberstores, including Buy.com, J&R Electronics, DKNY, and Car Toys.
PayPhrase also omits the need for a user name and password to store your personal info on every shopping site that uses Amazon Payments. However, you will need an Amazon.com account to set up and maintain your phrase.
Amazon sees PayPhrase as a benefit to consumers trying to juggle different accounts at different retail sites.
"PayPhrase solves the headache of trying to keep track of all the different user names and passwords people use to shop on various sites across the Web," said Matt Williams, general manager of Amazon PayPhrase, in a statement. "With PayPhrase all you need is one phrase and one PIN to pay online."
Here's how the process works:
- You first set up your PayPhrase. The phrase can be two or more words, and the entire phrase must be at least four characters but no more than 100. Amazon provides a list of suggested phrases, or you can create your own. (With Amazon's suggested phrases of "Unusually Obese," "Contraceptive Cream," and "Bush's Education Department," you might want to create your own.) Since everyone's PayPhrase must be unique, Amazon will tell you whether or not your phrase is taken.
- You set up your four-digit pin number.
- You enter your Amazon.com user name and password.
- You either confirm or enter your mailing address and credit card information.
- After your PayPhrase is set up, you'll receive an e-mail from Amazon confirming the details.
- The next time you check out to buy an item on Amazon or an Amazon Payment retailer, a field for PayPhrase Express Checkout will appear. You enter your phrase. You then review your order details and total cost and finally enter your pin number to submit the purchase.
Of course, a feature like this always shouts out one question: Is it secure? Amazon naturally believes so.
Though Amazon stores your credit card information, the company points out that your payment information is not shared with other online retailers. And to modify your PayPhrase settings, you have to log in to the PayPhrase site with your Amazon.com username and password.
You can establish monthly cash limits on your account ranging from $10 to $500. Finally, you can opt to receive an approval request by e-mail or cell phone for all orders that are placed.
Check out Amazon's promo video page for a brief tour of PayPhrase.
You wouldn't know there's been a slowdown in consumer spending by looking at Amazon.com and Netflix.
Both companies have continued to grab customers at a record pace, leading to higher earnings and sales for their third quarters.
Net income for Amazon jumped 68 percent to $199 million, or 45 cents a share, in the quarter that ended September 30, compared with $118 million, or 27 cents a share, in the prior year's quarter.
Sales rose 28 percent to $5.45 billion versus $4.26 billion in 2008's third quarter, the company said Thursday.
Amazon's stock shot up $23.75, or 25 percent, to $117.29 in Friday trading.
Amazon's two-year stock chart.
(Credit: Yahoo Finance)Amazon attributed its earnings to several key factors.
Chief Financial Officer Tom Szkutak said Thursday in a conference call with reporters that consumers continue to spend at Amazon because of its low prices and large selection. The company noted that it had 98 million customer accounts by the end of the third quarter, 17 percent higher than a year ago.
Worldwide sales from books, CDs, DVDs, and other media grew 17 percent to $2.93 billion, while revenue for electronics and other general merchandise soared 44 percent to $2.36 billion.
Another solid driver for growth was the Amazon e-book reader, Kindle.
"Kindle has become the No. 1 bestselling item by both unit sales and dollars--not just in our electronics store but across all product categories on Amazon.com," Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said in a statement. The company did not release specific sales figures for the Kindle.
Amazon managed to clobber analysts' expectations. J.P. Morgan had forecast earnings per share of 31 cents on sales of $5 billion. Broadpoint.Gleacher analyst Ben Schachter had been eyeing earnings per share of 33 cents and said that sales were 7 percent higher than he expected.
In a report, J.P. Morgan said Amazon's strong sales growth shows that the company is grabbing significant market share from other e-commerce players, such as eBay.
In his report, Schachter called the results "phenomenal." He noted that Amazon was able to keep its costs in check while gaining market share in virtually every product category. The analyst also said he was "shocked" to hear Bezos' statement that the Kindle has become the company's top-selling item.
For the current quarter, Amazon is looking for sales of $8.13 billion to $9.13 billion, 21 to 36 percent higher than last year's fourth quarter, and racing past analysts' estimates of $8.11 billion.
Collins Stewart analyst Sandeep Aggarwal said in a report that improving e-commerce trends and continued growth for the Kindle, among other factors, could make Amazon the fastest growing large-cap Internet stock.
Another beneficiary of solid customer growth, Netflix also surpassed analysts' expectations for the third quarter.
The company's earnings jumped 48 percent to $30.1 million, or 52 cents a share, versus $20.4 million, or 33 cents a share in the prior year's quarter. Sales grew 24 percent to $423.1 million, compared with $341.3 million in 2008's third quarter.
Overall, analysts had been expecting earnings of 46 cents per share on sales of $420 million.
Growth in subscribers was the key driver for Netflix in the third quarter. The company ended the quarter with around 11.11 million subscribers, a 28 percent jump from the 8.67 million subscribers at the end of 2008's third quarter. Of the current total, 98 percent, or 10.84 million, were paid subscribers, while the remaining 2 percent were free subscribers.
"Our business momentum is strong and our third quarter performance keeps us solidly on course for a record 2009," Netflix co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Reed Hastings, said in a statement.
Though most Netflix customers still prefer to get their movies by conventional mail, Internet streaming has gradually taken off. In the third quarter, 42 percent of Netflix subscribers streamed at least 15 minutes of video, compared with only 22 percent in the prior year's quarter.
Customers can stream their Netflix picks not just through the PC but via gadgets like Microsoft's Xbox 360, which has helped attract new customers.
Now Netflix has reportedly struck a deal to add streaming to another device, which Hastings said is already in people's homes. Though the company has been mum about details, analysts believe it may be a video game console made by either Sony or Nintendo.
Netflix shares were up $4.58, or 9 percent, to $54.22 on Friday.
For the fourth quarter, the company believes customer growth and sales will be higher than anticipated three months ago. Netflix now expects to end the current quarter with 12 million to 12.3 million subscribers, up from the prior estimate of 11.6 million to 12 million. That would represent an additional 900,000 to 1.2 million customers.
Fourth-quarter sales are likely to reach $440 million to $446 million, up from the previous estimate of $431 million to $445 million.
However, the company forecasts a downturn in earnings from the third quarter, eyeing fourth-quarter net income of $21 million to $26 million, or 38 cents to 47 cents a share.
Expenses may be one factor affecting current earnings. Hastings said the company expects to spend more on marketing and licensing fees for Internet streaming. Netflix also believes its postal costs will continue to grow, surpassing $600 million next year and $700 million in 2011.
Wackiest sights of IFA 2009
Every year we go to IFA, and every year we spot bigger demonstrations of corporate wealth and visitor stupidity. See for yourself.(Posted in Crave by Nate Lanxon)
September 7, 2009 5:43 PM PDT
Photos: LG's 15-inch OLED TV
LG shows off its OLED TV at IFA, which at 15 inches is larger than Sony's XEL-1.(Posted in Crave by Erica Ogg)
September 6, 2009 9:19 AM PDT
Sony's 3D PlayStation 3: Hands-on photos
Sony demonstrates technology that would add another dimension to its gaming console.(Posted in Crave by Erica Ogg)
September 6, 2009 6:15 AM PDT
Wireless high-def battle goes overseas
Though we've been promised the technology for years and it has yet to really hit the mainstream, wireless high-definition shows some signs of life at IFA Berlin.(Posted in Crave by Erica Ogg)
September 6, 2009 5:12 AM PDT
TV makers push 3D at home
Consumer electronics makers, including those at IFA, say 3D at home is the next step in entertainment. But we've heard that before. Are consumers buying it this time around?(Posted in Crave by Erica Ogg)
September 4, 2009 11:30 AM PDT
iRobot CEO: Robot nurses to cut health care costs
Remote monitoring equipment that keeps a virtual eye on patients in their own home would save money, says Colin Angle.(Posted in Crave by Erica Ogg)
September 4, 2009 6:53 AM PDT
LG shows off 'borderless TVs' at IFA
Already announced for North America, Europe gets its turn with the HDTVs without any noticeable bezel.(Posted in Crave by Erica Ogg)
September 3, 2009 8:46 AM PDT
Toshiba to launch its first touch-screen tablet
The JournE Touch has 7-inch screen and is meant as a third device for consumers, for accessing the Internet or sharing content to other devices around the home.(Posted in Crave by Erica Ogg)
September 3, 2009 8:22 AM PDT
Philips: Don't get too excited about 3D
The Dutch company is joining the bandwagon that promotes 3D TV as the next big thing, but throws in a healthy dose of realism.(Posted in Crave by Rich Trenholm)
September 3, 2009 10:00 AM PDT
Samsung X3 ultrathin notebook offers 9-hour battery
The X3 weighs under 4 pounds and offers a 14-inch screen, a dual-core Intel processor, and extra photo-based security.(Posted in Crave by Erica Ogg)
September 3, 2009 4:54 AM PDT
Panasonic touts Micro Four Thirds camera, 3D plans
"Next year TV will change dramatically" with 3D tech, an exec tells the IFA crowd. Panasonic also unveils a new Micro Four Thirds camera, the GF1.(Posted in Crave by Erica Ogg)
September 3, 2009 1:08 AM PDT
Sony unveils X Series Vaio, Xperia 2 smartphone
CEO Howard Stringer also rolls out a global brand campaign, which he says is the new future of Sony.(Posted in Crave by Erica Ogg)
September 2, 2009 9:05 AM PDT
From Sony: 3D Bravia TV, film downloads for PS3 and PSP
Sony has announced its first 3D-compatible Bravia LCD TV, to arrive in 2010. The company is also unveiling a new global motto for the company: "Make.Believe."(Posted in Crave by Rich Trenholm)
September 2, 2009 12:14 PM PDT
IFA Berlin: From OLED TVs to e-lederhosen
The curtain rises Wednesday on the German gadget gala, promising the very latest in consumer electronics. What will be the ubergadget?(Posted in Crave by Erica Ogg)
September 2, 2009 12:01 AM PDT
PS3 sales are slumping, but not as bad as the Wii's sales, which have been cut in half.
(Credit: Sony)Sony latest earnings show that it continues to be hammered by the worldwide recession and strong yen, suffering a net loss of $390.5 million in the quarter that ended June 30.
The bright spot was Sony's motion picture division, which saw a 6.5 percent boost that was largely attributable to the relatively strong showing of "Angels & Demons" at the box office. But almost everything else, including TV, video game, and computer sales, was down in a big way.
In an article, The New York Times highlighted the 37.4 percent year-over-year slump in gaming and computer sales (Vaio PC). The article noted that PlayStation 3 game consoles were "particularly sluggish" and that software sales had dropped.
According to the report, Sony said it sold about 1.1 million PlayStation 3s and 1.3 million PlayStation Portables in the latest quarter, compared with 1.6 million PS3s and 3.7 million PSPs in the same period a year ago.
The wane in PSP sales is particularly brutal, although part of that slowdown may have been due to rumors earlier in the quarter that Sony would release a new PSP later in the year. (And sure, enough, the PSP Go was unveiled in June at E3.) Also, the constant spate of rumors involving the potential arrival of a new PS3 Slim certainly hasn't helped sales of the current game console.
On a more positive note, we recently attended a PlayStation preview in New York that highlighted the PSP Go and the exclusive titles available for both the PSP and PS3 platforms during the upcoming holiday-shopping season. Overall, it looked pretty good.
Sony can also be consoled by the fact that sales are also way down for the Wii, as Nintendo reported a 66 percent fall in quarterly operating profit on "slowing demand for its Wii console and a stronger yen."
Nintendo sold 2.23 million Wii consoles in the quarter, compared with 5.17 million the same quarter a year earlier.
However, Nintendo still posted a profit of $445 million and is forecasting that it will sell 26 million Wii consoles before year's end--along with 30 million DS handheld game players, which, by the way, is seeing increased competition from another handheld device. Nintendo didn't mention the PSP as the rival in its earning call, but rather Apple's iPhone.
Comments? Is the PlayStation franchise in serious trouble or will it pull out of its funk this holiday season? Does Nintendo need to cut the price of Wii?
For almost 50 years, whenever Silicon Valley's budding entrepreneurs, engineers, and start-ups have needed parts for their latest electronics innovations, they've turned to the eclectic electronics surplus superstore, HSC Electronics--also known as Halted--to power their inventions.
Tech pioneers like Apple's Steve Wozniak, Atari's Nolan Bushnell, Intel's Ted Hoff, who helped develop the microprocessor, have all searched through Halted's vast inventory in search of the capacitors, inductors, wires, and transistors to bring their ideas to life.
Like the creative minds that have come here in search of success, the long shelves and deep boxes are a chaotic mix of enterprising history and wild imagination. Step inside the DIY heaven that is Halted.
For the uninitiated or nongamers out there, the Konami Code (UP UP DOWN DOWN LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT B A) is arguably the most famous cheat code in video games.
It has been used in countless games and has references in multiple forms of pop culture. Lately, some sites have taken to using the code to trigger amusing events on the page. Recently, ESPN used the code to spawn unicorns and rainbows all over its pages.
Now, Facebook has dropped the code into its site. When entering the Konami code, followed by Enter, a lens flare is generated every time the user scrolls or clicks something on the page.
UP UP DOWN DOWN LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT B A ENTER: The Facebook lens flare in action.
(Credit: Facebook)This Easter egg is becoming more and more common, and a site has even popped up to track the sites using it. (You will have to enter the Konami Code to see it, of course.) ESPN has since taken its Easter egg down, but those that remain include Facebook, Digg, Google Reader, and our very own GameSpot.
It's nice to see Easter eggs making a resurgence since they have been largely frowned upon by the tech industry in recent years, with Microsoft formally banning them from its software in 2002.
To try out the code for yourself on Facebook, load up a page on the site, hit UP UP DOWN DOWN LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT B A ENTER on the keyboard, scroll around and enjoy. Instructions on how to activate other Konami Code Easter eggs around the Web can be found at Konami Code Sites.
(Credit:
Oddday.net)
I've got some news that might make you feel odd, quite literally (or maybe I should say, mathematically).
Today is 5/7/09, one of a few instances when three consecutive odd numbers make up the date. As a matter of fact, it's one of only six times this will happen in the century. Today is the third this century.
If you think Pi Day (March 14) is special, note that it happens 100 times in a century. So, mathematically, today is about 16.66 times more special than Pi Day.
For this reason, folks at Oddday.net are offering the date in dollars ($579) to those who win the site's Odd Day contest. To win the contest, you just need to involve the most people in the Oddest Parade of Odd Characters, write the best Odd Ode, or create the best Odd Celebrations.
Oddday.net also provides many ideas about what to do on these very special odd days, such as root for the odds-on-favorite, read the Wizard of Odds, find that missing odd sock, beat the odds, and (my favorite) give a friend a high-five.
Personally, I think this is even odder (aka random) considering that date format varies depending on the country you are in. In France, for example, today is 7/5/09, and that's not so special at all. But then again, the French are French, and that in itself is already very odd to me.
(Credit:
Steam)
Update: Left 4 Dead is currently discounted on Steam's website at 40% off (from $39.99 to $23.99), but just for this weekend only.
If you haven't tried playing Left 4 Dead yet because of the price, or aren't sure about the game in general, that's OK. Valve has decided to let you try it out for free.
At 5:01 p.m. PDT Thursday, you'll be able to download and play the game for free via Steam for a whole 24 hours. Better still, to get your full 24-hour allotment of play time Steam allows you to preload it to your account right now.
This isn't a free-forever offer, nor is there going to be a discount available afterward (as with what happened with UT3 in March). Alas, the game will be locked again the following night, but at least it will give you a chance to play and decide for yourself. Obviously, Valve is hoping you'll love it and send some cash their way to keep playing.
