With the format wall is over, there is a lot of cost wasted on research-and-development. Some corporations win & other lost. Check below for the list of losers and winners:
The Losers
Toshiba Corp
NEC Corp.'s (NIPNY) chip division, NEC Electronics Corp. ( 6723.TO)
Broadcom Corp. (BRCM) which makes chips for a combined HD DVD-Blu-ray player from LG Electronics Inc. (066570.SE), also invested heavily in software for HD DVD
Intel Corp. (INTC) which publicly allied with Toshiba and HD DVD, did not develop hardware for one format or the other, so its investment losses are likely minimal.
The Winners
Sony Corp.
Sigma Designs Inc. (SIGM) which provides the system-on-a-chip inside the majority of stand-alone Blu-ray players
Samsung Corp. (000830.SE)
Sharp Corp. (SHCAY, 6753.TO)
Pioneer Corp. ( 6773.TO)
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.'s (MC) Panasonic
International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) which together with Sony, makes the cell processor for the PlayStation 3 game console.
New Entrants
Mediatek Inc. (2454.TW)
Zoran Corp. (ZRAN)
So, it is indeed a challenge looking for a favorable strategic positions. Congratulation to the winners but sorry for the losers. For the new entrants, wish you the best.
Source
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Blu-ray vs. HD DVD
Each format has its own heavyweight industry backing. HD DVD is supported by Toshiba, Intel, and Microsoft, which will offer an add-on HD DVD player to its Xbox 360 game console this fall. Blu-ray is supported by Samsung, Pioneer, and Sony, which will build a Blu-ray drive directly into its upcoming PlayStation 3 game system.
The closest analogy is the VHS versus Betamax contest of the early 1980s, but the stakes may be higher now.
Why should you care?
The short answer is: You don't want to buy an obsolete format. The two technologies don't work together, and it is very unlikely that both formats will survive. Both kinds of players will work with "old-fashioned" DVDs, but if you want a high-definition video experience on a disc, right now you will have to choose one or the other. The next PC you buy may come with the option to include either an HD DVD drive or a Blu-ray drive. And with standalone players selling for $500 to $1,000, guessing wrong could be expensive.
What is the difference?
Blu-ray has a capacity advantage, offering 25GB of storage on a single-sided disc and 50GB on a double-sided disc. HD DVD discs hold 15GB (single sided) or 30GB (double-sided). Although this would seem to give Blu-ray a significant advantage, 15GB is enough room—just barely—to fit a high-definition movie.
HD DVD players and drives are a lot cheaper than Blu-ray devices. Blu-ray players will cost between $1,000 and $1,500 at launch. Toshiba's first HD DVD player, the HD-A1, is being sold for just $500.
HD DVDs are cheaper to make. Because Blu-ray discs use a very different technology from traditional DVDs, manufacturers will have to retool their production plants, and those costs will have to be passed on to consumers somehow.
Who is going to win?
Toshiba has officially announced on 19 February 2008 the end of HD DVD players and recorders after losing to Blu-ray Disc. The format war is finally over, Blu-ray Disc has won. Good Bye HD DVD.
Are you one of the HD DVD players and recorders victims?
The closest analogy is the VHS versus Betamax contest of the early 1980s, but the stakes may be higher now.
Why should you care?
The short answer is: You don't want to buy an obsolete format. The two technologies don't work together, and it is very unlikely that both formats will survive. Both kinds of players will work with "old-fashioned" DVDs, but if you want a high-definition video experience on a disc, right now you will have to choose one or the other. The next PC you buy may come with the option to include either an HD DVD drive or a Blu-ray drive. And with standalone players selling for $500 to $1,000, guessing wrong could be expensive.
What is the difference?
Blu-ray has a capacity advantage, offering 25GB of storage on a single-sided disc and 50GB on a double-sided disc. HD DVD discs hold 15GB (single sided) or 30GB (double-sided). Although this would seem to give Blu-ray a significant advantage, 15GB is enough room—just barely—to fit a high-definition movie.
HD DVD players and drives are a lot cheaper than Blu-ray devices. Blu-ray players will cost between $1,000 and $1,500 at launch. Toshiba's first HD DVD player, the HD-A1, is being sold for just $500.
HD DVDs are cheaper to make. Because Blu-ray discs use a very different technology from traditional DVDs, manufacturers will have to retool their production plants, and those costs will have to be passed on to consumers somehow.
Who is going to win?
Toshiba has officially announced on 19 February 2008 the end of HD DVD players and recorders after losing to Blu-ray Disc. The format war is finally over, Blu-ray Disc has won. Good Bye HD DVD.
Are you one of the HD DVD players and recorders victims?
Happy Chap Goh Mei
Just back from Chap Goh Mei celebration near the lake at Amcorp Mall. There were a lot of singles & couples with mandarin oranges (with name and contact no) in their hand. For the single, they were hoping to meet someone special. The female will throw mandarin oranges into the lake while the male will pick up the mandarin oranges. For the couples, they were joining the fun on this special day which is also know as Chinese Valentine's Day.I was not able to see Kongming Lantern (Chinese:孔明灯) this year. I could still remember I was releasing this lantern last year at Tanjung Harapan in North Port (Port Klang).
Happy Chap Goh Mei to everyone!
For your information, Chap Goh Mei represents the fifteenth and final day of the Lunar New Year period as celebrated by Chinese communities.
藝人肥姐沈殿霞病逝
http://www.sinchew-i.com/sciWWW/node/6990?tid=51
沈殿霞從小就胖嘟嘟的，從小就喜歡唱歌、跳舞和朗誦，人越多的場合就越興奮。
（香港）肥姐沈殿霞人如其名，除了本身的體型與重量之外，個人演藝歷史，更不簡單，赫然是香港過去40年演藝歷史的縮影。
1947年出生於上海的沈殿霞從小就胖嘟嘟的，1958年她隨父母移居香港。很早就展現表演天賦的沈殿霞，從小就喜歡唱歌、跳舞和朗誦，人越多的場合就越興奮。肥姐13歲開始演電影，但其實她差一點就做不成藝人。
話說當時香港著名的邵氏影視公司正在招考肥仔肥妹童星，因為廣東人大多很瘦小，於是從小就長得白白胖胖的沈殿霞就這樣去趕考了。
沒想到剛接到試鏡通知就受到父親的極力阻撓。因為家中世代營商，一向疼愛女兒的父親希望她繼續讀書，堅決反對她去當戲子，最後還是她的世伯──大慈善家何英傑出面力勸，終於讓父親同意了她的試鏡。極富天資的沈殿霞果然沒讓父親失望，在試鏡後不久就拍攝了人生第一部電影《一樹桃花千朵紅》，成為自60年代以來“豬扒文化”的象徵。她上起承繼譚蘭卿、花碧霞等肥女丑路線，改造加創新，往下開創過去40年香港的肥女藝人路線。
90年代以後，沈殿霞升格為肥姐。“肥姐”一名，親切、強悍、略帶霸氣，她繼續在電視劇與電影（據統計她共演過七十多部）中演出，儼如無線的鎮台之寶之一，但曝光率已較前減少。
在《歡樂今宵》時期，“肥肥”的名字街知巷聞，是一個時代的象徵。在她超過40年的演藝人生中始終以胖胖的身材、近視眼鏡和宏亮嗓音成為眾人眼裡的開心果，有“肥肥”的地方就有笑聲。舞台下的她卻是情路坎坷的單親媽媽，與鄭少秋育有一女欣宜，已離婚多年，近來更因健康問題備受折磨。
現年61歲的肥姐，2006年9月初因為膽囊炎發作入院接受手術，半月後她再度病發並住進深切治療部，儘管家人一直對外宣稱沈殿霞並無大礙，但外界仍不斷傳出其心臟和肝臟衰竭且病情惡化。
隨後肥姐於11月杪出院，召開發佈會指自己健康好轉並返回加拿大休養。2007年初她回港，之後多次傳她肝腫瘤復發，於2007年7月13日度過其60歲大壽後，肥姐多次傳癌症復發頻接受化療，但她堅稱只是到醫院做例行檢查。
肥姐的病情拖至2006年尾至2007年初開始惡化，情況更令人擔心。與癌魔對抗了半年多的她，不但停止了一切對外活動，1月12日一早，更在姐姐、女傭及司機的陪同下正式入住瑪麗醫院腫瘤科接受治療。
據悉，她在肝衰竭和糖尿病的雙重打擊下，已經不大認得人，因此在醫生的堅持下必須入院。其後肥姐於1月21日再度因病情突變進院，一度傳出她病危，有傳其主診醫生盧寵茂為她進行單次療程費用由數萬元至10多萬不等的“標靶治療”，讓肥姐病情暫且穩定，並從深切治療部轉往普通病房。不過，就在此際，卻傳來肥姐居於加拿大溫哥華的年邁母親己於香港時間21日病逝，享年96歲。但為了怕肥姐受到刺激病情加重，所有人都瞞著肥姐。
沈殿霞從小就胖嘟嘟的，從小就喜歡唱歌、跳舞和朗誦，人越多的場合就越興奮。
（香港）肥姐沈殿霞人如其名，除了本身的體型與重量之外，個人演藝歷史，更不簡單，赫然是香港過去40年演藝歷史的縮影。
1947年出生於上海的沈殿霞從小就胖嘟嘟的，1958年她隨父母移居香港。很早就展現表演天賦的沈殿霞，從小就喜歡唱歌、跳舞和朗誦，人越多的場合就越興奮。肥姐13歲開始演電影，但其實她差一點就做不成藝人。
話說當時香港著名的邵氏影視公司正在招考肥仔肥妹童星，因為廣東人大多很瘦小，於是從小就長得白白胖胖的沈殿霞就這樣去趕考了。
沒想到剛接到試鏡通知就受到父親的極力阻撓。因為家中世代營商，一向疼愛女兒的父親希望她繼續讀書，堅決反對她去當戲子，最後還是她的世伯──大慈善家何英傑出面力勸，終於讓父親同意了她的試鏡。極富天資的沈殿霞果然沒讓父親失望，在試鏡後不久就拍攝了人生第一部電影《一樹桃花千朵紅》，成為自60年代以來“豬扒文化”的象徵。她上起承繼譚蘭卿、花碧霞等肥女丑路線，改造加創新，往下開創過去40年香港的肥女藝人路線。
90年代以後，沈殿霞升格為肥姐。“肥姐”一名，親切、強悍、略帶霸氣，她繼續在電視劇與電影（據統計她共演過七十多部）中演出，儼如無線的鎮台之寶之一，但曝光率已較前減少。
在《歡樂今宵》時期，“肥肥”的名字街知巷聞，是一個時代的象徵。在她超過40年的演藝人生中始終以胖胖的身材、近視眼鏡和宏亮嗓音成為眾人眼裡的開心果，有“肥肥”的地方就有笑聲。舞台下的她卻是情路坎坷的單親媽媽，與鄭少秋育有一女欣宜，已離婚多年，近來更因健康問題備受折磨。
現年61歲的肥姐，2006年9月初因為膽囊炎發作入院接受手術，半月後她再度病發並住進深切治療部，儘管家人一直對外宣稱沈殿霞並無大礙，但外界仍不斷傳出其心臟和肝臟衰竭且病情惡化。
隨後肥姐於11月杪出院，召開發佈會指自己健康好轉並返回加拿大休養。2007年初她回港，之後多次傳她肝腫瘤復發，於2007年7月13日度過其60歲大壽後，肥姐多次傳癌症復發頻接受化療，但她堅稱只是到醫院做例行檢查。
肥姐的病情拖至2006年尾至2007年初開始惡化，情況更令人擔心。與癌魔對抗了半年多的她，不但停止了一切對外活動，1月12日一早，更在姐姐、女傭及司機的陪同下正式入住瑪麗醫院腫瘤科接受治療。
據悉，她在肝衰竭和糖尿病的雙重打擊下，已經不大認得人，因此在醫生的堅持下必須入院。其後肥姐於1月21日再度因病情突變進院，一度傳出她病危，有傳其主診醫生盧寵茂為她進行單次療程費用由數萬元至10多萬不等的“標靶治療”，讓肥姐病情暫且穩定，並從深切治療部轉往普通病房。不過，就在此際，卻傳來肥姐居於加拿大溫哥華的年邁母親己於香港時間21日病逝，享年96歲。但為了怕肥姐受到刺激病情加重，所有人都瞞著肥姐。
Online petition for Lee Nian Ning
Have you signed for the petition on express bus safety?
Browse to BusCrashNoMore with the theme: ‘If this happened to her, it can happen to you’ to sign your petition.
Let’s pray for a safe journey home by express bus.
In loving memory of Lee Nian Ning
Browse to BusCrashNoMore with the theme: ‘If this happened to her, it can happen to you’ to sign your petition.
Let’s pray for a safe journey home by express bus.
In loving memory of Lee Nian Ning
Microsoft to acquire Yahoo! at $44.6 billion cash
How did Microsoft’s plan to acquire Yahoo! come about? As you know, both of them have different focus in their business. While Microsoft focuses on their Windows Operating System & Office Suites, Yahoo! on the other hand focuses on advertising sales.Microsoft has their own search engine, MSN, so does Yahoo!. They are planning to further challenge rival Google in online services. So, search engine war again.
For personal preferences, I prefer Google for their fast response & more intelligent search engine. It has never failed to give me the searches I want.
Google, keep up the excellent work.
Source:
Microsoft offers to buy Yahoo for $44.6B
Would a Microsoft-Yahoo deal out Google Google?
Microsoft-Yahoo Combo Could Accelerate Services Strategy
Chart: A Microsoft-Yahoo combo by the numbers
Nielsen Online December 2007 report
Google Lego Logo: Google Offers Lego 50th Birthday Wishes
Google has a special logo up on the Google home page last few days. The Google logo is made up of legos, to celebrate Lego's 50 year birthday.Google's culture has always had a special place for Lego. Google's first servers were "modded" up with Legos. The Google founders have admitted to having a special "fondness" towards Legos, and we all know that computer geeks can't get enough of their legos. Google has Lego art in their offices. Lego fans have built Google logos in Lego, and so have Googlers themselves.
If you visit Google.com last few days, you will see the logo. You won't see it after you do a search on Google, so there won't be a small Google lego logo. Google UK has the logo, so does Google France in addition to edition of Google serving the birthplace of Lego, Google Denmark. In fact, it appears all Google country-specific sites may have the special logo up for the day. That doesn't happen with all special logos, so this is truly an international celebration!
Anniversary
