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Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota Motor's home-living-assistance robot, 'Human Support Robot (HSR)', picks up a small object from the floor to hand to an operator (R) during a demonstration at the annual Home Care and Rehabilitation Exhibition in Tokyo on September 26. Learning from service dogs, Toyota engineers designed the HSR not only to grab things with its arm but also to pick up a piece of paper or plastic sheet by using suction at the end of the arm. Photo: AFP

Google's Schmidt hits out at mobile patent war

Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt has criticised raging patent disputes in the global mobile industry, warning that they stifled innovation and reduced consumer choice.
"Google stands for innovation as opposed to patent wars... The last thing we want to see are innovation and particular products being stopped," he said at an event in Seoul to launch Google's new Nexus 7 tablet PC.
Global smartphone giants Samsung Electronics and Apple are currently locked in a long-running patent battle over design and technology in 10 nations including the United States and Japan.
Schmidt declined to comment on any specific case, but was due to meet Samsung's mobile chief JK Shin later on Thursday. The South Korean firm uses Google's Android platform on its smartphones and tablets.
Last month, a California jury ordered Samsung to pay Apple $1.05 billion in damages for illegally copying iPhone and iPad features for its Galaxy S smartphones.
Apple, which has filed patent infringement actions on earlier versions of the Galaxy S series, added the newest Galaxy S III to the list in a fresh complaint filed on September 1.
Schmidt pointed to estimates that there are some 200,000 mobile patents with "complicated" and "overlapping" technical specifications.
"I think one of the worst things that has happened in the last few years is the belief that somehow, because there are so many patents... that one vendor could stop the sale of another vendor's devices," Schmidt said.
This "literally prevents choice, prevents innovation. And I think that's a very bad outcome", he added.
Google's launch of the Nexus 7 tablet in South Korea is aimed at expanding its share of a lucrative market led by Apple's iPad with devices that use the Internet search firm's own software.
The seven-inch tablet, powered by the latest generation of Android software called "Jelly Bean", is being made for Google by Taiwan-based Asus and weighs about as much as a paperback book.
The device -- already launched in the United States, Canada, Australia, Britain and Japan -- is priced at 299,000 won ($268).

Samsung launches new oversized smartphone

Samsung on Wednesday launched the newest version of its oversized smartphone Galaxy Note, just a week after Apple's iPhone 5 hit shelves, in an apparent bid to outpace its rival with a wider range of gadgets.
The South Korean electronics giant said the Galaxy Note II -- first unveiled at a trade fair in Berlin last month -- will eventually hit stores in 128 nations including the United States, where the firm's recently lost a $1.05 billion patent case to Apple.
The gadget is slightly bigger than the firm's flagship smartphone Galaxy S series and comes with a stylus "S pen" to write notes or draw on the screen.
"We believe global sales of Galaxy Note II for the first three months will be more than three times those of the previous version," J.K. Shin, the head of Samsung Electronics' mobile unit, told reporters.
The world's top smartphone maker has sold more than 10 million units of the first Galaxy Note since its debut in November and more than 20 million of the latest Galaxy S III, which was launched in late May.
"It took us some time to establish this new product category in the global market... but now we get far better response than the past," Shin said.
The launch comes after a flurry of new devices from major phone makers including Apple, whose iPhone 5 just days ago enjoyed a record launch weekend with sales topping five million.
Samsung's smaller rival LG Electronics last week put on sale the new version of its headline Optimus G, hopes it will help the world's number five phonemaker meet its goal to sell 80 million mobile phones this year.
Galaxy Note II -- powered by Google's Android software -- is equipped with a new 1.6 GHz quad-core processor that helps run multiple applications faster than the dual-core processor of the previous version.
About 15.1 centimetres long (5.9 inches), 8 centimetres wide, 9.4 millimetres thin and featuring a 5.5-inch touchscreen, it allows users to split the screen in half to view two programmes at once.
"You can exchange chat messages or take part in a video conference while checking e-mails, or take notes while watching a video speech by famous speakers," said Shin.
Samsung has been embroiled in a long-running patent battle with Apple in 10 countries, including the United States and Germany, with the two rivals accusing each other of stealing design and technology.
Last month the South Korean firm was ordered to pay Apple $1.05 billion in damages for illegally copying iPhone and iPad features for its Galaxy S smartphones.
FROM: The Daily Star

e-banking and its challenges

Nowadays information technology defines how we communicate and do business. IT has changed our service delivery and communication pattern with stakeholders. Our local industry, which invested few years ago, has started harvesting the benefit of information technology investment.
The investment increasing rapidly as it is enabling business to reach more customers quickly than competitors. It also enables to serve more customers in more efficient manner than before.
All those competitive advantages are directly complementing revenue and bottom line. Nowadays other than technology service providers, financial industries are putting remarkable investment in technology. During the initial years, international automation was a priority. Now they are investing more to extend more convenient experience in customer service such as online banking, debit/credit cards, internet banking. Today, it is evident that e-commerce will control the business.
Electronic currency through the card industry has given the first phase of experience of e-commerce to our customers. But that has reached a limit as it is yet to be chargeable through internet. That remains still the key factor for true e-commerce succession. Fortunately regulator has responded to customers' demands. Bangladesh Bank is about to launch the gateway to facilitate currency use in the internet.
It is needless to mention that e-commerce will bring enormous opportunities to merchants and financial institutions. We have a huge untouched population which is yet to be directly connected with financial institution. The cost of service delivery is competitive because of density. The local culture is still open to receive promotion. However, all opportunities come with some challenges.
Starting from 24/7 customer service to critical back-office integration, all services are expected to be up and running with zero downtime. On the top of that customer preference will be changing time to time. Customer relationship management will be more complex and dynamic. Challenges of reducing transactional and operation costs will also come into play.
It will bring challenge for regulator also. Bangladesh bank started some e-banking service and facing part of challenges. The challenges includes the balance between convenience and security, designing products that offer a balance between competitive pricing and functionality, keeping abreast with dynamism of customer needs and innovation and lack of proper legislative framework to support the growth of e-banking.
In addition to those there are some other factors, for example, some customers still like human face and their unwillingness to change.
Those are the challenges that can be managed by the long operational experience of the financial industry. But a serious challenge which is totally new to the industry is “Information Technology Security”. Lack of trained people, lack of management awareness and inadequate infrastructure are making this the most critical issue ahead.
According to the Symantec Internet Security Threat Report July-December 2007 Bank Accounts and Credit Cards are the major targets of Cyber attack:
Considering the challenge and impact on the business, we need to take this issue into serious consideration. We have to mitigate it with management willingness, trained people, best process, regular practice and making it as part of regular business.
Current concern regarding security of information transfer in e-banking is on the session layer protocols and the flaws in end-to-end computing. A secure end-to-end transaction requires a secure protocol and robust technological infrastructure to communicate over un-trusted channels and a recognised cipher at both end-points for ensuring multi-phased authentication method. The solution addresses the use of secure protocols and authentication method because trusted channels do not really exist in most of the environment, especially since the business is dealing with linking to the average consumers.
From the customer perspective it is important to know the nature of attack may affect them.
They can be affected through social engineering which is a technique of convincing people for gathering confidential information.
Malware (viruses, worms, Trojan) is the computer program written in order to harm computers or servers. These malwares can steal sensitive information of users such as PIN number, password etc.
With Phishing cyber criminals motivate users to enter their confidential information on fake web site.
Then there is simple Trojans which is limited to a handful of e-banking applications. It usually steals username, password, one time password, session information, URL and sends it back to attacker.
Generic Trojans is in the wild since 2007, but still in development phase. It may attack any e-banking or any web application.
There is no alternative to arrange user awareness program on regular basis.
The solutions to the security issues require the use of software-based systems or hardware-based
systems or a hybrid of the two. These software-based solutions involve the use of encryption algorithms, private and public keys, and digital signatures to form software packets known as 'Secure Electronic Transaction' used by MasterCard and Pretty Good Privacy. Hardware-based solutions such as the Smartcard and the MicroChip provide better protection for the confidentiality of personal information.
In order for e-banking to grow, the security and the privacy aspects need to be improved.

The Author is president, CTO forum Bangladesh, CTO NCC Bank.e-mail:tks446@hotmail.com

Asus' new Laptop

Asus has released X44HR laptop in the local market.
The laptop is equipped with Intel Core i3 2.30 GHz processor. It also comes with the AMD Radeon HD 7470M graphics with 1GB dedicated video memory for better visual performance.
The laptop delivers has 16:9, 14-inch high definition LED display panel and Altec Lansing speakers with SRS Premium Sound. Its multi-touch touchpad allows you to easily scroll through web pages and pinch-zoom in and out of images.
The laptop has a price tag of Tk 45,500.

CSL brings laser printer

Computer Source Ltd has recently launched a new model of laser printer, Lexmark E260dn in Bangladesh market.
Small in both size and price, this compact laser is easy to operate. It features network-ready and duplex-printing models to reduce costs and paper consumption.
It delivers sharp, professional laser print quality with 33ppm speed and paper handling that outclasses the competition.
With USB and Ethernet ports, the E260dn is ideal for small workgroup or personal use.
The printer has a price tag of Tk 15,000 and its toner is available at Tk 5,000.

Google expands its services

Google on Wednesday took another step in its quest to merge the Internet with the real world with Maps and put itself at the heart of mobile gadget lifestyles in the process.
It also began allowing users to extend online searches to include messages stored in accounts at Web-based email service Gmail.
The California technology titan added Poland and the Ukraine to the list of more than 200 countries and regions where people can correct, update, or enhance Google Maps with local insights or expertise.
"Google has been about searching the online world, but most people live in the offline world, the physical world," Google Earth and Maps vice president Brian McClendon told AFP.
"We want to be able to provide a map wherever you are going; a way to have the best answers for what is within walking distance and transmit them in a fast, interactive way."
Google began tapping into collective knowledge for cartography in 2008 with the launch of a Map Maker tool in India, where details regarding streets in cities was meager to non-existent.
"There were some places in the world where, even in big cities, the map was essentially a blank canvass," said Map Maker product manager James Kelly.
"We have taken the tool from just adding roads to adding all kinds of features like speed limits and suitability for bicycles," he continued. "We also made it possible to add businesses and other points of interest."
The tool allows people to update Google Maps to show local features ranging from bicycle paths and foot trails to parking lots or playgrounds.
Verified or trusted editing changes go live in minutes and spread across the more than 800,000 websites that embed Google Maps.
"We started Map Maker for the developing world and have been ramping it up," McClendon said. "We definitely want Map Maker to reach everyone in the world."
A global community of thousands of volunteer mappers review and approve each others edits.
When needed, additional data used to corroborate suggested edits include satellite imagery, public feedback, and information collected by Street View vehicles that capture pictures to provide views of locations in maps.
Politically set borders can't be edited.
Position-sensing features in smartphones present opportunities to advertise local shops or events.
McClendon believed that how well mapping software helps people find what they seek in the real world is so important it could be a reason to choose one smartphone over another, perhaps an Android handset instead of an iPhone.
Extending online search to email boxes
"Sometimes the best answer to your question isn't available on the public Web -- it may be contained elsewhere, such as in your email," Google search senior vice president Amit Singhal said in a blog post.
"We think you shouldn't have to be your own mini search engine to find the most useful information; it should just work."
Google invited people to visit google.com/experimental/gmailfieldtrial to sign up to take part in the new feature, which was still taking shape.
"We're developing a way to find this information for you that's useful and unobtrusive, and we'd love your feedback," Singhal said.
The trial was limited to English language searches and messages in Gmail accounts.
Enhancements under development include a feature for organizing air travel confirmation emails so that a query of "my flights" would serve up results that include a concise list of bookings.
"These are baby steps, but important ones on our way to building the search engine of the future," Singhal said.
Those steps include upgrading Google search to look beyond query words to figure out what people are actually seeking online.
"Knowledge Graph" technology built to recognize people, places or things signified by keywords was extended beyond the United States to every English-speaking country in the world on Wednesday, according to Google.
"The Knowledge Graph is built to understand real things in the world," Google fellow Ben Gomes told AFP when the improvement debuted in May.

Facebook removes 'racist' page in Australia

A Facebook page that depicted Aboriginal people in Australia as drunks and welfare cheats has been removed after a public outcry.
The Aboriginal Memes page had allowed users to post jokes about indigenous people.
An online petition calling for the removal of "the racist page" has generated thousands of signatures. The government has also condemned it.
The page's creator is believed to be a 16-year-old boy in Perth, reports say.
"We recognise the public concern that controversial meme pages that Australians have created on Facebook have caused,'' Facebook said in a statement to local media. A meme is an idea that spreads through the internet.
"We believe that sharing information, and the openness that results, invites conversation, debate and greater understanding.
"At the same time, we recognise that some content that is shared may be controversial, offensive, or even illegal in some countries.''
"I think it's absolutely inappropriate," Australian Communications Minister Stephen Conroy told ABC television.
"We don't live by American laws here in Australia, we live by Australian laws and this is an Australian who is using the fact that Facebook is based in the US to get away from Australian laws."
Australia's communication and media authority launched an investigation into the page on Tuesday, reports say.
An online petition against the page on website change.org has gathered more than 17,000 signatures in just two days.

Samsung launches its new super-size Galaxy Note

South Korea's Samsung Electronics said it had launched a super-size version of its Galaxy Note smartphone, the latest salvo in its battle with Apple for the multi-billion-dollar handheld market.
The Galaxy Note 10.1, which went on sale on Monday in Germany and the United Arab Emirates, is almost twice as wide as its predecessor and nearly the size of a tablet.
The release comes as Samsung tries to make inroads in the tablet computer market, which is dominated by Apple's iPad. The two technology giants are also engaged in a bitter court battle over patent infringements.
The firm said the new Note would be officially released in the United States on August 15 and sometime next week in Britain and South Korea.
The Galaxy Note 10.1 -- powered by Google's Android software -- features a touchscreen which is 10.1-inches (25.6 centimetres) measured diagonally, considerably wider than the 5.3-inch screen of the previous Note.
Like its predecessor, it comes with a stylus called the "S pen" to write notes or draw on the screen. The new version allows users to split the screen in half to view two programs at once.
The new device is equipped with a quad-core processor that allows users to run multiple applications faster than the previous version, which had a dual-core processor.
"The advanced technology and features included in Galaxy Note 10.1 give users the power to produce, create and customise communications," JK Shin, the chief of Samsung's mobile unit, said in a statement.
Samsung -- the world's largest smartphone maker by shipments -- in November introduced the first version of its Galaxy Note, a device positioned between its flagship Galaxy S smartphones and Galaxy Tab tablet computers.
Jeff Kang, an analyst at Daishin Securities, said the new Galaxy Note was apparently aimed at competing with Apple's market-leading iPad.
"The Note 10.1 is practically a new tablet PC that comes with a stylus pen, which the iPad doesn't have,"
he told AFP.
Midas Kang of Woori Investment and Securities said Samsung has recently tried to expand a range of stylus-equipped mobile devices to compete better against its US rival, which has not released such products.
Samsung and Apple are embroiled in legal battles in 10 countries worldwide over patents for smartphones and tablet computers.
At an ongoing major hearing in San Jose, California, Apple is seeking more than $2.5 billion after accusing the Korean firm of infringing designs and other patents.
Samsung denies this and counter-charges that Apple infringed its patents for wireless communication.

Apple won't include YouTube in new mobile Software

Apple Inc's new version of its iPhone and iPad software will not include a pre-loaded app for Google Inc's popular video website, YouTube, Apple said on Monday.
It was the latest sign of the growing rivalry between the technology companies the once were closely aligned but now are vying for supremacy in the fast-growing mobile computing market.
Earlier this year, Apple said it would dump Google's mapping software from its mobile devices.
"Apple and Google are the mobile operating systems for the future and this is where the battleground is going to lie," said Needham & Co analyst Kerry Rice.
"If it's going to be a two-horse race, you certainly don't want to give the other horse any kind of lead," he said.
Google, the world's No.1 Web search engine, is also the maker of the most popular smartphone software with its Android operating system. In May, Google closed the $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility, setting the stage for Google to more tightly integrate its smartphone software and hardware and mount a more direct challenge to Apple's iPhone.
Apple said in a statement on Monday that its license to include the YouTube app in the iOS operating system "has ended." Apple noted that "customers can use YouTube in the Safari browser and Google is working on a new YouTube app to be on the app store."
An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment on whether the company's YouTube license included any financial terms, or on whether Apple planned to replace YouTube with another pre-installed online video app from a different company.
YouTube has been among a handful of apps that come pre-loaded onto the screens of Apple's mobile devices since the original iPhone was introduced in 2007.
But the app, which was actually built by Apple using YouTube's standards, did not appear to be as full-featured as YouTube's own website: the YouTube app does not appear to feature any advertising, and the catalog of available music videos lacks many of the titles found on the website.
Analysts said Google was unlikely to take much of a financial hit from the move, though it could complicate Google's efforts to expand online services to the growing ranks of mobile users.
"It's a risk to Google's overall mobile approach and strategy, in that their services are not going to be as easy to find as they used to be," said ThinkEquity analyst Ronald Josey. "They need to be everywhere that users are."
More worrisome, said Josey, is what the move could mean for Google's deal with Apple to be the default search engine on the iPhone.
"The writing's on the wall that when search is up for renewal, there's a significant chance that Google may not be the default," said Josey.
Analysts believe Google generates a significant portion of mobile advertising revenue from iPhone users.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt once sat on Apple's board of directors, but the relationship between the two companies has frayed. Apple's co-founder, the late Steve Jobs, was quoted as saying he was willing to go "thermonuclear" on the search leader, after it decided to position Android against the iPhone.
News of YouTube's disappearance from Apple's mobile software came as Apple released a new test version on Monday of the iOS 6 software, which for the first time did not include the YouTube app. The final version of iOS 6 is due for release sometime in the Fall.
YouTube is one of the most popular destinations on the Internet, with more than 800 million unique monthly visitors who stream 4 billion videos a day.
Google said in a statement that it was working with Apple to ensure that it has "the best possible YouTube experience for iOS users."
Shares of Google finished Monday's regular session up 1 percent at $622.19. Apple shares were up 1.1 percent at $622.55.