Microsoft Corp will give away its upcoming Windows 10 operating system as a free upgrade to users of the most recent versions of Windows and Windows Phone, as the world's largest software company tries to retain customers in the mobile era. The 'free' strategy is a calculated gamble for Microsoft, designed to put Windows in as many devices as possible. The company would then make up for any lost revenue by selling services such as Office over the Internet, or cloud. "It's a necessary evil as CEO Satya Nadella and Microsoft have recognized the 'golden goose' and major revenue opportunities will happen after the upgrades have taken place," said Daniel Ives, an analyst at FBR Capital Markets. "Microsoft needs to lay seeds for its cloud-centric strategy and Windows 10 is the epicenter of that strategy. It's all about making it attractive for the ecosystem to upgrade onto this next-generation platform." The immediate revenue hit is unlikely to be large, as Microsoft gets no more than $500 … [Read more...] about Microsoft to give away Windows 10, unveils hologram glasses
Looking glass project
Virtual reality glasses: now for the masses
VietNamNet Bridge – Two students at VNU University of Engineering and Technology have designed a new model of virtual reality (VR) glasses "Made in Viet Nam" to help access VR technology. Three-dimensional technology is becoming increasingly popular around the world, with a range of interactive devices being continuously invented, such as 3D glasses, 3D television, and especially VR glasses. With VR glasses and a smartphone, users can fully get immersed in 3D movies and games, or check out the world's wonders in a virtual environment that is becoming very real, while sitting, standing or just walking about the same room. The idea came to the students after Vu Viet Anh, 22, had a virtual reality experience with Google's Cardboard glasses. "Though Google Cardboard glasses work quite effectively, I realised its weakness that it can be easily damaged. Then I tried the other companies' products of higher quality, but they are too expensive, costing about US$100 or more for one," Anh … [Read more...] about Virtual reality glasses: now for the masses
Google Glass future clouded as some early believers lose faith
After two years of popping up at high-profile events sporting Google Glass, the gadget that transforms eyeglasses into spy-movie worthy technology, Google co-founder Sergey Brin sauntered bare-faced into a Silicon Valley red-carpet event on Sunday. He'd left his pair in the car, Brin told a reporter. The Googler, who heads up the top-secret lab which developed Glass, has hardly given up on the product -- he recently wore his pair to the beach. But Brin's timing is not propitious, coming as many developers and early Glass users are losing interest in the much-hyped, $1,500 test version of the product: a camera, processor and stamp-sized computer screen mounted to the edge of eyeglass frames. Google Inc itself has pushed back the Glass roll out to the mass market. While Glass may find some specialized, even lucrative, uses in the workplace, its prospects of becoming a consumer hit in the near future are slim, many developers say. Of 16 Glass app makers contacted by Reuters, nine said … [Read more...] about Google Glass future clouded as some early believers lose faith
IT firms struggle to look for mobile programmers
VietNamNet Bridge - Many information technology (IT) firms have decided to focus on developing software for mobile devices, because of its high profits. However, they cannot find enough workers. Tran Anh Tuan, deputy director of the HCM City Human Resource and Labor Information Center, said that HCM City alone would need 16,200 IT workers every year in the upcoming years, including programmers for mobile devices. The WeAreSocial website says that 35 percent of the world’s population now use the internet, 26 percent access Facebook, and 93 percent use mobile phones. ABI Research forecasts that revenue from mobile apps in 2015 would reach $46 billion, an increase of $8.5 billion over 2013. The figure is $1 billion in Vietnam, or twice as much in 2013. The promising figure has prompted many Vietnamese IT firms to focus on developing mobile apps. VNG, VTC Online, Appota, FPT and MeCorp all have set up units specializing in mobile programming. The demand for staff is very high. … [Read more...] about IT firms struggle to look for mobile programmers
Contemporary Australian glass art displayed in Hanoi
Works of internationally renowned Australian glass artists are being displayed in the exhibition ‘White Hot: Contemporary Australian Glass’ in Hanoi. Exhibition’s curator Sarah Bond at the exhibition White Hot unites the works of eight internationally renowned Australian glass artists who are at the forefront of glass practice in Australia. According to the exhibition’s curator Sarah Bond who is the Visual Arts Manager of Asialink from Australia, while the artistic glass is very common and strong in Australia, it’s still new for some Asian countries. “We want to share with Vietnamese audiences the state of the art glass from Australia and through this, we want to say that with artistic endeavour, we can turn common material into art works.” Eight artists, including Jessica Loughlin, Janice Vitkovsky, Brenden Scott French, Deirdre Feeney, Itzell Tazzyman, Wendy Fairclough, Tom Moore and Nadège Desgenétez all explore themes of … [Read more...] about Contemporary Australian glass art displayed in Hanoi