Hollywood Records Rolls Out New CD Format

CDVU+, the new CD technology, offers an easy-to-navigate digital magazine format.

Saturday, July 21, 2007: Disney's music label Hollywood Records has launched a new music format -- CDVU+ technology -- in a bid to help ailing CD sales. The new musical experience 'reads' like a digital magazine full of exclusive content, hidden 'easter eggs', and interactive goodies that, once downloaded, can be accessed both on and offline. CDVU+ replaces the traditional CD booklet/jewel case with eco-friendly packaging while still offering an unprecedented amount of content.

Abbey Konowitch, general manager, and Ken Bunt, senior vice president, marketing, Hollywood Records, were joined the label's hot young pop-punk trio, Jonas Brothers, to announce that the band's upcoming album, 'Jonas Brothers' due out 7 August 2007, will be the music industry's first release via the CDVU+ (pronounced 'CD view plus') technology.

With CDVU+, 50-page interactive digital package is printable and can be downloaded and then accessed both on and offline. CDVU+ also provides song lyrics, 10 different video segments with the band, behind the scenes footage; link to Flickr.com and JonasBrothers.com offers fans continually updated information and content. CDVU+ also offers customisable autographed poster creator where fans can upload their own image into different band scenarios; hidden links to exclusive content only available via CDVU+."

While the CD is still the primary means by which people consume music, it is also true that music fans are increasingly turning to the Internet to connect, research and consume music," said Abbey Konowitch. "To address the changing consumer expectations, we've created a recognisable physical product that also serves as a key to unlock content that is exclusive, interactive, tailored to the band's fans and updatable."

Added Ken Bunt, "We enlisted the services of Zinio, the leading digital publisher of magazines and books, which successfully produces, securely delivers and sells digital editions of print publications."

Ref: http://www.efytimes.com/efytimes/fullnews.asp?edid=20487&magid=11

Technology on the right path

Now we can control the electricity and switch off appliances remotely.

Switch off power via internet

For people who cant get on to the article, here it is for your convenience :

Imagine you are at the airport and are suddenly doubtful whether you switched off the air conditioning system in your room. Not to worry. Instead of cancelling your flight to save yourself from being slapped with a humongous electricity bill on your return, simply log on to www.connectgaia.com. Once you enter your webpage, you can remotely switch off lights, air conditioners and just about anything.

Connectgaia is a worldwide intelligent network launched by Gurgaon-based KLG Systel a month ago to optimise and reduce electricity consumption. Leveraging advanced metering, sensors, proven IP communication technologies and a robust IT backbone, www.connectgaia.com works through intelligent devices installed at the customer's premises. There is no software to install or maintain.

The hardware, comprising of 'gaiaeco' and 'gaiacell' units, is connected directly to the three phase utility supply after the electricity meter. These units have power meters that measure electrical parameters both on inlet as well as the outlets. Gaiacell measures appliance level parameters and communicates that with gaiaeco via radio frequency. The gaiaeco and gaiacell outlets are connected to digital switches enabling you to switch power on or off remotely.

To facilitate data transmission between gaiaeco and the website, a GPRS modem is built into the product. To measure, visualise, analyse, control and save the energy consumption, you simply need to login to your personalised user account. Information stored in the database will be accessible to you in clear graphical as well as textual format. And you will be able to draw clear inferences from the information enabling you to manage the energy usage.

The electrical parameters can be monitored on a real time basis and the information can be viewed online.
The website is refreshed every 15 minutes. It helps in optimising your energy consumption by catching wasteful practices by pinpointing lights, appliances, computers etc. being left 'on' after work hours. It can help cut peak charges by reducing non-essential loads during heavy use times.

The system's sensors can also be used to define rules and set schedules for switching on/off machines and equipment. Explains Kumud Goel, promoter of KLG Systel: "Being a web-based solution it empowers the end user to use it from any where across the world and caters to the requirement of multi location offices and industrial units." He claims the system can help you save upto 50% of your existing electricity bills and related operational costs.

Connectgaia is built on IBM's communication protocols, database and middleware technologies. Says Goel: "IBM has been deeply involved in designing, developing and maintaining the software for KLG. This solution has been built on IBM SOA architecture with its inherent flexibility to quickly, easily and economically support rapidly changing business needs."

The box, which needs to be connected to the electricity meter, comes in various models with prices ranging from Rs 20,000-50,000. There is also a monthly subscription fee ranging between Rs 300-500.
The customer can choose the model depending on the rating, or the number of loads he wants to monitor and control.

What a grand welcome ...

What a grand welcome for these folks ... tempts me to be one at the receiving end for a change :)



Job retention is going to be a big issue very soon

Web 2.0

If I were a student, the following Youtube presentation is all I need.




Talks about how the text , digital text has changed over a period of time from HTML to XML and the future.
A must know for every IT person.

Wiki

Have you folks started using Wiki for documenting your projects ? If not, think you should move right away. Its a decent and a must tool for most of the projects
Some of the ways i use it for :
1) documentation
2) update status email to my clients - it does automatically when a page is updated
3) traceability on the changes. you can track your changes and see the milestones you crossed. Works if you do a postmortem analysis of the project.

MYSQL

MY SQL has taken the world by surprise over years. It has been growing rapidly and has come up as the sole choice of database tool from startup to mid level enterprises across the world.
Thought some technical background and architecture of this software could help this blog audience to take it to the next stage.
MY SQL Architecure

Awaiting the new release on this and its features. Huge enterprises have always been reluctant to get onboard. Future would prove how costly it was to them.

Microsoft Internet Explorer Patch problem

Folks watch out if you are planning to patch your system.

http://infotech.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2060307.cms

Installing Microsoft's latest six-bug patch earlier this month proved costly for many computer users. Many of them discovered to their horror that they were not able to use Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) after installing the six-bug patch.

Acknowledging the problem, the Microsoft security managers have now published some temporary fixes for the problem. In a blog posting, Christopher Budd, a programme manager with the Microsoft Security Response Team (MSRC), said, "The issue here is that after applying the update, these users may then see the 'File Download -- Security Warning' dialogue box raised when starting IE." He added, "After you close the dialogue, you cannot start IE."

According to Budd, the problem exists for those users who have moved the Temporary Internet Files directory to some other location. If this has been done, Internet Explorer would no longer have access to the folder in the new location and would refuse to start.

Though the IE team said that it is looking into the issue, the MSRC has generated a support document with two workarounds to fix the problem. The first is to return the cache folder to its previous, default location. The second is to grant the required permissions to the folder in its new location.

However, some users on the Windows Update support forum claimed that they had not moved the Temporary Internet Files (TIF) directory, but still had problems with their IE7.

Microsoft added that the problem affects IE7 on both Windows Vista and Windows XP SP2.

Liquid Widths

This has been around for almost a year and has gained popularity among the end users. So far, I havent heard any huge disadvantages from using this .
My site would defenitely have liquid widths ...even if its difficult to tweak. Its going to be the future.
would it really work for flash based sites ? any examples of websites implemented this ?

Ruby on Rails and PHP

Not sure how many folks have implemented or even heard about this Ruby on Rails.. its a very interesting framework and does a good job. Ofcourse has its own merits and demerits.
Anyway for some fun, here is an ad ..

AJAX Deal

Whats the big deal about AJAX.
Agree it does wonders in few ways. But the same POST/GET process occurs as with pageloads. The difference is it happens transparently. But not necessarily quicker . Therefore, developers must be concerned with providing the user visual clues as to what is happening so they don’t think the system is hung on extra long data loads due to network latency, etc
Bottom line :
I wont bet my money on all websites and webpages to use AJAX. May be some pages in my site, you bet YES .

Quest for technical excellence

Hi Guys

Welcome aboard on the flight to take up your career to new heights. We are going to share all the knowledge that we have got to empower each and every individual to flourish in their career. There are always plenty to learn in this current scenario of globalisation. So buckle on your seat belts and enjoy the ride.

Cheers
Learner