Police Investigate Lost iPhone Bought by Gizmodo Tweet

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Looks like the police is investigating the circumstances surrounding the lost iPhone which was purchased by Gizmodo. Question is, will they find anything?

It’s been a wild week for Gizmodo. The popular tech blog got what could be considered the tech scoop of the year (and possibly of the past decade) when it laid hands upon a prototype fourth generation iPhone.

According to Gizmodo’s numerous stories on the topic, the phone was left behind at Gourmet Haus Staudt, a bar in Redwood City, California specializing in German suds. The person that found the phone tried to contact Apple directly in order to return the phone. The quest to find someone at Apple who could identify the lost prototype proved unfruitful.

Interestingly, the person who found the phone didn’t hand the lost phone over to a bartender or appear to try to contact the person that actually lost the phone. The name of the person was gleaned from his Facebook profile on the iPhone and all of his pertinent information was available — we know this because Gizmodo outed the Apple employee that actually lost the phone.

In the end, Gizmodo ended up paying $5,000 to the person that found the iPhone and ran with the story. Gizmodo later returned the iPhone prototype at the behest of Apple after it a finished a dissection.

According to Apple guru John Gruber, the iPhone in question is indeed a late prototype judging by its barcode:

One of the barcodes attached to the unit read “N90_DVT_GE4X_0493”. According to several sources (of mine) familiar with the project, “N90” is Apple’s codename for the fourth-generation GSM iPhone, slated for release this June or July. “DVT” stands for “design verification test”, an Apple production milestone. The DVT milestone is very late in the game; based on this, I now believe that this unit very closely, if not exactly, resembles what Apple plans to release.

Now, almost a week later, the police are involved according to CNET. Police in the Silicon Valley-area are now investigating whether the actions of Gizmodo and the person who found the phone were criminal and if there is enough evidence to file charges. The investigation is being headed by a computer crimes task force based out of the Santa Clara County DA’s office.

CNET also reports that Apple has been in contact with the authorities regarding the incident.

The boys over at Gizmodo and Gawker Media are probably sweating a bit now that the police are involved, but the Apple employee who lost the phone may actually have a free getaway to Germany waiting for him. Lufthansa has offered the unlucky fellow a free flight to Germany where he can continue his love for great beer.

“At Lufthansa we also noted with great interest your passion for German beer and culture,” said Lufthansa’s marketing director for the Americas, Nicola Lange. “We thought you could use a break soon–and therefore would like to offer you complimentary business class transportation to Munich, where you can literally pick up where you last left off.”

source

Labels: Apple , Iphone

5 Steps Restore Panels Disappeared in Xubuntu Tweet

Why are the panels disappeared in Xubuntu? This happens when I update the data and after that the panels disappeared from the desktop. This problem is certainly confusing to us who are still new as a linux user.

But you need not anxious because it has a solution, do step-by-step instruction as below:

1. Alt+F2 (run program window)
2. rm -rf ~/.cache/sessions (delete the Xfce4 saved sessions files)

3. Click on "Run" (or hit the enter key)
4. xfce4-panel (command to start panels)

5. Click on "Run"

I use a five (5) step instructions above to display the panels in Xubuntu desktop. If you still have problems in using the instructions above to use this https://help.ubuntu.com/community/XubuntuPanels.

Labels: Linux

Apple linked to £5.2bn purchase of ARM Tweet

Chipmaker denies rumours of impending merger.

Apple is rumoured to be in talks to acquire embedded processor developer ARM in a deal worth a reputed £5.2bn.

A report in the London Evening Standard suggested that the two firms are discussing a merger deal that would make ARM part of Apple.
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ARM executives moved quickly to squash the rumours, telling reporters that the company is happy with is current structure and business model.

"Exciting though it is to have the share price pushed up by these rumours, common sense tells us that our standard business model is an excellent way for companies to gain access to our technology," Warren East, ARM's chief executive, told The Guardian. "Nobody has to buy the company."

The effort did little to slow the speculation, however, and investors pushed ARM stocks to an eight-year high after the reports surfaced.

ARM's profile has risen considerably in recent years with the growth of the handset market. Manufacturers looking for sophisticated low-power processors to power new smartphone models in particular have favoured ARM chips.

If Apple were to acquire ARM, the deal would boost Apple's current mobile processor line. The company already produces chips for the ARM platform through its 2008 acquisition of PA Semiconductor.

Apple currently uses its own ARM platform chips in the iPhone, iPod and iPad lines.

source

Labels: Apple , Other mobile phone brands

HTC HD mini review: Smart pup Tweet

Gsmarena have posted their review of the HTC HD mini. Here are the phones key features, main disadvantages and their final impression.

Key features:
* 3.2" 65K-color HVGA capacitive touchscreen with multi-touch input
* Compact body and bold industrial design
* Windows Mobile 6.5.3 Professional OS with Sense UI
* Qualcomm MSM7227 600 MHz CPU and 384MB RAM
* Quad-band GSM support with dual-band HSDPA 7.2Mbps and HSUPA 2 Mbps
* Wi-Fi connectivity
* Built-in GPS receiver with A-GPS support
* 5 MP autofocus camera with touch focus
* CIF video recording at 25fps
* microSD card slot
* Standard microUSB port and Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
* Standard 3.5mm audio jack
* Stereo FM radio with RDS
* MS Office Mobile document editor
* Opera 9.5 web browser
* YouTube client, Facebook and Twitter integration
* Very good audio output quality
* Excellent loudspeaker performance

Main disadvantages:
* Poor display sunlight legibility
* Poor camera performance and sub-par video recording
* No dedicated camera key and no lens cover
* Card slot under the battery cover
* No DivX/XviD video support out-of-the-box
* Preloaded CoPilot Live navigation software is a trial version only
* No secondary video-call camera
* No voice dialing
* No handwriting recognition
* Unreliable Flash support in IE Mobile

The HTC HD mini is pretty much what a modern-day smartphone should be all about. We are not talking the ultimate of technology, a ridiculously expensive piece of gear to flash around and impress everyone around. We mean a handy working tool that can also keep you entertained.

Much more pocket-friendly than the HTC HD2, the HD mini offers a comparable (although admittedly inferior) performance at a lower price. It’s the ultimate speed and power against the friendly appearance and cheery attitude. It’s a matter of priorities of course, but the HD mini can be a pretty good deal.

Sense UI has done well to cover the WinMo user interface shortcomings and the capacitive multi-touch display adds value to the whole package. The youthful design (just not as childish as we’ve seen XpressMusic get) seems well suited to the target audience too.

The thing is, yet again, pricing is just steeper than most of the competing smartphone platforms out there.

The HTC Hero will gladly deliver for far less cash, while the HTC Legend will throw in AMOLED for the same asking price. The Galaxy Spica is also a comparable package within the same price range.

The Nokia X6 16 GB has had its price tag duly corrected and 16 gigs of internal memory do sound tempting. The Symbian touch user interface is nowhere near the Sense UI standards though, and the X6 CPU and RAM are less impressive. The Finn offers higher screen resolution and the audio quality to go with the XpressMusic background.

Within the very same PocketPC ranks, the HTC Touch Diamond2 will tempt you with WVGA resolution if you can live without the multi-touch capacitive screen. It comes with an earlier version of the OS and the Sense UI.

The Samsung Omnia II will take this offer to the next step by adding a much larger 3.7” AMOLED display, D1 video and faster CPU. Sorry for stating the obvious but the Omnia II will give you much more bang for your buck. It’s fair to note though, these two are not competing for the same kind of users.

So, the HTC HD mini is a great idea overall, and it has the advantage of packing the latest software available. The disadvantage is having to compete with too many equal (and stronger) rivals in the same price bracket.

Value for money is not its strongest point, and it doesn’t get any better when you put WinPho 7 in the picture. What we now know as Windows Mobile 6.5 will become Windows Phone Starter edition. No need to tell you Windows Phone 7 will be the pet project and the starter edition will be the entry-level alternative. We can only guess what the implications will be for the level of support – and we cannot say Microsoft are doing such a good job of it even now.

So, with that bit of warning, is the HTC HD mini good to go? We’d still say yes. Not because we did our job and it’s your responsibility henceforth. There’s just something about this kiddo.

Labels: HTC , Windows Mobile

Samsung denies imminent release of Wave Tweet

Still on course for a June 2010 UK release date.

The Samsung Wave phone, the first to use the Korean's Bada platform, will not be landing in the UK later this month.

Samsung has contacted TechRadar to rubbish claims by third party online retailers that they will be stocking the phone in the next few weeks.

A Samsung spokesperson said; "We are delighted to see so much excitement and interest in the Samsung Wave, which will be the first mobile handset released on Samsung's new open mobile platform, Samsung Bada."

Looking forward

"The Samsung Wave is not currently available for sale in the UK, but we look forward to its launch in June 2010, at which time details of tariffs and stockists will be released by our operator partners," they added.

The new phone also boasts some nice specs in the shape of HD video recording, DivX compatibility and a Super AMOLED screen.

So, looks like the UK release date has been pushed back to June - lets just hope that date doesn't head even further into summer so we can properly test that new screen in direct sunlight.

source

Labels: Samsung

Samsung will end this year with Symbian device Tweet

Mobile phone maker Samsung later this year with a new Symbian phone. That says an employee of the manufacturer at Tweakers.net. In previous rumors suggested that Samsung would stop supporting Symbian.

SymbianEr is nothing known about the device, only that by the end of this year in the works. The latest Symbian Samsung model to date to the market, the HD i8910 in June last year the Netherlands became available.

Samsung has never said that making Symbian devices would stop, but rumors suggested that Samsung would turn away from Symbian to focus on the Bada own platform and the smartphone operating systems Windows Phone and Android.

Besides Samsung, other manufacturers have been developing for Symbian smartphones. Sony Ericsson recently released model Vivaz and perform around the summer with Vivaz Pro. Nokia has new Symbian models, such as E5, announced.

source

Labels: Samsung , Symbian

Asustek Eee Pad to hit channel in July Tweet

Asustek Computer chairman Jerry Shen has announced, at a conference in Taiwan, that the company will introduce its tablet PC, the Eee Pad, at Computex 2010, scheduled between June 1-5, and is aiming to launch the device in retail channels in the third quarter of 2010, which sources from component makers revealed will be late July.

To compete against Apple's iPad, Asustek has strengthened the Eee Pad's industrial design and has cooperated with Google to adopt its Android platform. Asustek will also add features that iPad currently does not support such as USB, integrated webcam, and Adobe Flash, Shih noted.

As for the impact of tablet PC, Shih expects the device reduce overall netbook demand by 10-20%. The company is also monitoring the tablet PC and e-book reader markets closely to prevent related products stepping into each other's demand and will maintain flexibility to launch products that suit the fast-changing market demand.

The sources estimated that Asustek's Tegra-based Eee Pad will be priced at NT$15,000-16,000 (US$479-510) after bundling with telecom carrier services, and total shipments will reach 300,000 units in 2010.

In additional news, Micro-Star International (MSI) is also ready to launch its tablet PC, the M Pad, in the third quarter of 2010, but is conservative about initial shipments to prevent inventory buildup. MSI's current strategy is to observe Asustek's Eee Pad sales performance before deciding the strength of its shipments and marketing push.

Labels: Android , Asus

Snaptic and HopeLab Announce the Android “Move Your App” Developer Challenge Tweet

TED to invite winner to attend TED Global 2010 in Oxford.

San Francisco, CA — Snaptic , a developer of smartphone and web applications that capture, organize, and share information has partnered with HopeLab, a non-profit focused on improving the quality of life for young people with chronic illness, to sponsor the “Move Your App” developer challenge in response to the 2010 TED Prize Wish.

It is widely recognized that the obesity epidemic and sedentary behavior are catastrophic to global health. Today’s smartphone platforms, such as Android and software APIs like those offered by Snaptic, offer new tools for developers to create apps that give individuals more power and control to improve their health.

“Onboard smartphone sensors, the growth of large online social networks, and mass adoption of mobile software offer fertile ground for a new breed of apps that encourage and measure movement,” said Steve Brown, CEO of Snaptic. “We are excited to work with HopeLab and the Android developer community to help everyone reach a higher state of health and well being.”

HopeLab has joined with Snaptic on this challenge to help advance one of its key initiatives which is focused on addressing the obesity epidemic and sedentary behavior among young people. HopeLab is keenly interested in how mobile technology and mobile apps can inspire people to move more.

“Partnering with Snaptic on this Developer Challenge is a fantastic way to explore how these new tools might reach more people faster and ignite movement in unique and innovative ways” noted Pat Christen, President and CEO of HopeLab.

The World Health Organization’s latest global projections indicate that in 2005 approximately 1.6 billion adults were overweight and projects that by 2015, that figure will rise to 2.3 billion. In the United States, over one-third of Americans are currently overweight or obese, a figure projected to grow to 43 percent, or 103 million people by 2018 if current trends continue. This will translate to an estimated $344 billion in medical-related expenses, consuming 21% of U.S. healthcare spending annually.

The need for change is urgent, and the time is now for new ways to combat this growing epidemic.

The challenge calls on Android developers to create apps that get people to move, are fun to use, and are innovative in their approach to encouraging physical activity. Snaptic will be providing resources for developers to draw from to build their apps and the winners will be selected and awarded at its upcoming developer conference on May 27, 2010 in San Francisco, California .

The Move Your App conference also affords developers the opportunity to learn about what it takes to move an app to market, with numerous expert speakers presenting on a range of subjects, such as: running and financing a startup, marketing and promoting apps, tips and tricks for Android programming, and much more.

Developers can register for the challenge starting Thursday April 22, 2010 and must complete and submit their application by Friday, May 21, 2010. The top finalists will be given an opportunity to showcase their applications at the Snaptic developer conference and the winners will be announced live at the event by a panel of expert judges.

The panel of judges features luminaries and experts such as Juan Enriquez, Author, Futurist, & Partner at Excel Venture Management; Marten Mickos, CEO of Eucalyptus Systems & former CEO MySQL; Amy Novogratz, TED Prize Director; Pam Omidyar, Founder and Board Chair, HopeLab; George Zachary, Partner at Charles River Ventures, and others.

The first place winner’s travel and accommodations to TED Global 2010 in Oxford will be sponsored by HopeLab, and TED will extend an invitation for the winner to attend the conference. The Move Your App prize was inspired in part by Jamie Oliver, who was awarded the 2010 TED Prize for his tireless fight to improve the health of young people everywhere and turn the tide on unhealthy diets. Jamie’s wish states, “I wish for everyone to create a strong, sustainable movement to educate every child about food, inspire families to cook again and empower people everywhere to fight obesity.”

Amy Novogratz, TED Prize Director, said “Challenging thousands of app developers to make people move is a fantastic way to promote a healthier lifestyle.” She continued, “The Move Your App challenge embodies the self-organizing principle of the TED Prize and the spirit of Jamie’s wish in the fight against obesity.”

Complete contest rules and conference information can be found at http://snaptic.com/events

About HopeLab
HopeLab is a nonprofit organization that combines rigorous research with innovative solutions to improve the health and quality of life of young people with chronic illness. HopeLab works closely with young people themselves to understand their needs and to incorporate their critical and ongoing input into product development. HopeLab is committed to the scientific study of their interventions to ensure their products are effective. More information can be found at http://hopelab.org.

About Snaptic
Snaptic develops web and mobile applications that make it simple to capture, organize, and share information on the go and keep it connected in the cloud. Snaptic is the leader in note-taking and geo-tagging applications in the Android Market with over 2.5 million active installs and numerous integrations with many of the market’s top applications. For more information, please visit http://snaptic.com.

About TED
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, NgoziOkonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED Conference takes place in Long Beach, California; TEDGlobal is held each year in Oxford, UK. TED’s media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where three exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action, and TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to host local, self-organized events around the world. Follow TED on Twitter, twitter.com/tedtalks, or on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/TED

Labels: Android , Other mobile phone brands , Software

Interview with Jose Angel from GTUG Mexico City & AndroidTitlan.org Tweet

In searching around Mexico City user groups that are focused on Android development, I ran into Jose Angel one of the co-founders of the GTUG Mexico City and Androidtitlan.org. I recorded my interview with him yesterday where we chatted about his community involvement, his favorite Android apps, and his excitement around coming to the MOTODEV Summit in Mexico City April 27th.

A few notes:

* GTUG Mexico City is the 10th most popular GTUG (Google Technology User Group). Check out the listing at http://www.gtugs.org/pulse.jsp
* Follow @gtugmexicocity & @AndroidTitlan to learn the latest GTUG and Android news from Jose and his community
* the hashtag for the MOTODEV Summit is #mdsmx10

Listen

Labels: Android , Motorola

This week in search 4/23/10 Tweet

This is one of a regular series of posts on search experience updates. Look for the label This week in search and subscribe to the series. - Ed.

This week we announced a number of new developments:

Search for specific TV show episodes
As more and more full-length content is going online, we're making it easier to find the content you want by providing a more structured experience when you search for TV shows. This week, we launched a way to search for specific TV show episodes as part of this effort. Now, when you search for your favorite TV show in Google Videos, check the lefthand toolbar for “Episodes”. By clicking on the links in the Search Options panel, you can browse by season to see all episodes, and drill down to see all sources for a specific episode.

Example searches: [desperate housewives] and [the simpsons]

Image support for RSS gadgets
For many of you who use iGoogle as your homepage, RSS feeds are a great way to get the latest news content, blog updates, recipes and celebrity gossip. And because pictures enhance the online experience, this week we added image support to our iGoogle feed gadgets for people in the U.S. We now support "Slideshow view" as well as "Headline and lead story view." You should notice the change now on your iGoogle page, and you will be able to edit the display setting of each feed by choosing "Edit settings" in the dropdown menu for your feeds.

Slideshow view

Headline and lead story view

Example feeds: [CNN], [the economist], [entertainment weekly], [national geographic]

Google Places
Also this week we announced that the Local Business Center is becoming Google Places. With one out of five searches on Google related to location, we wanted to better connect Place Pages (which launched last September for more than 50 million places globally) to a tool that enables businesses to manage their Google presence. With this change, business owners will benefit from several new ways to expand their online presence, while making it easier for you to make better decisions about local shopping. From real-time coupon updates to interior photos of businesses on place pages, these ongoing enhancements will make local search all the more useful to you. The launch of Google Places is just the beginning of Google becoming more local. If you're a business owner and want to learn more, check out google.com/places.

Example place page: [mission mountain winery]

Labels: Google

Opera Developer Tools Tweet

Opera Dragonfly

The premier debugging environment for Opera Presto-based browsers. Opera Dragonfly is available directly from the Opera browser, no extra download required. By relying on the Scope protocol, Opera Dragonfly can communicate with Opera on a remote device, allowing you to debug without the need to resort to emulators.

Opera Dragonfly contains a full suite of tools including DOM, CSS and Network Inspectors, a JavaScript Debugger, Command Line and Error Console.
Find out more about Opera Dragonfly.

Opera Debug Menu

The Opera Debug Menu includes handy shortcuts to Opera's developer focused features, such as validation, disabling features, and much more.
Mobile development

All developers don't have the luxury of owning a multitude of different connected devices, with a range of screen sizes needed to effectively test their sites and applications for cross-device compatibility. This is why we have made available a range of tools to make this testing easier from the desktop.

Opera Mobile emulator

Opera Mobile emulator is the desktop version of Opera's smart phone browser. The Opera Mobile emulator renders pages as close as you can get to how it would look on a real phone. It can be paired with Opera Dragonfly for an effective testing environment before taking it to the physical phone. The Opera Mobile Widgets Emulator is included to aid developing Opera Widgets.

Opera Mini Simulator

The Opera Mini Simulator is a demo of Opera's feature phone browser. It can be accessed from any Java-enabled Web browser, or downloaded and run independently.

Labels: Opera

Russia’s Mobile TeleSystems drives for network efficiency with landmark network operations outsourcing deal Tweet

Signs with Nokia Siemens Networks for the country’s first full operation and maintenance managed services contract.

Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) has become the first Russian operator to outsource its network operations, in a deal with Nokia Siemens Networks. The company aims to reduce its overall costs while increasing organizational flexibility, transparency and the predictability of its operational expenses. With this managed services agreement, MTS will be able to simplify its overall network operations model, which is especially important with the rollout of 3G services for millions of subscribers in Russia’s central region.

Mobile TeleSystems will outsource the daily operation and maintenance of its entire mobile network across Central Russia to Nokia Siemens Networks as part of a five-year managed services deal. Under the terms of the contract, MTS will transfer around 250 employees to Nokia Siemens Networks.

“Entering into a managed service agreement with Nokia Siemens Networks will allow MTS to substantially optimize network operations and increase efficiency while keeping service experience high for our customer base", commented Aleksander Popovsky, director of MTS Russia. “While managed services projects have already proved their efficiency worldwide, in Russia the experience of such project implementation will be unique and innovative. That is why we'll attentively follow up the progress in its development under local conditions. In the future this will allow us to make the decision on introducing this approach to other regions.”

“Our managed services offering enables our customers to simplify their operations and focus on their core business while they delegate daily operations to us,” commented Ashish Chowdhary, head of Global Services at Nokia Siemens Networks. “We are especially excited about this deal since it not only confirms our services leadership in the region, but is another example of the growing trend among major mobile and fixed operators to explore this dynamic outsourcing model.”

Nokia Siemens Networks currently has over 240 managed services contracts in mobile and fixed networks, servicing more than 300 million subscribers on its customers’ networks.

Nokia Siemens Networks has one of the world’s largest services organizations, with more than 28,000 services employees in 150 countries serving over 600 customers. Nokia Siemens Networks’ services business accounts for about 45% of the company’s overall sales.
About Mobile TeleSystems

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (“MTS”) is the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and the CIS. Together with its subsidiaries, the Company services over 97.81 million subscribers. The regions of Russia, as well as Armenia, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, in which MTS and its associates and subsidiaries are licensed to provide GSM services, have a total population of more than 230 million. Since June 2000, MTS’ Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MBT).

* * *

Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of MTS, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward looking statements by terms such as “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “will,” “could,” “may” or “might,” and the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not undertake or intend to update these statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. We refer you to the documents MTS files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the Company’s most recent Form 20-F. These documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained in the section captioned “Risk Factors” that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, the severity and duration of current economic and financial conditions, including volatility in interest and exchange rates, commodity and equity prices and the value of financial assets; the impact of Russian, U.S. and other foreign government programs to restore liquidity and stimulate national and global economies, our ability to maintain our current credit rating and the impact on our funding costs and competitive position if we do not do so, strategic actions, including acquisitions and dispositions and our success in integrating acquired businesses, including Comstar-UTS, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, our competitive environment, dependence on new service development and tariff structures, rapid technological and market change, acquisition strategy, risks associated with telecommunications infrastructure, governmental regulation of the telecommunications industries and other risks associated with operating in Russia and the CIS, volatility of stock price, financial risk management and future growth subject to risks.

Labels: Mobile operators , Nokia Siemens Networks

Ovi Store’s dapper downloads Tweet

GLOBAL – Three out of every four of the 1.7 million downloads per day on Ovi Store is an app. Whilst some might have once viewed Ovi Store as the host of ringtones and wallpapers, it’s quickly becoming apparent that apps and games are driving the success of the service. Earlier this week, we highlighted Offscreen Technologies‘ success of 25 million downloads of its various touch-based apps. This week also saw SMS Preview hit the 1 million downloads milestone, joining the likes of Shazam, Nimbuzz and games from Polarbit. Digital Chocolate is celebrating its success in hitting over 4 million downloads by dropping the prices on a selection of its games to zero for April and May. Not bad, for what’s still a pretty new service.

Through Ovi Store’s continuing evolution we’ve seen the service grow both in terms of popularity and in functionality. Behind it sits a team working feverishly behind the scenes to bring new improvements and functionality to Ovi Store. For users this means faster and better access to the apps they want most. For developers this means an ever-increasing audience of users waiting to download something new and cool.

Getting apps on there is getting easier and faster for developers. Forum Nokia plays host to myriad tools and guides on getting widgets and apps built to work across the wide range of Nokia devices (if you haven’t signed up for the Forum Nokia Newsletter, we’d highly recommend it) including an excellent section on Design and User Experience. This kind of support is vital to make it easier for developers to create a single app which can be rolled out across myriad devices. Tools are becoming available too for publishers who want to make mobile app versions of their websites (more on that next week) without any HTML knowledge.

One of the most exciting aspects of Ovi Store is it’s wide availability. It’s virtually the only place to go where you can tap into a truly global audience of mobile users. With mobile billing through 66 operators in 19 countries around the world, and general availability in every country where a device is sold, it offers a fantastic infrastructure for developers to reach users. What’s really interesting, though, is that the average active user downloads eight items per month from the Ovi Store. You don’t need to be a genius to figure out the maths on that one.

It’s still early days for Ovi Store. The service is less than a year old (just) and already it’s ticking success boxes on a regular basis. With a solid infrastructure now in place, a huge audience to tap into and an ever increasing bevy of apps and games to download, the stage is set for a service that will quickly become not just a contender, but a serious force to be reckoned with. And we can’t wait.

Labels: Nokia , Symbian

A Star-Studded Evening in Hollywood Celebrating Jerry Bruckheimer Sponsored by Sprint Tweet

Event Features the Hollywood Premiere of “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” and Five of the Producer’s Best Loved Films.

Walt Disney Pictures’ and Jerry Bruckheimer Films’

“Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” Opens Nationwide May 28, 2010

Premiere to Benefit the American Film Institute

BURBANK, Calif. – In recognition of his remarkable body of work, Sprint (NYSE:S) is pleased to present A Cinematic Celebration of Jerry Bruckheimer on May 17, 2010 in Hollywood. Five Bruckheimer-produced blockbusters will screen in Hollywood during this special event celebrating the producer of some of the most successful motion pictures of the last 35 years. Each screening will be introduced by an actor or director who helped make the film so memorable. The event will coincide with the Hollywood premiere of Bruckheimer’s newest epic action-adventure, the much-anticipated “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal, at the historic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the American Film Institute (AFI).

The films and artists confirmed to take part in the celebration are:

“Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” (2010) – Hollywood Premiere

Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

Talent from “Prince of Persia” and the other Bruckheimer films screening during the evening will walk the red carpet beginning at 6 p.m. “Prince of Persia” opens in theaters nationwide May 28, 2010.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003)

El Capitan Theatre, 7 p.m.

Orlando Bloom, Jack Davenport, Jonathan Pryce and director Gore Verbinski will reunite to introduce the film that kicked off one of the most successful franchises in movie history, and a cultural phenomenon.

“Armageddon” (1998)

Mann Chinese 6, 7 p.m.

Bruce Willis and Michael Clarke Duncan will introduce this blockbuster film which raised the bar for action and visual effects.

“National Treasure” (2004)

Mann Chinese 6, 7 p.m.

Nicolas Cage, Jon Voight and Justin Bartha join director Jon Turteltaub to present Jerry Bruckheimer’s most recent franchise-launching motion picture, which helped to make American history exciting again to millions of people around the world.

“Top Gun” (1986)

Mann Chinese 6, 7 p.m.

The film’s director, Tony Scott, will introduce the smash hit that helped launch Tom Cruise’s career. Actor Tom Skerritt will also be on hand to celebrate this classic.

“Beverly Hills Cop” (1984)

Mann Chinese 6, 7 p.m.

Eddie Murphy will present the much-imitated but never improved upon action comedy that catapulted him to superstardom.

“Jerry Bruckheimer is one of the most prolific producers of our time, and Disney is thrilled to be a part of this event,” said Rich Ross, chairman of the Walt Disney Studios. “His history of success and collaboration with the Walt Disney Studios is unparalleled and in honor of Jerry's accomplishments, Disney has established an endowed scholarship in his name at the AFI Conservatory.”

“Across the history of American film, few film producers have earned a place in the cultural pantheon as a household name. Jerry Bruckheimer is one of those rare exceptions,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “His name is synonymous with the kind of heart-pounding, cinematic spectacle that has driven masses of film lovers around the world to experience the pure and explosive joy of the movies. And most significantly, his legacy will continue in support of the art form thanks to Disney’s establishment of a Jerry Bruckheimer scholarship at the AFI Conservatory.”

“We are delighted to honor Jerry Bruckheimer for his contributions to the culture of cinema over the last 35 years. This celebration is especially meaningful because it is an investment in the future of the American Film Institute, an indispensable cinematic institution that has nurtured the careers of some of our most acclaimed filmmakers,” said Dan Hesse, CEO of Sprint. “Just as Jerry Bruckheimer has used cutting-edge technology to bring his audiences the best in entertainment, Sprint continues to break new ground and lead the 4G revolution with the upcoming availability of HTC EVO 4G, America’s first 4G phone. EVO 4G takes mobile multimedia, live video streaming, gaming and picture downloads to a whole new level.”

Event tickets can be purchased at www.Disney.com/BruckheimerCelebration starting April 23, 2010.

About “Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time”

“Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time” is an epic action-adventure about a rogue prince (Jake Gyllenhaal) who reluctantly joins forces with a mysterious princess (Gemma Arterton) in a race to safeguard an ancient dagger that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world. Directed by Mike Newell (“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”), it also stars Sir Ben Kingsley and Alfred Molina. Screenplay is by Boaz Yakin and Doug Miro & Carlo Bernard from a screen story by Jordan Mechner. In theaters Memorial Day Weekend, 2010. Rated PG-13.

About Jerry Bruckheimer

The producer of motion pictures that are uniquely American yet beloved by audiences around the world, Jerry Bruckheimer’s films have been honored with 41 Academy Award® nominations and six Oscars®. Bruckheimer’s films have earned worldwide revenues of over $15 billion in box office, video and recording receipts and an amazing 16 of them have exceeded the $100 million milestone at the domestic box office.

After four years at New York advertising agency BBD&O and not quite 30 years old, Bruckheimer set his sites on Hollywood where he began producing such memorable films as “Farewell, My Lovely,” “American Gigolo” and 1983’s “Flashdance.” The latter film changed his life by grossing $92 million in the U.S. alone and pairing him with Don Simpson, who would be his producing partner for the next 13 years. Together, the Simpson-Bruckheimer juggernaut produced one hit after another, including “Top Gun,” “Days of Thunder,” “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Beverly Hills Cop II,” “Bad Boys,” “Dangerous Minds” and “Crimson Tide.”

In 1996, Bruckheimer produced “The Rock,” reinventing star Nicolas Cage as an action hero. The film grossed $350 million worldwide and was Bruckheimer’s last movie with Simpson, who died during production. Now on his own, Bruckheimer scored again in 1997 with “Con Air,” which grossed over $230 million while earning a Grammy® and two Oscar nominations. Next came the megahit “Armageddon,” starring Bruce Willis and directed by Michael Bay. It was the highest grossing movie of 1998, taking in nearly $560 million worldwide.

By the end of the millennium, Bruckheimer had produced “Enemy of the State,” starring Will Smith and Gene Hackman, and “Gone in 60 Seconds,” starring Cage, Angelina Jolie and Robert Duvall, which both grossed over $225 million worldwide; “Coyote Ugly,” whose soundtrack album went triple platinum; and the NAACP Image Award-winning “Remember the Titans,” starring Denzel Washington. In 2000, his peers in the Producers Guild of America acknowledged Bruckheimer with the David O. Selznick Award for Lifetime Achievement in Motion Pictures.

The producer began the 21st century with triple Oscar-nominee “Pearl Harbor.” In addition to multiple award nominations and the Oscar for Best Sound Editing, it earned over $450 million in worldwide box office and has topped $250 million in DVD and video sales. “Black Hawk Down,” the story of the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, was honored with multiple award nominations, two Oscars and rave reviews.

In 2003, Bruckheimer unveiled “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.” Starring Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush and Keira Knightley and directed by Gore Verbinski, the comedy-adventure-romance grossed more than $630 million worldwide, earned five Academy Award nominations and spawned two sequels: “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” both of which became even bigger hits than the first. Collectively, the franchise has brought in close to $2.7 billion at the worldwide box office. A fourth installment, “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” is due in theaters in 2011.

“National Treasure” (2004), starring Cage and Sean Bean in a roller-coaster adventure that grossed more than $335 million worldwide, also sparked a smash sequel that surpassed the original’s total U.S. box office total after only 18 days in release. In 2006, the Bruckheimer-produced “Glory Road” was honored with an ESPY Award for “Best Sports Movie of the Year” and its screenwriters received a Humanitas Prize for their work.

On July 16, 2010, the Jon Turtletaub-directed action-adventure “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” starring Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel (“How to Train Your Dragon”) and Monica Bellucci, will open nationwide.

About the American Film Institute:

AFI is America’s promise to preserve the history of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work, and to educate the next generation of storytellers. As a national, public-supported educational and cultural organization, AFI provides leadership in film, television and digital media and is the only non-profit organization dedicated to initiatives that engage the past, the present and the future of the moving image arts.

AFI preserves the legacy of America’s film heritage through the AFI Catalog of Feature Films, an authoritative and scholarly record of American films made from 1896 to the present, and the AFI Archives, which contains rare and previously unseen footage from AFI’s 40-plus year history.

AFI honors the artists and their work through a variety of programs and special events during the year, including the annual AFI Life Achievement Award and AFI Awards. For 37 years, the AFI Life Achievement Award has remained the highest honor for a career in film while AFI Awards, the institute’s almanac for the 21st century, honors the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year. AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies series and definitive movie reference lists, as well as Target Presents AFI Night at the Movies, have introduced and reintroduced classic American movies to millions of film lovers.

And as the largest nonprofit exhibitor in the United States, AFI offers film enthusiasts a variety of events throughout the year, including AFI Fest presented by Audi, the longest running international film festival in Los Angeles; AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs, the largest documentary festival in the US; and year-round programming at the AFI Silver Theatre in the Washington D.C. area.

AFI educates the next generation of storytellers at its world-renowned AFI Conservatory, offering a two-year Master of Fine Arts degree in six filmmaking disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting. AFI also explores new digital technologies through AFI Conservatory curriculum and workshops and at AFI Digifest, and showcases the work of young storytellers through AFI ScreenNation and emerging filmmakers through AFI Project: 20/20.

Additional information about AFI is available at AFI.com.

Labels: Sprint

At&t Brings 3G Mobile Broadband Network To Greenville Tweet

Local Wireless Network Upgrade Extends Access to Advanced Products, Services and Applications.

AT&T* announced the availability of its third generation (3G) mobile broadband network in Greenville, opening the door to a new era of mobile services, devices and feature-rich audio and video content for customers in the area. AT&T is an industry leader in delivering the benefits of mobile broadband networks, devices and applications. With the nation’s fastest 3G network, AT&T provides accelerated mobile data speeds and simultaneous voice and data capabilities for an amazing wireless voice and data experience.

“Our ongoing investments in North Carolina will help us ensure that our state has access to the advanced wireless broadband services that help create jobs and drive economic growth,” said Cynthia Marshall, President, AT&T North Carolina. “Continuing to enhance and expand our networks is the result of ongoing work by the state’s leaders to foster a business climate that encourages investment and welcomes new technologies.”

Wireless data traffic on the AT&T network has grown more than 5,000 percent over the past three years, largely attributed to the increasing popularity of advanced smartphones and the performance of AT&T’s 3G network, the nation’s fastest.

“Demand for wireless bandwidth is growing, whether it’s for sharing video and photos with friends, watching a movie, checking the latest scores, or listening to music on a phone, netbook or other mobile devices on the go,” said Alison Hall, vice president and general manager, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets - Carolinas. “With this expansion, our customers can enjoy the nation’s best, most advanced mobile broadband experience with emerging devices and tens of thousands of mobile applications.”

AT&T in February unveiled its North Carolina wireless network investment plans for 2010, which include the planned addition of nearly 85 new cell sites and the planned upgrade of more than 450 additional cell sites to 3G throughout the state. From 2007 through 2009, AT&T’s total capital investment in its North Carolina wireless and wireline networks was nearly $1.2 billion. From 2007 through 2009, AT&T’s wireless network investment in North Carolina was nearly $200 million.

"I am pleased that AT&T is deploying the latest 3G broadband technology in Greenville and connecting residents, students and businesses alike at faster wireless speeds,” said Rep. Marian McLawhorn. “Not only does this improve the quality of daily life for all residents, but it will help attract businesses and grow jobs. This is why I work for policies which make North Carolina a state where companies want to locate and invest.”

AT&T recently completed a software upgrade at 3G cell sites nationwide that prepares the nation’s fastest 3G network for even faster speeds. The deployment of High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 technology is the first of multiple initiatives in AT&T’s network enhancement strategy designed to provide customers with an enhanced mobile broadband experience, both today and well into the future. Faster 3G speeds are scheduled to become available this year and in 2011 as AT&T combines the new technology with the increased deployment of high-speed backhaul connections to cell sites, primarily with fiber-optic technology.

AT&T’s 3G mobile broadband network is based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) family of technologies that includes GSM and UMTS, the most open and widely used wireless network platforms in the world. AT&T has the best international coverage of any U.S. wireless provider, delivering voice service in over 220 countries and data service in more than 190 countries. AT&T also offers voice and data roaming coverage on 130 major cruise ships, as well as 3G services in 115 countries.

For more information about AT&T’s 3G coverage in Greenville or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer. The online tool can measure the quality of coverage based on a street address, intersection, ZIP code or even a landmark.

For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit www.att.com/networknews.

Labels: ATT

2001 Race Earns No. 5 Spot in NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race History Tweet

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race has consistently delivered some of the most exciting competition and electrifying finishes in the sport’s history.

During the next five weeks, Sprint (NYSE:S) will count down the top-five “Most Memorable NASCAR Sprint All-Star Races,” as chosen by members of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA).

The top vote recipient will be revealed during NASCAR Sprint All-Star Week leading up to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday, May 22, at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The No. 5 “Most Memorable NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race,” from 2001, is remembered as much for what happened on the first lap as for being Jeff Gordon’s third NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race victory.

Scattered showers were forecast for the area around Charlotte Motor Speedway on the evening of May 19, and lightning flashed as the drivers completed their pace laps. Just as the green flag waved to start the race, the skies opened up and doused the racing surface.

The field of cars entered Turn 1, but that was as far as many drivers got. Wet track conditions resulted in multiple incidents on the first lap, and many of the sport’s top competitors found themselves with heavily damaged cars.

“We started the race on a wet track,” Michael Waltrip told reporters at the time. “I mean, we got to Turn 1 and 20 of the best race car drivers in the world all about wiped out.”

Given the uniqueness of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race format and the fact that it is a non-points event, NASCAR allowed the teams to bring out their backup cars.

No. 5 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Moment

“The rules are a lot different in that race and allowed us to get the backup cars out, since there were so many torn-up race cars,” Gordon recently told SPEED. “There was a lot of rain, so we had time to change the engine out of the primary car and into the backup car because that was a great engine... We miraculously came from the back and ended up winning the All-Star event that year.”

Tune in at 7 p.m. EDT on Saturday, May 22, to SPEED for coverage of this year’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Sprint customers can enjoy coverage on their Sprint phones via NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile. To download the new NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile, which is free with any data plan, Sprint customers should text “NASCAR” to 7777 (standard text messaging and data rates apply). Tickets for the event start at $39 and are available at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling 800-455-FANS. Fans can also listen to live race coverage on the Performance Racing Network (PRN). A complete listing of PRN-affiliated stations is available at www.goprn.com.

Labels: Sprint

AT&T Brings 3G Mobile Broadband Network to Stillwater Tweet

Stillwater is First of 12 Oklahoma Cities to Receive 3G Service This Year.

AT&T* announced the availability of its third generation (3G) mobile broadband network in Stillwater and across the Oklahoma State University campus, opening the door to a new era of mobile services, devices and feature-rich audio and video content for customers in the area.

AT&T recently activated 3G high-speed mobile broadband service on 11 cell towers in the greater Stillwater area. The launch means 3G service is now available to a wide area of Stillwater and Payne County from roughly US Highway 64 on the north to State Highway 33 on the south and from Lake Carl Blackwell on the west to Glencoe on the east.

“This new high-speed wireless technology is a welcome addition to the Oklahoma State campus and the city of Stillwater,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “This technology will enhance our academic mission and will benefit our students, employees, alumni and visitors.”

AT&T is an industry leader in delivering the benefits of mobile broadband networks, devices and applications. With the nation’s fastest 3G network, AT&T provides accelerated mobile data speeds and simultaneous voice and data capabilities for an amazing wireless voice and data experience.

At an event today at OSU, AT&T also unveiled its wireless network investment plans for Oklahoma in 2010, which include the addition of nearly 20 new cell sites and the upgrade of nearly 75 additional cell sites to 3G throughout the state. This year, AT&T also plans to introduce 3G service to Chickasha, Clinton, Duncan, Durant, Elk City, McAlester, Miami, Ponca City, Seminole, Weatherford and Woodward.

“Demand for wireless bandwidth is growing, whether it’s for sharing video and photos with friends, watching a movie, checking the latest scores, or listening to music on a phone, netbook or other mobile devices on the go,” said Steve Gray, vice president and general manager for AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets in Arkansas and Oklahoma. “With this expansion, our customers can enjoy the nation’s best, most advanced mobile broadband experience with emerging devices and tens of thousands of mobile applications.”

“Today’s investment announcement is more proof of our commitment to serve Oklahomans,” said Bryan Gonterman, president of AT&T Oklahoma. “This is our first 3G deployment in Oklahoma this year, and it’s the first of many that are planned for 2010. We’re looking forward to bringing high-speed wireless to more and more Oklahomans.”

The planned wireless network enhancement strategy is part of AT&T’s 2010 wireline and wireless capital investment, which is expected to be in the $18 billion to $19 billion range companywide, an increase of between 5 and 10 percent over 2009. This planned amount also includes an increase of about $2 billion in capital expenditures for wireless and backhaul related to AT&T’s wireless network. This planned level of investment is framed by the expectation that regulatory and legislative decisions relating to the telecom sector will continue to be sensitive to investment.

AT&T’s total capital investment in its Oklahoma wireless and wireline networks from 2007 through 2009 was nearly $650 million.

City Manager Dan Galloway said it is critical for Stillwater to remain competitive with other communities when it comes to technology. “We are fortunate to have leaders like state Sen. Jim Halligan and state Reps. Cory Williams and Lee Denney who are working to create the business environment in Oklahoma that encourages this type of high-tech investment,” Galloway said.

“When businesses look to expand or relocate, it is crucial that Stillwater is able to offer them technology and services that rival those found in our state’s biggest cities,” said Sen. Halligan. “The investment in a stronger wireless network for Stillwater will help attract business and strengthen our local economy.”

“People of all ages today rely on being able to stay in touch with friends and family members and to transact their everyday business using a wireless phone or device,” Rep. Williams said. “High-speed wireless broadband is the next evolution of wireless communications, and I’m excited that Stillwater and OSU are now at the forefront.”

“The education of our children is the most powerful tool we can use to compete in a global economy,” Rep. Denney said. “Wireless innovation and advancement of the broadband network will provide the necessary tools to educate the leaders of tomorrow.”

In Stillwater, AT&T products and services are available at the following retailers: Communications Connection, three locations at 501 N. Main, 2160 Perkins Road and 702 S. Main; Fenton Office Mart, 111 McElroy; Radio Shack, 711 N. Perkins Road; and Wal-Mart, 111 N. Perkins Road and 4545 W. 6th Ave.

Wireless data traffic on the AT&T network has grown more than 5,000 percent over the past three years, largely attributed to the increasing popularity of advanced smartphones and the performance of AT&T’s 3G network, the nation’s fastest.

AT&T recently completed a software upgrade at 3G cell sites nationwide that prepares the nation’s fastest 3G network for even faster speeds. The deployment of High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 technology is the first of multiple initiatives in AT&T’s network enhancement strategy designed to provide customers with an enhanced mobile broadband experience, both today and well into the future. Faster 3G speeds are scheduled to become available this year and in 2011 as AT&T combines the new technology with the increased deployment of high-speed backhaul connections to cell sites, primarily with fiber-optic technology.

AT&T’s 3G mobile broadband network is based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) family of technologies that includes GSM and UMTS, the most open and widely used wireless network platforms in the world. AT&T has the best international coverage of any U.S. wireless provider, delivering voice service in over 220 countries and data service in more than 190 countries. AT&T also offers voice and data roaming coverage on 130 major cruise ships, as well as 3G services in 115 countries.

For more information about AT&T’s 3G coverage in Stillwater or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer. The online tool can measure the quality of coverage based on a street address, intersection, ZIP code or even a landmark.

For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit www.att.com/networknews.

Labels: ATT

Public Policy Leaders Will Be Featured at The Cable Show 2010 Tweet

FCC Chairman and Commissioner, FTC Chairman, Administration and Other Key Public Officials to Discuss Broadband and Technology Issues that Impact American Consumers.

WASHINGTON -- Key public officials focused on policies affecting the future of telecommunications will participate in The Cable Show 2010, the 59th Annual Convention and International Exposition of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA).

The Cable Show takes place at the Los Angeles Convention Center and the adjacent Nokia Theater on May 11-13, 2010.

The Cable Show's public policy sessions will be headlined by Julius Genachowski, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and Jon Leibowitz, Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Chairman Leibowitz will present keynote remarks at the Plenary Session on Advertising, 11:00 am PDT on Wednesday, May 12 in Room 408A in the Convention Center. Chairman Genachowski will appear at a General Session at 9:00 a.m. PDT on Thursday, May 13 at the Nokia Theater.

Other public policy events planned for The Cable Show are outlined below. All times are Pacific Daylight.

Public Policy Roundtable

Wednesday, May 12, 12:15 p.m. - Room 153, Concourse Hall

Speakers:

* Jonathan Adelstein, Administrator, USDA Rural Utilities Service
* Robert McDowell, Commissioner, FCC

(This session is by invitation only, but registered media may attend.)

NCTA Cable Academy Breakfast

Wednesday, May 12, 8:00 a.m. – Room 503

Speakers:

* Scott Deutchman, Deputy CTO, Telecommunications, Technology Division, Office of Science & Technology Policy, The White House
* Tom Power, Chief of Staff, National Telecommunications & Information Administration

(This session is by invitation only, but registered media may attend.)

Playing it Safe: Policy Approaches for Protecting Kids Online

Tuesday, May 11, 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm - Room 409

Speakers:

* Douglas Gansler, Attorney General, State of Maryland
* Christine D. Kurth, Policy Director & Wireline Counsel, Office of Commissioner McDowell, FCC
* Rob McKenna, Attorney General, State of Washington
* Anne Zehren, President & COO, Common Sense Media

Moderator: Stephen Balkam, CEO, Family Online Safety Institute

Legal Appeal: FCC Advisors on Regulatory Issues of Impact

Wednesday, May 12, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm - Room 409

Speakers:

* Brad Gillen, Legal Advisor, Media, Office of Commissioner Baker, FCC
* Rosemary Harold, Legal Advisor, Media, Office of Commissioner McDowell, FCC
* Rick Kaplan, Acting Chief of Staff, Media & Consumer Issues Office of Commissioner Clyburn, FCC
* Jennifer Schneider, Legal Advisor, Broadband, Universal Service & Wireline Office of Commissioner Copps, FCC
* Sherrese Smith, Legal Advisor, Media, Consumer & Enforcement Issues Office of Chairman Genachowski, FCC

Moderator: Rick Chessen, SVP, Law & Regulatory Policy, NCTA

FCC Agenda: Perspectives from the Inside

Wednesday, May 12, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm - Room 409

Speakers:

* Sharon Gillett, Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau, FCC
* Joel Gurin, Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC
* William Lake, Chief, Media Bureau, FCC
* Austin Schlick, General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, FCC
* Paul de Sa, Chief, Office of Strategic Planning & Policy Analysis, FCC

Moderator: Catherine Bohigian, VP, Federal Affairs, Cablevision Systems Corporation

E Pluribus Broadband: State Policymakers on 21st Century Communications

Wednesday, May 12, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm - Room 409

Speakers:

* Ray Baum, Chairman, Public Utility Commission of Oregon
* Steve Kolbeck, Vice Chairman, South Dakota Public Service Commission
* Isiogu Orjiakor, Chairman, Michigan Public Service Commission
* Anthony Palermino, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control

Moderator: Richard Cimerman, VP, State Government Affairs, NCTA

From the Halls of Sacramento to the Shores of the Potomac: Broadband Policy on the Front Lines

Thursday, May 13, 3:30 pm-4:30 pm - Room 409

Speakers:

* Neal Goldberg, VP & General Counsel, NCTA
* Carolyn McIntyre, President, California Cable & Telecommunications Association
* Lisa Schoenthaler, VP, Association Affairs, NCTA
* Dianne Smith, VP & Legislative Counsel for Public Policy, NCTA

Moderator: Jadz Janucik, SVP, Association Affairs, NCTA

For further information on The Cable Show 2010, and to register for periodic updates, visit www.thecableshow.com. For more information about exhibit space at The Cable Show 2010, contact NCTA Convention Headquarters at (202) 463-7905 or e-mail exhibitinfo@ncta.com.

NCTA is the principal trade association for the U.S. cable industry, representing cable operators serving more than 90 percent of the nation's cable television households and more than 200 cable program networks. The cable industry is the nation's largest broadband provider of high-speed Internet access, serving more than 40 million customers, after investing more than $145 billion to build two-way digital networks with fiber optic technology. Cable companies also provide state-of-the-art digital telephone service to more than 20 million American consumers.

Labels: Miscellaneous , Nokia