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VIA-sponsored IkamvaYouth tuXlab – one year of empowerment
In September of 2006 VIA Technologies, Inc. revealed details of a VIA pc-1 Initiative project that has since its opening been making a real difference in one of the poorest townships in South Africa. It is the IkamvaYouth computer lab in Khayelitsha, where computer training is improving the prospects of the local youth and the community. Opened in May 2006, the IkamvaYouth tuXlab is teaching e-literacy curriculum to dozens of grade 10-12 children, as well as offering computer access to the local community with all its inhabitants.
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Thursday, 08 May 2008 |
Back in January there were news floating around that Gigabyte was going to launch their own low-cost PC but since then there has been total silence, until last week when Digitimes published a follow-up to this piece of news.
According to Digitimes, Gigabyte is preparing to launch their 8.9-inch contender in the low-cost PC sphere, the M912. The system is to be ready by the end of June.
The M912 is going to be equipped with an Intel Atom processor and will support either Linux or Windows XP and might possibly also include Bluetooth
The M912 is going to be designed in-house in order to keep costs at a low level and to have better control of the development schedule, specification and quality and also to remain more flexible to market feedback.
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Wednesday, 07 May 2008 |
 Last week The One Laptop per Child foundation announced that it has appointed Charles Kane as the new president and COO to run daily operations, whilst the founder and Chairman Nicholas Negroponte will "focus on fund-raising and promoting the project to governments worldwide. Kane was appointed COO and President by Negroponte in hope that the foundation is going to recover from the loss of key personnel that is has experienced of late.
Charles Kane will move from the part-time role as chief financial officer to oversee the organization's operational matters and distribution of the XO laptop on a day-to-day basis. Kane will provide OLPC the leadership needed to deliver on its commitments to partners and governments, said Nicholas Negroponte in a statement.
"Now that global distribution deployment are underway, OLPC needs a leader with strong operational experience to ensure that the organization delivers on its commitments to numerous partners and governments," said Nicholas Negroponte, Founder and Chairman of One Laptop per Child. "During the past year Chuck has generously helped out on a part-time basis and his counsel has been invaluable. We're delighted that he can now join us on a full-time basis and apply his extensive experience to moving OLPC forward."
OLPC recently restructured into four departments - development, technology, deployment and learning - and the organization is now focusing on making the XO laptop more appealing to customers.
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Friday, 25 April 2008 |
 A recent report from the European Commission; the i2010 report gives encouraging figures on overall web use in the region but disguises gaps in tech use that could damage Europe's competitiveness. i2010 is the EU policy framework for the information society and media. It promotes the positive contribution that information and communication technologies (ICT) can make to the economy, society and personal quality of life.
The number of European broadband users has reached 100 million which is about 20 per cent higher than in the United States and Canada combined.
A few highlights of the European Commission’s i2010 report are:
- Nearly 80% of all European internet users are hooked up to a high-speed broadband connection.
- The number of regular internet users in the 27 EU countries has surpassed the 50 per cent mark, after 40 million new users went online last year.
- Nearly 40% of internet users are shopping online.
- 77% of all businesses in the EU have Internet access.
- e-government initiatives are up promisingly with more than 40% of government forms now being filled in online.
- 14 of the 27 member states have surpassed the 50% mark for online penetration (as a percentage of total population). They include The Netherlands at the top end with roughly 82%, the United Kingdom, in the middle, at about 65% and Ireland, on the lower end, matching the EU average of 52%.
At a glance, these numbers all look very good but...
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Tuesday, 22 April 2008 |
 Last week Asus confirmed that it will launch the Eee PC 900 in the US on May 12 and it is going to cost $549. The Eee PC 900 uses either Windows XP Home Edition or the open source operating system; Linux, where the Linux system boasts 20GB of flash memory-based storage space and the Windows version only 12GB of solid-state storage. The difference in storage space in the two configurations is explained as a “strategic decisions” by Asus spokesperson Charlton Ho.
"Cost would be one of the reasons, but not the main one. Also the Linux version is our main Eee PC model with our unique interface, so the consumer not only can get the great and easy-to-use interface on the Linux version but extra storage space," according to Ho.
The new Eee PC 900 sports an 8.9-inch LCD display with 1,024 x 600 resolution, an integrated 1.3 megapixel camera, a touchpad called FingerGlide by which you can zoom in and out of pictures, or scroll up and down for easier document viewing with just two-finger movements on the touchpad.
Riyad Emeran from Trusted Reviews points out that “Asus has done a brilliant job of updating an already great product. The engineers have clearly listened to all the comments regarding the original Eee PC and attempted to put them right. The 1,024 wide screen makes the Eee PC 900 a joy to use, especially if you spend a lot of your time in a browser window. The extra memory and storage are also very welcome additions, and help make this version of the Eee PC a real alternative to a fully featured notebook.”
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Thursday, 17 April 2008 |
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 Taiwan-based laptop and PC-maker, Compal Electronics will build a budget notebook for Dell, as Dell plans to step into the market for low-price notebook computers, according to Reuters India.
Compal, which is already a supplier to Dell, is looking to ship one million to two million low-cost notebook computers to the company this year. The product will be available globally.
Dell spokesperson Colleen Ryan says: "The bottom line is that we are going to enter the market with products that are smaller, lighter and address the more mobile users in a very cost-effective way."
Furthermore, Associated Press reports that Dell will expand its presence in China by selling desktop and notebook computers at Suning, the country's second-largest electronics chain, and doubling the number of Gome stores that carry Dell machines. Dell believes that young Chinese consumers buying their first computer will prefer the superstore format of larger Gome and Suning locations to the country's hectic PC malls.
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Monday, 14 April 2008 |
 Sierra Leone has a population base of 5 million of which about 17 percent are computer literate. However, only about half of those computer literate have daily access to computers according to market observers.
Compared to other countries, Sierra Leone's IT market is very small and inexperienced, said Nana Bampoe, the implementation coordinator of the ChildData Project, Plan International-Sierra Leone. "It's currently limited to the sale of average-specification computers and accessories and limited consultancies. Software development, medium to complex infrastructural IT projects and developments are few and far between and mostly are externally funded and managed," he added.
A number of INGOs (international nongovernmental organizations), local NGOs, Banks, ISPs, GSM operators and some governmental agencies are helping to ensure the implementation of quality IT infrastructure, a steady growth of computer literacy and a user base in order for the level of ICTs to meet certain International standards.
According to Ali Ajao, who is the technical director at ISP FGC Wireless, you have to "put appropriate measures in place", such as incorporating computer courses in schools all the way from elementary levels through to universities, an implementation that would have to be unitized by the government.
Ajao also suggests that the government could reduce tariffs on IT-related equipment, at least for a particular period of time to encourage imports.
(Source: IDG News Service)
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Thursday, 10 April 2008 |
On Tuesday VIA and HP announced that the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC will be powered by VIA’s low power C7-M ULV processor and that it is expected to be available in the US later this month starting at $499.
According to the press release from HP, the HP 2133 Mini-Note is designed for the education market and they hope that it will help schools offer affordable computing to every student. “Education shouldn’t end at the bell,” said Jeri Callaway, vice president and general manager, Personal Systems Group – Americas, HP. “HP believes providing each student with an affordable, creative multimedia tool like the HP Mini will better prepare them to live, learn and work in an information-rich society.”
The little notebook comes in four configurations and range from $499 to $749 in price. Detail on the four models can be found here.
What is more, HP has set up an online community by the name Teacher Experience Exchange with the aim to provide educators a one-stop resource to discuss, share and learn with other educators and also to access tutorials for teaching with technology in the classroom.
Should you like to read the announcements from both VIA and HP then please find the links below:
VIA C7-M ULV Processor Powers New HP 2133 Mini-Note PC
HP Introduces Full-function Mini-notebook PC for Education Market
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Monday, 07 April 2008 |
 “Laptop computers should be part of the employment packages for teachers, and possibly, other public servants, in order to kick-start South Africa’s knowledge economy and to bridge the digital divide”
 This statement comes from James Theledi, CEO of the Universal Access and Services Agency of South Africa (USAASA) in a recent announcement. Theledi also pointed out that plans that are more realistic than the ‘one laptop per child’ project has to be put in place in order to create meaningful change and that ‘one laptop per teacher’ has a better chance of being achieved. If students see their teachers using for example laptops in a constructive way such as planning their classes, storing their relevant teaching materials and keeping student records, it would encourage them to see that IT related gadgets have more of a role than that of pure entertainment.
“It would also stimulate demand for online services, stimulate demand for various IT products and build the country’s information society,” he says.
www.usaasa.org.za
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Thursday, 03 April 2008 |
On Tuesday VIA Technologies and Everex announced the new Everex CloudBook Max which has a very stylish look and some great feature upgrades from the previous version. Upgrades include built-in GPS receiver, 2-megapixel webcam, integrated Bluetooth and WiMax support that will connect up with Sprint’s upcoming XOHM network, offering wireless Internet access far beyond the average Wi-Fi hotspot. The device is on display at CTIA Wireless 2008 trade show which is taking place in Las Vegas from April 1 – 3, 2008.
The Everex CloudBook Max is powered by a 1.6GHz VIA C7-M ULV (Ultra Low Voltage) processor coupled with the recently announced VX800 digital media IGP chipset and it supports Windows Vista.
Unfortunately it will only be available in a year according to the press release
Currently, there is no information on pricing but Everex specialize in making low-cost PCs, and the price of US$399 for the first version of the CloudBook can give you some indication of what the price will be.
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Tuesday, 01 April 2008 |
 Dell plans to sell laptop and desktop computers through retail outlets in India for the first time after entering into a partnership with Tata Group's Croma chain of stores. The company will start selling low-cost models at some Croma stores in Mumbai this month.
The Croma chain of consumer-electronics stores is owned and operated by a division of Tata Sons Ltd. and has 17 outlets in six cities. The Tata Group includes India's largest computer-services provider and the nation's biggest truck maker.
 In India, Dell's strategy is about reaching out to individual consumers, who the company hopes will drive the next phase of growth and they believe that, given the booming PC market in India, now is the right time to adopt a retail strategy technology-heavy. For consumer-specific brands their focus is to project Dell as a company in sync with digital lifestyle.
Dell’s vice president of sales and marketing, Mr. Michael Tatelman said: "The agreement with Croma will strengthen Dell's consumer presence in India, making our products more accessible to more customers. Our unique format will offer the advantage of Dell's direct model so that customers can call, click or visit and shop for a built-to-order PC with the latest technology,"
Higher salaries in India, the world's second-fastest growing major economy, are boosting PC purchases and wages in India are forecast to rise 15 percent this year which is the most worldwide.
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