A Personal Journey of Exploration to Wild Places with International Movie Star Zhang Ziyi
How do people develop their cities while honouring their history and preserving the natural environment? Can those with an ancient connection to the land nurture their distinct art, music and culture in the modern world?
Premiering on National Geographic Channel at 10pm on Saturday, 14 November 2009 in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, Zhang Ziyi Travel Series begins an exciting travel series in which the Beijing-born International movie star takes us on a personal journey of discovery with the help of local guides and famous friends such as globally acclaimed photographer Yu Tsai.
Originally created by Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Zhang Ziyi Travel Series is a local National Geographic co-production with the hotel group to unveil the exceptional landscape of Oman and Inner Mongolia, and to show us the determination of local people to nurture their heritage, culture, history, music art, and preserve Mother Nature. The new travel series continues Ziyi’s longstanding association with the world’s leading Asia-based hotel group. As global brand ambassador, she helps Shangri-La communicate the importance of preserving nature and cultural heritage.
“National Geographic Channel and Shangri-La share a commitment to showcasing and preserving the natural beauty of the world. This unique documentary series is a result of this joint aim,” says Choylin Mok, Supervising Producer, National Geographic Channel Asia. “In these documentaries, Ziyi is more of a central character than a traditional host by opening her heart as she takes us from glittering metropolises to the very edge of the world.”
In episode one, we journey with Ziyi to watch endangered turtles hatch on a beach in Oman and see her dance with Bedouin warrior-musicians. In a highlight of episode two, she stars in a stunning high-fashion photo shoot on the wild steppes of Inner Mongolia, and follows a herd of wild horses at dawn. Through it all, we are entranced by Ziyi’s ability to embrace the cultures she encounters and make real connections with the people she meets.
“Thanks to Shangri La that provided tremendous support on this National Geographic Channel project as part of their contribution to protect the environment, nature and wild life, I am thrilled to have this unique opportunity to visit Oman and learn about how local people protect sea turtles and dolphins as part of their lives. Through this project, I fully appreciate how much nature gives us, which is why it is so important we give it back our care,” said Zhang Ziyi, Global Ambassador of Shangri-La.
“This opportunity for Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts to create a series with Zhang Ziyi on issues that will determine the fate of the earth and its people is a precious one. Partnering with National Geographic Channel is undoubtedly the best way to bring this awareness to the public. We are delighted to contribute to environmental awareness and conservation that makes people sit up and think about what they can do to care for the planet. These issues remain at the heart of Shangri-La’s social agenda,” said Madhu Rao, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.
Filmed in high-definition, Zhang Ziyi’s Travel Series presents a variety of visuals and stills of art and historical images of the most stunning natural landscape in Ziyi’s unique perspective.
Episodes include:
Episode 1: Zhang Ziyi’s Oman
In Zhang Ziyi’s Oman, Zhang Ziyi explores themes of heritage and conservation. Landing in Muscat, the capital of this Arabian nation, Ziyi meets local guide- Hafidh and visits the city’s old Souq, or marketplace, to learn about its social and economic functions. Oman is an Islamic nation, and local guide Khalfan Al-Esry hosts a tour of the impressively modern Grand Mosque. The sultanate’s coastline and natural history is also featured, as Ziyi joins Mohammed, resident turtle ranger from Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa on the water, where they encounter hundreds of dolphins, and on the beach, where they watch baby sea turtles hatching and making their way to the sea. She also meets the Sultan’s niece, Her Highness Sayyedha Tania Al-Said, who explains other conservation efforts underway in Oman. Finally, Ziyi ventures into the stunning Wahibi sands for an encounter with the nomadic Bedouin, where she learns about life in the desert, rides a camel on the dunes, and dances to the music the musicians perform for her.
Episode 2: Zhang Ziyi’s Inner Mongolia
Award-winning Chinese actress and global celebrity Zhang Ziyi explores the frontiers of high fashion on the steppes of Inner Mongolia with internationally renowned photographer Yu Tsai in Zhang Ziyi’s Inner Mongolia.
We preview the ensemble design of emerging couturier Jason Wu, famous for the Inaugural Ball gown worn by the U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama; and fashion-forward Gucci, D&G, Hermes, Dries van Noten, Helmut Lang, Armani, Prada and Marc Jacobs – accented with an eclectic mix of indigenous accessories, against the stunning backdrop of Inner Mongolia’s rolling plains.
We watch as Ziyi, Yu Tsai and his team search for the perfect locations, lighting, and pose for this high-fashion shoot. Together, they explore the grasslands, battle the elements, and learn about local customs and traditions. Filmed in high-definition and presented with a sound track of powerful and emotive local music, Zhang Ziyi’s Inner Mongolia combines fashion, photography, travel and culture, with one of China’s most beautiful and charismatic stars at its centre.
About National Geographic Channels International
National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) invites viewers to re-think the way they see television - and the world - with smart, innovative programming. A business enterprise owned by National Geographic Television (NGT) and FOX Entertainment Group, NGCI contributes to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration, conservation and education through its six channels: National Geographic Channel, National Geographic Channel HD, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Wild HD, Nat Geo Adventure and Nat Geo Music.
Globally, National Geographic Channel (including NGC U.S. which is a joint venture of NGT and Fox Cable Networks Group) is available in 305 million homes in 165 countries and 34 languages. For more information, please visit www.natgeotv.com
About Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group, currently owns and/or manages 65 hotels under the deluxe Shangri-La and mid-market Traders brands, with a rooms inventory of over 28,000. The group has over 40 projects under development in Austria, Canada, mainland China, France, India, Macau, Philippines, Qatar, Seychelles, United Kingdom and the United States. For more information and reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.shangri-la.com.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
IRASIA 3 NEW INDIA ROUTES TO KOLKATA, KOCHI AND THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (TRIVANDRUM) FROM KUALA LUMPUR
World’s Best Low Cost Airline all set to expand its network in India with all in fares from as low as INR1499(RM 129)
SEPANG – Skytrax “World’s Best Low Cost Airline” and Asia’s largest and leading low-cost carrier, AirAsia has announced that it will commence its daily direct flights to Kolkata, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in November 2009 respectively. Following a successful launch from the South Indian city of Trichy last year, AirAsia now offers the people of Kolkata, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram the pleasure of flying to Kuala Lumpur for an unbeatable all-inclusive fare from as low as INR 1499 (RM 129) all in fares one way respectively for the booking period from 15th to 20th October, 2009 for the travel period from 12th November 2009 to 31st July 2010 for Kochi, from 16th November 2009 to 31st July 2010 for Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) and from 19th November 2009 to 31st July 2010 for Kolkata. Promotional seats are limited and available on first-come, first-served basis and made exclusively available online via www.airasia.com and mobile.airasia.com.
AirAsia launched its first route to Trichy, India which is situated in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu on December 1, 2008, and is the first airline in South East Asia to fly direct to the city. The launch of the first frequency to the city recorded an overwhelming response with an average load factor of 85% which led the airline to increase its 2nd frequency to the city with AirAsia’s 2nd direct daily flight on 1st September, 2009. To date, AirAsia have carried over 100,000 guests to and from Trichy.
AirAsia Regional Head of Commercial, Kathleen Tan said, “Today, AirAsia is reiterating its commitment to the Indian market with the launch of three new routes- Kolkata, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), the first airline to launch 3 cities in India in one day. While most airlines are cutting back during these tough economic times, AirAsia is aggressively expanding its India route network as we believe there is robust demand in low fare travel. The three new India destinations are colourful cities with rich historical and cultural traditions. We believe our low fares and outstanding innovative services, will definitely open up new markets, stimulate new travel demand and enable more people to fly with us; thus promoting tourism which is beneficial for the economies of both countries.”
“It has been an ongoing and sustained effort for AirAsia to provide the best service with unbelievable low fares to our guests. With the introduction of the three new routes, connectivity to the three cities to and from Kuala Lumpur direct will bridge social ties and promote new connectivity via our hub in Kuala Lumpur as a gateway to over 130 routes in Asia, including the ones served by Airasia X, its long haul affiliate to Australia (Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne), China (Hangzhou, Tianjin, Chengdu), Taipei, London and Abu Dhabi, bringing the well known brand on to a global stage” concluded Kathleen.
It is now more convenient than ever to fly to Kuala Lumpur from Kolkata, located in the East Indian State of West Bengal and Kochi & Thiruvananthapuram, both located in the South Indian State of Kerala. Moreover as compared to other budget carriers, the route network offered by this award-winning airline is the most extensive in the region. This will translate into a low-cost yet efficient travel experience for guests who would benefit from using the LCC Terminal in Kuala Lumpur to connect to other regional ASEAN cities or long haul sectors serviced by AirAsia X. To add value, under GoHoliday at goholiday.airasia.com, guests may choose their holiday lodgings from over 50,000 hotels across Asia, Europe, India, Australia, Sri Lanka and China including ground transfer options and fantastic tour packages.
Kuala Lumpur is an exciting and bustling metropolitan city and the center and symbol of Malaysia's rapid rise as an economic powerhouse. This includes amongst others the modern buildings of the Golden Triangle, massive shopping malls, rocket-like Petronas towers which rise above the city and driverless trains that glide across the city. Yet nestled amidst the high-rises, it still offers a glimpse of its colorful heritage and a taste of traditional, exotic Asia. With a blend of unique cultures, great variety of food and world-renowned attractions such as KLCC Twin Towers, Genting City of Entertainment often frequented by families, Sunway Lagoon water park, the Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls located in the Langkawi islands, Taman Negara National Park, a major wildlife reserve, both Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur are renowned as perfect year-round holiday and business destinations. Guests are also spoilt for choice as there’s more than just Malaysia under the AirAsia network, with flights to exotic destinations across the ASEAN countries and beyond via our hubs in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu), Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket), and Indonesia (Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Bali).
SEPANG – Skytrax “World’s Best Low Cost Airline” and Asia’s largest and leading low-cost carrier, AirAsia has announced that it will commence its daily direct flights to Kolkata, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in November 2009 respectively. Following a successful launch from the South Indian city of Trichy last year, AirAsia now offers the people of Kolkata, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram the pleasure of flying to Kuala Lumpur for an unbeatable all-inclusive fare from as low as INR 1499 (RM 129) all in fares one way respectively for the booking period from 15th to 20th October, 2009 for the travel period from 12th November 2009 to 31st July 2010 for Kochi, from 16th November 2009 to 31st July 2010 for Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) and from 19th November 2009 to 31st July 2010 for Kolkata. Promotional seats are limited and available on first-come, first-served basis and made exclusively available online via www.airasia.com and mobile.airasia.com.
AirAsia launched its first route to Trichy, India which is situated in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu on December 1, 2008, and is the first airline in South East Asia to fly direct to the city. The launch of the first frequency to the city recorded an overwhelming response with an average load factor of 85% which led the airline to increase its 2nd frequency to the city with AirAsia’s 2nd direct daily flight on 1st September, 2009. To date, AirAsia have carried over 100,000 guests to and from Trichy.
AirAsia Regional Head of Commercial, Kathleen Tan said, “Today, AirAsia is reiterating its commitment to the Indian market with the launch of three new routes- Kolkata, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), the first airline to launch 3 cities in India in one day. While most airlines are cutting back during these tough economic times, AirAsia is aggressively expanding its India route network as we believe there is robust demand in low fare travel. The three new India destinations are colourful cities with rich historical and cultural traditions. We believe our low fares and outstanding innovative services, will definitely open up new markets, stimulate new travel demand and enable more people to fly with us; thus promoting tourism which is beneficial for the economies of both countries.”
“It has been an ongoing and sustained effort for AirAsia to provide the best service with unbelievable low fares to our guests. With the introduction of the three new routes, connectivity to the three cities to and from Kuala Lumpur direct will bridge social ties and promote new connectivity via our hub in Kuala Lumpur as a gateway to over 130 routes in Asia, including the ones served by Airasia X, its long haul affiliate to Australia (Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne), China (Hangzhou, Tianjin, Chengdu), Taipei, London and Abu Dhabi, bringing the well known brand on to a global stage” concluded Kathleen.
It is now more convenient than ever to fly to Kuala Lumpur from Kolkata, located in the East Indian State of West Bengal and Kochi & Thiruvananthapuram, both located in the South Indian State of Kerala. Moreover as compared to other budget carriers, the route network offered by this award-winning airline is the most extensive in the region. This will translate into a low-cost yet efficient travel experience for guests who would benefit from using the LCC Terminal in Kuala Lumpur to connect to other regional ASEAN cities or long haul sectors serviced by AirAsia X. To add value, under GoHoliday at goholiday.airasia.com, guests may choose their holiday lodgings from over 50,000 hotels across Asia, Europe, India, Australia, Sri Lanka and China including ground transfer options and fantastic tour packages.
Kuala Lumpur is an exciting and bustling metropolitan city and the center and symbol of Malaysia's rapid rise as an economic powerhouse. This includes amongst others the modern buildings of the Golden Triangle, massive shopping malls, rocket-like Petronas towers which rise above the city and driverless trains that glide across the city. Yet nestled amidst the high-rises, it still offers a glimpse of its colorful heritage and a taste of traditional, exotic Asia. With a blend of unique cultures, great variety of food and world-renowned attractions such as KLCC Twin Towers, Genting City of Entertainment often frequented by families, Sunway Lagoon water park, the Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls located in the Langkawi islands, Taman Negara National Park, a major wildlife reserve, both Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur are renowned as perfect year-round holiday and business destinations. Guests are also spoilt for choice as there’s more than just Malaysia under the AirAsia network, with flights to exotic destinations across the ASEAN countries and beyond via our hubs in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu), Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket), and Indonesia (Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Bali).
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Economy vehicle or ecology car?
I hope more people will change their perception of a vehicle, seeing it as ameans of transport and not a reflection of the driver's status.
The long-awaited dream of an eco-car will become a reality next year. The possibility has given hope to many middleincome earners that they may this time be able to afford a low-priced eco-friendly car.
Some carmakers, however, seem to start from scratch by trying to explain that the word "eco" does not come from "economy" but is short for "ecology".
What that means is this type of car will have less CO2 emission, stipulated at no more than 120 grammes per kilometre. Moreover, fuel consumption will not exceed 5 litres per 100km.
To achieve that level of "greenness",the car engine must be smaller than those popular in the Thai market, meaning that it would not exceed 1,300cc for petrol and 1,400cc for diesel.
Automobile firms have invested at least 5 billion baht in the eco-car project in Thailand. If they are able to manufacture 100,000 units of the above criteria by the fifth year, they will get tax and tariff incentives from the Board of Investment. Six firms have been approved for the project, but currently only Nissan has announced that it will move ahead according to plan, rolling out its first eco-car on to the Thai market in March next year.
The government wants to see ecocars available at prices starting below 400,000 baht, lower than the current offers on the market, but carmakers insist that the price would not be that low because the cost of high technology and research and development required to produce the cleaner car is very expensive.
It's true that a little bit of help from everyone to save the environment is essential for the overall public amidst rising concern about global warming.The eco-car should be one way that an individual - a member of the middleclass, to be specific - in Thailand can make their contribution. The problem is that consumers in the current sluggish economy may see only the "eco" as in the economy side of things, not ecology,as their first priority when considering buying a new car. If the price is not attractive enough, consumers may opt for a cheaper vehicle that provides them with mobility despite being much less green. Is it possible for both the government and the private sector to cooperate in adjusting an "economy" price into the upcoming "ecology" car?
With the launch of the eco-car project,I hope that my dream of seeing many models of small-engine cars available in the market will come true. I always envy people in some European countries or Japan where people can have a variety of choice when it comes to small cars from different brands.
Here in Thailand, the lowest possible engine that consumers can find is 1,500cc.Smaller cars have faced many episodes of unsuccessful introduction. The 1,300cc Ford Aspire hit the market over a decade ago but its sale lasted only a few years.Toyota launched its Indonesia-made 1,300cc Avanza about five years ago but the small-engine vehicle could not survive in the Thai market so the company had to replace it with the 1,500cc Avanza. An earlier model with the smallest-engine,the 900cc Daihatsu Mira, faced the same fate. I don't know if the disappearance of small-engine cars in Thailand was the result of insincerity on the manufacturers' or dealers' part to maintain continuous sales and service, or a genuine lack of consumer interest in low-engine models. There is an observation in Thailand that many times people are judged by the type of vehicle they drive. Those going about in fancy European brands may get better recognition than those who drive about in general Asian brands.The same person gets a different treatment from others only because that person changes his/her car. A painful reality!
I hope that the government-backed eco-car project will be a success when the launch time arrives. I hope that more and more people will change their perception towards the image of the vehicle,seeing it as a means of transport and not a reflection of the driver's status, so people driving small cars can rest assured that they will still receive equal treatment in society. Let's drive a small car and help save our planet.
The long-awaited dream of an eco-car will become a reality next year. The possibility has given hope to many middleincome earners that they may this time be able to afford a low-priced eco-friendly car.
Some carmakers, however, seem to start from scratch by trying to explain that the word "eco" does not come from "economy" but is short for "ecology".
What that means is this type of car will have less CO2 emission, stipulated at no more than 120 grammes per kilometre. Moreover, fuel consumption will not exceed 5 litres per 100km.
To achieve that level of "greenness",the car engine must be smaller than those popular in the Thai market, meaning that it would not exceed 1,300cc for petrol and 1,400cc for diesel.
Automobile firms have invested at least 5 billion baht in the eco-car project in Thailand. If they are able to manufacture 100,000 units of the above criteria by the fifth year, they will get tax and tariff incentives from the Board of Investment. Six firms have been approved for the project, but currently only Nissan has announced that it will move ahead according to plan, rolling out its first eco-car on to the Thai market in March next year.
The government wants to see ecocars available at prices starting below 400,000 baht, lower than the current offers on the market, but carmakers insist that the price would not be that low because the cost of high technology and research and development required to produce the cleaner car is very expensive.
It's true that a little bit of help from everyone to save the environment is essential for the overall public amidst rising concern about global warming.The eco-car should be one way that an individual - a member of the middleclass, to be specific - in Thailand can make their contribution. The problem is that consumers in the current sluggish economy may see only the "eco" as in the economy side of things, not ecology,as their first priority when considering buying a new car. If the price is not attractive enough, consumers may opt for a cheaper vehicle that provides them with mobility despite being much less green. Is it possible for both the government and the private sector to cooperate in adjusting an "economy" price into the upcoming "ecology" car?
With the launch of the eco-car project,I hope that my dream of seeing many models of small-engine cars available in the market will come true. I always envy people in some European countries or Japan where people can have a variety of choice when it comes to small cars from different brands.
Here in Thailand, the lowest possible engine that consumers can find is 1,500cc.Smaller cars have faced many episodes of unsuccessful introduction. The 1,300cc Ford Aspire hit the market over a decade ago but its sale lasted only a few years.Toyota launched its Indonesia-made 1,300cc Avanza about five years ago but the small-engine vehicle could not survive in the Thai market so the company had to replace it with the 1,500cc Avanza. An earlier model with the smallest-engine,the 900cc Daihatsu Mira, faced the same fate. I don't know if the disappearance of small-engine cars in Thailand was the result of insincerity on the manufacturers' or dealers' part to maintain continuous sales and service, or a genuine lack of consumer interest in low-engine models. There is an observation in Thailand that many times people are judged by the type of vehicle they drive. Those going about in fancy European brands may get better recognition than those who drive about in general Asian brands.The same person gets a different treatment from others only because that person changes his/her car. A painful reality!
I hope that the government-backed eco-car project will be a success when the launch time arrives. I hope that more and more people will change their perception towards the image of the vehicle,seeing it as a means of transport and not a reflection of the driver's status, so people driving small cars can rest assured that they will still receive equal treatment in society. Let's drive a small car and help save our planet.
Magnificent seven
In the most important, most revered event since the invention of the brontosaurus trap,Microsoft shipped the most incredibly fabulous operating system ever made; the release of Windows 7 also spurred a new generation of personal computers of all sizes at prices well below last month's offers.The top reason Windows 7 does not suck: There is no registered website called Windows7Sucks.com
Kindle e-book reader maker Amazon.com and new Nook e-book reader vendor Barnes and Noble got it on; B&N got great reviews for the "Kindle killer"Nook, with dual screens and touch controls so you can "turn" pages, plays MP3s and allows many non-B&N book formats, although not the Kindle one;Amazon then killed the US version of its Kindle in favour of the international one, reduced its price to $260(8,700 baht), same as the Nook; it's not yet clear what you can get in Thailand with a Nook, but you sure can't (yet) get much, relatively speaking, with a Kindle;but here's the biggest difference so far,which Amazon.com has ignored: the Nook lets you lend e-books to any other Nook owner, just as if they were paper books; the borrowed books expire on the borrower's Nook in two weeks.
Phone maker Nokia of Finland announced it is suing iPhone maker Apple of America for being a copycat; lawyers said they figure Nokia can get at least one, probably two per cent (retail) for every iPhone sold by Steve "President for Life" Jobs and crew via the lawsuit,which sure beats working for it -$6 (200 baht) to $12(400 baht) on 30 million phones sold so far, works out to $400 million or 25 percent of the whole Apple empire profits during the last quarter;there were 10 patent thefts, the Finnish executives said, on everything from moving data to security and encryption.
Nokia of Finland announced that it is one month behind on shipping its new flagship N900 phone, the first to run on Linux software; delay of the $750(25,000 baht) phone had absolutely no part in making Nokia so short that it had to sue Apple, slap yourself for such a thought.
Tim Berners-Lee, who created the World Wide Web, said he had one regret:the double slash that follows the "http:"in standard web addresses; he estimated that 14.2 gazillion users have wasted 48.72 bazillion hours typing those two keystrokes, and he's sorry; of course there's no reason to ever type that, since your browser does it for you when you type "www.bangkokpost.com" but Tim needs to admit he made one error in his lifetime.
The International Telecommunication Union of the United Nations, which doesn't sell any phones or services, announced that there should be a mobile phone charger that will work with any phone; now who would ever have thought of that, without a UN body to wind up a major study on the subject?;the GSM Association estimates that 51,000 tonnes of chargers are made each year in order to keep companies able to have their own unique ones.
The Well, Doh Award of the Week was presented at arm's length to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; the group's deputy secretary-general Petko Draganov said that developing countries will miss some of the stuff available on the Internet if they don't install more broadband infrastructure; a report that used your tax baht to compile said that quite a few people use mobile phones but companies are more likely to invest in countries with excellent broadband connections; no one ever had thought of this before, right?
Sun Microsystems , as a result of the Oracle takeover, said it will allow 3,000 current workers never to bother coming to work again; Sun referred to the losses as "jobs," not people; now the fourth largest server maker in the world, Sun said it lost $2.2 billion in its last fiscal year; European regulators are holding up approval of the Oracle purchase in the hope of getting some money in exchange for not involving Oracle in court cases.
The multi-gazillionaire and very annoying investor Carl Icahn resigned from the board at Yahoo ; he spun it as a vote of confidence, saying current directors are taking the formerly threatened company seriously; Yahoo reported increased profits but smaller revenues in the third quarter.
The US House of Representatives voted to censure Vietnam for jailing bloggers; the non-binding resolution sponsored by southern California congresswoman Loretta Sanchez said the Internet is "a crucial tool for the citizens of Vietnam to be able to exercise their freedom of expression and association;"Hanoi has recently jailed at least nine activists for up to six years apiece for holding pro-democracy banners. Iran jailed blogger Hossein "Hoder" Derakshan for 10 months - in solitary confinement.
Kindle e-book reader maker Amazon.com and new Nook e-book reader vendor Barnes and Noble got it on; B&N got great reviews for the "Kindle killer"Nook, with dual screens and touch controls so you can "turn" pages, plays MP3s and allows many non-B&N book formats, although not the Kindle one;Amazon then killed the US version of its Kindle in favour of the international one, reduced its price to $260(8,700 baht), same as the Nook; it's not yet clear what you can get in Thailand with a Nook, but you sure can't (yet) get much, relatively speaking, with a Kindle;but here's the biggest difference so far,which Amazon.com has ignored: the Nook lets you lend e-books to any other Nook owner, just as if they were paper books; the borrowed books expire on the borrower's Nook in two weeks.
Phone maker Nokia of Finland announced it is suing iPhone maker Apple of America for being a copycat; lawyers said they figure Nokia can get at least one, probably two per cent (retail) for every iPhone sold by Steve "President for Life" Jobs and crew via the lawsuit,which sure beats working for it -$6 (200 baht) to $12(400 baht) on 30 million phones sold so far, works out to $400 million or 25 percent of the whole Apple empire profits during the last quarter;there were 10 patent thefts, the Finnish executives said, on everything from moving data to security and encryption.
Nokia of Finland announced that it is one month behind on shipping its new flagship N900 phone, the first to run on Linux software; delay of the $750(25,000 baht) phone had absolutely no part in making Nokia so short that it had to sue Apple, slap yourself for such a thought.
Tim Berners-Lee, who created the World Wide Web, said he had one regret:the double slash that follows the "http:"in standard web addresses; he estimated that 14.2 gazillion users have wasted 48.72 bazillion hours typing those two keystrokes, and he's sorry; of course there's no reason to ever type that, since your browser does it for you when you type "www.bangkokpost.com" but Tim needs to admit he made one error in his lifetime.
The International Telecommunication Union of the United Nations, which doesn't sell any phones or services, announced that there should be a mobile phone charger that will work with any phone; now who would ever have thought of that, without a UN body to wind up a major study on the subject?;the GSM Association estimates that 51,000 tonnes of chargers are made each year in order to keep companies able to have their own unique ones.
The Well, Doh Award of the Week was presented at arm's length to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; the group's deputy secretary-general Petko Draganov said that developing countries will miss some of the stuff available on the Internet if they don't install more broadband infrastructure; a report that used your tax baht to compile said that quite a few people use mobile phones but companies are more likely to invest in countries with excellent broadband connections; no one ever had thought of this before, right?
Sun Microsystems , as a result of the Oracle takeover, said it will allow 3,000 current workers never to bother coming to work again; Sun referred to the losses as "jobs," not people; now the fourth largest server maker in the world, Sun said it lost $2.2 billion in its last fiscal year; European regulators are holding up approval of the Oracle purchase in the hope of getting some money in exchange for not involving Oracle in court cases.
The multi-gazillionaire and very annoying investor Carl Icahn resigned from the board at Yahoo ; he spun it as a vote of confidence, saying current directors are taking the formerly threatened company seriously; Yahoo reported increased profits but smaller revenues in the third quarter.
The US House of Representatives voted to censure Vietnam for jailing bloggers; the non-binding resolution sponsored by southern California congresswoman Loretta Sanchez said the Internet is "a crucial tool for the citizens of Vietnam to be able to exercise their freedom of expression and association;"Hanoi has recently jailed at least nine activists for up to six years apiece for holding pro-democracy banners. Iran jailed blogger Hossein "Hoder" Derakshan for 10 months - in solitary confinement.
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