Virgin Australia Adds In-Flight Mobile Technology

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA ADDS IN-FLIGHT MOBILE TECHNOLOGY

Australian Virgin has used new technology to its aircraft that provide their passengers with in-flight voice calls, SMS, and GPRS (3G) data usage. The airlines 737-800s have been fitted with Aero Mobile’s connectivity technology that will support in-flight phone usage.

Presently, the system is being used for crew communications but the service could easily be switched on for passengers. Unlike Europe and the USA, Australia has already approved in-flight mobile phone usage. This can help Australian carriers increase additional revenues and help make up for the lack of WiFi on many Australian flights.

This system is very easy to use for passengers. Anyone using the service is billed by their carrier as if they were roaming in another country. The service was rumored to be launching earlier this year but was delayed. This may have been connected to interference problems caused by some in-flight WiFi.

HUNTS CAR-BOAT TECHNOLOGY

THE lucky driver of the mystery amphibious car marked on the River Great Ouse newly has spoken to The Hunts Post about his unique experience.

Exclusive rights attorney Paul Hicks, from Papworth, was loan the bright yellow Aquada by its manufacturer Gibbs Technology. Mr. Hicks, who works for Cambridge-based firm Boult Wade Tennant, has helped the British company apply for more than 60 patents to defend the pioneering technology integrated in the wonderful car.

The Hunts Post previous week published the first pictures of the car in the river at St. Ives, taken on June 19, and readers have since been calling us with information.

This incredible picture of the Aquada was captured a week later by amateur photographer Moira Cleland, of Beech Drive, St. Ives, who was cycling along the river with her colleague Nick Boulding when she marked saw it approaching.

Mr. Hicks, who was tracked down by The Hunts Post, said: “I work with the guys at Gibbs Technology. There is a lot of innovative technology concerned in the Aquada to do with its cooling systems, propulsion etc. “It’s a fantastic piece of engineering and it’s nice to see real British engineering in action.”

He explained that the car was exposed to the world’s press in 2003 but added: “It’s not accessible on the open market yet – people can only register their interest.

“It is a fantastic bit of kit. On the river there is a speed limit of four miles per hour so we were limited to what we could do but we have taken it out on a water skiing lake and put it through its paces and did some water skiing with it.

“The car gains a lot of interest wherever it goes. It is amazing to drive on land and on the water. It’s unbelievable fun.”

Entry to the water is via beach, boat ramp, and slipway or directly from the water’s edge and once afloat, the transition from road vehicle to High Speed Amphibian (HSA) is “effortlessly” achieved – the entire driver has to do is press a button and drive into the water. The wheels automatically rise and as you press the accelerator nearly a ton of thrust pushes the Aquada onto the plane. The whole process takes less than 12 seconds and the Aquada can plane at over 30mph.

The website finishes: “The Gibbs Aquada is the ideal leisure vehicle. It combines the adventure of an open top car with the sheer delight experienced in a high performance speedboat.”

SONY PROJECTOR LAMP TECHNOLOGY IN NEW MACHINE

 

The latest projector lamp technology from Sony has been integrated into its new home cinema machine. Film fans can enjoy an outstanding 3D cinematic experience when they buy Sony’s VPL-HW30ES 3D projector. The system is a big step up from Sony’s innovative 3D home theatre projector, the VPL-VW90ES, with images that are three times as brilliant.

The Japanese firm has employed Dynamic Lamp Control Technology to present this boost to the intensity and in doing so, has not only maximized the feature of the 3D image but also improved the efficiency of the projector lamp.

In the meantime, the 3D glasses from Sony are intelligently synchronized with the projector to ensure that each eye is receiving an exact image as audience enjoys their film. Sony’s High Frame Rate SXRD Panel adds to this, submission extraordinarily sharp and dot-free images. They are also 18g lighter than the previous model and offer 30 hours of continuous watching from just a 30 minute charge.

Even the procedure of the VPL-HW30ES projector is planned with home cinema users in mind. Its advanced air discharge system suppresses sound levels to just 22dB, while still delivering a highly proficient cooling system.

K3 Business Technology Boosts Retail Software Arm with Latest acquisition

 

K3 Business Technology, the AIM planned company has advertised enterprise source planning software, hosting and managed services to the provide chain production, has snapped up the Retail Merchandising Partition of Azurri Computer Solutions Ltd. K3 is paying primary £1.0 million in cash for the business with a additional £0.5 million owed dependent on enhance in gross margin generated by Azurri Retail more than the next two years. Shares in K3 were insensitive at 222.5p.

K3 said Azurri Retail was a highly corresponding fit with its own retail software operations, adding up further professional skills, and would be eagerly incorporated into the group. The arrangement is in line with K3’s policy to build frequent revenues and obtain beneficial user basis with important cross-selling opportunities, in particular for its hosting and manage services contribution.

Andy Makeham, the chief executive of K3, said: “I am pleased to have accomplished the achievement of Azurri Retail. We carry on to make stronger recurring revenues by attaining new user bases, where we can also propose extra services and upgrades, and Azurri Retail stand for an exciting occasion to obtain a prominent retail client base. We look ahead to working collectively with our new customers to make sure the continuing successful delivery of their IT necessities.”

For the year to December 2010, Azurri Retail produces sales of £1.0 million and fundamental income of £0.4 million. Over £0.6 million of 2010 revenues were recurring. The company’s customer base comprise a number of major retailers, including Matalan, JJB Sports (LON:JJB) , Littlewoods, Holland & Barratt and the National Trust.

In March this year, K3 gained Clarita Solutions Ltd, a business that sells Microsoft Dynamics NAV ERP explanations to the retail and distribution markets. It also purchases Sense Enterprise Solutions Ltd, which presents Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP solutions to the industrialized and distribution markets. Those agreements followed the achievements of Panacea Ltd and convinced possessions of FD Systems Ltd last November and December respectively. In the six months to December 31, 2010, K3 reported a 5% increase in revenues to £24.68 million and an 8% rise in pre-tax profits to £4.24 million

Updated Samsung laptops coming, Apple in sights

 

Samsung's 11.6-inch ultra portable has been refreshed with more aggressive pricing and Intel Sandy Bridge processors. The refresh presages a similar update from Apple for its MacBook Air, though it ruins to be seen if Apple can competition Samsung's more competitive pricing.

Like Apple, Samsung offers 13.3-inch and 11.6-inch ultraslim, ultralight, aluminum-clad laptops. But Samsung is trying to distinguish itself by keeping ahead of Apple on the performance curve.

Samsung's first 11.6-inch Series 9 model (NP900X1A-A01US) used Intel power-efficient "Nehalem" class Core i series processors and graphics silicon. The latest 11.6-inch offering bumps up to Intel's latest Sandy Bridge power-efficient chips.

That puts Samsung two productions ahead of Apple--at the moment, at least. Apple's modern MacBook Air models house Intel's older Core 2 Duo chip and Nvidia graphics.

Samsung has also upped the size of the largest solid-state drive offering to 128GB, matching the 11.6-inch MacBook Air.

And it trumps the Air in price, to boot. An 11.6-inch Air with a 128GB solid-state drive, 4GB of memory, and a 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo processor is priced at $1,399. Samsung's Sandy Bridge-based model with a similar configuration (see chart below) is priced at $1,249.

Samsung has also refreshed the 13.3-inch Series 9 models with faster Sandy Bridge processors and a larger 256GB solid-state drive. For example, a model (NP900X3A-A05US) with a 256GB solid-state drive, an Intel Core i7 Processor 2617M processor, and 6GB of memory is $2,049. A model (NP900X3A-B02US) with a 256GB SSD, a Core i5 2467M processor, and 4GB of memory is $1,649.

How does Apple stack up? A 13-inch MBA with a 256GB SSD, a 1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, and 2GB of memory, is $1,599.

The refreshed 11.6-inch models will be available in August; the updated 13.3-inch Series 9 is available now.