Eric Schmidt says North Korea must open up to internet as visit ends

GOOGLE - Google's executive chairman, Eric Schmidt, has warned North Korea that the risk of further isolation and economic decline rapidly unless loosening its grip on access to the internet.

Speaking in Beijing at the end of a four-day visit to North Korea by Bill Richardson, former governor of New Mexico, Schmidt said the regime will fall further behind the rest of the world except for widening access to the internet and mobile phones among 24 million people.

"As the world becomes increasingly connected, their decision to virtually isolated very much will affect their physical world, economic growth and so on, and it will make it harder for them to catch up economically.

"We made a very clear alternative," Schmidt said at the end of the trip that the U.S. State Department have criticized as "unhelpful" for trying to pressure the regime to abandon nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

"Once the internet started, people in a country can build on it, but the government must do something," Schmidt told reporters at Beijing airport. "They should allow people to use the internet, where the government of North Korea is not doing their choices now., And in my view it is time now for them to start or they will stay behind."

Schmidt and Richardson did not answer criticism of Washington from their visit to Pyongyang, where they met government officials, scientists, software engineers and students, saying only that it was a very personal journey and humanity.

Richardson, who has made several trips to North Korea, said he urged the regime to end missile and nuclear weapons programs. "It is important for the steps to be taken to ease tensions on the peninsula."

He also asked the authorities to ensure that Kenneth Bae, a U.S. citizen in custody of North Korea, who are treated humanely. "We were told that his health is good, that the judicial process will start soon," said Richardson. "That was encouraging." He was not able to meet Bae, who has been charged with crimes against the state is not specified.

The couple said they also "strongly" urged the North Korean government to open up access to the internet and cell phones and relaxing strict controls on its use by a small minority of elite residents.

"The Internet is vital to the welfare of the North Korean people, to expand mobile technology, to expand the use of mobile phones," said Richardson.

Schmidt, to date the highest-ranking U.S. business executives to visit the secret state, has been guarded about the purpose of his visit. Some analysts have suggested he used the commitment to freedom online as a means to expand the global reach of Google, even if it includes the world's darkest, most repressive corners.

Internet traffic, even in poor countries such as North Korea, could eventually mean more opportunities to sell digital advertising, which makes up the bulk of Google's $ 50 billion (£ 31bn) in annual revenues.

Schmidt, however, insisted that he had joined the U.S. delegation in a private capacity. "It was a personal visit to North Korea, to talk about a free and open internet., And they show up and listen to us and asked us many questions," he said.

Companies can benefit from the relaxation of internet access in North Korea, however. State leader, Kim Jong-un, has shown some signs of relaxing strict controls on civilian life imposed by his father and grandfather, but make a point of emphasizing science and technology during a rare public address on New Year's Day.

In the same address, Kim, who turned 30 this week, said he would make a priority of developing the country's economy this year, and urged residents to improve their knowledge of technology as a means to achieve that goal.

Currently only a small portion of the population has access to the internet, and most of the 1.5m mobile phones in the hands of the country's political elite, military and commercial.

"There's internet and intranet monitored, supervised the people are not allowed to use the internet without someone else watching them, it turns out," Schmidt said. "There's a private intranet network in North Korea that connects their university."

North Korea's intranet has its own website up and running using Internet technology but does not interact with the rest of the world. A small number of people - usually government officials, people who worked in the propaganda division, senior scientist and several students - has been limited, and most likely monitored, access.

North Korea experts said the technology controversial visit Schmidt is not likely to generate significant opportunities for both sides.

Martyn Williams, who runs the blog Tech Korea, Schmidt said in the regime's interest is part of a broader appeal with countries around the world where internet access is prohibited or restricted, adding that his message to the disclosure was not likely to have much impact.

"If something does not come out of the visit, it may be a small step, such a problem to get a modern PC to university I was a little limited in what they can do as the U.S. high-tech companies .. As for Google to make money there, I think it's still far away."

Williams said it would be "politically" difficult for Google to operate any services in North Korea coincides with more freedom than the ordinary citizen.

"We're not just talking about stopping people who read certain websites," he said. "In North Korea the wrong email or web site may lead to tougher penalties for the sender or the browser, so I do not think I could take the risk associated in any way with the natural action by the regime."

Schmidt, who was accompanied by Jared Cohen, director of the company's in-house think tank, Google Ideas, toured Korea Computer Center in Pyongyang, and asked a local expert on the new computer tablet Samjiyon country and its Red Star operating system.

He and Richardson also learn about software data encryption North Korea, facial recognition software, a software video chatrooms and instant messaging services.

John Bolton, U.S. ambassador to the UN during the last Bush administration, said Schmidt and Richardson have been used by the North Korean regime to enhance international legitimacy.

They "have joined the long list of Americans and others used by the Kim family dictatorship for political advantage," Bolton wrote in the New York Daily News.

"North Korea has repeatedly welcomed prominent American to help enhance its position It is seeking direct talks with Washington, in a distorted vision of the leadership of the nation, this will lead to full diplomatic recognition and 'equal' status in the world .."

Richardson said other countries in the region needed to move towards a new bilateral relationship with the north to relieve the tension. "We think it's important that the north-south dialogue will be revived, and we think it's important that the United States and North Korea began to experience positive bilateral talks," he said. "We need dialogue, not confrontation, on the peninsula."

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Larry Page takes a swipe at Facebook and Apple

GOOGLE - Google CEO Larry Page has taken a swipe at Facebook and Apple, claiming the social networking giant "do the job really bad on their products" and that the limited range of products the iPhone maker is "unsatisfactory".

In an interview with Wired magazine, done years ago before Facebook has launched a new Graph Search tool, Page, 39, said Steven Levy that he wants the company he founded to come up with ideas that "shot the moon" - such as a car that can Self drive is now being introduced in some U.S. states - and that he is not worried about breaking the law in some cases if the result is a better product.

He was also critical of the tech press, saying that "the story is written as if they [reporters] that includes sporting events but it is difficult to find actual examples of the things that is really amazing is happening simply because the competition .."

In a swipe at Facebook, he said that although the company is strong in the social space, "they also do the job really bad on their products ... we are actually doing something different [from Facebook] I think. Was outrageous to said that there was room for only one firm in the regions. "He compares the point where Google started as a search company in 1997 and told the crowded market for other businesses have offered. "We said, 'We are a search company, but we're doing something different.'"

Although he did not specify what aspects of the product Facebook is "really bad", the page may signal problems of social networks has over privacy settings - Google's familiar with the area, which has been tied up for the past 20 years by the Federal Trade Commission for failing to respect privacy user when setting up the company Google Buzz network in 2010.

Many people see Google+ as Google's attempt to build a social network rival Facebook, though it works better as a "glue" that binds together the search for users and activity on the site Google some - though it also offers Facebook friend-like "Circles" to connect to your friends and others.

Although Vic Gundotra of Google already claims to have 500m registered users - compared to more than a billion for Facebook - a lot of them seem to have come up with the default settings rather than active creation account, as was the case on Facebook. Even Google's own Data indicate a relatively low involvement, with about 125 million use it regularly. Google has not broken out specific data on how many people use social elements Google+ to share information every day or month - which means there is a simple comparison can be made with Facebook.

But Page said of Google: "I am very pleased with how it has gone ... a lot has been copied by our competitors, so I think we did a good job." He did not specify what part has been copied.

Apple, Page indicated that he has no ambition to change the world. "You know, we always have the debate: we have all this money, we have all these people, why are not we doing more things that you might say that Apple just did a number of very, very small things, and it worked? pretty well for them. But I found that was not satisfactory. "

Instead he wants to work for Google "images months" that will change the world. He pointed to the introduction of Google's Gmail product in 2003, which offers 1GB of free storage - a staggering amount and price of the market, where the web provider like Hotmail Microsoft has offered a small amount of storage and a paid upgrade.

"I was worried that something was wrong with the way we run the company ... it's always about competition."

He said that most companies rotten from time to time because they "do what they are about to do before, with a few changes." Additional changes such as, he says, "is guaranteed to be obsolete from time to time."

The key message is that "there is every chance in the world that uses technology to make people's lives better".

He revealed that when he was a kid he wanted to be an inventor, but then realized that a lot had a happy life, quoting Nikola Tesla, who first worked with and then broke away from Thomas Edison, two years later they spent fighting the best method for distributing power electricity.

He thinks that there is a gap in the business today: "We do not teach people how to identify projects that are difficult" that will have the most impact.

He said he wanted to build a self-driving car when he was at Stanford University in 1996-7. "The only thing that changed [to make them real] is that we have the guts to actually do it."

But he also showed that he was not afraid to stomp what existing law may say its purpose. Levy points to the example of Google Book Search, which scanned and stored the contents of the book - which is still under copyright, without the necessary permission of the author. Page said: "Show me a company that failed due to litigation ... Companies fail because they do things that are wrong or they are not ambitious, not because of litigation or competition."

He suggests that Google is, in effect, illegal when it starts:. "When we started Google, it's not really clear that what we do will not get set go Remember, at that time, people argue that making a copy of a file in the computer's memory is a violation of copyright We put the web on our server , so if that's true, bye-bye a search engine .. "

Also do not worry about the page the ongoing litigation in the smartphone market, where Apple and Microsoft has sued a number of handset makers using Google's Android mobile software, and Page himself had to testify in a court case last year brought by Oracle over alleged patent and copyright violations in Android. Oracle claims rejected by the jury.

Steve Jobs Asked about the threat to go to "thermonuclear war" on what he saw as a copy in Android, Page replied: "How well is that working?" In determining whether the share of Android is to Apple, he sidesteps the question, responding that "Android has been very successful, and we are very excited about it".

According to analysts, Android power about 70% of all smartphones sold in the world, although there are wide regional variations: Android dominates in China, with two variants of Google and non-Google approved taking about 90%, whereas in the U.S. smartphone running android now sell about the same as Apple's iPhone.

Page explained that in buying Android, a mobile software company run by Andy Rubin, in 2005, "it was pretty clear [then] that the existing operating systems that horrible phone you can not write software for them .. So I do not think that bet on Android is that big a stretch. "

Apple's decision to remove the default Google Maps for iPhone, Page declined to comment directly on the action Apple - may indicate the value of having a Google search as the default on this platform - but added: "You may have the greatest maps in the world, but if no one uses them, do not care. "He suggested that the way the mobile platform, especially the means of a more closed that" the company is trying to wall off everything, and that hinder the pace of innovation. "

Looking ahead, he pointed out that in the next five to ten years of real broken glass now covers our smartphones will have been replaced with something less fragile. "There will be many changes." Samsung has shown flexible cell phone screens that can be bent at a right angle.

Page warned that some of the proposed legislation and regulations, such as the controversial SOPA Act, means "we millimeters away from the set [Internet] out of existence". The principle of the Internet, he suggests, is "attacked much larger than in the past the Government is now more afraid internet as the Middle East [Arab Spring]., And so they're a little more willing to listen to what I see as many commercial interests who just want to make money by limiting the freedom of the people. "

But he added that the response to SOPA, which saw protests online and physically, suggesting that "the government against freedom of users' harm themselves."

He even watched as Google - which in September 2012 had 53 000 employees - can grow with the staff million. "Whatever measurable," Page said - although he admitted that his company is now moving TGIF (Thank God It's Friday) meeting, where senior executives made themselves available to talk to staff about any topic, from Friday to Thursday so staff Asia office can take part.

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Website Sells Fake Facebook Girlfriends

FACEBOOK- Facebook has changed radically, perhaps some people say it was destroyed. Relationships and break up now public information, the first date have lost their mystery because stalking Facebook preemptive, and once-stable relationships threatened by flirty wall posts.

Now, in the dating landscape changed, Brazilian website seems to have identified a niche for profit potential. What products do they Offer? fake girlfriend on facebook.

Premises only $39, NamoroFake.com.br will make your Facebook profile to your girlfriend that includes commentary and very important "relationship status" change for thirty days. Or that only have the money for $35 will buy you a fake ex-girlfriend.

"Impress your friends," says the website. "Get confidence with women." Indeed they trade in virtual fraud might find allies in NamoroFake.

So hiring the right fake Facebook girlfriend for you? The website shows a number of possible reasons for renting a fake fire. Pure desperation does not make the list.

"Sometimes having a fake girlfriend on the Internet can help increase your popularity in women and increase your self-esteem," says the website.

"Sometimes people need to hire a fake girlfriend to make a jealous ex-boyfriend jealous. Actually, we have a lot of clients for that reason," it said. "After a breakup, ex boyfriend wants to show that they've had with other people to feel good. One quick way to do this is to hire a fake girlfriend to keep up appearances."

The justification need not be entirely limited to jealousy or "keep up appearances," suggests the site. Maybe your family pressure you to settle down with someone and you need a quick fix to get them off your back. If so, NamoroFake possible solution.

In order to strengthen the ranks of the fake boyfriend, the website is inviting women to submit their profiles, and the incentive of 50 percent profit sharing incentive. There are currently no Facebook fake girlfriend for rent, even though the site says it has plans to offer them in the future.

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The New MySpace

MYSPACE - MySpace users will find the site and the latest redikal would indeed confusing

MySpace recently would seem to be two things: a confusing mess for existing users and new users might. Basically this is a promotion for the music star Justin Timberlake, one of the major investors in the site.

Splash screen presents a giant Timberlake and opportunity to login, or to register. Existing users can login with a username and password, and new users can create a new account or log in using another social-media networks such as Facebook or Twitter. In all cases, after the opening screen with a picture of a giant Timberlake, the user will be taken to a page with a picture of a little less than Timberlake. Second page mentions her new single, "Suit & Tie."

Users may be confused when they try to find other users on what was supposed to be a social network, though other directed "music discovery"-the original mission MySpace way back when it first started a decade ago.

Search in people who are known to have an active user account does not produce hits, although some quests will offer a "hit" on the musical artists featured on the site, but no clue why these results appear.

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Facebook Enables Free iPhone Voice Calls

FACEBOOK - Press technology began buzzing earlier this month with reports that Facebook plans to add VoIP (voice over IP) calls to Messenger for iPhone application. New features officially arrived Tuesday, when Facebook released an update to the application.

Facebook app transmits calls using a broadband connection on your phone, whatever it is - 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi. Instead of consuming your monthly voice minutes given by your service provider, it takes a megabyte of data packets you. It was a boon for heavy speaker with an unlimited data plan.

This is nothing new or groundbreaking technology: Skype did that long before Facebook. Facebook has more active users than Skype, though, and the lure to use less of the network or the application will appeal to some (seems to be a lot).

But this can not be for all, at this time would seriously limited.

Your phone will not remind you that way when you have a normal call: Facebook calls only appears as a push notification. And now, you can only connect with a friend who also had a conversation on the iPhone Messenger installed them.

You tidakdapat call a Facebook friend who log in through the website, and there is no way to place a call to a phone-digit number. Calling is still absent from the version of Android and the BlackBerry Messenger application.

There is a good reason for their omission. VoIP features in the web version of Facebook was built by using Skype technology, while the technology is all the calling Messenger Facebook. The ability to place and receive calls using traditional phone numbers require telecommunications resources Facebook does not have (at the moment, at least).

For now, services like Google Voice and Skype has legs, given a large set of features. But Facebook generally does not allow anything to remain in the state for long. as we know that facebook would rather start with a little, and continue to refine its products. Expect the same with voice calls.

And unlike Google Voice and Skype (owned by Microsoft), Facebook is the platform 100% neutral. Facebook does not care if you use the app on iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry or something crazy like Ubuntu.

In a time when every company keep the best features of the product to the mobile ecosystem itself, Facebook has a chance to instantly win both competitions and build-killing voice telecommunications services.

It will be really interesting.

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HTC raises specific products to Burma

HTC - Taiwan-based mobile phone company, HTC became the most recent company to enter the telecom market as the Burmese government to open economic policy of the country.



HTC started launching smart phone product is officially on the market in Burma on Monday. January, 14. HTC mobile phone production for the citizens of the country will be equipped with a choice of using the Burmese alphabet on the keyboard fingers. HTC said that this feature will be one value to their smart phone production in Burma.


Burma is known as one of the countries with the number of mobile phone users among the lowest in the world. However, the country is considered to be a promising market for phone manufacturers after year the Burmese government began to reform and open up their economies.

Previous for more than a decade of government headed by Burma's military junta and socially isolated internationally. The report says that the world telecom Burma is still underdeveloped and rely on cell phone service to the two telecommunications companies in the country.

HTC

The Burmese government has tried to encourage the development of markets these products through a number of measures such as cutting the price of mobile phone cards.

But the move was not getting the results mean for mobile phone card rates still considered too expensive for most citizens of Burma. The World Bank said that in 2011 only three percent of the population in Burma who have mobile phones. HTC is not their first smart phone merchant who tried to open the Burma market.

Samsung and Huawei had previously led the market in the country with their lower-priced products. HTC hopes they can attract buyers in Burma with features such as touch-display boards typical alphabet country.

"My aspiration is to be able to create a form of innovative smart phones, and offers compatibility with Myanmar language, so that people in Myanmar can comfortably communicate with ease and simplicity," said HTC CEO who was also born and raised in Burma, Peter Chou.

Unlike countries in Southeast Asia, Burma does not have an approved international standards in the use of symbols and language makes its own difficulties in integrating with existing software.

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Windows Live Messenger is closed March 15

MICROSOFT - Microsoft will officially close the Windows Live Messenger service on March 15.

On 15 march Windows Live Messenger is not accessible anymore and had to switch to Skype users, Microsoft said in an e-mail sent to all users of Messenger. In electronic mail, Microsoft also encourages users to use and familiarize yourself with the Skype service before the transition begins.

Switching on the internet chat service - Windows Live Messenger - is a consequence of Microsoft's acquisition of Skype in October 2011 to a value of $ 8.5 billion. In November 2012, Microsoft has announced plans to close Live Messenger service in early 2013.

MSN

To help transition users before March 15, Microsoft has added the update button in the Live Messenger that will switch to Skype Messenger.

Windows Live Messenger, known as MSN Messenger was first launched in 1999. This service is believed to be used about 300 million people each month.


China will be the only country that will continue to operate the Messenger, because it is run under license.

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Facebook Graph Search hands-on: a brand new social search

According to our source who has got a chance to play with the new Facebook Graph Search with our personal account, and it's definitely not a small addition to the site. Top overall menubar has been redesigned, with universal search pinned to the upper left, and friend requests, messages and notifications button to move to the far right of the screen. Similarly, you'll see a subtle tweak to its iconic design and coloring. But most importantly: ".

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Facebook tackles Google, LinkedIn, Yelp, and its own huge database with Graph Search

Introduced what he called the "third pillar" of the current ecosystem of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg insisted: "Search Graph not to search the web," said the CEO of Facebook. The implication is that it offers something that will be different from the users of the products and other search features current Facebook, and technically it may be much more difficult.

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