November 16, 2005, 7:46 PM PST
See Microsoft Office 12 here first
Posted by: Elsa Wenzel

What will the next Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and Publisher look like? Find our complete coverage of Microsoft Office 12 (beta 1) here, with links to dozens of pictures of the individual apps. This next generation of the Microsoft Office system isn't expected to reach the public until late in 2006, but testers started looking at the early beta versions of these aps today.

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November 16, 2005, 6:26 PM PST
A better Rokr?
Posted by: Kent German

Business Week reported today that Motorola and Cingular are collaborating on a revamped Motorola Rokr E1. Though the fabled "iTunes phone" was introduced to huge fanfare in September, the Rokr E1 stumbled out of the gate due to an uninspiring design, limited features, and a paltry 100-song limit. Plus, it didn't help that Apple unveiled the iPod Nano the same day. According to Business Week, Motorola has delivered 500,000 Rokr E1s, and the company denies reports of rampant returns. Still, Motorola is apparently learning from its mistakes and next year will roll out an upgrade to the phone that includes a megapixel camera; a 1,000-song memory; and a sleeker, sexier design. It's unclear, however, whether the new Rokr E1 will have iTunes compatibility.

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November 16, 2005, 5:15 PM PST
Google Base is live! Go...do stuff!
Posted by: Molly Wood

Google Base went live (in beta) this week, leading us all to wonder in a slightly more official capacity, "What is this for?" Google says it's not a Craigslist, and it's not an eBay, and it's not commercial in nature. It's just there for you to put stuff there--no reason! Why are you acting so suspicious? Put stuff there!

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November 16, 2005, 5:11 PM PST
Sony's cure officially worse than the disease
Posted by: Molly Wood

A security company says it's found several Web sites that exploit the vulnerability created by the uninstaller for the Sony BMG copy-protected root kit. However, security experts say the sites don't cause much damage and seem to just be making a point. Yeah, said Sony BMG. Thanks. Point well taken. Really.

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November 16, 2005, 12:34 PM PST
GM's hybrid play
Posted by: Wayne Cunningham

Now that the success of Toyota's Prius has proven that hybrids are more than a fad, GM has announced an extensive plan to launch its own hybrids through the rest of the decade. To be fair, GM already has a hybrid power train in city buses and a light hybrid in its Chevy Silverado. But next year will see the Saturn Vue Green Line, an SUV hybrid that will be launched at the Detroit Auto Show. A hybrid Chevy Malibu will follow in 2007. The hybrid system will get the Vue somewhere between 10 to 25 percent better mileage than its conventional counterpart; GM isn't releasing the actual number yet. The system relies on a motor/generator mounted on the side of the engine, a nickel metal hydride battery behind the rear seat, as well as a few other components. It's not incredibly sophisticated, but GM claims the hybrid versions of the Vue and Malibu won't cost much more than the conventional versions, making it a very affordable hybrid that pays for itself with reduced gas consumption.

On the technology front, the more interesting news is GM's two-mode hybrid system, which will be rolled out in the 2007 Tahoe and Yukon, then into the 2008 Silverado and Sierra. Whereas the hybrid system for the Vue and the Malibu is front-wheel drive only, the two-mode system can be rear-, front-, or all-wheel drive. It uses two 60-kilowatt motors integrated with an electrically variable transmission, delivering a 25 percent increase in mileage. It's called two mode because it has separate running modes for low and high speeds to maximize efficiency. The two-mode hybrid is definitely something to pay attention to, because GM is partnering with DaimlerChrysler and BMW in its development, meaning that the system heralds the launch of hybrid Chryslers, Mercedes-Benzes, and BMWs.

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November 16, 2005, 12:34 PM PST
Traffic wars
Posted by: Wayne Cunningham

At last week's Intelligent Transport Systems show, I saw a lot of efforts in addressing traffic congestion. XM Satellite Radio had a large booth; it offers a traffic-information channel that feeds into navigation systems, such as Garmin's GPS devices. But two companies that you've most likely never heard of announced a partnership that promises to make a huge impact on what kind of traffic information you get in your car. One of the companies, Telcontar, makes the servers that deliver maps for such clients as Google, Yahoo, and Ask Jeeves. Telcontar can also serve maps via wireless devices such as cell phones and PDAs. The second company, Inrix, is a Microsoft spin-off that gathers traffic information. Beyond aggregating real-time traffic information from local road authorities, Inrix is working on using location data from GPS devices and cell phones to get information about areas that don't have road sensors. The company also banks a lot on traffic prediction, looking at historic patterns to determine if a particular road is likely to be congested at a particular time.

I believe that traffic information and routing will be the killer app for navigation devices. Currently, you need a nav system only if you go to unfamiliar places--the majority of driving is done during a daily commute, where a nav system isn't needed. Add traffic information to it, and suddenly the nav system is useful at all times. Current nav systems are hard drive or DVD based. Telcontar wants to push wireless systems. I have seen cell phones with a navigation app, but the screen is small, so it tends to be good for routing information only, telling you when to take the next turn. A wireless navigation device would be interesting because it wouldn't need much storage if it could download maps dynamically, depending on where you are headed. Storage is one of the components that keeps the price of navigation devices high. But when you leave a wireless-coverage area, you won't get maps updated and could be left high and dry. Since traffic information is currently limited to freeways, which do tend to have wireless coverage, any wireless navigation device would probably be useful only in urban areas.

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November 16, 2005, 11:10 AM PST
Blog, but carefully
Posted by: Dorian Benkoil

We've been debating ourselves (I'm not schizophrenic, and neither am I) about blogs, and today we see some good counsel from Business Week on starting a blog to help your business but doing it carefully so that it actually helps.

Yes, do a blog, the magazine says, but make sure you're not posting secrets or revealing damaging info--and make sure others' comments on the blog also aren't doing you harm.

"Set out guidelines to keep the blogs free of trade secrets, inside information, or libel," as well as spam and porn, the mag writes. It also cautions about liability: "Employees and executives who aren't attorneys just don't realize how they're putting themselves at risk," it quotes one consultant as observing. And it suggests getting an expert to lay out risks particular to your business, recommending the nonprofit group Pro-Bloggers as a place to start.

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November 16, 2005, 10:23 AM PST
Asus introduces GPS-enabled PDAs
Posted by: Bonnie Cha

Move over, Garmin iQue M series, there are a couple of new kids in town who want to challenge you to a duel. The MyPal A636 and the MyPal A632 are the latest PDAs from Asus, but unlike the company's previous Pocket PCs (the MyPal A730 and the MyPal A716), these two models have integrated GPS receivers so that you can navigate and organize on one device. The A636 ($599) and the A632 ($549) feature the latest Windows Mobile 5 operating system, Bluetooth, 128MB of flash ROM and 64MB of SDRAM, and an SDIO/MMC expansion slot. The A636 will have built-in Wi-Fi, while the A632 will not. Both devices also boast the latest SiRF Star III GPS chipset and a swiveling antenna that you can adjust for better reception. It's not certain when they will be available but check back soon for updates.

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November 16, 2005, 10:08 AM PST
Jens of Sweden back
Posted by: James Kim

Those sneaky Scandanavians--Jens of Sweden (JOS) is back in the news with the announcement of a new weatherproof MP3 player. The last announcement a few months back stated its intention to close down shop.

According to JOS, the MP-X is the "first MP3 player adapted to the Scandinavian weather." The thoughtfully designed flash-based player is lightweight and durable, thanks to its rubber body. Oh yeah, and it doesn't have a display.

JOS now has a new Web site that allows purchase of the player in the United States. Prices are $102.81 for the 1GB version and $82.14 for the 512MB version.

More MP-X specs:

• Sound format: MP3, WMA, ASF, and Ogg Vorbis music files.
• Internal lithium-polymer battery with about 12 hours of playing time, loaded through the computer, as well as an internal USB 2.0 high-speed port, compatible with USB 1.1.
• System requirements for the computer include Windows 98 SE/ME/2000/XP, a USB port, and 128MB of RAM minimum; Macintosh: OS 9.2 or later.
• 20mW + 20mW effect to be compared to MP120 18mW + 18mW.
• DRM support for PD-DRM 9.0, Xsync, and MediaRose.
• Six equalizer settings in order to optimize the sound.
• Dimensions are 54mm by 43mm by 11mm.
• MP-X is delivered with a USB cable, and optional accessories are available on www.jensofsweden.com.

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November 16, 2005, 7:49 AM PST
Mind your business
Posted by: Dorian Benkoil

A few folks around the Web today are pointing to the new Mind Your Own Business Web site constructed by the Small Business Administration. While it's not visually beautiful, it has good step-by-step navigation that takes you through the stages of conceiving and launching a business, with the kinds of tips entrepreneurial books and courses have, such as: evaluate whether you're the right type of person, decide on the business, do some marketing, get the right people, and so on.

It's written for teenagers, which I like because that means it's simple enough for even me to understand, and it's full of links to outside resources. It's also noncommercial, unlike other sites such as bplans.com, which also has a lot of good advice and sample business plans but ultimately is trying to get you to drop some loot on its business plan product.

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