Gadgets, Computers, and Internet

The operator Verizon Wireless reached an agreement on the acquisition of American telecommunications company Alltel.

As reported in the press release, Verizon Wireless will pay for mobile operator Alltel 5,9 billion dollars. In addition, Verizon Wireless will assume the debt Alltel, which to date amount to 22.2 billion dollars. Thus, the total transaction will reach 28.1 billion dollars, and planned to complete the merger towards the end of this year.

Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of the American telecommunications giant Verizon Communications and a major British operator Vodafone. Currently, the company Verizon Wireless serves in the United States and 67 million subscribers on this indicator yields only operator AT & T, which has a client base of 71.4 million subscribers.

Alltel, in turn, is the fifth largest U.S. roster spot of mobile operators and service the 13 million owners of cellular phones. Thus, after the merger of Verizon Wireless and Alltel total client base of the combined company would be about 80 million subscribers. As a result, Verizon Wireless will become the largest U.S. telecommunications company.

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Developer Mozilla announced the release of the second release candidate of Firefox 3.

Major changes in Firefox 3 Release Candidate 2 in comparison with the first release candidate associated with reliability. The developers have removed bugs found and increased stability of the browser. In addition, the issuance of a new test version expanded list of localized versions of Firefox. Now software is available in the Slovenian language and dialect Sinhala.

Firefox 3 will be the first comprehensive update of the product during the past year and a half. The third version of Firefox implemented many improvements and innovations. In particular, is worth mentioning fully processed bookmarks system called Places, additional funds for security, a download manager with improved functionality and improved engine.

Firefox 3 Release Candidate 2 is aimed at testers. The developers say that with some extensions may manifest problems of incompatibility. Interested parties can download the browser from here. The final version of Firefox 3 is expected to see the light before the end of this month.

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Agency NASA and California Institute of Technology released a snapshot of the enormous size of our Galaxy, made infrared space telescope Spitzer. Mosaic, Husqvarna online at this address, composed of 800 thousand individual images from the infrared array camera (infrared array camera) and multi-photometer (multiband imaging photometer), which is equipped with a telescope.

As noted in comments to the image, green areas indicate the crowding of organics - polycyclic aromatic carbohydrates, blue radiation corresponds to the pictures of stars, red - hottest dust and gases. Regions in which the active formation of new stars, presented as interplay of red and yellow.

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From 7 to 15 June Tushino airfield in the territory will be the largest annual autoshow in Russia "Arena Drive". Visitors are waiting for high-speed race car exhibit, musical performances, contests with the automotive theme and even the world's first kaskadersky spectacle.

Among other entertainment company, Akella "will introduce the game" Moscow Racer "- professional racing simulator for Moscow. The game includes, in combination with a variety of routes, weather and time, 16 trails, identical real sites, for example, Kremlevskomu ring, Kutuzovsky Prospekt, areas of historical buildings, Moscow City and - Rublyovskoye Shosse.

At the stand of "Moscow Racer" will be included six computers, where all the days of the exhibition will demonstrate the newest version of the game. Defender is sponsoring a series of tournaments for the fastest passage of the track. Following each of the tournaments winners will be awarded prizes - the acoustic system Defender I-Wave 45, playing handlebars Defender Challenge Turbo and laser mouse Defender Zurich 750. Also in the plans Defender numerous competitions for visitors autoshow, including karaoke contests.

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The team of researchers under the leadership of Peter Chen Space Flight Center of NASA has developed a special composition of which is planned to manufacture large telescopes, designed for deployment on the Moon. In a hypothetical future, astronomers dream place on the far side of a natural satellite of automatic lunar observatory with powerful optical telescopes, which will not disturb the atmosphere (for lack they have Moon). It is the existence of these telescopes is 20-50 meters in diameter mirror, but delivered with such Earth will not be able to none spacecraft: these mirrors will have to produce on the ground.

Designed Chen and his colleagues composition will be made of carbon nanotubes, epoxy resin and stone crumbs from the lunar dust, reports New Scientist.

Because of the mixture they were able to create 30 - cm disc. Then they added another epoxy resin and covered it in a vacuum metal deposition, thereby obtaining mirror surface.

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On Wednesday, billionaire Carl Ikan sent a letter to Yahoo, which once again accused the company that it had rejected a proposal to purchase from the corporation Microsoft. Microsoft offered for each share Yahoo dollar 31 and then increased the price to 33 dollars. The total transaction could reach 47.5 billion dollars, but the Board of Directors of Yahoo said that the merger would be possible only at the rate of 37 dollars per share. As a result, Microsoft Corporation withdrew a proposal to purchase. In the blog CNET News is the full text of a letter Ikana.

Investor offers shareholders the company to withdraw from the post of executive director of Yahoo Jerry Yang and replace the Board of Directors, because they undermined the confidence of holders of securities and neglected their interests. Incidentally, the intention to propose to replace the board of directors Ikan Yahoo said in mid-May.

Particular discontent caused Ikana plan for the conservation and management of staff Yahoo after purchase, which the investor has become "poisonous pill" and a major obstacle in discussing a possible merger. The term "poisonous Pill" applies to any methods of combating hostile acquisitions in the event of a hostile attempt to absorb the company could take on obligations that would make such an operation too costly.

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Google has announced the expansion of cooperation with the American aerospace agency (NASA). Under the terms of the signed contract, Google-owned leases at NASA Ames Research Center 17 hectares of unused land for the construction of high-tech complex.

It is anticipated that the creation of the new complex will take place in three phases. The first phase of construction should begin in 2013 and will last five years. The second and third phases are scheduled for in 2018 and in 2022 respectively. Along with office buildings and research laboratories in the compound will be located dining rooms, sports grounds, recreational areas, as well as parking. The total area of the center will reach 110 thousand square meters.

The agreement between Google and NASA signed for 40 years, annually for the lease of land search giant would pay 3.66 million dollars. Thus, a total of NASA would be able generated some 150 million dollars, although it is possible that in future the rent would be reviewed. Upon expiration of the agreement Google will be able to extend it for another 50 years.

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Failure at the orbital Machinery Mars Odyssey again difficult relationship with the probe "Phoenix", resulting in soil drilling operation, scheduled for Wednesday, had to be postponed. Last week a similar problem on the orbital vehicle Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter - but it went down only VHF transmitter, which commands transmitted from Earth "Phoenix". Judging from the statement made by NASA, Mars Odyssey has moved into "safe mode" work entirely.

Engineers have already been working to restore the transmitter on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, so that the "Phoenix" will be broadcast through it.

In the near future, "Phoenix" will begin drilling the ground near the landing site and conduct chemical and physical analysis of samples. The first sample was taken as early as last weekend.

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Fair Trade Commission of South Korea imposed a fine on the Intel Corporation for breach of competition law and the use of unfair methods of competition.

As reported by PC World, in the course of investigation by competition authorities found that Intel offered rebates to producers of personal computers in exchange for their agreement not to use processors from AMD. It is noted that Intel has offered exclusive agreement to supply processors company Samsung, as well as the company Trigem Computer.

AMD, remember back in 2005, accused Intel of violating the antimonopoly law. According to AMD, Intel Corporation to put pressure on its partners to force them to abandon procurement processors competitor. In doing so, according to AMD, in the course went bribery, exclusive agreements and other methods. The victims of Intel, is alleged to have such large companies as Dell, Sony, Toshiba, Gateway and Hitachi.

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Agency NASA and California Institute of Technology released a snapshot of the enormous size of our Galaxy, made infrared space telescope Spitzer. Mosaic, Husqvarna online at this address, composed of 800 thousand individual images from the infrared array camera (infrared array camera) and multi-photometer (multiband imaging photometer), which is equipped with a telescope.

Mosaic, composed of images of our Galaxy, made by Spitzer.

As noted in comments to the image, green areas indicate the crowding of organics - polycyclic aromatic carbohydrates, blue radiation corresponds to the pictures of stars, red - hottest dust and gases. Regions in which the active formation of new stars, presented as interplay of red and yellow.

This snapshot caused some surprise among astronomers: a picture is not entirely consistent with previous notions about the structure of Milky Way. Astron Robert Benjamin of the University of Wisconsin in Uaytuotere in an interview with New Scientist and is suggested that our Galaxy is not four as expected so far, a total of two large spiral arms. Benjamin believes that the sleeves that he would take "small", consist mainly of dust and gases and contain only a very small number of stars, while the other two contain sleeves and gas, and stars in large quantities.

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The company Wikia changed work rules from its search engine Wikia Search, located at the stage of testing

Wikia Search Tools earned earlier this year. The service combines software algorithms for sorting results and the work of volunteer moderators. Interested parties can contribute to improving the accuracy of results, removal of "garbage" or sponsored links, the exclusion of inaccuracies and so forth.

Immediately after the launch search engine Wikia Search subjected to harsh criticism from many experts. Experts spoke of extremely low efficiency of service, and generally doubted the success of the whole then as a whole. However, the company Wikia founder Jimmy Wales, also known as the creator of Wikipedia, himself said that to wait any success from the service Wikia Search can be no earlier than two years after its launch.

As reported by eWeek, this week in search of work scheme Wikia Search, some changes were made. Now influence the placement of links in search results can all applicants, not just registered users, as it was before. For each result, you can add annotation or commentary, as well as change its name. From the list, you can delete unwanted links and add to it additional results. In addition, billing permitted rating on a five-point scale.

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The company Yahoo, as reported by CNET News, called the new date for the annual shareholders meeting.

Initially meeting of holders of securities Yahoo was scheduled for July 3. However, about two weeks ago the company decided to move the event to a later date. According to observers, this was done primarily to buy time and develop the best tactics protection from shareholders. The fact is that many holders of securities Yahoo extremely unhappy that the company's board of directors rejected the proposal to purchase from the corporation Microsoft, which offers Yahoo for nearly 48 billion dollars.

Against Yahoo has already filed several lawsuits alleged that the leadership of the company, leading negotiations with Microsoft, intended primarily its own interests, rather than the interests of shareholders. A famous billionaire Carl Ikan, which owns about 4% of securities Yahoo, intends to make the change of board of directors of the company and resume negotiations with Microsoft.

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As it became known this week, Microsoft Corporation has made an informal proposal on the purchase of Yahoo back in January 2007. This information, reported Agency France Presse, surfaced during the consideration of collective action, is against the leadership of Yahoo in connection with the abandonment of the merger with Microsoft.

Microsoft openly offered to absorb Yahoo about four months ago. First, for each share Yahoo Corporation offered 31 dollar, and then raised the price to 33 dollars. The amount of the transaction could reach 47.5 billion, but Yahoo felt that figure insufficient and refused. As a result, Microsoft withdrew a proposal to purchase, but against the Yahoo board of directors, headed by Jerry Young sprinkled accusations from disgruntled shareholders, considering that the leadership of Internet companies missed bargain. Later billionaire Carl Ikan, which owns about 4% of securities Yahoo, announced the intention to propose replacing the board of directors of the company.

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In Tuesday, June 3 in Orlando (Florida, USA) opened an annual conference of Microsoft Tech-Ed 2008, targeting software developers and technicians.

He opened Tech-Ed conference founder of Microsoft Corporation Bill Gates. During the speech Gates stressed that over the past 30 years the corporation has done tremendous work, and like technology. NET Framework now allow the creation of products, which in times of DOS operating system no one could think.

Gates stressed that this week should see the light of the second beta 2 Silverlight platform designed to work with interactive Web applications. In Silverlight 2 realized improved support network protocols, there were four dozen additional controls and a number of innovative features, in particular, the system scalability Deep Zoom.

In addition, the founder of Microsoft promised that in August will be released the second beta version of Internet Explorer 8. In IE 8, along with expansions of security means there will be a new context menu Activities to work with objects on the web page, improved panel selected links, a means of recovering after crash taboo Automatic Crash Recovery System and WebSlices, allowing receive notice of any changes to the selected page. The final version changed the eighth Internet Explorer, is expected to appear later this year.

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As reported by The Register, group human rights organizations, including the World Privacy Forum, Electronic Privacy Information Center and the American Union for Civil Liberties, sent an open letter headed Google Eric Schmidt.

The message notes that the home page search engine does not meet the requirements of California Law on the Protection of confidential information on the Internet (Online Privacy Protection Act - OPPA). According to the norms OPPA, operating since 2003, on the main page of each site to collect information about users must explicitly refers to attend privacy policy. Detect this information on Google can, in a section on "All About Google". On the main page link is missing.

In Google convinced that there is nothing objectionable, because if you want to get information about the rules for storage of personal information is not difficult. In the end, for their discovery and can use the search box on the homepage. The lack of reference to the main page one of Google founders Larry Page explains quite simply: in his view, it would port concise design homepage search engine.

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