PHAROS ANNOUNCES OSTIA SMART NAVIGATOR RELEASE
Pharos Science & Applications, Inc, has announced the availability of an enhanced version of its award-winning routing and navigation software program featuring the latest digital maps, map download via the Internet, a three-dimensional street navigation screen, and other enhancements.
The product, Ostia Smart Navigator version 7.0, is the operating system behind Pharos' growing line of navigation products, including the popular Pocket GPS Navigator for Pocket PC personal digital assistants, and the company's newly launched EZ Road all-in-one, portable GPS navigation device for drivers. Ostia also serves as the enabling software for Pharos' suite of Web-based location services, which includes Smart Navigator routing and navigation, Smart Finder dynamic points-of-interest lookup, and Smart Traffic real-time traffic information.
Several key new features have been added to Ostia Smart Navigator to enhance the user's navigation experience, improve the overall performance of the software and make the product even easier to use. Primary new features include
* Smart Mapper, which downloads digital maps directly from Pharos' Web server via Wi-Fi hotspot;
* Map 5.0, the latest digital map revision from map provider TeleAtlas;
* Geographic compatibility across the United States, Canada, and Europe, including an automatic change from miles to kilometers, where appropriate;
* Three-dimensional, on-screen map view gives drivers a "bird's-eye view" of the road ahead;
* Ability to navigate seamlessly across maps, even on multistop routes;
* Soft-key menu buttons for easier and faster function selection;
* Ability to switch between portrait and landscape screen orientation (2003 edition Pocket PCs and later);
* Export trip log in a text file for reports and business management; and
* Save and export favorite locations to a PC or laptop from a Pocket PC.
The Smart Navigator component in Ostia drives the first service to integrate real-time traffic data (Smart Traffic) and dynamic points-of-interest lookup (Smart Finder) with the device's actual position and planned route. Subscribers to Smart Navigator can create travel routes, receive voice-, text-, and graphics-prompted driving instructions; follow and react to real-time traffic information specific to their location; and designate and navigate to nearby banks, hotels, restaurants, Internet hotspots, or other local businesses or venues.
Ostia Smart Navigator 7.0 with TeleAtlas digital maps retails for $119.95, and Ostia Smart Navigator 7.0 with Navteq digital maps retails for $149.95. All Pharos navigation products shipped after December 1, 2004, contain the new 7.0 version of Ostia Smart Navigator. Registered users of older versions of Ostia Smart Navigator can visit the company's Web site at http://www.pharosgps.com for information on upgrading to this new version.
Pharos Science & Applications, Inc, provides portable GPS navigation and location-based services for a variety of markets, and the company won several awards for innovative applications in 2004. For more information, visit http://www.pharosgps.com.
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VoodooPC ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF WORLD'S FIRST FANLESS HOME THEATER ENTERTAINMENT PC
VoodooPC, a maker of high-performance computer gaming systems, has announced the Voodoo VIBE f:50, a fanless home theater entertainment computer, which they describe as "deadly silent." The VIBE f:50 is designed to plug into any home theater system and provide the capability to play back slide shows, digital video, DVD movies, and digital audio. Dual TV Tuners allow the user to record two television channels at once, or watch/record/rewind/pause live TV while recording other channels. The VIBE f:50 can also function as a gaming PC, and will display any PC game at the highest resolutions on any home theater.
Voodoo VIBE f:50 also allows the user to capture, personalize, and share home movies with more than 100 transitions and effects, and includes DVD-burning support. Smart Jukebox allows digital audio playback while viewing album detail without having to shuffle through thousands of CDs to find a certain song; users can simply point and click. There is also a party mode that turns a PC into a jukebox, complete with a song request list, visual song title, announcements, an interactive guestbook, and new effects and features.
In addition to these media functions, VIBE f:50 supports full 7.1 audio, 2048 x 1536 display resolution, dual television tuners, added ports for synchronizing digital music players and other devices, Bluetooth wireless technology for communication with cellular phones, a cordless keyboard and mouse, and, claims Voodoo, "the most immersive gaming experience ever." The VIBE f:50 allows up to 1.2 terabytes of storage for TV shows, digital audio files, and photos.
Voodoo's Web site allows customers to design their own VIBE f:50 by selecting from a menu that displays pictures and detailed information on each component.
For more information on the Voodoo VIBE f:50, or to configure one, visit http://www.voodoopc.com.
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INDIANA UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES WEB COURSE SCHEDULE FOR 2005
Indiana University School of Nursing's Office of Lifelong Learning is offering the following courses in 2005:
"E-Learning for Staff Educators"
June 13-July 1, 2005
October 17-November 4, 2005
Teaching and Learning in Web-based Courses: A Web-based Professional Certificate Program: (four courses)
"Getting Started-An Introduction to Choosing and Using Web Course Management Software"
June 6-12, 2005
September 12-18, 2005
"Designing Web-based Courses"
June 20-27, 2005
September 26-October 3, 2005
"Teaching and Evaluation in Web-based Courses"
July 11-17, 2005
October 17-23, 2005
"Practicum-The Development of a Web-based Course"
July 25-August 19, 2005
October 31-December 2, 2005
For more information on these and other educational opportunities, please visit the Web site http://nursing.iupui.edu/lifelonglearning.
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NEW PEW SURVEYS ON THE INTERNET
Two recent Pew Internet & American Life Project surveys report that technology leaders, scholars, industry officials, and analysts expect attacks on the network infrastructure in the coming decade as the Internet becomes more embedded in everyday and commercial life, and that artists and musicians are enthusiastic Internet users and they believe the Internet helps them make and sell their work.
Some 66% of the 1286 technology experts surveyed by the Pew Internet & American Life Project and Elon University agreed with the following prediction: At least 1 devastating attack will occur in the next 10 years on the networked information infrastructure or the country's power grid. There was also notable agreement that the Internet will be more deeply integrated into the physical environment and high-speed connections will proliferate, with mixed results. In addition, the dawning of the Web log (blog) era will bring a radical change to the news and publishing industry, while the Internet will have the least impact on religious institutions.
Other predictions with which a majority of respondents agreed include:
* 59% agreed that more government and business surveillance will occur as computing devices proliferate and become embedded in appliances, cars, phones, and even clothes
* 57% agreed that virtual classes will become more widespread in formal education and that students might at least occasionally be grouped with others who share their interests and skills, rather than by age
* 56% agreed that as telecommuting and home-schooling expand, the boundary between work and leisure will diminish, and family dynamics will change as a result
At the same time, there were stark disagreements in responses about whether Internet use would facilitate a rise in religious and political extremist groups, or usher in more participation in civic organizations, and whether the widespread adoption of technology in the health system would ameliorate the most knotty problems in the system such as rising costs and medical errors.
These experts were surprised by the development of the Web and the explosion of information sources on top of the basic Internet backbone, as well as the improvements in online search technology, the spread of peer-to-peer networks, and the rise of blogs.
However, respondents were disappointed that educational institutions have changed so little, despite widespread expectation a decade ago that schools would be quick to embrace change. They are unhappy that gaps exist in Internet access for many groups-those with low income, those with lower levels of educational attainment, and those in rural areas. And they still think there is a long way to go before political institutions will benefit from the Internet.
The survey, conducted online September 20 and November 1, 2004, grew out of an effort by the Pew Internet Project and the Elon University School of Communications to look at predictions made about the impact of the Internet in the period 1990 through 1995.
A database of more than 4000 predictions and commentary by experts is available at http://www.elon.edu/predictions/ and those who visit the site are invited to make their own predictions. The predictions from this survey are being added to the database.
The Pew/Elon survey also asked the experts about sharing music on peer-to-peer networks, and the consensus was that it will still be easy to do in 10 years. Pew's December 2003 survey of the Internet's impact on artists and musicians revealed that whether or not this is true, their overall judgment is that unauthorized online file sharing does not pose a major threat to creative industries. Two-thirds of artists responding to the second survey said peer-to-peer file sharing poses a minor threat or no threat at all to them.
Across the board, among those who are both successful and struggling, the artists and musicians surveyed were more likely to say that the Internet has made it possible for them to make more money from their art than they are to say it has made it harder to protect their work from piracy or unlawful use.
There are 32 million Americans who consider themselves artists and about 10 million earn at least some level of compensation from their performances, songs, paintings, videos, creative writing, and other art. The report includes special analysis of "Paid Artists," those respondents who are musicians, writers, and filmmakers and earn some income from their art.
Overall, artists are divided in their assessment of online file sharing:
* 47% agreed that "file-sharing services are bad for artists because they allow people to copy or use an artist's work without getting permission from or compensating the artist"
* 43% agreed that "file-sharing services aren't really bad for artists, since they help to promote and distribute an artist's work to a broad audience."
* 64% of all artists surveyed responded that the copyright owner should have complete control over the use of a work
* 28% of all artists consider file sharing to be a major threat to creative industries
Most of the artists and musicians surveyed agreed that the Internet allowed them to connect to each other and their fans more easily, and reach a wider audience. Artists said that they find inspiration while surfing the Internet.
The Pew Internet Project is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit initiative of the Pew Research Center that researches the social impact of the Internet. It does not advocate policy solutions or take positions on policy issues.
For the full report on the survey of technology experts, please visit: http://www.pewInternet.org/PPF/r/145/report_display.asp and to view the artists and musicians survey report, visit http://www.pewInternet.org/report_display.asp?r=142.
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