By: Kevin Sinclair We all make mistakes in business. The important issue is that we learn from them and apply the lessons in both our online and off-line business activities. One of my most costly mistakes happened about twelve years ago in the off-line business world. However, the lessons I learnt are just as applicable [...]
Posts Tagged ‘smart’
DOE Ready to Spend on Smart Grid Training
September 22nd, 2009 |
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Energy Secretary Steven Chu announces American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for smart grid work force training programs.
– U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Sept. 22 more than $144 million in
funding is available from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the
electric power sector, including $44 million in awards to state public utility
commissions and $100 million in funding for smart grid work force tr…
Cisco, IBM Continue to Expand Smart Grid Efforts
September 17th, 2009 |
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A day after IBM rolled out its SAFE smart grid platform for power companies and software vendors, Cisco announced its Smart Grid Ecosystem, designed to bring together such players and service providers, energy companies and IT vendors for building a standards- and IP-based communications infrastructure for smart grids. Cisco also created a technical advisory board of power companies to help Cisco align its efforts with the customers needs.
– Cisco Systems and IBM continue to pull in partners and roll out products and services tied to their smart grid efforts.
A day after IBM introduced a platform designed
to make it easier for utilities to become more efficient and software
makers to build their offerings, Cisco Sept. 17 is announcin…
IBM Unveils Framework for Smart Grid Technologies
September 16th, 2009 |
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IBM’s SAFE platform is designed to give utilities a simple way to bring energy-efficient technologies to their operations, while giving software makers a vehicle for getting their applications to those utilities. IBM’s announcement comes the same day that IBM and Cisco Systems officials helped announce a smart grid project pushed by PG E and the city of San Jose, Calif.
– IBM and Cisco Systems have been among the
more aggressive IT vendors looking to bring their technologies into the rapidly
growing smart grid space.
Now IBM wants to be the pathway that
others can use to get into the market.
Company officials Sept. 16 rolled out a software platform that IBM
sai…
Cisco Teams with Swiss Company on Smart Grid Projects
July 31st, 2009 |
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Cisco Systems, which began its aggressive push into the power distribution space in May, is partnering with energy metering technology maker Landis+Gyr to create smart grid solutions that will benefit both the companies that generate and distribute energy and the people who consume it. Power distribution is one of 30 market sectors that Cisco is aiming its solutions at.
– Cisco Systems is teaming up with Landis+Gyr, a Switzerland-based maker of
energy metering technology, to develop solutions for smart grid environments.
The partnership, announced July 31, will incorporate Ciscos expertise in
networking and security and Landis+Gyrs metering infrastructure and
app…
Rob Smart: Guess Who’s Controlling Our Food Supply
July 27th, 2009 |
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It is hard to understand how a handful of companies have amassed so much control over food ingredients found in an estimated 75 percent of processed foods in America’s supermarkets.
Smart Grid Security in the Spotlight at Black Hat
July 21st, 2009 |
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Security researchers have their eyes on the electric grid at the upcoming Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas. In separate talks, researchers will highlight some of the threats and concerns facing plans to deploy smart grid technology – and what can be done about them.
– Two security researchers
are calling for the utility industry to pay close attention to securing smart
grid technology as the nation upgrades its power infrastructure.
In separate presentations
next week at the Black Hat security conference, researchers Mike Davis and Tony
Flick will be makin…
Apple blocks rival smart phones
July 17th, 2009 |
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The latest update of Apple’s iTunes has included a fix to block devices such as the Palm Pre that use the program for synchronising music and content.
The Palm Pre smartphone is seen by many as a direct rival to Apple’s iPhone because of its innovative interface and web based software.
Marketing for the new Palm Pre touted "seamless" synchronisation with iTunes, because it appeared as an Apple device.
Palm called the move a "direct blow" to Apple’s users.
While many devices can, through intermediary software, connect and synchronise with iTunes, the Pre was able to do so because it identified itself as an iPod.
In June, Apple issued a note stressing that it "does not provide support for, or test for compatibility with, non-Apple digital media players" and warned that "newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality" with them.
Options
Now, the latest version of iTunes, 8.2.1, has patched the hole through which devices could masquerade as Apple products.
Apple said in a statement that the update, in addition to other bug fixes, "also disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods, including the Palm Pre".
Palm said that the Pre would work with previous versions of iTunes.
"If Apple chooses to disable media sync in iTunes, it will be a direct blow to their users who will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience," the firm said in a statement.
The statement added that "there are other third-party applications we can consider" and that users could simply choose not to update iTunes or could use a USB cable to directly transfer files.</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Apple blocks rival smart phones
July 17th, 2009 |
No Comments
The latest update of Apple’s iTunes has included a fix to block devices such as the Palm Pre that use the program for synchronising music and content.
The Palm Pre smartphone is seen by many as a direct rival to Apple’s iPhone because of its innovative interface and web based software.
Marketing for the new Palm Pre touted "seamless" synchronisation with iTunes, because it appeared as an Apple device.
Palm called the move a "direct blow" to Apple’s users.
While many devices can, through intermediary software, connect and synchronise with iTunes, the Pre was able to do so because it identified itself as an iPod.
In June, Apple issued a note stressing that it "does not provide support for, or test for compatibility with, non-Apple digital media players" and warned that "newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality" with them.
Options
Now, the latest version of iTunes, 8.2.1, has patched the hole through which devices could masquerade as Apple products.
Apple said in a statement that the update, in addition to other bug fixes, "also disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods, including the Palm Pre".
Palm said that the Pre would work with previous versions of iTunes.
"If Apple chooses to disable media sync in iTunes, it will be a direct blow to their users who will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience," the firm said in a statement.
The statement added that "there are other third-party applications we can consider" and that users could simply choose not to update iTunes or could use a USB cable to directly transfer files.</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
IBM, Cisco Team on Smart Grid Pilot
July 15th, 2009 |
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IBM is announcing its participation in two new smart grid projects. In one, IBM is partnering with Cisco in delivering smart meters and energy management systems to 500 households in Amsterdam in hopes of helping residents become more efficient in their energy consumption. In another project, IBM is working with energy delivery company Oncor in swapping out 3.4 million standard energy meters with newer ones.
– IBM, which is one of a growing number of technology vendors looking
to put greater intelligence into the various infrastructures that run
todays world, is wielding its software prowess in two smart grid
projects designed to make power delivery more efficient.
IBM officials announced July 15 that…
Netgear Launches Gigabit Smart Switches
July 13th, 2009 |
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Designed for cost-conscious businesses, Netgear’s Gigabit smart switch family offer advanced security and help businesses migrate their current infrastructure to a converged network.
–
Networking solutions specialist Netgear announced two
ProSafe Advanced Gigabit Smart Switches, the GS724TPS and GS748TPS, which the
company claims are the industrys first Gigabit smart switches designed for
small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that combine Gigabit connectivity,…
Netgear Launches Gigabit Smart Switches
July 13th, 2009 |
No Comments
Designed for cost-conscious businesses, Netgear’s Gigabit smart switch family offers advanced security and help businesses migrate their current infrastructure to a converged network.
–
Networking solutions specialist Netgear announced two
ProSafe Advanced Gigabit Smart Switches, the GS724TPS and GS748TPS, which the
company claims are the industrys first Gigabit smart switches designed for
small to medium-sized businesses that combine Gigabit connectivity,
Power…
Costly electricity
June 22nd, 2009 |
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Prospects for plug-in electrics and hybrids continue to provoke much discussion in the industry. Last week, we heard that Daimler’s electric Smart has been formally given the go-ahead to enter commercial production next year. The Smart Fortwo (sorry Daimler, but I have to capitalise brand and model names) is a curious one. It’s perhaps an example of a car that was ahead of its time. In the looks department, it is much more acceptable now than it was back in the late 1990s. And a plug-in electric version seems to make good sense.
But the batteries are not going to be cheap. And that’s a problem: who pays? Will the customer pay for that? The vehicle manufacturer? Will governments tinker with regulatory frameworks to encourage take-up? There seems to be a consensus in the industry that governments will have to play a part in helping electric cars develop significant market penetration. And, the argument goes, the government needs to do that as part of a broader energy policy that addresses overall CO2 generation, renewable power and economic or energy security issues. There’s a lot to consider.
At some point though, the consumer is going to be asked to make a contribution to the additional costs associated with a battery pack and electric drive. Early adopters at initial low volumes may be fine with that. The interesting thing though will be the speed with which plug-in electric vehicles can become cheaper on a cost-per-unit basis as volumes become bigger. It will be something of a chicken and egg situation – which is why the regulatory framework is particularly important in terms of the fossil fuel relativities.
But would you pay almost GBP400 (USD650) a month to lease a Smart with electric drive? That’s some premium to ask the customer to pay. How quickly can that sort of figure come down and to what extent will the government subsidise these vehicles? One point that should not be lost: in Britain the government takes plenty of tax from motorists at the petrol pump, way more than is required for investment in roads. And Her Majesty’s Government needs every penny it can get, even if politicians like the sound of a greener electric future.