Intel and Nokia merge software platforms for future computing devices

In a significant development in the convergence of communications and computing, Intel Corporation and Nokia are merging their popular Moblin and Maemo software platforms. This will create a unified Linux-based platform that will run on multiple hardware platforms across a wide range of computing devices, including pocketable mobile computers, netbooks, tablets, mediaphones, connected TVs and in-vehicle infotainment systems. Called MeeGo, the open software platform will accelerate industry innovation and time-to-market for a wealth of new Internet-based applications and services and exciting user experiences. MeeGo-based devices from Nokia and other manufacturers are expected to be launched later this year.

This announcement strengthens the Nokia and Intel relationship, and builds on the companies' broad strategic collaboration announced in June 2009. Intel and Nokia now invite participation in MeeGo from existing Maemo and Moblin global communities and across the communications and computing industries.

"Our vision for seamlessly communicating between computing devices from the home, auto, office or your pocket is taking a big step forward today with the introduction of MeeGo," said Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini. "This is a foundational step in our evolving relationship with Nokia. The merging of these two important assets into an open source platform is critical toward providing a terrific experience across a variety of devices and gaining cross- industry support."

"MeeGo will drive an even wider range of Internet computing and communication experiences for consumers, on new types of mobile devices," said Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, CEO, Nokia. "Through open innovation, MeeGo will create an ecosystem that is second to none, drawing in players from different industries. It will support a range of business models across the value chain, building on the experience and expertise of Nokia, Intel and all those who will join us. Simply put, MeeGo heralds a new era of mobile computing."

MeeGo blends the best of Maemo with the best of Moblin to create an open platform for multiple processor architectures. MeeGo builds on the capabilities of the Moblin core OS and its support for a wide range of device types and reference user experiences, combined with the momentum of Maemo in the mobile industry and the broadly adopted Qt application and UI framework for software developers.

MeeGo also unites the robust worldwide Maemo and Moblin applications ecosystems and open source communities. For developers, MeeGo extends the range of target device segments for their applications. Using Qt for application development means that they can write applications once and easily deploy them on MeeGo and across other platforms, for example, on Symbian.

The Ovi Store will be the channel to market for apps and content for all Nokia devices, including MeeGo and Symbian-based, with Forum Nokia providing developer support across all Nokia device platforms. The Intel AppUpSM Center will be the path to market for Intel-based MeeGo devices from other device manufacturers, with the Intel® Atom(TM) Developer Program providing support for applications targeting devices in a variety of categories.

The MeeGo software platform, running on high-performance devices, will deliver a range of Internet, computing and communication experiences, with visually rich graphics, multitasking and multimedia capabilities and the best application performance. Since MeeGo runs on multiple device types, people can keep their favorite applications when they change devices, so they are not locked into one kind of device or those from any individual manufacturer.

Turn out for Anthea Turner in Preston

Anthea Turner thought she would clean up with her one-woman show at Preston's Charter Theatre.
But so far the former Blue Peter presenter is not exactly wowing the crowds...having sold just a handful of tickets for her show in the city.

The star – famous for stints on the National Lottery and Wish You Were Here – is taking part in two "audience with" theatre shows.

The show, which is due to take place on March 16, is described as "a fascinating and entertaining evening with TV's Anthea Turner".

Anthea, 49, plans to show audiences her secrets of being the perfect housewife, including "10 things she can do with a lemon, and other tips for good and effective housekeeping."

But the £16.50 tickets have not proved popular – with only two tickets sold before the weekend.

The Lancashire Evening Post understands more tickets were sold on Monday, but sales had hardly made a dent in trying to fill the 780-seat theatre.

A spokesman for the Guild Hall and Charter Theatre said: "We are confident sales for Anthea Turner's show will achieve our expectations and we are looking forward to welcoming 'The Perfect Housewife' to Preston.

"With many of our shows, due to the financial climate, we are experiencing a peak in sales in the last week or two before the show, so sales for this event are as expected considering the show is four weeks away and marketing campaigns have not started."

The venue said it could not confirm how many tickets had been sold so far, but was selling "gradually".

And a second show due to take place in Grantham, Lincolnshire, next Thursday has reportedly sold only 43 seats at £12 each.

A spokesman for Clive Conway Celebrity Productions, which is staging the show, said: "We would expect tickets to be sold in the last two weeks. And the brochure for the Guild Hall has only been around for two weeks."

The presenter also presented a BBC Three series in 2006 called Perfect Housewife. According to promotional material, she also plans to share "anecdotes from the world of showbusiness".

The Guildhall Arts Centre in Grantham was unavailable for comment.

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Anthea-Turner-and-her-few.6074836.jp

Paper still being horded by Office Workers

According to content management association AIIM, office staff are loath to give up paper copies, despite the wide availability of scanners and document management systems. AIIM's recent survey found that 62% of important paper documents are still archived as paper. Even when documents are sent off for archive scanning, 25% are photocopied beforehand "just in case". Less than a third of the paper originals are systematically destroyed after scanning. AIIM's President, John Mancini comments, "We are at last in a situation where electronic archiving of records is efficient, effective and can save huge amounts of space, and yet most office staff seem to be hanging on to paper in the mistaken view that there is some legal reason to do so."

"Despite the fact that the legal admissibility of scanned paper documents has been established for nearly 20 years and is nailed down in legislation and standards around the world, there is still this suspicion among users that they may need to produce the original paper copy at some stage," continued Mancini. "The fact that searching for - and finding - a paper copy is umpteen times more difficult than finding an electronic one seems to have escaped them." In the survey, 70% of the respondents agreed with the statement, "Users feel that paper records are needed for legal reasons." Even at the organisational level, in 25% of businesses the legal admissibility of scanned documents is still seen as an issue.

"In many organisations," says Mancini, "there is a potential win-win situation, but only half of the benefit is being leveraged. Improved searchability of business documents is the biggest user driver for investments in scanning and capture, and yet a more visible benefit -- reduced storage costs for records -- is unrealized because of this obsession with holding on to the paper."

Based on over 850 responses, the AIIM research report is entitled "Document Scanning and Capture: local, central, outsource - what's working best?" Part of the AIIM Industry Watch series, the full report is free to download from the AIIM website.