Huawei throws R&D dollars at gesture control, cloud storage, being more \'disruptive\'

Undeterred by the truth that even humans struggle to interpret certain gestures, Huawei says it's allocating a piece of its growing R&D budget to new motion-sensing technology for smartphones and tablets. The company's North American research chief, John Roese, told Computerworld that he desires to allow "three-dimensional interaction" with devices using stereo front-facing cameras and a strong GPU to make sense of the twin video feed. Separately, the Chinese telecoms company can also be putting development cash right into a cloud computing project that promises to "change the economics of storage by an order of magnitude." Roese provided scant few details in this particular ambition, but did mention that Huawei has teamed up with CERN to conduct research and has somehow accumulated over 15 petabytes of experimental physics data within the process. Whatever it's as much as, Huawei had better get a move on -- others are snapping up gesture recognition and cloud patents faster than you're able to say fa te ne una bicicletta along with your hands.

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New blog post : Huawei throws R&D dollars at gesture control, cloud storage, being more 'disruptive' http://bit.ly/J539of

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Amazon to gather sales tax, create 2,500 jobs in Texas

If Amazon's been your internet shelter from the ravages of sales tax, you might want to sit. As a part of a settlement with the excellent state of Texas, Bezos' baby will start collecting the state's requisite 6.25-percent sales tax on July 1st. The settlement resolves the web retailer's ongoing dispute with the Lone Star state, which claimed that Amazon owed $269 million in back taxes. As well as taking on collection, Amazon has agreed to create no less than 2,500 jobs and invest no less than $200 million in capital investments, though it admits no fault, and believes "the assessment was without merit," in response to its latest SEC filing. Grouped in with Kansas, Kentucky, Big apple, North Dakota and Washington, this agreement makes Texas the sixth state to gather sales tax from Amazon -- and California, Nevada and Arizona will join the gathering club in due time. Look at the source links below for the Texas Comptroller's official statement and more reading on Amazon's tax agreements around the nation.

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New blog post : Amazon to gather sales tax, create 2,500 jobs in Texas http://bit.ly/J53bwk

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New blog post : LightSquared founder Philip Falcone to step down 'eventually', attempts to dodge the bankruptcy bullet http://bit.ly/J53aIT

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LightSquared founder Philip Falcone to step down \'eventually\', attempts to dodge the bankruptcy bullet

In an effort keep the troubled LightSquared from the threshold of defaulting on its debt, its founder will step down from the corporate. While it doesn't look immediate, (people "acquainted with the negotiations" are using the word "eventually") it's Philip Falcone's latest try and extend a debt-term violation that expires this morning. In step with the similar sources, if the initial extension is okayed, Falcone and LightSquared's lenders are aiming for a better period of around 18 months to repay $1.6 billion in loans and pass the FCC's requirements for its network. The company's board remains to be deliberating on whether to just accept the deal, which might stop the corporate filing for bankruptcy protection. Unfortunately, it appears like those new 4G network dreams just got hazier.

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New blog post : Peter Jackson unfazed by 'Hobbit' footage pushback, but will persist with 24 fps for trailers http://bit.ly/J5343N

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New blog post : LG launches LG Cloud, blows raspberries at S-Cloud http://bit.ly/J536J4

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Microsoft invests $300 million in new Barnes & Noble \'strategic partnership\'

Well, that's a fascinating end to all those legal tussles. Microsoft and bookseller Barnes and Noble have decided to buddy-up within the face of competitors like Amazon and Apple. The strategic partnership -- Microsoft loves 'em -- would are available in the shape of a brand new Barnes and Noble subsidiary that deals with all things Nook, along with its education business. The bookseller would hold onto the lion's share at 82.4 percent, with the remainder 17.6 percent in Microsoft's control. The primary benefit posited can be a Nook app for the incoming Windows 8. Barnes and Noble's Nook Study software would also take advantage of a friendly boost on all that Windows hardware. Maybe all those other legal matches will resolve in similar warm-and-fuzzy business hook-ups -- but we doubt it.

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Barnes & Noble and Microsoft Form Strategic Partnership to Advance World-Class Digital Reading Experiences for Consumers

Big apple, NY and Redmond, WA (April 30, 2012) – Barnes & Noble Inc. (NYSE: BKS) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) today announced the formation of a strategic partnership in a brand new Barnes & Noble subsidiary, as a way to build upon the history of sturdy innovation in digital reading technologies from both companies. The partnership will accelerate the transition to e-reading, that is revolutionizing the way in which people consume, create, share and revel in digital content.

The recent subsidiary, stated during this release as Newco, will compile the digital and school businesses of Barnes & Noble. Microsoft will make a $300 million investment in Newco at a post-money valuation of $1.7 billion in exchange for an approximately 17.6% equity stake. Barnes & Noble will own approximately 82.4% of the brand new subsidiary, in an effort to have an ongoing relationship with the company's retail stores. Barnes & Noble has not yet selected the name of Newco.

Among the many first benefits for purchasers would be a NOOK application for Windows 8, so as to extend the reach of Barnes & Noble's digital bookstore by providing one of the most world's largest digital catalogues of e-Books, magazines and newspapers to hundreds of millions of Windows customers within the U.S. and internationally.

The inclusion of Barnes & Noble's College business is a vital element of Newco's strategic vision. In the course of the newly formed Newco, Barnes & Noble's industry leading NOOK Study software will provide students and educators the preeminent technology platform for the distribution and management of digital education materials available in the market.

"The formation of Newco and our relationship with Microsoft are important parts of our technique to capitalize at the rapid growth of the NOOK business, and to solidify our position as a pacesetter inside the exploding marketplace for digital content within the consumer and education segments," said William Lynch, CEO of Barnes & Noble. "Microsoft's investment in Newco, and our exciting collaboration to bring world-class digital reading technologies and content to the Windows platform and its hundreds of millions of users, will let us significantly expand the business."

"The shift to digital is putting the world's libraries and newsstands inside the palm of each person's hand, and is the start of a journey which will impact how people read, interact with, and revel in new kinds of content," said Andy Lees, President at Microsoft. "Our complementary assets will accelerate e-reading innovation across a broad range of Windows devices, enabling people not to just read stories, but to be a part of them. We're on the cusp of a revolution in reading."

Barnes & Noble and Microsoft have settled their patent litigation, and moving forward, Barnes & Noble and Newco may have a royalty-bearing license under Microsoft's patents for its NOOK eReader and Tablet products. This paves the best way for both companies to collaborate and reach a broader set of consumers.

Newco

On January 5, Barnes & Noble announced that it was exploring the strategic separation of its digital business for you to maximize shareholder value. Barnes & Noble is actively engaged within the formation of Newco, in order to include Barnes & Noble's digital and school businesses. The corporate intends to explore all alternatives for a way a strategic separation of Newco may occur. There can also be no assurance that the review will lead to a strategic separation or the creation of a stand-alone public company, and there's no set timetable for this review. Barnes & Noble doesn't intend to comment further in regards to the review unless and until a choice is made.

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15-inch Samsung Series 7 laptops follow big brother across Intel\'s Ivy Bridge

Intel's bridge is a well-liked one and, while we do not know just what the toll to cross is, today the gatekeeper has a bit of extra change jingling in his pocket. Samsung is announcing that its 15-inch Series 7 Chronos laptops now offer Ivy Bridge processors, joining the 17-inch models that experience have already got made their way across. Due to a Samsung Canada leak last week, we knew the marginally more portable flavor wouldn't be far behind. NVIDIA graphics are onboard, joining the Core i7 processors and 1TB hard drives plus other pleasantries like backlit keyboards. No word on when these machines and their "uncompromised performance" will arrive at retail, but we hear getting over that bridge is the tricky part, so it seriously isn't long now.

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LG launches LG Cloud, blows raspberries at S-Cloud

Four days before the purported launch of Samsung's cloud service, Korea's other technology giant has unveiled LG Cloud. The eponymous service offers 5GB free space as standard, while owners of LG's Smart TVs or smartphones gets 50GB free for 6 months. It'll push content between your devices, appropriately compressed for the medium, so high definition images for your TV should be slimmed all the way down to save your phone's data cap. The free beta begins in South Korea and america from May 1st, with a worldwide rollout pencilled in for next year -- but do not be concerned, the corporate made it clear you can apply it to your holidays, in case you can discover a signal.

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LG INTRODUCES THE 1ST REAL STREAMING MULTIMEDIA CLOUD FOR ALL THREE SCREENS

Unique Cloud Service Offers Content Consumption and Seamless Connectivity via TVs, Mobile Devices and PC

SEOUL, APR. 30, 2012 -- LG Electronics (LG) announced the beta opening of LG Cloud service on May 1 with the purpose of providing seamless connectivity and streaming access to all digital content across various electronic devices. Although cloud is today's hottest IT buzzwords, LG Cloud is the primary that permits users to control and consume every type of content on "three screens" which contains Android smartphones, PCs and smart TVs (including but not limited to CINEMA 3D models) with out a separate set-top box.

To exploit the service, users ought to download the LG Cloud app from Google Play or LG SmartWorld app store from their Android smartphones, LG SmartWorld store from their LG Smart TVs or the LG Cloud website (www.lgecloud.com) from their PCs or laptops. LG's Cloud service automatically synchronizes smartphone content with the cloud server and the user's PC and television. Photos and videos focused on the smartphone may be viewed and streamed to the computer or TV almost instantaneously. Videos edited on a computer could be uploaded to LG Cloud for viewing seconds in a while a smartphone. Unlike other cloud services, there's little or no waiting or lag time because the content is streamed to the television, PC or smartphone, not downloaded first.

The adaptation is in LG's Real-time Streaming Transcoding technology. The conversion happens at the server in realtime, not at the device. There's no ought to worry about installing codecs or converters, everything happens seamlessly and within the background with out a involvement from the user. No other cloud service could make this same claim.

The service also works perfectly with 3D content. Vacation videos fascinated by an LG 3D smartphone could be uploaded via 3G or Wi-Fi to the LG Cloud service. Back home within the comforts of the lounge, the family can watch the holiday footage because it streams from LG Cloud to their LG CINEMA 3D Smart TV in superb three dimensions.

To higher develop cloud services that prioritize convergence, LG created a brand new division called Smart Business Center to focus specifically on content and services. Havis Kwon, President and CEO of LG's Home Entertainment Company, is additionally answerable for the recent Smart Business Center.

"Most companies today only see the cloud as a storage device or when it comes to YouTube or Flickr, just for one sort of content," said LG's Mr. Kwon. "LG makes the devices that millions of individuals watch content on with a purpose to set a brand new yardstick for ease of use by establishing our own cloud service. Tomorrow's consumers do not want to visit one cloud for music, another cloud for video, another location for photos and yet one more cloud for his or her office files. In the long run, our solution is ready making life easier."

LG Cloud may be offered as both a free and paid service. Free cupboard space and pricing will differ market to market and may be announced separately because the service becomes available in that country.

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New blog post : Ceton's Media Center mobile apps are for all, app and Echo extender beta signups open now http://bit.ly/J5357Z

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Ceton\'s Media Center mobile apps are for all, app and Echo extender beta signups open now

When you are a Windows Media Center fan and feature been drooling over the treats Ceton showed off at CES like its mobile companion apps (whether on WP7 or other platforms like iPhone and Android) and Echo extender we've excellent news and higher news. The excellent news is that the apps has been rebranded simply as Ceton Companion Apps and they'll be available for all Windows Media Center 7 users after they launch, spreading their guides, file browsing and remote DVR management options in the course of the land. The easier news is that you'll get hold of the apps and / or Echo extender relatively soon, since there are beta tests coming soon for both. While the app beta is planned to start out May 25th on each of the previously listed platforms, the Echo extender might be a paid beta where users can keep the hardware once its over. More details at the latter need to be available soon, for now interested users should hit the link below to get at the list or try out an... interesting promo video embedded after the break.

Ceton announces multi-room DVR and Echo extender hands-on

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Ceton Companion Apps Features:

Multiple platforms
iPhone (iOS 4.1+)
Android (2.2+)
Windows Phone 7 (Mango)
Works on any Windows 7 HTPC
Browse your entire media center libraries
Videos
Music
Photos
Movies
Start playback of content on multiple devices
Manage and Schedule Recordings
Rich meta data for Movies and Television
Browse Premieres of upcoming television shows
Universally search movies, TV, guide, and more.
a lot more!

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Commercial space shuttle prototypes fly through wind tunnel testing

a couple of businesses developing their very own commercial space shuttles are presumably attempting to flatten their hair after some rigorous wind tunnel testing. First up, Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos (the fellow behind Amazon), an organization that's remained pretty quiet on its efforts to shuttle astronauts to the International Space Station. Its Space Vehicle setup will plump for a biconic shape (seen above), with a flattened side and a split flap. In keeping with Blue Origin's president, Rob Meyerson, the form allows greater volume than traditional designs, but forgo the "weight penalty" of winged craft. When compared with earlier capsules, the distance Vehicle's shape, with its fuselage flap to generate lift, also needs to give it better control on re-entry to earth.

Juggling for wind tunnel time, Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser has also been blasted with smoke to check its own air resistance credentials. Its module would lauch from the head of the rocket, and glide (up to anything that costs this much can) back to earth like NASA's own space shuttles. The Dream Chaser is planning its first flight for this autumn. That you could look at its more traditional tackle the way forward for space travel after the break -- and choose which of the 2 you will need sending your kids to the mines.

[Picture credit: Blue Origin, SNC]

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Alienware\'s new gaming laptops get matching Ivy Bridge processors

Alienware is crossing the Ivy Bridge, below per week since announcing its refreshed family of gaming laptops. Intel's latest hardware will now lend itself to all three models, the M14x (from $1100) M17x (starting at $1500) and M18x (from $2000), replacing the prevailing Sandy Bridge architecture within the models we saw earlier this month. Starting with the smallest, the M14x might be powered by an Intel Core i7-3820QM (as much as 2.7GHz), while larger models gets their processors nudged as much as the two.9 GHz Core i7-3920XM (M17x) and 2.9GHz Core i7-3920XM (M18x). Alienware reckons these new additions will lend a fifteen percent increase to the rigs' performance (counting on use), augmenting improvements seen with new PCI Express 3.0 support, mSATA cached storage and the newest generation of NVIDIA graphics. Dell's now able to take your order -- alongside a mind-boggling choice of customization options -- on the source link below.

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Dell's Enhanced Alienware Portfolio Delivers Exceptional Mobile Gaming Experience

M14x, M17x, M18x Offer Powerful Performance Options for Mobile Gamers
M14x and M18x Are Strongest 14-inch and 18-inch Laptops within the Universe
Collaboration with EA for an Enhanced PC Gaming Experience

Alienware, Dell's high performance PC gaming brand, is taking the mobile gaming experience to a brand new level with its enhanced gaming laptop portfolio that lets gamers choose a system that most closely fits their mobile lifestyle. The improved systems include: the M14x, one of the most powerful 14-inch laptop within the universe, for the gamer who requires a balance between mobility and function; the 3D-capable M17x for an immersive high-definition, surround-sound sensory experience, and the M18x – also the foremost powerful 18-inch laptop within the universe – for gamers whose priority is performance primarily else but who also require the choice to often 'go mobile.'

The Alienware M14x, M17x, and M18x laptops deliver immersive sensory experiences, with each offering the most recent NVIDIA GeForce and AMD Radeon HD graphics cards and the Creative Sound Blaster audio chipset with THX 7.1 digital surround sound and Klipsch-branded speakers.

High-Performance Mobile Gaming
an ideal balance of performance and mobility, the Alienware M14x allows gamers on-the-visit experience uncompromising gaming performance. The M14x features optional dual drive configurations, as much as 16GB of memory for extreme multitasking, a Blu-ray combo optical drive, and an NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M graphics engine with GDDR5 graphics memory[ii] – probably the most advanced GPU in a 14-inch form factor and the primary time Alienware is offering GDDR5 graphics on a laptop of this size.

The Alienware M17x immerses the shopper inside the game with every dimension, pixel and sound, for a larger, richer gaming experience. The M17x delivers the newest NVIDIA and AMD graphics card options, as much as 32GB of memory[ii], optional 17.3-inch 120Hz WideFHD WLED 3D display, and THX 3D surround sound. It really is one of many first laptops to give the AMD Radeon HD 7970M graphics card and the most recent GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GT 660M and 675M graphics solutions[ii].

Alienware's flagship gaming laptop, the Alienware M18x, is provided with technology in a position to matching high-performance gaming desktops. The M18x delivers as much as 200w of mobile graphics power when configured with the optional Dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M graphics enabling an NVIDIA SLI experience and as much as 4GB of GDDR5 graphics memoryii. A configuration featuring dual AMD Radeon HD 7970m with CrossFire may be available within the coming weeks. An 18.4-inch Full HD 1080p WLED backlit LCD, as much as 750GB 7200RPM SATA hard drives , support for a triple solid state drive option – 768GB SSD (3 x 256GB SSD), and a fashionable, anodized aluminum shell all combine to make the M18x a gaming and entertainment powerhouse like no other.

All three laptops feature Intel's 3rd Generation processors and Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 technologies, HDMI 1.4, USB 3.0 for instant data transfer, Bluetooth 4.0, optional 3D HD gaming capabilityi, optional Blu-ray disc drive and exceptional surround-sound quality from Klipsch speakers. Moreover, the Alienware laptops feature AlienAdrenaline, which enables users to create shortcuts related to games, or applications able to triggering a series of commands meant to enhance system performance or to customise the experience.

"Our customers want the main immersive gaming experience possible, and we've taken the all-powerful M14x, M17x, and M18x laptops and made them even better, delivering the newest technologies for nearly every need," said Frank Azor, General Manager, Alienware. "We've always offered the most recent technology for the finest gaming experience possible, and our enhanced lineup let you pwn any competitor and supply the sensory experience that we all know you crave."

AlienFX Implementation in EA's Battlefield 3™
Dell could also be announcing its ongoing collaboration with EA to implement an AlienFX software and lighting control system in addition to an exclusive Alienware Arena dog tag in Battlefield 3. Customers can experience these AlienFX implementations while playing Battlefield 3 today, in order to provide gamers with a more personal experience by adjusting lighting colors and effects settings. Gamers will see unique loading and menu and player health lighting effects to be able to change throughout their Battlefield 3 gameplay experience.

Availability and Pricing:
Alienware M14x, M17x and M18x come in now on Dell.com and Alienware.com with standard configurations starting at $1099 for the M14x, $1499 for the M17x, and $1999 for the M18x.

Detailed Information:

Alienware M14x
· 2nd and 3rd Generation Intel Core i5 and i7 Processor Options

o Intel Core i5-2450M 2.5GHz (3.1GHz w/Turbo Boost, 3MB Cache) (Standard)

o Intel Core i7-3610QM 2.3GHz (3.3GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)

o Intel Core i7-3720QM 2.6GHz (3.6GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)

o Intel Core i7-3820QM 2.7GHz (3.7GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache)

· Powerful NVIDIA Graphics Card Options

o 1GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M using NVIDIA Optimus technology[ii] (Standard)

o 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M using NVIDIA Optimus technology[ii]

· 14-inch WLED HD display (1366X768) (Standard) or optional 14-inch WLED HD+ display (1600X900)

· Configure with as much as 16GB of DDR3 Memory[ii] (6GB Standard); 2x 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM SDRAM Slots

· Configure with as much as 750GB 7200RPM drive[iii] (500GB standard) or as much as 512GB Solid State Drive[iii]

o RAID 1 and nil, and Dual Drive options available

o mSATA Boot and Caching Drive Options available

· Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional and supreme available

· 1.3MP HD Camera with dual digital microphones

· Slot-Loading DVD drive (Standard) or optional Blu-ray Disc Reader

· Creative Sound Blaster Recon3Di High-Definition 5.1 Audio with THX TruStudio Pro Software (Standard) or 2.1 Speaker configuration with Subwoofer Audio Powered by Klipsch; 7.1 Digital Audio out using HDMI out connection or S/PDIF Optical port

· Integrated 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet NIC and Integrated Wireless-N with Bluetooth 4.0 (standard); optional WiMax configuration available

· USB 3.0 (2); USB 2.0; Mini-Display Port; HDMI 1.4 Output; VGA Port; 9-in-1 Media Card Reader; Audio/Microphone In; Audio Out; RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet

Alienware M17x
· 3rd Generation Intel Core i7 Processor Options

o Intel Core i7-3610QM 2.3GHz (3.3GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache) (Standard)

o Intel Core i7-3720QM 2.6GHz (3.6GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)

o Intel Core i7-3820QM 2.7GHz (3.7GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache)

· Powerful NVIDIA and AMD Graphics Card Options

o 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GT 660M[ii] (Standard)

o 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GT 675M[ii]

o 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 7970M[ii]

· 17.3" WideHD+ (1600 x 900 ) WLED LCD (Standard); optional: 17.3" WideFHD (1920 x 1080) WLED LCD or 17.3" 120Hz WideFHD (1920 x 1080) WLED LCD w/3D Bundle

· Configure with as much as 32GB of DDR3 Memory[ii] (6GB 1600MHz Standard); 4x 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM SDRAM Slots

· Configure with as much as 1TB (2x 500GB) RAID0 7200RPM drive[iii](500GB standard) or as much as 512GB Solid State Drive[iii]

o RAID 1 and zero, and Dual Drive options available

o mSATA Boot and Caching Drive Options available

· Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional and supreme available

· 2.1MP FullHD Camera with dual digital microphones

· Slot-Loading DVD drive (Standard) or optional Blu-ray Disc Reader

· Creative Sound Blaster Recon3Di High-Definition 5.1 Audio with THX TruStudio Pro Software (Standard) or 2.1 Speaker configuration with Subwoofer Audio Powered by Klipsch; 7.1 Digital Audio out using HDMI out connection or S/PDIF Optical port

· Integrated 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet NIC and Integrated Wireless-N with Bluetooth 4.0 (standard); optional WiMax configuration available

· USB 3.0 (4); USB 2.0 and eSATA combo port; Auto-sensing jacks for Line-out (3); Microphone In; Mini-Display Port; HDMI 1.4 Output; HDMI 1.3 Input; VGA Port; 9-in-1 Media Card Reader; RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet

Alienware M18x
· 3rd Generation Intel Core i7 Processor Options

o Intel Core i7-3610QM 2.3GHz (3.3GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache) (Standard)

o Intel Core i7-3720QM 2.6GHz (3.6GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)

o Intel Core i7-3820QM 2.7GHz (3.7GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache)

o Intel Core i7-3920XM 2.9GHz (3.8GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache)

o Intel Core i7-3920XM Overclocked Turbo Boost (8MB Cache)

· Powerful NVIDIA and AMD Graphics Card Options

o 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GT 660M[ii] (Standard)

o 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GT 675M[ii]

o Dual 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 7970M - AMD CrossFireX[ii] (coming soon)

o Dual 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M - NVIDIA SLI[ii]

· 18.4 inch WLED WideFHD display (1920 X 1080)

· Configure with as much as 32GB of DDR3 Memoryii or 8GB 1866MHz (4GB 1600MHz Standard); 4x 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM SDRAM Slots

· Configure with as much as 750GB 7200RPM SATA drive[iii] (500GB standard)

o RAID 1 and nil, Dual and Triple Drive options available

o mSATA Boot and Caching Drive Options available

· Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional and supreme available

· 2.1MP FullHD Camera with dual digital microphones

· Slot-Loading DVD drive (Standard) or optional Blu-ray Disc Reader

· Creative Sound Blaster Recon3Di High-Definition 5.1 Audio with THX TruStudio Pro Software (Standard) or 2.1 Speaker configuration with Subwoofer Audio Powered by Klipsch; 7.1 Digital Audio out using HDMI out connection or S/PDIF Optical port

· Integrated 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet NIC and Integrated Wireless-N with Bluetooth 4.0 (standard)

· USB 3.0 (4); USB 2.0 and eSATA combo port; Auto Out Ports (2); Microphone In; Mini-Display Port; HDMI 1.4 Output; HDMI 1.3 Input; VGA Port; 9-in-1 Media Card Reader; RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet; Combo S/PDIF Optical output / Analog Headphone Line Out

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New blog post : Alienware's new gaming laptops get matching Ivy Bridge processors http://bit.ly/J531VE

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New blog post : Acer Iconia Tab A510 review http://bit.ly/J52YJw

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Acer Iconia Tab A510 review

Acer Iconia Tab A510 hands-on

Acer Iconia Tab A510 with Tegra 3, Android 4.0 arriving within the US and Canada for $450

ASUS Transformer Pad TF300 review

We'll stop just wanting quoting Top Gun here, but when it's speed you crave, these next thousands of words may have you emptying your wallet. How's that for a gap line? To be honest, it has been quite your time since any folks Engadget editors booted up a new device and immediately let out a stream of expletives -- all expressing unbridled delight, for sure. Such was the start of our meet-cute with Acer's Iconia Tab A510, the company's first Tegra 3 slate, and the second one to ship with Ice Cream Sandwich.

Except for that 1280 x 800 TFT LCD display, this 10-incher looks, feels and performs nothing like its predecessor, the A500. Turbocharged with that quad-core CPU and 1GB of RAM, this Android 4.0 tablet joins a crowded category with a generous 32GB in built-in storage and an affordable $450 ticket to compare. So, does that excellence lose its luster with more extensive use? Is your money better spent on any of the alternative umpteen tablets running ICS? Will the shortcoming of a better-quality display prove an excessive amount of of a con to your exquisite tech tastes? Follow on as we probe the A510 for answers.

Hardware

Tablet design is unoriginal -- a complaint we've issued before and one we'll avoid during this review. So, consider this: when a manufacturer excises any emphasis on how something looks, the sole thing left to spotlight is the way it feels. Though the A510 is flush with silicon at 1.5 pounds (680 grams), we're inclined to forgive that extra heft, since we get some jaw-dropping runtime in return (spoiler alert!). Besides, overweight or no, it manages to feel reassuringly grippy in-hand, at 10.2 x 6.9 x 0.43 inches (260 x 175 x 10.95mm). Sure, in the event you hold it in landscape mode the pointy edges feel a wee bit too sharp, besides , it feels rigid, formidable. Very like the A200 before it, the tab's smooth back is made up of a soft, matte plastic and studded with bumpy dots that are supposed to eliminate any worries you will have about dropping it. Curiously, the company's also slapped the Olympic logo next to its own, smack dab inside the center of the back cover, underneath which lies that hearty 9,800mAh battery. Clearly, it is a case of pimping out public awareness of its London 2012 partnership, but here it just seems awkward and unnecessary; a scarlet letter of sponsorship instantly dating this debut.

The Olympic branding here seems awkward and unnecessary; a scarlet letter of sponsorship instantly dating this debut.

Above that collision of corporate branding is a 5-megapixel rear camera -- the identical one used at the A500, only this time it's lacking an LED flash. At the opposite end there is a logo for the Dolby Digital Plus audio compression powering the twin speakers tucked into the tablet's bottom edge. Hardware keys and ports are sprinkled round the perimeter of the A510, leaving no side untouched. A micro-USB socket and recessed reset button take in residence at the lower edge, an influence button and three.5mm headphone jack lie at the left, a volume rocker and orientation lock up top and, finally, HDMI-out and a covered microSD slot sit at the right. Acer isn't throwing in any external storage to enrich the tab's built-in 32GB, so if you happen to plan on heavy media consumption it's essential to supply your personal card.

The A510's front face is the same old mixture of bezel, branding and camera, although on this instance Acer's downgraded that module from the two megapixels found at the A500 to a measly 1 megapixel. We do not have to spell out for you what meaning relating to imaging performance, so take care to review your disappointment before we continue directly to the camera section below. Once you've powered at the device and completed the initial setup process, the A510's speed becomes readily apparent, as does the relative excellence of the screen. Yes, the 1280 x 800 TFT LCD display has remain unchanged on this hardware refresh, bringing with it fairly good viewing angles which might be, quite often, occluded by its propensity for incredible amounts of glare. Wake the tablet from a dead sleep and you may see the cold boot time hovers within the 30-second range. Even a year ago we were seeing tablets which can best this, but otherwise, the remainder of the user experience this is surprisingly nimble and fast-paced.

Software

What more is also said about Ice Cream Sandwich at this point, especially when that Android UI's dressed up in Acer's familiar UX? Yes, the interface here have been altered to incorporate the identical uninstallable ring launcher we previously saw at the A200. Nothing has changed inside the jump from that lower-end slate to this one: possible pull up that circular shortcut menu from the lowest of the homescreen, in addition to access the gallery, browser, settings, bookmarked tabs or snap screenshots. We did notice, however, that while performance is usually zippy, this one particular enhancement suffers from uneven performance, waffling between an instantaneous and somewhat delayed response time. The lockscreen also features the company's subtle modifications, adding the flexibility to set shortcuts for specific apps.

As you might've come to expect, navigation during the five homescreens is accomplished with a refreshing briskness that blessedly spills over into the app drawer, in addition to the many menus peppered throughout Android 4.0. Browsing takes at the same rapid pace, with page load times ranging between 15 and 30 seconds for full desktop sites. Pinch to zoom also feels amazingly responsive, though we did notice some tiling and blank gray spaces as we waited for pages to scale.

You desire an Android slate, you get some bloat. So, while you boot up the A510 and are greeted by a dozen-plus apps filling up its drawer, attempt to feign surprise and righteous indignation. It is all rather rote at this point. Acer's shoveled just a couple of its own applications onto the inner storage, together with various third-party offerings like Amazon's Kindle, MP3 and Appstore trio; Netflix; Polaris Office; Evernote; SoundHound; HW Solitaire; and TegraZone. Thankfully, at the very least, purists can easily uninstall all of those inside the settings menu.

Performance and battery life

	Acer Iconia Tab A510 ($450)			ASUS Transformer Pad TF300 ($379)	Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 ($250)	Acer Iconia Tab A200 ($350)
Quadrant (v2)	3,754			3,695	2,840	2,053
Linpack single-thread (MFLOPS)	47.8			41.70	37.1	37.2
Linpack multi-thread (MFLOPS)	120.5			89.83	61.3	60.4
NenaMark 1 (fps)	62.8			60.3	57.6	45.6
NenaMark 2 (fps)	55.8			46.9	30.4	20.4
Vellamo	1,500			1,320	978	1,290
SunSpider 9.1 (ms, lower numbers are better)	1,850			2,120	2,239	2,251

Benchmarks generally is a mixed bag, offering up quantifiable performance that does not necessarily match a product's real-world experience. With the Iconia Tab A510, though, you're able to sweep away all of that uncertainty. Pitted against the Transformer Pad TF300, another recently released Tegra 3 slate, in addition to dual-core contenders just like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and the lower-end A200, this girthy tablet absolutely dominates. There isn't any doubt in regards to the massive processing power of its 1.3GHz SoC and 1GB of RAM. In nearly every category, the A510 leapt ahead with decisive, crushing victories -- a string of wins that repeated themselves time and again in everyday use.

Its dominance could be unchallenged, but don't confuse the A510's top-dog ranking with consistently fluid performance. A quad-core CPU is simply not some magic wand an aftermarket gets to wave over its offspring to eradicate performance hiccups. As we saw with Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) at MWC and the ASUS Transformer Pad we've just finished reviewing, there'll be moments, fleeting though they're, when the OS hesitates to execute an action. It's ever-so slight, but you will see and beauty why, with all that horsepower under the hood, this forward-facing combination of Tegra 3 and ICS should stumble in any respect.

Tablet	Battery Life
Acer Iconia Tab A510	10:23
Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7	12:01
Apple iPad 2	10:26
ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime	10:17 / 16:34 (keyboard dock)
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1	9:55
Apple iPad (2012)	9:52 (HSPA) / 9:37 (LTE)
Apple iPad	9:33
Pantech Element	9:00
Motorola Xoom 2	8:57
HP TouchPad	8:33
ASUS Transformer Pad TF300	8:29 / 12:04 (keyboard dock)
Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet	8:20
Acer Iconia Tab A200	8:16
Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus	8:09
Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet	8:00
Amazon Kindle Fire	7:42
Galaxy Tab 2 7.0	7:38
RIM BlackBerry PlayBook	7:01
Acer Iconia Tab A500	6:55
T-Mobile Springboard (Huawei MediaPad)	6:34
Toshiba Thrive	6:25
Motorola Xyboard 8.2	5:25
Acer Iconia Tab A100	4:54

Under no circumstances will you be disappointed with the juicepack Acer's included within the Iconia Tab A510. Rated for 12 hours of video playback, the 9,800mAh battery should get you thru bouts of heavy use with a charge to spare after which some. The lightest of users will probably wonder after they ever even have to plug the tablet back in, on account that it only fell to half capacity after three days of infrequent browsing. Put throughout the paces of our formal rundown tst, the A510 fell just a few hours in need of the company's claim, but still kept a grin firmly planted on our faces because it racked up a magnificent total of 10 hours and 23 minutes, putting it on par with Apple's iPad 2 and the Transformer Prime. Mind you, that's with brightness set to medium, Twitter syncing at 15 minute intervals, one push email account activated and WiFi enabled.

Camera

Taking photos with tablets not just looks silly, but it surely feels ridiculous. We throw that caveat obtainable because camera quality on Android slates is a type of areas best met by lowered expectations. To assert the module at the Iconia Tab A510 is serviceable can be far too generous. Its 5-megapixel shooter takes decent shots with an appropriate level of detail that diminishes once you begin to zoom in. Colors -- reds specifically -- are rendered in an oversaturated, unnatural way, while other parts of the picture appear dull when put next. As for Acer's custom camera app, it delivers an uneven experience that demands an excellent amount of juggling whilst you try to access a number of the options scattered concerning the screen. And you'll forget the robust array of scene modes offered in other slates: the feature set here's plain and simple, almost as though it's acknowledging how useless it's.

The A510 can also be able to 1080p video, however the finished product doesn't necessarily translate into the whole HD experience you'd expect. Given the camera's loss of image stabilization, the shaky quality makes the video almost unwatchable, with the occasional crisp frame when the slate was being held still. What did blow away our expectations was the exceptional power of its Dolby Digital Plus compression technology. As you'll hear within the sample video, the sounds of a miles-off saxophone make a special cameo, as do pieces of assorted off-camera conversations. The disadvantage to this stellar feature is the inconsistency with which it renders your intended audio -- namely, your personal voice. We shot several sample videos and noted occasional elements of distortion because the tablet attempted to parse all that background noise.

The competition

So you are prepared to make the leap into the wild world of tablets, but where to start out? Without doubt, plenty of first-timers are going to finish up taking their charge cards and flinging them in Apple's direction. $500 for a 16GB iPad could be a steep price ticket to swallow for some, however the simplicity of iOS make for a sensible new purchase. You'll also buck any pressure to have the following smartest thing and fork over four Benjamins for a 16GB iPad 2, though we've gone on record saying newcomers are at an advantage splurging on that top-res Retina display.

But maybe you are not exactly a post-PC virgin, otherwise you simply prefer Android to iOS. Luckily for you, you might have a plethora of options to select from. For the sake of helping all of the overwhelmed shoppers obtainable attempting to make sense of the market, we'll narrow the sector all the way down to similarly priced 10-inch tablets running Android 4.0. For $400, the Transformer Pad TF300 is, in lots of ways, the A510's direct competition, loaded up with unskinned ICS, a Tegra 3 SoC and 32GB, though this, obviously, is obtainable with an optional keyboard dock. The single downside preventing us from steering you on to the Transformer is battery life. Though it managed eight-plus hours on a charge (12, in case you count the $150 docking station), it's no match for the A510's ten-plus hours of runtime.

Meanwhile, in the event you cut the built-in storage to 16GB, lower the variety of cores from four to 2 and keep the Android 4.0 software there's Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1). It costs $400, similar to the 32GB Transformer Pad TF300, and twenty dollars greater than the Transformer with 16GB of storage. Cast in that light, it isn't quite as compelling a purchase order, is it?

Spec for spec, you're really left with only two contenders: the A510, which costs $50 more, or Transformer Pad TF300. Shoppers hell-bent on heavy multimedia consumption should probably persist with what Acer's selling, if just for the outstanding performance of that 9,800mAh battery. Android purists and people intrigued by the theory of a laptop replacement, nevertheless, will need to jump on ASUS' bandwagon.

Wrap-up

We will be able to still hear the echoes of NVIDIA's CEO teasing the possibility of $300 Tegra 3 tablets, but while the promise of that affordable future isn't quite a reality yet, impatient consumers eyeing quad-core performance have a on hand option: the Iconia Tab A510. Acer's succeeded in building a very good Android 4.0 tablet, and it's one consumers with a penchant for media consumption will need to consider. Alright, so it's not the stainless Tegra 3 conception Acer (or NVIDIA) might've wanted it to be, prone because it is to brief software fits, though we'll confess we've noticed similar bumps at the similarly priced ASUS Transformer Pad TF300, in addition to the twin-core Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1. So should those stifled hiccups enough to place you off the A510's Olympic-branded trail? They shouldn't. With its bleeding-edge quad-core performance, exceptional battery life and each of the benefits of Ice Cream Sandwich, it is a 10-incher worth its slightly heavier weight. For those of you intrigued by the concept of a tablet that may also double as a netbook replacement, we still heartily recommend the well-performing, cost effective Transformer TF300. But when you're willing to speculate in a dependable tablet and it's exceptional battery life that you are after, those $450 bucks stop here.

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New blog post : Cyanogenmod 9 struts its stuff on HTC's One X http://bit.ly/J52XVY

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Cyanogenmod 9 struts its stuff on HTC\'s One X

So you've procured yourself HTC's new super slim, 4.7-inch halo phone: the only X. By now, when you've got the device manage just how you adore it: applications configured, widgets in place and Adele ringtone set. But there's just something else left to do, isn't there? If (like a number of us) you are a smartphone user who just can't leave well enough alone, you are going to be excited to be told that a build of Cyanogenmod 9 for the Uno Equis have been made available via the MoDaCo forums. The ROM will deliver that stock Android experience, and all those CM9 accoutrements, to those who don't fancy the panache of Sense 4.0. The forum post does caution that the One's camera, and hotspot functionality, aren't currently working, so interested parties best proceed with caution. If all that does not phase you, grab a cup of coffee, get the Android SDK all warmed up and take this ROM for a spin!

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New blog post : V.me by Visa coming to the Europe this fall, cash starts begging for one more chance http://bit.ly/J52Vxt

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New blog post : Logitech introduces spill resistant keyboards for the feds, prevents Bauer flip-out http://bit.ly/J52Zgp

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Logitech introduces spill resistant keyboards for the feds, prevents Bauer flip-out

Logitech could possibly be in the middle of a company revolution, but it surely still has time to supply peripherals only for the G-men (and girls). The Swiss company has produced a keyboard and mouse that satisfy all TAA guidelines and, most significantly, answered "no" when asked in the event that they are, or were ever a member of the communist party. The pairing could be picked up by federal IT buyers for $35 and are fully "spill resistant," so we will not blame the forthcoming robopocalypse on a wayward cup of coffee.

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Logitech Introduces TAA-Compliant Keyboard and Mice For U.S. Federal Agencies

Federal IT Buyers Now Have Access to Products from an international Leader in Computer Peripherals

NEWARK, Calif. - April 30, 2012 - Logitech today introduced its first TAA-compliant products – a keyboard, two mice and a keyboard/mouse combo – for U.S. federal agencies covered by the Trade Agreements Act.

The Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (TAA) requires federal agencies to buy products, including computer peripherals, which might be made within the U . s . a . or other designated countries.

Logitech, a worldwide leader in computer peripherals, is now meeting the purposes of federal IT buyers with four TAA-compliant products manufactured in Taiwan: The Logitech Keyboard K120-TAA, with a spill-resistant corded USB design, for $19.99; The Logitech Mouse B100-TAA, with high-definition optical tracking and a corded USB connector, for $14.99;The Logitech Mouse B120-TAA, which adds a corded PS/2 connector apart from USB, for $19.99; and The Logitech Desktop MK120-TAA, a combo of the Logitech Keyboard K120-TAA and the Logitech Mouse B100-TAA, for $34.99.

"Federal IT buyers and resellers who serve the federal market were telling us for your time they need access to high-quality TAA-compliant computer peripherals from a brand name they trust," said Vince Alvarado, director of Americas B2B sales and marketing at Logitech. "What's more, Logitech's deep manufacturing experience means we will be able to quickly and reliably fill even the most important orders for TAA-compliant products."

Pricing and Availability
Logitech's TAA-compliant products are expected to be available in June 2012 on the prices listed above from resellers who concentrate on the business-to-business market. The goods is not offered by consumer electronics retailers. For additional info, please visit www.logitech.com/business.

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V.me by Visa coming to the Europe this fall, cash starts begging for one more chance

Visa Europe is muscling in at the European mobile payments game with V.me. The web service will permit you to store cards from different agencies (including American Express) for payments online and at NFC-enabled cash registers. It's expected to reach within the UK, Spain and France inside the Autumn, but it'll sadly be too late for it to achieve any traction, since we'll have worked out find out how to glue PayTag stickers to our forehead by then.

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Visa Europe confirms launch date for V.me digital wallet

WorldPay announced as key UK development partner

London, 30 April 2012 - Visa Europe today confirms that its new digital wallet service, V.me by Visa, will launch to an initial group of customers within the UK, Spain and France in autumn 2012.

Today also sees the announcement of payments processor WorldPay as a key development partner within the delivery of the V.me service within the UK. Further development and launch partners in each market, including banks and retailers, could be announced soon.

The service may be made available through Visa's member banks and should initially be accessed throughout the internet browser on a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone. Consumers would be capable of put multiple cards into the wallet.

For shops, it offers the chance to streamline the shopper checkout process, driving up conversion rates and shopper satisfaction.

Mariano Dima, Executive Vp of Product and Marketing Solutions at Visa Europe, said: "V.me sits on the heart of Visa's way forward for payments. For the 1st time, consumers and retailers could have a streamlined online checkout experience through an acceptance mark that provides industry-leading security and, when a Visa card is utilized in a V.me wallet, the identical protection and rights that include any Visa card transaction.

"Our intention is that V.me will ultimately have the capacity to incorporate all or any of our new payment technologies, allowing our members to deliver the absolute best payments experience whether face-to-face, online or in a mobile environment. This comprehensive service suite, delivered under the V.me umbrella, will offer a great way to profit from the size, security and reliability of Visa."

WorldPay is providing commercial and propositional insights in order for V.me is designed with a focal point on meeting retailer needs and expectations.

Phillip McGriskin, Chief Product Officer at WorldPay, adds: "Shoppers are driving the demand for less complicated, secure and safe easy methods to pay online. V.me is being developed specifically to deal with those needs. WorldPay has partnered with Visa Europe to verify the proposition matches merchant requirements and is an engaging and practical digital wallet solution in what's fast becoming a crowded marketplace."

E-commerce currently represents 22% of Visa Europe's transactions and grew 44% between 2009 and 2011. The V.me digital wallet service is the natural next step within the development of Visa's e-commerce strategy.

V.me plays a key part in Visa Europe's way forward for payments strategy, reflecting the company's continued commitment to payments innovation and to bringing new services to market that benefit its members and retailers.

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New blog post : PSA: Space X streaming test-firing of Falcon 9 at 2:30pm ET / 11:30am PT http://bit.ly/J52T8P

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PSA: Space X streaming test-firing of Falcon 9 at 2:30pm ET / 11:30am PT

Today, SpaceX is test-firing the engines of its Falcon 9 rocket in preparation for that oft-delayed May 7th launch for its Dragon capsule. You possibly can watch the static-fire test from the relief of your personal desk by pointing a browser on the company website (link below) from 2:30pm ET / 11:30am PT. If successful, then the rocket will lift-off properly in a week's time, with designs on being the primary commercial craft used to resupply the International Space Station.

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SPACEX TO WEBCAST STATIC FIRE FOR UPCOMING MISSION ON MONDAY

Mission Would Make SpaceX the 1st Commercial Company to aim to Send a Spacecraft to the International Space Station

Hawthorne, CA – On Monday, April 30, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) will webcast a static fire test of the Falcon 9 rocket's nine powerful Merlin engines in preparation for the company's upcoming launch.

The webcast, available at spacex.com, is ready to start at 2:30 PM ET/ 11:30 AM PT, with the true static fire targeted for three:00 PM ET/ 12:00 PM PT.

The 9 engine test will happen on the company's Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) on the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station as portion of an entire launch dress rehearsal leading as much as the second one Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) launch. In the course of the rehearsal, SpaceX engineers will run through all countdown processes as if it were launch day. The exercise will end with all nine engines firing at full power for 2 seconds.

After the test, SpaceX will conduct a radical review of all data as engineers make final preparations for the approaching launch, currently targeted for May 7. SpaceX plans to launch its Dragon spacecraft into low-Earth orbit atop a Falcon 9 rocket. In the course of the mission, Dragon's sensors and flight systems might be subject to a chain of tests to come to a decision if the vehicle is able to berth with the distance station. If NASA decides Dragon is set, the vehicle will attach to the station and astronauts will open Dragon's hatch and unload the cargo onboard.

This will likely be the 1st attempt by a commercial company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station, a feat previously performed by just a few governments. Success is absolutely not guaranteed. If any aspect of the mission will never be successful, SpaceX will learn from the experience and take a look at again. Additionally it is the second one demonstration flight under NASA's program to develop commercial supply services to the International Space Station. The primary SpaceX COTS flight, in December 2010, made SpaceX the 1st commercial company in history to send a spacecraft to orbit and return it safely to Earth. Once SpaceX demonstrates the power to hold cargo to the distance station, it'll start to fulfill its Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract for NASA for a minimum of 12 missions to hold cargo to and from the gap station. The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft were designed to 1 day carry astronauts; both the COTS and CRS missions will yield valuable flight experience toward this goal.

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China Rights Group: Missing Dissident\'s Relatives Arrested

A U.S.-based China rights organization says blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng is under U.S. protection but that two of his realtives were arrested.

Listen to Ira Mellman's interview with Bob Fu.

Speaking to VOA late Sunday, ChinaAid President Bob Fu said Chen is safe and at a location faraway from his home, however the only option left for him could be to escape to the us.

Citing sources virtually Chen, Fu said greater than two dozen military police reportedly arrested Chen's elder brother and nephew Friday morning, the similar day Chen allegedly went into U.S. protection.  Chen's wife, daughter and mother reportedly still are under very tight house arrest.

The Us of a has expressed concern about Chen's fate, but refused all touch upon his whereabouts, amid reports he fled to the U.S. embassy in Beijing.

In an interview with Fox News Sunday, U.S. President Barack Obama's top counterterrorism advisor, John Brennan, said Mr. Obama will do whatever he thinks is within the best interest of america, in addition the individuals involved.  Brennan wouldn't confirm when Chen was in U.S. custody, but reiterated the significance of U.S -China relations.

Chen, a lawyer and activist, was arrested after documenting abuses in China's policy on restricting the scale of most families.  He disappeared Sunday from Dongshigu village within the eastern province of Shandong, although authorities didn't realize he was missing until Thursday.  It isn't clear where he went, but his friend and fellow activist Hu Jia said he believed that Chen was admitted into the embassy Friday.

U.S. diplomats there declined any comment and a spokesman for the Chinese government said he knew nothing of the reports.

The development comes days before U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner are as a consequence of visit Beijing for talks.  

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai said at a briefing in Beijing Saturday at the upcoming talks that he had no information on Chen's case.

In Washington, U.S. Republican Congressman Chris Smith of recent Jersey, told VOA he's relieved that Chen has escaped. Smith chairs a commission on China featuring members of Congress and presidential appointees, the Congressional-Executive Commission at the People's Republic of China.

But Smith expressed concern concerning the safety of Chen's family and supporters in China.

A relative of Chen told VOA that many law enforcement officials, some armed, have converged on his home in Dongshigu.

In a video posted online Friday, Chen detailed the abuses he and his family have allegedly suffered in his year-and-a-half under house arrest.  He also known as on Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to research human rights abuses in China.  

Chen, who campaigned against forced abortions under China's "one child" policy, have been held under house arrest since he was released from a four-year prison sentence in September 2010.

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AU Claims Defeat of al-Shabab in Mogadishu

The African Union military force in Somalia has declared victory over al-Qaida-linked rebels in Mogadishu.   

Predicting that the insurgents will soon be crushed nationwide, senior AMISOM commander General Fred Mugisha declared  "All of Mogadishu is now liberated by Somalia Defense Forces by forces supported by AMISOM." 

General Fred Mugisha said fighters of the Islamist extremist group al-Shabab were expelled from every portion of the Somali capital.

A year ago, al-Shabab controlled virtually all of this city of one.5 million people. The western-backed Transitional Federal Government held a tiny scrap of land surrounding the presidential compound.

But in an 11-month urban guerrilla warfare campaign, the ten,000-strong AMISOM force of mostly Ugandan and Burundian troops systematically cleared out the extremists. During the last few weeks, al-Shabab fighters have fled their last strongholds at the outskirts of town.

Al-Shabab spokesmen have called the retreat a “strategic withdrawal,” but General Mugisha says the pullout marks a big defeat for the rebels.

"There are indicators that show defeat of a set, whether al-Shabab or the other group. One, they lose territory. And so they have lost territory. Two, while you see enemies of that fighting force starting to report back to government, that's a weakness," the overall noted. "It means the balance is changing, and we're commencing to see a number of them reporting to the govt. side."

Reporters who toured the capital over the last two days saw signs of a return to normal after years of al-Shabab control.

The sprawling Bakara Market that was badly damaged in months of fighting last year is once more bustling with commercial activity. Streets are crowded with cars, and a construction boom is underway in the course of the city as crumbling buildings are repaired.

AMISOM officials cautioned, however, that al-Shabab remains a deadly force, and may stage hit-and-run strikes from the agricultural areas where it has fled. Gunfire can be heard echoing in the course of the city after dark, and there are daily reports of explosions and grenade attacks.

Less than a month ago, a feminine suicide bomber struck during ceremonies on the newly-rebuilt national theater, killing two of the country's top sports officials.

Nevertheless, General Mugisha means that the extremists are rapidly losing control nationwide, even inside the traditional rural strongholds to which they've retreated.

"There are still thousands in the market supported by foreign fighters and jihadists, but we expect at this pace, if we continue, it is going to not be long before we see the top of al-Shabab," he said.

With al-Shabab in retreat, AMISOM forces are busy consolidating their control well outside the town limits. Troops are constructing a barrier within the desert outside town to avoid the straightforward movement of al-Shabab forces.

AMISOM officials say the emphasis is now shifting to build up Mogadishu's unarmed and badly understaffed police forces.

As the town returns to normal, police units from other African countries are being dispatched to coach and equip a pro Somali force that may restore order after greater than twenty years of anarchy.

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New Refinery in India Could Boost Trade with Pakistan

A new Indian oil refinery near its border with Pakistan could boost trade between the 2 countries through fuel sales.  The South Asian rivals are hoping that stepped up trade can help the reconciliation process.

The $4-billion refinery near Bhatinda in India's northern Punjab state can process nine-million hundreds crude oil a year.  Besides meeting rising demand in India, it may also supply fuel to Pakistan.  

The refinery is 175 kilometers from the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore.

Islamabad has said it truly is on the point of removing petrol from a listing of things banned for trade with India and India's oil minister says New Delhi is ready to export petroleum products and gasoline to Pakistan.

Pakistan suffers from energy shortages.  India imports nearly three quarters of its crude requirement, however it has huge refining capacity and may export petroleum products.

Analyst Wilson John of the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi says the move to open trade in fuel is a part of recent efforts by both countries to enhance trade.  Ties between India and Pakistan suffered an enormous setback after Pakistan-based militants attacked the Indian city of Mumbai.

“Particularly after the Mumbai attack of 2008, when there has been a deliberate slowdown inside the composite dialogue, you appear to witness a dramatic upsurge within the last say 365 days," John said. "In my view that may be a excellent, positive sign.”    

A series of latest announcements have raised hopes that trade could end up a key driver of peace efforts between the 2 countries.

Earlier this month, India decided to boost a ban on foreign direct investment from Pakistan.  Although that is unlikely to guide to a right away rush of investment, analysts say the move improves the climate for trade.

The Central Bank of India and the State Bank of Pakistan are exploring the opportunity of opening branches in each others' countries.  The 2 countries also are expected to sign a liberalized visa agreement next month, making it simpler for businessmen to travel from one side to the opposite.

The steps to spice up trade are expected to make it easier for India and Pakistan to handle their differences.  Besides a disputed border, India blames Pakistan for permitting its territory for use by Islamic militant groups to mount terror attacks in India.  

Wilson says it's going to take greater than trade for the 2 longtime rivals to utterly normalize ties.   

“Pakistan should, sometime within the near future, address the core concern of India, that is terrorism," said John. "Without that i actually don't think this process can move beyond a degree.”

Observers say, in the intervening time, the stairs to raise trade have created a mood of optimism on either side.

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New blog post : Why are the seeds losing on the Crucible? http://bit.ly/Io5n6x

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Translators Face Cultural Dilemma

The U.S.-based group Translators Borderless was in Kenya's capital recently to coach new translators on ways to put health information into Ki'Swahili and other local languages.  The learning raised an engaging dilemma: what if the word in English is just too scandalous for local sensitivities?

Healthcare information

Muthoni Gichohi is enthusiastic about ensuring that every one Kenyans get the healthcare information they want in a language that they may understand.

Gichohi is a manager on the advocacy and research group Family Health Options Kenya, which facilitated the Translators Without boundaries training.  She also heads several international health information organizations.

She says she has no problem expressing anatomical terms in English. But, in terms of her mother tongue, this can be a different situation.

“I am a Kikuyu," said Gichohi. "There are some words that i can't really check with the general public, because they're provocative, so i've got to truly put it otherwise that that's still delivering the identical message, however the words may be different.”

Acceptable language

The same problem arises for Kenya's national language, Ki'Swahili. Translator and course instructor Paul Warambo explains.

“Sometimes you're also forced to apply euphemisms - use a language that may be more acceptable to the folks," he said. "For instance, in Swahili, we can't call a body part - the vagina, as an instance - we won't call it by its name. We use “kitu chake” - her thing.  You don't just mention it by the name, you assert, “her thing,” in order that if somebody desires to know her thing, in a medical environment and a context we won't ask you questions because we're going to understand what it means.”

The use of euphemisms highlights a large issue in translation: the culture of the community through which something is being translated will largely determine how words and expressions from the source language - to that end, English - will appear in that community's language.

In some cases, the style the culture conceptualizes a selected activity or object becomes the real translation for that activity or object.

Translator Warambo explains the typical translation of “sexual intercourse” from English into Ki'Swahili.

“We always say, in Ki'Swahili, “kutenda kitendo kibaya” - to do something bad," said Warambo. "So, imagine sex was linked to something bad, emanating from the African cultural context.”

Both Warambo and Gichohi say that the culturally-appropriate use of language is vital as to whether or not a community will accept - or perhaps hearken to - the message being conveyed.

This is principally crucial within the health-care field.  A phrase translated into language unacceptable to, or not understood by, the community could, in a worst-case scenario, cause a patient's death.

Acceptance

Lori Thicke co-founded Translators Without borderlines in 1993. She says, quite often, plenty of development organizations have tended to miss the significance of language in health care behavior change.

“It is correct that folk don't consider translation," said Thicke. "It's absolutely not at the radar, nonetheless it is so critical whenever you give it some thought, for individuals to get information, if it is the right way to take their medication, if it is where to locate supplies in a crisis situation.”

But it isn't just using culturally-appropriate translation so as to make a difference.

Family Health Options Kenya's Gichohi and her team recently opened a health information center in a Maasai community. In the course of the process, she came to profit that young Maasai cannot say certain things within the presence of Maasai elders. Also, additionally it is men who address public gatherings, so the message is probably not accepted from a girl.

“I would need that the govt. would truly encourage the citizens to be told about each others' cultures because i've realized that there's a lot of richness in culture," said Gichohi. "Culture isn't just even language - it's also the style we put clothes, the style we talk, and since i'm saying, even for translation, the tone you are likely to put also will make that someone realize this person is for me, or not for me.”

Communication that goes far beyond words.   

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Burma Plans First Census in 31 Years

Burma plans to conduct its first census in 31 years, a key step in political reforms that may have a huge impact at the country's marginalized minorities.

Burma's minister of immigration and population Khin Yi signed a letter confirming his government's commitment to conduct the nationwide census by 2014. The letter says the primary survey in 31 years will adhere to global standards, include "all national races," and provides census workers access to all areas of the rustic.

During the signing ceremony in Naypyitaw, U.N. Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon said he hopes ongoing ceasefire talks will make the census possible, and should involve minorities and civil society.

Dave Mathieson, senior Burma researcher for Human Rights Watch, said a correct count of the population is a critical element of the government's political reforms.

"Potentially, in case you have a census that extends the ideal to vote to everyone within the country, you would have a much more equal and credible election in 2015," said Mathieson. "When you've got actually empowered people enough that they'll actually cast votes."

Burma's last official census in 1983 didn't count people living in areas where insurgencies were raging. Before that, the last credible census was conducted in 1931, during British rule.

Official denial of the stateless
Rights groups worry that if not conducted properly, the census could marginalize minorities inclusive of the Rohingya or those living in a single of Burma's many conflict areas.

The United Nations estimates nearly one-million ethnic Rohingya Muslims live in Rakhine State.

Myint Kyaing, Director General of Burma's Department of Population, an office which denies the existence of stateless people, is chargeable for conducting the survey.

"We don't have any stateless people in Myanmar and there's no Rohingya in Myanmar besides, because no Bengali individuals are residing in Myanmar," he said.

A key test

Analysts say resolving such classification disputes would be a key test of the census' accuracy and the government's commitment to reform.

For years, economists and academics studying Burma were forced to exploit the govt's notoriously unreliable data.

Professor Sean Turnell of Australia's Maquarie University, editor of Burma Economics Watch, said the census will allow the government to more accurately estimate key economic indicators equivalent to GDP.

"Under the former government there has been little or no, even in pretense, about having the numbers right," said Turnell. " there have been certain objectives that the govt desired to achieve and, when pressed, those numbers usually added as much as achieving those ends. And so i feel the classic example was GDP growth rates, which for many years were in double digits."

Those GDP rates, he added, would have made Burma the most effective performing economy on the earth.

In the 2 years leading as much as the information-collection period, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) may be assisting in surveyor training and drafting survey documents. UNFPA's country representative Mohamed Abdel-Ahad called it an extremely steep challenge as a result of period of time elapsed because the last census, but person who is a critical step.

"As you realize the general public doesn't know enough concerning the census," he said. "The census has not been taken for 30 years, so people who were born after 1983 in Myanmar don't know and feature not undergone the experience of conducting census, and we have to inform them that it truly is their right to count."

Abdel-Ahad said workers expect to hold out the census in April, 2014. The United Nations is anticipated to at the least partially cover the estimated $53-million cost.

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Expectation Grows for Potential North Korean Nuclear Test

North Korea is giving no official indication it's preparing a 3rd attempted nuclear test.  But reports abroad say such an underground detonation could come at any time.

Some regional media outlets are reporting a North Korea nuclear test is predicted between early and mid-May.

One report, within the Joong-Ang Ilbo in South Korea, quotes a diplomatic source in Washington as saying the U.S. has told South Korea this type of detonation could occur once this week.

Asked about that, a U.S. diplomat in Seoul replied the Embassy doesn't touch upon “security matters.”

Diplomatic and intelligence sources, who don't want to be quoted, say they've seen no indication from satellite imagery that the equipment and associated cabling essential to conduct such an underground detonation are in place. Images taken by surveillance satellites beforehand few weeks did reveal that digging of a brand new tunnel was underway on the Pyunnge-ri test site.

There is growing speculation that North Korea will try to detonate a uranium-fueled weapon. Its previously announced tests, in 2006 and 2009, are widely believed to have used plutonium, although no traces of radioactive isotopes were detected following the second one attempt.

At a briefing Monday, South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-suk told reporters preparations are underway to activate an emergency task force concerning a North Korean nuclear test, nonetheless it seriously isn't yet operational.

Kim says it truly is impossible to get precise information in real time about what's happening on the test site.  However the South Korean military is utilizing various methods - in cooperation with U.S. forces - to collected pertinent information.

At the Unification Ministry, that's tasked with North-South relations because the two Koreas don't have any diplomatic ties, spokesman Kim Hyung-suk says there's concern North Korea could take further provocative actions soon, including another nuclear test.

The spokesman says the ministry is continuously asking Pyongyang to make a favorable choice in responding to the active recommendations of the international community. Kim warns North Korea it may possibly expect further punishment if it again carries out a provocation.

North Korea is already under international sanctions for previous nuclear and missile tests.

The United Nations Security Council, inside the coming days, is predicted to announce tighter sanctions within the wake of North Korea's April 13th rocket launch, which violated resolutions by the area body at the use of ballistic missile technology.

North Korea contends the launch, which failed two minutes after blast-off, was an try to place a calm satellite into orbit.

The embarrassing failure was followed by increasingly belligerent rhetoric from Pyongyang, threatening “special military action” against the govt of South Korea President Lee Myung-bak.

The North accuses President Lee of insulting it while the nation was grieving after the death in December of its leader, Kim Jong Il. North Korea accuses Mr. Lee of constant to utter “unforgivable” insulting rhetoric during April while the rustic was marking the centennial of the birth of North Korea's founder and eternal President, Kim Il Sung.

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Suicide Bombing Kills 11 in Nigeria

Authorities in eastern Nigeria say a suicide bombing targeting a police official has killed 11 people.

Officials say a bomber on motorbike rammed right into a police convoy in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba state. Another 20 people were injured within the blast, however the police official was not harmed.

No one has claimed responsibility for the blast, which occurred near the state ministry of finance and police headquarters.

The attack comes an afternoon after gunmen in northern Nigeria killed no less than 15 people in an assault on a school theater used for church services.

Security officials said the gunmen threw small explosives into the positioning at Bayero University in Kano, then fired on worshippers as they ran outside.

One of the greater than 20 people wounded in Sunday's attack said the assault happened ahead of the service began.

"We were about to begin the mass, then we commence hearing gunshots, pah pah pah, and that i ducked down because i'm a retired soldier, and that i said i cannot run away to anywhere," he said.

A faculty member, Nasir Fagge, told VOA Hausa Service that security were increased on the school within the days before the attack in light of different deadly incidents in Kano.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, which resembled others conducted by the Islamic militant group Boko Haram.

The group claimed responsibility for deadly attacks on Thursday on the offices of Just today newspaper within the northern city of Kaduna and the capital, Abuja.

Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is a sin" inside the Hausa language, is attempting to show Nigeria into an Islamic state. Human Rights Watch says the gang has killed greater than 1,000 people since 2009.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has come under increasing domestic and international pressure to bring an end to the violence.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, is divided between most of the people-Muslim north and the predominantly Christian south.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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Rights Group Reports Evidence of War Crimes in Mali

International human rights experts say the armed groups occupying northern Mali have committed war crimes, including rape and using children as combatants. And there's evidence of crimes by Malian soldiers too.

Human Rights Watch says separatist Tuareg rebels and other armed groups who've taken over northern Mali have abducted and raped girls and women, used children as combatants, and - in rampant looting - robbed communities in their very technique of survival.

Among the scores of witnesses and victims human rights researchers spoke with in Mali was a 14-year-old girl who said she was gang-raped for four days by fighters with the Tuareg separatist group National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, or MNLA.

Corinne Dufka is Human Rights Watch's senior Africa researcher.

“We noted an incredibly worrying dynamic of abduction and sexual abuse by primarily the MNLA in addition to the Arab militia," said Dufka. "I spoke with the witnesses to 17 abductions after which we spoke with either direct victims or with relations and friends who had direct knowledge of plenty of girls being sexually abused to boot.”

While tens of thousands of Malians have fled the occupied regions, individuals who remain say attacks on civilians continue.

This resident of Gao, who didn't want her name used, said girls as young as 10 years old and pregnant and nursing women were raped.

She says rapes are still happening. Today, she says, girls and women are being kidnapped and raped.

She says it is crucial that the sector know the reality in regards to the separatist Tuareg rebels.

She says the international community must remember that contrary to what the rebels say - that they're here for independence of northern Mali - they have got come raping our women, raping our girls, looting every very last thing we now have.

The Tuareg rebels, who for many years have mounted sporadic uprisings in a bid for autonomy, fought alongside Islamic militant groups in attacks on Mali's north in recent months.

The New-York based Human Rights Watch says all the armed groups have committed offenses. Ansar Dine, the Tuareg Islamic group trying to enforce an intensive interpretation of Sharia law across Mali, is reported to have performed severe punishments, including slitting the throat of 1 man and removing the hand of another.

Peter Bouckaert, emergencies director with Human Rights Watch, says fallout from the newest violence can be dangerous, as some non-Tuaregs laid low with the unrest inside the north are talking revenge.

“They're very keen to take revenge for the suffering that was attributable to the rebel groups within the north and are actually organizing their very own militias and a few in their rhetoric is extremely extreme," he said. "They feel just like the Tuareg rebels have caused problems within the north for a very long time they usually would like to return and basically cleanse the north of Tuareg.”

There is an ethnic element also in crimes allegedly committed by members of the Malian army. Human Rights Watch says it found credible evidence that during the aftermath of the rebel sweep of the north, Malian soldiers performed arbitrary detentions and summary executions of Tuaregs and other light-skinned people.

Corinne Dufka says the abuses by Malian soldiers generally is a sign of items to come back.

“We are concerned that these kinds of trends could continue as perhaps a few of the militia groups engage in an operation against the north and we'll be watching that," said Dufka. "We call on each side to abide by international humanitarian law and make sure that those members in their respective militaries maintain discipline and are disciplined in case they do commit abuses.”

Human Rights Watch is asking at the Malian government to ask the UN human rights commission to observe and investigate abuses within the north.

The International Criminal Court said on April 24th that it's been closely watching the location in Mali because the latest rebellion broke and may come to a decision soon on whether to envision further.

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EU Officials Boycott Ukraine Over Tymoshenko Case

Top European Union officials are canceling plans to wait events in Ukraine to protest the imprisonment and treatment of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso announced Monday that he'll follow the instance of EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding, who said she would skip the ceremonial Euro 2012 football [soccer] kick-offs in June.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also has warned that she may boycott all Euro 2012 matches in Ukraine and expects her ministers to do the identical.

The tournament, Europe's essential football championship for national teams, is being co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine from June 8 until July 1.

Also Monday, Czech President Vaclav Klaus canceled his visit to the summit of Central European heads of state scheduled for May 11 and 12 in Yalta.

Klaus is the second one president to refuse to visit Ukraine for the summit, after German President Joachim Gauck.  

Tymoshenko was sentenced to seven years in prison last year on charges of abuse of office in a 2009 gas concentrate on Russia. She is now standing trial on tax evasion charges which may extend her prison time to twelve years. Tymoshenko denies the fees and says they're component to a campaign by President Viktor Yanukovich to take away his strongest political rival.

She was on a hunger strike for greater than every week, after she said she was beaten by prison guards. German doctors diagnosed  Tymoshenko last week with back problems they are saying can not be treated in Ukraine, however the Kyiv government has refused appeals to permit her to go away.

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UN Chief Encourages Further Easing of Burma Sanctions

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged a different easing of monetary and political sanctions against Burma Monday, during an unprecedented speech to the country's parliament.

Ban praised President Thein Sein for ushering in a string of dramatic and unexpected reforms since taking office a year ago.

Last week, the eu Union suspended most of its sanctions, except arms sales, following the examples of Australia and Canada, while america maintained sanctions on trade.

The U.N. chief urged the international community to do more to support reform efforts in Burma, also called Myanmar.

"i beg the international community to head even further in lifting, suspending, or easing trade restrictions and other sanctions," he said. "Second, Myanmar needs a considerable increase in international development assistance in addition to foreign direct investment."

The U.N. chief also praised democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's leadership.  Her National League for Democracy Monday backed off a requirement for changes to a constitutional oath required of members of parliament.

"We decided to compromise during this situation because we do not desire to become a political problem. Some people might imagine the NLD has given in, but allow them to think what they would like,"  Aung San Suu Kyi explained according to a reporter's question about why they made the compromise.

NLD members could take the oath as early as Wednesday.  The oath requires politicians to assert they'll “safeguard” the army-drafted constitution as they're sworn in. The NLD members opposed it because they need to amend the charter.

The constitution sets aside 1 / 4 of all seats in parliament for the army and allows it to take over government if there's an “emergency.”

Earlier Monday Ban held meetings with President Thein Sein.  Tuesday he's scheduled to satisfy for the 1st time with Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.  

Ban last visited Burma in 2009 when the army government was still in power, holding Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest, and refusing to let her see the U.N. leader.

The democracy leader was released shortly after the controversial 2010 election that brought the nominally civilian government to power.  

The NLD boycotted the 2010 election because their leader was not allowed to run, but participated in April's by-elections where Aung San Suu Kyi and 42 of her fellow NLD party members won seats.

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US Uses Advanced Intelligence to seek LRA in Central Africa

In a one-room radio station deep within the forests of the Central African Republic, an announcer broadcasts a message to these kidnapped by the Lord's Resistance Army.

Come home, the message says, your loved ones will accept you, it doesn't matter what atrocities you have got committed.

Emmanuel Daba, one of many hosts on the U.S.-funded Radio Zereda, was kidnapped by the LRA in 2008 and served as a porter for the rebels for a year, before he escaped.

“We conducted raids on villages in South Sudan and the Congo,” he said. “We killed many people, with machetes, with sticks and clubs.”

Daba was among the thousands abducted by the LRA because it first launched an insurgency in Uganda two decades ago, led by the notorious and elusive commander Joseph Kony.

Since then, the gang has opened up into South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. Once numbering within the thousands, the LRA now could be believed to have very few hundred fighters at most.

While their numbers have diminished, their ability to inflict terror has not. The United Nations estimates that 465,000 people were displaced last year due to LRA threat.
VOA

Guiding the 'pointy end'

Last year, U.S. President Barack Obama authorized the deployment of about 100 U.S. special forces troops to aid capture or kill members of the LRA.

Small teams of soldiers have helped established operating centers in five locations across central Africa.

The head of U.S. counter-LRA operations, Navy Captain Ken Wright, said the soldiers' role is to work within the background, to actively support regional militaries.

“They are those who will exit and affect the capture of Joseph Kony at the battlefield,” he said, “We need not be on the pointy end of a patrol to impact and support their actions.”

In Obo, U.S. soldiers share information with their counterparts from the Ugandan and Central African Republic militaries on the Counter-LRA Operations Fusion Center [COFC]. The middle is housed in a small building that after belonged to a physician murdered by the LRA. Maps of central Africa adorn the walls of the meeting room, together with pictures of the LRA commanders, including Kony.

The room is open to members of the local communities, in addition to hunters and nomadic herdsmen who could have information to share in regards to the LRA's whereabouts.

Wright said this data sharing is bringing the joint forces in the direction of tracking down the group's senior leaders.

“Every day we're out here working with our partner nation forces, we develop an improved understanding of the LRA and their location within the battle space,” he said. “Every day that view is refined further and further.”

Ugandan military spokesman Colonel Felix Kulayigye said U.S. intelligence support may be the turning point in quest of Kony.

“As you're aware, an army without intelligence is nearly as good as a blind person,” he said. "We believe this support will certainly help us capture Kony, or kill him.”

Where is Kony?

Tracking the rebel leader is a chief challenge. LRA fighters have all but abandoned using mobile or satellite phones to speak with each other, making them very difficult to track.

Dispersed across a neighborhood the dimensions of California, the LRA moves in small groups, only occasionally meeting up at pre-determined rendezvous points.

Kulayigye says the newest intelligence reports suggest Kony is somewhere within the Central African Republic, though he previously said the rebel leader was inside the southern Darfur region of Sudan.

Mathew Brubacher, the political views officer for the U.N. peacekeeping mission within the DRC, was studying the LRA for nine years, and frequently interviews abductees who've been released or free of the gang, searching for details about their leaders.

Brubacher also had heard Kony could have been in Sudan, but said that information is tough to confirm.

“I imagine he's just moving around,” he said, “crossing borders frequently, probably with a reasonably small group with an even bigger group providing extra support. That is the way he usually moves.”

Wright said the LRA's small group numbers pose a singular challenge, but that military pressure is operating.

“Their ability to negatively affect the surroundings and the folk around them is greatly reduced,” he said. “They are almost on a survival mode at this point.”

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