Microsoft considers name change for Internet Explorer |
- Microsoft considers name change for Internet Explorer
- China: Aussie tycoon’s tirade ‘irrational and absurd’
- Maggie Steber and the art of vulnerable photography
- Police tops Malaysia Cup’s Group D
- Uber parks itself in mobile dining and travel apps
- China’s Peking Opera begins US tour
| Microsoft considers name change for Internet Explorer Posted: 20 Aug 2014 05:52 PM PDT SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 21 — On an "ask me anything" (AMA) thread on Reddit, Microsoft's Internet Explorer project manager Jonathan Sampson indicated that a rebranding of the browser was under discussion. Launched in 1995, the browser trails Chrome and Firefox in several regions, and a name change could potentially contribute to the fresh start needed to reconquer market share.
In response to a question on whether Microsoft had considered renaming its browser, Sampson wrote: "It's been suggested internally; I remember a particularly long email thread where numerous people were passionately debating it. Plenty of ideas get kicked around about how we can separate ourselves from negative perceptions that no longer reflect our product today...Who knows what the future holds?" Microsoft has already succeeded in reviving a number of its longstanding services through feature improvements and interface changes, and sometimes also through rebranding, as was the case with Outlook.com (formerly Hotmail) and Skype (which reprises features from MSN). In Europe, Internet Explorer has seen its market share drop steadily over a period of years to reach 21.3 per cent in June 2014, far behind Chrome (31.6%) and only marginally ahead of Firefox (19.6%) and Safari (19.5%), according to AT Internet. Figures from the US are hardly less dismal for Microsoft's browser. According to a report from Adobe released in June, Google's Chrome and Android browsers accounted for 31.8 per cent of visits to US-based websites during April 2014 (up from 26% the previous year) compared to 30.9 per cent for Internet Explorer (down from 37%). — AFP-Relaxnews  |
| China: Aussie tycoon’s tirade ‘irrational and absurd’ Posted: 20 Aug 2014 05:46 PM PDT
The Australian government has rebuked Palmer, who holds the balance of power in the parliament's upper house. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she planned to contact the Chinese embassy to stress that the Australian parliament does not share Palmer's "abusive" views. "Palmer's words about China in recent days are totally irrational and absurd. We strongly condemn them," Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement posted on the ministry's official website late yesterday. Qin's statement came after a prominent Chinese newspaper, the state-run Global Times tabloid, said Australia should be taught a lesson. "China cannot let him off, or show petty kindness just because the Australian government has condemned him," it said in an editorial in its Chinese and English editions. "China must be aware that Palmer's rampant rascality serves as a symbol that Australian society has an unfriendly attitude toward China." Qin, however, noted that Australian political leaders, including Prime Minister Tony Abbott, had criticized Palmer's actions, saying the tycoon's stance did not have the wider backing of the Australian public. The Global Times is published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily. Although it does not have the same mouthpiece function of its mother publication, its words can carry weight in government circles. The government-run Xinhua news agency took a softer line, saying that "one rotten apple" should not be allowed to ruin relations. It noted that the Chinese embassy had received emails of support from Australians who felt embarrassed by Palmer. Palmer is locked in a legal battle with Chinese firm CITIC Pacific Ltd over cost blowouts and disputed royalty payments at the Sino Iron project in Western Australia, China's biggest offshore mining investment. The outspoken businessman lost two parts of that legal fight yesterday. The Federal Court of Australia ruled that the government was wrong to have appointed Palmer's private company Mineralogy Pty Ltd as operator of Cape Preston port, where Sino Iron is exporting its ore. In a separate case, a federal judge ruled that the government had the right to approve CITIC Pacific's security plan for the port facilities at Cape Preston. Mineralogy had challenged the approval in an attempt to block CITIC Pacific, controlled by state-owned CITIC Group Corp , from exporting iron ore from the US$8 billion (RM25 billion) project. CITIC bought the rights to the ore from Palmer and began shipments last December, more than three years behind schedule at nearly quadruple the original cost. A further court challenge over some A$200 million (RM587.9 million) in royalties is going on. PRANCING PROVOCATEURS Palmer has already said his comments were not intended to refer to the Chinese people, and yesterday issued another statement saying he had been a "major supporter of the Chinese" for a long time. "What is unacceptable is a Chinese state-owned enterprise that abuses the legal system for commercial gain in a global strategic effort to control resources," Palmer said. China is Australia's biggest trade partner with two-way trade approaching US$150 billion, representing more than 20 per cent of Australia's total trade. Nev Power, chief executive of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd , which sold US$11.8 billion worth of Australian iron ore to China in fiscal 2014, said he did not think the remarks would have an impact on bilateral relations. "Clearly, they are not helpful comments. It sounded like a bit of ranting and raving. I'm sure that the Chinese will dismiss them for what they are," he told reporters. However, the Global Times said China should consider putting sanctions on Palmer and his companies and banning him and his senior executives from China. "China must let those prancing provocateurs know how much of a price they pay when they deliberately rile us," it said, adding that Australia "must be marginalized in China's global strategy". The newspaper implied that Australia did not mean that much to China in any case. "Australia is a remote business partner, and a place where the Chinese can take a trip and learn some English." — Reuters |
| Maggie Steber and the art of vulnerable photography Posted: 20 Aug 2014 05:45 PM PDT
That shot was taken by documentary photographer Maggie Steber and it speaks volumes about her ability to capture the most vulnerable moments in conflict-ridden situations. Steber was in town recently for the Obscura Festival of Photography to conduct a workshop on photographic intimacy, a prominent feature of her work in magazines such as National Geographic, Life and The New Yorker. Winner of the World Press Foundation Award and the Leica Medal of Excellence, Steber grew up in Texas and credits her mother, a single parent, as a great influence. "We didn't have much money but my mother raised me in a very cultured way and always made sure I had the confidence to do things." When Steber attended the University of Texas in Austin, two of her mentors were the celebrated photographers Russell Lee and Garry Winogrand. She says, "Lee was quite old but still wonderfully healthy and he laughed a lot. He was one of the Farm Security Administration photographers who took pictures of the US during the Great Depression. He taught me to respect people we photographed and to be humble because they had allowed us into their lives."
Early in her career, Steber worked as a photo editor for The Associated Press in New York. She then became interested in Africa and finally decided to quit her job to cover a war in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). She recalls, "You could not get to the front lines because if the guerrillas caught you, they would kill you. I chose to photograph the changing society, the flight of all the white people who had settled there and were running the country. That was a much more interesting story to me than trying to photograph bullets." After that, there was no turning back. When Steber returned to the US, she continued her journey in documentary photography by working in Cuba. "I wanted to tell stories but I needed to become a better photographer. I paid my own way and went to Cuba whenever and however I could. I never show that work because it's not very good but it helped me learn to shoot with a more documentary feeling." Today, Steber is known for her strong, compelling images covering subjects as diverse as post-war trauma, the Cherokee Nation and the African slave trade, but she is perhaps most drawn to Haiti.
She says, "People think of Haiti as a poor black country that is corrupt, violent and a failed state. Those things aren't necessarily untrue but it's so much more. Its history is astonishing: Haiti witnessed the only successful slave revolt in the history of the world, for which it seemingly has been punished forever after. They even had to pay repatriation money to France for liberating themselves and robbing France of its richest colony!" According to Steber, the Duvalier regime which lasted 30 years either killed or chased out most of the intellectuals, artists and merchants. "They were an important middle class that could have helped the economy. So many Haitians have died yet Haitians are still generous, friendly, fearless and resilient. They have lessons to teach us. If Haiti loves you, it wrings your heart out every day but you always come back for more because you simply have no choice." For every assignment, Steber looks to her story to determine her angle, be it broad or focused. "For example, my work in Haiti covered a wide range of ideas and events — politics, violence, elections, but also daily life. I don't want to repeat what I have done. I have also photographed my mother and her memory loss over a seven— to eight-year period and that, of course, was very focused." A lot of Steber's work is very immersive in the surroundings and the people she captures. Given the sensitivity of the situations, she believes the best photos come from intimate exchange and interaction.
The shared experience is what fascinates Steber. She says, "Maybe it's because I grew up alone, as an only child with a single parent. I sort of regard many of the people I meet as members of my family. I'm gathering them as I go and growing a family, even if it's only the photographs that I have to remember. Photography is all about memory. You record a moment in history; be it world history, personal history, or an intimate history." Given the hardships some of her subjects go through, Steber doesn't believe one can be objective when reporting. "It's impossible. And if you do manage to be objective, then all you produce are boring photographs. Every decision we make in life is subjective, not only based on the news but also on our own personal experiences which have shaped how we see the world around us. I would much rather be accused of being subjective than of being too removed. I want to be as vulnerable before the people I photograph as I ask them to be before me." Ultimately, as a documentary photographer, Steber is convinced that the issues never change, only the ways of seeing the world or telling a story. "We still have war, hunger, domestic violence, abuse of women and children, slaughter of animals, men devouring the earth in search of gold and oil and leaving gaping wounds behind. So the challenge for all of us is to bring fresh visual points of view to the world and perhaps, we can change just a few minds that might make things better, or who might even save us." OBSCURA Festival 11-31 August 2014 Various venues, George Town, Penang For more information, visit www.obscurafestival.com or email [email protected] Learn more about Maggie Steber at her website. |
| Police tops Malaysia Cup’s Group D Posted: 20 Aug 2014 05:38 PM PDT
Selangor, who had to play almost the entire match with 10-man after skipper Bunyamin Umar was given the marching order in the 14th minute after bringing down Ashfaq Ali inside the penalty box, found the going tough as Ashfaq picked himself up to score from the spot. Police made it 2-0 when their import player Chad Charles Souza finished off a superb pass by Bobby Gonzales in the 68th minute. In another Group D match, T-Team collected three points by beating Sime Darby 2-1 at the Sultan Ismail Nasaruddin Shah Stadium in Kuala Terengganu. Sime Darby took the lead through Dilshod Sharofetdinov's penalty in the 44th minute but T-Team struck back in the 57th minute through Leandro Dos Santos before Ramzul Zahini Adnan scored the winner in the 82nd minute. At the Perak Stadium in Ipoh, Perak beat Sarawak 2-0 in a Group B match with goals from Nasir Basharuddin (44th minute) and import Abdulafees Abdulsalam's 58th minute strike. In Alor Setar, host Kedah suffered a 2-3 defeat to Terengganu at the Darul Aman Stadium in another Group B match. Mohd Ashaari Samsuddin put Terengganu in the lead by the 7th minute and added his second in the 45th minute before Kedah staged a second half fight back to level the tie with goals from import Billy Mehmet Osman (47th min) and Badrol Bakhtiar (60th min). Terengganu however, had the final say when their import Mario Karlovic nailed the winner in the 74th minute to collect all three points. ― Bernama |
| Uber parks itself in mobile dining and travel apps Posted: 20 Aug 2014 05:37 PM PDT
The San Francisco-based startup let about a dozen businesses such as Starbucks, Hyatt Hotels, United Airlines, TripAdvisor and restaurant reservation service OpenTable make it simple for people to summon Uber cars from inside their applications for smartphones or tablet computers. "We're excited to partner with Uber to help TripAdvisor travellers conveniently find a ride to their destination in cities throughout the world," TripAdvisor senior vice president of global product Adam Medros said. Uber also released a software kit to allow makers of mobile apps to link to its platform, expanding its reach with a tactic that has proven effective for other Internet firms including Facebook and ramps up pressure on Uber's rivals such as Lyft. It means that after people book flights or make dinner reservations online, for example, they can easily arrange for Uber cars to get them to airports or restaurants. A "My Reservations" section in the Hyatt mobile application will feature a button icon letting users summon Uber cars. "Our partnership with Uber offers customers new opportunities to simplify their travel experience," United Airlines vice president of loyalty Praveen Sharma said. Uber did not release information about revenue sharing or referral fees involved with its new partners. Taxi industry fuming The announcement came a day after Uber revealed that a political strategist who ran US President Barack Obama's winning campaign in 2008 has hopped on board at the startup. David Plouffe will become senior vice president of policy and strategy at the firm beginning late September. Plouffe will manage Uber's global policy and political activities, communications, and branding efforts, Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick said in a blog post, describing Plouffe as "a proven field general and strategist." Plouffe's mission will include shepherding Uber "well beyond the challenges of the Big Taxi cartel and into the brave new world of software-powered transportation," according to Kalanick. The Uber app, which allows clients to connect directly with "black car" services, has upset the established taxi set in several countries. Uber delivers As part of its ambitious expansion, Uber this week began testing the potential of having its drivers deliver over-the-counter medicine, candy, beauty supplies or other goods that might be fetched from neighbourhood markets. The service, called "Corner Store," lets people pay for items using Uber accounts on mobile devices and then have products delivered. The test began on Tuesday and was limited to Washington, D.C. "Forget racing to the store after a long day at the office," Uber said in an email message to members of the service in the US capital. "We're bringing diapers, allergy medicine, toothpaste and over 100 other items to your doorstep in 10 minutes or less." Uber is the most prominent of the apps that are shaking up the traditional taxi landscape in cities around the world. It has already faced significant resistance from regulators, who accuse it of unfair competition and lack of standards. Uber is only one of many new smartphone-dependent car services seen as bypassing strict regulations faced by licenced cab drivers. Uber is present in more than 170 cities spread about dozens of countries. — AFP |
| China’s Peking Opera begins US tour Posted: 20 Aug 2014 05:31 PM PDT
Peking Opera, known as jingju in Chinese, is the country's national form of theatre, combining unique storytelling, acrobatics, acting and martial arts with Chinese singing and dance. The tour by the Jingju Theater Company of Beijing, with performances in New York and Washington, is timed to mark the 120th anniversary of the birth of China's greatest opera star, Mei Lanfang, who introduced his art form to US audiences nearly 90 years ago. "This tour is special because it is by the particular troupe that is the direct artistic inheritor of Mei Lanfang's art," said Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak, an expert on the art form who directs the Asian theatre programme at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. Mei Lanfang toured the United States in 1930 and is credited with revolutionizing the tradition of men performing female roles. He created a unique style known as the "Mei Lanfang School." "It was the first time that it was seriously introduced in the United States by an important artist and company," Wichmann-Walczak said about the US tour, adding that Mei Lanfang was celebrated by theatre and film stars of the time. His 80-year-old son, Mei Baojiu, one of China's top opera stars, organized the program for the current US tour, which follows in his father's footsteps. It includes five shorter plays each featuring a major female character that would have been played by his father, and a full-length production. All of the plays were created by Mei Lanfang, who died in 1961 at age 66. "We want to let the American people understand that Mei Lanfang's art is a unique form of drama that tells a story through song and dance. It represents and exemplifiesChinese Opera," Mei Baojiu said in an interview. "Bringing the Peking Opera to the United States not only provides an important cultural exchange, but also strengthens the China-US relationship," he added. Peking Opera began developing at the end of 18th century and was recognized as the national form of theater in the 19th century as it spread throughout China. "Every major city and province has a jingju company," said Wichmann-Walczak. "It is a unique theater form. The actors are the major creators," she added. The actors traditionally composed the music, which is part of character interpretation, an created every aspect of the play. "It is really a total theatre form using all of the elements of the performing arts," said Wichmann-Walczak. The troupe will perform August 20, 23, 24 at Lincoln Center before travelling to Washington for two performances at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. ― Reuters |
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