naver map promotion film.
2009/10/29
2009/10/25
Korean Research Offers Hope of Cutting PC Boot-Up Time
Korean Research Offers Hope of Cutting PC Boot-Up Time
Korean scientists have developed technology that will allow computers to be switched on without the long, tedious booting time. A research team led by Chang Joon-yeon and Koo Hyun-cheol at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology said Thursday they developed a so-called "spin-injected field effect transistor" that can use not only the flow of electrons but also the spinning direction of electrons as computerized information for the first time in the world. Their work is published in Science Magazine on Friday.
"After the theory of spintronics and use of semiconductor in the field emerged in 1990 in the United States, many countries tried to develop technologies to put the theory into practice with a commercial prospect," the team said. "But this is the first time that a spin electron device that can be electrically operated was developed. The repercussions of commercial production throughout information industry would be huge. It will then be possible to turn on a computer without going through the long booting process, and put memory and CPU in one chip."
The researchers have applied for a patent in the U.S., Europe and Japan.
englishnews@chosun.com / Sep. 18, 2009 11:53 KST
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/09/18/2009091800648.html
Korean scientists have developed technology that will allow computers to be switched on without the long, tedious booting time. A research team led by Chang Joon-yeon and Koo Hyun-cheol at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology said Thursday they developed a so-called "spin-injected field effect transistor" that can use not only the flow of electrons but also the spinning direction of electrons as computerized information for the first time in the world. Their work is published in Science Magazine on Friday.
"After the theory of spintronics and use of semiconductor in the field emerged in 1990 in the United States, many countries tried to develop technologies to put the theory into practice with a commercial prospect," the team said. "But this is the first time that a spin electron device that can be electrically operated was developed. The repercussions of commercial production throughout information industry would be huge. It will then be possible to turn on a computer without going through the long booting process, and put memory and CPU in one chip."
The researchers have applied for a patent in the U.S., Europe and Japan.
englishnews@chosun.com / Sep. 18, 2009 11:53 KST
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/09/18/2009091800648.html
Korea Among World's Top 10 for Wi-Fi Hotspots
Korea Among World's Top 10 for Wi-Fi Hotspots
Korea has the seventh largest number of Wi-Fi locations in the world with 12,814 hotspots as of the first half of this year, a report released on Sunday reveals.
Wi-Fi hotspots are public areas such as hotel lobbies, airports and cafes where a wireless Internet connection is available for wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) devices.
In the list compiled by JiWire, a U.S. mobile media company, the U.S. ranked first with 68,059 Wi-Fi hotspots, followed by China, the U.K., France, Russia and Germany.
englishnews@chosun.com / Oct. 26, 2009 09:07 KST
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/10/26/2009102600282.html
Korea has the seventh largest number of Wi-Fi locations in the world with 12,814 hotspots as of the first half of this year, a report released on Sunday reveals.
Wi-Fi hotspots are public areas such as hotel lobbies, airports and cafes where a wireless Internet connection is available for wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) devices.
In the list compiled by JiWire, a U.S. mobile media company, the U.S. ranked first with 68,059 Wi-Fi hotspots, followed by China, the U.K., France, Russia and Germany.
englishnews@chosun.com / Oct. 26, 2009 09:07 KST
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/10/26/2009102600282.html
Korea Cell providers offer new packages.
Cell providers offer new packages
Local mobile phone operators are showcasing package deals that include mobile, Internet and landline services at a discount.
SK Telecom said yesterday it would launch a “fixed mobile substitution,” or FMS, service starting next month. Customers will be able to designate certain areas in which they can make calls on their cell phones at cheaper landline rates. When in the pre-selected areas, 10 seconds on the phone will cost 13 won ($0.01) instead of the usual 18 won. “We intend to use our competitiveness in mobile services and merge this with landlines to provide a high-quality, low-cost telecom service for our customers,” said Lee Sun-gun, head of marketing at SKT.
Last week, KT, SKT’s biggest rival, launched its fixed mobile convergence, or FMC, product, combining mobile and Internet phone functions in one device, with the aim of cutting the cost to customers. Using FMC, a client can make a call on his or her mobile phone using a regular WCDMA connection - but when in range of a wireless Wi-Fi Internet router, he or she can switch to Internet phone mode on the same device.
There is a downside, however. While SKT’s FMS service allows users to subscribe to the service using their current phone, the FMC package will require users to buy a special new handset.
Comparing the prices of the two packages is difficult. However, KT said that if users that spend, on average, 170 minutes per month on their cell phones were to make 50 percent of those calls through a Wi-Fi connection, they would save around 6,000 won per month.
SKT said that subscribers who pay the basic fee of 21,600 won per month and make half of their calls in their designated areas using FMS will be able to save around 8,640 won per month. The cost to add SKT’s FMS service is 2,000 won per month.
LG Telecom is also planning to launch its own version of the FMC package in January, while SKT said it would introduce a new service that combines the two concepts in one mobile phone.
By Cho Jae-eun, Kim Chang-woo [jainnie@joongang.co.kr]
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2911595&cat_code=050501
October 22, 2009
Local mobile phone operators are showcasing package deals that include mobile, Internet and landline services at a discount.
Last week, KT, SKT’s biggest rival, launched its fixed mobile convergence, or FMC, product, combining mobile and Internet phone functions in one device, with the aim of cutting the cost to customers. Using FMC, a client can make a call on his or her mobile phone using a regular WCDMA connection - but when in range of a wireless Wi-Fi Internet router, he or she can switch to Internet phone mode on the same device.
There is a downside, however. While SKT’s FMS service allows users to subscribe to the service using their current phone, the FMC package will require users to buy a special new handset.
Comparing the prices of the two packages is difficult. However, KT said that if users that spend, on average, 170 minutes per month on their cell phones were to make 50 percent of those calls through a Wi-Fi connection, they would save around 6,000 won per month.
SKT said that subscribers who pay the basic fee of 21,600 won per month and make half of their calls in their designated areas using FMS will be able to save around 8,640 won per month. The cost to add SKT’s FMS service is 2,000 won per month.
LG Telecom is also planning to launch its own version of the FMC package in January, while SKT said it would introduce a new service that combines the two concepts in one mobile phone.
By Cho Jae-eun, Kim Chang-woo [jainnie@joongang.co.kr]
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2911595&cat_code=050501
2009/10/21
What's Korean FMC ? FMS ?
What's Korean FMC ? FMS ?
FMC is an abbreviation for "Fixed Mobile Convergence" of KT
and FMS is stand for "Fixed Mobile Substitution" of SKT.
They are not free calls on the internet.
Korean will make use cell-phone as a internet call service or at internet call service cost.
The user of KT'S FMC(Fixed Mobile Convergence) will has 2 phone number, `010-xxx~~~' & `070-xxx~~~'
And he will can change & use internet call service in Wi-Fi area.
SKT FMS(Fixed Mobile Substitution) is a concept that transfer fixed phone to wi-fi mobile phone Wi-Fi range on the other hand.
There are a lot of views that they are not a new service, they are charge fee table of Telecommunication companies.
Some people anticipate that the merging of "FMC+FMS" will come out.
FMC is an abbreviation for "Fixed Mobile Convergence" of KT
and FMS is stand for "Fixed Mobile Substitution" of SKT.
They are not free calls on the internet.
Korean will make use cell-phone as a internet call service or at internet call service cost.
The user of KT'S FMC(Fixed Mobile Convergence) will has 2 phone number, `010-xxx~~~' & `070-xxx~~~'
And he will can change & use internet call service in Wi-Fi area.
SKT FMS(Fixed Mobile Substitution) is a concept that transfer fixed phone to wi-fi mobile phone Wi-Fi range on the other hand.
There are a lot of views that they are not a new service, they are charge fee table of Telecommunication companies.
Some people anticipate that the merging of "FMC+FMS" will come out.
2009/10/20
Photo.October.2009
Today's Photo: October 20, 2009
A tourist rides a bike along a path on Nami Island in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. /Yonhap
englishnews@chosun.com / Oct. 20, 2009 08:06 KST
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/10/20/2009102000259.html
englishnews@chosun.com / Oct. 20, 2009 08:06 KST
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/10/20/2009102000259.html
Panorama service !! WOW !!
google maps
Qualcomm to Build R&D Center in Korea
Qualcomm to Build R&D Center in Korea
Mobile chip maker Qualcomm wants to set up a research and development center in Korea, a Qualcomm Korea executive said Sunday.
Qualcomm Korea already has researchers and developers in wireless communication and semiconductors, but there is no R&D center built by San Diego headquarters.
englishnews@chosun.com / Oct. 19, 2009 10:51 KST
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/10/19/2009101900535.html
Mobile chip maker Qualcomm wants to set up a research and development center in Korea, a Qualcomm Korea executive said Sunday.
Qualcomm Korea already has researchers and developers in wireless communication and semiconductors, but there is no R&D center built by San Diego headquarters.
englishnews@chosun.com / Oct. 19, 2009 10:51 KST
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/10/19/2009101900535.html
Korean Mobile Manufacturers Close in on Nokia
Korean Mobile Manufacturers Close in on Nokia
Korea's mobile phone manufacturing giants, Samsung and LG Electronics, are fiercely chasing the global market leader, Nokia, which has stumbled after changing its focus to the service sector amid the global economic downturn.
The two Korean companies are expected to mark their highest sales number ever in the third quarter with a total of 90 million phones sold. Samsung's market share is forecast to reach 21 percent, a 4 percent increase from the same period last year. Samsung officials say the surge in sales and market share comes from rapidly growing demand in Europe and China and increased sales of high-end mobile phones.
Nokia's third quarter sales plunged by 20 percent to US$15 billion compared to a year ago, recording a deficit for the first time in 13 years. Its market share dropped to 37.8 percent, the first time since 2007 it has been below 38 percent.
Sony Ericsson and Motorola have failed to show signs of recovery with their market shares both at a mere 5 percent, allowing Korean companies to gain more influence in the global market.
Analysts forecast the difference between Samsung and Nokia's market shares will narrow to a single digit by 2011. If the gap decreases as predicted, experts say it is highly possible the global industry will be led by the top two competitors.
Arirang News / Oct. 20, 2009 12:18 KST
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/10/20/2009102000788.html
Korea's mobile phone manufacturing giants, Samsung and LG Electronics, are fiercely chasing the global market leader, Nokia, which has stumbled after changing its focus to the service sector amid the global economic downturn.
The two Korean companies are expected to mark their highest sales number ever in the third quarter with a total of 90 million phones sold. Samsung's market share is forecast to reach 21 percent, a 4 percent increase from the same period last year. Samsung officials say the surge in sales and market share comes from rapidly growing demand in Europe and China and increased sales of high-end mobile phones.
Nokia's third quarter sales plunged by 20 percent to US$15 billion compared to a year ago, recording a deficit for the first time in 13 years. Its market share dropped to 37.8 percent, the first time since 2007 it has been below 38 percent.
Sony Ericsson and Motorola have failed to show signs of recovery with their market shares both at a mere 5 percent, allowing Korean companies to gain more influence in the global market.
Analysts forecast the difference between Samsung and Nokia's market shares will narrow to a single digit by 2011. If the gap decreases as predicted, experts say it is highly possible the global industry will be led by the top two competitors.
Arirang News / Oct. 20, 2009 12:18 KST
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/10/20/2009102000788.html
Korea Women dying to look good
Women dying to look good
During Roman times, women would apply cosmetics derived from lead to their faces to make themselves looker fairer, even though they must have known the possible dangers. The lead was capable of poisoning and paralyzing, often leading to death. Yet the use of lead in this way persisted for 2,000 years.
Trying to look as thin as possible has also been predominant through the ages. In many cultures, the hourglass shape has long been revered. “Han Feitzi,” a classical Chinese book written in the second century B.C., reports that many women died from hunger because the emperor was said to favor women with slim waists. And in 19th century Europe, women would die if their corsets were bound too tightly, as it was possible for a splintered rib bone to pierce their intestines.
Where does this focus on a woman’s looks come from?
David M. Buss, an evolutionary psychologist, says we have to start with looking at mating rituals from the earliest of times. Since reproduction fueled evolution, a female who looked like she was capable of bearing a number of children was the preferred choice of the male.
Healthy skin, bright and clear eyes, plump breasts and big hips were reckoned to be good signs that a woman was fertile and capable of reproducing.
So if you wanted a mate, you had to look good and beat out the competition, which is why women would take such risks to change their appearance.
The effort modern women put into their outward appearance is no less than in the old days. What has changed is that the standard of beauty is not related to the ability to bear lots of children anymore. Instead, healthy young women cling to a diet that they hope will make them look like celebrity entertainers who are often as thin as chopsticks.
There are tens of millions of young women aged 12 to 25 who don’t menstruate because they suffer from eating disorders that cause unhealthy diets. Some disorders such as anorexia are fatal, with around 5 to 10 percent of patients dying within 10 years.
This is the reason European countries have started to promote regulations on photo editing. They are going to make it mandatory to insert the warning, “This photo is graphically edited. Don’t be deceived.” - similar to the ones see on cigarette packs and liquor bottles.
The purpose lies in preventing young women from being conned into believing that they can obtain the digitally enhanced figures of models that they see on television and magazine covers.
Since plastic surgery is such a huge craze in Korea, I wonder if such warnings should be introduced here as well.
The writer is an editorial writer of the Joong-Ang Ilbo.
By Shin Ye-ri
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2911507
October 21, 2009
Women have put their lives on the line for thousands of years in the pursuit of beauty.During Roman times, women would apply cosmetics derived from lead to their faces to make themselves looker fairer, even though they must have known the possible dangers. The lead was capable of poisoning and paralyzing, often leading to death. Yet the use of lead in this way persisted for 2,000 years.
Trying to look as thin as possible has also been predominant through the ages. In many cultures, the hourglass shape has long been revered. “Han Feitzi,” a classical Chinese book written in the second century B.C., reports that many women died from hunger because the emperor was said to favor women with slim waists. And in 19th century Europe, women would die if their corsets were bound too tightly, as it was possible for a splintered rib bone to pierce their intestines.
Where does this focus on a woman’s looks come from?
David M. Buss, an evolutionary psychologist, says we have to start with looking at mating rituals from the earliest of times. Since reproduction fueled evolution, a female who looked like she was capable of bearing a number of children was the preferred choice of the male.
Healthy skin, bright and clear eyes, plump breasts and big hips were reckoned to be good signs that a woman was fertile and capable of reproducing.
So if you wanted a mate, you had to look good and beat out the competition, which is why women would take such risks to change their appearance.
The effort modern women put into their outward appearance is no less than in the old days. What has changed is that the standard of beauty is not related to the ability to bear lots of children anymore. Instead, healthy young women cling to a diet that they hope will make them look like celebrity entertainers who are often as thin as chopsticks.
There are tens of millions of young women aged 12 to 25 who don’t menstruate because they suffer from eating disorders that cause unhealthy diets. Some disorders such as anorexia are fatal, with around 5 to 10 percent of patients dying within 10 years.
This is the reason European countries have started to promote regulations on photo editing. They are going to make it mandatory to insert the warning, “This photo is graphically edited. Don’t be deceived.” - similar to the ones see on cigarette packs and liquor bottles.
The purpose lies in preventing young women from being conned into believing that they can obtain the digitally enhanced figures of models that they see on television and magazine covers.
Since plastic surgery is such a huge craze in Korea, I wonder if such warnings should be introduced here as well.
The writer is an editorial writer of the Joong-Ang Ilbo.
By Shin Ye-ri
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2911507
korea portable device application store. app store
Before iTune KR, Korea internet users have met jailbreaked portable device application at internet communities and P2P sites.
Recently,
Korean TeleCom., KT, SKT had formal announcement that we will service app store for our users.
( the target of this service is some smartphone only.)
SKT's app store is www.tstore.co.kr that is not PC application. and his developer site is dev.tstore.co.kr
KT's app store will be open at 11.Nov.2009. http://www.ebuzz.co.kr/content/buzz_view.html?m_id=0203&cat_id=&uid=82040&page=1
2 beginners, Korean app store advocate "open store"
but 2 new open store is made from the Korean alphabet ;Hangeul
2009/10/19
AIR WI-FI..
BUT, Already,
Korea Airlines (like KAL, ASIANA ) have provided wi-fi to passengers in the air
that is a long air trip as seoul-New York, Paris, London..
maybe, you will be ask stewardess how to insert a notebook plug in an airplane wall outlet.
I remember that she said "so sorrrry, I regret to say that I am unable to help you. no plug in."
A few years ago, when I was back in Korea,
I made use a air wi-fi in the seoul-new york flight of KOREAN AIR. (economy class)
http://www.koreanair.com/
2009/10/18
Google Korea, Daum Take Fight to Streets
Google, Daum Take Fight to Streets
Internet companies are racing to plug the real world into the Web, and Daum (www.daum.net) looked to distance itself from the pack with its absurdly detailed photographic map of the country.
However, Daum may get to see Google, appearing larger in its rear-view mirror, with the U.S. search giant ready to launch the Korean version of its Street View service, which allows users to browse a selection of pictures taken along urban streets.
Google Korea has been deploying photo-mapping vehicles to streets in Seoul since last week for the ground-level images, and will eventually scan other cities and regions. Although Google hasn't provided an exact date for Street View's debut here, the company expects the service to be up and running by the first-half of next year.
Street View will attempt to surpass Road View ― Daum's own ground-level image service that has so far set the bar in terms of quality.
Daum's service has been impressive with its crystal-clear views of landscapes, roads, streets and buildings, which can allow users to get an up-close view of the sushi restaurant they reserved for dinner.
Digital maps are becoming crucial for Internet companies, as they prepare to extend their competition into the mobile sector. With full-touch screens and Web browsing capabilities becoming conventional in the premium mobile phones released today, Web-based maps, navigation and other location-based features are expected to become imperative content.
It remains to be seen whether Google intends to compete with Daum in precision and coverage. Road View is distinctive for its clear and precise photo images of houses, apartment buildings and streets, as Daum eventually plans to use the service to generate business models for its online real estate information services.
The company is planning to expand Road View's coverage beyond Seoul and the Gyeonggi Province region, and scan the streets of other metropolitan cities and also specific leisure destinations such as golf courses or hiking trails at national parks.
Road View is already providing ground-level images of some popular tourist areas on Jeju Island.
``Google will probably provide Street View around the major roads and urban areas and it will be interesting to see if it plans to go toe-to-toe with Daum in terms of coverage,'' said an industry official.
``With the release of iPhone and other highly anticipated handsets generating a buzz for smart phones, Google needs to get its Street View service off to a good start to compete with other Web portals in the expanding mobile market. It will be interesting to see how Google seeks to achieve differentiation from Road View, which has the benefit of being there first, and from similar services.''
Naver (www.naver.com), the country's top Web site and search engine, is also preparing to launch a similar service.
Yahoo! Korea (www.yahoo.co.kr) and Paran (www.paran.com) are also providing digital maps.
Both Street View and Road View provide 360-degree panoramic views from a row of positions along the streets. Both Daum and Google have a team of engineers who blur faces and license plates for their Internet map services.
Google will provide a menu above its Street View images to allow users to report images they see as inappropriate or that infringe on privacy.
thkim@koreatimes.co.kr
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2009/10/123_53683.html
By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter
Internet companies are racing to plug the real world into the Web, and Daum (www.daum.net) looked to distance itself from the pack with its absurdly detailed photographic map of the country.
However, Daum may get to see Google, appearing larger in its rear-view mirror, with the U.S. search giant ready to launch the Korean version of its Street View service, which allows users to browse a selection of pictures taken along urban streets.
Street View will attempt to surpass Road View ― Daum's own ground-level image service that has so far set the bar in terms of quality.
Daum's service has been impressive with its crystal-clear views of landscapes, roads, streets and buildings, which can allow users to get an up-close view of the sushi restaurant they reserved for dinner.
Digital maps are becoming crucial for Internet companies, as they prepare to extend their competition into the mobile sector. With full-touch screens and Web browsing capabilities becoming conventional in the premium mobile phones released today, Web-based maps, navigation and other location-based features are expected to become imperative content.
It remains to be seen whether Google intends to compete with Daum in precision and coverage. Road View is distinctive for its clear and precise photo images of houses, apartment buildings and streets, as Daum eventually plans to use the service to generate business models for its online real estate information services.
A photo-mapping vehicle of Google Korea travels along the streets near Seoul Station, Thursday, to scan street images for the company’s Korean version of its Street View service
that is expected to debut next year. / Korea Times
The company is planning to expand Road View's coverage beyond Seoul and the Gyeonggi Province region, and scan the streets of other metropolitan cities and also specific leisure destinations such as golf courses or hiking trails at national parks.
Road View is already providing ground-level images of some popular tourist areas on Jeju Island.
``Google will probably provide Street View around the major roads and urban areas and it will be interesting to see if it plans to go toe-to-toe with Daum in terms of coverage,'' said an industry official.
``With the release of iPhone and other highly anticipated handsets generating a buzz for smart phones, Google needs to get its Street View service off to a good start to compete with other Web portals in the expanding mobile market. It will be interesting to see how Google seeks to achieve differentiation from Road View, which has the benefit of being there first, and from similar services.''
Naver (www.naver.com), the country's top Web site and search engine, is also preparing to launch a similar service.
Yahoo! Korea (www.yahoo.co.kr) and Paran (www.paran.com) are also providing digital maps.
Both Street View and Road View provide 360-degree panoramic views from a row of positions along the streets. Both Daum and Google have a team of engineers who blur faces and license plates for their Internet map services.
Google will provide a menu above its Street View images to allow users to report images they see as inappropriate or that infringe on privacy.
thkim@koreatimes.co.kr
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2009/10/123_53683.html
what's "open cast" ?
what's [open cast] ? http://opencast.naver.com/
It's not open casting for movie.
The concept of internet service changes according to the times.
[open cast] is a gorgeouuuuuuuus NAVER internet service that is a new conceptual ideas.
[open cast] has been made by FLASH, AJAX and enormous internet users.
whoever searching, sharing for one's interest.and whoever subscribing
this is [open cast]
[open cast] has not a great assortment of theme.
It has only (?) 13 classifications which are life, entertainments, sports, cooking, IT, book, travel, Movie, Learning, politics & society, hobby, biz, marketing.
Lack of Games May Hurt (Korea-)iPhone Popularity
Lack of Games May Hurt (Korea-)iPhone Popularity
Lack of Games May Hurt iPhone Popularity
After enduring two years of industry bickering and circular policy debate, South Korean tech geeks can finally start their countdown for the local release of the iPhone, the planet's hottest electronic gadget.
However, it remains to be seen whether Apple's iconic handset will be able to deliver on the enormous expectations when local regulations could prevent users from downloading mobile games content from Apple's online software store.
Games account for more than 50 percent of Apple's revenue from its App Store, which enables users to download applications such as games, multimedia files and office software for their iPhone and iPod Touch devices for free or at a small cost.
However, Korean iPhone users will be blocked from accessing App Store's games category, at least at first, as local law requires all game content to be reviewed and approved by the state before being made commercially available.
App Store allows developers from all over the world to upload and sell their software products through its Web site, and waves of new programs, many of them games, are pushed through the gate each day.
Apparently, there is no possible way for Korea's Games Rating Board to screen and stamp every game at the App Store.
The absence of Apple's game services thus far hasn't kept iPod Touch from becoming the country's most popular portable multimedia player.
However, some industry watchers predict that the trouble over securing game content could compromise the relevance of Apple products in the future, when users expect their devices to be more than just fashion items.
Korean tech geeks who have been waiting long for iPhone could be disappointed to hear that they may not be able to download games from App Store for their handsets. / Korea Times
``App Store is clearly the most distinctive competitive edge iPhone and iPod Touch have over other devices. It is expected that more phones will be released with Wi-Fi here and Korean Apple users have been complaining about having to reformat video files for use on iPod,'' said an official from Daum (www.daum.net), one of the many Internet companies currently devoted to converting their desktop offerings for use on iPhones.
``But, especially for non-English speakers who find little use of media applications, it remains to be seen how much App Store could matter when the availability of games is to be limited.''
Industry watchers worry that the country's restrictions on games would only encourage illegal activities by local developers looking to offer their products to iPhone users.
Not many individual developers or small companies could manage to spend the time and money required for the review process, and some developers are already beating the system by listing their games under App Store's entertainment category.
``All games that are commercially provided without consent from the Games Ratings Board are illegal. We know there are games provided from App Store's entertainment category and we are discussing how to approach them,'' said an official from the Games Ratings Board, although admitting the possibility of controversy over drawing a clear line between games and entertainment.
The Games Rating Board has been promising to improve its process, considering scrapping its current rules that allow only companies, not individual developers, to submit their products for review, and also shortening the reviewing process.
However, critics argue that the review-before-release concept could never be a good fit for Apple's App Store. At a time when Korean users can easily download games from foreign sites that the Games Ratings Board never managed to touch, some question whether the country's games review system is still relevant.
The success of Apple's App Store has other tech companies racing to produce me-too products.
Samsung Electronics, the world's biggest electronics maker, recently unveiled its online content market, while wireless carriers SK Telecom and KT, which will provide the iPhone locally by the end of the year, are also pushing their own versions of App Store.
thkim@koreatimes.co.kr
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2009/10/133_52644.html
Lack of Games May Hurt iPhone Popularity
By Kim Tong-hyung/ Staff Reporter
After enduring two years of industry bickering and circular policy debate, South Korean tech geeks can finally start their countdown for the local release of the iPhone, the planet's hottest electronic gadget.
However, it remains to be seen whether Apple's iconic handset will be able to deliver on the enormous expectations when local regulations could prevent users from downloading mobile games content from Apple's online software store.
Games account for more than 50 percent of Apple's revenue from its App Store, which enables users to download applications such as games, multimedia files and office software for their iPhone and iPod Touch devices for free or at a small cost.
However, Korean iPhone users will be blocked from accessing App Store's games category, at least at first, as local law requires all game content to be reviewed and approved by the state before being made commercially available.
App Store allows developers from all over the world to upload and sell their software products through its Web site, and waves of new programs, many of them games, are pushed through the gate each day.
Apparently, there is no possible way for Korea's Games Rating Board to screen and stamp every game at the App Store.
The absence of Apple's game services thus far hasn't kept iPod Touch from becoming the country's most popular portable multimedia player.
However, some industry watchers predict that the trouble over securing game content could compromise the relevance of Apple products in the future, when users expect their devices to be more than just fashion items.
Korean tech geeks who have been waiting long for iPhone could be disappointed to hear that they may not be able to download games from App Store for their handsets. / Korea Times
``App Store is clearly the most distinctive competitive edge iPhone and iPod Touch have over other devices. It is expected that more phones will be released with Wi-Fi here and Korean Apple users have been complaining about having to reformat video files for use on iPod,'' said an official from Daum (www.daum.net), one of the many Internet companies currently devoted to converting their desktop offerings for use on iPhones.
``But, especially for non-English speakers who find little use of media applications, it remains to be seen how much App Store could matter when the availability of games is to be limited.''
Industry watchers worry that the country's restrictions on games would only encourage illegal activities by local developers looking to offer their products to iPhone users.
Not many individual developers or small companies could manage to spend the time and money required for the review process, and some developers are already beating the system by listing their games under App Store's entertainment category.
``All games that are commercially provided without consent from the Games Ratings Board are illegal. We know there are games provided from App Store's entertainment category and we are discussing how to approach them,'' said an official from the Games Ratings Board, although admitting the possibility of controversy over drawing a clear line between games and entertainment.
The Games Rating Board has been promising to improve its process, considering scrapping its current rules that allow only companies, not individual developers, to submit their products for review, and also shortening the reviewing process.
However, critics argue that the review-before-release concept could never be a good fit for Apple's App Store. At a time when Korean users can easily download games from foreign sites that the Games Ratings Board never managed to touch, some question whether the country's games review system is still relevant.
The success of Apple's App Store has other tech companies racing to produce me-too products.
Samsung Electronics, the world's biggest electronics maker, recently unveiled its online content market, while wireless carriers SK Telecom and KT, which will provide the iPhone locally by the end of the year, are also pushing their own versions of App Store.
thkim@koreatimes.co.kr
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2009/10/133_52644.html
Korea Broadband Internet users top 16 million
Korea Broadband Internet users top 16 million
Korea Broadband Internet users top 16 million
Total broadband subscribers were estimated to number over 16 million as of the end of that month, accounting for 96 percent of all households in Korea, according to data collected from Internet service providers. That figure is up about 3.4 percent from December’s tally of 15.48 million.
Top fixed line operator KT Corp. held some 42 percent of all subscriptions, followed by SK Broadband Co. and LG Powercomm Corp., with 24 percent and 15.3 percent, respectively. Yonhap
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2909762
Korea Broadband Internet users top 16 million
September 08, 2009
The number of high-speed Internet service users in Korea surpassed the 16 million mark for the first time in August, industry reports said yesterday.Total broadband subscribers were estimated to number over 16 million as of the end of that month, accounting for 96 percent of all households in Korea, according to data collected from Internet service providers. That figure is up about 3.4 percent from December’s tally of 15.48 million.
Top fixed line operator KT Corp. held some 42 percent of all subscriptions, followed by SK Broadband Co. and LG Powercomm Corp., with 24 percent and 15.3 percent, respectively. Yonhap
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2909762
Bright lights
Bright lights: Samsung Electronics employees show the company’s new SCH-B890 handset, a second-generation (2G) phone that features digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) mobile television reception, a 2.8-inch active matrix (AM) OLED display and a 3-megapixel built-in camera. The handset is the company’s first 2G phone equipped with an AMOLED screen, which has clear advantages in high color saturation, response time and contrast ratio.
/ Korea Times
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2009/10/131_50581.html
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