High-Tech Nova Weekly: Top five trends for 3/5-3/9
Here's the high-tech trends that topped the charts this week!
CONSUMER PRODUCTS
iPad 3
Well, it's no surprise the biggest story this week was the iPad 3. As far as what the key features are, its 'Retina' display gives it a resolution of 2048 x 1536, more than four times what the iPad 2 has. It comes with an A5X chip with quad-core graphics and a 5 megapixel iSight camera with advanced optics for capturing photos and 1080p HD video. The Wi-Fi + 4G connects to networks worldwide, including AT&T’s and Verizon’s 4G LTE networks, and the iPad still has a 10 hour battery life. The iPad 2 is now being offered at a reduced price starting at just $399. The Wi-Fi version of the iPad 3 sells for $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB and $699 for 64GB.
ELECTRONIC HARDWARE & SOFTWARE
Zynga.com, Intel Xeon E5-2600, Google Play & Android 'Key Lime Pie'
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The successor to the Android 'Ice Cream Sandwich', the Key Lime Pie, continues the dessert themed names that seem to be dominating tech these days, like the Raspberry Pi and Cotton Candy mini-computers that have become so popular. Google Play is making a play at the competitive app market, looking to bump shoulders with the major players, Amazon and Apple. Zynga, the much beloved and ridiculously successful social games company has begun taking the first steps to be less dependent on Facebook; nothing personal Zuckerberg, just business. Zynga.com comes with 5 games and has cross-platform tracking of progress, so you won't lose your turf in Mafia Wars or have to board up your beloved farm in FarmVille if you decide you've had enough of Facebook. Intel is dominating the chip scene with its Intel Xeon E5-2600, expanding the family much beloved by companies -- just this week Cisco already started upgrading to the new Xeon chip.
ENGINEERING & CLEAN TECH
SpaceX rocket test, Geneva's 2012 International Auto Show and NASA's 'launch madness'
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The 2012 International Auto Show in Geneva is in full swing, releasing the latest concept cars and high-tech automobiles. NASA's 'launch madness' plans to send five rockets into space all at once where they will release a chemical tracer that can allow scientists to see winds in space. Meanwhile, in the private sector, SpaceX tested its Dragon spacecraft this week, which could end up heading to the International Space Station as early as next month! Stay tuned for our story on the private rocket industry later this week.
LEGAL & BUSINESS
DoJ vs Apple e-reader price fixing & WD completes Hitachi GST acquisition
Well, Apple's price fixing has drawn the sharp attention of the US Department of Justice (DoJ). The DoJ is asking questions about a possible price fixing agreement with Apple, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins Inc., Hachette, Penguin and Macmillan, as Apple actively seeks for a way to profit against the rising tide of Amazon Kindle discounts. They did a similar 'agency pricing' scheme with Apple's iTunes, effectively setting a standard of 99 cents per song in the industry. Since e-book sales have effectively doubled to $970 million, these practices deserve close scrutiny. As far as business, Western Digital closed its acquisition of Hitachi GST this past Thursday.
CYBER SECURITY & PRIVACY
Lulzsec leaders arrested & Anonymous takes down the Vatican
Five major hackers from two continents were arrested on Tuesday with the help of a formerly arrested hacker, Hector Xavier Monsegur. Monsegur, known as 'Sabu' online, became an informant for the FBI and helped them crack what seems to be this major case. The American hacker arrested in Chicago, Jeremy Hammond, is suspected to be the mastermind behind the breaching of Stratfor, a US security company, last December. When LulzSec hackers group, which is responsible for numerous high caliber attacks, hacked into Stratfor, over 5 million company emails, customer credit cards and other information were seized. Hammond was always affiliated with Anonymous hackers group, but after further investigation officials believe they have taken down one of the top leaders of LulzSec. Now, WikiLeaks, the famous site that publicizes top secret information, has begun publishing Stratfor’s private data. Add to that the successful takedown of the Vatican's website by Anonymous, and it's been a busy week for hacktivism.