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Strictly FYI:
A little paid promo appeared Sunday here. Interestingly enough, I actually worked under Don Gillespie at Beaver Valley Unit 2 startup back in 86-87. Never got to know him on a first name basis, as he was several levels above me in the Westinghouse start-up organization.
The truth be told...
No 'debunking' was done by the ROK government. Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) 'downplayed' his negotiations with them in this article. AEHI stock is hardly 'worthless'; its value is determined by the market and is posted at the top of this board's home page. 'All the stock he has sold', at least in the past two years, failed to make this list. Are you claiming that material events aren't being reported by AEHI? Rash and unsupported statements like that can get you into serious trouble. Web anonymity is a myth, as some have discovered at an unfortunate time.
Where I'm having problems
is in getting a clear vision of where AEHI can generate substantial revenues. They have plenty of nuclear expetise and industry contacts. However, in my 35 years in nukes, I've noticed that the big bucks are earned by the NSSS vendors (GE, Toshiba-Westinghouse, B&W, ABB-Combustion Engineering, Areva, etc.), the constructors (Bechtel, Stone & Webster, Shaw, etc.) and the owner/operator utilities. Additional but smaller profits are made by the various piping, security, instruments & controls, electrical, concrete, chemical, fuel, mechanical etc. vendors and the plethora of consulting contractors in engineering, training, licensing, etc. AEHI doesn't seem to fit in any of these categories yet. At this time, they appear to be solely a facilitator/marketer; sort of like a concert or fight promoter. I'd really like to see them get a signed contract for a nuke-desal facility somewhere but even if they do, their slice of the pie might be insignificant.
India is a good candidate for nuclear-powered desalination; in fact, they have had one such facility in operation since 2002 at Palpakkam. The power reactors currently employed in India are CANDU heavy water-moderated designs licensed from Atomic Energy Canada, Ltd. See this article for a in-depth summary of their involvement in desalination, nuclear and otherwise.
Re Tubestar
I couldn't get their website to load (being updated?), but heres an older snapshot of it:
snapshot
They have 130 employees or so and seem to be strictly a provider of inspection, repair, maintenance and calibration services for the oil & gas industry. I'm having a hard time pairing up their area of expertise with anything AEHI is pursuing, except maybe as a tester of piping and tanks. That would imply that the reactors would be built in India. Seems to me that the oil & gas industry in general would have little interest in nuclear energy, since it's a competitor.
On the other hand, there's this:
NRC's expected new reactor applications
Something old, something new...
old news circa 1/10
news this week
Only Hawk-Felcyn association was as a client's employee; see link below:
http://www.hawkassociates.com/clients/management/?client_id=12\
From this episode it should be clear to all that posts by bashers/pumpers/manipulators must scrutinized diligently. Never take anything posted on stock boards as gospel.
More info on new reactor designs & certification:
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/new-nuc-plant-des-bg.html
(This info is a couple of years old, but still gives a good perspective on the various designs in the pipe. The Microsoft-backed Traveling Wave Reactor design is a bit too much pie-in-the-sky to be a credible contender.)
Gap up or gap down?
All depends on what claims the new re-exam certificate allows or disallows. Seems like the last time this process occurred 6 new claims were added and 4 cancelled. Time will tell, I suppose.
The most recent NRC design certification for a new reactor type was for the Westinghouse (Toshiba) AP1000. Westinghouse submitted the Standard Design Certification Application for the AP1000 on March 28, 2002. The NRC issued a final rule in the Federal Register certifying the design on January 27, 2006. The NRC has since had second thoughts about the AP1000 pursuant to a proposed design change by Westinghouse; the shield building around containment was redesigned and the adequacy of its structural strength is now in question. This pushes the final AP1000 certification out to 2011 or beyond, or >9 years. Bear in mind also that a combined construction/operation license (COL) is required before a reactor can be built and placed into service. That, as of now, is a new and unproven regulatory process, so its duration is unpredictable.
I might be tempted to buy some of this if the price drops a bit. However, I worry that B&W's mPower project may break into the small modular reactor biz first. Are there any truly deep pockets willing to back AEHI throughout the long road to commercialization of the Hyperion design? (I'm not sure that the Cobblestone funds will be enough, if they are still available.) Also, the polonium bred in the LBE coolant during operation will make the refueling process trickier than some alternative coolants.
Any comments on why Nunally chose to leave PTSC? As he was the highest paid member of the executive team, it will undoubtedly have some effect.
Did a search for Jetstar Asia here, but no hits. Did everyone miss this PR? Doesn't seem to be the same carrier as the Pacific Blue deal announced the same day.
Jetstar Asia to offer 'Video on Demand' on select routes
31 March 2005
Jetstar Asia is expanding its in-flight services. From June 2005 passengers will be able to watch new and popular movies, sitcoms and music videos via a state-of-the-art "Video On Demand" portable digital entertainment system.
Jetstar Asia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Wencor / APS, a United States based airline service provider, to commence introduction of a portable In-flight Entertainment (IFE) device – the digEplayer™ – which will operate on its Hong Kong, Taipei and Manila services.
The digEplayer™ Jetstar Asia in-flight entertainment package offers passengers a choice of 10 movies, 8 sitcoms, 100 audio tracks as well as music videos.
All movie and sitcom channels are available in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
"We're glad to have Jetstar Asia amongst the family of airlines which have chosen the digEplayer as their In-Flight Entertainment device," said Brent Wood, CEO and President of APS.
"The cutting edge design, ease of use and wide variety of entertainment choices on the digEplayer™ will make their customers' flying experience better than ever.
The wide screen format, battery operated portable players are specially designed for in-flight only use.
Jetstar Asia passengers will be able to rent the digEplayer™ for S$10.
Jetstar Asia Chief Executive Ken Ryan said "digEplayer™ had been successfully introduced by a number of overseas airlines for in-flight entertainment, and Jetstar Asia was delighted to be able offer passengers this additional service whilst on board, proving once again, that low cost doesn't mean that travel has to be a hardship.
Mr Ryan said the digEplayer™ units would become a new revenue source for Jetstar Asia as the every day low fares carrier progressively made new enhancements to its overall service and product offering.
To me, the BIG question is when we will see a binding judicial ruling validating our outright (or, if necessary, shared) ownership of any and all on-chip clock technology. Unless that happens, AMD's buy-in alone may not bring us the PPS we deserve.
Not especially curious, since AMD licensed all 7 patents as well as the Ignite chip architecture. "4.1(e) AMD can exercise its rights under this Agreement or the Ignite License Agreement" The stock purchase might also have entailed an additional agreement JMHO, of course.
Patriot Scientific Says Licensing Agreements Result in Quarterly Profit
Thursday March 31, 4:01 pm ET
SAN DIEGO, March 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Patriot Scientific Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: PTSC - News) announced today results for the third quarter and nine months ended February 28, 2005. Revenue for the third fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2005 was approximately $2.9 million, up from revenue of $3,384 for the period ended February 29, 2004. Net income for the third quarter was approximately $600,000, or $0.00 per diluted share, compared to a net loss for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 of $975,894, or $0.01 per share.
ADVERTISEMENT
Revenue for the nine months ended February 28, 2005 was approximately $2.9 million, up from revenue of $66,584 for the nine months ended February 29, 2004. Net loss for the nine months ended February 28, 2005 was approximately $1.5 million, or $0.01 per share, compared to a net loss of $3,001,231, or $0.02 per share, for the nine months ended February 29, 2004.
Jeff Wallin, president and CEO of Patriot Scientific, said, "This quarterly profit resulted from licensing agreements for our microprocessor patent portfolio of seven issued patents and our core technology, the IGNITE microprocessor. The patent portfolio license was the first granted under our focused strategy to assure that users of our technology remunerate Patriot. The positive net income in the quarter was negatively impacted by $1.2 million in interest charges. However, as a result of the cash flow from the licensing agreements, we expect to eliminate the need for financings with high interest costs and resultant dilution. For the nine months, an interest charge of $2.4 million accounted for the $1.5 million loss. At the end of the quarter, we had over $1 million in cash and short-term investments, $2.7 million in license fees receivable and approximately $3 million of working capital.
"We are accelerating our licensing policy, which we anticipate will result in additional licensing or settlement fees," Wallin continued. "We also are pursuing our current litigation (Case Number C040439), in which we claim full ownership of one of the more significant patents in the portfolio. Recently, Judge Fogel of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an order disqualifying our counsel and prohibiting the testimony of our original patent prosecution attorney. We are currently interviewing alternative counsel to continue the case following a reconsideration motion denied by Judge Fogel."
OT: Hmmmm... someone's definitions of "critical" and "urgent" issues seems to be getting looser and looser. It seems that the higher our PPS, the looser they get. Go figure.
HH, anyone... trying to recall the name of the NV holding company that EDIG (or was it ATCO or PTSC?) is hooked up with. Need some help, as my memory ain't what it used to be. If EDIG has a patent application currently filed, they are being very coy about its Assignee. (Not a bad idea, IMHO.) FWIW, Woody has a very recent patent application (filed earlier this month, #20040247140) concerning an application of HSS. It appears to be a refiling of a 2003 application.
FWIW, I think the count now stands at nine announced airlines (Alaska, Hawaiian, KLM, Jetsgo, Ryanair, Monarch, North American, Aeroflot and SilkAir. Based on the Oct 25th PR from Wencor ("Four more airlines will start providing DigEplayers to their customers starting November 1st."), I'd expect that two more are on the hook but not yet announced. That tallies with the 11 customers mentioned in an obscure article I browsed a couple of weeks back. (Sorry; I can't find that particular link at this time.)
It seems to me that any talk of Wencor going with something like the "Pea" and dumping the Digeplayer is, at best, ludicrous. Just what do these clowns think Wencor saw in APS? I haven't heard a peep from Wencor re the APS cargo door protector or flight deck barrier. IMHO, they coveted the Digeplay and went for it. And if they want to farm out production of it to someone else, I wouldn't mind at all. That would make our royalties almost pure profit. Wencor sells products and parts to 48 of the 50 largest airlines in the world. That ought to give us some pretty good sales representation and, IMHO, a very good chance for Digeplayer sales to ramp up nicely as the product family grows. What I personally would like to see is high speed IR networking of the Digeplayers so that they could also offer web access, satellite TV, etc. without needing additional FAA certs.
Aeroflot stated that the Digeplayers would be initially be fitted to their long haul IL 96s and medium haul Airbuses (A319/320s). The A310 is a long-haul aircraft; Aeroflot's version has 47 first and business class seats. Maybe down the road they'll see fit to offer Digeplayers on the A310s, but for now that doesn't seem to be the case.
In this particular instance, such knowledge would undoubtedly render me speechless.
FWIW, Aeroflot will, by year's end, have six Ilyushin 96 and eighteen Airbus A319/320 aircraft in their fleet. Each Ilyushin 96 has 62 business or first class seats. Each A319/320 has 20 business class seats. Total potential Digeplayer units to outfit them: 732 (plus spares).
Well, per Yahoo, there has only been ONE insider filing in the past 2 years - http://finance.yahoo.com/q/it?s=EDIG.OB ... I have found over time that Yahoo is not entirely reliable.
FWIW, many of the former insiders cited in Macisle's post ('FF, Norbert, Ferguson, Alex') are no longer board members, senior mgmt, or in several cases, even employees. Just being an employee doesn't make someone an insider; corporate insiders that are required to file with the SEC are generally individuals who are officers or directors of a corporation, or any person owning 10% or more of a company's stock.
OT: I'm back in Ohio again, settling in for a lengthy stay.
FWIW, Renee Warden just exercised an option for 75,000 shares.
http://knobias.10kwizard.com/filing.php?repo=tenk&ipage=2884774&doc=1&total=1&back=1
IMHO, the initial deal offered Alaska (for a reported unit cost of ~$1000) might have been discounted considerably to reflect Alaska's willingness to support the project from the outset. Even at $1400-1500, the price compares very favorably to alternanative turnkey IFE solutions.
http://www.mediacast.net/page.cfm/Action=Press/PressID=18/t=m
19 Apr 2004
Fusion Reveal Pioneering New Products at Mediacast 2004
Fusion Digital Technology Ltd will be demonstrating a host of innovative consumer electronics products at this year's Mediacast. Since the company's formation last year, Fusion have developed cost effective, added-value solutions for pay TV operators as well as new ‘vision' and ‘portable' product ranges for the UK and European marketplace.
Fusion have identified key features for pay TV services to increase revenue streams and reduce churn. This includes a dual decode solution, enabling subscribers to watch 2 different channels on 2 televisions in different rooms simultaneously from just one set top box. With the introduction of IPTV services for cable operators across the globe, a pioneering Videophone will also be exhibited on the stand. Using H.264 compression, it allows high quality video calls at 12 frames per second, with a target retail price of less than €200.
As integrated hard disk technology has begun to revolutionise the digital TV landscape, Fusion have developed Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) for both pay TV and free-to-air markets, from an entry-level box with a 40 Gb hard drive, to a higher capacity 250 Gb unit, capable of storing over 250 hours of programming.
A leading edge Portable Personal Video Recorder (PPVR) is just part of the exciting new ‘portable' portfolio from Fusion. With an integrated 20/40 Gb hard drive and back-lit LCD screen, the unit offers ‘personal TV on the move', enabling music and video content to be downloaded from a set top box.
Fusion's comprehensive range of stylish integrated LCD TVs will also be on display, featuring built-in DVD and hard disk combinations for increased functionality.
Amongst a variety of free-to-air receivers for digital satellite and terrestrial platforms, Fusion's entry-level boxes now offer innovative features such as rewind TV, with second generation models including twin tuners and expandable hard disk drives to allow flexible viewing and recording options.
Fusion's Chief Executive Barry Rubery commented, ‘It's been a demanding but exciting first year for Fusion. Our combination of commercial acumen, market awareness and world class engineering has enabled us to produce a portfolio of cutting edge solutions that clearly demonstrates our entry into the consumer electronics arena. We're currently in discussions to supply products to pay TV operators, distributors and retailers worldwide, many of which I look forward to meeting at this year's Mediacast."
To view these innovative solutions, in addition to new products shortly to be announced, please visit Fusion Digital Technology on Stand D12 at Mediacast ExCel, London, 25-27 May 2004.
For further information, or to arrange interviews at Mediacast contact:
Diane Mckaye on Tel: + 44 (0) 7771 926726
e-mail: d.mckaye@fusiondigitec.com
Notes
Fusion Digital Technology Ltd design, manufacture and supply innovative digital consumer electronics products for the international marketplace. The range includes both free to air and pay TV digital receivers for satellite, cable and terrestrial platforms alongside integrated LCD and plasma televisions. Fusion is a joint venture between industry pioneer Barry Rubery, founder and former Chief Executive of Pace Micro Technology plc, together with one of Europe's largest consumer electronics manufacturers Beko Elektronik A.S. With its headquarters in Harrogate, North England, Fusion manufactures its products from its affiliated plants in Turkey.
I am concerned that you are spamming speculationspot.com. Please respond with any information on the direction you are headed. (For the door, hopefully.)
Posted by: prme41
In reply to: None Date:5/19/2004 11:53:26 AM
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=3118976
ALTI ready for growth?
I am concerned over what is happening with alti lately? I recently purchased 1000 shares, but I feel they are in a downtrend. I heard a rumor that this company was about to be profiled on speculationspot.com but not sure. Please respond with any information on the direction they are headed. Thank you.
Posted by: prme41
In reply to: None Date:5/19/2004 11:49:57 AM
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=3118913
qbid going to maintain?
I am concerned over what is happening with qbid lately? I recently purchased 1000 shares, but I feel they are in a downtrend. I heard a rumor that this company was about to be profiled on speculationspot.com but not sure. Please respond with any information on the direction they are headed. Thank you.
Posted by: prme41
In reply to: None Date:5/19/2004 11:47:58 AM
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=3118890
concerned with htds...
I am concerned over what is happening with htds lately? I recently purchased 1000 shares, but I feel they are in a downtrend. I heard a rumor that this company was about to be profiled on speculationspot.com but not sure. Please respond with any information on the direction they are headed. Thank you
Posted by: prme41
In reply to: None Date:5/19/2004 11:49:20 AM
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=3118905
is cmkm heading in the right direction??
I am concerned over what is happening with cmkm lately? I recently purchased 1000 shares, but I feel they are in a downtrend. I heard a rumor that this company was about to be profiled on speculationspot.com but not sure. Please respond with any information on the direction they are headed. Thank you.
Posted by: prme41
In reply to: None Date:5/19/2004 11:46:35 AM
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=3118872
is vtsi going to continue growth?
I am concerned over what is happening with vtsi lately? I recently purchased 1000 shares, but I feel they are in a downtrend. I heard a rumor that this company was about to be profiled on speculationspot.com but not sure. Please respond with any information on the direction they are headed. Thank you.
Posted by: prme41
In reply to: None Date:5/19/2004 11:45:50 AM
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=3118862
what is going on with warning?
I am concerned over what is happening with warning lately? I recently purchased 1000 shares, but I feel they are in a downtrend. I heard a rumor that this company was about to be profiled on speculationspot.com but not sure. Please respond with any information on the direction they are headed. Thank you.
What are YOU talking about? Per the latest 10Q, we owe nothing to APS. On the other hand, we owe APL Direct Logistics an estimated $75,452.
Texas Instruments to Showcase 15 Years of Wireless Influence at CTIA Wireless 2004 and the co-located Mobile Entertainment Summit in Atlanta, March 21 - March 24, 2004
...Ittiam, a TI third party, will be on hand to demonstrate their OMAP-DM270 processor-based media album that enables outstanding multimedia performance including, video player (MPEG 4 VGA 30 fps with synchronized MP3 or AAC audio), image viewer (JPEG), audio player (MP3 and AAC) and video recorder (MPEG 4 VGA 30 fps with synchronized ADPCM audio).
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040319/daf008_1.html
The actual manufacturer if the Digeplayer has been repeatedly identified both here and by the company. It amazes me that a purported 'leader' of this board doesn't glean more info from it.
Re bankruptcy:
Former American Airlines CEO to join Hawaiian Airlines' parent
Associated Press
Published on: 03/24/04
HONOLULU -- Former American Airlines chairman and chief executive Donald Carty will become chairman and an investor of Hawaiian Airlines once it emerges from bankruptcy under a reorganization plan by the carrier's parent company.
John Adams, chairman of Hawaiian Holdings, announced Carty's involvement in a statement Wednesday.
"Don Carty is a giant in the airline industry," Adams said. "We are delighted that someone with his vast experience and his strong vision has agreed to join the Hawaiian Air team. He's also an excellent addition to our investor group, with his understanding and appreciation of Hawaiian Air's unique market."
Carty served as American Airlines' chairman and CEO from 1998 until he resigned in April 2003. He resigned after an uproar that threatened the concessions deal over his failure to tell workers about bonuses and bankruptcy-proof pensions granted to executives while the rank-and-file were being asked to accept the huge pay cuts.
"I am not just going to be Hawaiian's chairman," Carty said in a statement. "I am going to be an investor and the managing partner of the investment partnership that will, pursuant to Hawaiian Holdings' reorganization plan, invest new money in the company. I believe strongly in Hawaiian Airlines and its future."
His proposed financial commitment was not disclosed.
Carty said he will not be involved in day-to-day management and that his role will be more strategic to help guide the airline through its next phase.
"I have studied Hawaiian Air for some time and I am very impressed," he said. "Its transformation since 1996, its young fleet, its vastly improved customer service and customer image, its on-time leadership record and its financial performance have been nothing short of phenomenal in these tumultuous times."
Hawaiian Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2003.
Hawaiian Holdings has proposed a reorganization plan. Corporate Recovery Group LLC and Boeing Capital, the airline's primary aircraft lessor, have also filed a plan.
Several other entities also are expected to file reorganization plans, including one from Joshua Gotbaum, the court-appointed trustee in the case.
http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/delta/0304/24carty.html
Boeing likes Carty, but says no to concessions
Prabha Natarajan
Pacific Business News
Boeing Capital Corp., Hawaiian Airlines' largest creditor, says it won't make any concessions despite the hiring of deal master Don Carty by John Adams, who is competing with Boeing for control of the airline.
This week, Adams, the airline's majority stockholder, parachuted Carty, American Airlines' former CEO, into the bankruptcy game to leverage his relationship with Boeing and capitalize on his reputation in the industry. But Boeing says it is not swayed.
"Despite our respect for Carty and assurances being made, we still see John Adams ... behind the plan," said Russ Young, a Boeing spokesman.
At issue is who will run Hawaiian Airlines after it emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Both Boeing Capital and Adams have presented reorganization plans to the bankruptcy court.
Hawaiian Airlines pays $500 million annually to lease 11 Boeing 717 and three Boeing 767 aircraft. The terms of the lease remain a major area of contention. Boeing refuses to renegotiate the lease agreements even though it has done so with several mainland carriers. Under Adams' leadership, the airline went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy a year ago when he couldn't get Boeing to lower its lease rates.
During the bankruptcy proceedings Boeing has actively opposed Adams. It succeeded in removing him as the airline's CEO and replaced his management with a court-appointed trustee. The trustee, Joshua Gotbaum, sued Adams claiming the $25 million stock buyback he engineered served his interest even as he sought lower leases from Boeing a month after. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating the buyback deal.
Boeing also proposed a separate reorganization plan to get the airline out of bankruptcy, which will be heard in bankruptcy court April 1. The plan would bring in new investors to replace Adams' interests. Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings will allow trustee Gotbaum and the creditors' committee to look at all reorganization plans and make a recommendation to the bankruptcy judge, who makes the final call.
The reorganization plan needs to find favor with creditors and, as the airline's major creditor, Boeing will have its say.
Getting back Boeing's favor is vital for Adams if he wants to retain his interest in the airline. That's why Carty was brought on board, said airline consultant Mo Garfinkle, an Adams' adviser.
"Carty should give Boeing a lot of comfort that the airline is in good hands," Garfinkle said.
Carty says he's ready to fulfill that role and already has met with Boeing.
"Hawaiian has an all-Boeing fleet so it is important that we establish a partnership that works for both parties," Carty said. "We need to rebuild the relationship."
Carty's role will be as an investor in a new partnership with Adams that will seek bankruptcy court approval to acquire a reorganized Hawaiian Airlines, effectively replacing the current parent company, Hawaiian Holdings Inc. Carty will be its managing partner and replace Adams as the organization's executive face. The size and price tag of Carty's investment hasn't been settled yet, they said.
Carty's name is much respected in the industry for saving American Airlines from the brink of bankruptcy. But it cost him his job. Carty resigned as CEO of American Airlines when its unions, on the verge of voting for massive wage concessions, discovered that the airline's top executives were being given retention bonuses. Carty had forgotten to tell them about it. The resulting furor maligned his name and he brings that baggage to Hawaiian's bankruptcy proceedings. Hawaiian Airlines' parent hopes his name and reputation will carry weight and win them back the airline. The unions say they still have reservations about Carty.
http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2004/03/29/story2.html
Digital media market to fragment after EC ruling
Reuters, 03.23.04, 1:06 PM ET
By Lucas van Grinsven and Bernhard Warner
AMSTERDAM/LONDON, March 23 (Reuters) - The European Commission hopes for a wide-open digital media market after its proposed ruling that Microsoft cannot bundle its music player with Windows.
Ironically, the move is likely to inflict short-term pain on consumers, the very people the EU is trying to protect, observers say.
The ruling, scheduled for Wednesday, could mean consumers will have to deal with a more fragmented market where they have to be very careful to check the conditions before buying or storing music or film.
Over the last two years, music retailers have started selling songs on the Internet, and many of them have selected their own technology that works only with specific devices.
Songs from Connect will play on Sony walkmans, iTunes Music Store works with an Apple iPod portable jukebox and MSN Music Club from Microsoft works with Rio, iRiver or Creative Nomad digital music players.
Consumers who buy their songs on the Internet, cannot swap the track to devices linked to rival shops. It is like buying a compact disc that plays only on consumer electronics from Matsushita's Panasonic or Samsung.
NEW DEMANDS
The European Commission, in an antitrust ruling due Wednesday is expected to demand that Microsoft strip its Media Player from its dominant Windows operating system for personal computers and fine it 497 million euros ($611.20 million).
Analysts point out the irony of the European verdict: a ruling against Microsoft could add to consumers' frustrations as it would support a fragmented media market and extend the ongoing format wars.
"What these investigations are saying is they want to encourage a level playing field. And by that, they mean multiple platforms from multiple companies," said David Smith, a Gartner Research analyst and specialist on Microsoft software.
"No one ever said that these efforts -- either by the United States or the European Union -- is being conducted in the best interest of the consumer."
The limitations of where Internet music downloads can be played dominates many online forums. "I'll continue to buy CDs for now," one person wrote in a discussion group dedicated to the digital media format wars.
FRAGMENTATION OR MONOPOLY?
Competition Commissioner Mario Monti points that consumers are, in the end, worse off if one company like Microsoft dominates a market. That includes the gates to all digital content, ranging from personal pictures to music to home movies.
"In the end I had to decide what was best for competition and consumers in Europe," Monti said last week.
Microsoft has said it will appeal a negative ruling.
Rivals, meanwhile, hope to capitalise on Microsoft's setbacks by opening new stores. There aim is to build a base of loyal customers for what is expected to be the primary way all consumers will view films and listen to music in the future.
Last week, Sony announced the European launch of its Connect store in June. Fittingly, it will work only with Sony's own Atrac compression software and Open Music Gate anti-piracy protection.
RealNetworks opened its download shop in January. It uses the AAC format, the same used by Apple's iTunes to compress songs, but combining it with Real's own Helix anti-copying software.
The balkanisation of the digital media landscape has left both electronics makers and consumers baffled. Their only hope is that the technology titans agree to work together so that one device will work with all digital media providers, analyst say.
Electronics makers are quick to point out they will have to pay up every time they include another decoding technology, while other technologies are not even available for licensing.
"We support many media formats. The question really is how much do you want to pay in license fees," said Frans van Houten, co-chief executive at Philips' consumer electronics arm.
Robert Ashcroft, Sony's European boss of Network Applications and Content Services, believes consumers will just have to learn to live with the scenario where they have to buy multiple devices if they want to buy from multiple shops.
"It's the way the world works," he said.
It will take years for market forces to determine a single technology platform -- as the compact disc is to music and DVD is to film, Ashcroft added.
Doubts abound that public authorities can speed things up. "Can Brussels break this deadlock? I don't think so," said Jupiter Research analyst Mark Mulligan in London.
Copyright 2004, Reuters News Service
http://www.forbes.com/markets/newswire/2004/03/23/rtr1308796.html
Actually, Alaska has a mix of 737-900 (12), 737-700 (22), 737-400 (40) and 737-200 (9), as well as some MD-80s and Bombardier regional jets and turboprop models.
Reality check: The Boeing 737-200 has a range of 1900-2300 nautical miles, which gives a flight duration of 4-6 hours. Time for at least a couple of films.
Indie record-labels' download joy
By Macworld staff
http://www2.macworld.co.uk/news/main_news.cfm?NewsID=8164
The impact of digital music distribution continues to be felt, with smaller labels gaining publicity and sales while the majors reel.
While major labels have suffered a sales slump that they attribute to file sharing, independent labels are profiting from the impact of such technology.
The independents traditionally exercise a leaner, less top-heavy and corporate business set-up, and are experiencing better sales in the current climate. They are also hiring former big-label executives and taking on former big-label artists as the majors engage in cost-cutting exercises to keep their shareholders happy.
CEO of US indie label TVT Records told Reuters: "Our market share is up dramatically from last year, and we expect to have very robust growth this year. We aren't the only independent that has had a record-breaking 2003."
The little labels say the prevalent profit-focus of the majors has diverted them from delivering cutting-edge talent - so the indies have been able to get their music heard.
In a sign of the times, influential UK independent Warp Records this weekend made its entire back catalogue available online through Bleep.com. Warp is home to a number of influential artists, including Aphex Twin and Autechre.
Warp Records boss Steve Beckett said: "The MP3 player is the most important thing to happen to music technology since the Walkman, and it seems people really are embracing the digital age. The results have been surprisingly positive."
An article on Motley Fool reflects the growing pains of the music business after digital distribution: "The entire pre-recorded music industry can afford to get leaner because the CD is dead. I mean, beyond it serving as a flawed disposable medium for portable mix tapes, what's the point?", it asks.
Looking forward, this report predicts: "Everything that has happened in the music industry over the past few years points to a fragmented sector that will ultimately reward smaller sums to a greater number of artists. Even a niche will have a niche to serve as the experience is further specialized and personalized."
EMI Global (Musical/Classic) has updated their website - this item is rather interesting:
http://www.emiglobal.com/mp3/mp2000.html