Oct 30, 2006
Asharq Al-Awsat – The dollar exchange rate varied between the Iraqi Central Bank and local markets, especially after the official auction to sell currencies stopped convening for ten days because of Eid al-Fitr, last week.
Has the Sun Set on Sony’s Dominance?
By Steve Lawson
YOU have to wonder what they are thinking.
Sony have already been criticised for holding back the European launch of the PlayStation 3 until March 2007, while the Americans and Japanese get it next month.
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Hacker Crackes iPod, iTunes Restrictions
SAN JOSE, Calif. – A hacker known for cracking the copy- protection technology in DVDs claims to have unlocked the playback restrictions of Apple Computer Inc.’s iPod and iTunes music products and plans to license his code to others.
Oracle Jumping into Open-Source Market
Oct. 26–Oracle, a longtime giant of proprietary software, announced Wednesday a major new move to provide open-source software for big business. But to make that happen, it might steamroll right through leading Linux open-source vendor Red Hat on its way.
The business software giant from Redwood Shores will soon offer its own version of Red Hat’s Linux open-source operating system, Chief Executive Larry Ellison said in a keynote speech at the company’s Oracle OpenWorld conference Wednesday in San Francisco.
Industry Giant Takes on Red Hat
Oct. 26–For years, Red Hat has dominated mostly unknown software rivals.
But today, the Raleigh-based company begins competing against an opponent 50 times its size.
Oracle, one of the world’s largest software companies, announced Wednesday that it will distribute its own version of Red Hat’s Linux operating system and undercut the prices Red Hat charges for support services.
The technology community had speculated for months that Oracle, which sells databases and other business software, would start offering services for Linux. They didn’t expect the software giant to use Red Hat’s own product against it, said Rob Enderle, principal analyst with The Enderle Group, a technology consulting firm.
More PS3 Launch Info; Scientists Promote Gaming
There are still a lot of questions surrounding the Nov. 17 launch of the PlayStation 3 — in particular, just how many people will be able to buy one. But Sony’s PR engine is proceeding as though the PS3’s production issues are nonexistent, and the company hosted a "Gamers’ Day" in San Francisco to build the hype. Sony emphasized the PS3’s online PlayStation Store, which will allow users to download arcade games, demos and bonus content for store-bought titles — stuff that’s been available on Microsoft’s Xbox Live for a while now. Sony also demonstrated its motion-detecting Sixaxis controller, showing how you would tilt and jerk the device to control a dragon in the forthcoming medieval fantasy "Lair." And it was announced that the first 500,000 PS3 buyers will get a free Blu-ray DVD of "Talladega Nights" — reason enough to consider buying the Nintendo Wii instead.
Dubai to become region’s movie production hub
Gulf News, Sept 29 – From a sleepy fishing village to the centre of the region’s pearl industry and then a 1970s oil producer, Dubai’s economy has seen some drastic changes over the last century.
Iraq government to begin disarming militias
Gulf News, Sept 26 – A major Sunni group is holding talks with the Iraqi government over disarming of the Shiite militia belonging to Moqtada Al Sadr, Iraqi political sources said.
Arab states attempt single currency by 2010
Saudi Gazette, Sept 26 – PETTY politics and diverging inflation rates are the main risks to Gulf Arab attempts to set up an EU-style monetary union by 2010, although the single currency plan still has a good chance of success.
Iraq Central Bank: Reserves enough to support Iraqi dinar
Al-Sabah – sector in spite of the continuing violence and enough reserves are available to support the local currency.
