Is Microsoft buying Nokia? Really?

Is Microsoft buying Nokia? Really?

By ALLAN D. FRANCISCO

June 13, 2011, 12:28pm

MANILA,Philippines -- This corner is quite thankful for the rain's coming after weeks of I-would-hit-any-global-warming-denier-I-meet hot days.
My joy and pleasure, however, are tempered by the knowledge and fear that with the rain's arrival on these shores, along come floods, landslides, and other water-related disasters. In fact, there are times when I ask myself: Can we not have cool, balmy days without fearing for our safety?
Looking at the brighter side (something we who live on these islands are inexplicably born with), our awareness of the dangers that come with the rainy season should make us ready and prepared for whatever comes our way during the monsoon season.
There is just no excuse for us, especially for those who run the government, to be unprepared for the rainy season's tantrums and tendency to create troubles, both big and small and deadly most of the time.

Nokia Not Eloping with MS
Nokia CEO Stephen Elop must be having it up to there with rumors about Microsoft's alleged intent to buy his company, or at least its mobile business.
And there are at least a couple of factors making those rumors gain an increasing amount of traction. First, Microsoft and Nokia do actually have a rather intimate relationship, courtesy of Nokia's adoption of the Redmont giant's mobile OS. Also, the blogger who first began circulating the reports, er, rumors of the impending acquisition was the same guy who first broke the OS deal.
It has not helped of course that Nokia's stock price had taken some tumbles following some pessimistic research notes issued by analysts. He cannot blame them though. Nokia has been seeing faster-than-expected declines in sales of mobile phones powered by Symbian, its home-cooked mobile OS.
And of course, the market is yet to see a Windows Phone 7-powered smartphone from Nokia.

Organic EL Display
TDK Corp. has begun mass producing the UEL476, a see-through passive matrix-type QVGA organic electroluminescent (EL) display. Formed through thin-film techniques, EL displays use organic material that emits light in response to an electric current.
Designed for mobile applications, the UEL476 comes with a field angle of 2.4 inches, 40% transmittance, and 150cd/m2 brightness. While it is transparent, contents being displayed cannot be seen from behind, protecting the user's privacy.

Apple Ditches DUI App
Pressured by four Democrat senators, Apple finally banned iPhone applications that warn drivers about police checkpoints for drunken driving. Last week, Apple updated its app developer guidelines to specifically exclude such apps. DUI apps are designed to warn drivers who had one drink too many about DUI checkpoints and include warnings about speed traps and red-light cameras.
That's all for the meantime, folks. Join me again next time as we keep on watching IT.