[Alans Note:]
I wonder how the 3G High Speed Cellular Internet Networks performed there in Washington, D.C. during the crowds of the inauguration? A lot of times at big events I have heard people from the yachthing community report that cellular Internet connections slowed to a crawl. It’s interesting with the technology being discussed in the industry about Micro, Femto and Pico cell systems being used, that cellular companies deployed temporary cell towers (and other steps) to prevent their networks from crashing from the congestion caused by heavy traffic with lots more people than normal in an area.
[end of Alans Note:]

Wireless Networks Cope With High Volume Of Calls During Obama Inauguration

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7013781999

January 21, 2009 1:57 a.m. EST

Windsor Genova - AHN News Writer
Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The wireless networks of four major U.S. cellular carriers handled calls of millions of people who flocked to Washington, D.C. for President Barack Obama’s inauguration on Tuesday.

Only difficulty in calling people within the D.C. area and delayed arrival of text messages were the complaints of mobile phone users as temporary cell-phone towers deployed in the capital by Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile helped prevent networks from getting too congested and crashing. The carriers also redirected call traffic to less-congested towers to lessen the strain on their networks.

Wireless service was disrupted four hours before Obama’s swearing-in but the networks restored it within one hour.

AT&T and T-Mobile said they handled three to five times the normal volume of calls. But Mark Siegel, AT&T Mobility spokesman, said their network performed well on inauguration day.

“Even in the most crowded spectator areas nearest the inauguration stands at the U.S. Capitol, the vast majority of calls” went through “on the first attempt,” Verizon Wireless spokeswoman Debra Lewis said, according to Msnbc.com.

—
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
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Yachting Industry (on LinkedIn)
This article was submitted on January 19, 2009 at 06:11 AM PST
By
john Hermanson, Independent Maritime (Yachting)Professional in Kuwait.

From: Boat International Media | January 19, 2009

World Superyacht Awards 2009 Moves from Venice to London! Boat International Media are delighted to announce that the fourth annual World Superyacht Awards will take place at London’s historic Guildhall on Saturday 16th May 2009. Read more at Boat International Media »

http://archives.subscribermail.com/msg/112db41f4c9947b481ade5ce4695fe78.htm

See also: http://www.worldsuperyachtawards.com/

Boat International Media, the superyacht industry’s leading global media group, is proud to present the fourth annual World Superyacht Awards, which takes place on May 16th, 2009 at London’s historic Guildhall.

The World Superyacht Awards are designed to recognise the talents of the naval architects, designers, builders and ultimately, the visions of the owners who bring together the teams that work to create these master pieces of modern design and manufacture.

Over four hundred distinguished guests will gather in May to witness the presentation of the highly coveted Neptune Awards - the ‘Oscars’ of the superyacht world - during a glamorous gala evening attended by an elite guest list of superyacht owners and leading industry professionals.

January 16th, 2009

WORLD SUPERYACHT AWARDS 2009 MOVES TO LONDON

Boat International Media are delighted to announce that the fourth annual World Superyacht Awards will take place at London’s historic Guildhall on Saturday 16th May 2009.

Situated in the heart of the City of London, this medieval building has been the epicentre of England’s commercial life for more than 800 years. The current building dates back to 1411, but the site was already in use from Anglo-Saxon times as a meeting place for the city’s guilds and livery companies.

The Awards ceremony will take place in the vaulted splendour of the Great Hall of Guildhall. Through the ages, countless royal and state visitors have been entertained within these five-foot thick 15th Century walls. The walls record the names and arms of every Lord Mayor and the Monarchs they served, dating back to the very first Lord Mayor of London Henry Fitz Ailwyn in 1189 during the reign of King Richard I.

The Hall also displays the funereal honours the City has granted to leading British political and military leaders: most notably the Duke of Wellington, Admiral Lord Nelson and Sir Winston Churchill.

The champagne reception and after party will be held in the Guildhall Crypts, offering the unique opportunity to socialize with an elite guest list of owners and leading industry professionals in the history-soaked atmosphere of the largest medieval crypts in London. The East Crypt predates even the Great Hall, having been built in the time of Edward the Confessor before the Norman Conquest (1042). The low vaulted ceilings are embossed with the coats of arms of the city and its foremost citizens, while the stained glass windows commemorate Geoffrey Chaucer, William Caxton, Sir Thomas More, Sir Christopher Wren and Samuel Pepys.

An international hub for both business and entertaining, London is a cosmopolitan city making it the perfect location for the World Superyacht Awards 2009. London’s five airports and central location on the world’s flight paths will allow easier travel for our guests from all sides of the globe as well as the many superyacht owners based in the city.

Tony Harris, CEO of Boat International Media:

“In response to the positive feedback we have received from superyacht owners, we have chosen 2009 as the year to move the event to a new city. By bringing the World Superyacht Awards to the magnificent Guildhall, a larger venue in the centre of the city of London, many more of the owners and teams responsible for all the nominated superyachts will be able to join us at the gala awards ceremony to celebrate the best builds of 2008.

Tables at last year’s event sold out in record time and we were inundated with applications to attend this most prestigious occasion - the ‘Oscars’ of the superyacht world.

Table applications for the World Superyacht Awards 2009 are now open.

Priority will be given to superyacht owners and nominees and will then be allocated on a first come first-served basis so please be sure to apply early to avoid disappointment.

—
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Alan Spicer Marine Telecom - sales, installation, and consulting / support for Marine / Yacht Internet Access Systems and Onboard Wired and Wireless Networking of Computers, Printers, and other networkable devices. Multiple systems supported with switching to the most cost-effective system at the current vessel location. Knowledgeable on satellite airtime and Internet Costs, Cellular Roaming Costs and Ways to Cut The Bill!

Savings on Voice communications with Internet Telephone a.k.a. Voice-Over-IP. Voice - Fax - Data / Internet Service.

Navigation Computer, Communications Computer, Desktops, Laptops, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Mac OS X, Linux, Unix systems and software are all supported. Network Attached Storage (Networked Hard Disk Drives with open and password protecting file sharing) and more.

Existing systems discovered and explained for new captains / owners / crews - Systems Documented with operation instructions and diagram drawings of what’s installed. Improvements and Cost Saving changes to gear and network provided on Site Survey.

AIS and other Marine Electronics - please inquire. Sailmail HF/MF Radio Email worldwide - Pactor PTCiiUSB modems - Icom Marine SSB Radio Kits and Modems for Sailmail Service. Please ask, I’m a Ham Radio (Amateur Radio) Operator and have 1 customer installed for Sailmail and have been maintaining it for a few years.

Satellite TV and Entertainment Systems - I work with an expert on Marine Electronics and Sat TV / Entertainment Systems on yachts.

—
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Alan Spicer Marine Telecom provides Laptop and Desktop Computer Services for Yachts. Service and Repair, Replacements, Blue Screen Errors, Windows Re-Installation, Navigation Software and Charts, NMEA and Serial Data connections, Computer Networking Wired and Wireless, Printer and Fax, Network Storage (Network Hard Drive Storage.)

If you think I can be of help… call me. I pick up and deliver from marinas and yards or wherever you are docked at.

—
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Icom MXA-5000 AIS Receiver - Automatic Identification System (both Class A and Class B AIS, Dual channel simultaneous receive capability.) PDF Doc: Here Bigger Picture: Here $650.00 + Shipping and Handling. (Florida Tax will apply within Florida) Installation available in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area. Uses existing VHF Marine Radio antenna.

Advanced Collision Avoidance With Real-time Vessel Traffic Information

Also available Sailmail - Pactor Modems (and Radio Kits) and installation. Get email via SSB MF/HF Radio for $250.00 per year. Icom IC-M802 Radio recommended. Pactor PTCIIusb modem recommended.

—
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Alans Note:

Obviously this is a parady on real live current news about Apple Computer. But you couldn’t make this sh*t up, really!

So I came up with the title:

Apple doesn’t like Clones, but it looks like they need to clone Steve Jobs.

* You’ve already seen my blog entry on the PC World article regarding the Mac Cloner company court battle. Now you hear that CEO Steve Jobs of Apple Computer may go on extended leave of absence for medical reasons. And… there seems to be concern about a transition of power. But not only executive power, but brain power and other capabilities that only Steve Jobs may have.

So they might need to ummmm, like, download his brain to an iPod or an ummm, like, an iBrain or… something (?) Or they’ll need to clone him, no? But if they do this ummmm his, like, Operating Person or Operating System [or something] (the stuff from his brain is copyrighted right?) would have to be run only on Apple Hardware! So would the clone actually be a clone? or an Apple Original Hardware?

P.S. Hey! The iBrain was my idea. An iPod-like device that can be used to store a backup of human brain intelligence content. Just because I (or anybody?) don’t know how to make one (yet?) - doesn’t mean I can’t cash in on the licensing rights. Right?

————————————————————————
Critics Question Apple Succession Plans

January 14, 2009: 09:20 PM ET

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200901142120DOWJONESDJONLINE000966_FORTUNE5.htm

SAN FRANCISCO -(Dow Jones)- Apple Inc. (AAPL) now has the rare chance to conduct a test-run of its succession plans for the day when Chief Executive Steve Jobs no longer can run the company.

But so far, shareholders and corporate succession experts don’t care for what’s happening.

Because of his extraordinary role at the company, Apple already faces big challenges should it have to replace a tech icon like Jobs, who announced Wednesday he’s taking a leave of absence from Apple until the summer to battle a hormone imbalance that’s more complex than believed just a week ago.

Yet Apple’s handling of the situation so far hasn’t won many admirers. Some Apple watchers are already raising questions about what’s really behind the jarring swing in sentiment about the nature of Jobs’ treatment in such a short period of time. Last week, Jobs, who is a pancreatic cancer survivor, told Apple employees he was undergoing simple treatment, and he will stay on the job. A week later, Jobs disclosed that his treatments are now much more complex than expected, and require he take an extended leave of absence.

(more at the link)

—
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Alans Note: In my personal opinion - I think that if Apple doesn’t want it’s Mac OS X to end up on whatever people want to put it on, then they shouldn’t sell it as seperate items from Apple Hardware. I purchased a copy of Mac OS X Tiger … and it’s being used to adorn a shelf here in my office. That’s pretty much what it does these days. Is Apple going to sue me for keeping a copy on a shelf and not using it on Apple Hardware? I originally bought it to learn about Mac OS X - to be able to support a few customers of mine who had Apple Macbooks and Apple Desktops. I ran it, albeit very slow performance, on something called PearPC - an Apple Hardware simulator done in software. Grant it this was before the Apple Intel evolution, but is Apple going to sue me because I don’t have an Apple hardware to go along with my Apple Software that I legitemately purchased? Maybe Apple should give a refund to everyone that has purchased a copy of Apple Mac OS X that doesn’t currently have Apple Hardware. It looks like Apple should have stayed the heck off the Intel PC architecture. If you wanted to be a PC, ok now you’re a PC. Welcome to the club! Hello I’m a Mac … And I’m a PC. Nope! You’re both a PC.

…that’s all… on to the article…
————————————————————————-

Mac Cloner Says It Bought OS From Apple
http://www.pcworld.com:80/article/157031/article.html?tk=nl_dnxnws

The Mac clone maker being sued by Apple Inc. because it installs Mac OS X on generic Intel-based systems said it bought copies of the operating system from Apple itself, court documents show.

In papers filed with a San Francisco federal court last week, Psystar Corp. repeated its argument that Apple has abused copyright laws by tying the Mac operating system to Apple hardware. The filing came in response to an Apple motion asking U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup, who tossed out Psystar’s original antitrust allegations against Apple last November, to also throw out the Florida company’s revamped countersuit.

“Apple contends that because Psystar is ‘distributing computers with Apple’s copyrighted software loaded on them’ that ‘Apple is within its rights in asserting copyright infringement’,” said Psystar in the papers filed Jan. 7. “Apple’s assertion that Psystar cannot distribute computers with Apple software (and that a purchaser could not use the same) would run roughshod over 17 U.S.C.,” Psystar added, referring to the section of U.S. law that pertains to copyright.

(more at the link)

—
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

United to launch Wi-Fi on some cross-country flights
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/011409-united-to-launch-wi-fi-on.html?netht=rn_011409&nladname=011409dailynewspmal

United Airlines Wednesday said it will begin offering in-flight Wi-Fi service to customers on some flights between New York and California in the second half of the year.

—
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Privacy flaw haunts Apple Safari RSS reader
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=2377&tag=nl.e550

There’s a major privacy problem with the RSS reader built into Apple’s Safari browser.

According to an alert from Brian Mastenbrook, there is a serious Safari vulnerability that allows a malicious web site to read files on a user’s hard drive without user intervention.

Mastenbrook warns:

This can be used to gain access to sensitive information stored on the user’s computer, such as emails, passwords, or cookies that could be used to gain access to the user’s accounts on some web sites. The vulnerability has been acknowledged by Apple. All users of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard who have not changed their feed reader application preference from the system default are affected, regardless of whether they use any RSS feeds or use a different web browser (such as Firefox). Users of previous versions of Mac OS X are not affected.

(more at the link…)

—
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245