The Korea Herald

LG Electronics forms smart TV consortium

Jun 19, 2012

LG Electronics has formed a business alliance with foreign television makers in an effort to promote smart TVs worldwide.Korea’s second biggest consumer electronics company has forged partnerships with TP Vision, the Netherlands/Taiwanese TV maker, and Japan-based Sharp.The consortium, named the “Smart TV Alliance,” to be headed by LG Electronics executive Kwon Bong-suk, is the first of its kind in the global TV industry.“We expect this partnership to further boost the smart TV ecosystem, while
Microsoft unveils 'Surface' tablet in iPad challenge

Jun 19, 2012

Microsoft on Monday unveiled a Surface tablet computer as the technology titan steps in with its own hardware to take on Apple's market-ruling iPads.Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer described the iPad challenger as a tablet that "works and plays" when he showed it off at a press event in Los Angeles.Surface is also the name of table and poster-sized touch screen computers that Microsoft ha
SK unit forms NFC alliance

Jun 18, 2012

Group of six tech companies aims to boost mobile payment marketSK Planet, a Korean mobile platform operator, has formed a business alliance with six other Korean tech firms to boost the technology and use of near-field communication in Korea.The six, which each has its own technological specialization in NFC, are: SK C&C, Ubivelox, QnSolv, Mcom, Harex Infotech and AT Solution.The newly launched alliance is called “NFC Biz Partner Group,” noted SK Planet, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of SK
Blizzard to offer compensation, refunds for poor service of Diablo 3

Jun 18, 2012

Blizzard Entertainment has finally given in to growing demands by consumers for refunds and compensation over its poor data-server management and service for Diablo 3.It will fully pay back 55,000 won to unsatisfied users who digitally downloaded Diablo 3 via the Battle.net account, or those who purchased the packaged game after 5 a.m. on June 21, according to Blizzard’s Diablo 3 website.Players whose game level is below 40 can also apply for a refund, it noted.Blizzard will begin accepting refu
Samsung, Apple dominate smartphone markets

Jun 17, 2012

Samsung Electronics and its close rival Apple are dominating the global smartphone markets, accounting for more than a half of the share.The number of smartphones that hit the markets totaled 145 million in the first half of this year, according to data by ABI Research, a tech research firm.This is an increase of 41 percent from the same period a year ago.The Korean tech manufacturing giant enjoyed sales of 43 million Galaxy series phones in the first quarter, becoming the number one in the sect
Blizzard faces growing outcry against Diablo 3 over poor service: reports

Jun 17, 2012

Blizzard Entertainment is facing growing criticism and outcry from fans and industry experts against its latest hit game Diablo 3 for failing to live up to its proposed expectations, according to various media reports.Failure of smooth data connections and repeated error messages while logging in or playing the game compelled Korean users, game cafe operators and regulators to take the matter int
Microsoft said to agree to buy Yammer for $1.2 billion

Jun 17, 2012

Microsoft Corp., the world’s largest software maker, has agreed to purchase Yammer Inc., operator of a social network for businesses, for $1.2 billion, said a person familiar with the matter.The deal is expected to be announced by the end of June, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the negotiations are private. Dee Anna McPherson, a spokeswoman for Yammer, declined to comment
U.K. gives new details of mass surveillance plan

Jun 15, 2012

U.K. authorities are revealing new details of an ambitious bill which would track electronic conversations of every single U.K. resident. The proposed mass surveillance law would collect detailed information about the private communications of millions of Britons, a step the government insists is necessary to fight terrorism and crime.Home Secretary Theresa May says the program will not snoop on t
Apple bid to stop Samsung smartphone in U.S. stalled

Jun 14, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) ― Apple’s effort to stop South Korea’s Samsung from launching its newest iPhone challenger in the U.S. has been derailed by complex maneuvering in the patent war between the companies.Apple backed off a last-minute request to block the Galaxy S3 model’s U.S. release after U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh warned that it would force a postponement of a June 21 hearing in the patent infringement case.“If Apple seeks to file a motion to enjoin sales of the Samsung Galaxy S III,
[Photo] Innovation

Jun 14, 2012
Tech road map to help developing markets achieve green growth

Jun 13, 2012

Global Green Growth Institute and Brookings Institution, a U.S.-based think tank, are collaborating to help developing countries access key technologies that could boost their economic growth in an environmentally-friendly way. GGGI executive director Richard Samans said the two organizations aimed to create a “pillar” for international technology cooperation between developed and developing markets.“We are in the midst of identifying specific technology options or mechanisms, maybe more toward
Kibot to make global debut beginning in Middle East

Jun 13, 2012

Kim Nan-hyung, 31, was surprised to find out how frequently she uses the “Kibot,” a robot for kids introduced by mobile carrier KT, for her 20-month-old daughter every day.“Because I have a full-time job, I play the animations or songs on the device for my daughter when I’m busily getting ready to go to work or while I cook dinner with her next to me,” she said. “I also turn on the Kibot to sing my baby Seo-jin to sleep and she now knows it’s time to go to bed when I show her the moving pictures
KT launches smart-working service for enterprises

Jun 13, 2012

KT, Korea’s second largest mobile carrier, has launched a smart-working service for enterprises, and Tongyang Systems, a system integrator, will be the first corporation to partner with the telecom firm in the sector.The mobile carrier said Wednesday it will establish a smart-working center at Tongyang’s headquarters in Seoul.The two sides will equip the 265-square-meter center with fast broadband and wireless connections, as well as high-definition video conferencing. Tongyang will operate the
Merck to support Korea’s biopharmaceutical sector

Jun 13, 2012

Executive board member Reckmann says biosimilars have great potentialA board member of global chemical and pharmaceutical giant Merck KGaA said Tuesday that the company will continue to show support for Korea’s fast growing biotechnology industry, especially toward a special class of medicines called “biosimilars.”“Korea has built up a country strategy where a clear target is to be one of the leaders in biotechnology products worldwide (through exports of these drugs),” said Bernd Reckmann, a ge
10-year video game simulation shows gloomy future for mankind

Jun 13, 2012

(123rf)Can a computer game predict the future of mankind?A person who have been playing a “Civilization II” computer game for 10 years says the world of 3991 A.D. is “a hellish nightmare of suffering and devastation,” according to news reports.Reddit user Lycerius, who uploaded the post, said he has been playing the old game on and off for 10 years, and thought it might be interesting to see how f