Altair’s CAE product family enables faster and more flexible design of composite structures

Altair Engineering, Inc., a leading global provider of simulation technology and engineering services that empower client innovation and decision-making, announced that Peugeot Sport, the racing department of the Peugeot brand, has chosen the HyperWorks Suite to optimize composite development processes.

“A major reason to choose the HyperWorks Suite is the user friendliness of HyperMesh, especially for the creation of composites models,” said Livio Galassi, composite design engineer and structure analyst at Peugeot Sport. “The interface is very intuitive and easy to learn. Furthermore, I see many great improvements in the area of composite model creation and optimization in the recent version of the software suite. This new approach allows us a faster and more efficient design of composite parts.”

Peugeot Sport is using HyperMesh, the pre-processor of the suite; OptiStruct for optimization; and HyperView for the post-processing of the data. The software suite is mainly used to design and optimize structural elements in composites, i.e., for the chassis and bodywork of Peugeot’s LMP1 car. Especially in racecar development, a flexible and fast way to evaluate the design of composite parts is essential to improve the overall car performance.

“Another important reason to choose HyperWorks is the flexible license system Altair offers,” said Galassi. “We can use the HyperWorks units we already have for any HyperWorks application needed and can also use them for Altair’s partner products of the HWEC (HyperWorks Enabled Community). Even if we haven’t done this yet, it is an option we are thinking about as it will help us to consolidate our software costs. Moreover, Altair’s customer support and the customer communication with its homepage, newsletter and events is excellent.”

“We appreciate Peugeot Sport’s selection of HyperWorks,” said Mauro Guglielminotti, managing director Altair, France. “The motorsport and the aerospace industries are the leaders in composite design, but it does get used more and more in every industry that is looking to produce lighter and better products. With the HyperWorks suite, we offer the right tools to optimize composite development processes, a solution that wins growing acceptance throughout all industries.”

Built on a foundation of design optimization, performance data management and process automation, HyperWorks is an enterprise simulation solution for rapid design exploration and decision-making. As the most comprehensive, open-architecture CAE solution in the industry, HyperWorks includes best-in-class modeling, analysis, visualization and data management solutions for linear and non-linear, structural optimization, fluid-structure interaction and multi-body dynamics applications. For more information, please visit www.altairhyperworks.com.

With its 180 persons, the Peugeot Sport team depends directly on Automobiles Peugeot. Peugeot Sport creates, develops, produces and runs cars that are dedicated to racing. In circuit and in rally, with its official program and customers program, Peugeot Sport insures Peugeot brand a dynamic, sports and victorious vision. With its 908 HDi FAP endurance racing program, Peugeot Sport has succeeded in raising the Peugeot brand colors to the highest level in the sport. The program embodies a certain idea of motor sport: a sport that evolves with its time, has meaning and incorporates real environmental efficiency, particularly with its HDi FAP technology. The 2009 race season offered plenty of success for Peugeot Sport : a 1-2-3 finish at Monte-Carlo Rally, 2nd place at 12H of Sebring, a win at 1000km of Spa, a 1-2 finish at 24H of Le Mans, a 1-2 finish at Petit Le Mans (Road Altanta). For more information about Peugeot Sport, visit www.peugeot-sport.com

Altair Engineering, Inc. empowers client innovation and decision-making through technology that optimizes the analysis, management and visualization of business and engineering information. Privately held, with more than 1,300 employees, Altair has offices throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. With a 20-year-plus track record for product design, advanced engineering software, grid computing technologies and enterprise analytics solutions, Altair consistently delivers a competitive advantage to customers in a broad range of industries. To learn more, please visit www.altair.com.

The target drug delivery reduces the amount of chemotherapeutic drugs used in cancer treatment and minimizes the side effects. The reduced dosage without compromising the drug efficacy will make the cancer treatment more potent and targeted to killing the cancer and more affordable and available to a larger community.

“Certain percentage of these carbon nanotubes are composed of smaller Quantum Carbon Dots,” stated Iffat Allam, President & CEO of Cromoz Inc. “The nontoxic carbon quantum dots can be used as Fluorescent Probes for imaging living biological processes and to monitor cancer growth. These quantum dots are of assorted sizes, they absorb and emit light at different wavelengths. This results in multi-colored images which will be very useful to diagnose a specific organ and its function and the effect of drug delivery to specific cancer sites.”

Cromoz has successfully conjugated cancer drugs such as Taxol and Gemcitabine and is currently working with Johns Hopkins Cancer Center in Maryland, USA. Early next year Cromoz will initiate a research and development (R&D) and manufacturing facility in Biotech Park in Hyderabad, India.

Cromoz Inc., is an advanced materials innovator and manufacturer focused on the development of carbon nanotechnology-enabled products primarily for the biomedical industry. These innovative products are based on two proprietary technologies, water-soluble carbon nanotubes and water-soluble fluorescent carbon quantum dots. The CNTs (Carbon Nano Tubes) are insoluble in water.

Some have used a common technique to wrap the CNT with hydrophilic molecules to make them disperse in water. Cromoz have successfully derivatized the multi-wall of CNTs and Carbon Dots to make them water-soluble. These derivatized CNTs are bio-friendly, fluorescent and hence well suited for drug delivery. For more information, log on to http://www.cromoz.com/.

Gerry Weber will be using an Avery Dennison RFID solution in over 25 million garments a year through an RFID chip imbedded in a care label. This solution will optimise Gerry Weber logistics and retail processes, reduce theft and ensure stores are well stocked with popular items.

“The decision for the RFID roll out is a true milestone for our company,” says Gerry Weber International AG Chairman Gerhard Weber. “We invite all textile apparel suppliers to embrace the introduction of RFID to achieve significant cost savings, improved efficiency and greater transparency in retail.”

The Avery Dennison RFID fabric care labels will be applied in the manufacturing process, eliminating the need for retail staff to fit and remove conventional bulky security tags in-store which can be time-consuming and costly. The Avery Dennison RFID label is automatically deactivated after the customer has paid for the goods at the checkout.

“We are excited to partner with Gerry Weber as they lead the German market in adoption of this intelligent solution,” commented Graham Diamond, vice president and general manager, Avery Dennison EMEA. “RFID technology is emerging rapidly around the world due to the significant benefits it provides retailers in helping them improve sales, profits and customer service.”

RFID allows for data capture without the need for line of sight or physical contact, so the Avery Dennison solution will enable Gerry Weber Group to significantly improve its inventory management and logistics processes, bringing faster and more accurate goods receipt, improved control and visibility of stock and simplified stock taking.

Logistics director at Gerry Weber, Dr. David Frink, says: “This technology allows us to achieve high stock accuracy and thereby an improved goods supply at the retail store. Time-consuming counting operations, for example for inventories, will no longer be necessary.”

The RFID inlay, also from Avery Dennison, is incorporated in a care label and is washable up to 140 degree Fahrenheit (60 degree Celsius) and can be dry cleaned. This makes it possible to trace garments from production to point of sale, even if they are washed or dry cleaned in the process.

Tests of the new RFID system in Gerry Weber stores have been extremely successful and Gerry Weber will roll out the solution to more than 150 of its own branches next year.

Avery Dennison is the RFID leader for the apparel industry. Today, more than 90 per cent of all RFID labels used in the textile industry are supplied by Avery Dennison.

The SDAX-listed German fashion and lifestyle company employs more than 2,300 staff worldwide. It owns 338 HOUSES OF GERRY WEBER stores and more than 1400 store areas in all parts of the world and is one of the leading international fashion businesses. The holding business heads the production of five own brands with approx. 25 million garments each year.

Avery Dennison is a recognized industry leader that develops innovative identification and decorative solutions for businesses and consumers worldwide. The Company’s products include pressure-sensitive labeling materials; graphics imaging media; retail apparel ticketing and branding systems; RFID inlays and tags; office products; specialty tapes; and a variety of specialized labels for automotive, industrial and durable goods applications. A FORTUNE 500 Company with sales of $6.7 billion in 2008, Avery Dennison is based in Pasadena, California and has employees in over 60 countries. For more information, visit http://www.averydennison.com/ .

The technology developed in collaboration with IIT Kanpur and North Carolina-based Cnanoz can remove harmful pathogens and toxic ingredients, such as Arsenic, Fluoride, Lead, Cadmium, DDT, hydrocarbon wastes and nitrates in an eco-friendly and economical way. Drinking water contaminated with toxic chemicals over an extended period of time can promote harmful gene mutations that can cause neurological disorders, mental and physical disabilities. The preventive aspect of the filtration system can have a significant positive impact to improve public health survival and reduce health care costs.

Hon. Minister Viswarup stated, “The organic system would be very helpful to protect many of the communities that have toxic-contaminated water supply.” The Indian government is considering the new technology to provide safe drinking water to their citizens for pennies per day and protect them from harmful water-borne diseases and toxic chemicals.

S. Wajahat Ali, President and CEO of Cnanoz Inc., stated, “The Nano Water Purification System has tremendous promise for eco-friendly preservation and purification of the world’s limited water supply, introducing an entirely new biotech production field needed for today’s economy.”

Cnanoz Inc., located at Research Triangle Park (RTP), is an advanced materials innovator and manufacturer focused on the development of carbon nanotechnology-enabled products for water purification and composite fibers. These innovative products are eco friendly and require low energy consumption. For more information log onto http://cnanoz.com/.

New On-Site Technology Facility to Provide R&D Support to Auto Manufacturers

Shell Lubricants announced the start-up of its newest lubricants complex in Asia to meet growing demand in China. With a production capacity of 50 million gallons a year, and the potential for a phased development to 100 million gallons a year, the complex could become one of Shell’s top three lubricants blending plants worldwide in volume terms.

In a further development, Shell also announced new investment in a technical facility at the complex. This will offer a range of technical services, including a quality control laboratory to provide key customers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the automotive industry with technical research, marketing and training services related to their lubricants applications.

Located in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, the blending plant will be Shell’s sixth in China and will produce consumer, transport, industrial and marine lubricants, targeted at the Chinese market.

David Pirret, Executive Vice President for Shell Lubricants, said: “The investment in a lubricants blending plant in Zhuhai is part of Shell’s strategy of selective Downstream growth and allows us to support demand from local and international customers based in China, which is the world’s fastest growing lubricants market. Once the technical facility at Zhuhai is completed, our customers in China will have the opportunity to experience our leading lubricants technology capability firsthand.”

Lim Haw-Kuang, Executive Chairman of Shell Companies in China, said: “This is another milestone in Shell’s business development in China and the latest evidence of our commitment to China and Guangdong. We will continue to look for key growth opportunities to contribute to China’s fast growing economy by providing high quality energy products and solutions.”

For the third consecutive year, Shell has been named the number one global lubricants supplier – selling more lubricants in 2008 than any other company in the world, with a 13% share of the market in volume terms (Source: Kline & Company). This is testament to a consistent strategy, strong brands and technology leadership, with a focus on delivering first-class lubricants solutions to customers, wherever they may be.

Shell is already the largest international lubricants supplier in Asia by sales volume and the No. 1 international supplier of lubricants in terms of market share in China. (Source: Kline & Company)

The term ‘Shell Lubricants’ collectively refers to Shell Group companies engaged in the lubricants business. They manufacture and blend products for use in a range of applications, from consumer motoring to mining and power generation to commercial transport. Shell’s portfolio of lubricant brands includes Pennzoil®, Quaker State®, Shell Rotella T, Shell Helix, Shell Rimula, Shell Tellus, Monarch, a portfolio of car care products and Jiffy Lube®. Shell has leading lubricants research centers around the world: in Germany, Japan, UK, and the US, plus a new presence in India.

Demand for lubricants in China is forecast to grow by around 3.5% year on year to 2013, making it the fastest growing market in the world ahead of India, with the industrial lubricants sector expected to show the strongest growth in China. Already, demand for lubricants in China was estimated at 5.5 million tons last year, making it the second largest lubricants market in the world behind the U.S.

Shell is the largest lubricants supplier of the international oil companies present in China, with a 10% market share. China is Shell’s second largest market after the United States of America. Shell currently supplies lubricants to eight out of the top 10 car manufacturers in China, as well as to 47 of the top 50 steel companies. China is the biggest market for Shell Helix motor oil.

Shell aspires to be the leading international energy company in China by developing a significant presence in the country in partnership with Chinese companies and stakeholders. Shell has more than 30 joint ventures and wholly owned affiliates with an accumulated investment of $4 billion. All Shell core businesses are operating in China including oil and gas exploration and production, petrochemicals, lubricants, bitumen, retail gas stations, clean coal as well as global solutions in technology for energy efficiency and productivity.

Guangdong has been an important market for Shell Companies in China where it has made the largest single investment in the $4.1 billion Nanhai petrochemical plant in Huizhou in partnership with CNOOC. It is also a very important market for Shell’s lubricants and fuel retail businesses. Shell is a party in the consortium supplying LNG from overseas to Shenzhen.

This is according to the new market research report, ‘Concentrated Photovoltaic and Solar Photovoltaic Global Markets (2009 – 2014)’, published by MarketsandMarkets (www.marketsandmarkets.com).

The Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) market includes the submarkets for Low Concentration Photovoltaic (LCPV), Medium Concentration Photovoltaic (MCPV), and High Concentration Photovoltaic (HCPV). The CPV market is still in a nascent stage but is developing rapidly due to the finite nature of non-renewable sources of energy, and the increasing demand for higher output and green energy. The CPV market is estimated to reach $266.0 million in 2014 from about $63.9 million in 2009.

Among all segments, HCPV commands the largest share of global CPV market, and is also expected to have the highest CAGR of 39.1% from 2009 to 2014. The conversion of HCPV systems lowers land requirement, and facilitates higher energy output at lower costs. HCPV technology is thus expected to achieve cost parity with conventional sources of electricity at a faster rate than other CPV technologies.

The initial high growth opportunity for the CPV market lies in regions with high direct normal irradiance (DNI) or direct solar radiation and high cost of grid electricity. These regions include southwest America, southwest Europe, western and central Australia, the Middle East, and northern Africa. While technology developments in the CPV systems market are currently concentrated in Spain, Germany, and the U.S.; government support for CPV technologies in countries such as India, China, Japan, and Australia are expected to drive future market growth.

The global solar PV market is expected to grow with a CAGR of 12.5% during 2009 – 2014 to reach $38.1 billion in 2014. Crystalline silicon PV holds the largest market share of 82%; while the thin film silicon market is expected to have highest growth rate of 28.2% from 2009 to 2014.

Scope of the report

The report aims to identify and analyze the global market for concentrated photovoltaic and solar photovoltaic systems. It categorizes the overall market as follows:

- Concentrated Photovoltaic- Products
HCPV, MCPV and LCPV.

- Concentrated Photovoltaic – Application
Present: utilities. Future: space, telecommunication, water
pumping, grid-connected residential power, and rooftop applications.

- Concentrated Photovoltaic – Technology
Lenses and mirrors based on concentrator type, enhanced flat
plate, trough Fresnel lenses, dual optic single cell, dish reflectors
and central receivers based on concentrator arrangement.

- Solar Photovoltaic – Products
Crystalline silicon PV, thin film PV, and other thin film PV cells.

- Solar Photovoltaic – Applications
Automotive, consumer products, grid connected power supply,
residential power supply, commercial lightings water pumping, and
others (electric fences, telecommunications, gate openers)

- Tracking Solutions for CPV and Non CPV Products

State-owned utility Statkraft’s prototype plant

The plant is driven by osmosis that naturally draws fresh water across a membrane and toward the seawater side. This creates higher pressure on the sea water side, driving a turbine and producing electricity.

“While salt might not save the world alone, we believe osmotic power will be an interesting part of the renewable energy mix of the future,” Statkraft Chief Executive Baard Mikkelsen told reporters.

More details at cnet.com.

Engineers operating the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have smashed together proton beams in the machine for the very first time.

The step was described as a “great achievement” for those working on the huge physics experiment.

The low-energy collisions came after researchers circulated two beams simultaneously in the LHC’s 27km-long tunnel earlier on Monday.

The LHC is smashing together beams of protons to shed light on the cosmos.

Operated by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (Cern), the LHC is the world’s largest machine and will create similar conditions to those present moments after the Big Bang.

Full story at bbc.co.uk.

“This is a very exciting time for us as we launch this new 3D services business,” said Jim Clark, KMSA 3D Business Unit Manager. “We see huge potential in offering this type of service to our customers. Many were not able to afford the purchase of hardware this past year due to economic conditions. We were continually asked if we could simply scan parts on a project by project basis.”

In a rapid response to better service these customers, KMSA has quickly invested and deployed this new division to address the needs of those looking for 3D service solutions in the areas of reverse engineering, rapid prototyping, 3D scanning, design and engineering as well as finite element analysis.

KMSA has been involved in the development and sale of 3D scanning hardware for well over a decade. “Offering a services division is a major shift in our business model, since our focus has always been on hardware sales. We feel that this shift is very positive and complimentary to the sales side of our business,” said Jim.

KMSA will be primarily utilizing its own VIVID and RANGE series 3D equipment as these units will fit almost any application. Being a leading manufacturer of hardware, KMSA has vast applications knowledge from nearly every type of manufacturing industry. “This knowledge positions Konica far above existing service only competitors. We can offer a level of service and expertise to our customers which will be unmatched by anyone else in the industry. For our customers KMSA will be the only resource they will need,” added Jim.

KMSA will be offering up to 50% off all new customers’ first scanning services job until January 31, 2010. For more detailed information on 3D scanning services please visit http://www.konicaminolta.com/sensingusa/

Comcast hasn’t released any details about the project, said to be near the top of the MSO’s priority list. But sources familiar with Excalibur say its aim is to develop a “services overlay” that would put all IP services, including video, into a common provisioning and management system. Sources also say Excalibur will use a form of digital rights management (DRM) for security.

However, a Comcast official said it’s more appropriate to call the work a “natural extension of the work we’re doing” with IP.  Comcast has been using IP for years to deliver voice, Internet access, and even some video applications, the official added.

Comcast is expected to use Excalibur to help it pursue an IPTV strategy that includes personalized, unicast video services – although older, QAM-based video will still factor in for years to come. But the broader vision has Excalibur factoring in with Comcast’s “TV Everywhere” ambitions, which involve delivering IPTV to PCs, smartphones, and myriad other video displays that speak IP.

Industry sources say about 100 employees are involved with Excalibur, with Comcast Interactive Capital president and founding partner Sam Schwartz running point on the project.

Click here to read the full story at lightreading.com.

All Go Forward! partners have access to Digital Channel — a digital marketing solution that makes delivering online content and e-marketing programs simple, consistent and cost-effective. The tool helps to ensure that partners can easily integrate relevant SEN Group content into their own Web sites to provide timely and accurate information about solutions to their customers. It enables partners to run pre-created email marketing campaigns that are automatically co-branded and provides ready-made PDF brochures customized for each partner. With turn-key marketing programs, partners can quickly execute campaigns, allowing them to focus on core business needs, such as supporting customers.

According to ITSMA, Gold Award winners have demonstrated standout performance in improving services marketing as measured by innovation, execution and business results. SEN Group’s advancements to Go Forward! shows innovation in improving relations and communication with its partners and demonstrates the company’s commitment to its partner program.

“Each year, we receive a wide array of impressive submissions for the MEA program, and this year was no exception,” said Dave Munn, President and Chief Executive Officer, ITSMA. “SEN Group’s digital advancements to its Go Forward! program demonstrated true innovation and sound execution with impressive results, making it a standout initiative from the group.”

“We are honored to be recognized by ITSMA for Marketing Excellence,” said Adrian Honey, director of Global Indirect Channel Marketing at SEN Group. “Our partners comprise a crucial element of our business and we value those relationships, and this is why we are committed to the constant improvement and continued investment in the Go Forward! program, particularly with enhancements that help our partners generate more business and improve our mutual success with trusted partners.”

The Marketing Excellence Award program is based on a comprehensive and strategic approach to marketing, recognizing that business success today requires marketers to move beyond the traditional realm of communications into such areas as developing new solutions, increasing sales effectiveness, and managing the customer experience. An international panel of marketing executives and experts selected the winners, which were announced at a special awards ceremony during ITSMA’s 2009 Annual Marketing Conference on October 27 at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. More information can be found at: http://www.itsma.com/events/marketing-returns/

AT&T was among the select companies that Forrester invited to participate in its independent report: “The Forrester Wave: Managed Global Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) Services, Q4 2009″ (October 2009).

In this evaluation, AT&T was cited as a leader and received the highest scores in both strategy and market presence, including the strongest sales capabilities and the strongest financials.

Additionally, AT&T’s scores for its 2009 to 2010 “strategic plans for network and MPLS service portfolio enhancement and its customer stickiness program are well above average compared with other providers evaluated.”

To assess the state of the managed global MPLS services market, and see how several major international network operator service providers stack up against each other, Forrester evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of nine managed global MPLS service providers against a comprehensive set of 54 criteria grouped into three categories: Current Offering, Strategy, and Market Presence.

AT&T offers connections for customers on the world’s most powerful and advanced IP/ MPLS network, using new-generation routing technology that carries data at 40 Gbps. More than 102,000 wavelength miles of AT&T’s long-haul network use this new technology, which quadruples capacity over previous connections.

“The Forrester Wave(TM): Managed Global MPLS Services, Q4 2009,” by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D. with Christine Ferrusi Ross, Phil Sayer, and Sean Galvin (October, 2009)

The Prepaid Awards was created to celebrate innovation and best practice within the prepaid industry, and InComm’s win in both its categories cements it as the leading provider and distributor of Gift Cards in the UK and Europe. Winners were determined by approximately 300 members of the prepaid industry attending the event, proving that the community recognises and applauds InComm’s dedication to maximising success.

“I am delighted that our partners and peers in the Prepaid industry have selected InComm Europe as the Best Prepaid Product Distributor and initiator of Innovation of the Year,” said Phil Evason, Managing Director of InComm Europe Ltd. “We are proud that our commitment continues to bring such great success to our merchant and product partners.”

Since launching the first UK Gift Card Mall in October 2006, InComm Europe Ltd. has expanded its product offerings to thousands of retail locations in eight European countries. InComm now offers Europe’s largest distribution footprint and most extensive product portfolio.

“Innovation, dedication and commitment to our merchant and product partners have always been cornerstones of our success”, said Frank Monaco, Vice President, and Managing Director International at InComm. “It’s an honour to be recognized for that commitment by our peers.”

InComm’s innovative approach to the prepaid industry has been proven once again with the initiative to offer Retail Gift Cards as a redemption option for the Shell Driver’s Club programme, thereby developing the UK’s first gift card shop programme integrated into a national retail loyalty scheme. Customers now enjoy greater flexibility and choice when redeeming their rewards, and Shell enjoys increased footfall, improved margins and up-sell opportunities.

InComm Europe is the industry-leading marketer, distributor and technology innovator of stored-value gift and prepaid products throughout the UK and Europe. Developer of the UK’s first Gift Card Mall in 2006, InComm Europe now offers Europe’s largest premium retail footprint, operating in over 4,000 locations across eight European countries. In addition, InComm partners with consumer brand leaders around the world to provide more than 150,000 retail locations the products and services their customers demand. At 70 prepaid brands, InComm Europe offers by far the most extensive product portfolio in Europe, featuring gift cards, mobile wireless, music download, online gaming and more. To learn more about InComm Europe, visit www.incomm-europe.com

InComm is the industry leading marketer, distributor and technology innovator of stored-value gift and prepaid products using its state-of-the-art point-of-sale transaction technology and payment solutions to revolutionize retail product sales and customer experiences. With nearly $8 billion in retail sales transactions processed in 2008, InComm is the nation’s largest provider of gift cards, prepaid wireless products, reloadable debit cards, digital music downloads, content, games, software and bill payment solutions. InComm partners with consumer brand leaders around the world to provide more than 150,000 retail locations the products and services their customers demand. Since 1992, InComm’s patented technologies have made the buying process easier for consumers while streamlining the selling process for product and retail partners.

Network equipment giant Cisco Systems is feeling good enough about the economy to rev up its acquisition engine, pledging to spend more than $6 billion in a single month on smaller companies.

Cisco on Tuesday announced its third acquisition this month and its sixth acquisition so far this year. The company said it plans to buy Web-based security software company ScanSafe for about $183 million in cash.

Two weeks ago the company announced plans to buy wireless equipment maker Starent Networks for $2.9 billion. And at the beginning of the month, it said it would buy Norwegian video conference equipment maker Tandberg for $3 billion

After a brief acquisition hiatus the past year during the economic downturn, Cisco is back in the merger and acquisition saddle. In all of 2008, Cisco bought five companies, all well below the $1 billion price tag. In 2007, it bought a total of 11 companies, including the $2.9 billion purchase of WebEx.

Read the full story at cnet.com.

Sky and Microsoft will attempt to launch the new Sky Player for Xbox 360 for a second time after the companies had to pull the service on the official launch day on Tuesday.

“The service has been suspended due to an unforeseen technical issue.” Sky said in a statement. “Sky Player engineers are hard at work to resolve the problem. We expect to have the full service available on Wednesday.”

The breakdown of the service on launch left gamers confused as to what had happened.

“How do i actually pull up sky on my Xbox, i have Sky Player account and an Xbox Gold Account. Confused… :S,” said Sam in a comment on Pocket-lint.

“The Sky player system went “Offline” before I had a chance to try it! The current news is that it will be fully back online tomorrow (Wednesday) – so you’re not alone, Jamie! Shame – I’m itching to give it a try…” said Doombar.

To access the player you’ll need both an active Sky subscription and an Xbox Live Gold subscription. The former costs £15 per month, and the latter is £40 per year, totalling £220 per year. The same channels will be available to you that are available on your existing Sky subscription.

Alternatively, Sky will be selling a bundle pack of a month of Sky Player subscription (with the Sky Sports pack), a media remote, and 3 months of Xbox Live Gold subscription for £30. If you just want to try out the service without committing to a long-term plan, that could be an option.

The HC900 Hybrid Controller will work in conjunction with Honeywell’s Profit Controller to optimize the plants’ air supply units and deliver greater energy-efficient temperature and humidity control within the paint finishing spray booths. Currently – in preparation for the rollout – feasibility studies are being conducted to assess the application of the HC900 Hybrid Controller platform in each plant.

The implementation follows a successful pilot project with Toyota in the UK, where energy use was reduced by 25% in the paint booths. This equated to a saving of 4% of the site’s total energy consumption. Toyota Motor UK expects to achieve a full return on its investment in less than two years.

“This is a strategically significant project as we continuously aim to improve our environmental performance of our production sites around Europe,” said Timothy Waltniel, production senior engineer, Toyota Motor Europe. “We partnered with Honeywell because it had the technical ability to actually realize the theoretical solution to a kaizen (improvement) opportunity we had identified in the painting process.”

“Car manufacturers around the world are facing the challenge of not only building cars that are more environmentally friendly, but ensuring that their manufacturing operations are equally responsible,” said Paul Brice, director of Advanced Solutions, Honeywell Process Solutions Europe, Middle East and Africa. “This is the first application of its type anywhere in the world and we are very proud to be part of it. We’ve worked hard to ensure that our solutions and the expertise of our people can help automakers like Toyota meet similar challenges in the years ahead.”

For more information about Honeywell’s HC900 Hybrid Controller, Profit Controller and other solutions that improve business performance, visit www.honeywell.com/ps.

Honeywell International (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com. Honeywell Process Solutions is part of Honeywell’s Automation and Control Solutions group, a global leader in providing product and service solutions that improve efficiency and profitability, support regulatory compliance, and maintain safe, comfortable environments in homes, buildings and industry. For more information about Process Solutions, access www.honeywell.com/ps.

His daughter, Leslie Baugh, confirmed his death, saying her father had been in declining health recently.

Born in 1922, Smith grew up in the oil patch in east central Oklahoma, attending Mountain View School and Seminole High School. In 1940, he married his sweetheart, Dollie Twiggs, before going into the Army Air Corps in 1943.

After World War II ended, Smith returned to Oklahoma, to Dollie and his two small children, and began driving a milk truck, then a bread truck route as he pursued a desire to own his own business. Between 1948 and 1953, Smith tried his hand at operating various restaurant concepts in Shawnee, Oklahoma, oftentimes while running his bread route. His first was a small diner called The Cottage Cafe. A year later, he sold the Cottage Cafe and opened a larger restaurant called Troy’s Grill featuring Troy’s Panful O’Chicken. It was a loyal Troy’s Grill customer who asked Smith to co-own a root beer stand and convert an old log home into an upscale steak house which was located on the same property. Smith liked the location of the businesses and idea of running a fine dining restaurant.

In 1953 in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Smith and his partner were operating the Top Hat root beer stand and the Log House Restaurant. For five years, they ran both restaurants. However, the two concepts had very different economics. Smith learned that high-end restaurants might earn more gross revenue, but profits were limited. In 1955, Smith ended his partnership and got out of the Log House Restaurant. The Top Hat had been the cash cow for the Log House because profit margins were four times greater than those of the steakhouse. Smith eventually put all of his efforts into the root beer stand while discovering a better way to make money in the restaurant business. It was called a drive-in.

An entrepreneur in every way, Smith focused on turning his Top Hat root beer stand into a successful drive-in concept. During this time, he pioneered the use of angled and covered parking, along with an intercom speaker system that allowed customers to place orders from their cars. “Service With the Speed of Sound,” became the tagline for the Top Hat.

Over the next six years, Smith, in partnership with Charlie Pappe of Woodward, Oklahoma, opened Top Hats in three other Oklahoma communities, Stillwater, Woodward and Enid. The Top Hat concept took off and the pair found themselves fielding queries from interested entrepreneurs who wanted the chance to run their own businesses. An attempt to copyright the Top Hat name in 1958 failed so Smith and Pappe looked up “speed of sound” in the dictionary and discovered the word “sonic”. The first Top Hat to adopt the fledgling chain’s new name of Sonic, was the drive-in located in Stillwater. From that point on, Sonic Drive-Ins began popping up in small towns throughout Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Arkansas. Today, there are nearly 3,600 Sonic Drive-Ins located in 42 states.

Smith’s entrepreneurial spirit, his pragmatic, no nonsense approach to the business, and his desire to create opportunities for others earned him many friends and admirers over his lifetime. He will be remembered for his generosity and gentle nature. He is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Dollie, his daughter, Leslie Baugh, his son, Troy “Butch” Smith, Jr., grandchildren: Ronnie and Chris Baugh, Christi Bercher, Troy Smith, III, Eric, David, Travis and Kyle Smith, and nine great grandchildren.

A memorial service will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30th at the First Christian Church of Edmond, Okla. Donations may be made in Troy’s name to the University of Central Oklahoma Foundation, www.ucogiving.org or Integris Health Foundation, 3030 N.W. Expressway, Ste. 1600, Oklahoma City, OK, 73112. Designate Troy & Dollie Smith Wellness Center.

“The new MacBook includes many of the great features found on the innovative MacBook Pro, such as an LED-backlit display, glass Multi-Touch trackpad and built-in long-life battery,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With the only lineup of notebooks all featuring unibody enclosures, LED-backlit displays and long-life battery technology, there’s never been a better time to switch to a Mac.”

The new MacBook features a unibody, polycarbonate enclosure that makes it lighter and more durable. The new design includes a unique non-skid bottom surface and at just 4.7 pounds, the sleek MacBook slides easily into a backpack or briefcase. MacBook comes standard with a bright, LED-backlit display with the same wide-angle viewing technology used in the MacBook Pro line. The new MacBook has a 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB RAM, a 250GB hard drive, and powerful NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics.

The new MacBook includes Apple’s innovative built-in notebook battery for up to seven hours of wireless productivity on a single charge, and up to 1,000 recharges.* At nearly three times the lifespan of conventional notebook batteries, Apple’s built-in battery results in fewer depleted batteries and less waste. Depleted batteries can be replaced for $129, which includes installation and environmentally responsible disposal of your old battery.

The energy-efficient MacBook joins the industry’s greenest lineup of notebooks, with every Mac notebook achieving EPEAT Gold** status and meeting Energy Star 5.0 requirements. The entire Mac notebook line now comes standard with energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. Mac notebooks contain no brominated flame retardants, use internal cables and components that are PVC-free and are constructed of recyclable materials.

Every Mac comes with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, the world’s most advanced operating system, and iLife, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music. Snow Leopard builds on a decade of OS X innovation and success with hundreds of refinements, new core technologies and out of the box support for Microsoft Exchange. iLife features iPhoto, to easily organize and manage photos; iMovie with powerful easy-to-use new features such as Precision Editor, video stabilization and advanced drag and drop; and GarageBand which introduces a whole new way to help you learn to play piano and guitar.