Silverlight becomes Moonlight

IT Watch | K.Venugopal

Microsoft’s new Silverlight application now has a Linux version named Moonlight.

The software major had come out with Silverlight to take on Adobe’s Flash Player in the area of rich internet media.

Moonlight was released as a browser plug-in with the support of Microsoft

This is part of the deal signed by Microsoft and Novell to create cross-platform tools.

Moonlight will extend Silverlight’s terrain to open source operating system.

Linux users can download Moonlight which is compatible with the Firefox browser though the version is essentially meant for developers.

Adobe is also refreshing its Flash player to take on competition from Microsoft.

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Via to take on Atom

Taipei-based Via Technologies is planning to release its new processor named Isaiah chip by the end of the month.

With this, Via is hoping to hit big time and take on chip giants Intel and AMD which dominate the market.

The Isaiah chip is meant for mainstream laptops and desktops. Until now, Via has only brought out chips for ultra mobile personal computers.

Isaiah will be directly taking on Intel’s much-hyped Atom processor. Though the Via chip will consume more power than Atom, it has a more sophisticated design, and is expected to perform better.

Isaiah will also be a threat to Intel’s Core 2 or Celeron chips which are meant for laptops and desktops. The processor was designed by Centaur Technology, a subsidiary of Via.

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IBM to make super rice

IBM is planning to use its World Community Grid to develop better strains of rice.

This is part of the global giant’s efforts to help nations tackle the burgeoning food crisis. The grid contains one million individual PCs and has a processing power of 167 teraflops, which is equivalent to the world’s most powerful supercomputer.

It will use three-dimensional modelling programmes to study rice at the atomic level to come up with strains that are stronger and more nutritious.

The IBM project will create the biggest ever map of rice proteins to help agricultural scientists determine the best way to produce better strains of rice.