Nvidia files countersuit against Intel

Nvidia Corp. late Thursday said it has filed a countersuit against Intel Corp. over the two chip maker's conflicting claims on what should be covered by a 2004 license agreement.

Nvidia said it has sued Intel in a Delaware Chancery Court, accusing the chip giant of breaching a license agreement that gave the two companies access to one another's technologies.

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company said it seeks to terminate the agreement.The dispute erupted into the open last month after Intel filed a motion before the same court arguing that the agreement did not give Nvidia the right to make chipsets with new Intel chips that have memory controllers integrated into the main processor unit.

Nvidia has rejected Intel's claim. In a prepared statement, Nvidia Chief Executive Jen-Hsun Huang accused Intel of trying "to block us from making use of the very license rights that they agreed to provide."

Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy said the two companies "have a significant disagreement over Nvidia's rights in the agreement with Intel."
"I think the issues are now crystallized and we'll ask the court to sort this out for us," Mulloy said.

Analysts have said the legal tussle highlights the heightening rivalry between the two chip makers and the blurring lines between chips used to perform main computer functions and those for graphics
Source http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/nvidia-files-countersuit-against-intel/story.aspx?guid={36E9B27D-C3AD-44C0-ADDC-BEAF33146DDD}&dist=msr_1

Radio Series on Women in Science Wins Gracie Award

A series of radio programs about the changing role of girls and women in science and engineering--funded by the National Science Foundation--has won recognition as the winner of two 2009 Gracie Awards. These awards are made by American Women in Radio and Television, a non-profit organization that has worked since 1951 to improve the quality of broadcast programming and the image of women as depicted in radio, television and cable.

Produced by WAMC-Northeast Public Radio in Albany, New York, "The Sounds of Progress: The Changing Role of Girls and Women in Science and Engineering" is a two-part project. Part I is a series of eight stories that examine groundbreaking research and the implementation of research-based practices throughout the U.S. designed to increase the role of young girls and women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Part II offers 26 two-minute radio modules about fascinating women throughout history who were pioneers in STEM fields--from the first woman professor of physics in 18th-century Italy to a Civil War surgeon who was the first and only woman to be awarded the Medal of Honor--as well as stories researched and recorded by middle school-age girls about their favorite women in STEM.

"We are all honored to receive these awards," said Glenn Busby, principal investigator and series producer. "This was a two-year team effort that we hope has an impact on the lives of women in science all around the country."

"The Sounds of Progress" is one of 55 Gracie winners in the Local, Public and Student Award Winners category. The series was recognized both for Outstanding Documentary-Short Format and for Outstanding Public Affairs Program. The awards will be formally made in New York City on June 4.

"We are very excited to have these stories out there and available to researchers, teachers, faculty, and all those interested in what is cutting edge in science education for girls and women," said Jolene Jesse, program director for the Research on Gender in Science and Engineering program at NSF. "The sharing of information and promising practices about what works for women and girls is vital to changing the face of science and ensuring a dynamic and innovative science and engineering enterprise."

Odyssey Spacecraft Reboots Successfully

PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter properly followed commands today to shut down and restart, a strategy by its engineers to clear any memory flaws accumulated in more than five years since Odyssey's last reboot.

The procedure also restored Odyssey's onboard set of backup systems, called the spacecraft's "B side," allowing its use in the future when necessary.

"For nearly two years, we have not known for certain whether the backup systems would be usable, so this successful reboot has allowed us to ascertain their health and availability for future use," said Odyssey Project Manager Philip Varghese of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

Odyssey has been orbiting Mars since 2001 and has never switched from its primary set of components, the "A side," to the backup set, which includes an identical computer processor, navigation sensors, relay radio and other components. In March 2006, the B-side spare of a component for managing the distribution of power became inoperable. Analysis by engineers identified a possibility that rebooting Odyssey might restore that component, which proved to be a side benefit of today's procedure to refresh onboard memory.

The Odyssey team began a series of steps after the reboot to carefully return the spacecraft to full functioning over the next few days. Following that path, the science instruments will be back to studying Mars by next week.

An unexpected rise in temperature of the star camera in Odyssey's navigation system on March 9 had prompted a postponement of the rebooting originally scheduled for the next day. Engineers identified the cause as a heater circuit that was temporarily stuck "on." The circuit was turned off before today's reboot.

CAMERA OBSCURA TO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

The Great Union Camera Obscura will soon be open to the public for the first time in 15 years. The Department of Local Government and the Environment, which owns the Camera Obscura, has recently completed major restoration of this Registered building. Mrs. Anne Craine, MHK, Member of the Department for Estates and Housing, will perform the opening ceremony at 10.00 a.m. on Saturday 30th April.

The Camera Obscura was constructed in the late Victorian period and, though it is one of several surviving Camera Obscuras within the British Isles, it is the only one of its kind still in existence. It is located on Douglas Head and was previously owned by the Heaton family. It closed to the public around about 1990 and was purchased by the Department of Local Government and the Environment in order to save it for the Manx Nation.

Mrs. Anne Craine, MHK, Member of the Department for Estates and Housing, said,

“I am delighted that the Camera Obscura has been restored to its former glory and that it is soon to be enjoyed by the people of the Island as well as the many visitors who, I am sure, will be keen to see it. Although it has taken many years to reach this stage, my Department has always been fully committed to the full restoration and re-opening of the Camera Obscura and it is obviously very satisfying to have achieved this goal. However, we could not have done so without the support, enthusiasm and co-operation of many other parties including professional consultants, contractors, other Departments within Government and members of the public. I am particularly pleased that the Department of Tourism and Leisure has agreed to accept ownership of the Camera and to take on the future management and operation of this unique piece of our Island’s heritage.”

Mrs. Craine will hand over the keys to the Department of Tourism and Leisure at the conclusion of the opening ceremony and it will be opened to the public at 11.00 a.m. The Isle of Man Victorian Society has kindly agreed to staff the Camera Obscura which will be open to the public on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays from 30th April through to September. Opening times are provisionally 11am to 4pm, subject to weather.

Minister for Tourism and Leisure David Cretney MHK stated

“Having actively supported the restoration of the Camera Obscura I am delighted that this project has reached fruition, and will now be open to the public. I would particularly like to thank the IOM Victorian Society and its members for volunteering to man this fascinating facility”.