When Microsoft launched its Xbox 360 in November last year, it signalled the transition to the next generation of consoles. With its custom triple core central processor unit (CPU) and 500 MHz graphics processor (GPU), the Xbox 360 represents the next step in Microsoft’s attempt to develop a living room entertainment hub. The console includes integrated Media Centre Extender capability to connect it to a Media Centre PC, allowing the user to play video, pictures and music resident on the PC through the entertainment cluster in the living room.
Sony and Nintendo have yet to launch their next generation machines, but they are due later in 2006. Sony has announced an ambitious console, the PlayStation 3 (PS3), to be centred on the Cell processor, developed with IBM and Toshiba. The specs of the machine are impressive, including a 550 MHz GPU that supports 1080p high definition video. The PS3 will also include Blu-Ray DVD playback, a high-definition format that is central to Sony’s corporate strategy, according to In-Stat, a market research firm. Nintendo has announced some details on its next generation console, the Revolution.
Central to Nintendo’s console is a new type of controller that allows the user’s arm movement to affect the movement of game characters. Nintendo is pursuing innovative ideas in next-generation gaming rather than trying to battle it out technologically with its much larger rivals.
"In the current generation of consoles, Sony expanded its domination in 2005. In an unprecedented occurrence, Sony shipped its second largest volume of PlayStation 2 (PS2) consoles in 2005. In the back-end of the product cycle, when shipments typically decline year-over-year, Sony shipped 19.98 million consoles worldwide, over 8 million more than its 2004 total. And we expect that Sony will continue to ship the console through 2010, which would match the 11-year product cycle of the recently discontinued PlayStation, or PSOne," In-Stat says.
Online music The past year was a breakthrough year for digital music. The Internet is now a key distribution channel for legitimate digital music sales; and the mobile phone is also evolving into an important channel for digital music. As a result, in 2005, online sales of digital music represented almost 6 per cent of the total worldwide music market. This figure is up from virtually zero per cent in 2003, another In-Stat study says.According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, paid-for digital single downloads reached 420 million in 2005.
Looking ahead: Microsoft’s Xbox 360
February 27, 2006, 10:00 amHolistic approach to IT is required
February 27, 2006, 9:59 am
The Indian IT sector is broadly divided into two segments, domestic and export market. The domestic market can be further divided into software and services, hardware, peripherals, networking and training. The export market consists of software services and exports and ITeS.A holistic approach is required when it comes to IT. There has to be to emphasis on quality higher education to ensure steady supply of the most important raw material for this sector, trained manpower.
There is a need to provide easier and better accessibility to student loans for higher education. There is an urgent need to accelerate the speed of urban infrastructure renewal and development.To facilitate this, the government must allow more private player participation in infrastructure development and slowly divest from PSUs. There is a need to synergise IT application in governance.
The government must review the definition of export turnover in the context of the IT sector. Review foreign tax credit policy and make it simpler and faster. Discourage taxation of parent companies abroad. We do not expect the budget to have a major bearing on the IT sector. The government is likely to reduce the sops to the sector, but we expect it to happen in the forthcoming years and not in this Budget.Being the second Budget of the UPA government, harsh measures on IT sector are least expected.
The expected reduction in custom duties and excise duties on various items including computers and peripherals will boost domestic IT industry; specifically the reduction of 4 per cent additional customs duty. So overall, we expect the Budget to have a marginally positive effect on the sector.
What the government needs to address is the fringe benefit tax, this tax should be scrapped or at least be rationalised. "FBT" was introduced by the honourable finance minister in the Budget of 2005 to tap the fringe benefits given to the employees without these expenses forming part of remunerations to the employees. But after looking at the various heads of expenses covered/taxed it is seen that even genuine business expenses are also taxed irrespective of whether an employee or employer has incurred the expense.
It has turned out to be an expenditure tax, no matter whether you are making profits or losses, you have to pay the FBT.The Indian IT sector is broadly divided into two segments, domestic and export market. The domestic market can be further divided into software and services, hardware, peripherals, networking and training. The export market consists of software services and exports and ITeS.A holistic approach is required when it comes to IT. There has to be to emphasis on quality higher education to ensure steady supply of the most important raw material for this sector, trained manpower.There is a need to provide easier and better accessibility to student loans for higher education. There is an urgent need to accelerate the speed of urban infrastructure renewal and development.
To facilitate this, the government must allow more private player participation in infrastructure development and slowly divest from PSUs. There is a need to synergise IT application in governance. he government must review the definition of export turnover in the context of the IT sector. Review foreign tax credit policy and make it simpler and faster. Discourage taxation of parent companies abroad.
We do not expect the budget to have a major bearing on the IT sector. The government is likely to reduce the sops to the sector, but we expect it to happen in the forthcoming years and not in this Budget.Being the second Budget of the UPA government, harsh measures on IT sector are least expected.The expected reduction in custom duties and excise duties on various items including computers and peripherals will boost domestic IT industry; specifically the reduction of 4 per cent additional customs duty. So overall, we expect the Budget to have a marginally positive effect on the sector.
What the government needs to address is the fringe benefit tax, this tax should be scrapped or at least be rationalised. "FBT" was introduced by the honourable finance minister in the Budget of 2005 to tap the fringe benefits given to the employees without these expenses forming part of remunerations to the employees. But after looking at the various heads of expenses covered/taxed it is seen that even genuine business expenses are also taxed irrespective of whether an employee or employer has incurred the expense.It has turned out to be an expenditure tax, no matter whether you are making profits or losses, you have to pay the FBT.
There is a need to provide easier and better accessibility to student loans for higher education. There is an urgent need to accelerate the speed of urban infrastructure renewal and development.To facilitate this, the government must allow more private player participation in infrastructure development and slowly divest from PSUs. There is a need to synergise IT application in governance.
The government must review the definition of export turnover in the context of the IT sector. Review foreign tax credit policy and make it simpler and faster. Discourage taxation of parent companies abroad. We do not expect the budget to have a major bearing on the IT sector. The government is likely to reduce the sops to the sector, but we expect it to happen in the forthcoming years and not in this Budget.Being the second Budget of the UPA government, harsh measures on IT sector are least expected.
The expected reduction in custom duties and excise duties on various items including computers and peripherals will boost domestic IT industry; specifically the reduction of 4 per cent additional customs duty. So overall, we expect the Budget to have a marginally positive effect on the sector.
What the government needs to address is the fringe benefit tax, this tax should be scrapped or at least be rationalised. "FBT" was introduced by the honourable finance minister in the Budget of 2005 to tap the fringe benefits given to the employees without these expenses forming part of remunerations to the employees. But after looking at the various heads of expenses covered/taxed it is seen that even genuine business expenses are also taxed irrespective of whether an employee or employer has incurred the expense.
It has turned out to be an expenditure tax, no matter whether you are making profits or losses, you have to pay the FBT.The Indian IT sector is broadly divided into two segments, domestic and export market. The domestic market can be further divided into software and services, hardware, peripherals, networking and training. The export market consists of software services and exports and ITeS.A holistic approach is required when it comes to IT. There has to be to emphasis on quality higher education to ensure steady supply of the most important raw material for this sector, trained manpower.There is a need to provide easier and better accessibility to student loans for higher education. There is an urgent need to accelerate the speed of urban infrastructure renewal and development.
To facilitate this, the government must allow more private player participation in infrastructure development and slowly divest from PSUs. There is a need to synergise IT application in governance. he government must review the definition of export turnover in the context of the IT sector. Review foreign tax credit policy and make it simpler and faster. Discourage taxation of parent companies abroad.
We do not expect the budget to have a major bearing on the IT sector. The government is likely to reduce the sops to the sector, but we expect it to happen in the forthcoming years and not in this Budget.Being the second Budget of the UPA government, harsh measures on IT sector are least expected.The expected reduction in custom duties and excise duties on various items including computers and peripherals will boost domestic IT industry; specifically the reduction of 4 per cent additional customs duty. So overall, we expect the Budget to have a marginally positive effect on the sector.
What the government needs to address is the fringe benefit tax, this tax should be scrapped or at least be rationalised. "FBT" was introduced by the honourable finance minister in the Budget of 2005 to tap the fringe benefits given to the employees without these expenses forming part of remunerations to the employees. But after looking at the various heads of expenses covered/taxed it is seen that even genuine business expenses are also taxed irrespective of whether an employee or employer has incurred the expense.It has turned out to be an expenditure tax, no matter whether you are making profits or losses, you have to pay the FBT.
Page :
1