Monthly Archives: August 2012

COLOGNE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

GAMESCOM - SteelSeries, the leading manufacturer of premium-quality, gaming peripherals today announced the SteelSeries Freedom to Play product line-up. Designed to provide Smartphone and Tablet users with a more enhanced and precise mobile gaming experience, the product line-up includes the SteelSeries Free Mobile Gaming Controller (previously introduced as Ion), the SteelSeries Free Touchscreen Gaming Controls, the SteelSeries Flux Headset, and the SteelSeries Flux In-Ear Pro Headset.

Freedom to Play is about providing players with solutions that will allow them to seamlessly choose where, when, and how they play their game without sacrificing the quality of the experience, said Bruce Hawver, SteelSeries CEO. There are companies that are working towards improving mobile gaming, from the mobile device manufacturers to the game publishers and even mobile carriers and retailers. There are a number of SteelSeries employees, including myself, who have a background in mobile and recognize that this seamless consumer experience requires all facets of this industry to work together and collaborate. The SteelSeries Freedom to Play product line-up is designed for players who want to play and experience more than just swiping and word games on their tablets and phones.

SteelSeries Free Mobile Gaming Controller - $79.99 / 79.99

The SteelSeries Free Mobile Gaming Controller is a wireless Bluetooth controller designed for cross-platform use on PC/Mac, Android Smartphones and Tablets, iPod touch, iPhone and iPad. This new breed of gaming controller brings together a compact and lightweight design with the industrys best cross-platform capability. Users will immediately recognize its familiar, classic button layout similar to Nintendo and PlayStation controllers, which includes, a Dpad button on the left, a four-button cluster on the right, select and start in the middle, 2 mini-analog sticks, and 2 shoulder buttons.

Its rechargeable, lithium battery hosts an estimated 20hrs of casual gameplay and 10hrs of non-stop playtime. Its power-save mode will turn the controller off after 3 minutes of idle time, helping to conserve its battery life. The SteelSeries Free can be easily charged by plugging in a USB/mini USB cable to your computer or mobile device. It has play-and-charge functionality, which allows users to connect the cable, charge the battery, and keep playing via Bluetooth.

PC and Mac users will be able to remap and customize all 12 buttons to their liking via the SteelSeries Engine, while mobile users will be able to download and access the SteelSeries Engine App. The SteelSeries Free Mobile Controller will be available starting in October 2012.

SteelSeries Flux Headset - $99.99 / 99.99

The SteelSeries Flux is a cross-platform, on-ear headset that can be completely customized from the way it looks to how its used. The SteelSeries Flux Headset is lightweight and comfortable, with its adjustable, FluidFIT headband and SteelSeries sound isolating, SNDBlock ear cushions that are created with a breathable, mesh-cloth material. The SteelSeries Flux may be small in stature, but its sound is loud, crisp and clear thanks to its 40mm premium-quality driver units.

Designed for maximum portability, the Flux can fold up neatly in a couple of convenient ways. The headset can fold up towards the band. In addition, each earcup can be rotated to fold the headset flat for easy storage or to comfortably show it off around your neck. The Flux offers two interchangeable cable options, one for PC and one for Mac and mobile devices. With 2 input jacks, one on each earcup, you can choose into which side the microphone cable can be plugged. The remaining input jack can be used to share your sound by simply plugging another headset into the Flux so multiple users can listen to the same device.

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SteelSeries Introduces “Freedom to Play” Mobile Gaming Peripherals Line-up

The group has raised $3 million ahead of schedule to help secure costly TV buys in Maine, Minnesota, and Washington, with help from major Republican donors including Paul Singer.

Freedom to Marry, the campaign working for marriage equality nationwide, announced that it has already met its goal of raising $3 million to be invested in three states facing ballot measures this November, with more than one third of the contributions coming from a group of major Republican donors including the billionaire hedge fund manager Paul Singer.

The organization said Monday it reached the $3 million mark with a $500,000 pledge to match donations in Washington Statedollar for dollar through August 31. In addition to Washington, Freedom to Marry is raising and channeling money to Maine and Minnesota through its Win More States Fund.

More than $1 million of the money raised for the three states has come from a group of leading Republican-affiliated donors. The group includes Singer, a major booster of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who diverges from his backer in supporting a federal constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Singer has a gay son and son-in-law and has invested a total of $1.7 million in Freedom to Marry starting with campaigns in New York and New Hampshire last year, according to a spokesperson for the organization.

The Win More States Fund launched in March with a goal of raising $3 million in five targeted states for the entire campaign season, but it has reached that goal in just three states, more than two months ahead of schedule. Campaigners report intense early pressure to secure TV buys, which have skyrocketed in price this year because of competition from candidate campaigns and super PACs. Prices in the Seattle market have doubled in recent months, and costs haveincreased by nearly 30% in Portland, Maine. The money raised is also being used for public education, new media engagement tools, and field campaigns.

Early and strategic support shows that our movement has evolved into a sophisticated campaign equipped to win at the ballot box in November, said Evan Wolfson, founder and president of Freedom to Marry, in a statement. In an election season where candidate campaigns and Super PACs are snapping up television airtime, Freedom to Marry is especially pleased to be able to provide crucial early funding to support TV buys and other ways of making the case for the freedom to marry.We will continue to raise dollars and channel them into campaigns to ensure we get family stories in front of the voters and make the most personal and powerful case for why marriage matters.

The announcement follows last weeks report that the Human Rights Campaign plans to direct $1 million to the marriage campaigns in four states, sending $250,000 apiece to Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington. HRC said it has spent $4.8 million on legislative and electoral marriage issues in the 2011-2012 cycle, with more contributions expected before the campaign ends.

Marriage equality advocates hope to break a long losing streak at the ballot box this year, as polls show that increasing majorities of Americans support the right of same-sex couples to marry. Fund-raising has already broken records, where Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie last month contributed $2.5 million in Washington, the largest donation ever publicly reported for a marriage campaign.

While advocates currently lead opponents in money and polling, group such as the National Organization for Marriage have entered states and run advertisements at the last minute in past campaigns. The three campaigns in Maine, Minnesota, and Washington still need to raise more than $10 million, according to Freedom to Marry.

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Freedom to Marry Pours $3 Million into State Marriage Battles

AUG 13 Apparently, the government has not learned a lesson in law formulation, as the recently-passed amendments to the Evidence Act have again triggered unnecessary controversy.

Under section 114(a), those charged under the law would have to disprove their alleged wrongdoing although the posted comments might have been issued by hackers. The vague wording of the provision might also suppress the freedom of speech on the Internet. Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said that any person who posts unfavourable seditious, abusive, disinformation or spreads false or defamatory statements through conversations, conferences, telephone conversations or social media such as Facebook and Twitter, causing harm or troubles to others, the acts would be considered as criminal offences.

However, how should we define seditious remarks? It is in fact very subjective. It is the peoples right to criticise the government but some comments might be alleged to cause public discontent and thus, classified as seditious.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced on July 12 that the Sedition Act 1948 will be repealed and replaced by the National Harmony Act as an effort of the Government transformation Plan (GTP). However, the governments credibility is undermined as it is now trying to tighten control over the freedom of speech online.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah are against section 114(a). Saifuddin said that the Bill was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat without a prior consultation with BN lawmakers. He also believes that the Dewan Rakyat should have an in-depth debate, while the responsible minister should explain further.

It is a flaw in the legislative process. Views of elected representatives, professionals and interest groups are not consulted before Bills are hastily passed in the Dewan Rakyat. Lawmakers neglect the seriousness of the Bills because there is no proper explanation from the responsible ministers as there are too many Bills to be debated within a limited time. As a result, Bills are opposed by the members of the public after they are passed in the Dewan Rakyat.

Although the government had promised not to censor the Internet when it launched the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) in August 1995, regulatory actions have in fact started. The Computing Professionals Act 2011 was planned to register all workers in the information and communications technology industry, triggering a concern that the Act might be used to control blogs, websites, Facebook and Twitter.

For new media, many countries are still in the learning and exploring process. For example, a US federal judge said clicking the Like button on Facebook is not constitutionally protected free speech. Fired Facebook users do not accept it and are now making their appeal.

Undeniably, online violence and disorder problems in Malaysia have become increasingly serious. The specification of the Internet, however, should be divided into two parts, namely the government and private use.

The authorities should retain the peoples right to criticise the government and appraise public issues. If they insist on tighter control and cause an online white terror, it will then suppress the freedom of the public to supervise the government. It is detrimental to democracy in the long run.

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Internet freedom and democracy — Lim Sue Goan

By LIM SUE GOAN Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE Sin Chew Daily

Apparently, the government has not learned a lesson in law formulation, as the recently-passed amendments to the Evidence Act have again triggered unnecessary controversy.

Under Section 114(a), those charged under the law would have to disprove their alleged wrongdoing although the posted comments might have been issued by hackers. The vague wording of the provision might also suppress the freedom of speech on the Internet.

Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said that any person who posts unfavourable seditious, abusive, disinformation or spreads false or defamatory statements through conversations, conferences, telephone conversations or social media such as Facebook and Twitter, causing harm or troubles to others, the acts would be considered as criminal offences.

However, how should we definite seditious remarks? It is in fact very subjective. It is the people's right to criticise the government but some comments might be alleged to cause public discontent and thus, classified as seditious.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced on July 12 that the Sedition Act 1948 will be repealed and replaced by the National Harmony Act as an effort of the Government transformation Plan (GTP). However, the government's credibility is undermined as it is now trying to tighten control over the freedom of speech online.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah are against the Section 114(a). Saifuddin said that the Bill was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat without a prior consultation period with BN lawmakers. He also believes that the Dewan Rakyat should have an in-depth debate, while the responsible minister should make more explanation.

It is a flaw in the legislative process. Views of elected representatives, professionals and interest groups are not consulted before bills are hastily passed in the Dewan Rakyat. Lawmakers neglect the seriousness of the bills because there is no proper explanation from the responsible ministers as there are too many bills to be debated within a limited time. As a result, bills are opposed by the members of the public after they are passed in the Dewan Rakyat.

Although the government had promised not to censor the Internet when it launched the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) in August 1995, regulatory actions have in fact started. The Computing Professionals Act 2011 has planned to register all workers in the information and communications technology industry, triggering a concern that the Act might be used to control blogs, websites, Facebook and Twitter.

For new media, many countries are still in the learning and exploring process. For example, a US federal judge said clicking the "Like" button on Facebook is not constitutionally protected free speech. Fired Facebook users do not accept it and are now making their appeal.

See the original post here:
Internet freedom and democracy