VOCALOID

        

       Vocaloid is a singing synthesizer application software developed by the Yamaha Corporation that enables users to synthesize singing by typing in lyrics and melody.

       In January 2007, Yamaha announced a new version of the software engine, Vocaloid2, with various major improvements in usability and synthesis quality. Zero-G and others have announced plans to release products powered by the new software engine in 2007. PowerFX have released the first English package that is powered by Vocaloid2 named Sweet Ann. Prima was released in the UK in 2008. Crypton has followed and announced a series of character Vocaloid2 packages to be released, the first being Hatsune Miku. The second package Kagamine Rin/Len was released on December 27, 2007 and the updated edition "act2" will be released in upper July 2008. A third package will be released sometime in 2008.

    Each Japanese Vocaloid is given an anime-type character with specifications on age, height, weight, and musical forte (as in the type of music, range and tempo). The characters of thefirst two installments of the series are created by illustrator Kei.

    Any rights or obligations arising from the vocals created by the software belong to the software user. Just like any music synthesizer, the software is treated as a musical instrument and the vocals as sound. Under the term of license, the Character Vocal Series software can be used to create vocals for commercial or non commercial use, as long as the vocals do not offend public policy. In other words, the user is bound under the term of license withCrypton not to synthesize derogatory or disturbing lyrics. On the other hand, copyrights to the mascot image and name belong to Crypton. Under the term of license, a user cannot commercially distribute a vocal as a song sung by the character, nor use the mascot image on commercial products, without Crypton's consent.

VOCALOID

MEIKO : Japanese female (November 5, 2004)

 

KAITO  : Japanese male (February 17, 2006)

VOCALOID 2

Crypton Future Media, Inc

HATSUNE MIKU ( 初音ミク ) : Japanese female (August 31, 2007)

  

KAGAMINE RIN & LEN ( 鏡音リン・レン ) : Japanese female and male respectively (December 27, 2007)

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YUI

YUI

• Birthday: March 26 , 1987
• Birth place: Fukuoka, Japan
• Zodiac: Aries
• Height: 155 cm / 5'1"
• Blood type: AB
• Favorite place: Shingu Sea in Fukuoka
• Hobbies: Movies, reading, acoustic guitar, badminton
• Inspiration: Avril Lavigne, Michelle Branch

         YUI (born March 26, 1987 in Fukuoka, Japan) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actress. She is currently signed to Sony Music Records Japan and attached to the talent agency Stardust Promotion. Her professional career began in March 2004 when at the recommendation of her juku instructors she applied for an audition hosted by Sony Music Japan.

Career

       Yui grew up in a single parent family and so does not have any memory of her father. She does remember always being close to music, be it from her mother's car stereo or the radio; she would remember the tunes and sing along. By the time she was in elementary school she thought she would like to become a singer. During her third year in middle school, following the influence of her mother, Yui began keeping a journal of everyday feelings and poetry. Because of this, by the time she was in high school, she began writing songs.While in high school she worked part-time to help pay for tuition. Always busy, she thought there was no longer a road to music. Eventually she became ill. While in hospital, with time to think, she was overwhelmed with the desire to make music. She decided that school and music could not coexist. Upon leaving the hospital she encountered a live street performance and expressed her desire to pursue a musical career to the band, Bianco Nero, at the end of the concert. Bianco Nero recommended to Yui that she should join a private music school and soon, she dropped out of high school and seriously began studying songwriting and guitar at a juku in her hometown of Fukuoka. Aspiring to become a professional, she carried her guitar around and sang at the entrance of Tenjin Station in Fukuoka. Doing these street performances helped Yui to eventually overcome her shyness.

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Google's Battle in Business Software

Google's Battle in Business Software

With Google's (GOOG) announcement that it's creating an operating system to compete with Microsoft's (MSFT) Windows, the search giant and CEO Eric E. Schmidt look increasingly determined to undermine Microsoft's core software businesses. But Google's struggles on another front suggest the company may have a hard time gaining much traction against Microsoft.
Two years ago, when Google plunged into business software, it cited General Electric (GE) as one of its marquee customers. GE had begun using Google applications for tasks typically handled by Microsoft Office, which includes word processing and spreadsheet software. Now GE is rethinking the relationship. While still using Google Apps for some employees, it's testing similar products from a company called Zoho and considering the online versions of Microsoft's Office. "We look at it as a race" for GE's business, says Greg Simpson, chief technology officer at GE.
With Google's revenue growth slowing to an expected 4% this year, from 31% in 2008, the company is trying to expand beyond search advertising. Business software is plenty promising. Even at $50 per person—roughly half what Office costs—Google Apps could bring healthy profits. But Google is struggling to attract large customers. In addition to GE, Google identifies just a handful of high-profile Apps users, including Salesforce.com (CRM) and Genentech (DNA). On July 7, Google made several changes to enhance its software's appeal to large companies.


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