Top Costa Rica News

• The worst part of changing carriers is getting a new phone number. To solve this problem, SUTEL formed a Technical Committee for Number Portability. The purpose of the committee is to define the specifications and select the carrier to manage the number portability project. The committee is to complete their work by the end of August. The selected carrier than has four months to implement and test their software. By the end of this year, or early next year, you will be able to keep your same phone number, even if you change carriers.
• The Ministry of Science and Technology (MICIT) reports that a project on the use of genetic markers for identification and verification of kin in cattle will help OIJ solve cases involving the illegal slaughter of stolen and lost cattle. Many of these animals are slaughtered under unsanitary conditions. The project also helps farmers identify lost and stolen cattle.
• The Information Technology Summit 2012 and the Assembly of the Federation of Latin America, Caribbean, and Spain Information Technology (ALETI) was held in Asuncion, Paraguay last week. Robert Mayer, president of ALETI stated the conference served to promote the technology sector of Paraguay and to promote participation of the member countries in international projects. Alexander Mora, chairman of the House of Information Technology and Communication of Costa Rica (PIERS), spoke on “Costa Rica: Green and Intelligent 2.0.” (PDF)

Top Mobile Device News

• NCR announced a new Mobile Cash Withdrawal technology using QR codes. There are no hardware changes, as it does not use NFC. All that is required is a software change to the ATM machine, and the NCR app on your mobile device. You simply initiate the transaction of your mobile device, and then take a picture of the QR code on the ATM screen. The ATM dispenses the cash, and the receipt is displayed on your mobile device. NCR is currently looking for partnerships with innovative banks.
• This week, UNE EPM in Columbia announced that 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) is part of the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure. This is the first operational LTE network in Latin America. Initially, the service is only available to residents of Bogota and Medelin. UNE plans on expanding the service to Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Bucaramanga. Postpago subscribers have the option of 6GB and 12GB packages, starting at $50 USD per month. Prepago subscribers will have options of 1.2GB, 4GB and 8GB packages.
• According to the latest data from the American Association of Publishers, eBook sales exceed adult hard cover sales for the first time. For the 1st quarter of 2012, the revenue from eBooks was $282.3 million versus $229.6 million revenue for adult hardcover. The revenue for eBooks now accounts for 23.8% of the adult book sales. (source: GalleyCat).
• Sotheby’s sold a working Apple Computer I motherboard for $374,500 on Friday. The Apple I did not have a case, power supply, keyboard, or monitor. The date on the motherboard was 1976, and is one of six known working motherboards. For those reader’s who are too young to remember those days, computers were often sold as kits. I remember seeing a demonstration of the Apple I as a breadboard prototype at a Homebrew Computer Club meeting, which met at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Laboratory. I still own my IMSAI 8080 serial #25, which I built in early 1973.
• According to Reuters, Facebook is to pay $10 million to charity as a settlement to a lawsuit over its use of social advertising. The lawsuit involved the Facebook “Sponsored Story” ad type, which was generated after a Facebook user clicked the “Like” button. The deception was that the ad made it appeared as if the user “Likes” the advertiser.

Other Top Technology News

• After spending a record 469 days in orbit, Air Force’s unmanned X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle landed at Vandenburg AFB on Saturday morning. The X-37 was originally designed for flights that lasted up to 270 days. Through new efficient fuel technology, the X-37B was able to establish a record-breaking flight. The reusable multi-use spacecraft could be used for missions ranging from supplying the International Space Station to conducting experiments in space. The X-37B OTV is about one-fourth the size of the space shuttles.
• 3D printing impacts on many areas of technology, including medicine. The dental fabrication of porcelain bridges and the making of prosthetic limbs are already generating revenue. Instead of make molds, a dentist can now make a digital image that is sent to a laboratory that uses 3D printing to make the porcelain bridge. Using 3D printing, a prosthetic limb now matches the remaining limb.