International tourism is steadily gaining momentum following an extremely challenging 2009. International tourist arrivals grew by 7% in the first two months of 2010 worldwide, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Growth was particularly strong in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. UNWTO forecasts international tourist arrivals to grow by 3% to 4% in 2010. 2010 – Emerging destinations lead recovery According to the April Interim Update of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, international tourist arrivals are estimated to have increased by 7% in the first two months of 2010. This follows the upturn already registered in the last quarter of 2009 when arrivals grew by 2%…

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NEW DELHI: Business and first class air-travel will get dearer by 10.3%, which will have a huge impact as the fares in these classes are upward of Rs 1 lakh. Tickets for business and first class will thus become costlier by at least Rs 10,000. A senior travel agent said this would hurt Indian carriers as passengers would rather fly economy to some nearby place like the Gulf and then take a business or first class seat to Europe and US….

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Where Steve Jobs leads, Microsoft follows — how’s that for shaking up the hornet’s nest? It’s said in jest, of course, but we’ve just come across a post from the General Manager for Internet Explorer, Dean Hachamovitch, and the perspective expressed by him on the subject of web content delivery broadly agrees with the essay penned by Jobs yesterday on the very same subject. Echoing the Apple CEO’s words, Hachamovitch describes HTML5 as “the future of the web,” praising it for allowing content to be played without the need for plug-ins and with native hardware acceleration (in both Windows 7 and Mac OS X). He goes on to identify H.264 as the best video codec for the job — so much so that it’ll be the only one supported in IE9′s HTML5 implementation — before turning to the dreaded subject of Flash.

This is where it gets good, because he literally repeats one of Jobs’ six pillars of Flash hate: “reliability, security, and performance” are not as good as Microsoft would like them. Where Hachamovitch diverges from Apple’s messiah, however, is in describing Flash as an important part of “a good consumer experience on today’s web,” primarily because it’s difficult for the typical consumer to access Flash-free content. Still, it’s got to be depressing for Adobe’s crew when the best thing either of the two biggest players in tech has to say about your wares is that they’re ubiquitous. Wonder how Shantanu Narayen is gonna try and spin this one.

[Thanks, KnifeX4]

Microsoft weighs in: ‘the future of the web is HTML5′ originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 04:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Can’t say we’re too surprised — after all, it does somewhat compete with new management — but still, we’re quite sad to see that as of May 31st, Lala is closing its music-streaming doors to the world, and no new users will be accepted. Existing users, however, can take solace in some pretty nice parting gifts. According to the site, all money spent purchasing web songs — soon to be rendered null and void by a loss of service — will convert to iTunes credit. Ditto for wallet balances and unredeemed gift cards, although with those you can get a refund via check, if you choose to. As for the future of its staff, well, we’re still waiting to see all the fruits of Apple’s acquisition. In the meantime, crank your speakers, raise them high over your head, and let’s make this month count.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Lala closing on May 31st, web songs and unused credit will head to iTunes originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 03:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BANGKOK – Thai protesters dared the military to stop them as they headed Wednesday to rally in a Bangkok suburb, raising concerns of more clashes after government warnings that patience was running out in a seven-week standoff that has paralyzed parts of the capital. The Red Shirt protesters, who are demanding the dissolution of Parliament, sent hundreds of supporters in pickup trucks and on motorbikes to drum up support at an outdoor market north of the capital. The government has repeatedly said it will not tolerate protests beyond the commercial shopping zone where the Red Shirts have been entrenched for weeks. “We are going to send (protesters) out of the rally site,” a Red Shirt…

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By: Yeshe Choesang, WN Correspondent Dharamshala: The followers of Jonang sect of Tibetan Buddhist Tradition and Tibetans living in Dharamshala, Yesterday, made grand long life prayer offerings to Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the main temple, in Dharamshala. The ceremony commemorated the 50th anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s…

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The lawyers up in Redmond seem to have been woken from their slumber with the sudden realization that — oh look! — Google’s Android OS infringes on Microsoft’s boatload of software patents. How specifically it does so is not identified, but Microsoft believes that elements from both the user interface and the underlying operating system are in violation of its rights. This is very much in keeping with the Windows maker’s crusade to assert patent claims over Linux, which in the past has garnished it with cross-licensing deals with Amazon and Xandros, as well as a settlement from TomTom. Lawsuits are not yet being discussed here, but lest you think this is a small-time disturbance, HTC has already decided to shorten its list of troubles by ponying up for a license from Microsoft for “running the Android mobile platform.” Yes, that does sound ludicrous, but it’s now an unfortunate fact that a major Android phone manufacturer is having to pay Microsoft royalties to use Google’s operating system.

[Thanks, Jack]

Microsoft says Android infringes on its patents, licenses HTC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 03:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interesting. Sony’s teasing a new VAIO “Ultra Mobile” in Japan. No idea what this could be: refreshed VAIO X lappie, VAIO P netbook, or a new take on its venerable VAIO UX micro PC? With Intel’s Moorestown just around the corner we’re leaning towards the latter, hoping for it anyway — Sony doesn’t tease just any old product without good reason. Oh, wait.

Sony teases VAIO Ultra Mobile, Clippy chuffed originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 03:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By Suzette Parmley Inquirer Staff Writer Floss Barber goes through a mental ritual before creating one of her signature casino restaurants. It’s a process that served her well when she set out to design dining spaces at Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem and Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh. “You must psych a city,” said the Philadelphia interior designer, chief executive officer of Floss Barber Inc. “You must feel the pulse of it.” Last year, Barber “psyched” the City of Brotherly Love, where she is currently designing SugarHouse Casino, including all of its food and beverage venues and its gaming floor. Her assessment: “Philadelphia is a blue-collar, gritty…

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Nissan’s Teana sedan has a full-size back seat, conservative looks and a reasonable price — just the thing for a Chinese entrepreneur with a family. That Chinese buyer is why the car exists. Nissan says the Teana, though also sold in Japan and other countries, was created with China in mind — one of a growing number of models designed by global automakers for the world’s biggest car market. “The Teana is a Chinese product,” said Nissan Motor Co’s CEO, Carlos…

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