Hara: Software for a carbon-constrained economy

Start-up Hara Software is betting that businesses need to get smarter about managing natural resources and carbon emissions even before regulations force them into it.

The Silicon Valley start-up on Monday is scheduled to come out of stealth mode after 18 months to announce the details of its software service which it designed for what its founder calls a "post-carbon economy era."

The 25-person company received $6 million in venture capital from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, where partner Al Gore played a role in getting Hara funded. It's the second software-focused investment after PC power management company Verdiem that KPCB has funded as part of a green tech push first launched in 2006.

The city of Palo Alto, Calif., is using Hara Software's program for developing a carbon emissions reduction program.

(Credit: Hara Software)

Hara has developed a hosted software application called Hara Environmental and Energy Management, which is meant to give large organizations a way to monitor their water and fuel consumption and to lessen their environmental impact by planning ways to cut greenhouse gases and waste.

The software also has a content database to share information on effective efficiency programs and green technology products that a company can use, explained CEO Amit Chatterjee, who left SAP to start Hara. Its product is now being used by about 12 organizations, including Coca-Cola and the city of Palo Alto, Calif.

Chatterjee argues that metrics related to the environment, such as energy consumption, water use, and waste, are often indicators of how well a corporation performs financially. Companies with sustainability programs tend to run efficiently, have a positive brand, and have minimized the risk from things such as environmental fines, he said.

"Businesses are now becoming unprofitable because of the way they manage natural resources," he said. "Now (managing) natural resources is a core element of a business' processes."

City planners at Palo Alto, for example, were able to cut out $2.2 million in expenses related to waste and energy use.

Niche business?
Once caps on greenhouse gases are in place, which will affect large corporations, then Chatterjee predicts there will be a "tidal wave" of attention in tools to mitigate carbon emissions. Statements from President Obama on the importance of climate change regulation drove some businesses seeking better tools to Hara, he said.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, a bill making its way through the House, would impose a nation-wide cap on greenhouse gases and force heavy polluters, such as utilities, to report and lower their own emissions. The bill has a long way to go before becoming law, which would be next year at the earliest, and caps will be phased in over many years.

But even with the absence of a national carbon regulations, there is a growing number of software companies developing programs focused on helping businesses improve their environmental profile.

In a sign of consolidation among providers, SAP last month purchased Clear Standards, one of several companies young software companies with tools for tracking carbon emissions. Some focus on giving a very accurate picture of emissions and the impact of energy-efficiency programs, while others are designed for purchasing carbon offsets in voluntary or regulated markets.

The basic idea behind carbon regulations is to put a price on putting pollutants in the atmosphere. Within businesses, analysts expect that carbon will be treated as a commodity which financial planners will have to account for and track the price of.

Hara plans to sell its software to financial planners as well as business people responsible for purchasing energy and sustainability officers. Chatterjee said the company seeks to differentiate itself from others by tracking a number of environmental attributes, not just greenhouse gases and energy use.

There are already many programs, called Environmental, Health and Safety software, to help companies comply with environmental regulations. What remains to be seen is whether the latest generation of software focused on climate change abatement will be used for a relatively narrow function, such as energy procurement, or for more strategic initiatives.

Chatterjee said Hara's software is designed to be flexible so that companies can manage relatively straight-forward initiatives, such as fuel reduction, and make plans for deeper changes with the company, such as adopting on-site renewable energy or developing new products.

"This is not another ERP package. Because the business is changing, you want something that is flexible, not something institutionalized," he said.

Boston Power plans battery plant for cars, laptops

Battery company Boston Power thinks it can bring electric car battery manufacturing to the U.S. with some help from government stimulus funds.

The Westborough, Mass.-based company on Monday is scheduled to hold a press event in nearby Auburn where it plans to build a factory to make lithium-ion batteries for laptops and electric vehicles.

Construction of the facility, which used to be a distribution center for a clothing retailer, is contingent on a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's advanced battery and cell manufacturing grant program.

A Ford Escape modified to run with Boston Power's Swing auto batteries.

(Credit: Boston Power)

Boston Power has applied for $100 million in the program and has lined up $9 million in state loans, according to founder and CEO Christina Lampe-Onnerud.

"The general feeling is that the stimulus money gives the investment community the shot in the arm to dare," she said.

The $2 billion advanced battery manufacturing program was established earlier this year in the stimulus act to promote development of domestic battery industry for a coming generation of electric vehicles.

Competition for the battery loan money, however, is fierce with about 160 companies said to be applying for the money. The U.S. Energy Department, which was criticized by renewable energy industries for delays, has said it expects to decide on the grants in the summer.

Four-year-old Boston Power already operates three factories in Asia to make batteries for Hewlett-Packard laptops. Those plants will serve as a "blueprint" for the Auburn facility, Lampe-Onnerud said.

It could take about three years to build the plant, which the company could start working on later this year, she said.

Swinging into auto business
Boston Power on Monday is expected to disclose the name of its auto battery, called Swing, which the company has been developing for several months. The company expects to make batteries for plug-in electric vehicles as well as all-electric cars.

Lampe-Onnerud said Swing is already being tested with well-known auto companies. The auto pack is based on the same cells used in Boston Power's laptop batteries which means that it a single manufacturing facility can turn out both.

The company decided Massachusetts would make a good location because the state offered incentives and it's close to Boston Power's research and development facility.

At Monday's press conference, five Massachusetts politicians are scheduled to speak including Gov. Deval Patrick and Secretary of Energy and Environment Ian Bowles.

A Massachusetts location could be beneficial to working with European auto industry partners, Lampe-Onnerud said. "We have an opportunity to fulfill existing markets and be neighbors to where emerging markets are being invented," she said.

Indecent Exposure 50: Inverting expectations

Camcording stereo vs. surround and photo contestants go for the gold.

Listen now:Download today's podcast

Data backup service leads to recovery of stolen laptop

Using a data backup program helps recover lost data but can also help get a stolen laptop back--if you're lucky.

A Berkeley, Calif., man recently recovered his stolen laptop after seeing photos the thief took of himself with the built-in camera via his Internet-based data backup program.

That's according to a police officer's article in an e-mail newsletter from Berkeley City Councilmember Susan Wengraf that was posted to the Web by open-source advocate Bruce Perens.

It all started on May 5, when the victim left his laptop in the back seat of his car (tsk tsk). Two hours later, the thief smashed the car window and grabbed the computer. It's not clear what else was done with the laptop, but the big break in the case came when the laptop owner later spotted the self-portrait photos of the thief on the storage service Web site.

Detectives working the case were shown the photos and recognized the man, who had been released from jail earlier in the year. They noticed that in the photos he appeared to be in a motel room and began trying to track down the IP address used by the laptop hoping that it would lead to the motel.

Before that could be accomplished, however, the detectives spotted the man getting into a car in a motel parking lot in Oakland and arrested him. In his car and the motel room they found the laptop along with stolen property from other auto burglaries.

Verizon to roll out BlackBerry Storm update

After some slight problems, Verizon Wireless officially announced on Friday that it will release a software update to RIM BlackBerry Storm owners starting on Sunday.

BlackBerry OS version 4.7.0.148 will be available to customers beginning on Sunday, May 31, at noon Pacific through BlackBerry's support site. Verizon will also roll out an over-the-air download on Sunday at 7 p.m. Pacific. To get the OTA download on your Storm, go to Options> Advanced Options > Wireless Updates.

Though Verizon did not release a full list of features or fixes, a company representative said version 4.7.0.148 adds a full QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode, a phone icon, and enhances a number of existing features. Online forums have also pointed other improvements, such as a faster camera, better photo gallery browsing, and resolution of a bug that would display a blank white page for an incoming call or freeze the phone, and more.

If there are any Storm users out there who upgrade their smartphone this weekend, we'd love to hear from you about your experience.

Lenovo's IdeaCentre A600 outclassed by year-old Averatec all-in-one

Lenovo's IdeaCentre A600 came to light at CES this year, boasting a large screen, a motion-sensitive remote control and a host of digital entertainment features. The $749 configuration we reviewed this week is not that system.

Lenovo's IdeaCenter A600 21.5-inch all-in-one.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Instead, the $749 A600 we ran through the CNET Lab has few of those advanced options. It features a relatively spare configuration, and trades on the attraction of a large screen for an uncommonly low price. The problem comes by way of Averatec, whose year-old 21.5-inch all-in-one received a significant price drop recently, going from $1,300 at launch to $749 now. It's also faster than the Lenovo system on every benchmark.

If you go to Lenovo's Web site, you can find other A600 configurations, including some with the motion remote, a Blu-ray drive, and other features that improve its outlook. But if you encounter the $749 model and find its 21.5-inch screen tempting, we encourage you to keeping shopping for an even better deal from Averatec.

Read cnet review of the Lenovo IdeaCentre A600.

Sprint has Palm Pre exclusive through 2009

Just after Verizon Wireless revealed that it would offer the Palm Pre in the next six months or so, Sprint has pushed back and asserted that it will have the exclusive on the Palm Pre through 2009.

The confirmation came on Thursday afternoon from Sprint spokesman James Fisher, who simply said, "We have the Pre through 2009." The length of the exclusive isn't really much of a surprise given Sprint's track record of exclusives in the past, which usually last six to nine months. It falls within Verizon's timeline.

Sprint has struggled behind its competitors in offering flagship devices and probably felt the need to flex a little muscle after both Verizon and AT&T said it would offer the Pre in the future. As much as Palm is banking on the Pre as its comeback, so is Sprint.

The Palm Pre for Sprint goes on sale nationwide June 6 for $199.99 with a two-year contract.

Obama Makes Cybersecurity a National Security Priority

President Obama has declared cybersecurity a national security priority and promised to secure the nation's networks. Citing the chaos surrounding the Conficker worm, the president promised to name a White House official to coordinate cybersecurity. Obama also promised not to monitor Internet traffic or "dictate security standards." President Barack Obama cited the disorganized response to the widespread Conficker worm Friday as he declared cybersecurity a priority for national security . He promised to personally select a cybersecurity coordinator to head a new White House office. He said the Internet "is a world that we depend on every single day. It's our hardware and our software, our desktops and laptops and cell phones and Blackberries that have become woven into every aspect of our lives." Consequently, he added, cyber threats are "one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation." "Millions of Americans have been victimized, their privacy violated, their identities stolen, their lives upended, and their wallets emptied," the president said. "According to one survey, in the past two years alone cybercrime has cost Americans more than $8 billion." Because "No single official oversees cybersecurity policy across the federal government, and no single agency has the responsibility or authority to match the scope and scale of the challenge," he said, his appointee will coordinate all cybersecurity polices for the federal government. He added that the coordinator will work closely with the Office of Management and Budget to set priorities and will head the U.S. response in case of a computer attack. The president's action was one of the recommendations from a two-month review of the government's cybersecurity efforts led by Melissa Hathaway. Another recommendation that will be implemented is a national campaign to promote awareness of cybersecurity. Obama promised that his administration will not monitor Internet traffic or "dictate security standards for private companies. On the contrary, we will collaborate with industry to find technology solutions that ensure our security and promote prosperity." Support for the president's effort came from Google, where policy council Harry Wingo wrote in a blog, "Government agencies are in a unique position to help companies identify attackers' targets and methods of operation, while companies can share expertise and best practices for guarding private networks and protecting the privacy of user data ." Obama promised, "From now on, our digital infrastructure -- the networks and computers we depend on every day -- will be treated as they should be: As a strategic national asset. Protecting this infrastructure will be a national security priority. We will ensure that these networks are secure, trustworthy and resilient. We will deter, prevent, detect and defend against attacks and recover quickly from any disruptions or damage.

Hyundai Genesis Coupe: Well-proportioned sports car or new Aztek?

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)

We just finished reviewing the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe, and had some disagreement on staff concerning the styling of the car. We could all agree that it gives excellent performance, especially considering the low price. And Hyundai was very smart to include standard iPod and Bluetooth phone integration, something other automakers ought to consider.

As for the looks, some on our staff like the silhouette, and call out the big rear haunches as a nice cue that conveys the car's aggressive sport nature. On the other side of the argument, some of my co-workers point out that the broken belt-line, and the way it meets the kink between front and rear windows, makes the car look bent in the middle. Take a look at the photos, read the review, and tell us what you think of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe's design.

JVC either desperately or cleverly targets dSLR owners with new display

(Credit: JVC America)

Having trouble moving your small, overpriced HDTVs? Toss them on the bandwagon of one of the few growing product markets, dSLRs, and hope they fly off the shelves. That seems to be the reasoning behind JVC's marketing of its new Xiview LT-42WX70, a $2,399.95, 42-inch, tunerless TV.

I can't figure out exactly what this thing is appropriate for, especially at its price. On one hand, the specs on the display seem imaging friendly. It's rated at 96 percent Adobe RGB gamut coverage and 100 percent sRGB, with lots of controls for tweaking gamma and individual colors. It has a 12-bit processor, so in theory it would be able to handle the necessary wide-gamut support from a graphics card.

JVC's press release states:

This [array of connectors] allows the user to easily perform various operations such as checking images by connecting directly to an SLR camera compatible with HDMI or component connector, editing stills on the large 42-inch screen by connecting it to a PC via a D-sub 15-pin, or even do a round of onscreen checks in accurate colors prior to outputting images to a high-resolution digital photo printer and thus save on expenses.

But it doesn't have a DVI input, which is necessary for communicating with the graphics card for accurate wide-gamut color reproduction. (VGA output on graphics cards is only 8-bit and color-matching profiles don't operate with HDMI or component.) And at 42 inches, it's clearly not intended for daily computer use--unless you sit more than 5 feet from your desk. And pro imaging displays don't bother to put all that color intelligence in the monitor because all the color matching should be controlled by software anyway.

It also integrates a lot of TV technologies for making motion look better on an LCD, including 120Hz demotion blurring, 8/10-bit to 12-bit color upconversion, and noise reduction. Those are fine in a TV, but not for editing and proofing video where you need to see the artifacts.

With the exception of the missing DVI, its specs match more reasonably sized wide-gamut displays like the NEC MultiSync LCD2690WUXi2, Eizo CG242W, HP DreamColor LP2480zx Professional Display, and Samsung XL24, though all of those cover more of the Adobe RGB gamut.

Maybe for a photographer or videographer to hang in the office to display a portfolio running off a Blu-ray player? I could see that, but not for $2,400. Or am I missing something? Is this really a brilliant move on JVC's part that I just don't get? If so, please enlighten me.

Six things we'd like to see in future Netbooks

Netbooks: the next generation

(Credit: Asus)

Netbooks now comprise 8 percent of the laptop market, but are we satisfied? Intel says no: its "Pine Trail" roadmap (that's the code name for its next-gen Atom processors) reveals plans for an integrated CPU/GPU, with claims of saving space as well as battery life. While the graphics power likely won't be as impressive as an Nvidia ION processor, it will change the landscape of a pretty fast-growing field. Here's what we'd like to see in the near-future of Netbooks. Sound off and tell us what you're looking for--that is, if you're looking for a Netbook at all.

1. Better video. While Atom processors can handle YouTube and some HD video streaming (kinda sorta), there are no DVD drives on these little guys. Video-playing (especially streaming) needs to be silky-smooth, even in HD. Until then, Netbooks will never be truly great portable media devices, which they ought to be. After all, Web browsing is most of what we do with computers.

2. Smaller, please! But with larger keyboards. The whole 11.6-inch and higher trend is disturbing because it's making semi-bulky Netbooks even larger. While it's nice for some applications and those who want an affordable 12-inch laptop, this whole XL Netbook trend takes away from the whole gee-whiz "look how small my notebook is!" appeal that made Netbooks an overnight hit in the first place. What we're really saying is: make better use of the size. Edge-to-edge keyboards and edge-to-edge screens should become the norm, and with better engineering, we'd like to see 10-inch Netbooks become even thinner and more compact. A Netbook could feel like a small paperback book, not a portable VCR.

3. Adopt modern operating systems. XP and Linux make Netbooks seem a bit lost in time, and honestly, a 10-incher at 1,024x600 gets crowded for programs made for larger screens. How about an optimized upgrade? Consider the iPhone OS: its great success was designing an interface specifically created for the size and ergonomics of the device's screen. In fact, hey: a modified iPhone OS wouldn't be a bad idea at all for a Netbook. While Windows 7 is aimed at going multiplatform, we also hope it considers optimizing the experience for smaller screens.

4. Get even cheaper. A large part of the Netbook appeal, to this point, has been price. At a cost of $43 for an Atom processor versus $133 for a Core 2 Duo, machines can be cheaper. But we want cheaper still. The challenge: come under 100 bucks. Already, Dell's got a $299 Netbook, and HP's got a subsidized Mini through Verizon. As "Pine Trail" makes its way through the Netbook landscape, it would be really, really great if those oldAtom N270 processors could be discounted into ultra-cheapie models.

5. Explore the tablet. Is that so wrong? Opening a minikeyboard and screen can solve some mobile writing issues, but a regular smartphone can do many of the tasks we associate with "mobile computing." Make the screen larger (for instance, a tablet), and have an optional keyboard (software and/or otherwise), and perhaps we'll have a more media-friendly mobile PC than the bulkier, thicker Netbook population. Is this Apple's plan?Perhaps. But it should, possibly, be everyone's. We're already starting to see some touch screens hit the Netbook space: Dell's education-targeted Latitude 2100 offers it as an option, and the Asus has a swiveling touch-screen Netbook on the horizon. It's only the beginning.

6. Be more like phones. Phones are our future Netbooks, and it's becoming clearer every day. Android,BlackBerry, and the iPhone OS are developing new ways to get tasks done in palm-size miniapps. Interfaces are being revolutionized. Meanwhile, Netbooks are using the same flip-top keyboard-and-screen concept that's been circling around since the days of the original PowerBook. The more future-oriented design, the better (like the dual-screened Asus prototype shown above, provided it doesn't suck down batteries like Dr. Pibbs).