英語學習筆記

by Yukari Iwatani Kane
　Apple Inc. halved the price of its
entry-level iPhone to $99 and rolled
out a next-generation model, look-
ing to sustain the momentum for its
popular smart phone amid the reces-
sion and fresh competition.
　Apple also announced several new
lower-priced notebook computers
at its annual conference for software
developers, which kicked off Monday.
Chief Executive Steve Jobs, who went
on medical leave in January, didn't
make an appearance.
　Toni Sacconaghi, an analyst at
Sanford Bernstein & Co., said Apple's
price cut shows the company is mak-
ing an aggressive move to "enhance
it's first-mover advantage" by getting
as many iPhone users as it can now
despite the cost. He said the $99 price
could increase iPhone demand by as
much as 50%.
　Overall, Apple has sold more
than 20 million iPhones in the past
few years. The device, which has
become one of Apple's main growth
engines, has shaken up smart-phone
rivals such as Palm Inc. and Research
In Motion Ltd.
　On Saturday, Palm began selling
a new smart phone called the Pre.
While the device sold well over the
weekend, analysts said sales weren't
as strong as for the iPhone when it
first launched.
　A Palm spokeswoman declined
to reveal first-day sales, but said the
company was "very, very happy" with
the Pre launch. "There's room for a
few key competitors, and we're very
happy that consumers see us a major
competitor," she added.
　The Pre, which is initially available
only on Sprint Nextel Corp., will be
available to Verizon Wireless custom-
ers in January, said one person famil-
iar with the situation.
　RIM, which has also been updating
its BlackBerry line of devices, declined
to comment on Apple's announce-
ments.
　At Monday's event, Apple said it
was cutting the price of its entry-level
iPhone 3G, which has eight gigabytes
of storage space, to $99, down from
$199, effective immediately.
　Apple also unveiled the new iPhone
3G S, which looks similar to existing
models but is faster and can cap-
ture videos. It will go on sale June
19 in eight countries, including the
U.S., France and the U.K. Prices start
at $199 for customers that sign a new
two-year service contract with AT&T
Inc. Prices are $200 higher for AT&T
customers who aren't eligible for an
upgrade.
　Apple's iPhone 3G price cut will
make the market more challenging
for rivals, said some analysts. "These
are very aggressive prices," said
Richard Doherty, an analyst with
technology consultancy Envisioneer-
ing Group. He said the $99 model will
appeal to many consumers who don't
need state-of-the-art features.
　Analysts said they are also watch-
ing to see if AT&T -- the iPhone's
exclusive wireless carrier in the U.S.
-- will cut its monthly service prices
or provide more flexibility in its plans.
The monthly plan is expensive for
many would-be users. According to
AT&T, iPhone users currently pay
more than $90 a month, on aver-
age, to make calls and access data.
　AT&T declined to comment on
whether it plans to change pricing.
　At Monday's event, Apple also
addressed the affordability of its
computers, by unveiling new laptops
with lower prices. While Apple cut some
prices by more than 10%, its MacBooks
are still priced at a premium to ma-
chines from rivals Dell Inc. and Hewlett-
Packard Co.
　Apple unveiled a 13-inch MacBook
Pro for $1,99, which is $100 less than
the current 13-inch MacBook. Apple
also cut by $300 the price of its super
slim, entry-level MacBook Air to $1,499.
　In addition, Apple said a new operat-
ing system for its computers, called
Mac OS X Snow Leopard, will cost $29
for users of the previous version.
　Apple executives, who haven't given
any updates on Mr. Job's health, didn't
comment on the CEO during the key-
note address Monday, which was led by
Apple's marketing chief, Phil Schiller.
A spokesman said Apple was "looking
forward to Steve's return at the end of
June."
　Last week, The Wall Street Journal
reported that Mr. Job's recovery was
on track.
　Charlie Wolf, an analyst with Need-
ham & Co., said Apple is continuing to
shift more of the spotlight to the rest of
its executive team. "If there was going to
be a public comeback, it would've been
today, but Apple's playing a different
game now," said Mr. Wolf.

by Nick Wingfield
　Microsoft Corp. has shown its Xbox360 console can win with
serious gamers. Now it has to show it can out-play market leader Nin-
tendo Co. in the battle for casual players.
　Don Mattrick, the head of Microsoft's videogames group, on Mon-
day unveiled a plan to expand the audience for the company's Xbox
360 console with a new 3D video camera that will let people play
games with the movement of their bodies.
　The product, expected to be released next year, is a big gamble
that Microsoft can outdo the Nitendo Wii's motion-sensing
wand, which has won new gaming converts intimidated by traditional
button-heavy game controllers.
The new Microsoft camera, codenamed Project Natal, eliminates
the need to hold any hardware at all.
　Mr. Mattrick showed the camera for the first time onstage at the E3
games conference in Los Angeles Monday. Microsoft demonstrated
how a person can use the camera to paint virtual canvases and head
in-game soccer balls. The camera will also recognize voice com-
mands, and be able to identify from facial features which person is play-
ing.
　Microsoft executives declined to say how much the camera will cost.
　In a recent interview on Microsoft's Redmond, Wash., campus,
Mr. Mattrick said a top priority is to make the Xbox more accessible
to people who aren't hardcore gamers. "How do we make it work for
the family?" says the 45-year-old.
"That's aspirationally what we want to do."
　Mr. Mattrick, a veteran of games publisher Electronic Arts Inc., has
had a hand in some huge game hits, helping game designer Will Wright
shape what ultimately become The Sims. EA's blockbuster Need for
Speed racing game franchise came out of a fantasy that Mr. Mattrick,
a car aficionado, had about stealing fancy vehicles like Ferraris and
running from the police.
　Microsoft needs to attract a bigger audience to its console as the com-
pany seeks to keep up profits from a games business that has lost it more
than $5 billion since the original Xbox was introduced in 2001.
　Globally, Microsoft says it has sold more than 30 million of its Xbox
360 machines. While that's ahead of Sony Corp., which says it has sold
more than 23 million PlayStation 3 consoles, it lags Nintendo, which says
it has sold more than 50 million Wii machines.
　Mr. Mattrick joined Microsoft in July 2007, shortly after the company
was forced to reveal a humiliating misstep: widespread malfunctions
with the Xbox 360 that caused it to take a $1.1 billion charge to cover the
cost of repairs for customers.
　But since then, Mr. Mattrick has helped guide the Xbox business to
solid growth, in part by cutting prices on its console in Europe and improv-
ing management in that region. He also led an overhaul of its Xbox Live
online service, which helped win customers with new offerings like a Net-
flix Inc. service for renting movies.
　Mr. Attrick faces skepticism he 'll stay on the job for the long haul.
The executive hasn't moved near Microsoft's campus in the Seattle
suburbs from his home in Vancouver.
Instead, he conducts much of his work through video conferences and
email. One person who works with Mr. Mattrick says he isn't in the office
at Microsoft more than a few days a month.
　"I think most people are a bit surprised at how long he's been there,"
says Larry Probst, chairman of EA, where Mr. Mattrick worked for 14
years after it bought his star-up.
　Mr. Mattrick says he's committed to Microsoft and doesn't feel that
living in Vancouver hurts his performance. He also has the support of his
boss, Robert J. Bach, president of Microsoft's entertainment and devices
division.
　"The challenge is to find a guy who can run a business... and help foster
a highly creative environment," Mr. Bach says. He calls Mr. Mattrick "a
wonderful balance of both of those."

to you, Eragon, that was never part of our plan. I had no choice,
though. They recognized me. I stabbed the white-haired man un-
derneath his chin... It was like when Father cut the throat of a
pig. And then the other, I smashed open his skull. I can still feel his
bones giving way... I remember every blow I've landed, from the
soldiers in Carvahall to the ones on the Burning Plains... You
know, when I close my eyes, sometimes I can't sleep because the
light from the fire we set in the docks of Teirm is so bright in my
mind. I think I'm going mad then."
　Eragon found his hands gripping the staff with such force, his
knuckles were white and tendons ridged the insides of his wrists.
"Aye," he said. "At first it was just Urgals, then it was men and
Urgals, and now this last battle... I know what we do is right, but
right doesn't mean easy. Because of who we are, the Varden expect
Saphira and me to stand at the front of their army and to slaughter
entire battalions of soldiers. We do. We have." His voice caught,
and he fell silent.
　Turmoil accompanies every great change, said Saphira to both of
them. And we have experienced more than our share, for we are agents
of that very change. I am a dragon, and I do not regret the death of those
who endanger us. Killing the guards in Narda may not be a deed worthy
of celebration, but neither is it one to feel guilty about. You had to do it.
When you must fight, Roran, does not the fierce joy of combat lead wings
to your feet? Do you not know the pleasure of pitting yourself against a
worthy opponent and the satisfaction of seeing the bodies of your enemies
piled before you? Eragon, you have experienced this. Help me explain it
to your cousin.
　Eragon stared at the coals. She had stated a truth that he was re-
luctant to acknowledge, lest by agreeing that on could enjoy vio-
lence, he would become a man he would despise. So he was mute.
Across from him, Roran appeared similarly affected.
　In a softer voice, Saphira said, Do not be angry. I did not intend to
upset you... I forget sometimes that you are still unaccustomed to

　"It must have fallen," said Eragon, examining the side of the
gulch. He allowed the werelight to fade into oblivion.
　Roran nodded and stood, brushing dirt from his pants.
　As he walked back to Saphira, Eragon considered the speed with
which they had reacted. His heart still contracted into a hard,
painful knot with each beat, his hands shook, and he felt like dash-
ing into the wilderness and running several miles without stopping.
We wouldn't have jumped like that before, he thought. The reason for
their vigilance was no mystery: every one of their fights had chipped
away at their complacency, leaving behind nothing but raw nerves
that twitched at the slightest touch.
　Roran must have been entertaining similar thoughts, for said,
"Do you see them?"
　"Who?"
　"The men you've killed. Do you see them in your dreams?"
　"Sometimes."
　The pulsing glow from the coals lit Roran's face from below,
forming thick shadows above his mouth and across his forehead
and giving his heavy, half-lidded eyes a baleful aspect. He spoke
slowly, as if he found the words difficult. "I never wanted to be a
warrior. I dreamed of blood and glory when I was younger, as every
boy does, but the land was what was important to me. That and our
family... And now I have killed... I have killed and killed, and
you have killed even more." His gaze focused on some distant place
only he could see. "There were these two men in Narda... Did I
tell you this before?"
　He had, but Eragon shook his head and remained silent.
　"They were guards at the main gate... Two of them, you know,
and the man on the right, he had pure white hair. I remember be-
cause he couldn't have been more than twenty-four, twenty-five.
They wore Galbatorix's sigil but spoke as if they were from Narda.
They weren't professional soldiers. They were probably just men
who had decided to help protect their homes from Urgals, pirates,
brigands... We weren't going to lift a finger against them. I swear

by Jason Zweig
　It is sometimes said that to be an intelligent
investor, you must should be unemotional. That isn't
true; instead, you should be inversely emotional.
　Even after recent turbulence, the Dow Jones In-
dustrial Average is up roughly 30% since its low in
March. It is natural for you to feel happy or relieved
about that. But Benjamin Graham believed, in-
stead, that you should train yourself to feel worried
about such events.
　At this moment, consulting Mr. Graham's wis-
dom is especially fitting. Sixty years ago, on May
25, 1949, the founder of financial analysis published
his book, "The Intelligent Investor," in whose honor
this column is named. And today the market seems
to be in just the kind of mood that would have wor-
ried Mr. Graham: a jittery optimism, an insecure
and almost desperate need to believe that the worst
is over.
　You can't turn off your feelings, of course. But you
can, and should, turn them inside out.
　Stocks have suddenly become more expensive to
accumulate. Since March, according to data from
Robert Shiller of Yale, the price/earnings ratio of
the S&P 500 index has jumped from 13.1 to 15.5.
That's the sharpest, fastest rise in almost a quarter-
century. (As Graham suggested, Prof. Shiller uses a
10-year average P/E ratio, adjusted for inflation.)
　Over the course of 10 weeks, stocks have moved
from the edge of the bargain bin to the full-price
rack. So, unless you are retired and living off your
investments, you shouldn't be celebrating, you
should be worrying.
　Mr. Graham worked diligently to resist being
swept up in the mood swings of "Mr. Market" -- his
metaphor for the collective mind of investors, eu-
phoric when stocks go up and miserable when they
go down.
　In an autobiographical sketch, Mr. Graham wrote
that he "embraced stoicism as a gospel sent to him
from heaven." Among the main components of his
"Internal equipments," he also said, where a "certain
aloofness" and "unruffled serenity."
　Mr. Graham's last wife described him as "humane,
but not human." I asked his son, Benjamin Graham Jr.,
what that meant. "His mind was
elsewhere, and he did have a little difficulty in relat-
ing to others," "Buz" Graham said of this father. "He
was always internally multitasking. Maybe people
who go into investing are especially well-suited for it
if they have that distance or detachment."
　Mr. Graham's immersion in literature, math-
ematics and philosophy, he once remarked, helped
him view the markets "from the standpoint of eter-
nity, rather than day-to-day."
　Perhaps as a result, he almost invariably read the
enthusiasm of others as a yellow caution light, and
he took their misery as a sign of hope.
　His knack for inverting emotions helped him see
when markets had run to extremes. In later 1945, as
the markets was rising 36%, he warned investors to
cut back on stocks; the next year, the market fell 8%.
As stocks took off in 1958-59, Mr. Graham was again
pessimistic; years of jagged returns followed. In late
1971, he counseled caution, just before the worst
bear market in decades hit.
　In the depths of that crash, near the end of
1974, Mr. Graham gave a speech in which he cor-
rectly forecast a period of "many years" in which
"stock prices may languish."
　Then he startled his listeners by pointing out this
was good news, not bad: "The true investor would
be pleased, rather than discouraged, at the prospect
of investing his new savings on very satisfactory
terms." Mr. Graham added a more startling note:
Investors would be "enviably fortunate" to benefit
from the "advantages" of a long bear market.
　Today, it has become trendy to declare that "buy
and hold is dead." Some critics regard dollar-cost
averaging, or automatically investing a fixed amount
every month, as foolish.
　Asked if dollar-cost averaging could ensure long-
term success, Mr. Graham wrote in 1962: "Such a
policy will pay off ultimately, regardless of when it is
begun, provided that it is adhered to conscientiously
and courageously under all intervening conditions."
　For that to be true, however, the dollar-cost aver-
aging investor must "be a different sort of person
from the rest of us... not subject to the alternations
of exhilaration and deep gloom that have accompa-
nied the gyrations of the stock market for genera-
tions past."
　"This," Mr. Graham concluded, "I greatly doubt."
　He didn't mean that no one can resist being
swept up in the gyrating emotions of the crowd. He
meant that few people can. To be an intelligent in-
vestor, you must cultivate what Mr. Graham called
"firmness of character" -- the ability to keep your
own emotional counsel.
　Above all, that means resisting the contagion of
Mr. Market's enthusiasm when stocks are suddenly
no longer cheap.

---

intelligent　adj.有才智的, 聰明的
turbulence　n.紊流
relieved　adj.放心的
relieve　vt.緩和, 減輕
consulting　adj.任專職顧問的
consult　vt.與...商量
jittery　adj.緊張不安的
optimism　n.樂觀
insecure　adj.不安全的, 有危險的
desperate　adj.情急拼命的, 挺而走險的
accumulate　vt.累積
inflation　n.通貨膨漲
bargain　n.協議, 買賣, 交易
diligently　adv.勤勉地
sweep, swept, swept　vt.清掃
resist　vt.抵抗, 忍耐
metaphor　n.隱喻
euphoric　adj.心情愉快的
miserable　adj.痛苦的, 不幸的
autobiographical　adj.自傳的
sketch　n.速寫, 素描
gospel　n.準則, 真理
aloofness　n.冷漠, 高傲
unruffled　adj.不受騷擾的, 鎮定的
serenity　n.晴朗, 風和日麗
humane　adj.有人情味的, 人文的
detachment　n.分離, 分開
immersion　n.沉浸, 浸沒
mathematics　n.數學
philosophy　n.哲學
standpoint　n.立場, 觀點, 看法
eternity　n.永遠, 不朽
invariably　adv.不變地, 總是
enthusiasm　n.熱心, 熱忱
misery　n.痛苦, 不幸
pessimistic　adj.悲觀的
jagged　adj.有尖突的, 有缺口的
counsel　n.商議, 忠告
correctly　adv.正確地
languish　vt.變得無生氣
startle　vt.使驚嚇
courage　n.勇氣, 膽量
courageous　adj.英勇的, 勇敢的
courageously　adv.勇敢地
discouraged　adj.灰心的, 沮喪的
prospect　n.指望, 預期
satisfactory　adj.令人滿意的
envy　n.妒忌
enviably　adv.妒忌地
fortunate　adj.幸運的
trendy　adj.時髦的
critic　n.評論家
regard　n.注重, 考慮, 關心
regardless　adj.不注意的, 不留心的
adhere　adv.遵守, 堅持
conscientiously　adv.憑良心地
exhilaration　n.愉快的心情
gloom　n.黑暗, 憂鬱的心情
conclude　vt.推斷出, 斷定
gyrate　adj.旋渦狀的
cultivate　vt.耕種, 栽培
contagion　n.接觸傳染, 感染

the ashen light that precedes dawn. Saphira had landed in the hol-
low where they were now, and they had slept through most of the
past day before beginning their reconnaissance.
　A fountain of amber motes billowed and swirled as Roran tossed
a branch onto the disintegrating coals. He caught Eragon's look and
shrugged. "Cold," he said.
　Before Eragon could respond, he heard a slithering scraping
sound akin to someone drawing a sword.
　He did not think; he flung himself in the opposite direction,
rolled once, and came up into a crouch, lifting the hawthorn staff to
deflect an oncoming blow. Roran was nearly as fast. He grabbed his
shield from the ground, scrambled back from the log he had been
sitting on, and drew his hammer from his belt, all in the span of a
few seconds.
　They froze, waiting for the attack.
　Eragon's heart pounded and his muscles trembled as he searched
the darkness for the slightest hint of motion.
　I smell nothing, said Saphira.
　When several minutes elapsed without incident, Eragon pushed
his mind out over the surrounding landscape. "No one," he said.
Reaching deep within himself to the place where he could touch
the flow of magic, he uttered the words "Brisingr raudhr!" A pale
red werelight popped into existence several feet in front of him and
remained there, floating at eye level and painting the hollow with a
watery radiance. He moved slightly, and the werelight mimicked his
motion, as if connected to him by an invisible pole.
　Together, he and Roran advanced toward where they'd heard
the sound, down the gulch that wound eastward. They held their
weapons high and paused between each step, ready to defend them-
selves at any moment. About ten yards from their camp, Roran held
up a hand, stopping Eragon, then pointed at a plate of shale that
lay on top of the grass. It appeared conspicuously out of place.
Kneeling, Roran rubbed a smaller fragment of shale across the plate
and created the same steely scrape they and heard before.

TalkAsia Interview with Controversial Publishing Mogul
Jimmy Lai

ANJALI RAO, TALKASIA
　A media empire built on risk and controversy. From
working on the black market as a young boy to starting
what would become a major clothing brand, and later
transitioning into all forms of media.
ANJALI RAO, TALKASIA
　Jimmy Lai has faced his fair share of
challenges and picked quite a few battles
along the way. He's blasted leaders in Beijing.
JIMMY LAI, MEDIA MOGUL
　I'm very successful, I made a lot of money
and I've no sense of fear.
ANJALI RAO, TALKASIA
　He's a shrewd businessman, outspoken,
provocative and he is gearing up for his next
big venture.
　What is it about mainland China that just
rubs you up the wrong way?
JIMMY LAI, MEDIA MOGUL
　It's not mainland China that rubs me
the wrong way. It's the dictatorship that rubs
me the wrong way. It's the freedom that
we as Chinese people are not allowed to
flourish, that rubs me on the wrong way. I
don't have dignity.
　And to me it's not a political issue whether
you have democracy or what. It's a moral
issue. You know, I think morally a person
should be free. I was．．．I live in China. I
suffer in China. Not because I suffer, so I take
revenge now. Because I suffered, I know how
important freedom is to a person.
ANJALI RAO, TALKASIA
　Going back to 1989 and Tianamen Square, you
like many other people were absolutely outraged at
the events that you saw unfolding, and you spoke
out in a now very famous editorial in which you likened
certain members of the Chinese leadership to a turtle's
egg. Which is an extreme insult in Chinese culture.
JIMMY LAI, MEDIA MOGUL
　Right. Right.
ANJALI RAO, TALKASIA
　What was the fallout from your words?
JIMMY LAI, MEDIA MOGUL
　I was just very angry. That's impulsiveness. Maybe
somebody says this is uncouthness, but I did it. I
paid for it.
ANJALI RAO, TALKASIA
　How did you pay for it?
JIMMY LAI, MEDIA MOGUL
　Well, I had to close down my factories in China.
Eventually I had to sell Giordano, which I built, because,
you know, otherwise our shops in China would be
closed, and without the Chinese store as a public
company we are dead, so I had to sell it. I have no
regrets.
ANJALI RAO, TALKASIA
　People see you very much as publish the
boundaries, some people even think you totally
overstep them. There was one article that I read
about you that said, "Lai has never met a paparazzi
shot or a gory crime scene photo that he wouldn't
publish."
JIMMY LAI, MEDIA MOGUL
　Well, that's not true. That's not true, but
we sometimes overstep. That's true. Well,
it's just sometimes we．．．well, every time
we make a mistake, we apologize for it.
　I just tell all my people, I say, look, we're
not．．．we are not perfect. We're just human,
but our responsibility is to face the mistake
we make and apologize for it if we make it,
yeah. Sometimes you overstep and you find
out some other truth. Sometimes you
overstep and just are a fool, and
sometimes I was.
ANJALI RAO, TALKASIA
　When you look at mainland China now,
how do you see it?
JIMMY LAI, MEDIA MOGUL
　Well, I think China definitely has
progressed a lot, you know, to be fair to them.
You know, they have lifted a lot of poor
people to middle class and all that, but I
think going forward, that's the greatest test
for China. Now they have the economic
problem, it it's gonna be really economic
implosion, that will create a lot of social
problems, because in China it's not like in
any other country.
　They don't have the intermediate
institution. They don't have the NGO, they
don't have the church, they don't have the
temple, they don't have the unions and all
that. You know, it's just the free market and
the government.
　So if the market fails, and the
government is dragged down
with it, what holding
society up? And also, in China you have a
vacuum of moral infrastructure. There's
no moral infrastructure in China. You know,
in chaos, when everybody is fighting for a
smaller pie, what happens? That would be
a dreadful scene, and that's something that
worries me about China, if the economy is
gonna do．．．is gonna go south.
ANJALI RAO, TALKASIA
　Where do you want to take your business
in the foreseeable future?
JIMMY LAI, MEDIA MOGUL
　TV.
ANJALI RAO, TALKASIA
　TV?
JIMMY LAI, MEDIA MOGUL
　Yes, we are．．．
ANJALI RAO, TALKASIA
　I highly recommend it.
JIMMY LAI, MEDIA MOGUL
　Thank you. I'm sure. I don't know what
we're gonna do yet, honestly. You know, I just
think that, you know, the TV in Tainan, also
in Hong Kong, the most salient problem that
I can see is lack of creativity. It's very boring.
How can we make it not so boring? And that's
the challenge. I've no answer yet, but I
think that's the way we have to go.

by Justin Scheck
　Breaking from other technology chiefs who
have recently expressed optimism, Hewlett-
Packard Co. (HPQ) Chief Executive Mark Hurd
waned he hasn't seen the tech industry emerge
from its painful slump.
　Hurd said in an interview that the spending
climate "looks the same" in the current quarter as
the previous quarter, where H-P reported sharp
declines in sales of its PCs and printers. He later
added in a conference call, "I'm not ready to call it
better."
　Hurd said H-P will cut an additional 2% of its
work as part of its purchase of Electronic Data
Systems, a technology services company. The
company is already cutting 25,000 jobs because of
the deal.
　Hurd's remarks tempered the recent optimism
generated by executives a other tech companies,
including Cisco System Inc. (CSCO) and Intel
Corp. (INTC), who have said that sales declines
have either leveled off or look better than previ-
ously. (This story and related background mate-
rial will be available on The Wall Street Journal
Web site, WSJ.com.)
　On Tuesday, H-P posted a 17% profit drop and
3.2%  revenue decline for its fiscal second quarter
ended April 30. It was the first year-over-year de-
cline in quarterly revenue for the Palo Alto, Calif.,
company since Hurd took over as CEO in 2005.
　While H-P maintained its profit projections
for the fiscal year, the company sounded a more
cautious note its revenue. H-P said revenue
will likely decline 4% to 5% for the fiscal year,
compare with a previous forecast for 2% to
5% fall.
　That sent H-P's shares down nearly 5% in af-
ter-hours trading to $34.86, after the company
's stock closed at 4 p.m. at $36.58 on the New
York Stock Exchange.
　Until recently, H-P, the world's largest PC
company by revenue, had steadily growing
profit and revenue, and was outpacing competi-
tors like Dell Inc. (DELL) in the PC business.
But H-P stumbled at the end of last year as cor-
porate tech spending plunged.
　For the second quarter, H-P reported profit
of $1.72 billion, or 70 cents a share, compared
with $2.06 billion, or 80 cents a share, a year
earlier. H-P's results for the fiscal second quar-
ter included a 2-cent-a-share hit due to patent
litigation with Cornell University. Revenue was
$27.35 billion, compared with $28.26 billion a
year ago.
　Overall, the results were in line with Wall
Street expectations. "We're pretty pleased with
the result," said Bill Kreher, an analyst at Ed-
ward Jones, though he added that "we're not
seeing clear sings of a pickup" in the tech mar-
ket.
　Revenu at H-P's PC division dropped 19%
from a year earlier, to $8.2 billion. Hit by de-
clining PC prices, the unit's operating profit
margin was 4.6%, down from 5.4% last year. In
the imaging and printing unit, revenue slid 23%
to $5.9 billion.

---

slump　vi.衰落, 下降
decline　vi.下跌, 衰退, 婉拒
tempered　adj.調合的
optimism　n.樂觀, 樂觀主義
profit　n.利潤, 利益
revenue　n.收入, 總收入
fiscal　adj.財政的, 會計的
cautious　adj.謹慎的
steadily　adv.平穩的
outpace　vt.比...走得過, 勝過
stumble　vt.絆倒, 蹣跚而行
plunge　vt.使投入 vi.投(入)
corporate　adj.公司的
patent　n.專利
litigation　n.訴訟
slide; slid; slid

2009-05-21

中國時報

【本報訊】

by Nick Wingfield

　Microsoft Copr. is developing a new videocam-
era for the Xbox360 console that will allow play-
ers to control games with the movement of their
bodies, people familiar with the matter said, an
effort to attract the casual players that have fueled
Nintendo Co.'s recent success.
　The Microsoft device is a twist on Nintendo's
blockbuster Wii game console, which allow us-
ers to swing a tennis racket or other equipment in
games by holding a plastic wand in their hands.
　Unlike the Wii, the Micorosft camera won't
require users to hold any hardware to control on-
screen action, the people familiar with the matter
said. The camera would sit near the television and
capture when players move their hands, legs or
head.
　A spokesman for the Redmond, Wash., com-
pany delined to comment.
　The camera represents another effort by the
games industry to reach out to consumers with
more intuitive playing methods than traditional
game controllers, with their array of joysticks and
buttons.
　Microsoft's camera users 3-D technology, which
gives players more accurate control over games
than earlier game cameras did, the people said.
　The potential suggessts Microsoft is step-
ping up efforts to gain ground on Nintendo, the
leader in the market for the current generation
of game consoles. A spokeswonman for Nintendo
declined to comment.
　Although Nintendo recently signaled that de-
mand for its Wii may start to slow, it sold 601,000
Wii consoles in the U.S. in March, more machines
than Microsoft and Sony Corp. combined, accord-
ing to NPD Group, which tracks retail sales.
　The Micorosft camera could be unveiled as
early as the E3 videogame industry conference
next month, though it likely won't be released un-
til next year, the people said.
　Microsoft, which saw revenue in its games divi-
sion fall 1.6% to $1.57 billion in the latest quarter,
is likely to sell the camera first as an accessory
and could ultimately bundle it with the Xbox 360,
one person familiar with the company's plans
said. Pricing couldn't be determined.
　The camera is based on technology that Micro-
soft developed inside its sprawling search arm.
Microsoft also recently acquired an Israeli start-
up called 3DV System Ltd., which has developed
a 3-D camera and holds related patents, accord-
ing to a person familiar with the matter.
　In a email, Zvika Klier, chief executive of 3DV
Systems, said "unfortunately I can't comment
on the rumors surrounding this deal...We will
provide more information when we can."
　Two people who work closely with Microsoft
said the company over a year ago was develop-
ing a motion control device similar to the Wii's
wireless controller, but shelved the project. While
rumors of a new camera have begun trickling out
onto game industry blogs, the device is cloaked in
secrecy inside Microsoft.

---

debate　n.辯論
casual　adj.偶然的,漫不經心的,臨時的
fuel　n.燃料 vt.刺激 vi.加油
twist　vt.扭轉
blockbuster　n.破壞性強的炸彈
wand　n.棒,魔杖,指揮棒
array　vt.配置(兵力) n.列陣
accurate　adj.準確的,精確的
potential　adj.潛在的
unveil　vt.除去...的面紗 vi.揭露出來
ultimately　adv.最後, 終極地
bundle　捆, 把...紮成一包
sprawling　adj.不規則地伸展的
sprawl　vi.伸開四肢, 蔓生, 蔓延
acquire　vt.獲得
Israeli　以色列
patent　n.專利
shelve　vt.擱置
trickle　vi.細細地流
cloak　n.斗篷, 幌子

 

2009-05-17 

中國時報 

【本報訊】

by Yochi J. Dreazen
　The U.S. government is struggling to keep pace with the growing number of
attacks on its computer networks, potentially leaving key military and civilian
systems vulnerable to overseas hackers, senior U.S. officials said Tuesday.
　At several hearings on Capitol Hill, officials from each branch of the armed
forces said the nation's cyber defenses were being challenged like never before
by sophisticated, well-organized efforts to disrupt important systems and steal
classified information.
　"Threats in cyberspace move at the speed of light, and we are literally under
attack every day as our networks are constantly probed and our adversaries
seek to exploit vulnerabilities," Lt. Gen. William Shelton, the Air force's chief
information officer, told a House Armed Services Committee panel.
　The Pentagon's top information security official, Robert Lentz, said the
Defense Department detected 360 million attempts to penetrate its networks
last year, up from six million in 2006.
Then Pentagon recently disclosed that it had spend $100 million in the past six
months repairing damage from cyber attacks.
　The officials declined to specify the source of the attacks, but top military
and civilian officials believe that most of the hacking attempts originate in Rus-
sia and China, which have been pouring resources into cyber espionage in recent
years.
　Then hearings come amid growing evidence that sophisticated overseas
hackers are regularly penetrating important U.S. networks. The Wall Street
Journal has reported that overseas hackers breached both the nation's elec-
tricity grid and the Pentagon's biggest weapons program, the $300 billion Joint
Strike Fighter.
　Still, officials warned Tuesday that federal systems remain vulnerable to at-
tack. Gregory Wilshusen, director of information security for the Government
Accountability Office, said most "federal system are not sufficiently protected to
consistently thwart cyber threats."
　Lax cyber security at the Los Alamos National Lab, for example, put unclas-
sified nuclear data to risk of theft or compromise. The GAO found that, in
2008, 23 of 24 major agencies surveyed didn't have adequate computer security
protections in place.
　Lawmakers at a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing com-
pared the government's inability to protect networks and acquisitions pro-
grams to the lapses that led to the fall of Rome.
　That theme continued in the House Armed Services Committee. "The Joint
Strike Fighter program highlights a vulnerability that currently exists," said
Rep. Jeff Miller, R.-Fla.Robert Carey, the Navy's chief information officer, said
defense contractors needed to do more to protect their systems from overseas
hackers. He said the attempts to steal information were "advanced, persistent,
sophisticated, always changing and well-resourced."
　Gen. Alexander called for a "partnership" between the government and the
private sector. He acknowledged potential obstacles, including the difficulty of
giving private companies access to classified intelligence on specific cyber at-
tacks and possible corporate reluctance to spend the money necessary to better
protect its networks.
　Many civil-liberties groups and companies are wary about giving the
government broad access to commercial systems and networks. Pending legisla-
tion would establish federal standards for key elements of private industry.
　Gen. Alexander said the government was training a new generation of com-
puter network experts. In April, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the Penta-
gon aims to quadruple the number of such staffers over time.
　Still, Gen. Alexander cautioned that the current cybersecurity training efforts
for military personnel, civilian officials and contractors were "inadequate" and
"must be improved."

---

potentially    潛在地;可能地
vulnerable    易受責難的;有弱點的;難防守的
armed    武裝的,裝甲的
sophisticated    富有經驗的;精通的
disrupt    使分裂,使瓦解
classified    【美】(文件的)機密的
threat    威脅,恐嚇
literally    實在地,不加誇張地
literal    如實的,不誇張的; 字母的
constantly    不斷地;時常地
constant    固定的,不變的
probe    刺探;探索;徹底調查
adversary    敵手;敵人
exploit    利用
vulnerability    易受責難;弱點
panel    壁板;鏡板, 專門小組
penetrate    (情報人員的)滲透
disclose    揭發;透露;公開
decline    婉拒;謝絕
specify    具體指定;詳細指明;明確說明
espionage    諜報;間諜活動,刺探
amid    在...之間;在...之中
breach    (對法律等的)破壞,違反;(對他人權利的)侵害
accountability    負有責任;應作解釋;可說明性
sufficiently    足夠地,充分地
consistently    一貫地;固守地
consistent     始終如一的,前後一致的
thwart    反對,阻撓;使受挫折;挫敗
theft    偷竊,盜竊
compromise    妥協,和解
survey    測量,勘測,測繪
adequate    足夠的, 尚可的
inability    無能;無力;不能
acquisition    獲得,取得
lapse    (時間的)流逝,間隔
persistent    持續的,持久的
obstacle    障礙(物);妨礙
intelligence    情報;情報工作;情報機關
reluctance    不情願;勉強
wary    謹防的;惟恐的
legislation    制定法律,立法
establish    建立;設立;創辦
quadruple    四倍的
personnel    (總稱)人員,員工
inadequate    不充分的;不適當的