FROM AMIKOM TO PALESTINE

FROM AMIKOM TO PALESTINE
:: 10 January 2009

Weeping Israeli aggression in Palestine has been participating on the Indonesian people crying. All efforts have been made, as well as delivery of assistance, such as medical, and volunteers. Any form of action, either peaceful demonstration and had done by the various parties. No exception STMIK AMIKOM campus Yogyakarta.



Thursday, 8 January 2008, at the building basemant II STMIK AMIKOM Yogyakarta, all student organizations on campus and purple dikoordinatori by the Student Senate under the umbrella student organization, with do'a activities and fund-raising for the Palestinians. Mengusung with the theme "From Palestine to us," the committee hopes that the civitas AMIKOM campus will be able to participate and contribute to, or sympathy to the Palestinian people without the need to go down the road.



Activities start at 19.00 WIB is in progress smoothly. Lectures given by Ustadz Khudori LC was able to open our eyes will be heavy Muslim Palestinian struggle. Activities ended with do'a together for Palestine was also able to collect Rp 3,223,800, -, the event will be channeled through the forum at the institution dakwah campus.





Unfortunately, this activity has not felt such enthusiasm to invite the civitas campus. Evidenced by the number of empty space from the place that has been provided by the committee. "Perhaps because of rain this evening" said one participant. And one thing that should also underlined, not only help with the material, moral, but also provided no less. In addition, the Call of the committee is a reduction or even elimination of products made facilities for the collection of funds for the army of Israel. Can we do if the product has been over us daily?
Indonesian

In Gaza, truce crumbles as diplomats eye cease-fire talks

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- A truce meant to allow humanitarian aid into war-torn Gaza crumbled minutes after it began Wednesday, while Israeli and Palestinian diplomats considered talks that could lead to a more lasting cease-fire.
The truce was part of Israel's stated desire to open a "humanitarian corridor" into Gaza in response to mounting concerns over shortages of food, water and medicine in the territory since Israeli airstrikes began December 27.

But minutes after the three-hour truce was set to begin at 1 p.m., Israeli forces fired at militants in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory.

The strikes came after militants targeted Israeli forces "almost immediately," Israeli Defense Ministry spokesman Peter Lerner said.

Lerner had previously said Israeli forces would respond to any aggression directed at them during the scheduled pause in activities in Gaza.

Hours later, Israel continued its ground and air assault for the twelfth day by bombing targets in Rafah, Gaza, after telling residents to leave.

There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries from the bombing, which threw up huge plumes of black smoke, visible even in the dark. Video Watch CNN's Karl Penhaul report on the humanitarian situation in Rafah »

Israel has said Hamas, the Palestinian movement that controls Gaza, smuggles weapons from Egypt into Rafah on the Gaza side through underground tunnels. Shutting down that supply route is one goal of Israel's nearly two-week military operation against Hamas. Learn what's behind the conflict »

At least 680 Palestinians have been killed and 3,000 wounded in Gaza since the campaign began on December 27, Palestinian medical officials said. Nearly a third of the deaths and 45 percent of the injuries are women and children, according to the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Seven Israeli soldiers and three civilians have been killed.

The three-hour truce is scheduled to take place every other day, Lerner said, but humanitarian agencies say the timeframe is not long enough to alleviate the "deepening humanitarian crisis" in Gaza.

"We are feeding 750,000 [people] on a permanent basis," U.N. Relief and Works Agency spokesman Chris Gunness said. "We need to build on this three-hour window; we need to expand that window and let it lead to a permanent cease-fire."

Israel said it welcomes a truce plan by Egypt and France and will continue its discussions with both countries about how to achieve a cease-fire in Gaza, an Israeli government spokesman said. Video Watch CNN's Christiane Amanpour report on diplomatic efforts »

Israel will send two envoys to Cairo, Egypt, in the coming days to discuss a Gaza truce plan, an Israeli foreign ministry official said Wednesday.

The envoys -- Defense Ministry official Amos Gilad and Shalom Turgeman, a political adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert -- could head to Cairo as early as Thursday, the official said.
It is not clear whether Hamas, the Palestinian movement that governs Gaza, will send representatives to Cairo. Israel refuses to speak directly to Hamas, which it considers a terrorist organization, but it has negotiated with Hamas through Egypt in the past.

Meetings also continued Wednesday at the United Nations regarding a possible cease-fire.

By Wednesday evening, 16 rockets had struck the Jewish state, according to the Israeli military. There was no immediate report of injuries.

Tuesday was the bloodiest day of the Israeli ground offensive to date, when Israeli shelling struck a U.N. school in northern Gaza being used as a shelter by hundreds of civilians. Video Watch officials from U.N. and Israel argue over details of school strike »

The Israeli military said Hamas militants were firing mortars from the school, prompting an artillery strike that killed at least 40 people and wounded dozens more. U.N. officials said there were no militants at the school.

"We are 99.9 percent certain that there were no militants. There were no militant activities in the school or in the school compound," said Gunness of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency.

The Palestine Red Crescent said five ambulances had been hit by Israeli forces, killing six people. The agency did not give a breakdown of paramedics and patients, and CNN was not able to independently verify these allegations.

The Israeli military said it was unaware of any such incidents. Video Watch Arabs react to the conflict in Gaza »

Also Wednesday, Israeli forces allowed a camera crew to cross the Gaza border to shoot footage of the conflict, marking the first time journalists from outside the territory have been let in.
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The video shows Israeli foot troops on patrol and in a firefight, Israeli tank operations and what Israel said were air troops detonating underground arms stockpiles and Hamas booby traps.

An Israeli army patrol accompanied the BBC camera that shot footage, which was cleared by Israeli military censors. Israel still has not permitted media organizations independent access to Gaza.
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Breaking: UN Says Second School Hit In Gaza

GAZA CITY, Gaza (CNN) — An Israeli missile struck near a U.N. school in northern Gaza on Tuesday, killing several people, Palestinian security and medical sources told CNN.

There are conflicting reports about the details of the strike, which comes after a U.N.-operated school in Gaza City was directly hit by an Israeli airstrike on Monday night, according to United Nations Relief and Works Agency director John Ging.

Ging told CNN that he understood several tank shells landed outside the U.N.-operated school in Jabalya on Tuesday, killing 10 people outside the school and injuring three people inside.

The school was being used as a shelter for civilians fleeing the ongoing Israeli military operation in the Palestinian territory.

Palestinian sources said 44 were killed in the strike, and it was unclear if it was the result of an Israeli airstrike, tank shell, or another missile.

The Israeli military told CNN it is checking the reports.

UNRWA said an elementary school in Gaza City took a direct hit on Monday night from an Israeli airstrike, although the agency said it had told Israel that the school was being used as a shelter. That strike killed three

Palestinian men, all members of the same family, according to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency.

UNRWA said 400 Palestinians were staying in the Asma Elementary school at the time of the Monday night airstrike.

Israel to open 'humanitarian corridor' for Gaza aid

(CNN) -- Israel has agreed to establish a "humanitarian corridor" to supply residents of Gaza with aid as international concerns about conditions among civilians mount, according to a government statement.
The statement, posted on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Web site, said Olmert decided to accept a proposal from security advisers to open the corridor.

It said a path into Gaza, where Israel launched a ground offensive against Hamas militants on Saturday, "will be opened for a specific period of time, during which the population can receive the aid."

The statement also said Olmert spoke Tuesday with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to "update her on political and military developments," including the humanitarian situation.

Hospital workers reported Tuesday that far more civilians than Hamas fighters were arriving at hospitals for treatment.
Food, water, medicine and electricity shortages have been reported throughout Gaza during the campaign, in which nearly 600 Palestinians have been killed and another 2,750 wounded, according to medical sources.

Jerusalem has been under intense international pressure to let goods pass, because of shortage of food, medicines and fuel.
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"There are food shortages. ... The health system is overwhelmed. The people here don't have electricity," Mohammed El-Halaby, program manager for humanitarian group World Vision, said earlier this week.

El-Halaby said several power lines and water pumps were damaged during last week's airstrikes, which preceded the ground incursion.

Venezuela expels Israeli ambassador

(CNN) -- Venezuela expelled Israel's ambassador to the country Tuesday and accused Israel of attempting to carry out "genocide" against the Palestinian people.
"In this tragic and indignant hour, the people of Venezuela manifest their unconditional solidarity with the heroic Palestinian people, share in the sadness that overcomes thousands of families through the loss of their loved ones, and extends to them a hand by affirming that the government of Venezuela will not rest until it sees those responsible for these criminal atrocities severely punished," the Venezuelan foreign minister said in a statement read by an anchor on state television.

The statement added that the government "condemns strongly the flagrant violations of international law" by Israel and "denounces their planned utilization of state terrorism."

"For the above-mentioned reasons, the government of Venezuela has decided to expel the ambassador of Israel and some of the personnel of the Israeli Embassy in Venezuela," it added.

In a news conference broadcast by state-run Venezuelan television, President Hugo Chavez blasted the Israeli military.

"They are cowards," he said. "It's as though a boxing professional were to come here and challenge you to box. Well, how courageous! How courageous is the Israeli army!"

It said that Chavez "makes a fraternal call to the Jewish people throughout the world to oppose these criminal policies of the state of Israel that recall the worst pages of the history of the 20th century.

"With the genocide of the Palestinian people, the state of Israel will never be able to offer its people the perspective of a peace that is both necessary and long-lasting."

Mark Regev, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, was unswayed.
"I haven't heard the details yet, but you know the regime in Venezuela has been one of the few countries in the world that gives automatic support to the Iranian extremists, and it doesn't surprise me that they have affinity with groups like Hamas and Hezbollah," he told CNN.
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He predicted that other countries would not follow suit, even in the Middle East.

"I think, even in the Muslim and Arab countries, there is a fair amount of understanding for what Israel has had to do here," he said.

Gaza: 300 Yards Between Life And Death

RAFAH BORDER CROSSING – Mathematically, it’s not a tricky equation. Politically, though, it’s a complete conundrum. I’m talking about the scenes on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing Sunday.
It was the morning after the start of the Israeli ground assault on Gaza. In the dark, a few hours earlier, I’d been able to make out the sound of Israeli tank tracks grinding through southern Gaza; the whoosh of missiles fired by Apache attack helicopters into targets just a few hundred yards away and the rat-a-tat of assault guns as Hamas and Israeli fighters closed in on one another.

Now, it was light, and around 30 trucks lined up at the Rafah border gates. They were piled high with much needed medical supplies for the teeming hospitals of Gaza and the mounting casualties. The aid had come from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egyptian NGOs and even Scotland. There was even an eight-strong team of Greek trauma surgeons ready to go in and rescue the dying.

It would have been a heartening sight after the madness of the night except for one major detail — the border was closed, the gates firmly shut. That medicine was going nowhere.

And that’s the simple equation. Three checkpoints and 300 yards separated life-giving supplies from the Palestinian wounded and dying. There was fuel in the trucks, drivers at the wheel and politics in the road.

Now the border has been open sporadically over the last few days for a few hours at a time to let aid in and a trickle of wounded Palestinians out (about 120 since the current hostilities began). But Sunday was not one of those days.

The Egyptian border police said they couldn’t let the trucks through because the Palestinian border guards had fled during the night. Israeli tanks and helicopter gunships, I guess, can be expected to have that effect on employees of Gaza’s Hamas government.

The Egyptians also warned it was dangerous and they couldn’t guarantee anybody’s safety. War does tend to be a risky business.

The Egyptian government, meanwhile, has said it can’t fully normalize the border between Egypt and Gaza because that needs an agreement between Hamas and its rivals in the Fatah movement, as well as the presence of European Union monitors.

And as the apologies and public hand-wringing go on, the aid is blocked and the wounded are getting sicker; the dying expiring.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is no friend of Hamas. He did very strongly condemn the Israeli ground assault in a statement Sunday. But on the Egyptian street, especially here close to the border, many Egyptians see that as little more than public bravado.

They criticize him for not sending aid through and for not letting Palestinian refugees come across, at least temporarily. They also point to the fact that two days before Israeli airstrikes began, Mubarak was hosting Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni and permitting her to issue threats against Hamas from his couch.

Now clearly I’m not a Middle Eastern expert, but as I mull the chain on the gate at the Rafah crossing, the scale of human need in Gaza seems crystal clear while political red tape is keeping the medicine from the wounded and dying.

Gaza horrors sow seeds for future violence

SDEROT, Israel -- Mohammed Abu Hassanin may be a young boy, but he's old enough to know he's scared of the attacks being launched by Israel in Gaza.
"When the Jews bomb us when we are asleep, [Hassanin] says 'We get scared,' " a translator says.

Hassanin is one boy from Gaza speaking frankly to an anchor on Hamas TV about the attacks, which have gone on for 10 days.

Children like him have accounted for one-third of the casualties at Gaza's main hospital, foreign doctors say. And now Hamas and their media are making them the face of the attacks.

The children have seen terrible images of tragedy: their friends injured or killed and bloodied bodies in the streets.

They are images Hassanin says he will never forget. He'll keep them stored away until he's old enough to do something about it.

"When we will grow up, we will bomb them back," a CNN translator quoted the boy saying on Hamas TV.

It's a sentiment psychiatrists in Gaza say could be responsible a frightening future --­ that the violence children are witnessing will sow the seeds for future violence. Video Watch how Arab media is covering the crisis »

In Gaza, a little girl wails as she talks about her friend who was killed in an attack on a Hamas house.
She could be my sister," the girl tearfully says. "She is my friend but maybe my sister could die some day, I don't know. I am afraid."

Gaza psychiatrist Eyad el Sarraj said similar trauma to children following past Palestinian intifadas has led to violent results. Video Watch psychiatrists explain their fear »

"Today children are experiencing a serious kind of trauma, and I fear for the future," el Sarraj said. "The children of the first intifada were throwing stones at the Israeli troops. And because of the trauma they were subjected to, 10 years later, the same children became suicide bombers."

Nowhere is safe for the children, and many are without food.

On Sunday, Save the Children staff members delivered food parcels to 641 families -- or nearly 6,000 people, including more than 3,000 children -- in Gaza City, east Jabalyah, Beit Lahia, Beit Hanoun and Um Al Nasser. But the group said the continuous air assaults and ground fighting are making movement dangerous for needy families.
"The situation has reached a critical level for children who are exposed to and experiencing violence, fear and uncertainty," said Annie Foster, Save the Children's team leader for the emergency response in the region.

"Parents are facing enormous challenges to protecting and caring for their children. Either they cannot leave their house to attend to basic needs for fear of being caught in the crossfire -- or they are being forced from their homes, into harm's way, to find shelter."

In the streets of Gaza, where Israeli ground forces are operating, and on the Israeli side, where Hamas rockets are being launched, the streets are empty. Even playgrounds for children are equipped with bunkers. Video Watch the latest on Hamas' continued rocket threats »

Sirens wail on the Israeli side warning of Hamas rocket attacks. When asked what they think when they hear the sound, the children respond with only one word: "Fear."

The threat of Hamas rockets in the south of Israel is taken so seriously that almost all the schools within rocket range of Gaza have locked their gates and told children not to come to school. According to the Israeli government, 300,000 students are affected.

The threat to children is something, perhaps the only thing, that people on both sides of the border agree on.

Gaby Schrieber, an Israeli psychiatrist at Barzilai Hospital, says Israeli children get excellent help and structured support ­ -- something he fears children in Gaza won't be receiving.
And if they don't get the support they need or hope for a better future, Schrieber worries what will happen to them.

"Where is hope for them, and how can they structure their future in their minds?" Schrieber said. "They can become extremists."

Al Qaeda message blames Obama, Egypt for Gaza violence

(CNN) -- An audio message reportedly from al Qaeda's deputy chief vows revenge for Israel's air and ground assault on Gaza and calls the Jewish state's actions against Hamas militants "a gift" from U.S. President-elect Barack Obama.
The speaker, identified as Ayman al-Zawahiri, addresses Muslims in Gaza. He said the violence "is one part of a series of a crusade war against Islam and these air strikes are a gift from Obama before he takes office, and (Egyptian President) Hosni Mubarak, that traitor, is the main partner in your siege and killing."

The message, posted Tuesday on various Islamist Web sites with a picture of al-Zawahiri next to an image of a wounded child, urges militants to rally against Israel.

"My Muslim brothers and mujahedeens in Gaza and all over Palestine, with the help of God we are with you in the battle, we will direct our strikes against the crusader Jewish coalition wherever we can."

The 10-minute message also address Muslims worldwide, claiming that Obama was portrayed as "the savior who will come and change American policy" during the U.S. election but is now "killing your brothers and sisters in Gaza without mercy or even pity."

Obama's transition team did not immediately respond to the message. Earlier Tuesday, the president-elect said he was "deeply concerned" about the loss of life in Gaza and Israel, and he promised to make the issue a top priority in his administration.

It was Obama's first public reaction to the ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza, which began with Israeli air strikes 11 days ago. He reiterated that only one president can speak for the United States at a time.

"Starting at the beginning of our administration, we are going to engage effectively and consistently to try to resolve the conflicts that exist in the Middle East," Obama said.

CNN Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson said the al Qaeda message speaks to al-Zawahiri's cause in two ways: It bashes the new U.S. president before he takes office and it criticizes Mubarak, who has drawn al-Zawahiri's ire for not allowing goods and aid through Egypt's border with Gaza.

Al-Zawahiri is a native of Egypt who has served jail time there.

Telepon Gratis ke Jalur Gaza

Operator menggratiskan panggilan telepon ke jalur Gaza. Namun, nampaknya tawaran menarik ini sia-sia mengingat banyak sarana telekomunikasi yang rusak berat akibat konflik Israel-Palestina.

detikINET kutip dari AustralianIT, Rabu (7/1/2009), Telstra selaku operator terbesar Australia menawarkan panggilan telepon gratis selama seminggu untuk wilayah yang terkena imbas perang tersebut.

Tawaran ini berlaku sejak hari ini hingga 15 Januari mendatang untuk panggilan dengan kode area 0011-970-8.

"Pelanggan Telstra di Australia dapat menelepon kerabatnya di wilayah Gaza secara gratis," ungkap Sol Trujillo, chief executive officer Telstra.

Namun, penawaran yang dibuat Telstra ini dinilai tidak terlalu banyak membawa manfaat, mengingat banyak sarana telekomunikasi di area konflik mengalami kerusakan.

Paltel Group, perusahaan telepon utama di Palestina telah memperingatkan bahwa Gaza dapat terputus dari dunia luar akibat serangan dari darat dan udara.

Menurut Paltel, sekitar 90 persen layanan ponsel Gaza telah lumpuh, dan sejumlah telepon rumah telah rusak.

Selain mengalami kerusakan sarana telekomunikasi, Paltel juga kehilangan beberapa pegawainya yang tewas akibat serangan tersebut.

"Meskipun banyak halangan, kami berusaha semaksimal mungkin untuk tetap menyediakan layanan di jalur Gaza, sekalipun dengan kapasitas yang minim," tandas Paltel.

JogjaEdu Asosiasi 11 Perguruan Tinggi Yogyakarta

JogjaEdu adalah asosiasi 11 perguruan tinggi di Yogyakarta yang bekerjasama dalam bidang marketing dan admisi. Kesebalas perguran tinggi ini adalah STMIK AMIKOM, Universitas Islam Indonesia, Universitas Islam Negeri, Universitas Atmajaya, Universitas Muhammadiyah, Universitas Sanatadarma, INSTIPER, STIMP YKPN, STIPRAM, STIKES/STTI Respati, Akademi Maritim dan ATA YKPN.

Ide mula terbentuknya asosiasi ini adalah sering bertemunya para marketing masing-masing perguruan tinggi di beberapa daerah. Biaya yang dikeluarkan untuk marketing dinilai cukup tinggi dan tidak efektif jika dilakukan masing-masing perguruan tinggi. Dari sinilah maka muncul ide untuk melakukan kegiatan marketing bersama. Dengan marketing bersama, biaya yang dikeluarkan relatif lebih kecil dan dari setiap perguruan tingi dapat saling bertukar informasi. Konsep marketing yang dilakukan dengan mengadakan pameran, workshop, dan presentasi bersama.

Pertemuan rutin JogjaEdu dilakukan minimal setiap satu bulan sekali. Pada tanggal 3 Januari 2009 diadakan rapat koordinasi ke 4 yang bertempat di ruang Citra STMIK AMIKOM Yogykarta. Dalam rapat ini perwakilan dari 11 perguruan tinggi melakukan kordinasi untuk persiapan marketing bersama di SMA Negeri 3 Purworejo pada tanggal 5 Januari 2009. Selain itu membahas persiapan marketing bersama di SMA Negeri 1 Pontianak.

Internet Mahal Masih Jadi Kendala e-Learning

Mahalnya biaya akses internet masih jadi kendala dalam pelaksanaan e-learning. Meski demikian, praktisi pengajar online tetap optimistis masalah ini bisa segera diatasi.

"Mahalnya tarif internet masih jadi kendala," demikian keluh Dwi H Widyantoro, salah satu praktisi e-learning ketika ditemui detikINET di Kampus ITB, Jalan Ganesha 10, Rabu (31/12/2008).

e-learning adalah praktik belajar dan mengajar menggunakan kumpulan materi berbentuk elektronik. Materi tersebut bisa berupa lisan, tulisan, ilustrasi, animasi, video atau gabungan dari semuanya yang disebut multimedia.

"Dengan e-learning, maka dapat membantu peserta ajar mencapai tujuan pendidikan
untuk meningkatkan ketrampilan dan kinerjanya," terang Dwi, yang sehari-harinya bertugas sebagai staf dosen Sekolah Teknik Elektro dan Informatika ITB.

Walaupun masih tergolong mahal, namun ia optimistis tarif internet akan terus turun. Menurutnya, dengan kompetisi ketat antaroperator, konsumen seharusnya jadi makin diuntungkan dengan tarif internet yang kian mudah dijangkau.

"Sekarang bisa dilihat sendiri, tarif internet makin murah, walaupun juga pada
dasarnya masih mahal dibanding dengan negara lain. Tapi saya optimis internet
akan menjadi barang yang murah dan mudah dijangkau bagi semua kalangan," ujarnya penuh harap.

Pada 2010 nanti, pola pengajaran jarak jauh tanpa tatap muka dengan pola distance learning bisa diterapkan di ITB. Saat ini di ITB, baru terlaksana blended learning alias metode e-learning dengan tatap muka di awal perkuliahan.

Untuk menggapai hal tersebut, ITB tengah meningkatkan kapasitas staf dan uji coba penyelenggaraan kuliah berbasis blended learning. Harapannya di 2010 nanti bisa terbentuk kantor untuk distance education, serta terjalinnya kerjasama dengan institusi lain sehingga terbentuk program studi berbasis e-learning.

"Kita bisa mulai dari program S2. Karena program S1 tetap menggunakan perkuliahan
konvensional," pungkas Dwi.

Rombak Strategi Bisnis, Dell Depak Pejabat Top

Persaingan keras dalam bisnis komputer memaksa para pemainnya membesut strategi baru agar tetap survive. Seperti halnya produsen komputer nomor 2 dunia, Dell mengumumkan bakal mengubah cara mereka dalam menjalankan bisnis.

Perubahan ini adalah penjualan global yang semula berbasis region akan dikendalikan secara sentral. Selain itu, Dell juga memberhentikan beberapa pejabat tingginya. Semua itu dilakukan terkait kegagalan Dell menguntit Hewlett Packard yang makin mendominasi sebagai produsen komputer nomor 1 dunia.

Pada kuartal ketiga 2008, pangsa pasar Dell menurun menjadi 13,6 persen dari 16,1 persen pada periode yang sama tahun 2006. Sementara pangsa pasar HP justru meningkat menjadi 18,4 persen dari yang sebelumnya 16,3 persen di 2006.

Dilansir Vnunet dan dikutip detikINET, minggu (4/1/2009), langkah bisnis baru Dell tersebut memang membawa 'korban'. Dell menyatakan, dua eksekutif top akan berhenti dari posisinya sebagai bagian dari rencana restrukturisasi.

Presiden Global Operations Dell, Mike Cannon akan turun dari posisinya dan diganti oleh Jeff Clarke. Sementara Chief Marketing Officer Mike Jarvis, juga akan berhenti dari jabatannya. Dia bakal digantikan oleh mantan Marketing Vice President Dell untuk wilayah Afrika dan Timur Tengah, Erin Nelson.

Pergantian jabatan tersebut merupakan bagian dari proyek restrukturisasi Dell yang telah berlangsung sekitar 2 tahun terakhir. Meski saat ini masih membuat kondisi finansial Dell menurun, CEO Dell Michel Dell tetap meyakini restrukturisasi tersebut akan membuat Dell bertambah baik dalam jangka panjang.

China Gebuk Sindikat Pembajak Software Raksasa

Selama ini China dikenal sebagai surga bagi para pembajak. Namun, kali ini pemerintah Negeri Tirai Bambu tersebut mengambil tindakan tegas dengan menggulung sindikat pembajakan software.

Dalam operasi yang digelar oleh Biro Keamanan Publik China dan lembaga investigasi Amerika FBI, 11 anggota sindikat pembajakan -yang disebut Microsoft sebagai sindikat pembajak software terbesar di dunia- dibekuk.

Dikutip detikINET dari Arstechnica, Minggu (4/1/2008), lama hukuman yang dijatuhkan ke para pelaku berbeda-beda, berkisar 1,5-6,5 tahun, tergantun peranan mereka dalam tubuh sindikat.

Sindikat ini menjalankan bisnisnya dengan rapi. Sindikat pembajak tersebut telah memproduksi dan mengedarkan software Microsoft bajakan yang diperkirakan bernilai lebih dari US$2 miliar.

Software bajakan yang dihasilkan memiliki kualitas tinggi, sehingga sulit dibedakan dengan yang asli. Produk mereka telah menyambangi sekitar 36 negara, dan hadir dalam 11 bahasa.

Tindakan tegas dari pemerintah China ini tentu saja disambut gembira oleh Microsoft yang selama ini sering dibuat kelabakan oleh para pembajak software.

5 Plug-in Ciamik di Browser Firefox

Firefox merupakan salah satu browser yang pertumbuhan penggunanya paling banyak. Bagi pengguna Firefox tentu sudah tahu kalau browser besutan Mozilla tersebut memiliki banyak plug-in.

Plug-in adalah tools tambahan yang bisa diinstal pada browser Mozilla Firefox untuk menambah suatu kemampuan atau fasilitas tertentu, meningkatkan kenyamanan berinternet atau mempercantik tampilan browser.

Ada ribuan plug-in tersedia di Firefox yang dapat diinstal dan didownload secara gratis. Berikut ini adalah lima plug-in Firefox yang berguna dan cukup populer di kalangan pengguna internet versi Techdream. Apa plug-in favoritmu?

1. Autocopy
Dengan menggunakan plug-in ini, Firefox secara otomatis akan mengcopy teks yang telah diblok. Kita tidak perlu lagi menekan tombol Ctrl + C sehingga lebih hemat waktu. Plug-in Autocopy ini dapat didownload di: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/383

2. Fire Uploader
Dengan plug-in ini, Anda dapat mengupload atau mendownload video, gambar ataupun file dokumen dari situs apapun termasuk Flickr, Google Picasa Album, Youtube, Facebook, Box.net. Interfacenya pun sangat user friendly. Download plug-innya di: http://www.fireuploader.com/#fupHome

3. GMail Manager
Plug-in ini sangat berguna bagi pemilik account GMail. Dengan plug-in ini, Anda dapat mengatur berbagai akun GMail dari Firefox dan memantau apakah ada e-mail baru atau tidak. Beberapa fitur yang menarik dari plug-in ini adalah:

* Secara otomatis login dan membuka inbox hanya dengan satu kali klik.
* Menampilkan jumlah email yang belum dibaca pada inbox.
* Daftar 10 pesan yang paling terbaru.
* Memunculkan alert ketika ada email baru masuk.
* Kustomisasi icon pada toolbar/statusbar.


Plug-in GMail Manager ini dapat Anda download di: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1320

4. Foxmarks
Plug-in ini memungkinkan Anda mengakses bookmark di komputer manapun karena plug-in ini akan menyimpan salinan bookmark yang ada di server. Walhasil, Anda dapat mengakses bookmark dari komputer manapun. Plug-in akan sangat berguna bagi Anda yang sering menggunakan komputer yang berbeda-beda. Untuk mendownloadnya, kunjungi link berikut ini: http://www.foxmarks.com/

5. IE Tab
Ada beberapa website yang hanya dapat berjalan pada browser Internet Explorer (IE). sehingga mau tidak mau Anda harus menggunakan IE. Firefox menyediakan plug-in bernama IE Tab. Dengan plug-in ini Anda bisa membuka tab baru yang merupakan tab IE pada browser Firefox, tanpa perlu membuka window IE. Download IE Tab melalui link: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1419

Lenovo Siap PHK Ratusan Karyawan

Rentetan PHK (Pemutusan Hubungan Kerja) sebagai imbas krisis ekonomi tampaknya belum bakal berhenti. Kali ini giliran Lenovo, produsen komputer terbesar keempat dunia dilaporkan berencana merumahkan 200 karyawannya yang bekerja di kantor pusat di Beijing.

Menurut sumber internal yang dilansir media China, Caijing, beberapa karyawan yang bakal didepak termasuk para eksekutif senior. Pengumuman resmi adanya restrukturisasi ini kemungkinan bakal dilakukan Lenovo pada pertengahan Januari ini.

Perkembangan bisnis Lenovo belakangan ini memang menunjukkan tren menurun. Di Jepang misalnya, pejabat tinggi Lenovo mengundurkan diri karena penjualan yang seret di negeri Sakura itu.

Di sisi lain, media bisnis China, China Business News turut melaporkan bahwa Lenovo bakal menggabungkan operasi bisnisnya di China dan Rusia dengan region Asia Pasifik.

Dikutip detikINET dari Reuters, Senin (5/1/2009), Lenovo termasuk salah satu perusahaan China yang ambisius berekspansi ke luar negeri. Mereka memperkuat posisi bisnisnya dengan mengakuisisi bisnis PC dari raksasa komputer Amerika Serikat, IBM.

10 Tips Mengamankan Komputer Saat Liburan

Libur telah tiba, banyak pekerja kantoran memilih mengambil cuti untuk menghabiskan libur di akhir tahun. Ini berarti, puluhan bahkan ratusan komputer desktop di kantor nganggur tak bertuan.

Pastikan komputer Anda aman di kantor ataupun di rumah sehingga liburan tetap tenang. Entah itu laptop ditinggal di kantor atau rumah, atau dibawa berlibur, Anda perlu memperhatikan hal-hal berikut ini:

1. Sebelum meninggalkan kantor atau rumah, pastikan komputer dan monitor dalam keadaan tidak aktif. Jika memang komputer harus standby agar Anda dapat bekerja secara remote, paling tidak matikan monitor.

2. Biar aman, cabut steker yang menghubungkan komputer dengan sumber listrik. Selain untuk meminimalisir hal-hal buruk seperti korslet, juga demi menghemat listrik.

3. Matikan dan cabut steker perlengkapan komputer Anda yang lainnya seperti printer, Uninteruptible Power Supply (UPS), speaker, dan perlengkapan komputer lainnya. Jangan lupa juga matikan alarm jam agar tidak mengganggu karyawan lain yang bertugas piket di kantor saat libur.

4. Back up data-data yang ada pada komputer atau server sebelum berlibur. Ini akan bermanfaat jika suatu saat terjadi malfunction pada sistem yang menyebabkan data hilang.

5. Putuskan (disconnect) akses jaringan komputer Anda ke semua workstation dan server. Matikan juga akses modem ke workstation atau server.

6. Jangan lupa kunci pintu ruangan kerja Anda agar peralatan komputer Anda aman.

Bagi yang menggunakan laptop:

7. Jangan meninggalkan laptop di dalam mobil jika memang Anda tak berniat membawa laptop saat berlibur. Simpan laptop Anda di tempat yang aman.

8. Jika Anda berniat membawa laptop saat berlibur dengan menggunakan pesawat, jangan masukkan laptop ke dalam bagasi, tetapi bawalah ke kabin.

9. Pastikan laptop dalam keadaan mati atau paling tidak dalam posisi hibernation sebelum membawa serta laptop dalam perjalanan.

10. Jangan menaruh tumpukan barang di atas laptop. Beban yang terlalu berat di atas laptop dapat menyebabkan laptop Anda rusak. Apalagi menumpahkan minuman pada laptop.

Eee PC Berjaya di Eropa

Meski menurut sebuah lembaga riset, penjualan Asus Eee PC dikangkangi Aspire One besutan Acer. Namun bukan berarti mereka tak memberi perlawanan di industri netbook.

Di wilayah Eropa misalnya, prestasi Eee PC justru kian melonjak dan menempati posisi puncak. Menurut survei yang dilakukan lembaga riset Gfk untuk bulan Oktober, Eee PC menjadi netbook paling populer di sejumlah negara besar Eropa. Seperti Jerman, Prancis, Spanyol, Italia, Polandia, Republik Ceko hingga Rusia.

Menurut data Gfk, Eee PC menguasai pangsa pasar lebih dari 60% di Eropa. Dari keterangan tertulis yang diterima detikINET, Senin (5/12/2008), salah satu faktor utama kesuksesan mereka dikatakan adalah karena kemudahannya dalam menyediakan akses internet untuk kebutuhan belajar, bekerja, ataupun bermain bagi pengguna.

Eric Chen, General Manager dari ASUS European Sales & Marketing Groups mengatakan, aliansi pihaknya dengan channel yang berbeda tidak hanya meningkatkan pertumbuhan penjualan Eee PC, tetapi mereka juga merupakan indikasi nyata popularitas Eee PC diantara konsumen sebagai netbook yang menawarkan value terbaik.

Tidak hanya terpilih sebagai hadiah terbaik untuk Natal, Hari Ibu dan Tahun Baru, Eee PC juga diklaim dinobatkan sebagai 'Product of the Year 2008' oleh majalah Forbes.

Qtel Bersiap Akuisisi Indosat Tanpa Lepas StarOne

Setelah terlepas dari kewajiban spin-off divisi telepon tetap Indosat StarOne, langkah Qatar Telecom (Qtel) untuk akuisisi lanjutan hingga 65% terkesan tanpa hambatan berarti.

Qtel sendiri dikabarkan siap mengajukan prospektus rencana penawaran tender (tender offer) 24,2% saham publik Indosat (ISAT) ke Bapepam-LK paling lambat Jumat (9/1/2008).

"Kemungkinan pekan ini Qtel akan mendaftarkan prospektus tender offer," kata Ketua Bapepam-LK, Fuad Rahmany, usai menghadiri pembukaan perdagangan saham di gedung bursa efek, Jakarta, Senin (5/1/2009).

Fuad mengatakan, Qtel telah memberikan komitmen untuk mendaftarkan pelaksanaan penawaran tender kepada Bapepam pada pekan pertama 2009.

"Ini kan baru hari pertama (perdagangan) Januari. Mereka waktu itu bilang akan mengumumkan pekan ini. Nanti kita lihat," ujarnya.

Qtel telah mengakuisisi 40,8% saham Indosat dan diberikan kesempatan melakukan tender offer atas saham publik hingga 65%. Jumlah saham publik yang bisa di-tender offer maksimal 24,2%. Harga tender offer yang telah disetujui di harga Rp 7.388 per saham.

TV Digital Ibarat Rumah Susun

Menkominfo Mohammad Nuh mengibaratkan implementasi siaran televisi digital layaknya rumah susun. Maksudnya?

"TV digital itu seperti rumah susun karena dalam satu kapling bisa dihuni beberapa keluarga. Itu artinya telah tercipta efisiensi," kata dia dalam jumpa pers 'Refleksi Akhir Tahun 2008' di gedung Depkominfo, Jakarta.

Setelah menggelar soft launch untuk lembaga penyiaran pemerintah (LPP) TVRI pada 13 Agustus 2008 lalu, Nuh mengatakan uji coba siaran digital juga akan diimplementasikan pada pertengahan Januari 2009 mendatang oleh konsorsium lembaga penyiaran swasta (LPS) yang beranggotakan antara lain, SCTV, MetroTV, ANTV, TVOne, dan TransTV.

"Implementasi TV digital ini harus didorong terus agar tercipta efisiensi. Sesuai amanat TV berjaringan, implementasi harus tuntas di 2009," menteri menandaskan.

Seribu Hotspot Disebar di Indonesia Timur

Lebih dari seribu hotspot untuk akses internet prabayar, disebar di kawasan timur Indonesia. Demikian salah satu upaya Telkom untuk mengejar target tiga juta pelanggan Speedy.

Upaya lain yang disebutkan keterangan tertulis Telkom, Senin (5/12/2009), ialah dengan menuntaskan pembangunan 151 sambungan layanan (SSL) Speedy untuk wilayah Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua, Bali, Kupang, dan Mataram.

Meski tak disebutkan jumlah pelanggannya, Telkom mengklaim pelanggan internet Speedy di kawasan timur Indonesia mengalami pertumbuhan 316% dibanding tahun lalu.

Lonjakan juga terjadi pada layanan Flexi. Pelanggan telepon nirkabel area terbatas Telkom di kawasan tersebut melonjak 73% dibanding tahun-tahun sebelumnya yang cuma berkisar 43%.

Disebutkan, peningkatan dipicu sejumlah hal seperti penambahan jumlah menara pemancar telekomunikasi serta keberhasilan program promosi tarif dan bundling ponsel Flexi.

"Hingga akhir 2008 lalu ada penambahan 174 unit BTS atau meningkat 287% dibanding dengan tahun sebelumnya. Dengan demikian, total menara pemancar keseluruhan tumbuh 105% dari jumlah BTS yang ada," pungkas Telkom.

Trafik SMS dan Voice Indosat Tembus Miliaran

Operator Indosat berhasil menembus trafik yang cukup signifikan di sepanjang masa libur Natal dan Tahun Baru. Total trafik pesan singkat mencapai 2,21 miliar SMS dan voice call selama 2,2 miliar menit.

Menurut Adita Irawati, Division Head Public Relations Indosat, jumlah trafik tersebut berhasil dicapai Indosat dalam waktu sembilan hari atau 24 Desember 2008 hingga 1 Januari 2009.

"Puncak lonjakan pengiriman SMS terjadi pada hari-H Natal yang mencapai 270,2 juta SMS atau naik sekitar 20% dibandingkan hari biasa. Sedangkan lonjakan voice terjadi pada hari-H Tahun Baru yang mencapai 269 juta menit atau melonjak 15,2% dibandingkan hari biasa," jelasnya pada detikINET, Senin (5/1/2009).

Adita menandaskan trafik telekomunikasi pelanggan Indosat tak mengalami kendala berarti. Tingkat keberhasilan SMS maupun voice call diklaim mencapai lebih dari 90%, baik sambungan antarjaringan maupun lintas operator.

Tren Serangan Cyber di 2009

Tren ancaman utama keamanan cyber untuk tahun 2009 mulai diprediksi. Menurut biro sekuriti Kaspersky Labs, para penjahat cyber bakal makin giat melancarkan serangan pada perangkat smartphone di tahun mendatang.

Perusahaan ini memprediksi bahwa popularitas Apple iPhone, dibarengi pula dengan peluncuran sistem operasi Google Android yang kian menanjak eksistensinya, jadi faktor pemicu kaum kriminal menghantam smartphone.

Kaspersky menjelaskan, evolusi perkembangan ponsel hampir sama seperti yang terjadi pada komputer PC. Hanya dalam waktu sekitar 1 dekade, ponsel yang semula ribet dan mahal, telah berubah jadi perangkat canggih dibekali fitur akses internet berkecepatan tinggi.

Itulah sebabnya, smartphone menjadi target empuk berikutnya bagi para cracker, sama seperti yang menimpa PC.

Magnus Kalkuhl, anggota Kaspersky Lab Global Research & Analysis Team
memperkirakan, serangan pada smartphone bakal jadi hal biasa. Skala serangan di 2009 memang masih terbatas, namun dalam kurun waktu 5 tahun, program jahat bakal jadi 'makanan sehari-hari' pengguna smartphone.

Selain pada smartphone, Kasperksy juga memperkirakan peningkatan pesat serangan cyber ke situs jejaring sosial. Hal ini dipicu banyaknya user yang tak waspada dan percaya begitu saja dengan sekuriti situs jejaring. Padahal pihak situs sendiri sering lambat dalam mersepon ancaman keamanan yang terjadi.

Kalkuhl juga memprediksi metode lama penyebaran kode jahat via e-mail makin jarang dipakai di tahun 2009. Dilansir WebUser dan dikutip detikINET, Selasa (30/12/2008), ancaman cyber terutama bakal menyebar via link tertentu di mana jika link tersebut diklik, program jahat akan langsung ter-download pada komputer.

Pakai Mesin Baru, Kaspersky

Kaspersky Lab menggunakan mesin antivirus baru yang diklaim lebih efektif dalam mendeteksi malware. Efektivitas mesin sudah bisa dijajal pengguna, setidaknya lewat versi beta yang baru saja dirilis perusahaan keamanan asal Rusia ini.

Versi beta tersebut meliputi Kaspersky Open Space Security yang kini dilengkapi dengan Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Windows Workstations 8.0, Kaspersky Administration Kit 8.0, Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Windows Server 8.0, dan Kaspersky Anti-Virus Second Opinion Solution 8.0.

"Generasi baru produk Kaspersky Lab ini akan menggunakan mesin antivirus baru yang lebih efektif dalam mendeteksi malware ketimbang produk-produk yang sudah ada," sebut keterangan pers Kaspersky yang dikutip detikINET, Selasa (30/12/2008).

Mesin baru itu diyakini akan meningkatkan kecepatan pemindaian secara signifikan berkat pengoptimalan penggunaan sumber daya komputer, terutama pada komputer dengan prosesor berinti dua dan empat. Arsitektur pada produk baru itu juga memastikan kinerja yang baik dan penggunaan sumber daya yang hemat, demikian keterangan Kaspersky.

Malware nampaknya masih akan jadi ancaman serius di tahun mendatang. Hingga akhir 2008 saja, Kaspersky berhasil mengidentifikasi 15 juta jenis malware baru. Padahal di tahun sebelumnya, jumlah malware yang ditemukan cuma sekitar dua juta tipe.

Chief Executive Kaspersky, Eugene Kaspersky memerkirakan bisnis kejahatan cyber di sepanjang 2008 bernilai tak kurang dari US$ 100 miliar. Itu termasuk nilai kerugian dari program jahat yang banyak mengkontaminasi situs internet.

Virus Hopeless

Pengguna komputer yang tukang ngoprek harap berhati-hati jika menemui folder palsu bernama 'Credit Card', 'Hack' dan 'XXX'. Jangan sekali-kali dibuka, jika tidak ingin komputer Anda menjadi 'tanpa harapan' karena terinfeksi virus Hopeless terbaru.

Analis virus dari Vaksincom Adi Saputra mengatakan, virus Hopeless sebenarnya telah muncul pada akhir 2007 lalu, namun kali ini seolah melanjutkan pendahulunya Hopeless part II kembali muncul untuk mencari mangsa.

"Norman Security Suite mendeteksi varian Hopeless part II tersebut dengan nama Dloader.ERQB. Berbeda dengan pendahulunya, virus ini dibuat dengan script bahasa BASIC menggunakan software Autoit versi 3 yang kemudian dikompres dengan program UPX," ujarnya kepada detikINET, Senin (5/1/2009).

Dengan program UPX, lanjut Adi, virus dapat dikompres sehingga ukurannya tidak terlalu besar dan dapat memudahkan dalam penyebaran. Tujuan mengkompres ukuran ini adalah karena makin kecil ukuran file suatu virus maka secara otomatis akan semakin mudah disebarkan.

Setelah dikompres dengan UPX, virus Hopeless part II maka akan memiliki ciri-ciri menggunakan icon folder, ukuran file 247 kb, extension file .exe dan type file 'application'.

Sementara bagi komputer korban yang sudah 'hopeless' terkena virus ini maka akan timbul gejala berikut:

* Beberapa fungsi windows akan diblok, seperti Task Manager, Command Prompt dan Registry Editor.
* Fungsi windows seperti Run, Find, Folder Options dan Log Off akan hilang.
* Jendela IE tambahan akan dibuka dengan link URL http://wewe.helo_iam_hopeles_.com .
* Terjadi duplikasi file virus pada seluruh drive dan folder baik root maupun sub folder.

Yordania Pertimbangkan Putus Hubungan Diplomatik dengan Israel

Amman - Pemerintah Yordania kemungkinan bakal meninjau kembali hubungan diplomatiknya dengan Israel. Hal ini dilakukan sehubungan dengan agresi militer yang dilancarkan Israel ke Palestina.

Hal itu disampaikan Perdana Menteri (PM) Yordania Nader Dahabi seperti dilansir Al Jazeera, Senin (5/1/2009).

"Yordania akan mempertimbangkan semua opsi, termasuk mempertimbangkan kembali hubungan dengan Israel," kata Dhabi.

"Tak mungkin kita tetap diam saat ancaman ini mempengaruhi keamanan seluruh wilayah," imbuhnya.

Yordania merupakan satu di antara dua negara Arab yang menjalin hubungan diplomatik dengan Israel. Negara Arab lainnya adalah Mesir.

Dengan meningkatnya aksi protes publik Yordania terhadap Israel, pemerintah Yordania kini terdesak untuk memikirkan kembali hubungan diplomatik tersebut.

Sebelumnya ribuan mahasiswa dari berbagai universitas di Yordania berdemo di luar gedung parlemen di ibukota Amman untuk mendesak pemutusan hubungan diplomatik dengan Israel. Massa juga menyerukan pengusiran duta besar Israel dari Yordania.

Yordania dihuni oleh hampir tiga juta pengungsi asal Palestina. Sebagian besar dari mereka telah menjadi warga negara Yordania.