Ideas

For years, computer files compressed with the ubiquitous “Zip” standard have been readable by rival programs, regardless of the software used to make the original archive.

Now there are signs it will no longer be so convenient.

Two leading makers of compression software, PKWare and WinZip, have recently upgraded their products to incorporate encryption for increased security. Problem is, they’re not using the same technology.

That means a file encrypted and compressed by PKZip might not be readable by someone who uses a different program, such as WinZip. Compression and archiving is commonly used to combine files and shrink them so they’re easier to store or transfer.

Still, it’s not expected to be a major problem – at least to those who don’t encrypt their compressed computer data. Users who want the extra security will have to ensure any recipients can unscramble the zipped files.

OUTLOOK

Intel Corp., the world’s largest computer chip maker, sees India as one of the top five destinations for its future investments.

India already is Intel’s largest nonmanufacturing site outside the United States. Some 1,100 people are working at a chip design center in Bangalore that is developing a new version of Intel’s Xeon processor for servers and embedded software for the Centrino mobile processor.

Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel plans to invest $100 million to expand its staff in India to 3,000 and set up a software development center in Bangalore, India’s technology hub.

TECH

The stadium that hosted the 1912 Summer Olympics is about to become the testing ground for a new computer sensor technology that promises to provide more precise measurements of track-and-field results.

The technology, developed at the behest of television broadcasters and track officials, uses photoelectric sensors to track athletes’ performance with bursts of light.

It is scheduled to make its debut at a track meet Aug. 5.

The system, which is essentially a grid of high-precision photo beams controlled by sophisticated analysis software, will be used to track the results in the long jump and triple jump.

It won’t be used as part of the official scoring because it has yet to be adopted by the world athletics governing body.

GADGET

Sony Corp. unveiled several high-end digital electronics products last week in a bid to strengthen its brand and differentiate itself from low-price Asian rivals.

The Japanese electronics and entertainment giant will begin selling the Qualia product line in Japan this month, including a $3,200 cigarette-lighter-size digital camera and a $20,000 home theater projector.

It will launch the line in the United States and Europe soon, but the dates have yet to be set, the company said.

Sony’s electronics division has been badly battered by price competition, especially from Chinese manufacturers with cheap labor, and even prized brands such as the Vaio are starting to lose their luster.

Among the other Qualia products are an $11,000 TV and a $12,700 audio console.

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