Tampilan Baru Facebook Bisa Kuras Bandwidth

Anda yang ingin mengubah tampilan akun Facebook diberi kesempatan untuk uji coba.

VIVAnews - Pada ajang F8 yang digelar September 2011, Facebook menyebutkan bahwa mereka akan melakukan perubahan desain tampilan utama milik pengguna situs jejaring sosial mereka.
Seperti VIVAnews kabarkan sebelumnya, perubahan itu dihadirkan seiring rencana mereka menyediakan konten musik, video, dan videogames dari pihak ketiga.

Saat ini, tampilan baru Facebook tersebut sudah bisa diterapkan bagi seluruh pengguna jejaring sosial terbesar itu. Anda yang ingin menikmati tampilan baru Facebook dapat mengaktivasinya lewat halaman berikut.

Tertarik untuk mengubah tampilan akun Facebook? Facebook memberi kesempatan untuk uji coba selama 7 hari untuk melihat apakah tampilan baru itu pas di hati.
Jika sudah yakin, scroll ke bawah sampai menemukan tombol 'Get Timeline' dan kembali ke atas untuk klik 'Publish Now' agar tampilan baru akun Facebook Anda bisa dilihat oleh teman-teman.

Layaknya blog, kini seluruh aktivitas yang pernah Anda lakukan sejak mendaftar di situs jejaring sosial itu bisa Anda lihat dengan lebih mudah karena tersedia opsi untuk itu di sebelah kanan untuk ditampilkan di Timeline.

Dari percobaan singkat yang kami lakukan, tampilan Facebook ini memang jadi lebih menarik dibanding sebelumnya. Seperti blog, Anda juga bisa memasang foto untuk dijadikan header tampilan Facebook Anda. Foto sendiri bisa Anda ambil dari album yang sudah ada atau mengambil foto baru lewat kamera.

Namun demikian, kenikmatan melihat-lihat album-album dan aktivitas kita yang telah lalu di jejaring sosial itu tentu akan menghabiskan bandwidth internet Anda karena seluruh foto, album yang Anda upload dan aktivitas-aktivitas lain akan diload di Timeline tersebut.

Saban pameran atau peluncuran produk komputer dan hal-hal lain terkait dilakukan, selalu ramai dihadiri pengunjung di Indonesia.

Surabaya (ANTARA News) - Indonesia menjadi salah satu negara dengan tingkat pertumbuhan pasar penjualan produk komputer paling pesat di dunia. Itu sebabnya banyak produsen komputer dunia mengincar Indonesia.

Direktur Penjualan Intel Indonesia, Brata Rafly, kepada wartawan di Surabaya, Kamis, mengatakan, tingkat pertumbuhan komputer baik yang jinjing maupundesktop di Indonesia pernah mencapai angka tertinggi, 76 persen, pada kuartal pertama 2010.

"Dengan angka pertumbuhan yang begitu tinggi dan potensi pasar yang besar, tidak salah kalau banyak produsen komputer masuk ke Indonesia," katanya di sela-sela kegiatan "Intel Channel Conference 2011".

Menurut Brata, peningkatan pertumbuhan setinggi itu tidak lepas dari pertambahan pengguna internet di Indonesia, terutama dalam mengakses laman jejaring sosial seperti facebook dan twitter.

Saat ini diperkirakan terdapat lebih dari 45 juta jiwa penduduk Indonesia yang telah mengakses internet, tetapi baru 30 persen yang menggunakan komputer pribadi.

"Selebihnya mereka akses internet melalui warnet atau telepon seluler pintar. Ke depan, jumlah pemilik komputer jinjing maupun desktop akan terus meningkat, karena komputer sudah menjadi kebutuhan dan gaya hidup," tambah Brata.

Mengantisipasi pertumbuhan tersebut, lanjut Brata, pihaknya terus melakukan evolusi dengan memasarkan produk-produk terbaru yang sesuai kebutuhan konsumen, salah satunya prosesor canggih Ultrabook yang telah diluncurkan kuartal ketiga tahun ini.

Ia menambahkan, beberapa produsen komputer internasional seperti Acer, Toshiba, Asus, dan Lenovo telah mengaplikasikan prosesor ini pada produknya.

"Awal 2012 mendatang, Intel mulai menggarap pasar prosesor untuk produk smartphone dan komputer tablet yang beberapa waktu terakhir sedang booming," ujarnya.

Brata Rafly juga menambahkan bahwa hingga akhir 2012, ditargetkan sekitar 40 persen dari total komputer pribadi (PC) yang beredar di Indonesia sudah menggunakan prosesor Ultrabook.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Google menilai bahwa riset yang dilakukan oleh Deloitte Access Economics mengenai kontribusi internet terhadap ekonomi itu dilakukan untuk mengetahui peranan internet di Indonesia, yang dinilainya sangat menarik.

Hal tersebut diungkapkan Mike Orgill Country Lead,Public Policy & Goverment Affairs South East Asia Google Asia Pacific kepada ANTARANews usai acara peluncuran laporan Deloitte Access Economics di Jakarta.

Orgill mengutarakan bahwa Indonesia sangat menarik dan infrastrukturnya terus berkembang.

Menurutnya ada beberapa hal yang harus dilakukan di Indonesia terkait internet yaitu infrastruktur dan konten lokal, konten lokal yang dimaksud adalah seperti blogger dan situs web untuk bisnis.

"Kalau ada kesempatannya Google akan bantu." ungkapnya.

Menurut laporan terbaru dari Deloitte Access Economics bertajuk "Nusantara terhubung : Peran Internet dalam pembangunan ekonomi Indonesia" yang dimandatkan oleh Google itu melansir fakta bahwa Internet saat ini berkontribusi sebanyak 1.6 persen atau sekitar Rp.116 triliun (13 Milyar dolar) terhadap Pendapatan Domestik Bruto tahunan Indonesia,yang memposisikan internet sama pentingnya dengan gas alam cair (Liquid natural gas).

Internet di Indonesia diprediksi tumbuh tiga kali lipat lebih cepat dari pertumbuhan ekonomi, laporan Deloitte Access Economics memprediksi internet akan tumbuh mencapai sekurangnya 2.5 persen dari PDB sampai 2016.

Berdasarkan laporan itu saat ini nilai ekonomi internet Indonesia itu sebesar Rp. 116 triliun dan diprediksi akan meningkat Rp.324 triliun di tahun 2016.

Pabrik perakitan BMW di Sunter, Jakarta Utara

BMW Group Indonesia, Rabu, 14 Desember, memperkenalkan perakitan perdana BMW Seri 5 di Pabrik Perakitan Gaya Motor, Sunter, Jakarta Utara. Pabrik ini milik PT Astra International Tbk, perusahaan mitra BMW di Indonesia.

Dengan produksi ini, Indonesia akan menjadi negara ke delapan di dunia yang memproduksi BMW Seri 5, yaitu BMW 520i dan 528i. Kedua varian ini akan tersedia di showroom resmi BMW mulai Januari 2012.

Selain itu, BMW 520i akan menjadi BMW bermesin diesel pertama yang dirakit di tanah air. Dan model ini akan masuk jalur produksi pada Februari 2012.

It is normal that people are furious of other nation's attitude.

An economist from Intercafe IPB, Iman Sugema, claimed that the Malaysian government should have not responded openly over the situation in Indonesia as it helps heating up the conflict.

Iman said the Malaysian government does not have to release any sensitive statement about the dispute. "The two governments should have been calmer. How can we teach 200 million population to behave well at the same moment? It's indeed difficult," said Iman last night in the parliamentary complex.

According to Iman, it is normal that people are furious of other nation's attitude. Iman sides with the Indonesian government on its prudence in circulating public statement.

"If there is a bargain on economic issue, Malaysia would be nervous. Let's say Indonesia and Malaysia breaks its relations. Then the Indonesian migrant workers would be sent home. Who would take care of their oil palm plantations?"

Malaysia, he said, depends much on the Indonesian migrant workers whose number reaches an estimate of two million. "One out of 10 Malaysians is Indonesian," he said.

In addition, Malaysia will be annoyed by the dispute since many of its investors are in Indonesia.

"Should the relations break, what would happen to their investment? How about their companies? What would they do with their oil palm plantations?"

"As regards export, we can easily shift our option to China and India, whose markets are 50 times better than the Malaysia's," he said.

The future construction is part of the improve in infrastructure development.

Indonesia will build a 100-floor tower worth Rp2 trillion called Menara Kebanggaan Indonesia (literally, Pride of Indonesia Tower). PT Adhi Karya, the construction company on the project, will hold rights issue and have bank loans to finance the project.

President Director of Adhi Karya, Kiswodarmawan, said 70 percent of investment will be acquired from loans while the rest will be covered by rights issue.

In addition, the rights issue is aimed at funding other infrastructure projects such as toll road development and independent power producer (IPP) construction.

Two IPPs worth Rp4.2 trillion of investment which are situated in Palembang and East Kalimantan are on the plan.

Adhi Karya will set up a consortium with three companies, one of which is from Japan, to build the East Kalimantan IPP.

Earlier, Minister of State-owned Enterprises, Dahlan Iskan, revealed Adhi Karya's plot of putting up a 100-floor tower.

VIVAnews - Timor Leste, the youngest democratic state in the region, has expressed its intention for a membership in ASEAN. However, the ASEAN member countries have yet to give a nod to the proposal.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono nonetheless has showed a gesture of friendship by assuring Timor Leste about, during Indonesia's leadership, getting ASEAN membership next year.

"Indonesia is fully in support of Timor Leste's becoming member of ASEAN," said President Yudhoyono during a session in the Bali Democracy Forum today, Dec 9, in Nusa Dua, Bali.

Yudhoyono said Indonesia will make some approaches to ASEAN member countries to share a spot in the organization. "Timor Leste will be part of ASEAN," said the Indonesian President.

Yudhoyono went on by saying that Timor Leste will eventually achieve the objectives that Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao are going about in a pursuit of democracy.

On the other hand, Xanana in his welcome speech said that Timor Leste's triumph in bringing forth democratic values followed Indonesia's example. He stated that the democracy practiced in Timor Leste was modeled after Indonesia.

"Indonesia has become the reference for Timor Leste in terms of its political institunalization and reform, its adoption over cultural tolerance, its processes of economic development and democracy," said Xanana.

Xanana Gusmao and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

Presiden Obama di Universitas Indonesia

US President Barack Obama arrived in Jakarta, Nov 9, on Halim Perdanakusuma Airport. After canceling the visits to Indonesia twice, the US President decided to make a speech at a hall in the University of Indonesia today, Nov 10: The day of which people of Indonesia regularly celebrate as Heroes Day. The following is the full text of Mr Obama's speech.


* *

Thank you for this wonderful welcome. Thank you to the people of Jakarta. And thank you to the people of Indonesia.

* *

I am so glad that I made it to Indonesia, and that Michelle was able to join me. We had a couple of false starts this year, but I was determined to visit a country that has meant so much to me. Unfortunately, it’s a fairly quick visit, but I look forward to coming back a year from now, when Indonesia hosts the East Asia Summit.

Before I go any further, I want to say that our thoughts and prayers are with all of those Indonesians affected by the recent tsunami and volcanic eruptions – particularly those who have lost loved ones, and those who have been displaced. As always, the United States stands with Indonesia in responding to this natural disaster, and we are pleased to be able to help
as needed. As neighbors help neighbors and families take in the displaced, I know that the strength and resilience of the Indonesian people will pull you through once more.

Let me begin with a simple statement: Indonesia is a part of me. I first came to this country when my mother married an Indonesian man named Lolo Soetoro. As a young boy, I was coming to a different world. But the people of Indonesia quickly made me feel at home.

Jakarta looked very different in those days. The city was filled with buildings that were no more than a few stories tall. The Hotel Indonesia was one of the few high rises, and there was just one brand new shopping center called Sarinah. Becak (cycle rickshaw) outnumbered automobiles in those days, and the highway quickly gave way to unpaved roads and kampongs.

We moved to Menteng Dalam, where we lived in a small house with a mango tree out front. I learned to love Indonesia while flying kites, running along paddy fields, catching dragonflies, and buying satay and baso (meatballs) from the street vendors. Most of all, I remember the people – the old men and women who welcomed us with smiles; the children who made a foreigner feel like a neighbor; and the teachers who helped me learn about the wider world.

Because Indonesia is made up of thousands of islands, hundreds of languages, and people from scores of regions and ethnic groups, my times here helped me appreciate the common humanity of all people. And while my stepfather, like most Indonesians, was raised a Muslim, he firmly believed that all religions were worthy of respect. In this way, he reflected the spirit of religious tolerance that is enshrined in Indonesia’s Constitution, and that remains one of this country’s defining and inspiring characteristics.

I stayed here for four years – a time that helped shape my childhood; a time that saw the birth of my wonderful sister, Maya; and a time that made such an impression on my mother that she kept returning to Indonesia over the next twenty years to live, work and travel – pursuing her passion of promoting opportunity in Indonesia’s villages, particularly for women and girls. For her entire life, my mother held this place and its people close to her heart.

So much has changed in the four decades since I boarded a plane to move back to Hawaii. If you asked me – or any of my schoolmates who knew me back then – I don’t think any of us could have anticipated that I would one day come back to Jakarta as President of the United States. And few could have anticipated the remarkable story of Indonesia over these last four decades.

The Jakarta that I once knew has grown to a teeming city of nearly ten million, with skyscrapers that dwarf the Hotel Indonesia, and thriving centers of culture and commerce. While my Indonesian friends and I used to run in fields with water buffalo and goats, a new generation of Indonesians is among the most wired in the world – connected through cell phones and
social networks. And while Indonesia as a young nation focused inward, a growing Indonesia now plays a key role in the Asia Pacific and the global economy.

This change extends to politics. When my step-father was a boy, he watched his own father and older brother leave home to fight and die in the struggle for Indonesian independence. I’m happy to be here on Heroes Day to honor the memory of so many Indonesians who have sacrificed on behalf of this great country.

When I moved to Jakarta, it was 1967, a time that followed great suffering and conflict in parts of this country. Even though my step-father had served in the Army, the violence and killing during that time of political upheaval was largely unknown to me because it was unspoken by my Indonesian family and friends. In my household, like so many others across Indonesia, it was an invisible presence. Indonesians had their independence, but fear was not far away.

In the years since then, Indonesia has charted its own course through an extraordinary democratic transformation – from the rule of an iron fist to the rule of the people. In recent years, the world has watched with hope and admiration, as Indonesians embraced the peaceful transfer of power and the direct election of leaders. And just as your democracy is symbolized by your elected President and legislature, your democracy is sustained and fortified by its checks and balances: a dynamic civil society; political parties and unions; a vibrant media and engaged citizens who have ensured that – in Indonesia -- there will be no turning back.

But even as this land of my youth has changed in so many ways, those things that I learned to love about Indonesia – that spirit of tolerance that is written into your Constitution; symbolized in your mosques and churches and temples; and embodied in your people – still lives on. Bhinneka Tunggal Ika – unity in diversity. This is the foundation of Indonesia’s example to the world, and this is why Indonesia will play such an important role in the 21 st century.

So today, I return to Indonesia as a friend, but also as a President who seeks a deep and enduring partnership between our two countries. Because as vast and diverse countries; as neighbors on either side of the Pacific; and above all as democracies – the United States and Indonesia are bound together by shared interests and shared values.

Yesterday, President Yudhoyono and I announced a new, Comprehensive Partnership between the United States and Indonesia. We are increasing ties between our governments in many different areas, and – just as importantly – we are increasing ties among our people. This is a partnership of equals, grounded in mutual interests and mutual respect.

With the rest of my time today, I’d like to talk about why the story I just told – the story of Indonesia since the days when I lived here – is so important to the United States, and to the world. I will focus on three areas that are closely related, and fundamental to human progress – development, democracy, and religion.

First, the friendship between the United States and Indonesia can advance our mutual interest in development.

When I moved to Indonesia, it would have been hard to imagine a future in which the prosperity of families in Chicago and Jakarta would be connected. But our economies are now global, and Indonesians have experienced both the promise and perils of globalization: from the shock of the Asian financial crisis in the 1990s to the millions lifted out of poverty. What that means – and what we learned in the recent economic crisis – is that we have a stake in each other’s success.

America has a stake in an Indonesia that is growing, with prosperity that is broadly shared among the Indonesian people – because a rising middle class here means new markets for our goods, just as America is a market for yours. And so we are investing more in Indonesia, our exports have grown by nearly 50 percent, and we are opening doors for Americans and Indonesians to do business with one another.

America has a stake in an Indonesia that plays its rightful role in shaping the global economy. Gone are the days when seven or eight countries could come together to determine the direction of global markets. That is why the G-20 is now the center of international economic cooperation, so that emerging economies like Indonesia have a greater voice and bear greater responsibility. And through its leadership of the G-20’s anti-corruption group, Indonesia should lead on the world stage and by example in embracing transparency and accountability.

America has a stake in an Indonesia that pursues sustainable development, because the way we grow will determine the quality of our lives and the health of our planet. That is why we are developing clean energy technologies that can power industry and preserve Indonesia’s precious natural resources – and America welcomes your country’s strong leadership in the global effort to combat climate change.

Above all, America has a stake in the success of the Indonesian people. Underneath the headlines of the day, we must build bridges between our peoples, because our future security and prosperity is shared. That is exactly what we are doing – by increased collaboration among our scientists and researchers, and by working together to foster entrepreneurship. And I am especially pleased that we have committed to double the number of American and Indonesian students studying in our respective countries – we want more Indonesian students in our schools, and more American students to come study in this country, so that we can forge new ties that last well into this young century.

These are the issues that really matter in our daily lives. Development, after all, is not simply about growth rates and numbers on a balance sheet. It’s about whether a child can learn the skills they need to make it in a changing world. It’s about whether a good idea is allowed to grow into a business, and not be suffocated by corruption. It’s about whether those
forces that have transformed the Jakarta that I once knew –technology and trade and the flow of people and goods – translate into a better life for human beings, a life marked by dignity and opportunity.

This kind of development is inseparable from the role of democracy.

Today, we sometimes hear that democracy stands in the way of economic progress. This is not a new argument. Particularly in times of change and economic uncertainty, some will say that it is easier to take a shortcut to development by trading away the rights of human beings for the power of the state. But that is not what I saw on my trip to India, and that is not what I see in Indonesia. Your achievements demonstrate that democracy and development reinforce one another.

Like any democracy, you have known setbacks along the way. America is no different. Our own Constitution spoke of the effort to forge a “more perfect union,” and that is a journey we have travelled ever since, enduring Civil War and struggles to extend rights to all of our citizens. But it is precisely this effort that has allowed us to become stronger and more
prosperous, while also becoming a more just and free society.

Like other countries that emerged from colonial rule in the last century, Indonesia struggled and sacrificed for the right to determine your destiny. That is what Heroes Day is all about – an Indonesia that belongs to Indonesians. But you also ultimately decided that freedom cannot mean replacing the strong hand of a colonizer with a strongman of your own.

Of course, democracy is messy. Not everyone likes the results of every election. You go through ups and downs. But the journey is worthwhile, and it goes beyond casting a ballot. It takes strong institutions to check the concentration of power. It takes open markets that allow individuals to thrive. It takes a free press and an independent justice system to root out
abuse and excess, and to insist upon accountability. It takes open society and active citizens to reject inequality and injustice.

These are the forces that will propel Indonesia forward. And it will require a refusal to tolerate the corruption that stands in the way of opportunity; a commitment to transparency that gives every Indonesian a stake in their government; and a belief that the freedom that Indonesians have fought for is what holds this great nation together.

That is the message of the Indonesians who have advanced this democratic story – from those who fought in the Battle of Surabaya 55 years ago today; to the students who marched peacefully for democracy in the 1990s, to leaders who have embraced the peaceful transition of power in this young century. Because ultimately, it will be the rights of citizens that will
stitch together this remarkable *Nusantara *that stretches from Sabang to Merauke – an insistence that every child born in this country should be treated equally, whether they come from Java or Aceh; Bali or Papua.

That effort extends to the example that Indonesia sets abroad. Indonesia took the initiative to establish the Bali Democracy Forum, an open forum for countries to share their experiences and best practices in fostering democracy. Indonesia has also been at the forefront of pushing for more attention to human rights within ASEAN. The nations of Southeast Asia must have the right to determine their own destiny, and the United States will strongly support that right. But the people of Southeast Asia must have
the right to determine their own destiny as well. That is why we condemned elections in Burma that were neither free nor fair. That is why we are supporting your vibrant civil society in working with counterparts across this region. Because there is no reason why respect for human rights should stop at the border of any country.


Hand in hand, that is what development and democracy are about – the notion that certain values are universal. Prosperity without freedom is just another form of poverty. Because there are aspirations that human beings share – the liberty of knowing that your leader is accountable to you, and that you won’t be locked up for disagreeing with them; the opportunity to get an education and to work with dignity; the freedom to practice your faith without fear or restriction.

Religion is the final topic that I want to address today, and – like democracy and development – it is fundamental to the Indonesian story.

Like the other Asian nations that I am visiting on this trip, Indonesia is steeped in spirituality – a place where people worship God in many different ways. Along with this rich diversity, it is also home to the world’s largest Muslim population – a truth that I came to know as a boy when I heard the call to prayer across Jakarta.

Just as individuals are not defined solely by their faith, Indonesia is defined by more than its Muslim population. But we also know that relations between the United States and Muslim communities have frayed over many years. As President, I have made it a priority to begin to repair these relations. As a part of that effort, I went to Cairo last June, and called
for a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world – one that creates a path for us to move beyond our differences.

I said then, and I will repeat now, that no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust. But I believed then, and I believe today, that we have a choice. We can choose to be defined by our differences, and give in to a future of suspicion and mistrust. Or we can choose to do the hard work of forging common ground, and commit ourselves to the steady pursuit of
progress. And I can promise you – no matter what setbacks may come, the United States is committed to human progress. That is who we are. That is what we have done. That is what we will do.

We know well the issues that have caused tensions for many years – issues that I addressed in Cairo. In the 17 months that have passed we have made some progress, but much more work remains to be done.

Innocent civilians in America, Indonesia, and across the world are still targeted by violent extremists. I have made it clear that America is not, and never will be, at war with Islam. Instead, all of us must defeat al Qaeda and its affiliates, who have no claim to be leaders of any religion – certainly not a great, world religion like Islam. But those who want to
build must not cede ground to terrorists who seek to destroy. This is not a task for America alone. Indeed, here in Indonesia, you have made progress in rooting out terrorists and combating violent extremism.

In Afghanistan, we continue to work with a coalition of nations to build the capacity of the Afghan government to secure its future. Our shared interest is in building peace in a war-torn land – a peace that provides no safe-haven for violent extremists, and that provides hope for the Afghan people.

Meanwhile, we have made progress on one of our core commitments - our effort to end the war in Iraq. 100,000 American troops have left Iraq. Iraqis have taken full responsibility for their security. And we will continue to support Iraq as it forms an inclusive government and we bring all of our troops home.

In the Middle East, we have faced false starts and setbacks, but we have been persistent in our pursuit of peace. Israelis and Palestinians restarted direct talks, but enormous obstacles remain. There should be no illusions that peace and security will come easy. But let there be no doubt: we will spare no effort in working for the outcome that is just, and that is in the interest of all the parties involved: two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.

The stakes are high in resolving these issues, and the others I have spoken about today. For our world has grown smaller and while those forces that connect us have unleashed opportunity, they also empower those who seek to derail progress. One bomb in a marketplace can obliterate the bustle of daily commerce. One whispered rumor can obscure the truth, and set off violence between communities that once lived in peace. In an age of rapid change and colliding cultures, what we share as human beings can be lost.

But I believe that the history of both America and Indonesia gives us hope. It’s a story written into our national mottos. E pluribus unum – out of many, one. Bhinneka Tunggal Ika – unity in diversity. We are two nations, which have travelled different paths. Yet our nations show that hundreds of millions who hold different beliefs can be united in freedom under one flag.
And we are now building on that shared humanity – through the young people who will study in each other’s schools; through the entrepreneurs forging ties that can lead to prosperity; and through our embrace of fundamental democratic values and human aspirations.

Earlier today, I visited the Istiqlal mosque – a place of worship that was still under construction when I lived in Jakarta. I admired its soaring minaret, imposing dome, and welcoming space. But its name and history also speak to what makes Indonesia great. Istiqlal means independence, and its construction was in part a testament to the nation’s struggle for freedom. Moreover, this house of worship for many thousands of Muslims was designed by a Christian architect.

Such is Indonesia’s spirit. Such is the message of Indonesia’s inclusive philosophy, Pancasila. Across an archipelago that contains some of God’s most beautiful creations, islands rising above an ocean named for peace, people choose to worship God as they please. Islam flourishes, but so do other faiths. Development is strengthened by an emerging democracy. Ancient traditions endure, even as a rising power is on the move.

That is not to say that Indonesia is without imperfections. No country is. But here can be found the ability to bridge divides of race and region and religion – that ability to see yourself in all individuals. As a child of a different race coming from a distant country, I found this spirit in the greeting that I received upon moving here: Selamat Datang. As a Christian
visiting a mosque on this visit, I found it in the words of a leader who was asked about my visit and said, “Muslims are also allowed in churches. We are all God’s followers.”

That spark of the divine lies within each of us. We cannot give in to doubt or cynicism or despair. The stories of Indonesia and America tell us that history is on the side of human progress; that unity is more powerful than division; and that the people of this world can live together in peace. May our two nations work together, with faith and determination, to share these truths with all mankind.

BMW Seri 5  BMW Seri 5 Kini Dirakit di Indonesia

Dengan begitu, Indonesia menjadi negara ke delapan di dunia yang memproduksi BMW Seri 5. Dua varian BMW terbaru, yaitu 520i dan 528i dirakit di pabrik perakitan Gaya Motor Sunter, Jakarta Utara.

Kedua varian ini akan tersedia di showroom resmi BMW mulai Januari 2012. Produk ini mengusung mesin bensin, empat silinder generasi terbaru. Menggunakan teknologi twin power turbo, yang mengombinasikan turbo charger twin scroll dengan valve tronic, double vanos, dan high precision injection.

Selain itu, BMW 520d menjadi BMW bermesin diesel pertama, yang juga dirakit di tanah air. Dan model ini akan masuk jalur produksi pada Februari 2012.

Ekspansi aktivitas produksi ini, berkaitan dengan pengumuman BMW Group pada Mei 2011, mengenai investasi baru sebesar Rp 100 miliar yang ditanam di Indonesia. Perakitan dilakukan di PT Gaya Motor yang merupakan unit usaha PT Astra Internationa Tbkl, mitra BMW Group di Indonesia.

Menurut Ramesh Divyanathan, Presiden Direktur BMW Group Indonesia, sebagai produsen mobil mewah terdepan di dunia, langkah BMW Group melakukan ekspansi kegiatan produksi karena melihat posisi Indonesia yang kian penting dalam perekonomian dunia.

Di Indonesia, kata Ramesh, BMW Group akan meningkatkan produksi dua kali lipat pada 2012, juga nantinya akan lebih banyak model yang akan dirakit di sini. "Selain itu, kami akan melanjutkan investasi dalam kegiatan produksi dan bisnis ritel untuk menggarap potensi pasar. Tentunya akan menyumbangkan peningkatan nilai ekonomi, kesempatan kerja, alih teknologi, serta kemampuan produksi bagi Indonesia," katanya saat pengenalan pabrik, Rabu 14 Desember 2011.

Sedangkan BMW Group's Plant Representative di Jakarta, Josef Weichinger, mengatakan, perakitan gaya motor telah dirancang untuk melakukan aktivitas produksi secara efisien, dan mampu memproduksi beberapa model sekaligus, di setiap jalur produksinya. "Produksi saat ini menghasil 4 unit per-hari untuk tiga model yang berbeda. Rencananya pada 2012 kami akan tingkatkan menjadi sebanyak 8 unit per-hari," katanya.

Tim perakitan Gaya Motor sejak Juli telah menjalani pelatihan. "Kami mendatangkan tenaga ahli dari perakitan kami di Jerman. Khusus untuk seri 5, sebanyak 15 tenaga ahli memberikan pelatihan kerja dalam proses produksi dan persyaratan kualitas," ujarnya.

Jumhur Hidayat menyalami TKI

VIVAnews - Kepala Badan Nasional Penempatan dan Perlindungan Tenaga Kerja Indonesia (BNP2TKI), Moh Jumhur Hidayat, mengatakan bidang pekerjaan teknologi dan informasi merupakan potensi terbesar yang dapat diisi oleh TKI sektor formal berkemampuan semi terampil dan profesional terkait kebutuhan tenaga kerja di Afrika Selatan.

"Pasar tenaga kerja di Afsel membuka seluas-luasnya bagi tenaga ahli sebagai operator atau profesional di bidang pengembangan teknologi informasi," kata Jumhur, di Pretoria, Afrika Selatan, Selasa 13 Desember 2011.

Jumhur dan rombongan BNP2TKI melakukan penjajakan perluasan pasar untuk penempatan TKI formal di Afrika Selatan dan Republik Seychelles, 12-15 Desember 2011.

Turut menyertai Jumhur di antaranya Deputi Penempatan BNP2TKI, Ade Adam Noch, Deputi Kerja Sama Luar Negeri dan Promosi BNP2TKI Endang Sulistyaningsih, Tenaga Profesional Kepala BNP2TKI Bidang Media dan Komunikasi Publik, Mahmud F Rakasima, Kepala Biro Perencanaan BNP2TKI Agusdin Subiantoro, Pelaksana Tugas Direktur Promosi BNP2TKI, Dwi Anto, dan Sunarko dari Direktorat Kawasan Afrika Kementerian Luar Negeri.

Menurut Jumhur, informasi ketersediaan tenaga kerja formal di Afsel diperoleh melalui koordinasi BNP2TKI dan KBRI Pretoria sejak 2007 dan 2009, karenanya penjajakan atas peluang dan upaya kerja sama penempatan TKI formal di Afsel dilakukan melalui kunjungan kali ini.

Selanjutnya, kata Jumhur, secara teknis penempatan TKI formal di Afsel perlu melibatkan peran perusahaan pengerah jasa TKI di Tanah Air atau Pelaksana Penempatan TKI Swasta (PPTKIS), yang selain difasilitasi BNP2TKI juga akan terjalin dengan agensi perekrut tenaga kerja asing di Afsel.

Ia juga mengatakan, dari total penduduk Afrika Selatan sekitar 50 juta orang, jumlah tenaga kerja asingnya mencapai 20-25 persen atau sebanyak 10-12,5 juta, yang umumnya bekerja sebagai tenaga terampil maupun profesional. "Pekerjaan mereka berada di lingkungan perusahaan yang mengembangkan teknologi informasi, perminyakan, pertambangan, dan konstruksi," jelas Jumhur.

Kebutuhan calon TKI perawat juga tergolong besar untuk sejumlah rumah sakit di Afsel, yang sejauh ini permintaannya di atas 4.000 orang. Sementara itu, peluang lain untuk TKI formal meliputi bidang teknologi dan informasi serta pengembangan teknik dan sains, membutuhkan 26.200 tenaga kerja, teknologi penerapan pertanian 8.600 orang, serta manajemen pertanian sebanyak 1.500 orang. Di luar itu terdapat peluang kerja di bidang pelayanan pendidikan.

Jumhur menjelaskan, meski negaranya semakin menunjukkan ke arah kemajuan ekonomi, namun Afsel mengalami kesulitan merekrut tenaga semi terampil, terampil ataupun kategori ahli asal negaranya, akibat banyak yang memilih bekerja di luar negeri sehingga enggan kembali ke Afsel.

"Karena itu, peluang tenaga kerja semi skill, skill dan ahli-ahlinya kini banyak diisi dengan merekrut dari Eropa, Amerika, China, dan sebagainya. Namun demikian jumlahnya masih diperlukan ribuan untuk memenuhi kebutuhan tersebut," kata Jumhur.

Kesejahteraan

Mengenai kesejahteraan yang diterima tenaga kerja asing, Jumhur menyebutkan, tahap pertama untuk pekerjaan yang dilakukan tingkat operator atau pada level terampil dan semi terampil, perusahaan di Afsel menawarkan kisaran gaji antara US$1.500-2.000 per bulan, kemudian yang menempati posisi sebagai profesional memperoleh gaji dua atau tiga kali lipat di atasnya.

Adapun jumlah WNI di Afsel saat kini masih terbatas yakni 250-400 orang. Dari jumlah itu sekitar 150-200 merupakan TKI yang bekerja di berbagai perusahaan khususnya industri pengembangan teknologi dan informasi.

Kunjungan lanjutan Jumhur ke Republik Seychelles untuk penjajakan kerja sama penempatan TKI formal dilakukan pada 14-15 Desember 2011. Hal itu mengingat pasar untuk TKI di negara itu juga terbuka luas, yang terfokus pada bidang pekerjaan sektor turisme serta perhotelan.

Di Seychelles, Jumhur dan rombongan akan bertemu unsur pemerintah yang membidangi ketenagakerjaan, pendidikan, dan kesehatan, di samping agensi penyalur tenaga kerja di Seychelles, mendatangi para TKI perhotelan, sekaligus pembahasan koordinasi program dengan perwakilan khusus RI di Seychelles.

Republik Seychelles adalah sebuah negara kepulauan di tengah Samudra Hindia, sekitar 1.600 kilometer sebelah timur daratan Afrika, serta sebelah timur laut Madagaskar. Penduduk Seychelles diperkirakan 88 ribu jiwa yang mewakili berbagai etnis seperti India, China, Eropa, Arab, dan Asia.

Negara dan teritori tetangganya ialah Mauritius dan Reunion di sebelah selatan, Komoro dan Mayotte di barat daya, dan Maladewa di timur laut.

CEO Microsoft, Steve Ballmer

Pemerintah bersama Microsoft telah menggelar pertemuan untuk membahasmasterplan perluasan dan pengembangan perekonomian Indonesia. Pengembangan tersebut difokuskan pada sektor connectivity(sambungan jaringan), SDM (Sumber Daya Manusia), dan inovasi.

Menurut Menteri Perekonomian Republik Indonesia, Hatta Rajasa, ketertarikan pihak Microsoft terutama adalah dalam pengembangan SDM dan inovasi.

"Rencana realisasinya untuk hal tersebut adalah dengan melakukan pelatihan-pelatihan guna membentuk kewirausahaan," ujap Hatta, saat ditemui di Kantor Kemenko, Jakarta, Senin, 13 Juni 2011.

Selain itu, Hatta menyebutkan, Microsoft juga berkeinginan melakukan kerja sama dengan pihak Kementrian Pendidikan Nasional untuk program-program terkait pendidikan. “Bentuk kerjasama itu misalnya adalah di sisi higher education,” kata Hatta. “Sebab di situ letak keberhasilan bangsa dalam pengembangan inovasi."

Hatta menyebutkan, pada masterplan yang disusun pemerintah, pilar ketiga itu adalah ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi (iptek). “Tanpa iptek, kita tidak mungkin mengembangkan inovasi," ucapnya

Di samping itu, menurut Hatta, pihak Microsoft juga tertarik untuk bekerjasama dalam pengembangan jaringan broadband yang telah ada di Indonesia. Hatta menjelaskan, cara pengembangan jaringan untuk daerah-daerah terpencil adalah dengan pola insentif dari pemerintah agar yield-nya naik.

"Untuk pengembangan daerah, pemerintah masuk dengan universal service fund,” kata Hatta. “Di sini dana pemerintah atau pihak lain tersebut memungkinkan investasi tadi menjadi menarik karena IRR-nya (investment return ratio) terangkat."

Saat disinggung apakah pada pertemuan kali ini terdapat komitmen dari kedua belah pihak, Hatta hanya mengatakan bahwa sampai saat ini pembicaraan belum sampai ke bagian itu.

Nilai donasi perangkat lunak Microsoft, yang dimulai sejak 1988, mencapai US$3,9 miliar.
Negara-negara di kawasan Asia Pasifik dinilai memiliki kesempatan yang besar untuk menjadi pemenang, pasca resesi dunia, jika tetap meningkatkan fokus pada inovasi, pengembangan bisnis, dan efisiensi tenaga kerja.

"Hal ini didasarkan pada kinerja kawasan Asia Pasifik yang sangat baik dalam menghadapi tantangan situasi ekonomi dan sosial yang mempengaruhi hampir sebagian besar kawasan dunia saat ini," kata Alvaro Celis, Wakil Presiden Microsoft Asia Pasifik, pada seminar Accelerating Asia Pacific 2011, seperti dilaporkan wartawanVIVAnews, Mohamad Teguh, dari Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Selasa 6 Desember 2011.

Kuatnya kinerja fundamental negara-negara di kawasan Asia Pasifik, sangat baik untuk meningkatkan daya saing. Inovasi, lanjut Alvaro, akan menjadi pendorong daya saing kawasan. Dan inti dari kebangkitan Asia adalah kesiapan dalam pengembangan inovasi dan infrastruktur.

Lebih lanjut, dia menjelaskan bahwa untuk menuju ekonomi yang berbasis inovasi, negara-negara di kawasan Asia harus siap teknologi dan fokus pada pendidikan, kemampuan pengembangan kapasitas tenaga kerja, implementasi e-government yang efisien untuk melayani masyarakat dan dunia bisnis. Selain itu, menciptakan ekosistem yang baik bagi pengembangan inovasi lokal dengan lebih melibatkan partisipasi swasta.

Untuk memastikan agar manfaat teknologi bisa mencapai banyak orang, seminar tersebut juga menjadi penanda diluncurkannya dua investasi utama Microsoft untuk mendukung civil society yaitu TechSoup Asia untuk Malaysia dan Kavakatu yang merupakan aplikasi global pertama yang dikembangkan di Asia melalui program kemitraan inkubator.

"Saya senang diberi kesempatan meluncurkan satu dari program global Microsoft di Malaysia yaitu TechSoup Asia, perangkat lunak untuk lembaga swadaya masyarakat. Program ini telah digunakan di 38 negara dan dipakai 40 ribu LSM. Saya percaya LSM lokal akan sangat suka untuk berpartisipasi dalam program ini," kata Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, Wakil Menteri Perdagangan Internasional dan Industri Malaysia dalam sambutannya seperti dibacakan oleh Dato Noharuddin Nordin, Chief Executive Officer of Malaysian Industrial Development.

Program TechSoup memberikan kesempatan kepada LSM yang layak, untuk memanfaatkan berbagai jenis perangkat lunak, termasuk sistem operasi, Microsoft Office dan penyediaan server.

Wakil Presiden TechSoup, Mike Yeaton, mengatakan, "Kami sangat senang bermitra dengan Microsoft. Dengan program ini, maka kami bisa mendukung LSM di Malaysia dengan berbagai perangkat lunak yang dibutuhkan untuk mencapai tujuan mereka."

Pada kesempatan itu, perusahaan nirlaba mitra Microsoft dari Sri Lanka, InfoShare, juga meluncurkan perangkat lunak bernama Kavakatu yang merupakan aplikasi berbasis web.

Aplikasi tersebut dibuat untuk alat monitoring dan evaluasi berbagai proyek civil society. Kavakatu merupakan program perangkat lunak pertama hasil kolaborasi Microsoft dan InfoShare. Secara global, nilai donasi perangkat lunak dari Microsoft, yang dimulai sejak 1988, telah mencapai US$3,9 miliar.

100 Juta Aplikasi Diunduh di Mac AppStore
Usia Mac App Store belum lebih dari setahun.


Perusahaan Apple


 Belum ada satu tahun Apple membuat Mac App Store, sebagai tempat yang menyediakan ribuan aplikasi gratis dan berbayar. Walau begitu, App Store telah dikunjungi banyak orang, bahkan aplikasinya telah diunduh lebih dari 100 juta aplikasi.

Hal ini diumumkan Apple di situs resminya, 12 Desember 2011. Apple bahkan menyebut App Store sudah melakukan revolusi di industri aplikasi.

"Dalam waktu tiga tahun, App Store telah mengubah cara orang mendapatkan aplikasimobile, dan sekarang Mac App Store mengubah industri software PC secara tradisional," kata Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Apple, Phillip Schiller, dalam situs resmi Apple.

"Dengan diunduh lebih dari 100 juta kali dalam waktu kurang dari setahun, Mac App Store telah menjadi tempat penjualan software PC terbesar dan terpesat di dunia," lanjutnya.

Selain itu, Apple juga menjelaskan App Store kini memiliki lebih dari 500 ribu aplikasi. App Store pun telah diunduh lebih dari 18 miliar untuk berbagai aplikasi, dan kini berlanjut diunduh lebih dari 1 miliar applikasi tiap bulannya.

Pendiri Microsoft Buat Pesawat Luar Angkasa


Salah satu pendiri Microsoft, Paul Allen, berencana membangun pesawat luar angkasa yang bisa menggantikan Space Shuttle--untuk mengangkut para wisatawan luar angkasa ke orbit dalam dekade ini.