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BetaNews.Com (6 non lus)

Sony sues Hotz, hacking group over PS3 hacks

Publié: janvier 12, 2011, 11:00pm CET par Ed Oswald

By Ed Oswald, Betanews

Sony has filed suit against George Hotz -- more commonly known for his work in jailbreaking iPhones -- and a hacker group called "failoverfl0w," accusing both of copyright infringement and other related charges over their work to circumvent Sony's PlayStation 3 copyright protection.
The Japanese game maker is partially at fault here, having failed to use properly secure cryptography in order to ensure that pirated software can not run on the console. Hackers discovered the private key, and now can allow copied versions of games to run on the console without any issues.
Hotz and the others are being charged with breach of contract, several copyright infringement charges, as well as violations of copyright law in the state of California. Sony seeks both injunctive relief and punitive damages.
"Hackers will succeed in their attempts to ensure that pirated software can be run on the PS3 system, resulting in the destruction of SCEA's business" unless the court takes actions, Sony argues in the suit.
While failoverfl0w only published a video showing proof that the crack was possible, Hotz himself actually released a modified version of the PS3 hardware allowing for the running of non-signed software. It should be noted that originally hackers were looking to run Linux on the console, but it could just as easily be used for less than legal purposes as well.
Hotz seems not to be concerned about the legal action against him. "I would expect a company that prides itself on intellectual property to be well versed in the provisions of the law, so I am disappointed in Sony's current action," he told the BBC. "I have spoken with legal counsel and I feel comfortable that Sony's action against me doesn't have any basis."
The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court of Northern California.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2010
Global IT spending will reach $3.6 trillion in 2011

Publié: janvier 12, 2011, 9:02pm CET par Joe Wilcox

By Joe Wilcox, Betanews

Worldwide IT spending will rise by 5.1 percent this year to $3.6 tillion, according to Gartner. The new forecast increases year-over-year growth from 3.5 percent. The analyst firm released the data last week; some news is better kept on hold until supernovas like the Consumer Electronics Show or the Verizon iPhone pass by.
Richard Gordon, a Gartner research vice president, expressed cautious optimism. The forecast "is far from certain, given continued macroeconomic uncertainty," he said in a statement. "Favorable US dollar exchange rates" is one factor precipitating IT spending.
"While the global economic situation is improving, the recovery is slow and hampered by a sluggish growth outlook in the important mature economies of the US and Western Europe," Gordon warned. "There are also growing concerns about the ability of key emerging economies to sustain relatively high growth rates. Nevertheless, as well as a fundamental enabler of cost reduction and cost optimization, investment in IT is seen increasingly as an important element in business growth strategies. As the global economy repairs itself in coming years, we are optimistic about continued healthy spending on IT."
Gartner publicly disclosed information on five sectors: computing hardware, enterprise software, IT services, telecom equipment and telecom services. Telecom equipment had the strongest spending growth in 2010 (14 percent) and is expected to top the other categories in 2011 (9.1 percent). That's spending of $426.6 billion and $465.4 billion, respectively. While Gartner didn't say in its publicly disclosed information, the global cell phone market is one major factor driving telecom equipment spending. According to the United Nations, there are 5 billion cell phone subscribers worldwide, the majority in emerging markets such as BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China). Telecom providers are still building out networks in many emerging markets, particularly for providing data services.
Spending growth on computer equipment was 8.9 percent in 2010 but projected to be only 7.5 percent this year. That's $391.3 billion versus $364.1 billion, respectively. Gartner warned at least during the first half of the year continued global economic problems would affect PC growth. But the problems are much broader. The release of Windows 7 in October 2009 and Office 2010 in May 2010 precipitated an enterprise PC refresh cycle, particularly with as much as 85 percent of the install base running Windows XP. Many of those older PCs need upgrades or replacement to run Windows 7. While PC spending will ride the software's coattails this year, the bigger bump came in 2010.
Related: Enterprise software spending is on the rise, with Gartner forecasting 7.5 percent year-over-year growth in 2011, up from 6.1 percent in 2010. That's spending of $253.7 billion versus $235.9 billion respectively. IT services, which get a boost from new hardware and software upgrades, will see year-over-year growth rise 2.5 percent in 2010 to 4.6 percent this year. That's spending of $782 billion versus $817.9 billion, respectively.
By far, the sector with highest spending but lowest growth will be telecom services. Spending is predicted to reach $1.647 trillion this year.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2010
Who's switching from AT&T to Verizon iPhone? It's probably not you

Publié: janvier 12, 2011, 4:41pm CET par Joe Wilcox
By Joe Wilcox, Betanews

The rabble worshipping Apple's so-called Jesus phone are in for a surprise. The expected mass-exodus from AT&T to Verizon may be more myth than reality. Yesterday I asked Betanews readers "Would you buy Verizon iPhone?" and embedded a poll in that story and two others. At least among the tech-savvy people who read Betanews, the informal survey suggests that most will not switch from iPhone 4 on AT&T to iPhone 4 on Verizon. Nor are they likely to abandon Android phones. Prominent blogger or journalist posts, particularly the prognosticators of Android's doom, give a different impression. It's reality check time, baby.
Betanews readers give many reasons for sticking with what they've got, and for many it's not iPhone. Reasons range from satisfaction with their existing (usually Android) handset to concerns iPhone 4 is already outdated to there being no LTE support.
Nicholas Gerstenberger expresses a common concern about Verizon, which, I concede, probably won't matter to the mass of users (but would to me and many of you): "My one gripe with Verizon's CDMA network is that there is no simultaneous use of voice & data; besides the slightly higher costs."
Matthew Hochman would switch. "I would absolutely jump ship from AT&T," he writes. "I love my iPhone, and until last year AT&T was the best provider where I am (an island off the coast of Maine) but last summer AT&T had a total failure almost all summer-- slow service, dropped calls, then one weekend all AT&T service just stopped, when we called to find out what was up, AT&T refused to admit there was a problem." Hochman was by far in the minority of Betanews readers answering in comments.
Yesterday's poll offered six answers. I took the unusual approach of offering yes and no options to the same question, which is somewhat redundant but useful in capturing emotional context and also getting a different perspective on respondents' intentions. The approach is useful for an informal survey where the respondents aren't qualified -- meaning I don't know who they are. In my experience there is different emotional context behind yes and no responses. Poll takers could only answer once. The question: "Verizon's iPhone will be available Feb. 10, 2011. Will you buy it?" The answers readers could give:
- Yes, I'm an existing Verizon customer switching from another handset.
- Yes, I'm switching from another carrier and non-iPhone device to get Verizon's iPhone.
- Yes, I'm an AT&T subscriber and iPhone owner switching to Verizon.
- No, I'm an existing Verizon customer either not interested in or eligible for Verizon iPhone.
- No, I'm sticking with my existing carrier and non-iPhone handset.
- No, I'm an AT&T subscriber and iPhone owner either not interested in Verizon iPhone or locked into contract.
I closed the poll at 10:20 am ET this morning, with 484 responses. Only 10.3 percent of respondents with an iPhone on AT&T say they will switch to one on Verizon. Another 3.1 percent would switch from another carrier with non-iPhone device. So little more than 13 percent of respondents say they would switch from another carrier and handset to Verizon iPhone. Still, 10 percent shouldn't be understated. During the first three quarters of 2010, AT&T added 5.2 million net subscribers for a total 92.2 million. Even if just 5 percent switched, AT&T would lose those gains and see a dramatic decrease in switchers -- at least from Verizon.
Among Verizon subscribers, 17.52 percent of respondents would switch from another handset to iPhone. That's a huge number for the carrier and, at the least, valuable for retaining customers rather than having some switch to AT&T for iPhone 4. The benefits to Verizon shouldn't be understated. During the first three quarters of 2010, Verizon added only 400,000 net subscribers for a total of 93.2 million. Putting it altogether, 9 out of 10 respondents with AT&T iPhone won't switch to Verizon iPhone. One in six Verizon customers will switch to iPhone. Regarding the internal switchers, there is question: will many switch from Android handsets? Probably not, since the install base is largely feature phones. Betanews reader responses somewhat supports this contention.
"I already use Verizon and have an Android phone," writes commenter Robert Bradley. "Why would I want an iPhone and the iTunes anchor?"
Douglas Utley also won't give up Android. "I'm sure a lot of AT&T customers and part of the younger crowd that doesn't mind not being able to customize their phone might jump on it but I'm sticking with Android for the foreseeable future," he writes.
Regarding those "no" answers in our poll, the numbers are unsurprisingly higher than those for yes: 20.8 percent of respondents won't switch from AT&T iPhone to Verizon iPhone. Another 25.62 percent won't switch from another carrier and non-iPhone device. Among existing Verizon customers, 22.52 percent won't switch to iPhone.
"I doubt I ever will [switch]. I'm still enjoying my one-year old Droid," Gerstenberger adds. "Thanks mostly to a large community of coders pumping out updated ROMs to a device that Verizon has completely given up on. I enjoy what I can do with it. But thats me, I like to hack my hardware and push it to it's limits beyond what was originally 'intended.'"
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2010
Microsoft says Apple can't trademark 'app store,' files dispute

Publié: janvier 12, 2011, 4:40pm CET par Tim Conneally

By Tim Conneally, Betanews

Microsoft is challenging Apple's 2008 trademark application for "app store," reports said on Wednesday. The term, Microsoft contests, should be non-trademarkable, because, in short, an App Store is a generic term for a store that sells apps, not a proper name.
"The undisputed facts further show that the combined term 'app store' is commonly used in the trade, by the general press, by consumers, by Apple's competitors, and even by Apple's founder and CEO Steve Jobs as a generic name for online stores featuring apps," Microsoft's complaint with the Trademark Trial and Appeal board says. "A search of Westlaw's US ALL NEWS database found over 1,000 current articles using 'app store' as the generic name for stores featuring apps."
The complaint goes on to quote Steve Jobs in an interview where he said "There will be at least four app stores on Android which consumers must search through to find the app they want…"
Microsoft's opposition to Apple's trademark application is now pending at the Trademark Trial and Appeal board, with the ultimate goal of keeping "app store" free for everyone to use.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2010
Hands-on with Book Saver, iON's Book-to-eBook scanner

Publié: janvier 12, 2011, 8:08am CET par Tim Conneally

By Tim Conneally, Betanews

At the end of December, I looked at some of the book scanning options for small collections looking to archive their unique printed matter and make it accessible on digital platforms. Now, thanks to the availability of low-cost cameras and optical character recognition software, that sort of scanning is about to break into the mainstream.
iON, maker of every type of entry-level analog-to-digital conversion appliance, announced it will begin selling its own paper-to-eBook scanning solution this year called the Book Saver.
Built something like a Wii remote, the device's plastic shield holds printed media open, while the dual flash cameras take shots of the left and right pages. The images can be saved as .Jpg or .pdf and stored directly onto SD cards.
The solutions I looked at in December from Atiz could capture about 700 pages an hour with dual DSLR cameras, and similar DIY solutions could do about 400 pages an hour for literally 3000% less money. iON says the Book Saver, while not capable of anywhere near the quality of the DSLR-based solutions, can capture about 800 pages per hour. iON has not yet announced a price or availability for the device.
The Book Saver felt considerably flimsy, as one would perhaps expect from iON, which is Numark Industries' consumer-grade line of products. It didn't seem like it would stand up to even a single book worth of scanning. However, it appears to be well-suited for college students looking to create digital copies of their textbooks, or Web content creators who want to scan old 'Zines, flyers, catalogs, and other ephemera.
While it certainly won't provide archival-grade shots like the kind of scanners Google Books is using, sometimes that's not what's needed.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2010
Still trying to shake off its past, MySpace lays off almost half of its staff

Publié: janvier 12, 2011, 12:42am CET par Tim Conneally

By Tim Conneally, Betanews

MySpace, the social network that defined social networking in the dawn of the 21st century, is undergoing another round of massive cutbacks which will terminate 47% of its employees, parent company News Corp announced Tuesday. The site has been trying to re-invent itself as a music and entertainment hub as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and other social communication services pick away at its rapidly dwindling audience.
The last round of layoffs at MySpace that were this severe took place in 2009, when 30% of the staff was laid off to compensate for "the realities of today's marketplace."
Today, shielded somewhat by the headline-stealing Verizon iPhone 4 announcements, MySpace announced it would be laying off about 500 employees globally in a move "purely driven by issues related to our legacy business, and in no way reflect[s] the performance of the new product," MySpace CEO Mike Jones said.
Jones said the new design has actually prompted an uptick in new user profile creation (approximately 3.3 million since its launch), and significant activity in its entertainment "topic" pages.
As I took my annual drive across the country, I happened to catch a commercial for a radio call-in show where the host said of one of his guests: "Your sweater is so old, it's got a MySpace account!"
It is interesting, therefore, that Jones should refer to the "legacy" business in the negative while the site retains its now stigmatized name, perhaps the biggest legacy of all.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2010