Gregarius » BetaNews.Com » août 27, 2013

BetaNews.Com (12 non lus)

Microsoft upgrades SkyDrive Pro accounts

Publié: août 27, 2013, 11:44pm CEST par Alan Buckingham

When Microsoft first launched SkyDrive, the company offered 25 GB of storage to everyone willing to sign up. As the service grew and was increasingly integrated into more places, like Windows 8 and Office 2013, that free ride came partially to an end. Free storage was downgraded to seven gigabytes, but those who met certain criteria were grandfathered in.

Now that 25 GB threshold breaths new life, though not quite for everyone. This time around the extra cloud space goes to Pro users -- business customers. "Today, we're pleased to announce three new significant improvements to SkyDrive Pro for Office 365 business subscribers - to help you be more productive", the Office 365 team announces.

The 25 GB will be available for each employee on the account -- a limit that was also once seven. In addition, companies can opt to increase this to 50, or even 100 GB, if it is needed and, finally, there is a new "shared with me" view to make finding those type of files just a tad less cumbersome. "The documents and folders you see in the Shared with Me view may live in someone else's SkyDrive Pro, or they may be shared from a standard team site document library", the company describes.

The cloud storage service also let it be known there are some other, less high profile changes -- "in the spirit of continually improving the SkyDrive Pro service, we're also increasing the overall file upload limit in SharePoint Online to 2 GB/file and the default recycle bin retention to 90 days (up from 30 days). And we're enabling versioning by default on newly provisioned SkyDrive Pro libraries, which saves the last ten versions, so you never lose an important document".

The upgrades should become available today. With the ever-increasing cloud storage in today's programs, the upgrades are very much welcome, and hopefully will trickle down to consumers soon.
Facebook to pay out $20m to users in 'Sponsored Stories' case

Publié: août 27, 2013, 10:17pm CEST par Mark Wilson

A US judge rules that Facebook must pay out $20m as the Fraley vs Facebook class action draws to a close. The lawsuit was taken out by users of the social network whose pictures were used without consent in "Sponsored Stories" advertisements. While up to 150 million Facebook members were affected, only approximately 614,000 who filed a claim will receive any money.

It’s hardly a massive windfall. The $20m is to be divided not only between the successful claimants, but also used to pay for lawyers and administrative costs. Users will be paid $15 each -- not even enough to buy half of a share in Facebook.

This is likely to come as a disappointment to those involved in the case who could have expected to receive up to $750 in statutory damages for a violation of California Civil Code 3344.

Judge Richard Seeborg said that "it is far from clear that [the plaintiffs] could ever have shown they were actually harmed in any meaningful way". He also went on to say that if all complainants (meaning all 150 million affected members) were to recover the full theoretical amount, this could "threaten Facebook’s existence" as costs could spiral beyond $12bn.

The lawsuit dates back to 2011 when Facebook users who 'liked' a company on the site found that their names and images where being used in advertisements. The ruling has also made a new demand of Facebook -- that its Statement of Rights and Responsibilities is changed so that users are warned of any potential use of their data.

Photo Credit: tlegend/Shutterstock
Chromecast app comes to iOS

Publié: août 27, 2013, 7:44pm CEST par Brian Fagioli
Apple users tend to like Apple things. Typically, the user's experience will be the best when all of their hardware is Apple. However, Google is hoping that iOS users will change course and shun the Apple TV in favor of its inexpensive Chromecast device.

Today, Google took a big step towards its goal by releasing a Chromecast app for iOS. Will it be enough to lure Apple users from the Apple TV?

Google explains that the app can be used to "set up your Chromecast to work with your Wi-Fi network" and "manage your Chromecast settings (such as changing your device name, Wi-Fi password, etc.)". In other words, this app is simply used to setup and manage your Chromecast. The actual streaming or "casting" happens from within the compatible YouTube or Netflix apps.

Compatibility includes the following devices on iOS 5.1 or later:
- iPhone 3GS, 4, 4S, 5
- iPod touch (3rd, 4th, 5th generations)
- iPad (all models)
While the Chromecast is very attractive at $35, Apple users should still opt for the AppleTV at this time. The $99 price tag is higher, but so is the value. The Apple TV will allow you to access a much broader range of services compared to the Chromecast's paltry Netflix and Youtube. Not to mention, mirroring from iOS to a TV is still a killer feature that the Chromecast cannot deliver -- yet.
BitTorrent Sync coming to iOS this week

Publié: août 27, 2013, 7:17pm CEST par Alan Buckingham

I have been using BitTorrent Sync between my desktop and laptop since it debuted in private alpha form. The service has since matured to beta, and now ages a bit more as it spreads to another platform -- iOS, after landing on Android last month.

"Today, we’re happy to report that BitTorrent Sync is now available for iOS devices on the App Store. iOS fans: you can now sync freely", the company reports.

Beyond this latest move to another platform, the organization also unveiled localization efforts to get into additional markets. The latest version of the BitTorrent Sync Beta will be available across ten languages, including German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) and Portuguese (Brazil and Portugal).

BitTorrent prides itself on the fact that your files should be secure and it promises that Sync skips the cloud to deliver files faster, and safer. The service doesn’t rely on servers, which are vulnerable to hacks and prying eyes.

The service will be rolling out this week, so do not fret if you can't yet find it on iTunes just yet, as it will be there soon enough. There is no word on when the service will find its way out of beta.
Automate login and bypass the lock and Start screens in Windows 8.1

Publié: août 27, 2013, 2:10pm CEST par Wayne Williams

Windows 8.1 is a huge improvement over Windows 8. Once you've spent any time in the preview (or one of the leaked builds) you'll find it impossible to go back to the obviously half-baked original.

But the default setup still has some annoyances that get in the way and prevent you from just booting up your PC and using Windows. For starters there's the lock screen to get through -- a delaying stage which serves little purpose in a home environment. Then you have to enter your password and log to in your Microsoft account, and finally, once you've cleared those steps, there's the Modern UI to go through on your way to the desktop. Fortunately you can configure Windows 8.1 to skip all of that nonsense.

It’s all very easy to do. From the Start screen type "run". Click on Run and type "netplwiz". OK that and highlight your account. Uncheck "Users must enter a username and password to use this computer". Click Apply. Then enter your password twice. Click OK.

From the Start screen type "taskbar" and select Taskbar and Navigation. Click the Navigation tab and tick "Go to the desktop instead of Start when I sign in". You can also tick the "Show the Apps view automatically when I go to Start" if you’re not that interested in the Modern UI Start screen.

Restart your PC and when Windows loads it will automatically log you in and take you straight to the desktop. Easy.
Logitech G602 mouse -- a lot of buttons and battery life

Publié: août 27, 2013, 1:43pm CEST par Brian Fagioli

When it comes to modern PC gaming, you can never have too many buttons. Sure, there is an argument to be made that less is more on game controllers. However, hardcore-PC-gamers need any advantage they can get in today's fast-paced first-person-shooter world. Logitech is aiming to help these gamers to, well, aim, with the new Logitech G602 wireless gaming mouse ($79.99).

Logitech says, "the newest mouse in the Logitech G lineup, the Logitech G602 Wireless Gaming Mouse sets a new standard in wireless gaming. Without cords, clutter, or interference, the mouse’s lag-free wireless connection and unprecedented battery life allow better, uninterrupted game play. Featuring two modes, Performance and Endurance, the G602 Wireless Gaming mouse delivers 250 hours of non-stop battery life when in full gaming mode -- Performance mode -- and more than 1400 hours of use in non-gaming mode -- or Endurance mode".

The company further says the pointing device, "features Logitech G exclusive Delta Zero sensor technology that offers high-accuracy cursor control. Plus, it has an ultra durable build with primary mechanical switches rated to a 20 million-click lifespan. And, because it features eleven programmable controls, you can easily master your favorite games by assigning the actions you use most to the buttons you want, using the Logitech Gaming Software".

To complement this new mouse, Logitech is also releasing two new mouse pads -- the G240 ($19.99) and G440 ($29.99)

The company states that "the Logitech G240 Cloth Gaming Mouse Pad is made for low-DPI gaming. Perfect for gamers who play first-person shooters, its heat-treated textile surface improves gliding consistency by providing just the right amount of friction to make the precise movement and control to elevate your game. The 1 mm rubber base gives the pad rock-solid stability".

It further says that "the Logitech G440 Hard Gaming Mouse Pad is ideal for high-DPI gaming, letting you feel the adrenaline of hitting high speeds without spinning out of control. It features a low-friction, fine-textured polypropylene surface that’s kept rigid by a high-impact polymer core, giving you consistent tracking performance across the entire pad. This mouse pad was specially crafted to complement Logitech G mouse sensors to further improve their already pinpoint accuracy, enhancing your aim. And a 3 mm, 3-layer construction keeps it in place during high-intensity gaming".

Typically, hard-core gamers will dismiss a wireless mouse due to lag, but it seems that Logitech engineers have put much thought and effort into the design to make it optimal. Personally, 11 buttons would have my head spinning -- I've barely evolved beyond the 2-button NES controller. However, with 250 hours of battery life, I am certainly willing to try it.
Social technologies evolve to meet changing business demands

Publié: août 27, 2013, 12:39pm CEST par Ian Barker

Research giant Gartner has revealed its latest 'Hype Cycle' -- a series of reports that offer a graphic representation of the maturity and adoption of technologies -- focusing on social collaboration in enterprises.

It shows that the use of social technologies to meet business needs is increasing along with growing expectations of their effectiveness. More vendors are adopting an approach in which social features aren't bought separately but are incorporated into something else. You can see this trend in new product releases from Clarizen and Deltek which we've reported on recently.

"IT leaders must keep abreast of this evolving sector in order to take advantage of social capabilities and understand the implications that social software developments have for related technologies," says Jeffrey Mann, research vice president at Gartner. "As social technologies mature and organizations improve their understanding of how to apply them, they will be found in more and more situations. Increasingly, social technologies are not implemented on a stand-alone basis, but are tightly integrated within a variety of other technologies, including business, IT operations, unified communications and collaboration applications".

As technologies mature and move along the Hype Cycle to what Gartner calls the 'Slope of Enlightenment' they become more visible and in demand. These include things like internal peer-to-peer communications and unified collaboration and management.

Newer technologies at the 'Innovation Trigger' stage of the cycle include collaborative customer interfaces which allow the delivery of a personalized experience, social co-browsing in shared web spaces, mobile virtual worlds and social TV to provide real-time engagement with customers.

You can register to download the full report from Gartner's website and the company is hosting a Content and Collaboration Summit in London in September.

Photo Credit: Oleksiy Mark/Shutterstock
FBackup 5 gets first stable release, boasts ribbon-based redesign

Publié: août 27, 2013, 12:31pm CEST par Nick Peers

Softland has released FBackup 5.0, a major new version of its free Windows backup tool. FBackup, which offers file-based backup and supports plug-ins for extra functionality such as backing up specific program settings, is a cut-down version of Softland’s Backup4all range.

Version 5.0 debuts with a completely redesigned user interface, based on Microsoft’s ribbon-style and sporting a quick-access toolbar and Navigation pane.

The new build also simplifies the process of selecting files and folders for backup by adding various options to the Windows Explorer right-click menus, such as adding the selection to a new or current job, or restoring the contents of a specific backup to the selected location.

The new build also adds an option to view job details in card or list mode, complete with filters and groups. It also adds support for password storage management, giving users the option of storing passwords for protected directories in the local Windows user account.

Notification messages are another new feature, as are a display progress dialog for the current job, as well as options for suspending the application, plus cancelling current and all jobs as actions via right-click tasks. Users can now also manually run missed schedules.

The Plugin Manager has also been redesigned, adding support for automatic plugin load and customization.

The program now allows processes to use up to 4GB memory for improved performance, and accesses FBackup according to the system privileges. It also promises full compatibility with the upcoming Windows 8.1 release.

FBackup 5.0 is available now as a freeware download (for personal and commercial use). It requires Windows XP or later.

Image credit: Modella/Shutterstock
More than two thirds of US adults have home broadband -- three percent still on dial-up

Publié: août 27, 2013, 12:01pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Mark Zuckerberg may be keen on making the internet accessible to everyone in the world but it appears even in the US there is still a little way to go. A report by Pew Research reveals that while 70 percent of US residents over the age of 18 have a high-speed broadband connection at home, access is not as prevalent as the Facebook founder would doubtless like.

The research center’s Internet & American Life Project has monitored broadband usage since 2000 when dial-up connections accounted for 34 percent of access and just three percent of adults used a broadband connection. Increased availability of Internet access means that 73 percent of US adults now have some form of connection at home, compared to just 37 percent 13 years ago.

Although broadband usage has increased fairly steadily, three percent of Americans are reportedly still struggling on with dial-up. Perceived cost as well as a lack of interest are the reasons cited by the 27 percent of people who have no form of home Internet connection, says the report’s author Kathryn Zickuhr.

Besides having a need for, or interest in, using the web, the main factors determining whether a household is connected or not are found to be age, education and income. Broadband adoption rates are highest among the over 50s, college graduates and those from household with an income of $50,000 and above.

The research also finds that more than half of US adults (56 percent) have a smartphone, although these individuals were not included in the "broadband" connection figures. Analysis of the research reveals that 32 percent of people who do not have a broadband connection do have smartphone that could be used to get online.

Image Credit: anyaivanova/Shutterstock
Big isn't always best when choosing enterprise content management

Publié: août 27, 2013, 11:21am CEST par Ian Barker

Size isn't everything when selecting an enterprise content management (ECM) solution, according to independent global analysts Ovum. Companies also need to consider vendors in terms of market share, profitability, and capability to support the deployment along with the enterprise’s own business requirements through its lifetime.

In its latest Ovum Decision Matrix, which is focused on the selection of ECM solutions, the analysts reveal that file sync and share is becoming the next must-have feature as organizations demand secure ways of sharing information outside the corporate firewall. In addition, end users are demanding empowerment through the use of social media in a business context, as well as increased support across various mobile platforms.

Sue Clarke, senior analyst at Ovum, says, "Because much of the functionality is now commoditized, and the industry has gone through a period of consolidation, which has reduced the number of platforms available, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the CIO to select the most appropriate solution".

A further important factor in choosing a vendor is the support associated with migration. The report reveals that whilst most suppliers offer a migration toolkit extra support is usually required. "ECM deployments can be difficult and complex and generally require services for all but the simplest of deployments. Even migrating from one platform to another or from one version to the next is not without its difficulties," adds Clarke.

For more information on the latest decision matrix and to register to download it visit the Ovum website.

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Advice 5 cents: The role of mentoring in Silicon Valley

Publié: août 27, 2013, 8:39am CEST par Robert X. Cringely

This past weekend I was invited to spend an hour talking about Silicon Valley business with a group of MBA students from Russia. They were on a junket to Palo Alto from the Moscow School of Management Skolkovo. I did my thing, insulting as many people and companies as possible, the students listened politely, and at the end there were a few questions, though not nearly as many as I had hoped for.

If you’ve ever heard one of my presentations the most fun tends to take place during the Q&A. That’s because I can’t know in advance what a group really cares about but in the Q&A they can tell me and sometimes we learn a thing or two. One question really surprised me and inspired this column: "In Silicon Valley," the MBA student asked, "it seems that mentoring is an important part of learning business and getting ahead, yet mentoring is unknown in Russia. How does it work when there is no obvious reward for the mentor? Why do people do it?"

I suspect that this question says far more about Russian business culture than it says about the US, because mentoring is alive and well in places like China and Japan. A lack of mentoring, if true, probably puts Russia at a disadvantage. Disadvantaged and, frankly, clueless.

I have had mentors and I have been a mentor in turn and however squishy there usually is a quid pro quo for the mentor. Maybe he or she is flattered by the attention. Maybe they are just paying it forward. But I’m pretty sure the Russian MBA student was wrong and this mentoring business has a reward structure, just not a standardized or very rich one.

I asked a couple of friends about their mentoring experiences. Avram Miller, who co-founded Intel Capital and is arguably the father of home broadband had this to say:

"I would not have been successful in my career had not a number of people (they were all men) helped me develop my skills and opened doors for me. They were all older than I was. Maybe it was some extension of parenting for them. I in return have done the same for many younger people. I also try to help my friends but in that case, we call it friendship. The most important thing about being a mentor is the sense of impact and accomplishment. I have and do mentor women as well. I don’t think there is anything special about high tech and mentoring. Also some great managers were not great mentors".

Read Avram’s excellent blog at www.twothirdsdone.com.

Richard Miller (no relation to Avram) took a different view. Richard is English and came to the USA as VP of R&D at Atari, reporting to Jack Tramiel, whom I have a hard time thinking of as a mentor, but what do I know? Richard designed the Atari Jaguar game console and many other systems since including leading the team at PortalPlayer (now nVIDIA) that designed the Tegra mobile processors:

"I doubt many business professionals think of themselves as mentors except in some kind of ego-bloated hindsight way," said Richard, I guess handling that inevitable Jack Tramiel question. "They may be good mentors since the methods of mentoring are effective in achieving their goals, but it is rare for a business leader to devote any thought or time on the subject in my experience. In the business space, the act of mentoring is in reality something that the mentee (is that a word?) creates through his or her own study. The most effective learning tool in that environment is access. In the technical fields mentoring is very important and in good companies it is structured, in more of a professor-postgrad kind of setup. I’m sure you’ll find this happening at Intel, Google etc. I see it a lot both here and in Asia (China, Japan, India)".

Though I hadn’t thought of this before, Richard is probably correct that the effects of mentoring are largely guided by the questions of the student and that person’s willingness to learn from the answers. And, thinking further, I can see that in my own career where there are people with whom I’ve spent only a few hours that have, through their insights, changed my life. Or maybe, in Richard’s view, it was through my willingness to ask the right questions and absorb the insights that this happened.

What do you think? Has mentoring had a positive role in your life and career?

Reprinted with permission

Image Credit: Filipe Matos Frazao/Shutterstock
Android invades Iran -- Ahmadinejad awaits Candy Crush Saga

Publié: août 27, 2013, 4:16am CEST par Brian Fagioli

On June 14, the people of Iran exercised freedom when they voted for a new President in the country's election -- a great moment. However, they are now able to exercise yet another freedom -- to download the free Android app of their choice.

Now Google announces to developers that "starting today you can make your free apps available in Iran". That's right, Iranians can now download free apps from Google's Play Store.

This is great news for both the Iranian people and Android as a whole. While the people of the country get to enjoy great apps, developers can start to tap into a new market with the hopes of monetizing in the future.

The search giant further says, "to add this country to your distribution, please visit the Pricing & Distribution page in the Developer Console and select the checkbox for Iran directly. Note that this new distribution option is currently available only for free apps and not for priced apps or apps that use in-app billing".

In other words, only free apps will be available. Sadly, apps like Candy Crush Saga which are free but include in-app purchases, will not be made available -- Iranians will have to wait longer to be frustrated by the viral game. Hopefully they will gain the right to buy 99-cent apps sooner rather than later.

Image Credit: Koshevnyk / Shutterstock