Gregarius » BetaNews.Com » février 17, 2014

BetaNews.Com (11 non lus)

Emsisoft Anti-Malware adds protection against malicious browser extensions

Publié: février 17, 2014, 9:10pm CET par Nick Peers

Emsisoft has released Emsisoft Anti-Malware 8.1.0.40, a minor -- but significant -- update for its Windows anti-malware tool. Version 8.1.0.40 can now detect malicious browser extensions as well as look out for unwanted system changes.

The update also removes a number of so-called "obsolete" scans, fixes a number of errors and promises improved performance to boot.

The chief new feature is support for detecting malicious extensions in both Firefox and Chrome browsers -- this follows on from the recent spate of legitimate add-ons being purchased by third parties for malicious purposes. The update also extends support to the latest developer versions of both browsers.

Version 8.1.0.40 also adds support for detecting what it terms "possibly unwanted" system settings, and comes with improved infection categorization and error logging routines.

The update has also been optimized to reduce the number of required signatures, which has a beneficial knock-on effect of lowering memory consumption.

Two features have been removed: Outlook integration and cookie scanning. Emsisoft claims this is because they’ve both become "obsolete" for safety.

The new build also squashes a number of bugs -- one saw the Security Wizard reappear after installation has completed, and another led to incorrect filenames in email notifications. A number of memory corruptions and leaks have also been plugged.

Emsisoft Anti-Malware 8.1.0.40 is available now as a trial download for PCs running Windows XP or later. a single-PC, one-year license can be purchased for just $15.95 from the Downloadcrew Software Store, a saving of 60 percent on the MSRP. A three-PC license is also available for $19.95, a saving of 71 percent on the MSRP.
Find similar videos by content with Video Comparer

Publié: février 17, 2014, 8:30pm CET par Mike Williams

Video Comparer is an interesting commercial tool which can find similar videos by their content.

The key word here is "similar". The program doesn't just look for identical files. It can also match files when one has been cropped, rotated or resized. It's even able to identify videos where one clip exists within another (video A is a single scene extracted from video B).

Video Comparer works much like any other file comparison tools. Point it at the folder tree you'd like to examine, perhaps choose one or two options (there are several comparison modes, for example, from quick to full), and click Scan. The program crawls your folders, looking for videos (avi, mpg, mpeg, mkv, wmv, 3g2, 3gp, asf, asx, bsf, divx, f4v, flv, m2p, m2v, m4v, mov, mp4, ogv, rm, ts, vob and xvid files are supported).

We expected the comparison process to take an age, but in reality it was surprisingly speedy. The developer quotes 1 minute to compare 30 videos, 5 minutes for 100 or 40 minutes for 500 (the maximum this edition will compare), and we wouldn’t disagree.

Once Video Comparer has finished, it displays any likely duplicates. Synchronised timeline thumbnails show you the matching scenes, so you can see at a glance if the program is correct, and true duplicates may then be copied, moved or deleted with a click.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the trial version has some major restrictions. It compares files, but won’t display their names, and doesn't allow you to delete or back up duplicates. It’s enough to see whether the comparison engine works for you, but doesn’t otherwise do very much.

From our initial tests, though, Video Comparer proved both accurate and speedy, and the Home Edition is certainly worth its 20 Euro/ $28 dollar price tag. Just keep in mind that it can only compare a maximum of 1,500 videos in a single scan; for unlimited scans you'll need the Pro Edition, which is a more questionable 100 Euro/ $140.
Paper is passé -- DocuSign eSignature comes to Microsoft Office 365

Publié: février 17, 2014, 8:08pm CET par Brian Fagioli
The existence of a paperless office and the overall death of paper has been greatly exaggerated. Anyone who has been in an actual company office recently knows that paper is still haunting the corporate world. Sure, there is less of it being used, but even one sheet is too many.

What can be particularly annoying is signatures. Printing and signing something feels archaic. Hell, you might as well chisel your name into a cave wall. Today, however, Microsoft and DocuSign join forces to bring eSignature to Office 365. While the partnership won't single-handedly kill paper, it is a start.

"Today, Microsoft and DocuSign announced a long-term strategic partnership to make DocuSign's industry-leading eSignature apps widely available from within Microsoft Office 365. DocuSign's new solutions, which are built on the Office 365 platform, will include integration within Outlook, Word, SharePoint Online and SharePoint Server 2013", says the Office team.

John Case, vice president of Marketing, Microsoft Office says, "leading partners like DocuSign are building apps on the Office platform to help our customers get more value directly from their most highly used applications. This partnership with DocuSign helps our customers keep transactions digital and manage eSignatures seamlessly from within Office 365, where they already communicate, collaborate and create".

Microsoft touts the following benefits of the agreement:
- Easy Administration and Use -- Office 365 and SharePoint administrators will be able to add DocuSign Apps for all users directly from their administration consoles.
- Single Sign-On -- DocuSign has adopted Azure Active Directory to provide single sign-on capabilities with Office 365 credentials, providing a seamless path to manage accounts.
- Secured storage -- DocuSigned documents are automatically stored in Microsoft OneDrive for Business for full control.
- Office Store Availability -- Individuals can self-service and access the apps and Word templates directly from the Office Store.
- Continued Innovation -- DocuSign and Microsoft will continue to collaborate to bring new innovations to customers on the Office 365 platform.
Overall this is a great win for everybody. Microsoft increases the Office 365 features, DocuSign sees adoption of its technology, customers decrease paper usage, and more trees get to live.

Photo Credit: Albert H. Teich/Shutterstock
Lenovo Miix 2 8 -- Windows 8.1 tablet with an 8-inch screen done right [Review]

Publié: février 17, 2014, 7:00pm CET par Brian Fagioli
To say Windows 8.x is a controversial operating system is an understatement. Heck, it is downright polarizing, causing a schism between users that love it and others that hate it. It has arguably set Microsoft back and potentially damaged both the Microsoft and Windows brands. This is both disappointing and sad as Microsoft is a story-booked American darling that has enjoyed years of success and domination.

I'll admit, while I loved Windows 8.1 at first, I soured on it once I noticed an impact in my productivity. Performing a balancing act between the classic UI and Modern one, is maddening. It was so distressing to me, that I actually turned my desktop into a Hackintosh. While Linux distributions are my go-to choice, I still have a need for some other software, such as Office, and OS X meets that need. But Windows 8.1 isn't all bad, it truly shines in one place -- tablets.

Introduction

The Surface 2 is such a phenomenal device, that I named it my overall pick for best of 2013. You see, Microsoft's Surface devices are the best way to showcase the Modern UI aspect of Windows 8.1. This tablet is wonderful for productivity -- you can run 2 apps side by side and even connect a physical keyboard. However, as great as it is, it can be a chore to use as a second-screen device or in bed.

For instance, I like to use Twitter while laying on my couch, watching TV. A 10-inch tablet is poor for this as it is awkward to hold. I have come close to dropping the Surface 2 on my head on more than one occasion. The simple solution is to get a smaller additional tablet. I had high-hopes last year for the Acer Iconia W3. However, it proved to be flawed and horrid. That one tablet from Acer damn-near turned me off to the 8-inch form factor for Windows 8.1.

I say "damn-near" because I have obtained and have been thoroughly testing the Lenovo Miix 2 8 -- an 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet from renowned manufacturer Lenovo, which recently bought Motorola Mobility. I am happy to report that it is leaps and bounds better than the Iconia W3.

Specs (As Reviewed)
- Processor -- Intel Atom Z3740 Processor quad-core (1.33GHz 2MB)
- Operating System -- Windows 8.1 (32-bit)
- Display -- 8-inch 1280x800
- Memory -- 2GB LPDDR3 1066 MHz
- Hard Drive -- 64GB eMMC
- Wireless -- 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi Wireless, Bluetooth 4.0
- Battery -- 1 Cell 17.5 Watt Hour Li-Polymer (rated at 7 hours)
- Ports -- Micro USB, Micro SD
- Weight -- .77 pounds
The Good

Yes, you are reading those specs right. Rather than use a chintzy ARM processor, this tablet utilizes an Intel Atom chip and the full Windows 8.1 operating system -- not RT. While this will allow you to run legacy Windows programs if you need them, you should still avoid doing so. Sure, choice is good and having the legacy option is a plus, but the small screen still works best with Modern UI apps.

So, you may be wondering, if I am suggesting not using legacy programs, what is all the hubbub about using x86 over ARM? Well, the biggest benefit, to me is the ability to install other web browsers and Adobe Flash. If the tablet used ARM and Windows RT, you would only be able to use Internet Explorer. Now, IE is great -- I actually prefer it on a Windows tablet. But, I like options and the Lenovo Miix 2 8 can run Google Chrome in Modern UI mode -- something Windows RT fails to accommodate.

I took this tablet on a recent business trip, instead of my 10-inch iPad, and really enjoyed the smaller footprint and ability to charge by microUSB. Since my Android phone uses that charging standard too, I had one less wire to pack. I also own a Nexus 7 which is a great tablet too. With that said, boy-oh-boy, a 7 inch screen is just not ideal for anything other than maybe playing video games. An 8-inch display adds just enough extra screen real estate to be more usable.

The Lenovo Miix 2 8 was not my only computer on the trip -- I also took an HP Chromebook 11 for writing. While Google Docs worked fine, I liked that the Miix 2 8 served as a safety net, since Microsoft Office 365 comes pre-installed. You get a 30-day free trial, but you can upgrade to the full version for a paltry $99/year -- a great value. If you are adverse to paying for software, the free Libreoffice will install just fine. Of course, using Office on an 8-inch screen is migraine-inducing, but having the option could save my ass if a compatibility issue arose.

The screen looks great when watching video or looking at photos. The Miix 2 8 has served as my window to entertainment and Netflix looks amazing. The speaker volume is a bit low, but it did not subtract from the enjoyability of the films and TV shows.

The Lenovo tablet is a dream as an armchair computer. Just last night, I watched The Walking Dead with the tablet in my hand. It is so small and light, that I felt comfortable laying down and holding it in one hand. This is truly where an 8-inch tablet shines. I still see great value in owning a 10-inch tablet, like an iPad Air or Surface 2. But, there is still room for a small tablet in your arsenal. They serve different purposes and both form factors can live harmoniously in your home and heart.

The Bad

Like I said earlier, I own other tablets, such as the iPad Air and Surface 2, so I know what to expect from both performance and battery life. Sadly, the Atom processor is a bit of a disappointment. While hardly a deal breaker, there is an occasional stutter or lag. For the most part, everything is snappy and responsive but every once in a while, there is a hiccup.

One of the common places that this happens is on the unlock screen. Sometimes the keyboard can take a few seconds to come up and even then, text input can be a bit slow. Now, in practice, it is not a big deal. Sure, seconds add up, but in the grand scheme its not terrible. With that said, it feels a bit embarrassing if you are trying to show it off to an Apple or Android fanboy.

Battery life is acceptable, but not impressive. My cherished iPad Air seems to never run out of juice, lasting many days with heavy use. The Miix 2 8 must be charged daily. To conserve energy, I found myself turning it off at night, which took away from the overall experience.

Build quality is just OK, but very plasticky. My colleague Mihaita Bamburic recently wrote of his disdain for stickers. I share his opinion, and hate to say it, but the Miix 2 8 has many of them. It takes away from the overall beauty and subtlety of the design.

Sadly though, the capacitive Windows button can be a bit flaky. Sometimes I must press it twice for my touch to be recognized. Truth be told, I don't use the button very often, opting to do everything on-screen instead. But, if manufacturers insist on including a button, they should make it physical, like the iconic iPad. A physical button is more satisfying and accurate.

Conclusion

So, do I recommend this tablet? Absolutely... if you want a Windows tablet. Despite its faults, it is a fun computer to use. If you just want to play Angry Birds and surf the web, you can probably do better for the money. However, if you are a business-focused person, with the occasional desire for games and you need a tablet that complements your Microsoft lifestyle, look no further, the Miix 2 8 is it. Keep in mind though, it is a complementary tablet, not a desktop or laptop replacement. For that, a Surface 2 would be your better option.
Find similar videos by content with Video Comparer

Publié: février 17, 2014, 7:00pm CET par Mike Williams

Video Comparer is an interesting commercial tool which can find similar videos by their content.

The key word here is "similar". The program doesn’t just look for identical files. It can also match files when one has been cropped, rotated or resized. It’s even able to identify videos where one clip exists within another (video A is a single scene extracted from video B).

Video Comparer works much like any other file comparison tool. Point it at the folder tree you’d like to examine, perhaps choose one or two options (there are several comparison modes, for example, from quick to full), and click Scan. The program crawls your folders, looking for videos (avi, mpg, mpeg, mkv, wmv, 3g2, 3gp, asf, asx, bsf, divx, f4v, flv, m2p, m2v, m4v, mov, mp4, ogv, rm, ts, vob and xvid files are supported).

We expected the comparison process to take an age, but in reality it was surprisingly speedy. The developer quotes 1 minute to compare 30 videos, 5 minutes for 100 or 40 minutes for 500 (the maximum this edition will compare), and we wouldn’t disagree.

Once Video Comparer has finished, it displays any likely duplicates. Synchronized timeline thumbnails show you the matching scenes, so you can see at a glance if the program is correct, and true duplicates may then be copied, moved or deleted with a click.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the trial version has some major restrictions. It compares files, but won’t display their names, and doesn’t allow you to delete or back up duplicates. It’s enough to see whether the comparison engine works for you, but doesn’t otherwise do very much.

From our initial tests, though, Video Comparer proved both accurate and speedy, and the Home Edition is certainly worth its 20 Euro/ $28 dollar price tag. Just keep in mind that it can only compare a maximum of 1,500 videos in a single scan; for unlimited scans you’ll need the Pro Edition, which is a more questionable 100 Euro/ $140.
How to protect yourself from identity theft

Publié: février 17, 2014, 5:16pm CET par Erik Knight

With security breaches on the rise, such as the recent Target credit card theft, you can’t be too careful how and to whom you share your personal information. According to the US Department of Justice, 7 percent of US households reported being victims of some form of identity fraud and with financial losses totaling upwards of $50 billion, people have to be vigilant.

Nowadays it’s fairly easy to steal an identity by obtaining different bits of information about someone and piecing them together like a jigsaw puzzle. Things you may not even think about such as your zip code, maiden name, or date of birth. And it’s not just unknown entities who are procuring your personal information and using it for their nefarious gain, it’s people you may think are legitimate and trustworthy such as babysitters, housekeepers or your latest online crush.

In today’s world, it is more important than ever to do your research, know the people around you and ensure that your friends, colleagues, and the people you surround yourself with are trustworthy.

Afterall, they have physical access to your property and credit cards, and they can get virtual access to all your identity pieces -- these are two dangerous things when put together. Security works as long as you keep those things completely separate in your life, but if you combine them, it puts you at risk and especially with new people coming in and out of your life frequently. I think it's a good idea to know who you're dealing with.

Experts agree that you can’t entirely prevent identity theft -- there are too many opportunities for criminals to steal your personal information -- but you can minimize the risks by taking some precautions.

1. Conduct regular background checks on yourself.

It’s important to know what information is out there about yourself and also to verify that it is accurate. You never know who else out there has the same name and may not have the most pious past, or your identity may have already been stolen without your knowledge. Make sure you are using a service that is reputable, do your due diligence.

2. Check your credit report at least once a year.

Check your report at least annually in order to detect identity fraud early and on top of your financial situation. You are entitled to one free credit report per year -- make sure that you are using one of the major credit reporting agencies and not some fly by night that may be stealing your identity themselves.

3. Set up a P.O. box

This is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself online. Set up the P.O. box in a different zip code than your residence, attach your credit cards to this address so that fraudsters cannot figure out the zip code associated with your account. Do this with your insurance and vehicle registration as well.

4. Strengthen your passwords

The worst thing you can do is either keep the default password or use a term in the dictionary, including names. The best thing you can do is to use a phrase or word substituting letters for symbols or numbers. Either write this down or store it encrypted on your computer so that people are unable to access it without the encryption code.

5. Shred important documents before throwing away

A shredder is an important investment to keeping your information safe. Even those credit card offers your receive in the mail give fraudsters a plethora of information. When in doubt, shred it! Anything that contains evidence of your zip code, address, and personal information could give criminals just what they are looking for.

6. Shop only on websites that offer a privacy policy

You may not pay attention to little things like this, but it is extremely important. You should know how the company will handle your personal information. Look for the Trust-e symbol or accreditation from the Better Business Bureau.

7. Be wary of screaming deals on new websites

Remember the adage, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is". It is fairly easy to set up a website these days and what better way to effortlessly funnel everything they need! Do your homework and research them. Find out how long they’ve been in business, how are they rated through the BBB? Are there other reviews online about their customer service or products?

8. Open links and unknown email at your own risk

Criminals are creative and find ways to steal your information even without you seemingly providing a thing. Suspicious links and emails should be avoided at all costs! Just because it seems innocuous, doesn’t mean it is. If you have any questions about a link or email, ask the person who sent it to clarify the contents.

9. Use prepaid credit cards or cash

Even though it sounds archaic, cash is one of the easiest ways to prevent your information to be compromised in any kind of digital breach. At the very least use a rechargeable credit card and only keep a few hundred dollars on the card. Even if the card gets compromised your entire bank account is not at risk. If another major breach happens you throw the card away and get a new one. This puts the power in your hands and you don't have to wait on the bank to ship you a new card when they get around to it. Use these cards when shopping online.

As our access to public information grows, so do the opportunities for criminals to steal your identity. With a little bit of proactivity, you can reduce your risk significantly and lower your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft.

Photo Credit: Robert Buchanan Taylor /Shutterstock

Erik Knight is the founder of Dirtsearch.org. Erik originally created the site in 2008 when a number of people asked him to find information (using public records) on their significant others. After doing this a number of times, he realized there was no single place on the Internet to search for public records inexpensively and quickly. After his original inception, DirtSearch has continued to grow and improve its accuracy and is the only free online "Background Check" website in the world. The site is fully automated and takes a few minutes to search what would normally take hours or days by hand. Over 130 thousand people a month nationwide use DirtSearch. For more about Erik Knight or DirtSearch, visit www.DirtSearch.org.
Bing Health & Fitness launches in beta on Windows Phone

Publié: février 17, 2014, 2:53pm CET par Mihaita Bamburic

Microsoft is expanding its collection of Bing apps on Windows Phone with the addition of Bing Health & Fitness. The offering, that debuted on Windows 8.1 last year, is meant for "Microsoft testing purposes only", but is available to download for other users as well, provided they want to eat healthy and stay in shape.

"The Bing Health & Fitness app helps you stay on top of health and fitness trends and provides the tools you need to support a healthy lifestyle. Designed for Windows Phone, the Health & Fitness app brings together great fitness, nutrition and health content, along with trackers, tools and other features", says the app's description. Now let's take a look at its features.

Like other similar apps, Bing Health & Fitness works based on the user's profile, which includes data on gender, age, height, weight, a daily calorie target and fitness plans. The last two can be tailored to fit the user's lifestyle and preferences.

The daily calorie target feature works in conjunction with a food tracker, which contains data on over 300,000 foods according to the app's description. Users can add what they eat during the day and, after each addition, the app will calculate the accumulated calories and remaining ones they can consume, with the latter figure depending on the initial target set by the user. There the option to sync the data is listed.

Keep in mind that the provided values for, let's say yogurt, may not match those listed on the tub, so pay close attention to the accuracy of the data you use. Also, such apps cannot provide accurate information for home-made foods, which may be a nuisance for those who like to cook their own meals (and render the counter useless).

The app also displays a history for later analysis, which provides an average figure for calories, carbs, fat and protein, as well as individual breakdowns (in weight and percentages) for fat, carbs and protein. The history can be set to show either the last seven or 30 days.

There are various diets listed in the app, including ones for pregnant women, those who have special needs (a peanut allergy for example), or want a quick way to lose weight, which can be used in conjunction with a daily calorie target.

Bing Health & Fitness also provides trackers for cardio, workouts, and ways to check for symptoms and medical data, news pertaining to health and fitness (so you can keep up with the latest developments on the matter), various types of exercises as well as other features.

Those who use Bing Health & Fitness on Windows 8.1 will appreciate that tracker data can be synced with its Windows Phone counterpart, which will allow for a seamless transition for users between the two platforms. This is achieved by logging in with a Microsoft account (the option resides in the menu bar of the Windows Phone app).

Bing Health & Fitness is available to download from Windows Phone Store.
WinSnap adds new post-capture pen tool, revamps user interface

Publié: février 17, 2014, 1:36pm CET par Nick Peers

NTWind Software has released WinSnap 4.5, a major new build of its Windows screen capture and post-processing tool. Version 4.5 debuts a completely redesigned and updated user interface, plus adds a host of new tools, including new presets and quick preferences and a number of new drawing tools.

The new release also promises improved support for the most recent Windows 8 Aero theme, plus the usual gamut of tweaks and bug fixes.

WinSnap’s redesigned user interface now comes with a choice of four different styles: black (the default), silver, blue and system. Users can easily switch between these using the new View menu, which is designed to make it easier to quickly customize the UI appearance and style -- users will find the four styles accessible via the Style sub-menu.

The user interface has also been redesigned with ease-of-use in mind, making program options and key tools easier to access.

Examples include making it possible to easily switch between native and custom shadow effects post-capture from the main interface. Users can easily set the size, color, direction and opacity of their custom effect, with a number of new presets and quick preferences now available for this and other effects.

Another UI enhancement is the addition of both snapshot size and current mouse position info to the main user interface, visible at the bottom of the main WinSnap window.

WinSnap 4.5 also adds a new Pen tool, which can be used to draw smooth spline curves, the points of which are fully editable after drawing is complete.

The update also comes with improved support for the latest iteration of the Windows 8 Aero theme, and fixes a problem with initial capture when launched from the Windows 8 Start screen. It’s rounded off with many other minor fixes, tweaks and enhancements.

Users should be aware that settings will be reset to their defaults if version 4.5 is installed over a previous version. WinSnap 4.5 is available now as a function-limited trial for PCs running Windows XP or later.
Swiss File Knife is the ultimate command line toolkit

Publié: février 17, 2014, 1:32pm CET par Mike Williams

Many people say we’re now living in a "post-PC world". The desktop is dead, they claim, or at least on the way out, while touch is the future. And all this might suggest that command line tools are entirely irrelevant, and best forgotten.

If you need to automate PC tasks, though, for yourself or others, then a little command line knowledge can still save you a vast amount of time. Especially if you extend the regular DOS commands with the cross-platform Swiss File Knife.

We downloaded the Windows version of program (it’s also available for Mac and Linux). It arrived as a single executable, no installation required, so we just copied it into a folder on our path.

To use Swiss Family Knife you must enter its name, followed by whatever command and switches you’d like to use. For instance, entering sfk170 list mydir !.bak !.tmp.txt will list all files within mydir, except .bak and .tmp.txt files.

There are also commands to search for files by content, or name. It’s able to create or delete directory trees. And you get a lengthy list of text and file processing options: LF <> CRLF, tab <> space, hex <> binary, hex <> dec, insert string, replace string, sort string, split file, join file, more.

This would be useful in itself, but Swiss File Knife does a whole lot more. The program also includes commands to synchronise a folder tree, find duplicate files, cut video and binary files, create MD5 hashes, send UDP or HTTP requests, download HTTP files, even run instant FTP and HTTP servers.

Most of these commands deliver far more than you’d expect. The List command doesn’t just list files in a directory tree, for example: it also supports a host of archive formats. And it’s enormously flexible, with more than 35 switches, which can themselves be combined in many different ways, and have their output passed on to other Swiss File Knife commands.

There’s also plenty of scripting support, with tools to get user input, run sequences of Swiss File Knife commands, run commands on every file in a folder, run commands in a loop, and more.

Perhaps most surprising of all, though, Swiss File Knife isn’t too difficult to learn. There’s a lot to explore, but the syntax of each command is relatively straightforward. When listing files, for example, there’s no “-n -l -p” garbage: instead you’ll use plain English switches like -time, -hidden, -sort, -minsize, -maxsize and so on. You can probably guess what they do already. And if you can’t, a truly excellent PowerShell-like local Help system explains all.

Swiss File Knife is a great package, then, with something to offer just about everyone. You can use it immediately to replace other small tools (an instant web server, perhaps). You might string a few commands together to automate some useful task, such as processing text files. Or you could learn the whole package, and make it your scripting tool of choice. Whatever your decision, it’s going to save you plenty of time: go grab a copy immediately.
Apple needs Time-Warner Cable more than does Comcast

Publié: février 17, 2014, 8:28am CET par Robert X. Cringely

Tech news changed last week faster than the weather. At the beginning of the week Charter Communications was trying to buy Time-Warner Cable, then on Tuesday Apple was rumored to be close to a deal for Apple TV to replace or augment Time-Warner’s cable boxes, then on Thursday both stories crashed and burned when Comcast bought TWC out from under Charter, killing the Apple deal in the process. But does it really have to end that way? Not if Apple is smart.

I don’t care about cable consolidation, frankly, though a lot of other people do, seeing too much power being concentrated in Comcast. I would just like to see things shaken up in the TV industry bumping services quickly forward to where I’ll only have to pay for the stuff I actually want to watch. I suspect that’s where the Apple-TWC deal was heading. Apple would pay TWC for the privilege of taking over a substantial part of the cable company’s workload, cutting costs and raising TWC profits in the process. It was a desperate attempt on TWC’s part to avoid the clutches of John Malone’s Charter Communications.

Let’s be clear, TWC going with Apple would have undercut cable hegemony, something the company would only do as a last resort.

Then Comcast appeared, playing the white knight, cutting a deal for just south of TWC’s asking price of $160 per share (Charter had offered $132). Both Charter and the threat posed by Apple were thwarted since John Malone made it clear he wasn’t willing to increase his offer for TWC beyond $132 per share.

But what about Apple?

There will eventually come a time when the cable cabal is broken. Intel couldn’t do it last year but Intel frankly isn’t as smart as Apple. Maybe Apple can’t do it, either, but let’s consider what it appears to be giving up by walking away from this deal: Apple would be giving up a chance to revolutionize TV just as it has already done with the music industry.

American TV, depending on how you measure it, is about a $100 billion market. World TV is about $400 billion. That’s a whole lot of fresh new dollars to be gathered by Apple, which really wants and needs continued growth. Why wouldn’t it go for it?

Why wouldn’t it be worth it to Apple to put up the extra $30 per share John Malone would require to take Time-Warner Cable back from Comcast? For that matter, why doesn’t Apple just buy TWC outright? It has the money.

Apple buying TWC would have far fewer anti-trust and restraint-of-trade problems than would the proposed Comcast deal.

If Apple really cares about television and video entertainment, if it sees this as a unique chance to introduce new business models and further expand into a big new market, why wouldn’t it do it?

It might. I hope it does. It’s just a question of balls.

This story might not be over at all.
Social media gets cooking with Chef's Roll

Publié: février 17, 2014, 12:20am CET par Brian Fagioli
The world of social media has exploded -- there are countless sites like Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus to name a few. One problem with these sites, is that they are not focused. In other words, they exist to encapsulate all topics. That is good and sometimes better, but some people may prefer a network that is dedicated to one topic. After all, if you are passionate about one thing, everything else can be noise.

This is particularly true of chefs -- they are passionate people that dedicate themselves to preparing, cooking and presenting their dishes. While a site like Facebook could store pictures of meals and cooking techniques, there is a good chance that it will be lost among the sea of cat videos and chain letters. And so, Chef's Roll has been born.

The company explains that it is a "platform where chefs can tell the full story of their culinary life, both visually and through the written word, through a simple online tool: a Facebook-LinkedIn-Craigslist hybrid, but with more bells and whistles. Chef’s Roll is endorsed by top chefs including New York's Cedric Vongerichten and David Burke and Los Angeles' Taji Marie and Fabio Viviani. It brings a chef’s career goals within reach by providing a clean, succinct and beautiful platform for sharing the breadth of their culinary story".

"The quality of a chef's online presence almost never matches the quality of their cuisine. Thus, we're building the largest professional chef network in the world, where chefs are able to promote their talent, career achievements, unique style and more through this interactive, cost-effective and sophisticated tool. Chef's Roll was developed out of our respect for chefs and what they do best", says Chef's Roll co-founder Thomas Keslinke.

The social network explains some of the things chefs can share:
- Skills and expertise
- Upcoming events
- Education and experience
- A synopsis of the type of cuisine they specialize in
- Photos and videos
- Awards and accolades
- Client reviews
- Links to print online and television press
Both established and up-and-coming chefs should be able to take advantage and use this to further their careers. However, unlike most social networks, this is not free. Users must pay $19 per month or $99 per year. This actually seems reasonable, as it creates a digital and interactive hub for your brand.

Are you a chef? Will you take a bite out of Chef's Roll and join? Tell me in the comments.

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