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Parallels Access 2.0 lets you control your PC or Mac remotely using iPad, iPhone or Android device

Publié: juin 20, 2014, 9:15pm CEST par Nick Peers

Looking for a way to access programs on your desktop or laptop from your mobile? You could go down the route of installing something like TeamViewer, but with the best will in the world, trying to control your entire Windows or Mac desktop from your mobile is a fiddly experience at best.

A more practical solution can be found by going down the Parallels Access route, and it’s one that’s just been made even better with the release of version 2.0.

Parallels Access adopts a slightly different approach to accessing your computer remotely -- it assumes your primary objective is to be able to access specific programs and apps while you’re on the move, and focuses its interface accordingly.

The service -- which you sign up for via https://access.parallels.com -- sees you download a server program on your PC or Mac, then install the relevant mobile app. As of version 2.0, Parallels Access extends itself to the Android platform as well as becoming a universal iOS app, giving iPhone users the ability to run desktop apps on their phone too.

The app’s simple to use: once connected, it takes control of your PC’s display, resizing it before transmitting it back to your mobile. It then presents a home screen of app icons with the most popular apps included (you can add to or edit this list easily). Tap one, and the app opens on your mobile, ready for you to view and edit documents almost as if you were sat at your computer.

Parallels Access scores points for utilizing smart features for both navigating and controlling your app using your touchscreen, plus makes it easy to switch between open apps using a Task Switcher window.

The new Android version looks slick, and is responsive and quick over a local Wi-Fi connection. But it’s the iOS version that really stands out, particularly with a number of new enhancements added to version 2.0.

Chief among these is the addition of a file browser, which allows you to access your entire file system (including favourites and other links) from the app. You can’t transfer files in this way, but you can move them around your file system and open them directly using apps on your computer.

The iOS version also gains the ability to change the screen resolution to a more comfortable level, plus capture microphone input on your iPad or iPhone. It also comes with the usual promise of better stability and performance.

You can try Parallels Access for free for 14 days, thereafter you’ll need to purchase a subscription -- currently $19.95 nets you 12 month’s access with up to five PCs and Macs.

Parallels Access for iPad and iPhone 2.0 and Parallels Access for Android 2.0 are both available now. iOS 7.0 or Android 4.0.3 or later is required. The apps work with PCs running Windows 7 or later and Macs running OS X 10.7 (Lion) or later.
Best Windows 8 apps this week

Publié: juin 20, 2014, 6:48pm CEST par Martin Brinkmann
Eighty-sixth in a series. Welcome to this week's selection of the best applications for Windows 8.

New app and game releases this week include the excellent next generation comic book reader Madefire, two TV show apps by A&E, and an adaption of the popular board game Zombies!!!.

As always, if I missed an app or game that has been released this week that you believe is particularly good, let me know in the comments below or notify me via email instead.

Here is this week's selection of apps and games.

Red Stripe Deals

Six apps and games are discounted by at least 50 percent each week. The following applications are available at a discount this week.
- Skulls of the Shogun, action game for $1.99
- Phototastic Pro, create photo collages for $1.49
- Maya the Bee, educational application for children for $1.49
- Billiards HD, billiard game for $2.49
- The Mystery of the Crystal Portal (Full), adventure game for $2.99
- Slingcat, action game for $0.99.
Windows App of the Week

Madefire

Madefire is a free comic book reader on first glance but once you have downloaded one of the books it makes available, you will quickly notice that it takes the concept to a new level.

Instead of just making available the book for you to read online it adds sound, depth and motion to them.

Madefire calls the concept motion books because of that. The app offers a preview of things to come. You can download several Transformers chapters currently with comics from publishers such as DC Comics, Dark Horse or IDW following after the preview.

The concept is interesting and while reading comic books this way may take some getting used to time, it offers an interesting unique experience.

Other Apps

Heroes of Order & Chaos - Multiplayer Online Battle

The Moba plays similar to games such as Dota 2 or League of Legends. Play against other players in 3vs3 or 5vs5 matches or play solo games against the computer.

Select one of more than 40 different heroes, upgrade hero skills and equipment and try to conquer the enemy base before your own is conquered by the enemy team.

Heroes have unique sets of skills that you need to utilize to the best of your abilities to beat the enemy team.

The Temple Tactics

This is a strategic board game in which you play against the computer or human opponents over the Internet.

The goal of the game is to score more points than your opponent. This is done by selecting a title on the board whenever it is your turn. Each tile adds -10 to +10 to your score and determines which tiles your opponent may pick next.

You can also use bonus tiles and create combos for extra points.

Staples Connect

Control your lights, thermostat, fans, sensors and other home automation products.

What's interesting about this solution is that it supports several brands and not just one of them which means that you can use it to control connected home products from different companies using it.

The application itself is free but you need to purchase the Universal Wireless Hub for $99 to control the home automation products using the application.

Zombies!!! The Board Game ($4.99, free trial available)

This is the official adaption of the board game Zombies!!!. The goal of the game is to reach the center square of the Helipad as the first player or be the first player to kill 25 zombies.

During a turn, players place a location tile on the map, combat zombies, draw event cards to fill them up to three, make a movement roll and move the number of spaces indicated by the roll.

You can play the game against up four human or computer controlled opponents using pre-build maps and the classic board game rules.

Scribd

The official Scribd application for Windows 8 provides you with access to all books the service makes available.

You do need to sign up for an account or sign in to an existing account to use the application. It is also worth noting that the Windows app requires an online connection to read books,

Scribd charges a flat fee of $8.99 per month for access to its library of more than 400,000 books.

Hotel Tonight

Search last minute hotel deals worldwide using the application. Select a city or place that you want to find a hotel for and browse the selection the app displays to you.

The hotel's name, rating, type as well as its regular and discounted price are displayed to you afterwards in the search results.

You can click on any hotel to display detailed information, photos and booking options or change the number of nights you want to stay from one to up to five.

Pocket Army

Play against the computer or human opponents as a general in this strategy game. You control the general directly on the battlefield which comes down to moving left or right and using skills available to you.

Combat is automatic for the most part and outcome is mostly determined by your general's equipment and skills as well as the composition of your army.

It needs to be noted that the game offers in-app purchases to speed things up. While you can grind your way to victory -- or the next best item, skill or unit -- it will take quite a while to do so.

A&E

Watch episodes of A&E television shows such as Bates motel, Bonny & Clyde, Storage Wards or Bad Ink using the application. The app makes available full episodes as well as clips, but requires that you are connecting from the United States to do so.

One interesting feature of the application is the watchlist which you can add shows to. Most episodes are only available for a limited amount of time though before they are pulled again.

Lifetime which gives you access to reality, drama and movies Lifetime has to offer has also been released.

GT Racing 2: The Real Car Experience

The car racing game features 67 different cards for you to purchase from manufacturers such as Ferrari, Dodge, Mercedes-Benz or Audi.

You start with enough money to buy a Class F car like the Fiat 500 or the Alfa Romeo Mito. Cars can be upgraded to improve speed, acceleration, handling or breaks, but only up to a certain point.

Faster cars can be purchased for currency that you earn when you race but also for premium currency that you can purchase in the in-app store.

Besides options to race in the campaign you can also race against other player's online. Events are planned as well but not available yet.
Intel Core i3, i7 Surface Pro 3 to ship sooner, Docking Station gets official date

Publié: juin 20, 2014, 6:44pm CEST par Brian Fagioli

Today is finally the day that the Surface Pro 3 becomes available to consumers; well, the Core i5 variants anyway. Sadly, if you are interested in the less expensive i3 model or more powerful i7 model, you will have to wait. For the past few weeks, Microsoft had been communicating an August 31 release, which is like an eternity in internet years. Consumers were faced with a dilemma -- buy the i5 now or wait for the other variants at the end of August.

Today however, Microsoft eases the wait for the i3 and i7 variants, as it actually pushes up the release date to August 1. This is amazing news and quite unique too -- the technology world usually sees release dates pushed back. Will this change your decision as to which Surface Pro 3 to buy?

Panos Panay, leader of the Surface Team says, "many of you have placed pre-orders for the new Surface, and those who ordered the Intel Core i5 versions will be receiving them directly. Those who are interested in the Core i3 and Core i7 versions will remember that when we first announced the product we said these would be shipping 'in August'. Thanks to some great work by our team, I can confirm that, in this case, 'in August' means August 1, which is when these versions will arrive in stores and at commercial resellers in Canada and the US".

Panay further explains, "I've had a lot of questions about Docking Station for Surface Pro 3 -- particularly when it's coming. The docking station will be available beginning Friday, August 15 in Canada and the United States, and you can pre-order it starting today in these markets through Microsoft Stores and other select retailers".

The docking station is what I have been anticipating. Not only can the Surface Pro 3 replace a laptop and tablet, but a desktop too when paired with it. The accessory is a game-changer.

If you want to buy the Surface Pro 3, you can do so by clicking here. Which Surface Pro 3 will you buy? Tell me in the comments.
The day the music didn't die: Earbits rises from the ashes

Publié: juin 20, 2014, 5:01pm CEST par Alan Buckingham

This past weekend we wrote about music service Earbits shutting down, effective June 16th. The service sadly ran out of funding after making a good run, competing against the big players in the music streaming business. But rumors of the service's demise were greatly exaggerated -- nod to Mark Twain.

Founder and CEO Joey Flores sent out a message to customers with some good news -- the site will live to fight another day. In brief, Flores states "The sentiment of the community did not go unnoticed. Since then, a strategic partner has stepped forward and provided the necessary funding to bring Earbits back online indefinitely. The web service and mobile apps have been relaunched, effective immediately".

Flores refers to a Twitter campaign launched by disenfranchised customers. It was enough to get attention from someone capable of funding the service, though the new partner remains anonymous for now.

This is good news for both Earbits and its customers and future users, not to mention emerging artists looking to get discovered. Hopefully the service will remain active for the foreseeable future.

Photo Credit: CREATISTA/Shutterstock
Harley-Davidson unveils its first electric motorcycle

Publié: juin 20, 2014, 4:12pm CEST par Sam Pudwell

Legendary motorbike manufacturer Harley-Davidson has invited members of the public to test its first electric motorbike. Instead of the bike going on general sale, US customers will be invited to take it out for a spin and provide feedback.

The bike, labelled project LiveWire, will visit over 30 Harley-Davidson dealerships between now and the end of the year by travelling down the US' iconic Route 66.

"Project LiveWire is more like the first electric guitar - not an electric car", said the senior vice president at Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Mark-Hans Richer. "It's an expression of individuality and iconic style that just happens to be electric. Project LiveWire is a bold statement for us as a company and a brand".

Fans have, so far, offered mixed reactions, with members from the Harley-Davidson Riders Club of Great Britain displaying some early scepticism.

Dave Scott said, "It looks OK but I'd need a real engine in it", whilst others questioned its safety. "For an electric bike it has a good look, but I can't help think a silent bike is a recipe for disaster on our ever increasingly busy roads".

A teaser video released by the company shows the motorcycle travelling down Route 66 in almost complete silence.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
Elasticsearch releases new Hadoop connector

Publié: juin 20, 2014, 4:07pm CEST par Ian Barker

Search analytics specialist Elasticsearch has announced the 2.0 release of its Hadoop connector, bringing advanced search techniques to the popular big data platform.

It's also now certified for Cloudera Enterprise 5. This means Elasticsearch is now compatible across all Apache-based Hadoop distributions, helping businesses extract immediate insights regardless of where their data is stored.

Using Elasticsearch in conjunction with Hadoop, organizations no longer need to run a batch process and wait for hours to analyze their data. Elasticsearch for Apache Hadoop can make data available for indexing as it's being generated, making it available for search and analysis in a matter of seconds.

Steven Schuurman, co-founder and CEO of Elasticsearch says, "Hadoop was created to store and archive data at a massive scale, but businesses need to be able to ask, iterate, and extract actionable insights from this data -- which is what we designed our products for. With today's certification from Cloudera, Elasticsearch now works with all Apache-based Hadoop distributions, and with it, solves the last mile of big data Hadoop deployments by getting big insights, fast".

Key features of the new release include the ability to read and write data between Hadoop and Elasticsearch which lets businesses get immediate, actionable insights using real-time search and analysis. There's native integration and support for popular Hadoop libraries so users can run queries natively on Hadoop through MapReduce, Hive, Pig, or Cascading APIs. A Snapshot/Restore feature also makes it easy to take a snapshot of data within Elasticsearch -- perhaps a year's worth -- and archive it in Hadoop. At any time, this snapshot can be restored back to Elasticsearch to carry out extra analysis.

You can register for a webinar set to take place on August 20 which will discuss the features and benefits, or go to the Elasticsearch website to find out more.

Image Credit: alphaspirit / Shutterstock
Convert scripts to exe files with Bat To Exe Converter

Publié: juin 20, 2014, 3:13pm CEST par Mike Williams

Scripts can be a great way to automate tasks on your PC, and are usually very easy to create and share. Just launch Notepad, enter a few lines, and after a quick File and Save it’s ready to go.

Batch files have down sides, too. You don’t always want others to be able to view or edit them. It’s difficult to restrict their use, and of course the console window appears every time they’re launched. But fortunately the free Bat To Exe Converter can solve all these problems by converting your scripts into stand-alone executables.

The program arrives as a single portable executable, and presents all of its options in a single dialog. To get started, select your source script, and click "Versioninformations". Here you’re able to customise the exe file with its own icon and file information (version, company, product name, description, copyright).

Life gets more interesting with the Options tab, where Bat To Exe Converter provides some useful features of its own. Scripts often need to create temporary files, for instance, but you can set up your executable to work in the system temporary folder by default, and/or delete any temporary files when it’s done.

Select the "invisible application" setting and your executable will run without a console window. You shouldn’t turn this on if the source script needs to interact with the user, but otherwise it’s a very good idea.

An "Add administrator manifest" option ensures scripts which need administrator rights will be launched and executed correctly.

You can even bundle other files within your executable, before compressing the results with UPX or Mpress. But beware: antivirus tools are already more likely to falsely flag exe files from this kind of tool, and if you attach other files and use packing (both very common malware tricks) then there’s an even greater chance of problems.

Once you’ve finished, click Compile and your executable is produced almost instantly. One small issue is that there’s no real feedback provided. We expected a status report saying compilation was successful, the exe file is this size, in this location, maybe with a button to launch it, another to open that folder. But there’s nothing, and if you want to test the file you must find and launch it yourself.

That aside, Bat To Exe Converter proved simple to use, and correctly converted and ran all our test files. If regular scripts aren’t always enough then we’d give it a try.
US Supreme Court squares up to software patent trolls with stricter rules

Publié: juin 20, 2014, 2:36pm CEST par Mark Wilson

A ruling by the US Supreme Court could change the way patents are assigned in the future. A case between New York-based CLS Bank International and Australian company Alice Corp found judges unanimously agreeing that software patent was invalid because it was simply an existing idea transferred to a computer. In order to qualify for a patent, an idea must be unique, and the court ruled that the simple addition of a computer application is not enough.

CLS Bank International had complained that Alice Corp had applied a "generic computer implementation" to a patent owned by the bank, rendering it invalid; the court agreed. "The representative method claim does no more than simply instruct the practitioner to implement the abstract idea of intermediated settlement on generic computer", the ruling states.

The ruling could help to stamp out the problem of patent trolls -- or non-practicing entities, as they are sometime known -- as it would force companies to come up with completely unique ideas. Trolls have become a serious issue for the tech industry, with many companies stockpiling patents in the hope that they will be able to force big companies into buying them. Software patents have been something of a sticking point for many years, and there have long been complaints that patents have been issued that are too vague. Similarly, it has previously been very easy for companies to take an existing idea that has been patented by someone else, add a tech twist, and call it their own.

The BBC points out that the US has the "most generous approach" to patents. In Europe software patents can only be awarded to software products that address technical problems. In the US "business methods" can be patented, and software falls into this category. The case has been very closely watched by the tech industry. The decision that combining a set of pre-existing ideas into one product without adding more features, or taking an existing patent and "computerfying" it, does not qualify for a new patent could have wide-reaching ramifications.

Photo Credit: Feng Yu/Shutterstock
US Marshals Service has no idea how email works

Publié: juin 20, 2014, 2:12pm CEST par Jamie Hinks

A list of prospective bidders for a significant haul of US-government seized bitcoins has been leaked by the very administration that is organizing the auction.

The US Marshals Service accidentally revealed the confidential email addresses of interested parties when messaging them about the process and it has already apologized for the mistake that "was in no way intentional".

The "gaff" was revealed by CoinDesk, a Bitcoin news site, and it now holds a list of those that requested more information about the auction including Fred Ehrsam, co-founder of UK-based payment processor Coinbase.

"The US Marshals Service (USMS) sent an email to individuals who had enquired about bidding in the Silk Road Bitcoin auction informing that that a new FAQ had been published on the USMS website. However, the recipient list was accidentally exposed because it was copied rather than blind copied", CoinDesk reporter Joon Wong told the BBC.

It all concerns the US government plans to auction off around 30,000 bitcoins (£10.2 million) on 27 June, which were seized during an FBI raid in October 2013 linked to the dark web marketplace titled Silk Road.

The coins form part of a civil forfeiture and criminal action taken against Silk Road owner and founder Ross William Ulbricht that was undertaken following his arrest last year.

Wong added the list is not a watertight run down of registered bidders so isn’t a significant breach but the email addresses themselves would be enough for most to identify the bidder involved.

"It is more significant in terms of giving us an insight into the agency handling this auction", he said. "The USMS is the first government agency to conduct a crypto-currency auction. Its clerical error has compromised the anonymity of individuals who contacted it, so this doesn't inspire confidence".

USMS announced the auction last week and informed prospective buyers that it would need a bidder registration form, a copy of a government issued ID as well as a $200,000 (£117,500) deposit wired to an American bank and that all winners have to pay the amount in cash with no instalments accepted.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

Photo Credit: Joe Wilcox
Request legally binding signatures via any email client

Publié: juin 20, 2014, 12:33pm CEST par Ian Barker

Email may have revolutionized business communication, but if you need a signature on a contract or business document in most cases you still have to send it through the post or use a cumbersome e-signature app.

Until now that is, Barcelona-based startup Signaturit has a new solution that enables you to request handwritten signatures through any email client.

The technology complies with the EU and US e-signature laws and spares users the need to visit third-party websites or download apps.

After signing up all it takes to request a handwritten signature through Signaturit is sending a PDF file using your preferred email client and adding ".signatur.it" to the end of the signatory's address. The platform not only keeps a record of the email address, the name of the file, the location and the exact time it was signed by a Time Stamping Authority (TSA), but also uses a state-of-the-art biometric authentication system and the same encryption standards used by banks and government agencies to ensure the integrity and validity of each signature.

Juan Zamora, CEO of Signaturit says, "While e-signature is a tried and true technology, the increasingly demanding regulatory and legal requirements for binding electronic signatures threatens the easy-to-use nature of the solutions available in the market. That is why Signaturit not only provides the simplest solution by allowing users to request signatures through their email client of choice, but does so in compliance with the most demanding data protection requirements".

The technology allows deals to be closed faster and saves on traditional document costs by eliminating the need for printing and scanning. It offers real-time reporting along with a dashboard where users can view the status of each transaction.

The service is available now and there are pricing models for various sizes of business. You can get more information and try out the service for free on the Signaturit website.
Paedophile use of dark net increases for child abuse images

Publié: juin 20, 2014, 12:10pm CEST par Barclay Ballard

Tens of thousands of paedophiles are using the dark net to circulate images of sexual abuse, according to a report by the BBC.

The National Crime Agency said that abusers were increasingly turning to encryption software to maintain anonymity. The dark net is a hidden part of the Internet which can only be accessed by special software, one of the most popular of which is the TorBrowser.

This enables people to use Tor, an "onion-routing" system, which bounces encrypted data through several randomly selected servers on the network, making a PC's net address untraceable.

Paedophiles are using the TorBrowser to access chat rooms where they circulate illegal images. One such site received up to 500 page views a second, and information suggests that British paedophiles are heavily involved in producing and sharing obscene images.

Many of the dark net sites cannot be accessed using a standard search engine, and so Tor, which was first developed by the US military, has to be used. It has also been known to have positive applications, particularly in parts of the world where oppressive regimes attempt to curtail free speech. During the Arab Spring, for example, activists used the TorBrowser to escape detection.

During the BBC investigation, the broadcaster contacted an active paedophile who ran one of the illegal chat rooms, until it closed in May 2014.

"We had over 40,000 user accounts on the site. We used to get sometimes 500 page views per second. My own collection is 12 gigabytes", he said.

Although undercover officers try to get the paedophiles to reveal their identities online, it is often a difficult process. Last November, Prime Minister David Cameron, held a summit on online safety in which he hoped spy agencies would co-operate with the police force to apprehend the abusers.

"That expertise is going to be brought to bear, to go after these revolting people sharing these images on the dark net", he said.

While the amount of child abuse imagery on the Internet is growing, the founder of DeepDotWeb.com, which reports on the dark net, stressed that the majority of users are "disgusted" by the paedophile sites. He added, "The deep web is still, just an open reflection of the real world thanks to its anonymous conduct, so this problem needs to be tackled in the real world.

"The deep web is nothing more than a peep hole into this unfortunate reality."

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

Photo Credit: scyther5/Shutterstock
Microsoft, Google to include kill switch in Windows Phone, Android

Publié: juin 20, 2014, 11:47am CEST par Mark Wilson

Both Microsoft and Google have agreed to add a kill switch their mobile operating systems. Following an agreement with the New York Attorney General, the next versions of Windows Phone and Android will include a feature that will render handsets useless if they are stolen. The attorney general, Eric Schneiderman, published a report yesterday outlining the importance of such a feature, and revealed that two of the biggest names in technology are on-board.

It's something that authorities have been calling for for some time now, citing the sheer number of mobile phone thefts taking place around the world. Schneiderman's report points to Apple as proof of the efficacy of a kill switch. Thefts of iPhones dropped by 17 percent in New York City after the introduction of a remote wiping and locking feature. The Secure Our Smartphones report took fire at Samsung. The company had opted not to include a kill switch, and thefts of Samsung handsets jumped by 40 percent in NYC. "Reactivation Lock" has since been implemented on a small number of new Galaxy handsets.

But while a kill switch can act as a serious theft deterrent -- "An activated kill switch converts an easy-to-sell, high-value multimedia device into a jumble of plastic and glass, drastically reducing its street value", says the report -- there are also security concerns. There is potential for the mechanism to be hijacked so the kill switch could be activated by a hacker or malicious user. It is likely that it will also be possible to block the kill switch signal -- perhaps by activating airplane mode until a workaround can be implemented.

The Save Our Smartphones initiative started one year ago as a joint venture between Eric Schneiderman and San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón. The Major of London, Boris Johnson, joined the project as co-chair, and in recent months various US states have pushed through kill switch legislation.

Photo Credit: Mark Dyer/Shutterstock
AOMEI Backupper Standard 2.01 review

Publié: juin 20, 2014, 11:14am CEST par Mike Williams

When we first looked at AOMEI Data Backuper in January 2013 it was a capable free image backup tool with some limitations -- no scheduler -- but a lot of promise. Now at version 2.x , and renamed to AOMEI Backupper Standard, is the program worth considering again? We checked it out.

Installation remains quick and easy. It’s the free edition of a commercial product, but there’s no adware, no nag screens, no unmarked functions which display annoying "can’t use this until you pay" messages. Only an unobtrusive "Upgrade" link on the main page reminds you there are other options available.

The interface hasn’t changed much since version 1.x, and that’s fine with us. It looks good, and is simple and clear, organizing key features into four categories (Backup, Restore, Clone, Utilities) and using a wizard-type approach to walk you through every task.

As before, you’re able to back up partitions, drives or your system drive. A host of options includes compression, encryption, splitting, intelligent backups (only back up used sectors) and VSS backup support, and you’re able to run fill, incremental or differential backups.

One very major addition is that you’re now able to back up individual files and folders. These are more difficult to select than in other backup programs, because Backupper Standard doesn’t have its own file viewer: instead, you must choose files or folders by selecting them in regular Windows File > Open dialogs. This won’t matter if you’re only looking to back up one or two folder trees, say, but could be an issue for more complex backups.

Another big improvement sees the addition of a flexible scheduler. You’re able to run unattended backups daily, at fixed intervals, on specific days of the week (Tuesdays and Fridays, say), or on a defined day of the month (fixed -- "the 10th" -- or variable, like "the third Friday"). All that’s really missing is support for running jobs on an event ("Startup", "Login", "Shutdown"), but there’s enough here for most people. In all cases you can choose to run full, incremental or differential backups, and your job is launched by Windows Task Scheduler so reliability should be good.

Now you can run backups automatically, it’s good to see Backupper Standard also supports email notifications, letting you know if a backup succeeds, fails or needs user interaction. This free version doesn’t support using your own email account, with the program sending messages from its own server, which left us a little concerned over reliability. But as a plus, it’s also easier to set up, as there’s no need to specify server names, protocols, passwords or anything else: enable the setting and it just works.

A good range of restore options means you can recover an entire image from the program console, or mount it to select just a few files. New support for partition alignment should help to optimise SSDs when restoring, although we didn’t test this. AOMEI now also provides a Windows PE-based bootable recovery disc, too, and there’s better support for booting on EFI and UEFI-based systems.

There are plenty of thoughtful touches. Once you’ve run a backup, say, it’s listed on the Home page. You can then restore it, or run it again in a click or two. An Advanced menu allows you to locate, validate or explore the image, edit the backup, even schedule it. And so if you’ve created a one-off backup job, then decided you want to run it regularly, you don’t have to start again: just click Advanced > Schedule, choose your settings and it’ll run automatically in future.

This free build does have one notable limitation. It won’t automatically delete old backups, so for instance you can’t have it always keep the last three: you’ll have to manage that yourself. But as restrictions go, that’s not bad, and if your destination drive has plenty of space it may not affect you much at all.

AOMEI Backupper Standard still needs a little work. In particular, we’d like an integrated file browser to help you select source files and folders. But overall, it’s a triumph -- good-looking, easy to use, packed with features and very configurable – and a must-see for anyone looking for a free backup tool.
Heartbleed: Really that bad?

Publié: juin 20, 2014, 11:04am CEST par Ian Barker

Most information security scares come and go with relatively little fanfare, some though make a splash and catch the attention of the public and media.

Heartbleed was the latest to fall into the latter category and sent the IT world into a bit of a frenzy. But how bad was it really? Security specialist Secunia rates vulnerabilities on a one to five scale and given the amount of publicity it received you might expect Heartbleed to be at the top end.

In fact Secunia only rates it as a "moderately critical" three, a score usually used for denial of service vulnerabilities against services like FTP, HTTP, and SMTP, and for vulnerabilities that allow system compromises but require user interaction.

Secunia's Director of Research and Security, Kasper Lindgaard explains, "It gets this rating because it enables information retrieval from remote without any user interaction or authentication requirements".

He goes on to point out that the extremely critical rating is reserved for, "Remotely exploitable vulnerabilities that can lead to system compromise, where successful exploitation does not normally require any interaction and exploits are in the wild".

The company does acknowledge though that the effect of Heartbleed depends to an extent on the size of the vendor. Lindgaard says, "Small vendors didn't have such a big ordeal with the vulnerability, however for larger vendors like Cisco, IBM and HP, it was -- and is -- a very different story: they will be hard at work on this one, for some time yet. Thus the costs and implications for large vendors is what will make the Heartbleed bug a long term problem".

You can read more on Lindgaard's blog and Secunia has produced an infographic charting the timeline of the bug which you can see below.
Android 4.4.4 KitKat available now, here's how you can install it

Publié: juin 20, 2014, 10:47am CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

Less than a month after the last Android update launched, Google is now treating Nexus users to another iteration of KitKat. It made its way to the factory images repository first, but is also slowly rolling out over-the-air to compatible smartphones and tablets.

Android 4.4.4 KitKat, build version KTU84P, is available, through a corresponding factory image, for the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, 2012 Wi-Fi Nexus 7, 2013 Wi-Fi Nexus 7, and Nexus 10. The Nexus 7 slates with cellular connectivity (3G and 4G, launched in 2012 and 2013, respectively) have yet to receive the same treatment.

While there is no official changelog provided so far, an unofficial one reveals that we are looking mostly at bug fixes, security patches and various tweaks. These affect the Android Compatibility Test Suite and Framework Classes and Services, Chrome browser (WebKit and OpenSSL) and OpenSSL library. You can check out the unofficial changelog here (it includes changes from Android 4.4.3 KitKat build version KTU84M).

At the time of writing this article, the OTA upgrade link was only captured for the Nexus 5. Keep in mind that you need to be running Android 4.4.3 KitKat, version number KTU84M, in order to successfully upgrade using this method.

If you want to upgrade your Nexus device to Android 4.4.4 KitKat, there are two ways you can do it. First, you can leverage the available factory image (which must match your Nexus device) by following this step-by-step guide. Second, you can use the OTA file (once it is available, if it is not rolling out already) by following this other step-by-step guide.

Photo Credit: Mihaita Bamburic
LinkedIn repeatedly ignores warning of widespread security flaw

Publié: juin 20, 2014, 9:22am CEST par Jamie Hinks

LinkedIn has failed to address a security flaw for over a year that puts at risk the data of all of its over 300 million users and means that sensitive user information can be pilfered easily.

A report conducted by Zimperium Mobile Defense Security found a straightforward MITM attack that uses an SSL stripping technique allows hackers to steal user credentials and gain full control of an account.

"We have reached out to LinkedIn six times over the last year to bring this critical vulnerability to their attention and have urged them to improve their network security, but more than a year after disclosing the bug they have yet to implement a patch for this vulnerability", read a release from Zimperium.

The information exposed by the flaw includes the user’s email address, password, messages, connections and "who viewed my profile", and the hacker can hijack a session in order to gain access to all this information and impersonate the user.

Impersonating the user allows the hacker to do anything a regular user can such as send invitations to connect, read and send messages, edit the user profile and job postings, and manage company pages.

"Not only is your personal LinkedIn information at risk, but also, if you are an administrator for your corporate LinkedIn presence, your company’s brand reputation could also be damaged if a malicious actor were to gain control over posts and email communication on LinkedIn", the firm added.

Every single user that was tested by Zimperium is open to the attack and it doesn’t just exist when an attacker is on the same network as the target. If an attacker has already compromised a device then once it enters a new network the attacker can use it to attack even more devices on the new network.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

Image Credit: Gil C/Shutterstock
Quickly access your favorite folders with FoldersPopup

Publié: juin 20, 2014, 4:46am CEST par Mike Williams

When managing files, it's important that you can browse quickly to your most frequently-used folders, and Windows provides various ways to help. You might add some to your Explorer Favorites, pin more to the taskbar or Start Screen, create custom shortcuts for Explorer, maybe a batch file: there's a lot to do.

Alternatively, you could just use the free FoldersPopup, a single tool which provides quick, easy and configurable access to your key folders from just about anywhere.

To give the program a try, run it, launch Notepad and click File > Open. Middle-click the mouse or press Ctrl+K and the FoldersPopup menu appears. Common folders like C:\, \Program Files or \Folders are a click away, Recent or System folders (Desktop, Documents, Pictures) are on submenus, and once you select something the Open dialog updates immediately.

This isn’t just about opening files. FoldersPopup also works in Save, Export, Import, Insert, Select and Upload dialogs. You may be able to customize the program to work with other dialogs, too (see Settings > Supported Dialog Boxes).

FoldersPopup is just as helpful in Explorer. It’s an easy way to change folders; just call it up and select whatever you like. Or, if you're at the desktop and need to open a folder, you're able to launch Explorer there with a hotkey or mouse action.

Better still, this even works at the command prompt. Forget typing a really long path, only to find it contains spaces and you forgot to use quotes: just activate FoldersPopup, choose your folder, and the program enters the appropriate "CD \…" command for you.

Configurability is another highlight. You're not restricted to a single list of favorite folders, for example: they can be categorized into as many submenus as you need. (Although we'd be careful with that: the whole point of the program is to avoid complex browsing.)

And if you're already using the middle click or Ctrl+K for something else, no problem. Every FoldersPopup feature has its own custom hotkey and mouse action, so any conflicts can be fixed in seconds.
Mozilla partners with the New York Times, Washington Post and Knight Foundation

Publié: juin 20, 2014, 4:01am CEST par Brian Fagioli
Firefox is like a good friend I haven't seen in a very long time. Sure, I still care about Firefox, but I don't care to use it every day. There is nothing wrong with it, but it no longer offers a compelling reason to choose it over competitors. Even Internet Explorer 11 has proven to be a great browser. You know that old joke, where people would say they only used IE once, to download Firefox? Well, the tables have unfortunately turned.

Mozilla is in trouble and no one is happy about it. Everyone thinks fondly of the Firefox browser. It is just worrying that the company's major source of income is Google, the maker of a competing browser. Also, there was the whole CEO scandal, that caused many people to question the leadership at the organization. But ultimately, the question is, if the Google cash-cow stops, where would money come from? Today, Mozilla may have an answer, albeit partial, by partnering with the New York Times, Washington Post and Knight Foundation. Wait, what?

"Mozilla is proud to announce a new partnership with The New York Times and The Washington Post, funded by $3.89 million from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, to build a new, open-source content and commenting platform", says Mozilla.

Dan Sinker, Director of the Mozilla-Knight OpenNews project, explains, "this is a project that has the opportunity not only to improve community engagement in journalism, but to strengthen the web itself. Technologies like Backbone.js, D3, and Django have all been forged and tested in the demanding environment of the newsroom, and then gone on to transform the way people build on the web. We don't know that there’s a Backbone lurking inside this project, but we're sure as hell going to find out".

Mozilla lists the following benefits:
- Making user-generated contributions easier to collect and package.
- Helping news organizations produce immersive, user-driven narratives typically only seen in large newsrooms.
- Giving journalists a platform to discover unique voices within their communities.
- Reaching experts to increase content quality and create value for readers.
- Changing the way journalists and users interact by shifting the relationship from comments to conversation.
While the project is interesting, it is definitely not the saving-grace that Mozilla needed. Quite frankly, $3.89 million is a lot of money to individuals like you and I, but it will likely be burned through quickly by the project. Maybe one day, Mozilla will have a dependable source of income, but in the interim, the organization had better hope Google keeps the dollars flowing.

Do you think this open-source content and commenting platform will succeed or flop? Tell me in the comments.

Photo credit: 3D character / Shutterstock
On the eve of the Surface Pro 3 release, Microsoft releases firmware update

Publié: juin 20, 2014, 1:29am CEST par Brian Fagioli
Dear BetaNews readers, a poem from yours truly. Ehem. Twas the night before Surface Pro 3 release and all over the net, people were anticipating having their computing needs met. If you preordered the tablet you should be fine, but if you didn't reserve it, get up early and start waiting in line. Thank you.

Yes, tonight is the eve of the official Surface Pro 3 release. If you are buying it tomorrow, you will be very happy. However, once you turn it on, before you do anything, you should check for updates. Why, you ask? Well, earlier today, Microsoft released an important firmware update and you might as well get it out of the way. As per a Microsoft representative, here's how to get it manually:
- Step 1: Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Settings. (If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Settings.)
- Step 2: Tap or click Change PC settings, tap or click Update and recovery, and then tap or click Windows Update.
- Step 3: Tap or click Check now.
- Step 4: If there are updates available, tap or click View details.
- Step 5: Tap or click to select the updates you want to install, and then tap or click Install.
- Step 6: Restart Surface twice after the updates have been installed; the entire update process should take 10-15 minutes.
For experienced Windows users, I am not telling you anything new. Of course, if you enable automatic updates, you should be alerted to it at first boot anyway.

As per Mary Jo Foley, Microsoft told her that the firmware update fixes the reported power bug that some people encountered, where the Surface Pro 3 would not boot. Strangely, not everyone was affected, and with very heavy use, I never had a problem booting once. Also included are performance improvements.

In addition to the firmware fix, an additional update will enable the enhanced stylus/pen functionality for OneNote, such as double-clicking the pen to take screenshots. After you install all Windows Updates, you will want to update the pre-installed OneNote Modern app too, by doing the following:
- Step 1: Launch the Windows Store app
- Step 2: Swipe in from right and tap or click the Settings charm
- Step 3: Tap or click App updates
- Step 4: Tap or click check for updates
There you go, now you are ready to use your new Surface Pro 3. You should start having fun immediately. Lastly, I would suggest clicking here for some awesome app and program recommendations.