Gregarius » BetaNews.Com » juillet 30, 2014

BetaNews.Com (16 non lus)

How to access Windows 8.x emoji on a desktop PC

Publié: juillet 30, 2014, 9:06pm CEST par Wayne Williams

The touch screen keyboard available on Windows 8.x tablets -- like Microsoft Surface, for example -- gives you access to a wealth of emoji you can use in chats, emails, comments and so on. As well as the usual smileys, there are hand signs, hearts, cartoon characters, vehicles, weather symbols, and many more to pick from. Just select the character set you want at the bottom of the keyboard.

If you’re not using a touch screen device, but still want to access these characters you can.

All you need to do is right-click the taskbar, go to Toolbars and select Touch Keyboard. A virtual keyboard will open, and you can click on the emoji key and select the characters you want.

A Touch Keyboard button will be displayed in the taskbar, so you can quickly access the virtual keyboard, and the emoji collection, as and when required.
BitTorrent releases Bleep for Windows, a closed Alpha chat client

Publié: juillet 30, 2014, 8:31pm CEST par Alan Buckingham

Recent revelations, courtesy of Edward Snowden, have given insight into just how much citizens need to worry about NSA activity, and it was an alarmingly large amount. BitTorrent has been working to mitigate these issues, at least as best as possible, with a Sync app that stores no data that can be accessed, and now a new chat app that will do the same.

The service debuts in private Alpha today, allowing testers to jump on board and get a taste of what it's like to use what is claimed to be a "serverless" version of chat.

BitTorrent points out the inherent need for security these days, stating "with the susceptibility of communications platforms to snooping and hacking, reminders of which seems to surface every week, we realized that we were uniquely qualified to build a better platform and application".

"Our big idea was to apply distributed technology to conversations. That means no servers required. This enables people using Bleep to make a direct, decentralized connection to someone they trust. Bleep offers the freedom to communicate without the risk of metadata being exposed", BitTorrent continues.

It's a valid point, given the state of the world today, and the organization has done an admirable job of stepping up and protecting users with a rock-solid Sync client. If Bleep lives up to those expectations then governments could be in for a tougher time scanning and archiving information on citizens, the vast majority of whom are innocent, but caught in the cross-hairs of a wide net being cast.

For now, Bleep is for Windows 7 and 8 desktops only, however other platforms are promised in the future. Customers will need to sign up for the Alpha, but can invite friends, once they are in. You can sign up here.
Logitech reveals the world's fastest gaming mouse -- G402 Hyperion Fury

Publié: juillet 30, 2014, 6:59pm CEST par Brian Fagioli

PC gaming is a really awesome pastime. While some people prefer console gaming, it is strictly a matter of preference. I like both, but I particularly like the gamification of PC gaming hardware. In other words, the actual building of the gaming PC and buying of cool peripherals can be as fun as the games themselves. Hell, it can sometimes be more fun.

One of the most fun peripherals to buy for a gaming PC is the mouse. Unfortunately, far too much emphasis has been put on appearance lately, instead of performance. Don't get me wrong, a gaming mouse should look cool and sexy, but only as a secondary focus. Today, Logitech announces a mouse that meets the needs of performance and appearance-driven consumers, with the G402 Hyperion Fury. The company claims that it is the world's fastest gaming mouse. Is it faster than Speedy Gonzales?

"Today we’re excited to introduce the fastest gaming mouse ever made, the Logitech G402 Hyperion Fury Ultra-Fast FPS Gaming Mouse. This mouse features Logitech's exclusive Fusion Engine sensor technology that can reliably track over 500 inches per second (IPS) and Logitech's exclusive Delta Zero sensor technology for unrivaled accuracy", says Logitech.

The company touts the following features and specs:

Features

Fusion Engine hybrid senor
8 programmable buttons
On-the-fly DPI Switching
32-bit ARM processor
1 millisecond report
High-speed clicking
Full-speed USB
Tracking
Resolution: 240-4000 dpi
Max. acceleration: >16G*
Max. speed: >500 ips*
* Tested on Logitech G240 Gaming Mouse Pad

Responsiveness

USB data format: 16 bits/axis
USB report rate: 1000 Hz (1ms)
Microprocessor: 32-bit ARM

Glide

Dynamic coefficient of friction -: .09 µ (k)*
Static coefficient of friction -: .14 µ (s)*
*Tested on wood-veneer desktop.

Durability

Buttons (Left / Right): 20 million clicks
Feet: 250 kilometers

Physical specifications

Weight: 144 grams (mouse plus cable)
Weight: 108 grams (mouse without cable)
Length: 136mm
Width: 72mm
Height: 41mm
Cable: 7ft

Wow, that is quite impressive. As you can see, the G402 offers on-the-fly DPI changing via up and down buttons -- rather standard nowadays. Also, it features 8 programmable buttons -- perfect for assigning different tasks or weapons to the buttons of your choice. I am happy to see that it is wired, rather than wireless, as gamers will not be interrupted by dead batteries.

If you are interested, you can pre-order the mouse here for $59.99. Will you buy it? Tell me in the comments.
Why I'm still right about the BlackBerry Passport (and other things)

Publié: juillet 30, 2014, 6:41pm CEST par Randall C. Kennedy

What a firestorm! I sort of knew going in that my previous entry, "Do NOT buy a BlackBerry Passport until you read this", would evoke a heated response from the BB faithful. However, I never imagined there were still so many dedicated BlackBerry fans out there. Over 200 (mostly scathing) comments later, and I can feel the rage (the "Zionist" quips, in particular, were hilarious).

Another pundit might try to backtrack in light of such unrelenting animosity. But not me! The potent combination of unbridled hubris and geographic isolation have emboldened me to double-down on my original assertions. So, instead of dancing around the issues, I’m tackling a few of the major objections head-on to show you why I’m right (and you’re all wrong) about the BlackBerry Passport.

First up is the "business user" objection. Many have pointed out that the Passport is designed specifically for BB fans, with features that benefit users who have traditionally skewed towards physical keyboards and other signature BlackBerry elements. They claim that I’m missing the point by focusing on a market of users for whom the device was never intended.

My response is that I agree with their analysis of the Passport’s feature set: It is indeed designed for hardcore BB fans. However, as was the case with the Playbook, the buzz around BlackBerry’s "funky" new phone has greatly broadened its potential appeal. Which, in the case of a device like the Passport, is a very bad thing.

Customers who listen to the buzz and mistakenly purchase a Passport thinking it’s just like any other Android or iOS handset will quickly bump into the very real compatibility and app selection issues that have plagued BB10 from the beginning. The resulting high return rate, coupled with the inevitable scathing reviews from journalists who have no clue about BlackBerry or the design philosophy behind the device, will create the same kind of negative media spiral that doomed the Playbook.

None of this would be such a big deal if, as a company, BlackBerry was willing to settle for simply maintaining its legacy customer base. But years of belt-tightening and cost-cutting -- not to mention the unceremonious axing of underperforming products, like the Playbook -- have shown that the folks from Waterloo have little patience for small volume platforms with niche appeal.

BlackBerry’s shareholders want the company to do more than just tread water. They want it to start growing the business again, and the temptation for BlackBerry to oversell its portfolio in an effort to tap into the larger consumer market may be too strong to resist. In other words, all of the ingredients are in place for a repeat of the Playbook fiasco.

The remaining comments mostly fall under either the "you’re a shill for Apple/Google/Microsoft" category, or the "you’re a discredited journalist with questionable ethics and thus should be ignored" mantle (yet you took the time to comment).

With regard to the first line of attack, I consider it a badge of honor any time I get accused of being on some company’s payroll. And when I successfully provoke a response from two or more major camps within any 30 day period (as I have here on several occasions), I give myself an extra pat on the back for a job well done.

And as for the "discredited journalist" comments, seriously? Four years later and people are still beating that old horse? Larry Dignan’s "Watergatian" effort to discredit me dug up what, exactly? That I ran a small, one-person consultancy firm? Check. That I really did have huge Wall Street clients, like Morgan Stanley, who site-license my software? Check. That I never actually falsified any data or otherwise published anything demonstrably untrue? Check.

In fact, the only thing this buffoon ever managed to "pin" on me was that I once used the name "Craig Barth" to separate my very real, full-time job supporting Morgan and others, from my very frivolous, part-time gig as a shock-jock blogger for InfoWorld. And even then, he got the story wrong when he claimed that Mr. Barth was some fictitious character I created.

After all these years, I’m still amazed that nobody ever thought to ask what the "C" stands for in "Randall C. Kennedy" (hint: it rhymes with "Greg"). Or bothered to do a vital records search (I’m notorious, after all) and thus discovered that (surprise) I wasn’t born a Kennedy.

Let it go, folks. And meet me back here in a year so I can say "I told you so!"

Photo Credit: Mihai Petre/Shutterstock
Jitterbit connects SAP to the cloud

Publié: juillet 30, 2014, 3:11pm CEST par Ian Barker

SAP is the world's most popular ERP (enterprise resource planning) system, but a recent survey by HCL Technologies shows that integration with their existing solutions was the biggest obstacle to 45 percent of SAP users when implementing cloud technologies.

Integration company Jitterbit has announced a new SAP Connector that lets businesses integrate their existing processes with SAP whether they're on-site or in the cloud. Certified by SAP and running on Jitterbit's Harmony cloud platform it offers faster integration and is compatible with SAP's latest HANA in memory appliance.

"Businesses are clamoring to bring on new cloud technologies, but integrating them with existing solutions and on-premise systems in an efficient and secure manner has proved to be an enormous headache," says Jitterbit Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Andrew Leigh. "The Harmony SAP Connector will empower companies to embrace new technologies and realize amplified value from their existing applications by offering the only integration solution delivered on a unified cloud platform, which is both easy to use and quick to get up and running."

The new Connector is optimized for SAP customers operating in specific industries, including manufacturing, retail, automotive, and energy. It allows companies in these sectors to streamline critical business processes like customer service and field service, breaking down departmental barriers across the organization. Businesses will also be able to get increased value from their back-office SAP systems by connecting them with new technologies that make use of cloud, mobile, and social media innovations, as well as the internet of things.

It's the only integration tool for SAP that runs on a unified, multi-tenant cloud platform, allowing customers the agility, speed and support that the cloud offers. It also offers a graphical interface which means business users can set up and manage connections without the need for specialist API support.

You can find out more on the Jitterbit website.

Photo Credit: Vallepu / Shutterstock
Smartphone market sees stiffer competition

Publié: juillet 30, 2014, 1:47pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

The competition is heating up in the smartphone space, as, in Q3 2014, a dozen vendors have what it takes to shake up the top five smartphone makers list, according to a new report from research firm IDC. Judging by the standing from Q2 2014, the likely players in danger of losing their spots are Huawei, Lenovo and LG.

Samsung and Apple continue to be in a position of strength, with the two being responsible for 25.2 percent (74.3 million) and 11.9 percent (35.1 million), respectively, of the 295.3 million smartphones shipped in the quarter that ended June 30. That said, both lost market share compared to Q2 2013, when they claimed 32.3 percent and 13 percent, respectively, thanks to shipments of 77.3 million and 31.2 million units, respectively.

IDC estimates that smartphone shipments will top 300 million units for the first time, in Q3 2014. Compared to Q1 2014, in Q2 2014 shipments grew by 2.6 percent, which makes it a record quarter according to IDC. "A record second quarter proves that the smartphone market has plenty of opportunity and momentum", says IDC program director Ryan Reith. "Right now we have more than a dozen vendors that are capable of landing in the top 5 next quarter. A handful of these companies are currently operating in a single country, but no one should mistake that for complacency -- they all recognize the opportunity that lies outside their home turf".

So which vendors are likely to threaten the position of established competitors? "As the death of the feature phone approaches more rapidly than before, it is the Chinese vendors that are ready to usher emerging market consumers into smartphones", says IDC senior research manager Melissa Chau. "The offer of smartphones at a much better value than the top global players but with a stronger build quality and larger scale than local competitors gives these vendors a precarious competitive advantage".

Here is what else you need to know from the report. Samsung's Galaxy S5 shipments were in the millions of units, and Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S3 shipments remained strong despite the devices' age. Apple is stronger in BRIC markets, but consumers are waiting for the iPhone 6 to launch, with its bigger display. Huawei and Lenovo are growing outside of their home country, China. And, LG's new G3 looks to be a hit.

While IDC has yet to launch its report on the market share of smartphone operating systems, we have some information from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech regarding how Android, iOS and Windows Phone fare in Europe, US, China, Australia and Brazil.

In Europe, Android and Windows Phone grew in Q2 2014, compared to the same period of last year, reaching 74 percent and 8.8 percent, respectively (up from 72 percent and 6.9 percent, respectively). Apple's iPhones lost a bit of market share, dropping to 15.3 percent from 15.7 percent.

"Android continued to grow its share across Europe in the second quarter of this year, thanks to smaller manufacturers such as Wiko, Huawei and Alcatel OneTouch pushing the platform", says Kantar Worldpanel ComTech strategic insight direction Dominic Sunnebo. "Samsung still remains the dominant manufacturer of Android handsets with a 44.1 percent share across the five largest European markets. Meanwhile, Apple's share of the European market remains fairly static. Interestingly, in its largest EU market, Great Britain, sales of the iPhone 5c have surged to almost equal that of the iPhone 5s. The iPhone 5c continues to attract a different audience from the 5s, with its customers tending to be female, mid to late adopters and less affluent".

Meanwhile, in US, Android gained some market share (62 percent, up from 51.5 percent), while both iOS and Windows Phone dropped in market share (to 31.5 percent from 42.5 percent, and to 3.8 percent from 4 percent, respectively).

"In the USA, Samsung’s marketing power continues to play a key part in driving sales of the S5", says Sunnebo. "Some 61 percent of Galaxy S5 buyers recall seeing TV ads relating to the handset while 40 percent remember seeing online advertisements. Its brand resonance, coupled with Samsung’s strength in stores are coming together to help it challenge Apple’s dominance. Some 64 percent of consumers that were recommended a brand in-store were recommended Samsung".

In China, Android's market share reached 84.3 percent, up from 69.9 percent, while both iOS and Windows Phone lost market share (dropping to 12.8 percent from 24.7 percent, and to 0.9 percent from 2.9 percent, respectively).

"Chinese consumers tend to switch brands far more often compared with other markets", adds Sunnebo. "The balance of power in the Chinese mobile sector can change incredibly quickly and the current momentum behind Xiaomi off the back of its latest product announcement, the Xiaomi Mi4, shows that the company's success isn't expected to slow down any time soon. Significant numbers of existing smartphone users are looking to switch to Xiaomi -- some 8 percent of Apple customers, 12 percent of Samsung customers and 13 percent of Nokia customers are all actively planning to switch to Xiaomi when they upgrade. This number is even higher for local brands such as Huawei and ZTE reinforcing its standing as the one to beat".

Android is also strong in Australia (68 percent market share, up from 64.8 percent) and Brazil (89 percent market share, up from 79.8 percent). In the former market, iOS ranks second with 25.5 percent (down from 27.4 percent), while Windows Phone comes in third (with 5.3 percent, up from 5.2 percet) and second (4.5 percent, down from 6.2 percent), respectively.

Photo Credit: tankist276/Shutterstock
SUPERAntiSpyware 6 reveals new System Investigator

Publié: juillet 30, 2014, 12:33pm CEST par Mike Williams

Support.com has updated its popular malware hunter SUPERAntiSpyware to version 6.0.

The major new feature is System Investigator, a tool which highlights files of interest in the most common infection points: startup programs, browser extensions, installed applications, Windows services, drivers, temporary and system folders, scheduled tasks, and more.

Everything System Investigator finds on your system is checked against SUPERAntiSpyware’s whitelist database, before being separated into "Known Good" and "Unknown" categories. Other users can vote "Unknown" files up or down, and while the scores don’t tell you much just yet, over time they should help you identify potentially unwanted programs.

SUPERAntiSpyware 6 also sees an interface revamp. The launch screen now displays six large, touch-friendly tiles, each of which leads to a key set of features: Scan, System Tools, Updates and so on.

Support.com claims the new release is also faster, more lightweight and stable, with an expanded Help menu.

The Pro edition ($29.95/ year) adds the ability to run System Investigator on a schedule, which means as well as highlighting potential threats, you’ll be able to see which files have changed since last time.

Paying customers also benefit from email alerts. Scheduled tasks can now email a report URL, enabling you to monitor a PC wherever you are.

SUPERAntiSpyware 6 is available now.
Internet of Things devices open up new avenues for hackers

Publié: juillet 30, 2014, 12:30pm CEST par Ian Barker

We're constantly being told that the internet of things is set to revolutionize the world we live in. Gartner has predicted that it will have around 26 billion units by 2020, but with this rapid growth comes added risk.

A new study from HP shows that 70 percent of the most commonly used internet of things (IoT) devices contain vulnerabilities, these include password security, encryption and personal data issues.

As manufacturers rush to bring IoT devices to market they open the door to threats ranging from code vulnerabilities and denial of service attacks to weak passwords and scripting vulnerabilities.

HP used its Fortify on Demand product to scan 10 of the most popular IoT devices, uncovering on average 25 vulnerabilities per device. Items tested included TVs, webcams, home thermostats, remote power outlets, sprinkler controllers, hubs for controlling multiple devices, door locks, home alarms, scales and garage door openers.

Of the devices tested -- including their cloud and mobile software components -- 8 out of 10 raised privacy concerns surrounding collection of personal data. 90 percent of those devices tested collected at least one piece of personal information either via the device itself or its associated software.

Weak passwords was another problem with 80 percent of tested devices failing to require passwords of adequate length or complexity. Not encrypting data in transit affected 70 percent of devices. 60 percent didn't use encryption when downloading software updates. This meant that in some cases downloads could be intercepted and extracted allowing the software to be analyzed.

Insecure web interfaces were a problem for 60 percent of devices, poor session management, weak default credentials and credentials transmitted in clear text all being concerns. Of those devices with cloud and mobile components 70 percent would enable a potential attacker to determine valid user accounts through account enumeration or the password reset feature.

"While the Internet of Things will connect and unify countless objects and systems, it also presents a significant challenge in fending off the adversary given the expanded attack surface," says Mike Armistead, vice president and general manager, Fortify, Enterprise Security Products at HP. "With the continued adoption of connected devices, it is more important than ever to build security into these products from the beginning to disrupt the adversary and avoid exposing consumers to serious threats".

Full details of the study are available on the HP website and the company will be addressing the latest security trends at the Black Hat USA 2014 conference taking place next month.

Image Credit: Jurgen Priewe / Shutterstock
LibreOffice 4.3 arrives, promises more intuitive spreadsheet handling, adds 3D modelling to Impress

Publié: juillet 30, 2014, 12:13pm CEST par Nick Peers

The Document Foundation has released LibreOffice 4.3 FINAL for Windows, Mac and Linux. The new release sees some notable user-interface tweaks, performance enhancements and a number of new and tweaked features.

TDF is particularly keen to highlight four major new features: improved document interoperability, comment management, more intuitive spreadsheet handling in Calc, and support for animated 3D models in Impress.

The improvements to document interoperability focus support for OOXML Strict, OOXML graphics improvements and add the ability to embed one OOXML file inside another.

Also added are support for 30 new Excel formulas, Works spreadsheets and databases and a number of Mac legacy file formats, including ClarisWorks and MacWorks.

LibreOffice 4.3 also adds support for importing and exporting nested comments in ODF,DOC, DOCX and RTF files, while users can now opt to reformat all the comments in a document simultaneously. Comments can now also be printed in the document margins.

Improvements to Calc’s spreadsheet handling include the smarter highlighting of formulas in cells, the addition of the number of selected rows and columns to the status bar, the ability to start editing a cell using the content of the one above it and being able to fully select text conversion models by user.

Impress’s support for animated 3D modeling utilizes the new open gITF format, plus implements initial support for Google Warehouse-friendly kmz and Collada files. Note the feature is currently only available in Windows and Linux builds.

The Start Center also gains some improvements, the most notable of which is the fact it now offers previews of all file types, not just OpenOffice’s own native ODF format. Users can now also selectively delete recent documents by rolling their mouse over a document and clicking the delete button that appears.

Another user-interface tweak sees the default Tango icon set get a general update that includes the addition of new icons for the sidebar.

The PDF import filter has been significantly improved with this release – enhancements include improved display and editing of rotated text, correctly detected colours and whitespace and support for dashes.

Writer users gain a number of improvements in LibreOffice 4.3. The character limit in paragraphs has been raised from 16-bit (65,535 characters) to 32-bit (over two billion characters). The navigation buttons have also been moved from below the scrollbar to the Find bar.

Images are now scaled proportionally by default (hold [Shift] to freely resize an object). Writer also now displays non-printing characters in light blue, and gives users the ability to print comments left in the margins of documents. The relative text frame anchoring tool now supports multiple relations.

For a complete rundown of LibreOffice 4.3′s extensive changes, please click here.

LibreOffice Productivity Suite 4.3.0.4 is available now as a free, open-source download for Windows, Mac and Linux.
Microsoft announces Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1, Cortana coming to new markets

Publié: juillet 30, 2014, 11:56am CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

Today, Microsoft announces the first major update for Windows Phone 8.1, called Update 1. It introduces new features and improvements over the version which the software giant unveiled earlier this year at Build 2014, and makes way for Cortana to arrive in new markets.

In Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1, Microsoft adds Live Folders, allowing users to group live tiles on the Start screen. Like the name suggests, it is able to display updating information on its tile, coming from the items it contains. A live folder can be created by dragging a live tile on top of another.

For those of you who are following our Windows Phone coverage this feature has been known to be available come the first Windows Phone 8.1 update. Microsoft inadvertently revealed its introduction late last month, including how it works.

A number of developers (including Nokia) are already offering apps which allow users to group live tiles into folders, but the implementation is lacking. The so-called folder is just an app's static tile, and tapping on it brings up the app which offers this functionality.

Alongside Live Folders, Microsoft also gives Store a live tile of its own, which informs users about what new apps and games are available on Windows Phone. Updates are set to occur every six hours, which means the Store's live tile will be light on battery use.

In Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1, Xbox Music benefits from performance improvements, which affect parts like the app's loading time and list scrolling. Microsoft says it brought back some features, like background syncing of the user's collection and swipe to advance, but it will also bake in new ones like quickplay of recent activities and support for Kids Corner. You may notice that some changes are already available in the app's current iteration, but Microsoft says others are exclusive to Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1.

The stock messaging app gets support for selecting multiple SMS messages for deletion and forwarding. App Corner is a new feature introduced in Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1, which is designed to allow businesses to choose which apps their employees are allowed to run, and which app to automatically open after the tiled smartphone operating system loads.

Microsoft says it is also improving data and identity protection on public networks. One way this is achieved is by giving users the option to transfer data through a VPN (virtual private network) while on a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Cortana

Windows Phone 8.1 introduces Cortana as a beta to users in China (where it will be known as "Xiao Na") and UK, and as an alpha to folks in Australia, Canada and India. The Chinese-optimized version comes in "an alternative form" with a different look and sound. The personal assistant offers features local users may appreciate, like information regarding air quality in weather cards and driving restrictions.

The UK version gets its own optimizations too, with Cortana supporting the UK pronunciation and spelling of English words. Its personality has been, according to Microsoft, "tweaked to be more locally relevant".

Windows Phone 8.1 users in US who rely on Cortana also benefit from Update 1, as it gives the personal assistant access to new natural language scenarios, snooze times for reminders, "a number of neat additions to her personality (try asking 'do an impersonation' and see what happens)", and the ability to be invoked in the car hands-free through a Bluetooth kit.

Those in Australia, Canada and India can try Cortana using UK or US English, as an opt-in feature.

When Is It Due?

Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 will be made available next week to those who have enrolled in the Preview for Developers program, and will be officially available to consumers starting in the "coming months".
Cleaning up after viruses -- which antivirus solutions are best?

Publié: juillet 30, 2014, 11:23am CEST par Ian Barker

In an ideal world there wouldn't be any viruses at all but, since there are, the next best scenario is to have an antivirus program to protect you. But what happens once it's too late? If you get a virus infection how good are antivirus and clean up tools at repairing your system?

Independent testing organization AV-TEST set out to resolve this question with a comprehensive 10-month test using 17 different software packages.

It tested paid antivirus solutions from Bitdefender, ESET, F-Secure, Kaspersky and Norton, plus free antivirus tools from Avast, AVG, Avira and Malwarebytes along with Microsoft Security Essentials. In addition it tested seven specialized cleanup and recovery tools, Avira Cleaner, Hitman Pro, Disinfect2013, F-Secure Removal Tool, Kaspersky Removal Tool, Panda Cloud Cleaner and Norton Power Eraser.

Each solution was tested multiple times over a 10 month period from September 2013 to June 2014, repeatedly testing malware families to see how the software coped with their evolution. Tests looked at whether the malware was detected, if components were completely removed and whether all changes to the system were completely reversed leaving it fully restored.

Test results

Results are divided into four categories. In the first, looking at detection of known malware all products should have passed as the researchers established beforehand that the malware samples used were known to all of the solutions. However, both Microsoft Security Essentials and Avira Free Antivirus managed to miss known malware.

The second category looked at active malware components not removed. Of the 10 security packages, the freeware solutions from Avira, Avast and AVG, as well as Microsoft Security Essentials failed to remove active components in the system between one and seven times. The paid software products and the freeware Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free all cleaned error-free. Of the cleanup tools Hitman Pro, Panda Cloud Cleaner, Avira Cleaner and the F-Secure Removal Tool were unable to remove between one and 11 active components. Only the Kaspersky Removal Tool, the Norton Power Eraser and Disinfect2013 removed everything.

The third category looked at whether any residual harmless components were left on the system. Security packages from Bitdefender, F-Secure, Kaspersky, Norton and ESET left small file remnants and insignificant entries in the registry between 1 and 9 times. Malwarebytes achieved a perfect removal. Of the cleanup tools Kaspersky Removal Tool only missed removal of a harmless file in one instance. Norton Power Eraser fell short of a perfect clean-up 11 times, and Disinfect2013 48 times, all it left behind though was digital garbage with no dangerous components.

The last category looked at whether removal was complete, leaving a fully cleaned and repaired system. Of the security packages only Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free had 100 percent success leaving the system completely cleaned and repaired after 60 tests. Bitdefender came close behind with successful cleanups in 59 tests followed by F-Secure and Kaspersky on 56. Of the clean up tools none left the system completely clean. Kaspersky Removal Tool turned in the best performance, leaving behind just one harmless file.

In the final analysis Malwarebytes, Bitdefender and Kaspersky put in the best performance of the security packages. Of the freeware cleanup tools the researchers recommend Kaspersky Removal Tool and note that while the Norton tool and Disinfect2013 left behind a lot of garbage they didn't miss any active components. You can see the full results on the AV-TEST website.

The good news to take away from this is that if you are unlucky enough to contract a virus there are effective options that can clean your system without you having to resort to a complete reinstall. The even better news is that the most effective tools are free.

Image Credit: Sergey Nivens / Shutterstock
Microsoft’s Sharks Cove is a Raspberry Pi-style mini-PC with Windows 8.1

Publié: juillet 30, 2014, 9:50am CEST par Barclay Ballard

Microsoft is entering the development board market made famous by Raspberry Pi and Arduino.

The firm is collaborating with Intel and hardware manufacturer CircuitCo to develop the $300 board, called Sharks Cove. Available now for pre-order, the project is described as a "development board that you can use to develop hardware and drivers for Windows and Android".

The board contains an Intel Atom Z3735G, a quad-core chip with speeds of 1.33GHz to 1.83GHz. It has 1GB of RAM, 16GB of flash storage, and a MicroSD slot.

Microsoft stated in a blog post that the aim of the board is to help development of software and drivers for mobile devices that run Windows.

"At $299, this is a board that we believe will find a home with Independent Hardware Vendors (IHVs) and hardware enthusiasts alike. That price not only covers the cost of the hardware but also includes a Windows 8.1 image and the utilities necessary to apply it to the Sharks Cove. When you additionally consider that the Windows Driver Kit 8.1 can pair with Visual Studio Express and are both free with a valid MSDN account, the initial outlay for Windows driver developers is a lot less cost prohibitive than it once was".

With a significantly higher price point than alternatives such as the ARM-based Raspberry Pi, which is just $35, the Sharks Cove may have to target a different audience to sustain appeal. Other development boards such as the BeagleBone Black and MinnowBoard also come in at sub-$100.

However the Sharks Cove website suggests that the board will be able to find an audience in the developer marketplace.

"The primary target usage of the Sharks Cove board is for development of subsystems for Intel Atom based Tablets and Mobile devices, but this development board can be used for any Windows or Android based system which uses the Atom processor".

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
In Europe, Apple and Samsung are losing ground to 'home-grown' mobile makers

Publié: juillet 30, 2014, 9:44am CEST par Alysia Judge

A few years ago it would have been unthinkable, but whispers that Apple and Samsung are losing their stranglehold on the market are growing louder.

It all stems from the fact that customers are becoming increasingly frustrated at the mobile market mono-culture. In the West especially, we've developed a sort of smartphone East Anglia: hedgeless, featureless and planted as far as the eye can see. This is the Samsung strimmer, the Apple Inc. lawnmower, cutting all other competition out of the market.

But now a new report has revealed that Apple and Samsung are experiencing their first major challenge from disruptive European vendors.

Netbiscuits specializes in mobile analytics, and having studied consumer web usage in over 242 countries it has found a number of shifts in the competitive mobile space.

"The web trends report really focusses on the key trends in the mobile landscape," Head of global research at Netbiscuits Duncan Clark told us. "It allows people to examine the shifts that they're seeing in their own mobile analytics in a wider global context. It means you can see how your traffic compares at an aggregated, wider level".

The latest report marks a dramatic shift in mobile market share. While the challenges of emerging local vendors in Asia have been well documented (Huawei and Xiaomi, to name just two) until now Europe has largely resisted home-grown vendors. Now that's changing.

French company Wiko and bq in Spain have muscled a "Top 50 devices" spot in their own countries for the first time ever. It signals a growing European interest in "home-grown vendors," coming at a time when Samsung's earning guidance signals a 24 percent decline in operating profits.

Coupled with increased fragmentation in Asian markets as cheaper brands enter the market, it seems that smaller, more agile companies are gaining popularity around the world and disrupting dominant players.

So what does this mean for Britain? "Up until now we've been quite nicely sheltered, particularly in the UK," says Duncan. "We've sat in an Apple and Samsung bubble with the wool over our eyes regarding trends around the world. That's becoming a little bit dangerous. Ideally you'd like to think as an organization that if you cater for your Android and Apple customers and given them a good mobile experience on your website then you've ticked the box, job done. Now what we've started to find during the course of last year that an increasing challenge to the market dominance of Apple and Samsung is gathering momentum".

Essentially, it means a Samsung / Apple only approach could be alienating a vast swathe of your potential customers.

For the full report, which also details the problems with 4G adoption across the globe, check out the official Netbiscuits site here.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
Google is reading your email to track hotel visits -- helps you have fun away from home

Publié: juillet 30, 2014, 5:28am CEST par Brian Fagioli

Traveling and staying in hotels can be quite the adventure -- both good and bad. Of course, the quality of the lodging can determine the overall experience. If you check in and find a dead hooker under the bed, or stains all over the rug, you are going to have a bad time. Conversely, staying in a quality hotel can be quite the luxurious experience. Frankly, I have been on vacations where staying in the big comfy bed all day and watching movies was the highlight. Let's not forget room service -- eating fried mozzarella sticks and dripping marinara sauce everywhere? Who cares, its a hotel! The maid will clean it, right?

Unfortunately, leaving the hotel and looking for something to do in the vicinity can be an ordeal. I mean, going to a restaurant or attraction sight unseen could prove to be hit or miss. Choose the wrong restaurant and you will be stuck on the toilet for the rest of your vacation -- yuck! Today, Google announces that it wants to help users have a good time while on vacation. While that sounds great, the search giant is doing it in a creepy way -- by reading your emails!

Google explains, "traveling this summer? If your hotel confirmation is in your Gmail, you can now ask Google for things to do, eat or see to do nearby without the fuss looking up where you’re staying. Tap the mic on the Google app and say 'Show me restaurants around my hotel' or 'Give me directions to my hotel from here'. You'll be finding your way around like a local in no time".

Don't get me wrong, that sounds really neat and I am sure Google's intentions are good. However, think about what the company is saying. It will monitor all of your Gmail emails, in hopes that one of them will contain a hotel confirmation. If it does find a confirmation, it will internally flag your profile. Then, the search giant's computers will essentially wait for you to ask them for nearby restaurants or directions near "my hotel".

Unfortunately, there seems to be no way to opt in or opt out. So, if you book a hotel and expect that to be private -- surprise, Google knows too! Of course, for tech geeks in the know, Google monitoring emails is nothing new -- targeted advertising is what keeps the email service free. Still, it seems that every time Google thinks up a new way to utilize email monitoring, the service just feels a bit creepier.

What do you think about Google monitoring your emails for hotel confirmation? Creepy or cool? Tell me in the comments.

Photo credit: XiXinXing / Shutterstock

Cooler Master V1200 Platinum -- a shockingly great power supply unit [Review]

Publié: juillet 30, 2014, 3:53am CEST par Brian Fagioli

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Self-proclaimed tech nerds around the world are turning their backs on system-building. This is tragic, as this art is part of the foundation of the tech nerd lifestyle. It is hard to argue with these perceived traitors -- an off-the-shelf tablet such as an iPad can do very much. In other words, why spend the time and money building a PC? The same can be said for much in life. I mean, why cook when you can get take out? Why mow your lawn when you can pay someone to do it? The answer is simple -- fun and self satisfaction. Yes, building a computer is a rewarding experience and everyone should at least attempt it.

System-building is something I am still a fan of and I know I am not alone -- you guys are out there. Amazing components are constantly being released -- motherboards, processors and even power supplies. A power supply is the unsung hero of any system build. It literally powers the computer! It is sad how often people choose cheap PSUs for their builds and instead focus on the "fun" stuff, like RAM and processors. I have always cautioned against cheap power supplies. When I say "cheap", please do not misunderstand -- I am referring to poor quality and not low price. If you can get high quality for a low price, awesome. However, if you've never heard of the manufacturer, it is probably a good Idea to pass. Recently, I saw a new PSU from world-renowned manufacturer Cooler Master that got my motor running -- the V1200 Platinum. Once I wiped the drool from my chin, I obtained one to review.

Features

1200 watts
Fully modular cable design for easy installation and cable management
100% high quality Japanese electrolytic & solid capacitors ensure performance and reliability
135mm FDB silent fan default as hybrid mode, equipped with hybrid fan controller, easily switch mode (auto / hybrid) by the controller
Zero dBA fanless mode silent operation
80 PLUS Platinum certified: up to 93% efficiency @ 50% load
Powerful single +12V rail, capable of delivering up to 100A
Excellent output voltage stability ensures total voltage regulation under 1% (even better than DSP)
Twelve PCI-E 6+2pin connectors for 4 way SLI & high end solution builds
7-year extended warranty

Specs

Model	RSC00-AFBAG1-XX
Type	Intel Form Factor ATX 12V V2.31
Dimension (W x L x H)	150 x 190 x 86mm / 5.9 x 7.5 x 3.4 inch
Input Voltage	100-240Vac (Full Range)
Input Current	15 - 7.5A
Input Frequency Range	60 - 50Hz
PFC	Active PFC (>0.9)
Power Good Signal	100-500ms
Hold Up Time	>17ms
Efficiency	93% Typically
MTBF	>100,000 Hours
Protection	OVP / UVP / OPP / OTP / OCP / SCP
Output Capacity	1200W
Operation Temperature	0~40°C
Regulatory	CE/TUV/TUV-SUDNRTL/FCC/EAC/CCC/BSMI/RCM/KC
Fan	Silent FDB 135mm
Certifications	80 Plus Platinum
Connector	M/B 20+4 Pin Connector x 1 CPU 4+4 Pin x 2 PCI-e 6+2 Pin x 12 SATA x 12 4 Pin Peripheral x 9 4 Pin Floppy x 1

As you can see above, the specs are amazing. Specs are certainly important, but only tell part of the story. Again, some no-name manufacturer could produce something with good specs on paper and not deliver. Luckily, we are talking about Cooler Master here, so the company's positive reputation speaks volumes; however, I had to test it for myself. Coincidentally, I am in the middle of refurbishing my existing PC with a new CPU cooler and case, so receiving the V1200 Platinum for testing was very timely.

inside

Unboxing

I am happy to say that the unboxing alone was an amazing experience. Make no mistake -- packaging matters. If someone cooks you a delicious meal that looks like crap, the overall experience suffers, regardless of the taste. Cooler Master clearly wanted to reward the consumer and it succeeded. I was blown away, and you can watch my unboxing below.

Impressions

The heft of the V1200 Platinum is very intimidating. However, when it comes to a power supply, you want heft. It is an indicator of quality; but, not all heavy power supplies are quality. In other words, an indicator is not a guarantee, simply one thing to look for. Luckily, most modern cases subscribe to the design of having the PSU on the bottom of the case. Unless you bought the flimsiest case with a top-mounted PSU slot, you should not have an issue.

PSUWires

The modular cables are extremely premium. You can tell that they were not an afterthought. You see, they are very flat and black. This lends to superior cable management. Yes, even that deep black color helps to hide the cables so they stand out less. The flatness is key to management though, and not only are they thin, but solid too. The amazing thing is, even though they are well designed and rigid, they are not too stiff to route around corners. Overall, the cables create a beautiful interior design. Whether or not you have a window on your case is inconsequential. Even when not looking at your build, you should be aware of it. Aim for perfection!

Installation

Once it was time to install, I gathered the 4 screws and my trusty screwdriver. When installing a PSU, it is recommended to seat it properly and secure it with all of the screws. However, I usually just use 2 -- one in the top left corner and one in the bottom right. In this install, I used all 4 because, why not? The screws went in straight and without issue.

Once secured in my case, it was time to connect the needed cables. That's the great thing about a modular PSU, you only need to connect the cables you require. This means there is less of a mess inside your case. In other words, it doesn't look like a spaghetti explosion.

I was connecting the PSU to the following:

ASUS P8Z77-V LE motherboard (with i5-3570k Overclocked @4.4GHz, 16GB DDR3 2133 RAM)
3 SSDs -- 480GB (Windows) 90GB (OS X) 30GB (Linux)
4TB HDD for data
Blu-Ray burner
Graphics card (EVGA GeForce GTX 650)

PSUinCase

Obviously, my rig does not require a 1200 watt PSU, but you never know what you may do in the future. Quite frankly, not many computers need a 1200 watt PSU. With that said, I have always wanted a top-of-the-line gaming card and when I buy one, I will have no concerns about power.

With everything connected, it was time for the moment of truth -- powering on my computer. As expected, everything worked and I was off to the races. However, I was taken aback by something odd -- silence! Yes, the 135mm fan in the v1200 Platinum is dead silent. The PSU which it is replacing was noticeably louder.

Speaking of silence, the V1200 Platinum has a trick up its sleeve. As you saw in the unboxing, it comes with a switch that mounts in the rear of your case, in an empty PCI plate-slot. You can choose to have it run in Auto mode, which makes the fan run constantly like most power supplies do. However, switching it to hybrid mode, will turn the fan off when it is not needed. This is good for both energy savings and silencing. But, like I said above, the fan, when running, is quiet anyway. Because I do not leave my desktop running 24/7, I have it in auto-mode, since the energy savings would be negligible for me.

hybrid

For you, however, energy savings could be a big deal. We all are looking to save money in any way we can. That is the beautiful thing about the V1200. Yes, it is expensive upfront, but it is so damn efficient, that over its lifetime, it could potentially save you a lot of money.

As a word of caution, however, the PSU is quite long. While, I had no problem fitting it in my case, not all cases are created equal. I would suggest measuring first, but most users should have no problem. Even though my case can accommodate the V1200 Platinum, it does cover the mounting holes for the optional 140mm fan on the bottom. While I wasn't using this spot, it is a bit disappointing, but not the fault of Cooler Master.

Featured2

Conclusion

Besides being pretty, a power supply has the important job of providing power to your computer. I am happy to say the V1200 Platinum delivers. Is it overkill for many? Yes. Is it expensive? Yes, at $300 it is expensive. However, I have learned from many life experiences, that you get what you pay for. Sometimes it is worth spending the extra money for something of high quality. I like knowing that such a well designed and cared for product is sitting in my computer.

It is so well-made and such a powerhouse, that it should last you 10 years easily. Hell, Cooler Master is giving a 7 year warranty -- that means something. If you average the upfront cost of the power supply over 7-10 years and factor in the energy savings from the efficiency, it is a total no-brainer. Stop rewarding companies that produce garbage with your money. Disposable tech is a plague -- buy something that lasts; buy something that makes you happy and proud. The Cooler Master V1200 Platinum does all of those things -- highly recommended.

outside

Why is iPhone so destructible?

Publié: juillet 30, 2014, 3:36am CEST par Joe Wilcox

It's the question I keep asking, wondering whether to blame the device or my daughter. Last night, she texted: "My screen cracked again. I'm so sorry". That's the third shattered iPhone 5s since May; two 5ers busted before that. Clearly, she's fumble fingers, but something just doesn't seem right. The college student sticks the damn device in a protective case. Did Apple put pretty design before damage durability?

I spent several hours searching for smartphone breakage data today -- on the web and contacting several sources compiling stats. Strangely, the most compelling comparisons are years old. For example, in late 2010, SquareTrade reported that iPhone 4 accidents exceeded the 3GS and devices from competing smartphone manufacturers. In a 2012 survey of 2,000 iPhone users, 30 percent had damaged their device in the previous 12 months.

Today, the mobile insurance provider uses a different methodology: Scoring smartphones on a 1-10 scale based on hands-on durability testing. Best mark goes to the Moto x, with 4.5 (lower number is better). By comparison, iPhone 5s is 5.5, or half-a-percentage point higher than its predecessor. iPhone 5c is even less durable, rating a 6.

On the reparability front, iFixIt ranks iPhone 5s a six out of 10 -- same as iPhone 4 but one-ranking less than the 5. Perhaps that's why Apple could replace the screen on my daughter's busted 5ers, but the store Genius said swap-out was the only option for the 5ses. By the way, Motorola Droid Bionic and Atrix 4G get the highest repairability marks: 9.

It's Not My Problem

I bought my first cell phone in 1997 from Bell Atlantic, which later became Verizon. The Qualcomm-branded brick phone was built like one. Here's a true story: The following year I replaced the Q phone with something trendier, and it stayed in a box until I cleaned out the basement in 2007 -- right before moving to San Diego. Out of curiosity, I hit the power button and the phone started up with half-charge. After nine years! The battery wasn't dead. They don't make `em like that any more.

Knock on wood, I've never broken a mobile and haven't dropped a smartphone in years. I don't use a protective case, either, just a belt-clip holster to carry the device. So my daughter's dropping dramas are rather perplexing. She uses iPhone, as I have in the past. Most recently: Nokia Lumia Icon; various Androids before it.

Her newest breakage crisis comes alongside the swimming pool, outside the house she shares with other co-eds. She possessed the phone for less than three weeks, soon after we switched from T-Mobile to Verizon. (Goddamn, yes, we pay lots more. Just cut my wrists and bleed me. But we don't have to ask "Can you hear me now?" on Red, like we did with Blue or Pink.) So it's a friggin' new iPhone 5s she dropped.

The teenager busted two 5ses on T-Mobile, and I sold the last replacement when switching to Verizon a few weeks ago. I pay $99 extra for AppleCare+, which allows up to two replacements for $79 each, on every iPhone. (The price is $49 for devices purchased before September 2013.) If no replacement ever occurs, my experience: The warranty increases the iPhone's resale value.

The Problem is the 5

Strangely, while double-sided glass made iPhone 4 and 4s conceptually more vulnerable to shatters, my daughter dropped but never seriously damaged either mobile. There were scratches, dings, and even chips, but no shattered glass. But, woe be iPhone 5 or 5s.

She's in college now, and someone is sure to blame alcohol. That appears not to be a major factor. (Hey, what parent really ever knows?) Like many other young women, she carries her iPhone in a back pocket. One shatter occurred when the device popped out when she sprinted to get to the security gate on her apartment before it closed.

I observed one of the breakages. In late-May, during lunch, my daughter expressed amazement how a week earlier her iPhone 5s popped out of her jeans and fell from a third-story balcony. No damage. Twenty-minutes later, while we sorted clothes for the thrift store in the garage, she fumbled the device, which fell face flat onto the cement -- shattering the screen. The protective case, which was supposed to keep the glass from hitting the ground, didn't dissipate the falling force (Hey, I studied biology in college, not physics.)

There is one common factor in four of the five shatters: iPhone meets cement. Two face down smacks, one backflip, and a side-swipe. Cases covered backs and sides and in front provided space against the ground.

New Case Comes to Rescue

Last night, I ordered a tougher case from Amazon -- the OtterBox Commuter Wallet. My daughter prefers not to carry a purse, keeping bankcard and license (or student ID) with the phone. Amazon is something else. I ordered around 9:30 p.m. local time and had delivery today. The replacement iPhone will go into the OtterBox, after my daughter returns from a weekend concert. Assuming the device doesn't die. She used the last busted 5s for a month before we moved to Verizon, despite glass shards chipping off.

My local Apple Store recommends LifeProof cases, but I found no card-carrying model and am more familiar with the other brand. My hope is that the follow-up story to this one will be months away, with the OtterBox case protecting the iPhone 5s from the daily dings and drops of active college life. But being five breaks for 5 (or 5s) in 14 months, optimism escapes me.

I have to ask: What's your iPhone durability story? Do you see shatters like my daughter's, or does Apple design save the day? What's your damage experience of iPhone compared to competing devices? Other readers will want to know.

Photo Credit: Joe Wilcox