Gregarius » BetaNews.Com » septembre 4, 2014

BetaNews.Com (23 non lus)

Getty Images fires lawsuit at Microsoft for "massive" copyright infringement

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 11:43pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Getty Images Inc is suing Microsoft for "massive infringement" of copyright. Microsoft's recently released Bing Image Widget enables people to display images on a website based on search terms. The automatically generated code creates image slideshows and galleries that pull in images from Bing -- Getty's complaint centers around the fact that the widget displays unlicensed images from its catalog that are subject to copyright. The Seattle-based stock image company says that Microsoft has turned the images that can be found online into "a vast, unlicensed clip art collection".

The lawsuit, filed at the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, says that the injury caused to Getty is "incalculable" and calls for the widget to be blocked immediately. The level of damages sought is not specified, but Getty's lawsuit suggests that the company has more than 80 million unique images in its library. Getty has its own image embedding tool, and John Lapham, general counsel for the company, explained to Reuters that it is "only available for non-commercial websites and includes photographer attribution".

He went on to say: "Now you have someone else's picture in full, beautiful display on your website, having never paid for it and with no attribution to the photographer at all". Microsoft issued a statement by email that said: "As a copyright owner ourselves we think the laws in this area are important. We'll take a close look at Getty's concerns".

We reached out to Microsoft for further comment, but have only received the same statement so far. We'll update this story if a further statement is forthcoming.

Photo credit: Wilm Ihlenfeld / Shutterstock
Google to cough up $19 million in kids' in-app purchases case

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 11:05pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Google is to pay out at least $19 million to Android users whose children were tricked into making expensive in-app purchases on smartphones and tablets. The Federal Trade Commission has been investigating mobile purchases for the last three years, and Apple agreed at the beginning of the year to a settlement. Amazon was also investigated and plans to appeal against the charges. In agreeing to repay the money, Google has effectively admitted that apps available in Google Play may be deceptive.

The brunt of the FTC case centers around the idea that it was not made clear to parents that their children would be able to make purchases within apps without authorization. Many of these in-app purchases are to be found in games where players are encouraged into parting with money in return for extra lives, game power-ups, or to unlock new levels. The FTC complained that since 2011 Google had indulged in unfair practices that left parents with bills of hundreds of dollars.

FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez said:

For millions of American families, smartphones and tablets have become a part of their daily lives. As more Americans embrace mobile technology, it’s vital to remind companies that time-tested consumer protections still apply, including that consumers should not be charged for purchases they did not authorize.

In 2012, Google did take steps to attempt to keep users informed of purchases. A popup was introduced that required a password to be entered before a purchase could be made, but the FTC found that the password was not required again for 30 minutes. During this time, it was possible to make unlimited in-app purchases, resulting in hefty bills. Google is required to contact all Android users who have made in-app purchases within 15 days of the FTC's order being finalized. Refunds must be made promptly, and if after one year Google has paid out less than $19 million, the remainder must be paid to the FTC.

Photo credit: Sam72 / Shutterstock
91 percent of Americans concerned about online privacy -- 7 percent would change their name as protection

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 7:37pm CEST par Mark Wilson

There are lots of reasons to be concerned about privacy online -- not least the spying carried out by the NSA and other governmental agencies. While some companies are trying to stick up for the rights of their customer, many web users have now taken to censoring themselves. New research by WP Engine shows that the level of paranoia is higher than many people may have thought -- a staggering 91 percent of Americans are concerned about their online privacy. This is interesting in itself, but the steps that web users are willing to take if they feel their privacy is threatened makes for particularly interesting reading.

Of course there are some people who would take things to the extreme, going as far as changing their name in a bid to protect their privacy, but others would take slightly less drastic action. In fact only five percent of those surveyed say they would take no action to protect their privacy. The most common reaction to feeling threatened is to change passwords (79 percent of people), but some would go further, admitting they would consider changing their email address (48 percent) or change their credit cards (48 percent). Well over a third of those surveyed (42 percent) said they would be willing to delete all of their social media accounts. Three percent of people indicated that they would even move house as a result of having their privacy threatened online.

Concerns lie in many areas. Half of those questioned expressed concerns about the locations tracking capabilities of smartphones, and a similar number were worried about storing large volumes of personal information in the cloud. Nearly a third of Americans (30 percent) said that they were particularly concerned about mobile apps, and 57 percent said they would uninstall, or unregister from, apps that proved problematic.

More than half (51 percent) thought the government has access to too much private information, but social networks were highlighted as being worrisome. Two thirds of Americans' online privacy concerns center around social networks, but wearables, online games, and online dating services also had privacy issues.

Has your attitude to online privacy changed in recent years -- and would you go as far as changing your name to protect yourself?

Photo credit: YuryZap / Shutterstock
YEZZ Billy 4.7 with Microsoft's Windows Phone 8.1 available for pre-order

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 6:51pm CEST par Brian Fagioli

The low-cost smartphone segment is really starting to heat up. As the market starts to saturate, manufacturers look to poor and developing nations to keep the momentum going. Here in the USA, however, an arguably weak economy is creating a low-cost demand too; for both inexpensive devices and cheap no-contract plans. While Apple's iPhone is immediately out of the equation (unless you want to lock into a contract), Android and Windows Phone are the two smartphone-types that can deliver rock-bottom prices.

Today, a very inexpensive, but very capable, Windows Phone is available for pre-order; the YEZZ Billy 4.7. Haven't heard of this manufacturer? Me neither, but the reward may outweigh the risk.

"Based on a Qualcomm Reference Design (QRD), the 7.2mm-thin device comes equipped with a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor with quad CPUs at speeds of up to 1.2GHz, a stunning 4.7-inch IPS screen with Asahi Dragontrail glass, 15GB of free cloud storage and a 2MP front camera and 8MP autofocus rear camera with flash. The unlocked Billy 4.7 includes three interchangeable covers, red, white and blue and is compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile and their US MVNO’s", says Yezz.

The manufacturer further explains, "pre-loaded with Microsoft Office, the Billy 4.7 provides access to Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents while on-the-go. Delivering a fast, HSPA+ internet experience capable with HSDPA+ 42.2 Mbps data speed, the Billy 4.7 is equipped with dual-SIM technology. Users can now streamline their business and personal needs with two separate phone lines".

While I do not condone such behavior, there are other uses for a dual-sim smartphone -- cheating on your significant other and illegal activity. Yes, some people carry two cell phones or utilize dual-sim devices so they can keep their main phone number private, while sharing the other line with secret girlfriends or drug dealers. However, like Yezz says, it is beneficial for more morally acceptable uses too.

At a super-low $249, this is an exceptional value. True, you will not be achieving LTE speeds, and the quality and durability of the manufacturer's goods are a mystery, but it might be a gamble worth taking. A dual-sim unlocked device is a rarity in the USA.

If you are interested, you can pre-order it on Amazon, here. It should begin shipping on September 15th.
Stop! Don't buy that Xbox One just yet! Free game ahoy!

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 6:49pm CEST par Mark Wilson

If you were planning on picking a new Xbox One console tomorrow, hold off on that purchase. Wait for a few more days and you can pick up a game worth up to $60 free of charge. This is the latest attempt by Microsoft to boost the popularity of its console and nose it ahead of Sony's PS4. It's likely that this offer will go down well with customers as, apart from the $60 upper price limit, every disc-based game is eligible.

The offer runs from Sunday 7 until Saturday 13 September and it applies to standalone consoles as well as bundles. You could pick up a bundle that already includes a game and still bag yourself another one free of charge. Here's the small print in full, although it's a pretty straightforward offer:

Offer valid September 7-September 13, 2014 at participating retailers with purchase of Xbox One, Xbox One with Kinect, Xbox One Madden NFL 15 bundle, or Xbox One Forza Motorsport 5 bundle. Free game must be a new, disc-based game for Xbox One, maximum retail value $59.99. Not valid for pre-order games. Limit one free game per eligible Xbox One purchase. Cannot be combined with other offers. Refurbished consoles or used games not included. See your local retailer for details.

One thing to keep in mind is that the offer is only available at "participating retailers". There's no way of knowing ahead of time which stores are involved, so you might want to check with your nearby stores before heading out.

Whether you're looking for a cheap stepping stone onto the Microsoft gaming ladder, or you want to pick up a cheap Christmas present, next week could be the best time to do it.
Wait, I can add a turntable to my Sonos?

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 4:48pm CEST par Alan Buckingham

Sonos, for those not familiar, is a multi-room audio system that many people love for its diverse functionality. You can play music everywhere in your house, providing you lay out money for each of the speaker systems. What more functionality could you possibly want?

Funny you should ask. How about a turntable? You remember -- those relics from a by-gone era. Except they still aren't dead, and many people still prefer the sound. Audiophiles claim it is the best, as opposed to CD and MP3.

Flexson has introduced a special turntable specifically made for Sonos. It's called VinylPlay and the company describes it as "a quality turntable for the digital music age. With vinyl sales growing as fast as music streaming, VinylPlay gives music fans a best-of-both-worlds solution: an excellent record player that’s easy to use and can be simply integrated into a modern streaming system".

There are many benefits, at least Flexson claims so. These include easy integration with the Sonos system, the ability to play, stream and archive albums, make digital copies and compatibility with 33 and 45 RPM records.

"Until now, digital turntables have either been cheap 'USB' decks that sound poor and can ruin your records, or ‘audiophile’ turntables that are typically pricey, fiddly to set up and look out of place in a modern home", says David Cain, Flexson sales and marketing manager.

The company plans to ship the product in late September with an MSRP of €449. US pricing has not yet been announced.
Wise System Monitor tracks software, hardware and network traffic

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 4:17pm CEST par Mike Williams

Popular PC tools developer Wise Cleaner has released a public beta of its latest utility, Wise System Monitor.

The new addition is a desktop gadget which tracks and displays CPU usage, upload and download speeds, RAM consumption, CPU temperature and more.

Wise System Monitor’s interface is surprisingly plain. There are no fancy analogue dials, no flashy graphics at all, just a dark gray bar with a couple of tiny icons and the core figures you need.

This approach has its advantages, of course. RAM use is kept to a minimum (under 10MB during our tests), and there’s nothing in the program to distract you from your other PC activities.

There is also more data available, should you need it. The gadget only displays a single figure for memory usage, like "RAM 38%", but clicking this opens another panel listing the current most memory-hungry processes, and any of these can be closed with a click.

Similarly, clicking "CPU" displays processes by CPU use, and other panels list the programs uploading or downloading data, display graphs of internet activity over time, and highlight your CPU, hard drive and graphics card temperatures.

Right-click the gadget bar, select More Details, and another window appeals with a couple of extra tools: a horribly basic Task Manager-type tool and a marginally better system information panel. The latter might be useful occasionally (it has your local IP address, MAC addresses and so on) but right now both seem fairly pointless to us.

Wise System Monitor has nothing very new to offer, then, but its plain-but-practical interface is a plus, cramming plenty of features into a very lightweight frame. If you can use a simple system monitor then give it a try.
DecryptCryptoLocker helps almost 3,000 victims

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 4:07pm CEST par Ian Barker

A few weeks back we reported on the launch of a free tool to help out CryptoLocker victims allowing them to retrieve locked files.

One of the companies behind the DecryptCryptoLocker tool, Fox-IT, has released some details of how well it's working. It has so far dealt with 2,900 requests for decryption keys and dozens more are being received on a daily basis.

Decryption requests have come in from around the world with most being from the US with 1,933 and the UK with 546. The most common file type being decrypted is PDF closely followed by .doc files.

Fox-IT's blog notes that new players are still trying to fill the vacuum left by the demise of P2P Zeus. "Parts of the inject code have reappeared in other botnets, we are tracking new malware variants being developed which appear to re-use or build upon parts of P2P Zeus and there is an upsurge activity from Gozi, Bugat and other existing malware variants. This means some of the high profile customers of P2P Zeus are looking for a new custom piece of malware while others customers simply joined other existing operations like Gozi".

It also points out that CryptoLocker made significant income for its operators which has led to a renewed interest in ransomware.

The DecryptCryptoLocker tool is still available for victims who need to unlock their files.

Photo Credit: BL/Shutterstock
Enterprises need an action plan for software upgrades

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 2:55pm CEST par Vincent Smyth
Many enterprises are now going to be forced to upgrade to a newer version of Internet Explorer! Microsoft recently announced that the company will be cutting-off the support lifeline for older versions of Internet Explorer (IE) including IE7 and IE8 (the most popular version) by January 2016. Choosing to continue using IE7 and IE8 will be a high risk strategy for enterprises as no patches for critical vulnerabilities will be provided by Microsoft.

And this is not all -- it is rumored that Windows 9 operating system (OS) will be unveiled by 30 September this year (for launch in April 2015) -- close on the heels of Window 8.1’s general availability in October 2013. This is when many enterprises have only just transitioned to Windows 7 from Windows XP; and some businesses are potentially underway in their Windows 8/8.1 projects.

What do these ever-shortening software lifecycles mean for businesses?

Fundamentally, software transitions are enormously difficult for organizations -- they are extremely resource intensive, they drive up operational costs and disrupt business. With respect to IE, organizations face tremendous risk and disruption if the upgraded version of the IE browser proves to be incompatible with the existing IT environment. IT would not only have to deal with the painful transition to a new version of the browser -- but also the outcry from users when applications and websites that previously worked with the old browser, no longer do. OS migrations are even more complex and unearth an exponentially greater number of disruptive compatibility and usability issues that must be tested for and eliminated. Accordingly, the move to Windows 9 will soon present even more migration challenges for IT departments.

But there is a way forward. Enterprises can undertake measures ahead of these upcoming migrations to minimize the pail and disruption of these migrations. Incorporating Application Readiness best practice into the IT environment will smooth the way for these and any upgrades in the future too.

Application Readiness best practices and automation allow enterprises to easily manage and deploy new software versions without additional staff resources, time or complexity. Enterprises can automate the planning, compatibility testing and fixing, customization, packaging and delivery to users across computing environments in as trouble-free a way as is practically possible.

So what are these Application Readiness best practices? Simply, they are the following steps:
1. Identify -- Identifying all the applications that are deployed across the organization is important to get an accurate picture of the effort involved in a software migration. It helps avoid surprises of application incompatibility issues, post deployment. This first step is a good time to take stock of what applications are actually being used as opposed to those that are deployed. Especially when enterprises undertake a major migration, every app they move to the new environment requires time, effort and money. Reducing the number of applications that must be migrated is an important goal.
2. Rationalize -- IT should verify the need to continue to support certain applications or consolidate targets to a reduced number of products and versions. This saves time and cost around the migration and enables the company to reduce wasted IT spend on unused application licenses. A survey last year prepared jointly with IDC found that 56 percent of the enterprises polled said that 11 percent or more of their software spend in the last year was associated with unused software (also called shelfware) -- clearly a wasted expenditure. With software licenses and maintenance typically representing one third of overall IT budgets, if optimized, corporations can save up to 25 percent of their software spend by eliminating shelfware and non-compliant software use.
3. Compatibility -- Especially in a platform migration project, all applications must be tested to assess compatibility with the new environment. This includes testing them against the OS, the browser, and the hardware. It also involves testing against other applications that will be running with them in the new environment. Given the volume of applications involved, manual testing is neigh impossible. Automating the testing process is the best way.
4. Plan -- With the above steps undertaken, IT is then in a good position to accurately calculate costs and duration timeframes. Enterprises should consider hardware requirements, software requirements, and potential conflicts between the operating system and application. For OS migrations, organizations must also ensure that they have sufficient horsepower to run the new OS and applications -- both in on-premise and virtualized environments.
5. Fix and package -- As enterprises prepare to deploy in the new environment, often custom changes are required as well as converting applications to the required format. Consequently, full visibility and control into the contents of application packages becomes necessary. Since this can be a time-consuming, manual process, utilizing technology that implements desired workflows, automates the steps, and leverages investment in existing packaged applications can yield considerable savings, and ensure a consistent approach to Application Readiness. Enterprises also need to deploy applications to multiple environments, such as on-premises, virtual/cloud-based environments and mobile. Ideally, a package-once, deploy-anywhere philosophy presents the best approach.
6. Deploy -- IT can then hand off the packaged applications to the deployment system for delivery to end users. Costs can be cut even more by streamlining the end user experience for application request and fulfillment. Some organizations create enterprise app stores for self-service to give users iTunes-like access to their business applications. If the App Portal is linked to an Application Readiness solution, the process of deploying packaged applications and making them available to users can be simple. If the App Portal is tied on the back end to a Software License Optimization system that checks on the availability of licenses before the apps are deployed, IT can create a seamless Windows App Store experience for end users while still maintaining continual software compliance, financial accountability and control.
With the increasing frequency of application and operating system upgrades, having Application Readiness processes and technology in place will create value long beyond the IE upgrade and Windows 9 horizon. Perhaps using the fire drill of the IE7 to IE8 upgrade to get their larger Application Readiness processes for OS migrations in place and in order may be a good idea.

Image Credit: Mathias Rosenthal/Shutterstock

Vincent Smyth is Senior Vice President EMEA at Flexera Software, responsible for driving revenue, market share and customer satisfaction in the independent software vendor, high-tech manufacturer and enterprise account domains. Prior to Flexera Software, he has held several sales management responsibilities for Business Objects, PTC and Computer Associates. He has extensive experience of doing business across Europe and the Middle East.
VirtualXP Free lets you convert your old Windows XP PC into a virtual machine

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 1:58pm CEST par Nick Peers

Farstone Technology has released VirtualXP Free 1.0, a free-for-personal-use tool that simplifies the task of converting a Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 physical PC into a virtual machine.

The idea is that users hesitating about switching to a newer version of Windows can take their old system with them, ensuring all data, settings and programs continue to work going forward.

The app’s appeal is obvious. For many people wedded to Windows XP, upgrading now to a new PC involves more than simply transferring across data and installing their old programs.

By migrating an existing XP computer to a virtual machine using VirtualXP, they can be sure that no data or settings will be lost, while continuing to enjoy the use of old programs, particularly those that aren’t compatible with the version of Windows installed on their new PC.

VirtualXP Free converts the current physical machine -- either a single drive or multiple drives and partitions -- into a virtual disk file using the universal VHD format. This can then be attached to a virtual machine using compatible software -- Farstone recommends Microsoft’s own Virtual PC product, but VHD images should also work with other virtual packages. We tested it successfully using the free VirtualBox for example.

It’s simple to use -- once installed, fire up the program -- if prompted, click to download any required components. Once done, click the "Immigrate XP to VM" button (Farstone betraying its non-English origins with that particular mistranslation). After a short pause, a list of drives and partitions will appear, with the Windows partition already selected. To include other partitions (say a data drive), simply tick the relevant boxes.

Now it’s a simple case of clicking Browse -- navigate to a suitable folder (typically on an external drive) -- and click Start. The imaging process can take some time, but once complete there will be a virtual copy of the user’s Windows XP in VHD format.

You may have issues with activation, so it’s a good idea to make sure the virtual copy works and behaves as it should prior to getting rid of the old machine. However, if all goes to plan, it’s a great way to keep a failsafe copy of XP running for compatibility purposes as well as ensuring a copy of all files and folders is to hand.

VirtualXP Free is a free-for-personal-use download for PCs running either Windows XP or Windows 2003. A commercial license can be purchased for $30.
Digg Deeper comes to Reader and iOS, adds email option

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 1:51pm CEST par Alan Buckingham

Digg may not be the "in" thing that it was when Kevin Rose started it, but the site is still around and trying to stay relevant. Last year, in the wake of Google's shutdown of its Reader app, the social sharing site launched an alternative. More recently it launched Digg Deeper, a service that automatically IDs trending stories and videos based on those you follow via Twitter.

Now Digg Deeper is coming to more platforms, one of which is the aforementioned Reader application. "You can now use Digg Deeper to scan the most-shared stories, videos and links from your Twitter connections", the service announces.

The new service is also launching on iOS through a new Digg app update. This will allow you see what friend shared each of the stories and also allow you to view the specific Tweet about each of them. It will also allow for push notifications, alerting you to trending stories.

There are additional updates to the service, including a Daily Digest email which is an optional choice for customers. This is an opt-in, so you'll need to head into settings and enable it.

"It’s a great way to turn your often-overwhelming social streams into low-volume, high-value feed from the people and channels you trust", the company states. It even asks for feedback from customers to help improve things, providing an address -- "As always, we welcome your feedback, suggestions, and feature requests. Email our CTO, michael@digg.com".
Forget PCs and tablets -- phablets are the next big thing

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 1:17pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

Phablets are emerging as the next big thing in the smart device market. According to research firm IDC, big-screen smartphones will out-ship portable PCs (laptops) before the end of 2014, and tablets sometime in 2015. What's more, also this year, phablet shipments are expected to far outnumber desktop PCs. Want to bet on a winning large form factor? Pick phablets.

In 2014, IDC expects shipments of phablets, tablets, portable PCs and desktop PCs to reach 174.9 million, 233.1 million, 170 million and 133.5 million, respectively. Fast forward to the end of 2015, and shipments of phablets and tablets reach 318 million and 233 million units, respectively. And with Apple expected to unveil an iPhone phablet, big smartphones are only going to make things worse for PC and tablet shipments.

"With Apple expected to join the space in the coming weeks, we anticipate even more attention on phablets as larger screen smartphones become the new norm", says IDC senior research manager Mellisa Chau. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company is said to announce a 5.5-inch iPhone this month, which would qualify as a small phablet, according to IDC's definition (big smartphones with a screen size between 5.5 and 7-inches).

This year, phablets are forecast to represent just 14 percent of the smartphone market, but their share will be more than double in 2018, when it will reach 32.2 percent. Of course, with Apple getting in the game, phablet shipments could accelerate even faster.

"While consumers in places like the United States and Western Europe are likely to own a combination of PCs, tablets, and smartphones, in many places the smartphone -- regardless of size -- will be the one connected device of choice", says IDC. That's fueled by the drop in the ASPs (Average selling prices) of smartphones and phablets, from $320 and $568, respectively, in 2013 to $291 and $397, respectively, this year.

This gives more consumers the chance to afford a smartphone; it can be a more satisfactory purchase than, let's say, a desktop PC or tablet, for those with tight budgets (like much of the world is).

Part of the reason why we see non-traditional form factors, like phablets, taking off is because "consumers are still trying to figure out what mix of devices and screen sizes will suit them best", according to IDC program vice president Tom Mainelli. "What works well today could very well shift tomorrow as phones gain larger screens, tablets become more powerful replacements for PCs, and even smart watch screens join the fray".

Smart device manufacturers that are not yet fully committed to their phablet strategy, or come unprepared to the party, will struggle to keep up with the rest of the pack in the years to come, as big screen smartphones will make the difference between a popular vendor and one which couldn't see the future.

Photo Credit: Tanjala Gica/Shutterstock
Is your partner spying on you?

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 1:02pm CEST par Wayne Williams

Google knows a lot about you, and the government may be snooping on your activities, but it's your significant other who may well be the one spying on you the most, according to a new survey by security firm Avast.

The company surveyed 13,132 adults in the United States and found that one in four women and one in five men regularly checked their partner's smartphone. Most of the women were doing so purely to be nosy, but a quarter of married women admitted to looking for evidence of infidelity.

Men were similarly untrusting, and most said they checked their wife or girlfriend's phone to make sure she wasn't being unfaithful.

According to the findings, this snooping was often justified with seven out of ten women and more than half of men discovering evidence of betrayal. This should come as no surprise as a couple of months ago software company IObit commissioned a survey into the personal content stored on smartphones, and found the majority of respondents had something they wanted to keep secret from their partners.

Avast's survey also found that women are 20 percent more likely than men to confront their partner with the evidence gleaned as a result of their snooping.

Of those people who admitted to looking at their partner’s phone, over half believed their partner was snooping on them too.

A passcode can help keep the data on your phone private, but Avast found that 41 percent of men didn't bother with this simple security step, and neither did 33 percent of women. And those who did use a PIN weren't that secure anyway, as a significant number had shared it with their partner in the past...

Photo Credit: In Tune / Shutterstock
Marketing Raven helps sales and marketing teams become more productive

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 12:51pm CEST par Ian Barker

The business of marketing has always been about understanding the customer, and the modern information-driven world means there's more potential to know what customers are up to than ever.

The trouble is that many businesses fail to properly exploit this due to lack of visibility into how their marketing efforts work. Cloud-based file distribution specialist Content Raven aims to change this with its new Marketing Raven tool.

Marketing Raven adds tracking and analytics to all common file types so users can determine how recipients have engaged with a document, how many times they viewed it, on what device, and more. This allows it to provide valuable insight to further customize and improve campaigns. In addition, Marketing Raven sends real-time alerts to sales and business development staff when a prospect is interacting with piece of content, enabling them to time contacts when the lead is most engaged and follow up with appropriate information.

It can also track when a piece of content is shared or forwarded, giving new insight into the customer’s decision making and opening up potential new leads.

"We are excited to launch Marketing Raven as a way to help marketers and salespeople better analyze and enhance their marketing campaigns and sales cycles," says Ronald Matros, CEO of Content Raven. "Data-driven marketing is quickly becoming the norm in the marketing industry and this new product allows us to tackle the biggest issues faced by enterprises today as they look to improve their sales cycle and gain insight into how their customers and prospects are consuming their content".

You can find out more on the Content Raven website, where you can also download a Five Blind Spots in Your Digital Marketing Strategy ebook and view a video demonstration of what the product can do.

Image Credit: donskarpo / Shutterstock
Curly downloads files from the command line -- and checks for malware

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 12:50pm CEST par Mike Williams

When you’re working at the Windows command line it might sometimes be useful to download a file, but the standard tools don’t make this particularly easy.

If you’re looking for something simpler then Curly could be ideal. It’s a console-based downloader, free, portable and amazingly small (under 28KB), yet somehow it still manages to squeeze in one or two surprising extras.

The program is very simple to use, with no complicated syntax or switches to master. All you really have to do is pass it your target URL, like this:

curly_126.exe http://domain.com/folder/file.ext

But there are several hidden features, like the program’s support for downloading via http, https or ftp.

Once the file has arrived, Curly calculates and displays its file size, MD5 and SHA2 hashes, perhaps useful as a verification that the download is okay (and more than you’ll get from many more bulky tools).

Most surprising of all, Curly uses the hashes to query VirusTotal and display a summary of its verdict, immediately warning you of any likely malware.

There is a notable limitation in that you’ll see a summary of the report only -- "total: 55 positives: 3", for example -- and if there are any positives then you won’t see which engines raised them. Curly is still providing a warning you might not see otherwise, though, and overall it’s well worth the (extremely brief) download.
One in five businesses loses data to mobile device theft

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 12:00pm CEST par Ian Barker

The results of a new survey from Kaspersky Lab show that the rate of mobile device theft is increasing but over the same period the time taken for IT departments to respond has increased.

Part of this is down to employees taking longer to report mobile loss or theft. Only half report the theft of a mobile device within a day with 38 percent taking up to two days and nine percent waiting between three and five days.

In 2014 25 percent of companies have experienced the theft of a mobile device, compared to only 14 percent in 2011. Most concerning though is that 19 percent of those surveyed say that mobile device theft has resulted in the loss of business data.

The survey of over 3,900 IT security professionals also finds that 52 percent are more concerned about mobile risks than in previous years, 43 percent believe that mobile working patterns pose too much risk, and 42 percent belive that BYOD policies pose increased risk to the business.

"The survey results clearly indicate that IT managers are dealing with multiple security challenges associated with a mobile workforce, and as the use of mobile devices in the workplace continues to grow, employees appear to be less engaged in helping secure mobile platforms," says Mark Bermingham, Kaspersky Lab's Director of Global B2B Product Marketing.

All of this highlights the need for businesses to have a mobile device management policy. Kaspersky also suggests that having an MDM policy managed through the same console as the company’s other endpoint security software can enable IT managers to enforce policies customized to each individual employee, including 'containerization' to keep business information on mobile devices encrypted and separated from personal data on employee-owned devices.

These results are part of Kaspersky's 2014 IT Security Risks Survey which is available on the company’s website where you can also find details of Kaspersky Security for Mobile.

Photo credit: cunaplus / Shutterstock
Advertise you can't afford to own iPhone 5s or Galaxy S5 with Lumia 830

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 11:24am CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

Microsoft today introduces Lumia 830, a new Windows Phone 8.1 device that is advertised by the software giant as "the first affordable flagship" smartphone. The device is touted to give rival devices from Apple and Samsung a run for their money, so let's take a look at what it has to offer.

The highlight of Lumia 830 is its PureView-branded main camera, which is paired with some very interesting software features, which allow users to, for instance, change the intensity of the flash in the captured still, after the fact. It is aided by optical image stabilization. To showcase just how capable the 10 MP unit is, Microsoft inexplicably compared Lumia 830 with an outdated flagship, Apple's iPhone 5 which is verging on two years of market time. Thankfully, Microsoft has not gone crazy (well, maybe it did).

Microsoft knows that the smartphone market didn't stop in 2012, which is why it's labeling its Lumia 830 as a much more affordable alternative to Apple's iPhone 5s and Samsung's Galaxy S5. Its strategy does not make much sense though, seeing as it already has a more suitable flagship in its range, Lumia 930, which is also cheaper than the two rival flagships. Microsoft is sending mixed messages, which is not what it should do. Lumia 830 will cost €330, before taxes and subsidies.

Other specs include: 5-inch IPS display with a resolution of 720 by 1,280; 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor; 1 GB of RAM; 2,200 mAh battery; 0.9 MP secondary camera (capable of 720p video; the main one can record 1080p video); 16 GB of internal storage; microSD card slot; 4G LTE; Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n; NFC. Lumia 830 comes in at 139.4 x 70.7 x 8.5 mm and 150 grams.

Since Microsoft made this comparison, judging by the specs it comes with, Lumia 830 is clearly not as powerful as iPhone 5s or Galaxy S5. That may lead to it not being taken seriously by some smartphone buyers, who expect top-of-the-line specs in a flagship.

Lumia 830 also packs wireless charging, which is a welcome addition, much like the free three-month Skype Unlimited World subscription, the latter of which is a complimentary add-on with every purchase of a new Lumia device (presumably, running Windows Phone 8.1). It goes on sale this month.

Alongside Lumia 830, Microsoft also introduced Lumia 735 and Lumia 730, two even more affordable Windows Phone 8.1 devices. The former goes for €214 while the latter costs €199, before any taxes and subsidies are applied. The main difference between the two is the dual-SIM support, found in Lumia 730.

Here are the main features: 4.7-inch OLED display with a resolution of 720 by 1,280; 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor; 1 GB of RAM; 6.7 MP main camera; 5 MP secondary camera with a wide-angle lens; 8 GB of internal storage; microSD card slot; HSPA+ (Lumia 730) or 4G LTE (Lumia 735); NFC; Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n; wireless charging (Lumia 735). Lumia 735 comes in at 134.7 x 68.5 x 8.9 mm and 134.3 grams, while Lumia 730 comes in at 134.7 x 68.5 x 8.7 mm and 130.4 grams.

Lumia 730 and Lumia 735 are touted to be great for selfies and video chats (well, Skype calls, to use Microsoft's own words), thanks to the high-resolution front-facing camera, which has a lens equivalent to 24mm in full-frame terms (all you need to know is that you can fit a lot in the frame). To make it easy to take selfies, Microsoft bundles the Lumia Selfie app, as part of the new Lumia Denim firmware, which is also available on Lumia 830. They ship this month.

Speaking of Lumia Denim, the new firmware will improve the imaging experience on Lumia 930, Lumia Icon and Lumia 1520, thanks to dedicated apps like Lumia Camera. It replaces Nokia Camera, and adds features like improved capture time, 4K-quality video recording at 24 FPS, Auto HDR and Dynamic Flash. There are also better processing algorithms, touchless integration with Cortana (you can now say "Hey Cortana" to trigger the digital personal assistant when the smartphone is idling) and integration of more apps and information into Glance Screen.

Microsoft says that the Lumia Denim software upgrade, which is based on Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1, will ship starting in Q4 2014 to existing, compatible Lumia Windows Phone devices.
HTC Desire 820: Not your average mid-range Android smartphone

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 10:59am CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

Premium devices got most of the attention at IFA 2014, thanks to their cutting edge software and hardware. But there are some other interesting new products announced at the trade show which warrant a look. One of them is HTC's mid-range Android smartphone, Desire 820.

Desire 820 may not be as exciting as, for instance, Galaxy Note Edge is with its curved edge display, but it gives us a sense of what the future of Android hardware looks like. I'll give you a hint -- it's not 32-bit. Desire 820 is among the first smartphones of 2014 to be unveiled with a 64-bit processor, Qualcomm's powerful Snapdragon 615.

When it comes to sheer processing power, Desire 820 tops HTC's first 64-bit smartphone, Desire 510, which uses a mere 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor with 1 GB of RAM, with its octa-core solution, which is comprised of four cores running at 1.5 GHz and the other four running at 1 GHz, alongside 2 GB of RAM. Whereas Snapdragon 410 is more conservative with its setup, Snapdragon 615 is definitely taking things to the next level. For a mid-ranger, that's something worth pointing out. The battery is a 2,600 mAh unit.

Desire 820 features a 5.5-inch IPS display, with a resolution of 720 by 1,280, which is typical of devices in this range, although HTC could have gone with a higher resolution considering the size of the screen. It comes with 16 GB of internal storage, but also a microSD card slot which can extend the capacity by a further 128 GB.

On the back, there's a 13 MP camera with a wide-angle lens (equivalent to 28 mm in full-frame terms) and a large f/2.2 aperture. It can take 1080p video. On the front, there is an 8 MP (yes, that's eight megapixels, as much as the iPhone 5s' main camera boasts) shooter, which is also capable of 1080p video. Playback should be a more upscale experience, thanks to HTC's BoomSound technology, which sees two front-facing stereo speakers being employed.

"Our new HTC Desire model gives entertainment lovers exactly what they are looking for; a powerful, fast, stylish smartphone that delivers their favourite content on a big screen at a competitive price", says HTC CEO Peter Chou. "With the HTC Desire 820, we've combined the most advanced technology with the best possible entertainment experience and bold, distinctive design to deliver a handset that is both desirable and affordable".

Desire 820 also plays well with 4G LTE cellular networks, Wi-FI 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0, and offers all the other typical hardware features you have come to expect out of a mid-range smartphone in 2014. HTC doesn't mention which Android iteration Desire 820 runs. It comes in at 157.7 x 78.74 x 7.74 mm and 155 grams.

Desire 820 will be available, in Marble White, Milky-way Grey, Santorini White and Tuxedo Grey, later this fall. There is no pricing information at this point.
Goodbye MSN Messenger: Bidding a final farewell to Microsoft's much loved chat service

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 9:27am CEST par Zak Thomas

Like most teenagers growing up in the late 90s / early 00s, MSN Messenger made me realize that there was more to life than having to talk face to face.

Maybe you didn't want to go to that party, for example, so you could just send your friend a message with some poor excuse about homework. Or maybe you just wanted to sit up in front of a desktop computer until 3.00am, discussing the wrongs and rights of the world through a series of awkward 'lols,' 'brbs' and emoticons. You could even declare your undying love for someone behind the safe smokescreen of your computer by just typing it, which let's be honest, is much, much easier.

Microsoft announced on 29 August, that it will be switching off its Chinese MSN service, which brings an end to 15 years of an instant messaging platform that changed the way humans communicate across the globe. Most people will be aware that MSN was turned off for most users after Microsoft bought rival Skype in 2013, but you might not be aware that users in China continued to use it. By 31 October 2014, however, all users of the old service will be transferred to Skype.

Here are some of the biggest headlines from MSN's short but dare we say it, important contribution to instant messaging.

The early years

In 1999, MSN was launched by Microsoft to rival AOL's Aim service. It began life as a plain text messaging service, with a manageable contact list. In 2001, with the launch of the now defunct Windows XP, MSN allowed voice conversations and the grouping of contacts for the first time. The service became customizable in 2003, with personalized avatars, emoticons and theme colors.

Chatroom closure: child safety issues

But there was a setback in 2003, when MSN closed its chat room services in Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and in most of Asia, citing issues of child safety as the reason behind the closure, although some criticized the move, arguing the reasons behind it were actually economical. Research from the Cyberspace Research Center, revealed at the time, that one in five children aged 9 to 16 regularly used chat rooms, with more than half having engaged in sex chat.

The middle years

By 2005 MSN was starting to lose some of its charm. Rebranded as Windows Live Messenger, users could now annoy each other by sending giant animated emoticons that took up the whole screen. With Skype emerging as a strong rival since its launch in 2003, Microsoft added audio and video calling capabilities to the MSN package in 2006. In 2008, The "Groups" feature was added, for users to create group conversations.

The twilight years

In 2010, MSN became an increasingly confusing service, latching on to a variety of different trends, first launching MSN Video Player, an on demand TV service, which had a few teething problems on launch, most notably, no parental controls. Later that year, Microsoft launched an MSN games channel, providing games and web casts.

RIP MSN

But despite all the new features, and attempts to branch out, Microsoft announced the merger of MSN with Skype in 2012 after acquiring the latter. MSN was switched off for most users in 2013, with China carrying the torch until now. MSN had 330 million users in 2009 but, by 31 October 2014 the last Chinese users will be transferred to Skype and MSN will cease to be.

To take inspiration from Monty Python, MSN will be an ex-instant messenger.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
Box integrates with Office 365 thanks to new beta tool

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 2:08am CEST par Mark Wilson

Office 365 users are encouraged into storing their files in one of two locations -- locally or on OneDrive. Microsoft's own cloud storage service is neatly integrated into its office suite, just as it is into Windows 8.1. There are ways to integrate other services such as Google Drive, but today Box launched a beta version of Box for Office 365 in a bid to bring the cloud service to Office. The new beta was announced at Box's BoxWorks event. There are also plans to add Box integration to Office for iPad, although no timescale has been suggested for this.

The idea behind integrating Box into Office 365 is simple, but the beta page explains: "With our new Box for Office desktop app integrations, you can easily open, edit, share and save any file from Box seamlessly within Word, PowerPoint and Excel".

If you want to try out the beta, you can download it free of charge and you will then be able to access your Box account from within Office 365 apps. As you would expect, you can open and save files just as you can with OneDrive, but the beta tool also allows for files to be shared. With a file open, hit the File menu, select Share and then use the Share from Box option.

It's not clear how far off a final version of Box for Office 365 is, but this beta tool is something that will be welcomed by fans of the cloud storage service.
Isis Wallet to become Softcard to avoid ISIS extremism association

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 12:26am CEST par Mark Wilson

When you see the letters ISIS, what is it that you first think of? Is it the Egyptian goddess of health, marriage and love? The Institute for the Scientific Investigation of Sexuality? Or is it the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the jihadist group that has been in the news for some time now? It's quite common for there to be unfortunate sharings of names and acronyms, and it's something that Isis Wallet, the NFC payment service, has fallen foul of. To avoid being associated with the Middle East group, the service is being renamed to Softcard.

The rebranding has not come completely out of the blue. Back in July, company CEO Michael Abbott explained: "Recently, we have observed with growing concern a militant group whose name, when translated into English, is Islamic State of Iraq and Syria -- often referenced by the acronym ISIS. We have no interest in sharing a name with a group whose name has become synonymous with violence and our hearts go out to those who are suffering".

The continuing headline-grabbing activities of ISIS have done nothing to dissuade Abbott from the change in name. An announcement on the Isis Wallet, sorry Softcard, homepage reads:

We're changing our name to Softcard.

In a few weeks, Isis Wallet will become Softcard. It's a different name for the same great way to pay.

For now, the existing Isis Wallet website remains but it will be phased out as the new Softcard branding takes over. In fact there is already a Softcard page up and running, although there are still numerous references to the Isis-branded iOS and Android apps.
Microsoft can help you gamble -- Bing will predict NFL winners

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 12:06am CEST par Brian Fagioli

I am hardly a degenerate gambler, but I do enjoy my fair-share of games of chance. Whenever I go on a cruise, I can likely be found sitting at the roulette table or penny slot machine. While I do play for real money, I bet small and usually retire to other things after I lose $50 or so.

One aspect of gambling that I never tried is sports-betting. For the most part, I enjoy sports on their own, but many people need the thrill of gambling to truly enjoy watching it. Today, Microsoft announces that Bing can now predict the winner in NFL games -- for my foreign friends, that is American Football. If Microsoft's search engine proves reliable, it could be a great tool for gamblers.

"As with the World Cup and unlike that of our voting show predictions where we had very high accuracies, we expect to get a majority correct, but no statistics or sentiments can fairly capture the energy, the passion and the preparation the players bring on the field. We love the underdogs for a reason, after all", says Walter Sun, Bing Predicts Team.

Sun further explains, "for pro football, we model the respective strengths of the teams by examining outcomes from previous seasons including wins, losses, and the very rare tie outcome (two games since 2009), factoring in margin of victories, location of contest, playing surface and roof cover (or lack thereof), weather and temperature conditions, scoring by quarters, and multiple offensive and defensive statistics. In addition to this prior model, we identify fans on Web and Social sites and track their sentiment to understand the aggregate wisdom of this expressive crowd. This introduces data which statistics alone cannot capture, providing real-time adjustments which surprisingly can capture injury news and other substantive factors in win probabilities".

If Bing is reliable, this has the potential to disrupt the entire sports-betting industry. Of course, no computer can ever be 100% correct in predictions. Think about it; injuries can happen during games and there is no way to know that in advance. Plus, a player may have a bad day and have an off-game -- it happens. With all of that said though, Bing does not have to be 100 percent correct to make gamblers money. Just being correct on the majority of predictions can equal big dollar signs.

Would you trust your gambling to Bing? Tell me in the comments.

Image Credit: Dan Thornberg / Shutterstock
Using an older browser version? Google wants you to move on

Publié: septembre 4, 2014, 12:00am CEST par Barclay Ballard

Google has begun displaying old versions of its search page to users of out-of-date web browsers.

Over the previous weekend, many people reported seeing the 2013 version of the Google homepage when using an older version of certain browsers.

The issue occurred most frequently when using variants of Opera 12 and Safari 5.1.

In a forum covering topics relating to Google's search service, an employee from the company said the change was made to "encourage" people to upgrade their browser.

Those affected could view search results in a modern format, but could only see the 2013 iteration of the homepage, which lacks some more modern features.

Users attempted to rectify, what they assumed was a browser error, by clearing cookies or disabling extensions, but this had no effect. Some were able to view the 2014 homepage by changing their browser's basic configuration to make Google think it was more up-to-date than it actually was.

According to the BBC, a Google engineer, called "nealem", joined the forum discussion to confirm that the change was deliberate.

"It's working as intended", he said. "We're continually making improvements to Search, so we can only provide limited support for some outdated browsers".

The move is an extension of a policy begun in 2011 when the search engine giant decided to drop Gmail support for older browsers.

Many users have criticized the shift, describing it as "heavy-handed" and "ridiculous". Some claimed that they continued to use older browsers because they often include useful features that are removed more recent versions.

Google did confirm that a member of staff had taken part in the discussion regarding the change, but had no additional comment to make.