Gregarius » BetaNews.Com » septembre 5, 2014

BetaNews.Com (27 non lus)

Access 500-plus file hosting services with File & Image Uploader

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 11:31pm CEST par Mike Williams

FileImageUploader200-175 Finding a new file hosting site sounds easy in theory -- there’s certainly no shortage of options -- but it can take some thought. Just tracking down key details like the maximum file size or how long files are kept often takes longer than you expect.

All this research is important if you're hosting mission-critical work documents, of course, or anything similarly important: you need to be sure you’re making the right choices.

But if you've just got some big personal files you’d like to share with a couple of friends then File & Image Uploader makes the process quick and easy.

The program arrives as a single portable executable. Drag and drop the files you’d like to share onto its main window and the Upload dialog appears.

Here you can choose your target hosting service from 550-plus (RapidShare, MediaFire, WikiUpload, VideoBam and many more). If you don’t have a preference, use the arrow keys to move up and down the list, and File & Image Uploader displays helpful details like the maximum file size and storage time.

Once you've selected a service, then there are a few other options available. File & Image Uploader can split files larger than some defined figure, save them in a password-protected archive, use a pre-existing account for that service, maybe queue the files for uploading later.

Alternatively, if you don’t care about any of that, just click the button with the green tick and your files will be uploaded. (Well, probably; if the service uses captchas then you’ll be prompted to solve them. One service ignored our answers and kept re-prompting, but we gave up, tried something captcha-free and everything was fine.)

As the program works, a report pane lists all successfully uploaded files, along with their file and delete links. Select one or all of these, right-click and you’ll find options to generate BBCode or HTML links, copy them to the clipboard, save everything to a text file, and more.

This mostly ran very well for us, but if you’re unhappy with the default settings then there are plenty of tweaks. On the connection side alone you can set your http buffer size, proxy, parallel upload count (1 to 8) and maximum speed, as well as scheduling to run your upload at a more convenient time.

Put it all together and File & Image Uploader is a very handy tool, configurable and easy to use. Give it a try.

Intel launches Core M 'Broadwell-Y' processors -- silent, powerful and long battery life

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 7:43pm CEST par Brian Fagioli

Tech_Briefing_1

A powerful computer is an easy thing for manufacturers to build. Throw in a hardcore processor and some high-end components and the sky is the limit. Unfortunately, raw power is not the sole focus of consumers. No, many mobile computer users also want super-long battery life and silence to go with the performance. This, you see, is where things get tricky.

The Surface Pro 3 gets rather close to this, but the whirring of the fan in the hybrid is audible sometimes. Plus, the Surface components are a bit expensive for many consumers. Today, Intel delivers a fanless solution that should meet the needs of many -- the Core M Processor line, otherwise known as Broadwell-Y.

"Delivering the optimal blend of mobility and performance, Intel's new processor was purpose-built for amazing performance in the thinnest, fanless ultra-mobile devices. The Intel Core M processor can power razor-thin devices with Intel Core processor-level performance and deliver up to double the battery life when compared to a 4-year-old system", says Intel.

The company further explains, "the Intel Core M processor package is 50 percent smaller and, at 4.5 watts, has 60 percent lower thermal power than the previous generation. This lets OEMs design sleek, fanless systems less than 9 mm thin -- thinner than an AAA battery and today's sleekest laptops. There are already more than 20 Intel Core M processor-based OEM products in the development pipeline. The first systems based on the Intel Core M processor will be on shelves for the holiday selling season".

Broadwell_Die_Vertical_Saturated Intel lists some of the upcoming products: that will feature the Core M:

In Q4, Acer will expand its popular 2-in-1 series of notebooks with the Aspire Switch 12, featuring a 12.5-inch FHD display with unique kickstand and magnet keyboard to move smoothly between five modes.
ASUS introduced the ASUS Zenbook UX305, an incredibly light and thin Ultrabook with a 13-inch QHD display and the ASUS Transformer Book T300FA 2 in 1, which was unveiled during the Intel keynote. The Transformer Book T300FA is a high-performance 2 in 1 and is expected to be available in Europe this fall for an estimated €599. Looking ahead, ASUS plans to go even thinner with the ASUS Transformer T300 Chi.
Dell has announced its first commercial 2 in 1, the Latitude 13 7000 Series, which combines a lightweight business Ultrabook and a detachable tablet in one powerful, no-compromise device.
HP further extends its award-winning ENVY portfolio with the addition of two new HP ENVY x2 detachable PCs, available in 13.3-inch and 15.6-inch form factors.
The new Lenovo ThinkPad Helix, available in October, is 12 percent lighter and measures 15 percent thinner than its predecessor while packing even more power thanks to the Intel Core M processor.

The company lists the following models:

Product Name	Status	Launch Date	# of Cores	Max TDP	Processor Graphics
Intel® Core™ M-5Y70 Processor (4M Cache, up to 2.60 GHz)	Launched	Q3'14	2	4.5 W	Intel® HD Graphics 5300
Intel® Core™ M-5Y10a Processor (4M Cache, up to 2.00 GHz)	Launched	Q3'14	2	4.5 W	Intel® HD Graphics 5300
Intel® Core™ M-5Y10 Processor (4M Cache, up to 2.00 GHz)	Launched	Q3'14	2	4.5 W	Intel® HD Graphics 5300

So, as you can see, major computer manufacturers are on-board with the Core M chips. This should have a positive impact on the PC business, especially with the new machines landing before and during the Christmas shopping season. Consumers should be in for a real treat when they visit their local Best Buy or Staples and see the amazingly thin and sexy laptops on the shelves. Clearly, this will be a winner.

Do you want your next laptop or tablet to have an Intel Core M processor? Tell me in the comments.

Facebook rolls out Privacy Checkup feature to users around the world

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 7:31pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Facebook rolls out Privacy Checkup feature to users around the world

We now live in an age where privacy is a key concern. Facebook has long been criticized for its somewhat lackadaisical attitude to the privacy of user data, and over the years various steps have been taken to afford Facebookers greater control over who is able to see their status updates and other data. First announced back in May, the social network is now rolling out its Privacy Checkup feature around the world, giving users the chance to check exactly who they are sharing information with.

The new tool does not really introduce any new features, but it does bring existing security controls to the fore. Privacy Checkup should make itself known over the next few days by popping up when you use Facebook, but it can be accessed whenever you want by clicking the privacy lock icon to the upper right of the page. For some reason, the face of Privacy Checkup is a friendly blue dinosaur, sort of like a prehistoric version of Clippy.

Privacy settings are reduced to three broad categories -- posts, apps, and profile data. In the Your Posts section you can choose which groups of people should be granted access to your status updates -- you can lock it right down, or leave it wide open to the public if you prefer. Move to the Your Apps section, and you can work through the undoubtedly lengthy list of apps you have installed. Privacy settings can be configured for each app individually, and this is also a good time to trim the fat and banish any you no longer use.

The last stage involves configuring the visibility settings to different pieces of personal information. You may decide to share information about your work history with a limited group of friends, or keep your hometown completely private. The controls are not particularly fine-grained, but for anyone who has never given their privacy settings a thought, it's a decent enough start.

Check out the Facebook blog where Product Manager, Paddy Underwood presents a video guide to the checkup tool. He says: "We know you come to Facebook to connect with friends, not with us. But we also know how important it is to be in control of what you share and who you share with".

Evernote for Android 6.0 unveils fresh new look, adds Web Clipper support

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 5:18pm CEST par Nick Peers

evernote

Evernote Corporation has released Evernote for Android 6.0, a major new version of its note-taking tool for a platform it says is its fastest-growing.

Version 6 unveils a major new redesign, adds support for the Evernote Web Clipper, allows users to create Quick Notes and promises improved navigation and handwriting support, plus a simpler, cleaner layout for its note-editing tool.

Evernote has positioned this new build at those who are increasingly using their Android device as their primary note-taking platform as opposed to simply using it as an extension of the desktop or web platform. That explains the additional functionality that has been incorporated.

The new build shows off a redesign -- including optimizations specifically for tablet devices, with the promise of major improvements to creating, searching, viewing and editing notes.

Those accessing Evernote on a phone will see a new green floating + button, which makes it possible to quickly create one of six different note types -- from handwriting and audio to camera and text -- with just two taps.

This is accompanied by a new slide-out drawer navigation tool, which is accessed by swiping in from the left-hand side of the screen or tapping the menu button in the top left-hand corner. Evernote Business users can switch between personal and business notebooks from here; everyone else can browse by notes, notebooks, tags and shortcuts.

Conspicuous by their absence are -- however -- both Map and Card views, while the PDF viewing and annotation tools have been moved across to companion app Skitch. There’s also still no means of deleting notebooks from within the app.

An Explore Evernote section has also been added to the navigation drawer walking users through features they may not be aware of.

The Android app now also supports web clipping -- users can locate webpages in their browser, then tap the Share button and choose Evernote as the destination. Tap the big elephant button to select a notebook and add tags if required.

Also improved is sharing -- users simply tap the person button at the top of the screen when browsing a notebook to share it with others. Meanwhile, the search screen has been redesigned to improve and simplify searching, with users able to refine results by notebook, tag or location.

Users also gain an improved note-editing tool, with the promise of a cleaner, less cluttered layout. A new camera tool makes it easier to switch modes and handwriting recognition has also been improved, complete with new pinch-to-zoom tool.

The update is rounded off with additional unspecified tweaks and improvements. Evernote for Android 6.0 is available now as a free download for Android users. Also available are Evernote for Windows desktop, Evernote Touch for Windows 8, Evernote for Mac, and Evernote for iPhone & iPad.

Best Windows 8 apps this week

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 5:15pm CEST par Martin Brinkmann

Ninety-seventh in a series. Welcome to this week's episode of the best new apps and games for Microsoft's Windows 8.x operating system.

This week saw the release of several high quality applications and games for the Windows 8.x platform. App of the week is the deck building game Order & Chaos Duels which features great gameplay and graphics.

This week saw the release of NFL on Windows 8, probably the best National Football League application for the operating system yet.

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

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

Red Stripe Deals

Up to six apps and games are discounted by 50 percent or more each week. This is this week's selection:

4 Elements II is a puzzle and hidden objects game, for $1.49
Voodoo Whisperer (Full) is an adventure game for $1.49
Ladybird: I'm Ready to Spell is a spelling game for children for $1.49
Back to the Drawing Board is a 2D CAD and technical drawing app for $8.99
Shiny the Firefly is a fun jump and run game for $1.49
Roman Empire is a strategy game for $1.49

Best Windows app of the week

Order & Chaos Duels

The deck building card game pits you against computer and human opponents.

The game walks you through all game mechanics using tutorial missions. It basically comes down to this: you have a set amount of cards available to you that cost mana to play.

Each card is either a creature, which has attack and health ratings, equipment, which improves your hero in different ways, or a spell which has an immediate effect.

Cards may have special abilities on top of that which come into play when certain events happen.

Each minion card that you have played will automatically attack after the round it has been played. If it faces an opposing minion card it will attack it, otherwise it will attack the enemy hero.

You earn experience and money during battles which you can invest in various items in the store. Most items are however only available for premium currency which you earn little of during battles.

Other apps

Dark Lands

Dark Lands is a running game in which you control some actions of a warrior who is running on his own all the time.

The game is optimized for touch-based devices and cannot really be played without one.

Options at your disposal are to jump or slide, stop running for a while, or attack and defend yourself against creatures and boss monsters the game throws in your way.

You earn credits while running and can spend the money on upgrades to become more powerful in the process.

Eclipse Manager

This is a free project manager and time tracker for Windows 8. What's great about it is that you don't have to sign up for an account to use it.

It all begins with the creation of a new project which can be used to track time and costs optionally.

You can then add one or multiple tasks to a project and assign deadlines and priorities to them.

Descriptions and checklists can be added to tasks, and you can check a timeline of due tasks at any time from within the interface.

Eclipse Manager supports cloud synchronization but also offline usage.

Daddy was a thief ($1.99, free trial available)

Daddy was a thief reminds me a bit of the classic computer game elevator mission with the difference that you are not going up but down this time and instead of using elevators, you smash through floors and obstacles.

The game can be played with the mouse and keyboard or using touch controls. The only options available to you are to jump up or down.

If you jump up, you stay in the level without crashing through the floor while the jump down action does just that.

The game throws many obstacles, some living some not, in your way which you can avoid or use to your advantage.

Campus Talk

Campus Talk has been designed to provide students with a secure instant messaging application when they are connected to a campus network.

What makes it interesting is that it does not require a connection to a central server so that messages are sent and retrieved directly by users of it.

Besides messaging and group conversations, it supports file sharing, audio messages, and sharing options as well.

Viking: The Adventure

Viking: The Adventure is a wonderful jump and run game that you can play with mouse and keyboard or touch.

Your task in each level is to collect a set amount of gold before you can proceed to the next level.

To do so, you need to use skilled jumps and use your weapon to defeat creatures that block your path.

The game can be quite challenging, especially in the beginning when you only have a short sword to defend yourself.

Frantic

Frantic is an arena-based first-person shooter game in which you try to defeat all monsters to proceed to the next level.

You start the game equipped with a pistol but find powerups and better weapons in each level which you need desperately as the game progresses.

Not only do you have to defeat regular creeps such as giant wasps or spiders but also defeat boss monsters that are particularly hard to defeat.

Credits are earned while you play the game which you can invest in weapon and ammo upgrades.

NFL on Windows 8

NFL on Windows 8 is one of the official NFL apps that got released this week (the other is NFL Sunday Ticket).

Some contents that the app makes available are accessible by users from all over the world while others, such as live games on NFL Network or RedZone, are restricted.

You can select a favorite team to follow to receive personalized news and information when they become available, and login to your fantasy account to manage your team and watch in-game video highlights.

SoulCraft 2

Soulcraft 2 League of Angels is a great looking action RPG that plays similar to games such as Diablo or Path of Exile.

You play a tutorial mission after you have picked one of the available hero classes. Here you learn basic game mechanics and the skills that your hero has mastered.

Once you have completed the tutorial mission you can follow the quest line and campaign, visit the shop to buy better equipment or challenge other players in multiplayer battles.

The game plays well with mouse and keyboard but supports game controllers as well. Unlike many other games of its kind, it supports offline play for singleplayer missions.

The Kraken Sleepeth ($5.99, free trial available)

Explore the ocean in this deep sea diving game. You control the game with mouse and keyboard, a gamepad, or touch controls.

You control speed and direction of the diving bell and can shoot from it as well to fend off sea creatures that your light attracts.

While you are exploring the world's oceans you are discovering artifacts that you can use to upgrade your diving vessel to make it more resilient or to improve its propulsion.

Just how innovative was each iPhone release?

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 4:18pm CEST par Wayne Williams

hero_iphone4s_5c_5s

The unveiling of the iPhone 6 is nearly upon us, and while we can be pretty sure the new device (or one of the devices at least) will be much larger, we won’t know about any other features until Apple reveals them next week.

The original iPhone was so revolutionary that the world expects Apple to produce something amazing with each new iteration, which is, of course, an unrealistic expectation. However, the firm has introduced plenty of innovative features to its smartphone over the years, including the App Store, Siri, and Touch ID.

In preparation for the introduction of the new phone, FinancesOnline.com has put together an infographic looking at just how much innovation was actually in each iPhone model, and reveals what people want from the new iPhone 6. Naturally, better battery life is key among the requests.

The infographic also charts the growth in global iPhone sales since launch.

I own an iPhone 5s, which I love, and am hopeful the iPhone 6 will include enough new innovations to make upgrading worthwhile. A super-sized screen is probably the feature I require least.

What new and improved features are you hoping to see in the iPhone 6?

iPhone_infographic_Finale

Lighter, thinner, tougher and more productive -- Dell's new commercial PCs

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 4:03pm CEST par Ian Barker

Dell Latitude 3000

As summer draws to a close and people start to go back to school or back to work technology manufacturers like to tempt them with new and shiny kit.

Today is the turn of Dell as it launches its latest commercial PC range aimed at offering productivity, manageability and security for business users in smaller, thinner and generally nicer packages.

"Dell understands the complexity of supporting the wide variety of devices present in today’s evolving workforce environment," says Kirk Schell, vice president and general manager, commercial client solutions at Dell. "Our new portfolio enables businesses of all sizes to embrace sleek and innovative form factors their workforce will be proud to use day after day to accomplish their productivity goals. While they look like thin and light consumer devices, these commercial PCs are backed by the industry's best security and manageability that only Dell provides".

First up are new additions to the Latitude range including the Latitude 13 7000 series which claims to be the world's most secure 2-in-1, combining a lightweight business ultrabook and a detachable tablet in one powerful device. It will be available from mid-October starting at $1,199.

The Latitude 12 5000 offers a secure business laptop featuring a new design that's 20 percent thinner than the previous model. It offers all day battery life from a 4-cell battery, enhanced materials for durability and enterprise-class support and services. The range starts at $769 and will be available from September 25th.

New Latitude 14 and 15 3000 models for the Asian market are a more affordable package for smaller businesses. Again these are thinner and lighter than previous models with spill-resistant keyboards, all day battery life and up to a terrabyte of storage with prices starting at $640.

There's a new addition to the company's rugged range too with the Latitude 14 which has an outdoor-readable display and uses QuadraCool technology for performance at high temperatures. It also features a backlit keyboard so it can be used in a wide range of environments.

Dell hasn’t forgotten desktops and it's been busy making them smaller too. New Optiplex 9020 and 3020 Micro PCs have a chassis that's 67 percent smaller than Dell's previous desktops and offer a choice of mounting options. The OptiPlex 9020 Micro is aimed at environments where space is limited and security is a priority, while the OptiPlex 3020 Micro provides essential business class performance in a compact unit. The OptiPlex Micro range starts at $499.

In addition there's a new Chromebox for meetings, designed to offer an easy-to-use platform for managing video conferences. Costing $999 it comes equipped with an HD webcam, speaker phone and RF remote control, it's only available in the US initially though. Dell is also launching a standard Chromebox to provide a small, quiet desktop for smaller businesses. This will be available from September 26th starting from $179.

Rounding off the announcements are some new monitors including an outsize 55-inch model intended for meeting rooms and a 27-inch Ultra HD 5K model. The Dell 55 Monitor is available now at $1,049, the UltraSharp 27 will be along in the fourth quarter priced at $2,500.

More information on all of these devices will be available on the Dell website as they're released.

The changing nature of mobile: App developers versus mobile solution providers

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 3:36pm CEST par Jeff Francis

app creation

A recent study by Gartner shows that mobile app use grew an incredible 115 percent from 2012 to 2013. Apple, which offers more than a million apps for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, said recently that customers spent more than $10 billion on apps in 2013, yet the most popular apps have a distinct difference.

Take the incredibly popular and successful WhatsApp; the five-year old company has over 500 million active monthly users, and the founder signed a $19 billion acquisition deal with Facebook just a few blocks away from the social services office where he used to collect food stamps.

More recently, BBC’s weather application is currently downloaded by almost 20,000 users every day, making it the company’s fastest growing mobile app. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula when deciding which apps will become the most popular, nor is there a "by the books" equation when a company is looking for a partner to develop a mobile solution.

With hundreds of thousands of games, productivity tools, social media apps and just about any other app category you can imagine already available, with thousands more launched every week, businesses planning on developing apps need to work with a mobile team that understands the market inside and out.

It’s even more complicated for an enterprise-grade mobile solution. These companies typically focus on, and require, more complex mobile solutions, and the relationship between them and their mobile partner will usually be ongoing, lasting long after their app launches. A mobile solution provider works together with businesses to craft the needed mobile solution to solve business challenges. For companies that don’t have their path mapped to where the problem has been identified, or aren’t sure where they want their place in the mobile space to be, they should seek out a partner with the expertise and understanding of every angle of the 'app universe'. A mobile solutions provider is a guide to take a company through every step of navigating the complex mobile landscape.

On the other side of the development table, app developers typically specialize in coding, design or some combination of the two, and are ideal for delivering a very specific set of feature requests. They have a distinctive and worthwhile place in the mobile ecosystem. While app developers understand design and feature construction, they are usually not as savvy in business strategy, audience targeting or third-party integration. If a company already has their mobile app mapped out and all they need is a developer to write the code, then an app developer can certainly solve that issue.

But, building an intuitive mobile solution, especially one in the enterprise space, requires a distinctive set of skills. The team working on the app should be familiar with Agile development processes, usually not a strong focus at an app development firm.

To decide the best fit for a company’s needs, here are a few questions that ought to be considered:

Will the app be serving customers? If not, will the app be solely an internal productivity app?
Are the infrastructure and back-end requirements in place?
Is there a clearly defined business problem the app will be solving?
Is the model in place for how the app will interact seamlessly with the current company site and email provider?
Will the team need ongoing assistance with maintenance, updates and support, or is this a one-time app build?

Solution development and delivery is continually evolving, and the future of mobile development depends on much more than just technical expertise. Based on a company’s goals and requirements, it’s vital to consider all of the available options before choosing a mobile partner.

Image Credit: madpixblue/Shutterstock

Jeff Francis is the co-founder and COO of Dallas-based Copper Mobile, a leading enterprise-centric mobile development firm that helps companies solve their business challenges with cutting-edge mobile solutions. He has over 10 years of experience in early stage company start-ups and working with Fortune 500 in the software/technology industry. Jeff has five years of experience in the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) industry and was the major accounts executive in an organization that went from almost no market presence to industry dominance in less than five years. Prior to co-founding Copper Mobile, he was also the president and CEO of Alliant Medical in Dallas, which averaged a 112 percent growth rate over the first three years of operations.

Apple's September 9 event to stream live -- but only to Apple devices

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 3:15pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Apple's September 9 event to stream live -- but only to Apple devices

It was all but expected, but Apple has confirmed that Tuesday's "special event" will be streamed live online. This in itself is nothing particularly surprising, but the small print at the bottom of the launch announcement page will upset many people -- if you're not already packing an Apple device, you're not invited. "Live streaming video requires Safari 5.1.10 or later on OS X v10.6.8 or later; Safari on iOS 6.0 or later. Streaming via Apple TV requires second- or third-generation Apple TV with software 6.2 or later". Android, Windows, and Linux users are excluded.

At the event, which kicks off at 10am PT on Tuesday at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts in Cupertino, it is expected that Apple will talk about the iPhone 6 -- possibly two sizes -- as well as a wearable device -- which in all likelihood will be the iWatch. Anyone who is not attending the event will have to either fire up a Mac, iPad, iPhone or Apple TV, or wait for news of the announcements to be written up and posted online.

The anticipation surrounding the event -- there's already a countdown timer in place -- really means that Apple has a very easy job on its hands to push any new devices that are launched. On the one hand, limiting the stream to existing Apple users seems like preaching to the converted and limiting the potential audience. On the other, it can be seen as a reward to loyal Apple fans -- a little thank you for their dedication to the brand. However you see it, if you're an Android or Windows user, you're out of luck if you fancied the idea of watching live.

So, if you want to watch the event when it streams on Tuesday, you'd better make sure your iPad or iPhone is charged up! Of course, we'll bring you all of the news of the event here on BetaNews as well.

Samsung reveals Android-powered printer lineup at IFA

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 3:12pm CEST par Alan Buckingham

Smart-MultiXpress-MFPs-Line-up

IFA, one of the world's largest tech shows, is currently in full-swing in Germany. We've seen tons of announcements and new products coming out of the show, most notable so far are new phones from both Samsung and Microsoft. But Samsung had more up its sleeve than just phones.

The company has unveiled a new lineup of printers, and this series is unique. The printers are powered by Android, and Samsung claims they are designed for business, though home users can certainly still grab one if they choose. "The MFPs are the first printers of their kind to be equipped with an Android operating system, and are designed to be more independent, intuitive and scalable for all types of business environments", the announcement states.

The printers contain large 10.1-inch touchscreens and will allow users to print from various locations, such as the web browser, email and more, all without the need of a connection between printer and PC or server.

"As Samsung continues to strive for user-centered innovation, the introduction of the first Android OS-equipped MFPs will enhance Samsung’s smart office experience for business customers and allow for greater multidimensional and advanced printing technologies”, says Dr. KiHo Kim, Executive Vice President of Printing Solutions at Samsung Electronics.

The lineup is called the Smart MultiXpress and will, at least initially, be in the European market, though pricing and availability was not revealed at the event.

Troubleshoot network problems with NetAdapter Repair All in One

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 3:11pm CEST par Mike Williams

NetAdapter Repair All in One If your network isn’t running smoothly then Windows provides a lengthy list of tools which might be able to help. Unfortunately you’ll need to find them, first, and they’re so scattered around -- a console application here, a deeply nested Control Panel dialog there -- that even experts might find that takes a while.

NetAdapter Repair All in One tries to simplify this by providing easy access to a stack of network details and functions from a single straightforward interface.

The program arrives as a 2MB executable, and on launch displays helpful information including host name, local and public IP addresses, MAC address, default gateway, DNS servers and more.

If you’re currently having connectivity problems then "Ping IP" and "Ping DNS" buttons run simple ping operations, reporting their results in a log window.

The program has a stack of other buttons to view or reset your HOSTS file, switch to Google DNS, remove static IP settings (enable DHCP), flush your DNS cache, reset your Internet options, even spoof your MAC address (maybe).

There’s also a full-strength "advanced repair" option which resets Winsock and TCP/ IP, clears proxy and VPN settings and runs a Windows Firewall repair, all in a single operation.

Most of these commands don’t do anything too advanced. The program runs "ipconfig /flushdns" to flush your DNS cache, for example, and "netsh int reset all" to reset TCP/IP. Networking experts can do most of this themselves without difficulty, and novices won’t benefit as they probably won’t know what to click (it takes some background knowledge to understand when DNS cache flushing is a good idea).

We would have liked a few shortcuts to launch key Windows applets, too. It seems a little odd that, even if you only want to launch the Network and Sharing Centre, you have to switch back to Windows to do it.

NetAdapter Repair All in One does have some worthwhile extras, though, and on balance it should save knowledgeable users a little time. Just create a system restore point before you carry out any serious tweaking, in case you need to undo your actions later.

Apple Store 3.0 debuts new universal app for iPad and iPhone, adds new Stores tab

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 3:05pm CEST par Nick Peers

Apple store

Ahead of its latest iPhone event extravaganza, Apple has released a refreshed version of its store app for iOS with the release of Apple Store 3.0, which becomes a universal app for iPhone and iPad.

The universal app replaces the old iPad-only version, and means that iPad users outside the US can now access the Apple Store app on their device. Other changes include the ability to start shopping on one device, then finish on another. Also added is a new Stores tab providing local information based on the user’s current location.

The major change for iOS users is the relaunch of the app in universal format for both iPad and iPhone/iPod touch. This means iPhone and iPod touch users now enjoy the same, minimalist design and "more refined" navigation and imagery as the old (and now defunct) iPad version, which only made its bow last fall, and was restricted to US customers only.

The new release also adds a new Stores tab, which puts users in touch with the stores closest to them. The update is designed to make it easier for Apple to showcase events and workshops at local stores. iPad users can also use this section to make One to One reservations.

As part of a wider Apple Store update, users can now start shopping on one device -- including PC or Mac -- and then finish on another.

The timing of the new app is no doubt deliberate, as it neatly pre-dates Apple’s upcoming iPhone 6 event on 9 September. Apple Store 3.0 is available now as a free download for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch running iOS 7.0 or later.

Web security scanner Netsparker gets a thorough testing

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 3:01pm CEST par Mike Williams

Netsparker

Web security specialist and Microsoft MVP Troy Hunt has published a detailed review of the web security scanner Netsparker.

Hunt tested the application by pointing it at a test site with "about 50 serious security vulnerabilities" and checking exactly what it managed to uncover.

Netsparker’s finished report highlighted 41 items (10 "critical", 5 "important", 4 "medium", 11 "low" and 11 "information") covering SQL injection, cross-site scripting, transfer of key data over http, cookie issues, out-of-date applications, and more.

Hunt praised Netsparker for its ease of use, and a level of detail which saw "a great explanation that’s very easily legible" (the test report is available as a PDF if you’d like to check it out for yourself).

Unsurprisingly the program missed a number of issues, in particular relating to password issues, and the review breaks these down into 8 high risk problems, 2 medium and 2 low.

Hunt concludes that Netsparker and similar tools can save you time, but they’re no magic bullet: you need to properly understand any highlighted vulnerabilities and how to close them correctly.

It’s a helpful review, and worth a read for anyone interested in automated web security testing. If you’d like to try Netsparker for yourself, a demo of the $1.95K/ year full edition is available, but a more limited (though still useful) Netsparker Community Edition is available for free.

Facebook to target emerging markets with ads tailored to connection speeds

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 1:47pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Facebook to target emerging markets with ads tailored to connection speeds

Equality for all is a utopian ideal, but Facebook has plans to treat its users differently depending on where in the world they are. Specifically, the social network plans to change the way adverts are delivered to people based upon the speed of their internet connection. In a blog post drearily entitled "In High-Growth Countries, Reaching People Based on How they Connect", product marketing manager Brendan Sullivan reveals details of the plans which will make better use of available bandwidth.

Facebook has analyzed internet usage in developing, growing nations, and determined that the majority of people in these areas get online via mobile networks. The speed of connections can vary greatly from place to place leading to a huge variation in experiences. Mark Zuckerberg is already involved in projects designed to help get more people online, but the company is also concerned about keeping advertisers happy. "High-growth countries" offer great potential for income streams, and companies need to be sure that their ads are being seen by the people they target.

Rather than responding to users' concerns, the new initiative sees Facebook responding to advertisers' requests for "the ability to segment based on network connection type would help them create better ad experiences". What does this mean in practice? As the blog post points out, trying to deliver a video ad to someone accessing Facebook on their phone with a 2G connection is going to be a fruitless exercise -- few people are going to hang about and wait for the video to load. Instead, Facebook plans to detect the speed of the connection that is in use and deliver picture ads or even just a link if it is found to be slow. It allows advertisers to avoid advertising products and services that require a higher speed connection to people in areas with poor internet speeds.

It's something that's already being used to great effect by Vodafone in India. Senior Vice President, Brand Communication, Insights and Online, Ronita Mitra said: "We are excited about the new mobile targeting option on Facebook which allows us sharper targeting to a relevant audience. We hope to see more such technology innovations across the industry".

The "bandwidth targeting" feature is available to use now with the Ad Create tool, Power Editor and the API. To allay any concerns about privacy, Facebook emphasizes the fact that any data used in ad targeting is completely anonymized.

The app fraud people should be aware of

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 1:44pm CEST par Shlomy Aviram

Mobile device apps

In any fast growing and competitive market there are pressures which can sometimes lead people to undertake controversial practices to gain an edge, or put simply, cheat to get ahead. The app promotion market is a prime example of these pressures in action.

Increasingly, bots that create fake click and install IDs have been deployed to boost apps "popularity". This is much more than simply mixing incentivized and non-incentivized traffic to grow volumes and lowers costs; it is clearly fraud.

It makes up one of a growing list of fraudulent practices that are infecting the app market but are seldom discussed. For example, in the case of Android, the open source code has been exploited to "steal" downloads.

By copying an Android app's open code and creating an APK file out of it, you can essentially "own" the whole code within the app including, crucially, the tracking code. This APK code can then be linked to a website to create a self-standing "app store", with real apps, detached from the real Google Play store. Fraudsters have recently taken this practice to the next level, now not only do they make money from downloads and in-app purchases, but also from hijacking the genuine marketing campaign for the app from an affiliate program.

The Defense

The question is therefore: How can the developer community fight back and counter these fraudulent practices? The first step is to understand the risks involved when bringing an app to market. Beta testing, impressions requests and constructive feedback are all necessary parts of the development process. Unfortunately at any one of these stages someone can steal the idea, resources, theories or code that underpins the app. To minimize these risks, it is essential to only work with trusted media sources and partner with tracking services that offer transparency and can validate users and tracked installs (particularly between installs from tracking solution and the app store).

By shoring up development processes it will make it much more difficult for fraudsters to misappropriate proprietary app data. However, the history of fraud in any market can be characterized as an arms race. As people fight back, fraudsters become more sophisticated. To break this cycle, developers and companies need to discuss the fraudulent practices they have experienced openly and share their insights. Common knowledge and experience will help the developer community to counter fraudsters and predict practices that could emerge in the future.

At the moment, there is a reluctance to talk about fraud as a problem within the app development community. Until these practices are all out in the open and subjected to vigorous debate they will continue to thrive and developers, companies and users will lose out.

Shlomy Aviram is the director of mobile apps & social media at dmg DSNR media group.

Image Credit: logolord / Shutterstock

Apple takes steps to increase iCloud security post-Fappening

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 1:00pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Apple takes steps to increase iCloud security post-Fappening

It's not a phrase that Apple is using, but the Fappening is a word that very quickly entered the popular lexicon. Once the excitement and titillation factor died down after hundreds of private celebrity photos were leaked on the infamous 4chan (now with added DMCA policy!), attention turned to just how it fappened. Sorry, happened. Attention focused on Apple's security, and the company said it was undertaking an investigation into what it described as a targeted attack. CEO Tim Cook says that new account alerts are to be added to iCloud to help tighten security.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal about the incident, Cook explained that celebrity accounts had been accessed as a result of phishing scams as well as hackers working out the answers to account security questions. He stressed the company's previous statement that there had not been a security breach and that no passwords had been leaked. Apple, like many other firms, offers a two-factor authentication option, but additional security measures will be introduced.

In the next couple of weeks, iCloud users will start to receive emails and push notifications when an attempt is made to change an account password, when someone tries to restore iCloud data to another device, and when a new device tries to access the account. With just days to go until the unveiling of the iPhone 6, Apple will be keen to divert attention from events such as the photo leaks. While the company is taking steps to bolster account security, Cook also acknowledges that there's more to be done:

When I step back from this terrible scenario that happened and say what more could we have done, I think about the awareness piece. I think we have a responsibility to ratchet that up. That's not really an engineering thing.

It's not yet clear what form facing up to this responsibility will take, but Apple is planning to push two-factor authentication to users more in the future.

Do you think Apple is doing enough? Will the introduction of push notifications really help to improve security?

Trustwave ethical hacking lab looks to counter hidden threats

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 12:57pm CEST par Ian Barker

Hacker detection

Security exploits aren't always aimed at computers or mobile devices. Often they target the infrastructure devices like ATMs and point of sale terminals that we take for granted in our everyday lives.

In order to protect against these threats, enterprise security specialist Trustwave has announced that it's enhancing its capabilities with the opening of an ethical hacking lab at the company’s Chicago HQ.

The lab's aim is to uncover weaknesses in devices like ATMs, point of sale keypads and security cameras that are regularly used by businesses but which may have hidden security flaws. By uncovering these problems ethical hacking can help companies take action before it's too late.

It can carry out assessments to determine if an existing device has been compromised as well as carrying out penetration testing for businesses to uncover potential problems in devices before they’re put to use.

The lab is also being used to carry out studies following security breaches to identify how the criminals broke in and which details have been compromised. It's currently working on a credit card skimmer planted at gas pumps to steal payment information.

If you've ever wondered what ethical hacking looks like, Trustwave has created a video to give you an insight. To be honest it looks pretty much like we expected it to, right down to the hairstyles.

Photo Credit: ra2studio / Shutterstock

Windows Phone 8.1 available now for AT&T Nokia Lumia 920, 820

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 12:21pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone 8.1

Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 are the oldest Nokia-branded Windows Phone 8 devices, being announced two years ago. The former was the Finnish company's flagship, until Lumia 925 came along, while the latter was introduced as a mid-ranger, succeeded only now by Lumia 830. The good news is that, despite their age, they continue to receive software updates, a reassuring sign, no doubt, for platform enthusiasts.

Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 have already started to receive a software update to Windows Phone 8.1 in many markets across the globe, but the much-awaited version of the tiled operating system is only now making its way to the AT&T-branded models.

Windows Phone 8.1 is available through the Lumia Cyan firmware, which rolling out to AT&T's customers, which also brings along with it a number of software tweaks and new and updated apps. For more information on it, check out this article which details all the major Lumia Cyan changes.

Of course, the star of the show is Windows Phone 8.1. I have reviewed the new tiled operating system, albeit without the benefits provided by Lumia Cyan, on my Lumia 920 -- you can read my detailed findings here.

According to AT&T, the software update comes in at about 450 MB. Due to the way Windows Phone 8 works, it can only be applied via Wi-Fi. To apply it, open the Settings menu, then the phone update submenu, tap on the check for updates button, wait for the update option to be revealed and hit install.

Photo Credit: Mihaita Bamburic

The evolution of the computer -- from 1613 to 2013

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 12:04pm CEST par Wayne Williams

IBM My first computer was the Sinclair ZX81 which, unsurprisingly, came out in 1981. It had 1kB of memory (but this could be expanded with the addition of a 16kB RAM pack) and a monochrome display. Compare that machine with today’s computers and tablets (and smartphones for that matter), and the advancement is clearly staggering.

The history of the computer is littered with milestones. In 1822 Charles Babbage began work on the Difference Engine, the first automatic computing engine. In 1936 Alan Turing submitted a paper describing a device that could be programmed using symbols on tape. In 1953 IBM released the first mass-produced commercial computer, and in 1976 Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak created the Apple I.

Ebuyer has put together an infographic detailing the history of the computer from the origins of the word to the introduction of modern-day tablets. While most of the major firsts and important moments are included, some are missing (such as any reference to the home micro boom of the 1980s).

The Infographic offers up plenty of interesting nuggets of information, including that IBM’s first PC, the IBM 5150 PC, cost $1,565 at launch, which is equivalent to approximately $4,010 in today's money.

It's a very interesting read that makes you appreciate just how far things have come, particularly in recent years.

What was your very first computer?

ebuyer The Evoloution of the Computer FINAL

Meet Motorola's new Moto X, G, 360

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 11:29am CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

motorola-gives-you-the-power-to-choose

Motorola managed to really impress with last year's Moto X and Moto G. The two smartphones have shown time and time again that they do not need heavily-customized software, large screens or the fastest hardware around to stand out from the rest of the pack. They successfully targeted different parts of the market -- the former has gone after flagship buyers while the latter has sought to attract consumers on a budget -- in a different, impactful way, relying on the appeal of the overall package to tell their story. But, no matter how good they might have been, Moto X and Moto G are clearly showing their age.

Today, Motorola is relieving the pair of their leading roles, as it unveils the new Moto X and Moto G (the 2014 editions, if you will). The names might be the same, but the latest offerings are new inside out.

Customization is the headline feature of the new Moto X. Buyers will be able to get it both in standard as well as Moto Maker trims, the latter of which can include wood, Horween leather and different, more exotic color options, and, if you want, even a signature. There is another difference between the two lines, and that is the amount of storage you get. The off-the-shelf Moto X offers 16 GB, while the Moto Maker version gives you 32 GB.

Here are the main hardware features: 5.2-inch OLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and a resolution of 1,080 by 1,920; 2.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor; 2 GB of RAM; 2,300 mAh battery; 13 MP main camera with dual LED flash, F/2.25 aperture and 4K video recording; 2 MP secondary camera with 1080p video recording; Wi-Fi 802.11ac; Bluetooth 4.0 LE (Low Energy); front-facing and rear speakers; size of 140.8 x 72.4 x 9.97 mm and weight of 144 grams.

As we have come to expect from Motorola, Moto X runs the latest-available version of Android (4.4.4 KitKat) with some software customizations in tow. Among the new tweaks are a feature which allows Moto X to behave differently depending on the context (hands-free mode in the car, silent mode in a meeting, says Motorola) and an option to customize the voice prompt.

New Moto X

The new Moto X kicks off at $99.99 with a two-year contract in US. The off-contract price is $499.99. The company's flagship will be available in North and Latin America, Europe and Asia starting later in September. The Moto Maker version adds $50 to the cost.

The new Moto G (shown in the photo at the top), on the other hand, offers similar software benefits, but in a much more affordable and, of course, less powerful package. It comes in three versions: SS, DS and DS DTV (Single SIM, Dual SIM and Dual SIM Digital TV, respectively), which mainly differ in the amount of storage they offer.

No matter which one you get, the following features remain the same: 5-inch display with a resolution of 720 by 1,280; 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor; 1 GB of RAM; 2,070 mAh battery; 8 MP main camera; 2 MP secondary camera; microSD card slot; two front-facing speakers; Wi-Fi 802.11ac; Bluetooth 4.0 LE; physical dimensions of 141.5 x 70.7 x 10.99 mm and weight of 149 grams. It also runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat.

The SS and DS DTV versions can only be had with 8 GB and 16 GB of internal storage, respectively, while the DS version can be purchased in either of the two storage trims.

The new Moto G will be available much sooner. It goes on sale today in US, as well as Brazil, France, Germany, Spain and UK, at 11 am CT, for as little as $179.99. Motorola says it will be available in more locations via select mobile operators by year's end.

Moto 360 is a known product by now. The Android Wear-based smartwatch has a rounded design, metal case, leather strap, all-day battery life per Motorola's estimates.

Moto 360 can deliver notifications and allow users to track their activity, features customizable faces and supports voice commands, as its main software features. It, like the new Moto G, also goes on sale today.

Available trims at launch are black leather and gray leather with suede finish (limited edition in the latter's case). The price is $249.99. The all-metal versions will cost $50 more ($299.99) when they go on sale later this fall. The metal band costs $79.99, and will also be available later this fall, while the leather band is less expensive at $29.99.

Alongside the new Moto X, Moto G and Moto 360, Motorola also introduced the $149.99 Moto Hint (available later this fall) and $99.99 Power Pack Micro (available today). The former is a wireless headset while the latter is a portable battery that can be attached to a keychain.

Privacy and financial threats top mobile malware trends

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 11:22am CEST par Ian Barker

malware mobile

With mobile malware showing a 68 percent increase over the first half of last year it seems that, as with the PC malware field, profit is the main driving force behind it.

New data released by security specialist NQ Mobile shows that infections were detected in 37.5 million Android devices in NQ Mobile's database of 136 million active user accounts worldwide, an increase of 78.6 percent over last year.

Some 62 percent of this malware falls into categories that aim to generate financial gain for the people behind it. Often this is through premium rate scams or data overcharges. NQ Mobile has also uncovered a new strain of encryption malware for Android.

Called 'Simpelocker,' the Trojan is packaged with genuine Android apps and infects the devices of unsuspecting users downloading the APK file from apps in third-party markets. Once installed, the app requests permissions to perform a variety of actions like writing to external storage devices. The Trojan can also scan the SD card for specific file types like photos and documents and attempt to encrypt them.

Privacy is another issue with 11 percent of mobile threats coming from a genuine or malicious app with the ability to gather and leak personal information without the device user’s knowledge or consent. This information can then be shared or sold on the dark web to cybercriminals who will attempt to use social engineering tactics to gain access to the consumer’s finances. Apps like 'Fake Play' which poses as the Google Play store can be used to intercept user data in the background.

Server side botnets remain a major concern too thanks to their ability to control infected devices and download more malicious material from a remote host.

You can read more on NQ Mobile's blog and there's a summary of the company's findings in infographic form below.

NQ_infographic—Mobile-Malware-Trends-1H2014

Image Credit: Paul Michael Hughes/Shutterstock

Fans already lining up for the iPhone 6 in New York

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 10:33am CEST par Darren Allan

iphone_6_concept_contentfullwidth

Never mind the on-sale date, the next-gen iPhone won't even be revealed until next week, and yet already people are queuing outside Apple's New York flagship store to be first in line to purchase the phone(s).

In fact, the first people in line (well, they were first -- we'll explain in a moment), cousins Brian Ceballo and Joseph Cruz, told CNBC that they've been in line at the Fifth Avenue store since Sunday night, well over a week before the launch.

They will have a total wait time of 20 days, they say, which will beat the current record of 17 days waiting -- but they aren't doing this purely for that reason. The pair are also being sponsored by a company that buys second-hand mobiles in the US, and indeed they're actually numbers three and four in the queue now -- as they sold their top spots to Jason and Moon Ray for $1250 (£760) apiece.

The Rays stumped up to be first in order to get on camera and snag air-time to promote their app (Jason should really change his name to Manta, though, we reckon).

As has been the case for a while now, it's no longer major Apple fanboys at the front of the line, but those who want to make money or promote a product or brand in some way.

Apple will reveal its new iPhone 6 (which is due to come in two versions -- a 4.7in handset and 5.5in phablet) next Tuesday 9 September. A digital wallet is also coming alongside the device(s), according to the latest speculation.

Hands-on with Microsoft's Lumia 830 -- 'the budget flagship'

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 8:37am CEST par Paul Cooper

lumia_830_hands_on_smaller_fullwidth

Microsoft-owned Nokia has just released the latest in its Lumia range of smartphones, the Lumia 830, promising "the world's first budget flagship" with a no-compromises experience and "completely hassle-free photography," all for just €330.

So how does the new Lumia hold up? We go hands on to find out.

Design

The design of the Lumia 830 follows Nokia's now-classic bright luminous chassis design, with an attractive curve to the edges of the screens.

The edges of the phone are plastic, as are the buttons around the outside -- though the black plate has a pleasing matte finish that is pleasant to hold. The phone has the same sharp-edged design as its predecessors, too. It might not be as thin as some phones out there, measuring in at 139.4 x 70.7 x 8.5 mm, but it's pretty light at 150g, and feels very comfortable in the hand.

Display

The display of the Nokia Lumia 830 is one of the areas where Nokia has made the savings on price that give the 830 its bottomed-out price tag. The 5in screen has a fairly low resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels for a total pixel density of 294 pixels per inch -- much lower than many smartphones on the market today.

However, the screen never looks budget or unclear, and my first impression was that Microsoft and Nokia have found a good medium, where the screen is just about good enough. There's a slightly weird effect where the photos taken by the powerful camera of the 830 can't actually be viewed in full resolution on the phone itself due to the low resolution screen, but you shouldn't let that put you off. It's still a very decent screen, and the low resolution will also help conserve battery life. The glass also integrates Nokia's ClearBlack tech, which reduces the reflectivity to improve sunlight legibility.

lumia_830_hands_on_2_fullwidth

Camera

The Lumia series is known for its cameras, and the Lumia 830 seeks to bring that to bear on a shoestring. The 10-megapixel rear cameras, with Nokia's optical image stabilization, autofocus and LED flash, can shoot impressively sharp images, and 1080p Full-HD video.

There are also a number of cool features, such as an action mode that allows you to rewind and pause the video easily, even taking high quality stills from it. There's also a function that allows you to add flash to a photo, and worked amazingly well in demonstrations.

Disappointingly, the front camera is only 0.9-megapixels, but the other features of the phone still make it a great photography experience.

lumia_830_hands_on_4_fullwidth

Under the hood

The Nokia Lumia 830 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chip, with a Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 processor and 1GB of RAM. That's not as powerful as a lot of phones on the market right now. The Nexus 5, for instance, comes in at significantly cheaper than the 830, and has 2GB of RAM.

I found that opening a number of games on the phone took a little while, the loading of a standard game taking maybe ten seconds. Playing more demanding games or running processor-heavy apps would probably end up slowing this phone down quite a lot, especially as it gets older.

Verdict

Nokia has come up with a very respectable budget handset, but it has poured lavish attention on the camera at the expense of some of the other features that make a phone worth using.

While the 10-megapixel rear camera will impress photography fans who don't want to shell out for one of the more expensive Lumias, people who want a better all-round phone and don't care much about the camera should just go for a Nexus 5.

Netflix throws support behind FCC proposal to increase broadband competition

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 4:48am CEST par Alan Buckingham

TV cat Netflix

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'll state the obvious. Broadband in the US is broken. In fact, it's a complete mess. Speeds lag behind multiple smaller nations and providers were granted monopolies in many cases, thanks to complaining about the expense of laying the copper. At best, most citizens have access to two carriers -- that's one more than many, including yours truly.

Competition doesn't exist, but the oft-maligned head of the Federal Communications Commission, Tom Wheeler, wishes to change that. While his net neutrality initiative has been met with staunch opposition, this latest move may win him a few fans.

One of those new found friends just happens to be Netflix, which has spoken out against the net neutrality proposal. However, the streaming service is in full support of this, and with good reason, as folks need to have alternatives.

According to Netflix's Christoper Libertelli "Nearly everything we do today requires an Internet connection. Its persistent, increasing presence in our lives makes today's comments by FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler all the more important. If the future of broadband competition is 'inexorably tied' to America's economic opportunity, how can we settle for a situation where nearly three-quarters of Americans lack a competitive choice for fast Internet service?"

Wheeler spoke out during an address earlier which was titled "Agenda for Broadband Competition", stating the real facts -- chiefly that there isn't enough competition in the market to protect consumers. That's certainly a fact, and one we all live with on a daily basis. We can only hope this move gains traction.

Gentoo Linux 20140826 Iron Penguin Edition -- open source fans, download now!

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 2:46am CEST par Brian Fagioli

frontpage

There are so many Linux distributions to choose from. Depending on your perspective, this can be a good or bad thing. You see, for many, using Linux is about choice -- you get to choose the distro, packages and environment. There is truth to this; however, many others, including myself, often wonder if the community's efforts are too fragmented. In other words, when talent is spread thin, progress may be slowed.

One distro which should not be discussed in this debate is Gentoo; it has been around for 12 years and is not some recently launched project. Hell, Google chose this distro as the base for Chrome OS, so it must be good; seriously, the search-giant's operating system is pretty darn stable. Gentoo Linux has reached version 20140826 and it looks like a winner.

"Gentoo Linux is proud to announce the availability of a new LiveDVD to celebrate the continued collaboration between Gentoo users and developers. The LiveDVD is available in two flavors: a hybrid x86/x86_64 version, and an x86_64 multi lib version. The livedvd-x86-amd64-32ul-20140826 version will work on 32-bit x86 or 64-bit x86_64. If your CPU architecture is x86, then boot with the default gentoo kernel. If your arch is amd64, boot with the gentoo64 kernel. This means you can boot a 64-bit kernel and install a customized 64-bit user land while using the provided 32-bit user land. The livedvd-amd64-multilib-20140826 version is for x86_64 only", says Fernando Orocu, Build Lead.

Orocu highlights the following packages:

Linux Kernel 3.15.6
Xorg 1.16.0
KDE 4.13.3
Gnome 3.12.2
XFCE 4.10
Fluxbox 1.3.5
LXQT Desktop 0.7.0
i3 Desktop 2.8
Firefox 31.0
LibreOffice 4.2.5.2
Gimp 2.8.10-r1
Blender 2.71-r1
Amarok 2.8.0-r2
Chromium

As you can see, this is using a very recent kernel and modern versions of the popular KDE and Gnome environments. Plus, software like LibreOffice, Gimp and Chromium make this a smart choice for anyone wanting a fully-functional computing experience. While not as popular as Ubuntu or Mint, Gentoo definitely has a higher cool-factor and using it gives you instant Linux-credibility.

If you want to try it, you can download the x64 version here and the x86 version here. If you are not using an x64 processor, maybe it is time for an upgrade -- I highly recommend the AMD AM1 platform, as featured here.

Twitpic is closing. You have three weeks to grab your photos and videos

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 2:28am CEST par Mark Wilson

Twitpic is closing. You have three weeks to grab your photos and videos Image and video sharing service Twitpic is closing its doors. Threatened with loss of access to the Twitter API if the company refused to abandon a trademark application, Twitpic has decided it does not have enough clout to take on the microblogging giant. Twitpic founder Noah Everett used a blog post to break the news and give a little background to help explain the move. He stressed that the closure was a difficult decision and thanked users for their support.

The problem seems to stem from Twitpic's name. Everett explains that the company was contacted by Twitter a few weeks ago and asked to give up on the trademark application. The timing is a little strange because, as Everett points out, Twitpic's name has been in use since 2008, and the trademark application was filed the following year. The company managed to fight opposition from some parties, but it seems as though Twitter dealt the killer blow.

During the "published for opposition" phase of the trademark is when Twitter reached out to our counsel and implied we could be denied access to their API if we did not give up our mark. Unfortunately we do not have the resources to fend off a large company like Twitter to maintain our mark which we believe whole-heartedly is rightfully ours. Therefore, we have decided to shut down Twitpic.

Talking to Fast Company, a Twitter representative said:

We're sad to see Twitpic is shutting down. We encourage developers to build on top of the Twitter service, as Twitpic has done for years, and we made it clear that they could operate using the Twitpic name. Of course, we also have to protect our brand, and that includes trademarks tied to the brand.

Twitpic will close down on September 25. At some point between now and then an export feature will be launched to allow users to grab all of their media files.

Will you mourn the loss of Twitpic? Do you have an alternative lined up?

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Google’s Android One rollout in India sets off alarm bells at Samsung

Publié: septembre 5, 2014, 2:20am CEST par Jamie Hinks

taj-mahal

Google and Samsung look all set to battle it out for India’s burgeoning smartphone market after three Indian phone producers signed up to the Android One initiative that targets growth at the low end of the emerging market.

Micromax Infomatics, Karbonn Mobile and Spice Group have become the first manufacturers to sign up to Google’s new initiative that wants to drive an improvement in quality that will spark demand for low-end Android handsets.

Android One gives manufacturers specifications for key hardware parts and one of the major reasons for the initiative is to bring a stock Android to devices that takes over from customized versions that make apps on current phones prone to errors.

The situation could see Samsung become something of a fall guy as it has Apple targeting it at the top end of the market in China and various other markets plus now Google hitting it at the bottom end.

“A major threat for Samsung is that Android One will accelerate the race to the bottom on smartphone pricing". said Neil Mawston, a UK-based analyst at Strategy Analytics, according to Reuters. "Android One now makes Google a foe, not just a friend, for Samsung".

Samsung currently leads the way in India’s smartphone market, however, its vice-like grip weakened during Q2 2014 and saw its share drop from 33.3 per cent to 25.3 per cent as Micromax, in second place, increased from 16.7 per cent to 19.1 per cent.

It has all led analysts to suggest a complete strategy rethink for Samsung products in the low to mid range bracket could be in order and if Android One proves a success in India it could target Samsung in other markets.

"Samsung needs to figure out whether it's going to stay in [the] market at the lower end and come lower or whether it’s going to maybe focus on higher level segments," said Rachel Lashford, analyst at Canalys.

Part of that plan could involve adopting Android One for its own low-end handsets and thus benefit from the high quality experience that Google wants the OS to deliver.

Targeting India’s market is a very deliberate strategy by Google given that Counterpart Research estimates made earlier this year showed that annual shipment revenues will hit $20 billion [£12 billion] by 2017 -- a rise of almost 50 per cent compared to the $14 billion [£8.5 billion] this year.

Google expects the handsets sold as part of the Android One program will be priced under 6,000 rupees [£60] though various local media reports stated this will actually be closer to falling between 7,000 rupees [£70] and 10,000 rupees [£100], ot around $163.

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