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• 

  Google Compare tracks down cheap car insurance for US drivers

  Publié: mars 5, 2015, 9:28pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Referred to variously as Google Compare for U.S. car insurance, Google Compare for car insurance, and Google Compare for Auto Insurance, Google has just added a new string to its bow. The newly launched service lets drivers hunt down the best car insurance deal -- something which UK Googlers have been able to take advantage of for a little while already.

  After handing over a few details like address, vehicle stats and the level of coverage required, Google will compare all of the available policies so you can pick the one that suits you the best. Don’t like a quote? Just increase the deductible and a new deal will be calculated for you.

  Google Compare is not a completely new service -- Google already provides a way to seek out the best credit card deal -- but the move into car insurance is new and it's a great alternative to manually visiting the websites of dozens of individual insurers. Having gained a quote, you can stick with the online approach and click through to the insurer's website to complete the process, or you can phone up and provide a reference code if you need to speak to someone before parting with your cash.

  Google already has a number of national and local insurance firms on board, including MetLife and Mercury, and more will be added over time. The insurance comparison service launches in California to start with, and there are plans to expand it to other states in the future.  To get your quote, head over to Google Compare Auto Insurance.

  
• 

  Microsoft launches Office 2016 Mac Preview

  Publié: mars 5, 2015, 8:30pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Microsoft is all about software previews these days. We've seen various preview builds of Windows 10 and Windows 10 for Phones, and now it's time for the next version of Office for Mac. Today Microsoft released Office 2016 Mac Preview, giving Mac users a chance to try out the next version of the office suite ahead of its full launch.

  As with the Windows version of Office, and in keeping with the new focus of Microsoft, there's a strong emphasis on the cloud. OneDrive, OneDrive for Business and SharePoint can be used to sync documents between devices, and Microsoft is keen to point out that this is more than just a straight port of PC Office -- the suite has been Mac-ified.

  A redesigned ribbon can be found across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook, and the whole UI has been designed to take full advantage of Retina displays. Mac-specific features? Apart from full screen mode, there's also "little Mac affordances like scroll bounce," says Microsoft. But there are lots of new features and improvements to look for in the individual apps.

  OneNote has been quite a success story for Microsoft, and the note organization tool receives a welcome update in Office 2016 for Mac. We've already seen Outlook for Mac as a standalone app, but it's also part of the suite. The app everyone knows Office for, Word, gains features such as threaded commenting, while Excel benefits from new data analysis options. PowerPoint gains, among other things, new transitions and an animation builder.

  If you fancy taking the office suite for a spin, you can download it here -- as ever, your feedback is encouraged.

  
• 

  Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.1 is here

  Publié: mars 5, 2015, 7:42pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  Linux is so much more than nerdy guys tinkering in their mom's basement. While those people exist, major companies such as Google and Intel contribute to the project too. Why? Linux is essential for servers and other business cases too.

  Red Hat is one of the most successful Linux-focused companies, and for good reason; their enterprise-class distro, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), is rock solid, and more importantly, its support is legendary. Today, Red Hat announces the latest version -- RHEL 7.1.

  "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.1 offers improved development and deployment tools, enhanced interoperability and manageability, and additional security and performance features. As with all releases of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, these enhancements are delivered over a stable, secure, 10-year lifecycle backed by Red Hat’s award-winning global support", says Red Hat.

  Jim Totton, VP, Red Hat explains, "the enhancements to the world's leading enterprise Linux platform offered by Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.1, as well as the new offerings based on the update, deliver a flexible, reliable, secure and performant [sic] platform that works across nearly every industry use case, from container adoption and rapid application development to time-sensitive trading applications and systems based on IBM Power Systems architecture".

  A notable addition to RHEL 7.1 is the return of the Thunderbird email client. Apparently, it was pulled from RHEL 7, causing an issue for users upgrading from version 6. Luckily, Red Hat listens to customers, and now all is right in the world.

  Also updated is OpenJDK which sees an update from version 7 to 8. Libreoffice, the venerable office suite gets an update too.

  You can read more about what is new in RHEL 7.1 here.

  Will your company upgrade right away? Tell me in the comments.

  
• 

  Adobe gives up, asks others to find its security flaws

  Publié: mars 5, 2015, 7:20pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  Adobe's security woes are well known, with major flaws plaguing Flash and other apps from the company. The software maker has now opted for an open approach to its problems, asking for users to begin searching for bugs in the software.

  This is likely the best route to take. Independent security researchers have always found and reported the flaws and some companies pay a bounty for this information. Now Adobe is taking a similar approach, asking everyone to help out.

  "In recognition of the important role that independent security researchers play in keeping Adobe customers safe, today Adobe launches a web application vulnerability disclosure program on the HackerOne platform", Adobe's Pieter Ockers says.

  The HackerOne platform allows the users to earn a reputation score based on the bugs discovered. A dedicated page has been set up at [https:].

  "Adobe continues to welcome the coordinated disclosure of security issues affecting desktop products and enterprise on-premise solutions by notifying our Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT@adobe.com)", Ockers concludes. So get out there and start helping to fix these vulnerabilities that seem all too common.

  Photo credit: NatBasil / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Acer refreshes Chromebox CXI with Intel Core i3, 4K video and up to 8GB RAM

  Publié: mars 5, 2015, 7:01pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  Chrome OS is a bit limited, but functional enough for many users. You see, many people do all of their computing on the web nowadays, making a browser-focused Chromebook or Chromebox a smart choice. Unfortunately, Chome OS has also become synonymous with low cost and low specs. This is partly due to the misunderstanding that the operating system is only a browser; it's not. Google's OS is a full Linux distro running a browser, and it needs all the power it can get.

  Today, Acer announces a refresh to the Chromebox CXI, which should make people say "finally", with a sigh of relief. Intel Core i3, 8GB of RAM and 4K output -- this is the machine Chrome fans have been waiting for.

  "Powered by an Intel Core i3 4030U processor (3MB Intel Smart Cache, 1.90GHz), the Chromebox CXI provides enough speed for fueling multiple projects simultaneously and leveraging HD video and applications. This fourth generation processor offers more power, performance and energy efficiency than prior platforms", says Acer.

  

  The company further explains, "the CXI comes outfitted with up to 8GB of DDR3 1600Mhz memory and Intel HD graphics. An array of connectivity options include 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 and Gigabit Ethernet as well as four USB 3.0 ports including two with power off charging for smartphones and tablets. It supports up to a 32GB SD card for accessing photos from other devices. Via HDMI and DisplayPort, it also provides video and content to external displays and HDTVs. The systems are powered by a 65W AC adapter and bundled with a VESA mount kit and a Google approved USB keyboard and mouse".

  These machines are available immediately, and pricing is actually quite reasonable given the specs. The 4GB model (CXI-i34GKM) is $349, while the 8GB model (CXI-i38GKM) is only $50 more at $399. While 4GB is sufficient for Chrome OS, I would suggest splurging on 8GB. If you plan on owning the machine for a few years, you will be glad that you did.

  While this will likely make a good machine for traditional Linux ditros too, such as Ubuntu and Fedora, it is probably best to stick with Chrome OS here. After all, more open Linux machines are already available, and if you want a small form factor, you should take a look at the System76 Meerkat too.

  Will you buy the refreshed Acer Chromebox CXI? Tell me in the comments.

  
• 

  ZTE launches a new range of fitness-focused smartwatches

  Publié: mars 5, 2015, 4:58pm CET par David Curry

  

  ZTE has launched three new smartwatches at Mobile World Congress this week, in an attempt to win over three of the sub-markets interested in wearables: runners, fitness trackers and health nuts.

  The Venus G1 will feature a GPS chip made for runners, giving them detailed map information and routes. The Venus S2 will feature all of the fitness stats on its own operating system. The ZTE Business Intelligence Watch (excellent name by the way) will work similarly to the Withings Activité, sending health information back to a smartphone app.

  It's claimed all three of the smartwatches will offer higher battery life than the normal Android Wear watch, in exchange for no touch-screen functionality. It works as a feeder for a mobile app, rather than offering any services on its own.

  ZTE is using the same tactic Withings has popularized, but it is still unknown whether people want to give up the touch-screen features and some sensors for an arguably better looking watch.

  The ZTE smartwatches are not especially impressive, making the argument against owning an Android Wear smartwatch or the Apple Watch all to do with battery life and watch usage.

  One feature ZTE does have an advantage on is health information, since it has partnered with some of the leading health companies to offer more tracking for fitness and health nuts.

  On the Venus G1, the battery life is sorely lacking any real oomph, but it does come with GPS tracking and other fitness features to make up for the lack of touch-screen.

  Prices were not disclosed, but the ZTE smartwatches will launch in China on Q2 2015. No word on whether it will come to Europe or the US.

  Image Credit: Wearable

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

  
• 

  ASUS RP-AC52 Dual-Band Wireless Range Extender: An affordable solution to patchy Wi-Fi [Review]

  Publié: mars 5, 2015, 3:56pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  My home broadband connection is a speedy (up to) 152Mbps, and when I’m downloading on a PC connected to the router, I get impressive speeds. But because the router is in the basement (where my home office is), accessing the internet in other rooms via Wi-Fi is often flaky and unreliable. At times I can’t connect at all.

  I’ve boosted the connection with multiple TP-Link 300Mbps Universal Wi-Fi Range Extenders and while that’s helped, the truth is the end result is still far from great. ASUS’s RP-AC52, an 802.11ac concurrent dual-band wireless range extender, looks to be a suitable solution to my woes -- but is it?

  The device is easy to set up and you have two options. Plug it into a power socket close to your wireless router and you can connect through the GUI (launch a browser and go to [repeater.asus.com]) or use WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), which is the simpler option.

  Once it’s set up, you can move the device to a new location. This should be the halfway point between the router and the location where you’re struggling to get a good signal. There are signal indicators for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands and one or both bands need at least two (preferably three -- the maximum) signal indicator lights on. Anything less you’ll have to move the range extender elsewhere.

  If you only have lights on for the 2.4GHz band it’s likely your router doesn’t support the 5GHz band or you have a very weak signal.

  The range extender has 2x 2.4GHz and 1x 5GHz internal MIMO antenna and promises speeds of up to 300Mbps (802.11n -- 2.4 GHz) and 433Mbps (802.11ac -- 5GHz). Depending on what equipment you connect to your wireless network you’ll obviously receive speeds far less than that in the real world.

  There’s a 10/100 base-T RJ-45 socket and also an audio out jack built into the device. The latter lets you connect a speaker or sound system, and if you download the free ASUS AiPlayer app (for Android and iOS) you can control playback from your smartphone or tablet. The range extender also has built-in support for internet radio, and you can manage your favorite stations through the app or the router's GUI.

  Finally, there a built-in night light that you can turn on or off by touching the bottom of the range extender face. The same spot can also turn playing music on or off.

  So did the RP-AC52 fix my problems? Yes. In a room where I’ve always had patchy Wi-Fi and was only able to get speeds of 10Mbps (on the 2.4GHz band) from the router alone, connecting the range extender boosted the speed to 54Mbps and the connection has yet to drop. In a room where I’ve rarely been able to connect to Wi-Fi, I had no problems establishing a pretty solid connection and speeds of 28Mbps.

  If you have patchy and unreliable Wi-Fi it’s a great solution, and based on personal experience I’d definitely recommend it.

  The ASUS RP-AC52 Dual-Band Wireless-AC750 Range Extender costs £61.67 (including free delivery) from Ebuyer.

  Photo Credit: Wayne Williams

  
• 

  Logitech unveils the G303 Daedalus Apex gaming mouse

  Publié: mars 5, 2015, 2:51pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  While many users likely don't give much thought to the computer mouse, there is a segment of the population that cares a great deal -- travelers want portable and gamers tend to look for fast response times, extra buttons to control things and a bit of bling to go along with it. After all, if you invest in a computer from, say, Alienware then you'll want a mouse that matches up with that tower case.

  The mouse is an area of computing in which Logitech excels, designing several top products, including the specialty models. Now the company is introducing the latest member of its family, the G303 Daedalus Apex.

  "We listened to the gaming enthusiast and eSports community, and built this mouse based on their feedback. It includes our most accurate optical sensor and our exclusive metal spring button tensioning system in a very lightweight design", the company states. The mouse also contains six programmable buttons and works with all versions of Windows from Vista forward.

  As for that bling part, well that's covered also. LED lights on the sides of the mouse can be activated and Logitech claims there are 16.8 million colors to choose from, so customers can match that glowing case.

  Availability has not been announced, but it is up for pre-order directly from Logitech. It will set you back $69.99, but if you paid a small fortune for a gaming PC then that's only a drop in the bucket.

  
• 

  Most consumers don't even know VR devices exist

  Publié: mars 5, 2015, 1:49pm CET par Mihaita Bamburic

  

  It's easy to believe that consumers are paying attention to VR technology when the media loves to write so much about it. We read quite frequently about new headsets, new cool things they make possible, new players that join this space and the potential VR has to change the way we do certain things. It's virtually impossible to not stumble upon one of these stories these days.

  Yet, according to a Kantar Worldpanel ComTech report, if you were to ask consumers on the street what they think about VR headsets most will tell you they don't even know such devices exist.

  The research firm says that 51 percent of US and 54 percent of UK consumers are oblivious to the existence of VR headsets. That is despite the fact that there are VR headsets made by well-known consumer-centric companies, like Samsung, which have received plenty of coverage. Also, the purchase of Oculus VR by Facebook was highly publicized back in the day as well.

  But it's to be expected if we look at who VR companies are targeting with their headsets. It's mostly tech enthusiasts who can afford to buy all the things needed to enjoy VR in their homes and want to keep up with the latest in technology.

  If we look at Samsung's Gear VR, on top of buying it -- the headset alone costs $200 -- consumers also have to shell out for a Galaxy Note device -- which, in US, kicks off at $300 on a two year contract, or around $700 unlocked. The prohibitive price, coupled with hurdles associated with the early stages of development, makes it less likely for the average consumer to find a demo unit in retail stores or for a VR company to advertise its offering on TV.

  It does not help that 30 percent of US and 24 percent of UK consumers do not see the utility in VR devices. Again, this is to be expected when we're talking about products which aren't yet fully developed, and which can be utterly useless in the wrong hands. Perhaps this won't change in the near future, not until other technologies evolve to the point where they go hand in hand with VR devices.

  Of course, you can always count on the young to be open to embracing cool new technologies. The research firm says that in US it is the "youth segment" that is most interested in VR devices, while in UK it is young people under 16 who would buy them.

  Of course, nothing's set in stone. VR backers, like Oculus VR and Samsung, are working towards raising awareness among consumers, which will certainly change how we all look at such devices. Oculus VR CTO John Carmack, speaking at GDC, said "When everything is ready, ads will be everywhere".

  
• 

  Intronis simplifies cloud backup and recovery for service providers

  Publié: mars 5, 2015, 1:17pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Moving systems to the cloud presents new challenges when making sure that data is safely backed up. This is a particular issue for service providers who offer backup as an added value product for their customers.

  Backup specialist Intronis is simplifying and accelerating real-time data backup and recovery for its channel partners with the launch of a new release of its Intronis ECHOplatform.

  The latest version has enhancements designed to help channel partners better support more complex cloud, virtualized and physical IT environments, and attract new business by offering a real-time, cloud-based data recovery solution that’s built to protect the business.

  Key features include Hyper-V Rapid Recovery for better support of hybrid IT environments by offering Hyper-V environment recovery from local image-based storage in as fast as 30 seconds. There's also Imaging Rapid Recovery which simplifies recovery for physical server environments from local image-based storage, using a combination of advanced algorithms, native data formats and reverse incremental backup techniques.

  It enables object-level restore to retrieve specific files, folders, and databases from physical and virtual local image-based backups with greater ease, accuracy and efficiency. Plus it's VMware 6.0 ready to ensure channel partners will be able to provide native backup for the upcoming release of the industry’s leading hypervisor platform.

  "Intronis is continually looking for ways to simplify the backup and recovery processes our partners use, and the 2015 Winter Release is another dramatic step forward," says Chuck DeLouis, vice president, product management at Intronis. "The Intronis ECHOplatform offers one of the fastest recover time objectives in the industry, while at the same time offering channel partners greater flexibility in how and what they recover. This combination of speed, flexibility, and reliability enables our partners to rapidly and efficiently get their clients back up and running in just minutes -- when they need it most".

  More information on the latest release is available on the Intronis website.

  Photo Credit: everything possible / Shutterstock

  
• 

  List the contents of a folder with DirList

  Publié: mars 5, 2015, 1:12pm CET par Mike Williams

  

  Windows Explorer makes it straightforward to view the files in a folder, but if you’d like to do something with that information -- share it with others, maybe save it for future reference -- then life gets more difficult.

  If you only need to do this occasionally, a quick workaround will probably be enough. Take a screengrab, say, or use the command line for more control (dir "c:\program files\*.exe" /b /s | clip lists all executable files under C:\Program Files, sending the results to the clipboard).

  But if this is a more regular requirement -- or you’d prefer an easier life -- then you might be interested in DirList, a free portable tool which scans a folder tree and produces customizable HTML/ CSV reports on its contents.

  The program opens with an "Explorer" tab where you select the subject of your report. You’re able to choose one or more folders by clicking checkboxes, as well as defining the files you’d like to list (*.mov;*.mp4), and setting a few options (whether you’d like to include subfolders, or not).

  Click "Start" when you’re happy and DirList switches to its List view, displaying whatever files you’ve just selected. If the list isn’t correct, you can switch back to the Explorer tab to tweak your settings.

  Otherwise, you’re able to define the precise details of the report, including the title, the file properties you need (path, name, extension, size, dates, attributes), format (HTML or CSV) and text colors (for HTML reports).

  Once that’s complete, clicking Preview shows you how the report will look, and you can either refine your settings, print or save the finished results.

  DirList’s reports are very basic, with no control over sort order or column widths (beware the vast amount of white space). But there’s still more than enough detail and control to be useful, and overall the program gets a qualified thumbs up from us.

  
• 

  Hosted web apps could solve Microsoft's Windows Phone problems

  Publié: mars 5, 2015, 12:04pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Despite my colleague Wayne Williams' eloquent suggestion that the naming conventions used for Lumia devices is part of the reason for the low uptake of Windows Phone, the platform still has a serious problem when it comes to apps. Whether there is a real problem or not, the perception is that Windows Phone -- or Windows 10 for Phones -- is rather lacking in the app department. Fear not... Microsoft has a solution.

  Rather than pumping out a glut of new apps of its own, or encouraging developers to produce third-party apps, Microsoft is adopting a slightly different tactic. At MWC 2015 this week the Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL were revealed, but Microsoft also announced that web apps will be permitted in the Windows store. Could this be what app-hungry consumers have been waiting for?

  Allowing web apps is about more than just helping website owners to convert their site into an app. This is about making the plethora of cloud services available to Windows Phone users without the need for developers who have invested in Android and iOS to spend time developing a Microsoft-specific version as well. I know what you're thinking… web apps are crap, right? But Microsoft is one step ahead.

  Microsoft has said that not only will hosted web apps be permitted entry to the store -- so they'll be hosted on developers' servers -- but these apps will be able to make use of universal APIs. This means that the apps will be able to generate notifications, access data on a phone when required, and make use of hardware such as the microphone or camera as and when appropriate; there's even potential for hosted web apps to tie into Cortana.

  The move to the cloud means that there is now an astonishing wealth of services to be found online. Of course, these could be accessed through a mobile web browser, but this would create something of a jarring user experience when moving from local app to web app.

  It's important to remember that this announcement should not be seen as a way to boost the number of apps in the Windows store. There is a limit to the number of apps that are needed, but there's no denying that Windows Phone/Windows 10 for Phones is lacking apps in certain categories, and quality apps in many of them. Hosted web apps is a quick and dirty solution, but it’s one that could just pay off.

  
• 

  WorksPad aims to streamline enterprise mobility

  Publié: mars 5, 2015, 12:00pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Businesses are increasingly keen to turn to mobile solutions, but this often presents problems in terms of integrating functions and keeping corporate data secure.

  Launched at this week's Mobile World Congress, MobilityLab's WorksPad combines enterprise file sync and sharing, a fully-featured office package (Polaris Office Enterprise core) and a corporate email client in one app.

  All of these capabilities are integrated into a single secure environment which allows control via centralized application level policies. The embedded office package allows document editing and users can attach documents to emails, save attachments on corporate resources, and manage file structures on iPad, iPhone and Android devices.

  "Apple's and Google's mail, calendar, and contacts are good for consumers, but they are about a one function, per app approach. Acompli's 'Triaged Email' rebranded to Microsoft Outlook is about integration of mail, calendar and contacts in one app. But it has the same consumer user experience of working with one item at a time without ability to open multiple items to switch across them. This is the key mobility issue when supporting multitasking scenarios," says CEO of MobilityLab Sergey Orlik. "From another perspective, how do we work with business documents? Enterprise file sync and sharing solutions are about accessing file resources, viewing documents, and editing. However, these three key information worker tools -- file management, office and email client -- have traditionally been disconnected. WorksPad solves this entire problem in a secure and centralized way".

  WorksPad's multiscreen user interface allows the opening of multiple documents, email messages and appointments on separate swipeable screens, with ribbons to keep track of all of the opened items. It also has a presentation mode on iPad, Android and Windows PCs that provides business users with cross-device screen sharing.

  WorksPad is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or you can find out more and sign up for a free trial on the company's website.

  
• 

  Apple hikes iPhone retail prices in India by as much as Rs 2,500 ($40)

  Publié: mars 5, 2015, 11:58am CET par Manish Singh

  

  Starting today, purchasing an iPhone in India will require you to pay more. The Cupertino-based company has revised the retail price of its entire iPhone range in the world’s second most populous nation. While the company is yet to officially offer an explanation behind the price bump, it is likely because of the changes introduced in the recent budget in the country. The new iPhones will cost Rs 2,500 ($40) more than the previous retail price.

  First reported by FoneArena, the 16GB variant of iPhone 6, which was launched in India late last year for Rs 53,500 ($860) will now set consumers back by Rs 56,000 ($900). Similarly, the 64GB iPhone 6 is now available at Rs 65,000 ($1,045) while the top-of-the-line 128 gig edition costs Rs 74,000 ($1,188). The iPhone 6 Plus now costs Rs 65,000 ($1,045), 74,000 ($1,188) and Rs 83,000 ($1,132) for 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB storage-specced variants respectively.

  The new iPhones aren’t the only models impacted by the price hike. The 8GB iPhone 5c now costs Rs 33,500 ($538), while the iPhone 5s lineup will set you back by Rs 47,000 ($755) for the 16GB variant, and Rs 51,500 ($827) for the 32GB edition.

  Last week, the new budget came into effect in India. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented the budget in Parliament wherein the government had excised the duty structure for mobile handsets imported to India. A couple of revisions including increased duty benefits for domestic players were made that would boost local manufacturing of mobiles phones and tablets in the country. The excise duty structure for mobile handsets was changed from 6 percent with CENVAT credit to 1 percent without the same.

  
• 

  BitTorrent Sync 2.0 adds Pro version, easier folder sharing

  Publié: mars 5, 2015, 11:54am CET par Mike Williams

  

  File sharing tool BitTorrent Sync has been updated to version 2.0 with a new $40/ year PRO version.

  Sync 2.0 introduces the "personal identity", which automatically gives access to every added folder on all of your linked devices (sync a folder anywhere, and it’s immediately available everywhere else).

  "Sync on-demand" acts like a simple remote access tool, allowing you to browse folders on other devices -- even if they’re not fully synced yet -- and fetch whatever you need. This is a PRO-only feature on the desktop builds, but fortunately mobile users get it for free.

  Sync 2.0 PRO also provides a "Sync All" option to synchronize all your folders with a NAS, as well as the ability to change or revoke access permissions on the fly (no more disconnect, tweak, reconnect).

  PRO users also get enhanced technical support, guaranteeing a reply within 24 hours.

  If that’s not quite enough to persuade you to upgrade, there is one other reason: the desktop Sync FREE is now limited to syncing 10 folders at a time. (As before, the mobile clients don’t have this restriction.)

  Whichever version you get, BitTorrent Sync 2.0 provides fast file transfer speeds from device to device, with no folder size limits. Folder number restrictions or not, it’s still an interesting alternative to the cloud.

  
• 

  D-Link fixes the latest flaw in its routers, more patches on the way

  Publié: mars 5, 2015, 6:21am CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  You can't fling a rock these days without hitting a security vulnerability somewhere. From the Internet of Things to apps to Windows and even your own router. Yes, that D-Link box sitting on your desk can be a liability to you. That's a problem the company is attempting to clean up, after reports surfaced about the flaws.

  The problems were discovered by a Canadian researcher and involve a remote access flaw that can leave users vulnerable. "Due to the nature of the ping.ccp vulnerability, an attacker can gain root access, hijack DNS settings or execute arbitrary commands on these devices [by] the user simply visiting a webpage with a malicious HTTP form embedded (via CSRF)", says Peter Adkins, who discovered the vulnerabilities.

  It's the same old story -- researcher discovers and reports flaw and company does nothing. Hence the flaw goes public which usually generates a response and fix.

  Now D-Link explains the problems -- "First vulnerability reportedly relates to a malicious user who might be be connected to the LAN-side of the device to use the devices upload utility to load malicious code without authentication. A second vulnerability reportedly relates to the device’s ping utility that might permit command injection without authentication. A third vulnerability reportedly may exploit certain chipset utilities in firmware to potentially permit a malicious user an attack disclosing information about the devices configuration".

  The manufacturer, for it's part, has several recommendations for its customers -- check the router history for unauthorized access, encrypt Wi-Fi connections (this should go without saying), and check regularly for firmware updates, which will be listed here.

  This is not the first, nor likely the last, flaw to be found in D-Link routers. But before you throw the company under the bus, realize that the alternatives are, in some cases, inferior.

  
• 

  Sling TV introduces Hollywood Extra add-on pack

  Publié: mars 5, 2015, 2:50am CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  Sling TV is the new kid on the block when it comes to streaming video services. It's an increasingly competitive market that Sling finds itself in, and with stiff competition there is little room for error. The service is a bit pricey -- more than double that of rivals like Hulu Plus -- so it needs to differentiate itself in any way that it can. That's tricky these days, given all of the original content being produced by competitors.

  Sling is moving in the right direction as it slowly marches towards new content, today adding a "Hollywood Extra" add-on pack. This brings more movies to subscribers, with titles from EPIX, EPIX2, EPIX3, EPIX Drive-In and Sundance TV. Titles include the runaway hit The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, as well as old classics like Saturday Night Fever.

  "The Hollywood Extra pack also delivers original documentaries, original comedies and music events. With EPIX, you’ll see a behind-the-scenes look at Katy Perry’s Prismatic World Tour, the Dwight Howard in the Moment documentary, and much more", Sling states.

  However there is bad news with this -- unlike services such as Hulu and Netflix, Sling wants you to pay for the extra content. The subscription to Hollywood Extra will add an extra $5 to your bill each month. That's on top of an already hefty $20 per month. OK, it's not hefty, but in comparison it would be considered that way.