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Will you buy Chromebook Pixel 2015?

Publié: mars 30, 2015, 10:30pm CEST par Joe Wilcox

Because some BetaNews readers think Chromebook is a joke, I realized the necessity of getting out our Pixel buying poll before April Fools' Day. So here we are. Google released the second-generation Chromebook Pixel on March 11. The high-end laptop costs less than its predecessor (one model for under $1,000), but many potential buyers will question—and they should—the wisdom spending so much on a computer with browser user interface meant to be mostly Internet-connected.

Chromebook Pixel isn't for everyone—probably not most people. But our readers aren't most people. Many of you live on technology's cutting edge, and some bleed because of it. The laptop could be for you, and it most certainly is for me. I bought the high-end LS model on launch day and took delivery on Friday the 13th. I will have much good to report in my forthcoming review. But what works for me may not for you. So let's look more closely at the computer.

Buying Options

Two configurations are available. For $999: 12.85-inch touchscreen, 2560 x 1700 resolution, 239 pixels per inch, 400-nit brightness; 2.2GHz Intel Core i5 processor; 8GB RAM; 32GB flash storage; Intel HD graphics 5500; backlit keyboard; glass touchpad; Bluetooth 4; WiFi AC; two USB Type-C ports; two USB 3.0 ports; SD Card slot; and, of course, Chrome OS. The $1,299 LS model doubles RAM and storage and swaps the processor for 2.4GHz i7.

"Two underpowered, overpriced machines. Decisions, decisions", reader YeahRight opines. John Young shares similar sentiments: "It is a $999 web browser that tracks everything you do".

There is nothing underpowered about Pixel, and I find the browser user interface to be liberating and empowering. Then again, I am not habitually bound to bulky applications like Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft Office. I moved on. If you have, too, Pixel may be right for you. If not, listen to Mr. Right and Mr. Young. No Chromebook can meet the needs of anyone who needs to run desktop applications. But you may also be surprised at the richness of alternatives available for the browser.

If you do want to purchase either CBP configuration, plan on standing in queue. Google lists availability as 2-3 weeks for both. That may be a measure of demand, or the company not manufacturing enough. Bottom line: Hurry up and wait. Order while you can, if you want either, before Google puts up another out-of-stock notice.

MacBook Comparisons

Interestingly, or perhaps ironically, your Pixel might arrive around the same time Apple starts selling the new MacBook, which also was announced week of March 9 and goes on sale April 10. If you're considering either, do read my buying comparison.

Additionally, I strongly recommend that anyone looking to buy 13.3-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display should also consider Google's newest Chromebook. I see many of the benefits as being similar, and the hardware configs are close enough. Much depends on how steeped you are in either company's digital lifestyles, how much time you spend in the cloud, and what applications matter most to you.

BetaNews reader blazewon22 "debated between the Chromebook and a new MacBook Pro but found the Pixel to satisfy my home needs pretty well. I still have a work laptop and don't need to commingle". He sold the first-generation Pixel on eBay then bought the newer model. "Battery life is going to be awesome".

Price-wise, some of you might compare Pixel to MacBook Air, as reader Ben Bethel did. He explains:

Okay Apple fanboys—P.S., I was one a long time ago—here's why I chose the $999 2015 Chromebook Pixel 2 over the new $999 2015 Macbook Air: Just 8 ounces heavier; touchscreen; Gorilla Glass; 3.4 x the resolution (best laptop screen on the market—4.4 million pixels vs 1.3 million pixels); better speakers (far better); 50-percent larger battery; 2.2 GHz processor (vs 1.6 GHz), 8GB RAM (vs 4GB); charges via 60W USB-C (2 hours in just 15 minutes vs 45W); real-world tested at 14-hour battery (vs 11-12 hour); costs $9 for external monitor cable (vs $80); three microphones with noise canceling (vs two); supports 4K video output (3840 by 2160 vs just 2560 by 1600); plus 12 free Gogo Inflight Internet sessions (worth $240); plus 3 years of 1TB cloud storage (worth $360)

His reasons are more about hardware-value for similar price. Regarding his battery life claims, I see nothing approaching 14 hours in real world use. My final number will be in the forthcoming review.
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
Limited-Use?

"I choose the Surface Pro 3. Period", reader Eddy Frometa says. The usage scenarios are different, even though both computers have touchscreens. If you live the Microsoft lifestyle, the tablet-laptop convertible is excellent choice. Microsoft Store sells the 1.9GHz Core i5 model with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage for $999, but a keyboard adds to the price. Screen-size is comparable to the Pixel, and both provide 3:2 aspect ratio, which I find to be superior to 16:9 or 16:10 for web browsing. However, as a writer, I find Microsoft's Type Cover to be inadequate.

By contrast, the new Pixel's incrementally-improved keyboard is fantastic. My writing productivity is up 30 percent or more (depending on day and what I'm doing). The computer is blazingly fast, thanks to fifth-generation Core i processor and generous RAM. The laptop rarely hesitates, and I often work with two-dozen or more browser tabs open. But the biggest benefits come from software smoothness matched to hardware brawn. Chrome OS roars on this Chromebook, unlike any other I have used. I'm not a big fan of benchmarks, but two weeks ago a reader asked for Octane 2 score: 26230 running in Guest mode.

Reader barely_normal is perplexed by Chromebook Pixel 2015:

I cannot believe that anyone would pay that much for a limited-use device. This is just nuts when thinking about what a notebook using Windows would cost. I am not trying to be difficult, and I'll definitely go look at one, but right now, it is like someone is stating that a Yugo has suddenly become equal to a 6-series BMW.

My response: The hardware absolutely is 6-series BMW class. Chromebook Pixel looks and feels premium-build. It handles the road fabulously and gets up to speed instantly. Before the lid is half-way lifted, the laptop is awake from sleep and ready to use. Any slowness is the user typing his or her password.

Still, "limited-use device" is a fair concern and should be for everyone depending apps like Office or Photoshop. There are adequate alternatives, but they aren't the same and may not fit your business processes or personal habits. For my needs, Pixel is more than enough.

So the question remains: Will you buy Chromebook Pixel 2015? Please take our poll and share your reasons in comments. A final note: While polls like this one generally measure buying intentions, to get cleaner results the question is definitive "Will you buy" rather than "Do you plan to buy". If you already bought or ordered CBP, you still qualify as either of the two yes responses.

Photo Credit: Joe Wilcox
Microsoft brings mobile device management to Office 365

Publié: mars 30, 2015, 9:53pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Microsoft has announced that mobile device management is now available in Office 365 for commercial customers. The feature is built into the office suite and allows administrators to control access to Office 365 data by Android, iOS and Windows Phone tablets and phones.

Security is very much at the heart of Office 365's mobile device management, and it includes a remote wipe feature. For businesses who have embraced the BYOD philosophy, this will bring peace of mind as it allows for the remote removal of Office and associated files even on personal devices.

Of particular interest to many users will be the conditional access options. These make it possible to limit data access to email and documents so that non-compliant and unauthorized devices are cut out of the loop entirely. The feature is powered by Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Azure Active Directory, and can be tailored to suit individual needs.

From a device management point of view, there are great new powers for administrators. Microsoft explains:

You can set and manage security policies such as device-level pin lock and jailbreak detection to help prevent unauthorized users from accessing corporate email and data on a device when it is lost or stolen. Additional settings and rich reporting are also available within the Office 365 admin center so you can gain critical insights about devices accessing your corporate data.

Available at no extra cost, the mobile device management features may prove to be a draw for enterprise customers who are yet to switch to Office 365. The rollout starts today, and it's hoped that the feature will be available worldwide in the next four to six weeks, bringing increased control and security to users.

Microsoft has produced a video that shows off the features and benefits of mobile device management in Office 365:
Happy Torrent Day -- Kickass has plans for the occasion

Publié: mars 30, 2015, 7:39pm CEST par Alan Buckingham

March 30th is Torrent Day, or at least one site has proclaimed it so. The file sharing technology is used for all sorts of purposes, both benign and nefarious. However many sites will not be deterred from bringing to the masses what a number of people want, and Kickass Torrent is at the top the heap in that regard.

The site proclaimed the holiday for this date and has released a couple of special mementos for its user base. Both a music playlist and magazine are available for the big occasion. Naturally, you'll need to download both.

"Our Staff member Bubanee has put a fantastic Torrents Day 2015 music Album which songs were chosen by you guys which is now available for download", Kickass Torrents proclaims int eh announcement. It also points out that "KAT's Super User DawnStar has prepared an article regarding the happy day, which we recommend you to read in KAT official magazine".

It's unclear where this "holiday" came from, but it seems to be an invention of KAT. It is ironically named after another Torrent site. Still, it is worth noting the occasion and there's certainly no shortage of people using the technology. As for the downloads, you can find them here.

Image Credit: PathDoc / Shutterstock
Kingston announces USB 3.0 FCR-HS4 High-Speed All-In-One Media Reader

Publié: mars 30, 2015, 7:05pm CEST par Brian Fagioli
Nowadays, it is very common to have an SD card reader on a laptop. Well, maybe not Apple's new MacBook, but I digress. Some desktop computers have integrated card readers, but not all do. The problem is there is more than one type of memory card, and many integrated solutions are SD-only. Plus, they are often USB 2.0, making them slow.

Luckily, if you have a USB 3.0 port, you can add a reader or upgrade to a faster option, with more card options too. Today, Kingston announces such a device; the FCR-HS4 All-In-One Media Reader. Not only is it fast and versatile, but attractive too.

"Users can easily back up and transfer music, photos, videos and other digital data with USB 3.0 high-speed performance. This allows users to save time transferring files as USB 3.0 allows up to 5Gb/s data transfer speed – almost 10x faster than USB 2.0. The portable, small form factor reader has a brushed nickel case and is backwards compatible with USB 2.0", says Kingston.

Jean Wong, Flash memory business manager, Kingston explains, "HS4 All-In-One Media Reader is a great device to quickly move data between multiple devices whether at home or on the road. The higher-capacity CF Ultimate 600x lets avid photographers and videographers capture more content and when used with the reader, data transfer is simple and fast".

The company shares the following features and benefits.
- Ultra-portable: small size makes it an easy and convenient travel accessory
- Versatile: supports the major types of memory cards and the latest speed standards (UHS-I and UHS-II)
- Fast: USB 3.0 performance for an efficient and effortless data transfer
- Compliant: with USB 3.0 specifications, backwards compatible with USB 2.0
- Guaranteed: two-year warranty, free technical support
- Dimensions: 93.17mm x 52.68mm x 16mm
- Speed Rating¹: up to 5Gb/s data transfer speed
- Operating Temperature: 32º to 140ºF / 0º to 60ºC
- Storage Temperature: -4º to 185ºF / -20º to 85ºC
- Supported card formats:
  - Compact Flash: CF Type I & II (UDMA 0-7)
  - Secure Digital: SD/SDHC UHS I-II/SDXC UHS I-II
  - microSD: microSD/microSDHC UHS-I/microSDXC UHS-I
  - Memory Stick: Memory Stick PRO/Duo/PRO Duo/ PRO-HG Duo
- Requirements: system with USB 3.0
- Built-In LED Indicator
- USB 3.0 Cable Included
The design is more focused on at-home or office use, with the idea that it will be kept on a desk. Still, while it is not built ruggedly, it should be fine to put in a bag for travel. Typically, if you are an on-the-go photographer or something similar, you probably only work with one format, and can buy a smaller device that focuses on it.

The reader costs $30, and will be available at stores such as Newegg, Amazon and from Kingston directly. With that said, it is not yet in stock at any of the retailers, but availability should be imminent.
How to overcome the challenges and difficulties of parenting in a digital age

Publié: mars 30, 2015, 7:03pm CEST par Bob Lotter
In reviewing the daily news stream it is impossible to miss the escalating frequency of incidents coming out of schools all across the country which relate directly to social media, texting, or apps used by kids.

Sexting, cyber-bullying, sextortion, and intimidation seem to be on the rise. Sexting, in particular, seems to be proliferating and is now surpassing cyber-bulling in frequency and intensity. Consequences for online misbehavior of children can range from embarrassment or shame up to criminal prosecution. Depending on which state you live in, consequences can vary widely. It seems schools and parents struggle to grapple with the realities of a general lack of effective policies, rules, or legislation to address these problems head on.

Children now start using cell phones as young as six or seven with few restrictions or parental filters in place. The power of modern technology creates opportunities for misuse and inappropriate behavior. Left unchecked, kids can easily be lured into trouble. Children don’t fully understand the consequences or permanency of poor judgment. Sexting in particular, has far reaching consequences that can last a lifetime; pictures, once posted to the internet, may remain there forever.

In putting this very overwhelming problem into perspective, we must delve into our own past and look at the evolution of computers, cell phones, and the internet.

The internet itself started to come on line in the early 1990s, less than 25 years ago. Since then, the rapid pace of technological development in the digital world has been consistent with "Moore’s law" by doubling its capabilities roughly every 18 months.

Today’s modern smart phone is an incredibly powerful device, capable of processing more data than a room full of computers processed 20 years ago. It is widely believed that technology is now outpacing the person using it. In short, our portable devices have more features than we know how to use.

The knowledge gap between children and adults is also widening. This due to many factors, but mostly because kids simply absorb more data quicker than adults do.

This fact is scientifically proven and tested. Parents average several years behind their children in terms of technological skill and knowledge. It is not uncommon, for example, to see a three or four year old child pick up a tablet and begin swiping at the screen. Teenagers flip through apps and process thousands of text messages at a torrid, almost unfathomable rate. The mobile devices of today have become a critical and vital component of every teenager’s life.

We have also learned that simply trusting our children to know and use proper cyber-etiquette is no longer sufficient, the consequences are too great.

Due to immature impulsivity, cyber scandals can spread rapidly, making containment by officials extremely challenging. Recent incidents and research has also shown us that prevention is the key to managing these problems before they even begin.

Prevention requires a three pronged approach: education, monitoring, and confrontation. Parents need to speak openly and clearly to their children about the risks posed in the digital community. They also need to utilize modern tools to monitor their kid’s cyber-presence, and inappropriate behavior needs to be confronted swiftly and firmly by parents and other officials alike.

The good news is that modern technology is also providing new tools for parents to be able to monitor their kid’s cyber-behavior and to make more effective parenting decisions. Parents really need to take an active role in monitoring, and restricting when appropriate, their child’s digital activity. They need to then follow up with conversation about what they discover about their children and their use of technology. Software such as My Mobile Watchdog now makes this easy.

Parents should follow several steps to ensure their kids are protected:
- Speak openly and clearly with your children about proper electronics use and abuse. Talk about consequences. Together, look up what consequences in your area can be for sexting or cyber-bullying. Ask your child if they have seen any misconduct. Research shows that about 71 per cent of kids know someone who has been affected by cyber-bullying or sexting.
- Utilize some form of monitoring software for your child’s mobile device. Make sure you use features such as:
  - Monitoring text messages and multimedia messages(picture messages)
  - Being notified when your child adds a new contact or an unknown contact is attempting communication with your child.
  - Approve or disapprove of contacts.
  - Know what apps your kids are using. Block the use of apps you disapprove of.
  - Use a time blocking feature to lock your child’s phone during periods like school or sleep.
  - Monitoring or blocking internet use.
  - Regularly reviewing pictures and movies.
  - Not allowing your child to have open access purchase or download apps without parental permission. All major cell phone platforms offer parental authorization tools for purchasing.
- Do not let your child take a computer, tablet, or cell phone into their bedroom at night. Research has shown that many kids use their electronic devices for hours each night in their bedrooms without parental knowledge or consent. Have a family "docking station" where each device has a home. Keep the docking station in a common area such as the living room.
- Know your child’s digital "friends". Ask your kids to show you their accounts on apps such as Facebook, Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Kik, SnapChat, Vine, WhatsApp, ooVoo, Tumbler, Yik Yak and others. A quality cell phone monitoring app will allow you to block apps you do not want your child to access.
- Ask questions, if you don’t know how the apps work, ask. Ask about who they "follow" and who follows them. If they won’t show you or are evasive, it is a sign of potential trouble. Take action by restricting apps, devices, or times they are being used.
- Ask for, and keep a list of your child’s passwords. Have them list for you everything: login passwords of computers, PIN #s for cell phones, and any passwords and usernames used on any website or app where they have to login. When you have time, test them all. If your child provided you with faulty or incorrect information it is another sign you need to take time to speak with your kids. Listen to them as well, then take action. Remember to ask questions.
Digital parenting is challenging and difficult at first, but if these techniques lead to conversations with your children then we are heading in the right direction.

An unfortunate side effect of more technology is more isolation and less family time. Just like any other parenting situation, digital parenting requires patience and understanding.

By being proactive and using prevention, we’ll have fewer serious incidents to react to, happier kids, and much safer communities.

Bob Lotter is the CEO and Founder of My Mobile Watchdog Inc., which educates parents and teachers on the realities of the modern, digital world and helps parents make informed decisions to keep kids safe online.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
Internet of Things brings a sense of purpose to cloud, mobile and Big Data

Publié: mars 30, 2015, 5:34pm CEST par Mark Morley

Since Cloud, Mobile and Big Data technologies started to go mainstream, individual strategies to support each of these technologies have been evolving and remain separate strategies today.

However the arrival of the Internet of Things (IoT) is changing the strategic agenda very quickly. IoT as a 'collective & strategic' term has caught the interest of the enterprise and the consumer alike. IoT allows companies to effectively define one strategy that potentially embraces elements of cloud, mobile and Big Data. In short, IoT has brought a stronger sense of purpose to cloud, mobile and Big Data.

Intelligent technologies

Let’s take the supply chain, for example. In the past, it was important for organizations to understand the physical flow of goods based on information that had been manually entered into IT systems.

However, this had the potential to be inaccurate or out of date. Today, the introduction of IoT based technologies has the potential to transform end-to-end visibility across global supply chains. Billions of connected devices associated with global supply chains will transform the amount of information that can track shipments in real time.

Digital information coming from these connected devices will drive increased levels of pervasive shipment visibility and this in turn will allow organizations to move towards more intelligent value chains.

The dawn of devices

The exponential growth of connected devices holds the potential to revolutionize the exchange of digital information across the supply chain. Analyst firm IDC estimates there will be 200 billion connected devices by 2020, and Cisco estimates the market size at $14.4 trillion (£9.6 billion).

IoT has many applications in the supply chain, for example warehouse stock levels can be continually monitored so that stocks can be replenished whenever sensors detect a near out of stock situation.

Alternatively 'tagged' goods in a warehouse can help to guide pickers to their exact location using augmented reality technologies such as wearable devices. One German based automotive supplier has created a virtual supply chain based on IoT technologies that is used to replicate the physical movement of goods from one of their plants.

Each shipment has an RFID tag attached to it and these tags can be read not just in the factory but whilst traveling across third party logistics networks to an end destination in real time.

SAP has built a supply chain demonstrator based on a connected vending machine, using their HANA based technology to monitor consumer-buying trends. Not only can the vending machine recognize each consumer, but based on previous purchasing history it can make real time suggestions for next purchases or offer tailored promotions.

The vending machine also monitors its stock levels and can automatically place orders for new stock to be delivered to the vending machine as required.

With a global network of connected vending machines, confectionery manufacturers for example can analyze consumer buying patterns, or trends across different regions around the world and then optimize product mix for each machine based on hyper-local preferences.

The 'Digital Nervous System'

The key challenge moving forwards is how companies capture and analyze a whole host of critical information from a variety of products, appliances and equipment and then communicate status updates and information as we approach the next phase in the evolution of the internet.

In this next phase of development, wireless and machine-to-machine technologies will help to connect globally dispersed machines and form the digital nervous system of the new world.

To be prepared, organizations across the supply chain need to ensure business networks can support disruptive technologies by synchronizing the flow of data and transactions from different types of sensors attached to logistics drones, 3D printers and even wearable technologies. Once a remote device captures information it will need to be transferred to other business systems, such as a cloud based B2B integration platforms or ERP environments.

This automated flow of information into back end enterprise systems will significantly improve the efficiency of tomorrow’s supply chains.

In a global economy, the key challenges faced by organizations of all sizes are working seamlessly with trading partners located anywhere in the world and responding quickly to any form of supply chain disruption.

Moving forwards, the IoT will help to establish intelligent digital networks that potentially minimize disruptions to ordered goods, mitigate instances of downtime and allows companies to scale their supply chains according to economic conditions or consumer demand.

Today’s digital networks are in a state of transformation. The rise of the Internet of Things has brought a sense of intelligence and awareness to many pieces of the connected device puzzle. Alongside this, the emergence of the connected or digital consumer is leading to demand for greater customization of products, swift delivery of goods and an experience that is smooth and seamless.

Everything from connected power utilities to connected transport infrastructures and connected industrial equipment will contribute to accelerate the growth of the British economy, and organizations should be prepared to tackle the associated challenges in order to reap the rewards.

Mark Morley is Director for Manufacturing at OpenText.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
Apple extends its trade-in program to Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry

Publié: mars 30, 2015, 5:12pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Earlier in the month we reported that Apple was about to start offering gift cards as part of a trade-in program for people buying a new iPhone. The updated program has now gone live so you can take your old Apple device, or non-Apple smartphone to an Apple store, or mail it in to receive credit.

The credit can be used in store or online against the purchase of a new Apple device, and this program expansion is the latest move from Apple to try to tempt users away from other platforms. You can check online to see how much you can expect to receive for your existing phone and decide whether it's worth your while. Hint: it might not be.

It's not an expansion that Apple is making a great deal of fuss about. Head over to the page for a specific Apple store -- such as the San Francisco branch -- and you'll see a small announcement under the "Reuse and Recycling Program" heading, you'll see the description: "Get credit when you recycle your eligible iPhone, iPad, or select smartphone from another manufacturer."

So what are the trade-in values? We got a valuation for a 32GB Samsung Galaxy S5 and Apple's chosen valuation service, Brightstar in the UK, came up with an offer of £144 (around $214). This sounded a little on the low side, so we checked on phone trade-in comparison site SellMyMobile which provided trade-in prices from nine other sites. The valuations ranged from £110 - £185 ($163 - $274), averaging out at £170 (around $251).

On the face of it, the trade-in values are not brilliant. Trading in through Apple means that you are tied into using the company's chosen valuation service. Opt to go it alone and you can check the market and get a better deal -- from a quick check it looks as though it might be worth spending the time shopping around.
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge comes out unscathed after brutal drop test

Publié: mars 30, 2015, 4:18pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

We love watching smartphone drop tests. It does not even have to be a smartphone that we want to buy, watching it fall and meet the pavement is just too entertaining to pass. Some might even call it addictive. And predicting the extent of the damage, based on the build material or how exposed the display is, is part of the fun. Getting it right can be rewarding.

Samsung's new Galaxy S6 edge comes with all the right ingredients for a drop test that could end in massive damage. It's got a glass back, the main camera does not sit flush with the body, the surrounding frame is made of metal and, to top it all off, the display is curved on both sides. Before watching the so-called drop test, I expected to see a broom being used at the end.

It's probably not fair to call this Galaxy S6 edge experiment a drop test, as it's more of a slam test. The person in the video clearly wants to take Samsung's flagship to the limit, more than once.

And, much to my surprise, Galaxy S6 edge holds up extremely well. There's no crack to be seen anywhere on the body, it wakes up from sleep and the display still responds to the touch. After being slammed to the ground three times, I'd say that's pretty impressive for a smartphone of this build.

A few days back, I stumbled upon a video review of the seemingly sturdier Galaxy S6 where, after just a minor fall, the glass covering the camera lens had cracked. So I imagined Galaxy S6 edge would fare much worse (given the "edge" display).

I was wrong, indeed, but it's worth pointing out that not all units are created equal. As is always the case with these kind of incidents, whether your device survives with no visible damage or ends up with a shattered display is a matter of luck. Some fare better than others, case in point being the Galaxy S6 edge unit in the drop test compared to the Galaxy S6 unit in the review I just mentioned.

For your own comfort, you might want to invest in insurance and/or a good case. You never know when bad luck will hit.
Audacity adds real-time effects preview, updates noise removal tool

Publié: mars 30, 2015, 4:16pm CEST par Nick Peers

Open-source sound recording, editing and mixing tool Audacity 2.1.0 has been released, and comes with a slew of significant updates and improvements.

Version 2.1.0 debuts one major new feature: a Real-Time Preview for effects, which is accompanied by a major upgrade to the Noise Removal tool. It also offers various effects upgrades and redesigned Meter Toolbars.

Audacity’s developers have claimed they’ve waited "a long time" for real-time previews of effects, which have been added to LADSPA, VST and Audio Unit (OS X) effects. The real-time preview is accompanied by support for saving and loading user presets and saving effect settings across multiple sessions. Latency compensation is not yet supported.

The Noise Removal tool has been renamed to Noise Reduction to highlight the improvements that have been implemented to the filter.

Other changes to Audacity’s effects include being able to sort and group items in the Effect, Generate and Analyze menus according to name, publisher or effect type.

The Change Speed effect has new time controls allowing users to enter changes in multipliers, while a new Crossfade Tracks effect replaces the previously separate Cross Fade In and Cross Fade Out options.

The user interface gains redesigned Meter Toolbars, which now shows separate Record and Playback Meters at half-height by default. Users can now select frequency when in spectrogram view and create or adjust frequency selections via a new Spectral Selection Toolbar (accessible via the View > Toolbars menu).

Timer Record now saves recordings automatically into an existing project, while the Transcription Toolbar can low loop play and cut-preview.

The update is rounded off by a number of bug fixes for both user interface and effects, but as with all new releases, a number of known issues remain -- see the release notes for a detailed breakdown.

Audacity 2.1.0 is available now as a free, cross-platform download for Windows, Mac and Linux. A portable build of Audacity 2.0.6 is also available -- this should be updated to the latest release shortly.
Big data: All hype and no investment?

Publié: mars 30, 2015, 3:15pm CEST par Ian Barker

Although there's lots of talk surrounding the use of big data it seems that in many cases that's all it is and that companies aren't actually following through on deployments.

This is among the findings of a new report from Dimensional Research commissioned by data warehousing specialist Snowflake Computing which shows that whilst 91 percent of respondents have considered investments in big data, only 5 percent have actually put any investment into a deployment, and only 11 percent had a pilot in place.

Although Hadoop is cited as being the answer to big data worries it seems it may also be a roadblock. More than 70 percent of respondents say a lack of expertise is a major concern about using the open source framework. Only 12 percent of respondents say they have easy access to Hadoop expertise. These numbers are far lower at companies with 1000 or less employees, where only 5 percent say they have easy access to Hadoop expertise.

Other highlights are that 96 percent say Hadoop won't replace their existing data warehouse, 99 percent of respondents say their data warehouse is important to business operations, and 70 percent are increasing their investment in data warehousing.

Cloud-based data warehousing is seen as desirable with 93 percent seeing value in its potential benefits, particularly scalability and reduced overhead. 32 percent already have a cloud-based data warehouse and 16 percent exclusively use data warehousing in the cloud. Of those with data in the cloud 79 percent bring it into their data warehouse, although only 9 percent bring all their data in.

The report is based on a survey of 319 individuals with responsibility for data initiatives, you can find out more and download a copy on the Snowflake website.

Image Credit: bleakstar / Shutterstock
Spotify joins forces with Sony, brings music to PS3 and PS4

Publié: mars 30, 2015, 1:57pm CEST par Alan Buckingham

Sony recently announced it would be launching a music program that would come to both current versions of its PlayStation console and to Experia mobile devices. The move puts the box more in line with the competition, adding entertainment features to compete. Now the company is making good on its promise, announcing Spotify to power the service.

The Japanese conglomerate is stating that Spotify will come to Sony Music in 41 different markets around the world and the roll out is beginning for both the PS3 and PS4. The partnership is touted as an "exclusive".

Sony promises the full experience with "more than 30 million songs and 1.5 billion playlists, PS4 users can soundtrack their gaming sessions with their favorite songs". To control all of this musical goodness, customers can utilize the Spotify Connected feature which is part of the dedicated app for both Android and iOS. This will allow for selecting playlists, setting volume levels and more.

"PlayStation Network users can easily link their accounts to Spotify and use their account to subscribe to Spotify's Premium service, which is available for $9.99 per month", Sony states.

To go one better, the console maker also promises "Music Unlimited subscribers with accounts active as of March 29, 2015, can receive 2 months of free access to Spotify Premium".

Sony promises that this offering is only a start and that a further evolution is on the way. To find out more about this, head to the official PlayStation-Spotify site for details.
Inateck FE2004: Turn your old hard disk into a USB 3.0 external drive [Review]

Publié: mars 30, 2015, 1:34pm CEST par Ian Barker

You can of course buy ready to use external hard drives, but should you have a spare 2.5 inch disk from an old machine lying around it's easy enough to pop it in a case so you can use it for backups or transferring files.

There's lots of choice when it comes to buying an external enclosure and most of them aren't very expensive, so what makes this offering from German company Inateck attractive?

Firstly it looks smart with a smooth matt black finish. It's slightly larger -- to the tune of about 1.5 centimetres in length -- than a ready-made WD Elements external drive, but it's still small enough to slip into a pocket. It's USB 3.0 so you can take advantage of the faster interface though it is of course backwards compatible with USB 2.0. You get a connecting cable and a printed instruction leaflet in the package.

A nice feature of the FE2004 is that it's tool-free so there's no fiddling around with tiny screws to install your drive. The cover simply slides off with a clip to hold it in place when it's closed. You can use any 2.5 inch SATA hard drive, including SSDs, providing it's between 7.5 and 9mm thick. Just push the disk into the connector and there are foam pads to hold it in place and prevent it from rattling. With the disk installed you simply plug in to a USB port and away you go, it's fully plug and play compatible so no need to install drivers.

The FE2004 currently costs $12.99 on Amazon (£11.49 in the UK). You can buy drive enclosures for less but the tool-free design of this one is a neat touch, especially if you work in support and you need to swap drives around on a regular basis. The smart looks are an added bonus.

You can find more information and a full spec on the Inateck website.
GitHub hit by its biggest DDoS attack ever

Publié: mars 30, 2015, 1:26pm CEST par Mark Wilson

GitHub is still in the throes of a massive DDoS attack which has blighted the site since Thursday. While the origins of and reasons for the attack is not yet fully known, the fact that two projects relating to Chinese anti-censorship have been targeted speaks volumes.

Now into its fifth day, the attack turned into something of a tug-of-war. Just as GitHub thought it had managed to wrestle back control of the site, a fresh wave was unleashed. The evolving attack is the largest in GitHub's history and engineers "remain on high alert".

The attackers have been using a variety of tactics over the course of the last few days, pursuing different areas of GitHub. The anti-censorship projects appear to have been key targets, and it included a project by Greatfire.org which aims to provide access to services and sites that are banned in China. Only last week GreatFire.org suffered a DDoS attack of its own.

On Friday, the GitHub status Twitter account was used to share some news about the attack:

We've been under continuous DDoS attack for 24+ hours. The attack is evolving, and we're all hands on deck mitigating.

— GitHub Status (@githubstatus) March 27, 2015

The battle against the attackers seemed to going GitHub's way, but the onslaught intensified. A post on the GitHub blog explained:

The attack began around 2AM UTC on Thursday, March 26, and involves a wide combination of attack vectors. These include every vector we've seen in previous attacks as well as some sophisticated new techniques that use the web browsers of unsuspecting, uninvolved people to flood github.com with high levels of traffic. Based on reports we've received, we believe the intent of this attack is to convince us to remove a specific class of content.

At the moment, it would appear that the attacks originate from within China. As reported by PC World, one Chinese blogger has determined that advertising code may have been hijacked and used to pound GitHub with traffic. He found that when he visited Chinese websites, he started to notice JavaScript popups. Further investigation revealed that these were the result of trying to access the previously mentioned anti-censorship projects on GitHib. It looks as though someone has modified the ad tracking code used by Baidu -- the Chinese search giant, comparable to Google -- and used it to launch the DDoS attack.

That said, the attack has not yet been stopped in its tracks as it continues to adapt and change:

The DDoS attack has evolved and we are working to mitigate

— GitHub Status (@githubstatus) March 30, 2015

Photo credit: sibgat / Shutterstock
Office Image Extraction Wizard goes open source

Publié: mars 30, 2015, 1:10pm CEST par Mike Williams

RL Vision has announced that its Office Image Extraction Wizard is now open source.

The Windows application is a simple but effective tool for extracting images from Office and many other document types. Although, notably, not PDF (the company has a shareware application for that).

Supported formats include Office 97-2003 (.doc, .ppt etc), Office 2007+ (docx, pptx etc), OpenOffice (odt, ods etc), NeoOffice (sxw, sxc etc), Apple iWorks (.pages, .template), chm, epub, fb2, cbz, dwxf, swf and more.

The program is easy to set up and use. It doesn’t need Office or any other libraries to be installed, and the wizard-based interface guides you through the conversion process. Choose "Batch Mode", add your source files, select an output folder, click “Start” and that’s it: your documents are parsed and any images saved in just a few seconds.

There is a little more flexibility in a few places, for those who need it. Your images can be saved to the same folder as source file, for instance; or to a new folder for each document; or to a single common folder for everyone.

The only small problem we noticed is that images sometimes had a null timestamp (a date of 1/1/1980 00:00). It’s not a major issue -- if you’re just importing the images somewhere else it might not matter at all -- but we’d have expected all images to have a timestamp taken from the source document.

The newly free and open source Office Image Extraction Wizard is available now.
Fake Puush update steals passwords from Windows users

Publié: mars 30, 2015, 12:18pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Screenshot-sharing app Puush has inadvertently infected Windows users with malware. Over the weekend, the Puush server was breached and a fake, malware-infected program update was put in place. This means that anyone updating to version r94 of the software is infected.

The malware tries to grab passwords from infected systems, and was noticed after users complained on Twitter that the latest update had been flagged up by BitDefender. As a precautionary measure, the update server has been taken offline, and a clean update has been made available as a standalone download.

Puush is quick to point out that it is only the Windows version of the app that is affected -- the iOS and OS X apps remain clean. It is not yet clear what happens to passwords that have been collected as tests have not shown them to be sent to another computer. Another update has already been produced, version r100, and this has not only been checked to be clean, but also tidies up after the malware infected r94.

In a statement, Puush said:

The malware may be collecting locally stored passwords, but we are yet to confirm these have been transmitted back to a remote location. We have been running the malware in sandboxed environments and have not been able to reproduce any such behaviour. Even so, we recommend you change any important passwords which were stored on your PC (unless they were in a secure password manager). This includes chrome/firefox saved passwords.

The statement also recognizes the fact that some people may have been put off using Puush. For these users, a cleanup and removal tool is available:

We have created a cleaner for people who do not wish to continue using puush. It is stand-alone and will tell you if you were infected (assuming you have not already updated to r100). You can obtain this here: [puush.me].
Apple Watch will benefit traditional watch companies

Publié: mars 30, 2015, 8:30am CEST par David Molofsky

It’s been six months since Apple officially announced its Apple Watch, which is currently one of the most anticipated releases of the year.

Apple will be joining tech giants Samsung and LG in the smartwatch market, but those aren’t the only companies they will be competing with. Last week at the Baselworld 2015 jewelry trade show in Switzerland, several traditional watch companies revealed smartwatches of their own.

Traditional watch brands Tag Hauer, Swatch, and Breitling are leading the charge, with each working on designs to rival Apple. Their main competition is the Apple Edition, the first true luxury smartwatch on the market, which features gold casing, sapphire crystal displays, and a steep price tag.

But the Edition’s time alone in the luxury market will be short. By the end of the year, Tag Hauer will be adding a smart version of their already popular Carrera model, which will feature Android software, while other announcements at Baselworld included the Breitling B55 Connected, the Swatch Touch Zero One, the Vector Luna, the Mondaine Helvetica No1 Horological Smartwatch, and even Gucci has teamed with will.i.am for a new smartband.

According to reports, these watches will include many of the same features as the Apple Watch, such as fitness tracking, GPS, and NFC payments. In addition, several will be compatible with multiple phone platforms, or even be able to function without an accompanying app, giving them a wider potential market than Apple or Samsung, which only work with their own phones.

The traditional watch companies will also have an advantage in price against the Apple Edition. The Edition currently ranges between £8,000-13,500, depending on the model.

In comparison, the Breitling B55 Connected is expected to cost £3,000-6,000, which is a significant difference. While the price of the Tag Hauer Carrera smartwatch is still uncertain, the current non-smart versions range from £2,000-4,000. Even if the smart models are double that, they will still be a bargain compared to the Edition.

The advent of the smartwatch may be putting some companies on the defensive, but Apple’s foray has the potential to benefit the industry as a whole. Apple’s lower end models, the Apple Watch and Sport Watch, which cost a fraction of the price of the Edition, will likely be the more popular models, especially among the younger generation.

As Tag Hauer Chief Executive Jean-Claude Biver said in an interview with Reuters, "Apple will get young people used to wearing a watch and later maybe they will want to buy themselves a real watch".

Considering these are the same young people who gave up watches in favor of the clock on their phones, anything that gets them with straps on their wrists again is a good thing for the watch companies.

We’re still about a month away from the release of the Apple Watch, and it will be a few more months before we see anything from Tag Hauer, Breitling, and the rest.

With competition coming not only from trusted technology companies, but also trusted watch companies, it seems clear that everyone will need to work hard to make their smartwatches stand out from the crowd.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
Microsoft reveals Halo 5: Guardians Xbox One release date with two new commercials

Publié: mars 30, 2015, 5:57am CEST par Brian Fagioli

Nintendo has a stable of popular mascots and characters. The most obvious is Mario and Luigi, but don't forget Link, Kirby and a slew of Pokemon, such as Pikachu. That is just a small sampling; there are tons more. For Microsoft, however, there is only one such character that is associated with Xbox by the masses -- Master Chief from the Halo franchise.

Tonight, during the season finale of Walking Dead (which was awesome), the release date for the next title in the franchise, Halo 5: Guardians, was revealed. How? With two spectacular live-action TV commercials.

"Tonight's finale of 'The Walking Dead' on AMC wasn't the only cliffhanger that left fans searching for answers. Two new live-action trailers for Halo 5: Guardians kick off one of the most epic showdowns in entertainment history, pitting the legendary Master Chief against the UNSC's top manhunter -- Spartan Locke. Leading the greatest gaming lineup in Xbox history, Halo 5: Guardians will launch worldwide on October 27, exclusively on Xbox One", says Microsoft.

Bonnie Ross, Head of 343 Industries says "we wanted Halo 5: Guardians to be the game that pays off the epic promise of the Halo universe in scope and scale and drama. We want to amaze players with the sheer size of the worlds and battles they’ll experience, even as they question everything they thought they knew about its heroes, marvels and mysteries. #HunttheTruth is only the beginning and we can’t wait to debut the game to Xbox fans around the world at E3 this June".

Yes, the date is October 27th, 2015. Boom.

While this is perfectly timed for the Christmas 2015 shopping season, October is an eternity for gamers. Many consumers will be holding their breath in anticipation. If you aren't caught up with franchise, you can buy the special Xbox One: The Master Chief Collection Bundle, which includes all of the earlier games.

Take a look at the advertisements below and tell me what you think in the comments. Do they make you excited for the game? Let me know.