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BetaNews.Com (19 non lus)

Google's Amazon Problem

Publié: octobre 21, 2015, 9:21pm CEST par Sameer Singh

I have long been a critic of the "Peak Google" argument because it is based on a flawed premise -- that deep engagement and consequently "brand advertising" are somehow a threat to Google's model of transactional engagement. While I strongly disagree with that line of reasoning, there are other threats that Google faces within the transactional realm.

Search advertising drives the vast majority of Google's revenue and the most profitable searches are frequently those that are made with the intent to purchase. These purchase-oriented searches are hardly monolithic but can broadly be categorized into B2B and C2B searches. C2B searches can be broken down further into products and services. Looking at taxonomy of transactional opportunities makes it clear that the threat from "deep engagement" is vastly overstated. Facebook is a great place to generate awareness but it's hardly a way to reach customers looking for something specific. Also, breaking down the gamut of transactional opportunities makes it easier to identify threats.

Google doesn't really face a host of challenges in a transactional B2B context (especially valid for high-volume SMB searches, e.g. buying office furniture). On the C2B services side, on-demand startups are a threat but not a major one given the breadth of possible needs (e.g. travel, legal representation, car repair, insurance, etc.). This leaves C2B product searches (e.g. buying a phone). If these searches eventually lead consumers to the same vendor, wouldn't it be more convenient for consumers to "cut out the middleman"? This may already be happening. According to a recent survey, 44 percent of US shoppers go directly to Amazon for product searches, while 34 percent go to search engines (notably, Google). On mobile, where speed is of the essence, it is safe to assume that the percentage of mobile searches would be even more skewed in favor of Amazon.

How could Google possibly counter this threat? Simple; by moving a step back. Google's current transactional model targets users that are already aware of their intent to purchase -- the same users that Amazon targets. But if Google could predict intent, it could reach users one step before they put that intent into action.

This appears to be Google's primary focus with Now on Tap, the tentpole feature accompanying Android 6.0 Marshmallow. In many cases, consumers discover needs through conversations with others and many these conversations happen on smartphones. By inserting themselves into the layer between conversation and action, Google is set to gain a key competitive advantage over other forms of transactional engagement. The fact that this covers both C2B products and services also allows Google to create a defensive moat around their model. This shows how important Android is to Google's future, even though it is not and was never meant to be a standalone business.

This story was reposted with permission from tech-thoughts.

Sameer Singh is an M&A professional and business strategy consultant focusing on the mobile technology sector. He is founder and editor of tech-thoughts.net.

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Apple releases iOS 9.1, OS X 10.11.1 El Capitan, watchOS 2.0.1 -- here's what's new

Publié: octobre 21, 2015, 9:16pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

When Apple releases an update for iOS these days you can expect to find new versions of OS X and watchOS too. So, today, on top of making iOS 9.1 available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices, Apple is also bringing OS X 10.11.1 El Capitan to Macs and watchOS 2.0.1 to Apple Watch. So, let's take a look at what's new.

The common denominator between the three operating system updates is a refreshed collection of emoji, which now includes over 150 new items -- and, yes, the middle finger emoji is among them as the controversial photo above would suggest. But, probably, the most-awaited changes are under-the-hood.

The iOS 9.1 update comes with a "fix" for Live Photos, so that your iOS device will now no longer record when it is being raised or lowered. Brian Fagioli has pointed out how this might cause some privacy issues, while Wayne Williams has suggested that it might be a case of "you're using it wrong". Apple has clearly wanted to address these concerns, hence the fix being baked in in today's update.

There are also new wallpapers, the ability to toggle contact photos in the Messages app (apparently only for iPhone 6 and newer version of the smartphone), Apple News available to UK users, and a slightly different shift key for the built-in keyboard.

On the Mac side of things, OS X 10.11.1 El Capitan features compatibility improvements for Microsoft Office 2016, reliability improvements to the installer during the upgrade to OS X El Capitan, enhancements to VoiceOver, some Mail fixes and other tweaks. I have tested all the public beta builds on my MacBook Air with good results, so I don't expect any issues with the final release.

Apple Watch users who install watchOS 2.0.1 can mostly expect to experience fewer issues now. Aside from the new emoji, there are no other major changes or improvements. There are, however, quite a few bug fixes in tow, which solve issues like software updates stalling and sensors staying on "indefinitely" while Siri measures the user's heart rate.

Image Credit: Vibrant Image Studio / Shutterstock
Windows 10 is a great platform for advertising

Publié: octobre 21, 2015, 7:38pm CEST par Nick Jakubowski

The latest desktop buzz is about Windows 10, the new operating system from Microsoft that’s free to those who have Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. A lot of theories are going around about how Microsoft plans to monetize its software now that the company is giving it away.

Will it be a subscription like Office 365, will it go the advertising route or will it charge for extras, like playing Solitaire? It could very well be any of these options or all but one thing is certain; Microsoft needs to make money from its new and improved operating system.

That’s easier said than done, but one of the classic splits in PPC advertising is the difference between desktop advertising and mobile PPC. It’s true that there are significant differences due to the form factors involved. Desktops have more space like laptops, but Microsoft has been trying to move its Windows users to a more mobile-like experience for a while. It tried to do it with Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 and pushed too hard. It was too much change, too quickly and the user base rebelled.

Good mobile PPC requires the creation of seamless experiences. Standard desktop PPC acts much like old want ads. That’s not to say they don’t work well. Desktop PPC still delivers more clicks than mobile or tablet PPC, but that difference is shrinking. Mobile PPC, in contrast, requires much more thought about how to design ads as part of the overall experience of an application. Screen space is precious on mobile phones. Every pxiel counts.

Will Microsoft start converting its desktop advertising to a more mobile-like experience, is just a speculation, but Microsoft does hint on that on the front page of their Ads-in-Apps page, "Not just ads. Experiences".

Bing and Cortana are baked directly into the browser and OS. You probably already know about Bing, Microsoft’s search engine and ad platform, but Cortana is new. Cortana is Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s Siri. It is a personal assistant software baked into the operating system, Microsoft’s new Edge browser, and a new ecosystem of apps that run on Android and iOS that can connect to Cortana.

Since Bing is also baked into Edge for search (though it can be changed), and Cortana uses Bing to search as well, it’s just one small step for a Cortana request to include a PPC ad or two through Bing Ads. Indeed, Bing Ads General Manager David Pann posted a blog post talking about how query volume gains are expected to rise 10 to 15 percent by September from new users and existing users of Bing, likely from Cortana requests. And that’s not to mention the additional impressions from Windows applications. Microsoft states that it generates about 8 million impressions a month from Microsoft Apps across PCs and tablets.

At this point, Google, excuse me, Alphabet better watch out. Microsoft is really gunning for advertising dollars. But if you’re an advertiser, especially a mobile one, then you can’t ignore Bing or Windows app ads any longer.

With Windows 10, Microsoft doesn’t have to worry about how Windows phones were a flop. Instead, they’ve delivered an advertising platform right to every person who clicks that upgrade button. Plus, if Cortana starts offering up ads in cross-platform applications, then they have an advertising wedge into nearly every smartphone on the planet.

If Microsoft’s goal is to bust down the barriers between desktop, tablet, and smartphone experiences, and it does seem to be that way, then Windows 10 is a heck of a good start, at least for advertisers. Time will tell how user reaction to the new interface now and over time will affect their computing and PPC habits.

Nick Jakubowski is part of the Adficient SEO Services team.

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

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Microsoft's cheapest Surface Book is joined by a new dGPU model

Publié: octobre 21, 2015, 7:24pm CEST par Mark Wilson

The Surface Book range just keeps on growing. After the initial launch, Microsoft added a 1TB model and today another makes its way to the Microsoft Store. Bringing the number of options up to seven, there is now a 128GB dGPU available.

This means that Microsoft now has a discrete GPU Surface Book in all four capacities: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Apart from the addition of the dGPU, the specs are the same as the entry-level Surface Book, and $200 has been added to the price.

$1,699 gets you the 128GB, Core Intel i5, 8GB, dGPU variant of the Surface Book. As this model has just been added, it offers the best opportunity for anyone keen to get their hands on a Surface Book as soon as possible. While there are wait times of several weeks on all other models, this new one is currently shipping from 26 October.

The new addition will also come as great news for would be Surface Book owners who had been looking for a dGPU but didn’t like the idea of shelling out $1,899 for the privilege. If you want to get hold of one, head over to the Microsoft Store -- although Microsoft is still to release benchmarks to back up its performance claims.
Barnes and Noble releases waterproof NOOK GlowLight Plus

Publié: octobre 21, 2015, 6:48pm CEST par Brian Fagioli

Reading a book on a traditional tablet, such as the iPad, is a passable experience. However, a dedicated reader with an e-ink display is much superior for reading. Not only is it more comfortable for your eyes, but it works better in the sun too. Not to mention the super-long battery life.

While Amazon's Kindle e-readers are all the rage, Barnes and Noble's e-ink Nook models are great too. Choosing one over the other is more of a personal preference, really. Today, Barnes and Noble unveils the all-new waterproof NOOK GlowLight Plus with 300 dpi. Yes, you can safely read books in the bathtub or in the pool. This is a huge benefit.

"NOOK GlowLight Plus has an advanced design that allows it to withstand water and dust, so customers can read at the beach, in the bathtub or alongside the pool without worry. The company designed the first-ever waterproof and dustproof NOOK for customers who requested a durable, portable design for their reading device", says Barnes and Noble.

The book-seller further says, "its sleek build, seamless construction and aluminum body make NOOK GlowLight Plus as beautiful as it is durable for an elegant and enjoyable reading experience. With a stylish, textured white border and a bronze-colored aluminum back, NOOK GlowLight Plus has a premium look and feel at an affordable price. Customers can effortlessly carry thousands of books in a lightweight device, featuring NOOK’s slimmest design ever. Weighing just 6.9 ounces, it is perfectly portable in any purse, bag or jacket pocket for reading on the go".

While you might question the need for a waterproof e-reader, I have seen many situations where it would be useful. As someone who goes on a tropical cruise each year, I see many people using Nooks and Kindles while lounging next to the pool or while relaxing at the beach. Having to worry about splashes and overall durability really sours the attempt at carefree book consumption.

The NOOK GlowLight Plus is IP67 certified, meaning it can be submerged in fresh water for up to 30 minutes. The maximum depth is only 3 feet, however, so it's more suited for reading in the bath.

The NOOK GlowLight Plus comes with some perks too, such as three free books and a $5 credit. My favorite benefit, however, is the free lifetime in-store support. An e-reader makes a great gift, but I do not want to become someone's dedicated tech support. With a Nook, my friend or family member can go into the physical store for help, while leaving me alone.

If you are interested in buying the bezel-heavy NOOK GlowLight Plus, you can pick it up today in-store or purchase it online here. The price is a very reasonable $129 and it does not contain advertisements like some Kindle models.
Scholarship scheme aims to attract new female developers

Publié: octobre 21, 2015, 5:21pm CEST par Ian Barker

We reported last month that women only make up 10 percent of the IT security workforce and there's similar under representation across the tech sector.

To address this, freelance developer network Toptal is announcing a scholarship scheme to support and empower women aspiring to become professional software engineers.

Women from across the world of any education level can apply to win one of 12 scholarships over the next year. Winners will receive a $5,000 scholarship and weekly one-on-one technical training and mentorship from a Toptal senior software engineer to help them pursue their goals.

"Countless studies have shown that teams with a greater diversity of backgrounds and opinions consistently perform better and drive more innovation. This is something with which we're intimately familiar at Toptal. Our core team and engineering network members come from all over the world and all walks of life," says Toptal COO and Co-Founder Breanden Beneschott. "We're extremely intent on building the most innovative, talented network in the world, and building a more gender diverse community is critical towards being able to accomplish that".

Scholarship winners will be able to use the money in any way that helps them pursue their ambitions to become future software engineers. For example they could use it to help cover the cost of tuition fees, pay for courses, or pay themselves salary while they work on open source or start-up endeavors.

"In today's tech industry, quality education can come from so many different valuable places, and that’s something that this scholarship really embraces," says Anna Chiara Bellini, Director of Engineering at Toptal. "Giving winners access to top quality mentorship on topics of their choosing and $5,000 with very few strings attached will really allow them to learn and improve their skills as they prefer, instead of being locked into a rigid educational program".

To apply for a Toptal Scholarship, applicants must make an open source contribution on GitHub and write a blog post describing the experience, the problems they had to solve, and what they learned from it.

More information on how to apply and a how to guide to making a GitHub contribution are available on the Toptal site.

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Large number of businesses use Windows 10, claims security firm

Publié: octobre 21, 2015, 5:19pm CEST par Sam Pudwell

New research from end-point security software firm Avecto, conducted at this year's IP EXPO Europe event in London, has found that 54 percent of enterprises are already using Windows 10.

Microsoft’s latest and arguably greatest operating system has enjoyed a strong start to life, especially in the business environment where it is already making more headway than its predecessor Windows 8.

Looking at the bigger picture, a recent study by Spiceworks found that 40 percent of businesses intent to upgrade to Windows 10 within a year and that the current penetration rate for businesses with 1,000 employees or more is 22.7 percent.

Mark Austin, co-founder and CEO at Avecto said: "With Microsoft setting a target of 1 billion devices to be migrated by 2017, it’s clear that Windows 10 will be a dominant force in the years to come. With an increasing number of organizations contemplating a move to Windows 10, we’ve experienced an uplift in the number of customers asking us to support them in their migration. The addition of Windows 10 support to Defendpoint provides a consistent approach to managing privileges and applications across all Windows endpoints, while sandboxing all web based threats".

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

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Self-encrypting Western Digital drives have serious security flaws and backdoors

Publié: octobre 21, 2015, 4:51pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Security researchers have discovered that a number of Western Digital drives -- including many My Passport and My Book devices -- are blighted with serious vulnerabilities that leave encrypted data stored on them accessible by attackers. The self-encrypting drives were found to be so insecure that it was possible to recover data without the need for the relevant password.

A paper published at the end of September provides details of how some Western Digital drives are susceptible to brute force type attacks, and there are even some models which store the decryption key on the drive. Western Digital would almost certainly rather people were talking about its purchase of SanDisk, but people are more likely to be interested in the company's seemingly terrible approach to security.

The research paper has now been published to the Full Disclosure mailing list after Western Digital had been notified of the findings. There is a lengthy list of complaints about the security of the drives, including the fact that a random number generator used to create encryption keys is not very random at all. The paper explains that "the RNG generator of the JMS538S has been shown to be predictable, as it returns 255 different bytes in a specific order".

The method of seeding used to protect the key is also laughably weak. A 32-bit value derived from the time of key creation is used, greatly reducing the amount of time and processing power required to execute a successful brute force attack.

But the problems do not end there The researchers also found serious security problems with Western Digital firmware upgrade process:

Another attack vector on every WD we analyzed, is the update mechanism of WD. The firmware update of the bridges and the emulated CD-ROM is done by undocumented vendor-specific SCSI commands, that is executable post-authentication. The firmware and virtual CD are not digital signed or cryptographically secured from tampering and modification.

Western Digital is yet to comment on the findings, or given indication of whether patches will be issued.

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Baby boomers spend more time online than millennials

Publié: octobre 21, 2015, 4:28pm CEST par Ian Barker

It's easy to assume that younger generations who have grown up with the internet spend more time online, but new research suggests that this isn't the case.

The 2015 State of the User Experience report from content delivery specialist Limelight Networks time spent online in the past year has dramatically increased, with 45 percent of respondents spending more than 15 hours a week on their laptop, tablet or phone.

But perhaps surprisingly the group spending the most time online is baby boomers, those aged 51-69. More than half (51 percent) are online 15 hours a week, as opposed to Millennials (18-33 year olds) at just 41 percent.

There's also a change in how long we're prepared to wait for sites to load on mobile devices. Last year, users were asked if they would be willing to wait longer for a website to load on a mobile device as opposed to a laptop or desktop, and 44 percent said they would. This year, the results are startlingly different, only 35 percent say they would be willing to wait longer on a mobile device, and nearly 40 percent expect equally fast-loading sites, regardless of how they're accessed.

Despite expecting better mobile performance thoughit seems we're becoming more tolerant of poor performance overall. This year, 33 percent said they would leave a website to buy a product from a competitor if the site loaded too slowly, down from 37 percent last year. Plus, in 2015, 72 percent would be willing to give the slow-loading site another try in the future, up from 69 percent last year.

Other findings include the importance of content. Respondents listed social media sites, reading news content and watching video content as their top three online activities, respectively, while reading news content was the most popular in 2014. Ecommerce finished in 5th place, behind researching products online. Whilst social media is the most popular online activity across the board, millennials are spending almost as much time viewing video.

We also want out online experiences to be more personal. In 2014 37 percent indicated they did not want a website to remember them from a previous visit. This year, the results are dramatically different as just 25 percent don’t want a personalized experience.

"Ultimately, consumers want more from their online experience, particularly as the mobile web and video continue their march toward ubiquity," says Jason Thibeault, senior director of marketing strategy at Limelight. "We have more options than ever -- more content, more video, and more shopping. And while patience has increased slightly, people -- whether they are Millennials, Gen X or Baby Boomers -- all expect a personalized, highly-functioning web experience. If not they will look elsewhere. With the explosion in content, branded entertainment, video and e-commerce, the stakes are higher than ever".

More detail is available in the full report which you can get from the Limelight website.

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Samsung introduces a new IoT line of SmartThings devices

Publié: octobre 21, 2015, 3:51pm CEST par Alan Buckingham

The Internet of Things can be a mixed blessing. Sometimes all works as planned and sometimes things go terribly awry. Things are getting better, though. The trick is compatibility and we aren't there yet, but things keep improving and moving forward.

Now Samsung is beefing up its line of SmartThings products. This isn't new, but only improved. The company is doubling up its efforts, but others will need to adopt the standard, or any standard for that matter.

The centerpiece of this technology is the hub -- you need that for everything to work. Samsung has worked with other manufacturers to make this as compatible as possible. "It connects all your home’s smart devices. In fact, it’s compatible with over 200 of them, from light bulbs to locks to cameras", the company states.

Once you have the hub then you can begin adding devices -- power outlets, door locks, garage doors mechanisms, alarm systems and much more

The Multipurpose Sensor monitors all manner of activity -- it picks up movement, vibration and other minor disturbances. It can even sense if a valuable object is tampered with or moved.

There is also the usual array of products that includes motion, arrival, and water leak sensors, as well as the smart outlet.

To get started you can get a kit -- "Just released in the United States and online, the SmartThings Home Monitoring Kit, which includes the new SmartThings Hub, two Multipurpose Sensors, a Motion Sensor and an Outlet, makes it even easier to transform your home into a smart home", Samsung says.

The world of home automation can be a bit scary, but it is slowly being tamed as new products come along and things gradually improve. Are you ready to take the plunge?
Smart reporting and auditing gives businesses improved visibility and control

Publié: octobre 21, 2015, 3:16pm CEST par Ian Barker

Business information comes from a variety of sources and it can be difficult to bring all of the separate streams together to extract meaningful data.

Enterprise file services company Egnyte is launching a new Smart Reporting and Auditing service. This allows organizations to build comprehensive dashboards of system-wide analytics around content (creation, editing, viewing and sharing), users, devices, applications, and more.

It uses the company's hybrid technology to provide comprehensive visibility and control across an organization's entire content lifecycle. This includes file infrastructure, which can be in the cloud, on premise, or a mixture of both, as well as user applications and devices.

"There is a tremendous opportunity for organizations to take advantage of all the detailed file analytics and insights we've collected within their infrastructure, applications, and devices", says Isabelle Guis, chief strategy officer at Egnyte. "Our focus on delivering this data in an actionable format will create an unparalleled level of efficiency and security that no other company in our space has the ability to do. It's critical for businesses to have tools like Smart Reporting and Auditing when collaborating internally and externally, not only to optimize file infrastructure and protect against potential threats, but also to gain a competitive advantage".

The service can help to save money by enabling informed, data-driven choices about infrastructure locally and globally -- reducing bandwidth consumption, minimizing support issues, and increasing productivity.

IT leaders can gain unique insights about user, file, and device activity that may be harmful to their organization. The Smart Reporting and Auditing service helps maintain security and compliance with preventative alerts that notify IT about suspicious activities.

It also empowers business users to make smart decisions at every level with relevant, viable information that is delivered straight to their Egnyte interface. IT will have more visibility into the security and efficiency of their entire corporate infrastructure and users will also gain insight into their usage patterns as well as internal and external collaborative efforts.

Egnyte Smart Reporting and Auditing is available now for all new and existing customers and you can find out more on the company's website.

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Microsoft Edge might not get extensions until Windows 10 Redstone in 2016

Publié: octobre 21, 2015, 2:03pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Since the launch of Windows 10, anyone who has joined the Insider program has been treated to a number of updates in the form of preview builds -- particularly on the Fast ring. Regular users have not been so lucky, but Microsoft's Windows 10 roadmap includes a number of Service Pack-style updates on the horizon.

It is through these bigger updates that Microsoft is expected to deliver the long-promised extensions to its Edge. But anyone who is looking to extend the capabilities of Microsoft's browser could have something of a wait on their hands. The next update to Windows 10 -- known as Threshold 2 -- won't bring extensions. In fact, it won’t be until the Windows 10 Redstone update later in 2016 that Edge gets the feature everyone is waiting for. But will it be too late to claw back users from Chrome and Firefox?

Threshold 2 is not really a major update to Windows 10, anyone who is installing the Preview Builds will have an idea of what to expect. There are no major changes to get excited about, but there are a few nips and tucks, and a smattering of new bits and pieces that should keep people happy. While Edge has received a few updates through these builds, extensions remain notable by their absence. The release of Threshold 2 is imminent and, as some have noted, this means it is extremely unlikely that Microsoft will have time to crowbar in extensions.

Redstone, however, is a different matter.

This is a much larger update to Windows 10 which will see Microsoft adding to the core features of the operating system. Insiders are yet to see any releases from this particular update branch, but they will start to creep out towards the end of this year or the beginning of 2016 after Threshold 2 is out in the wild. This is when Edge extensions are most likely to make their first appearance -- Microsoft has said little beyond: "We are bringing support for extensions to Microsoft Edge in a future update".

But by the time most people gain access to extensions, many will have already decided that Edge simply isn't for them. It's great that Microsoft is trying to improve the capabilities of Edge, but there is a very real danger that it will be too little too late. The company has an uphill battle on its hands if it is to gain any sort of significant market share.

Photo credit: T.Dallas / Shutterstock
Microsoft releases Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview Build 10572 to Fast ring

Publié: octobre 21, 2015, 1:35pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

With the first Windows 10 Mobile devices set to arrive in November, there is not much time left for Microsoft to get its new mobile operating system ready for prime time. Development is in full swing, with a new Insider Preview build available now on the Fast ring.

Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview build 10572, just like the one that arrived a week before it, requires users to go back to Windows Phone 8.1 to install it on their smartphones, but it more than makes up for the trouble thanks to all the changes that Microsoft has baked in.

Probably the biggest change is the integration with Windows 10 through Cortana. Missed call notifications on your Windows 10 Mobile devices will show up on your Windows 10 PC through the personal assistant.

Cortana will allow you to send messages straight from your PC, via your smartphone, by simply typing "text" and the name of the person you wish to contact in the personal assistant's search box. You can also trigger this feature with the "text" command. You can reply with a text to folks whose calls you just missed.

Your PC will have to run Windows 10 Insider Preview build 10565 for this to work. It is available via Slow ring right now; ISOs are available as well.

Microsoft has put some thought into this feature as, on top of all this, you can choose which PCs you will get notifications on, so a missed call won't trigger sound alarms all over the place. In Cortana's Notebook settings you can toggle "Missed call notifications" on a per-PC basis -- obviously, this has to be done from a PC and you have to use a single account on all your devices.

Speaking of Cortana, the personal assistant has been made more useful with the addition of a book-and-track-an-Uber feature. Say "Book an Uber" and Cortana will help you get a ride; Add an airport's name to the command and it will help you get an Uber ride to the airport of your choice -- assuming it's recognized by Bing, that is.

Skype integration is also present in this build, with the messaging services being featured in Messaging, Phone and Skype video universal apps. It comes with support for GIFs and an option to let you search your message history. In the Phone app, you can look for contacts from Call History.

Another cool addition is the option to save offline maps on the microSD card, a feature which I am sure users of low-end and mid-range smartphones will immediately embrace.

Microsoft has improved the Photos app and storage settings, making it easy to favorite photos and enhance them, and allow users to install apps straight on the microSD card.

There is a significant number of bug fixes included in Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview Build 10572. Among them is a fix for notifications not being able to be received before unlocking the device and tweaks to Cortana's background activity to improve battery performance. There are also some known issues with this build. Hit the link in the second paragraph for the entire breakdown.

Microsoft says that it has fixed the issue that prevents users from directly upgrading to new Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview builds, like this one, and that a fix will be included with upcoming builds newer than 10575. The software giant also says that it is working on making it possible for users on builds 10536 and 10549 to upgrade straight to the next builds.
Mac and iOS users warned about Apple support scam

Publié: octobre 21, 2015, 12:54pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Windows users have long been the primary targets of all manner of security attacks, but now the tide is turning towards Mac users. In recent years there have been more viruses and malware attacks aimed at OS X, and security company Malwarebytes is now warning that Mac owners could fall victim to support scams. iPhones and iPads are also at risk.

It's a story that will be familiar to PC owners: fake technical support agents offer to remotely connect to a victim's computer to fix a (fake) problem, and then take control of the system and wreak unknown havoc. Apple does have its own, genuine remote support system accessible through ara.apple.com, but fraudulent pages with similar addresses are being used to trick people into installing remote access software.

One such page that Malwarebytes has discovered is ara-apple.com-- clearly very similar to the genuine domain. Rather than being registered to Apple, the domain has been registered through GoDaddy. Victims are encouraged not only to install remote access software to allow the attacker to control their computer, but also to hand over credit card details to pay for the support session. Needless to say, support is not provided.

Malwarebytes says:

We have contacted both the registrar (GoDaddy) and hosting provider (Liquid Web) so that they can take appropriate actions in shutting down these fraudulent websites.

This particular case shows that tech support scammers are resorting to more elaborate ways to social engineer their victims. Perhaps Apple users are even more at risk because they may be less experienced at dealing with these kinds of "errors".

The company goes on to remind people that Apple, just like Microsoft, will never reach out to customers directly to point out computer problems. Any such contact is fraudulent.
What Back to the Future II got right and wrong about 2015

Publié: octobre 21, 2015, 12:36pm CEST par Jamie Hinks

Today is the day Marty McFly visits in Back to the Future Part II, the sequel to Robert Zemeckis’ 1985 masterpiece "Back to the Future".

Now that we’ve finally hit the day portrayed in the film it’s time to give the producers a report card on the things they got right… and wrong.

SEE ALSO: Great Scott! Microsoft celebrates Back to the Future day with a cool hidden Easter egg

What Back to the Future II Got Right

Tablet computers

Apple catapulted tablets into the mainstream with its first iPad back in 2010 that had followed years of various companies playing around the concept of a tablet PC. In Back to the Future II, Marty McFly is asked to sign a tablet by another member of the Hill Valley Preservation Society and, although it’s a lot chunkier than the current batch of tablets, it was still a tablet.

Video calling

Online video calling is second nature in the real year 2015 with Skype and FaceTime used almost more than regular mobile phones to keep in contact with people. This was the thing that Zemeckis managed to get almost completely correct in a scene where the TV is used to make a call in full screen with the smaller image in the corner making it look not unlike FaceTime.

Flat-screen wall-mounted TVs

He got even closer to the modern day when it came to visualizing what TV would be like in the future and including a large flat-screen wall-mounted TV on Marty McFly’s wall.The TV looks suspiciously like any Samsung, LG, Sony or other branded TV set that you would expect to find in a local electronics store. The movie even made sure that the aspect ratio of the TV was 16×9 and not 4×3 that was preferred up until widescreen became the common standard.

Wearables

It’s projected that everyone will be completely addicted to wearables in the coming years and their invention didn’t go unseen by McFly’s kids of the future in 2015 who sit chomping away at dinner complete with virtual reality headsets and clunky smart watches that are akin to some of a wrist-chunks on the market right now. The headsets in Back to the Future II allow you to make and receive calls, watch TV and connect in with the phone system used by everyone in the house.

Smart Home

When Jennifer is escorted home by the cops and realizes she’s in the future, she is reminded that lights should be programmed for when you get home, much like what you can now do in a smart home right now.

Biometrics

Fingerprint and eye scanning technology is scattered about in Back to the Future II much like it is in real life today with everything from letting yourself into the house to paying for a taxi with your thumbprint as used by creator Zemeckis. It mirrors the modern day where biometric technology has eventually found its way onto our mobile devices and we can use that in conjunction with technology inside taxis to pay for a ride home, and plays a big part in immigration at US airports.

Hoverboards

Okay, so these aren’t as widespread as in Back to the Future II but there are companies working on hoverboards, including Lexus, even if they have restrictions. Still, a hoverboard is a hoverboard.

What Back to the Future II Got Wrong

No Internet

One of the biggest boobs that Back to the Future II failed to notice was the Internet and it is conspicuous by its complete absence from the realization of 2015.

Fax Machines Reign Supreme

Fax machines have long been replaced by email as a form of electronically transmitting a form and few organizations still rely on them as heavily as the film foresaw, where faxes were spilling out of machines and there is even the mention of dust-repellent paper. Imagine that!

The double tie phenomenon and other fashion faux pas

Marty McFly the 2015 edition decided that one tie just wasn’t going to cut it and took to wearing two separate pieces of material hanging from his neck at once that made it look like he was keeping one to give to his friend later on.

It wasn’t just Marty going double with other people donning the same look and it’s something that hasn’t as yet found its way onto the catwalks. Further to that, most of the clothes worn were hideously old fashioned that people in the real 2015 wouldn’t be seen dead in them. Not even the hipsters!

Self-tying shoes

Marty only has to tap his shoes to make them lace up and, even though Nike did unveil a limited release shoe based on Marty’s sneakers, it definitely hasn’t started to be the standard way we lace our shoes. We have slip-ons for that after all.

Flying cars

Look at most films that have a peek at the future and the flying car is one of the standard components in almost every one. We still haven’t been blessed by the flying car and, even though driverless cars are on the way, we will be putting up with roads for some time yet.

Automation and robotics

The arrival of robotics and everything being automated was a huge part of Back to the Future II, however, we haven’t handed over dog walking to robots and litter bins are not remote controlled just yet.

Among the other things Back to the Future II got wrong were the cinemas showing Jaws 19, lawyers being completely abolished, the Black & Decker Hydrator, zappers, x-ray vision and the distinct lack of mobile phones even though they had already been invented in full brick form by the time the film came out.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
Tim Cook: We shouldn't have to choose between privacy and security

Publié: octobre 21, 2015, 12:16pm CEST par Sead Fadilpašić

In a debate held on Monday, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook argued with government agencies over privacy and backdoor issues once again, stressing that a backdoor is not a good solution.

According to a Bloomberg report, he squared off with NSA Director Admiral Michael Rogers at the Wall Street Journal Digital Live technology conference in Laguna Beach, California.

Rogers kicked things off by saying that it’s just a matter of time before someone abuses the strong encryption US tech companies offer. He did say, however, that "strong encryption is in our nation’s best interest", but when asked about impenetrable encryption, he said no.

"That’s not what I said", he answered. "Strong encryption is in our nation’s best interests".

"Security, encryption: good. The ability to generate insights as to criminal behavior and threats to our nation’s security, also good", he added. "It’s only a matter of time I believe until someone does something destructive", Rogers said.

Tim Cook, on the other hand, defended the privacy stance, saying the issue will only become more important in the future.

"It will become increasingly more important to more and more people over time as they realize that intimate parts of their lives are in the open and being used for all sorts of things", Cook said.

But he also said that the US should not be forced to choose between privacy and security.

"Nobody should have to decide privacy and security. We should be smart enough to do both", Cook told the conference, calling any compromise a "cop-out".

"Both of these things were essential parts of our Constitution. It didn’t say prioritize this one above all of these", he said. "I mean, these guys were really smart folks and they held all of these things and said all of these are what it means to be an American".

But the backdoor is a big no-no: "You can’t have a back door in the software because you can’t have a back door that’s only for the good guys", Cook said.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
CFOs seek the truth through big data

Publié: octobre 21, 2015, 12:02pm CEST par Ian Barker

Chief financial officers (CFOs) want their company data to provide accurate insights and actionable business transformation.

This is one of the findings of a new survey by specialists in cloud corporate performance management Adaptive Insights. The global survey of 435 CFOs focuses on data analytics trends, business collaboration strategies, the top financial mistakes most companies make and 2016 plans and predictions.

According to the results CFOs want data to provide a -- rather Orwellian sounding -- 'single source of truth' from which to derive business insights. They predict that the amount of data they manage will greatly increase by 2020, and they face significant data challenges with respect to the accuracy and timeliness of data.

The survey also asked about the top financial mistakes most companies make, 69 percent of CFOs say that keeping data siloed is a major error while 40 percent name having inaccurate data for forecasting and planning.

"Faced with a challenging macroeconomic environment and the need to provide a more holistic view of the business, CFOs are increasingly becoming the 'knowledge executive' in the organization," says Tom Bogan, CEO of Adaptive Insights. "As both the volume and sources of data increase, CFOs are working across departments, driving toward a single source of 'truth' that gives them a more consistent, comprehensive view of the organization in real time. This view will ultimately provide more accurate business insights and inform more effective business strategy".

Data volumes are expected to grow, with a third of CFOs predicting the amount of data they manage will increase by over 50 percent within the next five years, 3 percent expect an increase of over 1,000 percent. The number of systems used is an issue too, with 41 percent of finance teams already managing data from three to five source systems and 22 percent pulling information from as many as five to 10 systems. Sales data is named as the top non-financial information they need to access by 58 percent of respondents.

Accuracy and integrity of data is cited as one of the most important characteristics needed for actionable reports and insights by 65 percent of respondents followed by timeliness or shelf-life of data by 42 percent.

When asked to look ahead to 2016 CFOs say that a potential rise in interest rates (48 percent), mergers and acquisitions activity (38 percent), cybersecurity (32 percent) and political volatility (29 percent) are the top factors likely to impact their business.

More information on how CFOs see the role of big data can be found on the Adaptive Insights site.

Image Credit: IMG_191 / Shutterstock
Great Scott! Microsoft celebrates Back to the Future day with a cool hidden Easter egg

Publié: octobre 21, 2015, 8:53am CEST par Wayne Williams

Today, as you’ll no doubt be aware, is the day that Marty McFly travels to in Back to the Future II. We might not have proper (fully working) hover boards, flying cars or pizza hydrators in this version of 2015, but we do have a lot of technology that would have seemed very futuristic to someone visiting from the 1980s.

Microsoft believes that the future is precisely on schedule and is celebrating Back to the Future day with a cool Easter egg on its website. Here’s how to find it.

Firstly go to Microsoft’s site here.

Nothing out of the ordinary to see, right? But type 'Outatime' and enjoy your trip into the future.

If you were a time traveler from 30 years ago, there’s no question that Microsoft Band, Lumia devices, Surface, and Xbox One would seem amazing to you.

And while it’s not yet available, Microsoft’s HoloLens is something both Marty and Doc would definitely appreciate. In fact the Doc appears to be wearing a version of it in the picture at the top of the page...
D-Link announces 180 degree Wi-Fi cameras (DCS-2630L and DCS-960L)

Publié: octobre 21, 2015, 1:47am CEST par Brian Fagioli

Having cameras in one's home was once was reserved for the wealthy -- they were expensive and usually required professional installation. Thanks to modern technology, especially Wi-Fi, home surveillance can be achieved by anyone. Of course, not all cameras are created equal -- performance and quality will vary by both price and manufacturer.

Today, D-Link announces two new Wi-Fi cameras that are packed with features, but more importantly, they are affordable too. The coolest aspect? They offer 180 degree recording, something you do not typically see at this price. Of course, you also get D-Link's legendary quality and dependability.

"Other Wi-Fi cameras on the market offer on average a 130 degree or less field-of-view, while the new D-Link Ultra-Wide View Cameras provide wall-to-wall surveillance coverage from a single device -- perfect for large rooms and areas with multiple entry points. Using unique de-warping technology, the 180 degree Wide Eye lens is able to take a 'fish eye' view and transform it into a more viewable video stream with less distortion. Built-in night vision offers up to 16-feet of viewing in total darkness, and with two-way audio users can respond to what they see and hear", says D-Link.
[content.us.dlink.com]
The manufacturer further says, "along with the HD video quality, the cameras can be easily accessed and managed with the free mydlink Lite app from iOS and Android devices, as well as Windows Phones. In addition, built-in 802.11AC Wi-Fi technology enables customers to connect the camera to the 5GHz band, providing better bandwidth for streaming HD video and extended range for more flexible placement".

If you are nervous to store recorded video in the cloud, these new D-Link cameras are for you. They both offer a micro SD card slot so you can save the files locally. Not only is this more secure and convenient, but cost effective too. You can of course access the camera feed with Android and iOS, but Windows Phone too? Wow, that is very appreciated, D-Link. You have definitely scored some points with BetaNews readers with that one.

Both cameras feature night vision, plus motion and sound detection. You can get alerts on your smartphone when movement is detected, or if there is a loud noise such as glass breaking. Of course, you only want to enable this feature when no one will be home -- including pets. Getting an alert every time your cat jumps on the couch or dog barks will get annoying quickly.

Both cameras, the DCS-2630L and DCS-960L, are very similar, except for a few things (including appearance). The former features 1080p, but the latter is only 720p. Also, theDCS-2630L features two-way audio. Yes, you can not only hear what is going on in your home, but speak to your family and pets from afar too.

So, how much will these cameras cost? The superior DCS-2630L is $199 and the DCS-960L is $159. Quite frankly, the step-up to 1080p and two-way audio makes the extra $40 a no-brainer to me, but you really can't go wrong either way.

Do you currently use Wi-Fi cameras in your home or business? Tell me in the comments.

DCS-2630L

DCS-960L