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• 

  Apple, give us more like THIS!

  Publié: janvier 21, 2016, 10:57pm CET par Joe Wilcox

  

  My Apple love-affair started with the allure of hardware—the original Bondi Blue iMac in December 1998—but stayed true because of software. I found Mac OS 8.5.1 to be substantially more satisfying than Windows Me and to support broader range of applications than NT 4. The experience carried forward, particularly during the iLife era and priority placed on content creation that matters to most people. The company caught the transition from documents to digital media as main content created by most people

  Over the past couple years, Apple apps and operating systems feel stuck in the last decade. They're directionless. But as 2016 slowly advances, i see hopeful hints that software innovation will rise to the standard set by the company in the early 2000s. Fresh example, which is but a curiosity to some, foreshadows much: Music Memos; released yesterday.

  The free iOS app lets the user "record high-quality, uncompressed audio" on the fly, using the device's built-in mic or an externally-attached one. The app is "optimized for acoustic guitar and piano", which is smart design, and provides background instruments for playback and continued refinement by the artist.

  The new app compliments other Apple offerings, not the least being GarageBand. The tighter creative fit is Apple Music, which the company positions as a platform for artist-fan engagement as much as being a streaming service. The question to ask: Why should young, burgeoning artists break out on YouTube? And to answer: They can, but why not Apple Music, too?

  Memos in the app's name is uninspired because the connotations are all wrong for the functionality. But that's nitpicking, considering the creative firestorm that the music app could unleash.

  Apple's empire is built as much on music as iPhone, but for longer, slower beneficial burn, starting with iTunes (January 2001); iPod (October 2001); iTunes Music Store (April 2003); and GarageBand (January 2004). But the long legacy has been more about consumption, despite GarageBand's dozen-year tenure. iPhone is a music studio in your palm that Memos makes approachable and, more importantly, immediate. Brilliant melodies come to you and are forgotten if not captured.

  Apple survived the long Windows Winter by developing applications that appealed to a core content-creation customer demographic—artists, of any ilk. Many professional tools remain, but the development energy that brought forth iLife long ago expired. Sure the apps are available for Mac, and also iOS, but they nevertheless have long languished on the Apple tree.

  Music Memos is a refreshing reminder about what made Apple great for long loyal customers during the Windows Winter and for the newcomers who followed: Software. Similarly, iOS 9.3 is a promising point release that follows this theme. Apple adds meaningful features alongside the expected bug fixes. Breathe deep; feels like Spring is coming to Apple software development.

  Photo Credit: Regissercom/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Griffin PowerDock Pro Premium Charging Station now available

  Publié: janvier 21, 2016, 8:46pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  On my nightstand next to my bed, I have an iPad, Kindle Voyage and iPhone which I am often charging. While I like to keep a tidy and organized home, this ends up being a spaghetti-like mix of wires. With that said, I am sure there are people with many more devices than I, including families with multiple tablets. I shudder at the thought of all of the USB outlet adapters and cables everywhere.

  Yes, it is a "first world problem", but a problem nonetheless. Today, Griffin begins shipping its elegant solution that could remedy this woe for many. You see, the PowerDock Pro Premium Charging Station will not only charge your devices, but more importantly, make it a tidy and attractive affair too.

  "Redesigned from the ground up with new features suggested by users, PowerDock Pro is more powerful than ever with intelligent self-switching ports that provide a full 12 watts of optimal charging for any iOS or Android device. Its weighted base holds tablets safely and securely in place, and offers homes and offices more power than ever with five charging bays", says Griffin.

  The popular accessory manufacturer further says, "PowerDock Pro's built-in ChargeSensor circuitry matches and delivers the right rate of charging power to each device for the fastest charge possible. Each charging bay is designed to accommodate any smartphone or tablet without removing its case and its new built-in cord management system and power supply eliminates messy cables. Simply lift off the top of PowerDock Pro to reveal hidden cable storage".

  

  Griffin details the following features.

  • Five-bay charging dock for tablets, smartphones and other USB-charged devices.
  • Charge iOS and Android devices on the same charger.
  • Up to 12 watts of charging power for each bay allows max-rate charging for up to five full-sized tablets simultaneously.
  • ChargeSensor circuit senses and delivers proper charge to connected device without possibility of overcharging.
  • Built-in cord management and power supply eliminates tangled, messy cables
  • Stable, weighted base holds tablets safely and securely, even in their cases.

  While there have been similar products before, Griffin has seemingly created something that aims to address many details and it looks like a winner. Even the price is fairly reasonable at $129. True, there may be less expensive solutions found on sites like Amazon, but when it comes to electricity, I never select unknown manufacturers.

  

  If you want to buy the Griffin PowerDock Pro Premium Charging Station, it is available exclusively at CDW here. Believe it or not, however, it is currently showing a discounted price of $76.99, so you should probably act fast.

  Will you buy the Griffin PowerDock Pro Premium Charging Station? Tell me in the comments.

  
• 

  Google declares war on evil advertisements

  Publié: janvier 21, 2016, 8:34pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  I like advertisements. Whether on the web, radio or television, I generally appreciate them for notifying me of new products and services. Think about it -- how else would you learn about a new breakfast cereal, video game or toothpaste, to name a few? Face it, our economy depends on ads.

  Of course, not all advertisements are created equally. Some are misleading, offensive, and in the case of the web, can even deliver malware. Luckily, Google -- a company that profits from ads -- has our collective backs. Today, the search giant declares war on evil advertisements, and shares how it is fighting back.

  "Bad ads can ruin your entire online experience, a problem we take very seriously. That's why we have a strict set of policies for the kinds of ads businesses can run with Google -- and why we've invested in sophisticated technology and a global team of 1,000+ people dedicated to fighting bad ads. Last year alone we disabled more than 780 million ads for violating our policies -- a number that's increased over the years thanks to new protections we've put in place", says Sridhar Ramaswamy, SVP, Ads and Commerce, Google.

  Ramaswamy further says "some bad ads, like those for products that falsely claim to help with weight loss, mislead people. Others help fraudsters carry out scams, like those that lead to 'phishing' sites that trick people into handing over personal information. Through a combination of computer algorithms and people at Google reviewing ads, we're able to block the vast majority of these bad ads before they ever get shown".

  Google shares some of the types of ads that it is targeting.

  • Counterfeiters
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Weight loss scams
  • Phishing
  • Unwanted software

  As someone who is a dedicated tech support person for countless friends and family members, I can't thank Google enough for this. While seasoned Internet users can generally know how to detect misleading or phishing-based ads, many inexperienced web users can take the bait. This can be a costly and embarrassing affair.

  Google is taking a strong stance against ads in mobile apps too. If you are a developer and you choose to go against the search giant's stated rules and policies, you could end up losing a lot of potential advertising money.

  In fact, in 2015 alone, Google removed access to over 25,000 existing offending apps. A shocking 1.4 million applications were rejected outright. One of the largest offenses is one that is a personal pet peeve -- putting buttons close to ads to encourage accidental clicks.

  Speaking of accidental clicks, the company is working to end this scourge as well. Using special technology, Google can detect if a click was truly intended or accidental. If the latter, the advertisement won't launch and the advertiser won't receive a charge. So cool.

  Regardless of your opinion of Google or advertisements, you must admit that its efforts in this regard are noble and worthwhile. Hell, the company has over 1,000 employees dedicated to this cause exclusively -- impressive. The only losers are the scammers and other bad guys. You know what? Good!

  Photo credit: Sangoiri / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 11102 arrives on the Fast ring

  Publié: janvier 21, 2016, 7:30pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Microsoft promised late last year that it would be speeding up the rate that new Windows 10 preview builds arrived on the Fast ring in 2016, and (so far) it’s been as good as its word. A mere week after Build 11099 was pushed out to insiders, there’s a new build ready to install.

  Build 11099 was rather unexciting for the most part, as it simply introduced structural improvements to OneCore, the core that Windows 10 shares across devices. Build 11102 is a little more interesting and introduces one welcome new feature for Microsoft Edge.

  While Edge is a decent enough browser, it does lack certain features and polish. There’s still no sign of add-on support for it, for example. Build 11102 doesn’t right that particular wrong, but it does add a new history menu to the fledgling browser.

  Right-clicking on the back and forward buttons in Microsoft Edge will now provide quick access to your recently visited websites in the current tab. Baby steps maybe, but it’s still a good inclusion and hopefully the first of many enhancements for Edge.

  Because this is a Fast ring release there are plenty of known issues to be aware of. Ironically, one of the known issues concerns how known issues are communicated with Insiders. The plan was to make this information available via the Insider Hub, but a bug is currently preventing content from showing up in a timely manner, so Microsoft has gone back to including the list of known problems in its blog posts until the bug can be fixed.

  Other known issues with the new build are as follows:

  • Some PC games will crash switching from windowed mode to full screen, upon game resolution change, or upon launch due to a bug in Windows graphics stack. We have observed this with The Witcher 3, Fallout 4, Tomb Raider, Assassin’s Creed, and Metal Gear Solid V but it may occur with other titles as well.
  • With this build (and with the last build), applications such as Narrator, Magnifier, and third-party assistive technologies may experience intermittent issues or crashes. If you rely on screen readers or other software, you should not use this build. This issue will be fixed with the next build.
  • You might see a WSClient.dll error dialog after logging in. We’re working on a fix for this but as a workaround, you can run the following in Command Prompt with administrative rights: schtasks /delete /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\WS\WSRefreshBannedAppsListTask" /F
  • While attempting to update to this build, your PC may show a message that your wireless card is not compatible with Windows 10. The workaround is to visit the support page for your PC or wireless card and install the newest driver that is available.
  • The Connect button does not show up in Action Center.

  Photo credit: charnsitr / Shutterstock

  
• 

  O&O RegEditor is a handy free REGEDIT alternative

  Publié: janvier 21, 2016, 6:28pm CET par Mike Williams

  

  O&O Software has shipped O&O RegEditor, a powerful freeware Registry editor for Windows Vista and later.

  The package extends RegEdit with enhanced search tools, full copy and paste support, improved editing and more.

  RegEditor’s compact download includes both 32 and 64-bit editions. It’s portable -- just unzip and go -- and the REGEDIT-like navigation means you’ll feel at home right away.

  A smarter search option quickly displays all your matches in a single panel, rather than forcing you to step through them one by one.

  You can then scan the list of hits, double-click anything interesting to jump straight to that value, or process multiple values all at once -- maybe deleting everything in a click or two.

  Select one or more keys and it’s now possible to copy them, and their subkeys, and paste them somewhere else.

  Editing is more convenient because it doesn’t take place in a separate window which prevents you doing anything else.

  Instead, double-clicking a value displays it in an Edit panel. You can then enter some new value immediately, or, if you want to compare this to some other part of the Registry, browse to another key in the main window, while the first value remains accessible.

  We noticed some smaller technical improvements, too, including the ability to export Registry keys in XML as well as the standard REG.

  There’s a small oddity in RegEditor’s Favorites support. In theory this builds on REGEDIT, as it can export and print your Favorites list, but for some reason it doesn’t import REGEDIT’s own list -- not even as an option.

  Still, overall O&O RegEditor is a solid tool with more than enough REGEDIT improvements to justify the download. Give it a try.

  O&O RegEditor is a freeware application for Windows Vista and later.

  
• 

  This is how to get a free replacement power cord for your Surface Pro

  Publié: janvier 21, 2016, 4:37pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  As you may already be aware, Microsoft has discovered that in certain situations the Surface Pro’s power cable could overheat, making it a potential fire hazard.

  This is a problem that affects cables for the Surface Pro, Surface Pro 2, and Surface Pro 3 on devices purchased before March 15 2015 (in the US) or July 15 2015 (in all other territories). Microsoft has issued a voluntary recall, and you can now request a replacement power cord. The process is fairly simple, and this is what you need to do.

  READ MORE: Microsoft to recall millions of Surface Pro power cords over potential fire risk

  Provided you purchased a Surface Pro, Surface Pro 2 or Surface Pro 3 in the specified timeframe, go to www.surface.com/powercord and review the recall details. There’s a handy FAQ section there too.

  Assuming you qualify for a replacement, sign in with your Microsoft account details and verify your information. This will be filled in automatically, and you can add or amend any details. Next select your product and place your request.

  Replacement cords will arrive within 4-6 business days. Microsoft will send you an email containing the order status and tracking details.

  The company also provides the following details for power cord care which it’s worth familiarizing yourself with:

  • Avoid twisting or pinching your power cord.
  • Don’t wrap your power cord too tightly, especially around the power brick. Instead, wrap it using loose coils rather than tight angles.
  • Inspect your power cord regularly, especially where it joins the power brick.
  • Avoid pulling on the power cord when unplugging your Surface. Gently removing the connector from the charging connector can help prevent your power cord from being damaged.

  
• 

  2016 is the year when SSDs will truly take off

  Publié: janvier 21, 2016, 4:27pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  It seems as 2016 will be the year of the SSD (solid-state drive), with more and more IT decision makers saying they’re looking to use the advanced storage technology within their organizations.

  This is according to a Spiceworks Voice of IT survey, done by Crucial, which asked 306 IT decision-makers in Europe and North America about their storage plans.

  Even though hard-disk drives (HDD) are still the most commonly used type of drive, with an adoption rate of 91 percent, SSD disks are gaining popularity. It currently sits at 58 percent, with 18 percent more planning to deploy the technology this year.

  SSD doesn’t seem to have a single defining factor why decision-makers are using it. Instead, it’s a combination of energy efficiency (39 percent), data case management (35 percent) and data center expansion (33 percent). Reliability, price and performance were key consideration points.

  It’s no wonder, really, that organizations are looking to switch to SSD drives, as they’re said to be able to perform everyday tasks six times faster than traditional hard drives. By employing SSDs, businesses can work faster and more efficiently.

  Jonathan Weech, Crucial SSD senior product line manager, said: "How much more productive could your business be if everyone on the team was able to work faster? While it’s widely known that SSDs are significantly faster than hard drives, it’s been difficult to quantify the net impact on organizational productivity -- until now".

  Stephane Rizzetto, Crucial product marketing manager EMEA, added "SSDs transform the pace of business. On an individual level, SSDs allow you to get things done instead of waiting on your computer to load. When you can do more, you can serve more customers, ship more orders, crunch more data, and finish digital tasks faster. On an organizational level, SSDs take this a step further. When everyone is working faster, the business as a whole can move faster, serve customers more efficiently, and outwork the competition".

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

  Photo Credit: Hadrian/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Would you pay up if you received an Ashley Madison blackmail letter like THIS?

  Publié: janvier 21, 2016, 3:52pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  So many companies get hacked these days that it’s almost easy to be blasé about the news of another data breach. If your password gets compromised, you can change it. If your credit card details leak, you can cancel the card. But what happens when an extramarital affairs website you’re a member of gets hacked, and your personal details fall into the wrong hands?

  When Ashley Madison was hacked last year, members had two straight choices -- come clean to their other half, or stay calm and hope it all blew over. Unfortunately, the fallout from the hack continues unabated, and some unfortunate Ashley Madison users have started to receive blackmail letters through the mail. And, for the recipients, the letters are truly terrifying.

  A reader of Graham Cluley’s security website received one such letter and decided to share it with the world. His personal details, and those of another blackmailed user, have been redacted, but you can see the rest of the letter below.

  In it, the blackmailer demands $2000 in bitcoin to keep quiet, and gives the recipient 10 days to pay up or risk having their involvement in Ashley Madison shared not only with their spouse, but with pretty much everyone they know. As the blackmailer puts it:

  You see, [REDACTED], if you don't comply with my demand I am not just going to humiliate you, I am going to humiliate those close to you as well.

  Naturally, the correct response upon receiving a letter such as this would be to contact the police and US Postal Inspectors, but I wonder just how many people would do that?

  If you were signed up to Ashley Madison and you received a letter like this, what would you do?

  

  Photo Credit: www.BillionPhotos.com / Shutterstock.com

  Letter credit: Graham Cluley

  
• 

  IObit Driver Booster debuts new fix-it tool, widens driver update database

  Publié: janvier 21, 2016, 3:49pm CET par Nick Peers

  

  IObit has released a minor, but significant update to its driver update tool, Driver Booster 3.2 FREE. The new release, also available as a performance-enhanced Pro version, adds a new driver fix-it tool.

  The update also includes various optimizations to improve user experience, performance and stability, plus widens the tool’s driver database engine to the latest updates.

  Version 3.2’s headline-grabbing feature is a tool that can fix various device-related errors. It consists of five separate tools for fixing issues with sound, networks, bad resolutions and device errors, plus a tool that can clean out unplugged devices. All five tools are accessible via the toolbox button that appears in the program’s main toolbar.

  The program also claims to have improved a large number of unspecified features to enhance the user experience. Another optimization sees the drive download engine tweaked to improve its download success rate.

  The driver installation engine has also been upgraded with the promise of delivering both smarter and safer driver updates.

  Driver Booster 3.2 also gains a number of driver updates for Realtek Audio ALC8xx, ALC9xx and ALC2xx audio engines, while Intel, AMD and NVIDIA graphics updates have also been implemented. The database also gains an increased number of Windows 10 driver updates across a wider range of devices too.

  The update is rounded off with unspecified minor bug fixes. IObit Driver Booster 3.2 FREE is a free, performance-limited download for PCs running Windows XP or later. A three-PC, one-year Pro license unlocks priority performance, updates and automatic backup tools.

  
• 

  Prediction #9: Intel starts to become irrelevant

  Publié: janvier 21, 2016, 3:13pm CET par Robert X. Cringely

  

  I know I promised that my next 2016 prediction would be Apple’s big acquisition, and I will publish that prediction soon as my #10, but right now I just have to say what a perilous position Intel is in. The company truly risks becoming irrelevant, which is an odd thing to say about a huge, rich outfit that would appear from the outside to pretty much dominate its industry -- an industry the company created. Intel won’t go away, I just think there is a very good chance it’ll no longer matter.

  We’re approaching the end of the closed, proprietary, single source technology era. ARM processors are freely licensed, more open, and much more cost competitive than similar products from Intel or AMD. If you need 10 million chips for your next product do you buy them from Intel? Or do you get a license from ARM and hire a foundry to make them for you?

  The same can be said of operating systems. Do you go buy 10 million licenses from Microsoft, Apple, IBM, or..? Or do you go get a blanket license for Android from Google?

  The interesting questions that will determine the future are:

  Will Intel start making ARM chips? It has done it before: remember StrongARM? If Intel doesn’t re-embrace ARM for at least some of its line it will be a much smaller company in a few years.

  Microsoft’s CEO seems to be quite smart and a good visionary. I am more optimistic about Microsoft’s future now than I’ve been in years. Will Microsoft start making Android products and applications? Porting Office to Android/ARM will be a better strategic decision than when it ported Office to the Mac.

  Back to Intel, the company made a lot of news recently by laying-out a new corporate strategy based on data centers, Internet of Things, and memory -- explicitly de-emphasizing both personal computers (in decline) and mobile (where they haven’t had much success). I think this is smart but unless Intel follows it up with better tech in the very areas ARM has come to dominate the strategy won’t work.

  Just to take one example, there’s a huge opportunity in data centers, which is to say building clouds. Most commercial clouds are based on free, very cheap, and/or open source technology. They use a low cost hypervisor. The disk storage is not as fast, secure, or reliable as it needs to be. We’re going to have some technology burps along the way as these deficiencies both become known and are taken advantage of by the bad guys. When that happens we will start to question our needs -- question the cloud.

  Intel can fix these problems and move on to even greater heights, but I don’t think it knows how.

  
• 

  Google Play gets more downloads, but Apple's App Store leads in revenue

  Publié: janvier 21, 2016, 3:00pm CET par Mihaita Bamburic

  

  Apple's App Store generated 75 percent more revenue than Google Play in 2015, but the latter is now responsible for 100 percent more downloads, according to a new report on the state of the app ecosystem in 2015 by App Annie. Both numbers are higher compared to the previous year.

  App Store has increased its revenue lead to 75 percent from 70 percent in 2014, while Google Play saw its downloads lead rise from 60 percent in the same year. The most important markets were, in Apple's case, China, US and Japan, while for Google the drivers were Brazil, India, Indonesia and Mexico.

  As you might have noticed, Google Play has increased its lead over App Store thanks to downloads from emerging markets, where an increasing number of consumers are purchasing smartphones. Typically, more affordable devices -- which are largely powered by Android -- are proving to be the most popular with shoppers, which helps explain how Google Play has managed this kind of performance.

  Meanwhile, the three aforementioned markets that helped App Store contributed by nearly 90 percent to the revenue growth year-over-year. China is one of the most-important markets for Apple, surpassing US in terms of downloads and generating twice as much revenue compared to 2014. The company has the larger iPhones to thank for this performance. China is the third market in terms of revenue for Apple, behind US and Japan.

  The vast majority of the generated revenue, in the case of both app stores, comes from games, which are responsible for 90 percent of the revenue generated on Google Play and 75 percent when it comes to App Store.

  In US, Google Play downloads surpassed App Store downloads for the first time in 2015, with its share rising to 55 percent from 45 percent a year prior. The opposite can be said about revenue, where App Store continues to hold a very comfortable lead over Google Play.

  "There is still significant room for growth in the mobile app economy", notes App Annie in the report. "Device penetration remains relatively low in a number of emerging markets, and future increases are likely to bolster download growth. Store revenue will continue to grow as audiences broaden and monetization options such as in-app subscriptions gain further traction in the coming year".

  Here are some other interesting findings in the report. When looking at ridesharing and taxi apps, App Annie says that usage has exploded across the globe, with a significant number of iOS and Android users using such offerings. Monetization from dating apps is now also worth mentioning, with Tinder being singled out in this category.

  Video streaming apps are generating more revenue in major markets such as US, China and UK, while leading music streaming apps saw more than double the revenue in 2015 compared to the year prior.

  If you want to learn more, check out the report here. It has to be said that App Annie completely ignores Windows Store in its analysis.

  Photo Credit: Pieter Beens / Shutterstock.com

  
• 

  When it comes to storage, reliability trumps price

  Publié: janvier 21, 2016, 2:36pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  When it comes to storage, saving money is no longer the number one priority for businesses, a new survey by Western Digital Corporation says.

  According to the storage maker’s second annual global survey of CIOs and IT decision-makers, businesses have recognized the positive impact data can have on their bottom line.

  Almost three quarters are growing their storage and archiving capacities, while more than 80 percent are investing in data analytics. Budgets are increasing, as well as build-out initiatives, in order to better store and access data gathered.

  More than half of all businesses surveyed are still not storing all the data they need, and 60 percent are saying that the biggest challenge is being able to quickly access and process data collected.

  "The findings of our survey underscore the increasing value of data, where dependable access through reliable storage systems and devices, is more critical than ever before", said Dave Tang, senior vice president at Western Digital Corporation.

  "As data-driven organizations strive to extract more value from their operational and historical data, advanced architectures like Active Archiving enable data to be accessed easily and cost-effectively to transform data into a competitive advantage. With a reputation for quality and reliability, our storage solutions and devices will play a critical role in the infrastructure build out in 2016 and beyond".

  Cloud is trending, the survey suggests, with decision-makers watching it closely, and identifying it as the leading growth area in terms of budget. The Internet of Things is another big trend, with decision-makers saying it’s driving change within data centers, and saying its impact is biggest in energy, finance, IT/telecom, and manufacturing sectors.

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

  Photo credit: hadescom / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Don't open that Facebook email attachment -- it could be malware

  Publié: janvier 21, 2016, 1:29pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Two weeks ago, the Comodo Threat Research Lab discovered a malware campaign aimed at businesses and consumers using the WhatsApp mobile messaging service. That attack used official looking emails masquerading as WhatsApp content.

  Now Comodo’s researchers have identified a similar phishing campaign targeting Facebook users, which it believes was created by the same group behind the WhatsApp malware.

  The new Facebook campaign tries to represent itself as an email from Facebook which states there is a new message for the recipient.

  The subject headings of the emails, which are similar to those used to spread the WhatsApp malware, include:

  • A brief vocal e-mail was delivered. sele
  • An audio announcement has been delivered! Lucqmc
  • An audible warning has been missed. Yqr
  • You got a vocal memo! Fcqw
  • You recently missed a short audible notice. Rtn
  • Ein Videohinweis wurde vermisst! squy (German for "a video note was missed")

  Comodo says "Each subject line ends with a set of random characters like 'sele' or 'Yqr'. These are most likely being used to bypass antispam products rather than identify the user".

  The malware is in a .zip file, sent as an attachment. Comodo has identified this as a variant of the "Nivdort" malware family.

  Commenting on the findings, Fatih Orhan, Director of Technology for Comodo and the Comodo Threat Research Lab said:

  In this age of cyberattacks, being exposed to phishing is a destiny for every company, well-known or not. It may not be the most groundbreaking attack method cybercriminals use -- but there’s no denying that they’re becoming more clever when crafting their messages. More frequently, they’re using 'too good to be true' promises and action-oriented language in the subject lines to entice recipients to open the emails, click the links or attachments and spread the malware. Users should be cautious of any email that requires information or that redirects to a URL Web page -- and especially if there is a file download.

  
• 

  KillEmAll 5 instantly closes everything on your Windows desktop

  Publié: janvier 21, 2016, 1:08pm CET par Mike Williams

  

  Foolish IT has released the first beta of KillEmAll 5.0, a portable tool designed to close all non-essential applications at the click of a button.

  The program could be very useful in emergencies -- maybe to close all open browser windows if you’ve got a malicious popup -- but is also a handy timesaver whenever you need to clear your desktop in a hurry.

  Basic usage is the same as with previous editions: launch the program, click "Kill Running Processes", confirm that you really mean it, and KillEmAll forcibly shuts down everything non-essential.

  The forcible shutdowns mean you still need to be very careful with this, too: if any of these applications has unsaved work, it’ll be lost.

  KillEmAll 5.0 extends the package by providing more information on running software, and extra control over exactly what will be closed.

  The "Allowed Programs Found" tab lists important and system programs which won’t be closed by default, while anything considered expendable is listed under "Running Programs (Non-Essential)".

  Double-clicking any program name displays a dialog with various properties and attributes, including MD5 and SHA256 hashes.

  You can also create your own whitelist, using extensive and flexible rules (documentation is here), to define programs that should never be closed.

  KillEmAll 5.0 worked well for us, making sensible choices by default (not closing important system processes) while also giving plenty of opportunity for fine-tuning. Just be very sure you’ve saved any work before you try it out.

  KillEmAll 5.0 beta is a free application for Windows XP and later.

  
• 

  Intel introduces 6th generation Core vPro processor family for office PCs

  Publié: janvier 21, 2016, 12:58pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Intel has just announced new processors for office computers. The 6th Generation Intel Core vPro processor family is designed "for the modern workforce" and comes with a few innovations to keep office life tolerable.

  Intel says the new processor offers "2.5 times the performance and a 30-times increase in graphics performance over a 5-year-old device", providing users with much more productive and powerful business tools.

  In terms of safety, there’s the nifty little feature Intel calls the Intel Authenticate Solution – "a hardware-enhanced multi-factor authentication solution that strengthens identity protection". There are three stages of authentications users need to pass in order to confirm their identity -- something they know (a password), something they have (a smartphone or a tablet) and something they are (highly in debt... I mean, a fingerprint scanner!).

  IT can choose from these authentication protocols according to the company policy. The Intel Authenticate Solution is available on Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10. A preview version is also available.

  "With incredible, new, eye-catching designs, added performance, and longer battery life, the 6th Gen Intel Core and Intel Core vPro processors are setting a new standard for business computing", said Tom Garrison, vice president and general manager for the Intel Business Client division. "By also adding enhanced security capabilities in the hardware, Intel has helped to make these newest PCs an integral part of a business’s overall security solution, making users more secure and productive than ever before".

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

  Photo Credit: Rose Carson/Shutterstock

  
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  IEEE: 2016 will be the year of the drone, but there's bad news for MP3 players, digital cameras, and wearables

  Publié: janvier 21, 2016, 11:55am CET par Wayne Williams

  

  43 percent of UK consumers expect drones to be the most influential technology in 2016, according to IEEE’s annual survey, with smart phones (38 percent) and 3D printing (31 percent) close behind.

  The online survey, conducted in November 2015, questioned over two thousand adults to find out what technology they expected to see more/less of. While the list of devices predicted to fall from favor included obvious tech like digital music players, standalone digital cameras (both 15 percent), and ebook readers (9 percent), some 8 percent of respondents declared wearables had had their day.

  Kevin Curran, IEEE Senior Member and Reader in Computer Science at University of Ulster states: "It is no coincidence that the three technologies predicted to become redundant result from the success of one -- the smartphone. It is the defacto way to listen to music and read ebooks; it’s taken over the digital camera market and many believe it will also bring about the demise of the tablet and PC. With sensors now being added to phones, the future for wearables and scanners could be questionable too. Strangely, one of the smartphone uses which is declining is making phone calls".

  When asked which technologies respondents would like to see more of this year, home automation (20 percent), electric cars (19 percent) and 3D printing (17 percent) topped the bill.

  Image Credit: Intel

  
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  Foxit Reader integrates with OneDrive and Google Drive, adds word count tool

  Publié: janvier 21, 2016, 11:02am CET par Nick Peers

  

  Foxit Software has unveiled Foxit Reader 7.3, its free PDF reader and creation tool for Windows PCs. The new release debuts a number of significant features, including Google Drive and OneDrive integration, plus a new word count tool and official support for Office 2016.

  OneDrive and Google Drive integration can be found in the program’s File menu under "Add a place", and work in a similar way to later versions of Microsoft Office by allowing users to create shortcuts to cloud-based locations.

  The program also includes a new word count tool for text-based PDF documents -- it can be found on the View tab of the program ribbon, and provides word counts for both entire documents and selected passages of text.

  Other new features include support for time stamps using trusted servers -- configurable from the Preferences > Time Stamp Servers dialog. Users can now also sign documents using certificates.

  A new scroll lock button -- visible and triggered from the status bar -- makes it possible for users to prevent accidental horizontal and vertical scrolling of documents. The feature must first be enabled under Preferences > General.

  Version 7.3 also includes a number of improvements, including PDF signing, XFA forms and to the vertical split view. It also fixes a number of known issues, including various security issues that caused crashes and exposed vulnerabilities.

  Foxit Reader 7.3 is available now as a free download for PCs running Windows 7 or later. Microsoft Office 2007 or later is required for certain PDF creation features.

  
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  Google is enabling Android app installs from search results

  Publié: janvier 21, 2016, 9:31am CET par Anthony Spadafora

  

  Google may be simplifying the way Android users install apps on their devices. Some users have reportedly been able to install new apps directly from Google search results on their smartphones and tablets.

  Typically a user is redirected from the Google Search app to the Google Play store when they are searching for new apps using the search engine. However, after a recent update to the app, an install button appears along with user ratings and information about the app that allows apps to be installed directly from search.

  The addition of this function by Google could benefit both Android users and developers. For consumers, the process of installing new apps has been simplified as well as quickened. Developers may see more installs of their apps due to exposure from this update as well as more impulse installs from Android users.

  At this time, the update has rolled out to a limited amount of users, but hopefully it will be deployed to more devices soon.

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

  Photo credit: N Azlin Sha / Shutterstock

  
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  Stream the Super Bowl live on your Roku device

  Publié: janvier 21, 2016, 4:15am CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  The big game isn't far off, though we don't yet know which two teams will square off. The field is, however, narrowed down to four contenders. Will the Broncos or Patriots win? Can the Cardinals triumph in Carolina? Those questions will be answered soon and subsequently followed by two weeks of hype.

  If you've disconnected your cable or satellite service and are wondering how you will catch the big game then Roku has a solution for you.

  The set-top box maker now has CBS Sports in its Channel Store and the app will be streaming the big game live to everyone, no subscription required.

  "The free CBS Sports channel (no login or authentication required) will give you full access to Super Bowl 50 on February 7, including the Halftime show featuring Coldplay and Beyonce, and of course, the commercials", Roku claims.

  There's more than just that, though. CBS Sports plans a week of festivities leading up to the game. This will include highlights from past Super Bowls as well as other extras and breaking news.