In the weeks since I wondered whether Australia's digital spooks could
escape an NSA-level backlash, and even whether privacy fears could burst the
dot-com bubble, Australians have been continuing to discover more about what's
going on — and getting more concerned about what they're discovering.
Last Monday, we learned that the Australian government was briefed on
PRISM, the NSA's program to collect user data from major internet services such
as Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, and Facebook, two months before Edward Snowden
leaked the details.
That's curious timing. PRISM has supposedly been operating since 2007. Had
the US been keeping one of its closest allies in the dark until then? Had the
spooks been keeping the politicians in the dark? I'm sure that never, ever
happens, right? No, it looks to me like someone figured out that Snowden's
documents were about to drop, and the attorney-general had better get his PR
ducks in a row.
On Tuesday, we learned that Australians are increasingly worried about
online privacy risks.
A longitudinal study by the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner (OAIC) showed, amongst other meaty findings — the report is well
worth reading — that we're increasingly aware of federal privacy laws (82
percent, versus 69 percent in 2007), and increasingly concerned that we'll
become a victim of ID fraud or theft in the next year (69 percent, versus 60
percent in 2007).
The Mark Zuckerbergs of this world, who claim that personal privacy is
somehow a dead concept for the digital natives, are in for a surprise. Young
Australians (aged 18 to 24) are the age bracket most concerned about personal
information and online services, with 60 percent of them mentioning this as a
privacy risk.
I wonder how long Facebook will be able to get away with doing things like
opening up everyone's timeline to search, unless the searcher has previously
been explicitly blocked, and characterising it as "finishing the removal of an
old search setting". It's got plenty of form for this sort of sleight of hand,
and it's not what I'd characterise as honest communication — and I'm being
polite, because the words I'd prefer to use are not suitable for these pages,
even in Australia.
Also last week, we learned more about Australians' dislike of electronic
snooping.
Polling released by Essential Media (PDF) showed that far more Australians
oppose America's secret collection of communications information than support it
(45 percent versus 24 percent); far more think that companies providing services
to Australia should reveal what information they give to foreign governments (75
percent versus 16 percent); and fewer believe that governments are justified in
collecting information on all people, regardless of whether there is any
suspicion of wrongdoing (42 percent versus 45 percent, but given that N=1,023
for this poll, that's within the standard margin of error of roughly plus or
minus three percentage points).
We've previously learned how, following all of the NSA and PRISM news,
almost half of Australians (49 percent) are now more concerned about privacy,
and almost half (49 percent again) are less trusting that companies are keeping
their personal data securely.
And only a few weeks ago, the Washington-based Foreign Policy magazine —
hardly a hotbed of left-wing radicalism — referred to NSA chief general Keith
Alexander as "the cowboy of the NSA".
All of this is looking like a bit of a trend, isn't it?
In August, I described this all as a "groundswell of opposition to what
some have quite rightly called a 'surveillance state' at a level that's seen in
Western nations only once each generation".
It looks to me like that groundswell is still rising. So far, we've seen
only a small part of Snowden's trove of documents. Investigative journalists are
only beginning to probe Australia's role.
But will this groundswell continue to rise?
Even if it does, will it be enough to cause real change?
Australia has a new government. Our new attorney-general, Senator George
Brandis, has yet to say anything significant on these issues, but here's what I
wrote about him in June, when he was still in opposition.
A scan through everything Brandis has said in the Senate this year reveals
little more than debating tactics and routine attacks on the government that
parrot the day's approved Coalition talking points. Following allegations in May
that the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) had been
hacked, Brandis had nothing to tell a security conference beyond aboilerplate
cybercrime-is-scary squawk and another round of predictable political point
scoring.
I'm assuming that if Brandis has anything intelligent or insightful to say
about Australia's digital future, he'd have said it by now.
So how might Brandis play this, now that he's attorney-general?
On the one hand, Brandis will be keen to keep his party's conservative
supporters happy, and the conservative side of politics tends to support being
"tough" on national security and law enforcement issues.
Indeed, the Essential research shows a clear split of opinion along
party-political lines, with opposition to digital surveillance strongest amongst
Labor and Greens supporters. Brandis may well just mutter "national security" a
few more times — because that's all that he seems to have done so far — and
that's about it.
On the other hand, the government may want to bolster its majority, and
bring a few more swinging Labor and Greens voters into the Liberal-National
coalition fold. If so, there might be wisdom in at least opening up the question
of surveillance, tricky though it is, just to shut it back down.
But on the third hand of this mutant 21st-century beast, what if this
really is a generational change in political views? Would Brandis recognise when
we've truly reached such a watershed moment, and move for substantial reform?
Would any of us?
Monday, 14 October 2013
Windows Phone should really swiftly incorporate Nokia-designed
The optimist would say that Windows Phone's prospects have never been
brighter. The pessimist would disagree.
On the bright side, Microsoft just announced Windows Telephone eight Update three, which incorporates new support for quad-core CPUs and phablets that helps preserve its spec lists seeking fresh. Furthermore, the buyout of Nokia's smartphone arm will bring Redmond's greatest hardware ally totally into the fold, all whilst BlackBerry's apparent demise topples the competition for third-largest ecosystem. All this provides the computer software giant a opportunity to at the very least double Windows Phone development by 2017.
On the other hand, Windows Telephone adoption has been slow, using the OS fighting for much less than 10 % of mobile's worldwide industry share, even though Android and iOS gobble up the overwhelming majority.
In addition, Microsoft includes a difficulty with partners. At this time it's trying to woo back HTC to after again expand the Windows Phone ecosystem. If that fails, Microsoft could be the only outfit making Windows phones. That single-source approach may well operate for Apple, but even the iPhone is possessing a really hard time standing up to Android's diverse and seemingly inexhaustible players.
Back in 2010, and once more in 2011, Microsoft pleaded for patience in acquiring its Windows Telephone off the ground. But this year, the most recent update's most visible enhancements are a modified interface for extra-large phones plus the capability to close apps in multitasking mode. You also can customize text tones by make contact with.
This can be hardly hearty fare, but Microsoft points out that these are the most-wanted additions requested by fans.
Nevertheless, Windows Phone buyers also clamor for any notification center, a file manager, a individual assistant, greater storage assistance for microSD cards, and indicator lights that signal missed calls and alerts. Several of those happen to be requested because the OS debuted and have extended existed on Android and iOS.
Then there's Skype, the other business that Microsoft purchased in 2011 (and for 1.three billion greater than Nokia), however the enterprise has however to integrate it into Windows smartphones by default to counter Apple's FaceTime and in some cases Google Plus Hangouts. Yes, Windows Telephone 8 Skype customers can location calls in the Men and women hub, following initially downloading the app. What I'm speaking about is producing this an out-of-the-box function.
We do know, at the least, that Microsoft is tough at perform on a cheap windows 7 ultimate key personal assistant of its personal named Cortana, which understands organic language and can replace the legacy TellMe voice input currently in use.
Microsoft's next update should really be a significant one that includes this private assistant, notification center, and Skype integration at the really least. Just after the Nokia acquisition is full (assuming it gets shareholder and regulatory approval), Windows Phone should really swiftly incorporate Nokia-designed software tools, like its camera add-ons, into the native OS expertise.
From exactly where I sit, Microsoft's largest asset -- and challenge -- is always to take the major dangers that make a business stand out as a player worth paying attention to. Soon after the transition, the Windows Phone group should really not just use, but push Nokia's venerable design philosophy into edgier territory.
Microsoft really should waste no time funding projects that explore and apply new finishes and components (like continuing its function on graphene), publish a couple of wacky proofs of notion (like this a single from 2011, also below), and probably build a high-end luxury phone of its own.
Why? Microsoft's Windows Phone project has spent its lifetime being reactionary, attempting to catch up to Apple and Google with no definitely managing to help keep pace. This isn't the time for you to be conservative with cookie-cutter design and options which are just very good adequate.
On the bright side, Microsoft just announced Windows Telephone eight Update three, which incorporates new support for quad-core CPUs and phablets that helps preserve its spec lists seeking fresh. Furthermore, the buyout of Nokia's smartphone arm will bring Redmond's greatest hardware ally totally into the fold, all whilst BlackBerry's apparent demise topples the competition for third-largest ecosystem. All this provides the computer software giant a opportunity to at the very least double Windows Phone development by 2017.
On the other hand, Windows Telephone adoption has been slow, using the OS fighting for much less than 10 % of mobile's worldwide industry share, even though Android and iOS gobble up the overwhelming majority.
In addition, Microsoft includes a difficulty with partners. At this time it's trying to woo back HTC to after again expand the Windows Phone ecosystem. If that fails, Microsoft could be the only outfit making Windows phones. That single-source approach may well operate for Apple, but even the iPhone is possessing a really hard time standing up to Android's diverse and seemingly inexhaustible players.
Back in 2010, and once more in 2011, Microsoft pleaded for patience in acquiring its Windows Telephone off the ground. But this year, the most recent update's most visible enhancements are a modified interface for extra-large phones plus the capability to close apps in multitasking mode. You also can customize text tones by make contact with.
This can be hardly hearty fare, but Microsoft points out that these are the most-wanted additions requested by fans.
Nevertheless, Windows Phone buyers also clamor for any notification center, a file manager, a individual assistant, greater storage assistance for microSD cards, and indicator lights that signal missed calls and alerts. Several of those happen to be requested because the OS debuted and have extended existed on Android and iOS.
Then there's Skype, the other business that Microsoft purchased in 2011 (and for 1.three billion greater than Nokia), however the enterprise has however to integrate it into Windows smartphones by default to counter Apple's FaceTime and in some cases Google Plus Hangouts. Yes, Windows Telephone 8 Skype customers can location calls in the Men and women hub, following initially downloading the app. What I'm speaking about is producing this an out-of-the-box function.
We do know, at the least, that Microsoft is tough at perform on a cheap windows 7 ultimate key personal assistant of its personal named Cortana, which understands organic language and can replace the legacy TellMe voice input currently in use.
Microsoft's next update should really be a significant one that includes this private assistant, notification center, and Skype integration at the really least. Just after the Nokia acquisition is full (assuming it gets shareholder and regulatory approval), Windows Phone should really swiftly incorporate Nokia-designed software tools, like its camera add-ons, into the native OS expertise.
From exactly where I sit, Microsoft's largest asset -- and challenge -- is always to take the major dangers that make a business stand out as a player worth paying attention to. Soon after the transition, the Windows Phone group should really not just use, but push Nokia's venerable design philosophy into edgier territory.
Microsoft really should waste no time funding projects that explore and apply new finishes and components (like continuing its function on graphene), publish a couple of wacky proofs of notion (like this a single from 2011, also below), and probably build a high-end luxury phone of its own.
Why? Microsoft's Windows Phone project has spent its lifetime being reactionary, attempting to catch up to Apple and Google with no definitely managing to help keep pace. This isn't the time for you to be conservative with cookie-cutter design and options which are just very good adequate.
Saturday, 28 September 2013
U.S. spy agency used some Americans' data to map their behavior: NYT
The New York Times reported on Saturday that the National Security Agency,
the main U.S. government surveillance organization, had since 2010 used data it
gathered to map some Americans' "social connections that can identify their
associates, their locations at certain times, their traveling companions and
other personal information."
In the latest revelation of the activities of the NSA, which have prompted concern about previously unknown intrusion into Americans' privacy in the name of protecting against terrorist and other foreign attacks, the newspaper quoted documents provided by Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who fled to Russia earlier this year.
It said the documents showed that "the spy agency began allowing the analysis of phone call and email logs in November 2010 to examine Americans' networks of associations for foreign intelligence purposes after NSA officials lifted restrictions on the practice."
The policy shift was intended to help the agency "discover and track" connections between intelligence targets overseas and people in the United States, according to an NSA memorandum from January 2011, the Times said.
It said the NSA was authorized to conduct "large-scale graph analysis on very large sets of communications metadata without having to check foreignness" of every email address, phone number or other identifier, the document said. Because of concerns about infringing on the privacy of American citizens, the computer analysis of such data had previously been permitted only for foreigners.
The agency could augment the communications data with material from public, commercial and other sources, including bank codes, insurance information, Facebook profiles, passenger manifests, voter registration rolls and GPS location information, as well as property records and unspecified tax data, according to the documents, the paper said.
It said NSA officials declined to say how many Americans had been affected and said the documents did not describe the result of the scrutiny, which it said "links phone numbers and emails in a 'contact chain' tied directly or indirectly to a person or organization overseas that is of foreign intelligence interest."
COURT RULING
Earlier this week, leaders of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee said they were working on legislation that would tighten oversight of federal electronic eavesdropping programs. Support for such changes has been growing since Snowden leaked information in June that the government collects far more Internet and telephone data than previously known.
The Times said that an NSA spokeswoman, asked about the analyses of Americans' data, said, "All data queries must include a foreign intelligence justification, period." It quoted her as saying: "All of NSA's work has a foreign intelligence purpose."
She said the policy change disclosed in the latest revelations was based on a 1979 Supreme Court ruling that Americans could have no expectation of privacy about what numbers they had called.
The Times quoted her as saying that, based on that ruling, the Justice Department and the Pentagon decided that it was permissible to create contact chains using Americans' "metadata," which includes the timing, location and other details of calls and emails, but not their content. The agency is not required to seek warrants for the analyses from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
NSA officials declined to identify which phone and email databases were used to create the social network diagrams, and the documents provided by Snowden do not specify them, the paper said.
It said the NSA did say that the large database of Americans' domestic phone call records, which was revealed by Snowden in June and caused alarm in Washington, was excluded.
The Times said that while concerns in the United States since Snowden's revelations had largely focused on the scope of the agency's collection of the private data of Americans and the potential for abuse, the new documents provided a rare window into what the agency actually did with the information it gathers.
In the latest revelation of the activities of the NSA, which have prompted concern about previously unknown intrusion into Americans' privacy in the name of protecting against terrorist and other foreign attacks, the newspaper quoted documents provided by Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who fled to Russia earlier this year.
It said the documents showed that "the spy agency began allowing the analysis of phone call and email logs in November 2010 to examine Americans' networks of associations for foreign intelligence purposes after NSA officials lifted restrictions on the practice."
The policy shift was intended to help the agency "discover and track" connections between intelligence targets overseas and people in the United States, according to an NSA memorandum from January 2011, the Times said.
It said the NSA was authorized to conduct "large-scale graph analysis on very large sets of communications metadata without having to check foreignness" of every email address, phone number or other identifier, the document said. Because of concerns about infringing on the privacy of American citizens, the computer analysis of such data had previously been permitted only for foreigners.
The agency could augment the communications data with material from public, commercial and other sources, including bank codes, insurance information, Facebook profiles, passenger manifests, voter registration rolls and GPS location information, as well as property records and unspecified tax data, according to the documents, the paper said.
It said NSA officials declined to say how many Americans had been affected and said the documents did not describe the result of the scrutiny, which it said "links phone numbers and emails in a 'contact chain' tied directly or indirectly to a person or organization overseas that is of foreign intelligence interest."
COURT RULING
Earlier this week, leaders of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee said they were working on legislation that would tighten oversight of federal electronic eavesdropping programs. Support for such changes has been growing since Snowden leaked information in June that the government collects far more Internet and telephone data than previously known.
The Times said that an NSA spokeswoman, asked about the analyses of Americans' data, said, "All data queries must include a foreign intelligence justification, period." It quoted her as saying: "All of NSA's work has a foreign intelligence purpose."
She said the policy change disclosed in the latest revelations was based on a 1979 Supreme Court ruling that Americans could have no expectation of privacy about what numbers they had called.
The Times quoted her as saying that, based on that ruling, the Justice Department and the Pentagon decided that it was permissible to create contact chains using Americans' "metadata," which includes the timing, location and other details of calls and emails, but not their content. The agency is not required to seek warrants for the analyses from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
NSA officials declined to identify which phone and email databases were used to create the social network diagrams, and the documents provided by Snowden do not specify them, the paper said.
It said the NSA did say that the large database of Americans' domestic phone call records, which was revealed by Snowden in June and caused alarm in Washington, was excluded.
The Times said that while concerns in the United States since Snowden's revelations had largely focused on the scope of the agency's collection of the private data of Americans and the potential for abuse, the new documents provided a rare window into what the agency actually did with the information it gathers.
Unless Microsoft includes a magic trick up its sleeve to permit
In an work to save each of its ailing platforms, Microsoft is organizing to
combine each the Windows 8 and Windows Telephone eight app stores into a single,
all-encompassing app shop. It isn’t totally clear irrespective of whether this
will result in comprehensive cross-platform compatibility for each Windows eight
and WP8 apps - like Apple’s iPhone and iPad App Shop - or if it’s far more a
case of designing a really kick-ass app store that each platforms will then use
independently of one another. In either case, the new combined app shop will
seek to rectify two large complaints: That Windows 8 and Windows Telephone eight
have poor app ecosystems, and, specially inside the case of Windows 8, the
utterly atrocious app store encounter that ordinarily leaves you asking yourself
why on earth you decided to purchase a Windows tablet as opposed to an iPad.
This news comes from the usual “sources acquainted with the company’s plans,” who spoke to the Verge. As outlined by the source, the head of Microsoft’s newly formed Operating Systems group, Terry Myerson, held a meeting exactly where he told a large number of Microsoft personnel regarding the new plan to combine the app stores. There didn’t seem to be significantly within the way of particulars, only that the new retailer - which we’ll bet excellent funds on it being named One particular Shop - would come with the “next release” of Windows and Windows Telephone. This need to imply Windows Phone eight.1 and an update for Windows 8.1, each of which are due in spring 2014.
As for how the 1 Retailer will actually perform, we are able to only guess. In a perfect planet, it would work like the iOS App Retailer: apps created for Windows Phone 8 will be scaled up for use on Windows eight tablets, and apps particularly created for tablet interfaces would show up if you are browsing the retailer in your Windows eight tablet. Apple can get away with this simply because its smartphones and tablets run the identical operating program, and thus developers can target the precise similar APIs. Windows eight and Windows Telephone eight share a lot of similar attributes, and also some low-level code, but it is nowhere near the identical level of similarity as an iPhone and iPad.
Microsoft, for its portion, has previously taken for the stage and promised a unified ecosystem - however the specifics on how such unification could really happen haven’t been forthcoming. Because it stands, in case you develop a Metro app very carefully, porting it to Windows Phone eight is usually as effortless as altering some lines of code. In reality, even though, resulting from wildly different screen sizes, UI and UX paradigms, as well as a big variety of hardware targets (from Tegra three and integrated GPUs, via to Haswell and discrete GPUs), cross-platform compatibility has remained elusive.
Unless Microsoft includes a magic trick up its sleeve to permit developers to conveniently create apps that run on each platforms - a compatibility layer (emulator) of some sort, perhaps - then it’s much more likely that the 1 Shop will just be a new app shop design and style that may be applied by both Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. Windows eight sorely requires a new app shop, and if a genuinely unified app ecosystem is coming for Windows 9 and Windows Telephone 9, then it wouldn’t hurt to obtain individuals utilized for the new app shop these days. (Study: The Windows eight Shop is broken: Here’s how you can repair it.)
A further possibility, as I’ve hinted at prior to, is that one particular of Microsoft’s OSes could actually consume the other. As lately as final week, Microsoft’s Myerson told some analysts that we should anticipate to see Windows RT on larger phones - and it goes the other way, as well, with the Lumia 1520 phablet operating Windows Telephone. I would not be shocked if Windows/RT sooner or later consumes Windows Phone, which would pretty neatly resolve the issue of cross-platform compatibility by removing the pesky “cross” bit.
http://www.windows7retailpack.com/microsoft-windows-7-professional-3264-bit-full-retail-pack-p-3527.html
This news comes from the usual “sources acquainted with the company’s plans,” who spoke to the Verge. As outlined by the source, the head of Microsoft’s newly formed Operating Systems group, Terry Myerson, held a meeting exactly where he told a large number of Microsoft personnel regarding the new plan to combine the app stores. There didn’t seem to be significantly within the way of particulars, only that the new retailer - which we’ll bet excellent funds on it being named One particular Shop - would come with the “next release” of Windows and Windows Telephone. This need to imply Windows Phone eight.1 and an update for Windows 8.1, each of which are due in spring 2014.
As for how the 1 Retailer will actually perform, we are able to only guess. In a perfect planet, it would work like the iOS App Retailer: apps created for Windows Phone 8 will be scaled up for use on Windows eight tablets, and apps particularly created for tablet interfaces would show up if you are browsing the retailer in your Windows eight tablet. Apple can get away with this simply because its smartphones and tablets run the identical operating program, and thus developers can target the precise similar APIs. Windows eight and Windows Telephone eight share a lot of similar attributes, and also some low-level code, but it is nowhere near the identical level of similarity as an iPhone and iPad.
Microsoft, for its portion, has previously taken for the stage and promised a unified ecosystem - however the specifics on how such unification could really happen haven’t been forthcoming. Because it stands, in case you develop a Metro app very carefully, porting it to Windows Phone eight is usually as effortless as altering some lines of code. In reality, even though, resulting from wildly different screen sizes, UI and UX paradigms, as well as a big variety of hardware targets (from Tegra three and integrated GPUs, via to Haswell and discrete GPUs), cross-platform compatibility has remained elusive.
Unless Microsoft includes a magic trick up its sleeve to permit developers to conveniently create apps that run on each platforms - a compatibility layer (emulator) of some sort, perhaps - then it’s much more likely that the 1 Shop will just be a new app shop design and style that may be applied by both Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. Windows eight sorely requires a new app shop, and if a genuinely unified app ecosystem is coming for Windows 9 and Windows Telephone 9, then it wouldn’t hurt to obtain individuals utilized for the new app shop these days. (Study: The Windows eight Shop is broken: Here’s how you can repair it.)
A further possibility, as I’ve hinted at prior to, is that one particular of Microsoft’s OSes could actually consume the other. As lately as final week, Microsoft’s Myerson told some analysts that we should anticipate to see Windows RT on larger phones - and it goes the other way, as well, with the Lumia 1520 phablet operating Windows Telephone. I would not be shocked if Windows/RT sooner or later consumes Windows Phone, which would pretty neatly resolve the issue of cross-platform compatibility by removing the pesky “cross” bit.
http://www.windows7retailpack.com/microsoft-windows-7-professional-3264-bit-full-retail-pack-p-3527.html
Sunday, 18 August 2013
Samsung to Launch Smartwatch Next Month
It’s offficial:
Samsung Electronics Inc. will launch its first wristwatch smartphone early next month, people familiar with the plan say. The move would allow Samsung to potentially beat rival Apple Inc. on what is expected to be the next major battleground for mobile phone makers.
The world’s largest smartphone maker will unveil its first device worn around the wrist called Galaxy Gear on Sept. 4, ahead of Berlin’s IFA, a consumer electronics show where technology companies showcase their gadgets. It will go on sale this year, the people said.
But, one person said the device won’t have flexible displays, contrary to the company’s patent filings in the U.S. and South Korea earlier this year that suggested a device with a bendable screen was in the works.
Analysts had cast doubts about mass producing flexible screens for a couple of years, making the possibility of wristwatch smartphones grim.
Wearable smart devices have been tipped as the next jackpot niche for leading handset makers such as Samsung and Apple as the lucrative high-end segment of the smartphone market worldwide is saturated. Samsung wrested the world’s largest smartphone maker title away from Apple last year and has pushed to widen the lead with a portfolio covering a wide array of smartphone and tablets.
Though the concept of a phone wrapped around one’s wrist has been a widely known concept for a decade or more, the hype has been building around “smart watches” recently with both Apple and Samsung prepping devices. Sony in June showed off a wristwatch-like device that connects with most smartphones running on Google Inc.’s Android operating system.
It’s still unknown whether Samsung’s new gear will also work via a conventional smartphone or as a standalone product.
Samsung’s earlier invitations for the same-date product launch was widely expected to be the next iteration of its phablet device Galaxy Note with a larger 5-inch screen.
The company also plans to showcase the Galaxy Note 3 at IFA.
Bloomberg reported earlier that Samsung will launch the wristwatch device at its “Unpacked” event on Sept. 4.
Samsung Electronics Inc. will launch its first wristwatch smartphone early next month, people familiar with the plan say. The move would allow Samsung to potentially beat rival Apple Inc. on what is expected to be the next major battleground for mobile phone makers.
The world’s largest smartphone maker will unveil its first device worn around the wrist called Galaxy Gear on Sept. 4, ahead of Berlin’s IFA, a consumer electronics show where technology companies showcase their gadgets. It will go on sale this year, the people said.
But, one person said the device won’t have flexible displays, contrary to the company’s patent filings in the U.S. and South Korea earlier this year that suggested a device with a bendable screen was in the works.
Analysts had cast doubts about mass producing flexible screens for a couple of years, making the possibility of wristwatch smartphones grim.
Wearable smart devices have been tipped as the next jackpot niche for leading handset makers such as Samsung and Apple as the lucrative high-end segment of the smartphone market worldwide is saturated. Samsung wrested the world’s largest smartphone maker title away from Apple last year and has pushed to widen the lead with a portfolio covering a wide array of smartphone and tablets.
Though the concept of a phone wrapped around one’s wrist has been a widely known concept for a decade or more, the hype has been building around “smart watches” recently with both Apple and Samsung prepping devices. Sony in June showed off a wristwatch-like device that connects with most smartphones running on Google Inc.’s Android operating system.
It’s still unknown whether Samsung’s new gear will also work via a conventional smartphone or as a standalone product.
Samsung’s earlier invitations for the same-date product launch was widely expected to be the next iteration of its phablet device Galaxy Note with a larger 5-inch screen.
The company also plans to showcase the Galaxy Note 3 at IFA.
Bloomberg reported earlier that Samsung will launch the wristwatch device at its “Unpacked” event on Sept. 4.
Windows XP. Because a safety update will never grow to be out there
Microsoft has reminded, cajoled, and pleaded with customers to move off of
Windows XP prior to assistance for its old OS expires subsequent year. Now
Microsoft warns customers that they may be topic to “zero-day” threats for the
rest of their lives if they do not migrate.
“The pretty very first month that Microsoft releases safety updates for supported versions of Windows, attackers will reverse engineer these updates, obtain the vulnerabilities, and test Windows XP to determine if it shares these vulnerabilities,” he wrote. “If it does windows 7 professional retail version, attackers will try to create exploit code which will take advantage of these vulnerabilities on Windows XP. Because a safety update will never grow to be out there for Windows XP to address these vulnerabilities, Windows XP will essentially have a ‘zero-day’ vulnerability forever.”
Zero-day vulnerabilities refer towards the way in which hackers can attack an operating method or other code just before a patch is released, fixing the vulnerability. Since Microsoft will never patch Windows XP once more right after April 2014, at some point some vulneability that affects XP will be discovered.
Involving July 2012 and July 2013, Windows XP was an impacted item in 45 Microsoft safety bulletins. Thirty of these also impacted Windows 7 and Windows 8, Rains wrote.
Rains acknowledges that some protections in XP will assist mitigate attacks, and third-party antimalware computer software could possibly supply some protection.
“The challenge here is the fact that you will never know, with any self-confidence, in the event the trusted computing base with the program can actually be trusted for the reason that attackers will likely be armed with public understanding of zero day exploits in Windows XP that could allow them to compromise the system and possibly run the code of their decision,” Rains wrote.
That is the exact same argument that some have not too long ago utilized, claiming that hackers will “bank” their zero-day XP attacks till right after subsequent April, then unleash them around the unprotected herds of XP machines. As Rains notes, the sophistication of malware has only enhanced, which means that your XP machine is a lot more vulnerable, not much less. PCWorld’s Answer Line columnist, Lincoln Spector, agrees.
The problem that some XP users have is that they’re so in adore with the way that Windows XP does items that they’re reluctant to migrate, specially to Windows 8. Effectively, Windows 7 machines do exist, that provide functionality related to XP: here’s ways to uncover them.
The bottom line is this: whilst Microsoft stands to gain from arguing that customers need to upgrade, the truth is: they do. So if you are nevertheless on Windows XP, begin considering a migration technique.
http://www.windows7retailpack.com/microsoft-windows-7-professional-3264-bit-full-retail-pack-p-3527.html
“The pretty very first month that Microsoft releases safety updates for supported versions of Windows, attackers will reverse engineer these updates, obtain the vulnerabilities, and test Windows XP to determine if it shares these vulnerabilities,” he wrote. “If it does windows 7 professional retail version, attackers will try to create exploit code which will take advantage of these vulnerabilities on Windows XP. Because a safety update will never grow to be out there for Windows XP to address these vulnerabilities, Windows XP will essentially have a ‘zero-day’ vulnerability forever.”
Zero-day vulnerabilities refer towards the way in which hackers can attack an operating method or other code just before a patch is released, fixing the vulnerability. Since Microsoft will never patch Windows XP once more right after April 2014, at some point some vulneability that affects XP will be discovered.
Involving July 2012 and July 2013, Windows XP was an impacted item in 45 Microsoft safety bulletins. Thirty of these also impacted Windows 7 and Windows 8, Rains wrote.
Rains acknowledges that some protections in XP will assist mitigate attacks, and third-party antimalware computer software could possibly supply some protection.
“The challenge here is the fact that you will never know, with any self-confidence, in the event the trusted computing base with the program can actually be trusted for the reason that attackers will likely be armed with public understanding of zero day exploits in Windows XP that could allow them to compromise the system and possibly run the code of their decision,” Rains wrote.
That is the exact same argument that some have not too long ago utilized, claiming that hackers will “bank” their zero-day XP attacks till right after subsequent April, then unleash them around the unprotected herds of XP machines. As Rains notes, the sophistication of malware has only enhanced, which means that your XP machine is a lot more vulnerable, not much less. PCWorld’s Answer Line columnist, Lincoln Spector, agrees.
The problem that some XP users have is that they’re so in adore with the way that Windows XP does items that they’re reluctant to migrate, specially to Windows 8. Effectively, Windows 7 machines do exist, that provide functionality related to XP: here’s ways to uncover them.
The bottom line is this: whilst Microsoft stands to gain from arguing that customers need to upgrade, the truth is: they do. So if you are nevertheless on Windows XP, begin considering a migration technique.
http://www.windows7retailpack.com/microsoft-windows-7-professional-3264-bit-full-retail-pack-p-3527.html
Friday, 2 August 2013
Time Warner Cable drops CBS as talks over fees fall short
Notes that CBS is blocking full-episode streaming on its Web site for some
with Time Warner Cable as their broadband provider.
With changes in technology complicating the balance of power between television creators and distributors, CBS and Time Warner Cable failed to reach an agreement on fees Friday. After weeks of talks and multiple deadline extensions, the broadcaster's flagship network went dark for the cable giant's subscribers in several major U.S. cities.
CBS being dropped from a cable system for the first time in its history opens the door for companies like Aereo, the online streamer of over-the-air broadcasts, to deliver those transmissions in real time for Time Warner subscribers in New York. Time Warner subscribers can also turn online to CBS's Web site or Amazon to watch popular shows like "Under the Dome."
Time Warner Cable, on a screen that pops up where CBS's programming should be, is directing its subscribers to turn to CBS.com to watch, but CBS appears to be eliminating the option to watch full episodes on its Web site for some. In New York, people with Time Warner Cable as their broadband provider couldn't access any CBS full-length videos online, nor could people with TWC as their provider in other parts of the country unaffected by the blackout.
"If Time Warner Cable is a customer's internet service provider, then their access to CBS full episode content via online and mobile platforms has been suspended as a result of Time Warner Cable's decision to drop CBS and Showtime from their market," CBS spokeswoman Dana McClintock said in an email. "As soon as CBS is restored on Time Warner Cable systems in affected markets, that content will be accessible again."
Time Warner Cable spokeswoman Maureen Huff said CBS should not be allowed to abuse the privilege of using publicly owned airwaves to deliver its programming. "CBS has shown utter lack of regard for consumers by blocking Time Warner Cable's customers, including our high-speed data only customers, from accessing their shows on their free website," she said.
CBS, which is the parent company of CNET, said in a statement it "deeply regrets" that Time Warner Cable has dropped its network in New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas, as well as other smaller markets. It criticized Time Warner for "indulging in pointless brinksmanship" and twisting the facts to the public, and said it is eager to make an agreement with "fair compensation for the most-watched television network with the most popular content in the world."
"We hope and believe this period of darkness will be short," the broadcaster said.
Time Warner Cable said that when it agreed to continue talks until Friday, it expected to engage in a meaningful negotiation with CBS. "Since then, CBS has refused to have a productive discussion," it said.
"It's become clear that no matter how much time we give them, they're not willing to come to reasonable terms," it added in a statement.
In addition to the blackout of CBS in select markets, CBS properties Showtime, TMC, FLIX, and Smithsonian are also going dark for all subscribers.
CBS Corp. and Time Warner Cable have been negotiating a new carriage pact with under multiple extensions to their previous agreement that expired June 30.
Failing to reach an agreement on retransmission fees -- money that CBS requires from TWC to carry the channel for its subscribers -- comes as customers who lose CBS stations face more online alternatives. Time Warner has gone so far as to encourage New York customers to explore Aereo, the online streamer of over-the-air broadcasts, to pick up the broadcasts that have been dropped from its cable packages. Usually, many CBS shows are available on the network's own Web site, typically for a limited window of time, and Amazon Prime customers can watch "Under the Dome" on its Instant Video service four days after they run.
With changes in technology complicating the balance of power between television creators and distributors, CBS and Time Warner Cable failed to reach an agreement on fees Friday. After weeks of talks and multiple deadline extensions, the broadcaster's flagship network went dark for the cable giant's subscribers in several major U.S. cities.
CBS being dropped from a cable system for the first time in its history opens the door for companies like Aereo, the online streamer of over-the-air broadcasts, to deliver those transmissions in real time for Time Warner subscribers in New York. Time Warner subscribers can also turn online to CBS's Web site or Amazon to watch popular shows like "Under the Dome."
Time Warner Cable, on a screen that pops up where CBS's programming should be, is directing its subscribers to turn to CBS.com to watch, but CBS appears to be eliminating the option to watch full episodes on its Web site for some. In New York, people with Time Warner Cable as their broadband provider couldn't access any CBS full-length videos online, nor could people with TWC as their provider in other parts of the country unaffected by the blackout.
"If Time Warner Cable is a customer's internet service provider, then their access to CBS full episode content via online and mobile platforms has been suspended as a result of Time Warner Cable's decision to drop CBS and Showtime from their market," CBS spokeswoman Dana McClintock said in an email. "As soon as CBS is restored on Time Warner Cable systems in affected markets, that content will be accessible again."
Time Warner Cable spokeswoman Maureen Huff said CBS should not be allowed to abuse the privilege of using publicly owned airwaves to deliver its programming. "CBS has shown utter lack of regard for consumers by blocking Time Warner Cable's customers, including our high-speed data only customers, from accessing their shows on their free website," she said.
CBS, which is the parent company of CNET, said in a statement it "deeply regrets" that Time Warner Cable has dropped its network in New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas, as well as other smaller markets. It criticized Time Warner for "indulging in pointless brinksmanship" and twisting the facts to the public, and said it is eager to make an agreement with "fair compensation for the most-watched television network with the most popular content in the world."
"We hope and believe this period of darkness will be short," the broadcaster said.
Time Warner Cable said that when it agreed to continue talks until Friday, it expected to engage in a meaningful negotiation with CBS. "Since then, CBS has refused to have a productive discussion," it said.
"It's become clear that no matter how much time we give them, they're not willing to come to reasonable terms," it added in a statement.
In addition to the blackout of CBS in select markets, CBS properties Showtime, TMC, FLIX, and Smithsonian are also going dark for all subscribers.
CBS Corp. and Time Warner Cable have been negotiating a new carriage pact with under multiple extensions to their previous agreement that expired June 30.
Failing to reach an agreement on retransmission fees -- money that CBS requires from TWC to carry the channel for its subscribers -- comes as customers who lose CBS stations face more online alternatives. Time Warner has gone so far as to encourage New York customers to explore Aereo, the online streamer of over-the-air broadcasts, to pick up the broadcasts that have been dropped from its cable packages. Usually, many CBS shows are available on the network's own Web site, typically for a limited window of time, and Amazon Prime customers can watch "Under the Dome" on its Instant Video service four days after they run.
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