Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Vista security claim challenged

Security experts have thrown doubt on Bill Gates' claim that Vista is "more secure" than other operating systems.

It may be more secure than other versions of Windows, they said, but there are older operating systems that are still safer.

Others said that its security rested on how people use the new system rather than on any individual technology.

There is also evidence that malicious hackers are refining attacks to cope with the changes Vista makes.

Old iron

Mr Gates made the claim that Vista was "dramatically more secure" during an interview with BBC News. He said the improved security in Vista was a reason all by itself to upgrade from Windows XP.

Microsoft has spent more than five years developing Vista and some of the delays to its launch have occurred as developers struggle to make it more secure.

Malicious hackers are already known to be targeting Vista and carrying out research to expose its weaknesses.

"For sure, people are hammering away on it," Jeff Moss, the organiser of the Defcon hacking convention, told Reuters.
"If you are a bad guy and you find a problem, you have a way to spread your malware and spyware," he said.

Vista exploits and vulnerabilities are starting to turn up on discussion boards where such things are traded and developed. So far most have been only experimental and none seem to have been tried in the wild.

Academics are also publishing papers on weaknesses in the security technologies inside Vista.

Testing times

Vista comes with many built-in security features in a bid to make the system safe from the moment it is switched on. These include anti-spyware software and a system that aims to stop malicious programs installing themselves by stealth.

But whether these changes made it more secure than other operating systems generated debate among security experts.

"It's dramatically more secure than, say, Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows XP," said Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer at F-Secure.

"However, it's fundamentally not more secure than operating systems like FreeBSD, QNX, AS/400 etc," he said.

"I would claim it's not even as secure as another operating system from Microsoft; namely the operating system inside the Xbox 360."

David Emm, senior technology consultant at Kaspersky Labs, said that with Vista Microsoft was treading a fine line between making the software safe and easy to use.

"The more useable and convenient you make it, especially for non-technical people, the more risk there is that there is a chink in the armour," he said.

"In a sense people are the weakest link here," said Mr Emm.

For instance, he said, the User Account Control system in Vista which aims to stop malicious programs installing themselves invisibly may not prove as effective as Microsoft believes.

This system ask users to give permission for programs, browser extensions and many other things to be installed. The sheer number of times that people are asked may make them click past the warning without realising what they were doing, said Mr Emm.

His fears were echoed by Greg Day, security analyst at McAfee, who said the lack of context in the warnings could lead people to make dangerous choices. "It passes the emphasis on to the user to decide."

"Because it is Microsoft its always going to have a very big target on it," he added.

There is also evidence that the malicious hacking community is starting to change its tactics to cope with the kind of security technologies seen in Vista and which are also starting to be used in older operating systems such as XP.

Surveys of the sorts of malicious software seen in 2006 reveal a significant fall in what is known as "replicating code". These are the familiar viruses that travel by e-mail and which try to trick people into opening an infected attachment so they can find more victims to attack.

Instead more and more attacks are becoming targeted at very small populations of users or groups of PCs via a specific exploit or crafted junk mail campaign.


(Taken from:BBC)

Picoo-Z Micro Remote Control Helicopter


Possibly the best flying toy yet!

Only 17 cms long and weighing an incredible10 grams,the amazing new Picoo Z is a fascinating flying machine that is super stable and easy to fly in the smallest of spaces, and unbelievably fits in the palm of your hand for fantastic desk space fun!�

PicooZ comes with very unique roto-blade mechanism that provides strong and steady lifting power for flying. Equipped with sophisticated design on rudder mechanism, PicooZ can hover very steadily in the air. Two-channel and digital proportional remote control provide players smooth maneuverability.

Supplied completely ready-to-fly with an innovative pre-installed two channel proportional wide beam infra red control system, the lightweight Lithium Polymer flight battery will provide flights of up to10 minutes between charges driving two powerful micro motors, yet can be recharged in less than half an hour with the portable charger provided.

The great value Picco Z Micro Helicopter is remarkably robust made of tough expanded Polypropylene foam, features a blue LED strobe light, and incorporates an auto stability system to make this easy to operate both indoors and outside in calm conditions.
Technical Specification:

* Product Dimensions: Main Rotor Diameter 130mm (5.25")
* Length 170mm (6.5") excluding rotors. Rear Rotor diameter 30mm (1.25")
* Product Weight: Only 10g, including Flight Battery
* Rechargeable Flight Battery: High capacity integral Lithium Polymer battery
* Charger: Integral Transmitter/Charger supplied with LED indicator/Auto shut off
* Simply plug in and charge, with easy to use connections
* Charging Time: 20-30 minutes for full charge
* Flight Duration: 5-10 minutes between charges
* Batteries Required: 6 x 1.5v AA Alkaline Batteries for Transmitter/Charger
* Control Specification: Supplied completely assembled and already charged
* Ready-to-fly, with pre-installed 2 Channel Proportional Infra Red Control System
* Take off, hover and descend, turn left and right with fixed forward movement.
* Range: Up to 10m (30ft). Frequency: Infra Red Control System - Bands
* Instruction Manual included: Providing helpful tips for the new Helicopter Pilot
* Age Recommendation: 8+ Adult supervision recommended for operation.
(Taken from:GadgetsAll Rights reserved with them)

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Credit card Digital Camera

This new digital camera is as practical as it is stylish.

Slightly smaller than a credit card, and just 6mm deep, the Credit Card Camera is solidly built with a protective aluminium casing.

As you can see, the camera is too slim to fit a traditional battery, instead it contains a rechargeable lithium battery that is recharged when the camera is connected to your computer's USB port.

Thanks to its slim size, and light weight, the Credit Card Digital Camera can be carried in almost any pocket, even a shirt pocket, and be virtually invisible. You'll have no excuse not to have a camera with you all the time to capture those unexpected moments!

Despite its size, its not short on features:

* Two resolutions of pictures - up to 640 x 480 VGA images
* Image compression mode for storing up to 209 images
* 10 Second self timer- for taking group pictures with you included
* Continuous shooting - takes 10 pictures per second!
* Built in rechargeable battery lasts up to one week
* Automatic exposure and white balance
* PC Web Camera mode for video conferencing

Comes complete with:

* Windows driver CD
* USB Cable
* Driver and software

Camera Sensor: 300K pixels CMOS
Image Resolution: 640 x 480 (Hi)
320 x 240 (Lo)
Memory: 64Mb (8MB)
104 pics (Lo)
26 pics (Hi)
Compression up to 2X
Self Timer :10 Seconds
Size :8 x 5 x 0.6 cm
Compatibility: Windows 98/2000/ME/XP
Lens :f=4.99mm, F 2.8

(Taken from: Gadgets)

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Skype founders move into net TV

The founders of the Skype internet telephony service are launching what they describe as the world's first broadcast quality internet TV service.

Following speculation about a service dubbed The Venice Project, the online television software is now being unveiled under the name Joost.

It is designed to enable broadcasters to get their programmes in front of a global internet audience.

It will allow viewers to access all kinds of television over the internet.

Trial period

The chief executive, Frederik de Wahl, showing off the service in Joost's London offices, claimed that it provided a different experience from other internet television ventures.

"We are trying to replicate the complete television experience," he explained as he flicked through channels using the Joost interface on a widescreen television.

"It's full-screen, broadcast quality, you've got instant channel flipping, and interactivity - a viewer can come to us and get all their TV needs."

The service is still undergoing trials, but thousands of people have taken up an invitation to download the software and try it out.

But the big question is what is there to watch?

So far, it is hard to see a compelling reason to switch on to Joost, which will be a free service supported by advertising.

Competitive market

There is a line-up of sports, documentaries and music programming, but nothing that is going to tempt many away from their existing television diet.

But Mr De Wahl insists this is just trial programming and when the full launch takes place in the next few months there will be much more impressive content on offer.

Joost is backed by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, who founded Skype, while Frederik de Wahl previously ran a business whose peer-to-peer software was used in Skype.

He says a version of that software is key to the appeal of Joost, with new peer-to-peer technology, backed up by the firm's own servers, making it possible to stream video on demand.

But rival services are already casting doubt on the claim that Joost represents a new frontier for internet television.

BT Vision, launched in December, offers video-on-demand via broadband, and Channel Four Television says its 4OD service promises DVD-quality programmes to download to your computer.

Meanwhile another company calling itself Babelgum contacted the BBC to insist that its service, launching in March, would also use peer-to-peer technology to stream video at "near-TV resolution".

A spokesman said "the Venice Project hasn't got this to itself."

The battle to broadcast over the internet is hotting up and the Venice Project - or Joost as we now must call it - will have to make plenty of noise to make itself heard.

Sundance strikes iTunes film deal

The Sundance Film Festival has struck a deal with Apple to allow festival films to be sold through its iTunes store.

Thirty-three short films being screened at the festival in Utah will be made available for download for $1.99 (£1).

They will also be streamed free of charge on Sundance's Web site when the festival kicks off on 18 January.

"Streaming on our site is not the same as owning, and there seems to be a world out there for both," said John Cooper of the Sundance Institute.

Demand

The films will be available on the Sundance website for three months only.

Filmmakers will get the bulk of the download price, with Apple, the Sundance Institute and cable television's Sundance Channel sharing the remainder.

So far, at least 33 of the 71 film shorts to be shown at the festival are slated to be distributed through the Sundance site and iTunes.

They will be made available for download from 22 January.

Mr Cooper said a few more will be shown on the website only, and added that he expected demand to be reasonably robust.

But he said there were no plans to make full-length festival films available online.

"What Sundance is really known for is as a platform for people to sell their films, and that's mainly the feature film," he said.

"We didn't want to really interfere with that yet."

Hollywood star Robert Redford, who founded the Sundance Film Festival, said short films were an important aspect of the annual festival.

"I have felt, from the earliest days, that if people really care about independent film, they should pay particular attention to short filmmakers, who are the best indicators of what is coming down the creative pike," he said.

The Sundance Film Festival is held each January in Park City, Utah.

Connecting the digital home

It has long been promised that the PC will become the entertainment hub of the home. However, the problem with this vision is that our computers tend to sit in the bedroom and means getting those movies, music and pictures the last few metres to the living room is a real pain.
This year's CES - the world's largest consumer gadget show - boasts a wealth of new kit which aims to make it easier to access digital media around the home - and in particular on TV screens.

Ideas on what should be at the centre of it all vary, from PC-based media centres, digital video recorders or even video game consoles.

Microsoft is promoting its Xbox 360 as the place to store and access movies and songs.

"Xbox 360 is at its heart, the world's best games console and we're continuing to sell it very well. But we also know that people have it connected to their TV, and that means they want to see movies," said Robert Bach of Microsoft.

"So we've added a Download Movie service, we've added an HD DVD movie player to it. You want to play music, so you can take your MP3 player or Zune player, and plug it in and see your music.

"Here we're announcing that you can take IPTV digital TV services and run them on top of an Xbox 360."

It should be pointed out that the downloads are only available to those that have a hard drive for their Xbox 360.

Sony's PS3 console does something similar.
Microsoft's ambitions also include its Media Centre software which has not made the impact some had hoped for. It will now get a boost by being integrated into all but the most basic versions of Microsoft's new PC operating system - Vista.

The consumer versions of Vista is scheduled for launch on 30 January.

Apple is getting in on the act too. At the MacWorld show Apple boss Steve Jobs gave more details of Apple TV - the set-top box which uses iTunes to stream media to a television.

Various launches at CES suggest that moving files around the house should be easy. We have more choices now than ever before - hardwire Ethernet cables, Bluetooth or wi-fi.

Netgear's new Digital Entertainer set-top box is one of several here that let you stream HD pictures from your PC over wi-fi to the TV.

But obstructions and interference may hamper a steady picture.

Compatibility

Presuming we can move our digital media files around without too much problem, you then have to consider the alphabet soup which is compression formatting - or codecs - which allow all your devices to understand each other, otherwise you will not see a thing.


"I think it's unbelievably frustrating because you purchase the music expecting to be able to play it where you would like to play it and then you find out later that this is not quite the case."
John MacFarlane, Sonos


"Many of the files that people would like to buy and download, including movies and TV shows, are actually protected with what's called DRM, that is Digital Rights Management software," said Josh Bernoff an analyst from Forrester Research.

"A lot of this software is incompatible with some of these devices.

"So for example, if you buy a movie or TV show from iTunes it'll work fine on your iPod but it's unlikely to work on, say, your Xbox 360 that happens to be connected to the same setup."

Slowly this is changing. For instance, last month if you had bought a rights-protected Windows music file it would not have played on Sonos' high-end multi-room streaming system.

After a year of negotiations Sonos' hardware can now support those files. Now the boss of Sonos wants Apple to also open up, claiming it is customers who lose out.

"I think it's unbelievably frustrating because you purchase the music expecting to be able to play it where you would like to play it and then you find out later that this is not quite the case," said John MacFarlane of Sonos.

"That's not, generally, well explained at the point of purchase."

The steady march of technology is also helping break down these barriers. For instance, a new PC to TV chip by start-up Quartics might help audio and video streaming compatibility.

It allows any files your laptop can read to be streamed over wi-fi to your TV or digital projector.

It is hoped the chip - which can be updated with any new video formats as they emerge - will be integrated into some TVs by the end of the year.

Many companies are supporting a set of standardised formats through industry groups like the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA).

And the new faster 802.11n standard for wi-fi should soon be ratified, which will help boost consumers' confidence in streaming video.

But for now it might be best to take all the hype with a pinch of salt.

Monday, January 15, 2007

Will Zune be music to your ears?

Regular commentator Bill Thompson looks over Microsoft's Zune player and download service and finds it lacking in pizzazz.
Now that Microsoft has unveiled all the parts making up its Zune music service we can begin to see how it stacks up against the iPod and other MP3 players.

The version of the player that comes in brown has attracted a lot of attention, though that may be just because it's one of the few novelties in an announcement that confirmed most of the leaks that had been circulating for months.

However, it's hardly going to make or break Zune in the market, and anyway it's surely only a matter of time before the player gets snap-on covers like many mobile phones or the Xbox 360.

Prices aren't available yet, presumably because Microsoft wants to make sure that it undercuts Apple's pricing for the iPod and will wait until the last possible moment to reveal them.

After all, Apple has just dropped the iPod's price below the Zune player's rumoured $299 (£160).

Sounds good

Details of the store are sketchy, but as well as buying individual tracks there will be a "Zune pass" subscription service that offers unlimited downloads for a monthly fee.

It's not clear whether you'll lose access to the tracks if you stop your subscription, but somehow I doubt that Microsoft would be foolish enough to do that.

Zune Specifications:
  • 30 GB hard drive
  • FM radio
  • 7.6cm screen
  • 320x240 resolution
  • 802.11 wireless
  • Available in black, white and brown




But there is one significant difference between the Zune player and an iPod, and that's wireless. The player comes with wi-fi, which means that lots of cool things become possible, stuff you can't do on an iPod because its only link to the world is through a USB cable.

You won't be able to download music directly from the store to the player using wi-fi, although that must be coming soon. But you will be able to let other Zune users listen to your music by giving them tracks from your player via wireless, a feature that may well turn the heads of the white headphones brigade.

Sharing music between players is an idea that's been around for a long time. Tech journalist Andrew Orlowksi suggested a "Bluetooth iPod" three years ago, with a "what am I listening to?" menu option that lets other people on the bus or train listen in.

Share price

It was a great idea, but it's not surprising that it has taken so long to happen.

Microsoft and Apple, like the rest of the technology industry, will happily restrict the capabilities of their products to keep the entertainment industry happy, and anything that would seem to let users have control over the songs they have paid for is often unacceptable.

Even the new "Zune to Zune" service is restricted in order to keep the record companies happy. You'll only be able to listen to a song you've been sent up to three times over three days, and then you'll be expected to buy it.

There's no indication of how often you'll be able to share unprotected music from other sources, like songs ripped from CDs that you actually own, but the chances are that this too will be limited.
Given the limitations, it may be too much to claim that player-to-player sharing is a way of "building community around new bands", as Microsoft product manager Scott Erickson put it at the launch, but it is an interesting feature that opens up many intriguing possibilities, and even limited sharing is a start.

We should also remember that there is a good track record of hackers opening up Microsoft hardware, as happened with the original Xbox, so we may see more open sharing become possible for those willing to hack the hardware they own.

And if Microsoft really does want to take on Apple then it will soon offer player-to-player streaming and other network-based services. Messenger, Xbox Live and online maps, anyone?

Lost leaders

While Zune is clearly aimed at Apple's iPod/iTunes there are other players in this market and they may well be rather annoyed with Microsoft.

Creative, iRiver, Samsung, Archos and other companies making and selling music players will now have both Microsoft and Apple to compete with, and the chances of them being around in five years must be slim indeed unless Microsoft decides to let them in on its music store and services.

Napster has already started to reposition itself, offering free 512MBb MP3 players to anyone who signs up for a three month subscription. It is trying to move music closer to the mobile phone model, where you get the hardware from your service provider at a deep discount, and pay through monthly subscriptions.

It's a brave attempt to commodify what, for the moment at least, is a highly visible and branded product. And it goes completely against the Apple model, a model which now has explicit support from Microsoft, so I wouldn't hold my breath.
Zune players will be out in time for Christmas, but things will get interesting in a year or so when those who were first to buy iPods start looking for replacements.

Once these early adopters find that they can't buy a music player from anyone else because all of their expensively acquired iTunes downloads are locked by Apple's FairPlay digital rights management technology and will only play on an Apple player, they may get annoyed.

If that annoyance turns into regulation obliging Apple to license FairPlay to others then Zune could be in the right place at the right time to pick up large numbers of users.

As we have seen with the Xbox, Microsoft can afford to wait for the market to arrive, and once the switch from iPods begins it will be unstoppable.

With all that is positive about the new player, it's a shame that the name is so difficult to take seriously.

"Zune" doesn't work for me, and I can't see it ever taking off in the way that "iPod" did. So I doubt we'll ever find ourselves talking about "zunecasts", however successful Microsoft's latest foray into hardware proves to be.
BBC news

Do you think wi-fi's affecting your health?

Have you suffered headaches, problems with your eyesight, in fact any ill effects since installing wi-fi into your home or office?

There is absolutely no evidence that wireless networks are bad for your health but a growing number of people are complaining about health problems the moment they step into a wireless field.

One MP has already called for an inquiry, while some schools have taken out wi-fi.

BBC Breakfast is interested in talking to anyone who has suffered problems, or who works somewhere that has stopped using the system.

Better leave your comments on BBC breakfast:)

Friday, January 12, 2007

No ceasefire in DVD format battle

The high definition DVD format war will continue until a winner is declared, technology watchers have heard.

Blu-ray and HD-DVD are battling to become the pre-eminent hi-def format to replace the slowing DVD market.

The two formats are incompatible with each other and so consumers are being asked to choose both the player and the system when moving to high definition.

There is also no sign of the two camps working on a unified format, the Consumer Electronics Show was told.

'Wasted opportunity'

Some believe the industry at large is being damaged by the war due to consumer confusion.

Ben Keen, chief analyst with Screen Digest, said: "There is an awful lot of people in the US and Europe who have HD displays and no hi-def content.

"That's a wasted opportunity at this point. The industry is not exploiting that opportunity."

"The growth of the industry is much slower than it could be," agreed Dr H G Lee, chief technology officer of LG Electronics, which has announced the first player to accept both formats.
"We recognise that the two formats are here to stay."

But the backers of Blu-ray are much more bullish and are predicting victory.

Blu-ray has more backing from film studios and more makers of the players, but HD-DVD has sold equally well in the first year of release.

But the Blu-ray camp believes a library of exclusive titles and the power of PlayStation 3 - which has an in-built Blu-ray player - will see the format pull ahead in the next 12 months.


No-one is going to buy any player without good array of content
Andy Parsons
US Blu-ray Disc Association chairman

Mike Dunn, president of worldwide home entertainment for 20th Century Fox, said: "I really believe the format war is in its final phase."

Supporters of Blu-ray believe that the late arrival to the market in 2006 of new next generation Blu-ray DVD players has given a more even picture than is true.
Studio backing

Currently there is an even number of titles available for both formats but most analysts predict there will be more content available for Blu-ray than HD-DVD next year.

Seven of the eight major US film studios back Blu-ray and five of them are exclusive to the format.

Andy Parsons, chairman of the US Blu-ray Disc Association, said: "It comes down to content and selection of content. No-one is going to buy any player without good array of content.
"As title population grows consumers will quickly see which platform has the titles."

In an ominous sign for HD-DVD, the backers of Blu-ray revealed that of the 20 biggest selling DVDs of 2006 the vast majority were from film studios supporting Blu-ray.

Toshiba and Microsoft, the principal backers of HD-DVD, see the future very differently.

They believe that the cheaper cost of HD-DVD - both in terms of hardware and the ability of firms to produce content on HD-DVD disks gives them the advantage.

Amir Majidimehr, corporate vice president of consumer technology at Microsoft, said the dual format player by LG - originally a Blu-ray only backer - was proof of the vitality of HD-DVD.


LG is saying that HD-DVD is not dying
Amir Majidimehr
Microsoft corporate vice president of consumer technology

"LG are recognising there is a thriving market for HD-DVD. That's the most positive thing for me.

"It's going to show the way to other Blu-ray exclusive companies. LG is saying that HD-DVD is not dying.

"You can wish it goes away but I'm here to ensure that it doesn't."

Microsoft has sold more than 175,000 and says that they sold out as quickly as they were made.

Toshiba has said that it plans to sell more than 1.8m HD-DVD players in 2007.

Mr Majidimehr predicted that the lifespan of both formats would also be less than the current DVD format.

It has lasted 10 years with great success but Mr Majidimehr said the technology would be superseded by developments in online delivery of hi-def content.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Beneath the bonnet of the iPhone

Iphone Stastics:
  • Screen size - 3.5in (8.9cm)
  • Resolution - 320x480 pixels
  • Memory - 4GB/8GB
  • Wireless - Quad-band GSM/wi-fi/Bluetooth
  • Wi-fi
  • Camera - 2 megapixels
  • Battery life - 5 hours talk/16 hours playback
  • Size - 115 x 61 x 11.6mm
  • Weight - 135grammes
  • Operating System - OS X





With the iPhone, it seems that Apple may have surpassed the expectations of even its most demanding fans.

The immediate reaction was one of delight that Apple had combined a widescreen iPod, mobile phone and internet device in such a slick and stylish gadget.

Most excitement is being reserved for the new user interface, which allows users to touch the screen to make calls and listen to music.

Some experts though question whether the phone will be compelling enough to make a real impact on the market.

Others are concerned that the hefty $499 price tag is just a little too much to pay even for the latest iconic Apple design.

User-friendly

Mac fans are excited about the fact that Apple has addressed the need to improve user experience while retaining the sleek design most have come to expect as standard from Apple's head of design Jonathan Ive.

Editor of MacFormat Graham Barlow, obviously not put off by the price, wants two.

"I want one to put in a box and look at and one to play with," he said.

Like many, he is most impressed by the touch-screen technology, which Apple has patented and labelled "multi-touch".

The touch-screen came about as a result of Steve Jobs frustration with existing mobile phones' usability. The new designs means users simply need to touch an icon on the iPhone's 3.5 inch screen to make a call. If another call comes through, users touch a second icon. A third icon allows them to merge the calls into a three-way conference call.

Few doubt that the touch-screen technology could have the same impact on the phone market as the motion-sensitive controls of Nintendo's Wii console seems to have had on the games market.

Small innovations

But others point out that it is not the first time Apple has dabbled with touch-screen technology.

"Apple had its first go with its Newton PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). Other companies like SonyEricsson and Nokia have also had a go at touch-screen devices and the arena is littered with casualties," said Ben Wood, partner at research firm CCS Insight.

He believes that the usability of the touch-screen and how well the keyboard's predictive functionality works will be crucial to the device's success.
Mr Wood is impressed by smaller innovations such as the phone's accelerometer, a movement sensor, which automatically detects when the user has rotated the device from portrait to landscape and changes the contents of the display accordingly.

These aside though, he isn't convinced there is anything that revolutionary about the rest of the technology behind the iPhone.

"Peel back the layers and below the Apple lustre, there isn't a great deal that all the major phone companies haven't talked about. The difference is that Apple has done it and that has raised the bar," he said.

Convergence equals compromise

Some think that the iPhone has finally solved the thorny issue of how to converge many functions on one device, although Tom Husson, mobile analyst for research firm Jupiter, is more reticent.

"Convergence without compromise is something very difficult to reach," he said.
"There is no question that the iPhone has set a new standard for handset manufacturers and it definitely addresses the key issue of user experience which is something that Apple is good at but, in order to succeed, it needs to be compelling as a phone," he said.

Issues he identifies as possible problems going forward are battery life - five hours talk-time and around 16 hours for listening to music. He also questions whether the operating system will allow third party applications for the phone.

The fact that the iPhones runs Apple's operating system OS X has delighted Apple fans.

"No-one expected that but it means that Mac users will be right at home with it," said Mr Barlow.

His desire to get his hands on the iPhone has not blinded him to concerns, mainly that the device could be prone to scratching.

He is also under-whelmed by the 4GB storage, although a bigger 8GB model will also be available, priced at $599.

The lack of storage means he will not be giving up his iPod any time soon and he believes the music device Apple has become synonomous with will enjoy healthy sales for some years to come.

Cisco to sue Apple on iPhone name

Cisco Systems is suing Apple for trademark infringement in a US federal court, for using the iPhone name.

Apple launched its new handheld mobile phone device under the iPhone name on Tuesday, at the hotly anticipated Macworld event in San Francisco.

Following the launch Cisco said it hoped to resolve the matter by Tuesday evening after negotiations.

Apple responded by saying the lawsuit was "silly" and that Cisco's trademark registration was "tenuous at best".

"We think Cisco's trademark lawsuit is silly," Apple spokesman Alan Hely said. "There are already several companies using the name iPhone for Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) products."

"We are the first company to ever use the iPhone name for a cell phone, and if Cisco wants to challenge us on it we are very confident we will prevail."

'Revolutionary'


"This issue is not about money, and it's not about the phone itself; it is about Cisco's obligation to protect its trademark in the face of Apple using it without our permission"
Jon Noh, Cisco spokesperson




Cisco, which has owned the trademark since 2000, said it thought Apple would agree to a final document and public statement regarding the trademark.

"Cisco entered into negotiations with Apple in good faith after Apple repeatedly asked permission to use Cisco's iPhone name," said Mark Chandler, Cisco senior vice-president and general counsel, in a statement.

The firm has owned the name since it bought Infogear Technology in 2000, which registered the name.

Infogear had previously used the name for several years, said Cisco.

Cisco, which supplies networks, said it would seek to stop Apple from "infringing upon and deliberately copying and using" the trademark.

Jon Noh, a spokesperson for Cisco told the BBC: "This issue is not about money, and it's not about the phone itself; it is about Cisco's obligation to protect its trademark in the face of Apple using it without our permission."

Cisco's Linksys arm has employed the trademark since early 2006, and in December it launched its own phone, capable of connecting to the internet, called the iPhone.

News of Apple's launch of its touch screen has been long awaited and Steve Jobs, the firm's head, said the phone would revolutionise the market.

Shares in Apple were 1.3% lower in after-hours trade, having risen 8% after the phone was launched a day earlier.

Apple's 'magical' iPhone unveiled

US firm Apple has confirmed its move into the telecoms industry, unveiling the long-awaited iPhone.

Users will be able to download music and videos with the phone, demonstrated by Apple boss Steve Jobs at the annual Macworld Expo in San Francisco.

Mr Jobs praised the phone's design and told the audience the "magical device" would "revolutionise the industry".

The phone, which will cost from $499 (£257) to $599, will be launched in the US in June and Europe later this year.

Apple is not yet saying how much the iPhone will cost in the UK, but using the comparison of a Mac mini computer the 4 gigabyte (GB) model would be about £335.

Also revealed at the Macworld Expo was Apple TV, a device to stream music and movies from a computer to the living room.

'Super-smart'

The announcement ended months of speculation about the iPhone, which has no conventional buttons but instead uses a large touch-screen.

The firm has patented keyboard technology on the 11.6mm thick phone, calling it "multi-touch".

It is essentially a computer with a blank screen that users configure so they can operate the monitor with their fingers.


TOMORROW'S WORLD BLOG
"But as the hype piled up Jobs told us we were witnessing history and he was going to reinvent the telephone - some doubts crept in.
Rory Cellan-Jones"
BBC News' Technology Correspondent




"We are all born with the ultimate pointing device - our fingers - and iPhone uses them to create the most revolutionary user interface since the mouse," said Mr Jobs.

A full touch keyboard is available for text messaging and there is a built-in two megapixel camera.

Mr Jobs said the iPhone was a "revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone".

"It works like magic... It's far more accurate than any touch display ever shipped. It ignores unintended touches. It's super-smart."

iPod impact

He demonstrated the phone by playing the Beatles' Lovely Rita, Meter Maid.

He added: "The iPod changed everything in 2001. We're going to do it again with the iPhone in 2007."

The phone will be available on the network of US mobile firm Cingular and will run Apple's OS X operating system.

It will come in two versions - one with 4GB of storage space, the other with 8GB.

Apple shares closed around 8% up after the announcement.

Hands-on: Downloading Movies and TV to Xbox 360

The new Xbox Video Marketplace is one my favorite new developments of 2006. Launched just before Thanksgiving, Microsoft's new service lets you download HD and SD movies, TV shows, and video clips to your Xbox 360. While not without its hiccups, the service works well, based on my viewings over the past couple of weeks (hey, I only have this phenomenal Pioneer PRO-FHD1 50-inch plasma a couple more weeks, so needless to say, I'm watching a lot of TV).

The service is accessed via the Xbox Live Marketplace on the Xbox 360 console and takes about 15 to 20 seconds to load up each screen, but once I got the selection going, I was impressed with the overall selection of movies: around 48 titles, everything from Akira Kurosawa's Dreams and Rosemary's Baby to THX 1138 and Batman Begins. Unfortunately, just a handful of those movies (Clash of the Titans, The Perfect Storm, V for Vendetta, among others) is available in HD.

The TV show selection is okay—a partial selection of series from CBS, NBC, ABC, MTV, Comedy Central, and a few others.

Though I was able to see if all the fuss around Jericho is merited (it isn't), I'll be happier when I see a larger selection of TV shows. NBC only offers Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (where's 30 Rock?), and ABC offers only The Nine (and now that it's on hiatus, why would I want to get involved with that show?). Again, not all of these shows are offered in HD.

The nice thing about the HD downloads is you get a free download of the SD version, too. The SD versions take just minutes to download, versus the HD shows, which can take anywhere from five hours (a one-hour episode of Jericho in HD) to all night (a different one-hour episode of Jericho in HD), depending, presumably, on how many other Xbox Live members are downloading movies at a particular time. You can usually start viewing a movie once it's downloaded about halfway, but this is little consolation to anyone who's been waiting half the night to watch Exorcist III: The Heretic (in which case, you might have other problems).

Why would you want an SD version, too? I'm thinking it's handy if you decide to delete the show from the Xbox 360 to make space on the hard drive but decide you want to watch it later—an SD download of the show is better for instant gratification. TV shows like Jericho you buy the rights to forever, so you can download the same episode indefinitely; movies, on the other hand, have a Movielink-like deal where you get up to 14 days to start watching a movie, then just 24 hours once you start watching. Like Zune, the service uses the Microsoft "points" system, so HD downloads cost 240 points (about $4.50), and SD downloads cost just 160 points (about $3). Another cool feature: You can download purchased content onto any Xbox 360, provided you sign in under your Xbox Live account.

I experienced a couple of semi-nightmarish problems on the first download—namely, my movies didn't finish downloading and they disappeared off of the "Active Downloads" screen. There was no record of my having purchased the movies, and yet my Microsoft Points account was still 240 points down. I waited about a day and, at a certain point, was prompted to download a patch/update. After that, I simply restarted the download and everything has been peachy since then.

As for quality, the HD content I watched—three episodes of Jericho and Clash of the Titans—looked perfectly clear and colorful and sounded perfectly surround-tastic. I could discern no difference between the downloaded Xbox stuff and what I get via my cable service on HDTV, though, needless to say, Clash of the Titans does not age well in HD, special-effects-wise.

All in all and despite the hiccups, it's a great service. Now if they can just up the HD offerings, I'll be watching more and more of my TV shows and movie rentals on my Xbox 360.

Setting Up Your Xbox before Playing

When you turn on your Xbox 360, you first need to perform the initial setup. This process lets you:

* Select your language

* Create your gamer profile

* Create an Xbox Live account

You're ready to get started. Press the Start button on your Xbox 360 - now!
Choosing your language

The first choice you need to make is the language you want the Dashboard to use. This page lets you choose what language you see when navigating the Dashboard.

Follow these steps to set your preferred language:

1. Select the language you prefer to use in the Dashboard.

2. Press the A button on your controller to set the language.
Creating a gamer profile

After selecting your language, you automatically switch to the Gamer Profile menu. Your gamer profile is an identity that:

* Stores your data on the Xbox 360 console (either on the hard drive or on a memory unit)

* Connects you to Xbox Live

The following sections show how to use the right gamer profile option for your Xbox 360. You have three choices:

* Create an offline profile

The offline profile doesn't connect to Xbox Live by default. Use the offline profile if:

• You aren't hooking up your Xbox 360 to the Internet

• You prefer to play games without Xbox Live

* I am a member of Xbox Live

* I want to join Xbox Live

Xbox Live requires a high-speed Internet connection.
Creating an offline profile

An offline profile is an Xbox 360 identity you don't use with Xbox Live.

If your Xbox 360 has a high-speed Internet connection, you can create an Xbox Live profile. You can skip to one of the following sections:

* I am a member of Xbox Live

* I want to join Xbox Live

Your offline profile's scores and other data (such as your preferred controller settings) are stored on a memory unit or hard drive and are available only on the Xbox 360 that you are playing on.

Creating a new offline profile is easy. Follow these steps:

1. Press A to use the default option, Create an Offline Profile.

2. Select a storage device and press A.

After you press A, a keyboard screen appears (Figure 1) and prompts you to enter your gamer profile name.


Figure 1: Create a new gamer profile.

3. Create your gamer profile name and press the Start button.

4. After you've typed your name in, you can do one of the following:

• Press the Guide button on your controller

• Highlight the Done button on-screen and press A on the controller

After you press the Done button (or just press the Start button on the controller - the result is the same), the Gamer Picture screen opens.

If you want to use Xbox Live,the following sections show you how.
Creating an Xbox Live profile

If your Xbox 360 console is connected to a high-speed Internet service, you can create a profile that uses Xbox Live.

Before you connect to Xbox Live, make sure that your Xbox 360 console is connected to your home network or high-speed Internet modem to ensure a smooth connection.

The Xbox Live setup steps depend on whether you're already an Xbox Live member.

I am a member of Xbox Live

If you're an Xbox Live member already, you can add your Xbox Live account to your gamer profile after you select the Xbox 360 console's language.

Follow these steps to use Xbox 360 with your existing Xbox Live account:

1. On the Gamer Profile screen, use the left analog stick (or the direction pad) to scroll down to I Am a Member of Xbox Live and then press A.

2. Press A to open the Keyboard screen, and then enter your current gamertag.

Enter your gamertag exactly the way you're currently using it. (Your gamertag is case-sensitive. If you created your gamertag with capital letters, you must use the same capital letters to retrieve your gamertag.)

3. If you want to use a Microsoft .NET Passport account with Xbox Live, follow the on-screen instructions.

I want to join Xbox Live

If this is your first Xbox, or if you have never had an Xbox Live account, you can create a new Xbox Live account after you select your console's language.

Follow these steps to create an Xbox Live account with your Xbox 360:

1. On the Gamer Profile screen, select I Want to Join Xbox Live and then press A.

2. Scroll to the Join Xbox Live option and press A.

3. Select Yes and press A to continue.

4. Enter your gamertag and press Start.

Xbox Live checks the availability of your selected gamertag:

• If the name isn't available, you're prompted to try another name.

• If the gamertag is accepted, you are automatically prompted to link to your Passport account.

5. Select your current Passport account status:

• Yes, I do(you have a Passport account).

• After you sign in to an existing Passport account, you can skip to Step 16.

• No, Create One(you don't have a Passport account).

6. If you select No, Create One, you can now choose your Locale.

7. Set your preferred language.

8. Set your birth date.

9. Enter your e-mail address.

10. Select a password, a secret question, and a secret answer.

11. Select Next and then press A.

12. Enter your first name, last name, phone number, and contact e-mail address.

13. Read the Terms of Use.

14. To accept the terms, choose Accept and press A.

If you don't accept the Terms of Use, you can't create an Xbox Live account.

15. Pick your Xbox Live membership type.

When creating a new Xbox Live account, you have two basic choices:

• The Gold (paid) account lets you in on multiplayer games on Xbox Live.

• The Silver (free) account lets you download game updates and purchase new content through Xbox Live.

16. Confirm your account type choice (and enter payment details if you chose Xbox Gold).

17. Choose a gamer picture.

18. Choose your level.

19. Decide whether you want to subscribe to e-mail information about Xbox Live.

iPod & iTunes: Create Your Own Podcast

Podcasting is still such a new medium that there aren't many programs around to simplify the process of wrapping your MP3 in an RSS feed yet. A little online research should yield some decent freeware or shareware podcasting applications for download. Here's the basic idea.

1. Record the show; use Audacity (audacity.sourceforge.net), which has everything you need and doesn't cost a dime.
2. Edit the audio, removing any verbal missteps (“uh, um, err, you know what I mean,” etc.). You can also run noise reduction and hiss reduction, but in general, a dry mix works fine for podcasting your voice.
3. Export it as an MP3; a bit rate of 64 Kbps should be sufficient. If your podcast is voice only, consider mixing it down to one mono track, since that takes up half the space and recordings made with most desktop microphones are mono anyway.
4. Make an XML file with all the relevant data about your recording.
5. Post the MP3s and XML file on your server, using whatever directions your host service provides.
6. Publicize your podcast by submitting it to podcast directories (a simple web search will turn up several, but you might start at iPodder.org, Podcast.net, or PodCastAlley.com).
7. Keep doing your show every week; who knows, you might be able to build up enough of a following to influence the New York Times Best Sellers list like Oprah, or you might end up being approached by a nationwide detergent company to advertise their wares during your dramatic daytime soap opera show.

Monday, January 08, 2007

Skype™ Cordless Phone

"Stick it to the Man" Wirelessly

Shhh... don't tell your phone company but there's this little service called Skype™ that, using your PC and some internet black magic, lets you talk to anyone, anywhere in the world for free. What's that you say? You already know about Skype™ and have been using it for months to call your cousin Sven in Copenhagen... Ahh. But wouldn't it be delightful to roam your house freely while you and Sven chat about how Empire Strikes Back really was the best Star Wars movie ever made and how newer technology and special effects don't necessarily make a better film?

Enter the Linksys Skype™ Cordless Phone. Rather than be tethered to your PC for all your Skype™ calls you can "stick it to the man" wirelessly by making and receiving free calls from every room in your house. The compact handset sports a color LCD allowing you to display your Skype™ contact list, connection status, and see who is calling with Caller ID. Built in speakerphone on the handset is a nice extra.

Simply plug in the USB base station to your PC, install the included software and be Skyping in no time. You even get 60 free SkypeOut minutes... to call those pesky friends who don't already use Skype™.


*Features
  • Complete cordless Internet phone solution for Skype™
  • Connects Skype™ to Skype™
  • Connects Skype™ to regular phone lines (with Skype™Out service)
  • Connects regular phone lines to Skype™ (with Skype™In service)
  • Plug and dial—easy to install and easy to use
  • Expandable up to 4 handsets with a single base station Intercom support allows talk between multiple handsets
  • Built-in speakerphone in handset
  • Graphical color LCD display with status indicators
  • Display your Skype™ Contact list on the handset screen
  • Superior sound quality
  • Voice encryption for maximum security
  • 120 hours standby time, 10 hours talk time
  • Base station with USB connection to connect to your PC

* System Requirements
  • PC with 400 MHz Processor
  • 128 MB RAM
  • One Available USB Connection
  • 15 MB Hard Disk Space Available for Installation
  • Windows XP, 2000
  • Skype™ Application (Included) Installed on PC
  • CD-ROM Drive
  • Internet Connection (cable/DSL/other)

* Package Contents
  • 2 NiMH Batteries
  • Charger with Power Adapter
  • USB Base Station with 5 foot USB Cable
  • Quick Installation
  • Setup Wizard CD with Skype™ Software
  • Registration Information Card

X-Ray Thunder 8 Gaming Pad

Dual-Surface Design

A mousepad worthy of its own spiffy tin carrying case? You bet. The Thunder8 Gaming pad is no ordinary mousepad. It features a unique dual-surface design which allows you to switch from a smooth, to a more textured mousing surface to determine which works best with your mouse of choice. To prevent any slippage, its base is firmly held to your desk with silicone rubber feet (and the assistance of gravity, of course).

In another effort to please the ubergamer in you, the Thunder8 also includes a cord clip, to keep your mouse cord from impeding your gaming efforts. All you have to do now is decide which color base you prefer for your Thunder8 Pad. And cross off "crappy mouse pad" from your list of excuses at the next LAN party...
Thunder8 Gaming Mousepad

  • ABS Base: Super slim, Washable, Excellent Chemical Resistance
  • Double-sided surface allows you to choose which side is best for you
  • Easy Lift Hole: Change easily between the two sides
  • Rubber feet prevent slippage across your desk
  • Enhanced Cord Clip: Easy in and out design keeps your mouse cord out of the way
  • Tin packaging provides enhance protection during travel
  • Dimensions: 11.4" x 9.3" x .2"

Mvix Wireless HD Media Center

Mvix Now in HD and Wireless!

The venerable Mvix player and enclosure took a quantum leap forward in ability and coolness. First, it's a drive enclosure...you have to supply your own hard drive..., but you can put any size 3.5" IDE hard drive. Any size. What size you got? Trust me, that'll fit. Second, it connects to your network either via Ethernet or 802.11b/g/pre-N MIMO. Third, it's a media player that connects to your HDTV via composite, component, s-video or DVI.

What you want more? Okay, how about it's massive file support? It can do Mpeg-1/2/4, VOB, WMV 9, DivX, and Xvid. It'll play your MP3's, WMA's, AAC's, Ogg files, or straight-up WAV and AC3. It can do it all from its internal hard drive, an external USB drive, or even stream off of your other computers over the network.

More? Wow, you're greedy! Okay, it will also display your photos for you, showing you a happy little slideshow while you listen to your music files.

Last, but not least, it will do all this while upsampling to 1920 x 1080i.

  • Processor: SEM8621L
  • Operating System: ucLinux
  • Video Formats: DivX (3/4/5), AVI, Xvid, MPEG, VCD(DAT), DVD(VOB, IFO), WMV-9, TP, TS, TRP
  • Audio Formats: MP3, WMA, AAC, OGG, PCM, AC3, DTS (pass-thru and downmixing)
  • Image Formats: BMP, JPEG/JPG, PNG
  • Video Output: Composite, S-Video, Component, and DVI
  • Audio Output: Stereo RCA, 5.1 channel RCA, Coaxial, Optical
  • TV Standard: NTSP, PAL or AUTO
  • Hi-Def Decoding: HD Component Y, Pb, Pr (480p, 720p, 1080i) / HD DVI (480, 720, 1080i, 1080p)
  • Audio Decoding: MPEG-1 AND MPEG-2 Laysers I, II, and III (MP3), and MPEG-2 BC multi-channel layers I, II and III, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AAC-LC, WMA9 and WMA9 Pro
  • Networking: RJ-45 Ethernet (10/100), Wireless 802.11b/g/Pre-N MIMO
  • Network Security: WEP and MAC filtering
  • Hard Disk Type: 3.5" Internal IDE(PATA)
  • Power: AC-DC Adapter 12V, 2.5a
  • Dimension: 187mm(w) x 193mm(h) x 58mm(d) or 7.4"(w) x 7.6"(h) x 2.3"(d)

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Microsoft and Apple battle for connected world

Technology giants Microsoft and Apple will set out their rival visions of the digital future at two separate events in the coming days.

On Sunday Bill Gates will open the Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas with a speech focusing on Microsoft's role in the connected world.

The digital home and the move to a high definition age will dominate the agenda at CES, say analysts.

On Tuesday in San Francisco, Apple boss Steve Jobs will address Mac devotees.

Devices which move digital content around the home - from PC to PC and to TVs, hi-fis and other products - have been available for some years but the digital living room battleground is still to be won.

Companies such as Netgear, D-Link, HP and Intel are all expected to unveil new products at CES which make it easier to hook up the digital home and share content such as films and music.
These companies have allied themselves with Microsoft's vision of connectivity and on Sunday evening Mr Gates will deliver the opening keynote of CES and is expected once again to concentrate on the themes of digital content in the home and beyond.

Microsoft has partnered with a number of companies around the world - including BT in the UK - to help deliver video content via the net, called IPTV, and to offer a platform for sharing content built around its new operating system, Vista.

Analyst Michael Gartenberg, Jupiter research director, said: "I expect a strong push from Microsoft relating to Vista.
"This will also likely be Bill Gates' final CES. It will be his swan song and I expect a lot of nostalgia during the evening."

He added: "Apple will not be physically present, but will cast a huge shadow over the show."

In fact, there may well be a mass exodus from CES on Monday night to San Francisco ahead of Apple chief executive Steve Jobs giving his keynote speech.

'Critical part'

"Apple has gone from being just another computer manufacturer to being a critical part of the consumer electronics industry," said Mr Gartenberg.
Apple is tipped to give more details about its iTV device, which shares video and other digital content around the home; a key part of its digital home strategy.

Analyst Sean Wargo said: "The networked home is such a complicated technology - you've got networking infrastructure that needs to be in place, you need devices that can tie into that network and you need content.

"Each year there has been developments in one or all of these areas. The latest development has been around the interface you use to interact or manage that content."

With Apple choosing its own path in San Francisco and many companies in Las Vegas securely attached to Microsoft's vision for the digital home, with Vista at the centre of plans, there are two key rival strategies for the future emerging.

Swarming

More than 140,000 people will attend CES, swarming over more than three million square feet of conference halls, housing the latest digital devices and gadgets

Mr Wargo, director of industry analysis at the Consumer Electronics Association, the organiser of CES, said: "One of the other major themes of this year is the services and content that feed the networked home."

Mr Wargo said the drive for higher resolutions and "beyond hi-def" displays, cameras and games consoles would be the stars of the show.

"High definition TV is driving industry growth now - in the US we are going through a massive display upgrade cycle.

"We're seeing unprecedented volume of TV selling through retail right now. It's pushing that market to new heights. It is now the single biggest product category."

Mr Gartenberg said the focus of CES would be the ongoing move from analogue to digital lives, both in the domestic and business worlds.

'Huge content'

"There will be a lot of stuff related to the digital home - especially for people who have problems with building and managing these huge content libraries of video, music and photos."

Mr Wargo said next generation DVD would certainly be part of the buzz of the show. A lot of people I would expect would be talking about the two formats and whether they will persist for a considerable amount of time."

Blu-ray and HD-DVD are rival and incompatible high definition DVD formats and have a number of different backers.

Sony is the flag-bearer for Blu-ray while Toshiba and Microsoft are firmly in the HD-DVD camp.
Mr Wargo said: "Attendees will be looking for signs of one format pulling ahead of the other or if both formats can coexist."

The battle may be altered following the news that Korean giant LG is to announce a DVD player which can play both formats.

The appearance of Yahoo and Google at last year's show reflected the rising importance of content and services to the digital home and Mr Wargo said he expected 2007 to be no different.

"We are seeing two fronts maturing - the hardware and operating system that will control this system and the content that will feed it.

"There's a story of how the online community is emerging as a potential competitor to the cable, satellite and packaged media industry.

The fact that Walt Disney and CBS are giving keynotes tell the story of how this market place is really growing beyond the boundaries of hardware and moving into content and software."

Security bug found in PDF reader

Web users are being urged to upgrade their Adobe reader software as a security flaw is found in older versions of the program.

Millions of people use the reader software to view documents prepared in the popular PDF format.

Security researchers said malicious hackers exploiting the flaw could view victim's hard drives or use it to make phishing scams look more plausible.

So far there is no evidence that the bug is being exploited in the wild.

The flaw is found in the web browser plug-in of the Adobe Reader software. Ordinarily this allows PDF documents to be viewed in a browser window.

But by exploiting the flaw hi-tech criminals could use links to PDF files stored on any website to attack vulnerable Windows PCs.

Information about the flaw in the Adobe reader software was first revealed at the annual conference of the Chaos Computer Club - a venerable German hacker group.

Since then security researchers have investigated and found that it could also be used to view files on the hard drive of a vulnerable PC.

Writing about the flaw Symantec security researcher Hon Lau said: "The ease [with] which this weakness can be exploited is breathtaking."

So far no cyber criminals are thought to be actively exploiting the Adobe Reader flaw but code to do so has been produced.

Initially it was thought that only users of the Firefox web browser were at risk but now it is known that Internet Explorer users are vulnerable too.

Upgrading to version 8 of the Adobe Reader software removes the risk of falling victim to the flaw.

Security project focuses on Apple

Two security researchers are spending the next month publicising bugs in Apple's OS X operating system and programs that run on it.

The plan is to only publicise flaws that have never been found before.

The two hackers behind the project also propose to produce working code that can be used to exploit any loopholes they find.

The pair said they will be revealing problems that range in importance from the trivial to the critical.

Bug tracking

Describing the project on their blog, Kevin Finisterre and hacker LMH said their work was not driven by malice.

Instead, they said, highlighting problems and getting them solved would "improve" OS X and many of the programs that run on it.

"A positive side-effect, probably, will be a more concerned (security-wise) user-base and better practices from the management side of Apple," wrote the two researchers.

LMH told the BBC News website that enough bugs have already been found, including some extra ones as back-up.

Apple iPods, AP

The project started on 1 January and the first discovery was a flaw in Apple's Quicktime video software and the way it handles a particular protocol.

Exploiting this bug via a booby-trapped webpage would let attackers install malicious programs on a target machine.

The attack is designed to work on Intel-based Macs and can also be used to attacks PCs running the Windows version of Quicktime. The flaw is found in version 7.1.3 of Quicktime.

LMH said there had been a variety of reactions to the project from Apple users.

He said: "We have had non-sense personal attacks, delusional responses, some people liked it, some Mac users giving thanks over email, others sent bugs."

Another response has come from former Apple employee Landon Fuller who has set up an unofficial project to patch the bugs found throughout January.

Writing about his project on his blog, Mr Fuller said: "If I have time (or assistance), I'll attempt to patch the other vulnerabilities, one a day, until the month is out."

In an e-mail to the BBC he said: "My run-time patches are band-aids, in that they wrap and protect the vulnerable code. Apple will actually fix the bugs."

Apple has yet to issue an official statement on the project. It is not known if it will produce official fixes or patches.

But, LMH told the BBC News website that he expected Apple to respond and produce official fixes.

"They may be dysfunctional at some points but they will catch up sooner or later," he said.

Previously similar projects have been run finding bugs in web browsers and the kernels, or core, of several operating systems.

Toshiba joins European DVD battle

Toshiba has launched its new high-definition DVD player in Europe, marking the start of a battle for living room domination.

The electronics firm wants consumers to use their HD-E1 DVD system rather than the rival Blu-Ray format.

Blu-Ray is being backed by electronics firms Sony, Samsung and Panasonic as well as a number of film studios.

The tussle between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray is similar to the 1980s war between VHS and Betamax video, analysts said.

Toshiba has forecast 500,000 worldwide sales of its HD-DVD player by March 2007.
HD-DVD
  • Price: Roughly £450
  • Disc: 15GB or 30GB
  • Supporters: Toshiba, NEC, Sanyo, Microsoft, Intel
  • Studios: Universal, Warner, Paramount

Its system will retail for about £450, roughly half the price of Blu-ray.

A more feature-laden HD DVD player from Toshiba - the HD-XE1 - is planned to launch from late January 2007 for around £649.

Despite differences, both of the new DVD formats offer greater storage capacity than traditional players to cope with the increased size of encoded images needed for high-definition televisions.

And both players have an internet connection, which adds further possibilities of downloadable extras and film teasers.
Blu-ray
  • Price: Roughly £900
  • Disc: 25GB or 50GB
  • Supporters: Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Sharp, Philips, Hitachi, Pioneer, Apple, Dell
  • Studios: Sony, Disney, 20th Century Fox, Warner, Paramount

HD-DVD discs contain up to 30 gigabytes (GB) of data, compared with 50 GB for Blu-ray.

Disney and 20th Century Fox are backing Blu-ray, while Universal is supporting HD-DVD.

Warner Bros and Viacom have said they will support both.

With no agreement between studios, both formats may continue to exist side-by-side for a while, analysts said, adding that many consumers may put off buying a system until a clear winner emerges.

Brazil model wins YouTube battle

A Brazilian judge has ordered the video-sharing website YouTube to remove a clip of supermodel Daniela Cicarelli romping in the sea off Cadiz in Spain.

The ex-wife of Brazilian football star Ronaldo was secretly filmed cavorting with Brazilian banker Renato Malzoni.

The court told YouTube to find a way to permanently block the intimate video from being uploaded on its servers.

Inaction could result in a daily fine of $119,000 (£61,300), the couple's lawyer said. YouTube has not commented.

File name change

The Sao Paulo state supreme court first ordered YouTube and two other websites - Globo and IG - to remove the five-minute clip in September after the couple sued.

The two other websites did remove the footage, but despite YouTube's efforts to withdraw the clip it keeps appearing on the site.


"The internet is democratic and has to be defended, but this struggle is to have some level of control to avoid the violations of people's fundamental rights, like privacy and intimacy
Lawyer Rubens Decousseau Tilkian"

As a result Supreme Court Justice Enio Santarelli Zuliani made a new order for its permanent removal, the court's press office said in a statement.

Lawyer Rubens Decousseau Tilkian, who represents Ms Cicarelli's boyfriend, told the Associated Press news agency that YouTube had not taken sufficient action to enforce the order as people kept re-posting the clip by constantly changing the name for the file.

"The internet is democratic and has to be defended, but this struggle is to have some level of control to avoid the violations of people's fundamental rights, like privacy and intimacy," Mr Tilkian told AP.

According to Mr Tilkian, the case will now go before a panel of three judges who will decide whether to fine YouTube.

The hugely popular YouTube website - which claims clips on its site are viewed 100 million times every day - was bought by the search engine company Google for $1.65bn last year.

Technology 'embraced by public'

More people than ever are becoming early adopters of technology, says research outlined in Las Vegas.

"Consumers get it; they understand technology and they are adopting it accordingly," analyst Sean Wargo told the Consumer Electronics Show.

More than $155bn (£80bn) in consumer technologies is expected to be sold in the US in the next 12 months.

"Driving the industry is the transition to the new breed, the next generation of technologies," Mr Wargo said.

More than 140,000 people are in Las Vegas for one of the world's largest technology shows.

The industry says consumers' love affair with gadgets will continue despite a global economic slowdown and a prediction that growth in the US market would halve in 2007 from last year's figures.


Hardware over time deflates - it's the services and user experience that becomes more important
Sean Wargo




Mr Wargo, director of industry analysis for the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), said the industry would continue to grow faster than retail on average.

He said people were "not only upgrading what they have but acquiring new technologies every year".

'Adoption curve'

"The adoption curve now is faster than ever. That early adopter segment of the market has grown."

The CEA said the average US household spent $1,500 (£765) on consumer technology in 2006 and expects that figure to near $2,000 (£1100) this year.


"TECH PREDICTIONS 2007
Total gadget sales to hit $155bn
MP3 player market to peak at 41m units
Video game industry to be worth $16bn
In-car navigation sales to hit $1bn
Flat panel TV sales to break $22bn
Source: Consumer Electronics Association"


"Consumers are allocating more of their disposable income on consumer electronics and will continue to do so.

"They are adopting technologies faster than ever. New technologies we haven't even seen yet are sure to be adopted faster than their previous generations."

Globally the industry is being driven by the shift to high definition and digital.

"Consumers are buying LCDs (flat panel TVs) instead of CRTs (cathode ray tube TVs). They are buying portable MP3 players rather than portable CD players.

'Upgrading'

"They are not only upgrading what they have but acquiring new technologies every year."

But one trend that could be about to slow is the shift to digital music players, such as iPods.

CES preparations
The show floor opens on Monday

CEA research predicted that the market for MP3 players in the US would peak in 2007 at 41 million products as people look to replace existing players and as mobile phones with music playback become more successful.

In 2005 the average number of products per household in the US was 25, the CEA said.

Mr Wargo said that content and services were becoming increasingly important to the industry. "Hardware over time deflates - it's the services and user experience that becomes more important.

"Blogs, voice over ip (internet telephony) and social networks are part of the fabric of our industry."

He also predicted that "disruptive distribution" was also becoming more important, referring to the shift to new methods of getting content such as TV programming, video and gaming via the net.

"They go against the mainstream thread of cable, satellite, retail of receiving content.

"We are witnessing a shift away from old models - physical to digital. We are still in early throes of this. Physical media dominates."

However, research carried out by the CEA suggests that almost half of people want to watch their content on a PC on their TVs.

"They want to make a bridge between a TV and a PC sitting perhaps in a home office."

According to the survey 52% of people were interested in being able to download a movie and burn it on to a DVD.
BBC report.

Saturday, January 06, 2007

StealthSwitch

Procrastinate At The Office With Confidence!

Feet have been a major factor in the course of human history. If it wasn't for feet, so many great heroes of the past would have had to sit down or risk tipping over. The sound of feet is how you know when someone is approaching your cubicle and it is time to hurry and close the game running on your computer. Too many close calls can lead to unnecessary office stress.

The Stealth Switch is the answer. Quickly install the software and plug the hidden foot switch in (it goes either between the keyboard and your computer, or just into an available USB port) and you are safe. It hides in the shadows and just a light tap of your toes will let it work its magic. Based on your preferences, it can hide the current window, hide all windows, or hide all windows except for specified windows. Not just minimize, mind you, but totally erase from your screen. The Stealth Switch can also mute the sound, hide the taskbar, hide the desktop icons, and password protect the restore function. When the coast is clear, another quick tap and you are ready to frag in peace.

Stealth Switch:

  • Software Requires: Win 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, XP Home/Pro
  • Includes: Stealth Switch with 6' cable, USB-PS/2 Adapter, Installation CD-ROM, Quick Install Guide
  • Dimensions: Approx. 3"(W) x 1.5"(H)
  • Manufacturer's Warranty: 1 year, limited

Optimus Mini Three Keyboard

Fabled Mini Keyboard with Animated Keys Arrives

Let's get one thing out of the way. We have this Optimus Mini Three Keyboard in our hot little hands, it is very real and very cool. You want one, trust us. And that's not the salesman in us talking... this is the die-hard geeky friend who wants to see you get some amazing tech that no one you know will have.

Here are the basics. The Optimus Mini connects to your PC via USB and features three keys, each with their own backlit OLED screen. Each key can display a static image or full animation. Press the key and a different action occurs depending on what is assigned to it. Think it as some kind of futuristic dynamic hotkey device.

The bundled Optimus Mini Configurator software allows you to assign various actions to each of the three keys. Furthermore you can instantly switch between six different key layouts by holding down the Ctrl, Shift, Alt-Shift, or Ctrl+Shift keys on your larger keyboard. Hotkey options for Internet Explorer, Microsoft Word, Outlook Express and Windows media player are included. But forget about the practical stuff... what we liked best was being able to assign a different webcam image to each key and have them dynamically update. Or have a clock face with animated second hand displaying the time in Tokyo on one key while a CPU Usage graph scrolled across another key. You can of course mix and match the key functions to your desire and there is even support for portrait or landscape orientation.

Product Features

* Mini USB Keyboard with an OLED screen on each key
* Keys can be configured for the following functions:
o Start an Application
o Set as any keyboard combination
o System Status with Free Memory and CPU Usage graph
o Display webcam or other dynamic images pulled from the web
o Display the Time and Weather in any city with animated analog or digital clock face
o Control Internet Explorer, Microsoft Word, Outlook Express and Windows Media Player
* Instantly switch between six different keysets by pressing a modifier key on your larger keyboard
* Keyboard images can be set for vertical or horizonal orientation
* Software updates are planned for future enhanced features

Specifications


* Three OLED Screens
o 20×20 mm
o 96×96 pixels resolution
o Animation at 3 frames per second
o 65536 Colors
o viewing angle 160 degrees
* Total Keyboard Size: 116 mm x 51.8 mm x 18 mm
* Key size: 32×32 mm

System Requirements

* Windows 2000, ME, XP (Mac and Linux Support is not currently available, but under development)
* One available USB port