Mac OS X, Less Secure Since Intel Arrived - Softpedia

Mac OS X, Less Secure Since Intel Arrived - Softpedia: "According to Apple Insider, the recently launched Mac-Intels are selling like hot cakes, actually much better than Apple expected. But not only the desktop division is doing so well, also the newest notebooks in Apple's offering are highly appreciated and it's obvious that these systems are already embarked on an ascending trend.

Still, for Apple enthusiasts, it's not all good news after all, since the shift from PowerPC platforms to the Intel X86 also comes with a decrease of stability for the Mac OS X. According to several experts, the new Mac systems, desktop and notebook alike, are less secure than the previous Apple systems, built on the PowerPC platform.

Oliver Friedrichs, a senior manager at Symantec Corp. Security Response said that 'attackers have been focused on the [Intel] x86 for over a decade'. Mr. Friedrichs pointed out that hackers 'have access to hundreds of documents and examples of how to exploit common vulnerabilities on x86.' Also, hackers have access not only to documentation, but to numerous tools and applications that have been tested extensively and enable attackers to exploit known vulnerabilities of the Intel platform. There are much more available tools to do so for the X 86 technology than for the PowerPC."

IBM Gives Away DB2

IBM Gives Away DB2: "The last of the database giants is adapting to the demands of all-you-can-eat, no-money-down, open-source code, with IBM set to roll out a freebie DB2 version on Jan. 30.
DB2 Universal Database Express-C (Community Edition) will offer the same core DB2 server, but in a smaller package, designed for application embedding as well as software development, deployment and redistribution.
Consistent with DB2, Express-C will have no limit on number of users and no limit on database size. It's deployable on up to two processing cores and up to two dual-core chips on x86 systems. The memory maximum size is 4GB.
To fan the flames of quick uptake, IBM is setting up a new public forum on developerWorks, with optional for-fee support offered by IBM as well. IBM is also setting up a DB2 Express community team to nurture the community.
Of course, the initial take on IBM's move will be that it's got to stay competitive with free offerings from its competitors.
Microsoft was the first of the big-database triumvirate to offer a free version. In June 2004, it introduced SQL Server 2005 Express Edition. SQL Server Express can use only a single CPU, limits database size to 4GB and supports a maximum of only 1GB of memory. "

MS to omit anti-virus from Vista | The Register

MS to omit anti-virus from Vista The Register: "Microsoft will omit anti-virus protection in Vista, the next version of Windows, which it plans to ship late this year. As with previous versions of Windows dating back to Windows 2000 at least, Redmond is promoting Vista as a landmark improvement in Windows security.
Jim Allchin, co-president of Microsoft's platform products and services division, told reseller magazineCRN that safety and security, improved user experience, and mobility features will be key additions in Vista. But there will be no anti-virus software, the Windows development supremo said during a questions and answers session with CRN. For unspecified business (not technical) reasons, Microsoft will sell anti-virus protection to consumers through its OneCare online backup and security service."

BetaNews | MSN Spaces Update a Little Bumpy

BetaNews MSN Spaces Update a Little Bumpy: "Microsoft's MSN division rolled out a new version of its Spaces blogging platform on Thursday afternoon, but it was not without hiccups that caused service to be spotty for over a day following its release.
Users reported issues with image loading, as well as some features not loading correctly or at all. Spaces also seemed much slower than normal for many. 'The service may be a little slow for a little while it stabilizes,' MSN Spaces product manager Mike Torres told users.
The issues, however, did not prevent Torres from listing almost two dozen new features on his Web log late Thursday. Some of the more significant additions include a new search feature, a new advertising partnership that allows users to earn revenue, integration with Windows Live Contacts, larger photo storage space, shorter URLs, and Xbox Live integration."

Vista's Latest Two-Way Firewall! - Softpedia

Vista's Latest Two-Way Firewall! - Softpedia: "It seems that better security is part of the overall theme for Windows Vista. Vista's Two-Way firewall will be one of the hidden gems of the next Windows Operating System. Microsoft is making the Vista version firewall one that is highly configurable and designed to give administrators greater control over managing system applications.

There's been over a month of CTP (Community Technology Preview) user testing and the firewall is on track to be in the final release of Vista schedules for the second half of this year. Austin Wilson, a director in Microsoft's Windows client group said that Microsoft is actually considering adding a similar feature for its consumer users.

The new firewall's advantage is that it filters both incoming and outgoing network traffic, so it can block outside machines that are trying to connect to the Windows PC as well as applications on the PC that are trying to connect to other systems on the network."

K800i from Sony Ericsson - Softpedia

K800i from Sony Ericsson - Softpedia: "After the success of K750i, Sony Ericsson seems to think about its successor.

K800i's technical performances are truly amazing. A huge 466MB of internal memory, the 3.2 MP camera, QVGA (240x320) LCD screen, Bluetooth 2.0 and EDGE/UMTS support make K800i a true high tech cell phone. The first pictures of the K750i's successor leaked last week and showed the new device called Wilma. It is clear from these pictures that K800i will support a complete change of user interface. The complete menu (a line with icons) shows the similarities to P990i.

This proves that Sony Ericsson will close the disparity between Symbian UI and standard JAVA phone user interface."

BetaNews | VirusScan Beta Stops Buffer Overflows

BetaNews VirusScan Beta Stops Buffer Overflows: "McAfee released a beta version of VirusScan 10.5 earlier this week, becoming the first company to offer intrusion protection with application-specific 'Buffer Overflow Protection.' The software would monitor specific processes for possible exploit activities, and alert the user if an attack is underway. Buffer overflows are a common attack method where a program attempts to fill a buffer with more data than it can hold.
'BOP will serve as an automatic shut-off, killing the exploiting process before the overflow occurs and protecting the user's system,' McAfee told BetaNews. 'This technology will reduce the system's exposure to vulnerabilities, therefore minimizing the need to update the product each time a new exploit is detected.' "

BetaNews | Sony Swaps IE for AOL Explorer on VAIO

BetaNews Sony Swaps IE for AOL Explorer on VAIO: "Scoring a big win for its alternative browser, AOL has inked a deal with Sony to distribute AOL Explorer as the default Web browser on all new VAIO desktop and notebook computers. The browser directs users to a Sony-branded AOL.com homepage, which includes links to technical support and accessories.
AOL Explorer is based on Internet Explorer, but adds advanced features such as tabbed browsing, Web thumbnails and a built-in RSS feed aggregator. A customizable side panel enables users to load third-party add-ons into the browser, such as a calendar or panel that displays incoming mail.
IE's security has also been improved in AOL Explorer with pop-up blocking and privacy features to clear a user's footprints on exit. In beta testing since late 2004, the browser officially launched last July and began shipping with the latest version of AIM known as Triton.
The deal with Sony will put AOL Explorer front and center, and joins a growing list of agreements by OEMs to migrate away from Microsoft's Internet Explorer. HP has opted to offer Netscape to its users, and Dell UK has reportedly settled on Firefox."

BetaNews | Report: Attackers Can Hide Behind VoIP

BetaNews Report: Attackers Can Hide Behind VoIP: "Security researchers with the Communications Research Network (CRN) said they have discovered loopholes within VoIP applications like Skype and Vonage that could allow hackers a way of covering their tracks. Attackers could hide behind VoIP because the data streams sent by these applications are continuous.
CRN is a joint venture between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Cambridge University. While the group said it had not heard of attackers using the technique as of yet, it would likely not be much longer before the situation occurs."

Google, Sun, others band to fight spyware, adware | CNET News.com

Google, Sun, others band to fight spyware, adware CNET News.com: "A coalition of tech companies, consumer groups and other organizations hopes to do to companies that spread spyware and adware what 'America's Most Wanted' has done to fugitives--stop them in their tracks by publicizing their misdeeds.
The newly formed Stop Badware Coalition will publish the names of companies that it deems are the worst offenders and show how they make money through unethical marketing practices and fraud.
Joining the coalition are search giant Google, PC maker Lenovo, Sun Microsystems, Consumer Reports' WebWatch project, the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School and the Oxford Internet Institute in England. Internet pioneer Vint Cerf, now Google's chief Internet evangelist, and Esther Dyson, an investor and editor of Release 1.0, are among the advisors to the group. (Release 1.0 is owned by CNET Networks, publisher of News.com.)
Malicious software can get onto an unwitting victim's computer when the user visits malicious Web sites or by downloading games or other software programs.
Users often do not know that their computers have been infected with malicious software until they start being plagued by pop-up ads, popular vehicles for online pornography, or are notified by authorities that their computers have been hijacked to launch attacks on other computers.
It takes even longer to discover that passwords or other sensitive information, like bank account data, have been stolen and an innocent Web surfer's identity has been stolen after spyware is planted onto the computer.
Internet surfers can visit the Web site, which is expected to go live on Wednesday at Stopbadware.org, to check whether progr"

Anti-spyware guidelines get final version | CNET News.com

Anti-spyware guidelines get final version CNET News.com: "A coalition of software companies have agreed on standard methods for identifying and combating spyware, those unwelcome downloads that have plagued Internet users with pop-up ads and other annoyances.
The Anti-Spyware Coalition, whose members include Microsoft, Symantec, Computer Associates, McAfee, AOL and Yahoo, said on Thursday that it has finalized its spyware detection guidelines. The final version takes into account public comments on a proposed version introduced in October.
Spyware and adware have become widely despised for their sneaky distribution tactics, unauthorized data gathering and tying-up of computer processing power. Although adware makers say there are legitimate uses for their programs, an entire anti-spyware market has been spawned to combat the stuff.
The Anti-Spyware Coalition's guidelines, or risk model description, aim to provide a common way to classify spyware, based on risks a piece of software poses to consumers. They also suggest ways to handle software, based on those risk levels.
Among the behaviors the group considers high-risk are programs that replicate themselves via mass e-mails, worms and viruses. Also, programs that install themselves without a user's permission or knowledge, via a security exploit, are also deemed high-risk, as are programs that intercept e-mail or instant messages without user consent, transmit personally identifiable data, or change security settings. "

BBC NEWS | Technology | Google censors itself for China

BBC NEWS Technology Google censors itself for China: "Leading internet search company Google has agreed to censor some of its services in China in order to satisfy Beijing's restrictions on free speech.
Google hopes the new web address for China will boost its access to one of the world's largest internet markets.
The company says the decision to censor content was hard, but says it has more influence if it is present in China.
Critics warn the censored version could restrict access to thousands of terms and web sites for Chinese users.
Topics which may be blocked include independence for Taiwan and the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
Google's move in China comes less than a week after it resisted efforts by the US Department of Justice to make it disclose data on what people were searching for. "

BBC NEWS | Health | Mobiles cancer link 'disproved'

BBC NEWS Health Mobiles cancer link 'disproved': "Mobile phone use does not lead to a greater risk of brain tumour, the largest study on the issue has said.
The study of 2,782 people across the UK found no link between the risk of glioma - the most common type of brain tumour - and length of mobile use.
Among cancer sufferers the tumours were more likely to be reported on the side of the head where they held the phone.
But the British Medical Journal study said people over-reported phone use on the side their cancer developed.
The research, which was carried out by the British arm of an international project called Interphone, reiterates most earlier studies that there is no connection between cancer and mobile phone use. "

BetaNews | Government Wants Google Search Data

BetaNews Government Wants Google Search Data: "The Bush administration on Wednesday asked a United States federal judge in San Jose, Calif. to order Google to turn over search records from its database. The request stems from a failure by the search giant to comply with a subpoena issued in October.
The federal government is attempting to gather data to support a child protection law that was struck down two years ago by the U.S. Supreme Court. Under that law, the government could punish pornography sites that made content easily accessible to minors.
However, the Supreme Court found the law too broad, and said that it could restrict the ability of adults to access these sites. It gave the government an opportunity to either rewrite the law or prove that it doesn't violate the First Amendment rights of the Web site owners and visitors.
Google contends that supplying the information would violate the privacy of its users, as well as divulge trade secrets that could help its competitors. Company officials said they plan to fight the request, calling it 'overreaching.'
Privacy advocates warn that this is the case they have long feared, where with a little bit of legal action, entire databases with personal information could be open for companies -- and the government -- to see."

BetaNews | Intel iMac Costs Apple $899 to Build

BetaNews Intel iMac Costs Apple $899 to Build: "Apple's cost to build the new Intel-based iMac likely costs about $873, research firm iSuppli said on Thursday. The most expensive part in the computer is the Intel Core Duo processor that powers it, on which the firm placed a value of $265.
Additionally, the firm estimates it costs Apple $25 to build and test every iMac, making the total cost $899. This does not include the cost of including a keyboard and mouse, as well as documentation with each system."

Firefox for Intel Macs planned for March | CNET News.com

Firefox for Intel Macs planned for March CNET News.com: "The Mozilla Foundation has set a March launch date for a version of its Firefox Web browser that will run on Apple Computer's Intel version of Mac OS X.
'We are targeting the official release of Firefox for Intel Mac OS X in late March with the Firefox 1.5.0.2 update,' said Mozilla software engineer Josh Aas told.
Demand for the browser on Apple's new CPU platform is expected to rocket as the PC vendor last week started selling the first Macs based on CPUs from Intel. Previously Apple had used IBM's PowerPC chips. "

BetaNews | MSN adCenter to Launch in June

BetaNews MSN adCenter to Launch in June: "Microsoft's new system for selling advertising within its search results will go live in June, the company announced Friday. MSN adCenter will compete with rival offerings from Google and Yahoo, as well as eventually become a one-stop-shop for advertising across any of Microsoft's online services.
Eventually, a user would be able to buy ad space on services like MSN Spaces or Office Live. The tools to make this happen are not yet complete, Microsoft says, but should be over the next year. The technology would alllow an advertiser to target their campaigns to specific demographics.
These demographics would be culled in an anonymous way from Microsoft's Passport system, giving a company broader control over who sees their ads.
adCenter has been in testing since last spring, and a quarter of the ads on its search engine are being sold through the new service. As the company moves closer to its June deadline, that number will rise to 100 percent."

BetaNews | 600,000 Xbox 360s Sold Since Launch

BetaNews 600,000 Xbox 360s Sold Since Launch: "Research firm NPD Group announced Friday that Microsoft has sold 600,000 Xbox 360 consoles in the U.S. since the device's launch in November. Despite holiday shipments falling below analyst expectations, Microsoft still expects to sell between 4.5 and 5.5 million Xbox 360s by the end of June.
NPD Group numbers include two-thirds of retail outlets in the United States. The figures do not include Xbox 360 sales in Japan, where initial launch figures were disappointing, and Europe, where Microsoft blew through its 300,000-console inventory within days. Sales in all regions could accelerate later this month when more game titles hit store shelves."

Watch Out Google and Yahoo, the Future of Online Advertising Is Microsoft! - Softpedia

Watch Out Google and Yahoo, the Future of Online Advertising Is Microsoft! - Softpedia: "Microsoft is the future of advertising. I can go ahead and say that without blinking an eye. It is in the process of redefining what it means to have interactive advertising. Imagine this. You're watching a rerun of Friends or Entourage and you want to know what Rachel's wearing, or you want to know what jersey Turtle has on and all you'd need to do to find out is to click on it. That's right, if you're watching an online movie or TV show, all you'd have to do is click on the item to see detailed product descriptions and information on where the products can be bought.

This revolutionary advertising technology is actually called the Microsoft adCenter Incubation Lab (adLab). It was unveiled from REDMOND, Wash., on Jan. 13 to the public. It's a combination of MSN's adCenter and Microsoft Research which is in fact a state-of-the-art lab in Beijing with a 'mission to research and incubate advanced technologies for MSN's adCenter' according to Microsoft. More than 50 researchers are working on this latest project that plans to emphasize Microsoft's already stated goal of competing in the online advertising market. "

BetaNews | Cell Processor Development to Continue

BetaNews Cell Processor Development to Continue: "IBM, Toshiba and Sony on Wednesday announced that they had struck a five-year deal to continue developing the Cell microprocessor. The three had spent about $400 million over the past five years to build the first chip, which was used in the PlayStation 3, due out later this year. Plans are to look into ways of using the technology in televisions, audio equipment and in other video game consoles.
The next phase of the partnership will focus on technology to produce the Cell chip at 32 nanometers and smaller, the companies said. 'By extending this relationship to the next-generation of process technologies and deepening our partnership at the research level, we expect to increase the pace of development for major technology advances,' IBM semiconductor research vice president Lisa Su said in a statement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed."

Can IBM help cut your energy bill? | CNET News.com

Can IBM help cut your energy bill? CNET News.com: "Imagine a future in which your electricity meter sends you an e-mail to alert you that your monthly power bill is over budget and then turns down the thermostat automatically.
It's a future that's not too far off for 300 households in Washington state and Oregon who've volunteered to test new 'intelligent' power grid technology being developed by IBM, Whirlpool and the U.S. Department of Energy.
IBM and the Department of Energy announced two 'GridWise' studies on Tuesday, hailing them as a path to a cleaner, more energy-efficient future for the nation and lower bills for consumers. The main idea behind one of the one-year studies is to alert customers to how much energy they're consuming in real-time prices and prompt them to lower their usage, especially during peak rates.
The Department of Energy, through its Pacific Northwest National Lab, plans to reward participants who shift energy use in response to real-time market pricing with cash.
'In this test, consumers will receive real-time pricing information on their energy usage/costs and can adjust accordingly,' IBM said in a statement. 'For example, homeowners will be able to set how much they want to spend per month on energy and also be alerted when usage should be modified to defray strain on the grid and save money.' "

Google Video Store goes live | CNET News.com

Google Video Store goes live CNET News.com: "The Google Video Store was online late Monday after being announced Friday--and judging from first impressions, Blockbuster Video and NetFlix may not have much to worry about yet.
The video store was accessible at the top of the main Google Video page with four rotating featured videos. At one point they were: 'Star Trek Voyager-Tattoo,' on sale for $1.99; the Jan. 4 Heat-Hornets basketball game for $3.95; an ITV news segment of the Christmas dinner held by British troops in Bosnia in 1995; and a video that teaches youngsters 'essential early-learning color concepts' for $2.49.
A drop-down menu lets people browse selections of NBA basketball games, movies and music videos, as well as television shows like 'The Brady Bunch,' 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,' 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,' 'Nova' and 'The Ed Sullivan Show.'
Diving into the video selections unearthed tantalizing titles including 'Birth Control: Myths & Methods, Spanish Version,' 'Bobbito's Basics to Boogie' and 'ChinaPortal Presents: Xu Genbao and the Future of Chinese Soccer Part 1.' "

Intel Macs stay at non-Intel prices | Channel Register

Intel Macs stay at non-Intel prices Channel Register: "Apple is shipping its first Intel-based Mac six months early and debuting its first Intel-based laptops. However, it seems that Intel technology does not herald Intel pricing.
CEO Steve Jobs opened Macworld in San Francisco by previewing the MacBook Pro, a machine that supersedes the PowerBook G4 and introduces 4-5x performance gains with the insertion of Intel's Core Duo processor.
Intel's dual-core chip delivers the extra performance without an increase in power consumption or heat - two issues Apple struggled with when contemplating the use of IBM's G5-class PowerPC chip in laptops.
Explaining the IBM-to-Intel switch, Jobs told whooping Macworld delegates: 'We are kinda done with Power, and we want Mac in the name of our products.' Orders for the MacBookPro are being taken now, and shipment is due next month."

BetaNews | Microsoft's FAT Patents Upheld

BetaNews Microsoft's FAT Patents Upheld: "Ending a two-year battle over the FAT file system, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has reversed a non-final ruling from October and upheld Microsoft's patents on the technology. Despite the prior setbacks, Microsoft had remained steadfast that it would be victorious all along.
In June of 2004, the USPTO agreed to review the patent after questions arose surrounding its validity. A group known as the Public Patent Foundation disputed Microsoft's claims to FAT in April 2004, saying it had become ubiquitous as a format and found in many devices."

BetaNews | Microsoft, Apple Strengthen Partnership

BetaNews Microsoft, Apple Strengthen Partnership: "Microsoft Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to the Mac platform, announcing an agreement with Apple to produce Office for Mac for a minimum of five years. The company also said it plans to make improvements to Entourage 2004 for Mac, as well as build converters to read Microsoft's Open XML format.
'The Mac platform has never been stronger, and we're pleased that Microsoft is committed to delivering great Mac products for many years to come,' Apple's vice president of marketing Philip Schiller said in a statement.
The Macintosh Business Unit has been a part of Microsoft for the past two decades. While some may view the two as bitter rivals, it was Microsoft that saved Apple upon Steve Jobs' return in the late 1990s after the company nearly collapsed due to mismanagement and slow computer sales.
Several Entourage 2004 enhancements are on tap to be released in March, including Sync Services integration and support for Spotlight searching. Plans are also in the works for enhancements involving Smart Card technology."

Microsoft to hunt for new species of Windows bug | CNET News.com

Microsoft to hunt for new species of Windows bug CNET News.com: "Microsoft plans to scour its code to look for flaws similar to a recent serious Windows bug and to update its development practices to prevent similar problems in future products.
The critical flaw, in the way Windows Meta File images are handled, is different than any security vulnerability the software maker has dealt with in the past, Kevin Kean and Debby Fry Wilson, directors in Microsoft's Security Response Center, said in an interview with CNET News.com. Typical flaws are unforeseen gaps in programs that hackers can take advantage of and run code. By contrast, the WMF problem lies in a software feature being used in an unintended way.
In response to the new threat, the software company is pledging to take a look at its programs, old and new, to avoid similar side effects. "

BBC NEWS | Technology | Google opens online video store

BBC NEWS Technology Google opens online video store: "Google is to start selling video online, offering a way for people to search for and buy TV shows and more through its site.
The web giant's co-founder Larry Page announced the service at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
US network CBS is making shows like CSI and Star Trek available to buy online.
Google is the latest company to explore the idea of selling video on the net, following Apple who led the way with its iTunes online store. "

BBC NEWS | Business | Motorola adds Google to mobiles

BBC NEWS Business Motorola adds Google to mobiles: "Motorola has announced plans to enable users of its mobile phones to access Google's internet search engine at the touch of a single handset button.
The US mobile phone maker said it would introduce Google's software technology to many of its new handsets.
The companies said they wanted to encourage more mobile users to access the internet using their phones.
Separately, Google also announced an internet video service deal with US chip giant Intel.
The company said it planned to allow users of Intel's new Viiv digital entertainment platform to use its search technology to locate and watch videos on the internet.
The agreement between Google and Intel was unveiled on Thursday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where Google co-founder Larry Page is due to make a keynote address later on Friday. "

HP Turns Away from iTunes, Embraces Rhapsody - Softpedia

HP Turns Away from iTunes, Embraces Rhapsody - Softpedia: "Two years ago, at the 2004 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the CEO of Hewlett-Packard at the time, Carly Fiorina, was talking about the plans to distribute a HP version of the iPod. In the end, the products did not sell as well as expected, often falling far behind the Apple-branded versions.

Now, after years of distributing Apple's iTunes with its new PCs, HP is turning towards RealNetworks and their Rhapsody music service.

'The computer maker's decision to drop Apple has been widely expected, after the company said last summer that it would stop distributing an HP-branded version of the iPod,' John Borland reports for CNET.

After seeing its products always lagging behind Apple's, HP is headed in a new direction. Rhapsody will now be bundled with the new HP PCs and laptops starting this spring. Customers will also be given a free 30-day trial subscription to the new default music subscription service from RealNetworks."

Toshiba turns 90� to boost 0.85in HDDs to 10GB | The Register

Toshiba turns 90� to boost 0.85in HDDs to 10GB The Register: "Toshiba today said it has finally begun shipping its long-awaited 4GB, 3600rpm 0.85in micro hard disk drives. The company also pledged to boost the drives' capacity to 10GB courtesy of perpendicular recording techniques.
That said, consumer electronics companies looking to use the drives in their products will have to wait until 2007 to take delivery of such 'high-capacity' 0.85in units, Toshiba admitted when it announced the products at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas today.
This longer-term schedule may reflect the experience Toshiba has had getting the 4GB model out of the door. The product was to have shipped mid-2005 - or so the company said when it announced the product at CES in January 2005. Then, Toshiba was also touting 6GB and 8GB drives in 2006. There was no mention of these capacities today.
Separately, Toshiba has also begun shipping an 80GB 1.8in drive, a dual-platter product derived from the 40GB drive it launched in August 2005. Like the 40GB unit, the new MK8007GAH HDD uses perpendicular recording to boost the platter's data-storage density to 206Mb per square millimetre or 133Gb per square inch.
By comparison, the 10GB 0.85in drive will score a data density of 200Gb per square inch, Toshiba claimed."

Dell ridicules Microsoft as a 'so called' high-end gamer | The Register

Dell ridicules Microsoft as a 'so called' high-end gamer The Register: "Dismissing Microsoft's Xbox 360 as 'so called high-definition gaming,' Michael Dell today unveiled a stunning new limited edition Dell gaming PC packed with four Nvidia graphics processors and a 'factory over-clocked' 4.26GHz chip.
Chairman Dell did the unveiling here at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and managed to wow his keynote crowd with the flashy XPS 600 Renegade. The limited edition system boasts a custom red paint job with flame graphics along the side. Dell also believes the box, shipping in the first quarter, will be the first to hold two of Nvidia's GeForce 7800 SLI graphics cards, which would allow four graphics processors to be linked together. Add all that to the 4.26GHz Intel Extreme Edition dual-core chip, and you've got a serious gaming machine."

Intel recruits top Hollywood talent to make Viiv thrive | The Register

Intel recruits top Hollywood talent to make Viiv thrive The Register: "Intel rolled out Tom Hanks, Morgan Freeman and Danny DeVito to help sell its Viiv technology here at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The star power, however, did little to convince us that this Viiv thing is more than a wishy-washy brand.
Intel describes Viiv - which sounds like 'five' - as a hardware and software pairing meant to usher in a new era of computing and entertainment. This concept fits into Intel's new 'platform' marketing fluff that presents processors as some kind of lifestyle choice. For example, Intel would have you believe that you'll be a media-less hermit in a couple of years if you reject Viiv's embrace.
To lay it on thick, Intel announced partnerships with AOL, DirecTV and NBC where the content providers will certify their services to work with Viiv-enabled technology.
Then, Intel's new CEO Paul Otellini brought out Hanks, Freeman and DeVito to sell the ClickStar movie service, which will be Viiv-enabled, whatever that means. The first ClickStar film '10 Items or Less' will premiere online 'within weeks,' according to the media moguls. Hanks and Freeman, in particular, talked up ClickStar, which is meant to give directors and actors a non-Hollywood mechanism for releasing films straight to consumers."

BBC NEWS | Technology | Microsoft acts on Xbox shortages

BBC NEWS Technology Microsoft acts on Xbox shortages: "Microsoft has addressed criticism about shortages of its Xbox 360 by announcing a third manufacturing partner.
The company faced the ire of frustrated gamers last month as limited supplies of the new console quickly sold out.
Speaking on the eve of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Xbox's Peter Moore said Microsoft was trying hard to meet demand.
The Xbox 360 is the first of a new generation of games consoles.
It went on sale in the US in November, and in Europe and Japan in December. "

BBC NEWS | Technology | Gates promises Windows everywhere

BBC NEWS Technology Gates promises Windows everywhere: "Microsoft boss Bill Gates has made an ambitious pitch to put Windows software at the heart of everything people do.
Speaking as the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas opens, Mr Gates talked about Microsoft's plan to remake itself to match digital lifestyles.
'Consumers are getting more connected and software is at the centre of that,' he told an avid tech audience.
Some 130,000 people are expected to attend CES to catch up with the latest gadgets and technology trends."

New Goodies from XviD and DivX - Softpedia

New Goodies from XviD and DivX - Softpedia: "Two very popular high-compression video technologies are presenting important updates and this means new features and improvements while getting rid of nasty bugs.

The latest version of the XviD is called 1.10 and according to data posted on the original XviD.org site by the developers, 'it is mostly API compatible with the previous stable release as we dropped support for reduced resolution coding. If your application didn't use that feature then the upgrade is totally compatible'. The updated version offers improved Low bitrate quality and VBV support, but also new postprocessing functions, brightness and deringing. Xvidcore features a new PowerPC port and a new amd64 Linux 64bit port. Naturally, all bugs reported previously have been terminated."

Microsoft Vista Favors Hd-Dvd over Blu-ray - Softpedia

Microsoft Vista Favors Hd-Dvd over Blu-ray - Softpedia: "You're probably fed up by now with all the rumors about the Microsoft secret tool that will finally unleash a world of wonder on every computer... that is if it will eventually be ready for take off.

Still, this latest piece of info might be somewhat of a turnover in the Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD head-to-head. The software giant has decided to back the HD-DVD standard, which will have native support. On the other hand, Blu-Ray will only be supported via third party applications.

So this will definitely have an impact on the way things were going in deciding which format deserves the DVD follower crown, and it looked like Blu-ray had the advantage. Now, the operating system installed on the vast majority of computers is showing interest in HD-DVD and not Blu-ray, so that should bring the who's who question back after a somewhat dormant period.

So, just in case you thought having the Hollywood support was enough for one or the other technology to take lead, apparently the answer lies in having the most important software maker back you, or at least it sounds like a really good plan."

BetaNews | Samsung Debuts iPod Nano Competitor

BetaNews Samsung Debuts iPod Nano Competitor: "Samsung debuted on Tuesday its largest flash based music player with subscription capabilities. The YP-Z5 features a capacity of up to 4GB, a 1.8-inch color screen with photo support, a 24-hour advertised battery life, and weighs about two ounces. Microsoft has also certified the devices as PlaysForSure compatible.
The YP-Z5 will be available in February for a price of $199 USD for the 2GB model, and $249 USD for the 4GB version. 'Consumers are choosing digital music subscription services and Samsung supports this trend with the first 4GB flash player to offer subscription capabilities,' Samsung's Mark Farish said."

Intel Changes 'Inside' Logo - Softpedia

Intel Changes 'Inside' Logo - Softpedia: "Intel Corp., whose marketing made its computer chips a household name, is changing its logo for the first time in 37 years.

'Intel Inside,' which launched in 1991, went a long way in teaching PC users something about the important components inside their computers, and helped separate the identity of the microprocessor from, say, the memory chip or the graphics chip. The Santa Clara company will discard its 'dropped e' logo that Intel has used since its founding in 1968.

The company will also retire the 'Intel Inside' advertising logo it has used since 1991. Both made Intel the fifth-most valued brand in the world, according to Interbrand.

The new logo (simply 'intel' with the same swoop around the word that has circled the phrase 'Intel Inside'), and a tagline that includes the phrase 'Leap ahead,' will be formally announced today.

'We're aligning our brand strategy with our platform strategy,' said Bill Calder, a spokesman for Intel. The 'Intel Inside' campaign focused solely on the company's microprocessors, such as its popular Pentium line of chips. But Intel has changed its focus to include entire platforms, including the microprocessor as well as other surrounding chips and chip sets, such as Centrino for laptops able to surf the Internet using Wi-Fi, and the upcoming Viiv platform for home entertainment computers. The new logo aims to reflect Intel's focus on whole platforms, instead of just on its microprocessors.

'It was a great campaign and it really put us on the map with consumers,' said Calder. And the term 'inside' won't disappear completely from Intel's microprocessor lines. The company will use its new logo alongside the name of the processor and the word 'inside' with its chips,"

BetaNews | 5,198 Linux, Windows OS Flaws in 2005

BetaNews 5,198 Linux, Windows OS Flaws in 2005: "The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team released its year-end summary of computer vulnerabilities. While Windows is regarded as the most insecure operating system, the US-CERT found four times as many vulnerabilities specifically related to Unix and Linux. Of 5,198 reported flaws, 812 were for the Windows, 2,328 for Unix and Linux, and 2,058 more affected more than one operating system.
Notably missing from the list of Windows vulnerabilities is the recently discovered Windows Metafile issue. No vulnerabilities were listed for Apple's Mac OS X, however several had been disclosed during the year. Also, since OS X is based on Unix, it is vulnerable to some of the flaws associated with its core operating system."

Google denies Google PC reports | News.blog | CNET News.com

Google denies Google PC reports News.blog CNET News.com: "Google has denied reports that it is working on a low-price personal computer or a 'Google Cube' that would link up a user's PC, TV, set-top box and cell phone.
'We have many PC partners who serve their markets exceedingly well and we see no need to enter that market; we would rather partner with great companies,' Google said in a statement.
The genesis of the reports may have been an online column in November in which Robert X. Cringely forecasts in his blog that Google will create distributed data centers in shipping containers that would be used to link up 'Google Cubes.' He describes them as plug-and-play devices that would serve as the company's 'interface to every computer, TV, and stereo system in your home, as well as linking to home automation and climate control?(and) are networked together wirelessly in a mesh network, so only one need be attached to your broadband modem or router.' "

ElectricNews.net:News:Windows flaw could cause 'serious damage'

ElectricNews.net:News:Windows flaw could cause 'serious damage': "Virus writers have discovered a new flaw in the operating system that could leave its users open to spyware and viruses.
Computers can be infected through programmes inserted into image files, without requiring the user to download any files. Simply viewing a web page or e-mail that contains an infected image is enough to release the virus into the machine. The exploit can be used to install malicious programming on the PC.
The 'WMF exploit', which has been published online by a group of virus writers, is based on what security firm F-Secure describes as bad design, rather than a bug. 'When Windows Metafiles were designed in late 1980s, a feature was included that allowed the image files to contain actual code,' said a posting on the company's website. 'This code would be executed via a callback in special situations. This was not a bug; this was something which was needed at the time.'
This means that the bug could affect all versions of Windows -- even going back to Windows 3.0, which was shipped in 1990. As a result, F-Secure says the WMF flaw could affect more machines than any other security vulnerability has before. However, in practice, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 are the only platforms that can be easily affected by the exploit. Windows 2000 users who have a third-party application opening their image files are also at risk. "

BlackBerry users face security threat | CNET News.com

BlackBerry users face security threat CNET News.com: "Windows users know that opening a malicious e-mail attachment can wreak havoc on their PC. It appears BlackBerry users have to use caution too.
Opening a malicious image sent via an e-mail on the popular mobile devices could disable a user's capability to view attachments, BlackBerry maker Research In Motion said Tuesday.
The problem occurs because of a software flaw in the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, RIM said in a posting on its customer support Web site. An attacker would have to craft a special TIFF, or Tagged Image File Format, to perform the attack, the company said."

Microsoft Hires Leading Scientist

Microsoft Hires Leading Scientist: "Microsoft Corp. has hired Bill Buxton, a leading computer scientist and designer specializing in the human aspects of technology, to work with Microsoft Research and assist on various projects the company has ongoing in its research labs around the world.
Buxton, who will hold the title of senior researcher at the Redmond, Wash., company, brings a pedigree that includes research efforts at Palo Alto Research Center Inc., Silicon Graphics Inc., Alias Wavefront (now Alias Systems Corp.), and other academic and commercial pursuits.
Buxton, a Canadian, said he has spent the last 30 years studying and observing how people use technology. He said that it has become easy to predict what the technology of the future will be, but what isn't easy is determining how people are going to use that technology."

Google to 'launch own PC' | The Register

Google to 'launch own PC' The Register: "Google is planning to provide an own-brand Windows-less PC and sell the low-cost system through a partnership with retail giant Wal-Mart. The machine and/or the sales deal could be announced as early as this coming Friday.
So claims the Los Angeles Times, citing unnamed sources. Whether they've seen the text of Google co-founder Larry Page's Consumer Electronics Show keynote, which he'll make in Las Vegas on Friday, isn't clear, but it's suggested that the talk will cover the new box.
As the paper notes, analysts from investment house Bear Stearns last month claimed Google was preparing a box capable of shuffling digital Internet-sourced media content around the home across local wireless or wired networks.
Crucially, the rig is said to be based on Google's own operating system - most likely Linux in Google clothing - rather than Windows.
Yes, that old chestnut. But while it has been often claimed in the past that Google wants to get into the OS business, there's been no compelling reason given why this would be a good idea. Google's strengths are internet advertising - which is were its money comes from - and its search engine brand. Whether the latter is strong enough to translate into a very different arena - computer hardware - is open to question. Beyond any licensing fee it makes from its manufacturing partner, what's the gain?"