(The source of this information is in Portuguese so i did the translation of this information on Google translate, apologies for any inconvenience in you find any English grammar mistake)-----Hacker group releases more of an encryption key PS3
A group of hackers calling themselves The Three Musketeers released yesterday over an encryption key used on the PlayStation 3. This time, unlike the key published in 2010, this is the LV0 allowing them to be modified firmware installed on the console - which is often used to run pirated games. But the main problem is another: this key serves not only to the current firmware version and for all later.
The group said it discovered the keys for a while but decided to release them now because they realized that another group is profiting from it. According to "The Three Musketeers", a group of Chinese hackers used the keys to create a custom firmware for the system. And this firmware is not free: Chinese hackers charge for your download.
This is not the first time a safety item and discovered the PS3 is released freely. In mid-2010 the group fail0verflow found keys metldr system, which were released by the hacker Geohot shortly after that and ended up getting in a process with the console manufacturer.
At the time Sony fixed the problem by releasing a firmware version of 3.60, but this is not something that can be done with the key LV0. So no matter how many updates to the console the company release, the hackers will be able to run custom firmwares anyway.
A group of hackers calling themselves The Three Musketeers released yesterday over an encryption key used on the PlayStation 3. This time, unlike the key published in 2010, this is the LV0 allowing them to be modified firmware installed on the console - which is often used to run pirated games. But the main problem is another: this key serves not only to the current firmware version and for all later.
The group said it discovered the keys for a while but decided to release them now because they realized that another group is profiting from it. According to "The Three Musketeers", a group of Chinese hackers used the keys to create a custom firmware for the system. And this firmware is not free: Chinese hackers charge for your download.
This is not the first time a safety item and discovered the PS3 is released freely. In mid-2010 the group fail0verflow found keys metldr system, which were released by the hacker Geohot shortly after that and ended up getting in a process with the console manufacturer.
At the time Sony fixed the problem by releasing a firmware version of 3.60, but this is not something that can be done with the key LV0. So no matter how many updates to the console the company release, the hackers will be able to run custom firmwares anyway.
Apple to release cloud version of iWork suite for iPad?Apple is dead serious about this so-called post-PC era. Productivity – long the biggest argument against tablets replacing traditional PCs – is gradually becoming more at home on the iPad. Apps like OnLive Desktop, Photoshop Touch, and iMovie have filled what were once gaping holes in tablets' capabilities for work. Apple may now be aiming to own a bigger piece of that pie, as it's rumored to be working on a cloud-based rival to Microsoft Office.
According to a report from CRN, Apple is partnering with VMWare on a cloud-based version of its iWork suite for iPad. Though Apple already offers iPad versions of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, this edition would offer full desktop functionality. Using VMWare's View virtual desktop software, it would take to the cloud and bring iWork to enterprise iPad customers.
If this sounds familiar, it could be similar to OnLive Desktop, which – for a monthly fee – allows iPad and Android tablet owners to use a cloud-based version of Windows, complete with Office. Though the company has been in dire straits of late, its service is, at present, one of the best options for doing serious office work on a tablet.
Staking Out the Future
Apple would love to use the dominant status of the iPad to stake out a bigger claim of the post-PC enterprise market, but it will have competition.Microsoft Surface ships with Office, and Redmond is also rumored to be prepping an iPad version of its suite. With Office holding a virtual monopoly on enterprise office software, Apple could use an upgraded iWork to plant early seeds of change.
Much is still unknown about the (alleged) upcoming software. The report's sources didn't give a release window. It also isn't clear whether the iWork cloud app would connect to the existing iWork for Mac, or if Apple would offer a major upgrade specifically for enterprise users.
If the report is accurate, though, Apple is going all in with VMWare. The companies are also said to be collaborating on a mobile version of VMWare's Horizon Suite, which would let enterprise iPad customers create a partition between business and personal data. The iWork app would also include VMWare's Horizon Application Manager, which serves as something of an enterprise app store for IT managers.
Mobile enterprise is one of the next great technology frontiers. The next year or two may tell us more about who the dominant players will be. Does Apple have a shot, or is Microsoft going to remain in the driver's seat?
According to a report from CRN, Apple is partnering with VMWare on a cloud-based version of its iWork suite for iPad. Though Apple already offers iPad versions of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, this edition would offer full desktop functionality. Using VMWare's View virtual desktop software, it would take to the cloud and bring iWork to enterprise iPad customers.
If this sounds familiar, it could be similar to OnLive Desktop, which – for a monthly fee – allows iPad and Android tablet owners to use a cloud-based version of Windows, complete with Office. Though the company has been in dire straits of late, its service is, at present, one of the best options for doing serious office work on a tablet.
Staking Out the Future
Apple would love to use the dominant status of the iPad to stake out a bigger claim of the post-PC enterprise market, but it will have competition.Microsoft Surface ships with Office, and Redmond is also rumored to be prepping an iPad version of its suite. With Office holding a virtual monopoly on enterprise office software, Apple could use an upgraded iWork to plant early seeds of change.
Much is still unknown about the (alleged) upcoming software. The report's sources didn't give a release window. It also isn't clear whether the iWork cloud app would connect to the existing iWork for Mac, or if Apple would offer a major upgrade specifically for enterprise users.
If the report is accurate, though, Apple is going all in with VMWare. The companies are also said to be collaborating on a mobile version of VMWare's Horizon Suite, which would let enterprise iPad customers create a partition between business and personal data. The iWork app would also include VMWare's Horizon Application Manager, which serves as something of an enterprise app store for IT managers.
Mobile enterprise is one of the next great technology frontiers. The next year or two may tell us more about who the dominant players will be. Does Apple have a shot, or is Microsoft going to remain in the driver's seat?
Delta Six gun controller fulfills your FPS fantasies
The humble controller has never been the best choice for first-person shooters. Those who have mastered the keyboard and mouse combo can pulverize even the best console gamers thanks to the added accuracy and speed of movement that control method provides. But while this combination may be the method of choice for serious FPS gamers, it doesn't offer any kind of realism. Something that the newly announced Delta Six controller cannot be accused of thanks to its firearm form factor.
First-person shooters have grown steadily in popularity since they arrived on the scene via Wolfenstein 3D and Doom, arguably the first proper game in the genre, and the first to gain mainstream attention. Now, thanks mainly to the growth of online multiplayer console gaming, the FPS genre hosts the biggest releases of the gaming calendar. Barring Grand Theft Autorelease years, naturally.
In all that time the control method hasn't really changed, though the controller options have evolved and expanded to make the experience more realistic. Kotkin Enterprises, the company responsible for the N-Control Avenger and its successors, which work as shells for ordinary controllers, aiding gamers with adjustable levers, has unveiled its next project, which adds a much needed touch of realism to the FPS genre.
Delta Six is the name of the controller, and it's shaped like a gun, or several guns, in fact. It has different components that can be added to or removed from the core controller to turn it from a sub-machine gun into an assault rifle into a sniper rifle, depending on your favored class when playing first-person shooters.
The buttons necessary to play your typical FPS are located on the hand grip, but the Delta Six also features a silencer, scoping sights, and everything else you'd expect to see on a real gun. Thankfully they're all forged in plastic, but with the colorful buttons hidden behind the hand it looks realistic, as can be seen in the video embedded at the end of this post. This realism may cause some controversy with a mainstream media that already has a downer on violent video games.
Delta Six features a built-in accelerometer which means it works straight out of the box with no need for any additional hardware. It also employs force feedback motors that will physically react to the gun being fired as well as to the action taking place on screen. Reloading requires the user to physically eject and re-inject the magazine. In other words this is an attempt at bringing an extra touch of battlefield realism to first-person shooters. Just without the obvious danger that goes hand-in-hand with the real thing.
There are currently no details about the availability of Delta Six, but it will cost US$89.
The humble controller has never been the best choice for first-person shooters. Those who have mastered the keyboard and mouse combo can pulverize even the best console gamers thanks to the added accuracy and speed of movement that control method provides. But while this combination may be the method of choice for serious FPS gamers, it doesn't offer any kind of realism. Something that the newly announced Delta Six controller cannot be accused of thanks to its firearm form factor.
First-person shooters have grown steadily in popularity since they arrived on the scene via Wolfenstein 3D and Doom, arguably the first proper game in the genre, and the first to gain mainstream attention. Now, thanks mainly to the growth of online multiplayer console gaming, the FPS genre hosts the biggest releases of the gaming calendar. Barring Grand Theft Autorelease years, naturally.
In all that time the control method hasn't really changed, though the controller options have evolved and expanded to make the experience more realistic. Kotkin Enterprises, the company responsible for the N-Control Avenger and its successors, which work as shells for ordinary controllers, aiding gamers with adjustable levers, has unveiled its next project, which adds a much needed touch of realism to the FPS genre.
Delta Six is the name of the controller, and it's shaped like a gun, or several guns, in fact. It has different components that can be added to or removed from the core controller to turn it from a sub-machine gun into an assault rifle into a sniper rifle, depending on your favored class when playing first-person shooters.
The buttons necessary to play your typical FPS are located on the hand grip, but the Delta Six also features a silencer, scoping sights, and everything else you'd expect to see on a real gun. Thankfully they're all forged in plastic, but with the colorful buttons hidden behind the hand it looks realistic, as can be seen in the video embedded at the end of this post. This realism may cause some controversy with a mainstream media that already has a downer on violent video games.
Delta Six features a built-in accelerometer which means it works straight out of the box with no need for any additional hardware. It also employs force feedback motors that will physically react to the gun being fired as well as to the action taking place on screen. Reloading requires the user to physically eject and re-inject the magazine. In other words this is an attempt at bringing an extra touch of battlefield realism to first-person shooters. Just without the obvious danger that goes hand-in-hand with the real thing.
There are currently no details about the availability of Delta Six, but it will cost US$89.
Logitech adds G710+ Mechanical Gaming Keyboard to G-series
Logitech's G-series keyboards have a new member of the family. The brand new G710+ is a mechanical keyboard, which tend to be preferred by hardcore gamers. Mechanical keyboards offer quieter keys, and this G710+ is no exception.
The mechanical keys feature an actuating force of 45 grams (1.6 oz) and distance of 4 mm, which is great for high performance gaming. NYJacky from Team Curse tested the device and he claims it actually improved his scores in an MLG tournament while being easy to adapt to.
The keyboard has six customizable keys on the side that can be set up for various functions, depending on the game being played. Users can assign complex macros or intricate Lua gaming scripts to the keyboard’s G-keys. These can be entered in advance or on the fly. These can handle up to 18 complex functions for each game.
All of the 110 keys on the G710+ feature anti-ghosting and 26-key rollover, which assists in executing complex commands as quickly as possible. The entire keyboard is LED backlit with white lights, with four adjustable brightness settings. The arrow and WASD keys' lighting can be adjusted independently, which helps highlight these important gaming keys.
Logitech tested this keyboard with professional gamers and casual gamers alike. This is important because not all gamers play MLG, and some features on an advanced keyboard are unnecessary and actually hinder the use of the keyboard.
The keyboard is compatible with Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista. It is expected to launch later this month in the U.S. and in December for Europe. It will retail for US$149, which is $50 below Logitech's popular G19 model. Interested users can preorder the keyboard directly fromLogitech.
Logitech's G-series keyboards have a new member of the family. The brand new G710+ is a mechanical keyboard, which tend to be preferred by hardcore gamers. Mechanical keyboards offer quieter keys, and this G710+ is no exception.
The mechanical keys feature an actuating force of 45 grams (1.6 oz) and distance of 4 mm, which is great for high performance gaming. NYJacky from Team Curse tested the device and he claims it actually improved his scores in an MLG tournament while being easy to adapt to.
The keyboard has six customizable keys on the side that can be set up for various functions, depending on the game being played. Users can assign complex macros or intricate Lua gaming scripts to the keyboard’s G-keys. These can be entered in advance or on the fly. These can handle up to 18 complex functions for each game.
All of the 110 keys on the G710+ feature anti-ghosting and 26-key rollover, which assists in executing complex commands as quickly as possible. The entire keyboard is LED backlit with white lights, with four adjustable brightness settings. The arrow and WASD keys' lighting can be adjusted independently, which helps highlight these important gaming keys.
Logitech tested this keyboard with professional gamers and casual gamers alike. This is important because not all gamers play MLG, and some features on an advanced keyboard are unnecessary and actually hinder the use of the keyboard.
The keyboard is compatible with Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista. It is expected to launch later this month in the U.S. and in December for Europe. It will retail for US$149, which is $50 below Logitech's popular G19 model. Interested users can preorder the keyboard directly fromLogitech.
Magic Finger turns any surface into a touch interface
The new device called Magic Finger developed by team of researchers at the University of Alberta and the University of Toronto promises to move touch input to nearly any surface.
According to Gizmag the wearer can even download the information from a magazine page by touching it or disposable stickers could be made into remote controls for devices.
The device can also be used for data transfers between Magic Finger units.
Some Cool applications:
1. NFC enabled memory cards and USB sticks.
2. Access your home computer from anywhere using a paper.
The new device called Magic Finger developed by team of researchers at the University of Alberta and the University of Toronto promises to move touch input to nearly any surface.
According to Gizmag the wearer can even download the information from a magazine page by touching it or disposable stickers could be made into remote controls for devices.
The device can also be used for data transfers between Magic Finger units.
Some Cool applications:
1. NFC enabled memory cards and USB sticks.
2. Access your home computer from anywhere using a paper.
Struggling phone maker Nokia (NOK1V.HE) has knocked 10-15 percent off the prices of two of its top of the range smartphones, hoping to boost sales before newer models arrive in markets in November.
Nokia has cut the price of the Lumia 800 by around 15 percent and the Lumia 900 by 10 percent in Europe, according to device pricing data compiled by British research firm CCS Insight. Nokia declined to comment.
Earlier this month, Nokia launched Lumia 820 and 920, which many see as crucial for the Finnish company's survival. But the newest models will only go on sale in November, leaving the company's sales team struggling with older smartphone models for over a month.
Nokia had already slashed the price of the Lumia 800 by around 15 percent earlier this month and made smaller cuts for its other Lumia models.
Once the world's biggest mobile phone maker, Nokia fell behind rivals in smartphones and has racked up more than 3 billion euros in operating losses in the last 18 months.
In early 2011, it bet its future on Microsoft's (MSFT.O) Windows Phone software. Windows accounts for only around 3 percent of global smartphones, while Google's (GOOG.O) Android platform controls two-thirds of sales and Apple (AAPL.O) has around a quarter.
Competitive pricing is considered crucial for Nokia to lure back customers, even though pricing does not seem to be an issue for rival Apple. In Belgium, for example, more than 10,000 people have pre-registered for the latest iPhone even before a local price has been set.
(Reporting by Tarmo Virki; Editing by Jane Merriman)
Nokia has cut the price of the Lumia 800 by around 15 percent and the Lumia 900 by 10 percent in Europe, according to device pricing data compiled by British research firm CCS Insight. Nokia declined to comment.
Earlier this month, Nokia launched Lumia 820 and 920, which many see as crucial for the Finnish company's survival. But the newest models will only go on sale in November, leaving the company's sales team struggling with older smartphone models for over a month.
Nokia had already slashed the price of the Lumia 800 by around 15 percent earlier this month and made smaller cuts for its other Lumia models.
Once the world's biggest mobile phone maker, Nokia fell behind rivals in smartphones and has racked up more than 3 billion euros in operating losses in the last 18 months.
In early 2011, it bet its future on Microsoft's (MSFT.O) Windows Phone software. Windows accounts for only around 3 percent of global smartphones, while Google's (GOOG.O) Android platform controls two-thirds of sales and Apple (AAPL.O) has around a quarter.
Competitive pricing is considered crucial for Nokia to lure back customers, even though pricing does not seem to be an issue for rival Apple. In Belgium, for example, more than 10,000 people have pre-registered for the latest iPhone even before a local price has been set.
(Reporting by Tarmo Virki; Editing by Jane Merriman)
(Reuters) - Apple Inc (AAPL.O) Chief Executive Tim Cook apologized Friday to customers frustrated with glaring errors in its new Maps service and, in an unusual move for the consumer giant, directed them to rival services such as Google Inc's Maps instead.
The rare apology follows Apple's launch of its own mapping service earlier this month, when it began selling the iPhone 5 and rolled out iOS 6, the highly anticipated update to its mobile software platform.
Users complained that the new Maps service - based on Dutch navigation equipment and digital map maker TomTom NV's (TOM2.AS) data - contained geographical errors and gaps in information, and that it lacked features that made Google Maps so popular from public transit directions to traffic data and street-view pictures.
"We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better," Cook said in a letter to customers released on its website, adding that the company "fell short" of its commitment to deliver "the best experience possible to our customers."
Unusually, he suggested that customers download rival mapping services available in Apple's App Store while the company improves the product.
"While we're improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app," he said in the letter.
Apple is typically loathe to tout rival services and the contrite apology by Cook is an indication of how Apple is changing under the chief executive who took over last year from co-founder Steve Jobs just before his death. It also took the additional step of prominently displaying the rival services on its Apps Store.
"It is a bit unusual but at the same time, Tim is keeping Apple's commitment to provide the best user experience for customers," Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu said. "A key reason for Apple's success is keeping customers happy so we think this is a good move."
"People forget that Google Maps started out inferior to Mapquest and Yahoo Maps," he added.
Apple's home-grown Maps feature -- stitched together by acquiring mapping companies and data from many providers including Waze, Intermap, DigitalGlobe and Urban Mapping -- was introduced with much fanfare in June by software chief Scott Forstall. It was billed as one of the key highlights of the updated iOS6 software.
But errors and omissions in the maps service quickly emerged after the software was rolled out, ranging from misplaced buildings and mislabelled cities to duplicated geographical features.
NEW APPLE
The last time Apple faced such widespread criticism was in 2010, when users complained of signal reception issues on the then-new iPhone 4 model.
A defiant Jobs at the time rejected any suggestion the iPhone 4's design was flawed, but offered consumers free phone cases at a rare, 90-minute press conference called to address those complaints.
While Apple fixed the issue, Jobs had apologized to users only after he was specifically asked if he was sorry. He also said the issue was shared by all the major manufacturers, naming rivals Research in Motion (RIMM.O) (RIM.TO), Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) and HTC Corp (2498.TW).
Cook himself played a key role in convincing Jobs to tackle the negative publicity that arose around that issue, something he was initially reluctant to do, according to his biographer.
"Finally Tim Cook was able to shake him out of his lethargy," Walter Isaacson said in his biography on the late Silicon Valley icon. "He quoted someone as saying that Apple was becoming the new Microsoft, complacent and arrogant. The next day Jobs changed his attitude."
It remains to be seen how fast Apple can fix the mapping glitches. Jobs had been in a similar position when he allowed email synchronization software MobileMe to launch in 2008, to deadly reviews. The mercurial CEO took the group to task for it and replaced the group's head. The service is now folded into the iCloud product.
Mapping is a complex process that takes a lot of resources and years to perfect, said Marcus Thielking, co-founder of Skobbler, maker of the popular GPS Navigation 2 app, built using the crowdsourced OpenStreetMap platform.
"It helps a lot if you have great data to start with," he said, adding that it appears that different database were thrown together in building Apple Maps. "They (Apple) can offer incremental updates and that's what they will do."
Cook said that more than 100 million iOS devices are using the new Apple Maps and that the more people use Maps, the better it will get. He also offered some hints on why the company decided to remove Google Maps.
Apple launched the Google-powered Maps "initially with the first version of iOS" and created a home-grown version of the service as it wanted to provide more features, Cook said.
"As time progressed, we wanted to provide our customers with even better Maps including features such as turn-by-turn directions, voice integration, Flyover and vector-based maps," he said in the letter.
Google provides turn-by-turn navigation on Android-based devices but the popular feature was not available for Apple devices. Apple Maps replaced Google Maps in iOS 6 and the Google service is now only available through a browser.
Shares of Apple fell 2 percent to close at $667.10 on Nasdaq. (Editing by Edwin Chan and Richard Chang)
The rare apology follows Apple's launch of its own mapping service earlier this month, when it began selling the iPhone 5 and rolled out iOS 6, the highly anticipated update to its mobile software platform.
Users complained that the new Maps service - based on Dutch navigation equipment and digital map maker TomTom NV's (TOM2.AS) data - contained geographical errors and gaps in information, and that it lacked features that made Google Maps so popular from public transit directions to traffic data and street-view pictures.
"We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better," Cook said in a letter to customers released on its website, adding that the company "fell short" of its commitment to deliver "the best experience possible to our customers."
Unusually, he suggested that customers download rival mapping services available in Apple's App Store while the company improves the product.
"While we're improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app," he said in the letter.
Apple is typically loathe to tout rival services and the contrite apology by Cook is an indication of how Apple is changing under the chief executive who took over last year from co-founder Steve Jobs just before his death. It also took the additional step of prominently displaying the rival services on its Apps Store.
"It is a bit unusual but at the same time, Tim is keeping Apple's commitment to provide the best user experience for customers," Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu said. "A key reason for Apple's success is keeping customers happy so we think this is a good move."
"People forget that Google Maps started out inferior to Mapquest and Yahoo Maps," he added.
Apple's home-grown Maps feature -- stitched together by acquiring mapping companies and data from many providers including Waze, Intermap, DigitalGlobe and Urban Mapping -- was introduced with much fanfare in June by software chief Scott Forstall. It was billed as one of the key highlights of the updated iOS6 software.
But errors and omissions in the maps service quickly emerged after the software was rolled out, ranging from misplaced buildings and mislabelled cities to duplicated geographical features.
NEW APPLE
The last time Apple faced such widespread criticism was in 2010, when users complained of signal reception issues on the then-new iPhone 4 model.
A defiant Jobs at the time rejected any suggestion the iPhone 4's design was flawed, but offered consumers free phone cases at a rare, 90-minute press conference called to address those complaints.
While Apple fixed the issue, Jobs had apologized to users only after he was specifically asked if he was sorry. He also said the issue was shared by all the major manufacturers, naming rivals Research in Motion (RIMM.O) (RIM.TO), Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) and HTC Corp (2498.TW).
Cook himself played a key role in convincing Jobs to tackle the negative publicity that arose around that issue, something he was initially reluctant to do, according to his biographer.
"Finally Tim Cook was able to shake him out of his lethargy," Walter Isaacson said in his biography on the late Silicon Valley icon. "He quoted someone as saying that Apple was becoming the new Microsoft, complacent and arrogant. The next day Jobs changed his attitude."
It remains to be seen how fast Apple can fix the mapping glitches. Jobs had been in a similar position when he allowed email synchronization software MobileMe to launch in 2008, to deadly reviews. The mercurial CEO took the group to task for it and replaced the group's head. The service is now folded into the iCloud product.
Mapping is a complex process that takes a lot of resources and years to perfect, said Marcus Thielking, co-founder of Skobbler, maker of the popular GPS Navigation 2 app, built using the crowdsourced OpenStreetMap platform.
"It helps a lot if you have great data to start with," he said, adding that it appears that different database were thrown together in building Apple Maps. "They (Apple) can offer incremental updates and that's what they will do."
Cook said that more than 100 million iOS devices are using the new Apple Maps and that the more people use Maps, the better it will get. He also offered some hints on why the company decided to remove Google Maps.
Apple launched the Google-powered Maps "initially with the first version of iOS" and created a home-grown version of the service as it wanted to provide more features, Cook said.
"As time progressed, we wanted to provide our customers with even better Maps including features such as turn-by-turn directions, voice integration, Flyover and vector-based maps," he said in the letter.
Google provides turn-by-turn navigation on Android-based devices but the popular feature was not available for Apple devices. Apple Maps replaced Google Maps in iOS 6 and the Google service is now only available through a browser.
Shares of Apple fell 2 percent to close at $667.10 on Nasdaq. (Editing by Edwin Chan and Richard Chang)
Apple to unify OS for Macs and iPads by 2016 - analyst
With Microsoft trumpeting the idea that PCs and tablets should run the same operating system and have all the same capabilities, will Apple go down the same road?
Apple became the most successful tablet vendor by far with a strategy that limits the capabilities of the iPad compared to Mac OS X desktops and laptops. But the most recent version of Mac OS X brings some iPad-like touch gestures to the Mac trackpad, fueling speculation that Apple might combine its two operating systems into one.
Such a merger of Mac OS X and iOS -- which is used on both iPhones and iPads -- could begin next year and be complete by 2016, according to a report issued this week by Jefferies, a securities and investment banking group which also researches the technology industry.
Apple isn't saying whether it will combine the two operating systems, so the report is speculative. Jefferies believes 64-bit ARM architecture will be key for Apple to complete an operating system merger. While iPads run on 32-bit ARM chips, Macs run on Intel x86 processors.
"We believe Apple is looking to merge iOS (iPhones/iPads) with OS X (Macs) into a single platform for apps and cloud services starting in 2012-13," Jefferies writes. "Our preliminary view is that Apple can use a 32-bit ARM architecture to address the vast majority of the OS X ecosystem's needs in 2012-13 except for high-end professional devices. When 64-bit ARM is available in 2016, we believe Apple will have a single OS and hardware architecture."
Microsoft, meanwhile, already uses the same operating system -- Windows 7 -- on both tablets and PCs, and has not been successful in selling tablets. Microsoft will continue to use the same operating system for both tablets and PCs with Windows 8, but with a redesigned interface making it easier to navigate applications on a touch screen, and support for ARM chips.
The strategy has been questioned by observers who believe Microsoft should instead put its phone operating system on tablets, which is what Apple did when it took the iPhone's operating system and adapted it to the iPad. The current Apple strategy seems to assume that iPads should not do everything a Mac does because of its limited form factor and hardware. With next year's release of Windows 8, Microsoft plans to put all the capabilities of a Windows computer onto a tablet, but with the same Metro UI interface seen in Windows Phone 7 devices.
Jefferies analysts predict that a single OS for phones and computers will help Apple increase sales.
"Users want to be able to pick up any iPhone, iPad, or Mac (or turn on their iTV) and have content move seamlessly between them and be optimized for the user and the device currently being used," Jefferies writes. "We believe this will be difficult to implement if iOS and OS X are kept separate."
Cloud computing will help users easily shift from one device to another, while HTML5 will bring app-like experience to the Web with local storage to view content offline. But phone and tablet hardware has to advance before Apple's software plans can be fully realized, the analyst firm explains.
While the iPad 2 uses the Apple A5 chip with a dual-core ARM processor, Jefferies speculates that "Apple is ready to start sampling the A6 quad-core app processor and will be the first such multi-device platform capable of PC-like strength."
Jefferies predicts the iPad 3 will launch with the A6 chip in Q1 2012, while an A6-powered iPhone will launch next summer. The MacBook Air will get the A6 in the second half of 2012 or in 2013, but the higher-powered MacBook Pro laptops and Mac desktops will stick with 64-bit Intel chips until 2016, the analyst firm says. 64-bit chips allow greater use of memory and are useful for "computationally-intensive programs like Adobe's Creative Suite."
With Microsoft trumpeting the idea that PCs and tablets should run the same operating system and have all the same capabilities, will Apple go down the same road?
Apple became the most successful tablet vendor by far with a strategy that limits the capabilities of the iPad compared to Mac OS X desktops and laptops. But the most recent version of Mac OS X brings some iPad-like touch gestures to the Mac trackpad, fueling speculation that Apple might combine its two operating systems into one.
Such a merger of Mac OS X and iOS -- which is used on both iPhones and iPads -- could begin next year and be complete by 2016, according to a report issued this week by Jefferies, a securities and investment banking group which also researches the technology industry.
Apple isn't saying whether it will combine the two operating systems, so the report is speculative. Jefferies believes 64-bit ARM architecture will be key for Apple to complete an operating system merger. While iPads run on 32-bit ARM chips, Macs run on Intel x86 processors.
"We believe Apple is looking to merge iOS (iPhones/iPads) with OS X (Macs) into a single platform for apps and cloud services starting in 2012-13," Jefferies writes. "Our preliminary view is that Apple can use a 32-bit ARM architecture to address the vast majority of the OS X ecosystem's needs in 2012-13 except for high-end professional devices. When 64-bit ARM is available in 2016, we believe Apple will have a single OS and hardware architecture."
Microsoft, meanwhile, already uses the same operating system -- Windows 7 -- on both tablets and PCs, and has not been successful in selling tablets. Microsoft will continue to use the same operating system for both tablets and PCs with Windows 8, but with a redesigned interface making it easier to navigate applications on a touch screen, and support for ARM chips.
The strategy has been questioned by observers who believe Microsoft should instead put its phone operating system on tablets, which is what Apple did when it took the iPhone's operating system and adapted it to the iPad. The current Apple strategy seems to assume that iPads should not do everything a Mac does because of its limited form factor and hardware. With next year's release of Windows 8, Microsoft plans to put all the capabilities of a Windows computer onto a tablet, but with the same Metro UI interface seen in Windows Phone 7 devices.
Jefferies analysts predict that a single OS for phones and computers will help Apple increase sales.
"Users want to be able to pick up any iPhone, iPad, or Mac (or turn on their iTV) and have content move seamlessly between them and be optimized for the user and the device currently being used," Jefferies writes. "We believe this will be difficult to implement if iOS and OS X are kept separate."
Cloud computing will help users easily shift from one device to another, while HTML5 will bring app-like experience to the Web with local storage to view content offline. But phone and tablet hardware has to advance before Apple's software plans can be fully realized, the analyst firm explains.
While the iPad 2 uses the Apple A5 chip with a dual-core ARM processor, Jefferies speculates that "Apple is ready to start sampling the A6 quad-core app processor and will be the first such multi-device platform capable of PC-like strength."
Jefferies predicts the iPad 3 will launch with the A6 chip in Q1 2012, while an A6-powered iPhone will launch next summer. The MacBook Air will get the A6 in the second half of 2012 or in 2013, but the higher-powered MacBook Pro laptops and Mac desktops will stick with 64-bit Intel chips until 2016, the analyst firm says. 64-bit chips allow greater use of memory and are useful for "computationally-intensive programs like Adobe's Creative Suite."
Apple confirms "fall transition" indicating new iPhone, iPad and iMac this autumnDuring Apple’s earnings results, CEO Tim Cook said he is "super happy" about rumours and speculation surrounding his company’s products
During Apple’s third quarter earnings report on Tuesday, CEO Tim Cook and CFO Peter Oppenhiemer hinted at future products and spoke about the rumours and speculation that surround the sixth-generation iPhone’s launch.
As suspected, Apple announced a slow down of iPhone sales, and the company believes that this caused by consumers holding out for the widely discussed next iPhone model, which is expected to be unveiled this autumn alongside iOS 6. “iPhone sales continued to be impacted by rumour and speculation about new products,” said Oppenhiemer. “We’re reading some rumours and speculation you are about new iPhone, and we think this has caused some pause in customers purchasing.”
“We try very hard to keep our product roadmap secret and confidential, and we go to extreme activities to do that,” said Cook speaking at the conference last night. “That, however, doesn’t stop people from speculating or wondering.”
“That’s the great thing about this country; people can say what they think,” Cook continued. “I’m not going to spend any energy trying to change that. I’m glad people want the next thing. I’m super happy about it.”
The company, of course, kept quiet about future products, but Oppenheimer did mention that Apple “could not be more confident in our new product pipeline,” and also mentioned a “fall transition”. This transition was brought up in the Q&A after the presentation, to which Oppenhiemer replied “Not something that we’re going to talk about in any level of detail today”.
This transition could be the introduction of a smaller iPad, or the launch of the next iPhone (dubbed iPhone 5). MacRumours points out that the “fall transition” will need to take place before the end of September in order for it to impact the next quarter, which supports yesterday’s rumours about a September iPhone 5, iPad mini, iMac and new iPod touch launch. Apple also said that it expects a year-over-year increase in Mac, iPad and iPhone sales in September, adding evidence to the September launch estimates.
Cook, however, refused to comment about Apple’s future devices, and when questioned about upcoming products he replied with just a chuckle.
Also announced at the earnings results last night was that Apple’s new operating system,Mountain Lion, will be made available today.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TO http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipad-iphone/news/?newsid=3371978&pagtype=allchandate
During Apple’s third quarter earnings report on Tuesday, CEO Tim Cook and CFO Peter Oppenhiemer hinted at future products and spoke about the rumours and speculation that surround the sixth-generation iPhone’s launch.
As suspected, Apple announced a slow down of iPhone sales, and the company believes that this caused by consumers holding out for the widely discussed next iPhone model, which is expected to be unveiled this autumn alongside iOS 6. “iPhone sales continued to be impacted by rumour and speculation about new products,” said Oppenhiemer. “We’re reading some rumours and speculation you are about new iPhone, and we think this has caused some pause in customers purchasing.”
“We try very hard to keep our product roadmap secret and confidential, and we go to extreme activities to do that,” said Cook speaking at the conference last night. “That, however, doesn’t stop people from speculating or wondering.”
“That’s the great thing about this country; people can say what they think,” Cook continued. “I’m not going to spend any energy trying to change that. I’m glad people want the next thing. I’m super happy about it.”
The company, of course, kept quiet about future products, but Oppenheimer did mention that Apple “could not be more confident in our new product pipeline,” and also mentioned a “fall transition”. This transition was brought up in the Q&A after the presentation, to which Oppenhiemer replied “Not something that we’re going to talk about in any level of detail today”.
This transition could be the introduction of a smaller iPad, or the launch of the next iPhone (dubbed iPhone 5). MacRumours points out that the “fall transition” will need to take place before the end of September in order for it to impact the next quarter, which supports yesterday’s rumours about a September iPhone 5, iPad mini, iMac and new iPod touch launch. Apple also said that it expects a year-over-year increase in Mac, iPad and iPhone sales in September, adding evidence to the September launch estimates.
Cook, however, refused to comment about Apple’s future devices, and when questioned about upcoming products he replied with just a chuckle.
Also announced at the earnings results last night was that Apple’s new operating system,Mountain Lion, will be made available today.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TO http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipad-iphone/news/?newsid=3371978&pagtype=allchandate
Kim Dotcom granted bail in Megaupload case
Kim Dotcom, the founder of the filesharing website Megaupload, has been granted bail and released after a New Zealand judge ruled that the authorities have seized any funds he might have used to flee the country.
US authorities allege Dotcom facilitated millions of illegal downloads through his company. He had been in custody since his arrest on 20 January and the site has been shut down.
Dotcom spoke to reporters outside the court as he was ushered to a waiting truck. "I am relieved to go home to see my family, my three little kids and my pregnant wife," he said. "And I hope you understand that that is all I want to say right now."
He confirmed he would be fighting US extradition efforts. Asked how he had been treated by the police after his arrest, Dotcom said: "Well, it felt a little bit like an audition to American Idol."
He was released without any monetary bail bond, which is standard for cases that come before New Zealand's district courts. He does have other conditions of release but the ministry of justice declined to reveal them, saying this would require an application to the judge.
US authorities claim Megaupload cost film-makers and songwriters $0.5bn in lost copyright revenue. They are trying to extradite Dotcom, 38, and three of his colleagues on racketeering charges.
New Zealand authorities have seized millions of dollars in investments and assets owned by Dotcom, including luxury cars and artworks.
North Shore district court judge Nevin Dawson found that the German-born Dotcom no longer posed a significant flight risk because, as far as the court was aware, he was not hiding any money or assets that could help him flee the country. New Zealand courts had earlier turned down a bail application and a subsequent appeal, saying he did pose a flight risk, but Dawson said those decisions were made when details about Dotcom's assets remained unclear.
"Since that time all known assets have been seized and are unavailable for Mr Dotcom's use or disposal," the judge said. "No new assets or accounts of any significance have been revealed since his arrest. Mr Dotcom's submission that he has not concealed any assets or bank accounts has largely been borne out."
Dawson said he received an affidavit from Bonnie Lam, the Hong Kong chief financial officer of Megaupload, supporting Dotcom's contention that he had no resources available to him.
Dotcom was born Kim Schmitz but legally changed his name. He has both German and Finnish citizenship and was granted New Zealand residency in 2010.
He has lived in Hong Kong, where the Megaupload company is registered.
Colleagues of Dotcom arrested in New Zealand had already been granted bail.
Kim Dotcom, the founder of the filesharing website Megaupload, has been granted bail and released after a New Zealand judge ruled that the authorities have seized any funds he might have used to flee the country.
US authorities allege Dotcom facilitated millions of illegal downloads through his company. He had been in custody since his arrest on 20 January and the site has been shut down.
Dotcom spoke to reporters outside the court as he was ushered to a waiting truck. "I am relieved to go home to see my family, my three little kids and my pregnant wife," he said. "And I hope you understand that that is all I want to say right now."
He confirmed he would be fighting US extradition efforts. Asked how he had been treated by the police after his arrest, Dotcom said: "Well, it felt a little bit like an audition to American Idol."
He was released without any monetary bail bond, which is standard for cases that come before New Zealand's district courts. He does have other conditions of release but the ministry of justice declined to reveal them, saying this would require an application to the judge.
US authorities claim Megaupload cost film-makers and songwriters $0.5bn in lost copyright revenue. They are trying to extradite Dotcom, 38, and three of his colleagues on racketeering charges.
New Zealand authorities have seized millions of dollars in investments and assets owned by Dotcom, including luxury cars and artworks.
North Shore district court judge Nevin Dawson found that the German-born Dotcom no longer posed a significant flight risk because, as far as the court was aware, he was not hiding any money or assets that could help him flee the country. New Zealand courts had earlier turned down a bail application and a subsequent appeal, saying he did pose a flight risk, but Dawson said those decisions were made when details about Dotcom's assets remained unclear.
"Since that time all known assets have been seized and are unavailable for Mr Dotcom's use or disposal," the judge said. "No new assets or accounts of any significance have been revealed since his arrest. Mr Dotcom's submission that he has not concealed any assets or bank accounts has largely been borne out."
Dawson said he received an affidavit from Bonnie Lam, the Hong Kong chief financial officer of Megaupload, supporting Dotcom's contention that he had no resources available to him.
Dotcom was born Kim Schmitz but legally changed his name. He has both German and Finnish citizenship and was granted New Zealand residency in 2010.
He has lived in Hong Kong, where the Megaupload company is registered.
Colleagues of Dotcom arrested in New Zealand had already been granted bail.
Why Microsoft buys Skype for &8.5 billion , and whats next!!!
Why Microsoft is buying Skype , is it just a wastage of money or Microsoft is playing politics. Lets have a look at this .
(Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer(left) and Skype CEO Tony Bates announce Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype)
Microsoft Corp. and Skype Global announced on May 10, 2011 in a conference in San Francisco that Microsoft will acquire Skype, for $8.5 billion Cash. Skype grow faster then the other Social networking sites such as Facebook , twitter such that in 2010 the total number of active users of Facebook in 2011 are 600 million and the total active users of Skype are 663 million. But the question here is that why Microsoft Buys Skype for $8.5 billion and now as they have acquired Skype , now whats next.
Lets look at what the CEO of Microsoft Steve Ballmer and CEO of Skype Tony Bates said about this.
Steve Ballmer CEO of Microsoft said that
“Skype is a phenomenal service that is loved by millions of people around the world, Together we will create the future of real-time communications so people can easily stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues anywhere in the world.”
Tony Bates CEO of Skype said that “Microsoft and Skype share the vision of bringing software innovation and products to our customers,Together, we will be able to accelerate Skype’s plans to extend our global community and introduce new ways for everyone to communicate and collaborate”
Why Microsoft is buying Skype , is it just a wastage of money or Microsoft is playing politics. Lets have a look at this .
(Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer(left) and Skype CEO Tony Bates announce Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype)
Microsoft Corp. and Skype Global announced on May 10, 2011 in a conference in San Francisco that Microsoft will acquire Skype, for $8.5 billion Cash. Skype grow faster then the other Social networking sites such as Facebook , twitter such that in 2010 the total number of active users of Facebook in 2011 are 600 million and the total active users of Skype are 663 million. But the question here is that why Microsoft Buys Skype for $8.5 billion and now as they have acquired Skype , now whats next.
Lets look at what the CEO of Microsoft Steve Ballmer and CEO of Skype Tony Bates said about this.
Steve Ballmer CEO of Microsoft said that
“Skype is a phenomenal service that is loved by millions of people around the world, Together we will create the future of real-time communications so people can easily stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues anywhere in the world.”
Tony Bates CEO of Skype said that “Microsoft and Skype share the vision of bringing software innovation and products to our customers,Together, we will be able to accelerate Skype’s plans to extend our global community and introduce new ways for everyone to communicate and collaborate”
Hacker Group (Anonymous) Will Hack Facebook On November 5. “Operation Facebook” Engaged
Hacker group Anonymous has now announced that Operation Facebook is engaged and they will hack Facebook on Nov 5. Why they are doing it? Will they be able to do so? Why Facebook? The answer lies in their statement.
If you have never heard any thing about this group then lets have an introduction about it. Anonymous along with another hacker group called LULZEC are hacking the top networks including NATO , SONY , Government sites of ITALY , UK , BRAZIL , BlackBerry Blog and most popular network sony. These hackers claim themselves to be the allies of the public and they are working against corrupt governments , and they are working for rights of people. This hacker group has also been banned on google+ and then on Facebook.
One advice before reading furthur . Go watch this movie V for Vendetta and you will understand them.
This hacker group has launched their attack name as Mission Facebook and according to them they will hack it on NOV 5.
Why NOV 5. Go watch the movie V for Vendetta.
Hacker group Anonymous has now announced that Operation Facebook is engaged and they will hack Facebook on Nov 5. Why they are doing it? Will they be able to do so? Why Facebook? The answer lies in their statement.
If you have never heard any thing about this group then lets have an introduction about it. Anonymous along with another hacker group called LULZEC are hacking the top networks including NATO , SONY , Government sites of ITALY , UK , BRAZIL , BlackBerry Blog and most popular network sony. These hackers claim themselves to be the allies of the public and they are working against corrupt governments , and they are working for rights of people. This hacker group has also been banned on google+ and then on Facebook.
One advice before reading furthur . Go watch this movie V for Vendetta and you will understand them.
This hacker group has launched their attack name as Mission Facebook and according to them they will hack it on NOV 5.
Why NOV 5. Go watch the movie V for Vendetta.
Miyamoto: We're on to the 3DS' successor Nintendo icon Shigeru Miyamoto says that the 3DS is the "best" handheld in this generation, and now the company is thinking about the next handheld it'll launch.
Nintendo is more than satisfied with the 3DS, and now its handheld sights are set on the company's next-generation portable, according to gaming icon Shigeru Miyamoto.
Miyamoto, who created some of Nintendo's most popular franchises, including Mario, Zelda, and others, told IGN in an interview published yesterday that he believes the 3DS is "the best for this generation" of handhelds. And because of that, Nintendo is now thinking about "a future generation of handheld."
Miyamoto's comments come just after Japan's Nikkei reported that Nintendo was planning to launch a 3DS XL, featuring larger displays. Nintendo's current 3DS boasts two screens and allows users to engage in 3D gaming without the need for glasses. According to IGN, Miyamoto says he's "satisfied with the 3DS hardware as it is."
Nintendo's 3DS is perhaps one of the most surprising successes in the gaming space, considering where it started last year after launch. Last July, Nintendo announced that it sold just 710,000 3DS units worldwide during the three-month period ended June 30, 2011. Out of that, just 110,000 units were sold in the U.S.
Soon after, Nintendo announced that it had cut the price of its 3DS from $250 to $170. The move paid off. Nintendo in March that it had sold 4.5 million 3DS units in the U.S. since that device's launch, making it more popular in its first year than its predecessor (and sales juggernaut), the DS.
Given that success, it's obvious why Miyamoto is so happy with the handheld. But a next-generation portable will be facing an even tougher market, according to ABI Research senior analyst Michael Inouye, who said last week that devices like the 3DS and PlayStation Vita will be relegated to "niche" status by games running on iOS or Android.
"The mobile and tablet markets have increased consumers' price sensitivity," Inouye said. "First-party developers and key game franchises will be vital cogs for the industry in the future, since hardware alone is not going to cut it given the shorter upgrade cycles for mobile devices."
Nintendo is more than satisfied with the 3DS, and now its handheld sights are set on the company's next-generation portable, according to gaming icon Shigeru Miyamoto.
Miyamoto, who created some of Nintendo's most popular franchises, including Mario, Zelda, and others, told IGN in an interview published yesterday that he believes the 3DS is "the best for this generation" of handhelds. And because of that, Nintendo is now thinking about "a future generation of handheld."
Miyamoto's comments come just after Japan's Nikkei reported that Nintendo was planning to launch a 3DS XL, featuring larger displays. Nintendo's current 3DS boasts two screens and allows users to engage in 3D gaming without the need for glasses. According to IGN, Miyamoto says he's "satisfied with the 3DS hardware as it is."
Nintendo's 3DS is perhaps one of the most surprising successes in the gaming space, considering where it started last year after launch. Last July, Nintendo announced that it sold just 710,000 3DS units worldwide during the three-month period ended June 30, 2011. Out of that, just 110,000 units were sold in the U.S.
Soon after, Nintendo announced that it had cut the price of its 3DS from $250 to $170. The move paid off. Nintendo in March that it had sold 4.5 million 3DS units in the U.S. since that device's launch, making it more popular in its first year than its predecessor (and sales juggernaut), the DS.
Given that success, it's obvious why Miyamoto is so happy with the handheld. But a next-generation portable will be facing an even tougher market, according to ABI Research senior analyst Michael Inouye, who said last week that devices like the 3DS and PlayStation Vita will be relegated to "niche" status by games running on iOS or Android.
"The mobile and tablet markets have increased consumers' price sensitivity," Inouye said. "First-party developers and key game franchises will be vital cogs for the industry in the future, since hardware alone is not going to cut it given the shorter upgrade cycles for mobile devices."
Japanese research group concocts 3D restoration magic from regular photos
Hi guys i wanna share this one with you, a crew from Tokyo Institute of Technology they are hard working at a project which quickly creates 3D special data taken by a normal digital camera.
We are waiting for further details concerning this.
Please click the button down to get more details in the resource
We are waiting for further details concerning this.
Please click the button down to get more details in the resource
Apple, Google, Amazon: Give us our own domains ICANN reveals who's going after new top-level-domains in a move that could shake up how we enter Web addresses. Nominees range from .book and .music to .lol and .wow.
Get ready to be a bit more confused about Web site addresses.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Named and Numbers today revealed which generic top-level-domains that companies and organizations have applied for, a major step in the six-year-long process to expand the domain name system to create more competition in a world dominated by dot-com names. For consumers, it means a new way of typing in URL, moving beyond the standard .com or .url addresses.
"It's a historic day for the Internet," said ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom. "The internet is about to change forever."
For the first time, brands can have their own TLDs, also known as "strings." And many are. Among the brands that have secured their domain extensions are .Google, which we know about, but also Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, and Dell. Others include Sony, Nokia, Netflix, Oracle, Cisco, Yahoo, and AOL.
Others are gunning not for their own names, but to land the contract to run and manage the .TLD, the way that Verisign runs .com.
Google was particularly aggressive in applying for TLDs. In addition to .Google, it applied to nab .android, .chrome, .cloud, .lol, .vip, and .wow. Amazon likewise had multiple applications beyond its own name, including .book, .fire., .music, and .free. Microsoft has applied to cover several of its brands, including .azure, .hotmail, .skydrive, and .skype. Symantec also applied for .cloud, alongside .protection and .antivirus.
Domains such as .home, .free, and .movie were among the names with multiple applicants. ICANN officials said they encourage different parties to work together and partner on domain names, saying it would give priority to community-based TLD applications.
A couple of eyebrow-raising TLDs include .sex, .porn, and .sucks. ICANN said it has taken measures to protect companies and brands from being exploited under these domains. The group added that it has the right to take back TLDs if a party has shown it is abusing the domain.
Tech companies aren't the only ones getting in on the TLD action. Consumer brands include American Express, Johnson & Johnson, Wal-Mart, and AllState, which have all applied for multiple domains.
Get ready to be a bit more confused about Web site addresses.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Named and Numbers today revealed which generic top-level-domains that companies and organizations have applied for, a major step in the six-year-long process to expand the domain name system to create more competition in a world dominated by dot-com names. For consumers, it means a new way of typing in URL, moving beyond the standard .com or .url addresses.
"It's a historic day for the Internet," said ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom. "The internet is about to change forever."
For the first time, brands can have their own TLDs, also known as "strings." And many are. Among the brands that have secured their domain extensions are .Google, which we know about, but also Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, and Dell. Others include Sony, Nokia, Netflix, Oracle, Cisco, Yahoo, and AOL.
Others are gunning not for their own names, but to land the contract to run and manage the .TLD, the way that Verisign runs .com.
Google was particularly aggressive in applying for TLDs. In addition to .Google, it applied to nab .android, .chrome, .cloud, .lol, .vip, and .wow. Amazon likewise had multiple applications beyond its own name, including .book, .fire., .music, and .free. Microsoft has applied to cover several of its brands, including .azure, .hotmail, .skydrive, and .skype. Symantec also applied for .cloud, alongside .protection and .antivirus.
Domains such as .home, .free, and .movie were among the names with multiple applicants. ICANN officials said they encourage different parties to work together and partner on domain names, saying it would give priority to community-based TLD applications.
A couple of eyebrow-raising TLDs include .sex, .porn, and .sucks. ICANN said it has taken measures to protect companies and brands from being exploited under these domains. The group added that it has the right to take back TLDs if a party has shown it is abusing the domain.
Tech companies aren't the only ones getting in on the TLD action. Consumer brands include American Express, Johnson & Johnson, Wal-Mart, and AllState, which have all applied for multiple domains.
Anonymous did Protest and IT ministry says 'Anonymous' is lying
The call for demonstrations by the Indian arm of the group follows a March 29 court order issued in the southern city of Chennai demanding 15 Indian Internet providers block access to file-sharing websites such as PirateBay.
The order has resulted in access being denied to a host of websites that carry pirated films and music among other legal content, including www.isohunt.com and www.pastebin.com.On Wednesday, the Anonymous forum fired an opening shot by attacking the website of state-run telecom provider MTNL, pasting the logo of the group the mask of 17th century revolutionary Guy Fawkes on www.mtnl.net.in.
Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN), the country's premier agency dealing with cyber security contingencies, said that its website was neither attacked nor brought down on Saturday. Hackers allegedly belonging to the group called Anonymous had earlier claimed they had attacked CERT-IN website with Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack.A spokesperson from ministry of communications & IT told TOI, "The claim that CERT-IN website was attacked and brought down by hackers is without any basis and at complete variance with the facts. The fact is that the website has been running continuously & uninterruptedly including the whole of today.""We don't want anything to be censored online because now-a-days the web is an effective tool to express thoughts and share things with others - be it through social networking or emails," said a volunteer from the group. "Without Internet, people cannot be liberated," added another participant.
The minister was said to have shown Internet executives examples of obscene images found online that risked offending Muslims or defamed politicians, including his boss, the head of the ruling Congress party, Sonia Gandhi.Earlier Anonymous, which protested against what it perceives web censorship in several Indian cities today evening, had claimed that it attacked and took down CERT-IN website. "This is your response team #india! They can't even protect themselves. How will they protect others," read a tweet from @opindia_revenge, the group's Twitter handle."We will keep attacking http://cert-in.org.in and http://india.gov.in ! #GOI, ready to face ups and downs?" said the hackers.
The call for demonstrations by the Indian arm of the group follows a March 29 court order issued in the southern city of Chennai demanding 15 Indian Internet providers block access to file-sharing websites such as PirateBay.
The order has resulted in access being denied to a host of websites that carry pirated films and music among other legal content, including www.isohunt.com and www.pastebin.com.On Wednesday, the Anonymous forum fired an opening shot by attacking the website of state-run telecom provider MTNL, pasting the logo of the group the mask of 17th century revolutionary Guy Fawkes on www.mtnl.net.in.
Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN), the country's premier agency dealing with cyber security contingencies, said that its website was neither attacked nor brought down on Saturday. Hackers allegedly belonging to the group called Anonymous had earlier claimed they had attacked CERT-IN website with Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack.A spokesperson from ministry of communications & IT told TOI, "The claim that CERT-IN website was attacked and brought down by hackers is without any basis and at complete variance with the facts. The fact is that the website has been running continuously & uninterruptedly including the whole of today.""We don't want anything to be censored online because now-a-days the web is an effective tool to express thoughts and share things with others - be it through social networking or emails," said a volunteer from the group. "Without Internet, people cannot be liberated," added another participant.
The minister was said to have shown Internet executives examples of obscene images found online that risked offending Muslims or defamed politicians, including his boss, the head of the ruling Congress party, Sonia Gandhi.Earlier Anonymous, which protested against what it perceives web censorship in several Indian cities today evening, had claimed that it attacked and took down CERT-IN website. "This is your response team #india! They can't even protect themselves. How will they protect others," read a tweet from @opindia_revenge, the group's Twitter handle."We will keep attacking http://cert-in.org.in and http://india.gov.in ! #GOI, ready to face ups and downs?" said the hackers.
Skype jacks ads into free Internet phone calls
SAN FRANCISCO: Skype on Wednesday began showing callers on-screen ads while they use the globally popular free Internet telephone service.
What Skype euphemistically referred to as "Conversation Ads" appear in calling windows of users who don't pay for subscriptions or have credits in accounts at the service.
We're excited to introduce Conversation Ads as an opportunity for marketers to reach our hundreds of millions of connected users," Sandhya Venkatachalam said in a post at the official Skype blog. "While on a 1:1 audio call, users will see content that could spark additional topics of conversation that are relevant to Skype users and highlight unique and local brand experiences." The silent conversation ads are available to marketers where ever Skype is available and will be shown during free Skype-to-Skype calls on computer's powered by Microsoft's Windows software, according to Venkatachalam.
Microsoft's Skype Internet telephone service hopes to quadruple the number of users to get to one billion, division president Tony Bates said two weeks ago at a prestigious All Things Digital conference in California.
Bates, who heads the unit that was acquired by Microsoft last year but operates autonomously, said growth will come from mobile users and from partnerships like the one Skype has with Facebook. He cited Facebook as a key to growth for Skype, which now has 250 million users.
He said Skype can use the reach of Microsoft, the world's biggest software firm, to expand its presence, but without limiting itself to the Windows platform.
Skype users can make low-cost or free phone calls over the Internet using their computers or smartphones. Skype bypasses the standard telephone network by channeling voice and video calls over the Web.
Ads by Google
SAN FRANCISCO: Skype on Wednesday began showing callers on-screen ads while they use the globally popular free Internet telephone service.
What Skype euphemistically referred to as "Conversation Ads" appear in calling windows of users who don't pay for subscriptions or have credits in accounts at the service.
We're excited to introduce Conversation Ads as an opportunity for marketers to reach our hundreds of millions of connected users," Sandhya Venkatachalam said in a post at the official Skype blog. "While on a 1:1 audio call, users will see content that could spark additional topics of conversation that are relevant to Skype users and highlight unique and local brand experiences." The silent conversation ads are available to marketers where ever Skype is available and will be shown during free Skype-to-Skype calls on computer's powered by Microsoft's Windows software, according to Venkatachalam.
Microsoft's Skype Internet telephone service hopes to quadruple the number of users to get to one billion, division president Tony Bates said two weeks ago at a prestigious All Things Digital conference in California.
Bates, who heads the unit that was acquired by Microsoft last year but operates autonomously, said growth will come from mobile users and from partnerships like the one Skype has with Facebook. He cited Facebook as a key to growth for Skype, which now has 250 million users.
He said Skype can use the reach of Microsoft, the world's biggest software firm, to expand its presence, but without limiting itself to the Windows platform.
Skype users can make low-cost or free phone calls over the Internet using their computers or smartphones. Skype bypasses the standard telephone network by channeling voice and video calls over the Web.
Ads by Google
Russian Internet CEO launches robotics fund in NYC
NEW YORK (AP) — The co-founder of a large Russian Internet company wants to invest in the types of robotics envisioned in "The Jetsons" — that 1960s cartoon portraying a family from the future, with flying cars, robot maids and all sorts of push-button inventions.
The robots that Dmitry Grishin is looking for are aimed at the mass market. Beyond vacuum-cleaning devices, this could include robotics technologies used in transportation, entertainment or health care. He compares where the robotics industry is now to where computers were early 1980s, when companies were first bringing PCs to regular people's desktops.
Grishin, the co-founder and chief executive of Mail.ru, believes robotics is ripe for the same sort of revolution, but the industry needs funding. So he is putting up $25 million to start a venture fund that will invest in robotics aimed at daily life.
Grishin Robotics will be based in New York, a city trying to establish itself as a technology hub to rival Silicon Valley. He says he picked New York in part because of its central location, its status as an international financial center and Mayor Michael Bloomberg's support of technology and innovation.
Grishin plans to announce the fund at the invitation-only f.ounders technology conference in New York on Friday. The fund will focus on companies in the early, but not the earliest stages of development. That means companies with products ready to be built and sold to people.
He acknowledges such investments can be risky. After all, the field is new and unproven, and it could take many years to pay off. But he says that "if you want significant progress, you need people to take the risks."
Otherwise, he adds, we wouldn't have electric cars, radios or space travel.
Grishin, who studied robotics and complex automation at Moscow's State Technical University, says that over the past few years, much of the investment and innovation in technology has focused on the Internet, on smartphones and software. (Mail.ru owns a small stake in Facebook.)
He hopes that this will change with venture funding for robotics startups.
NEW YORK (AP) — The co-founder of a large Russian Internet company wants to invest in the types of robotics envisioned in "The Jetsons" — that 1960s cartoon portraying a family from the future, with flying cars, robot maids and all sorts of push-button inventions.
The robots that Dmitry Grishin is looking for are aimed at the mass market. Beyond vacuum-cleaning devices, this could include robotics technologies used in transportation, entertainment or health care. He compares where the robotics industry is now to where computers were early 1980s, when companies were first bringing PCs to regular people's desktops.
Grishin, the co-founder and chief executive of Mail.ru, believes robotics is ripe for the same sort of revolution, but the industry needs funding. So he is putting up $25 million to start a venture fund that will invest in robotics aimed at daily life.
Grishin Robotics will be based in New York, a city trying to establish itself as a technology hub to rival Silicon Valley. He says he picked New York in part because of its central location, its status as an international financial center and Mayor Michael Bloomberg's support of technology and innovation.
Grishin plans to announce the fund at the invitation-only f.ounders technology conference in New York on Friday. The fund will focus on companies in the early, but not the earliest stages of development. That means companies with products ready to be built and sold to people.
He acknowledges such investments can be risky. After all, the field is new and unproven, and it could take many years to pay off. But he says that "if you want significant progress, you need people to take the risks."
Otherwise, he adds, we wouldn't have electric cars, radios or space travel.
Grishin, who studied robotics and complex automation at Moscow's State Technical University, says that over the past few years, much of the investment and innovation in technology has focused on the Internet, on smartphones and software. (Mail.ru owns a small stake in Facebook.)
He hopes that this will change with venture funding for robotics startups.
ComScore study says Facebook ads are effective
As investors question just how much Facebook is worth, a study from Internet research firm comScore suggests that marketing on the world’s most populous online social network can help increase sales.
The report released Tuesday found that people who were fans of Starbucks and Target, or friends of those fans, were more likely to buy something than those who were not fans. People become fans by hitting a “like” button for a brand’s Facebook page and receiving updates about that brand mixed in with content shared by their friends.
In the case of Starbucks Corp., those exposed to the company’s message on Facebook were 38 percent more likely than the typical Facebook user to make a purchase in the four weeks that followed. Target Corp. saw a 21 percent lift in the same time frame.
The comScore study came a day after the research firm said that the number of unique visitors to Facebook’s website is growing at a slower pace. And it’s less than a month after Facebook had a disappointing debut as a public company.
The report was partly commissioned by Facebook Inc., a client of comScore’s. It was based on a panel of Internet users who agreed to participate in the study a condition that can skew results.
ComScore urges marketers to look beyond acquiring as many fans as possible on Facebook and focus on their message and on social media marketing campaigns. Accumulating fans represents only the “initial springboard” of reaching fans and their friends with ads and other brand messages, the report said.
Once a brand has acquired a certain number of fans for its Facebook page, its goal should be to reach as many people as possible, have the brand resonate with them and “hopefully influence consumers to purchase or engage with the brand, comScore said.
Facebook’s stock has declined sharply since its rocky initial public offering last month. It is down 28 percent from its $38 initial public offering price after gaining 40 cents, or 1.5 percent, on Tuesday to close at $27.40.