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Mon, 31 Aug 09
The Big Screen Gets Bigger
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67993.html
Today, young movie-watchers look increasingly like Molly O'Connor. A junior at the University of Dallas, she still goes to the cinema occasionally, but is often just as happy to hunker down on a bed or a couch with friends to watch a downloaded movie on a laptop that's perched on a nearby desk or a chair. "Sometimes, it's nice to have a wider screen, but I don't think I gain that much by going to a movie theater anymore," the 20-year-old student says. "Now, it's more about convenience."

Sun, 30 Aug 09
Cellphones With a Penchant for Pix
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67973.html
Pretty much any cellphone you'd buy today comes with a digital camera, but only a few are good enough to take the place of even a cheap point-and-shoot. It can be tricky to sniff out which phones really fall into that category. Highly advertised features, like a mass of megapixels and multiple settings, do not always add up to a solid camera. However, after testing five devices from different manufacturers and wireless carriers, I can suggest some that prove it is indeed possible to get a good cell phone that also takes crystal-clear photos.

Sat, 29 Aug 09
Rights Groups Demand More Info on Arbitrary DHS Laptop Searches
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67991.html
The idea was to provide some clarity on the issue of searches of computers and other digital devices when travelers enter the U.S. However, while Thursday's announcement of new Department of Homeland Security policies for border inspections was greeted as a good first step by some, they didn't completely quiet privacy rights groups. The new rules help government officials walk the fine line between protecting Americans and ensuring their constitutional rights, according to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano.

Sat, 29 Aug 09
The Hacker Journalists
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67977.html
The audience at the Bell Harbor Conference Center in Seattle was full of geeks, and its members would probably have been proud to identify themselves as such. After all, it was the ninth Gnomedex conference, the annual gathering of tech bloggers, business types, private tech enthusiasts -- anybody and everybody who has a fascination with technology's impact on society, culture and media. Most of those attending were using social media long before "social media" became the easy buzz-phrase to describe a revolution in communications.

Sat, 29 Aug 09
What Has President Obama Done for Silicon Valley?
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67980.html
President Obama's inability to fill even half of his major political appointments is in the news this week, but the appointments he's already made are causing some in Silicon Valley to question whether they supported the right candidate. The president chose non-Silicon-Valley candidates for the nation's two major technology posts. In March, Obama appointed Vivek Kundra of Washington, D.C., as the nation's chief information officer. In April, he appointed Aneesh Paul Chopra, then Virginia's secretary of technology, as his choice for chief technology officer.

Sat, 29 Aug 09
Google's Curious Chrome Gambit
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67982.html
Why is Google promoting two open source operating systems that can both be run on netbooks -- Android and Chrome? Is this part of a larger strategy, where Google will direct the two along different paths -- Chrome for netbooks and Android for the smartphone? Or could the Internet search giant just be floundering, with different groups of techies each going their own merry way with no clear marketing position? Google announced the Chrome OS in July. This was many months after the release of the first smartphone to carry the Android operating system.

Sat, 29 Aug 09
Survival Tips for Passengers Stranded on the Tarmac
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67981.html
You're tired, hungry, have a cranky baby on your lap and all you want to do is get off the plane, but you can't because it's been on the tarmac for hours waiting to take off. While such delays are rare, they can be more common during the hot summer due to thunderstorms and, this year, because of fewer flights to get you to your destination if your flight is canceled. Information is the best ammunition in such situations. Experts advise that passengers be prepared.

Sat, 29 Aug 09
Will Windows 7 Be the Supervillain Apple Needs?
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67976.html
As I begin to salivate over the arrival of Mac OS X Leopard some time later today, I can't help but wonder if I should bother making a partition for running Windows 7 via VMware's Fusion on my MacBook. The problem is, I don't really need the OS or the clutter on my hard drive. I ran Windows XP for about year or so, but I quit in 2008 as I found fewer and fewer reasons to mess with it. I'm not trying to run PC games on my black MacBook, and all the core apps I tend to need and use are either native to Mac OS X or have decent equivalents.

Fri, 28 Aug 09
Facebook Bows to Canada's Privacy Demands
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67975.html
Facebook will be overhauling its privacy policy following an investigation by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, which concluded that the social networking site's policies posed significant risks. The changes will affect Facebook's entire global user base. The investigation was originally prompted by a complaint from a privacy advocacy group, the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic at the University of Ottawa. The Commissioner's office investigated the matter and found several areas of concern.

Fri, 28 Aug 09
Anti-Obesity 'Wonder Drug' May Harm Liver
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67978.html
The Food and Drug Administration is looking into reports that orlistat, a drug used to control obesity, might have played a role in 32 cases of liver injury that occurred between 1998 and 2008. The FDA is also investigating an undisclosed number of other cases of liver damage that might be related to the drug. Orlistat works by inhibiting the absorption of up to 25 percent of fat calories consumed. It is available by prescription as "Xenical" and over the counter as "Alli."

Fri, 28 Aug 09
Does Your Cloud Have a Green Lining?
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67958.html
Although the ultimate definition of "the cloud" remains elusive to vendors and end users alike, the cloud represents the next major paradigm shift in the IT industry and business computing. Coinciding with the emergence of cloud computing, green IT and sustainability are becoming integral components of corporate strategies in top-performing organizations. Businesses are looking at green IT solutions to reduce costs, energy consumption and carbon emissions. For businesses of all sizes, cloud computing can deliver operational efficiencies.

Fri, 28 Aug 09
Nokia Tosses Another OSS OS Into the Mobile Mix
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67971.html
Nokia on Thursday announced the N900 smartphone, a mobile device running the Linux-based Maemo operating system that the company typically uses for its tablets. The device runs a Mozilla-based browser and offers still and video photography, an FM radio and 3.5G and WLAN connectivity. Maemo is the operating system used in Nokia's tablets, and the Finnish handset maker's description of the N900 shows it's moving to converge the computer, the Internet and the mobile phone. Nokia sees the Maemo OS as driving its new technology, and the N900 as merely the hardware to contain the OS.

Fri, 28 Aug 09
Put Things Off: A Practical, Pragmatic Prioritizer for Procrastinators
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67963.html
Once you've set up MobileMe, Google Sync or any other syncing service to wirelessly coordinate a desktop calendar to the Calendar app on the iPhone, it's easy to start entrusting your every waking task short of heartbeat and respiration to a "ding!" and a pop-up notice. Instead of just remembering to do things using your frail, gooey little brain, you can hand it over to the phone, forget about it, and just do what it tells you to do every time the chime goes off.

Fri, 28 Aug 09
Linux in 2013: One *Billion* Dollars!
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67966.html
It's a rare day on the Linux blogs when comparisons don't get made between Windows and our favorite operating system, but when those comparisons take the form of benchmarks, we can't help but sit up and listen. Sure enough, following a like comparison earlier this year, the bloggers over at TuxRadar recently put Windows 7, Vista and various versions of Ubuntu through their paces again to see just how they compare. Bottom line? "There's nothing in Windows 7 that Linux can't do, and in most cases, do it better," the TuxRadar bloggers wrote.

Thu, 27 Aug 09
Google Maps Adds Back-Road Traffic Flow Data
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67957.html
Google has pushed an update to its Maps application adding traffic data on surface streets. The data will be drawn from GPS-enabled cellphones that are actively running the mobile version of Google's map app, the company said in a blog posting Tuesday. Although all users of Google's mobile maps service appear to have access to the traffic data, only users with GPS-equipped phones with Google Maps installed can contribute speed information.

Thu, 27 Aug 09
Sony Burns Kindle With New Wireless Touchscreen E-Reader
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67956.html
If you are able to read one of novelist Patrick O'Brien's rousing naval adventures on Sony's new Daily Edition electronic book reader, then you will also participate in helping Sony send its own shot across the bow at Amazon and its popular Kindle reading device. Sony announced Tuesday that the Daily Edition reader will sell for $399 and will be available in December, just in time for holiday shopping sprees. The real news, however, focused on the Daily Edition's wireless capabilities.

Thu, 27 Aug 09
Snow Leopard to Prowl for Mac Malware?
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67964.html
Apple has reportedly included antimalware technologies in Snow Leopard, which will go on sale Friday. The news comes shortly after Apple released a fresh round of commercials indicating that the Mac, unlike PCs running Windows, is virus-free. Mac security software vendor Intego's blog carried a screenshot showing the antimalware feature detecting a version of the RSPlug Trojan horse in a downloaded disk image. Dan Goodin, writing in the Register blog, said the feature checks for only two known Mac Trojans, and has other limitations.

Thu, 27 Aug 09
Social Security: Guarding Your Identity in Online Networks
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67952.html
Without a doubt, the growth of social networking has exploded in recent years and has added value to the Internet by providing yet another exciting way for citizens all over the world to connect and interact. In fact, social networks like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn and many smaller sites have become the preferred way many people communicate today as well as a growing business development tool. However, the use of social networks has also provided a new -- and sometimes surprisingly easy -- way for identity thieves and other cybercriminals to obtain critical information.

Thu, 27 Aug 09
Wikipedia's New Editorial Line of Defense
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67954.html
It appears that Wikipedia's reputation as the Internet's open source encyclopedia -- where any and all can contribute -- may itself be in need of some editing. Media reports quote a spokesperson for the Wikimedia Foundation, which manages the user-generated site, as saying that the English-language version will soon start experimenting with designated editors to check for errors, vandalism and opinions sneaking their way into entries involving public figures still living.

Thu, 27 Aug 09
'Batman: Arkham Asylum' Is Crazy Good
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67959.html
The video game industry has defeated more superheroes than Lex Luthor could ever dream of. Superman, Aquaman, Iron Man, X-Men: all rendered lifeless by forces more focused on making a buck than on delivering thrills. So, calling "Batman: Arkham Asylum" one of the best superhero games ever is kind of a backhanded compliment. Let's just call it a great game, period. For DC Comics fans, it's a must-buy, but it's hugely entertaining even if you aren't versed in the whole Batman mythology.

Thu, 27 Aug 09
Heavy Multitaskers Aren't Good At It
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67962.html
The people who multitask the most are the ones who are worst at it. That's the surprising conclusion of researchers at Stanford University, who found multitaskers are more easily distracted and less able to ignore irrelevant information than people who do less multitasking. "The huge finding is, the more media people use, the worse they are at using any media. We were totally shocked," Clifford Nass, a professor at Stanford's communications department, said in a telephone interview.

Wed, 26 Aug 09
OneApp Aims to Give Dumb Phones Some App Smarts
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67949.html
Microsoft on Tuesday announced OneApp, a software application for feature phones. Feature phones, which are essentially low-end mobile phones without any smartphone features, are widely used in both established and emerging markets. OneApp will give users access to mobile applications most often found on smartphones, including social networking, messaging and banking apps. Microsoft's first partner for OneApp is South Africa's Blue Label Telecoms. That makes sound business sense -- the African market is growing, and World Cup soccer championships will be held in South Africa in 2010.

Wed, 26 Aug 09
New PSA Goes Graphic With Message Against Texting While Driving
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67948.html
At four minutes and 15 seconds, a public service announcement produced in Wales, UK, clocks in at an unusually long running time, as TV spots like this one go. However, its length is not likely to be the reason why it sticks in viewers' minds. The video, produced by the Gwent Police Department to warn against the dangers of texting while driving, is a graphic, bloody dramatization of the aftermath of a car accident caused by texting while driving -- and some might say, over the top. The video starts out with three teen girls driving a car, distracted by a text they are sending.

Wed, 26 Aug 09
Kindle Gets a Little Bigger, a Little Better With DX Reader
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67941.html
There's a lot to like about Amazon's new super-sized e-book reader, the Kindle DX. It has more than a few nettles, too. Since the original Kindle was introduced at the end of 2007, its fans have been clamoring for more screen real estate. With the DX, Amazon has met those demands in a big way. The reader's screen measures 8 by 5.5 inches, or 9.7 inches diagonally. Several newspapers plan to experiment with the Kindle DX -- as well as with competing devices from companies like Plastic Logic -- to distribute content directly to readers.

Wed, 26 Aug 09
Trade-Offs, Evolution and the Truth About Mobile Phone Development
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67944.html
It has been said that a great user experience in mobile phone offerings is a combination of good engineering, marketing and graphical and user interface design. More importantly, it is about keeping the balance between all these elements. This is why the term "trade-off" is a recurrent one in the mobile phone industry. In the current state of mobile device evolution, the UI screen size has reached the maximum deemed acceptable to customers; therefore, the focus by mobile experts is now more on depth-enhancing capabilities such as touchscreen UI with haptic feedback, for example.

Wed, 26 Aug 09
The iPhone's Athletic Potential
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67936.html
A small icon of Chad Ochocinco's smiling face is the doorway to the receiver's latest media venture. Touch the iPhone screen and enter Ochocinco's frenetic world. See photos of the Cincinnati Bengals receiver. Link to his Twitter feed. Watch video of him working out. Check out his favorite tunes. See a map that shows where he is today. All Ochocinco, on the phone screen. "It's cool," the receiver said. And he has his quarterback to thank for it. No, not Carson Palmer. His younger brother.

Wed, 26 Aug 09
Yahoo Keeps Polishing Search Tech Despite Bing Hook-Up
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67947.html
Yahoo will keep innovating in search and try to outsmart both Microsoft and Google even as the slumping Internet company prepares to lean on rival Microsoft's search technology. That message emerged Monday as Yahoo previewed a series of search engine upgrades that it plans to introduce before the end of the year, just a few months before Microsoft is supposed to take over responsibility for powering most of Yahoo's search results. With Microsoft handling the heavy lifting, Yahoo will focus more on designing special touches aimed at making its search results more useful.

Tue, 25 Aug 09
Nokia Nudges Into Netbook Territory With New Booklet 3G
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67937.html
Nokia announced Monday it will return to the PC market, an arena it abandoned in 1991 to focus on the growing mobile phone field. The new device, featuring integrated GPS and a claimed 12-hour battery life, will be formally unveiled Sept. 2 at Nokia World, the company's annual expo. The netbook, to be called the "Booklet 3G," will likely be sold through telecommunications retailers, leveraging Nokia's strong relationships in those channels to market the device as an extension of the mobile lifestyle, Gartner PC industry analyst Ranjit Atwal told TechNewsWorld.

Tue, 25 Aug 09
Apple to Set Snow Leopard Loose Friday
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67938.html
Confirming weeks of speculation, Apple announced on Monday that OS X 10.6, better known as "Snow Leopard," will be available starting Aug. 28. Snow Leopard, which Apple is touting as a refinement to its predecessor, named "Leopard," was originally scheduled to be released in September. Could the launch date have been moved up following a survey suggesting students prefer netbooks and Windows laptops to Macs? At its World Wide Developers Conference, held in San Francisco in June, Apple announced that Snow Leopard would be released in September.

Tue, 25 Aug 09
Movable Prosthetics: The Biomechanical Interface
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67934.html
The woman who can feel roughness or smoothness in her artificial hands for the first time in years; the child whose artificial leg lengthens as he grows; the previously armless man who can reach into a cabinet above his head to prepare dinner; machines that will some day register sensations in much the same way that people can -- thanks to research that will culminate this year in a major set of new designs, procedures and prototypes for artificial limbs, some of these miracles might eventually become commonplace, perhaps in another generation.

Tue, 25 Aug 09
Stories and Legends
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67923.html
An unfortunate side effect of a celebrity like Steve Jobs getting sick is that a huge number of us are collecting stories to go into articles and books that would mostly show up after he passed. I ran into two new stories I hadn't heard before last week, and one of them was rather juicy and eventually tied into the "iPad." I also chatted with Best Buy who is, at least to me, the best chain of stores at which to buy consumer electronics and tech goods. I interviewed them last week and they have some surprises coming soon.

Tue, 25 Aug 09
The Joy of Linux Myth Debunking
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67930.html
Debunking long-held myths is always a gratifying exercise, but never is that more true than when said myths have done our favorite operating system harm. It was with great glee, then, that Linux Girl came across not one but two myth-debunking conversations on the blogs in recent days. A recent report from the Linux Foundation, for example, showed conclusively once and for all that the image of kernel hackers as basement-dwelling nerds who still live with their parents is just plain false.

Tue, 25 Aug 09
TomTom's iPhone App and the Road Ahead for Personal Nav
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67928.html
Since the new version of the iPhone's operating system has been released, at least half a dozen software vendors have announced turn-by-turn, GPS navigation systems for Apple's mobile phone. However, when a company that's already sold 30 million standalone nav systems decides to join the fray, it's a sign this app category is starting to be really serious business. Last week, after two months of anticipation, Amsterdam-based TomTom unwrapped its eponymous app for the iPhone and started selling it on the iTunes store for $99.99.

Mon, 24 Aug 09
The Kitchen Software Cook-Off
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67931.html
For years, I have tucked away recipe cards of all shapes and sizes in nooks and crannies of my kitchen, determined that one day I would actually use them. Sadly, for many recipes, that day never came, partly because they were so disorganized. However, cooking has been on my mind lately, thanks to Meryl Streep and her hilarious rendition of Julia Child in the new movie "Julie & Julia." Streep became my inspiration to get organized -- and in this digital age, what could be more fitting than using software to create a virtual recipe box?

Sun, 23 Aug 09
Wired Warfare in Afghanistan
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67933.html
Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Henson goes out on patrol with a computer on his back and a joystick in his holster. He also carries a rifle, but the military is hoping he'll soon have less need for it. A wired generation of U.S. soldiers is about to battle-test a high-tech weapon calculated to reduce civilian casualties in Afghanistan. A key component is the "Dragon Egg," a softball-sized robotic camera that can be thrown over a hill or into a building without endangering troops.

Sat, 22 Aug 09
Geolocation Data Could Lead Twitter to Treasure or Trouble
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67925.html
In a move that might finally open a moneymaking channel for the company, Twitter announced on Thursday that it will launch a geolocation feature as part of its microblogging service. It will also offer a new API so developers can add latitude and longitude data to any tweet. Developers will be given early access to the API, so it will be available on third-party Twitter apps before it is available on the service, according to the Twitter blog.

Sat, 22 Aug 09
A Last Call for Snarkers Anonymous?
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67922.html
The old saying used to be, "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all." Then the Internet came along, and the saying changed to, "If you can't say anything nice, then invent a fake user name and go to town." The Web has allowed us to get away with saying some pretty awful things to each other without having to say them to each others' faces -- or even put our own names on them. Anonymous attacks are incredibly easy. One way is to set up an anonymous blog on one of many free sites and just start spitting venom at anyone you want.

Sat, 22 Aug 09
It's Hard Out There for a 21st-Century Future Journalist of Tomorrow
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67918.html
I regularly preach in this column about old-school newsies making the transition to digital journalism, and lately I've actually been trying to practice all that as well. I've spent the last three weeks becoming friends with my Flipcam, conducting interviews while playing videographer, parsing out the content to Web site and broadcast, using social media to let everybody know where they can find said content, and then presenting it all on a TV news set. For those keeping score, that's reportin', shootin', writin', promotin' and anchorin'.

Sat, 22 Aug 09
FOSS vs. the Winged Monkeys: Q&A With Open Source for America's Chris Lundberg
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67917.html
Chris Lundberg has worked for years to drive the availability of technology to the masses. He has managed teams developing software for the Library of Congress, worked with the U.S. Navy to develop satellite communications software and consulted for Accenture in developing telecom Internet solutions. Prior to that, Lundberg produced Internet solutions for the financial and entertainment sectors as director of applications at Opion. He is an open source user and advocate.

Fri, 21 Aug 09
Will Microsoft Keep 2 Windows Open in Mobile?
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67916.html
A report has surfaced that Microsoft will continue to offer Windows Mobile 6.5 even after it releases WinMo 7 next year. The story, published in the Digitimes blog on Wednesday, quoted unnamed sources at handset makers in Taiwan. Microsoft has been losing market share steadily in the mobile operating systems market, according to Gartner's latest figures, but will it really resort to a dual-OS strategy to try to turn the tide? In a related development, Microsoft has told application developers they can set their own prices for apps on its app store.

Fri, 21 Aug 09
Name-Calling Blogger Tests Limits of Online Anonymity
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67914.html
Someone, somewhere did not like Liskula Cohen, a model in her 30s who lives in New York. A blog was launched from Google's Blogger platform, apparently devoted to maligning her, complete with uncomplimentary photos. To be sure, such online attacks are hardly rare; indeed, Cohen's story diverges from most such incidents because she fought back -- and it appears she has been, to some degree, successful. Cohen complained to Google, according to media accounts, and requested the name of the poster.

Fri, 21 Aug 09
Social Academics: Building a Forum for Online Learning
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67910.html
Mention social networks to most Web users, and they'll likely tell you about general-interest gathering places like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. However, other social networks -- some large, some small -- exist to provide users with a way to communicate about slightly more specific topics. LinkedIn, for one, emphasizes professional and career networking. Wesabe is one that's focused on personal finance. Serious students are quickly adding yet another unifying online gathering place, Scitable, a new twist on academic research for students.

Fri, 21 Aug 09
Licenses, Libraries, Laws and Loopholes
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67908.html
It's been a relatively quiet few days on the Linux blogs, but that didn't stop geeks from taking time out last Sunday to wish Debian a happy birthday. Yes, it was exactly 16 years ago on the 16th that Ian Murdock announced the imminent arrival of what he called the "Debian Linux Release." Happy Birthday, Debian. There were several other low-key discussions on the Linux blogs in recent days, but perhaps none so widely discussed as whether there's any point to GPLv2 libraries.

Fri, 21 Aug 09
'Duke Nukem 3D': Too Hot to Handle?
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67873.html
When "Duke Nukem 3D" was first released for the PC in 1996, the "3D" in the title was perhaps there to emphasize that this was not the sort of flat-world first-person shooter experience you'd find in a game like "Doom 2." Rather than just pivoting side to side, you could actually use the mouse to look up and down, setting your sights on an object far below you or flying above you -- quite an innovation for the time, as I remember. It made aiming your weapon a little tricker, but it really expanded the world you could explore within the game and made it a lot more fun.

Thu, 20 Aug 09
Logitech Mice Slide to the Head of the Glass
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67904.html
When computer accessories maker Logitech on Wednesday unveiled two new mice that can be used on any surface, it triggered squeaks of protest from competitor Microsoft. Logitech's newly announced Mouse MX products use dark field laser tracking to let them navigate on smooth surfaces such as glass. Few people use mice on glass, and Microsoft designed its BlueTrack mice to work on more commonly used surfaces such as granite, carpets, bedspreads or users' jeans, Redmond chattered.

Thu, 20 Aug 09
Lenovo Looks Homeward With New PC Products
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67902.html
Chinese PC maker Lenovo, best known for office computers like its ThinkPad laptop line, has announced four new products aimed at the consumer home market. One is its first home theater PC, the IdeaCenter Q700. Another is its first home server, the IdeaCenter D400. The other two are the Q100 and Q110 nettop computers, which Lenovo claims are the world's thinnest in this category. Expanding into home wares could expand Lenovo's sales base; however, the company is entering a crowded market with a very short track record in consumer products.

Thu, 20 Aug 09
Reports of Exploding iThings Spark EC Investigation
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67905.html
Apple has handled previous product safety issues involving notebooks, iPod batteries and iPhone chargers, but the company's fans are hoping a new threat to its reputation won't -- literally -- blow up in its face. The European Commission announced Tuesday that it would investigate reports of exploding iPhones and iPods following stories of spontaneously combusting devices in the UK, France, Holland and Sweden. Some of the reports have involved injuries to consumers.

Thu, 20 Aug 09
Is There a Dark Cloud Over SSL's Green Glow?
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67896.html
The security of any given computer system is no better than the skills researchers bring to finding the next potential program flaw. Network security workers concentrate on updating patches and making sure only validated users can access the corporate LAN. Meanwhile, security researchers hunt for existing but unidentified infrastructure flaws that could let in the bad guys. However, even when researchers find a new potential vulnerability, product vendors are not always quick to respond with fixes.

Thu, 20 Aug 09
Democratization of Data: Mass. Shares Transit Info
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67891.html
Massachusetts is planning to "democratize the data" behind its public transportation network. It's providing software developers with all the coding and background data they will need to develop iPhone applications and other high-tech aids incorporating MBTA subway, bus, train and regional transit information. A restaurant owner, for example, could easily add official government data about the location and details of transit stops or bus schedules into a Web site about his business.

Thu, 20 Aug 09
Fiorina Gears Up for US Senate Race
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67903.html
Former HP chief executive Carly Fiorina on Tuesday took the first formal step toward running for Democrat Barbara Boxer's U.S. Senate seat. Fiorina filed for a tax identification number Tuesday and registered a campaign committee named "Carly for California." The committee will allow her to begin raising money for a potential 2010 run for the Republican nomination. In a statement, Fiorina said she had been encouraged to run by "people across the political spectrum" and will begin meeting with policy advisers and financial donors.

Thu, 20 Aug 09
Germany Sets Ambitious Electric Car Goal
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67899.html
Germany launched a campaign Wednesday to put 1 million electric cars on the road by 2020, making battery research a priority as it tries to position the country as a market leader. The program -- which draws on approximately $705 million set aside in an economic stimulus package earlier this year but leaves many financing details up to the next government -- drew criticism for being too vague. "It is our aim to make Germany into the market leader for electric mobility," Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said after the Cabinet approved the plan.

Thu, 20 Aug 09
Blockbuster Takes Motorola to the Movies
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67901.html
Blockbuster plans to offer movies that can be watched on Motorola cellphones. It marks the struggling rental company's first step into mobile video and is its latest effort at chasing down the customers who have abandoned its traditional video stores. Blockbuster offered few details Tuesday on the plan, which expands on the company's OnDemand movie downloading service offered through set-top boxes for TVs. Kevin Lewis, Blockbuster's senior vice president for digital entertainment, said the company is still working on specifics.

Wed, 19 Aug 09
Google Gives Chrome Users Bookmarks to Go
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67895.html
Google on Tuesday announced a new feature that will let users of its Chrome browser sync bookmarks on multiple computers. Announced only a few weeks after its developers began working on the project, the sync capability is yet another round fired in a browser war that appears to be drawing in even more players. However, it has also drawn some early criticism. A number of user complaints have sprung up, and there is some concern that the Sync feature could cause security problems.

Wed, 19 Aug 09
Maybe the Policy Is the Problem
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67880.html
Imagine for a moment one of your company's employees getting out of their car and arriving at your office building. It doesn't really matter who it is, but for the sake of visualizing the scene more clearly, assume it's someone conservative and maybe a bit socially inept. Maybe it's one of the "suits" in accounting. Now visualize this employee walking through the parking lot of your office. Just as he gets to the edge of the parking lot, he passes by a stranger -- someone hobbling toward the door wearing two enormous leg casts.

Wed, 19 Aug 09
Does Dell's Primordial Smartphone Have an Android Inside?
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67886.html
Computer manufacturer Dell on Monday confirmed that it's making mobile devices for China Mobile, the world's largest wireless carrier in terms of subscribers. This followed China Mobile's announcement in Beijing on Monday of its new mobile app store. "We are developing devices for China Mobile, but we haven't named them yet," Dell spokesperson Matt Paretta told LinuxInsider. At the China Mobile announcement, Dell showed a handheld device that Paretta described as a proof of concept.

Wed, 19 Aug 09
Archive Coalition to Give Short URLs Long Lives
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67890.html
The growing popularity of Web-address shortening services like Bit.ly creates the potential for a bevy of broken links should one of the providers suddenly cease operations. Those providers are now teaming up with data aggregation and syndication services company Gnip to form a system for archiving link data. That way, the links would keep working, even if the shortening service itself doesn't. The development comes less than a week after link snipper Tr.im decided to cease operations -- though it later reversed course.

Wed, 19 Aug 09
Users Poke Facebook With Lawsuit Over Privacy Policies
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67888.html
Five Facebook users filed a civil lawsuit Monday alleging that the social networking site is violating California's privacy laws and misleading members about how their personal information is used. The lawsuit, filed in Orange County Superior Court, asks for damages and attorney's fees and includes a request for a jury trial. Facebook spokesperson Barry Schnitt declined to comment on the specifics of the lawsuit. "We see no merit to this suit and we plan to fight it," he said in an emailed statement.

Mon, 17 Aug 09
Managing a Passel of Passwords With Online Tools
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67869.html
Do you use your kids' names? Your pet's? Your favorite color? We all use some dumb passwords that are too easy to guess. Worse, we use the same ones for lots of Web sites. So if one site gets compromised, or an employee there is dishonest, someone could start trying out that password on other sites where you have accounts, like Amazon or PayPal, and you've got trouble. Browsers help out a bit by offering to remember your passwords, but that does little good if you are on a different computer or want to try a different browser.

Sun, 16 Aug 09
Neighborhood Watch 2.0
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67839.html
Cruise down the tree-lined streets of the Old Oaks neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio, on a summer evening and know this: Someone is watching you. It might be Richard Vickers, who records your license plate number in a notebook as he retrieves gun shell casings from the sidewalk while out on his nightly walk. Or it might be Doug Motz, who alerts via text message: "Watch out for the green van lurking in the alley." Like the members of this well-oiled block watch group in central Ohio, neighbors across the country are using Twitter, blogs, e-mail and street patrols to help thwart crime.

Sat, 15 Aug 09
Can Zune HD's Radio Kill the MP3 Star?
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67864.html
Microsoft has officially launched its war against the iPod touch, announcing that the new Zune HD is available for pre-order online at various sites. The Zune HD will hit the shelves Sept. 15, Microsoft said. Like the iPod touch, it is available in 16- and 32-GB models. It has WiFi, a touchscreen, HD Radio and high-definition video. With all that, will it be able to take on the iPod touch, still the clear market leader? As of Friday, consumers will be able to pre-order the Zune HD at the Microsoft store as well as at the Amazon.com, Best Buy, and Wal-mart Web sites.

Sat, 15 Aug 09
Cracks in the US Cybersecurity Walls: Q&A With NetWitness CEO Amit Yoran
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67855.html
Cybersecurity is a shambles in the U.S., but nobody seems able to do anything about it, and things appear to be going from bad to worse. Both Presidents George W. Bush and Obama have promised to appoint a cybersecurity czar -- or "cybersecurity coordinator," as the current administration calls the position -- but still there is none. NetWitness CEO Amit Yoran, who served as cybersecurity chief during the George W. Bush administration, discussed U.S. cybersecurity with TechNewsWorld in an exclusive interview.

Sat, 15 Aug 09
What Does an Apple Tablet Need to Be Worth a Damn?
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67857.html
It seems almost every technology analyst, reporter and blogger these days either believes that Apple is on the cusp of releasing an iPod touch-like tablet computer, or is willing to repeat the rumors to that effect. Some believe Apple will reveal a tablet in September, along with the likely announcement of an iPod and iTunes upgrade. Plus, Apple's lean and mean next-generation of Mac OS X, a.k.a. "Snow Leopard," is coming out, so September is a real possibility. Others look to give Apple more time -- say, November -- to get something out before the holiday buying season.

Sat, 15 Aug 09
Healthcare Email Blasts Clog US House System
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67865.html
Amid a boisterous debate on healthcare reform, people flooded members of Congress on Thursday with so many emails that they overloaded the House's primary Web site. Technical support issued a warning to congressional staff that the site, www.house.gov, may be slow or unresponsive because of the large volume of email being sent to members. Jeff Ventura, a spokesperson for the House's chief administrative officer, which maintains the Web site, said traffic data was not available and could not be released without the lawmakers' consent.

Sat, 15 Aug 09
Asia's Internet Cables Jostled by Typhoon
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67863.html
Seabed movements believed caused by Typhoon Morakat damaged seven undersea cables linking Asian nations, disrupting Internet and telephone services, a Taiwanese telephone company said Friday. Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom, which jointly operates four cables in the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines, said service has been slow since the typhoon pummeled Taiwan last weekend. Voice calls and Internet data traffic will be fully restored later Friday, it said.

Fri, 14 Aug 09
Sony Launches E-Book Format War With ePub Push
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67858.html
Sony said Thursday it will sell digital books only in the ePub format by the end of the year. It will also replace its proprietary digital rights management software with technology from Adobe, which is widely used in the e-publishing industry. The moves are part of an aggressive new strategy kicked off with Sony's reorganization earlier this year. The decision could leave Amazon.com's Kindle, which uses proprietary digital technology, out in the cold.

Fri, 14 Aug 09
Microsoft Outlook Sets Its Sights on the Mac
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67860.html
If there were any lingering doubts about the Mac's penetration of the enterprise, they were dispelled on Thursday when Microsoft announced it would ship its Outlook e-mail client in Office 2008 for Mac Business Edition next year. Outlook will replace Microsoft's free Entourage e-mail client in the Business edition, but not in the Home and Student editions. Outlook for the Mac will be built from the ground up with Apple's Cocoa framework to provide improved integration with the Mac operating system. It will also give enterprise users rights management capabilities.

Fri, 14 Aug 09
Another Day, Another DDoS Blitz for Twitter
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67851.html
For the second time in less than a week, Twitter has been hit by a distributed denial of service attack. Unlike the first attack last week, the latest cyberassault, which started on Tuesday, has been confined to Twitter so far -- Facebook has apparently not been affected. That has led Roger Thompson, chief of research at security vendor AVG Technologies, to speculate the second attack could be linked to the attacks on U.S. and South Korean government Web sites last month. The attacker could be a vigilante who wants to draw attention to the security problems plaguing the Internet, he said.

Fri, 14 Aug 09
Always Look on the Bright Side of FOSS
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67850.html
The days of summer may be coming to an end, but that's no reason to be downhearted. Indeed, just consider the news that in its recent annual filing to the SEC, Microsoft for the first time listed Red Hat and Canonical as official competitors! The company "faces strong competition from well-established companies with differing approaches to the PC market," the filing reads. "Competing commercial software products, including variants of Unix, are supplied by competitors such as Apple, Canonical, and Red Hat."

Fri, 14 Aug 09
Documents To Go: Not a Corner Office but a Decent Cubicle
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67777.html
Perhaps it's a little shortsighted of me to review an iPhone app built to let you view, sync and edit Microsoft Office files. After all, a patent judge in Texas this week ordered an injunction against selling MS Word, and without a basic word-processing app, the whole suite goes down the tubes. Surely we'll all be back to slate boards and nails by Halloween. OK, fine, not likely. Microsoft will buy a winning argument, buy a settlement, buy the company suing it, or just buy the whole legal system itself before it lets go of Word.

Fri, 14 Aug 09
Microsoft Opens Office to the Crowd
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67854.html
Have a gripe about Office? A couple of guys at Microsoft want to hear it directly. "Make Office Better" is an unofficial project launched by an Office product planner and a Windows software tester at Microsoft. Individuals submit ideas and weigh in on whether they like the ideas submitted by others. Topics that resonate most with the crowd should get the most "me, too" votes and rise to the top. It's similar to the approach taken by the news aggregator site Digg.com and the IdeaStorm product-suggestion site run by PC maker Dell.

Thu, 13 Aug 09
Facebook Goes Skinny-Dipping With Lite Option
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67846.html
Facebook is trying out a new look in its high-growth markets outside the United States. The version features a stripped-down interface designed to open quickly and be simpler to use, according to the company. Word of the project leaked Tuesday when some users received invitations to help test "Facebook Lite," but were unable to access the lite.facebook.com URL given. The test was "temporarily exposed to a larger set of users by mistake," says a company statement.

Thu, 13 Aug 09
IE6: Dead Browser Walking
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67840.html
Google's social network Orkut reportedly plans to phase out support for Internet Explorer 6, igniting a long-simmering debate over continued use of the 8-year-old version of the browser. The current version is IE8. Microsoft intends to maintain support for IE6 in conjunction with its support for Windows XP -- the OS that originally delivered it. Extended support for XP is scheduled to end in 2014. IE6 is still the choice of a significant portion of the computer-using community; however, many developers have come to loathe it.

Thu, 13 Aug 09
Where Are the LiMo App Developers?
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67841.html
LiMo Foundation, a Linux mobile operating system consortium, announced that two of its members -- NEC and Panasonic -- are shipping the latest round of LiMo-compliant devices. NTT Docomo plans to use the new handsets in its Prime and Style series of phones, marketed primarily in Japan. The eight new phones are purported to have advanced features, including an enhanced 8-megapixel camera and better integration capabilities, but not everyone is impressed with the new releases.

Thu, 13 Aug 09
How Hybrid and Electric Car MPG, Price Tags Stack Up
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67845.html
Hybrids like Toyota's Prius and plug-in vehicles such as the Chevrolet Volt run on systems other than purely gas-fired engines. The systems, or powertrains, that drive the so-called greener cars use electricity generated by batteries and electric motors to either supplement or largely take the place of internal-combustion engines. The Chevrolet Volt, billed as a rechargeable electric car, gets most of its power from an electric motor and a battery pack with a 40-mile range.

Thu, 13 Aug 09
Netflix Plans Sequel to Million-Dollar Suggestion Contest
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67844.html
You might call it "Son of the Netflix Prize." The DVD rental company has not yet announced a winner for its first US$1 million challenge to improve its system of recommending movies that subscribers may enjoy, but it is already indicating there will be a sequel. In a post on the Web forum set up for the current Netflix prize, Netflix's chief product officer, Neil Hunt, said Netflix will announce specific details of a second contest in late September, when it divulges the winner of the first one.

Wed, 12 Aug 09
Google Offers Testers a Sip of Caffeine
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67833.html
As if its widely acknowledged dominance of the U.S. search engine market is not enough, Google on Tuesday revealed that it's working on a next-generation architecture for Web search. The formerly secret project, code-named "Caffeine," is the first step in a process to improve the search engine in various areas, including indexing speed, accuracy and comprehensiveness, Google said. Google has posted a request on its Webmaster Central blog asking visitors to test the Web dev preview and provide feedback.

Wed, 12 Aug 09
Facebook Slurps Up FriendFeed
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67832.html
In a continuing bid to make itself ever more relevant to advertisers and open its doors to the broader Internet, Facebook has acquired social media aggregator FriendFeed. Founded in 2007 by four former Google developers, the FriendFeed service allows users to build customized feeds based on information they find and activities they engage in on the Web and other social media sites, including YouTube and Twitter. Users' friends can then see those feeds in real-time.

Wed, 12 Aug 09
Steps Businesses Can Take Now to Gird for Hurricane Season
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67823.html
For professionals in the business continuity field, it is that time of year again: hurricane season. If you haven't started to exercise hurricane planning procedures, it isn't too late. I believe that it was The National Hurricane Center that stated that 2009 would be a moderate or "near-normal" year for hurricanes, and it's not likely the southeastern United States will see anything like Katrina or Ike. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't plan or test your existing hurricane preparedness plan.

Wed, 12 Aug 09
Are Android Phones Motorola's Road to Redemption?
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67827.html
Motorola's long-awaited Android phones are about to hit the market at last -- one will reportedly go to Verizon, the other to T-Mobile. None of the three companies will comment on the devices, but the blog "Android and Me" has posted what it says are tech specs on both devices. The Verizon device, called the "Sholes," will focus on gaming, according to the site, while the T-Mobile phone, called the "Morrison," will have GPS, a compass, email support and several other iPhone-like features.

Wed, 12 Aug 09
Mailplane Gives Gmail a Landing Pad on the Mac Desktop
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67820.html
For a long time, Web-based email programs were poor relatives of their desktop counterparts, but that's not the case anymore. Cloud-based applications like Google's offering, Gmail, boast a rich array of features that give premise-based competitors a run for their money. Nevertheless, two problems persist with Web mail apps. Since they run in a browser, their visibility is often obscured on the desktop. What's more, since they run in the cloud, they become dysfunctional when a computer gets grounded and can't reach the nimbus.

Wed, 12 Aug 09
Stanford Prof Whips Up Swift Genome Sequencing Technique
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67831.html
It might not be long until there is a gene scanner in every doctor's office, as DNA sequencing becomes faster and cheaper. A Stanford University professor reported Monday that he has sequenced his entire genome in a few weeks for under $50,000 using a single machine. Six years ago, hundreds of researchers at the Human Genome Project completed the same task for $300 million. It took 13 years. "It's continuing down the path to making it so every Tom, Dick and Harry are going to have their genomes sequenced," said the director of the Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute.

Wed, 12 Aug 09
GM Boasts Mind-Blowing MPG Figures for Chevy Volt
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67829.html
General Motors said Tuesday its Chevrolet Volt rechargeable electric car should get 230 miles per gallon of gasoline in city driving, more than four times the mileage of the current champion, the Toyota Prius. The Volt is powered by an electric motor and a battery pack with a 40-mile range. After that, a small internal combustion engine kicks in to generate electricity for a total range of 300 miles. The battery pack can be recharged from a standard home outlet. GM came up with the 230-mile figure in early tests using draft guidelines from the EPA.

Mon, 10 Aug 09
When Censorship Strikes, Herdict Is Watching
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67811.html
When Shanghai blogger Isaac Mao tried to watch a YouTube clip of Chinese police beating Tibetans, all he got was an error message. Mao thought the error -- just after the one-year anniversary of a crackdown on Tibetan protesters in China -- was too suspicious to be coincidental, so he reported it on a new Harvard-based Web site that tracks online censorship. Meanwhile, more than 100 other people in China did the same thing. The spike in reports on Herdict.org in March pointed to government interference rather than a run-of-the-mill technical glitch.

Sun, 9 Aug 09
New Sony Walkman: Handsome Hardware, Spotty Software
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67807.html
Thirty years after revolutionizing portable music with the Walkman for playing cassette tapes, Sony is trying to master the digital media player with the X Series Walkman. Tunes sound great, and videos look crisp on the device, but Sony still has a lot of work to do to catch up with Apple's market-ruling iPod. While the X Series brims with features like WiFi and noise cancellation, the limitations and execution problems make it somewhat disappointing overall. The X Series is sleek and elegant-looking.

Sat, 8 Aug 09
Russian Hackers Besiege Social Sites to Silence Pro-Georgia Blogger
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67809.html
If you were unable to log on to Twitter or Facebook Thursday morning, you can consider yourself collateral damage in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Georgia. Facebook has confirmed that a pro-Georgian blogger was the target of a widespread distributed denial of service attack that hit the top social networks and other Web sites. Facebook was able to fend off the attack, but Twitter was down for most of Thursday morning, and a company blog post indicates the popular microblogging service was still dealing with DDoS' after-effects Friday.

Sat, 8 Aug 09
Security, Sanity and Social Networking in the Ranks
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67805.html
U.S. military service members who want to keep up with friends and family back home have often turned to social networking Web sites to stay in touch. But the Department of Defense hasn't quite made up its mind whether these kinds of sites are friends or enemies. It definitely loves social networking when it comes to recruiting -- you can follow or friend any and all branches if you're thinking about joining up. Once you're in, though, you might find yourself a little -- or a lot -- more restricted.

Sat, 8 Aug 09
The NFL's Love-Hate Relationship With Twitter
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67792.html
Here's the game plan regarding the National Football League and Twitter: If it's gameday, there will be no tweeting. If it's training camp, it's up to each team. When it comes to players' off-time, it would be wise to take the advice of San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Shawne Merriman, who navigates social media as easily as he takes down opposing quarterbacks: Think before you tweet. This is the first summer of NFL training camps featuring Twitter as a 12th man of sorts.

Sat, 8 Aug 09
Taking FOSS Security Seriously
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67802.html
Code hunters are spotting with greater frequency defective coding that could open security holes in open source software. The Open Source Report 2008 and the Architecture Library Report, conducted by Coverity for the U.S. Department Homeland Security Cybersecurity Open Source Hardening Project, shows more than 10,000 defects fixed since project launch in March 2006. The report, delivered in July at the OSCON 2009gathering, used the same analysis tools and configurations as the Scan Benchmark 2006.

Fri, 7 Aug 09
Sony Crashes Party With Robo Photog
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67793.html
Hot on the heels of rival Nikon's new Coolpix line, announced earlier this week, Sony announced its latest entries to the fiercely competitive digital camera market on Thursday. The two new cameras in its Cyber-shot line are the DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX1. Along with the new cams, Sony revealed a device is calls the "Party-shot Docking Station." The cameras have several new features, including improved shooting in low-light conditions. Pre-orders for all three devices begin Thursday, and the products will be available beginning in September.

Fri, 7 Aug 09
Green Glow Illuminates Possible Alzheimer's Breakthrough
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67800.html
Researchers at two Southern California schools may have achieved a breakthrough in the search for chemicals that can slow -- or even reverse -- the progression of Alzheimer's disease and possibly even diabetes. Surprisingly, the breakthrough didn't come from doctoral programs at UCLA or USC. It came from undergraduate departments at Loyola Marymount University and Mount St. Mary's College. A team of researchers recently discovered three substances that slow development of a key aspect of Alzheimer's.

Fri, 7 Aug 09
Smart Meters and Security: Locking Up the Grid
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67791.html
Despite reports earlier this year about spies penetrating the computers that help control America's electrical grid, utility companies appear to be slow in clamping down on security, and that perception has led to a tongue-lashing from a House of Representatives committee. U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke as accused the utilities of exploiting a loophole that allows them to avoid complying with Federal cybersecurity requirements. Also, a security researcher's revelations of flaws in the smart meters utilities are installing throughout the country added fuel to the fire.

Fri, 7 Aug 09
Mac OS X Update Polishes Its Image
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67797.html
In what may be the last significant OS X update Apple pushes out before the arrival of Snow Leopard, the company on Wednesday released Security Update 2009-003 to fix flaws in the platform. As with other security updates, this one, known as "OS X.10.5.8," can be downloaded and installed through Mac users' Software Update preferences or from Apple Downloads. OS X.10.5.8 has been released to fix flaws in Mac OS X 10.4.11 and 10.5 through 10.5.7. This is the second major OS X security update released this year.

Fri, 7 Aug 09
Linux - The New 'Hot' Job Skill
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67789.html
There are many reasons to love Linux, as geeks around the world already know, but recent news adds yet another to the already long list of glorious virtues: It has now been named the No. 2 hottest IT job skill. Yes, Linux has claimed the second spot on research firm Foote Partners' list of hottest noncertified IT skills, behind only Java EE/SE/ME. Rounding out the top five are virtualization, Microsoft .Net and NetWeaver. The Hot List rankings are based on the growth in value of the various skills over time, along with premium pay levels and IT spending trends.

Fri, 7 Aug 09
Camera Zoom for iPhone Is Close Enough
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67787.html
Using an iPhone for just a little over a year now has changed my behavior in a few subtle ways. I almost never check personal email at my desktop, I have less fear of the DMV, and my peripheral vision while walking has improved greatly thanks to a few notable, non-fatal incidents. I also tend to take certain attributes of the iPhone's touchscreen for granted. I sometimes forget that not every pretty image on a shiny screen can zoom in and out with a pinch or pull of my thumb and forefinger.

Thu, 6 Aug 09
E-Reader Plot Thickens With New Sony Devices
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67780.html
Sony fired its latest salvo in the battle for the e-book reader market on Wednesday with the unveiling of two new e-readers, one of which will be priced at under $200. It also cut the prices of new book releases and New York Times bestseller titles in its eBook Store to $9.99. Sony recently established ties with Google Books in a bid to increase its content -- a critical issue for digital content providers. Will these moves help Sony's new e-readers take on Amazon's Kindle? The readers are the PRS-300SC and PRS-600SC. Both are part of a new Reader line.

Thu, 6 Aug 09
Marines Cut Off From Social Networks
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67784.html
The U.S. Marine Corps has banned service members from using military computers to access social networking sites, and the Department of Defense is reviewing the services to see if they pose too great a security threat to allow. Such sites are popular with young service members who want to keep in touch with friends and family at home, but the Marine Corps' chief information officer, Brig. Gen. George J. Allen, said in a memo issuing the ban Tuesday that such sites create "a larger attack and exploitation window."

Thu, 6 Aug 09
Hathaway Resignation Leaves Cybersecurity Leadership Void
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67785.html
The Obama administration appears to be having as much trouble as its predecessors in decrypting the secrets of how to retain its cybersecurity advisers. Monday's resignation of Melissa Hathaway, who served as acting senior director for cyberspace for the National Security and Homeland Security Councils, has Washington insiders and tech industry observers buzzing about yet another roadblock in President Obama's intention to revamp network protection policy. Hathaway, a Bush administration holdover, completed a two-month study of U.S. cybersecurity policy in April.

Thu, 6 Aug 09
Playing Hide and Seek in a Wired World
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67779.html
When I first started skip tracing -- that is, finding people -- my only tool was the telephone and my only resource for searching was directory assistance. Unbelievably, I was able to find people from London to Fiji, but it was costly and extremely time consuming. Half my search time was trying to be connected to directory assistance in a foreign country. Trust me -- 411 in the '90s was not cheap. The world of skip tracing has changed. A world without walls truly exists.

Thu, 6 Aug 09
Palin's Use of Private Email Spurs Judicial Review
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67781.html
c The issue arose last year after he filed open records requests that yielded some of the email traffic involving state officials including Palin, the former GOP vice presidential candidate.

Thu, 6 Aug 09
'Cash for Clunkers' a Weak Tool for Curbing Emissions
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67783.html
Cash for Clunkers could have the same effect on global warming pollution as shutting down the entire country -- every automobile, every factory, every power plant -- for an hour per year. That could rise to three hours if the program is extended by Congress and remains as popular as it is now. Climate experts aren't impressed. Compared to overall carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S., the pollution savings from Cash for Clunkers do not noticeably move the fuel gauge. Environmental experts say the program is not an effective way to attack climate change.

Thu, 6 Aug 09
John Quincy Adams Tweets From Beyond the Grave
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67782.html
It seems John Quincy Adams was way ahead of his time. A high school student touring the sixth U.S. president's archives recently noticed his bite-sized diary entries looked a lot like tweets. Starting Wednesday, history will meet modern technology as the Massachusetts Historical Society begins posting Adams' updates from 200 years ago on Twitter. The historical society will include a presidential tracker of sorts, linking maps to show Adam's progress on a diplomatic trek to Russia as U.S. minister.

Wed, 5 Aug 09
Intel Taps Facebook Multitudes for Massive Research Efforts
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67772.html
Intel has built an application that will connect Facebook's masses to a volunteer computing application designed to boost the research efforts of three nonprofit organizations. Progress Thru Processors is launching as a public beta and is available to all Facebook users. It runs as a background process on the computer, automatically directing idle processing power to the researchers' computational efforts. When the user's computer needs the processor performance, the application shifts into idle mode.

Wed, 5 Aug 09
Nikon Slaps Mini-Projector Onto New Pocket Cam
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67768.html
Nikon on Tuesday unveiled four new digital cameras in the Coolpix line, but one of them -- the Coolpix S1000pj -- generated most of the buzz. This model has a built-in projector that is currently unique in the industry, according to the camera maker. In addition to its built-in projector, the Coolpix has slideshow capabilities. All four new models use Nikkor lenses and have Nikon's EXPEED digital image processing capability, along with other advanced features. They will be on the shelves by September, at prices ranging from just under $200 to a little over $400.

Wed, 5 Aug 09
Jimmy Wales and the Slippery Slope
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67757.html
Jimmy Wales, cofounder of Wikipedia, recently attempted to pressure ECT News Network into killing or drastically revising an article that was not to his liking. In an illuminating series of no fewer than 17 email messages, Wales demanded, threatened, wheedled and implored in a dogged effort to accomplish one thing: to get us to change our story. Ironically, the story happens to be about his involvement in an incident that spurred debate over censorship.

Wed, 5 Aug 09
White House Convenes Experts on Texting-While-Driving Threat
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67769.html
The Obama administration will convene a summit of experts to figure out what to do about the problem of texting while driving, a practice studies and a growing number of accidents show can be deadly. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will announce his decision to gather senior transportation officials, safety advocates, law enforcement representatives, members of Congress and academics who study distracted driving at a news conference Tuesday. The summit will take place next month. If it were up to him, he would ban texting while driving, LaHood said.

Wed, 5 Aug 09
myTouch 3G: Improved Droid Still Has Some Squeaky Joints
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67759.html
Less than a year after T-Mobile and HTC released the first smartphone using Google's Android operating system, the wireless operator and the handset maker are back with a sleeker device that takes advantage of recent software updates. The myTouch 3G has plenty of hardware and software kinks -- and a $200 price tag that's $50 higher than the predecessor, the G1, both with a two-year contract. However, advances to the operating system may draw a smattering of cheers. The myTouch, which goes on sale Aug. 5, looks similar to the G1.

Wed, 5 Aug 09
App Takes the Guesswork Out of Mid-Movie Bathroom Breaks
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67766.html
The mid-movie dash to the restroom can turn us into calculating Usain Bolt wannabes: Ah, this looks like a lull -- time to dash. When we return to our seats, we pray the answer to "What did I miss?" isn't "Darth Vader is really Luke's father" or "the girlfriend is really a guy." The Web site RunPee.com can help with such anxious guess work. The site provides recommended opportunities to race to the restroom. It tells you when the action or romance wanes, and gives you a cue for your exit. The site tells you how long you've got and even summarizes what you missed.

Tue, 4 Aug 09
Scammers Try to Hack Hackers With Crooked Cash Machine
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67763.html
Fooling with hackers is generally a very bad idea, but the scammers responsible for an apparent ATM grift in Las Vegas may not have been aware of that particular rule of thumb. The ATM scam happened during the Black Hat and Defcon security conferences last week, during which time the Las Vegas Strip was heavily populated with hackers well-versed in the many methods cyberthieves employ to rip off victims. The hackers who noticed the suspicious-looking ATMs called in the authorities, and both the Las Vegas Police Department and the Secret Service are now reportedly involved.

Tue, 4 Aug 09
FCC Sticks Its Nose Into Google Voice App Flap
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67764.html
Citing pending reviews of wireless open access and handset exclusivity, the Federal Communications Commission, under the leadership of Julius Genachowski, has launched in inquiry into the reasoning behind Apple's rejection of the Google Voice application for its App Store. To recap, Apple informed Google last week that it would not include Google Voice in its App Store for the iPhone. The application lets users send free text messages, make free domestic phone calls and make international calls at low rates.

Tue, 4 Aug 09
Your Genome: There's an App for That
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67753.html
Don't look now, but we may be about to enter the genome-based economy. Soon, having a personalized analysis of your human genomes will be as commonplace as taking an IQ test in school. You could carry a specially-tuned smartphone able to scan the UPC of any clothing or food substance you buy. These new inventions, what Dr. Andras Pellionisz calls your "Personal Genome Assistant," or PGA, will ferret out substances that are toxic to the one or more conditions mapped in your personalized genome report. Pellionisz is founder of HolGenTech.

Tue, 4 Aug 09
Microsoft + Yahoo: Heavenly Marriage, Hellish Divorce?
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67750.html
Boy, just when you think it's safe to sleep in, Microsoft and Yahoo decide to hitch up and slap Google upside the head. I'm guessing that this really screwed up the party in the Google 767 flying palace last week. For Google, which lately seems to have the attention span of a 3-year-old after getting into the sugar jar, this could be a good thing -- this could force Google to focus. It certainly is good for Microsoft and Yahoo, even though it suggests a potential breakup that could be the mother of all divorces.

Tue, 4 Aug 09
Ntractive CRM Tethers the Mac Desktop to the Cloud
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67733.html
In the architecture of heavy-duty business programs, customer relationship management software is a load-bearing beam. It's a mission critical application that can be a key to success. It's also the sort of app that operates very comfortably in "the cloud" -- that metaphor for the Internet and platform-agnostic computing. Justin Bartak realized the cloud's potential for managing customers relatively early. Bartak is CTO and cofounder of Ntractive, a Grand Folks, N.D., Macintosh-centric CRM software maker.

Mon, 3 Aug 09
The Search Engine Scrimmage
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67751.html
Is Microsoft's Bing really a better search engine? Since it debuted last month, it has earned praise for the smart way it presents results and how it lets users preview Web sites without clicking through to them. Yet a closer look at its results reveals why loyal Yahoo users may not end up happy with the deal the company announced Wednesday, which calls for Bing to replace Yahoo Search. ComScore says 19.6 percent of Web users go to Yahoo for their searches. Microsoft draws fewer, at 8.4 percent.

Sun, 2 Aug 09
How Smart Grids Could Empower Hackers
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67749.html
The race to build a "smarter" electrical grid could have a dark side. Security experts are starting to show the dangers of equipping homes and businesses with new meters that enable two-way communication with utilities. There are many benefits to upgrading the nation's electricity networks, which is why a smart-grid movement was already revving up before the recent economic recovery package included $4.5 billion for the technology. Smarter grids could help conserve energy by giving utilities more control over and insight into how power flows.

Sat, 1 Aug 09
Apple Seals iPhone's SMS Security Leak
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67748.html
Could something as simple as an SMS text message turn your own smartphone against you, allowing a hacker to listen in on your private conversations or direct you to a malicious Web site? It can be done, according to security experts presenting their findings Thursday at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas. News of the now exposed flaw generated quite a buzz, especially because the researchers said they had notified Apple about the iPhone's susceptibility to the attack, but the vendor had not released a fix at the time it was revealed at the conference.

Sat, 1 Aug 09
Mapping Out Twitter's Burgeoning Media Landscape
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67738.html
There's no point in wasting any more time -- or text characters. I'm making it official and declaring this season the Summer of Twitter. You can thank me later. The declaration isn't just related to the short message service's use regarding some of the biggest breaking news stories of the past three months, including the Iranian protests and Michael Jackson's death. It also isn't just about those stories that have Twitter as a central character, so to speak: the cybertheft of internal Twitter company documents, or this week's Horizon Realty story in Chicago.

Sat, 1 Aug 09
If Apple's Tablet Is a Train Wreck, We'll Never See It
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67741.html
I'm excited and torn over the rumors swirling around the fabled Apple tablet device. Excited because Apple may finally be nearing the release of a new, next-generation product. Torn because I'm having a hard time figuring out if I could personally find enough value in such a device to actually buy it. Still, there's plenty of room left in the mobile device space for Apple to make a splash, possibly as soon as September. Let's take a closer look.

Sat, 1 Aug 09
The Vital Role of E-Presentment in Online Self-Service
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67740.html
Driven by competitive pressure to improve the customer experience, organizations are moving toward an online self-service model that pushes the boundaries of electronic information presentation, or e-presentment. Yet as they embrace this model, new challenges await, including how to ensure customers have seamless online access to relevant and accurate information in the format they want. E-presentment is the process of delivering traditionally paper-based documents online in electronic formats.

Sat, 1 Aug 09
1 Million Linux Kernels Booted for Vast Botnet Simulation
http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67720.html
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have laid the groundwork for an unprecedented simulation of a large-scale botnet after booting up 1 million Linux kernels as virtual machines. They now are waiting for completion of a new, faster and more capable supercomputer at the Livermore, Calif., lab, on which they hope to run 10 million kernels in a simulation of the open Internet -- complete with Web and mail servers, as well as simulated users clicking on simulated emails, getting simulated infections, and joining a simulated botnet.