E-Blue Mirar 7" 16:9 Digital Photo Frame

If you want a unique digital photo frame, how about considering the E-Blue Mirar 7" 16:9 Digital Photo Frame. You get to see your pictures in high quality display because this frame has a high resolution. You can play a song while the photos keep changing because this digital frame includes a MP3 Player. It also has a built-in speaker. It can be manipulated by manual or remote controls. You can transfer pics to it using memory cards such as CF, MS, MS Pro, SD, SDHC, MMC and xD. Product features
Digital Photo Frame with Touch Sensitive Buttons
7" Colour TFT active Matrix LCD
Touch Buttons / Remote Control
Slideshow with MP3 audio playback
Clock / Calendar / Alarm
Resolution: 800 x 480dpi
Contrast Radio: 400:1
Brightness: 350cd/m2
Viewing Angle: 120 (Horizontal)/ 100 (Vertical)
Controls: Touch buttons / Remote control
Extenal Memory: CF / MS / MS Pro / SD / SDHC / MMC / xD Card
Other Inputs & Outputs: USB 2.0
Compatible Image: JPEG
Max Image Size: 12MB
Audio Built-in Speaker: 1 x 1 W
Dimension: 207x 160 x 25mm (approx.)
Weight: 518g

Hackers target Xbox Live players

The booting services are proving popular with players who want a way to get revenge on those who beat them in an Xbox Live game.
The attackers are employing data flooding tools that have been used against websites for many years.
Microsoft is "investigating" the use of the tools and said those caught using them would be banned from Xbox Live.
"There's been a definite increase in the amount of people talking about and distributing these things over the last three to four weeks," said Chris Boyd, director of malware research at Facetime Communications.
Attack tool
"The smart thing about these Xbox tools is that they do not attack the Xbox Live network itself," he said.
He said the tools work by exploiting the way that the Xbox Live network is set up. Game consoles connecting to the Xbox network send data via the net, and for that it needs an IP address.

Source: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology

Hackers attack antivirus firm's tech-support site

A Kaspersky Lab technical support site was hacked late last month, exposing private customer information for 11 days, the Moscow-based security company admitted last week. The company learned of and closed the breach on Feb. 7 after it was notified by the Romanian hackers.
"This is not good for any company, especially for a company dealing with security," acknowledged Roel Schouwenberg, a senior antivirus researcher at Kaspersky, in a conference call last week. "This should not have happened."
The company had revamped the U.S. support site and relaunched it on Jan. 28. From that point until Feb. 7, the support database was open to attack, Schouwenberg said. The revamped site has now been replaced by the old version.
In a blog post, the hackers claimed that they were able to access a customer database that held e-mail addresses and software-activation codes by launching a SQL injection attack.
Schouwenberg confirmed that the database was hacked via SQL injection, but he contended that only the database's table labels were accessed, not the customer data. However, the e-mail addresses of about 2,500 customers and some 25,000 activation codes were at risk, he noted.

Source: computerworld.com

Gateway TC Series 14-inch Notebook PC

Gateway TC Series 14-inch Notebook PC line including TC7306u and TC7307u. Along with the widescreen LED-backlight display that has a 16:9 aspect ratio and a 1366×768 resolution, the Gateway TC laptops include Intel’s processors, up to 4GB of RAM, and the Intel GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics.

“The first models available are the TC7306u in black and the TC7307u in burgundy. Both notebooks have the same value-focused configuration; they are equipped with an Intel Pentium Dual-Core Mobile T4200 processor (2.00 GHz, 1MB L2 cache, 800 MHz FSB), 4GB of Dual Channel DDR2 667MHz Memory and Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500M. Transferring and storing large files is easy with the 8X Multi-Format Dual Layer DVDRW w/ DVD-RAM drive and high-capacity 320GB hard drive. They both come with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1 64-bit as well as Microsoft Works 9.0 and a 60-day trial of Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007. They each have a 6-cell Lithium Ion battery and an MSRP of $649.99,” Gateway says.

Source: techlocation.com

Adobe Flaw Heightens Risk of Encountering Malicious PDFs

Security companies are warning of a new flaw in two Adobe Systems programs that could compromise a PC merely by opening a malicious PDF (Portable Document Format) file.
Hackers are exploiting the flaw in the wild, although attacks are not widespread yet, according to Symantec and the Shadowserver Foundation.
The flaw affects version 9 of Reader and Acrobat as well as earlier versions, according to Adobe's advisory. A buffer overflow condition can be triggered by opening a specially-crafted PDF, which gives the attackers control of the computer. Shadowserver wrote that the flaw could be exploited on systems running Microsoft's Windows XP SP3.
Adobe called the flaw "critical," it's most severe rating, and said it will release a patch for Reader 9 and Acrobat 9 by March 11. The company said patches for version 8 of Reader and Acrobat will follow, then finally for version 7 of Reader and Acrobat.
In the meantime, hackers will quickly try to use the flaw. PDF vulnerabilities are especially dangerous since the file format is widely used.
"Right now we believe these files are only being used in a smaller set of targeted attacks," Shadowserver wrote in its advisory. "However, these types of attacks are frequently the most damaging, and it is only a matter of time before this exploit ends up in every exploit pack on the Internet."

Source: pcworld.com

LG KM900 Arena Higher-End Phone

LG KM900 Arena Higher-End Phone: It uses S-Class 3D outside of Windows Mobile and gains higher-end hardware, with a 5-megapixel camera, a 480×800 touchscreen at the same size as the GM730, and 8GB of built-in storage on top of the microSDHC slot. The Arena supports 3G via HSPA as well as GPS and Wi-Fi, and should be available first in March with other areas getting the device later. Support for 850MHz frequencies on GSM now means the phone will likely be available in North America.

Source: techlocation.com

How to Enable Telnet in Windows Vista

By default telnet is not available in Windows Vista.Because it is recommended to use the SSH for everything now, but sometimes you just need old telnet. Here is how to enable telnet in Vista:1. Open ‘Control Panel’2. Select ‘Programs and Features’3. In the left column, select ‘Turn Windows features on or off’4. Check the box next to telnet (and any other services you may want enabled), and wait while Vista thinks for a while.

Source: theitstuff.com

Download FREE Microsoft Process Explorer (A better View of Task Manager)

The Process Explorer display consists of two sub-windows.
The top window always shows a list of the currently active processes, including the names of their owning accounts,
whereas the information displayed in the bottom window depends on the mode that Process Explorer is in: if it is in handle mode you’ll see the handles that the process selected in the top window has opened; if Process Explorer is in DLL mode you’ll see the DLLs and memory-mapped files that the process has loaded. Process Explorer also has a powerful search capability that will quickly show you which processes have particular handles opened or DLLs loaded.
The unique capabilities of Process Explorer make it useful for tracking down DLL-version problems or handle leaks, and provide insight into the way Windows and applications work.

Download Link

Verismo VuNow Internet TV platform

The VuNow Internet TV platform is the first solution that allows consumers to watch content from the web directly on their television, without having to connect a computer. The palm-sized VuNow Pod provides simple and seamless access to a broad choice of online video content — from movies, global Live TV channels, to user-generated content and viral videos.

Verismo VuNow Internet TV platform, and YouTube have partnered to provide broadband subscribers the ability to watch YouTube videos directly on the TV using the VuNow PoD. By pushing YouTube content from the computer to the television, Verismo Networks lets users experience the enjoyment of watching and sharing the latest videos on the big screen TV.
Users simply connect the PoD to the TV like a DVD player and within minutes they can browse, search, and select Internet content with a click of their remote. Verismo Networks is now selling the VuNow Pod directly to consumers online. The cost is $99 USD.

Source: http://www.techlocation.com/accessories/verismo-vunow-internet-tv-platform/

Lenovo H200 High-Value Desktop PC

Lenovo H200 High-Value Desktop PC: The Lenovo H200 features a sleek and glossy black finish and is Lenovo’s first desktop to utilize the low power Intel Atom processor. The Lenovo H200 features the latest core technologies with the Intel Atom 230 processor and supports the Intel GMA950 integrated graphics. It comes with a 15.4″ WXGA display, 160 GB hard drive and 1 GB RAM.

The CPU supports a fan-less design providing the users the benefits of lower power consumption and also quieter user experience, making it Lenovo’s quietest consumer desktop. The Lenovo H200 desktop with a 15-inch TFT screen, multimedia keyboard and speakers. For consumers seeking high-value computing at a low cost. Apart from fulfilling the basic applications, Lenovo maintains that the H200 is an energy-conscious machine consuming 60 Watt less energy than other desktops in the market.

I.B.M. Delivers Rural Broadband Over Power Lines

With $7 billion of government money on the line, it’s no surprise that all kinds of companies are claiming they can wire the most isolated ranchers and cave dwellers with broadband Internet service.
On Thursday, I.B.M. piped up to say that it is working with rural electric cooperatives to offer high-speed Internet service, delivered over electric power lines.
Technology to send broadband over power lines has been around for several years, but it typically hasn’t been able to offer enough capacity at a low enough price to beat service from cable and phone companies.
But with government subsidies, the approach is starting to be deployed in areas that don’t have access to other forms of broadband.
IBM Global Services is actually a contractor working for International Broadband Electric Communications, a Huntsville, Ala., company that has developed both the technology and service model to make the system work, at least in rural areas without other broadband offerings. The companies began deploying Internet service last year with one rural cooperative in Alabama , and this week announced an expansion to include five more cooperatives in Alabama, Indiana, Michigan and Virginia.
There appears to be pent-up demand in these areas. One Michigan cooperative signed up 5,000 customers in the first two weeks, said Raymond Blair, the director of advanced networks for I.B.M.

Source: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/ibm-delivers-rural-broadband-over-power-lines/

Facebook Yields to User Outrage: Reverts to Old TOS

Amid user revolt Facebook backed away from a newly implemented terms of service that many considered a privacy violation. Last night Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said the company would reverted back to its previous version of its terms of service that "everybody can understand."
Zuckerberg explained in a blog post: "Over the past few days, we have received a lot of feedback about the new terms we posted two weeks ago. Because of this response, we have decided to return to our previous Terms of Use while we resolve the issues that people have raised."
Facebook had updated its terms of service earlier this month. The change went largely unnoticed until last weekend when bloggers caught wind of the change. The details of the terms of service change were highlighted in an extremely popular blog at the Consumerist Website where people felt Facebook's new terms of service meant "anything you upload to Facebook can be used by Facebook in any way they deem fit, forever, no matter what you do later."
In a blog post on Tuesday, Zuckerberg had attempted to calm privacy fears explaining that the terms of service were originally revised so that Facebook had the right to share your information with your Facebook friends. Zuckerberg went on to say that Facebook would not, in practice, "share your information in a way you wouldn't want." That didn't satisfy thousands of Facebook users who protested the change calling Zuckerberg's explanation unclear.
Faced with user revolt Facebook did an about-face on Tuesday night and said it would revert the terms of service back to its previous version. However Zuckerberg did say Facebook is determined to update its terms of service, but this time would seek input from the community of Facebook users first.
Zuckerberg wrote: "If you'd like to get involved in crafting our new terms... you can start posting your questions, comments and requests in the group we've created--Facebook Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. I'm looking forward to reading your input."

Source: pcworld.com

Why Toshiba is buying Fujitsu's HDD business

With the acquisition of Fujitsu's hard disk drive (HDD) business, Toshiba would position itself to become a leading contender in the enterprise-class solid-state disk (SSD) drive market, as well as initially leap to the head of the pack in the 2.5-in. HDD space, according to industry observers.
Toshiba and Fujitsu said today they signed a provisional agreement under which Toshiba will acquire 80% of Fujitsu's hard disk drive business. The deal is expected to close during the April through June quarter.
Fujitsu said it would hold on to 20% of its hard drive business for an undetermined period of time to smooth the transition of the business to Toshiba, which will make it a subsidiary.
Fujitsu is a leader in the enterprise-class 2.5-in. HDD market, as well as in mobile devices.
The fast growing 2.5-in. hard drive marketplace includes Hitachi, Seagate, Western Digital, Fujitsu, Toshiba and Samsung. Fujitsu ranks third in number of units shipped, ahead of Seagate, said Tom Coughlin, an analyst at Coughlin Associates Ltd.
Last year, Fujitsu shipped 38.6 million 2.5-in. HDDs. Only Hitachi, with 50.4 million, and Western Digital, with 50.3 million, lead the market. Toshiba followed Fujitsu with 34.5 million, and Seagate trailed with 29.8 million units shipped.

Source: computerworld.com

Apple's new iPhone 3G

Top among such factors is the device’s high cost, with The New York Times’ technology blog ‘Bits’ calling it "a step backwards for consumers". Bloggers believe that it is not less expensive to own because US mobile carrier AT&T has a pricier data plan to subsidise the up-front cost. In Australia, confirmed iPhone carriers Optus and Vodafone have not revealed the local pricing, but both will offer it on a no-contract prepaid plan. Another biggest iPhone disappointment is the fact that it still doesn't support Adobe's Flash technology, which means many multimedia-rich sites remain off limits. Thirdly, it is not easy to crack open the new device’s sleek case to replace its battery. The new iPhone also does not have video recording provisions, something one can find even in the so-called low-end “feature phones” these days. Besides all that, it is unable to copy a chunk of text and paste it into another application. The lack of support for Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) is said to be one of the most maddening iPhone flaws, reports Forbes magazine. The iPhone does not even have a voice dialling system that allows users to dial verbally. Seven biggest disappointments regarding Apple's new iPhone 3G:

The New Blackberry 7100 series

BlackBerry 7100 Series handsets provide the best combined wireless phone, email and data experience for users who prefer a smaller handset design. They offer complete BlackBerry functionality, giving you great phone and messaging features for work and life. The BlackBerry 7130e also puts top-of-the-line features, such as speakerphone, Bluetooth technology, polyphonic ringtones and Ev-DO technology for fast email, application and browser speeds into a sleek and stylish handset.

Cowon L3 Multimedia Player

Cowon L3 Multimedia Player: The L3 sports a 7-inch, 800×480 resolution display and runs on Windows CE 5.0. The only details released on its CPU is that it has dual cores. The device has 128MB of SDRAM and ships with 4GB of flash storage space. It can, however, be expanded via an SD memory card slot.

The device also has built-in GPS functionality while an Eco Drive function monitors its energy use. A DMB TV tuner is included in the media player, as is a line output for connecting to other video devices. There is also a built-in FM tuner and transmitter. The L3 supports AVI, ASF and WMV video files, as well as ASF, MP3, OGG, WAV and WMA audio files.Pricing and release information are both unknown at this time, though Cowon regularly exports its players to the US.

Griffin SmartTalk Bluetooth headset

The good: The Griffin SmartTalk Bluetooth headset has a slim design and comfortable fit. It also features voice prompts and noise canceling.
The bad: The Griffin SmartTalk Bluetooth headset suffered from the occasional static and crackle, plus the voice prompt quality could be improved.
The bottom line: The Griffin SmartTalk Bluetooth headset is a decent noise-canceling headset for the price, but we would've preferred better call quality.
Specifications: Type: Microphone Built-in ; Product type: Handset ; Design: In-ear ear-bud ;

Source: http://cnn-cnet.com.com/

Microsoft, Nokia offer app stores

The success of Apple's AppStore for iPhone and iPod Touch has prompted two major rivals to follow suit.
Handset giant Nokia and Microsoft have announced their own versions of the online markets for mobile device application software, or apps.
From May, Nokia's Ovi Store will offer apps as well as multimedia content specific to a user's location.
Microsoft's new "Windows Phones" will feature Windows Marketplace, launching in the last quarter of 2009.
Microsoft has also announced a service allowing synchronisation and backup of data from mobiles "in the cloud".
App and stance
One of the standout stories from 2008 in the mobile communications world was the success of Apple's AppStore - a marketplace allowing developers to write programs ranging from productivity utilities to games.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7892863.stm

Microsoft unveils Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system

Microsoft Corp. unveiled its Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system today on what are being called "Windows phones" that focus on touch-friendly features and quicker navigation, acknowledging the influence of the iPhone. The phones should ship as early as July.
"We're building on our expertise in the business-user segment to expand the platform ... for consumers," said Greg Sullivan, senior product manager at Microsoft in a recent interview. Microsoft executives announced the operating system at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Sullivan admitted that Windows Mobile has taken some criticism from Motorola Inc., bloggers and even the public for providing an operating system in the current Windows Mobile 6.1 and earlier versions that has been termed "kludgy" or even unsophisticated when compared with those in newer smartphones by competitors.
Nonetheless, LG Electronics today announced it is making Windows Mobile its primary smartphone platform, with 26 different mobile models using the operating system in 2012.
Sullivan demonstrated beta software of 6.5 on an HTC Touch Pro, but handheld makers were expected to show new devices that Microsoft has decided to brand as "Windows phones" and that will ship early in the second half of 2009 using the updated operating system.

Source: computerworld.com

Acer Takes on Smartphone Market

Acer has jumped head first into the smartphone market with its Tempo family of devices. They are all touch-enabled and based on Windows Mobile, the company announced on Monday.
The Tempo family is to a large extent the result of Acer buying Taiwanese smartphone maker E-Ten last year. Developing its new smartphones wouldn't have been possible without the R&D know-how it got via that deal, according to Aymar de Lencquesaing, the head of Acer's Smart Handheld Business Group.
The first set of devices will be based on the existing version of Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system. Included is, for example, the M900, which comes equipped with a QWERTY keyboard, a 3.8-inch screen, and a fingerprint scanner for authentication. It also has HSDPA (High-Speed Download Packet Access) support, built-in GPS (Global Positioning System), and a 5-megapixel camera.
For users who aren't fond of QWERTY keyboards there is the F900, which also comes with 3.8-inch screen. It has a 3.2-megapixel camera, and you also get faster uploads using HSUPA (High-Speed Uplink Packet Access) and support for Wi-Fi.
Both phones will start shipping at the end of March or the beginning of April, according to Acer. Pricing will be announced at the time of launch.

Source: http://www.pcworld.com/article/159624/acer_takes_on_smartphone_market.html

HTC Unveils Updated IPhone 3G Rival and Touch Pro2

High Tech Computer (HTC), the largest maker of handsets that run Microsoft Windows Mobile software, unveiled updates to two of its most popular smartphones ever on Monday, the HTC Touch Diamond2 and HTC Touch Pro2 handsets. (See our hands-on report).
The sleek new handsets are both 3G touchscreen devices, but while the Touch Diamond2 is a consumer smartphone designed to compete with Apple's iPhone 3G, the Touch Pro2 is geared toward business people and could be a hit with its speaker phone function.
Both handsets continue the Touch line's tradition of attention to design and detail. They are both metallic colors mixed with chrome and black and are designed to make people stop and ask 'what is that?' according to Horace Luke, chief innovation officer at HTC.
"This is definitely more of a trendy look. I think 2009 is turning out to be a little more bling, a little more confidence," he said.

Source: pcworld.com

Princeton PTFBGF-22RW: 21.5-inch LCD Monitor

Princeton PTFBGF-22RW: 21.5-inch LCD Monitor. The screen is one of the smallest capable of a native 1080p resolution and has a 16:9 native aspect ratio as well as 300cd/m2 brightness. Its 1,000:1 static contrast ratio that can be boosted to a 10,000:1 dynamic ratio.

Other specs include a fast 5ms response time, along with a 160-degree vertical viewing angle and 170-degree horizontal viewing angle. The aspect ratio can be switched to a 4:3 mode to maintain the aspect ratio of the input signal. Inputs include a VGA port, two HDMI ports and a headphone output as well as a 3.5mm audio jack input. There are two 1.5W speakers built into the display. The Princeton PTFBGF-22RW is now available, priced at the equivalent of just short of $300.

Source: http://www.techlocation.com/accessories/princeton-ptfbgf-22rw-215-inch-lcd-monitor/

Dell Latitude Multi-Day Battery Life

Dell ARM low-voltage sub-CPU, combined with Linux OS, will enable a “multi-day battery life” in Intel & Windows-powered Dell’s Latitude E4200 and E4300 business ultraportables. Dell hybrid laptops that feature both an ARM processor-based sub-system and Intel’s traditional main notebook platform.

“This means running Linux in ‘instant-on’ mode for super quick access to e-mail, calendar, attachments, contacts and even the Interwibble on a super low-power ARM processor, whilst the system’s main operating system would run separately on an Intel Core2 Duo processor,” the Inquirer explains. Availability and pricing are currently unknown.

Source: http://www.techlocation.com/notebook/dell-latitude-multi-day-battery-life/

Lenovo IdeaPad Y650 16-inch Notebook

Lenovo IdeaPad Y650 16-inch Notebook: The newly designed IdeaPad Y650 is advertised as one of the thinnest and lightest notebooks in its class. The widescreen display uses LED backlight. It has a movie-friendly aspect ratio of 16:9 and a resolution of 1366×768 pixels.The multimedia-oriented IdeaPad Y650 comes with the Intel Core 2 Duo processor, the latest NVIDIA GeForce G 105M 256MB dedicated video card or Intel’s integrated GMA 4500MHD graphics, up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, a 320GB hard drive, a DVD burner, 802.11n WiFi, and Bluetooth.

There are no detailed specifications of the Y650 on the notebook’s product pages. According to the earlier product announcement, it also features Dolby Home Theater surround sound, a web camera, and a multi-touch touchpad. The laptop starts at 1,299 on the Lenovo website. However, you can save 15% with the coupon code USPIDEASAVINGS. It expires on February 16.

Source: http://www.techlocation.com/notebook/lenovo-ideapad-y650-16-inch-notebook/

Samsung DLP Projector Phones - Pico Technology

Samsung first phone with DLP Pico technology built-in. The Show W7900 for Korea (pictured) and its Euro-centric equivalent, the i7410 both take advantage of the small chipset and a compact projector to cast an image on a screen or wall which is much larger than the phone’s LCD: images upwards of 50 inches diagonal are possible in suitably low light. Samsung envisions the feature as letting owners present slideshows directly from phones or for playing videos at a TV-like size.

Both versions of the phone have a full-length OLED touchscreen with flick gestures, a 5-megapixel camera and built-in speakers. The W7900 appears first and will ship later this month in its native Korea, while the i7410 is due “soon.” It’s not known whether Samsung is planning a North American version of the phone.

Source: http://www.techlocation.com/mobile/samsung-dlp-projector-phones-pico-technology/

$250K Microsoft bounty to catch worm creator

(CNN) -- Software giant Microsoft is offering a $250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of hackers behind a powerful computer virus that could lead to millions of PCs being hijacked.

Experts have so far been baffled by the true purpose of the Conficker or Downadup virus, but have described its spread as one of the most serious infections ever seen.
The worm exploits a bug in Microsoft Windows to infect mainly corporate networks, then -- although it has yet to cause any harm -- it opens a link back to its point of origin, meaning it can receive further orders to wreak havoc.
Microsoft has issued a patch to fix the bug, however if a single machine is infected in a large network, it will spread unchecked -- often reinfecting machines that have been disinfected.
The threat from the virus prompted Microsoft in collaboration with other technology industry names to this week announce a $250,000 reward for information to track down those behind Conficker.

Source: cnn.com

Pirate Bay file-share case starts

The founders of a website which carries links to unauthorised copies of music, films and TV programmes go on trial in Sweden on charges of copyright theft.
The Pirate Bay is the world's most high-profile file-sharing site and is being taken to court by media firms including Sony and Warner Bros.
On Sunday, two of the four defendants said the site was "100% legal".
The men face up to two years in prison and a fine of $143,500, if convicted.
Frederik Neij, Gottfrid Svartholm Warg, Peter Sunde Kolmsioppi and Carl Lundstorm have portrayed themselves as digital libertarians and believe that they cannot be prosecuted for copyright theft because none of the content is hosted on their computer servers.
Instead, The Pirate Bay directs people to "torrent" links, which allow file-sharing program BitTorrent to download and upload files among potentially thousands of users.

Mr Warg, in a webcast on Sunday, said: "What are they going to do about it? They have already failed to take down the site once. Let them fail again.
"It has a life without us."
John Kennedy, chairman of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industries, representing 1,400 member record companies worldwide, said: "The Pirate Bay has hurt creators of many different kinds of works, from music to film, from books to TV programmes. It has been particularly harmful in distributing copyrighted works prior to their official release.
"This damages sales of music at the most important time of their lifecycle."
Mr Kennedy said the four men had "made substantial amounts of money" from the site, "despite their claim to be only interested in spreading culture for free".
On Sunday, Mr Sunde said: It does not matter if they require several million (kronor) or one billion. We are not rich and have no money to pay."

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Lenovo device delivers e-mail via BlackBerrys to turned-off ThinkPads

Business travelers will be able to use their BlackBerry smartphones to automatically forward e-mail to their ThinkPad notebook PCs with a $150 device developed by Lenovo Group Ltd. and Research in Motion Ltd. (RIM), the two companies said Monday.
Called Lenovo Constant Connect, the service has a hardware and a software component that was developed over two years by Lenovo engineers in Beijing, Japan and North Carolina, Rich Cheston, a distinguished engineer and executive director in Lenovo's software and peripherals business unit, said in an interview Friday.
The hardware part is a small ExpressCard device with 512GB of flash RAM and a Bluetooth antenna that pairs up with the user's BlackBerry via Bluetooth to download any new e-mail. That e-mail is stored on the ExpressCard device and replicated to the ThinkPad e-mail client after the user turns the laptop back on.
That way, a traveler rushing between flights or in a taxi can get the latest e-mail without having to stop, turn on the PC and and log-in over a Wi-Fi hotspot, Cheston said.
Lenovo Constant Connect also serves as an alternative to 3G wireless services from Verizon and other companies, and -- for e-mail only -- can be faster and more efficient than instant-on solutions such as Phoenix Hyperspace and Splashtop, which still face problems related to Wi-Fi availability.
While BlackBerries typically cut down large images and other attachments, Lenovo Constant Connect's software will pull the e-mail all the way from the user's corporate Exchange e-mail server, Cheston said, to get full-sized attachments. This is done using AES 128-bit encryption and other security provided by BlackBerry, he said.
For domestic travelers with unlimited BlackBerry data plans, users should not have to pay anything beyond the $150 price of the Lenovo device. However, international travelers may face higher charges, depending on their BlackBerry roaming contract.
The device will be available in the second quarter of the year in the U.S., and worldwide later this year.
It will work with any BlackBerry running Version 4.2 of the BlackBerry OS or later. It will work initially with Microsoft Outlook and POPmail services such as Google Inc.'s Gmail, with Lotus Notes compatibility coming in the second half of the year.
The device draws very little electricity from the ThinkPad, Cheston said. Any ThinkPad in shut-down, sleep or hibernate mode that has more than half an hour of powered-on battery life should have enough juice to power the device, he said.
The device requires unique electronics and software in the ThinkPad, and thus wouldn't work on a Dell laptop, for instance, Cheston said.

Source: computerworld.com

Huawei i-Mo: USB 3G Modem with Wi-Fi

Huawei i-Mo: The smallest and lightest USB-connected modem in the world. The modem has an 802.11b/g Wi-Fi link along with HSPA wireless data network access that can reach 7.2Mbps download speeds and 5.76Mbps upload speeds. Thanks to its Wi-Fi connection, the i-Mo can create a hotspot of its own for other users of Internet-connected mobile [...]

Source: techlocation.com

Nokia 5630 XpressMusic Mid-Range Phone

Nokia 5630 XpressMusic Mid-Range Phone: A 3.2-megapixel camera with flash, Wi-Fi and software N-Gage game support are also supplied with the handset. The 5630’s music emphasis comes through dedicated side controls, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a microSDHC slot that comes with a 4GB card as well as room for up to 16GB. Nokia expects the UK and certain other countries to get a Comes With Music version that offers a year’s worth of unlimited yet permanent music downloads for a higher price.

The company’s media-focused lineup centers around a rare voice recognition system that will play artists, songs and other music content just through speaking its name. Its visual interface also borrows from the N97’s social component by including a new Contacts Bar on the home screen that provides quick access to the recent calls, messages and photos from as many as 20 favorites.

Source: techlocation.com

The Asus Kitchen Computer: Wait for the Second Batch

By Peter Svensson
AsusTek Computer upended the laptop market when it brought out the tiny, cheap Eee PC a year and a half ago. As a follow-up, the plucky Taiwanese company is trying something harder: conquering the kitchen.
Many manufacturers have tried and failed to create a stripped-down computer that's usable in the home's second-least computer-friendly room (we have yet to see a serious attempt at a bathroom computer).
So how did Asus do? Well, its attempt turns out to be more than half-baked. What it calls the "Eee Top" could be a welcome item for those who spend a lot of time in the kitchen and can stomach paying US$600 for a secondary computer.
But Asus has cut some corners to keep the Top's price low, making me believe waiting a little bit to see what comes next will pay off.

Source: technews.com

Panasonic BL-C121A Network Security Camera

Panasonic BL-C121A Network Security Camera: Meant for home or business monitoring, and allow users to see what they see over an Internet-connected PC or cell phone. The BL-C121A only requires a power cable as it has a built-in 802.11b/g Wi-Fi radio and internal antenna. You can capture MPEG-4 video and JPEG images at the same time.

web address is provided for users with camera, which it can visit to remotely view the camera’s video feed. Sound is sent over as well, as the units have a built-in microphone. Other features include a digital input for triggering the operation of the camera, a 1 Lux Color Night View Mode, and a 4, 9 or 16 multi-camera viewing support. The CMOS image sensors in either can record at up to 30fps. It also have a way to transfer images when a motion detector was triggered or based on a timer. Finally, there is full screen monitoring and SSL support for secure browser connections. The BL-C121A also adds a digital output that allows it to trigger alarm systems. The Panasonic BL-C121A is priced at $200.

Source: techlocation.com

Facebook hits 175 million user mark

little more than a month after announcing it had 150 million active users, Facebook has reached 175 million active users--the statistic the social-networking site prefers to use, rather than registered accounts overall.
Dave Morin, who runs Facebook's application platform team, announced the milestone Friday evening on his Twitter/FriendFeed. Facebook reached 150 million just more than two months after reaching 120 million and about four months after reaching 100 million.
While Facebook got its start at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. in 2004, most of this recent growth is coming from outside the U.S.
"This includes people in every continent--even Antarctica," CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a blog post last month. "If Facebook were a country, it would be the eighth most populated in the world, just ahead of Japan, Russia, and Nigeria."
However, as we have pointed out before, server power is expensive, especially overseas. Facebook has raised a ton of venture capital, is reportedly hunting for more, and says it's in good financial shape. That comes back into question, however, if it's growing faster than it ever expected to.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/

Obama's BlackBerry brings personal safety risks

When the mainstream media first announced Barack Obama's "victory" in keeping his BlackBerry, the focus was on the security of the device, and keeping the U.S. president's e-mail communications private from spies and hackers.
The news coverage and analysis by armchair security experts thus far has failed to focus on the real threat: attacks against President Obama's location privacy, and the potential physical security risks that come with someone knowing the president's real-time physical location.

Serial numbersBefore we dive in, let's take a moment to note that each mobile phone has a unique serial number, known as an IMEI, or MEID. This unique number is transmitted in clear text, every time the phone communicates with a nearby cell tower. Thus, while the contents of a phone call or the data session (for e-mail) are usually encrypted, anyone with the right equipment can home in on a particular IMEI and identify the location of the source of that signal.
The most common device used to locate a phone by its IMEI is a "Triggerfish", a piece of equipment that is routinely used by law enforcement and intelligence agencies. This kind of device tricks nearby cell phones into transmitting their serial numbers and other information by impersonating a cell tower.
The devices, which are actually fairly low-tech, were used to hunt down famed hacker Kevin Mitnick back in the 1990s. Most interesting of all, according to Department of Justice documents, Triggerfish can be used to reveal a suspect's location "without the user knowing about it and without involving the cell phone provider."
The expensive brand-name Triggerfish devices, made by the Harris Corp., are sold only to government agencies. However, it is almost certain that foreign governments have similar technology. Furthermore, someone with a low budget could likely use the open-source GNU Radio platform, which can already decipher GSM signals, to roll their own phone sniffer.
Finding ObamaWe know that the president has been given a White House-issued BlackBerry phone. As a result, Obama's smartphone is broadcasting its IMEI serial number for anyone with the right equipment to detect.
Of course, the president is never alone, and so it is likely that anyone sniffing the wireless spectrum near the president would pick up hundreds of different BlackBerrys in the area.
However, Obama's aides do have to go home at some point, whereas Obama sleeps at the White House. This means that over the course of several days or weeks, it should be possible for a patient adversary to determine which IMEI belongs to the president's phone, and which IMEIs are associated with the phones of aides, simply by following the president (at a distance) and monitoring the spectrum at all hours.
As staffers go home for the evening, and Secret Service agents rotate out of duty, an adversary can strike their IMEI numbers off of the list. Within days, that initial list of 100 BlackBerrys can be reduced down to a single IMEI identifying the president's phone
Were someone to learn the president's IMEI, they could use it to gain valuable (and dangerous) information. For example, by pointing an antenna at the White House, it'd be possible to instantly determine if the president was inside. With a sophisticated-enough antenna, it might even be possible to determine which vehicle the president is sitting in while traveling in a motorcade, or to determine if the Secret Service is driving an empty limousine along a high-profile route to draw attention, while the president travels to a venue in an unmarked vehicle. The digital trail left by the president's BlackBerry would soon announce his presence to those keeping an eye out for his IMEI.
I am sure that others could come up with even more nefarious uses for real-time access to the president's physical location. I will leave that task to the blogosphere.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/

ASUS N81Vg 14-inch Notebook

ASUS N81Vg 14-inch Notebook, featuring the new NVIDIA GeForce GT 120M GPU. The device offers a 14-inch LED-backlit display that supports 1080p video playback. Customers can choose from a variety of Intel Core 2 Duo processors, while available hard drive capacities range from 160GB to 500GB. Two DDR2 SO-DIMM slots allow RAM expansion up to 4GB. The DVD Super Multi drive can also be used to play Blu-ray discs.

The NVIDIA GT 120M features 32 cores and CUDA architecture, with 110 gigaflops of processing power and PureVideo HD that handles all of the video decoding process. DirectX 10, CyberLink PowerPirector and motionDSP vReal are all supported, along with a variety of other video or image editing programs. The 100M series is designed to replace most of the 9000M series of mobile GPUs, offering higher speeds while using the same optimizations as the desktop equivalents. Shipping and pricing information for the N81Vg has not yet been announced.

Source: techlocation.com

Apple: iPhone Jailbreak hack violates the law

Hacking an iPhone is against the law, Apple Inc. has argued in comments filed with the U.S. Copyright Office.
According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a freedom-of-speech advocacy organization, this is the first public statement from Apple about its legal position on "jailbreaking," the term used to describe hacking an iPhone to install third-party applications not sold via Apple's own App Store.
In comments submitted to the Copyright Office, Apple said jailbreaking was a violation of copyright laws. "Current jailbreak techniques now in widespread use [utilizes] unauthorized modification to the copyrighted bootloader and OS, resulting in infringement of the copyright in those programs," Apple said. The iPhone's bootloader is a small program stored in the phone's nonvolatile memory that, as its name implies, loads the device's operating system.
Jailbreaking an iPhone breaks the law, Apple said, because the process relies on pirated copies of the bootloader and operating system.
"Infringing reproductions of those works are created each time they are downloaded through Pwnage Tool and loaded onto the iPhone," said Apple, referring to one of the most popular jailbreaking tools. Created by a group calling themselves the "iPhone Dev Team," Pwnage Tool traces its history to September 2007, when the programmers unlocked the first-generation iPhone.
And iPhone hacking leads to even more piracy, Apple argued. "In addition, the jailbroken OS enabled pirated copies of Apple copyrighted content and other third-party content such as games and applications to play on the iPhone, resulting in further infringing uses of copyrighted works and diminished incentive to create those works in the first place."

Source: computerworld.com

Lawsuit targets Microsoft over Vista-to-XP downgrades

A California woman has sued Microsoft Corp. over the $59.25 fee she was charged to "downgrade" Windows Vista on a new laptop to the older Windows XP, federal court documents show.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in a Seattle federal court, is Microsoft's latest legal problem related to Windows Vista, which has faced scrutiny for nearly two years in the better-known "Vista Capable" case.
Los Angeles resident Emma Alvarado charged Microsoft with multiple violations of Washington state's unfair business practices and consumer protection laws over its policy of barring computer makers from continuing to offer XP on new PCs after Vista's early-2007 launch. Alvarado is seeking compensatory damages and wants the case declared a class-action suit.
According to Alvarado, Microsoft coerced computer makers into "agreeing to restrictive and anticompetitive licensing terms" for XP. "Microsoft did so in order to maintain, protect and extend its market power in operating systems software into the next generation of personal computing, to lessen competition, to promote Vista and to enhance its monopoly position," her lawsuit claimed.
Irked at having to pay a fee for downgrading a new Lenovo notebook to XP, Alvarado said that Microsoft had used its position as the dominant operating system maker to "require consumers to purchase computers pre-installed with the Vista operating system and to pay additional sums to 'downgrade' to the Windows XP operating system."
"Downgrade" describes the Windows licensing rights that Microsoft gives users, who are allowed under special circumstances to replace newer versions of Windows with an older edition without having to pay for another license. In effect, the license for the newer Windows is transferred to the older edition.
After Vista's launch, PC makers stopped or significantly curtailed sales of machines with XP, but users -- and eventually resellers as well -- began to take advantage of downgrade rights as Vista's reputation slid. By Microsoft's rules, only buyers of PCs with pre-installed editions of Vista Business and Vista Ultimate could downgrade, and then only to Windows XP Professional.
As more users demanded downgrades, Microsoft allowed computer makers to install XP Professional at the factory. The computer makers charged a variety of fees for the service. Last December, Dell Inc. came under fire for adding $150 to the price of a downgraded PC: Dell said $20 was for the actual downgrade and another $130 to cover the additional cost of replacing the usual Vista Home Premium -- the most popular edition -- with Vista Business or Vista Ultimate.
Microsoft has extended XP availability several times. In October 2008, for instance, it added six months to the time when it makes XP media available to large computer makers.

Source: computerworld.com

Sony Ericsson W395 Slider Walkman Music Phone

Sony Ericsson W395 Lower Mid-Range Walkman Music Phone with relatively bass-heavy stereo speakers, a 2-megapixel camera, FM radio and a 1GB Memory Stick Micro card for pre-supplied storage. Its minimal focus comes through a limitation to GSM and EDGE data, albeit including the 850MHz band. The phone will come in gray and titanium colors and is due before the end of March.

Source: http://www.techlocation.com/mobile/sony-ericsson-w395-slider-walkman-music-phone/

Cisco Pitches $250,000 Router as Valentine’s Gift

By Ashlee Vance
In my experience, a discussion about large back-haul capacity stands as a surefire way to kill a romantic mood. And yet here’s Cisco Systems arguing that such talk will win over your loved one on Valentine’s Day.
The networking company has put up a comic Internet ad, championing the ASR 9000 router that it started selling last November. This is some serious metal with an average price around $250,000 and meant for large service providers sending out vast streams of data.
It’s tough to add mainstream appeal to a router usually tucked away in the dark realms of data centers, but Cisco has made a noble effort. Apparently, the router is the fourth way to show your love for someone after buying diamonds, purchasing a tropical vacation and carving your initials in a tree.
“Because nothing says ‘forever’ like up to 6.4 terabits per second,” says the Cisco voiceover in the ad.
The commercial fits into an extended online campaign Cisco ran around the product, which includes appearances from chief executive John Chambers in a couple of skits.

Next-Gen iPhone Photos Leaked? Judge for Yourself

Photos of what appears to be the back casing of an updated Apple iPhone have surfaced. From what can be deciphered from the photo, this alleged new model iPhone may come in black, might be contoured and textured to give you a better grip, and apparently has a matte finish. The supposed first shot of this new iPhone model (shown below) features just the bottom of the back casing and comes via the Apple sleuths at iPod Observer. The site claims it obtained images from an anonymous source in China. Not long after iPod Observer posted its image, the site MacRumors came out with a few more that fit with iPod Observer's "leak."

Source: pcworld.com

Many Brits Too Scared to Shop Online

Over 40 percent of Brits refuse to shop online because they are concerned about security, says CyberSource.
Research by the company revealed that over a third of those surveyed know someone that has been a victim of online fraud. In response to this a number of web users that do shop online said they take steps to protect themselves against ID theft.
Nearly 70 percent said they had signed up to secure credit card services such as MasterCard SecureCode or Verified by Visa that issue a password that must be input along with card details to make a purchase. Eighty-six percent of online shoppers also said they look for the secure padlock icon on a website before proceeding with a purchase.
"With the abundance of media coverage about security breaches, it is not surprising that some shoppers are frightened off," said Simon Stokes, managing director of CyberSource.
"The challenge to the industry is educating consumers to shop safely, to minimise their exposure to fraud. As more people gain access to the internet and realise the convenience, value, and safety of shopping online, I believe we'll see a higher percentage trying and staying with this form of purchase."

Source: pcworld.com

Laptop Has Rich Features and Price to Match

A recession leads some to live more modestly. Of course, the economical approach isn’t adopted by all.

Take the new ThinkPad W700ds notebook from Lenovo. It comes with a 17-inch primary screen (1920-by-1200-pixel WUXGA resolution) and a second 10.6-inch retractable screen that can tilt up to 30 degrees.
The laptop’s options include an integrated color calibrator that adjusts the screen’s color, a built-in Wacom digitizer tablet, dual integrated hard drives, up to 960 gigabytes of total storage, a Blu-ray player, a seven-in-one multimedia reader and five U.S.B. ports.
The 700ds also features Wi-Fi as well as optional WiMax, dual fans for the central processing unit and the graphics processor, and an optional fingerprint reader.
The 11-pound ThinkPad W700ds is available now starting at $3,663. The company says it is aimed at oil and gas explorers, photographers, designers and other PC users who require high performance, but Lamborghini, Hummer and Harley-Davidson owners might also appreciate it.

Source: nytimes.com

Microsoft to issue four security patches on Patch Tuesday

Microsoft Corp., a multinational computer technology corporation, will be releasing four security updates which include the two which are critically affecting Windows, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Exchange Server on next Tuesday.
These critical updates affect Windows Internet Explorer 7, Windows XP Professional Edition, Windows Vista, Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server, Exchange Server 2003 and Exchange Server 2007.
Also Microsoft will release an updated version of the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool on Windows Update, Microsoft Update, Windows Server Update Services, and the Download Center" next week.
Overall, Microsoft will issue four security updates, including two critical fixes as well as patches for Microsoft SQL Server and its Microsoft Office Visio. Hackers can exploit bugs in these products but the company takes it as less severe.
Now it is likely that the company will finally patch the SQL issue which is acknowledged late last year.

Source: http://itvoir.com

Google Makes iPhone the New eBook Reader: Watch Out Kindle

Waiting for the new Amazon Kindle e-book reader is no fun. But if you already have an iPhone or a T-Mobile G1 in your pocket, over 1.5 million books are now at your fingertips. The Google Book Search project, ever controversial since its launch, launched yesterday mobile editions of its entire book collection.

Google used Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to transform the scanned book pages into screen friendly text for iPhones and T-Mobile G1s. To access Google Mobile Book Search, just point your mobile phone browser to http://books.google.com/m.

Source: pcworld.com

Intel confirms eight-core server chip is Nehalem EX

February 5, 2009 (IDG News Service) Intel confirmed that the eight-core, 2.3 billion transistor processor it plans to detail next week is the Nehalem EX chip, but the company declined to offer details of the chip ahead of the upcoming International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) in San Francisco.
"We can't present all the details today that will be presented at the conference next Monday," said Mark Bohr, a senior fellow at Intel, during a conference call with reporters.
Designed for servers with multiple processors, the Nehalem EX will sit at the top of Intel's Xeon processor range. The chip will likely take the spot in the product lineup that's currently held by the six-core, 2.4-GHz Xeon 7450, the 2.13-GHz Xeon 7455 and the 2.66-GHz Xeon 7460 processors, which were released late last year and are currently the most powerful Xeon processors. These chips, formerly called Dunnington, will also be the subject of a paper that Intel executives will present at the ISSCC.
While Intel won't discuss many details of the Nehalem EX chip, a few specifications have already been disclosed. The chip is a variant of Intel's Nehalem processor family and will be manufactured using a 45-nanometer process. Like other members of the Nehalem family, the Nehalem EX has support for faster DDR3 memory and includes an on-chip memory controller.
The Nehalem EX will also use Intel's QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) technology instead of a front-side bus to connect the processors with each other and other system components. Compared with the front-side bus, QPI allows more data to be moved faster and should greatly speed up system performance.
Intel also isn't disclosing a release date for Nehalem EX, but it's probable that the chip will be released during the second half of this year. In recent years, the company has refreshed its high-end Xeon late in the third quarter.

Source: computerworld.com