Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac has just been released today as an upgrade for current users, and available to the general public for purchase on Tuesday (9/4).
New and enhanced features of Parallels Desktop 8 make life even better for Mac lovers. Bringing together the newest versions of the world’s two most popular operating systems – OS X and Windows – opens up a world of opportunity by allowing users to choose how they want Mac and Windows to collaborate. Here is a quick breakdown of how Parallels Desktop 8 integrates the cutting edge features within Mountain Lion and Windows 8:
www.tech-sanity.com The Note 2 has a 5.5 inch HD SuperAMOLED 16:9 display at 1280x720, a 1.6GHz Exynos quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 16, 32 or 64GB of storage. Powering the whole show is a pretty sizeable 3100mAh battery, and we also get NFC and Samsung's latest Touchwix Nature UX based on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. At only 9.4mm thick and weighing in at 180g the Note 2 doesn't feel as large in the hand as its massive screen would possibly lead you to believe. The overall design of the Note 2 lends very much from the smaller Galaxy S 3, which in turn sets it apart from the 2011 Galaxy Note.
The Note 2 will be available in a choice of two colors, Marble White and Titanium Grey, and is pegged for a Q4 2012 launch date. There is also support for 4G LTE as well as 3G/HSPA+. It feels pretty good in the hand, but lets not forget that this is a big phone. A really big phone. As with the original, you aren't likely to be one handing the Note 2 all that often. The key component once again is the inclusion of the S-Pen. For the Note 2, the S-Pen has been redesigned a little. It's now taller and thicker, has a textured button on the side and a rubber tip on the end now which creates a subtly different interaction with the screen from its predecessor.
The tagline for the Note 2 is "Be Creative," and as such there is a big push towards creation and productivity software with the Note 2. The first generation of S-Pen apps such as S-Planner and S-Note are still present, but have been tweaked and given some additional features. The S-Planner application now has Facebook integration, providing the ability to manage Facebook events within the S-Planner app itself. A really interesting feature in the Note 2, is what Samsung is calling Air View. In its simplest form, Air View allows you to interact with the Note 2, without the S-Pen having to actually touch the display. In the gallery for example, hovering over folders will preview the content within without having to open the folder. When watching a video, the pen can be held over the video timeline and will show a preview frame from that particular point. Email contents and attachments can also be viewed in the same way.
Toshiba might finally have something here. The Satellite U925t is its new 12.5-inch Windows 8 hybrid laptop/tablet, and it looks deceptively good. The U925t has the same design as the weird but endearing U845W ultrabook, though it's not a super-wide 21:9 ratio. It's a standard 1366x768 resolution, which is disappointing with 1080p screens flying around on these Windows 8 machines, but decent enough. To get the U925t from tablet to laptop mode, you slide the screen back, then up. The sliding mechanism can stop after an inch or so and be used as a camera—extraneous, but nice to have—and then extends all the way and is folded up into laptop mode. It's different than holding a traditional laptop, but after sitting with it for a few minutes, it's definitely usable. It's not going to topple over in your lap like you might fear.
The U925t has a Core i5 Ivy Bridge processor, a 128GB SSD, two USB 3.0 ports, an SD card slot, HDMI out, and NFC on its front panel. It also has pretty much the same trackpad as the U845W, though it's a little smaller. That's a good thing! The U845W's trackpad was really good, and this one responds well too. The size is a concern, but you'll take usable over spacious every time. The keyboard too, which is a big concern on these sliding convertibles, is pretty good. Not amazing, and the All of that sounds like standard stuff compared to everything getting announced right now. And it is, mostly. But that's only because everything is so similar, and what sets anything apart right now is stuff like how responsive the auto-turning gyroscope is, and how good the build quality is. How much sense all the separate features make as a whole machine. The U925t just seems like it has its crap together. Nothing feels thrown-together. And in that, it's way ahead of a lot of the hybrids coming out for Windows 8.
www.tech-sanity.com Sony's got a new transformer tablet/laptop hybrid, the Vaio Duo 11, which is a sliding converter with a stylus. It looks pretty darn good. The Duo 11 has an 11.6-inch "full HD" touchscreen (16:9, 1080p), and will have current-gen Intel Core Ivy Bridge processors. The screen in particular, just judging by specs, should be pretty great. The 1080p panel on Vaio Z computers is really good, for reference. The new iPad runs at 2048x1536 resolution, but this should blow the doors off of most current ultrabook displays, which are generally 1366x768 or 1440x900. The Duo will be configurable to 4 or 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB or 256GB SSD.
It is 17.85mm thick with its keyboard. That's about twice the 9.4mm of an iPad and the Surface, which is 9.3mm, and about the same thickness of an ultrabook like the MacBook Air 11 (at its thickest point), which is 14mm thick. It weighs 1.7kg. The Duo's keyboard isn't a detachable accessory, like Microsoft's Surface tablet. Instead, it's revealed by a sliding mechanism from behind the screen. The small dimensions of the keyboard should give a moment's pause, since Vaio laptops have had some pretty questionable keyboards, especially the super-slim Vaio Z, but hopefully Sony's figured things out with the Duo. We'll know more once we play with it. Design-wise, it looks really good, but we'll have to see it up close before we can speak to build quality. Sony will also apparently focus on handwriting, with dedicated software to recognize the stylus, which will have swappable pen tips to change up how it feels on the surface. There is also the Vaio Tap 20 that converts from a 20-inch desktop computer to a lay-flat slate. Here are the relevant specs for that: It's got a 20-inch 1600x900 screen with 10-point capacitive multitouch. It can be configured with an i3, i5, or i7 Ivy Bridge processor, from 750GB to 1TB 5400rpm HDD, and 4GB or 8GB of RAM. We don't have any word on pricing, but will let you know when we do.
www.tech-sanity.com Sony has been releasing new, tweaked versions of its NEX cameras every year to impressive results. Today we got our first look at its latest, the Sony NEX-5R—the follow-up to last year's NEX-5N, which is one beast of a mirrorless camera. The new shooter introduces a new "Fast Hybrid" autofocus system, WI-Fi connectivity and a new programmable dial and multi-function button. The new sensor-based 99-point autofocus system uses both contract and phase detection and contrast detection to zero in on a subject in a snap. Phase AF quickly zeros in on a subject and then contrast AF makes a fine adjustment. The camera follows the slews of other new shooters out there with Wi-Fi connectivity. You'll be able to transfer photos directly to your smartphone or tablet using Sony's PlayMemories Mobile app available for both iOS and Android. You'll also be able to push your photos to your DLNA connected TV or your computer. Sony is also introducing PlayMemories Camera Apps, which are new functions that you'll be able to download and install onto your camera. From the sound of names like "Picture Effect+" "Bracket Pro" the apps will fall somewhere between your favorite smartphone camera app and the gimmicky functions that come pre-installed on all cameras these days. The new programmable inputs add to the camera's flexibility—that makes the cameras more like the button-packed DSLRs that mirrorless cameras aim to replace. Otherwise, the specs of the NEX-5R are identical to those of last year's NEX-5N: a 16-megapixel, APS-C sensor, and HD video recording at up to 1920 x 1080 at 60 fps. And of course, a lovely touchscreen that makes navigating menues and changing settings a piece of cake. The NEX-5R will be available in October for $750 with an 18-55mm kit zoom lens. The body alone will cost $650. [Sony and Sony]
www.tech-sanity.com Sony's latest flagship Android Smartphone is the Xperia T: a 4.6-inch, 1280x720 Bravia-powered smartphone equipped with not only a 13-megapixel camera, but also an NFC receiver for quickly connecting the phone to accessories and services at home and away. The flagship Xperia T is the latest phone to be added to Sony's roster since its split with Ericsson last year. The phone comes installed with a skinned version Ice Cream Sandwich and also has a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor (likely the Snapdragon S4), and a gig of RAM. This wouldn't quite put it in the same league as a phone like the Samsung Galaxy S3—especially considering the lack of LTE—but it's not shabby either. [Sony]
www.tech-sanity.com Samsung's new ATIV Tab, a Windows RT-packing cousin of the Galaxy Note 10.1has been announced. The new 10.1-inch slate isn't quite as aggressive as its Android counterpart and centers on a 1,366 x 768 display, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a 5MP rear camera paired with a 1.9MP front-facing cam, and ports for micro-HDMI as well as USB. Dimensionally, the tablet is as light and skinny as you'd hope: it weighs 20.1 ounces (570g) and measures a slim 8.9mm thick. The 32GB and 64GB storage options aren't shockers given the extra space Windows and the bundled copy of Office 2013 Home and Student 2013 will demand, but there's a treat for long-haul users in the battery -- it's been upgraded from the 7,000maH pack of the Note 10.1 to an ample 8,200mAh unit. Samsung hasn't handed out launch details, but it's safe to say that the ATIV Tab won't arrive any sooner than October 26th.
In a shockingly quick return of the juries verdict Samsung has been found "wilfully" copying Apple products and design. The fact that the jury came back extremely quickly says a lot. They obviously needed very little in the way of discussion and considered this very clear cut. 93 Comments Awarding Apple $1,051,855,000 in damages. Samsung, on the other hand, was granted a total of $0 in damages. Here’s a quick rundown of how the jury came down on both of the companies. Remember, there are plenty of devices at play here — on Samsung’s side alone, there’s the Captivate, Continuum, Droid Charge, Epic 4G, Fascinate, Galaxy Ace, Galaxy Prevail, Galaxy S, Exhibit, Infuse 4G, Mesmerize, Nexus S 4G, Gem, Galaxy Tab, Galaxy Tab 10.1, Replenish, Vibrant, plus every carrier’s version of the Galaxy S II. • The jury found no infringement by Apple on any of Samsung’s utility patents. • The jury found that Samsung infringed on patents for ’381 “bounce back” scrolling functionality on all devices. • On the ’915 patent, relating to one finger to scroll, two to pinch and zoom navigation, all but three Samsung devices (Ace, Intercept and Replenish) infringed. • For Apple’s ’163 patent (tap to zoom) all Samsung devices except Captivate, Indulge, Intercept, Nexus S 4G, Transform and Vibrant infringed. The jury then answered a question about inducement, regarding whether Samsung made its U.S. arms infringe: yes for the ’381 “bounce back” patent on all devices, yes for ’915 “one finger scrolling” for all devices except Replenish and yes for ’163 “tap to zoom” for all except Captivate, Continuum, Gem, Indulge, Nexus S 4G. One of the biggest questions answered by the jury was if Samsung was willful in its infringement, which is where the major damages came into play. The largest damages came from the prepaid Galaxy Prevail (over $57 million). The dense trial involved more than a dozen different patents, over 30 allegedly infringing devices and wide-ranging claims on design ownership; both sides argued their cases and defended themselves concurrently, all while enraging federal judge Lucy Koh. Apple began with a full-fledged assault, hurling numerous trademark claims, design and technical patent claims and more; after judge Koh ordered Apple to pare it down, the company has focused on a few key patents, the simplicity of its design and working to prove a pattern of copying by Samsung. Apple’s total monetary demand was $2.525 billion. Meanwhile, Samsung claimed that Apple’s iPhone and iPad were infringement and demanded $14.40 per device sold. The verdict came in shockingly quickly, as the jury was only in deliberation for three days. The jury worked one hour late yesterday and reached a decision at 2:35 PT today. Over 700 individual decisions had to be made by members of the jury, which does not come from particularly technical backgrounds, on their complex worksheets. It has been expected since the beginning of this trial that both companies would file appeals regardless of the verdict, so it would be shortsighted to assume that this is the end. That said, unless something happens as attorneys from both companies review the document, Apple is going to walk out of this courtroom much happier than Samsung is.
Samsung, Nokia, Microsoft, Google's Motorola and Amazon have announced plans to launch new products and not surprisingly, just few days before Apple's rumored media event on September 12.So here's what Apple's competitors are likely to announce to try and steal some spotlight from Apple's event. Samsung: Samsung has scheduled an event on August 29, where it is widely expected to launch the Samsung Galaxy Note II, which may come with a slightly larger display (5.5-inch from 5.3-inch).
Nokia and Microsoft: Nokia and Microsoft have announced a media event on September 5 in New York. It is speculated that Nokia will unveil next generation Lumia smartphones running Windows Phone 8.
Google's Motorola: Google-owned Motorola has announced a media event on September 5 in New York. Motorola is widely expected to launch to launch Driod Razr HD with is rumored to come with a bigger battery, 8-megapixel camera, and NFC functionality.
Amazon: Yesterday, Amazon has announced that it will hold a press conference on September 6. It looks like Amazon is gearing up to launch the next generation Kindle Fire and possibly even the rumored Kindle smartphone.
Apple: It's not official, but Apple is widely expected to unveil the hotly next generation iPhone on September 12, followed by the release on September 21. There's also a slim chance that Apple will launch iPad mini, the next generation iPod touch and iPod Nano at the event. But as John Gruber of Daring Fireball has pointed out yesterday, Apple might have separate music event in October to launch the other products.
Do you think Amazon, Nokia, Samsung and Motorola will be able to steal the hype from the 'iPhone 5' launch?
Apple has released Mac OS X 10.8.1, a maintenance update for Mountain Lion. The upgrade -- a 24.2MB download -- is available via the Software Update component of Mac OS X's Systems Preferences app. According to Apple, OS X 10.8.1 includes general operating system fixes that improve the stability and compatibility of your Mac, including fixes that:
° Resolve an issue that may cause Migration Assistant to unexpectedly quit; ° Improve compatibility when connecting to a Microsoft Exchange server in Mail; ° Address an issue playing audio through a Thunderbolt display; ° Resolve an issue that could prevent iMessages from being sent; ° Address an issue that could cause the system to become unresponsive when using Pinyin input; ° Resolve an issue when connecting to SMB servers with long names; ° Address a issue that may prevent Safari from launching when using a Proxy Automatic Configuration (PAC) file; ° Improve 802.1X authentication with Active Directory credentials.
VMware -- which specialises in virtualization and cloud infrastructure -- has announced VMware Fusion 5, which boasts over 70 new features for a "Windows on Mac" experience. In addition, VMware is introducing VMware Fusion 5 Professional with new capabilities designed to improve the way businesses and IT deliver applications to users on Macs and PCs. "While the number of users adopting Macs continue to rise, the business environment is still dominated by Windows," says Jason Joel, director, personal products, VMware. "VMware Fusion 5 and Fusion 5 Professional build upon our award-winning platform, adding new capabilities that are in demand among both individual and professional users
Leveraging our experience with consumer and enterprise end-users, we believe this new version of the product is the best solution on the market for users who want to run Windows on Mac simultaneously." The VMware Fusion 5 product family offers a way to run Windows on a Mac for individual or business use. VMware Fusion 5 has been revamped to take advantage of new technologies only available in Mountain Lion, Windows 8 and the latest Macs.
Well here it is. Thrills for Noddy. It only took 25 years for them to come up with this! and no doubt, a few Bazillion dollars.
Yes Microsoft has just unveiled a new look and feel to its corporate logo. Following 25 years from its former iteration, this is the first major Microsoft logo change in the company's history. The new logo includes a multi colored symbol that's typically found on the company's Windows products — the first time the wordmark has been accompanied by an image. Speaking to The Seattle Times, Microsoft's Jeff Hansen reveals that the new logo is designed to "signal the heritage but also signal the future — a newness and freshness." Microsoft is preparing to launch a range of products this holiday season, including its Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 operating systems and a new Surface tablet. The software giant's new logo reflects a change in the company's branding that has been triggered by the new look Windows 8 interface and branding. Microsoft's Office team has also adopted a similar interface and style, and Windows Phone 8 completes the trio of products for Microsoft's major rebrand this fall.
The New Zealand high court has ruled that the the United States must hand over all evidence in its case against Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom before any extradition can take place. The decision shut down the US Department of Justice's appeal of a lower New Zealand's court decision earlier in the year blocking the extradition pending case information. New Zealand Justice Helen Winkelmann ruled that without a review of the evidence against him, Dotcom would be "significantly constrained" defending himself, while giving the US Department of Justice a large advantage prosecuting him.
Megaupload's lawyer Ira Rothken told Wired that "our expectation is that that the United States through the Crown lawyers will appeal the judgment and further delay the extradition hearing." The hearing is currently scheduled for March 25, 2013.
Dotcom was arrested at his Auckland, New Zealand mansion after the US orchestrated a raid based on criminal copyright violations and racketeering of the file storage locker that allegedly netted Dotcom and his cohorts $175 million. The legality of the evidence seized was questioned in court, when a judge ruled that the warrants didn't describe the offenses alleged and were illegal.
The raid and evidence search that started the shutdown of Megaupload took place on January 19, effectively closing Megaupload permanently. Dotcom and company co-founders were arrested on January 20, after a raid at a Carpathia server farm in Dulles, VA.
Megaupload lawyers have filed a motion to dismiss all US government charges for violating due process rights in not properly serving the international company outside of US jurisdiction. The FBI and Department of Justice are seeking Dotcom's extradition to face criminal conspiracy and copyright violation charges in the United States, but the federal judge assigned to the case suspects that the trial in the US may not happen for a variety of procedural reasons.
Android users who like to "steal" apps rather than pay the developer for their hard work are going to find it a bit harder in the future. The Department of Justice is targeting pirate Android apps sites. With the help of Dutch and French law enforcement, the FBI has now seized three popular Android app sharing sites (Appbucket, Snappzmarket and Applanet) that offered illegal downloads. As noted in their press release, they will continue to seize such sites as part of their cracking down on the piracy of copyrighted works : “Cracking down on piracy of copyrighted works – including popular apps – is a top priority of the Criminal Division,” said Assistant Attorney General Breuer. “Software apps have become an increasingly essential part of our nation’s economy and creative culture, and the Criminal Division is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect the creators of these apps and other forms of intellectual property from those who seek to steal it.”
“Criminal copyright laws apply to apps for cell phones and tablets, just as they do to other software, music and writings. These laws protect and encourage the hard work and ingenuity of software developers entering this growing and important part of our economy. We will continue to seize and shut down websites that market pirated apps, and to pursue those responsible for criminal charges if appropriate,” said U.S. Attorney Yates. I won't go into a rant about piracy on Android but it's there and people know it. Now, with The Department of Justice stepping in and closing some of the more prominent sites down hopefully this will convince others to start paying for the apps they really want. Besides, there is other reasons to not pirate apps aside from the money you'll be spending.
The New Behringer X32 has really impressed us on a lot of levels. Heres a quick review.
Build
First up, the build quality is something that Behringer’s low cost production has been criticised for, so how is the X32?
First impressions are good, it's not a lightweight thing, easily liftable by one, but not something I’d want to carry all that far, it has a heft that bodes well. There are 25 physical faders …
Dash: Upcoming Jailbreak Tweak Aims To Replace iOS App Switcher Posted by iPhoneHacks on Aug 20, 2012 | 0 Comments SBCoders - developers of popular jailbreak tweaks such as Deck - that adds a hot bar to iPhone's Springboard, are planning to a release a new jailbreak tweak called Dash. Dash is a replacement for the iOS app switcher with some additional features such as the ability to close running apps.
The Dash app switcher will offer the following features: ▪ Native iOS look and feel ▪ Easily switch between your running apps ▪ You can choose from five different animations styles such as scroll, coverFlow, rotary, wheel, cylinder, time machine etc. ▪ Swipe up to close running apps You can access Dash using an Activator action. The jailbreak tweak will be compatible with the iPhone and iPad.
Dash offers a much better app switcher interface thanks to the full-screen view of the apps and more importantly it doesn't look out of place like some of the other app switchers tweaks like Imperium. The jailbreak tweak doesn't seem to offer quick access to the music controls available in the iOS app switcher, but we hear that the music controls will be available in the final version of the tweak. SBCoders may release Dash for $1.99 on Cydia. There is no release date yet, but it could be released before the end of the August. We'll let you know as soon as released.
If your a serious gigging musician who wants the power and flexibility of a Computer creating complex sounds on stage but know it kills the heck out of your CPU and a computer is really not the best design for road warriors, then check out Muse Researches new Receptor models. They have been taking software synths like Komplete for years now and marrying them to a computer thats not a computer! Yes its got it's own purpose built OS that only runs musical software synths and strips all the unnecessary complexities, drain and instability of a standard PC out of the equation. So it's a dedicated hardware device that comes with or can have loaded into it your favourite soft synths.
Well Muse Research and Development, Inc. has upped the gain recently and just announced there are now three configurations of their new RECEPTOR VIP dedicated hardware plug-in player. This new software-powered music instrument combines the ease of use and stability of dedicated hardware with the flexibility and sonic power of software-based computer technology, delivered in a compact and affordable package. Perfect for the gigging musician who wants superior sounds and effects in a road-proven package, the base model RECEPTOR VIP comes bundled with over $900 of software on its 1TB hard drive and has a MAP price of $1599. The new RECEPTOR VIP SSD comes with a 256GB Solid State Drive for supreme performance, and has a MAP price of $1999. Also available is….
After five years of research, students at the University of Middle Tennessee have installed a full plug-in hybrid kit in a stock 1994 Honda Accord. The setup gives between 50 and 100 percent better gas mileage with two electric motors delivering power directly to the rear wheels, leaving the engine-powered front wheels to work with little effort. The price of all the parts comes to about $3,000 and can be applied to almost any car. Energy for the motors comes from a lithium ion phosphate battery that sits in the trunk. The battery in the research vehicle is big and ugly so it can easily transmit data, but the production version will be about “the size of a carry-on bag,” said head researcher Professor Charles Perry. The twin three-phase DC brushless motors sit in the empty interior around the rear brakes. They power the wheels directly, rather than going through the drive shaft like other hybrids. Each motor produces 200 pound-feet of torque. The setup has four patents pending, all of which will be owned by the university to fund future research. Perry said, “The whole point was to demonstrate the feasibility of adding the electrical motor to the rear wheel of the car without changing the brakes, bearings, suspension — anything mechanical.” Perry says that the design is aimed at “around town” drivers, as range is limited to about 35 miles per charge, and once the car hits 40-plus mph, the system cuts off. Perry is speaking with potential investors to solicit funds to build and demonstrate a production version of their design. Of the next steps, Perry said, “We need quite a bit of money to have proof of product. What we’ve achieved is a demonstrated technology, not a proven technology. Investors want to see proven field-tested performance and reliability. We have to pass through this transition, from feasibility to true, viable product.”
www.tech-sanity.com Oracle announced on Tuesday that it will start offering direct downloads and auto-updates to Java on OS X beginning with the release of Java Standard Edition 7 Update 6. Users can download the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) directly from Oracle's java.com website "soon," according to Oracle, and will receive auto-updates at the same time as Windows, Linux, and Solaris platforms. The update also fully integrates the JavaFX 2.2 libraries, designed to make the development and deployment of desktop applications easier and faster, and adds OS X support for a new JavaFX user interface development tool. Oracle is also expanding its support for Linux as well. Java SE 7 Update 6 adds support for Linux on ARM, "to address 'general purpose”' ARM systems, such as those used for the emerging micro-server ARM market, and for development platforms such as Raspberry Pi." JavaFX 2.2 also fully supports Linux on x86 and x64 platforms. The latest release of Java SE 7 now makes OS X a fully supported platform. That includes the JRE, which end users install to run Java-based applications; the JDK, which developers use to develop Java applications; and the JavaFX "rich client platform," used to develop GUI desktop applications. Oracle is also releasing an OS X version of its new JavaFX Scene Builder, which allows developers to build user interfaces using drag-and-drop components (similar to Xcode or Visual Studio). Apple's continuing inability to stay on top of updating Java resulted in the most widely exploited vulnerability in OS X to date: a quick-spreading trojan known as Flashback. The malware infected over half a million un-patched Macs at its pinnacle, though Apple quickly released patches and a removal tool after news of Flashback became public. Apple has since effectively ceded responsibility for Java to Oracle, which had begun taking over support of Java on OS X with the release of Java SE 7 Update 4 in April. Apple has still distributed its own updates to Java, releasing critical security patches in concert with Oracle, though it appears end users will be getting updates from Oracle from now on. "Oracle continues to expand our support for the Java platform, and now, for the first time, consumers and developers have access to the latest Java SE features and security updates across all major operating systems: Windows, Linux, Solaris, and Mac OS X," Hasan Rizvi, senior vice president of Oracle Fusion Middleware and Java Products, said in a statement. "We're also focused on improving the client Java experience with the release of JavaFX Scene Builder and bundling JavaFX with Java SE to provide better performance and improved usability for JavaFX applications, without having to install and maintain a separate product."
www.tech-sanity.com Microsoft may face a few uncomfortable questions at Build this fall. A bug in digital signatures resulting from the Windows Phone Dev Center rollout is preventing a "small percentage" of apps in the Windows Phone Store, including not-so-insignificant titles like WhatsApp and Microsoft's own Translator, from installing on older phones that had to upgrade to Windows Phone 7.5 after the fact. While the company already has a fix in the works, it's performing some painful triage to keep the damage from spreading: it's putting the brakes on publishing any new apps until certificate signing is back under control. Microsoft doesn't yet know when it can open the taps once more, either. The momentary freeze won't stop downloads of already-published apps, but it's likely to leave a few customers jittery about resetting their phones -- and developers twiddling their thumbs.
Microsoft has been planning to redesign its SkyDrive web interface this summer, and now the company has officially taken the wraps off a refined SkyDrive.com. Additionally, Microsoft also announced more efficient Windows and OS X SkyDrive integration as well as a new Android app that'll be available within the next few weeks. As we saw late last month, SkyDrive.com now supports a new tile-based interface that visually matches the visual style Microsoft has been pushing since Windows Phone 7. There are also new "instant search" features that appear to function more like desktop-bases searches with results dynamically updating; other features include a contextual toolbar that holds the most commonly used actions, multiple select and drag and drop, and improved sorting options. As for syncing with the Windows Desktop and OS X, efficiency has been improved in a few key areas based on user feedback: photo upload speeds have been improved, and the "looking for changes" state (when SkyDrive analyzes your files to see what needs to be synced) is also quite a bit faster than before. Microsoft says that users milage may vary, so unfortunately you can't assume you'll see any major improvements. The new apps should be rolling out this week. Lastly, Microsoft announced that an Android SkyDrive app would be launching sometime in the next few weeks. There weren't a ton of details on the app itself, though Microsoft noted that it'll be "similar" to the existing Windows Phone and iOS options. Specifically, users will be able to browse, upload and share files, open SkyDrive files from other apps, and upload and save files from other apps to SkyDrive. Microsoft's service certainly has a lot of competition, but these new updates sound like they'll make it a more competitive offering.
www.tech-sanity.com Facebook's app programme has been accused by the FTC of being 'deceptive' Facebook has been accused of deceiving developers after it emerged that the social networking site did nothing to verify the security of applications it was paid tens of thousands of dollars to review, and which it assured users had been checked. It is believed Facebook was paid up to $95,000 (£60,600) by developers whose applications were entered into its verified apps scheme. The system gave a green tick of approval to apps that passed what Facebook described as its "test for trustworthy user experiences". An investigation by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) revealed that Facebook took no steps to review the applications in its now-closed scheme. Facebook awarded the verified badge to 254 applications, according to the FTC. Developers paid Facebook $375, or $175 for a student or non-profit organisation, to be given the green tick. Verified apps were given other benefits including prominence in its search results and a higher ranking on the directory of apps. Facebook had said it would subject the apps to a "detailed review process", and then give the verified badge to apps that the social network decided were "secure, respectful and transparent". However, the FTC described the programme as "deceptive" in a 19-page list of wider privacy charges against Facebook. "Contrary to the statements set forth in paragraph 46, before it awarded the Verified Apps badge, Facebook took no steps to verify either the security of a verified application's website or the security the application provided for the user information it collected, beyond such steps as it may have taken regarding any other Platform Application," the FTC said. Consumers could also have been deceived by the "verified" tickmarks, the FTC suggested, as the site said that the programme "is designed to offer extra assurances to help users identify applications they can trust… that are secure, respectful and transparent, and have demonstrated commitment to compliance with platform policies". But instead, Facebook "took no steps to verify either the security of a verified application's website or the security the application provided for the user information it collected, beyond such steps as it may have taken regarding any other platform application," the FTC said. Facebook accepted a settlement with the FTC on Friday. Under its terms Facebook must allow an independent watchdog to make regular privacy inspections for the next 20 years. It came just a day after Google was fined a record $22.5m (£14.4m) by the FTC for circumventing privacy protections on Apple's Safari web browser. Facebook closed the verified apps program after just six months in December 2009, saying that it would extend "the idea of verification to apply to all of the applications on the Facebook platform". Facebook agreed to undergo privacy vetting for 20 years.
Scam: Cheap iPads advertised and used to lure buyers who are then robbed., sometimes at gun point. The latest scam comes from Uniontown, Fayette County and WTAE has the full story. Police said two people who tried to buy iPads listed for sale on Craigslist were robbed in Uniontown, Fayette County. In each case, an iPad was being offered at a low price, and the interested buyers were lured for an in-person meeting. "However, when they arrived in Uniontown, they were instead met by armed men who, at that point, robbed them," Police Chief Jason Cox said. The incidents happened on Dunlap and Hickle streets. Police told Channel 4 Action News investigator Paul Van Osdol that each victim was robbed of several hundred dollars. One was forced at gunpoint to withdraw money from an ATM. "The victims were pretty shaken up, and it was very clear they were totally unaware of what they were walking into," Cox said. These types of scams appear to be happening all over the U.S. and all over the world too; we have heard reports of similar types of scams, not that long ago in the UK. That particular scam involved iPhone and iPads in sealed boxes which when opened were filled with water bottles or potatoes. Deals like these are always a tempting way to grab yourself an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch at a knock down price but you must use a bit of common sense; if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is too good to be true so stay well away. If you can’t pass up on a deal, make sure you at least arrange to meet any potential sellers in a very public place, not in a car lot, late at night.
Google launched a new feature to help users who have multiple Google accounts called "Account chooser." First noticed by The Next Web on the Gmail login interface, the new feature displays a list of multiple accounts instead of just one — which significantly reduces the number of clicks required to switch accounts. To manage the new feature, you can go to https://accounts.google.com/AccountChooser to add new accounts to your list or remove them. Oddly, you must be signed out of at least one of your Google accounts to surface the "Edit" button that allows you to remove accounts from your list. Google has previously done some work this year to make managing multiple accounts easierand this solution makes it better still. However, even with the new Account chooser you'll still be presented with a password request on some pages but not on others — so there's still work to be done.
Google’s latest version of the Chrome web browser offers an even more secure, tightly sandboxed version of the browser’s Flash Player plugin. If you haven’t already updated you can download Chrome 21 from Google. Existing users may need to restart their browser for any updates to apply. At the moment the Flash Player improvements are only available to Windows users, but the change does apply to the entire Windows spectrum, covering everything from Windows XP (where Chrome is the only option if you want to keep Flash sandboxed) to the coming Windows 8. As Chrome Software Engineer Justin Schuh writes on the Chromium blog, “Windows Flash is now inside a sandbox that’s as strong as Chrome’s native sandbox, and dramatically more robust than anything else available.” The Flash update sees Chrome dropping the older Netscape Plugin API — which browsers have long relied on for plugin security — in favor of Google’s own Pepper Plugin API (PPAPI). Since PPAPI has a tighter sandbox it makes it harder to exploit Flash, but Schuh says the new architecture will make Flash more stable as well. “By eliminating the complexity and legacy code associated with NPAPI, we’ve reduced Flash crashes by about 20%.” There are also performance gains since the PPAPI offloads some of the display work to your PC’s GPU, which makes for faster rendering and smooth scrolling. The new Pepper API also means Flash will work in Windows 8′s don’t-call-it-Metro mode. Google says that it’s working on bring the same Pepper-based sandboxing to Chrome for Mac OS X and hopes to “ship it soon” (Linux users have enjoyed PPAPI-based Flash Player since Chrome 20).
Microsoft may have nixed its "Metro" branding for the new tile-based design in Windows 8 and Windows Phone, but the company appears to be split over its replacement naming. Earlier this week it was reported that references to "Metro-style applications" would become "Windows 8 applications," and that the "Metro user interface" would be switched to "Windows 8 user interface." However, Microsoft employees have started using "Modern UI Style" to refer to the new Windows 8 Start Screen and "Modern UI" design in reference to Windows 8 apps. The software giant has used modern, immersive, fast, and fluid to describe its Windows 8 operating system previously — in the early stages of its development — but the common name was always Metro style. In a step that's bound to confuse developers and consumers, several listings for upcoming events about Windows Azure, Bing Maps, and Windows 8, reference a Modern UI design language and principles, Modern UI Style apps, and even a Modern UI-Style UI. An MSDN blog post, made available this week, also references "Modern UI design." An internal memo revealed that the company was planning to select its Metro branding replacement last week, but the company has not yet officially named the replacement. We have reached out to Microsoft officials to comment on the new Metro replacement naming and we'll update you accordingly.
www.tech-sanity.com U.S. tablet sales last quarter: Apple sold 5.2 million iPads where as Samsung, Apples main Tablet competitor, only sold 37,000 actual units.
Both Apple and Samsung filed documents in a California federal court on Thursday that specified the companies’ U.S. tablet unit sales.
“According to Samsung’s court filing, it sold a total of 37,000 tablets in the U.S. last quarter,” Philip Elmer-DeWitt reports for Fortune. “Apple sold 5.7 million tablets in the U.S. last quarter, court documents show.”
Read more at http://macdailynews.com/2012/08/10/u-s-tablet-sales-last-quarter-apple-sold-5-2-million-samsung-sold-37000/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wordpress%2FxhfA+%28MacDailyNews%29#G80wDghKuwwu0ey8.99
Facebook wants to fight back against phishing attacks targeting its users, so it is asking users to begin forwarding any suspicious emails they receive.
Facebook has set up an email account to collect info on phishing attacks. If you receive a suspicious email message, Facebook asks you to forward it to phish@fb.com. “This new reporting channel will complement internal systems we have in place to detect phishing sites attempting to steal Facebook user login information,” Facebook wrote in a post describing the effort. “The internal systems notify our team, so we can gather information on the attack, take the phishing sites offline, and notify users.” Security has become a big deal for Facebook in recent months. In July, the site was updated to automatically alert users whose computers were infected with malware, and to lock their Facebook accounts until the infected computers were properly cleaned. Back in April, Facebook partnered with security and antivirus companies to offer free six-month trial downloads of antivirus software. Facebook wants to protect its users as well as itself. Attackers spread malware via social networking sites, and there is evidence that the number of attacks targeting Facebook and other social networking sites is increasing.
A recent study by the Anti-Phishing Working Group found that six percent of all phishing attacks in the first quarter of this year targeted social networking sites. Adding to this, Facebook itself has admitted that 83 million of its nearly one billion accounts are fake, some of which may be used for suspicious activity.
“Together we can help keep these sites off the web and hold the bad guys responsible,” Facebook says
A new "cyber-espionage toolkit called Gauss has surfaced recently in the Middle East and is capable of stealing sensitive data such as browser passwords, online banking accounts, cookies and system configurations, according to Kaspersky Lab. Gauss appears to have come from the same nation-state factories that produced Stuxnet. According to Kaspersky, Gauss has unique characteristics relative to other malware. Kaspersky said it found Gauss following the discovery of Flame. The International Telecommunications Union has started an effort to identify emerging cyberthreats and mitigate them before they spread. In a nutshell, Gauss launched around September 2011 and was discovered in June. Gauss, which resembles Flame, had its command and control infrastructure shut down in July, but the malware is dormant waiting for servers to become active. Kaspersky noted in an FAQ: There is enough evidence that this is closely related to Flame and Stuxnet, which are nation-state sponsored attacks. We have evidence that Gauss was created by the same "factory" (or factories) that produced Stuxnet, Duqu and Flame. Among Gauss' key features:
www.tech-sanity.com The Surface tablets that Microsoft will start selling on 26 October at Microsoft Stores (and in temporary 'holiday stores' in twelve US cities including New York) are only the first of a planned family of Windows devices and Surface 2.0 is already under development. Although Microsoft corporate communications chief Frank Shaw said recently that calling Surface "our new family of PCs built to be the ultimate stage for Windows" was no more than "literary licence" and that there was nothing more than the two tablets already announced, the Surface team is "currently building the next generation" of "devices that fully express the Windows vision" - according to more than a dozen job adverts posted on the Microsoft Careers site between June and August. The ads are all dated after the name of the original table-size Surface changed to PixelSense, so they're not left over from that and all the ads begin like this: "The Surface Team focuses on lighting up Microsoft experiences with touch first computing. A fundamental part of our strategy is having desirable and powerful devices that enable the experiences people want, and elicit their excitement. Creating these devices involves a close partnership between hardware and software engineers, designers, and manufacturing. We are currently building the next generation and Surface needs you!" New Surface?
www.tech-sanity.com As part of its case against Samsung, Apple has shown snippets of an internal Samsung document comparing the original Galaxy S phone with the iPhone. On Tuesday, Apple managed to get the whole 132-page document admitted into evidence. And it’s a doozy. The 2010 report, translated from Korean, goes feature by feature, evaluating how Samsung’s phone stacks up against the iPhone. Authored by Samsung’s product engineering team, the document evaluates everything from the home screen to the browser to the built in apps on both devices. In each case, it comes up with a recommendation on what Samsung should do going forward and in most cases its answer is simple: Make it work more like the iPhone. In short, the evaluation report makes the case that the Galaxy (identified here as the “S1″) would be better if it behaved more like the iPhone and featured a similar user interface. And it appears to play directly into Apple’s charge that Samsung “slavishly copied” the iPhone.
If you can't wait to subject Google Now to an epic interrogation of your own but don't have access to Android's Jelly Bean-flavored OS, then you may want to check out what's cooking over at the XDA Developers forums. If you've got a rooted ARMv7 device with Ice Cream Sandwich and ClockWorkMod Recovery, it's actually possible to start enjoying Google's take on the virtual personal assistant on your smartphone right now. As usual, you'll need to download the requisite file and partake in some good, old flashing action. Folks who appreciate having options can also take their pick between a fuller Google Now experience or a more stripped down version by hitting the source link below.
www.tech-sanity.com A Chinese company that assembles devices for Samsung Electronics Co. (005930) hired children at its production facilities and forced employees to work excessive hours, violating labor laws, China Labor Watch said in a report. Seven children younger than 16 were working in the factory of HEG Electronics (Huizhou) Co. that makes phones and DVD players for Samsung, according to the report issued today. Child workers faced the “same harsh conditions” as adults and were paid only 70 percent of the wages of other workers, according to the New York-based group, which said it conducted investigations in June and July. China Labor Watch previously published reports on explosions at factories and in 2010 accused Foxconn Technology Group, the assembler of Apple Inc. (AAPL) iPhones and iPads, of running a sweatshop in the country after a spate of suicides, a charge the Taiwanese company denied. The latest report said working conditions at HEG are “well below” those at Apple suppliers. “Samsung Electronics has conducted two separate on-site inspections on HEG’s working conditions this year but found no irregularities on those occasions,” Nam Ki Yung, a spokesman for Samsung, said in an e-mailed statement. “Given the report, we will conduct another field survey at the earliest possible time to ensure our previous inspections have been based on full information and to take appropriate measures to correct any problems that may surface.” Undercover Investigation Li Qiang, a director at China Labor Watch in New York, said a group member took a job at the factory to conduct the investigation and interviewed the seven children. The group used aliases when referring to the children in the report to protect them, he said. China Labor Watch did not report the cases to public security bureaus or other government agencies, Li said. “What we want, most of all, is for the children to go back to school,” Li said by phone today. Four calls to two telephone numbers in Huizhou, southern China, listed on HEG’s website were unanswered, and an e-mail sent to the company’s designated address bounced back. HEG is a unit of Harbin Electronic Group Corp., according to its website. “The company has clearly violated Chinese labor laws,” China Labor Watch said about HEG Electronics. “A serious light needs to be shined on these issues.” Overtime of between three to five hours a day in addition to the routine eight-hour work day is compulsory for HEG employees, China Labor Watch said in the report. Workers on HEG’s 11-hour night shift are given only a 40-minute break for meals, the labor rights group said. “Child labor is a common practice in the factory,” the report said. Student workers amount to 80 percent of the factory workforce, it said.
www.tech-sanity.com Today Microsoft's Office Store has come online. This portal enables Office and SharePoint users to install apps. Users will need a Microsoft account and the preview version of Office, SharePoint or Exchange in order to start diving in. Naturally, Microsoft has built a pretty stout control system for administrators, and it has also crafted an internal distribution mechanism in SharePoint called the App Catalog -- a tool that "allows enterprises to build in-house apps or source them from partners and distribute them to employees within the organization." Looking to see what it's all around? Head over to the Store and click entirely too many of those "Try It" buttons.
Googles Android OS is the mobile operating system most plagued by malware. It might not come as a surprise then that cyber criminals are taking advantage of the 2012 Summer Olympics as an opportunity and a cover-up for more malware. Anti-malware and anti-virus solutions provider Webroot has issued a warning that because there are so many events happening at one time during the Olympics, it might be all the more tempting when viewers find an app available that focuses on one or just a few. This goes hand-in-hand with some other cyber threats attached to the Olympic Games that can really affect even just the casual viewer. RSA recently published some tips on dealing with Olympic-themed phishing emails as well as social media alerts that are disguised in order to steal personal information. Webroot researchers cited an app app called "London Olympics Widget," which is described as an app that displays aggregated Olympic news coverage. In fact, it's really just harvesting the user's contact list and device ID while reading up on SMS messages too. Webroot goes into the nitty gritty details about permissions hidden in the underlying code as well as the digital certificate, but the bigger lesson here is to be extremely careful when it comes to downloading apps. Despite some disputes about this, Android is still an open source platform at heart, which is what makes the mobile OS quite vulnerable in the first place. Furthermore, Google Play and the Amazon Appstore don't screen every app available in these digital app stores for malicious code until they are reported. You don't really want to become the test case. Webroot advises that consumers should take a close look at the author of the app and then search the name to see if it is in fact a reputable company and/or developer, as seen in the photo above. During a session at Google I/O in June, Android security engineers also stressed several tips for the developer side of things that could instore more confidence for consumers as well, including offering a transparent privacy policy.
www.tech-sanity.com Valve's distaste for Windows 8 has led the company to take on an increasing interest in Linux, and the new Valve Linux blog shows that, with some work, the Source Engine actually runs faster on it than it does on Windows. The company used a testbed with an Intel i7 3930k, Nvidia GeForce GTX 680, and 32GB of RAM to pit Left 4 Dead 2 on Windows 7 against Ubuntu 12, and the results are rather interesting. At first, Valve's Linux port of Left 4 Dead 2 ran at only 6 FPS on the i7 machine, but after tweaking the game to make effective use of the efficient characteristics of the Linux kernel and OpenGL, the Valve Linux team was able to eke out a much higher 315 FPS. Using the same machine running Windows 7 and Direct3D, the same game ran at 270.6 FPS, or roughly 14 percent slower. After optimizing the Source Engine for the Linux platform, Valve wondered why OpenGL was outperforming Direct3D at a technical level. Their research found that, on the same hardware, there are "a few additional microseconds [of] overhead per batch in Direct3D which does not affect OpenGL," indicating that Direct3D may not be as efficient as Microsoft would like developers to believe. There are still challenges ahead for the Valve Linux team, however, as the state of Linux graphics card drivers is still a tumultuous affair. The team has yet to work with AMD and Nvidia, but collaboration with Intel's engineers took place just last month.
Microsoft has announced that Windows 8 development is now complete. The final Release to Manufacturing (RTM) code will now be delivered to the company's hardware partners within the next few days to ready PCs and tablets with the new operating system in time for general availability on October 26th. Microsoft's final milestone concludes almost two years of development for its new Metro inspired Windows 8 software and marks the beginning of the release phase. The final build is 9200.16384.win8_rtm.120725-1247 and Microsoft says MSDN and TechNet customers will be able to download it from August 15th. Microsoft Software Assurance customers will get the RTM bits on August 16th, and Volume License customers without Software Assurance will be able to purchase Windows 8 through Microsoft Volume License Resellers on September 1st. Steven Sinofsky, Microsoft's head of Windows, says the company "will continue to monitor and act on your real world experiences with Windows 8," despite the RTM milestone. The finalization of WIndows 8 also means that the Windows Store will go live on August 15th. Developers will be able to access the final tools and submission process for Metro style apps at the Windows Dev Center later this month. PCs and tablets, including Microsoft's own Surface, will ship with Windows 8 on October 26th.
Apple's relentless drive to shave millimetres off its laptops has come at a cost — your new MacBook Air or MacBook Pro with Retina display might not have quite as many ports as you're used to. The company's own FireWire 800 port has fallen out of favour in recent years, for example, with Apple electing to push Intel's newer Thunderbolt standard in its place, but now there's a solution for those still relying on the older connector for audio devices and similar applications. Announced along with the new laptop lineup at WWDC in June, the Thunderbolt to FireWire adapter is capable of providing up to 7W of power and is finally on sale now at the Apple Store for $29. It's not the most elegant solution, no, but it just might be the final excuse you need to pick up that Retina MacBook Pro.
The MOTU iTrack16, a 16 x 14 desktop studio interface with mixing and effects is finally being shipped which is great news. . Track16 connects via FireWire or hi-speed USB 2.0 to your Mac and features elegant design, compact size, simple one-touch operation, and studio-grade sound quality. Together, the Track16 base unit and included breakout cable provide a total of sixteen inputs and fourteen outputs, hybrid FireWire/USB connectivity, optical digital I/O, MIDI I/O, and SMPTE time code sync. Advanced features include a 16-bus digital mixer (with reverb, EQ, and compression), audio analysis tools such as an FFT with spectrogram “waterfall”, and an instrument tuner.
The New Hotmail looks fantastic, , it might be the handsomest webmail in the land. Really. Simple, clear, clean. Outlook is as pretty as you want email to be—appealing short of cloying. It perfectly matches the superflat rainbow modernism of Windows 8. Colors are stark and few, complementing the rest of the Metro palette. Inbox items are spaced just about perfectly, packing in a manageably dense list of messages—unlike Gmail's recent fatso formatting. Microsoft is beaming at how many extra pixels it gives you to gawk at your mail compared to Google, and it's absolutely true: with Outlook, the top of the screen is appreciably slimmer than Gmail.
