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Intel Demos Light Over Silicon

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Microprocessor maker Intel has announced that it has developed a research prototype that it says is the world’s first silicon-based optical data connection with integrated lasers. The link can move up to 50 gigabits of data per second — about as much data as that contained in an entire HD movie. Current chip manufacturing uses physical connections, rather than light, to transmit information from one part of a computer or other electronic device to another.

Europe’s Tender Words About FOSS

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0000

There’s no denying that everyone needs a little love from time to time, but for those of us in the FOSS community, that need can be particularly acute. After all, rarely a week goes by without some affront from those we had hoped were our friends. Case in point? Dell. First, it was the disappearing love letter. Then, it was the “helpful” Windows vs. Ubuntu comparison guide. The latest? None other than outright rejection. Imagine our surprise, then — nay, outright joy! — when none other than Neelie Kroes lavished a heaping helping of love upon the FOSS community.

Acrossair: Getting There Is Half the Fun

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0000

When I first heard the term “augmented reality,” I expected nothing short of corneal implants and tiny, cloud-connected computer systems that run on body heat and live just under your skin. I imagined something that would add layers upon layers of information to the visual world we see every day — every face we lay eyes on would be tagged with vital contact info, Facebook posts, musical tastes and all sorts of useless trivia. It sounded really futuristic, so I was careful not to let myself get too excited until next October. All the good stuff comes out in October.

Adobe Gets Its Say on Microsoft’s MAPP Security Channel

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:24:47 +0000

Adobe has joined Microsoft’s MAPP program, which provides members with information about security vulnerabilities before Microsoft releases its monthly patches. This will let Adobe, which has been plagued by security flaws, notify MAPP members about vulnerabilities in its apps so they can fix those problems more quickly. Separately, Microsoft has announced a coordinated vulnerability disclosure program which will let anyone who discovers security flaws report them directly to a CERT-CC or other coordinator.

Google Gets Playful With Facebook Rivalry

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:47:41 +0000

Google’s “Facebook killer” came a step closer to reality Wednesday, when it was revealed that the company has been talking with game makers for potential inclusion of their wares on a new social network. Originally brought to light by a tweet last month from Digg Founder Kevin Rose, the new “Google Me” offering could include games from Playdom, Electronic Arts’ Playfish, and Zynga Game Network. “This is all about ad revenues, nothing else,” said social media consultant Lon Safko. Facebook’s 500 million members translate into a lot of lost ad revenue for Google.

Extensions Ride Shotgun in New Safari

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:13:03 +0000

Apple on Wednesday released Safari 5.0.1, the latest version of its Web browser. It has extensions enabled by default, as well as security patches. The extensions include tools for Twitter and other social networks, news and shopping. They are organized into categories and are available at the Safari Extensions Gallery. Apple is also calling on developers to create more extensions. Safari 5.0.1 has extensions turned on by default, unlike its predecessor, Safari 5.0, which required users to turn the extensions on.

Is the IT Pendulum Winding Down?

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:00:00 +0000

If you’ve been in IT long enough, you’ve probably heard someone observe that, for as long as there have been computers, there has been a long, slow pendulum swing between centralized and distributed computing paradigms. From mainframes, to remote terminals, to timesharing, to PCs, to client/server, to mobile devices, to cloud computing — the pendulum has been easy to discern, though much harder to explain. In the midst of the constant change that is the IT industry, the idea of a stable, long-term cycle between centralization and decentralization is truly appealing.

Regulators Take Aim at Genomics

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0000

The genomics industry, which provides reports about disease risk, ancestry, and drug reactions based on one’s DNA, came under fire last week as a Congressional Committee held
hearings and the Government Accountability Office released an unscientific “study” of the sector. According to undercover discussions with genomics firms, the GAO reports that “fictitious consumers received test results that are misleading and of little or no practical use.” The agency admits, however, that it “did not conduct a scientific study but instead documented observations that could be made by any consumer.”

Sunbird: Your Calendar, Your Way

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Sunbird Calendar could prove to be one of your most useful tools. If you work on multiple computers or lack constant access to Web-based apps like Google and Yahoo calendars, you can be cut off from calendar access at very inconvenient times. The Sunbird Calendar solves these and a variety of other problems. About the only thing I miss from my previous days of working on a Windows PC is the portable apps I could load from a USB stick onto any computer I used. I regained a sense of that mobile portability with Sundbird.

Google Gears Up for Government Work

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:50:54 +0000

Google on Tuesday unveiled Google Apps for Government. It also announced that Google Apps has received federal information security certification. “With Google Apps for Government, we’ve gone beyond FISMA certification,” Google spokesperson Andrew Kovacs told TechNewsWorld. Meanwhile, Google will next week face a review of a major government project — moving the City of Los Angeles’ employees over to Gmail from their current system. That effort has apparently run into trouble. Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Sites and Video are the apps Google currently offers for government use.

Mighty Macs Top List of New Apple Gear

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:10:52 +0000

Apple released a flood of new products on Tuesday. It refreshed the Mac Pro and iMac lines, added a multi-touch desktop touchpad, and unveiled a 27-inch Cinema Display with a whole new set of bells and whistles. The iMacs are available now, with the multi-touch touchpad as an option; the new Mac Pros will hit the streets in August; and the Cinema Display will be available in September, Apple said. The Mac Pros come with up to 12 processor cores, and may signal a shift in Apple’s product line.

Redefining Endpoint Security

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Most security professionals believe that endpoint security is a strategy in which security software is distributed to end-user devices but centrally managed. Endpoint security systems work on a client/server model. A client program is installed on or downloaded to every endpoint, which in this case, is every user device that connects to the corporate network. Endpoints can include PCs, laptops, handheld devices, servers, printers and even specialized equipment.

Who’s the Big Winner in the Great iPhone Escape?

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0000

In a move sure to please all super geeks in the United States, the Library of Congress’ Copyright Office has made a key exemption to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to let us legally jailbreak our iPhones. About freakin’ time. Of course, the “anticircumvention” exemption isn’t focused only on the iPhone, but in reality, what other smartphone has enough jailbreaking interest in the U.S. to catch much attention? Of course, none of this means you can break the law in other ways, nor does it mean that Apple must honor the warranty on jailbroken phones.

GNOME Bands With LiMo to Build Mobile Linux Inroads

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0000

The LiMo Foundation and the GNOME Foundation on Monday announced that they have begun working together as partners to further open source innovation. Starting immediately, LiMo Foundation will become a member of the GNOME Foundation’s advisory board and the GNOME Foundation will become an industry liaison partner for the LiMo Foundation. The partnership stems from the use of several components from the GNOME Mobile platform in releases 2 and 3 of the LiMo Platform, the groups said.

Wikileaks Plunges Political World Into Turmoil

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:18:18 +0000

In what’s been called the “biggest leak in intelligence history,” more than 90,000 classified military documents about the war in Afghanistan came to light on Sunday and are wreaking havoc in political circles around the globe. Covering the period from January 2004 to December 2009, the reports were published Sunday by whistle-blowing site Wikileaks. Analyses of the material appeared simultaneously in The New York Times, The Guardian and Der Speigel. The documents reportedly include compelling evidence of widespread yet unreported abuses during the war.

FCC Raises the Broadband Bar

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0000

The Federal Communications Commission has redefined broadband speeds as 4 Mbps for downloads and 1 Mbps for uploads. Characterizing the move as “overdue,” the FCC pointed out that the previous standard of 200 Kbps in both directions was set in 1999. The new speeds were included in the FCC’s sixth broadband deployment report, released last week. These are the minimum speeds required to “stream a high-quality — even if not high-definition — video while leaving sufficient bandwidth for basic Web browsing and email,” reads the FCC document.

Dell’s ‘Brilliant’ Windows vs. Ubuntu Analysis

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Here in the Linux community, we’re already pretty accustomed to strange behavior from hardware vendors when it comes to our favorite operating system. Sometimes, though, you just have to sit back and scratch your head. The latest example? None other than Dell. After the curious case of its disappearing “love letter” to Linux a few weeks ago, the Texas titan’s UK site recently posted something that may be even more mystifying: a guide to helping customers choose between Windows and Ubuntu.

How the Reality Distortion Field Is Hurting Ballmer and Could Kill Us

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0000

As I’m writing this, Microsoft is reporting a solid quarter with sales (or use) exceeding expectations significantly on four keystone products. While Steve Ballmer is clearly not performing at Steve Jobs’ incredible levels, Microsoft continues to generate cash at a rate that most companies, states and countries don’t seem able to approach. Yet he is also the CEO who is highest on the “soon to be ex-CEO” list. Underlying this is a recent study that found we, as a species, will avoid the truth if it conflicts with our beliefs. This not only helps Steve Jobs and hurts Steve Ballmer, but it could kill us.

Quickoffice Lets You Settle Into a Sweet Mobile Suite

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Muscular desktop applications like office suites can’t be run on downscale devices like the iPad, but that doesn’t mean Apple’s mighty tablet can’t be a valuable partner with those programs. A case in point is Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite for iPad. Quickoffice is designed to work with files compatible with three mainstays of Microsoft’s popular Office suite: Word, Excel and Powerpoint. With it, you can store Office documents with a “cloud” service provider like Google Docs, Dropbox, Mobileme or Box.net.

The Social Network Half a Billion Love to Hate

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0000

“Incredibly dysfunctional” is not an option you can list as your relationship status on Facebook, but that seems to be the way to describe the site’s relationship with its users. It’s like an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend you hate so much but just keep going back to again and again and again, possibly because you can’t find anyone better. Never has the site been more popular. It just reached half a billion users — just six months after reaching the 400 million mark. Facebook was quick to trumpet those numbers.

Software Blog » Technology News

Intel Demos Light Over Silicon

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