Computer And Driver

Picasa 3.8.117.24

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 01:27:00 +0000

When it comes to photo viewers there are many alternatives to choose from. Picasa has always been a favorite here at Softonic, and this new version has made it our absolute top choice.

The all-new Google Picasa keeps the same interface structure of previous versions, but features new enriching options to manage, edit, and show off your photos in an even more comfortable way, both offline and online – thanks to the Picasa Web Album syncing tool.

Picasa displays all your indexed photos in a handy folder structure. You can let the program scan the whole drive in search for pictures or select specific directories. A double click on any image will display it in full screen and let you access to a handful of basic editing tools: cropping, straightening, adjusting color and light or fixing red eye, among others.

The latest version of Picasa includes a couple of exciting new features: facial recognition and geo-tagging. The first one means that Picasa can now scan your photo library, recognize and extract people's faces, and finally let you add a name to them. The process takes a while to get started – loads of faces to tag and names to write down – but if you go to the Unnamed tag under the People album, you'll be able to add new names and faces in batches and get the job done much quicker. As for the geo-tagging function, it's now easier to use thanks to the embedding of Google Maps in Picasa: simply select the photos you want to geotag, open Google Maps by clicking on the 'Places' button, navigate to the appropriate location and click OK.

We especially like Picasa's Photo Viewer, which you can configure to replace the original Windows default image viewer. It offers more tools and displays photos on a much nicer interface when viewing them directly in Windows Explorer, so when Picasa asks you if you want to use it, don't hesitate!

But Picasa is not only about viewing and fixing images. You can also give free rein to your imagination with its tools to create posters, collages, screensavers and even movies. The greatest thing about these tools is not only the fact that they give you the ability to create something unique and original with your photos; it's also that they're surprisingly easy to use, and don't require any tech abilities or photo editing skills at all.

The all-new Picasa has successfully completed what seemed a difficult task: improving a software app that was already very good.
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4Media PDF to EPUB Converter 1.0.4.0124

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 02:43:00 +0000

The best choice for converting PDF files to EPUB format, 4Media PDF to EPUB Converter can quickly and easily convert your PDF files to EPUB format so you can view them on any device compatible with EPUB. 4Media PDF to EPUB Converter can also convert several PDF files at once and convert only the pages you need from the source file.

Features: 1.Convert PDF files to EPUB format quickly and easily without installing Adobe Acrobat or Reader while preserving all original file features. 2.Choose TXT or picture mode to convert the PDF pages to EPUB. 3.Simple load multiple PDF files and convert all of them in one go at high speed. 4.Simple design - start converting PDF to EPUB straightaway! 5.Choose the pages you want to convert from the source file, only the specified pages will be converted. 6.4Media PDF to EPUB Converter will keep all original features of the source PDF file after conversion. 7.Different languages are available in this PDF to ePub converter: English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, Simplified and Traditional Chinese.

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BatteryCare 0.9.8.3

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 02:35:00 +0000

Batteries are laptops' Achilles' heels. Many mobile users have been let down by their battery meters, too, which can misjudge or misrepresent how much charge is actually left in your battery. The shortcomings of the built-in Windows meter lead to free tools like BatteryCare. It's a simple utility that displays your laptop battery's status and capacity and the time remaining in its discharge cycle. It monitors and displays CPU and HDD temperatures, too.

BatteryCare has a small but attractive interface that offers a lot more information than the built-in Windows tool, or many other battery meters we've seen, for that matter, with tabs for Basic and Detailed Information; the latter includes entries for battery model, designed capacity, wear level, and more. A system tray icon lets users display and hide the interface and access not only the program's options but also Power Settings and Power Plans. Hovering the cursor over the icon called up a semitransparent window showing battery status and charge but also the temperature of our CPU and primary hard disk drive. BatteryCare has a lot of settings for a simple tool, especially in the Notifications section, which includes not only full, low, and critical battery level warnings but also a configurable remaining time warning and a unique option to configure a warning to replace the battery after a certain number of discharge cycles, which can head off trouble before it catches up to you "in the field." The Power Plans section included selections for running on batteries and plugged in to AC power, as well as an automatic option. The Advanced section showed usage statistics as well as an option of particular interest to Vista users: the ability to run at startup in Administrator mode, which enables temperature monitoring and service pausing even when the bothersome User Account Control is active.

If you rely on your laptop's batteries, we highly recommend a good battery meter like BatteryCare. Even if your laptop stays tethered to a wall wart, though, it can help you ensure that your battery is ready to go, when and if you need it.

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Download Software Adobe Photoshop CS5

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 02:28:00 +0000

As the market leader for commercial bitmap and image manipulation software, Adobe Photoshop is continually improving its flagship product to ensure that its features, efficiency and results maintain industry-leading standards. Since 1987, Photoshop has made enacting the images of your imagination a possibility with its powerful, sophisticated innovations.

Adobe Photoshop CS5 software redefines digital imaging with powerful new photography tools and breakthrough capabilities for complex image selections, realistic painting, and intelligent retouching. Enjoy cross-platform 64-bit support and a wide range of workflow enhancements.
Adobe Photoshop CS5 features:

Complex selections made easy-
Get precise results in fewer clicks when selecting intricate image elements, such as hair, and eliminate background color around selection edges. Automatically vary selection edges and perfect masks using new refinement tools.
Content-Aware Fill-
Remove any image detail or object and watch as Content-Aware Fill magically fills in the space left behind. This breakthrough technology matches lighting, tone, and noise so it looks as if the removed content never existed.
Superior HDR imaging-
Create photorealistic or surreal high dynamic range (HDR) images with unprecedented speed, control, and accuracy. Get better-than-ever results thanks to automatic ghost removal and greater control with tone mapping and adjustments, and even give single-exposure photos the look of HDR.
State-of-the-art raw image processing-
Use the Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw 6 plug-in to nondestructively remove image noise while preserving color and detail; add grain to make digital photos look more organic; enjoy more control as you perform post-crop vignetting; and more.
Extraordinary painting effects-
Achieve natural and realistic painting effects with the Mixer Brush, which offers on-canvas color blending, and Bristle Tips, which let you create lifelike, textured brushstrokes.

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Free Download Norton AntiVirus 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 01:21:00 +0000

Norton AntiVirus 2011 protects your PC against the latest viruses, spyware, and other threats. It delivers fast, powerful online protection to keep you a step ahead of cyber attacks. It lets you chat, email and share files without worry, updates automatically, offers easy-to-use features, and includes free customer support during your subscription period.

Norton Reputation Service instantly checks where files came from and how long they've been around to identify and stop new crimeware faster than other, less sophisticated security software. Norton Protection System uses several overlapping layers of protection that work together to stop viruses, spyware and other online attacks. Norton Pulse Updates provides up-to-the-minute updates that protect against the latest threats without slowing down your computer. SONAR 3 Behavioral Protection monitors your PC for suspicious behavior to quickly detect new online threats.

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Download AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 01:13:00 +0000

Basic protection for surfing, searching and social networking

Millions of people around the world use AVG Anti-Virus Free for their basic online activities. Whether it's surfing the Internet, conducting web searches, or simply keeping up with friends on Facebook, AVG Anti-Virus Free has got you covered.

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2011 allows you to:

* Surf and search with confidence AVG LinkScanner's® real-time protection
* Stay protected on social networks with AVG Social Networking Protection
* Enjoy a faster running PC AVG Smart Scanning works while you're away and runs in low-priority mode when you return
* Stay up-to-date with the latest threat information from the AVG Community Protection Network and AVG Protective Cloud Technology

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Kaspersky Mobile Security (Symbian OS) 9.0

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 03:49:00 +0000

Your smartphone is your life. Kaspersky Mobile Security keeps your mobile life truly private. If someone can occasionally or secretly inspect your phone - he or she will only see what you allow them to see. All your private contacts and communications history is hidden to others. If your phone is lost or stolen - you can easily block or wipe your data, to prevent it from getting into the wrong hands. GPS Find will help you to locate your lost device or your child's whereabouts. Anti-Spam will ensure you are getting only calls and SMSs from allowed people. Antivirus and Firewall will protect you from cybercrime. Enjoy your new safe and private mobile life.

What's new in this version:
Version 9.0 includes Privacy Protection, which lets you to hide and unhide your private contacts and conversations at the touch of a button. Lost phone screen will demonstrate user-defined text, to give a possibility to return a lost phone. And Encryption Functionality secures multiple folders and memory cards.

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Tirgumit 4.0

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 03:41:00 +0000

We remember a time--not so long ago--when translating a text between two languages required a dictionary and a lot of patience. But now we have things like Tirgumit Right Click Free Dictionary. This handy utility makes translating between languages a breeze, whether you just need to know one word or want to translate an entire block of text.

The program's interface is attractive and intuitive, and there are several ways to access its features. If you're reading something in a foreign language and need to quickly translate a single word you don't know, simply hold down the Control key and right-click; the program will launch and display a translation, synonyms, and other forms of the word. The program also has an audio function that will speak a word aloud, although we found the voice's Spanish pronunciation to be a little lacking. In addition to these quick translations, Tirgumit Right Click Free Dictionary can also translate whole blocks of text using Google Translate. The program can translate between 17 different languages, making it a very versatile choice for polyglots. There's no Help file--a brief online FAQ answers a few basic questions--but the program is pretty easy to figure out without assistance. Overall, we think that Tirgumit Right Click Free Dictionary is a good choice for anyone seeking quick translations; it's not going to flawlessly translate a block of text, but for single words or the basic gist of a paragraph, it works just fine.

Tirgumit Right Click Free Dictionary installs politely but leaves a folder behind upon removal. We recommend this program to all users.

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Change Windows 7's start, log-on, and desktop backgrounds

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 03:33:00 +0000

by Dennis O'Reilly
There's no reason why Windows 7 users have to settle for whatever interface Microsoft sets as the operating system's default. Customizing Windows 7's start, log-on, and desktop backgrounds isn't as easy as it might be, but it's eminently doable.

Deactivate the "Close Encounters" start-up animation
The animation that plays as Windows starts is irritating primarily because it never changes. If you're like me and would prefer to see nothing than to sit through that micro-advertisement for the umpteenth time, turn it off.

Press the Windows key, type system configuration, and press Enter to open the System Configuration utility. Click the Boot tab, choose your operating system (if necessary), check "No GUI boot" under Boot options, and select Apply and OK.

The next time Windows 7 starts, you'll see nothing until the log-on screen appears, which brings us to our next Win7 interface tweak.

Note that some programmers offer free replacement animations for the Windows 7 start screen, such as those available at Jeff Bush's Coder for Life, but the author warns that they are experimental and should be used at your own risk. That was sufficient warning to keep me from trying them. Besides, no animation at all works just fine for me.

Replace the log-on screen background via a Registry tweak
You can replace the built-in background image on the Windows log-on screen by tweaking the Registry or by downloading and installing a free third-party utility. Here's the manual approach in a nutshell. (Remember to back up the Registry by setting a restore point beforehand.)

Press the Windows key, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor. Navigate to this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\Background

In the right pane, select OEMBackground and change the Value data to 1. If there is no OEMBackground in the right pane, right-click in the pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, name the new entry OEMBackground, double-click the new entry, and set the Value data to 1.

Close the Registry Editor and open an Explorer window. Navigate to this folder:

C:\Windows\System32\oobe\info\backgrounds

(The path to your Windows\System32 folder may vary. Also, you will likely have to create the "info" folder inside the "oobe" folder and then the "backgrounds" folder inside the "info" folder.)

Paste into the "backgrounds" folder a JPEG image smaller than 256KB to use as your log-on screen background. Name the image "backgroundDefault.jpg." When you restart Windows, not only will the floating-spheres animation be missing, the image of your choice will greet you at the log-on screen.

If you would prefer the third-party approach to a new log-on background, check out Julien Manici's free, open-source Windows 7 Logon Background Changer. The How-To Geek explains how to use the program.

Turn your desktop background into a custom slideshow
Whenever I see a Windows desktop cluttered with icons, I cringe. I much prefer putting my desktop shortcuts on a menu that pops out of the taskbar. That way I enjoy an unobstructed view of the family-photo slideshow running on my desktop.

To clear the icons from the desktop, right-click anywhere on it, choose View, and deselect "Show desktop icons." Now right-click the taskbar, uncheck "Lock the taskbar," and choose Toolbars > Desktop. Drag the Desktop toolbar to the right--toward the notification area--until only the word "Desktop" and the double chevron are showing. To reach one of your desktop items, click the double chevron and select it from the menu that pops up.

Get your desktop slideshow going by right-clicking the desktop and choosing Personalize. Click Desktop Background at the bottom of the Personalization window. Choose My Pictures on the "Picture location" drop-down menu and click Browse. Navigate to the folder holding the images for your slideshow and click OK.

Select the images you want to appear in the slideshow, or click Select All to do just that. Choose one of the options on the "Picture position" drop-down menu; I prefer Fill, which extends the image across the desktop. Set the duration of each image on the "Change picture every" menu; options are from 10 seconds to 1 day. Check the Shuffle option, if you wish.

Once you're happy with the slideshow settings, click Save Changes to return to the Personalization window. To give your new theme a name, right-click it under My Themes, choose "Save theme," type in a name, and press Enter. When you're done, close the Personalization window.

To view your slideshow, click the "Show desktop" button at the end of the taskbar. Adjust the image lineup and slideshow frequency by returning to the Desktop Background dialog box and tweaking the settings to taste. To see the next image right away, simply right-click the desktop and choose "Next desktop background."

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Video will dominate mobile data traffic by 2015, forecast says

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 03:23:00 +0000

(CNN) -- According to a new Cisco forecast, in just four years two-thirds of the world's mobile data traffic will be video.

How will wireless carriers keep up with this demand? The major providers are pinning their hopes on 4G wireless networks, which they say will be able to handle greater data loads.

Will consumers end up paying much more for mobile video? Probably.

Smartphones, laptops, and tablets are expected to drive nearly 90% of mobile traffic by 2015. In particular, "mobile-connected tablets will generate more traffic in 2015 than the entire global mobile network in 2010."

Another factor that will contribute to this growth, which Cisco overlooked: More and more feature phones (non-smartphones) will be operating on faster wireless networks. The new LTE network from MetroPCS is already handling traffic from some feature phones, such as the Samsung Craft.

As I wrote earlier, feature phones are getting more sophisticated -- streaming video will be available on many models before long. This is important since feature phones are generally far more affordable (up front and in monthly bills) than smartphones or tablets.

What's driving this growth? Faster mobile access. According to Cisco, the average mobile network connection speed doubled from 2009 to 2010 -- and a tenfold increase is expected by 2015.

Cisco also predicts that within four years there will be a mobile device connected to a wireless network -- not counting Wi-Fi connections -- for nearly every person on the planet.

"Today, the average mobile connection generates 65 megabytes of traffic per month -- which is equivalent to about 15 MP3 music files," the forecast says. "By 2015, the average mobile connection is anticipated to generate more than 17 times that amount, to a total 1,118 megabytes of traffic per month -- equal to about 260 MP3 music files."

Doug Webster, Cisco's senior director of worldwide service-provider marketing, told Fierce Wireless, "The lines between fixed and mobile will converge, and the trends we're seeing on the fixed will be seen on mobile."

In the U.S., however, there will probably be one key difference between fixed and mobile internet access: consumer protections and costs.

The FCC's new "net neutrality" rules, passed in December, exempt wireless carriers from most requirements. This leaves the door open for U.S. wireless carriers to charge customers extra for access to certain kinds of content and services, such as YouTube, which are available for free over fixed connections.

Furthermore, as VentureBeat explains, the new rules mean that "wireless companies are free to stop some smartphone users from taking advantage of their data plans by throttling download and upload speeds."

This could be a key concern for consumers as wireless network congestion mounts in the coming years.

Already, two U.S. carriers (Metro PCS and Verizon) are suing the FCC over the requirements the new rules impose on them.

Digital Trends observes, "Humorously, it was Verizon and Google's net neutrality proposal that appears to have formed the basis for the recently passed FCC regulation."

According to Cisco, in 2010, total mobile data traffic, including video, grew by 159% -- more than three times faster than internet traffic traveling over wired ("fixed") communications. Earlier, Cisco predicted that growth would be 149%, so this trend is moving faster than expected.

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RIM gives India access to BlackBerry messenger services

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 00:58:00 +0000

RESEARCH In Motion said it has provided solutions that will let Indian security agencies access the smartphone maker's popular messenger and public email services, though the tools can't be used to monitor its corporate email services.

The Indian government, which fears that the heavy encryption on RIM's BlackBerry smartphones makes them convenient for terrorists to use undetected, had asked RIM to grant access to its messenger services before January 31. RIM said that date was a target, but not a deadline.

The government last November said further consultations would probably be needed on corporate email access, and it didn't set a target for resolving the matter.

"The lawful access capability now available to RIM's carrier partners meets the standard required by the government of India for all consumer messaging services offered in the Indian marketplace," RIM said in a customer update seen by Dow Jones Newswires.

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The lack of access to corporate emails means RIM still hasn't met one of India's key demands. But the Canadian company reiterated that neither it nor wireless carriers on whose networks RIM's services are run can decipher the encryptions of corporate email services.

"No changes can be made to the security architecture for BlackBerry Enterprise Server (corporate email) customers since, contrary to any rumours, the security architecture is the same around the world and RIM truly has no ability to provide its customers' encryption keys," RIM's customer update said.

Indian government officials couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

"RIM continues to work closely with the government and RIM's carrier partners in India...We are pleased to have delivered a solution well before a mutually agreed milestone date of January 31, 2011," RIM said.

BlackBerry devices use an advanced encrypted e-mail system and are preferred by business people because of the secure communication they offer. RIM has been under pressure from several governments, especially in the Middle East and Asia, to provide access to data on the secure networks.

The company averted a ban on key BlackBerry services in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia after the countries said regulatory requirements had been satisfied.

India had initially threatened to ban RIM's corporate email and messenger services, but later withdrew its threat after RIM set up an interim arrangement and agreed to provide access tools for messenger and Internet services by January 31.

India has been testing solutions offered by RIM to access the BlackBerry messenger service and has previously said it could monitor Internet, voice calls and short-messaging services on the smartphones.

RIM said the Indian government has assured it that other companies providing similar services will also need to grant access solutions on the same level as RIM.

In December, mobile handset maker Nokia said it had set up servers in India to allow local security agencies to monitor the Finnish company's enterprise email services.

As the world's fastest-growing telecommunications market, India is crucial to smartphone makers. More than 40 per cent of Indian customers are corporate email users, analysts say.

India's smartphone market is expected to grow to about 40 million by the end of 2015 from about 10 million at the end of 2010, according to a forecast by Informa Telecoms & Media.

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Can Your Camera Phone Turn You Into a Pirate?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 00:37:00 +0000

By Nick Bilton
MY wife and I sat cross-legged on the floor of a local Barnes & Noble store recently, surrounded by several large piles of books. We were searching for interior design ideas for a new home that we are planning to buy.
As we lobbed the books back and forth, sharing kitchen layouts and hardwood floor textures, we snapped a dozen pictures of book pages with our iPhones. We wanted to share them later with our contractor.

After a couple of hours of this, we placed the books back on the shelf and went home, without buying a thing. But the digital images came home with us in our smartphones.

Later that evening, I felt a few pangs of guilt. I asked my wife: Did we do anything wrong? And, I wondered, had we broken any laws by photographing those pages?

It’s not as if we had destroyed anything: We didn’t rip out any pages. But if we had wheeled a copier machine into the store, you can be sure the management would have soon wheeled us and the machine out of there.

But our smartphones really functioned as hand-held copiers. Did we indeed go too far?

I asked Julie A. Ahrens, associate director of the Fair Use Project at the Stanford Law School. “The core issue here is that you are creating a copy of something rather than buying it,” she said. “Is it morally incorrect? Maybe. But it entirely depends how much of the book you copy, and what you do with that copy, that would determine if it was illegal.”

These kinds of questions aren’t entirely new, of course. Consider the heyday of the photocopier, in the 1960s and early ’70s. After the Xerox copying machine was introduced into offices in 1959, it quickly found its way into libraries. The price of copies dropped, and people began to photocopy books and journals in large numbers. Many students discovered that it was cheaper to photocopy a friend’s textbook — or a copy of his copy — than to buy the book.

By the 1970s, the publishing industry saw the copier as the enemy, and publishers began to file lawsuits — prefiguring, by several decades, the music industry’s suits against those who would download free music over the Internet.

Time magazine covered this earlier era of copyright confusion. The photocopier’s opponents said the technology enabled theft and “stifled creativity and punched holes in the copyright laws,” according to one article.

After endless legal battles, the publishing industry succeeded in persuading Congress to pass the Copyright Act of 1976, which defined “fair use” of copyrighted material and sought to establish a set of rules for ownership of content. It allowed limited replication of snippets of music, video and text, and it gave teachers the right to photocopy certain materials without having to pay hefty fees to publishers.

That worked well enough — for a while. But it didn’t take long before new technologies came along. The Internet and other digital tools like file sharing enabled new forms of duplication and set off new copyright disputes.

Stan Liebowitz, a professor of economics at the University of Texas at Dallas and the director of its Center for the Analysis of Property Rights and Innovation, spent years investigating the economic impact of the Xerox machine on the publishing industry.

He said my cellphone copying bore some resemblance to that earlier behavior, but because it depended on the portability and ubiquity of the phone’s camera, he said it was closer to music piracy. “When you’re talking about people making copies of things with their cellphones, it’s much closer to people making MP3s than people using Xerox copies of books,” Mr. Liebowitz said. “In the 1970s, everyone didn’t have a photocopier sitting in their home. Now everyone has a cellphone in their pocket that can easily copy anything.”

Music file sharing didn’t become a mass activity until a simple digital compression technology, MP3, was invented. That made it simple to copy (in the industry’s view, steal) the music.

As the technology in cellphones advances, higher-resolution cameras, image-enhancing software and high-clarity screens make it delightfully easy to capture a photograph and view it later. There may not be Web sites devoted to purloined pictures — there are such sites for music or videos — but many people have a cavalier attitude toward using cameras to obtain copyrighted material.

Charles Nesson, the Weld professor of law at Harvard Law School and founder of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society there, also said that the act of “documenting” a book, as he called it, bears many similarities to pirating music. It could lead to a new wave of legal cases brought by bookstores or publishers, he said, much like the litigation brought by music companies against sites like Napster and LimeWire and their users.

“If people are taking a picture of a picture to take with them, then is it is exactly like the MP3 issue,” Mr. Nesson said.

Need I worry yet that a phalanx of lawyers will soon grab me between the Home Décor and New Age aisles at Barnes & Noble?

Mr. Nesson says the question is unanswerable for now. The music industry, he says, has a strategy of going after individuals while not addressing changing technologies as they apply to copyright law. The publishing industry could well do the same, he adds. “I think the law and the draconian action of copyright holders will stay the way it is for a long time,” said Mr. Nesson “There’s change in the air, but it’s not a change that’s going to come very quickly.”

Indeed, it could be years before the publishing industry feels real economic pressure caused by people who take pictures of books or magazines with their mobile phones. In fact, it’s quite possible that digital technology will make this particular problem moot.

As Ms. Ahrens says, “By the time this becomes an issue, we might not even have bookstores anymore.”

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Home Security Monitoring

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 13:19:00 +0000

The control of security at home does not mean that surveillance 24 hours home to ensure that your home is protected from thieves. At least that does not mean that in a literal sense, but not the security check at home gives you and your family 24 hours a day protection against thieves and, in some cases even a fire. The level of protection you receive depends on the complexity of your home security system and the ability of the deposit that you have chosen. Something in national security oversight, which is relatively the same no matter which system you choose is the sequence of events that occurred when the security system is in use. This article gives a brief summary of how the houses of security monitoring.

Almost all home security monitoring system is activated as the first step in the process. Generally homeowners press a button or a set of buttons on the keyboard to activate the security system. Send a message that the security system will be implemented as violated in any way. When this happens, the various components of an active safety system. This can include access to contacts, motion detectors, security cameras and other components of supervision in the home security system. This feature will remain active until the owner returned home and from the operating system of internal security. Again, this is usually done by typing in a string of numbers on the keyboard.

If a breach of security, home security surveillance system will begin a sequence of events. In most cases the first case, after detecting an intruder, a warning alarm tone. Generally low level alarm and the purpose of the alarm for owners to turn off the alarm when he returned home. owners usually have about 30 seconds to turn the alarm off before the home security alarm system with the next step.

If the alarm is not deactivated at the same time two things happen to go home security check. An alarm sounds and a powerful message sent to a monitoring station that a failure of the security system home security monitoring. This message came from the monitoring station staff 24 days to respond to this message. The first answer is to contact the owner to determine whether a surveillance system for homeland security is breached or is it a false alarm. If the owner does not respond to the security staff monitoring the delivery of housing and the password protection, the staff will contact the local police and send it to your address.

The control internal security services are suitable for a clear path of action have. Most home security monitoring company and continue to respond with a very similar way as a security breach on your network. Although each company home security monitoring may vary, all generally work the same way.

Cyberwar Chief Calls for Secure Computer Network

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 11:05:00 +0000

FORT MEADE, Md. — The new commander of the military’s cyberwarfare operations is advocating the creation of a separate, secure computer network to protect civilian government agencies and critical industries like the nation’s power grid against attacks mounted over the Internet.

The officer, Gen. Keith B. Alexander, suggested that such a heavily restricted network would allow the government to impose greater protections for the nation’s vital, official on-line operations. General Alexander labeled the new network “a secure zone, a protected zone.” Others have nicknamed it “dot-secure.”

It would provide to essential networks like those that tie together the banking, aviation, and public utility systems the kind of protection that the military has built around secret military and diplomatic communications networks — although even these are not completely invulnerable.

For years, experts have warned of the risks of Internet attacks on civilian networks. An article published a few months ago by the National Academy of Engineering said that “cyber systems are the ‘weakest link’ in the electricity system,” and that “security must be designed into the system from the start, not glued on as an afterthought.”

General Alexander, an Army officer who leads the military’s new Cyber Command, did not explain just where the fence should be built between the conventional Internet and his proposed secure zone, or how the gates would be opened to allow appropriate access to information they need every day. General Alexander said the White House hopes to complete a policy review on cyber issues in time for Congress to debate updated or new legislation when it convenes in January.

General Alexander’s new command is responsible for defending Defense Department computer networks and, if directed by the president, carrying out computer-network attacks overseas.

But the military is broadly prohibited from engaging in law enforcement operations on American soil without a presidential order, so the command’s potential role in assisting the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Department of Energy in the event of a major attack inside the United States has not been set down in law or policy.

“There is a real probability that in the future, this country will get hit with a destructive attack, and we need to be ready for it,” General Alexander said in a roundtable with reporters at the National Cryptologic Museum here at Fort Meade in advance of his Congressional testimony on Thursday morning.

“I believe this is one of the most critical problems our country faces,” he said. “We need to get that right. I think we have to have a discussion about roles and responsibilities: What’s the role of Cyber Command? What’s the role of the ‘intel’ community? What’s the role of the rest of the Defense Department? What’s the role of D.H.S.? And how do you make that team work? That’s going to take time.”

Some critics have questioned whether the Defense Department can step up protection of vital computer networks without crashing against the public’s ability to live and work with confidence on the Internet. General Alexander said, “We can protect civil liberties and privacy and still do our mission. We’ve got to do that.”

Speaking of the civilian networks that are at risk, he said: “If one of those destructive attacks comes right now, I’m focused on the Defense Department. What are the responsibilities — and I think this is part of the discussion — for the power grid, for financial networks, for other critical infrastructure? How do you protect the country when it comes to that kind of attack, and who is responsible for it?”

As General Alexander prepared for his testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, the ranking Republican on the panel, Howard P. McKeon of California, noted the Pentagon’s progress in expanding its cyber capabilities.

But he said that “many questions remain as to how Cyber Command will meet such a broad mandate” given the clear “vulnerabilities in cyberspace.”

The committee chairman, Rep. Ike Skelton, Democrat of Missouri, said that “cyberspace is an environment where distinctions and divisions between public and private, government and commercial, military and nonmilitary are blurred.” He said that it is important “that we engage in this discussion in a very direct way and include the public.”

Articles Sourceh : nytimes

Download Driver Acer Aspire 2920

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:06:00 +0000

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TOSHIBA Satellite L510-B400

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:25:00 +0000

Overview
This great value, quality laptop serves all your basic computing needs and offers you great performance packed with some astonishing features. Our passion for innovation includes introducing the best value notebooks as well the latest technologies, and the result is the combination of performance, style and ease of use with affordability. The latest innovative Toshiba entertainment and multimedia features for the smartest digital experience are also included as standard because you shouldn't have to pay extra for ease of use.

Detail Specifications

Platform
Notebook PC with Intel Centrino Duo Technology
Processor Type
Intel Pentium Dual-Core Processor
Processor Onboard
Intel® Pentium® T4400 (2.2 GHz, FSB 800, Cache 1 MB)
Chipset
Intel 45GM
Standard Memory
1 GB DDR3 SDRAM PC-8500
Max. Memory
4 GB (2 DIMMs)
Video Type
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD 285 MB (shared)
Display Size
14" WXGA LED
Display Max. Resolution
1366 x 768
Display Technology
Clear SuperView LED
Audio Type
Integrated
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Speakers Type
Integrated
Floppy Drive
Optional
Hard Drive Type
250 GB Serial ATA 5400 RPM
Optical Drive Type
DVD±RW
Modem
Optional
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Networking
Integrated
Network Speed
10 / 100 Mbps
Wireless Network Type
Integrated
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Wireless Network Protocol
IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
Wireless Bluetooth
Optional
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Keyboard Type
QWERTY 82 keys
Input Device Type
Touch Pad
Slot Provided
Optional
Card Reader Provided
SD, MMC, Memory Stick / Stick PRO
Interface Provided
2x USB 2.0, VGA, LAN, Audio, eSATA,* Webcamera
O/S Provided
Pre-sales Request Available
Battery Type
Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery
Power Supply
External AC Adapter
Dimension (WHD)
340 x 38 x 232 mm
Weight
2.3 kg
Standard Warranty
1-year Limited Warranty by Authorized Distributor
Bundled Peripherals
Carrying Case
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Brother HL-2170 Laser Printer

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:39:00 +0000

Overview

Crisp and vibrant monochrome text and images are produced by this high-quality laser printer from Brother. The HL-2170 merges compact, easy-to-place and easy-to-use design with the quality and efficiency needed to meet the printing needs of any home office or small business. Rapid printing and cost savings combine to save your home office or small business time and money with the Brother HL-2170 monochrome printer.

Features and Functionality

With an outstanding print resolution of up to 2400 x 600 dpi, your HL-2170 printer will create precise, professional quality text and graphics. Bold and clear, your projects, spreadsheets, and other important documents will be quickly and efficiently created right in your home or office. The capacity tray holds 250 sheets of paper, allowing you the freedom to mass-produce documents, as needed.

The Brother HL-2170 toner cartridges come in black ink only, and yield up to 2,600 pages per cartridge. This printer model will use both the TN360 toner cartridge and the TN330 toner cartridge. Both toner cartridges come in both OEM branded and compatible toner cartridge versions. The DR360 drum cartridge is also required for operation. An option to use the Toner Save Mode allows you to stretch the life of your HL-2170 cartridge without compromising on quality for most of your text and graphics documents. Managing only black toner and an imaging drum with a yield of 12,000 pages allows you to save valuable time on maintenance, as well.

The HL-2170 has a USB 2.0 port for connectivity, and is compatible with Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. This printer is capable of being shared with other network computers, which contributes to the efficiency and cost savings overall. The HL-2170 is also an Energy Star qualified printer, saving your business money as well as conserving the environment.

Why Choose the Brother HL-2170 Laser Printer?

The Brother HL-2170 is a high-quality monochrome laser printer that will be a smart addition to any office, be it home or small business. The professional quality text and images it can produce, as well as the cost savings as an Energy Star printer and the ability to manage your toner use with the Toner Save Mode, combine to make the HL-2170 an easy choice.

Brother HL-2170 Toner

Search for Brother Toner Cartridges.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anthony_Allen

Logitech Driver

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:35:00 +0000

Gift Ideas For the Electronic Enthusiast
By Michael Hirsch

Logitech International is a peripheral device company, specializing in items such as game controllers, webcams, keyboards, and mice. Logitech also produces home audio speakers, headphones, cellular phones and other audio devices. There is a variety of Logitech items available in stores and on the Internet which would be perfect for someone who loves electronics.

These days, the average family owns multiple home entertainment components, such as TVs, DVDs, audio systems, etc. The universal remote has become a time-saver which allows for an easier means of accessing these electronics. Logitech latest universal remote, the Harmony 700, is easy to configure and saves settings via cloud. Devices can be configured with a single key punch, which is a great improvement over the more inexpensive universal remote controllers. Although it lacks a touch screen, for the price, the Harmony 700 has great design and functionality.

Another new Logitech product in the market is the QuickCam Pro 9000. This webcam utilized a Carl Zeiss lens and proprietary technology which delivers superior image quality, even in low light situations. The software, which is bundled with the product, is both sophisticated and easy to use. The webcam also comes with a flexible and sturdy stand which can be used on top of a monitor or on a desk.

In the market of portable radio and wi-fi music players, Logitech has developed the Squeezebox Radio. This compact device is easily customizable utilizing the newly created applications gallery and Squeezebox software. The audio sound is respectable, taking into account the small size of the player, and utilizes a 7. 6 cm woofer. The device features the ability to stream radio and the option to listen to music files on PCs or a network. This gives the listeners more options and greater convenience than a regular MP3 player.

Logitech also produced a new user-friendly keyboard, the Comfort Wave 450. It was designed for heavy computer users, such as administrative staff. Three new design elements include a U shape style, a key-frame design, and a padded wrist rest. Unlike other ergonomic keyboards on the market, this particular item is intuitive and doesn't reposition the keys in a strange fashion. Users are able to adapt to this keyboard, quickly and comfortably.

Another Logitech innovation is the Digital Security System. This product allows consumers to monitor their homes, remotely. It involves an easy set up of the system which includes an indoor video camera, with mounts if necessary. All components are powered and networked via AC plugs. If the system detects motion in your house, the system alerts you by text message or email.

In order to enable computer programs to interact correctly with hardware devices, device drivers must be installed. Consumers must download the appropriate logitech driver in order to have full functionality of their device. Although a CD of the driver is usually included with Logitech, the drivers can also be downloaded for free on many internet sites. If a user happens to upgrade their computer's operating system, these drivers would have to be reinstalled into their system.

This holiday, Logitech offers an assortment of products such as computer peripherals and audio players. Logitech is a popular brand among people who enjoy receiving novel and well-made electronic products.

We have access to the worlds largest driver database. To learn more about updating all your drivers at once. Visit us at http://www.onestopdrivers.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Hirsch

How Secure Are Online Data Backups?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:20:00 +0000

Processing DATA is what all businesses do. Protecting data is what SMART businesses do. Smart businesses understand that if they lose their data they lose their business.

If you are considering taking steps to ensure the integrity and safety of your important computer data you may be concerned about the security involved when dealing with such a task. When considering a third party such as an online secure data backup solution there are a few things to consider:

For starters, it is critical that your data be secure not only while in the possession of a third party but also while in transit to them. Most modern online secure data backup providers make there services available via the Internet and will provide you with the necessary software to back up a predefined set of your critical data, which is then encrypted (typically up to 448 bit), before it is transferred over a high speed connection to a secure data storage facility. By securing your data before transferring it over the Internet, you can be assured that your sensitive data (such as financial reports, company memos, and client databases) are safe from prying eyes. For ultra-critical, or highly sensitive applications, the data may be transferred over a completely encrypted channel (also known as an encrypted "tunnel" or virtual private network). If you will be backing up sensitive data that demands the utmost of privacy be sure to inquire about the level of encryption offered by the online secure data backup you are considering.

When considering a remote data backup vendor you should also take into consideration the facilities in which your sensitive data will be physically stored. In addition to encryption technology other things to be on the lookout for are fully secure facilities, biometric security systems, facility lockout policies, and human security. Depending on the level of security you need there are many levels of protection for your data that can be provided by remote data backup companies.

Be sure to do your research and investigate the track record and reputation of the online data backup company you are considering doing business with and never hesitate to ask questions when it comes to ensuring the security of your mission critical confidential data.

Your DATA is your LIFE. Protect it!

Harald Anderson is a freelance writer and webmaster for http://www.online-remote-data-backup.com an online backup service. Experience the Digital Peace of Mind that safe, secure, encrypted online data backups can offer. Online Backups

Article source :
http://articles.klikajadeh.com/showarticle.php?article=11113

Using a Binary Patch Maker to Create Secure Software Patches

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:22:00 +0000

Once a software product has been released into the field, it's inevitable that software development companies will want to fix problems, add features, solve unforeseen compatibility issues, and fix security holes. That's why a binary patch maker belongs in the software development tool kit of every programmer.

Benefits of Patching
The role of patches in the software deployment life-cycle is to get already installed software up to date after it becomes outdated. Patching technology offers numerous benefits over simply redistributing new versions of the original software in whole form.

Smaller file size
Because they only contain the data that has changed from one version to another, patches can be much smaller than a full software installer needs to be. Especially in situations where large data files are involved, the savings are often dramatic-patches that are less than 1% of the original file sizes are possible.

Reduced bandwidth
Smaller file sizes translate into reduced bandwidth costs, and reducing the amount of traffic leaves more bandwidth for other services.

Faster transmission speeds
Having less data to transmit means that updates can be sent and received faster, which means less time is spent waiting for updates.

Security
The best way to protect information during transmission is to never transmit it in the first place. By only transmitting the data that has changed, patches reduce the risk of third-party interception. Even if some hypothetical future technology made it possible to "crack" the encryption methods used to package the changes, the unchanged data would remain safe.

Integrity
A patch can't update something that isn't there. If a user doesn't already have your software installed, they won't be able to apply the patch. And if someone is using a modified version of a file, that file won't be updated-unless you expressly permit it when you design your patch.

Patching Methods
There are two basic methods that can be used to update a file: binary patching, and whole-file patching.

Binary Patching
Binary patching or "delta compression" involves analyzing two versions of a file in order to extract only the data that has changed. The same changes can then be applied to any file that matches the old version, in order to "transform" it into the new version.

Creating a binary patch involves performing a byte-by-byte comparison between the original file and the new file, and then encoding the differences into a difference file. Each difference file contains the actual bytes that are different in the new file, along with a number of instructions that describe which bytes need to change, and which bytes are the same. This information is said to be encoded into the difference file.

Tip: The term "difference file" is often shortened to "diff file" or just "diff."

When the patch is applied, the difference file is decoded, and the instructions are used to build the new file by copying the "unchanged" data out of the old file, along with the "changed" data that was encoded into the difference file.

For example, given an old file "A" and a new file "B," a binary patching engine would compare A to B and then produce a difference file; let's call it "AB.diff." Once the difference file is created, you can use it to create the B file from any file that matches the A file. In fact, the binary patching engine could recreate B using A and AB.diff.

Because binary patching only stores the parts that have changed, the difference files can be very small-often less than one percent of the new file's size. The size of the difference file depends entirely on how much data has changed between the two versions.

Each difference file can update a single, specific version of a file to another single, specific version of that file. The encoded instructions in the difference file are only valid for a file that is a perfect match of the original source file. Note that binary patching cannot be used to update a file if it has been modified in any way.

For patches that need to update multiple files, the patch executable will need to contain a separate difference file for each file that needs to be updated. So, for example, to update a single file from version 1.0 or 1.1 to version 1.2, using a single patch executable, it would need to contain one difference file to go from 1.0 to 1.2, and another to go from 1.1 to 1.2.

In most cases, the difference files are so small that you can fit a lot of versions into a single patch executable and still use less space than you would by just including the whole file, as in whole-file patching (see below).

Note: An advanced patch maker like Indigo Rose's Visual Patch will automatically switch from binary to whole-file patching on a file-by-file basis whenever the total size of all the difference files surpasses the size of the whole file.

Whole-File Patching
Whole-file patching operates on a different principle. Instead of only containing the parts that have changed (as binary patches do), whole-file patches just copy the entire file. The "patch" is just a copy of the new version.

Whole-file patches can be faster to apply, because they don't have to search through the original file in order to copy the parts that haven't changed to the new version. They just overwrite the old file with the new one. The downside, of course, is that whole-file patches tend to be much larger than binary patches.

There are, however, two situations where whole-file patches can actually be smaller: when creating a single patch file that is able to update many different versions, and when the files being patched are too dissimilar.

A smart patch maker like Visual Patch chooses the patching method that produces the best results. It automatically switches between binary patching and whole-file patching on a file-by-file basis in order to produces the smallest patch possible for your project.

For more information on choosing a binary patch maker that creates compact and secure software updates, visit here and download a free trial version of Visual Patch.

By Danny Forster
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danny_Forster

Multitouch Screens Could Enliven New Devices

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:06:00 +0000

Multitouch screens have been a little slower to enter the electronics marketplace than consumers might have hoped. Since Jeff Han, a research scientist at New York University’s Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, first presented his multitouch wall at the TED Conference in 2006, we’ve seen other multitouch technologies trickle into the electronic marketplace. The cellphone has used the technology most, starting with the iPhone, and then moving into other smartphones using Google’s Android platform and Hewlett-Packard TouchSmart countertop computer. But with the exception of a few outliers and device manufacturer research demos, we haven’t really seen multitouch used in other consumer electronics yet.
That might all change soon. Ilya Rosenberg, Ken Perlin and a small team of computer scientists from New York University’s Media Research Lab hope to bring a new kind of multitouch to everything from new e-readers to musical instruments, with their new company, Touchco.

Devices like the iPhone use a technology called capacitive touch and require contact with skin to activate a touch point. These touch technologies also limit the number of simultaneous inputs (the iPhone can track up to five fingers at once). In contrast, Touchco uses a technology called interpolating force-sensitive resistance, or I.F.S.R. This technology uses force-sensitive resistors, which become more conductive as you apply different levels of pressure, and then constantly scan and detect different inputs.

This allows for very low power, unlimited simultaneous touch inputs and the possibility of fully flexible multitouch devices. The technology is also extremely inexpensive; Mr. Rosenberg hopes to sell sheets of I.F.S.R. for as little as $10 a square foot.

So where can you expect to see this technology? Mr. Perlin believes you will see a new range of multitouch e-readers in the coming year, along with new musical instruments and other laptops or notebooks. Touchco has also been working closely with Disney animators to create a true digital sketchbook replacement, utilizing extremely sensitive pressure sensors to determine pencil thickness or even use of an eraser. The software behind the sensors can easily differentiate between the palm of a hand, a brush or a pencil.

There is also the possibility that the right implementation on computer could change the way we interact with interfaces. As an example, Mr. Rosenberg showed me a long sheet of I.F.S.R., about the size of a large flat panel computer monitor, which allowed manipulation of a 3-D computer program. When I lightly dragged my hand across the touch panel I could control the cursor. When I applied more pressure, I could select objects and change their orientation, size and shape within the program. It was incredibly intuitive and simple to navigate.

As you can see from the images below, there are lots of potential applications and devices that could use inexpensive multitouch technology. You can also see some video demonstrations on Touchco’s YouTube page.

Touchco began selling developer product kits to device manufacturers this year and hopes to see new devices enter the digital marketplace by late 2010. Touchco published technical specifications here.

By NICK BILTON
Article Sourch : http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/30/multi-touch-screens-could-enable-many-new-devices/#more-27105

Dell Customers Fume Over Late Holiday Orders

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:58:00 +0000

Some of Dell’s social-networking-type Web sites have turned less social and more volatile over the holidays, as the company’s PC shipment woes have carried on past Christmas.

Customers have flocked to the Direct2Dell blog and Twitter to free their inner bah humbug. They’re chastising Dell left and right for multiple delays involving their orders – some stretching more than a month. In addition, they’re scoffing at the Dell Holiday Card the company offered as an under-the-tree replacement for missing PCs.

A couple of weeks ago, Dell picked up on the negative chatter and went to its blog for self-defense.

“The reality is that we are seeing increased demand for many of the products consumers want to buy, and it has affected our ability to fulfill the orders,” wrote Lionel Menchaca, the chief blogger at Dell. “In addition, there are also some industrywide constraints on some components (like memory and larger-capacity hard drives) that are delaying the manufacturing of certain products for customers.”

Things turned uglier as Christmas came and went and order delays were extended.

Mr. Menchaca has been working to fix some orders personally, as have some of Dell’s public relations staff members in Europe.

It’s a full-court Tweet press that seems to have placated some. For example, the Twitter user @dell_ruins_xmas appears to have shut down his account after Dell stepped in with some personalized customer service.

But many customers are still irate. People on the Direct2Dell blog talk about canceling their orders and still facing delay after delay.

“Yay, the Studio 1745 I ordered on 12/1 came with an estimated delivery date of 12/29, then 1/6, and today it changed to 1/13,” wrote HobbesGTS. “I tried calling to find out why it’s delayed and customer support is worthless.”

Another customer said his order had slipped from Nov. 14 to Jan. 29.

“I’m getting the feeling that I will get my alienware … by xmas 2010!” wrote deannzt. “Can it really take 2.5 months to build this computer?”

Dell has suffered from these types of delays in the past, particularly when it first started offering a wider choice of colors on laptops. The company ran into painting issues at a factory in Asia, and had to delay orders by many weeks.

Over all, it’s a tough situation for a company that’s spent years trying to rebuild its customer service reputation. The proactive moves on the social networking sites and blogs can offset only so much anguish.

One would think that eventually the shipment times for the major PC makers should be all just about equal. Dell has finally followed the lead of its rivals and moved more of its business to contract manufacturers, rather than trying to build its own PCs.

By ASHLEE VANCE

Article Sourch :http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/31/dell-customers-fume-over-late-holiday-orders/?ref=technology

Mobile Phones Become Targets of Hacking

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:17:00 +0000

Mobile phones are becoming ever more like personal computers. That means they are also becoming more vulnerable to traditional computer menaces like hackers and viruses.
This year, the Russian antivirus company Kaspersky Lab reported on a new malicious program that stole money by taking over Nokia phones and making small charges to the owners’ wireless accounts.
Last month, an Australian student created an experimental worm that hopscotched across “jailbroken” iPhones, which are phones altered to run software Apple has not authorized. The mischievous worm did not cause any damage; it just installed a photo of the ’80s pop star Rick Astley. But to security experts, it suggested that pernicious attacks on iPhones are possible.

Where there are perceived security threats, there are always entrepreneurs and investors looking to capitalize on them — and build profitable businesses. This month Khosla Ventures, a prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firm, led an investment group that injected $5.5 million into a fledgling security start-up called Lookout.

Lookout, based in San Francisco, was previously a consulting firm called Flexilis run by recent graduates of the University of Southern California. Now it wants to be the security giant of the mobile world, similar to the role Symantec plays in the PC market.

This year, Lookout began testing security software for phones running the Windows Mobile and Android operating systems, and it will soon introduce security applications for the BlackBerry and iPhone. The software protects phones against rogue programs and gives phone owners the ability to remotely back up and erase the data on their phones. It also lets them track the location of their handset on the Web.

A basic version of the software is free, while the company plans to charge a monthly subscription for a version with more features.

“It feels a lot like it did in 1999 in desktop security,” said John Hering, Lookout’s 26-year-old chief executive, who for years has done research demonstrating security vulnerabilities in phones. “People are using the mobile Web and downloading applications more than ever before, and there are threats that come with that.”

Lookout represents the latest attempt to build a new business that capitalizes on the surge of smartphones. Thousands of companies making mobile games, shopping tools and other programs have sprung up in the last two years as the iPhone in particular has taken off. Lookout and its investors believe this is the right time to get into the market.

“The rules of mobile are different,” said Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, which also recently invested in Square, a mobile payments start-up. “This is people’s most personal computer, and it needs to be protected.”

Companies like Research In Motion, maker of the BlackBerry, and Good Technology, a Silicon Valley-based mobile messaging firm, already offer mobile security tools, but their systems are aimed at businesses. Security firms like Symantec also have mobile security divisions, and a five-year-old company, Trust Digital, based in McLean, Va., has set its sights on this market.

Lookout says it can address the unique challenges of protecting cellphones, like preserving battery life. While the company will not give details, it says it has figured out how to get its software to work on the iPhone, which does not allow non-Apple programs to operate in the background, as security software typically does.

Mr. Hering and his co-founder, Kevin Mahaffey, 25, have been publicly demonstrating the weaknesses of mobile phones for some time. In 2005, they camped outside the Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood and scanned the phones of stars walking the red carpet, using a short-range Bluetooth wireless connection. They found that as many as 100 of the phones were vulnerable to hacking over such a connection.

That year, at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas, they hacked into a phone over a mile away using Bluetooth.

Lookout’s founders and backers concede that for now, snoops and bad guys pose much less of a threat to cellphones than to PCs. But they believe there is an immediate need for software that preserves and protects a phone’s data, from e-mail to corporate information, and they say current systems do not work when a family or business has multiple types of cellphones on various wireless networks.

For instance, a small business could install the Lookout software on many different types of devices, back up all the data and remotely erase a phone if, say, an employee leaves it in a cab.

Jeff Moss, a security expert and organizer of the Black Hat conference, said mobile security had historically “been a solution in search of a problem.” But he said mobile viruses had recently become more common in Asia. His own Nokia N97 phone even caught a bug recently, though software he was running from F-Secure, a Finnish security company, caught it in time.

“The tipping point will be when we’re using the phone to shop and conduct banking,” Mr. Moss said. “The more you do with the phone, the more valuable a target it becomes.”
By BRAD STONE
Article Sourch :http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/brad_stone/index.html?inline=nyt-per

Troubleshooting Security Windows Vista

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:48:00 +0000

Firewall troubleshooting
Windows Firewall which comes with Windows Vista really sticks in the hatch in the port. Thus you can experience some problems when you first switch to the Windows Firewall. Here are some common problems and solutions to the problem.

Some Internet applications do not work when installed on Windows Vista

Stricter security measures imposed by the Windows Firewall, some online games and other Internet programs are not working correctly. Microsoft maintains a list of these programs and ways to this problem in Knowledge Base article 842242 fixed. To access the page, scroll to http://support.microsoft.com and search for 842,242. Optionally you can access http:// support.microsoft.com / default.aspx? Scid = kb, en, 842,242 & Product = windowsxpsp2. While the previous article was based on the Windows XP Service Pack 2, a list of applications and configurations for applications that still applies to Vista.

Error message "Windows Firewall has blocked this program to accept connections"

This message is just a warning. With the assumption that you are familiar with the FTP site and the confidence of the owner, you can block and continue uploading the file (s).

Can not adjust the Windows Firewall for AOL dial-up connection

AOL does not follow the same standards of other ISPs do, so you can be the firewall to enable access America Online. (It's risky business and you might want to consider to contact AOL about a better solution, or consider switching to another ISP.) If you disable the Windows Firewall to get online, follow these steps:

1. If you are online, the connection to the Internet.

2. Press the Windows key, type in seconds, and then click the Security Center. Or click on the Start button and choose Control Panel -> Security -> Security Center.

3. In the Windows Security Center window, select the Windows Firewall from the left column.

4. Click Change settings. Raise your rights by clicking Continue or by entering the password of the administrative account.

5. Click on (not recommended).

6. Click OK.

7. Close all open windows. You should be able to get online. The AOL would be better to find an alternative solution that allows you to get online without Windows Firewall. Hopefully there will be a better solution at the time you read this, because it will be online without a firewall to significant security risks to your system cause.

Phone dialer does not work after you install Windows Vista Windows Firewall is blocking TCP port 1720, which is used by many phone calls program. This was done to prevent unauthorized calls from the program connected to the network without your knowledge. For your phone to dial into work, you must open these ports as follows:

1. Click the Start button and choose Control Panel -> Security Center. Or press the Windows key, type in seconds, and then click the Security Center.

2. In the Windows Security Center window, select the Windows Firewall from the left column.

3. In the left column, click Allow a program through Windows Firewall, and lift your rights by clicking OK or by entering the password for the administrative user.

4. In the Windows Firewall Settings dialog that opens, click the Exceptions tab.

5. Click the Add Port.

6. Type in what you name as the box, as Dialup Port 1720. 7. Type the number in 1720 as a port and select TCP.

8. Click OK in each dialog box that appears.

9. Close the Windows Firewall and Security Center window.

Opening port 1720 allows the voter to call via this link, even programs that are not valid can be a conscious act by the Internet. These ports to block, return to the Exceptions tab of the dialog box and uncheck the box to the left of the name you specified in step 6 of the series of the previous steps.

Antivirus Software Troubleshooting

If you have problems installing antivirus program, make sure you get the version for Windows Vista is installed. Safety programs written for Windows XP or other Windows versions do not work with Vista, because Vista is the operating system is much different. Check your antivirus program website publishers to update and additional information about the product on Windows Vista.

Problems Automatic Updates

Automatic Updates has changed many times over the years and continue to grow to this day. Your best bet for solving problems with the automatic update is straight to the source of current information. Click the Start button and select All Programs -> Windows Update. In the left column of the Windows Update page that opens, click on Updates: frequently asked questions. Scroll to the bottom of the Help window open and click on the Problems with installing updates.

Problems with Windows Defender

Your best resources for Windows Defender will of Defense website, visit www.microsoft.com / defender.

Troubleshooting ActiveX Control Downloads

Windows Firewall blocks ActiveX controls downloaded. If you click on a link does not provide the desired results, look at the information bar of Internet Explorer for more information. With the assumption that you consider safe ActiveX controls, click the Run bar and select Install ActiveX control or ActiveX controls.

Article Sourch :http://www.web-articles.info/e/a/title/Troubleshooting-Security-In-Windows-Vista/

A Place in the Sun for Apple’s MacBook

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:37:00 +0000

By STEPHEN WILLIAMS

Pay your money and take your choice: a solar-powered battery charger for an Apple MacBook for $1,200; or a new Apple MacBook for $200 less.

A Kansas company called QuickerTek has just announced the Apple “Juicz,” for those who just can’t find an AC outlet nearby, but can find the sun (the company claims someone took a Mac and a Juicz on a visit to Mount Everest and it worked well—closer to the sun, I guess).

The $1,200 lightweight, flexible panel puts out 55 watts and supposedly fully recharges just about any current Apple laptop in six hours, plugging into the Magsafe port. A bargain model for $700 has 27 watts and takes about twice as long to recharge the MacBook.

It’s a serious device, but at this price, one would have to be either committed to going green full time, or just committed. After all, AC outlets are…well, ubiquitous. As one reviewer noted, $1,200 could buy one heck of an extension cord.

Article Sourc :http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/a-place-in-the-sun-for-apples-macbook/