Chase Card Services dumps customer details ... Samsung site hijacked as malware host

Today's IT News Audio Update
HP accessed reporters' phone records in leak search ... Intel launches vPro ... EU legislators warn Microsoft sanctions may hurt European businesses

HIGHLIGHTS

News: Chase Card Services dumps customer details in landfill
News: Samsung site hijacked as malware host
News: HTC unveils Windows smart phone line-up
News: Reporters' phone records accessed in HP probe
Opinion: Menu Option Judo
ITwhirled: Ten MySQL best practices

NEWS UPDATES

Samsung site hijacked as malware host
The U.S. corporate website of Samsung Telecom has been hijacked and used to host and distribute malware, security vendor Websense has revealed.

HTC unveils Windows smart phone line-up
High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC), the largest maker of handsets that use Microsoft Corp. software, has launched four new smart phones including one that's designed to rival the BlackBerry.

Amazon opens video download store
Amazon.com Inc. unveiled the Unbox Video Store on Thursday, a direct rival to Apple's iTunes 24-7 video store, which allows U.S. users to buy or rent TV shows, movies and other video content from the Internet.

Reporters' phone records accessed in HP probe
Hewlett-Packard Co. obtained the telephone records of nine reporters as part of its internal probe of information leaks, the company confirmed Thursday.

U.S. court halts alleged Web site billing scheme
A U.S. district court has ordered a halt to an operation that allegedly added unauthorized charges to the phone bills of small businesses and nonprofit groups for Web sites services that, in many cases, they didn't know they had and didn't request, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said.

Apple notes intermittent MacBook shutdowns
Apple has published a terse note effectively requesting feedback relating to reports of intermittent shutdowns affecting MacBooks. While not all users are affected by this, Apple's technical note urges users who are to "contact AppleCare for service."

OPINION

Menu Option Judo
By Sean McGrath

One of the distinguishing features of Judo as a martial art is that it emphasizes how you can use the weight of your opponent to your own advantage.

Hold that thought.

Now, close your eyes - no wait, that won't work - just imagine that you are a computer program skilled in the arts of Judo. Your 'opponent' is a user who is seeking to find errors in your coding. Bugs in the algorithms that make up your innermost being. The user's starting point every day is that you - the application - are always at fault. The user demands to be always right, even if, from your perspective as a logical computer program, the bugs lies within the user, not within your software. No amount of gently prodding the user to read the manual or take a training course appears to help. You seek to defend yourself against these never ending attacks. How to proceed?

Read the full article here

ITWHIRLED

She's a 10
10 worst blockbusters of all time ... 10 best practices for avoiding ID theft ... The 10 best Will Ferrell skits ... Ten MySQL best practices ... Top 10 wine lists in New York City

SEC plans 'action' over corruption at Lucent China ... E.U. criticized for action against Microsoft

Today's IT News Audio Update
HP board member resigns over handling of investigation into media leaks... Sony reduces shipment forecast for PlayStation 3 ... SEC warnsLucent it plans to take action over corruption at Chinese operations


HIGHLIGHTS

News: E.U. criticized for action against Microsoft
News: IBM will build new Department of Energy supercomputer
News: SEC plans 'action' over corruption at Lucent China
News: HP offers Integrity servers with Montecito chips
Tip: Scripting multiple Outlook windows
ITwhirled: Betrayed by a cell phone


NEWS UPDATES

E.U. criticized for action against Microsoft
Four European Parliament members warned the European Commission that itsactions toward Microsoft Corp. could endanger the competitiveness ofEuropean businesses by delaying the release of Vista, Microsoft's nextoperating system.

IBM will build new Department of Energy supercomputer
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) chose IBM Corp. to build a newsupercomputer for its Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, IBMannounced Wednesday.

SEC plans 'action' over corruption at Lucent China
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) warned LucentTechnologies Inc. to expect an "enforcement action" over violations ofthe Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by executives at its Chineseoperations.

HP offers Integrity servers with Montecito chips
Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) is launching two servers using Intel Corp.'snew dual-core Itanium chip in a bid to gain market traction for thetroubled Itanium line.

Mobile phones to get PVR features next year
Watching TV on a mobile phone could get more interesting next year withnew technologies that promise to bring TiVo-like recording functionalityto portable devices.

SAP, Cisco ramp up their partnership
Enterprise applications vendor SAP AG and networking company CiscoSystems Inc. are touting their new marketing alliance on governance,risk and compliance (GRC) business processes as a major milestone intheir 18-month-old partnership.

Hutchison's 3G growth slows, customers top 13.5 million
Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. now serves over 13.5 million 3G(third-generation) mobile phone customers worldwide, but the rate atwhich it adds new users has slowed down substantially.

Microsoft aims to patent verb-conjugation technology
Any U.S. high school student who has struggled through verb conjugationsin Spanish class knows how hard it can be to keep all of the verb formsstraight when trying to learn a new language. Now Microsoft Corp. hasfiled a patent for a technology that may help by automaticallyconjugating verbs in various languages.

PC hard disk system warns of Tsunamis
Governments seeking inexpensive technology to warn of tsunamis could beinterested in a free software application that monitors vibrations inthe hard disks of computers in an attempt to detect the underseaearthquakes that cause tsunamis.


TIP

Scripting multiple Outlook windows
By Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprises

Most knowledge workers in enterprise environments live by MicrosoftOutlook. Email is so important for today's businesses that getting themost out of using Outlook is essential for job effectiveness.

One complaint I used to have about Outlook 2003 was that I could onlyopen one copy of the program at a time. Double-click on the Outlookshortcut on the desktop, and an Outlook window opens. Double-click onthe same shortcut again and nothing happens. This frustrates me becauseI could manage my email more efficiently if I could have multipleOutlook windows open, one displaying my general Inbox, another my Urgentfolder where I route mail that's flagged as important, another my folderwhere I route mail for a big project I'm working on, and so on. It'sgreat to be able to create rules in Outlook that will route incomingmessages to whatever folders they should be directed, but I'd like tohave these folders always visible on my desktop so I can easily see newmessages arriving in each folder.


ITWHIRLED

Betrayed by a cell phone
As the line between cell phones and PDAs blurs, a lot of people havesome pretty sensitive stuff on their phones: business deals, illicitlove notes, and so on. But just because you delete that informationbefore you throw the phone away doesn't mean it's all gone forever.

Cisco banks on 'quad play' for sustained growth ... Customization to drive next Salesforce release


HIGHLIGHTS

Cisco banks on 'quad play' for sustained growth
Customization to drive next Salesforce release
Advocacy groups organize to stop surveillance bills
Cisco, Microsoft demo network security cooperation
BT reveals plans for all-IP network
Apple ships 24" iMac and updates range
Intrado tests VOIP E911 fix


NEWS UPDATES

Cisco banks on 'quad play' for sustained growth
Cisco Systems Inc. Chief Executive Officer John Chambers Wednesday stoked the networking vendor's love affair with IT investors by pointing to the company's unified communications strategy and broad product portfolio as a way to sustain growth over the long term.

Customization to drive next Salesforce release
Salesforce.com Inc. is starting to provide some details about the next version of its hosted CRM (customer relationship management) software, including the product's primary focus, which will be customization.

Advocacy groups organize to stop surveillance bills
A group of civil liberties and other advocacy groups are urging supporters to contact the U.S. Congress as it moves ahead to approve an electronic surveillance program run through the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA).

Cisco, Microsoft demo network security cooperation
It has taken nearly two years, but Microsoft Corp. and Cisco Systems Inc. are finally ready to demonstrate how their network access security products will work together. The demonstration will be held at the Security Standard Conference in Boston this week, where the two companies also will announce plans to roll out an early beta program for certain customers who want to test the new products.

BT reveals plans for all-IP network
BT has revealed the first details of how it plans to roll out its 21st Century Network (21CN), the ambitious all-IP network announced in 2004, designed to replace BT's traditional switched public network.

Apple ships 24" iMac and updates range
Apple has updated its entire iMac line with new Intel Core 2 Duo processors in every model and also launched a 24-inch iMac. The company claims its new processor offers up to 50 percent faster performance than before. In the U.S., iMac prices now start at $999.

Intrado tests VOIP E911 fix
Intrado Inc., a vendor of emergency dialing technology, has conducted a successful trial of using E911 emergency dialing capabilities with mobile VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) phones, the company said.

HP filing reveals details of board in-fighting, leaks ... SAP unveils GRC products

Today's IT News Audio Update
Intel lays off thousands more workers ... Vista pricing revealed by Microsoft ... Analysts expect DRAM prices to stay high


HIGHLIGHTS
News: HP filing reveals details of board in-fighting, leaks
News: SAP unveils GRC products, announces Cisco collaboration
News: Google unveils historical research service
News: Sony slashes launch PS3 shipments, big shortages likely
Tip: Scripting multiple Outlook windows
ITwhirled: Securing your job the old-fashioned way


NEWS UPDATES

HP filing reveals details of board in-fighting, leaks
All's still not well in the higher echelons of Hewlett-Packard Co. as revealed in a filing the company made to the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). The brouhaha relates to the sudden and unexpected resignation of Silicon Valley venture capitalist Thomas Perkins from HP's board of directors in May.

SAP unveils GRC products, announces Cisco collaboration
Delivering on a promise made earlier this year, SAP AG has unveiled the first set of products to help businesses meet their compliance requirements, in addition to announcing a marketing agreement with Cisco Systems Inc.

Google unveils historical research service
Google Inc. plans to enhance its Google News service with a feature designed to let users find articles with historical information on events and people.

Sony slashes launch PS3 shipments, big shortages likely
In what could result in a Christmas disappointment for hundreds of thousands of children, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. has drastically decreased the number of PlayStation 3 consoles it expects to ship this year as it wrestles with shortages of key components.

Testers: Vista appears stable in RC1 release
Early feedback from testers already using Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1) report that the OS is more stable than expected, which bodes well for Microsoft Corp.'s plan to have Vista out according to its current schedule.

Intel announces layoffs, reorganization
Continuing his quest to stop a slide in profits, Intel Corp. Chief Executive Paul Otellini announced layoffs of about 7,500 more people Tuesday. Together with previously announced layoffs of middle-management executives and the sale of two business units in recent months, the actions will reduce Intel's workforce by a total of 10,500 people by 2008 -- about 10 percent of the entire company.

Sybase to buy messaging vendor Mobile 365
Sybase Inc. is adding to its mobile portfolio, grabbing messaging service provider Mobile 365 for about $425 million in cash.

HTC to launch BlackBerry rival by end of 2006
Taiwan's High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC), the largest maker of mobile handsets that run the Windows Mobile OS, plans to launch a smartphone that looks like a BlackBerry, complete with a QWERTY keypad, by the end of the year.

Cisco-IBM group wins Silicon Valley wireless deal
Silicon Valley will get a homegrown Wi-Fi network from Cisco Systems Inc. to provide Internet access in metropolitan areas spread across about 1,500 square miles.

Sony upgrades LocationFree platform
Sony Corp. is upgrading its LocationFree platform with more efficient video compression and a receiver add-on for televisions.

SAP is sued over patent infringement
I2 Technologies Inc. accused SAP AG of patent infringement in a lawsuit filed Tuesday. The alleged patent infringements relate to SCM models and tools in areas such as managing factory planning systems, negotiating and tracking the sale of goods and allocating manufactured product to sellers.


TIP

Scripting multiple Outlook windows
By Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprise

Most knowledge workers in enterprise environments live by Microsoft Outlook. Email is so important for today's businesses that getting the most out of using Outlook is essential for job effectiveness.

One complaint I used to have about Outlook 2003 was that I could only open one copy of the program at a time. Double-click on the Outlook shortcut on the desktop, and an Outlook window opens. Double-click on the same shortcut again and nothing happens. This frustrates me because I could manage my email more efficiently if I could have multiple Outlook windows open, one displaying my general Inbox, another my Urgent folder where I route mail that's flagged as important, another my folder where I route mail for a big project I'm working on, and so on. It's great to be able to create rules in Outlook that will route incoming messages to whatever folders they should be directed, but I'd like to have these folders always visible on my desktop so I can easily see new messages arriving in each folder.


ITWHIRLED

How to write unmaintainable code
Programmers take notice! Did you know that if you follow industry conventions in terms of variable names, comments, code indentation, and the like, that just anyone could maintain your code, and thus you'd be easily replaced? In order to ensure that only you can understand the code you write, thus making you indispensable, follow these simple tips.

New Word flaw being used in attacks ... Microsoft sets Vista pricing

HIGHLIGHTS

News: New Word flaw being used in attacks
News: Microsoft sets Vista pricing, expands tester base
News: Lucent settles suits against Alcatel deal
News: IBM opens latest specialized 'Hipod' lab in Brazil
Research: Mobile Banking


NEWS UPDATES

New Word flaw being used in attacks
Symantec Corp. warns that an unpatched flaw in the Windows 2000 version of Microsoft Office 2000 is being used by attackers to run unauthorized software on a victim's computer.

Microsoft sets Vista pricing, expands tester base
Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday released the pricing for Windows Vista, about a week after online retailer Amazon.com disclosed the OS's pricing on its Web site. The company also expanded the tester base of Vista to about 5 million users as it begins gearing up for Windows Vista's widespread release, which is scheduled for early next year.

Lucent settles suits against Alcatel deal
Lucent Technologies Inc. has averted a potentially embarrassing delay of its shareholder vote on a merger with Alcatel SA, settling two suits by shareholders who said the deal doesn't maximize shareholder value.

IBM opens latest specialized 'Hipod' lab in Brazil
IBM Corp. has chosen Sao Paulo as the sixth global location for its specialized software and services laboratories known as "Hipods" or high-performance on-demand solutions facilities, which focus on resolving large-scale computing issues for IBM customers, including eBay Inc. and Google Inc.

Wi-Fi phones arrive, but still expensive
The trickle of Wi-Fi phones is becoming a flood, with two new products coming from Panasonic and Linksys, but they still look expensive.

Belkin to ship 802.11n WiFi products this month
Belkin has unveiled its range of new wireless devices based on the draft standard for next-generation wireless networking, 802.11n.


RESEARCH

Mobile Banking
By Dan Blacharski

The technology to make payments using your mobile phone is here.

Read the full article here

Panasonic recalls laptop batteries ... Microsoft nets phishing filter technology

Today's IT News Audio Update
IPod maker drops lawsuit against Chinese journalists ... MySpace tests music download service ... China's broadband market to overtake the U.S. next year

HIGHLIGHTS

News: Panasonic recalls laptop batteries in Japan
News: Microsoft nets phishing filter technology
News: No show for SanDisk MP3 players
News: Record sales highlight DRAM price rise
News: Google, sex keys to blogging success
ITwhirled: The Office Values

NEWS UPDATES

Panasonic recalls laptop batteries in Japan
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (Panasonic) is recalling several thousand laptop computer battery packs because mechanical problems with the pack's latch could lead to overheating of the battery.

Microsoft nets phishing filter technology
Microsoft Corp. is using data-mining techniques from a third party in its Internet browsers to guard against "phishing" attacks, where dubious Web sites try to harvest personal information from unknowing victims.

No show for SanDisk MP3 players
Music lovers hoping to see the latest MP3 music players from SanDisk Corp. at the IFA consumer electronics show in Germany will have to find an alternative venue outside the country. SanDisk was forced to remove the MP3 music players after an Italian patents company won a legal ruling in a local court.

Record sales highlight DRAM price rise
Some of Taiwan's DRAM makers have reported record monthly sales for August, highlighting an increase in DRAM prices that could continue in the months ahead.

Google, sex keys to blogging success in China
Two China-based bloggers have found the secret to generating more page views: sex sells, and Google helps readers find it.

Study: Apple iPod mobile may be sales challenge
Apple may be unwise to assume consumers want an iPod that is also a mobile phone, new research warns.

Symbian-to-PC worm on the loose
A worm that can move from a Symbian phone to a PC has been reported by security experts F-Secure.

DOS lives! Open source reinvents past
Twelve years after Microsoft announced it would stop development of DOS, an open source replacement -- FreeDOS -- has hit its 1.0 release.

Browzar no more than advertising platform
A new, free browser that claims it can safeguard privacy has been hit with accusations that it is really a platform for advertising and -- worse still -- is insecure.

ITWHIRLED

The Office Values
Microsoft is apparently pretty peeved that these internal spoof "training" videos, made by the team behind the original UK version of The Office, have found their way onto Google Video, but we don't know why. Doesn't the world's largest corporation, which has a somewhat sinister reputation, want to show its human side? At any rate, the videos, as fans of Ricky Gervais will guess, are hilarious.

Microsoft looks set to ship Vista on time ... Singapore tests free Wi-Fi service ... Trial of Livedoor chief starts with plea of not guilty

Today's IT news audio update
Sandisk device records live TV to flash cards ... iPod subcontractor dismisses Chinese libel suit ... Google seeks surfers' help to label images


HIGHLIGHTS

News: Sandisk device records live TV to flash cards
News: iPod subcontractor dismisses Chinese libel suit
News: Crikey! Crocodile Hunter news devours bandwidth
News: Google seeks surfers' help to label images
News: MySpace enters crowded music download market


NEWS UPDATES

Sandisk device records live TV to flash cards
Sandisk Corp. now offers a small, lightweight portable device that allows consumers to record all types of video input, including live TV, to a range of flash memory cards.

iPod subcontractor dismisses Chinese libel suit
The subcontractor accused of mistreating workers at an iPod factory in China dropped its libel suit against two reporters and the news organization they work for in Shanghai.

Crikey! Crocodile Hunter news devours bandwidth
News that Australia's own crocodile hunter Steve Irwin has died had Web site traffic in overdrive today with many news sites operating on low bandwidth mode due to high traffic.

Google seeks surfers' help to label images
Google Inc. is asking surfers with time on their hands to help it categorize and label the images indexed by its search engine, building a database of knowledge about the contents of the images.

MySpace enters crowded music download market
MySpace.com is launching a new music download service that emphasizes music from independent artists, the latest in a string of services announced in recent weeks that hope to topple iTunes from its crown.