Mozilla, Opera look to make video on the Web easier

New features in the Firefox and Opera browsers could make it less complex and cheaper for people to incorporate video into their Web sites, representatives of Mozilla and Opera say. ...continue reading 'Mozilla, Opera look to make video on the Web easier'

Google disables Gmail accounts by mistake

Google this week mistakenly disabled the Gmail accounts of an undetermined number of users due to an apparently overzealous attempt by the company to combat spammers. ...continue reading 'Google disables Gmail accounts by mistake'

Senate passes extension of R&D tax credit

The U.S. Senate has passed a one-year extension to a research and development tax credit program supported by many technology trade groups. ...continue reading 'Senate passes extension of R&D tax credit'

Analyst: NetSuite IPO should find success

NetSuite's decision to hold an auction-style initial public offering later this month will probably pay off, one analyst judged on Friday. ...continue reading 'Analyst: NetSuite IPO should find success'

Hackers launch major attack on national labs

Hackers have succeeded in breaking into the computer systems of two of the U.S.' most important science labs, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee and Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. ...continue reading 'Hackers launch major attack on national labs'

'Zombie' exploits cached by search engines

Over a year after first coming to light, the cache engines of major search engines are still providing a safe hiding place for malicious code, warns security company Aladdin. ...continue reading ''Zombie' exploits cached by search engines'

Facebook doesn't budge on Beacon's broad user tracking

Facebook's CEO and Founder Mark Zuckerberg has profusely apologized for missteps in the design and deployment of the Beacon ad system, but he remains unrepentant about what privacy advocates consider a particularly egregious feature. ...continue reading 'Facebook doesn't budge on Beacon's broad user tracking'

Microsoft uses new XBRL data tags in SEC filing

Microsoft has submitted data to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) using a newly released taxonomy for a financial reporting language designed to make it easier to compare companies' financial figures. ...continue reading 'Microsoft uses new XBRL data tags in SEC filing'

Multimedia sharing off limits on NAS drive

Concerned about piracy of multimedia files, Western Digital has disallowed the sharing of multimedia files on its 1T-byte network-attached storage drive, the WD My Book World Edition. ...continue reading 'Multimedia sharing off limits on NAS drive'

IBM system to scan streets at Beijing Olympics, NYC

When the 2008 Olympic Games kick off in Beijing next year, organizers will be using a sophisticated computer system to scan video images of city streets looking for everything from troublemakers to terrorists. ...continue reading 'IBM system to scan streets at Beijing Olympics, NYC'

Report: Apple threatens shops selling iPhone in Singapore

Apple recently threatened retailers in a Singapore mall with legal action if they continue to sell unlocked iPhones, prompting many to stop selling the handsets, The Straits Times newspaper reported Friday. ...continue reading 'Report: Apple threatens shops selling iPhone in Singapore'

HP touts BI services growth, NeoView success

Hewlett-Packard's business intelligence (BI) services business saw its customer base grow 50 percent in fiscal 2007, the company said this week, while also trumpeting the success of its Neoview data warehousing appliance. ...continue reading 'HP touts BI services growth, NeoView success'

IDC: Disk storage capacity sales soared in Q3

The capacity of disk storage systems shipped worldwide in the third quarter grew by nearly 50 percent from a year earlier, and EMC maintained its lead in most types of disk storage systems, research company IDC reported Thursday. ...continue reading 'IDC: Disk storage capacity sales soared in Q3'

Media formats to be the focus of upcoming Microsoft patches

Microsoft will issue seven security updates next Tuesday, including critical sets of patches for Windows and Internet Explorer. ...continue reading 'Media formats to be the focus of upcoming Microsoft patches'

Seagate buys e-discovery company

Storage vendor Seagate Technology said Thursday it plans to buy MetaLINCS, an e-discovery software firm. The vendor's move follows Iron Mountain's purchase earlier this year of Stratify, which is also focused on e-discovery. ...continue reading 'Seagate buys e-discovery company'

IDC forecasts IT spending slowdown in '08

IDC forecasts slower growth in IT spending globally and particularly in the U.S., where economic uncertainty will take its toll. ...continue reading 'IDC forecasts IT spending slowdown in '08'

Microsoft reschedules PDC for October 2008

Microsoft has scheduled its Professional Developers Conference for next year after cancelling a meeting that was to be held in October. ...continue reading 'Microsoft reschedules PDC for October 2008'

Best Buy to distribute Dell PCs

In an effort to put more of its PCs on retail shelves, Dell on Thursday signed up with consumer electronics retailer Best Buy to sell its desktops and laptops. ...continue reading 'Best Buy to distribute Dell PCs'

Cisco warns of bug in desktop software

Cisco is advising Windows users of its Cisco Security Agent software to upgrade the product because of a security bug. ...continue reading 'Cisco warns of bug in desktop software'

'AT&T says its wireless network also open to outside devices

AT&T says its wireless network has been open to outside devices and applications for years. ...continue reading 'AT&T says its wireless network also open to outside devices'

Toyota premieres violin-playing robot

Toyota unveiled on Thursday a violin playing robot and said it hopes to have a viable human assistance robots in the early 2010s. ...watch Toyota's new violin-playing robot in action

SourceForge opens eBay-like marketplace

SourceForge Inc.'s open-source, project-hosting Web site now has an eBay-like marketplace, where users can offer support services for sale. ...continue reading 'SourceForge opens eBay-like marketplace'

Oracle buys Dutch apps performance manager Moniforce

Oracle has bought Moniforce, a Dutch vendor of Web application performance management software, for an undisclosed sum. ...continue reading 'Oracle buys Dutch apps performance manager Moniforce'

IBM researchers build supercomputer-on-a-chip

IBM may bring supercomputers to laptops with its newest research project in which pulses of light replace electricity to help cores on chips communicate. ...continue reading 'IBM researchers build supercomputer-on-a-chip'

Dell closes hardware design unit in India

Dell moves its hardware design operation out of India, focusing instead on software development in the country. ...continue reading 'Dell closes hardware design unit in India'

Microsoft to trial XP on OLPC in January

Microsoft said it plans to conduct field trials in January of Windows XP running on the One Laptop Per Child XO laptop. ...continue reading 'Microsoft to trial XP on OLPC in January'

Silicon Valley wireless group seeks new builder

The big-name backers of Silicon Valley's proposed wireless network are looking for a new company to build and operate the system after potential financiers rebuffed the original vendor. ...continue reading 'Silicon Valley wireless group seeks new builder'

Facebook dims Beacon ... Google releases iPhone Web app ... Santa please bring me an HDTV

In this issue:
- Facebook tweaks Beacon again, Zuckerberg apologizes
- Tech groups call on Congress to extend R&D tax credit
- Novell delays financial results due to SEC inquiry
- Google releases iPhone Web app
- Big brands slip up in antivirus tests
- Santa please bring me an HDTV
- Ron Paul spam traced to Ukrainian botnet
- Google integrates AIM into Gmail
- Ten highest-radiation cell phones


TODAY'S NEWS

Facebook tweaks Beacon again, Zuckerberg apologizes
Facebook is giving members of its social network the ability to completely decline participating in the company's controversial Beacon ad system, a reaction to intense criticism that Beacon is too intrusive and compromises people's privacy.

Tech groups call on Congress to extend R&D tax credit
More than 40 trade groups, many representing the IT industry, have renewed their calls for Congress to extend a research and development tax credit that expires this month, saying the tax break protects U.S. jobs.

Novell delays financial results due to SEC inquiry
Novell on Wednesday said it has postponed announcing its fiscal fourth quarter and year-end 2007 results due to an SEC review of its accounting practices.

Google releases iPhone Web app
Google on Wednesday announced the release of a new interface to enable iPhone users to navigate Google's various services through a unified interface.

Big brands slip up in antivirus tests
Many big-brand security products fail to spot commonly-circulating malware, testing outfit has Virus Bulletin found in its latest tests.

Santa please bring me an HDTV
High-definition televisions and high-end game consoles are at the top of holiday wish lists in 2007, according to the results of a new web poll conducted by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA).

Ron Paul spam traced to Ukrainian botnet
Security researchers have shut down a network of computers responsible for sending out nearly 200 million spam messages supporting the U.S. presidential candidate last month, and after analyzing the server's software, it's clear that there is no such thing as a Ron Paul botnet, according to Joe Stewart, a senior security researcher with SecureWorks. "It probably wasn't even set up by a Ron Paul supporter," he said. "This whole system has been around since 2004. This [spam] somehow just landed in this underground spam economy."

Google integrates AIM into Gmail
Google has integrated AOL's popular AIM instant-messaging service into its Gmail Web-based e-mail client, the company announced on Tuesday.


OPINION

Tim Berners-Lee on Redefining the Web
Dan Blacharski, ITworld

Tim Berners-Lee coins a new term "giant global graph", and gets the joint a buzzin.


ITWHIRLED

Ten highest-radiation cell phones
Worried about all those power emissions coming off of your phone and going straight into your brain, but can't untether yourself from the gadget? This list lets you know which models you should be most freaked out about.


Subscribe to the ITwhirled alert - weird tech news direct to your inbox.


POLL

What's your current cell phone opinion?

- Confusing gewgaw
- Frivolous annoyance
- Necessary evil
- Fun plaything
- Life-affirming miracle gadget

Vote now!

Berners-Lee on Redefining the Web ... Verizon hedges on using Android ... Ron Paul is not a botmaster

In this issue:
- Tim Berners-Lee on Redefining the Web
- Verizon hedges on using Android
- Ron Paul spam traced to Ukrainian botnet
- Salesforce offers data sharing for customers
- Orange sells 30,000 iPhones in five days
- Former Motorola CTO takes the same position at Cisco
- Ten highest-radiation cell phones
- Poll: What's your current cell phone opinion?


TODAY'S NEWS

Salesforce offers data sharing for customers
Salesforce.com has introduced new features for its on-demand enterprise software designed to let customers share hosted data among themselves.

Ron Paul spam traced to Ukrainian botnet
Ron Paul is not a botmaster.

Orange sells 30,000 iPhones in five days
French mobile phone operator Orange sold 30,000 iPhones in the five days following its Nov. 29 launch, the company said Wednesday.

PDF approved as international standard in ISO vote
Adobe PDF (Portable Document Format) 1.7 has been approved as an international standard by the International Standards Organization (ISO), according to a company executive.

Verizon hedges on using Android
Despite reports to the contrary, Verizon Wireless hasn't yet decided whether it will use Android.

Red Hat aims MRG software at IBM, Tibco
Red Hat on Tuesday unveiled software that combines messaging, real-time and grid capabilities for enterprises that need an OS that can process messages and transactions at lightning speed, such as those in the financial services industry.

Former Motorola CTO takes the same position at Cisco
Padmasree Warrior, who quit as Motorola's CTO Monday, will take the same title at Cisco Systems.

Google integrates AIM into Gmail
Google has integrated AOL's popular AIM instant-messaging service into its Gmail Web-based e-mail client, the company announced on Tuesday.


OPINION

Tim Berners-Lee on Redefining the Web
Dan Blacharski, ITworld

Tim Berners-Lee coins a new term "giant global graph", and gets the joint a buzzin.


ITWHIRLED

Ten highest-radiation cell phones
Worried about all those power emissions coming off of your phone and going straight into your brain, but can't untether yourself from the gadget? This list lets you know which models you should be most freaked out about.


Subscribe to the ITwhirled alert - weird tech news direct to your inbox.


POLL

What's your current cell phone opinion?

- Confusing gewgaw
- Frivolous annoyance
- Necessary evil
- Fun plaything
- Life-affirming miracle gadget

Vote now!

700MHz filing deadline: What's next? ... SAP puts Web 2.0 spin on CRM ... Nokia plans more Internet services

In this issue:
- SAP puts a Web 2.0 spin on CRM upgrade
- Nokia lays plan for more Internet services
- UPDATE: Sun to dangle prize money over open-source efforts
- F-Secure: Malware samples doubled in one year
- Court lets T-Mobile sell locked iPhones in Germany
- New cell phone service helps Londoners find public toilets
- Poll: What's your current cell phone opinion?


TODAY'S NEWS

SAP puts a Web 2.0 spin on CRM upgrade
SAP on Tuesday announced an update to its customer relationship management software with a Web 2.0-style interface that could help to increase usage rates among workers.

Nokia lays plan for more Internet services
Nokia unveiled an ambitious plan on Tuesday to move beyond cell phones and deeper into the world of Internet services, where it will compete more directly with Google, Apple and Microsoft.

UPDATE: Sun to dangle prize money over open-source efforts
Sun Microsystems on Wednesday will release details of a new award program meant to spur growth and activity within the company's open-source efforts, according to a post by Sun's open-source officer, Simon Phipps, on his corporate blog.

F-Secure: Malware samples doubled in one year
Finnish security vendor F-Secure has collected twice as many malicious software samples this year than it has over the last 20 years, a trend that highlights the growing danger of malicious software on the Internet.

Court lets T-Mobile sell locked iPhones in Germany
T-Mobile Germany need not sell an unlocked version of Apple's iPhone, a court in Hamburg ruled Tuesday.

CDT urges changes to wiretapping legislation
The Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) has urged the U.S. Congress to make changes to a bill that would extend a controversial wiretapping program.

700MHz filing deadline: What's next?
Companies wishing to bid in the upcoming 700MHz auctions at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission were largely silent about their plans Monday, the deadline for submitting bid applications.

Motorola CTO leaves company
Motorola's chief technology officer has left the company, just days after Motorola announced it will replace CEO Ed Zander.

Adobe upgrades Flash to high definition
Adobe on Tuesday slashed the price of its Flash Media Server, making the system compatible with additional movie codecs and potentially opening the floodgates to making more video content available online.

Dell pressures suppliers to cut emissions
Dell has become the first IT company to sign up to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) plan to report on supply chain carbon emissions.


GO FIGURE

IT personnel are to blame in 30% of all data breach incidents. That's the finding of new research from security services firm Orthus. The next-highest offender is the customer service department at 22%.


ITWHIRLED

New cell phone service helps Londoners find public toilets
The city of Westminster, a part of the bustling core of greater London, has launched a service where you can send a 50-cent text message to get directions to the nearest free public bathroom. Officials hope this makes a dent in the increasingly gross problem of public urination -- they estimate that 10,000 gallons of urine end up on city streets every year.


Subscribe to the ITwhirled alert - weird tech news direct to your inbox.


POLL

What's your current cell phone opinion?

- Confusing gewgaw
- Frivolous annoyance
- Necessary evil
- Fun plaything
- Life-affirming miracle gadget

Vote now!

Beacon tracks non-Facebook users ... System restores made easy ... Intel, AMD price war winds down

In this issue:
- CA: Beacon's reach extends to non-Facebook users
- Microsoft: Windows flaw could steer IE to hackers
- Sun to dangle prize money over open-source efforts
- Windows Tip: System restores made easy
- Price war between Intel and AMD winding down, study says
- Microsoft to beef up anti-piracy checks in Vista SP1
- New cell phone service helps Londoners find public toilets
- Win a Wi-Fi Detector T-Shirt!


TODAY'S NEWS

CA: Beacon's reach extends to non-Facebook users
If you think that just because you have never signed up for Facebook you're immune to the tracking and collecting of user activities outside of this popular social networking site, think again.

Anti-virus testing guidelines coming early next year
Consumers should have more accurate information with which to compare security software suites under a new set of software testing guidelines to be finalized early next year.

Price war between Intel and AMD winding down, study says
Pinched by microprocessor price wars, Intel and Advanced Micro Devices are trying to move away from competing over prices, to competing on microprocessor features and functionality instead, according to a study released by iSuppli on Monday.

EBay, Yahoo Japan to tie up in auctions
EBay and Yahoo Japan are tying up to make it easier for their respective users to bid on and buy goods available on each other's sites.

Microsoft: Windows flaw could steer IE to hackers
Microsoft Corp. said Monday that a flaw in the way its Windows operating system looks up other computers on the Internet has resurfaced and could expose some customers to online attacks.

Sun to dangle prize money over open-source efforts
Sun Microsystems on Wednesday will release details of a new award program meant to spur growth and activity within the company's open-source efforts, according to a post by Sun's open-source officer, Simon Phipps, on his corporate blog.

Real-time Linux launched by Red Hat
Red Hat has launched a real-time version of Linux, aimed at applications needing predictable responses, from process control to financial market traders.

Microsoft to beef up anti-piracy checks in Vista SP1
Microsoft will change the user experience of its automatic anti-piracy checks in Windows Vista and also make it harder for hackers to bypass the system in the first service pack for the OS due out early next year.


WINDOWS TIP

System restores made easy
By Mitch Tulloch, Microsoft MVP

Restore a backup to a different hardware platform using virtualization. ...continue reading 'System restores made easy'


ITWHIRLED

New cell phone service helps Londoners find public toilets
The city of Westminster, a part of the bustling core of greater London, has launched a service where you can send a 50-cent text message to get directions to the nearest free public bathroom. Officials hope this makes a dent in the increasingly gross problem of public urination -- they estimate that 10,000 gallons of urine end up on city streets every year. ... read more


Subscribe to the ITwhirled alert - weird tech news direct to your inbox.


GIVEAWAY

Win a Wi-Fi Detector T-Shirt!

More than just a T-shirt; it's a public service. This fantastically functional shirt displays loud and proud the current wi-fi signal strength. Enter for a chance to win!


POLL

What's your current cell phone opinion?

- Confusing gewgaw
- Frivolous annoyance
- Necessary evil
- Fun plaything
- Life-affirming miracle gadget

Vote now!

Facebook cops to tracking logged-off users ... Apple's OS market share jumps ... IT spending to see slow start in '08

In this issue:
- Facebook admits Beacon tracks logged-off users
- Microsoft buys startup to boost Web, mobile services
- Study: IT spending to see anemic start in 2008
- French auction regulator sues to close down eBay France
- Vista a year later: Why IT clung to the status quo
- Exploding cell phone kills man - or does it?
- Win a Wi-Fi Detector T-Shirt!


TODAY'S NEWS

Facebook admits Beacon tracks logged-off users
Facebook has confirmed findings of a CA security researcher that the social-networking site's Beacon ad service is more intrusive and stealthy than previously acknowledged, an admission that contradicts statements made previously by Facebook executives and representatives.

Microsoft buys startup to boost Web, mobile services
Microsoft has purchased Seattle startup WebFives, which provides a Web-based file-sharing service for Internet and mobile video, photos, audio, and blogs.

Study: IT spending to see anemic start in 2008
The new year will see belt-tightening in the IT industry, as many customers look to hold down their technology spending, according to a study from ChangeWave Research.

French auction regulator sues to close down eBay France
The French auction regulatory authority is seeking to close down eBay France for operating an online auction without a permit, it announced Monday.

Shell, Rolls Royce reportedly hacked by Chinese spies
Britain's domestic intelligence agency is warning cybercrime by China is on the rise following attacks against Rolls-Royce and Royal Dutch Shell.

Activision hopes Blizzard merger can take it online
Activision hopes a planned merger with Vivendi's games units, Blizzard Entertainment and Sierra Entertainment, will help it take its game portfolio online, company executives said Monday.

Apple seizes 6.81% online market share
Apple has jumped to 6.81 percent market share of the OS market, according to the latest research from Net Applications.


OPINION

Vista a year later: Why IT clung to the status quo
Shane Schick, ComputerWorld Canada

On this, Vista's anniversary, the occasion feels less like a cause for celebration but a ritual in self-righteousness on the part of those who want to prove how astute they were. I'm not going to bother, because Vista's prospects weren't that difficult to forecast. ...continue


ITWHIRLED

Exploding cell phone kills man - or does it?
A Korean quarry worker was found dead on the job, his cell phone battery melted and burn marks on his torso consistent with an explosion in his shirt pocket. The police drew the obvious conclusion -- the cell phone done it! Perhaps unsurprisingly, LG, the phone's manufacturer, protests that such an incident is "virtually impossible."

Subscribe to the ITwhirled alert - weird tech news direct to your inbox.


GIVEAWAY

Win a Wi-Fi Detector T-Shirt!

More than just a T-shirt; it's a public service. This fantastically functional shirt displays loud and proud the current wi-fi signal strength. Enter for a chance to win!


POLL

What's your current cell phone opinion?

- Confusing gewgaw
- Frivolous annoyance
- Necessary evil
- Fun plaything
- Life-affirming miracle gadget

Vote now!

Vista a year later: Why IT clung to the status quo ... Vivendi, Activision to create computer games giant

In this issue:
- Vista a year later: Why IT clung to the status quo
- Shell, Rolls Royce reportedly hacked by Chinese spies
- Vivendi, Activision to create computer games giant
- Facebook's Beacon more intrusive than previously thought
- Intel's Diamondville will be based on Silverthorne processor
- Alfresco aligns with Adobe, bashes SharePoint
- Exploding cell phone kills man - or does it?
- Win a Wi-Fi Detector T-Shirt!


TODAY'S NEWS

Intel's Diamondville will be based on Silverthorne processor
Intel's Diamondville is to use the Silverthorne core, which will also target markets in consumer electronics, embedded applications, and Internet mobile devices.

Alfresco aligns with Adobe, bashes SharePoint
Quickly following up on its recent integration with Facebook, Alfresco is expected to release the 2.9 version of its open-source content management platform on Tuesday. Features in the release include integrations with popular Web-based services like iGoogle and MediaWiki, as well as Adobe's Web development tools.

Vivendi, Activision to create computer games giant
Vivendi plans to acquire a majority stake in games publisher Activision and merge the company with its own gaming unit to form a massive video games publisher.

Russia's SUP buys LiveJournal
Russian online media company SUP acquired blogging and community site LiveJournal from Six Apart on Monday, giving the company ownership of Russia's most popular blogging site.

Shell, Rolls Royce reportedly hacked by Chinese spies
Britain's domestic intelligence agency is warning cybercrime by China is on the rise following attacks against Rolls-Royce and Royal Dutch Shell.

Attackers target unpatched QuickTime flaw
Attackers are trying to exploit an unpatched vulnerability in Apple's QuickTime software that could let them run code on a victim's computer, Symantec warned in a DeepSight Threat Management System alert issued Sunday.

CA: Facebook's Beacon more intrusive than previously thought
A CA security researcher is sounding the alarm that Facebook's controversial Beacon online ad system goes much further than anyone has imagined in tracking people's Web activities outside the popular social networking site.

Verizon's 4G move may signal consolidation
The decision by Verizon Wireless to start testing LTE (Long-Term Evolution) mobile technology for rollout early in the next decade may lead to an even bigger change down the road.

Suit over Intel chip speeds pushed back
An Illinois judge threw out a ruling that would have launched a nationwide class-action lawsuit against Intel for misrepresenting the speed of Pentium 4 chips.


OPINION

Vista a year later: Why IT clung to the status quo
Shane Schick, ComputerWorld Canada

On this, Vista's anniversary, the occasion feels less like a cause for celebration but a ritual in self-righteousness on the part of those who want to prove how astute they were. I'm not going to bother, because Vista's prospects weren't that difficult to forecast. ...continue


ITWHIRLED

Exploding cell phone kills man - or does it?
A Korean quarry worker was found dead on the job, his cell phone battery melted and burn marks on his torso consistent with an explosion in his shirt pocket. The police drew the obvious conclusion -- the cell phone done it! Perhaps unsurprisingly, LG, the phone's manufacturer, protests that such an incident is "virtually impossible."

Subscribe to the ITwhirled alert - weird tech news direct to your inbox.


GIVEAWAY

Win a Wi-Fi Detector T-Shirt!

More than just a T-shirt; it's a public service. This fantastically functional shirt displays loud and proud the current wi-fi signal strength. Enter for a chance to win!


POLL

What's your current cell phone opinion?

- Confusing gewgaw
- Frivolous annoyance
- Necessary evil
- Fun plaything
- Life-affirming miracle gadget

Vote now!