Techno-News Blog

by the BBC

More people are accessing news via digital means Malaysians have the most friends on their social networks, while Japanese users have the fewest. This is one of the findings of a large-scale research project, looking at online behaviour around the globe. It also found that digital sources are overtaking TV, radio and newspapers as the media channel of choice for 61% of the online population around the world. The study, conducted by research firm TNS, interviewed 50,000 consumers in 46 countries for the study.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11501625

by the BBC

GCHQ is mostly associated with electronic intelligence-gathering The UK’s critical infrastructure – such as power grids and emergency services – faces a “real and credible” threat of cyber attack, the head of GCHQ says. The intelligence agency’s director Iain Lobban said the country’s future economic prosperity rested on ensuring a defence against such assaults. The internet created opportunities for hostile states and criminals, he said. For example, 1,000 malicious e-mails a month are already being targeted at government computer networks, he said. Speaking to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Mr Lobban said he did not want to go into detail about the threat to the UK’s “critical national infrastructure”.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11528371

by NTD news Jakarta

Here at Cisco Systems’ Jakarta office, dozens of children are paying serious attention to the drawing training being taught by Peter Draw on 69-inch plasma screens. Mr. Draw is the cartoonist who broke a world record by drawing a huge 1,180 square foot caricature. Today he is teaching drawing from about a dozen countries all at the same time. The simultaneous training is made possible by a system that Cisco calls TelePresence. This system creates the impression of sitting face to face at a meeting. TelePresence was designed to link two physically separate rooms so that they resemble a single conference room.

http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_asia/2010-10-04/416256593149.html

by the BBC

Users can text to get a temporary password Facebook is launching one-time passwords in an effort to make it safer to log on to the social network from public computers. It also claims the system will help prevent cyber-criminals accessing users’ accounts. Users need to text the words ‘otp’ to 32665 and they will be sent a temporary password that will expire after 20 minutes. But security experts questioned whether the system was safe

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11535370

by the BBC

Hi-tech criminals use botnets to send out spam The US leads the world in numbers of Windows PCs that are part of botnets, reveals a report. More than 2.2 million US PCs were found to be part of botnets, networks of hijacked home computers, in the first six months of 2010, it said. Compiled by Microsoft, the research revealed that Brazil had the second highest level of infections at 550,000. Infections were highest in South Korea where 14.6 out of every 1000 machines were found to be enrolled in botnets. The 240-page Microsoft report took an in-depth look at botnets which, said Cliff Evans, head of security and identity at Microsoft UK, now sat at the centre of many cybercrime operations.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11531657

by Jon Kelly, BBC News Magazine

No more pile-ups, no more road rage, no more exasperated cursing as you stall at the lights. Reading the paper during the morning commute, enjoying the scenery rather than staring at the tarmac, cutting your transport costs down to a fraction. The promises of automatic, driver-less cars like those currently being tested by Google in California are many and varied.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11513316

by the BBC

Mr Vaizey wants to see a “step-change” in e-Accessibility by 2012 The UK government has outlined plans to improve public websites, upgrade equipment and provide better online content for disabled people. The measures, announced by communications minister Ed Vaizey, are intended to create a “step-change” in e-Accessibility by the time of the Paralympics in 2012. It will see upgrades to things such as screen readers and Braille embossers. Content such as e-books could be made available for those with poor eyesight.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11524233

BY Stephanie Carroll, Lahonton Valley News

“The No. 1 goal is preparing students for life outside of school because they’re going to have to be so much more technologically literate,” said Vice Principal John Johnson. “Technology is going to be an integral part of their lives even more than it is now.” Four classrooms will share two sets of 35 iPod Touches and two laptop carts with 16 laptops each. The four teachers and Johnson will take two years of professional development courses online to learn how to use the technology in education. “I feel like they know more about them than I do,” said geography teacher Emily Harrison.

http://www.lahontanvalleynews.com/article/20100926/NEWS/100929903/1055&ParentProfile=1045

by Christy Bors, Napa Valley Register

Ten years ago, in the land of simpler cell phones, CD players, bulky computer monitors, and basic cable television, I think I had a better social life — and that’s saying something. Ten years ago, I was an awkward 16-year-old honors student, with a full set of braces and orange hair. I was the average technology-savvy teenager back then; I helped my parents program their cell phones, set up their television, and installed their computer software. It wasn’t that I was abnormally gifted in electronic how-to-manual translations. I place my quick absorption of technology on the fact that my generation was the first to be introduced to school computers.

http://napavalleyregister.com/news/opinion/mailbag/article_2010657a-c9db-11df-99ad-001cc4c002e0.html

By Rick Winford, eWeek

Many organizations are migrating to Microsoft Windows 7 to take advantage of increased productivity, enhanced security and manageability, and cost savings. As a result, Windows 7 has become the fastest-selling operating system in history. In a recent survey, it was found that Windows 7 will become the new standard for most commercial PCs within 12 months. However, the process of managing a client environment through such an operating system transition can be resource-intensive, challenging and error-prone, particularly if done manually or even semiautomatically.

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Windows/How-to-Migrate-to-Microsoft-Windows-7-in-Seven-Steps/?kc=rss

By Clint Boulton, eWeek

Most analysts aren’t sure people will want Google TV for its price point and lack of TV provider partnerships. One analyst believes Google TV has a leg up on its Apple TV rival. Google and Logitech each propelled Google TV into the limelight this past week with content and product announcements, but it’s hard to find many analysts who believe the service will gain much traction in the market versus the likes of Apple TV and other products.  Google TV aims to blend TV content and Web content in a seamless package, powered by Google’s Android operating system and Google’s Chrome Web browser, and running on companion box and Internet TVs.

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Search-Engines/Will-Google-TV-Marginalize-Apple-TV-423439/?kc=rss

By Jack E. Gold, eWeek

Microsoft has finally officially announced Windows Phone 7. It is a significant departure from previous Windows Mobile products, and a major gamble. Here, Knowledge Center analyst Jack E. Gold discusses who will be the winners and losers now that Windows Phone 7 is here. It’s far sleeker, friendlier to users, and shows almost no sign of being a Windows derivative like the previous versions did. But will this be enough to make it a success? I won’t get into all the nits of hardware and software, as this has been done in great detail in other reports. However, I see a number of winners and losers in this announcement (and some too close to call at this time).

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Microsofts-Windows-Phone-7-The-Winners-and-Losers/?kc=rss

By THE NEW YORK TIMES

Researchers at Yale and New York University have developed a supercomputer based on the human visual system. On this week’s Tech Talk podcast from The New York Times, Bettina Edelstein speaks with Eugenio Culurciello, an associate professor of electrical engineering at Yale who has helped create this supercomputer. He says it could someday allow a car to drive itself.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/06/tech-talk-podcast-a-computer-that-could-drive-a-car/

By MIGUEL HELFT, NY Times

Back in March, I wrote about the increasingly personal fight between Steven P. Jobs, the Apple chief executive, and Eric E. Schmidt, his Google counterpart. In it, I quoted Mr. Jobs saying: “Make no mistake: Google wants to kill the iPhone. We won’t let them.” Six months later, there are no indications that Google is killing the iPhone. But there is no doubt that the iPhone has a serious fight on its hands. Phones powered by Google’s Android operating system are now the most popular among smartphones in the United States, according to new data released by Nielsen.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/the-iphone-has-a-real-fight-on-its-hands/

by the BBC

The tablet version of the XO computer should be ready by 2012 The One Laptop Per Child organisation has been given a $5.6m (£3.5m) grant to develop a tablet version of its educational computer. The cash comes from chip maker Marvell which became a supporter and sponsor of OLPC in early 2009. The OLPC organisation said the grant meant it had all the development cash it needed to produce its next machine. OLPC said it would show off the first development work on the new machine at the CES show in January 2011.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11475335

by Chad Catacchio, the Next Web

It seems like every like every new product that is demoed at CRETEC in Japan this week is cooler than the last. We’ve reported on bendable OLED screens, augmented reality eyeglasses and WiMax 2 already, but this news is pretty slick as well: a dual touch screen clamshell mobile phone from Fujitsu, that allows you to rotate each of the screens 90 degrees (i.e. to be horizontal) and can run different applications on each screen.

http://goo.gl/o6cs

by Chad Catacchio, the Next Web

Samsung has released an updated version of its Wave phone, the Wave II, which will run on Samsung’s Bada 1.2 OS and will feature a 3.7 inch Super Clear LCD screen (Super TFT?) instead of the 3.3-inch Super AMOLED display of the previous version. The new phone will first launch in France in November according to Samsung, and then will be, “gradually rolled out to other global markets including Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East Asia, Africa, India and China,” according to the press release.

http://goo.gl/CP3v

by Alex Wilhelm, the Next Web

Verizon is not hot over the forthcoming Windows Phone 7 line, and spoke with some pointed words about the possibility of the phones being picked up by the carrier in the future. When asked if Verizon viewed Microsoft as a major player in mobile, the CEO of Verizon Wireless had this to say: “No not at the moment. Microsoft is not at the forefront of our mind.” Tell us what you really think, Mr. McAdam. Do recall that the wildly embarrassing failure of the Kin was something that Verizon had to endure, perhaps darkening relations between the two companies. Verizon might be loath to pick up another untested, untried, and unsold Microsoft phone line.

http://goo.gl/zWbg

by the BBC

A scheme to improve broadband connection in rural areas is to be tried out in 300 Anglesey homes. Aberffraw, Llanfair-yn-Neubwll and Bryngwran areas are part of the pilot project run by i3 Group. Wireless and fibre optic connections will be used to take broadband to homes in areas with little or no access. The company providing the services, Carrier Wales, said it hoped the trial would “revolutionise communications in north Wales”. Initial broadband speeds of up to 10Mbps will be provided and will be bundled with telephone and other services in the future.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-11485462

By Maggie Shiels, BBC News

A groups feature will allow users to specify circles of friends with whom they want to share different data. For the first time, users will also be able to download all the data they have uploaded onto the site. They will also find it easier to see how individual applications are using personal information, Facebook’s chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11486427

By Julian Baggini, BBC Philosopher

The internet is in the running for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. Philosopher and author Julian Baggini looks at whether the world wide web can be a catalyst for peace. Awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to something that is neither a person nor an organisation of people makes perfect sense. Marx would certainly have understood why automatically favouring people over processes is a mistake.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11484673