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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Review: Chrome OS gives a peek at computing future (AP) : Technet

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Review: Chrome OS gives a peek at computing future (AP) : Technet

Review: Chrome OS gives a peek at computing future (AP)

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 02:17 PM PST

By RACHEL METZ, AP Technology Writer Rachel Metz, Ap Technology Writer – Wed Dec 22, 5:17 pm ET

SAN FRANCISCO – What if nearly everything you usually keep on your computer — photos, documents, music and software — was stored online? Your machine would be speedier and perhaps less vital because you could simply use another machine to recoup your digital life should you lose your laptop.

This premise — somewhat scary, yet liberating — is behind Google Inc.'s upcoming Chrome OS, which will make notebook computers more like netbooks than most actual netbooks.

The software powering Chrome OS, which is based on the search giant's eponymously named browser, serves mainly as a tool for connecting your computer to the Web. That's where nearly everything you use is housed and linked to your Google username and password. It's a concept known as cloud computing.

A peek at the upcoming operating system and its vision of cloud computing shows a promising idea that could make computing faster and more convenient. But it still needs a lot of work.

Google expects the first computers powered by Chrome OS to be released this summer, and initially they'll be made by Acer Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co.

For now, though, Google is operating a pilot for some individuals and companies to test an unbranded laptop that runs Chrome OS. The company lent The Associated Press one of these machines, which aren't going to be sold to the public.

The laptop itself, called the Cr-48, doesn't really deserve to be critiqued, because it is a stripped-down machine that is chiefly a frame for Google's OS oeuvre. The shell is entirely matte black plastic, without a hint of branding. It has a webcam, a screen that is about 12 inches diagonally and a full-sized keyboard with a search key in place of the caps lock key.

The machine also has 16 gigabytes of flash memory for storing files, if you feel absolutely compelled to download something. Downloads are obviously discouraged, though; my music collection alone would nearly fill this allotment.

Moving on to the main event, Chrome OS brings a few clear benefits: Starting up the notebook takes just seconds — roughly 13 of them, according to my stopwatch — and waking the closed notebook from "sleep" mode is as quick as opening it up (almost too quick, as the notebook couldn't regain its wireless service quite as fast). By contrast, my Windows machine at work takes more than two minutes to boot up.

After you sign in with your Google account, the same username and password you would use to access Gmail, you can pull up a home page showing all the apps you've installed from the Chrome Web Store. Assuming you're connected to the Web, you can just start using apps and surfing the Web right away.

There were plenty of free and paid Web apps and browser extensions available when I tested the notebook. Some are only for the Chrome OS; others also work with Google's Chrome Web browser for other computers.

I installed a range of the free ones, some of which seemed to be just links to existing Web pages. The apps I snagged included Web-based office suite Google Docs, the chatting service Google Talk, Aviary's Advanced Image Editor and balloon-popping puzzle game Poppit.

As with smart phones and tablets such as Apple Inc.'s iPad, publications are also making Chrome apps. USA Today, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal are among them.

On my work computer, it can take ages to open up applications that are stored on my hard drive. With the Cr-48, I could immediately start editing a Google Docs spreadsheet or tweak the colors in a photo using Aviary because the programs are all running online. I only needed a strong Internet connection.

Surfing the Web was a pretty normal experience, with most websites loading speedily, though the Cr-48 was not that good at displaying Flash videos.

But I felt constrained because I had to use the lone browser that comes with the system and the Web-based apps I obtained. Apps loaded slowly when my Internet connection wasn't stellar. This wouldn't be a problem with programs stored on a regular computer's hard drive.

If a Chrome OS-based laptop becomes my primary computer, a data plan would be a must.

I feel anxious just thinking about the possibility that I couldn't access my documents at any time, and I don't even keep anything that important on my own laptop.

I mostly used the notebook with Wi-Fi at home and at the office, though I also tried out its 3G network service, which is provide by Verizon Wireless.

So what happens if you don't have any Internet access? The Cr-48 is pretty useless.

I could still write in an already-open Google Docs document, add notes in Scratchpad and look at photos I'd downloaded. But I couldn't use apps that are not yet opened because they're all connected to the Web.

If you lose your connection while using an app, you may be able to view some information that has been temporarily stored in memory, as I could when browsing The New York Times' app. But you'll need to get online as soon as possible to really use the machine. Faced with this situation, I'd probably just search frantically for an Internet connection or simply put away my laptop.

In its current state, the Chrome OS is far from ready to take over as my main computer, even if I were using it on a more powerful machine than the Cr-48.

Sure, I spend most of my time on the Web already, but I'm not quite ready to rely on having Internet access to do almost anything with my computer.

I can imagine getting comfortable with that in the not-so-distant future, though, and I'm curious to see if Google can make it happen.

___

Online:

http:// www.google.com/chromeos/pilot-program.html

___

Online:

http://www.google.com/chromeos/pilot-program.html

Skype goes down for the count (Ben Patterson)

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 11:10 AM PST

By Ben Patterson ben Patterson – Wed Dec 22, 2:10 pm ET

Can't log into Skype? You're not the only one.

Millions of Skype users around the globe found themselves unable to log onto the chat service Wednesday, with Skype acknowledging in a tweet that "some of you may be having problems signing in." No kidding.

"Our engineers and site operations team are working non-stop to get things back to normal," read a follow-up tweet. "Thanks for your continued patience."

The first complaints about Wednesday's Skype outage came early in the morning, and by 1:30 p.m. ET, many users — including me — had been bounced out of the service and remained unable to log back in.

Even Skype's website was barely loading Wednesday, a likely sign that the site is being swamped by users looking for an explanation for the spotty Skype service.

Indeed, The Next Web points to an online note from someone who appears to be a Skype engineer, who writes that Wednesday's outage is "pretty bad."

Meanwhile, droves of silenced Skype users took to Twitter — where else? — to complain.

The latest Skype outage comes about two weeks after Tumblr, the popular microblogging site, went down for a full 24 hours.

Skype itself is no stranger to outages, of course, including the infamous 2007 system failure that brought Skype to its knees for two days. Skype blamed that outage on millions of Skype-connected PCs restarting in unison after Microsoft issued an unusually large batch of Windows security patches. Oops.

So, are you having any luck with Skype, or are you locked out like the rest of us?

Update (2:10 p.m.): A post on the official Skype blog blames the outage on "a problem affecting some versions of Skype" that's disrupting Skype's so-called "supernodes," which help direct Skype traffic. A fix is coming, Skype blogger Peter Parkes writes, but it could take a "few hours" before service returns to normal.

Update 2 (3:30 p.m.): A new tweet from Skype says that service is "gradually returning to normal," but cautions that users may not be able to log in for "several hours." Indeed, I still can't log in myself. If you're having luck, let us know.

Update 3 (5:30 p.m.): While some report that they've managed to log back into Skype, many others—including me—are still locked out. In the meantime, check out this dramatic chart, which shows what 21.7 million users getting kicked off Skype in a matter of hours looks like.

— Ben Patterson is a technology writer for Yahoo! News.

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Last-minute holiday smartphone bargains: Samsung Focus, Motorola Droid X (Ben Patterson)

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 10:54 AM PST

By Ben Patterson ben Patterson – Wed Dec 22, 1:54 pm ET

Santa's just a few days away, but there's still time to snag some enticing deals on some of the hottest smartphones of the year.

One of the most enticing Android handsets of 2010 has also remained stubbornly expensive — until recently, that is, with the 4.3-inch, Android 2.2-powered Motorola Droid X selling through third-party wireless reseller LetsTalk.com for $19 with a new, two-year Verizon Wireless contract, or $180 less than Verizon's current two-year contract price for the mammoth phone.

Another top Android phone for the year — Sprint's WiMax-capable, dual-camera toting HTC Evo 4G — has also been selling for a premium since its debut last summer, but LetsTalk competitor Amazon Wireless finally has an Evo 4G deal worth talking about: $99 with a two-year Sprint contract, half-off Sprint's regular $199 two-year contract price.

Amazon also has a decent price on Sprint's second 4G WiMax phone, the Samsung Epic 4G slider: $99, same as the Evo 4G, provided you sign up with Sprint for a couple of years. That's the good news, anyway; the bad news is that Amazon's listing the Epic 4G as back-ordered, for now.

OK, but how about a free Android phone … well, a free Android phone with a two-year contract, at least? (All the deals I'm mentioning here involve two-year contracts, unfortunately, and while the actual Android hardware may be cheap or even free, expect to shell out plenty of cash each month for voice and 3G or 4G data plans; that's just the name of the game.)

One option is the Samsung Captivate on AT&T, one of Samsung's slim, 1GHz Galaxy S Android phones that boasts an eye-catching four-inch Super AMOLED display. Still on sale through AT&T for a hefty $199 with a two-year service agreement, the Captivate is now available on Amazon for a penny, or Wirefly for free — both with two-year contracts, of course.

Those looking for a little 4G action from T-Mobile can check out the MyTouch 4G, a speedy HSPA+-ready Android smartphone that's on sale through Wirefly for $49 with a two-year contract, or $150 off T-Mobile's current two-year contract price.

There's also the new T-Mobile G2, which is still a bit on the pricey side: $119 at Amazon Wireless with two years of service, or $80 off T-Mobile's usual $199-with-a-contract price.

Want to give Windows Phone 7 a try? One of the hottest new Windows Phone devices I've tried is the Samsung Focus, a slim and light handset with a gorgeous four-inch Super AMOLED display that Wirefly is giving away to anyone willing to sign a two-year AT&T contract. (Amazon Wireless is charging slightly more for the Focus: a penny, to be exact.)

Meanwhile, the other head-turning Windows Phone 7 device — the 4.3-inch HTC HD7 on T-Mobile — isn't seeing much in the way of price cuts yet: $129 with a contract through LetsTalk was the cheapest price I could find Wednesday.

Finally, BlackBerry die-hards who want to snap up the touchscreen Torch can get it for a song: a penny via Amazon, or free from Wirefly (with two years of service, of course).

Again, keep in mind that wireless resellers like Amazon Wireless, LetsTalk, and Wirefly base their bargains on the new customers they deliver to the big four U.S. carriers — and that means they may demand that you return any discounts or even pay additional fees if you change your service plan before a set period (typically five or six months). Make sure to read the fine print before you sign any deals.

— Ben Patterson is a technology writer for Yahoo! News.

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Study: 26 pct in US used cell phones for activism (AP)

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 09:05 PM PST

By DANA WOLLMAN, AP Technology Writer Dana Wollman, Ap Technology Writer – 21 mins ago

NEW YORK – If you this voted fall, there's a good chance you were texting about it.

Twenty-six percent of adult Americans used their cell phones to encourage others to vote in November's mid-term elections or to report back on conditions at their local voting sites, among other political activities, according to a survey issued Thursday by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

In particular, 14 percent said they used their phones to tell others that they voted, while 12 percent used their handsets to receive election updates. Another 1 percent used an election-themed app to keep posted.

If respondents used their phones to take photos and videos related to the election or contributed money to a campaign, they, too, were counted among the 26 percent who used their phones for political purposes during the election season.

Pew did not measure how likely cell phone users were to share their thoughts over social networks such as Facebook and Twitter — favored tools among many of the candidates running for office.

The November survey found that men and women were about as likely to use their phones to send political messages. But it reported more use of phones for politics among the young, affluent and college-educated. Pew also said its respondents voted equally for Democratic and Republican candidates.

Pew is quick to note that while the majority of American adults — 82 percent — own a cell phone, only 40 percent turned out to vote this year.

It also noted that this was the first time it had asked questions about use of cell phones in a mid-term election, so there are no comparable data for previous non-presidential elections.

The survey of 2,257 U.S. adults, including 1,918 cell phone users, has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points. The survey was conducted in English and Spanish and included calls to cell phone numbers, a technique that allows the inclusion of households that no longer have landline phones.

Remains of the Day: Great Scott! (Macworld)

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 04:30 PM PST

Lex Friedman Lex Friedman – Wed Dec 22, 7:30 pm ET

We haven't even hollied all our jollies out yet, but a brand spankin' new year is nearly upon us. As 2011 approaches, we share stories about how iOS devices can seem to help manipulate the very fabric of time. These are your remainders for Wednesday, December 22.

Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa, And These Digital Photos Prove It (The Wall Street Journal)

When the Journal isn't decrying the fact that iPhone apps are sharing your personal data, it's celebrating the fact that iPhone apps can help you lie to your children about Ol' Saint Nick. (Spoiler alert, kids: he's fake.) Indeed, tech-savvy parents who want to extend their kids' childhoods ever longer can use apps like Elf Cam to fake grainy, green-tinted night vision shots of Santa in your home. I'm holding out for the app that shows Grandma, paralyzed from the waist down, pinned under Blitzen.

Times Square New Year's gets official iPhone, Android apps (Electronista)

Even as you try to keep your kids from growing up, time is still marching on. Even before a Snooki-filled ball drops at midnight to announce 2011's arrival, you can have your own personal celebration to ring in the new year with the official Times Square Official New Year's Eve Ball App. Remember, a party of one—even a lonely, iPhone-wielding party of one—is still a party.

L.A. officials set to unveil an iPhone app (LA Times Blog)

As it was just a paragraph ago, time is still marching on. And if you hate wasting what precious time you still have trolling for parking spots—and you happen to park frequently in Hollywood—you'll be thrilled to learn about the new Parker app. The Mayor's Office in Los Angeles calls the app "the nation's first-ever mobile application to give drivers a faster and more convenient way to find open metered parking spaces and nearby garages." Remember, of course, that it's illegal to use your phone while driving in LA. So, good luck with that.

Plato's iPad (YouTube)

Artist Adam Reeder (no relation to the app of the same name) shares this time-lapse video, wherein he sculpts Plato holding an iPad. That is, Plato's holding the iPad. Adam's holding the clay, I presume. Why Plato, and why holding an anachronistic iPad? The piece is actually an evolution of Reeder's Gods With iPods series, which depicts Pan, Atlas, Zeus, and other fine gods with various portable Apple devices. Perhaps this will be the start of Reeder's Greeks Who Could Have Been Geeks collection.

Apps Could Mean Phone 7 Coming To Verizon Soon (NewsFactor)

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 02:39 PM PST

Adam Dickter, newsfactor.com Adam Dickter, newsfactor.com – Wed Dec 22, 5:39 pm ET

Smartphones powered by Microsoft's newest mobile operating system may find their way into Verizon Wireless stores in the very near future, judging from some apps that have been discovered on the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace.

January Debut?

Some searchers noticed My Verizon Mobile, Netflix for Verizon, and Slacker Radio in the online app store and alerted a blog that focuses on Windows phones. WMPoweruser said the apps are likely a signal that a CDMA-capable Phone 7 device may be available from the nation's top carrier as soon as next month rather than mid-2011 as Verizon said earlier.

Microsoft currently has distribution deals only with AT&T and T-Mobile. In a Q and A on the company blog Tuesday, Vice President Achim Berg said Microsoft's manufacturing partners -- Samsung, Dell, HTC and LG -- shipped 1.5 million Phone 7 devices to retailers in 30 countries in six weeks. "We're in the race," Berg said. "It's not a sprint, but we are certainly gaining momentum and we're in it for the long run."

Verizon Phone 7 devices -- the first of which is expected to be the HTC Trophy -- would serve the goals of both companies well. Microsoft desperately needs to boost its dismal share of the smartphone market as Google's Android and Apple's iOS increasingly dominate, and Verizon needs a larger variety of offerings to avoid being pegged as the Android carrier. Although it carries phones powered by Research In Motion's BlackBerry OS, Nokia's Symbian, and HP-Palm's webOS, the company has gone all-out to promote its top-selling Android devices, particularly the three Droid phones.

Kirk Parsons, a wireless analyst at J.D. Power and Associates, said it's likely that a Phone 7 device will be on Verizon's shelves in the first quarter of 2011.

"It's good news for Microsoft to increase their share," said Parsons. "How much [that will be] is yet to be determined, depending on how much Verizon Wireless is willing to spend and support" those models.

Crowded House

That question is crucial, since Verizon is also widely expected to launch a version of Apple's iPhone early next year, and the first round of high-speed LTE-compatible smartphones at the same time, raising the possibility that any Phone 7 devices will be lost in the shuffle. Verizon, however, would then be able to boast of having devices powered by all the leading operating systems, as AT&T can now.

The Windows Phone 7 Marketplace now has about 4,000 apps, and Berg said 18,000 developers have signed on to create more.

The My Verizon Mobile app gives users personal information about their accounts, including the latest usage for minutes, messages and data, and allows them to manage account payments and view current plan information. Slacker Radio allows the user to access 130 programmed stations or personalize playlists.

Should Twitter Have a Seat in Court? (Time.com)

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 11:40 AM PST

Sony Launches iTunes Competitor with Six Million Songs (NewsFactor)

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 02:11 PM PST

Jennifer LeClaire, newsfactor.com Jennifer Leclaire, newsfactor.com – Wed Dec 22, 5:11 pm ET

Sony on Wednesday launched its iTunes competitor. Dubbed Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity -- not the catchiest name in the streaming-music world -- the cloud-based music service offers consumers access to about six million songs from major labels.

Sony has inked licensing deals with Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and EMI Music, as well as independent labels and major publishers around the world. Of course, Sony also has its own catalog through Sony Music Entertainment, giving it a slight advantage profitwise on digital music that carries its brand.

"As we continue to expand Qriocity globally, these services 'powered by Qriocity' offer a single ID log-in and wallet solution, and empower users to easily consume content, including music and video, across a growing number of integrated devices," said Kazuo Hirai, president of Sony's Networked Products and Services Group.

The Sonyverse

Much like Apple connects its iPod and iPhone devices to its iTunes Store, Sony is working to tie Music Unlimited to many different Sony-branded devices.

Sony says Music Unlimited users can play music on demand on a wide variety of Internet-connected Sony devices, including Sony's 2010 models of network-enabled BRAVIA TV, Blu-ray Disc player, Blu-ray Disc Home Theater system, PlayStation 3, and VAIO and other personal computers. Sony said Music Unlimited will also become available on Sony's portable devices, on Android-based mobile devices, and other portable devices.

The only catch so far is limited availability. Music Unlimited is currently available in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The service won't come online for customers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, New Zealand, and the U.S. in 2011 -- but Sony didn't say when in 2011.

Rent vs Own Debate

Will Sony succeed with its iTunes competitor?

"At the center of this is the question of whether people want to rent or own music. Apple believes that people want to own music, but this service could be very successful if it can get to enough devices and there's enough selection," said Greg Sterling, principal analyst at Sterling Market Intelligence.

"I believe that people would be willing to pay monthly for access to a service like this. Device availability -- including mobile -- and pricing are the operative questions," he added.

The Qriocity Brand

Music Unlimited is the next extension of services "powered by Qriocity." Sony debuted Video On Demand powered by Qriocity, a premium video-streaming service, in the U.S. in April and expanded the service to France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K. in November.

Through Video on Demand powered by Qriocity, customers can instantly rent from a growing library of thousands of Hollywood blockbuster movies across Sony's 2010 models of network-enabled BRAVIA TV, Blu-ray Disc player, and Blu-ray Disc Home Theater system.

What's Going to Be Big in Venture Capital in 2011? [STATS] (Mashable)

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 10:18 AM PST

Ben Parr Ben Parr – Wed Dec 22, 1:18 pm ET

Venture capitalists and CEOs are showing renewed confidence in the state of venture capital, especially in the IT, digital media, mobile and cloud computing sectors, according to a recently released survey.

The National Venture Capital Association polled around 330 U.S venture capitalists and 180 CEOs of venture-backed companies in order to get their predictions for what will happen in 2011. The survey, released Tuesday, paints an optimistic picture of investment in the new year.

Of VCs surveyed, 51% said they expected venture investments to pick up in 2011, compared to just 24% who think it will remain the same and another 24% who think it will decrease. Their optimism spans across both later stage and earlier stage investments, and in fact, 30% of VCs intend to increase their co-investments with angel investors.

The industry that investors are most bullish about is the IT sector. Eighty-two percent predict a rise in "consumer internet and digital media" investments, 80% predict increased activity around cloud computing and another 66% expect more investments to be made in mobile and telecom. A full 77% of VCs are bullish on health IT.

Not every industry is getting the thumbs-up from VCs, though. Only 28% of VCs surveyed believe clean technology will see an increase in investment from last year, and only 38% expect increases in the energy sector.

The executives and venture capitalists polled by the NVCA also believe there will be more exit events in 2011. Eighty-one percent of VCs and 82% of CEOs say that there will be more acquisitions in 2011, but while 66% of VCs believe there will be more IPOs, only 44% of CEOs anticipate the same thing.

Overall, the report paints a positive picture for the state of technology. Just a year ago, the recession weighed heavy on the collective consciousness. And while we haven't come close to a full recovery yet, it looks like the engine of the U.S. economy — entrepreneurship — is rebounding.

[via CNET]

FCC passes new net neutrality rules; mobile Internet receives less regulation (Appolicious)

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 11:30 AM PST

Pakistani IT firm 'on top of the world' in Blackberry apps (AFP)

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 02:37 PM PST

– Wed Dec 22, 5:37 pm ET

ISLAMABAD (AFP) – Photo editing software developed by Pakistani technology firm Five Rivers became the best selling paid-for application for the Blackberry, the firm said Wednesday.

Lahore-based Five Rivers said its Photo Editor Suite had hit the top spot across all sectors on Blackberry's AppWorld store.

"This is extremely good news for us and especially for the Pakistani IT industry," Mahe Zehra Husain, the head of operations and product management at Five Rivers Technology, told AFP.

"We feel we are on top of the world. This is incredible."

The application "has been in the top five paid applications for quite a while now and on Sunday made its way to the number one spot," she said.

Photo Editor Suite allows users to crop, rotate, adjust brightness and contrast, recolour and resize photos, Husain added.

Five Rivers, which opened its subsidiary Pepper.pk a year and a half ago, says it has developed and run out more than 100 mobile applications for the Blackberry and iPhone as well as other smartphones.

The company started in 2003 and consists of 50 people and has worked with a number of leading technology firms at home and abroad, Husain said.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan, software and IT-enabled service exports amounted to 204 million dollars in fiscal year 2009-2010 and the industry as a whole is worth around 2.8 billion dollars.

Pakistan, a nuclear-armed conservative Muslim country of 167 million people, is in deep recession, exacerbated by years of Al-Qaeda-linked bombings, an energy crisis, poor foreign investment and this year by catastrophic flooding.

Teradata (Investor's Business Daily)

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 03:52 PM PST

– Wed Dec 22, 6:52 pm ET

Teradata (NYSE:TDC - News) will pay $525 mil for privately held cloud-based market ing software firm Aprimo. The enterprise data storage company expects Aprimo's 2010 revenue to hit $80 mil, with long-term sales growth in the high teens. Teradata fell 2.2%.

Intel's acquisition of McAfee approved by FTC (Digital Trends)

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 09:00 AM PST

Geoff Duncan Geoff Duncan – Wed Dec 22, 12:00 pm ET

Chipmaker Intel’s acquisition of security and antivirus software developer McAfee has been approved by the U.S. Federal Trade Commision, according to a notice posted on Intel’s Web site. The approval clears the way for Intel to begin integrating McAfee products and services into its product lines, although the company is still working with the European Commission for approval on the deal.

Intel announced last August that it intended to acquire McAfee in a deal valued at $7.68 billion. The acquisition is not only the biggest in Intel’s history, it signals a shift in the company’s business strategy: where Intel has historically focused on developing and manufacturing hardware—processors and chipsets—the McAfee acquisition shifts the company strongly towards software and services. Although Intel hasn’t been specific about its plans for McAfee technology, it’s a good bet the company will be looking at hardware-enhanced security capabilities for its CPUs and chipsets, particularly as the company shifts its attention to mobile devices.

Although industry watchers didn’t expect Intel to have much difficulty getting the deal approved by the FTC—and few see significant obstacles with the European Commission—some have speculated that, as a result of the merger, McAfee products may have insider access to the design, features, and capabilities of Intel hardware products, giving them an edge on competing products.

Last year, the European Union fined Intel over $1.4 billion for violating antitrust regulations via kickbacks and squeezing out other CPU vendors from the market. Intel was able to settle a similar antitrust case with the FTC without fines shortly before announcing the McAfee acquisition.

OpenBSD lead believes backdoors didn't make it into the OS (Digital Trends)

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 10:15 AM PST

Geoff Duncan Geoff Duncan – Wed Dec 22, 1:15 pm ET

OpenBSD development lead Theo de Raadt says that he believes a government contracting firm was hired to write back doors into communications and encryption technology, but that those back doors, if written, did not make it into the OpenBSD code base. However, he is still encouraging contributors and users of the open source project to audit the code to look for any problems—and a few other issues have been uncovered.

The controversy erupted last week when Gregory Perry, the former CEO of a government contractor called Netsec, sent de Raadt a private message indicating there could be back doors in OpenBSD’s secure communications technology inserted a decade ago at the behest of the federal government. Rather than sit on the claim, de Raadt went public with the message, disclosing its complete contents and noting he refused “to become part of such a conspiracy.”

In a follow-up posting to an OpenBSD discussion list, de Raadt outlined what he believes the current state of affairs. de Raadt confirms Netsec did work as a contractor on government computer security projects, Gregory Perry did work there, and two contractors who made contributions to OpenBSD did work on OpenBSD’s IPSEC layer—and one of them was the architect and primary developer of the IPSEC stack who worked on the project for four years. However, while those implementations had cryptography issues, de Raadt is, for the moment, satisfied they are historical artifacts of federal regulations governing use of cryptography, rather than any intentional malice.

de Raadt says he does believe Netsec was contracted to write back doors; however, if those were written, he doesn’t believe they made their way into OpenBSD, although they may will have “deployed as their own product.”

Since de Raadt went public with Perry’s allegations, two new bugs have been uncovered in OpenBSD’s cryptography technology: one propagates a fix for an old, well-known security vulnerability from the cryptography later to drivers, and the other is essentially a bit of housekeeping. de Raadt says he’s also looking at cleaning up an “extremely ugly” function and found a small bug in another aspect of random number-generating code.

Meanwhile, de Raadt indicates he is pleased so many developers are examining the OpenBSD code base for possible problems, saying this “is the best process we can hope for.”

So far, no one has stepped forward to back up Perry’s claims that the federal government paid to have back doors inserted into OpenBSD, and two people named in Perry’s allegations have specifically refuted Perry’s claims. Numerous industry watchers have questioned the utility of inserting backdoors into open source projects—particularly projects used in government work—since, if the vulnerabilities are uncovered, they’d immediately be in the hands of criminals. But maybe that’s just what the Feds want people to think.

David Schwimmer's violent film loses ratings appeal (Reuters)

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 08:05 PM PST

– 1 hr 21 mins ago

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Former "Friends" star David Schwimmer has lost a bid to soften the rating for his latest directing effort, a movie about the dangers of online predators.

"Trust," due out in theaters on April 1, was handed a restrictive "R" rating for "disturbing material involving the rape of a teen, language, sexual content and some violence."

An appeal filed by distributor Millennium Entertainment was fell on deaf ears at the Motion Picture Association of America's Classification and Rating Appeals Board, which on Wednesday upheld the original rating.

Executive producer Avi Lerner had said in a statement that it was important for the film be seen by teenagers, especially as a cautionary tale. Schwimmer had said that he would not modify the film in order to receive a lesser rating. The film stars Clive Owen and Catherine Keener.
at 9:36 PM

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