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Monday, March 14, 2011

Tech companies pitch in on earthquake response (AP) : Technet

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Tech companies pitch in on earthquake response (AP) : Technet

Tech companies pitch in on earthquake response (AP)

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 01:12 PM PDT

– Mon Mar 14, 4:12 pm ET

SEATTLE – Google, Twitter and other technology companies are finding ways to help following last week's earthquake in Japan.

Google Inc. has an online "person finder" for people seeking information about a missing person.

Microsoft Corp. is offering free technical support and temporary software licenses to companies affected by the earthquake. It has also pledged $250,000 in cash.

Twitter is trying to help organize the flood of information flowing through its system. It is suggesting people use certain tags for general earthquake information, requests for rescue and other related topics.

Amazon.com Inc. and Yahoo Inc. have links on their home pages encouraging people to donate to the relief efforts.

Hewlett-Packard hikes dividend, outlines strategy (AP)

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 04:55 PM PDT

– Mon Mar 14, 7:55 pm ET

SAN FRANCISCO – Hewlett-Packard Co. said Monday it plans to raise its dividend for the first time in over a decade and one day soon sell "cloud computing" services to the public.

The changes are part of CEO Leo Apotheker's efforts to chart a new course for the world's biggest technology by revenue. Apotheker took over at HP four months ago after his predecessor, Mark Hurd, was ousted in a sexual harassment scandal.

Apotheker's presentation Monday at a conference for industry analysts and reporters marked the first time he has publicly outlined his strategy for HP since taking the job.

He offered few details. The "public cloud" was one of the few new revelations.

When it launches, it will put HP in competition with Amazon.com and other companies that have piled on to one of technology's hottest trends: selling services over the Internet. Such services allow people to rent space on servers they don't own, to run websites, for example.

Selling technology for building cloud services emerged as a cornerstone of Apotheker's plans for tying together HP's disparate resources. HP is a technology conglomerate. It's the biggest maker of personal computers and printers, and also sells servers and mobile phones and computer-networking equipment and technology services.

In focusing on the cloud, HP is positioning itself as the trusted intermediary to link those technologies.

The dividend hike is an attempt to win over Wall Street.

The dividend has been 8 cents per share since 1998. It will rise to 12 cents per share the next time the board of directors declares a dividend, which should be in May, said HP's chief financial officer, Cathie Lesjak.

HP plans on increasing the dividend by a double-digit percentage every year, Lesjak said.

She also set a target of earnings of at least $7 per share, excluding items, by 2014. The company earned $4.58 per share, on that same basis, in the latest fiscal year.

Apotheker has been active behind the scenes. In an early attempt to win over HP's approximately 300,000 employees, one of his first acts as CEO was to reverse pay cuts imposed by Hurd. Shortly after he and a new chairman were hired, HP replaced a third of its board of directors, an unusually severe boardroom purging that targeted individuals who were particularly vocal in the negotiations over Hurd's ouster, both for and against the decision.

HP shares rose 21 cents, or .5 percent, to $41.70 in extended trading.

Time Warner Cable launches iPad app with live TV (AP)

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 03:36 PM PDT

By PETER SVENSSON, AP Technology Writer Peter Svensson, Ap Technology Writer – Mon Mar 14, 6:36 pm ET

NEW YORK – Time Warner Cable Inc. is launching an iPad application that plays live TV, becoming the first cable company to do so.

The app will be free to download on Tuesday morning, but it will only work for people who subscribe to both video and Internet service from the New York-based cable company. Even then, it only works in the home, when the iPad is connected to the company's cable modem via a Wi-Fi router.

Rob Marcus, the company's chief operating officer and president, said the app will play 30 basic cable channels in high definition to start, but that number should expand soon.

"For all intents and purposes ... this enables you to convert any room in a house into a TV room," Marcus said.

Other major cable companies have iPad apps that play video on demand or act like big remotes. Comcast Corp., the largest, has promised that its app will play live TV before the end of the year. Cablevision Systems Corp. has said it will have one even sooner.

Time Warner Cable's app doesn't work as a remote control, nor does it give access to video on demand or shows stored on a digital video recorder in the home. Marcus said these features will be added later. He also said laptops, smart phones and smart TVs could all eventually get apps, too.

Companies such as Netflix Inc. and Hulu Inc. already have apps that stream movies and TV shows to the iPad, bypassing, in some respects, cable companies. However, the apps don't show live TV.

Some people have started cancelling cable in favor of Internet viewing, but the numbers appear to be small so far.

"Increasingly, customers want more flexibility in the way they view content, whether that's on different devices or in different rooms of the house," Marcus said.

Time Warner Cable has 12.4 million video subscribers, making it the second-largest cable company in the U.S. and the fourth-largest pay-TV company, behind Comcast and satellite companies DirecTV Group Inc. and Dish Network Corp.

A device called the Slingbox, which connects to a cable or satellite set-top box, has for years let pay-TV subscribers watch their TV channels through an Internet connection. There's an iPad app that lets them receive the picture on an iPad as well. The maker of the Slingbox is now Dish Network, which has also built the "slinging" capability into a high-end set-top box.

The Slingbox and Time Warner Cable's system work very differently. The Slingbox "reads" the TV signal in the subscriber's home and sends it out on the Internet. Time Warner Cable, meanwhile, broadcasts the TV signal over the Internet into subscribers' homes.

RIP Zune Player, 2006 - 2011 (Mashable)

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 04:07 PM PDT

Christina Warren Christina Warren – Mon Mar 14, 7:07 pm ET

Microsoft is not planning on releasing any further Zune devices. Instead, the company plans to focus on Zune software for smartphones.

Microsoft declined to comment on the future of the Zune players, but in a statement to Bloomberg noted that it remains "committed to supporting our devices in North America."

Zune launched in November 2006 to much fanfare and hopes that it could beat Apple's iPod. But sales never came close to reaching the levels of Apple's best-selling and market changing music and media player.

In 2009, Microsoft decided to separate the Zune team into software and hardware divisions, and attempted to get developers to target the platform. It hasn't really worked. Zune Marketplace support for the Xbox 360 aside, the Zune brand still has limited appeal outside of North America.

According to Bloomberg, Microsoft will continue to put its Zune features into Windows Phone 7 and in the Zune desktop software for Windows. Microsoft's Zune Pass remains an economical way to stream and have access to a large array of music, but the fact that it only runs on Windows devices ruins its potential as a true iTunes competitor.

The Zune was never a bad MP3 player. The failure was that the product never managed to differentiate itself as being better or cheaper than the iPod. If anything, the Windows-only requirement made the device more limited.

For that reason, we don't imagine many users will shed any tears over Zune's passing.

Share your favorite Zune jokes in the comments.

Microsoft releasing new Internet Explorer 9 browser (AFP)

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 07:50 PM PDT

by Glenn Chapman Glenn Chapman – 1 hr 15 mins ago

AUSTIN, Texas (AFP) – Microsoft announced that it will release the latest version of its Internet Explorer Web browsing software free online late on Monday (0400 GMT Tuesday).

"Things are about to change," Microsoft corporate vice president Dean Hachamovitch said at a press conference at the South By Southwest Interactive technology festival in Texas. "We took a dramatically different tack."

Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) will be available for download in 30 languages at beautyoftheweb.com.

"It's a really good day for the Web," Hachamovitch said.

IE9 is built to make the most of Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows 7, as well as graphics processing chips that can power videos, games, graphics and other stunning visuals.

The long list of partners that have adapted websites to IE9 includes Facebook, Twitter, Pandora, Hulu, and Yahoo!, according to Microsoft.

"We have worked with partners reaching a billion active Internet users," Hachamovitch said. "All of these partners are using IE9 to make a more beautiful Web, starting today."

More than 40 million copies of IE9 have already been downloaded as part of the process leading up to its official release, according to Microsoft.

Microsoft showed off a lean, muscular new Internet Explorer crafted to spotlight slick websites and beat back competition from Firefox and Google in the Web browser arena.

Microsoft director of web services strategy Ari Bixhorn booted up an Apple MacBook Pro laptop running the latest version of Firefox for a side-by-side comparison at a radio station website with rich interactive graphics.

A laptop powered by Windows and using IE9 smoothly zipped through cascading images illustrating top tunes while the opposition slowly worked its way along.

"The Web as we know it is taking a huge step forward today," Bixhorn said.

While Microsoft doesn't charge separately, the browser is included with Windows software and it is in the technology giant's interest to keep users happy and devoted to its products.

"A browser is important to Microsoft because browsing is the top activity people do on their PCs (personal computers)," Hachamovitch said. "We want browsing the Web to be a great experience so people keep choosing Windows to do it."

Windows operating systems are at a core of Microsoft's software empire. The Redmond, Washington-based technology colossus claims more than one billion Windows customers.

Microsoft seems to have hit the mark with IE9, according to analysts.

"The browser is the stage and the websites are the stars of the show," Hachamovitch told AFP during an earlier demonstration.

Once a website is reached, the browser seems to step out of the way and almost vanish to spotlight the content.

IE9 promised to be another hit release for Microsoft, which has seen market successes with Windows 7 operating system and a Kinect motion-sensing controller accessory for Xbox 360 video game consoles.

Open-source browser Firefox had been gnawing away at IE's dominance, but that eased as a new rival arrived in the form of Chrome by Internet titan Google.

Killspencer black leather iPad 2 case has plenty of pockets (Digital Trends)

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 07:00 PM PDT

Kelly Montgomery Kelly Montgomery – 2 hrs 28 mins ago

Luxury Los Angeles brand Killspencer has released a sleek leather case for the iPad 2 that protects your gadget and will hold your other essentials in style as well. The Killspencer iPad 2 Case ($189 in leather) is made from premium black leather with a matte finish and features a black leather bullhide handle on the outside of the case. A neoprene lining and black RIRI Aquazip waterproof zippers will keep your iPad 2 safe and dry, while pockets for your Moleskine notebook, iPhone, and business cards keep everything neat and in order. The bag comes with a detachable shoulder strap and is also available in the company's waxed canvas versions.

Angry Birds Rio for Android launching exclusively on Amazon Appstore (Digital Trends)

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 10:46 AM PDT

Geoff Duncan Geoff Duncan – Mon Mar 14, 1:46 pm ET

If you're one of the millions of people addicted to Angry Birds, Amazon.com is hoping that need will drive you to Amazon's Android Appstore: Amazon and Angry Birds maker Rovio have just announced that Angry Birds Rio will launch on the Android platform exclusively in the Amazon Appstore. Angry Birds fans will also be able to buy ad-free versions of Angry Birds and Angry Birds Seasons from the Amazon Appstore.

"Amazon is thrilled to work with a leading developer like Rovio in offering our customers Angry Birds Rio for Android exclusively in the Amazon Appstore," said Aaron Rubenson, category leader for Amazon Appstore. "We think Angry Birds Rio is sure to be an instant customer favorite."

Angry Birds Rio is a new variation in the Angry Birds franchise that ties in with the upcoming Twentieth Century Fox animated film Rio. In the game, Rovio's original Angry Birds are kidnapped and taken to the magic city of Rio, were they eventually break loose and try to save Jewel and Blu, the macaw stars of the Rio movie. The game will feature 60 levels, with additional content to come via app updates.

The Rio movie is due to launch April 15.

Although games that tie in with movies historically don't sell very well, the Angry Birds Rio launch marks something of a coup for Amazon, which is trying to position the Amazon Appstore as an alternative to Google's own Android Market. The problem, of course, is while access to the Android Market is built into essentially every Android device, users who want to browse the Amazon Appstore have to deliberately seek it out. A high-profile title like Angry Birds Rio may motivate a new batch of customers to check out Amazon's Android offerings…especially since Google's own Android Market has been used as a means to distribute malware to unsuspecting Android users.

Online social game star Zynga adds new lure (AFP)

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 05:57 PM PDT

– Mon Mar 14, 8:57 pm ET

AUSTIN, Texas (AFP) – The startup behind hit online social games Farmville, Zynga Poker, and Mafia Wars ramped up the pay-off for its more than 250 million players.

Zynga used a South By Southwest Interactive (SXSW) festival in Texas as a stage to unveil a new rewards program for its titles, which have won legions of followers at Facebook and elsewhere on the Internet.

Players who sign up online at website rewardville.com can shift winnings such as virtual goods, status or money between different games and even use rewards to help out friends playing other Zynga games.

"With RewardVille, our aim is to delight players by rewarding them with new Zynga-level points, and exclusive limited edition virtual items," said Zynga vice president Roy Sehgal.

"We love that you love our games, so here's your chance to reap some rewards!"

Zynga was founded in July of 2007 in San Francisco by Marc Pincus, who named the startup after his late American bulldog "Zinga."

Zynga boasted more than a quarter of a million players. Its titles include CityVille, FrontierVille, Café World, YoVille, and Vampire Wars.

The company is known for combining philanthropy and business, having raised more than $5 million for charitable causes through game play.

Tembo Trunks turn iPod earbuds into speakers (Digital Trends)

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 06:05 PM PDT

Kelly Montgomery Kelly Montgomery – Mon Mar 14, 9:05 pm ET

An Australian design team decided to embark on the journey of creating Tembo Trunks while they were traveling in Africa with no way to amplify the music from their iPods without a modern speaker dock. After creating a series of makeshift amplifiers themselves, they went in search of a durable, portable way to play music without the fuss and electronics of a fancy speaker dock. If you're in any situation where a heavy, fragile, electronic speaker dock for your iPod is more trouble than its worth, Tembo Trunks ($39) might be worth checking out.

Made only of silicone rubber, Tembo Trunks use old-fashioned horn technology to amplify your tunes up to 80 decibels. Simply pop open the collapsible trunks, put your Apple white earbuds into position, and press play on your iPod or iPhone. As expected, the volume from these won't be earth-shaking, but it's enough to please your ears at the beach, in the office, camping, or in a hotel room. With no moving or electrical parts, Tembo Trunks are completely waterproof and virtually indestructible. The 'speakers' are also collapse and stackable, making them the perfect thing to throw in your backpack without worrying if they will be damaged or have enough battery power to last the day. The Tembo Trucks won't be available for a few months, but back the project on Kickstarter (it's already funded) to get your hands on one of the first sets, which will be available in four bright colors.

HP shoots for sharp profit jump (Reuters)

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 02:55 PM PDT

– Mon Mar 14, 5:55 pm ET

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Hewlett-Packard Chief Executive Leo Apotheker, laying out the company's long-term vision in software and Internet computing, promised to boost 2014 earnings by half and sharply raise dividends.

Apotheker, facing questions from investors on how to return the world's largest technology company to growth, said HP aims to raise quarterly dividends by 50 percent to 12 cents a share from May, and keep it growing at double-digits.

The TouchPad, HP's answer to the Apple iPad and part of its efforts to make inroads into fast-growing consumer businesses, will launch in June, he added.

Investors are keen to hear plans to enhance profitability at the sprawling computing giant. On Monday, executives said the company is on track to earn $7 a share excluding items by 2014, up 53 percent from $4.58 in fiscal 2010.

Apotheker succeeded a well-regarded Mark Hurd, ousted last August after the board said he filed inaccurate expense reports to conceal a "close personal relationship" with a female contractor -- something Hurd's representatives have disputed.

The former SAP AG chief has gotten off to a somewhat rocky start. HP's shares are down 10 percent since Hurd's exit, and the firm recently trimmed its revenue forecast.

The German executive faces a number of challenges in coming years. HP remains a dominant player in major IT markets, including PCs, servers, services and printers, but its gross margin is roughly 24 percent, versus more than 40 percent for rival IBM.

Besides IBM, HP is confronting a number of newly-aggressive rivals intent on becoming one-stop shops for data center customers, including Cisco Systems and Oracle.

Apotheker has vowed to rekindle innovation at HP, known more for cost-cutting under Hurd's leadership. On Monday, he said research spending has been outpacing revenue growth.

HP is also making a major push into the mobile arena, following last year's acquisition of Palm. HP will launch the TouchPad tablet in June, entering a market already thick with powerful competitors.

(Reporting by Gabriel Madway; Editing by Bernard Orr)

Apple asks for passwords for in-app purchases (Appolicious)

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 11:45 AM PDT

Local News Goes Mobile -- But Few Are Willing To Pay (NewsFactor)

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 02:00 PM PDT

Mark Long, newsfactor.com Mark Long, newsfactor.com – Mon Mar 14, 5:00 pm ET

According to a new survey, local news is going mobile, with 47 percent of American adults reporting they receive at least some local news and information on a cell phone or web tablet. Moreover, 24 percent of survey respondents reported having an app that helps them get news about their local community, which equates to 13 percent of all device owners and 11 percent of the total American adult population, the Pew Research Center said.

The dilemma that local publishers face is that only 10 percent of the adults who currently use mobile apps for this purpose actually pay for their mobile news consumption -- equivalent to just one percent of the U.S. adult population. By contrast, 36 percent of all U.S. adults reported paying for some form of local news, with the vast majority paying for local print newspaper subscriptions.

"Many news organizations are looking to mobile platforms -- in particular, mobile apps -- to provide new ways to generate subscriber and advertising revenues in local markets," noted Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project. "The survey suggests there is a long way to go before that happens."

Unwilling To Pay

For many consumers, mobile access to local news and information is not only considered practical but is valued because it occurs in real time. According to Pew's latest survey results, 42 percent of mobile-device owners report getting weather updates and 37 percent receive information about restaurants or other local businesses on their phones or tablets.

The problem for publishers is that about three out of four survey respondents reported they would not be willing to pay for online access to local news and information. Just 23 percent said they would pay $5 a month to get full access to local newspaper content, and 18 percent would be willing to pay $10 per month.

For the first time, more Pew survey respondents indicated they received their news from the web rather than from newspapers, with the Internet now trailing only television among American adults as the prime destination for news. Still, there is some potentially good news in the data for publishers, noted Kristen Purcell, associate director of the Pew Internet project.

"We found that adults who consume local news on mobile devices are almost twice as likely as other adults to say they would be willing to pay to access their local newspaper online," Purcell explained. "The percentage willing to pay is even higher among local app users."

Growing Pains

Compared with other U.S. adults, mobile consumers of local news are younger and live in higher-income households -- two key demographics highly valued by advertisers. However, the digital-content industry is still struggling to arrive at a consensus for how to best provide the data advertisers need about consumer behavior across multiple sites, platforms and devices. According to Pew's new survey, 51 percent of mobile consumers of local news and information use six or more sources or platforms monthly for this purpose.

Though three advertising trade groups unveiled an initiative this month to standardize confusing digital-media metrics, Pew researchers said the task will not be easy. And despite booming iPad sales, Apple charges digital publishers 30 percent of the subscription revenue and maintains ownership of the highly coveted audience data, though news companies are trying to push back.

"One new effort involves online publishers starting their own ad exchanges, rather than having middlemen do it for them," Pew researchers noted. "NBC, CBS and Forbes are among those launching their own, tired of sharing revenue and having third parties take their audience data."

Farewell, Zune: Microsoft will discontinue its iPod rival (Digital Trends)

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 05:30 PM PDT

Molly McHugh Molly Mchugh – Mon Mar 14, 8:30 pm ET

zune-cemeteryIt's been a long time coming. Following whispers for some time now that Microsoft has been in the process of moving Zune to the great beyond, today Bloomberg has confirmation of those rumors. According to the site, Microsoft will terminate all production of new Zune music and video players due to a lack of demand. At the same time, an insider says the company will be shifting "its focus to other devices."

Last month, Microsoft failed to make any mention of Zune at Mobile World Congress, creating suspicion that the iPod rival wasn't long for this world. But Microsoft tried to downplay any rumor of Zune's termination, directly saying "Zune is not dead" and even throwing in a bold "[and] will never die!" for good measure.

But we've all seen this coming. Microsoft hasn't released updated Zune hardware since 2009, and the recent buzz surrounding a cloud-based multimedia project codenamed "Ventura" could be the music-host-meets-social media follow-up to the failed PMP. Whatever Ventura's purpose is, though, for the time being Zune software will live on. It will be integrated into Windows Phone 7 devices and Xbox 360 consoles. A company statement would only go so far as to say, "Our long-term strategy focuses on the strength of the entire Zune ecosystem across Microsoft platforms."

The Zune never reached Microsoft’s expectations for it. The company believed it could able compete with â€" and even threaten â€" the success of the iPod. And while it found a following of Apple-loathing, Windows loyalists, it never managed to pull in the type of numbers the iPod was able to in its sleep.

Zune, you had a short run at it (a measly five years), and it feels we hardly knew ye. Now, we're going to continue and keep our ear to the ground for work on the inevitable (we hope) success of the Windows Phone update and perhaps more on what exactly Ventura will become.

FÅ«l Joint Venture combines messenger bag and removable iPad bag (Digital Trends)

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 05:06 PM PDT

Kelly Montgomery Kelly Montgomery – Mon Mar 14, 8:06 pm ET

While this bag from Fūl doesn't have designer looks or unique style going for it, the basics of its design are pretty clever. The Joint Venture ($70), like many other bags, aims to combine your needs for gadget protection with a regular messenger compartment for your laptop (up to 15-inch) and a smaller compartment specifically designed for your iPad. The truly smart detail, however, is that the iPad bag is detachable from the messenger bag, putting three options in one bag for only $70. Probably best for the businessperson who covets convenience over high-style, this bag would certainly be an excellent travel companion. The bag also has a detachable shoulder strap, hide-away carry handle, internal media organizer, and back access compartment.

10 Must-Have Free Downloads (PC World)

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 05:30 PM PDT

Preston Gralla Preston Gralla – Mon Mar 14, 8:30 pm ET

Some downloadable software is so good that you just have to grab it. Unfortunately, often you have to pay for it after you try it out. But every once in a while, a must-have program is totally free. Such indispensable, no-cost programs are the hardest kind to find.

We've saved you the time it takes to dig up such gems. Read on to learn about ten must-have programs that can keep your PC fast, fun to use, and safe. Some of the creators ask for a small donation if you like the application, and some of these downloads are older, "lite" versions of more full-featured software--but all are free to download, and free to use.

(For links to all of these downloads in one convenient list, see our "10 Must-Have Free Downloads" collection.)

System Cleanup and Maintenance

CCleaner, the best free/donationware program you can find for cleaning a system and keeping it in tip-top shape. It deletes temporary and unneeded files, erases your browsing tracks, kills unwanted cookies, and zaps unnecessary files associated with various programs, including all the popular browsers. It even provides a Registry cleaner.

CCEnhancer (free/donationware), which powers up CCleaner by increasing the long list of cleanable programs. It tidies up the traces of more applications than CCleaner can do alone, adding favorites such as Ashampoo Burning Studio, LogMeIn, Microsoft Works, and many others. It integrates directly into CCleaner, so you have nothing new to learn.

LookInMyPC can help. It peers into your computer and gives you an exceptionally detailed report, including the PC's manufacturer, its serial number, the amount of RAM, the hard-disk space, and similar hardware info. Overall it offers far more than most users want to know, though the amount of detail is perfect for geeks; if you dig into it, you can see the part number of your RAM chips, all your installed printer drivers, the name and address of your ISP, lists of installed updates and patches, and plenty more.

Secunia PSI scans your PC, finds all the installed software, alerts you about which programs need updates, and then helps you do the updating. It also warns you about which of your out-of-date programs represent a security risk, and it can even automatically update your programs after a little configuration.

Media Tools

IrfanView, a superb graphics viewer and basic image editor. It's fast, it's simple to use, and it's free/donationware--what else could you want? It views just about any image file type in existence, and does so with lightning speed. You can also use it to convert between file types, crop images, add effects, and perform other basic editing chores. It can show files as slideshows and play multimedia files, too.

Photoscape. That a piece of software this powerful is free/donationware is remarkable; you'll be amazed at how much functionality is built in. For a start, it offers a photo editor, a file viewer, a slideshow creator, a batch editor, and a screen-capture program. And each component is packed with features. For example, you can combine multiple photos into a single frame, and can even convert RAW-format photos--used by many digital cameras--into .jpg files.

Ashampoo Burning Studio 6 Free. Contrary to what some people may believe, CDs and DVDs are not a thing of the past, and this free program is ideal for anyone who needs to rip, burn, or copy such discs. (The current commercial version, the $50 Ashampoo Burning Studio 10, adds editing, menu creation, and other features.) With Ashampoo Burning Studio 6 Free, you can copy entire discs, burn movies to a CD/DVD/Blu-ray Disc, create Video CDs, create .iso images from a CD or DVD, create a CD or DVD from an .iso image, and a lot more. Despite all those capabilities, the program is exceedingly easy to use.

Productivity Boosters

ClipX. This venerable clipboard enhancer powers up the anemic Windows Clipboard, keeping the last 25 Clipboard clips so that you can reuse them. It stores graphics as well as text, takes up barely any RAM, and is exceptionally easy to use. It also accepts plug-ins. Make sure to get the developer's own ClipX Stickies Plugin, which stores clips you frequently access--such as boilerplate text or corporate logos--so that you can pop them into any application. Note: ClipX isn't officially supported on Windows 7, but it worked fine on my Windows 7 test PC.

Hamster Free Zip Archiver. With this tool you can create and open archives with drag-and-drop ease. It handles all the popular compression formats--including .zip, .rar, and .7z--and gives you a host of useful capabilities, such as changing compression levels and splitting files.

Evernote. It's perfect for anyone who suffers from information overload and needs a way to store data of any kind and then find it quickly. The program captures information from the Web, e-mail, and even digital cameras, scanners, and microphones. You can manually enter notes yourself, too. You categorize the information, tag it, and annotate it so that it's easy to find and use. Since Evernote syncs the information to the Web and mobile devices, you have it wherever you go. I use this tool to research and write books and articles, plan vacations, and more. You'll likely find plenty of uses for it as well.

Health Net loses sensitive data for 2M people (AP)

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 07:12 PM PDT

– 2 hrs 16 mins ago

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A health insurance company that provides coverage to 6 million people nationwide said Monday it is missing data servers containing the health records, financial information and Social Security numbers for nearly 2 million current and past clients.

Health Net Inc. said Monday it cannot account for several hard drives from a data center in the Sacramento suburb of Rancho Cordova.

The Woodland Hills-based managed care company would not disclose how many people could be affected, but the California Department of Managed Health Care placed the number at 1.9 million. In a news release, the department said nine server drives are missing and that it is conducting its own investigation into the company's security practices.

"Obviously something went wrong, but we don't know," department spokeswoman Denise Schmidt said.

Health Net, which provides coverage to 6 million people across the country, would not say whether the drives were stolen.

In January, the company agreed to pay $55,000 to settle a similar case with the Vermont attorney general's office. That case arose after the loss of a portable, unencrypted hard drive that contained protected health information, Social Security numbers and financial information for about 1.5 million people. Health Net discovered the drive was missing on May 14, 2009, but did not start notifying affected Vermont residents until more than six months later.

UnitedHealth Group bought Health Net's assets in the Northeast in 2009 and the transition is winding down, Health Net spokesman Brad Kieffer said.

In the latest security breach, Health Net began analyzing its system after IBM, which manages the company's information technology, informed the company that it could not find the drives in question. They contain information for former and past clients, employees and health care providers.

The 1.9 million people potentially affected include more than 622,000 enrollees in Health Net products regulated by the state Department of Managed Health Care, more than 223,000 enrolled in California Department of Insurance products and an unspecified number enrolled in Medicare.

Health Net has notified people whose privacy might have been compromised and offered them two years of credit monitoring. Debix Identity Protection Network will provide identity theft insurance, fraud resolution and restoration of credit files.
at 9:39 PM

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