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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Cellphones a 'possible' carcinogen — like coffee (AP) : Technet

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Cellphones a 'possible' carcinogen — like coffee (AP) : Technet

Cellphones a 'possible' carcinogen — like coffee (AP)

Posted: 31 May 2011 02:56 PM PDT

By MARIA CHENG, AP Medical Writer Maria Cheng, Ap Medical Writer – Tue May 31, 5:56 pm ET

LONDON – A respected international panel of scientists says cellphones are possible cancer-causing agents, putting them in the same category as the pesticide DDT, gasoline engine exhaust and coffee.

The classification was issued Tuesday in Lyon, France, by the International Agency for Research on Cancer after a review of dozens of published studies. The agency is an arm of the World Health Organization and its assessment now goes to WHO and national health agencies for possible guidance on cellphone use.

Classifying agents as "possibly carcinogenic" doesn't mean they automatically cause cancer and some experts said the ruling shouldn't change people's cellphone habits.

"Anything is a possible carcinogen," said Donald Berry, a professor of biostatistics at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas. He was not involved in the WHO cancer group's assessment. "This is not something I worry about and it will not in any way change how I use my cellphone," he said — speaking from his cellphone.

The same cancer research agency lists alcoholic drinks as a known carcinogen and night shift work as a probable carcinogen. Anyone's risk for cancer depends on many factors, from genetic makeup to the amount and length of time of an exposure.

After a weeklong meeting on the type of electromagnetic radiation found in cellphones, microwaves and radar, the expert panel said there was limited evidence cellphone use was linked to two types of brain tumors and inadequate evidence to draw conclusions for other cancers.

"We found some threads of evidence telling us how cancers might occur, but there were acknowledged gaps and uncertainties," said Jonathan Samet of the University of Southern California, the panel's chairman.

"The WHO's verdict means there is some evidence linking mobile phones to cancer but it is too weak to draw strong conclusions from," said Ed Yong, head of health information at Cancer Research U.K. "If such a link exists, it is unlikely to be a large one."

Last year, results of a large study found no clear link between cellphones and cancer. But some advocacy groups contend the study raised serious concerns because it showed a hint of a possible connection between very heavy phone use and glioma, a rare but often deadly form of brain tumor. However, the numbers in that subgroup weren't sufficient to make the case.

The study was controversial because it began with people who already had cancer and asked them to recall how often they used their cellphones more than a decade ago.

In about 30 other studies done in Europe, New Zealand and the U.S., patients with brain tumors have not reported using their cellphones more often than unaffected people.

Because cellphones are so popular, it may be impossible for experts to compare cellphone users who develop brain tumors with people who don't use the devices. According to a survey last year, the number of cellphone subscribers worldwide has hit 5 billion, or nearly three-quarters of the global population.

People's cellphone habits have also changed dramatically since the first studies began years ago and it's unclear if the results of previous research would still apply today.

Since many cancerous tumors take decades to develop, experts say it's impossible to conclude cellphones have no long-term health risks. The studies conducted so far haven't tracked people for longer than about a decade.

Cellphones send signals to nearby towers via radio frequency waves, a form of energy similar to FM radio waves and microwaves. But the radiation produced by cellphones cannot directly damage DNA and is different from stronger types of radiation like X-rays or ultraviolet light. At very high levels, radio frequency waves from cellphones can heat up body tissue, but that is not believed to damage human cells.

Some experts recommended people use a headset or earpiece if they are worried about the possible health dangers of cellphones. "If there is a risk, most of it goes away with a wireless earpiece," said Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society.

Brawley said people should focus on the real health hazards of cellphones. "Cellphones may cause brain tumors but they kill far more people through automobile accidents," he said. Brawley added it was also reasonable to limit children's use of cellphones since their brains are still developing.

Earlier this year, a U.S. National Institutes of Health study found that cellphone use can speed up brain activity, but it is unknown whether that has any dangerous health effects.

The cellphone industry trade group, CTIA-The Wireless Association, pointed to two U.S. agencies that have found no evidence cellphones are linked to cancer — the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Communications Commission.

The WHO's cancer research agency has reviewed more than 900 occupational exposures, chemicals and other agents since 1971, classifying their link to cancer by labeling them from carcinogenic to probably not carcinogenic. The American Cancer Society has estimated that only about 6 percent of cancers are related to environmental causes and most of that is on-the-job occupational exposure.

___

Online:

http://www.iarc.fr

http://www.cancer.org

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org

Steve Jobs to deliver Apple keynote next week (AP)

Posted: 31 May 2011 03:09 PM PDT

By PETER SVENSSON, AP Technology Writer Peter Svensson, Ap Technology Writer – Tue May 31, 6:09 pm ET

NEW YORK – Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs will take a break from medical leave to deliver the keynote speech at next week's Apple conference, the company said Tuesday.

The keynote will feature a new "iCloud" service, the company said. It didn't explain what the service will do, but Apple has been in talks with all four major recording companies on allowing users to store their songs on Apple-run servers rather than on their home PCs, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The person was not authorized to speak publicly on the deals and spoke recently on condition of anonymity.

Jobs went on medical leave in January for unspecified reasons, handing over day-to-day control to chief operating officer Tim Cook. Investors were rattled because Jobs is seen as the creative force behind the company, crucial to shaping hit products like the iPod, iPhone and iPad.

Even while on leave, Jobs has remained involved in larger decisions at the company, and demonstrated the new iPad model at a news conference in March.

Apple shares rose $10.42, or 3.1 percent, to close at $347.83.

Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off Monday in San Francisco.

Jobs decision to appear at the conference indicates he believes iCloud will be another breakthrough service for Apple.

ICloud could give users a wide array of music for their iPhones, iPads and Wi-Fi-capable iPods, without having to connect them to their home PCs to transfer songs. Google Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. have recently launched similar services.

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, that iCloud would allow users to scan their home music collections and have it duplicated in the "cloud" of Apple-run computers. That would remove the time-consuming hassle of having to upload every song to the online storage locker.

Eliminating that hurdle would give iCloud a leg up over the comparable services from Google and Amazon.com, which requires uploads of existing song collections. Neither Google nor Amazon has secured deals with the recording companies.

It's unclear how Apple intends to make money from the iCloud service, although a subscription plan seems likely.

Apple's statement also said the keynote speech will feature Apple's new Mac software, Lion, and the next version of Apple's iPhone and iPad software.

The June developers' conference has in years past been the opportunity for Apple to reveal the year's new iPhone model, ahead of a retail launch a few weeks later. But this year, analysts are speculating that the new iPhone won't arrive until the fall. Apple launched a version of the iPhone 4 for Verizon's network in February, and a June-July release of a new model could disappoint new owners of that phone.

Tuesday's brief statement did not mention any new hardware.

Sony continues to restore PlayStation service (AP)

Posted: 31 May 2011 10:28 AM PDT

– Tue May 31, 1:28 pm ET

SAN FRANCISCO – Sony Corp. plans to restore access to its PlayStation Network and Qriocity movie and music services in the U.S., Europe and Asia — with the exception of Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea — by the end of the week.

The company shut down the services in April after a massive security breach that affected more than 100 online accounts.

Sony started restoring access in the U.S. and Europe on May 15, and began a phased restoration of the service in Japan and elsewhere in Asia on Saturday. Video game consoles such as the PlayStation are effectively banned in China.

Sony says it has added "considerable" security enhancements to its service.

Spring Cleaning for Your Computer: The essential Windows maintenance list (Yahoo! News)

Posted: 31 May 2011 05:43 PM PDT

By Tecca tecca – Tue May 31, 8:43 pm ET

There's more to computer upkeep than just cleaning your monitor and keyboard. Everyone knows you need to perform some sort of maintenance in order to ensure a computer runs smoothly. But many people either don't know what to do or end up putting it off until the last minute (or even later). Don't wait until you have a problem to perform maintenance on your system.

Here's our list of must-do maintenance items for those of you who put it off for a once-a-year spring cleaning. Doing this all at once isn't optimal, but it's better than not doing any at all! (Note: This article is for Windows PC owners. Mac users, check out our Mac hub, or some of our other Apple-centric guides and how-to articles.)

File maintenance
One of the most important tasks you can do to maintain your computer system's performance is file maintenance. The first step begins with a review of which programs you're using and which ones you're not. Programs you don't use still take up space on your hard drive; along with becoming fragmented, they can cause access times to slow down for everything on your system.

Windows' program management is very simple and straightforward. For Windows XP, go to the Start menu and right-click on the My Computer option on the right-hand side. Select Add / Remove Software from the available options. For Vista and Windows 7, simply select the Control Panel from the Start menu, and click on Programs from the window that opens up.

It may take a few moments to populate, but a list of all the programs that have been installed on your computer will appear in a new window. This list can be sorted by last time they've been used, by size, or alphabetically by name. If you have a pretty good idea of what you do and don't use, then sort by size and remove the largest ones you can. This will have the biggest impact on disk space and performance. Otherwise, use the "last time used" option to find out which programs you don't use all that often (or even not at all).

To remove a program from this list, just click on the Uninstall / Change button on the right side of the program's entry. A confirmation box will appear to make sure this is what you really want to do.

While you might think that removing a program's files by hand would be enough, it's important to go through the correct uninstall process. Doing so will also remove entries from your computer's registry (an area akin to a big index of every file that's on your computer and what each of them is supposed to do). Leftover entries in the registry can cause performance hiccups or even a complete system shutdown; using the uninstallation utility will help clean these up and keep leftover clutter to a minimum.

Take out the trash
Don't forget to empty the trash. Each time you delete something, it goes into the recycle bin or trash folder. You'll also want to remove temporary files from time to time, including internet downloads. Both tasks can be completed using one simple utility.

In the start menu under All Programs > Accessories > System, you'll find a program called Disk Cleanup. Run this program, and be sure to check off the trash and temporary folders. Eliminating these files will go a long way toward speeding up hard drive access and keeping your disk from being bogged down with unnecessary files and information.

Scanning for issues
After file cleanup is an excellent time to scan for viruses and other malware. There are many antivirus and anti-malware / spyware programs on the market. (Check out our solid antivirus and anti-malware recommendations.) In fact, your computer may have come with one preinstalled.

The main thing to do here is to ensure that you've got the most up-to-date files for your scanning program(s). Scanning for viruses and malware won't do much good if the scanner's data files are a year old! Most utilities make updating their detection databases a snap, with a Check for Updates or similar button or link right on the main screen.

Set aside chunk of time for your scanning program to run when you're not going to be using your computer. Depending on the size of your hard drive and how many files you have, it could be an overnight operation. While it's possible to run a scan in the background while working on your computer, trying to do both at the same time can slow things down significantly.

Also, make sure you run a complete system scan, not just the quick or "optimized" option. Remember, you're trying to do a year's worth of maintenance, so don't take shortcuts!

Disk maintenance
Once you've eliminated unused programs, cleaned up viruses or malware, and removed temporary files and trash, you're ready for the final step: defragmenting and organizing the information on your hard drive so it can be accessed more efficiently.

Your computer uses space as it becomes available, even if it means splitting up programs and files into dozens, even hundreds, of pieces. These pieces can end up spread out all over your hard drive. When this happens, accessing the information in these files takes longer than if the file were all together in one place.

The Disk Fragmentation utility analyzes your hard drive to determine if it needs to be defragmented (defragged). Go to the Start menu > All Programs > Accessories > System > Disk Fragmentation. If the computer indicates you don't need to defragment your system, then you're done — until next year, at least.

If you do need to defragment your hard drive, set it and forget it. The defragmentation process another long one, so you'll want to set aside another long block of time to let it run uninterrupted.  Again, you could do other things while this runs in the background, but since this process involves moving files that you still want to use, we highly recommend that you let it run by itself. Running this overnight or when you leave to go to work for the day is probably the easiest and most convenient option.

Be sure to check the box that scans your drives' surface areas while doing the defrag operation. This lets your system identify and catalog potentially faulty sectors on the disk so they won't be used again. Data stored on these sectors will be recovered and moved to a new location, if possible. (Note: The disk check will be performed the next time you reboot your computer; it may take a while to complete if your hard drive is very large and has a lot of data on it.)

Healthy and regular
Spring cleaning can be a great time to clean your computer as well as your home. Just don't put it off. A little time spent performing these tasks will pay off in a big way with system stability and performance. And if you're impressed with the results, you just might decide to make it a semi-annual event. Who knows?

Post by Michael Arcand

More from Tecca:

[Image credit: Andrew]

Electrified, armored glove could turn you into a superhero (Yahoo! News)

Posted: 31 May 2011 03:34 PM PDT

By Mike Wehner mike Wehner – Tue May 31, 6:34 pm ET

Let's face it, without the ability to fly, see through walls, or shoot lasers from your eyeballs, your chances of becoming a real-life superhero are pretty slim. That is, unless you got your hands on the BodyGuard, an armored glove and arm covering that not only protects against hand-to-hand assaults, but can also deliver a stunning shock to would-be assailants. The armored covering is designed for use by law enforcement and has the potential to become standard issue gear.

In addition to the BodyGuard's lightweight, protective carbon fiber exterior and built-in stun gun, the device also sports a laser pointer, flashlight, and even an HD video recorder for capturing crooks on film. A set of stealthy buttons located in the palm of the glove control the accessories.

The BodyGuard is the brainchild of David Brown, a film cameraman and inventor who has spent the last 7 years building various prototypes of the powerful glove. Early versions have have already been put to the test in mock combat scenarios and the first demo unit is set to be delivered to the Los Angeles sheriff's department by the end of the year.

PopSci via Gizmodo

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OhSoWe Is a Hyperlocal Network for Neighborhoods (Mashable)

Posted: 30 May 2011 03:47 PM PDT

Ben Parr Ben Parr – Mon May 30, 6:47 pm ET

After finding success revolutionizing restaurant reservations, OpenTable founder Chuck Templeton has taken up a new challenge: to bring neighbors closer together through hyperlocal sharing. Templeton's new startup, OhSoWe, quietly launched earlier this month. At its core, it's an online community platform for neighborhoods to network and communicate online. Instead of providing local news (like AOL's Patch), OhSoWe provides a website for posting items to share or starting a local discussion.

[More from Mashable: 8 Important Term Sheet Items to Evaluate Before Investing in a Startup]

Templeton told Mashable that a big part of the problem he sees is with the unused hammer, lawnmower or shovel simply collecting dust in the shed. Most tools only get used for a few minutes per year; why not make it easier to share or lend those items to neighbors? Why aren't neighbors sharing and lending their stuff more often?

OhSoWe is an attempt to solve that problem. It has three key sections for connecting with the people who live closest: Neighbors, Communication and Shareables. Neighbors is simply a list of people who live near you. OhSoWe takes verifying a person's address seriously; you have to either use a credit card or a postcard to verify your address. Communication is a public message board for your "Neighborstead" (OhSoWe's term for its hyperlocal groups). Shareables is like a local Craigslist where you can offer items to lend or sell. You can also offer your skills (e.g. plumbing, web design, etc.) to your neighbors.

[More from Mashable: 9 Ways To Increase Your Productivity While Working From Home]

Templeton envisions a future where neighbors organize group garage sales and lending exchanges through OhSoWe. It has a long road ahead through convincing neighborhoods to join and share their garden tools. The startup is currently self-funded by Templeton and co-founder Arun Sivashankaran.

Lead courtesy of Flickr, Zouny

This story originally published on Mashable here.

Google says was rebuffed as partner by Facebook (Reuters)

Posted: 31 May 2011 08:05 PM PDT

– 1 hr 13 mins ago

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Google Inc tried to partner with Facebook but was rebuffed, denying the search giant to the social network's trove of personal information, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said on Tuesday.

Schmidt did not specify which deal in particular he was referring to, but noted that Google's search could be improved with access to Facebook's data about Web surfers' friends and acquaintances.

"We tried very hard to partner with Facebook," Schmidt said.

"They were unwilling to do the deal," he added, noting that Facebook had traditionally partnered with Microsoft.

Schmidt, who was speaking at the D9 conference organized by the blog AllThingsD, also noted that Google had also recently renewed a partnership with Apple in which Google provides map technology featured in the iPhone.

A former Apple board member, Schmidt said their relationship had gotten "rough" as Google began to develop its Android smartphone operating system, although they remained good partners in certain good parnters in certain businesses.

Schmidt, who ended his 10-year run as Google CEO in April and handed the reins to 38-year-old Google co-founder Larry Page, is among the more than a dozen tech industry executives slated to speak at the conference, taking place this week at an upscale resort in Southern California.

Among the other scheduled speakers are the chief executives of the Walt Disney Co, Hewlett-Packard, Twitter, Zynga, Groupon and Alibaba.

(Reporting by Alexei Oreskovic)

Pentagon: All options on table in cyber-attack (AFP)

Posted: 31 May 2011 07:06 PM PDT

by Shaun Tandon Shaun Tandon – 2 hrs 12 mins ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The Pentagon said that it would consider all options if the United States were hit by a cyber-attack as it develops the first military guidelines for the age of Internet warfare.

President Barack Obama's administration has been formalizing rules on cyberspace amid growing concern about the reach of hackers. Defense contractor Lockheed Martin said it repelled a major cyber-assault a week ago.

The White House on May 16 unveiled an international strategy statement on cyber-security which said the United States "will respond to hostile acts in cyberspace as we would to any other threat to our country."

"We reserve the right to use all necessary means -- diplomatic, informational, military, and economic -- as appropriate and consistent with applicable international law, in order to defend our nation, our allies, our partners and our interests," the strategy statement said.

Pentagon spokesman Colonel Dave Lapan said Tuesday that the White House policy did not rule out a military response to a cyber-attack.

"A response to a cyber incident or attack on the US would not necessarily be a cyber-response," Lapan told reporters. "All appropriate options would be on the table if we were attacked, be it cyber."

Lapan said that the Pentagon was drawing up an accompanying cyber defense strategy which would be ready in two to three weeks.

The Wall Street Journal, citing three officials who said they had seen the document, reported Tuesday that the strategy would classify major cyber-attacks as acts of war, paving the way for possible military retaliation.

The newspaper said that the strategy was intended in part as a warning to foes that may try to sabotage the US electricity grid, subways or pipelines.

"If you shut down our power grid, maybe we will put a missile down one of your smokestacks," it quoted a military official as saying.

The newspaper said the Pentagon would likely decide whether to respond militarily to cyber-attacks based on "equivalence" -- whether the attack was comparable in damage to a conventional military strike.

Such a decision would also depend on whether the precise source of the attack could be determined.

The US military suffered its worst cyber-attack in 2008. Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn said that a malicious flash drive -- likely from a foreign spy agency -- spread and commandeered computers at US Central Command, which runs the war in Afghanistan.

The attack served as a wakeup call, with the Pentagon setting up a Cyber Command and working up the doctrine for a new type of conflict.

In cyber-warfare, aggressors are often mysterious and hence would not fear immediate retaliation -- a key difference from traditional warfare, in which the fear of one's own destruction is considered a deterrent.

While stepping up defenses, some believe the United States may also be pursuing cyber war. Iran has accused the United States and Israel of last year launching Stuxnet, a worm that reportedly wreaked havoc on computers in the Islamic republic's controversial nuclear program.

The United States and Israel both declined to comment on Stuxnet.

A study released Tuesday by the Center for a New American Society identified the United States, Britain, France, Israel, Russia and China as the leaders in cyber-offense, with Moscow and Beijing viewing cyber-attacks as an attractive option in the event of a major conflict.

But while sophisticated attacks take resources, the study noted that the barriers to entering cyberspace are "extraordinarily low."

"To launch a cyber-attack today, all a person needs is a computer, which costs less than $400 in the United States, an Internet connection and limited technical knowhow," it said.

Joseph Nye, the Harvard University professor and theoretician of power, said in a paper for the report that "it makes little sense to speak of dominance in cyberspace as in sea power or air power."

"If anything, dependence on complex cyber systems for support of military and economic activities creates new vulnerabilities in large states that can be exploited by non-state actors," he wrote.

Mobile phone use may cause cancer: WHO (AFP)

Posted: 31 May 2011 08:06 PM PDT

by Marlowe Hood Marlowe Hood – 1 hr 12 mins ago

PARIS (AFP) – Mobile phone users may be at increased risk from brain cancer and should use texting and free-hands devices to reduce exposure, the World Health Organisation's cancer experts said.

Radio-frequency electromagnetic fields generated by such devices are "possibly carcinogenic to humans," the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) announced at the end of an eight-day meeting in Lyon, France.

Experts "reached this classification based on review of the human evidence coming from epidemiological studies" pointing to an increased incidence of glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, said Jonathan Samet, president of the work group.

Two studies in particular, the largest conducted over the last decade, showed a higher risk "in those that had the most intensive use of such phones," he said in a telephone news conference.

Some individuals tracked in the studies had used their phones for an average of 30 minutes per day over a period of 10 years.

"We simply don't know what might happen as people use their phones over longer time periods, possibly over a lifetime," Samet said.

There are about five billion mobile phones registered in the world. The number of phones and the average time spent using them have both climbed steadily in recent years.

The CTIA-The Wireless Association dismissed the report saying the UN agency "conducts numerous reviews and in the past has given the same score to, for example, pickled vegetables and coffee."

This classification "does not mean cell phones cause cancer," the industry association said in a statement, noting that "limited evidence from statistical studies can be found even though bias and other data flaws may be the basis for the results."

The IARC cautioned that current scientific evidence showed only a possible link, not a proven one, between wireless devices and cancers.

"There is some evidence of increased risk of glioma" and another form of non-malignant tumour called acoustic neuroma, said Kurt Straif, the scientist in charge of editing the IARC reports on potentially carcinogenic agents.

"But it is not at the moment clearly established that the use of mobile phones does in fact cause cancer in humans," he said.

The IARC does not issue formal recommendations, but experts pointed to a number of ways consumers can reduce risk.

"What probably entails some of the highest exposure is using your mobile for voice calls," Straif said.

"If you use it for texting, or as a hands-free set for voice calls, this is clearly lowering the exposure by at least an order of magnitude," or by tenfold, he said.

A year ago the IARC concluded that there was no link between cell phones and brain cancer, but that earlier report was criticised as based on data that was out of date.

The new review, conducted by a panel of 31 scientists from 14 countries, was reached on the basis of a "full consensus," said Robert Baan, in charge of the written report, yet to be released.

"This is the first scientific evaluation of all the literature published on the topic with regard to increased risk of cancer," he said.

But the panel stressed the need for more research, pointing to incomplete data, evolving technology and changing consumer habits.

"There's an improvement in the technology in terms of lower emissions but at the same time we see increased use, so it is hard to know how the two balance out," Baan noted.

The IARC ranks potentially cancer-causing elements as carcinogenic, probably carcinogenic, possibly carcinogenic or "probably not carcinogenic". It can also determine that a material is "not classifiable".

Cigarettes, sunbeds and asbestos, for example, fall in "Group 1", the top threat category.

Cell phones now join glass wool and gasoline exhaust in Group 2B as "possibly carcinogenic".

Industry groups reacted cautiously, pointing to other common consumer items -- including coffee and vegetables pickled in chemicals -- that are included in the same category.

"In France, the health ministry already applies a precautionary approach to cell phones because it considers that no danger has been established, that doubts remain and, thus, that more research is needed," the French Federation of Telecoms said in a statement.

Some consumer advocacy groups said the new classification was overdue.

"As of today, no one can say the risk does not exist, and now everyone -- politicians, telecoms, employers, consumers and parents -- have to take this into account," said Janine Le Calvez, head of PRIARTEM, a consumer advocacy group concerned with cell phone safety.

WHO says cell phone use "possibly carcinogenic" (Reuters)

Posted: 31 May 2011 03:45 PM PDT

By Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent Kate Kelland, Health And Science Correspondent – Tue May 31, 6:45 pm ET

LONDON (Reuters) – Using a mobile phone might increase the risk of developing certain types of brain tumors and consumers should consider ways of reducing their exposure, World Health Organization (WHO) cancer experts said on Tuesday.

A working group of 31 scientists from 14 countries meeting at the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) said a review of all the available scientific evidence suggested cell phone use should be classified as "possibly carcinogenic."

The classification, which puts mobile phone use in the same broad IARC cancer risk category as lead, chloroform and coffee, could spur the United Nations health body to look again at its guidelines on mobile phones, the scientists said.

But more lengthy and detailed research is needed before a more definitive answer on any link can be given.

The WHO had previously said there was no established evidence for a link between cell phone use and cancer.

"After reviewing essentially all the evidence that is relevant ... the working group classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans," Jonathan Samet, chair of the IARC group, said in a telebriefing.

He said some evidence suggested a link between an increased risk for glioma, a type of brain cancer, and mobile phone use.

Cellphone use has risen hugely since they were introduced in the early 1980s, with 5 billion in use today. And since phones have become such an key part of daily life -- used by many for Web surfing as well as talking -- industry experts say a health threat will not stop people using them.

Instead, concerned consumers might opt to buy more accessories such as headsets to reduce the risks, Avian Securities analyst Matthew Thornton said.

"It's going to take some compelling argument to change behavior," he said.

The WHO's position has been keenly awaited by mobile phone companies and by campaign groups who have raised concerns about whether cell phones might be harmful to health.

Industry groups immediately sought to play down the decision, stressing the "possibly carcinogenic" category also includes substances such as pickled vegetables and coffee.

"This IARC classification does not mean that cell phones cause cancer," said John Walls, vice president of public affairs for the United States-based wireless association CTIA.

He noted the IARC working group did not conduct any new research, but reviewed published studies, and said other regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have stated that "the weight of scientific evidence has not linked cell phones with any health problems."

John Cooke, executive director of the British-based Mobile Operators Association, said IARC had only found the possibility of a hazard.

"Whether or not this represents a risk requires further scientific investigation," he said in a statement.

PREVIOUS STUDIES INCONCLUSIVE

The IARC remarks follow a study published last year that looked at almost 13,000 cell phone users over 10 years and found no clear answer on whether the mobile devices cause brain tumors.

Many previous studies have also failed to establish any clear cancer link, but a U.S. study in February found that using a mobile phone can change brain cell activity.

IARC director Christopher Wild said it was important that more research be conducted, particularly into long-term and heavy use of mobile phones.

"Pending the availability of such information, it is important to take pragmatic measures to reduce exposure such as hands-free devices or texting," he said.

Malcolm Sperrin, director of medical physics and clinical engineering at Britain's Royal Berkshire Hospital, said he thought the IARC move was appropriate because it reflected the "anecdotal evidence that cancers may be associated with phone usage." But he added: "It is vitally important to fully understand that there is no definitive correlation."

(Additional reporting by Sinead Carew in New York and Diane Bartz in Washington DC; editing by Mark Heinrich and Andre Grenon)

Former Google CEO 'screwed up' on Facebook threat (AP)

Posted: 31 May 2011 09:17 PM PDT

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE, AP Technology Writer Michael Liedtke, Ap Technology Writer – 2 mins ago

SAN FRANCISCO – If he had a another chance, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt would have pressed the Internet search leader to focus more on mounting a challenge to Facebook while he was still running the company.

"I screwed up," Schmidt said late Tuesday during a 75-minute question-and-answer session at the D: All Things conference in Rancho Palos Verde. The Associated Press watched a webcast of the conference.

Schmidt's admission comes nearly two months after he ended his decade-long stint as Google's CEO and became the company's executive chairman. He was replaced by Google co-founder Larry Page, who is pushing the company's employees to develop more ways to connect people with their friends and family like Facebook already does

That was a priority that Schmidt said he started addressing in internal memos written about four years ago when Facebook had about 20 million active users.

But he acknowledged he and other executives didn't take Facebook seriously enough. Now, Facebook has more than 500 million users who shares billions of links, posts and photos each month.

Facebook's growing popularity is becoming more nettlesome for Google.

As Facebook's audience grows, it is attracting more online advertising and stunting Google's financial growth. Perhaps even more troubling to Google, much of the information on Facebook's website can't be indexed by Google's search engine. That restriction threatens to make Google's less useful as more people form social circles online and could make it more difficult to get a handle on personal preferences so it can do a better job selling ads.

Schmidt said the company has been working hard to solve this "identity" problem. "I think the industry as a whole would benefit from an alternative" to Facebook's network, Schmidt said.

Google has tried to negotiate partnerships with Facebook, Schmidt said, only to be repeatedly rebuffed. He said Facebook has preferred teaming up with another Google rival, Microsoft Corp., which owns a 1.6 percent stake in Facebook. Google also has ties to Facebook; one of its former executives, Sheryl Sandberg, is Facebook's chief operating officer.

Just before Page became CEO, Google introduced its version of Facebook's ubiquitous "Like" button to enable Web surfers to endorse search results and ads. Google's recommendation button, called "+1," is expected to be expanded to other websites Wednesday, according to the Techcrunch blog and industry newsletter Search Engine Land. Schmidt didn't mention a timetable for expanding Google's +1 button.

Google used Tuesday's conference to announce the launch of another networking service that will offer discounts from restaurants and other merchants if enough people agree to buy the coupons. The service, called "Google Offers," is based on the daily deals offered by Groupon, which Google unsuccessfully tried to buy last year. Google's offers initially will be available only in Portland, Ore., before expanding to New York and the San Francisco Bay area later this year. The offers are part of a new mobile payment service Google unveiled last week.

Schmidt views Google and Facebook as part of a powerful "gang of four" that's building influential platforms for selling a variety of products and services to consumers. The others, according to Schmidt, are iPhone and iPad maker Apple Inc. and the Web's biggest retailer, Amazon.com Inc.

Apple once had a close relationship with Google, but Schmidt said things have gotten "rough" between the companies since Google introduced its Android software for mobile phones in 2008. The intensifying competition prompted Schmidt to resign from Apple's board of directors in 2009.

Although he no longer is involved in day-to-operations, Schmidt said he remains a close adviser to Page and is consulted on all key decisions. He spends most of his time traveling to meet with customers, scouting potential acquisitions and meeting government regulators who have been scrutinizing the company's business practices and privacy policies

It's a role that Schmidt, 56, indicated he expects to fill for the rest of his career. He even joked he would like to still be working at Google after he dies if the company could develop the technology to make that possible.

By serving as Google's public ambassador, Schmidt said Page can concentrate on Facebook and other internal issues

"Larry is pretty busy sitting in his office from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. going through product reviews," Schmidt said.

Just Show Me: How to find what version of Android your phone is running (Yahoo! News)

Posted: 31 May 2011 02:51 PM PDT

By Barb Dybwad barb Dybwad – Tue May 31, 5:51 pm ET


Welcome one and all to Just Show Me, where we give you short tips and tricks for getting the most out of your gadgets. In our last episode we showed you an overview of the Google Music service, and today we've got another edition for the Android fans in the house. Want to know how to find out what version of the Android mobile operating system is currently on your phone? Check out the video above to find out!

If you already know all about how to find your Android version, why not pass this on to the new Android owner in your life? Or, check out one of our other Android video tips from the list below. What other topics do you want to see us cover here on Just Show Me? Let us know in the comments!

Just Show Me: Android editions

Just Show Me tech how-to videos

Why did Google take so long to remove game console emulators? (Appolicious)

Posted: 31 May 2011 03:30 PM PDT

Sprint challenges AT&T deal (Investor's Business Daily)

Posted: 31 May 2011 03:18 PM PDT

– Tue May 31, 6:18 pm ET

The No. 3 U.S. wireless provider formally asked U.S. regulators to block AT&T's (NYSE:T - News) $39 bil purchase of T-Mobile USA, contending the deal is not in the best interest of consumers and would harm competition. Even if the FCC and Justice Dept. forced AT&T to divest some assets, that would not be enough, Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S - News) asserted. The merger would give AT&T a 44% share of the U.S. market, up from 32%. Verizon Wireless has a 35% stake and Sprint only 15%.

Amazon's gamble gives Lady Gaga 1M in album sales (AP)

Posted: 31 May 2011 06:58 PM PDT

– 2 hrs 21 mins ago

NEW YORK – Lady Gaga sold more than 1.1 million copies of her new album "Born This Way" and set a digital sales record last week — with an assist from Amazon.com.

Billboard announced Tuesday that "Born This Way" debuted at No. 1 on its Billboard 200 album chart, becoming just the 17th album to sell a million copies in its first week since SoundScan started tracking sales in 1991 and the top-selling digital debut.

The dance pop provocateur is just the fifth female with a an album that sold more than a million copies in the SoundScan era.

Lady Gaga's first No. 1 album sold the most copies of any debut since March 2005 when 50 Cent's "The Massacre" sold 1.14 million. The last million-selling album was Taylor Swift's "Speak Now" in November.

Amazon's attention-grabbing download price of 99 cents last Tuesday and Thursday helped drive "Born This Way" to an unprecedented 662,000 in digital sales, pushing the album to nearly three times initial estimates by Universal Music Group. Amazon sold more than 440,000 of those copies alone, but with mixed results.

The online retailer did grab the spotlight it had hoped in its battle for a larger piece of the online market, which is dominated by Apple's iTunes. But it came with an image hit when customers overwhelmed Amazon's system.

Amazon's move has been deemed controversial by some observers who say the steep loss of several dollars an album was not worth the investment. Physical outlets also were upset at the advantage given to an online retailer.

Dramatic price cuts are nothing new for Amazon, which regularly trims new and popular album prices to as low as $2.99 through its daily deal program.

___

Online:

http://www.billboard.com

http://www.ladygaga.com

Rolling Stone co-founder: publishers' rush to iPad is 'crazy' (Digital Trends)

Posted: 31 May 2011 08:37 PM PDT

Trevor Mogg Trevor Mogg – 41 mins ago

Rolling Stone logoNot wanting to feel left behind in the digital age, many publishers of long-running print magazines have been keen to jump on the e-publishing bandwagon in an attempt to find a new audience, or at the least, in the hope of not losing any of its existing readers. But there's one high profile publisher who is deciding to sit this one out. Indeed, he can't see what all the fuss is about. Talking to AdAge, the founder of Rolling Stone magazine, Jann Wenner, said he thought publishers were "crazy" to be so keen to get their publications on the iPad.

"From the publisher's point of view I would think they're crazy to encourage it," he told AdAge's Nat Ives. "They're going to get less money for it from advertisers. Right now it costs a fortune to convert your magazine, to program it, to get all the things you have to do on there. And they're not selling. You know, 5,000 copies there, 3,000 copies here, it's not worth it."

The successful publisher, who co-launched Rolling Stone aged 20 at a cost of just $7500, suggests that his counterparts should stop and think before fully immersing themselves in the digital age. "I think that they're prematurely rushing and showing little confidence and faith in what they've really got, their real asset, which is the magazine itself, which is still a great commodity," Wenner explains.

So if they are "prematurely rushing," when might be a good time to fully embrace the iPad and its subscription platform? Wenner's answer may surprise some: "Oh I think down the road. Who knows how far down the road….Decades, probably," he says. "People's habits will shift, they'll make improvements in the delivery system, the screen will change, it will get lighter, whatever, and new people growing up will find that as a habit. But you're talking about a generation at least, maybe two generations, before the shift is decisive."

Despite his reservations about publishing on the iPad and other tablets, Wenner appreciates the usefulness of the platform. "The tablet itself is a really fun device. Some people are going to enjoy it a lot and use it. Some people aren't," he says. "It's a good magazine reading device, absolutely. And where it becomes more convenient to read the magazine on that, that's got the advantage. But that's more convenient only if you're traveling, if you're away from home. Otherwise it's still easier to read the physical magazine, which is widely available on newsstands, at airports, and everywhere. You can still subscribe to get it and get it on time. You still get all the value of the magazine."

In February, Apple launched its iTunes-App Store subscription model, a model which gives the Cupertino company a 30 percent cut of the takings. This month, The New Yorker magazine found its way onto the iPad, along with a host of other Condè Nast titles. Those subscribing to the print edition of The New Yorker receive both the iPad and web edition for free.

As for Wenner, he hasn't kept his toe completely outside of the digital publishing pool. A subscription to the print version of the magazine also gets you access to the publication's archive and online access to the magazine – which you could, of course, read on your tablet.

Jobs to unveil Apple software innovations (AFP)

Posted: 31 May 2011 04:24 PM PDT

by Glenn Chapman Glenn Chapman – Tue May 31, 7:24 pm ET

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) – Ailing chief executive Steve Jobs returns next week from sick leave to unveil Apple's latest generation of software, the firm announced Tuesday.

The 56-year-old cancer survivor will present Apple's new operating system, dubbed "Lion," at a developers conference in San Francisco on June 6.

Jobs went on leave in January, his third medical absence since 2004, but has retained his title of chief executive at Apple.

He underwent an operation for pancreatic cancer in 2004 and received a liver transplant in 2009, but Apple has not released any details about his latest health issues.

"Lion" will be the eighth major iteration of Apple's operating system for the California company's increasingly popular Macintosh computers.

Apple stock price finished the trading day up more than three percent to $347.83 after the morning announcement that the culture-changing company's renowned pitchman will play a starring role at the event.

"If Steve Jobs is going to be there, it means something is going to launch," said analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley.

Apple's rare decision to disclose what Jobs and other executives will discuss could be intended to curb the rampant speculation that routinely precedes the company's events, according to Gartner analyst Michael Gartenberg.

"The key is to remember it is a developers conference," Gartenberg said. "They could be talking up software so people don't expect to see an iPhone 5 or a new Macbook."

Apple promised that announcements would include an "iCloud services offering," which many expected to include streaming music. Apple provided no details.

Google and Amazon.com recently launched services that let people store digital music in online "lockers" and then listen to tunes on any Internet-linked devices.

Given Apple's success with selling music at its online iTunes shop and its relationship with record labels, a "cloud" service playing into those strengths makes sense, according to Gartenberg.

"If they are going to introduce a new cloud-based service, it feels right that it would have something to do with music," Gartenberg said.

"We are going to see something much more than just another music locker like Google introduced and like Amazon introduced," the analyst continued. "Apple would not be getting into a cloud service if all it had was a 'me too' offering."

Online services and software platforms are vital underpinnings to the success of gadgets, even hot-selling iPhones and iPads.

Apple might also use the opening of the conference to announce a switch away from Intel chips in its laptop line, Enderle theorized.

Intel on Tuesday introduced new "Ultrabooks" that the US chip giant billed as a lean new kind of computer that combines the strengths of tablets and laptops in a single machine.

Asus is expected to have the first "Ultrabook" built with Intel chips available by the end of the year at a price less than $1,000.

Jobs may be faced with deciding whether to embrace Intel technology powering iPad rivals or to take a more defensive posture by shifting to non-Intel chips at the heart of Apple's leading line of tablet computers.

"With Intel building tablet devices with keyboards, Steve Jobs will be between a rock and a hard place," Enderle said.

"But if anyone can get out of that, it's him," the analyst continued. "He is a master chessman. Intel has made a move and now it is up to him."

Enderle didn't dismiss the chance that Apple might provide developers an early peak at the next-generation iPhone.

"We are all going to be very attentive as he gets on stage and announces that one more thing," Enderle said in reference to the trademark line Steve Jobs uses to end presentations with major surprises.

Apple's MacDefender patch checks for new variants daily (Digital Trends)

Posted: 31 May 2011 05:05 PM PDT

Geoff Duncan Geoff Duncan – Tue May 31, 8:05 pm ET

Mac OS X Snow Leopard w/MacBook

Apple has released Security Update 2011-003 to deal with the MacDefender malware and known variants that have been attempting to bilk Macintosh users out of their credit card information and money to fix non-existent problems on their computer. The update is available for Mac OS X 10.6.7 and Mac OS X Server 10.6.7, and patches Snow Leopard's built-in file quarantine system to detect MacDefender and known variants. And, in case new variants emerge, Macs with the security update will check for new malware definitions daily to make sure users' machines stay safe.

Apple will not be offering a security update to protect earlier versions of Mac OS X against MacDefender. Users of earlier versions of Mac OS X can still follow Apple's directions for manually removing the malware, although there's no promise that Apple will continue to provide removal information if new variations appear, or new malware targets the platform.

Users concerned about the security software contacting Apple every day can disable the automatic update check in Mac OS X's Security preferences.

Apple announced a week ago it would be issuing an update to Mac OS X to combat the MacDefender malware. The move marks one of the only times the company has issued a software update specifically to combat a real-world malware threat on the Macintosh platform.

The spread of MacDefender may indicate malware authors will no longer be overlooking the Mac platform as they attempt to take over personal computers and/or collect personal information—or, in the case of MacDefender, simply try to trick users into handing over their details. Although Apple has responded directly to the MacDefender threat, there's not yet any indication the company will continue to do respond to malware threats should any appear—Apple could well leave malware and antivirus software to third parties. However, Mac OS X Snow Leopard does have a rudimentary file quarantine capability, and the daily update capability incorporated into Security Update 2011-003 could enable Apple to distribute signatures for malware other than MacDefender variants.

Apple is currently working to complete Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, which (along with many new features) incorporates under-the-hood changes intended to make the Mac OS X platform more secure.

at 9:40 PM

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