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Monday, May 16, 2011

Microsoft's Bing leans more heavily on Facebook (AP) : Technet

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Microsoft's Bing leans more heavily on Facebook (AP) : Technet

Microsoft's Bing leans more heavily on Facebook (AP)

Posted: 16 May 2011 02:40 PM PDT

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE, AP Technology Writer Michael Liedtke, Ap Technology Writer – Mon May 16, 5:40 pm ET

SAN FRANCISCO – Microsoft Corp.'s Bing search engine is increasing its emphasis on the recommendations shared within Facebook's online social network to give people something they can't find on Google's dominant search engine.

Starting Monday afternoon, Bing's search results will vary depending on whether the person making a request is logged into Facebook's online social network at the same time.

For example, Bing's standard ranking system might analyze a search request about the band "U2" and relegate a link pertaining to the music group to the fourth or fifth page of results if the query came from someone who wasn't logged into Facebook at the time. But that same link might appear at the top of Bing's first search page if the query were made by a logged-in Facebook user and a few friends in the requestor's social circle had pressed Facebook's "Like" button on the site.

Bing's revisions will also affect the rankings of some search results even when people aren't logged into Facebook. That's because Bing's formula also will consider how many times Facebook's more than 500 million members have pressed on a Web page's "Like" button to help determine the content's value and relevance.

"Bing is bringing the collective IQ of the Web together with the opinions of the people you trust most, to bring the 'Friend Effect' to search," Microsoft search executive Yusuf Mehdi wrote in a Monday blog post.

Bing also is adding several other features and tools that deepen its ties to Facebook. Among other things, online shoppers using Microsoft's search engine will be able to post links about products and services directly to their Facebook accounts to get the opinions from their friends and family. Microsoft plans to deliver notices about discounted travel deals on people's Facebook pages, based on the cities they have said they liked.

The changes are the latest step in a search alliance Microsoft and Facebook announced seven months ago in a joint challenge to Google Inc. Both Microsoft and Facebook are trying to lure traffic away from Google, the Internet's most profitable company, so they can make more money selling Internet ads.

Google, whose search engine processes about two out of every three Internet search requests, also has been trying to add more personal touches as Web surfers have bonded together on Facebook and other websites such as Twitter where they share photos, recommendations and other insights.

But Facebook's online hangout has erected barriers that prevent Google's search engine from indexing all the information on a social network where an estimated 30 billion pieces of content are being shared each month.

Facebook's antipathy toward Google became clearer last week when it acknowledged that it had secretly hired a prominent public relations firm, Burson-Marsteller, to persuade reporters and bloggers to write stories about Google's privacy problems.

Besides sharing a unified front against Google, Microsoft and Facebook also have financial ties. Microsoft owns a 1.6 percent stake in Facebook.

Microsoft also has teamed up with Yahoo in its quest to topple Google. Since last summer, Microsoft's technology has been powering Yahoo's search results. The Yahoo partnership has given Microsoft's engineers access to billions more requests to analyze in an effort to get a better understanding of what people are seeking based on specific queries.

Bing has been making progress, although it remains far behind Google and remains a financial drag on Microsoft, whose online division had suffered an operating loss of $1.9 billion through the first nine months of its current fiscal year.

Through April, Bing held a 14.1 percent share of the U.S. search market, up from 10.8 percent at the same time last year, according to the research firm comScore Inc. Google's share stood at 65.4 percent in April, a decline of less than a percentage point from last year.

"The appetite for Bing to experiment and take risks like this is much greater than Google's because it is still so much smaller," said Altimeter Group analyst Charlene Li.

As it deepens its Facebook relationship, Bing could rile some users who don't want or don't fully understand why their personal information is appearing in its search results.

"There is a thin line between helpfulness and creepiness," Li said.

Leaked memo shows Hewlett-Packard CEO jitters (AP)

Posted: 16 May 2011 07:44 PM PDT

By JORDAN ROBERTSON, AP Technology Writer Jordan Robertson, Ap Technology Writer – 1 hr 34 mins ago

SAN FRANCISCO – A leaked memo from Hewlett-Packard Co. CEO Leo Apotheker warning of "another tough quarter" underscores the urgent concerns about the technology heavyweight's growth strategy and the challenges facing its new leader.

Reports of the May 4 missive from Apotheker to his top executives surfaced late Monday, sending HP shares tumbling. HP abruptly moved up its earnings report to Tuesday morning. It had originally been scheduled to Wednesday afternoon.

The jitters reflect investors' anxiety about what is essentially a classic big-company problem — with a twist.

HP is struggling to find ways to meaningfully boost sales without chasing bottom-feeder deals that eat away at profits. It's a code that many analysts believe HP hasn't cracked.

This as the 72-year-old company is recovering from the trauma of the management scandal that brought about the sacking of Apotheker's predecessor, Mark Hurd, in August, and led to the replacement of a third of HP's board. The boardroom purging was unusually severe for a company HP's size, and the turmoil reinforced a perception among many technology watchers of dysfunction in the top ranks of a Silicon Valley institution.

Hurd's exit may have come at the right time. Apotheker inherited Palo Alto-based HP seven months ago, as pressure mounted against the company from many fronts.

Wall Street has been unforgiving.

HP's stock had already fallen nearly 20 percent since the last earnings announcement in February, in which the company disclosed falling revenue from personal computers and services — two of its most important businesses.

The falling sales led to lower-than-expected guidance. HP predicted $130 billion to $131.5 billion in revenue for the year. Analysts were expecting nearly $1.5 billion more at the top end. The company's shares sank, lopping some $17 billion off HP's market value.

In a news release that went out late Monday, HP did not provide a reason for issuing its earnings report a day ahead of schedule. But the announcement came just hours after reports surfaced that Apotheker warned his executives in a May 4 memo that HP was bracing for "another tough quarter" in the May-July period, and that management needed to "watch every penny and minimize all hiring."

Bloomberg News and The Wall Street Journal earlier reported on the memo. An HP spokeswoman declined to comment.

HP shares fell $1.80, or 4.5 percent, to $38 in extended trading.

The earlier announcement is likely intended to stem the bleeding.

Apotheker is grappling with a monumental challenge of stitching together a conglomeration of businesses that were amassed during an aggressive expansion that included a $20 billion acquisition spree under his predecessor, Hurd.

HP, known for its printers and personal computers, is now a player in computer networking and technical services, deepening existing rifts with old foes while creating new ones with old allies.

In addition, the PC market — HP is the world's No. 1 PC maker — is struggling from weakened consumer demand, and is generally a thinly profitable business to begin with. The old guard of the services business are also facing tougher competition from smaller companies, and a picture emerges of a company under pressure from many fronts at once.

There are signs of optimism.

It took half a year, but HP shares finally recovered earlier this year from the plunge they took after Hurd's abrupt departure in August. While some investors were worried about Apotheker's track record — he left his former employer, German business software maker SAP AG, after just 7 months as sole CEO amid a customer revolt over a price hike and growing employee dissatisfaction — others were hopeful that a fresh face would rejuvenate HP.

Many HP employees were unhappy under Hurd's leadership because of extensive cost cuts, but Wall Street loved Hurd, and HP's market value nearly doubled under Hurd's five-year watch.

Hurd resigned after a sexual harassment scandal. The board found no evidence of harassment, but did conclude that Hurd submitted inaccurate expense reports for outings with his accuser, a former HP marketing contractor and actress named Jodie Fisher. Hurd now works as co-president of Oracle Corp., a longtime HP partner turned bitter rival.

Analysts polled by FactSet expect that in Tuesday's report HP will post earnings of $1.21 per share in its fiscal second quarter, excluding items, on $31.6 billion in revenue.

HP's guidance in February was mixed. While the revenue projection fell short, HP raised its full-year net income forecast to $5.20 to $5.28 per share, excluding items, which was in line with analysts' target.

Customer satisfaction with AT&T, T-Mobile drops (AP)

Posted: 16 May 2011 09:08 PM PDT

By PETER SVENSSON, AP Technology Writer Peter Svensson, Ap Technology Writer – 10 mins ago

NEW YORK – Sprint Nextel Corp., once dead last in customer satisfaction among the Big 4 national wireless carriers, now has the happiest subscribers, along with long-time leader Verizon Wireless, according to a survey released Tuesday.

The American Customer Satisfaction Index also shows tentative declines in customer satisfaction at the other two big carriers, AT&T Inc. and T-Mobile USA. That comes as AT&T has agreed to buy T-Mobile USA for $39 billion in a deal that could close next year.

The acquisition could make AT&T and T-Mobile customers even less happy. Claes Fornell, professor of Business Administration at the University of Michigan and the designer of the ACSI survey, said it is common to find that customer satisfaction drops after a merger.

Cellphone-company mergers bring struggles to combine billing systems, customer support and other functions. Snags can frustrate consumers. One reason Sprint had the worst score in the industry for many years was its disastrous merger with Nextel in 2005.

Sprint and Verizon Wireless both rate a 72 for customer satisfaction in the ACSI survey, which polled 8,000 households in the first quarter. For Sprint, that's a big jump from a score of 56 three years ago, while Verizon's score has been steady. Sprint CEO Dan Hesse has made improvements in customer service a centerpiece of his turnaround plan for the troubled company.

Sprint's score includes subsidiaries Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile, which sell plans without two-year contracts.

ACSI gave AT&T a score of 66, down from 69 last year. It's the company's worst score since 2006, the year before it started carrying the iPhone. It's the lowest-ranked of the four national carriers after being surpassed by Sprint last year.

T-Mobile's score was 70, down from 73 points last year.

Both declines are within the survey's three-point margin of error. T-Mobile's score is also within the margin of error of Sprint's and Verizon Wireless' scores.

T-Mobile's financial statements also hint that subscribers are unhappy, since they show an increase in "churn," or the percentage of subscribers leaving every month. It's the smallest of the four national carriers, and part of the reason it's selling itself to AT&T is that it's finding it hard to compete with the bigger ones.

AT&T customers, on the other hand, are more loyal than their low satisfaction score suggests, and have shown only a slight increase in their propensity to leave.

The very happiest wireless subscribers are those who get their service from smaller carriers like TracFone Wireless Inc. and U.S. Cellular Corp., according to ACSI. That category scored a 77 in the survey.

The survey was developed by the University of Michigan but is now run by a private company, ACSI LLC.

Digital Photography 101: Low-light photography, part 2 (Yahoo! News)

Posted: 16 May 2011 06:32 PM PDT

By Tecca tecca – 2 hrs 46 mins ago

In part 2 of our low-light photography series, we'll be talking about how to use long shutter speeds in low-light situations to paint beautiful pictures with light. There's a subtle difference between simply photographing light trails and light painting. Generally, when you're photographing light trails, you're taking a picture of moving lights that you can't control. This could be cars on a highway, airplanes blinking across a night sky, glowing embers rising from a campfire, or even someone riding by on a bicycle with a light.

Light painting, on the other hand, refers to creating pictures using either a hand-held light source like a flashlight, sparkler, or LED light, or actually moving the camera itself to create the patterns of light. Subgenres such as portraiture use light to create words or pictures, and videos use light painting to create animation. With practice, you can create some truly stunning images.

What you need
You don't need any specialized equipment to photograph light trails or light painting — all you need is a digital camera on which you can control the shutter speed. A tripod is definitely a good idea as well, though you can usually find somewhere to prop your camera so that it doesn't move. Since you're going to have the shutter open for much longer than a human being could hold a camera steady, you need to have some way to keep it still and aimed in the right direction.

Also be aware that moving traffic will cause the ground to shake, especially if you're on a bridge or something similarly raised. You'll probably have the best luck setting up at a distance from the place you're photographing. Or try putting a blanket under your tripod to absorb the motion.

As with all photography, you'll probably get better results with a better camera, but it is possible to shoot light trails with a point-and-shoot. Look for a camera that does well in low-light situations, with a large sensor and a good lens. It's also helpful to have a lens hood to block ambient light and a cable release or remote control for your camera.

Start simple with light trails
The simplest introduction to this type of photography is to start with light trails. Just find a location where you have a good view of a stretch of roadway, set up your camera (somewhere safe, of course!), and start playing with exposure settings. Try keeping the shutter open for 1 second, 2 seconds, even a minute or more, and see what happens. Depending on how much ambient light you have, you might want to go up to 20 seconds or more.

This way, you can get a feel for how long you need to keep the shutter open while also learning how to watch the way the movement of the cars turns into streams of light. You can't control where the cars go (presumably), but you can control how you frame the picture to make it the most aesthetically pleasing.

Get out the (light) paintbrush
Now you're ready to try some painting! First, find somewhere nice and dark to take your pictures. A dark interior room will work, but you can also try various places outside — just be careful to avoid hazards on the ground, especially if you're going to be the one both taking the pictures and doing the painting. Be aware of any other potential light sources in your picture, keeping in mind that with a very long exposure, even dim, far-away streetlights will seem bright.

Next, you'll need a light source. This can be just about anything from a flashlight to a laser pointer to the lit-up screen on your phone. There are a lot of smartphone apps that turn your phone's screen into a solid white "flashlight," and many of them even let you choose different colors.

Take a couple of shots with lights on or using the flash, so that you're sure you've set your focus and framing correctly. Remember, you'll have to move around in the dark to get things set up for your real picture, so be sure you make note of where your frame starts and ends, and where your depth of field will keep your painting in focus.

Once you're all set up, start shooting! If you want to be the one doing the painting, set your camera's self-timer so you have a few seconds to get into the frame. Wait till the shutter opens, then start waving your light source around. Experiment! Don't forget, if you're going to try to "write" something, you'll have to do it backwards if you're facing the camera. Also, the longer you hold your light source in one place, the brighter that spot will appear. You can also use your light source as a "flash" to illuminate parts of your image at separate times, which can create a spooky, ghost-like effect.

Experiment, experiment, experiment
The "experiment" refrain is probably getting old by now, but light painting is definitely a realm that requires a great deal of practice and experimentation. Be creative! With so many different lighting effects you can achieve, you're really limited only by your imagination and your willingness to try new things.

Post by Katherine Gray

[Image credits: byrne7214, K. Gray, DieselDemon, Vancouver Film School]

digital photography 101 guide

Nook Color rakes in 1 million downloads in first week with Android apps (Yahoo! News)

Posted: 16 May 2011 02:37 PM PDT

By Taylor Hatmaker taylor Hatmaker – Mon May 16, 5:37 pm ET

nook color

With the introduction of Android apps to the Nook Color, Barnes & Noble hoped to cull the best features from the worlds of tablets and e-readers alike. Today the company announced that it tallied up 1 million app downloads in the first week the device was capable of downloading Android apps.

The 1 million mark is nothing to scoff at; the number suggests that Nook Color owners are definitely interested in running apps on a device that was initially conceived solely as an e-reader.  The slate now runs a version of Android 2.2, with its own Nook app marketplace that boasts popular apps like Pulse and Angry Birds.

At $249, the Nook Color is an intriguing alternative to the full-fledged tablets that tend to hover around a $500 starting price. By bridging the gap between the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader and the iPad with an affordable, capable hybrid device, the company might be able to siphon off some sales from both markets.

Via: TechCrunch

More from Tecca:

An Overview of Bing's Newest Facebook Features (Mashable)

Posted: 16 May 2011 02:45 PM PDT

AOL says no thanks to private equity (Reuters)

Posted: 16 May 2011 07:25 PM PDT

By Jennifer Saba and Nadia Damouni Jennifer Saba And Nadia Damouni – 1 hr 53 mins ago

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Here's one deal AOL won't do: go private.

AOL Chief Executive Tim Armstrong struck down the idea that it would pursue a deal with private equity firms similar to the deal contemplated last fall that would have combined it with Yahoo.

"We are not focused on a private equity deal now," AOL Chief Executive Tim Armstrong said during the Reuters Global Technology Summit in New York. "We are focused on a turnaround and we're pretty excited about the business overall."

Despite having been burned over the past decade on a string of deals gone sour -- Bebo, purchased for $850 billion, was sold for $10 million -- the now independent company has been on a shopping spree. It has snapped up the popular news site Huffington Post and influential technology blog TechCrunch.

"We would opportunistically add more assets to the platforms that we thought would be really successful," Armstrong said.

Last fall, AOL was in talks with several private equity firms to acquire Yahoo, contingent on Yahoo selling its prized Asian assets, which include a 40 percent stake in China's Alibaba Group.

Relations between Yahoo and the Alibaba Group strained further last week over the sequence of events involving the transfer of one of Alibaba Group's main assets, its online e-commerce payment system similar to eBay's PayPal, Alipay.

AOL's Armstrong said the company wants to remain independent.

Since taking the helm of the troubled AOL in April 2009 and overseeing a spin-out from Time Warner, Armstrong has been trying to shape the company into an online media and entertainment destination.

AOL is investing heavily in Patch, a local news network launched in more than 830 communities in the United States [ID:nN16294379], and rolled out a professional division to attract government, energy and defense executives. [ID:nN15203120]

"I hope you don't think we have done any 'Hail Mary's,'" Armstrong said, using a U.S. football phrase describing a last-ditch attempt to win a game. "Arianna's company is the best social distributor of content, has some of the most addictive and obsessive content on the Internet."

AOL bought the Huffington Post, launched by Arianna Huffington in 2005, for $315 million.

Dial-up access still represents roughly 40 percent of AOL's revenue, and Armstrong said he has no plans to rid the company of that division.

"If we look at our vision of being highest quality, highest scale digital media player and brand advertising player, we have many of the components from a structural standpoint," he said.

"We still have a rule of no 'Hail Marys.'" (For other news from Reuters Global Technology Summit, click http://www.reuters.com/summit/GlobalTech11?pid=500) (Reporting by Jennifer Saba and Nadia Damouni; Editing by Gary Hill)

Six Things That Block Your Wi-Fi, and How to Fix Them (PC World)

Posted: 16 May 2011 06:00 PM PDT

Jeff Bertolucci Jeff Bertolucci – Mon May 16, 9:00 pm ET

study by Epitiro, a UK-based broadband-analysis firm, shows that consumers lose an average of 30 percent of the data speed their broadband connection supplies when they use Wi-Fi connections in the home.

Why the slowdown? You've probably heard that some household electronic devices, including microwave ovens, baby monitors, and cordless phones, hamper Wi-Fi performance. To separate fact from fiction, we did some research and consulted an expert on the topic: Nandan Kalle, networking business unit manager for router manufacturer Belkin.

1. Public Enemy Number One: Your Neighbors' Wi-Fi Networks

"I'd say the biggest source of interference today for most people is their neighbors' Wi-Fi networks," says Kalle. The problem is that most existing Wi-Fi equipment operates on the crowded 2.4GHz band. "There are basically three nonoverlapping channels. I always describe it as a three-lane road that's really, really busy," Kalle adds.

If you use a 2.4GHz router and live in a densely populated area, your neighbors' Wi-Fi networks could interfere with yours, hindering the performance and range of your wireless network.

The solution: Buy a dual-band router that operates simultaneously at 2.4GHz and 5GHz. While the 2.4GHz band is necessary for supporting older Wi-Fi devices, 5GHz "is almost like an 11-lane highway that nobody's heard about yet," Kalle says. "There's much less congestion."

Newer Wi-Fi devices, including tablets such as the Apple iPad and Motorola Xoom, Internet-ready TVs with built-in Wi-Fi, gaming consoles, and business laptops, are all dual-band. "They all play in the 5GHz band. They can take advantage of that empty highway, and that's really going to help," Kalle says.

It's important to get a router that supports simultaneous 2.4GHz and 5GHz, such as the $100 Cisco Linksys E2500. Some older dual-band routers allow only one band at a time; that's a problem if you have older Wi-Fi devices (as most people do), because you'll have to leave your router at 2.4GHz. "You won't get any benefit from the 5GHz mode," says Kalle.

When you're shopping for a new router, look for a dual-band, 802.11n MIMO device, which typically has an "N600" label. The "N" refers to 802.11n, an international Wi-Fi standard approved in 2009. MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) technology provides greater range by using multiple antennas to transmit and receive data. And "600" refers to two bands, each transmitting at 300 megabits per second.

2. Household Electronics

Is your microwave oven, cordless phone, or baby monitor sabotaging your Netflix stream? Perhaps.

Most problems with cordless phones and microwaves involve products that use the 2.4GHz band. Many baby monitors operate at 900MHz and won't interfere with Wi-Fi. However, some wireless monitors are 2.4GHz, which can interfere with 802.11g or single-band 802.11n routers.

The solution: When choosing a wireless baby monitor, look for a 900MHz model such as the Sony 900MHz BabyCall Nursery Monitor ($45). Alternatively, get a Wi-Fi-friendly system such as the WiFi Baby 3G ($272), which connects to your existing wireless network.

Newer cordless phone systems like the Panasonic KX-TG6545B ($140) use DECT 6.0 technology and the 1.9GHz band, not the 2.4GHz or 5.8GHz bands.

Next: How to adjust your security settings and fix Bluetooth interference.

3. Bluetooth Devices

Older Bluetooth devices did interfere with Wi-Fi networks--but those days have passed.

"Over the past several years, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi manufacturers have implemented specific techniques to minimize interference," says Kalle.

The solution: "Most people replace their phones every couple of years, so unless you have a really old phone or Bluetooth device, it's unlikely that [Bluetooth] will interfere with Wi-Fi," says Kalle.

4. Humans

You might recall from science class that the human body is mostly water, anywhere from 45 percent to 75 percent depending on your age and fitness level. Water can hamper Wi-Fi speeds, too.

"For example, say your room is very crowded and you're having a party. That can actually dampen your Wi-Fi signal--but that's an extreme case," says Kalle.

"When we're doing Wi-Fi testing in the lab and trying to get very accurate results, we have to make sure that we're not standing in front of the antenna, because we'll measurably impact the performance," he adds.

Humidity can affect Wi-Fi speeds too, but not enough for the average user to notice.

The solution: Relax. Don't worry about humidity, or those bags of water called people. After all, you can't control the weather, and it's unwise to be antisocial just to get better Wi-Fi performance.

5. Security Settings

In some low-end routers, a stronger security setting can moderately affect performance. However, that doesn't mean you should turn off security completely, or downgrade to weaker protection.

In recent years, the WPA (Wireless Protected Access) and WPA2 protocols have displaced the older and less-secure WEP (Wireless Encryption Protocol). On inexpensive routers that use WEP, upgrading to WPA may impede performance a bit. In contrast, more-robust devices generally have hardware specifically designed for WPA and WPA2 encryption; as a result, the stronger security protocols shouldn't slow Wi-Fi speeds on higher-end routers.

The solution: Kalle stresses the importance of router encryption. "You always hear about data theft, and it's so easy to enable security these days," he says. Since today's routers have security enabled out of the box, users don't have to worry about configuring it. But don't disable encryption, even if doing so may speed up your Wi-Fi a little.

6. Old Firmware

Why upgrade your router's firmware? Well, for performance improvements and occasionally a new feature or two.

"Whenever you have a problem, check to see if you have good firmware. Sometimes there are little bugs out there, and the router manufacturer may already have a fix," says Kalle.

When you buy a new router, it's always a good idea to check for the latest firmware as well.

The solution: Keep your firmware up-to-date. With older devices, you'll have to access the router's administrative interface--typically through a Web browser--to check for updates. The process is getting easier, though. "Our routers have an application--it's almost like iTunes--that tells you whenever there's new firmware available," says Kalle. "The user can update by just pushing a button."

Although the workings of your router may seem mysterious, following these simple tips can go a long way toward keeping your home wireless network in working order.

After Hack, Sony Offers Freebies to Unhappy Gamers (PC World)

Posted: 16 May 2011 05:40 PM PDT

Robert McMillan Robert Mcmillan – Mon May 16, 8:40 pm ET

After hackers knocked its PlayStation Network offline for nearly a month, Sony is now trying to make amends by giving customers free video games.

Sony made the announcement Monday, saying it was a way of thanking the millions of gamers on its network for their "patience, support and continued loyalty during the service outage."

In the U.S. and Canada, PlayStation Network and Qriocity subscribers will soon be able to register for two new games each -- either in PS3 or PSP format -- at the PlayStation Store. The PlayStation Store isn't online yet, but when it comes back, gamers will have 30 days to get their goods.

PS3 users can choose from the following titles: Dead Nation, inFAMOUS, LittleBigPlanet, Super Stardust HD and Wipeout HD + Fury. The PSP options are: LittleBigPlanet, ModNation Racers, Pursuit Force and Killzone: Liberation.

Depending on the package they've signed up for, subscribers will also get free movies, enhanced services packages and free virtual items.

Sony is offering similar plans to European and Latin American users, but the company has not said what it will do in Asia, where the network is still offline.

Last month, Sony disclosed that it had been hacked and warned its 77 million PlayStation Network users that personal information --- e-mail addresses, for example -- may have been compromised. Then in early May the company said that another network, the Sony Online Entertainment network, had also been broken into.This second incident affected close to 25 million users.

Sony spent the past weekend slowly bringing its gaming networks online.

Sony will give the Online Entertainment users 45 days' free access to the service and a year's worth of identity protection from Debix. The company has said that it will also offer PlayStation Network customers ID theft protection, but it hasn't yet spelled out the details of that package.

Robert McMillan covers computer security and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Follow Robert on Twitter at @bobmcmillan. Robert's e-mail address is robert_mcmillan@idg.com

Apple, Google to attend hearing on mobile privacy (AFP)

Posted: 16 May 2011 04:35 PM PDT

– Mon May 16, 7:35 pm ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US lawmakers have invited Apple, Facebook and Google to attend a hearing on mobile phones and privacy on Thursday -- the second Capitol Hill appearance in a week for executives from Apple and Google.

Senator Jay Rockefeller said the hearing of the Senate Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance Subcommittee would focus on "industry practices with respect to online mobile data collection and usage."

"The hearing will also explore the possible role of the federal government in protecting consumers in the mobile marketplace and promoting their privacy," the Democrat from West Virginia said.

Among those listed as witnesses are Catherine Novelli, Apple's vice president for worldwide government affairs, Bret Taylor, Facebook's chief technology officer, and Alan Davidson, Google's director of public policy for the Americas.

Davidson appeared before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law on May 10 along with an Apple executive, Bud Tribble, vice president for software technology at the California gadget-maker.

During that hearing, Senator Patrick Leahy expressed "deep concern" about reports that Apple iPhones and Google's Android phones were "collecting, storing, and tracking user location data without the user's consent."

Davidson and Tribble both said their respective companies were committed to privacy protection and were not tracking their users.

Tribble said popular location-based services on mobile devices such as the iPhone and iPad do require some data collection, however, and users are able to opt out if they wish with easy-to-use tools.

Davidson stressed that "location-sharing on Android devices is strictly opt-in for our users, with clear notice and control."

Bing and Facebook cosy up some more (Digital Trends)

Posted: 16 May 2011 08:07 PM PDT

Hands-On With the Ultrathin Lenovo ThinkPad X1 (PC World)

Posted: 16 May 2011 05:00 PM PDT

Melanie Pinola Melanie Pinola – Mon May 16, 8:00 pm ET

Lenovo officially announced the ultrathin ThinkPad X1--targeted toward both business and personal laptop users--on Monday. Besides being the thinnest ThinkPad to date, the X1 adds consumer features, such as a backlit keyboard, with enterprise-level security and other business capabilities. I got a chance to play with this 13-inch ultraportable and have to say the X1 may give the MacBook Air a run for its money.

The announcement confirms earlier leaks about this new ultra-thin laptop, which Lenovo says is the "thinnest and highest performance combination for its class." The ThinkPad X1 keeps the classic ThinkPad "black box" appearance yet is 0.67 inches at its thinnest (about the height of a penny)-similar to the MacBook Air's 0.68 inch measurement. The X1 also has a very pleasing rubber texture over the sturdy magnesium chassis and weighs about 3.7 pounds.

There are a lot of fine details that went into the design of the ThinkPad X1, from the thoughtful placement of volume hardware controls on the side of the laptop to the concave keys that improve typing accuracy. (Lenovo's VP of Corporate ID and Design, David Hill, called the dip of each key the "smile.") Most notable about the keyboard is its backlight-a first in an enterprise-class ThinkPad and something consumers clamor for (and for good reason-the backlit keyboard is both beautiful and useful)

Other consumer influences can be seen in the ThinkPad X1's HD audio, HDMI port, Intel WiDi, and super-bright display. Although the 13-inch display looked great even from side viewing angles, I do wish the screen was matte rather than glossy. Built with Corning Gorilla Glass, however, it is a very durable and scratch-resistant screen. Yes, the Lenovo folks ran some keys across the screen to prove it.

As we recently saw on the ThinkPad T420s, the X1 also has the Rapid Boost capability for starting up and shutting down faster, as well as RapidCharge technology that charges the battery up to 80 percent in 30 minutes. The battery should last about 5 hours, but you can double that with an external slice battery.

The best thing about the ThinkPad X1 official specs? It doesn't cost $2,919, like we saw posted on a Swiss site. Pricing starts at $1,399 and you can order the laptop from Lenovo and other retailers starting May 17.

The ThinkPad X1 has now risen to the top of the top Windows alternatives to MacBook Air list, for me at least. If you like to mix business with pleasure, you may feel the same way.

Follow Melanie Pinola (@melaniepinola) and Today@PCWorld on Twitter

Recipe for iPad magazine success: Interactivity and additional content (Appolicious)

Posted: 16 May 2011 05:00 PM PDT

How to Get Your iPad Securely on a Corporate Wireless Network (PC World)

Posted: 16 May 2011 03:05 PM PDT

Douglas Haider Douglas Haider – Mon May 16, 6:05 pm ET

I think it goes without saying, but smart phones and tablet PCs are absolutely revolutionizing the wireless & mobile industry. For example, most of these devices don't even *have* wired Ethernet ports.

However, that leads to several technical challenges, especially with regard to getting the devices securely onto the corporate wireless network. In almost every business meeting I have had in the last 3-6 months, someone asks me how to accomplish this.

I spoke with Cloudpath's Lynn Haney about the two main ways to accomplish this.

First, mobile devices can join the network through PSKs (pre-shared keys). I see two main issues with this. The first one is that it isn't scalable. How are you going to distribute the key to thousands of different users? Are you going to expect them to set up their own network profiles on each of their devices and properly enter the key? Which leads to the second issue I see, which is the fact that PSKs aren't very secure. If thousands of people know the secret, then it's not really a secret anymore, is it?

The second option is leveraging 802.1X for smart phones and tablets to securly join the corporate wireless network. In 802.1X, one or more digital certificates secure the wireless connection. Traditionally, this has been a cumbersome process, even with more advanced devices such as laptops or desktops. It is even more problematic with most smart phones and tablet PCs because they are not as sophisticated.

I believe the current lack of automated migration will have to change as adoption of mobile phones and tablet PCs continue to rise along with the popularity of corporate BYOD (bring your own device) plans.

Douglas J. Haider is a Consulting Systems Engineer with Cisco. He hosts a personal blog at WiFiJedi.com, and micro-blogs on Twitter @wifijedi

Dish names new CEO; Ergen remains chairman (Reuters)

Posted: 16 May 2011 05:32 PM PDT

By Liana B. Baker Liana B. Baker – Mon May 16, 8:32 pm ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Satellite television provider Dish Network Corp said on Monday that Joseph Clayton will take over as the company's CEO, replacing billionaire Charlie Ergen, who will remain chairman.

Clayton, 61, said Dish's long-term strategy is still evolving but it involves providing video as well as tapping into the company's new broadband capabilities.

Dish Network and its sister company, EchoStar, have been on a buying spree led by Ergen, 58. EchoStar said in February it would buy Hughes Communication, a satellite communications company.

In April, Dish won Blockbuster Inc in a bankruptcy auction for $320 million. Earlier this year, Dish said it would expand its broadband spectrum by acquiring DBSD North America.

"You have to assume that video should be part of (Dish's strategy) and that data would be part of it because we just bought Hughes, which has broadband capabilities," Clayton said. in an interview.

"The analysis is still being done but you have to assume we would be interested in digital distribution," Clayton added, referring to the Blockbuster asset. He said it was still too early to tell if Dish would be closing some of Blockbuster's retail stores.

With Clayton overseeing day-to-day operations, Ergen can focus on shaping Dish's strategy.

"(Ergen) needed more time to focus on the future, the vision and the asset base," Clayton said.

Clayton has worked closely with Ergen since 2008 as a board member of EchoStar Corp, where Ergen also is chairman. Clayton was chairman of Sirius from November 2004 through July 2008, and CEO from November 2001 through November 2004. Sirius is another company with a subscription-based business model.

"Clayton is a good pick," said Kaufman Bros analyst Todd Mitchell, referring to the executive's experience with satellite radio provider Sirius, which later merged with XM Radio.

Ergen is still the largest shareholder of Dish and "there's no question that Dish is still his baby," Mitchell said.

Dish said last quarter it had doubled its profit, which beat Wall Street expectations, and that it had reached 14.1 million subscribers.

Clayton will join Dish's board on June 20.

(Additional reporting by Rachana Khanzodel, Editing by John Wallace and Maureen Bavdek and Carol Bishopric)

Nvidia head sees competition for iPad (Reuters)

Posted: 16 May 2011 05:31 PM PDT

By Noel Randewich Noel Randewich – Mon May 16, 8:31 pm ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Apple's iPad is finally about to get some real competition.

At least according to Jen-Hsun Huang, co-founder and chief executive of chip designer Nvidia.

In under three years, he says tablets using Google's Android platform -- and his company's processors -- could overtake Apple Inc's red-hot iPad as improved versions and more applications hit the market.

That would be about how long it took smartphones running Google's Android software to overtake the iPhone.

"The Android phone took only two and a half years to achieve the momentum that we're talking about. I would expect the same thing on Honeycomb tablets," Huang told the Reuters Technology Summit in New York on Monday.

Sportscar enthusiast Huang said tablets using new versions of Android, including Honeycomb, would outsell iPads as developers create and improve more games and other software for them.

The maker of graphics chips for PCs became a Wall Street darling this year with the launch of its Tegra 2 processors, establishing it as a major player in high-end smartphones and tablets by manufacturers like Samsung and Motorola Mobility.

But with stiff competition from the iPad 2, some investors question whether Apple's lead in tablets is too big for Android-based tablets to catch up.

With its touchscreen and on-demand applications, Apple's iPhone set the standard for smartphones when it was launched in 2007.

But phones using Android now outsell iPhones and are increasingly popular in China and other emerging markets.

Huang said Nvidia's next-generation mobile processor, code named Kal-El, has already won spots in several devices planned by major PC and phone manufacturers, including phones, tablets and low-powered laptops.

"It's got to be at least 10. We have five major phone companies and we have five major PC (manufacturers)," he said.

Kal-El will boast quad-core processing and higher-resolution graphics as competitors Qualcomm and Texas Instruments also gear up to launch new tablet chips.

INTEGRATED GRAPHICS

Santa Clara, California-based Nvidia is racing to build its mobile business as competition heats up in its traditional business of designing graphics chips for PCs.

It posted stronger-than-expected results and guidance last week, but its shares slumped 11 percent in the following session as investors focused on a sluggish growth outlook for PC graphics, which generate two-thirds of the company's revenue.

Rivals Intel and Advanced Micro Devices have launched central processors with integrated graphics this year, which might erode demand for Nvidia's low-end chips, and some consumers are buying tablets instead of PCs.

But shares of Nvidia have gained about 35 percent over the past six months, largely due to optimism about its small but expanding Tegra chip business.

APPLE VS THE WORLD

Apple tightly controls the design of its gadgets and the software that runs on them in order to deliver very specific experiences to its customers.

But Google gives away Android for free to manufacturers, who use it on their own smartphones and tablets.

"As a result of so many different parties working together, the first versions tend to be a bit clumsy to roll out. However, as is the nature of these organic industries with very, very large players, you have continuous improvement at a very rapid pace," Huang said.

"Everyone recognized the shortcomings of Honeycomb 3.0, jumped in working on Honeycomb 3.1, and if you haven't had a chance to oplay with it -- it's just delightful," he added.

Bing and Facebook grow closer (AFP)

Posted: 16 May 2011 03:20 PM PDT

– Mon May 16, 6:20 pm ET

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) – Microsoft on Monday began letting Bing search results reflect "likes" of people's friends at Facebook as the social networking star and the software colossus grew closer.

"The best decisions are not just fueled by facts, they require the opinions and emotions of your friends," Bing senior vice president Yusuf Mehdi said in a release.

"We're marrying fact-based search results with your friends' street smarts to combine the best data on the Web with the opinions of the people you trust the most and the collective IQ of the Web."

Microsoft also added a "Bing bar" button that Facebook members can use to indicate a "Like" for any web page they visit.

In October, Facebook and Microsoft announced they were working together to personalizing Internet searches.

"This is just the beginning; there is going to be a whole lot more to come over time," Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said as the collaboration was revealed.

Likes, interests and other information shared at Facebook hold the potential to let search engines tailor online searches to individuals and personalize results.

Microsoft's partnership with Facebook dates back four years to when the social networking service had just 100 employees and seven million members.

Microsoft paid 240 million dollars in late 2007 for a 1.6 percent stake in Facebook. Bing is used to power Internet searches at the social network.

Bing has been striving to close ground on Internet search king Google, which dominates the US market. Google executives have discussed the importance of making searches more personal and social.

'Project Triforce': How Facebook Tested Its New Data Center (PC World)

Posted: 16 May 2011 02:40 PM PDT

James Niccolai James Niccolai – Mon May 16, 5:40 pm ET

When Facebook built its first company-owned data center in Prineville, Oregon, designing and managing the facility was only part of the challenge. In a blog post Monday, the company explained how it had to stress-test its entire software infrastructure by commandeering a giant cluster of production servers on the other side of the country.

The Oregon data center marked a change of tack for Facebook, which had relied exclusively on two leased facilities in Northern California and Virginia. The Prineville data center was the first to be designed and built from scratch especially for Facebook.

That it could afford to build its own data center at all shows how big Facebook has become. It also shows the pressure that fast-growing social-networking sites are under to keep outages to a minimum. Twitter is also moving into its own data center, citing a need for more control over its infrastructure.

Facebook had never tested its News Feed, search engine and ad network outside of the two-data-center configuration. The company needed to ensure that "our entire software stack would be able to evolve and work smoothly in the new region, without interrupting what our users do every day on Facebook," Facebook's Sanjeev Kumar wrote in the company's engineering blog.

"The solution was to simulate a third region of data centers, even before the new servers in Prineville came online. We called this effort and the simulated third region 'Project Triforce,'" he wrote.

Facebook took over a cluster of production servers in Virginia and configured them to look like its new "third region." To do so it built a software suite, called Kobold, that allowed it to "build up and tear down clusters quickly, conduct synthetic load and power tests without impacting user traffic, and audit our steps along the way," Kumar wrote.

Kobold enabled it to provision and image tens of thousands of servers, and bring them online, in less than 30 days.

"Production traffic was served within 60 days. Traditionally, companies turn up production traffic manually with many people over a period of weeks. Now it takes one person less than ten minutes to turn up production traffic," Kumar wrote.

He didn't say if Kobold could be useful to other companies or if Facebook might release the tools for use by others.

With online service providers under some pressure for the environmental impact of their operations, Facebook has been more open lately about how it operates its data centers. Last month it shared some of its energy-efficiency secrets.
at 9:54 PM

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