BBC NEWS | Europe | Rise in broadband use in Europe
A total of 42% of households in the EU now have a broadband connection, according to an official survey.That represents a 12 percentage point rise on the figure for 2006.
The survey, carried out by national statistics offices across Europe, also appears to confirm a gender gap in use of the internet as people become older.
Almost one-third of men over the age of 55 use the internet at least once a week while the figure for women is less than one-fifth.
MPAA's University wiretapping product taken down for violating copyright - Boing Boing
The MPAA's "University Toolkit" (a piece of monitoring software that universities are being asked to install on their networks to spy on students' communications) has been taken down, due to copyright violations. The Toolkit is based on the GPL-licensed Xubuntu operating system (a flavor of Linux). The GPL requires anyone who makes a program based on GPL'ed code has to release the source code for their program and license it under the GPL. The MPAA refused multiple requests to provide the sources for their spyware, so an Ubuntu developer sent a DMCA notice to the MPAA's ISP and demanded that the material be taken down as infringing.
Windows XP SP3 to include Vista elements, researchers say - Operating Systems - www.itnews.com.au
Windows XP SP3 does ship with all-new features, not just patches and hotfixes," said researchers at NeoSmart, a nonprofit group that tracks computer technology. Most of the new features are "backported from Windows Vista," according to NeoSmart.Specifically, product keys don't need to be entered during setup.
Vista's Network Access Protection modules also will show up in XP SP3. The system verifies a computer's "health" before allowing it access to a network.
XP SP3 also will include the Microsoft Kernel Mode Cryptographic Module, which is meant to "provide easy access to multiple cryptographic algorithms,".
Microsoft is in a bit of a Catch-22 with XP. The more it strengthens the OS, the less reason users have to upgrade to the newer Windows Vista.
Adobe unveils Flash Media Server 3 product line - Networking - www.itnews.com.au
Adobe Systems on Tuesday introduced the Flash Media Server 3 product line, cutting prices on the software used to stream applications and Flash-encoded video to Web sites..The platform upgrade, scheduled to ship in January, comprises a streaming server edition and an interactive server edition.
The latest platform supports the video compression standard H.264, which provides higher quality video. In addition, FMS 3 supports the AAC audio format used in Apple's iTunes software.
In general, FMS 3 provides the tools for streaming video and audio to Adobe's Flash player and Flash Lite, which is the player edition for mobile phones and other handheld gadgets.
Apple QuickTime exploit goes wild - Security - www.itnews.com.au
Attackers have begun targeting an unpatched flaw in Apple's QuickTime multimedia player. Researchers at Symantec reported that an exploit for the vulnerability was discovered on a pornographic website over the weekend. The security firm believes that other sites are also serving the attack.The vulnerability lies in the way QuickTime handles Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) data from streaming media files. When the user visits the pornographic site, a small iframe tag within the HTML code redirects the user to the exploit site, which then launches the RTSP attack and installs malware on the user's system.
Symantec urged users to turn their browsers to the highest security settings and use a player other than QuickTime to run streaming media files. Advanced users can also set their firewalls to block outgoing traffic from common RTSP ports. see:
http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2007/12/04/wide-open-quicktime-flaw-welcomes-new-attackers
Apple has yet to release an update to patch the flaw. The company has a policy of not commenting on security vulnerabilities until a fix has been issued.
Microsoft warns of web proxy flaw - Security - www.itnews.com.au
Microsoft said that the problem occurs when the WPAD servers for third-level domains (such as .co.uk) and deeper cannot be found. The user is then redirected to a WPAD server for a higher domain.This can eventually lead the user to access a WPAD server outside the intended domain, possibly to one that has been compromised by a hacker.
All current versions of Windows and Internet Explorer are affected by the flaw, which was discovered by researcher Beau Butler. Microsoft has not received any reports of attacks targeting the vulnerability in the wild.
Users can mitigate the problem by disabling 'automatically detect settings' in Internet Explorer. Microsoft noted that users whose ISP uses a connection specific DNS suffix are not affected.
Sites which use a top-level domain, such as .com or .gov, are not at risk neither are those with a trusted WPAD server.
Facebook backs down on ad plans - Internet - www.itnews.com.au
Social networking site Facebook has cancelled its advertising program, that showed what members were purchasing from ecommerce web sites..The advertising system, dubbed Beacon, let partner sites like eBay and Sony advertise the fact that someone had bought something from them. Users can click on a Beacon box on the site if they want to keep their purchases secret, but in many cases the box disappears after 20 seconds and consent is assumed to have been given.
This aroused the ire of campaign groups like MoveOn.org, which organised a Facebook group with over 59,000 members protesting the system. Protesters complained that the system assumed consent, and Facebook has said user will actively have to opt into the system in the future
Google claims drop-off in Gmail spam - Security - www.itnews.com.au
The number of spam advertising messages sent to email users is levelling off, according to a software engineer at Google's Gmail service..Brad Taylor said that the percentage of spam transmitted through Gmail had waned over the past year, although he declined to release any figures.
Taylor has overseen Gmail's spam filter since the service launched in 2004
Microsoft drops details on Silverlight 2.0 - Software - www.itnews.com.au
Microsoft is planning a major update to its Silverlight Web presentation technology designed to take better advantage of the company's .NET development environment -- a move that should make it easier for programmers to create rich media applications for the Internet..Silverlight 2.0 "will include a cross-platform, cross-browser version of the .NET Framework," confirmed Scott Guthrie, a Microsoft general manager, in a blog post this week.
With .NET support built into Silverlight, developers will be able to use Visual Studio and other Microsoft tools to create multimedia applications compatible with a number of Web browsers
TiVo partners to enter PC TV tuner market - Software - www.itnews.com.au
Nero, a maker of DVD-burning software, has agreed to develop software that will bring TiVo's popular digital video recording software and program guide to the PC, a move that would create a competitor to Microsoft's Windows Media Center.The partnership announced is the latest example of how TiVo is trying to move into other markets as sales of its DVR machines are increasingly threatened by cable, satellite, and telephone companies offering similar devices with their television subscription services.
Apple's Tiger upgrade causing 'catastrophic failure', users report - Software - www.itnews.com.au
Users of Apple's Tiger operating system -- predecessor to the more recent Leopard OS -- are reporting that the software grinds to an unrecoverable halt when upgraded to the latest version.According to posts appearing in the discussion forum on Apple's support Web site, Macs upgraded to version 10.4.11 of Tiger are freezing up and refusing to reboot without a clean installation.
The culprit, according to some posters on the forum and published reports, may be Boot Camp -- a utility that allows Mac users to run Microsoft Windows on their computers. Some users recommend eliminating the utility before upgrading to the latest version of Tiger.
Gmail: Gmail Adds Colored Labels (Without Greasemonkey)
Colored labels do more than look pretty, of course—a well-arranged variety enables your eye to jump quickly to important emails and know when certain types of messages are becoming clutter. The web interface has also been updated with "x" buttons available to quickly remove labels from individual messages. Finally, the Official Gmail Blog notes that the development team is working to add "folder-y-ish functionality." Time will tell how labels, folders and filters will mesh together
Gmail: Gmail Adds AIM Support to Chat
Not only did Google add colored labels to Gmail today, they're rolling out AIM compatibility in chat, too. The new AOL Instant Messenger support lets you log into your AIM account to chat with your AIM buddies right inside Gmail.
Digital Video: Xbox 360 Update Supports DivX and XviD Video Playback
Microsoft released an update to the Xbox 360 today that introduces several feature updates to the Xbox, most notably support for DivX and XviD video playback without the need to transcode the video to WMV format
Slashdot | Verizon Embraces Google's Android
BusinessWeek has up an article on Verizon's decision to fully support Android. After passing on the iPhone, the company says they're going to open their network to more devices, move their network to GSM-based radio technology (LTE), and now support Android. 'In an open-access model, though, Verizon Wireless won't offer the same level of customer service as it does for the roughly 50 phone models featured in its handset lineup. Though the company will insist on testing all phones developed to run on its network in the open-access program, Verizon plans only to ensure the wireless connection is working for customers who buy those devices.
Slashdot | Crime Wave Thwarted in Second Life
The Mercury News reports that a vulnerability in the way Second Life protects a user's money has been identified. Risks for users are reportedly limited because the researchers say the flaw can be quickly patched. The flaw exploits a known problem with Apple's QuickTime - when a virtual character passes by an infected object planted by hackers, the Second Life software activates QuickTime so it can play the video or picture. Hackers can direct the Second Life software to a malicious Web site that then allows them to 'take over the user's avatar and force it to hand over its Linden cash. Second Life is recommending that users disable streaming video playback in the Second Life viewer except when you are attending a known and trusted venue.
Really, truly official: Google to bid on 700MHz spectrum
Chris Sacca, Google's head of special initiatives, stressed again in a blog post what Google has been saying throughout the year: "open access" rules on some of the spectrum will make this auction one of the most important in recent memory."Regardless of how the auction unfolds, we think it's important to put our money where our principles are," he wrote. "Consumers deserve more choices and more competition than they have in the wireless world today. And at a time when so many Americans don't have access to the Internet, this auction provides an unprecedented opportunity to bring the riches of the Net to more people."
TiVo to bust out of the living room and onto your PC
TiVo is poised to break out from the confines of the set-top box and into the PC. The DVR maker and Nero, creators of the popular CD- and DVD-burning software, are partnering to bring TiVo to upcoming versions of Nero. The newly announced agreement means that TiVo's much-loved interface and ease of use will be available to owners of any PC with a TV tuner card or USB dongle.
Google Maps for mobile gains location-seeking abilities sans GPS
it has rolled out a new beta to its mobile mapping service that will allow users to automatically determine their location without GPS.Called "My Location," the feature comes as part of the release of version 2.0 of Google Maps for mobile. My Location uses cell tower ID information to determine (approximately) where you are. Google says that it uses special "Google-developed-algorithms" to determine this, which sounds like fancy talk for triangulation (a supported phone can determine how far it is from the three closest cell towers and then pinpoint the approximate spot of the caller).
That brings us to the next point: My Location won't work on all phones (sorry, RAZR users), although the technology is supported in most smartphones, all color BlackBerrys, all Symbian Series 60s (third edition), most Windows Mobile devices, newer Sony Ericssons, and some Motorolas. My Location also works in conjunction with GPS
EFF proves Comcast is screwing with BitTorrent, releases instructions for testing your own ISP - Boing Boing
A pair of new Electronic Frontier Foundation reports prove that Comcast is degrading and interfering with BitTorrent, and shows how you can use free software to test your own ISP to see if it is doing the same
Speaking: Learn to Pronounce Words with HowJSay
Pronunciation search site HowJSay offers instant audio of a huge catalog of words correctly read. Although the words seem to be read mostly by British speakers, American English alternatives are provided for most words
Featured Windows Download: Schedule Startup Programs with Startup Delayer
Windows only: Freeware application Startup Delayer does exactly what it sounds like—it allows you to force programs that normally load at Windows login to wait a specific amount of time before starting. That means larger applications that drag down the boot process can wait until the system's a bit more responsive, and the wealth of utilities some folks use can be spaced out to help you start actually working faster. Startup Delayer also serves as a straight-ahead startup manager for those who dislike the built-in Windows version, giving you control over process priority and window sizes. Startup Delayer is a free download (with requests for donation on closing) for Windows 98 and later only
Featured Windows Download: Put PuTTY in the Tray with PuTTY Tray
Windows only: Manage your PuTTY sessions from the tray with freeware stand-alone app PuTTY Tray. In addition to sending sessions to the tray, PuTTY Tray adds transparency, URL hyperlinking, always on top and automatic session reconnects. Though subtle, everyday users of PuTTY should find these enhancements very refreshing. PuTTY Tray carries the same look and feel as the original PuTTY with the aforementioned features spliced throughout the configuration pane. PuTTY Tray is a free download for Windows only.
Featured Windows Download: Decrypt Your DVD's Copy Protection with DVD43
Windows only: Freeware application DVD43 decrypts DVDs and CDs, removing most copy protections schemes so you can interact with the media using whatever ripping or copying application you please (similar to the shareware alternative AnyDVD). DVD43 runs in your system tray, detects when you've inserted a new DVD, and automatically removes the encryption (the smiley face turns green when it succeeds).
Featured Windows Download: Keep Track of Drivers the Easy Way with DriverView
Windows only: See your device drivers and their versions at a glance and back up your "just works" drivers list with DriverView, a free application for Windows systems. The all-in-one-window view is itself a helpful upgrade from looking through devices individually in the Device Manager, but the real value here is in the list generation. Create an HTML-formatted backup list for your future troubleshooting needs or export to text to show friends or forum members just what's gone wrong. DriverView is a free download and works with Windows Vista, XP and 2000.
Featured Windows Download: Synchronize Folders with SyncToy 2.0
Windows only: Synchronize the contents of two folders, either across your home network or on the same PC with a free utility from Microsoft, SyncToy. The 2.0 beta's been released and gotten smarter since the first time we pointed out SyncToy, adding smart drive letter detection (for when your USB drive gets assigned a different drive letter when you plug it in) and a more robust mechanism to include or exclude files from the synchronize action. Great for sync'ing files from your desktop to a USB drive or between two different computers on your home network
Sony PS3 tops Nintendo Wii in Japan for first time - Hardware - www.itnews.com.au
Sony's PlayStation 3 outsold Nintendo's Wii game console in Japan in November for the first time, raising the prospect that Sony might regain its dominance in the global videogame market.
Slashdot | Heavily Discounted Zune Outpacing iPod Sales
Yahoo Tech is reporting that the Microsoft Zune, having been heavily discounted for the holiday season, 'is currently Amazon's top-selling music player, beating out the new iPod Nano and the 80GB iPod on the 'Bestsellers in Electronics' list.
Geek to Live: Top Windows tweaks
by Gina Trapani - I've got a list of the most important Windows customizations that make my PC feel like a place I can get work done in more smoothly and easily. Hop in for a quick ride around Windows dialogs, tabs, menus and toolbars to get your XP fitting like a glove.
Digg - Open source hardware gift guide
Looking to give gifts this year that are open source? Here's MAKE Magazines "Open Source Hardware" gift guide. Open source 3D printers, TV-turn-off devices, iPod chargers, music players, Wi-Fi companions, educational electronic kits and more.
Digg - Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: for Her
Engadget's guide on what to get for her. Everything from a Wii Play to a Pink iPhone. Worth checking out if you need some ideas
Ars Technica 2007 Gaming Gift Guide: Page 1
the hardware and software that caught our eye this year from each of the big boys, and we'll cover PC gaming at the end.
Gaming monolith birthed with merger of Activision and Blizzard
Activision has announced that the gaming giant would be merging with Vivendi Games to form one monolithic gaming company called Activision Blizzard.
Gamasutra - Eidos Announces Deus Ex 3 , Talks New Montreal Studio
Developer-publisher Eidos has revealed that its new studio in Montreal, Québec, first announced earlier this year, has opened its doors to the public, and the company is inaugurating the facility with the announcement of its first project: a third installment of the futuristic first person-shooter/RPG Deus Ex.
BUSTED: 27 Most Dangerous Gaming Myths Feature on GamePro.com
GamePro shatters 27 video game myths in this popular reoccurring series. This article: HD-DVD versus Blu-ray, HDMI versus component, the PS3 as a failure, and more!
Slashdot | Adverjournalism - The Role of Ad Dollars in Media
The Gamer 2.0 site has a look into the role of advertising in gaming journalism, with a few reflections especially topical given the Jeff Gerstmann controversy. From the article: 'It should come as no surprise that just about every gaming forum on the internet is ablaze right now following the news of GameSpot's termination of long-time editor, Jeff Gerstmann. This article, however, is not an exposé or look into what really happened at GameSpot this week. Rather, consider this a look at the direction of gaming journalism, advertising, and how this all plays a role in the content you read.
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