Archive for January, 2010
German government warns against using MS Explorer
The German government has warned web users to find an alternative browser to Internet Explorer to protect security.
The warning from the Federal Office for Information Security comes after Microsoft admitted IE was the weak link in recent attacks on Google’s systems.
Microsoft rejected the warning, saying that the risk to users was low and that the [...]
Kodak sues Apple and RIM over iPhone and Blackberry
Kodak has filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission (ITC).
It alleges the iPhone and Blackberry use technology for previewing pictures that infringe Kodak patents.
It has also filed two separate suits against Apple that claim infringements of patents relating to digital cameras and certain computer processes.
Kodak has asked the ITC to bar both firms [...]
Skype and Haiti
Many people are in Haiti are without landline or cell phone coverage since the earthquake hit on Tuesday, and so tools like Skype have become vital.
Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls are completely free, and many of you have been using them over the last couple of days to stay in touch with family and friends, [...]
Barclays Analyst Predicts YouTube Profitability
In a financial sense, Google’s acquisition of YouTube has never made a lot of sense; the site, which sold for $1.65 billion, hasn’t even turned a profit on a quarter-to-quarter basis yet. But according to a prominent analyst, that’s about to change.
Doug Anmuth, who works for Barclays Capital, said today in a note, “[I]n 2010 [...]
Google’s about turn in China
Google has responded to what it terms “a highly sophisticated and targeted attack on our corporate infrastructure” aimed at getting access to the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists by announcing its desire to stop censoring search results on its Google.cn website.
Writing on the official Google blog the company’s chief legal officer David Drummon [...]
HP Hosts Live Webcast with Economist and Best-selling Author James Surowiecki
HP today announced it is hosting a webcast discussion with James Surowiecki, economist and best-selling author of “The Wisdom of Crowds,” as part of the company’s “Input/Output” web interview series.
The interactive discussion, which allows listeners to actively engage in the conversation through Twitter, will explore “Powering Crowdsourcing” and the role technology plays in the new [...]
Google Launches Relief Site To Help Haiti
Survivors of the earthquake in Haiti are going to receive help from Google in a big way. On a new Support Disaster Relief site, Google’s released satellite imagery of the destruction to spread awareness, created a list of relevant charities to encourage donations, and promised to contribute $1 million of its own money, as well.
Let’s [...]
Yahoo, Adobe Identified As Victims Of China Hack
When Google made its big announcement about an attack originating from China, the company also mentioned that “at least twenty other large companies” had been affected. Now, it’s become almost certain that one of them was Adobe, and there are signs that Yahoo was another target.
Adobe’s status as a victim became more or less official [...]
“Serious concern” over new ICANN policy group proposals
Brand owners drafting a response to the recommended “mandatory” adoption of trademark protection proposals for the new generic top level domains (gTLDs) have broadly welcomed the latest development but “serious concerns” remain.
The report of the Special Trademarks Issues (STI) team, a working group created by ICANN’s Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO), details the consensus reached [...]
Data losses to incur fines of up to £500,000
The Information Commissioner’s Office will be able to issue fines of up to £500,000 for serious data security breaches.
The new rule is expected to come into force in the UK on 6 April 2010. It has been approved by Jack Straw MP, Secretary of State for Justice.
The size of the fine will be determined after [...]