Archive

Pity the Facebook user. The social networking giant's constantly making changes to its website, forcing its subscribers into new usage habits. Some of these changes, especially when they relate to privacy, have triggered calls from privacy advocates for regulatory intervention and led users to start...

New developments announced by Facebook at its F8 Developer Conference in San Francisco on Thursday might give the social networking king new advantages over Google as the two battle for dominance. They may also create a world of hurt for Apple. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Timeline, which ...

Smart Devices, Dumb Security?

Right now, you can buy a car that you can unlock by just touching the door handle. No need to struggle with key fobs or keys. Known by various names, including "Keyless Go" and "Smart Key," this feature is available for a cool grand or so as an option on various cars, including the Mercedes-Benz S-C...

Adobe on Wednesday announced its Flash Player 11 and Air 3 packages. These have a heavy focus on games and online video across multiple devices and platforms. Those platforms include Android, Apple iOS, BlackBerry Tablet OS, Mac OS X, Windows and connected TVs. Flash Player 11 and Air 3 let game pub...

Facebook users were hit with a major update on Wednesday. The News Feed that displays other users' status updates has been altered to a real-time news ticker. It is now tailored to how often a user visits the site. Updates are now ranked by factors that allow users to mark certain posts as top stori...

It's a myth that ostriches bury their heads when they spot danger. It sounds plausible, but in reality, they're just like us: In the face of imminent danger, they either run or attack. This makes sense when you stop to think about it. After all, one thing that seems almost painfully obvious is tha...

Google has unleashed Google+ on the world, now completely unfettered by its earlier requirement to join via invitation. For its debut, Google has added a slew of enhancements as well. Chief among them is the addition of a search box, which allows people to search for content or other people within t...

Here's a smartphone designed for charm. The HTC Rhyme for Verizon actually has a charm designed to dangle outside a purse. It lights up to tell the owner when there's a call. The phone appears to target teenage girls -- that is, except for the price point of $199.99 with a two-year contract. Perhaps...

SPOTLIGHT ON SECURITY

Malware Munches on Mitsubishi, and Certificates Can Lie

In the wake of repeated hacker attacks on defense contractors in the United States comes news that the systems of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan's biggest defense contractor, have been breached. Mitsubishi's submarine, missile and nuclear power plant component factories were reportedly targeted ...

A team of players of an online game called "Foldit" took three weeks to solve a problem in AIDS research that has puzzled scientists for years. The problem was to solve the crystal structure of M-PMV retroviral protease. The M-PMV retrovirus enables the HIV-1 virus to replicate. The team of "Foldit"...

Struggling through a welter of controversy, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration this week announced plans for a new deep space exploration program. At the heart of the Space Launch System is development of an advanced heavy-lift launch vehicle that will enable human exploration in...

Carol Bartz recently showcased what happens to CEOs who don't meet expectations -- and, given Yahoo's board may be fired as well, what can happen if a board acts too slowly. Steve Ballmer has been under fire for some time for underperforming as CEO, but one hit could change him from bozo to star if...

Providers of apps for mobile devices are just as responsible as other electronic commerce vendors in terms of protecting the privacy of customers. In a recent enforcement action, the Federal Trade Commission signaled that mobile apps fall within the agency's jurisdiction, and that it will not hesita...

Researchers at the University of Michigan have come up with a way to extend the battery life of tablets, smartphones and other devices that use WiFi. Kang Shin, a professor of computer science and engineering, and Xinyu Zhang, a doctoral student, have developed E-MiLi, a power management method that...

Federal regulations designed to protect children's privacy cover the burgeoning mobile apps business as well as other online vehicles accessible through laptops or desktops. In fact, providers of mobile apps need to pay attention to the privacy impact not only of services offered specifically to chi...


Technewsworld Channels