Facebook releases a standalone app for messaging 11 Aug 2011, 6:21 am

Facebook has announced the launch of "Facebook Messenger," a standalone app for iOS and Android.

Messenger will focus on chat and messaging, give users a chance to message FB friends directly, without needing to open Facebook and navigate the site.

Additionally, the app will deliver the messages via notifications or texts, so your FB buddies are likely to see it more promptly.

You can create group convos, as well, notes FB.

Finally, the company says:

The Messenger app is an extension of Facebook messages, so all your conversations are in one place, including your texts, chats, emails and messages. Whether you're on your phone or on the web, you can see the full history of all your messages.

The apps are free for Android devices and all iOS devices.

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Apple targets Motorola Xoom in Europe 11 Aug 2011, 1:37 am

Court documents indicate iPad-maker is targeting another rival tablet in the EU.

Apple has a lot of patent warfare history with Motorola. In the United States, there are four ongoing federal lawsuits between the pair, and two investigations being carried out by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). In total, over 40 patents are part of the disputes.

Having scored a victory against Samsung Electronics in Europe by getting a German court to ban the import and sale of Galaxy tablet PCs, it has emerged that Apple is also targeting Motorola's Xoom tablet PC, launched in February, in Europe.

Apple claims that the Xoom tablet infringes its registered EU Community Design for the iPad tablet. In its complaint filed in the German court (against Samsung), Apple also said it filed a complaint against a company called JAY-tech for the same reason, and has obtained a preliminary injunction against it.

It's not clear if Apple has requested an injunction against the import and sale of the Xoom, similar to the one granted against the Samsung Galaxy Tab, yet.

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FCC details next gen 911 service proposals 11 Aug 2011, 1:01 am

Federal Communications Commission examines NG911 - Next Generation 911.

With the widespread use of smartphones, wouldn't it be much better if you could use their features in the event of an emergency? The FCC is pushing an upgrade to the 911 emergency system in the U.S. that would let users send video feeds, photos and other communications that would be sent to first responders.

"It's hard to imagine that airlines can send text messages if your flight is delayed, but you can't send a text message to 9-1-1 in an emergency," FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said at the 2011 APCO Conference in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Next month, the regulator is expected to address the technical issues behind enabling text, photo and video transmissions to 911 services. One area of concerns is whether the broadband infrastructure can handle the necessary bandwidth for the service to work as proposed.

An official said that NG911 services could be available within 5-10 years, if the program is properly funded.

FCC Five-Step Action Plan to Deploy Next Generation 9-1-1

• Develop location accuracy mechanisms for NG-911: The FCC's Location Accuracy proceeding (July 2011 agenda item) has launched development of a framework for providing automatic location information in the NG911 environment.
• Enable consumers to send text, photos, and videos to PSAPs (NPRM): Next month, the FCC will consider an NPRM to accelerate NG911 adoption. The NPRM will help answer practical, technical questions about how to enable text, photo, and video transmission to 911, including how to ensure adequate broadband infrastructure to deliver the bandwidth PSAPs will need to provide NG911. As part of the NPRM, the FCC will examine interim solutions for ensuring that carriers/service providers support transmission of text-to-911.
• Facilitate the completion and implementation of NG911 technical standards: For NG911 to be effective, we need technical standards for the hardware and software that carriers and public safety answering points (PSAPs) use to communicate NG911 information. The FCC will work with NG911 stakeholders to resolve NG911 standards issues and facilitate consistent and coordinated implementation of a standards-based architecture.
• Develop a NG911 governance framework: Because no single governing entity has jurisdiction over NG911, the FCC will work with state 911 authorities, other Federal agencies, and other governing entities to provide technical expertise and develop a coordinated approach to NG911 governance.
• Develop an NG911 Funding Model: To assist 911 authorities and Congress in considering NG911 funding options, the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau will prepare a cost model focused on the cost-effectiveness of the NG911 network infrastructure linking PSAPs and carriers.

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Rootkits fight for control of compromised PCs 11 Aug 2011, 12:49 am

Increasingly, malware authors target rivals to keep compromised systems completely under their control.

In one interesting case, reported by The Register, an author of the TDL 3 rootkit decided to make some extra cash by selling the source code of the rootkit. The Russian developer sold the source of one version of the rootkit, while keeping another.

From the rootkit source sale, another called ZeroAccess allegedly rose, with added ClickFraud modules. A second ZeroAccess rootkit also added the ability to target and remove the TDL 3 rootkit using a specific module called anti-TDL.

"The original author of the TDL3 rootkit made two versions of TDL3. He kept the second version of the rootkit code for himself and sold the first version to the guys behind ZeroAccess," Jacques Erasmus of Webroot told The Register.

"TDL3 Authors sold a version of TDL3 sourcecode to ZeroAccess authors. Now ZeroAccess guys are double crossing the TDL3 author by uninstalling the TDL rootkit."

Such measures are becoming more common. TDL-4, which received considerable media attention recently, has the built in ability to remove a host of rival malware, such as ZeuS.

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Amazon launched HTML 5 Kindle reader, avoids Apple charges 11 Aug 2011, 12:38 am

Amazon builds browser app that will save it from paying a 30 percent cut to Apple.

The new Kindle Cloud Reader is optimized for iPads, while directing customers to Amazon's own eBook store. It will work on PCs, Macs and any mobile devices using Apple Safari or the Chrome web browser.

Since the application is web-based instead of being a "native" iPad application, Amazon can avoid Apple policies that would force it to use Apple's purchasing system, and pay a fee. Direct purchasing links are no longer allowed on native iPad applications.

Despite being a web-based application, the Kindle Cloud Reader looks like a native application. Last month, the Financial Times also switched to a HTML 5 newspaper reader application. "We believe that in many cases, native apps are simply a bridging solution while web technologies catch up," said Stephen Pinches, the FT group product manager of emerging Technologies.

"We expect to see more HTML5 apps and fewer native apps. At the FT we believe our customers are paying for the content rather than the channel, and that a single payment and single subscription which works across multiple devices offers significant benefits to users."

Under Apple's policies, the company would have gotten a 30 percent cut of each e-book sale made through the native Kindle application. With the web application, users can still save books onto the device for offline reading too.

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Gizmodo blogger escapes charges in iPhone case 11 Aug 2011, 12:23 am

Jason Chen won't face charges for buying prototype iPhone found in a bar.

San Mateo County Assistant District Attorney Morley Pitt said that Chen is protected by California's shield law, that protects the confidentiality of journalists' sources. "The difficulty we faced is that Mr. Chen and Gizmodo were primarily, in their view, engaged in a journalistic endeavor to conduct an investigation into the phone and type of phone it was and they were protected by the shield law," said Pitt.

"We concluded it is a very gray area, they do have a potential claim and this was not the case with which we were going to push the envelope."

Misdemeanor charges were filed against two men however. Brian Hogen and Sage Wallower found and sold the prototype device after it was left at a bar by an Apple employee. Hogan was charged with misappropriation of lost property, as was Wallower who was also charged with possession of stolen property.

After Gizmodo posted images of the prototype iPhone, Chen's home was raided and his computer was seized. The raid was highly criticized in the media, as the state law prohibits the seizure of unpublished notes from journalists.

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BlackBerry targeted by hackers over police riot help 11 Aug 2011, 12:23 am

Offer of assistance to police dealing with riots in English cities results in threats from hackers.

Hacker group, Team Posion, reportedly defaced the official Blackberry blog to post a threat to attack the firm if it hands over user data to authorities that relates to the recent riots in English cities. Blackberry's messaging service is known to have been used by looters to time their crimes around police movements.

The firm pledged to co-operate with the Home Office and police in the affected cities. "We are all for the rioters that are engaging in attacks on the police and government," a message from the group stated. "Innocent members of the public who were at the wrong place at the wrong time and owned a Blackberry will get charged for no reason at all."

It said that if BlackBerry hands over user data to police, it will respond by releasing employee information, including names, addresses and phone numbers of staff. UK law allows police to retrieve mobile data if it related to criminal activity.

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Security firm claims GPRS breach 11 Aug 2011, 12:23 am

German group claim crack of widely used mobile encryption code.

A German newspaper has reported that a Berlin-based security firm has cracked the encryption code for some mobile devices that use the Internet with GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) technology. The report claimed that the group discovered a way to read emails and observe Internet use of phones.

"With our technology we can capture GPRS data communications in a radius of 5 km," Karsten Nohl, head of Security Research Labs, is quoted as saying.

He said that phones using the UMTS standard are obviously safer, but the crack may have implications for industrial equipment, toll systems and other things that rely on GPRS technology. It is often the only type of connection available in remote areas.

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Apple wins Samsung Galaxy tablet block in EU 11 Aug 2011, 12:23 am

Temporary ban affects most of European Union.

A German court has issued a temporary injunction banning Samsung Electronics from selling its Galaxy Tablet in the European Union. The court sided with Apple Inc., which has accused Samsung of slavishly cloning the iPhone and iPad products in its Android-packing smartphones and flagship tablet.

Products already distributed prior to the court order on August 9 may still be sold, with retailers saying they have received no legal instruction to remove stock. Samsung does not expect the injunction to have an immediate impact on EU sales.

The decision hit Samsung a week after the company was forced to delay its Australian launch of the Galaxy tablet following another lawsuit from Apple alleging patent infringement.

"It's no coincidence that Samsung's latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad, from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging," said Apple's London-based spokesman Adam Howorth. "This kind of blatant copying is wrong, and we need to protect Apple's intellectual property when companies steal our ideas."

Samsung denies Apple's accusations, and has said it will defend its position rigorously. The company will launch a slightly modified version of the Galaxy tablet in Australia next month, and will file an objection to the German decision immediately.

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The Vizio Tablet is cheap 10 Aug 2011, 6:32 am

After announcing the tablet at this year's CES, Vizio has launched its Vizio Tablet (formerly Vizio Via Plus).

The tablet will be cheap, with an MSRP of just $299, well under rival tablets which normally price at $500.

Amazon, Costco, Sam's Club, Vizio and Walmart each have the tablet in stock now.

The tablet runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, weighs 1.2 pounds, has an 8-inch screen with 1024x768 resolution, Wi-Fi only, 1GHz processor, 4GB storage, MicroSD slot, HDMI slot, three speakers and a front-facing video camera for video chat.

Vizio's main selling point on the tablet outside of the price is its integration with VIA, which will control not only all Vizio devices in the house but also "up to 95 percent of all home theater accessories, including televisions and sound systems" with its IR controller.

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Chrome OS finally gets Netflix streaming access 10 Aug 2011, 6:13 am

Google promised the feature at the I/O event three months ago and it has delivered.

The search giant has confirmed today that Chromebooks, (the Samsung Series 5, Acer AC700 and CR-48) will finally have Netflix streaming access, a feature that was one of the most requested since the beta CR-48 devices were sent out to testers.

Because Chrome OS does not have native support for Microsoft's Silverlight in-browser plug-in, Netflix just did not work on the devices.

Upgrading to the latest Chrome OS update will give you access to Netflix streaming, says Chrome OS Community Manager Melissa Daniels.

One note for CR-48 owners, you cannot watch HD films, only low-res. This has been verified by me.

For more info here: Using Netflix

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Nokia to retire Symbian in the U.S., move forward with WP7 10 Aug 2011, 5:54 am

Nokia has said today that Symbian will be discontinued in the U.S.

The smartphone OS, which was, until recently the most popular in the world, never gained traction in the States despite strong sales in Europe and Africa.

Earlier this year, Nokia signed a deal with Microsoft to place fledgling Windows Phone 7 on Nokia hardware starting in September.

Additionally, the company just released its first MeeGo device, the Nokia N9, which has seen critical success in Europe.

Says Nokia's U.S. president Chris Weber:

Once WP7 comes out, we will essentially be out of the Symbian business, the S40 business, etc. It will be Windows Phone and the accessories around that. The reality is if we are not successful with Windows Phone, it doesn't matter what we do (elsewhere).

Nokia's first WP7 device should each run on 'Mango,' the much anticipated update for the firmware that brings hundreds of new features.

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Apple and Exxon are currently fighting it out to be world's largest publicly traded company, by capitalization 9 Aug 2011, 7:50 pm

While the result switches every minute or so, Apple and Exxon Mobile are currently fighting to end the day as the world's largest publicly traded company, by market capitalization.

As of writing, Apple has a market cap of $341.11 billion, while Exxon has a market cap of $342.78 billion. The companies have been interchanging over the past half hour, and at one point Apple was the biggest publicly traded company in the world.

Exxon is one of the largest oil companies on the planet, but has taken a hit recently alongside the decline in crude oil prices.

Apple, the most profitable smartphone maker on the planet, and the market share leader for tablets and media players.

While both companies are the largest publicly traded in the world, they are certainly not the most valuable, as the Saudi Arabian Oil Company is said to be worth $1.2 trillion.

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RIM now rushing to bring QNX-based BlackBerry to market in Q1 9 Aug 2011, 2:17 am

Earlier this month, RIM announced its new BlackBerry 7 lineup, including new Torch devices and the BlackBerry Bold 9900.

According to BGR, the company is now rushing to push its QNX-based "BlackBerry Colt" to the market in the Q1.

The QNX devices will be the first dual-core BlackBerrys on the market, at a time when other manufacturers are looking to build quad-core devices.

Even though it will likely kill the device before it even launches, the source says RIM is working on a QNX-specific BlackBerry Enterprise Server, and that the first phone will not have native support for BES, one of BlackBerry's only remaining selling points.

However, not all is lost as users can run Microsoft ActiveSync out of the box.

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Microsoft to cut support for Dolby in Windows 8? 8 Aug 2011, 9:32 pm

Following an already overly rough year, Dolby announced last week that Microsoft's Windows 8 OS might leave its technology out.

Since 2007, Microsoft has included Dolby surround sound tech in its Windows operating systems, and the licensing agreement accounted for 12 percent of the company's total revenue.

"(We) have recently learned that our technologies are not currently included in the Windows 8 operating system under development. If our technologies are not included in the commercial version of Windows 8, we expect to support DVD playback functionality by increasingly licensing our technologies directly to OEMs and ISVs, and we will seek to extend our technologies to further support online content playback," read Dolby's statement.

Microsoft did not give a public reason for ditching Dolby, but it appears that adding the tech was no longer a selling point so saving the money seemed prudent.

Many PC makers license the tech directly, regardless.

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