sincity

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/cloud_services/Perzo/perzo-safelock-470-75.JPGDigital signatures – not to be confused with electronic signatures such as scanned-in bit map images – are being adopted by businesses all over the world, gradually displacing pen and paper processes. Why? Proponents cite a raft of benefits: security, resistant to fraud, compliance with a wide variety of legislation and standards, less time wasted collating signatures, reduced costs around paper, print and transporting documents for signing, plus integration with workflow, BPM, ECM and document management systems. Ronan Lavelle, UK Country Manager of ARX, talks us through the facts, the benefits and some implementation advice. TechRadar Pro: What are digital signatures and how long have they been around? Ronan Lavelle: Digital signatures make it possible to sign documents while keeping them digital, portable and secure at all times. Once a document has been digitally signed, it becomes tamper-proof so that the signatures are invalidated if it is changed. They've been around for a few years now and are compliant with a wide variety of international and local legislation and compliance requirements. In fact, just about the only document you can't sign digitally at the moment in the UK are related to probate and wills. TRP: So what are the differences with this and electronic sigantures? RL: The terms "electronic signature" and "digital signature" describe two very different technologies, yet they're often used as interchangeable terms. An electronic signature can be as basic as a typed name or a scanned image of a handwritten signature that is attached to the signed electronic record. Because they lack measures for preventing forgery and information tampering, electronic signatures are very problematic in terms of maintaining security and integrity. Electronic signatures can be provided by externally-managed, third-party services using proprietary technology, creating serious security, portability and usability limitations. A digital signature, also known as an advanced, standard or secure electronic signature, is based on globally accepted Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) standards and provides the highest levels of security and universal acceptance. Digital signatures are the result of a cryptographic operation that creates a 'fingerprint' unique to both the signer and the content, so that they cannot be copied, forged or tampered with. This process provides proof of signer identity and data integrity for eliminating the possibility of anyone repudiating the signed documents. All this information can be easily verified using widely available applications such as Microsoft Office and most PDF readers. TRP: What's wrong with old-fashioned paper-and-ink signatures anyway? RL: Signatures play a much bigger role in business life than most of us realise. Research by AIIM found that worldwide, around half of organisations surveyed print documents just to get a (valid and legally enforceable) signature, and that number rises to 80 per cent in the UK, according to YouGov (YouGov research, Oct 2013). All kinds of problems are created as soon as a document is printed out for signing. For a start, this breaks any 'end to end' processes that are in use, which defeats the purpose of automation and the push toward a paperless office. These breaks easily lead to errors, regardless of whether the final version is kept as paper or is scanned back into the system. Also, printing and routing documents for signing takes time and costs money: I know of one instance when a 20Kg box of documents was couriered to someone in Brazil who had to return them once they were signed, wasting significant amounts of both time and money. In fact, AIIM reckons that collecting 'wet ink' signatures adds on average 3 days to most processes. Finally, there have been some high profile instances of fraud which was based on how easy it is to copy pen and paper signatures. Basic electronic signatures are arguably no more fraud-proof than manual signatures, but digital signatures are designed to overcome any security concerns. TRP: Is this really a market growth area? RL: The Forrester Wave: e-Signatures Q2 2013 report stated that the momentum is growing in the market and went on to say that "Enterprise architects should include e-signatures as part of an overall ECM and BPM strategy… a foundational technology along with records management, eDiscovery, and other content services." Both AIIM and Gartner have also predicted increased adoption of signature technology and the fact that an increasing number of vendors are getting into the market place is a clear sign that this a hot area of technology right now. Adobe bought EchoSign for their electronic signature solution a couple of years back, and Microsoft recently announced that it is integrating DocuSign's electronic signatures into Office365. TRP: Can you provide some examples of legislation and regulations that digital signatures are compliant with? RL: Many people don't realise that there is EU Directive that governs digital signatures which has been around for over 10 years, though it is likely to be updated soon. Each EU member state has enacted legislation to legalise the use of digital signatures. In the UK, this is covered under laws such as the Electronic Communications Act 200 and the Electronic Signatures Regulations Act 2002. The equivalent in the US is the ESign Act, which was passed in 2000. Specific industries have their own regulations. For examples, the life sciences market has various regulations including FDA 21 CFR part 11. Even when digital signatures are not specifically mandated, they can help organisations comply with regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley and Know Your Customer in the financial services market. TRP: Can you describe the security measures in more detail? How can I verify the validity of the signature itself and the document as a whole? RL: Digital signatures are the result of a standards-based cryptographic operation that typically takes place on a highly secure hardware appliance. The operation creates a coded message that binds the document and the signer and is unique to both of them. By providing long-term proof of signer identity and data integrity, digital signatures enable organizations to securely and responsibly automate their signature-dependent processes. If someone tries to tamper with the document, it is invalidated. And even if someone managed to 'hack' into a signature, it would be a useless set of data that they couldn't do anything with. Users can easily validate the document and signature independently of the vendor solution by using applications, like Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat, which support digital signatures. TRP: Is this technology really only for big companies and governments or SMEs too? And are digital signatures more widespread in some markets more than others? RL: Companies of any size can use digital signatures. Sure, we have examples like the European Court of Human Rights, which uses our CoSign solution to digitally sign some 500,000 letters a year, but at the other end of the scale, there are some very small organisations using our technology over the cloud. Digital signatures could apply to any organisation that has a need for secure signatures, but in particular, we've seen strong adoption among life sciences, in-house legal and law firms, public sector, energy, and financial services. Some other example users include the Royal Navy, GSK, Credit Suisse, EDF, Bayer, Johnson and Johnson, Bechtel, Foster Wheeler, GKN and a whole host of education, healthcare and government organisations. TRP: The theory makes sense, but how easy are these digital signatures to implement? RL: Cloud, on-premise and even mobile options are available. Depending on the solution chosen, users can be signing their Word, Excel and PDF documents within a couple of days with minimal training. Whatever solution is chosen, it should be easy to integrate with existing systems, including office, document management, workflow and collaboration tools. For instance, CoSign integrates with Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Oracle, OpenText, Alfresco, K2, Nintex, AutoCAD, HP Autonomy's WorkSite among others. TRP: Okay Ronan, so if you've managed to convince our readers, what should they look for when shopping for a digital signature solution? RL: Like any area of enterprise IT, it's going to depend on the business, but here is my suggested tick list. The system needs to be tamper-proof, so if anyone changes the document, the signature is invalidated. Compliance with regulation and legislation is a must have. Clearly, the digital signature system – regardless of what platform it is on - needs to integrate with existing systems. Ideally, it should be easy and simple to install, with minimal on-going maintenance, but support should be available if needed. For large organisations that have hundreds or thousands of users, it is essential that the digital signature solution be seamlessly integrated with their user management system. For many companies who have deployed digital signature solutions, they have done so to remove unnecessary paper from key processes and to improve efficiencies. It is therefore important to many companies that their staff should be able to digitally sign documents in a matter of seconds, whether they are Microsoft Office or PDF documents, or as part of an embedded workflow. Similarly, it may sound obvious, but digital signatures must be very easy to use. For instance, the signer's signature should be easily viewable so that it is immediately clear if a document is signed or not. It may also be important to simultaneously add multiple signatures, particularly when different locations or time zones are involved. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3a04ce00/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505515549/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a04ce00/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505515549/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a04ce00/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505515549/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a04ce00/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505515549/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a04ce00/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505515549/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a04ce00/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/0ljc-2b5qrs

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Abstract/Virtual%20working/Virtualworking-470-75.jpgCreativity, and its corporate twin, innovation, are increasingly seen as indicators of business success. By 2020, the UK is expected to have an innovation and ideas economy rather than a purely knowledge economy. As that takes shape, collaboration will be the means to improve problem solving, increase creativity, and deliver that all-important innovation. Extensive research - formal and informal - has been conducted into how collaboration can best harness the creativity within organisations. Neurological studies have shown that laughter helps people be more nimble and creative. Office planners have attempted to boost collaboration by attaching desks to treadmills, building centre-piece staircases, and adding musical instruments to break-out areas. CollaborationEssentially, the mainstream view is that only truly collaborative enterprises that can tap into everyone's ideas in an organised way will compete imaginatively enough in the 21st century. Indeed, much research backs up this view; for example, IDC recently predicted that by 2016, over 70% of CIOs will change their primary role from directly managing IT to becoming an 'innovation partner'. Also, according to a study of 3,500 employees across the UK, France, Germany, the US and Japan conducted by the Future Foundation on behalf of Google, when given the opportunity to collaborate at work, UK employees are nearly twice as likely to have contributed new ideas. However, face-to-face brainstorming can be badly timed for participants or even have a negative effect on overall creativity. In "The Brainstorming Myth", Adrian Furnham says that: "Talented and motivated people should be encouraged to work alone when creativity or efficiency is the highest priority." Clearly, collaborative processes need to be carefully managed if they are to deliver. Collaboration technology can facilitate interactions between staff located in separate sites, but the risk is that it replaces rigid, hierarchical silos with more horizontal – but equally rigid – structures. The Fourth DimensionA far more flexible, hybrid approach is necessary. A more responsive technological infrastructure that enables collaboration is critical, and evidence suggests that businesses are embracing this idea. For instance, investment in video conferencing and unified communications is on the rise, with 87% of enterprises planning to add video conferencing to their Unified Communications architecture by summer this year, largely because of new abilities to interact with content. Whilst this is fantastic, investing in teleconferencing screens and smart phones misses some of the most crucial parts of a true collaborative system, which should cover note taking, minute sharing, idea capture and brainstorming. This 'fourth dimension' of collaboration, where team members can come together from any location and any device, and are able to interact with data and colleagues in real time, is yet to be reached. When true collaborative technology is used to facilitate the user experience and channel the outcomes of creative thought, it can transform a business. Companies that maximise the potential of their employees and foster creativity effectively will be those that adapt most quickly by adopting state of the art technology to enable a variety of working styles, allowing individuals to contribute and flourish. Martin Large – CEO of leading SMART Board distributor Steljes – is an entrepreneurial businessman with over 10 years' experience running his company.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39ff0943/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505510861/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39ff0943/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505510861/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39ff0943/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505510861/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39ff0943/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505510861/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39ff0943/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505510861/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39ff0943/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/MMGziOZmeLM

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Yahoo/yahoo_privacy_center_photo-470-75.jpgYahoo has announced it's abandoning Do Not Track in favor of forcing users to choose a more personalized experience. Users can still manage individual privacy settings within Yahoo's Privacy Center, but the company's sites and services will from now on ignore web browsers' Do Not Track preferences. This is the inherent problem with Do Not Track: you can check the little box in your browser, but it's websites themselves, not browsers, that have power to choose whether or not your activities are recorded. And companies like Facebook, Google and Yahoo have already been ignoring the setting for years. Well that's not very niceYahoo was moaning about Do Not Track all the way back in 2012, when Microsoft turned it on by default in Internet Explorer 10. The company said at the time that since users didn't choose to turn it on, the request wouldn't be honored. That's the sort of thing that has ruined the whole Do Not Track initiative - what good is it if the biggest companies refuse to honor it? Now Yahoo is trotting out essentially the same argument, about how "the best web is a personalized one," to justify ignoring Do Not Track settings across the board. Just take our word for it"Here at Yahoo, we work hard to provide our users with a highly personalized experience," the Yahoo Privacy Team wrote on the company's policies Tumblr. "We fundamentally believe the best web is a personalized one." "As the first major tech company to implement Do Not Track, we've been at the heart of conversations surrounding how to develop the most user-friendly standard," it continued. "However, we have yet to see a single standard emerge that is effective, easy to use and has been adopted by the broader tech industry. "Users can still manage their privacy on Yahoo while benefiting from a personalized web experience." If you say so, Yahoo. Facebook does care about privacy, looks out for you 80 trillion times a dayhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39f8794d/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505466607/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f8794d/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505466607/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f8794d/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505466607/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f8794d/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505466607/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f8794d/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505466607/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f8794d/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/LljPLl5IOrg

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/Onetimers/OS%20X%2010.10-470-75.jpgLast year was the banner year for iOS 7's major redesign and soon at WWDC 2014 we could see a whole new face for Apple's Mac OS X. 9 to 5 Mac reports that version 10.10 of OS X will take the main stage at Apple's yearly developer conference with a larger presence than iOS 8. Supposedly Apple is putting so much emphasis into OS X that it is pulling iOS user interface resources to work on its desktop operating system. Apple is purportedly putting its desktop operating system through an end-to-end redesign in a similar scope to complete interface refresh iPads and iPhones saw last year. OS X will reportedly adopt iOS 7's toggle design to clearly define highlighted icons and windows. Rather than applications having rounded window panels we could also see sharper shapes and even more white space to make the operating system look a bit less crowded. Distinct operating systemsThat's not to say 10.10 will simply fall into line with Apple's mobile design aesthetic. Finder, multi-window multi-tasking, Mission Control, and OS X's other desktop elements won't be disappearing. Supposedly Apple is keen on keeping iOS and OS X as very separate entities. We could see the new operating system launch this fall with a new line of hardware to go with it as Apple typically does. Thus far, we've heard rumors of a 12-inch MacBook without any extra designations like Air or Pro attached. The last bit of mystery behind version 10.10 is what the OS' final name will be. Internally the new version of OS X has been passed around as "Syrah" and Apple has been picking up new trademarks including Mammoth and Diablo. Given that Apple named the last version of its desktop operating system after the Mavericks, a famous Californian surfing location, we wouldn't put it past the Cupertino company to christen version 10.10 as "Yosemite." Another thing we could see at WWDC 2014 is a larger iPad Prohttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39f80f34/sc/21/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477915/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f34/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477915/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f34/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477915/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f34/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477915/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f34/sc/21/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505477915/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f34/sc/21/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/u_zLKsZm8O0

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Apple/iOS%208/iOS_8_transit_Maps-470-75.jpgCan something be delayed when it hasn't even been released, yet alone announced? Apparently anything is possible for Apple's upcoming mobile operating system, which may now launch without one or more rumored new features. 9to5Mac has been aggressively leaking what Apple might be cooking up for this year's iOS 8 software, but Thursday found the website backpedaling just a bit on what might be included with the initial release. Apple is expected to introduce iOS 8 at its Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco next month, with a release to the public likely arriving later in the year alongside new hardware. The latest scuttlebutt from inside Apple HQ, however, is that some of the recently rumored new features might actually be delayed until the first major update, which will presumably be iOS 8.1. Moving targetThe report claims that Apple may be allocating additional resources from its iOS engineering team to the next big OS X release, which is expected to be a complete visual overhaul of the venerable Mac operating system. Among the potential new additions to iOS 8 are Healthbook, TextEdit and Preview apps as well as a dedicated iTunes Radio app, the reintroduction of public transit directions to the built-in Maps app and Voice over LTE support. Transit routing is cited as one potential feature that could be pushed back to iOS 8.1, instead paving the way for backend enhancements to iCloud and a rumored Shazam partnership, which would allow device owners to identify songs via Apple's Siri voice assistant. Also said to be complicated matters is rumored new "multi-resolution support," which could pave the way for App Store titles to work across a variety of different screen sizes, including a larger iPhone 6 and a rumored Apple TV refresh with Siri voice control. Don't forget about our exhaustive review of Apple's iPad Air!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39f80f35/sc/5/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477914/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f35/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477914/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f35/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477914/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f35/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477914/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f35/sc/5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505477914/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f35/sc/5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/WdelkzLgHfY

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Apple/iOS%208/iOS_8_transit_Maps-470-75.jpgCan something be delayed when it hasn't even been released, yet alone announced? Apparently anything is possible for Apple's upcoming mobile operating system, which may now launch without one or more rumored new features. 9to5Mac has been aggressively leaking what Apple might be cooking up for this year's iOS 8 software, but Thursday found the website backpedaling just a bit on what might be included with the initial release. Apple is expected to introduce iOS 8 at its Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco next month, with a release to the public likely arriving later in the year alongside new hardware. The latest scuttlebutt from inside Apple HQ, however, is that some of the recently rumored new features might actually be delayed until the first major update, which will presumably be iOS 8.1. Moving targetThe report claims that Apple may be allocating additional resources from its iOS engineering team to the next big OS X release, which is expected to be a complete visual overhaul of the venerable Mac operating system. Among the potential new additions to iOS 8 are Healthbook, TextEdit and Preview apps as well as a dedicated iTunes Radio app, the reintroduction of public transit directions to the built-in Maps app and Voice over LTE support. Transit routing is cited as one potential feature that could be pushed back to iOS 8.1, instead paving the way for backend enhancements to iCloud and a rumored Shazam partnership, which would allow device owners to identify songs via Apple's Siri voice assistant. Also said to be complicated matters is rumored new "multi-resolution support," which could pave the way for App Store titles to work across a variety of different screen sizes, including a larger iPhone 6 and a rumored Apple TV refresh with Siri voice control. Don't forget about our exhaustive review of Apple's iPad Air!

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Twitter/tweetdeck_twitter_techradar_mute-470-75.jpgTwitter has reportedly begun rolling out a mute button in its iOS and Android apps. Not all users have access to the mute feature, but if you just can't wait to more effectively ignore that annoying relative or naggy coworker then you should keep an eye out in the coming days for it to arrive. Muting a Twitter user hides their tweets and re-tweets from your timeline, but isn't as harsh as blocking or even just un-following someone, since they can't tell you've done it. And unlike many of Twitter's other recent changes, this is actually a welcome addition. Better than nothingMute features are common to Twitter clients and apps like Tweetdeck (which Twitter bought in 2011) and Tweetbot, the latter of which even lets users set timed mutes that expire after set amounts of time. That lets users mute people just for the length of TV show episodes or sports games that they don't want spoiled for them, for example. Twitter's feature doesn't go so far, but it's better than nothing. And it's definitely better than Twitter's new Facebook-like layout and its new, more prominent timeline ads. At least Twitter's picture tagging and Cover acquisition might be steps in the right direction. We've asked Twitter to confirm that it's rolling out a mute feature and when and where it will arrive. We'll update this article if we hear anything useful back. What's the point of Twitter if it's just like Facebook?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39f80f37/sc/21/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477913/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f37/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477913/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f37/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477913/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f37/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477913/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f37/sc/21/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505477913/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f37/sc/21/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/-3yOWqXp3yY

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/Onetimers/Google%20Now%20Car%20Parking-470-75.jpgLost your car and have no idea where you parked? Google has rolled out a fresh Google Now update that adds parking reminders so users will never forget where they left their ride. In a new blog post, the search company detailed that automatic parking reminder cards will start appearing for users who assign driving as their main form of transportation in Google Now. The automatic parking detection marks a location as soon as users leave a moving vehicle. Additionally the Google Now will plant a marker after leaving a friend's car and whenever users step off a bus. Previously, the Google owned Waze has allowed users to mark their parking spaces manually but this new update adds some automatic integration. This isn't the first time Google has integrated Waze features into Google now, in March the Mountain View company also added traffic updates from Waze. A bevy of improvementsAlong with automatic parking reminders, the search company has tweaked Google Now to let users access phone settings using their voice. Users can simply command the phone to turn on Wi-Fi or change the volume settings. Users will still have to touch their screens to switch on Airplane <ode, but the addition of voice control jumps directly into the settings without extra steps of draging down the notifications page and selecting the option. Speaking of Airplane Mode, the new update makes it so all your Google Now cards get wiped on the tarmac. Instead. users will now get a notification informing them the last time their Google Now cards were updated leaving whatever news stories and weather updates the device last pulled. In a few last, smaller tweaks Google Now's reminder list has been separated into more distinguishable upcoming and past blocks. Google has also made it easier to access your Nicknames by digging into your "Account & Privacy" settings. How does Google Now compare with Siri and Cortana?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39f7960c/sc/5/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505480201/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f7960c/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505480201/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f7960c/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505480201/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f7960c/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505480201/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f7960c/sc/5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505480201/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f7960c/sc/5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/iE3vtwSnsHs

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Microsoft/IE10/ie_browsers-470-75.jpgLast month, Microsoft waved goodbye to the most popular version of Windows ever, but a nasty security flaw lurking inside the company's web browser is forcing a quick fix, even for those too stubborn to upgrade to the latest OS. Microsoft announced the release of a new security update Thursday morning, which addresses a newly uncovered flaw with the Internet Explorer web browser first disclosed by Redmond last weekend. The exploit made headlines earlier this week because it affected not only newer operating system versions, but also Windows XP, which Microsoft officially put out to pasture on April 8. Microsoft Group Manager of Response Communications Dustin Childs claims security updates will be automatically installed for "the majority of customers," but a manual download is also available for users who haven't yet enabled Automatic Update. Just this once?Released at 10AM PDT today, the so-called "out-of-band" update also applies to Windows XP, despite Microsoft having now disowned the version of the operating system launched nearly 13 years ago. "We have made the decision to issue a security update for Windows XP users. Windows XP is no longer supported by Microsoft, and we continue to encourage customers to migrate to a modern operating system, such as Windows 7 or 8.1," Microsoft's Childs elaborated. Childs also encourages Windows customers to upgrade to the latest version of the popular web browser, currently Internet Explorer 11. Microsoft will host a live webcast Friday, May 2 at 11AM PDT to discuss today's security bulletin, which presumably will include yet another reminder for Windows XP holdouts to let go of the past; registration for that event is now open to everyone. Microsoft gets its game on in our expansive Xbox One review!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39f79610/sc/21/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505480200/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f79610/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505480200/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f79610/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505480200/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f79610/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505480200/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f79610/sc/21/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505480200/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f79610/sc/21/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/lvMxwvElt3o

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/infosec-2014-470-75.jpgIntroductionInfosecurity Europe (better known as Infosec), one of the biggest security events around, is over for another year. The show features everything a security fan could desire, from live demos to testing out security products - but one of the most satisfying aspects is being able to put your questions to hundreds of security professionals stationed on every stand and corner. We're used to bringing you deep insights on TechRadar Pro, but we're also interested in what's ticking off the industry from time to time, so continue reading to find out what's really been grinding security vendors' gears at Infosec 2014. 1. "How do I remove the Heartbleed virus from my computer?"Listen up, now: Coca-Cola didn't invent Santa Claus, Lemmings aren't suicidal and the Heartbleed Bug definitely isn't the reason your PC is running slow. The OpenSSL flaw that means cyber thieves can nab your valuable information from infected servers has caused a lot of panic in recent weeks. It's also generated a lot of misinformation that's resulting in some baffling questions currently being put to security vendors, as Jack Daniel, Technical Product Manager at Tenable Network Security, explains. "If you Google 'Heartbleed virus' or enter it into Twitter, you'll find thousands of hits, but a lot of it is misinformation," he says. "People are still going around saying misinformed stuff like 'my computer's acting funny - I think it's the Heartbleed virus'. I have friends who are struggling with understanding it - that sort of confusion doesn't help people the problem." Heartbleed: 5 things you need to do right nowDaniel reckons that cable news channels are particularly to blame for spreading nutty untruths. He continues: "When the first Snowden story broke I was at a trade show and somebody had printed out a picture of Edward Snowden at the hotel's business centre with a sign saying they could've protected the NSA from Snowden. "No. No you could not." 2. "All of this cyber warfare stuff is just like the Bond movies! Right?"Despite what the movies tell you, hackers aren't middle aged, scar-faced megalomaniacs from Russia hell-bent on world domination (you'll get the odd one or two, granted). Cyber crime is serious business that costs millions to counter and shouldn't be glorified, ok? Paul Dwyer, Director at Mandiant, gets kind of annoyed at the number of people who fail to see the real-world dangers of cyber espionage and instead treat it like it's been lifted from the pages of an Ian Flemming-penned Hollywood blockbuster. "People think that it's almost entertaining as opposed to asking, 'does this happen in the real world'?" he says. "People see it as a Bond Movie - it's almost think they can't connect with cyber espionage stories as they don't live in China or Russia - but it doesn't matter where you are. I actually have to tell them that this stuff is real. "In particular, people think malware is overhyped, that it's just the industry trying to impress people with even more vast numbers and different variants of malware. The point people miss is that it only takes one piece of malware to destroy a business." 3. "Why are you all the same?"A question that cuts deep, the question of why security vendors are all the same as each other can ruin even the most hard-faced researcher's day. How would you feel if your business made billions in profit every year, hired 20 PhD holders per month and was still seen as a faceless, generic entity in the eyes of the clueless masses? Annoyed: that's what you'd be, and the only thing that security vendors can do to change things is to get out there and talk to customers, partners and end users, says Alex Raistrick, Regional VP, Western Europe at Palo Alto Networks. "Sometimes we're told 'you don't seem to be any different from your competitors'. That's quite irritating," he says. "We're very different from good old statement inspection technology from 20, 25 or 30 years ago - we're much more effective. It's not a question of whether we get tired of answering it, but we wish the market would understand more about how the world has changed. Everybody has a next-generation firewall marketing message but nobody has a next-genereation firewall product, which is the big difference." OK, Alex. We were only asking. Transparency, threats and the cloud4. "Why aren't you more transparent with how you deal with security threats?If you think about it, a lot of trust is placed in the hands of anti-virus and other security vendors. One successful hack or phishing attempt could cause you a lot of problems for a long time, and the only thing preventing that (aside from your own actions) is often a security product or service that you've installed on your PC or mobile device. As such, it's only natural that you might want to know more about how they go about fighting nasties on your behalf on a daily basis, but is it a good idea for them to give away all of their secrets? That's a definite no, according to Righard Zweinenberg, Senior Research Fellow at ESET, who would rather you stopped pestering him for more information. "Transparency is good, but there's a problem with that in the security industry," he says. "We're quite transparent at ESET - we give away a lot of what we do - but we can't disclose everything because of non-disclosure contracts no matter how much people ask. "More importantly, if we disclosed in public what kind of technology we're using to detect specific threats, that could be misused by the bad guys. Evasion techniques would be quickly created to evade our protection - so sometimes it's not a matter of us not wanting to be transparent, it's better not to be." 5. "Where in the cloud do you store my data?"Placing any type of data in the cloud can be risky businesses. From the location of the data centre that it ends up in to compliance and regulatory requirements, whether you're a consumer or business you should at least try to get clued up on where it's headed. JD Sherry, Vice President at Trend Micro, says that cloud vendors in 2014 have to be prepared for a quizzing from customers around where they store data to avoid being caught off guard. "Cloud is very topical at Infosec - there are a tremendous amount of providers now from Amazon AWS to many neat, niche players," he says. "Customers want to make sure that their data is protected and what counter measures exist, what security measures there are and how their data is being handled, because the privacy component is in everybody's face. "We're transparent about it. To use Steve Jobs' quote - we're gonna skate to where the puck's gonna be. In hockey you don't want to go where the puck is, you want to go to where it's going to be, and we knew that virtualisation and cloud security were going to be very important to our partners and organisations." http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39f639ee/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505461281/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f639ee/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505461281/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f639ee/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505461281/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f639ee/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505461281/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f639ee/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505461281/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f639ee/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/mhzbo5qJ_Io

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/blu-ray_players/Captain%20Philips/P5019032-470-75.JPGSony has been talking about Blu-ray in Japan this morning and the news does not bode well for anyone hoping for a new 4K Blu-ray format. The company's forecasted financial losses, which were already sizeable, have grown even bigger. And alongside costs incurred by its withdrawal from the PC business, one of the key reasons given is the decline of the physical media market, i.e. Blu-ray disc sales. Here's the relevant section from Sony's release: "Sony expects to record approximately 25 billion yen in impairment charges mainly related to its overseas disc manufacturing business. Primarily due to demand for physical media contracting faster than anticipated, mainly in the European region, the future profitability of the disc manufacturing business has been revised. "Consequently, Sony has determined that it does not expect to generate sufficient cash flow in the future to recover the carrying amount of long-lived assets, resulting in an expected impairment charge. Primarily due to the reason mentioned above, the fair value of the entire disc manufacturing business also has decreased, resulting in an expected impairment of goodwill." Unpicking the newsClearly this doesn't spell the imminent death of the Blu-ray market. Indeed, the BVA reported as recently as December that Blu-ray sales were still on the rise, so let's not get ahead of ourselves. But you've got to wonder, if Sony - the biggest supporter of Blu-ray over the years - is losing faith in disc formats and sees no financial future in them, what hope is there of the Blu-ray Disc Association pushing out a new physical format for 4K? It would require huge support and investment from all manner of companies across different industries - there has to be a financial incentive and I'm not sure if there is one. I was at Pinewood Studios for a Sony 4K product event last week, where all questions about a 4K Blu-ray format were simply swatted away. "You'll need to ask the BDA" was the flat response. They really didn't want to talk about it, it was a bit uncomfortable. There were certainly no hints, winks or off-the-record briefings about an imminent announcement or release. It didn't sound positive then and it seems even less so now. How many people do you know who subscribe to Netflix versus those who routinely buy BDs? Exactly. Does 4K have a physical future?We've been waiting to hear from the BDA on this matter for some time now, but they don't seem ready to share. For me, the main problem is not that people don't value optimal picture and sound quality – I think they do. It's that they value convenience – and money - more. The overwhelming trend for media consumption is a move away from physical media and towards internet streaming. With Netflix, for a monthly fee that's smaller than a Spotify subscription, you can watch a huge range of movies, TV shows, documentaries and music concerts on practically any device with a screen. You don't even need to know how fast your internet speed is or what resolution screen you're running - the service will simply adapt itself to give you the optimal stream for your setup. That's the kind of experience people demand these days. And did I mention that Netflix is now streaming in 4K? Compare that to a disc that can cost more than an entire month's Netflix subscription all on its own, which you have to find somewhere to put, and only works in a BD player plugged into a TV. Yes, Blu-ray offers the pinnacle of picture and sound quality, but how does that help the huge percentage of people now choosing to watch movies on their phones, tablets and laptops? Ultraviolet and the like have been created tried to address that, but let's be honest - no one buys Blu-ray for Ultraviolet. Ultimately, for 4K to find a home on Blu-ray, it has to be financially viable for the technology people and the content people. It doesn't look like it is for any of them, and it's painfully clear that the various jigsaw pieces needed to get 4K into the home is horribly out of sync anyway. I really hope I'm wrong, but a 4K Blu-ray format now seems further away than ever. Why Netflix in Ultra HD will ruin TV forever

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/people/Kemeny-Kurtz-470-75.JPGThe History of BASICBack in 1964, computers were enormous, expensive, and hidden away in air-conditioned rooms. And that was just fine, because they were also horribly complex: only scientists, mathematicians and highly trained technicians had any idea how to use them. But then John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz, two professors at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, realised that it didn't have to be this way. That being able to write software could have real value for all kinds of people, if only there was a way to do it. So they designed a new programming language, BASIC (Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code), with general users in mind. It was small, simple, interactive and easy for just about anyone to learn. Their students worked on the project, guided by Kemeny and Kurtz. It all went well, and the first ever BASIC language program was successfully executed at Dartmouth College on May 1st, 1964. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/BASIC-50/BBC-Basic-420-90.jpg That could have been it. BASIC might have stayed at Dartmouth, become outdated, shelved and forgotten. But instead, it would go on to become the most widespread and popular programming language in the world. The Early DaysKemeny and Kurtz were years ahead of their time in realising the value of bringing programming to the masses. Their really smart move came next, though, when they just gave it away. Computer manufacturers were already looking for ways to make their systems more usable, and bundling BASIC proved a quick, easy and cheap way to do it. Top manufacturers like Hewlett-Packard, DEC and Data General were soon offering BASIC. This early success soon began to snowball. More computers with BASIC meant more programmers becoming familiar with the language, driving demand for more computers to support BASIC. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/BASIC-50/pdp-420-90.jpg Even better, there was increased use of these computers by students. A whole generation was beginning to realise that programming wasn't just work: it could be fun. Most famously, Bill Gates, whose computing life began when he devised a BASIC program to play noughts and crosses. The hardware was still primitive, of course. In particular, users interacted with BASIC via teletypes, rather than screens. Everything had to be printed out, and this had some unexpected results. Check a 1964 BASIC manual for the maximum program length, for instance, and you'd be told "about two feet of teletype paper filled with BASIC statements is about it". This technology wasn't very accessible, either. BASIC had quickly become popular, but was still only available on expensive mini and mainframe computers, so if you weren't a student - or employed by a big business - you would probably never even know it existed. But then, in 1974, the Intel 8080 arrived. While earlier hobbyist CPUs were best described as "feeble", the 8080 was a real leap forward, around ten times faster than its predecessors, and enough to power a genuinely useful home computer. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/BASIC-50/Spectrum-420-90.jpg Finally, this all came together in the Altair 8800. This early computer was powerful, for its time. It had all kinds of hardware options. And it came with an Altair BASIC interpreter, developed by Bill Gates, Paul Allen and Monte Davidoff of Microsoft. The world was about to change. BASIC everywhereHome computers were soon selling in huge numbers. There would be many different models and variations, but there was one very common feature: almost all of them had BASIC as the programming language of choice. The TRS-80 (Tandy/Radio Shack, Z-80 CPU) arrived in 1977, with its own custom BASIC in a ROM. Commodore used Microsoft-sourced BASIC in the Pet, the Commodore 64, even the early Amigas. Then there was the Amstrad CPC, the Acorn Atom, various Atari models, the Oric, and everything Sinclair ever produced (ZX80, ZX81, ZX Spectrum, Sinclair QL). Even Apple joined in with its own Applesoft BASIC, supplied by Microsoft and included with the Apple II computers. BASIC began to be used in schools everywhere. Computers like the Research Machines 380Z and BBC Micro meant that students could start learning a few programming basics, without any need for access to some massive mainframe. And the emphasis on education made it much easier to persuade their parents to buy a computer for home use (even if was mostly used to play Frogger, Football Manager and Space Invaders). http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/BASIC-50/Donkey-420-90.jpg BASIC's popularity soared. Early computer magazines would publish tips, tutorials, even the source code to entire programs. Later they would have cassette tapes attached to the front with even more freebies. But the real tipping point came in 1981, with the release of the IBM PC. It came with BASIC both on ROM (BASICA) and disk (GW_BASIC). Massively popular, it lead to MS-DOS becoming the standard operating system for businesses (and many home users) just about everywhere. And with Microsoft including a version of BASIC with DOS, and Windows, right up to Windows Me, the language would be accessible to everyone for the next 20 years. Standards? What standards?BASIC was clearly a massive success, spreading much further than creators Kemeny and Kurtz could ever have believed. But this also lead to problems, which began to undermine the whole language. The original decision to effectively give BASIC away, for instance, was certainly a marketing masterstroke. But it also meant that the language no longer had a clear direction. Instead, a host of different companies produced their own custom versions, often very cut down due to the hardware limitations of the time. Some were very poor, and if you wrote a program for one BASIC, there was no guarantee it would run on another. Expectations were changing, too. Early BASIC games were horribly limited; "Star Trek" was played in text mode, with stars represented by a *, Klingon ships with +K+ and star bases with <*>. But people accepted this because they only had a teletype to work with, and in those early they were amazed the program worked at all. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/BASIC-50/StarTrek-420-90.jpg Fast-forward 10-15 years and it was very different. Computer games now had graphics (if blocky), sounds and music. There was no chance that the average person could produce anything to compete. And so people became more interested in finding and using third-party software than writing entire programs themselves. BASIC wasn't always popular in the academic and professional world, either. Edsger W. Dijkstra, Professor of Computer Science at University of Virginia famously wrote: "It is practically impossible to teach good programming to students that have had a prior exposure to BASIC: as potential programmers they are mentally mutilated beyond hope of regeneration. But while this was a little harsh - to put it mildly - even Kemeny and Kurtz weren't happy with the situation. They felt that the some of the cut-down interpreted versions had strayed far from their original vision. In 1983 they decided to fight back by founding their own company, True BASIC, to show the world how the language should be developed. It was a little too late, but the company is still around today. Updating BASICWith its attention focused on MS-DOS, Microsoft were slow to see the problems with BASIC, and that a core language devised in 1964 just wasn't up to the challenges of 80's computing. This started to change in 1985, with the first release of QuickBASIC. The new product extended GW-BASIC with more graphics support, better structuring, and - at last - a compiler. Developers could now produce EXE files, greatly improving performance. The real breakthrough came in 1991, though, with the first release of Visual BASIC (VB). The old text-based approach had finally disappeared, and users could instead create Windows GUIs just by dragging and dropping objects onto a "form", setting their properties, and writing code for them. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/BASIC-50/VisualBasic-420-90.jpg This was a revolution for most BASIC programmers. They didn't have to create their own custom GUI any more, as VB would do it for them. Extensions to the language, access to the Windows API and a range of custom add-ons and extensions made the language more powerful than ever before. VB was a massive success, even in the professional programming world (Visual Basic experience became a genuinely marketable skill), but it still had issues. In particular, the language made it difficult to use more advanced Windows features (multi-threading, for instance), and a lack of support for object-oriented programming meant that many still didn't take it seriously. Microsoft hadn't yet finished, however, and its final move came in 2001, with the release of Visual Basic.NET. This caused some resentment by changing many language constructs, dropping others entirely, and overall becoming much more difficult to learn. But a new object-oriented approach and easy access to .NET libraries meant that Visual Basic was finally competitive with other languages, and it's still available today as a part of Microsoft's Visual Studio. Where next?BASIC had an amazing influence in its early years, and played a key part in bringing easy, affordable home computing to the masses. It couldn't maintain that level of success, of course, and that's really no surprise. The problem that BASIC was designed to solve - the need to bring simpler programming tools to the masses - just doesn't exist any more. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/BASIC-50/SmallBasic-420-90.jpg This isn't the end of the story, though. BASIC is still a great language for developing all kinds of software. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, HiJackThis, PDFCreator, photo editor PhotoDemon and business CRM Vtiger are all popular and very capable programs - but they were all created in VB6. It may be 16 years old, but it's still influential, even today. You're just a beginner Microsoft has tried to recapture the original spirit of the language with Small Basic. Aimed at children, it's very simple - with only 14 keywords - yet can still be used to, say, build a Tetris game, or download and display an up-to-date weather map. If you're nostalgic for some early flavour of BASIC, there's a good chance it's available somewhere. There are multiple BBC BASIC versions, a GW-BASIC emulator, an extended Sinclair BASIC, a 64-bit QBasic, the QuickBASIC-like FreeBASIC, even a TinyBASIC for the Raspberry Pi. Or, if you need something more professional, the free Visual Studio Express provides all the tools you need to build everything from a simple desktop program to a shiny new Windows Store App for Windows 8.1. BASIC has had more than its share of criticism. But even after 50 years it's still here, with something to offer everyone - and it's not going away any time soon. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39f27978/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505458747/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f27978/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505458747/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f27978/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505458747/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f27978/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505458747/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f27978/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505458747/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f27978/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/iRVvAEzjBpg

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Windows/windows_81_rtm/win81%20startscreen-470-75.jpgMicrosoft has announced an update to the Bing-powered Smart Search feature in Window's 8.1 that aims to make it easier for users to find hard to reach settings on their PCs. The update, which will roll out in the next couple of weeks, will enable users to type instructions like, 'My screen is too bright' rather than dig around for the display settings. Likewise, if users want to delete an app or add a printer, for example, they can type in those commands to be taken directly to the requisite settings menu. The company hopes the inclusion of 'natural language understanding' will save users time and effort needed to delve deep into menus before finding what they want. Smarter searchIn a post on the Bing blog, the company explains: "Based on the most common tasks people perform on Windows 8, we are taking steps to allow Smart Search to showcase results based on natural language understanding. "Now when I search for 'install a printer', Smart Search will show me that the function resides within 'Device Settings' so I can take action with a simple click." Bing Smart Search was introduced alongside Windows 8.1 in October as a universal search tool for documents, apps, photo albums, cloud files and favourite websites. How to solve these nagging Windows 8 problemshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39f0034b/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505427491/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f0034b/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505427491/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f0034b/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505427491/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f0034b/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505427491/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f0034b/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505427491/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f0034b/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/b75C1nq7HcY

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/F8%202014/crowd%20shot-470-75.jpgDuring Facebook's F8 developer conference, Deb Liu, product marketer for Facebook announced that the new mobile ad network, called the "Audience Network," will be rolling out in the coming months. The Audience Network is a tool for devs that allows Facebook to help with selling and targeting ads, payment and measuring engagement. So far, 60% of the company's revenue comes from mobile ads and $3 billion (about £1.7b, AU$3.2b) of Facebook's transactions come from ads alone. The social network has dabbled with various ad platforms before and tested a newer version of the ad network earlier this year, but it looks like the Audience Network is the final step and is ready for developers, meaning Facebook users will start seeing more ads in their mobile feeds soon. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/F8%202014/audience%20network-420-90.jpg Ads all day, every dayLiu noted that the best way to engage Facebook users involves "ads that are integrated, not disruptive." With Facebook's "world class targeting system" also in play, it's likely you won't see ads that aren't relevant to you. Similar to how Instagram's photo ads work, Facebook's system may actually not be too intrusive despite being displayed front and center in the news feed. You can also look forward to the three different types of ad formats showing up on Facebook mobile: banner, interstitial and native. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/F8%202014/ads-420-90.jpg If more ads will just make you angry, at least Facebook is coming out with a new way to login and new mobile functions like the ability to (finally) like something on a mobile device. It's really all about tablets and phones lately, even in video gameshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39f0e1a3/sc/21/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/wBw1oCW8W6E

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Internet%20Of%20Things/confusedman-470-75.jpgMany CIOs are failing to make the connection between the amount of tax their company pays and their existing software asset management (SAM) programmes. The majority of organisations now have a SAM programme underway to ensure they are compliant with software licensing obligations and avoiding unnecessary licensing costs. In addition to these benefits, SAM could also be helping to reduce (and potentially even eliminate) future corporation tax bills, by providing evidence to support successful tax relief claims through the Government's R&D tax credits scheme. R&D tax credits Currently one of the most lucrative tax relief opportunities available to UK organisations, R&D tax credits are applicable to companies of all sizes. They enable up to 225% tax relief to be claimed against the costs of an R&D investment. This means for every £100 incurred in costs for a qualifying project, the Government allows the company to reduce its taxable profits by £125, in addition to the £100 already claimed in the company's P&L account as a tax deductible expense. It can be offset against the cost of hardware, software and human resources. Once eligibility for credits is agreed, the recipient has the potential to receive either a cash lump sum or future corporation tax rebates. Most claims generate a rebate of £100,000 but for some companies, the saving can run into millions of pounds worth of tax relief over multiple financial years. Importantly for larger companies, new legislation introduced in 2013 now allows the reporting of R&D tax credits awarded to be 'above the line' and therefore highlighted in the same way as a grant. This means they are visible to R&D budget holders, published on company reports and can be offset against operating expenses to obtain a cash credit. Unfortunately this scheme has historically suffered from the perception that R&D must signify some form of scientific development. That isn't the case, some projects designed to improve organisational processes can also qualify, including investment in new technology. This is classified within the 'development' portion of the scheme, provided that the end product is a new or substantially improved service and / or results in improvements to existing processes or systems. Software asset managementFor companies that have ongoing software asset management (SAM) programmes, although implementing a SAM platform would not qualify as a suitable investment for obtaining R&D tax credits, the data held in a SAM solution may help a company to provide the evidence required to qualify for the rebates. These can be secured for employee costs, i.e. the cost of staff employed who are actively engaged in carrying out R&D activities, consumable or transformable materials purchased used for R&D and computer software used in R&D. Consider for example a large petrochemical company, which has a dedicated development department within its IT function and whose remit is to build specialist applications to sustain the business. These activities would most likely qualify for R&D tax credits and they have a SAM programme in place already. Their existing SAM solution becomes a tracking and reporting tool to isolate which activities could count as R&D and quantify the extent of involvement. Used in this way SAM could be playing an important role in helping companies to isolate the costs of their R&D programmes and obtain tax relief on the expenditure. By configuring the data in SAM using auto connect rules, identifying R&D related areas in the company and then combining this with the relevant software costs, it is possible to support a tax credit application. Some of the biggest IT consulting firms have spotted the connection between SAM and R&D tax credits and are actively looking for ways to use this as a business development lever. This should be a cue for CIOs to become aware of the financial opportunity to cut tax expenditure even further and at the same time, get more value from their existing investment in SAM. Judging by the continued level of support R&D tax credits is getting from the Government - the value of the credit portion was further enhanced in the March 2014 Budget to just over £32 for every £100 spent on qualifying activities - this initiative will be continuing for some time yet. Jelle Wijndelts is a SAM expert working with enterprises to help them implement Snow License Manager and generate greater value from their investments.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39e33acb/sc/1/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505372032/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39e33acb/sc/1/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505372032/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39e33acb/sc/1/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505372032/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39e33acb/sc/1/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505372032/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39e33acb/sc/1/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505372032/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39e33acb/sc/1/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/GbtA000dG3I

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/av_accessories/Spotify%20review/1-470-75.jpgAndroid users who have been looking jealously on as their iOS counterparts coo over the new-look Spotify app need envy no more: the revamped app is rolling out to Android tablets and phones starting today. Over the next few weeks, all Android users should receive the update which brings a sleek new look, improved Browse feature and Your Music to the Spotify party. Your Music lets you save songs and albums to your personal Spotify library rather than creating playlists to house them - the only downside is that the popular song starring feature is going the way of the dodo. Umming and ahhing over whether to subscribe? Check out our Spotify review to find out if it's worth ithttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39e21541/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505385286/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39e21541/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505385286/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39e21541/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505385286/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39e21541/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505385286/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39e21541/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505385286/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39e21541/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/R9IUY8-B_pk

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Abstract/Binary%20and%20monitors/iStock_000016987294Small-loops7-470-75.jpgA different type of defence must be implemented to adapt to the new normal of BYOD and multiple mobile interfaces, and secure a borderless enterprise from an ever-changing threat landscape. More specifically, as organisations' employees become the front line of cyber attacks, IT departments today need a system of identity access management (IAM) that is more dynamic, agile, intelligent and risk-aware: in short, adaptive IAM. In the next few years, next generation authentications and identity management systems will pivot on a new capability: adaptive IAM. Adaptive IAMWhereas traditional IAM approaches guarded stationary perimeters around data largely in one, centralised location, adaptive IAM creates a dynamic "situational perimeter" that patrols and safeguards against attacks by enforcing security wherever users interact with corporate data and resources – not only across various devices and platforms, but throughout the entire process of interaction. Adaptive IAM systems draw on data from hundreds, or even thousands, of sources to conduct risk assessments of user behaviour and access requests. When suspicious activities are detected, next generation IAM solutions stop users in their tracks with "stepped up" authentication or authorisation requirements that users must satisfy before they can continue. Today's advanced threats and multi-vector attacks (the different methods in which employees can be targeted i.e. through malicious emails, accessing wireless networks on smart phones, chatting on social network sites etc,) can strike at any moment during the user experience, and many of today's IAM solutions are too primitive to spot suspicious behaviour. IAM systems today assume that users providing correct credentials at first log-in can be trusted, but establishing trust cannot just be a one-time thing. In order to stay relevant in security, IAM needs to be reinvented. As peoples identities become the front line of attack, IAM systems must become the front line of defence. A new age of authenticationWhile convenience must be placed at the centre of the operations, users are acclimating to the idea of signing onto multiple websites when using online "passports", such as their Facebook ID, Google sign-in or Microsoft account. It's just a matter of time before people expect similar or even greater levels of integration when signing into corporate IT services. As organisations expand their use of enterprise applications and cloud services, traditional IAM systems cannot easily integrate these disparate repositories. Traditional IAM assumes that users providing the right credentials can be trusted after their initial authentication. Unfortunately trust cannot be established solely on the basis of a successful login; trust must be continually verified. In order to do this, traditional IAM systems will need to integrate advanced capabilities in data analytics. So how do we achieve this new level of responsive, adaptive, intelligent security? The concept rests on four basic principles: Creating rich user profiles drawn from many attributes that can independently corroborate the trustworthiness of users and their activities in real-time against a historical baseline, with significant deviations from "normal" behaviour signalling security problems.Providing intelligence through big data analytics that can assess risk, detect problems and interrupt users attempting unsafe activities.Monitoring and risk-based intervention should be implemented to keep track of what users do after initial authentication, and adjust access controls to measured risk levels.Consumer-level convenience must always be top of mind, meaning identity controls and risk assessments must occur behind the scenes, intruding upon corporate end users only when necessary. IAM systems are morphing to make identity controls and analytics invisible to corporate end users.While these principles are fairly straightforward, the path to adaptive IAM will not necessarily be a quick or easy one. Companies must rethink the way they think about security to take into account the way their employees are interacting with company data. Employees are no longer accessing information on one central server from the PC; they are interacting with it at home, on the go and from a pool of devices that grows every day. In reality, we are likely a few years from this IAM ideal, but progress is being made and more importantly, the charge has been set forth. IAM solutions must adapt as fast as the rapidly changing threat scenarios they protect against. By implementing an IAM solution that is adaptable, intelligent and dynamic, we can establish effective, situational perimeters around the borderless enterprise and arm ourselves for the front lines of today's cyber security battle. Rashmi Knowles is Chief Security Architect EMEA, RSAhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39d41559/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505313299/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39d41559/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505313299/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39d41559/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505313299/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39d41559/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505313299/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39d41559/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505313299/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39d41559/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/8TQqHBoB0-A

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Amazon/comixology1-470-75.jpgWell it was probably only a matter of time, but Amazon has dropped in-app purchase functionality for the Comixology iOS app and halted purchases through Google Play within the Android app. The wildly popular digital comics app was snapped up by Amazon for an undisclosed fee earlier this month and the firm has wasted no effort in giving the app the Kindle treatment. The app updates, released this weekend, are designed to ensure Amazon will not have to fork over 30 per cent of every purchase made through the apps to Apple and Google. However the move makes things less convenient for iOS users, who will now need to buy Comixology.com website before downloading to mobile devices. Android users must sign up to the new PayPal or credit card payment system, as opposed to Google Play, before they can continue purchasing from within the Comixology app. Striking a balanceAs if to compensate, the app update also offers a $5 (around £3, AU$5.40) credit for all existing users. In a statement Comixology's VP of Communications and Marketing Chip Mosher told Engadget: "As we move to complete the acquisition with Amazon, we are shifting to the web-based purchasing model they've successfully used with the Kindle, which we expect will allow us to strike the best balance between prices, selection and customer experience." Mosher pointed out that iOS users can easily add the web store to their device's homescreen, while claimed purchasing through the site would offer additional benefits such as access to web-only bundles. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39cfc410/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505290641/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cfc410/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505290641/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cfc410/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505290641/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cfc410/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505290641/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cfc410/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505290641/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cfc410/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/zXtd8A3aIas

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/features/Windows%20XP%20tips%20and%20tricks%20062013/laptop%20with%20XP-470-75.jpgSince Microsoft's announcement in 2011 that support for Windows XP will cease in 2014, speculation has been ripe over just how this move will impact users. Ahead of the 8th April cut-off date, it was estimated that 40 per cent of corporate desktops/laptops were still running Windows XP. A lucky few, like the NHS, are likely to receive extended support from Windows past the deadline. For most others still running XP their businesses will be exposed to an onslaught of vulnerabilities, as technical support and security updates will no longer be provided. Tough ChoiceThese organisations are left with a tough choice to deal with the inevitable: continue as usual with XP, or upgrade to Windows 7 or 8. The fundamental choice hangs on the question of whether an organisation consistently patches their operating systems and software. For some systems, like those used within SCADA environments, the answer may well be no, in which case they will likely notice no change to their security posture when the Microsoft support drops. However, for those which rely on patches and updates to keep business and customer information safe, the answer has to be 'upgrade'. As these organisations are pondering the risks vs. rewards of upgrading, they all too often overlook that cyber security is a business risk issue routinely discussed at board level, gone are the days where this is an IT issue. In fact, those who have not already realised this are already on the back foot. Sure, upgrading is costly and can be disruptive – yet the consequences of cyber-attacks are now so severe that cyber defence has become a (for some organisations) the main risk they face and therefore needs to be approached proactively and holistically. Microsoft itself predicted that after the 8th April, the chance of malware infecting PC's running XP could jump by two-thirds. The ugly truth is that businesses should only continue using Windows XP if they are prepared to accept that a breach could compromise any data, information or IP on their networks – and are therefore, happy to face the consequences. Vulnerability rocketsWindows XP will be vulnerable after support ceases – no amount of alternative measures will be able to change that. We exercise caution when we subject ourselves to risk – and whether businesses like to accept it or not, the same has to apply for the 'health' of businesses. If a car is failing its MOT due to faulty brakes it would be highly risky to continue driving it – especially if there are no new breaks available. In most cases people would resort to getting a new car as the risk is simply too great. For businesses that are risk averse, value their privacy and want their property to remain theirs – without theft or tampering – upgrading to a more secure OS is essential. Security has to be holistic rather than a patchwork of disparate tools designed to fire fight, security is about being proactive and being ready to be reactive. Only if businesses ensure the security foundations are in place across their entire supply chain can they rest assured that their people, places and information are protected. Jason Kalwa is a cyber security consultant.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39cd7eea/sc/36/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505282195/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cd7eea/sc/36/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505282195/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cd7eea/sc/36/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505282195/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cd7eea/sc/36/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505282195/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cd7eea/sc/36/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505282195/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cd7eea/sc/36/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/AtE1XNtaIkI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Android/OK_Google_reprdroduction_Android_police-470-75.jpgRumours suggest Google has big changes afoot for its Android operating system, which could involve expanding voice command functionality beyond the search. Android Police has word the 'OK Google' feature within the Android Google Search app may become universal across core apps. The site, which doesn't say where it came by the information, believes users one day be able share photos in the Gallery app, or reply to Gmail messages by summoning the 'OK Google' commands. The presence of the functionality would be represented by a red lower case 'g,' the site claims, showing off the feature in a series of images produced base on its information. The development is still in the early stages of development and may only appear on Nexus and Google Play Edition devices, the site says. New Google button too?Beyond that AndroidPolice believes another big UI change is on the way, with the introduction of a new Navigation Bar. According to the report, the new ever-preset on screen controls would now feature a 'Google' button, rather than the traditional Home button. Hitting that would "trigger a search wherever you are" according to the report. How users would get back to their homescreen, if the change was made, was not revealed. The site has some fantastic, and super-professional looking mock ups of how it believes the feature may end up looking (such as the one we've borrowed). Follow the source link above for a closer look. Google I/O 2014: What we expecthttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39c8dbb7/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505264085/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39c8dbb7/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505264085/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39c8dbb7/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505264085/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39c8dbb7/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505264085/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39c8dbb7/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505264085/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39c8dbb7/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Jh79F-V-O-Y

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/tablets/iPad/iPadAir/iPad_Air_finger_home_button-470-75.jpgFingerprint recognition is fast becoming ubiquitous on smartphones, but there are indications that Apple might be planning to introduce the same technology into its line of tablet products as well. GforGames.com turned up clues today that look promising for iPad owners hoping to see Apple's Touch ID fingerprint recognition sensor make the leap from iPhone 5S to their favorite tablets. According to the Twitter account of iOS developer @bp_unicorn, fragments of code from the Biometric Kit included with iOS 7.1 appear to reveal several references to the iPad. "I've just found a reference to the iPad family in Touch ID's resources... #TouchID on the new #iPad?" the Thursday tweet reads. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Apple/iOS%207/iOS_7_1_biometric_code_iPad-420-90.jpg Nothing new?Rumors have circulated about the addition of Touch ID to the iPad lineup, with many expecting Cupertino to offer just such a feature with the latest iPad Air and iPad mini 2 with Retina Display models introduced late last year. That speculation didn't quite pan out, but the UIDeviceFamily references in iOS 7.1 clearly define two families: The first covers iPhone and iPod touch devices, while the second, which is clearly noted in the screenshot above, covers the iPad family. But not so fast: 9to5Mac scribe Benjamin Mayo tweeted earlier today that iPad-related biometric code has "been around for several iOS updates," potentially throwing cold water on the idea of Touch ID's imminent arrival on an iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 3. Be that as it may, if Apple history tells us anything, it's that features new to one device more often that not do eventually make their way to others - so it may just be a matter of waiting until Cupertino is good and ready. TechRadar digs deep to discover the best tablet for your money!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39c29535/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505238492/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39c29535/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505238492/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39c29535/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505238492/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39c29535/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505238492/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39c29535/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505238492/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39c29535/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/zwkk4XH1xqA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/av_accessories/Sony%20FMP-X5/sony%20fmp-x5-3-470-75.jpgSony has announced plans to release a 4K media streamer for all of its 2012 and 2013 Bravia 4K TVs. At a European press event held at Pinewood studios earlier today, Sony said the new FMP-X5 is intended specifically for owners of the KD-84X9005, KD-65X9005A and KD-55X9005A (4K TVs which launched too early to include an HEVC decoder) whose only previous option for 4K movie streaming was to secretly imagine watching them. The new box will launch across Europe in August and will cost £350 - not exactly cheap for a box whose only announced feature is to stream House of Cards Season 2 in Ultra HD - that being the only currently available 4K title on Netflix, which is in itself the only HEVC 4K streaming service currently online. Breaking Bad 4K is coming soon, of course, along with - presumably - a lot of others. Sony says it is at least considering adding support for Google's VP9 codec which would enable the streaming of YouTube's growing library of Ultra HD videos, but would not be drawn on whether this would be in place in time for the product's launch or if it would indeed happen at all. "It's under consideration" was the non-commital response to our probing questions. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/av_accessories/Sony%20FMP-X5/P1013221-420-90.JPG No internal storageIn addition to the fairly steep cost, potential suitors of the X5 should be aware that they'll certainly need a robust internet connection if the X5 is to be anything more useful than an ornament. Unlike the Sony FMP-X10 which launched for US movie lovers last year, there are no media storage options on board the FMP-X5, and that means no 4K movies will come bundled with the box, no 4K movies will be able to download onto the box, and of course there'll also be no buffering of 4K streams for anyone with ropey pipes. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/av_accessories/Sony%20FMP-X5/P1013214-420-90.JPG We spied a USB port on the back of the X5 which does at least suggest you'll be able to play back local 4K content if you can download it onto another device, but of course, the only 4K movies currently available to download are Doesn't Exist, LOL Good Luck 2 and I Know What You're Not Watching Next Summer. Sony's 2014 range of 4K TVs are unaffected by this news, as they're already fully compatible with HEVC - hands up who regrets being an early adopter.

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/televisions/YouTube-Screen-2-1024x576-470-75.jpgUsing backdoor workarounds to get to YouTube on aging Roku devices has gone the way of the dodo thanks to an update from the set-top box giant today. An official YouTube app will finally release on all "current gen" devices - i.e. any Roku product that launched post-July 2011 - instead of limiting the channel to Roku 3 and Roku Stick-using streamers. The only problem is that the update only affects users who live in either the US or UK. Unfortunately those not in the aforementioned geographical locations will just have to wait to an undisclosed time in the future get their Keyboard Cat fix. This isn't a big threat to streaming rival Amazon who had a dedicated channel on their latest set-top device, the Fire TV, since its launch earlier this month. Has the inclusion of YouTube swayed you to buy a Roku 3? Check out our review here!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39a66786/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505120420/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39a66786/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505120420/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39a66786/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505120420/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39a66786/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505120420/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39a66786/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505120420/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39a66786/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/keyl61Mts8A

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/logos/Nest-470-75.jpgAdd smart thermostats to the items you can buy on Google Play. The Nest Learning Thermostat has made its debut on Google's online store, joining the likes of the Nexus 5 and Chromecast on Mountain View's virtual shelves. Google bought Nest in February, and this marks the first time a product from the $3.2 billion (about £1.9, AU$3.4b) company is available from Google directly. Don't look for Nest's other digital home item - the Nest Protect smoke detector - in Google Play any time soon as a glitch that could silence the device halted sales earlier this month. If the Learning Thermostat's $249 (about £147, AU$265) price tag isn't enticing enough for would-be buyers, consider Nest's promise to plant a tree for every unit sold a little Earth Day-motivation. Rock on, hippies. Why is the sky blue? Why is the grass green? And why did Google buy Nest?

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/Onetimers/Square_for_iPad-470-75.jpgExecutives at mobile payments start-up Square are discussing the possibility of being acquired, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. Potential suitors listed in the report include Google, Apple and eBay. Square's rough 2013Square reportedly lost $100 million (about £59m, AU$107m) in 2013, according to The Wall Street Journal's two unnamed sources. Additionally, the startup has used more than $170 million (about £101m, AU$182m) of the $340 million (about £202m, AU$364m) it had raised since 2009, the sources said. A Square spokesman told The Wall Street Journal that the acquisition rumors were false. "We are not, nor have we ever been in acquisition talks with Google." A Paypal spokesman also told The Wall Street Journal acquisition talks have not taken place. Square, Google, eBay and Apple did not immediately respond to TechRadar's request for comment. Mobile paymentsSquare is a mobile payments solution that provides the software and hardware that enables merchants to swipe credit cards on mobile devices. The company was founded in 2009 by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey. The Wall Street Journal projects Square could be sold for "billions of dollars" despite a 6% decrease in gross margins from 2012 to 2013 and a business model that yields thin profit margins due to fees the company must pay to payment networks like Visa and MasterCard. Square processed more than $20 billion (about £11.9b, AU$21.4b) in transactions, yielding revenue of about $550 million (about £327m, AU$589m) in 2013, according to the report. Starbucks and Verizon are Square partners. Will mobile payment solutions one day replace the cash register?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3996bc88/sc/21/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505051063/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3996bc88/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505051063/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3996bc88/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505051063/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3996bc88/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505051063/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3996bc88/sc/21/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505051063/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3996bc88/sc/21/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/z25zSNIysZo