sincity

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/Watches/Motorola/Motorola_flexible_wearable_patent_fixed-470-75.jpgLike it or not, the smartwatch appears to be here to stay, but the best may be yet to come as companies like Motorola secure patents that would allow wearable devices with bendable displays. The US Patent and TradeMark Office (USPTO) published a new Motorola Mobility patent application today (via Engadget) that outlines how the Google-owned company might introduce a wearable electronic device with a flexible display. Patent application 13/526673 was first filed on June 19, 2012 and credits the inventor as Alberto R. Cavallaro, revealing that Motorola already had its sights on wearables well ahead of the current smartwatch craze. Of course, Motorola has filed plenty of other patents and trademarks for wrist-friendly wearables as well as flexible displays, but the newly published application is the first time both have appeared in the same place. Bending over backwardsMotorola's patent application specifically details a method whereby "a flexible chassis module including a front portion having a channel and a rear portion" can be coupled to a display module. "This method allows flexing of an electronic device with a flexible display for curved viewing, if desired, or bending with minimal stress," the patent reads. The technique described by Motorola is not unlike a traditional metal watch band, which connects a series of narrow links to provide the necessary flexibility. The difference here is that the entire display of a smartwatch could bend with the chassis - but first Motorola will need to figure out how to make equally bendy circuit boards, if not sidestep the laws of physics entirely. Forget the smartwatch - we take a hands-on look at Google Glass!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3503b7da/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841888909/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3503b7da/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841888909/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3503b7da/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841888909/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3503b7da/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841888909/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3503b7da/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184841888909/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3503b7da/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/rWHukHfXtw4

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/google/Google%20IO%202012/GOOGLE%20PRESS%20IMAGES/Jelly%20Bean%20Illustration-470-75.jpgA malicious botnet has been uncovered by security researchers. The software sends copies of users' SMS' to email addresses believed to be registered in Korea and China. Named MicroSMS, it infects Android devices by pretending to be a settings app called 'Google Vx'. Once in place it then asks for administrative rights and, if granted them, steals the contents of SMS messages and sends them to a third party. In a blog post, security firm FireEye wrote: "Some SMS-stealing malware sends the contents of users SMS messages by forwarding the messages over SMS to phone number under the attacker's control. Others send the stolen messages to a CnC server over TCP connections. The malicious app, by contrast, sends the stolen SMS messages to the attacker's email address of an SMTP connection." All apps compromisedThe post went on to say that MicroSMS is one the largest mobile botnets that leverages modern technology and infrastructure. The discovery, it claims, highlights the importance of mobile protection and the quickly changing landscape of security threats. The company claims that many of the email addresses which receive the SMS messages are being accessed from mainland China and Korea. FireEye is working with law enforcement agencies to get the email; accounts shut down and says there is no evidence yet of new accounts springing up in their place. It was revealed earlier this year that all of the top 100 paid Android apps and 56 per cent of top 100 paid iOS apps available as 'cracked' versions had been compromised. The widespread use of cracked apps represents a real danger for both individuals and companies, given the explosion of smartphone and tablet use in the workplace and home, says mobile security firm Arxan. Malware looking to drain bank accounts of 'tens of millions' of PC ownershttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3503b7de/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841888908/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3503b7de/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841888908/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3503b7de/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841888908/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3503b7de/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841888908/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3503b7de/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184841888908/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3503b7de/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/vkWsmkzeo8o

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/features/Windows%20XP%20tips%20and%20tricks%20062013/WXP110_f_custom_background-470-75.jpgOrganisations have only four more months to move from Windows XP before Microsoft stops supporting the venerable operating system. It is also common practice for systems administrators to delay adoption of new operationg systems until the first service pack, but with Windows 8.1 out of the door, there has never been a better time or a more pressing need to migrate to Microsoft's latest OS. Organisations can't afford to be one, two or three Oss behind. It is time to bite the bullet and embrace Windows 8. But it is important to make a few decisions when migrating to the new OS. 32-bit or 64?If you have legacy desktops and applications, you may find that installing a 64-bit OS not suitable for your needs. You may have to stick with 32-bit if there are no available 64-bit drivers for old hardware and applications. But 64-bit has its plus points. The biggest of these is memory. The 64-bit version of Windows 8 can support more than 3GB of memory. Future applications may have large memory requirements that better suit 64-bit environments. Hardware requirements If you are upgrading to Windows 8 there are a few minimum requirements as far as hardware is concerned. These are 1GHz or faster processor1GB RAM (32-bit) or 2GB RAM (64-bit)16GB available hard-disk space (32-bit) or 20GB (64-bit)DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driverIn addition, Microsoft says that Metro style applications have a minimum of 1,024x768 screen resolution, and 1,366x768 for the snap feature. Migrating user dataMigration tools can take the strain of updating lots of desktops by transferring operating systems and application settings and even apps and drivers from the old OS to the new one. This will save the user time in not having to set up their applications again in the way they had them pre-upgrade. Upgrade or fresh install?When moving to a new operating system, there are two ways of going about this: Upgrade an existing system or start afresh with new hardware. If you are running Windows XP, then you may find the requirements a little beyond what that PC would have, upgrading the hardware may be required before an upgrade. Upgrading the OS will allow you to transfer user and application settings in certain circumstances. With Windows 7 PCs, an in-place upgrade can be carried out that allows the user retain all files, settings and compatible applications. With Vista, if Service Pack 1 is installed, personal files and system settings are kepts, but applications will have to be re-installed. For Windows XP users, upgrading is possible without a fresh install if Service Pack 3 is installed, but only personal files will be kept. A fresh or "clean" install can be done if no settings are to be transferred or the machine itself is completely new. Test applicationsApplications built for previous operating systems may not work so well in Windows 8 (if at all). So it is best to test the operating yourself with various apps that the organisation uses to make sure that critical business application still runs. Those that don't can then be flagged for vendor support to see if an updated version is in the works. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/350342aa/sc/4/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841877951/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/350342aa/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841877951/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/350342aa/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841877951/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/350342aa/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841877951/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/350342aa/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184841877951/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/350342aa/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/vC29OCe5GkA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/tablets/Amazon/KindleFire%202/Kindle%20Fire%20HD/IMG_1871-470-75.jpgThe Time Warner Cable app has launched on Kindle Fire tablets ahead of an expected launch on Apple TV. The app allows TW's cable subscribers to access live TV and on-demand programming on their devices, something Apple TV users have long hoped to gain access to. It grants users access to 300 live cable channels and 5,000 on-demand titles. Time Warner's app is already available on PC, Roku, Xbox 360, Samsung smart TVs, iOS and other Android devices as well. Looks like Apple TV is the odd platform out on this one. Out with the old, it's a win-winTime Warner Cable's soon-to-be CEO Rob Marcus reportedly hinted last week that the TWC app would land on a new platform. Apple TV users have been expecting to see the app on their platform for a while, so it's understandable if anyone jumped to that conclusion. With its live TV and on-demand app Time Warner no doubt hopes to stave off the cable cord-cutters currently abandoning traditional TV-viewing business models for streaming services and video marketplaces. It's all good for consumers - now between Time Warner and Aereo some cable subscribers might be doing all of their program viewing on devices that aren't TVs. No more blackouts due to inter-company quarrels? We're all for it. Just one week to go - check TechRadar's holiday gift guide for all your holiday shopping needs!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34fbb2d0/sc/28/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.pnghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/fYJfllHYLfI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/features/Windows%20XP%20tips%20and%20tricks%20062013/laptop%20with%20XP-470-75.jpgSpiceworks have announced today the results of a report, aimed at addressing issues facing IT professionals as the Windows XP end-of-life (EOL) deadline draws near. The study, entitled "Getting Over Your XP" (link opens a PDF), revealed just how prevalent the operating system remains 12 years after its release. According to the survey, 76 per cent of IT professionals run Windows XP on devices within their place network. Of that number, 36 per cent will leave XP as the operating system after its end-of-life occurs. This means that when Windows cease to provide security updates, patches and bulletins for the operating system, 27 per cent of professionals will continue to use it. Reluctance to upgrade will increase the risk of malicious attack. Lack of budgetAn upgrade to Windows 7 appears to be the favoured course of action. 96 per cent of those asked said they ran it, or would run it, on their network. This is compared to 42 per cent running Windows 8 or 8.1 and 30 per cent running Apple's OS X. 48 per cent of those asked who still had XP said they planned to decommission their devices and purchase Windows 7 machines. Three quarters of those asked pointed to "maintaining a similar user experience" as their primary reason for upgrading to Windows 7, not Windows 8 or 8.1. Why do so many still use Windows XP? Lack of budget, time and resources were stated by professionals as the main reasons why an upgrade from XP hasn't occurred on their networks yet. 55 per cent cited a lack of budget, 39 per cent a lack of time to do so and 31 per cent a lack of resources. The survey was conducted in October 2013 and had more than 1300 respondents. A majority of those asked were in North America and comprised a variety of industries including healthcare, education, finance and government. TechRadar goes over what you need to know about upgrading from XPhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34f7dcac/sc/4/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841776492/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f7dcac/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841776492/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f7dcac/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841776492/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f7dcac/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841776492/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f7dcac/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184841776492/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f7dcac/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/PRAfCspqcDE

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/logos/paypal2-470-75.jpgStackMob, a development team that created a platform for companies to easily create mobile applications, has been picked up by PayPal's payments unit. The StackMob website claims that the San Francisco-based team has been "fundamentally changing the way developers build mobile applications". The developer will join PayPal's core engineering team to help refresh its platforms, ready for future development of apps and services. Announcing the news on the company's blog, PayPal chief technology officer James Barrese said, "We are thrilled to have the StackMob team put those same skills and expertise toward enhancing PayPal's technology stack." PayPal did not disclose the terms of the deal between the two. Due to rumours of low asking prices and rejection of the company by other online firms such as Yahoo, however, it may not be a blockbuster fee. Battle for m-commerceStackMob CEO Ty Amell said the reason he sold the four-year old startup was because monetisation and payments remained a constant challenge for them. It isn't clear whether PayPal will support StackMob clients, which Amell wrote would be communicated "very soon". PayPal processed $4 billion ($2.44 billion, AU$4.4 billion) in mobile payments in 2011, nearly $14 billion (£8.5 billion, AU$15.7 billion) in 2012 and predicts it will process over $20 billion (£12 billion, AU$22 billion) in mobile payments in 2013. It has been a cash-machine for parent company eBay, accounting for 42 per cent of its revenue last quarter. A large part of this is down to exponential increases in mobile retailing. Scooping up mobile developers, PayPal is arming itself in the looming battle over who is king of m-commerce. In 2011 PayPal acquired WHERE, a Boston startup that focused on location technology and data for mobile advertising. In September this year the company picked up mobile payments company Braintree, whose app Venmo enables fast and easy mobile payment, for $800 million (£489 million, AU$898 million). PayPal has already launched a mobile app-based payment systemhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34f7dcb0/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841776491/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f7dcb0/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841776491/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f7dcb0/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841776491/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f7dcb0/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841776491/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f7dcb0/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184841776491/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f7dcb0/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/j3mNmnsUCWI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20177/LXF177.iview.2-470-75.jpgGoogle has just celebrated its 15th birthday, and much of its success is thanks to Linux and open source software. This gave us the perfect excuse for our sister magazine Linux Format to ask Google's Chris DiBona, about how open source has changed Google, and how Google has changed open source. Sadly, he couldn't comment on the KitKat name for Android 4.4. Linux Format: After nine years at Google, including the launch of Android, what's changed for you? Chris DiBona: Ah, well, when I got to Google, it was 1,800 people, and now we're topping 44,000. As you grow like that, everything grows, right? You get more developers who want to use more source code, you get more repositories, because nine years ago we didn't have that many to worry about. Now I have to worry about all of them. We didn't have Android or Chrome when I started, and it's been difficult to kick off those projects in a way that's consistent with the goals of the project and open source. Think about Android alone. It tops 400 Git repositories, and so we had to write all this new tooling that's all open source as well, such as Repo [Android's repository management tool] and Gerritt [a web-based code review system]. And then Git itself wasn't working for us anymore because it wasn't scaling when we'd have an operating system release. So we ended up hiring most of the Git team - there's like only one or two core committers now for Git who don't work at Google, and that's keeping Git running on our back-ends, but also keeping the clients out there up to date and everything working. So now, for instance, there's a Google team that maintains what you think of as Git in Debian. And that ensures that when a Debian, Mac or Windows user uses Git to pull Android - or to pull really any of our Git-based projects - that they're using the most recent version of Git. It's fairly complex, the way all the things weave together now. LXF: What was originally envisaged as your role at Google? Did Google think 'We're going to have 100 open source projects and we need someone to manage them?' CDB: If it were just 100 that would be one thing. I think technically, I've released a little over 3,700 projects since I started - large and small, mostly small obviously. For every Android there's a thousand smaller projects. Little tools that find their ways out there and patches galore. So when they hired me, they just knew they needed somebody who would care about this stuff professionally to come in and sort of keep things on an even keel. LXF: How do you manage the open source compliance in a project such as Android? CDB: I don't run Android but I do help them. For Android we were very lucky in that we were able to really make compliance part of the tooling and part of the build system early. LXF: Years ahead of its release? CDB: Yeah, about three years ahead. We worked with the Android team and we actually provide infrastructure for the Android team worldwide, as well as all the Android partners and the rest. We're able not just to say to them, 'Hey! You should be in compliance!' Because it's kind of not enough. We're able to say, 'Here's how you can stand in compliance.' And in fact, we're at the point where if you're shipping an Android device, even if you have no contact with Google whatsoever, and no real desire to even care, it is actually work to come out of compliance with Android because it will fill in the 'About' boxes for you, it will do a lot of things for you that the open source licences demand of you. So when you see an Android device that's out of compliance - I mean literally letter of the law out of compliance - it can be rare. Even if somebody is completely and wholly ignorant of what open source licences require. And in some ways that's the best case, right? Even in a company like Google where we have staff in place, as new repositories are created, as new projects are started - we're not always pretty. We have to be extremely up to date on what the company is doing, so that we can make sure that when it comes to the time to launch a product that they're able to do so in compliance with open source licences and, frankly, using the most up-to-date versions of open source software - they can be up to date on bugfixes and that sort of thing. We try to get in early, so that we're not seen as a barrier to launch because if we're slowing down launches, we're failing in a company like Google, and we don't want to be that group. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20177/LXF177.iview.3-420-90.jpg LXF: Is that kind of compliance in the DNA of people that work at Google? CDB: Yes and no. You have to realise that open source licences can be extremely complex. You don't necessarily want engineers to become experts at licences, because if they're doing that sometimes they're not developing quickly because they're worrying too much about these interactions. We try to give them broad guidelines and smart tooling so they know the implications of that which they're building. We try not to have them become experts in licensing because it's a scale just like any other: if you're good at this do you have the capacity to be good at this other thing too? Maybe, but I'd rather have them concentrate solely on product development and all the rest. LXF: Has Google's approach to open source changed over those nine years? CDB: Sure. It's funny because depending on the project, they have different perspectives on open source. LXF: So ChromeOS has a different perspective than Android? CDB: I'd say so, yeah. I mean ChromeOS is a different approach to operating system development than Android. It's funny because if you're going to ship a browser, for instance, there are certain plugins that you want to make more secure, but those plugins are by their nature closed source - things like Flash. If you want a ChromeOS box to render Flash content and do it in a secure way, well, we had to cut a special deal with Adobe that would allow us to ship that version of Flash in that way. And that's something that doesn't show up in Chromium or ChromiumOS, right? It just shows up in ChromeOS. And so you have these funny borderlands between open source and proprietary software and how does that work? Similarly, if you want to cut a deal with one of the content producers in the USA, in Europe and the rest, they want to know that they have that whole "secure path" and to ensure that you have to make sure that the deal does not interact poorly with the open source licences in an operating system or program. That can be extremely tricky. On top of that is our standards work. We have one part of the company that is advocating for encrypted media extensions, for instance, so that they can ship Netflix players and that kind of thing, and then you also have Ian Hickson, who works for me, saying that that doesn't belong in the Web WG (Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group) specification for HTML 5. LXF: So who makes the decision? CDB: This is the interesting thing about a company like Google. We can have both. Or we can have neither, depending on your perspective. We will sometimes have things that look conflicting, but they're not really. There's nothing wrong with us wanting the Web WG HTML 5 specification to be a pure document that doesn't depend on patent-laden technologies, like you'd find in some specifications, and also have an ancillary specification that adds to HTML 5 that allows for it. You can drive yourself crazy. LXF: Are you allowed to have an opinion on these kind of subjects, or do you remain objective? CDB: I always let one thing guide my actions and to date that's served me well. And it's this: I don't care, OK, if I like a project, or what it does for a user, or if I'm the user of that project so long as they're in compliance with open source licences - in spirit and in letter - I'm fine. I don't have to like it so long as they're compliant - so long as they're not disrespecting my friends in open source software. As long as our colleagues in open source software are being served well, I don't have to like it, because I like being in compliance. I am that kind of regulator, and as long as that which I regulate is healthy, I'm happy. LXF: And that includes something as contentious as DRM in the HTML 5 specification? CDB: It's extremely contentious. What I end up doing more often than not in those cases is ensuring, as much as I can, that the two teams treat each other nicely, you know don't call each other names, or whatever, and don't try to force the issue in unhealthy ways with each other. LXF: And as long as they're both in compliance, you're happy? CDB: As long as they're both in compliance, we're happy. That's actually never been a problem. They all know that that's something that's important too, so that's never really been a problem. The trick is when people are working on conflicting or competitive projects with each other; it's very difficult to keep them from turning that into a personal problem. As an engineering manager this is something that's true. LXF: What if there's a philosophical difference? CDB: It's funny because people say 'Oh, it's just software, you shouldn't worry about it'. Or 'It's just business, you shouldn't worry about it'. But what people seem to forget is that software and business are personal. It's how we get through our day. It's an important part of our lives so trying to keep things in perspective is really important. Now, you could say 'Does that make you a sellout Chris?' But I don't feel it does because given that the overall actions of the company have been, in my opinion, really strong and on the side of the angels, I think it's OK for us to have these discussions, especially internally. LXF: What do you spend most of your time working on now? CDB: I have a team of about 30 or so people working for me, and that's on various aspects of compliance and the Summer of Code, as well as tooling and infrastructure. I end up doing people management. Acquisitions compliance takes up a fair bit of time. When you have as many engineers as we do, and you have as many programme managers as we do, and project managers; people inside the company have to care about their careers and make sure that they're happy at a company like Google. So looking after promotions and calibration is something I think is really important, but not as exciting for your readers. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20177/LXF177.iview.1-420-90.jpg LXF: Do you get to influence policy? CDB: Yes and no. I mean, I'm a director in the company. That means I'm not in charge. Larry is in charge, and then we have a bunch of people who are way more senior than I am. But I'm able to help out in a lot of ways, help people find their way careers and that's actually really rewarding. LXF: What do you think has been Google's biggest contribution to open source? CDB: I think that the three biggest projects we've released are Android, Chromium and Go. If you asked me ten years from now which one I'm proudest of, I'm going to have a hard time answering, because Android has had incredible impact. LXF: There's Summer of Code as well! CDB: Well, Summer of Code is a very personal thing that's affected thousands of people. Android and Chromium have affected millions, or even a billion people. But from my nerd heart, my programmer's soul, I look at things like Summer of Code; and I look at things like Go; and I look at things like even GCI, our High School programme. I think these things are what makes open source persist in ways that even Android and Chromium do and don't. Chromium and Android are market forces at this point. LXF: They are the proof that open source is legitimate? CDB: They're fundamental. Beyond legitimacy. There have always been people over the last 20 years who've said open source is a cancer, or not legitimate, or the enemy. They say things like this and that always sort of misses the point for me, because open source is everywhere, right. And if we want it to continue to be everywhere and continue to help computer science move forward, we have to continue making it and keep it fundamental. The way we do that is through languages and through platforms like Android. By improving established open platforms like the web through things like Chromium. You have to realise that before Chrome launched, people were still launching browsers where one tab could bring down the whole OS. That's really hard to do now. That's considered silly. And where JavaScript performance didn't really matter. We were able to change that with Chrome in a way that users obviously found useful. But it also forced people who are working off of WebKit and Gecko to take another look at performance and security. If we hadn't done that, the web would be in a much worse state right now because there's a lot of malware around the web; there are a lot of people looking to trick you on the web. But because of Chromium, we focussed on this stuff early enough that it saved - in my mind - what the web could be. Can you imagine if you didn't have the malware protection and the process isolation of Chrome, that Chrome brought to other browsers? Can you imagine surfing the web the way it is right now? It's pretty grim. There's a lot of malware. You end up basically funnelling people into fewer and fewer sites, and therefore fewer and fewer viewpoints and all the rest. LXF: Do you think Google would have existed without open source or without Linux? CDB: Probably. But I don't think the web would exist without open source and Linux. So there would have been no Google. It would have been something different, but without open source driving the internet there would have been no internet for Google to crawl, much less to run ads against, and much less to enforce our ideas around Android and Chromium. I think they're one and the same. LXF: Of Summer of Code's 1,200 students and 60 countries, 271 students have been/ are in India. Do you think the next ten years is going to see a shift in where and how technical innovation originates? CDB: I hope so. Every year that goes by we see more people from outside of the US take part. The US still has a healthy proportion - 250 or something - but it's amazing to see where people pop up - like Sri Lanka. Even during the civil war we still had Tamil and other Sri Lankan students taking part in the Summer of Code; it's like, how did it transcend borders in that way in that country? And so, Sri Lanka has always been really interesting to us in ways that even India and China are not. Here's basically a very small nation, and if you look at it, there's a couple of universities that really glommed onto Summer of Code as a way of expanding their curriculum. Think about that. 79 Computer Science students in a small university in a small country in the midst of a civil war, all doing remarkable work. This is the promise of the internet and computer science made flesh. LXF: Is that how you'd imagined Summer of Code to be? CDB: Not really. I don't want to portray myself as like a visionary. I never saw Summer of Code like that. I saw Summer of Code as a way that we could bring new people into open source. People we never would have seen before, because we were literally financing students so that they wouldn't have to go home and do something random that isn't Computer Science over the summer. So for me it was just a way of keeping computer scientists engaged for the summer and, hopefully, on open source. And it turned into something much more than that. Something more revolutionary than that in my opinion, and that's really a testament to the open source teams that have shown up and mentored, and all the rest. Remember, for every open source developer in the Summer of Code, there's a mentor and a project. Without the mentors, it wouldn't work. The only thing Summer of Code does, that's revolutionary… is it pairs up an experienced open source developer who's used to working remotely with other people with a neophyte developer. That's the remarkable thing because in the end that student can always go to their mentor and they can say, 'I'm having a problem.' Or the mentor can watch the incoming change list and say, "You're having a problem. If you do this and this, you're be doing good. If you do this and this, you're going to be doing bad." You don't even get that in most jobs! Now why not read Google at 15: from the garage to Glasshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34f55ddf/sc/4/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841770751/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f55ddf/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841770751/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f55ddf/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841770751/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f55ddf/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841770751/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f55ddf/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184841770751/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f55ddf/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/OLCXMmtOn-Q

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Google%20Glass/GoogleGlasswink-470-75.jpgThe search giant has released a new software update for Google Glass, and with it will come the MyGlass app for iOS. Google says that the iOS app will have all the features that's already available for Android, including integration with Glassware apps like Google Search, Gmail and Google Plus, and also with the ability to mirror what you're seeing through Glass on your iDevice. Optimised for iOS, the Glass companion app will be up for free in Apple's App Store by the end of the week. Wink, wink XE12Besides MyGlass for iOS, the XE12 update, which is being rolled out for both the new Glass hardware as well as the older iteration, sure does bring a lot of new features, while doing away with a few. First up, there's no longer a need to say "OK, Glass, take a picture". With what Google is calling an "exploratory" feature, you'll be able to snap pictures with just a wink - which may worry non-Glass owners and may make Glass owners look a little more creepier. On the other hand, your Glass will be a little safer with a screen lock, which activates when it powers down or you remove the Glass, though it isn't clear yet how you will be able to unlock the device. Google has also removed the "Guest Mode" feature, which will likely make sharing and showing off the device even more difficult. New waresSpeaking of features removed, XE12 will also no longer attach a "Sent through Glass" tag to SMS messages, but there's no sign of being able to deactivate the signature on emails yet. Google Search cards, YouTube and Google Music Glassware functionality have all been beefed up as well, while Google has also added a "Glass must cool down" warning for when the hardware starts to overheat. But in terms of all new Glassware apps, Hangouts is finally making its debut on XE12, which is sure to make keeping in touch with people easier. Haven't been able to get your hands on Glass yet? Here are some Google Glass competitors you can check out instead.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34f17aa3/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841732483/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f17aa3/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841732483/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f17aa3/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841732483/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f17aa3/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841732483/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f17aa3/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184841732483/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34f17aa3/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/rz9QC3EIhyU

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Valve/SteamOS/2013%20Beta/Early%20Look/_DSC3273-470-75.jpgAfter so many teasers and chest beating press announcements, the gaming public is finally getting its first look at what will tick inside Steam Machines with the December 13 release of SteamOS. While the software beta is open to eager users, Valve clearly stated that system install would "erase everything" on people's machine. Throwing caution to the wind, we trudged through all the installation bumps to get an early look at what Steam's dedicated OS can offer. Our first impressions of the SteamOS, once successfully installed after a series of hurdles, was that it looked an awful lot like the Big Picture Mode already available on Windows PCs, Macs, and even other Linux machines. Through and through it's the same exact blown up, controller-friendly version of Steam made for couch gamers and their big screen HDTVs. The interface becomes even more immediately familiar when plugging in an Xbox 360 controller we had lying around. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Valve/SteamOS/2013%20Beta/Early%20Look/_DSC3257-420-100.jpg The overall experience is identical until you tab over to the library to realize only a small segment of games are available for play on Linux. Out of Steam's massive digital library there are only 270 games playable on the new open OS platform. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Valve/SteamOS/2013%20Beta/Early%20Look/_DSC3266-420-100.jpg Despite the smaller library we were able to play a good handful of games from new popular indie titles like Starbound to the graphics intensive Metro: Last Light. Even without going out of our way to install the latest drivers we were able to max out particle effects and dynamic shadows without any noticeable hiccups even when compared to running on a Windows computer. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Valve/SteamOS/2013%20Beta/Early%20Look/SteamOS%20Last%20Light-420-100.jpg Using Linux with SteamOSGetting to anything outside of the Steam ecosystem requires a little more effort. For one thing, users will actually have to go to their Steam interface settings to switch on access to the Linux desktop. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Valve/SteamOS/2013%20Beta/Early%20Look/_DSC3270-420-100.jpg What's more, the SteamOS does not come with a normal Steam client, and users are locked into Big Picture Mode or will have to quit out of the application all together. This may be as designed as a way to keep its users locked in the interface, but may also be a tick of the beta that will be remedied in future iterations. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Valve/SteamOS/2013%20Beta/Early%20Look/SteamOS%20Desktop-420-100.jpg From a hardcore Linux user's perspective, SteamOS is both a pleasure and a frustration. It's great to finally see Linux openly running on something. It's been too long in the shadows, stealing server market share slowly to dominate, but not breaking upwards of 10% of the desktop market. On the other hand, this is a seriously stripped-down version of the Debian 7.1 ("wheezy") distribution, so much so that there's really not a lot to do without editing much of the configuration. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Valve/SteamOS/2013%20Beta/Early%20Look/_DSC3360-420-100.jpg We tested what we could install on SteamOS to build it into a true Debian Linux desktop with Valve's kernel and GPU customizations. With that in mind, the first thing we did was try to install Shutter, a simple screenshot app as Debian's default print-screen that did not work inside of Big Picture Mode. The install failed as Shutter was not found in the Linux's app repositories. Similar to the Mac App store, Linux can access a directory of applications with the slight difference in that everything is free. SteamOS, however is only able to access it's own repos. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Valve/SteamOS/2013%20Beta/Early%20Look/SteamOS%20Repo-420-100.jpg Our impression is that Valve doesn't want coding enthusiasts to come in and install newer (or older) versions of libraries and applications that have a fair chance of breaking its own programs. Make no mistake; this is not a Linux desktop with Steam installed. This is a completely locked-down and customized installation of Linux designed to do one thing; run the Steam engine. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Valve/SteamOS/2013%20Beta/Early%20Look/_DSC3334-420-100.jpg After tinkering in the operating system's underlying terminal code base, we forced the system to install Shutter by adding Debian's main repos. Upon doing so we realized that we'd break some applications by altering dependencies which in turn would break a facet of networking - not a good thing to do in a custom environment. In some of our tests we found ourselves blocked from installing other applications specifically designed for Debian such as Chrome and even the open source Gimp image editing software. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Valve/SteamOS/2013%20Beta/Early%20Look/_DSC3272-420-100.jpg As an extremely basic Linux system, SteamOS includes the aforementioned terminal app, a Firefox clone called Iceweasel, and a few other utility applications. Meanwhile, Valve has stated support for Netflix and other entertainment are forthcoming. Installing SteamOSIn general building a "Steam Machine" with Linux and Big Picture Mode would be a lot easier by simply installing Debian (or Ubuntu, or CentOS, or Arch, or any number of Linux distros) and then installing the Steam client on top. All go without the risk of bricking your machine or erasing all the data on your hard disk drives. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Valve/SteamOS/2013%20Beta/Early%20Look/_DSC3304-420-100.jpg The installation process itself meanwhile is not for the faint of heart. For our own system we tested SteamOS on a relatively popular and recent PC setup with decent driver support even on Linux; pairing an Intel Core i5 3750K processor with a Nvidia GeForce GTX 670 graphics card. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Valve/SteamOS/2013%20Beta/Early%20Look/_DSC3327-420-100.jpg The method that worked best for us was going with the custom installation, which we recommend extracting directly to a FAT32 formatted thumbdrive rather than copying and pasting files. Towards the middle of the process we also had to locate the Steam executable in Linux's file system to get it up and running. Also, be prepared to see lots of scary looking code. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Valve/SteamOS/2013%20Beta/Early%20Look/_DSC3346-420-100.jpg Very early verdict All in all, our conclusion is SteamOS shouldn't interest anyone without a completely spare machine that they can dedicate to SteamOS (as Valve intends) and not run anything else. Users for the most part would be better off just installing their own Linux flavor of choice and using the Steam client. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Valve/SteamOS/2013%20Beta/Early%20Look/_DSC3256-420-100.jpg Valve may have released what is really an ultra beta to the Linux world, as it will appease the die-hard Linux folks or as a way to satiate those who aren't part of the lucky 300 Steam Machine owners. But for now, SteamOS is a task for the diehard tinkerers that love to potentially break things. Unless you can sudo command and can vi with the best of them, wait for the console to come out. We're in for plenty more Steam Machines and SteamOS at CES 2014. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34e0dac5/sc/4/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266325648/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34e0dac5/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266325648/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34e0dac5/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266325648/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34e0dac5/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266325648/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34e0dac5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180266325648/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34e0dac5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/_3uxiqseFHI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Google/apps/google_apps_ring-470-75.jpgGoogle has added a major update to its online spreadsheet program, Sheets, to include the ability to create and edit spreadsheets offline. Sheets, part of Google's Apps suite, has stood in the shadow of Microsoft Excel since its release. It has been hard pressed to measure up to one of the pillars of Microsoft's vastly successful Office package. Google has been working on making alternatives to Microsoft's flagships for some time, introducing programs 'Docs' in 2007 and 'Slides' in 2010. However its spreadsheet alternative still doesn't get recognition. It has been criticised before for its slow speed, online-only setting and inferior import options, especially when users attempt import from Excel. However, it can be credited for Microsoft's launch of Office 365. What users asked forThe reliability of imported files has now been tweaked with bug fixes and optimisation. The update has also made Sheets faster, especially when working with large and complex spreadsheets. A new filter view feature lets users create peeks at sections of a Sheet for their use only, even if it is shared. On top of this the help-system for entering formula has been given more fluidity. The update has also removed size limits (spreadsheets can now have up to two million cells) and, perhaps most crucially, added the ability to create and edit Sheets offline. This feature had already been present in Docs and Slides, Google's other Office alternatives, and had been what many users were asking for. It may still be lacking when compared to Excel, but for basic spreadsheet use, Google seems to have taken a step in the right direction. Microsoft has been attacking Google's Chromebooks and software recently with the argument that they don't offer any offline capabilities. The update probably won't stop Microsoft's campaign, but will take some of the sting out of the punches. 20 expert tips for Google Drive and Docshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34e0dad4/sc/4/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266325647/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34e0dad4/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266325647/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34e0dad4/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266325647/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34e0dad4/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266325647/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34e0dad4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180266325647/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34e0dad4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/PpMHoH7H4U8

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/iPhone/iOS%207%20hands%20on/ios7_main-470-75.jpgThe latest version iOS 7.1 Beta offers the biggest hint yet that Apple is preparing to roll out the anticipated iOS in the Car feature early next year. Seeded to developers this weekend, the second beta for iOS 7.1, brings the option for users to turn on a 'Car Display' in the Restrictions panel of the Settings menu. The iOS in the Car feature, according to reports, would allow iOS device owners to connect their device to the car's central console, in order to make use of the Maps, Messaging and Music. The iOS interface would also appear on the car's built-in display, on compatible cars. iPhone you can drive my carThe iOS 7.1 beta also features several other references to iOS in the Car, according to developers familiar with the update. Other changes within the new beta release include more prominent positioning for Touch ID and Password settings, while the Command Centre now has a bounce animation. There's no word yet on when Apple will roll out iOS 7.1 to users, but early 2014 would seem a safe bet. What does iOS in the Car mean for in-car multimedia?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34d7518b/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266340985/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34d7518b/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266340985/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34d7518b/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266340985/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34d7518b/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266340985/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34d7518b/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180266340985/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34d7518b/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/b7FE4JBjStU

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20176/LXF176.feat_uphone.ubuntuphone16-470-75.jpg Back in 2004, Linux was a considerably more technical world than it is today. Even the more novice desktop flavours involved installation procedures, choosing tools, limited documentation and, at times, complex configuration. Though many of us dreamed of the power of Linux simplified for all, it was, by definition, a geeky domain. Back in 2004 Canonical's distro came in one form: Ubuntu for the desktop. Nine years and 19 releases later, Ubuntu is overseeing a far more ambitious mission: to create a single converged operating system that runs across the desktop, phone, tablet and TV, as well as the cloud and the server. Of all of these platforms, right now the focus is very much on building the first version of the Ubuntu Phone. Hands on: Ubuntu for smartphones review Fortunately, due to the convergent nature of this business, the majority of this work benefits each of the other devices too. Ubuntu has always been a traditional Linux distro that pulled together a collection of open source projects and integrated them to make them work well together. Although Ubuntu's core code was sourced in other projects - the Linux kernel, Gnome, X Window System and Libre Office - the integration work was complex. It involved bringing together all those disparate components, user interfaces, dependencies and more into a single consistent system. Ubuntu quickly became the most popular desktop Linux distro and it attracted attention not just from the Ubuntu community, but from the mainstream media as well. The decisions Ubuntu made impacted on the wider Linux world almost as much as they did on the distro. The growth in Ubuntu also generated commercial interest. Before long, the four largest OEMs in the world were shipping Ubuntu pre-installed on their systems, and the introduction of Ubuntu Server was generating interest from server hardware manufacturers and service providers too. Remember, this was back, largely, in the days when most hardware came in the form of desktops, laptops and servers. But then the market changed. With the arrival of increasingly powerful smartphones - largely driven by companies wanting a piece of Apple's pie - the hardware world started to evolve. Before long, we had a new generation of netbooks, mobile internet devices and tablets. The mobile industry was hotting up and the hardware industry was exploring new avenues; it became obvious to Canonical that in order for Ubuntu to stay competitive, it needed to harness this new revolution, not merely dig its heels into the desktop and refuse to acknowledge change. Promoting Unity http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20176/LXF176.feat_uphone.ubuntuphone1calendar-420-90.jpg The start of Ubuntu's evolution into a new converged world was the introduction of the Unity desktop environment in late 2009. Shortly before it introduced Unity, Canonical had been exploring refinements and improvements to Ubuntu in the form of the messaging menu and new notifications. These changes were not merely engineering ideas promoted to shippable state, they were design-driven, user-tested features that solved many of the problems the developers had witnessed users experiencing. These early refinements transitioned into a wider plan in the form of Unity, so named to deliver a unifying experience. Unity was intended to simplify the desktop, maximise screen real estate, and challenge many of the presumptions people had about the traditional Linux desktop world. Canonical continued to share work that contributed to the vision of one familiar interface that would work on multiple platforms. Ubuntu for Android enabled a docked Android phone to boot a full Ubuntu desktop. Much of this work was possible due to Canonical's close relationship with Linaro, an organisation that consolidates and optimises open source Linux software, ensuring that the Ubuntu archive could run on ARM devices. Ubuntu TV demonstrated the design principles of Unity applied to television, but the convergence story really kicked off in January, when Canonical announced Ubuntu for phones, quickly followed by Ubuntu for tablets. With Ubuntu available side-by-side for comparison on a desktop, phone, tablet and TV, the convergence was visible and intriguing for onlookers, particularly at the Mobile World Congress (MWC), where the entire vision was exhibited. Phones 4 Ubuntu http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20176/LXF176.feat_uphone.clock-420-90.jpg One of the unique features of the Ubuntu phone is that it doesn't require any buttons on the front. Instead, you swipe the edge of the screen to access different features. After pressing the Power button, a swipe of the left edge of the screen brings up the familiar Unity launcher with a stacked collection of icons to load different applications. As with the desktop, these icons collapse as you slide up and down to provide space for as many of your favourite applications as you like. At the bottom of the launcher is an Ubuntu button, which unlocks the phone and takes you to the Home view. In much the same way as the Dash works on the desktop, there are different views (called Master Scopes) for Home, Apps, Music and Video. Each of these scopes provides access to content either on your devices, in the cloud, or available to purchase. Sliding left and right jumps between these different content types and you can then slide up and down to browse, tap an item to view more information or view/buy/download. This functionality is subtle but important: it integrates content right into the phone. You no longer need to load an application to access your music, videos or apps - they're all right there at the core of the phone. If you load an application, such as Gallery which shows your photos and videos, you can swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access that app's functionality. For example, if you're viewing a photo, an upwards swipe will show options such as Edit or Share. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20176/LXF176.feat_uphone.calendar-420-90.jpg The HUD works in much the same way as it does on the desktop, except instead of pressing Alt, a long upwards slide brings up a small search icon that you can use to see the phone's equivalent HUD functionality. If you now open a variety of applications, such as the browser, gallery and camera app, the right edge comes into play. Swiping from the right switches between the different open applications. This makes multitasking as simple as a swiping from the right to the left of the screen. On the tablet, sliding out from the right edge shows the side stage, which enables you to run phone applications within a smaller window and be able to easily interact with tablet applications (such as dragging content from the tablet web browser and saving it in the note-taking app in the side stage). The top and final edge of the screen is where you configure the phone's most common parts. In much the same way as you have the indicators in the top bar on the Ubuntu desktop, you have the same indicators on the phone; sliding down from the top screen lets you navigate between them and view controls for configuring those items. As an example, you can select a wireless network, change the volume, adjust power settings, and more. As with the Ubuntu desktop the messaging menu is also present. This little envelope icon lights up when you receive a text message, Facebook/Twitter direct message, missed call, or other content. All of your messages are in one place and when you select a message you can respond from within the messaging menu. This means that you can reply to messages without having to load a separate app or even exit an existing one. Another dimension http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20176/LXF176.feat_uphone.filemanagerlong-420-90.jpg The development of Ubuntu across these devices has not only involved producing a single and consistent design experience in Unity but also a great deal of convergence and unification at the software level too. Traditionally the Unity that has shipped on Ubuntu Desktop has been the Unity 7 codebase, written using Compiz and the Nux toolkit (the latter designed and built specifically for Unity). The new converged Unity is being rewritten using the popular Qt QML framework. This codebase is known as Unity 8. Importantly though, there is not a different Unity for each device form-factor. Instead there's a single Unity codebase that displays the appropriate user interface depending on the screen size and configuration of the device. As an example, if you take Unity 8 and run it on a device with the dimensions of a phone, you will see the phone experience. If you then widen the same instance of Unity 8 to the dimensions of a tablet, you will see the tablet experience. Likewise, the same will happen for desktop dimensions. This has a few notable benefits. Firstly, when a bug is fixed or performance is further improved in Unity 8 it instantly applies to all form-factors. Secondly, it means that Unity can easily and effectively switch between these user interfaces when required. As an example, you might want to take your Ubuntu phone and plug it into a monitor with an HDMI cable and then see the Ubuntu desktop experience. This means that although much of the work going on right now is getting Unity ready for the phone, all of that work ultimately benefits all of the different form-factors. Another important piece in the stack is the Mir display server. Mir provides a next-generation replacement for the ageing X Window System that has been in commission for the past 25 years or so. Although some were disappointed that Unity didn't move to Wayland, the choice of building Mir was born out of creating something lighter than Wayland in terms of breadth of features and more orientated towards these multiple devices. Taking it for a test drive http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20176/LXF176.feat_uphone.sdk2-420-90.jpg If you have a Galaxy Nexus or Nexus 4 phone and want to give Ubuntu for phones a whirl, you first need to understand that it is unfinished software. You should back up any data and applications you need as Ubuntu is going to replace it with a new operating system. Fortunately, you can revert to Android if you need to later (albeit, without your original data, hence the back-up!). First install the software from the PPA: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:phablet-team/tools Now do the following: sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install phablet-tools android-tools-adb androidtools-fastboot You now need to unlock the device (if your device is unlocked you can skip this). With the device powered off, power on the device by holding the Power button + volume up + volume down. The device will boot into the bootloader. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20176/LXF176.feat_uphone.terminal-420-90.jpg Now plug the device into your computer via the USB cable. On your computer, press Ctrl+Alt+T to start a terminal and type: sudo fastboot oem unlock Now on the device screen, accept the terms of unlocking. Your device is now unlocked! Now boot the device by pressing the Power button (pointed by an arrow with Start on the screen). Next, you need to enable USB debugging. This varies depending on which version of Android you are running: Ice Cream Sandwich (version 4.0): Go to Settings and turn on USB Debugging (Settings > System > Developer options > USB debugging). Jelly Bean (versions 4.1 and 4.2): Enter Settings, About [Phone|Tablet] and tap the Build number 7 times to see the Developer Options. On either Android version you must then enable USB debugging via Settings > Developer options > USB debugging. You should now accept a host key on the device. On the computer type: adb kill-server adb start-server http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20176/LXF176.feat_uphone.weatherapp-420-90.jpg Depending on the installed Android version, a pop-up will appear on the device with the host key that needs to be accepted for the device to communicate with the computer. Now save the version of the current image on the device as a reference to revert back to. The version can be found by going to Settings > About Phone > Build Number. Fortunately you only need to run through that unlocking process once. Now you can install the Ubuntu phone image to the device easily by just running phablet-flash. The latest version of Ubuntu phone will now be downloaded and automatically installed to the device. When it is complete the phone will automatically boot into Ubuntu phone. If you have your SIM card in the phone you should be able to make calls, receive text messages, and use the other features of the phone. As the engineering team works hard to have a first cut of Ubuntu for phones ready by October, this is a story you are sure to want to keep an eye on - you might even want to grab a spare phone so you can have a play about with it. Although there is a long road ahead, the journey has already been rewarding... who knows what the future holds? Now why not read our Hands on: Ubuntu for smartphones reviewhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34d5b1cb/sc/4/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266246520/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34d5b1cb/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266246520/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34d5b1cb/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266246520/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34d5b1cb/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266246520/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34d5b1cb/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180266246520/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34d5b1cb/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/f1U-e0M2jec

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/netflix-profiles-470-75.jpgNetflix users who shareaccounts with friends or family have become accustomed to accessing their personal profiles on multiple devices, but until now that privilege has eluded Android owners. Not anymore though, as multi-profile support has finally landed on Google-powered smartphones and tablets thanks to an update dropping this weekend. This means users won't see shared libraries and lists, while the recently watched and recommendations sections will only feature personalised content. The update can be downloaded from the Play store now, so have at it, folks. More blips!Sadly, reading these blips won't prevent Glee showing up in your library Wow. Dogcoin is a Bitcoin alternative for mutt and meme loversGTA: San Andreas available for iOS now, coming to Android 'soon'Ebay Xbox scam sucker gets free console for his troublehttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34d35ac9/sc/21/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266313042/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34d35ac9/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266313042/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34d35ac9/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266313042/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34d35ac9/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266313042/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34d35ac9/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180266313042/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34d35ac9/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/ceZ0qshd7xc

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/televisions/Google/Chromecast/Chromecast_Android_app_screen_2-470-75.JPGGoogle is in talks with third party manufacturers over the launch of more Chromecast-like devices, as the company looks to make the Google Cast streaming tech an industry standard available on Android and iOS. Speaking to Gigaom, Google VP of Product Management Mario Queiroz, said the web giant has big plans for its little dongle in 2014 which may include new hardware solutions and an open SDK for developers. "Our broader goal is for Google Cast to be established as a standard," Queiroz said, while adding that an API will allow developers to add Cast functionality to applications on other platforms. Queiroz told the site Google is in "serious conversations" with a number of manufacturers in the hope of rolling out more Cast-compatible devices in 2014. Making every app 'castable'As well as the open SDK and more devices Google is also planning to bring Cast functionality to as many applications as possible in the next 12 months. Although Cast-friendly apps have been on the rise in recent months, Google acknowledges "there will be an expectation from consumers that any and every app will be 'castable.'" Queiroz said "hundreds of developers have already signed up for the scheme. 2014 will also mark the year Chromecast officially goes global with an international roll out on the horizon. The VP says expectant Android device owners will be "pleasantly surprised" by the scope of the expansion. Don't cross the streams! It's Apple TV vs Google Chromecasthttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34d0ad1f/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.pnghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/60JxYTCxxrI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/E3%202013/Xbox%20press%20conference/halo%20dude-470-75.jpgMicrosoft's march into original television content on the Xbox One will begin in earnest early next year, according to the company's president of digital entertainment. Nancy Tellem said the roll out has taken longer than the company would have hoped, but the first wave of shows are coming by the second quarter of 2014, including that hotly anticipated Steven Spielberg-produced Halo spin-off show. Tellem, who is overseeing the acquisition and development of new content said: "We're hoping we will be able to put something up in the first quarter, at minimum second quarter." She told Variety that progress had been slower than hoped, but "reflecting on what we've done and what lies ahead, it's been pretty good." Template not setTellem admitted that Microsoft doesn't quite have its business model down as the company is not trying to be Netflix or Amazon, but is looking at a range of ways to offer content to Xbox Live subscribers. She said: "We aren't Netflix, we aren't Amazon, we're a different animal. We're neither or we're a little like them. It all depends. The lack of black and white and this is the template and this is what we're following is very difficult. As we continue to do deals everyone's going to get more comfortable." "Depending on the piece of content, the deals change. We're talking about exclusives, exclusive first windows, exclusive second windows. We play a lot with windows and co-production arrangements" and "whether we feel these are ideas are franchise building or we can own completely." Halo: Spartan Assault is going to make it an extra special Christmas Eve for Xbox fans...

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/SlingPlayer/SlingPlayer_for_Windows%208-470-75.jpgSanta Claus may not be due to slide down the chimney for another 12 days, but the elves at Slingbox are bringing a little holiday cheer to PC and tablet users on the Windows platform. Sling Media announced today the release of SlingPlayer for Windows 8, a native media player app first announced last month and now available for PC users running Microsoft's latest and greatest operating system. Available globally from the Windows 8 Store, the SlingPlayer app offers a unified experience across all Windows 8 devices, including laptop or desktop computers, convertibles and tablets. Although Intel-powered Windows 8.1 devices could previously access Sling's web-based player, the Windows 8 app delivers support for ARM-based Windows RT devices like Surface 2 and the Nokia Lumia 2520. Sling it, touch itSlingPlayer for Windows 8 app works equally well with a mouse or fingers, thanks to the touch-enabled user interface that offers universal support for all devices. The app also includes an intuitive gallery view in keeping with the look and feel of other Windows 8 apps for easy discovery and navigation of live or recorded programs. Should you need another incentive to upgrade to Windows 8.1, the SlingPlayer native app is as good as any, since it requires the latest version. SlingPlayer for Windows 8 offers a free 24-hour test drive and is priced comparable to other versions at $14.99; a separate version is also available for Windows Phone 8 devices. No luck buying an Xbox One yet? Check out our extensive review instead!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34ca5a84/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266166135/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34ca5a84/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266166135/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34ca5a84/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266166135/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34ca5a84/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266166135/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34ca5a84/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180266166135/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34ca5a84/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/c2yQhg9HrEk

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/features/googledrivetips/00%20Intro-470-75.jpg Google Drive and the Docs suite it incorporates have grown a lot more powerful over the last couple of years. Desktop syncing, Gmail integration, mobile and offline editing, handwriting recognition, extra storage and a variety of interface tweaks have all come down the pipe to leave Drive looking like a very mature and capable platform indeed. It still falls short of the raw power of a typical desktop office suite, yet with growing broadband speeds and ever-improving mobile apps it's becoming a part of the workflow for more and more people. Whether you've only dabbled in Docs and Drive in the past, or you're a long-standing veteran, we've collected 20 of our favourite tips to help you improve your productivity. 1. File typeshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/01%20File%20types-420-90.jpg Let's start with the main Google Drive interface. Click on the downward arrow inside the search box at the top of the screen and you can filter the files shown based on their format, their ownership permissions or their visibility on the Web. 2. Change the viewhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/02%20Change%20the%20view-420-90.jpg There are a couple of useful links on the left of the Google Drive interface that can change the view of the files you're looking at: use Recent to see the most recently opened files at the top of the pile, and Activity to see files that have recently been changed by you or someone else with access permissions. 3. Multiple previewshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/03%20Multiple%20previews-420-90.jpg Do you want to be able to preview multiple files at once, without opening them up? Of course you do. Place ticks next to all the files you want to see in the main Google Drive interface, then press the preview button (an eye symbol). Use the cursor keys or the arrows at the sides to navigate through your files. 4. Drive on the desktophttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/04%20Drive%20on%20the%20desktop-420-90.jpg Google Drive's desktop application lets you use the platform as an online backup service for your local files. You can choose specific folders to sync on each machine. Native Google Docs files are shown as web links on your hard drive. 5. Built-in OCRhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/05%20Built-in%20OCR-420-90.jpg Google Drive can use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to parse text in PDF files and images and convert it into a standard Google Docs document. You can choose this option from the upload settings. The original image or PDF is embedded at the top of the document. 6. Paint formatshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/06%20Paint%20formats-420-90.jpg The Paint format button is to the left of the toolbar in all of the main Docs applications, and you can use it to copy the format of one block of text to another. If you're creating a heading style, for example, you can quickly apply it to the other headings in your document. 7. Set default texthttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/07%20Set%20default%20text-420-90.jpg In the Docs word processor, open up the stylesheets drop-down menu from the toolbar, then select Normal text > Update 'Normal text' to match. This sets the current text style as normal. Choose Options > Save as my default styles to use this new stylesheet on every new document. 8. Link searcheshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/08%20Link%20searches-420-90.jpg If you highlight a block of text and then click the link button on the Docs toolbar, you'll see a list of suggested URLs based on the text you've selected. Matches for the selected word or phrase in your Google Drive file list are also shown, if you want to link between different documents. 9. Researchhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/09%20Research-420-90.jpg If you're always switching to and from Google to look up information, you can make use of the Research pane (accessible from the Tools menu in Docs and Slides). Type a search term to see results from the web as well as your Google Drive and Gmail accounts. 10. Image draghttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/10%20Image%20drag-420-90.jpg You can drag and drop images right into your documents, whether from your local hard drive or a website. 11. Translate documentshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/11%20Translate%20documents-420-90.jpg Leverage the power of Google Translate and get your documents swiftly translated from the option on the Tools menu. 46 different languages were available the last time we checked. 12. Email notificationshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/12%20Email%20notifications-420-90.jpg In the Sheets spreadsheet app you can get customised notifications when something is changed on a spreadsheet. Choose Tools > Notification rules to set up your alerts as required. 13. Theme master slideshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/13%20Theme%20master%20slides-420-90.jpg The themes in Slides help you get your presentation up and running quickly, and in October Google added the option to edit the master slide (and thus the current theme). Open the Slide menu and choose the 'Edit master' option to make changes. 14. Layout tableshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/14%20Layout%20tables-420-90.jpg The Docs word processor doesn't have the most advanced design tools, but you can use tables for slightly more unusual layouts. Use the Table menu to create the grid and then change its borders to 0pt width so that they're invisible. 15. Conditional formattinghttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/15%20Conditional%20formatting-420-90.jpg The capabilities and scope of Google's online office suite continues to grow. Via the Format menu in Sheets you can apply specific text and background colours if the cells in a certain range match particular criteria (such as their numerical value). 16. Word Arthttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/16%20Word%20Art-420-90.jpg The Slides presentation program includes a basic Word Art tool that you can access from the Insert menu. You can change text colour, border colour and border thickness from the toolbar, and Word Art shapes can be useful if you need more flexibility than a standard text box can give you. 17. Scan documentshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/17%20Scan%20documents-420-90.jpg If you have the official Google Drive app for Android, you can select the Scan option to use your phone or tablet as a scanner. Snap a physical document with your device's camera and the app converts it to a PDF saved in Google Drive. 18. Find new appshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/18%20Find%20new%20apps-420-90.jpg Many of the apps available in the Chrome Web Store tie right in with Google Drive and add extra capabilities to the service. From the main files list open the settings drop-down menu and choose Manage apps to look at apps you've already connected. Follow the link to browse for new programs, which cover everything from photo editing to online document signing. 19. Start publishinghttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/19%20Start%20publishing-420-90.jpg You can embed a presentation or any other type of file on the web to make it easier for other people to find. Choose Publish to the Web from the File menu to see the available options. 20. Go offlinehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/googledrivetips/20%20Go%20offline-420-90.jpg If you're going to be away from a reliable Internet connection for a while, you can still work on your files by utilising Google Drive's offline capabilities. You need to set this up in advance so the necessary caching can be carried out, and you need to be using the Chrome browser: choose the Offline link from the file list to enable the feature. If you haven't already installed the Drive Chrome app, you'll be prompted to do so. If you're running Chrome OS, the feature is enabled automatically. Now why not read How Google Now can help you be more efficienthttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34c953c2/sc/4/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/183026244501/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34c953c2/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/183026244501/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34c953c2/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/183026244501/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34c953c2/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/183026244501/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34c953c2/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/183026244501/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34c953c2/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/SyQXzabr9TA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/LG/LG%20Gx/LG_Gx_leak-470-75.jpgLarge and in charge, a new big-screen LG smartphone appears to be on the way to make those 4.7-inch displays look puny by comparison. Pocket Droid has the spot on possible LG plans for a another big-screen smartphone by way of some mysterious printed materials. Referred to as the LG Gx, the leaked handset will reportedly come equipped with a 5.5-inch full HD IPS display, making it slightly larger than the 5.2-inch LG G2 and dwarfing the already expansive 4.7-inch display on the LG Optimus G. That King Kong-sized screen lines up nicely against the LG Optimus Pro, the Korean manufacturer's earlier go at a 5.5-inch display. Gee, ex-tra large?While full details are still elusive, the leaked LG Gx specs run circles around the Optimus line, with a Snapdragon 600 processor backed up by 2GB RAM and an extra-large 3,140mAh battery. Measuring 9.4mm thick, the LG Gx is also expected to come packing 32GB of onboard storage, LTE-Advanced data capabilities and a 13MP rear camera, in keeping with the "bigger is better" theme. That just leaves the question of when this unruly beast might come stomping into carriers around the globe, along with the rumor of a LG G2 Mini currently making the rounds. All signs point to a launch at the CES 2014 kicking off in Las Vegas next month, but eager buyers will likely have to wait even longer than that to actually buy one. It's not to late for gift buying, especially with TechRadar's Holiday Gift Guide!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34c13c2b/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.pnghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/JU7dwwm3T1o

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Piracy/Anonymous_Flag.svg%20copy-470-75.jpgThirteen people (eleven men and two women), have pleaded guilty to an attack on Paypal's servers that US authorities say was engineered by hacktivist group Anonymous. The payment site has been the target of Anonymous protests since it cut its ties with website Wikileaks. The defendants in the case acknowledged taking part in these protests in 2010, in which Paypal received thousands of attacks from computers across the globe. These attacks, named Distributed Denial of Service (or DDoS) attacks, flood a computer network with useless commands and information, causing it damage. This in turn forces the network to deny service to genuine users. Paypal urged leniency by prosecutors in the case, with founder Pierre Omidyar supporting the defendants' "freedom of expression" and calling for the thirteen people to be held accountable for the damage they did individually, not the collective damage done by the entire attack. Nevertheless, US Departments of Justice have accused the defendants of intentionally damaging protected computers. "Operation Paycheck"By pleading guilty the thirteen defendants will be sentenced with minor misdemeanour charges, providing they then stay out of trouble with the law. Termed "Operation Paycheck" by Anonymous, the Decmber 2010 protest attacked not just Paypal but also larger credit firms including Mastercard and Visa. All the firms targeted had stopped payments to the anti-secrecy website Wikileaks following its publication of classified US documents and diplomatic messages. "Citing violations of the PayPal terms of service, and in response to Wikileaks' release of the classified cables, PayPal suspended their accounts so that Wikileaks could no longer receive donations via PayPal," US Attorney Melinda Haag said Friday in a statement. Wikileaks' website declared that PayPal's action had "tried to economically strangle them". A hearing for all thirteen defendants, who are currently on bail, is scheduled to take place in 2014. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34c1e519/sc/25/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.pnghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/xbarhk9s9F8

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Abstract/Handshake/iStock_000002304477Small-ene-470-75.jpgCisco Systems Inc. has lost a court bid in the European Union General Court – the second highest in the region – to overturn approval of Microsoft's 2011 takeover of Skype Technologies. Cisco is one of the largest makers of networking equipment in the world, holding a large share in the enterprise communications market. It argued that the combination of Microsoft and Skype gave the two companies 80 to 90 per cent of the market for video calling on Windows-based computers. According to the EU General Court, Cisco "failed to demonstrate" that the EU was wrong to find the Microsoft-Skype merger in line with the bloc's internal market. The merger, the court ruled, "does not restrict competition" in the video communications market for consumers and businesses. Flawed ReasoningIn October 2011 Microsoft won unconditional approval from the commission to buy the world's most popular international calling service, Skype, for $8.5 billion (£5.1 billion, AU$9.3 billion). A third of the world's voice calls are now made on Skype, with more than 280 million users spending more than 100 minutes monthly. Regulators from the EU judged that the deal would not harm any competition in the region because the competition was continually growing. It added that the merger faced "numerous players" in the communications market, including Google and Cisco itself. Cisco told the court during a hearing in May that the deal shouldn't have been allowed so quickly. This was due to the fact that the EU couldn't conclude beyond reasonable doubt (without an in-depth examination) in the original hearing that the transaction posed no problems for competition. In its appeal Cisco argued that the EU regulator, based in Brussels, used "flawed reasoning" that conflicted with how it had approached previous cases. It will not, however, appeal to the EU Court of Justice, Europe's highest court. A Microsoft spokesman in Brussels, Robin Koch, welcomed the court's decision. Skype: We've injected life into Microsofthttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34bf2ed5/sc/21/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266087950/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34bf2ed5/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266087950/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34bf2ed5/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266087950/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34bf2ed5/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266087950/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34bf2ed5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180266087950/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34bf2ed5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/YeqjV8EGPQY

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Abstract/Lock%20on%20keyboard%20button/iStock_000002900430Small-bluestocking-470-75.jpgThe latest of Microsoft's monthly patches, released on Tuesday, has reinforced the need for organisations to move on from older versions of software to avoid attacks. The Microsoft Patch for December addressed 24 vulnerabilities with 11 security bulletins. The bulletins covered Windows, Office, Internet Explorer, Visual Studio and Sharepoint among other pieces of Microsoft software. Five of the bulletins held a critical rating, stressing the need to apply the patches as soon as possible. MS13-096, one of the patches, fixes a vulnerability (already being exploited by attackers) in the GDI+ library for parsing TIFF image files. It affects older Microsoft software including Vista and Office 2003, 2007 and 2010. It has already been recorded as being used in attacks in the Middle East and Asia. Among other problems addressed by the patch this month include malicious webpage attacks, script functionality and fake Authenticode algorithms. Easy targetsNewer software, naturally, tends to have less vulnerability to these attacks than older software. Windows 8 has more security features than 7, and 7 more than Vista. "Even if you fully patched Windows XP you are running far more of a risk than with Windows 7" Qualys chief technology officer, Wolfgang Kandek, says. Kandek notes as an example that there is a zero-day vulnerability in XP (not addressed in this month's patch) which exploits have already been crafted for. In this case, an infected PDF file can be sent to a user that, when opened, deposits code that grants an outside user administrative access. Qualys estimates that 15% of businesses are still running Windows XP. Though its use is declining, it is doubtful that no companies will be on the OS by April 2014 when Microsoft stop issuing security patches. "After April, all these machines will be very easy targets," stresses Kandek. In 2013 Microsoft has covered 330 vulnerabilities with 106 bulletins. Want to make your network more secure?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34beeb9a/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/183026165095/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34beeb9a/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/183026165095/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34beeb9a/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/183026165095/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34beeb9a/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/183026165095/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34beeb9a/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/183026165095/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34beeb9a/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/iAxv56Vxk4M

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/IE/ie10-desktop-470-75.jpgMicrosoft posted last week that October 30 2014 would be the final day they would ship Windows 7 preinstalled. Now the company has backtracked, saying that they made a mistake and the correct status of the last sale date is "to be determined". On its site, two end-of-sale dates are listed for their operating systems: one for the software retailed by itself and one for PCs with the OS preinstalled on them. October 30 2013 was set for the retail software while the same date in 2014 was set for pre-installed PCs. This has since been changed to "to be determined" for both dates. In a statement, Microsoft said that the retail sales did actually end on October 30 this year and that "We have yet to determine the end of sales date for PCs with Windows 7 preinstalled. The October 2014 date that was posted to the Windows Lifecycle page globally last week was done so in error." Tight deadlinesIt remains to be seen how exactly the mistake occurred on the site; Microsoft has been sat on the fence when asked how long it will continue to sell Windows 7. Initially the company said that it had stopped shipping the OS to retailers before shifting that stance over the weekend to be "to be determined" again. Windows XP, whose end of life arrives in April, is still the operating system of choice in many businesses. Had Microsoft stuck with its October date for pre-installed systems, it would have left companies with a tight deadline to upgrade from XP. "When a version of Windows reaches its end of sales date" states the Microsoft website, "it's a good time to think about upgrading". Whatever the case may be, Microsoft will end extended support for Windows 7 in January 2020. The operating system is already no longer listed on the Microsoft Store website. Still using Windows 7? Here are some tips and trickshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34be1bbe/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/183026165094/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34be1bbe/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/183026165094/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34be1bbe/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/183026165094/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34be1bbe/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/183026165094/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34be1bbe/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/183026165094/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34be1bbe/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/YVhvsgUvm9I

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/Global%20catastrophes/disaster-470-75.pngSince the Sony Walkman crashed onto the shelves worldwide in 1980, consumer technology has slowly been taking over our lives. From washing machines to digital watches and from electronic word processors to modern tablet computers, the march of technology has been unstoppable. It now sits at the heart of everything we do, as we manage our schedules with Google Calendar, keep in touch via Facebook and mobile phones and entertain ourselves with games consoles and Netflix. But it could all change in an instant. The (atrocious) NBC drama series Revolution explores what the world would be like if all technology were to suddenly stop working. An appalling prospect, but could it actually happen? Here are six scenarios for the death of tech. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar//art/other/Global%20catastrophes/financial_crisis-420-100.png 1. Financial collapseBubbles always burst in the end, and a catastrophic failure of the global markets would certainly stagnate the development of technology if nothing else. In the 21st century a collapse of this nature is certainly not hard to imagine. Indeed, technology itself has often been blamed for financial crisis in the first place. The late Charles P Kindleberger was just one of the historians to lay the blame for many a crash at the door of technological innovations. The theory goes that new technologies such as the internet cause financial instability as new investment opportunities arise and cause widespread failures in economic reasoning. Kindleberger blamed the dot com bubble crash on the irrational exuberance caused by new internet technology. The truth is that technology changes the world in ways that are rarely predicted. It brings us back to the well-trodden theory that . But if there's one looming disaster that could cause the mother of all financial disasters and the end of the connected, technological world as we know it, it's be the (hypothetical) horror story of peak oil...Tech that might survive: Bitcoin becomes the de facto currency of the new order! Litecoin rebels plot in secret for global domination. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar//art/other/Global%20catastrophes/peakoil-420-100.png 2. Peak oilPeak oil refers to the exact point in human history where oil production reaches its absolute peak and then begins to decline until it runs dry completely. The theory goes that when this peak is reached, demand for oil will continue to rise as supply diminishes, causing huge and unstoppable price escalations (sound familiar?), eventually reaching the point where no one can afford oil anymore, bringing the whole industrialised world to a grinding halt. So why is this relevant to technology? Well because everything we know and rely on in the 21st Century is entirely dependent on an ever increasing supply of oil out of the ground. This is how we're able to continue printing money every day without inflation taking over, making tangible oil supplies absolutely critical to sustainable economies. But more than that, oil is used in practically every single aspect of human life, including the, conception, design, manufacture and shipping of our gadgets. "All plastic is oil. Most paints, all pesticides are made from oil. Everything from toothpaste to toothbrushes is made from oil. There are 7 gallons of oil in every tyre. There is nothing anywhere in any combination that will replace the edifice built by fossil fuels. Nothing." Michael C RuppertOil is used to heat metals in the manufacture process, it's used to build cars and planes and ships and to fuel the transportation of products around the world. It's the most important raw material on our planet and when it's gone, there will be nothing to replace it. In short, without oil, there would be no way for Foxconn to manufacture Apple's iPhones, and certainly no way to then ship them around the world. The fact is that oil is a finite resource and one day it will run out. On top of that, we don't even have any idea how much oil is left, and when it runs out we could see the biggest population crash in human history. Tech that might survive: Hand made tools and toys. Use them to plough the garden to grow your own food. Pee on everything. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar//art/other/Global%20catastrophes/solarsuperstorm-420-100.png 3. Solar superstormEvery joule of energy we use on Earth ultimately comes from the sun. But the sun also looms over us as one of our biggest threats. In 1989, a geomagnetic solar storm knocked out the hydro-electric power grid in Canada, leaving millions of Canadians and Americans without power. The geomagnetic storm altered Earth's magnetic field, causing huge current surges in powerlines, damaging all sorts of sensitive equipment. A massive solar flare has the power to knock out satellites, communications systems and damage the digital technologies we now all use daily - phones, tablets, computers, smartwatches. Most of these things didn't exist in the 1980s. Hurricane Katrina cost in the region of $100m to recover from - a solar storm could cost up to $2trillion. Some studies of solar activity say the risk of a serious event will peak in 2015, threatening to leave many places without power for months. It might not even be our own sun that bathes us in this harmful radiation. Any star in our galaxy within a few tens of lightyears would cause mayhem beyond imagination if it went supernova or worse, hypernova. It would bathe planet earth in x-rays, scorching to ashes anything not stowed away deep underground. This is extremely unlikely to happen within the next few million years, but that's just the blink of an eye in cosmic terms. Tech that might survive: Mechanical timepieces. Your digital watch is dead but the grandfather clock in the shed still works OK. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar//art/other/Global%20catastrophes/cyber_terrorism-420-100.png 4. Cyber terrorismThere are many ways that an unprecedented cyber attack could take down our tech and change the world forever. Computer viruses could, in theory, devastate our infrastructure to the point where every digital device on the planet would be left useless. Stuxnet is one active example of this threat. Stuxnet is an infamous computer worm and was first detected in 2010. Of unknown origin, it's assumed to have been coded by the US and Israel in order to destroy Iran's uranium enrichment infrastructure. The worm is highly complex and spreads indiscriminately between all kinds of devices, searching for and targeting the very specific computer codes that control the centrifuges inside nuclear power stations. "We've connected all of our lives - personal, professional and national, to the Internet. That's where the bad guys will go because that's where our lives are, our money, our secrets." FBI Director James ComeyWhatever its original purpose, the worm escaped into the wild almost immediately and is still spreading virulently and out of control from device to device all over the world, attempting to find more nuclear centrifuges to destroy (it spins them out of control so that they disintegrate, while fooling computer systems and engineers into believing all systems are running normally). Now imagine a super-worm that's designed to do a similar thing to Android smartphones and Windows PCs and you've got a potentially world-changing technological disaster on your hands. Cyber terrorism has so far been only a minor threat but it's likely to become a more serious obstacle in the decades ahead. Of course, there's always the looming threat of a Skynet-style artificial intelligence gaining sentience and deciding we all deserve to die. But most people in the know say this is not only unlikely but technologically impossible for an army of Terminators to achieve. Tech that might survive: Your granddad's electronic word processor from 1992. It can't interface with other devices so it's immune to viruses and if you're lucky it might let you play Snake. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar//art/other/Global%20catastrophes/nuclearwinter-420-100.png 5. Nuclear winterNuclear winter would potentially have the opposite effect to a solar megastorm with essentially the same consequences for our gadgets and lifestyles. What's worse is that there are many plausible ways that it could happen. By sending millions of tons of debris into our atmosphere, we'd block out the sun and slowly everything on Earth would die. Our gadgets would be the first to go belly up because we wouldn't be able to generate the energy required to make them work. Nuclear holocaust would be one way for this to happen, but it could also come about through impact winter - an impact with a comet or asteroid - or volcano winter - caused by the eruption of a supervolcano. The most famous supervolcano on Earth lays under Yellowstone National Park and it's overdue a world-changing eruption already. Be afraid. Nuclear oblivion comes hand in hand with an additional threat, of course - the dreaded electromagnetic pulses which have the same sort of effect as a geomagnetic storm. A large nuclear bomb detonated high in the atmosphere above a developed country could potentially kill every mobile phone, computer, car and power station in the area. A carefully targeted EMP attack could bring a developed country to its knees. Tech that might survive: The wind-up radio. Unfortunately as transmitters are powered by electricity of which we now have none, there's nothing to listen to except the sounds of the cosmos, natch. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar//art/other/Global%20catastrophes/heatdeath-420-100.png 6. Heat death of the universeThis is some way off, but it's worth mentioning because there is a fundamental law of physics - the second law of thermodynamics - that says that eventually, every gadget and piece of technology, along with every living organism and every celestial object in the entire universe, will one day disintegrate and die. The only way to escape this cold fate would be to either travel back in time or escape to another dimension. As the universe expands it will reach a state of thermodynamic equilibrium, or maximum entropy, a state of zero thermodynamic free energy. So there would be no stars, no planets, no people and no iPhone 4,569,000's. Even individual atoms will decay into sub-atomic particles. "With or without warp drives, the long-term fate of the cosmos cannot be postponed or avoided. No matter where you hide, you will be part of a universe that inexorably marches toward a particular oblivion." Neil DeGrasse TysonOf course, for this death to be sealed, every black hole in the universe would have to evaporate through Hawking Radiation which would take about a googol (10,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000,­000) years. So you've still just about got time to charge your Galaxy Tab before we all head over to Milliways, the restaurant at the end of the universe (this is, of course, impossible). Tech that might survive: Everything is dead, remember? Illustrations by Jane Wan

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/spotify_fire-470-75.jpgSpotify spent a bit of time yesterday raving about how it's leading the way on piracy by offering a "great service". But over in London at a debate on the future of music streaming, attended by Google, Universal music and UK streaming app Bloom.fm, the story was a little different. According to Oleg Fomenko, CEO and co-founder of Bloom.fm, no matter how good a service might look or feel, a lot of people just aren't willing to shell out for the full subscription - we need a wider range of payment plans. "It's clear that people are not going for it," said Fomenko, addressing the fact that music piracy is still a problem. "Right now if you're on a mobile device, the choice you have is either be on free or pay £120 a year," he said on services such as Spotify. Music streaming app Bloom launched earlier this year with a tier-based subscription. People can access genre-based radios for no price at all, while subscription levels then go up from £1 (about $1.64, AU$1.81) to £10 (about $16.36, AU$18.14). "We need to give people a tiered proposition that will allow them to start paying an amount of money that they can afford," Fomenko added. 8 out of 10 tracksWhile it was one way to big up Bloom, Fermenko's words were also meant as advice for the streaming industry at large. He also said that Bloom recently carried out research and found that more an average of eight out of ten consumers said that £10 a month is too much for them to pay "We're going for an audience that has been historically accused and noted to be using piracy more than anyone else," said Fomenko. "Let them move from one level to another as and if they feel that it is right". Will Spotify Shuffle help reel in some more subscribers?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34bad5b8/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266239471/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34bad5b8/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266239471/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34bad5b8/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266239471/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34bad5b8/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266239471/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34bad5b8/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180266239471/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34bad5b8/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/QhFYME98cXI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Asus/Asus_Padfone-470-75.jpgWhile other consumer electronics manufacturers focus on making separate smartphones and tablets, Asus has cornered the market on a convertible combo device that will finally wash ashore in 2014. Engadget has word that Asus has earmarked the second quarter of next year for a US release of its unique PadFone devices. The products feature an Android smartphone capable of piggybacking onto a tablet in an effort to provide the best of both worlds. First unveiled at Computex 2011, Asus is working hard to expand its convertible line with the debut of its latest PadFone Infinity as well as a just-announced junior version known as PadFone Mini. Already available in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia, United Arab Emirates and a fair chunk of Europe, Asus is now eyeing a full-on invasion of PadFone products targeted at the United States. The PadFones are coming!Asus CEO Jerry Shen confirmed the plans this week as part of a two-tier strategy aimed at releasing a "high-end line" in the US and Europe, with a more "mainstream line" intended for Asian consumers. Although details of the next-generation PadFone are scarce, the device is apparently already earmarked for at least one major carrier in the US, followed by others across Europe. "Once this product is launched, we will definitely have no problem tackling Europe with the same product, because this US operator is very big," Shen said. With more than 10,000 PadFones already sold, Asus appears confident that its smartphone plus tablet line will continue to be a unique product offering, one Shen said "will set the standard for our devices." No PadFone for you? Check out our review of the iPad Mini 2 with Retina Display!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34b8989b/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.pnghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/_GCdpUUQWTg