IT-Code-News: IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 7/15/2013

Sunday, July 14, 2013

IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 7/15/2013

TweakTown

The US government declares professional League of Legends gamers as athletes
It's official. The US government has now declared that being a professional League of Legends gamers makes you an athlete. Riot eSports manager, Nick Allen, when speaking with GameSpot, said:

the_us_government_declares_professional_league_of_legends_gamers_as_athletes

The United States government recognizes League of Legends pro players as professional athletes, and awards Visas to essentially work in the United States under that title. So this is groundbreaking for eSports. Now when [international players] come over, it's a much easier process because they are actually recognized by the government. It's a huge thing.

Riot reportedly had to fight very hard to get to this point, using all of their micro to get here. Considering the amount of work some of these League of Legends gamers put themselves through, they deserve it. Great news for LoL fans today.

Amazon reach record highs on share prices, are valued at $140 billion right now
Amazon, for the first time in the company's history, has had their shares trade at over $300 last week. Amazon went public in 1997, where their shares were trading at just $2, so this is quite the rise.

amazon_reach_record_highs_on_share_prices_are_valued_at_140_billion_right_now

On Friday, Amazon shares closed at a record $307 per share. With the current stock price in mind, Amazon's market capitalization stands at $140 billion. Talking market caps, Google scoop up $306 billion with their power, and Apple enjoy a nice chunk of $400 billion. Amazon are far out and away from Facebook, though, who have just $63 billion.
During the first three months of 2013, Amazon reported net sales of $16.07 billion, which represents a 22% increase for the same quarter of 2012. Net income fell however, to $82 million, down 37%.

HP caught red-handed installing secret backdoors into their enterprise storage products
After the last month or so with the unveiling of the NSA PRISM system from Edward Snowden, as well as GCHQ, you'd think people would be up in arms over their security. How deep does the rabbit hole go, you ask?

hp_caught_red_handed_installing_secret_backdoors_into_their_enterprise_storage_products

Well, it's now coming to the point where Hewlett-Packard have had to admit, for the second time in a month, that they've built secret backdoors into their enterprise storage products. Technion, a blogger, is the one who has blown the whistle on this one, who saw the security issue in one of HP's StoreOnce systems last month, but then found more backdoors in HP's storage and SAN products.
HP's statement, after Technion blew the whistle, admitted that "all HP StoreVirtual Storage systems are equipped with a mechanism that allows HP support to access the underlying operating system if permission and access is provided by the customer."
HP says that the backdoors are only usable with the permission of the customer - yeah, right - but that restriction is part of the company's own customer service rules and not a limitation built into the limit the use of backdoors. There is a hidden administrator account with root access to HP's StoreVirtual systems and software. Not only that, but a separate copy of the LeftHand OS, which is the software that runs HP's StoreVirtual and HP P4000 products.
The root access reportedly doesn't give the user (or hacker) access to data stored on HP machines, but this is according to HP. My personal opinion, given the mind-blowing unloading of spying we've all had to come to terms with from government agencies and corporations, I wouldn't believe a thing HP are saying right now regarding users' data.
You can read more on this at the source.

Dell begins shipping their Haswell-based, refreshed XPS 12 Ultrabook/tablet
If you've been waiting for another Haswell-based Ultrabook option, Dell might just tickle your fancy with their refreshed XPS 12 Ultrabook. The XPS 12 launched last year and was one of the first Windows 8-based notebooks that could double as a tablet.

dell_begins_shipping_their_haswell_based_refreshed_xps_12_ultrabook_tablet

Dell refreshed the XPS 12 with Intel's fourth-generation Core processors, with the company claiming that this boosts the XPS 12's speed by around 1.6 times and the battery life by 2.5 hours. Dell have also pumped NFC into the refreshed XPS 12 and have a starting price of $1,199. This is up from the original XPS 12 which started at $1,099.
For $1,199 you'll receive the XPS 12 with an Intel Core i5-4200U processor, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. For an extra $200, you can bump it up to the Core i7-4500U processor and 8GB of RAM, totaling in at $1,399. This is something I'd recommend for sure. For $1,999 you can opt for the crazy 512GB model, but I think that is a bit crazy. $1,399 for the refreshed XPS 12 doesn't sound too bad at all to me.

Splinter Cell boss wants the to see the Splinter Cell movie become as big as James Bond
James Bond is a huge franchise, we all know that, but just how big could the Splinter Cell franchise be when it makes a stealth move onto the silver screen? Well, according to Splinter Cell: Blacklist's Creative Director, Maxine Beland, she'd like it to be "as big as James Bond."

splinter_cell_boss_wants_the_to_see_the_splinter_cell_movie_become_as_big_as_james_bond

During an interview with GamesRadar, Beland said: "I really want Splinter Cell to have an amazing movie franchise and to be as big as James Bond. There are some great Bond movies, and they're obviously a big point of reference for us. At the same time, I'm so hungry for a good Splinter Cell movie. I know we're developing one now, and that people are responding to it."
We are to expect a Splinter Cell movie in the near future starring Tom Hardy of Inception and The Dark Knight Rises fame.

Valve announces 'Pipeline', will help high school students break into the video game industry
Valve have just announced and launched Pipeline, which is a community website dedicated to helping high school students who are looking into a career in the video game industry.

Pipeline was the creation of a group of high school interns working at Valve, who hope to "establish a connection to the world of teenagers that are asking many questions about getting into the gaming industry." Valve's managing director, Gabe Newell, said in a promotional video for Pipeline: "This website was created entirely be teenagers."
The Pipeline FAQ says that Valve's management are looking to find a way to connect with young, aspiring game-makers:

Traditionally Valve has been a very good place for very experienced video game developers, and not so good at teaching people straight out of school. The reasons for this and the tradeoffs are covered in the Valve employee handbook. Pipeline is an experiment to see if we can take a group of high school students with minimal work experience and train them in the skills and methods necessary to be successful at a company like Valve.

valve_announces_pipeline_will_help_high_school_students_break_into_the_video_game_industry

Valve have said that they'll release more information that will help students next month, with the FAQ stating: "We are frequently asked questions by teenagers about the video game industry. What is it like to work on video games? What should I study? What colleges are best for preparing me? How do I get a job in video games?' Pipeline will be a place where those questions can be discussed."

The PS4 will be hands-on for the public at Comic-Con 2013 next week
If you're like me and want to get some hands-on time with Sony's next-generation console, you can have your chance at Comic-Con 2013 which starts next week.

the_ps4_will_be_hands_on_for_the_public_at_comic_con_2013_next_week

The PlayStation 4 will be available to the public for some hands-on gaming with three demo titles on offer: Drive Club, Knack and Octodad: Dadliest Catch. Too bad they won't be showing off any of their other huge games like Killzone: Shadow Fall and Watch Dogs.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to open Center for Innovation this fall to inspire young entrepreneurs
When you're one of the world's richest e-commerce tycoons, there's not much left to do other than fund other projects. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has funded everything from nuclear fusion startups to commercial spaceflight ventures and everything in between. Today, we are learning that his next big venture is a center for innovation built at the Museum of History and Industry.

amazon_ceo_jeff_bezos_to_open_center_for_innovation_this_fall_to_inspire_young_entrepreneurs

After more than two years of development and $10 million from Bezos' own pockets, the Museum of History and Industry will open the doors to the Bezos Center for Innovation on October 12. The center aims to help visitors learn about the importance of innovation through many interactive exhibits. It will also showcase Seattle for being the birthplace of so many trailblazing companies such as Amazon. I feel that this Innovation Center is an amazing idea and a perfect way to teach children that bucking convention is sometimes the right thing to do.

ZTE's Intel-powered Geek will arrive on retail shelves in China on July 25
Little-known mobile phone manufacturer ZTE will be launching its Intel-powered GEEK smartphone in China later this month. Featuring the Clover Trail+ processor, which is the same as Lenovo's K900, the GEEK features paired-down features that allows ZTE to sell it at a lower price point.
The device runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and features a 5-inch 1080 x 720 pixel display. An eight megapixel rear camera handles all the selfies you can take while 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage help keep things running smoothly.
The ZTE GEEK will make an exclusive arrival at Jingdong Mall on July 25, where it'll retail for Â¥1,888 ($307). If you despise cables and your wallet can take a hit, you can also get one bundled with a wireless charging kit for Â¥2,288 ($372).

Google to shut down Alfred, the local recommendation app, next week on July 19
Lately, it appears that Google is shutting down more of its services than it is creating. Today, we learned that the local recommendations application known as Alfred will cease to exist after July 19. Alfred came to Google back in December 2011 when Google purchased Clever Sense, but development seemed to progress at a snail's pace as Google was focused on making its Google+ Local service better.

google_to_shut_down_alfred_the_local_recommendation_app_next_week_on_july_19th

Alfred was a sort of a digital concierge that would inform you of the best places to eat, drink, and party based on your taste. At one point it was even being pitched as a Pandora for the real-world. Google did not issue an official blog post about the shutdown like it has for previous service shutdowns such as Reader or Latitude. The announcement came, however, in the form of a notification when users loaded the Alfred app on their mobile device.

Signups for Killzone: Mercenary's closed beta opens today, closes on July 17
This morning on the PlayStation blog, Mark Green, the senior producer at Guerrilla Cambridge, announced that sign-ups for the closed beta for Killzone Mercenary opened today. The company says they are only choosing a few select participants to participate in this exclusive multiplayer closed beta.

signups_for_killzone_mercenary_closed_beta_opens_today_closes_on_july_17th

The post said that candidates have until 2pm PDT on Wednesday, July 17 to complete the sign-up for the public's first look at Mercenaries. If chosen, participants will receive an email with directions on how to get started. You can head over to Source #2 for the sign-up page.

Mercenary's multiplayer suite will provide players with a diverse range of weapons, grenades, armor, and special VAN-Guard devices enabling the player to customize their multiplayer load-out slots. This customization supports the tactical element of the game; will you armor yourself up and go in like a tank, or take a more precise approach and assassinate enemies stealthily?
No matter your tactical approach, Mercenary's multiplayer beta will give gamers an early look into the power and promise of PS Vita as the optimal handheld platform for first-person shooters.

Rovio to launch follow-up to Angry Birds Star Wars this coming Monday
Rovio announced this morning that it would be launching its next gaming title this coming Monday, July 15. Judging from their teaser image, the game appears to be a sequel to the current title Angry Birds Star Wars, as the the bird pictured appears to be just like a young Anakin Skywalker wearing racing gear similar to that in the 1999 prequel Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace.

rovio_to_launch_followup_to_angry_birds_star_wars_this_coming_monday

This new game comes after the company expanded the license agreement with toymaker Hasbro to ship new toys and games based on the Angry Birds franchise. Additionally, Rovio is planning on releasing a new title named Angry Birds Go later this year based around the racing genre.

LeakedTT: Images leak of BlackBerry A10 as the company prepares layoffs and executives jump ship
Just as news is beginning to spread of BlackBerry's pending plan to lay off thousands of employees and a few executives leave the company, images have just leaked showing off the company's next-generation BlackBerry 10 equipped touch-screen smartphone.

leakedtt_images_leak_of_blackberry_a10_as_the_company_prepares_layoffs_and_executives_jump_ship

Dubbed the A10, this new device features a five-inch display, making it almost a full inch larger than that featured on the company's current Z10 model. Unfortunately, the larger screen is nothing to get excited about as early rumors state that it will be limited to 720p.
It also appears that the A10 will continue with a less than impressive dual-core processor, which is said to be a QUALCOMM Snapdragon 400, clocked at 1.5 GHz. Fortunately, BlackBerry did have enough common sense to include 2 GB of RAM to keep things running nice and smooth.

Two more high-level executives exit from BlackBerry, could this be the beginning of the end
Today, we're getting reports that BlackBerry has lost two more high-level executives in the last few weeks. According to a recent report, T.A. McCann, BlackBerry's vice president of social networking, is said to have left the company two weeks ago, while the senior director of handheld applications, Marc Gingras, apparently left the company around the same time.

two_more_high_level_executives_exit_from_blackberry_could_this_be_the_beginning_of_the_end

The Wall Street Journal says that McCann was responsible for BlackBerry Messenger as well as all social networking applications on the BlackBerry's OS. He first came to the company through its acquisition of the contact management services company Gist back in 2011. Gingras was also the product of an acquisition in 2011 when BlackBerry scooped up the social calendar company Tungle.me.
News of these two executives leaving the company comes hot on the heels of yesterday's report that BlackBerry would lay off several thousand employees before the year's end. All of this is the direct effect of underwhelming sales from what can only be described as a failed launch of the new BlackBerry 10 devices.

Square Enix attempts to police jailbroken iPhones with Deus Ex, prevents firing of guns on jailbroken devices
Square Enix has introduced a new "feature" to its latest IOS title, Deus Ex: The Fall, that effectively prevents anyone with a jailbroken iPhone or iPad from playing the game. Users can still load the game but when they attempt to fire their guns a message screen pops up that says "we're sorry but you can't fire on jailbroken devices."

square_enix_attempts_to_police_jailbroken_iphones_with_deus_ex_prevents_firing_of_guns_on_jailbroken_devices

This new "feature" (and I use the term loosely) was first reported on the popular media sharing website Reddit. After news began to spread, the game's App Store page was quickly updated to warn users that the "play experience is currently restricted on jailbroken devices" and that interested parties "should not purchase if you have voided your warranty and have jailbroken your device."
At the moment, it is unclear why Square Enix chose to implement this new "feature," but some industry insiders are speculating that it could be to prevent piracy of the $6.99 game, while others say it is because the company would like to mitigate future support issues that could arise from a jailbroken device. I think it's a combination of piracy concerns as well as support issues.

Next-generation Nexus 7 will arrive in the next few weeks
A new report from Digitimes claims that the next-generation Nexus 7 is on the verge of launching and will arrive at some point in the next few weeks. The report claims that Google and ASUS are planning to launch sometime near the end of July or early August.

next_generation_nexus_7_will_arrive_in_the_next_few_weeks

The new pure Android tablet will feature an upgraded seven-inch display that sports a 1980x1200 pixel resolution along with a quad-core QUALCOMM Snapdragon 600 processor. A 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera as well as a 5 megapixel rear camera will handle the imaging duties while 2 GB of RAM keep everything running nice and smooth.
Industry analysts are speculating that Google could sell as many as 8 million units worldwide but others are quick to point out that this number seems to be inflated as there are many more choices in the low-cost tablet market than there were when the original Nexus 7 launched. We are expecting the second-generation Nexus 7 to be sold at a price point of $199 to $249 for the Wi-Fi-only model.

Twitter finally agrees to hand over anti-Semitic tweet info to French authorities
A few months back, I reported that the French authorities were pushing Twitter to release user data on one of its members who posted an anti-Semitic tweet to his account. Today, the company said in a statement that it has complied with a French government request to hand over tweets related to a rash of anti-Semitism on the site.

twitter_finally_agrees_to_hand_over_anti_semitic_tweet_info_to_french_authorities

The offenses took place last October when several anti-Semantic tweets and hashtags appeared on the short message social network. I won't repeat the tweets here because they are quite offensive, but if you must read them, you can head over to Source #1 below. The tweets caused an uproar in the Union of Jewish French students and other anti-racism groups around France.
The UEJF took their case to the French court system and won a ruling in January that said that Twitter must hand over the account information and names of those who posted the anti-Semitic tweets. Just two months later, the UEFJ sued Twitter for $50 million when the company failed to comply with the court's request.
Today's decision by Twitter to hand over the data sets a precedent for countries worldwide. The Twitter service is often used in countries where communications breakdown during protest and revolutions. With this new precedent, those users might think twice about tweeting anything that could land them in hot water in the future.

Edward Snowden renews Russia asylum bid in attempt to leave Moscow airport
The US whistleblower Edward Snowden said he has renewed his request to seek political asylum in Russia on Friday in a meeting with human rights activists at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport that marked his first appearance since he fled Hong Kong. Snowden said he intended to stay in Russia until he could win safe passage to Latin America, according to Tanya Lokshina of Human Rights Watch, who was at the meeting. In a statement at the meeting, released through Wikileaks, Snowden said he had no regrets over what he had done. Snowden previously applied for asylum in Russia but later withdrew the request. The Kremlin said he felt he could not abide by terms set out by Vladimir Putin saying the whistleblower could stay in Russia if he stopped "bringing harm to our American partners."

Edward Snowden has been trapped in a Moscow airport since arriving from Hong Kong on 23 June. He has made nearly two dozen requests for political asylum, most of which have been refused. Venezuela has agreed to welcome the NSA whistleblower, who leaked secret documents outlining American surveillance programs, but he remains without travel documents after the US annulled his passport in the wake of the leaks. His request for asylum in Russia appeared to be a tactical move to enable him to travel on to Latin America. It was unclear how the Russian government would respond to Snowden's renewed request. Vyacheslav Nikonov, a pro-Kremlin lawmaker who attended the meeting, said: "Snowden is serious about obtaining political asylum in the Russian Federation."

President Vladimir Putin's spokesman repeated earlier conditions that Snowden should stop harming the interests of the United States if he wants asylum. "We need to check this information, but as far as we know, he considers himself a defender of human rights and a campaigner for democratic ideals," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Reuters. Nikonov said that this message had got through. "He said it would be easy for him to fulfil this requirement," Nikonov told reporters. He added that Snowden did not consider his actions to be harmful to the US.

In his statement, Snowden stood by his decision to leak a trove of secret NSA documents. He said: "I did what I believed right and began a campaign to correct this wrongdoing. I did not seek to enrich myself. I did not seek to sell US secrets. I did not partner with any foreign government to guarantee my safety. Instead, I took what I knew to the public, so what affects all of us can be discussed by all of us in the light of day, and I asked the world for justice. That moral decision to tell the public about spying that affects all of us has been costly, but it was the right thing to do and I have no regrets." In an earlier letter to human rights activists inviting them to the meeting, Snowden accused the US of waging an "unlawful campaign" to deny him his "right to...asylum. The scale of threatening behaviour is without precedent," he said.

edward_snowden_renews_russia_asylum_bid_in_attempt_to_leave_moscow_airport

Last week, European nations forced the president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, to reroute his plane home from Moscow, amid suspicions that Snowden was on board. "Never before in history have states conspired to force to the ground a sovereign president's plane to effect a search for a political refugee," Snowden wrote. "This dangerous escalation represents a threat not just to the dignity of Latin America or my own personal security, but to the basic right shared by every living person to live free from persecution." Snowden summoned human rights activists to the meeting at Sheremetyevo at 5pm local time via an overnight email. In addition to Lokshina, he met Sergei Nikitin of Amnesty International, the Russian lawyer Henry Reznik, Vyacheslav Nikonov, an MP with close ties to the Kremlin, and Vladimir Lukin, the country's presidential human rights ombudsman.

edward_snowden_renews_russia_asylum_bid_in_attempt_to_leave_moscow_airport

Ever wanted access to your very own satellite orbiting the earth? Now you can have just that for a mere $250 per week
Traditionally, it has been pretty hard to get access to a satellite that is in orbit, but one California-based company is looking to change that. NanoSatisfi is developing small cube satellites that cost considerably less than $1 million to develop and launch, which is considerably less than traditional satellites that range anywhere from $500 million to several billion just for development.

ever_wanted_access_to_your_very_own_satellite_orbiting_the_earth_now_you_can_have_just_that_for_a_mere_250_per_week

The satellite in question is what is known as an ArduSat which is a cube satellite based on the open source Arduino development platform. This satellite is made of the same stuff that you blink your LEDs with. The satellite contains multiple cameras, a Geiger counter, a magnetometer, as well as an ambient light sensor. The entire package measures just 10cm x 10cm x 10cm and weighs in at a mere 2.2 pounds.

Some you might remember the ArduSat from its Kickstarter campaign which raised more than $100,000 and went on to garner an additional $1.2 million from external investors. The satellite is set to launch on August 4 and for just $250 a week, any interested parties can borrow the tiny vessel and explore everything that outer space has to offer.

Nokia introduces official Camera Grip Case for 41-megapixel Lumia 1020
Nokia has just unveiled a brand new case for the just launched Lumia 1020 41-megapixel Windows Phone. While a new case for a new phone is hardly anything to talk about, this case is different than any other you have ever seen. Knowing that the 41-megapixel sensor would attract shutterbugs, Nokia designed and released a case that effectively turns the Lumia 1020 into a compact digital camera.

nokia_introduces_official_camera_grip_case_for_41_megapixel_lumia_1020

The Camera Grip clips onto the phone and gives the user the freedom to use the camera one-handed without the fear of dropping their brand new $300 smartphone thanks to a ergonomic palm grip and wrist strap. The grip features a two-stage shutter button that allows photographers to accurately focus before snapping the photo.

nokia_introduces_official_camera_grip_case_for_41_megapixel_lumia_1020

The grip is equipped with an additional 1020mAh rechargeable battery which almost doubles the battery life of your Lumia 1020. Also featured is a standard 1/4-20 threaded tripod mount on the bottom of the case which obviously lets you mount the phone to a stationary stabilization device. Like the actual phone, the case comes in yellow, black, and white and features the same refined and sleek curves of the Lumia 1020. The case will retail for $79 when it is released later this month.

Best Buy to offer $250 gift card to those who trade in their old iPad 2 or 3 this weekend
If you happen to be one of the thousands of people who just happen to have an unused iPad 2 or iPad 3 just laying around collecting dust, then Best Buy just may be the place you need to visit this weekend. The retail giant is holding a trade-in event beginning today and ending when the stores close tomorrow night.

best_buy_to_offer_250_gift_card_to_those_who_trade_in_their_old_ipad_2_or_3_this_weekend

Best Buy is offering up to $250 on a gift card depending on the model and condition of the iPad. So obviously newer, less used models with the most storage will land you the full $250 trade-in, while lesser, more worn models will gain you a smaller trade-in reward. Best Buy says that it will be recycling all models traded in and will not sell the device for profit. I find this hard to believe as if they were truly headed for the recycling center to be dismantled, normal wear and tear would not matter much. I suspect that these tablets will be reconditioned and sold to retailers in emerging markets around the world.

Snowden to file for asylum in Russia, then head to Latin America
Human Rights Watch's Senior Russian Researcher Tanya Lokshina has just revealed that Edward Snowden is planning to file for asylum in Russia and will then prepare to travel to Latin America. Lokshina was a member of the team of human rights experts that were invited to meet with Snowden recently. New York Times reporter Ellen Barry replayed Lokshina's reports via Twitter early this morning.

snowden_to_file_for_asylum_in_russia_then_head_to_latin_america

Latin America would be a very friendly place for Snowden to travel to as Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Ecuador have all offered him asylum. Venezuela is the only official offer that is outstanding. The other countries listed require Snowden to be in-country before the request for asylum can be processed.

snowden_to_file_for_asylum_in_russia_then_head_to_latin_america

Russian president Vladimir Putin commented that his country would only grant asylum to Snowden if he ceased any activities with which he intends to harm Russia's "American Partners." Snowden replied by saying "No actions I take or plan are meant to harm the US." I wonder if he meant no harm when he disclosed US spying activities to the Chinese?

snowden_to_file_for_asylum_in_russia_then_head_to_latin_america

Google's Eric Schmidt spotted with a Motorola Moto X
Sun Valley may be known for its world class skiing during the winter months, but in the summer its claim to fame is undoubtedly the Allen and Company media conference where the tech industry's top executives gather to rub elbows, talk shop, and do whatever CEOs do behind closed doors.

google_s_eric_schmidt_spotted_with_a_motorola_moto_x

Among the attendees at this years conference is Google's Eric Schmidt, and it appears that he brought along a shiny new toy for everyone to play with. The "mystery" phone that Schmidt has been carrying around appears to be none other than the legendary Motorola Moto X. It appears to have a white carbon fiber-like appearance similar to the Nexus 4. The phone also appears to have a curved back which can be seen in a photo looking at the top of the phone.

google_s_eric_schmidt_spotted_with_a_motorola_moto_x

When asked about the device, Schmidt said that he "could not comment on the nature of this phone," which was an obvious ploy to generate as much hype and speculation about the device as possible. We here at TweakTown are almost positive that this is the new Motorola Moto X (Previously called Motorola X Phone) and judging from other industry analyst, everyone else thinks it is the X as well. One thing is certain, with Google's top man using the device in public, a public launch can not be far away.

Microsoft allowed the NSA to circumvent its system of email encryption, the Guardian reports
Microsoft has collaborated closely with US intelligence services to allow users' communications to be intercepted. This includes helping the National Security Agency to circumvent the company's own encryption, according to top-secret documents obtained by UK newspaper The Guardian. The files provided by Edward Snowden illustrate the scale of cooperation between Silicon Valley and the intelligence agencies over the last three years. They also shed new light on the workings of the top-secret Prism program, which was disclosed by the Guardian and the Washington Post last month.

microsoft_allowed_the_nsa_to_circumvent_its_system_of_email_encryption_the_guardian_reports

The documents show that:

Microsoft helped the NSA to circumvent its encryption to address concerns that the agency would be unable to intercept web chats on the new Outlook.com portal;
The agency already had pre-encryption stage access to email on Outlook.com, including Hotmail;
The company worked with the FBI this year to allow the NSA easier access via Prism to its cloud storage service SkyDrive, which now has more than 250 million users worldwide;
Microsoft also worked with the FBI's Data Intercept Unit to "understand" potential issues with a feature in Outlook.com that allows users to create email aliases;
In July last year, nine months after Microsoft bought Skype, the NSA boasted that a new capability had tripled the amount of Skype video calls being collected through Prism;
Material collected through Prism is routinely shared with the FBI and CIA, with one NSA document describing the program as a "team sport".

microsoft_allowed_the_nsa_to_circumvent_its_system_of_email_encryption_the_guardian_reports

The latest NSA revelations further expose the tensions between Silicon Valley and the Obama administration. All the major tech firms are lobbying the government to allow them to disclose more fully the extent and nature of their cooperation with the NSA to meet their customers' privacy concerns. Privately, tech executives are at pains to distance themselves from claims of collaboration and teamwork given by the NSA documents, and insist the process is driven by legal compulsion. In a statement, Microsoft said: "When we upgrade or update products we aren't absolved from the need to comply with existing or future lawful demands." The company reiterated its argument that it provides customer data "only in response to government demands and we only ever comply with orders for requests about specific accounts or identifiers".
In June, the Guardian revealed that the NSA claimed to have "direct access" through the Prism program to the systems of many major internet companies, including Microsoft, Skype, Apple, Google, Facebook and Yahoo. Blanket orders from the secret surveillance court allow these communications to be collected without an individual warrant if the NSA operative has a 51 percent belief that the target is not a US citizen and is not on US soil at the time. Targeting US citizens does require an individual warrant, but the NSA is able to collect Americans' communications without a warrant if the target is a foreign national located overseas. Since Prism's existence became public, Microsoft and the other companies listed on the NSA documents as providers have denied all knowledge of the program and insisted that the intelligence agencies do not have back doors into their systems.

microsoft_allowed_the_nsa_to_circumvent_its_system_of_email_encryption_the_guardian_reports

Microsoft's latest marketing campaign, launched in April, emphasizes its commitment to privacy with the slogan: "Your privacy is our priority." Similarly, Skype's privacy policy states: "Skype is committed to respecting your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal data, traffic data and communications content." But internal NSA newsletters--marked top secret--suggest the cooperation between the intelligence community and the companies is deep and ongoing. The latest documents come from the NSA's Special Source Operations (SSO) division, described by Snowden as the "crown jewel" of the agency. It is responsible for all programs aimed at US communications systems through corporative partnerships such as Prism. The files show that the NSA became concerned about the interception of encrypted chats on Microsoft's Outlook.com portal from the moment the company began testing the service in July last year. The documents explain that within five months, Microsoft and the FBI had come up with a solution that allowed the NSA to circumvent encryption on Outlook.com chats. A newsletter entry dated 26 December 2012 states: "MS [Microsoft], working with the FBI, developed a surveillance capability to deal" with the issue. "These solutions were successfully tested and went live 12 Dec 2012." Two months later, in February this year, Microsoft officially launched the Outlook.com portal.

microsoft_allowed_the_nsa_to_circumvent_its_system_of_email_encryption_the_guardian_reports

Another newsletter entry stated that NSA already had pre-encryption access to Outlook email. "For Prism collection against Hotmail, Live, and Outlook.com emails will be unaffected because Prism collects this data prior to encryption." Microsoft's cooperation was not limited to Outlook.com. An entry dated 8 April 2013 describes how the company worked "for many months" with the FBI--which acts as the liaison between the intelligence agencies and Silicon Valley on Prism--to allow Prism access without separate authorization to its cloud storage service SkyDrive. The document describes how this access "means that analysts will no longer have to make a special request to SSO for this - a process step that many analysts may not have known about".
The NSA explained that "this new capability will result in a much more complete and timely collection response". It continued: "This success is the result of the FBI working for many months with Microsoft to get this tasking and collection solution established." A separate entry identified another area for collaboration. The FBI Data Intercept Technology Unit (DITU) team is working with Microsoft to understand an additional feature in Outlook.com which allows users to create email aliases, which may affect our tasking processes."

microsoft_allowed_the_nsa_to_circumvent_its_system_of_email_encryption_the_guardian_reports

The NSA has devoted substantial efforts in the last two years to work with Microsoft to ensure increased access to Skype, which has an estimated 663 million global users. One document boasts that Prism monitoring of Skype video production has roughly tripled since a new capability was added on 14 July 2012. "The audio portions of these sessions have been processed correctly all along, but without the accompanying video. Now, analysts will have the complete 'picture'," it says. Eight months before being bought by Microsoft, Skype joined the Prism program in February 2011. According to the NSA documents, work had begun on smoothly integrating Skype into Prism in November 2010, but it was not until 4 February 2011 that the company was served with a directive to comply signed by the attorney general. The NSA was able to start tasking Skype communications the following day, and collection began on 6 February. "Feedback indicated that a collected Skype call was very clear and the metadata looked complete," the document stated, praising the co-operation between NSA teams and the FBI. "Collaborative teamwork was the key to the successful addition of another provider to the Prism system."

microsoft_allowed_the_nsa_to_circumvent_its_system_of_email_encryption_the_guardian_reports

ACLU technology expert Chris Soghoian said the revelations would surprise many Skype users. "In the past, Skype made affirmative promises to users about their inability to perform wiretaps," he said. "It's hard to square Microsoft's secret collaboration with the NSA with its high-profile efforts to compete on privacy with Google." The information the NSA collects from Prism is routinely shared with both the FBI and CIA. A newsletter unleashed on August 3, 2012 describes how the NSA has recently expanded sharing with the other two agencies. The NSA, the entry reveals, has even automated the sharing of aspects of Prism, using software that "enables our partners to see which selectors [search terms] the National Security Agency has tasked to Prism". The document continues: "The FBI and CIA then can request a copy of Prism collection of any selector..." As a result, the author notes: "these two activities underscore the point that Prism is a team sport!"

microsoft_allowed_the_nsa_to_circumvent_its_system_of_email_encryption_the_guardian_reports

In its statement to the Guardian, Microsoft said:

We have clear principles which guide the response across our entire company to government demands for customer information for both law enforcement and national security issues. First, we take our commitments to our customers and to compliance with applicable law very seriously, so we provide customer data only in response to legal processes. Second, our compliance team examines all demands very closely, and we reject them if we believe they aren't valid. Third, we only ever comply with orders about specific accounts or identifiers, and we would not respond to the kind of blanket orders discussed in the press over the past few weeks, as the volumes documented in our most recent disclosure clearly illustrate. Finally when we upgrade or update products legal obligations may in some circumstances require that we maintain the ability to provide information in response to a law enforcement or national security request. There are aspects of this debate that we wish we were able to discuss more freely. That's why we've argued for additional transparency that would help everyone understand and debate these important issues.

microsoft_allowed_the_nsa_to_circumvent_its_system_of_email_encryption_the_guardian_reports

In a joint statement, Shawn Turner, spokesman for the director of National Intelligence, and Judith Emmel, spokeswoman for the NSA, said: "The articles describe court-ordered surveillance - and a US company's efforts to comply with these legally mandated requirements. The US operates its programs under a strict oversight regime, with careful monitoring by the courts, Congress and the Director of National Intelligence. Not all countries have equivalent oversight requirements to protect civil liberties and privacy. In practice, US companies put energy, focus and commitment into consistently protecting the privacy of their customers around the world, while meeting their obligations under the laws of the US and other countries in which they operate."

RumorTT: Microsoft to slash prices on Surface RT as a result of poor sales
We all know the Microsoft Surface RT has not lived up to the hype Redmond wanted it to and as a result it appears that the company could be readying substantial price cuts across its debut tablet. Today, The Verge is reporting that Microsoft will cut prices on its 32GB and 64GB models.

rumortt_microsoft_to_slash_prices_on_surface_rt_as_a_result_of_poor_sales

The report says that a 32 GB Surface RT will see is price slashed to just $350 while the 64 GB model will now run consumers $450. Those wishing to add a touch cover can look to spend $100 more raising the prices to $450 and $550 respectively. Engadget contacted Microsoft for comments and the software giant replied that it does not comment on rumors or speculation. Of course we all know that this effectively means "Yes we are slashing prices but do not tell anyone please."

Aerocool Touch-2100 Fan Controller Review

Introduction

aerocool_touch_2100_fan_controller_review

I know that when the name Aerocool pops up so recently after the review I did on their chassis, the Xpredator X3, many might think this is yet another product that will likely be sub-par, and may not even give it a second glance. What I have learned over the years of doing this review job is that you should never consider a company down and out just because one product you saw from them was not up to expectations. Even great men that have done righteous and very commendable things for their respected fields, but I bet every one of them took a bad step along the way to success. So even with the chassis still fresh in my mind, I want to take a look at their next submission with an untainted view.
Today we are in the realm of chassis mounted fan controllers, a five channel controller to be exact. In this design, Aerocool stepped up their game and bring a product that is not only technically sound, offers a bit of elegance with the black aluminum front panel, it even offers 3.5mm jacks for HD Audio, and a pair of USB 3.0 ports (and is reverse compatible to USB 2.0). What makes this fan controller worth some real attention is that you have the ability to just touch the screen of this dual bay fan controller, and with just the tip of a finger, you can control a full system of fans.
The new Touch-2100 from Aerocool has a lot to offer in what I have already told you, but as you will see today, it even has more to offer. Things like multi-colored options for the display, the fact that it offers an alarm system that will react to both the failure of one of the fans on the controller, but it even offers temperature probes with controllable alarms. There are a couple more cool features that the Touch-2100 has to offer, but if you want to know about them you are going to need to continue reading to find out what they are.
At first glance and with a bit of time using it now, I really do think that The Touch-2100 is well worth the time to glance through and see what this fan controller is all about over the next lot of pages.
... Read the rest in your browser!

Patriot Viper PC3-19200 16GB Dual Channel Memory Kit Review

patriot_viper_pc3_19200_16gb_dual_channel_memory_kit_review

As we've mentioned a few times already, a new chipset to the market means that we see new kits of RAM. We must admit, though, the launch of the Intel Z87 platform has been a little slower than we expected. We've seen a couple of kits, but normally we'd think a lot more would be coming through for review.
This becomes an even stronger thought with the improvement on the Internal Memory Controller that is brought with the latest generation of Intel chips. When we saw the Ivy Bridge platform launch, we saw a surge in high performance memory kits due to the stronger IMC that was offered. With an even stronger IMC being seen in the latest generation of Haswell chips from Intel, we're surprised that we're not seeing more RAM released.
We do wonder if one of the main reasons we're not seeing a massive surge of memory kits, though, is because companies aren't able to get enough chips at these new high speeds to create the models they want. With 3000MHz DDR being something that seems to be achievable on many CPUs, it's possible that getting a hold of the ICs to create a decent amount of RAM at this speed is difficult. Instead it might take a few months before we see companies offering us a much larger range of new kits.
With all that said, though, let's move away from talking about RAM in general, and start to talk about what exactly we're dealing with today. Towards the end of last year we saw Patriot show of the Viper 3 series in the form of the Limited Edition Intel Extreme Masters memory kit.
Today we're looking at another kit which is part of the new Viper 3 series, but has just been released for the all new Z87 platform. Taking a look below you can see the heatsink design is as you'd expect identical to what we saw from the IEM kit we looked at last year. Of course the big difference is that this one comes in red. Along with coming in red, though, you can also get the kit in black or blue depending on your preference.

patriot_viper_pc3_19200_16gb_dual_channel_memory_kit_review

One of the first things we notice is the PCB color and it's fantastic to see that Patriot has opted for black. Against the red heatsink it looks great and against a black heatsink it would also look fantastic.

patriot_viper_pc3_19200_16gb_dual_channel_memory_kit_review

You can see both sides are very similar with the Patriot logo at the top of the heatsink and while both have the Viper logo in the middle, one side is covered with a sticker that gives us a run down on some of the important information. If we move in a little closer we can see just exactly what we're dealing with here today.

patriot_viper_pc3_19200_16gb_dual_channel_memory_kit_review

Starting from the top you can see the PV316G240C0KRD model number which tells us a bit of information, but moving below we can see just exactly what we're dealing. Below that you can see we've got a 16GB kit that comes in at 2400MHz DDR or PC3-19200. As for the timings, we're dealing with a 10-12-12-30 @ 1.65v kit that consists of 2x 8GB modules.
Having just finished testing the GIGABYTE Z87X-OC motherboard, we thought that we'd pull out the kit of RAM that was sitting in that and replace it with the Patriot Viper kit we've got on hand today. We headed into the BIOS and set the kit to Profile 1 under the XMP options and proceeded to reboot the system.

patriot_viper_pc3_19200_16gb_dual_channel_memory_kit_review

Not surprised our system fired up straight away, you can see above the kit running at 2400MHz DDR with the timings at 10-12-12-31-2T. Under AIDA64 we ended up with Read / Write numbers of 34,905 MB/s / 37,498 MB/s, Copy speed of 33,726 MB/s and latency of 43.3ns. Performance didn't really hold any surprises. With everything looking good out of the box, it was time to head back into the BIOS to see just what we could get out of this kit.
If you had a chance to look at some of our recent motherboard coverage, you would know that we got the chance to get a hold of a new CPU that's capable of running at a higher core clock. Unfortunately we don't know the quality of the IMC and until we ultimately get a kit that is guaranteed to do a certain speed, we probably won't know just exactly its maximum limitation is. It's also important to remember that just because a CPU can clock higher on the core, it doesn't necessarily mean that it also carries with it a stronger IMC. Saying that, though, we intend to find out just what we're able to get out of this Patriot kit of RAM today on our new i7 4770K CPU.

Back in the BIOS, we headed over to the memory multiplier section and increased it. We hit 2800MHz DDR and ran into no problems. We then jumped up to 2933MHz, which is the next option, but didn't have any luck. At this speed our system wouldn't boot. So, with 2800MHz DDR being the starting point, we then headed back into the BIOS to adjust the CPU BCLK to see if we could get anything else out of the kit.
Messing around with the BCLK we couldn't get anything else out of the kit. As we moved the memory divider, though, the motherboard also took care of the timings and when we moved to 2800MHz DDR the timings loosened from 10-12-12-30-2T to 11-13-13-35-2T. With no room left on the MHz front, we thought we'd see if we could do anything with the timings.

patriot_viper_pc3_19200_16gb_dual_channel_memory_kit_review

After messing around a little bit trying to go to 10-13-13-35-2T and 11-12-12-30-2T and having no luck, we ended up finally being able to drop the Command Rate from 2T to 1T. As you can see above we ended up with our kit running at 2800MHz DDR with an 11-13-13-35-1T setup. Under AIDA64 we ended up with Read / Write numbers of 33,815 MB/s / 43,847 MB/s, Copy speed of 35,931 MB/s and latency of 40.7ns.
The numbers above are quite interesting. While we manage to get a good jump in raw MHz, you can see that the loosened timings have brought down read numbers ever so slightly. If we look at the copy write numbers, though, we can see a decent increase in performance. while copy speed also manages to see a nice little bump. Another area where we see a nice performance increase is in latency, which sees a drop of almost 10%.
With those two tests looking good we headed into the BIOS one more time to do a little bit more overclocking. In this case we bumped up our CPU speed by a good chunk to see just what kind of performance we could get. What's really interesting, though, is that the latest Intel platform has brought very little to extra memory bandwidth when overclocking is thrown into the mix.

patriot_viper_pc3_19200_16gb_dual_channel_memory_kit_review

Looking above you can see we're running at the same 2800MHz DDR that we had just finished testing at with the same 11-13-13-35-1T timing setup. The big difference here, though, is instead of our i7 4770K running at 3.9GHz, it's now running at 4.38GHz via a 48x multiplier. Under AIDA64 we ended up with Read / Write numbers of 33,854 MB/s / 43,781 MB/s, Copy speed of 36,153 MB/s and latency of 39.3ns.
Just as we expected, you can see that the numbers are nearly identical. We see a little fluctuation here and there, but nothing much to get excited about when it comes to raw MB/s. Saying that, though, you can see the overall latency does get a bit of a drop and now comes in at under 40ns. We don't see those big write number improvements, though, that we saw on the previous generation Intel chips.
In typical Patriot fashion, the company has put together a nice kit of RAM. While we would normally move from this point and get into the price of the kit, it's unfortunately not yet available. We expect to see it in the next few weeks.
If previous pricing is anything to go off, the kit should come in at a good level. Being a 2400MHz DDR kit means that it's not going to carry a massive price premium like kits that go into the 2800MHz DDR and 2933MHz DDR range. Of course we'll have a slightly bump in the price due to the fact we're dealing with a 16GB kit, but overall it's nothing that should shock us.

patriot_viper_pc3_19200_16gb_dual_channel_memory_kit_review

The heatsink quality is good and does the job. If red isn't your color, then you'll be able to pick up a black or blue version when they're available. We're glad that Patriot has opted for the black PCB as it makes the kit look so much better, and while it might only be atheistic, it's always a decision we appreciate.
While not yet available, the Patriot Viper PC3-19200 16GB kit looks to be a good option. The kit looks great, performs as you'd expect out of the box and manages to offer some strong overclocking headroom with an extra 400MHz DDR seen and the ability to lower the Command Rate to 1T.

What do TweakTown awards and ratings mean? Click!

patriot_viper_pc3_19200_16gb_dual_channel_memory_kit_review

... Read the rest in your browser!

ASUS MAXIMUS VI HERO (Intel Z87) Motherboard Review

Introduction

asus_maximus_vi_hero_intel_z87_motherboard_review

At the launch of the new Intel Haswell platform, the motherboard we used to test the new Core i7 4770K CPU was also the first motherboard we reviewed. The ASUS Z87-Expert impressed us and did a good job of setting a benchmark for boards to follow. Like we mentioned in that initial review, when it comes to the first board or two of a new platform, it doesn't always have the opportunity to shine in the best light.
As the weeks go on, though, and we get the chance to test more and more motherboards, while at the same time sometimes sourcing new CPUs, we're able to get a better idea of the platform. With over a month passed since the launch of the new Haswell platform and a new i7 4770K on hand that is clocking better than our initial one, we're looking forward to seeing what the latest ASUS board offers.
Unlike the initial ASUS board we looked at, the MAXIMUS VI HERO, as the name suggests, falls into the popular Republic Of Gamers or ROG category. One that has gained a strong reputation for performance. Of course that performance has always carried with it a significant price tag.
With the "more accessible while packing major ROG features" tag line over at the ASUS website under the new MAXIMUX VI HERO product, ASUS are trying to bring us ROG based boards at a more competitive price point - and this isn't the first time we've seen this. Both ASRock and GIGABYTE offer boards that focus on performance, but cut down on some of the bells and whistles, giving us a strong performing board at an excellent price point.
How's it going to work with ASUS, though, and the new MAXIMUS VI HERO? Well, there's only one way to find out, and that is to get down and dirty with it.

Package

asus_maximus_vi_hero_intel_z87_motherboard_review

asus_maximus_vi_hero_intel_z87_motherboard_review

Looking at the front it's very typical ASUS ROG. We see a simple design with just the appropriate logos and the model clearly shown. Flipping open the box we can see across the top some of the main features are covered. These include the SurpremeFX audio, which is something we've seen for a while, along with GameFirst II and RAMDisk, two pieces of software. Across the bottom you can see a big push for the Extreme Engine Digi+III, which include higher quality power related components.

asus_maximus_vi_hero_intel_z87_motherboard_review

asus_maximus_vi_hero_intel_z87_motherboard_review

As we move to the bottom you can see our first look at the board itself. We won't go into too much detail as we cover this more on the next page. Heading over to the back of the box you can again see some of the main features that are mentioned on the inside, along with the main specifications and a diagram of the back panel I/O ports.

asus_maximus_vi_hero_intel_z87_motherboard_review

Normally when we get ROG boards we expect a big bundle, but looking above, we don't really have that this time. You can see we've got the manual along with a driver CD and a sign to hang off your door handle. We've got the typical SATA cable labels, six SATA cables, rear I/O back plate, SLI cable and the EZConnector adapters for your front panel.
... Read the rest in your browser!

Palit GeForce GTX 770 2GB JetStream Overclocked Video Card Review

Introduction

palit_geforce_gtx_770_2gb_jetstream_overclocked_video_card_review

We've already mentioned a few times over the recent weeks, but our lab here in Taipei is really being dominated by a few key products at the moment. One of them is Z87 related items which mainly consists of RAM kits and motherboards. The other area that is extremely busy is the video card side of things.
It's very one sided, though, with NVIDIA cards really being the only ones popping up lately. This is of course due to the fact that NVIDIA over the past month has chosen to grace us with a new series in the form of GTX 700.
While we thought the series would stop for a while once the introduction of the GTX 770 and GTX 780
had hit us, it seems that NVIDIA had one more model in them with the GTX 760 and while they say this is the last one we'll see for a while now, we wouldn't put it past NVIDIA to have something up their sleeve in the event they need it.
While the GTX 760 is the latest model, we've actually got partner designs of all the new NVIDIA models so we'll be of course working our way through them in the coming weeks. Today we're going to be looking at a GTX 770 2GB which comes from Palit. This particular model falls under the JetStream name that we saw Palit launch last year. With big coolers and big out of the box overclocks, it looked to be a good series for the company.
Today we'll be taking the time to see just what the model can do once we push the clock speeds up even higher. As always there's a few things we've got to do before we look at the overclocking side of things. Let's see what's going on with the package first.

Package

palit_geforce_gtx_770_2gb_jetstream_overclocked_video_card_review

palit_geforce_gtx_770_2gb_jetstream_overclocked_video_card_review

Taking a look at the front and the back of the box you can see the standard JetStream design that we've seen from other models that Palit offered under this name. The front has the brand, series and name along with a couple of the main features and the amount of RAM. The back then goes into a little bit more detail on some of the NVIDIA specific features that are on offer from the GTX 700 series model.

palit_geforce_gtx_770_2gb_jetstream_overclocked_video_card_review

palit_geforce_gtx_770_2gb_jetstream_overclocked_video_card_review

If we open up the box we then get more information on what exactly we're dealing with when it comes to the video card itself. Of course the big highlight for the model here is the JetStream cooler and you can see the main features in regards to the triple fan setup and massive heatsink are covered here. Other features include DrMOS and 8-Phase PWM power. We also have some information on ThunderMaster, the overclocking utility by Palit. The other side of the box gives us our first look at the card.

palit_geforce_gtx_770_2gb_jetstream_overclocked_video_card_review

When it comes to the bundle, Palit like most companies these days, don't offer much in the way of video card bundles. We've got a manual and driver CD along with a dual 6-pin PCIe to 8-pin PCIe power connector, DVI to VGA and HDMI to DVI connector and a JetStream case sticker.
... Read the rest in your browser!

Available Tags:gamers , Amazon , HP , Dell , Valve , PS4 , CEO , Google , BlackBerry , Twitter , Nokia , iPad 2 , iPad , Motorola , Microsoft , ASUS , GeForce , GTX ,

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: I love to disseminate knowledge that will I've accrued through the 12 months to help enhance team functionality.

Feel free to surf to my web blog ... SEO; April 6, 2014 at 12:13 AM

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)