IT-Code-News: IT News HeadLines (ComputerWorld) 18/02/2009

DRM a drag on ebook growth, say critics
The widespread use of Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology -- and competing formats -- could be serving as a drag on the nascent ebook industry, critics say.

Garmin-Asus unveil their first new GPS smartphones
The new Garmin-Asus venture announced its first two smartphone offerings at the GSM Mobile World Congress; they each use a different operating systems: one uses Linux, the other, Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional.

Review: 5 power-line devices that take you online where Ethernet or Wi-Fi can't
Power-line devices, which connect you to your router via your home electrical system, can be good alternatives to wireless and wired connections. But how well do they really work? Bill O'Brien tests five and reports on his results.

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Storage startup Copan gets $18.5 million investment
Investors have poured an additional US$18.5 million into Copan Systems, a storage startup that sells cheap disks to reduce the cost of storing copies of data.
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Social Networking at Work: Fear Not Facebook, MySpace?
Millions of people have a personal online profile; they share photos, news and gossip with friends, spend hours updating their details and adding new friends. Welcome to social networking and the world of Facebook, MySpace and Bebo.
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Cringely succumbs to the '25 random things' thing
The meme of people writing lists of 25 random facts about themselves and distributing them across Facebook like a chain letter hit a fever pitch early this month, though it's subsided a bit since. Some credit it with boosting traffic to Facebook by 15 percent alone and quadrupling the number of Facebookers who use its "notes" feature. Even the mainstream media took notice.

Use Your iPhone as a Wireless Laptop Modem

The next time you're stranded without an open WiFi network (but your 3G signal is going strong), you'll be glad you installed Addition's iPhoneModem 2.

Microsoft aims for market share with Windows Mobile 6.5

The unveiling this week of Windows Mobile 6.5, married with Internet Explorer Mobile 6, is a major attempt by Microsoft to remain a viable player in the fast-changing mobile market.

Reports: Windows 7 Out Before Christmas?

With Windows 7 Beta getting positive reviews, more rumors are emerging that Microsoft's new operating system will be available before Christmas. But Microsoft is still refusing to admit that Windows 7 will be ready by the end of this year and insists on the January 2010 release date.

Cisco, Trend Micro put security in home routers

Cisco Systems is building a Trend Micro Internet security service into some home Wi-Fi routers to help protect families and small businesses from fraud, phishing and predators.

Open Source + Amazon Storage = Less Backup Cost

Let's be honest: half of the companies reading this today are NOT backing up their data properly. That's the optimistic figure, because some backup industry analysts say about two-thirds of companies have backup issues that cause them grief. But there's hope for the unprepared half or two-thirds of you out there.

Five Ways to Curb Windows Upgrade Confusion

IT managers are facing a perfect storm of Windows upgrade options. Here are five points that enterprises must consider when making a Windows upgrade.

Malaysia embarks on world's first intelligent plantations

Malaysian applied research agency MIMOS and Felda Agricultural Services (FAS) have inked a deal to develop the world's first "intelligent plantations."

Nortel exec issues promise to detail its reorganization

Nortel plans to deliver more details within a few weeks about how it plans to get out of bankruptcy, a company official says, which may help placate suppliers nervous about the lack of specifics.

Maryland turns to YouTube in desperate attempt to get people to pay their taxes

Having heard that the kids today get all their information from the Internets and the Facebooks and the hey hey, Maryland comptroller Peter Franchot put up a series of YouTube videos urging people to file their taxes over the Internet.

Facebook reverts Terms of Use

In the face of controversy, company says it has "decided to return to our previous Terms of Use while we resolve the issues that people have raised."

Texas man gets prison time for software piracy

A 24-year-old Texas man has been sentenced to 41 months in prison for selling counterfeit software on about 40 Web sites, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Charge dropped against Pirate Bay four

A Swedish prosecutor on Tuesday dropped a charge levied against four men on trial for running The Pirate Bay.

Several charges dropped in Pirate Bay case
Half of the charges brought against the bit torrent file sharing Web site The Pirate Bay have been dropped.

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Pirate Bay file-sharing trial gets major online coverage
The eyes of the file-sharing community remained on Sweden on Tuesday as the trial of four men from The Pirate Bay continued in Stockholm.

LiMo's Linux-based mobile OS stack makes gains
A flock of new mobile devices unveiled this week at Mobile World Congress are part of the trend toward Linux-powered mobility, incorporating the open-source software stack from the LiMo Foundation.

Experts weigh in on job boards
There are more than 60,000 job boards on the Web. Experts answer questions on which ones should you spend your time searching.

BlackBerry phone hits the hotspot with VoIP
RIM has developed a knack for pulling customers into new BlackBerry devices. That's no mean feat. BlackBerry is the most mature, most imitated, and most-targeted brand in the mobile industry. RIM keeps new handsets rolling out, and it keeps racking up new exclusives with wireless operators by finding gaps in its own product line and filling them better than its competitors can. By teaming up with T-Mobile, RIM's latest product helps to fill your budget gaps by providing flat-rate unlimited IP telephony from your home, office, airport, or any locale that hosts a T-Mobile Hotspot.

Toshiba to acquire Fujitsu's hard disk drive business
Toshiba and Fujitsu have signed a provisional agreement under which Toshiba will acquire Fujitsu's loss-making hard disk drive business.

Acer takes on smartphone market
Acer has jumped head first into the smartphone market with its Tempo family of devices. They are all touch-enabled and based on Windows Mobile, the company announced on Monday.

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Microsoft unveils mobile apps store, backup service
Microsoft planned to unveil an application store with its newest version of Windows Mobile software as well as a limited beta for its My Phone data backup offering. The announcements were taking place at this week's Mobile World Congress.
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Downloads of Windows 7 Beta Come to an End

Microsoft has not said when it will offer an updated build of Windows 7 to the public, although Steven Sinofsky, senior vice president in charge of the Windows engineering group, said late last month that the software will move directly from the current beta version to release candidate status.

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Pirate Bay trial gets massive online coverage

The eyes of the file-sharing community remained on Sweden on Tuesday as the trial of four men from The Pirate Bay search engine continued in Stockholm.

Toshiba to acquire Fujitsu's hard-disk drive business

Toshiba and Fujitsu have signed a provisional agreement under which Toshiba will acquire Fujitsu's loss-making hard-disk drive business.

Stimulus passes, what's in it for me?

I must have missed the memo. Somehow, every single journalist and blogger in America have agreed to incorporate the phrase "the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression" into every article about the economy. Technically speaking, it's the worst economic crisis since 1983, but then again, it's not over yet.

Nokia will ship N97 loaded with Skype calling software

Skype is developing a voice over IP software client for Nokia's top-of-the-range N97 smartphone, executives of both companies said Tuesday.

New loan may clear DRAM maker ProMOS

A tentative ageement by eight Taiwanese banks to loan money to DRAM maker ProMOS may help it survive a week of bond repayments.

Universal chargers to finally become a reality

An initiative backed by both mobile phone manufacturers and operators will result in a universal charger based on the Micro-USB interface for new mobile phones.

Vodafone to sell second HTC Google phone

High Tech Computer (HTC) unveiled its second Google Android-based smartphone, the HTC Magic, with mobile service provider Vodafone on Tuesday.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

IT News HeadLines (ComputerWorld) 18/02/2009

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