July 03, 2008Mozilla and Opera fix security flaws
By Robert Vamosi at July 03, 2008 07:59 PM On Thursday, Opera released version 9.51. The new version fixes a few security vulnerabilities and resolves some stability issues. One of the fixes addresses an arbitrary code execution vulnerability that was not previously made public.  Meanwhile, Mozilla released Firefox 2.0.15 with a dozen security fixes, including a ... The problem with web anonymity
By Matt Asay at July 03, 2008 07:39 PM I mostly have stopped reading comments to this blog because what passes for "discussion" in the comments section tends to be inane, rude, and/or vapid, and often all three at the same time. "On the Internet, no one knows that you're a dog," goes the saying. Or that you're a jerk. Now, most people are not jerks. They just become losers when cloaked in anonymity. They say things they'd never say if confronted with the people they flame on discussion boards, in comments sections, etc. They're probably nice people "in real life." It's just on the web that they let it all hang out, to the detriment of the web and intelligent discussion. Take the comments to one of my recent posts. The first is led off by "h3h" who apparently has no sense of humor (completely missing my point in the post), but can't leave it at that, then going on to lob ad hominems into his "argument." "H3h" turns out to be Brad Fults. Judging from his Flickr feed and Twitter feed, he's probably an OK guy. He happens to be wrong in the way he chose to comment on this blog, but he's probably a well-intentioned person, normally. ...Four security bulletins expected on Patch Tuesday
By Robert Vamosi at July 03, 2008 07:23 PM  On Thursday, Microsoft announced four security bulletins for Patch Tuesday next week. The pre-announcement is intended as a heads up for IT departments before Patch Tuesday. All four are considered important, the second-most serious ranking by the software giant. Among the important patches, two affect vulnerabilities within Windows, with one ...New Klipsh Earbuds Deliver Fine Sound When Pushed Hard
By Danny Dumas at July 03, 2008 07:00 PM
Klipsch’s X5 earbuds Openmoko Neo FreeRunner on Sale July 4
By Jose Fermoso at July 03, 2008 06:33 PM
July 4, 2008 isn't just our nation's 232nd b-day -- it's also the day the highly anticipated Openmoko Neo FreeRunner cellphone will be available to anyone who wants to take a gander at the latest attempt to take the open Linux platform mainstream. Will it work? If you gently take your eyes to a few discussion forums around the FOSS community, you'll witness overall controlled excitement -- after all, they get to play with some real hardware that's designed just for them (and will keep them from thinking about Google's open Android OS for a few days -– BTW, where is that first build already? Jeez). But we can understand the anticipation for the FreeRunner -- the openness of the unit really beckons. And since the CAD files are also publicly available under a Creative Commons license, anyone can change the physical look of the phone. Do you want a really rough exterior for the security market? Stainless steel, maybe? Go ahead and try. But the key here is that out of the box, any Regular Joe should be able to use it fairly easily.
The FreeRunner will prove another good training ground for the Linux system -- inexperienced Linux users might allow a few hiccups in a new desktop PC, like an Everex, but the cellphone's system needs to be clean, and consistently useful. And of course the platform will inevitably allow developers to come up with some cool new stuff. So if you want to move beyond the narrow confines of the Windows Mobile operating system, or Nokia's Symbian OS doesn't float your boat, you might want to try this one out. We'll give it our own trained look in the next few weeks. 
Let’s Get Small
By info@1938media.com (1938 Media) at July 03, 2008 06:15 PM I used to want to make it to the big screen. Little did I know it was all about the small screen. Let’s get small baby.
iPhone Timeline Highlights the Handset Through The Ages
By Danny Dumas at July 03, 2008 05:01 PM iPhonegold has an interesting timeline plotting major events in the history of the uber gadget, stretching all the way back to 1999 when Apple registered iphone.org to reroute traffic to apple.com. Click on the pic below and relive all your favorite iPhone moments from the birth of the ill-fated ROKR to Engadget's stock plunging delay rumor to the launch of the 3G handset on July 11th.
Garmin navigation devices run Linux
By Matt Asay at July 03, 2008 04:33 PM LinuxDevices has uncovered an impressive fact about Garmin's Nuvi (8xx and 5xxx series) GPS devices: They're running Linux. A quick look at the Nuvi 8xx source code indicates tha So now what happens to Zimbra?
By Matt Asay at July 03, 2008 03:30 PM Reading through this Wall Street Journal article, I'm increasingly worried about Zimbra. The article traces Microsoft's efforts to buy Yahoo!'s search business while leaving the rest of its business(es) to an AOL Time Warner or News Corp. This might be good for Microsoft, and it might ... The Mac approaches 8 percent market share: Is it ready for popularity?
By Matt Asay at July 03, 2008 02:43 PM In June, Apple's market share for Mac OS X hit 7.94 percent, according to Net Applications. At its current growth rate of 0.18 percent per month, this means that the Mac should claim 8 percent of the global desktop operating system market by the end of July. Linux, while still holding a tiny 0.8 percent share, is also rising. The only major desktop OS to decline? Windows. In fact, as the Inquirer notes, while the Mac is up 32 percent, Windows XP actually declined a full percentage point while Vista scraped together a measly 2.56 percent. Overall? Windows was down 2.45 percent. Mac sales are outpacing PC sales at 3.5 times faster rate. Two big questions are looming:
Google opens up Ratproxy code
By Matt Asay at July 03, 2008 02:06 PM Perhaps Viacom should have just asked nicely for Google's YouTube code. This week, a federal judge denied Viacom's demand that Google turn over its YouTube source code, arguing that "YouTube and Google should not be made to place this vital asset in hazard merely to allay speculation." Ironically, ... Nicely said: Google Maps for mobile with voice search on BlackBerry Pearl
By Ryan Pollock (noreply@blogger.com) at July 03, 2008 01:45 PM On the Google Maps for mobile team we're always experimenting with new technologies, so we're happy to announce that we've started testing voice search as a new feature. Starting today, you can speak your business query instead of typing it on a select group of BlackBerry devices (Pearl 8110, 8120, and 8130, US only). Voice search in Google Maps uses the same speech recognition engine as GOOG-411, our free directory assistance service. Using your voice to search for businesses is super useful in situations when you can't type, when the name of the business is long, or when you're not sure how to spell it. In other situations -- when you're in a library or a rock concert, for example -- typing makes more sense. Keeping that in mind, we designed this feature to allow you to choose whether to speak or type. Get it now on your BlackBerry Pearl by visiting http://m.google.com/maps on your mobile phone, or learn more here. Using voice search is as simple as 1, 2, 3:
 This feature is experimental, which means a couple of things. First, similar to other voice-recognition technologies, the accuracy of voice recognition will improve over time as more people use the voice search feature. Second, the feature is currently only supported on 8110, 8120 and 8130 BlackBerry Pearl models in the US. Third, we'd love to get your feedback on it -- feel free to leave your comments below. Microsoft "endorses" Linux?
By Matt Asay at July 03, 2008 03:33 AM Come on, Novell, I can see touting SAP's seal of approval on SUSE Linux, but Microsoft? I found this banner on Novell's page today (while looking for a logo for an earlier post), and I laughed as I read, "A quick and easy way to certify..." and then ... Open Season (Episode 19): Bill Gates vs. Kermit, Red Hat leadership, and more
By Matt Asay at July 03, 2008 02:28 AM Despite returning to the familiar refrain of why the open-source community is broken, Open Season Episode 19 was perhaps my favorite to record. We had sound effects, Kermit vs. Bill Gates contests, discussion on how to make open-source businesses viable, Red Hat and its leadership role, and more. We also ... DXG's New HD Mini-camcorder Aims For Tiny Pockets
By Jose Fermoso at July 03, 2008 12:36 AM
Invitrogen buys into Novell's SUSE Linux
By Matt Asay at July 03, 2008 12:20 AM  (Credit: Novell)As Oil Firms Seek Drilling Access, Exports Set Record
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Earnings Season Kicks Off with Little Hope Ahead
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM  Failed Merger Roundup: Penn Gaming Joins the List
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Buffett Shares Secret of Financial Independence
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Aetna, HealthNet Down on Goldman Downgrade
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Service Sector Shrinks Unexpectedly in June
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Hedge Fund Scammer Tells Judge He Tried Suicide
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Editor's Desk: Today's a Good Time for Bad Fed News
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Six Flags CEO: Amusement Parks Poised for Profit
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Labor Market Remains Weak as Payrolls Shrink
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Nvidia Shares Tumble After Profit Warning
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM European Central Bank Plays Bad Guy, Hikes
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Hearing Growls on Wall St. and Around the World
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Looking for Future Market Clues in the Vixx
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Signs of a Summer Rally in London
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Oil Prices Settle at Record High Above $145
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Once Super-Wealthy Athletes Losing Their Homes
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM On the Money: Why Hybrids Aren't Worth It
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Judge Orders Hedge Fund Fugitive Back to New York
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Abbott wins OK for drug-coated heart stent
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Slideshow: Highest Grossing July 4th Movies of All Time
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Also Feeling Bear's Bite
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Editor's Desk: The Edgy and Obvious in Our Headlines
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Paulson: Oil, Falling Home Prices to Prolong Slowdown
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM ADP Surprises With Biggest Job Loss in Nearly 6 Years
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM Dow Will Sink Below 10,000: Strategist
July 03, 2008 12:00 AM July 02, 2008Faviconize your way to tab freedom
By Matt Asay at July 02, 2008 09:06 PM I first came across Faviconize through Seth Rosenblatt's CNET story highlighting 12 "must-have" Firefox extensions. My life has not been the same since. Faviconize won't wash your socks or balance your checkbook. No, it does something much more basic: It frees up space in your tab list.  There ... Me Too Gadget: The Stix Brings Motion Controls To the PC
By Jose Fermoso at July 02, 2008 08:11 PM
Continuing in the grand tradition of shameless gadget imitation for the benefit of the consumer public, manufacturer GoLive2 has come up with the latest version of the Wii-mote: The motion-sensing Stix, for the PC. The wireless GoLive2 Stix are 'touch sensitive' controls that will be compatible with hundreds of PC games, and will be conveniently offered at their own game portal, Sphere. The company will also support third party and independent game developers and help them adapt their games to the Stix scheme. Oddly, there will be three different types of Styx with increasing levels of features, the Stix 200, the 400 and the 100. (Did they not learn anything from the Vista potpourri feature-set pricing plan?). The Stix 400 will be compatible with all of the approved games, including all the Games for Windows. But will the motion control scheme have an impact on PC-based gaming? As of now, the answer is probably no. This is especially the case since the control's success has been limited to the one Wii console, and even some Wii games have not coordinated with the control scheme that well. Another reason for our skepticism is that PC gamers are uncommonly attached to their keyboard and mouse as their instruments of choice. Would you blame them? The rapid (but precise) shuffling of a sensitive gaming mouse in the middle of a Crysis bust-out is exciting stuff. The Stix will be available at the end of August. See also:
Microsoft opens up Sandcastle, this time with source code
By Matt Asay at July 02, 2008 07:41 PM A month ago, Microsoft was called out on releasing Sandcastle as open source...without the source. Sam Ramji, Senior Director of Platform Strategy at Microsoft and one of its key open-source advocates, immediately pulled the project from Microsoft's CodePlex open-source hosting site. One month later, Sandcastle is back up, ... Sony PlayStation site victim of SQL-injection attack
By Robert Vamosi at July 02, 2008 06:35 PM  Early Wednesday, antivirus vendor Sophos reported that some visitors to the Sony PlayStation site may have been prompted to download an antivirus scanner. Pages promoting the PlayStation games SingStar Pop and God of War contained SQL-injected code. Visitors to those specific game pages would see a fake antivirus scan , then ...Sourceforge Community Choice finalists: Some curious choices
By Matt Asay at July 02, 2008 06:03 PM Sourceforge.net has announced its 2008 Community Choice finalists, and includes a wide range of projects that I'm seeing for the first time. Sure, there are old favorites like Review: Asus Ultralight Stands in the Shadow of the MacBook Air
By Danny Dumas at July 02, 2008 05:30 PM
The MacBook Air got peop Google Talk for the iPhone
By Lawrence Chang (noreply@blogger.com) at July 02, 2008 05:57 PM We've just released in the US a new version of Google Talk designed specifically for the iPhone and iPod Touch browsers. In addition to sending your friends Gmail messages from your iPhone,  you can now chat with them while you're on the move, too! In your iPhone browser, just go to www.google.com/talk, sign in and start chatting. That's it. Google Talk runs entirely in the browser so there's no need to download or install anything.There are some differences from using Google Talk on your computer. For instance, in order to receive instant messages with Google Talk on your iPhone, the application needs to be open in your Safari browser. When you navigate away to another browser window or application, your status will be changed to "unavailable" and your Google Talk session will be restarted when you return. Other than that, we've tried to keep the design as faithful to the desktop experience as possible, so it should be familiar to you. You can select from a quicklist of the people you contact most, search your contacts, and manage multiple conversations. You'll never have to miss out on the latest gossip or updates from friends just because you're away from a computer. IE 8 to have antimalware protection
By Robert Vamosi at July 02, 2008 04:15 PM  On Wednesday, Microsoft announced new security features within the upcoming release of Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2. The features are designed to combat the rising tide of drive-by downloads and malicious scripts contained within carefully crafted links embedded in e-mail and Web pages. Most of the new features require systems ...Some ex-Microsofties pine to leave the Googleplex
By Matt Asay at July 02, 2008 04:07 PM Google is dominating Microsoft, right? Microsoft hasn't a clue, right? According to a collection of blog posts from people that have worked at both Microsoft and Google, there's much more than meets the eye. In particular, it would appear that Microsoft, crusty thirty-year old that it is, has learned quite a bit about how to add process to enable (somewhat) smooth functioning at scale. Google? Not so much. As one ex-Microsoftie who joined Google, only to decide to return to Microsoft, puts it:
Open source for your next CRM deployment
By Matt Asay at July 02, 2008 03:37 PM SugarCRM and other open-source CRM vendors have a slick value proposition for the CIO: Save money, boost innovation, and improve internal adoption. What's not to love? According to a CIO.com article, it depends on the type of organization you're helming. For some, it's possible that open-source ... Don't Say Goodbye to Microhoo Just Yet
By aklaassen@adage.com (Abbey Klaassen) at July 02, 2008 03:29 PM Recognizing the clueless CIO
By Matt Asay at July 02, 2008 03:07 PM I like this CIO.com list of nine ways application developers can determine whether their CIO is "clueless" (and nine ways for CIOs to not be such). Given the rising importance of the CIO, it's critical that CIOs earn and keep the respect of their developers. My two favorites ... Maybe this Slashdot user should get a Mac
By Matt Asay at July 02, 2008 02:37 PM One Slashdot user is blaming his ThinkPad for an inability to use Slashdot error-free. Dude, you should have got a Mac. It works flawlessly with Slashdot. In fact, as an interesting sidenote, my Mac browsers (Firefox and, on occasion, Safari) work with an increasing array of websites. Yes, Firefox and ... Tip: Set Gmail as your default email client in Firefox 3
By Robby Stein (noreply@blogger.com) at July 02, 2008 03:02 PM For those of you using newly released Firefox 3, or willing to give it a try, you can take advantage of a new feature that lets you set Gmail as the default for all email links -- those that contain "mailto:" in them. If you're like me and don't have a default email client set up, then clicking these links typically launches an installation wizard for a destkop mail client, or opens some email software that you don't actually use. Now you can configure Firefox to launch Gmail when you click on email address links and avoid the hassle. The folks over at Lifehacker published these tips on how to set it up: 1) Go to Gmail and sign in. 2) While in Gmail, copy and paste the following into your browser's address bar and hit enter. javascript:window.navigator.registerProtocolHandler("mailto","https://mail.google.com/mail/?extsrc=mailto&url=%s","Gmail") Google Apps users can use this code (but be sure to replace yourdomain.com with your Google Apps domain name): javascript:window.navigator.registerProtocolHandler("mailto","https://mail.google.com/a/yourdomain.com/mail/?extsrc=mailto&url=%s","Gmail") 3) Click "Add Application" when you are prompted1. Congrats, you just added Gmail to your browser's list of mail clients.  4) To set Gmail as your default, click on this link and you will be prompted with a dialog box listing available email applications. By selecting Gmail and checking "Remember my choice for mailto links" you won't have to tell your browser again. (You don't actually need to send an email after you click that link.)  You can always change this setting by going into "Tools" > "Options" (or "Firefox" > "Preferences," for Mac users) selecting "Applications" and going to the "mailto" option. There's a drop down next to the option that lets you change your default. Clicking "Application details" will take you to a settings page where you can completely remove Gmail or other mail apps.  1If nothing happens when you type in the code, double check that you copied the entire snippet correctly, and if nothing happens, you probably changed an advanced setting (maybe without even knowing) and need to set it back to default. To do it, type about:config into your browser and make sure that network.protocol-handler.external.mailto is on the default setting: true.The dirt on Microsoft's bid for Yahoo!
By Matt Asay at July 02, 2008 01:07 PM The Wall Street Journal has published a detailed account of Microsoft's talks with Yahoo!, and the reasons for the fall-out. One of the juicier bits is that Ballmer blamed the bankers involved for "screw[ing] everything up." Perhaps. But reading through the wreckage, it seems much more likely that ... UNbrella Brolly: Bring Your Own Canopy
By Charlie Sorrel at July 02, 2008 11:48 AM
It is somehow appropriate that the UNbrella Eco-Brolly sports an English newspaper in the product shot. The pocket-sized tube unfolds and forms a scaffold for the free newspapers found all around Blighty and holds them above your head, protecting you from that other Great British product: Rain. The thing is, it's not much smaller than a normal umbrella, which is something readily available for only a few pounds anywhere you might find a newspaper. The second problem is that newspaper, while excellent and insulating bedding material for both hamsters and hobos, is far from waterproof. Better is designer Shiu Yuk Yuen's idea to use it with a plastic shopping bag. Product page [Yanko]
Snake Oil Bandage Claims to Electrify Wounds
By Charlie Sorrel at July 02, 2008 11:28 AM
Presented By: Get Connected to the Action w/ Cisco Human Network
July 02, 2008 11:28 AM
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The CMB PROSIT medical dressing appears at first to be a great idea. When wet, it allows current to flow through the bandage, thus killing bacteria and generally wiping out
