RT Windows Tablets: Rather notebook replacement as an iPad competitor

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The most important question before the IFA was: Asus, Dell, Lenovo and Samsung finally trust with their Windows-RT Tablets from cover? In recent months, there were here and there an info-bites, a few times we could see, but not touchen.

The answer: At least two of the four manufacturers dare. We must look not only, also touchen. At the Samsung booth in Hall 20, visitors can play with the Ativ Tab and Asus made the press at his Vivo tab RT. So it's time for the next question: How good are the RT-Tablets? You really compete with the iPad? Or they cover different usage scenarios?

A complete conclusion is only after a proper test to be possible, so the end of October, if comply with the manufacturer for the promised launch date. Only then one can, for example, assess the application and content offerings. But stuff can be stated now:

Hardware: The RT-tablet from Asus and Samsung are a bit lighter and thinner than the iPad, the screen show only 1366 × 768 pixels (iPad: 2048 x 1536)
Speed: The Asus Tab settled operate absolutely smoothly. Also the browser, the vulnerability of many Android tablets responded as quick as on the iPad. Samsung Apps on the prototype took off pretty slow, but that was probably mainly due to the lame-Fi connectivity.
Endurance: Samsung promises twelve hours battery life for video playback. Check the leaves earlier than October.
Operating concept: All advertised RT Tablets can dock to a keyboard (besides those from Asus and Samsung also from Dell). Then one has a foldable notebook that is operated with a keyboard and touchpad, not wiping around on the display.
Strictly speaking, the RT-Tablets are thus rather tablet notebook hybrid - a concept at the time and ultimately the case of previous unsuccessful attempts Microsoft ran out with the so-called "Tablet PC". Asus wants to ship the keyboard as standard, Dell and Samsung have not yet been determined.

The initially surprising. Tablet PCs with Anstecktastatur firmly stuck for eleven years in a tiny niche. Apple, however, has in two and a half years, nearly 100 million iPads sold, without the old folding concept. So why Asus, Dell and Samsung still can not do without it?

On the reasons one would immediately if you try their tablets. The interface of Windows RT is the same as for the other Windows 8 versions. This means that the well-known, developed for the Windows desktop mouse control is also on board. And not just for emergencies.

For example, you end up in the Desktop Explorer, if you want to copy files from a USB stick. Also Microsoft's RT adapted and pre-installed on the tablet office applications only run on the desktop. Most of the buttons are so small as ever, at least in the current "preview version".

The manufacturers are well advised to offer a keyboard along with touchpad. Whether you see it as a welcome addition or as a necessary evil, depends on what one wants to do with his RT-Tablet.
To dispense with it is, in any case difficult because the finger is disabled desktop with Explorer and the Office programs always one step away. This is an important difference between Windows and RT on one iOS and Android on the other side.
Also the RT-priced tablets are the iPad and Android tablets probably not directly compete. Asus and Samsung commit themselves yet, but representatives of both manufacturers suggest 600 euros upwards. The potential as a laptop replacement, of course, serves as an argument for the additional cost compared to the competition.
The balancing act involves risk: the user might expect that he can continue to use their existing Windows applications such as Photoshop, Paint.net, iTunes or Outlook on the Tablets. But that is not the case. To RT-Tablets can only install apps from Microsoft's Metro-Store, so touch programs.

Who wants to have Photoshop on your tablet, you need a model with Windows x86 CPU. Which are also present in large numbers at the IFA - most are free, but again significantly more than the RT-Tablets.

Oracle responds with emergency update to Java vulnerability

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Oracle has just published without comment the Java version 7 Update 7, the fix is apparently a highly critical vulnerability, which is already being actively exploited to attack. The corresponding security alert on the manufacturing side was empty on Thursday evening, a first test by heise Security, however, showed that the exploit in its known form after the update is actually blocked. Also, a modified version of our exploit was stopped in time.

Those who have Java installed on their system should install the new version of Java immediately. The security issue exists in Java 6 Update 7 through in conjunction with all supported operating systems and browsers. By the vulnerability, an attacker can take control of the computer and install some malicious code when ansurft a malicious web site.


Oracle has the above mentioned security alert now filled with content. This confirms our observation, after the above-described security issue has been resolved. Overall, the company has entered in this context four vulnerabilities. Three of the gaps have the highest severity of 10.0.

Oracle thanks among other things at the security expert Adam Gowdiak for the detection of gaps and thus indirectly confirmed his statement that the company is already informed about the vulnerability since April. The fourth vulnerability is also Java 6, but only has a severity of 0.0, because it is not in itself exploitable. They will be closed in version 6 branch with the update 35th

Also based on the OpenJDK Java runtime environment IcedTea there was an update due to the vulnerability. The fixed version is 2.3.1.

First "Ivy Bridge" dual-cores for desktops in trade

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Since April, the processors of the latest generation "Ivy Bridge" Intel's 22-nanometer manufacturing are available. But so far the offer has gaps. While Intel notebooks for both dual and quad-core versions sold there for desktop PC motherboards with socket LGA1155 almost the only quad-core Core i7-3000 series and Core i5-3000. One exception is the Core i5-3470T, whose true name is similar to the quad-core Core i5-3470 and Core i5-3470S, although he has only two cores. He is the most fuel-efficient Core i5 - Intel i5 and at least one required for office computers with vPro logo, so with Q77 chipset and remote maintenance.

Intel has not revealed any official launch date for the pending Core i3 dual-cores with 22-nm innards, but now are Core i3-3220 (3.3GHz / HD 2500), Core i3-3225 (3.3GHz / HD 4000) and Core i3-3240 (3.4GHz / HD 2500 surfaced) at some online retailers, and consequently on price comparison websites. The prices are still significantly higher than in the comparable "Sandy Bridge" Core i3-2120 type (3.3 GHz / HD 2000), Core i3-2125 (3.3GHz / HD 3000) and Core i3-2130 (3.4 GHz / HD 2000). They may fall after the official product launch by Intel.

Great advantages of the newcomers are not expected, even if Intel calls a 10 watt to lower thermal design power. At the same clock speed Ivy Bridge expects minimal faster than Sandy Bridge. The HD 4000 GPU of the i3-3225 should not be a much more powerful than HD 3000, HD 2000 or HD 2500, but only enough for less demanding 3D games.

Recently AMD has reduced the prices of some A-series processors - also suggests that new Intel products are pending.

NAS as DVB-T VCR

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On a number of NAS boxes from Synology allows the new Disk Station Manager 4.1 firmware install (DSM 4.1). Besides a number of other improvements, it brings the video function station. This works in combination with a DVB-T receiver to the USB port and allows users to stream and scheduled recording of TV broadcasts. Thus, there are a few Synology Network Storage, about the new models also DS213 or DS213 +, how to use network video recorder.

Owner of Synology devices are the respective appropriate firmware update through the support website. On the Synology web server you will also find a list of compatible DVB-T sticks. More information can be found in the support forum. The Network Video Recorder shall be served so as web front end and on the iOS App DS video.

Windows Tablets: from 600 to 1400 euros

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On 26 October there will be so far: Then will give Microsoft launched Windows 8, at the same time bring the PC manufacturers to develop their tablets on the market. At IFA can touch many prototypes - and most manufacturers already betrayed the prices.


Have to distinguish between three Windows tablet types: the relatively large and heavy tablets that are aisgestattet with Intel's fast Core-i CPUs, the tablets with Intel's undetailed imagined Atom CPU Clover Trail, and the easy, flat tablets with ARM CPU and Windows RT.

At the upper end of the price scale are the Core i-Tablets. One of the best units in this segment is expected to be Acer's W700 - it costs 700 euros. The other previously known devices are much more expensive: Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro will cost $ 1,200.

Sony and Toshiba have also introduced Core i-devices, namely tablet notebook hybrids with elaborate sliding mechanisms. Entry-level prices are from 1200 Euro, Sony flagship costs 1400 Euro. The decor is suitably lush, one can expect a 128-GB SSD and a 12-inch display.

Atom Tablets are cheaper Acer demands for its 10-inch W510 600 euros, with UMTS it costs 700 euros. On board are 64 GB memory, included is a detachable keyboard with extra battery.


Samsung's Smart Ativ PC, also with nuclear costs, $ 650 and $ 750 with no keyboard. HP Envy X2 is an impressive 900 euros, in return you get a 11.6-inch display and 64 GB of storage and docking keyboard with battery.

The RT Tablets carry no price tags, but people from Asus and Samsung suggest that their models are likely costs range between 600 and 800 euros. Are expected to be at least 32 GB of memory on board, at least Asus wants mitliefern a keyboard. By comparison, Apple's current iPad with 16 GB of memory will cost 480 euros, for the 32-gigabyte version, you pay 580 euros.

So far, so under no manufacturer offers the iPad and Android tablets in the price. Instead, they argue with the greater flexibility of the Windows device, especially with the clip-on or slide-out keyboards, and the opportunity to use the Atom and Core i-Tablets traditional Windows programs.

Maybe but still follows a Windows tablet with Challenging Price: Microsoft has yet to reveal what the cost Surface own tablets.

Dual SIM Smartphone from Acer

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The smartphone Acer Liquid Gallant is with the suffix "Duo" is also available with two SIM card slots, which mAChR to switch between different providers convenient. However, we can only transmit with a SIM in UMTS networks, the other slot will only support GSM. The operating system Google Android 4.0 is used, about possible updates to version 4.1 aka Jelly Bean says Acer yet. The adjustments that Acer has made ​​to the software are minimal: new lock screen, own backgrounds and slightly different menu style. The 1-GHz processor with an 6575 processor core comes from the Chinese company MediaTek and calculates the user interface mostly liquid, stuttering occurred on the tested device to barely perceptible. That the knob to turn on and off is located on the rear panel is used to.


Like all modern Android devices from Acer Liquid is the Gallant can access via the app on Acer Cloud. However, this service does not seem to correspond to what you would normally imagine under a cloud. According to Acer is a PC manufacturer is required on the video, music and other files. About Google Play invites you look at the Acer Cloud App downloaded on any Android device and can access this on the files on the computer - assuming that the computer is turned on. Online storage, Acer not available.

The display of the Acer Liquid Gallant has a screen size of 4.3 inches and a resolution of 960 × 540 pixels. Photos the camera shoots at 5 megapixels and LED light. The RAM will be 1 GB in size, 4 GB of flash memory. Bluetooth version 3.0 will be on board. With its size of 12.9 cm × 6.6 cm × 1 cm, the model should weigh 145 grams.

From September 2012 the manufacturer will sell the smartphone. Prices he called but not yet.

Google TV: hardware partners present devices

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The Sony recently announced Google TV Box NSZ-GS7 will not remain perhaps the only hardware that is equipped in Germany with Google TV operating system. Thus Samsung at IFA (Hall 20), is a modified television series 6. The television will not be removed using the actual Google TV interface, but also integrates the key components - the Chrome browser and Google Play - as the app on Samsung's Smart Hub interface. Smart Hub on the Android operating system and Google TV aufsetzende run on separate hardware - normal Samsung Smart TVs are not therefore make a software update for Google TV. When was the device in Germany, Samsung was not known.

LG (11.2, Stand 101) shows the previously available only in the U.S. 55G2. The device is not yet localized for Germany, LG also announced a date for a launch in Germany. Most concretely, the Chinese manufacturer Hisense (Hall 25, Stand 116), of its set-top box called Pulse would want to offer autumn in the United States. The device is - like Sony's NSZ-GS7 - equipped with a keyboard and turn to be in the U.S. available for under $ 100. A delivery date for Hisense Germany was not known.

Screen with capacitive touch screen

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In the IFA Hall 12 you can put on Acer's multitouch Screen proverbial hand on Windows 8. Unlike its predecessor, the T232HL a capacitive touch screen, as he is known by mobile phones and tablets. The entire surface acts like a unified whole, as there is no edge between the screen and the frame.


It looks nice and is especially handy for future users of Windows 8: There can be called some functions in which you wipe from the edge into the picture in or out. For monitors with optical touch detection works not very good, since the finger always gets stuck on the type of construction remote display frame.

The 23-inch monitor is right on his broad bottom of the display frame. A movable support at the rear ensures that the screen does not tip over. Thus weaken the shoulders not prolonged touch operation, can tilt the T232HL back until it lies very flat on the desk top. Also from this perspective changes the picture quality is not significantly because Acer installed a viewing angle-stable IPS panel with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels. The T232HL to come in the fourth quarter of this year for about 490 euros on the market.

Cloud topics in Java EE 7 left out

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As with the development of the next version of the Java Standard Edition (Java SE 8), it now appears that there are certain features previously proclaimed the next version of Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE 7) will not make it to the finish line. Around until next spring to cope with the specification may, according to Linda DeMichiel the support points PaaS (Platform as a Service) and tenancy towards Java EE slip 8th

Java EE applications might indeed already has in the cloud platforms from Oracle, Red Hat, IBM, and CloudBees are operated, however, is the operation is not yet ripe for a complete standardization explains the Oracle engineer that the relevant working group under the JSR 342 protrudes. The thorough standardization of cloud topics could have a shift of Java EE 7 to the spring of 2014 resulted. Therefore, the members of the Expert Group is now the proposal is made, complete the standardization of PaaS and support of multi-tenancy only with Java EE 8th This release could then probably be released in spring 2015th

Originally, the next Java EE version will be published in the fourth quarter of 2012. The date was then postponed to spring 2013 to accommodate new features such as Web Sockets and JSONP ("JSON with padding") still with you. In them you will like to Java Persistence API 2.1, Java API for RESTful Services 2.0, hold Expression Language 3.0, Java Message Service 2.0, JavaServer Faces 2.2, Enterprise JavaBeans 3.2, Contexts and Dependency Injection 1.1 and Bean Validation 1.1 apparently.

The current version Java EE 6 was released in December 2009. With her a dichotomy in Web Profile and Full Profile was introduced. The stripped down compared to the full version of web profiles-profile issue gathered only the techniques used in a typical Java web application is used. Currently, there are probably 13 application servers that are compatible with Java EE 6th

Video calling with "Full HD Voice"

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The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits shows in Hall 11.1 (level 10), as it imagines the future of video calling on the Smart TV: HD video and audio signals with "Full HD" voice. Is used which developed for real-time communication, fault-tolerant MPEG audio codec Enhanced Low Delay AAC (ELD-AAC), which at data rates down to 24 kbit transfers / s the entire audible spectrum up to 20 kHz in near-CD quality, while taking calls is usually in bands around the circuit around 3 kHz. Serves as the basis of the presentation of the EU project Vconect which will allow "high-quality audio-video communication between groups of people in real time".

So far, the superior audio quality of AAC-ELD high-end video conferencing systems is reserved, thanks to the AAC-ELD software from Fraunhofer IIS could be quality measure now transferred to Smart TVs, said Harald Popp, head of the Multimedia Realtime Systems IIS.

Incidentally, since iOS 4 supports Apple's mobile operating system, the codec, since Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) is AAC-ELD also part of Google's operating system.

Display for smaller iPad comes from AUO and LG

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AU Optronics and LG Display finished the 7.85-inch screen (nearly 20 inches) for a smaller iPad, which will be released in October. This is the business news agency Bloomberg reported, citing four people informed and therefore supports the recent rumors about a slightly more compact iPad that Apple will reportedly announce at an event in October.


Instapaper developer Marco Arment, meanwhile, pushed on two previously unknown iOS devices which accessed his app: A "iPad2, 5" and a "iPad2, 6". The device identifier "iPad2, 1" to "iPad2, 3" describe the iPad 2 in its various models during "iPad2, 4" for the internally modified Wi-Fi iPad 2 reserved is that Apple is currently selling still. Arment speculates that "iPad2, 5" and "iPad2, 6" the IDs of the next smaller iPads could be - in a Wi-Fi and a mobile version.

This would also suggest that the 7.85-inch iPad internally largely the revised iPad 2 and corresponds to a A5 SoC with 32nm structures and uses 512 MB of RAM, Arment writes. As the display resolution expected to remain at 1024 x 768 pixels is also no change was needed at the graphics chip, as it required the retina display of the third-generation iPad.

Security update for Chrome and Opera

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In the free version 21.0.1180.89 Chrome browser eight security holes were closed, three of which are with the severity in "high." The discoverers of the bugs have been rewarded with a total of 3500 dollars.

The three most serious Chrome bugs affect run-ins (CVE-2012-2866), a buffer problem when loading URLs (CVE-2012-2869) and an incorrect type conversion in connection with XSL (CVE-2012-2871). There were no other error in the automatic line break (CVE-2012-2865), in cooperation between XMLHttpRequest and Web Workers (CVE-2012-2868) and the dialogue to warn of invalid SSL certificates (CVE-2012 2872).

In Opera 12.02, the developers have fixed a bug where the dialogue was sometimes not fully visible. This user would hold buttons on the website belonging to the dialogue and can possibly cause undesirable actions. Both Chrome and Opera update itself automatically.

Advanced library for Google's WebP image format

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Google released its WebP library (pronounced "Weppy") to create slimmer image files for the web in version 0.2. The update supports alpha channels and lossless compression and thus includes the features that are associated with the Web PNG. The specification Google had expanded in November, now is also the source of the extended library for download.

WebP images are compared to PNGs about a quarter would be smaller. Possible is a good compression performance by entropy coding and bit pattern looks frequent pattern replaced by short and less frequent with longer strings. Thus, the process results in higher efficiency than, for example, Lempel-Ziv algorithms with fixed strings on which the compression algorithms of GIF and PNG are based.

Also get a color cache for the most recently used, and colors of traditional methods such as Huffman coding is used. The developer Jyrki Alakuijala explained in Google Developers Blog that the WebP team ever "merely scratches the surface," and looks forward to further progress in the compression performance.

WebP also supports animation, ICC profiles, and XMP metadata. Another interesting addition are alpha channels with lossy compression to connect the properties of JPEG and PNG. As once WMP (Windows Media Photo), JPEG2000 and other so WebP will now supplant the long term in the tooths JPEG and PNG from the Web.

On publication of the format in the fall of 2010, the WebP library compressed similar to the de-facto standard JPEG lossy, achieved with the same image quality but higher by a third compression. Smaller size and less computation in decoding mainly intended for users of mobile devices to carry.

The latest version of the web browser Chrome supports WebP already. The tool cwebp Converts JPEG, PNG and TIFF files in Windows, Linux and Mac OS X in the WebP format.

Platform as a Service with CAMP: A new standard in work

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A standard for an API for management and control of cloud applications will propose a group of several technology companies of the standards organization OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards). If, under the leadership of Oracle and Red is the Cloud Application Management for Platforms (CAMP) standardize the management, packaging and rolling out applications in PaaS environments (Platform as a Service) and interoperable even across the borders between different cloud environments simplify.

The first step is to CAMP, one of its designers are also involved Huawei, Rackspace and Software AG, PaaS define a management interface that will serve as a starting point for REST-based multi-cloud management tools. So shall it be about on-premise applications can be established on private or public cloud platforms, and also rolling out these applications on cloud platforms from different vendors would be a scenario for CAMP.

The standard is intended to provide a standard interface and a uniform command set for different clouds and, with only minor adjustments, to be compatible with development environments, regardless of whether they were PaaS capable or not.

Released first beta of Qt 5.0

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The Qt developers have the midst of their complete "removal" of Nokia to Digia published and of the resulting delays originally been announced for June 2012 beta version of Qt 5.0. The beta for the first "major" release in seven years comes up with a number of new features. The most important among them is likely to be the new open architecture for the project, with the hope that is linked to faster development and testing. In the actual code section, the focus is on better design tools for user interfaces and a higher rendering speed for smoother operation of applications.

In functional terms, has the C + + framework also done a lot. A new version of Qt Quick (the UI toolkit based on QML, JavaScript and CSS) has become an essential part of the framework. Particular attention was paid to the scene graph component that has been optimized for Qt Quick and apparently allows the integration of OpenGL content such as shader effects and particles.

JavaScript support in Qt Quick and QML have outsourced to an independent module Qt QML, which is expected to grow through the use of the V8 JavaScript engine to speed. The WebKit API has not changed much compared to Qt 4.x, but should also have gained in speed and offer a few new features for Web interfaces. The developers plan to rename the WebKit engine in "Qt Webkit Widgets" and introduce a WebKit2 based on QML component.

Some useful improvements also brings Qt Core. The new class QStandardPaths example provides an application the default directory for files. A JSON parser has been added, along with a speed-optimized binary format for the data format. The MIME-type detection has improved obviously and a Perl-compatible regular expression engine has also been added. For Signal-/Slot-Verbindungen, the core concept of Qt paradigm, there is a new syntax check during compilation, and some data structures have been rewritten. There are C + +11- support where it, the developer, is useful.

Other new features include the collection of OpenGL in Qt GUI, support for DNS lookups and the elimination of classes and qhttp QFtp in Qt Network as well as the shift of the Qt GUI widgets in the new Qt widgets library. Qt 3D has become an add-on module to match the Qt library location, which was the sample taken from Qt Mobile itself has become an add-on module.

For more information about the new features in Qt 5-beta can be found on the wiki. A detailed list of the changes and innovations in the Gitorious repository of the Qt project. The binaries for Linux, Ubuntu 11.10 and 12.04, Mac OS X and Windows are available in addition to the source code to the project site is available, as well as the documentation for the toolkit licensed under the LGPL 2.1. The final release of Qt 5 will be released in November 2012.

HP: Touch Tablet and two laptops with Windows 8

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Unlike some other manufacturers HP presents no great tablet portfolio, but a model for Windows 8, the Envy x2. It has a 11.6-inch IPS display with 1366 × 768 pixels and Intel's Atom processor Cloverfield. A plug-in keyboard is included, which is at an angle due to a massive hinge. A built-in battery that will run for about seven hours almost double. The tablet itself weighs 710 grams and is fanless. With 64-GB SSD, 2 GB of memory and 11n wireless (dual-band) to the Envy x2 cost 900 euros and will be available from the end of November.

The beginning of the year presented 14-inch Ultrabook Envy 14 in a slim metal body appears named in a version with a touch screen, 4 Envy TouchSmart. It weighs 2.2 pounds and is less than 2.5 centimeters thick. There sits a Core i5 ULV, the runtime should reach eight hours. From late October HP will deliver it for 1000 euro in a configuration with 8 GB of memory, 500-GB drive, 1.7-GHz processor and touch screen with 1366 × 768 points.


Also, the flat 15.6-inch Spectre there is now a touch version of the Spectre XT TouchSmart. It has a bright IPS panel with full HD resolution and weighs 2.2 kilograms, 2.2 centimeters thick. A special feature is the Thunderbolt interface, which is so far only found in a few notebooks. With 4 GB of memory, 1.7 GHz processor (i5-3317U ULV) and 256 GB SSD big it should be available in December 1600 Euro.

In the first printed version of the Price of Envy x2 was erroneously given as 1000 euros. Properly are 900 euros in the caption.

Facebook will allow advertisers adjustment of email addresses and phone numbers

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Facebook prepares a report from the usually well-informed blogs Inside Facebook present new opportunities for advertisers. So it will soon be possible companies to upload e-mail addresses and phone numbers of their clients in the advertising interface "premium power tool" and reconcile the holdings of Facebook. Facebook will be the blog that companies give the option of customers who are Facebook members, specifically address on the social platform.

Inside Facebook underpinned the report with a screenshot, which shows that the new option has been temporarily unlocked for some premium advertisers already. Advertisers may therefore under the new menu item "Create Audience" Upload a TXT or CSV file with e-mail addresses, phone numbers or Facebook User IDs. Facebook is still there, the statement: "People are hashed linked information before uploading it to Facebook." Still, at least questionable whether such a function with the German data protection law would be compatible.

Adobe provides support for retina displays in view

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Adobe Photoshop CS6 want to customize Lightroom 4 and other applications over the coming months for HiDPI display similar to the Retina display of the MacBook Pro. This gave the software company announced in its Photoshop.com blog. Photoshop users will receive a free update in fall - for Lightroom 4 successes adapting once the work be it concluded, writes Adobe and also emphasizes that Creative Cloud members updating obtained first before the retina update for non-members will be published.

The Photoshop Touch Apps and Adobe Ideas, Adobe plans also lay on retina displays - Photoshop Elements will the high resolution screens in the "immediate future" go against not help, says the company - the team is still investigating the information required by an adaptation effort.

Support for retina displays by Photoshop requires for example the exchange of 2500 icons and further development work that was completed in the fall, resulting from the Adobe Creative Layer blog. CS6 and Creative Cloud customers over the next few months also HiDPI updates for Illustrator, Adobe Premiere Pro, Dreamweaver, Edge Animate, Prelude and SpeedGrade. The Retina support for other software, Adobe plans to announce at a later date.

Gnome-Founder: failed Why the Linux Desktop

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Due to incompatibilities between Linux distributions and permanent changes to the infrastructure without regard to backward compatibility, Linux has not prevailed on desktop PCs. The Miguel de Icaza in the blog entry "What Killed the Linux desktop", de Icaza is one of the founders of the Gnome project. In the development of the Gnome desktop de Icaza is no longer involved but, rather, he has in recent years attracted primarily by the Mono project co-founded by him and his NET runtime environment stir..

Complicity in the problems of Linux on the desktop, according to de Icaza wearing the developer culture that had arisen to desktop software. Here Linus Torvalds has given a keynote, as dismissing solid driver interfaces. The kernel developers have had good reasons for it and the power to push through this. The desktop developers have taken the attitude, but had no comparable power. They had different reasons constantly made changes to the interfaces without overly pay attention to backward compatibility - it was for open source programs not absolutely necessary, since the developers were able to adapt to these same.

Besides this aspect leads to de Icaza, the Linux distributors would not have been able to agree on a common set of core components - for example, because they drove ahead of competing solutions. The situation was made worse because the respective dominating distribution ("distro of the Day") had no interest in making any concessions, as the other distributions have facilitated catching up. "Incompatible was to be the way to increase the market share," writes de Icaza.

These two problems have destroyed the ecosystem of application developers - even if that once an application for one or three major distributions developed, they had six months later have to find some that their software no longer works. The open-source developers, according to de Icaza had not had the big picture in mind. He has also cited some aspects about the problems of Linux on the desktop - this is backwards compatibility and compatibility among Linux distributions is not "sexy" problem and solve interesting. A Photoshop from 2001 however, still run on Windows 8 and older Mac OS X applications to work on the recently introduced Mountain Lion. De Icaza also examined, which had contributed to his view, increased distribution of Mac OS X, and concludes with the words, not to be ashamed of these days Mac OS X to like.

De Icaza mentioned in the blog post also said he is quite happy with Gnome 3: The GNOME developers have done a good job. In the train, he also points to the Wired article "How Apple Killed the Linux desktop and Why That Does not Matter", which recounts a conversation with de Icaza, in which he also addresses issues around Linux on desktops, but also Stresses the importance of an open web.

As with any opinion piece you can argue about how far de Icaza meets with his reflections the nail on the head. The example with the root, the Linus Torvalds should have set, can be as easy to attack. The Linux father thinks of stable driver interface in the kernel nothing like de Icaza notes; backward compatibility with userspace software but it is extremely important. He therefore removed from time to time changes from developer versions of the kernel, when he learns that they will disrupt existing programs. It does not matter whether this software is open source or not.

Apple loses patent dispute with Samsung in Japan

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Before a district court in Tokyo Apple has failed in a patent lawsuit against Samsung, as among other things, the Reuters news agency reported. In the unspecified patent concerns the synchronization of music and video files between your PC and mobile devices.

Apple had claimed in his lawsuit in September 2011, Samsung Galaxy S and S II smartphones and the Galaxy Tab 7 infringed the patent, and called for a compensation of 100 million yen (about 1 million euros). The Court has now decided that Samsung use a different technique than the one described by the patent. Samsung's shares rose 1.8 percent after the decision. while the Nikkei average fell 1.6 percent.

A week ago, Apple had won against Samsung in a California court against a patent lawsuit and damages of 1 billion U.S. dollars to get (approximately EUR 800 million) awarded. This process is not finished, however, both parties are fighting for changes in the jury award. At the same time, a court in South Korea ruled that both Apple and Samsung patents of each other's company and had violated the parties granted a nominal damages.

Tough negotiations to Foxconn Joining Sharp

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The negotiations on the planned entry of a subcontractor Foxconn when ailing electronics company Sharp run tough. In a roundtable discussion on Thursday was no solution has been found, reported the Japanese news agency Kyodo. Negotiations are scheduled to resume on Friday.

Foxconn manager Tai Jen-wu said, go on talks about how the cooperation between the two companies could improve the business at Sharp. Contract manufacturer headquartered in Taiwan was willing to help Sharp in many ways, it said without providing further details.

Foxconn is the world's largest contract manufacturer and produced for, among other things Apple, Dell and Hewlett-Packard. Following the agreement of March wanted Foxconn buy almost ten percent of Sharp, at a price of 550 yen (5.61 euros) per share. The course of the paper, however, given the high losses at Sharp slumped dramatically on Thursday, the stock cost only 227 yen (2.31 euros). Thus, the deal must be renegotiated. This Friday, the price fell further to below 200 yen (about 2 euros), following initial reports began circulating that Foxconn boss had left without negotiation result from Japan.

Sharp for the entry of Foxconn is extremely important because it will bring fresh money. Recently it has been speculated on possible alternatives, such as a new giant credit the creditor banks or investment by competitors such as Kyocera and Toshiba. According to recent reports, Japan's Sharp also examines the extension of the planned job cuts of 5,000 to 10,000 employees

Patent dispute over Android: Talks between Apple and Google

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In the patent war in the mobile industry to defeat the process of Samsung in the U.S. is a little movement. Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Larry Page, according to U.S. media reports have spoken on the phone about the bitter conflict. They are the central figures in the patent dispute. Apple does with his complaints but so far to individual manufacturers such as Samsung, Motorola and HTC. However, as the target is behind the Google Android operating system, which surpassed iOS in the smartphone market, and now with over 60 percent at the top.

Cook and Page had phoned last week, the financial news agency Bloomberg reported Thursday. And it was expected that they talk to each other again soon. Also for the Wall Street Journal blog All Things D belonging wrote, citing initiated persons of high level talks.

What exactly Cook and Page discussed was not known. Spokesman for the company would not comment. An out of court is widespread, especially in such a complicated process as for patents. Otherwise there is a year-long court marathon.


Apple had in the conflict last won the upper hand. California jury had ruled last week that several units of the South Korean rivals Samsung and Android partner patents and designs (design patents) Apple injured. Only with a design patent for the iPad could prevail not Apple. Apple was awarded by the jury around 1.05 billion dollars in damages. Samsung's stock plunged from then to 7 percent.

Even if the decision to be confirmed by a judge must, the verdict of the jury was considered a wake-up call for Google. The Internet company is doubly affected, even if he was not sued directly: First, as a developer of Android and as a new owner of the mobile phone manufacturer Motorola, Apple is also going against.

In the case of Samsung, however, it had already been several unsuccessful rounds of talks. Only the license negotiations failed in the fall of 2010 at different ideas and Apple went to court. In May, the leaders of Apple and Samsung tried to order of the court for two days to remove the differences. Shortly before the trial even in California Judge Lucy Koh made the phone companies handlebars again. A deal did not materialize. Even now Samsung will continue to fight against the jury's decision.

It has appeared from the case against Samsung, Apple requires a comprehensive license its patents on 24 dollars per phone. At the same time there are discounts and mutual settlements, the lower the price in many cases something. Samsung sold in the last quarter alone around 50 million smartphones and pays for its Android devices already license fees to Microsoft.

Apple accuses the Android partners to mimic natural design and technology of the iPhone and iPad. The Android manufacturers in turn complained to Apple, all over the world walk dozens process. Also in Germany, the courts deal with the dispute.

Huawei: Mini and HD Tablet in October

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Huawei has mentioned details of its new Android tablets. The stripped-down version of its first tablet called MediaPad 7 MediaPad 7 Lite and should be compared to the Nexus 7 position of Google, especially with a UMTS module. For in the spring presented, but again shifted Full HD Tablet MediaPad 10 FHD there was a revised sheet and details Germany start. He is to take place on both units in October.

The new 7-inch MediaPad Lite is obviously priced at 250 euros in Google's Nexus Tablet oriented 7 (from 200 euros), but it offers many places a weaker hardware: He has only one clocked at 1.2 GHz single-core CPU , a lower resolution (1024 × 600 pixels) and an older version of Android (4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich). When you first try the display looked worse than the Nexus 7, the surface rather jerky and had repeatedly hanger - that may change of course in the final version yet. Also, the device a little heavy (380 grams) and is clunky in the hand, even if it by 11 millimeters is as thin as the Nexus 7 about. After all, the case looks with Trivalent Alurücken.

At two points in the data sheet, the MediaPad against the Nexus 7 points: It has a in this price range in Tablets rather rare UMTS module and a microSD slot, which the tablet in view of the meager 8 GB of flash memory media storage for a reasonable enhancing it.
A much meaner impression makes MediaPad 10 FHD, where the only slightly modified Android 4.0 interface largely ran smoothly and quickly. This is not, of course, because after all, the chip is a full HD display with 1920 × 1200 pixels control - so far there are few Android tablets with comparable resolution, the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity or because Acer A700. Equips the Huawei MediaPad with their own quad-core chip K3VC with 1.2 GHz clock speed, plus there is a powerful graphics and 1 GB RAM [-] was previously though of 2 GB and 1.5 GHz of the question. A UMTS module, the tablet does not go so only data connections via Wi-Fi.

Even otherwise makes the silver MediaPad 10 FHD a good first impression: The display beautiful colors, sharp and is largely independent of the viewing angle, only very bright, it does not seem to be. The unit is good for a 10-inch device in your hand, is relatively thin (less than 9 millimeters) and feels almost 600 grams not too heavy. As accessories there should be, among other things a detachable keyboard.

Model MediaPad 7 Lite MediaPad 10 FHD
Dimensions 190 mm x 120 mm x 11 mm 257 mm x 176 mm x 8.8
Weight 380 g 598 g
Android operating system Android 4.0 4.0
Huawei processor single-core, 1.2 GHz Huawei K3V2 quad-core 1.2 GHz
RAM 1 GB 1 GB
Flash memory 8 GB 8 GB
Memory Slot microSD (up to 32 GB) microSD (up to 32 GB)
Display Size 7 inch 10 inch
Display Resolution 1024 x 600 x 1920 1200
Main Camera resolution 3.2 megapixel 8 MPixel
Front camera resolution 0.3 megapixels 1.3 megapixels
WLAN 802.11 b / g / n 802.11 b / g / n
Wireless UMTS / HSDPA No
Battery Capacity mAh 4100 6600 mAh
Release Date October 2012 October 2012
Price € 250 430 euros
Colors silver / silver white

Study: Internet addiction may be genetic

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Researchers at Bonn University and the Centre for Mental Health (ZI) will have found a link between internet addiction and a particular genetic mutation.

In their study, the researchers surveyed over several years, 843 men and women to their network usage patterns. 132 of which showed a behavior that the researchers einstuften as problematic: The individuals in question should have been mentally very intensely involved with the Internet and felt uncomfortable when they had no access to it.

When comparing the genome of the "problem users" with the healthy control subjects showed a significant deviation. Among the 132 person much more likely to change a particular gene region was observed, which should also play a role in nicotine addiction. Remarkably, the mutation should have occurred more frequently, especially in women, while the other hand, surveys indicate that more men are prone to Internet addiction.

"It is possible that the gender-specific genetic evidence on a specific subset of Internet addiction such as due the use of social networks and the like," believes Dr. Christian Monday, psychologist and author of the study. According to his view, the data provide strong evidence in any case that there is molecular genetic causes of Internet addiction. However, further studies are necessary, also to find any evidence of better therapies.

Currently, according to the Drug Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Germany's approximately 560,000 people between 14 and 64 are dependent on internet. For further 2.5 million of the use of the network is problematic. Nevertheless, the concept of "Internet addiction" controversial - in the draft to the fifth edition of the standard work Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, for example, so far he has not found its way.

One year ago: The resignation of Steve Jobs shocked Apple

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It was a resignation, which occupied the whole IT industry: 24th August 2011, exactly one year ago today, Apple announced that CEO Steve Jobs to resign from his post as CEO - less than two months before he finally on 5th Died in October. "I've always said, if the day comes when I can no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple, I would be the first to know you can," Jobs wrote in a personal communication to employees and shareholders. "Unfortunately, that day has come."

Jobs had taken in January 2011 for health reasons, another break from work and had appeared in public only at individual Apple events. In previous years he had had to fight hard already: Jobs was suffering from cancer of the pancreas and had to survive a liver transplant. The one who replaced him during that time several times, should now take over head job: The former Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook.

You can not say that the new and so different man would have had at the Apple tip an unfortunate knack in his first year. With his somewhat brittle, but binding nature Cook comes from customers and investors alike. Since he manages the business, the value of the Group with good 621 billion U.S. dollars almost doubled when the closing price of Apple's stock on Thursday night starts. Apple has in the meantime (excluding inflation) become the most expensive company in the U.S. markets. The former nemesis Microsoft is obsolete: In the last quarter of the software giant made just under $ 20 billion in sales, Apple, however more than 46 billion. Apple's iPhone segment alone will surpass Microsoft now.

Cook has been able to step out of the shadow of the father's About Jobs. He benefits but also of its decisions: Apple products have a long lead time, which is rumored to be "jobs pipeline" still bulging. The new boss also sets its own accents. So Apple will pay its first dividend, which would not come under Jobs probably long

The new boss also reacted strongly to criticism of working conditions for employees at Chinese Apple suppliers and installed stronger controls. He left his rowing hardware chief Bob Mansfield, when Apple had gotten in a U.S. environmental seal and therefore fell into the line of fire. His predecessor had let such attacks might bounce off itself.

Next, now is probably at Cooks biggest product launch this year, probably on the 12th Taking place September launch of the new iPhone. A "mini iPad" could later this year round the tablet product line of the group down. And then there also the desktop Macs, the wait for some time for an update.

If you want to read more about Apple under Tim Cook is a detailed analysis in the new issue 7 of Mac & i, the first from the September is on newsstands.

Hybrid hard drives from Toshiba

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The rumors talked for some time, so it's now official: Seagate, currently the only supplier of hybrid hard drives gets competition from Toshiba. At the Flash Memory Summit, the Japanese show a demo notebook in which the manufacturer wants a 2.5-inch hybrid hard drive (height: 9.5 mm, speed 5400 r / min) infected with 1 TB of our own manufacture. Seagate Momentus XT 750 GB holds just yet.

The Toshiba drive is functioning as the Seagate drive and contains the actual magnetic storage medium for at least 8 GB of NAND flash memory (probably SLC flash), which the drive uses as a cache for disk accesses. There they shall automatically by the operating system most frequently requested data additionally.

This operating system and application launch to the operating can be drastically reduced with a conventional disk. At the booth, took the notebook with hybrid drive at around 24 seconds, only three seconds longer to boot than an otherwise identical out stattes notebook with an SSD from Toshiba's new 19-nanometer flash series.

Ideally, hybrid drives deliver nearly so SSD performance and cost only a relatively small additional cost over traditional notebook drives of the same capacity. So that they are affordable - unlike high-capacity SSDs. The downside: If the "right" data is not in cache, the drives work just as fast as standard notebook drives.

Toshiba wanted to show us the hybrid panel, strangely, but not, we are able to even mention any product name or details of the transfer speed or power. This raises the suspicion that it will take the market that we find. It is supposed to be but this year so far.

Google plans rapid response to data protection

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Google is looking for experts for a new "Privacy Red Team", as shown in a recently published vacancy for a "Data Privacy Engineer". This is to ensure that "our products are designed to the highest standards and operated in a manner that protects the privacy of our users." Focus is the collaboration in the Red Team. What is needed is the ability to independently identify privacy risks, analyze and defuse.

Preferred candidate will "bring the detailed knowledge of the inner workings of modern web browsers and computer networks" and software implementations from the point to analyze data security and protection. It is an advantage if a candidate already has experience with the discovery of unusual or only gradually apparent lack of safety gaps.

In a "Red Team" is an independently operating group organization investigated internally software or hardware and entire networks for possible weak points out. The term has a tradition of military war games, but it is also common for large companies for a long time.

Google wants to get rid of the build up the team's image as obvious Datenkrake. Californians had in March unifies their privacy policies across all of its products, and thus pulled away vehement criticism. Was criticized especially that the company has their users no way to reject the new rules for collecting and linking of personal information. The points will be awarded in two weeks after Google had to take a million penalty for bypassing the cookie lock in Apple's Safari browser.

OS X 10.8.1 is available for download

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Less than a month after the release of Mountain Lion, Apple has released on Thursday the first update for the operating system. OS X 10.8.1 is to increase the stability and clear up problems - according to the company recommends all users of the installation of the update.

The update is intended to ensure that the migration wizard in certain circumstances no longer unexpectedly quit and that iMessage messages "sent properly" be. 10.8.1 also improves the connection, according to Apple Mail app to receive the Exchange servers, eliminating a problem with the audio playback on the Thunderbolt display, and connecting to SMB servers with long names now preparing supposedly no more problems.

All information about the good 7 Mbyte update makes the Mac maker ready in a support document. The update is currently only available via the Mac App Store, a direct link to download the update is not yet available. When you purchase the operating system, the user will now be delivered directly 10.8.1. Information on the update may be eliminated vulnerabilities are pending.

Speculation and rumor at the end of Silverlight and WPF

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Scott Barnes, who had been to the fall of 2009, previously worked as a Program Manager in the Rich Platforms team (WPF and Silverlight), Microsoft has various gossip around one end of Microsoft's RIA platform (Rich Internet Application) Silverlight its "Unofficial Windows 8 Developer FAQ" summarized. His information was based on interviews with apparently current and former Microsoft employees.

When asked whether WPF is dead, he is in response. "Yes and No. The Yes insofar as WPF, as it is known, has reached the end of its life cycle and virtually no new code for this 'platform' written will be. " The genome of Windows 7 and Windows 8 will develop apart. "Undergo a No as much as we did when we decided to move everything to the leaner Windows 8 platform, faced the task, both Silverlight and WPF a diet in order to achieve a balance between the mobility requirements and compatibility . "

In presenting the new interface for Windows 8 in the summer of 2011, Microsoft had initially announced that must be developed for them now with HTML5, C + + and JavaScript, the latest since there is speculation about the end of the long propagated by Microsoft Silverlight, that in turn is a subset is WPF.

A particularly explosive take a Barnes' swipes against Steve Sinofsky, Microsoft's president of Windows, Windows Live and Internet Explorer. This was probably for some time been a staunch opponent of Silverlight-/WPF-Technik and was able to establish itself in an unequal battle between Windows division and Developer Division. Could also further evidence of the power struggle have been that Scott Guthrie, creator of ASP.NET and by then Vice President of the Developer Division, was migrated to Windows Azure and the former Server and Tools boss Bob Muglia lost his post of president and shortly thereafter left the company .

Barne is true that it all just "chatter at the village well" is, but it could put one or another element of truth in it. He fears that the customers could do for fear of effects of internal disputes on Windows Phone, and also on the Windows operating system to look for alternatives. Since the server business going back, says Barnes, could Microsoft Office products on the desktop and the Xbox also threaten irrelevance. He hoped eventually that Microsoft revealed and mood among developers would take a stand.

VMware Workstation 8 and 9 Windows Server 2012 support

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With VMware Workstation 9 of users to virtual machines (VMs) now also on desktop computers running Windows 8 in the 32 - and can run 64-bit versions. For the supported guest operating systems Windows 8 are added to the Metro UI and Windows 2012 Server.

Linux users should benefit from the improved virtualization capabilities for 3D graphics and OpenGL. The administrator of an encrypted VM can set another password, without the users can not make changes. It can also prevent the use of common features such as folders, move files, access to USB and exceeding the resource limits.
The developers have also made improvements to the support for VNC (Virtual Network Computing) and the security features when VMs are streamed. Virtual machines running on servers running VMware ESXi virtualization software should be downloaded to Workstation 9th . leave Workstation with 9 according to the manufacturer hybrid by Microsoft Hyper-V VMs are realsierbar, for this option there is no support. VMware recommends that you use the virtualizer in productive VMs.

Another new feature is the remote access via HTTP and WSX (HTML5), so that the applications running on the desktop machine VMs over the network are accessible via browser. VMware recommends Google Chrome 17 on PCs and Apple's Safari fifth on Mac OS X and iPad

Version 9 of VMware Workstation you can try free for 30 days after registration. A new license costs 193.50 euros at VMware, the upgrade Euro 92.45 net.

Google+ with advanced notification features

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Other important to share in his own carriage, never miss posts soon can the notification feature of Google+ adjust fine. With the Google+ slider allows the "volume" for certain circuits control: With it can be adjusted, which posts in your stream are displayed. Now the regulator gets an extra position: Push it to the right, you get all new posts from this group additionally a message.
Much of unwanted posters can disable it by clicking on the new "mute" button. Conversely, in their posts are now using hooks to the selected group, in addition to sending an email. Google developer Austin Chang announced the news in the coming days.

Google donated Chrome for iOS "Social Sharing"

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Google has released an update for the iOS version of its browser Chrome online. The update with the version 21.0.1180.77 brings mainly bug fixes, but Google is not running closer. So shall the tool to be more stable and secure and includes "many bug fixes to user feedback."

Only official new feature, new "social sharing" arrangements. Thus, referring sites can now share on tap via email, Google+, Facebook or Twitter.

Chrome for iOS has enjoyed since the end of June show a success story: The market share rose quickly and the app was several weeks at number 1 in the ranking of the free programs Apple's online store. The browser is free and runs iOS 4.3. It is offered as a universal touch version for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch and is available in numerous languages​​. Chrome is based on Apple's Webkit internal routines to display content, Apple does not allow alternative browser engines.

Plug mini-SSDs for SATA 6G and USB 3.0

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Called Disk-on-Module (DOM) that can plugs directly to the internal SATA port on the motherboard, are popular in embedded and industrial systems or slim rack servers with limited space as a power-saving and silent boot storage. The storage specialist Innodisk has been stuck in SATADOM SSD SATA II ports, which thanks to a special pinout on newer Intel Server Boards with Romley-EP platform - unlike conventional SATA storage - its power even straight from the SATA port can relate.

At the Flash Memory Summit, which takes place just in Silicon Valley, announced Innodisk, the supply of SATADOM SSDs continue to increase copies with SATA 6G interface. You are with up to 64 GB or 128 GB with SLC and MLC memory chips early next year on the market and data with up to 400 MB / s read and 200 MB transferred / s write. According to the manufacturer to the new SATADOM SSDs while flash controller come from our own development to deployment.

At the booth, they had not yet seen, but also the new OS drives for USB 3.0 ports, which it probably should also be at the beginning of next year in similar capacities. Windows 8 and Linux can boot from such USB 3.0 storage devices, but it works only on some brand new motherboards also in SuperSpeed ​​mode. The OS Drives then create according to manufacturer 200 MB / s read and 90 MB / s write.

In the category of strange and adventurous the new memory card type CF-SATA are classified. They are apart from the product label indistinguishable from conventional compact flash cards and use the same 50-pin connector, transferred here about but not IDE, but SATA signals - it is not to CFast card with SATA interface.

CF to SATA cards can be used on embedded boards alternately with conventional CF cards as boot storage in conventional CF slots. With 120 MB / s read and 90 MB / s when writing it, despite the faster SATA-II interface in practice faster than conventional CF cards, but could provide greater I / O performance. Innodisk she offers 4 to 64 GB and "iSLC flash" on. It should be particularly robust to (e) MLC memory chips which absorb up to 30 000 write cycles.

Innodisk the CompactFlash Association (CFA) CF-SATA has proposed as a new standard. There but it shows you are not enthusiastic: Anyone using CF-SATA cards about accidentally in current cameras with CF slot can damage them irreparebel.

Ichiro (Mike) Asao of the CFA, the heise online asked on the stand, pointed instead to the existing CFast format. Here is version 2.0 of the specification already in progress, with the interface speed to be increased from 3 to 6 Gbit / s. With Canon and SanDisk, the format has found prominent supporters - still has CFast far become established in either the embedded still in the camera world so far. At least the latter could soon change: According Asao Arri and Leica cameras are now planning for the first time with CFast slot - at Photokina in Cologne in September may learn more.

Record loss at HP

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Hewlett-Packard has given Wednesday evening, the biggest quarterly loss in its history known. 8.9 billion dollars Miese the world's largest computer manufacturer was recorded in the third quarter (July 31). Turnover was 29.7 billion U.S. dollars, only good times as high as the loss. In the third quarter of the previous financial year, HP had yet implemented 31.2 billion U.S. dollars and it earned 1.9 billion U.S. dollars. Even for the full year, HP loss, they still significantly lower than the current quarter loss.

HP's loss is attributable to amortization of over nine billion U.S. dollars. The book values ​​of approximately Compaq brand and in the past too expensive acquired companies had to be reduced. Could depend on the further course of business during the fourth quarter, further write-downs are necessary, the company warned financial analysts. CEO Meg Whitman asked, as was Michael Dell of Dell at the presentation of the results of the previous day, patience. The ongoing renovation and repositioning of the company would take several years.

Whitman's program provides inter alia for the reduction of 27,000 points after 2008, 24600 and 2005, a total of 14,500 posts were deleted. With higher severance currently older employees are lured into early retirement, which cost 1.8 billion U.S. dollars. Excluding amortization and restructuring costs HP had it written profit which was slightly above the market expectations.

Nevertheless, the situation is not rosy and operationally. Turnover is the fourth consecutive quarter of decline, taking into account exchange rate fluctuations, it is even the fifth consecutive quarter. HP's stock, which had in the wake of the modest numbers of Dell already lost 3.7 percent of its value during the day, in after-hours trading Wednesday evening put out a roller coaster ride. At the end stood a further 4.8 percent decline to book.

In all four major divisions (Personal Systems, Services, Imaging and Printing and Enterprise Servers, Storage and Networking) sales have fallen. HP Financial Services was able to maintain the level, only the software division increased significantly. But these two each carry not even a billion dollars to Group sales. And it is the software division prepares CEO Meg Whitman worries: Previous calendar year, HP has incorporated the data analysts Autonomy. This company does not develop satisfactorily; Autonomy Whitman had put under new management on a shorter leash.

Also, the profit margins are mostly declining, is the exception here of for imaging and printing. But the picture is deceptive: Distributors and dealers to sit on large quantities of unsold supplies. HP wants to boost with an advertising campaign, the demand for original HP ink and toner. Electronically limited usability of technical hurdles for compatible cartridges and consumables are not enough apparently.

With laptops and computers stocks are among the partners also uncomfortably high because the demand has fallen sharply as Dell. The return of HP Tablets, new Ultrabooks and laptop tablet hybrid devices are designed to provide a new impetus. In the second quarter, HP had on the world market for personal computers but lost much: 12.1 percent of the market share slumped, HP was only slightly ahead of Lenovo.

Investors have been demanding for some time a division of HP. Whitman holds little of it. They were discovered behind the scenes many small initiatives, develop new products. "Do we really need so many products, so many divisions in 166 countries," she asked rhetorically Wednesday evening. They would lock up sell these smaller companies or parts and redeploy the freed capacity in larger, long-term investment. "Focus, focus, focus!" Is their creed.

Facebook can swallow Instagram

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Good news for Facebook: The relevant U.S. FTC has approved the acquisition of the photo service Instagram. The FTC has been no objections, they are known. The photo service is to be maintained until further in its current form, Facebook had stated.

Facebook announced the Instagram purchase in April, even before the IPO, which was followed in May. A purchase price of around $ 1 billion had been agreed upon. The Instagram founders are now, however, have to compromise: because they had agreed to it, partly paid shares in Facebook to be.

Only $ 300 million in cash flow, complemented by 23 million Facebook shares. Which were at the time of negotiations with Instagram valued at approximately $ 30. Meanwhile, the paper but costs just over $ 19 - which is currently the purchase would generate about 740 million dollars. The final closing of the transaction is still pending, this past Wednesday, the Facebook share closed New York trading at 1.46 percent in positive territory at 19.44 U.S. dollars.

For Instagram-owner, it was a bet: Before the IPO, the valuation of Facebook spiraled ever further into the air, until the issue price remained at $ 38 per share. The IPO itself was accompanied by technical glitches, were added worries about a slowdown in growth. The collapse of the course began on the second trading day.

The 5000-dollar gap on Facebook

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After Facebook has removed a vulnerability documented the discovery AMol Naik, where and how he found it. That he had previously reported in confidence on Facebook, he pocketed a bonus of $ 5,000. The security problem is called Cross Site Request Forgery - CSRF shortly. In this case, an attacker can simply by calling a specific URL with appropriate parameters to perform an action in the context of a logged-on user.

Specifically AMol Naik could add, for example, apparently without any user an app in Facebook's new AppCenter. The victim had only to call a suitably crafted web page while it was logged into Facebook. Such gaps have been frequently utilized for Facebook worms or mass distribution of spam messages.

Normally, web sites protect against CSRF manipulations by creating for each valid session token that is sent with each request to be valid. A script on another web site does not have access to this token and therefore can not create a valid request. Unfortunately, the new web application is on the Facebook server apparently does not control the accuracy of the provided token fb_dtsg. After the notification, the Facebook security team has corrected this omission but held within a day.

Australia: Senate passes cybercrime law

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The Australian Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would facilitate the prosecution of cybercrime. This includes integrating the fact that law enforcement agencies in the event of doubt may oblige providers to two years in storage connectivity and content data of a user. With a judicial decree, the authorities could gain access to the information held.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald welcomed the Australian Justice Minister Nicola Roxon the vote for the draft, which goes back to its predecessor Robert McClelland. Crimes such as online fraud, child pornography or copyright infringement could be fighting with global reach, will further the cooperation between local authorities and those overseas easier. It also created a greater harmony between Australian law and the Convention on Cybercrime, the Council of Europe was established.

Senator Scott Ludlam of the Australian Greens criticized loudly Herald that the law go out unnecessarily over the provisions of the international convention. Moreover, it would be possible to support that Australian authorities criminal cases in other countries, which lead to a death penalty. Already in 2011, the Bill has been passed by the Australian House of Representatives, accompanied by sharp criticism from the opposition. After obtaining the approval of the Senate, the law must now again be presented to the House of Representatives.

The law is not the only initiative of the Australian government on combating cybercrime: withdraw Minister Roxon recently had a discussion paper on intelligence reform, which proposed an up to two years, without suspicion retention. Violent protests by civil rights activists, privacy advocates and providers are likely to be the reason for the diversion. The plans will be discussed until after the next general election again, which is expected to take place in the second Hälf 2013.

AT & T defends FaceTime constraint in mobile network

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According to AT & T, it does not violate the net neutrality rules in the U.S., the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), Apple's FaceTime video calling service in mobile networks only allow the use of a specific tariff. This is the mobile operator announced in its public policy blog on record. A non-profit organization had criticized the network provider for the announcement this limitation.


It is a network operator while not allowed to block apps that compete with the voice or video services of the provider - but this rule applies only for downloaded apps, argues AT & T. Already on the device preinstalled apps or services - like FaceTime - did not fall under this rule, however, believes the network operator.

Thus, under the deck from iOS 6 possible use of FaceTime over the cellular network "reasonable restrictions," says AT & T, and sit just requires the use of a specific tariff ("Mobile Share Plan").

The German network operators show the new function compared to those still waiting and should only allow in tariffs that include VoIP connections explicitly - Vodafone announced this already in practice. The use of FaceTime over the cellular network is to Apple's previous statements alongside iOS 6 also requires an iPhone 4S or a third-generation iPad.

Better endgame: Blizzard released patch 1.04 for Diablo 3

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Blizzard Entertainment has released patch 1.04 for its action RPG Diablo third The update will primarily improve the balance of the game and extend the final. The characters can now climb 100 new Paragonstufen called when they reach level 60. Each level-up improves the basic values ​​of the characters and the chances of gold and magic items. Blizzard has also changed the values ​​of the classes and monsters sometimes very dramatically, which has great influence on the balance of the game.


In addition, the bug was fixed that prevented the launch on Mac OS X 10.8. The addition of Windows optional Mac version now takes into account the set desktop resolution, so the game on a Macbook Pro Retina with a maximum of 3840 × 2400 pixels can be rendered, but these are scaled down to the retina display at 2880 × 1800th If one wants to play in the physical resolution of the display, you must first Mac-OS-X-monitor setup select "Optimal for retina". This resolution is Diablo 3 playable with slightly reduced frame rate. Liquid and quieter running the game with 1360 × 850 pixels and anti-aliasing turned on, the option for 1440 × 900 is no longer available.

In order to play Diablo 3 may have a permanent Internet connection is required, the patch will be automatically downloaded and installed on startup.

Apple patented replacing multimedia advertising

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"A user may not be interested in any part of a transmission media," Apple writes about the background of the patent, which was granted to him now in the U.S.. The property right with the number 8,249,497 describes the "Seamless switching between radio and local media."

Examples of non-interest content is called the patent songs and advertising. They could be identified, for example, using metadata or online available transmission schemes. Unwanted contributions appear in a running audio or video transmission, will Apple replace this process by automatically saved on the device sounds or movies. Suitable replacement content could, for example, select an algorithm for determining relevance.

With the details of the selection of unwanted programs and the replacement media to the patent employs only very general. It focuses on the switching between the transmission and the local media playback.

Remains to be seen whether Apple, the described method, which would fade also advertising in online programs, ever appropriate in a product. The company got 2011 in the U.S. alone 676 patents.

Professional A/D converter for ProTools HD

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With the two AD / DA converters Aurora 8 and Aurora 16 has the U.S. firm Lynx Studio Technology Multi-I/O-Lösungen two quality for professional audio production program, which over the add-on cards for the FireWire interface or configure operating under Avid's ProTools can. Not self-evident at this largely proprietary music production system.

Now put the Company introduced a new firmware (revision 10) for the expansion card LT-HD, which allows you to work with the latest ProTools systems. With the introduction of Pro Tools 10 and HDX interface also changed the interface protocols, so a revision of the firmware was necessary.

Thanks to the current version of the Aurora converters are now running on all HDX, HD Native, HD Core or Accel Core systems. Here even the parallel sample-accurate operation of Lynx and Avid converters is possible. The LT-HD promises seamless plug-and-play operation: The two implemented emulations automatically selects the card as needed and also takes care of the delay compensation

With nearly 2900 euros for an Aurora 16 (16 AD / DA converter) and 340 euros for the Lynx LT-HD is clearly applies to a professional clientele. Receives but 32 I / O channels, even at a sample rate of 192 kHz. Lynx has also made ​​by a long-standing support for its products a name in the industry.

Observe, Hack and makeup under clear skies: announced OHM2013

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After the summer before the summer. 2013 the next camping festival in the Dutch Geestmerambacht hackers will take place not far from Bergen to Zee. As an acronym, the organizers have decided to HIP, HAL, WTH and HAR for OHM: Observe, Hack, Make. Plans for 2013 have begun ohm.

Hacker camping festivals as events when the Evil Daystar appears in Europe a strong tradition. Alternate alternate German and Dutch volunteers from the organization of the elaborate spectacle. So found by Hacking at Random in 2009, the summer camp of the CCC in 2011 in Finowfurt. Now, the next festival will take place in the Netherlands.

The motto Observe, Hack, Make indicates the central themes: Monitors the monitor, hacking tools and makes their fabbt or things that bother monitoring circuits. The idea of ​​Fabber projects already belonged to the HAR 2009 to the central themes of the camp. For the organization of the event, first working groups have been formed, the call to join in with activities or presentations to take place in October. The prices for outdoor fun are not set yet, the tickets will be limited according to the capacity of the site.

RWE continues to believe in the success of electric cars

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The energy group RWE continues to assume that electric cars in Germany will be successful and expects in the near future with a market breakthrough. "The turnaround may come more quickly than many expected when the batteries are cheaper and technically advanced significantly," the Financial Times quotes Germany RWE Efficiency Manager Ingo Alphéus.

"The goal of a million electric cars by 2020 is to create." Therefore believes Alphéus at the output of the federal government beginning of the decade goal of which the by itself launched advisory committee "National Platform for Electric Mobility" now increasingly move away.


Except for the shorter range scare the high cost of electric vehicles from interested buyers - currently a few thousand of the purely electrically powered cars are in Germany just around 100 privately owned. Have more success already electric bicycles and small vehicles with four wheels, which are designed for short-haul operations in the urban jungle, so that the "range anxiety" is hardly a role for both the acquisition cost are significantly below those of electric cars.

Currently, the electric smart ed will cost around 10,000 euros more than a petrol engine the two-seater with comparable equipment - which is mainly due to the cost of batteries. Starting at the middle of this decade, the price of the battery but fall so far that the gap in the purchase price to exclude cars with internal combustion engine, said Alphéus the newspaper. The Essen-based energy company therefore intend its network of charging stations currently 1300 gradually expand. In his optimistic market forecast pointed Manager of RWE on photovoltaics, whose breakthrough came faster than expected. However, make German solar industry overcapacity, creating pressure on prices, especially from China and declining subsidies. Several German suppliers were now in bankruptcy.

Octane: Google's new benchmark suite for JavaScript

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Google has launched a new Octane own benchmark suite as an open source project. Octane has arisen because of the concern that has not been the usual benchmarks reflect the actual performance of JavaScript in modern application scenarios.

The suite continues the previously been included in the V8 benchmark suite test list, but adds a number of new tests. They determine, for example, the load times and performance of popular JavaScript libraries such as jQuery and Closure Tools. The increased requirements for in-browser applications to illuminate tests that measure the graphical power of about 2-D and 3-D features and engines.

From the compatibility matrix is clear, however, that the test suite is not available on all browsers leads to measurement results. Even if under the desktop browsers Internet Explorer 9 denied for lack of support typed arrays in its JavaScript implementation and in quirks mode, the tests will of standing in the wings, with Microsoft Windows 8 IE 10 introduced along with it. These mobile browsers fall Android browser (Xoom, 4.0.4) and iPad-/iOS-Browser (Chrome and Safari mobile) to be incompatible.

The eight old and the five new tests can be run on Octane Home  itself. Gives the list of tests with short descriptions and other information are on the project page.