Archive for August, 2008
In a first-of-its kind decision, a California federal court has dismissed a copyright-infringement lawsuit against online video-sharing site Veoh Networks. IO Group, an adult entertainment company, filed the suit against Veoh, alleging the site displayed its content in violation of copyright laws. But Magistrate Judge Howard Lloyd of the U.S. District Court in San Jose ruled against the gay-porn distributor on Wednesday.IO Group’s suit is not unlike Viacom’s $1.6 billion lawsuit against Google-owned YouTube. In fact, MySpace, MP3tunes, Hi5, Stage6 and several other sites are facing similar battles over user-generated content.
Could this ruling be a boon for these sites? Or is the ruling merely an isolated incident in a California trial court? Google and the Electronic Frontier Foundation are betting on the former.
Click here to read the rest of this story on CIO Today.
August 31st, 2008
Apple’s publicity nightmare keeps growing worse. The latest twist is more serious than dropped calls or lost e-mail — it’s a security flaw in the iPhone that could dial up trouble for users.The flaw isn’t a new issue. Apple first addressed what is known as the passcode flaw last January. The fix prevented unauthorized users from circumventing the password-protected locking feature in an early version of the software. But the problem has reemerged in new versions of the iPhone software.
The flaw apparently allows attackers to bypass the passcode locking feature by touching “Emergency Call” on the password-entry screen and then double-tapping the Home button. An attacker would then have access to the iPhone users’ frequently called contacts list, which includes both addresses and phone numbers.
An attacker could also use the breach to access the iPhone’s e-mail application and gain access to e-mail addresses or Web sites, as well as the user’s Safari browser. The flaw is reportedly present in iPhone software versions 2.0 and 2.0.2. The issue also affects the iPod touch.
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August 29th, 2008
It’s a product four years in the making: Google Suggest debuted on Tuesday to help users formulate queries and get better results.Google began developing the search-suggestion product in 2004. The feature started as a “20-percent project” (a Google philosophy that allows employees to spend one day a week working on something not in the regular job description). But now, the tool has expanded and is included on Google Labs, the Google Toolbar, the Firefox search box, Google Maps and Web Search for select countries, the iPhone and BlackBerry, YouTube, and now Google.com.
Google Suggest is officially available by default on the Google.com home page. Over the next week, the company plans to roll out the tool so that more and more searchers will start seeing a list of query suggestions when they start typing into the search box.
Click here to read the rest of this story on NewsFactor.
August 28th, 2008
Microsoft 
on Monday revealed some new privacy features for Internet Explorer 8, the next version of its market-leading Web browser. The features address the concerns of consumers and privacy advocates, who called the plans a positive step.The new features will let users control their history, cookies and other information that IE8 stores. Other features aim to help users control how their browsing history is shared by Web sites. By default, IE8 browses the Web the same way IE7 does.
“Having privacy native in the browser as opposed to just an extension is something we’ve been advocating for a long time from all the browser manufacturers,” said Ari Schwartz, deputy director at the Center for Democracy and Technology. “Incorporating all of these privacy features at once is a major step forward. Safari has some built-in privacy and Firefox has extensions. Native privacy is better.”
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August 27th, 2008
In a move to set itself apart from the flood of Bluetooth headsets on the market, BlueAnt Wireless on Tuesday introduced the BlueAnt V1 headset.The BlueAnt V1 is the only fully voice-controlled Bluetooth headset. The headset is powered by Sensory Inc.’s BlueGenie Voice Interface and BlueAnt’s voice-isolation technology. The headset aims to change the way consumers interact with technology by providing a new spin on hands-free calling. The device retails for $130.
“The intuitive voice interface not only appeals to technology power users, but also first-time Bluetooth headset users looking for a simple yet effective hands-free solution,” said Taisen Maddern, BlueAnt’s CEO.
Click here to read the rest of this story on Newsfactor.
August 27th, 2008
In a move to cash in on the back-to-school mobile phone-buying sprees, Verizon Wireless on Monday launched a new phone dubbed “Blitz.”Verizon Wireless is billing the phone as a device designed for the heaviest of texters. Loosely translated, that means tweens, or preteens.
The Blitz comes with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a dedicated My Messaging key. The tween-friendly phone also offers a 2.2-inch screen for browsing the Web or checking e-mail.
Also important to the youth demographic, the Blitz is a music player. Verizon’s latest product comes equipped with an MP3 player that can access the Verizon V CAST Music with Rhapsody service.
“The nice part about technology, as with most things, is that mature platforms fragment,” said Michael Gartenberg, vice president of mobile research for Jupitermedia. “So we have these youth-optimized devices that we really have never seen just a few years ago.”
August 26th, 2008
For business professionals who can’t stand to waste a minute, Intuit is delivering the ability to do accounting on a smartphone. On Monday, Intuit announced integration for both the iPhone and Blackberry with QuickBooks Online, a Web-based business accounting application.Intuit is billing the integration as a means to give small-business owners more freedom to manage their business anywhere, anytime — with or without a computer — in what it calls an early version Web-based mobile application.
“A growing number of small businesses are looking to mobile technology to run their business,” said Rick Jensen, senior vice president of Intuit’s Small Business Division. “Our goal with these new mobile services is to give QuickBooks Online users the edge they need to compete and manage their busy lives by keeping tabs on their business even when they are out of the office.”
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August 26th, 2008
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