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Total 100 articles, created at 2016-03-15 00:04 1 Five things to expect from Apple's imminent iPhone launch All the rumours about Apple's 21 March launch in one handy place,Hardware,Mobile 2016-03-15 00:03 2KB www.v3.co.uk (2.00/3) Phones,Communications ,Apple,iPhone

2 Microsoft is Ticking People Off with Automatic Windows 10 Upgrades

(2.00/3) The Internet community is up in arms at Microsoft pushing out automatic and supposedly unauthorized Windows 10 upgrades. 2016-03-14 17:24 3KB www.maximumpc.com 3 Microsoft to bolster artificial intelligence using Minecraft Not just a blockhead now 2016-03-14 15:54 2KB www.theinquirer.net

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4 Code.org volunteer emails exposed in information leak As a result, a Singaporean firm decided to try and poach a few members. 2016-03-14 12:59 3KB www.zdnet.com (2.00/3)

5 CityFibre CEO Greg Mensch's ambitious plan to bring FTTP to 100 UK towns and cities - and beat BT in the process Firm's £90m acquisition of Kcom in December has made it a force to be reckoned with in the broadband space,Telecoms ,BT 2016-03-15 00:03 749Bytes www.v3.co.uk 6 Microsoft releases 13 security bulletins in latest Patch Tuesday Patch now or be vulnerable as hackers get to work on coding exploits,Security ,Microsoft,patch Tuesday 2016-03-15 00:03 2KB www.theinquirer.net 7 Microsoft accused of bundling new Windows 10 nagware into latest Patch Tuesday updates More Windows 10 nagware being sneaked into Microsoft updates,Operating Systems,Software,Security ,Microsoft,,Windows Update,security,patch Tuesday 2016-03-15 00:03 3KB www.theinquirer.net 8 Opera to add native ad blocker to desktop web browser Need for speed? Opera's web browser will come with a built-in speedometer ,Software,Internet,Internet of Things,Cloud and Infrastructure ,Opera,Opera Software,Browsers 2016-03-15 00:03 2KB www.theinquirer.net 9 Hundreds of cloud companies still vulnerable to DROWN security flaw Companies ignoring threat posed by DROWN SSL vulnerability – as well as FREAK, Logjam, OpenSSL and Poodle,Security,Internet ,Heartbleed,security,Cloud and Infrastructure,Cloud Computing,Skyhigh Networks 2016-03-15 00:03 3KB www.computing.co.uk 10 Windows 10 Redstone update delayed for another year Microsoft needs more time to make its first major update to Windows 10,Cloud and Infrastructure ,Microsoft,Windows 10 2016-03-15 00:03 2KB www.v3.co.uk 11 IT contractors set for new tax crackdown in this week's Budget IT contractors the 'collateral damage' in Chancellor George Osborne's attack on stars' and civil servants' tax avoidance,Strategy,Leadership ,tax,IR35,George Osborne,Budget 2016-03-15 00:03 3KB www.computing.co.uk

12 If you have less than a petabyte of data you don't need Hadoop 'Use it when you need it but when you don't, don't bother,' says Vincent de Lagabbe, CTO of bitcoin analysis firm Kaiko ,Big Data and Analytics ,Cassandra,Apache Software,Apache Spark,Hadoop,Bitcoin 2016-03-15 00:03 3KB www.computing.co.uk 13 Osborne to green light driverless-car motorway trials In 2017, the car in front may well be driverless,Big Data and Analytics,Internet of Things ,Driverless cars,Big Data,Internet of Things 2016-03-15 00:03 2KB www.v3.co.uk 14 Rural Payments Agency chief: GDS and Defra didn't listen to warnings that CAP project was failing 'I was not in a position to have my opinion prevail,' says RPA's Mark Grimshaw,Government,Leadership ,Government,Agriculture,Public sector 2016-03-15 00:03 2KB www.computing.co.uk 15 Accenture wins £86m Met Police application management deal Accenture becomes third big-name IT provider to become part of Met Police's SIAM/tower contract ,Government,Services and Outsourcing ,outsourcing 2016-03-15 00:03 3KB www.computing.co.uk 16 Government to review its contracts with Atos after IT failure Cabinet Office to probe Atos outsourcing deals ,Government,Public Sector,Supplier,Services and Outsourcing ,Atos,Cabinet Office,GDS 2016-03-15 00:03 3KB www.computing.co.uk 17 Intel shoots for 3D broadcasting with Replay Technologies acquisition The acquisition is indicative of growing digital transformation across industries ,Strategy,Hardware,Business Software ,Intel,Data,IBM,Digital 2016-03-15 00:03 2KB www.computing.co.uk 18 Post Office to hire a 'head of IT vendor management’ Post Office wants someone with strong negotiation, relationship and inter-personal skills for newly created role,Leadership,Careers and Skills ,CIO 2016-03-15 00:03 2KB www.computing.co.uk 19 Like Pi, Cyber-Threats Never Cease: Here Are 5 Ways to Combat Them Cyber-threats never cease, are not predictable and the only "sure thing" is that they are always changing. Here are tips for dealing with threats. 2016-03-14 23:47 1KB www.eweek.com 20 What We'll Likely See in Apple's Rumored iPhone 6c To attract the users that Apple hopes it will, the smaller, cheaper iPhone 6c will need the right mix of features. 2016-03-14 23:47 1KB www.eweek.com 21 Xerox Expands Line of ConnectKey Multifunction Printers The 14 Xerox ConnectKey-enabled i-Series MFPs are equipped with ready-to-use apps to speed up paper-dependent business processes. 2016-03-14 20:33 3KB www.eweek.com 22 PCs Still Feeling Heat From Competition, Economic Issues, IDC Says IDC's recent outlook for the industry is one of continued struggles and slight gains, while ABI analysts remain more optimistic about the future. 2016-03-14 19:15 5KB www.eweek.com

23 Qualcomm to Launch VR SDK for Snapdragon Chips The SDK will include features that will make it easier for developers to create virtual reality apps on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 processor. 2016-03-14 19:20 4KB www.eweek.com 24 Technology Boosts Health Care Engagement Levels The CDW survey indicated providers are preparing for action and have more resources for engaging with patients at their disposal than ever before. 2016-03-14 19:19 3KB www.eweek.com 25 Newegg Daily Deals: Corsair Gaming K70 Keyboard, OCZ Trion 150 480GB SSD, and More! Think about all the typing you do in any given day, whether it's hammering out reports and emails or mashing buttons in a frenzied online battle. You're only as good as your tools, and if you're still using a squishy membrane or dome-switch keyboard, it's time for an upgrade. Mechanical... 2016-03-14 19:08 2KB www.maximumpc.com 26 WhatsApp faces standoff with feds over its message encryption A judge has approved a wiretap via WhatsApp in a criminal investigation, but first the messages would need to be decoded. 2016-03-14 17:51 2KB www.cnet.com 27 The IoT Playbook for Wireless LAN The explosion of connected devices will generate an unprecedented amount of data and those that cannot make the shift will likely struggle 2016-03-14 17:47 820Bytes www.itworldcanada.com 28 Avaya WLAN 9100 Series: Top 10 things you need to know Avaya WLAN 9100 Series delivers wired-like performance and predictability to your mobile users and today’s wireless office. Providing application-level visibility and control, 2016-03-14 17:47 857Bytes www.itworldcanada.com 29 Google's AlphaGo isn't taking over the world, yet The machine beat world champion Lee Sedol at Go, but still remain way behind humans at pretty much everything other than crunching data. 2016-03-14 17:51 4KB www.cnet.com 30 John Oliver cracks wise on Apple versus FBI The comedian also pokes fun at Donald Trump's Apple boycott and at the company's "rose gold" iPhone. 2016-03-14 17:51 2KB www.cnet.com 31 Cyberwar, out of the shadows (Q&A) Author Fred Kaplan details how the US has quietly amassed the power to hack the world but has failed to create a plan for deterring similar attacks on US soil. 2016-03-14 17:51 5KB www.cnet.com 32 8 tips to stay ahead of the top 2016 data protection trends Data protection has never been more in the forefront, as information increasingly is the lifeblood and differentiator in a constantly changing world. 2016-03-14 17:47 1KB www.itworldcanada.com 33 AlphaGo victorious over human opponent Lee Se-dol AlphaGo victorious over human opponent Lee Se-dol. 3-1 with one match still to play. 2016-03-14 17:47 2KB www.bit-tech.net

34 Valve teases SteamVR Desktop Theatre Mode Valve teases SteamVR Desktop Theatre Mode. Adds VR support to older games. 2016-03-14 17:47 2KB www.bit-tech.net

35 Tim Sweeney Returns with Another "Stop Microsoft" Op-Ed [DONE] Tim Sweeney explains his stance against Microsoft's UWP... again. 2016-03-14 17:03 4KB www.maximumpc.com 36 Heroes and villains reimagined as traditional Chinese crockery If you ever wanted to see Godzilla or Darth Vader immortalised in traditional, hand- painted bone china, you'll want to take a look at this. 2016-03-14 19:03 2KB www.cnet.com 37 This is what it could look like to ride in a hyperloop Hyperloop Transportation Technologies says it's developing "augmented windows" so you don't have to miss what's going on outside while you're riding through a tube. 2016-03-14 19:03 2KB www.cnet.com 38 Microsoft Banishes Bitcoin Payments for Windows App Store Microsoft is no longer accepting bitcoin as payment for Windows apps. 2016-03-14 16:52 2KB www.maximumpc.com 39 Welcome to Train Jam: The ultimate game developer road trip What it's like to ride shotgun on a moving game creation festival and take a cross- country pilgrimage to the Game Developer Conference in San Francisco. 2016-03-14 19:03 3KB www.cnet.com 40 Facebook, Google, WhatsApp to beef up security of user data Amid the US government's attempts to unlock an iPhone connected to the San Bernardino mass shooting, more tech companies are looking to expand encryption. 2016-03-14 19:03 2KB www.cnet.com 41 Google's driverless car crashes are 'not a surprise' to US transport boss He missed out the opportunity to say 'told you so' 2016-03-14 16:31 2KB www.theinquirer.net 42 Hackers Bring Down DDoS Security Firm, Taunts Target with Sarcastic Tips A DDoS protection company was knocked offline following a DDoS attack on its systems. 2016-03-14 16:26 2KB www.maximumpc.com 43 State of security operations: 2015 report of capabilities and maturity of cyber defense organizations With over a decade of experience supplying the technology at the core of the world’s most advanced cyber defense and enterprise security 2016-03-14 17:47 1KB www.itworldcanada.com 44 Top 5 pitfalls to avoid in your data protection strategy As you navigate the new digital age, your data protection strategy needs to be more than just the basics of backup and 2016-03-14 17:47 944Bytes www.itworldcanada.com 45 Antivirus software is blighted by major flaws and meaningless certification Antivirus certification is a joke, by all accounts 2016-03-14 16:03 2KB www.techradar.com

46 Computerworld UK Daily Digest - 14 March 2016 - Locky ransomware - Admins battle 'patch fatigue' - Devops training courses Welcome to today's Computerworld UK Daily Digest. We explore Locky ransomware, 'patch fatigue' and the latest devops training courses. Plus: iPad Pro business review. 2016-03-14 16:00 841Bytes www.computerworlduk.com 47 Microsoft releases to manufacturing SharePoint 2016 Microsoft has RTM'd SharePoint Server 2016 and Project Server 2016. The company will share more about the future of SharePoint and OneDrive for Business on May 4. 2016-03-14 16:00 3KB www.zdnet.com 48 One opens up cross-network play to PS4 and other platforms But will Sony be on board? 2016-03-14 15:58 1KB www.techradar.com 49 Best online grocery shopping 2016 UK: The best places to do your online food shopping, including Amazon Pantry Shopping for groceries online is now a regular thing across the UK. We show you why its a good idea and how it can save you time and money. Here are the best online grocery shopping services. 2016-03-14 15:51 9KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk 50 iPhone 7 release date, specs, price and rumours First image of Apple's next smartphone appears online 2016-03-14 15:36 6KB www.theinquirer.net 51 How to install ChromeOS on an old laptop: turn a Windows laptop into a Chromebook for free Got an old laptop lying around? Give it a new lease of life by turning it into a Chromebook – for free! Our step-by-step guide will show you how to install ChromeOS. 2016-03-14 15:25 3KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk 52 Facebook, Google among tech giants expanding encryption in wake of Apple battle WhatsApp is said to be next to undergo scrutiny in the Justice Dept.'s ongoing war against use of encryption by tech industry. 2016-03-14 15:19 3KB www.zdnet.com 53 Spotted on the streets of China: Could this be iPhone 5SE? New spy video and photographs may reveal what turns out to be Apple's latest to be announced handset. 2016-03-14 15:12 1KB www.zdnet.com 54 HTC Vive Pre VR headset release date, UK pricing, specs and games: Valve announces SteamVR Theatre mode for gaming in a virtual cinema, leak showcases Star Wars VR game Virtual reality is set to be the next big thing, and the upcoming HTC Vive doesn't disappoint. Here, we document the latest rumours regarding the HTC Vive Pre, its pricing, release date, spec and even the games you'll be able to play with it. 2016-03-14 15:07 11KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk 55 Which VPN is best for you? See the comparison sheet here When it comes to choosing a Virtual Private Network or VPN as it is commonly known, many users find it hard to determine which one is best for them. This is brought about by the different requirements each VPN demands and different VPN's have different limitations. To help solve your problems,... 2016-03-14 15:03 1KB pctechmag.com

56 HPE introduces new Machine-Learning-as-a-Service offering HPE announces the availability of its cloud platform HPE Haven OnDemand 2016-03-14 15:02 2KB sdtimes.com 57 LG G4 review An Android smartphone that's all about its camera and a strange look 2016-03-14 15:00 6KB www.techradar.com 58 How to use Plex media server DIY Netflix 2016-03-14 14:44 4KB www.techradar.com 59 Watch the first trailer for Fallout 4's Automatron DLC Launches March 22 2016-03-14 14:34 1KB www.techradar.com 60 Google’s Cloud Studio proves that cloud-based tech doesn’t have to be boring What do Star Wars, robots on wheels, and photo booths have in common? The cloud. 2016-03-14 14:32 1KB www.macworld.com 61 WDLabs launches new drive with 314GB storage PiDrive with Pi gigabytes for Pi dollars 2016-03-14 14:28 2KB www.theinquirer.net 62 400M people will rely on robotic car sharing by 2030 The first two phases of the new car-sharing economy are already in place with street rental services and ride sharing firms. The third phase will be an explosion in robotic services. 2016-03-14 14:18 3KB www.itworld.com 63 Russian court turns down Google appeal in anti-monopoly case The Moscow Arbitration court on Monday rejected an appeal from Google and upheld a ruling that the U. S. firm broke anti-monopoly laws by abusing its dominant position with its Android mobile platform, Russia's competition watchdog said. FAS, the watchdog, ruled last September that Google had broken the law by... 2016-03-14 14:16 1KB pctechmag.com 64 AWS at 10: A look at how Amazon revamped the enterprise cloud computing pecking order Amazon Web Services launched a decade ago and via a crazy cadence of new features and services altered the enterprise technology landscape. 2016-03-14 14:15 3KB www.zdnet.com 65 Amazon Easter Deals Week: Cheap TVs, tablets, headphones, speakers & more tech Amazon is kicking off a huge Easter Deals Week and Lightning Deals have begun early. Here are the best Amazon tech deals. 2016-03-14 14:13 1KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk 66 For Pi Day, Microsoft slashes Dell's Windows 10 XPS 13 by 31.4 percent To mark Pi Day, Microsoft has cut the price of the Core i5 Dell XPS 13 by 31.4 percent. 2016-03-14 14:00 2KB www.zdnet.com 67 EU Referendum: Tech firms believe Brexit would be bad for business techUK poll suggests British technology firms are overwhelmingly in favour of remaining within the European Union 2016-03-14 13:55 3KB www.zdnet.com

68 Human strikes back in Go against Google’s Deepmind Homo sapiens - one, Robot overlord - three 2016-03-14 13:43 2KB www.theinquirer.net

69 Adobe's Project Comet now available as Adobe XD public preview Designers of mobile apps and websites have been eagerly awaiting Abobe's user experience design, prototyping and sharing tool. Creative Cloud users can now try out a public preview. 2016-03-14 13:30 5KB www.zdnet.com 70 Top 15 Moneymaking Certifications For 2016 Certifications in IT security, virtualization and business continue to top the pay scale, but cloud and networking certifications are becoming more profitable and pervasive with each passing day. 2016-03-14 13:27 1KB www.crn.com 71 Three quarters think web privacy should be a right, as snooping bill looms Policy makers aren't listening to technology industry advice on Investigatory Powers Bill because 'they don't like the answers,' claims software CEO. 2016-03-14 13:23 3KB www.zdnet.com 72 Find the best SSD for your PC Want to build or upgrade a PC and you're looking for the best SSD? Read on. 2016-03-14 13:09 2KB www.zdnet.com 73 Microsoft ending support for VS 2005, Go champion beats AI, and Qualcomm’s new VR SDK— digest: March 14, 2016 VS 2005 support ends on April 12; Lee Sedol takes a game from AlphaGo; Qualcomm’s VR SDK works with the Snapdragon 820 2016-03-14 13:08 2KB sdtimes.com 74 Galaxy S7 Parts Cost $255, IHS Reveals Samsung's metal-and-glass Galaxy S7 smartphone costs as much to build as the plastic Galaxy S5 did back in 2014, according to research firm IHS. 2016-03-14 13:06 3KB www.informationweek.com 75 Fallout Shelter tips and tricks From very SPECIAL dwellers to Fat Boys 2016-03-14 13:05 8KB www.techradar.com 76 ​The US government buys into open-source programming The Federal government is embracing open-source programming with a new pro-open- source development policy. 2016-03-14 12:59 3KB www.zdnet.com 77 After Apple, is WhatsApp the US government's next crypto target? The US Justice Department may seek a lawsuit against WhatsApp to force it to break its own encryption. 2016-03-14 12:57 3KB www.zdnet.com 78 Top 10 crowd-funded PCs: How Silicon Valley's heirs are building the next great The crowd-funding revolution has led to a number of fascinating desktop, laptop, and tablet PC projects. Here are some of the most noteworthy -- and successful. 2016-03-14 12:57 9KB www.zdnet.com 79 Final Fantasy XV UK release date rumours, gameplay features & trailers: Final Fantasy 15 release date leaked, announcement may be made at event on 30 March Find out everything you need to know about the upcoming Final Fantasy XV game for PS4 and . We round up the rumours surrounding the Final Fantasy 15 UK release date, price and more. Plus check out the gameplay in the new Dawn trailer. 2016-03-14 12:47 5KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk

80 Flash is rocketing into big-data analytics At one time, all-flash storage arrays were used for a single mission-critical application with a need for speed, usually in big IT shops. Now they're poised to take over many more parts of IT 2016-03-14 12:27 4KB www.infoworld.com 81 Your next Android phone could stop you feeling ill from VR But it's only on certain phones 2016-03-14 12:16 1KB www.techradar.com 82 Microsoft will let Rocket League PC, Xbox One players compete—and maybe PS4, too Microsoft said Monday that, thanks to a new 'crossplay' push, gamers who own Rocket League on the PC will be able to play their friends on the Xbox One, with support for other consoles possibly to follow. 2016-03-14 12:11 1KB www.pcworld.com 83 BQ Aquaris M5 review: a good budget smartphone with impressive display and sound qualities Here's our review of the BQ Aquaris M5 - a phone that does exceptionally well through its audio, camera and stock Android experience! 2016-03-14 12:10 19KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk 84 ESA's ExoMars Launches On Mission To Red Planet The joint European-Russian mission to Mars launched successfully, with arrival to the red planet expected in the fall. 2016-03-14 12:06 3KB www.informationweek.com

85 At the office, diversity works, but shorter work weeks may not Achieving a diversified staff in a tech firm can't be done casually, and offering prospective employees a shorter work week may or may not entice them to sign up. 2016-03-14 12:01 3KB www.computerworld.com 86 FBI could demand Apple source code and keys if iPhone backdoor too 'burdensome' The founder of the encrypted email service hit by a similar order two years ago argued that the FBI could create "ghost" iPhone updates that imitate legitimate Apple software. 2016-03-14 12:00 4KB www.zdnet.com 87 Is your management to-do list stopping you from getting anything done? One of the biggest management challenges is finding a way to stop fighting fires for long enough to get long-term projects off the ground. Here's how. 2016-03-14 12:00 6KB www.zdnet.com 88 'Game-changing' software to let PC gamers mix Nvidia and AMD graphics cards What kind of sorcery is this? 2016-03-14 12:00 3KB www.techradar.com 89 Black Duck announces open source 'Rookies of the Year' Selections reflect three industry trends shaping the future of open source software – Docker containers, open collaboration and artificial intelligence 2016-03-14 11:54 1KB sdtimes.com 90 TIBCO enhances Spotfire for more powerful analytics and broadened ease-of-use New Features Include Simplified Data Discovery for Enterprise-Grade Analytics, Improved Self-Service Features, New Visualizations & Inline Data Preparation 2016-03-14 11:53 3KB sdtimes.com

91 BlackBerry says that Priv is king of the Android security update rodeo Even a small trumpet gets to blow once in a while 2016-03-14 11:51 2KB www.theinquirer.net 92 DARPA: We'll pay you up to $130k to turn fridges and vacuums into deadly weapons Developers, researchers, and other techies with ideas about turning normally benign objects into deadly weapons might want to contact Pentagon research agency DARPA. 2016-03-14 11:46 3KB www.zdnet.com 93 New NPM will simplify React JavaScript development The Enclave module is currently being developed to provide a 'sane' API that's less reliant on Webpack 2016-03-14 11:44 2KB www.infoworld.com 94 Spotify confirms it won't be dropping Plus: Windows 10 is getting an update 2016-03-14 11:41 1KB www.techradar.com 95 Sulon Q VR headset cuts the cord Oculus' Rift and HTC's Vive VR headsets are hot stuff, but both require the wearer to be tethered to a PC. Sulon Technologies' Q headset might make the VR experience less tied-down. The Q headset incorporates a full PC into its head-mounted package. That system is powered by an AMD... 2016-03-14 11:36 1KB techreport.com 96 What will the iPhone 7 look like? Probably not a lot different to the iPhone 6S A leak which claims to show a schematic of the upcoming iPhone 7 suggest that Apple plans on retaining much of the design of the iPhone 6/6S. 2016-03-14 11:35 1KB www.zdnet.com 97 Automakers invest in tech to stop you dozing off at the wheel Could technology which detects when you are distracted at the wheel save lives? 2016-03-14 11:21 2KB www.zdnet.com 98 Microsoft March madness update: Switching phones and making returns It's been almost two weeks since I started the month with Microsoft evaluation, but I'm making a couple of changes while continuing on with Microsoft for mobile. 2016-03-14 11:21 5KB www.zdnet.com 99 For Germany's cloud providers, it's location, location German telecos are rolling out new cloud services this week to compete with those from the big U. S. providers. Their selling point is location -- though their “home grown” infrastructure is still dependent on technology from U. S. and Chinese suppliers. 2016-03-14 11:20 3KB www.itnews.com 100 What CIOs should know about working with startups Is partnering with a startup really a risk? 2016-03-14 11:20 3KB www.techradar.com Articles

Total 100 articles, created at 2016-03-15 00:04

1 Five things to expect from Apple's imminent iPhone launch (2.00/3) On 21 March Apple is expected to launch its long-rumoured iPhone 5SE - as well as unveiling a host of other new products and product updates. Taking place at a grand unveiling in Cupertino, California, not far from the technology giant's HQ, there's also expected to be a new iPad and refreshed Apple Watch models on offer, following months of speculation surrounding Apple's rumoured smaller, cheaper iPhone. We've rounded up five features you can expect from the incoming handset. Metal design Apple's last 'mid-range' iPhone, the iPhone 5C, was encased in brightly coloured plastic, but the iPhone 5SE is expected to look more like the iPhone 5S. It'll also have a bit of iPhone 6S about it, according to leaks showing that the iPhone 5SE will feature a curved glass front similar to that seen on Apple's latest . Apple's event invitation ( above ) also suggests that the handset will be available in the same colour options as the iPhone 6S. Four-inch screen Of course, the iPhone 5SE's standout feature will be a pint-sized 4in display, similar to that seen on the iPhone 5C before it. There's no word yet as to whether it will feature a boost in resolution, but speculation points to a "2.5D" display with curved edges that improves the tactile sensitivity of finger swipes. However, it apparently won't offer 3D Touch functionality. A9 processor Early rumours pointed to the iPhone 5SE having an A8 processor, but more recent leaks suggest that it will have the same A9 internals as the iPhone 6S. This means, in theory, that the smartphone will support Apple's Live Photos feature, and should match the firm's flagship devices when it comes to overall performance. Beefy battery The iPhone 5C had a fairly lacklustre 1,500mAh battery, but the iPhone 5SE will reportedly up the ante with a 1,715mAh unit. Affordable-ish price Apple will never make a cheap smartphone, but the iPhone 5SE, much like the iPhone 5C, will be more affordable than its iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus siblings. Prices for the iPhone 5SE will start at $450 for a 16GB model, the same as the iPhone 5, according to reports. pctechmag.com 2016-03-15 00:03 www.v3.co.uk

2 Microsoft is Ticking People Off with Automatic Windows 10 Upgrades (2.00/3) Head over to Twitter or Reddit and you'll discover a whole bunch of angry users raging against Microsoft for supposedly upgrading their systems to Windows 10 without their consent. "Wtf. I left my computer unattended and when I came back it was installing Windows 10. I'm 100 percent sure that no one accessed my computer when I was away. Did it install automatically? Without me agreeing?," a user on Reddit questioned. "Tell me why my PC auto-restarted and is now updating to Windows 10. I didn't ask for this," a Twitter user posted to Microsoft's Gabriel Aul. This isn't the first time Microsoft has appeared overly aggressive in rolling out Windows 10. Back in September of last year, it decided to push out Windows 10 upgrade files to PCs to anyone who chose to receive automatic updates through Windows Update. "We help upgradable devices get ready for Windows 10 by downloading the files they’ll need if they decide to upgrade," a Windows rep said at the time. "When the upgrade is ready, the customer will be prompted to install Windows 10 on the device. " Three months later, Microsoft made it seem like upgrading to Windows 10 was mandatory by splashing Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 users with a pop-up prompting them to "Upgrade now" or "Start download, install later. " So, what's going on this time around? There are a few things at play, as ZDNet points out. One of them is that a recent Internet Explorer 11 update is causing some users to see a "Get Windows 10" banner, though that wouldn't explain the bulk of complaints. What's more likely happening is that Microsoft is pushing out Windows 10 as a Recommended Update rather than an Optional one. Microsoft warned last October that it planned on reclassifying Windows 10 as such starting in early 2016, and that all started happening on the first day of February. It now appears that Microsoft is being more aggressive about the matter. Some users report getting a notification that their PC is scheduled to be updated. The initial pop-up is supposed to appear three to four days in advance, followed by a second (and final) pop-up that appears just 60 minutes in advance. Several of the people complaining on social media say they left their PC for a period of time— sometimes leaving it running overnight—only to return to find that Windows 10 was either installed or in the process of installing. It's hard to say if they ignored the initial message days in advance or if perhaps it never came, but either way, Microsoft isn't winning users over with this approach. If you're not interested in upgrading to Windows 10, pay attention to any pop-ups or offers to upgrade. You could also err on the side of caution (as it pertains to avoiding an unwanted upgrade) by unchecking the "Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates" in the Windows Update section of the Control Panel. Follow Paul on Google+ , Twitter , and Facebook theinquirer.net 2016-03-14 17:24 Paul Lilly www.maximumpc.com

3 Microsoft to bolster artificial intelligence using Minecraft (2.00/3) MICROSOFT HAS revealed plans to use Minecraft as a platform for artificial intelligence (AI) experiments. An AI machine will be taught to play Minecraft as an add-on for the game, allowing interested home users and academics to evaluate the AI engine it is working on. The company, which bought the game's designer in 2014 for $2.5bn , has always had ideas for the platform beyond simple gaming, of which this is just the latest. The project, known as AIX, will be looking to see if the machine can learn how to play freely rather than being tied to specific tasks it is instructed to do. It is hoped the machine will also be able to collaborate with other players in constructions and solving problems. AIX will be an open source add-on requiring no extra payment, but users will be sandboxed from other Minecraft players. "People build amazing structures that do amazing things in Minecraft, and this allows experimenters to put in tasks that will stretch AI technology beyond its current capacity," said Katja Hofmann, project leader at Microsoft Research UK. The company believes that this mass rollout of AI interaction will bring with it the possiblity of accelerating the speed at which computers reach human-level intelligence, that is to say all- round intelligence rather than intelligence at management of specific programming. AIX is already up and running in a private beta test, but is expected to be available to anyone who wants it by the summer. It comes at a pivotal time for AI after arch-rival Google demonstrated that its AlphaGo machine has learnt enough to repeatedly beat a world champion at board game Go, which involves far more subtle nuances of intelligence and forward thinking than something like chess, which computers have been playing since the sixties. Minecraft also has a pivotal role in the design of Judge Dredd helmet and Augmented Reality 'experience' Hololens , which is due for launch over the summer. µ techradar.com 2016-03-14 15:54 Chris Merriman www.theinquirer.net

4 Code.org volunteer emails exposed in information leak (2.00/3) A number of email addresses belonging to volunteers working for Code.org have been compromised, leading to peculiar "job offers" from Asia. Code.org , a non-profit aimed at improving computer science skills for today's students, offers online classes to students in 180 countries. The network relies on volunteers to keep going, and unfortunately for some, their email addresses have been compromised. You would be forgiven for thinking the data breach was caused by the exploit of a database vulnerability or phishing campaign, as is often the case. Snapchat, for example, was recently left apologising and blushing in embarrassment after a cyberattacker impersonated the CEO, Evan Spiegel, in the quest for employee data. Oblivious, the hapless staff member handed over files documenting payroll information belonging to current and former employees. In this case, however, CEO of Code.org Hadi Partovi said in a blog post the information leak was caused not by a cyberattacker, but rather a coding failure which left volunteer email addresses open to the eyes of the Internet. The executive said that the Code.org team found and fixed an "error" in the organisation's domain late Friday. The error allowed public access to a number of databases containing the email addresses of volunteers through standard Web browsers, and as a result, at least 10 volunteers received "job offers" from a recruitment firm in Singapore. "This wasn't a case of hackers breaching our security systems, rather it was our mistake of leaving volunteer email addresses accessible via the web browser," Partovi says. "None of our servers were ever vulnerable, nor were our 10 million student/teacher accounts or passwords or other information ever vulnerable. " The recruitment firm in question which used the information leak to send these emails said they were sorry and would remove the email addresses from mailing lists. However, the unnamed company was quick to say its intention was simply to "get them more opportunities to improve their own Computer Science skills beyond the opportunities available in their geographical boundaries / location. " Code.org's CEO described the problem as both an "error" and "vulnerability," and does not know how widespread the problem may be. To prevent any further data leaks caused by the same problem, the team has secured the Web domain and double-checked their databases. The CEO has apologised for the data leak, which in the grand scheme of things, is small and of relatively low risk in comparison to many of the data breaches we hear about every week. However, the case does highlight just how far information can spread through the smallest of errors. theinquirer.net 2016-03-14 12:59 Charlie Osborne www.zdnet.com

5 CityFibre CEO Greg Mensch's ambitious plan to bring FTTP to 100 UK towns and cities - and beat BT in the process The telecoms landscape has been dominated in the past few months by calls from the likes of Sky, TalkTalk and Vodafone for Ofcom to force BT to turn its wholesale Openreach division into a separate entity....

2016-03-15 00:03 www.v3.co.uk

6 6 Microsoft releases 13 security bulletins in latest Patch Tuesday

Microsoft has released a total of 13 security bulletins in its latest slew of Patch Tuesday updates. The good news is that there are no obvious exploits or vulnerabilities in the wild at this stage, according to security company Shavlik. Product manager Chris Goettl suggests that this month is much like previous months, including a lot of updates, but nothing targeting widely publicised critical vulnerabilities. "March Patch Tuesday has a great deal of updates, but no public disclosures or exploited vulnerabilities as yet. Let's start with what we know for sure: Microsoft has released 13 bulletins, five of which are 'critical' and eight 'important'. With these bulletins, Microsoft is resolving 39 vulnerabilities this month," said Goettl. "On the non-Microsoft front, Adobe is releasing two bulletins, rated as Priority 2 and 3, that resolve four vulnerabilities. Additionally, Mozilla Firefox 45 has been released and is rated 'critical' as it resolves 22 vulnerabilities. " Goettl is not the only one quick off the mark with advice. Qualys CTO Wolfgang Kandek said in a blog post that Apple joins the party with a fix for the Transmission bug, and that Microsoft and Adobe are providing fixes for (yet more) PDF flaws. Although there are no exploits for these security flaws currently known about in the wild, they will inevitably come soon. "Apple has a first this month. The popular bit-torrent client Transmission was Trojaned with a ransomware version. Fortunately, it was available for download for less than 12 hours and Apple quickly revoked its signing certificate and updated the signatures in xprotect. Nevertheless, check for Transmission 2.90 in your network and isolate it if found," said Kandek. "That's it for March. No zero-days or immediately exploitable vulnerabilities this month, but apply these patches as quickly as possible anyway. We have seen attackers convert vulnerabilities into exploits quickly, particularly on Adobe Flash. " Adobe has issued a new version of Acrobat Reader with three critical fixes , which Kandek reckons you should consider a priority. To hear more about security challenges, the threats they pose and how to combat them, sign up for Computing's Enterprise Security and Risk Management conference , taking place in November. Attendance is free for qualifying end-users, so sign-up early.

2016-03-15 00:03 www.theinquirer.net

7 Microsoft accused of bundling new Windows 10 nagware into latest Patch Tuesday updates Microsoft has been accused of sneaking new Windows 10 nagware into its latest slew of Patch Tuesday updates. First discovered by Woody Leonhard at InfoWorld , this month's KB3139929 security fix issued as part of Patch Tuesday has an unexpected surprise inside - KB3146449 - under the rather vague explanation of "several non- security-related fixes for Internet Explorer". It is the lastest in a growing number of updates from Microsoft masquerading as security patches, but which in reality amount to little more than nagware intended to badger users into upgrading to Windows 10 . The latest Windows-10-related update makes Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser display a blue banner on the new tab page, which says: 'Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows 10'. What makes it even more worrying, especially from a security point of view, is that it is not separated from a genuine Internet Explorer security patch - users have no choice except to uninstall the security patch or keep the ad-generating payload. Furthermore, KB3146449 doesn't appear in users' update history. The only way users can tell if they have got it is the banner appearing on IE and the only way of preventing it is not to install the security patch. However, only home users are affected. Corporate licences are exempt from the latest Windows 10 nagware. When Windows 10 was launched, with the offer of a free upgrade to users of existing Microsoft operating systems from Windows 7 and later, some commentators questioned the business model. Indeed, they labelled it "unsettling and Orwellian". In addition to bundling Windows 10 software and nagware into updates for Windows 7, 8 and 8.1, the company has also increasingly failed to disclose to users the nature of its patches and updates. Instead, it has provided only vague and, often, inaccurate summaries. Windows 10 itself also sends back vastly more telemetry data on users' PCs back to Microsoft. The company claims that it is anonymised, used purely for technical purposes and that no personal data is disclosed. However, many suspect that it is part of the business model for Windows 10. Computing has asked Microsoft for comment and will update the story accordingly when we get a response. Computing 's Enterprise Security & Risk Management Summit 2016 will be on 24 November 2016 in Central London. It is free to attend for qualified end users. The Cloud & Infrastructure Summit from Computing 's sister title V3 will be held from April 20-21 online .

2016-03-15 00:03 www.theinquirer.net

8 Opera to add native ad blocker to desktop web browser Opera Software - currently the subject of a $1.2bn takeover bid by a consortium of Chinese investors - is including an ad blocker in the latest version of its desktop web browser that, it claims, will speed-up page loading times by up to 90 per cent. The browser pioneer presented a series of comparisons with other ad blocker and browser combinations, finding that even the next best result, Firefox with Adblock Plus enabled, is still 21 per cent slower than Opera's integrated offering. “Advertising fuels the internet, allowing many services to be free for users. But, as our new research shows, most web pages today are significantly slowed down by bloated ads and heavy tracking. We don’t accept it. We want the web to be a better place for us all as users,” said Krystian Kolondra, senior vice president of engineering at the company and head of Opera for computers. The speed boost is achievable because ads are blocked at a web-engine level, meaning that it's the browser itself that controls page loading without having to make outside calls to plug-ins or extensions for each element. To really rub it in, Opera also includes a benchmarking tool to show users and developers just how much difference the tool makes. The debate over ad blocking is currently raging as people sick of unwieldy and performance- reducing advertisements are flocking to block, leaving webmasters struggling to find a business model that works. Ad blocking has increased 41 per cent year on year worldwide, and 98 per cent of blockers are used on PCs. Three announced recently that it is to become the first UK carrier to block adverts at a network level, while Apple has allowed ad blocker apps in the App Store for a year. Opera announced a new version of its mobile browser earlier this week that brings many of the Chromium 49 features, such as physical beacon recognition and Bluetooth interaction, bringing it into line with the current Chrome mobile edition.

2016-03-15 00:03 www.theinquirer.net

9 Hundreds of cloud companies still vulnerable to DROWN security flaw One week after critical security flaws in SSL/TLS security were uncovered, some 620 cloud services remain vulnerable to DROWN - with just a handful having taken action over the past seven days. That is the warning of security company Skyhigh Networks, which follows an analysis of cloud services. Other cloud security companies have warned that many providers still remain unpatched against a slew of other security flaws. " Skyhigh Cloud Security Labs has found that 620 cloud services remain vulnerable to [DROWN] compromise. That's not much lower than the 653 services that were vulnerable a week ago," claimed Skyhigh Networks' co-founder and vice president of engineering Sekhar Sarukkai. He continued: "What's troubling about this critical vulnerability is how slow cloud providers have been in responding to patch their services against DROWN [simply] by disabling SSLv2 support. While more cloud services overall were vulnerable to Heartbleed compared with DROWN, cloud providers quickly patched their systems to close their Heartbleed vulnerabilities. " He added: "That's bad news for the 98.9 per cent of enterprises who use at least one vulnerable service. As of today, the average organisation uses 56 vulnerable services. " Researchers at another security vendor, cloud access security broker Netskope, has drawn similar conclusions. " We have been monitoring SaaS apps to check whether they are vulnerable to DROWN. As part of our research, we have identified 676 software-as-a-service (SaaS) apps that are vulnerable to the attack," warned Swapnil Pathak, a member of technical staff at Netskope. According to Netskope, 676 software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications are vulnerable to DROWN. Two of those apps are considered as "high" risk in Netskope's "Cloud Confidence Index", 42 apps are rated "medium" and the remainder "low". Netskope also claimed that a number of the cloud SaaS applications that it monitors also remain vulnerable to a slew of other recent critical security flaws: 73 apps are still vulnerable to FREAK attack; 42 apps to Logjam; 38 apps to OpenSSL CCS attack; and, seven apps remain vulnerable to Poodle. Netskope accused SaaS application providers of poor patch-management practices, which could leave clients' data at risk. DROWN, which stands for "Decrypting RSA with Obsolete and Weakened eNcryption", is a cross-protocol vulnerability that affects any server that supports obsolete SSLv2 connections, as well as any other servers (including SMTP and IMAP) that share the same certificate with an SSLv2 server. Computing 's Enterprise Security & Risk Management Summit 2016 will be on 24 November 2016 in Central London. It is free to attend for qualified end users. The Cloud & Infrastructure Summit from Computing 's sister title V3 will be held from April 20-21 online .

2016-03-15 00:03 www.computing.co.uk

10 Windows 10 Redstone update delayed for another year The Redstone update for Windows 10 is to be delayed by another year in order to cash in on the next wave of devices, according to reports. Redstone was originally expected this summer, and will be a significant update to Windows 10 - somewhere between a Windows 10.1 and a Windows 11. However, Microsoft "expert" Mary Jo Foley has reported that the company is now planning to wait until spring next year to take advantage of the devices likely to make up the bulk of the CES class of 2017. These devices will more than likely use Intel's next-generation Kaby Lake microprocessors, which will be announced later this year. Microsoft has a new policy of withdrawing support for specific chipsets after a set period, in a classic case of built-in obsolescence, so waiting for the next generation of Intel chips ought to maximise their lifespan and reduce Microsoft's support costs. Behind the headlines, it may be that Redstone needs more time to refine. The recent Fast Ring version has caused problems with freezing on Microsoft Surface devices , which is a small glitch, but such glitches can add up and all need to be ironed out before public release, so more time can only be a good thing. Speculatively, it could also give Microsoft a neat line in the sand to have one last stab at getting Windows 10 Mobile, and therefore Continuum, right. The mobile platform has been dogged by problems and is still available only on a handful of devices eight months after the launch of the desktop platform. Engineers will want to iron out all these bugs before releasing Redstone. As such, some sort of soft relaunch around Redstone could be a smart move. It could even be the point when we quietly lose the numbering altogether, as Windows-as-a-service reaches the next stage of simply becoming Windows.

2016-03-15 00:03 www.v3.co.uk

11 IT contractors set for new tax crackdown in this week's Budget IT contractors are set to be hit in another tax crackdown in the Budget this week with the news, leaked over the weekend, of plans for a clampdown on the number of people using personal service companies. The clampdown is being pitched as an attack on a tax loophole used by top stars and senior mandarins, but much of the £400m that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, expects to raise as a result of the measure will come from ordinary freelancers, including IT contractors, rather than millionaire television stars. The clampdown is expected to affect as many as 100,000 people, including IT contractors. Under the leaked proposal, employers will be required to determine whether their staff are full- time employees, and not temporary workers, and put on the payroll accordingly. A government source reportedly told the Daily Mail : " You have situations where someone working in a public body pays thousands of pounds less in tax than someone doing exactly the same job alongside them who's taxed as an employee. That can't be fair - either on the taxpayer or their fellow workers. We are going to put a stop to it. " The focus on contractors follows a Conservative backbench revolt over Osborne's plans to slash pension tax relief, with the Chancellor casting around for various ways in which he can raise money from taxpayers to close the stubbornly high budget deficit. As many as 20,000 people in the public sector alone - many of them freelance IT contractors on short-term contracts - are believed to be paid via personal service companies. In 2010 in the run-up to the election, the Conservatives had promised to review the IR35 rules should they be elected in May 2010. However, the coalition government made few changes to the rules, while Osborne is set to effectively expand them and enforce them even more rigorously. In 1999, the-then Chancellor Gordon Brown introduced IR35 in a bid to crackdown on people either effectively being employed full-time or spending a year or more in the same employment. The aim of IR35 was to increase the level of tax and national insurance paid by people being paid via personal service companies. IR35 - named after the 35th budget press release that year - came into force in April 2000. It was introduced to prevent workers from setting up limited companies through which they would work and be paid, avoiding national insurance and pay reduced taxes. The IR35 measure was intended to "look through" this contractual arrangement and to apply the law to the actualite of the relationship between employer and contractor. However, its introduction caused a storm of protest among IT contractors, who pointed out that they do not benefit from holiday pay and a slew of other benefits enjoyed by the full-time employed. Other tax-raising measures on Osborne's agenda that will affect contractors includes plans to increase insurance premium tax on car insurance from 9.5 per cent to 12.5 per cent. Osborne is also planning to raise the threshold for the 40 per cent tax rate. More and more people have been drawn-in to this tax band as successive governments have failed to raise it in line with rising wages. Stay tuned for Computing's analysis of the proposed clampdown on contractors and for our Budget coverage on Wednesday.

2016-03-15 00:03 www.computing.co.uk

12 If you have less than a petabyte of data you don't need Hadoop Hadoop is unnecessary for smaller projects, and most firms should avoid using it unless they have to. That's according to Vincent de Lagabbe, CTO of Kaiko, a company that offers real-time tracking of bitcoin exchanges. "Considering the volume that we are dealing with Hadoop would be overkill. It was fancy technology for the time and people started using it for everything, but most things you can do without it. From experience, it's better to try to do without Hadoop - I mean use it when you need it but when you don't, don't bother," he said. Kaiko pulls in transaction data from the Bitcoin blockchain and also monitors the major exchanges to see who is buying the crypto-currency in order to track its price in real-time and provide additional information about the market. While speed and being able to handle unstructured data is important, volume is less of an issue for the firm. "If you've got less that a petabyte of data Hadoop is probably overkill," de Lagabbe said. Instead of Hadoop, the company is deploying DataStax Enterprise (DSE), a commercial distribution of the Apache Cassandra NoSQL database, to perform storage duties. "We didn't know what we were going to be putting into the database and we wanted something that could be flexible. Cassandra seemed like a pretty good solution to our requirements. We tried several other things but they weren't as stable for our usage. So Cassandra is our main data store. We store everything in it - blockchain data, exchanges data, everything else. " So why not opt for the free community version? "We chose DSE because we found it was more stable than the version we were using before, maybe because the builds are more carefully monitored, but I don't know," de Lagabbe said. "Then there's the extensibility, so you can easily have a Spark cluster on it to do further analysis. We have not deployed such cluster yet but we plan to do that for real-time streaming and in- memory map reduce jobs. "The support from DataStax has been helpful," he added. Recent research from Computing has found that Spark is catching up with Hadoop as a primary general-purpose big data platform - although the two are most frequently used together. Join us for Computing's Big Data & Analytics Summit on March 17th. Attendance is free to qualifying end-users, so book your place now before they all go

2016-03-15 00:03 www.computing.co.uk

13 Osborne to green light driverless-car motorway trials The government is to back trials of driverless cars on UK motorways as early as next year, in a bid to make the UK a centre of driverless car research and technology. Chancellor George Osborne is expected to announce where and when driverless cars will hit the motorway network in his Budget speech this week. “Driverless cars could represent the most fundamental change to transport since the invention of the internal combustion engine. Naturally, we need to ensure safety and that’s what the trials we are introducing will test,” said Osborne. Clearly, Osborne has his eye on securing a slice of the driverless car market, which has been estimated will be worth about £51bn in overall social and economic benefits by 2030, as well as having the potential to provide 320,000 new jobs by the same date . For some time the government has been championing driverless cars, with trials on public roads given the go-ahead last year. Trials have been happening in Bristol, Greenwich, Milton Keynes and Coventry, with the government also announcing plans to trial driverless lorries on UK roads as well. Earlier in the year the government committed £20m to research communication between vehicles and infrastructure , after announcing a similar sum for research last year. So it comes as little surprise that the Chancellor is to reinforced the government’s commitment to the technology. The UK is in a good position to advance driverless car technology, particularly given it is the home of Jaguar Land Rover, a company at the forefront of high-tech motoring. The car maker recently revealed it wants to create driverless cars that behave like human-controlled vehicles as part of its research into understanding how people drive cars. However, before 'autonomous vehicles' can start to fill Britain's roads, the government will need to address several challenges, such as the safety, liability and licensing of driverless cars . Computing's Internet of Things Business Summit 2016 takes place on 12 May. Hear experts from across British industry reveal the latest technology and research - places are free to qualifying end users 2016-03-15 00:03 www.v3.co.uk

14 Rural Payments Agency chief: GDS and Defra didn't listen to warnings that CAP project was failing The chief executive of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), Mark Grimshaw, has suggested that senior chiefs at the Government Digital Service (GDS) and Defra did not listen to his fears about failings in its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) programme. The CAP programme was aimed at developing new systems and processes to support the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy in England. It was established in 2012 to address previous failings in how CAP payments were delivered by the Agency. Earlier this month, MPs slammed senior leaders at the RPA, GDS and Defra for what they described as a "childish turf war" , which involved "dysfunctional and inappropriate behaviours" that were "inexcusable and deeply damaging" to the £154m programme. It led Public Accounts Committee chair Meg Hillier to say that it was "frankly embarrassing to learn of senior and highly paid civil servants arguing to the detriment of hard-pressed farmers". RPA chief Grimshaw gave evidence on the scheme to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. He suggested that there was an element of truth in the PAC report, but claimed that the language used had been sensationalised. "I am certainly not in the position of accusing the committee of being inaccurate and if those are the words I used then I will recant them here and now," he said. Grimshaw said he regretted being unable "to get over to the programme the requirements of the business from a delivery and functional perspective" - claiming that this was "a concern that will live for me for many years". "As a personal failing I was not able to communicate, and not able to get senior people to recognise, that the programme was in difficulty," he said. "I was not in a position to have my opinion prevail," he added. Grimshaw suggested that "all four senior officers" who had been given responsibility for the programme should share the blame for its failings. He also claimed that "almost all" outstanding 2015 payments will be made by the end of the month.

2016-03-15 00:03 www.computing.co.uk

15 Accenture wins £86m Met Police application management deal Accenture has been selected by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) to deliver application management services to the Met, in a five year deal with a potential value reaching £86m. Accenture is the third big-name IT provider to become part of the Met Police's SIAM/Tower model, under its Total Technology Programme. It follows the Service Integration & Management (SIAM) contract awarded to Atos , and the £250m end-user computing and hosting towers won by CSC. Under the terms of the agreement, Accenture said it would help the MPS to manage its core IT applications, including enhancing them and "rationalising the application portfolio". In addition, Accenture will aim to increase the use of digital technology by the service, implement new mobile and analytics solutions, and increase digital interaction between police and citizens. According to Chris Naylor, digital policing lead at the Met Police, Accenture will help the service to "move to a more modern, flexible IT environment", which in turn will enable it to reduce costs and improve the technology available to help its officers service the public. The five-year contract has options for one-year extensions, and Accenture claims that 60 new technology roles will be created in Newcastle as a result. Accenture will be expected to work with Atos, which was awarded the SIAM contract in November. The Met Police decided to press ahead with the SIAM tower model despite a blog by Alex Holmes , deputy director of the Government Digital Service (GDS), suggesting that the tower approach was not in line with government policy and is "not condoned". While many other public sector bodies, such as the Ministry of Justice and Transport for London (TfL), are in the middle of a SIAM implementation and would therefore find it near impossible to change their strategies midway through, with a fresh contract the Met Police could feasibly have taken a different approach. However, Computing has questioned the suggestion that the tower model is "no longer condoned" by government , as it had been working for the Tri-Borough council. Failures may be more to do with the implementation than the model itself. TfL CIO Steve Townsend recently told Computing that some public sector organisations were dressing up old outsourcing methods as the tower model - and that's why they were likely to fail. However, he declined to name the public sector bodies he thought were doing this.

2016-03-15 00:03 www.computing.co.uk

16 Government to review its contracts with Atos after IT failure The government has committed to review £500m worth of contracts with controversial outsourcing company Atos, following a major IT failure. The Guardian reports that the Cabinet Office said the government will undertake a full review of every contract worth over £10m that has been carried out with Atos. The move indicates that the government is frustrated with the performance of the French outsourcing firm, which has been blighted by numerous project failures. One of the most prominent issues encountered by Atos was the exit of its healthcare division from a contract under which it carried out the Work Capability Assessments, which checks if benefits claimants are fit for work. Atos’s latest fiasco concerns its role in the implementation of the General Practice Extraction Service (GPES), an IT system designed for NHS organisations to extract data from all GP practice computer systems in England. The investigation stems from the National Audit Office (NAO) discovering a botched planning and procurement process leading to costs for the project escalating from £14m to £20m. Atos had a key role in delivering a tool to manage data extraction but according to the NAO is had fundamental flaws and did not work. This prompted the public accounts committee to investigate Atos' role in the project and said it did not show an “appropriate duty of care to the taxpayer” and acted only within its own short- term interests. Atos has defended itself against such accusations saying it was not able to see the entire project it was contracted to work on. An Atos spokeswoman also told V3 that it was unable to test its part of the system in a live environment because it did not have access to components provided by other organisations. The company Atos claims the system delivers 40 extractions per year, but the NAO noted only NHS England has received data from the GPES. Regardless, as a result of the failure, the committee urged the government to probe Atos' relationship with the UK public sector as its major supplier, with the goal of ensuring such mistakes do not happen again. While it is rare for the Cabinet Office to probe a single supplier, its plan to investigate all Atos’ contracts with the government could spell further bad news for the company, given it is currently working HM Revenues & Customs, the Department of Health, the Ministry of Justice and NHS Scotland. However, Atos appears to be willing to submit to probing from the Cabinet Office, judging by a spokeswoman’s comment to The Guardian . “We look forward to working with the Cabinet Office with whom we have a transparent and open relationship and we look forward to maintaining our green rating for delivery across Whitehall,” she said. While Atos is in the Cabinet Office’s sights, it is not likely to be the only major IT supplier and outsourcing form with government contracts likely to come under scrutiny. The government’s supposed ambitions to move away from major deals with large enterprises and its goal to bring more development ad support of digital services in-house, is all part of the efforts of the Government Digital Service to drive more digital services in Whitehall and reduce its IT costs and inefficient projects .

2016-03-15 00:03 www.computing.co.uk

17 Intel shoots for 3D broadcasting with Replay Technologies acquisition Intel is pushing into digital broadcasting, having acquired Israeli 3D video specialist Replay Technologies. The purchase is a natural extension of Intel's partnership with Replay, which began in 2013, and involved the two working on various 3D video projects. Their most recent project involved 360-degree broadcasts of the NBA All-Star Weekend, specifically in the Slam Dunk contest where basketball players pull off spectacular shots. The company's proprietary freeD 3D video rendering format uses 28 ultra high-definition cameras and computational power from Intel's servers to broadcast the contest in a way that provides a 360-degree view of the dunks. Wendell Brooks, president of Intel Capital, explained that the purchase of Replay will see Intel scale up the use of freeD to create what it call "immersive sports" for broadcasters and fans. "Immersive sports requires the high-performance computing Intel is known for, and it's also data driven, fuelling the continued build out of the cloud. For athletes, coaches, broadcasters and fans, the ability to capture, analyse and share data adds compelling new dimensions to the game," he said. "As part of Intel, the team will focus on growing their existing business and advancing their technology with Intel to deliver faster freeD processing and new features like the ability to manipulate and edit personalised content. " Intel's acquisition of Replay, for an undisclosed sum, is an attempt to further develop 3D broadcasting, and shows how companies are exploring the use of new digital technology and related hardware to provide enhanced services to customers and audiences. 360-degree broadcasts could, for example, provide web broadcasts in documentaries or travel programmes, while companies could showcase products, designs and even financial results in a more interactive and engaging way. The Amba Hotel in London's Marble Arch already does something similar with a virtual reality app and headset that allows potential clients to get an interactive tour of the hotel's facilities even if they are in a different country. IBM is another company exploring the use of cutting-edge digital technologies in traditional industries, and has created a Watson-powered robot concierge for a Hilton hotel .

2016-03-15 00:03 www.computing.co.uk

18 Post Office to hire a 'head of IT vendor management’ The Post Office is looking for a head of IT vendor management to develop, formalise and direct relationships with IT vendors. The new role has been created as a part of the Post Office's 2020 strategic vision, which will transform every aspect of the organisation - people, systems, infrastructure, processes and customers, the Post Office claims in its job ad . The successful candidate will have to establish internal policies and approve external policies, standards, processes and templates for working with IT vendors. They will facilitate and maintain relationships between vendors and internal resources, including IT stakeholders and executive leadership. He or she will also have to develop a framework for interactions between vendors and the business. The head of IT vendor management will have to develop and lead an IT vendor management strategy, and ensure that IT vendors deliver maximum value. They will have to understand IT vendor spending by category, cost centre and SIAM tower, while managing staff that are part of the vendor-management team. The Post Office is looking for someone with strong negotiation, relationship and interpersonal skills, as well as basic understanding of the technology or services delivered by IT vendors. The right candidate will have to understand internal decision making and the decision making that occurs among vendors; understanding their motivations, strategic plans and market challenges. In addition, he or she will have to have strong dispute resolution and mediation skills, knowledge of market trends in contract and pricing models, service delivery and performance management, and the ability to bridge communication between IT and the business. According to the job ad, the head of IT vendor management will report to the IT service director and be located in London. Computing has filed questions with the Post Office to get more information and will update the story in due course.

2016-03-15 00:03 www.computing.co.uk

19 Like Pi, Cyber-Threats Never Cease: Here Are 5 Ways to Combat Them While many schoolchildren enjoy Pi Day—March 14—as an extra excuse for a sweet treat, the true revelry behind the day is a celebration of π as a mathematical constant. Pi has been calculated to more than 1 trillion digits beyond its decimal point, and it will continue infinitely without repetition or pattern. It never ceases, and it is not predictable. In this respect, this beloved mathematical constant has much in common with cyber-security—cyber- threats never cease, they can't be predicted, and the only "sure thing" is that threats are always changing. The bad guys are constantly evolving their methods to keep up with changing trends—for example, as more organizations store their most valuable data in the cloud, hackers are looking for ways to gain access to this data. And, as the Internet of things (IoT) has gained momentum, so too have attacks on Internet-connected devices. So how can companies best manage this constant and prepare for the unexpected? This eWEEK slide show, based on interviews with Blue Coat , shares tips for how companies can best fend off potential threats, as well as how to deal with a breach when it does occur.

2016-03-14 23:47 Darryl K. www.eweek.com

20 What We'll Likely See in Apple's Rumored iPhone 6c Smartphone For weeks there has been unending speculation about what mobile devices Apple will announce this month. Apple has finally confirmed that it will hold a special media briefing on March 21 to make those announcements. However, it won't announce its next-generation iPhone models at the event; that will be reserved for later this year. Instead, there will be iterative updates to Apple's iPad and Mac lines, as well as some new watchbands for the Apple Watch. But the most intriguing announcement at the briefing could be a smaller, cheaper iPhone designed to appeal to midrange customers. Over the past several weeks, there has been talk that Apple will introduce a small-scale iPhone, perhaps called the iPhone 5se. But some pundits say it makes more sense for this new smartphone model to be called the iPhone 6c if Apple holds true to its current model naming conventions. But no matter the name, the iPhone 6c should come with a sleek design, surprisingly high-end components and a price that will appeal to a broad range of customers. But if this new model is to attract as many new customers as possible, it will need to come with many of the following features.

2016-03-14 23:47 Don Reisinger www.eweek.com

21 Xerox Expands Line of ConnectKey Multifunction Printers The 14 Xerox ConnectKey-enabled i-Series MFPs are equipped with ready-to-use apps to speed up paper-dependent business processes. Print solutions specialist Xerox announced it is expanding what multifunction printers (MFPs) can do in the workplace through advancements to its ConnectKey technology. The 14 Xerox ConnectKey-enabled i-Series MFPs are equipped with ready-to-use apps to speed up paper-dependent business processes and make it easier for users to collaborate. For example, Xerox App Studio 3.0 allows channel partners to build and tailor MFPs using simple templates that modify and customize the user interface to synchronize to their business processes. For more sophisticated customization, the Personalized Application Builder (PAB) program lets users connect with partners to build complex apps to meet their workflow requirements. "Apps have enabled an increase in productivity by giving customers the ability to customize their devices to their specific requirements," Jim Rise, senior vice president of Xerox's office and solutions business group, told eWEEK. "ConnectKey apps have brought this customization to the MFP. " He explained that, with this technology, users can scan directly to cloud services and can even develop simple applications for the complicated and repetitive tasks they need to perform often, and embed them on their MFP. "Consider our ConnectKey app for easy translation," Rise said. "It is an app that goes on the MFP but is linked to a cloud service that performs translations—so you can scan in English and a copy in French will come out. This shows how the power of an app on the MFP can leverage the cloud to do more work for you. " In addition, the Xerox App Gallery is preloaded directly on the user interface to give users direct access to a variety of apps from Xerox and partners. "We have intentionally built the ConnectKey technology ecosystem so it is easy to use," Rise explained. "For example, the simplified and intuitive user interface can be tailored to individual business needs. Users can easily create a workflow that enables them to scan information to their selected destinations—email, desktop, network folders, cloud repositories—in secure text searchable formats at the touch of a button. " Now available on iOS and Android, the Mobile Link App lets users create one-touch, automated workflows on their mobile devices to remotely control a Xerox MFP and transmit documents to fax, email and cloud hosted services like Box, Dropbox and Google Drive. "As the expectation for more productivity continues to grow, people will start to look for easier and faster ways to work with their documents. Technology must be agile, with the ability to support new collaborations," Rise said. "This is the power of Xerox MFP apps that can be quickly developed to meet the needs of customers as technology changes. An MFP that is a full IoT [Internet of things] citizen, like our ConnectKey-enabled Smart MFP i-Series, will play a key role as an additional point of access for document management. "

2016-03-14 20:33 Nathan Eddy www.eweek.com

22 PCs Still Feeling Heat From Competition, Economic Issues, IDC Says IDC's recent outlook for the industry is one of continued struggles and slight gains, while ABI analysts remain more optimistic about the future. The contracting global PC market is expected to stabilize after this year, but IDC analysts are warning that the range of issues facing the space will keep PC makers from being able to significantly boost the volume of shipments after four years of declines. Competing products—such as detachable tablets and phablets—as well as continuing worldwide economic concerns and users extending the life cycles of their current systems will all conspire to keep shipments low, even if the numbers stabilize, IDC analysts said in a report March 11. "PCs remain an indispensable part of the tech landscape," Loren Loverde, vice president of Worldwide Tracker Forecasting and PC research at IDC, said in a statement. "However, replacements continue to be postponed, and future shipments increasingly depend on replacing older PCs. Detachable tablets and phablets will remain formidable competitors to traditional PCs throughout the forecast. " The struggles in the PC market have been well-documented as the growing competition from smartphones and tablets have eaten away at shipment numbers since early 2012. In January, analysts with both IDC and Gartner released numbers that showed that in 2015, the number of PC shipments worldwide fell by as much as 10.6 percent , and that the total number of shipments fell below 300 million for the first time in several years. The hope among PC and component makers has been that as newer models sporting Intel's latest "Skylake" processors and Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system hit the market, interest among consumers and business users in buying new PCs will increase. There will be some gains made, the analysts said. The number of shipments of ultraslim systems will jump more than 70 percent by 2020 and shipments of convertible notebooks—which also can be used as tablets—will more than double over that time. In addition, shipments of all-in-one desktops will increase by more than a third, and notebooks with screens that are smaller than 14 inches and low-priced PCs also will see growth, they said. However, demand continues to be depressed by such economic trends as falling commodity prices and foreign currencies, and being able to upgrade their existing PCs with Windows 10 has enabled many PC users to extend the lives of their current systems, the analysts said. There also continues to be soft demand from channel partners, which still are trying to clear out the inventory of existing systems on their shelves to make room for newer models. These issues have reduced IDC's outlook for PC shipments this year to a 5.4 percent decline— a drop of a couple of percentage points—while the outlook for 2017 and beyond has been cut by about a percent. There is still an expectation of stabilization within the industry and positive growth in 2018, but it will be up and down, with small declines some quarters and years, they said. This comes even as the demand for tablets continues to decline—it fell 10 percent last year. That's because the new large-screen detachable tablets being pitched as PC replacements have come on the market and given a boost to the space. Shipments of these systems grew less than 6 percent in 2015, more than doubling the numbers a year before. IDC's numbers came out just days after a more optimistic view from analysts at ABI Research. They see a PC market that is going through a significant transition with the development of new models such as two-in-ones and the rise of such systems as Chromebooks giving the new life. The data suggests that the space is changing, not fading away, they said. "Industry experts greatly exaggerated the death of the PC," ABI Research Director Jeff Orr said in a statement. "The platform is continuing to evolve its designs to provide flexibility for productivity purposes, while also adapting its shape to support tablet-like, touch applications. Chromebooks and ultraportable PCs will continue to drive the most growth within the notebook PC market. " ABI is predicting that the number of Chromebooks shipped will grow from 6.2 million units last year to 7.6 million this year and 11.6 million by 2021, while the number of ultraportable notebooks will go from 27.1 million in 2015 to 41.2 million by 2021. The number of laptop notebooks will drop from 126.1 million this year to 116.3 million in 2021. In all, 163.7 million notebook PCs will ship this year, and 169.1 million will ship in 2021, the analysts said. Ultraportable PCs will make up more than 24 percent of the total number of notebooks shipped in 2021.

2016-03-14 19:15 Jeffrey Burt www.eweek.com

23 Qualcomm to Launch VR SDK for Snapdragon Chips The SDK will include features that will make it easier for developers to create virtual reality apps on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 processor. Qualcomm officials want to make it easier for developers to create virtual reality games and applications using the chip maker's Snapdragon platforms. The company starting in the second quarter will offer a VR software development kit (SDK) that will give programmers the tools they need to more quickly build VR software with the Snapdragon 820 system-on-a-chip (SoC) for smartphones and upcoming VR headsets running Google's Android operating system. Qualcomm officials pointed to the heterogeneous nature of the ARM-based Snapdragon 820—it not only includes the Kyro CPU and Adreno graphics technology, but also the Hexagon digital signal processor (DSP) and Spectra camera image signal processor (ISP)—as an ideal platform for VR development. At the same time, the SDK will include other advanced VR features, they said. "VR represents a new paradigm for how we interact with the world," Dave Durnil, senior director of engineering at Qualcomm, said in a statement. "We're providing advanced tools and technologies to help developers significantly improve the virtual reality experience for applications like games, 360 degree VR videos and a variety of interactive education and entertainment applications. " Qualcomm is the world's top mobile chip vendor, but company officials are looking to expand the reach of its products by moving into new growth markets, such as connected cars, consumer drones, the Internet of things and data center servers. The chip maker will see familiar competitors as it moves into the VR space. Intel also is making a push into VR as well as augmented reality (AR) and 3D video, most recently with its acquisition of Replay Technologies , a 5-year-old Israeli company that the chip vendor has been working with since 2013 to bring its immersive and interactive video capabilities to the Intel Architecture. Advanced Micro Devices earlier this year unveiled its new Polaris GPU architecture , the fourth generation of AMD's Graphics Core Next initiative that is based on the company's 14-nanometer FinFET transistor design and that targets a wide range of use cases, from laptop games to multimedia applications to VR that can run on small-form-factor system designs. It's part of a larger effort at AMD to gain traction in such immersive computing technologies as VR. At the same time, other chip makers, including Nvidia, also are making moves in the VR space. Qualcomm officials said the Snapdragon 820 has a broad array of features that can support VR, but that the SDK—which will be available in the second quarter through the Qualcomm Developer Network—gives programmers the tools they need to leverage those features for building VR software. Among the VR technologies supported by the Snapdragon SoCs is DSP sensor fusion, which enables developers to more easily gain access to the data from gyroscopes and accelerometers in the chip architecture through the Snapdragon Censor Core and processing capabilities of the Hexagon DSP, officials said. In addition, the SDK supports asynchronous time warp with single buffer rendering. The capability delivers the fast transformation of rendered images in 3D space, which reduces latency by up to 50 percent, they said. The development kit also includes support for 3D binocular vision with color correction and barrel distortion—which improves the visual quality of graphics and video—VR layering to ensure that menus, texts and other overlays are rendered correctly in a virtual world, and power management through integration with Qualcomm's Symphony System Manager SDK for improved management of CPU, GPU and DSP power and performance.

2016-03-14 19:20 Jeffrey Burt www.eweek.com

24 Technology Boosts Health Care Engagement Levels The CDW survey indicated providers are preparing for action and have more resources for engaging with patients at their disposal than ever before. As evidence mounts confirming the strong link between more involved patients and improved outcomes, patient engagement is emerging as a priority in the health care community, according to a CDW survey. The CDW report, which surveyed 200 patients and 200 health care providers to explore patient engagement from both perspectives and to better understand how needs, challenges and motivators differ between the two groups, found that 57 percent of patients have become more engaged with their health care during the past two years. The survey also indicated providers are preparing for action and have more resources for engaging with patients at their disposal than ever before, with more than two-thirds (67 percent) of providers working on ways to make personal health care records easier to access. In addition, more than a quarter (28 percent) of providers say that they either provide or plan to provide the ability to merge the information stored on mobile devices or wearable technologies to the online patient portal they offer. Nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of patients say greater access to healthcare information would help them take a more active role in their health care, while 60 percent of providers believe that providing patients with greater online access to their personal health care information would improve their quality of care. The survey results also indicated that both groups agree on the best tools for increasing engagement levels, including Web-based access to healthcare information and online patient portals. However, providers see significantly greater value in mobile applications than patients, while patients see significantly greater value in online chat capabilities than providers. While 60 percent of providers say improving patient engagement is a top priority at their organization, patients see things somewhat differently – only 35 percent said they have noticed their providers becoming more engaged with them. Patients ranked greater communication with their health care provider (50 percent) as being just as influential as a life event (50 percent) in motivating them to become more engaged with their health care. The survey also indicted that roadblocks to engagement remain, with 65 percent of patients saying they face challenges when trying to engage with their health care providers Those patients aged 18-49 are 19 percent more likely to say they face challenges when trying to engage with their health care than those above age 50. Overall, 78 percent of patients said they would like to be able to more easily access their personal health care records, with nearly half (48 percent) saying one of the top benefits would be more self-knowledge about their medical information and history.

2016-03-14 19:19 Nathan Eddy www.eweek.com

25 Newegg Daily Deals: Corsair Gaming K70 Keyboard, OCZ Trion 150 480GB SSD, and More! Top Deal: Think about all the typing you do in any given day, whether it's hammering out reports and emails or mashing buttons in a frenzied online battle. You're only as good as your tools, and if you're still using a squishy membrane or dome-switch keyboard, it's time for an upgrade. Mechanical key switches are where it's at, and that's what's featured for today's top deal—a Corsair Gaming K70 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - Cherry MX Brown for $110 with free shipping (normally $144). Not only do you get a high-quality mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX Brown key switches, but this deal also comes bundled with a Corsair Gaming MM300 anti-fray cloth gaming mouse. Other Deals: OCZ Trion 150 2.5-inch 480GB SATA III TLC Internal Solid State Drive for $120 with free shipping (normally $140; additional $20 Mail-in rebate) WD Black 6TB Performance Desktop Hard Disk Drive - 7200 RPM SATA 6 Gb/s 128MB Cache 3.5-inch for $270 with free shipping (normally $308) Asus Gaming Laptop 6th Generation Intel Core i5 6200U (2.30 GHz) 8 GB Memory 1 TB HDD 128 GB SSD NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M 2 GB 15.6-inch Windows 10 Home 64-Bit for $720 with free shipping (normally $899) Corsair 600W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 Plus Bronze Power Supply for $65 with $4 shipping (normally $65; additional $20 Mail-in rebate)

2016-03-14 19:08 Maximum PC www.maximumpc.com

26 WhatsApp faces standoff with feds over its message encryption WhatsApp, the Facebook-owned maker of an instant-messaging app, may face the same legal conundrum as Apple in a case that centers on the thorny issue of privacy versus security. Both cases shine a light on the conflict between individual privacy and national security. Tech companies, privacy advocates and others have argued that encryption, which scrambles private data so it can read only by people with authorized access, is necessary to safeguard personal information and communications. The government and law enforcement officials counter that argument, saying the technology hinders their ability to investigate criminal and terrorist activity. Some law enforcement investigators see the WhatsApp issue as more critical than the Apple case as it centers on their ability to perform wiretaps, a common tool for fighting crime. They want the Justice Department to ask a judge to compel WhatApp to provide access to the data. Other investigators say the agency is "reluctant to escalate the dispute," the Times added. The government's standoff with Apple has shown that the ability to unlock private data is far from a clear-cut issue, even in important criminal or terrorist investigations. The companies don't have the keys to encrypt the data, so accessing the information would require extraordinary measures. Apple would have to create a new custom version of its iOS mobile software to unlock the iPhone tied to the San Bernardino incident. The government says the repercussions would be limited, but the company has argued that to do so would make all iPhones more vulnerable to hackers and foreign enemies. Even James Comey, director of the FBI, which is trying to get access to the iPhone, told Congress earlier this month that encryption is "vital" and that "there are undoubtedly international implications" if the government tries to break it, the Times said.

2016-03-14 17:51 Lance Whitney www.cnet.com

27 The IoT Playbook for Wireless LAN The explosion of connected devices will generate an unprecedented amount of data and those that cannot make the shift will likely struggle to survive. Investing in IoT must be at the top of every IT and business leader’s priority list because of the speed of evolution. Download this white paper to learn how to weave IoT technology into the fabric of the business to compete with both traditional competitors and new market entrants.

2016-03-14 17:47 www.itworldcanada.com

28 Avaya WLAN 9100 Series: Top 10 things you need to know Avaya WLAN 9100 Series delivers wired-like performance and predictability to your mobile users and today’s wireless office. Providing application-level visibility and control, it helps ensure your wireless network delivers uncompromised access to the applications and services that are most valuable to your business — and is not crippled by bandwidth-hogging personal and recreational applications.

2016-03-14 17:47 www.itworldcanada.com

29 Google's AlphaGo isn't taking over the world, yet A supercomputer programmed by Google just beat a human at a really complicated game. But don't worry about the computer winning at anything else. On Saturday in South Korea, a Google artificial- intelligence program dubbed AlphaGo beat world champion Lee Sedol in Go, an ancient and complex board game in which strategy and tactics collide with intuition and cunning. "When I look back on the three matches, even if I were to go back and redo the first match, I think I would not be able to win because I misjudged AlphaGo," Lee said at a postgame press conference on Saturday, following his third straight defeat. Against the odds, Lee came back and beat Google's computer the following day, but it wasn't enough to tip the scales of the contest. The Google DeepMind Challenge, which has taken place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, has drawn tens of thousands of online spectators who have followed the matches live on YouTube. Streams of the software versus wetware competition have received more than 3 million views since the contest started on Wednesday. Though Lee has officially lost the best-of- five contest, he will play one more match to establish a final score in the face-off, which ends Tuesday. The public interest wasn't piqued solely by the popular game, which is played widely in Japan, China and Korea. For many, Google's success raises questions about how the relationship between man and machine will evolve. After all, if Google's software can win a game that hinges on little more than feel, won't it someday be able to do something less complex, like your job? Not anytime soon, say computer scientists. Despite their fast advances, robots remain too woefully single-minded to give humanity a giant pink slip. Oren Etzioni, the CEO of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, says teaching computers to read and then answer questions about that content is still a work in progress. For example, when Etzioni had computers read eighth-grade science texts, they could answer only about 60 percent of the questions on a test. "Understanding a single sentence can be a lot more complicated than playing Go," Etzioni says. Computers, he says, have yet to demonstrate that they "can solve fuzzier problems where things are more nuanced. " Go's complexity is what drew Google's artificial intelligence team to it. Facebook is also working on a program that can play the game. Go, which originated in China thousands of years ago, is played on a 19x19 grid with black and white stones. The board's size means the number of possible moves is greater than the number of atoms in the universe, according to Google, making it a more difficult programming challenge than chess. Artificial intelligence expert David Levy says Go's complexity makes Google's win a bigger victory than IBM's 1997 triumph over world chess champion Gary Kasparov. "Singularity is much closer than most people previously thought," said Levy, referring to the mooted moment in computer science when computers outpace humans. Levy has twice won the Loebner Prize, an award for creating the most humanlike computers. Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari, was also impressed by AlphaGo's feat. "Go is the most important game in my life," Bushnell said. "It's the only game that truly balances the left and right sides of the brain. The fact that it has now yielded to computer technology is massively important. " Still, Google's Go victory doesn't mean the end of humanity as we know it is nigh. "For all its difficulty, Go is still an artificial problem with very simple rules," says Pedro Domingos, a computer science professor at the University of Washington. "Building a home robot, for example, is something of a different order of magnitude altogether -- the robot needs common sense, physical dexterity, etc, which are all still sorely lacking in AI. " There you have it. Your job is safe for now. Updated at 11:48 a.m. PT on March 13: adds results of fourth contest.

2016-03-14 17:51 Max Taves www.cnet.com

30 John Oliver cracks wise on Apple versus FBI Now that the heavyweights of the tech world have had their say on the battle between Apple and the FBI, it's time for the comedians to weigh in. With his signature mix of outrage and wit, Oliver laid into the daunting topic of encryption, the technology that scrambles information to protect it from prying eyes, and the tricky balance between personal privacy and national security. How better to do that than with commentary, parody and jokes about pictures of genitalia? Oliver came out in support of Apple's position, but stopped well short of fanboy territory. His 16- minute rant, nuanced in its look at the virtues and flaws of both sides' arguments, culminated in a skit about shaky iPhone security cut from real Apple ad footage. Oliver drilled in on this element of the debate. "An encrypted phone is not really like a bank or a safe," he said. "If you penetrate a safe, you've only penetrated that safe. But a code to open a phone could be modified to many more phones. " The FBI maintains that this is a one-time affair that won't affect iPhones at large. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Oliver episode. The FBI could not be reached for comment. In a bid to balance his jibes, Oliver also took aim Apple, which in defiance of the FBI has said it's not capable of just rustling up a skeleton key to the iPhone on demand. But if the government believes Apple has magic powers, Oliver said, well, that's Apple's own fault. Consider the company's ads that have linked it to both Einstein and Gandhi, or have claimed that its products can change the world. In an additional dig at the company, Oliver said Apple's "rose gold" iPhone "looks like someone vomited a salmon dinner onto a pair of dirty ballet shoes. "

2016-03-14 17:51 Katie Collins www.cnet.com

31 Cyberwar, out of the shadows (Q&A) What do all these things have in common? They were likely the work of foreign governments with a political ax to grind. Slate national security reporter Fred Kaplan describes this world in "Dark Territory: The Secret History of Cyberwar," a book released earlier this month. He charts the growth of the US government's hacking abilities, culminating in the creation of the US Cyber Command, which links the National Security Agency's spy prowess with the might of the US military. But for all the damaging hacks the US government could carry out, Kaplan contends with the startling reality that the US is at risk of all the same attacks. While it might not be the world of mutually assured destruction faced during the Cold War, cyberwar clearly presents as many dangers as it does opportunities for the countries that engage in it. Kaplan spoke with CNET about why this world has remained in shadow for so long, what could deter cyberattacks in the future, and why public debate will help. Q: Cyberwar is hard to define. Why do you think that is? Kaplan: Right now there isn't much distinction between cyberwar and cybersecurity. It was decided a few years ago the best way to forestall an attack was to know when the attack is coming. You get inside the networks of your prospective opponents. It's the digital equivalent of having spies on the ground. The dangerous thing is, it's only one step between that and launching a cyberattack. They could attack us with very little notice, and we could attack them with very little notice. If you're worried that the other side is going hack our infrastructure first -- making it much harder to defend ourselves -- there's an incentive to go first. You write that there is no good strategy for deterring cyberattacks. Why is deterrence so hard? Kaplan: Part of the problem is that all of these issues have been entangled from the beginning with the National Security Agency and similar agencies, which are all extremely secretive. Contrast that with the nuclear standoff of the 20th century. From the beginning, you had people engaging in conversation about strategy: "How do you not just fight, but deter another country from blowing us up? " There hasn't been anything like this with cyber. It's been too secretive for anyone with a strategic bent to discuss. But now the NSA has merged with US Cyber Command, a combat command [that leads the military's hacking efforts]. It's not just a tool of espionage, but of war. It's not in the American tradition to build up power like this without it being open to a public discussion. We've amassed all this stuff that can do all these amazing things before anyone has decided whether we should be doing these things. How has public awareness of NSA surveillance changed the debate about the US government's hacking abilities? Kaplan: I think it's had a very salutary effect. Edward Snowden's revelations about the extent of domestic surveillance prompted [President Barack] Obama to look into possible NSA abuses and whether there were reforms that should be enacted. They came up with some measures and some reforms, a few of which were actually enacted. There is potential abuse of this. If this technology had been around when Richard Nixon was president and J. Edgar Hoover was director of the FBI, they could have done things that would make what they really did look like tiddlywinks. What has the impact been on tech companies now that the public is more aware of the US government's hacking abilities? Kaplan: There's a long long history of, call it what you will, cooperation or complicity, between telecoms and the intelligence world. In the 1920s, leftovers of the World War I intelligence agency persuaded Western Union to give it access to all the telegrams coming into the country. When the software and the Internet industries started coming about, it actually became a two- way street. When Microsoft presented a very early version of Windows to the NSA for vetting, the NSA found 1,500 points of vulnerability. They left some open so that they could sneak into this system. [Nonetheless,] when the Snowden revelations went public, a lot of the software companies howled in protest. What about Apple, which is fighting a court order to help the FBI break into an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters? Kaplan: Apple is a little bit different. Beyond the phone, the government is trying to create a legal precedent that will allow them to perpetuate this arrangement through the next era of encryption, which is making the next generation of software and hardware harder to hack. What Tim Cook is very much interested in is ending this arrangement. But here in the US, for all the clamoring about privacy, you'll see a 10,000-word contract and you just mindlessly click, "I agree. " It's different in other countries. A lot of countries with totalitarian pasts, like Germany, look at the NSA like the East German Stasi. There's the fear that they would lose foreign markets because people would say, "I don't want to buy this product. " But the effect that it's had, I'm not really quite sure. The fact is these companies still make the best stuff. Correction, March 14 at 10:29 a.m. PT: This story originally gave an incorrect title for J. Edgar Hoover. He was the director of the FBI.

2016-03-14 17:51 Laura Hautala www.cnet.com

32 8 tips to stay ahead of the top 2016 data protection trends Data protection has never been more in the forefront, as information increasingly is the lifeblood and differentiator in a constantly changing world. As the largest backup and recovery solution provider in the world, Veritas has the unique opportunity to engage with business leaders around the globe, across a wide range of public and private enterprises. Keep up with the latest trends and download this paper to learn tips to maximize the value of your data protection investment — meeting more demanding SLAs, simplifying management across a complex IT environment, and reducing costs — so you can free up resources to innovate and create business value.

2016-03-14 17:47 www.itworldcanada.com

33 AlphaGo victorious over human opponent Lee Se-dol Google's AlphaGo artificial intelligence has beaten human opponent Lee Se-dol 3-1, with one more match still to be played. Google's DeepMind-powered AlphaGo artificial intelligence has officially beaten human champion Lee Se-dol at the notoriously complex game of Go, but failed to repeat its clean sweep against Fan Hui. Go has long been a target of artificial intelligence research, thanks to its gigantic problem space. Where chess has a possible 10-to-the-power-of-120 games, Go boasts 10-to-the- power-of-761 - despite having just three rules - making it far too complex for even the most powerful computers to attack in a brute-force manner. Earlier this year, though, advertising giant Google boasted of a breakthrough : a DeepMind-powered artificial intelligence dubbed AlphaGo, which proved its mettle by besting three-time European Go champion Fan Hui five games to zero. To prove its victory was no fluke, Google set up a match against champion Lee Se-dol with a $1 million prize pot. Prior to the first match Lee was confident of victory, predicting he would either sweep the board 5-0 or potentially lose a single game to the AI as he got used to its playing style. That prediction, however, proved inaccurate: AlphaGo won the first match , rattling Lee, and won the next two to take the overall win. Unlike its battles with Fan Hui, AlphaGo's victory wasn't a clean one: after losing three matches in a row, Lee was able to secure a victory last night as he spotted some weaknesses in the AI's play style. Although not enough to make a difference to the overall outcome of the competition, Lee's victory has proven useful for the team behind AlphaGo who now know where its limitations lie and can develop means of improving its play still further. The final match, played now for pride rather than victory by Lee, is scheduled for Tuesday.

2016-03-14 17:47 Published on www.bit-tech.net

34 Valve teases SteamVR Desktop Theatre Mode Valve has teased a new SteamVR feature, dubbed Desktop Theatre Mode, which will allow non-VR games to be used with a SteamVR-compatible headset. Valve has announced SteamVR Desktop Theatre Mode, a new feature of its virtual reality platform that will allow games not made with VR headsets in mind to operate with the HTC Vive and other SteamVR hardware. With the launch of the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift just around the corner, and Sony expected to follow with the PlayStation VR in short order, it's no surprise that companies heading to the Game Developer Conference (GDC) are gung-ho about virtual reality. Valve, naturally, is particularly enthusiastic about the technology: it has invested heavily in its SteamVR platform, and has even partnered with smartphone maker HTC to produce a flagship hardware bundle with motion control, positional tracking, and a high-quality stereoscopic head-mounted display dubbed Vive. A big for early adopters of VR, however, is availability of software. Like those who first picked up a 3dfx accelerator board, VR owners are likely to find themselves limited to a small number of titles until the technology proves itself to have a large enough market to become a mainstream target platform for developers. Where developer-centric bundles like Oculus VR's early Rift Developers Kit (Rift DK) hardware allowed users to hack support into existing titles, a smoother experience will be demanded of the retail hardware - and that's something Valve is claiming to offer. In an email sent out to press ahead of GDC, Valve explained that it is soon to launch a SteamVR compatibility feature that will allow existing games on SteamVR hardware without waiting for the original developers to produce a patch. ' SteamVR Desktop Theatre Mode is in early beta, ' the company's email read, ' and will be showcased at next week's Game Developer Conference in San Francisco. Desktop Theatre Mode enables users to play non-VR games with VR systems such as the upcoming HTC Vive and others. ' Full details of which headsets and games will be supported are not yet available, with Valve expected to maker a broader announcement - and possibly even launch an open beta - at GDC.

2016-03-14 17:47 Published on www.bit-tech.net

35 Tim Sweeney Returns with Another "Stop Microsoft" Op-Ed [DONE] co-founder Tim Sweeney is back at it again with another shot at Microsoft and its Universal Windows Platform (UWP). He says that the industry must fight the company, which is accused of attempting to “monopolize and control” the PC gaming market with the new platform. He and other developers feel that UWP is basically a “walled garden,” although Kevin Gallo, corporate vice president of Windows at Microsoft, says differently. “The Universal Windows Platform is a fully open ecosystem, available to every developer, that can be supported by any store,” he recently told The Guardian . “We continue to make improvements for developers; for example, in the Windows 10 November Update, we enabled people to easily side-load apps by default, with no UX required.” Even Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft's Xbox division, chimed in on the debate on Twitter . “UWP is a fully open ecosystem, available to every developer, and can be supported by any store,” he said. Now Sweeney has taken to VentureBeat to write his next op-ed piece about Microsoft’s UWP initiative. He begins the article with the history of UWP, reporting that its roots can be traced back to the WinRT APIs found in Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. He says that ultimately, UWP is trying to address the problem of sandboxing and application security that leads to malware invading Windows-based computers more so than Apple’s operating systems. “By creating UWP, a new set of Windows APIs aimed primarily at consumer applications, Microsoft is starting from a simpler foundation and adopting a modern capabilities-based security model that is easier to secure and to trust,” he writes. “Should a given app be able to access the microphone? Access the file system’s root directory? Install device drivers? These are problems that UWP and iOS similarly solve.” He acknowledges that the idea behind UWP is “a good one,” but the current design decisions constrain the ecosystem. He goes on to explain how developers could run third-party UWP apps at the launch of Windows 10 back in July 2015, and how that changed with the release of the Windows 10 “Threshold 2” update in November 2015. He points out that the process is unlike win32 program distribution, which allows developers to compile a program, upload it to a website, and enable consumers the freedom to download and install it without restrictions or limitations. “It is true that Microsoft’s process for developers registering and submitting applications for certification are, today, unintrusive compared to platforms like Xbox or even iOS,” he writes. “But to make Microsoft the sole arbiter of which developers and apps are allowed on the Windows platform is a dramatic change in status quo. Once Microsoft is in that position, there is no limit to the power they can wield over all of us in the future.” Sweeney explains his definition of an open ecosystem as a system where developers and publishers can create and release software without the need for approval or certification from the operating system vendor. He also points out that the Internet is an open ecosystem, allowing anyone to register a domain and maintain a website that anyone can visit. Hey, websites are “code” too! So in the end, Sweeney’s op-ed piece suggests that an open UWP ecosystem would mean that every software vendor had “equal footing,” including Valve’s Steam, Good Old Games, and other digital storefronts. Microsoft would also provide developers with the exclusive operating system features that only UWP apps previously had access to. However, currently there’s a “degree of distrust” in the industry over Microsoft’s true intentions with UWP based on the company’s actions over the last decade. He hopes that Microsoft will make a “clear” commitment on the CEO-level to the open future of the PC and UWP. “I believe it would be foolish for the world’s major developers and publishers to adopt this new technology based on mere assumptions about plans that Microsoft has not itself stated with technical clarity,” he says.

2016-03-14 17:03 Kevin Parrish www.maximumpc.com

36 Heroes and villains reimagined as traditional Chinese crockery In order to revive the fading art of hand-painted qīng-huā, or blue-and-white underglaze ceramics, Mona Tang and Chris Ng have turned to an unlikely saviour: heroes and villains of pop culture. "The way we see things in the world are not always clearly black or white. For example you may see 'good' people do bad things and 'bad' people do good things," they wrote. "We thought this was an interesting concept and chose to use it as inspiration for our idea which we ended up naming 'Vice and Virtue'. Through this idea we selected 5 different pop culture characters which we felt matched this analogy. " The characters themselves are rendered in traditional style, and are lovely to look at. They are also rather charmingly renamed. Dragon Ball's Goku becomes Prince Ape, Super Mario's Bowser becomes Black Tortoise King, Godzilla becomes Pacific Dragon, Pokemon's Charizard becomes Arrogant Fire Dragon and Darth Vader becomes Dark Samurai. The 10-inch-diameter plates will be available in two different types. The regular plates will be created with decals on bone china, and are offered as a reward for a minimum CAD$35 pledge (around $25, AU$35 or £20). The higher-end plates will be individually hand-painted by Ng on kaolin china, then coated with a glaze before firing to protect the image. These premium plates are being offered as a reward for a minimum pledge of CAD$125 (around $95, AU$125 or £65). "Most of the blue and white porcelain in market usually use Ceramic Decals to colour the porcelain. Our hand paint blue and white underglaze white porcelain plates are hand painted individually. Each plates are painted by painter one by one just like painting a picture on plate," Tang said in an email. "The painter can't make any mistakes while they using ink brush to colour. Controlling the ink brush drawing fast or slow, hard or soft is very difficult. This is the most traditional way to colour porcelain in China. Although this is impossible to make all plates' patterns exactly the same, the painter has to make sure each plate's pattern and colour quality are consistent. "

2016-03-14 19:03 Michelle Starr www.cnet.com

37 This is what it could look like to ride in a hyperloop If zipping around in a small pod through a confined tube at around 760 miles per hour sounds a bit claustrophobic, one hyperloop company is hoping it has a remedy. Hyperloop Transportation Technologies said Sunday it is working on "augmented windows," so passengers in the futuristic high-speed transportation system have something to look at while traveling. The hyperloop, for the uninitiated, is billionaire Elon Musk's vision for the future of travel. It involves pods hovering on a cushion of air moving through a narrow tube at the speed of sound. Musk unveiled the plans in 2013, but the CEO of Tesla and rocket company SpaceX said he couldn't build it because he did not have the time. The hope for the hyperloop is that it could revolutionize transportation by cutting down travel time and reducing traffic. But tubular travel doesn't leave much room for many other things people are used to when traveling, like windows. So HTT said it's developing interactive screens you can control with your phone that would let passengers see a realistic landscape outside. The company said it would do that by using motion-capture technology but didn't elaborate further. The "windows" would let you do things like pull up the time, speed you're going, or a map. The company said it is also working on a way for people to be able to see the same things on a screen at the same time. The idea is to create an experience that's vastly better than what passengers are used to, but not too foreign. The company is working with a German augmented reality company called Re'flekt to develop the windows. HTT is working on a hyperloop track in Quay Valley, California, about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The company hopes to have the project up and running there in three years. And last week, HTT announced plans to build a track in Europe connecting Slovakia, Austria and Hungary, with the first section to be completed by 2020.

2016-03-14 19:03 Richard Nieva www.cnet.com

38 Microsoft Banishes Bitcoin Payments for Windows App Store If you were saving up your Bitcoins with plans of going on a shopping spree for Windows apps and games, you'll first have to covert them to U. S. currency. That's because Microsoft has quietly announced that it's no longer accepting Bitcoin currency. There wasn't a big press release or blog announcement, just a simple update to its support indicating that Bitcoin can no longer be used for purchases in the Microsoft Store. "You can no longer redeem Bitcoin into your Microsoft account. Existing balances in your account will still be available for purchases from Microsoft Store, but can't be refunded," Microsoft states. Microsoft also stated that the change applies to Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile, though it didn't give a reason for the change in policy. Previous to this change, Microsoft had been accepting Bitcoin currency since December 2014 "For us, this is about giving people options and helping them do more on their devices and in the cloud," Eric Lockard, corporate vice president of Universal Store at Microsoft, said at the time. "The use of digital currencies such as bitcoin, while not yet mainstream , is growing beyond the early enthusiasts. We expect this growth to continue and allowing people to use bitcoin to purchase our products and services now allows us to be at the front edge of that trend,” Bitcoin is perhaps the most popular of all the cryptocurrencies out there, though it still isn't mainstream. That might be why Microsoft decided to stop accepting Bitcoin currency. Another reason could be the various instances of criminal activity associated with Bitcoin, though if that was a concern, it seems odd that Microsoft would have accepted it in the first place. Follow Paul on Google+ , Twitter , and Facebook

2016-03-14 16:52 Paul Lilly www.maximumpc.com

39 Welcome to Train Jam: The ultimate game developer road trip I'm shooting down 2,400 miles of American railroad and I'm torn. What's more impressive: The breathtaking scenery outside the California Zephyr's windows, or Train Jam 2016, the greatest game jam experience a developer could hope for? Game jams see game developers come together in small teams to make video games in a very short space of time. Every jam is different. Some happen in a single location, some are synchronised events spread all over the world, some have prizes attached, some are designed to create topical education games. This is Train Jam's third year, and it has almost doubled in size every year since its inception. Train Jam organiser and independent game developer Adriel Wallick pulls it all together with the support of sponsors and volunteers. "It makes me feel very happy that I get to give this experience to people," says Wallick. "They get to meet a bunch of people from all over the world, make new friends, have this really cool journey experience. This pilgrimage to GDC. " As we travel through the Rocky Mountains, snow- draped peaks give way to impossibly deep canyons. Meanwhile, a team of experienced jammers from Europe work on a project with an American to make a game that uses accelerometers to measure the movement of the train, extrapolating and exaggerating it, then piping it into a VR headset. The experience is designed to trick the player into believing the movements they're physically feeling are far more intense than reality. "It's a great way to find your sea legs in the indie community," says jammer Jesse. "We're surviving together, sharing an experience. Some people worry about packing introverts onto a train and forcing them to work together, but I see it as a chance to extend outside your comfort zone. " I join other visitors in awe at the mesas, fissures and plateaus of Colorado. Here I find a team working on a multiplayer crafting game about cows that eat emoji. The emoji combine in their stomachs to make complex items for use in future combinations. This concept was born of the limited Internet access available as we shoot across Middle-America, requiring developers to make use of assets they already had on their computers. Energy wanes and waxes over the journey, but as the train closes in on California, the sound of small talk giving way to friendship is everywhere. People have forged relationships here to serve them as they build their future careers in the games industry. As these 200 venture forth into the 26,000 gathered for GDC, having new allies and fresh ideas to share makes for a remarkable launching point. "At the end they even get to show off their games at the largest game development conference in the world," says Wallick. "It's just such a cool opportunity for so many people. 'Wow, I just got to show off my game at GDC, I never thought I'd be able to do that!'"

2016-03-14 19:03 Jason Imms www.cnet.com

40 Facebook, Google, WhatsApp to beef up security of user data Facebook and Google are among the major tech players increasing their efforts to make sure your data is as secure as possible from prying eyes, including those of the US government. The moves by tech companies to expand the encryption for their products and services come amid a growing battle between Silicon Valley and the US government. Technology firms are putting a higher priority on security to convince customers their private data is fully protected. But the US government and law enforcement officials are challenging the encryption used in tech products, arguing that it obstructs their capability to access information vital in criminal and terrorist investigations. Apple has resisted the court order demanding it unlock the iPhone used in the San Bernardino shooting, saying that such an action would create a back door that could be exploited in other iPhones. Apple also has been talking with security experts about ways to make it more difficult for law enforcement officials to compel the company to turn over customer data, according to The Guardian. A hearing to examine the stalemate between Apple and the FBI is set for March 22 in federal court in Riverside, California. The battle line between privacy and security isn't a clear-cut one for either side. The government continues to insist it needs a way to bypass encryption to decipher the data and communications of suspected terrorists and other criminals. The feds, however, don't want to see weakened encryption or back doors that could spread to allow foreign enemies to hack into American products and networks. One idea proposed by some in the tech industry would be to keep the content of messages encrypted but ask companies to turn over metadata to the government in criminal investigations, The Guardian said. Such data keeps the content safe but discloses the names of the people messaging each other as well as where and when they communicated. Neither Facebook nor Google immediately responded to CNET's request for comment. A spokeswoman for Snapchat said the company had no comment. A WhatsApp spokesman had nothing to share on the matter.

2016-03-14 19:03 Lance Whitney www.cnet.com

41 Google's driverless car crashes are 'not a surprise' to US transport boss GOOGLE'S DRIVERLESS CAR has received some serious sass from a senior figure in the US government, who said he was not surprised the autonomous vehicle crashed. US transport secretary Anthony Foxx told the BBC that he all but predicted the fender-bender Google's driverless car had with a bus. The accident was one that for once Google actually took the blame for, having pointed the finger at human drivers in past crashes. "It’s not a surprise that at some point there would be a crash of any technology that’s on the road,” said Foxx in the stoical manner of a man who’s seen too much. Despite displaying fortune-teller levels of foresight into the inevitability of a driverless car crash, Foxx is not anti-autonomous driving; in fact he’s part of the drive to bring more autonomous cars to US roads. "I would challenge one to look at the number of crashes that occurred on the same day that were the result of human behaviour," he said. The transport secretary also noted that driverless cars should not be expected to drive perfectly, stating that their prowess should be seen against that of a human meatbag. This is good news for car maker Jaguar Land Rover, which is trying to make its autonomous cars drive in a more human-like fashion. Petrol heads, car nuts and fans of dying horrifically in twisted metal, rubber and glass, will bemoan all the attention driverless cars are getting , swearing they will never give up the wheel to a robot system. But they might as well be shouting into a void, as the tech is getting so much attention that Google’s self-driving AI could end up being treated as an actual real-life driver under US law . This is probably not the worst idea, given computers don’t get road rage, drink drive, fall asleep at the wheel or street race adolescents in clapped-out hatchbacks. This makes them safer than most human motorists, who often demonstrate the same poor judgment as Donald Trump’s hair stylist. µ

2016-03-14 16:31 Roland www.theinquirer.net

42 Hackers Bring Down DDoS Security Firm, Taunts Target with Sarcastic Tips A security outfit that prides itself on DoS and DDoS attack protection and mitigation was itself the victim of a DDoS attack late last week and over the weekend. Staminus Communications first disclosed the attack to the public last Thursday in a Twitter post, calling it a "rare event that cascaded across multiple routers in a system wide event, making our backbone unavailable. " Service was restored a few hours later but there was no mention of exactly what happened. A day later, the California-based outfit posted an update to its website confirming that it was an "unauthorized intrusion. " The attack not only prompted the company to take its system offline, it also exposed sensitive customer data. "Based on the initial investigation, we believe that usernames, hashed passwords, customer record information, including name and contact information, and payment card data were exposed," Staminus Communications CEO Matt Mahvi stated in a blog post . The attackers weren't able to extract Social Security numbers or tax IDs, though they still collected quite a bit of information about Staminus Communications' customers. "While the investigation continues, we have and will continue to put additional measures into place to harden our security to help prevent a future attack. While the exposed passwords were protected with a cryptographic hash, we also strongly recommend that customers change their Staminus password," Mahvi added. The hackers weren't content to just steal customer data, they saw fit to taunt the security outfit as well. According to Arstechnica , a subsequent data dump titled "TIPS WHEN RUNNING A SECURITY COMPANY" offered up sarcastic suggestions based on several security vulnerabilities discovered during the attack. The 'tips' included: Luckily for customers of Staminus, no credit card data was contained in the data dump. Nevertheless, Staminus customers might want to request new cards with new numbers to avoid future hassles. Follow Paul on Google+ , Twitter , and Facebook

2016-03-14 16:26 Paul Lilly www.maximumpc.com

43 43 State of security operations: 2015 report of capabilities and maturity of cyber defense organizations With over a decade of experience supplying the technology at the core of the world’s most advanced cyber defense and enterprise security operations centres (SOCs), HPE has worked with more of the world’s top cyber defense teams than any other organization and is uniquely qualified to publish this report. Download this second annual report as Hewlett Packard Enterprise provides updates to the capabilities, lessons learned, and performance levels of security operations based upon maturity assessments performed on worldwide organizations.

2016-03-14 17:47 www.itworldcanada.com

44 Top 5 pitfalls to avoid in your data protection strategy As you navigate the new digital age, your data protection strategy needs to be more than just the basics of backup and recovery. With the shifting tides of data centre requirements, you must have a data protection solution you can trust your business and career with. Navigating the various data protection solutions from physical to virtual and private to public clouds while ensuring enterprise scalability can be fraught with pitfalls. Done correctly, data protection is a critical differentiator for your business by helping to:

2016-03-14 17:47 www.itworldcanada.com

45 Antivirus software is blighted by major flaws and meaningless certification There are big problems with antivirus software from major security firms, and the certification they receive is a meaningless and ineffective rubberstamp, according to one security expert. Tavis Ormandy – who is part of Google's Project Zero team, and has uncovered flaws in the likes of Malwarebytes software , Trend Micro, Sophos and many more – wrote a blog post about his most recent revelations of vulnerabilities in Comodo Antivirus. He noted there were multiple flaws which were trivial to find – in his words, there's plenty of "low hanging fruit" like this out there which is "endangering billions of users worldwide" – and he observed that in general, antivirus vendors just aren't interested in vetting or improving their products. Ormandy said: "I don't think the antivirus industry is going to make even a token effort at resolving these issues unless their hand is forced," and he further noted that despite the vulnerabilities he easily located, Comodo received an 'Excellence in Information Security Testing' award from Verizon. According to the certification methodology (which Verizon publishes), 'excellence' apparently consists of, among other things, being able to detect malware, and having a function to enable (or disable) malware detection. Of course, rather than indicating any excellence in the field of combating malicious code, these are obviously very basic requirements for a package to even be defined as antivirus. Ormandy thus calls certification processes "meaningless tests", adding: "Perhaps the first step in improving the situation throughout the industry is making sure these certifications actually test something worthwhile". On Twitter yesterday, Ormandy observed that while mainstream AV products may prevent untargeted malware, they can actually enable targeted attacks because of their poor coding and implementation. He warns that something must change soon when it comes to these products, and that "all of the major security vendors are using ancient codebases with no awareness of modern security practices". Via: Network World Article continues below

2016-03-14 16:03 By Darren www.techradar.com

46 Computerworld UK Daily Digest - 14 March 2016 - Locky ransomware - Admins battle 'patch fatigue' - Devops training courses Useful devops training courses and resources for differing skill levels Here are all the latest tech trends, just for you. Computerworld UK examines what devops means for your organisation in 2016

2016-03-14 16:00 Christina Mercer www.computerworlduk.com

47 Microsoft releases to manufacturing SharePoint Server 2016 Microsoft has released to manufacturing (RTM'd) its SharePoint Server 2016 product , officials announced March 14. SharePoint 2016 will be focused, like its predecessor SharePoint Server 2013, on managing files, content management, sites and portals. Today's RTM of SharePoint Server 2016, as well as the accompanying Project Server 2016 and Office Online Server , follows on the heels of the first release candidates of the products in January 2016. At that time, Microsoft officials said SharePoint Server 2016 and Project Server 2016 would be generally available in the Spring of 2016. I've asked Microsoft if the company would share more specific availability dates for MSDN/TechNet customers. No word back so far. But there is an RTM trial version of SharePoint Server 2016 available for download today. And volume licensees will be able to get the final bits in May from the Volume Licensing Service Center, Microsoft officials said today. The focus of this release of SharePoint Server is on hybrid-computing scenarios, especially in search , officials have said. It also will add more data security and compliance support and better access to mobile content and applications. Many of the features in this release of SharePoint Server are already available in SharePoint Online. Microsoft officials said last year that SharePoint Server 2016 will not be the last on-premises version of SharePoint. More versions are planned "for the foreseeable future," officials said. Hybrid cloud: What it is, why it matters As organizations attempt to strike a balance between having all computational services on premises and offloading storage and computational time to the cloud, a logical middle ground has emerged: the hybrid cloud. And SharePoint Online won't be dismantled and replaced by a bunch of Office 365 features , officials also said, as it will continue to act as the platform underlying a number of Office 365 services, like Microsoft's Video portal, OneDrive for Business cloud storage, Team Sites and Delve, Microsoft's business app that looks and feels a lot like Flipboard. So what's next for SharePoint? Today's RTM blog post provides some very general guidelines. "We are on a mission to make SharePoint more simple, mobile, intelligent and secure to help customers unlock the value of having it as an integrated part of Office 365. This year, we will release significant new innovations spanning user experiences, document collaboration, mobile enhancements and platform improvements that will redefine modern content collaboration," blogged Seth Patton, General Manager for the SharePoint and OneDrive Product Management team. Microsoft also plans to hold a virtual event on May 4 where execs will "unveil our vision and roadmap for the future of SharePoint" and OneDrive for Business -- "both on-premises and in the cloud with Office 365. " Registration for "The Future of SharePoint" event is open today. Last week, I blogged about Microsoft's latest plans for OneDrive for Business during the first half of this calendar year.

2016-03-14 16:00 Mary Jo www.zdnet.com

48 Xbox One opens up cross-network play to PS4 and other platforms Microsoft has announced that it is enabling cross- network play for developers, which would allow Xbox One owners to play against people on PC networks and other consoles. ID@Xbox Director Chris Charla announced on Xbox Wire that Microsoft is offering up a bunch of new tools for developers, chief of which could open the door for multiplayer with PS4 players. "Of course, it's up to game developers to support this feature, and Xbox Live players will always have the option of choosing to play only with other Xbox Live players," said Charla. "We're thrilled to confirm that Psyonix's Rocket League will be one of the first games to take advantage of this new capability by enabling cross-network play between Xbox One and PC players, with an open invitation for other networks to participate as well. " Obviously the potential for any cross-play between Xbox One and PS4 depends on Sony, but there's a good chance we'll see developers on the Steam platform making use of the new tools. We've asked Sony for comment on where it stands. Article continues below 2016-03-14 15:58 By Hugh www.techradar.com

49 Best online grocery shopping 2016 UK: The best places to do your online food shopping, including Amazon Pantry Online grocery shopping is becoming increasingly popular across the UK, as can be seen by the amount of Tesco , Asda , Ocado , and Sainsbury’s vans that you’ll find parked up outside people’s houses. This could soon be augmented by the addition of Amazon trucks, as the retail giant launches its new Amazon Pantry grocery service for Amazon Prime members. With so many options vying for your weekly essentials, we take a look at what’s on offer, and which one would be the best for your perishable purchases. See also: How to go green and save money with tech; How to get a cheap holiday online There is quite a range of stores offering online groceries in the UK: All have established services, and Poundland has entered the fray recently. The big hitters all feature developed sites that are well laid out and offer comprehensive ranges of fresh food, drinks, and household goods. Functionality is pretty much the same across the board, with all the sites proving easy to use and understand. Loyalty schemes are worth taking note of, as there are some good deals available to regular shoppers. Tesco’s Clubcard is a real jewel in the crown for the supermarket giant, as the points shoppers accrue for spending money online, physically in-store, or at Tesco petrol stations, all go towards rewards. These include restaurant vouchers that can be quadrupled in value - so a £5 Clubcard voucher transfers into £20 at Pizza Express. Sainsbury’s offers Nectar points for its customers, and again this applies to online, in-store, or at the petrol pump. Waitrose has a range of benefits that change on a regular basis, but an interesting one is that MyWaitrose card holders are entitled to a free cup of tea or coffee when they visit a store. Very civilised. Perhaps the most interesting new addition to the mix is Amazon Pantry. This is exclusive to Amazon Prime members and has a unique approach to deliveries. Each order goes into a 20kg box, and when you add an item you’re told how much space it takes up. The first box costs £2.99, and additional ones in an order go for £0.99. At the moment the food is restricted to tins and packets rather than fresh, but there is still a decent range on offer and if you want to stock up on cupboard essentials or pet food in bulk then it can work out surprisingly cheap. If you enjoy slowly browsing the aisles of Waitrose looking for something to inspire your culinary imagination, then online grocery shopping might not be for you. On the other hand if the thought of marshalling a couple of toddlers past inconveniently placed confectionary shelves, all while trying to steer a determinedly wayward shopping trolley fills you with horror, well, online grocery shopping is probably going to be the best choice for you. Having your shopping delivered to your door has a strong appeal for most people, especially when booked into specific slots which can be almost any time of day or evening. Due to intense competition between supermarkets there are often deals to be had online, and various incentive schemes exist such as Tesco’s Clubcard points which can be saved up and exchanged for restaurant vouchers or days out. Then there is the added benefit of being able to set up regular shopping lists, so you don’t have to start with a blank slate every time you begin your order. Plus you can do the big shop while sitting on the sofa binge-watching Netflix. The future is beautiful, and slightly unhealthy. Just remember to order some fruit. It will come as no great surprise that shopping for groceries online is little different to that of any other retail experience, with the exception that there will be more items in your basket at the end. Once you’ve set up an account with an online supermarket the first thing you’ll need to do is book a delivery slot. This will usually be either one or two hours long, and will be priced differently according to demand so peak times (typically weekends) are more expensive. It’s a general rule that £6 is the most you’ll have to pay, with some slots costing as little as £1. Most supermarkets now offer 'season pass' options for delivery, so you can pay a set amount for a period - say £35 for six months - then have as many deliveries as you want for no extra cost. There are some restrictions though, as all the major outlets require a minimum order amount before you can have an order delivered. These change over time, so be sure to check them out before you begin. Depending on the location you might find that a supermarket won’t actually deliver to your address. Thankfully this isn’t necessarily the end of your online adventures. If you’re happy to pick up your shopping from the store itself, then Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Waitrose offer a free Click and Collect service where you order online, pay for the items, then have them bagged up and ready to go when you reach the store. Not quite as convenient as a delivery, but at least you avoid the queues. The online shopping process itself is simple, you just visit the various sections - fresh food, frozen food, drinks, snacks, etc. - and add items to your order. You’ll see suggestions for complementary products or current promotions, and there are often sections that include recipes for healthy living or seasonal meals. Once you’ve finished your order the site will save the items into a favourites section so you can quickly access them next time. The chances are you have probably already developed some kind of affiliation with a supermarket brand and shop regularly at one location. This could be due to the fact it’s nearby, offers good parking, has the foods you prefer, or you align yourself with its values. Online portals are simply extensions of the physical shops, so if you shop at Waitrose because you perceive it to offer higher quality produce than its rivals, then all you are changing by going online is your delivery method. If this is the case then it’s probably sensible to continue your allegiance as you may well already be in some kind of loyalty scheme. If you’re willing to break ranks though you could find it advantageous as there are some good incentives available to new customers of other outlets. At the moment Sainsbury’s is offering new customers a £20 discount on orders over £100. Just use the voucher code NBMMFA2 up until the 7th May 2016 to get the discount. Ocado has £20 off new orders over £80, and there are various other incentives from other brands, but perhaps the most impressive is Waitrose who currently offers £20 off the first two orders over £100, then £10 off the next three. This adds up to £70, which is nearly an entire order in itself. This offer had to be activated by 31st March 2016 though, so be sure to place your order soon. Deals like these are often in circulation, so wily customers could save quite a few pounds if they are willing to order from different stores at least once. To keep up with the kind of offers available we suggest you bookmark MyVoucherCodes , as it is an excellent repository of up to date promotions that can save you money. With many supermarkets offering very similar core products, it’s wise to use price as an indicator of which is best for you. MySupermarket is a price comparison site that allows you to see which outlet currently offers the best deals for your weekly shop and boasts that its users regularly save 30 percent off their bills. The idea is that you create a free account then enter a shopping list from your preferred supermarket. The site then checks to see if other outlets offer better value, or suggest alternatives products that on on offer. If you’re willing to take a little time setting up the service, and don’t mind switching allegiances often, then it could prove a very frugal choice. As you can see from the range available there isn’t really a definitive answer. All of the major supermarkets offer a huge range of produce which mirrors that of their physical stores. With a quarter of all grocery shopping in the UK now conducted online it’s obvious that the brands see how important this market has become, hence the excellent websites on show. So really the choice comes down to your personal preference. That being said, we strongly suggest that you take advantage of the new customer deals offered by the sites. Not only will this save you money, but you’ll also be able to sample the various outlets and decide for yourself which one has the best balance of products, rewards, and service for your needs. Before you give your loyalty to one brand, you owe it to yourself to sample the wares on offer, and make a few savings along the way. As someone once said, every little helps.

2016-03-14 15:51 Martyn Casserly www.pcadvisor.co.uk

50 iPhone 7 release date, specs, price and rumours WE'RE SORRY. The iPhone 6S and 6S Plus may be merely a few of months old, but rumours are already flooding in thick and fast about Apple's next-generation smartphone: the iPhone 7. The iPhone 6S arrived as Apple's incremental 'S' release, which means the iPhone 7, along with the iPhone 7 Plus no doubt, is expected to bring radical updates to the firm's smartphone line-up. We've rounded up everything we know about the iPhone 7 so far, and will update this article whenever we hear more. Release date The iPhone 6S was unveiled on 9 September, and it's likely that the iPhone 7 will see a similar launch date next year. We're going to put our money on 7 September 2016. You heard it here first. Apple's iPhones typically go up for pre-order a few days after they are announced, with an in- store release taking place two weeks later. Apple will launch an affordable smartphone called the iPhone 5SE ahead of the arrival of its next flagship smartphone on 21 March, an event which is also expected to see the debut of the iPad Air 3 and new Apple Watch models. Price Apple has kept the prices the same for its past two iPhone releases, so if this continues the iPhone 7 will start at £539 going up to £699 for the 128GB model. Specs and rumours If history is anything to go by, Apple's next iPhone likely will feature a radical redesign, like the iPhone 6 was to the iPhone 5S . The first picture of the iPhone 7 has reportedly leaked ( below ), though, and it if legit it shows that the new design won't be as radical as many were expecting. The leaked image shows that it has the same shape and a very similar overall design to the iPhone 6S before it, but it makes use of a much less unsightly design for the plastic antenna lines. It also appears to rid of the rear-facing camera hump almost completely. An earlier report out of MacRumours also claimed that the iPhone 7 will feature a design largely similar to the iPhone 6S before it. It created a render of what it expects to the handset to look at, and it looks a lot like the leaked image above. While the iPhone 7 won't look much different to its predecessor, there's talk that the handset will be tougher than before, and Chinese media report that the next iPhone will have a strengthened and waterproof frame. This has been backed by a report from TrendForce , which claims that Apple will kit out the iPhone 7 with "hardware innovations" such as water resistance in a bid to catch up with Samsung in terms of market share. TrendForce also said in its report that the next iPhone will ship with 3GB RAM. The next iPhone is expected to be thinner than the iPhone 6S, which could be made possible by ditching the 3.5mm headphone jack port. A report from Fast Company , and previous reports from Macotakara , suggested that Apple plans to remove the 3.5mm headphone jack from its upcoming iPhone 7, leaving people with the option of wireless or Lightning-compatible headphones. What's more, the report claimed that Apple may not ship a pair of Lightning-enabled EarPods with the next-generation iPhone, instead opting to sell a pair of noise-cancelling Lightning headphones separately. With the headphone jack gone, there's talk that Apple will fill the extra space with an additional speaker, equipping the iPhone 7 with stereo sound . Apple is expected to launch two versions of its next smartphone: the 4.7in iPhone 7 and 5.5in iPhone 7 Plus. More recent rumours, which we'd advise you take with a pinch of salt, claim that the launch of the next iPhone will also see the return of a 4in model in the form of the iPhone 6C or iPhone 5SE ( below ). 9to5Mac has the scoop, and reports that Apple will release a 4in handset that resembles an upgraded iPhone 5S, but won't come with 3D Touch. If rumours are to be believed, the device could launch ahead of the iPhone 7 at an event in March. The display on Apple's next smartphone might be the first on an iPhone to use Samsung's OLED screen technology, according to Korean website ETNews , which should offer a boost in vibrancy and power efficiency. However, this is unlikely, with newer reports pointing to OLED debuting on 2017's iPhone 7S. There's the usual chatter that the iPhone 7 will feature a higher screen resolution, but no specifics have yet leaked, and the displays will no doubt feature the same 3D Touch technology that debuted on the iPhone 6S. Thanks to the inclusion of 3D Touch, the next iPhone could also be the first to come without a physical home button. The iPhone 7 could be the first iPhone to feature Intel internals , according to reports claiming that Intel has a 1,000-strong team working to ensure that the 7360 LTE modem chip makes its way into the iPhone 7, ousting the Qualcomm 9X45 LTE chip used in the iPhone 6S. We don't yet know much about the iPhone 7's camera set-up, but speculation points to the iPhone 7 Plus seeing a bigger upgrade in the photography department. According to KGI, via 9to5Mac , the 5.5in handset will feature a dual rear camera, using Linx Imaging algorithms to combine the photo data into final images. The snapper is also tipped to feature a 3x optical zoom, optical image stabilisation and a wide field of view. Rumours point to Apple phasing out the 16GB version of the smartphone with the arrival of the iPhone 7, despite speculation that the shift was to happen with the iPhone 6S. Wireless charging is unlikely to make a debut, though, with rumours pointing to this debuting on 2017's iPhone 7S . The iPhone 7, once available, likely will be offered in the same colour options as the iPhone 6S: Silver, Gold, Space Grey and Rose Gold. We're also going to go out on a limb and assume that the iPhone 7 will ship with Apple's yet to be announced iOS 10 operating system, which is expected to debut at the firm's 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference. µ

2016-03-14 15:36 Carly Page www.theinquirer.net

51 How to install ChromeOS on an old laptop: turn a Windows laptop into a Chromebook for free A few years ago, it was all but impossible to install Google’s ChromeOS onto a Windows laptop. Now, though, there’s a piece of software called CloudReady which is free for home use and uses a version of Chromium OS that’s very similar to ChromeOS which Chromebooks use. Here’s how to install it on your old laptop or desktop PC. The first thing to do is to head to CloudReady’s website and download the free version – around 640MB. It’s based on Chromium, just as ChromeOS is, so while it isn’t – strictly speaking – Google ChromeOS, it’s so similar you might not notice the difference. Next, get the Chromebook Recovery Utility which is an extension for the Google Chrome browser. Once installed, you’ll find it in your Start menu. Now grab an 8GB (or larger) USB flash drive and back up any files from it you don’t want to lose. Run the Recovery Utility and click the cog icon at the top and choose Use local image, then browse to the downloaded CloudReady zip file (don’t unzip it). Select the flash drive and click Continue, and the utility will turn it into a bootable drive in around 10-15 minutes. Now insert the drive into the old computer and press its power button. It should boot from the removable drive, but if not see our guide: How to boot from USB. You’ll first see a screen asking you to choose your language and connect to a wireless network. After that, is a prompt to ‘Sign into your Chromebook’. You can do so, if only to check that CloudReady runs ok on your hardware. This ‘live mode’ isn’t going to perform as well as when the OS is installed on the internal hard drive, so click the system tray at the bottom-right of the screen and choose Install CloudReady… The following screens will ask if you want to dual-boot CloudReady or run it as the only OS. While dual-booting might sound tempting, it will only work if your laptop has a UEFI BIOS. Many older machines don’t, so you’ll get an error if you select this option. So most people will have to choose the Standalone option, which will erase the entire hard drive – so make sure you’ve backed up any files from it that you want to keep. Installation should take 20 minutes or so, but you might find the installation freezes as it did on a Dell Lattitude E5420 we tried. It would appear your success is largely down to luck and whether your laptop is compatible or not. Assuming the installation goes smoothly, your laptop will turn off. You need to remove the USB stick, power the laptop back on and you should arrive at the Chromebook sign in screen where you must enter your Google login details. If you’ve used a Chromebook before, you’ll be right at home. If not, you’ll quickly discover that there’s not much to do on the desktop. Like ChromeOS, CloudReady is all about its Chromium browser. Note that it isn’t the official Google Chrome web browser, so there may turn out to be slight incompatibilities. Unfortunately, you can’t just download Chrome, as this isn’t Windows. The OS and web browser are inseparable with CloudReady. If you’re not so fortunate and you can’t get CloudReady working, then check out our round up of the best Chromebooks to buy right now .

2016-03-14 15:25 Jim Martin www.pcadvisor.co.uk

52 Facebook, Google among tech giants expanding encryption in wake of Apple battle (Image: CNET/CBS Interactive) Given that WhatsApp is said to be next in the Justice Dept.'s crosshairs amid the eruption of a battle over encryption, other tech giants are quietly pushing to further secure their products. Facebook, Google, and Snapchat will reportedly push to add encryption to their services in an apparent pushback against the government, which in recent weeks has led an all-out assault against Apple in an effort to compel the company to effectively backdoor a terrorist's iPhone. FBI could demand Apple source code and keys if iPhone backdoor too 'burdensome' Te FBI could create "ghost" iPhone updates that imitate legitimate Apple software. Google is "exploring extra uses for the technology" behind an encrypted email project, said to have long been in the works. Snapchat, the image-expiring sharing app, is also working on a secure messaging system using its platform. And WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, will in the coming weeks support end-to-end encryption for its voice calls, a move that will likely anger prosecutors who are currently seeking a wiretap order for encrypted messages. For Facebook it's more personal. Last week, the company's Latin America director was briefly jailed for failing to comply with an order relating to a criminal investigation in Brazil. The social networking argued that it "cannot provide information we do not have. " It's the latest twist in the encryption battle between tech giants and the federal government after the Justice Dept. brought a case against Apple to compel it to help its agents break into the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino terrorists. Apple refused to help the feds "backdoor" its own product, arguing that it can't crack the encryption, and lodged a formal appeal. The iPhone maker has received an outpouring of support from fellow tech companies, but this is the first time that reports have suggested Silicon Valley companies are backing up their words with actions. The Justice Dept. has implied that it may demand more than just the encrypted content, such as the iPhone source code and signing keys -- which critics argue would give the government the ability to create "ghost" software that imitate legitimate Apple updates. It's a fear that may drive some companies outside the reach of the US government's hands. Given the inhospitable legal landscape in the US, some smaller, nimbler companies may take a leaf out of Silent Circle's book, which famously moved to Switzerland in part to avoid the prying eyes of the US government. But tech giants with an established US base have little option but to comply with government demands seeking access to customer data, or radically rethink how they approach product security.

2016-03-14 15:19 Zack Whittaker www.zdnet.com

53 Spotted on the streets of China: Could this be iPhone 5SE? We're a week away from what is expected to be an Apple launch event that will include the roll out of the new iPhone 5SE handset -- and the rumor mill, as usual, is churning. A PR firm that we have been working with in China, Beeep , has sent us an interesting video and photos from Huaqiangbei (the "Silicon Valley of the East") in Shenzhen that we would like to share with you. I can't say for sure if these are photos of the real McCoy, because they clearly could not get the presumed device to power on. So that's concerning to us. However, what is interesting is how convincing the physical device looks, this isn't just a routine Photoshop job. Sometimes, Apple or the ODMs create "Slugs" which are full-sized mock ups of the real thing, lacking electronics, which are used for the purposes of assisting accessory designers in building products such as cases. So it's possible what we are looking at is a legit ODM slug of the iPhone 5SE. Which is close enough. iPhones for size comparison. The purported 5SE is on the top. Purported iPhone 5SE is on the top of this stack. As you can see it appears slightly thinner than the original 5 but has the curved lines of the iPhone 6. Side by side, with the purported iPhone 5SE in the center. Purported 5SE, stacked on the top.

2016-03-14 15:12 Jason Perlow www.zdnet.com

54 54 HTC Vive Pre VR headset release date, UK pricing, specs and games: Valve announces SteamVR Theatre mode for gaming in a virtual cinema, leak showcases Star Wars VR game Virtual reality is the next big thing, with uses for VR going way beyond gaming – it could be used for socialising, or even work. Virtual reality opens doors to situations previously impossible, like a surgeon being able to operate on a patient on the other side of the world by popping on a headset and VR-enabled controllers. HTC isn’t alone either, as the Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR both also have a 2016 release date. Here, we summarise the latest rumours and facts regarding the Vive Pre headset including its UK pricing, release date and spec. Read next: Hands-on with the HTC Vive Pre VR headset HTC has announced the second-generation HTC Vive Pre, which will be released in place of the original HTC Vive headset (can it really be the second generation when the first generation device wasn't released?). The Vive Pre headset sports an updated design which makes it lighter and more comfortable to wear over long periods of time, as well as the addition of a front facing camera. The job of the front facing camera is to merge virtual reality and real life, allowing users to switch to a camera to observe their physical surroundings and enable them to pick up controllers, use their smartphone, etc. without having to take the headset off. As well as this, the controllers have been redesigned to be more ergonomic and now feature rechargeable batteries. You can read our hands-on of the second generation HTC Vive Pre here: HTC Vive Pre hands-on: One of the most immersive VR headsets due out in 2016 Last updated to include Valve's SteamVR Theatre mode announcement and leaks concerning a HTC Vive Pre-powered Star Wars game So, when will we be able to buy the HTC Vive Pre? When the HTC Vive was originally announced, HTC claimed that a small number of consumer units would be available to purchase before the end of 2015. Of course, as we all know, that didn’t happen. Rumours then surfaced suggesting that the HTC Vive would “premiere” on 8 December 2015, according to HTC’s Product Commercialisation Manager Bartosz Zuk, who confirmed the date with Polish media sources. However, there were issues regarding its authenticity, as it wasn’t clear whether Zuk was referencing the release date of the headset, or an event announcing it. Turns out, that was a dud too. HTC took to its blog in December 2015 to ‘clear up speculation and misinformation’ and announced that “ We will be starting the new year by making an additional 7,000 units available to developers, with pre-orders from the end of February followed by commercial availability in April 2016. ” True to its word, HTC launched the pre-orders of the HTC Vive Pre headset (along with its two controllers and base stations) on 29 February 2016 at 3pm GMT, with bundles shipping in April 2016. Those of us in the UK will have to pay out £689 for the kit, which when compared to the £499 Oculus Rift may seem pricey, but with the Vive Pre you also get two bespoke handheld controllers and a system that allows you to 'walk' around your virtual world - two features not available with the Oculus Rift. Although with that being said, HTC didn't mention that the £689 price tag doesn't include the postage and packaging - including the £57.60 postage fee, UK buyers paying a whopping £746.60. Ouch. It's not all bad though, as HTC also confirmed that all pre-orders would receive three VR 'experiences' to get you started - Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives, Tilt Brush and Fantastic Contraption. The HTC Vive Pre VR headset is set to be a thing of beauty, and its spec is evidence of this. The consumer model of the HTC Vive Pre headset will sport a 2160x1200px display, which when split across two eyes equates to 1080x1200px for each eye. This should provide gamers with a fantastically detailed environment to interact with – plus, it beats PlayStation VR’s 960x1080px offering. The headset also has a refresh rate of 90Hz, which allows your games to be rendered at 90fps (frames per second) and should remove the jitter present in other headsets, which contributes towards the feeling of nausea that some early VR adopters experienced. As well as the display, the headset features more than 70 sensors to quickly and accurately track head movement to 1/10th of a degree. The sensors include a gyroscope, accelerometer and laser position sensors that, when coupled with the ‘Lighthouse’ base station, allows the user to be tracked in a 15ftx15ft space. The ‘Lighthouse’ allows users to freely move around in a virtual space without the need to use joysticks, which helps the experience become more immersive and enjoyable overall. Front facing cameras allow the headset to identify static and moving objects in your environment, and you’ll be visually warned when approaching an obstacle (tables, walls) in real life. The inclusion of the ‘Lighthouse’ technology is particularly impressive and sets the HTC Vive Pre apart from its competition, especially as other mainstream VR manufacturers (Oculus and PlayStation) currently only support stationary head tracking. As well as the Lighthouse base stations, the Vive Pre uses a set of specially designed handheld motion controllers, providing users with an intuitive way to interact with the virtual world around them. Want to use the handgun on the floor? You’re going to have to bend down and pick it up. Need to open a drawer? You’ll have to reach out, grab and pull back. The controllers feature triggers for shooting, as well as a touch-sensitive pad and, of course, standard buttons. The Vive Pre headset also sports a front facing camera. The job of the front facing camera is to merge virtual reality and real life, allowing users to switch to a camera to observe their physical surroundings and enable them to pick up controllers, use their smartphone, unwrap their leg from the long HTC Vive Pre headset wire, etc. without having to take the headset off. Weeks before the HTC Vive Pre was due to go up for pre-order, the official manual for the developer version of HTC's VR headset appeared on the HTC website. This gave us a better idea of how the Vive Pre would be used in the standard home, along with how to prepare your gaming space for the headsets arrival. One of the most interesting discoveries from the manual was that while the Vive Pre was designed to allow gamers the freedom of moving around within a virtual world, there's also the option for gamers to either sit down or stand in a single space, ideal for those with limited space. It also notes that if you do want to move around your virtual environment using the HTC Vive Pre, you'll need a clear 5ft by 6.5ft space to do so. There's also a hint of third-party controller support, thanks to a built-in USB port in the headset. If you want to take a look at the manual for yourself, you can do so here. See also: HTC Vive vs Samsung VR comparison review The Game Developer Conference (or GDC for short) has kicked off by Valve, co-manufacturer of the HTC Vive Pre and owner of Steam, announcing that it has created a SteamVR Theatre mode for both the HTC Vive Pre and other compatible SteamVR headsets. The new gaming mode (which is currently in early beta testing) should enable players to play any game from their Steam library in virtual reality. The idea is that instead of trying to force non-VR games to be VR- compatible, you'll be transported to your own private 'cinema' where your game will be played on screen, providing the illusion of playing games on a large display. Obviously, Valve isn't the first company to offer something like this - Windows announced a similar idea with Xbox One games, and Netflix is already creating the Netflix VR app. Valve hasn't released any imagery showcasing SteamVR's theatre mode or any information about a planned release date, but we'll update this article with more information as soon as we receive it. So, what can we look forward to with regards to gaming with the HTC Vive? Will we have to wait for months while developers add VR support? While this may be the case with certain games, there are a few games that either already feature HTC Vive Pre support, or will at its launch. The most popular game that has HTC Vive support is Frontier Developments’ Elite: Dangerous, a first-person space simulator that lets gamers pilot their own spaceship. The hugely popular game boasts a player base of over 500,000 and lets gamers explore, trade and battle in a vast 1:1 scale universe. The Gallery is another upcoming HTC Vive title, which provides an interesting workaround for the limited (15ftx15ft) space you can walk around in. The developers provide gamers with the ability to teleport over greater distances, similar to the Blink mechanic used in 2012 classic Dishonored. Players apparently warp directly to any point in the game by pointing a reticule on the ground where they want to teleport to. The movement system has been likened to a point- and-click adventure game, but with a modern, VR twist. HTC has also announced that consumers who buy an HTC Vive Pre headset will also receive three 'experiences' - Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives, Tilt Brush and Fantastic Contraption. Job Simulator is a tongue-in-cheek experience that places you in an office with your computer overlords observing you with the goal of learning how humans 'work'. Almost everything in the experience serves a purpose - you can even eat rotten cake and projectile vomit everywhere (virtually anyway). Tilt Brush is a Google creation and allows users to create art in a three- dimensional environment, enabling users to effectively draw in 3D. While we only drew cubes on our hands-on, the idea of drawing a virtual gallery showcasing virtual sculptures and artwork seems like a really cool idea (we only wish we were better at art!). Fantastic Contraption allows users to build and test weird and wonderful inventions that they design and put together themselves. If a recent leak proves accurate, an upcoming, unannounced VR game could put you in the shoes of a lightsaber-wielding Jedi. The experience, called Star Wars Trials on Tatooine briefly made an appearance on the Industrial Light & Magic YouTube channel called ILMVisualFX. It appears its announcement may have been slightly premature, as soon after the video appeared, it was pulled - although it seems the damage was already done, as several images had been grabbed and distributed on the internet. One leaked image showcases a first-person viewpoint with a blue lightsaber and three moons in the distance, suggesting that it will indeed be set on Tatooine. Other images show off a red lightsaber, and even R2-D2. Of course, it isn't the first time that Star Wars has made an appearance in VR -the Jakku Spy experience was released last year for Google Cardboard, suggesting that this isn't a far-fetched move for the brand. Read next: Everything you need to know about Samsung Gear VR

2016-03-14 15:07 Lewis Painter www.pcadvisor.co.uk

55 Which VPN is best for you? See the comparison sheet here When it comes to choosing a Virtual Private Network or VPN as it is commonly known, many users find it hard to determine which one is best for them. This is brought about by the different requirements each VPN demands and different VPN’s have different limitations. To help solve your problems, a reddit user going by the username of ThatPrivacyGuy has created a spreadsheet which has some of the major VPNs and what kind of logging they do. It also includes the protocols they support and which ports they block, their number of exit servers and how many countries they have them in, and more. When it comes to privacy, you will notice that even some of the best performing and most popular VPNs have their low points. This is going to entirely be based on perspective before you choose. You can scroll both ways to see more details.

2016-03-14 15:03 Ephraim Batambuze pctechmag.com

56 HPE introduces new Machine-Learning-as-a-Service offering Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) is looking to take machine learning efforts mainstream with the availability of its cloud platform Haven OnDemand, designed to provide developers, startups and enterprises a way to build data-rich applications. The solution includes more than 60 machine learning APIs and services that deliver deep learning analytics. “The software industry is on the cusp of a new era of breakthroughs, driven by machine learning that will power data-driven applications across all facets of life,” said Colin Mahoney, senior vice president and general manager for HPE Big Data at HPE. “HPE Haven OnDemand democratizes Big Data by bringing the power of machine learning, traditionally reserved for high-end, highly trained data scientists, to the mainstream developer community. Now, anyone can leverage our easy-to-use cloud-based service to harness the rich variety of data available today to build applications that produce new insights, differentiate businesses, delight customers and deliver competitive advantage.” (Related: RSA Conference looks at machine learning ) Haven OnDemand will be delivered as a service on Microsoft Azure through a freemium service and SLA-based commercial pricing model. Features include advanced text analysis; format conversion; HPE Haven Search OnDemand Enterprise-Search-as-a-Service; image recognition; face detection; knowledge graph analysis, prediction and recommendation capabilities; and speech recognition. “Organizations have massive quantities of information that can hold insights into business transformation, but harnessing it can be challenging,” said Garth Fort, general manager of the cloud and enterprise marketing group at Microsoft. “Leveraging the high performance and scalability of Azure, HPE Haven OnDemand brings our mutual customers a compelling solution to help turn their data into value.”

2016-03-14 15:02 Christina Mulligan sdtimes.com

57 LG G4 review LG is on something of a comeback trail - the brand that killed it in the feature phone market, then fell apart when smartphone became 'a thing', is now starting to show signs it can be a front runner again. The LG G4 is the result of years of forward momentum, combining the insane sort of specs we're used to seeing from the Asian manufacturers with a recognized brand and decent attempt to create a usable user experience. But the last few flagship 'G' phones have had one thing in common: loads of good bits, but a slightly uneven finish. It's lacked the final polish that would have made it a market leader, but usually combined it with a cheaper price and therefore evened out the equation. The LG G4 does a few things differently though. This time the brand has aimed for elements the user will actually want: longer battery life, improved camera and upgraded screen, and combined them with a slightly outlandish design: covering the thing in a leather coat that's certainly something the rest of the market hasn't seen yet. Then there's the LG G5 - the latest phone from the company, which was announced at MWC 2016 and brought with it a brand new modular design. But the LG G4 still has its merits, and it's now cheaper than ever. One of the early sticking points I had with this phone was the price - it came at a 'normal' level, rivaling the iPhone and Galaxy flagships pound for pound. That's now dropped massively to make it, once again, one of the cheapest and most attractive top-end handsets in price terms. In the UK this phone retails for around £280 (US$359, about AU$475), which is much less than the Galaxy S6 , even though that one has had some nifty price cuts as well. I'm not sure what LG is doing with the G4. There are two options on offer, and I've been testing both. The first is a leather back, and the one that LG is pushing as the 'premium' model, and the latter is the polycarbonate version with a diamond effect. It's attractive enough, and has the same brushed metal effect as last year, but lacks anything like the 'wow' factor LG is going for with the leather option. Let's start with leather (on a separate note: a dangerous statement for a first date). I'm really disappointed with what LG has done here. It's too thinly stretched over the back of the phone to be considered premium, and when you're fighting against the beauty of the HTC One M9, it's a real misstep. There are now two leather variants on the market, brown and black. The former looks more striking, but the latter feels a little more rugged, with a nicer experience in the hand. The leather doesn't feel as thin and stretched, for a start. Leather could have been a good idea, if it had the same feel as an expensive wallet or watch strap. But the thin material used here almost feels plastic, not premium. The Moto X has a leather back option, and I know some people love it, but for many a leather back is a novelty, not a statement of wealth, luxury or quality. And let's be honest: the leather back is just that, a back. One you can buy and clip on, rather than a part of the phone's design itself. When it comes to the plastic version, the LG G4 doesn't feel as nice in the hand as the rest of the market's big hitters: the HTC One M9 has a really well-crafted finish, the iPhone 6 a lightweight ceramic feel that begs you to fondle it, and the Galaxy S6 has shown that Samsung's not completely inept when it comes to offering a phone made of metal and glass. The LG, on the other hand, is all about being lightweight and ergonomic in the hand. The rear cover bulges out a little to curve into the palm, which is designed to make it nicer to hold and allow for a greater battery space (3000mAh, compared to the 2500mAh on offer in the Galaxy S6, for instance). One of the big features LG is making a big deal of is the fact said battery is removable, which explains the need for a plastic cover (easier to remove and less likely to break than a metal choice). I'm not sold on the need to have removable battery. I know some people love the safety it brings, the idea that you can carry around a spare, but in reality I'd rather use one of the battery packs I've become accustomed to slinging in my bag - plus they're universal. Making a battery removable does have the added benefit of letting you change it out if the power pack starts playing up a year and a half into your two year contract, but it comes at the cost of design. There's a reason the S6, One M9, iPhone 6 and Sony Xperia Z3 all look better than the G4, and that's the fact they have unibody chassis. I'm glad LG has offered this choice just so one of the market's big hitters is doing it, and if you're one of those that think the leather is equally as premium as metal, then this is a great feature to have (the cover also hides the microSD slot too). But the lack of unibody has minimised the amount of battery space available and made a less attractive phone. The phone itself is large without being TOO unwieldy. Yes, we've become used to having massive phones in our hands, but where the LG G3 was just on the edge of being too big, this 5.5-inch screened device has been curved and hewn to make it a little less sharp to use in the hand. You'll still need to wriggle it around quite a lot to use it day to day, but given the trade-off gives you a phenomenal QHD screen, it's worth it. That display is slightly curved, but I've not seen a great deal of use for that in general use. The rear keys are present again - one of LG's favourite design tweaks - meaning that there's very little buttonry around the phone. The rear keys are easy to find, have a pleasant ridged effect and are distinct from other elements of the phone. I came to love them on the LG G2 and still find them really nice now. The only other thing to point out is the infra-red port on the top of the phone - it's slight and most will miss it (and I'd rather it was on the rear of the phone as it makes controlling the TV a little easier when the phone is held up) but it's good to see its presence continuing.

2016-03-14 15:00 By Gareth www.techradar.com

58 How to use Plex media server Paying extra for a streaming service such as Netflix or Spotify can seem like a waste if you already own plenty of lms digitally or on DVD or Blu-ray. However, having this collection doesn't mean you have to lose out on the convenience of streaming. Plex media server is an excellent home-theatre service that streams your lms and music to a range of devices such as smart TVs, set-top boxes, games consoles and smartphones. It presents your media in an attractive and easy-to-navigate interface that also displays artwork, reviews and other information about your media. You can begin watching a movie or TV show on one device, pause it, then resume watching it on another device, right where you left off. Best of all the service is free, but there is a premium version available with more options, if you wish. Plex streams media from your PC or NAS device , so you need to have the digital files on your PC. You can use such as DVDShrink or paid-for software like Acrok Video Converter Ultimate to back up your DVDs and Blu-rays. For audio files iTunes is a good program for converting your music. You can now download and install the Plex Media Server onto the computer where you are storing your digital media. To do this head over to the Plex Media Server website and then click on the 'Downloads' link at the top of the screen. For Windows 10, simply click the 'Computer' button to download and install Plex Media Server. Once you have followed the steps and Plex Media Server has been downloaded and installed on your PC, you'll need to sign up for a free Plex Account. This is straightforward to do, simply Click the 'Sign Up' link on the top bar of the Plex website, and fill in your details. Once that's done, click on 'Create Account'. Once you've signed up and signed in, it's time to launch the Plex server and add your media. To do this click on 'Launch' on the Plex website. You can also view the server by right-clicking on the Plex icon in the Notification area of Windows 10 (which is on the right-hand side of the taskbar, next to the clock). After right-clicking the icon select 'Media Manager…' Arrange the files on your PC's hard drive with videos in the 'Video' folder, and music in the 'Music' folder. In 'Video' make two sub folders – 'TV Shows' and 'Movies' and put your files in. For music each artist should have a folder, along with sub folders for each album. Make sure the TV show or film have file names, as well as the year it was made. In the Plex Media Server app you can specify the folders that hold your various media. By pointing Plex to the folders it will scan for compatible files, then you'll be able to access them through other Plex apps. Go to 'Settings', click on 'Server', then 'Library' and set Plex to update the library, which means any new files you add to the folders will show up in Plex. Click 'Save Changes' to continue. You can play your media through your web browser with Plex's Web Player. From the homescreen click on the category you want to play and you'll see the films you've added. Click on what you want to play and you'll get info about the media – including a synopsis, ratings and details about the video resolution. Hover over the cover art to display the 'Play' icon and click it. The best thing about Plex Media Server is you can stream your media to other devices – with the Plex app available for a huge range of devices including smart TVs, the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Chromecast. Open up the store where you usually download apps from and search for the Plex app. Once downloaded sign into your Plex account. You'll now see all your media! While Plex Media Server comes with loads of free features, you can get even more if you buy a Plex Pass. This can be a monthly subscription, a yearly one or a bigger one-off payment. This gives you access to features such as Music Videos, the ability to download and watch your media on your smartphone, parental control and automatic camera uploads from your mobile devices. Congratulations, you've now added your digital media to Plex Media Server and are now able to stream it to almost any device anywhere in your house! The simplicity of Plex, combined with its beautiful interface that's been specially designed for TVs, means it's never been easier to turn your Windows PC into your very own streaming service.

2016-03-14 14:44 By Matt www.techradar.com

59 Watch the first trailer for Fallout 4's Automatron DLC Automatron, the first Fallout 4 DLC, will launch on March 22, Bethesda has confirmed. The expansion, first announced in February , has you hunting down a horde of evil robots that have been unleashed into the Commonwealth. Once caught, you'll be able to harvest their parts to create your own mech companion. There's also a new weapon for them to cause havoc with - the lightning chain gun. Automatron will cost £7.99/US$9.99, or comes as part of the season pass if you've already purchased it. Wasteland Workshop will be the next bit of DLC to follow in April, with a more expansive story add-on, Far Harbor, to be unleashed in May. In the meantime, you can watch the trailer for Automatron below. Article continues below

2016-03-14 14:34 By Hugh www.techradar.com

60 Google’s Cloud Studio proves that cloud-based tech doesn’t have to be boring Robots, GIFs, and lightsaber battles are not the first things that come to mind when I think about cloud services. But that’s the logic behind Google’s Cloud Studio, a South by Southwest popup showcase in Google’s Fiber building. Attendees can take breaks from the space’s coding challenges to check out some real-life examples of how Google’s cloud platform is used. The cutest demos was Google’s Vision Bot, a little robot on wheels equipped with a camera that scoots around and identifies the objects it sees. The bot uses a photo recognition database stored in the cloud and displayed what it was thinking on a screen. For example, when I held up a daisy, Vision Bot responded with words like “flower” and “plant.” It also recognized basic facial expressions, so when I smiled at it, it raced towards me; when I gave it a menacing look, it scurried away from me as fast as it could. So, what did I learn at the Google Cloud Studio? That cloud-based technology threads experiences together in simple (and complex) ways that may not be obvious at first—and that I can get some pretty solid airtime with an explosive jump.

2016-03-14 14:32 Leah Yamshon www.macworld.com

61 WDLabs launches new Raspberry Pi drive with 314GB storage RASPBERRY PI and WDLabs have teamed up again for another hard drive for the diminutive maker computer. WDLabs, an offshoot of Western Digital, announced the drive which adds compatibility for the new Raspberry Pi 3 announced last month. The new drive offers 314GB and promises low power usage as well as easy integration. “Adoption of Raspberry Pi computing devices is expanding at a faster rate than the PC. However, the millions of Raspberry Pi users are finding limitations from data storage devices (SD card, USB hard drive or cloud storage) originally designed for other applications,” said Dave Chew, chief engineer at WDLabs. “The WD PiDrive 314 GB HDD is designed to support Raspberry Pi growth by addressing barriers to hard drive adoption such as affordability, power loading and system set-up. In addition, we’ve maintained the key strengths of hard drive technology, including mass-storage value, high data integrity and reliability.” The head of the drive, magnetic recording and electric systems have all been specifically tailored for the Pi to offer maximum efficiency. The drive comes with a customised version of Berryboot, a free software package designed to help multiple software packages run is included in a refined form designed to make the WD drive work smoothly on the Pi. This isn't the first time that WDLabs has worked on a device for the Raspberry Pi. Last year the company released a 1TB drive in conjunction with Bit Torrent , designed to assist users who wanted to make their own NAS or backup server using the company's Bit Torrent Sync service. The WD PiDrive 314GB HDD is compatible with all cables, kits and enclosures from the previous models and costs $45.81 from the WD Store, with a launch discount bringing it down to $31.42 for a limited period. Currently, stock isn't available in the UK but can be ordered direct from the States. In case you hadn't worked it out, it's 314GB and $31.42 because 3.14 is Pi. Ho and indeed ho. µ

2016-03-14 14:28 Chris Merriman www.theinquirer.net

62 400M people will rely on robotic car sharing by 2030 A new car-sharing economy has already taken root, and it will continue to grow as self-driving vehicles come to market. According to a report today by ABI Research, 400 million people will rely on robotic car sharing by 2030. Robotic cars, like Google's in-house pod car, are completely autonomous. Google's pod car doesn't even have a steering wheel; it uses technology such as exterior cameras to see lanes and LIDAR, a type of radar, that uses lasers to illuminate objects around the car. More than 400 million people will rely on robotic car sharing by 2030. Robotic cars, like Google's in-house pod car , are completely autonomous. Google's pod car doesn't even have a steering wheel. The new car sharing economy, said Dominique Bonte, vice president at ABI Research, is a classic example of crowdsourcing, and as such is driving many Gen Y supporters. "The new car sharing economy happens in three phases: street rental service, ride sharing service, and robotic service," Bonte wrote in a statement. "The automotive industry is in the process of merging phases one and two, with robotic service to become the ultimate form of transportation for its availability, convenience and affordability. " Driverless cars are disrupting the auto industry and supply chain, propelling car sharing forward as the ultimate, mainstream transportation mode. Zipcar , the world's largest car sharing and car club service, is a prime example of a street rental service. Users go to a pre-determined parking spot to unlock a shared car, ride it to their destination, and then return it for the next user. Zipcar, the world's largest car sharing and car club service, is a prime example of street rental service. Users go to a pre-determined parking spot to unlock a shared car, ride it to their destination, and then return it for the next user. Uber is an example of a ride sharing service, through which companies hire private drivers to drive their own vehicles to transport customers. The innovative robotic service will mark the beginning of the driverless car era, in which cars can drive themselves to pick up customers. Uber CEO Travis Kalanick has already said he'll buy all the self-driving cars that all-electric carmaker Tesla can turn out. Telsa CEO Elon Musk has set his sights on putting a self-driving car on the road by 2020, but he hasn't said how many would be produced that year. Robotic car services will transform the auto industry, resulting in decreased car ownership, blurred lines between public and private transportation, enhanced social mobility, new infotainment paradigms, and an overall consolidation of the automotive industry. "Car sharing is successful because the increased efficiency through higher vehicle utilization rates drives down costs, which results in more affordable transportation," Bonte wrote. "Why go through the expense of purchasing a car, and then regular insurance and maintenance fees, when we can all embrace the new car sharing economy? "

2016-03-14 14:18 Lucas Mearian www.itworld.com

63 Russian court turns down Google appeal in anti-monopoly case The Moscow Arbitration court on Monday rejected an appeal from Google and upheld a ruling that the U. S. firm broke anti-monopoly laws by abusing its dominant position with its Android mobile platform, Russia’s competition watchdog said. FAS, the watchdog, ruled last September that Google had broken the law by requiring pre-installation of certain applications on mobile devices running on Android, following a complaint by Russia’s Yandex. Google filed an appeal, but FAS said on Monday the court had fully supported its decision. The company now has to amend its contracts with smartphone manufacturers in order to comply with the ruling, and pay a fine. [ Reuters ]

2016-03-14 14:16 PC Tech pctechmag.com

64 AWS at 10: A look at how Amazon revamped the enterprise cloud computing pecking order Amazon Web Services turns 10 today and what looked like a quirky side venture by the e- commerce giant turned out to be its most profitable business and disrupted the way enterprises think about their data centers. Cloud Computing: Moving to IaaS Infrastructure as a Service providers make a very compelling argument for businesses to stop running their own data centers and simply purchase server capacity on-demand and scale up and down as needed. This is our deep dive on IaaS strategy and best practices Today, AWS is in most enterprises as companies use the service for infrastructure, a development sandbox and a way to acquire compute and storage for big data and other uses. AWS' growth impacted the way IT stalwarts such as Microsoft and IBM viewed their businesses. Now no IT vendor can have a customer conversation without talking about the cloud and a hybrid approach that will include AWS in the data center mix. Amazon finds its profit horse in AWS: Why it's so disruptive to IT's old guard | Cloud shift spurs enterprise tech mergers as customers hit pause | Cloud computing goes hybrid as the norm: AWS, VMware, Azure duke it out | Amazon's 2016: Five key cloud, e-commerce questions When AWS launched March 14, 2006 infrastructure-as-a-service was a nascent category. Software-as-a-service cloud providers were around and growing, but infrastructure was largely untapped. After two years, it was evident to me that AWS had a lot of potential. I predicted that AWS would surpass Amazon's retailing business. In revenue, AWS isn't close, but a nearly $10 billion run rate business is nothing to sneeze at. More importantly for Amazon, the profit margins on cloud services easily eclipse e-commerce. AWS CTO Werner Vogels served up 10 lessons he's learned from a decade at AWS. The lessons are to build systems that can evolve, expect the unexpected, don't get caught up in frameworks, automate, APIs are forever, know your usage, build security from the ground up, encryption is key, networking matters and don't rely on gatekeepers. Perhaps the biggest lesson in the last 10 years is that enterprises don't have to be hamstrung by legacy infrastructure. The cloud can enable you to move fast and absorb innovation. AWS chooses to lead by example with a crazy cadence of new features and services that hasn't slowed from the early days. The next decade for AWS will take the cloud infrastructure provider up the enterprise stack and bring more competition from Google, Microsoft and IBM, but there's nothing to indicate that the company is going to ease up. AWS has altered the enterprise IT vendor landscape. Here's a look at a few key Amazon stats assembled over the last decade:

2016-03-14 14:15 Larry Dignan www.zdnet.com

65 Amazon Easter Deals Week: Cheap TVs, tablets, headphones, speakers & more tech Amazon is preparing to kick off an Easter Deals Week promotion with thousands of deals available from 17 March to 24 March. But ahead of that, Amazon is warming up with some Lightning Deals already. Here, we pick out the best of the tech deals available ahead of and throughout Amazon Easter Deals week to help you make sure that you don't miss out, including TV deals, tablet deals , headphone deals and much more. You can get access to deals 30 minutes early if you are an Amazon Prime member, and in most cases you'll get free next day delivery. You can sign up to the free trial of Amazon Prime here , or find out everything you need to know about Amazon Prime in our article: What is Amazon Prime? Best tablets | Best smartwatches | Best budget laptops | Best power banks | Best iPhone cases | Best activity trackers | Which Fitbit is best to buy? | Best games consoles | Best Samsung Galaxy S7 deals | Best SIM-only deals 2016

2016-03-14 14:13 Ashleigh Allsopp www.pcadvisor.co.uk

66 For Pi Day, Microsoft slashes Dell's Windows 10 XPS 13 by 31.4 percent The Core i5 non-touch variant of Dell's new XPS 13 has the full 31.4 percent discount. Pi Day has come full circle again, and to celebrate the irrational number Microsoft is offering a one-day discount of 31.4 percent on Dell's new XPS 13, which now starts at $685.31 rather than yesterday's $999. It's only the Core i5 non-touch variant that gets the full 31.4 percent discount, although other variants have been discounted by an even $200. Other models with the 31.4 percent discount include the Dell Inspiron 13, and the Dell Inspiron 15, which now start at $685.31 and $513.81 respectively. Given Microsoft's current efforts to push Windows 10 onto the world, the hardware discounts are fitting. Last Pi Day, Microsoft offered Pi-based discounts on Xbox music. Microsoft has also kicked off its spring sale and is offering $100 off the 128GB and 256GB Intel Core i5 Surface Pro 4 models. Machine learning face-off: Microsoft uses Band to show what its Watson rival is capable of Plug-and-play machine learning data models that can instantly analyze information and provide intelligent insights? Yep, Microsoft has 'em, it says. The price for the Xbox One and bundle has also been slashed by $100, now available for $399, along with two free games. And Microsoft has lopped off $75 from the Band 2, which is available for $174.99. The items on sale as part of Pi Day are only available today, March 14, while items discounted for Microsoft's Spring sale are available until stocks run out. It's also offering some big discounts on several other PCs and laptops. Microsoft isn't the only tech organization celebrating Pi. For those looking for something more than satisfying consumer needs, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is celebrating the day with a new challenge dubbed 'Pi in the Sky 3'. The challenge encourages students to use Pi the way NASA scientists and engineers do, for example, to measure features on Mars. In this year's challenge , students are given the radius of Saturn's hazy moon, Titan, and asked to figure out what the percentage of the moon's make-up is atmospheric haze. Another challenge asks how long it takes for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to orbit the red planet, given its polar diameter and the orbiter's distance at each pole. NASA will publish the correct answers on March 16.

2016-03-14 14:00 Liam Tung www.zdnet.com

67 EU Referendum: Tech firms believe Brexit would be bad for business Nearly three-quarters of UK business leaders would vote to stay part of the EU. The majority of British technology firms support the UK remaining within the European Union, because they see it as the best option for their business prospects. That's according to a survey by technology industry trade body techUK, which surveyed members on the June 23rd European Union referendum for a 'Brexit'. The poll of business leaders in the British technology sector found that 70 percent support remaining in the EU, while just 15 percent believe leaving the EU is the best course of action. A further 15 percent of respondents didn't know if remaining or leaving is currently their preferred option. Of those who want the UK to remain part of the European Union, three quarters believe that EU membership makes the UK more attractive to international investment, while the same percentage said that membership gives company a better deal on trading relationships. ​So how do Europe's tech startups rate? This tool aims to show you By unveiling a new way to track startup activity across Europe, the EU hopes to turn the spotlight on commercial openings and the recent surge of investment. A total of 70 percent of those who wish to stay in the EU said they believe EU membership makes the UK more globally competitive and 42 percent believe EU membership helps creates more jobs. Sixty-five percent said they're against leaving the EU because it'd create risk and uncertainty, while less than one in ten believe the practicalities of leaving are well understood. "UK tech is thriving, creating jobs almost three times faster than the rest of the economy. The vast majority of our members say that being in the EU supports that growth. Open markets and cooperation are good for business. This is not about fear, it is about opportunity -- a market of 500 million consumers," says techUK CEO Julian David. For those who think leaving the EU is the better option, 91 percent say that a Brexit would allow the UK to have more flexibility in a global economy, while 64 percent believe breaking ties with the EU would allow firms to be more globally competitive. Those against remaining in the EU also claimed that regulation from Brussels causes 'burdens' and that the UK doesn't have influence over European policy. However, very few respondents said EU policies had a negative impact on their ability to invest and do business across Europe, and just three percent said EU trade policies have a "negative impact" on the ability to trade outside of the Union. The survey found that no matter what the result of the referendum, the majority of members believe that their businesses would still have to comply with EU regulations, even if Britain votes in favour of leaving. That, says David, means it makes no sense for the UK not to be part of EU policy-setting process. "Most of these companies, large and small, have customers or suppliers across the EU. They are saying they will still have to comply with EU rules, whatever the UK decides on 23rd June," he says. "A British exit would mean the UK giving up control over how those rules are set. That could put UK businesses at a real disadvantage," David adds. A confidential survey of techUK members was conducted by ICM on behalf of techUK between February and March this year, with 277 companies responding to the survey. The sample is described as representative of techUK's membership as a whole.

2016-03-14 13:55 Danny Palmer www.zdnet.com

68 Human strikes back in Go against Google’s Deepmind MEAT SACK Lee Sedol has struck a blow for mankind in the seemingly never-ending game of Chinese Go, winning one out of four matches against a Google Deepmind thing called AlphaGo. Lee Sedol was chosen as the human sacrifice here because as far as humanity goes he is pretty damn good at playing Go. However, he wasn't good enough to beat a robot in a five-match board game battle royale. So far four games have been played, with the human trailing AlphaGo one game to three, with one game left to play. This means that the best that chapkind can do is hope for a 3-2 result, which is better than an absolute drubbing. According to Deepmind CEO Demis Hassabis, in the latest match the boy put up a very good fight and managed to confuse his artificial opponent - maybe he asked it if it has a soul. "Lee Sedol is playing brilliantly! #AlphaGo thought it was doing well, but got confused on move 87. We are in trouble now... " said Hassabis on Twitter. "Mistake was on move 79, but #AlphaGo only came to that realisation on around move 87". He added that the human ‘pressured' the machine into the mistake. Earlier he claimed to be rooting for Lee Sedol, so perhaps it was that that gave our man the edge, or maybe he sat in his car, shut the windows, had an energy drink and listened to Eye of the Tiger - we'll wait for the autobiography to find out. Lee Sedol wins game 4!!! Congratulations! He was too good for us today and pressured #AlphaGo into a mistake that it couldn’t recover from — Demis Hassabis (@demishassabis) March 13, 2016 Humanity doesn't just stand to lose its self-respect here, there's money at stake as well - a cool $1m. What exactly AlphaGo will do with the cash is anyone's guess. What's the going rate for FemBots these days? µ

2016-03-14 13:43 Dave Neal www.theinquirer.net

69 69 Adobe's Project Comet now available as Adobe XD public preview Adobe's Project Comet user experience design tool is now officially named Adobe XD, and is available to Adobe ID holders as a free public preview -- initially on Mac OS X only. At Adobe MAX last year, the creative software giant unveiled a new application codenamed Project Comet , aimed at making it easier for UX (User eXperience) professionals to design and prototype mobile apps and websites. The Project Comet announcement generated a lot of interest within the creative community, which has been eager to hear the latest developments -- and, of course, get its hands on the product. Today, Adobe has announced the first public preview of Project Comet, which is now officially named Adobe Experience Design CC, or Adobe XD for short. It's available free to anyone with an Adobe ID, initially only for Mac OS X and only in English, although a monthly update cycle will see additional platform and language support as the product approaches its final shipping date later this year. A preview of Adobe XD for Windows 10 is expected "later this fall," according to the company. At a briefing last week Andrew Shorten , director of product management at Adobe, pointed out that designers currently juggle a disparate set of tools to create mobile and web experiences, including Photoshop for visuals and image manipulation, Illustrator for vector artwork, Muse for no-code websites and Dreamweaver for coded websites. What's needed, he said, is a way to integrate many of these functions into a convenient end-to-end workflow -- which is where Project Comet/Adobe XD comes in. "Customers are increasingly thinking about the entire process that goes into crafting a user experience," said Shorten. "This often starts with persona definition, leads into wireframing -- when you start thinking about flows between different screens in the app or website -- and incorporates visual design alongside interaction design, where you're thinking about animation, movement and motion as part of the experience. " UX professionals spend a lot of time iterating their designs and prototypes, incorporating feedback from stakeholders back into the design process in order to "optimise the experiences they're crafting for a whole range of different devices," said Shorten. Hence the need for a 'frictionless' tool that allows designers to make design and prototype changes, and then reshare their work, all within one integrated workflow. Designers are also increasingly catering for more screens (phones, tablets, the web, cars and watches, for example), which requires the ability to host multiple artboards depicting the relevant relationships and flows. "At that point, the speed and performance of the tool they use become increasingly important, and so our goal with Adobe XD was to provide a high-speed, high- performance environment in which they could work really fast," said Shorten. The initial set of features in Adobe XD was informed by a 5,000-strong 'privilege programme' of creative pros (one of the largest prereleases Adobe has ever had, said Shorten), who delivered feedback that was incorporated into the alpha product. The public preview release will greatly expand the amount of input Adobe receives from the broader UX community, which will then be filtered and incorporated into the monthly releases. UI Kits provide prebuilt assets for projects aimed at iOS, Android and Windows devices. Adobe XD has two modes -- Design and Prototype. To get you started in Design mode, there are prebuilt UI Kits that provide assets to help you create projects for iOS, Google Material design and Windows. Artboard templates are provided for a range of phone, tablet and website dimensions, or you can create your own custom artboards. The design workspace provides a good range of drawing, text and image manipulation tools. Adobe XD's Repeat Grid feature makes it easy to create multiple copies of design elements, and then edit them. A key timesaving feature in design mode is Repeat Grid, which allows you to create multiple copies of grouped elements simply by dragging handles vertically or horizontally. You can edit styles globally but content locally, making it easy to customise the resulting list, or even create a completely new look. Prototype mode, showing links between artboards, transitions between them, and a preview of the prototype in action. In Prototype mode you can 'wire up' your artboards, creating the logical flow and specifying the transitions between them. Hit the Preview button and you can see the prototype in action. A Share Online button uploads all the necessary assets to Creative Cloud and provides a link, so you can share the prototype with stakeholders to receive feedback. The public preview of Adobe XD is initially available for Mac OS X only; other platforms and integrations will follow later this year. No date has yet been set for the 1.0 release. As noted earlier, Adobe is working with the creative community to get feedback on XD and iterate via monthly updates. The public preview of Adobe XD currently integrates with Photoshop and Illustrator, but Adobe expects to incorporate other relevant Creative Cloud tools and services in the monthly updates. Check back soon for a hands-on First Take of the public preview of Adobe XD and, in due course, a full review of the shipping product.

2016-03-14 13:30 Charles McLellan www.zdnet.com

70 Top 15 Moneymaking Certifications For 2016 Security, Cloud, Networking Most Lucrative IT Certifications Solution providers looking to strike it rich should pursue certifications in IT security, virtualization, cloud computing, business and networking. That’s according to information gathered for the 2016 IT Skills and Salary Survey, conducted by Cary, N. C.- based business training and certification company Global Knowledge. More than 10,000 people responded to the survey. All but two of the top 15 certifications pay more than $100,000, and the two that don’t are less than a thousand dollars shy. And a certification that didn’t even make last year’s list is now at the top of the pack thanks to its skyrocketing rise in popularity (certifications must have at least 100 responses to be included on the list). Below are the best-paying certifications of 2016.

2016-03-14 13:27 Michael Novinson www.crn.com

71 Three quarters think web privacy should be a right, as snooping bill looms Artwork by Banksy critisising surveillance culture. Nearly three quarters (74 percent) of the public think that online privacy should be a fundamental right, just days before Parliament debates the government's controversial web snooping legislation. Ope source software company Open-Xchange has released its Consumer Openness Index 2016 , its second annual report into attitudes to privacy across consumers, business, and government. The report makes potentially grim reading tor the UK government, as it suggests only one in five people think the Investigatory Powers Bill -- dubbed the Snooper's Charter by critics -- is justified. GCHQ mass internet surveillance was unlawful, says tribunal Surveillance agency breached human rights legislation in the way it accessed NSA intelligence. The legislation is set to be debated in Parliament on March 15, just two weeks after the final, 800-page draft of the bill was published. That's led to suggestions by privacy groups and the bill's opponents that the government is trying to rush the legislation through parliament without the opportunity for it to be properly scrutinised. If the technology industry so opposes legislation like the Investigatory Powers Bill -- and demands from the FBI for Apple to unecrpyt a suspect's iPhone -- why is government insisting on pushing through potentially surveillance measures? Rafael Laguna, CEO of Open-Xchange said claims that it's all about power. "The government feel a little helpless; their NSA and their GCHQ can't do everything because good encryption is more or less unbreakable for them. So in a way, for them to retain the powers of control and surveillance, they have to fight these technologies and that's exactly what they're doing," he told ZDNet. Laguna said most other politician just "don't know much about technology at all" -- and he's exasperated as to why they're ignoring advice from technologists, academics, and other experts on matters such as encryption and communications data. "One might wonder why they're not listening to the experts who are trying to explain to them that there's no bullet that only hits the bad guys; there's no weak encryption, there's only encryption or no encryption, there's not much in the middle," he said. "They're not listening because they don't like the answers," Laguna said, arguing that these moves to reduce privacy are unwise. "If you can hack the infrastructure, really bad things can happen and it'll make the infrastructure weaker by design if this happens. It's almost dramatic when you really think it through, so I'm amazed as everyone else in the industry by this," he concluded. The United Nations recently waded into the debate surrounding the Investigatory Powers Bill, and released a report dubbing the proposed legislation as disproportionate and intrusive .

2016-03-14 13:23 Danny Palmer www.zdnet.com

72 72 Find the best SSD for your PC Hard disk drives (HDDs) are old-school, so if you want the best performance possible you need to be looking at a solid state drive (SSD). But given that there are plethora of manufacturers out there all claiming to offer the best, it can be hard to find the best drive. One way to find which is the best SSD is to wade through reams of online documentation from the manufacturers, and compile a list, and then pick what comes out top. Problem is, lab benchmarking is very different from real-world benchmarking, and they can give a better indication of how the hardware will perform. How it's not possible for someone who wants to buy an SSD to go out and benchmark dozens of drives, but fortunately that heavy lifting has been done by UserBenchmark. The site offers a freeware PC speed test tool and has collected data on over 600,000 different SSDs (the site also has information on PCs, CPUs, GPUs, RAM, HDDs, and external drives), and has compiled this data into easy-to-use charts. The site allows you to sort out the SSDs by a number of categories, including read/write speeds, effective speed, and market share. I'm interested in effective speed, which is a measure of how well an SSD performs when subjected to typical consumer workloads. So which drives come out on top? Here's the current top 10 lineup: It's pretty much a clean sweep for the Samsung 850, which isn't surprising given that it's a good drive that can be picked up at a decent price point. Sorting the list out by value (which is calculated as (real speed / sqrt(price/capacity) * scale factor) to give a percentage), the top 10 looks as follows: Take a look and see which drive fits in best with your needs.

2016-03-14 13:09 Adrian www.zdnet.com

73 Microsoft ending support for VS 2005, Go champion beats AI, and Qualcomm’s new VR SDK— digest: March 14, 2016 Microsoft will no longer provide security updates, technical support or hotfixes for Visual Studio 2005 as of April 12. The company announced it is ending support for all VS 2005 products, components and runtimes included with them. These products include: In addition, the company announced Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server support will end on July 12. All later versions of Visual Studio will continue to be supported for the rest of their established support life cycle. Human Go champion finally beats AI The champion Go player Lee Sedol won his first match against Google’s artificial intelligence program, AlphaGo, after losing three straight matches to the AI. Against Sedol, who is ranked fifth in the world, AlphaGo made a mistake on move 79 and only realized its error by move 87, according to tweets from Deep Mind cofounder Demis Hassabis, said a Forbes report . Commentators said AlphaGo made mistakes during the match, and it was unable to recover. AlphaGo cofounder Demis Hassabis said that the weaknesses and mistakes of the AI will help them figure out if something is missing from it. Snapdragon 820 helps create VR experiences for developers Qualcomm has introduced a new virtual reality software development kit to help it create immersive VR experiences for smartphones and VR headsets.

2016-03-14 13:08 Madison Moore sdtimes.com

74 Galaxy S7 Parts Cost $255, IHS Reveals Adding together the price of the individual components shows the Samsung Galaxy S7 costs about $255 in raw parts. That number doesn't account for research, development, shipping, or marketing, but demonstrates how Samsung's supply chain expenses fluctuate year-over-year. The Galaxy S7 is closely related to last year's Galaxy S6 in that both share a metal frame and glass panels. Inside, the devices are dramatically different. Research firm IHS took the Galaxy S7 apart to determine how much Samsung is spending to make each phone and found some surprises inside. Typically, the priciest component of any device is the display. That's not the case with the Galaxy S7. Instead, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor bears the highest price tag, at $62 -- almost one-quarter of the total cost. The 820 is a system-on-a-chip that includes the CPU and GPU, along with a dedicated image signal processor and LTE radio. IHS didn't say if the $62 price includes all these components, or just the processor cores. Samsung used its own Exynos processor for last year's Galaxy S6 handset. Paired together with the baseband radio, the Exynos cost $44.50 , significantly less than the Snapdragon 820. The only other individual part IHS assigned a cost to for the Galaxy S7 is the camera module, which comes in at $13.70. Sony is the most likely manufacturer of the 12-megapixel sensor, though Samsung is making some of the sensors, too. The S7's camera costs significantly less than the $18.50 sensor found in the S6. The cost of the S7's screen is probably in line with that of the S6's screen, since both have the same measurements and resolution. The display of the S6 was estimated to cost about $55, so we can assume the display of the S7 bears a similar price tag. Looking at the whole picture , the Galaxy S7 is less expensive to manufacture at $255 than the Galaxy S6 at $275, but is about the same as the Galaxy S5 at $256 . The Galaxy S7 sells for $670, or about $415 more than the cost to build. Samsung spends a lot of cash on marketing, and you can be sure a huge chunk of that $415 is eaten up by advertisements. Are you prepared for a new world of enterprise mobility? Attend the Wireless & Mobility Track at Interop Las Vegas, May 2-6. Register now! IHS has not yet broken down the cost of the larger Galaxy S7 Edge. Given the bigger phone's dual-curved screen, the display is likely to eclipse the Snapdragon 820 as the costliest single component. Apple's iPhones, in comparison, cost a bit less to manufacture even though Apple sells them in a similar price range. The 16-GB iPhone 6s, for example, costs Apple $215 in raw parts, according to IHS's breakdown. The 64-GB model costs a bit more at $234. Apple's A9 processor accounts for $25 of the total price tag. The 2014-era iPhone 6 cost just $206 in parts. Consumers pay Apple $649 for the least-expensive iPhone. Samsung did not comment on IHS's initial breakdown of Galaxy S7 component costs.

2016-03-14 13:06 Eric Zeman www.informationweek.com

75 Fallout Shelter tips and tricks Bethesda's Fallout Shelter remains one of our favourite mobile games of the year - despite some fairly hefty flaws and a frustrating lack of end-game. We're hoping that the success of this freemium offering means that Bethesda will fix the issues (Deathclaws and Mole rats really don't cut it, guys), but that hasn't stopped us religiously checking in to gather the latest weapons and outfits ever since it arrived. So, if you're new to the game or you've been playing for a while, here are our favourite tips and tricks. We're suckers for rewarding companies that do good freemium games with a few of our hard- earned pennies, but outside of giving a little back there really is no justifiable reason to fork out for lunchboxes or Mr Handys in Fallout Shelter. By the time you get to the still depressingly underdeveloped end-game you are likely to have a glut of people idly standing outside of your door from the lunchboxes you have picked up on the way but who are tens of levels behind anyone else you have in your 200 vault dwellers, and generally well behind in SPECIAL as well. *unless you want to We're not getting all theological on you - it's just that you can easily bring back your dwellers for a few thousand caps and you'll be hitting the 'cap cap' of 999,999 relatively quickly. So - if you're facing rampant deathclaws or multiple mole rats, don't panic if you can't click on the right person to give them a stimpack, it's literally not the end. We're fairly sure most of our dwellers have had a bit of a glimpse of the afterlife. Sometimes it's hard when you have a busy Vault to work out who you've upgraded and what rooms you have moved people in and out of without visiting each and every one. You'll have noticed that when you are moving people if you hold them over a room you will get a plus or minus or simply a number if their are fewer people than the room can take. Out tip is to take one of your full SPECIAL superstars (10 in each of the categories) put them in a Vault Suit and then drag them from room to room and seeing if they are a + or a 10, making it easy to make a note of the rooms that still need improvement. At the start of the game you'll be scrabbling for outfits and weapons - but pretty soon you'll upgrading from any old suit to the relevant +3 for each room, and then you'll be going for +4 +1 suits and +5s, and then you'll be finally grabbing the odd +7. The best chance of success out and about comes from the best SPECIAL stats and the best equipment. it takes some time, but taking one of your favourite dwellers from their humble roots to a 70 SPECIAL superstar is one of the pleasures of the game. You'll need to create the various rooms to train each SPECIAL stat - but you won't ever rue building them so factor them in nice and early. Every time the dweller dings to a new level, its health gets reset - so with a bit of luck and a prevailing wind, sending out a level 1 superstar with full SPECIAL, a fatboy, 25 stims, 25 radaways and a +7 outfit should give you one of the longest 'dwell times' (sorry) and a chance at some great kit. You'll find by the end-game that you are only building Nuka Cola (which need endurance, nuclear reactors (which need strength), labs for the RadAways and stimpacks (which need intelligence) and occasionally rushing rooms which are helped by a healthy +luck. Perception and agility are useful at the outset but, from a vault point of view, become less vital as you shift to the better rooms. We've all been trying to collect some essentials from various rooms when we've realised that we've somehow dragged a dweller from overseer-knows-where. Well - rather than laboriously dragging them back through every room you may have grabbed them from simply drag them off into the ground at either side and it will cancel the whole thing. You'll hit the point where you're destroying rooms to replace them with something more important, so make sure that you think about where they sit. This is even more important when you hit the cap because you cannot create or destroy living quarters - which means you will be left with room that you cannot get to to destroy because you'd have to bulldoze living quarters to do so. This is your playground and a lot of the fun that you extract will be of your own making - whether its collecting enough nightwear to have the mother of all pyjama parties, or making sure that every single person has a gauss gun. Fill your +1 boots. You'll need reserves of power, water and food and you'll need plenty of storage for the influx of explorers that you'll wake up to in the morning. Even then you'll perfect the rapid tap to sell method so that you can get everyone in and back out again. The irritating deathclaws will run right through - but a couple of rocket launchers and some level 50 full SPECIAL guards (and fortifying your door) means that the majority of the raider attacks won't get very far at all. Survival mode, added to the game during Patch 1.2 back in October 2015, is basically a hardcore version of the game where the decisions you make are even more important. Playing Survival mode can be just as much fun as a regular game of Fallout Shelter, but you have to take into account the greater risks involved. The biggest factor to consider is permadeath: in true Fallout fashion, if your residents die in Survival mode then that's it. No revivals, no second chances. Death. So make sure you keep an eye on resources because they will be dropping at a much faster rate than before. However, on the upshot, Raiders now drop equipment when defeated so best hope they're carrying the goods. Okay, this one might sound like the most common advice for any activity on an electronic device, but the addition of cloud saves is easily one of the biggest changes to the Fallout Shelter experience. So to reiterate - back it up to the cloud! Being able to keep your vault's progress safe is a godsend considering the risk of losing all those hours of progress if your tablet or smartphone kicks the bucket. Better yet, that supporting cloud service means you can download your progress from one device to another. Playing at home on your iPad, but now want to keep your Dwellers happy while on your lunchbreak? Now you can - just remember that some characters, such as the iOS- exclusive Piper are platform specific and won't transfer over to incompatible devices. Pets, added at the end of 2015 as part of Update 1.3, aren't just there to be hella cute - they also play an important role in boosting certain stats for your Dwellers. Pets, in canine, avian and feline form, can't be assigned to individual Dwellers but they can be assigned to rooms, giving all the inhabitants inside a relative bonus. Up to two can be added to a given room, meaning you should choose the right boosts for the right tenants. These pets come in regular and legendary (rare) versions, with the legendary ones getting a slightly higher boost so keep your eye out for certain breeds. The cat breed Maine Coon and dog breed Black Lab boost training time, Bombay and Rottweiler boost health and Scottish Fold and Boxer increase XP. Look out for these breeds to boost these key areas. Parrots were added in Update 1.4, offering another animal aspect to your Vault that works in much the same way. Last month, Update 1.4 brought one of the biggest new additions to Fallout Shelter: crafting! With the introduction of junk as a consumable item from lunch boxes, you can now craft your own in-game gear, rather than hoping you'll get some from dropped Raiders and the like. Bethesda has added new rooms to Fallout Shelter, namely the Weapon and Armour crafting rooms, and it's here you'll be able to turn junk into useful items and weaponry. When you send Dwellers out into the Wasteland to search for resources, they'll now pick up junk as well to help your crafting. Make sure you pick up recipes (read: blueprints) which will help you craft a variety of new items. Oh and upgrade your crafting rooms to unlock the ability to craft legendary items. There is no endgame so once you hit the cap all the fun and games(!) of reproduction disappear, you'll start to focus much more on upgrading than production, and you'll have a conga queue of people stood outside your vault who will never make the cut. It's a brilliant game - but it does lose all its momentum pretty quickly.

2016-03-14 13:05 By Patrick www.techradar.com

76 ​The US government buys into open-source programming Microsoft isn't the one only that's recognizing that open-source is the best way to create great software. Tony Scott, the US Chief Information Officer, announced that the federal government is "releasing for public comment a draft Federal Source Code policy to support improved access to custom software code. " More and more government programs and web sites will be powered by open-source software. This is far from the first time this has been proposed. Back in 2009, Scott McNealy, the former Sun CEO and then an Obama technical adviser, suggested that the Federal government should mandate the use of open-source software. Why are they doing this? For the same reason that businesses have: It saves money. Specifically, Scott said, "We can save taxpayer dollars by avoiding duplicative custom software purchases and promote innovation and collaboration across Federal agencies. " The other reason is the one Eric S. Raymond spelled out in the bible of the open-source approach, The Cathedral and the Bazaar. By letting many programmers read and work on any code, the program is improved far more quickly than if it's left in the hands of a small group. As Scott said, "We will also enable the brightest minds inside and outside of government to review and improve our code, and work together to ensure that the code is secure, reliable, and effective in furthering our national objectives. " This is far from the first time that the government has used open source. NASA was open- sourcing its software long before the term existed in the 1960s. Some of the fruits of that labor live on in the NASA COSMIC collection. More recently, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau created an open source tool for finding free housing counselors near you. The Department of Education's College Scorecard can help you find the right college. And if you want to see how these projects are doing, check out the General Services Administration's government analytics platform. Open-source supporters outside the government are applauding its move towards open source. Bob Canaway, Black Duck Software 's Chief Marketing Officer, said, "With this new policy, the U. S. government is bringing itself in line with the best practices adopted by many commercial enterprises today: emphasize source code reuse internally; prefer viable open -source solutions over custom code; and when custom development is needed, leverage an open source model to maximize transparency, access, and innovation. " Interested in knowing more about this new Federal open-source approach? You can read it today. And then, like any good open-source process, you can share your thoughts with the government.

2016-03-14 12:59 Steven J. www.zdnet.com

77 After Apple, is WhatsApp the US government's next crypto target? WhatsApp implemented end-to-end encryption in 2014, so only the recipient and sender can see messages. Facebook-owned WhatsApp could be the next tech company in line for a legal battle with the US government over encryption that's seen as frustrating a criminal investigation. US government officials are weighing up options to resolve a "prolonged standoff" over an approved wiretap order that investigators can't act on due to WhatsApp's messaging encryption, the New York Times has reported . Unlike Apple's predicament with the US government over the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone, this case is under seal, although according to the report it is not a terrorism investigation. Why are we still talking about backdoors in encryption? No, really FBI's director says he's not a "maniac" about encryption. The experts disagree. Also, the WhatsApp wiretap order is not for stored data, as with the Apple case, but rather for real-time access to messages, available under wiretap laws through phone carriers but not from the makers of encrypted messaging apps. WhatsApp implemented end-to-end encryption in 2014, which only allows the recipient and sender to see messages. In response to the recent arrest of Facebook's Latin America boss for non-compliance with an order relating to a criminal investigation in Brazil, Facebook said , "We cannot provide information we do not have". The Electronic Frontiers Foundation (EFF), which filed an amicus brief in support of Apple, notes that should the courts force WhatsApp's hand under the Wiretap Act, they will need to consider whether compliance constitutes an "undue burden", just as the courts must do in Apple's case under the All Writs Act. "Therefore, all the rather convincing arguments Apple has made in San Bernardino would be available to WhatsApp as well," EFF staff attorney Nate Cardozo wrote. Details of WhatsApp's wiretap order came as President Obama told an audience at SXSW that absolute arguments for strong encryption amounted to "fetishizing our phones" above all else . "If your argument is, 'strong encryption no matter what' and that we can and should, in fact, create black boxes, that, I think, does not strike the kind of balance we've lived with for 200, 300 years," he said. "It's fetishizing our phones above every other value. And that can't be an answer. I suspect the answer is going to come down to how do we create a system where the encryption is as strong as possible, the key is as secure as possible, it is accessible by the smallest number of people possible for a subset of issues that we agree are important. "

2016-03-14 12:57 Liam Tung www.zdnet.com

78 Top 10 crowd-funded PCs: How Silicon Valley's heirs are building the next great computer Though the PC market is no longer seen as the massive growth industry it once (recently) was, that hasn't stopped budding entrepreneurs from trying to shake things up via crowd-funded projects (even if they may not seem as sexy as other tech-related devices ). Six Clicks: Last year's most exciting crowdfunded tech devices Need help getting your project or business off the ground? Here are some of the most interesting, exciting and innovative tech-related crowdfunding campaigns of the last 12 months. With the drastic reduction in parts costs (sometimes including reliance on a free operating system like ) and the ability for small firms to lower manufacturing costs, you no longer need to be an Apple or HP to produce a computer that looks professional. Thanks to crowd-funding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, would-be Steve Jobs can pitch their ideas to the public and get the money they need to turn their computing visions into reality. In addition to some of the most successful crowd-funded PCs offered to date, we are updating this list to include some promising new entries. No, Erik Estrada has not turned into a maker. But C. H. I. P. is quickly becoming as popular as his '70s TV classic CHiPs, thanks to a price that makes the Raspberry Pi look like a Mac Pro in comparison. Calling itself the "world's first $9 computer," C. H. I. P. backers set a funding goal of $50,000 on Kickstarter , and blasted through it -- at last count, well over $1 million has been pledged. While you certainly get a computer for $9 -- 1GHz Allwinner processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and Linux OS -- the only extra item you'll get is a composite cable. Another $10 either gets you a VGA adapter or battery pack, and you can spend even more to get an HDMI adapter or PocketC. H. I. P., a portable version complete with touchscreen and built-in keyboard. While the team behind Endless Computers can't match the $9 price point of C. H. I. P. (nor its Kickstarter total), it shares a similar goal of bringing affordable computing to the wider world. In particular, it hopes to redesign the PC for the developing world, with a unique look (almost like a little ghost) and an OS developed in-house and based on the smartphone aesthetic. The base $169 model is powered by an Intel Celeron N2807 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage, with a $189 version adding a speaker and Wi-Fi, and the $229 edition coming with a 500GB hard drive instead. As part of its philanthropic mission, Endless Computers allows you to buy one and give one for $500, buy a classroom's worth of Endless PCs for $2,000, or equip a whole school for $5,000. The NexDock takes a novel approach to a crowd-funded PC, taking the concept of the "second screen" for mobile devices to the next level. Essentially a laptop with most of the innards removed, it consists of a 14-inch display, Bluetooth keyboard, and an HDMI port to connect to your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. It ideally works with Windows devices that support the Continuum feature , but can serve as a larger screen for iPhones, iPads, and Android phones and tablets as well. It can also be the primary display for PCs on a stick, or be a more portable secondary display for your primary laptop. The NexDock is currently raising funds on Indiegogo - - $119 gets you a pre-order unit -- but is only a little more than 50-percent funded with a month left in its campaign. Another computer that smashed its fundraising goals is Novena , an open-source computer platform that has tripled its initial requirements at Crowd Supply. Novena is based around a Freescale iMX6 ARM CPU and offers a number of options for would-be tinkerers: $550 for the circuit board to build a system around, $1,315 for an all-in-one PC version (complete with 1080p HD display), and $2,195 for a laptop. (A $5,000 "heirloom laptop with a wood case is no longer available.) Those prices are obviously higher than typical commercial versions, but Novena gives hackers access to nearly everything, including operating system (though it ships with the version of Linux), in a way that "closed" systems don't usually allow. Like Novena, the Librem 15 laptop is built on Linux, though it's emphasizing the OS experience rather than hardware hacking. While there have been a few Linux-based notebooks available over the years, the Librem 15 is trying to make its platform as open as possible to maximize freedom and privacy (its terms). For instance, it hopes to get Intel's BIOS code opened up, and Purism is manufacturing its own motherboard. It's not skimping on specs, either, as the Librem 15 will ship with a Core i7-4770HQ processor, 4GB of RAM, 500GB hard drive and 1,920x1,080 for the base $1,900 configuration. It can handle up to 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and a 3,840x2,160 display if you're willing to pay more when the first laptops start shipping in April. The huge success of Raspberry Pi, , has spurred a mini-industry of Pi-based products looking to be funded via Kickstarter and its ilk. Kano is one of the slickest and most well-funded, lapping its initial $100,000 goal more than 15 times. It provides a Pi-powered mini-computer in a box, complete with a tiny custom case, a cute little orange keyboard and touchpad, and even a diminutive external speaker. You also get beautifully illustrated instructions on how to put the Kano together, which its Kickstarter site shows can be assembled in a couple of minutes. The $119 $150 kit (or $999 for a 10-pack, since the Kano is designed to be kid friendly for educational purposes) even includes your name being inserted into the Kano source code, something Apple probably won't be doing anytime soon. While Kickstarter has Kano, Indiegogo has Pi-Top , a successfully funded laptop project built on Raspberry Pi. DIY laptops have never caught on the same way that building your own desktop PC has, but Pi-Top more than doubled its funding goals for hacker types that want to create a notebook around the Raspberry Pi Model B+. (One of its "stretch" goals it could meet with the extra funding is support for alternative boards like BeagleBone Black.) For $299 ($50 less if you already have a Pi board of your own), it comes with an injection-molded case, 13.3-inch LCD, battery, keyboard, touchpad, and everything else you need to put it together. Once you've assembled it, Pi-Top's founders hope you use it to learn more about your own devices for home automation, robots, and more through lesson plans it's integrated into the laptop as well as placing online. Not to be confused with Microsoft's one-time Windows Phone OS update , the Tango project (run on both Kickstarter and Indiegogo) proves that Linux isn't the only OS that can have a crowd-funded PC. Tango is a Windows PC (either Windows 7 or 8.1) that fits in your pocket, yet somehow still manages to pack an AMD A6-5200 quad-core processor, anywhere from 2GB to 8GB of RAM, and a solid-state drive. It does this by offloading some of the parts -- such as the heatsink, fan, and connectors-- onto its docking station, which transfers a lot of the heat away from the portable PC unit. Tango is already being sold from $349, but the one catch is that it only comes with a trial version of Windows 7, so factor in the price of a Windows license as well. Of course, Tango can also run Linux if you choose. Unuiga S905 (click to enlarge) While some of our new entries are in the middle of their crowd-funding campaigns, Pyramid Flipper is still gestating, but is taking the concept of "crowd" even further. It's a follow-up project to the Eve T1, a low-cost Windows tablet from Finnish company Eve Technologies. The T1 was a Windows 8.1 machine, but with Pyramid Flipper, Eve Tech is looking to create the first Windows 10 crowd-"developed" tablet. This means the Eve community will discuss the specs they want in the Pyramid Flipper before Eve Tech employees source the components for the final build. They are already looking for the touchscreen, and the community has decided on including a stylus, but much remains to be determined by the people who will presumably purchase Pyramid Flipper in the end. The Unuiga project looks to combine a low-cost mini-PC with the Remix OS , a version of Android that has been tweaked for Windows-like productivity. For just $25, early-bird backers on Indiegogo can get the Unuiga S905, which will include a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of built-in storage that fits in a case just 0.8 inches high. To keep the price down, it doesn't include a keyboard, though that can be purchased for an additional $15. Unuiga is far from reaching its $75,000 goal, however, with a month to go.

2016-03-14 12:57 Sean Portnoy www.zdnet.com

79 Final Fantasy XV UK release date rumours, gameplay features & trailers: Final Fantasy 15 release date leaked, announcement may be made at event on 30 March Find out everything you need to know about the upcoming Final Fantasy XV game for PS4 and Xbox One, which looks like it could be the most exciting of the series yet. Here's everything we know so far about Final Fantasy XV, including its rumoured release date, gameplay features and UK price and pre-order information. Update 14/03/2016: Updated to include new release date rumours You'll also like: 26 games you should be most excited about for 2016 Latest update (14/03/2016): Ahead of an event planned on March 30 where Square Enix is said to be announcing the release date of the highly anticipated Final Fantasy XV, the release date has leaked online. Gaming website Gematsu broke the news, claiming to have received word from three independent sources that Final Fantasy XV is set to launch worldwide on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on Friday September 30 2016. The website also claims that we'll find out the official release date and other information about the upcoming game during "Uncovered: Final Fantasy XV" due to take place on March 30 in LA, so it looks like we don't have long to find out for definite either way. -- Final Fantasy XV was actually first unveiled back in 2006, and its lack of public development announcements since then led to speculation that the game might not launch after all. Rumours suggested that it had been cancelled. However, during E3 2013, the developers showed off the game once more, which had been renamed from Final Fantasy Versus XIII to Final Fantasy XV. It was announced that the game would be coming to PS4 and Xbox One, and the first gameplay trailer for the game was released, which you can watch below. Then, lin 2014, Square Enix released a Final Fantasy XV demo called Episode Duscae, designed to give players an idea of what the game will be like to play. It's set during the opening sequence of the game, and the free download code comes with every day-one edition of Final Fantasy Type-0HD, which arrived on 20 March 2015. The release date for the full game is still not confirmed, but pre-orders have begun. All we know for sure is that it will be here before the end of 2016 - Final Fantasy 15 director Hajime Tabata has confirmed fans will be able to play it before 2017. The release date of Final Fantasy XV is so highly anticipated that even it has a release date (or more accurately, a release month). Yes, that's right, we know that the release date of Final Fantasy XV will finally be revealed in March. The company will be holding a special event on 30 March in which it will unveil more information. The event will be streamed live on Twitch, and also on this site. Closer to the event we'll bring you full details of exactly how to tune in. In the Japanese magazine Famitsu in January, the game's director Hajime Tabata said: "This year is the year we will release Final Fantasy XV. Currently, we've decided on all of its specifications and the beta version is under production so we can shift into the debug phase. We'll show the real XV during the release date announcement this March. " We'll update this article once more information is known. As mentioned, the game is actually available to pre-order already, though we'd suggest waiting if you're hoping for a collector's edition as it's likely one will arrive closer to the final release date. If you're not a collector, you can pre-order now from Game (£47.99) , from Amazon (£54.99) and from some other retailers too. Also see: PS4 vs Xbox One So, which platforms will Final Fantasy XV be available on once it is finally released? It has been confirmed by the developers that it'll be coming to both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, with pre-orders available now. However, one NeoGAF user may have stumbled across a possible PC variation of the game, though this is yet to be confirmed by Square Enix. NeoGAF user KupoNut took a look at the JavaScript on the Square Enix Final Fantasy event page and discovered not only placeholders for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but also for Steam and Windows 10. KupoNut also noted that similar code was used for the Rise of the Tomb Raider page, and also features references to various other pages including trailers, schedules, FAQ and even livestreams. This instalment of Final Fantasy is an open world role-playing game that will appeal to lovers of Kingdom Hearts thanks to its action-based battle system. Much of the development was directed by Kingdom Hearts' Tetsuya Nomura, but he left to work on Kingdom Hearts III in 2014. There's a variety of different weapons available to use, too, and you can drive a car or ride a Chocobo to get around the environment that is completely free to roam as you please. There's also a day and night system that cycles throughout gameplay. One in-game day is one hour of play time, and players will need to sleep in a hotel or by camping in order to maintain their combat strengths. The monsters you'll encounter change depending on the in-game time of day, and there's also a weather system.

2016-03-14 12:47 Ashleigh Allsopp www.pcadvisor.co.uk

80 Flash is rocketing into big-data analytics At one time, all-flash storage arrays were used for a single mission-critical application with a need for speed, usually in big IT shops. Now they're poised to take over many more parts of IT. Systems are being scaled down and tuned to the requirements of medium-sized enterprises, while larger, petabyte-scale flash platforms are about to take on big-data number crunching with unprecedented performance. Falling costs are the main reason. Flash media gets cheaper as it packs more bits into the same amount of space, so its speed advantage over spinning disks is within reach for more enterprises. And at larger scale, it boosts data-center efficiency in ways that can multiply the savings. Pure Storage has been one of the most fervent promoters of this trend. All its products have been all-flash since the company's founding in 2009. On Monday, Pure is upping its game to address large-scale analytics workloads as well as reaching out to enterprises that haven't been able to afford all-flash systems before. At its inaugural Pure//Accelerate user conference in San Francisco, Pure is announcing the FlashBlade, a platform designed to store petabytes of unstructured data, like images and social media posts. The FlashBlade is aimed at emerging applications that require fast access to data for almost real-time decision-making. This is the kind of technology an athletic-wear company needs to deliver product offers related to the star players in a soccer match that's still being played, said IDC analyst Eric Burgener. It allows the manufacturer to analyze social media posts to determine whose shoes to promote. The system is in beta testing now and should ship commercially by early next year, Pure says. Among the beta testers are car companies using it for things like airflow simulations. Another early adopter is a Web site that takes in media posted by users, rapidly transcodes it and analyzes it, then makes it available for others to view. There are ways to do big-data analytics with current flash technology, but the FlashBlade and other emerging products, including EMC's recently announced DSSD D5 array, are purpose- built for the task and should make it easier to manage, Burgener said. The FlashBlade will pack 1.6PB of effective capacity in a 4U (7-inch-high) rack unit. In-line compression and deduplication help it achieve that density. Users can scale out the FlashBlade by adding more nodes, gaining both capacity and computing power along the way. The nodes connect over 40-Gigabit Ethernet. The system uses pure flash media, not SSDs (solid-state drives), and a single software base that runs everything, including flash controller functions and software-defined networking between the nodes. That code runs on standard x86 processors. Pure's big-data launch comes just weeks after EMC's DSSD D5 announcement. One difference between the platforms is that EMC is using NVME (non-volatile memory express) instead of Ethernet to interconnect systems. That's likely to give Pure a price advantage, said Gartner analyst Joe Unsworth. Pure says the FlashBlade will cost less than $1 per gigabyte of effective storage, closer than ever to the cost of hard disk drives. But at petabyte scale, flash gets even cheaper than arrays of spinning disks, all things considered, analysts say. Flash takes less energy and data-center space, a difference that starts to add up when there's a lot of data to accommodate. In addition, flash feeds data to servers so quickly they don't have to wait for the bits to process, so companies don't need as much computing capacity, IDC's Burgener said. Also on Monday, Pure is introducing the FlashArray//m10, a scaled-down version of its standard array. The system will have as much as 30TB of usable capacity and cost less than $50,000. It can be upgraded to the FlashArray//m20 and larger systems as a company's needs grow. The FlashArray//m10 will also form the basis of the FlashStack Mini, a converged infrastructure system that bundles it with Cisco Systems servers and virtualization software from either VMware or Microsoft. The 9U systems will start at less than $100,000. The array and the converged systems will ship in June.

2016-03-14 12:27 Stephen Lawson www.infoworld.com

81 Your next Android phone could stop you feeling ill from VR Virtual Reality on your phone is about to get a whole lot better if you buy a new, high-end Android phone in the coming months. Qualcomm is opening up its VR SDK (software development kit) for the Snapdragon 820 chipset to allow developers to improve the VR experience on phones that include the 820 processor. The new SDK enables developers to make more immersive experiences by being able to get more accurate data from the gyroscopes and accelerometers of your phone, as well as more accurate predictive head positions. The SDK also offers support for 3D binocular vision with color correction to make images look better in a VR experience. There's also VR layering improvements, which helps menus and text overlays on objects render correctly. As well as that, fast motion to photon support is included, which means 3D images buffer more quickly and should reduce latency by 50%. Latency is one of the biggest issues facing VR as it can make people feel ill. Lastly, the SDK helps with power management of devices with the aim to make sure VR experiences use less of your battery life. Right now this SDK will only allow developers to work on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820. That means any work done here will only work with the LG G5 , some Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge handsets as well as future phones that choose to include the processor. Rumor is the HTC 10 will include a Snapdragon 820 processor, so it may be that the HTC phone gets a lot better with VR in the near future. Article continues below

2016-03-14 12:16 By James www.techradar.com

82 Microsoft will let Rocket League PC, Xbox One players compete—and maybe PS4, too Microsoft said Monday that it’s working to enable cross- platform play, or “crossplay,” between the Xbox One and Windows PCs—and it looks like support might eventually extend to other consoles as well. Expect cross-platform play to become more of a trend, Charla said—and to reach beyond the Xbox One. “[I]n addition to natively supporting cross-platform play between Xbox One and Windows 10 games that use Xbox Live, we’re enabling developers to support cross-network play as well,” Charla wrote. “This means players on Xbox One and Windows 10 using Xbox Live will be able to play with players on different online multiplayer networks—including other console and PC networks.” Crossplay is Microsoft’s latest step in bringing the Windows 10 PC and the Xbox One closer together, complete with an overhaul of the Xbox One interface to bring it more in line with Windows 10; and the Xbox app on Windows 10, which allows PC players to remotely control and play the console. Microsoft’s recent game Quantum Break allows players to share saves between the PC and console , so they can pick up and play on either platform.

2016-03-14 12:11 Mark Hachman www.pcworld.com

83 BQ Aquaris M5 review: a good budget smartphone with impressive display and sound qualities By Christopher Minasians | 4 hours ago See full specs £239.90 inc VAT The BQ Aquaris M5 is a budget smartphone which offers premium features at no extra cost. The Aquaris M5 looks to bring a pleasant stock Android experience to its users, whilst also being able to offer fantastic sound quality and an impressive camera. Read next: Best budget smartphones 2016. The BQ Aquaris M5 comes in three different variants, where you’ll find it with 16GB internal storage and 2GB RAM for £209.90. There is also a 16GB and 32GB versions, which both come with 3GB RAM for £229.90 and £239.90 respectively. The phones can be found from various resellers in the UK, including BQ’s very own site and the likes of Amazon UK which also stock the phone. We received the 32GB version that comes bundled with 3GB RAM. The phone is not currently available on contract but does come with an impressive five-year warranty, which can also be upgraded through BQ Plus for £23.90 a year to cover screen damage, moisture damage, impact, falls and even theft. Read next: Best SIM-only deals 2016. The Aquaris M5 faces stiff competition from various phone manufacturers across the world that also offer similarly priced and spec’d phones. Smartphones such as the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua which can now be found for £148.99 , the Honor 5X found for around £169.99 , the Samsung Galaxy A5 available for £210 and finally the Honor 6 which comes in at a slightly higher price of £249.99 . We should mention that the BQ Aquaris M5.5 has a bigger 5.5in screen, but also does feature a bigger battery and a different back-facing camera sensor (Samsung S5K3M2 as opposed to the M5’s Sony IMX214). As for the Aquaris M4.5 , it’s an entirely different phone that’s aimed at the lower-end of budget phones. Read next: Cheapest 4G smartphones of 2016. The Aquaris M5 comes with a full-HD 5in 1920x1080 display that has an impressive 440ppi, which means it rivals the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S5 (431ppi) and even the iPhone 6 Plus (401ppi) by being extremely sharp given its full-HD resolution; text is clear and images are well refined. The phone’s overall brightness levels were impressive, where in sunny conditions was able to produce a bright image which wasn’t washed out nor hard to see. However, if you’re looking for a dim screen in lowlight conditions, you might need to install a third-party app such as Lux Auto Brightness to make the screen even dimmer. Due to having an IPS display, colours are accurate and with the help of Quantum Color + technology the screen achieves an impressive 90% NTSC colour gamut, which allows the phone to produce a wider array of colours over traditional IPS screens. In real-world applications, we found the screen to be a little more vivid and produce vibrant colours whilst not being over saturated unlike AMOLED screens found on certain phones. Whereby, when it came to viewing photos, movies and even playing games we were happy with the overall screen reproduction and the screen’s contrast ratio, which made images pop to life. However, when compared to the iPhone 6s screen, we did find the BQ Aquaris M5 to have a slightly reddish coloured screen. We found the phone’s viewing angles to be impressive, where we didn’t have any problems seeing its accurate colours at even the most extreme angles. The phone’s screen is protected by Asahi Dragontrail Glass, which is made to be scratch resistant; however this doesn’t extend to it being fingerprint-resistant. We found ourselves regularly cleaning our Aquaris M5 for fingerprints after short periods of usage. The screen itself is flat and the phone’s display covers a good portion of the phone; we do think the top bezel of the phone could be slightly reduced in order to reduce the overall size of the phone. Moving on to the build quality of the phone, we found the phone slightly chunky in our hands with its 8.4mm thickness. Where its accentuated sides felt they could have been a little rounded off, in order to make it feel more comfortable in-hand. In comparison to the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua and the Honor 5X the Aquaris M5 felt less premium as it is entirely made out of plastic. It should also be noted that the phone isn’t waterproof. On the plus side, at the back of the phone there is solar UV protection and anti-fingerprint coating which prevents the phone attracting fingerprints at the back and prevents the phone from heating up in sunny conditions. There is also a dual-LED flash alongside a 13Mp main camera, which sits flush to the phone’s back casing. It should be noted that the phone’s back cannot be removed and therefore its 3120mAh battery is non-removable. On the right-hand side of the phone there is a micro SD card slot which accepts up to 64GB of additional storage on top of the 16 or 32GB internal storage. Under the expandable storage slot you’ll find the volume rocker and the power button which are located slightly lower than most smartphones. This design element is to aid the overall one-hand operation of the phone, whereby using the phone becomes a little easier for those with slightly smaller hands. On the left-hand side, BQ have added two 4G micro-SIM slots which run on Dual Standby allowing you to use two different SIM cards at the same time. At the top of the phone there is a 3.5mm headphone jack and at the bottom a micro USB slot alongside a single downward-firing right-sided speaker. Around the front of the phone there is a 5Mp front camera which also has an LED flash, which proves to be useful for taking selfies in low light conditions. There is also a speaker grill for calls and capacitive buttons (back, home and the multi-task button). The Aquaris M5 comes equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 Octa Core A53 64-bit processor (Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53). To power its graphical abilities, the phone comes bundled with a Qualcomm Adreno 405 which is clocked up to 550 MHz. In comparison to other phones in the market, the BQ is seen to be using the same processor as its competitors, such as the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua. The Aquaris M5 comes with 2 and 3GB RAM options, which both are sufficient for most of your daily tasks. We do feel the 3GB version does give you that little extra headroom when multitasking through RAM-intensive apps. We found the overall experience of the phone’s performance to be fluid with no noticeable stutters or visual problems, even with light-gaming and fast-paced videos. The only noticeable slowness of the phone that we noticed was when we started taking multiple photos at a time. We felt the phone wasn’t able to quickly process the image before moving onto the next one. However, this camera slowness could be easily updated through a software and update. Looking at its benchmark results we can see that the BQ betters the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua and Samsung Galaxy A5 in its Geekbench 3 results and performed better than the Samsung in its GFXbench scores. We can’t say that its performance was surprising for a budget phone, but it was worth noting that the phone won’t compete with the graphical abilities of a higher-end flagship phone. As said above, we found its performance adequate for light-gaming and movies. Read next: What's the fastest phone. Finally its browser performance was very good, where we tested its capabilities through the Chrome app and used Jetstream to benchmark the phone. The BQ Aquaris M5 comes in two separate storage options with 16GB and 32GB, which effectively have 11.8GB and 27.8GB of usable storage available. If you require more storage, you’ll be able to add a micro SD card which can offer you an additional 64GB of space. In comparison to other phones at this price point, we feel the option to expand the storage is a great addition to the BQ’s features. Read next: How to get more storage in Android. Battery life is adequate, where we didn’t run into any problems using the phone for a full day of medium usage, but when benchmarked, the phone’s battery life only lasted 6:02hrs and scored a very low 2417 through the Geekbench 3 battery test. In comparison, the Honor 5X only lasted 5:12hrs but scored a better 3125 battery score which would seem to indicate that the BQ’s battery isn’t able to hold a full-charge competently. The BQ also doesn't support Quick Charge and charges at a one ampere current. Read next: Best power banks 2016 UK. The phone, which can be charged through a micro USB port, does not support fast charging nor wireless charging and has an input current of one amp, meaning charging does take some time to fully charge. We should mention that within the packaging you’ll find a micro USB to USB cable included. Speaker Quality The Aquaris M5 has great overall sound quality through its speaker, which is a single downward- firing right-hand speaker. Its lows are reasonably well extended, with an emphasis on the mid- bass slam, whilst its mids and highs are extremely impressive, as they deliver a clear and very minor V-shaped sound signature. However, we did find the speaker’s volume to be a little low in comparison to other smartphones, up until we enabled the Dolby Atmos button. The Dolby Atmos app, which comes pre-installed on the phone, boosts the overall volume and quality of the speaker. We found the speaker volume to go up by 15-20%, whilst also adding a wider and more engaging soundstage to the speaker’s sound quality. Unlike normal Dolby technology, which is often used to recreate a faux surround sound, we found the Atmos inclusion to be hugely beneficial. Read next: Best sounding phone 2016. It should be noted that when the speaker was boosted through Dolby Atmos, we found the speaker to distort very slightly at maximum volume, where we also felt slight vibrations through its plastic back panel. Internal Sound quality The Aquaris M5 houses the Wolfson WM8281 audio chipset, which enables it to produce some of the best sound we’ve heard from a smartphone. In fact, the Marshall London rated as one of the best sounding phones in our group test comparison ranks the best sounding phone of 2016. We found the Aquaris M5 to be a fantastic phone that houses one of the best smartphone DACs currently available on the market. We performed all our tests without the Dolby Atmos technology enabled, and found that the lows extended quite well, with a slight cut-off in the sub-bass region. The mid-bass is well presented, providing a nice healthy slam to music and not overly influencing the mids. We found the mids to be slightly recessed due to the mid-bass slam, but they were generally well presented and forward-sounding. The highs do roll off a very slight bit at the top frequencies, but fortunately provide a nice sparkle that adds life and soul to music and movies. We found its soundstage representation to be a slight mixed bag, as we found it to present a decent width but lack much depth. Instrument separation could have been a little better, but the imaging and positioning is really well presented. The phone didn’t have any distortions at maximum volume, but did have an extremely hard-to- notice hiss when used with an amplifier. We found the phone to be loud enough through its 3.5mm jack, with us only requiring around 55-60% overall volume to perform our tests. In comparison to other phones, such as the flagship Google Nexus 6P which requires 90-95% for the same volume output volume. Finally, we found the Dolby Atmos technology to positively impact the internal audio sound too, adding a little extra realism and soundstage to our music. However, we did find it peculiar when we weren’t able to use Dolby Atmos alongside the popular music player Poweramp , whereas with Google Music the app worked flawlessly. The Aquaris M5 comes with dual micro SIM slots, which run on a dual-standby mode, allowing you to have two active SIMs in the phone at the same time, effectively allowing you to have two separate lines. Read next: Best dual-SIM smartphones 2016. Both SIM slots have the ability to receive 4G (LTE) FDD (800/1800/2100/2600) - (B20/B3/B1/B7), 3G HSPA+ (900/2100) - (B8/B1) and 2G GSM (850/900/1800/1900). Read next: How to tell whether a phone is supported by your network. With the phone you’ll also have WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS + GLONASS included, which adds great up-to-date connectivity options. We would have liked to see WiFi ac also included as a lot of modern routers now come with it enabled. The BQ also has NFC (HCE) capabilities, which is great for quickly pairing your phone or using it to pay for purchases. Unfortunately, unlike the Honor 5X there’s no fingerprint scanner included which would have made this phone a little more secure against thieves who are looking to steal your data. Finally, we found its vibrating motors, which are used to put the phone to vibrate or for haptic feedback to be very powerful and have a somewhat unique feel through the back of the phone. Read next: Best Android phones 2016. The phone comes equipped with a Sony IMX214 1/3.06in sensor, which is able to take 13Mp photos at a ƒ/2.0 aperture with an aspect ratio of 4:3. You’ll also be able to take 16:9 photos, but you’ll be limited to a maximum of 10Mp resolution. Through the camera app there are various settings, such as enabling the dual-LED flashes, ZSL (zero-shutter-lag) and HDR (High Dynamic Range) modes. The BQ also has the option to adjust its flash, timer, white balance, ISO, exposure time, metering mode, and even enable black and white mode which is great for taking vintage-looking photos. Without using ZSL we found the camera shutter to be a little sluggish, but with it enabled found ourselves rapidly snapping away – do bear in mind that your focus will be automatic and if you’re looking to take close-up macro shots with ZSL enabled, you might find your pictures out-of-focus. The BQ’s picture quality, both through HDR (pictured below) and standard mode was extremely impressive. Both modes presented us with accurate looking photos which were neither overly saturated nor lacking colour. We were further impressed by its macro ability, which made the Aquaris M5 great for taking close-up photos of objects. The depth of field was also eye catching where we could focus on close objects whilst also have the background out-of-focus. The dual- LED flash was also very bright and produced a good flash tone, but we found the camera’s ability to take low-light pictures remarkable. We found ourselves taking flash off, as even within low-light conditions, the camera was taking bright images. Read next: Best phone camera 2016. Flipping the camera to take selfies revealed the 5mp camera, which alongside its front-side flash, allowed us to take pictures even at night. This feature might be overlooked by some, but we were pleased to see a front-facing flash, as we like to have the ability to take photos of ourselves in low-light conditions. The phone’s video capabilities were also good, albeit not flawless. You’ll be able to record full HD 1920x1080, 720p and 480p all of which are recorded at 30 FPS (frames per second). Unfortunately, there’s no option to record at 60FPS nor can the camera take 4K video, so you’ll have to hold back on your fluid dance videos! We found that video taken with ‘image-stabilizer’ enabled produced slightly choppy video which looked to replicate frames being stitched together. With the option disabled, the slightest hand movements created shaky videos but on the plus side we didn’t notice any choppy frames. Therefore, if you’re looking to take videos, it would be advised to enable ‘image-stabilizer’ and focus the camera in one direction thereby not panning the phone from left to right. Finally, within the camera app, you’ll also be presented with a set of different camera and video modes, such as panorama mode, slow motion (60, 90 and 120 frames per second) and time lapse, all of which provide you with additional tools to take great memories. Android Lollipop 5.1.1 comes pre-installed with the phone, where the Android experience is untamed by any extra Android skin, unlike manufacturer’s like Samsung which have TouchWiz. Using the Aquaris M5 was a fantastic and refreshing feel, as we felt the Android experience was fluid, untampered and flawless. It should also be noted that due to it being stock Android, updates should naturally come faster on the phone, over other manufacturers who need to optimise Android updates with their own interfaces. Better still, the only pre-installed system apps, aside from the stock Google apps, was BQ Plus and Dolby Audio which means there’s no bloatware to slow you down! Read next: Android Lollipop review. Through Android 5.1.1, you’ll be able to use Google Now, customise your toggles on your notification panel, setup different users, enable features such as battery saver and even unlock your OEM bootloader if you wish to flash your phone on another Android ROM – presenting us with fantastic open-source capabilities. Speaking of which, flashing the phone to another ROM, such as CyanogenMod is permitted and according to BQ’s Head of Technical, Christian Fernández does not void the warranty. We don’t feel that we had to flash the phone to get a closer-to-stock experience, however those looking to further customise their phone , can do so without worrying about warranty. This refreshing approach really does stand behind BQ’s claim of being a phone by the makers and we applaud them for being different from the rest. Read next: Android 6.0 Marshmallow review . We also liked the ability to edit our images through the gallery app, where we could add different image filters, borders and even adjust the orientation of your images. The ability to edit and personalise your images without any additional editing apps is fantastic and allowed us to manipulate photos before sharing them on with our friends and families. Read next: Best phones 2016. The BQ Aquaris M5 is a fantastic phone, which offers fantastic sound reproduction, impressive camera abilities and an untamed Android experience all for an affordable price. It's hard to fault this budget smartphone, which has only recently entered the UK market. How to get Android N now: How to install Android N Developer Preview on Nexus devices today 1995-2015: How technology has changed the world in 20 years Learn UX design: 10 best paid and free UX design courses What to expect at Apple's 21 March iPhone SE launch event | Invites go out: 'Let us loop you in' | …

2016-03-14 12:10 Christopher Minasians www.pcadvisor.co.uk

84 ESA's ExoMars Launches On Mission To Red Planet The European Space Agency (ESA) successfully launched its joint mission to Mars with Russia, called ExoMars , from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on a Russian Proton rocket, marking the start of a seven-month journey to the red planet. ExoMars consists of two missions. The first contains the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) plus an entry, descent, and landing demonstrator module, Schiaparelli, just launched. The second, featuring a rover and surface science platform, will follow in 2018. ExoMars, which gets its name from the term exobiology, the study of life beyond Earth, will search for evidence of methane and other trace atmospheric gases that could be signatures of active biological or geological processes and to test key technologies in preparation for ESA's contribution to subsequent missions to Mars. Three days before reaching the atmosphere of Mars, Schiaparelli will be ejected from the orbiter towards the planet, decelerate using aerobraking and a parachute, and then brake with the aid of a thruster system before landing on the surface of the planet. The four major instruments on the Schiaparelli include AMELIA (Atmospheric Mars Entry and Landing Investigation and Analysis), COMARS+ (Combined Aerothermal and Radiometer Sensors instrumentation package), the DeCa (Descent Camera), INRRI (INstrument for landing- Roving laser Retroreflector Investigations), and DREAMS (the Dust Characterisation, Risk Assessment, and Environment Analyser on the Martian Surface). Schiaparelli will arrive at Mars during the global dust storm season, and provide new insights into the role of electric forces on dust lifting, the mechanism that initiates dust storms. Create a culture where technology advances truly empower your business. Attend the Leadership Track at Interop Las Vegas, May 2-6. Register now! While the science possibilities of Schiaparelli are limited by the absence of long-term power and the fixed amount of space and resources that can be accommodated within the module, the operational window should be enough time to provide the ESA will valuable scientific insights. Up above, the TGO's successful arrival at Mars would mark the second time that ESA has placed a spacecraft into orbit around the planet. It will detect a range of atmospheric trace gases with an improved accuracy compared to previous measurements. The scientific mission is expected to begin in December 2017 and run for five years. The orbiter will also be used to relay data for the 2018 rover mission of the ExoMars program until the end of 2022. According to the ESA, 12 missions, for a total of 17 spacecraft, are now in flight, spanning science, Earth observation, orbiting observatories, and Europe's Galileo and Copernicus programs, while nine new missions are being prepared. ( NASA is planning its own 2018 mission .) In 2016, at least five new missions are expected to be launched, a record for European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), plus two interplanetary highlights in the autumn -- ExoMars's arrival at Mars, and the controlled impact of Rosetta on its comet. In 2018, the ExoMars rover will be the first mission to combine the capability to move across the surface and to study Mars at depth. The mission's primary objective is to land the rover at a site with high potential for finding well- preserved organic material, particularly from the very early history of the planet.

2016-03-14 12:06 Nathan Eddy www.informationweek.com

85 At the office, diversity works, but shorter work weeks may not AUSTIN -- Achieving a diversified staff in a tech firm can't be done casually, but offering prospective employees a shorter work week may or may not entice them to sign up. That was the message from two employment-related conferences at SXSW over the weekend, titled Why Diversity Can't Be Built in a Day and The End of the Work-More Culture? Related: SXSW: Obama touts tech, others examine pitfalls As for building diversity, "people say it should be everybody's job, but that hasn't worked — there's no explicit focus," said Abby Maldonado, diversity programs specialist at Pinterest. "There's an expertise to this work that people don't recognize. " She added that managers must be held accountable for achieving inclusive hiring goals, typically by making it part of their performance reviews. "Diverse teams are stronger and more creative — that is the accountability. That is better than enforcement," she said. A diversity specialist must also look at the organization's hiring funnel to see how names are fed into it and where they fall out, Maldonado said. "We found we were not getting enough names [of diverse prospects] into the funnel because the campuses we went to were not diverse," she said. When executives say they can't "lower the bar" for diversity hiring, "I just say, 'Really?' " said Rachel Williams, Yelp 's head of diversity. "I ask, 'Did you lower the bar to hire me?' It's fun to see their faces after that," said Dominique DeGuzman, diversity co-chairwoman at Twilio . "What bar? " countered Maldonado. "They can't define it. " Knowing how prospects are being identified is important, Williams said. "If you are hiring through referrals, you will see people who all look the same. You cannot hire 80 to 90 percent referrals and expect change. " "But you can never move completely away from referrals," added Maldonado. "We ask people to look outside the people they would normally refer, and refer those other people, explicitly asking for women and people of color. " Meanwhile, millennials profess to want a better work-life balance, and experience shows that employees who are not overworked are more focused and creative, have better ideas and generate less turnover, noted Christian Blauvet, deputy culture editor for BBC.com . He said that 43% of companies have begun to offer shorter work weeks to some of their employees, and 10% to most of their employees, sometimes with reduced pay but sometimes at full pay. Meanwhile, a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers survey found that millennials liked work but not work culture, seeing work as a thing rather than a place. But he also noted that Soviet leader Joseph Stalin's labor camps in the 1930s calculated just how little prisoners could be fed for the maximum amount of work, and society has since seemed to internalize that approach, with people seeking to optimize themselves. Meanwhile, Americans now work four more weeks a year than they did in 1979, he added. Given the chance, many millennials will choose to make the most money they can, while a shorter work week could be a source of stress for a workaholic who needs something to fill his or her life, Blauvet said. Next: Algorithms and experiments make strange bedfellows at SXSW

2016-03-14 12:01 Lamont Wood www.computerworld.com

86 FBI could demand Apple source code and keys if iPhone backdoor too 'burdensome' (Image: file photo/CNET, CBS Interactive) The FBI could demand that Apple turns over its source code and private key to the iPhone's operating system, the Justice Dept. implied in its latest filing against the tech giant. The government's response aims to target a critical argument made by Apple -- that compelling the company to rewrite its iOS software to remove security features in order to allow federal agents to bypass the passcode on the San Bernardino shooter's phone would be overly "burdensome. " As Apple vs. FBI deepens, tech companies face these nuclear options Experts say some tech firms could be driven abroad, leaving a dent in the US economy. "The government did not seek to compel Apple to turn those over because it believed such a request would be less palatable to Apple," said federal prosecutors in a footnote in its March 10 filing. "If Apple would prefer that course, however, that may provide an alternative that requires less labor by Apple programmers. " Some case watchers saw the citation as more indicative of a threat than a technological suggestion. A Justice Dept. spokesperson said the agency will "let the filing speak for itself," but added the citation in question was an alternative, rather than a position taken. By its own admission, the Justice Dept. set this precedent in its 2013 case against Lavabit, the encrypted email provider said to have been used by whistleblower Edward Snowden. "I think [the government] is setting up the possibility of demanding the key and the source code," said Lavabit founder Ladar Levison, speaking on the phone. Levison drew parallels between his case and the fight that Apple currently has on its hands. He too was compelled by the government to provide "technical assistance" to help the FBI install a pen register device to obtain metadata on an Lavabit account -- thought to be Snowden's but that was never formally confirmed as the case remains under seal. Levison forcibly shut down his encrypted email service after federal agents later demanded that he turn over his master encryption key, which he said would give agents access to every one of his customers' data. "It's rather disturbing that the government is relying on the authority they obtained by railroading a small business in a secret court proceeding to justify demanding the key from Apple now," he said. Levison said the feds demanded his source code and private key in order to build a "ghost" Lavabit, allowing the government to "pretend to be Lavabit on the internet" all while intercepting, decrypting, and inspecting data between Lavabit's servers and the outside world. It wouldn't be the first time the US government has compelled a company to turn over its source code or private keys. (Image: file photo) Similarly, acquiring Apple's source code and private key would allow the government to sign its own versions of iOS, making it possible to build as many custom versions of iOS as it wants. Demanding Apple's source code or signing key would undermine the government's own claim that it was only after the one iPhone that was used by the San Bernardino shooter. Private keys are often used to prove that the item is what it says it is, and ensures that it's from the true source. But he argued that if a person cryptographically signs something, they can no longer deny that they're responsible for making it. "It's the equivalent of putting a notarized signature on an affidavit. Because it has your signature, it's in effect your speech -- and there's no way to deny it," said Levison. Levison argued that if Apple lost overall control of its key, the government could create "ghost" software that imitate legitimate Apple updates, a sentiment he echoed in his amicus brief submitted earlier this month in support of Apple. If the government succeeded, he said, the public would "no longer be able to differentiate between Apple's true speech and their compelled speech," if both Apple's software is signed by its own key, and a key taken by the FBI. Apple is expected to respond to the government's response by Tuesday. A court hearing on Apple's objections is set for March 22.

2016-03-14 12:00 Zack Whittaker www.zdnet.com

87 Is your management to-do list stopping you from getting anything done? "You need to get the business' priorities sorted first and then worry about the short-term concerns as they arise," says IS manager Doug May. A great strategy is at the core of a successful approach to IT leadership. The best CIOs engage with line-of-business peers and ensure the activities of the technology team are aligned with the wider aims of the organisations. But sticking to that strategy is no easy task: modern IT leaders are bombarded with demands for innovation and at the same time there is an expectation that CIOs will keep day-to-day operations humming along happily too. Research from consultant Deloitte suggests global CIOs cite innovation and growth as top business priorities, yet 84 per cent of IT budgets are still spent on running day-to-day operations and incremental change. In a digital era characterised by fast-changing business requirements, how can CIOs ensure they balance day-to-day needs with keeping long-term goals in focus? Forget CIO: If you want to run the company's tech strategy, here are the job titles to aim for Gartner has come up with three distinct roles that its thinks will much more closely define the job of the digital chief in a rapidly changing tech world Doug May, regional IS manager at manufacturing specialist Messier-Dowty Limited, says it can be very tricky for time-precious CIOs to get an effective equilibrium between the present and the future. "Long-term goals are always about helping the business to be more successful and profitable," he says. "Short-term goals, however important, can really interrupt your attempts to meet long-term targets. I think the key for CIOs is to always have their strategic aims in place. You need to get the business' priorities sorted first and then worry about the short-term concerns as they arise. " May has been in situ since early 2015. He has taken time to weigh up the business' priorities and to place these carefully within the context of available IT and human resources. "They key to success, at both the long-term and short-term scale, is planning," says May. "I always take time to sit down with the business owners and consider how changes to systems and services will affect productivity and performance. You need to have a pragmatic take on business and IT priorities, especially once your systems start to get old. " Nick Hopkinson, CIO at Devon Partnership NHS Trust, is directing his attention to business transformation at his organisation, which was established in 2001 and supports 18,000 people across Devon and Torbay in the UK. The Trust's IT strategy forms a crucial element of that change approach -- and Hopkinson recognises an effective balance between immediate and future aims is key. "It's definitely a big challenge for modern IT leaders," says Hopkinson. "It's an area I work on to make sure that my long-term aims are understood by the rest of the organisation. " Top of his list of priorities is a move towards agility and a desire to change how information is used. Hopkinson and his team are looking to modernise services so that care staff can cut the amount of time they spend on non-clinical activities. He says that approach might include apps that allow staff to send information back to the office via mobile devices. "Day-to-day concerns can't be your only priority," says Hopkinson. "If that's the case, then you're choosing to fail. You must regularly review your priorities are make sure that your short-term aims are helping the rest of the business to meet its long-term objectives. " Former CIO turned digital advisor Ian Cohen says achieving an effective balance between short and long-term goals should be seen as nothing more than standard practice for CIOs. "It comes with the territory of being a modern and engaged IT leader," he says. How do you define great IT leadership? What skills and traits do top tech leaders share? However, not every CIO has achieved an effective balance. Strategy -- and the link between IT and business outcomes -- might be crucial but true alignment still remains a pipe dream for many CIOs and their c-suite peers. Cohen says the majority of IT leaders need to become much better at communications. Too many technology professionals are not strong enough when it comes to describing options to business colleagues, particularly in ways that non-IT people can understand. "Those kinds of communication skills should really be a basic hygiene factor for a successful CIO," says Cohen. "Too many IT leaders still focus on operational concerns. Many CIOs need to think in a more creative manner. They need to get out, speak to startups, and find new people that can help foster great ideas in both the short and long term. " Colin Lees, CIO at BT Business, says one of the advantages of being part of a much larger organisation is the ability to set longer term goals. Lees says he knows exactly what he expects to be doing during the next 18 months. More than that, he has a technology roadmap that looks three years in advance. Lees has to forecast the projected capital expenditure across the entire BT Business estate for the next 36 months. Future thinking also plays a part. Lees says the BT research team at Martlesham Heath in Suffolk looks towards technological advances across the following five years, using 'hunt teams' in Silicon Valley, Israel, and Europe. "I get those three perspectives and then the things I hold my team to account for are the details of implementation," he says. "I want them to know what they'll be involved in for the next 18 months, their three-year roadmap for their part of BT Business, and I need them to consider input from the strategy and hunt teams as they look into the future. " Lees says his role would be much harder without input from the research team. That involvement has grown increasingly important during the past two or three years. "A lot of research at BT never used to see the light of day," he says. "Now, we get input on everything, including some of the latest developments, such as G. Fast, which massively increases the broadband speed over copper lines. "

2016-03-14 12:00 Mark Samuels www.zdnet.com

88 'Game-changing' software to let PC gamers mix Nvidia and AMD graphics cards Wouldn't it be great to mix and match any video cards you fancied and have them run together in your PC? Apparently this possibility is just around the corner thanks to an incoming piece of DirectX 12 -leveraging software from Stardock. Stardock is a firm famous for its Windows customization software – such as desktop organization utility Fences, and its Start menu alternatives – but this new project will allow gamers to combine the power of AMD and Nvidia graphics cards in one machine. Of course, this has never been previously possible, as until now AMD and Nvidia products don't play together – you can hook up a pair (or more) of GeForce cards, or a pair of Radeon cards, but as you're doubtless aware it's not possible to mix these competing brands. This new development will make this possible though, and furthermore, unlike SLI or Crossfire, you'll not only be able to mix brands but also different types of graphics cards. In other words, you won't have to match a GTX 960 with another GTX 960, gamers will be able to throw any old card in to boost the power of their existing video board. It'll be less fuss, with the user simply having to stick the video cards in PCIe slots and then they're good to go. If the system works as promised, it will indeed be a "game changer" (quite literally) as the chief executive of Stardock, Brad Wardell, called it. Wardell spoke to GamesBeat about the software, which is as yet unnamed, stating: "We will come up with a cool marketing name for it [laughs]. Basically, it's multi-GPU. You can mix and match cards however you want. " This could have all sorts of major repercussions for the graphics card market. For example, gamers could buy a cheap GPU to slot into their PC alongside a mid-range video card, boosting the performance of a middling rig considerably for a relatively small outlay. Or if they've got an old graphics card lying around, that could be bunged into a machine for a performance boost that would cost the gamer absolutely nothing. It's an exciting prospect, and could have big ramifications for virtual reality , too. While many gamers were disappointed to find out that VR requires at least a GTX 970 or R9 290, rather than face an expensive upgrade to one of these contemporary cards, they can now mull the prospect of supplementing their existing graphics solution with a cheap card instead. Caveats? As this is a DX12 solution you'll need to be running Windows 10 to benefit from this multi-card goodness. Also, another downside is on the overclocking front, because as Wardell told GamesBeat, overclockers "will not have a good time with DX12". Still, that's not about to dampen our enthusiasm for what sounds like a very promising technology. Theoretically, because support for this is baked into DX12, it should – as well as being a far more flexible offering – be a much smoother and simpler experience overall compared to the traditional multi-GPU avenue. Fingers crossed that Stardock can live up to the promises. Article continues below

2016-03-14 12:00 By Darren www.techradar.com

89 Black Duck announces open source 'Rookies of the Year' Black Duck , a global leader in automated solutions for securing and managing open source software, today announced the eighth annual Open Source Rookies of the Year, recognizing the top new open source projects initiated in 2015. The selected projects show how diverse and ambitious open source software development has become. From communications to healthcare and beyond, they offer innovative solutions to a range of consumer- and enterprise- grade problems. The 2015 Rookies class reflects three industry trends shaping the future of open source software: The 2015 Black Duck Open Source Rookies of the Year are: “This year’s Rookies are impressive examples of how far open source has come, with start-ups like Mattermost and Glucosio as well as big players like Google, Facebook and Red Hat leveraging the open source community to help drive innovation in everything from DevOps and Docker container solutions to diabetes monitoring and real-time communication,” said Patrick Carey, Director of Product Management, who headed the Rookies selection process. “These are sophisticated initiatives where the open source approach is a core part of the business strategy for speeding development, promoting adoption and providing the most value to their customers,” Carey said. For more information about the Black Duck Open Source Rookies of the Year, please visit www.blackducksoftware.com/open-source-rookies .

2016-03-14 11:54 SD Times sdtimes.com

90 TIBCO enhances Spotfire for more powerful analytics and broadened ease-of-use TIBCO Software Inc., a global leader in integration, analytics and event processing, today announced the latest update to its TIBCO Spotfire data analytics software offering. The updated Spotfire solution includes enhancements to core visualizations, an expanded set of built-in data access and data preparation functions, additional collaboration and mashup capabilities; and a re-design of the Spotfire server topology with simplified web-based administration tools. The new features help users discover insights faster with improved analysis and data-wrangling capabilities. Administrators can manage thousands of users more easily and with greater control, ensuring applications are readily available throughout the business. “Spotfire continues to extend its innovative leadership in visual analytics by offering more built-in data access, preparation, and visualization capabilities while extending its smart recommendations, collaboration, and storytelling functionality. This release accelerates self- service productivity — enabling faster, more accurate insights that can be shared over a platform that scales on cloud or on-premises,” said Michael O’Connell, chief analytics officer, TIBCO. “Our goal is to enable users to simplify and reduce time to insight, while enabling actions through a unified Spotfire platform that does not rely on costly add-ons or extensions.” TIBCO Spotfire is a data visualization and analytics solution engineered for exploration. Spotfire empowers customers to quickly find and represent insights in their data through visualizations, enabling people to take action. The latest updates to Spotfire speeds the insights gained from data — with more graphical data preparation, contextual collaboration, expanded connectivity, and a foundational server architecture overhaul. Key updates and features in the new Spotfire offering include: “Self-service technology like TIBCO Spotfire plays an important role in helping companies become more agile and data-driven,” added O’Connell. “We are committed to advancing our Fast Data portfolio with more usable and powerful analytic solutions that help customers make the ever-important transformation to a truly digital enterprise.” The updated TIBCO Spotfire offering is available now. To learn more, visit http://spotfire.tibco.com/ . Hear how analytics is part of the digital business transformation conversation and attend TIBCO NOW this year in Las Vegas; register for this year’s conference by visiting the event website: now.tibco.com For additional information about TIBCO, please visit here .

2016-03-14 11:53 SD Times sdtimes.com

91 BlackBerry says that Priv is king of the Android security update rodeo CANADIAN CAN-OCCASIONALLY-DO COMPANY BlackBerry is blowing a tiny trumpet about how on top of Google Android security updates it is. "Soon after the release of Priv late last year, we announced an aggressive patching strategy and plan that would put Priv at the forefront of security hygiene across all mobile devices," said David Kleidermacher, chief security officer at BlackBerry. "The importance of this patching commitment and process cannot be overstated; the complex nature of mobile operating systems demands this kind of field upgrade program to meet the needs of the most privacy and security conscious consumers and enterprises. "This commitment, in addition to the vast investment and innovation in security technological enhancements to Android made by BlackBerry, is critical in delivering BlackBerry-level privacy and security to the Android world. After four months of Android security bulletins, now is a good time to reflect on how BlackBerry has delivered on its patching commitment. " Pretty well, is the short version, but Kleidermacher is not interested in the short version. So happy is BlackBerry that the firm has even made a graph in celebration, and coloured it in, to show how ahead of the competition it has been at protecting punters. It's on the blog, you could print it up and stick it on your fridge if you want, particularly if you are David Kleidermacher, who is still going on about how grand this is. "BlackBerry is the first OEM to deliver patches in line with Google's public disclosure , closing the window of vulnerability exposure to customers," he crowed. "Other mobile device vendors can take weeks, months or even years to deliver security patches, leaving you and your business at risk. BlackBerry's steadfast commitment to timely security updates is just one of the many reasons why BlackBerry continues to be the undisputed leader in mobile privacy and security. " µ To hear more about security challenges, the threats they pose and how to combat them, sign up for The INQUIRER sister site Computing's Enterprise Security and Risk Management conference , taking place on 24 November.

2016-03-14 11:51 Dave Neal www.theinquirer.net

92 DARPA: We'll pay you up to $130k to turn fridges and vacuums into deadly weapons DARPA is aiming for proposals that can be taken from concept to working prototype within 90 days. If you have a concept for a cheap, destructive, and innovative weapon made from any commercially available product, DARPA wants to hear from you. With the threat of drone-borne improvized explosive devices (IEDs) looming, the Defense Science Office of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is launching a new program to uncover ideas for weapons made from off-the-shelf products, which could threaten its current military operations, equipment, or personnel. The new program, called Improv, seeks proposals from US and non-US technical specialists, researchers, developers, and skilled hobbyists who have ideas for rapidly and cheaply prototyping these products. DARPA is aiming for proposals that can be taken from concept to working prototype within 90 days, constructed with anything from mobile phones to 'domain-specific' technology such as construction, salvage, or surveying. DARPA says it's particularly keen for proposals that use components from non-military specialities, such as transportation, construction, maritime, and communications. US government: We've found 'holy grail' of grid-scale battery tech US Department of Energy's research arm is upbeat about the prospects of new battery technology ushering in clean and cheap energy. The main focus is on the integration of products that can be easily acquired within existing local laws, although it is also encouraging new technology development. The idea is to anticipate resourceful adversaries by having experts from a range of disciplines survey the tech marketplace "with an inventor's eye" and demonstrate how software, hardware, and processes, such as the rapid prototyping of components, can be used to create cheap but sophisticated military technologies. "DARPA's mission is to create strategic surprise, and the agency primarily does so by pursuing radically innovative and even seemingly impossible technologies," said program manager John Main , who will oversee the new effort. "Improv is being launched in recognition that strategic surprise can also come from more familiar technologies, adapted and applied in novel ways. " Successful applicants will be awarded up to $40,000 to conduct a feasibility study, up to $70,000 for prototype construction and up to $20,000 for prototype evaluation. DARPA DSO is hosting a webcast for proposers on Tuesday, March 29, and Wednesday, March 30. The agency will whittle down successful applicants based on an abstract of the proposal, describing the product, its components and the threat it poses to conventional military operations, equipment, or personnel. Abstracts are due by April 13. Following a request for a full proposal, DARPA will select those worthy of receiving funding a feasibility test. Applicants will then be given a 75-day period to construct the product for shipment. Based on a report submitted with the prototype by the applicant, DARPA will select which projects will proceed to an evaluation at a US government test facility and at that point may fund the development of countermeasures.

2016-03-14 11:46 Liam Tung www.zdnet.com

93 New NPM will simplify React JavaScript development The Enclave NPM module currently under development will offer smoother project setup in Facebook's React JavaScript UI library. Enclave provides an NPM for compiling JSX and ECMAScript 2015 code into "browser-ready" JavaScript. It takes developers through a series of prompts, creating an enclave.js file in an application's root that will be used by Enclave to reference a build. The project arose out of what its developer describes as complexity in configuring React applications with Webpack and Babel, and the experience with compile-to-JavaScript applications like Elm and CoffeeScript . "I developed Enclave because after a year of doing React professionally, I still wasn't comfortable setting up a new project," developer Ean Platter, a software engineer at TechnologyAdvice, said. "It was tedious and frankly just not worth the effort. A lot of Web developers aren't used to having to worry about compiling their code, they just drop in a CDN and it's ready to go. " The eventual goal with Enclave is to maintain a "sane" API that's less reliant on Webpack. "All in all, this is open experimentation. Hopefully if you're wanting to get started with React you'll find Enclave is a helpful tool to get you up and running quickly," the project's GitHub page states. TechnologyAdvice, which builds SaaS products and uses React for front-end development, started building Enclave within the past two weeks. "Just as Enclave is to help give people frictionless entry into building React applications, we want the contributing process to be as frictionless, especially for folks wanting to get into open source," Platter said. As such, he wants to keep Enclave's code and its API as unambiguous as possible, but more structure is needed. "There's a lot of low-hanging fruit for developers interested in contributing. " Despite the difficulties, Platter remains a fan of React. "The biggest thing that keeps me tied to React is the fact that it's not HTML-centric. You're writing JSX (HTML-like markup) in your.js files, which means you can pretty much do anything. "

2016-03-14 11:44 Paul Krill www.infoworld.com

94 Spotify confirms it won't be dropping Windows Phone It turns out Spotify won't be dropping support for Windows Phone 8 devices after all, as the brand has confirmed to techradar it will continue to look after the app on Microsoft's mobile platform. The original story came about after support staff member commented to a customer, who then shared the post on Twitter , that Windows Phone support for the Spotify app had ceased after an update in February 2015. But that information was false. A Spotify spokesperson told techradar "To clarify our recent information regarding the Windows Phone experience, we will continue supporting the Windows Phone 8.1 experience moving forward. " "Our main goal at Spotify is to offer the best music experience on the market, covering all platforms. " As for Windows 10, the app on the platform is about to get some major improvements which should be rolling out imminently. The spokesperson said: "We are actually improving our support for Windows 10 in our coming update 5.2, which will be available starting today. " Spotify is currently chasing the source of the confusion, which may have resulted from incorrect information coming from support staff and then being easily shared on Twitter. If you're using a Windows Phone device and were upset by the news, there's no need to worry and you'll still be able to stream the your Spotify tracks with ease. Article continues below

2016-03-14 11:41 By James www.techradar.com

95 Sulon Q VR headset cuts the cord Oculus' Rift and HTC's Vive VR headsets are hot stuff, but both require the wearer to be tethered to a PC. Sulon Technologies' Q headset might make the VR experience less tied-down. The Q headset incorporates a full PC into its head- mounted package. That system is powered by an AMD FX-8800P APU with a 35W TDP. The chip's eight GCN compute units push pixels to a 2560x1440 OLED display with a 110-degree field of view. The device also integrates 8GB of DDR3L RAM and a 256GB SSD. Sulon promises "console-quality visuals" from this system, even if it's not entirely clear what that means for a VR headset just yet. Sulon says the Q simplifies the VR experience by providing an experience that simply lets owners strap on the headset and go. The Q isn't limited to "plain" VR, either. Ars Technica suggests a pair of cameras on the front of the headset can map the wearer's surroundings, track their position, and perform gesture recognition for augmented-reality experiences in the vein of Microsoft's HoloLens. Sulon says to expect the Q in "late spring. "

2016-03-14 11:36 by Jeff techreport.com

96 What will the iPhone 7 look like? Probably not a lot different to the iPhone 6S Expecting the iPhone 7 to look different to the existing iPhone 6S? The latest leak suggests that the new iPhone will look very familiar to existing iPhone owners. The eagle-eyed amongst you might have noticed a few differences: It's also claimed that the new design is slightly thinner than the current design (because Apple knows you want your iPhone to be thinner, right?). Many had expected that Apple would revamp the design of the iPhone with the release of the iPhone 7, but the current crop of leaks seem to be pointing to a device that looks much like what Apple has released for the past couple of years. 2016-03-14 11:35 Adrian www.zdnet.com

97 Automakers invest in tech to stop you dozing off at the wheel Major automakers are investing in car monitoring systems which detect when you are distracted or too tired to drive effectively. According to the Wall Street Journal , a number of high-profile vehicle manufacturers are investing and testing driver monitor systems which keep an eye on your movements and body readings, in order to give you a nudge or alert you when your focus is faltering. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)'s early predictions (. PDF) for accident rates in the months January to September 2015, approximately 26,000 people in the US died in road accidents -- an increase of over nine percent based on 2014 statistics. Driver distraction is only one possible cause of accidents and fatalities, of course, but automakers hope that implementing Internet of Things (IoT) and connected technology in our vehicles, they may reduce at least one aspect of driving which can result in injury, accidentally or otherwise. Automakers including General Motors, Toyota and Volkswagen, among others, are exploring monitoring systems for our next-generation vehicles. While we already have rear-view cameras, cruise control, seatbelt alarm nagging, GPS systems and infotainment dashboards -- not to mention Google's self-driving car project -- an alert to stop you using your smartphone, taking a call or your hands off the wheel could increase overall safety, especially when it comes to younger and less experienced drivers. You do have to ask, however, whether drivers will be enamoured with the prospect of being monitored so much in their vehicles, as well as whether constant beeps, alarms and nagging will actually make drivers less attentive and deaf to correction. In November, Ford revealed a "drug-driving suit" designed to give people a taste of what it is like to drive a car while high. The suit, destined for use at driving schools, simulates the effects of cannabis, cocaine, heroin and MDMA through sensors, goggles, lighting equipment and padded weights.

2016-03-14 11:21 Charlie Osborne www.zdnet.com

98 Microsoft March madness update: Switching phones and making returns I'm now a couple weeks into my month with Microsoft products and have a few changes to my lineup and recent experiences to share. My primary T-Mobile SIM continues to live in a Windows 10 Phone, which has proven to be the biggest challenge for me. March madness? Going mobile one month with Microsoft-only tech With a new Surface Pro 4 and Lumia 950 XL in hand, Matthew Miller is going all in with Microsoft this month. I made a decision yesterday to return the Lumia 950 XL. As I wrote in my full review , the hardware is pretty dull and I tired of holding it close to my face to unlock it. Mozo can't seem to make enough cases and the leather one I ordered continues to get pushed out to some future possible delivery date. There were a couple lockups and while the camera is excellent, I pulled out my Lumia 830 and find that hardware much more compelling than the 950 XL. Since I can also update that to the latest Windows 10 Mobile software, I couldn't justify the $600+ to keep the 950 XL in my collection and am sending it back. The Lumia 830 is all setup now and performing well. At first I was concerned about the app gap on Windows 10 Mobile, primarily as it relates to banks dropping support for Microsoft's mobile platform. However, I discovered that the promise of Windows 10 universal apps is starting to be a reality. USAA and American Express both now have Windows 10 universal apps so I can conduct most of my banking on the Lumia 830. The apps still are not as good as on iOS and Android, but you can get by. We also recently saw Instagram for Windows 10 launch across Microsoft's mobile platforms. There are very few essential apps missing on Windows 10 Mobile, but I would still like to see the quality and depth of the application experience improve over time. Based on a request from a reader, I purchased a Display Dock for the Lumia 950 XL and took it with me on a trip to New Orleans last week. I brought the Lumia 950 XL, the dock, an HDMI cable, the USB Type-C charger, a USB Type-C cable, my Bluetooth Arc mouse, and a Bluetooth mobile keyboard. All of this gear actually ended up being more than just taking along the Surface Pro 4 and a Type Cover. I hooked up the Lumia 950 XL to my hotel LG TV to try to use the phone as the central hub to get work done. There were several apps supported by Continuum and the dock, but many more that were inaccessible for use on the big display. The trackpad functionality of the phone was more frustrating than useful while the Bluetooth mouse worked well. The entire experience was acceptable, but response showed a bit of lag and it wasn't anywhere close to as productive an experience as I have directly on the Surface Pro 4. For myself, I could never see an actual usage scenario when I would choose to use Continuum, beyond a cool technology demo, so I'm returning the Display Dock as well. My Surface Pro 3 performed flawlessly with Windows 10, after Microsoft resolved its Mail client failures. However, I'm finding a few minor issues with the Surface Pro 4 that require me to perform a reset. I bought the new Surface Dock hub accessory and often have to restart to get my secondary display to appear. I also went back to using a Bluetooth keyboard rather than the Type Cover while using the Surface Pro 4 with the Surface Dock since the Type Cover regularly decided to stop working. I cannot use the Type Cover trackpad or keys to do anything with the connected Surface Pro 4 so gave up on trying to save a bit of desk space with the Type Cover. The Dell XPS 12 is being returned as I just don't have the time to focus on using it and the Surface Pro 4. The XPS 12 2-in-1 is an excellent alternative to the Surface Pro 4 and I may try to get one for my engineering work when my Dell laptop is replaced. The Band 2 continues to capture lots of data and get regular Microsoft Health updates. Actually, the latest Health app update for the Lumia 950 XL resulted in the inability to connect the Band 2 at all so that's another reason I went back to the Lumia 830. One thing about using the Band 2 as my primary wearable is that I discovered how the battery life impacts my usage. If I wear the Band 2 all day long, then I need to charge it before running and tracking a run with GPS while also charging it after the run to be able to track my sleep. Thus, I am finding I need to charge it from one to three times a day. This has resulted in a couple of days of missed sleep or missed step tracking and has resulted in way too much thinking about the battery status of the Band 2. If I gave up on sleep tracking, then I could charge it once a day. Actually, that would be twice a day if I went for my one hour run too. I'm finding that having a device for activity tracking and another just for running is probably a better approach to tracking my life. I am continuing to use the Band 2 while also testing out the Fitbit Blaze on my other wrist.

2016-03-14 11:21 Matthew Miller www.zdnet.com

99 For Germany's cloud providers, it's location, location German telecos are rolling out new cloud services this week to compete with those from the big U. S. providers. Their selling point is location -- though their “home grown” infrastructure is still dependent on technology from U. S. and Chinese suppliers. Deutsche Telekom switched on its Open Telekom Cloud at the Cebit trade show in Hannover on Monday, promising to keep data in German data centers. The day before, Vodafone Germany took the wraps off a virtual private cloud service for small and midsize businesses that will begin operating from data centers near Frankfurt in June. Vodafone also revealed a new infrastructure- as-a-service platform for the enterprise that respects German data sovereignty requirements. Where data is stored is a key issue for European Union companies, as they're required to keep certain information in its country of origin, and they face additional regulatory obstacles if they wish to move other information outside of the EU. The main selling points for cloud operators in Germany are location, location and location. But however much these German telcos talk up their local credentials, the fact remains that they are still heavily dependent on non-European companies for the technology underlying their services. Vodafone is working with Hewlett Packard Enterprise to build its service, called Total Cloud Flex, and said Sunday it had partnered with Virtustream on its latest enterprise offering. It's relying on a lot of U. S. expertise to prevent its customers' data from reaching the U. S. For its part, Deutsche Telekom has turned to Huawei Technologies for the hardware and know- how to build its Open Telekom Cloud. Huawei, of course, has been accused by some of having links to the Chinese government that make using its products a threat to the national security of Western states. A report from a U. K. government committee giving Huawei the all-clear last year will have done little to dispel those suspicions, even though the committee was chaired by the director of the U. K. Government Communications Headquarters, the equivalent of the U. S. National Security Agency. Some imagine that U. S. equipment providers may be as much of a threat as Chinese ones, with a bug spotted in Juniper Networks firewall code last year suspected of being a back door introduced at the request of U. S. security services . Whatever the validity of the geopolitical arguments around cloud security and data protection, the German cloud services unveiled at Cebit must also compete on price. Deutsche Telekom gave two examples for its Open Telekom cloud. A virtual machine running Windows server on two virtual CPUs with 2GB of RAM costs under €0.17 (US$0.19) per hour, it said, while running Open Linux on two vCPUs with 8GB of memory will cost under €0.12 ($0.13) per hour. In comparison, Amazon Web Services charges slightly more than Deutsche Telekom for a Linux VM running in its Frankfurt data center -- and a little less than the German company for a Windows server with more memory. Its prices are lower still for servers hosted in its data center on the East coast of the U. S.

2016-03-14 11:20 Peter Sayer www.itnews.com

100 What CIOs should know about working with startups When it comes to signing on the dotted line for a new IT contract, most organisations tend to go with the firms they know or have worked with before. More often than not, they see a large company, equate that with success and blindly do business with them. But step back from this for a moment and you will soon realise there are other smaller, leaner, newer companies that could be worth considering. While the unknown is precisely that – unknown – it doesn't mean that it is necessarily a risk. Sometimes the reverse is true; bigger firms can be a big risk and by no means a safe bet. So can working with a startup be a good thing? Why should you even consider working with one – aren't the stakes just too high? Christopher Haley, head of startups and new technology research at Nesta, says that large companies are increasingly working with startups as part of their innovation strategy, precisely because they realise that their own corporate nature makes internal innovation difficult. "This is especially true in the digital and high-tech sectors. Working as suppliers, startups can be a much faster way to innovate. However, large firms should be exploring more partnering types than just procurement relationships," he says. And what should the CIO be aware of when dealing with a startup? Haley says that there are many cultural, structural, behavioural and process-related barriers that get in the way. But speed really matters to startups – everything has a huge opportunity cost to a small firm, and delays can be fatal. "To overcome these barriers, a clear positive message from the top of the organisation is vital. It is also important to think about why you are dealing with startups, where the real mutual benefit can be found, and what programme will best suit these objectives. " Haley says a corporate accelerator, for instance, might be appropriate, but there are many other possible models. Michael Cooper, CTO of Radianz Services at BT, says that for both parties, the ability to de-risk the engagement is advantageous. He says that one way that CIOs can overcome this is to identify startups that are associated with or supported by established infrastructure, platform and service providers – particularly those with a financial markets pedigree and focus. "For example, BT recently launched an initiative to host FinTech startup solutions in the data centres, or on the growing number of cloud computing services connected to the BT Radianz cloud – which is the world's largest secure networked financial services cloud community," he says. Cooper adds that this sort of thing provides FinTech and startup companies of all sizes with a ready-to-exploit market reach, along with the scale and flexibility to deliver services to major financial institutions.

2016-03-14 11:20 By Rene www.techradar.com

Total 100 articles. Created at 2016-03-15 00:04