FlexBeta

NSA releases how-to guide for Internet espionage

Posted by Gsurface on May 9, 2013 No comments

On May 7, the nation’s top spy agency released a guide to “Internet Research,” essentially a how-to book for its agents looking to get the most out of Google, Yahoo and other Web search tools.

FOX News

Microsoft releases fix-it for Internet Explorer 8 vulnerability

Posted by Gsurface on May 9, 2013 No comments

Microsoft has released a temporary fix for a zero-day vulnerability in Internet Explorer 8, which was used by hackers in a prominent attack against the U.S. Department of Labor's website.
Computerworld News

On the Heels of Wheezy, Aptosid Releases 2013-01

Posted by Gsurface on May 6, 2013 No comments

An anonymous reader writes “Right on the heels of Debian’s 7.0 (‘Wheezy’) release, the Aptosid team is proud to announce the immediate availability of the 2013-01 release. Aptosid is a rolling release built on top of Debian’s most modern branch Sid, providing the most up-to-date kernel available with patches and stabilization not yet seen in mainline, along with many patched Debian packages, all while maintaining 100% compatibility with upstream Debian (unlike other distros based on Debian). If you think Debian Stable is too old to be useful, give Atposid a spin!”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Blockbuster releases On Demand video streaming app for iOS

Posted by Gsurface on May 2, 2013 No comments

Blockbuster announced its entrance back into the video streaming game in January after pledging to exit that market late last year. Today, Blockbuster’s reincarnation as a video streaming service continues, as the company rolled out its On Demand app for iOS, bringing “thousands” of movies to iPads and iPhones running iOS 4.3 and up. By adding Apple devices to the fold, Blockbuster can now shoot movies to the majority of mobile devices — previously it was only available for Android (plus Mac, PC, Roku and Samsung Smart TVs). So, if you’re looking for 1080p video with 5.1 surround streaming to your Apple-fied mobile screen, your download awaits.

Filed under: Software, HD, Mobile, Apple

Comments

Via: 9to5 Mac

Source: App Store

Google Releases Glass Kernel Source Code

Posted by Gsurface on April 28, 2013 No comments

hypnosec writes “Google has released the kernel source code of Google Glass publicly just a couple of days after the wearable gadget was rooted by Jay Freeman. Releasing the source code, Google has noted that the location is just temporary and it would be moving to a permanent location soon saying: ‘This is unlikely to be the permanent home for the kernel source, it should be pushed into git next to all other android kernel source releases relatively soon’”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Google releases Glass kernel GPL source, lets developers have at it

Posted by Gsurface on April 27, 2013 No comments

While our own Tim Stevens is currently adapting to life through Google Glass, developers are going beyond scratching the surface to fiddle with what’s inside. Hot on the heels of Jay Freeman rooting Glass, devs will be pleased to know Google’s throwing ‘em a bone to by publicly releasing the kernel source. Interestingly, Karthik’s Geek Center spotted info within the file that points to Glass potentially being equipped for NFC support. If you’re up for tinkering, you’ll find the temporary location of the tar.zx file itself at the source link.

Filed under: Misc, Robots, Wearables, Software, Google

Comments

Via: Karthik’s Geek Center

Source: Google

Ubuntu Releases 13.04, Sticks To 6-Month Release Rhythm

Posted by Gsurface on April 25, 2013 No comments

Barence writes “Ubuntu has shelved the idea of moving to rolling releases, and will continue to release a new version every six months. Earlier this year, Ubuntu developers discussed the idea of moving to rolling releases, with new features added to the OS as and when they were ready. However, In an interview with PC Pro, Canonical CEO Jane Silber said the developers had taken a ‘cold, hard look at our long-standing practices’ and decided to stay with twice-yearly releases. It has, however, cut support on non-LTS releases from 18 to nine months.” Today, the Ubuntu team have released the latest iteration of Ubuntu, 13.04 (“Raring Ringtail”), along with variants like Kubuntu 13.04.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Apple releases revised plans for its ‘spaceship’ headquarters

Posted by Gsurface on April 25, 2013 No comments

The city of Cupertino, Calif., posts the tech giant’s updated designs for floor plans, parking, and landscaping for its upcoming state-of-the-art campus. [Read more]

CNET News

Workplace Collaboration Service Convo Releases Updated iOS App With Redesigned News Feed And Comment System

Posted by Gsurface on April 24, 2013 No comments

There are very few platforms that have are something that you use on a daily basis, let alone on a minute by minute basis. Team communication platform service, Convo, is one of those for us at TechCrunch. Today, the company has released an update for its essential iOS app, something that we use here quite often to communicate about everything you can think of. Since using the service, our team has generated over 100,000 interactions, averaging 1,200 of them a day, with 95% of our team present on the platform on those days. Its desktop version is completely in real-time, acting like a threaded IRC chat. The service overall isn’t without its faults, but it’s difficult to build team and enterprise software that can make everyone happy. One of the top complaints that we had was about its iOS app, which was lacking proper iPhone 5 and retina support, along with some general usability issues. Today’s app udpate is all about speed, commenting and a slicker design that will help you get through all of the threaded discussions your team is having since you checked in last. The feed This is the most important part of Convo, especially when you’re on the go. In today’s update, you’re able to scan and refresh the main feed quickly, and when you tap on the comments for any given thread, they slide over from the right. This is a huge improvement from the previous version, which loaded the thread into a new page: That update alone will save time, as you can jump back and forth between threads that you’re participating in and make decisions on whether to get involved in one quicker. Additionally, you’ll be able to “Like” things, which is a passive way of saying that you’ve seen something or agree with something, depending on how your team uses it. Images are also clearer thanks to the retina support and complete overhaul of how they’re displayed. Depending on how you use the service, images could play a huge role in the conversation that you’re having. If you’re having a conversation about a piece of artwork for your app, seeing images at the highest resolution possible are the only way that you’ll be able to make a decision on whether to use them or feedback that you might have for your designer. Cleanup and sharing In addition to the feed overhaul, Convo
TechCrunch

Kids’ iPad Magazine Timbuktu Rethinks Its Tricky In-App Purchasing Model, Releases A More Parent-Friendly App

Posted by Gsurface on April 22, 2013 No comments

Timbuktu, an adorably designed educational and entertainment-focused iPad app for kids, has finally revamped its business model – a model which had previously been a terrible example of how children’s apps too often try to grow their revenue by tricking kids into purchasing in-app content. The company now admits that its virtual allowance mechanism was too misleading, and has moved forward with a much simpler subscription option. The new app is worth the download.

TechCrunch

FBI Releases Boston Bombing Suspect Images/Videos

Posted by Gsurface on April 19, 2013 No comments

An anonymous reader writes “The FBI has released images of what they say are two suspects with backpacks and ball caps. ‘Somebody out there knows these individuals as friends, neighbors, co-workers or family members of the suspects,’ Special Agent Rick DesLauriers, the head of the FBI’s Boston office said. ‘And though it may be difficult, the nation is counting on those with information to come forward and provide it to us.’”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Nintendo releases a bevy of new and old games on its 3DS

Posted by Gsurface on April 17, 2013 No comments

The game maker harkens back to the 1990′s by releasing old hits — such as The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong Country, and Yoshi’s Island — on its 3D handheld console. [Read more]

CNET News

Google releases Mirror API guide for Glass developers

Posted by Gsurface on April 16, 2013 No comments

Preview of the cloud-based API includes quick start guides for Java and Python, developer guides, and best practices outlines. [Read more]

CNET News

Intel Releases New OpenCL Implementation for GNU/Linux

Posted by Gsurface on April 16, 2013 No comments

An anonymous reader writes “Intel has released its first version of Beignet, an open-source OpenCL run-time and LLVM back-end for Linux that uses LLVM/Clang and is compatible with Ivy Bridge processors. Right now there’s partial support for OpenCL 1.0 and 1.1 along with other basic functionality.” This is not using Gallium 3D, and at least David Arlie thinks it should not be an fd.o project because it duplicates functionality already present in Mesa.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Microsoft releases Surface RT and Pro updates, aims to fix WiFi issues again

Posted by Gsurface on April 10, 2013 No comments

Surface RT devices have already scored two updates that aim to fix problems with ‘limited’ WiFi connectivity, and now Microsoft is pushing out a third patch that aims to put its wireless troubles to rest. Redmond’s fresh code also beefs up support for a “wide range” of access points and stomps out system crashes caused by some WiFi issues. As for Surface Pro, its own April update smoothes out Surface Type and Touch cover connectivity kinks, adds support for Japanese keyboards on North American hardware, stomps a bug that disables the WiFi driver when airplane mode is toggled and addresses an issue with touch navigation in the UEFI boot menu. Microsoft’s remedy should get sucked down to your slate automatically, but you can grab it by hand through Windows Update as well.

Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft

Comments

Via: The Register

Source: Microsoft (1), (2)

NVIDIA Releases Optimus Linux Driver With New Features

Posted by Gsurface on April 10, 2013 No comments

An anonymous reader writes “Nearly one year after Linux creator Linux Torvalds publicly bashed NVIDIA and several years after their multi-GPU mobile technology premiered, the graphics vendor has finally delivered an Optimus-supported Linux driver. NVIDIA released the 319.12 Beta Linux driver that brings support for ‘RandR 1.4 GPU provider objects’ that basically allows for Optimus-like functionality when using the latest X Server, Linux kernel, and XRandR. The 319.12 beta also has many other features including better UEFI support, installer improvements, new pages on their settings panel, and new GPU support.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Microsoft releases Office 2010 SP2 public beta

Posted by Gsurface on April 9, 2013 No comments

Microsoft on Monday released a public beta of Office 2010 Service Pack 2, the first major update to the suite in almost two years.
Computerworld News

Fusion-io releases 1.6TB flash card, HP preps workstations for them

Posted by Gsurface on April 8, 2013 No comments

Fusion-io announced a flash card for workstations that more than triples the capacity over its previous model, and for the first time Hewlett-Packard is preparing to ship workstations with the drives.
Computerworld News

“The Kissinger Cables”: WikiLeaks Releases 1.7M Historical Records

Posted by Gsurface on April 8, 2013 No comments

An anonymous reader writes to note the latest large-scale document release from WikiLeaks: “The cables are all from the time period of 1973 to 1976. Without droning about too many numbers that can be found in the press release, about 200,000 of the cables relate directly to former U.S. Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger. These cables include significant revelations about US involvements with fascist dictatorships, particularly in Latin America, under Franco’s Spain (including about the Spanish royal family) and in Greece under the regime of the Colonels. The documents also contain hourly diplomatic reporting on the 1973 war between Israel, Egypt and Syria (the ‘Yom Kippur war’). While several of these documents have been used by U.S. academic researchers in the past, the Kissinger Cables provides unparalled access to journalists and the general public. ‘The illegal we do immediately; the unconstitutional takes a little longer.’ — Henry A. Kissinger, US Secretary of State, March 10, 1975.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Sony releases pricing for 55-inch and 65-inch 4K Ultra HD LED TVs

Posted by Gsurface on April 8, 2013 No comments

Sony has just released the pricing for its 55-inch and 65-inch 4K Ultra HD LED TVs. The XBR-55X900A (55-inch version) will be available for $ 4,999 and the XBR-65X900A (65-inch version) will be available for $ 6,999. They’re much cheaper than the $ 25,000 84-inch 4K TV Sony was selling last year, but still certainly not affordable for

AMD Releases UVD Engine Source Code

Posted by Gsurface on April 3, 2013 No comments

An anonymous reader writes “Years of desire by AMD Linux users to have open source video playback support by their graphics driver is now over. AMD has released open-source UVD support for their Linux driver so users can have hardware-accelerated video playback of H.264, VC-1, and MPEG video formats. UVD support on years old graphics cards was delayed because AMD feared open-source support could kill their Digital Rights Management abilities for other platforms.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Smithsonian releases Wright brothers contract detailing ‘first in flight’ claims

Posted by Gsurface on April 2, 2013 No comments

A little-known 1948 contract between the estate of Orville Wright and the Smithsonian has the museum legally bound to call the Wright brothers first, claims one historian.

FOX News

Google Releases Street View Images From Fukushima Ghost Town

Posted by Gsurface on March 29, 2013 No comments

mdsolar writes in with news that Goolge has released Street View pictures from inside the zone that was evacuated after the Fukushima disaster. “Google Inc. (GOOG) today released images taken by its Street View service from the town of Namie, Japan, inside the zone that was evacuated after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011. Google, operator of the world’s biggest Web search engine, entered Namie this month at the invitation of the town’s mayor, Tamotsu Baba, and produced the 360-degree imagery for the Google Maps and Google Earth services, it said in an e-mailed statement. All of Namie’s 21,000 residents were forced to flee after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant, about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the town, causing the world’s worst nuclear accident after Chernobyl. Baba asked Mountain View, California-based Google to map the town to create a permanent record of its state two years after the evacuation, he said in a Google blog post.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Microsoft builds toward Windows Blue releases

Posted by Gsurface on March 25, 2013 No comments

There’s more confirmation (if you needed/wanted it) that Microsoft is readying Blue builds of Windows RT and Windows Server. [Read more]

CNET News

KDE releases first version of Plasma Media Center

Posted by Gsurface on March 21, 2013 No comments

Linux devotees need media too, don’tcha know? Designed to cater to “media enthusiasts,” Plasma Media Center has been released today for those looking to place photos, videos and audio clips on the highest pedestal. The build (v1.0.0) was crafted on Plasma and KDE technologies, and as you might expect, it aims to deliver a “unified media experience on PCs, tablets, networks, TVs and any other device capable of running KDE.” PMC can be used to view images, play music or watch videos, and developers are free to create custom plugins for the software as well. The release — as well as installation guides for Ubuntu and Fedora — are housed in the read link, and if you’re willing to give it a go, let us know how it turns out in comments below.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Software, HD

Comments

Via: Slashdot

Source: KDE

Jawbone Releases Android UP App, Makes Wristband Available In European Apple Stores

Posted by Gsurface on March 20, 2013 No comments

Jawbone announced today that its app for UP, the company’s movement-tracking wristband, is now available for Android on Google Play. The $ 129 UP was previously only compatible with iOS. The wristband can also now be purchased in European Apple stores, and will be made available in Asia and Australia next month.
TechCrunch

Apple releases OS X 10.8.3 with Boot Camp improvements and more

Posted by Gsurface on March 14, 2013 No comments

OS X Mountain Lion has been out for less than a year, and already we’re seeing the third update come around. This time, we’re seeing improvements and bugfixes to Boot Camp, which now supports Windows 8, and the Mac App Store also added support for gift card redemption via webcam, which is a feature that

Twitter releases its handcrafted Windows 8 app

Posted by Gsurface on March 14, 2013 No comments

After announcing an upcoming native Windows 8 app months ago, the social network finally delivers with the usual Twitter features and a few unique add-ons. [Read more]

CNET News

Twitter releases official Windows 8 app

Posted by Gsurface on March 14, 2013 No comments

Thanks to Twitter’s API changes that cut off the number of users for third party efforts, official app support has become more important and now there’s one built for Windows 8. Available in the Windows Store now in 22 languages, it brings the Home / Connect / Discover / Me tabs found in other official apps, plus support for Windows new UI features like snap view, the search charm and Live Tiles. Support for the share charm means you can tweet from any Windows 8 app by swiping from the right edge, which also provides access to search. Despite the inclusion of social networking feeds in the People Hub, a dedicated app should make accessing the service much easier, although Twitter’s design has left quite a bit of blank space to work with. Hit the Windows Store link below to load it up on your x86 or ARM Windows-powered device and let us know how it’s working for you, or check out the video demo embedded after the break.

Filed under: Software, Microsoft

Comments

Source: Windows Store, Twitter Blog, Windows Blog

Sepaton releases upgrades to high-end storage appliance

Posted by Gsurface on March 12, 2013 No comments

Sepaton today announced its latest update to its enterprise-class data backup appliance, which almost doubles performance and increases connectivity by 2X over its predecessor.
Computerworld News

Oracle releases emergency fix for Java zero-day exploit

Posted by Gsurface on March 5, 2013 No comments

Oracle released emergency patches for Java on Monday to address two critical vulnerabilities, one of which is actively being exploited by hackers in targeted attacks.
Computerworld News

Anonymous releases 14GB of data on the spying habits of Bank of America and more

Posted by Gsurface on March 1, 2013 No comments

Anonymous has released 14GB of data it acquired about Bank of America, Thomson Reuters, ClearForest, Bloomberg, and TEKSystems, an intelligence firm. It did this via a press release on the website Par-AnoIA, including a link to the hacked data and a rundown of the relevant details for those who don’t have the time to look

iFixit releases tablet repairability list, puts Apple and Microsoft on the bottom

Posted by Gsurface on March 1, 2013 No comments

Not only has iFixit long been the go-to source for gadget teardowns, it’s often seen as an authority on just how repairable a device is post-purchase. So when the outfit released its “Tablet Repairability” list recently, we took notice. The Dell XPS 10 took top marks (9 out of 10) for its color-coded screws and labeled cables, while Apple and Microsoft slumped to the bottom. Every iPad from the second generation onward scored a 2, and the Surface Pro has the unenviable position as the worst of the lot with a score of 1. Excessive adhesive is the culprit behind the low scores, as is the high probability of part breakage upon disassembly. Not every tablet on the market made it on the list, but it’s a decent start as iFixit finds more slates to tear down. Head on over to the source to see if your favorite tablet is easily fixable or if you need to look into rugged cases and extended warranties.

Comments

Via: CNET

Source: iFixit

Dell releases first wireless ultrabook docking station

Posted by Gsurface on February 27, 2013 No comments

Dell has taken the wraps off the Dell Wireless Dock, which allows the company’s Latitude 6430u Ultrabook to connect to peripherals wirelessly using the WiGig standard.
Computerworld News

Billionaire releases plans for Titanic replica set to sail in 2016

Posted by Gsurface on February 27, 2013 No comments

An Australian billionaire is getting ready to build a new version of the Titanic that could set sail in late 2016.

FOX News

Microsoft Releases Internet Explorer 10 For Windows 7

Posted by Gsurface on February 26, 2013 No comments

An anonymous reader writes “Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 is out. Windows 8 may suck but now you can at least enjoy (most of) that version’s Internet Explorer. IE10 for Win7, originally not planned, has seen the light of day after all — four months after it debuted in Windows 8. It is available via Windows Update as an optional update; however, if you’ve already installed a pre-release version, it will be updated automatically as an ‘important’ update. IE7 on Win7 requires a platform update to bring some Windows 8 APIs to the more mature Windows, and it will not feature embedded Adobe Flash as the Windows 8 version does (use the plug-in version from Adobe, as usual, instead).”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Google Releases Chrome 25 With Voice Recognition Support

Posted by Gsurface on February 23, 2013 No comments

An anonymous reader writes “Google on Thursday released Chrome version 25 for Windows, Mac, and Linux. While Chrome 24 was largely a stability release, Chrome 25 is all about features, including voice recognition support via the newly added Web Speech API and the blocking of silent extension installation. You can update to the latest release now using the browser’s built-in silent updater, or download it directly from google.com/chrome.” But if you’re more interested in the growing raft of Google-branded hardware than running Google OSes, some good news (via Liliputing) about the newly released Pixel: Bill Richardson of Google posted on Thursday that the Pixel can boot Linux Mint, and explained how users can follow his example, by taking advantage of new support for a user-provided bootloader.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Apple releases iOS 6.1.3 beta with passcode bug fix in tow

Posted by Gsurface on February 22, 2013 No comments

Available for developers, the new beta is designed to resolve a flaw that allows someone to bypass the lock screen. [Read more]

CNET News

Debian Project Releases 7.0 “Wheezy” Candidate

Posted by Gsurface on February 21, 2013 No comments

An anonymous reader writes “The first release candidate of Debian 7.0 Wheezy was released this week. Debian 7.0 is set to introduce a number of new features including optional systemd support, a real-time Linux kernel option, UEFI installation support, and the Debian Installer now supports WPA/WPA2 wireless networks. More Debian 7.0 features are listed on the Debian Wiki and the 7.0 RC1 installer can be downloaded at Debian.org.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Citrix releases XenMobile MDM for Apple iOS, Android devices

Posted by Gsurface on February 20, 2013 No comments

Citrix has announced its mobile device management platform, XenMobile, which will offer companies a secure way for employees to access native Citrix apps in the cloud as well as third-party software, such as Windows, SAP or even Salesforce.com.
Computerworld News

Firefox 19 releases with built-in PDF viewer

Posted by Gsurface on February 19, 2013 No comments

The PDF file format is incredibly popular, and it’s almost always used when sending documents to someone over the internet. Mozilla recognizes the PDF’s ubiquity and has released Firefox 19 today, complete with a built-in PDF viewer. This allows users to skip the browser plug-ins altogether when opening up PDFs in Firefox. The built-in PDF

Apple releases iOS 6.1.2 update to fix Exchange bug

Posted by Gsurface on February 19, 2013 No comments

As expected from last week, an update for iOS has been released today that fixes that annoying Exchange calendar bug that’s been plaguing a lot of users recently. iOS 6.1.2 should be rolling out now to all iOS 6.x devices, and the fix should also improve connectivity, as well as increase battery life. It’s not

Casio releases Exilim EX-N5 and EX-N50 compact cameras

Posted by Gsurface on February 19, 2013 No comments

Casio has announced two new stylish digital cameras, the EX-N5 and the EX-N50. Both cameras share features like Color, Materials, and Finishing (CMF) designs and easy-to-grip bodies. Design is an important aspect of these cameras, with the body featuring smooth, rounded edges for a “mature, elegant” appearance. You can check out a gallery of the

Belkin releases WeMo beta app for Galaxy S III, devices with ICS or higher

Posted by Gsurface on February 16, 2013 No comments

Word of an Android app for Belkin’s line of WeMo home automation hardware came amid a flurry of CES news, and now the application has rolled onto Google Play in beta form just over a month later. The app is specifically tested for the Galaxy S III, but handsets toting Ice Cream Sandwich or higher will be able to take it for a spin. By wielding the application, users can control WeMo devices over WiFi and cellular networks, configure custom icons, tweak names, take care of local firmware updates and hook things up with IFTTT. Remote firmware updates, support content and WeMo rules have yet to be baked into the software, however. Belkin is hoping guinea pigs will report bugs, but can’t guarantee they’ll be fixed in the short term. Currently, the outfit says issues regarding poor signal strength and app crashes are on its radar. Looking forward to the polished, growing pain-free product? The final app is expected to arrive around the summertime.

[Thanks, Matt]

Filed under: Cellphones, Household, Tablets, Software, Mobile

Comments

Source: Google Play

Engadget

Google releases pictures from Glass Foundry events, shows off pioneers in action

Posted by Gsurface on February 16, 2013 No comments

Back on January 15, Google announced that it would be holding two Google Glass events for developers who had pre-ordered the device at its I/O conference. The events were held in New York City and San Francisco on January 28/29 and February 1/2. The participants were sworn to secrecy, and so no details have emerged

Micron releases smallest 128Gbit flash chip

Posted by Gsurface on February 15, 2013 No comments

Micron has introduced what it said is the industry’s smallest 128Gbit NAND-flash chip using Micron’s 20 nanometer process technology, which is targeted at low-cost removable storage devices.
Computerworld News

Apple releases shorter 0.5-meter Lightning cable for $19

Posted by Gsurface on February 14, 2013 No comments

Taking a page from its Thunderbolt cable book, Apple has released a shorter Lightning-to-USB cable that measures just 0.5 meters long. Aimed at those who only need a couple feet of cable to charge their devices, this shorter offering will still set you back the same $ 19 that the 1-meter Lightning cable costs. While it’s

Fiat releases Alfa Romeo 4C sports car pictures and specs

Posted by Gsurface on February 13, 2013 No comments

Fiat is set to launch its Alfa Romeo 4C sports car later this year, but until then, the manufacturer has released three pictures of the attractive vehicle, along with its specs. The sports car will be shown off at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, but until then, enthusiasts can get an eye-full of the car