skype

Encyclopedia lists internal security threats

Judi Hasson — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:15:16 -0400

A new and free online encyclopedia of internal network security issues has been released by provider Promisec, and includes some popular web-based applications among possible data-loss threats. These threats, the encyclopedia says, can come from usage of USB memory sticks, programs like Skype, unwanted file types, and any services or applications that are not permissible, or are not covered by registered software licenses.

The company hopes that the encyclopedia, which lists and dates dozens of potential threats and ranks them on a five-part scale, will help promote its marketing and sales efforts. Promisec says some recent applications that may pose as security threats include EnterMyPC, Kismet and Wireshark. It ranks the top five threats as MySpace, Skype, Tencent QQ, PacketTrap and Google Talk. PacketTrap Networks, however, has challenged Promisec over its inclusion on the list.

For more on security risks:
- see this CSOonline.com article

CIOs tout collaboration tools

Tue, 27 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

A number of top CIOs got together recently at the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium in Cambridge, MA, to discuss some basic IT workplace issues. But the CIOs quickly focused on a new hot topic; how to tap the creativity of employees using collaboration tools ranging Skype to $500,000 Cisco TelePresence suites.

At Adobe Systems, every employee from the CEO on down is given a virtual room so they can invite each other to meetings, make presentations, collaborate and show videos.

At the Liberty Mutual Group, employees are making use of Microsoft SharePoint, and soon will have access to TelePresence technology that will allow for employees from many work sites to meet, share information and speed decision-making. For the CIOs, the virtual world is here and ready to be put to the test.

To read more about the collaboration revolution:
- see this searchcio.com article

Managing consumer technology

Mon, 05 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Every CIO knows that iPods, Skype, USB flash drives and other consumer products have invaded the workplace as employees routinely seek support for connecting their devices to the office desktop. CIO Magazine writes that IT shops must not only have policies and procedures in place but that these policies must be revised on a regular basis and communicated clearly. Moreover, says Rob Israel, the CIO of the John C. Lincoln Health Network, CIOs should involve users in policy creation, build in security and find a balance between restriction and freedom of use.

To learn more:
- See this CIO Magazine article

ALSO NOTED: Samsung's BlackJack II gets a quick review; Android shown running on live hardware;

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 06:59:51 -0500

> Skype gets increased video quality with software update. Article
> Japanese mobile operator gets Android running on live hardware. Article
> HP halfway to "IT revamp." Article
> Symantec's Norton AntiVirus gets friendly with Leopard. Article
> Samsung's BlackJack II gets a quick review. Review
> Asus brings its U6 laptops to the States. Article

And Finally... Microsoft offering Vista for free, in exchange for user data. Article

Run the Nokia N810 firmware on the N800

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 06:59:53 -0500

Were you one of the loyal Nokia early-adopters who ran out and bought an N800 unit, only to be burned by the announcement of the far sleeker N810 a few months later? Well, fear not, my Internet tablet-loving friend. While there's little that can be done to add a QWERTY keypad onto your N800, you can install the far more exciting N810 firmware on your N800 with just a little bit of hacking. Before you scoff, however, let us entice you with a few details on the N810 firmware: it will boost your N800's processor to 400Mhz, revises your browser to use a faster Mozilla-based core, and includes support for Skype video chat. If that was enough to whet your appetite, be sure to click through for the full deets on how to install the still officially unreleased firmware.

For more on the upgrade:
- check out this Cnet blog entry

Google's Open Handset Alliance announced

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 06:59:59 -0500

Sure, we saw this one coming from a mile away but that doesn't make it any less exciting: Google has gotten all official on us and has announced the details of its mobile OS strategy. No, it's not called the "gPhone," silly, it's called Android and its the brainchild of the so-called "Open Mobile Alliance."

Here's the deal: Google has buddied up with 34 different partners in the technology space (including NVIDIA, Intel, Texas Instruments, Synaptics, Marvell, Qualcomm, Motorola, Samsung, T-Mobile, Sprint, Skype, LG, HTC, KDDI, DoCoMo and China Mobile) to create the Open Handset Alliance (OHA)--a group focused on building an open, fully customizable alternative to closed operating systems like Windows Mobile 6, Symbian S60 and the iPhone OS. The OHA's first product will be Android, an open-source mobile OS and associated application suite that's built on the Linux operating system (and will be open-sourced via the Apache v2 License). The Android SDK will be made available to developers on November 12th and Android-sporting handsets will flood the market next year, from device manufacturers like HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung. These handsets will be available during the second half of 2008 in the U.S. (from T-Mobile and Sprint) China, Japan, Germany, Italy and Spain. As has been reported earlier, the Android OS will be targeted toward consumers and will be available to OEMs free of charge (the OS will be ad-supported, like all of Google's other apps). A few observations:

It's interesting that Google isn't putting their own name on this but rather, taking a step back and pushing the OHA brand. While this certainly seems like a collaborative effort to a degree, it's clear that Google is the driving force here--they've had the OS in development for three years now.
Will this force other carriers/device manufacturers (most notably AT&T, Verizon, Nokia, RIM and Apple) to open up their handset platforms? Let's hope so.
Does this mean that just about every desktop developer who has thus far been shuttered out of the wireless industry will make a mad dash for that SDK in order to have an Android app out by next year? You had better believe it.

From the looks of it, Google and the OHA are sitting on what could be a real game-changer here, in terms of openness, user-customization and mobile functionality. If everything goes according to plan, Android could usher in an age where mobile devices operate more like PCs, with users downloading, installing and customizing to their heart's content. At the very least, this probably means that powerful "smart" devices like those manufactured by HTC, LG and Samsung will finally have a more user-friendly, less ugly interface than Windows Mobile. And if that isn't worth celebrating, I don't know what is.

For more on Android and the OHA:
- watch these promotional videos
- read this New York Times article
- and see this press release

Skypephone gets real on U.K.'s 3

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 07:59:54 -0400

You're looking at it, folks: here's the oft-rumored Skypephone, up and running all official-like on the U.K.'s 3 network. Sure, Skype on a mobile phone is nothing new if you're the geeky sort but a carrier embracing and supporting the third-party VoIP service is almost enough to make old Lucifer reach for his parka. Here's how it works: you either sign a contract with 3 or fill a pay-as-you-go plan with at least £10 every month. In exchange, you get to send unlimited IMs and make an unlimited number of VoIP calls to any Skype user. Not too shabby, eh? The phone above will retail for £49 (just over $100) and features 3G support, a 2-megapixel camera and a microSD slot. The U.K. will be seeing it this Friday and Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, Macau and Sweden will all get their hands on it by year's end. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, so here's hoping that Skype inks a deal with one of the U.S. carriers sometime soon. In the meantime, scope the video (link below) for an up-close-and-personal look at the device.

For more on the Skypephone:
- see this video (via T3 TV)
- and see this press release

Skype virus phones home

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 06:59:55 -0400

This isn't the first time that we've seen VoIP app Skype get targeted by a virus and it probably won't be the last: the latest scam involves a pop-up dialog box that claims to be the "Skype Defender" and asks for your username and password. Of course, if you fork them over, your Skype minutes will likely get sucked down the malware rabbit hole. A simple virus definition update should be enough to get rid of this one but you might want to alert your users, just to play it safe.

Skype launching branded phone

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 06:59:54 -0400

Prada has a phone, Giorgio Armani has a phone...why not Skype? Okay well, maybe that wasn't quite the rationale behind the move but Skype has revealed that it's planning to release a Skype-branded phone. The phone will apparently be released on the 3 network in the U.K., Italy, Hong Kong and Australia, with more territories to come. Of course, this thing will support Skype calls over WiFi as well as Skype buddy lists. Other rumored features are 3G support and a built-in web browser, though both of those seem pretty standard in this day and age. No word yet on pricing, though rumor has it that we could be seeing these devices by the end of the month.

For more on the coming Skype phone:
- see this TechCrunch article

ALSO NOTED: iTunes DRM-free tracks drop to $0.99, as expected; HTC to ship 50,000 Google Phones this year?;

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:59:51 -0400

> iTunes DRM-free tracks drop to $0.99, as expected. Article
> Linus Torvalds' own family uses Windows. Article
> HTC to ship 50,000 Google Phones this year? Rumor
> Acer-Gateway deal is official. Press Release
> When will your iPod die? Article
> MySpace, Skype hook up. Article
> Ultraportable MacBook on the 26th? Rumor

And Finally... Astrophysicist replaces supercomputer with Playstation 3s. Article