FierceCIO News

McAfee's SiteAdvisor plug-in causes huge performance problem, says Mozilla

Paul Mah — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:27:38 -0500

McAfee's popular SiteAdvisor add-on for Firefox has a memory leak that can lead to huge performance problems, says a Mozilla engineer. In a blog entry posted last Friday, Mozilla engineer Nicholas Nethercote recommended that users disable the add-on immediately due to an "appalling" memory leak where most of the memory used by any page opened with Firefox is never reclaimed.

Given the multiple browser tabs that I typically have open these days, it's easy to imagine the performance quagmire that will result as available system RAM plunges after just a few websites. Any crashes or system lags will inevitably be blamed on the Mozilla web browser, which already faces stiff competition from Internet Explorer and Chrome.

While McAfee has quickly responded and announced a fix, to be released later in the week, the situation here highlights the challenge of ensuring that plug-in software does not contain bugs that can trigger software crashes or severely impede performance. This consideration was probably what led to Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) opting to ditch all plug-ins in the Metro-style Internet Explorer 10 set to debut in Windows 8, and to Apple abandoning Flash.

For more:
- check out this article at ZDNet
- check out this article at CNET News

Google took steps to circumvent privacy settings for IE, Safari

Paul Mah — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:41:54 -0500

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) used loopholes to sidestep privacy preferences in Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) Safari web browser, making it possible for the search giant to place tracking cookies for its advertisements in Safari despite the browser's default behavior of blocking third-party cookies.

In a blog entry posted Feb. 20, Internet Explorer executive Dean Hachamovitch wrote, "When the IE team heard that Google had bypassed user privacy settings on Safari, we asked ourselves a simple question: is Google circumventing the privacy preferences of Internet Explorer users too?" It appears the answer is yes, but through a different method.

Hachamovitch writes: "Technically, Google utilizes a nuance in the P3P specification that has the effect of bypassing user preferences about cookies. The P3P specification (in an attempt to leave room for future advances in privacy policies) states that browsers should ignore any undefined policies they encounter. Google sends a P3P policy that fails to inform the browser about Google's use of cookies and user information. Google's P3P policy is actually a statement that it is not a P3P policy." In a nutshell, Google sends a bogus P3P policy that results in third-party cookies being allowed.

In response, Google countered that Microsoft is backing a system that is dated as well as impractical. Rachel Whetstone, senior vice president of communications and policy for Google, argued in a statement to CNET that "it is well known--including by Microsoft--that it is impractical to comply with Microsoft's request while providing modern Web functionality. We have been open about our approach, as have many other Web sites."

I think the evidence speaks for itself. One interesting recommendation given by Whetstone is to block all tracking cookies from a specific domain, such as *.google.com. Would you consider adopting this approach?

For more:
- check out this article at Network World
- check out this article at CNET News

Spotlight: Samsung ships new line of rugged, waterproof memory cards

Paul Mah — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:03:52 -0500

Samsung has started shipping a new family of advanced SD and microSD memory cards that the company says are waterproof, shockproof and magnet-proof. The company claims that all the models are guaranteed to survive for 24 hours in water, withstand the force of a 1.6-ton vehicle, and resist 10,000 gauss (nearly the power of a medical imaging magnet). Capacities range from 2 GB to 32 GB, and are available from Class 4 to Class 10 in terms of read/write speeds. Prices range from about $10 to $90. Article

Report: iPad 3 processor is an A5X chip

Paul Mah — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:53:30 -0500

A new report has emerged about the technical specifications of the upcoming iPad 3, just weeks ahead of its purported launch in early March. Notably, a photo posted on Chinese website WeiPhone shows a circuit board with a chip stamped with the words "A5X" and the Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) logo.

If authentic, it would suggest that the chip used in the iPad 3 will be an incremental improvement instead of the A6 quad-core processor mentioned in earlier reports.

Other features that are likely to make it into the next iteration are 4G LTE capability and an 8 megapixel camera to replace the mediocre one on the iPad 2.

Apple shipped a total of 40.5 million iPads in 2011, commanding 62 percent of the tablet market. Given that 15.43 million units were sold in the last quarter alone, the numbers point toward a marked increase, even with the new version looming. But the arrival of Windows 8 tablets at the end of the year is almost certain to put a damper on the iPad 3's adoption. The Windows 8 tablets are expected to utilize quad-core ARM-based processors, and Microsoft has already confirmed a native version of Microsoft Office for its tablets, which will certainly appeal to businesses.

For more:
- check out this article at eWeek

Microsoft to challenge iCloud with Windows 8 SkyDrive

Paul Mah — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:53:07 -0500

In a new post on the official Building Windows 8 blog, SkyDrive program managers Mike Torres and Omar Shahine have unveiled more details about how Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) will integrate the company's SkyDrive cloud storage system into its upcoming Windows 8 operating system.

This will apparently include a Metro-style SkyDrive app, an early version of which will be available with the Windows 8 consumer preview. Signing into a SkyDrive account on a Windows 8 machine will automatically load settings such as browser history and customizations; documents and media files will also be accessible.

A SkyDrive native client will also be available on the Windows 8 desktop, as well as older versions of the Windows platform such as Windows Vista and Windows 7; there is no mention of Windows XP. One obvious benefit would be drag-and-drop upload and download support, as well as the ability to use Windows Explorer to manage files and folders. To be even more useful, SkyDrive will also support large files of up to 2 GB.

Thanks to improvements to network efficiency and overall performance, the SkyDrive application will run quietly and unobtrusively in the background. "You won't even need to know it's running," say Torres and Shahine. "As you update files on your PC, they're uploaded immediately to the cloud--and as changes are made in the cloud or on another device, they'll sync back down to the PC."

The final part is really interesting. For users who prefer not to copy all their data into SkyDrive, but who want to access data stored at their workstation, a "Forget something?" feature will give them the ability to access their PC remotely through SkyDrive.com. "We've done special work to enable remote streaming of video, and we'll treat photo albums on your remote PC exactly as we do photo albums in SkyDrive, with the same beautiful full-screen viewer."

As a security measure, two-factor authentication will be required for this service. Of course, while two-factor authentication sounds impressive, it is starting to look inadequate against increasingly sophisticated attacks. Already, some financial institutions, for example, are shifting towards the use of a third factor, given how mobile phones can be stolen or smartphones infected with Trojan malware.

For more:
- check out this article at Building Windows 8
- check out this article at TechCrunch

Tips to extend the range of your Wi-Fi equipment

Paul Mah — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:52:40 -0500

For small offices and homes with dead spots that their Wi-Fi access points don't reach, an article published on TechNewsWorld offers a number of simple tips to alleviate the problem. One possible solution, writes Patrick Nelson, is to reposition the access point to eliminate any obstacles that may block the antenna, such as walls or metal filing cabinets. Should this prove inadequate however, Nelson suggests getting a wireless range extender.

Free Wi-Fi analyzer tools available on the Android platform can survey signal strength, Nelson writes. A trial installation of the extender can be done next in order to determine the optimal location. He notes: "An optimum extender location is line-of-sight somewhere between the router and dead spot."

Overall, the tips make sense, especially for small offices. My personal advice for mid-sized businesses or enterprises environments, though, would be to invest in a business-grade Wi-Fi system. Despite the higher costs, many of these systems are designed with greater reliability in mind and incorporate technologies to manage multiple access points for superior coverage and bandwidth. Wi-Fi specialist Xirrus, who we interviewed last year, makes access points crammed with multiple radios for rapid, high-density deployments.

For more:
- check out this article at TechNewsWorld

Why ultrabooks will have an impact, despite skeptics

Paul Mah — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:03:58 -0500

A J.P. Morgan analyst has expressed doubts as to whether the latest push by PC makers and Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) to create a new generation of ultra-portable laptops will pay off anytime soon. The main problem has to do with price, says the analyst, which needs to be noticeably below the $999 for the cheapest MacBook Air. The lack of distinguishing features over cheap netbooks was brought up as another reason; you can read more here.

However, I believe that Intel's ultrabook initiative will generate increased sales, and may in fact have already sparked the beginning of a revolution. I list out the reasons below.

Aesthetics

Make no mistake about it; some of the new ultrabooks look really good. An analysis based purely on pricing ignores the irrationality of consumer behavior. Just observe the number of window shoppers hanging around the MacBook and iPad displays at the local Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) store and you'll know what I mean.

The domino effect

The ultrabook has renewed focus on materials engineering and circuit design for really thin laptops. And the fruit of these labors is showing up in the form of really slim yet powerful laptops outside the boundaries of Intel's ultrabook initiative. Samsung just launched its second generation Series 9 laptop in South Korea. The 13.3-inch model, for example, weighs just 2.5 lbs (1.16 kg), is about half an inch thick (12.9 mm) and comes with an Intel i7 (ULV) processor. And you know what? I think it looks even better than the MacBook Air.

No to Intel Atom

Despite their popularity, netbooks are widely criticized for their sluggish performance, in part thanks to the slow Intel Atom processor. Intel has clearly learned its lesson, and has specified the use of flash memory to help ultrabooks start up and shut down faster. You won't find an ultrabook running on the Atom processor.

The OS barrier

Most of my friends who were tempted to switch to a MacBook Air, but did not, were usually deterred either by the inability to use their Windows apps or an unwillingness to learn a new OS. While Mac fans will argue that OS X is far easier to get a handle on, part of the barrier has to do with figuring out how to integrate OS X into existing Windows-centric worlds both at home and at work. Interestingly, friends who had IT support at work to install Windows on their MacBooks did so in the blink of an eye. But with ultrabooks looking just as good, why even bother with a switch?

Do you agree or disagree? Feel free to leave feedback in the comments section below, via email or even in a tweet. - Paul Mah (Twitter @paulmah)

OS X Mountain Lion to feature iMessage, iCloud integration

Paul Mah — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:04:08 -0500

The next iteration of the OS X operating system, version 10.8 Mountain Lion, is expected to launch this summer. And far from adopting a from-the-ground-up rewrite like what Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is doing with Windows 8, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is approaching the update by taking OS X's integration with the highly successful iOS platform to a whole new level.

The iChat app, for example, will be replaced with Messages, which allows an OS X user running Mountain Lion to send an iMessage to any iPhone, iPad or iPad device running on iOS 5. Moreover, iMessage will support the concept of continuous chat by pushing out messages to all iOS-based devices. This is similar to the continuous chat feature offered by the Trillian chat client, where IM conversations that start on a desktop can be continued via smartphone without missing a beat. Note that Apple is also offering a beta version of Messages as a standalone download for users of OS X Lion.

In addition, Mountain Lion will also feature a number of apps popularized by the iOS platform, such as Reminders, Notes and the Notification Center. Located at the upper-right corner of the screen, the Notification Center will aggregate a range of items including FaceTime missed calls, iMessages, Mac App Store updates and even notifications from third-party apps--and is customizable by users. What's more, OS X 10.8 will also incorporate AirPlay Mirroring, which allows a 720p video stream with audio to be sent to an Apple TV 2 when on the same wireless network.

It is clear that Apple's strategy involves leveraging the popularity of its iOS platform to attract more users to its OS X platform. While the new version doesn't come with any features that will appeal directly to the IT department, the trend of BYOD (bring your own device) and certain business-friendly features like AirPlay Mirroring will only add pressure to enterprises to integrate the Mac into their corporate networks.

For more:
- check out this article at PC Mag
- check out this article at CNN

Spotlight: DVD Flick to author your own DVD

Paul Mah — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 02:54:26 -0500

If you're looking for a quick and easy way to create your own DVD discs for playback on a DVD player or your home cinema rig, then you may want to take a look at DVD Flick. The open-source software makes it a breeze to convert practically any video file into a DVD, with the ability to insert a custom navigable menu as well as subtitles. DVD Flick requires at least 256MB of free physical RAM, though 512MB or more is recommended. You can download DVD Flick here.

Report: Linux job openings on the rise

Paul Mah — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:45:21 -0500

The demand for Linux skills is on the rise, but finding talent is difficult.

This was the conclusion of the 2012 Linux Jobs Report released yesterday, which surveyed more than 2,000 hiring managers. The survey was conducted by IT job specialist Dice together with The Linux Foundation. The latter is a non-profit foundation set up to promote, protect and advance Linux.

While no specific reason was given for the uptake in demand, it is likely driven by the increased use of Linux and open-source software across the industry. For example, many hardware appliances used in SMBs and enterprises, such as network-attached storage and even some network equipment, run on Linux. The popular Apache web server is also used predominantly with the Linux operating system, as are the popular scripting language PHP and database management systems such as MySQL and PostgreSQL.

Eighty-one percent of survey respondents said hiring Linux talent is a priority in 2012, while a full 85 percent said finding Linux talent is "somewhat to very difficult." The result, says Dice, is that Linux professionals get higher salaries and better bonuses. In particular, mid-level Linux developers and system administrators with three to five years of experience are the most in-demand.

With 11,000 jobs on Dice that require Linux experience to some extent--an increase of 17 percent from the previous year--Alice Hill, managing director of Dice, summed up the situation this way: "The best Linux candidates have options."

The 2012 Linux Jobs Report is available for download here (.pdf).

For more:
- check out this article at eWeek

Google now the largest public DNS provider in the world

Paul Mah — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:34:15 -0500

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) has become the largest public DNS provider in the world, serving more than 70 billion requests a day. On the official Google blog, Google Public DNS software engineer Jeremy Chen announced the milestone, noting that the service has become particularly popular for users internationally. Not bad from a service launched as an experimental service with little fanfare in December 2009.

"About 70 percent of its traffic comes from outside the U.S," wrote Chen. "We've maintained our strong presence in North America, South America and Europe, and beefed up our presence in Asia. We've also added entirely new access points to parts of the world where we previously didn't have Google Public DNS servers, including Australia, India, Japan and Nigeria."

Depending on your feelings towards Google, this may announcement may thrill you--or deeply frighten you. Cricket Liu, vice president of network equipment maker Infoblox, sums up the situation, as reported on InformationWeek: "Google is providing fast, unfiltered DNS, and all of that is good. But they're also grabbing this huge stream of data, generated by all those people who use the company's DNS service."

The official FAQ for the Google Public DNS service states that IP addresses, ISPs and location information are stored to make the service better, though IP information is erased after 24 hours. Google says it has no intention of using the service to sell ads in the future.

Assuming that you belong to the more charitable camp, and are perhaps considering Google's DNS service, do note that the service is intended for end users and hence offered without an SLA. As such, Google suggests having a backup or failover service.

For more:
- check out this article at ZDNet
- check out this article at InformationWeek

Ultrabooks won't transform the PC market, says analyst

Paul Mah — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:29:15 -0500

Ultrabooks are unlikely to lift the PC market this year, says an analyst from J.P. Morgan. As reported by CNET News, Mark Moskowitz thinks that the base price levels of an average ultrabook are still too high, at $899 to $1,299, for it to really take off.

This is a pretty bold prediction given the more than 60 ultrabook designs coming in 2012, with ultrabook shipments projected to hit 43 percent of all laptops by 2015.

With the entry-level price of the popular MacBook Air at $999, Moskowitz believes that "Windows-based ultrabooks would need to drop below $999 before the corporate crowd starts to embrace them. For the average consumer, they'd need to target the $600 to $800 range, much the way netbooks sell at such low prices."

The lack of distinguishing features between ultrabooks and much cheaper netbooks was cited as another stumbling block. Moskowitz sums up his analysis by noting, "We are skeptical that similar success [to the MacBook Air] can be replicated by Windows-based Ultrabooks in the near to mid term." I have a different take on this, which you can find in my editorial.

For now, what is interesting is the blurring of lines between what constitutes a business laptop versus a consumer laptop. This is significant because businesses are typically prepared to pay slightly more for devices used in the office, which may well render Moskowitz's price analysis a moot point.

Indeed, an HP (NYSE: HPQ) executive was recently quoted as saying: "Our Ultrabooks will be for the business space as well as consumer. We dont see that as just consumer."

For more:
- check out this article at CNET News

Apple CEO Tim Cook: iPad, tablets will outsell PCs

Paul Mah — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:25:10 -0500

Tablets such as the iPad will outsell PCs in the coming year, thinks Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) CEO Tim Cook. Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference held in San Francisco earlier this week, Cook has this to say about the iPad: "From the first day it shipped, we thought that the tablet market would become larger than the PC market."

Cook was asked about his opinion of the long term potential of the tablet market, in which he noted that he felt "stronger today" about this than prior to the launch of the iPad. Apple has shipped 55 million units of the iPad in what has turned out to be the fastest product ramp for any Apple device in history.

Acknowledging that its popularity was off the charts, Cook attributed its success to various factors that were already in play. These include the iTunes Store, the App Store and how users were already trained on the iPhone and were familiar with a multi-touch interface.

When quizzed further about the effect of the iPad on the PC, Cook pointed out that "I don't predict the demise of the PC, I don't subscribe to that." He noted, though, that there are more PC sales to cannibalize than Mac sales. He also acknowledged that "some Mac sales" were indeed affected by the popularity of the company's iPad tablet.

Ultimately, the increased pressure will "be good for the PC industry because there will be this strong competitor and tablets will innovate like crazy and customers will decide which to buy," says Cook. "There will be a strong PC industry but tablets will be stronger in units." The interview was conducted just weeks before the iPad 3 is expected to debut, in the first week of March, with a faster processor and a higher-resolution screen. MacRumors has a transcript of the interview here.

For more:
- check out this article at PCWorld

The reality of digital espionage and defending against it

Paul Mah — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:16:34 -0500

The New York Times has an article that talked about the reality of digital espionage and spying conducted against companies and government officials in the United States. As was widely reported late last year, things came to a head when Chinese hackers succeeded in infiltrating the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, siphoning at least six weeks' worth of email belonging to four Chamber employees.

The Times article quoted Joel F. Brenner, a former top counterintelligence official in the office of the director of national intelligence who summed up the situation this way: "If a company has significant intellectual property that the Chinese and Russians are interested in, and you go over there with mobile devices, your devices will get penetrated."

The best defense against potential digital snooping or espionage, it appears, entails leaving one's mobile phone and laptop at home. Only loaner devices devoid of company data should be brought to high risk countries, and which are also promptly wiped clean upon return. And if that's not adequate, security vendor McAfee goes a step further: If any employee's device was inspected at the Chinese border, the device will never again be allowed to plug into McAfee's network, reports the Times.

Are such precautions an overreaction that has little basis in reality? Scott Aken, a former FBI agent who specialized in counterintelligence and computer intrusion clearly doesn't think so. "The Chinese are very good at covering their tracks," says Aken to the Times. "In most cases, companies don't realize they've been burned until years later when a foreign competitor puts out their very same product--only they're making it 30 percent cheaper."

It is easy to understand that most victims of espionage will be reluctant to discuss it for fear it could effect their stock price. Or perhaps, as Aken puts it, they never even know they were hacked until a competitor starts selling an eerily similar product.

For more:
- check out this article at New York Times

Spotlight: Belkin Power Pack 4000 portable battery

Paul Mah — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:14:24 -0500

The Belkin Power Pack 4000 is a slim and lightweight portable battery designed to recharge up to two devices via its dual USB ports. As its name suggest, the Power Pack 4000 packs 4000mAh of power for charging on the go. This is adequate to recharge a smartphone twice, or an iPad up to 40 percent of its total charge. A handy 4-LED charge indicator takes the guesswork out of the equation, while an innovative pass-through circuitry allows the Power Pack to be recharged while charging connected devices at the same time. The Power Pack 4000 can be purchased from Belkin's website for $99.99 here.