Twitter Alerts delivers the information you need in emergencies
Twitter announces details of its new Twitter Alerts service which will make it possible to disseminate information when other methods fail or when large groups of people need to be notified about something. What does this mean? In times of national emergency, crisis or natural disaster, Twitter Alerts could be used to provide details about what is happening and what steps are being taken by authorities.
In times of emergency, it is very common for people to turn to the internet. But as we know all too well, the internet is home to a wealth of misinformation so this could end up to be less helpful than it should be. A number of international organizations have already signed up to be part of Twitter Alerts including the American Red Cross, FEMA, the World Health Organization, and various police and fire departments. Other interested organizations are invited to take part.
15-percent of the US don't want to connect with the rest of us
Not to call out my parents, but neither is online -- they do not own a computer or tablet and, only last week, my mom was rather forcefully pushed into the smartphone world thanks to an aging flip phone. I can at least partially forgive them -- they are not young and these new-fangled gadgets lose them, though others in the same age bracket seem to have moved along with the times.
At any rate, the couple is not alone according to a new report announced by Pew Research. A full 15-percent of Americans are offline and, of those, 94-percent plan to stay that way.
Using Mailbox for iOS? There's a JavaScript security hole to beware of
A potentially serious security flaw in iOS email app Mailbox is being investigated. Michael Spagnuolo, an Italian computer engineer writes about discovering that the app automatically executes any JavaScript that might be embedded in the body of an email.
Michael has recorded a video demonstrating a few proofs of concept which leaves iPad and iPhone users open to potential attack. His example scenarios are purposefully harmless -- he has opted to show how opening an email could lead to an app being opened without permission or instigate a tweet or SMS (although it is not sent without confirmation) -- but the security hole is going to make many users feel uneasy.
New York State drivers to get cell phone texting zones
Distracted driving is not a new phenomenon. Even before cell phones, drivers could be seen putting on make-up, shaving and eating during their daily commute. However, the cell phone and ultimately text messaging has seemingly exacerbated the dangerous practice. You see, according to New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, there has been "a 365 percent increase in tickets issued in summer 2013 compared to summer 2012 for distracted driving".
In an effort to reduce this, the Governor explains, "in addition to tougher penalties, new detection methods for State Police and ongoing public outreach efforts, we are now launching special Texting Zones to allow motorists to pull over and use their phones. These Zones will be identified with signs along the Thruway and State Highways, reminding drivers that there is a nearby opportunity for them to legally and safely use their phone. With this new effort, we are sending a clear message to drivers that there is no excuse to take your hands off the wheel and eyes off the road because your text can wait until the next Texting Zone".
Windows Phone is the least usable mobile OS in the world
The release of iOS 7 seems like as good a time as any to reassess the mobile operating system market, and this is precisely the thinking of Pfeiffer Consulting. The firm pitted Android, Blackberry 10, iOS 7, iOS 6 and Windows Phone 8 head to head (to head to head to head), comparing the aspects of the OS that have direct impact on user experience. Rated in four key areas, Windows Phone 8 came bottom of the list in terms of overall usability.
The results are quite damning. Looking at what the report terms "cognitive load" (how easy it is to pick up the OS), Windows Phone 8 actually fared well, receiving the same rating as iOS 7 and being praised for its "streamlined user interface". However the OS is criticized for reducing the overall user experience and efficiency.
NirSoft’s new NetworkConnectLog tracks everything that connects to your network
The ever-productive Nir Sofer has announced another NirSoft freebie, NetworkConnectLog, which monitors your network and logs each device as it connects and disconnects.
The end results can be informative if you’re curious about network usage, or perhaps are just wondering whether anyone else is illicitly accessing your wireless network. Check the NetworkConnectLog table occasionally and you’ll see a list of everything that’s connected to or disconnected from your network, including its computer name, workgroup, MAC address, IP address, network adapter manufacturer and connect/ disconnect time.
Yahoo gifts me the keys to someone else's life -- and details relating to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Three months ago, Yahoo announced plans to recycle email addresses. The addresses, which the tech giant said had all been inactive for 12 months or longer, were to be offered on a first come first served basis. In covering the story, my colleague Brian Fagioli pointed out some worrying privacy flaws, but Yahoo said it was confident its plans would not compromise user security.
Despite the fact I already have five email addresses I use on a regular basis, and a couple more I dip into occasionally, I applied for one of these recycled addresses, and at the end of August Yahoo emailed me to say "Great news! The username you wanted is yours". I was surprised and delighted, then promptly forgot all about it until yesterday when I logged into my new email account for the first time and… OMG!
Companies must refocus privacy efforts says Gartner report
According to a survey by research company Gartner only 43 percent of organizations have a comprehensive privacy program in place whilst seven percent admit to only doing the bare minimum to address privacy laws. The results are based on 221 organizations surveyed in April and May 2013 in the US, Canada, UK and Germany.
"More than a third of organizations still 'consider privacy aspects in an ad hoc fashion' and it is surprising that so many companies are saying that they are not conducting privacy impact assessments before major projects. Sixty-two percent do not scan websites and applications, or conduct an organization-wide privacy audit every year. Organizations must put these activities on their to-do list for 2014," says Carsten Casper, research vice president at Gartner.
GOCLEVER announces 7-inch Aries 70 to bridge phone/tablet divide
With the release of the Nexus 7, Tesco's Hudl and new Kindle Fire HD and HDX, there are certainly plenty of tablets to choose from with screens around the 7-inch mark. GOCLEVER is the latest contender to enter the ring, announcing the availability of the 7-inch Aries 70.
Although this is a tablet with a budget- to mid-range price tag (£159.99 or €189.99), there is still a quad-core processor lurking in the innards -- pegged at 1.2GHz. Integrated GPS is a useful feature and, coupled with the 3G connection, makes it ideal for popping on the dashboard and getting directions on the road. The preinstalled maps perhaps reveal the Aries 70's roots or target market -- if you need to find your way around Poland, the Czech Republic or Slovakia, you're good to go right out of the box!
How to find, lock, ring and wipe your Windows Phone remotely
Windows Phone receives quite a bit of bad press for its immature feature set and lack of killer apps. The smartphone operating system, however, has a few neat tricks up its sleeve which some users may not even know about. The one feature that I find to be quite useful yet highly understated is the ability to find, lock, ring and wipe Windows Phones, officially known as "find my phone", which comes in handy in case of theft or misplacing the handset.
The feature is available, and probably operational too, out-of-the-box. You only need a couple of minutes to spare, a Windows Phone and access to a computer, smartphone or tablet, to set it up properly and find, lock, ring or wipe your handset remotely.
Ashampoo Anti-Virus 2014 now available
German software developer Ashampoo has released Ashampoo Anti-Virus 2014 ($39.99), a full-featured antivirus tool which combines the Bitdefender and Emsisoft engines to help keep you safe online.
The package offers all the core functionality you’d expect from a modern antivirus package: real-time protection, on-demand scanning, behavioral monitoring, browsing protection and more.
RealNetworks simplifies video sharing with RealPlayer Cloud
Now here's a blast from the past. RealNetworks (remember it?) is launching RealPlayer Cloud, a new service that aims to make it easier than ever to share videos between devices and across platforms. The service has been developed to help avoid the need to transfer videos from one device to another or upload them to an online storage repository ready to download elsewhere.
The idea is that users do not have to worry about the platform videos will be viewed on, or the format they are saved in. There are a huge number of video codecs in use, so the appeal of something that helps to overcome compatibility issues is understandable. There are plenty of services that already make it possible to stream video wirelessly from a PC to an iPad or other device. This is nothing new, nor is the ability to pick up from where you left off watching when you switch devices.
Roku reveals three new streaming devices and M-GO integration
Roku is expanding its streaming media product line with the release of the Roku 1, Roku 2 and Roku LT. The three new devices join the flagship Roku 3, and are targeted at the entry-level and mid-range market. The cheapest of three is the Roku LT at $49.99. It will only be available in the US and supports video output up to 720p. Next in line is the Roku 1 which will retail for $59.99 and ups the video support to full 1080p HD.
Topping off the new releases is the Roku 2 which will retail for $79.99 and will, like the Roku 1, be available in the US, Canada, the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Borrowing ideas from the existing Roku 3, the new Roku 2's remote includes a headphone jack and the device itself features dual-band Wi-Fi. All three models are available for pre-order now, and are expected to hit stores at the beginning of October. The entire range sports an updated look that is in keeping with the Roku 3.
Amazon turns its Fire on the enterprise
Earlier today we reported on Amazon's launch of three all-new Kindle Fires. Thanks to the introduction of improved enterprise and productivity features in Fire OS 3.0, Amazon hopes to make the latest Fire HD and HDX more attractive to BYOD and business users.
"Kindle Fire is already the second most popular tablet at work in the US," says Raghu Murthi, Vice President of Enterprise and Education at Amazon. "As employees increasingly bring their own devices to work, the new Kindle Fire tablets can be easily integrated into the workplace with the new enterprise features, including encryption, secure Wi-Fi, a native VPN client, integration with leading MDM solutions, and Kerberos support for Intranet access".
Twitter updates @MagicRecs recommendation system for mobile users
Twitter is in the process of rolling out a new notification system designed to help users find interesting people to follow. It is not an entirely new system -- the micro blogging site is basing the feature on its @MagicRecs account, which started off as an experiment earlier in the year, making "magic recommendations" about who Twitter users might like to follow.
@MagicRecs monitors the activity of the people you follow and people in your network and sends out direct messages letting you know when several people you are connected to follow a particular user. The thinking is that if two or more people are interested in following someone else, there's a high chance that you will be too. In a blog post, Senior Software Engineer, Venu Satulur explains how the recommendation system has been tweaked and updated.
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