WWWorld.ru · Темы дня · Разделы дня · Интересы дня · 2012 · Свежие новости

Rumors about coming MacBook releases are swirling around the Web. Key predictions include a new Intel Ivy Bridge Core quad-core processor, a very thin 15-inch MacBook Pro, super-fast USB 3.0 and Retina displays. Some of the reports are based on the appearance on various sites of benchmarks that purport to be from a new MacBook Pro prototype. The benchmarks indicates that the machine is running a new, unreleased version of OS X Mountain Lion, using an Ivy Bridge processor. 50 Percent Faster According to the alleged specs, a new 13-inch MacBook Pro will use the recently-released Intel Core i7-3820QM, running at 2.7 GHz. One reason for excitement about the possible incorporation of the new processor is that its integrated graphics processing is said to run about 50 percent faster than the Sandy Bridge processors currently in the MacBook Pro. However, some observers have speculated that, while an Ivy Bridge processor may be planned for the next MacBook Pro, it may not be the 3820QM, but a more recent Intel chip designed specifically for the product. There are also purported benchmarks for new all-in-one iMacs floating around, which point to a 27-inch iMac running an Ivy Bridge quad-core processor, the i7-3770, at 3.4GHz. A new 15-inch MacBook Pro is reportedly being readied, based on information from supply-chain sources, and some observers expect it to resemble a souped-up MacBook Air, while others suggest a much thinner version of the current Pro. Another data point backing the idea that new Macs will soon be released is that retailers appear to be cutting prices to move existing inventory, such as discounts of up to $200 by Best Buy. Retina Display? A key feature of one or more new Mac models, according to reports, will be a so-called Retina display, the next step in spectacular high-resolution technology launched on the iPhone... newsfactor.com »

TORONTO (Reuters) - Planning a wedding? A new web app lets the bride and groom-to-be create a social website that connects guests with each other before the big day. Reuters: Internet News »

Throw another Apple on the barbie, mates. In a concession to complaints from consumers down under, Apple is no longer claiming overseas that its newest iPad can deliver 4G long-term evolution high-speed data. New iPads equipped for mobile broadband access are now labeled for sale as "Wi-Fi + Cellular." The change came after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (similar to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission) took the computer giant to court because the iPad's top mobile connection speed doesn't meet that country's definition of 4G. 'A Simple Term' The Financial Times of London reported that the United Kingdom's Advertising Standards Authority had been in ongoing discussions with Apple about whether its ads promising 4G were truthful since 4G networks are only in the initial stages in much of the world. Apple argued that the iPad connects with HSPA+ networks, which are marketed sometimes as 4G in the U.S. The Sydney Morning Herald cited the change as a victory for the ACCC, saying Apple released "a statement that because telecommunications companies "do not all refer to their high-speed networks with the same terminology" it had therefore "decided to use 'Wi-Fi + Cellular' as a simple term" which describes all of the networks supported by the new iPad." The International Telecommunications Union, a United Nations-affiliated agency, in 2008 classified 4G as data speed of 100 megabits per second for fast mobility and 1 gigabit per second for pedestrians. Few carriers today can deliver that kind of speed. AT&T and Verizon Wireless promise LTE speed of 5 to 12 megabits per second for uplink and 2 to 5 mbps for downloads. Sprint promises up to 10 mbps for its WiMAX network . The ITU definition seems to be in flux, however. In October 2010, it announced that two new technologies, "LTE-Advanced" and "WirelessMAN-Advanced" had "successfully met all of the... newsfactor.com »

PARIS (Reuters) - Mobile video game group Gameloft expects growth to speed up from the second quarter of 2012 as it launches a record number of smartphone games based on a money-making model which allows it to double a game's revenue over its lifespan. Reuters: Internet News »

Most computer users live in fear of a crashed computer and lost data, or are frustrated by a computer that seems to take hours to perform the simplest task. The trick is to learn from these problems and either fix the computer before the worst happens, or at least make sure it never happens again. This is not work that can only be performed by experts. Even a blue screen can be helpful, since Windows uses it to deliver a Bug Check Code, which gives some hint about the cause of the problem. Thus, the message KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED indicates a problem with a driver. Microsoft provides a complete list of all check codes -- and possible solutions -- online. Such tips are necessary; otherwise any effort to fix a computer can quickly turn into a waste of time. "Unfortunately, the diagnosis is anything but easy," says Hans Ludwig Stahl, director of the Institute for Computer Science at the Cologne University of Applied Sciences. Problems can stem from issues with either hardware or software. Or the PC could be having resource issues related to working memory or hard drive space. Viruses and other forms of malware can also make the computer unusable, which is why everyone should have up-to-date anti-virus software. Stahl recommends seeking the source of the problem in the recent past. "Maybe the problem cropped up right after putting in a new piece of hardware or installation of some new software." If that's the case, remove the potential source of the problem as a test. Maybe the computer will work fine without it. Sometimes combinations of hardware, software and operating system simply don't work, says Stahl. "That can always happen with open systems like Windows." In a worst case scenario, that can mean living without the problem hardware or software. Sometimes a patch or a new driver... newsfactor.com »

In time for spring blooming, Lenovo is out with a fresh crop of updates to its venerable ThinkPad line. The new arrivals include the X1 Carbon laptop, which the company called the lightest 14-inch Ultrabook, as well as the addition of Intel's Ivy Bridge processors to an assortment of models. The X1 joins a variety of Ultrabook models that are beginning to pop up from various manufacturers. Or, as Information Technology Intelligence Consulting analyst Laura DiDio put it, "this is like the Easter parade for Ultrabooks." Lenovo said that its X1 Carbon "exceeds Ultrabook specifications," specifically in its use of a carbon fiber rollcage that enhances durability but keeps the weight under 3 pounds. 3G, RapidCharge Other highlights of the X1 include RapidCharge for a near-full battery charge within 30 minutes and Intel vPro technology to assist with management. Senior Vice President Lu Yan said in a statement that innovative thinking extends beyond the X1 to the rest of the new ThinkPad models, which feature "a backlit keyboard, super-bright high definition display, Dolby Home Theatre and rich communications features that balance business performance with personal use." New models in the ThinkPad X, T, W, and L Series feature Ivy Bridge third-generation quad-core processors, RapidBoot, and Lenovo Enhanced Experience 3.0. The refreshed lineup is designed to start 40 percent faster than a typical Windows 7 computer, with optimized system files, processes and hardware settings. Several models offer 4G/LTE connectivity, USB 3.0, and an option for contract-free mobile broadband, purchased in time segments. The X230 Ultraportable, intended for road warriors, provides 24 hours of battery, a weight under 3 pounds, and 4G. The T430s has docking and vPro, and the T530 delivers a full 15-inch HD display. With Windows 8 coming, there has been a great deal of speculation about tablet-laptop convertibles. The ThinkPad X230t combines both with a... newsfactor.com »

All eyes are on all aspects of Facebook. As the social-media darling sets its sights on an historic initial public offering, though, it's doing a little housecleaning on the privacy front. And that housecleaning is making many angry. Erin Egan, Facebook's chief privacy officer, let the world know on Friday what her team was doing to help Facebook's users better understand how it uses their data. She penned a blog post that outlined how Facebook has enhanced transparency in its data use policy. For all Facebook's good intentions, though, its latest update has many users up in arms once again. In fact, privacy advocates organized flash mob protests against Facebook on Tuesday at locations in New York and San Francisco. Not exactly the kind of publicity a pre-IPO Facebook wants or needs, though it did not seem to affect offering share prices. Privacy Changes Detailed "We're adding more examples and detailed explanations to help you understand our policies. For example, we include additional tips, marked with a light bulb so you can find them easily. We've added new links to our Help Center," Egan wrote. Facebook also created a new section explaining how it uses "cookies" and similar technologies and updated the corresponding explanations about cookies in its Help Center. Facebook went on to provide more information about how it uses data to operate the social network, to advertise, and to promote safety and security for its users. Facebook also launched several new features in its Data Use Policy since its last update, including Activity Log. Egan described Activity Log as a new privacy tool that lets you see in one place the information you've posted to Facebook. From Activity Log, for example, you can control who can see each piece of information and decide whether it appears on your timeline. "We... newsfactor.com »

Advanced Micro Devices has launched a new A-series of accelerated processing units (APUs) designed for deployment in next-generation notebooks as well as in traditional desktop PCs. Code-named Trinity, the new series-A APUs reportedly double the performance of prior AMD offerings as well as boost processor performance by 29 percent through the addition of third-generation AMD turbo core technology. AMD's turbo core technology shifts power between each chip's central processing unit and graphics processing unit to best match each application's specific requirements. As a result, AMD said CPU frequencies are able to rise to a maximum of 3.2 gigahertz. AMD's new APUs also are capable of delivering up to 12 hours of battery life through CPU and GPU power enhancements, said AMD Corporate Vice President Chris Cloran. "Our second-generation AMD A-Series APU is a major step forward in every performance and power dimension, allowing users to enjoy a stunning experience without having to give up the things that matter to them most," Cloran said. The processing boost doesn't stop at mainstream notebooks, Cloran said. "It carries over into affordable ultrathin form factors featuring the latest in AMD Radeon graphics," he said. ARM No Threat This Year Given the inundation of recent media reports about ARM-based processors expected to land in value-added notebooks after Microsoft launches its Windows RT operating system for mobile computing devices, we asked AMD about how the chipmaker's new chips stack up against the ARM-based offerings coming down the pike. The A-Series APUs that AMD launched Tuesday are destined for deployment in notebooks from Acer, Asus, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba and will likely be priced in the $500-$800 range by AMD's OEM partners, said AMD spokesman Phil Hughes. "Value based notebooks come closer to the value proposition of our E-Series platform, which is designed for essential notebooks in the $250-$500 range," Hughes... newsfactor.com »

Google is revising the way it rolls out new Android versions and devices, according to a new report. The move is intended to give the tech giant greater control over features and apps, and to reduce the influence of wireless carriers. According to a story in Wednesday's Wall Street Journal, Google will now give new versions of Android to as many as five manufacturers at a time, and devices using the new version will be sold directly to consumers. Previously, Google's practice was to produce "lead devices" for a new version with a single manufacturer and then roll out to other makers, with devices being sold through carriers or retail stores. Nexus-Branded Products Under the new scheme -- which has not yet been confirmed by Google -- Google would sell the Nexus-brand products from the manufacturers through its Web site and possibly through some retailers. Google has tried direct sales to consumers on a limited basis previously, with limited success. The amount of involvement that wireless carriers would have in marketing and selling this wave of products is not yet clear. One might assume that phones or tablets sold directly to consumers by Google would not be subsidized by carriers, so, unless Google is ready to pick up that slack, the prices are expected to be considerably higher than what buyers have come to expect. It would be expected the phones would be sold unlocked, so that they would work on a variety of networks. Unless a contract is packaged with the sale -- something that would seem to counter Google's strategy -- the buyer then would have to find a carrier. But, potentially, a device buyer could purchase a prepaid wireless plan, making the total ownership cost less than currently and not obligating the buyer to a contract. The new Google strategy, according to the... newsfactor.com »

Intel just rolled out three new Xeon processor families with a range of target uses: the E5-4600 for boosted performance and flexibility, the E5-2400 for small- to mid-sized businesses, and the E3-1200 v2 with improved performance per watt, data security and graphics capabilities for entry workstation customers. Altogether, Intel introduced 28 processors. As part of the announcement, Boyd Davis, vice president and general manager of the Datacenter Infrastructure Group at Intel, said companies are increasingly dependent on IT to deliver innovative products and services to customers. Intel hopes to be the one to make IT look good. But will Intel's move to drive Xeon innovations for small business and emerging scale workloads be met with enthusiasm among server makers? If OEM adoption is any signal, Intel could see new profits as both IBM and Dell deliver Xeon-based systems to market targeting these niche audiences. The Ivy Bridge Disruption We caught up with Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT, to get his take on the latest news in the x86 data center revolution. He told us the overarching story has been a tale of industry standard upward mobility, pressing and pressuring traditional systems from below. At the same time, he continued, displacement has been a constant theme in that narrative. Enter Intel's latest fab technology, widely known as Ivy Bridge. King said Ivy Bridge may look to some like just another chapter in an ongoing story but it could actually signal an entirely new era of industry-standard computing. That, King said, is because not only did Intel's revolutionary new 3D Tri-Gate fabrication technology allow the company to become the first CPU vendor to deliver commercial 22-nanometer based products, the company also executed the process in good time, speeding its traditional "tick-tock" upgrade schedule and establishing a viable, believable roadmap for future tinier transistors. Intel's... newsfactor.com »

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A video made by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to spoof himself and Newark Mayor Cory Booker - in which Booker repeatedly bests Christie with effortless acts of heroism - went viral on Wednesday. Reuters: Internet News »

In the real world, when folks decide where to eat, what to buy, which movie to go see and so on, they frequently seek the recommendations of friends and so-called experts. Three years after launching its "Decision Engine," Microsoft is overhauling Bing to make its online search engine more social. Though it's taking a different path, Bing's strategy resembles that taken by rival Google, still the dominant player in search. As part of the new Bing, people you know, and in some cases, strangers, are more prominently featured in the decision-making mix that includes Facebook and other networks. I generally applaud Microsoft's approach. But not everything in this still-early-stage preview is working smoothly. For one thing, I ran into trouble getting all the new Bing features to show up on the Mac's Safari Web browser (which Microsoft says is related to the version I've been testing and will be fixed). For another, I want to see more users actually have access to the revamped Bing to more fully unleash its potential. You can check out the changes for yourself at Bing.com/new, but consumers must still wait a few weeks for all the latest features to be made available. When you type in your actual search query, you're exposed to Bing's clean new three-column design interface that takes in information from traditional Web pages, enthusiasts, bloggers and yes, your friends. The left panel is where you'll find the kind of results you've come to expect from a major search engine such as Bing or Google. When I typed in "sushi new york city," I got a typical list of results. Things start to look different in the center column, the space reserved for the "snapshot," where Bing pulls in relevant contextual resources from across the Web. In the sushi example, a map appeared in the snapshot with locations... newsfactor.com »

Brocade is helping school districts in California, Missouri and South Carolina upgrade their IT networks to achieve substantial cost-savings by taking advantage of the latest technologies built into the company's entire range of FCX switches. The goal of Brocade's new "effortless network" initiative is to help the IT departments at schools across the nation -- which have traditionally focused on supporting data -- deal with new challenges, such as streaming video, virtual desktops and unified communications, as well as providing support for personal devices and delivering anytime, anywhere access. "Our students don't want access to just the server -- they want access to the world," said Cathi Eredia, interim director of technology at El Monte Union High School District in Southern California. To make this possible, Brocade's entire range of stackable FCX switches are now powered by HyperEdge technology that delivers new levels of automation and simplification in campus LANs. According to Brocade, HyperEdge is all about "simplifying network management and paying for only what you need today while enabling you to add seamless capacity and functionality as your needs grow." Economy Without Sacrificing Functionality Among other things, HyperEdge automatically consolidates the management of all campus access devices to a single IP address, which makes it easier for schools to roll out new security access policies. "Instead of manually reconfiguring each device or configurable stack, HyperEdge technology allows you to update user ports across the campus with just a single command," Brocade said in a HyperEdge technology video overview. With most state governments sharply focused on reducing their annual budgets, school districts are also struggling to do more with less money than in the past. At the Fort Mill School District in South Carolina, for example, the student size has doubled to more than 10,500 in the past decade -- even as the... newsfactor.com »

When Red Robin Gourmet Burgers introduced its new Tavern Double burger line last month, the company had to get everything right. So it turned to social media. The 460-restaurant chain used an internal social network that resembles Facebook to teach its managers everything from the recipes to the best, fastest way to make them. Instead of mailing out spiral-bound books, getting feedback during executives' sporadic store visits and taking six months to act on advice from the trenches, the network's freewheeling discussion and video produced results in days. Red Robin is already kitchen-testing recipe tweaks based on customer feedback -- and the four new sandwiches just hit the table April 30. Facebook's initial public offering Friday -- the largest by a technology company -- is a watershed moment for the consumer side of the Web, but social networking's real economic impact might be ahead as companies learn how to harness "social business" tools. Beyond advertising on Facebook or Twitter, companies are using social networks to build teams that solve problems faster, share information better among their employees and partners, bring customer ideas for new product designs to market earlier, and redesign all kinds of corporate software in Facebook's easy-to-learn style. "At a very basic level, Facebook is the most popular application ever, with a billion people who know how to use it," said Marc Benioff, chief executive of salesforce.com, whose Chatter social-networking tools are used by 150,000 companies. "The ability to access information is much better because it's easier to get to it." After a slow start, Big Business is embracing social media in a big way. Forrester Research says the sales of software to run corporate social networks will grow 61% a year and be a $6.4 billion business by 2016. Two-thirds of big companies surveyed now use Web 2.0 tools such as social networks... newsfactor.com »

Despite a strong start, Facebook shares are already taking a hit. Indeed, shares of the social media giant fell as much as 13.7 percent in Monday morning trading. That brought Facebook stock below its $38 IPO price on the second official day of trading -- and it brings the valuation down from $104 billion to $92 billion in the blink of an eye. "Facebook's IPO priced at a level well above where we foresaw compelling 12-month returns," BTIG analyst Richard Greenfield said in a research note Monday. With revenue and earnings growth decelerating in 2012, "we find Facebook's current valuation unappealing." What Have You Done for Me Lately? Darren Hayes is a professor at Pace University's Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems in New York who began a 10-year career in the financial services industry in 1990 as a stock analyst with Cantor Fitzgerald at the World Trade Center. We asked his thoughts on Facebook going forward. Hayes said there was no question that Facebook had enjoyed enormous success. But as a former investment banker, he was quick from Day One to remind the watching world that true investors don't care about what you did yesterday but "what will you do for me tomorrow?" "There are some significant challenges that lay ahead for the company. Serious questions have been raised about the effectiveness of marketing through social media Web sites," Hayes said, noting that General Motors announced last week that it was dropping Facebook advertising because it felt Facebook garnered only half the user clicks that Google could accomplish. The Privacy Impact Despite the financial challenges, Hayes is in the camp that sees a larger short-term challenge: new European Union privacy legislation. The Data Protection Directive is being overhauled as the EU Parliament is looking to introduce new online privacy legislation. This legislation is largely... newsfactor.com »

Five top cable-TV providers have banded together to offer Wi-Fi hotspots across the country in a bid to add more value to cable subscriptions amid challenges from a wide range of competitors. By visiting www.cablewifi.com, customers of Brighthouse Networks, Cox Communications, Optimum Online and Xfinity can now find hotspots across the country available with their customer log-in. The CableWiFi network monicker will eventually replace those of the individual cable companies. 'New Era of Opportunity' The coalition members "will allow each other's high-speed Internet customers access to over 50,000 hotspots," the Web site tells visitors. "CableWiFi is the network name created as an extension of the Wi-Fi services offered by the Internet service providers listed here." Wi-Fi searchers can browse the site by specific location (i.e., Grand Central Station), by location type or by city and check for indoor hotspots, outdoor hotspots and partner hotspots. "The way customers are using our service continues to evolve," said Cox Communications COO Jill Campbell in a joint statement issued by all five companies Monday. "This is a new area of opportunity that we need to explore." Rob Marcus, President and COO of Time Warner Cable, added: "We have long been the leading providers of high-speed Internet services in our customers' homes. Through our rollout of Wi-Fi and the benefits of this collaboration we greatly increase the value and reach of our high-speed Internet service, providing access to broadband outside the home and in cities across the country." The new effort expands a 2010 deal between Cablevision, Comcast and Time Warner Cable for sharing Wi-Fi in New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Connecticut. "This is critical to stay competitive," said technology consultant Rob Enderle of the Enderle Group. "They have to be able to compete with DSL suppliers who all have cell phone capability as well and allow customers to... newsfactor.com »

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Google Inc completed its $12.5 billion purchase of Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc and named a new chief executive for the cellphone maker, who vowed to focus on "fewer, bigger bets." Reuters: Internet News »

Привет, друзья! Наконец стали известны стартовые розничные цены на последнюю новинку от Apple. Итак: Новый iPad 16Гб Wi-Fi — 20490 руб Новый iPad 32Гб Wi-Fi — 24490 руб Новый iPad 64Гб Wi-Fi — 28490 руб Новый iPad 16Гб Wi-Fi + 3G — 26990 руб Новый iPad 32Гб Wi-Fi + 3G — 30990 руб Новый iPad 64Гб Wi-Fi + 3G — 35490 руб Старт продаж в России: ночь с 24 на 25 мая. Как видите, слухи по поводу нижней планки в 25 тысяч не оправдались, что радует. Разница с ценой на ebay составляет всего 1-3 тысячи. Что скажете? habrahabr.ru »

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Internet search giant Google Inc could be hit by planned tax laws aimed at stopping international firms transferring of profits from their Australian operations offshore, an Australian government minister was quoted as saying by media. Reuters: Internet News »

Alcatel-Lucent is aiming straight between the eyes of Cisco and Juniper with its latest family of Internet core routers. The new routers intend to address the major shifts happening across global networks. Dubbed 7950 XRS, the new routers allow network operators to go with the flow of rapid adoption of cloud applications, the explosion in video traffic and the mainstreaming of smartphones and tablets and prepare for the next decade of growth. Basil Alwan, president of Alcatel-Lucent's IP Division, is using some aggressive words that Cisco and others in the Internet core router space would likely dispute -- words like "revolutionizing the network core." But Alwan is right about one thing. "Core networks are evolving at an unbelievable pace, with IP backbones and 'metro' cores facing a host of new requirements," he said. "The core router platform of the future needs to be able to efficiently deliver enormous capacity, and do so without sacrificing the intelligence and capabilities needed to support an expanding variety of content and applications." A Future-Minded Router The 7950 XRS is based on a compact system design that Alcatel-Lucent said is built with the future in mind. The flagship of the family, the 7950 XRS-40, supports 32 terabits per second (Tbps) capacity and 160 100-gigabit Ethernet ports. The router taps the latest techniques in silicon and system design to drive down power consumption by more than 66 percent compared with typical core routers, according to the company. Alcatel-Lucent is pushing one message with its new product: traditional core routers have lacked performance and 100GE density, and recent alternatives have compromised on features and flexibility in an attempt to improve performance and density. With 100-Gbps links increasingly serving as the foundation of IP transport networks -- and with 400-Gbps and 1-Tbps links on the horizon -- the firm said 7950 XRS helps respond... newsfactor.com »

It shouldn't be a surprise. New CEO. New vision. Massive layoffs. HP CEO Meg Whitman on Wednesday began making her mark on the company with an outline for a multiyear "productivity initiative" designed to simplify business processes, advance innovation and deliver better results for shareholders. Whitman expects her plan to save Hewlett-Packard $3 billion to $3.5 billion by 2014, the majority of which will be reinvested back into the company. HP is targeting three areas of strategic focus for its reinvestment: cloud, big data and security. "These initiatives build upon our recent organizational realignment, and will further streamline our operations, improve our processes, and remove complexity from our business," Whitman said. "While some of these actions are difficult because they involve the loss of jobs, they are necessary to improve execution and to fund the long-term health of the company. "We are setting HP on a path to extend our global leadership and deliver the greatest value to customers and shareholders." A Whitman Misstep? Whitman mentioned job losses. HP plans to slash 27,000 jobs as part of its restructuring. As of Oct. 31, 2011, that represents 8 percent of the company's workforce. Those layoffs will occur between now and the end of 2014. We touched base with Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group, to discuss the layoffs and his views on whether it's enough to right the HP ship. He told us it's not unusual for a new CEO to order a major downsizing. "The rule of thumb is to not only make layoffs big and early in your term, but also to make it fast," Enderle said. "You don't want people worried about their job for any extended period of time and you don't want them to leave. If they do know they are going to be laid off, that can... newsfactor.com »