Monday, December 6, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Congratulations Emily Smith for winning the Geeks On Call Free iPad. To enter the Free Xbox & Kinect giveaway, click here: http://ping.fm/RLsTH
Congratulations iPad Winner!
We at Geeks On Call are excited to announce that
Emily Smith of Eugene, Oregon
is the winner of the Geeks On Call iPad Giveaway. Geeks On Call would like to thank everyone who entered.
As Christmas is approaching we are excited to announce that we are giving away what is sure to be the hottest gift item this holiday season. On December 31st one lucky person will be selected at random to win an Xbox 360 with Kinect bundle, just for joining our mailing list.
If you are already a member of our mailing list, to enter, simply click on the link below to update your profile and select the Xbox giveaway.
ENTER HERE: http://ping.fm/XFR6H
Emily Smith of Eugene, Oregon
is the winner of the Geeks On Call iPad Giveaway. Geeks On Call would like to thank everyone who entered.
As Christmas is approaching we are excited to announce that we are giving away what is sure to be the hottest gift item this holiday season. On December 31st one lucky person will be selected at random to win an Xbox 360 with Kinect bundle, just for joining our mailing list.
If you are already a member of our mailing list, to enter, simply click on the link below to update your profile and select the Xbox giveaway.
ENTER HERE: http://ping.fm/XFR6H
Monday, November 8, 2010
15 days remain to enter the Geeks On Call free iPad giveaway. Winner to be announced on Black Friday. Enter here: http://ping.fm/nVYSc
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Experts warn of 'Boonana' Trojan threat to Macs
A new Trojan horse malware that affects Mac OS X has been uncovered by Macintosh Security site SecureMac.
The Trojan is called 'trojan.osx.boonana.a' and is being disguised as a video and distributed through social-networking sites such as Facebook. It appears on people's Facebook pages and may contain the text "Is this you in this video?" in the link. When the link is clicked, the Trojan runs a Java applet that downloads other files to the computer and automatically opens an installer.
The Trojan will then run in the background and appears to report system information to servers on the internet, leading to a potential breach of personal information. The Trojan also attempts to spread itself by sending spam email messages from the user's account.
http://ping.fm/4SaMj
The Trojan is called 'trojan.osx.boonana.a' and is being disguised as a video and distributed through social-networking sites such as Facebook. It appears on people's Facebook pages and may contain the text "Is this you in this video?" in the link. When the link is clicked, the Trojan runs a Java applet that downloads other files to the computer and automatically opens an installer.
The Trojan will then run in the background and appears to report system information to servers on the internet, leading to a potential breach of personal information. The Trojan also attempts to spread itself by sending spam email messages from the user's account.
http://ping.fm/4SaMj
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Don't forget to enter the free iPad giveaway for November. Winner to be announced on Black Friday. http://ping.fm/pSaUY
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Free iPad Giveaway
Visit http://ping.fm/GffLi to enter to win a free iPad. Winner to be announced on Black Friday.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Ballmer says Microsoft at work to rival iPad
REDMOND, Wash.--Acknowledging Apple's early success with the iPad, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer insisted Thursday that the software maker is hard at work on Windows-based tablets.
The Apple iPad: can Microsoft match it?
(Credit: Netflix)
"They'll be shipping as soon as they are ready," Ballmer said, offering few details on the products, which he said will come from partners, not Microsoft itself. "It is job one urgency. No one is sleeping at the switch."
Speaking to financial analysts, Ballmer said the goal is "not just to deliver products, but to deliver products that people want to buy."
As for Apple and the iPad, Ballmer said, "they've sold certainly more than I'd like them to have sold."
But he added that Microsoft has a lot of software knowledge and intellectual property from the decade it has spent in the tablet business. He said the task Microsoft faces is similar to the early days of the Netbook, when many of those machines were Linux-based. "We have got to make things happen," he said. "We're in the process of doing that as we speak. We're working with our hardware partners. We're tuning Windows 7."
Some designs will show up later this year, he said, adding that the devices will get a boost next year when Intel debuts its more power-efficient Oak Trail processor.
See also: How Microsoft foresaw--and still missed--the iPad
Update 2:38 p.m. PDT: In the question-and-answer session, talk again turned to tablets and Ballmer tried to be a little more clear on the plan, which he said will center around Windows 7 as opposed to Windows Phone and Intel rather than ARM processors, at least for the near term.
"We're coming," he said. "We're coming full guns. The operating system is called Windows."
He reiterated something he said earlier, which was that Microsoft won't allow hardware to be the limiting factor in its plans, saying that the company will design hardware where it needs to in order to have competitive products. "We will embrace what we need to embrace over time," he said.
As for timing, Ballmer said he wouldn't say if the devices would come really, really soon or pretty soon, but said, "It ain't a long time from now."
2:55: More talk on tablets in the Q and A.
"When you get your Windows 7 machine, it will print," Ballmer quipped. "Some people actually like to print every now and then."
But he said he isn't trying to minimize what Apple has done, noting they are always tough to compete against, albeit usually at the high-end of the market. As for Android in the tablet market, Ballmer said that if Microsoft can't compete against those devices: "Shame on us."
"Every day you have to prove yourself prove yourself," Ballmer said. "We'll prove ourselves."
Turner continued: "We're in it, we get it. Stay tuned."
by Ina Fried
The Apple iPad: can Microsoft match it?
(Credit: Netflix)
"They'll be shipping as soon as they are ready," Ballmer said, offering few details on the products, which he said will come from partners, not Microsoft itself. "It is job one urgency. No one is sleeping at the switch."
Speaking to financial analysts, Ballmer said the goal is "not just to deliver products, but to deliver products that people want to buy."
As for Apple and the iPad, Ballmer said, "they've sold certainly more than I'd like them to have sold."
But he added that Microsoft has a lot of software knowledge and intellectual property from the decade it has spent in the tablet business. He said the task Microsoft faces is similar to the early days of the Netbook, when many of those machines were Linux-based. "We have got to make things happen," he said. "We're in the process of doing that as we speak. We're working with our hardware partners. We're tuning Windows 7."
Some designs will show up later this year, he said, adding that the devices will get a boost next year when Intel debuts its more power-efficient Oak Trail processor.
See also: How Microsoft foresaw--and still missed--the iPad
Update 2:38 p.m. PDT: In the question-and-answer session, talk again turned to tablets and Ballmer tried to be a little more clear on the plan, which he said will center around Windows 7 as opposed to Windows Phone and Intel rather than ARM processors, at least for the near term.
"We're coming," he said. "We're coming full guns. The operating system is called Windows."
He reiterated something he said earlier, which was that Microsoft won't allow hardware to be the limiting factor in its plans, saying that the company will design hardware where it needs to in order to have competitive products. "We will embrace what we need to embrace over time," he said.
As for timing, Ballmer said he wouldn't say if the devices would come really, really soon or pretty soon, but said, "It ain't a long time from now."
2:55: More talk on tablets in the Q and A.
"When you get your Windows 7 machine, it will print," Ballmer quipped. "Some people actually like to print every now and then."
But he said he isn't trying to minimize what Apple has done, noting they are always tough to compete against, albeit usually at the high-end of the market. As for Android in the tablet market, Ballmer said that if Microsoft can't compete against those devices: "Shame on us."
"Every day you have to prove yourself prove yourself," Ballmer said. "We'll prove ourselves."
Turner continued: "We're in it, we get it. Stay tuned."
by Ina Fried
Monday, July 26, 2010
Rachel Maddow video: Bloch-ed case?
Bloch-ed case?
Meet Scott Bloch, formerly of the office of the special counsel. He did a wipe of his office computer after realizing he was being investigated. Despite a possible sentence of six months in jail for his misbehavior, he's now only likely looking instead at probation.
http://ping.fm/A75YM
Meet Scott Bloch, formerly of the office of the special counsel. He did a wipe of his office computer after realizing he was being investigated. Despite a possible sentence of six months in jail for his misbehavior, he's now only likely looking instead at probation.
http://ping.fm/A75YM
Friday, June 4, 2010
IM Made Easy
This venerable chat client upgrades with a retooled look and enough Preference control to satisfy even the most obsessive fans of customization. ICQ 6.5 includes video, audio, and text chat modes in a strong push to make the app the most versatile chat client around.
Audio chatting was smooth and painless, although that depends on user connection, of course. There's also a new Quick IM feature that allows you to send a text chat from within your contact list. The text window is only one line high, but perfectly sized if you're just shooting off a quick note.
Many of the notable plug-ins have been folded into the new version as standard features. Standard fare in ICQ now includes SMS messaging and the Flash-movie tZers as well as alerts and skins. Consequentially, the quick-loading app has a larger footprint. Ad banners are nonexistent except in the built-in games, and all text chat histories are automatically saved. Some features, like Push2Talk, seem to have been phased out of the new version, and customizing tZers is no longer an option. Also, the Help option is non-functional in this release.
Despite a few minor setbacks, there are too many improvements to keep ICQ down. Other notable additions include split-screen compatibility, IM forwarding, and integrated Google searching. In enhancing its already rich feature set, ICQ has definitely increased its standing among its many competitors.
Download Now:
http://ping.fm/AouWy
Audio chatting was smooth and painless, although that depends on user connection, of course. There's also a new Quick IM feature that allows you to send a text chat from within your contact list. The text window is only one line high, but perfectly sized if you're just shooting off a quick note.
Many of the notable plug-ins have been folded into the new version as standard features. Standard fare in ICQ now includes SMS messaging and the Flash-movie tZers as well as alerts and skins. Consequentially, the quick-loading app has a larger footprint. Ad banners are nonexistent except in the built-in games, and all text chat histories are automatically saved. Some features, like Push2Talk, seem to have been phased out of the new version, and customizing tZers is no longer an option. Also, the Help option is non-functional in this release.
Despite a few minor setbacks, there are too many improvements to keep ICQ down. Other notable additions include split-screen compatibility, IM forwarding, and integrated Google searching. In enhancing its already rich feature set, ICQ has definitely increased its standing among its many competitors.
Download Now:
http://ping.fm/AouWy
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Microsoft updating Windows Live apps
Microsoft on Wednesday outlined a series of improvements it's making to its Windows Live set of downloadable programs for managing photos and videos and keeping files in sync.
With no major update to Windows coming this year, Microsoft is counting on improvements to Windows Live to help boost the appeal of Windows for this year's holiday shopping season.
"We're refreshing Windows 7 with a new suite of apps," general manager Brian Hall said in a telephone interview.
The updates to Windows Live Photo Gallery, Windows Live Movie Maker, Windows Live Mail, and Windows Live Sync will go into beta in the coming months, Hall said, declining to be more specific.
The next version of the Windows Live Photo Gallery tool will add facial recognition abilities and improved editing tools for removing blemishes or scratches. Apple has had face detection in the most recent version of iPhoto, but until now Microsoft has only detected the presence of faces in shots, not tried to recognize who, exactly, was in the picture. Hall said Microsoft's face recognition features draw on the company's research efforts as well as tapping in to the user's existing network of social contacts to figure out who might be in a photo.
A new feature in Photo Gallery is aimed at making for better group shots by letting people create composites from different photos of the same group.
Another new feature in Photo Gallery is aimed at making for better group shots by letting people take multiple pictures and use one person's expression from one shot and another person's face in another shot, using technology to stitch together a composite image. The new software also allows photos that are uploaded and then tagged on Facebook to have those tags brought back into Photo Gallery.
With the updates, Hall insisted, "Windows is better for photos than a Mac, hands down."
The updates to Movie Maker include the ability to upload to Facebook, the ability to import photo caption data from Photo Gallery, and new themes.
Both programs will work with Windows Vista and Windows 7, but not the older Windows XP operating system.
On the Sync front, Microsoft is merging its existing Sync and folder sharing tools as well as the Live Mesh product that had been released as a technical preview. The new Windows Live Sync lets users share an unlimited amount of files in a peer-to-peer fashion among a number of Macs and PCs, but limits cloud storage to 2GB. Users of the Live Mesh preview had access to 5GB of cloud storage, though that was made available to a small number of people, while Hall said the new Sync tool is designed to scale to tens of millions or hundreds of millions of users.
The new tool lets users decide which folders are shared with which computers and which are shared to the cloud. Allowing for peer-to-peer sharing, Hall said, provides a means for people to keep their files in multiple places without handing over control of the data to a third party.
by Ina Fried
News from Geeks On Call – We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today’s world.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us today at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
With no major update to Windows coming this year, Microsoft is counting on improvements to Windows Live to help boost the appeal of Windows for this year's holiday shopping season.
"We're refreshing Windows 7 with a new suite of apps," general manager Brian Hall said in a telephone interview.
The updates to Windows Live Photo Gallery, Windows Live Movie Maker, Windows Live Mail, and Windows Live Sync will go into beta in the coming months, Hall said, declining to be more specific.
The next version of the Windows Live Photo Gallery tool will add facial recognition abilities and improved editing tools for removing blemishes or scratches. Apple has had face detection in the most recent version of iPhoto, but until now Microsoft has only detected the presence of faces in shots, not tried to recognize who, exactly, was in the picture. Hall said Microsoft's face recognition features draw on the company's research efforts as well as tapping in to the user's existing network of social contacts to figure out who might be in a photo.
A new feature in Photo Gallery is aimed at making for better group shots by letting people create composites from different photos of the same group.
Another new feature in Photo Gallery is aimed at making for better group shots by letting people take multiple pictures and use one person's expression from one shot and another person's face in another shot, using technology to stitch together a composite image. The new software also allows photos that are uploaded and then tagged on Facebook to have those tags brought back into Photo Gallery.
With the updates, Hall insisted, "Windows is better for photos than a Mac, hands down."
The updates to Movie Maker include the ability to upload to Facebook, the ability to import photo caption data from Photo Gallery, and new themes.
Both programs will work with Windows Vista and Windows 7, but not the older Windows XP operating system.
On the Sync front, Microsoft is merging its existing Sync and folder sharing tools as well as the Live Mesh product that had been released as a technical preview. The new Windows Live Sync lets users share an unlimited amount of files in a peer-to-peer fashion among a number of Macs and PCs, but limits cloud storage to 2GB. Users of the Live Mesh preview had access to 5GB of cloud storage, though that was made available to a small number of people, while Hall said the new Sync tool is designed to scale to tens of millions or hundreds of millions of users.
The new tool lets users decide which folders are shared with which computers and which are shared to the cloud. Allowing for peer-to-peer sharing, Hall said, provides a means for people to keep their files in multiple places without handing over control of the data to a third party.
by Ina Fried
News from Geeks On Call – We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today’s world.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us today at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
HP to cut 9,000 jobs, take $1 billion charge
Hewlett-Packard is spending $1 billion and cutting 9,000 jobs in a restructuring designed to consolidate and invigorate its enterprise services.
The company announced Tuesday that it plans to spend the money to invest in a series of commercial data centers that will offer enterprise customers a more integrated platform on which to run their businesses. The initiative will also consolidate HP's data centers, networks, and applications. But as a result of the increased streamlining and automation, HP expects to eliminate around 9,000 jobs over the next few years.
To pay for the enterprise restructuring, HP will take a charge of about $1 billion over an unspecified number of years that will be included in its financial results. Once the restructuring is complete, the company said it expects to save around $1 billion each year before taxes and between $500 million and $700 million after taxes.
"Over the past 20 months, we focused on integrating EDS and improving profitability," Tom Iannotti, senior vice president and general manager of HP Enterprise Services, said in a statement. "Now that the integration is largely complete, we have identified significant opportunities to grow and scale the business. These next-generation services will enable our clients to benefit from the combined technology and services leadership that only HP offers."
In its most recent quarter, HP reported revenue rising 13 percent to just over $30 billion, and earnings up as well to $1.09 per share, on what the company called "strong performance across every region." Even so, CEO Mark Hurd warned not to expect big spikes in corporate spending in the near future.
by Lance Whitney
News from Geeks On Call – We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today’s world.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us today at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
The company announced Tuesday that it plans to spend the money to invest in a series of commercial data centers that will offer enterprise customers a more integrated platform on which to run their businesses. The initiative will also consolidate HP's data centers, networks, and applications. But as a result of the increased streamlining and automation, HP expects to eliminate around 9,000 jobs over the next few years.
To pay for the enterprise restructuring, HP will take a charge of about $1 billion over an unspecified number of years that will be included in its financial results. Once the restructuring is complete, the company said it expects to save around $1 billion each year before taxes and between $500 million and $700 million after taxes.
"Over the past 20 months, we focused on integrating EDS and improving profitability," Tom Iannotti, senior vice president and general manager of HP Enterprise Services, said in a statement. "Now that the integration is largely complete, we have identified significant opportunities to grow and scale the business. These next-generation services will enable our clients to benefit from the combined technology and services leadership that only HP offers."
In its most recent quarter, HP reported revenue rising 13 percent to just over $30 billion, and earnings up as well to $1.09 per share, on what the company called "strong performance across every region." Even so, CEO Mark Hurd warned not to expect big spikes in corporate spending in the near future.
by Lance Whitney
News from Geeks On Call – We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today’s world.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us today at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
Friday, May 28, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Geeks On Call Vienna
Major sponsor for Viva! Vienna!, an annual fund raiser organized by The Vienna Rotary Club. Our sponsorship is for The Midway. This event, a time of family fun and pleasure, serves as a major fund raising opportunity for the Rotary Club so that it may, in turn, provide support for charitable, educational, and community groups the following year.
For more info, please visit - www.vivaviennava.org
For more info, please visit - www.vivaviennava.org
Does Microsoft need a Windows 7 slate?
Microsoft needs an answer to Apple's iPad and that should be some sort of Windows-based consumer tablet.
At least that is the position that analysis firm Forrester takes in a new report, which argues that tablets are "the next important computing form."
"To keep its products front and center, Microsoft needs a partner to produce a successful Windows tablet that competes with the Apple iPad," analysts JP Gownder and Sarah Rotman Epps said in a report released on Thursday. "At stake is nothing less than the future of the operating system."
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer showed off a Windows 7-based tablet prototype from Hewlett-Packard at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. HP produced several follow-up videos on the Slate, however that product's future has been thrown into severe doubt with HP's announced plans to buy Palm and use WebOS in a variety of devices.
The Forrester analysts argue that the strong early sales of the iPad show a market for a device that can play music and video, browse the Web and display e-books.
"After desktops, laptops, and Netbooks, tablets represent the next wave of mass-market consumer computing devices," the analysts said.
Of course, working with partners on a Windows 7-based device is not the only option for Redmond. It could wait until Windows Phone 7 is a little more fully baked and try to convince partners to use that as the basis for a tablet. That would make it less compatible with existing software, but could have advantages in power consumption, boot-up time and ease of use.
Microsoft could also build its own device from start to finish, using Windows 7, Windows Phone 7, or potentially some other software. That could allow for a more tightly integrated experience but runs the risk of further alienating partners. The company's recent decision to kill the Courier project suggests that Microsoft may have considered and rejected this option.
It's hard to argue with Forrester's basic premise though--that Microsoft needs an answer to the iPad and fast. Its experience trying to play catch-up in the phone and music player arenas shows just how hard it is these days to come from behind.
What's even more unfortunate for the crew in Redmond is the company had a decade head-start in tablets, but finds itself on the outside looking in as the market begins to take off.
And, as Forrester points out, the threat raised by the iPad isn't limited to just tablets, or coming just from Apple.
"Windows can't afford to cede ground on tablets--and not just out of fear that Apple is defining the next generation of computing device," the Forrester researchers said in their report. "Google, too, has its hungry eyes trained on Microsoft's plate and is pushing its Chrome OS as a consumer- and wallet-friendly solution for Netbooks."
by Ina Fried
News from Geeks On Call - We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today's world.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us today at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
At least that is the position that analysis firm Forrester takes in a new report, which argues that tablets are "the next important computing form."
"To keep its products front and center, Microsoft needs a partner to produce a successful Windows tablet that competes with the Apple iPad," analysts JP Gownder and Sarah Rotman Epps said in a report released on Thursday. "At stake is nothing less than the future of the operating system."
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer showed off a Windows 7-based tablet prototype from Hewlett-Packard at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. HP produced several follow-up videos on the Slate, however that product's future has been thrown into severe doubt with HP's announced plans to buy Palm and use WebOS in a variety of devices.
The Forrester analysts argue that the strong early sales of the iPad show a market for a device that can play music and video, browse the Web and display e-books.
"After desktops, laptops, and Netbooks, tablets represent the next wave of mass-market consumer computing devices," the analysts said.
Of course, working with partners on a Windows 7-based device is not the only option for Redmond. It could wait until Windows Phone 7 is a little more fully baked and try to convince partners to use that as the basis for a tablet. That would make it less compatible with existing software, but could have advantages in power consumption, boot-up time and ease of use.
Microsoft could also build its own device from start to finish, using Windows 7, Windows Phone 7, or potentially some other software. That could allow for a more tightly integrated experience but runs the risk of further alienating partners. The company's recent decision to kill the Courier project suggests that Microsoft may have considered and rejected this option.
It's hard to argue with Forrester's basic premise though--that Microsoft needs an answer to the iPad and fast. Its experience trying to play catch-up in the phone and music player arenas shows just how hard it is these days to come from behind.
What's even more unfortunate for the crew in Redmond is the company had a decade head-start in tablets, but finds itself on the outside looking in as the market begins to take off.
And, as Forrester points out, the threat raised by the iPad isn't limited to just tablets, or coming just from Apple.
"Windows can't afford to cede ground on tablets--and not just out of fear that Apple is defining the next generation of computing device," the Forrester researchers said in their report. "Google, too, has its hungry eyes trained on Microsoft's plate and is pushing its Chrome OS as a consumer- and wallet-friendly solution for Netbooks."
by Ina Fried
News from Geeks On Call - We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today's world.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us today at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Survey: Corporate PCs cluttered with malware
Despite the efforts of IT departments, many PCs in the corporate and government world are littered with unauthorized software, most notably malware, says application-whitelisting company Bit9.
The results of Bit9's "2010 What's Running on Your Users' Desktops?" survey, released Monday, uncovered PCs with a significant amount of non-business software, including games, toolbars, and torrent software. Of greater concern, IT pros surveyed also discovered malware, such as ransom-ware, Trojans, and Chinese spyware.
Among the 1,282 IT professionals questioned for the survey, 68 percent of them said they have software restrictions in place, but 45 percent said they still found unauthorized software on more than half of their client PCs.
Specifically, 46 percent of the IT folks surveyed said that spyware, malware, and unlicensed software continue to pose a problem by getting past traditional security methods. They also found that unauthorized or malicious software caused up to 25 percent of user downtime and calls to the help desk, leading to a drop in productivity. But 39 percent of the respondents also admitted they don't have a software usage policy that specifically prohibits employees from downloading their own software.
As a result, only 32 percent of the IT pros surveyed said they felt confident their businesses would be safe from damage caused by unauthorized or malicious software this year.
"The results from our survey once again underscore the need for companies to adopt a more proactive approach to endpoint security to prevent unauthorized software from being downloaded and running in their organizations," Tom Murphy, chief strategy officer for Bit9, said in a statement. "Rather than scrambling to react to the latest malicious piece of software--costing time and money--IT administrators need to ensure that only approved software will run in their enterprise. This is a business critical need confirmed by the large amount of respondents that are dealing with malware across their networks."
Now of course, Bit9 has a vested interest in the results of the survey since the company does sell whitelisting security products that help IT administrators lock down the applications their users can run.
But I know from my days in IT that keeping users from downloading and installing their own personal and sometimes harmful software is an ongoing challenge. People would download toolbars, torrent software, and other unauthorized programs and then complain when their PCs started to crash or slow down.
Cutting down on the amount of harmful software installed at a company has always required the right policies from IT but also the right cooperation from end users.
To learn more about the survey results, I spoke with Kate Munro, director of product marketing for Bit9. She said that this year's response from 1,282 IT folks was a big leap over last year when only 257 people answered the survey. The higher participation could be seen as a sign that IT people are more in tune with and naturally concerned about the malware threats surfacing today, said Munro.
She particularly noted IT concerns over the Advanced Persistent Threat, a buzzword that describes organized cyberattacks that specifically try to steal information from such sectors as financial services, manufacturing, and of course government.
Some of the non-malicious but still unauthorized software found on user PCs by IT included Skype, BitTorrent, and iTunes. Munro added that Skype can pose a problem when people use the personal version on their work PCs, since it doesn't have the same restrictions as the enterprise edition and relies on the user to keep it patched and properly updated.
Munro also said that malicious programs are being installed despite the best efforts of IT departments. Almost all of the participants said they deploy antivirus software on their network PCs. Many take away admin rights (which are typically needed to install a program), while others lock down the desktop using tools like Microsoft's Group Policy. But malware writers continue to sneak past security defenses to launch their payloads.
by Lance Whitney
News from Geeks On Call – We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today’s world.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us today at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
The results of Bit9's "2010 What's Running on Your Users' Desktops?" survey, released Monday, uncovered PCs with a significant amount of non-business software, including games, toolbars, and torrent software. Of greater concern, IT pros surveyed also discovered malware, such as ransom-ware, Trojans, and Chinese spyware.
Among the 1,282 IT professionals questioned for the survey, 68 percent of them said they have software restrictions in place, but 45 percent said they still found unauthorized software on more than half of their client PCs.
Specifically, 46 percent of the IT folks surveyed said that spyware, malware, and unlicensed software continue to pose a problem by getting past traditional security methods. They also found that unauthorized or malicious software caused up to 25 percent of user downtime and calls to the help desk, leading to a drop in productivity. But 39 percent of the respondents also admitted they don't have a software usage policy that specifically prohibits employees from downloading their own software.
As a result, only 32 percent of the IT pros surveyed said they felt confident their businesses would be safe from damage caused by unauthorized or malicious software this year.
"The results from our survey once again underscore the need for companies to adopt a more proactive approach to endpoint security to prevent unauthorized software from being downloaded and running in their organizations," Tom Murphy, chief strategy officer for Bit9, said in a statement. "Rather than scrambling to react to the latest malicious piece of software--costing time and money--IT administrators need to ensure that only approved software will run in their enterprise. This is a business critical need confirmed by the large amount of respondents that are dealing with malware across their networks."
Now of course, Bit9 has a vested interest in the results of the survey since the company does sell whitelisting security products that help IT administrators lock down the applications their users can run.
But I know from my days in IT that keeping users from downloading and installing their own personal and sometimes harmful software is an ongoing challenge. People would download toolbars, torrent software, and other unauthorized programs and then complain when their PCs started to crash or slow down.
Cutting down on the amount of harmful software installed at a company has always required the right policies from IT but also the right cooperation from end users.
To learn more about the survey results, I spoke with Kate Munro, director of product marketing for Bit9. She said that this year's response from 1,282 IT folks was a big leap over last year when only 257 people answered the survey. The higher participation could be seen as a sign that IT people are more in tune with and naturally concerned about the malware threats surfacing today, said Munro.
She particularly noted IT concerns over the Advanced Persistent Threat, a buzzword that describes organized cyberattacks that specifically try to steal information from such sectors as financial services, manufacturing, and of course government.
Some of the non-malicious but still unauthorized software found on user PCs by IT included Skype, BitTorrent, and iTunes. Munro added that Skype can pose a problem when people use the personal version on their work PCs, since it doesn't have the same restrictions as the enterprise edition and relies on the user to keep it patched and properly updated.
Munro also said that malicious programs are being installed despite the best efforts of IT departments. Almost all of the participants said they deploy antivirus software on their network PCs. Many take away admin rights (which are typically needed to install a program), while others lock down the desktop using tools like Microsoft's Group Policy. But malware writers continue to sneak past security defenses to launch their payloads.
by Lance Whitney
News from Geeks On Call – We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today’s world.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us today at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
Apple, Microsoft now on nearly equal footing
Apple has long been the little guy in the Mac vs. PC debate, but that's no longer the case.
As of trading on Tuesday, Microsoft and Apple both have roughly equal market capitalizations of around $230 billion. By another measure--adding in debt and other factors--Cupertino has actually surpassed Redmond in total value.
The fact that Apple has reached this level of valuation represents a remarkable turn of events in the history of computing.
Consider this: As recently as 1997, Michael Dell suggested Apple should just close up shop and return the money to shareholders. Today, Dell is worth barely a tenth as much as the Mac maker.
That same year, Apple had to accept a $150 million investment from Microsoft. Bill Gates famously appeared at Macworld via satellite, dwarfing the on-stage Steve Jobs as he announced the company's commitment to the Mac.
Of course, all that was before Mac OS X, the iPod, the iPhone and now the iPad. The Cube and Apple TV aside, Apple has had an incredible run of products over the last decade.
Macs still account for fewer than one in 10 computers sold, but its market share has increased significantly in recent years and the company has built a consumer juggernaut that extends well beyond the computer.
As for Microsoft, the company remains highly profitable, but investors and analysts alike are concerned that Microsoft remains dependent on its Office and Windows franchises for the lion's share of its profits. The company has poured billions into its cell phone, online advertising and other new businesses that have yet to really help the company's balance sheet.
Even its desktop franchises are seen as vulnerable in the longer term, particularly as Google aims to deliver many of the same capabilities through the browser.
by Ina Fried
News from Geeks On Call – We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today’s world.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us today at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
As of trading on Tuesday, Microsoft and Apple both have roughly equal market capitalizations of around $230 billion. By another measure--adding in debt and other factors--Cupertino has actually surpassed Redmond in total value.
The fact that Apple has reached this level of valuation represents a remarkable turn of events in the history of computing.
Consider this: As recently as 1997, Michael Dell suggested Apple should just close up shop and return the money to shareholders. Today, Dell is worth barely a tenth as much as the Mac maker.
That same year, Apple had to accept a $150 million investment from Microsoft. Bill Gates famously appeared at Macworld via satellite, dwarfing the on-stage Steve Jobs as he announced the company's commitment to the Mac.
Of course, all that was before Mac OS X, the iPod, the iPhone and now the iPad. The Cube and Apple TV aside, Apple has had an incredible run of products over the last decade.
Macs still account for fewer than one in 10 computers sold, but its market share has increased significantly in recent years and the company has built a consumer juggernaut that extends well beyond the computer.
As for Microsoft, the company remains highly profitable, but investors and analysts alike are concerned that Microsoft remains dependent on its Office and Windows franchises for the lion's share of its profits. The company has poured billions into its cell phone, online advertising and other new businesses that have yet to really help the company's balance sheet.
Even its desktop franchises are seen as vulnerable in the longer term, particularly as Google aims to deliver many of the same capabilities through the browser.
by Ina Fried
News from Geeks On Call – We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today’s world.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us today at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
Microsoft warns on Windows 7 upgrade tool
Parallels, known for using virtualization to solve consumer problems, thought it had a surefire new use for its technology.
Why not use the same approach it used to put Windows on a Mac to help ease the move from XP to Windows 7. The solution was elegant, helping users both make the move and even run older programs that weren't compatible with the new version of Windows. At first, the signs from Microsoft were encouraging; the company even invited Parallells to a Windows 7 momentum event in Paris to publicly talk about the program, Parallels Desktop Upgrade to Windows 7.
There was only one problem: the way the product works runs afoul of Microsoft's license rules, at least for most users. That's because the $50 software puts the user's old Windows XP system into a virtual machine, running alongside Windows 7, a concurrent use not allowed under most Windows licenses.
CNET raised the issue with both Microsoft and Parallels after learning about the product last month. Parallels said it is up to users to make sure they are in compliance with Redmond's terms. Microsoft, meanwhile, said it was talking with Parallels, but declined to publicly call out the company. Until now.
"Microsoft does not endorse moving the user's desktop from a physically loaded OS into a VM as a consumer solution, because the vast majority (more than 90 percent) of consumers do not license Windows under a license that would allow them to transfer Windows into a virtual machine, move Windows to a different machine, or run a secondary virtual machine that is not running XP Mode on the same machine," Microsoft's general manager, Gavriella Schuster, said in a statement to CNET. "Without these license rights, most consumers will not be properly licensing Windows when using the virtualization features of Parallels' product."
Schuster pointed out that enterprise customers with a Software Assurance contract covering Windows could properly use the software. Users who buy a full retail boxed copy of Windows (or possibly of both Windows XP and Windows 7), as opposed to the an upgrade version might also be properly licensed for the Parallels software.
For its part, Parallels continues to say it is up to users to make sure they are properly licensing Windows in conjunction with the upgrade tool.
"We require customers to verify they have the proper license," a Parallels representative said on Tuesday.
Microsoft suggested it is looking for a little more than that.
"Microsoft is working with Parallels to ensure that the Windows licensing requirements are made clear to customers in their product," Schuster said.
Despite the legal issues, Parallels' upgrade tool would appear to address an important need.
Although Windows 7 has proven popular, upgrading can be a hassle, requiring users to back up their data and programs, reinstall software, and then figure out what to do with programs that aren't compatible with the newer Windows.
A Parallels representative said on Tuesday that the product remains available for sale.
"It's out there," the representative said. "We're very excited about the product."
by Ina Fried
News from Geeks On Call – We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today’s world.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us today at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
Why not use the same approach it used to put Windows on a Mac to help ease the move from XP to Windows 7. The solution was elegant, helping users both make the move and even run older programs that weren't compatible with the new version of Windows. At first, the signs from Microsoft were encouraging; the company even invited Parallells to a Windows 7 momentum event in Paris to publicly talk about the program, Parallels Desktop Upgrade to Windows 7.
There was only one problem: the way the product works runs afoul of Microsoft's license rules, at least for most users. That's because the $50 software puts the user's old Windows XP system into a virtual machine, running alongside Windows 7, a concurrent use not allowed under most Windows licenses.
CNET raised the issue with both Microsoft and Parallels after learning about the product last month. Parallels said it is up to users to make sure they are in compliance with Redmond's terms. Microsoft, meanwhile, said it was talking with Parallels, but declined to publicly call out the company. Until now.
"Microsoft does not endorse moving the user's desktop from a physically loaded OS into a VM as a consumer solution, because the vast majority (more than 90 percent) of consumers do not license Windows under a license that would allow them to transfer Windows into a virtual machine, move Windows to a different machine, or run a secondary virtual machine that is not running XP Mode on the same machine," Microsoft's general manager, Gavriella Schuster, said in a statement to CNET. "Without these license rights, most consumers will not be properly licensing Windows when using the virtualization features of Parallels' product."
Schuster pointed out that enterprise customers with a Software Assurance contract covering Windows could properly use the software. Users who buy a full retail boxed copy of Windows (or possibly of both Windows XP and Windows 7), as opposed to the an upgrade version might also be properly licensed for the Parallels software.
For its part, Parallels continues to say it is up to users to make sure they are properly licensing Windows in conjunction with the upgrade tool.
"We require customers to verify they have the proper license," a Parallels representative said on Tuesday.
Microsoft suggested it is looking for a little more than that.
"Microsoft is working with Parallels to ensure that the Windows licensing requirements are made clear to customers in their product," Schuster said.
Despite the legal issues, Parallels' upgrade tool would appear to address an important need.
Although Windows 7 has proven popular, upgrading can be a hassle, requiring users to back up their data and programs, reinstall software, and then figure out what to do with programs that aren't compatible with the newer Windows.
A Parallels representative said on Tuesday that the product remains available for sale.
"It's out there," the representative said. "We're very excited about the product."
by Ina Fried
News from Geeks On Call – We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today’s world.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us today at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Google declares Chrome stable for Mac, Linux
Just shy of a year after releasing the first rough developer's build of its Chrome browser for the Mac, Google announced stable versions of Chrome for Mac and Linux, and upgraded the stable release of the browser to version 5. Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, Chrome v5.0.375.55 includes support for extensions and themes, improved bookmark management and synchronization, browser preferences syncing, and the most recent stable updates to Chrome's trailblazing JavaScript engine, V8.
Chrome's geolocation feature asks whether you want to permit a Web site to know your location.
The browser also offers several HTML5-based features, including geolocation APIs, App Cache, Web sockets, and attachment drag-and-drop in Gmail. Although Adobe's Flash player was integrated into the development versions of Chrome 5, it has been touch-and-go in the beta versions and has not yet made it to the stable release of Chrome 5. The developer's version is now on version 6.
Unlike previous stable versions of the browser, this is the first one that feels like it can stand on equal footing with Firefox. Although there are some anecdotal complaints about Chrome rendering Web pages improperly, these are the vast exception to the rule. The extension gallery has also now been around long enough to give it some depth, and offers more than 4,500 ways to tweak your browser experience. As with Firefox, overloading extensions will decrease browser stability in general.
In JavaScript-only benchmark tests from SunSpider, Chrome 5 performed about the same on a Mac as on a PC. On a Windows 7 x64 running on an Intel Core 2 Duo T6570 at 2.10 GHz, with 6GB of RAM, Chrome took an average of 413.13 milliseconds over three runs to complete the test. On a Mac running OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard on an Intel Core 2 Duo at 1.83 GHz, with 1GB RAM, the browser averaged 521.67 over three runs. Since Chrome landed on the browser scene in September 2008, its speed at page rendering has been its biggest selling point. It's now arguable that Chrome is the fastest browser out there, with increasingly tough competition from Opera, and Firefox's nightly builds on the horizon, but there's no doubt that it continues to be the driving force in accelerating browser page-load times.
The Mac version will only work on Intel-based Macs running OS X 10.5 Leopard or later. Somewhat annoyingly, Google will automatically upgrade Mac beta users to the stable version. Since there's no Chrome Channel Changer for Mac, you'll have to download the beta installer again to use that version. However, Mac users do finally get a full-screen mode, which had been previously unavailable in the beta.
There were also multiple security fixes introduced in Chrome 5, including two high-level repairs. One corrected possible URL bar spoofing from unload event handlers, and the other addressed incorrect JavaScript execution in extensions.
For users who've been playing around with the dev and beta versions of Chrome, these changes aren't new. The developer's channel was even elevated to version 6 last week, although not much was new in it. But with Chrome finally on stable footing that allows it to compete on all three major platforms, users shouldn't be surprised to see heightened efforts from Google to expand Chrome's user base.
by Seth Rosenblatt
News from Geeks On Call – We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today’s world.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us today at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
Chrome's geolocation feature asks whether you want to permit a Web site to know your location.
The browser also offers several HTML5-based features, including geolocation APIs, App Cache, Web sockets, and attachment drag-and-drop in Gmail. Although Adobe's Flash player was integrated into the development versions of Chrome 5, it has been touch-and-go in the beta versions and has not yet made it to the stable release of Chrome 5. The developer's version is now on version 6.
Unlike previous stable versions of the browser, this is the first one that feels like it can stand on equal footing with Firefox. Although there are some anecdotal complaints about Chrome rendering Web pages improperly, these are the vast exception to the rule. The extension gallery has also now been around long enough to give it some depth, and offers more than 4,500 ways to tweak your browser experience. As with Firefox, overloading extensions will decrease browser stability in general.
In JavaScript-only benchmark tests from SunSpider, Chrome 5 performed about the same on a Mac as on a PC. On a Windows 7 x64 running on an Intel Core 2 Duo T6570 at 2.10 GHz, with 6GB of RAM, Chrome took an average of 413.13 milliseconds over three runs to complete the test. On a Mac running OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard on an Intel Core 2 Duo at 1.83 GHz, with 1GB RAM, the browser averaged 521.67 over three runs. Since Chrome landed on the browser scene in September 2008, its speed at page rendering has been its biggest selling point. It's now arguable that Chrome is the fastest browser out there, with increasingly tough competition from Opera, and Firefox's nightly builds on the horizon, but there's no doubt that it continues to be the driving force in accelerating browser page-load times.
The Mac version will only work on Intel-based Macs running OS X 10.5 Leopard or later. Somewhat annoyingly, Google will automatically upgrade Mac beta users to the stable version. Since there's no Chrome Channel Changer for Mac, you'll have to download the beta installer again to use that version. However, Mac users do finally get a full-screen mode, which had been previously unavailable in the beta.
There were also multiple security fixes introduced in Chrome 5, including two high-level repairs. One corrected possible URL bar spoofing from unload event handlers, and the other addressed incorrect JavaScript execution in extensions.
For users who've been playing around with the dev and beta versions of Chrome, these changes aren't new. The developer's channel was even elevated to version 6 last week, although not much was new in it. But with Chrome finally on stable footing that allows it to compete on all three major platforms, users shouldn't be surprised to see heightened efforts from Google to expand Chrome's user base.
by Seth Rosenblatt
News from Geeks On Call – We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today’s world.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us today at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
AT&T offers free Wi-Fi in New York City
T&T is offering free public Wi-Fi hot spots to help it deal with increasing congestion on its wireless network.
On Tuesday, the company launched a free outdoor wireless hot spot in New York's Times Square. The pilot program will offer free Wi-Fi access to AT&T wireless and broadband customers using smartphones, laptops, and other Wi-Fi enabled devices. AT&T's Wi-Fi network is set up on the north side of Times Square on Seventh Avenue between 45th and 47th Streets.
The program is designed to see how Wi-Fi can help relieve wireless data congestion on AT&T's network. Customers with Wi-Fi-enabled devices will connect to the Wi-Fi network instead of AT&T's 3G network to access the Internet or Web-based applications. If all goes well, AT&T said it may expand the offering to other cities.
AT&T, the exclusive carrier in the U.S. for the iPhone, has been struggling to keep up with demand for data services on its network. The company has reported that due to new devices like the iPhone it's seen mobile data traffic grow on its network 5,000 percent in three years. The extra traffic, particularly in densely populated locales such as New York City and San Francisco, has caused problems for consumers in the way of dropped calls and slow Net access.
The telephone company has been investing in its network to improve capacity and network coverage. It's upgraded its backhaul networks, which connect the cell sites to its Internet backbone. It's added new Microcell devices that expand in-home coverage. And it's bulked up coverage in sports stadiums, convention halls and other areas where people congregate.
AT&T has also been using its more than 20,000 Wi-Fi hot spots throughout the country to offload some of the traffic. The company has offered free Wi-Fi access to its smartphone subscribers in the hopes that customers will use the Wi-Fi network when it's available rather than the slower 3G network. So far, the company has seen some success. In 2009, AT&T consumers connected to an AT&T Wi-Fi hot spot four times more often than they did in 2008, the company has said. And in the first quarter, AT&T handled 53.1 million Wi-Fi connections on its network, which is nearly five times higher than the same quarter last year.
One of the biggest advantages of Wi-Fi is that it's already in most devices. Laptops come with Wi-Fi pre-installed, and most new smartphones also come with Wi-Fi built in. It's also faster than a 3G network, so it offers subscribers a better experience.
Advancements in the technology, especially new features found in the latest version of Wi-Fi 802.11n, increase the range and speed of the networks. In urban areas, Wi-Fi hot spots now extend almost 2,000 feet, which is nearly as far as some cellular cell sites, according to Jeff Thompson, CEO of fixed wireless provider Towerstream.
by Marguerite Reardon
News from Geeks On Call – We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today’s world.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us today at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
On Tuesday, the company launched a free outdoor wireless hot spot in New York's Times Square. The pilot program will offer free Wi-Fi access to AT&T wireless and broadband customers using smartphones, laptops, and other Wi-Fi enabled devices. AT&T's Wi-Fi network is set up on the north side of Times Square on Seventh Avenue between 45th and 47th Streets.
The program is designed to see how Wi-Fi can help relieve wireless data congestion on AT&T's network. Customers with Wi-Fi-enabled devices will connect to the Wi-Fi network instead of AT&T's 3G network to access the Internet or Web-based applications. If all goes well, AT&T said it may expand the offering to other cities.
AT&T, the exclusive carrier in the U.S. for the iPhone, has been struggling to keep up with demand for data services on its network. The company has reported that due to new devices like the iPhone it's seen mobile data traffic grow on its network 5,000 percent in three years. The extra traffic, particularly in densely populated locales such as New York City and San Francisco, has caused problems for consumers in the way of dropped calls and slow Net access.
The telephone company has been investing in its network to improve capacity and network coverage. It's upgraded its backhaul networks, which connect the cell sites to its Internet backbone. It's added new Microcell devices that expand in-home coverage. And it's bulked up coverage in sports stadiums, convention halls and other areas where people congregate.
AT&T has also been using its more than 20,000 Wi-Fi hot spots throughout the country to offload some of the traffic. The company has offered free Wi-Fi access to its smartphone subscribers in the hopes that customers will use the Wi-Fi network when it's available rather than the slower 3G network. So far, the company has seen some success. In 2009, AT&T consumers connected to an AT&T Wi-Fi hot spot four times more often than they did in 2008, the company has said. And in the first quarter, AT&T handled 53.1 million Wi-Fi connections on its network, which is nearly five times higher than the same quarter last year.
One of the biggest advantages of Wi-Fi is that it's already in most devices. Laptops come with Wi-Fi pre-installed, and most new smartphones also come with Wi-Fi built in. It's also faster than a 3G network, so it offers subscribers a better experience.
Advancements in the technology, especially new features found in the latest version of Wi-Fi 802.11n, increase the range and speed of the networks. In urban areas, Wi-Fi hot spots now extend almost 2,000 feet, which is nearly as far as some cellular cell sites, according to Jeff Thompson, CEO of fixed wireless provider Towerstream.
by Marguerite Reardon
News from Geeks On Call – We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today’s world.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us today at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
Monday, May 24, 2010
Microsoft allows outsiders to peek inside Outlook
Microsoft announced on Monday two open-source projects that let developers view data from Outlook without the need for the e-mail and calendar program itself.
One is a software development kit for reading the .pst files that Outlook uses to save personal files; the other is a graphical tool for viewing the internal data structure of the .pst files.
"Combined, the documentation and tools advance interoperability with data stored in .pst files, reflecting customer requests for greater access to data stored and shared in digital formats generated by Microsoft Outlook and for enhanced data portability," Microsoft said on its interoperability Web site.
Both tools are posted under an Apache 2.0 license on the CodePlex site.
The move builds on Microsoft's announcement last October to open up Outlook's .pst file format.. The documentation itself was posted in February. Microsoft said the new graphical tool released Monday will offer a better understanding of the documentation released in October.
by Ina Fried
News from Geeks On Call - We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today's world.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us today at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
One is a software development kit for reading the .pst files that Outlook uses to save personal files; the other is a graphical tool for viewing the internal data structure of the .pst files.
"Combined, the documentation and tools advance interoperability with data stored in .pst files, reflecting customer requests for greater access to data stored and shared in digital formats generated by Microsoft Outlook and for enhanced data portability," Microsoft said on its interoperability Web site.
Both tools are posted under an Apache 2.0 license on the CodePlex site.
The move builds on Microsoft's announcement last October to open up Outlook's .pst file format.. The documentation itself was posted in February. Microsoft said the new graphical tool released Monday will offer a better understanding of the documentation released in October.
by Ina Fried
News from Geeks On Call - We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today's world.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us today at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
Keep Your Family Safe On The Internet
Geeks On Call is Committed to Keeping Our Children Safe Online by making our Parents Guide to Internet Safety available as a Free Public Service.
The Parents Guide to Internet Safety was created for parents to help them understand how to protect their children’s personal safety from sexual and other predators, cyber-bullies, pornography/inappropriate material. It also helps to protect their technological safety from digital threats that may cause computer damage, data loss, or identity theft, e.g., viruses, worms, spyware and hackers. We urge everyone to share it with their families, friends, schools, churches and civic organizations.
Protection For Your Family
Each year more and more people are using the internet to share information. From family photos and homework to banking and retirement planning there is no shortage of information on the internet. At the same time viruses, spyware, and identity theft have become all too common on the internet. Child predation on the internet is also growing at an alarming rate. The Technicians at Geeks On Call are have the knowledge and the tools to help keep your data and most importantly your family safe as you become more reliant on technology.
To download your free Parent’s Gude to Internet Safety now, visit www.geeksoncall.com
Geeks On Call is Committed to Keeping Our Children Safe Online by making our Parents Guide to Internet Safety available as a Free Public Service.
The Parents Guide to Internet Safety was created for parents to help them understand how to protect their children’s personal safety from sexual and other predators, cyber-bullies, pornography/inappropriate material. It also helps to protect their technological safety from digital threats that may cause computer damage, data loss, or identity theft, e.g., viruses, worms, spyware and hackers. We urge everyone to share it with their families, friends, schools, churches and civic organizations.
Protection For Your Family
Each year more and more people are using the internet to share information. From family photos and homework to banking and retirement planning there is no shortage of information on the internet. At the same time viruses, spyware, and identity theft have become all too common on the internet. Child predation on the internet is also growing at an alarming rate. The Technicians at Geeks On Call are have the knowledge and the tools to help keep your data and most importantly your family safe as you become more reliant on technology.
To download your free Parent’s Gude to Internet Safety now, visit www.geeksoncall.com
Download your free Parent?s Gude to Internet Safety
Keep Your Family Safe On The Internet
Geeks On Call is Committed to Keeping Our Children Safe Online by making our Parents Guide to Internet Safety available as a Free Public Service.
The Parents Guide to Internet Safety was created for parents to help them understand how to protect their children’s personal safety from sexual and other predators, cyber-bullies, pornography/inappropriate material. It also helps to protect their technological safety from digital threats that may cause computer damage, data loss, or identity theft, e.g., viruses, worms, spyware and hackers. We urge everyone to share it with their families, friends, schools, churches and civic organizations.
Protection For Your Family
Each year more and more people are using the internet to share information. From family photos and homework to banking and retirement planning there is no shortage of information on the internet. At the same time viruses, spyware, and identity theft have become all too common on the internet. Child predation on the internet is also growing at an alarming rate. The Technicians at Geeks On Call are have the knowledge and the tools to help keep your data and most importantly your family safe as you become more reliant on technology.
Download your free Parent’s Gude to Internet Safety now, visit www.geeksoncall.com
Geeks On Call is Committed to Keeping Our Children Safe Online by making our Parents Guide to Internet Safety available as a Free Public Service.
The Parents Guide to Internet Safety was created for parents to help them understand how to protect their children’s personal safety from sexual and other predators, cyber-bullies, pornography/inappropriate material. It also helps to protect their technological safety from digital threats that may cause computer damage, data loss, or identity theft, e.g., viruses, worms, spyware and hackers. We urge everyone to share it with their families, friends, schools, churches and civic organizations.
Protection For Your Family
Each year more and more people are using the internet to share information. From family photos and homework to banking and retirement planning there is no shortage of information on the internet. At the same time viruses, spyware, and identity theft have become all too common on the internet. Child predation on the internet is also growing at an alarming rate. The Technicians at Geeks On Call are have the knowledge and the tools to help keep your data and most importantly your family safe as you become more reliant on technology.
Download your free Parent’s Gude to Internet Safety now, visit www.geeksoncall.com
HP Expands Laptop Battery Recall
Hewlett-Packard has expanded a worldwide recall of lithium ion batteries in some HP and Compaq notebooks to include an additional 54,000 units.
The batteries, made in China, can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
notebook service tag
HP originally recalled 70,000 batteries in May 2009, following two separate reports of batteries that "overheated and ruptured, resulting in flames/fire that caused minor property damage" but no injuries.
Since then, HP has received 38 additional reports of batteries that overheated and ruptured, resulting in 11 instances of minor injury and 31 instances of minor property damage, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The recall affects models manufactured between August 2007 and March 2008 and sold at computer and electronics stores nationwide, as well as online at hp.com and hpshopping.com. To reduce the likelihood of problems, HP suggests consumers stop using their battery pack immediately until they've determined whether it's among those affected by the recall.
Consumers with recalled batteries will receive a free replacement. For additional information, visit the HP Battery Replacement Program Web site or call 888-202-4320 between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. PDT Monday through Friday.
We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today's world. As your Part-Time IT Department, Geeks On Call delivers on-demand, on-site computer and network services that are convenient and reliable. Our commitment to world-class customer service has made us the most respected on-site computer repair and support provider in the nation.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
Hewlett-Packard has expanded a worldwide recall of lithium ion batteries in some HP and Compaq notebooks to include an additional 54,000 units.
The batteries, made in China, can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
notebook service tag
HP originally recalled 70,000 batteries in May 2009, following two separate reports of batteries that "overheated and ruptured, resulting in flames/fire that caused minor property damage" but no injuries.
Since then, HP has received 38 additional reports of batteries that overheated and ruptured, resulting in 11 instances of minor injury and 31 instances of minor property damage, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The recall affects models manufactured between August 2007 and March 2008 and sold at computer and electronics stores nationwide, as well as online at hp.com and hpshopping.com. To reduce the likelihood of problems, HP suggests consumers stop using their battery pack immediately until they've determined whether it's among those affected by the recall.
Consumers with recalled batteries will receive a free replacement. For additional information, visit the HP Battery Replacement Program Web site or call 888-202-4320 between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. PDT Monday through Friday.
We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today's world. As your Part-Time IT Department, Geeks On Call delivers on-demand, on-site computer and network services that are convenient and reliable. Our commitment to world-class customer service has made us the most respected on-site computer repair and support provider in the nation.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
HP Expands Laptop Battery Recall
Hewlett-Packard has expanded a worldwide recall of lithium ion batteries in some HP and Compaq notebooks to include an additional 54,000 units.
The batteries, made in China, can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
notebook service tag
HP originally recalled 70,000 batteries in May 2009, following two separate reports of batteries that "overheated and ruptured, resulting in flames/fire that caused minor property damage" but no injuries.
Since then, HP has received 38 additional reports of batteries that overheated and ruptured, resulting in 11 instances of minor injury and 31 instances of minor property damage, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The recall affects models manufactured between August 2007 and March 2008 and sold at computer and electronics stores nationwide, as well as online at hp.com and hpshopping.com. To reduce the likelihood of problems, HP suggests consumers stop using their battery pack immediately until they've determined whether it's among those affected by the recall.
Consumers with recalled batteries will receive a free replacement. For additional information, visit the HP Battery Replacement Program Web site or call 888-202-4320 between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. PDT Monday through Friday.
We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today's world. As your Part-Time IT Department, Geeks On Call delivers on-demand, on-site computer and network services that are convenient and reliable. Our commitment to world-class customer service has made us the most respected on-site computer repair and support provider in the nation.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
The batteries, made in China, can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
notebook service tag
HP originally recalled 70,000 batteries in May 2009, following two separate reports of batteries that "overheated and ruptured, resulting in flames/fire that caused minor property damage" but no injuries.
Since then, HP has received 38 additional reports of batteries that overheated and ruptured, resulting in 11 instances of minor injury and 31 instances of minor property damage, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The recall affects models manufactured between August 2007 and March 2008 and sold at computer and electronics stores nationwide, as well as online at hp.com and hpshopping.com. To reduce the likelihood of problems, HP suggests consumers stop using their battery pack immediately until they've determined whether it's among those affected by the recall.
Consumers with recalled batteries will receive a free replacement. For additional information, visit the HP Battery Replacement Program Web site or call 888-202-4320 between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. PDT Monday through Friday.
We specialize in providing the computer and network support that is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to succeed in today's world. As your Part-Time IT Department, Geeks On Call delivers on-demand, on-site computer and network services that are convenient and reliable. Our commitment to world-class customer service has made us the most respected on-site computer repair and support provider in the nation.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Visit us online at www.geeksoncall.com or call us at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
Friday, May 21, 2010
$25 OFF* - This Weekend Only (5/21 - 5/23)
PROMO CODE: PING-521
Call us today for all of your computer repair and service needs. We are the nation's premier on-site computer repair service provider for your home and business.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Call us at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
* Offer applies to visits of a minimum of one hour. Participating franchises only. Call for full details.
PROMO CODE: PING-521
Call us today for all of your computer repair and service needs. We are the nation's premier on-site computer repair service provider for your home and business.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Call us at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
* Offer applies to visits of a minimum of one hour. Participating franchises only. Call for full details.
$25 OFF* - This Weekend Only (5/21 - 5/23)
PROMO CODE: PING-521
Call us today for all of your computer repair and service needs. We are the nation's premier on-site computer repair service provider for your home and business.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Call us at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
* Offer applies to visits of a minimum of one hour. Participating franchises only. Call for full details.
Call us today for all of your computer repair and service needs. We are the nation's premier on-site computer repair service provider for your home and business.
We look forward to becoming your trusted advisor for all your technology needs. Call us at 1-800-905-GEEK. (1-800-905-4335)
* Offer applies to visits of a minimum of one hour. Participating franchises only. Call for full details.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Important Parental Control Google Feature, Safe Search
The SafeSearch setting you select on the Search settings page applies to anyone using the same Web browser and computer as you. If you have a Google Account, you can lock the setting so that other users of the computer don't change it.
Watch the video below to learn more about locking SafeSearch.
You can tell at a glance if the lock is engaged
When the SafeSearch lock is on, the top of the search results page looks different in two ways: 'SafeSearch is locked' is displayed below the search box, and the colored balls appear on the right. The results page is designed to look different enough that you can immediately tell whether the lock is on or off -- even from across the room.
Results page when locked
Follow these steps to lock SafeSearch:
1. Visit the Search settings page.
2. Click Lock SafeSearch below the filter levels.
3. If you're not signed in to your Google Account, you'll be prompted to sign in.
(Don't have a Google Account? You can create one.)
4. Once you're signed in, click Lock SafeSearch. This step takes a moment,
because strict filtering is being applied to all Google domains.
5. You'll see a confirmation page once the lock is engaged.
Tips about browsers and settings
* If you have more than one browser on your computer,
you need to set the lock on each one individually.
* If your computer has more than one user profile (for example, a family
computer), you need to set the lock on each appropriate profile.
* Make sure your browser is set to allow cookies.
Using Safari? You may need to change the default setting and enable third-party cookies for the lock to work.
Watch the video below to learn more about locking SafeSearch.
You can tell at a glance if the lock is engaged
When the SafeSearch lock is on, the top of the search results page looks different in two ways: 'SafeSearch is locked' is displayed below the search box, and the colored balls appear on the right. The results page is designed to look different enough that you can immediately tell whether the lock is on or off -- even from across the room.
Results page when locked
Follow these steps to lock SafeSearch:
1. Visit the Search settings page.
2. Click Lock SafeSearch below the filter levels.
3. If you're not signed in to your Google Account, you'll be prompted to sign in.
(Don't have a Google Account? You can create one.)
4. Once you're signed in, click Lock SafeSearch. This step takes a moment,
because strict filtering is being applied to all Google domains.
5. You'll see a confirmation page once the lock is engaged.
Tips about browsers and settings
* If you have more than one browser on your computer,
you need to set the lock on each one individually.
* If your computer has more than one user profile (for example, a family
computer), you need to set the lock on each appropriate profile.
* Make sure your browser is set to allow cookies.
Using Safari? You may need to change the default setting and enable third-party cookies for the lock to work.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Expert Explains Webcam Spying Software
An expert from Geeks on Call explains how software used to turn on your webcam into a spying device.
NBC Philadelphia - Tracy Davidson
NBC Philadelphia - Tracy Davidson
Click Here To Chat With A Representative Now
Call us today 1-800-905-GEEK (4335) or visit us online www.geeksoncall.com
Friday, February 19, 2010
Zeus Trojan found on 74,000 PCs in global botnet
More than 74,000 PCs at nearly 2,500 organizations around the globe were compromised over the past year and a half in a botnet infestation designed to steal login credentials to bank sites, social networks, and e-mail systems, a security firm said Wednesday.
The systems were infected with the Zeus Trojan and the botnet was dubbed “Kneber” after a username that linked the infected PCs on corporate and government systems, according to NetWitness.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Merck, Cardinal Health, Paramount Pictures, and Juniper Networks were among the targets in the attack. NetWitness speculated that criminals in Eastern Europe using a command-and-control server in Germany sent attachments containing the malware in e-mails or links to the malware on Web sites that employees within the companies clicked on.
NetWitness said it discovered more than 75 gigabytes worth of stolen data during routine analytic tasks as part of an evaluation of a client network on January 26. The cache of stolen data included 68,000 corporate login credentials, access to e-mail systems, online banking sites, Facebook, Yahoo, Hotmail, 2,000 SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate files and data on individuals, NetWitness said in a statement and in a whitepaper available for download from its Web site.
In addition to stealing specific data, Zeus can be used to search for and steal any file on the computer, download and execute programs and allow someone to remotely control the computer.
More than half of the compromised machines were also infected with peer-to-peer bot malware called Waledac, the company said. Nearly 200 countries were affected, with most of the infections found in Egypt, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United States.
The news comes after Google announced an attack targeting it and what is believed to be more than 30 other companies and which was linked back to China. McAfee dubbed that attack “Operation Aurora.”
“While Operation Aurora shed light on advanced threats from sponsored adversaries, the number of compromised companies and organizations pales in comparison to this single botnet,” said Amit Yoran, chief executive of NetWitness and former Director of the National Cyber Security Division. “These large-scale compromises of enterprise networks have reached epidemic levels.”
February 17, 2010 6:59 PM PST
by Elinor Mills
Click Here To Chat With A Representative Now
Call us today 1-800-905-GEEK (4335) or visit us online www.geeksoncall.com
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Broad New Hacking Attack Detected
Global Offensive Snagged Corporate, Personal Data at nearly 2,500 Companies; Operation Is Still Running
Hackers in Europe and China successfully broke into computers at nearly 2,500 companies and government agencies over the last 18 months in a coordinated global attack that exposed vast amounts of personal and corporate secrets to theft, according to a computer-security company that discovered the breach.
The damage from the latest cyberattack is still being assessed, and affected companies are still being notified. But data compiled by NetWitness, the closely held firm that discovered the breaches, showed that hackers gained access to a wide array of data at 2,411 companies, from credit-card transactions to intellectual property.
The hacking operation, the latest of several major hacks that have raised alarms for companies and government officials, is still running and it isn’t clear to what extent it has been contained, NetWitness said. Also unclear is the full amount of data stolen and how it was used. Two companies that were infiltrated, pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. and Cardinal Health Inc., said they had isolated and contained the problem.
Starting in late 2008, hackers operating a command center in Germany got into corporate networks by enticing employees to click on contaminated Web sites, email attachments or ads purporting to clean up viruses, NetWitness found.
In more than 100 cases, the hackers gained access to corporate servers that store large quantities of business data, such as company files, databases and email.
They also broke into computers at 10 U.S. government agencies. In one case, they obtained the user name and password of a soldier’s military email account, NetWitness found. A Pentagon spokesman said the military didn’t comment on specific threats or intrusions.
At one company, the hackers gained access to a corporate server used for processing online credit-card payments. At others, stolen passwords provided access to computers used to store and swap proprietary corporate documents, presentations, contracts and even upcoming versions of software products, NetWitness said.
Data stolen from another U.S. company pointed to an employee’s apparent involvement in criminal activities; authorities have been called in to investigate, NetWitness said. Criminal groups have used such information to extort sensitive information from employees in the past.
The spyware used in this attack allows hackers to control computers remotely, said Amit Yoran, chief executive of NetWitness. NetWitness engineer Alex Cox said he uncovered the scheme Jan. 26 while installing technology for a large corporation to hunt for cyberattacks.
That discovery points to the growing number of attacks in recent years that have drafted computers into cyber armies known as botnets—intrusions not blocked by standard antivirus software. Researchers estimate millions of computers are conscripted into these armies.
“It highlights the weaknesses in cyber security right now,” said Adam Meyers, a senior engineer at government contractor SRA International Inc. who reviewed the NetWitness data. “If you’re a Fortune 500 company or a government agency or a home DSL user, you could be successfully victimized.”
Disclosure of the attack comes on the heels of Google Inc.’s allegation that it and more than 20 other companies were breached by Chinese hackers. This operation appears to be more far-reaching, infiltrating some 75,000 computers and touching 196 countries. The highest concentrations of infected computers are in Egypt, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the U.S.
NetWitness, based in Herndon, Va., said it was sharing information with the companies infected. Mr. Yoran declined to name them. The company provides computer security for U.S. government agencies and companies. Mr. Yoran is a former Air Force officer who also served as cyber security chief at the Department of Homeland Security.
Besides Merck and Cardinal Health, people familiar with the attack named several other companies infiltrated, including Paramount Pictures and software company Juniper Networks Inc.
Merck said in a statement that one computer had been infected. It said it had isolated the attack and that “no sensitive information was compromised.”
Cardinal said it removed the infected computer from its network. Paramount declined to comment. Juniper’s security chief, Barry Greene, wouldn’t speak about any specific incidents but said the company worked aggressively to counter infections.
Journal CommunityDISCUSS
“The key is not to pour money into protecting information, but to develop a global approach to neutralizing its value. By creating secrets, we have created value, which is pursued by opportunists. ”
—John M. Brock
NetWitness, which does extensive work for the U.S. government and private-sector clients, said it was sharing its information with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI said it received numerous allegations about potential compromises of network systems and responded promptly, in coordination with law-enforcement partners.
The computers were infected with spyware called ZeuS, which is available free on the Internet in its basic form. It works with the FireFox browser, according to computer-security firm SecureWorks. This version included a $2,000 feature that works with FireFox, according to SecureWorks.
Evidence suggests an Eastern European criminal group is behind the operation, likely using some computers in China because it’s easier to operate there without being caught, said NetWitness’s Mr. Yoran.
There are some electronic fingerprints suggesting the same group was behind a recent effort to dupe government officials and others into downloading spyware via emails purporting to be from the National Security Agency and the U.S. military, NetWitness’s Mr. Yoran said.
That attack was described in a Feb. 5 report from the Department of Homeland Security, which said it was issuing an alert to the government and other organizations to “prevent further compromises.”
A DHS official said that ZeuS was among the top five reported tools for malware infections.
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Call us today 1-800-905-GEEK (4335) or visit us online www.geeksoncall.com
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Geeks On Call Strengthens Its Position Since Acquisition
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Since the late-fall acquisition by On Call Holdings International, LLC (OCHI), Geeks On Call has reorganized, refocused and is methodically expanding its reach of businesses and the services it provides.
"We will be the premiere provider for small and medium-sized businesses for both technical support and telecommunications services," announced OCHI CEO Glenn Davis. "The Geeks On Call brand will continue to provide expert assistance for the individual user, but the partnerships we've created will expand services for business telecom needs." Davis has revamped the Geeks On Call website, www.geeksoncall.com, to make it more interactive and user friendly.
Davis was the President of Comverge, a successful telecommunications firm based in Hampton Roads, Virginia, which has provided business telecom services for the past eight years. He initiated the Geeks On Call acquisition with the goals of returning the organization to profitability, renewing the partnership and connection with franchisees, and growing the business model to a more modern marketplace. The deal included all of the franchise agreements, trademarks and brand of Geeks On Call.
"It's honestly a case study of how to make a deal to turn a company around," explained Davis. "But the hardest work was to restore confidence of our franchisees."
Goal number one was to repair, strengthen and reenergize the existing 129 franchises, and earn their trust in Davis' business model and his plans for profitability. To date, franchisees have been excited and positive about the new leadership and the positive direction. In just a few short months, Geeks On Call has grown to 190 franchises.
On Call Holding International's next step will be to maximize existing partnerships to grow Geeks On Call into servicing small and medium-size businesses with technical support and telecommunications services.
It's a part of business services that Davis' team knows all too well. "I thought the marriage of the Geeks On Call technical expertise and our experience in business telecom was a natural fit," explained Davis.
Leveraging partnerships with companies like Qwest, ACC - an AT&T company, Paetec and Cavalier Telephone will bring substantial benefits to clients. Geeks On Call plans to consider additional franchisees by the end of the second quarter.
CONTACT: Brian Kirwin, +1-757-718-3225, brian@rourkpr.com, for Geeks On Call
SOURCE Geeks On Call
RELATED LINKShttp://www.geeksoncall.com/
Monday, February 15, 2010
'Why Firefox?' and 'Why Windows?'--same answer?
Is Mozilla becoming too much like Microsoft?
In a strange bit of irony, Mozilla, the foundation behind the popular open-source Firefox browser, increasingly relies on Microsoft's playbook to promote Firefox adoption. No, Mozilla executives aren't secretly plotting an open-source monopoly to replace Microsoft's, and, indeed, are focusing precisely on doing the opposite.
But the answer to the "Why Firefox?" question increasingly sounds the same as the answer to "Why Windows?"
Two peas in a pod?
I've been using Google's Chrome browser on Linux, Mac, and Windows during the past week and it screams. While Firefox hogs system resources, Google Chrome gets its job done much faster and with far fewer resources.
So why do I continue to promote Firefox? For the same reason and in the same way that Mozilla does: community.
There's more to Mozilla's marketing, of course. Mozilla executive Mitchell Baker talks urgently and eloquently about the importance of an open Web, served by a community-driven, completely open browser.
But at its foundation, Mozilla's argument sounds eerily similar to Microsoft's: we may not be faster, but we have a better community.
After using Chrome for a week, I'm not sure this will be enough. Chrome, after all, has support for the Firefox extensions that I care most about (like AdBlock), and it has internalized others within its standard features (like "Pin tab" instead of relying on Faviconize, as I do in Firefox). And Chrome marries these to a super-fast browsing experience.
Microsoft for years has argued that it's better simply because it has broad application support.
This is a compelling differentiator, but is it the one that we really want for Firefox?
I know I don't. I love the Firefox browser. It has been my preferred browser for years, and I expect it to remain such.
But however much I may prefer Firefox because of its third-party extension support and its cross-platform approach, it's not going to be enough if Chrome pulls significantly ahead in performance and catches up with add-on support. Not while Firefox consumes so much of my system resources and follows, rather than leads, Google in speed.
Mozilla has been improving Firefox performance, but not as rapidly as Google has been increasing Chrome's, in my experience. This needs to change.
Community is a compelling differentiator for Firefox. But it's not the only one, and it may not be enough if Mozilla doesn't leverage that community to outpace Google Chrome performance.
February 15, 2010 11:21 AM PST
Friday, January 29, 2010
Google still thinks it can change China
After all the posturing of the past few weeks, Google CEO Eric Schmidt apparently still thinks that his company can change China.
In comments at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Schmidt continued to soften his rhetoric toward the government of China, which Google all but accused of orchestrating a cyberattack that resulted in the theft of intellectual property. "We like what China is doing in terms of growth...we just don't like censorship. We hope that will change and we can apply some pressure to make things better for the Chinese people," Schmidt said, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.
Google is trying to determine the future scope of its presence in China. Two weeks ago it declared that unless Google was allowed to offer an uncensored search engine in China, it would shut down its existing censored search engine and would consider pulling out of China entirely. Since then, Google has appeared to try and find middle ground between itself and the Chinese government.
"We like the Chinese people. We like our Chinese employees," Schmidt said last week on Google's fourth-quarter earnings call. "We remain committed to being there." On the same day, however, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised Google for standing up against censorship and told Internet companies that they have a "shared responsibility" with the U.S. government in ensuring free access to the Internet for the world.
It seems unlikely that Google's ultimatum really will change Chinese censorship laws, but stranger things have happened. Google is believed to be discussing its options in China, which could involve maintaining a software-development or research presence even if Google.cn disappears.
by Tom Krazit
January 29, 2010 11:03 AM PST
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Microsoft's bottom line gets a Windows 7 boost
With a boost from the release of Windows 7, Microsoft on Thursday said that its quarterly revenue topped $19 billion as the company sold a record number of copies of its operating system.
The software maker said it earned $6.66 billion, or 74 cents per share, on revenue of $19.02 billion for the three-month period that ended December 31. Those results included revenue deferred from the prior quarter, as the company was preparing for Windows 7 and offering free upgrades to those who bought Windows Vista-based computers. Excluding the deferred revenue, Microsoft said it had revenue of $17.31 billion, and diluted earnings per share would have totaled 60 cents per share.
"Exceptional demand for Windows 7 led to the positive top-line growth for the company," chief financial officer Peter Klein said in a statement. "Our continuing commitment to managing costs allowed us to drive earnings performance ahead of the revenue growth."
Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner touted the record quarter for Windows unit sales, spurred by the Oct. 22 launch of Windows 7. "We are thrilled by the consumer reception to Windows 7 and by business enthusiasm to adopt Windows 7," he said in a statement.
The company said that through the end of December it had sold more than 60 million Windows 7 licenses, which it said made Windows 7 the fastest selling operating system in history.
In October, Microsoft reported better-than-expected sales, also boosted by stronger demand for Windows.
The company said overall PC sales grew 15 percent to 17 percent in the quarter, although that was led by a 20 percent growth in consumer sales as the business market remained roughly flat. The market for new servers remained weak, down slightly year over year, although Microsoft's server and tools business unit managed to grow revenue 2 percent as compared with a year ago.
Microsoft's online unit saw its revenue dip 5 percent, led by a 2 percent drop in online advertising, although the company noted that its Bing search engine continues to gain market share.
The Microsoft Business Division, which includes Office, saw sales off 3 percent, perhaps as customers await this year's launch of Office 2010.
On the Xbox side, Microsoft said it sold 5.2 million consoles during the quarter, down 13 percent from a year ago, leading the entertainment and devices unit to post a double-digit decline in revenue.
The company didn't give a full forecast for the coming quarter, saying it would have more to say on a 2:30 p.m. PST conference call. It did tell analysts to expect operating expenses for the full fiscal year ending June 30 to total $26.2 billion to $26.5 billion.
Here's a chart of how each of Microsoft's individual business units performed:
Update 2:40 p.m. PT: On its conference call, Microsoft executives said that essentially all of the company's growth came from the consumer side of its business. Business spending stabilized some in the quarter, but is not yet seeing growth, Microsoft said.
Netbooks were about 11 percent of the market, roughly flat with both the prior quarter and a year ago. Microsoft said that 90 percent of those devices were running Windows, with Windows 7 accounting for "well over half of that."
2:45 p.m. PT: Microsoft executives "continue to be hopeful" that the company's Yahoo search deal will be approved by regulators early this year. The software maker said that it cut 800 jobs during the quarter and that its staff levels are down 8 percent from a year ago.
2:50 p.m. PT: Looking forward, Microsoft said that it sees some reasons to be optimistic.
"Heading into 2010, we are encouraged by the possibility of improving market conditions," Klein said, as well as by new products like Project Natal and Office 2010.
The company also says it expects some improvements over the next two quarters in server shipments, which have been declining for several quarters. The company said it also sees a pick-up in online ads. "The outlook for online advertising appears to be improving," Klein said.
by Ina Fried
January 28, 2010 1:11 PM PST
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Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Apple unveils $499 tablet with AT&T data plans
AP – SAN FRANCISCO – Apple will sell its newly unveiled tablet-style iPad starting at $499.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs shows off the new iPad during an event in San Francisco, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
The iPad resembles an iPhone, but larger. Apple will sell some iPad models with data plans from AT&T, with no contract required.
Apple Inc. will have to convince consumers, many of whom already have Internet-connected phones, computers and TVs, that they’ll want to pay that much for such a device, when many small, lightweight “netbooks” cost less than $400.
CEO Steve Jobs says the iPad will be better for reading books, playing games and watching video than either a laptop or a smart phone.
The initial price is likely to drop. Apple sold the first iPhone for $599 but slashed the price to $399 after a few months, upsetting early buyers.
Apple unveils iPad tablet with onscreen keyboard
AP - SAN FRANCISCO – Apple CEO Steve Jobs has unveiled the iPad, a tablet-style computer that resembles the iPhone, but larger.
"It's so much more intimate than a laptop and so much more capable than a smart phone," Jobs said Wednesday at the device's highly anticipated debut in San Francisco.
Apple had kept its "latest creation" under wraps, though many analysts had corrctly speculated that it would be a one-piece tablet computer with a big touch screen, larger than an iPhone but smaller than a laptop.
Jobs demonstrated how the iPad is used for surfing the Web with Apple's Safari browser. He typed an e-mail using an on-screen keyboard and flipped through photo albums by flicking his finger across the screen.
The CEO says the iPad will also be better for reading books, playing games and watching video than either a laptop or a smart phone.
No price or information on availability was immediately announced.
Now Apple will have to convince consumers, many of whom already have Internet-connected phones, computers and TVs, that that's the case. Tablet computers have existed for a decade, with little success.
Shares in Apple fell $4.65, or 2.3 percent, to $201.29 in afternoon trading Wednesday. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company's shares have more than doubled over the past year, partly on anticipation of the tablet computer.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Philadelphia Geeks On Call Owner, Guy Dunn Makes Headlines
Below is an exerpt from "A Cup of Cappuccino for the Entrepreneur's Spirit Volume II"
The Idea Guy - Guy Dunn
When I was a young boy of eleven, my dad worked in New York’s
garment district dispatching people for his employers. Although he was a very driven man and was making a lot of money for other people, my dad was bringing home a pittance. He soon realized his situation and didn’t like it one bit, especially since he had five children he wanted to send to college. You see, my dad grew up poor in Brooklyn and never went to college, but he had a dream that he could provide the opportunity of higher education to his children and to his nieces and nephews.
My dad decided he’d rather make money for himself than for his employer, so he quit his job and started his own business, Hour Power. This unskilled labor employment agency lasted about two years until my dad noticed many of the jobs he received were for cleaning offices. At this point, he folded Hour Power into Dunn and Sons Maintenance, a janitorial business owned jointly with one of his brothers and one of his sisters. He always said, “Office cleaning is one business that will never go away.”
Through relationships he developed, he became aware of the federal Small Business Administration 8(a) program. This program sets aside government contracts for companies owned and operated by disadvantaged individuals. SBA 8(a), as it is known, was geared toward minorities in the 1970s and my dad took full advantage of it. He became a star in the program and within a few years was grossing two million dollars annually.
By this time, I was in high school and all my brothers and sisters and many of my cousins worked in the family business. Growing up during this period meant we all worked from a young age. You name it, we cleaned it: offices, factories, stores, and construction sites. I enjoyed working; I liked making my own money and I loved the independence it gave me. Unlike some fathers, my dad didn’t give us an allowance; he allowed us to work and earn our money. I always respected him for that.
During my senior year, I was in a class called “distributive education.” Through this program I got a job working as a teller at a local bank. I worked there for about one year and, although I liked it, I didn’t enjoy having other people control my professional life. It was then I decided I was going to own a business. I knew it meant a lot of hard work, but I also knew the level of independence it provided. It was then I started to plan.
After high school, I decided I was going to Morehouse College. In my youthful arrogance, I applied only to Morehouse and nowhere else—it was risky, but I was confident they would never turn me down! I also knew going in that I would graduate with an accounting degree, work for my dad for a couple of years, and then start my own business. And that is what I did. When I came out of college in four years with my accounting degree from Morehouse, I worked under my brother as Assistant Controller for Dunn and Sons.
By this time the company was making about five million dollars annually and I learned a lot, including how to juggle priorities. In small businesses there are ebbs and flows in the cash flow cycle and they can make or break a business. My job was to monitor the cash flow on a daily basis to determine who to pay. I had to anticipate payroll and payable needs and then coordinate them with receivables and our line of credit. To me it was great and I loved the challenge. I developed spreadsheets to manage the process and enjoyed the science of it. I was enamored with creating formulas and projections that I monitored to help run this million-dollar business.
While working in my dad’s business, I also had my own businesses. I started my first venture, Positive Image Resumes, with a friend. With the invention of desktop computers, I saw an opportunity: people needed resumes, they needed them on the fly, usually in quantity, but they didn’t have the equipment to make it happen. We decided to purchase a couple of computers and provide a resume writing and printing service. We each chipped in from our savings to buy computers and supplies. It was a small venture and while it didn’t make us rich, it allowed us to keep a few dollars in our pockets.
Around this same time I was dabbling in real estate and started another business with some of my father’s friends in Philadelphia. I had more ideas than time. One could say I was already a serial entrepreneur. One of my most successful projects began as a cleaning business in Philadelphia. Marion Scott and his wife wanted to grow their company through government contracting.
Since my dad was so successful in this area, he suggested I go to Philly to work with the Scotts. We wanted to replicate the success my dad achieved in northern New Jersey. Our journey began in the living room of the Scott’s house as we launched Scott and Sons Maintenance.
Like my father before me, I went to the Small Business Administration to apply for the 8(a) program. Through a friend of a friend of my father’s, we were ushered through the process of getting into the program. This connection at the SBA proved to be a great asset to us. He helped us get into agencies and advocated for us. I’m sure if we didn’t have him, or someone like him, on our side we wouldn’t have achieved the success we did. This experience proved to me at an early age that success largely depends on relationships and how you work them to your advantage.
We grew the business from nothing to eight million dollars within nine years. We became one of the fastest growing companies in the Philadelphia region by listening to those who helped us, paying attention to our customers’ needs, and learning from the mistakes of others.
I was the initial Controller because of my accounting background. I had a good handle on the financial aspects of a small operation and I put together proposals and bids for our contracts. I actually enjoyed the work because it was simple and concrete. I enjoyed manipulating the numbers to give various scenarios based on all of our available options and then deciding on winning strategies.
We won contract after contract based on our relationships, our proposal writing, and our reputation. I was proud to be a part of an organization that was considered one of the best. We were very conscious of our customers’ needs and made customer satisfaction our number one concern. If necessary, I believed it was worth taking a small loss on a job if it meant maintaining a relationship or keeping our reputation intact. This did not happen often, but it did happen.
One of the other lessons I learned was the value of diversification. We started in the office cleaning business, but we evolved into a labor management company. We had a janitorial operation, but we also had grounds maintenance and food service divisions. Diversification is another area where our reputation, as well as
I also learned that financing is the key to managing growth and building a business. Here, I was able to utilize my accounting background and personal resources. In a pinch, my father had the ability to lend our company money. When we received our first large contract, I put the loan package together for our company. I shopped our package to twelve banks and was turned down at eleven of them. In spite of the numerous rejections, I always believed we would get the money we needed. Each time I kept going back and asking what I could have done to make our package better. Finally, one of the banks did give us a loan and from then on we were able to get money as we needed it. I was a whiz at making our statements look the way they needed to look to get to that yes answer.
After selling my interest in Scott and Sons Maintenance, I
As a serial entrepreneur, I have continued to be involved in many business opportunities. I am an entrepreneur first and foremost. I have spent most of my adult life running, managing, or showing people how to run a business. I am thankful to my dad for his example and for my focus and drive to succeed. I have lots of ideas. I just wish I had the time to implement them all!
KEY SUCCESS FACTORS: Hard Work, Drive, Focus, Perseverance, Determination, Reputation, Customer Service, Networking, Ideas
RECOMMENDED BOOK: The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
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The Idea Guy - Guy Dunn
When I was a young boy of eleven, my dad worked in New York’s
garment district dispatching people for his employers. Although he was a very driven man and was making a lot of money for other people, my dad was bringing home a pittance. He soon realized his situation and didn’t like it one bit, especially since he had five children he wanted to send to college. You see, my dad grew up poor in Brooklyn and never went to college, but he had a dream that he could provide the opportunity of higher education to his children and to his nieces and nephews.My dad decided he’d rather make money for himself than for his employer, so he quit his job and started his own business, Hour Power. This unskilled labor employment agency lasted about two years until my dad noticed many of the jobs he received were for cleaning offices. At this point, he folded Hour Power into Dunn and Sons Maintenance, a janitorial business owned jointly with one of his brothers and one of his sisters. He always said, “Office cleaning is one business that will never go away.”
Through relationships he developed, he became aware of the federal Small Business Administration 8(a) program. This program sets aside government contracts for companies owned and operated by disadvantaged individuals. SBA 8(a), as it is known, was geared toward minorities in the 1970s and my dad took full advantage of it. He became a star in the program and within a few years was grossing two million dollars annually.
By this time, I was in high school and all my brothers and sisters and many of my cousins worked in the family business. Growing up during this period meant we all worked from a young age. You name it, we cleaned it: offices, factories, stores, and construction sites. I enjoyed working; I liked making my own money and I loved the independence it gave me. Unlike some fathers, my dad didn’t give us an allowance; he allowed us to work and earn our money. I always respected him for that.
During my senior year, I was in a class called “distributive education.” Through this program I got a job working as a teller at a local bank. I worked there for about one year and, although I liked it, I didn’t enjoy having other people control my professional life. It was then I decided I was going to own a business. I knew it meant a lot of hard work, but I also knew the level of independence it provided. It was then I started to plan.
After high school, I decided I was going to Morehouse College. In my youthful arrogance, I applied only to Morehouse and nowhere else—it was risky, but I was confident they would never turn me down! I also knew going in that I would graduate with an accounting degree, work for my dad for a couple of years, and then start my own business. And that is what I did. When I came out of college in four years with my accounting degree from Morehouse, I worked under my brother as Assistant Controller for Dunn and Sons.
By this time the company was making about five million dollars annually and I learned a lot, including how to juggle priorities. In small businesses there are ebbs and flows in the cash flow cycle and they can make or break a business. My job was to monitor the cash flow on a daily basis to determine who to pay. I had to anticipate payroll and payable needs and then coordinate them with receivables and our line of credit. To me it was great and I loved the challenge. I developed spreadsheets to manage the process and enjoyed the science of it. I was enamored with creating formulas and projections that I monitored to help run this million-dollar business.
While working in my dad’s business, I also had my own businesses. I started my first venture, Positive Image Resumes, with a friend. With the invention of desktop computers, I saw an opportunity: people needed resumes, they needed them on the fly, usually in quantity, but they didn’t have the equipment to make it happen. We decided to purchase a couple of computers and provide a resume writing and printing service. We each chipped in from our savings to buy computers and supplies. It was a small venture and while it didn’t make us rich, it allowed us to keep a few dollars in our pockets.
Around this same time I was dabbling in real estate and started another business with some of my father’s friends in Philadelphia. I had more ideas than time. One could say I was already a serial entrepreneur. One of my most successful projects began as a cleaning business in Philadelphia. Marion Scott and his wife wanted to grow their company through government contracting.
Since my dad was so successful in this area, he suggested I go to Philly to work with the Scotts. We wanted to replicate the success my dad achieved in northern New Jersey. Our journey began in the living room of the Scott’s house as we launched Scott and Sons Maintenance.
Like my father before me, I went to the Small Business Administration to apply for the 8(a) program. Through a friend of a friend of my father’s, we were ushered through the process of getting into the program. This connection at the SBA proved to be a great asset to us. He helped us get into agencies and advocated for us. I’m sure if we didn’t have him, or someone like him, on our side we wouldn’t have achieved the success we did. This experience proved to me at an early age that success largely depends on relationships and how you work them to your advantage.
We grew the business from nothing to eight million dollars within nine years. We became one of the fastest growing companies in the Philadelphia region by listening to those who helped us, paying attention to our customers’ needs, and learning from the mistakes of others.
I was the initial Controller because of my accounting background. I had a good handle on the financial aspects of a small operation and I put together proposals and bids for our contracts. I actually enjoyed the work because it was simple and concrete. I enjoyed manipulating the numbers to give various scenarios based on all of our available options and then deciding on winning strategies.
We won contract after contract based on our relationships, our proposal writing, and our reputation. I was proud to be a part of an organization that was considered one of the best. We were very conscious of our customers’ needs and made customer satisfaction our number one concern. If necessary, I believed it was worth taking a small loss on a job if it meant maintaining a relationship or keeping our reputation intact. This did not happen often, but it did happen.
One of the other lessons I learned was the value of diversification. We started in the office cleaning business, but we evolved into a labor management company. We had a janitorial operation, but we also had grounds maintenance and food service divisions. Diversification is another area where our reputation, as well as
I also learned that financing is the key to managing growth and building a business. Here, I was able to utilize my accounting background and personal resources. In a pinch, my father had the ability to lend our company money. When we received our first large contract, I put the loan package together for our company. I shopped our package to twelve banks and was turned down at eleven of them. In spite of the numerous rejections, I always believed we would get the money we needed. Each time I kept going back and asking what I could have done to make our package better. Finally, one of the banks did give us a loan and from then on we were able to get money as we needed it. I was a whiz at making our statements look the way they needed to look to get to that yes answer.
After selling my interest in Scott and Sons Maintenance, I
As a serial entrepreneur, I have continued to be involved in many business opportunities. I am an entrepreneur first and foremost. I have spent most of my adult life running, managing, or showing people how to run a business. I am thankful to my dad for his example and for my focus and drive to succeed. I have lots of ideas. I just wish I had the time to implement them all!
KEY SUCCESS FACTORS: Hard Work, Drive, Focus, Perseverance, Determination, Reputation, Customer Service, Networking, Ideas
RECOMMENDED BOOK: The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
Follow Guy
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