PHILIPPINE TECH BLOG: old1

Touchscreen smartphones being snatched up in US November 5, 2009

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Tags: Touchscreen smartphones new hot product in usa
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US smartphone buyers can’t wait to get their hands on touchscreen devices, according to figures released Tuesday by industry tracker comScore. The ranks of touchscreen mobile telephone users led by Apple iPhone lovers swelled to 23.8 million in August, soaring 159 percent during the preceding year, according to comScore.

The overall smartphone market in the United States reportedly grew by 63 percent during that same period to 33.8 million users.

“Touchscreen phones have quickly gained adoption as new devices have flooded the mobile marketplace,” said comScore senior vice president of mobile devices Mark Donovan.

“It’s clear that consumers are embracing touchscreen interfaces that allow them to easily navigate the increasingly powerful and complex services afforded by new phones.”

Donovan expected the popularity of touchscreen mobile phones to continue to climb as more devices, many of them based on Google-backed Android operating systems, hit the market for the prime year-end holiday shopping season.

Apple’s coveted iPhone dominated the US market, accounting for 32.9 percent of touchscreen smart phones owned by people 13 years of age or older.

LG Dare and Voyager model mobile phones were second and third place in the market, with 8.7 percent and 7.8 percent respectively, according to comScore.

“The iPhone clearly set the trend in the industry for touchscreen devices, so it’s no surprise that it has the largest share of the market,” said Donovan.

“But as other players have entered the touchscreen market with compelling devices, competition is clearly heating up.” http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/tech-times/5293-touchscreen-smartphones-being-snatched-up-in-us

Companies race to offer instant Web search, including Twitter SEARCH ENGINE RACE November 4, 2009

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Tags: Twitter search, web search, google search, yahoo search, microsoft search, ask search
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U.S. user share* for overall searches in:

	Aug.	Sept.

Google sites	64.6%	64.9%

Yahoo sites	19.3%	18.8%

Microsoft sites	9.3%	9.4%

Ask Network	3.9%	3.9%

AOL	3.0%	3.0%

* = home, work and university users Source: ComScore

SAN FRANCISCO — There’s a new race in the Internet search business and, like most races, it’s about speed.

Start-ups including LeapFish, Factery and Aardvark hope to lap the field by supplementing conventional search results, such as what you’d find on Google, with instant access to social networks including Twitter.

“This is going to become mainstream very fast,” says Sean Suchter, general manager of the search technology center at Microsoft. “Everybody in the world is going to expect that they can find out anything, anywhere, instantly.”

Last month, Google and Microsoft’s Bing signed deals that give them access to Twitter’s public postings, called tweets.

Yahoo is working with start-up OneRiot and others to display real-time search results.
To keep users from being overwhelmed, firms sort results by their relevance to what you’re searching for, timeliness and, in some cases, the expertise of the source, says Nick Halstead, CEO of Tweetmeme, the No. 2 real-time search site after Twitter.

Real-time searches are mostly for Web users who want to know “what’s being tweeted, what people are talking about,” says Danny Sullivan, editor of the blog Search Engine Land.

That can be important for people tracking unfolding news events. But that audience may be small.
“Most people don’t have this burning need for immediate, precise results unless it’s the Iran elections or Michael Jackson’s death,” says Greg Sterling, principal of Sterling Marketing Intelligence.
The new companies say that they offer more than speed. LeapFish, which launches this week, says it’s the first site that lets consumers both contribute and search for information in audio and video as well as text.

Factery will launch a site in mid-November that enables users to pose questions to people in social networks who may give immediate answers.

“Old-fashioned search engines just don’t work in this real-time (Web) world,” says co-founder and President Paul Pedersen. “People are looking for recommendations from those who they know and trust.”

Aardvark uses a similar strategy. It enables anyone on Facebook, Twitter or instant-messaging services to ask questions about any topic and get a live answer within minutes.
“Consider Aardvark your very own brain trust of experts,” says Damon Horowitz, Aardvark’s co-founder and chief technology officer.

The new services are confident that the market can support them. Search “is a huge driver of online traffic, shopping, content discovery,” says David Berkowitz, senior director of emerging media and innovation at digital-marketing agency 360i. Read the complete original article herehttp://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2009-11-03-real-time-search_N.htm

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TwitterPeek: A gadget dedicated to Twitter…Christmas gadget?November 4, 2009

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Tags: twitter philippines, TweetDeck
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The guys behind Twitter thinks their service will become so mainstream that people will be willing to buy a gadget specific to just “tweeting”. That’s how TwitterPeekwas conceived.
This mobile device is a collaboration between Twitter Inc. and Peek Inc., thus the name. Imagine a Blackberry phone and service just for Twitter.

So what can it do? Well, it can do everything you can do on a desktop Twitter client (e.g. TweetDeck) but all embedded into a wireless device as shown above.

How much? The TwitterPeek sells for $99 with a $7.95 monthly fee or $199 with a lifetime of service.
That means it will be tied up with a telco. Don’t think this will be a hit in the Philippine where data charges are still expensive. The cheapest unlimited rate on Twitter is Php20/day or Php600/month using Globe Super Surf {via WSJ}. Read the original posting here with photos as well http://www.yugatech.com/blog/mobile/twitterpeek-a-gadget-dedicated-to-twitter/#more-10089

How to set up an iPod NanoNovember 3, 2009

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Tags: Apple IPOD setup video, setup guide ipod nano
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In recent statements, Apple reports 50 percent of new iPod sales are going to customers who are buying their very first iPod. That means millions of people are setting up an iPod for the first time. Personally, I’m a little scared for them.

The iPod celebrates its 8th birthday this month, and it has come a long way. What started out purely as a digital music player has evolved into a video-recording, movie-renting, fitness-tracking, do-everything device. For first-time users, I can imagine the experience of setting up a new iPod is as overwhelming as it is exciting.

To help make the most of your new iPod, I’m putting together a series of How-To guides for setting up each of the current iPod models (Nano, Touch, Shuffle, and Classic). I’m kicking things off with the iPod Nano–a deceptively simple-looking, candy-colored device loaded with more new features than any other iPod this season.

The video version of my iPod Nano setup guide is available for download from CNET TV, and an accompanying slideshow can be found below. See the video and do the download here
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12519_7-10386797-49.html?tag=nl.e404

Tweetitow – Philippines #1 free twitter sms app! November 3, 2009

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Tags: tweetitow twitter #1 free twitter sms application
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0303 Nov Yes, its @tweetitow!

Read much more here http://twitterph.blogspot.com/

How to Avoid Malware on Facebook and Twitter: 8 Best PracticesNovember 2, 2009

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Tags: 8 best practices facebook twitter, fangerous email twitter facebook, hijacking twitter facebook, how to avoid malware twitter facebook, maliciious links on facebook twitter, malware facebook twitter
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How to Avoid Malware on Facebook and Twitter: 8 Best Practices

Thanks to the popularity of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, it’s a given that malicious hackers will devise ways to exploit the sites’ numerous users in order to infect their computers with malware. This unwanted software is designed to do a number of terrible things ranging from identity theft to turning computer into remote-controllable “zombie” machines.

Without sufficient anti-virus and malware protection programs installed, social networking users can easily become victims to these ever-evolving attacks. However, the best way to avoid becoming a victim yourself is to be aware of what’s out there and what sorts of things you should avoid. Below are the best practices which you should use on Facebook and Twitter in order to keep yourself safe.

The Problem with Malicious Links
One of the most common vectors for attacks are malicious links posted either to Twitter or to your Facebook wall. In the past, such as with the malware known as Kooface, the troublesome links could be easily identified because they would often use a consistent phrase followed by a URL. For example, in August, Koobface was posting links that read “my home video

” which was followed by a URL and then a random component on the end such as “HA-HA-HA!!”, “W.O.W.”, “WOW”, “L.O.L.”, “LOL”, “;)” or “OMFG!!!”

Although the end piece changed from tweet to tweet, the message itself remained the same. However, security researcher Costin Raiu of Kaspersky Lab tells us that easy-to-identify messages are not as common anymore. Today, it’s much harder to identify malicious links thanks to two newer techniques being used by hackers. Below those two newer methods are described in more detail as is the tried-and-true method of spreading malware via email.

Method 1: Hijacking Twitter’s Trending Topics
The first technique, which really became popular in August of this year, involves hackers creating Twitter new accounts and then posting messages related to whatever trending, or “hot,” topic was being heavily discussed on Twitter at that time. This would allow the post to be aggregated in Twitter search results where unsuspecting users would click on the included link. The text accompanying the link would be intriguing to those interested in the subject, enticing them to click through.

Method 2: Hijacking Legitimate Accounts
The second technique involves infiltrating legitimate accounts through phishing attempts and other methods so that the hacker essentially has control over a “real” account. After control has been established, if on Twitter, the hacker will then tweet out links that redirect users to malware-infected sites. Because the tweets come from an account that already has an established set of followers, those reading the tweets assume it’s safe and don’t hesitate to click the links.

After infecting the account of a Facebook user, malware often uses that particular person’s account to spread, too. As with the malicious links on Twitter, because it appears that the links posted are from a trusted friend, other users don’t realize that the posted link is harmful.

On Facebook, one of the most problematic malware programs is Koobface, a particular type of malicious software that sees 20 to 30 new variations per day. Despite the number of variants out there, Koobface’s M.O. is relatively consistent: it tricks people into clicking links. These links appear on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, but also on MySpace, hi5, Bebo, Friendster, and others.

Method 3: Dangerous Email
A third method to encourage social networking users to click on infected links is the old but still effective technique of sending out spoofed email. Hackers can create email messages that appear to be sent from a social networking site. The messages prompt you to “update your account” or open an attachment containing your new password among other things.

How To Stay Safe
There are a number of best practices that you should follow in order to stay safe and avoid infection. They are as follows:

Don’t assume a link is “safe” because it’s from a friend: As noted above, your friend’s account may be infected. You should never assume that a link is safe just because a friend tweeted it or posted it to your wall. Use your common sense. If it doesn’t sound like something they would say, be wary, don’t click. If you’re unsure, try to contact them through another channel and see if the link is legit.

Don’t assume Twitter links are safe because Twitter is now scanning for malware: In August, Twitter partnered with Google to use Google’s Safe Browsing API, a technology that checks URLs against Google’s blacklist. This prevents spammers from posting malicious URLs to Twitter, but it does NOT prevent them from posting shortened URLs which direct users to those same malicious sites. It’s better than no protection at all, but it’s not going to keep you entirely safe.

Don’t Assume Bit.ly Links are Safe: Earlier this year, Twitter’s default URL-shortening service Bit.ly, began warning users of malware. Bit.ly also uses Google’s Safe Browsing API along with two other blacklists to identify malicious links. Although the service doesn’t prevent users from posting these links, it will warn upon clicking that the site being linked to is infected. However, as Raiu tells us, this is not 100% effective either. Kaspersky has identified a number of malicious links which Bit.ly did not block. However, you can assume that Bit.ly is generally safer than the other URL-shortening services because it uses this technology and because the hackers are generally avoiding this service at the moment because of its built-in protection. But it is not completely safe – nothing ever is.

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-Use an up-to-date web browser: Kaspersky recommends using the latest version of your web browser and keeping it up-to-date with the necessary patches. That means Internet Explorer users should be on IE8 – and since this browser is attacked the most, it’s critical that you make sure it stays updated as needed. Firefox is the second most attacked browser, but fortunately, it has a self-updating feature built in. Google Chrome is also good because it has a self-updating feature as well as another security feature that runs plugins in “sandboxes,” or restricted environments. If an attacker was able to exploit the browser and run malicious code, it would be isolated to this sandbox and would not able to effect the entire machine. Opera and Safari are also good browsers and should be kept current, too.

Keep Windows up-to-date: As always, Windows users should make sure their systems are current with the latest patches from Microsoft. Automatic updates should be turned on.

Keep Adobe Reader and Adobe Flash up-to-date: At the moment, Adobe Reader and Flash are the two most targeted programs by hackers. A lot of malware specifically goes after known vulnerabilities within Adobe’s software. In addition, a common method of attack, such as that used by Koobface, is to redirect a victim to a malware-infested site where the user is prompted to update their Flash player or Adobe Reader in order to see the website content. NEVER do this. Always go to Adobe’s site on your own to download the latest version or update the software on your computer using its own built-in update mechanisms.

Don’t assume you’re safe because you use a Mac: While it’s true that Mac users are less targeted than Windows users, they are not immune to malware, despite what those commercials may say. Although Apple did include some malware protection in their latest operating system, it only protects users from two trojans; you cannot count on it alone to protect you. There are a couple of hundred of trojans currently in the wild that specifically target Mac machines, according to Kaspersky. In fact, there may even be as many as a thousand, but researchers are unable to identify all of them because Mac users don’t typically run anti-virus software which is how much of the data is collected. These days, when a user clicks an infected link, the malicious web page will now sometimes identify whether that user is coming from a Windows or Mac machine and then display the appropriate version of the trojan accordingly. A particular family of trojans known as “DNS Changer” trojans are the most common ones used to attack Mac machines. The only way to really be sure that you’re protected against these malicious programs is to run anti-malware software on your Mac, but most Mac users won’t do so, preferring to take their chances since their risk is lower.

Be wary of email messages from social networks: Because email addresses can be “spoofed” by hackers, you can’t assume that an email from Facebook or Twitter is really from those the site it claims to be from. As always, you should never open attachments you were not expecting to receive and you should be wary of clicking on links – especially if you’re being told to “update your account.” If you do click on a link and are taken to a web page that asks you to log into the site, DON’T DO IT. It would be handing over your password to the hackers. Instead, you should always access the sites directly by typing in their URL in your browser or clicking a saved link in your Favorites.

It’s Not Just a Matter of Common Sense Anymore
As the above best practices show, a lot of the things you can do to protect yourself from malware are the same as they have been in the past – keep your computer and browser up-to-date, don’t open attachments, etc. However, malware is trickier to identify these days thanks to social networking sites. It now uses the trusted identities of your friends in order to lull its victims into a false sense of safety. You can no longer simply assume that because someone you know posted a link, it’s automatically safe. You can’t even assume that the networks themselves are safe, either. They’re not always scanned for malware-laden links, and when they are, such as is the case with Twitter, it’s not a 100% effective method.

To continue reading the complete article click here http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2009/10/30/30readwriteweb-how-to-avoid-malware-on-facebook-and-twitte-38983.html?pagewanted=print

Gears, gadgets, gizmos at COMDDAP this December Manila Philippines November 1, 2009

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Tags: gadgets, Gears, gizmos at COMDDAP this December Manila Philippines
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Computer Manufacturers Distributors and Dealers Association of the Philippines (COMDDAP) will showcase in a three-day exhibit this December the latest information and communications technology (ICT) products, solutions and services at COMDDAP Manila 2009.

The exhibit, dubbed as “Maximum Exposure, the COMDDAP Expo Manila 2009,” will feature series of seminars, offering the most up-to-date discussion and the latest tech trends on Adobe and Microsoft Windows 7. It will be held on December 3 to 6 at the SMX Convention Center of the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

COMDDAP will also hold 3D competitions—the Campus SketchUP and SketchUp Match-Up—open to all students and IT enthusiasts. The said competitions are specifically designed for students who want to learn as well as take advantage of the latest 3D imaging technology.

Some of the events that will be highlighted during the three-day exhibit are Open Pinoy Solutions (OPS), 3D Philippine Initiative, the Great Projector Shoot-Out and LCD Monitor Shoot-Out and Printer Shoot-Out.
OPS is dedicated to showcase the country’s homegrown IT talents, featuring 12 of the best minds and companies of local IT industry. It aims to “put Pinoy IT geniuses into the spotlight, giving them their well-deserved recognition.”

The 3D Philippines Initiative will feature the usable virtual models of the Philippines breathtaking sites on Google Earth using the Google SketchUp. The Great Projector Shoot-Out and LCD Monitor Shoot-Out, on the other hand, aim to help experts and consumers determine which brands are the most superior.

“Maximum Exposure will be the country’s biggest procurement platform for everything IT this year,” the COMDDAP said. “Expect the best bargains, big product discounts, slashed rates and special bundling on the coolest gears, gadgets, software, and so many more.” Read the original article here http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/tech-times/5085-gears-gadgets-gizmos-at-comddap-this-december

Here Comes MiFi, Portable Wi-FiNovember 1, 2009

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Tags: MiFi portable wi-fi, Novatel Wireless' new pocket-sized Mi-Fi
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LIFE ON THE ROAD IS NEVER EASY. JUST THINK how hard it can be to find a decent Internet connection. You can hunt for a coffee shop with Wi-Fi, or check into a hotel and pay a minor fortune for ‘Net service. You can try your luck with an open Wi-Fi network on the street — but it might be a trap set by hackers hunting for credit-card numbers. You could connect through a fast cellular network, with help from a small device plugged into your USB port, but that requires loading software in advance, and can drain a laptop’s battery quickly.

That’s why Novatel Wireless’ new pocket-sized Mi-Fi is likely to be one of the hottest-selling gadgets over the next few months. This battery-powered device serves as your own portable Wi-Fi network. It connects to the ‘Net through a third-generation, or 3G, cellular modem, then converts that to a Wi-Fi signal.

A Wi-Fi hotspot can be a godsend for a traveler in need of Internet access, but finding one can sometimes be a challenge. Mobile broadband networks run by major carriers are more ubiquitous, but they can be a hassle to install and use, and adapters aren’t available for many devices that support Wi-Fi.

So Novatel Wireless has come up with MiFi, a line of gadgets that will let you create a Wi-Fi hotspot using a mobile broadband network. Novatel describes MiFi devices as “intelligent mobile hotspots,” but they are basically smart routers, the size of a couple of stacked credit cards, that connect to the Internet via a high-speed mobile phone network (such as the EVDO networks operated by Sprint and Verizon Wireless, or the UMTS/HSDPA networks operated by AT&T Wireless and T-Mobile).

The company says a MiFi’s internal rechargeable battery will support up to 40 hours of standby time and 4 hours of actual use without power (for example, in a moving vehicle).

We’ve seen Wi-Fi routers that use cell phone data networks as the wide-area network connection (for example, a Kyocera product that uses an EVDO notebook card), but they all looked like conventional routers. The MiFi’s small size makes it much more attractive as a traveling companion. (Similarly, Taproot Systems’ WalkingHotSpot software lets a Windows Mobile or Symbian smartphones with broadband and Wi-Fi function as a Wi-Fi hotspot.)

Of course, if all you wanted to do was connect a single notebook to a broadband network, you could simply get a broadband notebook card or USB adapter. But with a MiFi you wouldn’t need to bother with the software these usually require-you could simply create a Wi-Fi profile in your operating system. You could also connect multiple devices, or a team of travelers.

MiFi devices also can support broadband applications built by carriers or others. A MiFi might, for example, be configured to automatically sync e-mail for business travelers as they walk through airports.

Novatel will distribute MiFi devices through the carriers that will provision their broadband access. The devices will be available in early 2009, Novatel says. Carriers will determine pricing, but Novatel estimates the devices will cost under $200 before any carrier subsidies. Read the complete original article herehttp://www.pcworld.com/article/155166/novatel_wireless_mifi_puts_a_hotspot_in_your_pocket.html

5 gadgets from the near futureOctober 30, 2009

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Tags: future gadgets, internet radio
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The Q2 Cube Internet radio tries to innovate in terms of how users interact with it. It’s the first dial-free radio.Product development company Cambridge Consultants shows off its gadgets

Many of these are set to hit retail shelves in the next few weeksEngineers are working to improve accuracy and lower costs on brain control

Police officers and special forces covet the ability to “see” through walls

(WIRED) — A radio without any knobs. A bathroom where a clear display wirelessly streams vital statistics on your health. And a user interface that takes brain waves and translates them into commands for a computer.

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These are some of the products in development by Cambridge Consultants, a product design and development company. It showed off some of its latest inventions at a daylong event last week in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

-
-Check out these sweet ideas, many of which are set to hit retail shelves in the next few weeks. Continue to read the details herehttp://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/10/28/future.gadgets/index.html

Internet Addresses Can Use New Scripts October 30, 2009

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Tags: internet address can be in foreign languages now
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The decision to allow addresses in non-Latin scripts could lead to a dramatic increase in the number of global users. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/31/technology/31net.html?ref=business

PHILIPPINE TECH BLOG

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Wednesday, November 11, 2009