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<title>Haaze.com / Sophia003 / Voted News</title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com</link>
<description>Test Web 2.0 Content Management System</description>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Apr 2011 07:10:44 +0000</pubDate>
<language>en</language>
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<title><![CDATA[Mitsubishi i North American launch to begin on West Coast and in Hawaii]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=mitsubishi-i-north-american-launch-to-begin-on-west-coast-and-in-hawaii</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=mitsubishi-i-north-american-launch-to-begin-on-west-coast-and-in-hawaii</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Apr 2011 07:10:44 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>insyaaland</dc:creator>
<category>Eco</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=mitsubishi-i-north-american-launch-to-begin-on-west-coast-and-in-hawaii</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Mitsubishi i will have an MSRP of $27,990 for the base ES model' customers in Hawaii will be eligible for a $4,500 clean energy rebate and a federal tax credit of $7,500 (subject to availability), reducing the EV's out-of-pocket cost to under $16,000 after rebates and credits.(Credit:Mitsubishi)The 2012 Mitsubishi i will be riding a big wave to Hawaii, the first North American state to receive the all-electriccar.The Japanese automaker today revealed that beginning this month, Hawaiian consumers will be able to reserve the Mitsubishi i for a refundable deposit of $299 on Mitsubishi's Web site.The Mitsubishi i will be available to test drive at Cutter Mitsubishi in Aiea, Hawaii, this fall. The energy-efficient, five-door Mitsubishi i will launch in Hawaii, California, Oregon, and Washington in November 2011. The vehicle will be available nationwide by the end of 2012.The Mitsubishi i, with an expected driving range of 85 miles, takes 6 hours at 240V and 22.5 hours at 120V for a full charge. Mitsubishi says it will waive the $99.99 home electrical inspection fee for the first 2,000 Hawaiian residents who place a reservation and purchase the vehicle. The home electrical system inspection is to make sure that the owner's home system can efficiently charge the Mitsubishi i.&quot;We thank Mitsubishi Motors for choosing Hawaii as one of the first states to receive the new 'i' electric car. Electric vehicles use a fraction of the fuel needed by traditional cars, so each EV on the road means we're reducing our dependence on imported oil and increasing our ability to reach Hawaii's goal of 70 percent clean energy within a generation,&quot; said Estrella Seese, acting energy program administrator for the Hawaii State Energy Office.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Nissan Leaf named World Car of 2011]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=nissan-leaf-named-world-car-of-2011</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=nissan-leaf-named-world-car-of-2011</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Apr 2011 07:11:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>skeptensaphew</dc:creator>
<category>Eco</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=nissan-leaf-named-world-car-of-2011</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Nissan Leaf beat out the Audi A8 and BMW 5-series to win the World Car Award for 2011.(Credit:Sarah Tew/CNET)As a herald of an electric-car future, jurors for the WorldCar Awards named the Nissan Leaf as the 2011 World Car. The New York auto show is the yearly venue for the announcement, which also includes awards for performance, design, and environmentalism. That latter category, the World Green Car, went to the Chevy Volt this year. The Nissan Leaf was a runner-up for the Green award.The top three competitors for the World Car Award were the Nissan Leaf, Audi A8, and BMW 5-series. The jurors commented that &quot;The Leaf is the gateway to a brave new electric world...&quot; They noted its zero emissions and its generally carlike performance.The World Car Awards organization is not affiliated with any publication. It uses a set of jurors chosen from among automotive journalists.Other winners were the Ferrari 458 Italia as the World Performance Car and the Aston Martin Rapide for World Design Car.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[iPad 2 killer feature: The 2X factor]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ipad-2-killer-feature-the-2x-factor</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ipad-2-killer-feature-the-2x-factor</comments>
<pubDate>Sat, 16 Apr 2011 07:10:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>sosteessyflelaassthma</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ipad-2-killer-feature-the-2x-factor</guid>
<description><![CDATA[TheiPad 2 is &quot;winning&quot; with two double-your-fun hardware features. Buh-bye iPad 1. My iPad 2. Buh-bye iPad 1. (Credit:Brooke Crothers)After using the iPad 2 for a few weeks, I can now say the upgrade was worth it. Even waiting in line with the huddled Los Angeles masses, yearning for the iPad 2, was worth it. Allow me to insert a brief parenthetical by saying I wouldn't be completely honest if I didn't mention there's always a psychological need to justify the purchase of a pricey gadget. Not unlike seeking absolution for a sin. That said, I'm pretty sure this review passes the objective, dispassionate analysis test. Let's move on. At the time of purchase, there was very little to choose from (Apple stores then were still handing out claim tickets). So, I was bamboozled (I'll play the victim) into buying the $829 Verizon 3G model with 64GB of memory (white). I upgraded from the original iPad with AT&amp;T 3G. Double the memory: This was apparent almost immediately when I first picked up the iPad. Going from a meager 256MB in the original iPad to 512MB in the iPad 2 makes a difference. Think about the terabytes (petabytes) of advice over the years from &quot;tech experts&quot; that implore people to upgrade their PC's memory to get better performance. Well, it's true. More memory provides more space for more apps to reside in, which can then be accessed by high-speed system RAM. I'll give one easy, everyday example. Web browsing is more fluid. I know this has something to do with the upgraded processor (which I'll get to below) but more memory is also playing a big role here. More specifically,Safari's version of tabbed browsing on the iPad 2 works better (no, it's not literally tabbed browsing but it's similar). When you jump between Web pages, a page that you haven't visited in a while often doesn't have to reload. That's a boon when I'm doing productivity-related stuff--and otherwise makes browsing more enjoyable. Double the cores: the iPad 2's A5 processor is a dual-core processor, compared with the single-core A4. This, by far, is the most significant aspect of the iPad 2 and often overlooked or downplayed because it's considered too techie. (What's a core) I remember when I bought my first dual-core PC (an HP nc6400 business laptop). For me, it was the single biggest step up in PC performance I had ever experienced. The iPad isn't quite that breathtaking but it's close. It's not difficult to understand why. Two processing units are usually (though not always) better at handling demanding task loads than one. Would you rather have a four-cylinder Ford Ranger or an eight-cylinder F-350 hauling a big load Not a perfect analogy but you get the idea. (Want proof Check out these benchmarks, particularly the &quot;multithreaded&quot; tests).And this applies to just about everything you do on the iPad. Launching, multitasking, Web surfing, multimedia (photos, movies). You name it. One more feature I'll mention. So far, Verizon 3G has been more consistent for me than the AT&amp;T 3G I had on the iPad 1. While I had no major complaints about the AT&amp;T 3G, it's apparent that the Verizon 3G on the iPad 2 delivers in places that I know for a fact were dead spots for AT&amp;T. So, I'm glad (so far) that I went with Verizon. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Parent sues Apple for in-app buying policy]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=parent-sues-apple-for-in-app-buying-policy</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=parent-sues-apple-for-in-app-buying-policy</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 Apr 2011 07:10:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>cheapshirt0</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=parent-sues-apple-for-in-app-buying-policy</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Shortly after Apple introduced new parental controls for in-app purchases oniPhone oriPad games, the company is being slapped with a lawsuit that says it hasn't done enough.Earlier this week, Garen Meguerian of Pennsylvania filed a lawsuit against Apple that says the company's policy for in-app purchases doesn't go far enough to prevent children from buying currency or points inside apps and games. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for Northern California, requests class-action status and asks for unspecified damages and legal fees.Meguerian brought the suit after his 9-year-old daughter downloaded the free iOS games Zombie Cafe, Treasure Story, and City Story, and then proceeded to buy virtual currency within the games, which ended up costing Meguerian $200, according to the complaint.&quot;These games are highly addictive, designed deliberately so, and tend to compel children playing them to purchase large quantities of game currency, amounting to as much as $100 purchase or more,&quot; the lawsuit reads.The complaint notes that Apple requires a password in order to purchase anything from the App Store, and also acknowledges that Apple recently added the requirement via an iOS update that a password be entered before making purchases inside any app. The suit finds fault with the fact that the password required for both scenarios is the same.The Washington Post pushed the issue first, with a report in February about parents having to pay massive bills generated by their children buying items within games or apps without a clear understanding that they cost real money.Then the Federal Trade Commission got involved, with Chairman John Leibowitz sending a letter to Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) confirming that he would review the way Apple marketed in-app purchases, in particular apps aimed at children.Apple responded shortly thereafter with new parental controls in the iOS 4.3 update. Apple did not respond to a request for comment.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[HTC Evo View 4G definitely an Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=htc-evo-view-4g-definitely-an-android-3-0-honeycomb-tablet</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=htc-evo-view-4g-definitely-an-android-3-0-honeycomb-tablet</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 05 Apr 2011 07:10:34 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>chipid</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=htc-evo-view-4g-definitely-an-android-3-0-honeycomb-tablet</guid>
<description><![CDATA[(Credit:Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)If there was any doubt about which version of the Android operating system the HTC Evo View 4G will carry when thetablet finally hits store shelves, Sprint's Web site dispels it.One CNET reader spotted the spec for the Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system on this Sprint page. The last we heard from Sprint on the matter was at CTIA, when the carrier told us that it would update the Evo View 4G from Android 2.3 Gingerbread--which we saw on demo tablets--to Android 3.0 Honeycomb as soon as Google makes the tablet-optimized OS widely available to manufacturers and carriers. (Right now, Motorola's Xoom is the only tablet on the market with Honeycomb installed, thanks to a partnership with Google.)Papa Android itself could delay HTC and Sprint's aspirations, according to the new word on the street that Google's Andy Rubin is cracking down on fragmentation by more tightly controlling who gets access to operating systems. Regardless, we can say that without a doubt, Sprint is hoping to hop on board with Honeycomb rather than keep the Evo View a maverick Gingerbread device. HTC Evo View tablet (photos) The HTC Evo View is the U.S. version of the HTC Flyer first seen at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. It features a 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor, 32GB internal memory, a 5-megapixel rear camera, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, and 4G capability with Sprint. Sprint has not yet released pricing and availability. A representative was not immediately available for comment.[Thanks, HurricaneFreak.]<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Prevail for Boost Mobile]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=hands-on-with-the-samsung-galaxy-prevail-for-boost-mobile</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=hands-on-with-the-samsung-galaxy-prevail-for-boost-mobile</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 05 Apr 2011 07:10:26 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>cibqod</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=hands-on-with-the-samsung-galaxy-prevail-for-boost-mobile</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Samsung Galaxy Prevail(Credit:Bonnie Cha/CNET)NEW YORK--No big surprise, but Boost Mobile made it official and introduced the Samsung Galaxy Prevail on Monday evening, its very first CDMA Android smartphone.Available later this month for $179.99 sans contract and with a $50 monthly plan that includes unlimited voice, text, and data (also eligible for Boost's Shrinkage plan), the Galaxy Prevail is a welcome addition to the carrier's smartphone lineup. We got a chance to check out the Android 2.2 device at the unveiling event this evening, and though the handset might not offer some of the higher-end features of its other Galaxy S siblings, we think it's shaping up to be a pretty good deal.The handset measures 4.4 inches tall by 2.26 inches wide by 0.47 inch thick and weighs a light 3.8 ounces. It's comfortable to hold with a soft-touch finish on back (something we'd actually love to see on the higher-end Galaxy S phones) and easily slips into a pants pocket. The display measures 3.5 inches diagonally and has an HVGA resolution, so you're losing a bit in size and sharpness, but it's also to be expected with such an entry-level device. Plus, the touch screen is still sharp and bright enough to get the job done.  The Galaxy Prevail doesn't run Samsung's TouchWiz user interface, so you're getting a pure Android experience. The smartphone does come preloaded with a few extra apps, including Swype, Facebook, Twidroyd, TeleNav GPS Navigator, and ThinkFree Office. Of course, you can download more from the Android Market. There's only about 124MB of internal phone storage, but Boost ships the Prevail with a 2GB microSD card. There's a 2-megapixel camera on back, but it lacks a flash. I took a couple of quick sample photos though and was pleasantly surprised at the decent picture quality. Even though, the images were taken in dimly lit rooms, they were still bright. The Prevail's general performance also felt pretty responsive, with an 800MHz processor under the hood.Of course, we'll do much more testing in the days to come. We've actually got a review unit in hand, so definitely check back in a couple of days for our final verdict. In the meantime, peep our photo gallery below for a closer look at the Samsung Galaxy Prevail.Samsung Galaxy Prevail hands-on (photos) <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[GE launches hybrid light bulbs]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ge-launches-hybrid-light-bulbs</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ge-launches-hybrid-light-bulbs</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 01 Apr 2011 07:11:16 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>ziterbimrepo</dc:creator>
<category>Eco</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ge-launches-hybrid-light-bulbs</guid>
<description><![CDATA[GE's new hybrid halogen-compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs will be available nationwide by April 22, Earth Day.(Credit:GE)General Electric's new hybrid light bulbs have begun shipping to retailers and are expected to be available nationwide by April 22, Earth Day, the company announced yesterday.The hybrid halogen-compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs, announced in October 2010, look like a spiral frosted CFL light bulb snugly fit inside a clear glass bulb shaped like a typical incandescent light bulb.One selling point is that the bulbs don't take time to light up like many CFLs currently available. When switched on, the hybrid bulb's halogen portion lights up within a half-second. Then once the CFL portion has warmed and brightened to full luminescence, the halogen portion turns itself off, according to GE.GE also claims that each hybrid bulb only contains 1 milligram of mercury. If true, that is significant. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average CFL light bulb contains about 4 milligrams of mercury.Mercury in light bulbs has been a concern to consumers as the element is widely known to pose a health risk if ingested or inhaled, especially in young children. While the mercury in CFLs poses no danger while contained, there is a risk that people can be exposed to mercury if a CFL bulb, and its tubes containing mercury, are broken. The EPA has guidelines on how broken bulbs should be handled.The hybrid bulbs are expected to retail between $5.99 and $9.99 depending on the wattage and color. GE says its hybrid bulbs have a life of 8,000 hours, the same as its CFL light bulb products. That's significantly more than the average 60-watt incandescent bulb which typically has a lifespan of about 1,000 hours, according to the EPA (PDF).The light bulb announcement comes amid a firestorm of criticism for GE and CEO Jeff Immelt after a March 24 New York Times article revealed that despite making $5.1 billion in U.S. profits, GE claimed a $3.2 million tax benefit on its 2010 federal tax returns.The 2010 tax return was unusual due to losses sustained by GE Capital since the financial crisis, and would be higher in 2011, GE said in a statement. In a speech yesterday at the Economic Club of Washington, Immelt said he welcomed reform for a simplified corporate tax system like in other countries, rather than the current complicated &quot;loophole&quot; system in the U.S.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Agilyx attracts cash for turning plastics to oil]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=agilyx-attracts-cash-for-turning-plastics-to-oil</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=agilyx-attracts-cash-for-turning-plastics-to-oil</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 31 Mar 2011 07:10:46 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>MexPooselob</dc:creator>
<category>Eco</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=agilyx-attracts-cash-for-turning-plastics-to-oil</guid>
<description><![CDATA[You've heard of turning recycled plastic bottles into floor carpeting or clothing. How about back into oil Digging through a high-tech recycling center (photos) View the full galleryTigar, Oregon-based Agilyx said that it has raised $22 million in a series B round to further develop a process for converting plastics into a synthetic oil, which can be refined for transportation fuel or used to make plastic or other oil-based goods. The round was led by Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield &amp; Byers which joined venture capital firm Chrystalix and corporate investors Waste Management and Total Energy Ventures International. The company has developed a multi-step process which it says can convert about ten pounds of mixed plastics into one gallon of crude oil. To make oil, it heats plastics to the point where they turn into a gas. There is then a condensing stage, which converts the gas back into a liquid and removes impurities. Agilyx is now operating a demonstration plant, which is selling oil to a refiner, and intends to sell its equipment to plastic handlers and recyclers which deal with large volumes. The synthetic crude oil can be refined on site or shipped to standard refiners and the net carbon footprint from its technology is favorable, according to the company. Related links&amp;149' Machines eyeball trash for single-stream recycling&amp;149' Next wave of recycling Check your dinner plate&amp;149' E-waste recycler goes high-tech to boost volumeThe technology can produce oil at about $45 a barrel, Brian Wawro from Chrysalix told the Portland Business Journal.The investment from high-profile investor Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield, and Buyers could be a sign that technologies to recycle or reduce waste will gain favor with investors and entrepreneurs. One of the limits to making fuel from biomass is the cost and availability of feedstock.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Gaming sites game Reddit, get caught]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=gaming-sites-game-reddit-get-caught</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=gaming-sites-game-reddit-get-caught</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Mar 2011 07:10:02 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>10JogosCarros</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=gaming-sites-game-reddit-get-caught</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Reddit&amp;39's gaming subreddit, where the efforts took place.(Credit:CNET)A trio of gaming sites has been caught getting users to vote stories into popularity on social-news site Reddit. The effort, which had been run by a Reddit user called &quot;MasterOfHyrule,&quot; made use of multiple accounts to submit, vote, and comment on stories from gaming sites GamePro, G4TV, and GamrFeed. Those stories would then have a greater chance at making it to the front page of the site's gaming subcategory and possibly onto the front page of the site where even more traffic could be had. After being called out in a post by Reddit user Deimorz earlier today, all three have since issued apologies to the Reddit community owning up to the efforts. The legitimacy of G4's has been verified, however GamePro and GamrFeed's have not. CNET has reached out to both companies for independent confirmation.In its statement, G4 said that the company had originally found a Digg power user who also had other social networking accounts, including one on Reddit. G4 had traded games, then later money to this individual in return for them submitting stories to the social-news site.&quot;However, we didn't know the full extent of how he was achieving success on Reddit,&quot; the company wrote. &quot;We had no idea that he had 20 accounts under his control. We also didn't know that he was using the other accounts to comment on his own submissions. That's on us 100 percent, we should have paid more attention to his methods.&quot;Based on data pulled up by Deimorz, the first of the companies to begin the practice was GamePro nearly a year ago, with G4TV following three months later. Deimorz pegs GamrFeed to be the most recent, beginning four months ago. Out of that data, there is no determination of how many stories were affected, though user MasterOfHyrule was said to be &quot;by far the worst&quot; with &quot;hundreds of submissions,&quot; according to Deimorz' data. Gaming the system on social-news sites is nothing new though presents a particularly challenging problem to site owners. The site's growth has made it an increasingly lucrative target to sites that want to get a boost in traffic once stories are elevated to a promoted status. Reddit rival Digg faced similar challenges several years ago while trying to cope with an influx of users and groups that attempted to game its voting system. The company responded by changing its algorithm to penalize group voting, thereby encouraging stories to be voted on by a more diverse group of users before getting promoted. The site's spam filter can catch about 97 percent of submitted posts that are determined to be spammy, though the company is not able to go into specifics on its methods for fear of helping spammers bypass it, according to Erik Martin, Reddit's community manager.&quot;This is a little different because some of these sites have content,&quot; Martin told CNET. &quot;It's not quite the same as someone who puts up a crappy infographic with a bunch of back links to their furniture site. These are Web sites that are publishing content.&quot; &quot;Usually the other thing that helps is that our users smell it,&quot; Martin explained. &quot;But it's harder to smell it in gaming. I hope nobody in gaming gets offended by that. It's just much easier to smell it in other Reddits. Gaming has articles about commercial products with reviews, leaks of screenshots, conversations with marketing people and developers.&quot; &quot;What constitutes spam in the gaming Reddit is not the same as the cognitive psychology Reddit,&quot; Martin continued.Martin says the Reddit team still has to go through some of the data collected by Deimorz and its own filters to determine what to do next, though he made it clear that just because the sites in question are big media companies, Reddit won't pull any punches on taking action.&quot;If they have broken the rules, they'll be treated just like a mom and pop operation,&quot; Martin said.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Samsung 4G mobile hot spot arrives at Verizon]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=samsung-4g-mobile-hot-spot-arrives-at-verizon</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=samsung-4g-mobile-hot-spot-arrives-at-verizon</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Mar 2011 07:10:33 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Rom467Britney</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=samsung-4g-mobile-hot-spot-arrives-at-verizon</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The new Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot for Verizon.(Credit:Verizon)If you have been having a good time with the Verizon Wireless MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot and now want a similar device that offers much faster 4G speeds, the answer is here. Verizon Wireless teamed up with Samsung to announce today the availability of the Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot. This is a mobile, supercompact Wi-Fi hot spot that offers an Internet connection similar to that of the LG VL600 LTE USB Modem, up to 12Mbps. This type of bandwidth is typically found in high-end broadband connections such as cable. According to the companies, the Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot has a design similar to the MiFi 2200--about the size of a few credit cards stacked up together--and also supports a maximum of five Wi-Fi devices at a time. The device is backward-compatible with Verizon's 3G network, which comes in handy in areas where Verizon's 4G coverage is not available.Similar to the case of the VL600 modem, the Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot comes with data plans that start at $50 per month with a cap of 5GB. Note that with 4G speeds, you could use up this monthly allowance within literally half an hour. The second data plan is 10GB for $80 per month. Unfortunately it seems there's no unlimited data plan currently available for the new hot spot. The Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot is available now and costs $100 with a two-year contract.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Apple: Only App Store apps eligible for design awards]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-only-app-store-apps-eligible-for-design-awards</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-only-app-store-apps-eligible-for-design-awards</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Mar 2011 07:10:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>maningmatae</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-only-app-store-apps-eligible-for-design-awards</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The cube given out to winners of Apple&amp;39's annual design awards.(Credit:Apple)Mac OS developers who want their application to be in the running for an Apple Design Award now face an extra hurdle in that process: making sure the app is on theMac App Store.As part of this morning's dating and detailing of its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, Apple quietly announced that only apps published to one of its two App Stores would be eligible for consideration as part of its annual design awards ceremony.Developers who don't have their applications in Apple's nearly four-month-old distribution marketplace, either by choice or because their app did not pass Apple's review muster, now have until May 23 to get them up to be considered.For iOS developers this part of the process is nothing new, as the App Store on iOS is the only way Apple allows applications to be distributed on the platform. But for Mac OS X developers this marks a dramatic shift in the way Apple is treating the open software distribution model that has served end users since the platform's beginnings. This also limits the breadth of applications that can be considered for the competition given that the Mac App Store requires users to be running OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or higher.Apple began its annual design awards program in 1997 under the moniker the &quot;Human Interface Design Excellence,&quot; changing to its current name just a year later. Those who win get promotion on Apple's developer site, as well as a cube-shaped award that glows when picked up. The design for that cube, which has been made by Palo Alto, Calif.-based Sparkfactor Design since 2003, was once put through a CT scanner by an award winner to see how it worked.This year's WWDC runs from June 6-10, and is taking place at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Microsoft sues Barnes & Noble over Android devices]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=microsoft-sues-barnes--noble-over-android-devices</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=microsoft-sues-barnes--noble-over-android-devices</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Mar 2011 07:10:39 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>cotssatria</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=microsoft-sues-barnes--noble-over-android-devices</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Nook Color, a target of Microsoft&amp;39's lawsuit.(Credit:Barnes &amp; Noble)Microsoft filed suit today against Barnes &amp; Noble as well as the makers of its Android-based e-reader andtablet devices for patent infringement, part of its broader campaign against Google's mobile operating system.The software giant alleges that its patents cover a range of functions &quot;essential to the user experience.&quot; The company specifically cites the way users tab through various screens on the Nook e-reader and the Nook Color tablet, both of which run Android, to find the information they're after, as well as the way they interact with documents and e-books.&quot;The Android platform infringes a number of Microsoft's patents, and companies manufacturing and shipping Android devices must respect our intellectual property rights,&quot; says Horacio Gutierrez, Microsoft's corporate VP and deputy general counsel for intellectual property and licensing, in a press release.Microsoft says it's tried to no avail to reach licensing agreements with Barnes &amp; Noble and its hardware partners. &quot;Their refusals to take licenses leave us no choice but to bring legal action to defend our innovations and fulfill our responsibility to our customers, partners, and shareholders to safeguard the billions of dollars we invest each year to bring great software products and services to market,&quot; Gutierrez says.The suit was filed with the International Trade Commission and the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Washington. Microsoft also named Foxconn International Holdings and Inventec Corporation as defendants in the case.Horacio Gutierrez, Microsoft's deputy general counsel for intellectual property and licensing(Credit:Microsoft)A Barnes &amp; Noble spokeswomen declined to comment on the suit, saying the company doesn't comment on litigation as a matter of policy. Google, though, fired back. &quot;Sweeping software patent claims like Microsoft's threaten innovation. While we are not a party to this lawsuit, we stand behind the Android platform and the partners who have helped us to develop it,&quot; Google spokesman Aaron Zamost said.Microsoft previously sued Motorola, alleging that several of its Android devices infringe on Microsoft patents. Microsoft would prefer that companies making Android devices follow the lead of its longtime partner HTC, which worked out a deal last year covering its own Android devices.Despite its many patents, Microsoft rarely sues over infringements. In a blog post, Gutierrez says that this suit is the seventh proactive patent infringement case brought by Microsoft in its 36-year history. &quot;We simply cannot ignore infringement of this scope and scale,&quot; Gutierrez writes.Microsoft, which is losing ground to Android in the marketplace, is pushing hard to take the fight to the courthouse. One tactic: make using Android, which is offered for free to manufacturers, more costly by raising the specter of litigation. Microsoft has claimed over the years that Linux-based products infringe on its patents, which has led to several licensing deals with companies making devices using the technology. And Android is based on the open-source operating system.As Todd Bishop of GeekWire notes, the patents Microsoft is alleging infringement of are different from the ones cited in the Motorola case. This time, Microsoft is suing over patents such as ones that cover editing electronic documents, and capturing and rendering annotations.The market for mobile devices is so lucrative that litigation is a key strategy to keep rivals off balance. Last year, Apple sued HTC for infringing oniPhone patents covering the graphical user interface and the underlying design. And Oracle, too, sued Google, alleging it infringed on patents related to Java in Android.A once loyal partnerThe size of the market is clearly one reason why Microsoft is willing to take on Barnes &amp; Noble, long a loyal partner and customer for a variety of products and services. A decade ago, Barnes &amp; Noble was one of Microsoft's marquee partners for its Microsoft Reader software, an early entrant into the electronic book market. Back then, Barnes &amp; Noble created an eBook superstore, using the Microsoft technology, for customers who wanted to read books on laptops and the existing hodgepodge of dedicated reading devices that used Microsoft's technology. That business has since shuttered. Barnes &amp; Noble also partnered with Microsoft on its ill-fated Windows Live Search Cashback program, which paid rebates to customers who found products with Microsoft search engine and purchased them. And Barnes &amp; Noble lent its name to the list of customers touting its business intelligence software back in 2004.In addition to a permanent injunction barring the defendants from infringing on Microsoft's patents, the company is also seeking compensatory damages &quot;with interest and costs, and in no event less than a reasonable royalty&quot; as well as treble damages for the defendants &quot;willful and deliberate&quot; patent infringements.Microsoft vs. Barnes &amp; Noble, others(function() { var scribd = document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;)' scribd.type = &quot;text/javascript&quot;' scribd.async = true' scribd.src = &quot;/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js1300479309&quot;' var s = document.getElementsByTagName(&quot;script&quot;)[0]' s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s)' })()'<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Friday Poll: Do nuclear power plants scare you]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=friday-poll-do-nuclear-power-plants-scare-you</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=friday-poll-do-nuclear-power-plants-scare-you</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Mar 2011 07:10:35 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>judmilaumi</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=friday-poll-do-nuclear-power-plants-scare-you</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Far be it from us to contribute to media-fueled fear, but recent developments in Japan have made some reconsider the safety of nuclear power--or give it more thought than they ever had. The 9.0-magnitude earthquake and the tsunamis that hit last week damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, run by the Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco). The utility has been struggling to prevent a possible meltdown and release of high-level radiation, and the emergency has caused some people to flee Tokyo.  As helicopters took to the skies to douse the Fukushima reactors with water, Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Administration raised its severity rating of the crisis from level 4 to level 5 on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale. That brings it on par with the Three Mile Island accident, which forced an evacuation of thousands and cost an estimated $1 billion to clean up.  The Union of Concerned Scientists released a report this week about 14 &quot;near-misses&quot; at nuclear facilities in the United States in 2010 and describing &quot;troubling events, safety equipment problems, and security shortcomings.&quot; The report gives the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission a mixed review as a watchdog of nuclear safety, saying, for instance, that commission inspectors knew about problems with testing at the Peach Bottom nuclear facility in Pennsylvania but did not respond properly.  President Obama also ordered a review of the nation's 104 reactors, which supply about 20 percent of electricity to the U.S. (see a map of commercial reactors here). German Chancellor Angela Merkel, meanwhile, has ordered the closure of seven older nuclear plants for safety inspections.  Are you worried about nuclear power, or do you think fears are overblown Do you have faith in plant designers, operators, and overseers, or do you just picture Homer Simpson when the topic comes up Vote in our poll, and be sure to share your thoughts on this difficult topic in the comments section. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Socialcam: Mobile video sharing done right]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=socialcam-mobile-video-sharing-done-right</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=socialcam-mobile-video-sharing-done-right</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Mar 2011 08:10:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bakeruc</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=socialcam-mobile-video-sharing-done-right</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Socialcam has a Path-like view of videos on its iPhone app, but the real trick is how easy it makes it to share videos instantly with Facebook and Twitter.(Credit:Screenshot by Rafe Needleman/CNET)Socialcam is hardly the first mobile app to record and share videos. Remember 12 Seconds Didn't make it. But not because it was the wrong idea. As Socialcam shows, video sharing from a mobile device can work extremely well. The secret is the execution.Socialcam has technical tricks as well as social ones. It starts uploading your videos as soon as you start recording. So when you press &quot;stop&quot; and go to upload your video, you may find the progress bar already pretty well filled in. If you take a video and you don't have a connection, the app will just store it until you do. You don't have to worry about it. Socially, the app ties into Facebook smoothly. You can tag your friends in your videos as soon as you take them, and this puts the vids on their walls--so people will actually see your videos even if they're not Socialcam users. Sharing on Twitter, or on e-mail or SMS, is also a simple operation.  Socialcam is great for sharing video of friends on Facebook, but it could also be an important app in citizen journalism and revolution. Like Instagram, the even-easier-than-Twitpic photo sharing site, it makes sharing media so simple that it fundamentally alters the experience, when compared with previous products that did the same thing. Socialcam is a production of Justin Kan's Justin.TV. I first met Justin at a party in 2007, when he was still live-streaming from a camera mounted on his head. He's gotten smarter about video since then. Justin.TV is a growing video business, but as Kan told me at the Socialcam launch party, the Justin.TV app still requires too much work for the everyday user. It requires people to know if they want to stream video live, or record first for playback later' also they need to worry about their Internet connection. Socialcam does far less than the mobile video studio that Justin.TV is, but it takes so much of the thinking out of the equation that it makes doing video much easier. Because of that, it is likely to become a more powerful and important service. Here's a Socialcam video from the product's launch party, which I attended in the line of duty Tuesday night. I didn't stay long:<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Room 77 locates choice hotel rooms, new biz angle]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=room-77-locates-choice-hotel-rooms-new-biz-angle</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=room-77-locates-choice-hotel-rooms-new-biz-angle</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Feb 2011 08:10:16 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>sufzireJulliTy</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=room-77-locates-choice-hotel-rooms-new-biz-angle</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Room 77 shows you a list of rooms that match your preferences, with Google-generated views out the windows.(Credit:Screenshot by Rafe Needleman/CNET)When checking in to a hotel, the old advice goes, see the room before you accept it. Don't like it Sniff dismissively at the bellhop, and talk your way into a better room.  Who has time for this Start-up Room 77, launching at the Launch Conference, is building a system that gives hotel guests a look at their potential room before they check in.  In a nutshell, the company is building a database of individual hotel rooms, including for each information like distance from elevators, what floor they're on, subjective ratings from people who have stayed in them, and--the sexy feature--a Google Maps image, with 3D buildings, of the view out the window.  If you get the upcoming Room 77 smartphone app, when you're checking in to a hotel you'll be able see if the room you're offered matches what you like, and also check out the view. Bad-for-you rooms will come back red-tagged. You can request another before you leave the desk.  Better yet, when you're booking a hotel room online, you can tell Room 77 what's important to you and it will rank the rooms in the hotel based on your preferences. You can jump between entries and see their views, and possibly interior pictures. It's very cool, just the thing for the control-freak traveler. The mobile app will let you know if the room you&amp;39've been assigned is a match with your preferences.(Credit:Room 77) The thing is, though, there's no programmatic way yet to request a given room. Category of room, yes. Room number, no. Most hotels don't assign actual rooms until 24 to 48 hours before check-in. Guests sometimes request a given room in a booking, but in the global network of hotel services--hotel sites, travel booking sites, and trip planners--there's no standard way to pass room number requests through to hotels. If Room 77 is to really succeed, booking systems need to get finer-grained, so they can work with this data.  Assuming for the moment that Room 77 can build a good database of hotel room information, using its own services as well as customer-provided images and reviews, the company's future hinges on how successful it can be in inserting this database into the travel economy.  The first way the company will make a buck is straightforward: From booking fees, just like any other travel site. If you book through the site, the company will get its cut. You have to call the hotel to make sure you get the room you want, though. Room 77 provides a cheat sheet for doing so.  In the future, Room 77 may offer a premium &quot;room request guarantee&quot; feature. The best way to get the room you want currently is to contact the hotel a day or two before you arrive, and make sure some human matches your request with the room you like, or one very much like it. That's a pain for travelers who may have booked their stay weeks before. Room 77 may offer a paid service where it will make the call for you. As time goes on, the company may start to make these requests automatically, but that will require a fair bit of backroom negotiating with booking software companies. (Negotiations with Starwood are underway.)  Eventually, though, Room 77's real value will be in bulk transactions around its database--in selling the room-specific data back to hotels or allowing other travel sites or hotel sites to use the Room 77 database through a paid API. If Room 77 ends up with a lock on this data, this is the killer business.  Projecting the economics of Room 77 out a bit, this service could have an impact on how hotel rooms are priced. With granular data available to travelers about each room, it stands to reason that pricing could get granular as well. Instead of just booking a deluxe room at a hotel, you'd book a room by view quality and proximity to elevator, if that's what matters to you. An algorithm could end up pricing hotel rooms by demand, similar to how airfares change frequently based on booking flow, availability, and other projections. I'll leave the implications for Priceline and other semiblind booking sites as an exercise for the reader. Not all the Google views are clear.(Credit:Screenshot by Rafe Needleman/CNET) Room 77 has a smallish number of hotels at launch, but it's expanding. Users with the smartphone app will be able to help by taking pictures, reviewing rooms, and sending in snaps of the emergency exit maps on their hotel room doors. The company uses those to fill out its database.  In my quick review of the prelaunch site, I found that the Google-generated views from hotels' upper floors were useful and illustrative, but that Google's images from low floors (with blocked views) were more muddy than useful, due to the mostly poor quality of the photographs of building facades that Google projects onto the 3D models in its map database. Also, the service doesn't have the information that matters the most to the geek traveler: Wi-Fi signal strength in the room. I asked my contact at the company if they could add that feature ASAP.  Room 77 is a useful, fun, and economically interesting start-up. A few turns of the development wheel as the product grows up and this travel company could become very important. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Translation, mobile simplicity coming to Twitter]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=translation-mobile-simplicity-coming-to-twitter</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=translation-mobile-simplicity-coming-to-twitter</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Feb 2011 08:10:46 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>newyorkdd</dc:creator>
<category>Marketing and advertising</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=translation-mobile-simplicity-coming-to-twitter</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Twitter Chief Executive Dick Costolo (Credit:Stephen Shankland/CNET)BARCELONA -- To make Twitter easier to use for everyone and similar across platforms the company is aiming for tighter integration with phone services and launching translation tools, Chief Executive Dick Costolo said during his keynote at the Mobile World Congress 2011 here. The company is launching a &quot;crowd sourced&quot; translation center for Russian, Indonesian and Turkish and later this year will be offering its own Portuguese translations, he said.  The service is already popular among many mobile users, providing first photos for news events like the US Airways jet crash landing in the Hudson River two years ago, and unique perspectives like Spanish soccer star Carles Puyol sending a photo via TwitPic while participating in the national parade.  Showing Puyol's photo on the screen&quot; behind him, Costolo said &quot;This tweet to me is a metaphor for what all of us in this room are trying to do&quot; - - enable users to create experiences for each other instead of companies creating the experiences for the users. At the mobile event, in particular, Twitter is focusing on making using the service similar on different platforms.  &quot;Twitter already works on almost everything you're going to hear about this week. From the highest bandwidth, high-touch most elegant interface to the most inexpensive cell phone carrying only SMS,&quot; he said. &quot;I shouldn't have to think about how I use Twitter&quot; when switching devices. Another goal for the company is to make the service simpler to use than it is now, regardless of the platform. For instance, when a photo is taken on a mobile device a user shouldn't have to open a separate platform to post it to, Costolo said. The company also wants to be instantly usable for everyone and retain users even if they don't follow a lot of people, he added. Asked to elaborate during a question-and-answer session, Costolo said that the Android integration allows a user to tweet a photo. But &quot;what I would like are more single sign-on experiences, the ability to tweet from the browser,&quot; he said. &quot;Those kinds of integrations that remove&quot; complexity. Twitter is not merely a microblogging site, but a place where people connect with each other in profound ways that are distinctly social and on a large scale, such as 6,000 tweets sent per second right after midnight on New Year's Eve in Tokyo. The company's mission is to connect people everywhere to what is most meaningful to them, he said.  Ninety-nine percent of tweets in the system have some social context, while 40 percent are made from mobile devices, and 50 percent of the users are active on more than one platform, according to Costolo. During the question-and-answer session, Costolo was asked what the company's biggest fear is and what its biggest mistake has been. The biggest fear is lack of execution, he said. The service is handling more than 130 million tweets per day, &quot;so growth is not an issue' we just need to execute.&quot; As for the biggest mistake, the founders would all agree that would be not initially hiring employees fast enough or scaling quickly enough, he said. A 350-person company doesn't have the resources of a larger company, he said.  Asked to comment on rumors that Google would consider buying the company for $10 billion, Costolo said &quot;people write that stuff down all the time,&quot; but it is &quot;just rumor.&quot;  Meanwhile, the company will have news later this year about enabling more geographic specificity in its Trends product, he said.  Asked what the company can do to help people using Arabic and other languages in areas where there has been recent unrest like Tunisia and Egypt, Costolo said: &quot;We don't support right-to-left languages yet and we need to do that... (We're) trying to get short codes up and running for Twitter via SMS&quot; for countries in the Middle East and North Africa. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Symantec report focuses on threat of targeted attacks]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=symantec-report-focuses-on-threat-of-targeted-attacks</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=symantec-report-focuses-on-threat-of-targeted-attacks</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Feb 2011 08:10:29 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>anybgado</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=symantec-report-focuses-on-threat-of-targeted-attacks</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In the world of security, targeted attacks should be a real concern--and extremely worrisome--to organizations around the world, Symantec said in a new quarterly report on attacks on critical infrastructure.&quot;The customization of targeted attacks can make them more dangerous than non-targeted attacks because they are tailored explicitly to affect a target group,&quot; Symantec wrote in its quarterly report (PDF). The company said that targeted attacks are currently being used to take data from companies, steal information for financial gain, or to simply cause &quot;mischief.&quot;Targeted attacks have been gathering some notoriety over the past couple years, mainly because of the Hydraq Trojan and Stuxnet, which the Symantec report focused on.The Hydraq Trojan, which was first discovered in January 2010, attempted to gain access to corporate networks through e-mail attachments or as a download through compromised Web sites. After the Trojan was executed, attackers were able to access a corporate computer through a back door to modify files or steal sensitive information. The threat eventually subsided in February 2010 as companies became aware of the issue.Stuxnet, on the other hand, is far more widespread. The threat, which became well-known after targeting Iran's nuclear program, was estimated to have over 100,000 hosts through September, Symantec told CNET in a story published today. Almost 60 percent of those hosts are in Iran.Symantec's Ralph Langner told CNET that he believes that the focus of the targeted attack has always been intended to &quot;destroy centrifuges but also to lower the output of enriched uranium&quot; in Iran.But Stuxnet can do more than target nuclear programs. The payload is capable of disrupting control systems used at chemical facilities, power plants, and other vastly important facilities.Symantec's quarterly report specifically pointed to Stuxnet as a prime example that targeted attacks on control systems for important machinery and equipment, including &quot;power generation and distribution&quot;--known as supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)--can often be &quot;politically motivated or state-sponsored.&quot; The security firm was able to document 10 vulnerabilities on SCADA targets during the fourth quarter, and a total of 15 SCADA vulnerabilities on the year. Symantec pointed out that the number of reported vulnerabilities is &quot;typically very small&quot; because it's a niche in security research.Protecting against targeted attacks is an important step in limiting issues with SCADA systems, Symantec said. The security firm recommends that companies eliminate the ability for &quot;SCADA protocols and devices&quot; to access the Internet. If Internet connectivity is necessary, however, Symantec recommends that companies &quot;limit access&quot; to cut down on the possibility of trouble breaking out.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Next-gen Samsung Galaxy S II unveiled]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=next-gen-samsung-galaxy-s-ii-unveiled</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=next-gen-samsung-galaxy-s-ii-unveiled</comments>
<pubDate>Sun, 13 Feb 2011 08:10:29 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>sosteessyflelaassthma</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=next-gen-samsung-galaxy-s-ii-unveiled</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Samsung Galaxy S II(Credit:Bonnie Cha/CNET)BARCELONA, Spain--As promised, Samsung unveiled its next-generation Galaxy S smartphone at Mobile World Congress 2011 today. Dubbed the Samsung Galaxy S II, the handset improves on its predecessor in a number of ways. First, you've got the addition of a dual-core processor. We were originally told by the company that it was using Nvidia's Tegra 2 chipset but were later informed that it was Samsung's own chip' unfortunately, further details were not provided at the event but generally speaking you should see faster performance and graphics. It also runs the latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread, but unlike the Nexus S, the Galaxy S II will feature Samsung's custom TouchWiz user interface.Given the delay with updates being pushed out to the current Galaxy S portfolio, we're sure this news will make some groan. However, TouchWiz 4.0 offers added functionality, including the three new hubs--Game, Music, and Reader--so users can download more content to their smartphones. The Games hub will be powered by Gameloft, while the Music hub will be run by 7Digital. The Reader hub will come from different providers and includes access to 2.2 million books, 2,000 global and local newspapers, and 2,300 magazines. You'll still get your social-networking feeds through the Social hub (now Social Hub Premium), but you'll also be able to see your communications history, IM status, and reach your contacts via SMS, e-mail, etc., all from one place. Though there's a social and multimedia aspect to the device, Samsung has also worked to make it a more business-friendly smartphone. As a result, the Galaxy S II includes on-device encryption and support for Cisco's mobile solutions for VoIP calls, VPN, and virtual desktop.Design-wise, the Galaxy S II features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus touch screen with a WVGA 480x800-pixel resolution. Samsung's Super AMOLED screens already provided one of the richest viewing experiences on a smartphone, but the Super AMOLED Plus adds 50 percent more sub-pixels, and we certainly noticed a crisper, smoother picture, and colors popped off the screen.The general form factor is like other touch-screen smartphones we've seen, but Samsung loves claiming to have the world's thinnest or smallest products, so we weren't surprised to hear them call the Galaxy S II the &quot;world's thinnest smartphone.&quot; Having seen it in person, we can say it is incredibly thin. It measures 4.93 inches tall by 2.6 inches wide by 0.33 inch thick and weighs 4.09 ounces. Like the previous generation, the Galaxy S II has a plastic build, but Samsung added a textured back, so at least the smartphone doesn't feel as slick this time around. You can get a closer look at the device in our hands-on photo gallery below. Other notable highlights of the Galaxy S II include an 8-megapixel camera and front-facing 2-megapixel camera, 1080p HD video recording and playback, option for NFC connectivity, HSPA+ support, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Samsung says it currently has no plans for a CDMA version of the phone at this time. The Galaxy S II is expected to ship to Europe and Asia in February, but no word on U.S. availability or pricing at this time. In addition to the Galaxy S II, Samsung also introduced the Galaxy Tab 10.1, which will debut worldwide this spring. Samsung Galaxy S II hands-on (photos) <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Verizon's iPhone 4 packs 'world mode' chip]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=verizons-iphone-4-packs-world-mode-chip</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=verizons-iphone-4-packs-world-mode-chip</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 07 Feb 2011 08:10:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>bimpnorejbillty</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=verizons-iphone-4-packs-world-mode-chip</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Teardowns of Apple'sVerizoniPhone 4 reveal a Qualcomm &quot;world mode&quot; chip and redesigned antenna, among other modifications to the heretofore AT&amp;T-only phone. Both iFixit and UBM TechInsights have taken apart the phone exposing more than a few non-trivial changes. Foremost of these changes is the Qualcomm MDM6600 chip--a first for an Apple phone. That is the same chip that's being used in the Droid Pro world phone, which enables the Droid to support both CDMA and GSM. But, for now, that capability in the iPhone remains a latent, untapped potential.Other Verizon iPhone 4 iFixit teardown highlights: Battery: the battery can be removed &quot;fairly easily once you circumvent Apple's pesky Pentalobe screws,&quot; iFixit said. Antenna: an additional notch in the antenna enclosure on the right side of the phone is a result of the switch from GSM to CDMA. &quot;Only time will tell if this new antenna design helps combat the reception problems plaguing the GSM iPhone 4,&quot; iFixit said. Display: the display assembly is different from the GSM iPhone 4. The mounting tabs are in different locations for the two display assemblies. Upshot: the two assemblies are not interchangeable.Rubber pads: Apple used custom-molded rubber pads between the chips and the EMI shields. &quot;Presumably to conduct heat and quell any interference between analog and digital circuitry.&quot;Chips: Other high-profile silicon, in addition to the Qualcomm MDM6600, include Apple's A4 chip (of course) and Texas Instruments touchscreen controller (343S0499).Verizon iPhone 4: in the upper circuit board, the chip with the red outline is the Qualcomm MDM6600, the orange outlined chip is the Toshiba 16GB NAND Flash.(Credit:iFixit)The Verizon iPhone 4 earned a Repairability Score of 6 out of 10, iFixit said. Aside from the battery's annoying Pentalobe screws, &quot;other components are connected mostly with regular screws, with limited use of tabs and adhesives.&quot; iFixit also notes that the SIM card and SIM tray were the only user-serviceable parts in the AT&amp;T iPhone 4. &quot;Sadly, now the Verizon iPhone does not contain any user-serviceable parts.&quot; <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Microsoft responds to Google's copycat claims, again]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=microsoft-responds-to-googles-copycat-claims-again</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=microsoft-responds-to-googles-copycat-claims-again</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 02 Feb 2011 08:10:40 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>James01</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=microsoft-responds-to-googles-copycat-claims-again</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Following yesterday's fracas over whether Microsoft was culling search results from rival Google, Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's senior VP of its Online Services Division, has weighed in, reiterating that Google's claims are false.&quot;We do not copy results from any of our competitors. Period. Full stop,&quot; Mehdi said in a post on Bing's community blog titled &quot;Setting the record straight.&quot; &quot;We have some of the best minds in the world at work on search quality and relevance, and for a competitor to accuse any one of these people of such activity is just insulting,&quot; Mehdi said.Mehdi went on to mirror some of the statements made by Harry Shum, Microsoft's head of core search development, during the company's Farsight event. Shum had discussed allegations on stage with Google's head of Web spam, Matt Cutts' Mehdi outlined how Bing made use of anonymous click stream data, along with &quot;more than a thousand inputs&quot; to create Bing's ranking algorithm.Mehdi said that Google's plan to check whether Bing was looking at that click stream data was &quot;rigged to manipulate Bing search results,&quot; and called Google's honeypot attack &quot;click fraud.&quot; He then compared Google's efforts to the the methods used by spammers to create fraudulent search result pages.&quot;What does all this cloak and dagger click fraud prove Nothing anyone in the industry doesn't already know,&quot; Mehdi said. &quot;As we have said before and again in this post, we use click stream optionally provided by consumers in an anonymous fashion as one of 1,000 signals to try and determine whether a site might make sense to be in our index.&quot;Mehdi closed up the post by saying that the company would continue to focus on innovating the product, though added a jab about the timing of Google's honeypot discovery, saying it was directly related to some of Microsoft's recent improvements to Bing, which were &quot;so big and noticeable that we are told Google took notice and began to worry,&quot; Mehdi said.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Ecotality, Cisco connect Internet-savvy EV charger]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ecotality-cisco-connect-internet-savvy-ev-charger</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ecotality-cisco-connect-internet-savvy-ev-charger</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 31 Jan 2011 08:10:58 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>noviygod2011</dc:creator>
<category>Eco</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ecotality-cisco-connect-internet-savvy-ev-charger</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Cisco Systems and Ecotality, an electric-vehicle charging station company, are collaborating to make EVs part of a home energy-management system. Ecotality's Blink home EV charging station will connect to Cisco's Home Energy Controller, a touch-screen device for managing home energy, as part of early electric vehicle trials with consumers.Blink Level 2 wall mount charger from Ecotality for home use(Credit:Ecotality)The integration will let electriccar owners schedule charging to take advantage of preferential rates offered by utilities for electric vehicles, typically after 9 p.m. From the Cisco home energy dashboard, there is an application to monitor and program how an electric car is charged, according to the companies.Charging an electric car can pull as much power as an entire home consumes, utilities executives say, so consumers have an incentive to charge at off-peak times. But the system is sophisticated enough to communicate with utilities to get discounts beyond the EV tariff, Ecotality CEO Jonathan Read said in an interview.For example, a consumer could program the car to be fully charged at 6 a.m. and the home charger could slow the rate of charging at times to get the lowest prices. Or consumers could program the system to ensure that the entire house is not consuming an amount of power that would put it into a higher rate bracket, he said.&quot;Interaction with the smart grid is imperative to make electric vehicles successful. It will reduce costs, increase efficiency, drive consumer acceptance, and allay utilities' fears with respect to load and load management,&quot; Read said.With so few electric vehicles plugging in, the current U.S. grid can handle the added capacity. But there could be choke points on the local level if several drivers in a neighborhood charge all at once. That's why utilities are eager to give consumers tools to charge at off-peak times during the middle of the night. Ecotality and Cisco plan to pilot test the combination in San Diego first as part of a Department of Energy program designed to get an EV charging infrastructure started. It could then be rolled out to other locations in the DOE program after that, Read said.The home energy management system is designed to work either with or without two-way smart meters. The controller and EV charger will communicate using Wi-Fi and any data sent back to the utility, such as charge rate or charging patterns, can be sent using a home Internet connection.Cisco, a networking giant, is testing its home energy controller, which effectively acts a network hub connected to a home router, with four utilities in smart-grid trials. But it views EV buyers as a potential channel for its home energy management system, said product line manager Larry O'Connell. Cisco&amp;39's home energy controller, a touch-screen display for monitoring energy and cutting energy waste.(Credit:Cisco)Still, the cost for the home energy controller--at about $500 per unit--is a barrier to broad adoption, O'Connell acknowledged. Over time, Cisco could make a simpler device and have consumers access EV chargers and other connected home devices through a smart phone or PC. Some of the computing power and networking could move into Cisco's home networking equipment or a set-top box, O'Connell said. There's an ongoing debate in the smart-grid industry over which networking protocol is best for the home-area network where smart appliances, home energy management systems, and EV chargers communicate. O'Connell said Cisco chose to work with Wi-Fi, rather than the low-power mesh wireless protocol Zigbee used in many smart meters, in this trial because it's already proven in people's homes.The deal between Ecotality and Cisco was timed for the DistribuTech utility industry conference taking place this week in San Diego, where a number of announcements around home energy and electric vehicle management are expected to be announced. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Woz wishes Jobs well during leave]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=woz-wishes-jobs-well-during-leave</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=woz-wishes-jobs-well-during-leave</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jan 2011 08:10:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Nisha</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=woz-wishes-jobs-well-during-leave</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Steve Wozniak, an Apple co-founder and one of the company&amp;39's biggest fans. (Credit:Scott Ard/CNET)At first, Steve Wozniak was spooked by today's news that Apple CEO Steve Jobs is taking another leave of absence for health reasons, but now the co-founder of Apple says he supports Jobs' decision to take a break. &quot;I haven't contacted Jobs yet,&quot; Wozniak wrote CNET in an e-mail. &quot;The news actually frightened me because I did not expect it. If Steve is tired and wants a bit more normal life, more power to him.&quot;Apple revealed earlier today that Jobs had notified Apple employees about the new leave of absence. Jobs said that he was leaving to focus on his health and that he would still be involved in the company's &quot;major strategic decisions,&quot; with COO Tim Cook handling day-to-day operations. Jobs did not say when he would be back. In 2009, Jobs took a six-month leave to deal with issues related to his battle with pancreatic cancer.Wozniak not only helped create Apple, along with Jobs and Ronald Wayne in 1976, but holds the unofficial title of being the company's No. 1 fan and one of the tech sector's most beloved elder statesmen. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Solar tactically used on the Afghan front]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=solar-tactically-used-on-the-afghan-front</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=solar-tactically-used-on-the-afghan-front</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Jan 2011 08:10:21 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>amytalbot</dc:creator>
<category>Eco</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=solar-tactically-used-on-the-afghan-front</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Marines and their Afghan national army counterparts in front of a ZeroBased Regenerator, a solar/energy storage unit consisting of six solar panels. It can power 17 computers and 15 lighting units simultaneously. Marines added four more panels (two on each side) of this particular unit for even more power.(Credit:U.S. Marine Corps/Gunnery Sgt. William Price)A Marine experiment aimed at determining whether it's beneficial, or even feasible, to use solar energy in the theater of war has landed on the side of solar.That's according to an article filed Wednesday by Gunnery Sgt. William Price, 1st Marine Division, about Marines located in the Sangin District of Helmand Province, Afghanistan at what's known as an &quot;experimental forward operating base.&quot;The Marine 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment at Forward Operating Base Jackson, and its Afghan national army counterparts, have been using portable solar blankets to continuously charge radio batteries while on long patrols, solar tarps to power lighting for tents at night, and solar panels to power command centers and computers.To be clear, this Marine regiment was not simply thrown into using the new gear while in Afghanistan. They do have the claim to fame of being the &quot;first military unit to use nothing but renewable energy to power their systems&quot; when they participated in Enhanced Mojave Viper in July 2010, a month-long pre-deployment training exercise at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, in Twentynine Palms, Calif.Among that equipment, the PowerShade solar tarp made to fit a standard issue Marine Corps tent that can power a tent's lighting system. The ZeroBas Regenerator consists of six solar panels attached to a storage battery capable of providing enough electricity to run 20 lighting systems and 15 computers simultaneously. The Ground Renewable Expeditionary Energy System is a slightly smaller solar/battery system that can generate enough power for four computers or one Combat Operations Center.But the regiment told Price that they have been discovering some new benefits of using solar while at war.Using portable solar blankets to charge radios has enabled them to carry fewer extra batteries, leaving room for more ammunition.When operating at Patrol Base Sparks, an outpost of Forward Operating Base Jackson, regiment members have managed to get their fuel use down from 20 gallons per day per generator to just 2.5 gallons per generator.And that change has enabled those Marines to generate and store enough electricity during sunlit hours, that generators are only minimally run at night, reducing noise and allowing the base to be less conspicuous to insurgent attackers, Staff Sgt. Greg Wenzel, 1st Platoon told Price.Most importantly, it's cut down on the amount of convoy trips U.S. military have had to make for fuel replenishments. That change has cut down their exposure to attacks and roadside bombs, according to Staff Sgt. David Doty, 1st Platoon.(via Wired Danger Room ) <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Sony Ericsson eyes fresh Android start in 2011]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=sony-ericsson-eyes-fresh-android-start-in-2011</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=sony-ericsson-eyes-fresh-android-start-in-2011</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Jan 2011 08:10:21 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>josie21</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=sony-ericsson-eyes-fresh-android-start-in-2011</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The fresh start begins for Sony Ericsson with the Xperia Arc(Credit:Kent German/CNET)Like many of you, I've watched the rumors of a PlayStation Phone spread across the Internet over the last few weeks. After a so-so 2010 for Sony Ericsson, this is exactly the type of device that could cement Sony Ericsson as a top Android contender. That is, if they get it right. Ask any Android enthusiast about last year's Xperia X10 and you'll likely hear gripes about how badly the company missed the boat. Once expected to be one of the premier Android phones on the market, the Xperia X10 arrived with muted fanfare. Though eventually it was successful at a couple of carriers around the world, it never took off in the United States, even though it landed at AT&amp;T.  What was the primary reason for this missed opportunity Outdated software, of course. Even with its 1GHz processor, 4-inch screen, and 8.1-megapixel camera, the phone was hampered by Android 1.6. That inability to run many of today's better applications turned many potential consumers away. And even now, as some Android handsets are getting 2.2 or even 2.3, Sony Ericsson is just pushing Android 2.1 out to various regions. Thankfully, however, the future looks much brighter.As of right now, thePlayStation should come branded under the Xperia umbrella, possibly carrying the Xperia Play moniker. Although branding it specifically as the PlayStation Phone could be a better move, it will be easier for the company to fold it into the Sony Ericsson portfolio. What's more, listing it with the Xperia name ties it to its other efforts, notably the new Xperia Arc. Ironically, the Xperia Arc was the only Android 2.3 phone I could find on the floor ofCES. Not only does it offer sexy hardware, but also it's running the absolute latest version of Android. Speaking with various members of the Sony Ericsson team, I found them to be very optimistic about it and other unannounced devices. I got the sense that they knew 2011 would be a mulligan of sorts, allowing for a fresh start.Pocket-Lint recently spent time talking with Sony Ericsson and found that company reps were brutally honest about their early efforts. As it turns out, they underestimated the value users would place on Android, and not necessarily the hardware. After starting with the X10 all the way back in 2008, they realized over the next two years that the industry would move much more quickly than anticipated. As Steve Walker, current global head of marketing, advises, the company learned &quot;a huge amount last year&quot; and plan to apply these lessons moving forward. What's more, Sony Ericsson can continue to focus on beautiful and powerful hardware. Even with its antiquated software, you'd be hard-pressed to deny the sexiness of the X10. And as we see with the Xperia Arc, the company plans to continue with the sleek, sophisticated-looking devices.Recently uncovered information suggests the company has also filed for trademarks and Web domains under Xperia Neo and Xperia Duo. Not counting the rumored PlayStation Phone, we may soon be treated to a few announcements at next month's Mobile World Congress. As Sony Ericsson tells it, there will be &quot;many&quot; devices be unveiled over the course of the next year. I'm willing to forgive Sony Ericsson for the false start, are you<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[CES: Microsoft press event Wednesday at CES 2011 (live blog)]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ces-microsoft-press-event-wednesday-at-ces-2011-live-blog</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ces-microsoft-press-event-wednesday-at-ces-2011-live-blog</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 04 Jan 2011 08:10:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>zmmerictrvbp</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ces-microsoft-press-event-wednesday-at-ces-2011-live-blog</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Join us tomorrow at 1 p.m. Pacific for Microsoft's afternoon press event at CES 2011. Please note this event is separate from the CES keynote address taking place at 6:30 p.m. that day and headed by Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer. As for what to expect, high-level rumors from both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal have pointed to Microsoft unveiling a version of Windows that runs on ARM processing technology. That information could be saved for the company's CES kickoff keynote speech, though a more intimate venue would offer the company a chance to bring in additional partners for demos, as well as field questions from the press. To watch our live blog, which will include text and photos from the event, you can either bookmark this page and come back to it, or sign up for a reminder in the Cover it Live module below. Microsoft CES afternoon press event<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Researcher reports apparent China interest in IE hole]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=researcher-reports-apparent-china-interest-in-ie-hole</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=researcher-reports-apparent-china-interest-in-ie-hole</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 03 Jan 2011 08:10:39 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Emma01</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=researcher-reports-apparent-china-interest-in-ie-hole</guid>
<description><![CDATA[(Credit:Microsoft)A security researcher who created a tool he used to find numerous bugs in major browsers has released it to the public, saying the importance of its distribution is heightened by the leak to the Web of an unpatched vulnerability in Internet Explorer.  Michal Zalewski, a Google security researcher based in Poland, announced in a blog post this weekend that he was releasing a tool called &quot;cross_fuzz&quot; and said its distribution was a priority because at least one of the vulnerabilities discovered by the tool appears to be known to a mysterious third party. &quot;I have reasons to believe that the evidently exploitable vulnerability discoverable by cross_fuzz, and outlined in msie_crash.txt, is *independently* known to third parties in China,&quot; Zalewski wrote in a separate post.  &quot;While working on addressing cross_fuzz crashes in WebKit prior to this announcement, one of the developers accidentally leaked the address of the fuzzer in one of the uploaded crash traces. As a result, the fuzzer directory, including msie_crash.txt, has been indexed by GoogleBot,&quot; he continued. &quot;I have confirmed that following this accident, no other unexpected parties discovered or downloaded the tool.&quot;  On December 30, there were two search queries from an IP address in China that matched keywords mentioned in one of the indexed cross_fuzz files, he said.  Of the 100 or so bugs Zalewski said he found in IE,Firefox, Opera, and browsers powered by WebKit, including Chrome andSafari, he said he notified the vendors or developers in July and that they are in varying stages of resolution. He provides a timeline for contacting Microsoft here, noting that his first contact on the matter was in May 2008. &quot;At this point, we're not aware of any exploits or attacks for the reported issue and are continuing to investigate and monitor the threat environment for any changes,&quot; Jerry Bryant, group manager for Trustworthy Computing response communications at Microsoft, said in a statement. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Apple's iPad 2 rumored to have USB port]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apples-ipad-2-rumored-to-have-usb-port</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apples-ipad-2-rumored-to-have-usb-port</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Dec 2010 08:10:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>sufreter365</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apples-ipad-2-rumored-to-have-usb-port</guid>
<description><![CDATA[(Credit:Apple)With the bulk of the holiday shopping buzz dying down, rumors of Apple's newiPad 2 have sprung to life. The most recent rumor, courtesy of the Mobile Review blog editor-in-chief Eldar Murtazin, says the iPad 2 will include a USB port.The tweet, discovered by AppleInsider, reads: &quot;Talked with colleague which working with some ODM vendors connected with Apple. He is research guy. According to his sources iPad2 will have usb port.&quot;AppleInsider reports that Murtazin is a trusted insider with good sources and the news of the integrated USB could be the result of a European device-maker pact that decided micro-USB ports should be standard device charging ports. Apple, of course, uses the 30-pin dock connector for its mobile devices, including the iPad.Including an integrated USB port would also quickly make obsolete the USB adapter kit provided by Apple for the iPad. Currently, the USB adapter only supports importing photos from digital cameras, though some other peripheral devices have been said to work. There is no word whether an integrated USB port would offer greater functionality. In the meantime, expect rumors to keep flowing from various sources as the new iPad gets closer to be announced and released.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[The most beautiful amplifier in the world]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=the-most-beautiful-amplifier-in-the-world</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=the-most-beautiful-amplifier-in-the-world</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Dec 2010 08:10:32 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>pnopnolim34</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=the-most-beautiful-amplifier-in-the-world</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Devialet D-Premier amplifier(Credit:Devialet)First, I have to admit that a lot of high-end amplifiers are so ugly you'd have to be an audiophile to buy them. But there are more than a few truly gorgeous examples, like the Devialet D-Premier. It's French, after all, and the French know a thing or two about style. In 2007, Pierre-Emannuel Calmel and Matthias Moronvalle decided to launch a new high-end audio company, Devialet, in Paris. The two men had both worked for Nortel's R&amp;D department, and they weren't the least bit interested in crafting just another high-end amplifier. It looks like they're off to a grand start' the Devialet D-Premier is a unique Class A/Class D hybrid design. Bona fide Class A circuits are only used in very high-end audiophile amplifiers, but Class A designs are extremely inefficient and consume huge amounts of AC power to produce low power output. Class D amps are highly efficient designs, but their sound quality falls short of the highest audiophile standards.  The D-Premier was designed to have the sound quality of Class A and the efficiency of Class D designs. The D-Premier is an integrated amplifier and has two analog phono inputs for turntables' two analog inputs for CD, DVD, or portable digital players' two optical digital inputs' four coaxial digital inputs' one XLR digital input' one HDMI 1.3 input' and a subwoofer output. The D-Premier stereo amp produces 240 watts per channel.It's been getting rave reviews from the audiophile press, and I'm hoping to get my hands on the D-Premier sometime next year. Judging from the pictures, it's a stunning design. Low and sleek with a highly polished chassis, the D-Premier looks like nothing else. Even the remote control is special, with a careful attention to design details. Devialet is imported by Audio Plus, which has a network of authorized specialty dealers in North America. The U.S. price has not yet been set. The Devialet D-Premier, with the remote control in the foreground.(Credit:Devialet)<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[WikiLeaks.info rebuts malware warnings]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=wikileaks-info-rebuts-malware-warnings</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=wikileaks-info-rebuts-malware-warnings</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Dec 2010 08:10:55 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>hongchen</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=wikileaks-info-rebuts-malware-warnings</guid>
<description><![CDATA[WikiLeaks.info, a site assisting WikiLeaks' effort to share U.S. war information and diplomatic cables, is rebutting online security organizations' warnings that its Web site could be dangerous to visit.WikiLeaks.info provides a list of sites that mirror the original WikiLeaks content, and in recent days the main WikiLeaks.org Web site has redirected visitors to the WikiLeaks.info mirror page. WikiLeaks.info has grown in importance because of others' moves two weeks ago that made it difficult to reach WikiLeaks.org and led its operators to resurface at WikiLeaks.ch, a Swiss domain.Spamhaus, a nonprofit volunteer organization that seeks to curtail spam, phishing, botnets for network attacks, and malware, issued a &quot;malware warning&quot; yesterday for WikiLeaks.info.WikiLeaks.info &quot;is hosted in a very dangerous 'neighborhood,' Webalta's 92.241.160.0/19 IP address space, a 'blackhat' network which Spamhaus believes caters primarily to, or is under the control of, Russian cybercriminals,&quot; Spamhaus said. &quot;Our concern is that any Wikileaks archive posted on a site that is hosted in Webalta space might be infected with malware. Since the main wikileaks.org website now transparently redirects visitors to mirror.wikileaks.info and thus directly into Webalta's controlled IP address space, there is substantial risk that any malware infection would spread widely.&quot;WikiLeaks.info strenuously objected to the warning today.&quot;We find it very disturbing that Spamhaus labels a site as dangerous without even checking if there is any malware on it. We monitor the wikileaks.info site and we can guarantee that there is no malware on it,&quot; the WikiLeaks.info site said.WikiLeaks.info is only &quot;very loosely&quot; affiliated with the official WikiLeaks effort, a WikiLeaks.info representative told CNET. &quot;In, fact we were caught [by] surprise on last Saturday as we all of a sudden had 1 million hits per day on our Web site. The switch&quot;--when WikiLeaks began redirecting visitors to the official WikiLeaks.org site to WikiLeaks.info--&quot;was not discussed with us.&quot;Spamhaus' services for tracking dangerous domains are widely used globally, so the warning carries significant weight. And although Spamhaus said it &quot;takes no political stand on the WikiLeaks affair,&quot; its actions pose a further difficulty for those allied with WikiLeaks' cause.WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange was arrested last week in the U.K. for possible extradition to Sweden, where he faces allegations of sex crimes. Assange denies the alleged crimes. A British judge ruled he could go free on bail yesterday, but prosecutors are appealing that decision. The prosecutors' challenge is expected to be heard tomorrow, according to Reuters.More directly related to WikiLeaks' mission is the possibility of prosecution in the United States for violation of the Espionage Act.Spamhaus also warned that WikiLeaks.info is relying on Heihachi.net, &quot;a provider run 'by criminals for criminals,'&quot; for Domain Name Service (DNS) needs. DNS is a technology that converts the Web addresses people type into the numeric Internet addresses computers actually use to communicate.Here again, WikiLeaks.info objected.&quot;We do not know who else is hosted with Heihachi Ltd and it is none of our business. They provide reliable hosting to us. That's it,&quot; WikiLeaks.info said on its Web site.WikiLeaks is concerned about its reputation. &quot;That's why we contacted Spamhaus to find out if they could remove us from the list,&quot; the WikiLeaks.info representative told CNET. Spamhaus hasn't responded, according to the WikiLeaks.info Web site.WikiLeaks.info selected its services to avoid further problems with interrupted Net service, the site said. &quot;WikiLeaks has been pulled from big hosters like Amazon. That's why we are using a 'bulletproof' hoster that does not just kick a site when it gets a letter from government or a big company,&quot; the site said.Spamhaus is not alone in its concern. On Sunday, security company Trend Micro also warned of the Heihachi.net connection.&quot;Heihachi Ltd. is known as a bulletproof, blackhat-hosting provider in Russia that is a safe haven for criminals and fraudsters. It hosts a long list of criminally related domains. Among these domains are banking fraud domains, carders' (criminals who trade stolen credit card information) websites, malware sites, and phishing sites. No matter what your political view is, this is rather disturbing,&quot; Trend Micro senior threat researcher Feike Hacquebord said. &quot;We assess the wikileaks.info domain as highly risky and we do not recommend visiting this site as long as it is hosted by Heihachi.&quot;Updated 7:17 a.m. PTwith comments from WikiLeaks.info.A view of the WikiLeaks.info site today.(Credit:Screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET)<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Forecast: iPad share of Net traffic to double in a year]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=forecast-ipad-share-of-net-traffic-to-double-in-a-year</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=forecast-ipad-share-of-net-traffic-to-double-in-a-year</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Dec 2010 08:10:51 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>duoutras</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=forecast-ipad-share-of-net-traffic-to-double-in-a-year</guid>
<description><![CDATA[How's this for a prediction By the end of 2011, theiPad will generate more than 2 percent of all North American Web traffic.  That's according to Chitika, which has been tracking iPad adoption rates on its ad network (3 billion ads served monthly across more than 100,000 sites) for some time now. (Credit:Apple) As of this month, the iPad accounts for 0.83 percent of all traffic on Chitika's network, research director Daniel Ruby tells me. And at current growth rates, which have been steady since the device's launch, it should hit 2.3 percent by the end of next year. To get that metric, Ruby took the past two months' data trends for iPad growth relative to the full network's traffic and, after accounting for spikes and dips, built out a growth line for the next 12 months. And while Chitika has taken some flak in the past for inaccuracies with its iPad sales counter, Ruby says he's confident about this particular projection because he's predicting a metric Chitika can directly measure. Said Ruby, &quot;For the sake of perspective, the iPad is already on par with Linux in terms of Internet usage market share [in North America] and is on pace to more than double its presence by the end of 2011.&quot; Story Copyright (c) 2010 AllThingsD. All rights reserved.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Internet Explorer 9 to get tracking protection]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=internet-explorer-9-to-get-tracking-protection</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=internet-explorer-9-to-get-tracking-protection</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Dec 2010 08:10:19 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>gaylordsty</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=internet-explorer-9-to-get-tracking-protection</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Microsoft this morning detailed changes to Internet Explorer 9's security features that will better enable users to keep sites from tracking their activity across browsing sessions. The feature, which is set to arrive in the first release candidate of IE9 early next year, uses a list to tell the browser which third-party page elements sites can and cannot be blocked from tracking. This includes elements ranging from advertisements to more mundane things like embedded widgets from particular providers.On Microsoft's IE blog, Dean Hachamovitch, head of Internet Explorer development, explained how it works:A Tracking Protection List (TPL) contains Web addresses (like msdn.com) that the browser will visit (or &quot;call&quot;) only if the consumer visits them directly by clicking on a link or typing their address. By limiting the calls to these Web sites and resources from other Web pages, the TPL limits the information these other sites can collect.You can look at this as a translation of the &quot;Do Not Call&quot; list from the telephone to the browser and web. It complements many of the other approaches being discussed for browser controls of Do Not Track.In a Webcast announcing the feature, Hachamovitch said most users have &quot;little awareness of who can track their activity,&quot; and that the feature stemmed from that. Hachamovitch also attributed the creation of the feature to the company's more open approach to developing features for IE9. Microsoft&amp;39's tracking protection tool gives users control over which site elements can track your activity during a browsing session. Green ones in this shot can, while the red cannot.(Credit:Screenshot by Josh Lowensohn/CNET)Microsoft is letting users and third-parties alike author protection lists and host them on their sites. Users can then download them to their browser. Microsoft has also created lists to resemble what Hachamovitch likened to an RSS feed, so that if additional sites are added or removed, it can be updated without the user having to seek out, or manually update. Hachamovitch said tracking protection will not replace InPrivate filtering, a feature Microsoft added to IE in version 8. Instead, Hachamovitch referred to it as complementary, given that InPrivate filtering uses algorithms to control tracking, along with not persisting from session to session. Tracking protection, on the other hand, will remain on once a user turns it on.Microsoft says tracking protection will not be on by default when it arrives next year. Users will need to opt-in to enable it, as well as seek out lists of sites, which will not ship with the browser once it's released.So far, Microsoft's IE9 beta has been downloaded in excess of 15 million times since its release back in September. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Project brings unofficial apps to Windows Phone 7]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=project-brings-unofficial-apps-to-windows-phone-7</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=project-brings-unofficial-apps-to-windows-phone-7</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 29 Nov 2010 08:10:23 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>zacharyheath1953</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=project-brings-unofficial-apps-to-windows-phone-7</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A new piece of software is promising to giveWindows Phone 7 owners an alternative to Microsoft's Windows Phone Marketplace when it comes to installing applications.The third-party tool, dubbed &quot;ChevronWP7,&quot; was released late last week, and opens up the phone for the side-loading of applications. That means end users can add applications to their phones directly, instead of having to go through Microsoft'sZune software, or the phone's built-in application directory and installer. That said, it's not a third-party application repository, or an alternative to the application storefront Microsoft currently offers. The three creators of the software say the tool has not been designed for the piracy of applications. Rather, it's been made to &quot;enable and create WP7 homebrew applications that cannot be submitted to the Marketplace in the first place.&quot; That includes applications that make use of private, or native application programming interfaces, as well as ones that do not meet Microsoft's content guidelines and technical certification requirements--all things that would keep them from making the cut. The other reason for the software, the developers said, was to bypass Microsoft's $99 developer registration fee, which is first required to enable the existing side-loading functionality on the device. A Microsoft spokesperson told blog WinRumors that such an exploit was &quot;anticipated,&quot; but that &quot;attempting to unlock a device could void the warranty, disable phone functionality, interrupt access to Windows Phone 7 services or render the phone permanently unusable.&quot; One of ChevronWP7's creators, Rafael Rivera has since refuted the statement, saying that it's unfounded. &quot;This is patently false as we use the same exact procedure the official Phone Registration tool uses,&quot; he said. Microsoft, like Apple, is one of the few OS-makers to keep side-loading of applications off its phones. Google, RIM, Nokia, and Palm all allow users to install and run applications outside of a marketplace, while still offering one of their own.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Powering San Francisco's cable cars]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=powering-san-franciscos-cable-cars</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=powering-san-franciscos-cable-cars</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Nov 2010 08:10:23 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>riapnomin01</dc:creator>
<category>Gaming</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=powering-san-franciscos-cable-cars</guid>
<description><![CDATA[San Francisco currently operates the only cable car system in the world. But while today&amp;39's cars are single vehicles, In the old days, cable cars were often actually two separate cars, a dummy--the locomotive--and a trailer. Today, the dummy and the trailer are combined into a single car. These two cars on display in the Cable Car Museum in San Francisco are Sutter Street Dummy No. 46 and Trailer No. 54. No. 54 used to be pulled by horses before the mechanized dummies came along.(Credit:Daniel Terdiman/CNET)SAN FRANCISCO--For almost anyone who's visited Baghdad by the Bay, a ride on one of the city's iconic cablecars is pretty much a must.What most people don't know, however, is that, once upon a time, these wooden vehicles, which are pulled along their routes by thick, heavy, metal cables, could be found in cities all over the world.From Paris to Melbourne to Bogota and elsewhere, the cable car was once seen as a fantastic alternative to having horses pull cars of people around. But when electric power made trolley cars efficient, most cities made the switch and abandoned their cable cars. Not San Francisco.Here, while trolleys, buses, and subways are big parts of the daily commute, cable cars are still the face of the city's public transit system. Whether it's the clanging of a cable car's bell as it crosses Lombard Street, or the lines of people waiting alongside one of the turnarounds, there's little doubt that the system, which operates 40 cars dating as far back as the 1880s, is one of San Francisco's most famous features.Cable cars: The San Francisco treat (photos) As part of my Road Trip at Home series, I visited the Cable Car Museum yesterday and got a chance to see up close what makes these timeless carriages tick. And up close is right because the building housing the museum is not just a place for cable car lovers to see the history of their beloved vehicles. It's also the home of the last remaining powerhouse and barn for the 40 cable cars that make up the fleet in 2010.To come near the building is to hear the constant whirring of the cable below the street. And you can even feel the vibrations as you walk across the tracks. Inside, one of the first things you see are the 12 giant wheels--known as sheaves (pronounced &quot;shiv&quot;)--that power the city's three cable car lines.While it might seem easy to use the word &quot;line&quot; to describe a route, it's also accurate, because a single line of thick metal cable is precisely what pulls along each and every cable car in the city. In fact, underneath the city, four cables pull three routes--the Powell/Mason line, the Powell/Hyde line, and the California line. There's 9,050 feet pulling the Powell cable' 10,500 feet pulling the Mason cable' 15,700 feet pulling the Hyde cable' and 21,500 feet pulling the California cable.But how do the cars workIn fact, according to Michael Phipps, one of the directors of the Cable Car Museum, the system that runs the cable cars is more or less unchanged since 1887.It all begins with the sheaves, those huge wheels that are found underneath the building, and which direct the cables out of and into the building. These are the actual cables that pull the cars.Phipps said that Andrew Hallidie, the man who is largely credited with inventing the cable car, referred to the cables as &quot;endless roadways,&quot; since they were essentially continuous wire ropes running the length of each route.The cables themselves are incredibly strong bundles of metal wires, capable of bending over themselves without breaking, and, of course, of keeping a cable car moving along its line.Halladie's father had gotten several patents on systems like this, and Halladie himself had figured out how to use the cables as a way of bringing gold ore from mines to mills. And even today, this basic system is in operation at ski lifts the world over.As for using the system to run cars around San Francisco, Halladie was inspired, so the story goes, by watching an accident when several horses pulling cars were yanked downhill by the car when the line between the driver and the car snapped. The horses had to be destroyed. Halladie seemed to feel, Phipps said, that there was a more humane way to get people around town.To keep the cars running, the cable is wound around the sheaves in a figure eight, and a system of additional sheaves known as a tension carriage is used to ensure that the lines stay taut at all times. The carriage is on its own set of tracks so it can adjust tension as required by the number of cars on the line and the number of passengers on the cars, Phipps said.Today, as for decades, the cable runs at a steady 9.5 miles an hour, and when a cable car is locked onto the line, that's how fast it goes, too. Watching a cable car from the street, it's hard to tell what's going on, but in fact, it's quite simple. There's a device called a grip which drops below the car into a channel and, yes, grips the line. The grip itself works by being dropped down into the channel, and having its jaw pushed open. By pulling back on the jaw, the gripman can close the grip around the cable. When it's fully gripped, the car moves at the speed of the line. By releasing some of the grasp, the gripman (or woman) can reduce the speed, and by letting go altogether, and using the brake, the gripman can stop the car. This is a standard grip, as is used with all of today&amp;39's cable cars. According to the Cable Car Museum, 'The grip is like a giant pair of pliers that reaches into the channel and clamps onto the moving cable. When the grip has hold of the cable, the car is pulled along with it.'(Credit:Daniel Terdiman/CNET)That's pretty much all the control the gripman has over the car, which is very much at the mercy of the cable as it winds its way under the street. All this, Phipps said, is why cable cars are capable of going up even very steep hills, even in very wet weather. They have terrific traction, as long as the gripman can successfully grip the cable. And because San Francisco is such a hilly city, that's one reason cable cars have survived the test of time.As for the brakes, Phipps explained, there are three kinds on board a cable car. There's the regular brakes, which have a foot pedal' track brakes, which shove wood down into the cable channel' and an emergency brake--otherwise known as a &quot;guillotine brake&quot;--which drops into the channel and essentially fuses with the cable. That will stop a car, Phipps said, but will require someone with a torch to burn it out afterward.1906As is the case with many things in San Francisco, 1906 was a turning point for the cable car system. That year, of course, was when the city was devastated by a massive earthquake and fire. All around the city, entire neighborhoods were leveled by the quake or the fire, and among the affected industries was the booming cable car business.Today, the cable cars are run by the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni). But in those days, there were cable car lines all over the city, each run by a separate private railway company. Indeed, in order to ensure that competing cars didn't run on their tracks, each company used a different gauge track. And around the city were nine separate car barns and powerhouses. Many were destroyed in 1906 (see video below of the view from a cable car going down Market Street in San Francisco just days before the earthquake).After the earthquake, some of the lines survived, but others didn't. Those companies that continued operating remained private, but gradually they were consolidated. The last consolidation took place in the 1950s, and from that time on, all cable cars in San Francisco operated out of the single building near Chinatown that today houses the carbarn and powerhouse and the museum.And when New Zealand finally shut down its last cable car system in 1957, that left San Francisco's as the sole remaining on the planet. Even San Francisco nearly abandoned the cars. In 1947, a group of politicians and business types tried to shutter the system in favor of newer methods of transit. But thanks to the dogged efforts of a community member named Freidel Klussmann who stood up and demanded that the system be saved.That November, San Francisco residents voted overwhelmingly to keep the system running, and today, the cable cars are part of the city's charter: only the voters can shut the system down, Phipps said.And that's fitting. Today, San Francisco operates 28 Powell Street cable cars, each weighing 15,500 pounds, and 12 California Street cars, each coming in at 16,600 pounds. They are, as Phipps points out, America's only moving national historic landmarks.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[How Meg Whitman could have won]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=how-meg-whitman-could-have-won</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=how-meg-whitman-could-have-won</comments>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Nov 2010 07:10:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>ArjunSahker</dc:creator>
<category>Politics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=how-meg-whitman-could-have-won</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I woke up this morning thinking about Meg Whitman. You see, I'm finding hard to come to terms with the fact that my campaign to become customer of the week at my local Starbucks was successful and Whitman's quest to be governor of the week was not.Should you have been unaccountably unaccounted for during World Series celebrations, you might have missed that the former eBay CEO failed in her grandiloquent bid to become CEO of California, or whatever they call that position in which everyone who tries fails.Some have put this abject calamity down to a rather crude attempt at buying an election by spending $140 million. Which seemed a little excessive when her opponent was a man of grandfatherly years and grandmotherly purse.Naturally, there are those who suggest that her unfortunate attitude toward employing an illegal immigrant in her household didn't exactly endear her to the Latino community. It seemed to reek of a rather imperial lack of benevolence. The New York Times even suggested that Silicon Valley bigwigs are, because of their excessively analytical bent, hair-raisingly incapable of relating to normal human beings.And yet Whitman wasn't a typical tech CEO. She had spent considerable parts of her life marketing simple products to real people. Yes, Noxzema skin care, Disney theme stores, and Keds sneakers. The stuff of everyday life. The stuff that satisfies real people's simple needs, however mundane you might think those needs are. This was not someone who should have appeared so disconnected with those whose votes she needed.Whitman in the good times.(Credit:CC White African/Flickr)Not only had Whitman enough experience marketing simple products, she then became president and CEO of eBay. This was a company that gave real people an opportunity to get hold of real things (mostly), for less money, more easily. This was a company that understood that not everyone had money to burn, while everyone was always in need of something. Even a win in an auction.And that's the best that real people feel they can get in politics. Once, in a while, their vote feels like a win in an auction.Somehow, Whitman managed to jettison everything she knew about people and put her political fate in the hands of supposed experts who told her she had the buying power to buy power.What if, instead of going the high-rolling, Big Momma, government-is-a-business route, she had declared at the outset: &quot;Look, I know a lot of you are struggling out there. I know a lot of you don't see much hope. So I'm not going to pound you with tons of ads saying how great a CEO I was. In fact, I'm not going to spend a ton of money on my campaign at all. I know you'd see straight through that. You were all my customers when I was at eBay.&quot;What if she had continued: &quot;Instead, I'm going to go around California in a hybrid SUV and I'm going to meet as many of you as I can and see what I can do to make your lives simpler, easier and more hopeful. If I can put an extra 100 bucks back in your pocket, just like I did at eBay, then that will be a start.&quot; Wouldn't that have made her a little more believable, a little more electableIt's true that marketing yourself can be far harder than marketing a product whose uses you understand and whose target market you can, in the most basic terms, relate to. And Whitman's advisers are now claiming that California is &quot;a very blue state, and it's getting bluer.&quot;Which, no doubt, explains why a Republican is leading in the race for attorney general, for example.Did Whitman really believe that she suddenly didn't need to think about what others needed Or did her very expensive advisers convince her that politics was an entirely different game--something expensive political advisers have a tendency to do People are always people, whether they're walking into a Disney Store, buying a face cream, or choosing to vote for a candidate. Meg Whitman chose to believe that the people's only needs were to be told what's best for them. Over and over again.How quaint in today's rather active, mobile, supposedly empowering digital world.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Study: Algae biofuels need 10 years of R&D to compete]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=study-algae-biofuels-need-10-years-of-rd-to-compete</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=study-algae-biofuels-need-10-years-of-rd-to-compete</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 05 Nov 2010 07:11:35 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Lamecheag</dc:creator>
<category>Eco</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=study-algae-biofuels-need-10-years-of-rd-to-compete</guid>
<description><![CDATA[You could run acar and even an airplane using fuel made from algae, but it will take on the order of 10 years before the technology is mature enough to make a dent in petroleum use, according to an academic study. The Energy Biosciences Institute at the University of California at Berkeley earlier this week released an analysis of the state of the algae biofuels industry and projected some of its future needs. Its overall conclusion is that a significant amount of research and development is needed, even with the progress of the many algae biofuel companies now active in the field. Specifically, more biology research is needed focused on cultivating algae strains and genetic engineering to boost algae growth rates. Testing facilities are also needed to gain expertise in converting lab-scale research into production systems. &quot;It's clear from this report that algae oil production will be neither quick nor plentiful--ten years is a reasonable projection for the R&amp;D to allow a conclusion about the ability to achieve relatively low-cost algae biomass and oil production,&quot; according to the report's authors. (Click for PDF of full report.)The potential of microalgae for making liquid fuels has led to the creation of hundreds of companies in the field and many research efforts. In addition to being a replacement for petroleum oil, algae consume carbon dioxide, can be used to treat wastewater, and can be grown in different environments in both fresh and salt water.There are a handful of efforts which are close to pilot-scale production of fuels, including Sapphire Energy and Cellena Oil, which is backed partially by Shell Oil, the report notes. Another high-profile algae company is Solazyme, which has a unique fermentation-driven process for making oil and other chemicals, rather than the open pond and bioreactor approaches addressed in the report.But the total output from experimental open-pond facilities over the past year has been only a few tons of biomass and less than a hundred gallons of actual algae oil, the reports says. The primary problem is the costs. Making animal feed as a supplemental product after the oil is harvested from algae does not dramatically lower the costs, according to the Energy Biosciences Institute.&quot;Even with low capital charges, it is not possible to produce microalgae biofuels cost competitively with fossil fuels or even other biofuels without major advances in technology,&quot; it concludes. Even with its sobering assessment of the state of algae biofuels, the institute argues for continued research and development because algae biofuels can make a &quot;vital, even if modest, contribution to the US biofuels industry.&quot; The minimum research program should be five years, it said. Updated at 4:30 p.m. PT with correction to spelling of Solazyme and clarification on its technology. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Study: 359 Android code flaws pose security risks]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=study-359-android-code-flaws-pose-security-risks</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=study-359-android-code-flaws-pose-security-risks</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Nov 2010 07:10:19 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Lilly01</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=study-359-android-code-flaws-pose-security-risks</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Coverity tallied various flaws in Android 2.2 that can lead to security vulnerabilities.(Credit:Coverity)Coverity, a company with tools to check for programming problems that pose security risks, has found 359 of them in a scan of the Android source code.There are 88 high-risk problems and 271 medium-risk problems in the source code underlying the Android kernel used in HTC's Incredible phone, the company said Tuesday. Android uses the Linux kernel, but the Android-specific components have a higher defect rate than mainstream Linux, Coverity said.Some good news for Google, though, is that the defect rate is still lower than the industry average of one defect per 1,000 lines of code. Specifically, Android's kernel was less than half of that--0.47 defects per 1,000 lines, Coverity said.Some bad news is that the Android-specific code had more problems.&quot;We found that the Android-specific files had a higher defect density (0.78 defects/kloc) than any other component in the system (the other components consist mostly of files unmodified from a Linux kernel). In addition, the Android-specific files had more high-risk defects than any other component,&quot; Coverity said in the report.The number and proportion of defects are higher in Android-specific areas of the Linux kernel, according to Coverity.(Credit:Coverity)One issue with Android, along with many other open-source projects with dispersed participation, is pinning down just whose job it is to fix a problem.&quot;Accountability for Android software integrity is fragmented,&quot; Coverity said in its report. &quot;The problem is no different with Android than what we see across open source. Android is based on Linux, which has thousands of contributors. Compound that with the Android developers from Google, the contributors to Android from the larger development community, and OEMs [original equipment manufacturers such as phone makers] that supply components for specific configurations of Android to support different types of devices and the lines of accountability are quickly blurred.&quot;<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Scientists grow working, miniature livers]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=scientists-grow-working-miniature-livers</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=scientists-grow-working-miniature-livers</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Nov 2010 07:10:24 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>linkcxzbuildingf</dc:creator>
<category>Social</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=scientists-grow-working-miniature-livers</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Let's just say it's a good thing this breakthrough didn't come around when I was in my early twenties, or I may have been tempted to spend a little more time at my favorite neighborhood watering hole.Scientists at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center say they've successfully used human liver cells to create miniature livers that function like their larger, more naturally derived counterparts.Using a process called decellularization, the team rinsed real livers from an unspecified animal with detergent, stripping them of all their cells and leaving only a collagen-based structure behind. They then introduced two types of cells--immature human liver cells and endothelial cells that line blood vessels--via a system of tiny vessels in the liver. The livers were then placed in a bioreactor that flooded them with nutrients and oxygen. After a week had passed, the team saw that new, functional liver tissue had grown within that biological &quot;scaffolding.&quot;Despite the success of the project, the researchers were quick to caution that their work is a long way from making its way into any sort of human treatment. For one thing, the manufactured livers have only been tested in the lab. Whether they'll function as well when transplanted into an animal's body is yet to be seen. There is also the challenge of making a similar organ large enough for human use.&quot;We are excited about the possibilities this research represents, but must stress that we're at an early stage and many technical hurdles must be overcome before it could benefit patients,&quot; said Shay Soker, professor of regenerative medicine and the project's director. &quot;Not only must we learn how to grow billions of liver cells at one time in order to engineer livers large enough for patients, but we must determine whether these organs are safe to use in patients.&quot;Still, the news is encouraging. And while it's not the first time organ tissue has been manufactured in a lab, it is the first time a functional human liver has been created, according to the team's statement. The results, they say, could have eventual implications not only for people with liver disease, but also for those needing other organs that are in chronic short supply, such as kidneys or pancreases.The research was presented yesterday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases in Boston.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Phone-toting time traveler in Chaplin movie]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=phone-toting-time-traveler-in-chaplin-movie</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=phone-toting-time-traveler-in-chaplin-movie</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 28 Oct 2010 07:10:23 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>herman01</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=phone-toting-time-traveler-in-chaplin-movie</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Roll up. Roll up. You won't believe your eyes.No, I'm not launching a new Apple product (at least not yet). Instead, I would like you to scan a piece of footage for me and tell me what you see.I would like you to examine a YouTube video that has been sent to me by various readers and eminences. It has already been viewed by more than 1.6 million people. And it shows Irish film director George Clarke declaring that he has seen an old woman--or a man in drag--in the 1928 Charlie Chaplin movie &quot;The Circus.&quot; Why might this be remarkable I am sure even Chaplin himself might have donned a skirt at least at some point in his life. Ah, but this skirted individual, with a hardened Edward G. Robinson-type face, appears to be talking on a cell phone.You did hear me right. She (or he) appears to be in possession of a mobile device and chatting into it. Clarke claims to be bemused by this spectacle. He claims that he has been looking at this footage for a year. His only explanation is that this is a time traveler who has wandered back in time, no doubt choosing &quot;The Circus&quot; because of a love for Chaplin or a scientific urge to see whether AT&amp;T might have had a better signal in 1928. (The first cell phone call is widely believed to have been made by Motorola executive Martin Cooper in 1973.)Of course, she might also have been testing some new Droid phone for Verizon and been mouthing &quot;Can you hear me now&quot;I am hoping that there is someone out there with a DVD of &quot;The Circus&quot; who can confirm that this slightly infirm-looking lady is, indeed, in all copies of the movie. I am hoping, too, that not everyone will be put off by the fact that Clarke's greatest directorial feat was a movie called &quot;Battle of the Bone.&quot; This opus, which passed me by, is, well, a &quot;martial-arts zombie extravaganza&quot;--at least according to Amazon.com, it is. Some might be prejudiced against the director of this movie. Some might think that this is just a desperate man playing a cruel, humorless joke. However, I must emphasize that &quot;Battle of the Bone&quot; did win the 2008 Audience Choice award at the Freak Show Film Festival held in the extremely freaky city of Orlando, Fla.I know that Technically Incorrect's astute and unforgiving readership will immediately pounce on this riddle and solve it.I believe that the supposedly cell phone-toting woman bears a considerable resemblance to former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. Meir would have been 30 in 1928 but lived to the age of 80. However, I would not wish to suggest that I might know how or why a future--or former--Israeli Prime Minster happened to appear in a Charlie Chaplin movie. Or how she might have obtained a cell phone.I will leave that to the scientists. And the chaps at MythBusters.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Mobile app sales on iPhone and Android soared during Black Friday weekend]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=mobile-app-sales-on-iphone-and-android-soared-during-black-friday-weekend</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=mobile-app-sales-on-iphone-and-android-soared-during-black-friday-weekend</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>footballtshirts1</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=mobile-app-sales-on-iphone-and-android-soared-during-black-friday-weekend</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Smartphone app downloads soared over the Black Friday weekend compared to the previous week, according to usage data collected by mobile analytics firm Flurry.Downloads for smartphone apps were up 25 percent over the four days of the Thanksgiving holiday, from Thursday through Sunday, compared to the prior week. Downloads on Thanksgiving Day were the highest, up 54 percent compared to a week earlier. I can attest that just about every kid at my own holiday gathering was playing Angry Birds, the hot iPhone and Android game from Rovio.Sales of Android and iPhone devices were also up during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Flurry said. Smartphone sales were up 31 percent compared to a week earlier. The growth was driven by Apple iOS devices (iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touch units) as well as Android devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S, Motorola Droid 2 and LG Optimus S. On Black Friday itself, sales were up 57 percent compared to the previous Friday.Overall, Flurry predicts that the holidays will lead to another record-breaking season for app consumption on mobile devices. Overall, Black Friday was a success all around. This year, NPD Group reported that brick-and-mortar sales on Black Friday grew 6 percent over 2009, and that online shopping increased by 44 percent. Further, according to IBMa4a4s Coremetrics, Cyber Monday online sales already exceeded this year&amp;'s Black Friday by 31 percent.Next Story: Google rumored to delay its big social initiative until the spring Previous Story: What energy secretary Chu says on Solyndra, the decline in green investingPrintEmailTwitterFacebookGoogle BuzzLinkedIn      DiggStumbleUponRedditDeliciousGoogleMore&amp;8230'          Tags: Android, iOS, iPhoneCompanies: Apple, Flurry          Tags: Android, iOS, iPhoneCompanies: Apple, FlurryDean is lead writer for GamesBeat at VentureBeat. He covers video games, security, chips and a variety of other subjects. Dean previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News, the Wall Street Journal, the Red Herring, the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register and the Dallas Times Herald. He is the author of two books, Opening the Xbox and the Xbox 360 Uncloaked. Follow him on Twitter at @deantak, and follow VentureBeat on Twitter at @venturebeat.VentureBeat has new weekly email newsletters.  Stay on top of the news, and don't miss a beat.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Tweetjemee helps amateur cooks set up shop as neighbourhood chefs - Springwise]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=tweetjemee-helps-amateur-cooks-set-up-shop-as-neighbourhood-chefs---springwise</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=tweetjemee-helps-amateur-cooks-set-up-shop-as-neighbourhood-chefs---springwise</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>angelikafrazer</dc:creator>
<category>Food</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=tweetjemee-helps-amateur-cooks-set-up-shop-as-neighbourhood-chefs---springwise</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Aimed at amateur cooks who dream of starting their own restaurant, a Dutch site called Tweetjemee helps people sell home-cooked meals and desserts to others who live nearby. After signing up with Tweetjemee, the Buurtchefs (neighbourhood chefs) upload pictures and descriptions of the meals they''re offering for sale. They list when the food will available, their preferred pick-up times and the item''s price. Customers select a meal in their neighbourhood, make payment to Tweetjemee and pick up the food at the agreed time. Payments are transferred to the chefs monthly, minus a 30% listing fee for Tweetjemee. 10% of that cut is donated to The Hunger Project, a global non-profit organization committed to ending world hunger. The notion of selling home-cooked meals seems to be catching on a4&quot; last year we covered BookofCooks, the US-based online marketplace for home-cooked meals, and earlier this month we wrote about Super Marmite, a French network that enables cooks with too much food to sell their extra servings. While food safety might be a concern, we like the concept of neighbourhood chefs offering busy or kitchen-averse consumers an alternative to professionally prepared meals. And, of course, making some money on the side. (Related: Selling is the new saving.)Website: www.tweetjemee.nlContact: info@tweetjemee.nl<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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