Unethical HTML video copy protection proposal draws criticism

“A new Web standard proposal authored by Google, Microsoft, and Netflix seeks to bring copy protection mechanisms to the Web. The Encrypted Media Extensions draft defines a framework for enabling the playback of protected media content in the Web browser. The proposal is controversial and has raised concern among some parties that are participating in the standards process.

In a discussion on the W3C HTML mailing list, critics questioned whether the proposed framework would really provide the level of security demanded by content providers. Mozilla asked for clarification from the authors about whether it would be possible to implement the proposal in an open source Web browser. Google’s Ian Hickson, the WHATWG HTML specification editor, called the Encrypted Media proposal “unethical” and said that it wouldn’t even fulfill the necessary technical requirements.

“I believe this proposal is unethical and that we should not pursue it,” he wrote in response to a message that Microsoft’s Adrian Bateman posted on the mailing list about the draft. “The proposal above does not provide robust content protection, so it would not address this use case even if it wasn’t unethical.”

The aim of the proposal is not to mandate a complete DRM platform, but to provide the necessary components for a generic key-based content decryption system. It is designed to work with pluggable modules that implement the actual decryption mechanisms. The proposal specifies a new set of API extensions for HTMLMediaElement, the interface that defines the specialized properties and JavaScript methods that are available on HTML audio and video elements.”

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Google and Seaview let you explore the Great Barrier Reef

“Google has teamed up with the Catlin Seaview Survey to allow hydrophobes and curious enthusiasts to explore the Great Barrier Reef via the magic of Google Maps.

The expedition is due to launch in September and we can look forward to accessing 50,000 uploaded panoramas that’ll let us virtually dive underwater and explore the Reef.

Google’s using an underwater robot with a 360 degree geo-tag capable camera which will be busy snapping pics at 20 different sites along the 2,300km Great Barrier Reef.”

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Next Big Thing – personal cloud servers

“Sleep talking computers? Sounds intimate.
Not at all, leave your desktop in bed (so to speak) and with a bit of Somniloquy kit – developed by Carnegie Mellon University bods in Microsoft’s Cambridge research labs – you can rudely awaken it later, when you’re out and about. Leave the USB device in your main PC and together with software called ZZFS it will start up and grab any music files, photos or documents that you’d forgotten you needed.

You’re blowing the cloud right out of my mind.
Exactly – gadgets like this mean that Google/Apple/Amazon or anyone else don’t take control over your cloud storage. The Somniloquy becomes your own personal cloud server (it’s a relative of the network card) plus it doesn’t involve any tedious sessions of backing up whole libraries of content and then being charged for the privilege.

I’m in.
You haven’t even heard the clever bits – if you make changes to a file, the original on your PC will change too. And the next stop for the research team is developing smartphone and tablet apps to make the whole process even easier. Form an orderly queue now chaps.”

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4G comes to the UK, courtesy of Everything Everywhere

“It’s no secret: the UK has phone envy. While superphones in the US are happily toting 4G skills – consider the Nokia 900 we saw at CES, or the HTC One X we’re expecting to see unveiled at MWC 2012 – superfast over-the-air data is where it’s at.

Happily, it seems the UK is finally ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its American brethren’s mobile browsing capacity with 4G confirmed to be coming to the UK in 2012.

Stuff’s sources at Everything Everywhere – formerly Orange and T-Mobile – tell us 4G will be in the UK before the year is out. And while it’ll be “small scale” to begin with, the network is investing £1.5bn in 4G infrastructure over the next three years.

To begin with, Everything Everywhere says the UK’s 4G early adopters will have to stand in range of a relatively small selection of its 20,000 3G-enabled masts, but the rest will be boosted to HSPA+ (3.5G) speeds by summer.

The network says its UK 4G plans are subject to the usual rubber stamping – so don’t count your mobile broadband chickens just yet – but with Britain itching to get its hands wrapped around the glut of imminent 4G tech due to be unveiled in the coming week, we’d be amazed if other networks didn’t decide to follow suit imminently.”

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Ubuntu’s full desktop OS coming to multi-core Android devices

“What the Atrix 4G first promised, it looks like the folks at Canonical may deliver. Think back to CES 2011, when Motorola showed us a future where our phone was the only computing device we would need — only to leave us wanting when its webtop app didn’t deliver the requisite functionality for such a future. Well, it turns out Ubuntu now runs on multi-core Android devices and your handset can grant a full desktop experience when docked with a display and a keyboard. It’s a customized version of Ubuntu that plays nice with Android, the two OS’s sharing data and services while running simultaneously. So, you can still access telephony and texts from the Ubuntu environment while enjoying all the computing capabilities it has to offer, including: Ubuntu TV, virtualization tools for running Windows applications, desktop web browsers, and Ubuntu apps built for ARM. It isn’t clear exactly what hardware you’ll need to run Ubuntu on a handset, but Canonical has said it works on multi-core devices with HDMI and USB connections.”

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Microsoft Nails Down Windows End-Of-Life Dates

“Still using Windows Vista? XP? Why? Well, whatever the reason, Microsoft has clarified some of their end-of-life dates for older versions of Windows, including XP. This is mostly about support on the business side but it could be useful if you’ve got an old machine that’s acting up (or you refuse to upgrade).

Ed Bott found the actual dates in a Japanese Microsoft blog post:

Support end date for Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 are as follows:

Windows XP 4/8/2014

Windows 7 1/14/2020

As he explains, this doesn’t mean you can buy a copy of XP right now for any money but you can get “Mainstream and Extended” support for implementations of the OS. Good to know if you have something mission critical running on an old Compaq.”

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The Pirate Bay Faces UK Blockade

“Torrent search engine The Pirate Bay could be blocked in the UK after a judge in London ruled the site breaches copyright laws.

The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) wants British Internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to The Pirate Bay in the UK, claiming the site has caused them millions in damages.

High Court Justice Arnold has sided with them, claiming The Pirate Bay does not only enable or assist copyright theft, but actively encourages it. “I conclude that both users and the operators of [The Pirate Bay] infringe the copyrights of the claimants … in the UK,” said the judge in a written statement.

The judgement paves the way for a court order for ISPs to start blocking their users access to The Pirate Bay. A final decision is expected in June.

“The ruling helps clarify the law on website blocking and we will now proceed with our application to have the site blocked to protect the UK’s creative industries from further harm,” said BPI CEO Geoff Taylor.”

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New Windows Logo For Windows 8

“In a move that demonstrates how cleanly Microsoft intends to cut itself off from the last 20 years of its most widely-used and widely-recognized products, they have given the Windows logo its most significant redesign in 20 years. Ever since Windows 3.1, the slightly curved, red-green-blue-yellow panes have greeted millions on startup, or at least peeked out from the corner of the screen.

No longer: Microsoft has abandoned the shape, color scheme, and even the start button. The new logo is monochromatic (or rather, polymonochromatic), straight, and unfamiliar. If they intended to show just how much they’ve changed the philosophy of the OS, this is a good way to do it.

The logo was actually leaked earlier this week on a Chinese site, but there was some question of its authenticity. Now that it has been explained on the Windows Blog, it’s official:

Some like the new design. Some don’t. But changes to major brands rarely produce anything but controversy, and this is no exception. Microsoft can’t go back on it, the way they can’t go back on the changes they’ve introduced with Windows 8. Whether you enjoy the new logo and look or not, at least you can say they are both new.”

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Apple OS X Mountain Lion 10.8 is coming Summer 2012

“Apple OS X (10.8) Mountain Lion will be available for download this summer 2012, with the Developer Preview unleashed just hours ago. And those keyboard surfers have revealed an OS that looks like it’ll be bringing iCloud and the best of iOS to your Mac.

New features in OS X Mountain Lion include Messages (similar to iPhone), Notes, Reminders and Game Center on your Mac. There will also be a Notification Center, Share Sheets (making it easier to post photos and videos), Twitter integration and AirPlay Mirroring. There’s even a security tool called Gatekeeper that protects your software from viruses and helps you control what apps make it on your keep list. Paranoid for once, Apple?

Mountain Lion arrives sporting over 100 new features in total – all of which make your MacBook that much more like your iPad and iPhone. A Game Kit API that lets developers create multiplayer games across Mac, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch sure makes it look like the beginning of the end for separate operating systems on different Apple devices.”

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Angry Birds lands on Facebook

“Rovio’s irate avians are set to conquer another corner of the web, with the news that Angry Birds is touching down on Facebook.

This isn’t the usual Angry Birds though – the Finnish game maker has added some Facebook-specific tweaks to the game, including power-ups.

There are four different power-ups, accessible via the lightning bolt at the top of the screen. Players can use two power-ups per level – including earthquake effects and increasing the impact of your birds – but they’ll cost you. Power-ups are priced at $1 for 20 uses, though the game itself will remain free-to-play

Angry Birds on Facebook uses Flash Player 11, enabling it to feature enhanced special effects, including lighting, smoke and explosions. You can start flinging furious fowl at apps.facebook.com/angrybirds.”

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Need a Job? Learn Linux

“The Linux Foundation today posted their first ever Linux Jobs Report, created in conjunction with tech job site Dice.com. The report examines the current demand for Linux talent, and identifies a few interesting trends.

Of the 2,300 survey respondents, eight in ten said that hiring Linux talent is a priority in 2012, and more than half of firms surveyed said that they’re increasing Linux hires relative to jobs created in other skill areas.

To understand what is driving this demand, we asked what has changed in their organizations to prompt this hiring activity. The results paint an optimistic picture about company growth and the use of Linux to support it. Forty-nine percent say their company is growing, which is creating the need for additional Linux-focused team members, while another 48 percent say that they are increasing their use of Linux and need in-house talent to support it. And 30 percent say that Linux has become core to their business and they need to increase participation in the Linux community through new hires.

Of the firms surveyed for the report, 67% indicate that they’re looking for Linux developers, and 55% are looking for Linux system administrators. Most are looking for Linux talent with three to five years of experience.

According to the Linux Jobs Report, Linux professionals are reaping substantial rewards for their expertise. While the industry average salary raise for technology professionals was only 2%, “Linux professionals saw a five percent increase, year-over-year, in their pay.” Additionally, Linux pros are earning larger bonus payouts, too.

While Linux talent may be in demand, finding that talent is presenting no small challenge to companies. According to the report “85 percent say finding Linux talent is somewhat to very difficult, making Linux professionals some of the most sought talent in 2012.””

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Tic Tac Launches Augmented Reality-Enabled Times Square Billboards

“Tic Tac is the latest major brand to embrace augmented reality, and it is doing so in a big way: With three billboards in New York’s Times Square.

The billboards are the latest element of Tic Tac’s “Shake It Up” campaign, which centers around a mobile app (for iOS or Android) that offers extras beyond the outdoor and print ads. For instance, a print ad noting that “84% of People Always Sleep on the Same Side of the Bed,” leads to a mobile game where you roll a man from one side of the bed to the other and avoid falling objects. A bar coaster that talks about using the same pickup lines over and over can also be AR-enhanced to offer some new ones. (See video below.)

The billboards, meanwhile, appear as personalized ads with you at the center when AR-enhanced. The resulting images, which appear to be pictures of you in Times Square, can also be sent to friends via Facebook.

Tic Tac’s AR campaign comes after a raft of brands rolled out campaigns featuring the technology this year. Although some, including Starbucks and Guinness tried their hand at AR last year, so far in 2012, there have been a bunch more, including: Taco Bell, SKYN condoms, Mattel’s Barbie and Starbucks again.”

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What Your iPhone Would Have Looked Like In The 80s

“View the article for the full version of What Your iPhone Would Have Looked Like In The 80s”

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Anti-Piracy Agreement ACTA Is Falling Apart in Europe

“Bulgaria won’t be ratifying the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) any time soon.

On Tuesday, Bulgaria followed some of its European neighbors, including Germany and Poland, in halting approval of the controversial intellectual property treaty.

Bulgaria will “practically stop its participation” until it sees a clear and unified European stance on the treaty, according to Traicho Traikov, the Bulgarian economy and energy minister.

“I’m a pessimist when it comes to regulating an industry, which hasn’t adapted to the digital age, through sanctions rather than market means,” Traikov told the press, according to Bloomberg.

Meanwhile, ACTA also stalled in the Dutch parliament. Lawmakers in Holland want time to examine the treaty’s potential effects on Internet privacy before moving forward with ratification, reported Radio Netherlands Worldwide.

The decisions by Bulgaria and the Netherlands come after anti-ACTA protests spread across Europe over the weekend. Thousands of people in nearly 200 cities took to the streets to protest the treaty.”

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CIA Website Down, Anonymous Taking Credit

“Anonymous, continuing an unusually active run of activity, took credit for bringing down the Central Intelligence Agency’s website Friday afternoon. As of 3:50 p.m. ET, the site remains inaccessible.

“CIA TANGO DOWN: cia.gov,” reads a tweet from an Anonymous-affiliated account.

The CIA takedown is only the latest digital assault in a recent wave of Anonymous activity.

Late last week, Anonymous went on an all-day hack-and-leakathon, targeting the FBI, Scotland Yard, the Boston Police Department, the Greek Ministry of Justice and the law firm that defended a U.S. Marine who was involved in a 2005 massacre of Iraqi civilians. The group released files from that law firm along with an audio recording of a conversation between the FBI and Scotland Yard about a joint cybercrime investigation.

Tuesday, Anonymous struck again, posting the sensitive data of city officials from Oakland, Calif., in response to the city’s handling of Occupy Oakland protesters.

In January, Anonymous announced a major SOPA and PIPA-related boycott of music, films and other media throughout the month of March.”

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Microsoft Store hacked in India

“Frequenters of India’s online Microsoft Store were briefly greeted with the suspicious visage of a Guy Fawkes mask this morning, following a hack that compromised the site’s user database. According to WPSauce, Microsoft Store India’s landing page was briefly taken over by a hacker group called Evil Shadow Team, who, in addition to putting a new face on Windows products, revealed that user passwords were saved in plain text. The group’s motivations are unknown, though the hacked page warned that an “unsafe system will be baptized.” The store is now offline, suggesting that Microsoft may have regained control. ”

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LCD mosaic displays

“We’ve always eyed the realm of DIY with suspicion. Grout, tile cutters, wallpaper strippers and dangerous pointy implements can be more trouble than they’re worth, which is why we’re embracing these mosaic LCD tiles with open arms.

This set of LCD ’tiles’ come in a variety of sizes and can be mounted at any angle you fancy, with custom software letting you display any images or videos of your choice.

It’s an elegant, tech-inspired solution to revamping your surroundings at the click of a button without all that decorating faff, and a godsend for indecisive gadgeteers whose tastes are forever changing.”

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Massive Street Protests Wage War On ACTA Anti-Piracy Treaty

“The world is witnessing the largest offline protest against copyright legislation today. Massive demonstrations against the draconian anti-piracy treaty ACTA are spanning four continents, with protests in more than 200 European cities alone. Hundreds of thousands of people are taking to the streets to prevent their countries and the European Parliament from putting the free Internet at risk by ratifying ACTA,

Last month the European Union officially signed the controversial “anti-piracy” trade agreement ACTA.

The EU followed in the footsteps of Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore and the United States, who already signed it last October. This brings ACTA a step closer to passing, but individual EU member states and the European Parliament still have to ratify the treaty later this year.

To prevent this from happening, hundreds of thousands of people across the world are taking to the streets today, and millions more are expected to do their part online. In Europe demonstrations are being held in more than 200 cities, the largest in Sofia, Bulgaria, with 10,000 participants.

These staggering numbers amount to the greatest offline protest against any type of copyright legislation, ever.”

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