Text 6. Android vice president quits for Chinese phone maker
29 Aug 2013 By Shona Ghosh http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/383866/android-vice-president-quits-for-chinese-phone-maker
A senior Android product manager has unexpectedly quit Google to work for Xiaomi, a manufacturer of Android-based smartphones known as the "Apple of China". Hugo Barra joined Google in 2008 from speech recognition firm Nuance, spearheading development of the mobile OS and overseeing design updates to its user interface. He was also a high-profile public face for Android, most recently showing off the Nexus 7 tablet to the press in June. His move is a win for Xiaomi, apparently the first smartphone manufacturer to poach a senior staffer from the Android team. The move follows Android founder Andy Rubin's decision to step down in March. Xiaomi currently sells phones only in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The company has grown rapidly since its founding in 2010, and according to Canalys is now the sixth biggest phone maker in China. Its 5% market share places it ahead even of Apple, currently on 4.8% - though that may change if the rumoured cut-price iPhone, reportedly targeted at China, sees the light of day. Barra said his new role would involve building Xiaomi's product portfolio and expanding the business globally - suggesting a potential challenge to the likes of Samsung and Apple. "I’m really looking forward to this new challenge, and am particularly excited about the opportunity to continue to help drive the Android ecosystem," he said. If Google is worried at seeing partners poaching its staff, it isn't showing it. "We'll all miss him at Google and we're excited that he is staying within the Android ecosystem," a spokesperson told TechCrunch. Some have suggested that Barra's departure may be connected to a complex personal entanglement at Google, involving a relationship between Barra's former girlfriend and Google co-founder Sergey Brin. Google confirmed that Brin had separated from his wife, but it's understood that Barra's departure is unrelated.
Text 7. Instagram "likes" worth more than stolen credit cards
In the world of online fraud, a fake fan on Instagram can be worth five times more than a stolen credit card number. As social media has become increasingly influential in shaping reputations, hackers have used their computer skills to create and sell false endorsements - such as "likes" and "followers" - that purport to come from users of Facebook, its photo-sharing app Instagram, Twitter, Google's YouTube, LinkedIn and other popular websites. In the latest twist, a computer virus widely used to steal credit card data, known as Zeus, has been modified to create bogus Instagram "likes" that can be used to generate buzz for a company or individual, according to cyber experts at RSA, the security division of EMC. These fake "likes" are sold in batches of 1,000 on hacker forums, where cybercriminals also flog credit card numbers and other information stolen from PCs. According to RSA, 1,000 Instagram "followers" can be bought for $15 and 1,000 Instagram "likes" go for $30, whereas 1,000 credit card numbers cost as little as $6. It may seem odd that fake social media accounts would be worth more than real credit card numbers, but online marketing experts say some people are willing to spend heavily to make a splash on the internet, seeking buzz for its own sake or for a business purpose, such as making a new product seem popular. "People perceive importance on what is trending," said Victor Pan, a senior data analyst with WordStream, which advises companies on online marketing. "It is the bandwagon effect." Facebook, which has almost 1.2 billion users, said it is in the process of beefing up security on Instagram, which it bought last year for $1 billion. Instagram, which has about 130 million active users, will have the same security measures that Facebook uses, said spokesman Michael Kirkland. He encouraged users to report suspicious activity through links on Facebook sites and apps. "We work hard to limit spam on our service and prohibit the creation of accounts through unauthorised or automated means," Kirkland said. The modified Zeus virus is the first piece of malicious software uncovered to date that has been used to post false "likes" on a social network, according to experts who track cybercrime. Fraudsters most commonly manipulate "likes" using automated software programs. The modified version of Zeus controls infected computers from a central server, forcing them to post likes for specific users. They could also be given marching orders to engage in other operations or download other types of malicious software, according to RSA. Cybercriminals have used Zeus to infect hundreds of millions of PCs since the virus first surfaced more than five years ago, according to Don Jackson, a senior security researcher with Dell SecureWorks. That the virus is now being adapted to target Instagram is a sign of the rising importance of social media in marketing, and the increasing sophistication of hackers trying to profit from the trend. Online marketing consultant Will Mitchell said he sometimes advises clients to buy bogus social-networking traffic, but only to get an early foothold online. When asked about the ethics of faking endorsements, Mitchell replied, "It's fine to do for the first 100, but I always advise stopping after that." He said one of his clients once bought more than 300,000 "likes" on Facebook against his advice, a move that Mitchell felt damaged the client's reputation. "It was just ridiculous," he said. "Everybody knew what they were doing."
Text 8. Nokia to launch Windows RT tablet
Nokia is reportedly planning to release a tablet based on Windows RT next month. Despite a number of manufacturers choosing to ditch Windows RT recently, the Finnish company will unveil a 10in device that features a quad-core Snapdragon 800 chip, according to sources speaking to The Verge. The device, codenamed Vanquish, will support LTE and will initially be available through US carriers. Nokia will reportedly unveil the new tablet on 26 September in New York, and has been approaching developers for the event. Nokia declined to comment on the rumors. New devices suggest there's life in Windows RT yet, after tablet makers Acer and Asus recently distanced themselves from the ailing OS. Asus recently said it would dump Windows RT entirely, describing the system as "very immature", while Acer announced it would shift its focus away from Windows to Chrome and Android. Meanwhile, chip-maker Nvidia blamed Windows RT for a predicted $300 million hole in its full-year revenue, saying the OS hadn't performed "as hoped". But analysts have told PC Pro that manufacturers and, particularly, Microsoft shouldn't give up on the OS just yet, describing the system as "a long-term play".
Text 9. Google, Microsoft to ban ads on piracy sites
By Nicole Kobie 16 Jul 2013 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/383071/google-microsoft-to-ban-ads-on-piracy-sites Google, Microsoft and other tech firms will block piracy sites from profiting from their advertising networks using a new takedown system. The "best practice guidelines" look to "to address online infringement by reducing the flow of ad revenue to operators of sites engaged in significant piracy and counterfeiting," a statement from the US government said. The guidelines require ad networks to ban piracy sites from running their ads, but will also allow content owners to file complaints about such sites - setting up a takedown system similar to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which allows rights holders to ask websites to remove content they own or risk legal action. "It’s been our experience that a notice-and-takedown mechanism like the one envisioned by these Best Practices can be an effective means to address online infringement," said Fred Humphries, vice-president for US government affairs at Microsoft. "An appropriate notice-and-takedown system – that requires rights holders to identify specific instances of infringement and online services to respond promptly and appropriately to such notices – can address infringement while still respecting critical values such as fair use, privacy, free speech and the freedom to innovate," he added. Google welcomed the plans, and has long suggested that governments should stop targeting individual users in the battle against piracy, and instead "follow the money" - clamping down on advertising and other revenue sources. However, a Google-sponsored report also showed that 86% of advertising on piracy sites isn't via major channels such as Google - suggesting the proposals may have limited effect. The plans have also been supported by Yahoo, AOL, Conde Nast, and ad networks such as 24/7 Media, Adtegrity and SpotXchange. Neither Google nor Microsoft could say whether the system would extend to UK networks at the time of publication.
Text 10. iPhone 5s: Apple's 64-bit smartphone
Apple has unveiled the iPhone 5s, updating the camera, offering the unit in new colours and using a 64-bit chip for the first time. The iPhone 5s was unveiled alongside a cheaper, plastic model, the iPhone 5c. The iPhone 5s runs the new A7 chip, featuring a 64-bit architecture, which Apple described as "desktop class". The company promised twice the CPU and graphics performance of the previous handset. On the 64-bit front, Apple is making it easy for developers to make both 32-bit and 64-bit apps. The other intriguing piece of the announcement is what Apple calls the M7 – a “motion co-processor” that captures data from sensors such as the accelerometer, compass and more. That means the A7 processor can do less work – which leads to better power efficiency – enabling developers to use the M7 in apps, such as those for health and fitness. As expected, the iPhone 5s features a fingerprint reader to unlock it. Touch ID sits in the home button; tapping it automatically unlocks the phone. It can also be used to approve iTunes and App Store purchases. Apple said the high-resolution fingerprint image would be encrypted. The iSight camera has been revamped. The 8-megapixel camera features a new flash, which uses dual LED flashes in different colours to try to capture more natural pictures. The camera also supports a new burst mode, takes slow-motion video, and has a larger f/2.2 aperture. Another major change is the colour scheme: the 5s will be available in gold, silver and “space grey”. There will also be six official Apple leather cases for those who aren’t keen on the new colours, available in black, blue, brown, beige, yellow and red – the latter being the official charity themed (Red). For connectivity, the iPhone 5s boasts support for ten LTE bands, dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, and Bluetooth 4. Apple promises ten hours of battery life on 3G or Wi-Fi and LTE, and eight hours on 3G. The handset will arrive on 20 September with a SIM-free price of £549 inc VAT for the 16GB model, £629 for 32GB and £709 for the 64GB unit. Apple will be discontinuing the iPhone 5, but will retain the 8GB version of the iPhone 4S. Appendix 1. COVER LETTERS FOR IT JOBS
Appendix 2. CURRICULUM VITAE FOR IT JOBS
|
