Cisco: Spammers shifting to targeted attacks

sco says the amount of money attackers earn from bulk spam has declined sharply...so they've shifted towards targeted, personalized attacks.
Cisco’s Security Intelligence Operations group has published a new report,Email Attacks: This Time It’s Personal (PDF) that indicates the Internet is experiencing a fundamental shift in the nature of spam: instead of spammers relying on sending as many messages as possible and hoping to get responses from a tiny fraction of one percent of gullible recipients, spammers are shifting to a far smaller number of targeted, personalized attacks—a.ka. spearphishing. The good news is that the overall volume of mass spam has declined sharply, along with the amount of money criminals gain from them. The bad news is that targeted attacks are up sharply…and criminals make a lot more money every time one of them succeeds.
“Cybercriminal business models have recently shifted towards low-volume targeted attacks,” Cisco wrote. “With email remaining the primary attack vector, these attacks are increasing in both their frequency and their financial impact on targeted organizations.”
According to Cisco, spam volumes peaked at an average of about 300 billion spams per day in June 2010 down to about 40 billion spams a day in June 2011. With that decline, spammers have also found the amount of money they haul in from mass email spam is going down: Cisco estimates mass spam attacks netted spammers about $1.1 billion in June 2010, but that figure dropped to $500 million by June 2011.
One reason that spammers’ revenues haven’t declined in proportion to the amount of messages they send out is that an increasing number of messages are individualized with personalization tools and other information designed to pull in a potential victim and “convert” them into a paying victim, or get them to click through to a site that will try to install malware. Cisco estimates that spammer revenue from these customized attacks grew from $50 million in June 2010 to $200 million by June 2011.
Cisco also notes that while spam filters and blocking technologies are able to block about as many targeted attacks as mass attacks, targeted attacks are far more likely to be opened by their intended victims, and have click-through rates as high as 50 percent.

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PlayStation 4 due in 2012?

A new rumor has surfaced suggesting that Sony is planning to begin production on the PlayStation 4 later this year. If true, the PS4 would feature a motion control similar to the Kinect, and be available in stores in 2012.

Please note that in the excerpt of this article, it states that this is a rumor. It is important to note that, because it contradicts most of what we have been hearing about Sony’s plans for the PlayStation brand, and because it doesn’t really make much sense.
According to a report from DigiTimes, a handful of Taiwanese manufacturers are preparing to begin production on the PS4 later this year, which would mean a 2012 release. The console would feature a “body movement-based control like the Kinect,” and the initial run would produce 20 million units for worldwide distribution.
The future of the PS4 has been a hotly debated topic for some time now. There has never been a doubt that there will be a PS4, the only question is when. Lending credence to the current rumor are a handful of scattered reports from Sony execs who may have either spoken out of turn or been taken out of context. Back in May before E3, Sony’s VP and CFO Masaru Kato had to explain to investors why there had been a recent spike in research and development costs, and he answered that development was underway for the PS4. He quickly backtracked though, and claimed that his statement did not mean that a PS4 was imminent, and that any time a new product was released (he was referring to the PS3) the first stages of development begin on its replacement.
The original thinking was that neither Sony nor Microsoft would debut a new console until at least 2014, which would make sense. The Xbox 360 has seen a huge bump in sales thanks to the Kinect among other things, and the XBL service is planning several major additions this year. Despite still reeling from the PSN hacks, Sony continues to build its online network and a new PSN redesign is rumored to be coming soon, plus Sony is finally managing to turn a profit on each console sold after years of taking losses. With the consoles profitable and both systems arguably just now hitting their stride, the demand for a next generation of consoles just isn’t there as it has been in consoles past. Neither the PS3 nor the Xbox 360 have reached their full potential, as witnessed by the stream of new technology like the Kinect and new partnerships like Netflix and ESPN, so why rush to release a new console that will face an uphill battle and likely be sold at a loss?
But then there is the Wii U, which is something of a wildcard. The reaction to the device at E3 was good, but investors disagreed and Nintendo’s stock dropped 5.7-percent. Still, Nintendo was falling behind and needed to makes some big moves. The Wii is still the best-selling console of this generation by a wide margin, but sales have grown somewhat stagnant of late, and the lack of things like HD graphics and an online community aren’t things that can easily be overcome. So Nintendo releasing a new console now makes sense.
The Wii U will be more powerful than the PS3 and the Xbox 360, and it will have a deep online option as well. The tablet-like controller will also be memorable, but no one is suggesting that it will be as powerful as the next gen PlayStation console or the next Xbox.  But it is possible that Microsoft and Sony did not enjoy getting sand kicked in their face by the Wii’s sales, so they might increase their production timetables in order to close the sales gap between the Wii U and the PS4 and next Xbox.
There are already reports that Microsoft is planning on unveiling its next console at E3 next year, but that is also still just a rumor. It will likely come down to the Wii U and how concerned Microsoft and Sony are about the head start the Wii U will have. Sure the Wii U will not be as powerful as the PS4 or next Xbox, but the Wii wasn’t as powerful as its counterparts and it crushed both of them in worldwide sales.

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.Android, iPad, BlackBerry and Windows tablet group test

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 

The Tab 10.1 comes with the latest Android Honeycomb operating system and even has superior hardware specifications to the iPad 2.

The 10.1in 1,280 x 800 TFT screen is crisp and bright, with a wide viewing angle. This makes it excellent for video playback and browsing.

The device is powered by a 1GHz Tegra 2 processor and comes with 1GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing webcam for conference calling.
Even though Android Honeycomb may take a little getting used to, the services offered by Google and the apps available in the market place make it a genuine challenger to the iPad 2.
The Galaxy Tab is yet to be made available in the UK, but pricing is expected to be between £500 and £600, depending on the amount of internal storage.
V3.co.uk rating: 4 stars (Read the full Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 review)

Asus Eee Pad Transformer

The Eee Pad Transformer is the best option for users who are looking to get an Android tablet/netbook hybrid.
In terms of specifications, the Transformer is up there with the high-end tablets. The 10.1in screen comes with a 1,280 x 800 resolution, and the device is powered by the familiar 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor. There is 1GB of RAM and users are able to choose between 16GB or 32GB of internal storage.
Additional connectivity comes in the form of a Micro SD card reader (SD card reader on Keyboard dock) and two USB ports on the keyboard.
The Transformer is ideally suited to users who are comfortable with using cloud-based services. The keyboard dock is the standout feature and converts the device into a netbook, making it one of the more useful out-of-the-box tablets on the market.
Although this is the best Android hybrid on the market, it's not quite going to replace a work PC or a laptop, but is capable of replacing a netbook.

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Acer Iconia Tab W500 review

Despite being sold as a standalone 10.1in tablet, the keyboard attachment is imperative for many users to get the most out of the device. One of the major reasons for this is that Windows 7 was not designed to be used with a touch screen.
Our impressions of the W500 were mixed as it isn't as striking as the iPad 2. Technical specifications are impressive on paper, with an AMD C-50 dual-core 1GHz processor, 2GB of DDR3 RAM and 32GB of internal storage as standard.
The device comes with an overall Windows Experience Index rating of 2.8. Compare this to the Fujitsu Lifebook PH530's Windows Experience rating of 2.7, which is a slightly misleading score as the graphics capabilities brought the overall score down.

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The 10.1 widescreen LCD touch display comes with a resolution of 1,280x800, and has a bright picture thanks to the LED backlight. Surrounding the screen, however, is a large black bezel that looks like it could have been better used.
Our measurements suggest that Acer could have increased the screen size to 12 inches. The fact that the extra space hasn't been used is even more bizarre considering that the majority of this unused bezel is part of the LCD panel itself.
Other features built into the chassis include a two-in-one card reader, HDMI and USB 2.0 port as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Like all the latest tablets the W500 incorporates front- and rear-facing cameras, both at 1.3-megapixels.
Business users are likely to need the keyboard attachment most of the time. To connect the tablet, the screen slots into a USB connector into the keyboard, which appears when a flap is raised.
When the device is not in use, the flap on the keyboard can be folded down and the screen can be placed on top of it, locked in place and carried around like a netbook.
However, the problems start when the W500 is plugged into the keyboard. The device weighs 1kg but most of this is in the tablet, making it top heavy. The W500 needs to be placed on a completely flat surface otherwise there is a risk of it toppling over.

Using the W500 balanced on your lap is very tricky and great care has to be taken to ensure that the screen does not fall out of the dock. During our tests, we found that the W500 was incapable of sitting on the soft surface of a sofa or bed without falling over.
The W500 takes anywhere between five to 10 seconds to detect when a dock has been attached. Although this is not a long time, it gives the impression that the device is sluggish and is likely to get slower as time goes on.

The dockable keyboard itself is usable, but far from the best we have seen. It comes with 84 keys, two USB ports and an ethernet socket.
Letters are generally well spaced in a island style, but they are very shallow and it is easy to misspell words because letters have not been depressed sufficiently.
Unfortunately, there is no trackpad and you are forced to use the FineTrack trackball that sits in the centre of the keyboard. The two mouse buttons are also awkwardly placed on the edge of the keyboard and we found that we often hit the space bar instead of the left click.

For those who have not used a trackball before it will take some getting used to, and the experience can be described as fiddly at best. When using the W500 in the office, we found that plugging in a USB mouse was a necessity.
By comparison, the similarly sized 10.1 Asus Eee Pad Transformer hybrid comes with a full sized trackpad and the ability to fold the screen when the tablet is connected to the dock.


Considering that the Asus Eee Pad Transformer has dimensions of 271x171x12.98mm, which are very similar to the 275x190x15.95mm of the W500, it does feel that it has been left in the dirt by Asus.
Software
Acer ships the tablet with Windows 7 Home Premium, so it is not optimised for business use. However, it will provide a better desktop-like experience than other tablets.
The internet experience resembles that of laptops and netbooks, with access to all browsers such as IE9, Firefox 4, Chrome and Opera.
Preloaded software comes in the form of Microsoft Office Starter edition and the usual anti-virus software free trial. Another feature is the Acer Ring, an interface created to make use of the touch-screen functionality.
Users are able to browse the internet, and access applications such as notetaking, camera and the calculator, from the Acer Ring. The My Journal feature is an aggregator that keeps web site updates, and Clear.fi allows users to search, share, and play back music and video over Wi-Fi.
The onscreen keyboard is the same as on all Windows touch-based devices. It is easy enough to type web addresses, but is not suited to long emails. It is very poor indeed when compared to the virtual keyboards on the iPad and Android tablets.
Battery life fell short of the six hours claimed by Acer and this was disappointing especially when its portability is being touted. The W500 lasted a reasonable two hours and 49 minutes in the the Battery Eater Pro Classic test, which simulates high-intensity activity.
In the Reader test, the device topped out at three hours and 21 minutes. Realistically, the battery will last somewhere between these two figures when the dock is connected.

When we used the W500 in the office as a desktop replacement it managed three hours and 20 minutes with 36 mins of hibernation, backing up the result of the reader test.
In comparison, the Android Honeycomb Asus Eee Pad Transformer offers up to 16 hours of battery life when plugged into the dock, and the forthcoming Motorola Atrix lapdock aims to provide up to eight hours.
The iPad 2, meanwhile, lasted 20 hours during our testing. We clocked nine hours of actual use including browsing the internet over Wi-Fi and 3G, watching three hours of video from BBC iPlayer and a two-hour film. The remaining 11 hours were spent in standby, eight hours of which was overnight.
The design flaws together with a total price of £519 to get the dock could put off some users, however the fact that the tablet runs Windows could make it attractive to businesses.

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Dell Vostro 460 review

Many in the IT industry would have us believe that laptops and tablets are the only business clients that matter anymore, but desktop PCs still have a valuable role to play in most companies.
One example is Dell's Vostro 460, a workhorse PC aimed at smaller businesses that want a computer with enough performance for productivity applications, but with plenty of scope for expansion to meet future requirements.
The 460 is part of Dell's Vostro line of laptops and desktops specifically tailored for small to medium business (SMB) customers, and offers all the features required for running business applications at a reasonable price (starting at £299), but without all the bells and whistles you might expect to see in a multimedia PC for consumers.
Despite this, the Vostro 460 models are based on Intel's new Sandy Bridge Core i5 and Core i7 chips, and pack in a decent amount of processing power. Buyers should also note that for some Vostro 460 configurations, a monitor is not included in the price and must be added as an optional extra.
Our review system was shipped without a monitor by Dell, so we were unable to judge the quality of the display options available. A number of configurations are available from Dell's web site, and buyers can customise these if they so desire.
Our machine was configured with a Core i5-2500 processor, a quad-core chip clocked at 3.3GHz, plus 4GB memory, a 500GB hard disk, DVD-RW drive and ATI Radeon HD5450 graphics adapter. However, the memory can be expanded up to 16GB, while hard disk options go up to 3TB.

This specification delivers ample performance for most business applications, the Vostro rated at 4.9 under the built-in Windows Experience Index in Windows 7. This was actually tied to the score of the graphics card; the processor, memory and hard drive subsystems all showed impressive individual ratings.
However, the key aspect of any system for small business buyers will be its included software. In this respect, the Vostro 460 is not much better than many other PCs, coming with just the Office 2010 Starter edition of Microsoft's popular application suite and a handful of Dell utilities.
Office 2010 Starter consists of reduced functionality versions of Word and Excel only, and is really intended to replace Microsoft's ageing Works software for home users. However, it does provide basic capabilities that a startup company can use until it is established and able to justify the cost of a more fully featured productivity suite.
In terms of technical support, Dell backs every Vostro with a telephone helpline and a one-year collect-and-return warranty as standard. Customers can also opt to pay for Dell's Pro Support service, which provides 24x7 access to technical support. Dell also offers on-site system setup for a fee.
The latter is not really required for the Vostro 460, which requires little setup other than unpacking the system and plugging it in.
In operation, the Vostro is almost silent, only a faint noise coming from its internal fans, while the system itself looks business-like in Dell's signature black styling.
The form factor of this Vostro is a chunky tower that looks quite imposing when sitting on a desktop, but can always be slipped out of sight beneath a desk, if required. Buyers for whom desk space is at a premium may wish to consider Dell's other Vostro models, some which are available in much more compact system units.

The advantage of a tower chassis such as this is that it allows easy access to swap out components or add extra drives in future. With the Vostro 460, this is made easy by a removable left side panel secured by a single screw at the rear, which can be easily undone by hand. In fact, the entire system is designed for tool-free maintenance.
Inside, the Vostro 460 has space for two 5.25in drives, both accessible from the front panel, plus three 3.5in drives. One of the 5.25in drive bays is occupied with the DVD-RW drive, while the hard disk and a memory card reader take up two of the 2.5in bays, leaving one of each free.
The memory card reader can be accessed from outside by a slide-down panel, as can a set of four USB ports, plus audio in/out jack sockets. The memory reader accomodates a wide range of Flash cards, including SD Card, Memory Stick Pro, CompactFlash, xD and SmartMedia.
A glance inside the Vostro showed that our review sample had only two of its four Dimm slots occupied, allowing memory to be expanded if necessary. However, this unit shipped with Windows 7 32-bit edition, which only supports up to 4GB in any case. This is more than adequate for most software that small businesses are likely to run, but buyers should note that going beyond 4GB requires an update to a 64-bit version of Windows.
The system can also be expanded using adapter cards fitting into PCI Express (PCIe) slots. Our system had an ATI Radeon HD5450 graphics card fitted into its high-bandwidth PCIe x16 slot, replacing the Intel graphics functions built into the motherboard.
The Vostro 460 also has three PCIe x1 slots available for other cards, such as an extra network adapter, but most of the functions users are likely to require are already built in. A tiny Mini PCIe slot allows an optional laptop-style Wi-Fi card to be fitted.
ATI's Radeon HD5450 adapter provides three separate video outputs - VGA, HDMI and DVI - each capable of driving a monitor simultaneously at resolutions up to 2,560x1,600 pixels.
The rear of the Vostro has four more USB ports, Gigabit Ethernet, plus an eSata connector - handy for connecting high-speed external storage for backup purposes. There are also six audio jack sockets, and an S/PDIF digital audio optical output. A VGA and HDMI output from the built-in graphics are covered over, as these are not needed.
Although our Vostro did not include a monitor, it did ship with a mouse and keyboard, the latter being notable for a row of dedicated function keys along the top for web browser navigation and controlling Windows Media Player. It is also worth noting that Dell does sometimes add SKUs with an included monitor but these are usually special offers, so check its site for current deals.
As well as Office 2010 Starter, our review unit included Trend Micro security software with a 15-month subscription, plus Dell's Backup and Recovery Manager for backing up user files and the system itself. Dell Recovery tools enable the user to create a recovery disk to restore the system to its original factory state, should the worst happen.

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Royal wedding triggers record traffic figures

The 29 April wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton sent a record flood of traffic to streaming video sites on Friday.
Considered to be among the most highly-anticipated events in recent years, the marriage of the newly appointed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge brought huge traffic to sites offering live coverage, and causing at least one major media outlet to buckle under the pressure
At roughly 11:13, the BBC first gave word of technical difficulties in its online coverage of the event. Then 17 minutes later, the site issued an official statement explaining the issue.
"We are experiencing some technical issues with BBC Online due to the sheer weight of traffic which may cause the site to be slower than normal in some cases," the BBC said in the statement.
The BBC was not the only site to experience heavy traffic from the event. Video streaming service LiveStream offered its own coverage of the event, and the stream reportedly drew record traffic numbers.
According to online news blog Mashable, traffic for the LiveStream feed of the event exceeded 300,000 simultaneous viewers at one point, and total traffic was forecast to top two million views.
For Google, the event was the culmination of growing interest on the royal wedding over the month. The company reported that since the beginning of April, total search volumes for the event spiked by 90 per cent.

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Sony boss Stringer apologises for massive data breach

Sony chairman, chief executive and president Howard Stringer has finally apologised for the hacking attack which may have exposed the details of up to 100 milion customers, as online collective Anonymous reiterated that it was not to blame.
Stringer said in an open letter to Sony customers that there is still "no confirmed evidence" that any credit card or personal details have been actively used by the hackers, and that Sony is providing ‘AllClear ID Plus' identity theft protection for all US customers, with further announcements to come for international customers.
The company will also offer a ‘Welcome Back' package, including a month of free PlayStation Plus membership for all PSN customers and an extension of subscriptions for PlayStation Plus and Music Unlimited customers to make up for the time the service has been down.
"As a company we - and I - apologise for the inconvenience and concern caused by this attack. Under the leadership of Kazuo Hirai, we have teams working around the clock and around the world to restore your access to those services as quickly, and as safely, as possible," he said.
"In the last few months, Sony has faced a terrible earthquake and tsunami in Japan. But now we are facing a very man-made event - a criminal attack on us and on you - and we are working with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies around the world to apprehend those responsible."
Stringer's response came as criticism of his continued silence grew, and he used the letter to try to diffuse customer anger at being kept in the dark for so long when the incident was first discovered.

 

 

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Amazon tipped to launch a 'Super Kindle' Android tablet

Amazon is preparing to launch an Android tablet as the company seeks to make a successful transition from the e-book reader market.
The online retailer has put in an order with Taiwanese manufacturer Quanta Computer for 800,000 touch-screen tablets, according to widespread reports.

No specifications are available at present, but the device is widely tipped to run the Android operating system as Amazon already provides a dedicated online marketplace for the platform, known as Amazon Appstore for Android.
However, despite huge success in the e-book reader market, Amazon will find it difficult make a tablet that directly rivals the Apple iPad, according to Francisco Jeronimo, research manager for European mobile devices at IDC.
"The Kindle has been such a success because it is a good product that costs just $100 and Amazon will need to retain a budget price to attract users," he told V3.co.uk.
"Amazon is likely to build a 7in 'Super Kindle'-type tablet which runs on Android and can support video, social applications and full web browsing."
Jeronimo pointed out that Amazon will also have to push magazines and newspapers via the device, as the Kindle app is also available on competing devices and will not be enough of a differentiator.
V3.co.uk contacted Amazon for information on the tablet, but the firm declined to comment on future plans.
Meanwhile, the tablet market continues to heat up with big things expected from Android Honeycomb tablets such as the Motorola Xoom and forthcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab line.
However, Jeronimo suggested that only a handful of the 200-odd devices expected to come on the market this year will succeed.
"Apple will retain 80 per cent of the market, but RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook is expected to do well in the enterprise," he said.
"Consumers perceive tablets as an extension of smartphones, and manufacturers such as Dell and Sony, which come from a laptop background, will always find it difficult to break into the space."

 

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Motorola Xoom review

The Motorola Xoom was the first Android Honeycomb tablet to be launched worldwide and is finally available to buy in the UK.
Comparisons between the iPad 2 and the Xoom are inevitable as equivalent 32GB versions both have a starting price of £479.99.
The Xoom comes with superior specifications and a refreshed version of the much loved Android interface. During our tests we found that the Xoom performed admirably and offers business users a genuine alternative to the iPad 2.
Hardware
With a 10.1in screen, the Xoom is the biggest Android tablet on the market and comes with a 1,280 x 800 WXGA resolution. The display also packs a 16:9 ratio meaning that videos and web sites can be viewed in full, as intended.
However, the brightness is a tad disappointing and the screen is visibly duller when placed side by side with an iPad 2. Like other devices, the Xoom is also a fingerprint magnet and we were disappointed that no cleaning cloth was supplied, as it is essential.
The Xoom is also a little bulky at 730g, making it 100g heavier than the equivalent 32GB Wi-Fi iPad 2. This extra weight is noticeable, but it is not a deal breaker.
The Motorola device has dimensions of 249.1 x 167.8 x 12.9mm making it thicker than the iPad 2 and Samsung Galaxy Tab, which have dimensions of 241.2 x 185.7 x 8.8mm and 190 x 120 x 12mm respectively. Apple's tablet is noticeably wider when the two tablets are directly compared.



A 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor powers the Xoom supported by 1GB of RAM. This makes the the tablet nippy when it comes to performance, and there is no lag between opening and switching applications or when swiping between homescreens.
Motorola supplies 32GB of internal memory for storage, and there is also a micro-SD card slot to increase capacity and facilitate quick transfer of files with smartphones.
However, the micro-SD card slot is currently unusable although a Honeycomb upgrade is expected imminently to fix this issue. This is disappointing and suggests that the operating system has been rushed out much like Windows Phone 7.
Additional connections include micro-USB, mini-HDMI output and a proprietary charging port that uses a very thin connector, similar to the one used to charge devices such as the Nokia 6300. USB charging is not supported, an all-too-common problem with tablets.

Read more: http://www.v3.co.uk/v3-uk/review/2045013/motorola-xoom-review#ixzz1KTNQdsMm
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Chrome notebook for sale this summer?

The Cr-48 is just about out of beta testing and could be yours by this summer - provided you're ready for a subscription plan possibly linked to a Google account.

Last month we heard that Google was all out of Cr-48 models for beta testing, but that “partner devices” would be available later this year. And if Neowin’s “reliable source” is correct, Google will indeed begin selling its notebook in late June or early July.
But of course, it won’t be a cake walk to get your hands on the elusive Cr-48. According to the insider, Google is planning on implementing “an unconventional form of distribution to customers.” They will be available via a subscription that Gmail users are privy to. It seems that Google is trying to keep some air of exclusivity around the Cr-48 and users who pay the premier account rate will get the first go at it. It will then eventually trickle down to general Gmailers. In an even stranger move, in addition to buying a Cr-48 up front, Google will reportedly have some sort of lease, or rental option on the units, pricing them at $10-$20 a month.
The notebook will receive updates in a similar fashion to the Android OS, and Google will also include hardware upgrades with the subscription fee. How exactly all of this will actually play out remains to be seen, and it sounds like a complicated system for a notebook. That said, we still really want to get our hands on one.

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Fujifilm FinePix F550 EXR Review

It’s easy to feel like there’s a price ceiling when it comes to point-and-shoots: If you spend too little, you’ll be replacing the thing every six months. Spend too much and you’ll end up feeling like you may as well have sprung for a DSLR. So before you write off the Finepix F550 EXR and its hefty $349.95 price tag, there are a few things to consider. The camera comes packed with Fujifilm’s latest sensor technology, which truly improves on the typical pocket cam experience. It’s also outfitted with enough scene presets for any shooting situation you’ll come across, as well as one of the most intuitive manual operation UIs of any point-and-shoot camera on the market today.

Features and design

The first thing we noticed about the F550 EXR is how different it looks from many competitor point-and-shoots. Many high-end models are indistinguishable at first glance, but Fujifilm makes no qualms about standing out from the pack. It’s a little thicker than rival pocket cams, and perhaps a little heavier than some might like. Personally, we think a little heft gives a camera a high-quality feel, and the F550 EXR definitely isn’t oversized. The camera measures 103.5×62.5×32.6mm (WxHxD) and weighs in at roughly 7.6 ounces, battery and memory card included.

The closed lens slightly protrudes from the face of the camera’s chassis, and it features a grip panel. This further helps to give it a more professional feel, although the camera is small enough to do without it, so it ends up looking a little like it’s just there for show. Around back, the F550 EXR features a mode dial that sits at an angle, straddling the top and back face of the camera. This is yet another unusual element of the device’s design, and while aesthetically it doesn’t distract–and actually frees up room around the shutter button, zoom toggle, and power button–the mode dial’s positioning proves a little difficult to maneuver. It’s a small concession to make, but it is easier to turn the dial with our thumb alone at the base of the dial, otherwise it becomes difficult to properly grip. Again – small concession.

The rest of the back of the camera is much more recognizable and the control dial, playback button, and additional mode button for extended manual use complete the interface. This makes for intuitive use, and it helps users navigate inside what may at first appear to be an unfamiliar scene. Familiarity is all well and good, but the F550 EXR’s 3-inch, 460k dot resolution LCD display steals your attention. Just to offer a comparison, the Canon Powershot S95 (which retails for $400) features a 3-inch, 461k display that beats most, if not all, competitor point and shoot LCD screens out there – and the 550EXR has no problems rivaling it in this department. It’s incredibly bright with impressive, natural contrast.
As for the insides, Fujifilm packed the F550 EXR with some impressive and surprising technology. The most obvious of these features being the camera’s EXR CMOS sensor. The F550 EXR marks its debut, and the idea is that EXR and CMOS capabilities are combined to offer improved resolution and speed. The camera’s 16-megapixel resolution is mildly impressive for its size and price, and its BSI (back side illuminated) sensor improves its ability to shoot in low light and cut down on noise at high ISOs. Of course, its 15x optical zoom and 24-360mm range doesn’t hurt either. The camera’s pop-up flash is also easy to control, and it’s discreet.
In a somewhat surprising move, Fujifilm doesn’t include as many art filters as other point-and-shoots. Honestly, we’re willing to sacrifice these for higher quality presets, which the F550 EXR delivers. The camera includes settings for its EXR mode (to prevent washout, shoot detail, or for high IOS/low noise situations), auto, dogs and cats, panorama, high speed movie, and various other options, like beach/snow, party, and landscape. We actually didn’t miss the built-in fisheye mode we’ve become so accustomed to in pocket cams

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o new PlayStation, Xbox console til 2014

Patience is a virtue, and one Xbox and PlayStation apparently take very seriously: It's looking like both are waiting until 2014 to release next-gen consoles.

Last we heard, the next Xbox console was speculated to debut in 2015, but a new report from Kotaku claims that PlayStation and Xbox are aiming for 2014. “Industry sources” say that Sony and Microsoft are both planning to squeeze as much life out the PS3 and Xbox 360 as possible before introducing the next generation versions.
Does three years feel like an eternity to you? Maybe – the Xbox 360 was introduced in 2005, and the PS3 in 2006. Both consoles are just now hitting their strides with new software that is pushing the hardware to its limits, but both systems may start showing their age sooner rather than later. So for those that are ready for the next-gen, the good news is that an insider said 2013 isn’t out of the picture, but only if one of them “feels pushed.” There is also a chance that a 2013 product launch for Microsoft could be a “Kinect-upgraded 360,” followed by the upgraded console the next year. PlayStation gamers have no such luck with an earlier upgrade: Spokesperson Patrick Seybold said Sony PlayStation is “laser-focused” on its existing lineup and coming handheld device.
If it’s any comfort, the wait should be worth it. While it appears that both companies are trying to eke every last dollar out of their current models, they aren’t entirely trying to torture their loyal gamers. Microsoft and Sony are likely both focused on taking big steps with a new device, delivering noticeably advanced technology and entirely new features for their consoles. Details about either machine are still relatively unknown, although there have been whispers about an Xbox 720, that could feature Blu-ray capability and 3D.
This is all good news for Nintendo, which would have the attention all to itself and the Wii 2 at E3 this year – not to mention the lack of competition for the new console when (can we say “when” yet?) it appears on shelves in 2012

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Hot, High-Tech Travel Gadgets

Before you slam the trunk, gas up and hit the road, check out some of our favorite high tech travel gadgets for finding your way, staying in touch, and keeping connected.

Money? Check. Identification? Yep. Clean clothes? Uh huh. The necessities of travel haven’t changed much over the years, but a number of high-tech toys can help make your upcoming trips more fun, productive and hassle-free. A good camera and/or camcorder is a given, sure, but also consider one or more of these following gadgets, ranging in price from $25 to $500.

Weight a minute

Avoid the embarrassing surprise of the “luggage shuffle” at the airport, where you must shift the contents between two or more suitcases to avoid the excess weight charge. Instead, the Balanzza ($24.95; balanzzastore.com) is the first digital luggage scale that lets you easily weigh your luggage at home or at the hotel before heading to the airport. Simply attach the strap to your luggage, use the handle to lift it up with one or two hands and hold it until you hear a beep.

A smarter smartphone

A smartphone is a must-have companion in today’s day and age, as it not only lets you stay in touch with those who matter — via phone, text, email or IM — but you’ve got a web browser at your fingertips, apps for currency conversion and language translation, music and games, GPS navigation, a camera, and much more. A good pick is the HTC Evo 4G ($199.99 with 2-year contract; sprint.com), a powerful Android phone with support for the speedy (and growing) WiMax network.
Check out our HTC EVO 4G Review.

Hit the road, Jack

Not all GPS navigation devices are created equal. The Garmin nuvi 1370T ($239.99; garmin.com), for instance, includes maps for both North America and Europe out of the box. This 4.3-inch dashboard device also features support for Bluetooth (allowing you to chat hands-free via a nearby phone), lifetime traffic alerts in supported cities and a lane assist feature that prepares you for upcoming turns or off-ramps. Leaving the car? A pedestrian and public transit mode could be helpful, too.

Thin is in, light is right

While many adventurers will opt for a netbook or notebook — and they are both ideal travel companions — the Apple iPad (from $499; apple.com) offers a number of appealing advantages over a conventional computer. It’s only 1.5 pounds, turns on instantly, last up to 12 hours between charges and supports more than 200,000 applications right from the get-go. The iPad is also a competent e-book reader, media player, and more.

    

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Nokia X7 released

Nokia has released the X7, a brand new gaming phone.
The pverall chassis is made from stainless steel and glass and comes equipped with a 4-inch display and an arching back panel, perfect for gamers.
Other features include an 8-megapixel rear camera with a dual-LED flash and is also capable of recording HD 720p video.
the X7 will come preloaded with “Galaxy on Fire” and “Asphalt 5 HD”, other games will be available in the Ovi Store. The X7 will be arriving around Q2 of 2011 and priced at $547, (£334 app)

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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 Review

All tough cams are not made equally – or similarly for that matter. Sony offers up the world’s slimmest rugged point and shoot, along with a very capable touchscreen responsible for most of the camera’s operations. Its most notable elements will either win users over (tiny size, touchscreen dependence) or be the reason they opt for a competitor’s camera like the Olympus TG-610.

Features and design

First off, we’ll start with what the TX5 has going for it. It’s an incredibly light and slim device, with a sliding panel to protect the lens. Touch pocket cams don’t always have the luxury of being quite as convenient to carry as Sony’s – it weighs a mere 5.1 ounces and its backside is all screen. The 3-inch LCD touchscreen packs approximately 230,000 pixels in resolution. It registers touch surprisingly well and doesn’t require tap after tap after tap to get where you want to go – but always expect this to get a little more difficult underwater, or while wearing gloves.
But back to what it does well. The sliding panel not only protects the camera lens but functions as a power switch, yet another convenience in a tough cam. And it’s virtually buttonless: There is a designated power button, zoom, playback, and shutter control, but that’s it. If you’re planning to exploit everything this camera can do in the great outdoors, you’ll be happy with the lack of tiny bells and whistles you need to manipulate. Of course, if you’re unfamiliar with touchscreen controls or have an affinity for messing with the smallest details of your photo setup, it might be frustrating to have it confined to the screen. That said, the learning curve with the touchscreen controls is anything but steep.
The TX5 comes equipped with a slew of scene selectors, included “snow,” “beach,” and of course “underwater.” To get more specific, users also various white balance options and of course, more experienced photographers can alter ISO sensitivity themselves. But the camera’s real selling points are its simplicity and durability.

What’s in the box

The TX5 comes with the camera, a startup and help guide CD, wristband, multi-connector cable, NP-BN1 battery, and battery charger.

Performance and use

The most impressive feature the TX5 is arguably its speed. Consumers should be able to use tough cams to their fullest abilities, and sometimes it seems like their indestructibility takes precedence over their speed. But the TX5 comes packaged with an incredibly capable sensor and processor – the Exmor R CMOS sensor and the BIONZ processor – that allow it to take 10 frames in one second at its full 10.2-megapixel resolution.

The camera’s wide-angle 4x zoom gives photographers some room to work with: It offers some variety and makes landscape shooting a possibility, which can’t be said for every pocket cam out there. The camera’s built-in scene selectors also work well, and can further simplify using the TX5 for novices. Better yet, the touchscreen interface is extremely intuitive when it comes to using and finding these presets. Just like any good outdoor-use camera should, it comes with a panorama option. It’s a different take on the feature, however: You simply select the mode and then follow the easier than easy instructions which include an arrow telling you to sweep the camera across your desired landscape. It then processes the image for you; push it to the limits and it can capture an image with a 258 degree field of view. Of course, the quality can’t be compared to costly DSLRs like the A55, but it shouldn’t have to be. The TX5 performs admirably in low light, thanks to its sensor, but be ready for some lag with the auto focus.

While the diminutive size is convenient for packing and pocket purposes, that doesn’t always mean it’s easier to use. The zoom toggle is absolutely miniature; using it with gloves or underwater could prove difficult. And sure, no one wants a weight secured to their wrist – but the TX5 feels like it could blow away. The child-sized camera might just be too small for some, and while a 3-inch display is impressive for a device so small, it’s a relatively small space to work entirely within.

Conclusion

If you’re specifically on the hunt for a dustproof, waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof point-and-shoot that you can really subject to the elements and push to the weather limits, the TX5 will do, but it can easily be bested by cameras without rugged specs. A slightly heavier device that doesn’t entirely rely on a touchscreen will also be easier to manipulate in your more extreme photography sessions.
That said, if you’re looking for a quality point and shoot that can double as your rugged cam, the TX5 is a great option. The touchscreen isn’t anything to be afraid of, even for those unfamiliar with it. And for general use, its size is definitely a plus, not to mention its iAuto and built-in scene options. However, for its price we’d expect some artsy filters or expanded editing capabilities.

Highs:

• Responsive touchscreen
• Impressive in low light
• Panorama sweep is a nice bonus feature
• Sliding on/off panel is convenient

Lows:

• Too small
• Touchscreen only operation might scare some off
• Competitors have more built-in features to offer
•  Touchscreen can be difficult to manipulate in some “tough cam” scenarios

 

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T-Mobile unlimited everything plans made official, heavy data users to have speed capped

T-Mobile confirms the launch of two new wireless plans which offer unlimited every -- voice, data and text -- for industry-low prices, the trade off being that those with more than 2GB of data usage in a month will be speed-capped.

What first popped up as a rumor earlier this week is now an officially confirmed fact: T-Mobile has launched a pair of new pricing plans which offer unlimited domestic airtime, text messaging and data access. The plans are split between the wireless carrier’s two price tiers, Even More and Even More Plus. The former carries at $79.99 per month price tag and includes a discounted phone and a two-year contract commitment. The latter costs $59.99 per month; with this one, you don’t get a discounted phone but you also don’t have to make a contract commitment.
The new plans will only be available for a limited time, according to the T-Mobile press release. Though given the fact that AT&T recently moved to acquire the company, all time is limited at this point. There’s a big, fat catch that data users will need to consider with these two plans, however. As the press release states: “Consumers exceeding 2GB of usage in a billing month will still have access to unlimited data at reduced speeds until their new billing cycle starts.”
That should be clear enough. Use too much data in a month-long window, and T-Mobile will throttle your speeds. In fairness, most on-the-go Internet users don’t manage to reach such heights in their daily data usage. Then again, T-Mobile is “America’s Largest 4G Network.” It’s a lot easier to kill time on your web access-equipped smartphone when your average site takes that much quicker to load.
Before you go and get bent out of shape, screaming for blood over the very idea that your wireless carrier would have the nerve to cap your data speeds, remember that an unlimited data plan is an exception rather than a rule these days. These plans are very affordable. A comparable plan with AT&T, for example, which would still cap your data usage at 4GB (with overage charges being applied after that), would run you in excess of $130 per month after taxes and surcharges. So go ahead and celebrate, T-Mobile customers. The speed limiting is unfortunate, but it’s a worthwhile trade off for unlimited data access on the go.

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Apple to launch revolutionary cloud-based TV service, says analyst

Apple has forever altered the music industry with its popular products. But now, says analyst Peter Misek, Apple plans to launch new products and services that will transform the television industry as well.

Apple could soon debut a cloud-based video service that will have “far reaching” implications for the television industry, says Jefferies & Co analyst Peter Misek. The purported launched could bring both new subscription services and new hardware that will amount to nothing less than an “assault on the living room” as we know it.
“In addition to subscription revenues, we think Apple could potentially benefit from a halo effect that increases units and average selling prices for its existing products and provides a foundation for the launch of an iTV-like device,” wrote Misek, which he says could arrive in 2012 or 2013.
The prediction, first reported by The International Business Times, was made in a research note to clients for which Misek checked in with “developers and content providers on Apple’s possible plans regarding the cloud and their assault on the living room.”
Misek says that Apple is planning to open another massive data center directly next door to the one it recently opened in North Carolina. His information is based on aerial footage, which shows that the land adjacent to the current data center has been cleared, most likely to make room for another data center. Also, says Misek, a site mock-up at Apple’s announcement ceremony for the current data center — the largest in Apple’s storage arsenal — showed two side-by-side data centers.
In addition, Misek believes that Apple is planning to open similar data centers in other parts of the US and Europe.
Apple has confirmed that the data center in North Carolina, which was completed earlier this year, will be used for iTunes and MobileMe. This further fueled rumors that Apple has plans for a cloud-based iTunes service, launched in conjunction with a revamped MobileMe “digital locker” for music and video collections, which would allow users to stream their media libraries from any iOS device.
According to Misek, however, Apple’s cloud plans go beyond music, since he believes the capacity of the data centers are more than what’s needed to support relatively small music files. In addition, Misek believes Apple is currently negotiating with television networks to distribute their content to iOS devices, which would explain the recent litigation against the Time Warner and Cablevision TV streaming apps.
“We find it notable that the content companies, citing a lack of domain license, asked Cablevision to remove channels from its iPad app,” writes Misek. “We believe these same companies are negotiating some sort of deal with Apple.”
Misek says that Apple will “convince Hollywood and other content creators” to license their products for an Apple service by using the same model they employ with app developers, which allows them to “take the vast majority of the revenue” from the content, while Apple makes its money from the devices.
Lastly, Misek says that Apple CEO Steve Jobs could be stepping down soon, and its likely that revolutionizing the television industry — just as his company revolutionized the music industry — would be an apt parting act.
“We would find it easy to believe that Steve Jobs’ final hurrah before turning the reins over would be to revolutionize video much in the same way Apple has transformed the mobile, computing, and music world. It is also notable that his authorized biography is due in 2012.”

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HP EliteBook laptops get sleek, Apple-like redesign

Today, HP has announced a redesigned, more durable line of EliteBook laptop computers. The new notebooks also use the electronics maker's new DreamColor screen technology, allowing more vivid color.

Today, Hewlett Packard revealed a redesigned line of EliteBook laptops that use the “Forge” design framework it introduced on its business notebooks in February. The new designs are meant to be simpler looking, more durable, more reliable, and are built in a more environmentally friendly way. The new EliteBooks feature a gunmetal brushed finish, backlit HP logo, and “orange-colored accents.”
Replacing the EliteBook 8440w, 8540w, and 8740w, will be the EliteBook 8460w, 8560w, and 8760w, which range from 14 inches to 17.3 inches in size.
All of the new models have full HD screens and a choice between AMD FirePro or Nvidia Quadro graphics cards. The two larger laptops also feature HP’s new DreamColor display that can “allow for more than 1 billion active color combinations–64 times the capabilities of a traditional display–and uses a 30-bit notebook LCD panel” for brighter, better color. We have yet not seen the EliteBooks or DreamColor display in action.

 As the fastest growing segment of the workstation market, mobile workstations continue to provide value to our most demanding design, animation and engineering customers,” said Efrain Rovira, director, Mobile Workstations, Notebook Business Unit, HP. “The new EliteBook mobile workstations announced today combine innovative design with trusted, workstation-class technology to fuel creativity.

 The smallest of the three EliteBooks starts at $1,299, while the 17.3-inch model (8760w) begins at $1,899. HP also announced a new entry level desktop today, the Z210 Workstation, which starts at $569.

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