Google is the leader of the Fortune of the hundred best companies to work for in the United States for the fourth time, followed by SAS, an expert in software and services, and CHG HealthcareServices, company research on health issues. Apple and Facebook are the big absences.
The list is drawn up by the results of a macro employees from hundreds of companies randomly selected and a questionnaire that the company responds. Thus, one third of the note corresponding to the responses from the company while employees correspond to the other two thirds.
Despite data showing no job growth, according to data published in the list, Google has 34,311 employees, a number that increases to the same rate as income, which came to be around 38,000 million dollars in 2011, that makes it the best choice to work on it. SAS, enterprise software expert, up positions in the ranking positioned second after occupying the third position in the last list.
Your income, about 2,700 million dollars and its emphasis on creativity make take second place on the list. This ranking also highlights big pharma technology among which are Ultimate Software, NetApp, Qualcomm, World Wide Technology, Intel Corporation, Microsoft Corporation or TEKsystems, according to the list published by Fortune.
Ultimate Software has starred in a big jump in the rankings as it sits at No. 9 while last year was ranked 25 in the list. NetApp is maintained in the ninth year of the list because, according to his own Fortune, "sometimes employees have the opportunity to receive special recognition."
Intel and Microsoft are manufacturers of computers that are on the list and occupy the lowest positions (68 and 75 respectively). In both cases, the concern for the health of their workers making them appear in the table.
For Microsoft, good health insurance and facilities to keep fit, make it stay at 75 in the standings. Meanwhile, Intel fell 22 places in the rankings from last year due to his interest in the health of workers has decreased from last year. Finally, the absence of large companies in the field of new technologies like Facebook or Apple, not reflected in the list despite being among the 50 best technology companies to work according to a ranking made by Glassdor popular.
Ladies and gentlemen, another round is more in the titanic clash between Mountain View and Redmond. The market for Internet search remains a very sensitive issue, and in his last term, Microsoft has launched the "Scroogled" seeking to expose you some details about the presentation of results in Google Shopping service. With Black Friday over, purchases through the Web come to another dimension with the arrival of the Christmas season, and from the perspective of Microsoft, its Bing search engine delivers results "more honest" compared to the competition.
I well remember a line from the movie "Antitrust", 2001. Tim Robbins's character mentions that when you're on top, people attack the quality of the product. Departing and returning from fiction to reality, we find Google under media pressure in Europe and Latin America, while the Federal Trade Commission is considering making a claim against the Mountain View giant. Meanwhile, who reminds us that it is still at war with Google is Microsoft, through its recent campaign "Scroogled". The term "Scroogled" is no more than a corruption of the English word for "j * Dido", but the advance of Microsoft goes one step further.
Microsoft's complaint alleges that when searching for products on Google Product Search, the user does not receive the results "more relevant", but actually receives first ads that have been paid, getting priority. Technically, Microsoft is right, because Google Shopping recently adopted a scheme known as "pay-to-play". This works for now only in the United States, but will expand to other countries in 2013. However, as I have found other specialized portals, Bing does exactly the same. In addition, the video makes the mistake of saying that the results are for "the highest bidder". The results are sold, but no bid involved.
Another spark that draws attention, another brush to take into account and keep anecdotally. It is not the first time Microsoft comes to crossing Google, and definitely not the last. This new campaign reminds us to "G-Mailman", another invention of Microsoft, although at that time it was under attack was the Google Mail service. Personally I think it is an appropriate time (despite it's proximity to Christmas) so that Redmond enter into this kind of duels. And while Bing has about 16 percent of searches on American soil (which is primarily directed this campaign), the overall numbers clearly indicate that Bing should have other priorities before impact advertising. Moreover, the "pay for performance" is another variant of product placement, and it is not necessary to mention what we saw in series like "Hawaii 5-0" or movies like "The Amazing Spider-Man" ... Right?
Technology is advancing by leaps and bounds. Commented Rodolfo Carpintier, founder of the Internet incubator and investment DAD, that the growth rates of the companies "are getting faster" and "the problem is that the products are short star 'forcing' reinvent '. World renowned firms such as Apple products have led to its fullest, are required to "be able to do it again."
The demand is high and a poor reception from consumers can reverse the ranking. Example of Nokia, fourteen years at the top, has fallen four places in the ranking of companies with greater sales numbers. "The thing to do is what they've done well to repeat many times," summarizes this technological expert. Experts agree in indicating that it is "very important" to have a workhorse that identifies the strength of the brand.
Samsung, the consumer electronics to mobile
The Korean firm is present in the world of "smartphones" with its Galaxy models. Its Android devices have driven to a high level after HTC became the first mobile operating system available. So popular and so successful has your SIII, which has already outsold its direct rival, the iPhone, in the market Unidos.En of 'tablets' struggle to gain a foothold with a powerful Galaxy Tab, which has received the congratulations of the experts.
And is that Samsung makes its way into the second position worldwide mobile phone sales (23% market share). The data speaks for itself. During the second quarter of 2012 sold 50.2 million "smartphones" worldwide. Immersed in the legal battle with Apple in which he had to pay one billion fine for copying designs, the company is present in other sectors such as consumer electronics and entertainment, heavy industry, financial services and even industry chemistry. Can claim to have sold the first plasma TV in the world.
Apple, design and art
The Cupertino company competes in the mobile device market with two products of remarkable success: the iPhone, whose sales account for two thirds of total company profits, and iPad, the king of 'tablets'. The technology firm that embodies concepts such as art and design, has a very robust arsenal of products focused on the publishing, advertising and creativity. The iPhone 5 broke all sales records. Only on the first day of orders placed 2 million units, double that of its predecessor, the iPhone 4S. So much is the impact that their owners are "more satisfied" than the rest of other brands, according to a survey.
Star can also boast about the urban legend that their computers are alien to computer viruses. Besides others, developed Safari, your browser exclusively, but his philosophy of total control only makes is in its iOS operating system. Can not forget the iPod (Classic, Nano, Shuffle and Touch), which changed the music consumption model since its launch ten years ago. Your success is undeniable: 275 million units sold since.
His latest surprise, a mini version of the iPad, has already begun to manufacture a whopping figure of four million units per month. Another of his successes have been implanted worldwide Apple Store where they bring their products to their fanatical followers. Betting on Apple means jump through hoops, given the tight control exerted on the applications.
Microsoft, king of operating systems
Two decades on top They note his career as one of the most important companies in history. The Redmond company you must have been able to introduce operating systems in homes with Windows, its hallmark and so are known mainly. After several upgrades (Windows 95, 98, Millenium, NT, XP, 7 and 8), is the platform for excellence. It is found in 90% of computers. It is the most widespread, both in homes and businesses. Its interface is recognized by all for its simplicity and popularity. It is their flagship, along with the office suite Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook) with much of users daily living, but now has stiff competition with Google Docs services, OppenOffice.org or iWork.
With its recent launch of Windows 8, which focuses mainly on the world of mobility, waiting to enter the "tablets" and mobile devices, but has had a tepid sales start. Now with Surface, whose arrival in Spain is rumored to spring next year, have begun to expand the manufacture of hardware. With a strategic agreement with Nokia, the Windows Phone 8 will seek progress terrain. They can also boast integrated Internet Explorer, which has generated so many complaints until May and was the world's most used browser. He has had several legal problems by favoring Internet Explorer browsers detrimental to other existing and its technology has been overtaken by other competitors like Chrome.
No slouch in the fighting in the field of gaming with the Xbox 360, rival Sony Playstation 3. The product, made in collaboration with Intel and Nvidia, has sold 24 million units, according to official figures. Microsoft's strategy has been, in many cases, buying competitors products and services, such as Skype, which it acquired last year by 9,000 million dollars. They owed MSN, now integrated with Skype, and instant messaging service known.
The truth is that if Apple has managed to make its stores of his trademark, Microsoft intends to do the same. For this, the company is looking for the formula that best suits each city and open environment in which one of these stores. The plans of the company is already carrying these stores in Europe.
Google, the search for excellence
Developed by the Open Handset Alliance, Android bet is betting on Google. By working in the cloud, to have everything in sync, for robustness and speed. Samsung or HTC make their devices with this platform, currently the highest penetration. In fact, worldwide reached a market share of 50.9% in the fourth quarter of 2011, more than twice the second operating system (Apple iOS) more quota. Leads this market segment.
81.7% of the new "smartphones" in the Spanish market with the Android operating system, according to the latest report on buying habits, possession, spending and use of mobile telephony in Spain by the consulting firm Kantar Worldpanel. Compared to the share achieved in the same period last year, has improved its share from 58.1% to 81.7% mainly due to sales of the cheaper models. Per share, followed by Android platform Symbian (Nokia), with 4.9% of the renovations, and in third place is iOS, starting to feel the effects of the release of the iPhone 5 and it is 4% of the renovations. For its part, RIM (Blackberry) has a share of 3.4% and the Windows (Microsoft), 2.9%.
But what is known by Google, that bill more than $ 100 million a day for the ads 'online', is to be the biggest search engine in the world, and has a powerful array of services and products that have been developed as its Gmail email account or your own browser Chrome acquiring companies in many cases, as in the case of management platforms Blogger or YouTube video. The recently initiated into the world of technology even associate their logo with internet. However, the company founded by Sergey Brin and Larry Page, has been accused of repeatedly skipping the privacy of its users.
The nickname "Internet giant" is accompanying him. It is present even in the world of mobility. Google has a range of devices called Nexus. The first was made by HTC Nexus One, followed by two "smartphones" manufactured by Samsung, the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus. Already in 2012 it introduced the first "tablet" Nexus, the Nexus 7, manufactured by Asus, which have accompanied the Nexus phone 4 and the "tablet" Nexus 10, presented last October. Nevertheless, in recent years has suffered severe failures. Your social networking strategy has been great fiascos (Google Wave or Google Plus) versus successful platforms like Twitter or Facebook. To this we must add that have not yet found the key operating systems with the Chrome OS project.
The Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, said that Microsoft has surpassed the Cupertino company in the field of creativity in a new show of criticism of the new releases since Tim Cook took over the company.
"Woz" commented in an interview with "TechCrunch" that Redmond have overcome difficulties faced in recent years have focused on trying to develop advanced products. For this reason, expressed his "concern" about that Microsoft has become one of Apple's most innovative company that is developing and "clever ideas" in their laboratories.
The developer has said that you think a mistake that Apple has been keen to improve iPhone device giving out other services. Even has admitted that Windows interfaces seem "so beautiful" that gives you the feeling that the Redmond company has been reincarnated as Steve Jobs. It has not hesitated to return to be critical of the voice recognition system Siri ensuring that requires a thorough makeover.
Meanwhile, Wozniak has become the latest star of the game's promotional film Danny Trejo: "Vengeance. Woz With the Coz" unites the two protagonists in a bloody vengeance against a series of evil villains. The game will be presented on November 22.
"Woz With the Coz" is the result of the promotion of the latest film from Danny Trejo Californian actor, according to "Deadline Hollywood". In it, the actor will play a cop unjustly imprisoned and uses his release from prison to seek vengeance on his former colleagues.
The preview of Windows 8 and may be used and many who look beyond the aesthetic and have been held in astonishment how comfortable they have found it. Of course in the major overhaul also enters the new service discovery, and has discovered a pretty controversial: Windows SmartScreen. This process is an analysis and compilation of data for each new installation of software on Winows 8 and sends it to Microsoft to see if it is digitally signed. As done in secret, by default and in an unsafe manner, and this has become another major attack on the privacy of users of Windows 8
To the delight of the early adopters, technicians and experts to try it again as soon as it is released, Windows 8 is no longer used in various presentations promoting the empirical approach to its operation. With suspicion by the interface and having some doubts about integrations, many users we have ventured into Windows 8 with machete in hand pointer. After a review period acceptable to the launch of the latest free version, limited to Microsoft has released Windows 8 has been a problem that some experts are trying blogs, and this relates to user privacy in Windows 8. Is that as Kobeisi Nadim, a software engineer, Windows 8 sends all that information to install Microsoft.
The culprit of the matter, in addition to Microsoft, is a small Windows service called SmartScreen. This service is enabled by default on any Windows, has the function to capture a kind of information that you install software hash and send it to Microsoft to check its safety. That is, make sure it is not malicious software, you can install without risks. At first it seems an interesting option after fight infection receiving less seasoned users about computer use and the "functioning" of malware on the Internet. But you have to look a little beyond the matter and see what Microsoft is doing here is to invade user privacy. Let's put unwittingly.
An example of its operation could be: Downloads Torrent client. Then you open the installer and Windows SmartScreen currently runs in the background to capture the serial data and send it to Microsoft software for rapid analysis of digital signatures. If the application is not in order, Windows will return an error. In addition to what this means in terms of privacy, there is also a safety issue, and that the server is Microsoft still uses the SSLv2 protocol, which is known for its flaws and security holes. Then, when you consider that the installed programs can make a profile of user activities and above this information gathered in silence for Microsoft is exposed to an attack, the situation becomes more embarrassing and hopefully resolve it before the release of the final version.
Some companies are very quick to talk about beginnings and endings of eras, but the truth is that even with certain devices, or developments that caused a "hinge effect" on the market, you need a transition time. We have heard a lot of ocasciones Apple representatives say that the PC era was over. Reports of the death of conventional computer have been greatly exaggerated in recent years, but now Microsoft adds a log to the fire by saying that this is not the end of the PC era, but a new era: PC +.
I am part of the generation that saw live and in the abandonment of DOS and jumping to graphical interfaces. Pieces of hardware that were considered essential at the time have been reduced to simple low-cost components. I watched closely how the mobile phone went from a portfolio to achieve the size of a pack of cigarettes. And now, with the remarkable progress of the tablets, the concept of computer is in jeopardy as never before. I will not deny it: I am comfortable with the computer as it is. I know him well, I have control over their hardware and their updates. I can repair, modify and improve it. The idea that everything comes to an end that causes me some concern, but I'm very interested to know what's to come. The tablets have a question. Are they something different and need to be developed in parallel, they replace the computer, or are nothing more than the next step in the evolution of the PC?
The Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference ended in yesterday. There is usually a conference that teaches great things for the consumer market, but this time was the COO Kevin Turner who decided to play the delicate issue of "post-PC era", and did so with a spicy statement: Apple is wrong. In mid 2010, Steve Jobs stated that the post-PC era had begun, while Tim Cook, currently CEO of the Cupertino giant has not only said that the tablet and the PC are two different things, but does not believe in hybrid formats. For Redmond, Apple is "a great hardware," but the computer is entering the era PC +, an idea based on a 1999 article written by Bill Gates called, "Why the PC will not die." Gates mentioned in this text to anticipate the death of the PC became a kind of "annual ritual" and also speaks of "devices that have not even dreamed of yet." One tablet would be today.
How could it be otherwise, Turner hinted that Windows 8 is a cornerstone for the PC + era, and that's where I think the preacher loses some strength. Windows 8 is a change, and one large, even more than the passing of Windows 3.x to Windows 95 for nearly seventeen years. But the market is not the same, the hardware is not the same, and basically, users are not the same. If the change conveys the feeling of being "good" inmiedato is absorbed, but before the first question listed stocks. And Windows 8, or should I say "the interface Metro", is a sea of doubt. Microsoft is betting nearly himself on the success of Windows 8, but if anything it has taught us both the computer and consumer electronics is that the first of its kind, regardless of whether they succeed or not, always have a sharp edge. It happened to iPhone, iPad happened, and certainly happened to Windows 95 at the time. Windows 8 is, taking into account everything you said Microsoft, the first of its kind, and that system is based PC + era. When we get to October, we'll know who was right.
Seems to be a way that everything that is successful must inevitably go over their existence. There is no doubt that the use of the vast and growing network of mobile Android is raging at the security and privacy, and if you needed proof to be believed, a researcher at Microsoft has just discovered a botnet of Android devices Yahoo! Mail uses to take advantage and make money and then sending spam SMS from mobiles affected.
The most pernicious Internet, with its nooks and malicious criminals know a little more computer niches and to detect the focus of their attacks on what is growing and it provides enough facilities to take advantage. In this sense, the explosion of attacks on Android phones and the constant barrage of spam is not an accident but the result of an unlawful activity as mounting an international botnet Android devices that today are making much money sitting on misinformation and ingenuity of millions.
Suspicions were expressed on the table of strategies, but only recently, and after investigation he called exhaustive, Terry Zink, Microsoft engineer, has discovered a complete and international botnet is attacking over and through Android devices. The owners of the phones and tablets are taken through the creation of thousands of false applications for Android, or have failed when a link is going to acquire or seem to work properly but in fact you are taking credit for sending expensive SMS from the phone to "collected all the trouble." That is, the devices are used to send and receive spam that not only cost money to those who suffer, but also endangers their safety and their data.
The details revealed in the MSDN blog talk about a method that has as main objective to make money from users' mobile after reaching the user spam from Yahoo Mail boxes funny thing is that from the same subject in the mail written information is as follows: "Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android" would seem to indicate the hackers devised a malware that can take Yahoo! Mail accounts and use them to send these messages to large scale using a botnet of Android devices interconnected. The location of the botnet was easy, yet not so much. Is that Yahoo! Mail provides the sender's IP, the problem is that the addresses come from different countries such as Chile, Thailand, Ukraine, Oman, Lebanon, Indonesia, Russia, among others
According to him, many of these conditions are given by the free and illegal downloading of Yahoo! Mail and other services that usually are extra. What he proposes as a first solution is that users only use Googe Android Play to download applications and so have security on it.
Strangely, a feature that Microsoft has never deigned to add software to its popular office suite fee (and expensive) is the tabbed browsing through open documents. Tabbed browsing is much more convenient than using the icons in the taskbar. But, as always, you can rely on developers to correct "omissions" from Microsoft. Thus, Office Tab free version adds tabbed browsing to Word, Excel and PowerPoint. For other major Microsoft applications (Publisher, Access, Project and Visio), it will leave your bank card or credit to buy one of two paid versions (moderate prices).
Office Tab you can set to tell it how to open a new document, how close the tabs and how to manage them. You can also set the overall appearance of the tabs: position, style, color, size and font. For more advanced functions like individual coloring of the tabs, blocking, backing up all documents or bookmarking, you will also get one of your plastic cards.
But with the free version, you can still place the tabs in the order of your taste, hide and know when a file changed is not saved (an asterisk appears after the filename in the tab ).
The Next Web noticed a correlation between the number of active users of the Facebook app for Windows Phone 7 and the number of users of Windows Phone 7: there is a new user of this application all WP7 6.756 smartphones sold. In January 2011 the site was estimated that 2 million WP7 smartphones were sold, a figure confirmed a few weeks later by Microsoft. If this ratio still holds, there are now 12 million Windows Phone outstanding.
The Facebook application for Windows Phone 7 is indeed actively used by 1.9 million people: it is thus slightly less than 13 million Windows Phone that would be activated, a figure reduced to 12 million by the site as a precaution. Of course, a ratio also resists simplistic poorly to the test of time, especially since a second-hand market is set up. However, we note such a peak usage of the Facebook app for WP7 from the marketing of the first Nokia smartphone Lumia, which tenderait to confirm the positive impact of the Finnish manufacturer of mobile ecosystem of Microsoft.
Nevertheless, the need to look at any cost figures shows that the release of Microsoft is deficient: the Redmond company has only very rarely communicated to the sales figures of WP7 devices. If the estimated 12 million was good, it would show in fact that Microsoft is far from having won his bet to become a major player in the telephony world: it takes months to sell as many Apple iPhone. History shows, however, Microsoft can do the back round and continue to invest: hope for the Redmond company that WP7 will be more than Zune Xbox.
There are many ideas on how to make Web content access fairer for consumers and more profitable for companies, but until one of these methods can not be implemented efficiently, others seek to keep attacking the means of distribution and exchange. In the same way some governments hired mercenaries to fight their wars, large corporations are turning to companies dedicated to interfere and / or stop traffic on BitTorrent. One is the Russian Pirate Pay, with financial support from Microsoft, and reports to date have stopped tens of thousands of downloads.
It is clear that the ultimate solution for piracy is the classic process of demonizing the user. There are distribution mechanisms that have earned an excellent reputation among consumers. Probably the best example we have for this is Steam. In addition to the user off the road (something they can not do DRM systems), there are times when Steam puts very attractive offers that keep the players challenged. Why not think of a Steam for movies? Instead of implementing something like this, companies continue to attack the idea of distribution channels, and BitTorrent, despite being technically legal, is not in your list of favorites. More than a corporate giant would like to see dead and buried to BitTorrent, but for now looking to stop functioning.
How do they do? Mainly bombarding customers with false information exchange network, something similar (at least in concept) to what we remember of the Kazaa network with the flood of fraudulent sources. The work is the responsibility of a Russian company called Pirate Pay. The story began in 2009 from what was a traffic management tool for providers. The prototype performed much better than expected, and the development process eventually caught the attention of Microsoft, which provided the not inconsiderable sum of one hundred thousand dollars to the anti-piracy effort. Last December, some of the companies that hired the services of Pirate Pay were Walt Disney Studios and Sony Pictures.
Apparently, the company has greater effectiveness in protecting a specific movie instead of stopping the discharge at a general level. One of his recent projects focused on the Russian film "Vysotskiy. Spasibo, chto zhivoy ", stopping almost 45 000 downloads. The number is in every small when you consider the magnitude of the BitTorrent network, nor can we say that the services are cheap Pay Pirate, because depending on the complexity of the project may charge up to fifty thousand dollars. Pirate Pay is not the first company to do so, and probably not the last, but there seems to be an efficient method in the long term. Companies lose money "real" outsourcing these services, when in fact, if its contents were accessible at a reasonable price, they might be making it.
A year ago, in one of these transactions that will be remembered forever, Microsoft paid out 8.5 billion dollars and became owner of the company's largest market VoIP, Skype. With the growth of the company provided, Microsoft and Skype have made a change in the way it works all the management of users and connections, originally belonging to the architecture of P2P supernodes. These days it ran a rumor that Microsoft was using Linux for 10,000 servers to replace the model of P2P supernodes. ¿Linux servers hosted by Microsoft? Was it true?
From that day on which Microsoft signed the checks for the inclusion of Skype on devices like Xbox, Kinect, Windows Phone and connectivity applications such as Outlook, Xbox Live, Lync and even Bing have been promoting itself and evolve as Janus Friis and Niklas Zennström (founders of Skype, which they then sold to eBay) must be in some island paradise enjoying the pleasures untold. Lately, the Redmond company has turned upside down Skype's infrastructure and has made changes that really surprised at the extent and for at contradictory. How? Yes, because these days it ran a rumor that Skype P2P supernodes replaced its Linux servers hosted by Microsoft.
What did they do? Looks like a mouthful, but so far Skype working with a system based on what are called P2P supernodes, whose nuclei could support up to 800 users. This decentralized P2P system provided a solid infrastructure, but it was still a dangerous activity if it is related to the type of information passing through them, being in constant danger of malware attacks by the immense amount of users that has scaling leading VoIP service. Thus arose the hypothesis, an expert in security, Kortchinsky Kostya, who said that Microsoft had made available to 10,000 Linux machines that are hosted by them. These computers would be running a Linux distribution using grsecurity patch and package configurations designed for servers more resilient to attacks, as noted by Arstechnica site.
The strange thing is that at first glance you could tell they have these computers would be much more expensive as an investment for Microsoft, but as the theoretical maximum of supernodes classic was 800 users, each computer can accommodate 100,000 users, making the maintenance would be more centralized and inclusive. What was even stranger about the use of Linux on the part of Microsoft, who has repeatedly said that its main competitor is the open source system. But this was not the case. One day after everything was laughing Reddit Microsoft is attacking Microsoft, an employee of Skype announced the following:
As part of our ongoing commitment to continuously improve the user experience of Skype supernodes have developed that can be placed on dedicated servers in secure data centers. This has not changed the underlying nature of Skype with the use of P2P architecture, where the supernodes simply allow users to find each other (no calls go through supernodes). We believe this approach has immediate benefits in performance, scalability and availability for hundreds of millions of users who make up the Skype community.
And yes. Insofar as they give more information, we will be happy to tell you specifically how Skype is working these days, but what appears is that they have implemented the model explained by Kostya Kortchinsky, but without getting rid of the supernodes and apparently unused Linux, but do not specify
In simple terms, electromyography records the activity of so-called skeletal muscles. Obviously, the most important application is in medicine, diagnosing diseases and asisitiendo the development of different types of prostheses. However, someone had the idea that an electromyographic device installed on the arm of a person can be used as an interface to control gadgets, interpreting the signals from the muscles. That someone is Microsoft Research, who has a couple of years working on the project, and received confirmation of the patent during this week. Is this the ancestor of a "super-Kinect" futuristic?
What will the interfaces of the future? What kind of interaction with the devices we expected to be launched in the coming years? We are in a period governed by the touch interfaces, but even they have their limits, and inevitably find them. Gestures and movements have been exploited and exploited in several ways. The Wiimote, PlayStation Move and Kinect successful are three examples that while outside the world of mobile devices, have also made a great contribution. The chorus Kinect sales is based on that "you are the driver." The Kinect interprets gestures and movements, but how that interpretation would be to conduct a deeper level? Behind every gesture and movement is muscular reactions and electrical signals. Could it a read and convert those signals directly?
Perhaps not in the short term, but Microsoft Research is working on it since at least March 2009, when he presented at the time an application to register a patent for a "EMG-based controller." This controller would be able to interpret the electrical signals from the user's muscles. The signals would then be transmitted to a computer or other device; through a physical or wireless connection, and converted to the corresponding commands. One of the examples in the patent shows a kind of band that the user is placed in the arm, but have also explored other formats such as sweatshirts and glasses.
As always in these cases, we can not deny the possibility that the patent remains in a drawer for several years without generating any practical device commercially available, but the reason behind the patent is not so farfetched. Imagine for a moment to combine the ability to detect an accessory such as the Kinect, electromyographic. As an example, think of the moves you make when using a mouse. Now remove the mouse, and imagine the same movements in the air or on land. The band electromyographic could interpret each click, double click and "spin wheel" virtual, while an external sensor is responsible for registering the movement. The example just scratches the surface of the potential of such a device. And Redmond already has the patent.
The boss of the giant antivirus believes that Apple is not reactive enough in case of fault on its software. If Apple is great on the design of its products, it is perhaps not even in terms of security. That at least is what condemns Eugene Kaspersky, founder and owner of a giant Russian anti-virus, interviewed by Computer Business Review. "I think they are ten years behind Microsoft in terms of security," he firmly told. "The introduction of malicious software in the Apple universe was only a matter of time and market share," he said, adding that "cyber criminals have now identified the Mac as an interesting ground" . "Welcome to the world of Microsoft, is full of viruses!" is he exclaimed at Apple.
Accustomed to managing operating systems not targeted by attacks, Apple now has to face many challenges. Its market share explodes on the PC market, but also - and especially - on the smartphones and tablets, where Apple sells its iPhone and iPad like hotcakes.
600 000 Mac infected Flashback
"Apple is entering the world in which Microsoft is over ten years: updates, security patches, etc.." Said Eugene Kaspersky, adding that he expected "to see more and more malicious code for Mac because cyber criminals learn from their successes and Flashback was the first successful Mac ".
Kaspersky is not his first attempt and had previously criticized Apple just after the discovery of the Trojan Flashback, which has infected more than 600,000 Macs in the world. The Apple had put a lot of time to react, leaving its users vulnerable for more than three months. In the security world, where everyone knows that zero risk does not exist, the reliability is not the absence of faults, but the speed of the reaction of the software. On this point, Microsoft has made great strides with Windows 98 and Windows XP, and has teams on a war footing twenty-four hours out of twenty-four.
Facebook will pay Microsoft $ 550 million (419 million) in cash to be made with 650 patents recently acquired AOL. This is the last movement of the social network to grow its intellectual property as a result of a lawsuit filed by Yahoo. The deal will give Facebook 650 patents and patent applications as well as a license for another 275 patents and applications owned by Microsoft. Earlier this month, it became known that Microsoft had reached an agreement with AOL to acquire 800 of its patents by 807 million euros in troops.
The agreement between Facebook and Microsoft is produced before the company's number one social networking world made its initial public offering on the stock exchange operation that could get a valuation of 100,000 million dollars. In addition to affecting the possible assessment, this operation looks like a Facebook movement in response to its legal battle with Yahoo.
Yahoo sued Facebook earlier this year, claiming that Facebook had infringed 10 of its patents, including several relating to technology that affect online advertising. Facebook responded to Yahoo countersued in April, claiming Yahoo violated 10 of its own patents.
In March, Facebook acquired 750 patents for International Business Machines Corp., which added to this acquisition represents a significant investment in this field.
After announcing earlier this week the three versions of its new operating system Windows 8, the company Microsoft continues to make progress in your project and announced a fourth version. This will be named Windows 8 Enterprise and is targeted specifically to businesses. On Monday, the team at Microsoft said through its official blog that Windows 8 would have three versions. The versions that are already announced Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro, which are designed for computers and 'tablets' processor-based x86 (32 and 64 bit). The third version, Windows RT sits down for ARM architectures. However, Microsoft has introduced a fourth edition of Windows 8: Windows 8 Enterprise . This new version includes all the features that customers can enjoy Windows 8 Pro along with quality features designed to provide mobile productivity, security, manageability and virtualization needs of today's businesses. Among the main features will be available exclusively for customers of Windows 8 Enterprise, is Windows To Go, Direct.
Access, BranchCache and AppLocker. The first, Windows To go, consists of a USB is installed on Windows 8 and will encourage people to bring their own hardware to work without affecting the safety of the company. DirectAccess enables remote users to access to resources seamlessly within a corporate network without having to launch a separate VPN. On the other hand, the BranchCache feature allows users to cache the files, websites and other content on central servers, so that the contents are not repeatedly downloaded through the wide area network (WAN). AppLocker can help mitigate problems of safety and productivity by restricting user access to specific files or groups or applications. The final version is expected for autumn this year, although Microsoft has not finalized date. What it has done is announce the various issues that users can find in the market after the launch occurs.
Since the release of Kinect, apart from the simulations dance, few games are worth visiting. Blame it on a motion detector with limited ability to simulate the movement of an action game. "Kinect Star Wars" might deviate from this rule.You're in the shoes of a young padawan who completes his training starting battle hordes of Sith Droid and historically between episode I and II of "Star Wars". The dream of every geek. But the theory is somewhat different from the practice.
Given its Kinect, the grip turns chaotic. Jedi who is not willing. Specifically, a hand manipulates the lightsaber with precision, the other sends enemies to waltz through force. Not obvious. For travel, just a step forward for the apprentice to advance along a predetermined path. Levels are constructed as corridors where fights are edited. Basic and repetitive, without being forbidding. The whole enlivened by a few duels with iconic characters from "Star Wars".
The game then varies with races in control modules and pods, sequences of firing the turret aboard a ship, or phases in the shoes of a giant monster, where the aim is total destruction.
The problem of the game lies in the gameplay that requires a shaky staccato rhythm where you have to break all his movements one after another. To compensate, "Kinect Star Wars" proves incredibly easy. Die almost an achievement. The stupidity of the enemies is matched their movements slow and heavy.
Still, overall, the atmosphere of "Star Wars" is faithfully transcribed, mainly thanks to epic music. Too bad the graphics are so bland, especially for faces.
Although entertaining, this adventure is repetitive and uninspired. Gesticulating in front of the screen is taking a knight of the space has something enjoyable. Similarly, certain phases completely shifted, as the dance steps in the galactic palace of Jabba the Hutt, enliven the whole.
Apple has updated its page dedicated to the iPhone in business, adding, in the U.S. at least, a selection of applications designed for business users (via). Unusually, Apple spends even some third-party applications of video tutorials detailing their use. The Cupertino indicates how to keep score with BillMinder, manage online storage services with activeCloud Pro, take notes with Evernote, or translating text with iTranslate +.
Microsoft has announced that the third version of Windows Intune, its software in the cloud of Directors of computers, would now be able to manage mobile devices, devices and Windows Phone Android to the iPhone and the iPad. IOS, this management will focus on integration with a Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync as explained Eric Main and will include the password protection, encryption, and remote wipe. A few weeks ago, another big name in the business world, RIM had announced the same way the integration of iOS devices and its BlackBerry system Android Mobile Fusion.
Redmond's team announced the coming to market versions of its new operating system will be Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT. The official, meanwhile, remains unconfirmed.
The official blog of Microsoft gave more detail than expected Windows 8, if the last World Congress in Barcelona showed the Consumer Preview version now shows the three issues that appear on the market, all of them 'bring together a broad and fluid design, great for a wide range of hardware."
Windows versions 8 and Windows 8 Pro are specific to computers and x86 processor-based tablets (32 and 64 bit). The first will include all the features already known and an updated version of Windows Explorer, Task Manager, an improved multi-monitor support and the option to change the language.
Windows 8 Pro, meanwhile, is designed for "professional and passionate about technology to optimize Windows 8." Thus, in addition to the above features encryption, virtualization management hardware and connectivity domain.
Finally, the Windows edition version of RT is the new operating system for ARM architecture. The latter will be sold exclusively pre-installed on computers and tablets with ARM. Bring an optimized version of Office for touch screens but will not have Windows Media Player.
The operator proposes a new service to its customers when Microsoft continues its operation "all forms of entertainment" on his console.
Starting tomorrow, owners of the Orange Livebox will be able to enjoy television via their Xbox 360. Only requirements to receive TV from Orange on the console: a subscription to Xbox Live Gold and be connected to the Livebox. Thirty channels will be available by downloading the application on the Microsoft machine, the DTT channels and bouquets Extra, Sport and Orange cinema series available for existing customers of these programs on their Livebox. The offer will soon be enlarged by additional channels, television on demand and video on demand.
With this agreement, Orange hopes to boost its television service and make the right car. "We are a consumer market of television changing, so we explore a number of tracks. Today, we innovate, we'll see how it evolves," said Alice Holzman, Director Consumer Marketing at Orange France , noting that Orange TV on Xbox 360 should be considered as "a television supplement". Completed negotiations for the selection of programs in homes with a Livebox and an Xbox 360, it can now serve as the second decoder.
Anxious to multiply the forms of entertainment on its platform, Microsoft is already associated with Canal + and M6, and offers a VOD service with Zune, the manufacturer goes into high gear with Orange TV, a service provider Internet with its many strings. Both brands have signed a mutual exclusivity of one year, Microsoft and Orange are leaving time to refine their services before going to negotiate with the competition.
The significant detail of this new application is the navigation with Kinect that will end the daily drama of many French homes, namely the disappearance of the remote when switching programs. Indeed, the motion sensor to enable Microsoft to choose the chains of a wave of his hand or his voice. All is not perfect, zapping manual shall be only with the previous or next channel, for example, but navigation is still fluid enough to take effect before the family or friends.
This service is exclusively for Orange customers, the goal is clear and assumed by the two partners, recruit new users. Exchange of favors, consoles and accessories Microsoft motion controller will be sold tomorrow in thirty stores Orange. Prospective purchasers of an Xbox 360 and Kinect in Orange stores will even enjoy a substantial reduction in addition. Between new friends, we must help each other.
What was intended to go through a great marketing move by the company promoting Windows Phone has come into its opposite. The reason: a competition organized in a store in the U.S. where a moving company would face against any participant with Android. The final victory of a Samsung Nexus Galaxy finished with Microsoft denied the prize.
Occurred in Santa Clara and the media have echoed through the news blog of the youth who won the odd competition. Microsoft Store hosted a challenge believing that the company's OS was faster than Android. The game was to see how mobile widgets loaded faster 2 time in two different cities . The prize, a laptop valued at $ 1,000.
As Young explains in his blog, had to sign a waiver accepting that the company used a photo of him in their advertising. After the signing was in line at the "challenge". The user explains that carrying a Samsung Galaxy Nexus with the latest Android OS via the network of Verizon Wireless.
Under competition, the young should take the phone off to begin the challenge:
When I get to the store employee of Microsoft with whom I was going to face the challenge communicating clearly explains that "the first time offering two different cities wins." I felt I had hit the jackpot because I had two installed widgets at startup time, one for my current location and one for Berkeley, and moreover my smartphone had no lockscreen .
Microsoft believed instead that started with an advantage because its Windows Phone also had the default widget setting.
The result once the competition began was that after three seconds the young man had won:
I pressed the power button on my phone and said "done" out loud. Without the default lock screen when you turn appeared directly the two widgets.
In contrast to Microsoft's cost a fraction of a second later as he had to do two things. The first was to light the screen ... and the second unlock the smartphone .
The response was unlikely the company had not won. Microsoft says the young man who was lost "because." After discussions with several employees of the store (we assume they did not expect the outcome), tells the young man was not showing the time of two cities in different states .
Not only that, after the "new" argument employees remind the young man who signed a picture with the advertising company. A sign that read: " My Android was beaten by a Windows Phone . "
Incredible but true. The young man just entering wondering the purpose of the "strategy" of Marketing. If the issue was to demonstrate the WP highlights of the results had not been ineffective. In any case challenges the company to a rematch at any time.
I would be happy to return at beating a Windows phone with my Android ...
