Techubbub : July 2012

Friday, 27 July 2012

Apple releases latest version of its Mac operating system

Apple on Wednesday has released OS X Mountain Lion, the latest version of its operating system for Mac computers, which includes features already implemented on its mobile devices.

The operating system introduces iCloud internet storage service which allows users to connect their emails, contacts and calendars across several computers, iPhones and iPads. Another important feature is iMessage which enables users to send messages, photos, videos and documents to anyone on an Apple device running iOS 5, too.

Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing said "People are going to love the new features in Mountain Lion and how easy it is to download and install from the Mac App Store."

Among other features the new software allows users to share information on Twitter through an app available on the Mac App Store. It also includes a notification centre which collects user activities such as an email, a message, a software update, a calendar alert and makes it accessible in one spot.

Mountain Lion is available to download from the Mac App Store and will cost £13.99.

Thursday, 26 July 2012

New virus spreads on Facebook

Trusteer discovered this week a new Citadel malware which is spreading on Facebook to ask users for a donation to a fake children’s charity, the scam aims at stealing user’s credit card number.

The malware infects the computer and inserts itself into the Facebook session to display a pop up which prompts charity donation and asks for the credit card information when users log into their Facebook accounts.

There are different versions of the scam text depending on the country and language including English, Spanish and German.

Sunday, 22 July 2012

Google declares war on Mexican drug cartels

Eric Schmidt, Google's executive chairman recently visited Mexico’s most violent cities where civic leaders asked him for help. This week at a conference on international crime in California, Schmidt said “They were looking for a universal hammer to protect them. For me the answer was obvious. It was technology.”

Experts claimed at the conference that Drug-dealing organizations run money laundering networks that handle an estimated $25 billion a year in drug profit and often use more sophisticated technology than law enforcement such as mapping software that tracks the location of police from high-tech control rooms, remote control submarines and military-grade rocket launchers.

The Google proposal is create an anonymous network through which citizens can safely report cartel activity without fear of retribution and create community web platforms to identify how individuals are connected to each other, to bank accounts and even to corrupt government officials.

Google claims that empowering the Mexican people with technology should produce a step forward in the fight against the drug cartels, and that's a good thing.

Saturday, 21 July 2012

Ashton Kutcher plays Steve Jobs

Ashton Kutcher looked exactly like a young Steve Jobs in a series of photos taken in Los Angeles as the two and a half men star will play the Silicon Valley visionary in one of two films that chronicle the life of the Apple co-founder, titled "Jobs: Get Inspired".

“Jobs” started filming this month with scenes in the actual garage where Jobs first started assembling Apple computers, and will focus on the 30 most important years of his life, from 1971 to 2000, when he became the CEO of Apple for a second time.

Producer Mark Hulme says he chose Ashton to play Jobs because he can embody the character not only physically, but mentally too, and can handle the “psychological complexity” of the role.

"jOBS" is expected to be released in theaters at the end of this year.

Eggasus, the future of transportation

Eggasus is a three-wheel mobility scooter powered by an electric motor that is located in the front wheel, it is fully enclosed and zero-emission. This prototype has been created by Eggasus which has not yet announced official specs and claims it has been researching for decades on alternative urban transportation.

The egg-shaped electric vehicle has a futuristic exterior design, a top speed of 25 mph and a range of 50 miles per charge. According to the California-based company it is a “completely unique, quiet, futuristic personal transportation device”.

It can be pre-ordered for $5,000 and there will be a discount on orders of 12 or more.

Thursday, 19 July 2012

Microsoft unveils new Office 365

Microsoft yesterday in San Francisco unveiled the next version of Microsoft Office, the new “Office 365” which is a big departure from the software that the world’s 1 billion users have come to know, this version has been designed from a Metro UI perspective and will feature touch controls.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said that it is "the most ambitious release of Office we've ever done."

The new software built for the cloud is more intuitive to use than past releases and will allow users to save progress and settings for Microsoft Office applications between devices and even hold meetings digitally as an alternative to teleconferencing.

The new Office 365 is set to be released in four editions, that being Office 365 Home Premium, Small Business Premium, ProPlus, and Enterprise. Ballmer announced that a customer preview is available to try now.