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Thursday, May 31, 2012
TechNewsWorld: Re-Enter the Dragon
Re-Enter the Dragon
SpaceX's private Dragon spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean Thursday after a 10-day mission to restock the International Space Station with supplies. On this mission, the Dragon fulfilled two sets of tests laid out for it by NASA as a prelude to the organization's giving SpaceX a $1.6 billion contract that would see the company fly at least 12 resupply missions to the ISS.
SpaceX's Dragon space capsule returned to Earth on Thursday, 10 days after it took off into the wild blue yonder to resupply the International Space Station.
The capsule touched down in the Pacific Ocean at 11:42 a.m. ET a few hundred miles west of Baja California, Mexico.
It will be taken by boat to a port in California near Los Angeles, where it will be prepared for return to SpaceX's test facility in McGregor, Texas, NASA said.
"The SpaceX launch is a milestone for an industry that is growing by leaps and bounds," Alex Saltman executive director of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF), told TechNewsWorld.
NASA declined to provide further comment.
Splashing Down
The Dragon capsule delivered more than 1,000 pounds of supplies to the International Space Station, NASA said. These included food, clothing and technology 
Some of the cargo will be removed at the port and returned to NASA within 48 hours, and the rest will be returned to Texas with the Dragon capsule.
A SpaceX recovery team, reportedly consisting of 16 engineers, technicians and divers together with contractors operating a 185-foot crane-equipped barge and two inflatables, picked the capsule out of the water.
NASA has been plagued by heat shield failures on its shuttles and capsules in the past. However, the Dragon didn't have this problem. It was protected by SpaceX's Pica-X heat shield material.
Trust but Verify
On this mission, the Dragon fulfilled two sets of tests laid out for it by NASA as a prelude to the organization's giving SpaceX a US$1.6 billion contract that would see the company fly at least 12 resupply missions to the ISS.
The tests were to have been conducted on separate flights, but SpaceX lobbied NASA successfully to combine them.
The tests included aborts; absolute and relative GPS demonstrations; and a demonstration of free drift, wherein the Dragon had to stop and float freely in space as it would when grappled by the Canadarm2.
Other tests were de-orbit burn and separation; controlled entry, descent and landing; successful recovery of the Dragon capsule; on-orbit operations approach and departure; operations while attached to the International Space Station; and recovery of outbound cargo from the station.
Over the next few weeks, NASA will evaluate the Dragon capsule's mission performance. Once that's done, it will set the target data for SpaceX's first full cargo mission jointly with the company.
"Perhaps the most important part of the launch is that it has reminded the American people that the Space Shuttle retirement was not the end of America's story in space," the CSF's Saltman said. "America remains a nation of explorers, and NASA and American companies are working together on the next chapter."
NASA terminated the Space Shuttle program on Aug. 31, 2011.
Turning to the Private Sector
The Dragon's flights were conducted under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, which provides investments to stimulate the commercial space industry in the United States.
Several other companies had tests or other announcements this week, the CSF's Saltman said.
One is Sierra Nevada, which began test flights for NASA's Commercial Crew Development Program with its Dream Chaser Flight Vehicle in Colorado on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Virgin Galactic announced that its vehicle developer, Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) subsidiary Scaled Composites, had been granted an experimental launch permit from the Federal Aviation Administration for two space vehicles.
Earlier this month, Excalibur Almaz announced that it has lunar and deep space mission capability.
"NASA's commercial programs are set up to purchase unmanned and, soon, manned services to the International Space Station," Saltman said. Fixed-price contracts for unmanned trips have already been signed and "offer NASA dramatic savings over using the Space Shuttle."
Richard Adhikari 01 Jun, 2012
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Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/1fe64641/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C752670Bhtml/story01.htm
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TechNewsWorld: Gigabyte Launches Featherweight Category-Challenging Notebook
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Gigabyte Launches Featherweight Category-Challenging Notebook
Consumers still haven't decided whether tablets can actually replace personal computers, but for those who want a lightweight form factor with more robust capabilities than a tablet or a netbook, Gigabyte has launched several new models, including its X11 -- which it's touting as the lightest laptop on Earth.
Gigabyte introduced its new X11 notebook computer on Thursday, calling it the lightest notebook on Earth. Weighing in at just 975g (2.13 lbs.) and having the thickness of just 0.3cm (0.12 in.), the computer is certainly sleek. But does this weight game really even matter?
Gigabyte X11
"I don't know if [the weight] is really that much of a difference for most users," said Patrick Gray, founder and president of the Prevoyance Group. "Most users aren't going to be trekking through the Andes with this laptop in their bag. For most people, it will be taking it on a plane where a bottle of water is likely to weigh more."
However, from the marketing perspective, Gigabyte has earned bragging rights, added Gray.
"That lets them command a couple extra bucks," he told TechNewsWorld.
Gigabyte did not respond to our request to comment for this story.
Notebook or Ultrabook?
Gigabyte describes the X11 as an ultra lightweight machine, but doesn't term it an "Ultrabook." Its form factor is actually similar to that of the MacBook Air. To reduce the weight, the company utilized a full carbon fiber body, with an aluminum hinge. The use of carbon fiber was hyped as being something fairly special.
"Carbon fiber allows you to reduce the weight," added Gray, "but it isn't anything that hasn't been used for a while."
In fact, many products have sported carbon fiber casings for years -- most notably Ferrari-branded laptops from Acer. Even companies such as Dell (Nasdaq: DELL) are making use of carbon fiber in laptops.
Taiwan -- Gigabyte's home base -- is currently the epicenter of carbon fiber production, though, for everything from bicycles to golf clubs. So, if anything, it is a material that we will likely see more of in the future. This could mean more ultra lightweight computers using it in place of traditional plastic or aluminum casings.
More Than a Netbook
Under the hood, the X11 offers a bit of computing power, including an unidentified "3rd generational Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) Core" processor (Ivy Bridge), 4 GB of DDR3 memory, 128 GB solid state hard drive, Mobile Intel HM77 Express chipset with Intel HD Graphics 4000, and 1366x768 pixel LED display. Included are a 1.3 megapixel webcam, along with Bluetooth and WiFi wireless connectivity options.
While this is a solid computer, and certainly more powerful than the average netbook, the X11isn't exactly going to be the fastest or most-robust PC. However, it could fill a void for many users, at least those considering a tablet vs. laptop.
"It is just evolutionary, not revolutionary," said Mark Baldwin of Baldwin Consulting. "It makes the form factor for those desiring netbooks a little bit better. But netbooks themselves are filling a rather limited -- but real -- need in the market. I doubt this will have any effect on the tablet market. It probably would have more effect on the laptop market, in that it makes netbooks a little more appealing -- but even there, I think the effect would be minimum."
However, the X11 could have the right branding and the right look to draw some attention. For some, that might be enough to consider it over a tablet.
"I think this computer offers a bit of advantage over a tablet," said Gray.
However, at US$1,000 to $1,300 the X11 is a bit pricier than most tablets. That could potentially limit its audience.
"I don't think Ultrabooks will threaten tablets," said tech analyst Jeff Kagan. "They are each in their own slice of the market. Ultrabooks are one of the new segments in the space. They are hot now. The big question is will these be long lived?"
Peter Suciu 01 Jun, 2012
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Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/1fe5dfe8/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C752610Bhtml/story01.htm
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TechNewsWorld: Sony Nixes Plan to Scratch Discs for PS4
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TechNewsWorld: Flame: Towering Inferno or Smoke and Mirrors?
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Flame: Towering Inferno or Smoke and Mirrors?
Further study of the Flame malware discovered earlier this week has revealed some strange characteristics. It's a huge program, as malware goes, and it's existed on systems for a relatively long time, which could be a major cause for concern. However, it's only infected about 1,000 machines, and it's written in code designed for use in software like casual video games.
For all the ruckus raised by security
Yes, it has been around for several years and has hit computers in Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Sudan and other countries in the Middle East and North Africa. But its total tally is about 1,000 or so infected systems, according to Kaspersky Lab. Compare that with the millions infected by the Conficker worm, for example.
And yes, it consists of hundreds of thousands of lines of code and is 20 times larger than the Stuxnet worm that hit systems in Iran's nuclear program.
However, "using 20 times more code than Stuxnet doesn't necessarily mean that it's 20 times stronger," Joe Jaroch, vice president of endpoint solutions engineering at Webroot, told TechNewsWorld.
There are reports that Flame was launched by Israel against other nations the Middle East, Israeli officials denied that allegation.
And how serious could malware that's written in Lua -- the programming language used for games like "Angry Birds" -- really be?
Flame On!
The sheer size of Flame is staggering. The main module has about 650,000 lines of C code, possibly extending to 750,000, McAfee suggests. That doesn't include the code in the other modules.
When the code has an interesting string, it encapsulates the information in a sealed function, further bloating the code and making it more difficult to read, McAfee said. In computer programming, a string is a sequence of characters.
Flame's functions include low-level disk-access parsing, ZIP file parsing, the parsing of documents in Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) Office formats and PDF documents, a capability to search hidden places within an infected computer's system, and the ability to remotely spread itself within a network domain. It's interested in mobile devices. Its Beetlejuice module discovers Bluetooth devices and looks for contacts in the target's social network on Sony (NYSE: SNE) and Nokia (NYSE: NOK) devices, according to McAfee.
The malware silently fires up extra instances of Internet Explorer and injects code into them to send information back to its command and control servers, McAfee said. This lets it function as part of a trusted process on infected computers, letting it circumvent personal firewalls.
About Lua
Lua is a lightweight multi-paradigm programming language designed as a scripting language. It is cross-platform and has a relatively simple C application programming interface. It was designed to be used by people who were not professional programmers.
Lua has many semantic similarities with Scheme, a dialect of LISP whose influence on Lua has grown over time. However, the two languages are syntactically very different.
As a multi-paradigm language, Lua provides a small set of general features that can be extended to fit different problem types. Lua's virtual machine is register-based like Perl's Parrot and Android's Dalvik.
Burn, Baby Burn?
However, Flame also has characteristics that put security researchers on edge.
Flame has apparently been around for much longer than first believed. "We first saw this threat in Europe on Dec. 5, 2007, followed by further use in the United Arab Emirates in 2008 and the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2010," Webroot's Jaroch said. "Like many threats, this can function anywhere, and anyone can become a victim."
The fact that it's been around for so long makes security experts nervous.
"If it's been there, functioning as a remote access Trojan for years, then you don't know what it may have been a conduit for," Roger Thompson, chief emerging threats researcher at ICSA Labs, told TechNewsWorld. "For example, it could be used to introduce something like Stuxnet or Duqu."
Flame appears to be a mess of different modules all bundled and held together with a cyber-BandAid, and that's one of the problems it poses to security experts. "In the cold hard light of day, it could be viewed as a huge clunky mess, or maybe not," Thompson said.
Richard Adhikari 01 Jun, 2012
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Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/1fe58ccb/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C752660Bhtml/story01.htm
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Sony Nixes Plan to Scratch Discs for PS4
Sony reportedly almost decided to limit its next-generation PlayStation gaming console to downloaded games, eliminating the device's ability to run games stored on physical discs. That option was scotched, however, due to concerns about the reliability of worldwide Internet access and the possibility of alienating game retail partners.
Sony's (NYSE: SNE) next-generation gaming console will arrive next year, according to The Wall Street Journal. Users of the upcoming system will be able to play games by inserting discs, just like they do with the present-day PlayStation 3. However, Sony executives reportedly came very close to limiting the console to downloadable games only.
Currently, PS3 users can either buy a physical copy of a game or download games and other digital entertainment content from Sony's online store without using a disk or cartridge. Because of concerns about the varying quality of Internet service worldwide, however, Sony decided to keep the disk format option in its upcoming console.
A switch away from disks would also presumably have an effect on retail store sales
Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) conducted similar discussions about a download-only limitation for its future Xbox console. That company also reportedly decided to stick with a disk-based console because of connectivity concerns.
More video game announcements are expected at the E3 video game exposition in Los Angeles next week; however, Sony and Microsoft aren't expected to officially launch a new Playstation or Xbox console at this year's annual conference.
Sony didn't respond to our requests for comment.
Not Quite Ready to Dump Disks
Piracy has been a serious concern for the video game industry for years, and many companies have instituted a variety of countermeasures to combat the trend. Limiting games to downloadable content could make it more difficult for pirates to swap games illegally. However, Jia Wu, senior analyst at Strategy Analytics, told TechNewsWorld said that while piracy is a problem, the main drive to move online is for customer convenience and the ease with which games can be purchased online, leading to more profit
Even though Sony and Microsoft made decisions to stick to disks, at least for their next offerings, Wu said that gaming companies are well aware that any new console must be able to keep up with the demand for online capabilities.
"The trend is online," he said. "It's more convenient for consumers to buy content. They save time and they can easily make purchases, so it really increases the sales opportunity of gaming content, as well as other content such as music and the add-on packages after you download the game."
Console makers face growing competition from other systems, Ted Pollak, senior gaming analyst at Jon Peddie Research, told TechNewsWorld. With a wide array of connected home device offerings, consumers might not be willing to splurge on a separate gaming console when they have a PC that connects to a smart TV, for instance.
"Console technology
For all the perks to online connectivity, though, users abroad might not demand a switch away from the traditional disk, he said.
"The market is there for a new form, but obviously not in the whole world," he said.
Adapting Retailers
The gaming world may one day be ready for download-only limitation in gaming consoles, acknowledged Wu, but until then, Sony most likely feels it's better safe than sorry when keeping the disk format.
"The disk is still important," he said. "It guarantees that there is a stable game experience. Eventually Internet speeds and stability will improve, but we're not sure to what extent and how quickly, so this is a way to stay safe."
In the meantime, he said, traditional brick-and-mortar retailers are trying to adapt to the changing marketplace before a completely online format could force them out of business. Sony, Microsoft and other companies with game offerings will also need to figure out how to launch products without that retail connection, said Wu.
"Microsoft and Sony really value that connection with the retail store," he said. "They serve as a channel to display games, for instance. When there's a big game launch, people tend to wait outside, and its a phenomenon. Stores like GameStop are adapting because you can now buy games online, so they're still a distribution channel, but they're going to have to figure out a way to be valuable going forward, such as perhaps launching an online game platform."
Rachelle Dragani 01 Jun, 2012
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Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/1fe50e46/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C752650Bhtml/story01.htm
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TechNewsWorld: Israel: We Didn't Start the Fire
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Israel: We Didn't Start the Fire
Today in international tech news: Israel says it is not responsible for the Flame malware that has spread throughout the Middle East. Also: Germany is in trouble with the EU for its failure to implement data collection laws, and PayPal continues its experiments as the company introduces a barcode payment system for mobile devices in the UK.
Israel has disavowed itself of the cyberattacks recently discovered in Middle East, according to the BBC.
Israel's announcement comes after the revelation that highly sophisticated malware known as "Flame" has infiltrated computers in numerous Middle-Eastern countries. The fact that the malware has apparently neither stolen money nor performed typical hacker functions has given rise to speculation that it originated from a national government.
Several media outlets have linked Israel to the malware, according to the BBC.
The U.S. has also been tied to the malware, but it too has denied responsibility.
The BBC cites a Russian security
The United Nations' International Telecommunications Union recently weighed in on Flame, issuing what it called its most serious cyber-security warning ever.
In UK, PayPal Launches Barcode Payments
PayPal has rolled out barcode-based payments at four major retail stores in the UK, according to Giga OM http://gigaom.com/2012/05/30/paypal-rolls-out-barcode-payments-in-the-uk/.
The feature, available for both iOS and Android, generates a barcode on a customer's
This is just one of the new features being tried out by PayPal. The company has launched so-called quick response code payment systems in France, Australia and Singapore and has experimented with NFC -- near field communications -- payments in Sweden.
Giga OM quotes a PayPal spokesman who says the company is not going all-in on any one technology , but is instead testing various methods to see what works best.
Germany Drags Feet on Data Collection
Germany will likely be referred to the European Union's highest court because of the country's failure to implement data collection laws, according to Reuters.
The EU issued a directive in 2006 which required all EU member states to introduce laws that would force telecommunications companies to store phone and email records for at least six months.
Germany indeed introduced legislation that would have forced telecom companies to do just that, but the country's top court rejected it.
Germany, which has long had an allergy to various forms of data retention, could face a fine over its failure to comply with the directive.
Telefonica to Raise Cash by Selling Shares
Hammered by Spain's financial crisis and a massive plummet in value, Spanish telecommunications company Telefonica will sell shares in its German and Latin American phone units to raise cash, according to Bloomberg.
The company's market value has slumped by US$60 billion in the past 18 months, according to the report, prompting the move to sell shares. The company's stock had declined 34 percent this year through Wednesday. That was the single worst performance by any of the 19 companies in the Bloomberg Europe Telecommunications Services Index.
Standard & Poor's last week slashed the company's rating to the lowest level since its began ranking the debt 16 years ago, according to Bloomberg.
Intel-Powered Smartphone Set for UK Debut
A new smartphone from American chipmaker Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) and British mobile company Orange will be released in the UK on June 6, according to The Verge.
It will be Europe's first Intel-powered smartphone.
The phone, which runs Android, is equipped with an eight-megapixel camera, a four-inch display screen and 16 GB of storage.
The phone will be released in France not long after its UK debut.
David Vranicar 31 May, 2012
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Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/1fe47d92/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C752620Bhtml/story01.htm
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Just Another Mobile Phone Blog: Monster GIGABYTE Z77X-UD3H hits 3770K 7.03GHz
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Just Another Mobile Phone Blog: HTC resolved the issue with U.S. Customs for all Android-smartphone
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Just Another Mobile Phone Blog: Scheme design iPhone 5 indicate the 4-inch screen
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Just Another Mobile Phone Blog: Seeing is Believing: GIGABYTE is First with Validated 7.032 GHz CPU Clock World Record on Ivy Bridge
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