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 IT
World
Martin J Young
surveys developments in computing, gaming and gizmos.
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iPad a job half
done
"We think we've done it," proclaimed Apple boss Steve Jobs
when he unveiled the company's tablet computer. Yet the list of what the iPad
does not do will persuade many potential buyers to keep their cash in their
wallets until something better comes along - perhaps from Google. (Jan 29, '10)
Search and be
damned
Google's now famous threat to quit China has led to a more searching
examination of searches, with both the US company and its rival in China found
wanting. With mud also sticking to Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Mozilla is
one outfit emerging with smiles from the fog of confrontation.
(Jan 22, '10)
Google fired up over China's
great wall
Search giant Google has grown fat on taking on the world and, for the most
part, winning, but challenging the Chinese government to drop its web
censorship policy looks like a battle it cannot win. Just what lies behind the
"Don't be evil" company's change of stance remains obscure.
(Jan 15, '10)
Las Vegas sees a new dimension
The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas gives gadget fans, from company
bosses to teen nerds, a chance to start drawing up their dream gift lists. 3-D
television is a star of the show, while Google's venture into mobile phones
threatens to turn dreams into nightmares at rivals Apple and Nokia.
(Jan 8, '10)
Google comes calling
The ever-expanding empire of Google is now entering phone territory, with the
US-based company planning to bring out its own handset in the new year. With
the gadgets linked to Google's search data, you could soon be seeing a Big Mac
picture appearing on your phone when you approach a McDonald's.
(Dec 18, '09)
The Googlenet has you
Google now merges content from social networking websites into traditional
search results pages. Less immediately annoying but more scary is Google
Goggles, which supplies instant information on photos taken by Android-based
mobile phones. (Dec 11, '09)
Google clicks on compromise
A compromise by Google allows Internet news-content publishers to charge
readers after first giving limited free access. That still leaves a delicate
balancing act for publishers wishing to attract readers and related
advertising, while hanging on to paid subscribers. Free sites might be the
ultimate beneficiaries. (Dec 4, '09)
Apple not so sweet in China
Not quite the end of the world for Apple, but the introduction of the iPhone to
China turned sour for the United States-based company and its mainland partner,
China Unicom, with initial sales falling well short of forecasts. Doomsday,
however, may be closer for the rest of the world, with the restart of Europe's
Large Hadron Collider. (Nov 6, '09)
Microsoft reliable as ever
Microsoft has maintained its reputation for delivering fierce headaches along
with its new software offerings. Many would-be users of Windows 7 are
discovering that the company's new operating system fails to install
satisfactorily and their computers then refuse to restore the old system.
(Oct 30, '09)
Windows users in seventh heaven
Microsoft's new operating system, Windows 7, launched with promises the
software will deliver above and beyond its much-maligned predecessors. With
Google and Apple snapping at its heels, Microsoft has finally introduced a new
version that doesn't require expensive hardware upgrades to run it.
(Oct 23, '09)
Domain chains fall away
The range of Internet domain names is set to surge with the loss of United
States control over the process. That's great for freedom lovers, not so good
for companies seeking to protect their brand names. (Oct
2, '09)
India finds water on moon
India has confirmed the presence of water on the moon, which is great news for
people hoping to establish lunar colonies in some distant future, but of little
consolation for impoverished Earth-bound farmers struggling to stay alive in
the drought-hit country. (Sep 25, '09)
Google Flips off the competition
Google has launched an online news search application that it says combines the
visual benefits of reading news in print with the speed of reading it online.
Not to be outdone, Microsoft is going ahead with its own visual search.
(Sep 18, '09)
Birthday spoiler
Forty years after the Internet was created, it has developed into an vital form
of communication, bringing to the world undoubted benefits, as well as
nuisances such as spam, phishing and other horrors, and creating corporate
giants such as Google - which still cannot guarantee that your e-mail will get
through in speedy fashion. (Sep 4, '09)
Apple reacts to worm hazard
The latest version of Apple's operating system, brought out earlier than
expected, is remarkable mostly for its lack of innovation. In compensation, the
company has introduced, in addition to some eye candy, malware protection in
belated recognition that nothing is perfect. (Aug
28, '09)
Customers losing out in e-mail
rivalry
Gmail has overtaken AOL to become the third-most favored e-mail service in the
United States. Yet as Google, Microsoft and others vie for customers, their
approach to blocking spam falls far short of what is necessary.
(Aug 21, '09)
Google offers more of the same
Google is revving up interest in its next-generation search abilities. Yet the
only important innovation is that it will scour more of the web for the search
terms entered - leaving untouched the existing imbalanced ranking mechanism.
(Aug 14, '09)
Yahoo says 'yes'
Microsoft and Yahoo have at last put some sort of seal on their long courtship,
but a dowry is notably absent from their partnership in the Internet search
market. (Jul 31, '09)
New wonders to behold
Earth-bound urban humanity was reawakened this week to the wonders of the
universe, thanks to a historic eclipse, a surprise collision on Jupiter, and
the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Not to be outdone, Asia
Times Online launched its own new star into cyberspace.
(Jul 24, '09)
Sweet fruits of competition
Microsoft, under challenge from Google across an increasing range of products,
is to risk cutting into the vast profit it makes from the Office productivity
suite by making a free online version. Whoever said competition is bad for
consumers? (Jul 17,'09)
Google's Chrome shines with hope
Google's plan to challenge Microsoft by producing its own Chrome operating
system will please many computer users desperate to be liberated from the world
of endless patches, reinstallations and tedious upgrades. But even this public
has to be persuaded that the new baby will be worth the learning curve.
(Jul 10,'09)
Fast Firefox comes with bugs
The latest version of Mozilla's Firefox web browser, which attracted 5 million
downloads in its first day of release, will please most users. Others may wish
they had held back until a plethora of bugs are fixed.
(Jul 3,'09)
The Apple of your eye
Apple's new iPhone defied upstart competitors and carrier problems to make a
big splash with the smart-phone baying public this week. Just don't use it to
illegally download songs, a crime that cost a Minnesota mom of four a cool
US$1.92 million. (Jun 26,'09)
Web tangled in Iranian struggle
As Iranians defy security forces to protest in the streets against the declared
result of their presidential election, technicians on both sides are struggling
to outwit each other in the battle for control of information in cyberspace.
(Jun 19,'09)
China adds brick to censors'
firewall
China says a desire to protect its citizens from "harmful content" is behind
its decision to force PC makers to install Internet filtering software designed
to block pornography. The move could give the government unprecedented control
over how its citizens use the Internet. (Jun 12,'09)
Tiananmen silence
China acknowledged the 20-year anniversary of the military crackdown in
Tiananmen Square by cranking up censorship and throwing a blanket of silence
over the web. That was bad news for truth-seekers, good news for e-mail
encryption services. (Jun 5,'09)
But it's not Google
Microsoft's plans to counter Google's dominance in Internet search got off to a
wobbly start, beginning with its unfortunate choice of brand name - "Bing" -
and an apparent failure to get that name up and running.
(May 29,'09)
A learning Curve for Apple
Research in Motion's Curve smart-phone is taking over from Apple's iPhone as
the must-have device in the US, thanks in part to less-restrictive carrier
deals. That could mean another retreat by Apple from its preference for
exclusivity. (May 8,'09)
Windows 7 inches closer
Microsoft is rushing ahead towards the release of its newest
operating system, with developers getting their hands on what is effectively
the final testing stage of Windows 7 this week. (May
1,'09)
Jets on the cheap
The Chinese government denies hacking into US computers to download screeds of
information on how to build a F35 Joint Strike Fighter. Still, hacking is
probably cheaper than developing a US$300 billion warplane project from
scratch, the preferred US route to military dominance.
(Apr 24,'09)
Microsoft tired of waiting
Microsoft, its grip on the web browser market continuing to slip, is to adopt a
sterner in-your-face attitude in its attempt to get web users to install the
latest version of Internet Explorer. (Apr 17,'09)
Conficker bides its time
The absence of a Conficker worm-inspired meltdown in computer networks this
week merely suggests the software's day of destruction has yet to come,
notwithstanding the US$250,000 bounty from Microsoft for the identity of its
creators. (Apr 3,'09)
China closes digital window
Chinese YouTube fans have had their access to the popular site blocked. The
trigger appears to have been two-decade-old shots of violent protests in Tibet.
(Mar 27,'09)
Browser beaten
Microsoft's latest incarnation of its omnipresent browser Internet Explorer
promises increased compatibility, speed and most importantly, security. But
like its predecessors, the browser's greatest weakness lies in its great
success, with many hackers still looking to crack the big boy on the block.
(Mar 20,'09)
Advantage Google
Google's ability to track your every computer-based move has increased with its
adoption of behavior-based advertising. Privacy advocates are voicing concern.
(Mar 13,'09)
Crunch to sales crash
It was inevitable that computer-related companies would feel the impact of the
global financial crisis, but that does not make the numbers look any prettier.
For good looks, you have to go to the latest products from Apple, even if the
price tag will make you blink. (Mar 6,'09)
Pirate holds law at bay
Swedish-based peer-to-peer site The Pirate Bay bloodied the nose of copyright
prosecutors by getting half the charges against them dropped. Free downloads
continue unabated, while entertainment giants struggle to stay afloat in the
digital currents of Internet file-sharing. (Feb
20,'09)
Never mind the meltdown
The giants of the computer processor world are refusing to let global economic
meltdown stand in the way of their rivalry, with Intel charging ahead with
plans for a new family of 8-core processors and AMD raising performance options
for gamers. (Feb 13,'09)
The growth of Planet Google
Google fans will be delighted with the latest version of Google Earth, with
this planet's oceans and the surface of Mars now open for exploration from home
computers. Freedom fans are less enthusiastic about the company's latest
mobile-phone tracing gadgetry. (Feb 6,'09)
Microsoft's bid to outfox the
rivals
The latest version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer should come as a relief for
web developers and may prove a setback for hackers. Users of rival browsers
like Mozilla's Firefox are unlikely to be impressed.
(Jan 30,'09)
An apple a day
The emergence of the Downadup worm is a reminder that software security
requires continual updating - a sort of apple-a-day habit. Stronger medicine
might be needed by Apple boss Steve Jobs, but at least his company is looking
healthier than most amid the economic downturn. (Jan
23,'09)
New vistas all round
Microsoft threw open its doors to the public with the beta version of Windows
7, hoping to avoid the nightmare of its Vista predecessor. Apple and Yahoo are
also hoping for untroubled paths as new faces take over their respective helms.
(Jan 16,'09)
Survival is all
Mere survival appears the core ambition this year, with the opening trade shows
scaled down in attendance and personality - while products themselves get ever
smaller. The one growth area is in the non-commercial sector - that is,
taxpayer-funded censorship. (Jan 9,'09)
For better or for worse
From US elections to war in the Caucasus, the Internet continues to increase
its grip on world events. And as lowly consumers see their access to
information threatened by web copyright battles, Google is striving ever harder
to ensure no stone is small enough to hide behind. (Dec
24,'08)
Nothing is safe
A security hole in Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser underlines the
company's continued ineptness in protecting its customers from attack via the
Internet. Yet users of rival Apple's software are increasingly discovering that
they have little to gloat about. (Dec 19,'08)
Crisis time is games time
More than 50% of US adults already while away some time playing video games.
With the number of jobless growing daily, the popularity of Internet and other
computer-related games can only increase as cash runs out for out-of-home
entertainment. (Dec 12,'08)
Terrorists, Google advance
The Mumbai terrorists who killed nearly 200 people came armed also with
high-tech resources that included images courtesy of Google Earth. Yet renewed
concern over the risks involved is unlikely to halt the US company improving
the quality of its satellite imagery well beyond government limits.
(Dec 5,'08)
Morro's another day for
Microsoft
Microsoft is to introduce free security software for personal computers and
discontinue its subscription-based anti-bug service. The switch to Morro is due
next year - which is a little too late for the surge in virus attacks and
spyware intrusions expected in the US in the next few days in the run-up to
Thanksgiving. (Nov 21,'08)
Virtual victory
United States president-elect Barack Obama embraced it to winning effect,
voters cursed it, and broadcasters used it to present a Princess Leia
look-alike discussing polling results. Technology played a groundbreaking,
money-making and arguably winning role in the election.
(Nov 7,'08)
Vista-free outlook for Microsoft
Users of Microsoft operating systems can look forward to the end of the
much-derided Vista operating system, with a replacement expected to be
available within little more than a year. By then, the company hopes many
corporate users will have started to use its cloud computing services.
(Oct 31,'08)
Apple sweet and sour
Apple chief executive Steve Jobs brought some some sweet autumn fruit to Wall
Street this week in the form of better-than-expected earnings, boosted by
surging demand for the company's computers and iPhones. The taste left by
Apple's latest ad campaign was more bitter. (Oct
24,'08)
Obama in the game
Barack Obama has taken US presidential campaigning to new levels of tech
sophistication by getting his ads placed in a video racing game. That seems
laps ahead of rival John McCain's YouTube efforts, which crashed into a
copyright corner he really should have known about. (Oct
17, '08)
Milk bad, snow on Mars OK
Customers of a Skype partnership in China have had Internet chat and text
messages intercepted and stored for analysis by the authorities. Key words -
"milk", for example - trigger the intercepts. The unlikely combination of
"snow" and "Mars" is more likely to get through. (Oct
3, '08)
China steps into the void
China took another big step in its exploration of the void beyond Earth with
the launch of its third manned space mission and, if all goes well, the first
spacewalk by a Chinese. India is not far behind. (Sep
26, '08)
Google calling
Google is unmoved by the decision of European antitrust regulators to
investigate its recently formed advertising partnership with Yahoo. Of more
immediate concern to the Internet search company is how quickly its smartphone,
to be launched next week, nibbles into iPhone's market share.
(Sep 19, '08)
A step closer to the final
frontier
The end of the world did not come as scientists flipped the switch on a giant
particle accelerator, but Google's quest for world domination continues with a
new archive service. Mighty Microsoft meanwhile looks to take a bite out of
Apple with additions to its Zune media player. (Sep
12, '08)
Chrome contender in browser
battle
Search giant Google is stepping up its challenge in the web-browser market with
the introduction of Chrome, a sleek affair if apparently short on new ideas,
even as Mozilla nibbles more users away from market leader Microsoft and its
ever-spinning variations of Internet Explorer. (Sep
5, '08)
Building a backyard black hole
The switches have been thrown on a scientific experiment of breathtaking scope
and arguably unparalleled audacity, with consequences that could reveal the
innermost secrets of creation - or destroy the Earth and more. So don't blink
... (Aug 29, '08)
Microsoft cranks up '7' hype
Microsoft is moving towards providing an alternative operating system - Windows
7 - for disappointed Vista users. Cloud computing and touchy features are
expected. But not too much more. (Aug 22, '08)
Georgia under web fire
Tanks and destroyed buildings caught the attention of the world during Russia's
offensive in Georgia. A second, less photogenic, battle was also taking place
that points to tactics in future conflicts - in cyberspace.
(Aug 15, '08)
High-jumping China's firewall
Google, Microsoft and Yahoo are drafting a code of conduct for business
operations in China and other countries with restrictive Internet policies as
journalists at the Beijing Olympics fret about Internet access and other
visitors are advised to go "naked" of digital devices.
(Aug 8, '08)
All about face
Facebook says its newly introduced redesign will give site users more control
of their profiles, although FriendFeed fans might think the new look not so
new. Meanwhile, a German social-networking company refuses to bow to claims
that its own site is a mere law-infringing copy of the American company's
money-spinner.(Jul 25, '08)
Video games move to mass market
Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo demonstrated at the E3 conference in Los Angeles
their belief that the mass market is the future for gaming, announcing products
aimed at seducing the young, the old and anyone else not too keen on spending
their spare time shooting people. (Jul 18, '08)
Viacom wins victory over
privacy
Internet privacy suffered a severe blow as media and entertainment behemoth
Viacom secured a court order requiring Google to hand over user information
relating to every video clip viewed on the YouTube web site.(Jul
11, '08)
Domain doors open to dot chaos
Anything goes in the domain name-game, at least from early next year, when
common words will be allowable as address suffixes. This name inflation will be
profitable for a few companies, costly for others, and confusing for the rest
of us. (Jun 27, '08)
Fans in frenzy for feisty
Firefox
Mozilla looks to have taken the lead in satisfying nerds' needs for instant
gratification with its newest version of Firefox, downloaded in record numbers
as soon as it was released. Unsatiated games players, meanwhile, can splurge
out on the latest chips from Nvidia and AMD. (Jun
20, '08)
Fruits for suits
Apple, a minor if much-loved computer maker, has hauled itself into the list of
the top three smartphone makers. The latest version of the fast-selling iPhone
will have Research In Motion wondering how long before Apple ousts the
BlackBerry as the businessman's favorite gadget. (Jun
13, '08)
Taipei tech show goes green
Smaller, lighter and more energy-efficient products took the spotlight this
week at Taiwan's Computex 08, the world's second-largest information technology
trade show. (Jun 6, '08)
Freedom call
Viacom's US$1 billion copyright infringement lawsuit over clips made available
on Google's YouTube prompted cries that the legal challenge threatens how
people use the freedom of the Internet. (May 30,
'08)
Yahoo courtship resumes - sort
of
Microsoft's on-off courtship of Yahoo has lost a little of its chill for at
least long enough for the two to agree on a bit of collaboration between their
online advertising divisions. Meanwhile, the aging but still energetic Carl
Icahn is doing his bit to nudge Yahoo into a warmer embrace with the software
giant. (May 23, '08)
Microsoft 'fixes' bring more
pain
Microsoft's long-awaited release of software to fix bugs in its Windows XP
operating system met with the expected response - complaints over installation
woes, compatibility, and worse. It is almost enough to make consumers switch to
Microsoft's newer and much-shunned Vista operating system. Now that wasn't
intentional, was it? (May 16, '08)
Grand Theft Auto rules, OK
Fast-action, grim and gritty Grand Theft Auto has kicked Microsoft's tedious
tussle for Yahoo into the gutter of public attention. The game looks guilty of
mugging mega-movie Iron Man at the box-office and has pumped some
testosterone into the bank account of its makers, who are responding to a
takeover bid by global games muscle-man Electronic Arts. And that's all before
you shoot the game up on your console. Whew! (May 9,
'08)
Microsoft looks to the clouds
The corporate battle to take control of everyone's computing power has moved up
a notch with Microsoft's saying it will move into "cloud computing" by offering
remote services. Closer to the ground, the software giant will learn this
weekend if it has to take the gloves off in its US$44 billion bid for Yahoo,
which may be emboldened after reporting its first quarterly profit gain in two
years. (Apr 25, '08)
Mac attack over PC's Leopard
capture
As Microsoft prepares to bring out what looks certain to be its last patch for
the aged Windows XP system, smaller rival Apple finds itself on the spot as a
Miami outfit puts on sale PCs loaded with Leopard, the latest Mac operating
system. (Apr 18, '08)
Internet domination dance
becomes a crowd
Microsoft's courtship of struggling Yahoo has prompted numerous wallflowers to
show a belated interest in the one-time sweetheart of the Internet world.
Google has signed up for a brief tango, while septuagenarian Rupert Murdoch
reckons he can still win hearts if the price of partnership fits his wallet.
(Apr 11, '08)
Big brother China eyes Microsoft
Chinese regulators are ready to have their say on big business acquisitions
alongside their US and European counterparts, thanks to a new anti-monopoly law
to come into effect this autumn. First up could be Microsoft's proposed
purchase of Yahoo!, which has invested US$1 billion in Chinese e-commerce
business Alibaba.com. (Apr 4, '08)
Paris Hilton gives Facebook the
better Vista
Microsoft's latest attempt to keep its Vista customers satisfied looks unlikely
to do that, with the Service Pack's plethora of fixes likely to herald a new
catalogue of woes. A Facebook flaw, allowing exposure of pics of a socializing
Paris Hilton, at least offered users of the networking site with nothing better
to do something to leer over. (Mar 28, '08)
One down, many to go
"Spam King" Robert Soloway's guilty plea in a Seattle court this week marked a
notable victory in the battle against junk mail, but Internet users have no
reason yet to lower their defenses against unwanted emails.
(Mar 20, '08)
Google eye too close for comfort
Internet giant Google came across something even bigger than itself when it
used its Street View service to display the interior of a US military base.
Civilians so far seem to be taking a more lenient view of a remarkable
technology that has dark implications. (Mar 14, '08)
Microsoft's pants down
Microsoft's top executives have at least one thing in common with their
customers - deep disenchantment with the company's latest products. Email
exchanges at the top also reveal that the software giant lowered its own
requirements so that partner Intel could maintain earnings.
(Mar 7, '08)
Pakistan site swipe exposes web
fragility
Pakistan's efforts to prevent its citizens from viewing a YouTube video
affected the Internet far beyond its borders. No less worrying, the country's
censors indicate they have no inclination to prevent a repeat of the global
blackout. (Feb 29, '08)
Microsoft plays cool after DVD
blow
As Toshiba's DVD format is dumped in the technological rubbish bin, Microsoft
is putting on a brave front. Its HD-DVD-using Xbox 360 machine faces an
ever-tougher struggle with Sony's PlayStation3 and its victorious Blu-ray
format. (Feb 22, '08)
Google spits the dummy
Google's protestations against Microsoft's US$44 billion bid for Yahoo! are to
be expected, given that custom from millions of Internet users is up for grabs.
But talk of "principles" is hogwash. (Feb 8, '08)
Virtual cure closer for upgrade
headaches
A cure to the recurring nightmare created by software upgrades and hard disk
failures is moving closer to reality with Microsoft's decision to put more
effort into its virtualization programs. (Feb 1,
'08)
Microsoft partners get Vista
successor
Microsoft, brimming with record earnings, has started shipping its next
operating system to key partners. Unhappy buyers of the Vista operating system
meanwhile desperately wait for the promised headache remedy, Service Pack 1.
(Jan 25, '08)
Slimmed-down Mac a lightweight
Apple's latest headline-grabbing laptop has the elegance the market has come to
expect from Macintosh. But in terms of computing power it is a step backwards.
(Jan 18, '08)
Gates' retread sums up Vegas
show
Visitors to the massive Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas had plenty to
gawk at, from a quarter-tonne TV to Intel's latest microchips. But techies were
disappointed with a lack of big announcements. Even chairman Bill Gates offered
a retread with his plans to step back from Microsoft's daily operations.
(Jan 11, '08)
Apple, Google set pace
Loved by consumers and investors, Apple and Google led the public face of
technology world last year, while old warhorse Intel continued to show AMD that
it knows how to stay ahead of the field in keeping our computers up to speed.
(Jan 4, '08)
IBM makes light breakthrough
The US computer firm may have brought the world a step closer to optical
computing by sending data carried by light using a device 1,000th the size of
ones used in previous efforts. (Dec 14, '07)
Microsoft retreats on Vista
piracy
The US software giant is to remove the contentious "kill switch" from its
Windows Vista operating system, which will please customers locked out of
legally purchased versions of the product and buyers of pirated copies, who
will now face only the annoyance of warning notices when they use the fake
stuff. (Dec 7, '07)
There's no catching Google
Google has expanded its share of the US search market to 58.5% at a time when
all its competitors are losing ground. Google also plans to offer its
subscribers web-based hard-disk space for backup and data storage.
(Nov 30, '07)
Intel streaks ahead
Intel's latest chip, the Penryn CPU, using a groundbreaking
manufacturing process, will provide more horsepower for high-end users who need
extra muscle for gaming or video editing. Intel's competitors are struggling to
keep pace. (Nov 16, '07)
Lessons for students to
kick-start careers
Yahoo's latest social networking service, Kickstart, will allow college
students to connect with universities and professionals to locate internships,
advice and ultimately jobs. The project itself, though, still has some learning
to do. (Nov 9, '07)
Mac users beware: The porn
Trojans have arrived
So you thought your Mac was safe from the nasties that plague PCs? Think again.
Mac users who try to download porn videos from a certain website are now
targeted by a Trojan invader, the first of its kind.
(Nov 2, '07)
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