Sunday 30 June 2013

Pirelli: New bonding process not to blame for tyre failures

Formula One racing's official tyre suppliers Pirelli say that it is too early to pinpoint the cause of the tyre blow-outs that affected several drivers in Sunday's 2013 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix. However, they have ruled out the new bonding process used on tyres ahead of the race at Silverstone as being at fault

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14743.html

FIA post-race press conference - Britain

Nico Rosberg claimed his second win of the season with a measured drive at Silverstone. After the race the Mercedes driver was joined by the second- and third-placed finishers, Red Bull's Mark Webber and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, in the FIA press conference

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14742.html

Race - Rosberg claims thrilling Silverstone victory

Nico Rosberg and Mercedes showed the depth of the progress they have made recently in tyre management by claiming a dramatic victory in the 2013 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday. In a race punctuated by four spectacular tyre failures, Rosberg held off a late charge from Red Bull's Mark Webber to secure his second win of the season, as Ferrari's Fernando Alonso pipped Lewis Hamilton to third place

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14740.html

Race - selected team and driver quotes

Pirelli on the tyre issues that afflicted several drivers; Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel on his retirement from the lead; Force India's Adrian Sutil and Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo on mixing it with the frontrunners; Red Bull's Mark Webber on his tremendous fight through the field to third; and Nico Rosberg on claiming his second victory of the season. All the drivers and senior team personnel report back on Sunday's action…

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14739.html

European roaming costs to drop

iPhone

On 1 July, the cost of using a mobile phone in Europe will drop thanks to regulations imposed by the European Union.


The maximum cost of making a call will drop to 21p per minute, and the cost to receive will fall to 6p per minute. The cost of sending an SMS will fall to 7p.


By: Duncan Geere,


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/30/eu-roaming

Saturday 29 June 2013

Di Resta's car fails post-qualifying weight check

Force India's Paul di Resta faces a potential grid penalty after his Force India was found to be underweight in post-qualifying checks at Silverstone. The Scot had qualified a career best fifth for tomorrow's 2013 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix, but the scrutineers subsequently found his VJM06 to weigh less than the 642kg minimum weight required for the car plus the mandatory fuel sample

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14732.html

FIA post-qualifying press conference

Home favourite Lewis Hamilton scored a popular pole position at Silverstone on Saturday afternoon. Afterwards the Mercedes driver spoke about his performance in the press conference. Joining him were the second and third place qualifiers; his Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14731.html

Qualifying - selected team and driver quotes

Williams' Valtteri Bottas on falling at the first hurdle and failing to make it through to Q2; Ferrari's Fernando Alonso on his tricky run to tenth; Daniel Ricciardo on impressing for Toro Rosso in sixth; and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton on claiming a tremendous pole position in front of his home crowd. All 22 drivers and senior team personnel report back on Saturday's action…

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14730.html

Lowe hopeful Mercedes have turned corner on tyre troubles

Mercedes' recently-appointed executive director (technical), Paddy Lowe, has said that he's hopeful that recent car improvements will put an end to the tyre wear problems that have plagued the team in several races this season. Lowe believes that this weekend's race at Silverstone - his first at the track with Mercedes since moving from McLaren - will be crucial in understanding whether the steps the team have made to solve the problem have been successful.

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14729.html

Qualifying - home hero Hamilton storms to Silverstone pole

Lewis Hamilton claimed a fine pole position for Sunday's 2013 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix at Silverstone with a brilliant final effort in qualifying. The British driver pipped Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg to the top spot, with the Red Bulls of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber in third and fourth and Paul Di Resta fifth for Force India

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14728.html

Final practice - Rosberg does it again at Silverstone

Nico Rosberg pipped Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton for the fastest time during Saturday morning's final practice session at Silverstone. Hamilton had had the upper hand throughout the session, but a mistake on his penultimate lap upset his flow and Rosberg's 1m 31.487s lap beat his 1m 31.750s best. Subsequently Hamilton improved on his final lap to 1m 31.633s.

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14726.html

Friday 28 June 2013

FCC orders wireless carriers to protect customers' call info

'Shield that precious data from prying eyes – but not the NSA'


The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued new rules that clarify how wireless telecom providers should protect their customers' call records and other information.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/28/fcc_clarifies_information_protection_responsibilities_for_wireless_carriers/

FIA Friday press conference - Great Britain

Friday's FIA press conference saw representatives from Marussia, McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes and Lotus discussing a range of topics. Read the full transcript here.

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14722.html

Adobe marketing cloud now to rain spam following Neolane slurp

We're struggling to rid ourselves of that image too


Adobe has said that it will slurp up digital marketing software firm Neolane into its marketing cloud for $600m in cold, hard cash.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/28/adobe_acquires_digital_marketing_software_firm/

Ofcom set to release interesting spectrum chunk for unlicenced use

Hobbyists, utilities and other radioheads prepare to charge the slot


Following its January consultation Ofcom plans to release another 12MHz of spectrum into the unlicensed wilds, to the benefit of hobbyists and utilities alike.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/28/ofcom_commits_to_srd_release/

Friday practice - selected team and driver quotes

Heavy rain precluded any real running during the opening session with Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo eventually heading the 11 drivers who elected to set times, while Mercedes's Nico Rosberg led the way in the afternoon's much drier conditions. The drivers and senior team personnel report back on the opening day at Silverstone…

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14720.html

BlackBerry BB10 devices refuse to leap off shelves

Any time now, just wait for it ... wait for it ...


So you’re an ageing push-email legend finally selling phones with a shiny modern new operating system, relieving years of pent-up demand. Wouldn’t you want to SHOUT about how many people want them?…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/28/blackberry_q1_2012_earnings/

Practice Two - Rosberg on top for Mercedes

Nico Rosberg and Mercedes led the field in Friday afternoon's second free practice session at Silverstone, narrowly heading the Red Bulls of former British Grand Prix winners Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel. Rosberg recorded 1m 32.248s to slip ahead of Webber on 1m 32.547s and Vettel on 1m 32.680s, with local heroes Paul di Resta for Force India and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton chasing them with 1m 32.832s and 1m 32.911s respectively

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14719.html

EU sets ball rolling on ominous telly spectrum review

If we're going to kill TV, let's all do it together!


The Electronic Communications Committee, Europe’s continent-wide guardian of radio, has kicked off a "major study" of the TV broadcast bands with a view to presenting its findings at the World Radio Conference in 2015.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/28/eu_sets_its_eyes_on_tv_broadcast_bands/

FIA approves post-race tests, penalty-point system for 2014

The FIA's World Motor Sport Council has approved a number of changes to the Formula One regulations for 2014 after meeting at Goodwood in the UK on Friday. Among them are post-race tests at four Grands Prix and the introduction of a penalty-point system for driver offences. Four, two-day tests will be allowed during the season

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14718.html

Man creates 'invisible headphones' by implanting magnets into his ears



A man has implanted magnets into his ears to use as invisible headphones in a remarkable example of DIY transhumanism

By: Ian Steadman, Edited by: Olivia Solon


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/28/magnetic-ear-implants

Practice One - Ricciardo fastest at rain-hit Silverstone

Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo set the pace in a rain-hit first practice session for the 2013 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Friday. With puddles of standing water covering much of the track, only 11 drivers elected to set a lap time, with Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen amongst those who did not complete a timed effort

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14716.html

Raikkonen: 2014 decision will be a tough one

Kimi Raikkonen has admitted he will face a difficult choice should he be in a position to pick between a Lotus and a Red Bull seat for 2014. Raikkonen's contract with Lotus expires at the end of this season and Red Bull have a vacancy following confirmation that Mark Webber will leave Formula One

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14714.html

Red Bull's Da Costa and Sainz Jr to feature at young driver test

Red Bull have announced that Red Bull Junior Team drivers Antonio Felix da Costa and Carlos Sainz Junior will be taking part in the Formula One young driver test set for July 17-19 at Silverstone in the UK. Da Costa will be at the wheel for the first two days of the test, with Sainz completing the team's running at the Northamptonshire circuit on day three

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14712.html

Thursday 27 June 2013

FIA Thursday press conference - Great Britain

Drivers - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), Jenson Button (McLaren) Max Chilton (Marussia), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Paul Di Resta (Force India), Mark Webber (Red Bull). Q: Max, your first home Grand Prix, what are your thoughts coming up to this? Max Chilton: It's an extremely exciting moment. To be racing in Formula One is amazing

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14709.html

Wired.co.uk Podcast 130: Google censorship, Xbox 180, mysterious manuscript

Wired podcast

Listen this week for an entertaining 30 minutes of highlights from the past week of science and technology news with Nate Lanxon, Olivia Solon and Liat Clark.


By: Nate Lanxon,


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/podcast/episode-130

James Martin, 1933-2013

We are not all fortunate enough to leave behind a permanent legacy, let alone a legacy in perfect tune with our character and our interests. James Martin, tech entrepreneur and reader of the future, who died this week at the age of 79, was a man whose curiosity was bettered only by his intellect. In addition to his family and close friends, many people have been fortunate to come into contact with Jim Martin's ideas through his many books and films, as well as through the Oxford Martin School which will carry forward his vision for a better future.


Martin started his career at IBM, installing 30-tonne computers and programming the world's first international airline reservation systems. He soon migrated to its Systems Research Institute, which he characterised as a "think tank and internal university with an eclectic hornet's nest of a faculty", and he is commonly referred to as the "Father of CASE" (Computer-Aided Systems Engineering).


By: Ian Goldin,


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/27/james-martin

Ex-VMware ops chief floats over to Salesforce rival

Hey, you, get offa my cloud


VMware’s former chief operating officer and one-time Microsoft top brass Tod Nielsen has jumped ship to Salesforce.com’s Heroku cloud Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) operation.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/27/ex_vmware_coo_joins_salesforce_rival/

Cloud silo and services firm UKFast hires personal shopper

M&A specialist to help it score after 'missing out on past targets'


Cloud silo and server hosting service provider UKFast, which owns three data centres across the UK and claims Coutts private bank and NHS trusts among its customers, has brought on board an M&A specialist to help it embark on a UK acquisition spree.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.channelregister.co.uk/2013/06/26/ukfast_houghton_appointment/

Dish DASHED: No Sprint, no Clearwire, no spectrum. No sale

US satellite telly giant loses out


Dish Network has officially withdrawn its offer for Clearwire, giving up the fight against Sprint for control of the firm and its coveted radio spectrum.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/27/dish_loses_sprint_and_clearwire_bids_in_one_week/

Apple reveals payouts for parents of in-app purchase nippers

Full refunds and iTunes credits ... now lock up that CREDIT CARD


Apple has released details of the compensation it will hand out to parents whose credit card took a pounding when their kids made ludicrously expensive in-app purchases.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/25/apple_bails_out_inapp_purchase_addicted_kids/

That voice you hear from the cloud is Microsoft’s

Unified communications as a service


Unified communications (UC) is the joining up of email, instant messaging, voice, video and whatever else we can come up with.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/27/office_365_unified_communications_analysis/

Latest Google Maps and Earth update banishes cloud cover

...and what it looks like now, without clouds

Google's Earth and Maps have had an update that "virtually eliminates clouds" for most of the world.


Some of the new images of the Earth also have a massively better resolution than before, to bring regions like Russia, Indonesia and central Africa up to date for the first time in a while.


By: Ian Steadman, Edited by: Olivia Solon


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/27/google-earth-maps-no-clouds

Dotcom considering legal action over 'data massacre'



Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom is considering legal action against server hosting company Leaseweb over data deletion which he says amounted to a "massacre".


The deletion occurred when 630 servers containing Megaupload user data were wiped in order to be repurposed by the company. According to Dotcom the lost information includes "[m]illions of personal #Megaupload files, petabytes of pictures, backups, personal & business property".


By: Philippa Warr, Edited by: Olivia Solon


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/27/dotcom-leaseweb

Webber: Malaysia not a factor in 2014 decision

Red Bull's Mark Webber has insisted that leaving Formula One racing at the end of 2013 was always his plan, and that his run-in with team mate Sebastian Vettel at March's Malaysian Grand Prix played no part in his decision. Webber was leading the Sepang race and set for his and Red Bull's first victory of the season, until Vettel defied team orders

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14706.html

Radio hams tell Ofcom: Put that Wi-Fi mob back in their place

They'll crowd us off the airwaves, huff beardy crew


The UK's amateur radio operators have banded together to insist that Wi-Fi be properly confined to 2.4GHz, in response to Ofcom's suggestion that LTE be allowed to nestle up real close to other bands.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/27/hams_strike_up_for_wifi_protection/

FIA press conference schedule - Great Britain

Mark Webber's F1 exit at the end of 2013 and the findings of the FIA's International Tribunal will be among the hot topics in this weekend's media sessions. Webber joins Fernando Alonso and the four home drivers in Thursday's, while Friday's includes big names from Mercedes, Pirelli, Ferrari and Red Bull

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14705.html

Williams to celebrate 600 Grand Prix starts at Silverstone

Although though don't actually reach 600 race starts until the next round in Germany, Williams have chosen their home race at Silverstone this weekend to celebrate the landmark achievement. The British Grand Prix circuit fittingly witnessed the team's first ever win in 1979 and their 100th win in 1997. Williams will mark their latest milestone by displaying the number 600 on the sidepods of both their FW35 cars

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14704.html

Webber announces Formula One exit

Red Bull's Mark Webber has announced that he will leave Formula One racing at the end of this season and join Porsche's new sportscar programme in the World Endurance Championship and Le Mans 24 Hours. Webber made his F1 debut in 2002 and has been with Red Bull since 2007, winning nine Grands Prix for the reigning world champions. His departure means the team must now find a new 2014 partner for Sebastian Vettel

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14703.html

Rossiter to make Friday debut with Force India

Britain's James Rossiter will make his Grand Prix weekend debut at Silverstone on Friday when he participates in opening free practice for Force India. Rossiter, the team's simulator driver, will take over Adrian Sutil's car for the 90-minute session. The aim is for the 29-year-old to gain more experience of the VJM06 to help ensure Force India's simulator remains as close to the real car as possible

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14702.html

Help El Reg welcome our new boss

Support our NBN study for the price of red undies


As Australia shambles towards the next election – no longer guaranteed to be September 14, since that date was the responsibility of former prime minister Julia Gillard, not new-old prime minister Kevin Rudd – the country's telecommunications industry now has the certainty of a brand-new minister regardless of when the election happens.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/27/help_iel_regi_welcome_our_new_boss/

Cisco revs up top-end Nexus switches with F3 chips to 100Gb/sec

More throughput and less power for end-of-row aggregators


Cisco has, like other switch makers, been gradually refreshing its product line to boost bandwidth from 10Gb/sec up to 40Gb/sec and 100Gb/sec speeds, and at the Cisco Live extravaganza today in Orlando, Florida, the networking trotted out a new top-end Nexus 7700 lineup that sports new ASICs and offers a more compact design than the current Nexus 7000s, which only sport 10Gb/sec ports.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/26/cisco_nexus_7700_application_centric/

Wednesday 26 June 2013

Microsoft loads rival into its platform cloud

Engine Yard revs up inside Azure as Redmond beckons to developers


Microsoft is adding a rival technology into its Windows Azure cloud as the company strives to gain relevance among developers.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/26/azure_engine_yard_cloud/

First quartet of low-latency broadband satellites now in space

Tropical backhaul pioneers build it and hope the world's poor will come


Internet-to-the-world's-poor satellite backhaul provider O3b now has four satellites in orbit, ready to offer latency-free internet access to the three billion humans unable to see Facebook - by November if all goes to plan.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/26/o3b_makes_orbit_google_in_space/

UK.gov to grab fistful from £150m city broadband pot to pay for digi skills

Win for small biz AND Virgin Media - but will townies suffer speed lag?


One of Neil Berkett's final acts as Virgin Media chief was to lobby the government to rethink its broadband spending plans in urban areas - and instead demand that at least some of the £150m set aside by the Treasury be plowed into digital skills for small businesses.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/26/dcms_broadband_voucher_scheme/

Meet Prism's little brother: Socmint



For the past two years a tight-lipped and little talked about unit within the Metropolitan Police has been conducting blanket surveillance of British citizens' public social media conversations.


Following an unintentional leak and a detailed investigation we are finally able to see some of the capabilities of this 17-man team -- some of which are truly alarming.


By: Paul Wright, Edited by: Kadhim Shubber


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/26/socmint

Dolphin intimacy and other strange tales of human-animal interactions



In his new book, journalist Jon Mooallem tells the story of our tangled relationship with wild animals

By: Caitlin Roper, Edited by: Kadhim Shubber


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/26/john-mooallem-animals

Hey Britain, want to link your mobile to your BANK ACCOUNT?

OK, but what if it meant Visa and pals didn't get paid...


VocaLink, not content with processing 90 per cent of UK salaries and almost all of the DWP's benefits payments, has launched a payments platform to turn mobile phone numbers into bank account keys.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/26/payments_goliath_steps_up_to_mobile_plate/

Oz telco competition still lagging

Competition lobby pitches policy prescriptions


The Competitive Carriers Coalition, lobby for non-Telstra telecommunications companies in Australia, is concerned that competition reform in Australia is losing steam.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/26/oz_telco_competition_still_lagging/

SK Telecom launches first LTE-Advanced network with new Galaxy S4

South Korean operator claims a world first....


South Korean mobile operator SK Telecom is claiming to be the first in the world to launch a smartphone-supported LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network, promising speeds of up to 150Mbps – almost double that of 4G.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/26/sk_telecom_lte_advanced_korea/

Tuesday 25 June 2013

Microsoft: Half of all organizations will use 'Facebook-like' tools

One year after Yammer buy, sees social behind every shrub


Exactly one year to the day since Microsoft's $1.2bn acquisition of Yammer, Redmond says its plan to bring social collaboration to the enterprise has only just begun.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/25/microsoft_yammer_anniversary/

Salesforce and Oracle bury hatchet in historic cloud partnership

'Simplicity and power'


Salesforce.com and Oracle are to integrate their clouds, at application, platforms and infrastructure levels, the companies announced today.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/25/salesforce_oracle_cloud_integration/

You don't need phone lines or cable for ANYTHING, says Dish

The satellite-dish man can sort you out with phone and broadband over the air too


Dish wants everyone to know it can do broadband too: using LTE kit and radio spectrum it plans to acquire from Clearwire, the TV broadcaster has been pushing 50Mb/sec into homes.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/17/dish_demos_broadband_without_the_cable/

McLaren trial upgrades ahead of Silverstone race

McLaren have used one of their allotted straight line test days to trial their Silverstone upgrade package, the team's managing director Jonathan Neale confirmed in a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes phone-in on Tuesday. Neale said the Woking-based squad used the test at Idiada in Spain to help decide which new parts they'll bring to their home race, as well as to gain a better understanding of the MP4-28

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14699.html

Joyent spins up ZFS object store

Sons of Solaris glue compute and storage together


Joyent has spun-up an object store in its cloud that spans multiple data centers as it tries to specialize in one area where its technology may draw developers away from the black hole that is Amazon Web Services.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/25/joyent_object_store/

US National Zoo loses red panda, uses Twitter help to catch it again

Rusty

The Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington DC lost a red panda called Rusty over the weekend, with the hunt for him turning into a huge social media event.


On Monday morning the zoo tweeted that Rusty hadn't been seen since Sunday evening. The 11-month-old red panda -- a smaller, more racoon-like animal than the unrelated giant panda -- was only acquired by the zoo three weeks ago as a breeding partner for a female called Shama. However, Rusty clearly felt differently about the idea.


By: Ian Steadman, Edited by: Olivia Solon


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/25/red-panda-social-media-hunt

BlackBerry introduces iOS and Android to Work Space

Sit here. Use this. Don't even think of copy/pasting that


BlackBerry Work Space is now available for iOS and Android, creating a secure container (under your own BOFH's control, natch) on devices owned by employees.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/25/blackberry_takes_ios_and_android_to_work/

Steelie Neelie eyeballs ENCRYPTION PLAN for telco data breaches

That way you won't need to tell subscribers you've lost their stuff - EU veep


Telcos in Europe are being asked to consider encrypting their subscribers' personal information as Brussels confirmed new rules on Monday about the industry's obligation to notify customers about data breaches.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.channelregister.co.uk/2013/06/25/neelie_kroes_eu_new_rules_on_isp_data_losses/

Monday 24 June 2013

Oracle puts database, middleware, Linux on Microsoft Hyper-V, Azure

Ballmer and Hurd bury the hatchet – perhaps in the Oracle Cloud


If you were expecting some dramatic, cloudy news from Oracle and Microsoft, as the companies hintedlast week they would reveal, you were likely disappointed by the nuts and bolts nature of what the two companies announced on Monday as part of an extended strategic partnership.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/24/oracle_puts_database_middleware_and_linux_on_microsoft_hyperv_and_azure/

O3b's satellites on launch pad, ready to bring cats+porn to billions

Google-backed birds brace for launch


This evening the first four satellites of the O3b satellite constellation are slated to launch from French Guiana, to provide connectivity to the three billion humans lacking a Google+ account.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/24/o3b_in_the_pad_ready_to_change_the_third_world/

Win tickets to Silverstone with the F1 ® Store

This weekend sees the Formula One grid do battle at one of the most highly-anticipated rounds of the season, the 2013 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where the likes of Ferrari, Lotus and Mercedes will be looking to close the gap on Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull. Tickets are selling fast, but for your chance to win a pair of grandstand seats worth £800, simply visit the F1 Store

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14697.html

Improved side impact protection system for 2014

A year-long collaboration between the FIA Institute and Formula One teams will see F1 cars feature a new, advanced side impact protection system next season, designed to improve crash performance in angled impacts. Currently, side impact protection is provided by crushable tube structures attached to the side of the chassis. Whilst effective in normal, direct impacts

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14696.html

SUPERSIZE my CLOUD - Microsoft plans $677m data centre embiggening

Redmond gets bigger in corn-fed Iowa


Microsoft's throwing $677.6m into an Iowa data centre expansion just as internet rivals Google and Facebook have begun bulking up.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/24/microsoft_677_million_data_center_expansion/

Three's Irish network goes titsup

Taking a nap having after swallowing O2?


Three is reporting a network outage in Ireland, hours after announcing it was buying O2's Irish operation for €780m, but apparently this downtime is Virgin Media's fault.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/24/threes_irish_network_goes_titsup/

Hey Google, Facebook's working on 'Reader' that might actually make money

Mobile news-mag project in development - report


Facebook is reportedly prepping a service for its users that allows them to display news content in a format geared up for mobile gadgets on its network.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/24/facebook_reader_for_mobile_devices/

Ellen Page: Last of Us likeness was 'not appreciated'



As part of a Reddit Ask Me Anything, actress Ellen Page responded to observations from fans that Ellie, a character from videogame The Last Of Us, looks a lot like Page, saying the similarity was "not appreciated".


Page, posting under the username Iamatinycanadian, acknowledged the similarities between herself and Ellie but indicated that it could be problematic since she's acting alongside Willen Dafoe in another videogame which is due out in October, 2013.


By: Philippa Warr, Edited by: Olivia Solon


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/24/ellen-page-last-of-us

We're not going cashless, we're going cardless, says Stripe co-founder John Collison



John Collison co-founded Stripe in 2010, when he was 20, to make it easier to accept credit cards online. Originally from Limerick, Ireland John launched the company in San Francisco and has received funding from Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, and Sequoia Capital. It is currently beta-testing the service for UK-based users. John will be speaking at Wired Money on 1 July.


By: Wired.co.uk Staff, Edited by: Kadhim Shubber


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/24/wired-money-john-collison

Angry punters slip contract shackles in T-Mobile crystal ball bill rumpus

Others flung back into mobile dungeon by adjudicators


Arbitration service CISAS has decided that T-Mobile's use of precognition in setting prices was cheating - allowing some customers to escape thir contracts - though in other cases CISAS has decided just the opposite.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/24/arbitrator_rules_againsttmobile_rpi_guesswork/

Steelie Neelie: One cloud contract model to rule them all

The road to hell's paved with good intentions, though


The European Commission is seeking leading lights in the arena of cloud services to help sketch out a contract framework so that customers don't get tied into murky deals.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/24/ec_cloud_panel/

Glasgow subway's new smart tickets aren't, moan passengers

Technical snafu or sneaky excuse for a price rise?


Glasgow's new smart tickets, for use on the city's underground network, aren't smart enough to count the journeys made, forcing the operator to withdraw carnet tickets at the end of June.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/24/glasgow_smart_tickets_not_very_smart/

AARNet hits 40 Gbps to USA

Universities get fatter submarine pipe


The completion of an upgrade to the Southern Cross Cable Network has boosted AARNet's Australia-US connectivity from 10 Gbps to 40 Gbps.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/24/aarnet_hits_40_gbps_to_usa/

Dropbox flips Snapjoy album shut

Find another cloud for your pics


Heavy Snapjoy users will be watching any download limits they might have, with Dropbox changing its mind and shuttering the cloudy pic-storing app.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/23/dropbox_flips_snapjoy_album_shut/

Saturday 22 June 2013

BlackBerry will 'under-perform' beneath the sheets, says Wall St bod

Spreadsheets, obviously: Shares dip ahead of mobe maker's latest figures


BlackBerry shares fell more than four per cent yesterday after its stock rating was cut by one analyst to “underperform” from "market perform".…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/20/blackberry_share_fall/

Man of Steel soundtrack released with Headphone:X mix

Man of Steel

Hans Zimmer's soundtrack to Man of Steel has been released in the composer's Z+ Music app in a version that uses DTS' "Headphone:X" surround virtualisation technology. The score is the first motion picture soundtrack to be released in the format.


It's available to buy in the app itself, but fans that pick up a CD copy of the soundtrack will also be given a code that allows for a free download within the app.


By: Duncan Geere,


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/22/man-of-steel

Oracle set for major Microsoft, Salesforce, Netsuite partnerships

Red Borg tees up 12c database love-in


Oracle is embarking on a spree of partnerships to assure the success of its much-ballyhooed 12c database among cloud companies.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/21/oracle_partnership_strategy/

Friday 21 June 2013

Unheard music to be broadcast for 24 hours in remote Scottish forest



If a 24-hour radio broadcast happens in a Scottish forest and noone is around to hear it, does it make a sound?


At the end of August, an FM transmitter will be set up in the middle of the Galloway Forest to broadcast music from dozens of artists over the course of 24 hours. Those who want to hear it will have to head to the forest. There will be no repeats and the files will be deleted after they are played.


The installation is the brainchild of "noise terrorist" Stuart McLean (aka Frenchbloke) and artists in resident at Galloway Forest Robbie Coleman and Jo Hodges. Galloway Forest is the UK's first "dark sky park", recognised by the Dark Sky Association. This is an award given for places with low levels of light pollution that are well-suited for stargazing.


By: Olivia Solon, Edited by: Kadhim Shubber


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/21/galloway-forest-radio-broadcast

Dished! Clearwire hops into bed with Sprint

Just have to spend all this money on boat drinks, I guess


Sprint has upped its offer for Clearwire, outbidding Dish and signing a deal which requires Clearwire to cough up $115m if the acquisition fails for any reason – outmanoeuvring Dish yet again.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/21/clearwire_hops_into_bed_with_sprint_dish_bereft/

Vodafone trials femtocell 3G coverage in Shetlands village

Blighty's most northerly not-spot no longer not


The Shetland village of Walls, population 300, now has 3G service courtesy of Vodafone – but the tech deployed, and the way in which it was done, bodes well for the future.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/21/vodafone_reaches_out_to_plug_shetland_gaps/

Lotus hoping for 'big step forward' with Silverstone upgrades

Lotus are hopeful that the package of upgrades they're introducing to the E21 for the 2013 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix at Silverstone will enable them to make their 'biggest step forward of the year'. Having scored a win and four other podiums in the first five races of the season, the team seemed to lose ground in Monaco and Canada

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14693.html

'The Decider' quits Twitter to become White House deputy CTO

Nicole Wong to right wrongs on wrong rights?


Twitter executive Nicole Wong has taken a new job at the very top of the American government.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/21/twitter_boss_joins_the_white_house/

FIA promises to strengthen control of testing

Formula One racing's governing body, the FIA, says it will strengthen its control on testing following the hearing into Mercedes' and Pirelli's recent private tyre test at Barcelona. The FIA's International Tribunal (IT) deemed that Mercedes contravened Formula One regulations by taking part in the three-day, 1000 kilometre test with their 2013 car, but that there had been no intention by the team to obtain any unfair sporting advantage

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14692.html

Mercedes accept International Tribunal's decision

Mercedes have accepted the decision of the FIA's International Tribunal (IT) to suspend the team from this year's young driver test and to issue them with a reprimand following their participation in a private tyre test with Pirelli in Barcelona last month

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14691.html

Brits' HSBC bank cards, net access goes TITSUP

Hi everyone! We're really sorry about this


HSBC in the UK is suffering an unexplained outage across a number of systems today.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/21/hsbc_systems_down/

Renault unveils 2014 turbo engine

Renault have unveiled images and details of their 2014 Formula One engine. The 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged unit has been named Energy F1-2014 in deference to the added importance of energy recovery systems (ERS) in next year's Formula One regulations

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14690.html

Nominet sacks freshly-hired exec implicated in hospital 'cover-up' scandal

'Public scrutiny has made her role here impossible'


Nominet has sacked its chief commercial officer Jill Finney after just a few months in the post as an alleged cover-up about mother and baby deaths in the National Health Service began to unravel.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/21/nominet_sacks_jill_finney/

Google gets gentle Street View slurp slap from UK data cops

WiFi trawler fleet data to be destroyed, but no fine


Google has escaped a fine from the UK Information Commissioner's Office, after the watchdog concluded its investigation into the company's controversial Street View cars that slurped payload data from unencrypted wireless networks.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/21/ico_orders_google_to_destroy_wifi_payload_data_in_next_35_days/

Mercedes suspended from young driver test

Mercedes have been suspended from participating in this year's young driver test, it was announced Friday, after the FIA's International Tribunal (IT) deemed that the private tyre test conducted by Pirelli and Mercedes in Barcelona last month constituted a breach of the Formula One rules. Both Mercedes and Pirelli have also been reprimanded

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14689.html

Online anonymity is holding back Bitcoin



As the ongoing economic uncertainty has continued to cause global currencies to fluctuate, consumers and investors alike are increasingly looking for alternative options. As a result, digital currencies such as Bitcoin have come to prominence recently as an exciting and important innovation. However, they're also dividing opinion.


There's no doubt there is massive potential for Bitcoin. Recent estimates place the amount of bitcoins in circulation around 11 million, with a collective market value approaching $1.4 billion at current rates. Users are drawn to the inherent anonymity that the currency provides, making it particularly attractive for the shadier corners of the "dark web".


By: Mark Courtney, Edited by: Olivia Solon


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/21/anonymity-holding-back-bitcoin

ThousandEyes interrogates apps as they flow through clouds

Internet Research Lab wonks target app monitoring


ThousandEyes has uncloaked, promising that its technology will give data center admins a better way to track performance and diagnose problems across varied IT infrastructures.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/20/thousandeyes_app_monitoring/

Facebook foolishness foils (un)civil servant's squirm up greasy pole

Latest government pen-pusher scolded for online idiocy


Welsh bureaucrats are in trouble again for their use of social networking websites: seven civil servants have now been disciplined for their comments on Facebook or Twitter.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/21/welsh_civil_servants_misuse_social_media/

Great Britain preview quotes - Red Bull on Silverstone

Round eight of the championship sees the paddock move back across the Atlantic for the 2013 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix at Silverstone - the home race for the majority of the teams and for drivers Lewis Hamilton, Paul di Resta, Jenson Button and Max Chilton. All of those involved discuss their prospects for the weekend

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14688.html

Thursday 20 June 2013

Cisco seeks to gobble virty data biz Composite

Networking giant has a cloud itch to scratch


Cisco has announced it wants to slurp private firm Composite Software, which brings together traditional and cloud data in a single view, for about $180m.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/20/cisco_seeks_to_slurp_composite/

Mercedes-Pirelli verdict to come on Friday

Representatives of the FIA, Mercedes and Pirelli all gave evidence at a hearing in Paris on Thursday, as the FIA's International Tribunal considered whether the private tyre test conducted by Pirelli and Mercedes in Barcelona last month constituted a breach of the Formula One rules. The test was the subject of a protest lodged by rivals Red Bull and Ferrari at the Monaco Grand Prix

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14686.html

EMC snaps up Israeli soft-storage startup

Could a creature with a thousand ARMs be on the cards?


Another Iraeli storage startup, ScaleIO by name, has reportedly been scooped up by EMC for an estimated $200 - $300 million.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/20/emc_buying_virtual_san_startup/

Offensive, iconoclastic internet trolls will NOT be prosecuted, says DPP

Departing Trollhunter General in rare defence of freedom of speech


Cases involving trolling on social media sites should now be easier to deal with after the Director of Public Prosecutions published definitive guidelines on the tabloid-fodder phenomenon this morning.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/20/cps_issues_final_social_media_guidelines_for_prosecutors/

Wooden batteries add flexibility to energy storage



Batteries made from slices of wood coated in tin could allow environmentally-friendly storage of huge amounts of energy.


The batteries are being tested at the University of Maryland and use sodium rather than lithium ions in their construction. This combined with the use of tin and wood would lower the cost of production.


By: Philippa Warr, Edited by: Kadhim Shubber


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/20/wood-batteries

France gives Google three month DATA PRIVACY DEADLINE

Liberté, egalité, intimité


Data authorities have ruled that Google has breached the French Data Protection Act, and the huge advertising firm has been ordered to comply with the law within three months or else face sanctions.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/20/cnil_gives_google_3_months_to_comply_with_french_data_protection_act/

Solar-powered implants combat blindness in rats



A solar-powered retinal implant has been developed which is capable of sending visual signals to the brains of rats.


The study, conducted by physicists and ophthalmologists at Stanford University, used a pre-existing wireless photovoltaic retinal prosthesis (which roughly translates as 'solar-powered bionic eye') to stimulate the rats' retinal neurons and monitor how their brains reacted.


By: Philippa Warr, Edited by: Kadhim Shubber


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/20/bionic-eye

Wednesday 19 June 2013

Kim Dotcom victim of 'largest data MASSACRE in history'

Megaupload servers wiped – were Feds to blame?


Mega mogul Kim Dotcom says he's "in tears" after a Dutch hosting company wiped data from servers formerly used by his now-defunct Megaupload business, an act that he claims destroyed "critical evidence" in his long-running legal battle with the US government.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/19/kim_dotcom_data_massacre/

Google joins Amazon, HP, Rackspace in easing HDD data importing

'Give us your disks!' bellows Chocolate Factory.


Google has followed in the footsteps of Amazon by making it easier for businesses to load in masses of data to the company's cloud platform.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/19/google_cloud_data_import/

Adobe CEO admits needs to "tweak" cloud-only policy

But way forward for cloud sceptics 'not identified'


Adobe dropped the D-bomb during a Q2 conference call with analysts after admitting some customers are "disappointed" it decided to murder future copies of its boxed Creative Suite.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/19/adobe_q2_customers_disappointed_with_no_boxed_wares/

Speaking in Tech: We find someone who hasn't heard of Prof Brian Cox

Brit physics heartthrob yet to conquer US - plus actual tech views






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/19/speaking_in_tech_episode_63/

Mercedes and Pirelli set for FIA International Tribunal

Mercedes and Pirelli will appear before the FIA's International Tribunal in Paris on Thursday morning to answer charges relating to their three-day private tyre test in Barcelona last month. Mercedes were the subject of a protest from Red Bull and Ferrari at the Monaco Grand Prix after it emerged that the 1000-kilometre test had been run using a 2013 car, in apparent contravention of F1 regulations

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14685.html

Dish abandons Sprint sprint, now in mad dash for Clearwire

Satellite telly firm refuses to make a new offer before Sprint's deadline


Dish has elected to ditch its pursuit of Sprint for the time being and concentrate on its potentially winning bid for Clearwire.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/19/dish_ditches_sprint_for_now/

Facebook: We now have one million real admen stalking you. Huzzah..?

That's right, people are still using us ... bitch


Facebook claimed it has – for the first time – surpassed 1 million active advertisers who used the network in the last 28 days.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/19/1_million_facebook_advertisers/

Dynamo-spawn RIAK spreads to other clouds

Amazon cloud casts long shadow


Wannabe cloud provider Tier3 has created an object storage service based on the Riak distributed datastore.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/19/riak_tier3_cloud/

BT boss QUITS telecoms giant for front-bench gov job

Prime Minister poaches CEO - Gavin Patterson to take his place


Ian Livingston has quit the top job at BT, after being poached by Prime Minister David Cameron to take on a key trade and investment role for the government.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/19/ian_livingston_quits_bt_after_being_poached_by_prime_minister/

Enlightenment engineers: meditation and mindfulness in Silicon Valley



Chade-Meng Tan is perched on a chair, his lanky body folded into a half-lotus position. "Close your eyes," he says. His voice is a hypnotic baritone, slow and rhythmic, seductive and gentle. "Allow your attention to rest on your breath: The in-breath, the out-breath, and the spaces in between." We feel our lungs fill and release. As we focus on the smallest details of our respiration, other thoughts -- of work, of family, of money -- begin to recede, leaving us alone with the rise and fall of our chests. For thousands of years, these techniques have helped put practitioners into meditative states. Today is no different. There's a palpable silence in the room. For a moment, all is still. I take another breath.


The quiet is broken a few minutes later, when Meng, as he is known, declares the exercise over. We blink, smile at one another, and look around our makeshift zendo -- a long, fluorescent-lit presentation room on Google's corporate campus in Silicon Valley. Meng and most of his pupils are Google employees, and this meditation class is part of an internal course called Search Inside Yourself. It's designed to teach people to manage their emotions, ideally making them better workers in the process. "Calm the mind," Meng says, getting us ready for the next exercise: a meditation on failure and success.


By: Noah Shachtman, Edited by: Kadhim Shubber


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/19/meditation-mindfulness-silicon-valley

Wi-Fi Alliance takes grid place, revs engine in race to 802.11ac

Those little labels on the boxes? Pretty important, actually


The Wi-Fi Alliance is now formally certifying devices conforming to 802.11ac, the 5GHz wireless standard capable of delivering 1Gb/sec, only a year after manufacturers started shipping kit.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/19/wifi_alliance_starts_race_to_80211ac/

Kiwi telco Two Degrees to roll out 4G in 2014

BNZ backs Huawei kit buy


Junior New Zealand telco Two Degrees Mobile is getting ready to roll out 4G, with deployment to start in 2014.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/18/two_degrees_to_roll_out_4g_in_2014/

Tuesday 18 June 2013

Increased cell phone coverage tied to uptick in African violence

'Significantly and substantially increases the probability of violent conflict'


The increasing availability of cell phone coverage in Africa is contributing to an increase of violence on that continent, a recent study contends.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/18/increased_cell_phone_coverage_leads_to_increased_african_violence/

GE partners with Amazon for 'industrial internet'

Proprietary cloud for the internet of things, with help from Accenture and Pivotal


GE has announced a cloud-based analytics platform for net-connected devices as the manufacturing giant tries to forge a set of technologies for what it terms "the industrial internet".…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/18/ge_industrial_internet_amazon/

Lotus sells stake in team to investment group

Lotus have sold a 35 per cent stake in the team to investment group Infinity Racing Partners Limited, they announced on Tuesday. The Enstone-based squad was previously 100 per cent owned by Genii Capital, the investment firm co-founded by Lotus F1's chairman Gerard Lopez

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14684.html

UK telcos chuck another £1m at online child porn watchdog

Web enforcers IWF gain power to seek and destroy illegal content


Britain's largest ISPs have agreed to contribute a further £1m to the Internet Watch Foundation, following a meeting with Culture Secretary Maria Miller about child sex abuse images and videos found online.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/18/bt_virgin_media_talktalk_bskyb_donate_1_million_pounds_to_internet_watch_foundation/

CLOUD TO SUCK UP ALL YOUR CASH: Govts around world slash IT spending

Survey: Bring your own device, because we sure as hell won't buy you one


Governments around the world have made plans to cut their IT spending, according to a study, although apparently they're still really keen on the "cloud" and have also shown some interest in "Big Data".…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/18/governments_to_slash_it_spending_says_research_firm/

Snapcat app lets cats take selfies



Image-wise the internet excels in two main areas. One is pictures of cats and the other is the "selfie".


Attempting to occupy the sacred intersection of these two circles on the internet image Venn diagram is Snapcat, an Android app which is trying to pioneer the cat selfie.


By: Philippa Warr, Edited by: Olivia Solon


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/18/snapcat

McLaren boss: we're already predicting the future with analytics

Wired editor David Rowan interviewing Ron Dennis

The Formula One group is monetising processing power it says is so rapid and complex it can predict the future, by partnering with industry.


"One of our cars is covered in over 100 sensors," Ron Dennis, executive chairman of the McLaren group, told a packed room at the G8 Innovation Conference. "In a Grand Prix they harvest 6.5 billion data points to try and give some sort of visualisation. [Comparing two grand prix], that's 13 billion data points coming at you in real time -- the world's population times two."


By: Liat Clark, Edited by: Olivia Solon


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/18/ron-dennis-mclaren

France Telecom dials up support for its capitaine in Sarkozy gov cash probe

Surrender? Jamais! Je suis innocent, imbéciles


France Telecom’s board is standing by chief executive Stéphane Richard despite the fraud investigation into his time as a top government aide.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/18/france_telecom_stands_by_chief/

Former Aardman and BBC execs launch 'next-generation content incubator'



Aardman Animations' former head of broadcast Miles Bullough has partnered with former BBC creative executive Jesse Cleverly to launch a "next generation entertainment content incubator" called Wildseed Studios.


Wildseed will provide funding and mentorship to content creators across a wide range of channels, bet it an app, web series, game, book, movie, live show or pilot. There will make up to 50 investments of up to £10,000 over the next three years to help get their idea commissioned, developed and distributed. The first investment aims to develop an idea to the point where it can be put in front of an audience to gauge their reaction.


By: Olivia Solon, Edited by: Liat Clark


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/18/wildseed-studios

Number of cops abusing Police National Computer access on the rise

Only a telegram from the Queen can get you off it


The number of Metropolitan Police officers investigated for misusing a controversial police database has more than doubled in the past five years, The Register can reveal.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/18/dozens_of_london_cops_investigated_for_misusing_controversial_police_database/

Monday 17 June 2013

White Space wonga time: White House tips $100m into next-gen comms

Empty frequencies right place for tomorrow's mics, phones and fridges


The US government will sink $100m (£63.5m) into research and development of White Space technology over the next five years.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/17/white_house_pours_100m_into_white_space/

Swedish watchdog: Google's chocolate cloud? Nej, not private

Bans official use of ad giant's apps suite


The Google bods who sell the ad giant's software services in Europe have been banned from flogging their wares to Sweden's public sector due to unresolved privacy concerns.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/17/google_apps_setback_sweden/

JBL PowerUp review



NFC offers the possibility of wireless charging, but what else can you do with it?


NFC charging plates are a nice idea, but who can be bothered to use them? But what about a charging plate that will also play your music? Enter the JBL PowerUp, an NFC/Bluetooth sound dock aimed at new Nokia Windows devices like the Lumia 920 and 820.


It's on sale now for around £198.


By: Dave Oliver, Edited by: Kadhim Shubber


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/reviews/gadgets/2013-06/jbl-powerup

Philips SoundShooter SBT30 'Grenade' review



Despite its warmongering moniker, Philips' convenient go-anywhere speaker boasts an eye-catching design, can stream sounds over Bluetooth, and creates a much bigger boom than it looks capable of.


It's on sale now for £40.


By: Dave Oliver, Edited by: Kadhim Shubber


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/reviews/gadgets/2013-06/philips-soundshooter-sbt30-grenade

Richard Branson: business can be a force for good

Wired editor David Rowan interviewing Richard Branson at the GQ Innovation Conference

The world's business leaders can make positive global changes while still remaining profitable, Richard Branson said at the G8 Innovation Conference.


Speaking shortly after the announcement of the launch of the B Team, a global non-profit founded by Branson and director of Kering Jochen Zeitz, the Virgin Group founder referenced work he is doing in the sustainability and space sector that is both good business, and good practice.


"I've been in business for 45 years and as a businessman I travel the world and see issues that are to me glaringly obvious and important you speak out about," he said. "Businesses can be a force for good and shouldn't think of themselves as just worrying about the bottom line profit. If we get every business leader in the world to adopt a problem or two, with help from the government we can get on top of most problems in the world."


By: Liat Clark, Edited by: Olivia Solon


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/17/richard-branson-space

Julian Assange: Google's just an arm of US government

Pale, embassy-dwelling blond claims conspiracy betweeen ad giant, politicians


WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has claimed that Google is tied up in a conspiracy stretching up to the very highest levels of American government.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/17/assange_googles_just_an_arm_of_the_scary_us_government/

Google flings another million quid at online child sex abuse vid crackdown

See, see, we're trying, ad giant tells Daily Mail UK.gov


Google has pledged a further $2m (£1.27m) to encourage the development of tools that seek and destroy online child sex abuse material.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/17/google_child_abuse_images/

NSA PRISM snoop-gate: Won't someone think of the children, wails Apple

10,000 things probed, mostly about missing kids, Alzheimer patients, we're told


Apple has joined Facebook and Microsoft in partially revealing how many requests for sensitive user data it received from US investigators, while remaining vague about the details.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/17/surveillance_request_figures/

Telecoms band wants to drag White Space into the real world

Big players pressing for green light on data networking tech


A conglomerate of 23 telecoms organisations, including BSkyB and Indigo Telecom, have joined forces to make white space data networking a mainstream reality.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/17/alliance_set_to_make_spectrum_more_dynamic/

Google announces measures to tackle child abuse images online



Google is working on a project which would allow it to share child pornography image information with other tech companies in order to better detect and remove the images from the internet.


The technology takes advantage of a technique known as hashing which identifies instances of the same image -- it's how TinEye helps you find original or higher resolution versions of online images.


By: Philippa Warr, Edited by: Olivia Solon


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/17/google-child-abuse-database

Ellinas to make test debut with Marussia this week

Following a second positive race weekend in the 2013 GP3 Series, Marussia young driver programme member Tio Ellinas has been handed his first Formula One test. Ellinas will conduct a scheduled straight-line aerodynamic evaluation with the team at the UK's Kemble Airfield on Tuesday. Ellinas, 21, is now in his second season of competition with Marussia Manor Racing

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14679.html

Canamasas gets aero test outing with Caterham

Caterham Racing GP2 driver Sergio Canamasas will step up to Formula One machinery for the first time this week when he completes an aero test with the Caterham F1 Team in France on Thursday. The day will see Canamasas behind the wheel of Caterham's CT03 for one of the team's official 2013 aero tests, playing an important role in the on-going development of the car. "Taking part in the aero test with the F1 team is another step in my development

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14680.html

Google launches broadband balloons, radio astronomy frets

A careless Loon could blind the square kilometre array


Nearly the whole science and tech world is turning cartwheels at Google's “Project Loon”, Google's audacious “bring the Internet to the world using weather balloons” test that kicked off in New Zealand over the weekend.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/17/google_launches_broadband_balloons_astrophysics_frets/

Rackspace elastic cloud goes live in Australia

Did we say we were only doing vanilla hosting until now? No? Sorry.


Rackspace has commenced offering its elastic cloud products in Australia.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/16/rackspace_elastic_cloud_goes_live_in_australia/

Saturday 15 June 2013

First Ferrari winner, Jose Froilan Gonzalez, dies at 90

Jose Froilan Gonzalez, the first man to win a round of the Formula One world championship for Ferrari, has passed away in Buenos Aires aged 90, reports in his native Argentina confirmed on Saturday. Having made his world championship debut for Maserati in 1951, Gonzalez beat friend and compatriot Juan Manuel Fangio to victory in the 1951 British Grand Prix

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14678.html

Horner recognised in Queen's birthday honours list

Red Bull's team principal Christian Horner has been awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the Queen's birthday honours list. Horner, 39, has been recognised for his services to motorsport. "I'm naturally shocked," the Englishman

via Formula1.com - Latest Headlines http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14677.html

CIA spooks picked Amazon's "superior" cloud over IBM

Procurement report reveals tech gap in cloud cold war


The CIA picked Amazon over IBM for a lucrative government contract not because of price, but because of the company's "superior technical solution" – a view that contrasts with IBM's vision of itself as the go-to tech organization for governments.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/15/cia_amazon/

Friday 14 June 2013

Microsoft unleases wave of Azure mobile updates

Azure and Android backends caught in push notification love-in


Microsoft is giving all Azure fiddlers a free 20MB database as part of a suite of improvements to the Azure cloud designed to tempt in mobile app developers.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/14/microsoft_azure_mobile/

CenturyLink grabs AppFog for cloud expansion

The old 1 + 1 = 3 approach


In a "resounding validation" of the CloudFoundry technology, CenturyLink has acquired platform-as-a-service minnow AppFog.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/14/appfog_acquired_by_centurylink/

Wired.co.uk Podcast E3 2013 special: next-gen consoles played and discussed

Wired Podcast E3

In this special episode, Nate Lanxon visits E3 to find out how good next-gen gaming looks set to be. He meets up with a number of games experts, journalists and industry insiders to discuss what next-gen gaming means, what's going on in the independent gaming world at E3, what the highlights of the show this year are and of course the big question: which is better out of the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 now we've have a chance to get hands-on with them both.


For 35 minutes of everything you need to know about E3 and the next 12 months of console gaming, look no further.


By: Nate Lanxon,


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/podcast/e3-2013-special

Microsoft Office 365 on iPhone NOW: No, we're not making this up

Word, Excel, Powerpoint for your pocket-stroker


Microsoft's Office 365 app is now available from Apple's iTunes store for iPhones, iPads and iPods.…




via The Register - Networks

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/14/ms_office_slides_onto_ios/

MPs demand UK rates revamp after Google's 'extraordinary tax mismatch'

Report: 'Highly contrived' structure has damaged HMRC's reputation


British MPs have demanded that the government act to revamp the tax structure after damning revelations about Google's corporate payments structure in the country.…






via The Register - Cloud

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/14/mp_google_tax_report/

Dynamic lighting for moodier corpses in The Evil Within



E3 saw Bethesda airing gameplay footage from The Evil Within, a survival horror game being developed by Resident Evil creator, Shinji Mikami.


The game has you playing as Detective Sebastian Castellanos, a chap investigating a brutal mass murder at an asylum. After his fellow officers get slaughtered Castellanos must -- as you might expect in a survival horror game -- fight for survival in a horrific environment.


By: Philippa Warr, Edited by: Olivia Solon


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/14/the-evil-within