Some thirty-six percent of the software installed in 2003 was pirated, costing the software industry about $29 billion, according to a new study by the Business Software Alliance. That percentage was artificially lowered by the United States and Canada, where the rate of piracy is just 23 percent. In "New Europe" -- the region formerly known as "Eastern Europe" -- about 71 percent of installed software was stolen. In other regions, theft rates reported include Latin America (63 percent); Asia/Pacific (53 percent); Middle East and Africa (56 percent); and "Old Europe" (35 percent).
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
Gmail Exploit Lets Others See Your Data
Security Tracker is reporting that hackers can take advantage of a flaw in the Gmail software to harvest your personal information.
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
NEC Makes Software That Rejects 'Non-Original' Gadget Batteries
NEC has introduced new software for microcontrollers that detects and rejects batteries made by anyone other than NEC in mobile phones and digital cameras. This benefits users because they won't be able to use fake batteries that explode. It benefits NEC because they can jack up the prices of their batteries knowing that they now have a guaranteed monopoly.
U.N. Says It Will Bring Spam Under Control Within Two Years. No, I'm Serious!
The U.N.'s International Telecommunications Union is working to "bring under control" the global spam epidemic within two years. In keeping with current trends -- most notably the naming of Libya to chair the U.N.'s Commission on Human Rights and North Korea to chair the U.N.'s Commission on Sustainable Development -- I would like to nominate Nigeria to chair a new commission on ending spam.
Gotta-Get-It Gadget: A 3-Megapixel Camera Phone
TCL Mobile is preparing to release a 3-megapixel camera phone by the end of the year in China and in "English-speaking countries" (Sorry Quebec and Los Angeles!)
Take the Red Pill This Christmas: 10-DVD Matrix Release Coming Before the Holidays
The Matrix trilogy will be released December 12 as a ten-disc DVD package in time for Christmas. Find out how deep the rabbit hole goes.
New Robot Is Shaped Like Wheel; Rolls By Changing Shape
The New Scientist broke the story of a Japanese lab building Robots shaped like wheels that roll by bending themselves into different shapes. They can even leap twice their own height by flattening out, then springing back into a circular shape.
New York City Taxicabs May Get GPS Maps
The City of New York is considering the forced installation of GPS receivers in taxis. The city raised fares recently to pay for the addition of technology in cabs, though they haven't decided what technology to add. One use for GPS may be used on a pay-per-use basis so passengers can see where they are and where they're going. About 100 percent of New Yorkers polled in a Mike's List survey, however, said, "$#@! that. Just lower the friggin' fares!"
France Telecom to Roll Out Bluetooth Flexible Displays for Clothing
France Telecom eggheads have recently built operational prototypes of flexible color screens that can be built into clothing and controlled via Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones. The company expects to market shirt, hats and other clothing soon. A press release issued by the company seems to indicate that they actually think people will buy and wear them voluntarily. A more likely use is for turning employees into billboards at public events.
Best Reason Yet to Take Away Your Teen's Phone
Researchers from the University of Oslo in Norway have determined that teens with mobile phones have sex earlier and more often than peers without phones.
Nigeria Cracks Down On Scammers That Made the Country Famous
The Nigerian government has rounded up more than 500 suspected "Nigerian scammers" -- fraudsters who send e-mail around the world with a sob story about lost millions designed to bilk the naive into sending money.
Friends Spinoff Pilot Leaked On Internet
