S-T

“Security Threat Report: 2008”

A recent survey showed that only 30% of computer users thought that 2008 would be a better year for internet security. Despite vast improvements in technology, hackers have responded by upping their game. Their main focus remains financial gain, and new methods to steal from users and companies continue to emerge. The Sophos security threat report talks about recent attacks and gives predictions and advice for 2008.

Details Here: theharlowreport.tradepub.com/free/w_soph13

first published week of:   04/07/2008

Search for Hidden Treasures With Google's MyMaps Slideshow

Google’s MyMaps feature is an easy way to create and save your own maps, in fact, you can even use it to start a location-aware blog. But one thing that isn’t so easy is sorting through all the other public maps, which is why Google is showcasing them with a new MyMaps slideshow viewer.

Google claims that since the release of MyMaps in April 2007 users have created some 9 million examples, featuring 40 million placemarks. That’s a tremendous amount of data and there's almost guaranteed to be something that interests you lurking in there somewhere.

But one of the interesting things about maps is that you might not realize how useful something is until you've seen it. And that makes searching a less than ideal way to look for MyMaps.

The MyMaps slideshow viewer aims to solve that offering an automatic slideshow that flips through all the recently added MyMaps placemarks and maps. It’s not a revolutionary feature, but it is a nice way to potentially stumble across something you wouldn’t have otherwise found.

first published week of:   02/11/2008

Server 2008: The Windows Workstation we always wanted

As discontent over Windows Vista (with or without Service Pack 1) continues to swirl, Microsoft is gearing up to launch on February 27 the “othe” Windows: Windows Server 2008. Even though it is built from the same core as Vista, Windows Server is different from Vista in a number of ways, from its role-based configuration options, to its built-in hypervisor.

Guest blogger Jason Perlow (of asbestos-underwear fame) has been an advocate for Microsoft making Windows Server 2008 available as in workstation/desktop form. Like the old Windows NT and Windows 2000 Workstation products, a Windows Server 2008 Workstation would be a form factor for power users who don’t need all the Vista desktop eye candy, but care more about manageability and performance.

Details Here: blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1218&tag=nl.e539

first published week of:   03/03/2008

Sharper Satellite Images

Next month, a commercial satellite company is scheduled to launch an Earth-orbiting satellite that will be able to produce color images so detailed that the U.S. government doesn't permit their public release. The new satellite, dubbed GeoEye-1, will provide images at its highest resolution for classified military and intelligence uses. Slightly lower-resolution versions will be available for commercial and research purposes, as well as through online services like Google Earth.

On August 22, Virginia-based GeoEye will launch the satellite, from Vandenburg Air Force Base in California. The satellite will be able to distinguish objects that measure 0.17 square meters. The best color satellite images now commercially available, from GeoEye competitor DigitalGlobe, can resolve objects that measure 0.36 square meters.

Details Here: www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/20988/

first published week of:   07/07/2008

Smart Badges Track Human Behavior

MIT researchers used conference badges to collect data on people’s interactions and visualize the social network.

In the corporate and academic worlds, conferences and networking events are necessary. But while some people trade business cards with aplomb, others clump with coworkers, rarely venturing beyond the safety of their pre-existing social circle. New research from MIT’s Media Lab has shown that a sensor-laden conference badge might be able to help people venture out, form new connections, and gain insight into how they interact with others at such events.

Details Here: www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/20129/

first published week of:   02/04/2008

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