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73,000 blogs disappear into thin air

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:24:29 +0000

As faithful readers of this site know, even blogs that have been dormant for a while can come back to provide you the best in technology, hardware, and industry news. But what happens to sites that are seemingly shut down for no reason? 73,000 blogs are about to find out.Blogetery.com was shut down on July 9, and iPBFree.com disappeared in the next week. No reasons are forthcoming, as everybody who seems to know something claims to be legally restricted from saying anything. However, both sites have released a few details that match up, claiming that the sites are permanently shut down and that they obeyed copyright law.The secrecy and lack of warning for both sites has raised some serious questions, such as to what the nature of the offense could be, and whether due process was followed. Benjamin Arcus, VP of BurstNet (the former web host of Blogotery) says that the issue was not copyright related, but that a law enforcement agency was involved. What could users have been doing on these sites that prompted such immediate action?One anonymous cybercrime investigator in particular has questioned the legality of shutting down sites hosting thousands of people without prior legal process. Generally, this involves obtaining search warrants and IP addresses of offenders. Clearly, there’s something deeper going on here.Keep an eye on Tony Talks Tech, as well as other tech news sites like CNET, for more on this story as it develops. No one can be sure how this’ll all play out, but when it does, it’s likely to be a doozy.

Sneak peek at Windows 8?

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:39:19 +0000

Although Windows 8 has not yet been officially announced, several sites are reporting details on key features of the operating system. The documents, released in the form of slides marked “Microsoft Confidential,” have not been authenticated by CNET, but do use internal Microsoft vocabulary.Some key new features discussed as possibilities include:

More secure authentication, with a focus on facial recognition
Faster start-up times, such that laptops could resume from sleep in under a second
3D displays
Wireless connectivity to TVs
Compatibility with USB 3.0 and Bluetooth 3.0
Automatic display readjustment to ambient light
A possible means of returning a PC to default mode while maintaining all files and settings

In addition to new features, the slides discuss how Apple and a new focus on laptops and other portable devices, with an emphasis on energy efficiency. Microsoft has not made any comment on the slides, and has not discussed any OS beyond Windows 7, except a comment by Server and Tools president Bob Muglia to say that it will be a significant release. An update for Windows 7 is set to be tested next month which fixes a variety of bugs without adding significant features. Instead, the company seems to be focusing on the Windows Live Essentials series, which are free downloadable programs that include Photo Gallery and Movie Maker.A final interesting point is that the slides indicate Microsoft still wants more data before “M1,” a common reference by the company to milestones in development (M1, M2, etc.). This seems to indicate that the project was still in the planning stage at the time of the slides, some of which are dated April 20.

Google rumored to take on Facebook with “Google Me”

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:31:12 +0000

As with the recent leak of supposed Microsoft Windows 8 documents, a new rumor has set the tech world aflame. This time, the subject is Google’s supposed plan to take on Facebook with their own social network, “Google Me.” With recent concerns over Facebook’s privacy settings, and Google’s resources, this rumor could mark a bold new era in the world of social networking.The rumor originated from a tweet by Digg founder Kevin Rose claiming he had a “very credible source” which said Google would launch their “Facebook competitor very soon.” Recent circumstances made the claim suspicious, including the announcement of Facebook’s Open Graph feature, which some see as capable of competing with Google. In addition, Google Buzz, a tool designed for networking and messaging, was integrated into Gmail just months ago. Google also owns a network called Orkut which is gaining popularityin Brazil.Many researchers believe Google is simply updating its profilesthe systems which determine how Google users present themselves online and allows users to integrate sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and personal blogs. However, others believe that Google may be intending to integrate Orkut and Buzz. This would launch a network with a base of 200 million members, which has reached very high user levels in Brazil and India, especially in the 18-to-25 age demographic.Is there any truth to this rumor? If so, how will Facebook respond? The news is fresh right now, but could fizzle out quickly if new information comes to light. However, it reveals the ways in which companies are trying to stake their claim online, and will not be the last we hear of the competition between these two powerhouses.