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Showing posts from May, 2011

Global CIO: The Dropbox Deception: Caveat Emptor

Anyone who entrusted sensitive data to Dropbox without code review, or at least skepticism regarding impressive security claims, wasn't behaving well, either. By Jonathan Feldman InformationWeek I read a tweet several weeks ago which mentioned that Dropbox, the online file-sharing utility, was trying to kill an open source project. In the scuffle, various researchers realized that Dropbox, contrary to its earlier claims, actually had access to encrypted files on the service. Wired subsequently reported that an FTC complaint has been lodged against Dropbox, charging that it lied to users. I'm assuming that most IT leaders don't have their feelings bruised. At least I hope they don't. I'm a big proponent of using tools like Dropbox, SugarSync, and Box.net. Cloud-based file storage synchronization is one of the only ways, given the dirt-road-monopoly state of broadband in this country, that users can have reasonably quick access to their files when they're o

Up to 20 million Americans 'overcharged' by AT&T for data usage

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER AT&T are 'systematically overcharging' up to 20 million Americans who use their iPhone or iPad to access data on the go, an investigation has uncovered. The lawsuit alleges the phone giant routinely over charges customers between 7 and 14 per cent, and in some cases up to 300 per cent. In tests, engineers said they found the company charged for downloading data and surfing the web even when the iPhones remained untouched. Speaking to MSNBC, lawyer Barry Davis who worked on the suit, said: 'It's like a rigged gas pump. 'Where when you go to the gas station and ask for a gallon of gas but only get 9/10's.' When asked by a reporter whether his team found overcharging for every single transaction, he replied: 'yes, every single one.' The reporter the asked: 'Did you ever find a discrepancy where the customer was undercharged?' Mr Davis replied: 'Never. Always an overcharge, never an undercharge.' Over

Microsoft's Windows 8 on ARM Will Lack Legacy Apps: Intel Exec

By: Nicholas Kolakowski Microsoft's Windows 8 on ARM-based devices will lack support for legacy apps, according to an Intel executive. But that's coming from ARM's chief rival. An Intel executive suggested during a company investor meeting May 18 that Microsoft will manufacture different versions of its upcoming "Windows 8" tailored for Intel and ARM-based devices. That echoes statements made by Microsoft executives at January's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Bloomberg reports that Renee James, senior vice president and general manager of Intel's Software and Services Group, told those assembled at the meeting that the next version of Windows for Intel chips will run programs designed for previous versions of the operating system, while the ARM-based versions will not. Intel will apparently offer its own Windows-supporting architecture for mobile devices such as tablets. Rumors suggest that Microsoft will release Windows 8-as it's been