AMD launches its fastest desktop chips ever

By Agam Shah,(IDG News Service)

pcworld

In an attempt to gain an advantage in the gaming PC market, Advanced Micro Devices on Thursday launched what it called its "highest-performing CPUs" to date.

Two new quad-core Phenom II processors, aimed at high-end desktop PCs, were announced by AMD at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The chips succeed the Phenom processor the company launched in 2007, and come two days after AMD announced the new Athlon Neo processor for small laptops.

The quad-core Phenom II chips run at speeds up to 3GHz and include 8MB of cache. The chips are capable of even faster clock speeds under certain circumstances. For example, AMD overclocked Phenom II processors to run at up to 4GHz on air-cooled systems, and up to 5GHz on liquid-nitrogen cooling late last year.

Dell is already offering the XPS 625 desktop based on the Phenom II, though pricing information was not immediately available. PC makers HP and Alienware will also offer Phenom II-based desktops later in the year, according to AMD.

AMD is targeting gamers and enthusiasts with the chips, which are also affordable enough for mainstream users looking for a good gaming system, the company said.

AMD's Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition processor, which runs at 3.0GHz, is priced at US$275, while the Phenom II X4 920 processor, which runs at 2.8GHz, is sold for $235.

The Phenom II CPUs are manufactured using a 45-nanometer process, which makes the chips more power efficient than earlier chips.

The new chips are part of AMD's new Dragon platform for desktops, which includes graphics chips, chipsets and CPUs for gaming and media-intensive desktops. The platform includes the ATI Radeon 4800 series graphics cards in addition to the Phenom II.

An interesting feature of the platform is a set of customized controls to boost performance of gaming PCs. Called OverDrive, these controls allow users to ratchet up performance by overclocking the CPUs, which can then be easily returned to a normal speed at the touch of a button.

The platform also includes the ATI Video Converter software, which can convert videos to play on portable entertainment devices, according to AMD.

The platform will initially support DDR2 memory, but faster DDR3 memory support may come in a few months, AMD has said. Compared to DDR2 memory, DDR3 provides a larger bandwidth for quicker data transfers between the CPU and memory in PCs. To support DDR3 memory, AMD will introduce the new AM3 socket for motherboards in the next few months.

High-end chips for gaming systems are also offered by Intel, which launched its Core i7 processor in November.

Can Gunnar Glasses Keep Your Eyes from Stinging After Hours at the Computer?

Edward N. Albro, pcworld
I’m somewhat obsessive about seeing clearly, forever wiping my glasses with one of those special rags from the optometrist, so one of the devices I’ve seen at CES that I’d most like to try out are Gunnar glasses.

The theory is that these specially tinted, wraparound specs fight many of the factors involved with staring at a computer monitor that cause eyestrain. First off, they’re calibrated to focus best at the distance at which most people keep their screen. Lots of glasses are set to work well when you’re reading a book, but computer screens are typically farther from your eyes than a paperback.

Also, people tend to blink less when they stare at a screen, which leads their eyes to dry up. Gunnar glasses don’t force you to blink, but because they wrap closely around your head, they raise the humidity near your eyes, keeping them moist, according to a Gunnar spokesman.

Finally, the tint deals with an unpleasant fact of most offices. Florescent lights produce lots of blues and greens, but the human eye is poorly equipped to handle those parts of the spectrum. The yellowish tint of Gunnar glasses makes everything seem warmer and more soothing.

If you’ve got perfect vision, you can pick up Gunnar glasses over the counter for somewhere between $100 and $180. If you need a prescription pair, they get more pricey, as much as $600 for a pair with progressive lenses. But hey, that’s a small price to pay for both feeling better and looking like Bono

Review: Windows 7 Beta 1 shows off new task bar, more UI goodies

Goodbye, Quick Launch bar -- there's a new task bar in town.

By Preston Gralla,computerworld,:
The just-released Beta 1 version of Windows 7 is a solid, fast-performing, stable operating system that appears to be just about fully baked and ready for prime time. It is much further along than Windows Vista was during its initial beta phase, and it appears to be feature-complete. Based on the stability and speed of this beta, don't be surprised if Microsoft Corp. releases Windows 7 before 2010 rolls around.

The new, powered-up task bar makes an appearance for the first time in this beta, and it proves to be something of a mixed bag. As I'll explain later in this review, the task bar makes it much easier to manage and switch between open windows and applications, but it also mixes icons for launching applications with icons for managing open windows

Note that this review covers only the features that made their debut with Beta 1 of Windows 7. For an overall review of all of Windows 7, see "Windows 7 in-depth review and video: This time Microsoft gets it right." Also see my blog "Hacking Windows 7 beta problems" for help fixing some problems with the current release.

The new Windows task bar

The task bar, new in this beta, will no doubt be the most controversial new feature introduced in Windows 7. Gone is Quick Launch bar for launching applications that used to live at the left side of the task bar. Instead, large icons across the task bar are now used to launch applications.

By default, Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer and Windows Media Player all have icons in the task bar. You can, however, add an icon for launching any application to the task bar by dragging the program's icon to it, for example, from the Most Recently Used list on the Start menu.

Those icons do double duty because they also manage your open windows. For example, if you've already launched Internet Explorer, and you have three tabs open to three different Web sites, the Internet Explorer icon changes subtly to show three icons stacked on one another, as shown in the image above, indicating that you have three tabs open.

Hover your mouse over the stacked icon, and you'll see all three open tabs as thumbnails just across the top of the task bar. Hover your mouse over any of the thumbnails, and your entire desktop is taken up by that open window. Hover it over another thumbnail, and the desktop is taken up by that one. Click any of the thumbnails or open windows, and you'll go straight to that window.

If you aren't a fan of thumbnails displaying open windows, you can instead have all open windows display as a stacked list. When you're using stacked lists, to go to any open window, click on it in the list. To close the window, hover your mouse over it in the list, and click the red "X" that appears.

One more nice touch: When you download a file using Internet Explorer, a green bar on the icon shows you the progress of the download.

Jump lists

The task bar also makes use of another new feature that debuts in this beta -- "jump lists." A jump list is a list of actions or items associated with a particular application. To see a jump list for any application, right-click its icon in the task bar.

Typically, you'll see a history list of the most recent open files -- or Web sites, in the case of Internet Explorer -- as well as options to pin the application icon to the task bar (if you haven't already pinned it there) or unpin the application from the taskbar (if you've already pinned it there).

You can also unpin the three default task-bar icons -- Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer and Windows Media Player -- in this way.

Jump lists also make their appearance on the Start menu, in the Most Recently Used application list. A small arrow appears to the right of any application with an associated jump list. Click the arrow to see the list, then make your choice from the list.

There has also been a minor change to the Windows Shut Down button. Click an arrow to the button's right, and you get a list of shutdown options, including switching to a different user, logging off, restarting, locking the desktop, or putting your machine into sleep or hibernation mode.

Aero Peek

The other major change to the interface in this beta is the addition of Aero Peek, a nifty little enhancement to the Aero interface introduced in Vista that lets you "peek" behind any open window to your desktop. It's far more fully featured than the Show Desktop icon that lived on the Quick Launch bar in previous versions of Windows.

Aero Peek lives as a small, rectangular area just to the right of the clock at the right edge of the task bar. When you have windows open and you mouse over the Aero Peek rectangle, all of your open windows disappear, and you see through to your desktop. But you don't see just the desktop -- you also see the outlines where each of your open windows would be.

So, for example, if you have three open windows -- one near the top of the desktop, one to the left side, and one to the right -- you would see the outlines of each of those screens. If you prefer just to see the desktop itself, with no outlines, click the Aero Peek rectangle instead of hovering your mouse over it.

Aero Peek also works in concert with the task bar. As I mentioned previously, when you hover your mouse over an application with open windows, you'll see thumbnails of the open windows, and you can preview them by hovering over any thumbnail. That's Aero Peek at work. If you turn off Aero Peek, you won't be able to see the thumbnails -- you'll only see them as a stacked list. To turn Aero Peek on and off, right-click the Aero Peek rectangle, and either check or uncheck the box next to Preview desktop.

I did experience some problems with Aero Peek and the task bar thumbnails (which are turned on when you turn on Aero Peek). They worked only intermittently, then inexplicably stopped working entirely. I fixed the problem using one of Windows' built-in troubleshooters, but I don't know what caused the issue. I haven't heard reports of this happening to other people, so it's possible that the issue was specific to my test machine. To fix this problem, see my blog, "Hacking Windows 7 beta problems."

Speed and compatibility

Microsoft set out to make sure that Windows 7 wouldn't have the same issues with hardware compatibility that Windows Vista had, and the company said that all hardware that works with Windows Vista should also work with Windows 7.

It appears that even in this beta version, that goal has been met. Windows 7 immediately recognized all the components of my Dell Inspiron E1505 without a hitch -- something that early versions of Vista had serious problems with, particularly when it came to wireless networking adapters.

And while the prebeta version of Windows 7 had problems connecting to my Linksys wireless router, this new beta version immediately recognized the router and connected to it without a problem.

I found no software problems either. Windows 7 ran every piece of software I threw at it, including not just obvious programs such as Microsoft Office, but lesser-used ones as well, such as Windows Live Sync. In addition, several antivirus applications are already compatible with Windows 7, including AVG and Kaspersky. I've been running the free version of AVG without problems.

I found a problem with Windows 7, in which it doesn't recognize multiple drives. Several people have reported similar problems. I installed Windows 7 on a dual-boot machine, in which the C: drive boots to XP and the J: drive boots to Windows 7. Unaccountably, when I boot into Windows 7, Windows 7 shows the J: drive as if it were a C: drive. And the real C: drive is invisible -- it simply doesn't show up in Windows 7 at all, and I have no access to it. However, when I boot to XP, I can see both the C: and J: drives. If anyone has a solution for this, I'd appreciate hearing it -- there's a lot of disk space going to waste. I've found a fix for the problem. See my blog "Hacking Windows 7 beta problems" for how to do it,

Beta operating systems typically run slower than the shipping version, but Beta 1 of Windows 7 is already surprisingly fast. It appears to be clearly faster than Vista, without delays associated with displaying menu items or boxes, launching programs, or doing other tasks.

The bottom line

This first beta of Windows 7 is a polished piece of work, with few apparent kinks to be worked out. Windows 7 is much further along at this beta stage than Windows Vista was at a similar point. In Vista's Beta 1 stage, the user interface was still being tweaked, the operating system was sluggish, and there were many hardware incompatibilities. Not so with Windows 7. Because so little has changed between the prebeta and beta versions of Windows 7, don't be surprised if Windows 7 is on a fast track to release.

That being said, the new task bar is somewhat confusing to use at first. After you live with it for a while, you get used to it doing double duty as a task launcher and windows manager. Still, it wouldn't surprise me if Microsoft tweaked it in future beta versions.

Given the beta's stability and speed, you can safely download it and use this on a test machine. As with any beta of an operating system, though, you shouldn't use it on a production machine

Windows 7 Beta: Should You Try It?

Windows 7 beta becomes available to the public Friday for download. Before you rush and download it, here is what you need to know.

Jeff Bertolucci, PC World

Microsoft is busily promoting Windows 7, its next operating system and successor to the much-maligned Vista.

At the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has announced a free public beta of the new OS, which reportedly will be less of a resource hog than Vista and may even run well on netbooks. The Windows 7 public beta is reportedly "feature complete" and will expire on Aug. 1, 2009.

Microsoft says Windows 7 is a leaner, stripped-down OS that will require as little as 1GB of memory. Then again, it's fair to be skeptical here. Vista has the same memory requirement but runs sluggishly on systems with 1GB of RAM.

But there's more to Windows 7 that faster performance, Microsoft says. There are plenty of under-the-hood changes, including a revamped Vista kernel and a less-annoying User Account Control that you can configure to post fewer security warnings. The Windows interface will undergo some changes as well.

Windows 7 may even bring a slight shift away from the traditional, desktop-oriented operating system to one that incorporates elements of Microsoft's upcoming Azure "cloud" OS.

Whatever Windows 7 brings, XP fans may remain stubbornly loyal to their OS. Dell continues to offer XP to its customers, albeit for a surcharge, and user interest in switching from Vista to XP remains high.

Report: Microsoft to do free Windows 7 upgrades

Microsoft Corp. will offer free or discounted Windows 7 upgrades to users who buy Vista PCs after July 1, according to a Web site that has accurately predicted the company's moves in the past.

TechARP.com, a Malaysian Web site that correctly named the release-to-manufacturing (RTM) dates for several Windows editions last year, said that Microsoft will unveil a program for Windows 7 that is similar to Vista Express Upgrade, a 2006 marketing effort that provided free or discounted Vista license to buyers of Windows XP in the months leading up to Vista's early 2007 release.

According to TechARP, Microsoft will allow resellers to purchase Windows 7 upgrade media, which they can then offer to customers who buy a Vista-power system between July 1, 2009, and a date to be determined.

The upgrades, however, would not be shipped to those PC buyers until the general availability date for Windows 7. Microsoft has not set a delivery for the new operating system, and instead has stuck to a broad range of dates, from late 2009 to early 2010.

The Windows 7 upgrade program as spelled out by TechARP resembled the earlier Vista Express Upgrade. In that program, people who purchased Windows XP PCs between Oct. 26, 2006, and March 15, 2007, were eligible to receive free or inexpensive Vista upgrades.

TechARP did not have a closing date for the program, noting only that it was "TBA," or "to be announced." The site did say, however, that resellers would be free to specify a shorter eligibility period than Microsoft's.

Upgrades will be available from Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Home Premium, and from Vista Ultimate to Windows 7 Ultimate, said TechARP. Buyers of PCs equipped with Vista Business will be able to upgrade to a Windows 7 Professional.

Vista Express Upgrade also used clearly defined upgrade paths. People who had bought a computer with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, for example, were offered only Vista Home Premium, while those who purchased an XP Home PC were given Vista Home Basic.

Microsoft and its hardware partners will be hoping for a smoother road to the upgrades this time around. Vista Express Upgrade was plagued with problems, including delays before users received their upgrade discs. In February 2007, nearly a month after Vista hit retail shelves, for instance, users flooded Dell Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co. support forums with angry messages about the wait.

In 2006 and 2007, PC makers charged a variety of prices for the XP-to-Vista upgrades. HP offered free upgrades, while others, including Dell, charged users $49. TechARP did not have any information on pricing, which would, if the Windows 7 program is handled the same way, be up to the individual makers.

Microsoft declined to comment on the TechARP posting. "We often explore options with our partners for how we offer products, but we have nothing to announce at this time," a company spokeswoman said Tuesday.

A public beta of Windows 7 is thought to be imminent -- perhaps as early as tomorrow, after Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer delivers a keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas -- but clues on Microsoft's own Web site seem to point to a release no later than next week.

Leaked copies of the Windows 7 build, thought to be the one pegged for beta distribution, have been available on file sharing sites for more than a week.

By Gregg Keizer

Computerworld

Regulator Fines E-Trade Units $1 Million

Chris Kanaracus, IDG News Service
The independent Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has fined two units of E-Trade Financial a total of US$1 million for failing to implement adequate anti-money laundering (AML) procedures between Jan. 1, 2003 and May 31, 2007.

Under FINRA guidelines, brokerage firms' AML procedures must have a number of components, including "monitoring the trading in customer accounts as well as the flow of money into and out of these accounts," FINRA said in a statement Friday.

E-Trade did not have "separate and distinct monitoring procedures for suspicious trading activity in the absence of money movement," according to FINRA.

Instead, E-Trade analysts and other workers tracked suspect trades manually, and did not have "sufficient automated tools," FINRA said.

An E-Trade spokeswoman said via e-mail Friday that the company "has upgraded its systems to provide an automated method to monitor for this particular activity, and those systems have been in place for over a year."

E-Trade "promptly corrected the concern when FINRA advised the firm of its position," she added.

www.pcworld.com

Bangalore IT Companies Receive E-mail Threats

IT companies in Bangalore, including Infosys Technologies and Wipro, received an e-mail last week threatening to blow up their facilities, according to police officials.

The e-mail was adressed to six companies in Bangalore, said Bangalore's Joint Commissioner of Police, Gopal B. Hosur, on Monday. The mail was sent from a location in Bangalore, and police are working on tracking the sender, he said.

Infosys has received a threatening e-mail, also addressed to various other companies, said a spokeswoman for the company. Local authorities have been contacted and are investigating, while security continues to be on alert in all Infosys campuses, she added. Wipro declined to comment on the e-mail threat.

Indian IT companies and IT subsidiaries of multinational companies have been terrorist targets for some years now, as they have come to represent India's economic boom, according to the police. But there have been no attacks yet on IT companies in India.

In the case of the e-mail threat too, sources close to the situation suspect that the e-mail may have come from a prankster.

Security has already been tightened at IT companies in Bangalore after the attacks in Mumbai, India's business hub, in November, Hosur said. The police will be extending all help to IT companies in Bangalore in view of the e-mail threat, he added.

John Ribeiro, IDG News Service

www.pcworld.com

8 Langkah Hilangkan 'Hopeless' di Komputer

Jakarta - Sama seperti virus lokal pada umumnya, virus Hopeless part II menyebar melalui media usb flash/external drive. Selain menyertakan 3 file utama virus, Hopeless juga akan menduplikasi file virus pada semua folder.

Simak tips & trik dari Vaksincom, Senin (5/12/2008), untuk membasmi virus ini biar komputer Anda tidak 'hopeless':
1. Putuskan hubungan komputer yang akan dibersihkan dari jaringan.
2. Sebaiknya lakukan pembersihan pada safe mode.
3. Matikan proses virus dengan menggunakan tools pengganti task manager, seperti Itty Bitty Process Manager.
4. Lakukan 'kill process', pada file virus yang aktif yaitu: C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\idle.exe
5. Hapus string registry yang telah dibuat oleh virus. Untuk mempermudah dapat menggunakan script registry dibawah ini:

[Version]

Signature="$Chicago$"

Provider=Vaksincom Oyee


[DefaultInstall]

AddReg=UnhookRegKey

DelReg=del

[UnhookRegKey]

HKLM, Software\CLASSES\batfile\shell\open\command,,,"""%1"" %*"

HKLM, Software\CLASSES\comfile\shell\open\command,,,"""%1"" %*"

HKLM, Software\CLASSES\exefile\shell\open\command,,,"""%1"" %*"

HKLM, Software\CLASSES\piffile\shell\open\command,,,"""%1"" %*"

HKLM, Software\CLASSES\regfile\shell\open\command,,,"regedit.exe ""%1"""

HKLM, Software\CLASSES\scrfile\shell\open\command,,,"""%1"" %*"

HKLM, SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon, Shell,0, "Explorer.exe"

HKLM, SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows, AppInit_DLLs, 0

HKLM, SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SafeBoot, AlternateShell,0, "cmd.exe"

HKLM, SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot, AlternateShell,0, "cmd.exe"



[del]

HKCU, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System, DisableRegistryTools

HKCU, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System, DisableTaskMgr

HKCU, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer, NoFolderOptions

HKCU, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer, NoRun

HKCU, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer, NoFind

HKCU, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer, StartMenuLogoff

HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System, DisableRegistryTools

HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System, DisableTaskMgr

HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer, NoFolderOptions

HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer, NoRun

HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer, NoFind

HKCU, SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, Repair

HKLM, SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, Repair



6. Gunakan notepad, kemudian simpan dengan nama 'Repair.inf'. Lalu Save As Type menjadi All Files agar tidak terjadi kesalahan.
7. Jalankan repair.inf dengan klik kanan, kemudian pilih install. Sebaiknya membuat file repair.inf di komputer yang clean, agar virus tidak aktif kembali.
8. Hapuskan file induk serta file duplikat yang telah dibuat oleh virus Hopeless, dimana file tersebut mempunyai ciri-ciri icon folder, ukuran file 247 kb, extension file .exe dan type file 'application'.

Sekadar tambahan, untuk mempermudah penghapusan dapat menggunakan fasilitas search. Selain itu untuk pembersihan yang optimal dan mencegah infeksi ulang, gunakan anti virus yang sudah dapat mengenali virus dengan baik.

Ardhi Suryadhi - detikinet

Google Android Sambangi Netbook?

Jakarta - Persaingan Google dan Microsoft barangkali bakal merambah netbook. Beberapa analis mengemukakan kemungkinan sistem operasi Android yang saat ini baru ada untuk smartphone, bakal menyambangi netbook. Jika terlaksana, berarti Google menantang Microsoft yang saat ini cukup dominan di pasaran sistem operasi netbook.

Wacana tersebut mengemuka setelah programmer di Amerika Serikat mengklaim mampu menautkan software Android pada netbook Asus Eee PC. Mereka mengaku hanya butuh waktu 4 jam untuk melakukannya.

Programmer bernama Krzykowski dan Daniel Hartmann ini memaparkan via blognya bahwa Android cukup stabil dan punya kapabilitas yang cukup untuk menjadi sistem operasi netbook.

Meski demikian, prospek Android menjadi sistem operasi yang umum di netbook masih penuh jalan terjal. Sebab sampai kini, baik perusahaan komputer besar dan juga pihak Google sendiri belum mempertimbangkan kemungkinan ini.

Terlebih diakui oleh duet programmer itu, Android juga punya kekurangan berbagai fitur penting, misalnya akselerasi grafis 3D. Hal ini bisa dimaklumi karena Android memang didesain untuk smartphone bukan netbook.

Akan tetapi selalu ada kemungkinan Google dan grup pengembang Android, Open Handset Alliance suatu saat membesut Android khusus netbook. Dikutip detikINET dari eFluxMedia, Senin (5/1/2009), langkah ini dinilai potensial untuk menggerus lahan Windows XP besutan Microsoft di pasaran netbook.

Fino Yurio Kristo - detikinet

Tech Jobs May Increase Despite Economic Trends

By Patrick Thibodeau, Computerworld
The outlook for IT jobs in 2009 may not be as bad as some observers suggest. While some indicators and surveys are showing some declines in tech jobs, none predict a precipitous drop. In fact, a federal economic stimulus package may even add IT positions.

“IT jobs are relatively safe in the aftermath of the economic meltdown compared to jobs in general,” said David Foote of Vero Beach Fla.-based Foote Partners LLC , which analyzes IT wages and hiring data.

While 853,000 U.S. jobs in all industries were lost in October and November, 9,000 were gained in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics categories of “Computer Systems Design and Related Services” and “Management and Technical Consulting Services,” said Foote.

The IT job market is stable, said Foote, “because a lot has happened to show businesses that IT is really our edge.”

Robert J. McGovern, CEO of JobFox Inc., a career site in McLean, Va., is bullish in the belief that hundreds of thousands of tech jobs will be created from the federal stimulus of hundreds of billions of dollars that’s expected early next year from President-elect Barack Obama ’s administration and Congress.

Major chunks of that federal money may be used to build infrastructure such as roads and bridges, and for expansions of broadband, especially in rural areas, he said. IT pros should focus on showing employers how their skills can be adapted to projects in these areas.

For example, construction companies and engineering firms will likely seek multiple IT skills, including computer-aided design and telecommunications. Companies focused on alternative energy and health care modernization will likely need IT pros who specialize in bioinformatics, information security and software development. “Target your job search in those directions,” McGovern suggested.

Regulatory compliance may also be a source of new jobs, he said. The Obama administration is expected to quickly expand regulatory controls, especially in the financial services industry. The industry’s response could be similar to its actions after Congress passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. That law, enacted after a series of securities scandals such as the spectacular failures of WorldCom and Enron, drove demand for integration and Web skills.

Some of the hottest areas for jobs over the next two years, according to Foote, will be business analysis, financial and human resources applications, program management and application development.

McGovern believes a stimulus measure could have a fairly rapid impact on new hiring. “What employers need more than anything is confidence,” said McGovern. “They have the open positions, but they are reluctant to fill them.”

Warning over DNS protection

IT managers should make protecting their systems from a DNS attack a priority, despite the budget constraints that they're operating under

Despite the threat posed by the vulnerability discovered by Dan Kaminsky last year and despite other DNS attacks, such as cache poisoning and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS), a quarter of all networks had not been patched by mid-November, aocording to The Measurement Group.

"These name servers are trivially vulnerable to the Kaminsky attack. With an effective exploit script, a hacker can insert arbitrary data into the cache of one of these names servers in about 10 seconds," said Cricket Liu, vice president of architecture at Infoblox.

A separate survey of 466 enterprise online customers conducted by DNSstuff in September revealed that 9.6 percent hadn't patched their DNS servers and 21.9 percent didn't know if they were patched. The findings show that despite the DNS community's and several vendors' efforts, a significant number of server administrators have yet to take action. As for the reasons behind the lack of patches, more than 45 percent cited a lack of internal resources, 30 percent said they were unaware of the vulnerability and 24 percent reported they didn't have enough knowledge of DNS to take the appropriate steps.

Infoblox said there was a misconception that DNS was a trivial part of the network. It performs a critical function by mapping domain names to IP addresses and directing Internet inquiries to the appropriate location. "Should an enterprise's DNS systems fail ... all Internet functions, including email, web access, e-commerce and extranets become unavailable," according to Infoblox.

Secondly, the belief that any version of BIND will protect name serving machines on the Internet is false, according to Infoblox. BIND version 9 is a major rewrite of the Berkeley Internet Name Domain and includes DNS security and protocol enhancements, as well as support for IPv6.

Another misconception regarding BIND is that organisations using version 9 are safe from attacks due to the Kaminsky vulnerability. Infoblox's Liu says that was untrue. "Even running the most recent version of BIND, many organisations have not taken the necessary precautions to limit access to recursion or secure zone transfers," he says.

Lastly, the belief that upgrading DNS needs to be put off until IT can gain budget approval is false. It is possible to test the system to learn of any vulnerability and upgrade the DNS server with tools available for free download. For instance, Infoblox QuickSecure Solution can be downloaded from the vendor's website.
Recursive name servers can be tested for the Kaminsky vulnerability at doxpara.com, www.dnsadvisor.com or using DNS-OARC's port testing tool. If the servers are found to be vulnerable, Infoblox suggests moving the name server to one that uses query port randomization or move to another name server that does support it.

"Even if an enterprise has gone to the trouble of patching against the Kaminsky vulnerability, there are many other aspects of configuration, like recursion and open zone transfers, that should also be secured," Liu says. "Organizations clearly need to pay more attention to configurations and deployment architectures that are leaving their DNS infrastructures vulnerable to attacks and outages."

By Denise Dubie, Network World (US)

Macworld Expo Preview

With less than a week before Macworld Expo, we gather together a roundtable of Macworld editors--Philip Michaels, Jason Snell, Jim Galbraith, Dan Moren, and yours truly--to discuss the import of a Steve-less keynote presentation and Apple's departure from this time-honored event.

Prior to that discussion I launch the first full installment of Mac 911 Takes to the Air!, an audio version of my Mac 911 tips and troubleshooting column and blog.

I conclude the podcast with a bit of musing about whether a version of iLife that simply worked beyond criticism would be enough to tempt people to upgrade.

Download Episode #139

• AAC version (20.9 MB, 43 minutes)

• MP3 version (19.7 MB, 43 minutes)

To subscribe to the Macworld Podcast via iTunes 4.9 or later, simply click here. Or you can point your favorite podcast-savvy RSS reader at: http://rss.macworld.com/macworld/weblogs/mwpodcast/

You can find previous episodes of our audio podcasts at Macworld's podcasting page.

Got any feedback on this podcast? Send me an e-mail; audio comments in the form of an AAC or MP3 file are particularly welcome. You can offer up an audio question to Mac 911 Takes to the Air! by leaving us a message at 415/520-9761. Other comments are welcome too.

Show Notes

Various Macworld editors and contributors have shoved their oar in regarding the subject of what a Macworld Expo without Apple portends. Read what Jason Snell, Rob Griffiths, Dan Moren, Scott McNulty, The Macalope, and Ted Landau have to say.

Macworld will have tons of coverage all week long from Moscone Center. A good place to find it all is our Expo topic page, where you'll see all the news, analysis, and multimedia coming out of the show. Speaking of multimedia, if you plan on being at the show, you can join our Macworld Expo 2009 Flickr group and post your photos for other Mac users to see.

Christopher Breen, Macworld.com

Microsoft: MD5 hack poses no major threats to users

In reaction to the news that security researchers have come up with a way to spoof the digital certificates that secure many Web sites, Microsoft downplayed the threat to users.

In reaction to the news that security researchers have come up with a way to spoof the digital certificates that secure many Web sites, Microsoft downplayed the threat to users.

In a security advisory, Microsoft acknowledged the disclosure earlier in the day of an exploit of long-known bugs in the MD5 hashing algorithm used to create the digital certificates that in turn provide proof of a secure connection between users and Web sites. But the software vendor minimized the danger that users could face.

"This new disclosure does not increase risk to customers significantly, as the researchers have not published the cryptographic background to the attack, and the attack is not repeatable without this information," said Microsoft. The company added that it wasn't aware of any actual attacks using the techniques described by an international team of researchers from Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the U.S.

Microsoft also noted that most of the certificate authority vendors that issue digital certificates have abandoned MD5 and upgraded to the more secure SHA-1 algorithm.

However, there are several notable exceptions that still rely on MD5, including VeriSign's RapidSSL.com certificate authorization scheme. The researchers, who presented their findings at a security conference in Berlin today, said they in fact were able to hack RapidSSL.com and produce fake digital certificates.

A more stringent class of digital certificates, dubbed Extended Validation, are always signed using SHA-1, Microsoft added. "As such, [they] are not affected by this newly reported research," the company's advisory read.

Extended Validation, or EV certificates, are supported by all current Web browsers, which display a special icon or shade the address bar when the user surfs to a site secured by one. Microsoft's own Internet Explorer, for instance, turns the entire address bar green when it encounters a site secured by an EV certificate, while Mozilla 's Firefox tints part of its address bar the same color.

Although Microsoft didn't offer any specific steps for users to take to protect themselves in light of today's disclosures, it urged them to keep Windows updated with the latest software patches.

Microsoft wasn't the only company that responded to the news about the exploit of the MD5 bug. Earlier, Mozilla also acknowledged that the MD5 algorithm could be hacked and that phony digital certificates could be created as a result.

"This is not an attack on a Mozilla product, but we are nevertheless working with affected certificate authorities to ensure that their issuing processes are updated to prevent this threat," Johnathan Nightingale, a Mozilla spokesman on security issues, wrote in an entry posted on the company's blog. Like Microsoft's advisory, Nightingale's warning also said that Mozilla hadn't seen any evidence of actual attacks.

Even so, Nightingale recommended that Firefox users remain watchful. "We advise users to exercise caution when interacting with sites that require sensitive information, particularly when using public Internet connections," he wrote.

Gregg Keizer (Computerworld (US)

Baru, Situs Internet Akan Diberi Rating Usia

Televisi sudah memasang rating usia, lalu apakah sudah waktunya situs Internet juga meletakkan hal yang sama?

Menurut tulisan Daily Telegraph, hasil wawancara dengan Menteri Kebudayaan Inggris, Andy Burnham, sudah saatnya standard baru kesusilaan harus diterapkan di dunia maya. Sudah waktunya situs atau website mencantumkan rating batasan usia, 13 tahun ke atas, 17 tahun ke atas, atau untuk semua umur. Untuk itu, Burnham berencana untuk negosiasi dengan pemerintah era Barack Obama, guna menyusun peraturan internasional mengenai situs berbahasa Inggris. Burnham menambahkan pihaknya akan meminta ISP-ISP untuk memberikan layanan yang aman bagi anak-anak. Salah satu caranya, adalah dengan memberikan rating usia di setiap situs.

"Ada content yang sebenarnya tidak boleh dilihat, bukan bermaksud untuk menentang kebebasan untuk browsing situs. Untuk itu, harus ada standard yang lebih jelas untuk dunia online. Orang tua tentunya akan bisa memahami jika mereka tahu ada standard di situs web yang dikunjungi anak-anaknya dan tahu apa saja perlindungan yang ada di dalamnya.” ungkap Burnham.

Kemungkinan besar, adanya regulasi dan sensor situs Internet, akan mengundang pro kontra dari para advocate yang lebih senang dengan kebebasan berekspresi di Internet. “Jika dilihat kembali mengenai orang-orang yang menciptakan Internet, maka sebenarnya mereka berbicara tentang menciptakan suatu ruang dimana tidak ada campur tangan dari pemerintah. Untuk itu, regulasi baru tersebut sangat tepat, terutama jika menyangkut isi, content situs yang berbahaya dan hak cipta. Selain itu, juga akan sekaligus menangani masalah pencemaran nama baik dari dunia online.” kata Burnham. Burnham menambahkan, pemerintah Inggris kini sedang mempertimbangkan untuk mengubah undang-undang pencemaran nama baik agar nantinya orang bisa mendapatkan akses murah di Internet dan mengajukan tuntutan jika dicemarkan nama baiknya secara online.

beritanet.com

Dukungan WiMax pada Produk Nokia N-Series

Nokia Corp merencanakan penambahan konektivitas WiMax tablet Internet N-series di tahun 2008.

WiMax adalah teknologi wide-area networking yang menawarkan kecepatan download lebih cepat daripada jaringan mobile 3G (third-generation) dan memiliki daya jangkau lebih luas daripada Wi-Fi. Penambahan teknologi WiMax pada tablet Internet memungkinkan user berselancar di Web lebih cepat atau melakukan panggilan jarak jauh menggunakan Skype Ltd. yang ada di luar jangkauan hot spot Wi-Fi.

Internet tablet keluaran Nokia yang baru beredar saat ini, yaitu N800, memiliki layar wide-screen beresolusi 800 x 480 pixel. Piranti ini sudah dilengkapi dengan Wi-Fi dan Bluetooth 2.0. N800 juga mendukung jaringan seluler, walaupun Bluetooth bisa digunakan juga untuk terkoneksi dengan telepon seluler.

Internet tablets Nokia, yang berjalan di atas sistem operasi Linux, akan menggunakan chipset Broad Peak WiMax dari Intel Corp. Chip yang sama juga akan digunakan pada laptop-laptop Centrino masa datang yang mendukung WiMax.

Sampai dengan kuartal kedua 2008, laptop-laptop Centrino dengan dukungan WiMax akan diproduksi oleh Asustek Computer Inc., Acer Inc., Lenovo Group Ltd., Toshiba Corp. dan Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., yang menjual laptop di bawah merek Panasonic.

Nokia mengatakan Internet tablet dengan dukungan WiMax akan diedarkan di wilayah Amerika Serikat dan bisa digunakan dengan memanfaatkan jaringan Sprint Nextel Corp. Sementara ini belum diperoleh informasi pasti apakah Nokia juga merencanakan menjual piranti WiMax di luar wilayah AS.

Sumber: IDG Berita News Service

The Ultimate Laptop to Replace a Desktop: What We Want

Danny Allen, PC World

What would the ultimate full-size laptop need to include to convince you to ditch your desktop for good? Our dual-screen laptop concept merges some of the best tech from Apple, HP, Intel, Lenovo, Toshiba, and others, along with some old-fashioned "if only" whimsy. Read on for the full parts list, and let us know what you think.

TWIN, SLIDING SCREENS: These bright, glossy-coated, OLED wide screens support hover and
HP TouchSmart PC-style multitouch input; plus full high-def. The left display slides across and closes over the right screen to pack down. Tilt and swivel adjustments are also possible. Back in the real world: Lenovo just announced its ThinkPad W700ds laptop, a desktop replacement with a 17-inch primary display, plus a 10.6-inch secondary screen.

Next: The Ultimate Ultra-Portable Laptop

So, what did we miss in our full-size laptop design? Brainstorm with us below. While you're at it, we'd love to hear your ideas for your dream lightweight laptop. That's next on our list.

Would you want it to be inexpensive like a Netbook, yet elegantly designed like a business-class ultra-portable? Would it boast a Gobi chip for wireless data (able to switch between EVDO and UMTS/HSPA); what about dual-screens like the One Laptop Per Child concept design (pictured)?

KEYBOARD AND TOUCH SCREEN: An Optimus Maximus-style keyboard (each key has programmable OLED displays; pictured) is paired with an Apple-inspired full-width, multitouch, pressure-sensitive glass screen for the touchpad, widgets, and more. The keyboard and screen can also be removed to sit on your desk or even swap positions.

INSIDE: Intel's mobile Core i7 CPUs should hit in early 2009; its next-gen "Calpella" platform is expected by year's end.

DUAL WEBCAMS: Able to support multiparty, HD-capable video chat, and optimized for low-light situations.

SPEAKERS: Harman/Kardon stereo speakers with underside subwoofer--like those found in Toshiba's Qosmio notebooks. We'd also take the SLI graphics, HDMI port and S/PDIF interface from recent Qosmio models, such as the X305.

BLU-RAY SLOT DRIVE: Able to burn BD-R and BD-RE discs at 8X;supports DVD±RW, too.

Intel Core i7 Desktops Dominate PC Charts

by:Danny Allen

Intel's new quad-core Core i7 processors were only launched in late November, but desktop systems featuring the CPUs--from the likes of Dell, Falcon Northwest, Micro Express, and others--have already made an impact on PC World's Top 10 charts.

As explained in "Getting to the Core of Intel's New Core i7 CPUs," these new processors are the company's first to be based on its long-previewed "Nehalem" architecture. The Core i7 family doesn't just mean new CPUs, they use a new chipset, a new system bus, and a new socket structure; Intel's first major technology jump since mid-2006, when Core 2 CPUs showed up on the scene.

Mainstream Desktops

Three of the six PCs to debut in our newly refreshed Top 10 Power Desktop chart boast Core i7. The Micro Express MicroFlex 92B (our Best Buy) and our fourth-ranked Dell Studio XPS use the midrange 2.93-GHz Core i7 940 CPU, which costs about $580 on its own. Though both machines are competitively priced at less than $2000 (without monitor), each returned performance results only just behind the fastest system we've seen in the category: Polywell's $3950 Poly X4800-Extreme (ranked fifth). That system's 3.2-GHz X9770 processor, 4GB of speedy DDR3-1625 RAM, and two 10,000-rpm VelociRaptor hard drives (in a RAID 0 configuration) propelled it to a WorldBench 6 result of 141. By comparison, the Micro Express (3GB of DDR3-1333 RAM) and Dell (6GB of DDR3-1066 RAM) achieved WorldBench 6 performance scores of 138 and 136, respectively. Not too shabby at all. Polywell's newer, Core i7-equipped Poly X5800i desktop currently ranks 8th on our Power Desktop chart.

Gaming Desktops

Meanwhile, the Best Buy on our new Top 5 Gaming PCs chart goes to Falcon Northwest's Mach V. Equipped with a high-end 3.2-GHz Core i7 Extreme 965 processor (about $1050 on its own) that's been overclocked to 3.8-GHz, a whopping 12GB of DDR3-1600 RAM, and two ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 graphic boards, the Mach V prevailed in almost every graphics test we threw at it. Even so, both the Xi MTower HAF-SLI and the Hardcore Computer Reactor (which rank second and fifth, respectively, on the chart) equaled the Mach V's record WorldBench 6 result of 163.

More On The Way

We're also in the midst of testing more Core i7 desktops. Reviews and benchmark results of systems from Gateway, Alienware, iBuyPower, CyberPower and AVA Direct will be featured on our Desktops Product Center over the next few weeks.

And just to keep things interesting, reports suggest that AMD's upcoming Phenom II CPUs--and desktops with them--could arrive as soon as early January. Like you, we're looking forward to see how they might compare.

source:pcworld

Martin drops porn filtering from FCC free wireless broadband plan

By Matthew Lasar
Kevin Martin, the Chair of the Federal Communications Commission, called Ars Technica today to let us know that he has revised his proposal to roll out a free (and smut-free) wireless broadband service. In an effort to corral more votes, Martin has already circulated a new version of the plan, one that removes the controversial smut filtering requirement

Why the change? "I'm saying if this is a problem for people, let's take it away," Martin said. "A lot of public interest advocates have said they would support this, but were concerned about the filter. Well, now there's an item in front of the Commissioners and it no longer has the filter. And I've already voted for it without the filter now. So it's already got one vote."

"Got anybody else?" I asked him.

"Not yet," Martin admitted with a chuckle. Then he expressed a bit of impatience with his four colleagues. "This is an item that has been pending at the Commission for several years, that the Commissioners were originally critical of not having moved forward faster," he said. "Other Commissioners said, 'We're overdue; we've got to do this.' But when an actual item is put forth where you have to make a hard decision, they say, 'Well, I'm not so sure what I want to do anymore'."

Lifeline broadband

As we have been reporting for some time, the FCC's outgoing boss has been championing a proposal to auction off a hefty chunk of the Advanced Wireless Services 3 band (2155-2180MHz) for a free service that (until now) was to come complete with smut filtering.

The license winner would be required to offer the service at a minimum 768Kpbs; it's obviously not the fastest rate in town, but it meets the FCC's new and improved definition of "basic" broadband. The provider will have to honor a Carterfone-style rule that allows any application or device to connect to the network, and the license will last for ten years, with ten-year renewal periods. The licensee must roll out coverage to half of the US population within four years and reach 95 percent of the country by the end of the first decade.

What Martin calls a "lifeline broadband service" certainly has its supporters, but it has had plenty of detractors, too, including the wireless industry, the Bush administration, key Republicans in the House of Representatives, and civil liberties advocates who have all but called the scheme government-sanctioned censorship.

But Public Knowledge, Consumers Union, and the Media Access Project, among other groups, have suggested that the basic idea, sans filtering and bolstered by stronger open access requirements, has potential. "We appreciate the potential of a new service that could provide a genuine alternative to the current wireline cable modem/DSL duopoly," they have written.

Martin wanted the FCC to vote on this issue at an Open Commission meeting scheduled for December 18 but then bowed to Congressional calls for its cancellation. The FCC is scheduled to meet via audio conference on Tuesday, but there are no agenda items attached to the event. That will be Republican Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate's last meeting.

"Tate was one of the Commissioners who I thought was most likely to be supportive of the filtering concept," said Martin. "She's been very involved in children's issues and I think that she had spoken favorably in the past of this idea of the filter for children."

The filter concept is history now. As for the revised proposal, the agency is scheduling another Open Commission meeting for January 15. That may very well be Kevin Martin's final formal FCC appearance, and we have no word yet on what dockets will come up during the meeting.

"Typically in January all the Commission does is do reports on the status of the industry," Martin said. "That's what we've done for the last few years, saying 'Here's what the Commission has been trying to achieve. Here's where we are'."

But the Commissioners could give the go-ahead to the re-smuttified free broadband plan at any time—assuming Martin gets at least two more votes for his new proposal, and gets them quick.

source:arstechnica.com

Windows 7 may add spice to CES

By Agam Shah

Microsoft is expected to shed light on its upcoming OS

Software could overshadow gadgets at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show, with Microsoft Corp. expected to shed light on its upcoming Windows 7 operating system.

The financial meltdown may also be lingering topic as tech vendors gather to flaunt products at the show in Las Vegas, hoping to show enough glitter and sparkle to bring them better fortunes in the new year. Attendees will pore over the latest technologies, including OLED (organic light-emitting diode) TVs, netbooks, smart phones, media players and other entertainment devices.

Audiences may miss the show's perennial star, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, who gave his final CES speech last January. Instead, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will kick off the event with a keynote address on Jan. 7. He's expected to give a peek at Windows 7, which many hope will be zippier and less resource-hungry than Windows Vista.

Microsoft expects to make "significant" Windows 7 announcements, including a possible release of Windows 7 beta software. A "sneak peek" at future Microsoft Office software may also be offered.

A look at Microsoft's future software could add pep to what otherwise might turn out to be a subdued show. Attendance at CES 2009 is expected to drop as consumers and technology vendors cut spending amid the economic crisis. Hotels, which in previous years were often packed months before the show, have been offering discounted rates to fill rooms.

The Consumer Electronics Association insists that preregistration has been strong and says it's too early to call it a quiet show. Organizers expect 130,000 attendees, said CEA spokeswoman Tara Dunion.

However, that would still be a significant drop from 144,000 attendees at CES 2007.

The prospect of a reduced audience hasn't fazed companies such as Intel, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Dell from showing products in or around the show. Overall, 2,700 companies will be present at various locations, including the Las Vegas Convention Center and surrounding resorts and hotels.

A standout at CES could be netbooks, small laptops used for basic applications such as Web surfing and e-mail. The category was defined by Intel Corp.'s Atom processor and then solidified by the success of Asustek Computer Inc.'s Eee PC. The show could see an evolution of netbooks, with features such as touch screens attracting interest. Asus will likely show a touch-screen netbook, and Intel plans to show off its Convertible Classmate, a netbook with a touch screen that swivels.

Via Technologies Inc.'s elusive Nano processor may also make an appearance. Rumor has it that Samsung Electronics Co. will show its NC20 laptop based on a Nano processor.

Meanwhile, some of Intel's competitors may try to redefine how people think of netbooks by pushing more advanced capabilities. Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and Nvidia Corp. may talk more about boosting graphics on netbooks. Freescale Semiconductor Inc. and Qualcomm Inc. could demonstrate netbooks with more communication-savvy chips.

Mundane laptops will also get a makeover. Expect plenty of buzz around a new Sony Vaio laptop, which the company says is "revolutionary" and will change the way users think about the products. It remains unclear if the tiny laptop is a netbook or a full-featured ultraportable. For power users, Lenovo Group Ltd. is expected to show the ThinkPad W700DS laptop with two screens -- a first in laptops -- for people who want to perform multiple tasks at the same time.

Rounding out mobility computing offerings will be smart phones with new operating systems, touch screens and 3G connectivity. Many mobile phone companies are expected to adopt Google Inc.'s Android platform, including Samsung, which may show an Android phone at CES.

Struggling smart-phone maker Palm Inc. is holding a big event to announce its new Linux-based operating system code-named Nova, along with new devices. The company hopes to use CES as a springboard to regain prominence in the smart-phone market, where it has been eclipsed by Research In Motion Ltd. and Apple Inc.

Like past CES shows, televisions will grab the imagination of visitors as vendors fight for the centerpiece of home entertainment. CES 2008 saw the emergence of OLED screens with prototypes from Sony and Samsung, and CES 2009 could see further progress. In May, Sony Corp. CEO Howard Stringer said a 27-in. OLED TV would be coming, and it could be launched at the show.

Samsung showed a 40-in. OLED high-definition TV prototype in October, and larger screens may be on tap.

Given TV's ease of use, some may prefer these devices for Internet access in the future. With that in mind, some companies are working to merge the Internet and TV. Silicon Mountain Holdings Inc. will show its Allio high-def LCD TV with a built-in PC so users can simultaneously use the TV and Internet through a split screen.

Intel will show prototype products for running mini-applications to complement TV viewing with information from the Internet. For example, widgets will allow TV watchers to talk to friends in real time or buy products advertised on TV from online stores.

The Internet also continues to shape how entertainment is delivered. Streaming media will battle Blu-ray DVD as the way to deliver entertainment and movies to end users. Having conquered HD DVD, Blu-ray still has a hurdle to pass, because most players are priced above $150, so expect prices to drop at CES.

Some kinks also need to be worked out to better stream media between entertainment devices, and expect to see some improvements at the show. Tzero Technologies Inc. will demonstrate devices for wireless HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) multimedia streaming between devices using ultrawideband (UWB) wireless technology. Tzero's technology enables uninterrupted wireless delivery of high-definition video and surround sound at a rate of 480Mbit/sec. over 60 feet, the company claims.

Users may also see progress in data transfers between PCs and devices such as digital cameras with improvements in the USB 3.0 specification.

Overall, many other gadgets will be on display to enjoy over the show's four days. CES may end up being more relaxing and intimate because its floors may be less crowded.

source:computerworld

Psychic Predictions for Tech in 2009

Wonder what the tech world has in store for us in 2009? For the fun of it we asked bona fide psychics to look into their crystal ball.

by:JR Raphael
Countless people are trying to predict what 2009 could hold for the world of technology. Of course, it's all just guesswork -- these pundits aren't working with a crystal ball. So we decided to find someone who was.

We turned to two self-proclaimed psychics to get their takes on what's ahead for some of tech's biggest newsmakers in the new year. We received readings from Silicon Valley's surname-shunning Celia and L.A.'s "psychic angel," Shaun Moore. (Miss Cleo was unavailable -- last we heard, she was selling used cars in South Florida.)

Below, we've pitted the psychics' stances against some less clairvoyant conjectures. Check out the predictions for yourself and see which seem the most sensible. You can leave a comment if you'd like, but we suspect the psychics already know what you're thinking.

On Steve Jobs

TheStreet.com's David Sterman: Jobs will give up the title of Apple CEO and remain only as chairman. He'll "realize that investors are overlooking Apple's management bench strength."

• Psychic Celia: Jobs has tough times ahead, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel. "I see that there's a big struggle, then I see very good news coming for him at the middle of the year."

• Psychic Shaun: He needs to focus more on his home life to improve his condition. "His personal life is in the toilet bowl ... and that's causing his health to suffer."

It can't be making things easy for the cleaning lady, either.

On Apple

• TheStreet.com's David Sterman: Apple's shares will fall in the beginning of '09 but rebound when the "next breakthrough device" debuts in the latter half of the year. The iPhone will also see "a range of hot-selling new uses."

• Psychic Celia: A significant shift is on the way. "I do see that the company will go a step higher. I see that there are a lot of changes coming."

• Psychic Shaun: Changes are coming, but they won't be quick. "There's someone that they're speaking to now, someone who will go in and clean things out."

Clean things out, you say? Maybe they can start with Steve's bathroom.

On Jerry Yang

The staff of The Industry Standard: Yang could take on yet another new title: chief technology officer of the United States. Jerry's popped up on some lists of possible contenders for the gig, but the Standard points out that the sources may or may not be reliable.

• Psychic Celia: The chief Yahoo-turned-CEO-turned-chief Yahoo will take on some sort of fresh role. "I see that he will be going into a new field, into a higher step next year."

• Psychic Shaun: Yang will leave the rest of the yahoos at Yahoo behind. "If I had a dollar, I would invest my dollar back into him. He's going to be on the brink of something brand spanking new that's going to be a wow factor."

Of course, it might be "wow" as in, "Wow. Good thing that guy's not in charge any more."

On Yahoo

• Computerworld's Nancy Weil: Sale, most likely to Microsoft. It could either be an acquisition of Yahoo's ad-search business by itself, or possibly a full company deal.

• Psychic Celia: Maybe a sale, but definitely an improvement. "I see that someone will step in and it's going to work out for the best. The company will get better this coming year."

• Psychic Shaun: Sale, possibly to an investor. "It's going to be sold one way or another."

Ah, sweet agreement -- three for three on a probable sale. The stars must be aligned tonight.

On Bill Gates

Curious Office Partners' Kelly Smith: The Microsoft chairman might get the government nod for the nation's first chief technology officer. "[He] understand[s] how to think about technology on a massive scale."

• Psychic Celia: Something good will happen on April 16th. "I see a lucky day and a lucky star falling for him. There's going to be a lot of joy and a lot of warmness in his heart that day."

• Psychic Shaun: Gates will start looking for new projects, which may or may not involve legumes. "He's got to spread out into other venues, and he has a couple of ideas. His tree needs to be implanted with different roots so it can prosper in different little mini-pea pods."

Is anyone else suddenly craving fresh salad?

On Windows 7

• Computerworld's Nancy Weil: Windows all the way in 2009 -- but not till late 2009. "We'll also be so bold as to predict it will be a vast improvement over Vista. ... [It] will be well-received and help Microsoft regain some of the operating system edge it lost in 2008."

• Psychic Celia: The new OS will be a hit. Don't expect to see it until the middle of the year, though.

• Psychic Shaun: Seven's the lucky number. "It should work. What they're doing is they're reinventing the seed."

Here's hoping that seed produces some nice pea pods.

On Google

ZDNet's Garett Rogers: Google's Chrome browser will grab as much as 15 percent of the browser market as it begins being preinstalled on new PCs. Google will also see solid financial gains. "The share price should close in the green for 2009."

• Psychic Celia: Google's going to grow three times bigger. "There's a company that'll get involved with Google that will make it go that much higher this year. It will be a company that advertises."

• Psychic Shaun: Google's growth is going to slow -- unless it finds the right new idea. "They need to come up and do something that's going to knock it out of the ballpark."

Just don't knock it out too far, Google gang. Bill Gates is implanting roots next door.

On Spam

SPAMfighter's Martin Thornberg: The solution's not quite in sight. "Spam's penetration of the Internet globally is still below 22 percent, so there are bound to be many new targets for spammers in 2009 and beyond."

• Psychic Celia: Get ready for lots of junk mail, but maybe some relief a couple of years down the road. "I see in 24 months, it will start changing and will slow down."

• Psychic Shaun: A new agency will pop up to oversee spam and find a solution. "We have the FDIC on the bank. We're going to have that kind of company as far as the computer's concerned."

They'll just have to be careful what they call that group. The Federal Union for Communication Control might pose problems when it comes to a logo.

Acronym issues aside, we did it -- the future's been told. Well, maybe. I'll leave that up to you to decide. If you feel like your brain needs to be cleansed with some more scientific tech predictions, skip over to this PCWorld.com page for a slightly less speculative approach.

As far as this story goes, the crystal ball showed one other strange prediction: that I would end the piece with an obvious and uninventive joke. A mildly amusing attempt at humor? Me? Oh, come on -- like they'd know. What do these people think they are, psychics or something?

source:PC World