Articles by Alexandra Burlacu
Google Engineer Defends Java Use in Android Lawsuit, Says Email Misinterpreted
In its copyright infringement case against Google, Oracle cited several internal emails from Google, claiming that such emails prove that Google was well aware it needed a Java license. However, in a testimony on Thursday, April 19, a Google software engineer defended his employer and said the internal memo was misinterpreted.
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Facebook-Instagram Deal: Scammers Capitalize on Hype with Fake Android App
The recent $1 billion acquisition of Instagram by Facebook and the release of an Android app have created immense hype around the Instagram photo sharing startup, and cyber scammers are reportedly looking to cash in on the app's popularity.
Apple Wants Trial in eBook Antitrust Lawsuit
Last week, the anti-trust division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) accused Apple and five publishers of conspiring to break up Amazon's low-cost dominance of the e-book market. According to Reuters, Apple now wants to go to trial to defend itself against the DOJ's allegations, an attorney for Apple said in court on Wednesday.
Greenpeace Slams Tech Bigwigs for Using 'Dirty' Clouds
In a new report entitled "How Clean is Your Cloud?" Greenpeace has accused tech companies of leaving a trail of pollution from "dirty energy" sources and failing to make clean energy a priority.
Facebook Gunning for May 17 IPO?
Several reports indicate that Facebook's much-anticipated initial public offering will hit the market on May 17, but the date still depends on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) signing off on the company's S-1 paperwork.
YouMail Abandons BlackBerry: Should You Too?
Visual voicemail company YouMail has released a new update for its BlackBerry app, adding a few new features to enhance its functionality. At the same time YouMail regretfully announced this will be the last update for BlackBerry at least for a while, due to a "steady exodus" of users, who are moving to competing mobile operating systems.
First Intel-powered Android Phone from Lava Coming 'Later This Week,' Hints CEO Otellini
The first smartphone running on Intel's Atom "Medfield" platform will launch later this week, Intel CEO Paul Otellini said.
Mobile Technology May Help You Quit Smoking: Research
Researchers at Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh have illustrated how mobile technology can support health research and maybe even help people quit smoking.
Coachella 2012: Shirtless Tupac Shakur Hologram Amazes Music Lovers
The crowd at the popular Coachella music festival was left in awe on Sunday night, when legendary "Tupac Shakur," who was murdered in 1996, appeared on stage looking freakishly real.
E3 Buzz Hits All Time High: Sony, Microsoft Announce Press Conference Times
The highly anticipated Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is less than two months away, and Sony and Microsoft have announced the dates and times of their individual press announcements. The biggest event in gaming will run from June 5 through June 7, bringing lots of exciting news and video game goodies. The day before the conference, however, is of particular importance, as that's when most of the major companies hold their press events.
Microsoft Says Windows 8 Will Come in Four Editions: What Are They?
The official name of the next version of Windows client is Windows 8, and it will be available in four versions, announced Brandon LeBlanc, Microsoft's Windows Communications Manager. The operating system will come in three primary editions: Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT, and a fourth edition, Windows Enterprise, for large enterprises who buy in bulk.
Google Knowingly Stole Java APIs, Oracle Claims at Android Trial
Oracle kicked off a high-stakes trial in a federal district court in San Francisco, Monday, claiming that Google has deliberately stolen a key piece of technology and used it to build its highly popular Android software, which now powers more than 300 million smartphones and tablets.
Google CAPTCHA Caught in Privacy Controversy with Blurred House Numbers
As part of new security checks, Google now asks users to read random property numbers snapped by its Street View cameras. The tests known as CAPTCHAs are designed to weed out "bots" by ensuring that users are human. However, it has raised privacy concerns.
Sony PlayStation Network Goes Offline Today on Account of Scheduled Maintenance
Sony performed a routine scheduled maintenance of its PlayStation Network on Monday, April 16. The maintenance lasted about 13 hours, from 6 a.m. Pacific Time to 6 p.m. Pacific Time.
Facebook, Apple, Hollywood and China Are Enemies of Open Internet: Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin
In an exclusive interview with UK's the Guardian, Google co-founder Sergey Brin warned that the principles of openness and universal access that allowed the world of Internet to emerge three decades ago are under the greatest threat ever. According to him, the open Internet is now facing very powerful forces, including the so-called "walled gardens" such as Facebook and Apple.
DARPA to Test Dual-Focus Contact Lenses that Offer Superman Vision
The Pentagon has ordered a special type of contact lenses that provide a much wide field of vision, reported the BBC. The prototype lenses also allow users to simultaneously focus on a specific image and on their environment. The lenses are reportedly designed to work with head-up display (HUD) units, i.e. glasses with images projected onto their lenses. According to the product's Web page, the field of view would be up to 120 degrees.
Sharp Hi-Res IGZO Panel Production Begins, Could Head Apple's Way
Japanese manufacturer Sharp announced on Friday, April 13, that it has begun production of its first high-resolution displays based on indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) technology. According to analysts, Sharp's new displays are a "prime candidate" for upcoming Apple products, including the greatly rumored Apple television.
Venture Fund Power: Pebble SmartWatch Raises $2 Million in KickStarter
The makers of the InPulse wristwatch accessory for BlackBerry have now launched pre-orders for the Pebble smartwatch, which works alongside a user's phone. The Canadian company's smartwatch has raised as much as $2 million worth of orders through Kickstarter, an Internet-based funding venture designed to help companies test their ideas and raise funds for their projects.
Wooden Coffee Table Doubles as Fully Functional NES Controller: Find Out How
Leather chairs with built-in speakers quickly became wildly popular with gamers, creating a cool gaming décor with awesome functionality and comfort. Now, gamers are in for an even bigger treat: the Nintendo Controller Coffee Table. And yes, the luxurious gaming furniture is as cool as it sounds.
Google Impeded FCC Probe into Street View Car Case, Fined $25000
Back in 2010, Google revealed that the cars it used to map streets were also picking up sensitive personal information from wireless home networks, and called the accidental data collection "a mistake." On Saturday, however, federal regulators said Google has "deliberately impeded and delayed" its investigation into how the tech giant used the data. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ultimately decided Google was free of legal trouble, but imposed a $25,000 fine on Google. The searc...
Splashtop Lets You Try Out Windows 8 Metro UI on iPad
Splashtop has launched a new tablet application to replicate the Windows 8 user interface on the iPad. This app comes in handy especially for developers who are working on Windows 8 apps and want to test them on a tablet, since an actual Windows 8 tablet is not available for sale yet.
Nokia Lumia 900 Data Connectivity Problem Gets Online Fix
The Nokia Lumia 900 launched on Easter Sunday, April 8, to a rather rocky start. Shortly after launch, many owners started to complain of data network connection issues with AT&T. Nokia acknowledged the problem a few days later, and has now launched a fix.
Apple Releases Flashback Malware Removal Tool: How to Download the Tool and Remove the Mac Trojan
Following the recent uproar over the epidemic of infected Macs, Apple has now released the third Java update in a week for Mac OS X. This update contains, as promised, the tool to remove the Flashback malware from infected systems. The new update does not address any new vulnerabilities the first two updates did not already patch, but it does deal with the damage and proactively reduces the security risk for Mac users.
UK School Children to Get taste of Raspberry Pi PCs Next Week
After a couple of setbacks, the first batch of the bare-bones Raspberry Pi computers, designed to help children get started with programming, is finally ready to be issued to users.
Apple FINALLY Allowed to Take on Lodsys in In-App Purchase Patent Lawsuit
After ten months of waiting, a federal judge has finally granted Apple's motion to intervene in support of iOS developers in a slew of patent suits initiated by Marshall, Texas-based patents holding company Lodsys.
Malware Discovered in Fake Angry Birds Space Android App
Android users: Beware when downloading apps from non-authorized, third-party app developers. Angry Birds: Space, the latest installment of the wildly popular mobile game by Rovio, is being used to disguise malware, warn security experts and Rovio.
DOJ Could Lose Antitrust Lawsuit Against Apple: Why?
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit on Wednesday, April 11, against Apple, arguing that the Cupertino-based company conspired with e-book publishers to raise e-book prices. According to several experts, however, the Justice Department's legal pursuit stretches the limits of antitrust law, and will likely end in defeat. In addition, Apple and publishers have several U.S. Supreme Court precedents on their side, as Cnet details.
