Job cuts at games developer Zynga

24 October 2012 Last updated at 06:19 ET

Games developer Zynga has announced plans to shed 5% of its workforce.

In an email to staff, founder Mark Pincus said the company would close its Boston studio and consider closing studios in the UK and Japan.

The decision was part of an "overall cost reduction plan", Mr Pincus wrote.

Zynga is the company behind Farmville, a social-media game that at its peak attracted 82 million players a month. It bought rival company OMGPOP earlier this year for a reported $200m (£121m).

OMGPOP developed the smartphone app Draw Something!, a game industry tracker Appdata said was at one point attracting more than 13.3 million players a day.

Mr Pincus also said 13 games titles would close and there would be reduced investment in The Ville, a game launched four months ago.

The Ville was a spin-off from an earlier success for Zynga, called YoVille.

Mr Pincus thanked staff for their "amazing contribution" to the company.

"We don't take these decisions lightly," he said in the email.

"We recognise the impact to our colleagues and friends who have been on this journey with us."

Zynga specialises in games that can be accessed via social-media platforms such as Facebook and its own area, Zynga.com.

"Play is not just something people do to pass time, it's a core need for every person and culture," said Mr Pincus.

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Apple launches iPad Mini tablet

23 October 2012 Last updated at 18:47 ET

Apple has unveiled its widely-anticipated 7.9in (20.1cm) tablet, the iPad Mini.

The device, which is 7.2mm (0.3in) thick and weighs 0.68lbs (0.3kg), was announced at an event in California.

The entry wi-fi-only model, with 16GB storage, will cost £269 in the UK and be available on 2 November.

The iPad Mini will compete directly with cheaper similar-sized tablets recently launched by Google, Amazon, Samsung and others.

Apple's vice-president of marketing Phil Schiller told attendees that the device was 23% thinner and 53% lighter than the third-generation iPad, which was released in March this year.

Change of heart

The iPad Mini launch ends years of speculation that Apple was considering launching a new, smaller version of its bestselling iPad range.

In 2010, late founder Steve Jobs described 7in tablets as being "too small".

However, the company's apparent change of heart comes in the face of mounting pressure from its closest competitors, who already offer smaller - and crucially, cheaper - products.

In the UK, both Amazon's new 7in Kindle Fire HD and Google's Nexus 7 cost £159.

During the presentation, Mr Schiller stressed the importance of being able to hold the device in one hand - a nod to the more travel-friendly appeal of the smaller devices.

However, Adam Leach, principal analyst at Ovum, said he had expected the iPad Mini to be more competitively priced.

"We got a mix of a bit of new Apple and bit of old Apple in the same announcement," he told the BBC.

Continue reading the main story

Tablets, big and small, are crowding out the PC, with sales of personal computers down 8% on a year ago.

In 2010 when the iPad was launched many mocked it as a plaything - but Apple, Google and even Microsoft believe the future of their industry is tablet-shaped.

"This is new for Apple to be responding to competitors instead of pioneering their own way.

"It's old Apple as they've gone into this market with a premium pricing strategy.

"At the moment this doesn't place a lot of pressure on the Kindle Fire or the Nexus 7."

He added that the iPad Mini was an indicator that Apple might be nervous about losing its control over a market which it has dominated in recent years.

During the nineties, Apple found itself outpaced in the home computer market by Microsoft and Windows-powered computers - a period of the company's history it will be conscious to avoid repeating.

"The popularity of the Kindle e-reader and the Android smartphones made consumers aware of Amazon content and Google services," said Francisco Jeronimo, research manager at consultants IDC.

"The low price points of the Google Nexus 7 and the Amazon Kindle Fire have been attracting consumers looking for more affordable devices that also come with the content and services they already use or want."

But he added: "This new product from Apple will disrupt the market again. The iPad Mini is now the new category killer."

The other iPad Mini wi-fi-only models will have a recommended retail price of £349 for 32GB and £429 for 64GB.

The devices supporting 3G and 4G data connections would be released "a couple of weeks" later, the company said. They will be priced at £369 for 16GB, £449 for 32GB and £529 for 64GB.

'Kick in the face'

Apple also announced a lower-key upgrade for the full-sized iPad. Calling it the "fourth generation" iPad, Mr Schiller said its new A6X chip meant it had twice the CPU (central processing unit) power of the third-generation model.

Paddy Smith, online editor for Stuff.tv, said some Apple users might see the iPad upgrade as a "kick in the face" as the previous model was just seven months old.

"I think a lot of people will be upset to see a new full size iPad so soon," he told the BBC.

"For many people that represents a pretty major purchase, something you wouldn't want to do more than once a year."

Stuff.tv's Mr Smith agreed that Christmas shoppers could be hesitant.

"I think if they look at the competition and they see that the Google Nexus 7 is £100 cheaper it's going to be hard to ignore that - unless you're buying for a hardcore Apple fan."

However, IDC predicted that the new device would boost Apple's already dominant position in the tablet market.

It forecast that Apple would hold a 68% share of the market in 2012, compared to 29% for Android tablets.

Both would fall off slightly next year with the launch of Windows 8 tablets, IDC said.

The firm also announced upgrades to its Macbook Pro, iMac and Mac Mini ranges of computers.

Its new iMac machines have been made 80% thinner at the edges than previous models, Mr Schiller said.

Device	Vital information	What the experts say
Apple iPad Mini	• UK Release: 2 November • Operating system: iOS6 • Camera: Front, 1.2MP; back, 5MP • Cost: £269 • Full specification	"We'd go as far as saying it's our favourite iPad yet. The smaller size, thinner shape and lighter weight makes for a much better mobile experience. The main sticking point, however, is price." - T3
Acer Iconia Tab A110	• UK Release: 30 October • Operating system: Android Jelly Bean • Camera: 2MP • Cost: £179 • Full specification	"There are several areas where the A110 loses out to its cheaper rivals. The most obvious of its weaknesses is the screen, which is poor by any standards." -PC Pro
Amazon Kindle Fire HD	• UK Release: 25 October • Operating system: Android Ice Cream Sandwich • Camera: 1.3MP • Cost: £159 • Full specification	"It offers a simple and uncomplicated experience through and through, and is built to support the digital media it aims to sell you, with an excellent screen." -TechRadar
Google Asus Nexus 7	• UK Release: Out now • Operating system: Android Jelly Bean • Camera: 1.3MP • Cost: £159 • Full specification	"It's a well-designed, powerful, and useful product, with lots of bells and whistles that makes it feel like a device that should be more expensive than it is." -The Verge
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2	• UK Release: Out now • Operating system: Android Ice Cream Sandwich • Camera: Back, 3MP; front, VGA • Cost: £199 • Full specification	"For £200 the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is a decent tablet. It boasts a sturdy, visually pleasing design and decent battery life. The big problem, however, is that the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 isn't as good as Google's Nexus." -The Inquirer

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Chipmaker SK Hynix reports profit

23 October 2012 Last updated at 22:26 ET

SK Hynix, the world's second-largest memory chipmaker, has reported a quarterly profit, helped by cutting costs to offset a slowdown in demand for personal computers.

SK Hynix said its net profit was 2bn Korean won ($1.8m; £1.1m) for the three months to September.

That compared to a loss of 563bn won for the same period last year.

Chipmakers have had to move away from dynamic random access memory, used in PCs.

Changing tastes

It comes as consumer trends shift from personal computers to tablets and smartphones.

That has forced chipmakers to move production towards NAND flash memory chips, which are used in mobile devices.

Hynix said sales of its mobile chips and flash memory devices helped limit the impact from the downward trend in demand for PCs.

Hynix reported a better-than-expected operating loss of 15bn won, compared with a 277bn won loss a year earlier.

Samsung, also a South Korean firm, is the world's largest producer of memory chips.

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PS3 'master key' leaked online

24 October 2012 Last updated at 07:59 ET

Crucial security information about the Sony PlayStation 3 has been leaked online, making it easier for users to play pirated games on the machine.

Unlocking games consoles is a common way for users to open up the system, but in the past, such efforts have been quickly thwarted.

This hack is equivalent to stealing a master key, say experts.

It comes as Sony heard that one of the mass lawsuits brought against it in the US had been dismissed by the judge.

Access to the inner workings of a games console means people can utilise its huge computing power in novel ways.

For example, the United States Air Force has networked 1,700 PS3s to create a powerful supercomputer.

But often the unlocking - called jailbreaking - is seen as a means to allow users to play pirated games.

The hackers behind the publication of the so-called LVO decryption keys call themselves The Three Musketeers.

They say that they decided to release the information after it was leaked and fell into the hands of Chinese hackers who had planned to charge a fee for the code.

In a statement published on The Hacker News, the group said: "You can be sure that if it wouldn't have been for this leak, this key would never have seen the light of day, only the fear of our work being used to make money out of it has forced said us to release this now."

Writing about the hack, Eurogamer said: "Options Sony has in battling this leak are limited - every PS3 out there needs to be able to decrypt any firmware download package in order for the console to be updated.

"The reveal of the LVO key basically means that any system update released by Sony going forward can be decrypted with little or no effort whatsoever."

'Perfect security'

In the past efforts to jailbreak the PS3 have been countered with the release of firmware able to resecure the console.

Source close to the firm say they are not convinced that the latest hack is any more serious that past ones. An official statement from the console maker is due shortly.

In better news for Sony, a US judge has thrown out a mass lawsuit brought by users of the PlayStation Network, following a huge security breach in May 2011 which saw the user information of 69 million customers exposed.

The suit accused Sony of failing to adequately protect information and exposing users to identity theft.

Judge Battaglia from the US District Court of Southern California pointed to a clause in the user agreement which noted that "there was no such thing as perfect security" and said that the disclaimers meant there were no grounds for the lawsuits.

The plaintiffs have until 9 November to appeal against the decision.

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New swoop to block piracy sites

22 October 2012 Last updated at 19:05 ET By Dave Lee Technology reporter, BBC News

The UK's major internet service providers have been asked to block three more file-sharing websites, the BBC can reveal.

The British Phonographic Industry (BPI), which acts on behalf of rights holders, wants ISPs to prevent access to Fenopy, H33t and Kickass Torrents.

The BPI alleges that the sites are illegally distributing music.

The ISPs told the BBC they would comply with the new demand, but only if a court order is put in place.

It follows a separate court order in April which saw popular file-sharing site The Pirate Bay blocked in the UK.

The biggest ISP, BT, said it was also "currently considering" its options.

The letter, which was not intended to go public, was sent to six ISPs last week, namely BT, Sky, Virgin Media, O2, EE and TalkTalk.

It is understood that the BPI is hoping all three sites will be blocked before Christmas - far more quickly than the process has taken previously.

According to web monitoring firm Nielsen, over a million unique users from the UK visited the three websites in September.

Pirate Bay precedent

In April, the BPI was successful in getting a high court judge to order the same six ISPs to block The Pirate Bay, which was regarded as one of the most visited file-sharing websites on the web.

"Like The Pirate Bay, these websites are profiting illegally from distributing music that isn't theirs, without permission and without paying a penny to the musicians, writers and producers who created it," a spokesman for the BPI told the BBC.

"It is plain wrong. The existence of these sites damages the growth of Britain's burgeoning digital music sector."

Over the following months, all of the ISPs complied with the ruling, blocking access to the site for their customers.

With this latest request, the BPI is looking to avoid such a lengthy process. However, none of the ISPs said they were prepared to block the sites voluntarily, and would only do so if forced by the courts.

Adam Rendle, a copyright specialist with London-based law firm TaylorWessing, said it is possible that the process to block Fenopy, H33t and Kickass Torrents could be quicker than in previous cases thanks to precedents set previously.

"Whether the BPI can do that in time for Christmas is a question of the court's availability," he said.

"Two months to issue the proceedings and get a decision? It's ambitious but it's not impossible - if the court can be convinced that it should be dealt with that quickly."

Loss of traffic

Jim Killock, a campaigner with the Open Rights Group, argued that consumers' interests were not being properly represented.

"Web blocking is an extreme response," he told the BBC.

"If courts are being asked to block websites they need to be taking into consideration the rights of users and any legitimate usage of those sites.

"It isn't clear whether a conversation between a judge, ISPs and rights holders is going to sufficiently represent the needs of users."

Critics of website blocking say it is ineffective.

Days after the Pirate Bay blocking, various other services were set up allowing users to access the site through alternative means.

One ISP, which did not want to be named, revealed that despite an initial dip, illegal download traffic on its network recovered quickly within just a week of the Pirate Bay block.

However, the BPI defended the action, saying that the block had a significant effect on the amount of traffic visiting the Pirate Bay site.

This claim is backed up by Nielsen, who told the BBC that since the April court order, The Pirate Bay has lost three quarters of its visitors.

23.58 | 0 komentar | Read More

New swoop to block piracy sites

22 October 2012 Last updated at 19:05 ET By Dave Lee Technology reporter, BBC News

The UK's major internet service providers have been asked to block three more file-sharing websites, the BBC can reveal.

The British Phonographic Industry (BPI), which acts on behalf of rights holders, wants ISPs to prevent access to Fenopy, H33t and Kickass Torrents.

The BPI alleges that the sites are illegally distributing music.

The ISPs told the BBC they would comply with the new demand, but only if a court order is put in place.

It follows a separate court order in April which saw popular file-sharing site The Pirate Bay blocked in the UK.

The biggest ISP, BT, said it was also "currently considering" its options.

The letter, which was not intended to go public, was sent to six ISPs last week, namely BT, Sky, Virgin Media, O2, EE and TalkTalk.

It is understood that the BPI is hoping all three sites will be blocked before Christmas - far more quickly than the process has taken previously.

According to web monitoring firm Nielsen, over a million unique users from the UK visited the three websites in September.

Pirate Bay precedent

In April, the BPI was successful in getting a high court judge to order the same six ISPs to block The Pirate Bay, which was regarded as one of the most visited file-sharing websites on the web.

"Like The Pirate Bay, these websites are profiting illegally from distributing music that isn't theirs, without permission and without paying a penny to the musicians, writers and producers who created it," a spokesman for the BPI told the BBC.

"It is plain wrong. The existence of these sites damages the growth of Britain's burgeoning digital music sector."

Over the following months, all of the ISPs complied with the ruling, blocking access to the site for their customers.

With this latest request, the BPI is looking to avoid such a lengthy process. However, none of the ISPs said they were prepared to block the sites voluntarily, and would only do so if forced by the courts.

Adam Rendle, a copyright specialist with London-based law firm TaylorWessing, said it is possible that the process to block Fenopy, H33t and Kickass Torrents could be quicker than in previous cases thanks to precedents set previously.

"Whether the BPI can do that in time for Christmas is a question of the court's availability," he said.

"Two months to issue the proceedings and get a decision? It's ambitious but it's not impossible - if the court can be convinced that it should be dealt with that quickly."

Loss of traffic

Jim Killock, a campaigner with the Open Rights Group, argued that consumers' interests were not being properly represented.

"Web blocking is an extreme response," he told the BBC.

"If courts are being asked to block websites they need to be taking into consideration the rights of users and any legitimate usage of those sites.

"It isn't clear whether a conversation between a judge, ISPs and rights holders is going to sufficiently represent the needs of users."

Critics of website blocking say it is ineffective.

Days after the Pirate Bay blocking, various other services were set up allowing users to access the site through alternative means.

One ISP, which did not want to be named, revealed that despite an initial dip, illegal download traffic on its network recovered quickly within just a week of the Pirate Bay block.

However, the BPI defended the action, saying that the block had a significant effect on the amount of traffic visiting the Pirate Bay site.

This claim is backed up by Nielsen, who told the BBC that since the April court order, The Pirate Bay has lost three quarters of its visitors.

23.58 | 0 komentar | Read More

Facebook reports quarterly loss

23 October 2012 Last updated at 17:29 ET

Facebook has reported a loss of $59m (£37m) despite seeing third quarter revenues rise 32% compared with a year earlier.

The world's most popular online social network revealed that its income rose to $1.26bn, between July and September.

The revenues exceeded expectations, but Facebook's performance remains in the red, following a loss of $157m in the previous quarter.

Facebook's shares have lost about 50% since its stockmarket listing in May.

The company is struggling to turn its online dominance into profits.

Facebook revealed that 604 million of its 1.01 billion users access its site using a mobile device.

"People who use our mobile products are more engaged, and we believe we can increase engagement even further as we continue to introduce new products and improve our platform," claimed the chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, in a statement.

Advertising up 36%

A bright note for investors was that revenues from advertising increased 36%, between July and September, compared to the same period last year.

"Advertising revenue from mobile was the number that really stood out," said Arvind Bhatia, an analyst at Sterne, Agee & Leach.

Mobile revenue of $152.6m made up 14% of total advertising sales, which analysts said came in above their expectations.

Chief financial officer, David Ebersman, said Facebook had a "solid performance" in the third quarter.

Facebook did not provide guidance for the current quarter or beyond, a practice it has maintained since its first earnings report as a public company in late July.

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Apple launches iPad Mini tablet

23 October 2012 Last updated at 18:47 ET

Apple has unveiled its widely-anticipated 7.9in (20.1cm) tablet, the iPad Mini.

The device, which is 7.2mm (0.3in) thick and weighs 0.68lbs (0.3kg), was announced at an event in California.

The entry wi-fi-only model, with 16GB storage, will cost £269 in the UK and be available on 2 November.

The iPad Mini will compete directly with cheaper similar-sized tablets recently launched by Google, Amazon, Samsung and others.

Apple's vice-president of marketing Phil Schiller told attendees that the device was 23% thinner and 53% lighter than the third-generation iPad, which was released in March this year.

Change of heart

The iPad Mini launch ends years of speculation that Apple was considering launching a new, smaller version of its bestselling iPad range.

In 2010, late founder Steve Jobs described 7in tablets as being "too small".

However, the company's apparent change of heart comes in the face of mounting pressure from its closest competitors, who already offer smaller - and crucially, cheaper - products.

In the UK, both Amazon's new 7in Kindle Fire HD and Google's Nexus 7 cost £159.

During the presentation, Mr Schiller stressed the importance of being able to hold the device in one hand - a nod to the more travel-friendly appeal of the smaller devices.

However, Adam Leach, principal analyst at Ovum, said he had expected the iPad Mini to be more competitively priced.

"We got a mix of a bit of new Apple and bit of old Apple in the same announcement," he told the BBC.

Continue reading the main story

Tablets, big and small, are crowding out the PC, with sales of personal computers down 8% on a year ago.

In 2010 when the iPad was launched many mocked it as a plaything - but Apple, Google and even Microsoft believe the future of their industry is tablet-shaped.

"This is new for Apple to be responding to competitors instead of pioneering their own way.

"It's old Apple as they've gone into this market with a premium pricing strategy.

"At the moment this doesn't place a lot of pressure on the Kindle Fire or the Nexus 7."

He added that the iPad Mini was an indicator that Apple might be nervous about losing its control over a market which it has dominated in recent years.

During the nineties, Apple found itself outpaced in the home computer market by Microsoft and Windows-powered computers - a period of the company's history it will be conscious to avoid repeating.

"The popularity of the Kindle e-reader and the Android smartphones made consumers aware of Amazon content and Google services," said Francisco Jeronimo, research manager at consultants IDC.

"The low price points of the Google Nexus 7 and the Amazon Kindle Fire have been attracting consumers looking for more affordable devices that also come with the content and services they already use or want."

But he added: "This new product from Apple will disrupt the market again. The iPad Mini is now the new category killer."

The other iPad Mini wi-fi-only models will have a recommended retail price of £349 for 32GB and £429 for 64GB.

The devices supporting 3G and 4G data connections would be released "a couple of weeks" later, the company said. They will be priced at £369 for 16GB, £449 for 32GB and £529 for 64GB.

'Kick in the face'

Apple also announced a lower-key upgrade for the full-sized iPad. Calling it the "fourth generation" iPad, Mr Schiller said its new A6X chip meant it had twice the CPU (central processing unit) power of the third-generation model.

Paddy Smith, online editor for Stuff.tv, said some Apple users might see the iPad upgrade as a "kick in the face" as the previous model was just seven months old.

"I think a lot of people will be upset to see a new full size iPad so soon," he told the BBC.

"For many people that represents a pretty major purchase, something you wouldn't want to do more than once a year."

Stuff.tv's Mr Smith agreed that Christmas shoppers could be hesitant.

"I think if they look at the competition and they see that the Google Nexus 7 is £100 cheaper it's going to be hard to ignore that - unless you're buying for a hardcore Apple fan."

However, IDC predicted that the new device would boost Apple's already dominant position in the tablet market.

It forecast that Apple would hold a 68% share of the market in 2012, compared to 29% for Android tablets.

Both would fall off slightly next year with the launch of Windows 8 tablets, IDC said.

The firm also announced upgrades to its Macbook Pro, iMac and Mac Mini ranges of computers.

Its new iMac machines have been made 80% thinner at the edges than previous models, Mr Schiller said.

Device	Vital information	What the experts say
Apple iPad Mini	• UK Release: 2 November • Operating system: iOS6 • Camera: Front, 1.2MP; back, 5MP • Cost: £269 • Full specification	"We'd go as far as saying it's our favourite iPad yet. The smaller size, thinner shape and lighter weight makes for a much better mobile experience. The main sticking point, however, is price." - T3
Acer Iconia Tab A110	• UK Release: 30 October • Operating system: Android Jelly Bean • Camera: 2MP • Cost: £179 • Full specification	"There are several areas where the A110 loses out to its cheaper rivals. The most obvious of its weaknesses is the screen, which is poor by any standards." -PC Pro
Amazon Kindle Fire HD	• UK Release: 25 October • Operating system: Android Ice Cream Sandwich • Camera: 1.3MP • Cost: £159 • Full specification	"It offers a simple and uncomplicated experience through and through, and is built to support the digital media it aims to sell you, with an excellent screen." -TechRadar
Google Asus Nexus 7	• UK Release: Out now • Operating system: Android Jelly Bean • Camera: 1.3MP • Cost: £159 • Full specification	"It's a well-designed, powerful, and useful product, with lots of bells and whistles that makes it feel like a device that should be more expensive than it is." -The Verge
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2	• UK Release: Out now • Operating system: Android Ice Cream Sandwich • Camera: Back, 3MP; front, VGA • Cost: £199 • Full specification	"For £200 the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is a decent tablet. It boasts a sturdy, visually pleasing design and decent battery life. The big problem, however, is that the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 isn't as good as Google's Nexus." -The Inquirer

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Facebook reports quarterly loss

23 October 2012 Last updated at 17:29 ET

Facebook has reported a loss of $59m (£37m) despite seeing third quarter revenues rise 32% compared with a year earlier.

The world's most popular online social network revealed that its income rose to $1.26bn, between July and September.

The revenues exceeded expectations, but Facebook's performance remains in the red, following a loss of $157m in the previous quarter.

Facebook's shares have lost about 50% since its stockmarket listing in May.

The company is struggling to turn its online dominance into profits.

Facebook revealed that 604 million of its 1.01 billion users access its site using a mobile device.

"People who use our mobile products are more engaged, and we believe we can increase engagement even further as we continue to introduce new products and improve our platform," claimed the chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, in a statement.

Advertising up 36%

A bright note for investors was that revenues from advertising increased 36%, between July and September, compared to the same period last year.

"Advertising revenue from mobile was the number that really stood out," said Arvind Bhatia, an analyst at Sterne, Agee & Leach.

Mobile revenue of $152.6m made up 14% of total advertising sales, which analysts said came in above their expectations.

Chief financial officer, David Ebersman, said Facebook had a "solid performance" in the third quarter.

Facebook did not provide guidance for the current quarter or beyond, a practice it has maintained since its first earnings report as a public company in late July.

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Chipmaker SK Hynix reports profit

23 October 2012 Last updated at 22:26 ET

SK Hynix, the world's second-largest memory chipmaker, has reported a quarterly profit, helped by cutting costs to offset a slowdown in demand for personal computers.

SK Hynix said its net profit was 2bn Korean won ($1.8m; £1.1m) for the three months to September.

That compared to a loss of 563bn won for the same period last year.

Chipmakers have had to move away from dynamic random access memory, used in PCs.

Changing tastes

It comes as consumer trends shift from personal computers to tablets and smartphones.

That has forced chipmakers to move production towards NAND flash memory chips, which are used in mobile devices.

Hynix said sales of its mobile chips and flash memory devices helped limit the impact from the downward trend in demand for PCs.

Hynix reported a better-than-expected operating loss of 15bn won, compared with a 277bn won loss a year earlier.

Samsung, also a South Korean firm, is the world's largest producer of memory chips.

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Huawei offers access to equipment

24 October 2012 Last updated at 01:41 ET

Huawei has offered to give Australia unrestricted access to its software source code and equipment, as it looks to ease fears that it is a security threat.

Questions have been raised about the Chinese telecom firm's ties to the military, something it has denied.

Australia has previously blocked Huawei's plans to bid for work on its national broadband network.

Huawei said it needed to dispel myths and misinformation.

"Huawei has done a very poor job of communicating about ourselves and we must take full responsibility for that," said John Lord, chairman of Huawei's Australian arm.

He added that the company needed to be more open and would give the Australian authorities "complete and unrestricted access" to its software source code and equipment.

The comments were made in a speech by Mr Lord to Australia's National Press Club.

'Collaborative approach'

Continue reading the main story

It requires a collaborative approach by all to ensure we can create the most secure telecommunications environment possible"

End Quote John Lord Huawei Australia

He also recommended that Australia should set up a cyber evaluation centre to test equipment used in the country's communication networks.

Mr Lord suggested the centre be funded by various telecom equipment vendors and operated by "security-cleared Australian nationals".

Huawei said it was necessary for the manufacturers and regulators to work together to allay security fears.

Mr Lord said that a similar centre had been established in the UK and that Huawei had given British security agencies access to its source codes, allowing them to test the security credentials of its equipment.

"No single country, agency, vendor, or telco has all the answers to solving cyber security issues," Mr Lord said.

"It requires a collaborative approach by all to ensure we can create the most secure telecommunications environment possible."

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Nintendo slashes profit forecast

24 October 2012 Last updated at 05:36 ET

Japanese game giant Nintendo has cut its profit forecast for the year by a third, despite reporting much-reduced first-half losses.

The company, which makes the Wii gaming device, says it expects annual profits of 20bn yen ($250m, £158m), down by a third on its July forecast of 35bn.

The downgraded forecast comes despite figures from Nintendo showing an improvement in operating losses.

It lost 29.2bn yen in the six months to September, down from 57.3bn in 2011.

Nintendo, the creator of the Super Mario character which began making playing cards around 100 year ago, has seen sales of its gaming devices hit by the rise of smartphones.

Next month, the company is launching the Wii U, its first new games console in six years.

It is an updated version of its original Wii device, the first to use a wand-like controller that could be manipulated like sports equipment.

That launched in 2006 and has sold 100 million units.

The new device will have a touch screen, similar to a tablet computer, will have a social network and allow users to record TV programmes

It says it expects to sell 5.5 million of these by March next year.

Meanwhile growth in the smartphone market helped Korea's LG Electronics to a third-quarter profit.

The company, which is also the world's second-largest maker of televisions, reported third quarter operating profits of 221bn won ($200.3m).

This contrasts with a 32bn won loss a year ago when a 140bn won mobile loss wiped out profits made by sales of TVs and other home appliances.

However, its mobile phone business made a profit of 20.5bn won in the third quarter this year.

23.58 | 0 komentar | Read More

Huawei offers access to equipment

24 October 2012 Last updated at 01:41 ET

Huawei has offered to give Australia unrestricted access to its software source code and equipment, as it looks to ease fears that it is a security threat.

Questions have been raised about the Chinese telecom firm's ties to the military, something it has denied.

Australia has previously blocked Huawei's plans to bid for work on its national broadband network.

Huawei said it needed to dispel myths and misinformation.

"Huawei has done a very poor job of communicating about ourselves and we must take full responsibility for that," said John Lord, chairman of Huawei's Australian arm.

He added that the company needed to be more open and would give the Australian authorities "complete and unrestricted access" to its software source code and equipment.

The comments were made in a speech by Mr Lord to Australia's National Press Club.

'Collaborative approach'

Continue reading the main story

It requires a collaborative approach by all to ensure we can create the most secure telecommunications environment possible"

End Quote John Lord Huawei Australia

He also recommended that Australia should set up a cyber evaluation centre to test equipment used in the country's communication networks.

Mr Lord suggested the centre be funded by various telecom equipment vendors and operated by "security-cleared Australian nationals".

Huawei said it was necessary for the manufacturers and regulators to work together to allay security fears.

Mr Lord said that a similar centre had been established in the UK and that Huawei had given British security agencies access to its source codes, allowing them to test the security credentials of its equipment.

"No single country, agency, vendor, or telco has all the answers to solving cyber security issues," Mr Lord said.

"It requires a collaborative approach by all to ensure we can create the most secure telecommunications environment possible."

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Nintendo slashes profit forecast

24 October 2012 Last updated at 05:36 ET

Japanese game giant Nintendo has cut its profit forecast for the year by a third, despite reporting much-reduced first-half losses.

The company, which makes the Wii gaming device, says it expects annual profits of 20bn yen ($250m, £158m), down by a third on its July forecast of 35bn.

The downgraded forecast comes despite figures from Nintendo showing an improvement in operating losses.

It lost 29.2bn yen in the six months to September, down from 57.3bn in 2011.

Nintendo, the creator of the Super Mario character which began making playing cards around 100 year ago, has seen sales of its gaming devices hit by the rise of smartphones.

Next month, the company is launching the Wii U, its first new games console in six years.

It is an updated version of its original Wii device, the first to use a wand-like controller that could be manipulated like sports equipment.

That launched in 2006 and has sold 100 million units.

The new device will have a touch screen, similar to a tablet computer, will have a social network and allow users to record TV programmes

It says it expects to sell 5.5 million of these by March next year.

Meanwhile growth in the smartphone market helped Korea's LG Electronics to a third-quarter profit.

The company, which is also the world's second-largest maker of televisions, reported third quarter operating profits of 221bn won ($200.3m).

This contrasts with a 32bn won loss a year ago when a 140bn won mobile loss wiped out profits made by sales of TVs and other home appliances.

However, its mobile phone business made a profit of 20.5bn won in the third quarter this year.

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Surface tablets start shipping

24 October 2012 Last updated at 07:44 ET

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A look at Microsoft's Surface tablet

Microsoft has started shipping its first Surface tablet computers ahead of their official launch on Friday.

The firm's UK site says it has sold out of pre-orders for the 32GB version of the device, which runs the RT version of Windows 8.

It marks Microsoft's entry into the PC hardware market, posing competition to other computer manufacturers.

Early reviews of the device have been mixed, praising the hardware but criticising a lack of software.

Surface with Windows RT - to give the device its full name - runs on a chip made by Nvidia, based on the designs of British company Arm Holdings.

It is designed to be cheaper and offer longer battery life than products using x86 chips that run the full Windows 8 system.

The caveat is that Windows RT devices can only install third-party software from Microsoft's own Windows Store.

Although they do offer a traditional desktop mode, the only programs that can be run under it are Microsoft's Office 2013 suite and a limited number of the firm's other products.

Until more third-party apps are developed for the touch-interface mode, users face a significantly smaller selection of software than they would on traditional Windows devices and tablets powered by Apple's iOS or Google's Android operating systems.

Microsoft intends to launch an Intel-based version of the Surface offering the full Windows 8 system in January.

But it does appear there is demand for the Windows RT.

Although Microsoft has not disclosed sales figures, it said that pre-orders of the 32GB version of the tablet - which costs £399 - had "temporarily sold out" in the US, Canada, France, Germany and the UK within a day of going on sale.

A £559 64GB version bundled with a Touch Cover keyboard remains on offer.

Early reviews

Reviewers have given a mixed reaction to the machine.

"This is one of the most of exciting pieces of hardware I've ever used," enthused Wired's Matthew Honan. "It is extremely well-designed; meticulous even."

He praised the ability to type quickly on the machine's Type Cover - the £100 add-on that doubles as a keyboard and screen protector, offering an alternative to on-screen typing.

However, he criticised its cameras as "junk" and highlighted the lack of software.

"I missed apps like Dropbox and 1Password and Rdio," he wrote.

The Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg also commended the machine's physical aspects.

"It's a unique tablet, made of a type of magnesium with a feeling of quality and care," he wrote.

However, he criticised its battery life, and highlighted problems with the third-party apps that were available.

Continue reading the main story

24 Oct: Samsung (New York)

Will give details of US launch of Galaxy Note 2

25 Oct: Microsoft (New York)

Launch event for Windows 8 which goes on sale, alongside Surface tablets, the next day

29 Oct: Google (New York)

Android-themed event, may include new Nexus devices

29 Oct: Microsoft (San Francisco)

Launch of Windows Phone 8 operating system

30 Oct: Arm (London)

Mobile device chip designer and "partners" announce news

"Evernote took a long time to synchronise my account, and the Kindle app had to stop every few pages to fetch the next section."

The Verge's Joshua Topolsky also complained some games felt "sluggish" on the machine, however he said Microsoft's own Internet Explorer browser and Xbox Music apps showed "how playful and fresh this version of Windows can be".

But Techcrunch's Matt Burns decided that he could not recommend consumers buy the tablet in its current state, complaining that its 10.6in (26.9cm) size made it unwieldy.

"With its awkward size and incomplete operating system, the Surface fails to excel at anything particular in the way other tablets have," he wrote.

However, he said it could offer an alternative to existing low-end laptops if Microsoft could attract more software developers.

"If properly nurtured, Windows RT and the Surface RT could be something worthwhile," he said.

Competitive market

Microsoft's chief executive Steve Ballmer may unveil more apps when he hosts an event to show off the tablets alongside the various versions of Windows 8 on Thursday in New York.

The devices and software will go on sale the next day.

Microsoft will face competition from Dell, Asus, Lenovo and Samsung, who have also unveiled Windows RT devices over recent weeks.

Apple is also attempting to woo consumers with its new iPad mini and revised fourth generation full-sized iPad, and Amazon has just launched its Android-powered Kindle Fire tablet family in the UK.

Google is also expected to unveil further Android tablets built by other manufacturers at an event on Monday, adding to the Nexus 7 it has already launched alongside Asus.

"It is really hard for consumers as the portfolio of products will be huge this Christmas season," Francisco Jeronimo, mobile device researcher at consultants IDC, told the BBC.

"Microsoft is trying to promote its entire eco-system - including its own Office software and the fact it can offer integration between Windows computers, Windows Phone handsets and the Xbox games console - to gain an edge.

"But it faces a huge problem as its rivals are offering cheaper-priced devices."

Other analysts have noted, however, that Microsoft would risk angering other Windows 8 device makers were it to copy Amazon's strategy of selling its tablets at break-even prices.

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Job cuts at games developer Zynga

24 October 2012 Last updated at 06:19 ET

Games developer Zynga has announced plans to shed 5% of its workforce.

In an email to staff, founder Mark Pincus said the company would close its Boston studio and consider closing studios in the UK and Japan.

The decision was part of an "overall cost reduction plan", Mr Pincus wrote.

Zynga is the company behind Farmville, a social-media game that at its peak attracted 82 million players a month. It bought rival company OMGPOP earlier this year for a reported $200m (£121m).

OMGPOP developed the smartphone app Draw Something!, a game industry tracker Appdata said was at one point attracting more than 13.3 million players a day.

Mr Pincus also said 13 games titles would close and there would be reduced investment in The Ville, a game launched four months ago.

The Ville was a spin-off from an earlier success for Zynga, called YoVille.

Mr Pincus thanked staff for their "amazing contribution" to the company.

"We don't take these decisions lightly," he said in the email.

"We recognise the impact to our colleagues and friends who have been on this journey with us."

Zynga specialises in games that can be accessed via social-media platforms such as Facebook and its own area, Zynga.com.

"Play is not just something people do to pass time, it's a core need for every person and culture," said Mr Pincus.

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Surface tablets start shipping

24 October 2012 Last updated at 07:44 ET

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

A look at Microsoft's Surface tablet

Microsoft has started shipping its first Surface tablet computers ahead of their official launch on Friday.

The firm's UK site says it has sold out of pre-orders for the 32GB version of the device, which runs the RT version of Windows 8.

It marks Microsoft's entry into the PC hardware market, posing competition to other computer manufacturers.

Early reviews of the device have been mixed, praising the hardware but criticising a lack of software.

Surface with Windows RT - to give the device its full name - runs on a chip made by Nvidia, based on the designs of British company Arm Holdings.

It is designed to be cheaper and offer longer battery life than products using x86 chips that run the full Windows 8 system.

The caveat is that Windows RT devices can only install third-party software from Microsoft's own Windows Store.

Although they do offer a traditional desktop mode, the only programs that can be run under it are Microsoft's Office 2013 suite and a limited number of the firm's other products.

Until more third-party apps are developed for the touch-interface mode, users face a significantly smaller selection of software than they would on traditional Windows devices and tablets powered by Apple's iOS or Google's Android operating systems.

Microsoft intends to launch an Intel-based version of the Surface offering the full Windows 8 system in January.

But it does appear there is demand for the Windows RT.

Although Microsoft has not disclosed sales figures, it said that pre-orders of the 32GB version of the tablet - which costs £399 - had "temporarily sold out" in the US, Canada, France, Germany and the UK within a day of going on sale.

A £559 64GB version bundled with a Touch Cover keyboard remains on offer.

Early reviews

Reviewers have given a mixed reaction to the machine.

"This is one of the most of exciting pieces of hardware I've ever used," enthused Wired's Matthew Honan. "It is extremely well-designed; meticulous even."

He praised the ability to type quickly on the machine's Type Cover - the £100 add-on that doubles as a keyboard and screen protector, offering an alternative to on-screen typing.

However, he criticised its cameras as "junk" and highlighted the lack of software.

"I missed apps like Dropbox and 1Password and Rdio," he wrote.

The Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg also commended the machine's physical aspects.

"It's a unique tablet, made of a type of magnesium with a feeling of quality and care," he wrote.

However, he criticised its battery life, and highlighted problems with the third-party apps that were available.

Continue reading the main story

24 Oct: Samsung (New York)

Will give details of US launch of Galaxy Note 2

25 Oct: Microsoft (New York)

Launch event for Windows 8 which goes on sale, alongside Surface tablets, the next day

29 Oct: Google (New York)

Android-themed event, may include new Nexus devices

29 Oct: Microsoft (San Francisco)

Launch of Windows Phone 8 operating system

30 Oct: Arm (London)

Mobile device chip designer and "partners" announce news

"Evernote took a long time to synchronise my account, and the Kindle app had to stop every few pages to fetch the next section."

The Verge's Joshua Topolsky also complained some games felt "sluggish" on the machine, however he said Microsoft's own Internet Explorer browser and Xbox Music apps showed "how playful and fresh this version of Windows can be".

But Techcrunch's Matt Burns decided that he could not recommend consumers buy the tablet in its current state, complaining that its 10.6in (26.9cm) size made it unwieldy.

"With its awkward size and incomplete operating system, the Surface fails to excel at anything particular in the way other tablets have," he wrote.

However, he said it could offer an alternative to existing low-end laptops if Microsoft could attract more software developers.

"If properly nurtured, Windows RT and the Surface RT could be something worthwhile," he said.

Competitive market

Microsoft's chief executive Steve Ballmer may unveil more apps when he hosts an event to show off the tablets alongside the various versions of Windows 8 on Thursday in New York.

The devices and software will go on sale the next day.

Microsoft will face competition from Dell, Asus, Lenovo and Samsung, who have also unveiled Windows RT devices over recent weeks.

Apple is also attempting to woo consumers with its new iPad mini and revised fourth generation full-sized iPad, and Amazon has just launched its Android-powered Kindle Fire tablet family in the UK.

Google is also expected to unveil further Android tablets built by other manufacturers at an event on Monday, adding to the Nexus 7 it has already launched alongside Asus.

"It is really hard for consumers as the portfolio of products will be huge this Christmas season," Francisco Jeronimo, mobile device researcher at consultants IDC, told the BBC.

"Microsoft is trying to promote its entire eco-system - including its own Office software and the fact it can offer integration between Windows computers, Windows Phone handsets and the Xbox games console - to gain an edge.

"But it faces a huge problem as its rivals are offering cheaper-priced devices."

Other analysts have noted, however, that Microsoft would risk angering other Windows 8 device makers were it to copy Amazon's strategy of selling its tablets at break-even prices.

23.58 | 0 komentar | Read More

BBC to review interactive service

24 October 2012 Last updated at 09:57 ET

The BBC's online and Red Button services are to be reviewed by its governing body, the BBC Trust.

It will examine whether both services have "adapted to changes in technology, media and audience behaviour".

A public consulation has been launched and will run until 23 January 2013.

It is the first time the online service has been examined by the trust since 2008, after which its budget was increased by £52.7m.

Red Button - the BBC's interactive service accessed via digital television - was last reviewed in 2010, when the trust concluded it was "widely used" but could be affected by upcoming cost-saving measures.

BBC trustee Suzanna Taverne, who will lead the review, said: "The BBC's digital offer is constantly evolving - last time we examined BBC Online, the now firmly-established iPlayer did not even exist - so it is particularly important to review these services regularly.

"We know that what digital achieved at the Olympic Games was just the beginning, and the BBC's online and Red Button services will become even more important in future.

"I am keen for this review to ensure that these service licences are fit for purpose and give them the space to develop and innovate in order to continue meeting licence-fee payers' needs and expectations."

Red Button, which the BBC said was used by more than 20 million people each month, has recently reduced the number of live video streams for subscribers of Sky, Virgin or Freesat television services.

"We are doing this because these services rely entirely on linear broadcast technologies, which are not cost-effective for an interactive service like the Red Button," said development editor Tom Williams in a blog post.

More changes to the service were outlined in a blog post by the BBC's director of distribution, Alix Pryde.

At the time of its launch in 1999, Red Button - then known as BBC Text - was heralded as an upgrade to the BBC's existing TV text service, Ceefax, which on Tuesday ceased broadcasting after 38 years.

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PS3 'master key' leaked online

24 October 2012 Last updated at 07:59 ET

Crucial security information about the Sony PlayStation 3 has been leaked online, making it easier for users to play pirated games on the machine.

Unlocking games consoles is a common way for users to open up the system, but in the past, such efforts have been quickly thwarted.

This hack is equivalent to stealing a master key, say experts.

It comes as Sony heard that one of the mass lawsuits brought against it in the US had been dismissed by the judge.

Access to the inner workings of a games console means people can utilise its huge computing power in novel ways.

For example, the United States Air Force has networked 1,700 PS3s to create a powerful supercomputer.

But often the unlocking - called jailbreaking - is seen as a means to allow users to play pirated games.

The hackers behind the publication of the so-called LVO decryption keys call themselves The Three Musketeers.

They say that they decided to release the information after it was leaked and fell into the hands of Chinese hackers who had planned to charge a fee for the code.

In a statement published on The Hacker News, the group said: "You can be sure that if it wouldn't have been for this leak, this key would never have seen the light of day, only the fear of our work being used to make money out of it has forced said us to release this now."

Writing about the hack, Eurogamer said: "Options Sony has in battling this leak are limited - every PS3 out there needs to be able to decrypt any firmware download package in order for the console to be updated.

"The reveal of the LVO key basically means that any system update released by Sony going forward can be decrypted with little or no effort whatsoever."

'Perfect security'

In the past efforts to jailbreak the PS3 have been countered with the release of firmware able to resecure the console.

Source close to the firm say they are not convinced that the latest hack is any more serious that past ones. An official statement from the console maker is due shortly.

In better news for Sony, a US judge has thrown out a mass lawsuit brought by users of the PlayStation Network, following a huge security breach in May 2011 which saw the user information of 69 million customers exposed.

The suit accused Sony of failing to adequately protect information and exposing users to identity theft.

Judge Battaglia from the US District Court of Southern California pointed to a clause in the user agreement which noted that "there was no such thing as perfect security" and said that the disclaimers meant there were no grounds for the lawsuits.

The plaintiffs have until 9 November to appeal against the decision.

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BBC to review interactive service

24 October 2012 Last updated at 09:57 ET

The BBC's online and Red Button services are to be reviewed by its governing body, the BBC Trust.

It will examine whether both services have "adapted to changes in technology, media and audience behaviour".

A public consulation has been launched and will run until 23 January 2013.

It is the first time the online service has been examined by the trust since 2008, after which its budget was increased by £52.7m.

Red Button - the BBC's interactive service accessed via digital television - was last reviewed in 2010, when the trust concluded it was "widely used" but could be affected by upcoming cost-saving measures.

BBC trustee Suzanna Taverne, who will lead the review, said: "The BBC's digital offer is constantly evolving - last time we examined BBC Online, the now firmly-established iPlayer did not even exist - so it is particularly important to review these services regularly.

"We know that what digital achieved at the Olympic Games was just the beginning, and the BBC's online and Red Button services will become even more important in future.

"I am keen for this review to ensure that these service licences are fit for purpose and give them the space to develop and innovate in order to continue meeting licence-fee payers' needs and expectations."

Red Button, which the BBC said was used by more than 20 million people each month, has recently reduced the number of live video streams for subscribers of Sky, Virgin or Freesat television services.

"We are doing this because these services rely entirely on linear broadcast technologies, which are not cost-effective for an interactive service like the Red Button," said development editor Tom Williams in a blog post.

More changes to the service were outlined in a blog post by the BBC's director of distribution, Alix Pryde.

At the time of its launch in 1999, Red Button - then known as BBC Text - was heralded as an upgrade to the BBC's existing TV text service, Ceefax, which on Tuesday ceased broadcasting after 38 years.

23.58 | 0 komentar | Read More