Facebook: a juicy Russian roulette for videogames

"A great opportunity. A big risk." So disturbing has shown David Edery, responsible for the catalog of games on Xbox Live Arcade and chairman of the consulting firm Fuzbi, regarding Facebook as new support for the publisher.

And is that on one hand, Facebook, whatever the current trend to join the group "Ladies ...", making is experiencing a new golden age (if you can call it that) in their online games. Rol, mafia, strategy, farms filled with cows, sheep and other ... In short, a host of untapped potential to the maximum that is already achieving that traditional publishing companies set their sights on this and other social networks.

That yes, Edery put on the table all the cards, good and bad, which are none other than the risk to these traditional firms introduce their products in this medium, so far explored in a very "rudimentary "with respect to traditional games and that clearly points to a profound change in the future. Are they capable of EA, Activision Blizzard 2K Games or shift to overcome obstacles in developing and marketing its products within this new "platform"?

There will undoubtedly be failures, but the truth is that Facebook, despite having a bullet in the chamber waiting for the more naive entrepreneurs will be another very important way of business for publishers, who know better than anyone that the costs should be reduce, digital distribution is still not taking off (90% of game sales are still made in physical format) and the market demand a constant evolution in concepts, media, marketing.

The Chinese players via the Internet increases to 66 million in 2009

The number of Chinese players over the Internet increased by 33 percent to reach 66 million by 2009, according to a report published in the annual conference of the games industry in China.

Revenue for the Internet gaming industry in China reached 3,700 million (2,618 million) in 2009, up 39.5 percent from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Culture recently.

In addition, at least 64 games developed by 29 national companies with revenues of 109,000 million (77,122 million euros) in foreign markets.

On the other hand, it is estimated that over the next four years the number of players increased to 123 million, with revenues of 7440 million (5,264 million).

Chinese companies have benefited by the Chinese Government's official order to prevent foreign companies entering this market or through their own entities or joint ventures (joint ventures).

China has the largest population of Internet users throughout the world, with nearly 384 million users, but also one of the countries with the network censors, according to systematically denounce human rights organizations.

Nokia will offer free navigation on mobile phones

Nokia follows in the footsteps of Google and provide free maps on their mobile phones, an initiative which aims to boost sales and prices of the phones, but will affect other firms in satellite navigation systems.

Nokia hopes free shipping strengthen its position, becoming weaker in the global market for smartphones or 'smartphones'.

The firm continues to sell more advanced phones than any of his rivals, but has lost ground to Apple and RIM.

"We help you sell smartphones," said Anssi Vanjoki, head of marketing at Nokia, told Reuters in an interview. "It will serve as a defense to the prices of our products," he added.

Google began in late 2009 to offer free navigation Droid models from Motorola in the U.S. market.

The navigation aid at 200 million Nokia smartphone is expected to hurt key players in the global navigation market, such as TomTom and Garmin.

"This has huge implications for pure software companies. It is of course a crucial time for the industry," said Michael Halbherr, vice president of location-based services at Nokia, adding that he saw sailing as a "disguised role of industry .

TomTom shares fell 13 percent on the news, and analysts said the decision would harm surely Nokia navigation software firms smaller, as Telmap and TeleNav.

Tetris for mobile downloads exceed one hundred million

The classic video game Tetris, which represents a sort of puzzle in motion, took new life by becoming the most downloaded from mobile phones.

The creator of Tetris, Alexey Pajitnov, and the firm has the rights to the game, Blue Planet Software, announced at a press conference Thursday that has been downloaded over 100 million copies of this popular entertainment.

"As mobile devices come into the hands of more people, so is Tetris," said chief executive of Blue Planet, Henk Rogers.

It was spring in the former Soviet Union, when a mathematical puzzle aficionado Moscow created a video game called "Tetris" for over 25 years.

Alexey Pajitnov When did the first sketches electronic game in June 1984, was employed in a governmental institution of artificial intelligence research.

Pajitnov made a computer program called Tetris, the player must manipulate blocks of various shapes that fall along the screen, with the aim of making them fit in rows without gaps.

The game became a success and this has continued since then, reaching 10% market share, according to Rogers.

"Tetris is so popular because it transcends cultures," said Rogers. "No violence, no ideology, the player creates order out of chaos."

Tetris was first made available for mobile phones in 2001.

Learn the ten most vulnerable in Internet passwords

A study involving the analysis of 32 million passwords on the internet, which recently had been exposed to the site after the cyber Rockyou.com identified ten electronic keys used by users more vulnerable to hacking.

The data security company Imperva analyzed the security of passwords or passwords used by users.

The aim was to identify the most common personal passwords used by consumers and administrators of internet pages, so that to avoid when using social networks or e-commerce sites.

The most common password is: 123456, but there is a list of the most vulnerable.

Among the findings of the study found that while shorter and simpler passwords or passwords are chosen by the users, they are more susceptible to basic forms of cyber attacks.

About 50% of users used names, slang, dictionary words, or trivial passwords (such as consecutive digits, adjacent keys on the keyboard of the computer, etc.).

Passwords most vulnerable

- 123456
- 12345
- 123456789
- Password
- Iloveyou
- Princess
- Rockyou
- 1234567
- 12345678
- Abc123

Hazards

Imperva's technical director, Amichai Shulman, said: "We all need to understand what that involves the combination of weak passwords or passwords in today's world of cyber machines: with minimal effort, a hacker can access a new account every second or 1,000 accounts every 17 minutes. "

"The problem has changed little over the past 20 years," said Shulman. "It is time that we take seriously the security of our electronic passwords. It is a primary and important step in the field of data security and online information," he said.

Earlier, Carole Theriault of internet security firm Sophos told the reporter the area of Technology for the BBC, Jonathan Fildes, that "access to a password I could give someone access to many things."

People must change their passwords at different websites that use "he added.

A recent report by Sophos found that about 40% of people had the same password for all websites they visited.

"People need to differentiate between having a bank account online and make a reservation online for tickets to the cinema."

New PlayStation 3 control will be released later this year

Sony Corporation announced Wednesday it decided to delay until the fourth quarter of this year the launch of its new motion-sensing control for the PlayStation 3.

The device will launch in North America, Europe, Japan and other Asian countries. Sony did not say how much it will cost.

The driver was planned for the second quarter, when Sony announced the first details in September. In the end, the company decided to wait several months until new games that accompany the launch, said spokeswoman Makiko Noda, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. in Tokyo.

"We continue to have a comprehensive range of attractive and innovative games for the move handle," he said in a statement from Sony Computer Entertainment president Kazuo Hirai. Both the company and independent developers are creating games, he added.

Sony said it will introduce software offering date to be determined.

In conjunction with the PlayStation Eye camera, the controller can detect the voices, faces and body movements of players. It also has a light area that the camera can recognize.

The announcement comes as Sony and Microsoft, which makes the Xbox 360, Nintendo looking to dethrone his chair dominant in the field of gaming.

Since Nintendo's successful Wii console launched in 2006, has managed to outperform their rivals in sales consistently. The company was the first to introduce drivers to detect the movements, which allows users to physically interact with games.

Microsoft also developed its own control, under the so-called Natal Project, "which includes a camera, depth detector, a microphone and a processor, which eliminates the need to push buttons.

Expected to be released for the sales season for next Christmas, but there is still no fixed date.

The European Commission approves acquisition by Oracle, Sun Microsystems

The European Commission (EC) has given the green light to the acquisition of U.S. computer group Sun Microsystems to Oracle, one of the world's largest manufacturers of computer software, noting that the operation would not lead significant competition in the EU.

This was announced by the EU executive said in a statement, after having conducted a thorough investigation of the proposed transaction, which began last September.

The EC then assessed whether the acquisition by Oracle, the leading database vendor proprietary, leading system management database MySQL open source, belonging to Sun, could lead to competition concerns in the European Economic Area (ESA).
'Revitalizing assets'

The EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, said in the note that Sun's acquisition by Oracle "has the potential to revitalize important assets and create new and innovative products."

Oracle is working on developing, manufacturing and distribution enterprise software, including middleware (software for databases) and software for enterprise applications and related services.

For its part, Sun, which acquired MySQL in 2008, manufactures standard-based computing infrastructure, including enterprise systems, software and storage.

The Commission notes that the database market is highly concentrated, as the three largest companies-Oracle, IBM and Microsoft, dominate 85% of the sector.
Competition

The research we conducted showed that although MySQL and Oracle compete in certain parts of the market for databases, they are not close competitors "in other, as in the high-end segment.

The investigation showed that Brussels also another database open source, PostgreSQL, is considered by many users as a "credible alternative" to MySQL, which could be expected to replace to some extent the competitive force exerted by MySQL currently on the market of databases.

Furthermore, the EC indicated that, given the "specifics" of the industry's open-source software took into account the "promises" announced last December by Oracle customers and developers of MySQL, as to the continued future releases of the database under the General Public License (open source license).

The Commission also examined the possible impact of Oracle's acquisition of intellectual property rights related to the Java programming platform.

In that sense, found that Oracle's ability to deny competitors access to important intellectual property rights would be limited by what is called the Java Community Process, established to develop and revise Java technology, which are involved many other players in the computer industry, including Oracle's competitors.

The EC's investigation also found that Oracle would have no incentive to restrain its competitors access to intellectual property rights of Java.

The two U.S. companies reached an agreement in April, which Oracle acquired by Sun Microsystems for a total of 5,700 million euros.

Online payment service PayPal eBay's success drives

The online trading company eBay Inc earnings beat forecasts on Wall Street in the quarter of year-end festivities, aided by the growth of its online payment unit PayPal and its main Internet commerce, boosting to their actions.

The global business electronic commerce and payments said Wednesday that fourth-quarter net income reached 1,400 million dollars, or $ 1.02 per share, up from the $ 367 million, or 29 cents per share, period last year.

On an adjusted basis, earnings were U.S. $ 585.8 million, or 44 cents a share, above the average analyst forecast of earnings of 40 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters I / B / E / S .

Revenue rose 16 percent to 2,370 million dollars, well above analysts' expectations.

EBay, which connects buyers with sellers on the internet, has been reviewing its important marketing division to increase transactions on its site, and recently sold its Internet telephone unit Skype, which felt it did not fit well with the company.

For the future, eBay said it expects adjusted earnings in the first quarter of 2010 are in between 1.63 and $ 1.68 per share, on revenue of 8,800 million and 9,100 million dollars.

The stock rose 2.1 percent to $ 22.70 after closing on Nasdaq at $ 22.23, down from 4.4 percent in the regular session.

The New York Times charged for access to its website in 2011

The New York Times announced Wednesday that starting next year began to charge readers for full access to its Web site, a risky decision with which they seek to get more income online without scaring away advertisers.

The potential dangers of this tactic has slowed to other newspapers. But after months of analysis, the Times announced it will use a measured, which give free access to a number of articles and charge the user for additional content.

The Times did not say how many items will be available free or how much to charge for more reading. Subscribers to the print version of the Times will continue to have free access to its Web pages.

Not the first time the newspaper has tried to charge for their online content.

In 1996, began charging for access to their Web pages but managed only about 4,000 subscribers. Another experiment called Times Select, which required a $ 50 annual subscription to read Times columnists, has attracted 221,000 customers but was eliminated in 2007 hurt sales by advertising. In general, advertisers pay more for a rush of readers.

The new approach resembles that used by the financial newspaper The Financial Times. The idea is to attract casual readers with free items while charging a fee to people who wish to deepen their reading and knowledge.

The plan will not prevent the search engines catalog the newspaper website, so that their articles will continue to receive traffic generated by search results.

The Times said in 2010 mounted a new web infrastructure to charge readers on different platforms, not only on personal computers. For example, the diary can be read using the free Apple iPhone. But the Times did not elaborate on its plans regarding wireless issues.

Skype usage has soared, but their income

Users who want to call home from abroad are increasingly using the Internet phone service Skype to the detriment of international operators, according to new data show.

"Skype is now the largest cross-border communications provider in the world, by far," said Stephan Beckert, an analyst at research firm TeleGeography.

Skype technology allows consumers to make long distance calls through fixed-line Internet practically for free.

It is mainly used in laptops, but Skype has entered the mobile market and now comes preloaded on some devices.

According to the company during the past 25 years, the volume of international calls has grown at a compound annual rate of 15%. In the past two years, however, this growth has fallen to only 8%, growing from 376,000 million minutes in 2008 to estimated 406,000 minutes last year.

In comparison, the traffic between Skype users grew 51% in 2008 and is projected to grow by 63% in 2009 to 54,000 million minutes. "The volume of traffic over Skype is tremendous," said Beckert.
Slowdown

In general, TeleGeography says, "demand for international voice has been great, but is clearly not impervious to recession."

Established in 2003 and headquartered in Luxembourg, the privately held company has more than 520 million registered users who use the service free voice, video or text via the Internet.

But despite their size, their income is relatively modest-about $ 551 million in 2008 - because the company has had difficulties at the moment to make their users pay for their free services for the most part.

Skype wants to nearly double their annual income to 1,000 million dollars in two years.

Chinese video portal launched a system to identify the copyright

The video portal Youku (youku.com), one of the most popular in China, will launch a management tool to identify the copyright, which will be the first of its kind in China, today reported on its Web site web.

"Youku is increasing content acquisition and cooperation with partners abroad, so it is increasing the need for a strict copyright control with latest technology," announced on its Web site web.

Furthermore, with the launch of the new system, Youku will dramatically improve the ability to identify and prevent the rise of video content by consumers. "

Youku said that this year will embark on an unprecedented acquisition of content, and plans to invest in research and development, and improve speed to enhance user navigation.

The website added that the introduction of this pioneering system of identification of copyright to try to lead the industry toward legitimate content, and serve as an important safeguard for the Internet video sector.

As noted Yao Jian, manager Youku technology, "proof of the identification system of copyright is already underway for the European and U.S. media rights. After this initial phase of operations, we continue to improve and refine the system to be efficient and convenient to use.

China has the largest Internet user population in the world, with nearly 384 million users, but also one of the countries with the network censors, according to systematically denounce human rights organizations.

Google will investigate whether its employees are hackers infiltrated

Google is investigating whether one or more employees may have helped facilitate a cyber attack of the U.S. search giant said to be a victim in the middle of December, two sources told Reuters on Monday.

Google, the most popular search engine in the world, said last week it was considering withdrawing from the world's largest market of Internet with claims that had been the victim of a cyberattack "sophisticated" in its network that resulted in the theft of his intellectual property.

The sources, who are familiar with the situation told Reuters that the attack which was aimed at people with access to specific parts of Google's services could have been provided by employees in the office of Google China.

"Do not comment on rumors and speculation. This is an ongoing investigation, and we simply can not discuss details," said a Google spokesman.

Security analysts told Reuters that the "malware" used in the attack on Google was a modification of a trojan called Hydraq. A Trojan is a malicious program that, once inside the computer, allows someone unauthorized access.

The sophistication of the attack was in the knowledge of who was attacked, not the program itself, analysts said.

Local media, citing unnamed sources, reported that some Google employees were denied access to China domestic services after 13 January, while some staff were sacked and others transferred to different offices in Google's operations in Asia. Google declined comment.

Japan test earthquake warning system via SMS

"Alert earthquake: An earthquake was detected in the northwestern region. Be prepared for very strong shocks" thanks to technology developed in Japan, mobile phones can warn people and help organize aid.

This "early warning device" developed by the Japanese Meteorological Agency has yet to be perfected "a message sent on 25 August 2009 at 06H37 to mobiles of thousands of people in eastern Japan was a false alarm, but the system is unique in the world.

Such warnings were once reserved for institutions, nuclear power and railway companies. Since October 2007, are sent to phones, are broadcast by the media and broadcast over loudspeakers in public places in Japan.

The alert may also resonate in every home, thanks to specific appliances offered by electronics manufacturers, security companies or managers of buildings.

The result of years of research, the system proposed by the Meteorological Agency to detect early signs of an earthquake and instantly assess their destructive potential.

The device plays with the differences in speed of propagation of different waves emitted by an earthquake. Thanks to the speed of telecommunications networks, early warning can be given just before they hit the waves more deadly.

Experts estimate that the number of victims of the earthquakes could be reduced by 90% if people available for only ten seconds off the gas, cover under a table, open the door, etc..

Only major earthquake alerts are communicated to the general public to avoid panic in a country where small earthquakes are extremely common and effective earthquake-resistant techniques.

When tragedy occurs, the Japanese rely on telecommunications to reduce its severity, by tracking devices of the damage and casualties as conceived by NTT Comware.

This portable device that includes a computer, a projector and a stylus in addition to mapping software linked to a database, is aimed at local authorities.

Allows record events in real time, quickly, easily and immediately transmitted to crisis management centers.

"The operator has only to select a small image (fire, landslide, tsunami, etc.). In a paddle with the stylus and bring to a map projected on a table," Katsuki said Aki, NTT Comware.

"Instantly, you get a view of the situation can escalate, filter the display, assessing risks around measure distances, display the number of people potentially affected and different indication necessary for organizing assistance," explains.

The data located and dated, including photos and videos can also be brought directly to the ground from surveillance cameras, fire detectors, gas sensors and other equipment, or be aimed at rescuers equipped with mobile phones equipped with a module satellite tracking (GPS).

Computerized, the data dictionary is available immediately from more distant places.

The 47 prefectures are to be equipped with this device in the perspective of an earthquake of great magnitude greater than 7, which is highly likely to occur in coming decades in several regions, including Tokyo.

China adds 384 million Internet users, 29% more than in 2008

China has 384 million Internet users after in 2009 another 86 million people were connected to the network, representing an increase of 28.9 percent, according to Tuesday's official newspaper China Daily.

The Information Center of the Internet in China released the official data of the balance of the year in which they emphasize the increase in internet connection through mobile phones.

Thus, about 233 million people already connecting to the network through their mobile terminals due to business expansion of mobile telephony of third generation (3G).

The figure nearly doubled compared to 2008 when there were only 120 million people who used the phone to access the network.

The Chinese agency also wanted to emphasize the internet penetration in rural areas of the country, from which in 2009 logged more than 106 million people, 26 percent more than in the previous year.

China is the country with the largest number of netizens in the world and further expands the gap with the United States, second placed with 227 million users.

However, Internet penetration is low in China, only 30 percent of the total population, which lies above 1,300 million.

The increase of Internet users around the country also had a significant impact on Internet commerce in the Asian giant, whose revenue reached 250,000 million yuan (36,600 million, 25,500 million).

Absolved from fraud site creator music files

The creator of a website accused of being one of the world's largest sources of illegal downloading was acquitted by a British court on Friday.

Oink Alan Ellis created a site that is reserved for its members to exchange music files.

The site had about 200,000 members when police raided the house of Ellis in Middlesbrough, northern England, in October 2007. Authorities said they had closed a major source of illegal downloading.

Ellis, a computer engineer for 26 years, said he created the site to improve their cyber skills, without any intention of defrauding the copyright holders. The site did not include music, but indexes files that other users wanted to share.

The jury at Teesside court acquitted him of conspiracy to commit fraud.

German Government recommends not using Internet Explorer

The German government recommends that Internet users seeking an alternative to Internet Explorer browser (IE), Microsoft, to ensure their safety.

The warning by the Federal Office for Information Security Germanic comes after Microsoft acknowledged that the security of your browser failed in the recent attacks on Google's systems.

The company rejected the advice of the Office, saying the risk to its users was low and that improving the security settings in Explorer would solve the problems.

However, German authorities said even that would make IE completely safe for navigation.

Thomas Baumgaertner, a spokesman for Microsoft in Germany, said that attacks on Google were carried out by "highly motivated, with some very specific purposes.

"There were no attacks against ordinary users or customers" of the firm, said. "There are no threats to them, so we do not support this recommendation," he said.

For his part, Graham Cluley, a spokesman for antivirus firm Sophos, told the BBC that the German government's notice referred to versions 6, 7 and 8 of the browser. He added, have appeared on the Internet explaining how to exploit vulnerabilities in IE.

Awaiting update

Microsoft tends to release a security update each month. The next is scheduled for Feb. 9. However, a company spokesman told the BBC that the experts are trying to fix problems quickly.

"We are working on an update, which could lead to (launch) a security update out of that cycle" monthly, he said.

However, this is not an easy task. The company not only have to fix those problems, you must also make sure not to create more vulnerabilities, and that arrangement works on all computers. This challenge is compounded considering that should fix three different versions of its browser technology specialist said the BBC's Daniel Emery.

"Something that should be borne in mind is that each browser has its own security problems and fix a problem that could expose users to another," said Cluley, of Shop.

Microsoft acknowledged that all versions of IE are affected by a security breach, but clarified that the risk is lower in recent editions.

U.S. Court decides whether sexting is porn or free speech

Three federal judges understood in the first criminal case of "sexting" arriving at a U.S. appeals court in a dispute over images of three teenage girls sent by cell phone.

Justices will decide if you can accuse the girls of child pornography.

The Union American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU for its acronym in English) says the photos are harmless, and anyway the girls are victims.

Defense attorneys have argued that girls did not distribute the photos, which show two of them, aged 12, in sports bras and a 16 years showing her breasts.

Wyoming County prosecutors say the images are dangerous because they could reach the hands of sexual abusers.

Ordered 16 public school students attend classes in "reeducation", otherwise they would be judged. Three families appealed the order.

Some developments in organic gadgets

The electronic environmental concerns, or so-called "green" technology, was one of the main trends exhibited in the latest edition of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which occurred last week in Las Vegas, USA. The event, considered one of the most important sector, assembled from keyboards made of bamboo, mobile phone chargers based on human energy and battery chargers that work with the energy of wind and sun.


Keyboard, mouse and headphones of wood:

The Impeccable presented at CES its line of keyboards, mice and headset made of bamboo. In the opinion of the site TreeHugger, wooden objects totally innovate the experience of using computers, leading people to take better care of the product and increase their durability. The launch date has not yet reached the market, but the keyboard and mouse set will cost about $ 80.

Battery Charger:
The launch of the Easy Energy promises to load the phone with the power user. According to the company, one minute stretching Yogen rope is enough to charge a mobile. The string produces a steady flow of power to five watts for mobile devices. Many technology sites include the smooth operation of the charger, which innovates in relation to similar existing market share in the crank on the rope. The product costs about $ 40 and can be purchased directly from the website of the company.

Battery charger:
The battery charger takes the MiniWiz two different sources of renewable energy: wind and sun. The portable charger recharges two AA batteries, has the option of plugging into the outlet and recharge USB cable saw products. The product already existed in the version with only wind and novelty, which combines the two forms of energy, was filed last week in Las Vegas. The HYmini is available online only to U.S. customers for $ 50 on the web http://www.miniwiz.con.

Video projector:
The launch of the Casio is the first video projector in the world that promises to keep video quality, even in light rooms, without using mercury lamps. The line "Green Slim" has nine models of projectors, portable sizes that use laser and LED technology. The models initially reach only the Japanese market on January 29, priced from U.S. $ 1.6 billion and U.S. $ 3.5 mil.

Charger for iPod and iPhone:
The Regen launched a charger for iPhone and iPod-based solar power. The Engadget points out the practicality of the product, which can be connected via USB devices and also offers the ability to upload directly into the jack. The website of the company already offers the product for $ 199.

Wireless Power Meter:
The Oregon Scientific meter promises to help consumers to maintain control of how much energy they are using and what devices are being loaded. The Wireless Manager Appliance uses remote sensors to measure energy consumption, cost and carbon emissions to up to four different devices in real time. A timer can be used as a wireless control panel to turn off lights and electronics. The device will be launched the coming months and should cost about $ 60.

Microsoft Chief Executive said that China will not

Microsoft had no plans to withdraw from China, said its chief executive, minimizing concerns about the recent Internet attacks and censorship raised its rival Google.

"There are attacks every day. Do not think it's something unusual, so I do not understand," said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, after a meeting on the modernization of government services in the White House.

"We are attacked every day from around the world and I think the rest as well. We see nothing unusual," he added.

Google on Tuesday threatened to withdraw from China, the world's largest Internet market by users, claiming censorship and attacks on Internet mail accounts in the U.S. of human rights activists.

Google said that 20 other large companies had been targeted by cyber attacks originating in China, but Microsoft said there is no evidence that any of their email services or corporate networks have been targeted specifically.

Asked whether Microsoft was planning to withdraw their business in China, Ballmer replied: "No."

"I do not understand how that can help with anything. I do not understand how we help and do not understand how to help China," said Ballmer.

Google requires China to move tab in Internet censorship

Google's threat to abandon its activities in China if not censorship has softened in trouble to the Chinese regime, which still keeps a tight control of content despite the growing unease of the Chinese Internet.

"I want to emphasize that China's Internet is open and that the Government encourages the development and implementation of the network and makes efforts to create an environment for it flattering," said the spokesman of Foreign Ministry, Jiang Yu , who turned to throw balls away when asked about the havoc caused giant.

"I also want to emphasize that China welcomes international Internet companies that do business in China in accordance with the law," he replied.

Chinese law is the same as that Google landed in 2000 in the Asian giant, although it was not until 2005 when he received a license to open google.cn, the local version that is now threatening to close.

Beijing's approval came just after U.S. giant, world-dominating search engines, putting your eyes in China, the world's largest potential market for almost a decade.

With the ambition of reaching over 360 million Internet users officially sailing from China, the California company bowed to Beijing's orders to limit links to topics considered "sensitive", among which include human rights, dissent, Tibet, Xinjiang and the events in Tiananmen Square in 1989.

This limitation in search engines, which also apply local engines like Baidu (over 60 percent market share in China), is one of the main tools of the "Great Wall" of the Internet, a complex system of control Live Internet developed by the Chinese regime.

According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), one of the most belligerent organizations with Chinese censors practices, in 2009 the only content protection campaign ended with more than 5,000 people arrested and blocking almost 10,000 websites.

"We can only welcome the courage of Google executives. At last a foreign internet company has accepted its responsibilities towards the Chinese Internet and stands against the authorities," RSF said in a statement.

The case raised a storm widespread among Chinese netizens, who are torn between nationalistic pride critical of Google, whom they accuse of being the figurehead of American influence-to the request to the authorities for a more flexible posture to avoid isolation the rest of the world.

"This is Google pulling out of China, China is retreating from the rest of the world," China presents an anonymous blogger, under the initials CXZJ.

"The decision (to Google) is torn between justice and money," says Liuye Daomei, another blogger in Hexun Chinese portal, which also warns that a hypothetical withdrawal of signature technology could be the fuse for igniting the conflict between Washington and Beijing.

Indeed, the alignment of the Obama administration, the words of its Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton and the solidarity of other companies such as Yahoo! with U.S. firm could only increase suspicions in China.

However, experts do not consider at all the havoc caused by misleading the firm founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin to the Chinese authorities.

"Google has been in a difficult situation in China has long been betraying his philosophy and although it has generated benefits have not been as many as potentially could be expected," summarizes Efe Mark Natkin, director of technology consulting Marbridge Consulting, based in Beijing.

In addition to financial results, Google has seen it fall, victims of the blockade, his bets like Youtube or Finder imagesearch photographs.

"I can not imagine a scenario in which the Chinese Government reconsider its position on the internet, but I can imagine one where Google leaves China," concludes Natkin, who bet that the withdrawal form local staff in China-some 700 employees-and is limited to maintain the international version of your page.

For now, Google headquarters in Beijing morning with dozens of flowers left by the Internet around the logo in solidarity with the request the lifting of censorship, though, depending on the government's decision also could become a posthumous farewell sign to the wanderings of the company in China.

Software piracy stepped on the territory of politics

Software piracy is still kind of teenage vandalism or crime of fraud, but more computer attacks are backed by a State or politically motivated, say the experts.

The recent acts of piracy against Google and others, attributed to hackers based in China, raised new questions about the role of governments in such operations.

Google threatened to pull out of China after the attack "very sophisticated" directed against Chinese human rights activists. The Internet giant firm said it had "proof that the main objective was the same internet access Gmail accounts" of those activists.

"Typically, the computer offender is violating the intellectual property, obtain financial information or money. This may not seem so," says Paul Craig, a consultant to the New Zealand Security-Assessment.com signature.

In his opinion, "this raises the possibility of an attack orchestrated by a government against individuals."

Politically motivated hackers were released in the past in attacking the portal to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shinto shrine where war criminals are honored Japanese.

Google does not openly accused the Chinese government's attack she suffered. "It is difficult to prove that an event is linked to a state-orchestrated piracy," he explains on his blog Chester Wisniewski, director of computer security firm Sophos.

However, "Google believes that you have evidence that this is the case, otherwise there would be publicly announced such an attack," he said.

Other experts, however, that the attack on Google might not have true political motivations.

"In general, Internet users in China are young, many even teenagers, and they can organize attacks which often puerile reasons," said Masaki Ishiguro, Mitsubishi Research Institute.

"The policy or freedom of expression can sometimes be just an excuse for young pirates", he estimates.

Either way, one thing is certain: the hackers are becoming more sophisticated. Last July, the United States, the gates of the White House, State Department and Pentagon were targeted in coordinated attacks that also affected South Korean sites.

Seoul then accused North Korea.

"Cyber attacks are now a large scale, and are organized in ever more minute," said Judy Wu, a researcher at consulting firm IDC Asia Pacific in Hong Kong.

She said, "many computer attacks are clearly supported by States and white are both large companies competing countries and their state institutions or its armed forces.

The technology security company McAfee also noted in 2009, in a virtual crime reports, that many acts of piracy and infiltration of networks States seemed to have at home, and point to policy objectives.

"We have not seen an open information warfare between great powers, but the efforts of states to acquire sophisticated cyber attack capabilities, and in some cases proven willingness to use them, let me think that perhaps has already started a 'cyber cold ' "says the document.

Telephones and computers becoming smaller at CES

Telephones increasingly powerful, ever-smaller computers and next-generation electronic books: specialists expect Hall of Electronic Products (CES) in Las Vegas devices that combine Internet access and easy to load.

The star of the annual event, taking place between Thursday and Sunday will be the first multifunction phone from Google, the "Nexus One" program based on Android, according to analyst Rob Enderle. The device will be presented, however, two days before the opening of the hall in the company headquarters in California.

"All eyes are on the Nexus One" says the analyst of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley.

"What else, of course, are pocket computers based on the Android program (the system developed by Google for mobile phones), which will debut at CES," says Enderle.

Dell's U.S. and Taiwan's HTC, which already makes several phones with Android, are waiting in this new area of literacy screens connected to the Internet.

The Indian Notion is also expected with high expectations, because of its new e-book device that promises to color screens equipped.

As for Apple, which once again will be absent from Las Vegas, will wait until later this month to present perhaps his own pocket computer, after evaluating the reception they receive the equipment from its competitors.

Such devices could end by erasing the boundary between the books, whose market is booming, and computers.

However, Enderle said he was convinced there would be "a marked contrast between the handheld computers and electronic books.

With respect to traditional computers, computer companies, whose sales in the last two years were held by those of "netbooks" and low-cost laptops, will present even more manageable devices, known as "SmartBooks (intelligent books) .

Among other trends identified by specialists, not least is the development of diffusion in 3D after confirming his success in film with the movie "Avatar" from James Cameron's 3D format could definitely land, according to Enderle. There are persistent rumors that promise 3D devices Samsung and LG.

Like every year, will be the software giant Microsoft, with its CEO, Steve Ballmer, who gives the kick-off the hall on Wednesday night.

Following the success of its new operating system Windows 7, the Redmond group announced progress on its project "Natal", a visual recognition system that allows voice commands to play without its XBox games console.

Although the ESC expects fewer exhibiting companies (2,500) due to the global economic crisis, including a record of 330 will be new to be submitted more than 20,000 news, from more efficient cables up whopping games.

"Finally," says Enderle, "we expect the hard landing WiMax" in Las Vegas, as this wireless internet access at a yield higher than the wireless, continues its slow expansion.

Lenovo introduced the ThinkPad design with AMD chips

China's Lenovo Group, the fourth largest maker of personal computers worldwide, will present a new design for the classic line of ThinkPad notebooks, which includes microprocessor company Advanced Micro Devices in the aircraft for the first time.

The new series of ThinkPad, with a more sleek design, a more simplified keyboard keys slightly larger, will come in three screen sizes and three colors, and with a starting price of $ 549 (381.97 euros) in the U.S..

This line of computers is intended for small and medium business enterprises, which tend to focus on design and aesthetics, said Charles Sune, segment manager for ThinkPad.

The announcement was made prior to the annual fair of the Consumer Electronics Show being held this week in Las Vegas.

The distribution of personal computers Lenovo rose 18 percent year on year in the period July to September, according to industry analyst IDC. The company said revenue for the same period fell 5 percent to $ 4.1 trillion (2,850 billion).

Introduced in 1992 by IBM, ThinkPad computers were seen as a forerunner in the design of portable, more than 30 million units have been sold ThinkPad. Big Blue sold its PC division to Lenovo in 2005.

The inclusion of AMD chips to allow Lenovo ThinkPad family to offer lower prices, the company said.

The operating ThinkPads with Intel chips will still be sold.

The computer maker is also taking a new initial ThinkPad commercial customers by Sune "fill the space between the 'netbooks' and the portable" and displays a full-size keyboard.

Debut HD tv glasses incorporated

Glasses embedded with a TV of 50 or 80 inches, to enjoy high definition in a purely personal and private, have just been submitted to the European market.

See iTVGoggles glasses.

These are iTVGoggles, which come in two sizes depending on model. They feature an integrated LCD screen and can also enjoy 3D movies.

The lenses come with stereo sound through headphones, a protective environment that does not bother to light and a battery that allows a range of 4 to 5 hours.

Also come with adapters to stream video from almost any device, including DVD players or Blu-ray, games consoles, portable media players (iPod included) and even cell phones with video output.

Estpan prices between $ 180 and $ 310 depending on model.

Amazon already sells more digital books printed


For the first time in its history, the retail giant on the Internet, Amazon.com has sold more electronic books for its Kindle device 'e-books' than traditional printed books, as indicated on Tuesday the company on its website.

The sales record was recorded last Friday, at Christmas, when those who had received a present of a Kindle e-book-reader-is loguearon the Amazon site to load with reading rate.

Amazon Kindle said that was the biggest seller in the history of the company, but gave no figures for sales of the device or the e-books market.

The company added that its busiest day was two weeks ago, on 14 December when customers bought 9.5 million products worldwide, equivalent to 110 items per second.

China arrested 5,400 people for Internet pornography in 2009

The Chinese authorities detained during the year just ended in 5400 amid a suspected operation to combat Internet pornography, and have vowed to strengthen supervision over the network.

Surveillance of Beijing on cyberspace and its attempts to block certain Internet sites are already among the most stringent in the world. On Friday morning, in a statement, the Ministry of Public Security reported that the "cleansing of the internet" and combating crimes closely connected with it the government's stability.

"Lewd and pornographic content seriously pollutes the online environment, social and moral degenerates poisons the physical and psychological health of the masses of youth," the statement said. "This must be firmly controlled.

The ministry said that nearly 9,000 pornographic Web sites have been deleted from the internet and that 5394 suspects were captured in 2009, but did not say how many of them were indicted.

He added that future efforts will focus on Chinese operators of sites registered abroad, as well as companies providing Internet services or engaged in registering addresses or rent virtual space that pages with pornographic content. The ministry also offered rewards to people who provide information useful for the surveillance measures.

The communist government says that the main targets of censorship on the Web are pornography, gambling and other sites deemed harmful to society. However, critics point out that such arguments tend to mask the steps to detect and block content from political dissent.

Many foreign sites have been blocked by Chinese authorities, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and other pages, mostly of a news story.

Last year, China backed down, after it said it would require that new computers have a controversial program to filter Internet content. There was criticism of Chinese and computer manufacturers.

This filter had been announced as a system to combat pornography.

The technology is less advanced than many expected

Despite the iPods, the genetic sequence, internet and Twitter, nearly a third of Americans said they thought there would be more technological advances in 2010.

Not everyone hoped to live like the Jetsons, the television cartoon 1960s, but the Zogby International poll of 3,000 adults in the United States showed that many are less enthusiastic about how far we've come at the dawn of a new decade.

"The age group is more disappointed with the current level of technological advancement is the 35 to 54 year olds (36 percent)," said Zogby, who conducted the survey commissioned by the ScoopDaily website.

About 21 percent of people believe they are more technologically advanced than we thought it would be in 2010, while 37 percent believe that we live up to their expectations.

About a third of people over age 70 said they thought that current technology is more advanced than they thought they would.

"The youngest respondents, 18-30 years, are much less than older generations say that technological advances have far exceeded their expectations," said Zogby.

Not surprisingly, men are more likely than women to say that they thought would have more technological advances in 2010 in the style of The Jetsons with flying cars and robot servants.

Koreans make early projections with 4D technology

In cinemas of South Korea was held this weekend the first screenings in 4D format. With technology developed by Daewoo public was this experience that goes beyond 3D, incorporating sensors that allow what is projected to live with physical sensations.

The interactive projection system is a computer that adjusts the brain impulses of the spectators, which are collected by sensors fitted to the famous pin for 3D glasses.

In this way, you can get faster times of slower and more monotonous those occurring more a feeling of greater speed to pass by, among other things.

Also, environmental simulators are being developed which reflect the room's environmental conditions on-screen scenarios. Thus, in an office may receive the air conditioning while in a park is able to breathe more fresh air and light similar to sunlight.