Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Boot up: StartUp Britain entrepreneuer speaks out, and more

Plus attack targets newer Windows and OSX features, and Apple orders 12 petabytes of storage

A quick burst of 10 links for you to chew over, as picked by the Technology team

? Attack hijacks sensitive data using newer Windows [and Mac OSX] features >> The Register

Exploits the preference of newer versions of these OSs to use IPv6 for connecting local networks, plus a zero-configuration system: upshot is that bad guys on a network can grab your traffic.

? I think I'm having a Gene Amdahl moment >> Android Developers Blog

Android's kingpin, Andy Rubin, refers to Amdahl because in the mainframe days IBM would plant "fear, uncertainty and doubt" to worry buyers thinking of defecting.

"In fact, all of the founding members of the Open Handset Alliance agreed not to fragment Android when we first announced it in 2007. Our approach remains unchanged: there are no lock-downs or restrictions against customizing UIs. There are not, and never have been, any efforts to standardize the platform on any single chipset architecture.

"Finally, we continue to be an open source platform and will continue releasing source code when it is ready. As I write this the Android team is still hard at work to bring all the new Honeycomb features to phones. As soon as this work is completed, we'll publish the code. This temporary delay does not represent a change in strategy. We remain firmly committed to providing Android as an open source platform across many device types."

Still allows the playing of favourites, though.

? Entrepreneur featured on front page of #StartUpBritain speaks out >> Postdesk

And she doesn't have much positive to say about the experience of being part of the trimmings in the UK government's PR machine.

? Samsung to Sell Wi-Fi-Only Version of Galaxy Tab >> AllThingsD

"Samsung said on Wednesday that it will start selling a Wi-Fi-only version of its 7-inch Galaxy Tab beginning Sunday.

"The Android tablet will sell for $349, which is higher than the price many cell phone carriers are charging for their versions, though to get the lower prices, consumers have to sign up for a two-year contract."

One key question: will it be able to access the Android Market? Usually you need phone (3G) capabilities for that - Wi-Fi only means you don't qualify.

? Apple Ordered 12 petabytes (!) of Storage on Isilon's Systems >> Storage Newsletter

"Apple ordered as much as 12 petabytes of capacity from Isilon Systems, notably to manage the video download of its customers using iTunes, according to an inside source of the new division of EMC."

? The Motorola XOOM is most certainly not a flop >> BGR

"So, according to Deutsche Bank, Motorola has sold 100,000 XOOM tablets in less than a month and a half, which is an average of over 75,000 units per month. That's a flop?

"The XOOM starts at $600, which means that is is responsible for $60m in hardware sales at a bare minimum. That's a flop?"

? Android openness withering as Google withholds Honeycomb code >> Ars Technica

More-in-sorrow-than-anger analysis: "..the fact that [Google] are declining to release source code now doesn't seem like a change in direction. It's the natural evolution of a culture where openness is a marketing gimmick and not a core principle.

"What makes it all the more troubling is the extent to which Android deviates from the conventional upstream Linux stack. The insular nature of the Android userspace makes interoperability between Android and conventional mobile and desktop Linux platforms difficult and impractical. Android's Linux kernel even diverged from the official upstream Linux kernel due to different approaches to power management...

"Because Android operates its own Google-controlled fiefdom outside of the upstream stack, its growing popularity doesn't materially benefit upstream Linux. As more hardware vendors flock to Android, the growing ubiquity of Google's platform necessarily marginalizes the healthier and more inclusive environment that exists upstream."

? Change, survival and the fighting spirit in our DNA >> Nokia Conversations

Departing head of communications offers some tidbits: "You have to remember that 25 years ago, portable phones were very niche products: we'd only just launched the first model. It would be another two years until the Mobira Cityman, the first handheld mobile phone would launch. So at that point, our main businesses were wood pulp, paper, rubber and cables. Toilet paper was one of our major earners. We supplied the UK with 30% of its toilet paper needs! More in some other countries."

Imagine the corporate transformation involved in moving from that to being the world leader in mobile phones, and you have to agree that survival is a core competency in Nokia.

? UK Government Spending Data CSV Validator >> Rewired State

Neat system that looks at the CSV files output by government agencies for their helpfulness for mashups.

? Significant Error >> xkcd

This is basically our view of pretty much every "survey" that comes our way. Note the alt text, as ever.

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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2011/apr/07/1

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