By Michael Santo
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews

Thursday Intel confirmed the information in my November 19th post here at RealTechNews. They are scrapping their 37-year-old logo as part of a major rebranding effort (the new logo is pictured above). The phrase “Leap Ahead” will replace “Intel Inside”. And, as noted in the earlier article, Intel announced that its next-generation processors for mobile computers will be called “Core”. Processors with a single core will be known as “Core Solo,” while chips with dual cores will be called “Core Duo.”

We Say: Intel said CEO Paul Otellini will unveil details of the campaign during the Consumer Electronics Show next week. We were right on target with this story, so keep reading RealTechNews for updates on this and other stories as CES unfolds.

By Michael Santo
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews

In a story reminiscent of one I posted a few days ago, where South Korea was going to start sending indictments via text messaging, following a successful trial in Staffordshire, central England, British courts are looking to text message or email people who don’t pay fines, miss court dates, or skip community service.

Under plans outlined by the government Thursday, magistrates courts in England and Wales are to look at sending messages by text or email to fine evaders and those who fail to show up to court or for community service.

The messages warn those that don’t comply with their court orders that they could face further action.

“Everybody’s got a mobile phone and as one of the most common ways to keep in touch these days, it makes sense for the courts to contact offenders that way too,” Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman said. Source: Reuters

We Say: Neither of my in-laws has a cell phone (go figure; they are the only people I know that don’t have cells); perhaps are on the right track?

By Michael Santo
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews

Yesterday F-Secure and Sunbelt reported a new in-the-wild exploit thattakes advantage of a vulnerability in the WMF (Windows Metafile) graphics rendering engine to automatically download and install malware. As I said, that was just yesterday, and Websense Security Systems is already tracking thousands of sites distributing the code.

Microsoft has posted a security advisory on its site, and has promised to patch the flaw … but gave no timetable.

“Upon completion of [our] investigation, Microsoft will take the appropriate action to help protect our customers,” the advisory stated. “This will include providing a security update through our monthly release process or providing an out-of-cycle security update, depending on customer needs.”

Microsoft rarely goes out-of-cycle to patch a vulnerability — it’s done so only three times since it began a once-a-month patch release schedule in October, 2003; the last time was over a year ago — and didn’t patch early in December when another zero-day bug surfaced, even after experts called on the Redmond, Wash.-based developer to fix fast.

“It’s really easy to get this thing,” said Shane Coursen, a senior technical analyst with Moscow-based Kaspersky Labs. “The exploit will even work through a DOS box.” Source: TechWeb

We Say: Symantec says that, besides “.wmf” files, the vulnerability can also be exploited if the file has been renamed to other image file extensions such as “.jpg,” “.gif,” etc. It’s also possible the exploit is part of the WMF specification, and thus be even more difficult to fix. I’m not sure what to say at this point, aside from, make sure your antivirus software is up-to-date and don’t go anywhere on the web that you don’t trust 100%.

By Michael Santo
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews

In what may be a sign that the furor is dying down, Sony BMG has apparently reached a settlement in the XCP copy protection class action lawsuit, according to papers filed in a New York court Wednesday.

During November a number of individuals filed cases against Sony at courts across America. These cases were granted class action status Dec. 1.

In the settlement filing, Sony states that it will immediately recall all XCP CDs and replace them with non-content-protected CDs. It has also agreed to offer incentives to U.S. customers to “ensure that XCP CDs are promptly removed from the market.” Sony first released details about its CD recall scheme in late November.

Customers who exchange their XCP CD can either download three albums from a list of over 200 titles, or claim a cash payment of $7.50 and a free download of one album. To claim this compensation, customers must return their XCP CDs to Sony or provide the company with a receipt showing they returned or exchanged the CD at a retailer after Nov. 14.

Sony is not recalling MediaMax CDs, but has agreed to compensate buyers of these albums by allowing them to download one free album, as well as offering them MP3 versions of the music on the MediaMax album. Source: News.com

Full details of the proposed settlement are available at the Sunbelt Software (developers of the copy protection) blog. The settlement still must be approved by the court.

We Say: The Electronic Frontier Foundation has filed its own lawsuit, and this is unaffected by this decision. Additionally, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott sued Sony in November, citing his state’s anti-spyware statues. However, it does look like there’s some real progress being made finally. Hopefully this settlement is less buggy than Sony’s uninstallers.

By Mark Evans
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews

Is it time to overhaul the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office? The disputes between Research in Motion and NTP and, most recently, Google and Rates Technology Inc. demonstrate there is a serious problem in balancing the rights of patent holders and the rights of innovators. When the USPTO issues broad-based patents such as the ones held by NTP, it can literally give the patent holder a license to print money. Look at RIM, which developed its Blackberry technology without knowledge of the NTP patents. As RIM has unfortunately discovered, the NTP patents are so broad - they encompass the transmission of mobile e-mail - it has become difficult for RIM to demonstrate its technology is not infringing on the NTP patents but simply innovating in their wake. Google is about to discover the same problem with Rates Technology, which claims it holds key patents for VOIP, which have allowed it to solicit licenses from more than 700 companies. NTP and Rates have every right to go after companies that infringe on their patents but they have the ability to do so because the USPTO has given them enormous - and arguably unfair - latitude.

We Say: It’s time to take a good, hard look at how the USPTO operates and whether it should be granting broadly-based patents that potentially stifle innovation.

For more information on the Google-Rates dispute, click here.

By Michael Santo
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews

Another list from Wired News, which shows that technology not only makes our lives easier, it makes it easier to insert your foot into your mouth. Many of these were covered here at RealTechNews. A few of the notables:

“Most people don’t even know what a rootkit is, so why should they care about it?” – Thomas Hesse, president of Sony BMG’s global digital business division, speaking to NPR about the Sony DRM issue.

“It was done as a joke that went horribly, horribly wrong.” — Fake Wikipedia poster Brian Chase, apologizing for his post that linked John Seigenthaler, Sr. to the Kennedy assasinations.

“Screw the nano.” — Motorola CEO Ed Zander in an Infoworld interview about his first days as CEO of Motorola.

Source for all the above: Wired News
More

By: Chief Gizmateer
Contributing Writer: RealTechNews

How would you like a PSP that would support not only games, pictures, music and video but also e-books and the ability to snag free emulators including MAME for most older gaming systems on the open source Linux OS? Oh yeah, all of the above for only $179?

The Gamepark GP2X is a new dual core (ARM920T Host Processor - ARM940T Video Coprocessor) gaming machine running on Linux and enecouraging anyone to develop emulators, games, applications, practically anything for this device.

The machine comes with dual cpu cores, 64mb ram, 64mb NAND flash memory, SD card compatible slot, USB 2.0 connection, 3.5″ TFT LCD screen and TV-out. Also, the devices supports playback of most codecs such as MPEG, MPEG4, DivX 3.11, 4x, 5x, XVID, WMV, MP3, OGG, WMA, JPG, BMP, PCX, GIF and others. Also, support for e-book, games and a built-in electronic dictionary are built-in to the device. Also, the GP2X runs off regular two AAs batteries so a six pack will allow you to game, watch movies or listen to music the entire plane trip from the US to Hong Kong (one of the few places you’ll be able to get the GP2X in Q1 2006).

This handheld device is built on the Linux OS and users and developers are encouraged to hack and develop new software for the Gamepark GP2X. Currently software for the device is fairly minimal but growing. There’s even a Developer’s WIKI.

Even though the device is not available in the US, you can purchase online (well, pre-order as the GP2X won’t ship until Q1 2006) from lik-sang.com.
The first series of the GP2X has been released in the UK and Korea so far.

So, the geeks at GfG are wondering… have consumers finally got feed up with proprietary systems such as the PSP and want the freedom an open-source system such as the GP2X provides?
Source: Gizmos for Geeks

By Michael Santo
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews

Toyota announced on Tuesday, December 26th, the redesigned bB, which it calls a “car-shaped music player.” The second generation model aims to keep the strengths of the original model, while aiming itself squarely at people who want to be surrounded by music while driving.

Nine speakers are optimally located around the interior—a subwoofer in the center console, and speakers and tweeters in the left and right front doors, instrument panel and front pillars—creating powerful bass tones and the feeling of being surrounded 360 degrees by music in a high-quality sound space.

Four different audio modes, using surround DSP (digital signal processing) technology, accommodate listener preferences and the situation at hand.

An input jack facilitates a direct connection with portable music players to input music from a variety of sources.

Illumination is installed in 11 locations, including around the speakers, and in the cup holders and door trim, and it flashes in rhythm to the music, creating an atmosphere akin to a nightclub or live music concert.
Source: gizmag

We Say: The bB reverses the trend of smaller and smaller MP3 players. I don’t know where I’m going to be able to find a case for it, though. Definitely a nice marketing ploy, and it dwarfs some of the other car audio-tech articles (1, 2) we’ve reported on.

On the other hand, I have enough trouble coping with people in the “regular” car next to me booming music out of their windows. Don’t know how I’ll feel if one of these is next to me. By the way, I’ve seen this car referred to in a few places as the “dB“, which would actually make more sense to me (decibel).