Showing posts with label google. Show all posts
Showing posts with label google. Show all posts

Friday, April 6, 2012

The incredible business security flaws

Security is not a market like any other. Every year in early March, meet in Vancouver people around the world show and exploit weaknesses of the major browsers. For each vulnerability exploited, participants leave with an average of $ 10 000. Pwn2Own but, this is sort of the Olympics in this industry. Of glory, but little money! Because with a security breach, it is possible to earn much more money....

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

MWC 2012: a guide for future computers

The true test of a 45-minute intervention of the President of the Council futurologio Google density. "Hundreds of people have smartphones and Android IOS have not heard of such a debate," Eric Schmidt, speaking after evidence of watercress Hugo Chrome for Android, the "digital divide" between two billion people in the other five billion people will connect. "In fact, there is a real digital divide," the tone of the prophetic perfect, "but five billion people connected with the possibility of new opportunities, changes in the world."

Thursday, September 22, 2011

The French press powerless against Apple?

For these titles, it is not an isolated initiative. Combined into a single entity, the GIE, they decided to negotiate with one voice against Apple and other Internet giants like Google and Facebook. Speaking with one voice, these media hope to establish a more favorable balance of power and get more favorable terms. In fact, about the kiosk integrated iOS 5, the GIE is clear: the securities in question are planning to boycott as Apple will not make some concessions.

It is always the same two points back: the customer files and 30% commission considered too high. Xavier Spender, CEO of Team 24/24, swear that a copy of the newspaper sold on the iPad brings in less money than the paper version. The GIE is of course very attentive to what the other titles to escape the grip of Apple. The initiative of the Financial Times who decided to abandon its application to launch a web solution in HTML5 is followed very closely. In this regard, account Liberation soon launch a webapp to not be dependent on a distributor too powerful.

This does not mean that Libé considering stopping development of its applications IOS.Regarding Epress, GIE does not stop there. Subscription offers and bundle will be available in the near future. The various members of the association meet frequently to reflect on how to monetize their content on the Internet. The EIG has already signed an agreement with Google to be present in its booth. Google is far less difficult and greedy Apple. The Internet giant asked a commission of 10% and lends the customer data. On the other hand, newspaper publishers have more flexibility in setting prices. If unity is strength, this group left some observers skeptical. Benedict Evans, an expert on digital content, think the press is in the same situation as the record industry: "People needed the music to Apple, they were not able to negotiate well, unlike the film industry which was able to obtain better deals.

The press is desperate, Apple has the advantage. " Ken Doctor, an expert in the media industry for its part provides a different look and feels that this type of coalition has had mixed results in the past. Individual interests often end up taking him as the better of common interests. And that's exactly what happened in the U.S. last year when several newspaper groups have formed a consortium to build a digital kiosk and impose their views. Finally, the union eventually collapse and each actor has signed an agreement directly with Apple ... It should be noted that this association was absent from a brand: Le Monde that he apparently preferred to go it alone.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

iPad: the lessons of Windows 8

iOS as Android systems are multitasking. Although the technical details differ, the operation is the same: one application is displayed full screen, you can quickly switch from one application to another, and a notification system provides quick access to information behind the plan.Windows 8 goes much further: taking advantage of the ingenious system of window management in Windows 7, it can "snapper" an application to an edge of the screen while another application holds most of the rest of the screen.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Google buys Motorola

Surprise of the day: Google has opened its wallet to afford Motorola Mobility for $ 12.5 billion. Motorola in January had been split into two groups, acquired by Google consists primarily of business phones and tablets. The statement signed by Larry Page, Google CEO says Android will remain free and independent of Motorola. This acquisition is seen as a way to strengthen the position of Android and enhance competition in the sector. The choice of Motorola makes sense: it is an American company that makes only smartphones and only bet on Android in 2008.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Nortel Auction



Nortel Placed in receivership, Nortel has auctioned a 6000 patent represents a real treasure chest for any company involved in some way in mobile telephony. While Google had started the bidding at 630 million Euros, it is ultimately a consortium of Apple, EMC, Ericsson, Microsoft, RIM and Sony who won for a mere $ 3.2 billion Euros. A kind of all against Google that worries the authorities right now.

The problem is that this consortium, which became known as the Rockstar Bidco, has three companies in direct competition with Google (Android) in the field of mobile telephony: Apple (IOS), Microsoft (Windows Phone) and RIM (BlackBerry OS). This is not the first time these companies come together to counter Google, which has a real problem of industrial property, the sword of Damocles over Android and all manufacturers using this OS: Microsoft, Apple and EMC s 'were already allied to blow the beard and nose Google patents from Novell.

The competition authorities are concerned that these alliances can be considered a breach of competition against Google. These patent portfolios are real weapons that can destroy the strategy of the Mountain View Company in mobile telephony: by attacking Samsung, Motorola, HTC and others, Microsoft, Apple or RIM would indeed make Android charge, and decrease of much interest, while Google cannot defend its partners want to have itself a sufficient portfolio of patents.

Google has the best role here: she continues to assert itself as opposed to the arms race in the field of patents, but nevertheless participated in the entire major who presented bids in recent months. The Mountain View Company has in fact no choice: "the best defense of society against this type of prosecution is, ironically, to have a thick portfolio of patents, Google is a relatively young company, but our competitors have larger portfolios given their history, "admitted the legal department a few months ago.

Google should obviously try to invalidate the sale of a portfolio covering areas as diverse as wireless, Internet search, social networks and new technologies of data transmission for mobile devices. The defense seems to be emerging is that of accusing these companies have allied in order to keep up: if it could fly against RIM, EMC and Ericsson have finally paid unless each bid basis, it should be less effective against Apple.

The Cupertino company is not only the company that has most contributed to the pot, but the only company to have never left the table deal with Google - it actually covered financially for Rockstar Bidco they retire no negotiations without formally never join the consortium. A real poker game, it will be understood, which Apple is out to win the pedal.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Google improves search in Chrome



Google has introduced three new features to its search engine for computers. Two are reserved for users of Chrome, Google's browser; even if we can assume that the compatibility will be extended to other browsers in a second time.

Issue of mobile voice search is now also accessible from the desktop version of Google. Operation is very simple: when it is available, a microphone appears in the search field. Simply click and dictate the request to search. This function is reserved for Chrome, it's actually an API created by HTML 5 and Google is clearly not used elsewhere in Chrome, since version 11.

Also new this time open to all browsers, the search images. This feature was also initially being available on mobile devices with Google Goggle: the search engine will scan the image and search based on what he finds. Several possible uses such as finding the name of a plant or building are simply a different way of search.

Google is proposed three ways to launch a search with an image. The simplest is undoubtedly the drag / drop an image into the search field of Google, but probably not only work on all browsers. In all cases, you can also click on the icon of camera added to the search field to select an image on your hard drive, or even just copy / paste an image. Google has even developed an extension for Chrome and Firefox.

The third novelty of the day does once again that Chrome. Google still wants to speed up the search for the users of its browser by loading in advance the first search result. The company is betting that the first result is the one most likely to correspond to your research and place it in the browser cache. When you click on the link, it loads immediately.

Effective if we are to believe the video, but it will wait a bit to use this feature. Google says you can test it with the development branch of Chrome, but that the domestic beta is expected soon to experience it. It should be a priori accessible to as many people in Chrome 13.

Monday, April 4, 2011

OpenDNS and Google DNS slow your iTunes Store and Apple TV



According to Joe Maller, if you find your downloads from the iTunes Store or the Apple TV a little slow, perhaps the fault of the DNS servers you use. Google DNS or OpenDNS are often faster than the DNS provided by your ISP, but their actual operation may cause problems with the iTunes Store.

Apple has indeed hired the services of Akamai and Limelight, systems, content distribution servers that have around the world: you download and the server nearest to you, and the mass downloads is spread over a vast network.

It is quite possible OpenDNS and Google DNS, central services, direct all their users to a single same data center of NSC, causing them to overload and thus slower speeds. The problem is not confined, moreover, not to the iTunes Store means any service using a CDN discriminate against users based on their geographic location will have this kind of problem with Google DNS and OpenDNS: it will be for example the case of YouTube or many services software downloads, including one built into Mac OS X.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

The reality is more complex



In fact, the design of the A4 has been provided by Samsung and Intrinsity. The latter was subsequently bought by Apple. This processor is not much different from that found in the Samsung S Galaxy, Galaxy Tab and recently the Google.

But why work with Samsung more than another? At the time of designing the A4, the Hummingbird was one of the most effective flea market, more powerful example than the 1 GHz Qualcomm's Snapdragon found in the HTC Desire among others. In addition, the Korean company is a longtime partner of Apple: it's one of its main suppliers of flash memory. The two companies had even considered in 2005 to build a plant dedicated to the production of memory before being overtaken by the antitrust authorities in Korea.

More broadly, Samsung has the advantage of having a production capacity formidable. Less media attention than the Cupertino company, the Korean company is yet the number one player in the high-tech industry. In 2010, its turnover amounted to 138.7 billion dollars is more than the combined turnover of Apple and Microsoft. The Korean company has indeed a vast field of action: telephones, televisions, printers, tablets, but also an activity in semiconductors and as a manufacturer of LCD panels.

These successful relationships should be Apple's first customer of Samsung in 2011. According to some estimates, Apple should spend its $ 7.8 billion. Last January, the Cupertino evoked a strategic $ 3.9 billion over two years. To say that Apple is positioning itself to get favors from Samsung on its future advances in processors (Hummingbird), Platform (Orion) or to screen AMOLED-Retina-Display ", it does There is only one step.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Indeed, it is difficult to imagine that Google may delete the H.264 on YouTube



Now in only 32.89% of Internet users could continue to visit in the state, an unthinkable sacrifice. Even when Flash will integrate WebM will require that users update their version to be able to take advantage of: the current version of Flash does not pose this problem (Flash supports H.264 since version 9 was released in December 2007). Moreover, it is hard to imagine that Google has not contractually committed with partners like Apple to maintain compatibility with their devices.

The commitment of Google behind WebM at least has the merit of clarifying the situation regarding the giving of the codec on the field of patents: MPEG-LA has repeatedly stated that the free format violated certain of its patents, and that license was under development. The industry association cannot shake indefinitely without its threats would be implemented, and assuming that they are based, Google would be a prime target, except for example, at least for damages that it might represent. Adding however that nothing prevents the MPEG-LA to choose sparingly opponents court, especially since Google has made it clear she would not come to the aid of its partners.

In short, Google's decision is a stir of HTML5, which only give relevance to Flash, where Apple had done the opposite. And so exactly was the effect of strip searched? By restoring the importance of Flash, Google could very well work to the advantage of Android, which supports this format, unlike the IOS ... while going for the white knight of free formats.

But Google did not she simply followed the logic of ecosystem? Indeed, ownership of a video codec, it was destined to become a standard, not a major strategic issue, since interoperability is a crucial element specifically for industry standards. Exclusivity is the less put on a free. Google can certainly preside freely on the future of the codec and decide its future developments, but the side effects seem even more decisive than this one advantage, at least in the medium term.

These explanations do they justify the significant costs of investing behind Google WebM? He has still cost $ 100 million into the acquisition and conversion of over 120 million videos on YouTube will certainly be expensive that few others can afford. These figures are still to put into perspective: according to various estimates, the deficit would amount to YouTube about 500 million dollars just for 2009. A straw in comparison with 6.5 billion profits made last year by Google.

Friday, December 10, 2010

WebM-H264-Flash



Then move on to content providers: the first one, YouTube, supports both the H.264 WebM. Beyond that, we must also look to find videos in WebM. And for good reason: this waltz codec has a cost, not just storage, but also encoding.

Content providers are primarily looking for the highest common denominator between all browsers and all platforms. For now, the duo Flash and H.264 that wins, because the plug-in Adobe can play H.264 video in browsers that do not have this feature. Similarly, IOS, Flash private, can play videos in H.264 format, like most mobile platforms.

Take the case of Daily motion, which hosts some 16 million videos, the 3G format (240p), SD (380p), HQ (480p) and HD (720p). To fully support the WebM, should convert each video to each of these resolutions, to ultimately do not get absolutely any benefit from the perspective of the host: support for WebM would not increase the scope of the site. Besides Daily motion receives many videos already encoded in H.264 with regard to the quantity of material to support this format natively, and encoders WebM are two to three times slower than their counterparts in H.264. Recognizing further that the MPEG-LA has decided to permanently abandon his royalties on the free dissemination of content in H.264, WebM does not even compensating on that plane.

Adobe has already announced plans to add support of WebM in Flash, and Google also speaks of a plug-in to read the WebM (probably as a codec for QuickTime and Windows Media rather than a plug-ins for each browser, read WebM: freedom, politics and ... installing plug-ins). It nonetheless remains that IOS cannot read the WebM. Site publishers who wish to remain accessible on the Apple devices will be well advised to keep H.264, which will remain readable in Firefox, Chrome and Opera through Flash.

And that's where Google's announcement demonstrates its adverse effects, far from encouraging the abandonment of Flash, it only strengthens his position. Some observers have also not failed to raise an inconsistency in the attitude of Google, if it abandons the H.264 for philosophical questions relating to proprietary code, what does the code of Flash within the one Chrome? And what about other Google products that retain their support H.264? Olivier Poitrey, technical director of Daily motion, does not mince words: "Google wants us to believe that his only interest is to advance open source, but keeping the support of this proprietary format in YouTube, Google Android and TV it demonstrates the hypocrisy of his actions. "

Also remains the thorny question of hardware acceleration, which is crucial for mobile devices, and so far the exclusive domain of H.264. Certainly, the support of WebM in hardware has been promised, but what about the current generations of hardware, and various contractual commitments with its partners YouTube?

Saturday, December 4, 2010

HTML5 video: they redid the game?



Google has decided to remove the H.264 support in its browser within two months. The reason stated for this choice: the promotion and support of open formats to the detriment of the open standard (but not least the owner) what is H.264.

Here is another episode in the long battle that pits two camps around the HTML5 video tag. WebM supporters are surprised to dream that such support is crucial to switch things ... The Free Software Foundation does not hide his enthusiasm after the announcement. But despite the undeniable weight of Google, it will take much to tip the current balance of things.

Let's start by estimating the forces in place. In the field of computer browsers, only Safari and Internet Explorer remain in the camp of H.264, while Firefox, Opera and now Chrome (which was previously the only browser to support both formats) are in the camp WebM. Regarding the effective support of HTML5, only IE9 (0.46% market share), Safari 4 + (5.41%), Firefox 3.5 + (21.09%), Opera 10.5 (2%) Chrome and 3 + (9.8%) support the video tag, at least among the browsers on your computer. This still represents a minority of all browsers currently used.

Because we must not omit mobile devices, particularly iOS, whose inability to read from Flash was one of the drivers of the adoption of H.264 on the web. If not iOS assumes "only" 1.69% market share of operating systems (all machines together), it is nonetheless the backbone of mobile platforms, a highly strategic area. Other mobile OS also offer all native support for H.264, with hardware acceleration that makes reading more energy efficient.