Month: April 2008

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Studio Express 4 A New Version of Toon Boom Animation Creation Software Released

studio-express-4

A new version of Toon Boom animation creation software has released Studio Express 4 for Mac OS X and Windows.

It costs US$99.99 (normally $149.99). Upgrades are priced at $9.99 for a limited time.

Toon Boom Studio Express 4 is a tool for creating animations used on Web sites, Flash banner ads, interactive projects and games, videos and more. It has some limitations compared to the full Toon Boom Studio package, such as an absence of cut out animation tools, animated elements, advanced lip syncing or advanced importing.

New to the version 4 release is a more flexible docking user interface, calligraphic line styles, the ability to feather edges, vectorization using textures, more peg functionalities and more than 30 new features including Flash pre-loaders and HTML embedding.

System requirements, Mac OS X v10.4 or later.

source:read
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Microsoft Will Soon launch a Wii Remote Imitator for Xbox 360?

MS wii

Microsoft will soon launch a Wii Remote imitator for Xbox 360, replete with Mii knock-offs, in an effort to capitalize on Nintendo’s raging success as Source close to MTV News.

“They want the usual assortment of ‘Halo’/ ‘Gears’/ ‘Forza’/ whatever, just in waggle form,” the nameless developer said. “Microsoft is trying to decide how to get something out by the end of the year.”

The loose-lipped mole sketched a design of the last-known prototype, that looks eerily similar to the Wii Remote, but says development problems have arose because Microsoft is impatiently trying to ship the product.

MTV News added that it has “confirmed Microsoft’s active interest in developing a motion-sensitive controller with other industry sources.”

Previously, Microsoft has publicly doubted the long-term viability of motion as it pertains to video game controllers while noting the initial success Nintendo has so far enjoyed.

Microsoft declined comment on Monday when contacted by GamePro. “We do not comment on rumors or speculation,” a representative said in an email.

In a February 2008 interview with GameDaily, Sony’s VP of product marketing said a Wii-like controller would not be needed.

source:pcworld
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Samsung 2ON First Dual Standby CDMA and GSM Handset

2on

Samsung India has launched the Samsung 2ON; its first Dual Standby CDMA and GSM handset.

2-ON can operate on almost all service providers in India, both GSM and CDMA. It also the first CDMA phone which supports both Tata Indicom and Reliance Communications value added services on the same handset.

On the software front , the handset packs in handwriting recognition, file viewer, sketch memo, advanced organiser capability with functional screen and special India specific applications like Indian calendar, hinglish support, mobile prayer and panchang.
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The phone features

* 2.3″ TFT touch screen
* 2 Megapixel camera
* Micro SD card slot upto 1GB
* MP3/AAC+ player.

The Samsung 2-0N comes with a 1200mAh battery which gives longer talk time and extra power for operating the 2 networks. The handset can also be used as a modem to access internet at speeds of 153kbps on CDMA network.

The Samsung 2-On is priced at Rs. 16,500.

source:read
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Adobe Systems Announced 64 bit ColdFusion 8.0.1

ColdFusion

Adobe Systems announced last week the release of an update to ColdFusion 8 that brings 64-bit support to Mac OS X v10.5 running on Intel-based Macs.

ColdFusion is Adobe’s Internet application development engine. It’s designed to help Web developers create business application software. Features in ColdFusion 8 include a server monitor that helps developers identify performance bottlenecks, dynamic PDF creation and interaction, support for Ajax, .NET integration, integration with Microsoft Exchange Server and more.
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ColdFusion 8 Update 1 — also called ColdFusion 8.0.1 — provides full 64-bit support for Mac OS X (along with Windows and Linux), extending 64-bit support beyond Solaris, which already had it. Adobe has also improved Ajax functionality and has updated several software libraries. Release notes (in PDF format) on Adobe’s Web site outline all the differences.

64-bit support in ColdFusion means the software can perform better on 64-bit computer architectures by handling more information in the same clock cycle, and can use a significantly larger memory space, which allows memory-intensive operations to operate more efficiently.

source:read
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Symantec Confirmed The Flaw in Norton Security Applications

symantec

Symantec confirmed the flaws in most popular consumer security software that could give attackers the means to hijack the Windows PCs that the programs are supposed to protect.

The vulnerabilities are in an ActiveX control that ships with several products, including Norton AntiVirus, Norton Internet Security, Norton SystemWorks and Norton 360.

Ironically, Symantec analysts have both cited the popularity of ActiveX bugs and urged caution when using the controls in comments about other companies’ product flaws.

According to alerts released Wednesday by VeriSign Inc.’s iDefense, the ActiveX control “SymAData.dll” sports two vulnerabilities that could be used “to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the currently logged in user” by attackers able to entice victims to malicious Web sites.

Symantec confirmed the vulnerabilities Wednesday in its own advisory, and said the buggy control has shipped with Windows versions of Norton AntiVirus 2006-2008, Norton Internet Security 2006-2008, Norton SystemWorks 2006-2008 and Norton 360 version 1.0.

While it acknowledged the bugs, Symantec also downplayed the threat, saying that attacks would only succeed from specially crafted sites. “To successfully exploit either vulnerability, an attacker would need to be able to masquerade as the trusted Symantec Web site, such as through a cross-site scripting attack or DNS poisoning,” read the company’s advisory .

Symantec has updated the affected consumer security software with new detection definitions designed to block any exploit of the ActiveX flaws, but will not automatically patch everyone’s copy of the flawed control.

“An updated (non-vulnerable) version of the AutoFix tool will be automatically installed if customers participate in an online Chat session with Symantec Technical Support,” Symantec said. Alternately, users can manually download and install a patched AutoFix from its Web site.

source:read
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Again iPhone Price Cut! For New 3G Model?

Iphone 3G

Germans can now get an iPhone for just €99 (US$155). It will also fan the flames of rumors about an imminent new 3G model.

It’s interesting both because the iPhone hasn’t been subsidized before, and because it could mean the launch of a new 3G capable model is getting close, according to Wood.

“That could mean T-Mobile is clearing the channel for a new model,” said Wood.

The 16G-byte model still costs €499. The promotional price for the 8G-byte model is valid from April 7 to June 30 for customers signing up for T-Mobile’s most expensive calling plan, the Complete XL, which costs €89 per month. The price of the iPhone rises to €249 when bought with the Complete S contract, which includes fewer minutes and text messages, and costs €29 per month.

T-Mobile’s pricing strategy is a big departure for the iPhone. So far, Apple has gone to great lengths to stop carriers from selling its phone at lower prices to protect it’s music player market, according to Wood, who questions whether Apple is happy with the price.

According to T-Mobile, it’s business as usual.

“I don’t want talk about subsidies. After a phone has been out for five months its quite normal to do sales promotions, and Apple is of course on board,” said Alexander Graf von Schmettow, spokesman at T-Mobile.[ad#add-top-in]

source:read
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Microsoft got Fined US$367.4m by Alcatel-Lucent for Illegal use of MPEG2 DVD Playback in Windows

judgment

Adding a new chapter to a long-running dispute between the companies Microsoft and Alcatel-Lucent. Court in San Diego ordered Microsoft to pay Alcatel-Lucent US$367.4 million for infringing on two patents, adding a new chapter to a long-running dispute between the companies.

The jury, in U.S. District Court in San Diego, found that Microsoft had infringed on two patents involving user interface technology. It also found that Microsoft didn’t infringe on another Alcatel-Lucent patent related to video decoding. The court ruled that patent, which Alcatel-Lucent alleged was infringed in MPEG2-based DVD playback in Windows, is invalid.

According to Microsoft, which will try to overturn the infringement verdict, Alcatel-Lucent had hoped to receive $1.75 billion in damages. Microsoft called the video patent ruling a victory for the many companies that use MPEG video-decoding technology.

The case dates back to 2003, when Alcatel-Lucent charged Microsoft, Dell and Gateway with patent infringement.

Last year, a court reversed a $1.5 billion patent infringement case against Microsoft in a case Alcatel-Lucent brought against the software giant related to MP3 technology.

There’s more to come in the ongoing battle between the companies. On April 22, the San Diego court will hear a case Microsoft is bringing against Alcatel-Lucent, accusing it of infringing on nine patents.

source:read
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Vista Fails VB100 Tests, Out of 37 Tests 17 Failed

VB100

A new test of anti-malware products running on the Visat has found that many don’t work as well as they should.

The latest independent Virus Bulletin tests looked at 37 different Vista-based security programs to see which could manage to reach the level of threat detection required for ‘VB100’ Certification. Out of 37 tested, 17 failed the tests, including big name products from McAfee, Sophos, and Trend Micro.

Before users rush to de-install Vista products from those companies, the VB100 sets an incredibly high detection bar of 100 percent of a subset of malware defined by a malware collection known as the ‘WildList.’ Programs must also, using default settings, avoid false positives – false flagging files as malware infected when they are in fact innocent.

While McAfee, Sophos and Trend detected 99.99 percent of the WildList, other programs fell some way short of this ‘almost’ status. Doctor Web reached only 95.21 percent, and Security Coverage PC Live managed a hopeless 84.35 percent. Microsoft’s own oft-criticized Windows Live OneCare and Forefront Client Security both hit the VB100 100 percent mark.

Thus far, Vista’s defense has been the relative trickiness of programming malware for it and the fact of its slow uptake. Neither factor will protect it indefinitely.

source:read
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MSV Makes Touchscreen Satellite/cellular Phone “LOST”

MSV

A new sat-phone company, MSV (Mobile Satellite Ventures) has developed a prototype phone that looks like the touch-screen satphonev

The L-Series satellite phone will be available in 2010, according to MSV spokesman Tom Surface. It will use a new hybrid satellite/cellular system based on two satellites that MSV is launching in 2009, and it will slide between cellular coverage when it’s in range and satellite coverage when no cell service is available. MSV will make a deal with a US-based cellular carrier to sell satellite/cellular service under the carrier’s brand, Surface said.

MSV had non-working models of the L-Series at its booth. According to the phone’s spec sheet, it will have a 320-by-480 multi-touch screen; smartphone style applications; high-speed Internet access with Wi-Fi, cellular, and satellite connectivity; a Web cam; and a speakerphone. Unlike most satellite phones, it will be only .6-inches thick.

There’s one big difference between MSV’s phone and Lost’s, though. The MSV phone will get satellite access only in North America, because that’s where MSV’s two satellites will cover, Surface said.

source:read
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‘Windows 7 Coming Next Year’ Bill Gates

windows-7

Bill Gates expecting the new version of Windows operating software, code-named Windows 7, to be released “sometime in the next year or so.”

He said new versions of Windows would help revolutionize mobile phones and run the desk of the future, which would have a touch surface display allowing users to call up items using their hands.

Microsoft has said it expected to release a new version of Windows approximately 3 years after the introduction of Vista in January 2007. A company spokeswoman said Gates’ comments are in line with a development cycle that usually releases a test version of the software before its official introduction.

source:read