2nd September 2009 Archive

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EMC demos cloak of storage invisibility

VMworld Chillin' with FAST, SATA, and SSDs

EMC today demoed how its upcoming fully-automated storage tiering (FAST) technology working together with SSDs might drastically improve storage performance and efficiency. At this week's VMworld conference in San Francisco, EMC's Chad Sakac, vp of the VMware Technology Alliance and the geek behind the blog Virtual Geek, …

Storage 2 Sep 02:17
Intel vows PC virtualization skoolin' for OEMs

If all else fails, fiddle

Intel has vowed to keep on educating OEMs about PC virtualization, as vendors sell machines that have left customers frustrated and angry. One of the chip giant's top executives told press Tuesday that Intel had already been working with PC makers so they could "understand the benefits of virtualization technology" on PCs. …

Virtualization 2 Sep 03:25
IDC outs the worst quarter in server history

Drawn and second quartered

The server market can only go up from the pitiful levels it set in the second quarter, according to the box counters at IDC, which pegged the period from April through June as the worst in the history of the systems business. Well, at least since 1996, when IDC has been tracking it, which is longer than we have been calling …

Servers 2 Sep 04:02
AMD to beat Nvidia in DX11 GPU release race?

Windows 7 graphics tech prompts chip updates

AMD looks set to beat arch-rival Nvidia to the release of DirectX 11-capable graphics cards. It will ship suitable GPUs in October, around the time Windows 7 will introduce the new 3D graphics framework. According to Asian moles mentioned by DigiTimes, AMD will launch the Radeon HD 5800 series - codenamed 'RV870' - later this …

Reg Hardware 2 Sep 06:02
Google blames Gfail on 'availability' upgrade

100-minute outage. Won't happen again. Really

Calling Tuesday's one-hour-and-forty-minute Gmail outage a "Big Deal," Google has pinned the breakdown on some recent changes to the request routers that direct queries to the service's web servers. Ironically, at least some of the changes were meant to improve Gmail's ability to stay online. But Google underestimated the load …

Music and Media 2 Sep 07:08
Arms biz: Your taxes mainly go on our fat salaries! Ha ha!

Analysis 'We don't want to highlight Afghanistan'

Yesterday the UK's arms industry launched its renewed pitch for more government money. Shooting themselves in the foot somewhat, assembled weapons-biz kingpins revealed that - by their own estimation - the UK taxpayer is already supporting at least twice as many well-paid British arms workers as there are (poorly-paid) soldiers …

Government 2 Sep 07:44
Dixons blames PC World for falling sales

Still grim on the High Street

Dixons Store Group saw sales fall six per cent in the last quarter, despite good progress in sexing up its stores. DSG international, owner of PC World and Currys, did worse on its home turf - UK computing sales fell 17 per cent, in sterling, in the sixteen weeks ended 22 August 2009. The firm said reformatting of stores and a …

Channel Register 2 Sep 08:09
Illinois bright spark sparks car inferno

Narrowly avoids Darwin Award immortality

An Illinois bright spark, who decided the best way to check the level of combustible fluid in a petrol can was by using a cigarette lighter, ended up with a torched car and second-degree burns. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the unnamed 27-year-old woman was in a gas station in Joliet last week and "was filling up a gas …

Bootnotes 2 Sep 08:43
Nokia chucks free music phones at Spotify

Comes With Music... or else

Nokia announced two dedicated music phones in Stuttgart this morning, which are only available with its "free" Comes With Music service. The service bundles a year's worth of unlimited music downloads. The cheaper of the two models, the X3, comes with a price sticker that matches an annual Spotify subscription: €115. Its …

Mobile 2 Sep 09:15
EMC swallows indexer Kazeon

Acquisition machine rumbles ever onward

EMC is buying eDiscovery data indexer Kazeon, thereby getting its hands on the OEM source of NetApp's Information Server 1200 appliance. Privately-owned Kazeon was founded in 2003 by CEO Sudhaker Muddu, chief technology officer Anurag Maunder and software director and architect Christos Tryfonas. The idea was to build an index …

Storage 2 Sep 09:25
USB overseer ready to certify SuperSpeed kit

Paves way for release of USB 3.0 devices

The USB Implementers Forum - the body behind the bus standard - has said it will now start testing devices to ensure they comply with the USB 3.0 - aka SuperSpeed USB - standard. Compliance means manufacturers are allowed to stamp their offering with the SuperSpeed logo. The USB IF founded its SuperSpeed USB Platform …

Reg Hardware 2 Sep 09:28
NASA sat snaps LA wildfire

City threatened by 'most intense' blaze in 10 years

NASA's Terra satellite has captured a dramatic image of the Los Angeles "Station Fire" wildfire. It is one of at least seven conflagrations currently affecting California, which by yesterday had reportedly laid waste to over 133,000 acres and consumed 80 buildings. NASA explains: "The area covered by the image is 245 …

Space 2 Sep 09:45
Blu-ray body talks up, fails to detail 3D content standard

Quick, onto the Avatar trailer bandwagon!

The Blu-ray Disc Association has yet again said it's looking at how it can incorporate 3D TV content into the optical disc standard - but with still no indication in which technological direction its investigation is leaning. The BDA said in May it was forming a taskforce to probe the problem - five months after Panasonic …

Reg Hardware 2 Sep 09:51
Toshiba touts 640GB laptop hard drive

High data density means small, efficient drive

Not to be outdone by Hitachi's new 7200rpm, 500GB 2.5in hard drive, rival disk maker Toshiba has announced a 640GB model, though it only spins at 5400rpm. The full capacity is delivered on just two storage platters thanks to a data density of 528.5Gb per square inch. It means the capacity can be delivered without upping the …

Reg Hardware 2 Sep 10:09
HTC tells of Touch 2

Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone

The touchscreen smartphone juggernaut that is HTC continues to roll forward - the firm has unveiled the successor to the Touch. HTC's Touch 2: runs Windows Mobile 6.5 Unimaginatively called Touch 2, HTC described the handset as “compact and stylish”. Touch 2 is also one of the first official "Windows phones" – that’s …

Reg Hardware 2 Sep 10:15
Brit inventor wants prison for patent crims

Trevor Baylis winds himself up

The inventor of the wind-up radio is calling on the UK government to toughen its stance on patent law, by making intellectual property theft a criminal offence. Trevor Baylis has written to business secretary Lord Mandelson urging him to consider a change in legislation. He said in an interview with the Beeb today that …

Government 2 Sep 10:18
Prince of Darkness scares UK mobe firms

Mandy declares agreement imminent on 'issues'

Heads of the UK network operators met with Peter Mandelson yesterday, with the Dark One stating that issues will be resolved in days - although which issues in particular he declined to specify. The meeting was attended by the heads of the five network operators with radio-spectrum holdings: Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone, 3 and …

Mobile 2 Sep 10:29
The A-to-Z of VMware suitors

Why virtually all storage vendors are so keen

Every storage player wants to be a good citizen in the VMware virtual data centre and server world. They showed up to VMworld to be seen and counted, and to demonstrate that they too can play nice in what is increasingly looking to be an EMC-owned data centre and server interface to all things networking and storage. Where is …

Virtualization 2 Sep 10:39
MS warns of forced Messenger update

More fallout from ATL snafu

Microsoft has outlined plans to push a mandatory Windows Live Messenger upgrade in order to plug a security hole related to a vulnerable code library. The security vulnerability stems from the use of a vulnerable version of Microsoft's Active Template Library (ATL). A programming error involving the inclusion of an extra "&" …

Enterprise Security 2 Sep 10:42
BMW unveils futuristic Vision

Leccy Tech Stylish hybrid with F1 tech and 435-mile range

BMW has released details of its Vision Efficient Dynamics plug-in hybrid concept vehicle, ahead of the car’s official unveiling at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. Designed to provide the performance of an M3 and the economy of a diesel Mini, Vision is powered by a hybrid power-train consisting of a 1.5l, three-cylinder …

Reg Hardware 2 Sep 11:02
Orange predicts death of bosses and birth of P2P offices

The future's bright, the future lacks a CEO

Orange has been studying how we'll be working over the next decade or two, and apparently we'll be dumping the CEO but not all working from home. The analysis - entitled Connected Britain - is more downbeat than previous efforts, no doubt reflecting a slightly-less-optimistic economy. But the document (pdf) is much more than …

Mobile 2 Sep 11:11
How much of the EU's data will the UK lose?

STORK eID project, meet the pub car park...

"Ministers have been forced to order an emergency shutdown of a key Government computer system to protect millions of people's private details. The action was taken after a memory stick was found in a pub car park containing confidential passcodes to the online Government Gateway system, which covers everything from tax returns …

Government 2 Sep 11:20
Boffins: Give up on CO₂ cuts, only geoengineering can work

Ordinary eco-efforts a foolish distraction

Top British climate boffins have said that the only practical hope for arresting global warming is the use of "geoengineering" - techniques intended to reduce the effects of CO2 emissions, as opposed to reducing the CO2 emissions themselves. The scientists add that not only are large emissions cuts politically and …

Environment 2 Sep 11:28
Germany says 'nein' to Google book deal

Justice minister claims program 'runs afoul of law'

The German government has come out in opposition to Google's recent book settlement, declaring it would “irrevocably alter the landscape of international copyright law.” Court papers filed in New York yesterday said the deal “runs afoul of the applicable German national laws, as well as European public initiatives to create …

Law 2 Sep 11:45
Nokia confirms N97 Mini

Like the N97, only smaller

Nokia has opened its annual conference with the launch of probably its worst kept secret from recent months. No, we’re not talking about the Booklet 3G, but the N97 Mini. Nokia N97 Mini: like the N97, only smaller Pictures of the N97 Mini have popped up online all over the place in recent weeks. Now Nokia has confirmed that …

Reg Hardware 2 Sep 12:40
Rock Xtreme X790

Review Desktop Core i7 in a notebook

The mobile version of Intel’s Core i7 processor isn’t due to arrive until early next year, so we were a little surprised to hear that UK system builder Rock was about to launch a new range of laptops based around the i7. Rock's Xtreme X790-i7-950: built for speed, not for looks A quick call to Rock confirmed that the …

Reg Hardware 2 Sep 12:41
Panasonic slims Micro Four Thirds compact

No pentaprism, even smaller body

Panasonic has launched what it claims is the world’s smallest and lightest video-capable camera based on the Micro Four Thirds system. Panasonic's Lumix GF1: lacks a pentaprism The 12Mp DMC-GF1 measures 119 x 71 x 36.3mm and weighs in at 285g. Yet Panasonic has somehow managed to cram a pop-up flash and 3in LCD into what …

Reg Hardware 2 Sep 12:47
Boffins fail to detect Moon's strangeness

Quark hunt ends in a handful of dust

Scientists hoping to sniff out elusive "strange matter", apparently detected back in 1998 on a space shuttle mission, have failed to find corroborating evidence of strangeness from the lunar surface. According to New Scientist, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-01) aboard Discovery sniffed a "strangelet" - a "nucleus like …

Physics 2 Sep 12:54
Four arrested in China over net-paralysing gaming spat

DDoS kerfuffle between rivals causes web chaos

Chinese police have arrested four gamers who allegedly launched denial of service attacks that disrupted internet communications across the country back in May. The group allegedly ran a denial-of-service attack against a rival online gaming group. The DNS servers of DNSPod, a firm that provides services to gaming sites, were …

Crime 2 Sep 13:09
Toshiba claims 2.5-inch disk leadership

Only Seagate got there first

Toshiba claims it has launched "the highest capacity 2.5-inch drive to date", at 640GB. Well, maybe not. Seagate quietly launched a 640GB, 2.5-inch FreeAgent Go in June and Western Digital's Scorpio Blue is a 1TB 2.5-inch drive which was announced in July. As Reg Hardware notes the new MK6465GSX Tosh drive has two platters, …

Storage 2 Sep 13:51
Scottish gov to curb personal data collection

Authorities will have to keep their paws off

The Scottish Government plans to reduce the amount of information on citizens held by large public databases and curb the collection and use of personal data by public authorities. A consultation on its plans has just begun. The Scottish Government, run by the Scottish National Party in a minority administration, has the …

Law 2 Sep 13:54
Solid State of the union

Some SSD inaugurations

Since VMware and virtual stuff are all the rage, here are three virtual solid state disk stories. Well, rumours. Take them at less than face value if you will, but they do come from reputable and credible sources. Intel/Micron First up is Intel. There are whispers suggesting that Intel and Micron have SSD ambitions that have …

Storage 2 Sep 14:16
Cisco's UCS needs a bra

Reanimating Howard Hughes

Apparently the "California" Unified Computing Systems cannot defy gravity as a young server with generous capacity should. Thanks to El Reg having an office in San Francisco, I have been spared the grief of traveling out to the VMworld extravaganza going on this week and am reporting remotely from the show. But thanks to …

Servers 2 Sep 14:17
Nokia bigs up innovators... kinda

Porting efforts, pre-installed apps - it's the future

Nokia has announced the winners of its innovation competition - it's one ported from Android, one old idea made new and one pre-installed slideshow, but at least the special award is interesting. Finalists in Calling All Innovators competition were listed two weeks ago, and we saw little in the way of innovation back then, so …

Developer 2 Sep 14:20
Desktop virtualization: More than a little interest

Poll Results Like the idea, but what's the reality?

‘Desktop virtualization’ has been an oft-heard phrase over recent years, but talk does not automatically translate into action. So what is the state of play regarding deployments of the many desktop virtualization alternatives that exist? Earlier this week we requested your input, and here’s what we have found out so far. It …

Software 2 Sep 14:31
Azerbaijani donkey bloggers face seven years' jail

Trumped up charges are a pain in the ass

A pair of Azerbaijani bloggers, who posted a satirical YouTube vid featuring a donkey, face up to seven years' jail on what human rights organisations are calling trumped-up charges. Adnan Hajizade, 26, and Emin Milli, 29, are described by Amnesty International as "well-known youth activists who have used online networking …

Crime 2 Sep 14:44
Hands on with the Nokia N900

First Look We rush to judgement

Announced last week, the N900 finally gives Nokia something competitive in the high-end market, and offers a great deal for developers to get excited about. I had a hands on today and came away with fairly positive impressions, for an iPhone user. But more importantly, Nokia has a roadmap that takes it into the next decade. Qt …

Reg Hardware 2 Sep 14:58
Men far worse than women on password security

And Brits rubbish at updating software

Women are more password savvy than blokes, according to a new survey. A survey on security awareness by PC Tools found that 47 per cent of men use the same password for every website they visit, compared to just a quarter (26 per cent) of women who use the same insecure practice. Nearly two-thirds of men polled said they …

ID 2 Sep 14:58
Sony jumps on the 3D TV gravy train

IFA 3D TVs, Vaios and PS3s by late 2010

One of the most established names in home entertainment has announced plans to get behind 3D TV production. Sir Howard Stringer, Chief Executive of Sony, has announced ahead of the IFA technology show in Berlin that the company will sell 3D TVs globally by the end of 2010. The move is no great surprise as many of Sony's …

Reg Hardware 2 Sep 15:02
PS3 phone out next month

Aino doubt about it

The first mobile phone to boast PlayStation 3 compatibility will be available next month, Sony Ericsson has confirmed. Sony Ericsson's Aino: hits the UK next month Aino makes use of the PS3’s Remote Play feature to let you control the Sony console and access its media content over a wireless connection. SE stressed to …

Reg Hardware 2 Sep 15:05
Secret US spontaneous human combustion beam tested

Silent deathray in first blast from the skies

American death-tech goliath Boeing has announced a long-delayed in-flight firing for the smaller of its two aeroplane raygun-cannon prototypes, the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL). The ATL blaster, mounted in a Hercules transport aircraft, apparently "defeated" an unoccupied stationary vehicle. 'ET'- ha! And they keep denying …

Physics 2 Sep 15:06
The Virtualization Workshop

Regcast Beaming live right now! Get stuck in folks.

As part of our Virtualization Workshop series, we've got a studio full of proper virtualization experts to tackle your questions on anything and everything to do with Server Virtualization. You can join them right here for free. Your host for the 1hr event is The Register's own Tim Philips, who will be introducing Reg regular …

Software 2 Sep 15:22
Red Hat stretches Linux system management tentacle

Satellite 5.3 of love

Software maker Red Hat has announced the availability of its on-premises systems management product. Red Hat Network Satellite 5.3 is the company’s first version of its platform to be based on the open source “Spacewalk” project. Spacewalk, first announced in June 2008, manages software content updates for Red Hat-derived …

Systems 2 Sep 15:30
Oracle to talk Sun hardware on October 14

Promises Big Blue busting benchmarks

Oracle, which will presumably soon own Sun Microsystems, has not said much about its plans for the Sparc server business at Sun since announcing its takeover in April - but apparently the top brass at the company are going to assuage everyone's fears that Oracle will ditch Sun iron, and will do so on October 14 at the OpenWorld …

Servers 2 Sep 15:40
Microsoft rejects call to fix SQL password-exposure risk

Unpatched and staying that way

Microsoft is butting heads with a company that provides software for database security over a weakness in SQL Server that can expose user passwords to anyone with administrative access to the program. Researchers at San Mateo, California-based Sentrigo warned Wednesday that the "significant vulnerability" is present in the …

Security 2 Sep 18:14
Red Hat pumps out commercial KVM

RHEL 5.4 gives customers a taste

Commercial Linux distributor Red Hat is hosting its annual summit in Chicago this week, and the star of the event was today's launch of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.4, which sports the first commercially supported KVM hypervisor from the company. In this case, KVM is tucked up inside of RHEL 5.4, right alongside the integrated …

Operating Systems 2 Sep 18:30
EU may delay Oracle's Sun acquisition

Golden 'chutes not deployed

European regulators could help create a further delay in the closure of Oracle's planned $5.6bn acquisition of Sun Microsystems. Reuters has reported European Union anti-trust authorities are sill deciding whether to approved he deal by Thursday's deadline, with concern centered on Oracle's ownership of MySQL. A decision to …

Applications 2 Sep 18:33
The internet celebrates the Big Four-O

Or at least one of them

Today, the internet celebrates its fortieth anniversary. Or at least one of them. On September 2, 1969, at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), a team of engineers led by Professor Leonard Kleinrock attached the first two machines on the first node of the ARPAnet, the Defense-Department-sponsored computer network …

Networks 2 Sep 20:19
Microsoft confirms IIS bug gives complete server control

But only if ...

Microsoft has confirmed a vulnerability in its Internet Information Services webserver and spelled out the conditions under which it can be exploited to give an attacker complete control of the server on which it runs. The good news: As previously reported, remote execution of malicious code can be triggered only in limited …

Security 2 Sep 20:45
Windows 7 versus Snow Leopard — The poison taste test

Abandon ye rhetoric

Apple's Snow Leopard arrived during the twilight zone between the completion of Microsoft's Windows 7 and its general release. The Snow Leopard media was built in early August and shrink-wrapped and on sale late the same month. Windows 7 went gold in late July, but will not appear on the high street until October 22nd. The …

Operating Systems 2 Sep 20:49
GTA maker coughs up $20m for 'hot coffee' sex

Grand Theft ~~Auto~~ Rumpy Pumpy

Take-Two Interactive will shuffle $20 million out the door to make its "hot coffee" headaches go away. The game publisher said Wednesday it has settled a longstanding class-action shareholder lawsuit over an infamous sex scene squirreled away in the code of Grand Theft Auto: San Andres. Take-Two will stuff $20,115,000 into a …

Music and Media 2 Sep 22:37