PS3 could become a harder nut to crack

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By Mark Raby
TechNewsWorld
02/24/10 9: 42 AM PT Sony is neither confirming nor denying rumors that it will soon phase out current models of its PlayStation 3 in favor of a new version that makes it much harder for hackers to crack its firmware and reprogram it for other uses. Sony contends that hacking facilitates piracy, but its attempts to lock down its system may also hamper benign experimentation.

Sony (NYSE: SNE) doesn't like it when gamers mess with its products. The company's stance against PS3 hacking--users altering the machine's programming to make it perform functions other than playing games--continues to grow stronger, as Sony pulls out the legal guns and shows no signs of backing down.

When it comes to consumer electronics, unauthorized hacking and pirating content» seem like unavoidable hassles. Every product appears to get cracked eventually. According to a new rumor, though, Sony is working on a way to prevent it altogether.

The news site Everything HQ has reported that it's heard from an unnamed inside source that Sony is working on radical technology that would make hacking on the PS3 an impossibility. The source says the company's most strongly motivated by recently pirated copies of the recently released "Killzone 3" popping up online. The game is expected to be one of the top-selling games of the entire year. But sales are already being hurt thanks to someone who managed to get hold of the entire game ahead of its launch.

The hack-free PS3 will have a 300 GB hard drive and be priced at around US $ 300, according to the report. If true, it would probably become the new PS3 of choice, and Sony would phase out the current, "hackable" models.

When asked about the rumor, Sony spokesperson Vikki Brown did not deny the report but did assert that the company does not comment on rumors or speculation.

This rumor arrives in the midst of a high-profile gamer-versus-game-company lawsuits. Sony has sued PS3 hacker George Hotz after he found out how to compromise the system's security and then posted all the details online.

Sony has already been victorious in early court rulings. Hotz was ordered to turn over all of his computer equipment and forced to take down every one of his online posts that told readers how to hack their PS3s.

Hotz has said that he never intended for anyone to use his hacking tools to run unauthorized software. He says it was only meant to be used as a means of playing backed up copies of legitimately owned games. But in the eyes of Sony and the presiding judge, that's sort of like putting up a huge billboard that says "Don't Look Here!" and then acting surprised when people look at it.

This isn't the only legal battle the PS3 has faced, though. Last year, Sony removed the console's ability to run open source operating system Linux. When the PS3 was first released, one of its most intriguing features was the ability to install and basically use it as a powerful computer.

However, some gamers started using that functionality as an easy way to run unauthorized software on the PS3 system. As a result, Sony forced all Internet-connected PS3s to disable the feature.

Beyond that, Sony has issued numerous firmware updates for the PS3 to increase security and prevent any sort of unlicensed accessories from working. In so doing, it actually made some official accessories--including Mad Catz controllers--unusable.

"Third-party accessories are a cornerstone of the video game console market," Brian Matte, GameStop general manager in New York City, told TechNewsWorld. "Sony now only wants you to buy products that it makes, which can be 50 percent to 100 percent more expensive than a third-party option. The PS3 console is already pricey enough; by siphoning off options for affordable gaming peripherals and accessories, it really has an impact on the budget-conscious gamers. "

While Sony's position on hacking and accessories make business sense, it's not sitting well with some gamers who feel they have a right to tinker with products they've paid for.

Meanwhile, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT), Sony's rival in console gaming, is having the opposite reaction to similar happenings regarding its Xbox 360. Hackers have been going to town on its Kinect voice-and motion-sensing controller, creating everything from voice-controlled robots to flying, location-aware hovercrafts.

At first, Microsoft warned hackers that it did not support any unauthorized use of Kinect. But as the hacks kept getting more lavish and grand, the company backed down, saying it encouraged third-party ideas and just recently released full PC software development kits (SDKs) to developers to see what they can come up with.

Sony's issue is a bit different. With Kinect, hackers are coming up with brand-new ways to use the device. With the PS3, the hackers ' work could be used to facilitate game piracy. But in blocking that, Sony is also preventing "homebrew" development, in which developers create their own PS3 software just to see what they can make. Stifling this creativity, says DFC Intelligence President David Cole, is misguided.

"Sony is attempting to cut a small amount of illegal hacking by making its console completely blocked off. Third-party developers are getting increasingly nervous, "Cole told TechNewsWorld. "It's kind of like trying to cut off cancerous tumors tumor with a hockey stick. Hackers running pirated content is a problem, to be sure, but it's a problem that needs to be handled delicately. "

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What future could mean features of your MacBook Pro for OS X

Apple [AAPL] should introduce its super powerful all-new MacBook Pro and his iPad tomorrow 2 March (below) and leaked information as its new feature raises even more interesting ideas for what we hope to see inside Mac OS X Lion when it ships later this year.

Websites usually there are hitting with usual grainy images to show elements of these new Macs, presumably like who is leaking using mail Mac to prepare the mill to maximize advertising once the products actually appear.

What is known today?

Among other things, the new Mac Professional will offer large trackpads and supporting Intel LightPeak, (which provides for the transfer of data 10Gbits speed per second) is christened in typical Apple fashion as "Thunderbolt" and placed where the DisplayPort to be used.

Fscklog.com German site Apple claims the following features:

2.3 GHz Dual core Intel i5 processor with 3 MB L3 cache (as expected, Apple is going through the Sandy Bridge) 4 GB DDR SDRAM 1, 333MHz320GB, 5,400 rpm drive13.3 inch, processor 1.280-x-800 screenIntel 3000 HD graphics with its 384 MB of DDR memoryA SuperDrive (optical is still not so dead) Thunderbolt, Mini-display port, Firewire 800, USB 2.0, output, Ethernet, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth optical digital audio

A report yesterday, let us know that the new Mac will ship with 16 GB SSD drives on all models to store the operating system. While this statement has not been confirmed losses later by French sites usually accurate, is food for thought.

What is interesting, other than introduction are not wholly unexpected support LightPeak, here's the move to embrace SSD so greedily. Here's where speculation regarding the future of the operating system.

Leo is slim, trim and dangerous to know

What the movement teaches us is that Apple is now working to ensure the core of Mac OS is able to work comfortably when taking on a drive of 20 GB.

This means that Apple continues to implement the technologies to reduce the code needed to manage the Mac, debt supposedly from projects of miniaturization of code within the iOS team.

Switching to seize the operating system on a separate disk SSD will make for instant start up your Mac, which is nice. Of course, also hints at enormous improvements in security, as the operating system is kept in a place other than the data.

[This story was from Computerworld Holic Apple blog. Follow me on Twitter or subscribe via RSS to make sure you don't miss a beat].

This last point is important because it means that, in theory, you'll be able to launch any Mac without necessarily being able to access data of another user. Which is both good security and opens another possibility.

Apple's alleged plans for an architecture of cloud based OS claimed to include improvements to MobileMe. These improvements include the ability to store the user's Home Directory in the cloud.

Now imagine that when you start a Mac you are presented with the choice of access to any of the all user identities held the same Mac hardware, along with a new MobileMe option that allows you to log in to your account.

How this might work: the launch of a Mac, you may be able to access at home account system would launch quietly, while the content of the Mac are actually using would remain inaccessible and untouchedAs a user would be presented with a simulacrum of the desktop Mac on your machine, as it was last time synchronized with the Work on its MobileMe. projects without affecting data bit better MacThe? Work synchronizes with your own machines. Even better: you can access your Mac from any media device

This is speculation that came to mind on those claims of impending Apple division between the Church of the operating system and the maintenance of user data. It is not so far-fetched, or--PatentlyApple has confirmed that Apple has a plan for a cloud-based iteration of its technology FileVault, which can be called SafetyDeposit.

Public Lion course

We have to wait too long until we learn more about the new operating system. Presumably now in wide use within Apple itself, the company should begin broader distribution alpha software development in the coming weeks. This is likely to be limited to a selection of hand picked developers, rather than any broader distribution, but it is inevitable that you'll learn more about future OS.

After all, Apple wants to tease the market with speculation about the release, in order to maximize adoption once the software launches at the end of the summer.

Apple is eating lunch at the time of the PC industry. HP consumer PC revenues decreased by 12 percent in latest quarter. Dell slipped 8%. Apple sold 23 percent more Mac and iPad 7.3 million. Windows sales grew just 3%, mainly due to the sale of corporate PCs. This has a broader impact supply chain, Apple probably rising influence among producers.

With figures like these industry must be hoping that OS X Lion is an upgrade too far. Even as Apple modestly declares himself "King of the jungle".

Learn more about the MacBook tomorrow when Intel "will host briefing to ... press to discuss a new technology that is going to appear on the market." Apple is expected to roll out the new MacBook Pro on the same day.

Far from being delayed, news of Tablet PC, iPad 2.0 now should make an appearance (although somewhat limited quantities, implying that the now traditional U.S.-first launch Apple loves so much) on 2 March. DigiTimes sources claim that there were about "worth 1-1.5 million units of inventory iPad in channel in January, and since Apple ordered only approximately 1.8-2 million iPad in January, indicates that Apple is already set to phase out iPad first generation iPad 2 and let it take its place."

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. I was also very much like to invite you to follow me on Twitter so I can let you know when I post new relationships here before on Computerworld. And feel free to send me suggestions to jonnyATjonnyevans.com.

Gameloft: Mobile game development could hit seven figures (Appolicious)

Last week, mobile game maker Gameloft has released StarFront: collision, later in his thin veneer take on the popular PC strategy game StarCraft franchise. StarFront to $ 6.99 for the full version and has great graphics, sound control, a lot of missions and online multiplayer support for up to four players.

Gameloft is known for the level of Polish puts in its mobile games (even if the concepts are not very original), and its games, it becomes very clear: make StarFront was not an undertaking economically.

Pay for Gameloft, though. Its games are constantly getting great reviews and a lot of good press and are often considered as some of the best in their genre available on the Apple platform for iOS. They usually "New and notable Apple" section on the iTunes App Store and get featured as the game of the week--StarFront currently holds both these honors now. And Yes, it's a pretty great game.

But Gameloft is already seeing the mobile space and the App Store, in particular, becoming a bit flaky. Is a study of big-time, making the games to multiple platforms, including Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Google Android, and works more on the traditional model of a study of play. The mobile platform, on the other hand, has been opened and not enough tested that extremely small developers have been able to make a big splash with tight games, small, simple. And many of these games have been at extremely low prices

According to VP of Gameloft publishing worldwide, Gonzague de Vallois, developers will struggle to maintain the level of premium games if prices continue to remain so low. Could mean larger developers moving out of space or abandoning their games bigger, or it could mean a change in the entire system that leads to an increase in prices that could eliminate many smaller developers.

Speaking to the Pocket Gamer at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, de Vallois these costs for developing titles of quality furniture--at least for Gameloft--are already increasing, while the consumer is always used for triple-a titles like those created by large companies like Gameloft game, Electronic Arts and Capcom for bargain-bin price--$ 0.99, actually.

Gameloft is by boat is a precarious. On the one hand, and other major games publishers are creating premium games for the iPhone. Most new games of great Gameloft are bigger than many other iPhone and launch games for the price of $ 6.99. That accepts implicitly its games out of competition with things like angry birds--users looking to buy StarFront at least know something about video games. Angry birds, meanwhile, draws people that aren't necessarily the players and its low price point is a part of this.

But de Vallois thinks that Apple and other developers must do more to highlight premium purchases and push away from the App Store present a picture of mobile gaming that should be super-cheap, small and mostly forgettable. He remembered the Christmas sale of EA in 2010, the company slashed an enormous number of its games up to $ 0.99 for the holidays, partly to boost sales and partly to grab waiting for a huge portion of the Top 10 charts of App Store while they were frozen for about a week. Apple has approved the sale, and Gameloft thinks it's the wrong move. Here's a quote from de Vallois in history of Pocket Gamer:

"This is what we have to go forward because the new generation of games, there will be booting is evidence of seven digits. It is not profitable to sell these games at 99 c. we have a bit of time before giving the power of PS3, but yes, will increase the cost. Will reach 30, 40 million as Black Ops? Not tomorrow, but maybe some day. "

It is an interesting point, to be sure. Something to keep in mind, however, is that Gameloft could be regarded as a member of the "old school" gaming developers. Makes games for iOS which are like video games--in fact, actually takes video games ' other concepts, such as StarFront and turns them into iPhone games--but you could argue that really doesn't do mobile games.

Games for mobile phones are more akin to the offerings of titles such as Ninja fruit and cut the rope, or The Halfbot blocks Cometh. Developer of blocks, Halfbot, is only two guys. The games that these developers are not really as the types of games that you get on other systems--they're a bit unique in their concepts and presentation at the mobile space. That's not really the kind of games Gameloft, EA and Capcom create (although this is not always the case). Larger developers are making games for players of video; smaller developers are creating them for iPhone owners. That is a great distinction.

Research firm IHS has recently announced that the mobile app is a market of $ 2.2 billion, with Apple dominates the 82 percent of it and games that make up just better than half of the total volume. That makes the mobile gaming a billion dollar market now, according to Pocket Gamer.

Boils down to a difference of markets for Gameloft. The company must recognize that people want to sell video games--standard players who happen to own and like to play on a smartphone--is not huge as a demographic as the casual crowd, or you must find a better way to market to those players are less well paid in video games. But it is doubtful that Apple is going to change things, because they're pulling the 30% market share of iOS 1.76 billion dollars, if they come from StarFront or angry birds.

Success of the App Store was built largely on accessibility applications--is unlikely going to change. If Gameloft wants to keep producing its triple-a titles, high cost, is going to have to live with that, or find a way to make the random phone player in type of player who can appreciate and spend lots of time, with a title more involved as StarFront.

Flyer for HTC could be a Standout in the crowded market Tablet

I had a close up look at the new HTC Flyer HTC tablet at an event here at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

HTC wouldn't let anybody touch the new tablet today, but a rep gave me a close up demo and showed me what I wanted to see. I liked what I saw. You can see a demo that the embedded video.

The tablet device is smaller than the size of a Galaxy Samsung than an iPad. The screen is 7 inches across. It's also lightweight, weighs only 530 grams lighter than all other tablets of new that I saw at the show. For me, the size of the flyer and its seven-inch screen looks right. But this is a matter of taste.

Hands on with the HTC flyer

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The Flyer has a nice body, satin and tapering to the edge, which makes the device seem even smaller. The card, on the contrary, has squared edges.

But as more Android tablets came out, it's getting harder and harder for Tablet PC makers differentiate their products from others in the market. The main point of differentiation so far seems to be the size of the device--this may only last as long as they appear in tablets of all shapes and sizes. But HTC has done some stuff with the UI of Android that I had not seen on other tablets.

As you'll see in the video, HTC has built a special version of the Tablet his sense UI on top of OS Gingerbread (2.4) for Android. Turns the gingerbread interface looks pretty flat in a 3D environment with a lot of movement. For example, the application time shows a beautiful shot of clouds floating by. When scrolling through book titles in the app, it seems that you are running a virtual cube with books on every surface.

HTC reaches back to yesteryear by including a stylus pen with the Flyer. Don't worry, it is not necessary to operate the device. The pen is primarily used in the Application Notes: you can draw out ideas Blackboard style-and talk, while you're doing-and the app keeps track of everything that happens. Or you can just back up the whole thing for Evernote.

You can also use the stylus to make comments on web pages or e-books and share them with your friends. Pretty cool.

The tablet will be available in the second quarter of this year, and wireless carriers in the United States will make their ads the latest pricing and release dates.

IBM Watson in danger! first day: could do better

By Richi Jennings. February 15, 2011.

The first day of the IBM supercomputer game of jeopardy! It's over. Watson has reasonably well, but his game was far from perfect. Stay tuned for another two days. In IT Blogwatch, bloggers wonder, "what is Watson?"

Your humble blogwatcher curated by these bits bloggy for your entertainment. Not to mention the shortest path between two Wikipedia articles ...
(IBM)

Dean Takahashi reports:

Competitor Ruttner linked with human Brad Watson, a supercomputer built by IBM. Another rival, Ken Jennings, is not far behind. ... The match has demonstrated that artificial intelligence technology of IBM is a force to be reckoned with, and in the future is only going to get better. ... Some scientists from IBM Research 25 worldwide struggled for four years on Watson, who is spiritual successor of IBM's Deep Blue, the supercomputer that chess master Gary Kasparov in 1997 defeated.
...
At the beginning of the second half, Watson had $ 5200, Rutter had $ 1000 and Jennings was only $ 200. Then, the man made their comeback, beating the buzzer Watson a couple of times. And Watson wrong answers in the second half.

Timothy Prickett-Morgan adds:

Jennings, who once had a winning streak of 74-game Jeopardy, is known to be one with the beep, but Watson cleaned his clock before the first commercial break. ... As a few more incorrect assumptions Watson, Brad Rutter – which has won more dough than anyone else playing Jeopardy – came alive and started transferring money.

Elizabeth a. Harrisspeaks of errors Watson:

"Elegance, elegant, or students who all graduates in the same year," read the question. "What is chic?" Watson replied.
...
"What is the class?" Mr. Rutter said.
...
At the end of the turn on Monday, Mr. Rutter and Watson were tied to 5000 dollars each. Mr. Jennings ... slunk off in time slot Wheel of Fortune with only $ 2,000. The winner of this contest three days will be awarded $ 1 million.

Gordon Haffcomments on the avian influenza situation:

Speech understanding proved to be really difficult. ... In fact, when IBM Watson takes on past samples of "danger" in a televised contest beginning tonight, the questions presented to it as text rather than speech. But answering questions often twisted used on "danger" is hard enough without spoken word processing.
...
Watson is in no real sense of thinking and the use of the term "agreement" in the context of Watson should be taken as anthropomorphism, rather than a literal description. ... Watson is part of the project DeepQA of IBM. The QA stands for question answering. ... In association with Carnegie Mellon University, IBM created the Open progress of question answering (OAQA). ... Among other things, this initiative aims to enable the software to adapt Watson of new domains of data and the types of problem.

Michael cooneycalls "The ultimate in man v. machine moments":

If the preliminary test sessions are any indication, you give the supercomputers of natural language known as Watson of IBM ... Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter a serious run for their money this week. ... Watson software runs on IBM POWER7 servers are optimized to handle the huge number of tasks that must run fast speed to analyze the complex language and provide correct answers to jeopardy! clues. ... Jeopardy! requires forms of reasoning are very sophisticated, using metaphors, puns, and puzzles that go beyond the basic understanding of the language. As a matter of challenge, Jeopardy! stretch the State of the art.

 
And finally ...
Find the shortest path between two Wikipedia articles

Don't miss out on IT Blogwatch:

You can also read Richi full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.

Co-founder of PayPal: Facebook could be "the most important companies in the world"

Max Rafael Levchin, co-founder and former CTO of PayPal, has had some good things to say on Facebook, today, the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference in San Francisco. Levchin and Bill Gurley of Benchmark Capital has responded to questions about "game-changing technology," one of which was the unprecedented growth of Facebook and its impact. Levchin reportedly claimed that Facebook could become the "most valuable companies in the world" if it can successfully replace core messaging "," according to Mashable:

"Facebook has monopolized all but white pages correctly," Levchin said, explaining that, when you want to find and connect with someone, go to Facebook. Unlike white pages, however, Facebook has also information on a person's interests, tastes and social graph. That alone has turned Facebook into a company of 50 billion dollars. However, Levchin says that becoming the repository for personal information that could lead to "" Facebook successfully replacing the core messaging. If it becomes the primary communication platform on the web, could become the most valuable company in the world.

As a side note, the giant social networking certainly wants to pull it off. Rumors say executives want to see Facebook to turn the company around the world the first trillion dollars.

Levchin founded another company in 2004: Slide, a personal media sharing to social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook. Google bought the company in August 2010 for 182 million dollars, and so now works for the search giant, as one of the many people of the company with the title "vice president of Engineering."

It is therefore no wonder that Levchin was quick to point out that Facebook should not be confused with demand generation, or request Discovery (search thinks). The Ukrainian-BORN computer scientist and entrepreneur says that he had read that signals social graph are not particularly effective in optimizing search related advertising. I would say that this may be for today, but what's coming tomorrow has simply not yet materialized. Facebook has some of the best engineering talent in the world.

Emil is currently employed at Research in Motion. Has no investment.