Research

People are still the biggest security vulnerability

There is an old saying in the security world stating that people are the weakest link in the security chain. Here is a bit of data that reinforces this ancient security adage.

ESG Research recently conducted a project focused on confidential data security that will be published soon. However, here are some interesting advance results that support this venerable security dictum. ESG asked 308 North American and European security professionals from large organizations (i.e. 1,000 employees or more) a number of questions about data security risks, policies, and technology safeguards. When asked to define the most important measures … Read more

Microsoft releases Web translating widget

LAS VEGAS--Microsoft's research unit on Wednesday released a tool that allows Web developers to let users translate their Web site into other languages without having to leave the page.

The company said a tech preview version of the Microsoft Translator widget is available for download, allowing developers to offer users a pull-down menu to translate a Web page in multiple languages.

The main benefit of the widget is it allows users to translate the page without having to leave a site, unlike other approaches which require a user to go to another Web site first.

Microsoft announced the translation … Read more

RIM changes tune on employee calls

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion has sought to clarify what it claims is confusion over whether the company records all employee telephone conversations in the interest of maintaining control over intellectual property.

During a visit to Sydney in early March, RIM Chief Information Officer Robin Bienfait said that all actions carried out on RIM's internal network were logged, meaning some employees may want their own private handset if they wanted to have personal conversations. "Everything. I record everything," she said.

But a RIM spokesperson, in a follow-up statement, said Bienfait's comments had been misunderstood.

"Robin … Read more

The traits of people with computer-like memories

It's one thing to have a photographic memory. It's quite another to have something called a super-autobiographical memory.

If your brain is wired super-autobiographically, you really are the weird of the weird. As well as the wired of the wired.

These are people who remember almost everything. Dates, times, names. Yes, even former lovers. The sort of people who remember that they were born on a Wednesday, lost their virginity on a Sunday and were arrested for the first time on a Monday.

And, according to ABC News, there are only four of them. Or, at least, four … Read more

HP Labs gazes into the future

SAN FRANCISCO--Memristors are arguably the most important thing HP Labs is working on--it could fundamentally change the memory chip industry--but its director has no problem talking about it openly.

While most hardcore research on future products is kept under heavy guard until it can be patented, HP Labs is insisting that forward-thinking technology research has to be done collaboratively and (mostly) in the open.

HP Labs underwent a major overhaul a year ago, shortly after bringing in new director Prith Banerjee. He whittled down the vast number of projects his researchers were devoted to, and laid out eight very specific … Read more

Outlook for cell phone makers worsens

The global economic crisis is taking its toll on the cell phone business, with sales even in the hot smartphone category also expected to slow in 2009.

Two major market research firms published figures for the fourth quarter of 2008 this week. And they each have bleak news for the cell phone industry.

IDC said it expects the volume of all mobile handsets to decline by 8.3 percent in 2009. And it expects sales of hot smartphones, like Apple's iPhone and Research In Motion's BlackBerry phones, to slow to about 3.4 percent growth. Smartphones have been … Read more

Nokia retains top spot in smartphone market

Finnish manufacturer Nokia shipped the most smartphones in 2008, but its worldwide market share continues to decrease as rivals roll out popular, high-profile handsets, according to Gartner. It also said Apple and Research In Motion commanded some of the biggest year-over-year gains at Nokia's expense, with HTC showing a healthy increase as well.

According to the research firm, Nokia sold 60.9 million smartphones last year for a total market share of 43.7 percent. That's more than double the market share of its closest competitor, Research In Motion, which commanded 16.6 percent.

But even as Nokia continues to claim the biggest piece of cell phone pie, its outlook is mixed. From 2007, Nokia's smartphone sales grew by just 0.8 percent, and its market share dropped from 49.4 percent. While Gartner predicts that the company's low-end smartphones will continue to remain competitive, its higher-end N series handsets are facing stiff competition.

Thanks to devices like the BlackBerry Bold and the BlackBerry Storm, RIM's market share went from 9.6 percent in 2007 to 16.6 percent in 2008. It also boosted overall sales by 96.7 percent. … Read more

Palm boosts stock offering, nets $83.9 million

Palm shares rose sharply in early morning trading Tuesday, after the smartphone maker increased the size of its secondary offering and netted $83.9 million.

Palm resold 23.13 million shares, as part of a follow-on offering it announced the previous day. Although the company had initially anticipated offering only 18.5 million shares held by its investor Elevation Partners, Palm added more stock to the deal, which it priced at $6 a share.

Elevation received $49 million from the offering, while Palm netted $83.9 million. Palm plans to use the proceeds for working capital, as well as for … Read more

Stem cell order tests science-politics relationship

President Obama's decision to allow federal tax dollars to be used with embryonic stem cell research does more than reverse his predecessor's policies and fulfill a long-standing campaign promise. It also reopens the debate about how well science and politics can, or should, mix.

On Monday, Obama signed an executive order allowing research on more stem cell lines than the Bush administration had permitted in its political compromise eight years ago.

"Promoting science isn't just about providing resources, it's also about protecting free and open inquiry," Obama said. He added that such research must … Read more

Offline browser stores research

Researchers or students will find this offline browser an easy-to-use tool for storing info from online sources: links, photos, and entire or partial Web pages. We ran into an odd glitch during our tests, but it didn't seem to affect CyberKeeper's performance in any way.

The program installs slowly, but once it's up and running, it launches an attractively designed interface and a floating toolbar that complements its features. (A further slowdown at installation will occur for those who will also need to install Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Service Pack, which is required for running this … Read more