HP TouchPad now cheaper than the iPad

HP has slashed the price of the TouchPad so that the budget model is now cheaper that the budget iPad.

And it’s a hefty price cut of $100.

The $100 price cut sees the 16GB Wi-Fi TouchPad go from $499 to $399, with the 32GB WiFi model now at $499. Compare this to the iPad, where the 16GB WiFi model is at the original price of $499.

According to HP senior vice president Stephen DiFranco the reason for the price cut is that HP was ‘pleased with customer response’ to a $100 instant-savings promotion that it had recently run.

My guess here is that HP is looking to boost sales rather than profit in order to make the platform more attractive to developers - more developers means more apps, which might lead to more interest from the buying public. Apps are what’s missing on the TouchPad’s webOS platform, and without buoyant sales, developers are likely to stay away, which is bad for the app ecosystem.

I still think that the iPad is the best tablet out there, but the TouchPad is now fast becoming a worthy rival. If you’re not a fan of Apple, then you might want to take a look at it.

That said, a TouchPad price drop is unlikely to affect iPad sales that much … boost in TouchPad sales is likely to come at the expense of Android sales.

AT&T bulks up mobile security

AT&T plans to offer more security offerings to consumers and businesses through its partnership with Juniper.

(Credit: AT&T)

AT&T is getting serious about security.

The Dallas telecommunications giant said today it was partnering with Juniper Mobile to offer a new security platform and additional services designed to protect its mobile customers. AT&T will begin selling the platform to businesses later this year, and says it plans a consumer-grade version next year.

The recent security breaches, at companies such as Monsanto and Sony and its PlayStation network, as well as at law enforcement and other government agencies, have raised red flags on the need for better protection. While PCs have long enjoyed an array of security applications, smartphones, which are essentially computers in their own right, have lagged behind in adequate protection.

AT&T's announcement with Juniper could potentially shore up what has been a potential vulnerability on the mobile side and offer consumers and businesses better protection. The platform is part of what the company calls a comprehensive security offering integrating both wireline and wireless security policies for consumer, business and government customers.

Juniper last year acquired S-Mobile Systems, which offered smartphone security to high-profile government and corporate officials, to cater to this area.

"Mobile security is the 'next frontier' for our continued effort to mitigate cyber-threats and to help protect our customers' information," said Ed Amoroso, AT&T's chief security officer.

AT&T isn't the only one getting into the security game. Sprint Nextel yesterday said it would begin selling an Android version of the McAfee security software for smartphones and tablets.

The AT&T Mobile Security application, which is based on Juniper's Junos Pulse system, will allow companies using the platform to maintain compliance with government regulations, enforce their own security policies, manage personal or corporate-owned devices, monitor and control applications, and protect against viruses, malware.

The upcoming consumer version will also guard against viruses and malware and offer better controls over applications.

"Teaming with AT&T to bring this unique and comprehensive mobile security solution to market will enable a vast number of consumers and enterprises to have state-of-art security features in their mobile life and be better protected from malicious threats," said Mark Bauhaus, an executive in charge of device and network services for Juniper.

University of Wisconsin hacked: 75,000 social security numbers, student names exposed

The University of Wisconsin’s Milwaukee campus has been subject to a malware attack, which has exposed names and social security numbers of students — past and present — and staff alike.

Malware was discovered on a database server, which contained 75,000 social security numbers, and was shut down immediately after the malware was found.

While law enforcement and school investigators have yet to find evidence that data was stolen, the university sent out a letter to those who may have been affected by the breach.

In a statement, the vice-chancellor — the university boss — believes that the motive was theft of research project data; data and research programmes the university itself excels in. Staff found back-door malware, which can scan and view documents on a server, which is used by many of the university’s departments to store crucial research.

One of the concerns is that the malware could have had access to other servers, indicating the likelihood of a wider hack.

The malware is thought to have been installed on May 25th, and local and federal law enforcement were called in to investigate. On June 30th, however, it was discovered that the database containing social security numbers was compromised, also.

University officials, via a notice on their website, warn students to monitor their financial information and credit card statements to be on the safe side.

This news comes only days after it was discovered that users’ data, including social security numbers — predictable in nature — can be taken from sites like Facebook and other publicly government sites.

While data in this case may not have been downloaded — only exposed to hackers by malware — it once again calls questions on the data that universities have on its students.

It is, however, another reminder to users of Facebook and other social networking sites not to make birthday and date of birth data available on the web. While though it may be benign on in singular form, hacks like these, which include your full name, make you even more vulnerable to identity theft and bank account hacks more likely


Source : zdnet

Review: iRadar for iPhone

iRadar ($129) is a radar/laser detector from 50 year old consumer electronics firm Cobra Electronics. What makes it different from other detectors is that it banishes the traditional display from the front of the unit, save a single, multicolor LED. In its place iRadar uses your iPhone’s gorgeous touchscreen as a surrogate display — over Bluetooth.

Instead of adding a touchscreen to detector, Cobra offloaded the detector display to the 3.5-inch color LCD in your pocket. It’s a brilliant move too. Why pay for another screen on your detector when the one you already own is infinitely better?

The good news is that iRadar is a fully-functional, standalone radar detector, so you’re still protected if you forget your iPhone. You will not, however, get the full spectrum of traffic threat alerts, GPS coordinates and additional features without it.

The Cobra iRadar is a good radar/laser detector, but when paired with an iPhone running the iRadar app, it becomes a comprehensive speed management tool and early warning system. iRadar connects to your iPhone via Bluetooth and allows you to view and hear radar alerts, control settings, log alert history and be warned of upcoming speed and redlight cameras.

One of the nice touches is that Cobra added an extra USB port on the iRadar 12v automotive adapter allowing you to connect another USB charger (like your iPhone’s dock cable) to the adapter while it’s in use powering the iRadar. I wish that iRadar was battery-powered (like my Escort Solo) to avoid having another power cable running down my dash (the other is my Garmin GPS), but when asked about it, Cobra responded that iRadar requires more power that an external battery can adequately provide.

The iOS app adds a new dimension to radar detectors, providing a lot more information than possible on a standalone model. Cobra borrows the expensive display and GPS receiver in your iPhone and, in exchange, provides most of the features of a high-end ($300-$400) detector for a more wallet-friendly price. iRadar is available for $129 from the Cobra Store and at the Apple Store and the companion iRadar app for iOS is free.

Source : cnet

iPhone 5 copycat 'HiPhone 5' available in China

Although you might be waiting for the iPhone 5, some folks in China have already gotten their hands on a wannabe copycat.

The country's top online-retail company, Taobao, is selling the "HiPhone 5" to customers for 210 yuan ($33). The device seems to feature a design similar to that of both the black and the white iPhone 4, but it also comes in red and pink.

That option, however, is apparently the "cheap" version of the device. According to Reuters, citing a report in China's Metro Express paper, some shop owners are selling "genuine" HiPhone 5 devices that reflect the rumored features of Apple's upcoming iPhone 5, including a slimmed-down design and rounded edges. The more-expensive versions can retail for as much as 850 yuan ($132).

China has long been criticized as a home for faked electronics. The HiPhone, for example, has been around for years now. In 2008, a version of the device was made available that closely resembled Apple's iPhone 3G. The packaging for the devices also mimicked that of Apple's.

In this case, the HiPhone 5 has beaten the actual iPhone 5 to store shelves. Over the last several months, there's been a constant rumbling of rumors suggesting that the purported next version of Apple's smartphone could launch in September or October. Some rumors claim that the new smartphone will come with major updates, including an edge-to-edge display. But as in the past, Apple has not given any indication of what any new device might offer or when it might launch.

The HiPhone 5's arrival follows last month's reports of fake Apple Stores cropping up in China. The stores featured Apple logos, products, and a layout that matched the iPhone maker's real retail outlets. Just yesterday, however, China Daily reported that Beijing was cracking down on the stores by banning the unauthorized retailers from using Apple's logos or products for advertising purposes.

Apple did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Intel creates $300 million Ultrabook fund

Intel on Wednesday rolled out a $300 million investment fund designed to bolster the technology ecosystem surrounding its ultrabook designs.

The ultrabook, introduced at Computex, is designed to be similar to Apple’s MacBook Air while blending together features found in laptops and tablets. What’s unclear is whether the ultrabook will be the future of laptops or another netbook category that shines for a few years then fades.

Intel is putting its money behind the ultrabook bet and earlier this week rolled out reference designs to OEMs.

A reference spec for two devices goes like this:

• An 18mm thick device with a screen size between 11-13-inches with a reference BOM (bill of materials) of between $475 - $650
• A 21mm thick device with a 14-17-inch screen with a reference BOM (bill of materials) of between $493 - $710

The Intel Capital Ultrabook Fund will invest in hardware and software companies focused on user interface via sensors and touch, longer battery life, storage capacity gains and new designs. The fund will invest the $300 million over three to four years.

The chip giant is planning the ultrabook rollout in three phases. First it will roll out its latest Intel Core chips. The next chip family, dubbed Ivy Bridge, will roll out in the first half of 2012. These chips are designed to improve the power and performance equation.

According to Intel, the PC industry has been collaborating on the ultrabook effort.