China taps IBM mainframe for online services

An IT services company in China has picked an IBM mainframe to provide online services for up to 300 million citizens, including many in rural areas who will access the services through kiosks in community centers and other public places, IBM said.
The mainframe acts as an integration point for services delivered by several departments and organizations throughout Fujian province in southeast China, including health care, Social Security, banking and education services.
Local service provider Yi Lian Zhong Information Technology picked the mainframe partly because it can handle the high volume of transactions the system is expected to generate, according to IBM.
"Scale is considerably different in China. A small bank is 100 million customers," said Bill Reeder, IBM worldwide zEnterprise Cloud and Linux sales leader.
The system provides citizens with access to the various services through a single Web portal. They swipe their identity card at the kiosks and can pay bills, look for jobs, submit housing applications and collect farming and fuel subsidies.
YLZ picked a z10 Business Class mainframe, one of the smaller models aimed at mid-sized companies. It's the size of a large refrigerator and can do the work of 232 x86 servers, IBM said when it launched the system a few years ago.
The mainframe is supplementing Sparc-based systems that were running out of capacity, Reeder said. The Sparc systems continue to run the portal site, using Oracle's database and WebLogic middleware.
Software connectors link the mainframe to each local department providing the services. YLZ will extend the system from Fujian to seven other provinces, covering about 300 million people, according to IBM.
IBM was keen to publicize the deal, which shows how developing countries are adopting mainframes to support large-scale online services. It has also announced mainframe deals in India and Namibia, in southern Africa.

IBM said more than a third of the new customers for its z196 mainframe, which started shipping last year, are in growth markets, or countries outside of Japan, western Europe and North America.

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Dell and Baidu tie up for smartphones in China

Dell has confirmed it is one of a number of companies partnering with Baidu, China's top search engine, on mobile devices.

A Dell spokesperson said the company was developing smartphones that would run Baidu's new software platform for the Chinese market.
Baidu announced the platform, Baidu Yi, on Friday.
Many Chinese internet companies are trying to increase their presence in the mobile market.
"The partnership is to provide users with an out-of-box experience, so Baidu Yi will be installed," said Dell spokesperson Adeline Lee.
Baidu Yi is Android-based, but Ms Lee did not say which operating system would be installed on the Dell smartphones.
Baidu executives have not ruled out the possibility of releasing their own operating system at a later date.
Baidu's announcement also said that it was working with a number of developers and handset makers as part of an alliance to support the Baidu Yi platform.

Ms Lee would not give a date for the release of the Dell smartphones.

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Iranians hit in email hack attack

Up to 300,000 Iranians may have had their Google email monitored using security certificates stolen from Dutch firm DigiNotar.

The figure came from a report into the breach at DigiNotar which let attackers generate hundreds of fake certificates.
The report suggests the certificates were used in Iran to eavesdrop on email accounts.
The list has been passed to Google so it can tell victims they may have come under government scrutiny.
On 30 August, security firm Fox-IT was called in to analyse the sequence of events at DigiNotar that led to the security breach. It published its interim report late on 5 September.
DigiNotar is one of many firms which help to ensure that no-one is eavesdropping on secure communications between users and the sites they visit.
It does this via security certificates which act as a guarantee of identity so people can be sure they are connecting to the site they think they are.
Anyone armed with a rogue certificate for a web firm or service can impersonate that organisation and get at communications that would otherwise be impossible to read because they are encrypted.

DigiNotar first took action to revoke fake security certificates on 19 July when it found that hackers had got access to its internal network.

The Fox-IT report suggests that the hackers were able to access those internal systems for a month before DigiNotar took action.
The first exploration by the hackers took place on 6 June, suggests the report, and the first rogue certificates were issued on 10 July.
"The network has been severely breached," said the report. It said security procedures at DigiNotar were clearly lacking because the tools the hackers used and installed on network computers can be detected by standard anti-virus software.
All evidence gathered by Fox-IT suggests that the attacks were carried out to help surveillance of Iranian net users. More than 99% of the 300,000 IP addresses known to have connected to Google's email service with the help of a fake security certificate are in Iran.
Fox-IT noted that the use of the fake certificates would also have given attackers access to small text files known as cookies that Google and many others use to recognise regular visitors.
As a result, Fox-IT said: "It would be wise for all users in Iran to at least logout and login but even better change passwords."
DigiNotar has called on the Dutch government to help it recover following the attack. In its wake Google and many others have issued updates to ensure that the fake certificates are no longer recognised.
DigiNotar is the second security certificate firm to suffer at the hands of hackers. In March 2011, Comodo revealed that it had been hit and pointed the finger at Iran.
Now evidence is emerging that the same hackers were behind both attacks according to a message posted to the pastebin website. In the message, the hacker or hackers claim to have access to four other security certificate firms.

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New York Times' magic mirror helps you get dressed, puts the 'wall' in 'paywall' (video)

Forget crosswords and Krugman, because the New York Times has created a new bathroom companion that looks infinitely more entertaining than either of them. Like some of its Snow White-style predecessors, the Times' "magic mirror" prototype uses Microsoft Kinect to detect and follow your movements, while deploying voice recognition technology to execute your commands. With this omniscient slab affixed to your wall, you can surf the web, flip through your wardrobe and send reassuring e-mails to your teenage daughter, whom you should have driven to school a good 30 minutes ago. An RFID reader, meanwhile, can recognize tagged pharmaceuticals or other products, allowing you to instantly access information on your prescription meds by placing them in front of the reflective LCD. You could also use the mirror to browse through the Times' full slate of articles and video content, meaning you can read about extravagant weekend getaways and urban gentrification from the standing comfort of your sink. Unfortunately for all mankind, the magic mirror is still in the prototype phase and the NYT's Research & Development Group has yet to offer a timetable for its release -- but you can see it in action for yourself, after the break.

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Suspected LulzSec and Anonymous members arrested in UK

Four men have been arrested in separate parts of the UK by police investigating the hacker groups Anonymous and LulzSec.

The suspects - from Doncaster, Warminster, Northampton and London - are being questioned by Scotland Yard's e-Crime unit.
Their arrests are part of a wider operation involving UK law enforcement and the FBI.
At the same time, 14 suspected members of Anonymous appeared in a US court.
Authorities around the world have been rounding up suspects following a wave of attacks by both groups on major corporations and government institutions.
Amazon, PayPal, the CIA, US Senate and the UK's Serious Organised Crime Agency have all suffered either intrusions or denial of service attacks, designed to take their websites offline.

Anonymous is known as a hacktivist group, pursuing its agenda through online attacks

Mass arrests In the latest round of British arrests, police detained 20-year-old Christopher Weatherhead from Northampton and 26-year-old Ashley Rhodes from Kennington, near London.
The pair are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 7 September.
Detectives also arrested a 24-year-old man from Doncaster, and a 20-year-old from Wiltshire for conspiring to commit offences under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.
In the United States, a mass court appearance saw 14 suspected Anonymous members appear before a judge in San Jose, California.
All of them denied being involved in a denial of service attack on PayPal's website in December 2010.
Anonymous had publicly declared its intent to target both PayPal and Amazon for, what the group perceived as, their complicity in isolating whistle blowing website Wikileaks.
Following the leaking of confidential US State Department memos, PayPal stopped processing donations to Wikileaks, while Amazon kicked the site off its web hosting service.

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LG introduces a premium new 3D notebook

With 3D Dual Webcam and an Array of Powerful 3D Features, LG A530 Adds Another Dimension to 3D Experience

LG Electronics has unveiled the LG A530, a premium new 3D notebook offering all the thrills of seeing, shooting and sharing 3D content. A 3D dual webcam above the 15.6-inch Full HD 3D LCD screen lets users shoot their own 3D videos and photos.

“With 3D becoming ever more popular, the logical next step is to let users make their own 3D content and watch it on a top-quality 3D screen. And that’s just what our new A530 does,” said J.J. Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of LG Electronics PC Business Unit. “LG is already a leader in the ever-growing world of 3D technology. With the LG A530’s wide range of line-ups including 3D HD in addition to 3D Full HD, LG is already leading the 3D notebook market.”

Full 3D Creation with Dual Webcam
Whereas most 3D notebooks offer only 3D viewing, the LG A530 provides a full 3D experience, with the ability to see, shoot and share via the 3D dual webcam. With the 3D dual webcam making it simple to create 3D content, the LG A530 delivers an integrated 3D experience allowing simple playback of 3D content from the notebook to LG’s other 3D devices, such as smartphones, TVs and monitors.

The LG A530 also lets users easily share 3D content with their friends and family by uploading it to YouTube. And the built-in 3D Space Software – LG’s new integrated user interface that makes it easy to access 3D video, photos, games and movies – presenting users with an even wider range of 3D options.

Thanks to LG’s proprietary Film Patterned Retarder (FPR) technology, which produces 3D images that are entirely free of flicker, LG claims users can watch 3D content on the LG A530 for extended periods without worrying about eye strain or dizziness.

The LG A530 includes a free pair each of the lightweight 3D glasses and clip-ons, so owners can watch 3D content in complete comfort straight away. In addition, the LG A530 features an SRS Wide 3D Sound system for truly immersive audio.

To guarantee exceptional overall performance in addition to its 3D functions, the LG A530 packs a second-generation Intel Core i7 processor with up to 8GB memory. The new processor delivers 60 percent faster speeds and double the power for playing HD media than the previous Intel Core i7 processor. In addition, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M graphics card boasts 20 percent better performance than NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M, for the ultimate experience in 3D games and movies.

A built-in solid-state drive (SSD) complements the LG A530’s high-capacity HDD drive, so boot-up times are reported to be between 20 and 30 percent faster than on competing notebooks. The speed and convenience is further bolstered by fingerprint access for quick log-in and USB 3.0 transfers data 10 times faster than USB 2.0.

LG will be rolling out the premium LG A530 in Europe, the Middle East and Africa this month followed by other markets soon after.

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New Tablets from Sony

Friday, 02 September 2011 22:37 Sony has announced the market launch of its first two “Sony Tablet” models.
Available in Europe from the end of September 2011, “Sony Tablet” S is optimised for “rich media entertainment” on its 23.8cm (9.4”) touchscreen display. With the NVIDIA Tegra 2 mobile processor on board, the “Sony Tablet” S lets users enjoy the web plus their favourite content and applications on its large high resolution screen. Weighing 598g (approx.) (Wi-Fi version), its asymmetric design conveys a sense of lightness for hours of comfortable use.
Also available from November, “Sony Tablet” P is geared for “mobile communication entertainment”, with a folding design and dual screens for maximum portability. Weighing 372g (approx.), “Sony Tablet” P features the same NIVIDIA Tegra 2 mobile processor and offers connectivity via Wi-Fi and 3G mobile networks. Dual 13.9cm (5.5") touchscreen displays can be folded to achieve dimensions of just 79x180x26mm (approx.) to fit in a pocket.
Wi-Fi only models are equipped with Android™ 3.1 (To be upgradable to Android 3.2) and Wi-Fi/3G models are equipped with Android 3.2.
Both “Sony Tablet” models feature front and rear facing cameras for still and video image capture. USB 2.0 port and SD card slot simplify direct file transfers from other devices such as PCs, digital cameras or camcorders.

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Panasonic Launches Compact Twin-Lens 2D/3D Handheld Camcorder

Panasonic has launched the HDC-Z10000, what they claim to be the world's first integrated twin-lens 2D/3D camcorder that is officially compatible with the AVCHD 3D/Progressive standard. The new camcorder provides broadcasting image quality for 2D and 3D filming, manual operations for professional use and uncompromising audio quality.

The HDC-Z10000 "bridges the gap between the amateur and professional user in both quality and cost", say Panasonic, making it ideal for filmmaking, creative arts student and videographers or anyone looking to capture broadcast quality footage.

Featuring Panasonic’s unique Double 3MOS System for recording high-quality Full-HD 2D and 3D images. This advanced system mounts two 3MOS sensors (with an effective pixel count for 6.57 megapixels) for excellent colour and detail reproduction.

The two large-diameter F1.5 lenses independently mounted on the left and right are treated with Nano Surface Coating, for the first time on a camcorder, significantly reducing ghosting and flare to produce crisp, clear image rendering.

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Sony to sell backup battery for TVs, home appliances

Sony announced Monday it will sell a large power pack to run home appliances when the electricity goes out.
The boxy device sits just over a foot (35 centimeters) high and can run a 40-inch LCD TV for about two and a half hours or charge a smartphone 30 times, according to the company. The "Home Energy Server" will initially launch in Japan next month, with a target price of 150,000 yen (US$2,000), and will eventually be sold internationally as well.
Power outages are an ongoing concern in Japan nearly six months after a massive earthquake and tsunami devastated a large swathe of the country's eastern seaboard, leaving 20,000 dead or missing. The twin disasters knocked out power in many areas, triggering meltdowns at a key nuclear reactor as well as safety shutdowns at others. Power companies have implemented rolling blackouts when demand for electricity outstrips supply.
"We'd been planning a product like this for some time, but accelerated our launch in light of the March 11 earthquake. We originally were going to launch in 2012 or 2013," said Sony spokesman Jin Tomihari.
The power pack takes around 6 hours to charge and provides about 300 watt-hours on a full charge, with two power sockets on its front end. Tomihari said the company tried to make it suitable for use in disasters, printing the instructions directly on the device and making it relatively portable, weighing about 26.5 pounds (12 kilograms).
It uses lithium-ion batteries built by Sony that will last over 10 years with daily use, the company said.
Sony previously announced a higher capacity model for business use, but this is its first such product aimed at everyday households. The company is currently displaying the product at international trade shows.
"We are planning to launch this product in other locations, but have not decided on any specific country or date," Tomihari said.

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Turkish hackers strike websites with DNS hack

A Turkish hacking group managed to tamper with Internet addressing records over the weekend, redirecting dozens of websites belonging to companies including Microsoft, UPS and Vodafone to a different web pages controlled by the hackers.
According to Zone-H, a website that tracks defacements, 186 websites were redirected to a page controlled by "Turkguvenligi." A message on the redirect page read: "4 Sept. We Turkguvenligi declare this day as World Hack­ers Day - Have fun ;) h4ck y0u."
All of the websites were registered through NetNames, which is part of NBT group. NetNames provides DNS (Domain Name System) services for the websites, which is the system used to translates a domain name into an IP address that can be called into a web browser.
Turkguvenligi managed to hack NetName's DNS servers through a SQL injection attack, which involves putting commands into a web-based form to see if the back-end database responds. If those commands aren't scanned for malicious code, an attacker could gain access to the system.
In the case of NetNames, Turkguvenligi put a redelegation order into the company's system and changed the address of the master DNS servers that served data for the websites, according to a statement from NetNames. The attack occurred around 9 p.m. BST on Sunday.
"The rogue name server then served incorrect DNS data to redirect legitimate web traffic intended for customer web sites through to a hacker holding page branded Turkguvenligi," the statement read. "The illegal changes were reversed quickly to bring service back to the customers impacted and the accounts concerned have been disabled to block any further access to the systems."
The hack accomplished by Turkguvenligi is a powerful one. Although it appears the goal of the group was just to vandalize the sites for a while, the group could have set up lookalike sites for the real ones, tricking users into thinking they were on the legitimate site and possibly stealing logins and passwords.
Two of HSBC's banking sites -- one with a country-code Top Level Domain in South Korea and one in Canada -- were targeted, according to the list compiled by Zone-H.
Other websites affected were those belonging to The Telegraph newspaper, The Register technology news site, Coca-Cola, Interpol, Adobe, Dell, several Microsoft country sites, Peugeot, Harvard University and the security companies F-Secure, BitDefender and Secunia. The website for Gary McKinnon, the so-called NASA hacker who is appealing extradition to the U.S. on hacking charges, was also hit.
The Register wrote that its website was not breached and that service was restored about three hours after the attack.
"As far as we can tell there was no attempt to penetrate our systems," wrote Drew Cullen . "But we shut down access/services - in other words, anything that requires a password - as a precaution."
DNSSEC, a security measure now being deployed by many registrars to guard against DNS tampering may not have prevented this kind of attack, said Paul Mutton , a security analyst with Netcraft.
DNSSEC uses public key cryptography to digitally "sign" the DNS records for websites. It is designed to stop attacks such as cache poisoning, where a DNS server is hacked, making it possible for a user to type in the correct website name but be directed to a fake website.
"If the attacker was able to change the DNS settings held by the domain registrar, presumably they could also have changed other settings, such as disabling DNSSEC, or rather, simply change the DNS settings to point to nameservers that do not support DNSSEC."
NetNames described the attacks against its systems as being "sustained and concentrated." "We will continue to review our systems to ensure that we provide our customers a solid, robust and above all secure service," it said.

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