ComputerNutz

Vodafone forced to text Mubarak propaganda
Vodafone says Egyptian authorities forced the mobile company to broadcast text messages. The text messages encouraged Egyptian citizens to "confront the traitors." The sender of the message was only identified as Vodafone.

‘Colbert Report,’ ‘Daily Show’ return to Hulu
Viacom returns to Hulu under a new deal that calls for clips and full-length versions of some of Viacom’s most popular shows.

News Corp. ready to unload MySpace
Parent company is eyeing the sale of the social network, saying that it’s received interest from potential buyers without placing MySpace on the market.

Moving to IPv6: Now for the hard part (FAQ)
Today, the last current-generation Internet addresses were divvied up at the highest level. Here’s a look at what happens next in rebuilding the Net with the newer IPv6.

Pwn2Own 2011: Google offering $20,000 for Chrome sandbox exploit
Google is offering a $20,000 cash prize for any hacker who can successfully compromise a Cr-48 Chrome Notebook via a vulnerability — and sandbox escape — in its Chrome web browser.

Microsoft: Google’s Bing test was ‘good subterfuge’
CNET talks to Bing Director Stefan Weitz about Google’s claims that Microsoft copied search results from its index

New tool spots skin cancer
British scientists have developed a tool to better identify cancerous moles. The instrument is held directly over the mole. It determines the mole’s molecular structure and will know if it’s actually melanoma.

Google claims Bing copies its search results
Microsoft’s search engine bases some results on Google’s, according to the accusation. Google apparently set up a "honeypot" specifically to catch Bing in the act.

Google, Twitter build Speak to Tweet for Egyptians
With Internet service in Egypt all but extinct amid massive protests, those with simple voice connections can now get messages out on Twitter.

Apple app guidelines enforce in-app purchases
Apple is solidifying control of App Store purchases. It is now requiring that all apps that allow purchases include in-app purchasing features. In-app purchases go through iTunes, meaning Apple is entitled to 30 percent of the profit

IPv4 Internet addresses: 251 blocks down, 5 to go
A total of 33.6 million addresses are on their way to their ultimate users on the Net–meaning the last blocks of IPv4 addresses will be allocated soon.

Research: 25 percent of Web traffic for pirated content

New research suggests that a quarter of the world’s Web traffic is for pirated content. About half of this comes from peer-to-peer file sharing

Man recovers stolen car using Facebook
A 34-year-old Dublin man used Facebook to find his stolen car. The car was stolen right in front of him. He posted pictures of the car on Facebook and asked friends to keep an eye out. The car was spotted not far from the scene. Police were able to recover it.

Is AT&T cheating you on data use?
AT&T is being sued for allegedly overcharging data users. The lawsuit claims that AT&T is inflating data use on smart phones. Such inflation would force customers to pay overage charges.

Get on Facebook while you’re flying
Seven airlines are allowing flyers to access Facebook while en route. This is promotion for Gogo Inflight Internet’s in-flight Wi-Fi service. Participating airlines include Virgin America, United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta

Microsoft flaw affects 900 million users
Microsoft has just announced another security flaw. This one affects every version of Internet Explorer on every version of Windows. It revolves around Microsoft’s specialized MHTML format for saving Web pages

Google spent a lot of time convincing us that their motto of “Do no Evil” was real. now our overlords continue to defy the common myth of that motto with their actions.

Now Google is blocking torrent searches from instant results, because you know that is like the worst thing on the internet.

Here are some they do allow in their autocomplete and instant search:

how to kidn returns how to kidnap someone or how to kidnap the presidents daughter

steal fr brings up how to steal from Walmart or Target because of course they are our corporate overlords and its ok to steal from walmart because everyone hates walmart

Our favorite is when our friends at Google help us make methamphetamine as all the better to help them become skynet if we are all too stoned to care.

This however is completely unacceptable:

Do no evil my ass.

Intel reveals design flaw in Sandy Bridge chipset
Chipmaker’s revelation of design flaw in its new architecture forces Intel to cut its first-quarter revenue forecast and led to a temporary halt in trading of Intel’s stock.

Netflix shows you the fastest Internet provider
Netflix has released statistics that rate broadband providers by speed. Some of the fastest providers include Charter, Comcast, Time Warner and Cox. Netflix may be using the comparison to pressure ISPs to supply better speeds

Clearwire says Netflix’s ISP data is incomplete
Data on which ISPs are best at streaming Netflix video isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison, and speed is only one part of the performance story, Clearwire argues.

Ex-WikiLeaks member makes rival site
A former WikiLeaks staffer launched his own whistle-blowing site. OpenLeaks will not publish any of the leaked documents itself. Instead, the site lets sources determine which organizations get the documents

Android 3.0: Hell Yes It’s a Fork. But Who Cares?
This just in: Big screens and little screens are different and your excessive worry over forking Android 3.0 is misplaced. The real problem is the OEM and Carrier crapware

2011 brings more affordable gadgets
Electronics typically become more affordable over time. The same will be true in 2011. One deals site points out 12 items that will be cheaper this year. On the list are the Kindle, iPhone, plasma HDTVs and cameras

First LibreOffice Release arrives
LibreOffice 3.3, the first version of the OpenOffice fork, is now available for your office work pleasure.

Jogging with your iPod could be illegal
Lawmakers are pushing for new regulations that limit distractions while jogging. Specifically, they are hoping to stop joggers from using iPods and cell phones. They say limiting these distractions can lower the amount of fatal accidents

Google plans the biggest hiring year in its history
After hiring 4,500 people in 2010, Google wants to hire well over 6,000 people across the board as it gears up for 2011

Microsoft struggles to keep up in mobile market
Analysts are concerned for Microsoft’s future growth. Last year, Microsoft did exceptionally well, given the success of Windows 7. But now the company seems to be very behind in the mobile and tablet markets

Apple’s computer shipments surge 241 percent
Company’s fourth-quarter growth leaves competitors in its dust, according to a new report. However, iPads buoy the figures.

Former eBay execs plan subscription news service
A new Website will aggregate news content for subscribers. Ongo is planning to charge $7 per month for its service. While the content is typically pulled from free sites, it will be delivered without ads

Zuckerberg’s Facebook page hacked
Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg had his Facebook fan page hacked. On the page, there was a strange post that started, "Let the hacking begin." Facebook has said a bug is to blame for the unauthorized post

World nears limit for IP addresses
One of the founders of the Web says the world will run out of IP addresses within weeks. He says the IPv4 system he created was never meant to last this long. IPv4 is a Web protocol that delineates unique IP addresses. It only allows for 4.3 billion addresses

Justice Department seeks mandatory data retention
Justice Department aligns itself with House Republicans, saying "problem of investigations being stymied" is getting worse because Internet companies don’t store records of customers’ activities.

Recording police means 15 years in prison
Two Illinois citizens are facing prison time for recording video of police officers. An Illinois law makes it a Class 1 felony to record a law-enforcement officer. The offense is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Government sets up consumer complaint site
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is launching a new Website. The site will publish consumer complaints about dangerous products. Previously, these complaints were largely kept out of the public eye

Firefox and Chrome to get anti-tracking feature
Mozilla and Google announced that their browsers will incorporate new privacy features designed to allow users to opt out of advertisers’ online tracking. It comes in the wake of an FCC report supporting such a feature

Microsoft goes on the iPad offensive
A set of Microsoft marketing slides pits Windows 7 slates against Apple’s iPad. You might be able to guess who comes out the winner.

Smart phones see rise in cyber crimes
Cisco’s newest report suggests that smart phones are cyber criminals’ newest targets. The Net company predicts 2011 will see a spike in phone attacks. Cisco also says that Apple’s iPhone seems to be the most coveted target for hackers

Time for Google to Take Control of the Android Update Process
Too many customers are not happy with lack of updates for Android phones. It’s time for Google to step in and take control over the Android update process.

New York Times’ online content gets $20 price tag
The New York Times will charge less than $20 per month for access to its online content. That price point comes from an inside source. That is about the same as the cost for a similar subscription on Amazon’s Kindle

Windows 7 and SSDs: just how fast are they?
Does a solid-state drive make a difference in the performance of Windows 7? In a word: Yes.

Is the iPad a Mac killer?
Should Apple be worried that the less profitable iPad is outselling the high-margin Mac lineup? Nope. Here’s why.

Neverware promises never needing a new computer
A 25-year-old has created a system that seeks to end repeated computer upgrades. Neverware uses cloud computing. It can run high-end software on very basic machines. It’s also considerably cheaper than traditional systems

What the Comcast-NBC deal means to you (FAQ)
Should one huge company be allowed to both create and deliver the content that consumers watch? We look how the union affects Hulu, cable rates, local programming, and more.

3-D push continues despite adverse effects
Researchers say that nearly a quarter of viewers have negative side effects from 3-D. These side effects can include eyestrain and dizziness. In spite of the effects, manufacturers are still pushing 3-D technology.

New Dragontrail glass is six-times stronger than regular glass
Japan’s largest glassmaker announced a new super-strong glass. Dragontrail is six-times stronger than normal glass. The company says its intended use is for smart phones, tablets and TVs. Scratching your LCD is normally a reason to panic

Playboy Uncensored iPad App? Wrong.
Typical. Steve Jobs takes his liver on vacation and all hell breaks loose. An uncensored Playboy app? Has the world gone mad?

Larry Page as Google CEO: His top 5 challenges
On the surface, the changing of Google executive roles looks harmless. But new Google CEO Larry Page will have some challenges ahead. Welcome to the world of CEO.

Courts: Online privacy no protection for libel
Court cases around the country are holding that online privacy can be neglected in court. Several cases have allowed the use of IP addresses to track down anonymous posters. Typically, the cases have involved anonymous posts that are libelous

Google readies Groupon competitor
After being rebuffed in a buyout offer for social-buying market leader Groupon, the Internet giant is working on a daily-deals competitor called Google Offers.

Google ready for action against content farms
Your search complaints have been heard: Google plans to take further action against "content farms," although it’s not ready to detail specific methods

Steve Jobs to take medical leave
Apple CEO Steve Jobs will be taking a medical leave of absence. Jobs announced his upcoming leave in a company memo. He will still be involved in Apple’s strategic decisions. COO Tim Cook will handle the day-to-day operations

With medical leave, more questions about Jobs’ successor
As Tim Cook once again steps up during an absence by Steve Jobs, it’s clear that–in the short term, at least–Apple investors have confidence in him. But that doesn’t settle the long-term worries.

New York Times: Stuxnet worm tested in Israel
Israel and the United States reportedly created the Stuxnet worm. According to the New York Times, an Israeli nuclear facility was used to test the worm. The worm was used recently against Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Has ’4G’ lost its meaning?
All four major U.S. wireless carriers say they offer 4G wireless broadband services. But none of their networks meets the standard requirements.

Banker gives WikiLeaks long list of tax-evaders
A former Swiss banker has given WikiLeaks the names of 2,000 tax-evading individuals and firms. The banker says he wants the world to know about the system’s corruption.

Facebook backtracks on apps grabbing address, cell number
In a quick about-face, the social network is temporarily disabling a new tweak that gave third-party apps the ability to record someone’s address and cell number.

How AT&T and T-Mobile conjured 4G networks out of thin air
One of the biggest surprises of CES 2011 was AT&T and T-Mobile magically pulling 4G networks out their hats. The real story isn’t quite as magical.

Universal Web ID gains traction
America may soon create universal Internet IDs for all citizens. The goal is to streamline Web use and make Internet shopping more secure. A final proposal for the system has yet to be created. But the hope is to have one user account for multiple Websites.

iOS 4.3 Will Turn All iPhones into Wireless Hotspots
As soon as Verizon announced its version of the iPhone would work as a Wi-Fi Hotspot, I wondered when–and if–AT&T would match the feature. If The Boy Genius Report is correct, this feature will soon be available in the next iOS update. Just a rumor? Let us know in the comments.

50 Cent tweets and makes millions
Rapper 50 Cent made $8.7 million by tweeting about stock he owns. His tweets endorsed a money-losing venture called TV Goods. His four million followers helped boost the company’s stock 290 percent. There’s no way I’d buy this stock. Heck, even the company’s auditors have raised questions. They doubt the company can "continue as a going concern."

2010 PC growth sees slowdown, tablet cannibalization
Despite growth during the fourth quarter, research firms IDC and Gartner say that tablets and other consumer electronics can be blamed for a slowdown in PC purchases overall.

Is Google Evil?

No more H.264 support on Chrome
Google has pulled support for the popular H.264 video codec from its Chrome browser. Google wants a non-patented video codec to become more widely accepted. H.264 is owned by a group of companies including Apple

Backlash over Google’s HTML5 video bet
Some of it was absurd, but the outcry over Google’s decision to end support for a popular video technology could test its balance between philosophy and pragmatism.

Google’s H.264 decision: It’s all about YouTube costs
Everyone wants to boil down Google’s decision to remove H.264 support from Chrome as a religious choice. To me, it’s obviously infrastructure-related.

RIM gives India access to network, but not secure e-mails
The BlackBerry maker has given the Indian government the means to access its Messenger network but without the capability to actually monitor secure customer e-mails.

Should MySpace just die already?
Here’s an argument in favor of News Corp.’s shutting down the social network and in the process setting an example in how to wind down a digital fad that’s worn out its welcome.