Australia launches privacy investigation of Google

UNDER INVESTIGATION: Australia has announced a police investigation into whether Google illegally collected private information from wireless networks, becoming at least the second country to probe the Internet giant's "Street View" mapping service. - AP

Australia is starting a police investigation into whether Google illegally collected private information from wireless networks, becoming at least the second country to probe the Internet giant's "Street View" mapping service.

The Australian criminal investigation comes as more regulators and consumer watchdogs around the world are complaining that Google doesn't take people's privacy seriously enough. Google maintains that its users' privacy is one of the company's highest priorities.

Last month, Google acknowledged it had mistakenly collected fragments of data over public WiFi networks in more than 30 countries while it was taking pictures of neighbourhoods for the Street View feature. Google said it discovered the problem after German regulators launched an inquiry into the matter.

Also last month, the head of the House Judiciary Committee in the United States, Michigan Democrat John Conyers, sent letters to Google and Facebook urging them to co-operate with any government privacy inquiries. Conyers asked Google to retain the data until any inquiries are complete.

The Australian probe follows questions over whether Google employees taking photographs for the mapping service violated the country's privacy laws.

"In light of concerns having been raised by the public, my department thought there were issues of substance that were raised that require police investigation," Australia's Federal Attorney General Robert McClelland told journalists in Melbourne.

The case was referred to the Australian Federal Police on Friday, he said. It will focus on whether the company breached the country's telecommunications interceptions act, which prevents people accessing electronic communications other than for authorised purposes, he said.

Google has characterised its collection of snippets from e-mail messages and web surfing done on public WiFi networks as an error and said it has taken steps to avoid a recurrence.

"This was a mistake," Google said in a statement on the Australian case. "We are talking to the appropriate authorities to answer any questions they have."

Street View provides photographs of neighbourhoods taken by Google cameras. The service has been enormously controversial in Germany and other countries as privacy groups and authorities fear that people - filmed without their consent - could be seen doing things they didn't want to be seen doing or in places where they didn't want to be seen.

Last month, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, addressing the Australian accusations, said Google was responsible for the "single greatest breach in the history of privacy." - AP

Australia launches privacy investigation of Google

UNDER INVESTIGATION: Australia has announced a police investigation into whether Google illegally collected private information from wireless networks, becoming at least the second country to probe the Internet giant's "Street View" mapping service. - AP

Australia is starting a police investigation into whether Google illegally collected private information from wireless networks, becoming at least the second country to probe the Internet giant's "Street View" mapping service.

The Australian criminal investigation comes as more regulators and consumer watchdogs around the world are complaining that Google doesn't take people's privacy seriously enough. Google maintains that its users' privacy is one of the company's highest priorities.

Last month, Google acknowledged it had mistakenly collected fragments of data over public WiFi networks in more than 30 countries while it was taking pictures of neighbourhoods for the Street View feature. Google said it discovered the problem after German regulators launched an inquiry into the matter.

Also last month, the head of the House Judiciary Committee in the United States, Michigan Democrat John Conyers, sent letters to Google and Facebook urging them to co-operate with any government privacy inquiries. Conyers asked Google to retain the data until any inquiries are complete.

The Australian probe follows questions over whether Google employees taking photographs for the mapping service violated the country's privacy laws.

"In light of concerns having been raised by the public, my department thought there were issues of substance that were raised that require police investigation," Australia's Federal Attorney General Robert McClelland told journalists in Melbourne.

The case was referred to the Australian Federal Police on Friday, he said. It will focus on whether the company breached the country's telecommunications interceptions act, which prevents people accessing electronic communications other than for authorised purposes, he said.

Google has characterised its collection of snippets from e-mail messages and web surfing done on public WiFi networks as an error and said it has taken steps to avoid a recurrence.

"This was a mistake," Google said in a statement on the Australian case. "We are talking to the appropriate authorities to answer any questions they have."

Street View provides photographs of neighbourhoods taken by Google cameras. The service has been enormously controversial in Germany and other countries as privacy groups and authorities fear that people - filmed without their consent - could be seen doing things they didn't want to be seen doing or in places where they didn't want to be seen.

Last month, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, addressing the Australian accusations, said Google was responsible for the "single greatest breach in the history of privacy." - AP

Australia launches privacy investigation of Google

UNDER INVESTIGATION: Australia has announced a police investigation into whether Google illegally collected private information from wireless networks, becoming at least the second country to probe the Internet giant's "Street View" mapping service. - AP

Australia is starting a police investigation into whether Google illegally collected private information from wireless networks, becoming at least the second country to probe the Internet giant's "Street View" mapping service.

The Australian criminal investigation comes as more regulators and consumer watchdogs around the world are complaining that Google doesn't take people's privacy seriously enough. Google maintains that its users' privacy is one of the company's highest priorities.

Last month, Google acknowledged it had mistakenly collected fragments of data over public WiFi networks in more than 30 countries while it was taking pictures of neighbourhoods for the Street View feature. Google said it discovered the problem after German regulators launched an inquiry into the matter.

Also last month, the head of the House Judiciary Committee in the United States, Michigan Democrat John Conyers, sent letters to Google and Facebook urging them to co-operate with any government privacy inquiries. Conyers asked Google to retain the data until any inquiries are complete.

The Australian probe follows questions over whether Google employees taking photographs for the mapping service violated the country's privacy laws.

"In light of concerns having been raised by the public, my department thought there were issues of substance that were raised that require police investigation," Australia's Federal Attorney General Robert McClelland told journalists in Melbourne.

The case was referred to the Australian Federal Police on Friday, he said. It will focus on whether the company breached the country's telecommunications interceptions act, which prevents people accessing electronic communications other than for authorised purposes, he said.

Google has characterised its collection of snippets from e-mail messages and web surfing done on public WiFi networks as an error and said it has taken steps to avoid a recurrence.

"This was a mistake," Google said in a statement on the Australian case. "We are talking to the appropriate authorities to answer any questions they have."

Street View provides photographs of neighbourhoods taken by Google cameras. The service has been enormously controversial in Germany and other countries as privacy groups and authorities fear that people - filmed without their consent - could be seen doing things they didn't want to be seen doing or in places where they didn't want to be seen.

Last month, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, addressing the Australian accusations, said Google was responsible for the "single greatest breach in the history of privacy." - AP

Microsoft dumps Cisco wireless for Aruba

Microsoft has ditched Cisco in favour of WLAN start-up Aruba, as it upgrades one of the world's largest wireless LAN (WLAN) installations from old-fashioned fat access points.

Microsoft is taking out around 5,000 Cisco Aironet access points, and upgrading to an Aruba wireless switch system which will use five thousand thin access points to support 25,000 simultaneous WLAN users, in 277 buildings round the world.

The announcement will be a disappointment to Cisco, as its purchase of Aruba's rival Airespace was supposed to offer an upgrade path for customers like Microsoft who needed a centrally-managed wireless LAN system.

"This will surprise many spectators - including myself," said Richard Webb, wireless anayst at Infonetics Research. "People said that WLAN was a done deal, and large customers would automatically go to Cisco. They'll have to view Aruba in a new light, and some people will be raising eyebrows at the money Cisco paid for Airespace."

In fact, Cisco's efforts to integrate Airespace and provide an upgrade path have been lacklustre, while Aruba and its other main rival, Trapeze, have continued to innovate.

Although Aruba probably offered a very competitive price (no price has been revealed for the deal), Webb said that the deal must have been based on technical merits. "Microsoft isn't buying on price," he said. "The company is not short of money, so if Aruba weren't on the table in terms of technology, no amount of discount would have got the deal."

Security features such as Aruba's firewall and IDS may have been big factors, he said. Indeed, as we reported here a year ago, Microsoft has already been using Aruba for security. Aruba and Microsoft are also stressing support for voice on Wi-Fi, as well as guest networks that lets the office WLAN double as a hotspot for visitors.

Microsoft had extensive tests carried out by wireless test house Iometrix, and the University of New Hampshire's inter-operability lab, which covered security, scalability and performance - the results of which Aruba has promised to put on its site.

Microsoft plans to make some offices "wireless only", and will integrate the WLAN with its Network Access Protection Architecture that protects the network from infected clients. The WLAN will also support a guest access system which will allow visitors to Microsoft buildings to use the Internet.

Aruba is also keen to suggest that, as a result of this contract, it will have close links into Microsoft's future products. "Aruba plans to work with Microsoft to develop and test future software products to ensure they operate simply and easily over wireless networks," says its release. "Consequently, Aruba customers can be assured the best possible interaction and unprecedented interoperability between Microsoft products and Aruba mobility systems."

Microsoft dumps Cisco wireless for Aruba

Microsoft has ditched Cisco in favour of WLAN start-up Aruba, as it upgrades one of the world's largest wireless LAN (WLAN) installations from old-fashioned fat access points.

Microsoft is taking out around 5,000 Cisco Aironet access points, and upgrading to an Aruba wireless switch system which will use five thousand thin access points to support 25,000 simultaneous WLAN users, in 277 buildings round the world.

The announcement will be a disappointment to Cisco, as its purchase of Aruba's rival Airespace was supposed to offer an upgrade path for customers like Microsoft who needed a centrally-managed wireless LAN system.

"This will surprise many spectators - including myself," said Richard Webb, wireless anayst at Infonetics Research. "People said that WLAN was a done deal, and large customers would automatically go to Cisco. They'll have to view Aruba in a new light, and some people will be raising eyebrows at the money Cisco paid for Airespace."

In fact, Cisco's efforts to integrate Airespace and provide an upgrade path have been lacklustre, while Aruba and its other main rival, Trapeze, have continued to innovate.

Although Aruba probably offered a very competitive price (no price has been revealed for the deal), Webb said that the deal must have been based on technical merits. "Microsoft isn't buying on price," he said. "The company is not short of money, so if Aruba weren't on the table in terms of technology, no amount of discount would have got the deal."

Security features such as Aruba's firewall and IDS may have been big factors, he said. Indeed, as we reported here a year ago, Microsoft has already been using Aruba for security. Aruba and Microsoft are also stressing support for voice on Wi-Fi, as well as guest networks that lets the office WLAN double as a hotspot for visitors.

Microsoft had extensive tests carried out by wireless test house Iometrix, and the University of New Hampshire's inter-operability lab, which covered security, scalability and performance - the results of which Aruba has promised to put on its site.

Microsoft plans to make some offices "wireless only", and will integrate the WLAN with its Network Access Protection Architecture that protects the network from infected clients. The WLAN will also support a guest access system which will allow visitors to Microsoft buildings to use the Internet.

Aruba is also keen to suggest that, as a result of this contract, it will have close links into Microsoft's future products. "Aruba plans to work with Microsoft to develop and test future software products to ensure they operate simply and easily over wireless networks," says its release. "Consequently, Aruba customers can be assured the best possible interaction and unprecedented interoperability between Microsoft products and Aruba mobility systems."

Microsoft dumps Cisco wireless for Aruba

Microsoft has ditched Cisco in favour of WLAN start-up Aruba, as it upgrades one of the world's largest wireless LAN (WLAN) installations from old-fashioned fat access points.

Microsoft is taking out around 5,000 Cisco Aironet access points, and upgrading to an Aruba wireless switch system which will use five thousand thin access points to support 25,000 simultaneous WLAN users, in 277 buildings round the world.

The announcement will be a disappointment to Cisco, as its purchase of Aruba's rival Airespace was supposed to offer an upgrade path for customers like Microsoft who needed a centrally-managed wireless LAN system.

"This will surprise many spectators - including myself," said Richard Webb, wireless anayst at Infonetics Research. "People said that WLAN was a done deal, and large customers would automatically go to Cisco. They'll have to view Aruba in a new light, and some people will be raising eyebrows at the money Cisco paid for Airespace."

In fact, Cisco's efforts to integrate Airespace and provide an upgrade path have been lacklustre, while Aruba and its other main rival, Trapeze, have continued to innovate.

Although Aruba probably offered a very competitive price (no price has been revealed for the deal), Webb said that the deal must have been based on technical merits. "Microsoft isn't buying on price," he said. "The company is not short of money, so if Aruba weren't on the table in terms of technology, no amount of discount would have got the deal."

Security features such as Aruba's firewall and IDS may have been big factors, he said. Indeed, as we reported here a year ago, Microsoft has already been using Aruba for security. Aruba and Microsoft are also stressing support for voice on Wi-Fi, as well as guest networks that lets the office WLAN double as a hotspot for visitors.

Microsoft had extensive tests carried out by wireless test house Iometrix, and the University of New Hampshire's inter-operability lab, which covered security, scalability and performance - the results of which Aruba has promised to put on its site.

Microsoft plans to make some offices "wireless only", and will integrate the WLAN with its Network Access Protection Architecture that protects the network from infected clients. The WLAN will also support a guest access system which will allow visitors to Microsoft buildings to use the Internet.

Aruba is also keen to suggest that, as a result of this contract, it will have close links into Microsoft's future products. "Aruba plans to work with Microsoft to develop and test future software products to ensure they operate simply and easily over wireless networks," says its release. "Consequently, Aruba customers can be assured the best possible interaction and unprecedented interoperability between Microsoft products and Aruba mobility systems."

Iphone 4 to start Mobile video convergence

Everybody is very exciting when Apple has recently launched their latest machine, Iphone 4 at WorldWide Developer Conference 2010 (WWDC). The latest Iphone model is being loaded with owesome features like multitasking (capable to open more than one application at one time) and mostly capability to handle video call or video chat. Not only with video call capability ,  the latest model is powered by Retina Display, the 960 X 640 backlit LCD display boasts a pixel density of 326 pixels per inch, making it the highest-resolution phone screen ever. To achieve this, Apple engineers developed pixels so small — a mere 78 micrometers across — that the human eye can’t distinguish individual pixels. That makes text remarkably sharp and graphics incredibly vivid. IPS technology also provides excellent color and contrast from almost any viewing angle.

The most significant outcome is that Apple is focusing attention on the iPhone 4’s video calling capabilities, apparently making “the dream of video calling a reality”. In typical Cupertino fashion, this conveniently overlooks the fact that video calling has been a reality for a long time. The front end camera with 5 Mega-pixel resolution is capable of shooting 720p30 HD video. Video Call can be made from Iphone to Iphone through WIFI, yet still not capable to deal with skype.

Another important improvements is the A4 processor the iPhone 4 now shares with the iPad. While Apple was happy to declare the 1GHz clock speed of the iPad, it has been less forthcoming with the iPhone 4, and it’s very possible the chip has been downclocked somewhat to conserve battery life. Either way, the chip itself is a tighter package that uses less power while running faster than the processor in the 3GS, and that’s always a good thing.

Wait the sec. Just heard that Nokia says about their new N920. The new N920 / RX-57 will have OMAP 4440 processor, which means they have capability to support 1080p30 with HDMI 1.3, yet will eat up battery life (hope they can increase battery also). The processor  versions are dual core SMP enabled ARM Cortex A9 processors on a 45-nm die. Both OMAP processors have dedicated graphics cores to off load the encode/decode of various video codecs and APIs like OpenGL, which (IMHO) makes the OMAP processor the best choice for the computing devices in this category. Are they really real? Are all High Definition (HD) for Iphone 4 and/or N920 just for real? Will you experience the same as what you with get with 32″ HD TV? just with small screen and try to make video call, not only local processing is required, but also compression method to transfer video from one the another. Yet pretty much depending on the Link (WIFI or 3G) reliability