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Intel reportedly eyes future 18-core 'Broadwell' chip
What kind of high-performance silicon is Intel planning in the not-too-distant future? A site that covers chips says that future includes an 18-core processor.
(Credit: Intel)
(Credit: Intel)
A high-performance version of Intel's future Broadwell chip will squeeze in 18 cores -- Intel's highest core count to date -- according to a report. Meanwhile, another report points to future Broadwell chips that could populate tablets.
Vr-zone reported this week that a future 18-core Broadwell-EP or EX Xeon chip is planned that is based on Intel's upcoming 14-nanometer production process.
"Intel will not...speed up the cores, but simply pile up more of them on each [chip] die," said Vr-zone, which published a slide showing a purported Intel roadmap.
That multi-core chip wouldn't arrive until 2015, according to Vr-zone.
Intel is also planning 8- to 10-core high-performance desktop and workstation processors, Vr-zone said.
The first Broadwell silicon is expected in the first half of next year. Broadwell follows the current Haswell generation of processors. Intel core counts now top out at 12.
More processor cores can offer better performance if the software can take advantage of the extra cores.
And that's not all Intel has planned for Broadwell. CPU World is reporting that at the other end of processor spectrum, future power-sipping Broadwell chips could have thermal envelopes as low as 4.5 watts.
That would make Broadwell an easy fit for tablets and 2-in-1s -- a market that Intel is paying a lot of attention to these days.
Series E7 bullet train
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High-speed rail marks its 50th anniversary in Japan in 2014, with six main lines that serve most of the archipelago nation. One of them, the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line, will extend to the Sea of Japan in 2015.
Operator JR East has started testing its Series E7 bullet train, which will eventually run from Tokyo to Kanazawa on the west coast. While not the fastest train in the fleet at a top speed of 160 mph, its looks have already generated many fans.
Beware: MacBook webcams can be used to covertly spy on people
When Miss Teen USA was remotely spied on via the built-in iSight camera on her laptop, the warning light indicating the camera was in use was never triggered.
The spying software hasn't proven to work on newer models of Macs, like this 2013 MacBook Air.
(Credit: CBS Interactive)
Imagine going about your daily life and then one day receiving photos of yourself from inside your home. Sound spooky? Well, this really happened to a woman named Cassidy Wolf, according to the Washington Post. And, to make matters worse, she was nude in the photos.
How did this happen?
Apparently, there's a way for hackers to spy on people via their iSight webcams in older Apple MacBooks. Typically, when the camera is on a little light is also set off. But, in a newly discovered workaround, this light can be deactivated -- meaning unsuspecting victims have no clue they're being watched.
The Washington Post revealed this new research by Johns Hopkins computer scientist Stephen Checkoway, which shows how people can be spied on with MacBooks and iMacs released before 2008. Using proof-of-concept software, called Remote Administration Tool or RAT, Checkoway was able to reprogram the iSight camera's micro-controller chip so that the light doesn't turn on.
While it could be feasible to do this trick on newer Apple computers or laptops by other brands, it hasn't yet been proven possible.
In the case of Wolf, who was Miss Teen USA, the person spying on her was her high school classmate Jared Abrahams. The FBI was able to nab Abrahams, who pleaded guilty to extortion in October.
In another report by the Washington Post, the former assistant director of the FBI's Operational Technology Division Marcus Thomas said the FBI has been activating computer cameras without turning on the warning lights for years.
This is not the first time someone has been remotely spied on with a webcam, but it is the first known time that it's been done without the warning light being triggered.
Target hack may have affected 40 million accounts
An issue that allowed someone to hack into customer records has since been resolved, says Target, but the company urges customers to be on the alert for suspicious credit card charges.
(Credit: Target)
(Credit: Target)
Consumers who shopped at a Target store between November 27 and December 15 should check their credit card statements for any unusual activity.
On Thursday, the retail chain acknowledged that a recent hack obtained the names, credit or debit card numbers, expiration dates, and three-digit security codes of certain store customerswho purchased items over the past few weeks. Around 40 million credit and debit card accounts may have been affected by the attack.
The issue that let the hacker gain access to customer data has been identified and resolved, according to Target. The company said that it's working with law enforcement officials to track down those responsible for the attack and has hired a third-party forensic team to investigate the incident.
In an FAQ to customers potentially affected, Target explained that the data breach affects only those who made purchases at a Target store in the US between November 27 and December 15. Those who bought items through Target's Web site or at a retail store in Canada are safe, according to the company. Target REDcard holders who suspect a fraudulent charge on their card should contact Target; other customers should call their bank, Target advised.
The hack comes at an especially bad time as retailers like Target count heavily on holiday sales. In an attempt to calm concerned customers, the company said that people can continue to use their credit and debit cards to shop at Target.
"Target's first priority is preserving the trust of our guests and we have moved swiftly to address this issue, so guests can shop with confidence," Target chairman and CEO Gregg Steinhafel said in a statement. "We regret any inconvenience this may cause. We take this matter very seriously and are working with law enforcement to bring those responsible to justice."
What Samsung needs to do to make Galaxy Gear a hit in 2014
The Korean electronics giant's first take on wearables landed with a thud, but it's hoping for a little progress in the coming year.
Samsung won the race to put a stake in the wearable market in 2013. Next year, it will have to win the hearts of consumers and make a product people actually want to buy.
Samsung's Galaxy Gear
In September, the Korean consumer electronics giant unveiled the Galaxy Gear, a smartwatch that connects to a user's smartphone or tablet to provide alerts, take photos, make calls, and access certain apps. For Samsung, the device is more than just another gadget; it also marks an important shift in the company's position in technology: long known as a "fast follower" that's able to pick up, emulate, and even improve upon existing industry trends, it is now cutting its own path with the unproven watch.
So Samsung beat out Apple, which is rumored to be launching an iWatch sometime next year. But the early response has been tepid. Tech reviewers, including CNET, have criticized Gear for its high price tag, weak battery life, wonky voice command feature, and limited compatibility with other devices. (It only works with certain Samsung phones andtablets.) Samsung said it shipped 800,000 Gears to retail partners in the first two months the device was on the market, but no one is saying how many have actually been purchased by consumers.
The company, however, believes the segment can become a huge business, and it's already working on future devices.
"I am very confident," Young-hee Lee, Samsung's head of mobile marketing, told CNET shortly after the Galaxy Gear launched. "It's a matter of time before all people are wearing smart devices and living very intuitively and conveniently. Five years ago, our smart device wasn't in the middle of our life. Now, look at [us]."
Here's what Samsung can do to make sure those new products are more popular with buyers:
Figure out the "wow factor": Gear is a sleek, eye-catching device that allows users to do some interesting things, such as take photos with the touch of a button on the Gear band. However, what the device really lacks is a "wow factor" or something that makes it a must-have gadget. It's unclear what that could be for Gear, whether it's a hardware feature, service, or other item. But that's something that Samsung needs to figure out if it wants people to start lining up for its devices.
Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch looks good, but doesn't do enough (pictures)
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Make Gear work with more phones: Samsung has been trying to build an ecosystem much like those of Apple and Google. That means offering devices, software, and services that make customers loyal to, and even lock them into, Samsung's products. The problem for Samsung, however, is that it doesn't control its software or services. Google does. Using Gear as a way to keep customers in its world is shaky at best, at least until Samsung controls all pieces of that world.
For the time being, Samsung should make Gear work with as many devices as possible. That includes the iPhone and other Android devices. Maybe even BlackBerrys and Windows Phones(although it can't be blamed for ignoring those last two). The wider compatibility could help Samsung win over more users at a time when wearable tech remains a niche category. The field is wide open with the iWatch still just a rumor, and only a handful of other viable smartwatch competitors.
Samsung doesn't have to go completely open (and it won't); it could keep certain features exclusive to its own smartphones and tablets, which would give users a reason to also buy aGalaxy S4 or Note 3. But making Gear work with more devices, right away, can only help.
More apps, please: Samsung can do all it wants to improve the hardware, but without developer support, the Gear is essentially a bulky, overpriced timepiece. The company needs to build up the community of developers willing to work with its smartwatch, enabling the creation of more apps and services.
Sure, there are notifications, but consumers will want more advanced bells and whistles to justify the expense of the device. How about a heart rate monitor? Or apps that track where you run, and for how long?
The possibilities for wearable services are almost limitless, but Samsung's still figuring out this part of its devices.
As CNET noted recently, the reason Gear doesn't have more apps right now is because the app store is still invite-only for developers. Samsung wants all Gear apps to provide a good experience for users, so it's closely controlling the development process.
However, opening Gear up to more developers could result in apps Samsung had never considered. One of those products could turn out to be that wow factor Samsung really needs. If Samsung really wants to create its own ecosystem, it will have to build its developer relationships. Gear is a good place to start.
Drop the price: At $300, Galaxy Gear sure isn't an impulse buy. The steep price tag puts the device in line with smartphones, tablets, and even some PCs, and makes it tough for many consumers to afford. Other smartwatches on the market retail for much less, such as thePebble at $150 and the Sony SmartWatch 2 at $200. CNET calls the Pebble "the best smartwatch deal around." By cutting $100 to $200 off the Gear price, Samsung immediately
Best 5 Free Alternatives to Microsoft Office for Windows, Mac and Linux
Microsoft Office the best and popular productivity software available compare to any other applications. Microsoft continuously polish their Office suite and brings the best application every time they have updated their MS Office. But many Opensource communities put their best and brings many Office applications for the people at free of cost. Here, We have picked some of the best alternatives to MS Office here. Consider this list next time, when you are looking to purchase MS Office.
Recommended Read: 100+ Best Free Software Applications for Windows
Recommended Read: 50+ Best Software Applications for Linux (Ubuntu, Mint and all)
Recommended Read: 50+ Best Free Software apps for Mac
The list of best Five Open source alternatives to MS Office
1. Libre Office
Libre Office is the Free productivity Office suite, and it was forked from Openoffice.org in 2010. So one could say that it is the best alternative to Microsoft Office. Libre Office offers a word processor, a spreadsheet, a presentation application, a drawing tool, and a database application.
In 2010 Some office developers separated from this group and developed the Libre Office. That’s why Libre Office and Open Office suite look very identical.
Operating System Support : Windows, mac, Linux
2. Google Docs
Google Docs is free Web based Office suite Developed and provided by Google. Now Google Docs deeply integrated with the Google Drive (Cloud Based Storage service). Using this Web based service, users can create and edit the documents online with other users in real-time. Google Docs offers word processing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and drawings. The best thing of this service is that users can edit their Microsoft Office documents.
Just click the create button and do your works. It is simple.
Operating System Support : Fully online
3. Apache Open Office
Apache Open Office is a free Office suite and one of the most Popular alternative for MS Office. It offers tools for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics and databases. You can read the Microsoft word format and as well as you can save a file as Microsoft Word Document using this Open Office suite. The Word and Excel tools are similar to MS Office word,Excel. But the Presentation tool is some what different than MS Power point Application.
Operating System Support : Windows, mac, Linux
4. NeoOffice
NeoOffice is an Office suite for Mac Operating system available at free of cost. This Office suite is a fork of the Open Office suite. It has all the features of open office. It offers tools for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics and databases.
The latest version of this software supports retina display and Mac OS X Mountain Lion.
Operating System Support : Mac
5. Office Web Apps
Office Web Apps allow users to access and share Office documents with browser-based versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote. Users can view and edit Office documents on their devices, anywhere. Like Google Drive, users can use Office web apps in Sky Drive, which offers 7 GB Of free storage.
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