E Buzz - 9 July 2010

A little later than anticipated, Google is confirming that China has renewed its ICP license -- the rights one needs to host a site on its own domain in China. Without that Google would certainly be on the outs, but after resuming limited broadcasts there last month there was hope the two global powerhouses would work out their differences. And, it appears they have -- at least to some degree. We're not sure whether this means Google will resume full hosting in China or will keep redirecting some content to HK servers, but we were able to get a statement from the ICP on it's feelings on this development. 

 

The US National Security Agency (NSA), the world's premier codebreaking and eavesdropping organisation, has strongly denied that it is setting up monitoring equipment on American privately-owned networks deemed to be critical national infrastructure. A story in yesterday's Wall Street Journal, which we reported on here, said that defence contractor Raytheon was working on a classified technology project dubbed "Perfect Citizen" for the NSA, which would see infrastructure networks - for instance power, telecoms or transport systems - "instrumented" in order to detect possible attempts to attack them.

 

The government has struck a deal with Facebook to field ideas from the public on further public spending cuts, it emerged today. Facebook's "spending challenge channel" is an expansion of the social networking site's "Democracy UK" pages, set up during the run-up to the general election, and will be used to take suggestions from the public for saving money ahead of the spending review. The chancellor, George Osborne, has already asked public sector workers for their views on cuts, to the fury of one trade union. The government claims the exercise has resulted in 60,000 suggestions being put forward in just two weeks.

 

Nokia has approached Russian authorities to retrieve its N8 prototype from blogger Eldar Murtazin, in a case similar to Apple iPhone 4/Gizmodo fiasco. In its official blog, Nokia said, "we formally requested the return of all unauthorized Nokia property from Mr. Murtazin and he declined to respond. As a result, we have contacted the Russian authorities to assist us in the return of all unauthorized Nokia property." Murtazin is the editor-in-chief of Moscow-based mobile.review.com. He had posted the features of the unreleased N8 version on his blog site.

Nokia clarified that's its action was not against bloggers or people who review its products but is a case of intellectual property rights infringement. It said that it is cognizant of the fact that the accused person owns a blog site but that Murtazin also claims to be a "consultant" to international mobile manufacturers.

 

A shunned Dell has hit out at Francis Maude’s plans for cutting costs among ICT suppliers by claiming the coalition government’s approach to public sector procurement is too one-sided. The computer maker’s EMEA public sector services veep Ferenc Szelenyi made the comments this morning, following a meeting between the Cabinet Office minister and 19 key UK.gov ICT suppliers yesterday. An invitation had not been extended to Dell, however. But many of its competitors, including IBM, Hewlett Packard and Fujitsu were present at the meeting. The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) said it would get other suppliers to take part in the discussions over the next few months, reported GC Weekly. However, Dell confirmed to The Register that it hadn’t heard from anyone at the OGC or Cabinet Office yet.

 

Ofcom announced on Thursday that as of April 2011 mobile customers will be able to transfer their existing phone number to a new network in just one working day. In 2009, Ofcom proposed a revamp of mobile number porting practices of major mobile operators. Current regulations give operators two working days to switch customers but Ofcom's regulation changes mean that from 11 April 2011, this will be halved to one working day. 

 

For the first time, Google's operating system is proving more attractive to developers than Apple's, with no other players in the running at all.  Apple's App Store may have more apps, but it's Google's Android operating system (OS) that is getting more attention from developers, a new survey has revealed.  Of the 400 developers surveyed globally by VisionMobile, six out of ten reported having done “some work” on Android OS – 10 per cent more than for iPhone OS (iOS).

A group of Argentinian researchers has reportedly compromised the Pirate Bay's database of more than 4 million email and IP addresses of registered users. Ch Russó posted on the blog for the group, explaining that it took advantage of flaws in the security of the site through multiple SQL injections to download the information.

Guardian 

 

A new report from Gartner says that a second economic downturn is possible, and outlines the steps CIOs  should take to safeguard their businesses. Despite widespread signs of economic recovery globally, CIOs should be open to the risk of a worsening recession, it says.But planning to slash spending and delay projects does not mean a second recession is definitely on the way, as its arrival depends on a number of factors. 

 

In a major triumph for alternative energy researchers and enthusiasts, an experimental, solar-powered plane Thursday successfully completed a 26-hour flight powered by 12,000 solar cells and sunlight-powered lithium batteries.  The Solar Impulse, a slender, long-winged airplane, flew through the night over Switzerland, fueled by energy it collected during the previous day. Solar Impulse reached a height of 28,000 feet and a top speed of 78 mph in what project coordinators called the longest test flight of a piloted, solar-powered aircraft.