Tech News World : PS3 Could Become a Harder Nut to Crack

"Sony is neither confirming nor denying rumors that it will soon phase out current models of its PlayStation 3 in favor of a new version that makes it much harder for hackers to crack its firmware and reprogram it for other uses. Sony contends that hacking facilitates piracy, but its attempts to lock down its system may also hamper benign experimentation." ~Mark Raby

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/PS3-Could-Become-a-Harder-Nut-to-Crack-71937.html
Now I can understand trying to prevent piracy, and trying to prevent tampering with your own systems, but there is a line you need to decide that is too far for yourself here. Tightening security can and eventually will stifle your business or choke it out all together. I don't think that even SEGA would have gone this far. Remember that Microsoft was this way with it's peripherals and hardware originally, but then they saw what was actually going on. People are imaginative, creepy at time with it, but very imaginative anyway.
People have embraced the Kinect as something that they felt had huge amounts of untapped potential. Microsoft first didn't want us messing with it because they want to be our overlords and control everything we do.... Wait MS please don't hurt me... yet... But soon realized that our imagination and innovation with their technologies could help them improve upon it. I am actually in the process of testing some of their new software, it is working fairly well.
In the end we just need to remember that freedom + imagination/innovation = future items that can be awesome or terrifying. However securing against all can end badly... Either by the end for your company as far as a gaming technology, or the end of all your security in a complete disaster involving that same equipment.

BBC News : Intel launches high speed Thunderbolt connector

"Chip manufacturer Intel has announced it is to roll out a new technology for connecting computers and peripherals.

The system, known as Thunderbolt, promises transfer speeds twice as fast as USB 3.0.
However it won't reach its theoretical maximum because Intel has opted to use copper wires rather than fibre optic cables.
The company said it would gradually move to higher speeds over time.
Apple will become the first manufacturer to use Thunderbolt, on its Macbook Pro computers.
The Cupertino firm is said to have been a major driver of its development, although it remains to be seen how may other manufacturers will adopt the new standard." ~unlisted

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12570323
I love hearing about new innovations in technology. A new connection that will eventually allow possible transfer speeds up to 100 GB/s sounds quite intriguing. But of course, look you has gotten on the band wagon first, APPLE. Now I am not putting them down, I just hope that INTEL does not sell out to them on this. That could mean stifling the rest of an industry once again with costs, much like our IPod/IPad like device technology hurdles we face now. I want to say that yes APPLE does reserve the right to keep their own technology to themselves and not allow others to use it, but when you buy up similar tech from most other companies you tend to stifle creation and creativity. Lastly competition.

Top Tech News : The New Internet Protocols: What Users Should Know

" Many web surfers don't know it, but the introduction of new Internet address standards might change the way they get online.
Since the supply of useable addresses governed by the IPv4 standard (Internet protocol, version 4) has been exhausted, IPv6 has now been introduced. This will allow a previously impossible variety of addresses, says Christoph Meinel, a professor at Germany's Hasso Plattner Institute." ~unlisted

http://www.toptechnews.com/story.xhtml?story_id=12200B7OR4E6
This is just a basic question and answer about the conversion from what we are using now, to what we will be using very soon. Hopefully the ISPs will keep their word and make it as smooth as possible from their side to the consumers.

BBC NEWS : Microsoft and Apple: Competing on the high street

"Seattle: I've just visited two shiny temples to technology, brightly lit places with keen, well-informed and helpful staff, and a welcome for anyone who wanted just to play on the laptops, mobile phones or tablet computers.
Yes, one was an Apple store, but the other, just a few doors along in a shopping mall in Bellevue near Seattle, was a Microsoft store. The software giant has now opened seven of these shops in the United States, an attempt perhaps to copy Apple's very successful experiment in selling its products direct to the public in an environment designed to reinforce the brand." ~Rory Cellan-Jones

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/rorycellanjones/2011/02/microsoft_and_apple_competing.html
I think that this might help Microsoft, mainly in the display and testing of any new products they bring to t5he market. I don't see that it will help them in the sense that the Apple store does Apple. But I have been wrong in the past. I agree that this is a testing period to see if this has any possibility of working. I would like the chance to see one if they do indeed expand it.

Top Tech News : Must-Have Freeware Tools for Windows Computers

"Any respectable list of must-have freeware includes software that is as good as commercial applications and tools that fill a computing void. Some examples of excellent freeware tools include system-utility tools, image viewers, Windows key automation tools, media players, zip and archive tools, and antivirus applications." ~Jay Dougherty

http://www.toptechnews.com/story.xhtml?story_id=1130089AAO3U

This handy news post for those of us that are looking for good free programs to recommend. Some are just to keep the system speedy, while other to open things you may want to. Like a picture from your friend who uses a mac.

Network World : Playing with our money: The FCC and the Universal Service Fund

"You, your company and I, along with just about everybody subscribing to telephone service in the United States, is hit with a surcharge on our phone bills that goes into a Universal Service Fund (USF).

This fund started out with the simple goal of making telephone service affordable in rural, and thus, high-cost parts of the country. Over the years, the USF goal has expanded to cover Internet service. At best, this has been a controversial program." ~Scott Bradner

http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/2011/022111bradner.html?page=1
I can see the benefits of this program, and I also see the need to update it. But I do have to agree that this may not be a job for the FCC.

Top Tech News : Chinese Attackers Grab Data from Energy Companies

"Hackers from China have been stealing internal documents from energy companies for at least two years, and possibly up to four. McAfee has named the hackers Night Dragon and described them as "incredibly sloppy." The Night Dragon hackers exploited holes to compromise web servers, McAfee said, and could attack other industries."~Barry Levine

http://www.toptechnews.com/story.xhtml?story_id=030003CLNPII

One thing I have to say is.... "WHO was SLOPPY?" Yes the attackers were, but they got in easily from what I understand. This doesn't bode well for us in this matter. Looks like even our private sector is severely lacking in this department. But why is their "secure" financial data able to be accessed from outside the company anyway?  

Top Tech News : Obama Promotes Plans for Wireless Expansion

"President Obama wants to expand access to high-speed wireless to 98 percent of the population within five years, part of a focus on innovation, technology and competitiveness as a pathway to jobs. He is visiting Marquette, Mich., a university and tourism town that cherishes both its geographical remoteness and technological savvy."~Erica Werner

http://www.toptechnews.com/story.xhtml?story_id=0300029EMD3C

I am glad to see that there is actually a method to this madness. I am also glad to see that Michigan is being used for something other than to show how bad the economy is. 
I have to say that whoever thought up this wireless plan was at least of a financial mindset. This being said we must also work to secure this network, which means that I will probably end up with a government job. Keeping this network secure enough doesn't seem like something the government is good at... 

BBC News : Anonymous hackers attack US security firm HBGary

"Online activist group Anonymous has targeted an American security firm that claimed to know the identities of its leaders.

The secretive organisation is being investigated in several countries over strikes on Visa, PayPal and others.
Over the weekend Aaron Barr, head of HBGary Federal, said he had discovered the names of its most senior figures." ~unknown

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12380987

Now I have no problem with people speaking out for what they feel is right or believe in. I also understand protecting yourself, when you do so. But there are certain times that we must control what we do to that end. I am not condemning nor am I condoning what Anonymous did. But I have to ask, is there a line at which even they won't cross. This just makes me wonder are any of us safe with them doing what they are. They could bring it all crashing down on our heads. That may be the point of what they do. Anarchy. Dissonance. George Carlin would be happy with them. Everyone should be careful.

BBC News : Gaming and raiding in World of Warcraft

"Your challenge, if you choose to accept it, is to gather 25 strangers from around the world and organise them into a fighting force capable of defeating the strongest foes.

You must be intimately acquainted with their strengths and weaknesses and deploy them wisely to make the best of those talents.
The relevance of raiding transcends WoW in another way too, said Ms Cockshut. The virtual teams and teamwork it demands are likely to be in demand as the world makes more use of the web.
"There is a lot for us to learn about how people co-ordinate this," she said. "What they are doing has a lot of implications for group dynamics, management and other approaches in business that we really need to start taking seriously." "~Mark Ward

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12326825

I can see how this would be relevant to people outside of the WoW game base. If we could gain understanding on how the group dynamics work here, and use them in the business world, we (esp. here in the U.S.) might be able to bring ourselves out of this black hole.
One thing I have to say about the business world, it has become a bit stressed and cut throat. So stressful in fact that there are hotels in other countries that allow you to pay for a room in advance that they allow you to wreck everything inside, and supply you the means to do so. To quote "Live like a rock star".
Many people use WoW as an escape from reality, and a stress relief. Maybe someone is actually paying attention to what is happening to our workforces.

PC World : Is That a Rootkit on Your PlayStation 3?

"Oh dear, did Sony quietly slip a rootkit onto the PS3 with its recent 3.56 system update? Did the company apply a suite of software tools designed to conceal (their) surreptitious file manipulation? To hide realtime processes executed without your knowledge or consent? Is your PS3 compromised?"~Matt Peckham

http://www.pcworld.com/article/218455/is_that_a_rootkit_on_your_playstation_3.html?tk=hp_new

Well... I would have to say that he is right. Sony does reserve this right in their TOS. But there may be a bit more behind this. I have a slight feeling that this is because of the recent lawsuit, and they are trying to make those people that might be doing something illegal known to them and maybe actually do something about it.

PC World : Speed Up Windows by Stripping It Down

"Windows can do all sorts of amazing things, some of which you might actually want it to do. Unfortunately, the things you don't want it to do can slow it down. By turning off unnecessary programs, processes, and services, you can unburden Windows and help it live up to its full potential.
Some of the following suggestions may not produce a noticeable improvement in performance individually. But their cumulative effect can be to speed up your system significantly."~Lincoln Spector

http://www.pcworld.com/article/218323/speed_up_windows_by_stripping_it_down.html?&tk=hp_fv

I must say that this article is quite good at walking you through some steps, however it doesn't give any help when you head to the services area. I would not recommend anyone who hasn't been there before or hasn't a clue to go into the services and play around. That can mess up your computer pretty quickly and there may not be a quick way back. But all in all this was a good article for a beginner-to-novice level person to speed up their computer easily.