University of California Sues Facebook And Others Over Patents

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The Regents of the University of California and its lawsuit-happy patent licensee Eolas Technologies yesterday filed lawsuits against Facebook, Disney and Wal-Mart over four interactive technology patents they believe the companies are infringing.

via University of California Sues Facebook And Others Over Patents.

However, two of the patents cited in the new lawsuits were declared invalid in February 2012 by a Texas jury in a separate lawsuit, which targeted Amazon, Apple, Google, Yahoo and others.

At the time, Wired headlines its report on the invalidation thusly: “Texas Jury Strikes Down Patent Troll’s Claim to Own the Interactive Web”.

Helium-filled WD drives promise huge boost in capacity

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HGST said the new seven-platter helium drives will weigh 29% less per terabyte of capacity that today’s five-platter drives. In other words, a seven-platter helium disk will weigh 690 grams, the same as today’s five-platter drives.

Reducing drag on the platters will also allow HGST’s new helium drives to use 23% less spindle power to turn. A five-platter drive today draws 6.9 watts while idle. The new seven-platter helium drives will draw 5.3 watts of power in the same state.

via Helium-filled WD drives promise huge boost in capacity – Computerworld.

Intel Confirms Decline of Server Giants HP, Dell, and IBM

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But just four years later, Bryant says, the landscape has completely changed. Today, she explains, eight server makers account for 75 percent of Intel’s server chip revenues, and at least one of those eight doesn’t even sell servers. It only makes servers for itself. “Google is something like number five on that list,” Bryant told us on Monday evening, during a dinner with reporters in downtown San Francisco.

That’s right, Google is likely the world’s fifth largest server maker.

via Intel Confirms Decline of Server Giants HP, Dell, and IBM | Wired Enterprise | Wired.com.

Antec ISK 110 VESA Case Review: Just About As Small As It Gets

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We’ve been having a good run of Mini-ITX cases lately, but most of those cases are designed to still be able to support what are essentially fully-powered systems: standard voltage CPUs, dedicated graphics cards, an optical drive and multiple storage drives. Yet part of the charm of Mini-ITX is that it’s capable of fitting into a much smaller space than even a Micro-ATX board theoretically could. If you’re gunning just to produce a system that’s very small and very efficient, but you don’t want to just use someone else’s build, a Mini-ITX board and the right enclosure can have you covered.

via AnandTech – Antec ISK 110 VESA Case Review: Just About As Small As It Gets.

Given that there isn’t a whole lot to the Antec ISK 110 VESA, you’d think assembly would be simple and straightforward. While it’s straightforward, simplicity unfortunately isn’t part of the equation; cramped quarters are never good for getting a system put together, and the ISK 110 VESA is incredibly cramped.

…

It’s meant for kiosk and basic lightweight corporate and personal use.

Engineers Build Supercomputer Using Raspberry Pi, Lego

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The team is wanting to see “Iridis-Pi” become an inspiration for students to enable them “to apply high-performance computing and data handling techniques to tackle complex engineering and scientific challenges.”

via Engineers Build Supercomputer Using Raspberry Pi, Lego – ParityNews.com: …Because Technology Matters.

Howto is here.

Steps to make a Raspberry Pi Supercomputer

The steps to make a Raspberry Pi supercomputer can be downloaded here: Raspberry Pi Supercomputer (PDF).

You can also follow the steps here Raspberry Pi Supercomputer (html).

IOS Developer Cheat Sheet – OWASP

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In general, an app should store locally only the data that is required to perform its functional tasks. This includes side channel data such as system logging (see M8 below). For any form of sensitive data, storing plaintext data storage in an app’s sandbox (e.g., ~/Documents/* ) should always be avoided. Consumer-grade sensitive data should be stored in secure containers using Apple-provided APIs.

via IOS Developer Cheat Sheet – OWASP.

Samsung expected to sue Apple over iPhone 5 tomorrow

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The courtroom battle between Apple and Samsung seems to be far from over, and come tomorrow Apple is in for a major headache as soon as it makes the iPhone 5 official. That’s because Samsung is poised to sue the company over patents it owns relating to the LTE connectivity the new smartphone is expected to use.

via Samsung expected to sue Apple over iPhone 5 tomorrow – Cell Phones & Mobile Device Technology News & Updates | Geek.com.

Facing Samsung in court again may not phase Apple even though the shoe will firmly be on the other foot this time. However, there’s two other companies set to try and block sales of the new iPhone. The first is the company behind the GooPhone i5, which successfully managed to patent the design of its phone in China that just happens to look like the leaked shots we have seen of the iPhone 5. If the two phones do indeed look the same, expect a lawsuit.

3 years later, hackers who hit Google continue string of potent attacks

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The hackers who breached the defenses of Google and at least 34 other big companies three years ago have unleashed a barrage of new attacks since then, many that exploit previously undocumented vulnerabilities in software from Microsoft and Adobe, a new report has found.

via 3 years later, hackers who hit Google continue string of potent attacks | Ars Technica.

Researchers have dubbed this approach “watering hole” attacks, and say they’re “similar to a predator waiting at a watering hole in a desert. The predator knows that victims will eventually have to come to the watering hole, so rather than go hunting, he waits for his victims to come to him.”