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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Research In Motion (RIM) used its annual BlackBerry World conference to demonstrate a few of the key features coming in its BlackBerry OS 10 software, due later in the year.

RIM CEO Thorsten Heins helped demo BlackBerry OS 10, starting with the home screen. There wasn't much information offered as to how each of the swatches on-screen worked; whether they were fully functional widgets, like in Android, the Live Tiles in Windows Phone or something completely different.

Read more: http://www.cnet.com/2300-17918_1-10012163.html?tag=mncol;cnetRiver#ixzz1tiQMp1V0

How to spot dangerous links before you click them

u probably got to this page by clicking a link. Links are the ties that bind the Web. But each click is also a leap of faith. How do you know you're going to the page you think you're going to?

Google search results let you preview pages before you follow the link, but elsewhere the best you can do is hover over the link to see at the bottom of the browser the URL of the page the link will open. (See below for more on free browser add-ons that rate the security of links in search results.)

Since 1994 a Certificate Authority based on the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) standard has managed the validation of Web sites. Several private companies sell various levels of certificates to organizations that own domain names and host Web servers.
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According to the recently released Volume 17 of Symantec's Internet Security Threat Report, on at least 10 occasions in 2011 an SSL certificate authority came under attack by Internet criminals.

One of the handful of successful attacks targeted a Comodo affiliate that had been granted authority to issue SSL certificates. The bad guys had stolen a user name and password. Elinor Mills and Declan McCullogh describe the attack in the Privacy, Inc. blog.

SSL implementation survey gives sites low grades for security
Last week more questions arose about SSL's ability to secure Web transactions. The Trustworthy Internet Movement's SSL Implementation survey of 200,000 popular SSL-secured Web sites found that only 10 percent of the sites were safe.

The organization's SSL Pulse page includes a link to SSL Labs' free service for testing a site's SSL security. Simply enter a domain name to run it through the labs' SSL Server Test.

SSL Labs' domain-name checker gives sites an overall letter grade and rates their SSL security in various categories.
(Credit: screenshot by Dennis O'Reilly/CNET)

There's nothing new about SSL vulnerabilities, which have been reported regularly by researchers since at least 2003. After nearly two decades and despite all the criticism, SSL has proven itself secure enough to protect nearly all online purchases and other sensitive Internet transactions. At least so far.

Browser add-ons add a safety rating to links
Unless you're a network manager, there's not much you can do to ensure that the sites you visit are secure. One way to lower the risk is to be warned about a potentially insecure site before you click the link that opens it.

My favorite link authenticator is the free Web of Trust (WOT), which is available for Firefox and Google Chrome. WOT adds a green-yellow-red rating to links in Web search results and to the top of each page you visit.

The Web of Trust add-on for Firefox and Google Chrome lets you choose one of three presets, one of which automatically blocks adult sites.
(Credit: screenshot by Dennis O'Reilly/CNET)

(I first wrote about WOT in a post from 2009 that also described McAfee's free SiteAdvisor and the LinkExtend add-ons for Firefox, as well as several other security extensions for the browser.)

The Tech Support Alert site describes several services that let you copy and paste a link into a text field and search the URL in databases of known dangerous domains. The downside of these services is the extra time required to run Web addresses you're leery about through the checkers.

Personal sites and blogs most likely to be infected
Conventional wisdom says malware lurks in the seamy regions of the Web. Certain to be one of the most-discussed findings of Symantec's latest Internet Security Threat Report is that pornographic sites are less likely to be infected than any of the 10 categories of sites in the survey.

Only 2.4 percent of adult sites scanned by Symantec were infected, the lowest infection rate of the 10 site categories, which include shopping (7.7 percent), education/reference (6.8 percent), entertainment and music (3.8 percent) and automotive (also 3.8 percent).

Be careful when you visit your brother-in-law's site highlighting his collection of 19th century beer bottles, though: nearly 20 percent of blogs and more than 15 percent of personal sites had malware, according to the report.

When it comes to browser plug-in vulnerabilities, ActiveX continues to be the most likely source of a Web-borne infection, accounting for 29 percent of the 308 vulnerabilities Symantec detected in 2011. That's a decrease from the 34 percent of the 346 plug-in vulnerabilities detected in 2010.

Java vulnerabilities accounted for 20 percent of the total recorded in 2011, up from 17 percent the year earlier. Likewise, Adobe Flash vulnerabilities represented 20 percent of the total number of browser plug-in vulnerabilities in 2011, a 2 percent increase from 2010.

As for the future, Symantec anticipates an increase in targeted attacks and advanced persistent threats, as well as malware authors using Facebook to take advantage of the lack of tech savvy among the service's users.

All the security software in the world will never take the place of a healthy dose of skepticism regarding the safety of any site. Whatever the address bar may say, if you get a bad feeling about the page you're on, close your browser (not just the suspicious tab).

And while we're talking paranoia, when was the last time you ran a full manual scan on your PC? (I'll leave Macs out of it... for now.)

LG Fantasy: The Windows Phone that could have been?

The LG Viper, not the LG Fantasy.
(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

LG's future with Windows Phone 7 is up in the air at the moment, but a prototype of a device the company had reportedly planned to launch has surfaced.

The folks over at Windows Phone 7 tracker, WP Central, claim to have gotten their hands on the LG E740 "Fantasy." The device, the blog claims, was in prototype mode in late 2011, but was eventually shelved in early 2012.

According to WP Central, the device comes with a 4-inch TFT LCD display and a 1GHz processor. It offers 8GB of onboard storage, 512MB of RAM, and 3G connectivity. Although it lacks 4G LTE service, the device boasts near-field communication support. The 5-megapixel rear-facing camera complements the front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera.

Android's new ally against the iPhone: Ubuntu

Last year was a long time ago for Android.

That was when Google's mobile platform was stealing market share from all the other smartphone platforms -- winning even against the iPhone -- and beating a path toward market dominance.

But Android is now facing a renewed challenge from its archrival. Android's vulnerability against the iPhone can be summed up by looking at the two biggest wireless carriers in the U.S. -- AT&T and Verizon. At AT&T, the iPhone represented 78% of all smartphone sales in the first three months of 2012. At Verizon, which had been an Android stronghold since the launch of the original Motorola Droid in October 2009, the iPhone has picked up over 50 percent of all smartphone sales for each of the past two quarters (Q4 2011 and Q1 2012).

How'd that happen? Android won over more users than Apple during 2010 and 2011 because Android devices were available on more carriers and there were Android phones that cost a lot less than the $200 base model of the iPhone. But now the iPhone has spread to virtually all of the major carriers and there are now iPhone models available for under $100.

Android badly needs a new advantage against the iPhone in the next stage of the mobile platform fight. It may get it from Canonical's Ubuntu for Android.

The Ubuntu factor

Ubuntu is a friendly version of Linux aimed at the masses. Unfortunately, the masses have never embraced it on a large scale, but it has proven to be usable enough that even your technophobic uncle can easily use Ubuntu to do things like surf the Web, check e-mail, and download photos from a digital camera.

While the iPhone is winning on simplicity, Android is winning on expanded features (and it's still expected to have a 50 percent market share this year). One of those expanded features that the iPhone doesn't have is the ability to dock and act like a computer. Last week we looked at how Motorola Webtop pioneered this concept. However, Ubuntu has an alternative vision for smartphone/PC convergence and it's teaming with Android hardware makers on devices that will hit the market later in 2012.

Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, has slowly and quietly evolved the Linux desktop into a legitimate low-cost alternative to Windows and Mac. Ubuntu's focus on usability with its Unity Desktop and Heads-Up Display (which is like a Google search for all of the menus on your computer) has given Ubuntu the simplicity it needs to compete in an era that's about to be dominated by touchscreens and cloud computing.

That's why when Canonical announced and demonstrated Ubuntu for Android at Mobile World Congress in February, it generated a lot of interest across the mobile industry. Users liked the idea of a more full-featured desktop than Motorola's Webtop. Android phone makers liked the idea of using the software to build high-powered multi-purpose devices and make more money off smartphones accessories like desktop docks. And, wireless carriers loved the idea of powerful smartphones running desktop-level applications that will demand more data than ever.Mobile World Congress 2012 attendees flock to see Ubuntu for Android. Photo credit: Canonical

"The feedback has been great," Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth said. "People that really got their hands on it have raved about it."

After the announcement, the Canonical booth at MWC 2012 was flooded with interest from corporate tech managers, consumers, and representatives from telcos and handset makers. All of them wanted to see what Ubuntu for Android could do. Everyone has seen the capabilities of Motorola Webtop -- as we talked about last week -- but it's limited to mostly desktop Web browsing and it's only available on Motorola phones. Ubuntu takes the concept a step further by opening it up to more apps and to all Android phone makers.

Shuttleworth said, "Webtop reminds [me] of ChromeOS. It's a browser story. We've pulled off a very different feeling... The full range of desktop apps are there."

When Ubuntu is loaded on an Android phone, the two platforms share the same Linux kernel, so it's not like running two operating systems. The two pieces act like complementary partners. The Android phone functions normally when used as a smartphone or when making calls, but when it docks then the Ubuntu desktop pops up and acts like a standard computer. You can open a desktop Web browser, but you can also install and run standard Ubuntu desktop software for photo editing, word processing, etc.

Because Ubuntu is so lean, the entire Ubuntu software stack only takes up about 2GB, and that includes apps for e-mail, Web browsing, photo editing, music, and other basic stuff. If you install more applications from the large Ubuntu repository of open source apps then that will obviously take up more space, but there's still plenty of storage on most modern smartphones to handle it. While Ubuntu takes up more storage than Webtop, it's also giving you a lot more capabilities.

"The Ubuntu solution is providing a complete PC operating system," said Richard Collins, the Product Manager for Ubuntu for Android. "Canonical has always seen the opportunity for Ubuntu for Android. It's something that's always been discussed, but once the hardware was ready then we realized the timing was good for this. [The software] is mature enough for us to engage with an OEM today."

Before joining Canonical in December 2011, Collins previously worked on smartphones for Symbian -- the operating system that used to power Nokia smartphones before CEO Stephen Elop dumped it for Windows Phone 7 last year.

For Ubuntu for Android, Collins added, "We haven't touched Android at all."

But, while the Ubuntu solution doesn't alter Android, it provides deep integration with Android on the Ubuntu side, and that's where Canonical is bringing value that goes above and beyond what Motorola accomplished with Webtop.
Going beyond Webtop

Here are some examples of the ways Ubuntu integrates with Android:

    * Web pages that you have open on your Android phone are automatically opened in Ubuntu when you dock. It even switches from the mobile site to the desktop version of the site, in many cases.
    * View, search, and launch Android applications from within the Ubuntu desktop
    * Access and edit photos and videos and then save them back to Android
    * Wi-Fi networks and settings are shared between Android and Ubuntu
    * View and search phone contacts from the Ubuntu desktop
    * Use Dialer app to make calls on the phone while docked in Ubuntu
    * Read and respond to text messages with full keyboard in Ubuntu
    * Android calendar app is synced with Ubuntu calendar software
    * Social networking account credentials are synced between Android and Ubuntu


Again, the other thing that Ubuntu has going for it over Webtop is that Webtop is currently only available on Motorola smartphones. In my Webtop article last week, I suggested that when Google buys Motorola Mobility it could choose to directly integrate Webtop into the next version of Android, which would turn almost every new Android device into a PC replacement.

In the meantime, Ubuntu for Android is bypassing Google and making its pitch directly to Android handset makers. Interestingly enough, once the announcement was made in February, several of the handset makers actually came and sought out Canonical to start the dialog on how to get it on their devices. Canonical said that virtually all of the major Android phone makers are considering Ubuntu for Android.

"We've engaged all the handset manufacturers that we feel were relevant to this solution," said Collins. "They were beating a path to our stand [at MWC]."

Collins said Ubuntu for Android is not something that is meant to be released as a download on the Internet and installed on existing Android phones. It's going to take close cooperation with the phone makers in order to optimize performance of the hardware for each smartphone and to build in all the hooks that are needed for the deep integration that Ubuntu is doing with Android.

Since Ubuntu for Android runs alongside Android, Collins argued that a handset manufacturer can integrate it with a phone that is currently in development without having to completely reboot the product. He said manufacturers that are planning to launch multi-core smartphones this year can still take this and launch with it before the end of the year. While that sounds a little oversimplified, the key is that Collins thinks we'll see Ubuntu integrated into high-end Android phones by the end of 2012.

Collins also said that Ubuntu would love to work with some Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core devices. That's where the possibilities of this type of solution could start to shine through, since performance has been one of the big drawbacks of Motorola Webtop as well as the Motorola Atrix 2 device that Ubuntu of Android was demonstrated on at MWC.

While it's uncertain what Google is going to do with Motorola Mobility once the acquisition is complete, the search giant has said that it intends to run Motorola as a stand-alone business. If that's the case, then Shuttleworth said he's even open to collaborating with the Webtop creator. "I'd love to work with Motorola because I know the courage it took to bring Webtop to market."

One thing that's very clear in talking with Shuttleworth is that he has completely bought into the idea that the smartphone is the future of the PC. His only question was the timing. "It's a very natural step for us to be taking," he said. "[This is] an upcoming phase change. It might take five years. It might take 10 years."

Microsoft's $300 million gamble on B&N: Hey, why not?

Quite a lot has already been conjectured in the wake of Microsoft's decision to invest $300 million in a new joint venture with Barnes & Noble. Is a Windows Nook on the way? Are we witnessing a sly move to poke Google in the eye by fostering Android fragmentation? Or is this part of a longer range effort to help users e-books and articles across myriad devices?

Yes to all of the above. But there's not much sense in overthinking this. If you're Steve Ballmer, there's no way that you don't do this deal.

First, the $300 million is a rounding error for a company that did $17.4 billion in its most recent quarter. This was chump change next to what Facebook plunked down to buy Instagram and, really, a very small price to pay to get off the sidelines and into a hot market.

For Microsoft, it's a low-cost gambit given how badly the company trails in the e-book business. Microsoft, which of course doesn't share that view, tells me that the real battle is only now getting underway. That's a bit delusional, but you have to admire their spunk.

And if the gambit succeeds, Ballmer will look prescient, having found a cheap way into a world currently dominated by Amazon and Apple. If Microsoft fails, it's a meaningless tax write-off that won't make a difference to the company's stock (unlike Barnes & Noble, whose shares rose 52% on the news.)

Microsoft could also use a partner that knows what it's doing. As Kevin Tofel reminds us, this is not the first time Microsoft has given the e-reading business a try. But big ideas don't always pan out. Microsoft's Windows Pocket PC platform for mobile devices debuted on April 19, 2000. The Microsoft Reader was embedded in the platform, "allowing you to read e-books on the go."

    Microsoft eventually got out of the Reader business in August of last year, with the decision to shutter its Reader efforts. And why not when the software was then losing to dedicated e-Ink devices and smaller tablets from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others?

For Barnes & Noble, Microsoft's deep pockets are a godsend. Nook or no Nook, the company still struggles with issues that ultimately pushed its former rival Borders into bankruptcy. (Hands please: Who wants to be a big box book retailer in the age of the Internet?)

Which is why the new division -- the Orwellian-named Newco -- could eventually wind up on spun out on its own. More immediately, Microsoft's backing should help Barnes and Noble dispel the concerns of any fence-sitters wondering whether the Nook can survive in an increasingly hardscrabble market.

My CNET colleague David Carnoy correctly observes that in the commodity world of e-books, uneasy consumers have expressed worry that their purchases might disappear if a company goes out of business.

    When Borders went belly up, consumers were simply migrated over to Kobo because Kobo already powered Borders e-book store. But no one knows exactly what would happen if Barnes & Noble went down the tubes, and not a Nook story goes by on CNET without a commenter voicing some concern over Barnes & Noble's longevity.

Microsoft's money solves that problem for Barnes & Noble. How do win more customers? In announcing the news, neither company was very specific. Microsoft President Andy Lees went on about how "the option here is to define the future of reading" and that Microsoft sought to become "more than just the platform provider."

That covers a lot of ground, but it's still anybody's guess what that will mean. Lees was equally opaque about what comes next -- besides, that is, the obvious step of making a Nook app for Windows 8. That leaves the blogospheric chattering classes to ponder the inner Zen of the moment.
Related stories

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    * Nook spinoff could be next chapter for Barnes & Noble
    * DOJ announces three e-book settlements, but not with Apple
    * What's the future for e-book pricing
    * Barnes & Noble shipping Nook GlowLight ahead of schedule (full review)

Since the Nook runs on Android, it's reasonable to expect Microsoft to press Barnes & Noble to switch to Windows 8 sometime in the future (at least for some Nook models.) All Lees would say was that Microsoft offered several different form factors, price points, and capabilities, leaving the impression that there would be more to talk about at some future date. He also mentioned how Microsoft's "complementary assets will accelerate e-reading innovation across a broad range of Windows devices." Amazon now controls roughly 60% of the e-book business in North America and if CEO Jeff Bezos was listening to today's conference call, he didn't hear anything to lose sleep over.

But while Microsoft and its newest best friend aren't doing much beyond making promises on top of promises right now, this story may yet wind up with a happy ending. The Nook has already won its share of good product reviews -- CNET gave it 3.5 out of five stars in its rating -- and there's no reason to believe it wouldn't do equally well equipped with Windows 8, which could be one of the best OS iterations ever produced at Microsoft.

For $300 million, it's well worth rolling the dice. What's to lose?

Flashback creators netted $10,000 per day at its height?

Apple's Flashback Trojan was a major concern for Mac OS X users. But it might have also been a huge revenue opportunity for its creators.

According to security firm Symantec, which has been analyzing Flashback, the Trojan known as OSX.Flashback.K included a significant ad-clicking component that the company says, was designed to help the creators generate revenue.

"Flashback specifically targets search queries made on Google and, depending on the search query, may redirect users to another page of the attacker's choosing, where they receive revenue from the click," Symantec wrote in a blog post. "Google never receives the intended ad click."
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    * Kaspersky: Mac security is '10 years behind Microsoft'
    * New Flashback variant making the rounds
    * Where did Flashback start? Blame the blogosphere

The possibilities for revenue generation are huge for that kind of exploit, according to Symantec. It found that an ad-clicking Trojan called W32.Xpaj.B last August was able to make up to $450 per day on just 25,000 infections. At its height, Flashback infected a possible 650,000 Macs around the world.

"Considering the Flashback Trojan measures in the hundreds of thousands, this figure could sharply rise to the order of $10,000 per day," Symantec wrote.

The Flashback Trojan is a particularly nasty bit of malware that took advantage of of a Java vulnerability in Apple's Mac OS X. Soon after Apple patched its operating system and released a removal tool, the instances of Flashback around the globe plummeted, likely pushing the creators' revenue opportunity down

Boost, Virgin Mobile push phone insurance for $5 per month

Sprint is about to do you a favor, by selling you insurance on your phone.

Both of Sprint's no-contract carriers, Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile, are offering customers on the Monthly Unlimited plan a "unique opportunity" to insure their phones for $5 a month, even though the phone insurance window typically closes after the first 15 days of buying a new handset.

Don't look at it as a business decision from a company seeking an additional revenue bump in the form of a service add-on. Look at it as a heartfelt offer to you, because your happiness is just that important.

Or, at least it is during the month of May. After May 31, the insurance offer reverts to the usual policy.

In all seriousness, there are potential benefits with any insurance program in the event of damage or loss.

Considering that Boost and Virgin phones can cost up to $300, insurance could save you from buying a new phone at full cost, though keep in mind that there is a deductible of $25, $65, or $100 per approved claim. The prepaid carriers will typically replace phones within 24 hours.

On the eve of Research In Motion's developer conference in Orlando, Fla., one analyst warned that the company may lose out on even more precious market share to Apple and Google. RBC Capital Markets analyst Mark Sue told Reuters that Apple and Samsung continue to lead the race for the top spot, while others are "donating" market share. At the last count, RIM had 8.8 percent of the market share for the fourth-quarter, according to research group Gartner, a figure down by nearly half on the year earlier. ComScore figures for November-February show a a steeper drop. with HTC replacing RIM in fifth place in the top mobile OEMs category, indicating less than 6.3 percent of the mobile market share. But while RIM aims to launch its next-generation BlackBerry smartphones later this year -- pegged for October, reports suggest -- the company could find its market share dropping 5 percent or less, Sue said. RIM only has a trickle of new BlackBerry customers as the company loses ground to smartphone makers with greater popularity. In the meantime, RIM is branching out to the emerging markets for a short-term revenue "hit" in order to prop the company up until BlackBerry 10 devices launch. But in taking the long view, RIM could bounce back. It means a strategy shift for the company. First and foremost, it needs to get BlackBerry 10 out the door sooner rather than later. But if it's not ready, it's not ready. It can't pull a 'PlayBook' with a smartphone line-up and release the hardware without crucial elements of the smartphone like it did with its tablet. RIM will just have to wait until its long-term fix comes in. If BlackBerry 10 fails, likely the company will, too.

ZoneAlarm is making an aggressive move to attract new people to its line of security programs with what may be a first: a free antivirus program pre-packaged with a free firewall.

Available exclusively from Download.com today, ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+Firewall 2013 (download) could very well make big waves in the free security-suite space. It's the same free firewall that ZoneAlarm has produced for years, but with basic antivirus and anti-malware tools included. It's basically ZoneAlarm Pro Antivirus+Firewall from last year, with an updated engine. And did I mention that it's free?

The free security suite market is highly competitive, and people use the free suites on a scale not comparable with any other software besides the browser. Avast, Avira, and AVG combined claim more than 400 million active installations, according to OPSWAT's analysis for the first quarter of 2012. ZoneAlarm is optimistic about getting in on that action. "We know we will be in the tens of millions this year," said Mark Brier, head of freemium marketing for ZoneAlarm.
This chart shows the differences between ZoneAlarm's security suites.

This chart shows the differences between ZoneAlarm's security suites.
(Credit: CheckPoint/ZoneAlarm)

The new Free edition does have some additional limitations, though. Automatic virus definition file and signature updates, the locally-stored file that helps identify threats, are limited to once every 24 hours. You can always manually update it, but this is a notable limitation. ZoneAlarm Free also lacks the expert rules option available in the paid version of the firewall. The company will continue to maintain its free firewall without antivirus, for people who want it.

The big news is the combination of the two-way firewall and antivirus, although ZoneAlarm has made the suite appealing in other ways, too. Advanced scan options are enabled by default, but provide room for customization; and there are extras like 2 GB of free online storage and a free identity and credit monitoring service for U.S.-based customers.

It comes with a toolbar that does enable protection against third-party exploits, but even if you opt-out of having ZoneAlarm change your default search engine or default home page during installation, it still manages to muck some things up.

ZoneAlarm Free is also a bit weak in other security areas. If you're looking for solid privacy protections out of the box, AVG Free offers a site-tracking blocker, while Avast provides a sandboxing feature to keep suspicious programs from doing damage.

CNET Labs found ZoneAlarm Free to be fairly competitive with the past year's suites, with a faster than average impact on startup time, a shutdown impact that was only a few seconds slower than average, and a scan time that was one-third faster than last year's ZoneAlarm Pro. Real-world scan time averaged three minutes, 46 seconds for the quick scan, and more than two hours for the full scan.

It has been a while since ZoneAlarm has been submitted for independent efficacy testing from AV-Test.org, AV-Comparatives.org, or West Coast Labs, which makes it hard to evaluate how this well-known name holds up against the competition. However, if people flock to it as Mark Brier and others at ZoneAlarm hope, it could cause both free and paid security suite makers to reevaluate what features ought to be made free to all.

Is RIM's market share headed below 5 percent?

On the eve of Research In Motion's developer conference in Orlando, Fla., one analyst warned that the company may lose out on even more precious market share to Apple and Google.

RBC Capital Markets analyst Mark Sue told Reuters that Apple and Samsung continue to lead the race for the top spot, while others are "donating" market share.

At the last count, RIM had 8.8 percent of the market share for the fourth-quarter, according to research group Gartner, a figure down by nearly half on the year earlier. ComScore figures for November-February show a a steeper drop. with HTC replacing RIM in fifth place in the top mobile OEMs category, indicating less than 6.3 percent of the mobile market share.

But while RIM aims to launch its next-generation BlackBerry smartphones later this year -- pegged for October, reports suggest -- the company could find its market share dropping 5 percent or less, Sue said.

RIM only has a trickle of new BlackBerry customers as the company loses ground to smartphone makers with greater popularity. In the meantime, RIM is branching out to the emerging markets for a short-term revenue "hit" in order to prop the company up until BlackBerry 10 devices launch.

But in taking the long view, RIM could bounce back. It means a strategy shift for the company. First and foremost, it needs to get BlackBerry 10 out the door sooner rather than later. But if it's not ready, it's not ready. It can't pull a 'PlayBook' with a smartphone line-up and release the hardware without crucial elements of the smartphone like it did with its tablet.

RIM will just have to wait until its long-term fix comes in. If BlackBerry 10 fails, likely the company will, too.

Windows XP holding on as dominant OS

(Credit: Net Applications)

Windows XP isn't going down easy.

The ten-year-old OS has gradually been shedding users over the past several years but is still hanging onto to its huge chunk of the market.

In April, XP's market share inched down to 46.08 percent from 46.86 percent in March, according to data out today from Net Applications. That followed a roller-coaster ride that saw XP's audience rise and fall slightly each month since last November 2011.

At the same time, Windows 7 continues to grow in popularity. Last month, the current flavor of Windows grabbed a 38.67 percent share, up from 37.54 percent in March.

The trend over the past year clearly shows Windows 7 gaining on its predecessor. In April 2011, XP held a 55.84 percent share, while Windows 7 hovered at 26.36 percent.

Still, XP's grip on the market remains tight. Microsoft has been aggressively encouraging users and businesses alike to switch from XP to Windows 7, obviously with some success. But it's been a relatively slow and gradual move.
Related stories

    * Windows XP won't give up top spot without a fight
    * XP loses ground to Windows 7 but still top OS
    * Windows XP market share dips below 50 percent

Jumping to a new operating system isn't an especially onerous task for individual users, even though there is no straight upgrade path from XP to Windows 7.

But organizations face greater challenges pulling off a migration. Companies that have standardized on Windows XP can't so easily switch to an new OS without ensuring that all their hardware and software will be compatible.

Large enterprises have to migrate thousands or tens of thousands of users, a time-consuming task. But certain types of smaller companies must contend with their own unique issues. Factories, hospitals, doctors' offices, and similar businesses often use Windows to power their lab equipment, and such equipment can be very finicky about which operating system is in charge.

Microsoft has stressed that support for Windows XP will expire in another two years, at which point software patches, security fixes, and other updates will no longer be available. That could easily put XP computers at greater risk without the necessary protection against malware.

More organizations will undoubtedly feel compelled to move up to Windows 7, ensuring that at some point in the next year or two, the current version of Windows will take over as top dog. But XP will certainly still be alive and kicking for many years to come.

Samsung pulling away from Apple in smartphone market

It's no secret that Samsung and Apple are battling it out for smartphone dominance. But it appears Samsung is, at least for now, winning the war.
During the first quarter, Samsung shipped 42.2 million smartphones worldwide, earning it 29.1 percent market share, according to a study released today by research firm IDC. Apple, meanwhile, shipped 35.1 million iPhones, helping it to secure 24.2 percent market share.
During the same period last year, Samsung shipped just 11.5 million smartphones, while Apple shipped 18.6 million units.
"The race between Apple and Samsung remained tight during the quarter, even as both companies posted growth in key areas," Ramon Llamas, a senior research analyst with IDC, said today in a statement. "Apple launched its popular iPhone 4S in additional key markets, most notably in China, and Samsung experienced continued success from its Galaxy Note smartphone/tablet and other Galaxy smartphones."

Related stories

• Apple inches past Samsung as world's top smartphone vendor
• Samsung tops Apple in global mobile phone shipments
• CNET's review of the Apple iPhone 4S
• CNET's review of the Samsung Galaxy S II

Interestingly, not all research firms agree on the size of the spread between Samsung shipments and iPhone shipments last quarter. Although Juniper Research today stated that Apple shipped 35.1 million iPhones during the period, the research firm asserted that Samsung actually shipped 46.9 million devices, earning it 33 percent market share.
"While Apple and Samsung have taken it in turns to lead the smartphone market over the last four quarters, it seems as if Samsung may now have established a firm lead in this space, shipping 11.8 million more units than the Cupertino, California company in Q1," Juniper said in a statement today.
Apple and Samsung have become arch enemies in the mobile market. Not only are the companies vying for the top spot in sales, but they're also heavily engaged in a host of lawsuits around the world. The companies' CEOs are expected to hold mediation talks later this month to address their legal issues, but there appears to be no love lost between the parties.
Samsung might have an advantage with smartphone shipment calculations, since it sells many more devices than Apple does. Still, Apple has more iPhones on store shelves than ever, offering the iPhone 3GS for free, the iPhone 4 for $100, and the iPhone 4S for as little as $200 with two-year contracts.
But as IDC points out, the smartphone market is about more than just Samsung and Apple. It's just too bad consumers don't see it that way.
During the first quarter, Nokia saw its shipments plummet 50.8 percent year over year to 11.9 million units. Research In Motion's BlackBerry device shipments fell 29.7 percent, while HTC was down 23.3 percent. Combined, the three companies could not match either Samsung's or Apple's market share.
For the smartphone market as a whole, however, things are looking up. During the first quarter of 2011, 101.7 million smartphones hit store shelves, according to IDC. A year later, that figure soared to 144.9 million units.

Apple, U.K. regulator continue their '4G' dance

The U.K.'s advertising regulator continues to battle with Apple over its claims that the iPad 3 is 4G-capable.

A letter seen by the BBC suggests the U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is willing to "close the file" on its investigation should Apple agree to amend its claims that U.K. customers can access the 4G network.

Two problems: first, Apple appears to be standing its ground, causing further headaches for the regulator, despite the iPad 3's inability to connect to any 4G network outside the U.S. and Canada.

And second, the U.K. doesn't even have a commercial 4G network yet.

It comes a month after the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) took Apple to court over similar claims, after the maker of shiny rectangles sold the device in the country knowing full well it wouldn't connect to its 4G networks -- while still advertising the tablet as a 4G-capable device.

The ASA warned that it was "aware of the news from Australia" and asked consumers to file a complaint. In just over a month, the regulator has received "dozens of complaints" over lack of 4G connectivity.
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The regulator suggested Apple should remove any mentions of "4G" on its U.K. Web site, saying this would resolve the dispute. Apple said it would make "no further reference" to 4G, and would amend its advertising. The technology giant even edited a video to remove any references to the next-generation mobile broadband service, which has yet to get off the ground in the U.K.

And it did, but only to a degree. It still markets the iPad 3's "Wi-Fi + 4G" model which lies at the heart of the ASA's argument. Herein lies the problem.

Apple doesn't want to market the new iPad as anything other than a 4G tablet.

Apple said it adds footnotes to its pages for clarity. The first footnote on the U.K. store page says: "4G LTE is supported only on AT&T and Verizon networks in the U.S., and on Bell, Rogers and Telus networks in Canada. See your carrier for details," but makes an effort to bury the news further down the page rather at the stage where the user selects an iPad model for purchase.

In Australia, Apple is trying to change the term "3G" into "4G" to circumvent the complaints. Terms like 2G, 3G, and 4G are not industry-defined, and speeds can vary.

But because U.K. consumers "know" what 3G speeds are and have been used to such speeds for over a decade, Apple will have a hard time convincing the regulators and the British public -- just so it can keep its advertisements intact.

Apple declined to comment.

iTunes users griping about Apple's security questions

(Credit: Apple)

A handful of iTunes users aren't too happy about the security questions being thrown at them to verify their accounts.

Apple recently ramped up stricter security measures for iTunes and iOS users in an attempt to prevent accounts from being abused or compromised. Beyond just entering a password, some users are now being asked to choose three security questions and a backup e-mail address when they try to download content.

But it's the selection of questions themselves that appear to be upsetting some of the Apple faithful, according to The Register.

Users are being asked to choose from a tight list of questions, including:

    * "What was the first car you owned?"
    * "Who was your first teacher?"
    * "Who was your best childhood friend?"
    * "In which city were you first kissed?"

Some people chiming in on Apple Support Communities say the answers to certain questions are too easy to figure out or are public knowledge. Others are saying they don't even know the answers to certain questions. A few have suggested that Apple let users choose their own questions. And some are upset that there was no advance warning of this added security measure.

"The questions are not secure, some are public knowledge and some I don't even know the answer to myself," one user wrote, "so I would have to fake an answer, which then I won't remember."

Another person complained that "someone certainly didn't put much thought into creating the questions or ability for users to be able to find a question they really could answer."

And a third apparently young user said that "these questions are ridiculous, and impossible for me to answer. I haven't had a job, a car, or my first kiss yet, making it impossible for me to answer three of the five questions. Now I can't download anything from iTunes."

The security questions appear to be directed at users who may have raised a red flag for one reason or another. Picking the questions themselves is a one-time task. But after you've chosen your three questions and answers, you may at some point have to remember and enter the answers to again verify your account.

I recently received this added security and did have a difficult time choosing the security questions. Some of them I couldn't answer, and others struck me as odd or too easy for someone else to guess.
Related stories

    * Apple ratchets up App Store security
    * iTunes customers reportedly under threat from digital thieves

Apple certainly can't be faulted for wanting to ratchet up security. The accounts of iTunes users have increasingly been compromised and victimized by phishing attacks.

Apple has little choice but to step in and make things tougher for the bad guys, even if it inconveniences some of its users.

But perhaps a better choice of questions would make the medicine go down a little bit easier.

Get a Creative D80 Bluetooth speaker for $29.99

Once upon a time, I thought Bluetooth was a useless technology that would never catch on.

Turns out it's awesome for one thing: sending audio from your smartphone to a speaker. For instance, my car has a Bluetooth-capable stereo, and I revel in being able to beam podcasts, playlists, and Pandora from my iPhone -- no wires required.

I'm also a huge fan of Bluetooth speakers, which let you bring music just about anywhere -- the den, the bathroom, the garage, the patio -- without a bunch of extra gear.

All you need is your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or similar device -- anything that supports A2DP, the Bluetooth protocol that allows for the transmission of stereo audio. Most modern gadgets do (notable exceptions being the Kindle Fire and Nook Color/Tablet).

If you've been wanting to dip a toe into the Bluetooth-speaker waters without spending a lot, today's deal is for you. While supplies last, TigerDirect has the Creative Labs D80 Bluetooth speaker for $29.99 shipped. That's after applying coupon code SAA60388 at checkout.

Normally priced at $49.99, the D80 is the low-end model in Creative's Bluetooth speaker lineup. The only difference between it and the pricier D100? The latter can run on batteries, meaning it's a lot more portable. The D80 requires an AC outlet.

That's not a huge deal if you're primarily planning to use it around the house. And if you check the 30 or so user reviews, which average out to 4.1 stars, you'll see that most buyers couldn't care less about that. They liked the D80's sound quality, ease of use, and versatility.

I have a sneaking suspicion that these will sell out quickly, so if you're looking for a good Mother's Day gift or you just want to see what all the Bluetooth-speaker fuss is about, grab this quick.

Bonus deal: I'm not above a little nepotism when the deal is this good. While supplies last, CNET has an exclusive offer from RapidBuyr.com: an iPhone survival kit for $15 shipped. The bundle includes a car charger, AC adapter, sync/charge cable, and extra set of earbuds. Great gift item for Mom...or just a handy batch of spare accessories for you.

Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers.

Curious about what exactly The Cheapskate does and how it works? Read our FAQ.

# No new devices, but RIM talks up its virtual BlackBerry keypad

ORLANDO, Fla. -- BlackBerry maker Research In Motion officially took the wraps off its new BlackBerry 10 software here at the company's annual meeting with customers, developers, and press. And it showed off some key new features, including an improved virtual keypad with added smarts for easier and more accurate typing.

BlackBerry 10 reference device
(Credit: RIM)

Today, at its BlackBerry World confab, CEO Thorsten Heins took the stage to officially introduce its BlackBerry 10 software to developers. The software, which has been in closed tests with a select group of developers for months, will now be available to all developers. To help spur developer interest and adoption of the new platform, RIM is also giving away prototype smartphones that run the new software to developers registered for the show.

As expected, RIM didn't showcase any new hardware here at the conference. The company says it will introduced new devices running the BlackBerry 10 OS in the latter part of 2012. But some rumors suggest the company may have new devices on the market as early as August. Company executives have been tight-lipped about the specifics of these new devices, but here at the show they've hinted that the first devices will likely come with virtual keyboards instead of the physical QWERTY keypads that many loyal BlackBerry fans have come to know and love.

RIM has been careful to point out that these reference devices will never be sold commercially. They are only for developers to test new applications using the new software. But executives believe that seeding the market now with devices loaded with the BlackBerry 10 software will ensure that there is a robust market of apps for its new BlackBerry smartphones when these devices are released later this year.

While some BlackBerry fans may be disappointed to learn that RIM may ditch the physical keyboard in some new models, Alec Saunders, vice president of developer relations for RIM, insisted in a meeting before the launch of the software that BlackBerry users have nothing to fear. The new virtual keyboard is much improved in BlackBerry 10, he boasted, saying it's unlike any other such virtual keyboard offered by its competitors.

"We don't even call it a virtual keyboard," he said. "It's simply the next substantiation of our keyboard technology. It draws on what's core to our DNA as a company. And that's about making the BlackBerry a communication and productivity device."

Saunders claims that consumers are frustrated by the experience that's offered on the iPhone and Google Android devices when it comes to tapping out messages, whether they be text messages, emails or updates to Facebook or Twitter. The new BlackBerry 10 software, which was highlighted at the morning keynote event offers smartphones subscribers an alternative.
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Like other virtual keyboards, the one offered by BlackBerry 10 is intelligent, and it can learn a user's patterns so that it knows which words to suggest. But the BlackBerry 10 virtual keyboard goes beyond simply learning which words people use more often. It actually learns how users tap the screen. And it adjusts how it renders certain letters based on someone's typing patterns.

For example, if someone mistakenly taps the "R" everytime he means to type an "E," the software shifts its rendering slightly to the right toward the "R" so that "E" is registered instead of the mistaken "R."

Another helpful trick that's built into the new BlackBerry 10 software keyboard is that when it's predicting possible words a user might be typing it displays those words over certain letters. And the user can simply flick the word with his finger in an upward motion to send it into the display.

RIM has also aimed to ensure that heavy-duty BlackBerry users can tap out messages on this virtual keypad as quickly and effortlessly as they can with the physical keyboard. As part of that challenge, the company reduced the latency in displaying the letters to nearly zero. This allows people to quickly tap one letter right after another as they bang out messages.

RIM execs say there are plenty of other enhancements to the new BlackBerry 10 software. So stay tuned for updates to this story with more information about the highlighted features and functionality from the BlackBerry World opening session.

Akamai: U.S. Web speeds fast, but not blazing like South Korea's

A look at average Web connection speeds around the world. The lighter the color, the faster.
(Credit: Akamai)

We all want faster Web connections. But those connecting to the Web in South Korea are actually getting what they want, according to the latest State of the Internet report from Akamai.

According to the network solutions provider, South Korea is putting most other countries to shame with average Web connection speeds of about 16Mbps. The U.S., on the other hand, offers average connection speeds of 5.8Mbps, putting it behind a host of countries, including Japan, Romania, and Switzerland, among others.

Akamai also found that cities in the Asia Pacific region are far more likely to have fast Web connection speeds, with 61 cities in Japan featured in the list of fastest connections for cities.
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Akamai releases its State of the Internet report each year. The company's findings this year are based on fourth-quarter data it collected from its worldwide network. According to a "Facts & Figures" page on its Web site, 15 percent to 30 percent of all Web traffic is delivered through Akamai's service, and the company delivers over 2 trillion daily Internet interactions. So, while it might not be able to speak for the entire Internet, its reach is extensive and its data can be relied upon.

Moving away from connection speeds, Akamai reported that it cataloged over 628 million unique IP addresses from 236 countries during the fourth quarter, representing a 2.1 percent gain over the third quarter of 2011. Web penetration was up 13 percent compared to the same quarter in 2010.

Still, few people have access nowadays to high broadband speeds. In fact, Akamai found that just 27 percent of all connections it tallied came from speeds of 5Mbps or higher. On the mobile-connections side, it saw a spread of between 5Mbps and 163kbps, but found that the vast majority of mobile connections averaged speeds of 1Mbps.

One other important note from Akamai's study: average peak connection speeds are up 55 percent in Africa and 238 percent in South America over the last four years.

# 'Avengers' accidentally deleted at press screening

(Credit: Screenshot by Lance Whitney/CNET)

It wasn't the evil god Loki who defeated the Avengers last week; it was the slippery fingers of a projectionist.

The new film ran into a slight glitch at a recent press screening, according to The Verge. The digital file of the movie being readied for the press was accidentally deleted by the projectionist. Though one would hope certain safeguards would be in place to prevent such a hiccup, apparently deleting a digital copy of a film is no different than deleting any other type of file.

No word on why the file couldn't be recovered (probably too large) or why there was no backup. But the press had to wait more than two hours for the film to be downloaded again.

Film critic Eric Kohn tweeted about the incident, while another critic Lisa Schwarzbaum confirmed the more than two-hour wait for a fresh digital copy to be downloaded.

Written and directed by Joss Whedon, "The Avengers" teams up famed Marvel heroes Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, the Hulk, the Black Widow, and Hawkeye as they battle the forces of Thor's evil half-brother Loki. The film, which has already drawn rave reviews overseas, will hit theatres in the U.S. this Friday, where hopefully the projectionists will keep their fingers away from the delete key.

Hands on with the BlackBerry 10 keyboard and Dev Alpha phone Read more: http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-57424560-85/hands-on-with-the-blackberry-10-keyboard-and-dev-alpha-phone/#ixzz1tcqQaBi0

Heaven knows RIM has taken a quite a beating these last few years. Here at BlackBerry World 2012 in Orlando, a gathering of the RIM faithful, the company says it's on the mend and wil


Meet the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha
If you've lost hope that RIM smartphones running the promised BlackBerry 10 operating system would ever happen, you're not alone. That's why I was pleasantly surprised when the company showed off its newly-minted reference gadget, the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha. Of course seeing the gizmo for the first time didn't give me as much of a thrill as say a real device slated for actual production. That's right, the Dev Alpha is as its name suggests merely tool for developers to test their fledgling BlackBerry 10 OS app creations.

Despite its official pedigree, the Dev Alpha handset I saw was running the BlackBerry PlayBook OS and not BB 10. In fact, RIM representatives I met with explained that none of the Dev Alpha units attendees of BlackBerry Jam (a sister developer-only event also happening at BB World 2012) will take home will run the anticipated OS.

That's a shame because the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha's hardware looks and feels premium. When I held it in my hand I was struck with its solid -- even, dare I say, expensive -- feel. With blunt rectangular edges, the handheld sports an aesthetic akin to the PlayBook tablet. You'll even find a similar black rubberized material coating the phone's sides and back. Also like the PlayBook, the Dev Alpha features a micro USB port and HDMI out as primary connections.

RIM confided that the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha uses a 4.2-inch, 1280 by 768 resolution screen which looked sharp and colorful enough but not absolutely vibrant. One big departure from current BlackBerry products is the lack of real physical keys.

Do it don't say it
Hardware aside, the slickest aspect of the Dev Alpha device was a prototype of its keyboard software. Now I've used many virtual keyboards in my day, from multiple versions of stock Android, the iPhone, Windows Phone, to ones created by Samsung and HTC. I've even messed with compelling 3rd party options like Thumb and SwiftKey. I have to say though, the prototype RIM cooked up is pretty sweet. Sadly RIM didn't allow any photos or video of the keyboard, so I'll paint you a picture.

At first glance it doesn't look like much, just a standard layout with not many options for dual-functions. When you start typing, though -- that's when the magic happens. Each letter you tap will cause the phone to display suggested words above the letter it thinks you're most likely to type next. I tried my hand at banging out a few messages and I often found myself staring right at the word sitting on the tip of my tongue. It's honestly an uncanny feeling, almost as if the device was reading my mind.

Also nice is how you can flick suggested words up to the text field, sort of like a reverse Tetris game but your reward as I experienced first hand is swift sentence building. If you make a mistake, just swipe your finger horizontally across the keyboard to make quick deletions.

What's more, the RIM explained that the keyboard is designed to learn how you specifically punch keys, where exactly you tend to place your fingers etc, and will adjust itself to you over time "like a glove".

RIM Execs made it clear this approach is symbolic of the BlackBerry culture of getting things done and not merely talking or reading about it on the Internet. Of course if RIM doesn't ship these BB 10 products soon -- well, let's just say that will speak volumes as to who's doing and who's just talking.

Contour launches activity-specific camera mount kits

(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)

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One of the draws of HD sports cameras like the ContourHD series (or the GoPro HD Hero) is that they feature a wide variety of mounting options, making them useful in a wide variety of activities. However, purchasing all of the available mounting accessories can get expensive, which is why Contour has announced a series of activity-themed mounting kits that bundle specific mounting accessories at a 10 to 20 percent discount over buying the bits separately. Elastic band mount

This flexible strap mount allows the Contour camera to wrapped around a roll cage or handlebars.
(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)
rail mount

Any Contour camera can be attached to the suction cup mount using the rail adapter.
(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)

The Moto mount kit that Car Tech fans are no doubt most interested in sells for $99.99 and features a rotating surface mount, two adhesive low profile mounts, a suction cup mount, and a flexible strap mount. This kit gives automotive and motorsports enthusiasts multiple options for attaching their Contour camera to a windshield, sheet metal, a helmet, or roll cage. We got our hands on the Moto mount kit--which you can see in the photos above and below--and found that it also includes a nice bonus feature: an adapter that allows the suction cup mount to be used with any camera that accepts a tripod screw.

The Snow mount kit also features low profile mounts and a rotating surface mount, but swaps in a pole mount and a Goggle mount, both of which should be useful to skiers, snowboarders, and snowshoers. This kit goes for $69.99.

A kit targeted at bicyclists includes a vented helmet mount, a flexible strap mount, a bar mount, and, of course, a pair of low profile mounts for $69.99.

A general Outdoor mount kit features a headband mount, hat mount, and the flex strap mount. Finally, a Helmet mount kit features a pair of low profile mounts, a rotating flat surface mount with a pair of extra adhesive patches, and a vented helmet mount. These kits go for $49.99 each.

Each of these kits is compatible with the ContourHD, the Contour GPS, ContourROAM, and Contour+ HD cameras and comes packaged with a weatherproof bag for carrying all of those mounting bits and the Contour camera to the track, up the mountain, out to sea, or wherever you plan to capture the action. You can find each of these kits on Contour's web store. The rail mount can be removed from the suction cup and replaced with this threaded head.
(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)
weatherproof bag

All of the mounting accessories can be toted around in the included weatherproof bag.
(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)

Contour's "one more thing" is the announcement of a ContourROAM Watersports Kit, which bundles a surfboard mount, a ContourROAM HD video camera, and a buoyant and waterproof case that keeps that camera dry up to a depth of 60 meters. Users will be able to pick up this all-in-one wet recording kit for $249.99. The Contour Watersports Kit includes a camera, a waterproof case, and a surfboard mount.
(Credit: Contour)