Computerworld Gregg News

Apple CEO Tim Cook passes up $75M

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:08:00 GMT

Apple CEO Tim Cook has passed up about $75 million in dividend payments he would be due when his massive collection of more than 1 million shares vests in the next decade, according to a filing with the SEC.

Aged Windows XP costs 5x more to manage than Windows 7

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:27:00 GMT

Microsoft has added ammunition to its aggressive battle to get users off Windows XP by citing a company-sponsored report that claims annual support costs for the older OS are more than five times that of Windows 7.

Microsoft clarifies Ballmer's claims of massive Windows 8 adoption

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:36:00 GMT

Reports earlier this week that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer predicted unprecedented sales of Windows 8 were wrong on multiple counts, Microsoft and independent analysts agreed.

Windows 8 puts end to endless reboots

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:29:00 GMT

Microsoft yesterday promised that a feature it's added to Windows 8 will put a stop to endless reboots.

Pwnium hacking contest winners exploited 16 Chrome zero-days

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:59:00 GMT

Google yesterday revealed that the two researchers who cracked Chrome in March at the company's inaugural "Pwnium" hacking contest used a total of 16 zero-day vulnerabilities to win $60,000 each.

Google warns users infected with DNSChanger as Web outage nears

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:36:00 GMT

Google on Tuesday hauled out a tool it last used nearly a year ago to warn users infected with the "DNSChanger" malware.

Windows Vista infection rates climb, says Microsoft

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:29:00 GMT

Microsoft said that a skew toward more exploits on Windows Vista can be attributed to the demise of support for the operating system's first service pack.

Microsoft-backed groups praise EU's antitrust ultimatum to Google

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:22:00 GMT

A pair of Microsoft-backed industry groups applauded the ultimatum European Union antitrust regulators issued to rival Google over alleged anti-competitive practices.

Chrome trumps IE as world's top browser

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:59:00 GMT

Google's Chrome edged past Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) last week to become the world's most widely used browser, according to data from an Irish metric firm.

No price cuts for Windows 8 upgrades, says analyst

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:19:00 GMT

Microsoft will not reduce the price of Windows 8 upgrades, as it did three years ago before the roll-out of Windows 7, a retail sales analyst said today.

Mozilla readies Firefox for Mountain Lion's Gatekeeper

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 21 May 2012 15:02:00 GMT

Mozilla is scrambling to craft a code-signed version of Firefox for the Mac in case Apple launches OS X 10.8, or Mountain Lion, early.

Microsoft dumps 'Aero' UI in Windows 8, 'Metro-izes' desktop

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:45:00 GMT

Microsoft is abandoning the 'Aero' user interface with Windows 8, calling the UI that debuted in Vista and continued in Windows 7, 'cheesy' and 'dated.'

Twitter jumps on Do Not Track bandwagon

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:47:00 GMT

Twitter has announced support for "Do Not Track," immediately implementing it to halt online tracking of users who trigger a setting in their browsers.

Microsoft reprises free Xbox back-to-school PC promo

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:45:00 GMT

Microsoft will repeat last year's back-to-school promotion, kicking off the deal Sunday with an offer of a free Xbox 360 game console to eligible U.S. students who buy a new Windows 7 PC.

Mac-based Flashback click fraud campaign was a bust

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:17:00 GMT

The hackers in charge of the Flashback botnet managed to generate $14,000 from their click fraud campaign, but have not been paid, Symantec said today.

Mozilla product director says Firefox on Window RT 'probably not worth it'

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:10:00 GMT

Unless Microsoft allows other browser makers to call important APIs in Windows RT, it's "probably not worth it to even bother" building a version of Firefox for the new OS, a Mozilla product director said.

Apple victorious in iphone5.com domain dispute

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:33:00 GMT

Apple has apparently won control of the iphone5.com domain, according to changes in a Web record of the URL.

Microsoft anti-bloatware service to apply to Windows 8 PCs, too

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:26:00 GMT

A Microsoft in-store program that scrubs "bloatware" from Windows PCs will also be offered when Windows 8 machines reach the market later this year, a company representative said.

Apple 'head and shoulders' above phone rivals in satisfaction survey

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:25:00 GMT

Apple debuted in the top spot among mobile phone makers in a national customer-satisfaction survey, receiving a record-high score for the category.

Google releases Chrome 19, adds tab sync and patches 20 bugs

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:29:00 GMT

Google released Chrome 19, patched 20 vulnerabilities in the browser and doled out $16,500 in bug bounties and rewards to independent researchers.

Avira antivirus upgrade wreaks 'catastrophic' havoc on Windows PCs

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:54:00 GMT

German security firm Avira yesterday issued a service pack for its antivirus software that crippled an unknown number of Windows machines, with one customer calling the gaffe "catastrophic" to his company.

Mac clone maker Psystar saga ends as Supreme Court denies appeal

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:00:00 GMT

The four-year-old saga of Psystar, a Florida Mac clone maker that was crushed by Apple, ended Monday when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear its appeal of a lower court decision.

Microsoft to charge $15 for Windows 8 upgrade deal

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:30:00 GMT

Microsoft plans to charge users who buy a new Windows 7 PC $14.99 for an upgrade to Windows 8. The upgrade program is expected to kick off alongside the delivery of Windows 8 Release Preview in June.

Consumer love for mobile sparks discontent with Microsoft's software

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:39:00 GMT

Satisfaction with Microsoft's software slipped last year, part of an industrywide downturn driven by U.S. consumer discontent with traditional PC programs, a national survey said today.

Apple ships first Leopard security update in nearly a year

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 14 May 2012 23:47:00 GMT

Apple on Monday issued its first security-related update for OS X 10.5, or Leopard, in nearly a year, to disable long-outdated versions of Adobe's Flash Player.

EU-Microsoft browser deal requires ballot screen in Windows 8

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:19:00 GMT

Microsoft declined to comment when asked whether it believed it's required to offer a ballot screen in Windows 8 to European users for selecting rival browsers in the new operating system's desktop mode.

MacBook Pro refreshes may be imminent, say reports

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:41:00 GMT

Hints that Apple will soon refresh its iMac desktop and MacBook Pro laptop lines accumulated today as several Mac-centric blogs revealed new details gleaned from the Web and unnamed sources.

Senate to look at Mozilla's browser competition allegations

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Sun, 13 May 2012 19:30:00 GMT

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee plans to look into accusations by Mozilla that Microsoft is restricting access to important programming tools for browsers that will run in Windows RT.

Adobe backpedals, will now patch software for free

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Sat, 12 May 2012 22:47:00 GMT

After being pummeled by customers and security experts for telling users to spend hundreds of dollars on upgrades because it wasn't going to patch critical bugs in older versions of its software, Adobe has reversed course.

Adobe: Pay upgrade price to patch critical bugs

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:35:00 GMT

Adobe has told users of its Creative Suite, which includes the company's premier products like Photoshop and Illustrator, to spend $375 to upgrade if they want patches for eight critical vulnerabilities.

Microsoft preps Windows 8 upgrade deal for early June debut, says report

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:52:00 GMT

Microsoft will reportedly kick off a Windows 8 upgrade program for buyers of Windows 7 PCs in early June.

Mozilla on new browser brouhaha: Microsoft, Apple different cases

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:46:00 GMT

Two wrongs don't make a right, Mozilla's chief counsel said Thursday when asked why his company hasn't lambasted Apple, as it did Microsoft, for blocking rival browsers from its mobile operating system.

Adobe's security chief praises Apple for Flash-crippling move

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:17:00 GMT

Adobe's head of security is applauding Apple's move to block outdated versions of his company's Flash Player.

Apple patches 36 bugs in OS X, fixes encryption password goof

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:01:00 GMT

Apple on Wednesday patched 36 vulnerabilities in Mac OS X, most of them critical, plugging a hole that revealed passwords used to encrypt folders with an older version of FileVault.

Mozilla accuses Microsoft of anticompetitive behavior with Windows RT

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:24:00 GMT

Mozilla yesterday accused Microsoft of withholding APIs necessary to build a competitive browser for Windows RT, and said the behavior "may have antitrust implications."

Apple patches Safari, blocks outdated Flash Player

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:09:00 GMT

Apple on Wednesday patched four security vulnerabilities in Safari and blocked outdated versions of Adobe's Flash Player from running in its browser.

Is Apple's OS X Mountain Lion on early-release track?

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:57:00 GMT

Apple may release OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion earlier than expected, according to a report by a popular blog and clues found within the release dates of the three developer previews of the new operating system.

Apple's e-store satisfaction score jumps, thumps Microsoft's

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:15:00 GMT

Apple's online store scored the highest satisfaction rating of any computer-related company, and handily beat rival Microsoft, a consumer pollster said today.

Microsoft pitches SkyDrive over iCloud to Mac Office users

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:39:00 GMT

Microsoft is pitching its SkyDrive online storage service to Office for Mac users, calling Apple's iCloud offering "not enough" for collaboration, file sharing and anywhere-access to documents.

Apple patches Google 'Pwnium' bug with iOS 5.1.1 update

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:33:00 GMT

Apple today shipped iOS 5.1.1 for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch owners that dealt with connectivity issues on the tablet, fixed bugs in AirPlay's video playback and patched four vulnerabilities in the mobile operating system.

Half of all Macs will lack access to security updates by summer

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:50:00 GMT

Unless Apple changes its security update practice, nearly half of all Mac users will be adrift without patches sometime this summer.

Adobe preps silent Flash updates for Macs

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:33:00 GMT

Adobe last week released a new beta of Flash Player that includes silent updates for Macs

Apple wants iphone5.com domain handed over

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:35:00 GMT

Apple is disputing ownership of the iphone5.com domain, sparking speculation that the company will use the long-rumored name for its next smartphone.

Google raises bug bounties to $20,000

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Google has dramatically raised the bounties it pays independent researchers for reporting bugs in its core websites, services and online applications.

Android malware used to mask online fraud, says expert

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 04 May 2012 20:08:00 GMT

Android malware being automatically distributed from hacked websites looks like it's being used to mask online purchases, and could be part of a fraud gang's new push into mobile, researchers said today.

Adobe patches new Flash zero-day bug with emergency update

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:19:00 GMT

Adobe today warned that hackers are exploiting a critical vulnerability in its popular Flash Player program, and issued an emergency update to patch the bug.

Microsoft boots Chinese firm for leaking Windows exploit

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:39:00 GMT

Microsoft identified a Chinese security partner as the source of a leak last March in its highly restricted vulnerability information-sharing program.

Bloggers plead for Windows Live Writer's life

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 03 May 2012 21:08:00 GMT

A Windows developer, upset at the likely demise of Windows Live Writer as part of Microsoft's move to retire the Live brand, has launched an online petition drive to save the tool.

iPad share of tablet market jumps as Kindle Fire slumps

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 03 May 2012 20:23:00 GMT

Apple's iPad reclaimed a larger share of the global tablet market last month, in part because of a more-serious-than-expected slump in sales of the hot Kindle Fire in the first quarter, IDC analysts said today.

Microsoft plans big May patch slate for next week

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:00:00 GMT

Microsoft today said it would ship seven security updates next week, three critical, to patch 23 bugs in Windows, Office and its Silverlight and .Net development platforms.