Why Detroit is terrified of google's self driving cars!

Google’s latest self-driving car prototype doesn’t 

even have a steering wheel.

Image courtesy of Google

Detroit's Dilemma : The American automotive industry isn’t as resistant to innovation as it once was. But Detroit’s big three automakers have their cost structures to deal with, their reputations to think about, and (lately) their profits to protect. So anything too risky is going to be a hard sell.

It doesn’t get much more risky than a technology that would turn cars into robots and end driving as we know it.

It’s no wonder, then, that Google and Detroit haven’t found much common ground in their early discussions about self-driving car collaborations, as Reuters’ Alexei Oreskovich and Ben Klayman reported Monday:

In one meeting, both sides were enthusiastic about the futuristic technology, yet it soon became clear that they would not be working together. The Internet search company and the automaker disagreed on almost every point, from car capabilities and time needed to get it to market to extent of collaboration. It was as if the two were “talking a different language,” recalls one person who was present.

Tokyo Court: Samsung Didn't Harm Apple Patent

Published on Aug 31, 2012 by AssociatedPress : A Tokyo court on Friday dismissed Apple Inc.'s claim that Samsung had infringed on its patent, the latest ruling in the global legal battle between the two technology titans over smartphones.

Samsung note 10.1 launch hopes to challenge iPad

Published on Aug 16, 2012 by Euronews : The tablet battle has entered a new round. Samsung has just launched its latest Galaxy tablet computer offering in three major markets looking to catch up with Apple's dominant iPad.

The device - which is now on sale in the US, Britain and South Korea - tries to be different with a stylus-type pen and the ability to view two apps at once on a split-screen.

Samsung still lags far behind Apple which sold nearly 28.8 million iPads in the first half of this year giving it almost two thirds of the market.Samsung's tablet sales were 4.4 million tablets with close to ten percent market share.

The two firms are currently toe-to-toe in a multi-billion dollar patents dispute.

Hackers topple Huawei routers

Las Vegas - Hackers at an infamous Def Con gathering on Sunday were shown how to easily slip into computer networks through some routers made by Chinese electronics colossus Huawei Technologies.

"For the 20th anniversary of Def Con the gift is China," Recurity Labs chief Felix "FX" Lindner said as he opened his presentation.

"Nobody needs a back door; this is plausible deniability," he quipped as he detailed weaknesses in three small Huawei routers that could be exploited using basic hacking techniques. "You get what you pay for. Sorry."

Huawei routers, equipment that connects networks to the internet, are widely used in Asia, Africa and the Middle East and the company has been striving to gain ground in US and European markets, according to Germany-based Recurity.

Lindner and his teammate Gregor Kopf were particularly troubled that Huawei has not issued any security advisories about its routers to warn users to take precautions.

Major force

"These machines have serious security issues," said Kopf. "In my eyes, the greatest danger is that you don't know how vulnerable it is; you're left in the dark."

Kopf referred to the routers studied by Recurity as having technology reminiscent of the 1990s and said that once attackers slipped in they could potentially run amok in networks.

"It looks pretty bad," Kopf said. "To be fair, we only looked at three routers. But based on this sample, chances are other equipment they offer is very vulnerable."

Recurity did not examine "big boxes", large routers Huawei makes for businesses and telecom networks.

Huawei, founded by a former People's Liberation Army engineer, has established itself as a major force in the global telecoms industry where its technology is widely used to build mobile phone networks.

Huawei is battling an image problem in the broader technology market due to its perceived close ties with the Chinese military and government.

It was recently blocked from bidding for contracts on Australia's ambitious national broadband project, reportedly due to concerns about cyber security.

The company has in the past also run afoul of US regulators and lawmakers because of worries over its links with the Chinese military and Beijing - fears that Huawei has dismissed.

"It doesn't really matter how much intention is behind the quality that we see," said Lindner. "If you can take over people's routers you can get into their stuff. People need to verify what they are dealing with before they buy."

Original post  -  AFP

Billions at stake in Apple-Samsung battle

Published on Jul 31, 2012 by AlJazeeraEnglish : Jury selection has begun in a court case between Apple and Samsung. The trademark dispute puts billions of dollars on the line as well as control of the future of the U.S. smartphone and tablet industry. Rob Reynolds reports from Los Angeles.