MyNotex Strikes an Almost Perfect Note

Note-taking applications in Linux are a dime a dozen. It can be difficult to sort through the feature sets to find the best solution. MyNotex has a near-perfect combination of features and uniqueness to put it into a class of its own. MyNotex is a multipurpose tool to take notes, file documents, and manage information or research. It is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit Deb and RPM packages. This makes it readily installable for many Ubuntu/Linux Mint and other Debian Linux-based distributions, as well as the Red Hat Linux/Fedora family of distros.

Russia Cites Surveillance Concerns in Apple, SAP Source Code Demands

Russia wants Apple and SAP to turn over their source code in yet another instance of fallout resulting from leaks about NSA surveillance activities. The suggestion reportedly came last week, when Communications Minister Nikolai Nikiforov met with executives of the two companies: Peter Nielsen, Apple's general manager in Russia; and Vyacheslav Orekhov, SAP's managing director in Russia. Russia wants to ensure the right of consumers and corporate users to the privacy of personal data, while also protecting state security.

Internet.org Hands Out Free Samples in Zambia

The Internet.org collective's mission of bringing the entire planet online took a step forward Thursday with the release of an app affording limited free mobile Internet access to users in Zambia. While around 85 percent of the world's people are located in areas with cellular network connectivity, only 30 percent access the Internet. In Zambia, just 15 percent have online access, according to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Mobile networks, along with aerial access points, are key to helping more people get online.

Microsoft Sends Cortana to Far-Flung Corners of the Earth

Microsoft is preparing to debut an update to its Windows Phone 8.1 operating system, which includes expansion of its Cortana personal assistant availability to more regions. The update introduces Cortana to China and the UK in beta form, and Canada, India and Australia in alpha mode. Cortana is only just starting to make waves in the market, several years after Apple debuted Siri, while Android's Google Now has been available for some time. Cortana is named after the AI character Cortana in Microsoft's Halo video game series.

Hackers Back to Their Old Tricks

Old tricks that have helped hackers penetrate computers for months or longer worked again last week at Goodwill and Stubhub. Taking a page from the gang that pillaged payment card and personal information from Target last year, hackers clipped payment card information from an undisclosed number of Goodwill Industries International customers. As they were in the Target attack, it's believed point-of-sale systems were compromised at Goodwill, which has 2,900 U.S. retail locations that collect and sell donated clothing and other goods.

LittleBits Leaps to the Cloud

LittleBits, the maker of what might best be thought of as electronic Lego kits, last week launched cloudBit, a module that provides users with access to the Internet. LittleBits offers modules that are used, like Legos, to build gizmos with electronic capabilities. The modules are held together by magnets, and no soldering or wiring is needed. "The product comes in a range of styles from those aimed at primary school education to maker-inclined individuals and groups," said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT.

Leahy Bill Aims to Rein In Government Snooping

Government snooping on Americans would be curtailed under a bill introduced Tuesday in the U.S. Senate. The measure, sponsored by Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., would ban bulk collection of domestic information, limit the scope of searches by government agencies, and add transparency and reporting requirements. Further, it would reform procedures of the FISA Court, which oversees requests for surveillance warrants against suspected foreign intelligence agents inside the United States.

Microsoft Sends Cortana to Far-Flung Corners of the Earth

Microsoft is preparing to debut an update to its Windows Phone 8.1 operating system, which includes expansion of its Cortana personal assistant availability to more regions. The update introduces Cortana to China and the UK in beta form, and Canada, India and Australia in alpha mode. Cortana is only just starting to make waves in the market, several years after Apple debuted Siri, while Android's Google Now has been available for some time. Cortana is named after the AI character Cortana in Microsoft's Halo video game series.

Entrepreneurs Tackle Earthquake Safety, Urban Planning Tech In SF’s EIR Program

While heavily-funded companies like Airbnb, Lyft and Uber capture the spotlight as companies that controversially shape city life around transportation and space, cities and their governments have a whole bunch of behind-the-scenes needs too. That’s the premise behind San Francisco’s entrepreneur-in-residence program, which pairs tech founders with city government workers in… Read More

Hackers Back to Their Old Tricks

Old tricks that have helped hackers penetrate computers for months or longer worked again last week at Goodwill and Stubhub. Taking a page from the gang that pillaged payment card and personal information from Target last year, hackers clipped payment card information from an undisclosed number of Goodwill Industries International customers. As they were in the Target attack, it's believed point-of-sale systems were compromised at Goodwill, which has 2,900 U.S. retail locations that collect and sell donated clothing and other goods.

Leahy Bill Aims to Rein In Government Snooping

Government snooping on Americans would be curtailed under a bill introduced Tuesday in the U.S. Senate. The measure, sponsored by Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., would ban bulk collection of domestic information, limit the scope of searches by government agencies, and add transparency and reporting requirements. Further, it would reform procedures of the FISA Court, which oversees requests for surveillance warrants against suspected foreign intelligence agents inside the United States.

Samsung Z Delay Prompts Tizzy Over Tizen

Samsung has delayed the launch of its Samsung Z smartphone running the Tizen OS, which was scheduled for Q3 release in Russia. The move, just short of two months after the Samsung Z's launch at the Tizen Developers Conference, sparked a death watch for the device. However, Samsung said it needed to further enhance the Tizen ecosystem. Samsung has had several setbacks with the Tizen smartphone. NTT DoCoMo, Japan's largest carrier, and another key backer, French carrier Orange, canceled plans to carry a Tizen smartphone earlier this year.

Android's Fake ID Could Put Millions in Jeopardy

An Android vulnerability that exists in every version from v2.1 Eclair to v. 4.3 Jelly Bean could expose millions of users, Bluebox Security has warned. The flaw lets attackers fake the certificates of specially privileged parties, such as Adobe and Google Wallet, and serve them up with malware that bypasses detection by Android. Attackers then can take over every application running on an Android device. The flaw, which BlueBox calls -- what else? -- "Fake ID," also might impact Android forks, including Amazon's Fire OS.

Stanford Researchers Build a Better Battery

A new way to extend battery life would allow smartphones to last three to four times longer on a single charge, Stanford University researchers have found. A team led by Yi Cui, professor of materials science and engineering, has developed pure metal anode prototypes, which differ from the lithium-ion batteries seen in most devices. The team's anode is close to a commercially viable product, but we are still some time away from seeing these battery designs in our smartphones, Cui said.

Eastern Europe Gets A New Venture Fund In Fiedler Capital

Central and Eastern Europe has got a new venture fund in the shape of Fiedler Capital. Headed up by managing partners Robert Hegedüs and Jordan Bocskov, the new seed and early stage venture capital firm is looking to invest up to €250,000 in startups from Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltics. It’s headquartered in Vienna, Austria but also has operations in Budapest, Hungary.… Read More

OkCupid's Confessed Hijinks Get Thumbs-Down

OkCupid has admitted carrying out psychological experiments on its users. Because OkCupid doesn't really know what it's doing, it needs to experiment to see what works and what doesn't, cofounder Christian Rudder wrote in a blog post. Every Internet company needs to test different things with users, and website visitors are subjected to "hundreds of experiments at any given time, on every site. That's how websites work," he argued. "When this story came out, I almost thought 'it's a publicity stunt,'" said Quinnipiac professor Sang Nam.

China Trumps Up Anti-Monopoly Charges Against Microsoft

China's State Administration for Industry & Commerce on Tuesday announced it has launched an investigation into Microsoft under the country's antimonopoly laws, according to press reports. The announcement comes days after SAIC officials reportedly raided Microsoft offices in four cities, seizing documents, emails and other data from servers and computers; copying the company's financial statements and contracts; and questioning some of its staff. Microsoft failed to fully disclose Chinese enterprise customers' complaints, the SAIC said.

Bubblews Will Give You a Penny for Your Thoughts

Bubblews, a social media platform that offers to pay users for their posts, last week moved out of its testing phase, which began in 2012. It emerged with a new look designed to attract users who might be dissatisfied with other social media offerings. Bubblews is attempting to build a self-sustaining ecosystem in which users who create engaging posts are paid for their work. It prides itself on being different from Facebook and Twitter, both of which compensate only their relatively small groups of company employees.

The Skully Augmented Motorcycle Helmet Would Make Iron Man Jealous

Skully had its coming-out party last week, and while the name unfortunately sounds like the nickname for any number of comic book villains -- from Skeletor to the Red Skull -- it is actually a firm that makes a pretty incredible high-technology motorcycle helmet, with technology similar to Google Glass. Because it is often cheaper to implement things like electric motors in bikes, and because the need is actually higher, I think Skully's AR-1 represents the first big step in making motorcycle riding both safer and more fun.

European Startups Raise $2.8BN In 2nd Qtr, Highest Since 2001, UK Leads Pack

European startups are on a roll. According to data from Dow Jones VentureSource they have raised more than $2.8 billion (€2.1 billion) from VCs in the second quarter of 2014, the highest quarterly total since that iconic dotcom bust year of 2001. The UK remains the gang-buster country, where companies have raised 28% of the total amount in the second quarter, followed by France with 19%… Read More

Stanford Researchers Build a Better Battery

A new way to extend battery life would allow smartphones to last three to four times longer on a single charge, Stanford University researchers have found. A team led by Yi Cui, professor of materials science and engineering, has developed pure metal anode prototypes, which differ from the lithium-ion batteries seen in most devices. The team's anode is close to a commercially viable product, but we are still some time away from seeing these battery designs in our smartphones, Cui said.

Fly Or Die: Tinder Moments

Last month, Tinder launched Moments. It’s a new feature that lets users send photo blasts to all of their matches. The photos don’t last forever, but they’re a much better ice breaker than “hey.” That said, we took a close look at the feature for Fly or Die. Read More

The Shocking Truth About Torvalds' Home Office

If the Linux world has anything akin to royalty, Linus Torvalds surely must be its monarch. So what could be more natural than for the Linux-loving masses to want to see where he works and lives? Fortunately for FOSS fans, none other than the Linux Foundation has stepped up with an answer to that desire in the form of a video showcasing Torvalds' home office. Think it's tidy? Think again. You'll laugh, you'll cry. At the very least, you'll come away feeling better about the state of your own work setup.

Google to Search for the Meaning of Health

Google is seeking 175 volunteers from whom it will collect bodily samples in an effort to create their biochemical fingerprints and establish the baseline for a healthy body. The Baseline study, to be run by Google X labs, will seek to connect traditional clinical observations of health, such as diet -- or habits, such as smoking -- with molecular-level changes. The idea is to note changes before symptoms appear and provide treatment. The study is a pilot run by molecular biologist Andrew Conrad of Google X with a clinical partner.

The Skully Augmented Motorcycle Helmet Would Make Iron Man Jealous

Skully had its coming-out party last week, and while the name unfortunately sounds like the nickname for any number of comic book villains -- from Skeletor to the Red Skull -- it is actually a firm that makes a pretty incredible high-technology motorcycle helmet, with technology similar to Google Glass. Because it is often cheaper to implement things like electric motors in bikes, and because the need is actually higher, I think Skully's AR-1 represents the first big step in making motorcycle riding both safer and more fun.

Microsoft Is Back To Bashing Apple In Latest Advertisment

In Microsoft’s latest TV spot, the company stacks its voice assistant against Apple’s. Spoiler: Microsoft’s wins. Read More

IBM Is a 'Kindred Spirit': Whoa, Tim Cook, Whoa

The Apple deal with IBM has shown us a whole new side of Tim Cook -- the gushing, hype-laden, excited-but-still-vague Tim Cook who says things like "kindred spirit," "huge opportunity," and "radical step for enterprise." Who peppers his speech with words like "profound," "complementary," "landmark" and "thrilled." Now, I'm a big fan of Tim Cook, but when he uttered this, "We fit together like a puzzle, and so this is profound. It is landmark. It's historic," my mouth dropped open and I felt compelled to look away.

Google to Search for the Meaning of Health

Google is seeking 175 volunteers from whom it will collect bodily samples in an effort to create their biochemical fingerprints and establish the baseline for a healthy body. The Baseline study, to be run by Google X labs, will seek to connect traditional clinical observations of health, such as diet -- or habits, such as smoking -- with molecular-level changes. The idea is to note changes before symptoms appear and provide treatment. The study is a pilot run by molecular biologist Andrew Conrad of Google X with a clinical partner.

Linux Gaming: If You Build It, Will They Come?

For long-suffering Linux users who have endured the dearth of high-quality action games on their open source desktops, the wait for better game developer support soon may be over. New technology is making Linux more attractive to game makers. In fact, it may keep Linux under the hood, so players will have no clue Linux is inside. Until now, game makers have relied primarily on Windows PCs and gaming consoles powered by proprietary alternatives to the Linux OS. However, Linux-based systems specially designed for gaming are on the rise.

Greats Brand Sneakers Are Off To The Races Following $1.5M Funding Round

Greats Brand, aspiring to be the Warby Parker of mens’ footwear, has revealed that the company broke $100,000 in sales in June, with a projected $1.6 million run rate for the year. Following a $1.5 million financing round, the shoe brand will, for the first time, have three different models of their shoes available at once. Historically, the brand has sold only one or two versions of a… Read More

IBM Is a 'Kindred Spirit': Whoa, Tim Cook, Whoa

The Apple deal with IBM has shown us a whole new side of Tim Cook -- the gushing, hype-laden, excited-but-still-vague Tim Cook who says things like "kindred spirit," "huge opportunity," and "radical step for enterprise." Who peppers his speech with words like "profound," "complementary," "landmark" and "thrilled." Now, I'm a big fan of Tim Cook, but when he uttered this, "We fit together like a puzzle, and so this is profound. It is landmark. It's historic," my mouth dropped open and I felt compelled to look away.

Apple Trusts a Million Users to Check Out Yosemite

In a rare move, Apple on Thursday rolled out a beta version of its upcoming desktop operating system, OS X Yosemite, to a million "testers." The company pulled the wraps off Yosemite at the World Wide Developers Conference in June and has been tweaking it for developers since that time, but this latest version is a beta that as many as one million members of the public can download. This is the first time Apple has offered a public beta of OS X since it introduced the operating system in 2000.

Twitter's 'D' in Diversity Reflects Broader Industry Failure

Like many other tech companies, Twitter is largely made up of white, male employees, pointing to a lack of diversity in the industry. The company revealed statistics about its organizational demographics, noting that almost 60 percent of Twitter's U.S. employees self-identify as white. Just under 30 percent identify as Asian. Combined, blacks, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders and Hispanics account for less than 7 percent. Of Twitter's global workforce of around 3,000, 70 percent are male, and only a tenth of tech workers are women.

Microsoft Brings OneNote To Amazon’s Android App Store

When Microsoft said that it wanted to take its products and services to other platforms, it appears that the company meant it: Today the software firm brought OneNote, its EverNote competitor, to Amazon’s Android App Store. So, if you have a Kindle Fire or a Fire phone, you can now take OneNote on the road with you. Microsoft recently made OneNote free everywhere. Before, it had a mixed… Read More

Facebook Saves the Day From Slipping Away

Facebook this week launched a feature that allows users to save content from their News Feed that they might want to read or watch later. Called "Save," it is designed help users who may be inundated by links to articles, music clips and videos to separate the wheat from the chaff. "Every day, people find all sorts of interesting items on Facebook that they don't have time to explore right away," said Jessie Baker, a spokesperson for Facebook. "Now you can save items that you find on Facebook to check out later when you have more time."

Patent Tips Apple's iWatch Hand

A patent awarded on Tuesday to Apple may be a tip-off of what the company is planning for the smartwatch it's widely expected to introduce this fall. The patent for something Apple referenced in its application as "iTime" is for an electronic wristband that contains a recessed area for an electronic device, such as a watch body. After Apple introduced its diminutive media player -- the nano -- similar wristbands appeared in the market for that device. However, the iTime band would be bristling with more power.

Skype for Linux Redesign Is Ugly but Functional

If you do not mind having a free non-open source Microsoft product on your Linux computer, the latest Skype for Linux release catches up to the Windows and Mac versions, providing most of the features they've had for some time. Microsoft rolled out Skype version 4.3.0.37 in mid June. The catch-up release has an updated user interface, some additional features, and lots of bug fixes. The latest Skype for Linux version also got rid of Alsa audio API support. Instead, it supports only Pulse Audio.

Amazon Fire Phone Wins Respect, if Not Raves

Early reviews for Amazon's first foray into the smartphone market are mixed, with a general sense that the device is a good phone overlaid with some flashy features. Amazon announced the Fire Phone last month, trumpeting its 3D display, which uses facial recognition and front-facing cameras to shift perspective, depending on where the user's head is; a personal assistant called "Firefly"; and Amazon's live, interactive support service, Mayday. The Fire Phone is slated for release on Thursday.

Failure to Communicate Hamstrings Cyberdefenders

A failure to communicate between security pros and company brass may be contributing to the inability of a significant number of organizations to reduce the risk of cyberattacks on their systems. That was one of the findings last week in a study conducted by the Ponemon Institute and sponsored by Websense. Thirty-one percent of the nearly 5,000 respondents surveyed for the study said their cybersecurity team never met with the executive team about cybersecurity.

Black Hat Tor-Busting Talk Nixed

The Tor Project is working to remedy a vulnerability in its anonymity software following the sudden cancellation of a talk at next month's Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas that would have revealed it. The planned talk, entitled "You Don't Have to be the NSA to Break Tor: Deanonymizing Users on a Budget," would have demonstrated a way to unmask users of Tor, the privacy-minded Web browsing software. Carnegie Mellon University researcher Alexander Volynkin was to deliver the briefing.

Nvidia's Shield Tablet Earns Praise for Hardware, Shrugs for Games

Nvidia is expanding its Shield line of gaming products with the launch of a gaming tablet and accompanying wireless controller. Designed for high performance, the tablet is powered by Nvidia's Tegra K1 processor, which includes 192 graphics processing unit cores. It will be frequently updated with software updates designed to draw stronger performance and additional capabilities from the hardware. The tablet follows on from the release last year of the Shield Portable handheld device.

iOS Insecurity - Designed by Apple?

The long-held belief that Android is the least secure of mobile OSes was shattered by security researcher and expert iOS hacker Jonathan Zdziarski over the weekend. He unveiled a host of iOS vulnerabilities, the scope of which was staggering: undocumented services that bypass backup encryption and can be accessed both via USB and wirelessly; a means to access all data encrypted with data protection if the device has not been rebooted since the user's PIN was last entered; and a packet sniffer that can be monitored remotely over WiFi.

Layoffs: There's a Right Way

Microsoft last week announced a large staff reduction tied to the acquisition of Nokia. There is actually a science to how to make layoffs, but much of that appears to have been lost over the last couple of decades. I have some theories as to why -- I blame the Democrats and financial analysts -- but how you carry out job cuts actually is very important, and it reflects how well the CEO understands people, which I think is a critical skill. In the context of Microsoft's layoffs, I'll offer a layoff primer this week.

GoTenna Makes Wireless 'Magic'

Startup GoTenna has launched its eponymously named device, which lets users communicate without the need for a cell tower. "This is an interesting concept," said tech analyst Jim McGregor. "It's like a walkie-talkie on steroids." The device uses BlueTooth LE to pair with a user's smartphone. It can exchange text messages only with another GoTenna. The GoTenna's use is further limited because it encrypts messages with the RSA 1024 public/private key encryption, which means only a GoTenna that has the decryption key can read the message.

Judge Rules Police Can Stuff Entire Email Accounts Into Evidence Lockers

Concerns about overly broad searches of digital data by law enforcement once again have emerged after a federal judge ruled that officials armed with a warrant can seize and hold a suspect's entire email account. Such an action would not violate the suspect's rights under the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, said U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel Gorenstein in support of a warrant he issued earlier this month. One worry is that police could retain email accounts and search them repeatedly, said ACLU staff attorney Nate Wessler.

Fly Or Die: LG G Watch

Like anything in this world, the LG G Watch has its pros and its cons. It’s LG’s first venture into smartwatch territory, meaning that the company is just now figuring out its design aesthetic in the space. That said, it looks and feels surprisingly nice, with options for both black and gold. Read More

Siri May Be Starting a Hope Chest

It may not be a marriage made in heaven, but the cloud is pretty close. Just hours after IBM and Apple announced their strategic partnership, speculation began to spread about two of their most well-known products: What if Siri and Watson were to hook up? Siri is Apple's voice-enabled digital personal assistant. Watson is IBM's artificial intelligence software, perhaps best known for winning Jeopardy! While noting that it was too soon to talk about a future Siri-Watson hybrid, IBM hasn't ruled out the possibility.

Nokia X, We Hardly Knew Ye

"I told you so" is a refrain that's oft-heard here in the Linux blogosphere, and more often than not it refers to some fleeting Microsoft tie with FOSS that subsequently goes wrong. The latest example? It's a doozy. Redmond not only is laying off many, many thousands -- most of them in its ill-fated Nokia unit -- but also abandoning its short-lived support of Android through the Nokia X line. "We will be particularly focused on making the market for Windows Phone," wrote Microsoft devices chief Stephen Elop in an email last week to employees.

Layoffs: There's a Right Way

Microsoft last week announced a large staff reduction tied to the acquisition of Nokia. There is actually a science to how to make layoffs, but much of that appears to have been lost over the last couple of decades. I have some theories as to why -- I blame the Democrats and financial analysts -- but how you carry out job cuts actually is very important, and it reflects how well the CEO understands people, which I think is a critical skill. In the context of Microsoft's layoffs, I'll offer a layoff primer this week.

Down the EU's Right-to-Be-Forgotten Rabbit Hole

Telecom regulators from each EU member state, together with the Article 29 Working Party -- a group comprised of a data protection authority representative from each state, the European Data Protection Supervisor, and the European Commission -- have invited search engines to a meeting next week, according to a Thursday report. Microsoft, which just started fielding link removal requests to Bing, plans to attend. It is not clear if Google or Yahoo will be there, although both companies have said they will cooperate with privacy officials.

Siri May Be Starting a Hope Chest

It may not be a marriage made in heaven, but the cloud is pretty close. Just hours after IBM and Apple announced their strategic partnership, speculation began to spread about two of their most well-known products: What if Siri and Watson were to hook up? Siri is Apple's voice-enabled digital personal assistant. Watson is IBM's artificial intelligence software, perhaps best known for winning Jeopardy! While noting that it was too soon to talk about a future Siri-Watson hybrid, IBM hasn't ruled out the possibility.

Social Robot Jibo Melts Crowdfunders' Hearts

A crowdfunding campaign for Jibo, a little robot designed to become one of the family, kicked off Wednesday on Indiegogo, and with 29 days remaining, it already has raised more than $577,000 -- nearly six times its $100,000 target. The voice-controlled robot with a friendly face is a do-it-all personal assistant. Communicating with users in a human voice, it can learn individual preferences, relay messages and reminders, and function as a video conferencing device. That's just for starters.

Amazon Officially Announces Kindle Unlimited That Offers Endless Reading And Listening For $9.99 A Month

Amazon officially announced that Kindle Unlimited, an all-you-can eat reading and listening service, that we first mentioned two days ago. Dubbed a “Netflix for books” the services offers over 600,000 books for free reading on Kindle and Kindle-enabled devices as well as thousands of audiobooks from Audible. Introducing Kindle Unlimited: Unlimited Reading and Listening on Any… Read More

Down the EU's Right-to-Be-Forgotten Rabbit Hole

Telecom regulators from each EU member state, together with the Article 29 Working Party -- a group comprised of a data protection authority representative from each state, the European Data Protection Supervisor, and the European Commission -- have invited search engines to a meeting next week, according to a Thursday report. Microsoft, which just started fielding link removal requests to Bing, plans to attend. It is not clear if Google or Yahoo will be there, although both companies have said they will cooperate with privacy officials.

Gameover Zombies on the March Again

The Gameover botnet is back, more or less, only six weeks or so after the Justice Department announced that an FBI-led multinational effort had disrupted it. Still, the botnet's downtime was longer than expected -- the UK's National Crime Agency had warned that the people running it would regain control within two weeks. Sophos this week spotted a new version of the malware. Only a few samples have been identified, but it has been distributed through widespread spam campaigns, so there already may be a large number of victims.

The Big Honking Business-as-Usual IBM-Apple Deal

The news that Apple and IBM have joined forces sent a shockwave through the Apple-focused world this week, and I admit it, I was surprised. At first glance, the deal seems to be this big group hug with the two companies becoming inextricably entwined. Yeah, it's not that. In fact, this is the biggest deal that really isn't all that "BIG" that I've seen in a long time. It seems groundbreaking -- and it will pay off handsomely for both Apple and IBM -- but it's really just an extension of business as usual for both companies.

Android Sets iPhone Cloning Factory in Motion

Chinese company Wico has cloned the yet-to-be-released iPhone 6, if a pair of videos can be believed. "The similarities are eerily close," said Ramon Llamas, a research manager at IDC, to the extent that the casual observer "may just simply accept this as an iPhone." There are slight differences on the sides, such as the volume and power buttons and the headphone jacks, as well as the chassis overall, but "it's not until you place them side by side that you can see the differences," Llamas noted.

Google, Novartis Team on 'Invisible' Health Monitor

Novartis' Alcon eye care division has entered an in-license agreement governing all ocular medical uses for Google's smart contact lenses, it announced Tuesday. Google unveiled a prototype of its glucose-monitoring lens in January. No financial details of the arrangement were released, and the deal needs to clear regulators before it can be completed. Novartis sees its deal with Google as a way to expand its healthcare horizons. There are 382 million diabetics around the world today and that number is expected to grow to 582 million by 2035.

Google's Project Zero Cybersecurity Watch: No Excuses

Google on Tuesday announced Project Zero, an effort to speed up the security bug-fixing process. A team of cybersecurity experts will go after vulnerabilities in any and all software, notify the vendors, and then file bug reports in a public database. The Project Zero team has promised to send bug reports to vendors in as close to real-time as possible, and to work with them to get fixes to users in a reasonable time. The announcement will shake up software vendors, who are not noted for patching vulnerabilities rapidly.