5 things we want for Windows 9

By Adrian Covert January 16, 2014: 2:08 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Windows 8 is chock-full of good ideas, but the execution is still lacking at times. As Windows 9 rumors swirl, here are five things we'd like to see Microsoft include.

More layout flexibility: Windows 8's "snap widgets" essentially serve the same function as old-school windows in desktop mode. Snap widgets make productivity easier on tablets, allowing users to go back and forth between windows. But there is a lot of room for refinement.

Being able to divide widgets into smaller tiles that could be arranged horizontally or vertically along a grid could help users go in and out of various apps much more seamlessly. And being able to quickly take an app into full screen mode and back would go a long way towards making the Windows layout feel less claustrophobic.

Desktop-only mode: Although the Windows 8 tile display is adequate on a standard laptop, it's still not optimal for productivity tasks, particularly on a desktop computer. There are also many apps that only work in desktop mode. The abrupt move between Windows 8's starkly contrasting tile and desktop environments has left a bad taste in the mouths of many users.

In Windows 9 -- or whatever the next big revision of Windows will be called -- users will be able to run those "Modern" apps in a window on the desktop, according to WinSuperSite's Paul Thurrott. If Microsoft also gave users the ability to lock their computers in desktop mode, that would help make the experience of using Windows on a laptop feel more consistent.

Microsoft shouldn't give up on the Start Screen, but some users just don't need it.

More consistent trackpad standards: Sometimes it seems like the trackpad on every single Windows 8 device feels different, making use of clicks and gestures in different ways.

For example, unlocking the homescreen requires a swipe on some trackpads, and a click on others.

At their best, exemplified by Logitech's standalone Windows 8 trackpad, gestures in Windows 8 are as quick and intuitive as touching a screen. At their worst, ironically exemplified by Microsoft's Surface tablet, gestures can be incredibly frustrating.

If the next version of Windows could standardize the trackpad experience, it could go a long way towards making Windows more usable.

Better Display Handling: One of the biggest problems facing Windows 8 is its inconsistent display settings. When connecting a PC to larger, more pixel-dense resolutions, settings that look good in tile mode don't look so great in desktop mode and vice versa. A second display only makes things more complicated.

And that's before you consider the super-HD screens that PC makers are starting to use. Even if you manage to find a sweet spot, some settings will frequently revert back.

If Microsoft really wants customers to love its new approach to Windows, the display has to look good in any mode, and on any device.

More interactivity with Windows Phone and Xbox: Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and the Xbox One software are all built on top of the same foundation. They also share a suite of services and utilities that should function as a glue that binds each product. Yet, the overlap between the experiences on these devices is still lacking.

Buying an app on Windows Phone doesn't mean you automatically have access to the corresponding Windows app. If you start a Skype conversation on your computer, there's no way to push it over to your phone. While there is basic functionality for streaming video from a Windows 8 device to the Xbox, it's often unreliable or half-baked.

Multiplayer games have the potential to simultaneously span phones, tablets, computers, and consoles. Few companies are in a better position to facilitate this than Microsoft, but for now, the idea lies dormant.

Being able to intuitively share media or move your work between devices should be a big consideration in the next era of Windows.

by : http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/16/technology/enterprise/windows-9/index.html

Ousted Yahoo exec's golden parachute may be a record

By Chris Isidore January 17, 2014: 12:53 PM ET

Henrique de Castro is expected to leave Yahoo with a severance package of more than $60 million.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Henrique de Castro is leaving Yahoo with an severance package estimated to be more than $60 million, one of the largest golden parachutes ever given to an executive who was fired.

de Castro, the chief operating officer, was shown the door by Yahoo (YHOO, Fortune 500) CEO Marissa Mayer, apparently due to disappointing performance in improving Yahoo's advertising revenue. Mayer reportedly wrote in a memo to staffers this week that said, "I made the difficult decision that our COO, Henrique de Castro, should leave the company."

Experts in executive compensation say the larger nine-figure exit packages given to some executives are typically for those who retire, voluntarily leave a company or leave upon the purchase of their company.

"As a pure severance package due to performance-related termination, de Castro's exit package is definitely at the top end of the severance we have seen," said Gary Hewitt, the managing director and head of research at GMI Ratings, an expert in corporate governance issues.

One thing that makes de Castro's package so notable is that the former Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) executive was only at Yahoo for 15 months. And he was one of the top paid executives while he was there.

Even though he joined the company in November 2012, Yahoo estimated his pay for the year at $39.2 million, which was more than even Mayer received in total compensation. Much of it was due to a $20 million one-time payment to compensate him for Google bonuses he forfeited when he changed companies.

The Yahoo payment would not have vested for four years, but with his termination will now vest immediately. The speed-up vesting of other stock options and long-term pay is a major factor in estimates that put his severance package at above $60 million.

The business of being Marissa Mayer

Equilar, another research firm that estimates executive compensation, puts the value of the accelerated vesting of various options and stock grants at $64.6 million. Aaron Boyd, Equilar's director of governance research, said that total compensation de Castro received during his time at Yahoo could end up reaching $109 million when all the figures are finally reported.

Yahoo did not respond to a request for comment on de Castro's departure or severance pay.

by : http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/17/technology/yahoo-golden-parachute/index.html

Anti-NSA activists don't like Obama speech

By Doug Gross, CNN

January 17, 2014 -- Updated 1951 GMT (0351 HKT) | Filed under: Web

Assange: It is 'embarrassing' for Obama

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Activists say Obama's NSA speech was not enough
Obama announced reforms while defending surveillance
Julian Assange says the speech was "embarrassing"

(CNN) -- In a development that should surprise absolutely no one, anti-NSA activists were quick Friday to say that President Barack Obama's efforts to limit the agency's spying activities didn't go far enough.

Leading up to a speech in which he outlined reforms that include requiring court approval for analysts to dig into telephone data, Obama had promised to address privacy concerns while defending digital surveillance in the name of national security.

Advocates who feel that the National Security Agency's techniques, some of which have been exposed by former contractor turned international fugitive Edward Snowden, represent a massive intrusion into citizen privacy responded quickly and often harshly.

Some examples:

Alex Fowler and Chris Riley, policy experts at Mozilla (makers of Web browser Firefox)

"We'd hoped for, and the Internet deserves, more. Without a meaningful change of course, the Internet will continue on its path toward a world of balkanization and distrust, a grave departure from its origins of openness and opportunity."

Carl Messineo and Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, co-founders of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund

"Rather than dismantling the NSA's unconstitutional mass surveillance programs, or even substantially restraining them, President Obama today has issued his endorsement of them. ... The speech today was 'historic' in the worst sense. It represents a historic failure by a president to rein in mass government illegality and violations of fundamental rights."

Electronic Frontier Foundation (via Twitter)

"Today, Obama took several steps toward reforming NSA surveillance, but there's a long way to go. Now it's up Congress & courts." (The foundation gave Obama 3.5 points out of 12 on a scorecard it had created on its hopes for "real NSA reform."

Anthony D. Romero, executive director, American Civil Liberties Union

"The president's speech outlined several developments which we welcome. Increased transparency for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, improved checks and balances at the FISA court through the creation of a panel of advocates, and increased privacy protections for non-U.S. citizens abroad -- the first such assertion by a U.S. president -- are all necessary and welcome reforms.

"However, the president's decision not to end bulk collection and retention of all Americans' data remains highly troubling. The president outlined a process to study the issue further and appears open to alternatives. But the president should end -- not mend -- the government's collection and retention of all law-abiding Americans' data."

Julian Assange, WikiLeaks founder

"I think it's embarrassing for a head of state like that to go on for almost 45 minutes and say almost nothing. ... It's clear that the President would not be speaking today without the actions of Edward Snowden and whiste-blowers before him. ... Security whistleb-lowers have forced this debate. This president has been dragged, kicking and screaming, to today's address. He's been very reluctant to make any concrete reforms, and unfortunately, today we also see very few concrete reforms."

by : http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/17/tech/web/response-obama-nsa-speech/index.html

Ticket for driving in Google Glass dismissed

By Heather Kelly, CNN

January 17, 2014 -- Updated 1822 GMT (0222 HKT) | Filed under: Innovations

Judge tosses Google Glass driving ticket

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Charges dismissed for woman ticketed for wearing Google Glass while driving
A judge rules there was not enough evidence to prove the device was on
Some states are pushing for laws that specifically ban the use of Glass while driving
Officers in California can still ticket drivers for wearing Google Glass

(CNN) -- It may have been the most anticipated traffic court date ever.

Southern California resident Cecilia Abadie appeared in San Diego traffic court on Thursday for speeding and for wearing Google Glass while driving. It is considered the first time someone has been cited for wearing the face-mounted technology while driving.

Commissioner John Blair threw out both charges, stating there wasn't enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the Google Glass was turned on at the time. It is only illegal to wear the device while driving if it is operational.

Abadie was pulled over in October for speeding by the California Highway Patrol. The officer then cited her for wearing Google Glass under California vehicle code 27602, which prohibits operating a video-display in front of the driver's head rest where it can distract the driver. The law was originally drafted to keep people from watching TV while driving.

Google Glass is Google's early version of a head-mounted computer display. A small square monitor sits above the right eye, just out of the normal line of vision. To view information on the display like a map or text message, the wearer must look up.

Google Glass defenders claim Glass is safer to use while driving than a smartphone since it can be voice controlled and you only have to glance up to view the Glass display. Many rallied to Abadie's defense, even starting a #freececilia hashtag on Twitter.

When asked to comment on the case, a Google spokesperson sent the following statement to CNN:

"Glass is built to connect you more with the world around you, not distract you from it. As we make clear in our help center, Explorers should always use Glass responsibly and put their safety and the safety of others first.

"It's early days for Glass and we look forward to hearing feedback from Explorers and others in advance of a wider consumer launch this year."

On Google's Glass FAQ page, the company warns: "Most states have passed laws limiting the use of mobile devices while driving any motor vehicle, and most states post those rules on their department of motor vehicles websites. Read up and follow the law!"

"Anything that distracts you from driving is something that were concerned about," said CHP Public Affairs Officer Jake Sanchez.

While the ruling was a big win for Abadie, a product manager who wears her Glass 12 hours a day (she rested them around her neck while in the courtroom), it is not a green light for Google Glass wearers to freely wear and use their devices while driving.

"It doesn't necessarily answer the question everybody wanted: Is it legal to drive down the road wearing Google Glass while it's operating?" said William Concidine of My Traffic Guys. Concidine and his partner, Gabriel Moore, are the traffic ticket attorneys who defended Abadie in court on Thursday.

Google Glass wearers in California can still be pulled over and cited for wearing the head-mounted displays while driving. Whether they get a warning or a ticket will be up to the individual officer. Getting a charges dismissed will then be up to individual traffic court judges.

"There is no law that that specifically says Google Glass is illegal. Each officer has to take each case on a case-by-case basis," said Sanchez.

A dismissal in court is not uncommon for traffic violations, and this ruling will not change how CHP officers view distracted driving.

"I do think it leaves it up in the air for Google Glass wearers," said Concidine. "They have to wear it with the possibility that they may get a ticket that they'll have to fight until a legislator takes some sort of action."

Three states have already drafted laws that specifically ban Google Glass while driving: Delaware, West Virginia and New Jersey.

by : http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/16/tech/innovation/google-glass-ticket-dismissed/index.html

Connected TVs, fridge help launch global cyberattack

By Brandon Griggs, CNN

January 17, 2014 -- Updated 2252 GMT (0652 HKT) | Filed under: Gaming and Gadgets

A smart refrigerator on display at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) last week in Las Vegas.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Security firm: Global cyberattack was launched from more than 100,000 everyday appliances
Gadgets included routers, televisions and at least one "smart" refrigerator
Proofpoint said the attack occurred between December 23 and January 6
Poorly protected "smart" devices may be easier to infect and control than PC, laptops, or tablets

(CNN) -- It's bad enough that we have to fear identity thieves who are trying to scam us with malicious messages sent from PCs.

We now must worry about being targeted by our household appliances, as well.

An Internet-security firm has discovered what they are calling a global cyberattack launched from more than 100,000 everyday consumer gadgets such as home-networking routers, televisions and at least one "smart" refrigerator.

It's being called possibly the first proven cyberattack to originate from connected appliances -- the so-called "Internet of Things."

Proofpoint said the attack occurred between December 23 and January 6, and featured waves of malicious e-mail targeting businesses and individuals worldwide. In a post on the Proofpoint site, the company said the scam involved more than 750,000 e-mails from more than 100,000 appliances that had been commandeered by "thingbots," or robotic programs that can be remotely installed on digital devices.

Google buys Nest Labs for $3.2 billion

It was not immediately clear Friday which victims were targeted and whether the scammers were successful in collecting any personal information.

"Bot-nets are already a major security concern and the emergence of thingbots may make the situation much worse," said David Knight, general manager of Proofpoint's Information Security division. "Many of these devices are poorly protected at best and consumers have virtually no way to detect or fix infections when they do occur. [We] may find distributed attacks increasing as more and more of these devices come online and attackers find additional ways to exploit them."

Recent years have seen an explosion in the number of devices fitted with Internet connectivity, from eyewear to toothbrushes to refrigerators and beyond. Earlier this week, Google paid $3.2 billion to acquire Nest, a company that makes smart home thermostats.

The International Data Corporation (IDC) predicts there will be more than 30 billion connected devices in the world by 2020.

Proofpoint's findings suggest that just as personal computers can be unknowingly compromised and used to launch large-scale cyberattacks, so can any smart household appliance. And poorly protected "smart" devices may be easier to infect and control than PCs, laptops or tablets.

A sophisticated hack was not needed to compromise the appliances in this attack. Instead, the use of default passwords left the devices completely exposed on public networks, according to Proofpoint.

The company also noted that connected appliances typically aren't protected by anti-spam or anti-virus software, nor are they routinely monitored for security breaches.

by : http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/17/tech/gaming-gadgets/attack-appliances-fridge/index.html

Chipmaker Intel said Friday it plans to reduce its global workforce by over 5,000 people over the next year

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Chipmaker Intel said Friday it plans to reduce its global workforce by over 5,000 people over the next year.

The company says the cuts are in response to "evolving market trends

Intel (INTC, Fortune 500) said it will trim about 5% of its 107,600 global workforce by the end of 2014 -- 5,380 jobs.

"This is not a layoff," said Intel Spokesman Chris Kraeuter. "It's not a giant, one time action. This is a target employment rate for the end of the year."

Kraeuter said the cuts will come as a result of people retiring, redeployments, or people leaving voluntarily.

"We're making decisions on how to design our resources to better meet the needs of our business," said Kraeuter.

Intel outlook is not too chipper

The news comes after the company announced lackluster earnings and guidance Thursday. Investors are anxious for the chipmaker to become less dependent on the slow growing personal computer market and more engaged in mobile technology.

For the year, Intel shares are up about 18%, while the broader electronic technology sector is up over 30%.

First Published: January 17, 2014: 6:00 PM ET

by : http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/17/technology/intel-jobs/index.html