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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Outfoxing the animals 5/4/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Mike Benbow, Business Editor benbow@heraldnet.com   Published: Sunday, May 4, 2008 Adobe giving away Flash software for mobile devices Adobe Systems Inc. says it will license its video-enabling Flash software for free for mobile devices to help developers make mobile Internet experiences more closely resemble the experience on computers. The world's fifth-largest software maker is launching what it calls the Open Screen Project with support from phone makers Motorola Inc., Nokia Corp., Samsung Electronics, Sony Ericsson and Toshiba Corp., from chipmakers Intel and Qualcomm, and from content providers including NBC Universal, MTV Networks and the BBC, among other companies. With the Open Screen Project, Adobe said, it aims to improve Internet experiences on all electronics, including computers, TVs and digital video recorders. But mobile devices are a particular focus. Many mobile applications have met with disappointment from consumers. Notably missing from the list of industry supporters for Adobe's project is Apple Inc. Adobe says it's working on a version of Flash for the iPhone -- now that Apple has released the information needed to custom fit the software to Apple's operating system. Criminals try to "copyright" malware: Even criminal hackers want to protect their intellectual property, and they've come up with a method akin to copyrighting -- with an appropriate dash of Internet thuggery thrown in. Professional virus writers are now selling a suite of software on the Internet with an unusual attachment: a detailed licensing agreement that promises penalties for redistributing the malicious code without permission. "I just kind of chuckled. It's kind of humorous," said Zulfikar Ramzan, senior principal security researcher with Symantec Corp. Symantec researchers noticed a Russian-language example floating around the Internet and wrote about it on the company's official blog last week. They said it's the only example they've seen. The software is used to infect computers and control them remotely. The zombie machines can be used to pump out spam, launch more attacks or steal personal information from their owners. Networks of zombie machines -- known as "bot nets" -- can be extremely lucrative, sometimes bringing millions of dollars in profit. Demise of HD DVD hasn't helped Blu-ray sales: Sales of Blu-ray disc players haven't been helped by maker Toshiba's capitulation over producing the rival HD DVD format, according to research firm NPD Group. Toshiba Corp. announced Feb. 19 that it would stop making HD DVD players. Sales of Blu-ray players, excluding PlayStation 3 game consoles, dropped 40 percent from January to February in the U.S., according to NPD. Sales grew only 2 percent from February to March. The firm didn't release numbers of players sold. While DVD players cost less than $100, Blu-ray players generally cost $400 or more. Another factor that may be holding back sales of Blu-ray players is that anticipated models with Internet connectivity haven't hit the market yet. Current models can't be upgraded. But sales of PS3s seem to be recovering, perhaps with help from their built-in Blu-ray players. Sony Corp. sold 257,120 units in the U.S. in March, nearly doubling last year's figure. Another firm, ABI Research, estimates that PS3s will account for more than 85 percent of Blu-ray players in use this year. Wii accessories grow: Owners of Wii game consoles from Nintendo Co. have always enjoyed the freedom its motion-sensing games offer, but the wire between the remote and the nunchuk needed for some games could limit movement. Video game accessory maker Nyko Technologies Inc. is rolling out its $34.99 Kama Wireless Nunchuk, which is powered by two AAA batteries and a device that plugs into the bottom of the Wii remote. The combination allows the left hand to operate without knowing what the right hand is doing. A few third-party controllers have appeared since the Wii first arrived in stores in November 2006, most in the form of plastic shells that make the Wii remote feel more like a tennis racket, fishing pole or golf club. As more peripheral makers look for inroads into the growing Wii market, Nintendo too is getting ready to introduce North American players to a new controller. "Wii Fit," costing $89.99 and arriving in stores this month, will be packaged with a wireless balance board that senses players' weight and balance. The game -- already a hit in Japan -- will guide players through more than 40 aerobic, strength training, yoga and balance activities and exercises, while letting them set fitness goals and track their progress. Google recruits artists: Google Inc.'s once-austere Web site is turning into an eclectic art gallery. Hoping to spur more customization of its home page, the Internet search leader has unveiled a lineup of colorful graphics dreamed up by a mix of creative souls, ranging from fashion designer Oscar de la Renta to the rock group Coldplay. The panoramic decorations, known as "skins," can be draped around Google's search box if a user has a personal login. The custom home page, known as "iGoogle," is the company's fastest growing service along with e-mail. Google won't specific how many people use iGoogle, but says the number is in the millions. Nearly 70 prominent artists from 17 countries contributed the new designs, which include the work of children's photographer Anne Geddes and the cartoon editor of The New Yorker, Robert Mankoff. From Herald news services

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