Xpertfeed

Microsoft to add autoscaling, alerts to Windows Azure Summary:  Microsoft is readying previews of two new features for its Windows Azure public-cloud platform: App autoscaling and alerts. Tomorrow, June 27 — in Day 2 of its  Build 2013 developer conference  — Microsoft is on tap to talk about Windows Azure. I'm betting two of the topics on the docket will be the additions of autoscaling and alert notifications to Microsoft's public cloud platform. I'm basing this bet on a couple of new Azure blog posts that went live for a bit and were subsequently pulled. Here's some what I'm expecting Scott Guthrie to announce about these new features during the keynote. On the autoscaling front, Microsoft is building automatic autoscaling into Windows Azure for cloud services, virtual machines and Azure Web sites. This capability will allow Azure to scale users' apps dynamically on their behalf, no manual intervention required. The autoscaling will regu...

BlackBerry issues 'critical' security warning for Z10 phones Summary:  The first flagship BlackBerry 10 phone contains a "critical" bug that could allow hackers to crack open the device and pilfer files and data. (Image: BlackBerry/RIM) BlackBerry has issued a security advisory notice to those who have bought its flagship Z10 touchscreen smartphone — the first BlackBerry 10 device to launch following the company's bid for revival, back in February. The advisory, which was  issued earlier this month , notes a bug that relates to BlackBerry Protect, its security and backup utility, rather than the phone's operating system itself.  According to the advisory, an escalation of privilege vulnerability exists in the software of some Z10 phones that could allow a malicious app to "take advantage" of weak permissions in the in-built security software. This could allow a hacker to gain access to the device's password, and intercept and...

Six ways to protect yourself from the NSA and other eavesdroppers Summary:  Yes, you have many options for protecting your privacy on the Internet. But are these measures worth the time and sacrifice required? That's up to you. Worried sick about the NSA, or someone else, looking over your shoulder? Well, you can do things that will make it harder for someone to eavesdrop on you. That's the good news. The bad news is that all these things require a fair amount of effort, some will cripple your use of the modern Internet, and none of them will stop a sufficiently determined electronic Peeping Tom. 1) Abandon the cloud IT professionals who've resisted moving to a public cloud have never liked the idea of putting their programs and data into someone else's hands. Now, as David S. Linthicum, senior vice-president of Cloud Technology Partners, recently wrote, " Personally, I don't see much of a connection between the NSA and cloud computing , ...

Microsoft: We're adding 7,000 Azure IaaS users per week Summary:  The new Linux and Windows Server virtual machines on Windows Azure are attracting more customers to Microsoft's public cloud. Microsoft's Windows Azure team has typically held its momentum and sales numbers fairly close to the vest. But this week at the TechEd conference, execs did share a couple of interesting data points. First things, first. There's a new Windows Azure General Manager (GM) at Microsoft as of a couple of weeks ago. Steven Martin is the new GM on the business, all up, Microsoft officials told me this week. (Martin previously was GM of Azure Business Operations. He is now also GM of Product Management.) Bill Hilf, the former GM for Azure Product Management -- who also served previously as the GM of Technical Computing, Windows Server and Open Source and Platform Strategy --  left Microsoft rather abruptly to join HP's Cloud Product Management Group, I've heard...

Here's how the new Windows Blue Start Button may work Summary:  With Windows Blue, a k a Windows 8.1, Microsoft is re-introducing a Start Button and adding a boot-straight-to-desktop option. Here's how these may work. I know there are still doubters out there, but from everything I've heard, the rumored Start Button is going to be part of Windows Blue, a k a Windows 8.1. I've heard from one of my good sources that the Start Button, as well as a new boot-straight-to-desktop option are included in the most recent internal "Milestone Preview " builds of Windows 8.1. What we haven't heard many leaks about is how this new Start Button will work. While sources have emphasized that the Start Button  won't  work the way the current Windows Start Button does -- by opening up a Start Menu -- that's about all we've heard.  I've been trying to glean details on how the new Start Button will work. Here's what I've heard from ...

Indian software developer Pramati to build cloud platform Summary:  The firm aims to develop a cloud platform using the assets it recently acquired from VMware, and believes such acquisitions can help Indian companies play a bigger role in global innovation. Indian software developer Pramati will build a cloud computing platform using the WaveMakerassets it acquired from VMware. "The company is adopting a strategy of how do we accelerate global innovation. It's currently powered by Silicon Valley but we strongly believe the Indian tech companies can join the race. We can work together to accelerate global tech innovation," Jay Pullar, CEO of Pramati. He added the company planned to release a cloud product in the near future. VMWare  recently  offloaded the rapid application development company, which streamlines the Java  application building process. In the past two years the developer community has doubled to 35,000...

Microsoft and Google agree to build YouTube app for Windows Phone 8 Summary:  After a public tussle, Microsoft and Google have agreed to jointly build a native YouTube app for Windows Phone 8, which will be released within a few weeks. Microsoft and Google seem to have found common ground in their recent skirmish over YouTube on Windows Phone 8. The pair announced on May 24 that they are going to build together a version of a native YouTube application for Windows Phone 8 that will meet Google's terms of service. The new app will be available in the Windows Phone Store in the "coming weeks," according to a Google spokesperson. A quick play-by-play recap for those new to the latest Google-Microsoft feud: On May 8,  Microsoft fielded a YouTube application  that it built itself for Windows Phone 8. The problem: The app violated Google's terms of service by not serving ads and allowing video downloads. Google sent Microsoft a cease-and desist; Micros...