California first to get electronic license plates? Easier to track?

　　California is the home of everything that's new, exciting, and, well, accidentally nefarious.
　　It's a delight, therefore, to hear that we here in the Golden State might be the first to get electronic license plates.
　　Yes, the young and the restless of tech will be able to have their new "TE$LA1" plate beamed directly to their car.
　　What could be more moving? I am beaming at Ars Technica for discovering that a bill has passed the California State Senate, allowing for a pilot program to launch the scheme.
　　If the Governor signs the bill, 0.5 percent of Californians might enjoy this perk quite soon.
　　They can look forward to rolling down their beautiful hills and having the word "EXPIRED" suddenly appear on their backside. (The car's, that is.)
　　What fun it will be to see Ferraris with the word "STOLEN" -- or Priuses with the word "TASTELESS."
　　Actually, I'm not sure that last one will be an option. Even so, the sheer instancy and convenience will fascinate many.
　　The suspicious (which ought, these days, to include most people) might wonder whether these license plates -- which very probably will be accessed through a mobile data network -- will let the powers that be know where people are, yes, all the time.
　　The bill doesn't seem clear about this. What is clear is that the company that operates the system will have access to everyone's location.
　　That company is Smart Plate Mobile, which doesn't appear to have so much as a Web site currently.
　　Electronic Frontier Foundation Staff Attorney Lee Tien told Ars Technica that the DMV would hopefully not have access to location information.
　　However, we all know how porous digital walls can be.
　　As with so many digital creations, the weak spot for people is the convenience. Someinterviewed by KCRA-TV said they'd pay extra in order to not stand in the DMV line.

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　　Now, that doesn't imply XP will abruptly quit operating. You can retain using it if you want, but I wouldn't recommend it.
　　End of life implies Microsoft won't be releasing any additional security updates to the typical user. Any security flaws that hackers find won't be fixed. Your laptop will be a sitting duck, even with safety software program installed. Click here to view what no cost safety computer software I recommend.
　　I know several die-hard XP customers are cynical about this news. They think Microsoft is trying to force folks get new computers. Microsoft is in small business to create funds, so it does want persons to upgrade. But in Microsoft's defense, this isn't anything special for XP.
　　Microsoft has carried out precisely the same with Windows 95, 98 and Me. Vista's end of life is April 11, 2017 and Windows 7's is January 14, 2020. The truth is, Microsoft extended XP's end-of-life date a number of times. XP should really have already been gone years ago.
　　Here's a entertaining reality: XP initially appeared in the end of 2001. As late as 2010, computers have been nevertheless sold with XP installed. Windows Vista, which arrived six years immediately after XP, only lasted till 2011.
　　Should you think of it, XP will be nearly 13 years old. Like a teenager, it really is possessing difficulty adjusting for the world. In spite of a significant overhaul with Service Pack 3, XP just wasn't built for the modern digital age.
　　It's missing essential safety options introduced in Windows Vista. It cannot support the most recent, safest and most Web-compatible versions of Internet Explorer. It can not take full advantage from the most current hardware advances.
　　It is becoming increasingly frustrating for shoppers and third-party businesses. A lot of third-party firms would love to stop supporting XP. It takes many money and time to produce sure applications and hardware function on each and every version of Windows.
　　This even affects the net. Web developers is going to be overjoyed to see XP-only World wide web Explorer versions six, 7 and eight go away. Those versions are so far behind other browsers, you practically have to create one more website just for them.
　　It's going to be a critical adjust for a lot of persons. In most circumstances it is going to imply a brand new laptop or computer, upgraded software program and possibly new accessories like printers and scanners.
　　Until final year, upgrading would not have been quite so undesirable. Windows 7 was still relatively close to Windows XP in appear and how it worked. In fact, I anticipate Windows 7 to become the subsequent Windows version that people stick with for very a while.
　　Now, having said that, Windows eight would be the only operating program readily available on new computer systems. Whenever you attempt it, you will discover that it really is radically distinct from prior Windows versions.
　　The interface was meant for touch-screen tablets and doesn't operate that effectively with keyboard and mouse. In truth, even acquiring the Desktop is an adventure in itself.
　　The Windows 8.1 update coming out next month will let you bring back some of the old Windows. Microsoft will even involve a tutorial on how to use Windows 8 - ultimately. But it really is still a steep understanding curve, especially coming from XP. Click here to understand extra about generating essentially the most of the Windows 8.1 update.
　　You'll be able to come across copies of Windows 7 for sale on the internet. You could install it on your current laptop or computer - assuming it is not too old. You might also invest in a Windows 8 personal computer and downgrade.
　　Just be conscious which you cannot do an in-place upgrade from XP to 7. You will have to wipe your tough drive and install Windows 7 from scratch. In the event you purchase an upgrade version of Windows 7, you'll need Windows XP installation discs to prove that you simply are eligible. What ever you do, begin preparing now. April will likely be coming up quickly and also you never want to be still making use of XP when it arrives.
　　Now, you might hear there is a slim possibility Microsoft could continue releasing security updates for XP. It is actually below contract to some providers to supply them for the next couple of years. Nonetheless, that is a paid solution and I wouldn't hold your breath that Microsoft will make these updates public.

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ISPOne sues Telstra to stop mobile service termination

　　Telstra mobile reseller ISPOne is embroiled in another legal dispute, this time with Telstra itself, over claims that the company has not paid its bills. Telstra is threatening to disconnect prepaid mobile services.
　　ISPOne, which acts as a wholesale intermediary between Telstra and other resellers such as Kogan Mobile and Aldi Mobile, has filed an urgent application in the Federal Court to seek to stop Telstra from terminating the supply of prepaid mobile services to the 280,000 customers that have active services through one of ISPOne's customers.
　　ISPOne has claimed that Telstra has sought to terminate the services due to a failure to pay invoices, but ISPOne has said that no money is due, because Telstra is calculating the amount owed based on incorrect pricing of data for prepaid mobile services.
　　ISPOne is claiming that Telstra is now in breach of its agreement with ISPOne, and that it is entitled to damages because of problems with the wholesale service that Telstra offered, over which ISPOne said it saw a delay in mobile numbers porting to Telstra.
　　Telstra said it has yet to change its arrangements with ISPOne.
　　"ISPOne is a customer of Telstra Wholesale. We have met all our contractual obligations to them. We can't comment on matters before the court, other than to say we will exercise all our legal rights in this case. We have not made any changes to the arrangements with ISPOne at this time," a Telstra spokesperson said.
　　Following a hearing in the Federal Court in Victoria this afternoon, the Telstra spokesperson said that the matter would be decided in the next 24 hours, with ISPOne to pay into court AU$300,000.
　　"As the court has heard we are a creditor of ISPOne. Over a period of several months we have given them every opportunity to develop a repayment plan for their debt but to date we have been unable to reach a satisfactory agreement," the spokesperson said.
　　"We will continue to defend the claims raised by ISPOne at tomorrow's hearing."
　　Telstra said it had a contingency plan in place to limit the impact on the customers using services through one of ISPOne's customers.
　　The court case against Telstra is the latest in the ongoing problems for ISPOne in providing Telstra 3G wholesale services. In May, ISPOne was ordered to pay Kogan Mobile damages for suspending over 700 Kogan Mobile customers who were flagged by the company to be using too much data.

You could possibly make a case that Microsoft must have pursued

　　It really is no secret that Surface RT and Windows RT, along with Windows RT on other platforms, did not do also as Microsoft hoped. The newest collateral harm in that failure was Nvidia's Tegra processors, which run inside the Surface RT.
　　Surface/Windows RT had no shortage of skeptics even when it launched, but it is doable things could transform more than time. I am not saying that this *will* take place, but that there's a reasonable scenario for it. Here's how it operates.
　　Initially, some Microsoft company plan forensics: Microsoft wants developers to write apps for the new, Modern UI (a.k.a. Metro). Releasing Windows eight only for Intel architecture, they ought to have believed, would have made it also simple for developers to bypass Metro due to the fact conventional Windows programs would already run on it (and on Windows 7 along with other versions). But if Surface RT were a results, developers would want to be on it, and would pick to write Metro apps as a way to be on each platforms.
　　Effectively, that did not work. The truth is, color me shocked at the degree of reticence of developers to create Metro apps, because the sheer quantity of users who can run them will undoubtedly be very huge, even if it is small adequate to become considered a failure for Microsoft. Recall, any other firm in the world would like to have a disaster like Windows Vista, a huge selection of millions of copies of which have been sold. Such could be the worst you may count on from Windows eight.
　　This vacation season you could expect to determine touch-enabled Windows systems heavily promoted and Microsoft will attempt other promotions to have individuals purchasing apps from the shop. The truth is, the failure to have developers writing apps for the shop may be the single most significant difficulty they have. With very good apps customers will undoubtedly come, and with users excellent apps will come.
　　And if the apps do come, then the decision to purchase an RT device could develop into considerably far more affordable. There requirements to be a expense benefit compared to x86 since the RT will nevertheless be much less capable, or it will must demonstrate far much better battery life or anything to offer people today a reason to get it, as opposed to an Intel-based method.
　　Based on the performance and power consumption of the most current chips from NVidia and Intel, all of this is probable. It is also possible that Intel will narrow the price and efficiency consumption gaps, and RT will drop all its raison d'etre.

　　But if, come holiday time or later, the Windows app choice is respectable and RT systems are less high-priced than Intel-based ones, it may be completely affordable to get a single. If they get inexpensive sufficient, persons may well get casual about obtaining them.
　　My money's against it, nevertheless it could take place. There have been attempts previously to put Windows on other architectures, however they have all failed since the Intel has generally improved their chip overall performance adequate to produce the cost of incompatibility as well higher relative to the advantages.
　　You could possibly make a case that Microsoft must have pursued it this way to start with: x86 initially, other architectures after the app industry was solidly established. It appears like which will be the Strategy B for Microsoft and NVidia, and maybe it was built-in from the starting.

Apple Said Developing Ad-Skipping as Part of TV Strategy

　　Apple Inc. (AAPL) is developing ad-skipping technology that would let owners of its Apple TV set-top box and future television devices watch shows without commercials, people with knowledge of the matter said.
　　Apple executives have briefed at least two owners of broadcast TV networks and cable channels, as well as some of the biggest U.S. pay-TV systems, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. One proposal is for Apple to reimburse programmers for skipped ads, they said.
　　The company is seeking to develop TV products with broader appeal than Apple TV, a set-top device purchased by 13 million consumers, Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said in May at the D: All Things Digital conference. Apple TV is more appropriate for “hobbyists” than mainstream viewers, he said. Apple continues to work on a “grand vision” to update TV-viewing that remains “much like 10 or 20 years ago,” Cook said.
　　Jessica Lessin, a technology writer, reported on July 15 that Apple was working on the ad-skipping initiative.
　　With advertising accounting for the largest share of their revenue, commercially supported TV networks have resisted skipping technology.
　　Dish Network Corp. (DISH) introduced ad-skipping for broadcast network TV shows with its Hopper TV set-top box in March 2012. 21st Century Fox Inc., Comcast Corp. (CMCSA)’s NBCUniversal and CBS Corp. (CBS) sued, claiming the service will destroy free, over-the-air prime-time TV. Dish sued the networks in New York, seeking a court ruling that it isn’t infringing copyrights.
　　DVR Popularity
　　Almost three-quarters of consumers in a survey cited the ability to skip commercials as a main reason to use a digital video recorder, Google Inc.’s Motorola Mobility unit said in its annual media engagement barometer released on March 19.
　　Apple has also been working to license more content for people to watch via Apple TV. In June, it announced deals to offer apps from Time Warner Inc. (TWX)’s HBO and Walt Disney Co. (DIS)’s ESPN to customers who already receive those channels from cable or satellite pay TV services.
　　The maker of iPhones and iPods is also reaching out to cable services, which buy content from media companies such as Disney. It is nearing a deal with Time Warner Cable Inc. (TWC) that would let subscribers of that cable system watch channels on Apple TV, people have told Bloomberg. The companies plan to announce an agreement within the next few months, those people said earlier.
　　Web Viewing
　　While Apple pitched an ad-skipping feature to Time Warner Cable, the New York-based cable operator isn’t interested in the idea, according to a person familiar with the matter.
　　Accessing content from the Internet on a TV has become common since Apple introduced Apple TV in 2007. According to Leichtman Research Group, 44 percent of U.S. households have a TV set connected to the Internet through a video-game console, Blu-ray player or streaming devices such as Roku Inc. and Apple TV. That’s up from 38 percent a year ago, the researcher said.
　　More competition is coming. Intel Corp. (INTC), the world’s largest chipmaker, plans to begin selling a set-top box with Web-based pay-TV service by the end of the year.
　　Google has also held discussions with media companies about licensing content for an Internet TV service, people with knowledge of the matter said yesterday. The news was reported earlier by Dow Jones.
　　Apple, based in Cupertino, California, was little changed at $430.31 at the close in New York. The stock has fallen 19 percent this year.

Windows says there’s an extremely basic explanation

　　Tablets depending on Microsoft’s Windows eight and Windows RT operating systems have struggled to achieve traction so far and Paul Thurrott with the Supersite for Windows says there’s an extremely basic explanation for this: The first generation of Windows tablets just isn’t really superior. To become clear, Thurrott says that there are several touch screen Windows eight PCs and ultrabooks which can be pretty worthy of users’ time and that shouldn’t be overlooked. But when it comes to pure tablets, he deems that each and every single one is “simply to flawed to recommend” to anyone serious about purchasing one particular.
　　“Looking around my own workplace, that is what I see,” Thurrott explains. “A Surface RT which is attractive and light and gets fantastic battery life but is worthless and frustrating in use due to its horrible performance. A Surface Pro that may be thick and heavy and gets only four.five hours of battery life whilst offering the weird mixture of a little screen having a pretty higher resolution. A Samsung ATIV Intelligent Computer 500T (Clover Trail based) that will be laughable from a performance point of view if it weren’t for that Surface RT. (Truly, it is nonetheless terrible.) That 700T that will not charge anymore unless I plug the energy cord into the tablet itself … which, wait for it, you can not do whilst the keyboard is connected.”
　　Of course, the first round of Android-based tablets were similarly lackluster when compared with Apple’s iPad, so it is not as although Windows eight is doomed as a tablet operating technique. It does recommend, on the other hand, that Microsoft and its OEM partners will have to put a good deal of work into adding better functionality and worth to their tablets, similar to how Nokia has tried to produce Windows Phone 8 look far more cutting-edge together with the inclusion of its industry-best 41-megapixel smartphone camera in the Lumia 1020.
　　Thurrott is optimistic that the next generation of Windows tablets is going to be a major improvement more than the present generation considering the fact that improvements to both hardware and computer software will make the devices additional palatable for customers.

　　“Things are going to obtain better,” he concludes. “Intel’s new generation Core processors, codenamed Haswell, seem to have solved the battery life issue. And Windows eight.1 seems to solve many from the troubles customers have highlighted in Windows eight, like desktop display scaling. Each of those improvements suggest to me that waiting is in order, as Haswell- and Windows eight.1-based tablets are going to be plentiful in just a couple of months.”

iPhone 6 and iPhone 5S rumors: sizes, colors, cheaper plastic option

　　The picture for the iPhone 6, iPhone 5S, or whatever Apple decides to call the seventh generation iPhone is becoming more clear thanks to an increasing array of rumors which overlap each other and are evolving to create a basis of legitimacy. Whether the new device keeps the styling of the iPhone 5 and becomes the iPhone 5S, or moves to a new cosmetic styling and becomes the iPhone 6, is still anyone’s best guess. But regardless of body style, the new iPhone will come in more colors, multiple options, and in some parts of the world will come in a cheap plastic housing instead of its signature bulletproof glass and metal.
　　The screen size and color changes, despite not adding much to the iPhone 6 or iPhone 5S experience for most users, will drive sales significantly if consumer sentiment is any indication. Most people who buy an Android phone over an iPhone claim that “choice” as the determining factor in their buying decision, but then proceed to nearly all purchase the same specific Galaxy model from the same specific vendor. But with Apple offering the iPhone 6 in colors which go beyond black and white, and impractical screen sizes above four inches, those same consumers will view Apple as offering “more choice” even as most of them continue to buy the black four inch model of the new iPhone 6. Consumers, it seems don’t want to make individual choices. They merely want to be able have the option and then not exercise it.
　　It’s a game Apple will have to learn how to play, pointless as it may be, if it wants the iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 to retain the world’s #1 selling smartphone mantle which the iPhone 5 currently holds.Speaking of world sales, the iPhone 6 (or something lesser than the iPhone 6) is rumored to be offered in a low cost model that’s made from the same cheap plastic as the Galaxy. The reason: in the U.S., carriers will sell the iPhone 6 for about two hundred dollars thanks to contract subsidies. But in other nations where contracts and subsidized pricing don’t exist, Apple must sell the iPhone for its full retail price. By making a cheaper iPhone alternative for those nations, Apple has a better shot at competing there. It’s not clear whether the “cheap iPhone” will also be sold as a free-with-contract model in the U.S. alongside the iPhone 6, or will be strictly an overseas affair.