Kim Dotcom's back with a new 50GB free storage service: Mega

The legal battle rages on over Kim Dotcom's Megaupload site, which was closed down in January 2012 on claims that it was part of "international organized criminal enterprise allegedly responsible for massive worldwide online piracy of numerous types of copyrighted works." But, that hasn't stopped the irrepressible Dotcom from opening a new storage service, Mega, which offers users 50GBs of free storage.

Well, in theory it does. While the service has been launched, it's been utterly swamped with requests. As I write this, at 4 PM Eastern Standard Time, Down for everyone or just for me is reporting that his new site is down. Dotcom, who launched his new service with a combination party and raid re-enactment complete with "FBI" helicopters and military-uniformed dancing girls with mini-skirts, explained his new site's problems was due to overwhelming demand. 

On Twitter, Dotcom wrote, "250,000 user registrations. Server capacity on maximum load. Should get better when initial frenzy is over". He followed this message with another stating: "If you are currently experiencing slow access to #Mega its because of the unbelievable demand. We are working on more capacity."

While the U.S. Department of Justice may be stewing about Dotcom's defiant return to the Internet, users, eager for huge amounts of free storage, are streaming to the site. Still, while 50GBs is far more than that offered by most online storage services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft SkyDrive, it's only a quarter of what the now banned Megaupload site offered. At least one other service. MediaFire also offers 50GBs of free storage.

Besides offering storage, Mega also includes file encryption for all files stored on the service. This encryption isn't done on the server. Instead, Mega uses symmetric key encryption in the browser. Every file has its own key generated on your PC, from within your Web browser session, using your Mega password.

You'll want to make darn sure you don't lose that password because Mega doesn't keep a copy of it. Indeed, the whole points of Mega's file encryption system is that Mega can say, without lying, they have no idea if you're illegally sharing music or movies. All their servers have is encrypted files. What's in them? Only you, and whomever you share the password with, knows.

That said, Mega's also claims that their service saves room on its over-burdened servers by keeping a single copy of identical files How do they do that if they don't know their users' password? Good question. We don't know the answer. The basic system of keeping only unique copies of multiple files Is far from new. Streamload introduced it in 1998 and Apple uses it today with iTunes Match as does Amazon with its Cloud Player service.

In practice, you can still share files on Mega. You can do this in two ways. First, you can just share both your your file's URL and its password to a friend or co-worker. Or, shades of the old Megaupload, you can create a URL with the password embedded within it.

So is this a good deal or not? While I think that Kim Dotcom will eventually win free of the criminal charges from his first file storage/sharing service due to numerous irregularities in the Megaupload investigation, I'm also sure that his new service will be constantly watched. When Megaupload was seized, there is no doubt that untold number of pirated files were removed from the net. Simultaneously, though, users lost terabytes of legitimate files and there seems to be no way they'll ever get these files back.

Let's face it. Whenever you put a file on a cloud service, no matter whether it's owned by a giant like Amazon, Google, or Microsoft or a relative unknown such as MediaFire or Ubuntu One, there's always a chance that your files will disappear because of some technical or legal problem. In the case of Mega, though, the odds will be higher that your files may vaporize because of legal trouble.

Here's what I plan on doing. I will use Mega, but I'm not going to put anything on it that I can't afford to lose. I'd think you'd be wise if you did the same.

Article by: Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols for Networking

Via: http://www.zdnet.com/kim-dotcoms-back-with-a-new-50gb-free-storage-service-mega-7000010043/

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WSJ: Apple Cuts Orders of iPhone Parts Following Low Demand

 Jamie Condliffe

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple has cut orders for iPhone 5 components due to "weaker-than-expected demand" for the device.

Citing "people familiar with the situation", the Journal claims that Apple has cut its orders of iPhone 5 screens for the January-March quarter, for instance, by half. If the rumors are true, they suggest that the phone isn't selling as well as Apple anticipated—or, more unlikely, that its plans are changing.

Certainly, Apple's share of the smartphone market has been shrinking of recent times, dropping from a peak of 23 percent in the final quarter of 2011 to 15 percent in the third quarter of 2012. Elsewhere, Android is going from strength to strength—with Samsung stealing Apple's lead, now commanding 31 percent of smartphone sales. Changes aside, though, it's worth remembering that Apple's position is slipping from what was a very strong position: it sold 27 million phonesin the third quarter of 2012, after all.

If the rumors are true, and order cuts do reflect ailing sales, it will be interesting to see how Apple adapts in order to breathe life into the brand. Equally, though, it might be sensible to hold off and consider Apple's latest earning figures—expected sometime later this month—before we all speculate too wildy. [WSJ]

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Apple Faces Update With Destiny

Apple may have an upgrade problem.

Now almost 30% below its all-time high, Apple's stock slid again Monday on news that the company cut orders for iPhone 5 components. While sales of Apple's latest smartphone are likely to best previous versions, it likely won't be by the same blowout margin some have come to expect.

One problem could be that users don't feel the need to rush and get the latest device. The iPhone 5 is only an incremental improvement over prior iPhones, which were heavier and had a slightly smaller screen. There was one significant advance: an LTE chip that downloads data at much faster speeds. But AT&T ads labeling older iPhones as "4G" may be confusing many U.S. users that their older device is as fast.

Add it up, and many users may feel the iPhone 4 or 4S are perfectly adequate, especially considering that they are able to run the latest version of Apple's mobile operating system and work fine with key apps like Google Maps. Some recently released data back that up. According to survey data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, in the three months after the iPhone 4S was launched in 2011, 73% of iPhone buyers in the U.S. opted for the latest version of the device. But in survey results yet to be published, CIRP tells The Wall Street Journal that in the three months after the iPhone 5 was launched, the percentage of U.S. iPhone buyers opting for it fell to 50%.

U.S. carriers looking to avoid paying high handset subsidies also are discouraging upgrades with new or increased fees.

A silver lining from users buying older devices would be if Apple can attract more users to its software platform who don't want to buy its priciest smartphone. Sales of apps or content on iTunes aren't as big a contributor to profits as the sale of hardware. They aren't even close. But such new users may be more inclined to buy more Apple devices in the future. Other moves to bring new users to the Apple ecosystem may include the release of a low-end iPhone for emerging markets, especially as the tailwind from increased distribution tapers off. It has already done that with the iPad, releasing the iPad Mini while also leaving older versions of the tablet on the market.

In the end, the best way to keep users in the Apple fold is the same as the strategy needed to maintain high gross profit margins—and that is to keep selling exciting new devices. It is debatable whether the iPhone 5 has excited average users. And the next iPhone may disappoint, unless there is some big, unexpected improvement coming to iOS, Apple's mobile operating system.

If Apple hasn't already released the last devices developed under the direction of Steve Jobs, it is getting close. The hard work for CEO Tim Cook is just beginning.

Rolfe Winkler 

-via Rolfe Winkler - WSJ

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Kingstons Pricey 1 TB USB 3.0 Flash Drive

Imagine being able to save hundreds of movies, music, photos, documents, and almost everything off your computer and take them with you in your pocket. Well now you can if you got the dough to purchase Kingston's new 1 tb (yes 1 terabyte) 3.0 USB Flash Drive.

Kingston unveiled "the worlds largest capacity usb 3.0 flash drive" at CES. HyperX Predator 3.0 is Kingstons latest innovation and will be shipped out this year. The thumb drive has a 240 MB/s read and 160 MB/s write speed. The company also release a 512 gb version if you need less capacity. That one will cost you roughly $1,750, which means the 1 tb will most likey be over $2,500.


"Our new DataTraveler HyperX Predator 3.0 allows users to store their entire digital world on a portable USB 3.0 Flash drive," Andrew Ewing, flash memory business manager at Kingston, said in a statement. "The large capacity and fast USB 3.0 transfer speeds allow users to save time as they can access, edit, and transfer applications or files such as HD movies directly from the drive without any performance lag."

The flash drives outer shell is made of a shock resistant zinc alloy for durability and has backwords compatibility for USB 2.0. The 1 tb HyperX Predator model is currently not available but will be sold early this year.


-Alex Pardo - GEEKSTRAPD Contributor

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BMW wants to make your car a 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot

BMW is now offering in-car connectivity via a 4G LTE device as a part of its accessory program. Customers can opt in by purchasing the hotspot accessory which connects the car and uses the antennae to provide fast internet speeds.

"The very fast bit rates and extremely low latency mean that an internet connection supported by the BMW Car Hotspot LTE is often even faster than a PC connection in the home," says Markus Dietz, Project Manager BMW Car Hotspot LTE Development.

The hotspot can connect up to 8 different devices, and it also supports NFC which lets you connect NFC enabled devices by touching it against the hotspot to authenticate them. The device works much like a home router and only works on newer models that have the BMW Telephone Docking Station. The device can also be disconnected from the car and taken with you to be used on the go. The accessory also lets you set it from 3 meters to up to 10 meters so you can use the hotspot from outside the car.

BMW has not set a price on the device that will be released in Europe this week.


-Alex Pardo - GEEKSTRAPD Contributor

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Microsoft Surface Pro Hands-On: This Is What It Should Have Been All Along

Surface RT was an enormous let down—not because it was bad, but because it could have been so, so good. But Microsoft brought the Pro version to Vegas and let us play—and I couldn't be happier.

To be blunt, Surface Pro makes RT look like a mistake. Surface RT was a mistake—but fortunately for Microsoft (and more importantly, for us), Pro makes up for almost every deficiency of its smaller, cheaper sibling. It has the internal power and the physical flexibility to, for real this time, perhaps carve out a whole new category of computer. It could be the device you put in your bag and on your desk above all others. Almost every conceivable facet is superior this time around.

Where the Surface RT's screen was okay but certainly not in the same league as its high-density rivals, the Pro version shines oh so very bright: a luscious 1080p display pops to life each time you wake the thing, and it's as perfectly responsive as any other touch computer you're used to. It's beautiful to look at and rub.

Where the Surface RT's software was embarrassingly spare, well, that's just a non-issue. Pro runs real Windows 8—the same thing you'd install on a desktop—so you aren't confined to Microsoft's anemic, strip mall app store. You can install Photoshop, Civilization, WinZip, whatever the hell you want. If it's made for Windows and it's somewhat recent, it'll probably run on the Surface Pro—even some brief time playing Bulletstorm yielded totally acceptable performance, given that the thing is smaller than any laptop. It's not going to be your go-to gaming toy, but graphically, its Core i5 biceps are fine, and older titles should be butter.

The software importance can't be stated enough. Let's overstate it: this is a real computer, and Surface RT was not. If you don't like a native Windows 8 app, you can kick it over a cliff and download one of the bazillion alternatives available for x86 Windows systems. Almost all of the things you need for work and unwinding. Tons of choice. Tons of flexibility. The Pro model is powerful enough to drive a big, luxurious external monitor. Add in a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and you've got yourself a new desktop. Or stop mirroring, lay the Pro down flat, and use the entire thing as one big wonderful trackpad, with ample room for your fingers or a pen for Wacom-style artistry. The addition of a USB 3.0 port makes the prospect of desktop replacement even more real, and slurping over a batch of JPEG + RAW photo files straight off a DSLR and then viewing them on the big external screen was a joy.

But there must be some tradeoffs, right? Right. But not many. Battery life won't be as good due to power-hungrier components. The Pro requires a (quiet) fan. But the biggest worry was size, and I can assure you that Surface Pro is entirely comfortable. I was afraid it'd be a tank, but it's significantly thinner than my MacBook Air, and at 2 pounds, slightly lighter, too. It'll never be as comfortable to cozy up with as a Kindle, but it's hand and arm friendly enough to use as a tablet, and given the horsepower inside, fantastically skinny as a laptop rival. So, yes, it's bigger, but not enough to lose points.

What are you left with? The same lovely design as the RT version, without the most glaring shortcomings. I only had about an hour to spend with the Pro, which is nowhere near enough for anything resembling a verdict, but know this: where RT offered heartbreak, Pro offers hope. I just wish it'd been like this from the start.

We should have our full review ready for you guys by the end of the month.

via Sam Biddle - Gizmodo

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Amazon's AutoRip Goes Live! Gives Customers Free MP3s For CDs They Purchase

Amazon's AutoRip service has gone live and allows customers who have purchased CDs from Amazon's Music Store (all the way back to 1998) to get free MP3 versions of CDs they purchased.  The MP3's will be stored in user's "Amazon Cloud Player" accounts, Amazon's answer to iTunes, Google Music, and other such services that store users' music in a cloud.



The service currently offering over 50,000 albums from Amazon.com with more on the way, including backlog and most new releases. Thanks to deals made with record labels and music publishers, Amazon, can offer this service to its customers. Steve Boom, Amazon’s VP of Worldwide Digital Music, said the company now has deals in place with the three major labels (EMI, now part of Universal, Sony, and Warner) as well as hundreds of independent labels. Amazon has participation from all the major music publishers and “hundreds, if not thousands,” of smaller publishers, says Boom.

AutoRip will automatically be available to customers, even if they never signed up or downloaded the cloud player software, who purchased a CD from Amazon. Those customers will receive an email shortly after today's launch informing them that a digital copy of that purchase is available free on the cloud.

-Alex Pardo - Geekstrap's Contributor

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