In line with this, TiVo has unveiled the new Premier, which boasts a sleeker and more refined look with a whole new set of features, menu, and other programs that would integrate television shows and Internet contents.

TiVo chief executive officer Tom Rogers explained that users can now search for their favorite actors, movies, and TV programs using the new Premier. He added that up coming rentals through Amazon.com and Youtube will also be available in the new device.

“This is a whole new chapter for TiVo. And with this new evolution, we are moving toward the ‘I can get anything you want whenever I want,” Rogers added.

“We want to regain the chachet that the word ‘TiVo’ would be synonymous with television recording. A word that has been faded by the proliferation of generic DVRs being offered cable companies to their subscribers,” he said.

With the launching of the new TiVo Premier, the company is now eyeing boost in its sales after suffering major revenue setbacks in the past years.

It will be recalled that the new TiVo DVR was released in 1997, which has introduced a whole new viewing experience to its users.

Now, TiVo is set to go full force with the release of new DVR-Internet device.

However, the digital video recording using Internet and TV is not new in the market. Moxi, a company that pioneers online-enabled television sets, has already sold many devices to the market making it harder for TiVo to stand out.

The new TiVo Premier is set to hit the shelve early April 2010. It will be the first new product that will be launched in over two year.

The prices of the different models of Internet-enabled DVRs will depend on how many recording hours of videos it can accommodate.

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In a data released by the NetWitness Corp, at least 2, 400 organizations and companies, including top-ranked financial institutions and energy firms, have been infiltrated by the botnet virus, which passes the infection from one computer to another.

NetWitness, the security firm that has discovered the attacks, said that the unusual thing about the virus was not the way it happened but the fact that they were able to discover it.

For their protection, the security firm did not disclose the name of the companies that has been compromised the attacks. But the company said that several federal agencies were also included.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal has released several names of the companies whose computers were infected by the botnet virus including Merch & Co., Paramount Pictures, Cardinal Health, and Juniper Networks Inc.

Sought for comment, Merck and Cardinal Health both said that only one computer in each company has been infected by the botnet virus, adding that no sensitive data or personal information of their clients have been taken.

The other companies were still unavailable for comment.

Meanwhile, NetWitness said that the attacks also has similar characteristic making it easier to trace those that has been infected. The security firm also said that unlike the recent Google attack, the botnet virus has no specific target.

It will be recalled that cyberattacks against human-rights activists, through Gmail service, was launched by hackers originating from China. The incident has led to the pull out of Google from the country.

NetWitness Chief executive officer Amit Yoran, who is also the former cyber security chief at the US Department of Homeland Security, said that the botnet is a huge threat to the people using and relying on computers.

He also revealed that the origin of the attacks were from Eastern Europe and China. But he said that they were not certain if the hackers were still in the identified areas.

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The complaint came after Google Inc made several adjustments on its service following massive privacy concerns by millions of Gmail account users.

The barrage of fire was launched against the search giant less than a week after its release of the new Google Buzz. The main issue that was hurled against the company was the automatic creation of public circles of friends for the account users, which was based on the frequency of content exchanges.

On Sunday, Google announced that it has already altered the service feature providing more security control to the users.

However, despite the alterations on the service, the EPIC still filed the complaint citing Google’s automatic sign up for Buzz.

Based on the court documents, instead of waiting for the users to sign up voluntarily, Google has done the “did” for the users by automatically signing them up for the service.

EPIC is calling for the FTC to require the search giant to make the new Buzz service a “fully opt in” feature for Gmail users, adding that the Internet giant should be barred from using address books of Gmail users to compile social networking lists.

EPIC Executive Director Marc Rotenberg said that the “automatic opt in” is a significant breach of consumer privacy, adding that Google should not able allowed by the users to acquire their personal information that will be later used in an act that they have not requested or asked.

Meanwhile, Google has defended itself from the complaints, saying that they have already given users enough security control options to the new Buzz service.

The company said that they have included the “agreement of activation” to the new service so that users can choose whether they would like to be a member or not.

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Based on the initial agreement Nokia’s Linux Maemo software platform will merge its expertise with Intel’s Moblin, which is also a Linux open-source software developer, to create a new mobile phone operating system called MeeGo.

Strand Consult chief and owner John Strand said that the both Intel and Nokia have recognized that the only way to beat market leaders Apple, Microsoft, and Google is to introduce the new MeeGo to more devices.

“However, both companies also failed to realize that it is not about just the mere scale or numbers. But it is also about what consumer will like. It like bees, they do not just go for the biggest garden but the most beautiful flowers,” Strand pointed out.

To date, many of the consumers are lending toward the Smartphone markets, which can give them more power and control to what they want to have in their handheld devices. So far, iPhone and Google Android devices, as well as Research in Motion’s Blackberry, have been dominating the market with millions of sales worldwide.

Also, both Intel and Nokia’s release of the new MeeGo may be spoiled by the release of a Microsoft mobile phone platform called Windows Phone 7. Many of the experts and consumers have been anticipating the release of the new phone OS, which could further provider stiffer competition against the MeeGo.

Nokia was able to release its only Maemo-based phone called N900. It is a result of a five-year development program in a bid to boost the company’s Smartphone sales.

To date, Nokia still dominates the mobile phone market but is slowly losing ground to higher end phones.  Meanwhile, Intel hopes to get more of its chips into Smartphones.

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According to the report, Andrey Ternovskiy, a high school student in Moscow, founded Chatroulette, which has drawn the attention of many of the online users since the website generates live webcam feed between to strangers.

Ternovskiy also said in an interview with the newspaper that he had only created the hot website just for “fun,” saying that he and his friends got bored by just talking with each other.

“The website will ramdomly connect me and my friends with people online,” he said.

The high school whiz also said that he wrote the website code all by himself but admitted that it is his relatives that pay for the bandwidth and server host bills.

The buzz over the new website also gutted the attention of Fred Wilson, a venture capitalist working with Union Square Ventures and Flatiron Partners.

In his blog post, the well-know venture capitalist said that he wanted to see Andrey personally and offered the young high school kid to visit New York City.

“I’m still not sure if this is something we should invest in, but I’d sure like to meet this guy. He reminds me of many great young entrepreneurs we’ve worked with and his story sounds so familiar,” Wilson said in his blog.

Despite criticism over the website, which has been tagged as a hotbed for voyeurism and exhibitionism, Wilson said that the disturbing nature of the website is one thing and there is much more that can be done about.

“With over a billion people logging in on the Internet, Chatroulette is something that feels really cool and it offers a quick trip around the whole network by meeting and talking with people,” he said.

To date, the majority of the users of Chatroulette are from the US.

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Google immediately learned and recognized that not all of the people in the lists of Gmail users are necessary “friends” but rather business associates, groups, co-workers, and even lovers. Google also learned that the groups don’t necessarily mix well in an environment such as that of electronic mail service Gmail.

What Google failed to see is that users wanted to have separate platform or a preferred social networking site where they can do all the stuff they want without looking “too professional.”

Many of these users, despite constant exchange of e-mails, would like to keep off social engagements from other people.

The problem with the new Google service is that it automatically creates acircle of friends for Gmail users based on the people that they have contacts the most.

But immediately after recognizing the problem, Google has responded by allowing users more control over their privacy and who they can allow to be in the network.

Google launched the new Gmail Buzz on Tuesday as part of the e-mail service it offers. The new application offers users Facebook-like features, where they can view and see updates from their friends. It can all track instantly updates from other people in which users can comment.

One example of this is an instant circle of friends provided by Google. Although, it will need affirmation from both parties, a person from your e-mail network, like your boss, can see whether you are friends with rival companies.

On Thursday Google said that it has already made several adjustments to the Gmail Buzz, saying that users can now hide or show to the public the list of their followers and who they follow.

Users can now also block people who are trying to follow your updates such as links, videos, and photos.

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Ai, in his commentary in The Wall Street Journal, has openly stated his support to online search giant Google Inc by challenging the Chinese government to stop Internet censorship. He has been attacking the “Green Dam” program of China in his blog, which was included in the censorship being implemented in the county.

The activist also said that two of his Gmail accounts have been hacked since October last year and that his messages have been transferred to other known locations.

He also said that China will not last long with its unfair treatment of its people, saying that it will collapse in its power in the near future.

“How do a state like China, which based on limiting information flows and freedom of speech, remain powerful? What kind of a monster it will become,” Ai wrote in his column.

It will be recalled that Google threatened to pull out from China and stop its search engine censorship following massive cyberattack against human-rights activists’ email accounts. Google also said that it will no longer obey any rules by the Chinese government regarding the censorship.

But China remained tough in its position saying that it has nothing to do with the recent attacks, which also targeted at least 20 big companies. The Chinese government also said that Google should follow its rules and regulations over the contents that can be viewed over the internet, saying that they will not be allowed to operate in the country should they refuse to follow.

Meanwhile, Ai said that the entire Chinese society should speak out and stand up against the abusive practices of its government, saying that government’s relentless stand over Internet censorship will be dismantled by the people.

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Newspaper reports quoting Wu Xiaolong, the president of Shenzhen Great Loong Brothers, told that Apple allegedly copied the iPad design and features to the Chinese firm’s P88 tablet PC.

“We will file the necessary legal action if Apple attempts to sell iPad in China,” Xiaolong stressed, citing that the company was first to launch the P88 design at the Berlin International Electronics Fair six months ago.

However, intellectual property rights lawyer Ilan Barzolay pointed that Shenzhen will just have to wait for the debut of the iPad in China since it does not have the patent rights for the design in the US.

Barzolay, who is also a partner with Boston-based Seyfarth Shaw LLP, stressed that the Chinese firm should be prepared to go the distance in the patent dispute, saying that Apple is a much bigger company.

The expert also believe that the P88 developer will have difficulty in proving the patent infringement committed by Apple, saying that similar physical features cannot actually be hold against them.

“The iPad may look similar to the P88, however, the there are still many differences in the physical feature and the software features used in the Apple device that needed to be challenged in the lawsuit,” he said.

Based on comparison of the figures, iPad is just half-inch thick and weighs only 1.5 pounds. It also has a 9.7-inch touch-screen LCD interface and comes with a 16, 32, 64-gigabyte SSD. Meanwhile, the P88 is a lot bigger with 10.2-inch LCD screen and does not have the multi-touch functionality. It also uses a 250GB hard drive.

“Apple iPad and Shenzhen P88 may look similar. But the design features and interface is different, which include the buttons used in device,” the expert said.

Meanwhile, other technology experts said that Shenzhen is only riding in the wave of popularity of the iPad to make their product sell more.

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In an interview, a Ministry of Industry and Information Technology spokesperson said that China has remained true to its policy on Internet hacking, saying that it is transparent and consistent with the international laws.

“Any form of accusations that says the Chinese government played a part or was involved in the cyberattacks, even in an explicit or indirect way, is groundless. It is only aimed to discredit the government and China itself,” the spokesperson who requested anonymity said.

“We are firmly against Internet hacking or any forms of cyberattacks,” the official added.

Likewise, various Chinese government agencies familiar with the matter defended its Internet regulations, saying that it is legal and that the US should not interfere in the domestic affairs of Beijing.

The Chinese government issued the statement two weeks after Google Inc said that it is pulling out of China. The Internet giant said that China should tone down its Internet grip to give a more business-friendly environment.

Google earlier bared several incidents of cyberattacks that targeted human-rights activists who were against China’s policies. Some 20 other companies were not spared by the attacks, which intended to gather information about the people who are vocal against China.

Meanwhile, the US State Department said that they are now finalizing the complaints that they will file against Chinese officials as soon as the Google issue settled down.

It will be recalled that  US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton asked China to probe to computer attacks against the online giant as she criticize the country for engaging Internet search censorship.

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In an annual International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, Lego said that it will soon come out with the new Lego Universe. The company said that their target date will be in the second of the year.

In an interview, Colorado-based game developer NetDevil lead producer Cris Serland said that the new “Lego Universe” will be a combination of popular online games like “World of Warcraft,” “The Second Life,” and “Club Penguin.”

He said that the PC-based Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) Lego game was designed to incorporate many of the most recognizable features of the other online games to the iconic studded, interlocking plastic Lego bricks.

“Lego has delighted many children and parents for decades. This time, the company will bring more joy to the family with the first MMO based in the actual theme of the brick-type blocks. There’s a really safe social layer for kids, good parental controls. There’s not a lot of predatory stuff going on,” Sherland said in the interview.

He also said that the new Lego Universe will be on a wide open 3-D exploratory world that a child needs to navigate.

“The back story is basically that there’s this evil force that has corrupted the purest source of imagination in the universe. The game quest is that everybody in Lego Universe gets their own planet, their own shard of the universe, and they’re sort of banding together to try to defeat that force,” he said.

He said that children can also play mini-games on their own planet if they wish to.

Lego bricks will be the foundation of the game and children can turn bricks into things that they want, like buildings and vehicles.

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