Java's insecurity has doomed it on the desktop

If Java on the desktop isn't dead yet, its latest security update should go a long way toward convincing people it should be.

How urgent is this new security update? Urgent enough that Oracle included patches for Java in its October 2013 Critical Patch Update (CPU -- what an acronym), as part of the company's efforts to get security fixes for Java out the door quarterly rather than three times a year.

Of the 127 fixes in this update, slightly fewer than half -- 50 -- were fixes for remote-exploit issues in Java. And 12 of those were exploits that could have granted an attacker complete control of the OS. Ouch.

What's more, the vast majority of those Java fixes are client-only problems -- meaning exploits that happen exclusively on a client machine, not a server.

If any one thing has been an aggressive contributor to the decline of Java as a desktop technology, it's the way the product has been shown time and again to be deeply insecure. Oracle keeps promising it has the issue under control, even when the vast majority of the security bugaboos that have been detected go back to before Java changed hands from Sun to Oracle in 2010.

Oracle has used that fact to its advantage, claiming, "When we acquired Sun, [it] was not in a position to fully fund the security team," as stated by Cameron Purdy, Oracle vice president of cloud applications and Java EE (Enterprise Edition) during JavaOne back in September. Purdy also owned up to not making the Java security team robust enough and indicated that a major source of problems is when people running older editions of Java don't update.

Fair enough, but the damage done to Java as a desktop and client-side technology may well be permanent. Mozilla has been blacklisting older versions of Java since 2012, and Google is now moving toward ditching support for such plug-ins entirely. No great loss there -- when was the last time, apart from a corporate portal or a site based on mid-2000s technology, you actually needed a Java plug-in to make a site work?

Google's move could also be its way of indirectly deprecating what is now more than ever a competitor's technology. Google is doubling down on Go, Native Client, and Dart, and according to my colleague Galen Gruman may be leaving (the Java-powered) Android behind in favor of Chrome OS.

None of this is a patch -- pun intended -- on Java as a server-side technology. The JVM's untapped possibilities have long been one of its best-kept secrets, and the sheer amount of server-side Java used in businesses promises it won't be going anywhere for a long time to come.

But Java as a desktop force shows no signs of making a roaring comeback, and with each hammering-home of the message that it's an insecure, outdated technology, the odds get a little worse.

This story, "Java's insecurity has doomed it on the desktop," was originally published at InfoWorld.com. Get the first word on what the important tech news really means with the InfoWorld Tech Watch blog. For the latest developments in business technology news, follow InfoWorld.com on Twitter.

Source: http://www.infoworld.com/t/security/javas-insecurity-has-doomed-it-the-desktop-228922?source=rss_infoworld_blogs
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Kim Kardashian Doesn't Qualify for Star on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame"

Despite Kanye West's arguments for his girlfriend's importance in Hollywood, "Keeping up with the Kardashians" iconic lady, Kim Kardashian will not receive a star on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame."

During his interview on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," on Wednesday, October 9th, the rapper argued that his reality star girlfriend and baby mama should receive a star on the legendary sidewalk, saying, "I want to shout out to the stars on the Walk of Fame because they said something about they're not going to put my girl on the Walk of Fame because she's a reality star," he said. "People are so so dated and not modern. There's no way Kim Kardashian shouldn't have a star on the Walk of Fame."

However, sticking to their original stance, Ana Martinez, a spokeswoman for the Walk and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, told Yahoo's omg! "We don't have reality stars on the Walk of Fame. We don't have a category for it. We're happy to consider reality stars once they get nominated for, or win, an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar." She then concluded, "We'll consider them when they're legitimate actors or singers."

Recognizing she has heard Mr. West's argument, Martinez finished, "I know he loves her, and it's all very sweet, but she doesn't qualify. I hate to say it, but a lot of people just don't like her," adding, "No one has ever nominated her."

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/kim-kardashian/kim-kardashian-doesnt-qualify-star-hollywood-walk-fame-944097
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Bike Your Way To Adventure With These Sweet City Cycling Guides

Rapha has been a one-stop-shop for all kinds of cool bike accessories since launching its first collection in 2004; in addition to the stylish wearables, they’ve got a small batch of prints and publications dedicated to the joy of road climbs and racing. Now, they're adding leisure travel to the mix with an eight volume collection of City Cycling Guides.

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The eight colorful titles in the black box set are dedicated to showing the best way to navigate European hotspots on two wheels. Each of the pocket-sized softcovers contains easy-to-read maps of do-able urban adventures in a specific city: Paris, Milan, London, Barcelona, Antwerp and Ghent, Copenhagen, Berlin, and Amsterdam.

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These are punctuated with hand-drawn illustrations and info on where to find cafes, shops, sights, even Wi-Fi access. Etiquette and essential info is outlined in the back, along with more rigorous routes for folks ready for a serious day on the pavement. And because it might not be realistic to bring your ride with you overseas, there’s also info on hires and sharing for those interested in a casual afternoon experiencing life like a local. Buy some for yourself here for $40. [Rapha via notcot]

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Source: http://gizmodo.com/bike-your-way-to-a-european-adventure-with-these-city-c-1446723235
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Users hit by Blue Screen, 0xC1900101 - 0x40017 error with Windows 8.1 update

The Microsoft Answers forum is abuzz with a problem that seems to affect many people trying to update from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1. It's a show-stopper that throws up two Blue Screens when the Win 8.1 installer reboots. Microsoft has a couple of suggestions for recovering from the problem, but at this point it doesn't look like the solutions fix the problem. Further confounding the situation, the problem existed back in June, with the Windows 8.1 Preview Milestone, and apparently hasn't been fixed.

Martin Dixon posted the seminal question shortly after Microsoft released the Windows 8.1 bits. Here's how he describes his update:

I have downloaded the Windows 8.1 update from the store but cannot get it to install. Each time I try, I get to the point where it is "getting my devices ready", then the PC restarts to a blue screen with error message. It then tries to recover the installation, fails, then restores Windows 8. When the system boots up after this, I get a message saying:

"Couldn't update to Windows 8.1

Sorry, we couldn't complete the update to Windows 8.1. We've restored your previous version of Windows to this PC.

0xC1900101 - 0x40017"

There is no explanation as to why the update could be completed.

Microsoft Support Engineer Ravish Govind posted two different methods for trying to work around the problem -- unplug external devices and try again; and update all drivers. Neither approach worked, for any of the people posting on the Answers forum.

Suspicions have turned to graphics drivers, but nobody's figured out the source of the problem, much less its cure. Parris at EpicReviewsTech posted a video explaining how to recover from the problem in Windows 8.1 Preview Milestone -- but he didn't find a fix, and the bug manifests itself differently with the Windows 8.1 RTM online update.

If you're encountering BSODs with 0xC1900101 - 0x40017, it would be a very good idea to hop over to the Answers forum and post details about your hardware configuration. Maybe Microsoft can find a solution.

This story, "Users hit by Blue Screen, 0xC1900101 - 0x40017 error with Windows 8.1 update," was originally published at InfoWorld.com. Get the first word on what the important tech news really means with the InfoWorld Tech Watch blog. For the latest developments in business technology news, follow InfoWorld.com on Twitter.

Source: http://www.infoworld.com/t/microsoft-windows/users-hit-blue-screen-0xc1900101-0x40017-error-windows-81-update-229058
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Mumbai Film Festival: Costa Gavras Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award

Mumbai Film Festival

Costa Gavras presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Mumbai Academy of Moving Images chairman Shyam Benegal

MUMBAI -- The 15th Mumbai Film Festival opened Thursday evening with an opening ceremony that saw lifetime achievement awards being presented to Costa Gavras and Indian film icon Kamal Haasan. The ceremony also included the traditional lighting of a lamp, which was done by top Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha. She was accompanied by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Images chairman and veteran director Shyam Benegal and MAMI trustee Amit Khanna, among other dignitaries.

“I’m happy to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Mumbai Film Festival,” said Gavras who was presented the award by Benegal. “It is wonderful to see Indian cinema has a large local audience watching their films. I wish the festival best of luck.” The festival's program includes a retrospective of Gavras' works including his acclaimed political thriller Z.

PHOTOS: Indian Talent Going Global

Leading actor-director-producer Kamal Haasan was bestowed with the Indian Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented by the chief minister of Maharashtra state (of which Mumbai is the capital), Prithviraj Chavan.

“There never was a method to my acting. I simply had great teachers, some of whom are present here tonight -- I respect them a lot,” said Haasan in his acceptance speech. “Festivals have also taught me a lot and I am humbled to have received this honor.”

“The state of Maharashtra supports and will continue to support this festival. I have been a huge fan of Mr. Gavras and Kamal Haasan,” Chavan remarked, adding that he saw Z "when I was in college and it had an impact on me." While referring to himself as "the odd man out in this gathering of great film-makers and artists," Chavan said that among other pressing issues faced by the film industry, the government would be considering the long-discussed proposal of establishing a Bollywood museum in Mumbai's Film City studio complex.

The opening ceremony was held at the festival's main venue, Liberty Theatre in south Mumbai, an art deco cinema with old world charm. The cinema was built in 1947, the year of India's independence from British rule. MFF has been moving from one venue to another in the absence of a permanent site, something that Benegal asked government for in his opening address.

STORY: 'The Butler' to Open Mumbai Film Festival

MFF is presented by Reliance Entertainment with MAMI, an industry body featuring leading Indian film figures, founded in 1997 by the late filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

This year's festival competition jury is presided over by Driving Miss Daisy director Bruce Beresford, with fellow members including French actress Nathalie Baye, Japanese film-maker Masato Harada, Indian actress Konkona Sen Sharma and Canada-based Indian director Deepa Mehta.

The India Gold competition jury is headed by Oscar winning Iranian director Asghar Farhadi (A Separation) while fellow jurists include Australian film editor Jill Bilcock (Moulin Rouge), British actor-director Waris Hussein (Passage to India), Afghan director Siddiq Barmak (Osama) and Hong Kong International Film Festival director and film critic, Roger Garcia.

The festival opened with a screening of Lee Daniels' The Butler starring Forest Whitaker. The festival's closing film is The Fifth Estate, which will screen after the awards ceremony on Oct. 24.

MFF will feature more than 200 films from 65 countries, including spotlights on Spanish, French and Cambodian cinema. The festival will also pay tribute to the late Bollywood icon Yash Chopra (who passed away last October), the late Bengali director Rituparno Ghosh and the late Bollywood actor Pran.

Running alongside the festival will be the three-day Mumbai Film Mart which opens Friday.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/international/~3/ohPo9OYo56w/story01.htm
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Join the Nexus 5 discussion on the Android Central forums

We're getting closer and closer to the inevitable launch of the Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 KitKat, and with the device's image recently slipping out on Google Play — along with a $349 price point — there's more buzz than ever around this year's Nexus handset.

The Android Central forums are a great place to chat it up and share your Nexus 5 thought, hopes, fears and expectations as we wait for the device's arrival. Here's a quick rundown of some of the top threads at the moment:

• Nexus 5 versus Galaxy S4 Google Play edition — Should you wait it out for Google's next Nexus, or pick up Samsung's stock Android handset?
• Nexus 5... so here it is — Reaction to the image that leaked out on Google Play last night
• Nexus 5 announcement and launch dates — Speculation on exactly when the Nexus 5 will become official, and when we'll be able to buy it.
• Will the Nexus 5 come in white at launch? — There was (briefly) a white Nexus 4. Could LG and Google have two color options at launch this year?
• Poll: Switching to Nexus 5? Which phone are you coming from? — If you're thinking of picking up a Nexus 5, what's your current weapon of choice?

More: Nexus 5 forums

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/c_zNaeG4v1o/story01.htm
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OS X Mavericks Server goes Gold Master (GM), developers go get it!

Some two weeks behind the regular version, today OS X Mavericks Server has hit Gold Master (GM) ahead of a potentially imminent release. As usual with GM builds, unless any showstoppers are found, this is the version that will push out to customers, quite possibly before the month is out.

If you're a developer with a keen interest in the Server version of Mavericks, head on over to the Apple Developer Portal and download a copy now. If not, sit tight, we're almost there!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/0PtSBPgogq8/story01.htm
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