Hundreds of alleged Dropbox passwords leaked

(Reuters) - Hundreds of alleged usernames and passwords for online document-sharing site Dropbox were published on Monday on Pastebin, an anonymous information-sharing website.
The anonymous user, who claims to have hacked close to 7 million accounts, is calling for Bitcoin donations to fund the operation.
"We will keep releasing more to the public as donations come in, show your support," the anonymous Pastebin user said on the site.

 

 

 

Dropbox, however, said it has not been hacked.
"These usernames and passwords were unfortunately stolen from other services and used in attempts to log in to Dropbox accounts. We'd previously detected these attacks and the vast majority of the passwords posted have been expired for some time now. All other remaining passwords have been expired as well," a Dropbox spokesman said in an email to Reuters.
Dropbox is a Silicon Valley startup that has proved a hit with consumers and boasts more than 200 million users six years after it was started. It has undergone tremendous growth amid the meteoric rise of cloud, which is expected to continue booming alongside mobile computing.
NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden last week advised those concerned about their privacy to "get rid of Dropbox" and cease using Facebook (FB.O) and Google (GOOGL.O).
(Reporting by Supriya Kurane in Bangalore; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)

At 3 million sq ft in 5 years, Flipkart set for largest office deal

BANGALORE: India's biggest e-commerce company Flipkart has doubled its demand for office space to 3 million sq ft, barely two months after approaching top developers to lease 1.5 million sq ft. Embassy Office Parks, the equal joint venture between Blackstone and Embassy Group, is said to bag this lease deal which is pegged to be the largest office space transaction in India in at least a decade.

The deal, at Rs 52 per sq ft, is likely to be inked as early as this week. Flipkart plans to absorb the entire office space in two phases, but in a record four to five years. The e-commerce poster boy had short-listed Bangalore-based Bagmane Group and Embassy in a process advised by real estate consulting firm JLL.

Senior officials at Embassy Office Parks declined comment.

Flipkart, which is sitting on about $1.5 billion in cash, has already said that by the end of this financial year its employee strength would be increased to 25,000 from 12,000 at the beginning of the year. In real estate parlance, 3-million sq ft of office space could seat around 30,000 to 50,000 employees.

The breakneck growth of India's e-commerce market and Flipkart's aggression at the top would mean that hiring is likely to remain robust for the seven year-old-company co-founded by Sachin and Binny Bansal.

Rival Amazon has already leased out around 300,000 sq ft of office space at the World Trade Centre in Bangalore, a tenth of the office space requirement that Flipkart is projecting.

The office deal with Embassy Office Parks will see Flipkart being housed in the 106-acre Embassy TechVillage, which has around 500,000 sq ft of space that is yet to be leased of the 1.9 million sq ft developed, with the potential for to develop an additional 10 million sq ft of office space.

So far India's e-commerce leased about 600,000 sq ft space in the first of the ongoing calendar, said a report by consultancy firm CBRE South Asia, adding that office space deals by the well funded startups were rising.

Sectoral experts said that India's real estate sector will gain from e-commerce. CBRE South Asia deputy MD Ram Chandnani said e-commerce will stimulate demand for warehousing/logistics space for building back-end infrastructure, more than commercial office space.

Flipkart faces Rs 1,000 crore FEMA penalty: Report

MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate is looking to slap a show-cause notice on e-commerce major Flipkart over alleged FEMA violation, a report by ET Now said on Thursday evening.

The channel quoted sources as saying, "Our investigation is over and our Bangalore team has found evidence of FEMA violation against Flipkart." According to the report, the e-tailer may face a penalty of over Rs 1,000 crore.

A source who refused to be identified said Flipkart had violated FEMA provisions as WS Retail, the holding company, had investments from companies overseas.

Apple's 'Way Too Long' Invite Lands With a Thud

Apple's pretty much annual October new product media event usually is preceded by a cute invitation sent to journalists. The invitation typically includes a phrase or graphic element that provides a vague clue to the secret agenda of the event.

Presumably, this is to drum up excitement and speculation, in addition to creating an ah-ha moment when the audience understands the connection between the invitation and the actual announcement.
This year, Apple's hint is this: "It's been way too long." That is the worst teaser I've ever heard.

What Haven't You Been Doing Lately?

Consider the phrase: It's been way too long since... what? Since we've seen you last? Since we partied like there was no tomorrow? Nah. In Apple Land, the connotation immediately turns to products and product announcements.
Which then naturally turns to this: Which product hasn't been updated in "way too long?" Which product has been neglected? Which product is in desperate need of a makeover?
I don't consider myself a glass-half-empty kind of guy, but I found myself immediately considering the products that Apple has been futzing around with when I saw the teaser invite. Turns out, there are plenty of Apple products that seem stale.
The MacBook Air, which has sported the same basic form factor since Steve Jobs introduced it in 2008, comes to mind. Apple added the even smaller 11-incher in October of 2010 -- four years ago. Sure, there've been some minor upgrades along the way, but it's been four years -- and not even a color refresh.
What's worse, the MacBook Air hasn't had a Retina display. The MacBook Pro with Retina display came out two years ago in October of 2012. Is that way too long? Maybe. It sure feels like it -- but hey, that's not Apple's fault, right? You just can't power a Retina display with a battery in a super light MacBook Air form factor. Laws of physics and whatnot.
The technical challenges aren't the point here -- nor is the waiting game for Intel's next-generation Broadwell processors, which are well suited to being crammed into a shrinking form factor.
There are rumors that Apple is working on a 12-inch Retina-based MacBook Air variant, which it could even offer in Gold, Silver and Space Gray colors, but the point remains: It's been way too long gives the speculation a negative spin, as if Apple has been neglecting a product rather than working feverishly on it and giving it the attention it deserves.

Which Other Products Have Stagnated?

See how easy it is to consider Apple's invite phrase in a negative light? I just used the word "stagnated," which isn't a word you want associated with your products -- like say, the Mac mini, which has been largely ignored for two years. Or the iMac, which has gotten some touchups here and there, but no Retina displays.
Odds are, Apple will update the iMac with a Retina display sometime soon -- but now? Maybe. Neither product gets enough consumer attention to justify being the subject of Apple's teaser, though.
There is only one product that clearly stands out here, and it's the long-neglected Apple TV. The last hardware update was in March of 2012. There have been lots of minor additions and updates to the software, but the ingenuity and power of the hardware itself? For fans of the living room couch, it's been languishing in obscurity.
Finally. That is the first impression that Apple calls up with "It's been way too long."
That's really sad, because in reality, I'm excited and optimistic that Apple will -- finally -- make a serious push into the living room with a more powerful Apple TV and a much-improved content experience.
The phrase, "It's been way too long," could be applied to the way we watch and consume television. It's been way too long since consumers had a really great new way to watch TV. For anyone who pays attention to their budgets and how they spend on entertainment, it's hard to find any reason to be pleased with the bundles offered by our cable and satellite TV services.
So, even though the teaser could be the harbinger of a brand new world of awesomeness, the initial effort to understand it just results in a negative spin for Apple.

Playing Catch-Up

Instead of excitedly speculating on how Apple might make the living room "more comfortable than ever" with a new Apple TV that is now a hub for HomeKit and a whole new world of home automation products, Apple sparked people to wonder if it's been too long for an important new leap for the iPad.
Is a thinner iPad offered in a Gold color with a Touch ID button particularly cool? It doesn't take a genius to imagine a thinner iPad Air or a new coat of paint.
Instead of being excited about how well the Apple ecosystem will seamlessly let you hand off content, notifications, and messages between Macs and iOS devices, the question turns toward a grouchy "it's about damn time my Mac could talk with my iPhone."
The problem is that "way too long" implies an admission of failure -- and it's a failure on Apple's part, because this is Apple's event, after all. Even if the company is saying it's way too long for some other thing going on in the industry, the phrase boomerangs back to Apple.
So what would be more successful?
Apple could have said, "better than ever," or "like you've never seen before" or slapped on an image that implies a natural transformation into something mature and cool, like the hint of a butterfly's wing in the background of the invitation. Apple never would have to explain a butterfly.
"Way too long" fails to suggest that Apple might have invented something new -- or even created an upgrade leap. It suggests that Apple finally caught up to a widely held expectation. I'm pretty sure that's not what Apple was going for.
So yeah -- Apple's worst teaser ever.

Cylon Linux Gives GNOME Fans Glamour Galore

Cylon is a classic Linux distro preconfigured with lots of tweaks -- kind of a Unity-less Ubuntu with bling.

Cylon runs the classic GNOME 3 desktop on almost any hardware configuration made since 2007, but it is more suited to seasoned Linux users. Newcomers to Linux may not make an easy transition.
Still, Cylon Linux is highly usable out of the box. With its installed software, there's little need for supplemental installations. The user experience, however, might be less than appealing for those who are not at home with the GNOME 3 desktop.
I was impressed with Cylon's speed and dazzling animations -- but once the eye candy novelty wore off, I went to the Compiz setting panel to tone down the fireworks.
The classic GNOME 3 desktop is not for everyone. While Cylon's developers did a clever job of tweaking the performance, they failed to make it easy to change default settings for accessing virtual desktops.
Cylon also suffers from a common problem with GNOME 3 desktop environments: It has too many separate settings panels for Administration, System Compiz and Preferences.

Family Ties

Cylon Linux was last updated December 6th, 2012. Due to its lineage from Ubuntu, this version is supported with system updates through 2017. Its current version is 12.04.1 and is based on a kindred connection to Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. Its partial rolling update approach keeps pace with the Ubuntu system updates.
Cylon is a relative newcomer and has a much different look and feel despite its obvious reliance on direct Ubuntu branding. Cylon was founded in November 2012.

Under Cylon's Hood

Cylon Linux relies heavily on its Ubuntu underpinnings, but its closeness to Ubuntu is not readily apparent when you start using it.
This distro has a unique appearance. It looks and works nothing like the myriad of other Ubuntu derivatives.
Of course, the Software Center and the Update Manager carry the Ubuntu names and are the same repositories. Even the System Settings panel is strikingly similar.

Look and Feel

At first blush, Cylon's desktop appearance is like numerous other carbon-copy Linux distributions -- but the similarity ends once you get beyond the GNOME 3 panel at the top and the Docky bar at the bottom of the screen.
The big difference appears as a flash in the pan once you start clicking around the menu. It is a skimpy menu, by the way. It consists of a single column organized by category. The contents of each category slide out from the right as you hover over each label.
Expect to spend considerable time scrolling lists of submenus. The main menu lacks any search window. Also, it lacks any favorites panel.

The default desktop view in Cylon Linux includes preinstalled Conky clocks and screenlets plus a Docky Bar on the bottom and a disappointing panel at the top of the screen.

That may be why developers preinstalled the Synapse search and launch tool. The launcher is hardwired to the top panel. You also can access this app by setting a keyboard combination.

Flash Bang

Click on a menu item or touch any category with the mouse pointer, and the flashiness begins. The default visual effect is for a flash of flames that blaze for a fraction of a second and then fade away.
Programs open with their windows upside down and then spinning right side up. By default, the window controls -- maximize, minimize and X -- are in the left corner, just like Ubuntu.
Users familiar with Compiz effects will appreciate how Cylon has the CompizConfig Settings Manager installed and activated. Seasoned Linux users also will be able to change the settings as desired. However, strangers to Linux easily could be intimidated by all of the options.
It is perhaps the combination of the Docky Bar and the brash Compiz effects that set Cylon ahead of other Ubuntu Linux offspring. The level of Compiz settings resembles much of the inherent interface chaos some Linux users experience with the KDE desktop.

Panel Woes

The classic GNOME panel leaves a lot to be desired. Open programs are highlighted on the Docky bar. A few launchers for system tools are anchored to the top panel. But GNOME 3 does not give users any configuration access to this locked-down panel.
Other than displaying a few expected notification icons along with the application and places menus, the panel lets users do little with the wasted space.
Not having the upper panel serve as an anchoring point for personalized applets and pinned favorite programs is a sore point for many Linux users disgruntled with the GNOME 3 interface. Cylon's use of GNOME 3 does little to assuage that design dysfunction.

Cubed Delight

The spinning cube is without a doubt one of the most attractive visual effects associated with using virtual workspaces in Linux. The CompizConfig settings gives Cylon users a huge variety of options for tweaking how the cube performs. Basic cube functionality is preconfigured in this distro.
Hold the left CNTRL + ALT keys down while you press the left or right arrows. This changes the screen view to the spinning cube.
Hold the arrow key down to watch a perpetual spinning cube. Or press the arrow key more deliberately to move among the virtual workspaces.

Missing in Action

As mentioned earlier, one of my main disappointments with Cylon's design is the way it handles access to virtual workspaces. Most GNOME 3 desktops have a hidden thumbnail view that slides in from screen right when touched by the mouse pointer to show activated virtual workspaces. Clicking on a thumbnail gives you full-screen access to that virtual location.
If that feature exists in Cylon Linux, it is a well-kept secret. The feature is not activated by default. I could not find any system setting for it.
Also missing is any setting for the number of virtual workspaces you want to use. I am normally very good at finding such hidden triggers. The fact that I can not find it strongly suggests to me that the feature does not exist rather than is just well hidden.

No Way Out

Either way, this is a major design flaw in Cylon's implementation of the GNOME 3 interface. I was able to send a program window to any of four work spaces by right-clicking on the top border of the application window. This feature exists in most Linux desktop flavors.
However, the lack of the standard access to those virtual spaces for me is a disconnect and a deal breaker. The design fails on several levels.
First, it is awkward to have to find the program icon resting somewhere on the Docky bar and then click on it to swing onto that virtual workspace. Second, it is distracting to have to move fingers off the typing rows to press the three-key combination requiring two hands to spin the cube to the appropriate workspace. Three is the lack of configurable shortcut keys to move among virtual workspaces.
The Ubuntu distro -- and its various alternative desktops -- have these features. So do other Ubuntu-based distros such as Linux Mint.

Yes, Good Exists

Those design flaws aside, Cylon Linux offers numerous features to make it worthy of consideration. Perhaps one of the most impressive features is the well-stocked installed software.
Most menu categories are stuffed with a dozen or more applications. In many cases, the list includes four or five options for the same types of programs. In nearly all cases, users will have little or no need to go to the Software manager to find more titles.
What Cylon lacks in panel applets it makes up for with its ample inventory of Screenlets. Finding and installing what you want is fast and easy.

Cylon Linux is loaded with screenlet options and lots of doodads with a nice gallery of background images.

YPPA is a handy application that makes it very easy to add and manage PPAs, or Personal Package Archives. This tool automates the process and requires just clicking and selecting options.

Bottom Line

If you fancy the solid Ubuntu infrastructure but want something a lot different in user experience, give Cylon Linux a try. The visual effects are impressive and the system is preconfigured to work as installed.

Cylon Linux has a curved Expo View feature that is eye-catching.

However, do not expect Cylon Linux to be a Windows XP substitute. It is intended for use by Linux users who have a liking for more traditional GNOME 3 functionality.

Gadget Ogling: Strange Cameras, Fast Charges, Racing Robots

Welcome, friends, to another installment of Gadget Dreams and Nightmares, a trip through the land of delightful and deplorable gizmos.

Among the items to grab my eye this week are portable chargers and espresso makers, a robot hack, a limited-function radio, and a bizarre-looking camera.

Ratings denote how interested I am in using each item, and are not an indicator of quality or how strongly I recommend you spend money on them. (An early tip: Don't buy the radio thing.)

HTC RE Camera

HTC is stepping so far out of the box with the RE Camera (pictured above), it's almost as if there was never a box to begin with.

Instead of making us stare through a viewfinder, this minimalist device almost demands a return to older forms of photography, while still taking advantage of modern technology.

It looks like a cross between a periscope and an asthma inhaler, neither of which scream style to anyone who might spot it in your hand. A Lytro this is not.

There are some positives, since it can capture 16-megapixel still images and 1080p video while wirelessly transferring the content to a smartphone. It's likely to be more comfortable to use for extended periods of time than holding up increasingly larger smartphones to capture, say, a child's school play performance.

Meanwhile, if one absolutely needs to capture something quickly -- for instance, if a crime is taking place -- the RE Camera might let one snap photos or start filming more quickly and inconspicuously than a smartphone would.

Yet I don't really see this taking off. It can't be easier to use this than to whip out a smartphone and take a quick picture. There's a companion app that can act as a viewfinder, but that seems somewhat redundant when at that point you could take a photo with your phone.

It's a poorly timed move, as well, since GoPro just unleashed a range of new cameras, starting at $130. Shelling out $200 for a simple camera that aims to keep smartphones in one's pocket seems superfluous. Then again, if it stops people from taking photos with their tablets, it might not be such a bad idea.

Rating: 2 Out of 5 Spy Submarines

Pronto Fast-Charge Battery

Carting a two-year-old smartphone around means it's increasingly unlikely the battery charge lasts a full day. I often have to resort to Airplane Mode to make sure I can get through an afternoon away from home and still be reachable in case of emergencies.

It's probably time I picked up an external charger, and the fast-charging Pronto looks like a great option.

Tesla's Dual-Motor 'D' Ready for Takeoff

Tesla Motors on Thursday unveiled the "D" that CEO Elon Musk has been teasing -- a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive, higher-tech version of its Model S electric car.

The new model offers better traction, increased driving range, automated features and even higher speeds, Musk said.
From the outside, you won't be able to tell it from the current Model S, however. It will share the same exterior, but it will feature a slew of internal improvements, notably two motors -- one for the front wheels and one for the back -- which allow greater acceleration as well as higher top speeds.
The new Model S will be available in three versions -- the 60D, the 85D and the P85D.
The P85D, which will be available later this year has a range of 275 miles.

Autonomous Automobile

The new model is not only about higher speeds and performance -- it also can help with the driving.
With the autopilot feature, drivers will not have to keep their hands on the steering wheel at all times. They won't be able to snooze out or read emails on the way to work, but with the aid of sensors and cameras, they'll have help keeping the car in its lane and maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles.

Every new Model S is autopilot-enabled.

The car automatically adjusts its speed based on posted speed limits and on how fast other vehicles are traveling -- a nice assist when changing lanes, for example.
The car an park itself, and when on private property, it can be summoned -- almost like an automated valet.

Roller Coaster Acceleration

Apart from those helpful features, Tesla has designed the Model S to appeal to the type of auto enthusiasts who really like to do the driving themselves.
The top-end P85D is powered by Tesla's 85 kWh battery pack. It can go from zero to 60 miles an hour in about 3.2 seconds -- roughly the same as many high-performance gas-powered automobiles. It offers 691 horsepower and a top speed of 155 mph.

The new Model S could be a game-changer for electric cars.
"Big time. This is car for those who want to get to work in style or for those who want to prove that an electric vehicle can smoke some super cars," said Justin Cupler, editor in chief of TopSpeed.
"It basically says that the electric car is a viable option for anyone," Cupler told TechNewsWorld. "It is really a radical car for anyone who is into cars."

Electric Gets in Drive

Although this lineup undoubtedly has appeal for some auto enthusiasts, at a base price of US$75,000 for the lower-end 60D -- and upwards of $120,000 for the P85D -- these cars aren't targeting the masses. Still, the technology advances could pave the way for more mainstream development.
"Right now, electrics carry a huge premium in terms of cost because their ecosystem is limited and production levels remain a fraction of what gas cars enjoy," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.
"Apples to apples, they are more expensive. Where this plays best is in the premium segments where the difference equates to exclusivity, and folks don't care as much about the cost disadvantage," he told TechNewsWorld.
"Here folks will pay to have a car that does amazing things, and the D seems to do exactly that," added Enderle. "It is like the AMG option on a Mercedes. These tend to be low volume and uniquely clad halo products that help carry the brand."
It's questionable whether serious auto enthusiasts will be impressed enough to drive the D, he noted.
"In terms of performance technology -- self-driving -- the D does that, but it may be too stealth -- such as lacking in the AMG-like body modifications that would differentiate it -- to get to the sales numbers that it might otherwise enjoy," Enderle explained.
"People buy cars in this class for status," he pointed out, "but if they are indistinguishable from lower- cost versions, they don't get this benefit and find it harder to justify the price."

Beyond the Concept

One key point of this is that the D lineup is way beyond the concept stage, and these are vehicles that should be on roads in just months.
"It is going to be a revolution for Tesla, but also the automotive world," predicted Culper. "Since there are no patents -- as Tesla had said recently they wouldn't patent this technology -- it could certainly revolutionize the industry across the board."
The question is how long until this innovation trickles down to the rest of the industry. Even if Tesla shares what it knows, there is still the issue of the high cost of electric vehicle technology to overcome.
"Electric cars sell on economy and efficiency, and the performance vector is counterintuitive," observed Enderle, "suggesting the requirement for some kind of visual distinction for a high-performance version would be higher than on a gas car.
"The market was also expecting a more affordable car, more consistent with an electrics frugal promise," he noted, "and is punishing Tesla for missing those expectations."