File Sharing Service with Opera Unite

Opera Unite is an intriguing concept that aims to turn any computer or mobile device running Opera into a web server. This means you can easily share files or photos with other people without having to upload them first. There's more to it than that, though. Friends can leave messages for you on a virtual fridge and chat with you in your 'lounge', and you can even stream your music collection over the internet. The Unite download includes the Opera 10 browser. if you already have Opera installed, you'll be given the opportunity of upgrading to the new version.

To use Unite, you'll need an Opera account. Go to Tools, Opera Unite Server, Enable Opera Unite and fill in the requested details. Once that's done and you've validated your account, you're all set.

Google may Boost Email Security

Google has promised to consider improvements to the security of a number of its services including Google Mail following criticism from US security experts.

The group of 38 computer scientists called on Google to use a standard encryption protocol, known as HTTPS, which is commonly used in online banking services to protect data while in transit. Google offers HTTPS, which stands for Hypertext Tranfer Protocol Secure, as an option in Google Mail, but is disable by default.

"Google customers face a very real risk of data theft and snooping, even by unsophisticated attackers," the group wrote in an open letter to Eric Schmidt, Google's chief executive.

Mozilla Firefox 3.5 RC1

The Mozilla Firefox development team is currently releasing the latest public build of the upcoming Firefox 3.5. The first release candidate of Firefox 3.5 has already been transferred to all mirror servers. Users who already work with a Firefox 3.5x version can perform an update check right in the web browser in the Help > Check for updates menu to download and install Firefox 3.5 RC1 automatically. The version has not been made available for public download yet but major download portals such as Betanews are already providing users with the download of the latest version.

This version of Firefox seems to contain bugfixes which will be also included in the final release of Firefox 3.5. according to a post on the Mozilla Developer News blog. This update does fix the incompatibilities with the Wordpress blogging platform that were introduced with Firefox 3.5b99.

Internet TV Almost Ready for Prime Time

A few years from now, we'll look back at today's hardware for watching Internet video on TV, and we'll laugh. That's not to say that the current technology isn't sophisticated it is. The problem is that in order to view Web based content in our living rooms (as opposed to on a PC monitor), we have to jump through far too many hoops. And that's why the Web over TV movement is still more of a minor uprising than a full scale revolution.


The best Internet video to TV options such as Apple TV, Roku, and Vudu are separate, dedicated boxes. For true mass market adoption to occur, providers must offer home appliance style functionality: plug in, turn on, and tune in.

RIAA Suspends File-Sharing Lawsuits

The music industry has finally wised up and changed tactics in its quixotic legal campaign against peer-to-peer file sharing. Rather than continue to sue consumers who illegally download music, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) will get Internet service providers to send warning letters. If you ignore the letters, you may find your bandwidth reduced or your service eliminated altogether.

Between 2003 and 2008, the RIAA sued 35,000 consumers, although most of these cases didn’t make it into court. Instead, the would-be plaintiff usually demanded a sum of money $5,000 or so and dropped the suit. In cases that did enter a courtroom, the copyright law permitted the RIAA to demand statutory damages of up to $100,000 per song. The most flagrant downloaders we’re talking 5,000 tracks a month may still be sued, but the RIAA will no longer pursue small fry in court.