idle
Latest
FBI program helps companies fool hackers with 'decoy data'
The FBI thinks it has a way for companies to limit the damage from data breaches: lure thieves into taking the wrong data. Ars Technica has learned of an FBI program, IDLE (Illicit Data Loss Exploitation), that has companies plant "decoy data" to confuse intruders looking to steal valuable info. Think of it as a honeypot for would-be fraudsters and corporate spies.
Google finally agrees to fix Chrome bug that drains Windows laptop batteries
Chrome may be the browser of choice for around 35 percent of the world's internet users, but it's not without its flaws. A report by Forbes has highlighted that the browser won't return to an idle state if it's not being used, demanding significantly more power than rivals like Firefox or Internet Explorer. That's a big problem for laptop users, since their portable Windows machines are losing battery life far faster than they should. It's apparently been a problem since 2010, but it's only now that Google is admitting that something needs to be done about it. In a statement to PC World, the company has pushed the fault to the top of the Chrome team's to-do list, so hopefully it won't be long before you get a lot more browsing before you retreat to a wall socket.
The Daily Grind: Should we be disconnected for idling too long?
Are you one of those MMO players who always seems to idle out while tending to real-life issues? I know I am, and it usually results in my finding something else to do once I discover that I've been logged out. I certainly understand why the developers add that feature, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that idling all day in TERA not only is allowed but also grants me the Full Time Job achievement, which tickled me to no end. So what's your opinion on idling out? Should you be allowed to be AFK as long as you'd like, or should idlers always be disconnected after a certain amount of time? How much time should be allowed? Let us know in the comments! Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Microsoft investigating errant Windows Phone 7 data use
Worried about your Windows Phone 7 handset chomping down megabytes of 3G data when it should be asleep or utilizing WiFi instead? Microsoft hears your telegraphed fears, and has pledged to sleuth such suspicions of "phantom data" immediately. While Redmond wouldn't confirm whether its operating system was misbehaving to the tune of 2MB per hour like we've heard, the company told BBC News it would find out soon: "We are investigating this issue to determine the root cause and will update with information and guidance as it becomes available," reads Microsoft's statement on the matter. If it's all true, here's hoping we see some refunds or credits for the extra data usage, too.
Windows Phone 7 using lots of 3G data while idle, even on WiFi?
Complaints seem to be growing among some users that Windows Phone 7 is consuming an abnormally plump quantity of data when you're not doing anything. Granted, there's lots of stuff on the platform that might need data continuously -- email accounts and live tiles, for example -- but folks are reporting consumption measuring in multiple megabytes per hour, which can add up pretty quickly: 2MB per hour over a month is nearly 1.5GB, which can be a bummer for anyone with a 2GB data plan. The real issue, though, is that at least some of the data seems to be ignoring available WiFi networks and choosing 3G instead, so there's no great way to definitively avoid the leak even when you're in the comfortable confines of your own home. Our money -- our hopeful money, that is -- is on this being fixed in Microsoft's first big update that should be coming any day now, but in the meantime, users look to be getting at least some relief by setting mail accounts to manual update and turning off location services. Anyone out there seeing this? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
All the World's a Stage: Player housing, interactivity, and other possible features
All the World's a Stage, and all the orcs and humans merely players. They have their stories and their characters; and one player in his time plays many roles. Playing Warhammer recently has made me think of more features that WoW could add in order to create a better roleplaying experience. Far and away the most important one, to my mind, was the Tome of Knowledge. WoW players really need an in-game resource they can refer to as a standard for information about the Warcraft universe, and having this at hand, roleplayers could do a lot better than they can today. Knowledge is the most important thing, of course, but there are other features Blizzard could add to the game that would help roleplayers too. I'd like to address a few of these things, and see how much they could really do for us. Player housing is a possible feature that gets talked about a lot, but I have my doubts as to whether or not it would really help roleplayers all that much. Another issue is one that is more important to me personally, and is another feature inspired by my trial with Warhammer Online: looking at interactivity between characters.
iMapIdle simulates push email on the iPhone
The IMAP IDLE protocol allows an IMAP email server to send out notification of new emails to a client. This means its a great way to implement a "push" email system that automatically sends messages out, instead of having to wait for the email client to poll the server (this is what happens, for example, when you set the "Check for new mail" interval in Mail.app). A new application called iMapIdle partially brings this functionality to the iPhone. Basically iMapIdle sits in the background listening for the IDLE commands ("even if you are in sleep/standby mode") and pops up an alert to tell you that email has arrived. You can then use the iPhone's built-in email application actually to get the mail.Needless to say, this requires a hacked iPhone, and since it uses more data transfer it may negatively affect battery life (that said, the IDLE protocol is very bandwidth efficient). The other consideration is that not all IMAP servers are set up with the IDLE protocol enabled. Many are, however, and I've used IDLE based push email on my Treo for quite some time via ChatterEmail. Furthermore, iMapIdle has specific support for Gmail. I should note, however, that I have not actually tested this myself.iMapIdle is a free download (donations requested).[via UNEASYsilence]
Forum Post(s) of the Day: Patch 2.1 changes females?
There was some hullabaloo this week over various changes that some thought had been made to the female avatars in patch 2.1. These changes made me think about who makes decisions regarding what female avatars should look like, and if these decisions tell us anything about ourselves as gamers.First of these alleged changes came to light when somehow some people got it in their minds that the... um... well... that uh... their... um... human and other Azerothian females wouldn't have to buy such large bras if they made a trip to the department store, because the two relevant glands had been reduced in size.Well, this time it was Death and Taxes to the rescue! Xaviera took up the supposed change with dedication, comparing "old" and "new" screenshots with the utmost precision, and proved for all to see that in fact NO change had taken place! As Xaviera says at the end of her conclusive argument, "you can sleep safely, take it easy."Stay tuned for more female avatar-change headline news and expert analysis after the jump.
TUAW Tip: Desktopple Pro can hide idle apps
Some utilities stick to doing one thing and one thing well, while others incorporate a number of related features for those who need a little more umph. Desktopple Pro is just such a utility. As we've mentioned before, Desktopple Pro is a powerful app that helps neat-freaks and podcasters alike to hide their desktop icons and display custom wallpapers either at the click of a mouse, or even automatically when starting some apps. What many (potential) users don't know, however, is that it can also automatically hide apps that are sitting idle in the background of your workspace, depending on a user-specified time limit. This means that some users of other similar apps that are designed specifically to perform this one chore - like Spirited Away and Shoo Apps - might be able to remove one more task from Activity Monitor, as Desktopple Pro has you covered. A 15-day demo of Desktopple Pro is available, as is a free Desktopple Lite for those who only need some of the basics. A single license for Desktopple Pro sells for a mere $17.
