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Akamai Technologies is extending its content delivery network to the Apple iPhone as it introduces the Akamai HD Network, a system for streaming high-definition live and on-demand video to a variety of devices. Consumers will be able to watch HD Network content on PCs in the Adobe Flash and Microsoft Silverlight formats, but also on the iPhone, said Akamai President and CEO Paul Sagan. He gave few details about the iPhone offering, including which mobile operators or third-party content providers might use it. But if Akamai’s infrastructure can deliver high-quality live video to the popular handsets and AT&T’s 3G network can handle the strain, it could be a boon to iPhone users.
The U.S. Department of Justice has extradited two Romanians to the U.S., where they face charges in connection with a massive phishing scam. The two men are accused of setting up fake phishing sites designed to steal user names and passwords from the Web customers of Citibank, Wells Fargo, eBay and other financial institutions. Victims would receive e-mails or text messages that looked like they came from legitimate financial institutions, sending them to a Web site that looked like a bank site. In fact it was a fake site, seeking detailed information about their accounts. And once the phishers had this information, they’d send it to U.S.-based “cashiers,” who would manufacture fake ATM cards with the information. They would then hand over those cards to “runners” who would go from ATM to ATM withdrawing money.
After comfortably residing for years in mobile devices like cell phones, chips based on the Arm design are finding their way into commercial laptops. Dell’s move on Tuesday to use Arm chips in its latest business offering, the Latitude Z, raises the possibility of the processor architecture being used in more laptops. The Latitude Z has a special motherboard with an Arm-based chip on it, which is designed to run the quick-boot capability called Latitude On. In addition to booting in just a few seconds, Latitude On gives the laptop “always-on” capabilities similar to those in smartphones. The environment provides quick access to commonly used applications such as e-mail clients, contacts, calendar and a Web browser.
Several major consumer electronics companies have started working together to develop a common interface for hooking up cell phones and portable gadgets to TV sets. The group includes several of the biggest names in electronics, including Sony, Toshiba, Samsung and the world’s biggest cell phone maker, Nokia. Silicon Image, which makes chips for gadgets, is also part of the group.
The development work now starting among the five electronics companies will seek to come up with a common interface so that devices from different manufacturers should be able to connect without the need for special gear.
And those are the top stories from the IDG Global IT News Update, brought to you by the IDG News Service. I’m Sumner Lemon in Singapore. Join us again later for more news from the world of technology.