Sony makes experimental paper watch

28 November 2014 Last updated at 15:42 By Dave Lee Technology reporter, BBC News

Sony has developed a watch made from e-paper as part of an initiative to experiment with the use of the material for fashion products.

The Fes Watch has a minimalist, monochrome design but falls short of the features offered by smartwatches.

However, the battery of the e-paper watch could last far longer with an estimated 60 days of use.

The device has been described as "retro and cool" by gadget expert Stuart Miles from Pocket-lint.

"One of my predictions for next year is that fashion is going to play a huge part in shaping the tech industry.

"Having a phone that's big and square is one thing, but if we're actually wearing things, it has to look good."

The watch face and straps have an e-paper display - comparable to the technology used in e-book readers such as Amazon's Kindle.

It means the watch can alternate between several different styles of watch face and strap design.

Shoes and bow-ties

According to the Wall Street Journal, Sony had deliberately kept the development of the watch low-key, opting to use a spin-off division called Fashion Entertainments to work on the device.

Fashion Entertainments ran a crowdfunding campaign to fund the watch's creation, the WSJ reported, in an attempt to gauge the public's interest in the concept.

It raised 3.5 million yen ($30,000; £19,000).

"We hid Sony's name because we wanted to test the real value of the product, whether there will be demand for our concept," a person involved in the project told the newspaper. A spokeswoman for Sony confirmed to the BBC that Fashion Entertainments is a division of company's New Business Creation Department, and was working on a number of e-paper prototypes.

Other e-paper experiments being worked on by Fashion Entertainments include shoes, bow-ties and glasses.

One drawback of using e-paper rather than, for example, liquid-crystal displays (LCD) is a limitation on possible features due to the limitations of what e-paper can display.

However, Mr Miles said he did not envision that being too significant a drawback for e-paper wearable technology.

"Look at traditional watches now, they just tell the time and we're happy with that," he said, noting that one of the most popular smartwatches on the market, the Pebble, uses e-paper.

Sony has not provided a date for the Fes Watch's release.

Follow Dave Lee on Twitter @DaveLeeBBC

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Ubisoft apologises for Assassin bugs

27 November 2014 Last updated at 13:58 By Leo Kelion Technology desk editor

The head of the games studio behind Assassin's Creed Unity has emailed players apologising for bugs in the video game and offering them free content.

Yannis Mallat, chief executive of Ubisoft Montreal & Toronto, wrote that it had been a "humbling" experience.

He is the latest in a series of software bosses to pen such an apology after a glitch-ridden release.

Experts said Ubisoft needed to act to protect its reputation.

"Assassin's Creed is Ubisoft's most important, bestselling franchise, and it's also generally the firm's most anticipated series by gamers," said Keza MacDonald, UK editor of gaming news site Kotaku.

"The fact that after Unity came out, the conversation has been almost entirely about how many bugs it's got and how broken it is in certain areas, is really, really damaging for the company."

Missing faces

Ubisoft has traditionally had a more consumer-friendly reputation than some of its rivals.

However, its brand had already been under pressure after May's release of Watch Dogs, which many critics had suggested failed to deliver the quality of graphics shown off at the E3 trade show before its release.

The issues with French Revolution-set Assassin's Creed Unity were even more clear-cut. Glitches meant the protagonist could fall through the ground, become stuck in hay carts, encounter invisible walls and, at times, parts of his face could become invisible.

In addition, frame rate problems and outright crashes led to criticism that the title was not ready for release - particularly the version for PCs.

"Unfortunately, at launch, the overall quality of the game was diminished by bugs and unexpected technical issues," wrote Mr Mallat.

"I want to sincerely apologise on behalf of Ubisoft and the entire Assassin's Creed team."

He added that the company had already released three sets of fixes to address problems with the game's stability, performance and connectivity, and promised more patches to come.

"Please keep your feedback coming - it has been both humbling and incredibly helpful as we continue working hard to improve the overall quality of the game," Mr Mallat wrote.

Consumers who bought the basic version of the title are being offered an as yet unreleased add-on story for free.

Those who purchased a "season pass" - which provides a copy of all future downloadable content (DLC) additions - have been offered another complete game of their choice.

Options include the firm's recently released blockbuster Far Cry 4 as well as the forthcoming racing game The Crew.

"This is extraordinarily generous," commented Ms MacDonald.

"A lot of the time when you get a compensation offer from a publisher it's a back catalogue game or something relatively low value.

"It's not a full entire £55 next-generation title that's just been released or hasn't even come out yet.

"That's surprising to me."

Pressure to publish

Ubisoft's email came days after Bonnie Ross, the head of Microsoft's 343 Industries studio, offered her "heartfelt apologies" for delays in fixing problems with multiplayer battles in the recently released sci-fi shooter series, Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

And last week, World of Warcraft's executive producer J Allen Brack wrote to players apologising for "stumbling out of the gates" with the Warlords of Draenor expansion to the role-playing title.

Some gamers have had to queue for hours to be able to log into Blizzard's systems in order to start playing. They have been given a five-day extension to their subscriptions as compensation.

High-profile apologies for launch day software glitches are by no means limited to gaming.

Last week,Evernote's vice president of mobile products Jamie Hull emailed users acknowledging it did "not do a good job" with the release of the new version of its Penultimate handwriting app.

"Simply put, we released this version too soon... We're sorry. We screwed up," he wrote.

However, there is a growing perception that after the release of a number games that took months to fix - including Driveclub, Battlefield 4 and Rome 2: Total War - that publishers might be rushing some titles to market before they are ready.

"There's a pressure to get games out on time and on budget," said Piers Harding-Rolls, head of games at the IHS Technology consultancy.

"With the increased flexibility to send out updates on a regular basis there may be a temptation that if the game is not 100% correct, the publisher can ship a patch in a few days or weeks to correct issues.

"But there are plenty of games that are released that are great and finished. And there are plenty of others that have been delayed until next year, presumably because some weren't ready to be released on to the market.

"Obviously Ubisoft made a decision to release Assassin's Creed Unity on its scheduled date, perhaps because it had internal deadlines and financial targets that it had to meet. But the result is that it's had to provide significant recompense to early adopters of the game due to the number of bugs, which will inevitably hit the bottom line."

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Airport raids tackle cyberthieves

28 November 2014 Last updated at 11:54

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Wil Van Gemert, Europol: This fraud costs up to a billion dollars a year

Cyberthieves who used stolen credit cards to buy airline tickets have been targeted in a series of raids.

Europol co-ordinated the raids at airports, targeting people who were trying to travel using a fraudulently bought ticket.

In total, 118 people were arrested at 80 airports in 45 countries during the raids.

Airlines lose more than $1bn (£640m) a year to the trade in fraudulent tickets, said Europol.

"Airlines are fighting credit card fraud on their ticket sales on daily basis," said Meta Backman from the European airline fraud prevention group in a statement. "It is clear to the airlines that they are up against organised crime in this fight."

Europol said the raids marked the start of an initiative called Global Airport Action, which will build on the links forged between police forces, airlines and credit card companies in preparation for the raids.

These links helped to spot when tickets bought with stolen cards were being used to check in at an airport during the two days of the action. Police officers then swooped on the individuals using the tickets. Command centres in The Hague, Singapore and Bogota helped to direct the checking of tickets and travel documents as well as identifying individuals arrested.

Some of those arrested were already known to police and had been arrested before for trading in tickets.

In a statement, Europol said the stolen credit cards also helped organised crime groups keep operating and to facilitate the drug trade and human trafficking.

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European MPs want Google break-up

27 November 2014 Last updated at 12:15

The European Parliament has voted in favour of breaking Google up, as a solution to complaints that it favours its own services in search results.

Politicians have no power to enforce a break-up, but the landmark vote sends a clear message to European regulators to get tough on the net giant.

US politicians and trade bodies have voiced their dismay at the vote.

The ultimate decision will rest with EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager.

She has inherited the anti-competitive case lodged by Google's rivals in 2010.

Google has around 90% market share for search in Europe and rivals asked the commission to investigate four areas:

• The manner in which Google displays its own vertical search services compared with other, competing products
• How Google copies content from other websites - such as restaurant reviews - to include within its own services
• The exclusivity Google has to sell advertising around the search terms people use
• Restrictions on advertisers from moving their online ad campaigns to rival search engines

Predecessor Joaquin Almunia tried and failed to settle the case. A series of concessions made by Google were rejected, leading Mr Almunia to suggest that the only option was a fine. This could be up to $5bn.

The Commission has never before ordered the break-up of any company, and many believe it is unlikely to do so now.

But politicians are desperate to find a solution to the long-running anti-competitive dispute with Google.

The motion brought by Andreas Schwab, a German Christian Democrat, and Spanish liberal Ramon Tremosa stated that the best way to resolve the row with the net giant was to separate search engines from other commercial services thereby ensuring a level playing field for rivals in Europe.

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Law ends regulator logo on devices

27 November 2014 Last updated at 13:18

Electronic devices sold in the US are no longer required to display regulatory symbols and text, after a new law was passed.

The E-Labels Act said products such as smartphones and tablets could instead provide the information within the device's software.

There has been no change in the European law, so firms will still be required to display the "CE" mark.

Tech companies wanted a change to save design space as devices get smaller.

The symbols are designed to help make it clear to consumers that a product is compliant with the standards set out by regulators in respective countries.

The criteria for gaining a mark involves meeting various safety and environmental benchmarks.

Forging one of the marks can, in some countries, result in a fine or imprisonment.

Conformite

But in satisfying the regulators in different markets, devices have become increasingly cluttered.

A typical smartphone that is sold across major markets will carry a logo for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a logo to show a device complies with waste disposal regulations, and a warning symbol over data frequencies.

For European markets, a CE mark must be displayed - standing for Conformite Europeenne, which translates as European Conformity.

In addition, devices often carry various registration ID numbers.

Already taking up considerable space on smartphones, the trend to smaller gadgets like smartwatches makes the multitude of logos a problem for those packing a lot into small designs.

The bill calling for the E-Label Act read: "As devices become smaller, compliance with physical label requirements can become more difficult and costly.

"Many manufacturers and consumers of licensed devices in the United States would prefer to have the option to provide or receive important Commission labelling information digitally on the screen of the device."

'Common sense'

The E-Label Act, signed by President Barack Obama, will at least alleviate the need to display the logos required by US authorities.

A menu function within the device will display all relevant information instead.

However, companies will, for the time being at least, be required to display the logos of other regulators.

The new law has been welcome by several technology industry trade groups, including the Consumer Electronics Association.

"This is a common-sense approach for the digital age," it said.

"E-labelling would be cost-effective, in keeping with the consumer electronics industry's important ongoing environmental sustainability efforts and a beneficial and innovative use of today's technology."

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UK swells list of banned websites

27 November 2014 Last updated at 17:10 By Leo Kelion Technology desk editor

The High Court has ordered the biggest batch yet of piracy websites to be blocked.

The latest rulings cover 53 services in total and apply to the country's six leading net providers.

It brings the tally of blocked sites providing access to copyright-infringing content to 93 since the first restrictions began in 2012.

But one expert warned that workarounds and alternatives would probably mean users continued to break the law.

A spokesman for the Motion Picture Association - which had made 32 of the requests - said that several lists of sites had been processed at the same time, accounting for the large number involved.

They include:

• BitSoup
• IP Torrents
• Isohunt
• Sumotorrent
• Torrentdb
• Torrentfunk
• Torrentz
• Warez BB
• Rapid Moviez

"Securing court orders requiring ISPs [internet service providers] to block access to illegal websites is an accepted and legitimate measure to tackle online copyright infringement," said Chris Marcich, president of the MPA's European division.

"It carefully targets sites whose sole purpose is to make money off the back of other people's content while paying nothing back into the legitimate economy."

Twenty-one of the sites were a result of a court order prompted by the BPI, a music industry group.

Many of the services hosted links to pirated software, TV shows and ebooks in addition to films and songs.

The ISPs affected are Sky, BT, Everything Everywhere, TalkTalk, O2 and Virgin.

"BT will only block access to websites engaged in online copyright infringement when ordered by a court to do so," said the UK's biggest broadband provider, reflecting a stance shared by the other firms.

'Deters a few'

Many of the torrents used to provide downloads of the copied media are listed on multiple services, so taking a specific site offline does not necessarily prevent access to the files themselves.

However, it can make them harder to find, as well as reducing the number of advert views a blocked site received, which in turn hits the amount of income that goes to their administrators.

The UK's net providers first began blocking such sites in in May 2012 after the music industry requested the action against the Pirate Bay under the Copyright Designs and Patents Act.

"It deters a few people who can't access their usual sites, but most people will try to find ones that are not yet blocked or use VPNs [virtual private networks] or proxy sites to get the same content," said Ernesto Van Der Sar, editor of the Torrentfreak news site.

"It's making it harder - some people will decide it's just too much trouble and give up - but the overwhelming majority will still find ways to download material illegally."

The action has also spurred piracy services to become more innovative.

Recently one released code that adds film torrent links to the Motion Picture Association's own search engine, undermining its effort to inform the public where to purchase or rent legal copies.

"The Internet Services Providers' Association has long argued that web blocking is a relatively blunt tool," said the organisation's spokesman Craig Melson.

"The entertainment industry should continue to adapt its business models as consumption habits evolve with technology."

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Social media told to simplify terms

28 November 2014 Last updated at 00:04 By Rory Cellan-Jones Technology correspondent

Social networking firms including Facebook and Twitter are being told to make it clearer to members how they collect and use their data.

A report by the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee says the firms' terms and conditions are far too long and complex.

The MPs say users may not be aware of how their details can be used by websites and apps.

Any reasonable person would struggle with long privacy policies, they add.

The committee says reading such documents has been likened to "engaging with Shakespeare".

And it says that the rules have been designed for use in US courtrooms and to protect organisations in the event of legal action rather than to convey information.

The Chairman of the Committee, Andrew Miller MP, pointed to an experiment where Facebook had manipulated users' emotions by varying the stories they saw in their newsfeeds.

He said this "highlighted serious concerns about the extent to which ticking the 'terms and conditions' box can be said to constitute informed consent when it comes to the varied ways data is now being used by many websites and apps".

T&Cs updates

The report calls on the government to set standards which organisations can sign up to, promising to explain how they use personal data in clear, concise and simple terms.

Facebook recently unveiled updated terms and conditions policies that it claims are simpler and easier to read. It says it has "listened to people who have asked us to better explain how we get and use information".

Meanwhile Twitter has clarified its use of data in a blogpost, which explains that it collects data on the apps which users have on their phones in order to "deliver tailored content that you might be interested in".

This includes promoted tweets from advertisers. Twitter goes on to explain how users can turn off this form of data collection.

Relationship of trust

The Science Committee's report also says there is a problem with apps which request information which they do not obviously need, so as to provide their service.

It says companies should have a greater responsibility to explain why they need to collect information.

The government does not escape criticism in the report.

The Committee cites the NHS Care data programme, which was delayed after concerns about patient privacy.

This is described as an example of where the relationship of trust between data collector and customer failed to develop.

The report says the government must learn lessons and assess the impact on privacy of policies that collect, retain or process personal data.

Listen to Rory on Tech Tent on Fridays at 1630GMT on BBC World Service or catch the podcast.

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Emergency repairs for cracked phones

28 November 2014 Last updated at 12:58 By Jane Wakefield Technology reporter

A US firm is launching an emergency repair service for broken or damaged smartphones in the UK.

Increasingly services are springing up offering quick fixes for the annoyance of cracked screens or broken home buttons.

New entrant, iCracked, is hoping its model of sending technicians to customers, sometimes within an hour, will help it win market share.

But critics questioned what impact it would have.

The firm already operates in 250 US cities and as the name suggests, focuses mainly on iOS devices but also repairs some Samsung models.

The prices it will charge for fixing devices will vary but will average about £57, according to the firm.

"For most people, their phone is an extension of themselves, so when it breaks it can have a huge impact on the way they go about their everyday lives," said founder A J Forsythe.

The firm began life in 2010 at a US university where Mr Forsythe was a student.

"I started handing out flyers around campus and people would call me and I'd fix their device," he told the BBC.

Growth came fast and the firm now employs 1,000 technicians across the US.

Its UK launch will initially be focused in London with 30 technicians which it hopes to expand to 100 next year.

Customers can call out a fixer either via the iCracked website or its app. They then arrange a time for them to come to their home, office or local coffee shop to repair the device.

There is a burgeoning industry springing up around smartphone repairs. High street shops offer drop-in services where they can repair phones or tablets in a matter of hours, often more cheaply than iCracked.

'First-World problem'

Websites such as Quick Fix Mobile also offer repairs within 24 hours, with prices averaging £30 - £50 for a broken screen.

Marketing manager Sean Barber was dismissive of iCracked.

"I'm not sure why these big companies come from the US and make such big news. There are already plenty of others in the UK already offering this service."

He compared iCracked's launch with that of Uber, the lift-sharing service which has proved controversial to the taxi industry.

"I don't think iCracked is going to disrupt the market like Uber did. You still have to book an appointment with a technician and in that time, a customer could have come to a service like ours and had it fixed," he said.

Mr Forsythe admitted that some may question the need for an emergency service for iPhones, but said that demand was there.

"We're seeing hundreds of requests each day and we are expecting London to be one of our busiest cities.

"I wouldn't say that it is limited to a First World problem."

Apple did not wish to comment on the service but on its website it advises customers to contact their carrier or Apple to arrange service for damaged devices. Users can also take broken phones into stores.

There is also a growing trend for do-it-yourself services such as the Restart Project - which gives amateurs advice on how to extend the life of their gadgets.

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Websites creak on record Black Friday

28 November 2014 Last updated at 21:35

Shoppers fought their way to the tills at UK retailers as the American tradition of Black Friday pre-Christmas discounting took firm hold here.

Many retailers traded from midnight to maximise shopping times and put deals online overnight.

But websites including John Lewis, Argos and Tesco Direct struggled to handle the increased traffic.

And Currys customers were left drumming their fingers as they waited up to an hour in a virtual queue.

At least online shoppers had only their own feelings of frustration to deal with.

During the day police were called to a number of disturbances at London and Manchester supermarkets as shoppers fought over goods.

There were reports of people pinching, punching and kicking to get to the bargains on offer.

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Footage of shoppers scrambling to get their hands on merchandise

John Lewis, which offered website deals from midnight, said that between midnight and 6am, traffic to johnlewis.com was up 307% compared with Black Friday last year.

John Lewis said its fastest selling product was the Apple iPad mini, while Nutribullet food processors were selling at a rate of one every 30 seconds.

But at the start of the day about 7% of its customers were unable to access the site first time due to the level of demand.

'Astonishing demand'

Currys PC World said it had seen its "biggest ever start" to Black Friday, with web traffic increasing fivefold from last year.

"Overnight we saw astonishing demand online and implemented a pre-planned queuing system to most fairly support shoppers," said Currys PC World e-commerce director Jeremy Fennell.

At midday, the queue to access Currys' website was over half an hour long.

Overnight, Tesco Direct also experienced high demand, and was temporarily unavailable.

Shopping frenzy

As well as online, there was strong demand from shoppers in stores.

Asda said it sold more than 8,000 televisions in the first hour of trading, after its shops opened at 8am.

It had sold more than 1,000 BMX bikes by 9am, and had sold out of Microsoft XBox 360 250GB games consoles with Halo and Forza by the same time.

Asda's store in Wembley saw chaotic scenes as shoppers jostled for TVs.

An Asda spokesperson said: "We do not condone the behaviour of a very small number of people in our Wembley store this morning.

"Despite our extensive planning and additional security colleagues there was an isolated incident when the store opened. The sale has run smoothly in all our other 440 participating stores."

Business sense?

Later in the day online traffic jams had been resolved and shops were crowded but calm.

Despite the high volume of sales, some analysts cast doubt on the value of Black Friday promotions to retailers.

"All Black Friday is likely to do is bring forward business from December, reduce gross margins and undermine consumer's willingness to pay full-price again before Christmas," said retail analyst Nick Bubb.

"It is therefore good to see that Next are thinking long-term and preserving their pricing power," he added.

For decades Next has had two sales - one in the summer, and one at Christmas. The company is expecting a profit of between £750m and £790m for 2014, an increase of 8-14%.

US import

Some US websites also experienced difficulties on Friday, including the website for electronics retailer Best Buy.

In the US, the Friday after the Thanksgiving holiday - Black Friday - has been the biggest shopping day of the year since 2001.

Consumers in the UK have been becoming more aware of the US tradition, and UK retailers have been investing in Black Friday promotions.

The number of visits to UK shops on Black Friday only really started to pick up last year, according to research firm Experian Footfall, rising 5.6%.

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Barclays set to offer video banking

29 November 2014 Last updated at 20:49

Barclays Bank is set to offer a new one-to-one video service to some customers from 8 December - what it says is a first for UK banking.

Video banking will allow premier account customers to speak securely to bank staff at any time of the day.

The service will mean customers can communicate with employees from their mobile phone, tablet or laptop.

Steven Cooper, CEO of personal banking at Barclays, said it would be a "watershed moment" in UK banking.

He said it would mean banks "interact with customers completely on their terms, rather than ours".

The service will be rolled out to mortgage, business and wealth customers from early 2015.

It will then be made available to all retail customers.

Where possible, customers will be connected to a staff member they have already spoken to.

Mr Cooper added: "While many of our customers are increasingly using digital channels to complete routine transactions, for the important moments, you just can't beat face-to-face conversations, yet traditional branch opening hours don't always give customers that choice."

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China denies shutting foreign sites

30 October 2014 Last updated at 11:55

The director of China's internet regulator has admitted that some foreign websites cannot be visited but denied shutting them down.

Lu Wei, who heads the State Internet Information Office, also said his department was planning to strengthen measures to "govern the internet".

Twitter, Facebook and the New York Times are not accessible in China.

The BBC's English-language website was blocked earlier this month, joining the BBC Chinese site.

Mr Lu was responding to queries at a press conference on the forthcoming World Internet Conference due to be held in Zhejiang province.

'Specifying behaviour'

Asked by a reporter why sites such as Facebook had been shut down, Mr Lu replied: "I have never used any of these websites so I don't know if they have been shut down. But as for situations where some sites become inaccessible, I think it is possible.

"We have never shut down any foreign sites. Your website is on your home soil. How can I go over to your home and shut it down?"

Mr Lu however added that while China was "hospitable", it could also "choose who can come to our home and be our guest".

"I can't change who you are but I have the power to choose my friends," he said. "I wish that all who come to China will be our real friends."

Mr Lu added that his department's measures were "meant to protect China's national security and China's consumers".

"We are going to further strengthen our rule of law, our administration, governance and usage of the internet, and use the law to specify behaviour in the online space," he added.

China keeps a tight grip on the internet.

Posts about sensitive topics are routinely scrubbed from the popular micro-blogging service Weibo, as seen during the recent Hong Kong protests.

State media said last year that the government employed more than two million people to monitor web activity.

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Hungary scraps controversial web tax

31 October 2014 Last updated at 12:57

Hungary has decided to shelve a proposed tax on internet data traffic after mass protests against the plan.

"This tax in its current form cannot be introduced," Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday.

Large-scale protests began on Sunday, when demonstrators hurled old computer parts at the headquarters of Mr Orban's ruling Fidesz party.

The draft law - condemned by the EU - would levy a fee on each gigabyte of internet data transferred.

The protesters objected to the financial burden but also feared the move would restrict free expression and access to information.

The levy was set at 150 forints (£0.40; 0.50 euros; $0.60) per gigabyte of data traffic.

After thousands protested the government decided to cap the tax at 700 forints per month for individuals and 5,000 forints for companies. But that did not placate the crowds.

The BBC's Nick Thorpe in Budapest writes:

Viktor Orban does not often back down, but he has done so on this occasion for several reasons.

• He saw how unpopular the tax was. He managed with one stroke to do something which opposition leaders had tried and failed to do for five years: unify his opponents
• He took on the best-organised community in the country - internet users - and lost
• The government's communication methods failed again - as they have with almost every major decision since Fidesz came to power
• "We are not Communists. We don't go against the will of the people," he said - a sign that growing comparisons between Fidesz and the old Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party are hitting the mark.

What happens next? Mr Orban's decision to cancel the tax deprives his opponents of a valuable rallying cry. The big question for them will be whether they can use the momentum of two big rallies to create new forms of opposition to Fidesz.

They have proven that he can be defeated. Mr Orban has proven that he is more flexible than many analysts give him credit for.

'It should not be done'

Fidesz had said the special tax was needed to balance Hungary's budget in 2015.

Speaking on Kossuth public radio, Mr Orban said that "if the people not only dislike something but also consider it unreasonable then it should not be done...

"The tax code should be modified. This must be withdrawn, and we do not have to deal with this now."

He said a measure seen by the government as a technical issue had become "a fear-inducing vision".

There will be a national consultation on it in January, he said.

A European Commission spokesman, Ryan Heath, said the tax was "bad in principle" because it was a unilateral measure applied to a global phenomenon.

He said it was "part of a pattern... of actions that have limited freedoms or sought to take rents without achieving wider economic or social interest" in Hungary.

The Commission has previously criticised Mr Orban's government for constitutional proposals seen to be cementing the Fidesz party's political dominance.

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Millions hit in Drupal hack attack

31 October 2014 Last updated at 11:30

Up to 12 million websites may have been compromised by attackers who took advantage of a bug in the widely used Drupal software.

The sites use Drupal to manage web content and images, text and video.

Drupal has issued a security warning saying users who did not apply a patch for a recently discovered bug should "assume" they have been hacked.

It said automated attacks took advantage of the bug and can let attackers take control of a site.

'Shocking' statement

In its "highly critical" announcement, Drupal's security team said anyone who did not take action within seven hours of the bug being discovered on 15 October should "should proceed under the assumption" that their site was compromised.

Anyone who had not yet updated should do so immediately, it warned.

However, the team added, simply applying this update might not remove any back doors that attackers have managed to insert after they got access. Sites should begin investigations to see if attackers had got away with data, said the warning.

"Attackers may have copied all data out of your site and could use it maliciously," said the notice. "There may be no trace of the attack." It also provided a link to advice that would help sites recover from being compromised.

Mark Stockley, an analyst at security firm Sophos, said the warning was "shocking".

The bug in version 7 of the Drupal software put attackers in a privileged position, he wrote. Their access could be used to take control of a server or seed a site with malware to trap visitors, he said.

He estimated that up to 5.1% of the billion or so sites on the web use Drupal 7 to manage their content, meaning the number of sites needing patching could be as high as 12 million.

Drupal should no longer rely on users to apply patches, said Mr Stockley.

"Many site owners will never have received the announcement and many that did will have been asleep," he said. "What Drupal badly needs but doesn't have is an automatic updater that rolls out security updates by default."

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Pirate Bay founder gets jail term

30 October 2014 Last updated at 16:52

Pirate Bay co-founder Gottfrid Warg has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for hacking into computers and illegally downloading files.

He and a co-defendant were convicted of breaking into computers owned by technology services giant CSC by a Danish court.

They downloaded police and social security files from the computers.

Prosecutors said it was the "largest hacking case to date".

Soon after the sentence was announced, lawyers representing Mr Warg said they would launch an appeal.

Warg's accomplice was given a six-month jail sentence but walked free from the court, having served 17 months in pre-trial detention.

The initial hack attack took place in February 2012 and gave the pair access to the sensitive information, including social security numbers and police records, for about six months.

Defence lawyers said that, although the hack attacks were carried out using a computer owned by Warg, he was not the person that used it to steal the files.

Instead, they said, an unnamed hacker took over this machine and used it to carry out the attacks. Warg has declined to name this other hacker.

After considering evidence, the judge and jury in the case said it was "unlikely" that other people were responsible.

The court's decision is the third to go against Warg in the last five years.

He was deported from Cambodia in September 2013 to Sweden where he served a jail term for copyright theft because of his involvement with the Pirate Bay file-sharing site.

In a separate trial in 2013, Warg was sentenced to two years in a Swedish jail for hacking into a bank's computers. This sentence was reduced to one year on appeal.

In that trial, Warg and accomplice were found guilty of breaking into the computer systems of computer services firm Logica, which was doing work for Sweden's tax office and a bank. On that occasion his accomplice was put on probation.

In late November 2013 he was deported to Denmark to face charges in the CSC hacking cases.

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Microsoft unveils fitness band

30 October 2014 Last updated at 04:48

Microsoft has unveiled its first wearable device that can track a user's sleep and exercise as well as connect to a health service on smartphones.

The Microsoft Band will retail for $199 (£125) on the company's online store.

The device can operate for two days on a single charge and has 10 sensors that can track heart rate, calories, stress and even a person's sun exposure.

It marks Microsoft's latest push into digital health after its medical record initiative HealthVault in 2007.

"This is just the beginning of a multi-year vision for Microsoft in the health & fitness and wearables category," the company said in an emailed statement.

"We want to enter this space in a deliberate and measured fashion and as such are launching first in the United States."

Technology giants Apple, Samsung and Google have all released health initiatives and are looking to further develop the growing demand for wearable devices.

However, Microsoft's device is distinctive because it will work with all major mobile operating systems as well as connect to social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.

"Consumers now have an overwhelming choice of health-related cloud platforms to choose from," Ben Wood from CCS Insight told the BBC.

"They can be forgiven for being confused by the multitude of options. It's going to be a tough decision to choose whether to place their loyalty with Apple, Google or Microsoft given the immaturity of all three platforms.

Furthermore, once they choose a platform they risk locking themselves into a long term commitment if they want to keep a lifetime of health-related data in one place."

Analysis: Richard Taylor, BBC North American technology correspondent

Microsoft had long been rumoured to be working on a health-centric wearable - and its timing, ahead of the busy holiday season, is no surprise either.

More than anything, Microsoft cannot be seen to be left behind, especially when other tech giants like Google and Apple are entering the burgeoning health-tech arena.

The Band will compete in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

Smaller startups like FitBit and Jawbone initially kick-started the sector, and today other consumer electronics hardware giants (notably Samsung) already have some traction and offer an array of devices.

However, Microsoft appears to be offering something a little different.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

Microsoft cannot be seen to be left behind, especially when other tech giants like Google and Apple are entering the burgeoning health-tech arena"

End Quote

Unlike many of the more recent smartwatches which have recently come to market, the Band's dazzling array of sensors suggests a primary focus on fitness-tracking rather than attempting to be a multi-purpose smartphone accessory.

And whereas others work largely with one mobile operating system, the Band and its companion Health app are cross-platform.

Microsoft's cloud-based health service is also a key differentiator; harnessing Redmond's strength in cloud computing, it will offer users deep insights of data gathered from other fitness devices and rival smartphones too.

Critics will say this openness was somewhat inevitable, as its own Windows Phone has negligible market share.

But it could well prove a canny move, broadening its appeal not just to consumers but also to other hardware partners, who will be able to licence Microsoft's core sensor technology to make new gadgets of their own.

Leaked details

Details about the Microsoft Band were leaked on Wednesday after companion applications for Windows, Android and Mac phones appeared on its website ahead of an official announcement.

A Microsoft Band Sync app appeared in the Mac App Store and revealed what the product looks like.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

It's going to have to make a big marketing investment to raise awareness with US consumers"

End Quote Ben Wood CCS Insight

Some analysts believe Microsoft will face stiff competition in the wearables market because "the company has little or no brand".

"Microsoft is targeting the higher tiers of the fitness band market - it's going to have to make a big marketing investment to raise awareness with US consumers," Mr Wood said.

"The number of fitness bands that have been launched this year is overwhelming - personally I'm already testing two on each wrist and I'm rapidly running out of places to wear them. It must be a daunting prospect for consumers trying to decide which one to buy."

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Former Android boss leaves Google

31 October 2014 Last updated at 11:57

One of the creators of the world's most popular mobile operating system is to leave Google, it has been announced.

Andy Rubin, who co-founded the Android project, is to step down after around nine years at the technology giant.

Announcing Mr Rubin's departure, Google said he created "something truly remarkable" in Android.

Mr Rubin, who has also worked for Apple, reportedly plans to found an incubator for hardware start-up firms.

"I want to wish Andy all the best with what's next. With Android he created something truly remarkable - with a billion plus happy users. Thank you," said Google's chief executive and co-founder Larry Page.

Mr Rubin's departure comes after he stepped down from Google's Android division in March 2013 to begin working on the technology giant's robotics project.

He was behind the acquisition of seven robotics companies in a six-month spell as part of a reported attempt to develop a rival to Amazon's mooted drone delivery system. Google said that those claims were speculation.

When he left, Android came under the control of Sunder Pichai, a rising star at the company who worked with Google Chrome and Apps, and who has since picked up yet more responsibilities from Larry Page.

'Extraordinary progress'

Writing on Google's blog at the time, Mr Page wrote that when Andy Rubin he first launched Android in 2003, "most people thought he was nuts".

He said Mr Rubin's vision of "aligning standards around an open-source operating system" struck a chord with Google because it simplified the development process.

And he lauded its subsequent success, which he said was "pretty extraordinary progress for a decade's work".

The move comes amid a series of executive changes at Google, which the New York Times reported were designed to relieve Larry Page of the responsibility of running individual projects.

"These changes will free me up a bit so I can focus on the bigger picture with Sundar [Pichai] when it comes to our core products," it quoted a memo from Mr Page as saying.

The news of Mr Rubin's departure from Google came as Twitter confirmed that it had demoted its head of product, the former director of Google's Mobile Apps, Daniel Graf.

Mr Graf was replaced by Kevin Weil, who took up the role of vice president of product. The former retained his title but was given a narrower role.

He will be expected to work on geolocation features and other strategic initiatives, a source intimated.

His demotion came only six months after he was hired from Google and is the second time Twitter's head of product has been replaced in the year since the initial public offering.

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Big firms 'must condemn GamerGate'

29 October 2014 Last updated at 23:59 By Dave Lee Technology reporter, BBC News

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Zoe Quinn talks to Dave Lee about 'GamerGate'

Games publishers and industry figures must "stand-up and condemn" the movement referred to as "GamerGate", developer Zoe Quinn has told the BBC.

Ms Quinn has been at the centre of a furore which some argue is about ethics in journalism, but others consider to be a largely misogynist hate campaign.

The 27-year-old was forced to leave her home after receiving death threats.

She said publishers must "say GamerGate, and what it's been doing, is wrong".

"The fact that so much of the responsibility is offloaded to the people most harmed by it, when somebody in a much safer position than I am can stand up and condemn it... it's frustrating."

Intimate details

In a highly-emotional interview, Ms Quinn told the BBC how her life had "completely changed" after she had become embroiled in the row.

In August, an ex-boyfriend of Ms Quinn published a blog post, that ran to thousands of words, detailing intimate details about their relationship.

Continue reading the main story

I don't want to set an example that you can do this and get what you want."

End Quote Zoe Quinn Developer

The posts detailed that Ms Quinn had had a relationship with a journalist at prominent games site Kotaku - prompting accusations from others she had done so in an attempt to get positive reviews for her game, Depression Quest.

While the relationship happened, the review did not. The debate continued, however, and is now approaching its third month.

Ms Quinn, who has not returned home since the initial threats, had been speaking at the annual Gamecity event in Nottingham - despite a previous threat she would suffer a "crippling injury" the next time she went to a games conference.

"I used to go to games events and feel like I was going home," Ms Quinn said.

"Now it's just like... are any of the people I'm currently in the room with ones that said they wanted to beat me to death?

"It's terrifying. It sucks to not have any privacy. This has all been so public. It's more scrutiny than a politician faces - it's living with constant fear in a place I called home."

The ex-boyfriend, Eron Gjoni, has said he did not support the "abuse and harrasment" of Ms Quinn.

'Horrible misrepresentation'

Some firms - such as Ubisoft - have come forward and said they were strongly against "harassment, bullying and threats".

The Entertainment Software Association, a trade group for US developers, released a statement saying: "Threats of violence and harassment are wrong."

But Ms Quinn said she did not feel it went far enough.

"We need everybody to stand-up and condemn it - and not in this milquetoast 'harassment is bad you guys' way - because they don't think that what they're doing is harassment."

She added: "When people that are prominent in the industry can stand up and say 'I'm part of games, I love games, this hate mob doesn't speak for me, this is not welcome in games', it has the two-fold effect of making it less damaging to those that this can hurt, and it does something repair this horrible misrepresentation of this medium that so many of us love.

"Condemning them and say they do not speak for games - it's so fundamental, otherwise this is going to keep happening."

'Pure toxicity'

Analysis of discussion about GamerGate has indicated that misogynist abuse - and vitriolic messages in general - is not limited to either "side" of the argument.

Journalist Allum Bokhari, a writer for TechCrunch, has said there was credible evidence that at least one well-known trolling group was "working to provoke both sides against each other".

Meanwhile, some people previously offering highly vocal support of GamerGate have backed off.

"Through a snowball effect of misinformation, trolling, and ideological/emotional bias on both sides, the issue is quickly descending into a quagmire attracting trolls, extremists, and opportunists needlessly stirring the pot of controversy," said one prominent figure who backed GamerGate, but wished to remain anonymous in this article.

"The harassment is ultimately an unfortunate variable affecting both sides of this situation, and it distresses me to see anyone live in fear.

"Dismissing GamerGate as a misogynist hate movement is not going to make it go away, because it just simply is not that - it's a consumer boycott.

"Until we act like adults and come together to have a conversation on the ethics of games journalism, it's only going to get worse and worse - that's why I'm now choosing to distance myself from the issue."

Ms Quinn herself suggested that the gaming ethics argument could progress - but only if it distanced itself fully from GamerGate tag.

"If you have any care for this industry, if you have any care for the future of games, you need to leave.

"If you have actual concerns, start over without [GamerGate]. If your concerns can't exist on their own, if they have to be supported off the backs of ruining lives, then how legitimate are your concerns?"

'Maybe they'll be back'

As well as Ms Quinn, other women in the games industry have had to leave home due to threats to their safety, including Brianna Wu, a developer in Boston, and Anita Sarkeesian, a feminist writer and commentator.

Ms Sarkeesian had published a series of YouTube videos criticising the depiction of women in many popular games. Some felt it was applying a level of political correctness not needed in gaming.

Ms Quinn said it was important to keep talking about the issue openly.

"I don't want to set an example that you can do this and get what you want.

"I have a folder on my desktop called 'those who left' - every time somebody sends me a message saying 'hey, I really admire your strength, but it's not worth it for me, I'm leaving', I save these.

"I'm going to hopefully go back through it in a few years, and maybe they'll be back."

As for whether she would be able to continue her own career, she said: "I love games more than they hate me."

Follow Dave Lee on Twitter @DaveLeeBBC

An extended interview with Zoe Quinn will be published later on Thursday.

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WW2 technology 'Plan B' for GPS

31 October 2014 Last updated at 01:10 By Rebecca Morelle Science Correspondent, BBC News

Technology developed during World War Two is to be used as a back-up for GPS.

The General Lighthouse Authorities (GLA) have announced that they have installed a system called eLoran in seven ports across Britain.

The GLA say many critical instruments on ships use Global Navigation Satellite Systems, and if they fail the consequences could be disastrous.

The new system, which is ground rather than satellite-based, is designed to be used in the event of a GPS failure.

"All vessels that sail today are massively dependent on GPS, " Martin Bransby, research and radio navigation manager for the General Lighthouse Authorities of the UK and Ireland, told the BBC's technology programme Click.

"It is their primary means of navigation - and a massive number of instruments rely on it too.

"If you don't have it, you are dead in the water."

Testing for eLoran has taken place in Felixstowe, the busiest container port in the UK.

Each year, three million containers are brought in on some of the biggest ships in the world.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

A little bit of power from a jammer on the frequency used by GPS close to your receiver can deafen it"

End Quote Prof David Last Royal Institute of Navigation

Safely manoeuvring these vessels in this packed waterway is vital, and currently the only way to do this is with the help of GPS.

Onboard the Galatea, a ship that is 80m (260ft) long, the GLA have been finding out what happens if the satellite system goes wrong.

Martin Bransby demonstrates a GPS failure by pulling the plug on the ship's receiver.

Within a few seconds, alarms start to sound on the bridge as one by one the instruments stop working.

"This is the gyrocompass - it steers the ship - you can see it starting to fail," says Mr Bransby.

"If we walk over here, this is the radar, and that's not working either. This is the dynamic positioning: it holds the ship's position, that's not working.

"The electronic chart display becomes unusable. Even the ship's clock stops working."

In a series of tests, the GLA have found that almost every bit of kit on the boat uses GPS - even the onboard satellite entertainment system.

Mr Bransby says: "You can imagine standing watch on this ship, it's the middle of the night, it's dark, it's foggy, you are in the English Channel, and then this happens.

"What do you do? You're in a right mess, basically."

Losing GPS is not a just theoretical problem.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

The radio frequencies which eLoran transmits are completely different from those of GPS"

End Quote Prof David Last Royal Institute of Navigation

The system works using a fleet of satellites orbiting high above the Earth, but the signal they transmit is weak and can be easily interfered with.

Other sat-nav systems - such as Galileo in Europe and Glonass in Russia - have the same vulnerabilities, says Prof David Last from the Royal Institute of Navigation.

"A little bit of power from a jammer on the frequency used by GPS close to your receiver can deafen it, and it won't be able to hear the GPS signals," he says.

"For example, jamming is a real issue in Korea. There have now been three occasions when the North Koreans have transmitted high-powered jamming in South Korea."

The Sun too can knock satellite systems offline, he adds.

"It starts to transmit radio noise during solar storms, so intense that it either makes GPS positions wobble about or causes GPS to be lost across the entire sunlit side of the Earth."

Until now, there has been no "Plan B" if GPS goes wrong, but the GLA says eLoran will be an important tool.

The technology was developed during World War Two.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

There is an algorithm that decides to swap over to eLoran and it does that seamlessly"

End Quote Martin Bransby GLA

The Long Range Navigation system (Loran) was the brainchild of US scientists and was used to guide US Navy warships as battles raged in the Pacific.

After the war ended, it was updated and renamed Loran-C, and adopted by mariners around the world - until GPS took over.

Now though, rebranded as eLoran, its infrastructure has been upgraded to make it more accurate and it is making a comeback.

While GPS transmitters are based in space, eLoran's are based on the ground.

Radio stations transmit long-range radio waves. They use the same method as GPS to pinpoint position, but there are crucial differences.

Professor Last says: "The neat thing is this: the radio frequencies which eLoran transmits are completely different from those of GPS.

"The power levels, instead of being very weak, are very strong; the propagation of the radio signals is very different."

He adds: "Everything that matters is very different (from GPS) so there is no common mode of failure. The result you get is a plug-and-play replacement for GPS."

The General Lighthouse Authorities have finished installing eLoran in seven ports along the east coast of Britain, completing the first phase of their roll out. It is now in place in Dover, Sheerness, Harwich and Felixstowe, Middleborough, Leith, Humber and Aberdeen.

Onboard the Galatea, Martin Bransby demonstrates how a dual e-Loran and GPS receiver works.

He says: "What happens inside this box is when we see some interference or jamming or a satellite failure, there is an algorithm that decides to swap over to eLoran. And it does that seamlessly."

For now, eLoran is being tested for shipping, but it could also play a role on land for the vast array of systems that use GPS.

Prof Last says a back-up is long overdue.

"Most people think of GPS as the system that runs their car sat-nav and tells their smartphone where it is," he tells the BBC's Click.

"But there is probably no area of industry, of commerce, or telecoms, that isn't now dependent on GPS. And if we lose GPS we lose them all."

But the system may never go global.

The US Coast Guard is busy decommissioning the existing eLoran infrastructure. And in Europe, the governments of Norway and France have said they will cease operations next year.

Commercial companies may take up the reins, but without support from some of the biggest shipping nations, the eLoran safety net may not be around to rescue everyone.

Find out more on the Click website. If you are in the UK you can watch the whole programme on BBC iPlayer.

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Speed boost for 4G in some cities

30 October 2014 Last updated at 13:56

Browsing speeds on some 4G handsets in some UK cities are set to accelerate as two UK operators switch on an improved version of the mobile technology.

Called 4G+ by EE and 4.5G by Vodafone, the technology can offer data rates of 150 megabits per second (Mbps).

In practice, those signing up to use the service should see speeds of up to 90 Mbps - much faster than standard 4G.

However, the technology is only usable on two handsets currently available in the UK.

'Slow rollout'

EE announced that its 4G+ service should now be available in 150 sites across central London. It has been testing the technology in the Tech City area of the capital since late 2013.

The whole of EE's 4G London network should be upgraded for 4G+ by June 2015, it said. By then upgrades to its network in Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester will also be under way.

Currently, EE offers only two handsets - Samsung's Galaxy Alpha and Note 4 - that can take advantage of the higher speeds available with 4G+.

Vodafone's rollout of the improved 4G technology began on 15 October in three cities - London, Manchester and Birmingham. It said other cities would be added later this year and throughout 2015.

Although only owners of phones that can use the upgraded 4G will get the headline speeds, other 4G customers should see average browsing speeds improve because the technology involves improving a network's data-handling capacity.

Ernest Doku, mobile expert at USwitch said: "We may eventually see the same tech deliver speeds faster than fixed line broadband in the UK, which could be a life-changing concept for those people stranded by a painfully slow rural rollout."

The upgrade comes soon after research into the UK coverage offered by mobile networks found it was often poor. The research by Global Wireless Solutions said many busy commuter rail routes were "mobile dead zones".

It said EE, Vodafone and O2 all heavily relied on their 2G networks to cover the data demands of commuters.

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Drones buzz French nuclear plants

30 October 2014 Last updated at 15:45

An investigation has been launched after France's state-owned EDF power company said unidentified drones had flown over seven of its nuclear plants.

The first unmanned aircraft was spotted on 5 October and there had been further sightings up to 20 October, EDF said.

Who is behind the drones is unclear but pressure group Greenpeace has denied any involvement.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve says measures are being taken to "neutralise" the drones.

Under French law, no aircraft is allowed to enter a 5km-wide (three-mile) zone around a nuclear plant, nor fly below 1,000m (3,300ft) there.

The air force is responsible for the protection of all such sites.

France is 75% reliant on nuclear power for its electricity and has 58 reactors operated by EDF at 19 sites.

According to the company, the first drone flew over its Creys-Malville plant at Isere in south-east France, 50km (31 miles) east of Lyon.

EDF says other incidents took place at

• Bugey in the southeast
• Blayais in the south-west
• Cattenom and Chooz in the north-east
• Gravelines in the north
• Nogent-sur-Seine, the closest plant to Paris

Most of the flights took place between 13 and 20 October and either at night or early in the morning, the company says.

'No threat'

Greenpeace said a drone had also flown over the CEA nuclear research institute in Paris and accused EDF of minimising the significance of the incidents. Le Figaro website reported that drones had flown over several other CEA sites as well.

Air force spokesman Col Jean-Pascal Breton said all the drones involved were small-sized and commercially available and because of their size they were not considered a threat.

Mr Cazeneuve said a judicial inquiry was under way and measures were being taken to "know what these drones are and neutralise them".

Suspicion had initially fallen on Greenpeace as a paraglider from the activist group flew over the Bugey plant in 2012. Last month, 55 Greenpeace activists were given suspended sentences for breaking into the nuclear power station at Fessenheim near the German border.

But the group was adamant that it was always very open with its activities and had nothing to do with the drones.

"The overflights in question took place sometimes on the same day at four sites which are far apart from each other," Greenpeace said in a statement. "For example at Bugey, Gravelines, Chooz and Nogent-sur-Seine on 19 October - which proves it's a large-scale operation."

EDF said there had been no implications for the "security or the functioning" of the plants and the company had "no fear" of the drones as they were unlikely to cause any damage.

President Francois Hollande has pledged to reduce the number of French reactors by 2025, bringing France's reliance on nuclear energy down from 75% to 50%.

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