Spy: the CIA would pay 10 million per year to AT & T

Beyond the transmission of information on judicial order to the NSA, AT & T have entered into a voluntary agreement with the CIA that has access to phone records of suspected terrorists.

The CIA pays more than $ 10 million annually to the telephone operator AT & T to provide it for phone records of people suspected of terrorist ties, reported Thursday the New York Times .

If the NSA , the U.S. agency responsible for intercepting communications, ensures the forced cooperation of American operators through court injunctions, the collaboration between the CIA and AT & T settled on the basis of a voluntary contract and paid says the daily. The agency provides information to the operator of the telephone numbers of suspected terrorists overseas. AT & T then searches its huge database with which these people were in phone contact, including the United States, and provides metadata (number called, length of call) to the CIA.

The agency is responsible for foreign intelligence and law prohibiting him from conducting business in the U.S., where phone numbers are in the United States, AT & T does not disclose the identity of the owner of the number , she hides many figures, says the daily.

"When a government entity requests information from us, we ensure that the request and our response is appropriate and completely legal," he told AFP Mark Siegel, a spokesman for the operator who does not " comment on matters of national security. "

Without confirming the existence of this program, Todd Ebitz, a spokesman for the CIA, assured that it was not engaged in surveillance of American citizens. "The CIA protects the country and respects the rights to privacy of Americans by ensuring that its intelligence gathering activities are focused on foreign intelligence and espionage against", has he told AFP .

This program seems to duplicate that of the NSA to collect phone metadata with operators in the fight against terrorism. Since the revelations of his old Edward Snowden consultant, she faced strong criticism and is accused of violating the privacy of Americans.

Conducting a similar program by the CIA could be explained by the need for an agency with agents in the field of rapid information, according to the Times , citing a senior intelligence official. "The CIA often meets this need for immediate action by developing its own capacity," the official said.

Read More

Google Glass: Playing music now - the new earrings

Google Glass is expected to reach market maturity in the coming year and behind the scenes or the still very exclusive test program, work is in full swing. Thus, the beta phase may be extended, the developers have not only an open waiting list for willing test candidates (unfortunately still U.S. only), but also steadily expanded the functional framework of Glass. Currently there is also to music. Several blogs had reported yesterday that the latest firmware update (XE11) is the possibility of the Google Music app manually Glass installed and by voice command " Glass OK, listen to ... "call a song, artist or album.Today the matching official announcement came. Google Music and all known features such as the streaming service All Access will be immediately available. Another new feature is therefore the song recognition - you simply ask the smart glasses " What song is this , "Glass and listens nearby by playing music. If successful, then there is song, artist and album art on the screen. So that the whole can also be used properly and generates a value for the potential buyer, praises Google some ear plugs as original equipment. This will (obviously) be specifically geared to the comfort combined with glass and interchangeable caps in five colors including cost around $ 85th Interestingly, however, it will be definitely trying out music through the built-in vibration technology.

Read More

Nissan Glider Blade: Silver Arrow with electric drive

While electric cars are often alone efficient and environmentally friendly, and otherwise radiate little coolness and dynamics, shows a prototype of Nissan , such as e-mobility could be hip. The Blade Glider Concept provides a glimpse of an extremely portable and highly efficient electric vehicle in the arrow-shaped design. Thanks to its shape and bonds from the glider technology of Nissan Blade Glider provides a new sense of movement.

Nissan Glider Blade: Sporty design and double doors (Photo: Nissan)

Aerodynamic like a glider

The narrow track width front and rear track width of the scooter reduce drag and increase downforce at the same time. The resulting optimized maneuverability and excellent roadholding allow high cornering speeds and excellent acceleration values ​​- yet the blade Glider is economical.

Futuristic cockpit Nissan Blade Glider (Photo: Nissan)

Zero emissions

With the blade Glider, the Japanese manufacturer wants to underline its commitment to zero-emission mobility and is similar to smart, what as mart electric with Longboard presented, open to a young audience. The aligned seats in a triangular shape with a central driver's seat enhance the feeling of sliding and convey all three occupants experience similar to that of a free gliding. The vehicle is powered by hub motors at the two rear wheels.

Video: Nissan Blade Glider

Read More

Sony: New evidence on Virtual Reality Headset

Sony tinkering his own Oculus Rift? According to media reports, a virtual reality headset for the Playstation 4 in 2014 already appears.

Virtual reality glasses are the new trend. The currently best known VR helmet - the Oculus Rift - enthusiastic (vertigo) players in the world. Is now even a publication of the cyber glasses for Android systems planned. For the Playstation 4, the Oculus Rift will probably find no use. Sony apparently polishes on its own virtual-reality goggles. media reports , according to the Japanese IT Group presents as early as next year, an in-house cyber goggles. But this seems to depend on protecting Help: PlayStation Eye camera is a prerequisite for the virtual reality headset. It will be released in autumn 2014. Apparently, Sony wanted to present the VR goggles already in the Gamescom 2013, but desisted because you did not want to distract from the essentials potential buyers: buying the console itself, the Playstation 4 will appear on 29 November 2013. 

Read More

Football Manager 14: foul by Electronic Arts!

The "Football Manager 14" is on everyone's lips - to the chagrin of publisher Electronic Arts.

More than ten years was the "Football Manager" the favorite of football fans with PC. But when "FM 14" Everything is different: the simulation is in forums and social networks in the pillory. Rip off is the accusation. Especially looking at the website of retailer Amazon shipping is devastating: On average, customers awarded one and a half stars out of five, 120 of 138 reviewers reviewing times with a star (as of November 11, 2013).

Savings program

How did it happen? Previously developer Bright Future was known to make his game in close cooperation with the customer - the community always acted as a think tank. This is not so in the 14 version. The reason: There is no further development. The " Football Manager 14 "is almost exclusively a database update. The fall of the longtime fans, of course, immediately: "Stay away from the game: only new database updates - in essence still FM13," warns users about DhPointarts on YouTube. He is one of many.

After sustained criticism, publisher Electronic Arts was forced to react. In a press release EA clarifies: "The" Football Manager 14 "includes - unlike the previous versions - no fundamentally new features, but primarily an update of the extensive database. This has been communicated appropriately, both to the press, on the product packaging and in the trade as well as on the official website. "

Missing licenses

That is correct, only with the buyers which is obviously not arrived. And they have more negatives: While the licenses are current, but not as extensive as in the "Football Manager 13". So missing the Second Division and the regional leagues in Germany. For gamers who deal intensively with the matter does not fall under the small stuff. HSV-Shooting Star Hakan Calhanoglu came about from the Third Division to the north of KSC Club. A great coup. Such transfers are still possible, but it is without the original kicker. It is not an oversight. EA confirms: "EA SPORTS has the license agreement for the Second Division and the regional leagues with the German Football Association (DFB) is not extended."

The Schrumpfkur also affects other parts of the program. The Live Season feature used in previous versions of the actual operating results, scorers, injuries and player notes in the database. Thus it was possible to own the club to take over exactly in real condition. In "Football Manager 14" function is canceled.

What is it worth?

This applies to the annoyance of the buyer not for the bugs. For a smooth experience on Windows 8, the "Football Manager 14" requires the compatibility mode. Savoury: The problem know many amateur Manager from the predecessor. Therefore, many players the price / performance ratio question. "Overall, maybe worth five euros - if ever," Amazon customer Janosch writes clearly with a dose of anger inside "These are the best football manager for the browser The recommended retail price is 39 euros. Although this is cheaper than the "Football Manager" in the past, but how much money is worth a game that consists mainly of upgraded licenses? EA sees the "FM 14" an offer that "the fans and especially the newcomers [allows] to play a high-quality and current product for another year." 

The Causa "Football Manager 14" is so much more than the question of whether Electronic Arts has everything communicating properly. A loss of image for the series is apparently occurred.And that is a big question mark over the future. What is next? "Currently we can take this No further statements," says EA. Understandable, but optimism sounds different.

Currently, almost no alternative

Similarly nebulous, the reasons which led to the decision to have "FM 14" to publish as an update.Speculated the community: the sale of Bright Future Travian Games Seemed to negative impact on the cooperation? If the sales figures anymore? On demand from COMPUTER GAMES Electronic Arts BLD referred these theories to the realm of fables. However, another explanation is not supplied.

For many football fans posed by current development of "FM" but a practical problem: where are the alternatives? A similar product is available on the German market that is simply not. Sega may not distribute the highly regarded abroad "Football Manager" series in this country. Debt is an exclusive licensing deal between Electronic Arts and the German Football League (DFL). It only remained to many online manager like "communion", "hat trick" and "Top Eleven" are left to dodge. Would be desirable, however, that Bright Future reconciled with the community and the "FM" is back to its former strength.

Read More

Internet Explorer 11 released in final version of Windows 7

The final version of Internet Explorer 11 has finally arrived. After a Developer Preview released in July, followed by a Release Preview in September, the browser updates definitive edition of Windows 7. This version appears almost identical to that found on machines running Windows 8.1, except for the immersive mode (Metro), which is available only in the latest edition of the OS. Here is a brief summary of the possibilities of this new version, according to Microsoft's blog :

• 30% faster
• performance improvement JavaScript
• support ECMAScript 6 , a programming language whose sixth version is not yet finalized.
  
• dedicated to improving the tools developers (debugging, 3D hardware acceleration, support for HTML5 video without plugin).

The 10 edition of the browser being out there just a year , the pace of updates is now much more sustained. Previously, you had to settle for an update every three years, which coincided with the release of a new version of Windows. Therefore, Microsoft does not intend to drop the browser, and does not want to be outdone by Mozilla and Google . The company is also promoting a variety of ways. The latter date is the short video below, largely inspired by manga. Microsoft would have found it in this character Inori Aizawa, a new icon to represent its browser more fun.

Read More

Maserati Bora revisited by designer

And if the Maserati Bora reborn from its ashes? A Russian car designer has made up his mind to revisit one of the iconic models of the Italian manufacturer. Here Bora concept, the 2013 version of the two-seater sports coupe and the firm, powered by a V8 engine mounted at the rear.

The concept has some similarities with the model of the 70s, particularly at the tapered back pavilion. Another nod to the original Bora refers to the glass placed above the engine compartment.However, this futuristic version of the GT coupe sports a supercar and look very slender. The car also inherited traits typical of the brand with its wheel models, the grille and vents of vents on the wings. Everything is of course, stamped with the claw trident.

Read More