Panda Security Releases Free Cloud Antivirus Published on Security |

Offering a free sample of your security software is one way to increase public awareness and, eventually, sales, so Panda Security jumped on the wagon and unveiled the beta version of Panda Cloud Antivirus.

The software is based on the information it automatically gathers from users and then sends it back to them from Panda labs as protective signatures. According to Panda, the software will grow in strength as more and more users try it out, since the volume of information will be growing as well.

On the other hand, stressed out the company, this “cloud” approach proves to be much less demanding for the users’ computers, while, in the mean time, being able to protect against malware 100 times faster than traditional solutions.

A recent survey conducted by Panda unveiled that 24% of users with up-to-date signature-based antivirus software were infected with malware. The cloud-based approach, the company claimed, can reduce the rate of infection to only 4%.

Panda Security plans to follows a business model that seems to be working very well for AVG. The basic service will be offered for free but additional, more complex services will be available only on a fee-based scenario.

Nintendo Wii Sales Record: 2 Million In November Published on Top Stories |

Nintendo’s Wii console set a new sales record in the US: over two million units. A really high figure for a non-December month.

Worldwide sales for Wii this November were of 3.6 million, according to data from NPD Group. The console was released in November 2006 and its total sales amount to an impressive 15.4 million only in the United States.

In the mean time, Nintendo’s handheld DS console doesn’t appear to be selling too bad either. The Nintendo DS system was the runner-up in November’s best seller content, with over 1.56 million sold. On the other hand, the DS surpasses the Wii in terms of total sales in the US: 24.6 since its release in November 2004.

"Nintendo's record-breaking sales demonstrate that consumers are looking for the best value not only among video games, but also among all entertainment options," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Shoppers are looking for gifts that can be enjoyed by the whole family, and Nintendo provides an incomparable range of experiences that gets the whole family involved."

Nintendo was also proud to point out that four games made for its systems got in the top U.S. best-sellers for November: Wii Play (3), Wii Fit (4), Mario Kart (5) and Wii (9)

The Android Alliance Attracts New Members Published on Telecom |

Android seems to be growing in popularity, as 14 more companies decided to join the Open Handset Alliance (OHA).

OHA's latest batch of new members includes the following names: AKM Semiconductor Inc., ARM, ASUSTek Computer Inc., Atheros Communications, Borqs, Ericsson, Garmin International Inc., Huawei Technologies, Omron Software Co. Ltd, Softbank Mobile Corporation, Sony Ericsson, Teleca AB, Toshiba Corporation and Vodafone.

“New members will either deploy compatible Android devices, contribute significant code to the Android Open Source Project, or support the ecosystem through products and services that will accelerate the availability of Android-based devices. With these commitments, the Open Handset Alliance will continue to drive greater and faster innovation for the benefit of mobile users and everyone in the industry,” the OHA said in a statement.

Mobile makers joining the group promised that devices designed for the Android OS are part of their plans. Asus and Sony Ericsson mentioned that such devices were already in development in their labs, but refrained from saying anything about a release schedule.