Google forces increased security

Google is introducing mandatory SSL encryption for connecting to its service application interfaces in order to increase security for end users.

Google demands strict SSL requirements for accession to the api-service from fall 2011. Currently Google uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protection for several of its service-based applications, such as Google Docs and Gmail. This will now be expanded to include application interfaces (APIs) for developers. From September 15, 2011 obliges the api-connections to the company's Google Documents List API, Google Spreadsheets API and Google Sites API uses SSL.

The idea of the encryption requirement is to increase the safety of traffic going between Google's services and end user clients and software to prevent content from being intercepted by unauthorized parties.

Google also announced that developers who use its existing OAuth authentication api will be able to continue for the https addresses. For end-users of Google's services will change to be minimal and are generally only visible in the form of URLs that begin with https instead of http. The addition of "s" indicates that the traffic is protected encryption, reducing the risk of so-called man-in-the-middle attacks, based on the interception of data traffic.

Recently, several other Web services started deploying ssl as basic protection. Last year, Microsoft's Hotmail email service supports this, while also rolls up the protection of its users. For micro-bloggers who rely on Twitter, ssl is optional but recommended.

Color e-Books with Color Book 1058

Spanish e-book reader Color Book is small, cheap and convenient. It has color display and can also handle photos, audio. Almost all e-book readers have monochrome displays. The electronic ink used in such as Kindle and Iriver Story unable to show colors. Spanish Energy Sistem has gone around this problem by letting a Color Book using an ordinary LCD screen.

The advantage of course is that it also can display comics, photos and film - and because the screen lights up, you can also read in the dark. Unfortunately the battery life might suffer. While a typical e-book readers has enough for twenty books on a single charge, Color Book's batteries will run out sooner.

Because it does not have WiFi support, you must also pair it with your computer using a cable to transfer the books. Compared with tablets and smart phones this feels awkward, but it does not cause any major problems to read e-books.

Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 9 in March

Microsoft has long worked on Internet Explorer 9 and is now ready to launch the official version.It's at the show South by Southwest, SXSW, where Microsoft will unveil the official version of Internet Explorer 9. It has been working with the new browser for about a year and it has also gone to download a release candidate. The 14th March is the date set for the suitable candidate.

What's New in Internet Explorer 9, including a better overview of the downloaded files, improved tabbed browsing, support for HTML 5 and hardware acceleration. The latter is to make it faster to see such movies or play games through the browser window.

Microsoft themselves say that Internet Explorer 9 to offer a "more beautiful web", and it seems that some changes also occurred with the interface. On March 14 you should then be able to download the new version officially.