Tech Briefs

Sex on first date likelier among Android users

According to a survey done by Match.com, users of phones with the Android operating system are more likely to have sex on a first date than iPhone or Blackberry users. 62 per cent of Android users admitted to having had sex on a first date while only 57 per cent of iPhone users admitted to it, and 48 per sent of BlackBerry users.

Android users are also the most likely to admitting to a one night stand at approximately 55 per cent of respondents. Data for iPhone and Blackberry user's one-night-stand tendencies weren't disclosed.

If you are looking for that office romance, the survey showed that approximately 25 per cent of iPhone users admitted to having dated someone in the office. The report also showed that iPhone users are most likely to call the day after a date, with Android and BlackBerry users more likely to wait two or three days to follow-up.

BlackBerry users were the most likely to use liquid courage on a date, with 72 per cent of respondents admitting to drinking. Also, they were the most likely to report falling in love at first sight.

Rogers to phase out throttling by December 2012

After a recent charge laid by the CRTC on Rogers for throttling user's Internet speeds, Rogers has decided to phase out all throttling by the end of 2012. Approximately half of all customers will have their connections unthrottled by June 2012, with the remainder getting full access by December 2012.

The CRTC laid the charge against Rogers after finding evidence of their throttling of time sensitive Internet uses such as online gaming. The big Internet providers have been arguing that it was in the best interest of the consumer that access be throttled, especially regarding P2P connections. The OpenMedia foundation has long been fighting for greater access to the Internet, and although having had won extra rights for Canadians, have seen little change until now.

Senior Vice-President of Regulatory Affairs, Kenneth Engelhart, said the delay to restore full access is due to necessary "technology upgrades and ongoing investments in network capacity" according to an article on cbc.ca.

Bell will also stop throttling their connection beginning March 1. This comes after great opposition from Canadian Internet users regarding an open and unthrottled Internet. Canadians still pay one of the highest rates in the World for Internet access.

FBI E-mails and phone calls hacked by Anonymous

Anonymous has found a way into some FBI E-mail accounts and were able to obtain a copy of a call between FBI agents and the Scotland Yard – another name for the British police force's headquarters. Since then, Anonymous has leaked E-mails from the FBI and the recorded phone call on the Internet. The 16 minute phone call was regarding Internet hackers such as Anonymous and LulzSec.

Since then, the hacker group has also leaked a huge cache of E-mails regarding the Haditha Massacre – where 24 Iraqi civilians were killed by American forces. Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich led the group of marines which were responsible for those events. These E-mails were obtained from a law firm representing Wuterich, who recently was given a plea deal where he would only be demoted to private rank.

During that same week, members of Anonymous also took down a large Brazilian bank Web site. They also posted a two minute video regarding the poor austerity measures included in the EU and IMF's bailout of the Greek economy on the country's Justice Ministry Web site. They aimed to encourage the public to not allow the bailout which they believe would enslave them to other economies.

The 16 minute call can be heard on YouTube at bit.ly/xm3TxP

Timeline: Calling all Facebook users

Word is out that over the next few weeks, Facebook users will gradually be converted over to the Timeline profile, regardless of their preference.

Facebook Timeline, believed to be a creative new design modelled in the form of online scrap-booking, has created quite a deal of controversy for users who reject the idea and wish to remain using the original profile page style.

A key factor in user's unwillingness to make the alteration is that Timeline allows others on the network easier access to view previously hidden photos and posts made over the years.

Facebook engineer Paul McDonald defended it by stating in a recent blog post that users will be allotted seven days to preview and edit what's currently there. He followed by proposing that user's should take this opportunity to dispose of information they no longer want to appear.

We're still kept in the dark as to an exact date when the switch is expected to take place, but we can certainly be expecting to say farewell to the previous look of individual Facebook pages.

RIM: And then there was one

BGR, an Internet-based column, has reported that Research in Motion (RIM) has decided to scrap two purposed models — the Blackberry Colt and the Blackberry Milan — leaving the Blackberry London as the sole QNX-based device in the works at RIM.

This new design, which recently surfaced sports a sleek black exterior, is entirely touchscreen, and is said to be "changing the game" for RIM. This new insight has arose many suspicions about RIM taking such a huge risk with just the one design, as their launch of OS will validate later this year. It's said that the design of the London will be slightly different to that which leaked a couple months back. The London will contain features like a significant shift in its user interface and will be the first ever to run the new Blackberry10 operating system.

Google changes privacy policy leaving many concerned