Kuwait Info.

Top 5 Most Anticipated Games of 2012

March 2nd, 2012

So, 2012 has already begun and the thrill of games like, Batman – Arkham City, Assassin’s Creed – Revelations, Need for Speed – The Run has started to fade away.

Gamers across the globe have already started to discuss about the titles which will released soon or are under development. So here is my list of Top 5 Titles which you should look forward to -

5) Tomb Raider

No.5 on my list is Tomb Raider, after last two not so successful outing this title give the story a reboot. The Franchise is being rebooted to show the origins of Lara Croft, about how she became the independent woman, what transformed her? You will 21-year-old Lara Croft fighting for survival as she gets washed ashore on an island off the coast of Japan. With a heavy emphasis on combat, a sprawling universe and lot of quick time events make you wonder will the bad-ass girl of gaming be back for good.

4) Mass Effect 3

Biowareâ ™s sci-fi action RPG comes to number 4 on my list. Since 2007 this game has created a cult following and with Mass Effect3 said to be pulling in 1000 variables from chapter 2 and chapter 1 in order to give players personalized experience of chapter 3, I am sure Commander Shepard and his motley crew will keep your mind blown during the play. I am personally looking forward to visiting Earth for the first time and seeing how Bioware has refined and improved the combat system over previous games. All in all this games is a pure value for money with lengthy campaigns and brilliant multiplayer.

3) Diablo III

Yes the stuff of you boyish fantasy, the game we all debated. Blizzard pro ised us that a new version will be released and the fact that we are so close to the release of this title is a kind of an event in itself. I am very happy that Blizzard is sticking to the hack and slash, dungeon-crawling style that fans loved in the past two games, we should see it now hurtle into this new era with a host of game-enhancing features. Expect the loyalists to be stuck to their PC’s for months.

2) Max Payne 3

Max Payne 3 continues the story of Max Payne, a former New York City Detective who is still being haunted by the memories of his past. He starts a new life by working for a wealthy industrialist in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The family is attacked and now Max is all ready to face the gangs and save his boss’ family.

The game is now using a cutting edge technology i.e. it has been modernized and the weaponry features realistic gameplay. And all this brings Max Payne 3 to number 2 in the most anticipated games of 2012.

1) Grand Theft Auto V

Yes it’s that game again. There is no official release date out for this game infact all we know about the game is that Grand Theft Auto V heads to the city of Los Santos and surrounding hills, countryside and beaches in the largest and most ambitious game Rockstar has yet created.

A bold new direction in open-world freedom, storytelling, mission-based gameplay and online multiplayer, Grand Theft Auto V focuses on the pursuit of the almighty dollar in a re-imagined, present day Southern California. What more do you want. (Technology, MensXP.com)

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Reasons to Delete Your Facebook Account

March 2nd, 2012

Social media networking continues to be an essential part of our daily lives.

For some, it is the mainstay of their existence, helping them vent-out their emotions, express their opinions and feel connected with their friends. In this niche, Facebook remains the undisputed king despite challenges from many other recent entrants. However, it seems that the popularity of Facebook is fast evading and there are many reasons why experts believe that it isn’t a bad idea to consider deleting your facebook account, such as:

Facebook No Longer Promises Safety

For starters, Facebook isn’t as safe it might seem. When it was at its peak of popularity, many people said that it was almost impossible to breach the Facebook’s security measures. Now reports are emerging in leading tabloids like the Daily Mirror that Facebook itself has admitted that its system of maintaining privacy of data isn’t the best. For instance, even if you delete photographs from your Facebook account, the pics can be traced back to the user. The link remains active for some time as Facebook doesn’t delete the pics immediately from its database. This means your pics aren’t guaranteed safety even when you think you have deleted them from your account. Secondly, the Facebook IPOs is almost here and with more investors and shareholders joining in, there is an increased pressure to use the privacy data of account holders for displaying ads in the manner that Google does. This is why Facebook ads are becoming more and more invasive. This suggests content on the Facebook wall is being analyzed to display content-related advertisements.

Too Many Irritating Elements

Once your Facebook account is circulated among office colleagues or friends, you can almost bet upon receiving many Friend requests. Many of these are people you don’t wish to share your daily updates with. However, owing to professional obligations or out of mere courtesy, you have to do so. Many of these unwanted folks on your Facebook account can prove to be rather frustrating, continuously writing something on your wall and trying to initiate a conversation every time you are active on Facebook.

Don’t Want to Pay?

It is being speculated that Zuckerburg is on the verge of releasing a premium version of Facebook. This would be launched soon to offer many clubbed services that won’t be available to those with the present-day, free version. It is most likely, that people would like to immediately hop on to something that is being touted as hot on the social media front. This suggests that you would be peer-pressurized into doing so. Thus, if you don’t want to pay for Facebooking anymore, it is time you thought about deleting your Facebook account.

It’s Fashionable But Old

Yes, Facebook is still the buzzword when it comes to showcasing your social media prowess. However, it is getting increasingly ordinary with nearly every online medium somehow linking to it. Now, people are moving to new entrants like Google+ that has already registered a greater, initial response than any other social media platform that challenged Facebook in the recent past. Being on Google+ seems like the right thing to do for presenting yourself as being socially progressive.

Don’t Want to Smile on Lame Efforts at Humor?

This happens all the time. You are continuously coerced into liking or commenting on the Facebook updates of others because not doing so would seem rude. The most common instances are that of bad jokes that you have to gratify every day. Isn’t it better to delete your Facebook account and get rid of this unwanted clutter?

Don’t Want to be Judged by my Social Media Status

For many people, the benchmark for being professionally-evolved or socially-active is an individual’s Facebook account. People tend to judge you based upon your degree of activeness on Facebook. It seems that your online persona is more important than the real you. Further, there are so many fakers out there who are posting a whole lot of pretentious stuff just to make themselves popular on Facebook. Unless you believe is allowing your Facebook alter-ego to impact the common perception about you, it is time you seriously started considering deleting Facebook. (Technology, MensXP.com)

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Windows 8 and bundling: What a difference a decade makes

March 2nd, 2012

Or are you just an ignorant Microsoft troll?
“Consider Apple: They have a 100% monopoly on hardware that can (legally) run their OS, even though there is nothing proprietary or unique about their laptop desktop hardware other than a deliberately engineered motherboard function created to “prevent piracy” of their OS which then allowed them to use a clause in the DMCA to sue competitors out of existence (e.g. Pystar).
“
Psystar was making their own copies of OS X, I.E. pirating Apple’s software. You would complain if I started making, and selling copies of Windows, so stop being a hypocrite.

“They ship their OS with apps for email, calendar, internet, chat, video conferencing, etc. preinstalled. Why? Should they not be bound by the same rules as Microsoft, especially considering that they have a far greater monopoly on the Mac market than Microsoft ever had over the PC market”
The second Apple comes close to being as anti-competitive as Microsoft, they will deserve it. To date Apple has not done anything anti-competitive, if you compare them to Microsoft. Apple has never threatened an OEM with their livelyhood, nor has Apple sent Jack-booted storm troopers in to shut a business down. Microsoft has historically threatened their customers (IBM, HP, etc), and if you google it, you’ll find that Microsoft sent jsack booted storm troopers in to shut down Erny Ball. Microsoft has also used proxies to start FUD campaigns (SCO, and now the Patent Troll Mosaid). So while you wave your Microsoft pom-poms just remember how much better things could have been, with out the Monopolist abusing their customers.

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Microsoft: 1 million Windows 8 Consumer Preview downloads in day one

March 2nd, 2012

Step1 – login to you new windows 8 desktop

-Big clock nice picture no login, lucky for me I have a windows phone so held the mouse down and flicked the sreen up to reveal what I was looking for but the mrs (who happens to be a desktop support manger) just clicked and clicked before giving up).

Step 2 – Logged in to desktop?
Right found the login, wait for desktop, Err – no desktop just windows phone tiles. From the lesson learnt during login I help the mouse button down and flicked it to reveal more tiles – nothing happened. Finally notice a scrollbar along the bottom of the screen. Use srollbar to move tiles (Obvious a feature of design flow – flick login screen to move, click scroll bar to drag tiles around)

Step 3 – Noticed the desktop tile – I’m here, it looks like windows but has no applications (except IE which will go down well with the europeans). I guess all the apps are now on the titles. 25 minutes of right click option, search -where is the option for returning to tiles, I give up. Mrs itching to have a second look, instantly she gets the tiltes (accidentlypressed the windows key). 1 fault fix each.

Next Steps
Turned off PC – restarts – Isnt this supposed to boot quicker than windows 7?.
Obviously not…

Being a oddball and as a result a fan of all things Microsoft, it might be time to look at an alternative

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Some possibly not-so-good news for business users with Windows 8

March 2nd, 2012

I installed Windows 8 on my personal laptop (Dell Vostro V131) last night, and I had to roll back to Windows 7 today. Several of my apps kept crashing, and I couldn’t get several of the Windows 8 metro apps to connect to my Microsoft ID. I upgraded from a heavily used Windows 7 setup though, so I’m going to retry with a clean install over the weekend.

Aside from the technical issues, I like the direction they’re heading in with Metro, but I couldn’t shake this impression all morning that it was a half-baked experience (so far). One of the things I love about my Windows Phone is Metro, and that the experience is so immersive. I feel that immersion is missing from Windows 8. For example, the People Hub is horrible on W8 compared to WP. When I’m in the Desktop environment, I find the corner mouse triggers annoying, and everything I loved about Windows 7′s beautiful UI is gone replaced by flat, colorless boxes. I wish the desktop environment had been left entirely as-is with Windows 7, and I wish the Metro aspects were more “windowed” the way the existing Zune app is today… and then use Windows 9 to go more immersive.

Hearing that Windows 8 WOA won’t be domain-enabled, that’s a huge downside for me as an IT administrator. I fear that OEM’s are going to focus on WOA for those tablet-enabled devices, and I think Microsoft might really miss the mark with Windows 8 which really bothers me. I really want Microsoft to succeed here, because I’m a long-time Microsoft supporter, and I HATE the alternatives.

I guess we’ll see what happens from now until release… and hopefully once I get a clean install, I’ll be able to give Windows 8 a fair chance.

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Sophos Makes Cloud Encryption Simple

March 2nd, 2012

IT security and data protection company Sophos today announced the latest version of its leading data protection solution, SafeGuard Enterprise, which offers the industry’s first enterprise cloud encryption capabilities. SafeGuard protects critical data in public, private and hybrid cloud environments. 

Securing the Cloud Automatically

Many of today’s businesses use cloud services to store and share sensitive data; cloud services are useful tools that let people get to their files from anywhere and, on any device. However, many others feel there is still considerable risk with cloud services; they are hesitant to embrace due to uncertainties around where data is stored, and are uneasy about cloud services having full access to this data.

According to the (November 2011) Ernst Young Global Information Security Survey, 61 percent of respondents will be using or evaluating cloud services within the next year. This will be a mix of public, private and hybrid cloud environments. However, 52 percent of organizations said they haven’t implemented controls to mitigate data risk in the cloud.  

SafeGuard Encryption for Cloud Storage automatically encrypts files uploaded to the cloud from any managed endpoint, reinforcing “protection everywhere� peace of mind. This simple process requires little more than choosing a password, which allows secure file access from anywhere – thereby improving collaboration and increasing productivity.

“This latest version of SafeGuard Enterprise with its cloud encryption capabilities complements our efforts to make our hardware work the best with the cloud,� said Clain Anderson, director of software, Lenovo. “The combination of Lenovo PC products and Sophos software enables companies to confidently utilize the cloud to improve productivity without compromising data security.�

Securing the Internal Cloud Storage

Data protection is more than stopping sensitive files from being leaked by unauthorized users. IT staff typically have access to every file on the network, which is both daunting and stressful, especially in the event of data breaches or other malicious activities. With SafeGuard Encryption for File Share, this stress is alleviated, as only privileged users have access to sensitive data. SafeGuard FileShares uses central keys to give access to files for authorized users or groups, while keeping these files encrypted for everyone else. More importantly, SafeGuard ensures that all files remain encrypted regardless if copied or moved to another drive, network or device.

Data on the Move

According to the Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast for 2011 to 2016, there will be approximately eight billion mobile devices by 2016, which will exceed the world’s population. 

As the roaming workforce increases, so does the need to access data on the go. However, sensitive data that is available via mobile devices is not always encrypted. Safeguard Enterprise changes that with seamless integration between the cloud and mobile devices. The Sophos Mobile Encryption App works in conjunction with SafeGuard Encryption for Cloud Storage. Users encrypt their data using the SafeGuard Encryption for Cloud Storage and this data is available via smart phones and tablets to authorized users irrespective of location.

“One of Verizon’s challenges is to secure not just laptops and disk drives, but also files on servers, stored in the cloud and accessed from mobile devices,� said Paul Dooley, Information Technology Manager, Verizon. “SafeGuard Enterprise gives us data protection options—from computers, flash drives, shared network folders and to the cloud. Sophos is securing our data and keeping management simple.�

“In today’s business world, users are everywhere, and data protection needs to be everywhere too,â€? said Matthias Pankert, Vice President, Product Management , Sophos . “With businesses continuing to experience costly and embarrassing breaches, it’s more important than ever to secure data. The latest version of SafeGuard Enterprise provides complete data protection.â€?

Sophos will showcase SafeGuard, among its other leading solutions, at RSA (booth #1817). For additional information on SafeGuard, please visit www.sophos.com/sgn6 .

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Sophos Partners with Egnyte to provide End-to-End Hybrid Cloud Encryption for the Enterprise

March 2nd, 2012

IT security and data protection company Sophos, and Egnyte, a leading provider of hybrid cloud file server solutions, today announced the integration of Sophos SafeGuard Enterprise and Egnyte HybridCloud file server , which offers businesses an end-to-end solution for directly managing the encryption of data stored locally or in the cloud. Customers can define and manage their own encryption keys, enabling complete control over files no matter where they live.

As cloud services gain traction in the enterprise, and consumerization of IT continues its rapid ascent, data leakage has become a major concern for IT managers. Files no longer live in one location – they are shared across local storage, cloud provider storage and a growing diversity of devices. Increased collaboration means partners, employees and customers need secure access to these files, whether they are in an office or roaming.

Importance of encryption across a hybrid-cloud

Ownership over encryption keys is an essential part of enterprise security policies and protections. This allows customer files to be encrypted throughout the process of file transfer and across multiple devices and locations.  Most importantly, enterprises have full control over their own data with ownership of their own encryption keys.

Through this partnership, Egnyte HybridCloud customers can use Sophos SafeGuard Enterprise to create and control their own encryption key to secure designated files. Customers have access to files anywhere, anytime, whether behind the firewall or in the cloud, as well as consistent encryption standards at every point.

“While the cloud opens up many opportunities to collaborate seamlessly, it also presents security issues and uncertainties, especially as employees use personal devices to access company information,� said Vineet Jain, CEO and co-founder, Egnyte. “What’s unique about our partnership with Sophos is that the combination of our services provides the market with a hybrid-cloud solution that scales up and down as needed, and provides IT managers with ultimate control over their data and the ability to manage encryption keys without additional support.�

“The cloud is changing the enterprise IT landscape and Egnyte is at the forefront of this evolution. One of the biggest drivers for adoption is understanding how to carry a security policy from the customer side through to the cloud provider,� said Matthias Pankert, VP product management, Data Protection, Sophos. “As providers like Egnyte develop these abilities, enterprise cloud computing will be utilized even further. An example is true mobility freedom – the concept that smartphones and tablets become viable equals to the laptop or desktop. We see our partnership with Egnyte evolving to support this shift in the future.�

About Egnyte

Over 1 billion files are being shared by businesses daily using Egnyte HybridCloud file server. Egnyte’s unique technology provides the speed and security of  local storage  with the accessibility of the cloud. Users can easily store,  share,  access and  backup files, while IT has the centralized administration and control to enforce business policies. Egnyte, founded 2007, is based in Mountain View, California and is a privately held company backed by venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, Floodgate Fund, and Polaris Venture Partners. For more information, please visit  www.egnyte.com or call  1-877-7EGNYTE.

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March 2nd, 2012

28 Feb 2012

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About Sophos

More than 100 million users in 150 countries rely on Sophos as the best protection against complex threats and data loss. Sophos is committed to providing security and data protection solutions that are simple to manage, deploy and use and that deliver the industry’s lowest total cost of ownership. Sophos offers award-winning encryption, endpoint security, web, email, and network access control solutions backed by SophosLabs – a global network of threat intelligence centers. With more than two decades of experience, Sophos is regarded as a leader in security and data protection by top analyst firms and has received many industry awards.

Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK. More information is available at www.sophos.com.

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Casual Male Retail Group signs franchise deal for Kuwait City store

March 2nd, 2012

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Al Kout Industrial Projects organizes presentation on ‘Strategic Alternatives: In Search of Differentiation’

March 2nd, 2012

Dr. Karel Cool- BP Chaired Professor in European Competitiveness and Professor of Strategic Management at Insead delivered the presentation which was attended by distinguished guests including members of the diplomatic community, government officials and senior management of local companies based in Kuwait.

Dr. Cool, in his presentation explained the kind of differentiation that will lead to market success, the factors that erode the success and rewards. He also spoke on the different strategies that lead to the success of business against the backdrop of ongoing overcapacity and economic crisis. His research, teaching and consulting focus on problems of industry and competitive analysis (e. g. industry overcapacity; profit dynamics, product standards, critical mass races, value creation, building unique resources). He has published in many journals, including Management Science, the Strategic Management Journal, Organization Studies, Marketing Letters, Advances in Strategic Management, etc, and has edited and contributed to several books.

Al Kout Industrial Projects Co. (AIP) is a KSE-listed company, with operations in Kuwait and the UAE. Its core business is chlor-alkali chemicals being supplied to domestic and international markets from its operations in these two countries.

The AIP group also includes ALTC a logistics company and Al Kout Petrochemical Products a leading manufacturer of oilfield chemicals on behalf of Champion Technologies- USA.

The Global Center in the College of Business Administration (Kuwait University) was founded in 2007 to initiate with 25 private sector partners programs for executive education with the involvement of leading business schools. The Global Center aims to develop these programs with cross-functional insight thereby improving overall performance. At present, the Global Center offers short term series of executive education programs.

Since mid-2007, the Global Center has offered over 75 programs, with exposure to over 1700 executives of the private sector companies. The Global Center has developed its programs in collaboration with faculty members of leading international universities, such as Harvard, MIT, Johns Hopkins, INSEAD and UC Berkeley to name a few.

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