Ratings Scandal Kills More than 1000 iPhone Apps

Bogus reviews have landed Chinese iPhone app developer Molinker in deep trouble, resulting in all 1000-plus of its apps being removed and banned from the App Store. This is great news for consumers who are tired of downloading subpar apps based on inflated reviews, and bad news for companies looking to shill their products with internal misdeeds.

The discovery of the phony reviews was made by a frequent reader of iPhoneography, known only as SCW, who recognized a similar erratic and poorly-written tone to many 5-star reviews of Molinker apps. SCW wrote a (long) letter to Phil Schiller, senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, revealing the major fraud. According to the e-mail, SCW “looked at 44 of the reviewers who posted reviews for this Molinker Inc app ‘NightCam Pro’ & EVERY Review except 2 of the 44+ are ALL FAKE 5 [star] reviews.”

The phony reviews didn’t stop there. SCW posits that Molinker employees obtained and redeemed promo codes in order to access the US App Store and publish an “endless slew of fake postings.” (Ever an opportunist, SCW also wrote: “I think I deserve a [sic] investigations reward for unearthing this blatant attempt at misleading & stealing from the public.”)

Schiller leapt to action and removed the apps. “Yes, this developer’s apps have been removed from the App Store and their ratings no longer appear either,” Schiller wrote to SCW and iPhoneography.

Molinker claimed ignorance in a brief statement given to the appfreak blog. “We got [an] email from Apple yesterday [Sunday 6th] which told us our contract [has] changed to pending status. Actually, we do not know what’s wrong so far. We had contacted Apple for such sudden changes, hope we can get quick response and actions from Apple.”

I think it’s a safe assumption that Molinker’s apps aren’t the only ones with fake 5-star reviews. Hopefully given the size of Molinker’s mishap — the developer’s apps made up almost 1 percent of the entire App Store — Apple, and its customers, will become more diligent when it comes to exposing fraud.

Source: YahooNews

AP asks Facebook users to vote on 2009 top stories

NEW YORK – The Associated Press is inviting Facebook users to vote on the 10 top news stories of the year, marking the first time the public has been invited to weigh in since the news cooperative began its annual survey in 1936.

In the past, the AP’s 1,500 member newspapers, along with thousands of broadcast news organizations that use its services, have voted for the top stories of the year. The AP will continue to run that survey and will publish both top 10 lists.

The Facebook vote isn’t a scientific poll, but it illustrates news organizations’ increasing embrace of social networking Web sites to interact with their audiences.

The AP and other international news organizations also are using Facebook this month to run an online hub that invites readers to interact with journalists covering the climate-change negotiations in Copenhagen.

Voting for the top news stories ends Dec. 17. This year’s choices include the inauguration of President Barack Obama, the death of Michael Jackson and the state of the U.S. economy. Users can also submit suggestions for a top story.

Source: YahooNews

Google search results to include ‘real-time’ data

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Fresh information from blogs, news sites, Twitter and other popular hangouts will appear in Google’s search results more quickly as the company aims to give people a more comprehensive look at what’s happening on the Web.

The feature unveiled Monday represents Google Inc.’s most significant step yet in the field of “real-time” search — a catch phrase for the torrent of information constantly being shared on blogs and the personal pages of social-networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

As those destinations have turned into increasingly popular forums for swapping opinions, offering news tips and highlighting interesting stories, Google, Yahoo Inc. and Microsoft Corp. all have been scrambling to retool their search engines so they reel in and showcase real-time data more rapidly.

Google reached a deal in October to blend Twitter updates, or “tweets,” into its results, but hadn’t explained how its system would work until Monday.

Microsoft’s search engine, Bing, has included a section for tweets since late October. Yahoo began relying on tweets to point out hot news stories in its results last month.

Twitter’s own search engine doesn’t attempt to identify which tweets are the most relevant to each request; it simply provides a chronological list of the updates containing a specified word or phrase.

In Google’s version of real-time search, a section of its main results page will include a capsule that automatically scrolls relevant information within a few seconds after it pops up in the Web index.

Normally, a new search request was the only way to see the blog posts, status updates and other information that Google had collected since the previous query.

With the change, a person requesting information about President Obama, for instance, will see the usual set of static links, photos and video, as well as the capsule with pertinent tweets, blog posts and news stories.

The real-time data won’t show up right away for everyone because it will take Google’s computer centers a few days to make it work everywhere.

Google’s real-time information eventually will be expanded to include some of the chatter on Facebook and MySpace, the world’s two largest social networks.

Although Google announced its partnerships with the sites Monday, the feeds from Facebook and MySpace won’t start appearing in the real-time results until early next year, said Marissa Mayer, Google’s vice president for search products and user experience.

As with Google’s Twitter alliance, Mayer declined to say how much the company is paying Facebook and MySpace for better access to their users’ musings. The contributions from Facebook and MySpace will be limited to commentary that already can be read by anyone logged into the sites.

Microsoft and Yahoo also have worked out deals so their visitors can see some Facebook material.

Google is trying to provide better real-time results to maintain its huge lead in search as Microsoft and Yahoo prepare to team up in a partnership that still needs regulatory approval. Google processes about two-thirds of the search requests worldwide while Yahoo and Microsoft handle a combined 10 percent.

“People expect search engines to make all kinds of information available to them,” said Amit Singhal, a Google engineer who oversaw the development of the real-time tool.

Google relies on its dominance of search to drive the bulk of more than $21 billion in advertising sales annually.

Besides introducing real-time search, Google also showed off several other new tools in an auditorium down the block from its Mountain View headquarters.

The company added a voice recognition to process mobile search requests in Japanese on phones running its operating system, Android (Google already does this in English and in Mandarin Chinese). It also provided a preview of a test product, called “Google Goggles,” that will enable people to send a picture taken on a mobile phone and get search results about the photographed object.

Source: YahooNews

Student ordered to destroy downloaded music files

BOSTON – A graduate student who must pay four record labels a combined $675,000 in damages for downloading and sharing songs online has been ordered to destroy his illegal music files — but a judge declined to force him to stop promoting the activity that got him in trouble.

Joel Tenenbaum, a Boston University student from Providence, R.I., was ordered Monday to refrain from future copyright violations and to destroy copies of recordings he downloaded without authorization.

Record companies wanted U.S. District Judge Nancy Gertner to go further. They claimed Tenenbaum has been encouraging people to visit a Swedish Web site where they can illegally download the songs he was sued for sharing.

Tenenbaum said he had nothing to do with the Web site, and Gertner said she would not attempt to silence Tenenbaum’s criticism of the recording industry and copyright laws.

Tenenbaum said he was pleased.

“She said, look, this isn’t your business, he can say whatever he wants about the issue, he has First Amendment rights,” Tenenbaum said.

Cara Duckworth, a spokeswoman for the Recording Industry Association of America, said the group was satisfied that the judge required Tenenbaum “to destroy all illegal music files and refrain from further theft of our music.”

In July, a federal jury in Boston ordered Tenenbaum to pay $675,000 to four record labels for downloading and distributing 30 songs.

Tenenbaum’s attorney, Harvard Law School professor Charles Nesson, said Monday that he plans to file a motion for a new trial by Jan. 4.

In a separate memorandum released Monday, Gertner described her reasons for rejecting Tenenbaum’s “fair use” defense before the case went to trial in July.

Fair use is a legal doctrine that recognizes that the monopoly rights protected by copyright laws are not absolute. The doctrine holds that when someone uses a creative work in way that does not hurt the market for the original work and advances a public purpose — such as education or scholarship — it may be considered “fair” and not infringing.

Gertner said Tenenbaum acknowledged that a purpose of his song-sharing was so that his friends could enjoy the music — “that is, the very use for which the artist or copyright holder is entitled to expect payment as a reward.”

Gertner said that although Tenenbaum’s case does not constitute fair use, she could envision a fair-use defense for someone who shared files only during a period before the law concerning file-sharing was clear and before legitimate download services were widely available. She urged Congress to consider changing copyright law. The judge wrote that “there is a deep potential for injustice in the Copyright Act as it is currently written.”

“There is something wrong with a law that routinely threatens teenagers and students with astronomical penalties for an activity whose implications they may not have fully understood,” Gertner added.

Duckworth said the industry disagrees with Gertner’s assessment.

“Judge Gertner’s hypothetical statements on fair use are not supported in the law, and courts have routinely rejected this theory since it would essentially strip copyright owners of the important right to control the use of their work,” Duckworth said. “Regardless, it wouldn’t apply to Mr. Tenenbaum, who admitted to illegally downloading music long after iTunes and other services emerged.”

Breast Cancer’s Spread Now Better Understood

SUNDAY, Dec. 6 (HealthDay News) — The spread of breast cancer cells from the main tumor to other parts of the body is controlled by a growth factor known as TGFb, which may prove a promising target for new drugs to prevent metastatic breast cancer, British researchers say.

 

Previous studies have shown that TGFb (transforming growth factor beta) regulates normal cell growth and movement. In this new study, a team from Cancer Research UK used an advanced microscopy and analysis technique to document the movement of cancer cells from primary breast tumor sites in mice.

 

The researchers found that single breast cancer cells broke away from the main tumor and entered the blood system when TGFb turned on messenger genes in the cancer cells and then turned them off.

 

When TGFb was inactive, clumps (but not single cells) of breast cancer cells broke away from the main tumor. Because these clumps can spread only through the lymphatic system, not through the blood, the spread of cancer was local, the study authors explained.

 

“The results helped us to find the set of genes that are behind the spread of breast cancer — and that the genes need to be first turned on and then off in order for single cancer cells to be able to ‘relocate,’” study author Erik Sahai said in a news release from Cancer Research UK.

 

He noted that in “a medium-sized tumor there could be a billion cells — and only a small proportion might break away and spread. So it is like trying to find — and understand — a moving needle in a very big haystack.”

 

The study, published in the October issue of the journal Nature Cell Biology, is scheduled to be presented Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology, held Dec. 5 to 9 in San Diego.

Source: YahooNews

CDC: Swine flu is widespread only in 25 states

ATLANTA – Swine flu infections continue to wane, just as vaccine is becoming plentiful enough that some communities are allowing everyone to get it, not just those in priority groups.

Swine flu was widespread in only 25 states last week — mostly in the Northeast and Southwest, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

In late October, 48 states were reporting widespread cases of swine flu. But since then, there’s been a decline across the country, and it appears that a fall wave of swine flu infections has peaked.

Meanwhile, a shortage of swine flu vaccine is easing, with 73 million doses now available, roughly twice as much as there was a month ago. And another 10 million doses are expected in the next week, said Dr. Thomas Frieden, the CDC’s director.

Initially, limited supplies caused the CDC to advise state and local health officials to reserve doses for those at highest risk for severe complications from swine flu or those who take care of them. That group includes pregnant women, children and young adults, health-care workers and people with asthma and certain other health problems.

Demand for the vaccine is still high in many places, but enough has become available that some communities are now giving it to people outside the priority groups, Frieden said.

“The number of communities that do that will increase in the coming weeks,” he predicted, at a press conference in Atlanta.

At least three states — Alaska, Arkansas and Oklahoma — have begun offering swine flu vaccine to all comers. And some communities have opened vaccinations up, including Broward County, Fla., and Sacramento County, Calif., said Paula Steib, spokeswoman for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

Since it was first identified in April, swine flu has sickened an estimated 22 million Americans and killed 4,000. It has proved to be similar to seasonal flu but a bigger threat to children and young adults.

The swine flu pandemic has so far hit in two waves in the United States: First in the spring, then a larger wave that started in the late summer.

Flu is hard to predict, and health officials say they are worried of the possibility of a third wave this winter. The CDC said a new round of public service announcements about getting vaccinated are to begin next week.

___

On the Net:

CDC report: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm

Real, Juve, Milan eye Champions League progress

PARIS (AFP) – The first four Champions League groups conclude on Tuesday with a host of major clubs including Real Madrid, AC Milan, Juventus and Bayern Munich still unsure of a place in the knockout phase.

Real are practically assured of qualification and can afford to lose their Group C clash at Marseille on Tuesday by three goals, while Milan will progress from the same group with victory at FC Zurich.

Brazilian playmaker Kaka has been ruled out for Real due to a groin injury but Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to start despite being sent off in his side’s 4-2 La Liga win over Almeria on Saturday.

Karim Benzema was on target against Almeria, converting a rebound in the 83rd minute to put his side 3-2 up after Ronaldo had seen a penalty saved, and the former Lyon striker is likely to receive a hostile reception from the Marseille fans.

“It’s always a pleasure to return to France. We expect the match in Marseille to be tough,” he said.

German giants Bayern Munich travel to Juventus in Group A knowing that only a win will prolong their Champions League campaign.

Juve lost 2-0 at Bordeaux in their last match in the competition, handing the French champions top spot in the group, but they warmed up for the visit of Bayern with a rousing 2-1 win at home to Serie A leaders Inter and need just a draw against Bayern to join Bordeaux in the last 16.

“This can be very useful going into the Bayern game if we are smart, humble, focused and realise we can play with this aggression against everyone,” said Juventus’s veteran forward Alessandro Del Piero after the win over Inter.

“If we forget that, then we run the same old risks.”

Bayern will still be without tendinitis victim Franck Ribery for the trip to Turin but Dutch winger Arjen Robben and Belgian centre-back Daniel van Buyten have both overcome injuries to be included in the squad.

The four-time European champions endured a poor start to the season but their 2-1 win at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday extended their unbeaten return in the league to eight matches and took them up to third in the Bundesliga standings.

“We have three games left until the winter break,” said goalkeeper Hans-Joerg Butt. “We have to win them all, and we can win them all.”

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Wolfsburg can join Manchester United in the knockout round if their result at home to the English champions in Group B is better than what CSKA Moscow achieve at Besiktas.

United will tie up top spot, and subsequently a favourable draw in the last 16, with a draw at Wolfsburg but coach Sir Alex Ferguson will be forced to field a makeshift defence due to a mounting injury crisis at the club.

“I don’t know where I’m going to get a back four for Tuesday,” Ferguson said after his side ended the 4-0 Premier League win at West Ham on Saturday with midfielders Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs playing in defence.

“The injuries in defence are becoming a bit of a headache to us. Michael Carrick stepped in and did very well.”

Chelsea and Porto are already sure of a place in the next round, Chelsea as winners of Group D, but Atletico Madrid will seal a consolation berth in the Europa League if APOEL Nicosia fail to win at Chelsea.

Defending champions Barcelona travel to Dynamo Kiev in Group F on Wednesday and can afford to lose by any two-goal scoreline apart from 2-0 and still go through due to their head-to-head record, while in the same group Inter Milan face a winner-takes-all home meeting with Russian champions Rubin Kazan.

Source: YahooNews

Consumer borrowing falls for 9th straight month

WASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve says consumers borrowed less for a record ninth straight month in October. It was another sign that consumer spending will remain weak, making it harder for the economy to mount a sustained rebound.

The Fed says consumer credit fell at an annual rate of $3.5 billion in October, although that’s significantly lower than the $9.3 billion decline that economists had expected.

The Fed report says consumer credit overall dropped at an annual rate of 1.7 percent in October, compared with a 4.2 percent drop in September.

Demand for revolving credit, the category that includes credit cards, fell 9.3 percent, while borrowing in the category that includes auto loans rose at an annual rate of 2.6 percent.

(This version CORRECTS amount in headline to $3.5 billion sted $9.5 billion.)

Obama eyes ’selective’ use of bailout dollars

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama said Monday the massive federal bailout program for financial insititutions has turned out to be much less costly than expected and there may be ways to redirect some of the money toward creating new jobs.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Obama declined to say directly whether he would seek to redirect some of the repaid money from the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program to jobs programs. He did say he would address the topic in an economic speech on Tuesday.

The president said the key question is determining whether the bailout money could be put toward selective job creation that meets the original intent of the law. He cited as an example directing bailout money to help small businesses get lending.

The president’s comments came as Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill were looking to tap as much as $70 billion in unused funds from the Wall Street bailout to pay for new spending on roads and bridges and to save the jobs of firefighters, teachers and other public employees. Republican leaders are voicing strong opposition to that idea, saying all the money should go toward reducing the federal deficit.

In particular, Obama signaled that money from the $700 billion financial rescue program could be used as part of a jobs package for the purpose of helping small- and medium-sized businesses get loans to invest and ultimately to hire workers. Congress passed the Troubled Asset Relief Program in October 2008.

Obama will give a speech designed to flesh out his latest jobs-creation plan on Tuesday. He said he would address the use of bailout money at that time.

The Obama administration will lose $200 billion less than expected from the federal bailout program, according to a Treasury official who spoke on condition of anonymity because that new projection had not been released. That’s down from the a $341 billion estimate of August. The lower estimate reflected faster repayments by big banks and less spending on some of the rescue programs as the financial sector recovered from its free fall more quickly than anticipated.

“TARP has turned out to be much cheaper than we had expected — although not cheap,” Obama said.

He said some of the money could be devoted to deficit reduction.

Obama spoke briefly on the economy during an Oval Office appearance with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Quarter in U.S. foreclosure plan late on payments

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – More than one-quarter of homeowners receiving help under a U.S. government foreclosure prevention plan are behind on their new mortgage payments, a Treasury Department survey has found.

Some 650,000 borrowers are participating in the trial phase of the Obama administration’s Home Affordable Modification Program, a $75 billion taxpayer-financed program launched this year.

Most home loan modifications result in lower monthly payments, although some lead to reduced principal on mortgages.

Trial modifications were initially for three months, but the Treasury added 60 days, effectively making them last five months.

Homeowners must submit more detailed documentation before they can have their loan modifications made permanent.

A Treasury Department survey of large mortgage servicers found “over 73 percent of borrowers are current in their trial plan payments,” Assistant Treasury Secretary Herbert Allison told a congressional oversight panel.

That leaves about 27 percent who are delinquent on the payments.

Allison provided written answers to questions raised at an October hearing before the Congressional Oversight Panel, which monitors the government’s foreclosure prevention plan and other financial rescue efforts.

Allison said that “while not all eligible borrowers will convert to permanent modifications, it is too early to estimate a failure rate, diagnose causes and predict future success rates.”

Experts say the conversion rate to permanent loans is the key to determining the program’s ultimate success or failure.

The Treasury has not published figures on how many trial loan modifications have been made permanent, but it said it will start doing so this month.

The next monthly report on the program will be released next week, Treasury Department spokeswoman Meg Reilly said.

This week Treasury officials threatened to fine mortgage lenders unless they speed efforts to give hard-pressed homeowners a permanent break on monthly payments.

According to a report from the congressional oversight panel, only 1,711 permanent mortgage modifications had been offered as of September 1, an indication of how reluctant banks seemed to move beyond trial offers.

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Xavier Briand)

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