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Google Maps has expanded its lead in features in the last year, a move that will help the company vanquish rival services in mobile search, Cowen and Co. analysts said Monday.

Google Maps also has just launched traffic monitoring and prediction for parts of the United Kingdom, Google Blogoscoped pointed out.

Specific advantages at Google Maps include Street View and public transportation directions, the analysts said.

Why does it matter? Because with the Apple’s iPhone, Google’s Android operating system, and many other efforts are bringing the Internet to mobile phones, and there’s a wealth of untapped ad revenue in that market.

“Google’s aggressive investment in maps positions the company to achieve a dominant share of search in the mobile Internet,” the analysts said.

“Since our initial survey in July 2007, innovation at (AOL’s) MapQuest and Yahoo Maps has stagnated,” and although Microsoft has improved Live Search Maps, it remains the least popular of the four top services, said analysts Jim Friedland and Kevin Kopelman. “Yahoo and MapQuest do not have the resources to keep pace and are forced to aggressively monetize a declining franchise in the maps segment.”

Google marketing manager Andrew Chang inadvertently published his to-do list on a blog while testing his posting software. It wasn’t a hastily removed preview of a new Google online to-do list application, a possibility some raised.

OK, Google watchers, you can slow down your pulse. That to-do list posting on the Google Docs blog appears to have been an innocent mix-up.

“I was testing out a feature that allows you to create and edit blog posts in Docs and publish them directly to your blog,” Chang said in a follow-up post afterward. “One button click later, my list was out there for the world to see. I’ve since changed my settings to not post to this blog.”

IT managers are almost as worried about what sensitive corporate data is leaking out of the company as they are about malware infections from the Web, according to a new survey.

The survey did not ask respondents how many had actually experienced data leaks.

Nearly 40 percent of IT staff at mid to large companies in North America said they believed that unintentional leaks by employees are a bigger threat to the security of their data than spyware or malicious software, according to a survey of 109 IT decision makers conducted over the Web last month by Osterman Research for FaceTime, a company that sells tools that allow companies to easily monitor and block data leaks.

And 57 percent believe their corporate data is not protected adequately from leaks via IM or unified communications, the survey found.

And that’s without any new Macs being released during this current quarter, which earlier in the year seemed like a given. Now we expect new MacBooks in October, which could give Apple a boost as it heads into the holiday shopping season.

Apple’s picking up notebook market share faster than any of its competitors in its home continent, according to DisplaySearch.

Apple's MacBook is taking share from competitors in North America.

Market research figures released Wednesday have Apple’s share of the North American market for notebooks, up from 6.6 percent to 10.6 percent in the second quarter of this year, compared to last year. Every other major notebook maker’s market share was either flat or down, compared to the previous year, with market leaders Hewlett-Packard and Dell picking up just 0.3 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively, and Acer’s share plunging 4.2 percent, including Gateway’s totals.

The second calendar quarter of the year is generally a slow one, at least compared to the third and fourth quarters in the PC-buying year. Apple watcher Piper Jaffray thinks that the company will sell roughly 2.8 million to 2.9 million Macs during the current (third) quarter, an increase of 29 percent to 34 percent.

(Credit:
Apple)

Just today, I received an e-mail that spotlighted a Dow Jones story over the reluctance of AT&T and Apple to take blame for the iPhone’s problems. A Verizon spokesman also added his own take. “At the end of the day, a customer doesn’t care who’s at fault–the phone or the network. But they do want a little responsibility. Because either way, it can add up to a horrible experience. Why would a customer risk their entire mobile experience by getting an
iPhone at all?”

Verizon Wireless is taking a bit of pleasure over AT&T’s continuing troubles with the Apple iPhone. Ever since the first reports of 3G reception problems, limited battery life, and dropped calls, Verizon’s media relations arm has been highlighting the issues in e-mails to reporters.

(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

While I agree completely that neither Apple nor AT&T have been particularly forthcoming about what (or who) was causing the problems, I find it amusing that Verizon feels the need to remind me. What’s more, the Dow Jones story barely mentions the recent 2.1 software update. Though not everyone agrees, that update has fixed the problems for some users.

Remember that Verizon passed up the chance to take the iPhone, so perhaps the carrier is regretting that decision. I don’t think it should, to be honest, considering it has a highly regarded network and a spiffy collection of phones. But when Verizon’s CEO Ivan Seidenberg called the iPhone’s success a “conspiracy,” it sure looks it.

Is the iPhone getting under Verizon's skin?

“I love Flickr, and I think it should stay the same way it has always been,” the group description said. “We don’t need another YouTube! I have nothing against YouTube, I just don’t want to see all the $*#% that’s on there to wind up on here!”

The No Video on Flickr group amassed more than 4,000 members just a few hours after the new feature launched.

Members of the No Video on Flickr group have posted hundreds of images protesting the photo-sharing site's inclusion of video.

Shortly after Flickr added videos to its photo-sharing site, a number of users are up in arms.

Flickr member Haeretik posted a petition, so far signed by hundreds of members, that states, “We all joined Flickr because of its dedication to photography and photographers, and we want Flickr to remain true to this dedication. It is our request that this feature and addition to Flickr be removed.”

(Credit:
Flickr)

Personally, I find the concerns overblown, though it might have been judicious of Flickr to add an opt-out option for those who don’t want video. A lot of people react unfavorably to change–think film buffs who don’t care for digital cameras, for one example.

And I suspect video is likely to dilute the great photography that’s available on Flickr much less than the vast oceans of mediocre snapshots on the site. The days of Flickr being a haven solely for refined, high-grade photography are long gone if indeed they ever existed. Also, who knows? Maybe the addition of video will help improve Flickr’s business so it can be overhauled with a better user interface.

Some discussion on the gripe group has been constructive. For those who don’t want videos to play, there is a Flickr configuration setting that lets users reverse the default behavior that the video will play automatically when its page is opened, and
Firefox users can add extensions that block Flash videos.

(Via Thomas Hawk)

*MSRP: $149.99

The EZ205

Small Wonder Traveler (model EZ210, pictured above)

*Optional “exact-fit” custom skins from SkinIt for customization
*Available: Summer at Amazon.com

(Credit:
RCA)

The EZ200

*1GB microSD card provides 30 minutes of recording time in near-DVD-quality mode or two hours in Web Sharing mode; expandable to 16 hours with 8GB microSD card (not included)

There was some talk at CES about the EZ300HD, a Small Wonder that would allegedly shoot at “HD” resolution (1,280 x 720). However, that model hasn’t materialized yet.

*Optional “exact-fit” custom skins from SkinIt for customization

*1GB microSD card provides 30 minutes of recording time in HQ mode or one hour in Web Sharing mode; expandable to up to 8 hours with 8GB microSD card (not included)

On Sale Now: $98.99
View the latest prices for RCA Small Wonder EZ200

* 2.4-inch color LCD screen designed for high-visibility outdoor use (320×240-resolution)

* Splash resistant

We liked how previous Small Wonder models had a flip-out LCD, and we’re happy to report that two of the new models sport this feature. It’s also worth noting that all the models have some form of removable memory, which means you can always carry around an extra card with you to store more videos. Alas, RCA hasn’t gone with a rechargeable battery–but the new models are pretty affordable. Two come in at less than $100, while the splash-resistant Traveler model comes in at $149.99.

*MSRP: $99.99

*Available: Summer at Amazon.com and Fry’s Electronics

*Available: Summer at Amazon.com

The EZ210

*Comes with removable carrying and attachment clips, shock-proof battery contacts, carrying case, TV/AV input cables, wrist strap, AA batteries

*1.5-inch LCD flip-out screen (improved low-light recording) for self-recording

*MSRP: $89.99

The latest iteration of RCA’s Small Wonder video cameras is now available. Along with Creative’s just-released $99 Vado, the new trio of Small Wonders is competing with Flip Video’s popular budget cams, which–by some estimates–have snagged up to one-eighth of the overall camcorder market.

Here’s the lineup:

(Credit:
RCA)

(Credit:
RCA)

* 2GB SD card provides one hour of near-DVD-quality recording time and up to 4 hours using the Web Sharing mode; expandable to up to 16 hours with 8GB SD card (not included)

The following products are available:

On Sale Now: $99.00
View the latest prices for RCA Small Wonder EZ210

Small Wonder MyLife (model EZ200)

*1.5-inch flip-out LCD screen for self-recording; offers improved low-light recording

Small Wonder Pocket (model EZ205)

With so-called advanced meters, utilities can lessen the demand on the grid during peak times by remotely raising the temperature on air conditioners or tweaking equipment at industrial facilities.

The Redwood City, Calif.-based company makes equipment and software for energy-efficiency programs aimed at smoothing out the load on the power grid by dialing down energy use at homes and businesses.

Trilliant said on Wednesday that it has raised $40 million in equity in one of the largest single-round smart-grid investments to date.

Two other smart-grid start-ups on Wednesday announced that they landed a deal to supply equipment and software to Oklahoma Gas and Electric for a smart-grid project.

Trilliant uses a mesh network architecture where meters and gateways use different wireless protocols to transmit information from homes and business back to utilities back-office systems.

There are several smart-grid projects going on right now around the world. Utilities are seeking out energy efficiency technologies to make electricity distribution more reliable and to potentially avoid construction of new power plants.

Utilities typically offer consumers an incentive to participate in smart-grid programs which can reduce energy bills by about 10 percent, according to the year-long GridWise trial.

Silver Spring Networks will supply networking and metering hardware while Greenbox Technology a company founded by the makers of the Flash Web technology, will offer a Web-based applicaton that displays home energy use.

The investment will be used to fund the company’s expansion, the company said. Investors are MissionPoint Capital Partners and Zouk Ventures.

Electronic Arts extends Take-Two Interactive tender offer deadline

Listen now:

Problems delay Firefox 3 launch

On launch day, the Get Firefox site experienced an outage for at least an hour–just before Mozilla was expected to make the new version of its Web browser available for download. Reporter Stephen Shankland joined me in the podcast studio today to talk about what happened, and whether it’ll affect Mozilla’s goal to set a new software record.

Cease-and-desist notices sent to DNA testing labs

Content aggregator Loud3r launches network of sites

Mars probe discovers white stuff

iRobot to develop ‘ChemBot’ for military

Last.fm adds Universal’s music videos

About a dozen DNA companies have been issued cease-and-desist letters to stop selling their consumer genetic test kits. NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander finds a mysterious white substance in the Martian soil (Is anybody else channeling Jack Skellington after hearing that news?). We bring you those stories and more on today’s news podcast.

Download today’s podcast

Today’s stories:

Disneyland unveils ‘dream home’

In the popular Lockpicking Village area at Last HOPE (Hackers on Planet), I watched guys twirl little pins in all types of locking devices. For some, it took less than a minute to get the locks to snap open. One lock picker even showed how to open an ordinary padlock with just a piece of aluminum from a beer can. (See video demo below.)

Credit: Elinor Mills/CNET News

(Credit:
Elinor Mills/CNET News)

“The goal is to help people understand how we did it,” said Tobias, who has a physical security consultancy called Security.org. “As a lawyer, I believe in full disclosure and I believe manufacturers ought to disclose the vulnerabilities in their products.”

Marc Weber Tobias, co-author of Open in Thirty Seconds gets freed from a pair of prison transport handcuffs without a key.

Below in this video, “Deviant” shows how to pick an ordinary combination padlock by shimmying the shackle open with a small, folded piece of aluminum or metal.

(Credit:
Elinor Mills/CNET News)

Medeco, the lock that secures the doors in those two places and at high-security agencies around the world, had been un-crackable for 40 years–until last year. And now there’s a book about the lock’s shortcomings called Open in Thirty Seconds.

The book doesn’t reveal the codes needed to open the locks, he noted.

Not only is my personal information at risk every time I log onto the Internet and use a cell phone headset or passport, but even my gym locker, bike, and home can easily be accessed with the proper tools and manual dexterity.

NEW YORK–I feel much less secure after attending the Last HOPE conference this weekend.

Credit: Elinor Mills/CNET News

“This is all about liability and responsible disclosure,” said Marc Weber Tobias, a co-author on the book. “People need to know they are vulnerable, and the manufacturer says it can’t be done.”

Like with software vulnerabilities, manufacturers don’t want to acknowledge security flaws, he said. But the difference between software and old-fashioned hardware is that software can be easily upgraded over the Internet while locks must be replaced.

If I’m worried, how do they feel at the Pentagon and the White House?

Tools of the lock picking trade.

Below is a video that demonstrates just how easy it is to pick a deadbolt lock. “Steve,” a member of the Toool Open Organisation of Lockpickers, uses a small tension wrench to hold the pins in place while he jiggles a lock pick tool to set the pins to “open.”