Toyota's Reputation Takes 6.4 Million Fresh Dents With Its Latest Sweeping Recall (BusinessWeek)

Toyota Motor’s (TM) longstanding reputation for reliability and assembly line mastery suffered a further wince-inducing dent this morning with a recall of 6.4 million vehicles for five potential hazards. The problems involve seat adjustments, steering columns, and windshield wiper motors on 27 Toyota models dating back to at least 2005.

Recalls happen all the time—a hundred thousand cars here, a couple million there. Just yesterday, in fact, Volkswagen (VOW:GR) recalled 150,201 Passat sedans over potentially faulty headlight bulbs. But the Toyota warning this morning is massive by any measure. Taken in total, the recall number equals almost two of every three vehicles the company made last year (although the suspect models are scattered over many model years).

What’s more, Toyota has been issuing recalls almost as fast as it has been unveiling new models. Today’s mea culpa is its eighth major recall since 2009. Here’s a look at the number of cars the Japanese automaker has been pulling back in for fixes vs. the number of new cars it stamps out.

STORY: Company News: Toyota, Procter & Gamble, Mars, Alcoa, DirecTV, Constellation Brands

Since the start of 2009, Toyota has sold 23 million vehicles, not including its Daihatsu and Hino brands, according to Bloomberg data. It has issued recalls on 28 million vehicles in that period.

Granted, some cars may have been recalled more than once. And Toyota says it is being overly cautious, which seems an intelligent tack, given the crisis that stemmed from General Motors’ (GM) tardy reaction to faulty ignition switches.

Meanwhile, Toyota agreed last month to pay $1.2 billion to settle a U.S. criminal probe over manufacturing glitches that led to sudden acceleration in a range of 2009 and 2010 models. In that case, Toyota didn’t recall the cars until after much damage was done. It admitted to having concealed information as part of the settlement.

STORY: How Much Will a Recall Scandal and Old Saturns Slow GM?

Toyota sells more vehicles than any other company. Still, fixing 6.4 million cars isn’t cheap, and the company may have to lower prices or raise incentives in the next few months to sway dubious customers. Call it reputation repair.

STORY: Will the Government Rescue GM Again?

Stock is an associate editor for Businessweek.com. Twitter: @kylestock

0 most embarrassing Twitter blunders (TechRepublic)

Social Media is great, but think twice before...
By Erin Carson , April 7, 2014

1: making light of the seriousness of the 2011 political protests in Cairo, Egypt.

2: tweeted a very off-color racial joke — that went viral

3:in the midst of death and destruction, no one wants to hear about breakfast recipes

4: a monkey and two black men, attached to a College GameDay 

5:pairing a smiling cartoon piece of pasta with a national tragedy.

6:a bad, politically-slanted joke about President Barack Obama's dead grandmother, from the company's account 

7:a self-promoting hashtag to the end of a tweet expressing condolences for the Newton, Connecticut shooting.

8:A disgruntled intern took to ranting on the official Marc Jacobs account about his job and CEO Robert Duffy ...

9:CelebBoutique's obliviousness to the Aurora, Colorado movie theater shooting 

10: an alcohol-related joke intended for a personal account, from the wrong one

Autodesk CEO 'debunks the hype' on 3D printing, says industrial 3D printing is the real revolution (TechRepublic)

By Lyndsey Gilpin                                             April 4, 2014

Autodesk, the largest producer of 3D modeling software, says improvements in software, machinery, and material science are driving an exciting new era in manufacturing. 

A desktop 3D printer builds a plastic model.

While most consumers are waiting for desktop 3D printers to become their personal Star Trek replicators, the real magic in the 3D printing world is happening in the industrial space, according to Carl Bass, CEO of Autodesk, who gave the keynote address Friday morning at the Inside 3D Printing Conference and Expoin New York City.

"I think industrial 3D printing is extremely important," Bass said. "We have way overvalued consumer 3D printing and truly underappreciated the value of industrial 3D printing."

This is specifically important to the manufacturing industry, which he said will be transformed by 3D printing.

Autodesk, an international software company, is the world's largest maker of 3D printing modeling tools. The company became best known for AutoCAD, used by engineers, architects, and designers, which was its flagship product in 1982. AutoCAD is a software application for creating 2D and 3D computer-aided designs (CAD). In 2010, it added a cloud-based mobile app. Bass said Autodesk has about 150 different software products, and almost every customer he knows has an interest in 3D printing.

Bass said there is a lot of hype surrounding 3D printing, but people are too excited about desktop printers, when we should be focusing on the ways manufacturers will use 3D printing to change the world.

"I think the hype takes two forms, there's two extremes," Bass said. "One form says there's going to be a 3D printer in every house, the other says it's going to be the next industrial revolution. I think the first one is truly false, the second remains to be seen."

The cost, scalability, speed, quality, and toxicity are all issues with 3D printing, Bass said.

"Not to be a downer about it, but if you don't face the real issues, it's hard to address them," he said.

"If we look at the general trends in tech right now, we are moving into a world where businesses are developing around the idea of giving us access and experience, but not ownership," Bass said. "It just strikes me as odd to say the thing that's going to go the other direction is consumer 3D printing."

According to Bass, improvements in machinery, material science, and software together will lead to a new era of innovation in many industries. This is the concept of "additive manufacturing."

This was a hot topic throughout the conference. During the afternoon keynote address on Thursday, GE general manager of technology, Christine Furstoss, discussed the importance of converging ideas and technological innovations to move forward with 3D printing in the manufacturing industry. She said that even though 3D printing has been around for decades, the world needs to harness the full capacity of the technology now, when people are enthusiastic about it.

"It truly is a time for hardware meets software," she said in her address. "We need to embrace and bring forward a whole new class of innovators."

At the Bot Objects booth, 3D modeling designs are displayed.

 Image: Lyndsey Gilpin/TechRepublic

CAD software was originally for engineers, so it has a reputation of being somewhat difficult to use for non-engineers. There is a definite gap between the hardware -- the physical 3D printer -- and the software -- the CAD designs.

The missing link is compatible software that is easy to download, use, and export to a machine. Open source websites likeThingiverse and Shapeways offer have pre-made CAD designs that can be downloaded or sent off to be 3D printed and shipped, but in order for this technology to catch wind in the mass market, disrupt industries, and revolutionize the way we manufacture products, the design software must become easier to use.

About two years ago, the company launched Autodesk 123D, a community for users to design, create, and share 3D models. Autodesk has partnered with Ponoko, Techshop, and 3D Systems to allow users of 123D to create actual objects with their designs using the 3D modeling software. 3D Systems offers on-demand printing services and personal 3D printers and kits. As of right now, it is still free to use.

"It's all going to be about innovation, about discovery, about invention," Bass said. "Things will get quickly better, they will plateau, someone will invent something and it will get better again."

eMerge Americas Techweek:May 1-7, 2014,Miami, Florida

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10 reasons why the Ubuntu Phone should be your next mobile device (TechRepublic)

By Jack Wallen in 10 Things,                 April 3, 2014, 10:51 AM PST

Looking for your next smartphone? Jack Wallen explains why the Ubuntu Phone should be your mobile solution

The Ubuntu Phone is set to launch this year. With more and more major players getting on board as hardware suppliers, you can bet the darling of Linux mobility will slowly find its way into every market imaginable. The big question mark is the US market. With Android and IOS having a stranglehold on US customers, can this new mobile platform make it? I firmly believe that the Ubuntu Phone not only can be your next mobile device, it should be. I'll give you 10 reasons why.

1: Unity interface

From the beginning, the Unity interface was designed and developed with mobile devices in mind. Unity was initially released in 2010, which means it's had four years and four major releases to get it fine-tuned for massive mobile use. That kind of fine-tuning is unheard of prior to an initial release. Add to this, the code base for both the desktop and the mobile iteration will be 100% the same (upon release of the first mobile device), so the worldwide network of open source developers who work on Ubuntu Unity will continue to make it one of the finest interfaces you will ever experience.

2: Updates

Unlike the other platforms, the Ubuntu Phone will follow in the footsteps of its desktop sister and enjoy a steady stream of updates. And most likely, you won't suffer from the upgrade lag found in some carriers or manufacturers. Updates will happen when they are released. Although carriers will be able to add their own software to the base stack, that software should not interfere with the update process -- especially on a kernel level. If you're one of those who like to have the latest version, the Ubuntu Phone will give you updates in spades.

3: Easy customization

All other phones should pale in comparison to the customizations you'll have available. And it won't be long before open source developers have their way with the platform and different interfaces will be available. You think Android has a lot of customization... just wait until the Ubuntu Phone platform gains the slightest bit of traction. Currently, Android is the king of customization. Whether the initial Ubuntu Phone can usurp that crown has yet to be seen. But you can bet it will give it a run for its money. Once the platform has solidified, and the developers begin doing their thing, the sky's the limit.

4: So many apps

There are already a plethora of apps that can be crafted to work with the Ubuntu Phone. Yes, apps like LibreOffice and The Gimp will require some magic to get them to work with the mobile interface. But the core is there, and most of those apps will need only tweaking to get them to work. You can bet Canonical will work hard to make sure that along with the launch of the Ubuntu Phone, there will be a sizable number of apps ready. And that number will grow exponentially, as developers scramble to get their software onto yet another platform. Who isn't ready for a mobile version of LibreOffice?

5: Security

Android is based on Linux, so it gains a certain level of inherent security. Ubuntu Phone is even closer to being a straight-up take on the Linux kernel -- and that means even more security. In a time when malware and stolen data have become key issues on many fronts, having a mobile platform as secure as the Linux desktop will go a long, long way toward easing the minds of users.

6: Desktop integration

Most platforms have tried it, but none has fully managed to realize a seamless desktop integration. Ubuntu Phone should finally make this a reality. Imagine having the same data across all devices and being able to easily (and completely) sync your desktop, phone, and tablet without having to add third-party software. This is the reality that will be the Ubuntu Phone. You will also enjoy the same apps across devices. In the end, that means a shallower learning curve for all involved. The only current hurdle is getting Unity 8 (and Mir) released for the desktop. Once that has occurred... again, say I, the sky's the limit.

7: Universal device UI

One interface for all. Desktop, smartphone, tablet. Canonical started the push for convergence and will most likely stand at the head of the crowd the second the Ubuntu Phone is available. Even without full-blown convergence, you can enjoy the same interface on all devices. All the core elements will be there (on all devices): Dash, Launcher, Scopes, and more. Not only will it be easy to learn and use, it will be incredibly efficient to support. You know one interface, you know them all.

8: Search

With Scopes available to the Ubuntu Phone, users will be searching with a power they have never before experienced (unless they've already used Unity and Scopes). If you are not familiar with Scopes, imagine having more than 100 sources in which to search -- all at once. So when you search for an item, you will get results from multiple locations (local storage, Amazon, Google, Wikipedia, and much more.

9: Easy gestures

The Ubuntu Phone will enjoy a solid gesture experience. With a full left-to-right swipe, you'll get a list of all your currently running apps. Tap on one of those apps to bring it back to focus. Swiping from the bottom edge of the phone will reveal the controls for the current app. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to reveal your notifications. A sort swipe from the left edge of the screen will reveal your Launcher, which holds all your favorite apps, ready for launching.

10: Cloud integration

With the recent announcement that Ubuntu One is shutting down, you can be sure that the Ubuntu Phone will have some sort of cloud storage capability. Whether it's something akin to Dropbox is hard to say. But given the nature of the Linux platform, there will be plenty of options for cloud storage on the Ubuntu Phone. Will it be as seamless as, say, Android is to Google? Possibly. Will it have as many options as Android? Probably. What's certain is that the Ubuntu Phone will play nicely with cloud storage. It's a shame that Canonical decided to axe Ubuntu One, but the Ubuntu Phone will still be perfectly at home in the cloud.

Are you in?

The Ubuntu crowd is already excited about this device finally hitting the market. Will you be jumping on the Ubuntu Phone bandwagon? What has you most excited about this new platform? If you won't be joining the ride, why not? Share your thoughts with fellow TechRepublic members. 

Jack Wallen is an award-winning writer for TechRepublic and Linux.com. He’s an avid promoter of open source and the voice of The Android Expert. For more news about Jack Wallen, visit his website getjackd.net.

Microsoft's Windows 8.1 Update: What Windows 8 should have been from the start (TechRepublic)

Summary: Microsoft is starting its rollout of Windows 8.1 Update on April 2. The new features and changes are starting to make this an operating system I actually want to use.

By Mary Jo Foley for All About Microsoft |                                                 April 2, 2014 

Microsoft officials confirmed on April 2 what those of us who keep tabs on Windows operating-system leaks have known for a while: The Windows 8.1 Update, which the company is beginning to roll out starting today, makes Windows 8 a lot more usable for those of us who rely on mice and keyboards.

On April 2, during the first day of the company's Build 2014 show, officials showed off the latest update for Windows 8.1, known officially as "Windows 8.1 Update." As leaks and tipsters have made plain in recent months, the 8.1 Update adds new capabilities, such as easier access to the taskbar with pinnable apps; inclusion of new, context-sensitive menus by right clicking on apps; and the ability to more easily close and navigate across Desktop and Metro-Style apps.

Regardless of any rumors you may have read, the Metro Start Screen isn't going away. On PCs and other devices that are more likely to be used with keyboards and mice, Windows 8.1 Update will boot to the Desktop screen, rather than the Metro/tiled screen. On touch tablets, the Metro/tiled screen will still be the default boot-up screen, as it is currently with Windows 8.1. The bottom line: OEMs will be able to decide which "power profiles" make sense for which devices (slates, desktops, workstations, mobile devices) with the Windows 8.1 Update, but users will be able to override most of these new default settings.

As sources have told us previously, and as Microsoft officials are now confirming, Microsoft plans to make the Windows 8.1 Update bits available to MSDN/TechNet subscribers today, April 2. The rest of the Windows 8.1 user base will get the Update on April 8 via Windows Update.

Also, as sources indicated previously, Microsoft has managed to compress Windows 8.1 Update and improve its memory-management so that it will work better on cheaper, smaller devices. Those of us with devices already running Windows 8/8.1 won't get this smaller OS; it's for new devices only.

I've been using the final Windows 8.1 Update bits (the RTM bits provided to me by Microsoft) for the past week or so on my new Acer Aspire S7 laptop. While I still feel as though Microsoft offers too many different ways of performing the same task in Windows 8/8.1, I'm more at home with the Update installed. My usual workflow feels less interrupted by Windows 8 than it did without the Update. With the 8.1 Update installed, Windows 8 feels more familiar, sensible and useful to me. Moving between Metro and Desktop is finally starting to feel less jarring.

You say recanting; they say refining

Microsoft officials maintain they aren't simply renouncing the company's original directions because of less-than-stellar public acceptance of the Windows 8 OS. The Windows team is continuing to listen to customer feedback and are "steadily refining the set of features in both first-party apps and the operating system itself," in the words of Director of Communications Chris Flores.

Microsoft execs say that on touch-enabled devices, Windows 8 has the highest customer-satisfaction scores than any version of Windows ever. So why make the kinds of changes that Windows 8.1 and then the Windows 8.1 Update are delivering?

There are a lot of customers out there with a lot of muscle memory as to how they've learned to interact with Windows, execs say. Microsoft is trying to strike a balance between big/bold and familiar without alienating the millions of users who rely heavily on mice and keyboards. Microsoft's official stance is the company needed to make sure touch was in a good place" before shoring up the OS for mice and keyboards.

It's tough to make pizza for more than a billion, Microsoft officials are fond of saying. I'm just glad with Windows 8 Update I am finally getting my slice with pineapple but no ham.

Mary Jo has covered the tech industry for 30 years for a variety of publications and Web sites, and is a frequent guest on radio, TV and podcasts, speaking about all things Microsoft-related. She is the author of Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft plans to stay relevant in the post-Gates era (John Wiley & Sons, 2008

Brazilian government blames telcos for World Cup infrastructure delays

Summary: Communications minister describes current situation as "tense" and criticizes telecommunications firms for focusing on project cost

By Angelica Mari for Brazil Tech | March 31, 2014 

The Brazilian government has expressed concern over the delays and the "tense" atmosphere around the roll-out of communication systems at World Cup stadiums.

During a public audience last week, communications minister Paulo Bernardo has strongly criticized SindTelebrasil, the union representing the telecommunications firms and said the current situation is just as stressful as the Confederations Cup last year, when the telecommunications work commenced two months before the events began.

SindTelebrasil has been issuing warnings about the difficulties in installing the communications systems at the venues and attributes that to the complexities in dealing with the administration of the stadiums, who need to authorize the execution of the work.

When explaining the cause of the delays, the minister said the telcos should "make more of an effort" and that the companies are unwilling to invest in the new communications infrastructure needed for the events and that this turned the World Cup telecom preparations into a "commercial issue." 

According to SindTelebrasil, the indoor communications infrastructure in place at the stadia will be the same that was in place at the London Olympics in 2012 and will cater for voice and 2G, 3G and 4G data. Operators Claro, Oi, Nextel, Tim and Vivo have partnered to deploy a single project with shared infrastructure and investment - the companies' equipment will live in a room with a fiber optic network linking towers distributed throughout the stadium to ensure coverage across the entire venue.

The total investment planned for for the indoor stadium coverage at all the 12 World Cup venues is R$200m ($88.3m), according to SindTelebrasil. The association points out that this body of work was not part of the FIFA requirements or the obligations set out by Anatel, the Brazilian telecommunications agency. 

The union adds that telcos also proposed the roll-out of free Wi-fi so that fans could rely less on the mobile network, but claims that of the 12 stadiums, only half have authorized the work so far.

Paulo Bernardo, the communications minister, was keen to stress last week that the mobile and Wi-fi infrastructure is different to the set-up needed for the broadcasting of the events. The latter is a project led by government-owned telecommunications company Telebrás, which includes the roll-out of fiber optic networks at all the venues.

Despite ruling out the risk of a breakdown in the Telebrás systems, Bernardo said that the public sector-led part of the project will be completed in a rush: venues such as the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba will only be completed by May 15 and only then the infrastructure will be rolled out. The World Cup will commence on June 12.

Topics: Mobility, 4G, Government

Angelica Mari is ZDNet's Brazil Contributing Editor.