Via FastCompany:

“Mike Parker–a legendary typographer, type designer, and historian who is perhaps best known for his work giving the world Helvetica–died Sunday night. He was 85.

Read rest of FastCompany article

Via Facebook’s press release :

“Facebook today announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire WhatsApp, a rapidly growing cross-platform mobile messaging company, for a total of approximately $16 billion, including $4 billion in cash and approximately $12 billion worth of Facebook shares. The agreement also provides for an additional $3 billion in restricted stock units to be granted to WhatsApp’s founders and employees that will vest over four years subsequent to closing.”

Flickr, the photo sharing site is also 10 years old (it was Facebook’s 10 year anniversary last week) on February 10 2014.  The Flickr blog has noted the occasion with a video of various pictures from Flickr and a timeline of Flickr’s history.

Watch the #Flickr10 video at http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickr/12433794693/

and read the Flickr’s “Happy 10th Birthday, Flickr!” Blog Post

ArsTechnica explains why the idea of Microsoft/Nokia should fork Android is a poor one given that “with each new Android release, Google is making a forked [Android] operating system less and less viable”.

Read Neither Microsoft, Nokia, nor anyone else should fork Android. It’s unforkable. | Ars Technica.

According to Adobe’s security advisory dated February 4 2014,  “Adobe has released security updates for Adobe Flash Player 12.0.0.43 and earlier versions for Windows and Macintosh and Adobe Flash Player 11.2.202.335 and earlier versions for Linux. These updates address a critical vulnerability that could potentially allow an attacker to remotely take control of the affected system. Adobe is aware of reports that an exploit for this vulnerability exists in the wild, and recommends users update their product installations to the latest versions”

Update ASAP!

To determine what version of the Adobe Flash player you have on your Windows, Macintosh or Linux system, visit http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/

To download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, visit http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/distribution3.html

Windows users should note that the Flash Player in Microsoft Internet Explorer v9 and earlier and the Flash player in web browsers like Opera, Mozilla Firefox and Safari are separate installs. You should install and update both versions of Adobe Flash.

For Internet Explorer v10 and Internet Explorer v11 (for users for Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and Windows 8) browsers have Adobe Flash Player built-in and users should update their Internet Explorer browser versions.

Google Chrome browser users has Adobe Flash Player built-in and users should update the Google Chrome browser to the latest version. See http://www.google.com/support/chrome/bin/answer.py?answer=95414 on how to do so.

Via Microsoft’s Press Release:

“Microsoft Corp. today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Satya Nadella as Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors effective immediately. Nadella previously held the position of Executive Vice President of Microsoft’s Cloud and Enterprise group.”

Microsoft has a dedicated page about Satya Nadella at
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/ceo/index.html

Satya Nadella – Microsoft’s CEO.

Great news for fans of the Google Chromecast, the $35 us hdmi dongle that can display Netflix and YouTube videos on your HDTV via your Android or iOS smartphone.

….we’re releasing the Google Cast Software Development Kit (SDK) for developers who want to build Chromecast support into their apps and websites.

This should mean more content and applications that can be made available on the Google Chromecast. Read the announcement at

http://chrome.blogspot.com/2014/02/chromecast-is-now-open-to-developers.html