Archive for the ‘Free Software’ Category

UK software firm Blue Prism agrees to Vista’s $1.63 bln final takeover offer – Reuters

Nov 25 (Reuters) - British robotics software company Blue Prism (PRSMB.L) has agreed to a 1.22 billion pound ($1.63 billion) final takeover offer from U.S. private equity firm Vista Equity, the parties said on Thursday, topping a proposal from SS&C Technologies (SSNC.O).

The increased 1,250 pence-per-share cash offer from Bali Bidco Ltd, a firm indirectly owned by Vista, comes amid objections from activist investor Coast Capital, which has supported U.S.-based SS&C's proposal.

Bali Bidco said it will fund the deal through existing cash resources.

Register

Blue Prism directors have unanimously recommended shareholders to vote in favour of the Vista deal at meetings scheduled for Dec. 9.

SS&C last week made a 1.16 billion pound takeover approach to the British software firm.

Blue Prism, which counts automaker Daimler (DAIGn.DE), eBay (EBAY.O) and Britain's National Health Service among its customers, initially agreed to be taken over by Vista in September for 1.09 billion pounds. read more

U.S.-based Coast Capital, which holds a stake of around 2.8% in Blue Prism, objected to Vista's proposal, saying the sale process was flawed. Blue Prism defended the deal, saying it was better than continuing as a standalone firm. read more

Shares of Blue Prism ended about 0.6% higher at 1,215 pence on Thursday, before Vista's revised offer was made after the market close.

($1 = 0.7506 pounds)

Register

Reporting by Aby Jose Koilparambil in Bengaluru, Editing by William Maclean, Kirsten Donovan

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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UK software firm Blue Prism agrees to Vista's $1.63 bln final takeover offer - Reuters

2 Stocks to Brave the Internet Software & Services Industry – Entrepreneur

This story originally appeared on Zacks

The outlook for the Internet-Software & Services industry appears negative going by the estimate revision trend over the past year, driven largely by the pandemic. Some companies were however positively impacted by the pandemic and the rush-to-digitize trend that it gave rise to. The diversity of players in this group is the reason for this dissonance.Being the backbone of the digital economy, its hard to see this industry doing badly over the long term. However, the near-term outlook could have been better. To make matters worse, valuations are going through the roof. Under the circumstances, Criteo (CRTO) and Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN) are the only ones warranting a closer look.

- Zacks

Zacks Top Picks to Cash in on Artificial Intelligence

This world-changing technology is projected to generate $100s of billions by 2025. From self-driving cars to consumer data analysis, people are relying on machines more than we ever have before. Now is the time to capitalize on the 4th Industrial Revolution. Zacks urgent special report reveals 6 AI picks investors need to know about today.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free reportChannelAdvisor Corporation (ECOM): Free Stock Analysis ReportDonnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN): Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research

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2 Stocks to Brave the Internet Software & Services Industry - Entrepreneur

Global HMI Software Market (2021 to 2025) – Featuring Eaton, Inductive Automation and Siemens Among Others – GlobeNewswire

Dublin, Nov. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global HMI Software Market 2021-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The publisher has been monitoring the HMI software market and it is poised to grow by USD 1.47 bn during 2021-2025, progressing at a CAGR of 12.31% during the forecast period. The report on the HMI software market provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors.

The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by technological developments in HMI software and the usage of analytics among end-user industries.

The HMI software market analysis includes end-user, type, and deployment segments and geographic landscape.

The HMI software market is segmented as below:

By End-user

By Type

By Deployment

By Geographical Landscape

This study identifies the increasing need to improve process efficiency in manufacturing plants as one of the prime reasons driving the HMI software market growth during the next few years.

The report on HMI software market covers the following areas:

The robust vendor analysis is designed to help clients improve their market position, and in line with this, this report provides a detailed analysis of several leading HMI software market vendors that include ABB Ltd., Eaton Corporation Plc, Elektrobit Automotive GmbH, Inductive Automation LLC, Ing. Punzenberger COPA-DATA GmbH, National Instruments Corp., Rockwell Automation Inc., Schneider Electric SE, Siemens AG, and Spectris Plc. Also, the HMI software market analysis report includes information on upcoming trends and challenges that will influence market growth. This is to help companies strategize and leverage all forthcoming growth opportunities.

The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to an analysis of the key vendors.

The publisher presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters such as profit, pricing, competition, and promotions. It presents various market facets by identifying the key industry influencers. The data presented is comprehensive, reliable, and a result of extensive research - both primary and secondary. The market research reports provide a complete competitive landscape and an in-depth vendor selection methodology and analysis using qualitative and quantitative research to forecast the accurate market growth.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summary

2. Market Landscape

3. Market Sizing

4. Five Forces Analysis

5. Market Segmentation by End-user

6. Market Segmentation by Type

7. Market Segmentation by Deployment

8. Customer landscape

9. Geographic Landscape

10. Vendor Landscape

11. Vendor Analysis

12. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/51mz08

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Global HMI Software Market (2021 to 2025) - Featuring Eaton, Inductive Automation and Siemens Among Others - GlobeNewswire

Apple sues company known for hacking iPhones on behalf of governments – CNBC

Apple CEO Tim Cook delivers the keynote address during the 2020 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) at Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California.

Brooks Kraft/Apple Inc/Handout via Reuters

Apple on Tuesday sued NSO Group, an Israeli firm that sells software to government agencies and law enforcement that enables them to hack iPhones and read the data on them, including messages and other communications.

Earlier this year, Amnesty International said it discovered recent-model iPhones belonging to journalists and human rights lawyers that had been infected with NSO Group malware called Pegasus.

Apple is seeking a permanent injunction to ban NSO Group from using Apple software, services or devices. It's also seeking damages over $75,000.

Apple considers the lawsuit to be a warning to other spyware vendors. "The steps Apple is taking today will send a clear message: in a free society, it is unacceptable to weaponize powerful state-sponsored spyware against innocent users and those who seek to make the world a better place," Ivan Krstic, Apple's head of security engineering and architecture, said in a tweet.

NSO Group software permits "attacks, including from sovereign governments that pay hundreds of millions of dollars to target and attack a tiny fraction of users with information of particular interest to NSO's customers," Apple said in the lawsuit filed in federal court in the Northern District of California, saying that it is not "ordinary consumer malware."

Apple also said on Tuesday it has patched the flaws that enabled the NSO Group software to access private data on iPhones using "zero-click" attacks where the malware is delivered through a text message and leaves little trace of infection.

Pegasus' users can remotely surveil the iPhone owner's activities, collect emails, text messages and browsing history, and access the device's microphone and camera, Apple alleged in its lawsuit.

Apple said the attacks were only targeted at a small number of customers, and it said on Tuesday it will inform iPhone users who may have been targeted by Pegasus malware.

"To deliver FORCEDENTRY to Apple devices, attackers created Apple IDs to send malicious data to a victim's device allowing NSO Group or its clients to deliver and install Pegasus spyware without a victim's knowledge," Apple said in its announcement. "Though misused to deliver FORCEDENTRY, Apple servers were not hacked or compromised in the attacks."

The NSO Group created Apple ID accounts and violated the iCloud terms of service to operate its spyware, Apple said.

NSO Group is accused of using "0day" bugs to create its spyware, or flaws that Apple has not yet fixed. Once Apple fixes an exploit, it's no longer a 0day and users can protect themselves by updating their iPhone software.

Earlier this year, Amnesty International said that it found evidence of a hacked iPhone 12 and had obtained a leaked list of 50,000 phone numbers targeted by NSO Group software. NSO Group software is alleged to have been used to monitor relatives and people close to Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who was killed in Turkey by assassins working on behalf of Saudi Arabia.

Amnesty International also said it discovered NSO Group malware on the iPhones of a French human rights lawyer, a French activist, an Indian journalist and a Rwandan activist.

The U.S. Commerce Department blacklisted NSO Group earlier this month, prohibiting it from using American technology in its operations. Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is also separately suing NSO Group, alleging it helped hack users of Meta subsidiary WhatsApp.

Apple said it would donate $10 million as well as any damages from the lawsuit to organizations focusing on fighting digital surveillance.

"Thousands of lives were saved around the world thanks to NSO Group's technologies used by its customers," an NSO Group spokesperson said in a statement. "Pedophiles and terrorists can freely operate in technological safe-havens, and we provide governments the lawful tools to fight it. NSO Group will continue to advocate for the truth."

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Apple sues company known for hacking iPhones on behalf of governments - CNBC

How to find the best Black Friday iPad deals – Gamesradar

Black Friday iPad deals are here, but if you're wondering how to make the most of the sale, we're offering up all our tips and tricks to make sure you don't walk away from today's discounts empty-handed. We've been covering the annual holiday sales for years now, and picked up a few tips and tricks to finding the best Black Friday iPad deals along the way.

We're sharing all our experience right here, rounding up all the retailers to check in on, how you should decide which iPad to chase, and how to make sure you're getting the best price possible. Navigating these waters can be tricky, but knowing exactly what you want to get out of your new tablet (and how much you're willing to pay for it) can simplify things enormously.

Not only are we showing you how to find the best discounts, then, but also making sure you're getting the best value possible. Read on for our top tips on how to find the best Black Friday iPad deals for you today.

US

UK

There are a number of different iPad models lined up in preparation for Black Friday this year, which each one offering a slightly different appeal. That means finding the right iPad for you is going to be critical in getting the best Black Friday iPad deal possible. If you're not already aware of which model you're going to be chasing this week, you'll find some key specs and features (and who will be able to make the most of them) just below.

In essence, the iPad you should be aiming to pick up on Black Friday should be the cheapest one that meets the needs of how you will use it. For the vast majority of people, that will mean the 9th generation 10.2-inch iPad will be at the top of the hit list. It's best for those after an everyday device for streaming, browsing the web, and checking up on some emails. However, if you're going to be playing heavier games and taking more notes, then the iPad Air 4 might be the better option, thanks to its boosted processor, Apple Pencil second-generation support, and slightly larger screen.

From there, you'll move up to the 11-inch iPad Pro if you're going to be using your device for larger-scale media editing and multi-tasking between heavier apps like Adobe. Or, if you need to do all that while also looking to replace your laptop, you'll be looking to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro instead.

The iPad Mini 6 inhabits a middle ground between power and portability. The main reason you'll likely pick up this model in this week's Black Friday iPad deals is for its smaller form factor - its 8.3-inch display will easily fit into smaller bags for better portability. However, you're actually picking up more power under the hood than the 10.2-inch model and the iPad Air 4, so there's no compromise on computing performance either.

Once you're able to focus your efforts on the right iPad for you, it's time to set your budget. This is where your research into each iPad model will come in handy, even if you know which one will suit you best. You can expect to pay less than the MSRP of the tablet of your choice, however we often find that the more expensive a device is, the heavier the discount percentage. That means the next model up may be just $100 / 100 more when we're in the heat of Black Friday iPad deals - offering far better value overall.

This is where your flexibility comes in. Knowing which specs or features you're happy to bend your budget for will ensure that you're getting the best value out of these offers, rather than just the lowest price possible. For example, we regularly see larger storage configurations just knocking on the door of prices set for much smaller tablets. You could easily spend just $40 / 40 more and double your storage, so make sure you're checking deals around your budget as well.

There is a range of retailers all offering Black Friday iPad deals this year, but knowing which ones to check first will significantly up your chances of securing the best prices on the shelves. Not only that but knowing your retailers will also give you the confidence to know when you've spotted the deal for you.

In general, Amazon is your best bet. We regularly see record low prices appearing on this site that other retailers can't match, and the online giant has a reputation for automatically price matching anyone undercutting it at the same time.

However, as the most popular online shopping destination, stock can move quickly here. That's why we'd fall back to Best Buy, Walmart, or B&H Photo in the US (or Currys, Laptops Direct, or Very in the UK) if the model you want is running late on shipping or off the shelves altogether.

US retailers

UK retailers

The very best Black Friday iPad deals will fly off the shelves. We haven't seen any offers on the cheaper 10.2-inch or Air models so far this year, but if they do appear they will likely sell out particularly quickly.

That means you'll need to be in the right place at the right time to catch any cheaper models that do take a price cut. Keep an eye on your favorite retailers and stay tuned.

If the first wave of sales isn't fruitful, however, stick around. We often see flash sales offering up some of the lowest prices of the sale during the day itself, but you'll need to be in the right place at the right time to take advantage of them.

While you're browsing Black Friday iPad deals, it's important to make sure that the discount is actually as good as the retailer suggests. You can use tools like Honey or Camel Camel Camel (for Amazon) to track the price history of a product and ensure you're getting the best discount of the year before you proceed. While we generally see record low prices over Black Friday, that might not be the case with every discount so it's definitely worth double-checking.

Once you've found the perfect deal for you, it's worth spending a little time checking in on other retailers. In general, we find that stores do price match each other when a new record low is hit, but it's worth making sure you're actually getting the best price possible straight away.

Plus, once those record lows are hit we often see retailers looking to gain a competitive edge by offering additional incentives. This could be anything from speedy delivery to free software and accessories, so check other stores for any extra goodies before committing.

You can find out how we find you the best Black Friday deals right here, or take a look at the Black Friday AirPods deals already available as well. We're also rounding up all the best Black Friday laptop deals on the market, and, of course, highlighting all the best Black Friday gaming deals as well.

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How to find the best Black Friday iPad deals - Gamesradar