estimates

The high-profile Flashback Trojan that is estimated to have infected more than 600,000 Macs at its peak earlier this year would have earned its creators $14,000 in the course of three weeks.

The only hitch is that the money isn't going anywhere.

In a blog post today, security firm Symantec says the pay-per-click provider the malware makers were using spotted the activity as fraudulent.

"Many (pay-per-click) providers employ anti-fraud measures and affiliate-verification processes before paying. Fortunately, the attackers in this instance appear to have been unable to complete the necessary steps to be paid," the … Read more

Reports that Apple is in the midst of scaling back parts orders for the iPhone 4S are overblown, according to two separate analyst firms.

In notes sent out to investors this morning, Piper Jaffray and UBS raise serious questions about a report that demand for Apple's latest iPhone was thinning out. Among their reasons for doubt: iPhone shortages in Apple's retail stores and continuing wait time on new orders through Apple's online store.

"We believe the Commercial Times report is without merit and believe iPhone 4S demand is not an issue," wrote Maynard Um, a … Read more

Mixxx is a free, open-source DJ mixing console that turns your digital music collection into the source for a full range of mixing, programming, and effects for recording or live presentation. While all you need is a PC or laptop to use Mixxx, it can also control two turntables, even analog turntables, with special time-synched media. By using Mixxx's Vinyl Control with one of several time-synched records, you can control your digital music just like your analog records. Mixxx enables scratching, hot cues, looping, and other effects, in addition to its core mixing and equalization features.

Mixxx's stylish … Read more

Links from Monday's episode of Loaded:

Android 3.2 coming to tablets

Google Maps stops traffic estimates

iUsers enables mutliple users on iPad

Microsoft working secretly on social

No more easy passwords for Hotmail

Small businesses and start-ups need all the help they can get. Fortunately, there's a wide range of free tools that can help entrepreneurs, contractors, and tradespeople take care of business. Bid-n-Invoice Basic Invoice is an easy-to-use application for creating and printing professional-looking invoices and estimates. Best of all, it's free for both personal and commercial use.

Basic Invoice opened with an extremely basic interface, just a blank field and a toolbar with icons labeled New Invoice, Manual Invoice, and Help. We clicked New Invoice, which opened the program's template in a separate window. A drop-down list let … Read more

The apps people buy on their mobile phones continue to bring in big business, and there are few signs of it slowing down according to IHS iSuppli.

In a report released today, the research firm says revenue from app stores owned by Apple, Google, Nokia, and Research In Motion is set to grow 77.7 percent, reaching $3.8 billion by the end of the year and eventually rising to $8.3 billion in 2014. By comparison, 2010's mobile app store combined revenues stood at $2.1 billion, up from $830.6 million in 2009.

"With consumers continuing … Read more

Apple now tops other handset makers in terms of revenue, according to new estimates.

With big iPhone sales during the quarter, Apple passed mobile giant Nokia in revenue, making it the world's largest handset vendor based on that metric, according to Boston-based Strategy Analytics.

"We estimate Apple's wholesale revenues for its iPhone handset division stood at $11.9 billion in the first quarter of 2011," said Strategy Analytics' Senior Analyst Alex Spektor in a statement, referring to U.S. dollars. "Apple overtook Nokia for the first time, which recorded a lower $9.4 billion of … Read more

Accurately estimating construction costs is the key to preparing bids that win contracts without bankrupting the contractor. Misronet's e-STM8 Construction Estimating Software is a useful tool for estimating job costs and submitting winning bids, but it can also manage jobs, material costs, and subcontracting. It's suitable for both the U.S. and international construction markets, too.

The efficient interface is typical of Windows utilities: File menu, icon-based toolbars, left-hand tree view for navigation and selecting functions, and a main display window subdivided into smaller windows, entry fields, and other features as needed. A Help menu and useful examples … Read more

If early sales estimates are any indicator, Apple appears to have another hit on its hands with the iPad.

Including presales, Apple sold 600,000 to 700,000 of the new tablet on Saturday, according to estimates released by Piper Jaffray senior analyst Gene Munster. That is more than double his earlier prediction of 200,000 to 300,000 first-day sales. At least 730 people lined up Saturday at Apple's flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York City--more than the number who showed up for the iPhone or iPhone 3GS launches, he said.

By comparison, Apple sold around a half-million iPhones … Read more