Microsoft upgrades Surface tablets after financial hiccup

The Surface Pro 2 tablet can be
paired with an optional docking station

Microsoft is updating its range of Surface tablets following weak sales of the original models.

The updates include faster processors and higher-resolution screens and cameras.

Both the ARM-based Windows RT version and Intel-powered Windows 8 edition are being upgraded.

Blackberry reveals date BBM messaging will go to rivals

Until now the BBM app had been limited to Blackberry's own devices

From this weekend, users will no longer need to own a Blackberry device to access its BBM messaging service.

Blackberry has confirmed BBM will be available as a free download for Apple and Android devices but not for Windows phones.

Android alternative gets $7m funding boost.

Android gets phone OS rival

A team of Android programmers has raised a $7m (£4.3m) investment to turn their hobby project into a rival to Google's phone operating system.

The CyanogenMod (CM) lets phone users swap the official version of Android for one that gives them more control over their phone or tablet.

It has reportedly been installed on over seven million Android devices.

RSA warns over NSA link to encryption algorithm

RSA believes one of its algorithms may be compromised

RSA, the internet security firm, has warned customers not to use one of its own encryption algorithms after fears it can be unlocked by the US National Security Agency (NSA).

In an advisory note to its developer customers, RSA said that a default algorithm in one of its toolkits could contain a "back door" that would allow the NSA to decrypt encrypted data.

It "strongly recommends" switching to other random number generators.