Posted: 05 Apr 2014 08:00 AM PDT Fingerprint analysis has been used to identify suspects since the late nineteenth century by Police departments around the world. With today's modern technology, the Police and forensic scientists still can't reconstruct a smudged print though. Also the Fingerprint patterns are also of little or no use when the suspect is not even in the database! With these issues surrounding the use of fingerprint analysis in mind, a pilot study in the UK has been unveiled that has the potential to gather a large amount of new information from a fingerprint, from gender recognition to what the suspect has eaten.  This new research is being conducted by scientists at Sheffield Hallam University, who are working closely with the West Yorkshire Police Department. The researchers are interested in what substances may have been on the suspect's fingers when the print was left at the scene. Tiny traces of proteins and pharmacological compounds are capable of being identified using the team's mass spectrometer. Mass spectrometry is a process that sorts the molecules, which are present in a sample by mass, technically known as; mass to charge ratio. The process involves ionizing the sample and then accelerating the molecules in a magnetic field obtains the chemical signature of it. The output can then tell the team what mixture of proteins was excreted through the skin to determine the gender of the person or the presence of certain diseases. Pharmaceuticals and certain foods may be detected in the subject's system by searching for traces in the fingerprints. Neil Denison, lead scientist, says the study is producing results with the necessary level of accuracy that can be used in criminal investigations. Further testing will be required before this kind of fingerprint examination will be officially recognized as evidence in court. Neil Denison thinks that it may happen in the next few years, but it will not be used often due to costs, as mass spectrometry is much more expensive than normal fingerprint analysis, so it will probably only be used to solve major offences. As always, if you would like to leave a sensible comment, then please do so in the comments section below. [Image via laboratoryequipment] SOURCE: http://www.geek.com/science/fingerprints-can-reveal-gender-drug-use-what-was-recently-eaten-1589905/ The post Fingerprint Analysis Pilot Study Reveals More Data Than Ever appeared first on TechBeat. |
Posted: 05 Apr 2014 07:00 AM PDT You may have been one of the hoards of people who snapped up the Rapsberry Pi when it first came out. I know my husband was. And for just $35, it really did create a stir at the time, providing a low-cost platform that could be customised in countless ways. However it does have limitations and some have started to search for something of the same ilk but with perhaps a little more hardware. Enter the Novena; the open source laptop. “I’ve been a hacker of consumer electronics,” said Andrew “Bunnie” Huang, Novena’s creator. “I find myself typically designing products I don’t use. I decided I wanted to design something I wanted to use.”  The Novena is a Linux-powered laptop, which allows the user to modify each and every component, tailoring the machine to their specific needs. You can literally re-wire and re-program the individual components, thanks to the housing that has been designed to be opened up, allowing you access to the heart and soul of the machine.  It’s meant to have an easy and accessible approach to electronics on the inside,” Huang says. “You can actually download the design source. You can understand the intent of every component.” Novena is likely to appeal more to hackers due to the nature of the laptop and Huang thinks that researchers, engineers and product developers will take an interest in the product, as well as those who have security concerns, due to the “enhanced level of inspectability”. Huang is running a crowdfunding campaign through Crowd Supply and has a target of $250,000. However at $2,000 each, Huang doesn’t think he’ll be shifting very many. The campaign runs until May 18th. [Image via Bunniestudios & Makezine] SOURCE: http://mashable.com/2014/04/02/open-source-laptop The post Novena: The Open Source Laptop appeared first on TechBeat. |
Posted: 05 Apr 2014 06:00 AM PDT I hate to be Debbie Downer here, but while it seems that Cortana might just have what it takes to put Siri in the backstage, users who live in Asia will have to wait till next year to enjoy Microsoft’s new personal digital assistant. While the latest Windows Phone 8.1 update will be rolled out to most devices in the following months, Asians will need a little patience. This news shouldn’t really come as a surprise, as experience has taught us that not all features (and devices, for that matter) are released in all parts of the world simultaneously. Indeed, even Apple’s Siri was rolled out in stages worldwide.  The story is that Microsoft has consulted with and used screenwriters to come up with Cortana’s responses. Canned they may be, but witty they surely are. Try asking Cortana who her daddy is, and she’s supposed to say, "Technically speaking, he's Bill Gates. No big deal." (Source) Nice quip, sure; and I have a feeling Bill Gates has a smile on his face. More than silly quips, though, Cortana actually has a backstory. We already know that she’s derived from Halo, but the team went further to work on this Cortana’s character so they actually found a balance between fun and useful. Putting together the best of both worlds – Siri and Google Now – surely was not easy for the team, but the results should be very interesting. The potential of Cortana actually makes me want to try out a Windows Phone, and that is saying a lot! Windows Phone users, how do you feel about Cortana and her potential? [Image via The Verge] The post Cortana Not Coming To Asia Till 2015 appeared first on TechBeat. |
Posted: 05 Apr 2014 05:00 AM PDT Manchester City has become the first Premier League football club to introduce free WiFi throughout their stadium. The Etihad Stadium now has high-density broadband and it marks an ongoing digital initiative at the club, which includes apps that are aimed at visiting fans to help them navigate the area. The connection at the stadium is capable of providing 30MB download speeds. The overall objective is to enhance the match day experience through the use of mobile technology. The club is encouraging fans inside the ground to engage with MCFC on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. MCFC has previously shown images on the big screens inside the ground, which have been posted to photo-sharing site Instagram.  Director of marketing for media and fan development at the club, Diego Gigliani said, “The launch of high-density wifi allows us to offer free, high speed internet access to all our fans, marking an important step forward in Manchester City’s drive to become the most technologically and digitally advanced football club in the world…Mobile technology and social media in particular, play a key role in our fans’ match-day experience. It was, therefore, important for us to embrace this growing trend and enable our fans to share their passion for the club with fellow City supporters around the world, in real time, free of charge, all from the comfort of their seat.” After an extensive and rigorous testing phase, the WiFi will be available to everyone inside the 48,000-capacity stadium on match days. Liverpool FC previously tested WiFi in their 12,000-capacity Centenary Stand at Anfield, but has since stated that the club has no plans to roll out the service around the rest of the stadium. The problem being; some supporters complained about the speed of the connection? A 2013 report showed that the number of people accessing the Internet using their smartphone has more than doubled since 2006. Social networking websites such as Facebook have large amounts of content posted from in and around football stadiums. As always, if you would like to leave a sensible comment, then please do so in the comments section below. [Image via MCFC] SOURCE: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/news/club-news/2013/may/etihad-stadium-wifi The post Free WiFi At Manchester City Football Club Stadium appeared first on TechBeat. |
Posted: 05 Apr 2014 04:00 AM PDT Amazon has announced that it will begin shipping its very own video streaming device, the Amazon Fire TV, for $99. According to Amazon’s Peter Larsen, Fire TV will not be affected by issues that plague other living room hardware and in his presentation focused on the problems with search, performance and a “closed ecosystem”. “We need to invent and simplify on behalf of customers,” said Larsen.  As for the device itself, Fire TV sports a quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM, which Amazon claim makes it three times faster than any of the other recent set-top boxes from Apple and Roku. To get ahead of its competitors, Amazon is also promising to bring in numerous partners, with Larsen saying, “It’s got a ton of content.” One feature of Fire Tv will be “best value buy box”, which will tell you where a movie or show can watched for the best price. However only Amazon Instant Video and Hulu Plus will be included in the results initially. As well as Hulu, you can expect to see Netflix, YouTube, NBA, Vimeo and MLB.tv. available on Fire TV. Other features included are the ASAP feature, which “predicts which movies and TV episodes you'll want to watch and prepares them for playback before you even hit play,” and built in comprehensive parental controls, which allow parents to decide what content is displayed in a custom menu designed for children. Larsen was keen to point out that Fire TV has a voice search feature “that actually works”. “There’s no shouting across the room at your TV, which is irritating,” he said. Fire TV is not just for movie lovers, as Amazon also announced the much speculated gamepad for the device. It will cost $39.99 and will come with 1,000 Amazon coins, which can be used to buy games. Amazon says that as well as over 1,000 free-to-play titles, the average price of a game on Fire TV gamepad will be only $1.85, ideal for the casual gamer. In the highly competitive market of living room tech, Amazon has its work cut out to stand out from the crowd that is made up of Apple TV, Roku and Chromecast but so far things are looking good for Fire TV. [Image via Amazon] SOURCE: http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/2/5573818/amazon-announces-fire-tv The post Amazon Announces Fire TV, the $99 Set-Top Box appeared first on TechBeat. |
Posted: 05 Apr 2014 03:00 AM PDT Nest have just announced it will be bringing the Nest Learning Thermostat to the United Kingdom. The Nest device gives you full control of your heating through a mobile app. It is a really useful piece of kit, which I have seen working in a real environment; my friend Nathan, who resides in Canada, has installed the Nest Hub in his home. The Nest hub will, over time, learn what temperature you like your house and more importantly at what time of the day. Matt Rogers, Nest creator says, "It learns through a collection of sensors and algorithms. Since launching two years ago we have done extensive field trials. Nest is the complete system, we’ve thought about it end-to-end"  The Nest hub has made some bold claims; its thermostat can save some of your hard-earned money by heating your home during off-peak times, and it also uses motion sensors to work out whether anybody is actually at home. One of the best features the Nest has is a feature that gradually decreases your home’s temperature by 1 degree over the period of a month, a change which Nest says could save you £75 a year. You can pick up the standalone thermostat for £179. If you want the Hub installed by professionals, then it will increase the cost by a further £70. This is small change compared to the possible savings, which Nest say may reach up to £353 a year. Currently the Nest thermostat was only available in the US and Canada, with the UK release taking time. "Within five minutes of announcing the original Nest Learning Thermostat, someone asked us to bring it to the UK. Then two people. Then dozens…Every day since, we’ve been working hard to create a Nest Thermostat that will change the way our friends in the UK heat their homes…Staying warm shouldn’t be a hassle. And now it doesn’t have to be," writes Erik Charlton, Nest’s business blogger. What do you think? Would you be interested in a remote thermostat for your home heating? As always, if you would like to leave a sensible comment, then please do so in the comments section below. [Image via: waltonemcnaturalgas] SOURCE: http://www.t3.com/news/nest-s-smart-thermostat-lands-in-uk The post Nest Arrives in UK appeared first on TechBeat. |
Showing posts with label Technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Technology. Show all posts
Saturday, 5 April 2014
Fingerprint Analysis Pilot
Saturday, 28 September 2013
Dish On YouTube’s Offline Videos TechBeat
Samsung’s Golden Galaxy S4 Posted: 25 Sep 2013 01:39 PM PDT Samsung clearly don’t want to be left behind in the gold rush. Following the release of Apple’s gold iPhone, Samsung has announced it will be launching its very own golden phone.  The new Gold Edition Galaxy S4 will be available in two options, a Gold Pink model or a Gold Brown. The technology company has been showing off the new handsets on its United Arab Emirates social media outlets. It is unlikely that these luxurious handsets will reach global distribution but instead look to be targeted at a well-off demographic, similar to the one that the Nokia Oro was aimed at. But at least Samsung can say it too has a golden flagship product. |
NASA Declares Deep Impact Mission Lost Posted: 25 Sep 2013 09:09 AM PDT On Friday 20, 2013 NASA officially declared the comet hunting Deep Impact mission lost. Although the loss was unexpected, the mission team were more than happy with the $267 million unmanned spacecraft's performance. In the little under 9 years from launch, the spacecraft had managed to travel 4.7 billion miles throughout space sending back a plethora of information that as previously unknown about comets.  Communication Lost The last contact was made on the 8th August but since then there has been nothing from the spacecraft. Nobody on the Deep Impact mission team is entirely sure about the specifics which caused communication to fail between control and the spacecraft but it's thought that the most likely reason is a problem with time tagging. A problem with fault protection software reading dates after a certain day could have caused the computers to constantly reboot resulting in the spacecraft losing its place so that radio signals were interrupted and the solar panels pointing the wrong way. The electronics would have become frozen without and the craft would have been inoperable. A good Life Although the team were looking forward to receiving valuable data from Deep Impact for years to come, they're extremely happy with its performance. The space craft lasted up to 3 or 4 times longer than anyone anticipated. The launch of the comet seeking spacecraft came about in 2005. Its first mission was to intercept comet Temple1 with an impact, blasting material from the comet that could be studied. The mission was a complete success and from there on out, the comet hunter was able to provide much more information through various missions. On its travels, Deep Impact has:
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Welcome Back To Life, Simplenote! Posted: 25 Sep 2013 08:03 AM PDT Simplenote has been dubbed as the “first great notes app“, and in spite of a rocky recent history, it seems that its fans have not lost enthusiasm for the app. The notes app scene has not been idle, with many apps coming into the picture, but with Simplenote’s comeback, the classic app might just be the talk of the town again.  If you think about it, Simplenote may not be up to par with all the other notes app out there, especially with developers making sure their new apps can do practically everything. On the other hand, Simplenote does what it says on the tin: keep notes on a day-to-day basis. Simple. Plus syncing with the cloud. Now, thanks to Automattic, Simplenote has been given a new lease on life. The app is now available on iOS, Android, and Mac. The main thing going for the app is that it was built to go fast, and again, stay simple. Users who lean toward all sorts of functionalities for their notes apps might have a beef with, for example, the fact that you can’t refresh or save your notes. They are, however, automatically synced as you go, so there is no need to worry about losing your notes. Simplenote also allows collaborative editing, in the principle of Google Docs. With this new launch, Simplenote is being offered for FREE. Premium features are going to be turned off – at least until the development team finds a “significant value” they can provide. If you’re thinking why should you give up existing apps such as Evernote (which I liken to a notes app on steroids), here’s something from Matt Mullenweg that you can chew on: “You don't open a letter with a chainsaw.” That may be bordering on exaggeration, but if all you really want is a notes app that works – fast and efficiently without all the bling – then Simplenote is what you need. |
James The Robot Bartender Knows When You Want A Drink Posted: 25 Sep 2013 06:24 AM PDT James the robot bartender will chat, serve and recognize when you want drinks thanks to the partnership of a team of professors from Germany, Scotland and Greece. The birth of robot bar tenders isn't particularly newsworthy as there have been other attempts before James. However James, the Joint Action in Multimodal Embodied Systems robot is different to its predecessors due to his social skills.  People are Messy While it's been proven that robots are more than adept at mixing a whole host of drinks, the reality of them functioning as well as a human bar tender in a real life situation has always been unlikely. As a rule, robots like clean orderly situations. The chaotic atmosphere of the average pub serves to confuse robots. Robot bartenders in the past have only been able to mix drinks for patrons that have expressly ordered the drinks via a smart device. In reality though, patrons don't like to use devices to order drinks, they prefer to use the traditional signals to indicate that they want a drink. Determining an Order During the project, the European team decided that in order to be able to teach James the social skills necessary for a bar tender, they would have to research people's behaviors when ordering drinks in pubs. Cameras were placed in a number of pubs throughout England and Germany. When the footage was watched, the team discovered that 90% of people who wanted a drink would simply move closer to the bar where they could stare directly at the bar tender who picked up on the signal and took the order. For robots, the subtlety between somebody leaning against the bar and somebody staring over the bar at the bar tender is difficult for them to process. The team had to enable James the robot bar tender to process the information that people were presenting through body language and react in the appropriate way in a split second. A new Bartender is Born The results, published in Frontiers of Psychology show that progress is definitely being made. The project runs until January and the team hopes to bring robotics forward to the point that robot-human interaction is far more natural. |
The Dish On YouTube’s Offline Videos Posted: 25 Sep 2013 05:00 AM PDT There is no arguing that YouTube is the site to go to for video content. Whether it’s music, how-tos, or simply stupid, fun videos, YouTube has got something for everyone. And while there are some people who would not touch the site with a 12-foot pole, YouTube’s stats show that they have the upper hand. Did you know that more than 1 billion users – unique! – visit YouTube each month? Even more mind blowing is the fact that more than 6 billion hours of video are watched each month. That equates to almost an hour for every single person on Earth! And according to Nielsen, YouTube bests any cable network in the US, reaching more US adults in the age range 18-34. (Source) So what’s up with YouTube? There’s the saying that you should not fix it if it ain’t broke. Why are they making some considerable changes? Well, it’s not exactly NOT broke. Or, at the very least, there are certain things that needed improvement, and that’s what the YouTube team has done with recent updates. I don’t know about you, but where I come from, mobile Internet still has a lot of room for improvement. While things have really looked up in recent years, there are still times when I want to curse my telco for being so dumb. And that’s where the ability to watch YouTube videos even without a net connection comes in very handy. In a blog entry last week, YouTube announced that they are going to soon launch a feature that will allow viewers to watch offline videos. There are some important details to know about this upcoming feature:
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Space Mission To Jupiter’s Moon, Europa Posted: 25 Sep 2013 02:31 AM PDT Just lately there has been alot of talk about missions to Mars and further exploring what can be found on the planet. But a group who call themselves Objective Europa want to go where no one else has thought of going, Jupiter’s moon. The group are looking into the feasibility of sending a one-way crew to this icy moon, which is called Europa, in order to search for knowledge and extraterrestial life.  Objective Europa currently is only an online group and are not attached with any legal organisation. The group has stated its aim by saying, “Our purpose is to establish the foundation for and carry out a crewed mission to Jovian ice moon Europa through international crowd-research and participation.” The team is made up of some interesting names and give the possible mission some credibility. There is Kristian von Bengtson, co-founder of Copenhagen Suborbitals, a non-profit organisation that aims to launch humans into space. He is a Danish architect but specialises in manned spaceflight. Another team member is Michele Faragalli, who is a rover mobility specialist for the NASA contractor Neptec Design Group. Jacques Cousteau’s son, scientist and diver Pierre-Yves Cousteau, is an ambassador for the group as well as being a team member. At the moment this mission is nothing more than a concept but the group have opened up various research topic for discussion. They will need to gather information and find out whether it is feasible to send a manned mission to Europa, as well as do cost analysis. So the race is on, will humans land on Mars or Europa first? |
View And Purchase World Renowned Art With The Artsy App Posted: 25 Sep 2013 12:56 AM PDT The digital collectors of art, Artsy.net recently announced the release of their own app for iPhones and touch iPod. The company has been working relentlessly to bring the art world into the online space by connecting with galleries, museums and art fairs around the world to display images of the works on the start up's website. So far, the 150,000 registered users of the site are able to browse and purchase over 60,000 pieces of art from some of the leading galleries around the world. The Artsy App is a further step in Artsy's mission to make art accessible to all.  Art in Your Pocket Carter Clevelend, the founder and CEO of Artsy, spoke about the online art network telling LA Times'Culture Monster that "This is the first time such a large selection of artworks from world-renowned institutions has been made available to the public all in one place." The app for iOS7 will serve to increase the visibility of works from various artists, allowing the user to carry thousands of images of famous works of art in their pocket. The price of work ranges from hundreds to millions with artists such as Monet and Jeff Koons Free and Simple The app itself is similar to the site. Users can browse the collections of art and if they see something they like they can view a 2D high-resolution image to scale in a virtual art gallery setting. If the user wishes to buy the work, they can do that with a single tap of the finger. Any works below $10,000 can be bought directly through the Artsy app but dearer pieces will prompt the app to connect the user with the gallery to complete the transaction. For those who never want to miss the birth of a new masterpiece, the app will keep them updated of the upcoming fairs and exhibitions from around the world. The app is updated daily to keep its users abreast of all the exciting action. Educating the Masses The app allows people who wouldn't necessarily go to an art gallery browse works online and even ask experts for advice before purchasing any pieces. Artsy intends to break down some of the barriers between the art world and the general public. The big vision is to make art accessible and as popular as music is. |
Apple Releases New iMac With Iris Pro TechBeat
Ouya’s Free The Games Program Revised Posted: 26 Sep 2013 06:00 AM PDT Remember that big news about OUYA setting aside $1M for its Kickstarter matching campaign? Dubbed Free the Games Fund, the campaign came under very close scrutiny – both from fans and critics alike. The fact that people put the Ouya’s Free the Games Fund under the microscope is nothing surprising in itself. In this day and age where everyone has an opinion and the venues to express them, no one is really holding back any punches.  Here are some of the revisions to the program. Project Minimum: Originally, they set it at $50k. Not surprisingly, people thought that the amount was too high. Ouya responded by lowering this to $10k. Minimum # of Backers: ”The intent is for the community to want your game, not a small number of well-resourced supporters. We felt we needed to look at the minimum number of backers to make sure it is in line with the spirit of our program. So, for every $10,000 raised on Kickstarter, you have to have a minimum of 100 backers.” Exclusivity: ”1 month for every $10k funded by OUYA up to 6 months. So, if you set a goal for $20k and you meet your goal, your game would be exclusive for 2 months. If your goal is for $70k, and you meet your goal, your game will be exclusive for 6 months.” Additionally, the rules have been changed to allow more leeway in the availability of the game on other platforms. They now allow developers to make PC versions of their game. I suppose that this is a huge bone of contention, and making this concession is something that the Ouya guys had to think about. Those are the main points, but you can see the other changes following the link above. Judging by the responses to the blog post, not everyone is happy, but the adjustments are being seen as a step in the right direction. Game developer? What do you think about this move? The post Ouya’s Free The Games Program Revised appeared first on TechBeat. |
California Law To Allow Teens To Delete Social Media Posts Posted: 26 Sep 2013 05:00 AM PDT California has passed a law allowing under-18s to force websites to delete their personal information. The law takes effect from 2015 and includes content that has been posted by the individual, like photos and content. However, companies will not be made to remove content posted or reposted by others. The information will also not have to be removed from their servers. Chief executive of Common Sense Media, a charity that promotes children’s digital privacy said: “Teens often self-reveal before they self-reflect and may post sensitive personal information about themselves – and about others – without realising the consequences.” According to a survey carried out by Pew, 19 percent of US youths with a social media account had posted comments or photos that they later regretted, while 59 percent had deleted or edited a post. The Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) have concerns over whether webites will understand this new leglislation and the legal obligations that come with it. “Our chief concern is that this legal uncertainty will discourage operators from developing content and services tailored to younger users, and will lead popular sites and services that may appeal to minors to prohibit minors from using their services,” said CDT’s policy counsel Emma Llanso. However Google chairman Eric Schmidt said back in May that the Internet needs a “delete button”. So should this new legislation been extended to everyone with a social media profile, not just children? We’d love to hear your comments. |
Cuddle Mattress Makes Spooning More Comfortable Posted: 26 Sep 2013 04:00 AM PDT We've all seen the photos advertising a new mattress with the couple spooning one another and most of us will have exactly the same thought running through our minds; "they will not be like that in a few minutes!" The reality of it is that cuddling up to somebody in bed is only comfy for a short time before the 'big spoon' starts to lose the feeling in their arm and the 'little spoon' gets annoyed with by the feeling of an arm digging into their neck/back. The Cuddle Mattress could revolutionize spooning as we know it.  How Does It Work? Unlike the traditional solid mattress, the Cuddle Mattress is split into three sections, top middle and bottom. The central part of the mattress is solid to offer support to the torso and lower back. The top and bottom of the mattress where the head and the feet lie have slats in them. It is the slats that enable couples to spoon comfortably by allowing space for the limbs to sink into the mattress and avoid the dreaded 'dead arm'. The slats at the lower end of the bed provide a space for sleepers to put their feet and keep their toes warm or simply to aid 'wrigglers' to find a comfier position. To provide further comfort for users, the slats come in a variety of materials:
Where Can You Buy One? Here's the catch, the Cuddle Mattress hasn't actually come to fruition yet. The mind behind the space providing mattress, Medhi Mojtabavi was inundated with emails. "It was like a fever around it" said Mojtabavi. Unfortunately, without funding and with other commitments, even though the mattress won an award from Red Dot in 2007, the mattress was still not on the market. After an email from a man who had recently undergone shoulder surgery saying he was extremely interested in purchasing the mattress, Mojtabavi thought about the project with renewed vigour. Like thousands of other startups, Mojtabavi launched a crowdfunding campaign via Indiegogo.com in the hope of raising the capital he needed ($75,000). Unfortunately, most people wanted to try the mattress before they bought it and the goal wasn't achieved. Mojtabavi has far from given up on his project though and is actively seeking out investors or even partners to bring the mattress to production. |
Apple Releases New iMac With Iris Pro Posted: 26 Sep 2013 03:00 AM PDT Following the release of the new iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, Apple has given its iMac a small revamp. The new release brings Haswell cores from Intel, new NVIDIA Corp. GPUs, improved Fusion drives and more ports. Last October Apple made major changes to the iMac line, which included a new 5-mm thick aluminum frame. This time round the changes are more subtle but nonetheless contribute to making Apple’s all-in-one (AIO) personal computer a serious contender in the bid for the best value in the market.  Currently Lenovo dominate the AIO PC market after over-taking Apple. So what does the new iMac have to offer? Well the revamped model comes with 8 GB (upgradable two 32 GB for 27-inch, 16 GB for 21.5-inch) of 1600 MHz DDR3 and a 1 terabyte “Fusion” drive, a mostly hard disk hybrid drive with an undisclosed amount of NAND flash onboard (upgradable to 3 TB traditional HDD, a 256 GB SSD, or a 512 GB SSD). Apple’s AIO PC comes with a wireless “Magic Mouse” and wireless keyboard. It also has 802.11ac Wi-Fi and the following ports:
Apple claims that it has been able to significantly improve the hardware and firmware of its proprietary Fusion drives, thus making performance 50 percent faster than the previous generation. Compared to the competition, Apple has priced the new iMacs rather aggressively. Even those who want a Windows 8 AIO can now consider a new iMac via Boot Camp, which supports Windows 8. |
Can Biking Be Fun Again? Yes Says Autobike Posted: 26 Sep 2013 02:00 AM PDT The bike is hung up in the garage waiting to be taken out again. But until somebody comes and moves the hills, or explains to you exactly how the gears work on the bike so you don't feel as though you're riding through wet concrete everywhere you go, the bike will stay hung up in the garage. That's how most people feel about biking these days but Autobike has developed a new automatic bike that will make any road seem flat. Biking can be fun again according to the electric biking company from Detroit.  Smooth, Self-powered and Automatic The SRAM front hub dynamo generates electric from every revolution of the front wheel. The electric is used to power the brain of the operation, a computer which is placed right behind the pedal crank. Sensors are able to detect the cadence of the cyclist and any incline in the road. The brain then caluculates the adjustments needed to keep the cyclist at their chosen cadence and changes the gears accordingly. Rather than experience rapid gear shifts that judder the bike and jar the rider, the developers have used a Nuvinci N360 rear hub transmission allowing for super smooth gear shifts. All about the Cadence Cadence is a term used to describe the amount of revolutions your pedals go through per minute while cycling. Most people fall within the range of 60 to 70 revolutions per minute (rpm) but when they climb a hill this will normally change depending on how well a person uses their gears. Autobike uses automatic gear shifting to make sure that people can stay at the same rpm anywhere they go. The rpm is completely up to them and what makes them feel comfortable, making every road and hill seem flat. The co-founder of Autobike, Sean Simpson told Mashable; "we set out to create a bike that offers a fun experience that is accessible to anyone who wants to jump on a bike with zero training. They can just hop on and go." Getting Back on the Bike The Voyage and Voyage ST can be ordered from Autobike for $1,000. Developers are hoping the bikes will get people to return to biking and perhaps even forego the short ride on the subway or bus to work for a healthier, more economic bike ride. |
Google Working On Cookie Alternative
Google Working On Cookie Alternative Posted: 19 Sep 2013 04:19 AM PDT Google is working on an alternative ad tracking system that could potentially replace cookies. Cookies are used by advertisers and web sites to track your web history, so that they can tailor adverts based on your possible shopping interests. Google is working on a system called “AdID”, which would allow them to abandon the cookie system completely. It is currently the only browser that allows all cookies as the default setting. Rival companies to Google’s Chrome have all taken a stand against cookies, with Microsoft’s default setting in Internet Explorer being “do not track” and Apple’s Safari browser blocking third-party cookies altogether. For browser makers, maintaing a robust cookie environment offers little financial reward, whereas keeping users happy yields better financial incentives. If Google can prove that its new AdID system is more useful for advertisers and more private for users than cookies, then Google could be on to a winner. Apple has its own cookie alternative called the “identifier for advertisers” or IDFA. AdID could be the thing that helps Google compete not just with Apple but with all its rivals. |
Valve Launches Steam Family Sharing Posted: 19 Sep 2013 03:30 AM PDT The family that games together…stays together? Have fun together? Engage in massive competition against each other, for sure. If your household is into gaming, and you use Steam heavily, then you will be happy to know that Valve is launching family sharing for the platform.  Sharing is always a good thing, especially when it comes to gaming and accounts, and Valve’s Steam Family Sharing is certainly going to make a lot of people happy. With the capability of sharing game libraries with other accounts on up to 10 devices, there is a lot to look forward to. If, for example, you share a gaming computer at home, you can also benefit from Steam Family Sharing. Using that authorized computer, individual members of the family can play their games all the while making sure that the game saves and achievements are attributed to the proper account – all thanks to the Steam cloud. Now, if you have a tendency to snoop, and you see that someone in the family has already downloaded a game that you want to play, you can also request access via Steam Family Sharing. All that family member has to do is to authorize your computer to gain access to the game in question. There are limitations worth taking note of, though. One, not all Steam games will be available for sharing. Two, rather obviously, only one person can play a shared game at a time. If a game is currently in use on another computer, and you want to play, the borrower will be given time to quit the game. Right now, Steam Family Sharing is still not out, but in the very near future (they say mid-September, though we’re slightly past that point), Valve will start the private beta. There’s no need for me to point out that you should (try to) sign up for that beta NOW, is there? |
Big Screen Gaming From Tiny GameStick Console Posted: 19 Sep 2013 02:34 AM PDT The GameStick console will be the latest release from PlayJam, the UK based interactive casual games network. The tiny 2 inch console is part of PlayJam's vision to provide easy big screen gaming solutions for the whole family at affordable prices. GameStick is an easy to use, highly portable plug and play console that allows users to bring their games directly to the big screen. How it Works The GameStick console will plug straight into a free HDMI port on the TV, powering up from the Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) if there is one. If another powers source is needed, there's a power adapter and micros USB port on the stick. The controller connects to the stick via Bluetooth.  Specs:
Healthy competition between console manufacturers is good for everyone. GameStick is being compared by many to the Ouya games console which was released in June 2013. Both consoles have backers on Kickstart and both had similar release dates at first. In an interview with Gamasutra, PlayJam's CEO Jasper Smith says this about being second to release the product: "There's a lot to be said for letting others go first and learning from it" How To Get A GameStick Anyone who loves the idea of this microconsole can get their hands on one from the 29th Octobeer 2013 from Amazon or Gamestop for a very affordable $80. Included with each package as standard is:
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Mercedes Benz Self-Driving Car Makes Cross Country Trip Posted: 18 Sep 2013 11:05 PM PDT At the Frankfurt Motor Show (Sep 10-22) onlookers were told by several auto giants that the birth of fully autonomous cars was going to be soon. A mere 7 years in fact. What better to prove this theory than an announcement that the Mercedes Benz self-driving car had actually completed its first ever cross country trip without any help from a driver at all. Out On The Open Road Mercedes Benz S500 Intelligent Drive drove through Germany from Mannheim to Pforzheim, which is approximately 100km. During the drive the autonomous car negotiated roundabouts traffic lights and jams and pedestrians comfortably on its trip. The success of this test compared to other manufacturer's autonomous tests is all the more impressive due to the fact that the self-driving car negotiated its way through roads that were open to the public. Mercedes was able to get a clear picture of how the car would cope in the real world. Other tests that have been completed in the past have been in controlled environments on closed roads.  Futuristic Technology? Perhaps the most surprising nugget of knowledge is the fact that Mercedes say the technology used in the S500 Intelligent Drive is not a far cry from the technology seen in the current S-Class. Partial self-driving technology is already out there with the likes of lane control etc. however drivers are still required to have control of the car. Hands must be left on the wheel at all times or full control of the car is returned to the driver. In the future, the driver won't have to pay attention at all but be available in case of emergencies. So you can read behind the wheel but you won't be able to nod off. According to Mercedes, Nissan and other companies, this technology should be available in 2020. In fact, the Mercedes Benz self-driving car is the closest anyone has actually got to the dream of autonomous cars. Mercedes say they could have released the finished product at the end of next year but the question of whether the technology could cover all eventualities and prevent accidents stopped them short. Then there is the future of self-driving cars; Google wizards have been focusing on producing their own self-driving vehicles with a view to using them in a robo-taxi service. These cars will need no driver at all and be fully autonomous. What will the roads look like with driver-less cars? |
Sunday, 11 August 2013
Apple Chargers Replaced in Worldwide Program
Apple Chargers Replaced in Worldwide Program Posted: 10 Aug 2013 06:00 AM PDT Apple are to launch a worldwide programme to replace counterfeit power chargers. The power adaptor replacement programme comes after a woman was reportedly electrocuted while using a non-Apple charger. Apple’s power adaptor take back programme will take place in stores from 16 August to 18 October  Consumers can buy an authentic USB adaptor for the equivalent of 10 US dollars (£6.51). Apple chargers normally cost around £15 in the UK. The story is that, Ma Ailun, 23, collapsed and died in China last month after answering a call on her iPhone while it was charging. Apple did not specifically refer to this incident when it launched the charger replacement programme, but said: “Recent reports have suggested that some counterfeit and third-party adaptors may not be designed properly and could result in safety issues. “While not all third-party adaptors have an issue, we are announcing a USB power adaptor take back programme to enable customers to acquire properly designed adaptors. “Customer safety is a top priority at Apple.” Phil Buckle, director general of the Electrical Safety Council, also warned about the dangers of cheap USB chargers. He said: “Whilst everyone loves a bargain, if a cheap electrical product turns out to be fake then it is, at best, a waste of money. At worst, it could result in the death of a loved one. “More than four million counterfeit goods were seized coming into the UK last year and one of the top fakes was phone chargers. This is worrying as faulty electrical goods are a leading cause of severe electric shock in the UK and cause thousands of house fires each year. Counterfeit electrical goods almost always contain incorrect or faulty parts that can overheat or break just days after or on the day of purchase. “If the price is too good to be true, it probably is.” The Apple initiative will take place at Apple stores and authorised service providers for the period 16 August to 18 October. Anyone who wants to accept the offer will have to provide the serial number of their iPhone, iPad or iPod, and hand over a USB charger. The reduced price Apple chargers will be limited to one per Apple device per customer. |
Firefox 23 Has Landed With Stacks Of Features Posted: 10 Aug 2013 04:00 AM PDT Mozilla have officially launched Firefox 23 for Windows, Linux, Android and Mac. The improvements include the addition of a share button, mixed content blocker, and network monitor on the desktop side. Also (and this is no small feature) Firefox 23 comes with a new logo!  The new desktop version was available on the organization's FTP servers on August 5, but that was just the initial release. Firefox 23 has now officially been released over on Firefox.com and all existing users should be able to automatically upgrade to it. As always, the Android version is edging out slowly on Google Play. The biggest addition is the new share button and panel for the browser's Social API. Developers can now let users share content with anyone in one click (Facebook users, for example, can use it to share content directly from Firefox, regardless of where they are on the Web). Next is the mixed content blocker, which is designed to prevent non-secure (HTTP) content on a website from being read or modified by attackers by blocking the non-secure content from being compromised. If you didn’t know, mixed content occurs when a webpage containing a combination of both secure (HTTPS) and non-secure (HTTP) content is delivered over a secure data channel to the web browser. Additionally in this release, developers can finally use the new Network Monitor, this works by It breaks down individual website components, highlighting how long it takes for each to load. More details are located on the Mozilla website . There are other Firefox 23 features worth noting, which are noted here taken from the official changelog: NEW: Mixed content blocking enabled to protects users from man-in-the-middle attacks and eavesdroppers on HTTPS pages (learn more). NEW: Options panel created for Web Developer Toolbox. CHANGED: "Enable JavaScript" preference checkbox has been removed and user-set values will be reset to the default. CHANGED: Updated Firefox Logo. CHANGED: Improved about: memory's functional UI. CHANGED: Simplified interface for notifications of plugin installation. CHANGED: Enabled DXVA2 on Windows Vista+ to accelerate H.264 video decoding. CHANGED: Users can now switch to a new search provider across the entire browser. CHANGED: CSP policies using the standard syntax and semantics will now be enforced. CHANGED: input type='file' rendering improvements (see bug 838675). CHANGED: Replace fixed-ratio audio re sampler in webrtc.org capture code with Speex re sampler and eliminate pseudo-44000Hz rate. CHANGED: "Load images automatically" and Always show the tab bar" checkboxes removed from preferences and reset to defaults. DEVELOPER: HTML5 input type="range" form control implemented. DEVELOPER: Write more accessible pages on touch interfaces with new ARIA role for key buttons. DEVELOPER: Social share functionality. DEVELOPER: Added unprefixed request Animation Frame. DEVELOPER: Implemented a global browser console. DEVELOPER: Dropped blink effect from text-decoration: blink; and completely removed element DEVELOPER: New feature in toolbox: Network Monitor. FIXED: Various security fixes. If you are a Web developer, you should take a look at Firefox 23 for developers. Android Firefox for Android also includes the new logo, but it has a swing of its new features specific to Google's mobile platform as well. The biggest addition is a new personalized page called the Awesome Screen, which also completes your URL as-you-type. The "Switch to Tab" option lets you find and switch to any open tab from your Awesome Screen without opening duplicated tabs. Like Chrome for Android, Firefox now hides its navigation bar when scrolling down (you can pull it down from the top of the screen when you need it). The new version also includes basic support for subscribing to RSS feeds with a long-tap in the address bar. Firefox for Android also now lets you change your default search provider from the Firefox add-ons manager. The full Firefox 23 for Android changelog: NEW: Dynamic toolbar hides navigation bar when scrolling down page content. NEW: Basic support for subscribing to feeds (RSS/Atom) with long-tap in address bar. NEW: Add pages to reading list on devices incapable of accessing Reader Mode. NEW: Preliminary implementation of Firefox Health Report for Android (see FAQ). NEW: Added a setting to let users display URLs in the title bar instead of page titles. NEW: Users can now specify a default search engine. NEW: Implemented switch-to-tab. NEW: Added hu and tr to Android multi-locale builds. NEW: Added Serif/Sans Serif font toggle to Reader Mode. NEW: Long press Reader Mode icon to add article to Reading List (try it!). CHANGED: Awesomescreen remembers user entered search terms. CHANGED: CSP policies using the standard syntax and semantics will now be enforced. DEVELOPER: Write more accessible pages on touch interfaces with new ARIA role for key buttons. DEVELOPER: Added unprefixed requestAnimationFrame. DEVELOPER: HTML5 input type="range" form control implemented. DEVELOPER: Dropped blink effect from text-decoration: blink; and completely removed element. FIXED:Various security fixes. If you are having some difficulty in keeping track of all of these updates, then you need not worry. Mozilla will be releasing Firefox 24 in September! t. |
Friday, 2 August 2013
3.5GB of PlayStation 4 RAM Reserved for OS?
Hong Kong Resident Says Exploding Galaxy S4 Burned His House Down Posted: 01 Aug 2013 08:00 AM PDT Recently we reported on the tragic death of a woman in China who, her family claim, was electrocuted by an iPhone charger. It seems the questions over whether mobile phones present a possible danger will continue to be asked, especially after new claims from a Mr. Du of Hong Kong. He claims that his Samsung Galaxy S4 exploded and caught fire in his hands. Mr Du had apparently been playing the game Love Machine when the handset caught fire. He then tossed the phone onto his flammable sofa.  He said that the split-second decision cost him his house, as well as damaging his mercedes. Of course a few factors surrounding this story do make it a little dubious. For example, it was originally reported on by Xianguo. Then there is a question mark over why Mr. Du and his wife were unable to douse the flames that engulfed the sofa before the whole apartment set alight. Yet there are enough similar stories to maybe give the story some credibility. Samsung Hong Kong have said it will analyze chemicals from the scene of the fire to check if any of them could have come from their factory.  Last year, an iPhone began smoking on a plane in Australia and an investigation showed the incident was caused by a misplaced screw in the battery cavity. The phone had been repaired by an unauthorized service provider. It could be in this case too, that a rogue part or repair are to blame for the Galaxy S4 exploding, but Mr Du insists that his phone and charger were both original Samsung products. Although his apartment and Mercedes were damaged, thankfully Mr. Du and his wife suffered no injuries from the fire. |
Autographer: The Wearable Camera Posted: 01 Aug 2013 07:00 AM PDT There is a new kid on the block and he’s only small, very small, but really interesting and the makers of the Autographer had this in mind when they created this tiny piece of kit. OMG Life, the company behind it, have realised, in a world where you wish you were always carrying a decent camera in your pocket, but may not have the skills and pockets large enough to photograph things 24/7 -You need a solution and the Autographer camera is designed to solve that problem by making photography a process of look back and see, rather than, hold still and look at the camera. On its website OMG Life highlight a number of use cases and genuinely superb images have been captured with the device.  The camera itself, which looks very basic, but attractive, uses a set of on-board sensors (colour,motion and acceleration temperature and magnetometer,) to decide when to take a photo. As long as you’ve turned it on and rotated the lens cap open, it will carry on doing so all day, as long as the battery holds out, which is quite considerable. Alongside the images the Autographer captures time and GPS data and once plugged in via micro USB or connected via Bluetooth, it presents all the pictures into easy-to-manage groups, with a dedicated app for either Windows, MAC or iOS. You can then export these images either as individual shots, videos or GIFs and of course share these at your leisure. The images themselves aren’t always spectacular as the the five-megapixel camera uses a fish-eye lens which captures 8GB worth of 136-degree pictures but often results in blurry and or washed-out or overly-white images. It is not every picture you take with it that makes this device worth it value, it is however, the one in a hundred image that you didn’t know you wanted and had forgotten happened, that comes to light afterwards and that makes Autographer a really nifty piece of kit. Privacy Issues? The question on our lips is what about peoples privacy? OMG Life say that they have attempted to address these privacy concerns in the hardware and the nature of the device, such as, giving the device a yellow lens ring and a notification blink light. But the fact is this: the Autographer is an unassuming, black, small camera with which people aren’t familiar, and won’t notice it. OMG Life say that individual responsibility is key aside from the fact that individuals lacking in responsibility can use the Autographer just as easily as anyone else, this does open up genuine privacy concerns. OMG Life’s website does a good job of suggesting places you might want to use the Autographer. As it stands, the Autographer is a useable, attractive device which has a high price tag and is let down by patchy picture quality and relative lack of custom options for where and when it takes images. At £399, it is slightly expensive, but, it does have good potential to be used in very creative ways. Let’s just hope it is used in that way and not in manner worthy of a jail term… Autographer is available in the following European countries: UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland, Portugal, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden. |
A Quick Comparison Of Chromecast & AirPlay Posted: 01 Aug 2013 06:00 AM PDT The television has been around since anyone can remember, and it certainly is one of those things that manufacturers, marketers, and content producers want to exploit. After all, everyone watches TV, right? Google has not left this niche alone and has, in fact, tested the waters in the past. Its new foray into the scene, however, might just be its secret sauce.  So what’s all the fuss about the Chromecast anyway? If you look at it, the Chromecast is a diminutive thing. It’s just like a USB stick which you can find practically anywhere. The brilliant thing about it is that when you connect it to your TV, you can stream practically anything from practically any device – tablets, smartphones, and computers. Better yet, it can stream from Apple devices, too! Oh, and did I mention that it’s only $35? But AirPlay can do the same! That is true, and more so, it is built into every iPhone and iPad – and the new Macs, too. Another thing going for AirPlay is that it has been around for quite some time, and users are already comfortable with it. That is, if you’re a Mac user. If you haven’t bought into the awesomeness that is Mac, then you might not be too concerned about comparing Chromecast and AirPlay, else, there is something about Chromecast that might get you interested. Chromecast versus AirPlay There is the price, of course, which Chromecast wins by miles. How about UI? AirPlay taps into the power of iOS design, and in this, it gets the better of Google’s new product. Content? With AirPlay being available for a while now, it is compatible (and integrated) in many other apps and platforms. This is an area where Google has to catch up with, but the idea of being able to stream from Chrome just might give it a boost. The bottom line If you’re open to new technology, then Chromecast presents a very viable option. In the meantime, AirPlay still holds the upper hand, but there is no guarantee it will stay that way. |
WaterBean Filter Purifies Tap Water Posted: 01 Aug 2013 05:00 AM PDT We at Techbeat like our water filtering products and we believe the world can never have enough of them. This new system, called the WaterBean, is an interesting concept in that its goal is to purify tap water AND to reduce plastic bottle waste. Most water filters, such as the NDūR Survival Straw, are designed to filter out bacteria, dirt, micro-organisms and other potentially dangerous substances out of water. And it is this feature that makes them ideal for use in areas that don't have access to clean water, including in developing countries.  The WaterBean, however, is designed more for urban consumers that have access to running water all the time, but the water is not pure or clean enough to be drinkable. These consumers will buy and drink bottled water, which generates tons of plastic bottle waste every year. It is believed U.S. consumers spend up to $15 billion on bottled water every year. According to the manufacturer of the filter, Graeme Glen, an average person goes through 167 bottles per year. This generates 1.5 million tons of waste per year, since three quarters of plastic bottles do not actually get recycled. But the WaterBean can be a solution to this problem, as it is designed to encourage users to keep and reuse one plastic bottle for a long time. The system may not have the same purification power as other filters on the market, but it is effective against chlorine, odors and bad taste and also adds magnesium to the water. The filter is very easy to use: after being inserted in the bottle, users are advised to shake the bottle for five seconds and then swirl the water gently around for a while, the idea being that the longer you swirl, the better the water will taste. The WaterBean filters are made of coconut carbon fibers which are safe to be ingested. Each filter lasts about three months and can clean about 140 liters of water, thus having the potential to prevent up to 280 bottles from ending up in the landfill ever year. Glen is currently running a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo for the product, aiming to raise $35,000. Backers can get one WaterBean plus two extra filters if they pledge as little as $12. Check out the video below to find out more about how the WaterBean filter works. |
3.5GB of PlayStation 4 RAM Reserved for OS? Posted: 01 Aug 2013 04:00 AM PDT Almost half of Sony's PlayStation 4 RAM memory will be reserved for the operating system, according to press reports. The gaming system will reserve 3.5GB of its 8GB RAM for the OS, which will leave 4.5GB available for games. A report on Digital Foundry also said initially that an extra 1GB of flexible memory will be available for PlayStation 4 games next to the 4.5GB, but only if the console's operating system would be able to function without that 1GB. Other sources later told the publication that the flexible memory would actually be 512MB.  Sony has neither confirmed nor denied the figure yet, but only commented on the reports to clarify the situation of direct and flexible memory systems. The company said the reports erroneously suggested that the flexible memory would be borrowed from the operating system and returned when requested. In fact, Sony said, the flexible memory would just be managed by the OS on behalf of the game, it would belong to the game 100% and would never be used by the operating system. Direct memory is the memory allocated to a game according to the traditional gaming model, the company added. "We have no comment to make on the amount of memory reserved by the system or what it is used for,” Sony also said. Digital Foundry also reported that the 3.5GB of memory for OS could actually be reduced once work on the system is complete. Much of the allocated space is designed to support new PS4 system features such as switching between applications, live swapping of games, being able to pause and resume games and others. PS4's rival, Microsoft's Xbox One will reserve 3GB of RAM for its OS. PS Vita role as controller clarified Meanwhile, it was confirmed that the PlayStation Vita will work as a controller for PS4 only on selected games. The confirmation came from Shuhei Yoshida, Sony Computer Entertainment president of Worldwide Studios, on Twitter. Asked about the PlayStation Vita, Yoshida explained that the Vita will work as a controller only for games specifically programmed to allow the use of the handheld device. Nevertheless, the PS Vita handheld console will still be able to run all the games specifically developed for the PS4. The PS4 will launch this holiday season and will retail for $399. What do you think of the PlayStation 4 RAM allocation? Is 3.5GB too much for the OS? Is 4.5GB too little for games? |
Hackers Fail in Plot to Frame Security Expert Posted: 01 Aug 2013 03:00 AM PDT A cyber security expert has been the target of cyber criminals after suffering a number of attacks over the past year. Brian Krebs, who formerly worked for The Washington Post outing online scammers, now blogs about security on Krebs on Security. Back in March he described how his website suffered a denail-of-service attack, whilst armed police officers surrounded his home in Annandale, Virginia in response to false and anonymous emergency call claiming Kreb’s wife had been shot. But the latest attack from the criminals was “the most elaborate” so far. “Earlier this month, the administrator of an exclusive cybercrime forum hatched and executed a plan to purchase heroin, have it mailed to my home, and then spoof a phone call from one of my neighbors alerting the local police,” Krebs explained on his blog.  13 baggies of heroin were sent to Brian Krebs home On July 14 the alleged administrator of a Russian-language forum on ID theft and fraud, who goes by the username “fly” or “Flycracker”, published a post requesting bitcoin donations so that they could purchase heroin from the online marketplace Silk Road. The heroin would then be mailed to Krebs address. However Krebs had already infiltrated the forum and was able to watch the plan unfold. Flycracker, who was unaware that Krebs was observing the situation, raised $200-worth of bitcoins and bought 1 gram or 12 baggies of heroin on Silk Road, using the name “briankrebs7″. Krebs alerted the local police and the FBI of his knowledge and when 13 baggies of heroin arrived on his doorstep, the police arrived to seize it. “Without actually having the substance tested at a lab, I can't say for certain whether this is talcum powder or the real thing,” Krebs concludes, “Nevertheless, if I receive any testing results from the local police, I'll update this blog post.” Krebs has also said that he will reveal more about the identity of Flycracker in a later post. |
Biometric Finger Sensor for New iPhone Posted: 01 Aug 2013 02:00 AM PDT As you may have heard, there is the slim possibility of a new iPhone being released by those really nice people over at Apple. Well, it appears as though some new evidence has emerged suggesting that Apple's forthcoming iPhone will include a biometric fingerprint sensor (and we all hope it will!).  The information has come via a London programmer named as Hamza Sood, who has found some relevant support folders and documentation whilst investigating the beta release of iOS 7. As you no doubt know, developers are given early access to unreleased operating systems in order to assess it and adapt their software to new features and rules. Sood found a folder named 'BiometricKitUI' which was an embedded line of text in code that referenced "Photo of a person holding an iPhone in their right hand while touching the Home Button" and then "A fingerprint that changes colour during the setup process." These snippets are most likely captions accompanying illustrations to help users to setup their new iPhone device. The colour-changing fingerprint suggests that the iPhone has a new home button that will incorporate a biometric sensor. This new sensor could be used for unlocking the phone but also for authorizing payments and even passwords online, if we are to believe the hype. If an API was made available for the sensor then third-party apps must be keen to build on this hardware.  Banking, financial and purchasing apps could make their systems more secure and log-ins credentials could be replaced by a biometric finger sensor. Rumours of a built-in fingerprint sensor for iPhones have been around ever since Apple bought the security company AuthenTec last July for $356 million. The deal included many of the company's patents and security technologies, as well as its developments in fingerprint sensors. The new model iPhone is expected to be released around this coming september and will be followed by a cheaper, plastic iPhone, possibly called the iPhone 5C. This model is also expected to come in a range of colours and could, we think, retail for as little as $99. Fingerprint recognition for a telephone..Apple really do ‘Think Different’. |
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