Archive for November 8, 2009
Apple said to be working on 'world-mode' iPhone
Nov 8th
The new Verizon Droid, like many a high-profile smartphone just coming onto the market, has been hailed by some as a potential–you know what’s coming–iPhone killer. (Chronicling the very first Droid sales in Manhattan the other day, CNET’s Maggie Reardon observed that the gadget may actually turn out to be more of a BlackBerry killer.)
The NSA to Store a YOTTABYTE of Your Phone Calls, Emails and Other Big Brothery Stuff
Nov 8th
In Utah, the National Security Agency is building a $2 billion storage facility that will house and analyze all forms of electronic communication…a potential yottabyte of everyone’s (formerly) personal data. So how big is a yottabyte? CrunchGear puts it well:
Watch YouTube Videos Without Flash in HTML5
Nov 8th
Running on Mac or Linux and tired of Adobe Flash eating up all your CPU cycles while you’re watching YouTube? Buggy plugins that crash your browser and freeze your PC? Proprietary formats that get in the way? Want to embrace HTML5 and the future? Well, now you can… one YouTube video at a time.
http://neosmart.net/blog/2009/watch-youtube-videos-in-html5/
Massive Power Outages In Brazil Caused By Hackers
Nov 8th
A series of power outages affecting millions of people in Brazil in 2005 and 2007 were the result of cyber attacks, “60 Minutes” has learned. The two-day event in Espirito Santo State affecting more than three million people in 2007 and another, smaller event in three cities north of Rio de Janeiro in January 2005 were perpetrated by hackers manipulating control systems.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/06/60minutes/main5555565.shtml
Microsoft COFEE law enforcement tool leaked
Nov 8th
It was one of the most sought after applications on the Internet until it was leaked earlier today. And now that it’s out there—and it is all over the place, easily findable by anyone able to use a search engine—we can all move on with our lives. Yes, Microsoft COFEE, the law enforcement tool that mystified so many of us (including Gizmodo~! and Ars Technica~!), is now available to download. If only there were a “bay” of some sort where, I don’t know, pirates hang out…
http://torrentfreak.com/cofee-forensic-tool-leaks-to-what-cd-admins-ban-it-091108/
Windows 7 Beats Vista By 234% In First Week Sales
Nov 8th
We wouldn’t expect Microsoft to say anything other than positive things about Windows 7, but it’s another thing when an independent company comes out and confirms that Windows 7 really is off to a good start. But one has to wonder–are sales of Win7 doing well because people can’t wait to rid themselves of Vista? Or are sales of Win7 doing well because of Win7’s own merits?
http://hothardware.com/News/Windows-7-Beats-Vista-By-234-In-First-Week-Sales/
World's First iPhone Worm Rick-Rolls Wallpaper
Nov 8th
Users of insecure, jailbroken iPhones are reporting their smartphones have been hit by a worm that turns their lock wallpaper to that of 1980s pop star Rick Astley.
It may seem mostly harmless with its wallpaper-changing payload, but the first-ever worm to spread via iPhones could be an omen of more sinister attacks to come.
