Archive for the 'Technology' Category
Disney’s Electronic Wristband Illustrates Why Big Companies Push Contactless Wallets
June 4th, 2013Via: MIT Technology Review: Disney just announced an electronic wristband for visitors to its theme parks that neatly illustrates why companies like Google and cellphone networks are pushing the idea of using contactless technology in phones for payments, tickets, boarding passes and more. The short answer? They want data. Disney’s MagicBand, an ID tag that […]
Some Obama Top Political Appointees Using Secret U.S. Government Email Accounts
June 4th, 2013Via: AP: Some of President Barack Obama’s political appointees, including the secretary for Health and Human Services, are using secret government email accounts they say are necessary to prevent their inboxes from being overwhelmed with unwanted messages, according to a review by The Associated Press. The scope of using the secret accounts across government remains […]
Desktop Version of Google Chrome Now Able to Take Voice Commands
June 3rd, 2013No mic plugged into my PC: Check. No camera plugged into my PC: Check. Use Firefox: Check. GCSB/NSA seeing most of what I do: Oh. But I’ll tell ya: When I’m out and about with my SamDroid panopticon backorifice personal tracking unit, I do partake of voice search and voice input for emails once in […]
Any iOS Device Can Be Compromised Within One Minute
June 3rd, 2013Via: BlackHat: Apple iOS devices are considered by many to be more secure than other mobile offerings. In evaluating this belief, we investigated the extent to which security threats were considered when performing everyday activities such as charging a device. The results were alarming: despite the plethora of defense mechanisms in iOS, we successfully injected […]
Graphene Image Sensor 1000X More Sensitive to Light Than Current Sensors
June 2nd, 2013😯 Via: Science Daily: Cameras fitted with a new revolutionary sensor will soon be able to take clear and sharp photos in dim conditions, thanks to a new image sensor invented at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The new sensor made from graphene, is believed to be the first to be able to detect broad spectrum […]
bitNZ: New Zealand Dollar Bitcoin Exchange
June 1st, 2013Disclosure: I have no affiliate relationship with bitNZ and I have not been paid anything to mention them. I am a bitNZ customer. I’d had enough of paying large wire fees with Mt.Gox, so I tried bitNZ.com instead. bitNZ worked great! NZD withdrawals to any NZ bank account are free. My only complaint is that […]
Justice Department Secret Document Details Unconstitutional Surveillance of American Citizens
May 31st, 2013Via: IB Times: The Justice Department may soon be forced to reveal a classified document that details unconstitutional surveillance of American citizens. The Justice Department has fought to keep the document secret for about a year, but a recent court order demands that they respond to a formal request filed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation […]
U.S. Government Clears Path for Iran to Back Orifice Itself
May 31st, 2013Via: Ars Technica: On Thursday, the Obama Administration lifted digital sanctions that for more than two decades have prevented companies that do business in the US from also selling or distributing digital goods—including mobile phones, hosting services, VPNs, and software updates—to Iran. Research Credit: almaverdad2
Schools Scanned Students’ Irises Without Permission
May 31st, 2013Via: Russia Today: Parents in Polk County, Florida are outraged after learning that students in area schools had their irises scanned as part of a new security program without obtaining proper permission. Students at three facilities — an elementary school, a grade school and a high school — had their eyeballs scanned earlier this month […]
Germany Fears Revolution if Europe Scraps Welfare Model
May 31st, 2013This is a battle against the machine and it’s already lost. Via: Reuters: German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble warned on Tuesday that failure to win the battle against youth unemployment could tear Europe apart, and dropping the continent’s welfare model in favor of tougher U.S. standards would spark a revolution. Germany, along with France, Spain […]
