MIT develops new platform to spy-proof websites
You’re all likely aware by now that identity thieves and hackers aren’t the only ones who surreptitiously collect people’s private info. In an effort to keep them (and you know, certain government agencies) at bay, a group of MIT researchers have created Mylar — a new platform for building secure websites, services and applications. According to MIT’s Technology Review, anything built using Mylar keeps your data encrypted all the time in its servers. That data’s only decrypted when it’s accessed from your computer with the right password, though Mylar can also issue encryption keys if you want to share data with other people.
Raluca Popa, the project’s lead researcher, claims that method prevents anyone, even the NSA from snooping on your info: “If the government asks the company for your data, the server doesn’t have the ability to give unencrypted data.” (Of course, encryption won’t do you any good if the government ends up forcing the websites and services you use to surrender their users’ information.) Right now, a group of patients are testing a Mylar website to share medical info with their doctors. Popa and his team are also testing their own chat, photo sharing and calendar applications. The group still has to overcome a lot of hurdles before we can see Mylar-built services in the wild, though. After all, web companies might not be keen on using the technology, especially those who rely on accessing user data to serve targeted ads.
[Image credit: Simon Cocks/Flickr]
Filed under: Internet
Via: Ars Technica
Source: MIT Technology Review, Mylar
New HTC One teardown reveals it’s a pain to repair, just like the last One
While most people would be happy to have a new HTC One (M8) to play with, our friends at iFixit aren’t “most people,” and they’re back doing what they do best: reducing gadgets to component confetti. Having said the necessary prayers and got to work, iFixit was delighted to find screws holding the main body together — an omen of repairability, perhaps? The situation quickly “turned ugly,” as a mass of tape and copper shielding had to be removed, only to expose a glue-fixed motherboard. Other components and the battery were found to be glued just as liberally, and having finally reached the display, iFixit accidentally cut the digitizer cable, essentially breaking it. It’ll probably be of no surprise, given the narrative, that the new HTC One scored a measly two out of ten on the repairability scale, due to teardown difficulty and risk of damage. It’s an improvement, at least, over the old HTC One’s score — iFixit didn’t have the super-secret tool, mind — but it’s probably best you keep your M8 out of trouble all the same.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC
Via: SlashGear
Source: iFixit
Turkey’s Twitter ban has been overturned
The Turkish government’s ban on Twitter was probably always a losing battle, given the various workarounds available to the country’s tech-savvy citizens. But now the six-day-old prohibition is also losing in the courts, according to a report from the Hürriyet Daily News. The newspaper says a Turkish court has issued a “stay of execution” on the government’s order, which means the ban should be lifted until judges have the chance to weigh up the many complaints that have been lodged against it. This sounds like a positive step for opposition parties and civil rights activists, but it could equally prove to be just a temporary victory in the face of Prime Minister’s Erdogan’s continued threats against the “scourge” of social media.
[Image credit: Myrat/Wikipedia]
Via: AFP (Twitter)
Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Sprint to launch HD Voice calls nationwide in July
Sprint’s HD Voice impressed our ears two years ago, but the feature’s been placed on the company’s back burner since then. Sure, it’s already available in a handful of locations, but it’s only now that the carrier’s announced its plans to make it available nationwide. According to Sprint CEO Dan Hesse, subscribers all over the country should be able to enjoy clearer voice calls “around the first of July”… assuming they’re using HD Voice-compatible devices to talk to people also using HD Voice-compatible devices. It’s not too bad, though: over two dozen Sprint phones already support the standard, including the iPhone 5s/5c, Samsung Galaxy S 4/Note 3, Nexus 5 and HTC One/One Max.
Sprint’s HD Voice promises “crystal clear calls” by cancelling background noise and delivering more natural-sounding voices. From the time it was introduced in 2012, though, rival carriers AT&T and T-Mobile have already come up with their own versions. Hesse made the announcement at the Oracle Industry Connect event, where he also talked about the overly technical details of Sprint’s Spark LTE service.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sprint
Via: Phandroid
Source: LightReading
[VIDEO] HTC Dot View case makes for one desperately good looking Accessory
Now that the 2014 HTC One is finally official, now we can find out all its lovely little secrets, including that flip cover that was leaked prior to the device’s announcement. While the leak seemed to suggest that the flip cover would only serve as a notification screen, a video posted today (which uses the case’s real name, the HTC Dot View case) showcases the various uses of the accessory. Check it out:
While I was never a fan of Samsung’s S-View case, I’m really digging HTC‘s take on a utility case. The fact that it uses the whole front cover as a screen and has meaningful gestures built into it really reinforces the fact that you can use your new HTC One without ever opening the case. The only downside, which has been suggested ever since the Dot View case was leaked, is the fact that the 2014 HTC One uses a Super LCD 3 screen which won’t be as power efficient as an AMOLED screen in the same application. That said, we don’t know exactly how HTC has configured this so we’ll just have to see when people actually get their hands on it.
What do you think about the HTC Dot View case? Is it everything you dreamed of? Let us know what your thoughts on it are in the comments.
Source: YouTube
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Vodafone Australia presale for the Samsung Galaxy S5 starts at 9am, March 27th, comes with bonus double Data
If you live in Australia and you’ve been eagerly awaiting more news of when the Samsung Galaxy S5 is going to become available, you’re in luck. Vodafone Australia has today announced that the presale for the Samsung Galaxy S5 is going to begin at 9am on March 27th and can be purchased either online, in a physical retail store or over the phone.
As an added incentive to choose Vodafone as your service provider, Vodafone is extending its Double Data promotion to the Galaxy S5. Getting the Galaxy S5 on Voda’s $60/month plan on a 2 year contract will double the data from the standard 1.5GB to 3GB; this offer also extends to all plans over $60/month. While presales begin tomorrow, this Double Data offer for the Galaxy S5 will run till July 1st, which still gives you plenty of time if you’re on the fence. Of course, as with all Vodafone Red plans, for $5 extra, you can also use your calls, text and data in 46 other countries. If you’re wanting to take advantage of the deal, or want to be ready to jump on the presale, you’ll want to be at the Vodafone page for Galaxy S5 at 9am sharp (link below):
Vodafone page for Samsung Galaxy S5 presale
Vodafone is also going to be carrying all four of the available colours for the Galaxy s5. Not a bad deal to get one of the most hotly anticipated phones this year, and the Double Data bonus is a nice treat. What do you think about the deal; will you be signing with Vodafone to get the Samsung Galaxy S5? Let us know what your opinion is in the comments.
Press Release
Vodafone doubles data for new Samsung GALAXY S5
Presale starts tomorrow: 9am 27 March 2014
Vodafone has announced Samsung’s new flagship device, the GALAXY S5, will be available to customers on $60 a month plans with 3GB included data, which is double the usual 1.5GB.
The GALAXY S5 can be ordered online, in Vodafone stores and over the phone from 9am 27 March 2014. The device is available in Vodafone stores fromApril 11, ranging from $0 upfront on a $100 per month Red 12- or 24-month plan to $14 per month on a $60 24-month plan.
Vodafone will range the 16GB Samsung GALAXY S5 to its customers in all four colours: Electric Blue, Copper Gold, Shimmer White and Charcoal Black.
Vodafone’s General Manager of Devices, Katie Turkal, said: “We’ve had an overwhelming response from customers since pre-registration for the GALAXY S5 went live, with thousands of customers signing up.”
“We’re confident customers will be delighted with the generous data inclusions we’re able to offer with our Red plans and a special $60 per month GS5 offer. We’re offering way more data bang for your buck than most of our competitors.”
Ms Turkal said its current Double Data offer, is already proving incredibly popular for heavy data users, available on all GS5 plans $60 and above.
“Feedback from customers on social media is that they simply can’t believe you can get 10GB data per month for just $100. With our Vodafone Red plans you also get the added bonus of being able to take your plan overseas with you for $5 extra a day, and Aussie customer service.”
Katie Turkal says: “We’ve built our mobile plans around the internet because we know our customers will want to let loose playing with all the new features on the GS5, like the larger and brighter full HD super AMOLED screen and faster processor. It’s a beautiful device and we want our customers to be able to fully enjoy all things online.”
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Optus makes the HTC One M8 available on 1st April, taking preorders Now
While the newly announced HTC One M8 goes on sale in America, you might be wondering when the new HTC flagship is going to be available in your corner of the world. In Australia, Optus makes the HTC One M8 available on 1st April (unless it’s an extremely cruel April Fool’s joke) and has opened up preorders for the device today shortly after the official announcement.
On the $60/month MyPlan, you’ll be paying an extra $12/month for the handset, which works out to be $72/month; this works out to be the cheapest of all the available Optus plans for the HTC smartphone. If you’re interested in picking the new HTC One M8 up from Optus, or what to see what other plan options you have are, you can visit their website at the link below:
Preorders for the Optus HTC One M8
Are you going to pick up the HTC One M8 from Optus? Let us know what you think of this deal in the comments below.
Press Release
OPTUS OPENS THE DOOR TO PRE-ORDERS FOR HTC ONE (M8)
26 March 2014, 8:34 am
Optus today welcomes the latest breakthrough in smartphone design offered by the HTC One (M8), with pre-orders available now online, in store or via telesales.
Hitting Optus stores from 1 April, HTC One (M8) customers can access all of the Optus network, from 3G up to 4G and 4G Plus, and will be able to enjoy more 4G services in the future as Optus 4G rolls out nationally.
From today until 10 April, customers can enjoy an introductory offer on the Optus $60 My Plan with $12 monthly phone repayments. Additionally, the Optus $60 My Plan now comes with an extra 500MB of data, giving customers a total of 1.5GB mobile internet data, 600 minutes of standard talk and unlimited standard SMS and MMS all for use within Australia (Minimum Total Cost is $1728 over 24 months, cost of 1MB included data $0.0130).
What’s great about the HTC One (M8)?
- Beautifully designed all metal body with jewellery grade finish
- 5” full HD screen
- Pro level photo effects with HTC Duo Camera
- Clear, balanced and powerful sound with HTC BoomSound™
- Video making made easy with HTC Zoe™ video highlights
- Control your home screen news and social updates with HTC BlinkFeed™
Optus customers can get their hands on the HTC One (M8) by visiting in store, calling telesales, or pre-order online today at www.optus.com.au/htconem8.
Optus Mobile Fair Go Policy applies. 4G coverage is available in selected areas, check coverage atwww.optus.com.au/4Gcoverage.
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NASA captures over half the galaxy’s stars in new infrared panorama
Keeping a steady hand when snapping panoramic pictures is a valuable skill, but NASA’s upstaged your photographic prowess with something a tad more impressive. Using over 2 million infrared pictures shot with the Spitzer Space Telescope over the course of a decade, the agency’s created what’s being called the clearest infrared panorama of our galaxy ever made. This is the first time all photographs from a project dubbed the Galactic Legacy Mid-Plane Survey Extraordinaire (or GLIMPSE360) have been combined into a single image. Although the final product only shows three percent of the sky, it contains over half of all stars in the Milky Way.
Scientists have used the data from the effort to construct what’s said to be the most precise map of stars running through the galaxy’s center, and will use it to analyze the Milky Way’s spiral arms. In addition, the composite will act as a roadmap of sorts for the James Webb Telescope, which will take more detailed infrared images when it’s chucked into space in 2018. Space junkies can pan through the whole photo online or download the raw, full resolution images. If you plan to do the latter, be warned: some of these files hover around 1GB in size.
Via: Space.com
Source: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (1), (2), (3)
Slighty smarter watches: Casio reveals two new G-Shock concepts
G-Shocks are back — again. Ready for Swiss timepiece showcase BaselWorld, Casio has announced two new analog concept watches with a little extra soupçon of tech crammed in. The designs still lean towards those looking for a classically-styled (at least, in G-Shock terms) analog watch. Both are expected to last plenty without any regular USB life-support, with the company’s latest solar cells there to keep the mechanism and electronics going. First up, the Edifice EQB-500 connects to smartphones using Bluetooth 4.0 Low Power (Casio’s first analog watch to do so). It’s a loose allegiance though, covering time information and alarm settings which can also be programmed through the phone — it’s still very much a watch, not a Pebble rival. Casio’s second model is the more technically accomplished one: the first watch to pair together both GPS and Radio Wave tech, all without any unwieldy lumps in the design.
The GPW-1000 houses a clock module that uses Sony’s GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver to figure out your locate. GPS satellites extrapolate where the watch is and ensure it’s calibrated to the right time. If you fly somewhere, the watch (just like most smartphones) will notice the location difference and adjust the time. The connection wait-time here drops to only six seconds as it needs just one satellite to work out where it is. (Casio says the wait-time here is typically closer to half a minute.) Combining the radio clock with GPS, it will also results in a substantial drop in power consumption compared to preceding (and rival) self-calibrating watches. Neither concepts have been priced or dated yet, but the bigger question now is where everyone’s personal tastes lie on the ole’ watch–smartwatch spectrum.
Apple is working on getting more diversity into its emoji characters
Sometimes, the awkward white lady with hand to the side emoji doesn’t quite represent, or express, who’s using an iPhone — and it’s been that way for quite a while. Good news, then, that Apple is apparently working with the Unicode Consortium in an effort to bring more breadth to the emoji pictures it can offer. Katie Cotton, Apple’s VP of Corporate Communications, explains in an email reply to MTV Act‘s Joey Parker, who raised the issue:
“Our emoji characters are based on the Unicode standard, which is necessary for them to be displayed properly across many platforms. There needs to be more diversity in the emoji character set, and we have been working closely with the Unicode Consortium in an effort to update the standard.”
There’s no firm date for an emoji upgrade until the Unicode issue is sorted, so for now, well, there’s stickers elsewhere.
(Update: There’s also been a recent groundswell for the less important addition of a hot-dog emoji.)
Filed under: Cellphones, Apple
Via: TechCrunch
Source: MTV Act
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