TrueCrypt development stopped amid a cloud of mystery
Last Wednesday the SourceForge page for popular open-source disk encryption software TrueCrypt started recommending the use of BitLocker on Windows instead. Visitors were told that the application was “not secure” anymore. Of course, social networks exploded with speculation, with people claiming the page was hacked or that the government, using a National Security Letter, might be requesting “changes” on the software. The truth is much more mundane: a developer of TrueCrypt confirmed to Reuters that it had been shut down out of boredom. Security researcher Steve Gibson said that after 10 years of work, the developers simply got tired of the project.
People who have used TrueCrypt over the years are baffled by the sudden stop in development and claims of insecurity. No known security holes exist, but the folks behind the initiative feel since the project won’t be updated anymore, it’s better find an alternative. At this point, if a bug is found, it’s safe to assume it will not be patched — no matter how serious it is.
All of this went down in the midst of an independent audit to ferret out potential vulnerabilities in TrueCrypt. The good news is that the audit will continue unabated. And, if legal issues with the license can be sorted, a new team will take over development instead of creating a “fork,” or a separate project based on the same core code. Unfortunately, the current license that TrueCrypt is distributed under forbids the creation of a commercially available fork. Matthew Green, a cryptography professor from Johns Hopkins University, is leading the effort to restart development on TrueCrypt. He doesn’t want to commit to the creation of a new version just yet, though work should continue once (and if) the licensing issues are resolved.
If you’re currently using TrueCrypt, you probably shouldn’t panic. We’re not exactly security experts, but its’ probably safe to continue using it until some security issues are found. Though, you should probably start looking for a backup plan.
Filed under: Software
Source: Reuters
Walter Isaacson: Steve Jobs Would Have Supported Beats Acquisition [Mac Blog]
Walter Isaacson, known to the Apple community for his authorized Steve Jobs biography, believes the Apple co-founder would have approved of Apple’s acquisition of Beats. Isaacson shared his thoughts on the Beats deal during a CNBC interview earlier today (via Fortune).
Isaacson points to the close relationship between Beats co-founder Jimmy Iovine and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, both of whom shared a similar appreciation for music.
Isaacson argues that Jobs and Beats co-founder Jimmy Iovine and Jobs had bonded over their shared love of music, and that Jobs would have been interested in adding Iovine’s “cool” factor to the company. “I think Jimmy is the greatest talent spotter now in the music and content business, so it feels like part of the DNA of Apple.”
Before the acquisition was announced, Isaacson speculated that Iovine was Apple’s real target, bringing the veteran producer on board to head up the Cupertino company’s content business. Isaacson said Iovine could “help Apple launch the TV product that analysts have been gossiping about for years,” by using his influence in the media business to negotiate content deals. During an interview at the Code Conference earlier this week, however, Iovine noted that he has enough on his plate with music and has no plans to become involved in television negotiations.
Iovine has a long history with Apple, helping Steve Jobs sign deals with music labels in the early days of iTunes and working with Apple and U2 on a special edition iPod. Before the launch of Beats Music, he also pitched the idea of a streaming music service to Apple, but neither Steve Jobs nor Tim Cook was interested at the time.
Upon completion of the acquisition, Iovine and Dr. Dre will join Apple while the Beats team will work under the guidance of Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services.
Radio Shack offering Samsung Galaxy S5 for $79 with trade-in
RadioShack on Friday announced its lowest price to date for the Samsung Galaxy S5. For a limited time the flagship smartphone will be sold for $79.99 to those who trade in an eligible working smartphone on the Trade & Save program.Normally priced at $199.99, this is a pretty tough deal to pass up. In addition to the handset discount, customers can also save on accessories; Otterbox and Mophie are $10 off and PointMobl screen protectors are $5 off.
The post Radio Shack offering Samsung Galaxy S5 for $79 with trade-in appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Scientists extract clean water from cow pies
The planet’s 1.5 billion cows are (innocently) an environmental scourge thanks to the copious amounts of horrible greenhouse gases they disgorge. Scientists from Michigan State U have flopped that around, however, and figured out how to turn the resulting manure into something good for the planet: fresh water. By running the poop through a so-called anaerobic digester and reverse osmosis system, they got pure H2O out the other side. The average bovine produces about 10,000 gallons of “raw materials” a year and scientists can transform at least half of that into water (the other half becomes energy and fertilizer). The final product is intended for livestock and not human consumption, but maybe all it needs is some good marketing.
Via: Yahoo
Source: Michigan State University
The Engadget Podcast is live at 12pm ET!
Ben and Terrence are back in good ol’ NYC and they’ve got the one and only Edgar Alvarez in the studio with them! Obviously, the big news this week is that Apple snatched up Beats, which means we’re probably only a few days away from watching an awkward exchange between Tim Cook and Dr. Dre live on stage! So click on through for your weekly dose of gadget news (and a super caffeinated Terrence).
NASA uses smart sandals to stop astronauts cheating their exercise routines
A happy byproduct of zero gravity is an astronaut’s ability to totally fake a power-lifting session. (Oh gosh this barbell is so heavy, Houston, do you copy?) Then again, given the rate at which the human body loses bone and muscle strength in a weightless environment, such cheating would almost certainly backfire. NASA has therefore decided equip its space travelers with Xsens ForceShoes, aka smart sandals, to ensure that each crew member is getting their necessary 2.5-hour daily dose on the agency’s dedicated Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED). The sandals can wirelessly report back torque and load forces at various points on the wearer’s foot — enough data to monitor whether dead lifts, squats and even bicep curls are being performed wholeheartedly. Then again, we should probably point out that none of this is official. NASA is publicly saying that the deployment of ForceShoes is merely to “validate the technology,” and it is unrelated to the recent outbreak of laziness aboard the ISS.
Filed under: Transportation, Science
Via: CNET
Source: NASA
AT&T Announces the Galaxy S5 Active, Even Comes in Camo
The Galaxy S5 Active, the even more ruggedized version of Samsung’s flagship device, has now been made official by AT&T. In typical Active fashion, the S5 Active offers up a bit more protection than its brother. The onscreen buttons are replaced with 3 physical buttons. The outer chassis is toughened up with bumpers across the top and bottom.
As far as specs are concerned, it offers up the same internals as the standard S5, but does remove the finger print scanner from the equation. It is available in the Ruby Red color, pictured above, a Titanium Gray and Camo Green. It will set you back 200 on contract or a whopping $715 at full price. Using the AT&T Next 12 it would be $35.75 a month and with Next 18 you would be looking at $27.50 a month. As an additional little perk though AT&T is kicking $50 off the Galaxy Gear Fit if you buy andS5 Active. Looking at the main AT&T page, they also have a nifty banner on the device offering up a $50 Google Play Gift card too.
Anyone out there planning to pick one of these bad boys up?
Source: AT&T Via: AndroidPolice
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Get an Amber Gold HTC One (M8) for $99 today only
In need of a new smartphone and want to make a bold statement? For one day only, today, you can get the all new HTC One (M8) in Amber Gold for just $99.
The deal started at 12:01 a.m. CST today and runs until supplies last, so if you’re interested, you better hop on this deal quickly.
Note that this is $99 on-contact and you can purchase the device on either AT&T, Sprint or Verizon.
HTC is also offering up to 65GB of Google Drive storage for free for 2 years, plus there is free shipping and the ability to trade in your device for credit towards the new phone.
Hit up the source link to grab your discounted HTC One (M8) now.
Via HTC
The post Get an Amber Gold HTC One (M8) for $99 today only appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Home Screen Widget ‘Blocks’ Imagined in New iOS Concept
One of the more popular feature requests from iOS users has been live widgets for the home screen, similar to Live Tiles on Windows Phone and Widgets on Android. While there have been no specific rumors of widgets actually coming to iOS 8, a new concept from Jay Machalani (via The Verge) offers an excellent vision of how this could be implemented on iOS with the “iOS Block”.
Here’s how it works. On your iOS device you have your list of icons like you know and love. They work and look the same way as before. But, if you want more information about an app, you can simply pinch the app icon bigger and it will now become an iOS Block. There’s no menu, no hidden options and no weird gestures to do. You literally make the icon bigger with your finger if you want more; it can’t be simpler and more intuitive than that.
When you pinch the icon, you will see the transformation/transition into a Block and at that point you have two choices: Either you pinch it back to an icon since you got the information you need or you release your fingers and the icon will remain a Block on your iOS screen.
Malachani imagines three possible sizes for Blocks, designed to take up the space of a 2×2 grid of icons on the home screen for iPhone, iPad portrait, and iPad landscape.
Malachani goes on to outline more details on how the Blocks would be constructed with a relative uniform layout consisting of an app icon in the lower left, a tap zone along the remainder of the bottom edge where buttons could be placed, and a content zone taking up the remainder of the Block. As examples, Malachani walks through how the stock Weather, Music, Calendar, Messages, and Photos apps might look as Blocks.
As Malachani notes, the concept is still a work in progress, as he is unsure exactly how iOS would handle moving other home screen icons to accommodate a new Block on a full home screen, as the normal method of pushing icons to the next page could be disruptive depending on how frequently Blocks are opened and closed.
Apple Reportedly Asking Chinese Authorities to Crack Down on iPhone 6 Leaks
iPhone rumors this year have included a steady stream of mockups, case designs and alleged schematics for the iPhone 6 emerging from China and other Asian countries. Sonny Dickson, well-known source of Apple hardware rumors, claims this wellspring of leaked information may be drying up due to increased security efforts by Apple and Chinese authorities.
iPhone 6 mockup (left) obtained by MacRumors and iPhone 5 (right) in the hand
Dickson claims Apple is working with Chinese officials to stifle leaks about the iPhone 6, hiring approximately 200 security officers to catch merchants who are selling accessories allegedly for the iPhone 6.
There are about 200 security officers trying to catch those who dare to sell i6 accessories.
— Sonny Dickson (@SonnyDickson) May 30, 2014
Apple is known for being a secretive company, with Tim Cook promising shortly after he took over as CEO that he was going to “double down” on secrecy when it came to future product information. Cook may be able to adequately control the flow of information from Apple’s employees by reminding them to “do the right thing,” but his power does not extend to Asian suppliers.
These overseas suppliers often are the weak link as they are privy to Apple’s unreleased products, but lack the strict oversight that discourages employees from intentionally leaking sensitive product details.
AIVAnet 