Smart tattoos turn your skin into a health tracker

There’s a common problem with health-tracking devices like smartwatches: they’re not really attached to you, which leaves you relying on a short-lived battery and a wireless connection. Even a self-powered patch has its limits. That’s where Harvard and MIT think they can help: they’ve developed smart tattoos that effectively place health sensors in your skin, no power or wireless link required. The ink in the tattoos reacts to the chemical composition of your interstitial fluid, which reflects the state of your blood. A green ink grows more intense to let athletes know when they’re dehydrated, while another green ink turns brown to warn diabetics when their glucose levels go up.

And unlike that tattoo you got on a wild night in college, you’re not stuck with it. With enough refinement, the scientists expect to make tattoos that only last for as long as you need them. They could be invisible unless subjected to certain kinds of light, too, so you wouldn’t have to explain your ink to your friends. if you weren’t sure what the symbols on your arm meant, a smartphone app could analyze them to tell you exactly how you’re doing.

It could be a long while before you’re sporting tattoos that are as informative as they are decorative. The project is as much about inspiring “potential” among both artists and scientists, as well as to address ethical questions. If your tattoo is visible, are you comfortable with the idea of everyone seeing your blood sugar level the moment you put on a short-sleeved shirt? Look at it this way, though: if you’re tired of strapping devices to your arms or wrists just to quantify your health, this could be much more comfortable.

Source: Harvard Gazette, ACM

Apple releases kernel source code tuned for mobile chips

Ever since the first version of OS X, Apple has regularly released the kernel source code for Macs. In theory, you could learn from it or even build your own projects from it. For iOS, though? Not so simple. Even if you had source code, it wouldn’t matter much unless it was optimized for the ARM-based chips that you see in most phones and mobile tablets. However, Apple is shaking things up a bit. The company has quietly posted ARM-friendly source code for the XNU kernels used in iOS and macOS. That’s particularly relevant if you’re interested in iOS, since you now have code that would theoretically run on an iPhone or iPad. However, it’s not quite the breakthrough move it seems at first blush.

To start: this is just the kernel, the low-level code that governs the most critical functions. It doesn’t cover the interface, developer frameworks or apps… that is, the parts that truly define iOS or macOS. Those elements are still closed off, so you would have to build most of the platform from scratch. You won’t see iOS on a Galaxy S8 any time soon. Apple also offers a relatively limited source code license that isn’t as flexible as, say, the GPL license used for Linux.

Moreover, while the presence of ARM-based Mac code is bound to raise eyebrows, this doesn’t mean that you’re about to see a MacBook with an A11 Bionic chip inside. Apple has a long history of writing code for other architectures “just in case” (the PowerPC-to-Intel transition happened quickly because Apple already had code waiting in the wings), so it might never make the switch. You certainly aren’t about to install macOS on your ARM-based Chromebook. And besides, there are rumors of Apple developing ARM-based companion chips for Macs. It may need ARM code even if it has no intention of ditching Intel for CPUs.

All the same, it’s a welcome move. This gives app and OS developers a better sense of how Apple tackles basic system tasks, particularly on iOS. And yes, anyone ambitious enough to write a full operating system could use XNU as a starting point. It’s just not going to change the status quo for Apple.

Via: Reddit

Source: GitHub, Apple Open Source

FBI sued for keeping details about San Bernardino iPhone exploit secret

Why it matters to you

The hacking of the San Bernardino iPhone sparked a national debate, and now, a judge has finally ruled in the matter.

The Apple vs. FBI case may finally be over. Last September, a group of news organizations filed a freedom of information lawsuit against the FBI, aiming to compel the bureau to hand over the information of how it was able to hack the iPhone 5C used in the San Bernardino case, as well as who hacked it. The group included the likes of The Associated Press, Vice Media, and Gannett, which is the parent company of USA Today. And now, more than 12 months later, a judge has finally ruled in that case in favor of the FBI.

“The FBI’s purchase of the technology — and its subsequent verification that it had successfully obtained the data that it was seeking thanks to that technology — confirmed that a serious undisclosed security vulnerability existed in one of the most popular consumer products in the world,” the initial filing said. But late in the evening of September 30, 2017, federal judge Tanya Chutkan ruled that identifying the vendor the FBI used would effectively place a bounty of said vendor’s head, and could eventually result in the technology being compromised.

According to the FBI, the vendor’s networks are “not as sophisticated” as that of the federal agency’s, which might leave the company vulnerable to cyberattack.

“It is logical and plausible that the vendor may be less capable than the FBI of protecting its proprietary information in the face of a cyber-attack,” said the court. “The FBI’s conclusion that releasing the name of the vendor to the general public could put the vendor’s systems, and thereby crucial information about the technology, at risk of incursion is a reasonable one.”

The case was certainly an interesting one. After the San Bernardino shooting, the FBI demanding that Apple create a custom software to hack into the iPhone itself. Apple declined, saying that doing so would set a bad precedent for future cases. The FBI then took matters into its own hands and dropped the case against Apple.

The news organizations involved in the suit claimed that it’s important that Apple is told how the hack was accomplished so that it can fix the flaw and prevent millions of iPhone owners from being vulnerable to hacks themselves. Not only that, but the group also claimed that the situation brings up questions about the allocation of public funds as well as governmental oversight issues. Finally, the suit suggested there’s no legal basis for the FBI to hold on to the information.

It’s been a long and tumultuous road for Apple and the FBI, but for now, it looks like this chapter is closed.

Update: A judge has ruled that the FBI can keep its secret around how it hacked the San Bernardino terrorist’s iPhone. 

Apple sees an increase in national security requests for 2017

Why it matters to you

Apple is being transparent as they can be, revealing that they’ve seen an increase in national security requests from the government.

According to Apple’s first biannual transparency report, the Cuptertino comapny received more than 30,000 demands to access over 230,000 devices in the first-half of this year. These requests are coming in the form of National Security Letters as well as requests under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Apple and other big companies are only reporting ranges, since the government will not only them to reveal precise numbers. “By law, this is the most precise information we are currently allowed to disclose,” Apple said in the report.

As far as the national security-related requests are concerned, this year Apple has received four times the amount in the first half of the year that it did one year ago. In the first half of 2017, from January 1 all the way to June 30, Apple received anywhere from 13,250 to 13,499 national security requests from the U.S. government. These requests had an affect on 9,000 to 9,249 people who use Apple’s devices.

“There’s not a huge track record here, but you can start to make a simple graph. The trend does seem to be upward,” Andrew Crocker, a staff attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said. The amount of government requests made to tech companies has been steadily growing since 2014. This is when the data first started to become available.

It’s not exactly made clear why Apple has seen such an increase in national security requests from the government this year.

Companies like Facebook, Yahoo or Microsoft have yet to voluntarily report their figures for this year. Google has said that they had received anywhere from 0 to 499 National Security Letters requesting data on between 1,000 and 1,499 user accounts in the first six months of 2017, more than ever before. Google is usually the go-to company when the government wants to collect data on people.

Google is also campaigning for reform under the US Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA).

“Providing a pathway for such countries to obtain electronic evidence directly from service providers in other jurisdictions will remove incentives for the unilateral, extraterritorial assertion of a country’s laws, data localization proposals, aggressive expansion of government access authorities, and dangerous investigative techniques,” wrote Richard Salgado, Google’s director of Law Enforcement and Information Security.

Apple sees an increase in national security requests for 2017

Why it matters to you

Apple is being transparent as they can be, revealing that they’ve seen an increase in national security requests from the government.

According to Apple’s first biannual transparency report, the Cuptertino comapny received more than 30,000 demands to access over 230,000 devices in the first-half of this year. These requests are coming in the form of National Security Letters as well as requests under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Apple and other big companies are only reporting ranges, since the government will not only them to reveal precise numbers. “By law, this is the most precise information we are currently allowed to disclose,” Apple said in the report.

As far as the national security-related requests are concerned, this year Apple has received four times the amount in the first half of the year that it did one year ago. In the first half of 2017, from January 1 all the way to June 30, Apple received anywhere from 13,250 to 13,499 national security requests from the U.S. government. These requests had an affect on 9,000 to 9,249 people who use Apple’s devices.

“There’s not a huge track record here, but you can start to make a simple graph. The trend does seem to be upward,” Andrew Crocker, a staff attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said. The amount of government requests made to tech companies has been steadily growing since 2014. This is when the data first started to become available.

It’s not exactly made clear why Apple has seen such an increase in national security requests from the government this year.

Companies like Facebook, Yahoo or Microsoft have yet to voluntarily report their figures for this year. Google has said that they had received anywhere from 0 to 499 National Security Letters requesting data on between 1,000 and 1,499 user accounts in the first six months of 2017, more than ever before. Google is usually the go-to company when the government wants to collect data on people.

Google is also campaigning for reform under the US Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA).

“Providing a pathway for such countries to obtain electronic evidence directly from service providers in other jurisdictions will remove incentives for the unilateral, extraterritorial assertion of a country’s laws, data localization proposals, aggressive expansion of government access authorities, and dangerous investigative techniques,” wrote Richard Salgado, Google’s director of Law Enforcement and Information Security.

You know about 007’s car — how about Aston Martin yachts and subs?

Why it matters to you

Aston Martin yachts and sub are as strikingly beautiful and powerful as its cars. Will other carmakers jump aboard?

Aston Martin yachts and subs were a hot topic at the Monaco Yacht Show (MYS). Aston Martin still makes amazing automobiles, but the marque is branching out. The brand is now associated with yachts and submarines. This past week, the Aston Martin AM37 yacht, designed and built in collaboration with Quintessence Yachts, made its official debut at MYS. Aston Martin and Triton also presented Neptune, a joint venture concept for a 3-seat personal submarine.

You remember when Aston Martin was most known in the U.S. as the exotic brand for James Bond’s rides, right? Bond needed cars with trunk-mounted flamethrowers, oil slick shooters, machine guns under the front fenders, and more. If the passengers were a threat, he just pushed a red button to blast them through the roof on an ejection seat.

Ultra-luxury superyacht builder Feadship collaborated with Quintessence at the Monaco Yacht Show. Feadship’s used two AM37 prototype yachts as tenders to transport VIP guests on the former company’s “Superyacht Safari” — a guided tour of Feadship superyachts moored in Monaco Bay. We’re impressed at the shrewdness of using ultra cool new yachts to taxi the uber-wealthy to check out even cooler and much larger yachts. The point is well-taken, however, that it’s likely that superyacht owners who can’t find any more ways to spend money on their larger vessels may well be the first market for the sophisticated Aston Martin Quintessence yachts.

Guests who rode on the tenders likely noticed the differences in styling. One AM37 was Diavolo Red with Cream Truffle leather upholstery, and the other was Ocellus Teal with Ivory leather and teak decks. Personalization is a major theme with the AM37. It’s highly unlikely, according to the company, that any two AM37s will be alike unless specifically ordered that way.

It’s noteworthy that the first delivered AM37, built for an unidentified customer in Miami, was ordered with every single item available on the options and accessories list. The customer specified the most powerful AM37S setup, with two 520-horsepower Mercury Racing engines, a champagne cooler, and an item not on the list prior to his ordering it: underwater fluorescent lighting. The color choice for the Miami-bound yacht is Charcoal Lacquer with grey Novasuede, ordered to match his new Aston Martin Vantage AMR road car.

Project Neptune joins “Triton’s diving and operational expertise with Aston Martin’s design, materials, and craftsmanship,” according to the joint press release. A strictly limited edition personal submarine, Neptune will be based on Triton’s existing Low Profile 3-person submarine platform. Aston Martin chief creative officer Marek Reichman told Bloomberg Aston Martin expects Neptune can travel 1,650 feet under water at speeds up to 3.5 miles per hour. Reichman also said the sub will cost about $4 million and require approximately 12 months from order to delivery.

Digital Trends has not seen the option list for either the AM37 or Project Neptune. We rather doubt ejection seats, flamethrowers, and self-operating machine guns are standard accessories. But you can always ask.

When it comes to extensions for Edge, Microsoft puts quality over quantity

Why it matters to you

Microsoft Edge is the browser of choice for thousands of people, but lags behind the competition in the area of extensions.

Last year, Microsoft brought third-party extensions to its Edge browser. Since then, only about 70 extensions have been made available for Edge. During roughly the same time period, Google added nearly 10,000 extensions to the Chrome Web Store and that number has been growing ever since. In a recent blog post, Microsoft set out to explain why Edge is so lacking in extensions compared to Google Chrome.

Microsoft’s main argument is of quality vs. quantity. The company says that it wants to ensure that only quality extensions are available for its browser so that it can ensure the user experience is not adversely impacted. The company acknowledges that progress has been slow, but insists that it is important to ensure quality control.

“We have taken a purposefully metered approach as we onboard new extensions,” Microsoft’s Colleen Williams wrote on the company’s blog. “Extensions are one of the most substantial features in a new browser, and we have a high bar for quality. Because extensions interact so closely with the browser, we have been very attuned to the security, performance, and reliability of Microsoft Edge with these extensions enabled.”

There is some merit to Microsoft’s argument, as there are undoubtedly plenty of bad extensions and apps available on the Chrome Store. However, for the most part, the user review system has done a good job of promoting good programs while warning users away from the poor ones. The Chrome Web Store is far from perfect, but it is hardly a wasteland devoid of quality content. In fact, several of the most popular Edge extensions are simply ports of ones which were developed for Chrome.

Microsoft’s browsers, particularly later iterations of Internet Explorer, have been the subject of jokes and ridicule for many years, but the company has taken steps to improve the user experience. By our account, Edge is far from perfect but is superior to IE.  However, those improvements have done little to help Microsoft regain market share. A recent study found that Edge and IE combined only held a market share of little over 21 percent.

We don’t believe that adding more extensions is the magic bullet that will make people flock to Edge, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt the browser’s chances against Chrome and Firefox.

Here’s how to score a free Charizard for your ‘Pokémon Sun and Moon’ game

Why it matters to you

The fan favorite Charizard is now available for the newest Pokémon 3Ds game, but you have to act fast.

For a limited time, Target stores will be giving away a free Level 50 Charizard for the popular Nintendo 3DS game Pokémon Sun and Moon. You’ve only got a couple of weeks to claim your critter, so be sure to drop by and grab your free download code as soon as possible.

The Charizard comes raring for battle and ready to add to your party, with the Dragon Dance, Flare Blitz, Fly, and Earthquake moves. It also comes with the powerful Blaze ability and a Red Card held item. The code only works with the original game and not the upcoming Pokémon Ultra Sun and Moon, which don’t arrive until November.

It’s all part of a promotion, and the retail giant hopes that while you’re in the electronics department you’ll also purchase the Target exclusive Pokémon TCG: Charizard-GX Premium Collection, which includes a Charizard-GX promo card, a collector’s pin, and some other cool swag.

After getting your code:

• Select Mystery Gift on the main menu.
• Select Receive Gift.
• Select Get with Code/Password, then Yes, and then Yes again to connect to the internet.
• Enter the code to get your Charizard.
• Visit a delivery person in any Pokémon Center to pick up Charizard.
• Save your game!

Be sure to redeem your code before February 4, 2018.

Pokémon Sun and Moon are the ridiculously popular latest entries in the venerable Pokémon franchise that stretches back 20 years, and quickly became the best-selling games in Nintendo’s history when they were released.

Featuring a beautiful tropical island setting, the latest Pokémon games include a variety of new creatures as well as the old favorites to discover, including some that are quite rare and difficult to find. Graphically, it’s quite a step up from previous entries in the series, with detailed Pokémon models and animations. There are also regional differences in the Pokémon you’ll discover in different areas, and detailed Pokémon lore spread throughout the islands that address questions Pokémon trainers have pondered about for years.

Then there’s the Pokémon Bank, a downloadable app that lets you transfer Pokémon between games and even store them temporarily online. You can bump Pokémon from your old games up into Sun and Moon, or if you’re trading in your old cartridge, you can save the Pokémon you’ve collected for your new game.

The free Charizard giveaway is available at your local Target store between October 1-14.

Game gifting comes to the Xbox One’s online store

If you’ve ever wanted to gift an Xbox One game but didn’t want to saddle the recipient with a physical copy (or an impersonal gift card), you’re in luck. So long as you’re part of the Xbox Insider Program, Microsoft’s promised game gifting feature is now available for Xbox One titles through the console’s online store, including some Windows 10 games that support Play Anywhere. You can either send a title directly to one of your Xbox Live friends or to an email address. The recipient only has to redeem a code to claim their game.

This certainly isn’t a new concept — just ask anyone who’s ever handed out a freebie on Steam. It’s also unclear if this is exactly how gifting will work by the time the feature reaches the public. Still, this is more than a little helpful, and not just for birthdays or holidays. If you’ve ever had a friend who wanted to join in an Xbox multiplayer match but couldn’t afford to buy the game on the spot, you can do it for them.

Source: Windows Central (1), (2)

FBI Can Keep Details of iPhone Hack Secret, Rules Judge

The FBI doesn’t have to identify the company it contracted to unlock an iPhone used by one of the shooters in the 2015 California terror attack that killed 14 people, a federal judge ruled on Saturday (via Politico).

Three news organizations – USA Today, Associated Press, and Vice Media – sued the FBI last year under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to try to force the agency to reveal the name of the company and the amount it was paid to unlock the device.

In the original complaint, the news organizations argued that the public had a right to know how the government spent taxpayer funds in the case. They also claimed the existence of a flaw in the iPhone could be a danger to the public. However, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ruled this weekend that the information is exempt from mandatory disclosure under the government transparency law.

In her ruling, released Saturday night, Chutkan said the identity of the firm that managed to unlock the iPhone and the price it was paid to do so are classified national security secrets and constitute intelligence sources or methods that can also be withheld on that basis. She also ruled that the amount paid for the hack reflects a confidential law enforcement technique or procedure that is exempt from disclosure under FOIA.

A battle between Apple and the FBI began in early 2016 when Apple refused to help the government unlock shooter Syed Farook’s iPhone 5c under the belief that it could set a bad precedent for security and privacy. The FBI didn’t know what was on the device at the time, but believed that any information gathered could potentially help move the case of the San Bernardino attack forward in meaningful ways.

To break into Farook’s iPhone 5c, the FBI later employed the help of “professional hackers” and reportedly paid upwards of $1.3 million for a tool exploiting a security vulnerability, a figure arrived at based on comments made by then-FBI director James Comey. The agency said it was not able to share with Apple the hacking methods used because it did not own the rights to the relevant technical details regarding the purchased technique.

The FBI has said the method used to break into the iPhone 5c does not work on the iPhone 5s and later, but it can be used to access iPhone 5c devices running iOS 9. It later revealed after the hack that nothing on the phone relevant to the investigation was found.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

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