Ex-NSA contractor will plead guilty to stealing 50TB of data

Harold Martin, the former US National Security Agency contractor accused of stealing classified information, has agreed to plead guilty to his charges. According to court filings posted on Wednesday, Martin will plead guilty to one count of wilful retention of national defense information and could face up to 10 years in prison on the single count.

Martin, who spent 20 years working for intelligence agencies with top-level security clearance, was indicated in February last year after authorities seized 50 terabytes of data from his home in October 2016. Officials say this could be the biggest heist of US government secrets in history, although it’s not yet clear what Martin did with the stolen data. At the time of his arrest he was working for Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp., the same firm Edward Snowden was working for when he leaked top secret files to the press in 2013.

The court filings say that Martin is due to plead guilty at a federal court in Baltimore on January 22nd, has not yet struck a plea deal with prosecutors and could still be tried on 19 further counts in the indictment. His lawyers will have their work cut out for them, as they had previously stated that Martin didn’t intend to use the data for nefarious purposes, but that he was simply a “compulsive hoarder.”

Source: Reuters

Tesla’s in-car trip planning tool is available on the web

To date, using Tesla’s trip planning tool has meant sitting inside your electric car while you map a route that takes you past charging stations. That doesn’t make much sense if you’re gearing up for vacation, does it? There’s now a better way: Tesla has launched a web version of its trip planner to use while you’re still sitting at your desk. It’s not as fleshed out as the in-car version, but it can tell you where you’ll need to charge and how long you need to drive based on both the route and the particular Tesla you’re driving. You could see fewer stops with a Model S P100D than you would with a Model X 75D, for instance.

Convenience is clearly the main goal for the web planner, but it’s also helpful if you’re a prospective buyer. You can tell whether or not it’s practical to drive to your favorite destination without having to search the internet for charging maps and unofficial guides. Tesla is no doubt hoping that you’ll pull the trigger on an EV if you discover that range isn’t an issue.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Tesla

Apple joins group pushing for efficient mobile video

As streaming video becomes more ubiquitous on all every platform, it’s even more important that we get some sort of standard for scalability across devices and bandwidth. The Alliance for Open Media is an open-source project that has engaged a ton of tech heavy hitters to get together and figure out how to create a next-gen video format that can do just that. As noted by CNET, Apple has just joined the Alliance at a founding (board) member tier. Engadget checked archive.org and confirmed Apple’s inclusion in the list sometime in the past week. We’ve reached out to Apple and will update this post if we hear back.

Other founding members include Amazon, ARM, Cisco, Facebook, Google, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Mozilla, Netflix and NVIDIA. The first video streaming standard from the group, AV1, was announced in April of last year. The codec is used to compress video before it even gets sent over the network, making it smaller and therefore better for your phone’s data plan without losing quality. Having Apple on the AV1 side will likely help it compete with other video standards like the one supported by Mozilla and Cisco, as CNET notes.

Via: CNET

Source: Alliance for Open Media

Wirecutter’s best deals: Save $15 on a Logitech MX Master 2S wireless mouse

This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read their continuously updated list of deals here.

Fitbit Flex 2 Fitness Tracker

Street price: $60; deal price: $50

The black and lavender colors of the Fitbit Flex 2 are both now available for $50 from Abt. The street price of the Fitbit Flex 2 was $80 at the beginning of the year but has now fallen to around $60, which was the previous low for this tracker. This deal is part of a New Year’s sale on Abt and likely won’t be around too much longer.

The Fitbit Flex 2 is the budget pick in our guide to the best fitness trackers. Amy Roberts wrote, “If you just want a simple way to monitor and track your daily activity (including workouts), nightly sleep habits, and get reminders to be more active, the Fitbit Flex 2 is a great choice—especially if all your friends are on Fitbit. Unlike most other Fitbits, it’s water-resistant to 50 meters, so you can track swimming and shower with it. However, it doesn’t have a screen—just five status LEDs to track progress toward your daily step-count goal. It also doesn’t track heart rate, but Fitbits in general continue to struggle with heart-rate accuracy, so we don’t see this as a major issue; it helps the Flex 2 maintain its slim profile and lower price. The Flex 2 syncs wirelessly to the Fitbit app on a smartphone or the Fitbit website on a computer to keep a record of your activity and link you to other Fitbit users—a real highlight, as research shows that friendly competition can be very motivating.”

Tribit XSound Go Bluetooth Speaker

Street price: $40; deal price: $32

While this budget Bluetooth speaker, the Tribit XSound Go, is already pretty affordable, this deal offers an additional $8 drop from the usual $40 street price. This portable waterproof speaker is our new budget pick in an upcoming update to our portable Bluetooth speakers guide and is presently cheaper than our old budget pick.

The Tribit XSound Go is our new, upcoming budget pick in our guide to the best portable Bluetooth speakers. Brent Butterworth wrote, “Our new budget pick will be the Tribit XSound Go, a compact, waterproof speaker that plays louder and sounds clearer than competitors in the low-two-figures price range.”

Logitech MX Master 2S Wireless Mouse

Street price: $95; deal price: $80

At $80, this is the lowest price we’ve seen on the Logitech MX Master 2S, our upgrade wireless mouse pick. The successor to the beloved MX Master mouse is great itself, though one thing not so great is the cost, usually around $95. This deal drops it significantly lower, and if you use a mouse all day every day, at this price it’s worth a look. The MX Master 2S will be back in stock and available to ship in a few days.

The Logitech MX Master 2S is our upgrade pick in our guide to the best wireless mouse. Justin Krajeski and Kimber Streams wrote, “If you use a mouse for hours every day, we recommend the Logitech MX Master 2S Wireless Mouse for about $100. It’s expensive, but its comfortable design, excellent thumb rest, and smooth tracking on every surface (even glass and mirror) make it a pleasure to use for long periods of time in most situations. The Master 2S can also pair with up to three Bluetooth devices simultaneously; and it has six buttons that can be customized using the Logitech Options software, a scroll wheel toggle, and a second programmable scroll wheel for your thumb. Plus, it has a rechargeable battery that Logitech says will last 70 days on a single charge, and our testing so far supports this claim.”

Simplehuman Steel Frame Dishrack with Wine Glass Holder

Street price: $80; deal price: $62

If you have a kitchen with a lot of countertop space and need a large-capacity dish rack, this is a nice opportunity to pick one up at a discount. The Simplehuman Steel Frame Dishrack with Wine Glass Holder, usually $80, is down to $62, the lowest price we’ve seen for it this year. This price has been present a few days but previous sales haven’t lasted long, so pick this up soon if you want it at this price.

The Simplehuman Steel Frame Dishrack with Wine Glass Holder is our upgrade pick in our guide to the best dish rack. Winnie Yang and Rena Behar wrote, “Some homes need a larger dish rack, and the Simplehuman Steel Frame is one of the largest we’ve seen. It’s twice the price of our top pick, but that extra cost brings plenty of extra space and sturdiness. In our tests, this rack easily accommodated a Dutch oven, its lid, and some plates from dinner without wobbling or tipping. The rack’s drip-free design and simple rotating-spout system should keep your countertops safe from any water spills. But be warned: All that water collection and runoff can lead to mold, which means more frequent hand cleaning than you would need for our top pick.”

Because great deals don’t just happen on Thursday, sign up for our daily deals email and we’ll send you the best deals we find every weekday. Also, deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to thewirecutter.com.

Spotify Now Has 70 Million Paid Subscribers

Spotify today announced on Twitter that it has hit a new milestone, with the streaming music service reaching a total of 70 million paid subscribers.

Over the course of the last six months, Spotify’s paid subscriber base has grown by 10 million customers, up from 60 million in late July. When adding in customers who listen to the free ad-supported Spotify tier, the service has more than 140 million subscribers worldwide.

Comparatively, Apple Music has upwards of 30 million paying subscribers. Apple last shared Apple Music metrics in late September, when Apple Music executive Jimmy Iovine said the service had “well over” 30 million subscribers. Since it’s been three months since we last heard an update, Apple’s current subscriber number is likely closer to 35 million subscribers, based on past growth rates.

Hello 70 million subscribers 👏

— Spotify (@Spotify) January 4, 2018

In September of 2016, Apple Music had 17 million subscribers, so growth has nearly doubled over the course of the past year, but that hasn’t stopped Spotify from continuing to grow at a rapid pace as well.

Apple Music subscriptions start at $9.99 per month following a free trial (with lower prices available for students), while Spotify continues to offer both a free tier and an upgraded on-demand listening tier also priced at $9.99 per month.

Spotify’s new 70 million subscriber milestone comes following a recent confidential IPO filing with Securities and Exchange Commission. Spotify plans to go public through a direct listing, forgoing the traditional initial public offering. Without a traditional IPO, there will be no predetermined price for Spotify shares when it goes public.

Spotify is also currently facing a copyright lawsuit for allegedly using thousands of songs from artists like Tom Petty, Neil Young, Stevie Nicks, and the Doors without a license from publisher Wixen Music.
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App Store Sees Record-Breaking $300 Million in Purchases on New Year’s Day

The App Store had a record-breaking holiday season according to a new press release issued by Apple this afternoon. During the week starting on Christmas Eve, a record number of customers made App Store purchases, spending more than $890 million in that seven-day period.

On New Year’s Day 2018 alone, customers made $300 million in purchases. Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller said the company is “thrilled” with the reaction to the revamped App Store that was introduced as part of iOS 11.

“We are thrilled with the reaction to the new App Store and to see so many customers discovering and enjoying new apps and games,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “We want to thank all of the creative app developers who have made these great apps and helped to change people’s lives. In 2017 alone, iOS developers earned $26.5 billion — more than a 30 percent increase over 2016.”

According to Apple, popular augmented reality game Pokémon Go topped the App Store charts on December 21 after new AR features were introduced. Apple says there are close to 2,000 ARKit-enabled apps on the App Store, with popular titles including CSR Racing 2, Stack AR, Kings of Pool, Amazon, Wayfair, Night Sky, Pitu, and Snapchat.

Apple’s ARKit mention comes following a report that has suggested interest in ARKit apps is waning. App Store data shared yesterday by Apptopia suggests developers have been releasing fewer ARKit-compatible apps over the course of the last two months.

Apple in iOS 11 introduced a new App Store that separates apps and games into distinct categories for improved app discovery. The redesigned App Store also features a “Today” section that’s updated on a daily basis with new and popular apps and games.

Tag: App Store
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Intel Says New Software Updates Make Computers ‘Immune’ to Meltdown and Spectre Vulnerabilities

Intel today announced that the firmware updates and software patches that are being released for its CPUs render Intel-based computer systems “immune” to both the Spectre and Meltdown exploits that were widely publicized this week.

Intel has developed and is rapidly issuing updates for all types of Intel-based computer systems — including personal computers and servers — that render those systems immune from both exploits (referred to as “Spectre” and “Meltdown”) reported by Google Project Zero. Intel and its partners have made significant progress in deploying updates as both software patches and firmware updates.

Intel says updates have been issued for the majority of Intel processor products introduced within the past five years, and by the end of next week, more than 90 percent of processor products from the last five years will be patched.

For Mac users, Apple has already addressed the vulnerabilities in the macOS High Sierra 10.13.2 update, and further updates will come in macOS High Sierra 10.13.3. To make sure you’re protected as a Mac user, install all of the latest operating system updates and firmware patches. As always, it’s also worth avoiding suspicious programs, websites, and links.

Intel today also reiterated that the updates that are being released for Mac, PC, and Linux machines should not significantly impact day to day usage and should, for the most part, be unnoticeable. That seems to be true of the macOS High Sierra 10.13.2 update, as there have been no reports of slowdowns from Mac users.

Intel continues to believe that the performance impact of these updates is highly workload-dependent and, for the average computer user, should not be significant and will be mitigated over time. While on some discrete workloads the performance impact from the software updates may initially be higher, additional post-deployment identification, testing and improvement of the software updates should mitigate that impact.

While hints of an Intel CPU design flaw and security vulnerability surfaced on Tuesday, it wasn’t until Wednesday that full details were shared on the Meltdown and Spectre exploits, which take advantage of the speculative execution mechanism of a CPU.

Meltdown impacts Intel CPUs, allowing a malicious program to access data from the memory of running apps, providing passwords, emails, documents, photos, and more. Meltdown can be exploited to read the entire physical memory of a target machine, and it can be done through something as simple as a website. The vulnerability is particularly problematic for cloud-based services.

Spectre, which breaks the isolation between different applications, is a wider hardware-based problem impacting all modern Intel, ARM, and AMD processors. Spectre is harder to exploit than Meltdown, but it is also harder to mitigate.

While patches are going out that appear to prevent the current known Meltdown and Spectre exploits, these speculative execution vulnerabilities will continue to be a problem for years to come, according to security researchers. Similar vulnerabilities will surface, and while performance impacts from software-based workarounds are minor, they’re still present.

Paul Kocher, one of the security researchers who helped discover the flaws, told The New York Times that this will be a “festering problem over hardware life cycles.” “It’s not going to change tomorrow or the day after,” he said. “It’s going to take awhile.”

Tag: Intel
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