PC World reviews the Samsung BlackJack II (i617) and writes, “Samsung took almost everything about the first BlackJack and turned it up a notch, making a good PDA phone a little better. Though the BlackJack II doesn’t look drastically different from the original and still leaves room for improvement, the subtle changes in design and components are a nice upgrade.”
Read more about the Samsung BlackJack II (i617).
I’ve become quite cynical about online project management tools. With each new brand that comes out, I’m either underwhelmed (because there aren’t enough features) or overwhelmed (because there are too many features - but most of them I’ll never use - and the system is too complicated for my project partners to bother with). Yet, I remain persistent in my search for the perfect application that will free me from having to use four diffrent methods for communicating with people on a given project.
I just became aware of MyQuire, a web application with standard fare project management features: calendar, projects & task assignments, file and photo upload, notifications, and online chat. But MyQuire distinguishes itself from the crowd of other project collaboration and management applications by combining these features with a social networking element, so that you can set up different groups as well as networks to draw from for various projects.
Though I’m not that impressed with MyQuire from a pure project management standpoint, I can see how it could be very useful for charity projects (calling upon a group of people to help rebuild a school in a third world country, for instance) and community events, as well as for organizing social events for enthusiast/hobby groups (like those emerging out of Meetup.com).
I like the concept, and hope that it becomes part of a trend towards building online social networks around causes.
Retro Sweet Hamper
You can have this for ?29.99
Researchers at Princeton University have demonstrated a technique that can beat most current disk encryption software. The technique stems from the fact that the encryption key used to secure the data on a disk is stored in RAM while the computer is in use.
Many people believe that when a computer is shut down the contents of RAM is lost immediately. This is actually false with the information only disappearing slowly over time and dependent on what RAM chips are in the machine. It can take a few seconds to several minutes for the information to be wiped, and this time can be extended by cooling the chips with something as simple as an air spray can usually used for cleaning dust out of machines.
The researchers created a tool called BitUnlocker in order to read the contents of a machine’s RAM. All they had to do was gain access to a machine that was in use so that the encryption key was held in RAM. They then removed the battery to shut down the machine and then attached an external USB hard drive or thumbstick. The battery is reconnected and the attached storage is set as the boot device, which then runs the tool. As the contents of RAM will likely not have disappeared yet, the software picks up the encryption key that is then used to unlock the disk.
This technique has been tested and works with Windows Vista’s BitLocker, Apple’s FileVault, Linux’s dm-crypt and the Open Source TrueCrypt. The vulnerability of your machine is dependent on the state it is left in when an attacker gains access and the type of encryption you are using.
Read more at PC Pro and the Center for Information Technology Policy
Matthew’s Opinion
I am hearing a lot lately about laptops being stolen with important details on them, and that disk encryption is being seen as the answer. As this research shows, you can’t rely on a single type of security to ensure the data on your hard drive is safe.
So, what affect will this news have on the disk encryption market? That will depend partly on how much coverage this research gets, but it will also be interesting to hear how the different vendors for these encryption solutions react.
There is also a marketing opportunity to come out of this on both the hardware and software fronts. For providers of the encryption software, they may implement a new feature that removes the encryption key from RAM as a machine shuts down. On the other hand, memory manufacturers could release fast release RAM (if this is possible?) that ensures that the RAM is cleared of data in seconds when power to them is lost.
Posted Feb 25th 2008 8:58AM by Paul Miller
Filed under: Digital Cameras
Tired of taking candid shots with your point-and-shoot that can barely stretch over the state of Nevada? Sony’s got those megapixels in spades with its new DSC-W300, the new top-end shooter in its W lineup. In addition to the 13.6 megapixel sensor, the camera sports a 2.7-inch LCD, 3x optical zoom, optical image stabilization and up to ISO 6400 shots in “extra high sensitivity” mode. The camera also brings along Sony’s Smile Shutter tech, and other fancy processor capabilities, including a limited burst mode. The DSC-W300 will be available in May for about $350.
Posted Feb 25th 2008 9:58AM by Joshua Topolsky
Filed under: cellphones
Why is Nokia always trying to outdo everyone with its fancy-schmancy concepts and designs? Why can’t they just get in line and keep it simple? We may never know the answer to those questions, but what we do know is that the company is presenting a new concept device called the Morph that would be right at home… in the year 3000. The unit is included in the MoMA’s “Design and the Elastic Mind” exhibition catalog, and boasts the ability to stretch and flex to almost any shape a user could think of. The nanotechnology-based device would deliver transparent electronics, self-cleaning surfaces, and the malleability to transform into any number of configurations. Of course, the actual technology required to put this together is years or even decades away, though Nokia expects to see some of these innovations making their way into high-end products within seven years. See the device doing its thing in some photos after the break.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Toshiba has introduced the latest and the meanest version of its flagship gaming notebook series. The Satellite X205-SLi has a cogent Penryn at its heart backed by NVIDIA’s SLI graphics, which will combine to give you the crispiest gaming experience imaginable.
The X205-SLi’s processor is an Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 (45 nm) that clocks 2.1 GHz with a 3 Mb L2 cache. Besides the processor, the NVIDIA SLI graphics - with not one but two Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT graphic processing units - will make life a whole lot of fun for the professional ilk of gamers by rendering true-to-life graphics. The SLI graphics will give you brisk frame rates even at higher resolutions.
Read [Gamertell]
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Posted Feb 25th 2008 2:15AM by Ryan Block
Filed under: Laptops, Storage
Solid state is still what gets our motors purring, but 500GB of storage in your laptop isn’t anything to scoff at, either. Fujitsu’s new MHZ2 BT is the second drive to hit the half-terabyte mark, but just like the Hitachi 500 gigger it’s a non-standard height (12.5mm), meaning you won’t be able to slap it in most laptops or enclosures — unless you’re willing to shave out an extra ~3mm of surrounding matter. Expect ‘em out in May.
Posted Feb 25th 2008 5:33AM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Portable Audio
While certainly not the most bizarre (nor elaborate) musical apparatus we’ve seen, Future Retro’s intriguingly designed Revolution synthesizer still manages to stand out. Apparently, its creators firmly believe that “music is cyclic,” and it’s definitely practicing what it preaches on said device. The analog monophonic synthesizer is contained in a rugged aluminum chassis and is laid out in a way that makes “dividing a measure of music into equal parts” much easier — visually, at least. ‘Course, this bugger will put a $750 dent in your wallet, but it is shipping now for those simply enamored with the design.
[Via BornRich]
Posted Feb 25th 2008 3:36AM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Robots
We’ve seen some pretty fantastic replicas grace the always fascinating pages of eBay before, but this particular creation is apparently hitting home with quite a few wealthy nerds prospective buyers. The fiberglass reproduction of Gort from the famed 1951 classic The Day The Earth Stood Still is currently sitting just above $4,000, and there’s still quite a few hours left for bids to fly in from other galaxies. Unfortunately, the winning bidder will be forced to trek to San Francisco to pick it up, but at least you can look forward to checking out its tilting visor and array of sound effects before it melts your wallet and calls you master.
[Via Technabob]
