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iOS 4.3.3 coming soon, will fix iPhone location bug
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Software,
As promised last week, Apple will fix location-tracking software on the iPhone and other devices in an update to its iOS mobile operating system in the next few weeks.
Apple will release iOS version 4.3.3 "within the next two weeks, possibly sooner," BGR reported Monday, citing a company source.
The update for iPhones and iPad tablets will address several location-tracking issues that came to light in April when two researchers publicized the existence of an unencrypted, hidden file on iPhones that stores location data taken from nearby cell towers and Wi-Fi hotspots. The cached data is also timestamped, backed up on iTunes and although associated with Apple's Location Services, cannot be shut off by users when they opted out of the service.
The iOS 4.3.3 update promises to end the backing up of the location database when devices are synched to iTunes, reduce the size of the cached data file and delete the database when users turn off Location Services, according to BGR.com.
Click to continue reading iOS 4.3.3 coming soon, will fix iPhone location bug
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The dude that ‘livetweeted’ the bin Laden raid got hacked
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Social Media, Software,
Sohaib Athar, the man who accidentally livetweeted the raid on Osama bin Laden has been hacked, he confirmed via Twitter.
Athar, who goes by the Twitter handle @ReallyVirtual, said early this morning that his blog, which was linked via his Twitter page, had been infected with malware. Websense, for its part, said in a blog post that the poorly detected malware used a "blackhole exploit kit" to serve the malware. Not surprisingly, Websense said that its customers were protected.
"Anyone going to this page would also load content from the malicious URL above, and the Blackhole Exploit Kit would then try to use several exploits to automatically install malware on the PC," the firm wrote. "The malware that the drive-by-download attempts to install is a fake system tool named 'WindowsRecovery' that claims to have found problems on the victim's computer."
The malware then would have hidden all the files and folders in the user's hard drive and desktop - then offer to restore them for a price, which a Websense graphic indicated was $79.50.
It wasn't clear from Athar's account whether he had successfully removed the malware from his blog or taken it down.
Click to continue reading The dude that ‘livetweeted’ the bin Laden raid got hacked
My letter to the FCC about the AT&T-T-Mobile purchase
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Editorial, Wireless / WiFi,
The FCC has opened public comment on the AT&T/T-Mobile merger, and now is the time to make your views known.
I have no idea whether any amount of public outrage will stop this merger, but we might as well try. Checking this morning, I saw that there are already almost 3,000 comments submitted, overwhelmingly opposing the merger.
AT&T set out its justifications for the merger in a 388-page filing with the FCC.
I'm sure that AT&T will soon rally some sort of Astroturf organization to write comments in support of the deal. It's interesting, really: the comments I could find in support of the merger come from groups and trade associations, while the comments against the merger generally come from individual Americans. It's clearly easier to get a lobbying organization in AT&T's corner than it is to get real people in support of this deal.
Click to continue reading My letter to the FCC about the AT&T-T-Mobile purchase
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New Apple iMac brings Thunderbolt, next-gen quad-core processors
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop,
Today, Apple announced updated iMac desktops with second-generation Intel Core processors and Thunderbolt interconnect technology. The new iMacs are available in the familiar 21.5-inch and larger 27-inch form factors, starting at $1,199 for the 21.5-inch model with an Intel Core i5, AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics, and a 500GB hard drive.
Thunderbolt is Apple's implementation of Intel's Lightpath interconnect technology, first seen on Apple's MacBook Pro laptops. As before, Thunderbolt on the iMac is compatible with USB, FireWire, and Gigabit Ethernet via adapters. Thunderbolt supports mini DisplayPort monitors without an adapter, and can support (via adapters) VGA, DVI, HDMI, and full-sized DisplayPort with an adapter. Thunderbolt has a theoretical 10Gbps throughput, so it can accommodate all of these interconnects simultaneously using only one port. The iMac 21.5-inch models come with one Thunderbolt port, while the 27-inch features two Thunderbolt ports.
On the software side, all new iMacs come with Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, along with Apple's iLife '11 software (iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes, GarageBand, etc.). New for the iMac line is the inclusion of FaceTime HD, which allows video chat with FaceTime equipped iPhone 4, iPod Touch, and iPad 2 devices.
All iMacs are EPEAT Gold certified and meet Energy Star 5.2 requirements. The iMac's LED backlit display is mercury free and Apple uses PVC free cables and components. The new iMacs use Apple's familiar aluminum and glass chassis, and come with a SD card slot, wireless keyboard, and a choice of Apple's Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad.
The new iMacs are available now through Apple Stores, store.apple.com, and authorized Apple Retailers. The base 21.5-inch iMac starts at $1,199 and $1,499, the base 27-inch iMac starts at $1,699 and $1,999. Configure to order options include high end Intel Core i7 processors, 2TB hard drives, 256GB SSD, additional system memory, and AppleCare.
If you're not looking for the latest and greatest, new iMacs also mean that there will be a ton of cheap iMacs hitting eBay.
U.S. officials seize bin Laden hard drives and data, hit “mother lode”
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Storage,
"Can you imagine what's on Osama bin Laden's hard drive?"
That's the question a U.S. official posed to Politico recently in an article that revealed the government is now in possession of the deceased terrorist leader's computers.
The Navy SEALs who infiltrated bin Laden's compound Sunday, killing him and several others, also confiscated computer drives and disks that the U.S. official said was "the mother lode of intelligence." The contents of those machines are currently being torn apart at a secret location in Afghanistan.
"It's going to be great even if only 10 percent of it is actionable," the official told Politico.
Click to continue reading U.S. officials seize bin Laden hard drives and data, hit “mother lode”
Deal of the Day: Huge Mac discounts from Best Buy
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Hot Deals, PC / Laptop,
Best Buy is holding a huge Mac sale today, offering discounts up to $260 off of MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, and Mac Pro - and that includes free shipping:
Don’t forget, if you’re looking for other deals, be sure to check out our Newegg Promo Code thread. Oh, and if you're on Twitter, be sure to follow @TechPromos for the latest deals.
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| Best Buy Mac sale
Was it Osama bin Laden’s aversion to tech that got him killed?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Editorial, Features, Misc. Tech,
Osama bin Laden has likely stayed off the grid for the past decade in order to evade capture, but was it his aversion to tech that actually did him in?
During a late-night press briefing on bin Laden's death, the White House said that the Abbottabad, Pakistan's compound's lack of an Internet connection was one of the things that tipped off investigators.
"It's also noteworthy that the property is valued at approximately $1 million but has no telephone or Internet service connected to it. The brothers had no explainable source of wealth," a senior administration offical told reporters.
The brothers in question are a trusted bin Laden courier and his sibling. The White House said intelligence officials became aware of this courier four years ago thanks to information provided by detainees, but only uncovered his location in August 2010.
White House officials said they were "shocked" by the compound.
Click to continue reading Was it Osama bin Laden’s aversion to tech that got him killed?
Apple and Time Inc. sign deal that gives Time subscribers free iPad access
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds,
Time Inc. has signed a deal with Apple that will allow print subscribers to access iPad versions of its magazines for free.
Starting Monday, subscribers to Fortune, Sports Illustrated, and Time can read these magazines on their iPad by entering an authentication code identifying themselves as print subscribers, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Magazines have struggled to take off on the iPad. Earlier this year, Apple unveiled a subscription platform for the App Store that awarded 70 percent of revenue to publishers and 30 percent to Apple. However, many publishers found the financial terms to be unfair, and said they wanted full control of subscribers' personal information.
Click to continue reading Apple and Time Inc. sign deal that gives Time subscribers free iPad access
9/11 through bin Laden’s death: How tech has changed over the years
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Editorial, Features, Internet, Misc. Tech,
Osama Bin Laden's death is a clear victory in the war on terror for the U.S., but as someone who was working in New York City on September 11, 2001, this event also highlights just how much has changed in the world of technology, communication and news dissemination in the last 10 years.
Nearly a decade ago, I marveled at how technology allowed us to not only learn about the attack on the World Trade Center, but experience it as it unfolded. Back then, I relied heavily on AOL's Instant Messenger to communicate with my team in the office and those scattered around the country. As a result, AIM was a constant presence on my desktop and it's through that platform that I learned of the first jet hitting one of the towers. With that distressing information in hand, our staff gathered in a conference room to watch TV news on a larger projection TV. As a result, we all witnessed the second plane hit the other tower and knew we were under attack.
I used AIM throughout the day to stay in touch with family, friends, and co-workers. Most of my news updates, however, were delivered via TV and radio. There was no Google News, no Facebook, no Twitter, or YouTube for anyone to post eyewitness accounts.
Last night, much of the world learned of Osama bin Laden's death hours before President Barack Obama announced it in a televised news conference at roughly 11:35pm Eastern. Back in 2001, those sharing news about the airplane hitting one of the World Trade Center towers were simply repeating what they had seen on local television networks. Real news was rarely traded on the point-to-point instant messaging service. In fact, there was no concept of a viral network or participants simply sharing what they were experiencing to a wider group without thought of import or impact.
Click to continue reading 9/11 through bin Laden’s death: How tech has changed over the years
RIM announces BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930, BlackBerry 7 OS
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds,
iPhone Retina Display meet BlackBerry "liquid graphics." RIM today announced two powerful new BlackBerry phones with high-res touch screens, fast 1.2-GHz processors, and a new OS that offers better graphics than BlackBerrys had before.
The BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 are the HSPA and CDMA/HSPA+ versions of the same thing: a stretched-out BlackBerry Bold with a 2.8-inch, 640-by-480 touch screen. That isn't high resolution compared to other top-of-the-line smartphones, but it's a very rich, dense screen for its small size.
The two phones run 1.2-GHz Qualcomm processors and have 8GB of storage, 5-megapixel cameras with 720p HD video recording, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The phones also have built-in NFC, the much-touted technology that could enable phones to be used as mobile wallets, if banks ever decide to support it. NFC may have applications in businesses, though, for things like proximity-based ID cards.
Click to continue reading RIM announces BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930, BlackBerry 7 OS
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