Tech Review: Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Maylong M-250 7" $100

http://www.maylonggroup.com/M-250_MID.htm

• 7 "
• Resistive
• Stylus
• Android 2.2

Android Tablets . Net

http://www.androidtablets.net/forum/

Nice site on Android Tablets

Tech Review: Friday, August 5, 2011

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/store_access.do?template_type=storefronts&landing=rts_tablet&category=rts_tablet&jumpid=em_r329_hhos_5944&aoid=105495&email=null

HP Touch Pad with Web OS $450

WOOT has it for $380

• 16 GB Storage
• 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core AP!8060 processor
• 9.7" backlit 
• 1.3MP front-facing camera
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• Wireless charging
• WebOS
• Woot price for $380
• https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/1319963c1b2ff4e4

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=notebooks&a1=Category&v1=Mini&series_name=mini110_series&jumpid=in_R329_prodexp/hhoslp/psg/notebooks/Mini/mini110_series

HP Mini 110 $280 (Upgrade $320)

• Intel Atom N455 (upgrade to dual core ATOM N570)
• Graphic Media Accelerator 3150
• 1 GB Mem (upgrade to 2 GB)
• 10.1 "
• 250 GB drive
• 2.52 lbs
• Ethernet
• Webcam
• Integrated Wireless
• Bluetooth optional
• Win7 Starter 32-bit
• 1024x600

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/store_access.do?template_type=series_detail&category=notebooks&series_name=dv6t_series&jumpid=in_R329_prodexp/hhoslp/psg/notebooks/promo_tile/2/lp_promo_tile2_HP_Pavilion_dv6t___731

PH Pavilion dv6t Series $600 ($1,528)

• (Win 7 Pro-64 bit)
• (Recovery DVD)
• (Dual Core Intel i5-2410M (2.3 Gz)
• (2GB Radeon 6770M GDDR5)
• (16GB Memory)

http://gcn.com/articles/2011/08/04/black-hat-apt-threat-china.aspx?s=gcndaily_050811

Flaw in advanced threats points to Chinese networks

• IP address of command and control servers in China
• Believed used in breach of RSA Security in March
• Advance Persistent Threats (APTs)
• Quietly infect systems
• remain undetected
• high-profile breaches

http://gcn.com/articles/2011/08/04/black-hat-android-apps-mobile-security.aspx?s=gcndaily_050811

Android app test demonstrates dangers for mobile devices

• 10,000 apps evaluated
• not necessarily malicious (?)
• leaky and noisy (?)
• 30% access unique equipment or subscriber identity number
• Report to server something in clear (can be read by anyone)
• definitely a privacy and security problems - Neil Daswani
• tries to get root access on device
• Short Message Service activity
• limited to a single message sent to the number of the phone installed on

http://gcn.com/articles/2011/08/03/android-hacks-rise.aspx

3 of 10 Android users now face malware attach

• trojan steal account passwords and SSN by recording phone coversations
• doubling the risk of 6 months ago - (Lookout)
• 80 to 400 number of apps in 6 months - (Lookout)
• 0.5 to 1 million user affected
• 48% malware
• repackaging
• malicious code added to legitimate app
• upgrade attach
• pub clean app, wait offer infected update
• 52% sypware
• Users transmitting sensitive data without proper encryption

http://gcn.com/articles/2011/08/04/black-hat-windows-kernel-vulnerabilities.aspx?s=gcndaily_050811

Window kernel a fertile field for vulnerabilities

• Win32K.sys from 1997 remains a fundamental component of Win architecture
• no proper authentication for changes in memory after for user-mode call backs
• 40 patches
• count much higher
• Tarjei Mandt - Norman ASA
• fundamental problem buried in an old element of he Win kernal

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.skype.raider&hl=en

Skype now does video

• 3.6 stars
• Skype is not known for good software
• who else has similar apps?
• Google?

http://www.zdnet.com/photos/gallery-photos-suggest-flowing-water-on-mars/6272308?tag=nl.e589

Life On Mars

• Melting salt water turns red

http://gcn.com/articles/2011/08/02/stuxnet-type-attack-prisons.aspx?s=gcndaily_040811

Stuxnet-style could attack prisons

• prisons use PLC
• doors
• gates
• video
• alarms
• intercoms

Tech Review: Thursday, August 4, 2011

Web Operating System (WOS)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_operating_system

Web Operating System (WOS)

A term for describing internet scale distributed computing.

http://desizntech.info/2009/08/top-5-web-operating-systems/

Liz Cornwell

The above artical is from 2009, but it is better than a poke in the eye.

Top 5 WOSs.

1. icloud
2. Glide OS 3.0
3. G.HO.ST
4. Jolicloud
5. EYEOS

How The New 'Protecting Children' Bill Puts You At Risk

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/violetblue/how-the-new-8216protecting-children-bill-puts-you-at-risk/590?tag=nl.e539

• nothing to do with pornography
• opposed by over 30 civil liberties and consumer advocacy organizations
• forces ISPs to retain 
• customer names, 
• address, 
• phone numbers, 
• credit card numbers, 
• bank account numbers and 
• dynamic IP address for
• 1.5 years
• ISP snooping bill
• fails to note that this would be an effective tool against child porno, which is a favorite habit of most pedophiles.

Android Trojan records conversations, can send them to bad guys

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/android-trojan-records-conversations-can-send-them-to-bad-guys/14006?tag=nl.e539

• Android Trojan
• records conversations

• Where was the application?  
• In the Android Market? 
• In the wild? 
• Why on earth would someone want to record a bunch of conversations?  
• Doesn't make sense. 
• Is this something malicious, 
• a developer mistake, or 
• marketing gone awry?
• Author says "Best defense ... is to pay attention to the permissions..."   
• Fails to realize that a lot of legitimate applications ask for a lot of privileges.
• I personally would recommend 
• loading from the Google Android Market
• using the Lookout Mobile Security

Forrester: U.S. debt ceiling showdown will affect IT spending

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/forrester-us-debt-ceiling-showdown-will-affect-it-spending/53401?tag=nl.e540

• 2011 IT forecast growth drops from 7.4 to 5.5
• 2012 IT forecast growth drops from 10.4 to ?

CNET 100 Android apps: Winners, in pictures

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-20083700-251/winners-of-the-cnet-100-your-top-10-android-apps/?tag=content;photo-frame

1. Google Maps
2. Dolphin Browser HD
3. Lookout Mobile Security
4. SoundHound
5. Read It Later
6. Google Voice
7. Google

How do I see the 100?

How Digital Detectives Deciphered Stuxnet, the Most Menacing Malware in History

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/07/how-digital-detectives-deciphered-stuxnet/

• Iran
• 800 to ?
• 1000 and 2000 in a few months
• most complex malware ever written
• first real cyberweapon
• zero-day exploit
• looks like US/Israel

Ematic 2GB MP3 Video Player with 1.5" Screen

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ematic-2GB-Video-MP3-Player-with-1.5-Screen-Black/10574420?adid=1500000000000026683350

• $25
• 2 GB
• FM tuner/recorder
• 1.5 " display
• voice recorder
• Plays
• MP4
• AVI
• MP3
• JPEG
• E-book

Tech Review: Tuesday, August 2, 2011

• http://gcn.com/Articles/2011/07/29/Fastest-broadband-cities.aspx?s=gcndaily_010811&Page=2

Which cities have the fastest broadband?

18 cities in the US ranked in the top 100 of the world.

Riverside - 7.8 megabits/sec

Rhode Island - 894 kilobits/sec 

Idaho - 318 kilobits/sec (slowest)

Japan - 13.2 megabits/sec

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/mobile-news/lenovo-ideapad-k1-tablet-first-impressions/3510?tag=nl.e539

Lenovo IdeaPad K1 tablet: First impressions

• Android Honeycomb 3.1 (3.2 is current)
• 10" screen
• Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor
• two cameras
• doesn't wake on press of physical home button
• 1.65 lbs

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/where-did-all-the-mac-malware-go/3628?tag=nl.e539

Where did all the Mac malware go?

• Mac Defender group doing attack
• cause the first release of Mac OS with patch target at virus
• Mainly stopped by Google shutting down the "poisoned searches"
• http://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=10989

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/the-top-five-linux-desktop-vendors/9313?tag=nl.e539

The top five Linux desktop vendors

• Eight Vitrues looks like the best for mid range are lower Linux boxes.
• http://www.eightvirtues.com/support.html

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/design-architecture/chinas-young-designers-create-products-that-merge-tradition-and-innovation/219?tag=nl.e550

China's young designers create products that merge tradition and innovation

• American born Aric Chen is running at state sponsored magazine to highlight Chinese architecture, graphics, and products.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/security/skype-facebook-critical-security-vulnerability/9163?tag=nl.e550

Skype + Facebook = critical security vulnerability

• Really a security hole in the newest release of MS Skype.

http://www.spi.dod.mil/lipose.htm

• From DOD
• Lightweight Portable Security (LPS)
• Any intel-base Mac or PC
• Accredited for LPS-Remote Access
• Mark Clute has played with it

http://www.spi.dod.mil/ewizard_down.htm

Encryption Wizard

• Encryption Wizard
• Run on anything that runs Java v1.5
• DOD
• Mark Clute recommended it

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Archos-501582/15567528

ARCHOS 70 7" Touchscreen Tablet PC: $229

• Capacitive multi touch
• Android 2.2
• Webcam

http://www.f3program.org/

• Jessica Pater works with
• http://virtualities.net/JessicaPater.aspx
• GT, Gov, Industry effort to ensure universal k-12 tech access.

http://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=10989

• compromise a legit web site
• Usually Wordpress
• Introduces PHS scripts in sites' source code
•  Scripts monitor Google trend queries
• Create artificial web pages containing content
• Detects Google crawlers and deliver content
• Pics end up in image search database
• Exploit happens when user clicks thumbnail
• Google use iFrame
• PHP script checks if user came from Google results page
• redirect to another compromised site.

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.netflix.mediaclient&hl=en&pli=1

• Android app for Netflex.  
• Installed it and it works great.
• Could not find when I searched in Market
• There is one for Blockbuster but it is in-compatable with my phone
• https://market.android.com/details?id=com.motorola.Blockbuster&feature=related_apps

Technical Survey: Wednesday, June 15, 2011

GIGABYTE M68MT nForce 6 Barebones Kit - GIGABYTE M68MT Mobo, AMD Phenom II X3 710 CPU, CPU Fan, Corsair 8GB (2x 4GB) DDR3 RAM, Seagate 1.5TB HDD, LG 24x DVDRW, Thermaltake V2 Case Tower, 450-Watt PSU @ $250

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=693834&sku=B69-0388&SRCCODE=WEM2713BY&cm_mmc=email-_-Main-_-WEM2713-_-tigeremail2713

• 8 GB of memory (max memory for motherboard)
• 3 core CPU
• HyperTransport 3
• no OS
• adding window home junk adds $155, does that make any sense at all?
• I can buy windows Pro for $140
• GB ethernet
• nVIDIA GeForce 7025 on board
• RAID support

Yea, I think I could use this system.  However, it looks like I might want to get my own mother-board that supports more memory.

Fantom GD2000EU GreenDrive External Hard Drive - eSATA, USB 2.0, 2TB, 32MB Cache @ $90

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=5384379&sku=M261-8234&SRCCODE=WEM2713BY&cm_mmc=email-_-Main-_-WEM2713-_-tigeremail2713

• Wonder what shipping is?
• $8
• $102
• $51 per TB

D-Link DIR 601 Wireless-N 150 Home Router - IEEE 802.11n, 4x 10/100 LAN Ports, 10/100 WAN Port, External Antenna @ $30

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=5650958&sku=D700-5052&SRCCODE=WEM2713BY&cm_mmc=email-_-Main-_-WEM2713-_-tigeremail2713

• Instruction are misleading
• don't to connect to internet first
• Two people complained of signal strength
• Has been as low as $20

ZyXEL NBG416N IEEE 802.11b/g/n Wireless Router @ $17

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833181151&nm_mc=EMC-GD061511&cm_mmc=EMC-GD061511-_-index-_-Item-_-33-181-151

•  Only one user comment

Technical Survey: Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Cyberus 10.1" Android 2.2 Tablet, eReader, Media Player - ID1010WTA @ $150

http://www.buy.com/prod/10-1in-sungale-android-2-2-systtablet-pc-720hz-cpu-128mb-dramm/q/loc/101/221894773.html

• Android 2.2 (Froyo)
• Screen: 1024x600
• Camera:  0.3 Mega Pexels (VGA)
• Not resistive touch panel
• 1 GHz CPU
• battery life?

Dell Mini Intel Atom N450 1.66GHz 1GB 250BG 10.1" Win 7 Netbook (Refurbished) @ $200

http://shop.retrevo.com/m/dailydeal?prodid=rd-s15.RVO-20110614-2&cmpid=EmailJun14

Expansion Series 3TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive @ $130

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0355670&utm_source=ACT_NON_BYO&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=E1072+eNews+20110614

• Seagate
• $43 per TB before shipping

Motorola H270 Bluetooth Wireless Headset - Talk Hands-Free @ $13

http://shop.retrevo.com/m/dailydeal?prodid=rd-s21.RVO-20110613-13&cmpid=EmailJun13

• Noise reduction

Technology Survey: Thursday, June 8, 2011

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.668119

Quad-Core, 4GB Memory (16 GB Max), etc for $390.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131702&nm_mc=EMC-EXPRESS060411&cm_mmc=EMC-EXPRESS060411-_-EMC-060411-Index-_-index-_-13131702

ASUS, Intel CPU, 32 GB memory, $220

Walmart has a large selection of tablet PCs.

Super Soldier Exoskeleton

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/22/hulc_protonex_fuel_cell/

Being developed by Lockheed.  Really looks good.  Very to hours on a battery; however, used of fuel cells could give it days capability.

What about dropping these off using drones?  How high could they safely be dropped?  Could they safely be dropped with a man in them?  This reminds me of the devices used in the movie Android.

Competition for Pogo

http://www.buy.com/prod/verbatim-1tb-mediashare-home-network-server/q/loc/101/215107036.

Clear 4G Hotspot

http://www.clear.com/spot/4

Converting Date to Number of Days in a Year

http://www.onlineconversion.com/day_week_number.htm

Looking to Buy Power Inverter for Car

Looking to buy a new power inverter for my car.  The old one died after many year.  I think I have found a good one.  The XOVision Xo200.  Both WalMart and Amazon have it for the same price ($18).  However, I can save $6 is shipping if I use the Walmart site to store option.

I was not able to find a good review on the product.  Even the XOVision site was a little weak.

It looks like the size of the average fuse for the car's cigarette lighter is 15 Amps.

Unfortunately, Walmart stock was out, so I bought it from Amazon.  Should be here by the 7th of July.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41K87oDYo-L._SL160_AA160_.jpg

I would also like to buy the XoVision 600W Power Inverter, XO360.  This one would need to be connect directly to the battery.  But the 600W max and 360W continus looks pretty nice and at $18, it is really hard to bet.


http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/18/11/52/00/0018115200033_215X215.jpg

Prices for Solar

Looks like I could get a 60 Watt system for less than $300.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CIADLG/ref=pe_79290_16126380_pe_epc_t5

Microsoft Courier Tablet

Chris Parnin showed me this.  I want one, but it will probably be a couple of years before it is available.

http://gizmodo.com/5365299/courier-first-details-of-microsofts-secret-tablet

They have combined hand gestures with a pen.

Embedded C#

The .NET environment is normally 38 MB. However, in the .NET Compact Framework (CF) is is only 2MB.

I got this from a doc off the net but I cannot get at the actual address.

The company is Applied Data System and the authors are Chris Tacke and Lawrence Ricci.

FireFox: PDFDownload

A Firefox extension that allows the user to choose whether to view and PDF file in the browser (as PDF or HTML) or if you want to download it. (See http://www.pdfdownload.org/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDF_Download).

Military Electronics Electronic Mag

The following is a link to a military electronics magazine: http://www.milelec-digital.com/milelec/

Wubi (linux windows installer)

Wubi is an unofficial Ubuntu installer for Windows. Lets one install an run Linux under windows like any other application.

Read about it in this article: http://www.download.com/Wubi/3000-2098_4-10689087.html

Down load involves down loading a copy of the Ubuntu ISO. I was not expecting that.

This is the Wubi home page: http://www.cutlersoftware.com/ubuntusetup/wubi/en-US/index.html

It seems like the download of the ISO has stalled.


Instlux is also a installer. It seems to let me choose the linux I want to use. Perhaps I could use this to insall DSL Linux.

Home page: http://instlux.sourceforge.net/

Here is couple of way to monitor electricity consumption.

Standalone









and computer

IronPython

Looks like an interesting implementation of Python on top of .NET

It is calle IronPython