HiWEB-Interactive Show Log –
007 – 041708
-Opening Comments
1:00
“Welcome to HiWEB-Interactive, bringing you information from the edge of technology”
*This is a summary
of recent news and technology highlights.
HiWEB-Interactive – Show #7 – From April 17th 2008
Airing weekly Thursdays at 8p (PST) – And available on LIVE.HIWEB.NET as well as archived
-Hot News Topics this week
(*Prepped 24 Hours Prior)
1:30
1 - LTE Jumps ahead in the Race to 4G
2 - Microsoft completes Danger acquisition
3 - First Starbucks switching over to AT&T WiFi
4 -
Gone in 60 seconds: Spambot cracks Live Hotmail CAPTCHA
5 -
Two more builds of 10.5.3 released,
only 2 known issues left.
6 -
Windows XP SP3 release just around the bend?
*Youtube viewers make sure to see HiWEB.NET for the live streaming, also this entire show and other past shows.
<<<CUT FOR YOUTUBE POSTS>>>
IE: Stop Recording/Start Recording
-Review of Hot Topics
(*Elaborate on Hot Topics)
6:30
*SEE PRINTED
NOTES…..
1 -
LTE Jumps ahead in the Race to 4G
The awkwardly named Long-Term Evolution (LTE) technology is pulling ahead in the
race for the 4G wireless networks. If carrier plans are any indication, Ultra
Mobile Broadband, the upgrade technology for CDMA networks, is quickly becoming
a non-factor. Even WiMAX, which was at one point seen as offering significant
cost and time advantages, has started to
lose out to LTE.
Hardware makers will have devices by early 2009, just when the 700Mhz spectrum
is available.
One wireless data analyst stated, “Without a doubt the operator community is
rallying behind LTE, and there might be an opportunity to finally converge to a
single standard,”
So what about WiMAX? Well in the U.S., things aren’t looking so good. Sprint’s
Xohm Network has hit some snags and Clearwire is riding rough seas. A rescue in
the form of a new, megabillion-dollar funding for a new WiMAX operator might
emerge, but we’ll have to wait and see.
“WiMAX has forced acceleration of the LTE standardization process but is
starting to lose its time (and cost) advantage.”
Remember: NTT DoCoMo, showed off a glimpse of LTE (and beyond). They achieved
speeds of 250Mbps for the downlink. On Super 3G in a experimental environment.
Super 3G, which features low-latency data transmission and high spectrum
efficiency, is an evolution beyond the High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA)
and High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) protocols of W-CDMA, an original
technology for 3G packet transmissions. Super 3G, also known as Long Term
Evolution (LTE).
4G LTE Speed Example: At speeds of 60mbs downloads, 40mbs uploads this would
download a 700MB Movie in 90 seconds or a 3MB MP3 file in 4/10 of a second
– WOW!!!
<Change Slide>
2 -
Microsoft completes Danger acquisition
and
creates new Premium Mobile Experiences division
Microsoft's just announced that its
$500M buyout of Sidekick maker Danger
is complete, and that it's rolling the new team into its own unit, the Premium
Mobile Experiences division. Ready to follow the chain of corporate command? PMX
is under the Mobile Communications Business unit at MS, which itself falls under
the Entertainment and Devices Division responsible for the Xbox and Zune. Got
all that? Good. Danger's management team won't be directly calling the shots at
PMX, though -- they'll be reporting to Roz Ho, who you might remember as the
former head of the Mac Business Unit. Ho says the goal of PMX is to have people
"smile every time they look at their phone," which hopefully means we'll be
seeing a lot more Danger influence on Windows Mobile than the other way around.
Still, "Premium Mobile Experiences" is an interesting choice of name, especially
in the same division as the 360 and Zune -- dare we dream of a Microsoft-branded
consumer phone?
http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/15/microsoft-completes-danger-acquisition-creates-new-premium-mobi/
<Change Slide>
3 -
First Starbucks switching over to AT&T WiFi
Starbucks said it would
transition to AT&T-provided WiFi
sometime this spring, and it looks like T-Mobile's getting the boot right on
schedule. The first Starbucks to switch over is just 4.2 miles away from AT&T
corporate headquarters and the rest of the country should come on
market-by-market. T-Mobile
customers still getting access, as promised…
Originally announced in
Feb,
Starbucks is gearing up to transition its WiFi relationship from
T-Mobile
to AT&T in over 7,000 of its locations in the US. For T-Mobile HotSpot customers
feelin' a bit like day old espresso right about now, fret not, as the coffee
giant has assured us all that you folks "will be able to continue to access WiFi
services at no additional cost through an agreement between AT&T and T-Mobile."
Starting "sometime this Spring," Starbucks card holders will be treated to two
hours of free WiFi access per day, while more than 12 million "qualifying AT&T
broadband and U-verse internet customers will have unlimited free access." For
whatever it's worth, the press release also notes that the carrier will "soon
extend the benefits of WiFi at Starbucks to its wireless customers," but it
(sadly) fails to elaborate. For those of you out there without any ties to AT&T,
expect to pony up $3.99 for a two hour session or $19.99 for monthly access.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/15/first-starbucks-switching-over-to-atandt-wifi/
<Change Slide>
4 -
Gone in 60 seconds: Spambot cracks Live
Hotmail CAPTCHA
Internet users are quite familiar with the Completely Automated Public Turing
test to tell Computers and Humans Apart (CAPTCHA), a quick method that verifies
whether or not the user trying to sign up is a person or a bot. A picture with
swirled, mangled, or otherwise distorted characters is displayed and the
user then types in the correct letters or numbers. Thus far, the system
has worked well to slow down malicious bots, but recently the groups behind such
software have made significant strides. A security firm is now reporting that
the CAPTCHA used for Windows Live Mail can now be cracked in as little as 60
seconds.
They cracked Windows Live Hotmail's CAPTCHA. A few weeks later, Gmail's version
followed suit
To make matters worse, Websense Security Labs is now reporting that the method
for getting around Windows Live Mail's CAPTCHA has been improved to the point
that a bot can decipher the text and make a guess in less than six seconds, on
average. Windows Live Hotmail's Anti-CAPTCHA automatic bot, which hooks itself
into Internet Explorer on a victim's machine, has a success rate of about 10-15
percent. That means that it takes up to one minute for a single bot to create a
new account.
In one day, the bot can amass at least 1,440 accounts. And that's just one bot.
Spammers love getting their hands on live.com and hotmail.com addresses since
the chance of such popular domain names being blacklisted are slim to none.
Microsoft, Google, and all other websites that currently use CAPTCHA, need to
find a
solution
that puts them a step ahead of the spammers.
Finding, testing, and implementing a CAPTCHA alternative will of course
take time, and while we wait, the spam just comes flooding in.
<Change
Slide>
5 –
Two more builds of 10.5.3 released,
only 2 known issues left.
Two more development builds of Mac OS X 10.5.3 were released recently, according
to a report at
Apple Insider.
Build 9D20, quickly following build 9D19 released last Friday, contains only two
known, minor issues. The notes accompanying the build also reduces the areas of
focus that developers are asked to keep an eye on while running the build.
Build 9D20 contains nearly 150 fixes and improvements to Leopard. The 10.5.3
update is also expected to fix
graphics issues
experienced by Penryn-based laptops owners. The frequency of build releases and
very short list of known issues gives good reason to believe we'll be seeing the
update released very soon.
<Change Slide>
6 -
Windows
XP SP3 release just around the bend?
Though we originally expected (read: hoped) that Microsoft would dish out
Service Pack 3
for Windows XP
late last month,
it seems the deed may actually get done before May dawns. MSDN and TechNet
subscribers will have access to the update on April 21st, while most average
joes / janes won't notice it until April 29th when it hits the Microsoft /
Windows Update download center. With automatic update scheduled to land on June
10th
Windows XP SP3 will offer a 10 percent speed increase over SP2, going so far as
to call it a "must-have update."
http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/15/windows-xp-sp3-release-just-around-the-bend/
<Change Slide>
- Viewer Questions
(*Troubleshooting, New Tech,
Etc.)
10:00
How can I encrypt my data?
You might check out TrueCrypt,
Free open-source disk encryption software for Windows Vista/XP, Mac OS X, and
Linux
TrueCrypt is software system for establishing and maintaining an
on-the-fly-encrypted volume (data storage device). On-the-fly encryption means
that data are automatically encrypted or decrypted right before they are loaded
or saved, without any user intervention. No data stored on an encrypted volume
can be read (decrypted) without using the correct password/keyfile(s) or correct
encryption keys. Entire file system is encrypted (e.g., file names, folder
names, contents of every file, free space, meta data, etc).
Main Features:
•
Creates a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mounts it as a real
disk.
•
Encrypts an entire partition or storage device such as USB flash drive or
hard drive.
•
Encrypts a partition or drive where Windows is installed (pre-boot
authentication).
•
Encryption is automatic, real-time (on-the-fly) and transparent.
•
Provides two levels of plausible deniability, in case an adversary forces
you to reveal the password:
1) Hidden volume
(steganography – more information may be found here).
2) No TrueCrypt
volume can be identified (volumes cannot be distinguished from random data).
•
Encryption algorithms: AES-256, Serpent, and Twofish. Mode of operation:
XTS.
Further information regarding features of the software may be found in the
documentation.
Email your questions to: live@hiweb.net with question in subject line
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-New Technology to keep an
Eye On (Solar,
Wind, Alt. Fuel, Hacking, etc…)
12:00
1- Malicious microprocessor opens
new doors for attack -
For years, hackers have focused on finding bugs in computer software that give
them unauthorized access to computer systems, but now there's another way to
break in: Hack the microprocessor. On Tuesday, researchers at the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign demonstrated how they altered a computer chip to
grant attackers back-door access to a computer. It would take a lot of work to
make this attack succeed in the real world, but it would be virtually
undetectable. To launch its attack, the team used a special programmable
processor running the Linux operating system. The chip was programmed to inject
malicious firmware into the chip's memory, which then allows an attacker to log
into the machine as if he were a legitimate user. To reprogram the chip,
researchers needed to alter only a tiny fraction of the processor circuits.
They changed 1,341 logic gates on a chip
that has more than 1 million of these gates in total, said Samuel King, an
assistant professor in the university's computer science department.
"This is like the ultimate back door,"
said King. "There were no software bugs exploited."
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/041508-malicious-microprocessor-opens-new-doors.html
<Change Slide>
2 - Biofuel
Rule Will Do More Harm than Good,- In
the UK Fuels for cars and trucks must contain biofuels starting today, a
move that may do more harm than good to the environment and drive food prices
higher, charities including Oxfam and Greenpeace said. Scientists in the U.K.
and U.S. have found that the cultivation of biofuels can increase the output of
CO2 and other gases blamed for global warming because of changes in land use.
Tailpipe emissions from burning biofuels are about the same as those from
fossil fuels, the transport department said. The carbon savings are made because
the crops for biofuels are replanted, taking the same amount of CO2 out of the
atmosphere as burning them puts in. Depleted oil fields don't absorb CO2, as do
plants such as corn and wheat used for biofuel stock.
``Right now, rainforests are being destroyed to make way for biofuel crops in
places like Indonesia,'' Belinda Fletcher, forests campaigner at Greenpeace,
said in an e-mailed statement. ``This destruction leads to massive
greenhouse-gas emissions and completely undermines the point of these so-called
green fuels.''
Deforestation accounts for about a fifth of the world's greenhouse-gas
emissions, according to Greenpeace. Destruction of peatland forests in
Indonesia, driven by the expansion of plantations of the biofuel palm oil, now
contributes about 4 percent of global emissions, the group said.
``People want to see real green transport solutions that will make a difference
to their lives, like better public transportation and smarter cars that burn
less fuel,''
``Most people will be horrified to know the government is putting biofuels in
our petrol when the damage they do to forests could make climate change worse.''
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20602099&sid=anmEvzMVw3eA&refer=energy
<Change Slide>
3 -
We drive, they starve. The mass
diversion of the North American grain harvest into ethanol plants for fuel is
reaching its political and moral limits.
"The reality is that people are dying already," The UN says it takes 232kg of
corn to fill a 50-litre car tank with ethanol. That is enough to feed a child
for a year. (421kg/20-Gallons feeds almost 2 children for a year) We are all
part of this drama whether we fill up with petrol or ethanol. America - the
world's food superpower - will divert 18% of its grain output for ethanol this
year, chiefly to break dependency on oil imports. It has a 45% biofuel target
for corn by 2015.
"The world food situation is very serious: we have seen riots - "There is a risk
that this unrest will spread in countries where 50pc to 60pc of income goes to
food," he said.
Recently Haiti's government fell over the following rice and bean riots. Five
died. The global food bill has risen 57pc in the last year. Soaring freight
rates make it worse. The cost of food "on the table" has jumped by 74pc in poor
countries that rely on imports, according to the FAO.
The global population will grow from 6.5bn to 9.5bn before peaking near
mid-century.
Hedge funds played their part in the violent rise in spot prices early this
year. To that extent they can be held responsible for the death of African and
Asian children. Tougher margin rules on the commodity exchanges might have
stopped the racket. Capitalism must police itself, or be policed.
"The idea that you cut down rainforest to actually grow biofuels seems
profoundly stupid," said Professor John Beddington, Britain's chief scientific
adviser.
The world intelligentsia has been asleep at the wheel. While we rage over global
warming, global hunger has swept in under the radar screen.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/04/14/ccview114.xml
<Change Slide>
4 –
Air Powered Motorcycle -
Of course, when I say "works exactly as described" the description isn't all
that exciting. The top speed is about 18 mph, and it can only go 7 miles before
the air pressure runs out. But this is, after all, a guy in his garage...a lot
more power could probably be pulled by tweaking his configuration. There are
several advantages to using air pressure to store energy vs. batteries. First,
compressors can recharge air tanks faster than batteries can be recharged,
Stansfield says his tanks recharge in "seconds." Another advantage is that air
tanks are, overall, very simple things. Though to be able to store a lot of
energy in a small place, they need to be extremely strong. Jem's are
carbon-fiber tanks of the sort used by firefighters for oxygen. But still,
they're far cheaper than even the lead acid battery you've got in your car now.
http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1549/69/
<Change Slide>
-Tech Tip / Demo
FRING – VoIP Client -
Besides doing Skype and the like, the app also lets you connect for chats via
MSN Messenger, ICQ, GTalk, SIP, Twitter, AIM, and Yahoo!, which should make this
an attractive package even if you don't want to harness the raw power of IP
telephony.
Take all your buddies mobile with fring™, call and chat with them for free and
see who’s online before dialling!
fring™ is a mobile internet service & community
that enables you to access & interact with your social networks on-the-go, make
free calls and live chat with all your fring, Skype®, MSN® Messenger, Google
Talk™, ICQ, SIP, Twitter, Yahoo!™ and AIM®* friends using your handset’s
internet connection rather than costly cellular airtime minutes.
Bringing PC-benefits to the mobile, fring will empower you with mobility
and availability as never before, integrating all contacts in to one, searchable
buddy list, allowing you to see who’s online before dialing with contact
availability indicators, engage in multiple conversations simultaneously, send &
receive files and more.
You can even make affordable local and international calls to landline
and regular cellular numbers using your SkypeOut/SkypeIn account or almost any
internet voice service (SIP)
such as SIPNET, EuteliaVoIP, VoIPVoIP and VoIPTalk, even from non-SIP enabled
handsets.
What’s more,
fring will automatically log you in to WiFi hotspots
that you’ve previously logged into, so you can save time and hassle
without having to configure your WiFi access points each time you enter a WiFi
hotspot whether it be your home, office, or favourite coffee shop, and save even
more on calls & chats to your friends, as calls among fringsters and your online
communities are 100% free when using your existing WiFi account.
As
easy to download
as a ringtone and simple to install and use, fring is PC-independent and does
not require any dedicated hardware or airtime - all you need to use fring is a
supported handset
with internet connectivity and an internet data package or a WiFi account.
View fring features:
*take all IM buddies mobile and view them from one, integrated contact list
*free calls
*live chat instead of SMS
*call landlines and regular cellular contacts using SkypeOut or SIP
*view call history
*invite friends to fring
*send & receive files
*choose incoming call and message tones
*auto-roam in and out of WiFi hotspots
Minimum requirements
1. Applicable 3G or Wi-Fi Symbian 8 or 9, Windows Mobile 5 or 6, UIQ handsets
and iPhone’s (see
visual list)
with 3G/GPRS/Wi-Fi network coverage.
2. If using over 3G/GPRS networks, a data plan allowing you to surf the Internet
from your mobile handset.
3. 200-375kb of available space on memory card or phone.
* fring is compatible with Symbian 8, 9.1, 9.2, Windows Mobile 5 & 6, UIQ
handsets and the iPhone
** Voice for Yahoo!TM and AIM® is still not enabled.
http://www.fring.com/download/graybox.asp
- Handset List
-General Talk/Discussions
16:00
1- Viewers see giveaway link on HiWEB.NET for more details. Next Giveaway April 24th – Remember the elegibilty requirements. Sub to Youtube, Register and Comment on Blog - *And then stay Tuned for Hot Giveaways
2- Future segments will include music production segments, hardware reviews and product demos…
3- We are currently engaging SME to produce custom segments away from live show –
4- Viewers can send show Tips / Recommendations to live@hiweb.net
5- HiWEB-Interactive Past Shows on http://www.hiweb.net/pastshows.html (past shows)
-Closing Comments
18:00
This was HiWEB-Interactive – Show #7
Remember tune in anytime at live.hiweb.net and Thursdays at 8p (PST) for HiWEB-Interactive’s Tech Show
“Thank You for participating in HiWEB-Interactive, we look
forward to bringing you more information from the edge of technology” Until next
time have Fun with your technology – Gotta Jiboo!