Jan 31
At the U.K.’s Manchester airport, hologrammed versions of airport staff will attempt to help passengers have the correct amount of liquid in their carry-ons.
Originally posted at Technically Incorrect
Jan 31
Sure, CNET users love to check out our top products lists. But heading into Superbowl weekend, here’s a look at some popular TVs that readers have their eyes on that we didn’t review.
Jan 31
On the eve of losing iPhone exclusivity, AT&T begins to make its run at serious Android handsets. After kicking off the year with a bang, the carrier looks to have plenty on tap for 2011.
Originally posted at Android Atlas
Jan 31
Hackers increasingly using telnet for attacks, port 23 looking younger than ever
Posted in: hack, hacking, security, Today's Chili
You can’t always just hang around waiting for the next big Microsoft security update. Sometimes you have to go and make your own destiny — even if it means probing a few dusty ports. That’s apparently the mantra of modern hackers who are, according to Akamai, increasingly looking back at telnet as a means to gain unapproved access to systems of all shapes and sizes. Admins of course should be relying on SSH for such remote shell access, far more secure, but apparently many like to keep port 23 open for old time’s sake. Green-screen nostalgia is, apparently, a dangerous thing.
Hackers increasingly using telnet for attacks, port 23 looking younger than ever originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Jan 31
Some airlines outside the United States allow cell phone use on flights. Exact services vary, but a few carriers even allow voice calls.
Originally posted at Dialed In
Jan 31
Hokies give (tactile) sight to the blind so they can drive, no word on turning water into wine
Posted in: car, laser, medical, Today's Chili, university, video
Daytona International Speedway is synonymous with speed, auto racing, and . . . blind people? Virginia Tech’s Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory (RoMeLa), along with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), recently debuted its sight-optional and street-legal SUV at the famed racetrack. Dr. Dennis Hong and his students first let blind folks drive a dune buggy without the help of a sighted copilot in 2009 — as a first step to achieving the goal of a street-legal SUV for the sightless crowd. The SUV in question was designed for the NFB’s Blind Driver Challenge, and is equipped with a drive-by-wire system — also seen in the RoMeLa autonomous vehicle — that was modified for use with RoMeLa’s SpeedStrip and DriveGrip tactile interface technology. It works by using a laser rangefinder to map the surrounding area, relaying information for acceleration and braking to the driver by rumbling the SpeedStrip seat, and passing along turning info through vibrations in the DriveGrip gloves. The system was not developed solely for the purpose of getting blind drivers on the road, however, as Virginia Tech suggests that its technology could also be used in gaming applications. We’re not quite ready to see blind drivers on actual roads just yet, but why shouldn’t our sight-impaired friends get to enjoy Gran Turismo 5 with the rest of us? Video’s after the break.
Hokies give (tactile) sight to the blind so they can drive, no word on turning water into wine originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jan 31
After a half year’s worth of delays, the long-awaited white iPhone popped up again in the blogosphere today after Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak shone some light on the mystery device, confirming rumors that it was, in fact, a camera problem that caused Apple to continually delay the device.
Wozniak also told interviewers that the white iPhone is, in fact, coming soon. The company confirmed that fact with us today. Apple told PCMag, “As we’ve said before, we plan to release the white iPhone 4 in the spring.”
So, there you have it. The Woz don’t lie.
Jan 31
UM students make cheap and portable solar charger / light source for developing nations
Posted in: charger, charging, green, light, solar, solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili, video
Solar power is the most egalitarian of all energy sources, yet residents in many parts of the world still lack access to electricity. Three University of Michigan engineering students have created an affordable solution to this problem — to the delight of camping geeks everywhere — with the Emerald, a portable solar panel that does double duty as both a cellphone charger and personal light source. We’ve seen the personal solar panel idea before, but the price of entry made it an untenable solution for developing nations. Solar-powered light bulbs have been around for a while too, but the Emerald’s light lasts for eight hours on a charge (as opposed to the bulbs’ two to six hours), and it’s able to fully charge a phone in the same time it takes an outlet to do the job. They aim to sell the device for the low, low, price of under twenty bucks for customers in the developing world, which is 90 percent cheaper than other solutions and 100 percent more awesome.
UM students make cheap and portable solar charger / light source for developing nations originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Jan 31
If Sandy Bridge laptops are delayed, what does that mean for Apple’s next MacBook Pros?
Jan 31
UFO Spotted in Utah
Posted in: space, Space Tech, Today's Chili, Weird News
A number of Utah residents reported seeing a UFO above the town of American Fork around 7:15 last night. The UFO appeared in the form of three red lights, which hovered in formation and apparently dropped flares.
Resident Lynette Chidester told the local news, “I don’t believe in extra-terrestrials,” but added that the lights didn’t belong to a helicopter or airplane, “I noticed over the roof of the garage a red light and white light and the red light isn’t flashing like a plane light and that’s what draws my attention to it.”
The local Provo and Salt Lake City airports didn’t report any unusual activity. Mike Galbraith issued a similar report from miles away, “They looked like they were flying in formation perfectly together and then whatever was dropping looked like it was burning real bright.”
Neither the Provo nor Salt Lake City airports reported any unusual activity for the night.
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