Dec 13

Carrier IQ issues lengthy report on data collection practices, sticks to its guns

Posted in: carrier, mobilepostcross, network, politics, privacy, Software, Today's Chili, web
After having already tried to explain itself with metaphor, Carrier IQ is now taking its floundering PR campaign back to basics, with an ostensibly thorough primer on its practices and a slightly less convoluted defense of its privacy standards. This morning, the controversial analytics firm released a lengthy, 19-page document that attempts to explain “what Carrier IQ does and does not do.” In the report, titled “Understanding Carrier IQ Technology,” the company explains the benefit it offers to its clientele of network operators, many of whom rely upon Carrier IQ’s diagnostic data to make sure their infrastructure is up to snuff. It also provides a breakdown of how it collects data, as well as a defense against Trevor Eckhart’s findings, though, as you’ll see, these arguments likely won’t put this saga to bed anytime soon. Read more, after the break.

Continue reading Carrier IQ issues lengthy report on data collection practices, sticks to its guns

Carrier IQ issues lengthy report on data collection practices, sticks to its guns originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceCarrier IQ (PDF)  | Email this | Comments

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Oct 27

The Sad Odyssey of the F-22: America’s Big Broken Toy

Posted in: Today's Chili, top

The F-22 has been okayed to fly again, after being grounded, cleared, grounded, then cleared once more—all within a year. And yet, the Air Force hasn’t fixed the plane’s life threatening flaw. It doesn’t seem like it cares. More »

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Oct 11

ITT unveils GhostRider encryption device capable of securing US Army smartphones

Posted in: Android, military, motorola, operating system, OperatingSystem, os, phone, security, smartphone, Today's Chili, ui, wargadget
That may look like a Motorola Atrix, but it’s actually something known as the GhostRider — a new encryption device that could go a long way toward securing the Army’s smartphones. Developed by defense company ITT, this revamped handset would allow military personnel to transmit secure text messages and phone calls over the Army’s network, even if they’re out on the battlefield. All they’d have to do is place their personal phones next to the GhostRider, tap and hold its touchscreen to activate the security features and begin texting away. When another GhostRider user receives an SMS, he or she would have to enter a pass code before reading it. The phone’s security mechanisms, meanwhile, have been certified by the cryptographers at the NSA, which would certainly help justify its $1,500 price tag. The handset’s display, meanwhile, looks awfully similar to the Army’s Nett Warrior platform — an Android-based OS that features a host of mapping functions designed explicitly for war zones. Officials unveiled the latest incarnation of Nett Warrior at the recent Association of the US Army gala in DC, though the platform’s creators are still looking for the appropriate commercial device to host it — unless, of course, GhostRider’s software replaces it altogether. “We think Nett Warrior should be something like this,” ITT vice president Richard Takahashi told Wired. “This can be the smart device.” March past the break for more information, in ITT’s jargon-laced PR.

Continue reading ITT unveils GhostRider encryption device capable of securing US Army smartphones

ITT unveils GhostRider encryption device capable of securing US Army smartphones originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 05

BAE’s infrared invisibility cloak makes tanks cold as ice, warm as cows

Posted in: Today's Chili, wargadget
Warfare’s constantly evolving. Daylight battles became late-night duels, and pre-noon skirmishes shifted to sundown slaughters — some might say we’re just getting lazy, but either way, thermal imaging now plays quite the vital role. Now BAE and the FMV — Sweden’s equivalent to DARPA — have a way to mask the heat signature of heavy machinery. Adaptiv is a wall of 14 centimeter panels that monitor the ambient heat and match it, so it can’t be picked out from the background radiation. The tech can also be used to replicate the profiles of other things — you know, like a spotted calf or a Fiat 500. BAE believes the tech is scaleable for buildings and warships, the only downside being that all future commanders will have to make sure their operations are finished before dawn. Wouldn’t want your soldiers to see that five o’clock (AM) shadow, now would we?

[Thanks, Rob]

BAE’s infrared invisibility cloak makes tanks cold as ice, warm as cows originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink BBC News  |  sourceBAE Systems  | Email this | Comments

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Aug 11

DARPA’s Falcon HTV-2 hypersonic aircraft launches today, does New York to LA in 12 minutes (update: lost in flight)

Posted in: space, Today's Chili, video
All eyes are on Vandenberg Air Force Base in California today, where DARPA‘s Falcon HTV-2 unmanned aircraft is scheduled to launch into space at hypersonic speeds, as part of a critical test flight. Measuring just 12 feet in length, the HTV-2 maxes out at a speed of about 1300 16,700 miles per hour (Mach 22), theoretically allowing it to jet from New York to Los Angeles in just 12 minutes and to reach anywhere in the world in less than an hour. The main obstacle, however, has been transitioning from theory to practice. During its first test flight back in April, the craft lasted just nine minutes before intentionally crashing, due to technical failures. DARPA still doesn’t know what went wrong during that fateful test, though the agency speculates that the Falcon may have simply overheated. This time around, engineers have adjusted plane’s center of gravity and angle of descent, in the hopes that their creation will fare better when it launches on the back of a Minotaur IV rocket, later today. If the test proves successful, it may help fuel similarly inter-galactic defense projects that the Pentagon is exploring as a means to combat terrorism and enemy states. We’ll have to wait a little longer to find out whether this initiative actually takes off, but in the meantime, head past the break for a demo video from DARPA.

Update: Sadly, while the Minotaur IV rocket launch and separation were successful, the Falcon HTV-2 itself was lost nine minutes into its flight this morning just as its predecessor was. DARPA did manage to collect data up until the crash (somewhere in the Pacific Ocean), however, and says that it plans to review it over the coming weeks. Third time’s the charm, maybe?

Continue reading DARPA’s Falcon HTV-2 hypersonic aircraft launches today, does New York to LA in 12 minutes (update: lost in flight)

DARPA’s Falcon HTV-2 hypersonic aircraft launches today, does New York to LA in 12 minutes (update: lost in flight) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceThe Daily Mail  | Email this | Comments

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Aug 11

DARPA’s Falcon HTV-2 hypersonic aircraft launches today, does New York to LA in 12 minutes

Posted in: space, Today's Chili, video
All eyes are on Vandenberg Air Force Base in California today, where DARPA‘s Falcon HTV-2 unmanned aircraft is scheduled to launch into space at hypersonic speeds, as part of a critical test flight. Measuring just 12 feet in length, the HTV-2 maxes out at a speed of about 1300 16,700 miles per hour (Mach 22), theoretically allowing it to jet from New York to Los Angeles in just 12 minutes and to reach anywhere in the world in less than an hour. The main obstacle, however, has been transitioning from theory to practice. During its first test flight back in April, the craft lasted just nine minutes before intentionally crashing, due to technical failures. DARPA still doesn’t know what went wrong during that fateful test, though the agency speculates that the Falcon may have simply overheated. This time around, engineers have adjusted plane’s center of gravity and angle of descent, in the hopes that their creation will fare better when it launches on the back of a Minotaur IV rocket, later today. If the test proves successful, it may help fuel similarly inter-galactic defense projects that the Pentagon is exploring as a means to combat terrorism and enemy states. We’ll have to wait a little longer to find out whether this initiative actually takes off, but in the meantime, head past the break for a demo video from DARPA.

Continue reading DARPA’s Falcon HTV-2 hypersonic aircraft launches today, does New York to LA in 12 minutes

DARPA’s Falcon HTV-2 hypersonic aircraft launches today, does New York to LA in 12 minutes originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceThe Daily Mail  | Email this | Comments

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Aug 08

Elektrobit’s Specialized Device Platform tailors Android devices for security-minded markets, won’t hem pants

Posted in: Android, cdma, dual-core, DualCore, gingerbread, lte, mobile, security, Today's Chili

The defense industry may already have its share of deadly high-tech toys, but when it comes to the latest in mobile, it’s often left to watch from the highly-secured sidelines. Enter Elektrobit Corporation with a just announced Specialized Device Platform that crafts made-to-order, Android-based devices for the public safety, security and aforementioned defense markets. Citing its lower cost, faster development approach, EB’s service marries the “best of the traditional mobile world… with product-and industry-specific features” so clients won’t have to deal with last year’s Android OS. Oh wait, actually they will. The currently on offer Froyo-flavored, 1GHz single-core OMAP3 model packs a WVGA capacitive touchscreen (either 4-, or 4.3-inch), 5 megapixel camera, VGA front-facing camera, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS with quad-band GSM, tri-band UMTS / HSDPA and CDMA2K / EVDO support. Clients interested in a 700MHz LTE, Gingerbread option — that’s right, no Ice Cream Sandwich — will have to hold off until the first half of 2012, when the company’s 1.5GHz dual-core OMAP4 models will be available for production. Alright, so these specs aren’t exactly bleeding edge tech, but hey — who needs a quad-core phone when you’ve got this.

Continue reading Elektrobit’s Specialized Device Platform tailors Android devices for security-minded markets, won’t hem pants

Elektrobit’s Specialized Device Platform tailors Android devices for security-minded markets, won’t hem pants originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 01:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 20

US federal government to close 800 data centers, walk into the cloud

Posted in: government, money, politics, security, Today's Chili

Sure, it’s been just a few months since the National Security Agency asked for a $900 million supercomputing complex – you know, to help out with all that internet wiretapping. But concern about deficit spending will mean shuttering 800 other federal data centers in the US, or 40 percent of total government capacity. The closures are part of a larger push toward greater efficiency and consolidation, with an estimated savings of $3 billion a year; moving services to the cloud will mean more savings in licensing fees and infrastructure. Single-digit savings might sound like chump change when you realize the federal information technology budget runs around $80 billion a year, but hey, it’s a start, right?

[Photo thanks to Adrian Levesque and Adam Koniak.]

US federal government to close 800 data centers, walk into the cloud originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Maximum PC  |  sourceNew York Times  | Email this | Comments

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Jun 23

DARPA’s advance research arm building virtual Internet to battle cyber attacks

Posted in: government, Today's Chili, us

The Pentagon’s advanced research branch is working on a virtual version of the Internet to further the U.S.’s resistance against cyber attacks. According to Reuters, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, more commonly known as DARPA, is setting up something called the National Cyber Range. The National Cyber Range would be a virtual “testbed” to […]

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Jun 20

Raytheon readying directed energy warheads to fry enemy electronics, cook allied Pop Tarts

Posted in: military, Today's Chili, wargadget
Raytheon, the people who brought you the pain ray, are at it again. The defense giant is planning an arsenal of “directed energy warheads” expected to use radio and microwaves to electronically neutralize targets rather than blow them up. The company’s being typically secretive about details, but mentions the recent acquisition of Ktech, a firm specializing in airborne electronic warfare and enemy vulnerability assessment, giving us a clue about how it might all work. It’s believed the tech will be retrofitted to existing missiles: the new payloads will identify vulnerable electronics then disrupt or even destroy them with a radio frequency beam or high-powered microwaves (HPM). The warheads would monitor the results, providing valuable battlefield intelligence — while, of course, killing fewer dudes on the ground. With industry rival BAE working on a seaworthy microwave gun to fry boat engines, we’re looking forward to future of friendly drones circling overhead, always ready to heat up our Hot Pockets.

Raytheon readying directed energy warheads to fry enemy electronics, cook allied Pop Tarts originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink War Room  |  sourceAres  | Email this | Comments

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