Oct 03

HTC confirms security hole, says patch is incoming

Posted in: gps, hack, hacking, HTC, mobilepostcross, security, Today's Chili, update, video

HTC held true to its promise to look into the security vulnerability that surfaced over the weekend, an apparent glitch that allows any app requesting internet access to take a peek at a user account information, GPS location, system logs, and other potentially private data. While HTC assured us that user data isn’t at risk of being harmed by its own software, a third party malware app could exploit the security flaw and cause some trouble. The outfit is already building a patch, and will ship it out in an over the air update after a short testing period with its carrier partners. Until then? HTC recommends steering clear of apps from publishers you don’t trust. Hit the break to see the official statement.

Continue reading HTC confirms security hole, says patch is incoming

HTC confirms security hole, says patch is incoming originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 01:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 03

Arduino-powered modder recreates ‘first PC’

Posted in: arduino, hack, Hacks, mod, modding, mods, Today's Chili
Before the Altair 8800, before the SCElBI, there was the Kenbak-1 — considered to be the first personal computer by the Computer History Museum. Designed in 1970, it used Transistor-Transistor logic instead of a microprocessor — which is one of the reasons only 40 of the units were ever sold, of which 14 are known to still exist today. That’s what prompted modder funnypolynomial to produce his own using an Arduino. It may look a little more functional than the gloriously retro hexagonal design of the original, but it wouldn’t take much to copy that look, too. What are you waiting for? Get ordering your blinkenlights!

Arduino-powered modder recreates ‘first PC’ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Hack a Day  |  sourceKENBAK-uino  | Email this | Comments

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Oct 02

HTC security vulnerability said to leak phone numbers, GPS data, and more, HTC responds (video)

Posted in: gps, hack, hacking, HTC, mobilepostcross, security, Today's Chili, update, video




The folks at Android Police seem to have stumbled across a rather jarring security vulnerability in HTC handsets running Android, giving common apps with internet access a peek at the device’s vital statistics, user information and more. Demonstrated in the above video, developer Trevor Eckheart found that a recent HTC update packed in a suite of logging tools that collects data on user accounts (including email addresses), recent GPS locations, SMS data and encoded text, phone numbers, system logs, running processes and more — all of which can be accessed by common apps requesting access to android.permission.INTERNET.

HTC is already looking into the issue, stating, “HTC takes our customers’ security very seriously, and we are working to investigate this claim as quickly as possible. We will provide an update as soon as we’re able to determine the accuracy of the claim and what steps, if any, need to be taken.” If you’re too antsy to wait for HTC’s update, head on over to the source link below — Eckheart says the issue can be resolved by removing HTCloggers from a rooted device.

HTC security vulnerability said to leak phone numbers, GPS data, and more, HTC responds (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Oct 2011 19:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceAndroid Police, InfectedROM  | Email this | Comments

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Sep 27

TeamWin demos TWRP 2.0 recovery manager for Android, scoffs at your volume rocker (video)

Posted in: Android, app, apps, developer, developers, diy, Google, hack, Hacks, mobilepostmini, rom, smartphone, Smartphones, Software, tablet, tablets, Today's Chili, video

It’s pronounced “twerp,” but don’t mistake TeamWin’s Recovery Project for a run-of-the-mill chump. The software is intended as a touchscreen replacement for ROM managers such as TWRP 1.0 and ClockworkMod Recovery. In addition to the all-important backup, restore and install functions, the utility now provides a full GUI for touch input that’s fully customizable with XML themes. As a particular boon, developers will have the option to design custom installation processes unique to their particular ROMs, which is a lovely (though very metaphorical) cherry on top. As you’d expect, the software supports both phones and tabs, and if you’re interested to see more, just check the full demo video after the break. According to the developer, the utility still needs some work before it’s ready for prime time, but it’s rather nice to see the group stay productive as it matures.

[Thanks, Ian]

Continue reading TeamWin demos TWRP 2.0 recovery manager for Android, scoffs at your volume rocker (video)

TeamWin demos TWRP 2.0 recovery manager for Android, scoffs at your volume rocker (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 22:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceAndroid Central  | Email this | Comments

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Sep 24

Giant wall console lets you Game & Watch while you wait

Posted in: arduino, hack, mod, nintendo, Retro, Today's Chili

Before there was a 3DS and DS — heck, before there was a Game Boy, there was Game & Watch, Nintendo’s portable, sometimes dual-screened gaming line from the ’80s. But while the gaming giant has long since moved on, nostalgia for their platform-based frustration lives on in the form of this large piece of interactive wall art, a case that uses an Arduino and Python script to bring folks with a little spare time the sort of retro gaming that will make them long from the graphical power of the original NES. Check out more images of the device in the Source link below.

Giant wall console lets you Game & Watch while you wait originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Sep 2011 10:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Hack a Day  |  sourceHouse 4 Hack  | Email this | Comments

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Sep 22

Install Windows 8 onto your HTC Shift today, give it a reason to wake up in the morning (video)

Posted in: diy, hack, Hacks, HTC, Microsoft, mod, mods, Today's Chili, UMPC, video, windows 8, Windows8

If you’ve got an HTC Shift sitting around that’s collecting dust and not doing much else, it could find a new lease on life with the revelation of its (very unofficial) support for Windows 8. Like they did for Mac OS X previously, the folks at xda-developers have shoehorned Microsoft’s latest Developer Preview OS onto the dejected UMPC, and so long as you’ve got a bit of spare time, the right equipment and are good at following instructions, you can too. All the basic driver support appears to be in order, including support for video acceleration, the touchscreen and WiFi. Granted, you should keep in mind you’ll be installing pre-release software on unsupported hardware, but isn’t that half the fun? There’s a video after the break (heads-up: it’s in French), and if you’re looking to get started right away, you’ll find a full list of instructions in the source below.

[Thanks, M.]

Continue reading Install Windows 8 onto your HTC Shift today, give it a reason to wake up in the morning (video)

Install Windows 8 onto your HTC Shift today, give it a reason to wake up in the morning (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 07:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceDistant-Earth, xda-developers (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments

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Sep 21

IRL: WildBlue satellite internet, international charging, a flashing habit and failing to get work done on an iPad

Posted in: Android, Apple, apple ipad, AppleIpad, charging, Google, hack, Hacks, ipad, ipad 2, Ipad2, rom, Sprint, Today's Chili
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we’re using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

It’s been a whirlwind two weeks of sitting inside concept cars, soaking up details about the PlayStation Vita and getting acquainted with Windows 8, and now that it’s all wound down, we’re getting back to the business of griping about gadgets we already own. This week, Darren dresses down the satellite service we used to hit posts in the wilderness, Tim takes a breather after a year of jet-setting, Joseph carries on his flashing streak and as for Joe, well, let’s just say his honeymoon with the iPad has come to a sudden, unproductive end.

Continue reading IRL: WildBlue satellite internet, international charging, a flashing habit and failing to get work done on an iPad

IRL: WildBlue satellite internet, international charging, a flashing habit and failing to get work done on an iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 20

Epic 4G Touch gets ‘experimental’ Windows-only root, overclockers and undervolters dance for joy

Posted in: galaxy s ii, GalaxySIi, hack, Hacks, mobilepostmini, mod, mods, Sprint, Today's Chili, video
Epic 4G Touch Rooted

Since you can’t upgrade the GPU or add more RAM to your smartphone, there’s really only one way to improve upon an already impressive handset like the Epic 4G Touch — root it. It hasn’t been on the market for very long, but the crafty hackers over at XDA forums have already figured out how to open up the phone to your every whim. The crack is “experimental” at this point, so proceed with caution. You’ll also need to have both Kies and Odin 3 up and running, which makes this a Windows-only treatment at the moment. Head on after the break for a pair of videos and hit up the source link for full instructions. Oh, and happy modding.

Continue reading Epic 4G Touch gets ‘experimental’ Windows-only root, overclockers and undervolters dance for joy

Epic 4G Touch gets ‘experimental’ Windows-only root, overclockers and undervolters dance for joy originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Android Central  |  sourceXDA Developers Forum  | Email this | Comments

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Sep 20

Droid Bionic mod brings HDMI mirroring and Webtop to your car, please drive responsibly

Posted in: 4G, hack, lte, mobilepostcross, mod, motorola, netflix, Today's Chili
You’re cruisin’ in your sweet ride when all of a sudden you realize exactly what your set of wheels is missing: Webtop. While the vast majority of us may shrug off the thought, convincing ourselves that our 3.5mm jack or cassette player is plenty to keep us mindlessly entertained through the morning commute, one man with the know-how dared to be different. All of that blazing-fast LTE pumping out of his Droid Bionic was being wasted, after all, so why not outfit his car’s AV setup with Webtop and HDMI mirroring capabilities to blast Netflix on his dash and multiple screens in the back for the kiddies? It’s a clever mod, but we don’t condone the use of Netflix whilst driving, of course; just keep the movies out of sight, please. Head to the source link for the full step-by-step.

Continue reading Droid Bionic mod brings HDMI mirroring and Webtop to your car, please drive responsibly

Droid Bionic mod brings HDMI mirroring and Webtop to your car, please drive responsibly originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Droid-Life  |  sourceDroid Forums  | Email this | Comments

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Sep 19

Lion Ultimatum brings desktop-like functionality and file manager to jailbroken iOS (video)

Posted in: Apple, diy, hack, hacked, Hacks, ios, iPhone, ipod touch, IpodTouch, jailbreak, mac os x, MacOsX, mod, mods, os x, OsX, Today's Chili, video

Sure, OS X Lion borrowed many of its design cues from Apple’s iOS platform, but now users of jailbroken iPhone and iPod Touch devices may bring much of the desktop Mac’s functionality onto their handset with Lion Ultimatum. In essence, this beta project is a theme for Dreamboard (which is required software), but it’s rather far-reaching, with a functional file manager and Finder menus, a scrollable dock and draggable windows, along with Stacks, Launchpad, Mission Control and Dashboard. There’s also a customizable lock screen that provides access to the dialer, email and messages. Even the keyboard can be modified to resemble the design of MacBook Pro or the traditional Apple Keyboard, thanks to integration with ColorKeyboard. If you’re thirsty for more, hop the break for an extended video preview, or just follow the source for the full install instructions.

[Thanks, Adam]

Continue reading Lion Ultimatum brings desktop-like functionality and file manager to jailbroken iOS (video)

Lion Ultimatum brings desktop-like functionality and file manager to jailbroken iOS (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 22:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Technabob, Lifehacker, TiPb  |  sourceModMyi  | Email this | Comments

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