Microsoft tells IE faithful on Windows XP to avoid F1 key

Still hanging around on Windows XP? Perfectly acceptable. Still using Internet Explorer to browse the world wide web? Just a wee bit less forgivable, but we understand that some of you simply can’t get around it. If we just rung your bell, you might want to rip the F1 key right off of your keyboard (at least temporarily), as a recently discovered vulnerability in VBScript — which can only bother Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 — could allow malicious code to weasel its way right into your life with a single keystroke. As the story goes, some ill-willed web sites are encouraging users to smash the F1 key in order to access a Microsoft Help file, and when said key is depressed, “arbitrary code could be executed in the security context of the currently logged-on user.” Microsoft has promised to fully investigate and resolve the issue in due time, but ’til then, we’d highly suggest avoiding your F1 key like the plague switching to Firefox.

Microsoft tells IE faithful on Windows XP to avoid F1 key originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Desire’s Sense UI ported to Droid; HTC, Motorola cringe

If you work for Motorola, cover your ears and say “Blur Blur Blur Blur” at the top of your lungs over and over again for the duration of this post, because what we’re about to present is an unholy marriage the likes of which neither Sanjay Jha nor Peter Chou ever intended. It’s not the first time we’ve heard of a version of Sense finding its way onto Motorola hardware, but developers over on AllDroid have posted a bunch of video and stills claiming to have ported an HTC Desire’s (née Bravo’s) Sense-enabled firmware to Moto’s beast — and what’s more, there’s footage of it running Flash. Bear in mind that the speed at which Flash is running here looks downright painful — and we fully expect official Flash support on the Droid later this year anyhow — but anyone conflicted between the Droid’s muscular lines and HTC’s lovely skin might want to keep an eye on this project. It’s still very early in development, but the most important part of the port has already been finished: it shows the proper Droid logo on startup. Follow the break for video.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading HTC Desire’s Sense UI ported to Droid; HTC, Motorola cringe

HTC Desire’s Sense UI ported to Droid; HTC, Motorola cringe originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yoshi Akai’s Wireless Catcher senses nearby wireless waves, makes music (video)

What’s cute, cuddly, and makes all sorts of bizarro noises when it senses wireless waves? Yoshi Akai’s Wireless Catcher, of course! This analog synth contraption is simplistic in nature and complex in design, utilizing an onboard antenna to sense WiFi signals and then alter the sounds being outputted depending on signal strength and direction. It’s not exactly the symphony that Bach forgot to write, but it’s certainly beautiful in its own nerdy way. Have a look at the video past the break, won’t you?

Continue reading Yoshi Akai’s Wireless Catcher senses nearby wireless waves, makes music (video)

Yoshi Akai’s Wireless Catcher senses nearby wireless waves, makes music (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Feb 2010 04:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ghostbusters Wii mod sets a new bar, proves that dreams do come true

The Wii has seen its fair share of related modifications, and while our favorite Nintendo mod still has Pixar written all over it, this one just might take the cake for the Big N’s freshest console. Created by an obviously obsessed (and über-talented) Ghostbusters fan, the Nintendo Wii Proton Pack is a fully functional device that beautifully complements the Wii version of the Ghostbusters video game. For those doubting the thought that went into this, take a listen: the Blue Power Cell accurately reflects how much power you have left, and the Thrower has been designed to covertly hold both the Wiimote and the Nunchuk. Better still, the Wiimote’s internal speaker enables the pack to make true-to-film noises. Hit the source link to get a better look, but we’d recommend suiting up in your best 80s era, ghoul-busting garb before diving in.

Ghostbusters Wii mod sets a new bar, proves that dreams do come true originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows 7 Activation Technologies Update now live, ready to be dodged

Remember that polarizing Windows 7 Activation Technologies Update we told you about? You know, the one that helps you to “verify that the copy of Windows 7 that is running on your computer is activated correctly and is genuine?” It’s available for download now through Windows Update, and it’s not particularly easy to spot. The main label simply says “Update for Windows 7,” though we’d be sure to avoid KB971033 if you weren’t up for having this thing looking into your business. Your call, though.

[Thanks, Elijah and bighap]

Windows 7 Activation Technologies Update now live, ready to be dodged originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Desire ROM shoehorns HTC Sense and Flash 10.1 onto the Nexus One

Want some of that colorful, homescreen-juggling, Android 2.1 Sense UI that HTC has prepped for the HTC Desire? Well, the previously promised hacked ROM is ready for your Nexus One’s consumption. It’s in alpha right now, so install at your own risk, and does indeed support Flash 10.1, so also beware of the risk of browsing the real internet. What more danger, excitement, and grassroots handset support could you possibly want out of life? Hit up the source link for the full instructions, video of the ROM in action is after the break.

Continue reading HTC Desire ROM shoehorns HTC Sense and Flash 10.1 onto the Nexus One

HTC Desire ROM shoehorns HTC Sense and Flash 10.1 onto the Nexus One originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Feb 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wiimote-controlled ‘Jazari’ robot percussion takes us back to our tribal, Nintendo-hacking roots

We’ve seen the hacker-friendly, Bluetooth-based Wiimote used for so many purposes by now that it’s hard to get excited about just any amalgamation of accelerometer-based fun. Patrick Flanagan’s ‘Jazari’ project breaks past the yawn factor with a veritable museum’s worth of robotic instruments, which are all controlled from a pair of Wiimotes and some rather intelligent software. It all seems a little too complicated to be live-controlled, but as Patrick himself explains in true music nerd detail, there’s pretty much a button or a twist or a tilt behind every bit of the wild djembe, bongo and cowbell stylings that make up Jazari’s “steamfunk” (his term) music. Check out both videos after the break.

Continue reading Wiimote-controlled ‘Jazari’ robot percussion takes us back to our tribal, Nintendo-hacking roots

Wiimote-controlled ‘Jazari’ robot percussion takes us back to our tribal, Nintendo-hacking roots originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stimmmopped lets you tune your axe with LEDs

Look, that BOSS TU-2 has served you (and eleventy billion other guitarists) well, but isn’t it time for something a bit different in the pedal board mix? Stimmmopped is that very thing, which is a darling little contraption that uses LEDs rather than a microphone in order to tell you if your strings are tuned as they should be. Put simply, the device illuminates a string with a pair of lights, both of which are flashing at the frequency that the string should be vibrating at if it’s in tune; if you’re off, the illuminated part of the string will appear to be moving (thanks, stroboscopic effect!), and if you’re on the money, the lights will appear fixed. Have a peek at the source link for more, but don’t go building one yourself without a steady hand and a few vacation days to spare.

Filed under:

Stimmmopped lets you tune your axe with LEDs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Desire ROM makes Sense on the Nexus One

It’s no secret that the HTC Desire is the exact same hardware as the Nexus One with a Sense-based Android build on top of it, so it shouldn’t be any surprise that an enterprising hacker has already started porting the Desire’s ROM over to Google’s baby. Interestingly, the system file is a little too big for the Nexus One’s internal storage, so some rearranging was necessary, and not everything works yet, but it’s a start — and apparently Flash 10.1 is included and enabled, so this one should be a hot ticket when it’s released.

[Thanks, Thalib]

HTC Desire ROM makes Sense on the Nexus One originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceModaco, xda-developers  | Email this | Comments

Ubuntu Hardy Heron 8.04 gets ported onto Sony Ericsson’s Xperia X1

Not even a fortnight after we saw Android 2.0.1 slapped onto Sony Ericsson’s all-but-forgotten Xperia X1, along comes a port that makes the other look like child’s play. A dedicated coder over at XDA Developers has managed to stuff Ubuntu Hardy Heron 8.04 onto an X1, and while the functionality is limited (as you’d expect), the amount of fun to be had is restrained only by your imagination (and available vacation time). Go on and peek that source link to join the discussion — but be warned, you’ll be sucking down over a gigabyte worth of data before the first installation process.

[Thanks, Jules]

Ubuntu Hardy Heron 8.04 gets ported onto Sony Ericsson’s Xperia X1 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 02:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceXDA Developers  | Email this | Comments