Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Operation Shady Rat Is The Largest Cyber Attack Ever Uncovered [Hacking]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5827187/operation-rat-is-the-largest-cyber-attack-ever-uncovered

Operation Shady Rat Is The Largest Cyber Attack Ever UncoveredIf it wasn't true before, it's definitely true now. Hacking isn't just for giggles, it's a major threat to international security.

On Wednesday, McAfee released a 14-page report that details the largest coordinated cyber attack recorded to date. This particular attack, possibly orchestrated by China, broke into 72 organizations over the course of five years.

The targets include the US, Canada, Taiwan, India, South Korea, and Vietnam. The attack also hit the UN, the International Olympic Committee, the World Anti-doping agency, defense contractors, tech companies and more. Most attacks lasted less than a month, but some, like that on the UN Secretariat, lasted for almost two years.

We may have wanted to stick our fingers in our ears and pretend a cyber attack like this wasn't happening, but after this report, even my grandmother will know what this "cyber thingamabobber" is [Reuters; Shutterstock/Alexander Lukin]

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Twitter's Growing Up With a Beautiful HTML5 Website For iPad [Twitter]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5827228/twitters-growing-up-with-a-beautiful-html5-website-for-ipad

Twitter's Growing Up With a Beautiful HTML5 Website For iPadSo Twitter is axing the old interface on Twitter.com, force-upgrading everyone to the shinier version. Know what else is changing? Twitter.com for iPad, as Twitter adopts HTML5 and pushes out a full version of the site. No more mobile version! [TechCrunch]

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Toshiba unveils MQ01ABD HDD series, packs 1TB on a 9.5mm frame

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/toshiba-unveils-mq01abd-hdd-series-packs-1tb-on-a-9-5mm-frame/

It's been barely four months since Toshiba introduced its MK7559GSXP -- a tightly-packed, 750GB hard drive that, believe it or not, has already been eclipsed by the MQ01ABD series. Unveiled yesterday, the company's new lineup of 2.5-inch HDDs offers up to 1TB of storage capacity, thanks to an architecture that squeezes 500GB out of every platter. Standing at 9.5mm tall, the 5,400RPM drives also boast an areal density of 744Gb per square inch, and are designed to maximize energy efficiency, burning just 0.55 watts in idle mode. Gamers and entertainment gurus, meanwhile, would benefit from the MQ01ABD's enhanced acoustics, which max out at 19dB in idle, and 24dB while seeking. No word yet on pricing, but the beasts are scheduled to go into mass production by the middle of this month. For more of the nitty gritty, gallop past the break for the full press release.

Continue reading Toshiba unveils MQ01ABD HDD series, packs 1TB on a 9.5mm frame

Toshiba unveils MQ01ABD HDD series, packs 1TB on a 9.5mm frame originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG launches Nano LED backlit LW9800 HDTVs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/lg-launches-nano-led-backlit-lw9800-hdtvs-in-korea/

While LG's 2011 HDTV lineup has been largely a success so far -- we found a lot to like in the LW5600 we reviewed and quarterly earnings seem to justify its 3D and LED technology -- some wouldn't be satisfied without an LED backlit (rather than edge lit) option. That issue is solved now with the new LW9800 series, shown off here in Korea as the LW980S. Announced in two sizes, 55- and 47-inches, both feature "Nano LED" local dimming with as many as 2,300 sources in the larger one and 480Hz motion technology. They also include other LG standard features like Cinema 3D, Magic Motion gesture remote control and its Smart TV menus as well as built-in WiFi, but the big draw here is the deep blacks and a claim of the industry's highest 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Check the press release after the break for a few more details while we wait to get our eyes on the new models in September at IFA 2011.

Continue reading LG launches Nano LED backlit LW9800 HDTVs

LG launches Nano LED backlit LW9800 HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceLG (Korea)  | Email this | Comments

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New Android trojan can record phone calls, expose your embarrassing fantasy baseball talk

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/new-android-trojan-can-record-phone-calls-expose-your-embarrass/

Malware PermissionsMobile malware is nothing new, especially for Android users who have trained themselves to navigate the sometimes shady back alleys of the Market. The fine folks at CA Technologies came across an interesting new trojan though, that does something slightly more unnerving than max out your credit cards -- it records your conversations. There's no evidence that this has actually found its way into the wild yet, but it's entirely possible that some nefarious developer could capture your calls and upload them to a remote server. Obviously, this wouldn't hold much interest for your traditional cyber crook, but suspicious significant others and corporate spies could have a field day with such capabilities. All we can do is suggest you remain vigilant and maintain a healthy dose of paranoia about any apps on your phone.

New Android trojan can record phone calls, expose your embarrassing fantasy baseball talk originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Pocket Now  |  sourceCA Technologies  | Email this | Comments

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T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide review

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/t-mobile-mytouch-4g-slide-review/

Not too long ago, things were pretty simple in T-Mobile's Android land. For us (the nerds, geeks, power users, early adopters, and other misbegotten social deviants) there was the G series of phones with plain Android, culminating recently with LG's delightful G2x. If you wanted to buy your mom an Android smartphone, you'd point her at the myTouch series of handsets with custom HTC Sense-based skins, like last winter's myTouch 4G. Life got a bit more complicated with the introduction of LG's Optimus T, Samsung's Galaxy S 4G, and other devices that don't neatly fit into the carrier's grand branding scheme. Well, fear not! T-Mobile and HTC went ahead and refreshed last summer's lovely myTouch 3G Slide with a dash of dual-core tech lifted right from HTC's Sensation flagship and a bespoke 8 megapixel shooter said to be "the most advanced camera of any smartphone". Those are fighting words... so does the myTouch 4G Slide (as it's called) beat the likes of Samsung's Galaxy S II, Sony Ericsson's Xperia Arc, and Nokia's N8 in terms of imaging performance? Is the sliding keyboard as pleasant to use as its predecessor? And most importantly, is this your mom's next phone? Read on for our full review.

Continue reading T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide review

T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SparkFun launches ProtoSnap, pre-wired Arduino kits for beginners (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/sparkfun-launches-protosnap-pre-wired-arduino-kits-for-beginner/

ProtoSnap Line
Looking to get your start in the world of Arduino programming, but having trouble with that whole circuit prototyping thing? Well, the crafty guys and gals at SparkFun have whipped up something they call ProtoSnap -- pre-wired boards with an Atmel AVR processor and a small pile of components that are ready for experimenting. When you've got your code down, the parts easily snap apart for use in a properly soldered, permanent project. There are three different kits available in the online store now, the Pro Mini ($45), the LilyPad Development Board ($60), and the LilyPad E-sewing kit ($20), the latter being an accessory pack for the LilyPad Board. Check out the gallery of goodies below, as well as the video and PR after the break.

Continue reading SparkFun launches ProtoSnap, pre-wired Arduino kits for beginners (video)

SparkFun launches ProtoSnap, pre-wired Arduino kits for beginners (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: data centers accounted for just 1 to 1.5 percent of electricity use last year, Google claims less than 1 percent of that

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/report-data-centers-accounted-for-just-1-to-1-5-percent-of-elec/

You'd think, watching companies like Apple break ground on sprawling data centers, that the number of servers powering our untethered lives was on the rise. In a different decade, you might have been right. But not this one. According to a study prepared at the request of The New York Times, the number of servers in use has declined "significantly" since 2005. That's mostly because of the financial crisis of 2008, says lead researcher Jonathan G. Koomey of Stanford University, but we also can't discount the effect of more efficient technologies. What's more, he says, servers worldwide consume less energy than you might have guessed: they accounted for somewhere between 1 and 1.5 percent of global electricity use in 2010. And while Google, the king of cloud computing, has been cagey about revealing just how many servers house its treasure trove of data, the company said that of that 1 to 1.5 percent, it accounted for less than 1 percent -- meaning, just a hundredth of a percent of all the electricity consumed last year. All told, data centers' energy consumption has risen 56 percent since 2005 -- a far cry from the EPAs 2007 prediction that this figure would double by 2010, with annual costs ballooning to $7.4 billion. Then again, this slower-than-expected growth could well be temporary. Though Koomey can't specify to what extent the financial crisis and technological advancements are to blame, he insists, broadly speaking, that we're primarily seeing fallout from the economic slowdown -- a stay of execution, of sorts, for those of us rooting for energy conservation.

Report: data centers accounted for just 1 to 1.5 percent of electricity use last year, Google claims less than 1 percent of that originally appeared on Engadget on Tue , 02 Aug 2011 16:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceNew York Times  | Email this | Comments

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OCZ's Z-Drive R4 PCIe SSD offers 2,800MB/sec, 500,000 IOPS, plenty of thrills

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/oczs-z-drive-r4-pcie-ssd-offers-2-800mb-sec-500-000-iops-pl/

Hard to believe that we spotted OCZ Technology's original Z-Drive at CeBIT 2009. Just over two full years have passed, and already we've seen the 600MB/sec claims offered on that fellow eclipsed by a few successors. Today, the latest in the line is making its debut, with the Z-Drive R4 offering 2,800MB/sec and over 500,000 IOPS with a single SuperScale controller; step up to a dualie, and you'll see 5,600MB/sec transfer rates coupled with 1.2 million input-output operations per second. Not surprisingly, this guy's aimed squarely at enterprise users -- folks who can genuinely take advantage of the speed, and are willing to pay the unpublished rates (yeah, we asked!) that go along with it. It's retaining the PCIe-based form factor, and will be shipped in two standard configurations: a half height version designed for space constrained 1U servers and multi-node rackmount servers, and a full height version. Each of those will be made available with SLC / MLC NAND flash memory, and as with all of OCZ's enterprise kit, customer-specific configurations and functionality are available upon request. Full release is after the break, big spender.

Continue reading OCZ's Z-Drive R4 PCIe SSD offers 2,800MB/sec, 500,000 IOPS, plenty of thrills

OCZ's Z-Drive R4 PCIe SSD offers 2,800MB/sec, 500,000 IOPS, plenty of thrills originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EDT. P! lease se e our terms for use of feeds.

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Move over Skype, calling from Gmail now supports 38 languages and cheaper calls

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/move-over-skype-calling-from-gmail-now-supports-38-languages-an/

Kon'nichiwa, hola, and bonjour says Google, as it expands Gmail calling to support a total of 38 languages and four currencies including Euros, British pounds and Canadian / US dolla dolla bills y'all. The calling feature allows Gmail users to call landlines and mobile phones from within their Gmail browser for next to nothing, making the email center a one-stop shop for IMs, emails, video and voice calls. The year-old service is lowering its call rates to $0.10 per minute to mobile phones in the UK, France, and Germany, $0.15 per minute to Mexico, and $0.02 per minute to any number in China and India. Calling landlines is even cheaper -- which would be fantastic if you actually knew someone that still used one. The expanded language support and cheaper calls adds another piece of ammo to Google's arsenal as it goes head-to-head with Skype (which charges $0.18 - $0.25 per minute for calls to UK mobile numbers), after the company conveniently partnered with Google+'s arch nemesis for calls from within the social network. But hey, at least those late-night arguments won't cost the former nearly as much as it once did.

Continue reading Move over Skype, calling from Gmail now supports 38 languages and cheaper calls

Move over Skype, calling from Gmail now supports 38 languages and cheaper calls originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms ! for use of feeds.

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Motorola Droid Bionic specs revealed: TI OMAP 4430 dual-core CPU, Android 2.3.4 on board (update: wrong model number)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/motorola-droid-bionic-specs-revealed-ti-omap-4430-dual-core-cpu/

Can't wait to get those mitts on a Droid Bionic, but still wondering what lies beneath? Seems as though the Motorola mobile of mystery can't hold its secrets forever, since the specs of the Bionic are now up for perusal on Motorola's developer site. Here's the skinny: it's got a TI OMAP 4430 1GHz dual-core CPU bundled with 1GB RAM (twice the amount in the Droid 3), a 4.3-inch qHD display with 960 x 540 resolution, HDMI 1.4, 8 megapixel rear camera accompanied by a VGA front-facing shooter and 1080p HD video capture, webtop capabilities, and the obvious LTE radio. Unfortunately, the specs confirm the Bionic's lack of GSM / EDGE -- essentially turning it into a fancy PMP when traveling abroad -- and doesn't bother mentioning battery size (or life, for that matter), the most confounding question still lingering aside from the release date. C'mon, Motorola, can we at least get a hint?

Update: A keen-eyed tipster alerted us to one minor snafu in the above image: it shows the Motorola XT865 -- the original Droid Bionic unveiled at CES 2011 last January -- instead of the XT875, which belongs to the new and redesigned model. We can't be sure if this is an typo on the site or if it really is the old version. Either way, we'll keep a close eye on the story and update if we hear anything else.

Motorola Droid Bionic specs revealed: TI OMAP 4430 dual-core CPU, Android 2.3.4 on board (update: wrong model number) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Droid-Life, MyDroidWorld  |  sourceMotodev  | Email this | Comments

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ASUS' next gen Eee Pad Transformer to pack NVIDIA's quad-core Kal-El, launch this October?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/asus-next-gen-eee-pad-transformer-to-pack-nvidias-quad-core-ka/

Fan of ASUS' affordable, yet competitively specced Eee Pad Transformer, but still haven't committed your credit to its 10.1-inches? Well, if this bout of rumor-mongering proves true, you might want to put the wallet down until early fall. Harbinger of supply chain gossip Digitimes is reporting that the electronics maker has just enlisted Wintek to provide touch panels for its next gen tablet, slated to launch this October. The parts supplier is said to be working in tandem with HannStar Display to ramp up production should this iteration be met with its predecessor's unforeseen popularity. Adding more ambiguity to the speculative fire, ASUS' Chairman Jonney Shih recently confirmed to Forbes that an updated Transformer is on its way, saying only that it'd be very "impressive," and would be available before CES. Jonney didn't comment on the upcoming slate's supposed use of NVIDIA's quad-core Kal-El, but with the chip's promised August launch date, we wouldn't rule it out. While talks of a Transformer 2 are still just gossamer promise, you can always snag that Eee Pad Slider while you sit and wait.

ASUS' next gen Eee Pad Transformer to pack NVIDIA's quad-core Kal-El, launch this October? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TechDigest  |  sourceForbes, Digitimes  | Email this | Comments

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RIM's BlackBerry Torch 9810 emerges on AT&T's website, touts '4G' capabilities

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/rims-blackberry-torch-9810-emerges-on-atandts-website-touts-4g/

Well, hello beautiful! Can't say we were expecting to see RIM launch a new BlackBerry this evening, but we're sure there's quite a few of you out there that'll take it. The same BlackBerry Torch 2 that we previewed back in June has made the trek over to Ma Bell's network, with a 'Coming Soon' page emerging just moments ago. AT&T claims that this is the world's first 4G BlackBerry on its airwaves, but of course, that asterisk upside the "4G" logo couldn't possibly be more telling. Regardless, the full-featured slider will arrive with BlackBerry 7 OS, a full QWERTY keyboard, sliding display, 1.2GHz processor, 8GB of onboard memory, room for 32GB of expandable storage, 720p video capture, inbuilt WiFi and support for the carrier's HSPA+ network. Mum's the word on a price and release, but you can tap that source link to get signed up for more.

Update: It's official!

RIM's BlackBerry Torch 9810 emerges on AT&T's website, touts '4G' capabilities originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Electronista  |  sourceAT&T  | Email this | Comments

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Toshiba is dropping out of Fujitsu / Toshiba phones while Hitachi considers exiting the TV biz

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/toshiba-is-dropping-out-of-fujitsu-toshiba-phones-while-hitach/

Fujitsu Toshiba Mobile Communications has only been in existence as Japan's number two mobile company (behind Sharp) for a short time, but it appears even a decent earnings report wasn't enough for Toshiba to stay in the business. While the joint venture prepares to release the au IS12T WP7 handset running Mango Fujitsu, Fujitsu is preparing to buy out Toshiba's 19.9 percent stake and take sole ownership in 2012. Toshiba may not be the only Japanese tech giant taking a step back, as Hitachi is considering following Pioneer and exiting the TV biz stage left. As price competition squeezes out all but the largest manufacturers and even Sony feels the pinch, Hitachi is considering outsourcing the brand to overseas manufacturers. Neither announcement should put brakes on hardware we've been anticipating, but that REGZA phone or Wooo television you just dropped a few yen on could become a vintage item very soon.

[Thanks, Colin]

Toshiba is dropping out of Fujitsu / Toshiba phones while Hitachi considers exiting the TV biz originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 02:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Engadget Japan  |  sourceNikkei (reg required), Toshiba, Hitachi  | Email this | Comments

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Huawei Vision smartphone: Android 2.3, 1GHz CPU, unibody construction

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/huawei-vision-smartphone-android-2-3-1ghz-cpu-unibody-constru/

Is the world's next showstopping Gingerbread smartphone seriously coming from Huawei? The same company that shocked us all with the S7 Slim tablet (and pulled a similar stunt with the MediaPad) has just taken the wraps off of its newest handset in Beijing, and the curtly-titled Vision offers quite the stat sheet. While it still falls short of Samsung's Galaxy S II and HTC's EVO 3D in terms of raw horsepower, it's still more than capable of holding its own. Within the unibody frame, you'll find a 3.7-inch capacitive touchpanel, a five megapixel autofocus camera (with LED flash and 720p video recording), 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM 8255 processor and a 1,400mAh battery.

Moreover, there's 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, 512MB of RAM, 2GB of ROM, a microSD slot capable of holding 32GB, and a micro-USB 2.0 socket to boot. Per usual, A-GPS, an FM radio tuner, proximity sensor and light sensor are thrown in, and for those with varying moods, you'll likely appreciate the availability of silver, gold and charcoal back covers. The chassis measures 9.9 millimeters at its thinnest point while weighing 121 grams, which Huawei curiously points out is "less than a bottle of perfume or aftershave." We're told that it's loaded with a "3D interface," but given that we're not hearing anything about a "3D display," it's probably little more than spruced-up 2D. We're still waiting to hear back on a price, but "select markets" can look for it to land in September.

Continue reading Huawei Vision smartphone: Android 2.3, 1GHz CPU, unibody construction

Huawei Vision smartphone: Android 2.3, 1GHz CPU, unibody construction originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 03:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceHuawei  | Email this | Comments

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