Source: http://gizmodo.com/see-nyc-from-a-new-angle-with-these-awesomely-nerdy-map-1093545954
On July 25, data fans rejoiced when New York City government opened up a gigantic amount geospatial data to the public. The dataset, PLUTO, is “a real-world version of SIm City” based on tax lot data (it sounds less interesting than it is). Now, maps based on PLUTP are hitting the web—and these are some of the coolest.
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/09/nsa-releases-outline-of-security-programs-says-it-only-touche/
Even as President Obama proposes a review of NSA procedures and oversight, the organization published a seven page document laying out in broad terms what it does, how it does it and why it thinks that's OK. As Ars Technica points out, the memo claims "We do not need to sacrifice civil liberties for the sake of national security; both are integral to who we are as Americans. NSA can and will continue to conduct its operations in a manner that respects both." While many would argue those points in light of the many programs recently uncovered, the NSA has a response there also:
According to figures published by a major tech provider, the Internet carries 1,826 Petabytes of information per day. In its foreign intelligence mission, NSA touches about 1.6% of that. However, of the 1.6% of the data, only 0.025% is actually selected for review. The net effect is that NSA analysts look at 0.00004% of the world's traffic in conducting their mission - that's less than one part in a million. Put another way, if a standard basketball court represented the global communications environment, NSA's total collection would be represented by an area smaller than a dime on that basketball court.
Other sections go on to detail how it believes American citizen's information could be picked up, and what it does to identify and minimize that data. Particularly illuminating is the six point process (listed after the break) by which it applies Executive Order 12333, considered "the foundational authority by which NSA collects, retains, analyzes, and disseminates foreign signals intelligence information" alongside the Foreign Intelligence Service Act of 1978 (FISA). It's highly doubtful that any of these points will change your level of comfort with the policies and programs revealed or feelings about their need to change, but reading the document linked below may give some insight about how and why they were created.
Filed under: Internet
Via: Ars Technica
Source: NSA (PDF)
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/10/smart-fourtwo-price-drop/
Assuming you're small enough to fit comfortably, owning the cheap EV of your dreams could soon become a reality. Chevy recently cut the Volt's price and, as of this week, the Smart Fortwo Electric Drive is available for less, too. Specifically, it's $139 per month on a three-year, 30,000 mile lease that includes its "battery assurance plus" program, an $80 per month option for purchasers. However, to get that special rate, you'll have to put $1,999 down and sign paperwork either in California, Oregon or along the East coast. If you'd rather buy outright instead of leasing, Daimler's compact division has incentives for you, too. In addition to any tax breaks you get from the state and or federal government, the company is knocking $5,010 off the ED's already low $25,000 sticker price. It's finally looking like your payments could match the electric two-seater's diminutive stature.
Filed under: Transportation
Source: Autoblog (1), (2)
Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/silent-circle-shutters-private-email-service-2013-8
Silent Circle, a company founded by Internet Hall of famer Phil Zimmermann, famous privacy expert Jon Callas, and a couple of Navy Seals, has shut down its secure email service.
They shuttered it because email can't be secured in a way that would prevent a government agency like the NSA from snooping, the founders said.
All email messages "leak metadata" they say. That information includes data about who you are talking to and where you are. That info is visible even if the message itself is encrypted.
"E-mail as we know it today is fundamentally broken from a privacy perspective," Callas says. That's a pretty strong statement coming from this particular guy.
Zimmermann and Callas were the creators and cofounders of Pretty Good Privacy in the 1990s. PGP was one of first technologies to encrypt email to prevent spying.
Last year, they launched a new service, Silent Circle, that encrypts mobile phone calls, video calls and texts. Since smartphones also handle email, Silent Circle was encrypting email.
But now it's pulling the plug on the email portion of their service. The company says that it has not been asked to add a back door or to turn over emails. It is closing the service preemptively.
If you want to see what someone can learn about you by looking at your email metadata, here's a tool called Immersion that will show you. It was created by a team at the MIT Media Lab.
SEE ALSO: 10 Awesome Apps To Protect Your Smartphone
Join the conversation about this story »
Source: http://gizmodo.com/this-multi-camera-rig-lets-sports-fans-watch-any-angle-1077067721
There's usually a talented director calling the shots at televised live events like sports or a concert, but researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute want to put some of the control in the hands of the viewer at home. They've developed the OmniCam360, an ultra-compact 360 degree camera weighing in at just over 30 pounds that can be easily set up by a single operator.
The good: The HP Envy Rove 20 costs a bit less than some other tabletop PCs, includes great audio, and runs long enough to watch a couple of movies without being plugged in.
The bad: It's heavier than some comparable big-screen systems, uses a lower-end CPU, and the 20-inch...
http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/hp-envy-rove-20/4505-3118_7-35770018.html?subj=cnet&tag=title
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Source: http://lifehacker.com/hwinfo-provides-more-info-about-your-computer-than-you-1044830886
Windows: When it comes to diagnosing hardware problems, there's not such thing as too much information. HWiNFO gets credit for trying to push that limit, though.
Source: http://gizmodo.com/rokus-updated-ios-app-now-lets-you-stream-video-directl-1075606513
Roku's updated iOS app now lets you stream video directly from your iPhone to its set-top boxes. Which is neat.
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/08/textbooks-now-available-through-google-play-books-in-us/
Google promised us that it would offer textbooks through Google Play Books this month, and it's living up to its word. American students can now buy educational titles or rent them for six months, with prices frequently undercutting paper editions. Appropriately, Google has updated its Google Play Books app for iOS to support rentals like its Android and web counterparts. The launch is a painful reminder that the fall semester is just around the corner, but college-goers who want to be prepared can check out the source links.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Google
Source: Google Play, App Store
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/08/silent-circle-follows-lavabits-example-shuts-down-its-secure-e/
Silent Circle's thing has always been the promise of end-to-end secure communications, and that drive is apparently causing it to shut down the Silent Mail email service. Reasons cited in a blog post by CTO Jon Callas include the insecure nature of email protocols and preemptively avoiding the outside (read: FISA) pressures that prompted Lavabit to close its doors. Silent Circle says it hadn't received any "subpoenas, warrants, security letters, or anything else". Still, CEO Michael Janke tells TechCrunch he believed the government would come knocking due to certain high profile users of the service. Its phone, video and text products remain operational and claim to be "secure as ever", if you're wondering.
Filed under: Internet
Source: Silent Circle
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/09/inwatch-one-smart-watch-china/
Filed under: Wearables, Mobile
Via: Engadget Chinese
Source: inWatch (Chinese)
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/09/cyanogenmod-chromecast-tweak/
ClockworkMod dev Koushik Dutta is showing off another Android tweak that proves what can be done with Google's Chromecast dongle. Following up on his Phone to Chromecast Android app, and a Chrome extension that did the same, now he's added framework extensions to CyanogenMod that pipe audio and video content from any app -- that uses the system's default media player -- straight to the Chromecast. This should apparently work for pretty much anything, as he describes it plays locally stored content or streaming stuff like podcasts. In the demo video (embedded after the break) he shows it working with Twit.tv and BeyondPod. As with the previous examples, this isn't available for mass consumption just yet, but hit the source link to get a peek and ask any questions you have about how it works.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Software, HD, Mobile
Source: Koushik Dutta (Google+)
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/08/isis-mobile-wallet-american-express-serve/
Isis is gearing up to expand its Mobile Wallet service nationwide in the coming months, but its plans don't end there. The company has just announced that it's teaming up with American Express to bring the latter's Serve platform to Isis Mobile Wallet. Serve account holders will be able to make use of most of the features they already expect from Amex, like loading cash to their accounts, paying bills electronically and adding funds via direct deposit. By joining up with Isis, Serve is now unlocking the Mobile Wallet's capabilities, like NFC-powered payments at participating retail locations. Though Isis is currently limited to Austin and Salt Lake City, the company -- now with Amex on its side -- hopes to reach customers coast to coast before the year is out, though we don't have a specific date for availability just yet. For more info, check out the press release after the break.
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/08/nvidia-jen-hsun-huang-microsoft-surface-2/
NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang has confirmed to CNET that a followup to the Surface RT is in development, and that it will apparently continue to use NVIDIA hardware inside. Recently news concerning the ARM-powered version of Microsoft's tablet hasn't been good, with a $900 million inventory charge and price cuts for both the RT and Pro. According to Jen-Hsun Huang, the addition of an Outlook mail app in Windows 8.1 can be the killer app the platform has been missing, and the company hopes it will be a big success. Rumors for the next gen of Surface have hinted at Microsoft offering Qualcomm chips in some models as well a smaller 7-inch version. NVIDIA may have some Tegra 4-specific features to contribute on the latter, we'll see if its can take a bigger bite out of the tablet market on their second attempt.
Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft
Source: CNET
Source: http://gizmodo.com/how-thomas-kinkade-helped-prove-that-art-can-be-scienti-1066345777
What’s your favorite meal? Logically, your answer depends on the foods you’re familiar with. Now here’s another question: Who’s your favorite painter? Turns out the same logic doesn't apply. A new study that pits Thomas Kinkade against 19th century painter John Everett Millais has proven that some art actually is objectively good or bad—contradicting what scientists previously assumed about aesthetics.
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