Congressmen ask devs of 34 iOS apps about user privacy

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In the wake of the Path address book fiasco, Congressmen Henry Waxman (D-CA) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) have followed up their initial query to Apple about privacy issues by contacting the people and companies behind 34 iOS apps. The list includes Tim Cook (again), concerning Apple's own Find My Friends, Mark Zuckerberg and Path's CEO Dave Morin, among others. The letters themselves are open for viewing on the Committee on Energy and Commerce's website, and include questions about exactly how many times the apps have been downloaded, what information they transmit back from user's devices and what happens to that data. The devs have until April 12th to respond, and while we're not sure what will happen after that, we're pretty sure this ends with someone's Hall of Fame consideration in doubt despite seven Cy Youngs and more than 4,000 strikeouts.

Congressmen ask devs of 34 iOS apps about user privacy originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 02:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/congressmen-ask-devs-of-34-ios-apps-about-user-privacy/

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Save $50 and get Active Using the Motorola MOTOACTV

We reported about the Motorola MOTOACTV last Fall when it was first announced, but not yet available. The MOTOACTV GPS Fitness Tracker & SmartMusic Player lets you know which songs make you perform your best. Featuring a 1.6-inch color touch display, the MOTOACTV is embedded with Motorola AccuSense and GPS technology which tracks your walking, [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2012/03/21/save-50-and-get-active-using-the-motorola-motoactv/

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Color vulnerable to simple GPS hack, lets you spy on anyone, anywhere

Color, the $41-million-in-funding location-oriented photo sharing startup, is susceptible to simple GPS spoofing. With nothing more than a jailbroken iPad or iPhone, you can use FakeLocation to trick Color into thinking you're somewhere else. Within seconds you can be browsing photos that were snapped thousands of miles away. With a little digging, you can pore through photos not intended for your eyes.

Of course, such a hack isn't illegal as such -- every photo you take with Color is public. With FakeLocation you are simply circumventing Color's very limited location-oriented security mechanism. It does undermine Color's usefulness (and uniqueness), though -- if nefarious types can sit in their bedroom or basement and eavesdrop on classy dinner parties and wild night club soirees, people might be less inclined to share personal photos with those around them.

Fortunately, both for Color and its users, this is an easy security hole to plug -- at least in the short term. The app (or server-side) code simply checks to see if the user has 'teleported' an impossibly large distance, without any intermediate steps in between. In the long term, though, Color's users must be aware that its social graph is completely public. Color's users must realize that every photo they upload is visible by anyone, from any place.

After the break, just to elucidate a little on Color's actual business model and ultimate intention, we have two amazing quotes from Bill Nguyen, Color's founder.

Continue reading Color vulnerable to simple GPS hack, lets you spy on anyone, anywhere

Color vulnerable to simple GPS hack, lets you spy on anyone, anywhere originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 05:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/29/color-vulnerable-to-simple-gps-hack-lets-you-spy-on-anyone-any/

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Visualized: Space Needle slingshot readies 35-foot Angry Bird for launch

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If it doesn't make it, we can just hit restart, yeah?

[Photo credit: Rod Mar]

Visualized: Space Needle slingshot readies 35-foot Angry Bird for launch originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/35-foot-angry-bird-for-launch/

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New software uses facial recognition to defend against prying eyes

Having the right programs and hardware to keep the information on your display safe from prying eyes is never a bad idea, and new software from Oculis Labs offers a very interesting take on how to do just that. It's called PrivateEye, and it utilizes facial recognition to automatically pixelate the contents of your display when you look away.

If you step away from your system and someone else decides to sit down and poke around, PrivateEye will present a confusing jumble of garbled text. It'll even notify you if someone tries to peek over your shoulder -- and display a picture of your peeping Tom, throw up an alert, or sound an alarm.

Check out the video embed after the break, and share your thoughts in the comments!

Continue reading New software uses facial recognition to defend against prying eyes

New software uses facial recognition to defend against prying eyes originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/07/new-software-uses-facial-recognition-to-defend-against-prying-ey/

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How Gizmodo Decides Which Laptop to Buy [Gizmodo]

Earlier today, Gizmodo Brit Jamie Condliffe asked us for advice on his next laptop purchase. We had some opinions! Enough that we thought we'd share how we work through it with you, dear readers. So without any more ado, here's Gizmodo talking laptops: More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/4UiigLJV1cU/how-gizmodo-decides-which-laptop-to-buy

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This Slingshot Can Kill Humans—With Style [Beautiful]

The $100 Montie Gear Y-Fork Slingshot—designed by Nichols Pennington—is made of aluminum, with a paracord-wrapped handle and a Thera-Band Gold flat band with a leather pouch. It can throw 0.5-inch ball bearings or .44 cal lead ball. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/NCIdMceYJwE/this-slingshot-can-kill-humans-with-style

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Leica's M9-P to be offered in unicorn-guise, $31,770 and Japan-only

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Currently drowning in more cash than sense? Do you also call the land of the rising sun home? Excellent, as we've found the perfect camera just for you: the elusive white variant of Leica's M9-P. Restricted to only 50 units, the unicorn shooter will go on sale come June for a cool 2,620,000 yen (or around $31,770) -- a hefty premium over the regular (read: black and chrome) permutations which cost $7,995. Granted those pedestrian versions don't come wielding an insane f/0.95 50mm lens out of the box. And if this ridiculous combo is priced out of your league, you could always go after its cheaper, yet also delectable white predecessor -- although we'll hazard you're going to need more than just luck finding it.

Leica's M9-P to be offered in unicorn-guise, $31,770 and Japan-only originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/gYg45NAjHqQ/

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Nokia May Turn Tattoos Into More Than Body Art

Today a tattoo is a popular way of showing off a little individuality, but historically tattoos were used as a form of communication. Roman soldiers and slaves were tattooed on the hands, arms or even face as a way to alert those around them to their status, allowing authorities to more easily keep track of those in bondage. Soon tattoos might be used for communication again -- but for a very different purpose.

Source: http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/74674.html

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