Hot Stuff
Antivirus firm Sophos reported yesterday that its malware detection system reports one instance of malicious webpage content every 5 seconds, which it also says represents a 300% increase over last year.
Sophos finds 16,000 malcious pages every day (many of which are legitimate sites that have been contaminated by SQL-injection attacks, which are difficult to detect and block).
Illegitimate sites find fertile ground with Geocities and Google-owned Blogger/Blogspot, both of which let users set up web sites easily while providing little personal information. Blogger accounts for 2% of malware host sites and can not only host malicious code but is vulnerable to malicious links in its comments.
Google's comment:
"Google takes the security of our users very seriously, and we work hard to protect them from malware. Using Blogger, or any Google product, to serve or host malware is a violation of our product policies. We actively work to detect and remove sites that serve malware from our network."
I know how hard Mikey works just to keep our little internet footprint as safe as it can be, so I imagine the security issues with a site as massive as Blogger must be monumental. Help protect yourself with robust security software and browser plugins such as the excellent NoScript for Firefox.
Blogspot.com cited as the No. 1 host for malware [CNet]
While Jesse James and Den Den had the fortitude to go out and win themselves an iPhone 3G at launch, I'm still waiting for the crowds to die down and the inventory to go up here in NYC before I do anything that will involve me standing on the street in late July, which is even less pleasant here in the city. Especially in midtown, where most of the stock seems to end up. (shudder.)
But here are a few tips that will supposedly ameliorate any 3G reception or signal strength problems you might have.
iPhone Atlas posits that the iPhone isn't aggressive enough in its supposed ability to switch back from a 3G to a 2G network when 3G signal strength goes wonky, and that it's this failure that's at the heart of these connection woes we're seeing.
But beyond switching off 3G entirely, which is just depressing, you can do a few things that might help. Some are the garden variety solutions that probably won't help, and which you've probably already given a shot if you're having problems: reset/restore the phone, reset the network settings, or reseat your SIM card.
But some second-tier fixes could be worth trying: Replace your SIM card - mine still says "Omnipoint," which gives you an idea of how SIM cards can linger for decades. Tape your SIM card to rid yourself of concerns that your SIM card's physical contact can use some assistance. It's reported to work the occasional wonder, but it also might void your warranty. Give the iPhone a full charge just in case, or buy a signal booster like zBoost, which at $250 is almost as bad as buying a new phone. When all else fails, exchange your iPhone for a new one.
Boosting iPhone 3G signal strength [iPhone Atlas]
RechargeIT, an investment programme run by Google.org, Google's philanthropic arm, has announced that it will be providing Aptera, makers of the 230mpg beautiful object of my car gadget lust you see pictured, with a $2.75 million infusion of cash to help them get the Aptera Typ-1 to buyers.
At a price tag of $30,000, the ridiculously huge fuel economy (refuel my car 10x less? Yes, please!), and looks that tickle the same spot Apple has been hitting for years, the Aptera Typ-1 is looking poised to provide welcome relief from soaring gas prices.
Google.org also provided another $2.75 million to ActaCell, makers of the battery technology that is going into some of the new hybrids and electrics coming out in the next few years.
Bravo, Google!
Google.org gives electric cars a push, with investments in Aptera and ActaCell [VentureBeat]
[via: Engadget]
Who's Creative? And what's this Zen thing? Apparently it's an MP3 player that isn't an iPod. Who knew such a thing existed?
Their new design—what was the old design?—cops off the mosaic tableau and adds an unnecessary "z" to the proper spelling. It actually looks quite nice and shows a great deal of aesthetic sensibility that isn't often seen outside of a screen. See, the iPod Touch and iPhone all have pretty screens and menu designs, but the bodies remain somewhat ... bland. But this new gadget is pretty and if I weren't already an iPod owner, I'd definitely probably maybe almost think about buying it.
The Mozaic comes in 2, 4 and 8GB packages, and run from $80 to $150. I tried comparing this beaut to the iPod Nano but couldn't for the life of me find Mozaic's dimensions. Its screen is 0.2 inches smaller than the Nano's—that's all I got.
Product Page via CNET
(Watch out: the music on the product page is real annoying.)
Wow. You know what I really want to do? I want to saunter into the press lounge at my next big conference event - say, PAX - with a blond leather Bentley-branded tote that opens up into a ridiculously overpriced, overbranded notebook.
And for just £10,000, I'll be able to do so later this summer when Bentley and Ego Lifestyle release this car-inspired bit of status symbol under the unoriginal but sublimely accurate moniker "Bentley Ego Notebook."
Inside this horrific, beautiful thing you'll find Paris Hilton's severed hand Microsoft Vista running off an undisclosed 64 bit processor, 160GB of hard drive, and 12 "direct access" keys.
And since it comes with Vista, those of us without the poundage/dollars to snatch up the Bentley Ego Notebook can rest easy knowing that it won't actually work for anyone who does buy it.
Bentley laptop dares to class up the notebook computer business [Born Rich]
The OpenID coalition is a group that wants you to be able to sign into a number of services with a single ID, which is a feature that the patchwork world of the internet needs like nobody's business. Imagine only needing one login ID and only having to remember one password!
Now MySpace has joined Google's Blogger, Wordpress, AOL, Yahoo!, Vox, LiveJournal and others in lending support to OpenID:
"Initially support is to use MySpace OpenIDs as providers only -- i.e. you cannot logon to MySpace with an OpenID created elsewhere, but that policy will change in the future. This should help to make OpenID the de-facto login mechanism for the Internet, now if only Microsoft would support it, there are plenty OSS OpenID libraries available."
MySpace will nearly double OpenID's account base, adding 100 million to the 120 million-strong current OpenID accounts. However we're once again left waiting at Microsoft's leisure, while the big M focuses on the future with DX11 and WIndows 7 - not that Vista needs any fixing-up or anything...
Anyway, yes! OpenID ftw.
Asterick posted this Rumorama on GayGamer earlier today, and while I'd say that hardware design cycles almost certainly do overlap, it's still a bit soon to see a third hardware refresh of the PSP. However, I do expect that eventual refresh to include a built-in mic and a PlayStation-rebranded "home" button, so I give you Astie's bit o' gossip:
It seems like just yesterday the PSP-2000 was released. Could it be possible that just as Sony is pushing one model onto the market, they are already on redesign number two? These photos surfaced on a Chinese BBS, indicating that that it might actually be true!
The obvious differences is the replacement of the "Home" button with a "PS" button. This could be to unify the platform with the PS3. Additionally, a new hole in the case has surfaced next to the volume control buttons. Some speculate that this hole is a built in microphone.
My thoughts? It looks a lot like a cheap case replacement. The buttons have a beveled, recessed look, where as the other models have a smooth extruded or flush look. The hole could just be a hole, or for a speaker. Not to mention that the silver finish looks kinda cheap, however that might just be the camera.
PSP3000? [PSP China BBS]
[via Gizmodo]
Oy! With E3 over and the bulk of my post-E3 work/writing/podcasting/napping completed, I'm finally able to return to my job here at Homotron. My thanks and admiration to the rest of the Homotron crew for keeping up the good work!
So I'll dive right in with a creepy little story about Japan's one-upsmanship with the UK and its CCTV crackdown program. Programme. Whatever.
NEC just announced a new plasma display that not only sports a tiny camera that can identify your age, gender and intuited shopping behavior, but beams a QR code to your cell phone that contains product information and death threats from government goons. And calling this chicanery "push advertising" isn't cute or clever, it's insulting. Push yourself, TV sets!
It's bad enough that I can't set foot outside my compound to buy my entourage a round of frappucccinos without stumbling over a paparazzo - now the TVs want my picture too?
Digital Stalker: NEC display knows your sex, age and shopping habits [Dvice]
Yes folks, the Microhoo! drama continues.
The latest news brings us an update on Carl Icahn's attempts to replace the Yahoo! board with his own pick of "Yes!" men so that he can sell the company to Microsoft: in order to avoid a potentially bloody proxy battle, Yahoo! has compromised with Icahn and agreed to expand the Yahoo! board from 8 to 11 members, making Icahn and two members of his choosing part of the board.
In case you haven't been following the latest developments, Icahn, who owns a 5% share of Yahoo!, was extremely disappointed with Yahoo!'s decision to not sell to Microsoft and threatened to use the next investor meeting (in early August) to stage an investor mutiny and replace the Yahoo! board with members that would give the Microsoft buy-out proposal "full consideration."
This latest development is designed to stave off Mr. Icahn's megalomaniacal tendencies.
Yahoo makes agreement with Icahn [BBC]
Look, I know we've been talking an awful lot about the iPhone lately. Well, to be honest, everyone seems to be talking an awful lot about the iPhone lately. But there are other phones out there, believe it or not, and some of them are pretty damned good!
One other handset maker in particular has a way of making me happy, at least with one line of phones. Sony Ericsson's Walkman line of phones are solid, fully-featured music phones that do a great job a being phones and an even better job of being a solid mp3 player and FM tuner. To celebrate the 3 year anniversary of the launch of their fairly successful Walkman line, Sony announced the W302, W902 and the W595 (Left, center and right, respectively). The phones will all feature some wonderful Walkman features, with the W595 acting as the "entry level" phone, the W302 as the mid-level sharing-focused phone, and the W902 serving as the end-all feature phone with a hardcore mp3 player, 5.2 megapixel camera and high-end headphones in the box.
I keep a Sony Walkman W580i as a back-up phone for when I don't feel like hauling my iPhone around or if I'm going to be somewhere that I don't want to bring the iPhone, like an amusement park where I could loose it or break it or something. I love the feel of it and it's utility is great. As long as Sony fixes the keypad, so that it's much easier to actually use, and ensures the phone speaker is just a tad bit better, I may consider upgrading the W580i to the W902 come Q4 this year when these release. Hit the jump below for the full press release.
Press Release [Sony Ericsson]
[via: Gizmodo]
In my opinion, the funnest thing about iPhones is the web browser. Safari on the iPhone has got to be the single best browser on a mobile phone, hands down. And, as Tiny and Avenue Q are quick to point out, the Internet is great for Porn.
So it comes (tee hee) as no surprise that pornographic entrepreneurs would hop right on that bandwagon and start developing for the platform. Unfortunately, Apple isn't so keen on allowing an official iPorn app through their App Store, but that doesn't mean that pornographers can't find away around that little annoyance. After all, most people believe that the emergence of most internet technology is due to dirty, nasty porn.
iRobitcNet (NSFW) is a new service that provides streaming adult content right to your iPhone. Over 200 full length "feature" films from the adult entertainment world are available to stream, so there's bound to be something for the porn lovers of the world. However, from my brief visit to the site, it appears that it's all of the Hetero or possibly Lesbian variety (if you get into the male targeted porn, that is). $9.95 a month gives you unlimited streaming, scene skipping controls and a favorites menu to help you find that special scene that does it for you.
While it sounds interesting, I'll wait until the support Sean Cody or even Falcon videos.
[via: Gizmodo]
I have no clue why this video is 5 minutes long, since nothing—literally nothing—happens besides some creepy Eyes Wide Shut music and smoke drifting lazily from the mouths of the dead, but it's super cool.
Using incense and creepy Eyes Wide Shut music, you too can have specters of the undead haunting your garden. Bring the young un's outside and tell them if they don't respect Daddy, they'll become lawn ornaments, too.
Pair this with the Zombie Lawn Ornament, and you're sure to never have guests over ever, ever again.
Oh, and don't forget this.
And girls who like girls who like fembots!
Gadget of the Week
Even Hope wants an iPhone 3G!
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