Geekapundit
Technology Punditry and General GeekeryArchive for July, 2007
Wall Street Journal columnist Jeremy Wagstaff:
This week’s WSJ.com column is about what I call The Hole — the absence of decent devices in terms of size, weight and functionality between the smartphone and the notebook.
Just when I was deciding between the HTC Kaiser Smartphone and the HP Pavilion tx1222AU Entertainment Notebook PC. My mind’s still set on the HTC Kaiser though. Check out this HTC Kaiser Review, while I wait for it to reach Singapore’s shores.
When Kevin Rose says you’re a rockstar…
Kevin Rose, founder of Digg, has a list of people you would want to befriend in Pownce, Twitter’s major competitor. Pownce is currently invite-only. I’m lucky enough to have an invite and I heard it’s going for 10 bucks per invite on eBay.
The stylish HP Pavilion tx1222AU Entertainment Notebook PC, featuring the AMD AthlonTM 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor for notebook PCs, combines impressive multitasking performance with advanced wireless capabilities, making it the ideal study partner for any student. Weighing in at just 1.7kg, it boasts a convertible form-factor, designer inlaid pattern and intuitive touchscreen technology.
To all tertiary students based in Singapore, grab your matriculation cards now and enjoy a S$800 discount on this sleek tablet at S$1499 (UP: S$2299).
Free “Powered by Ubuntu” stickers from System 76
I really want these stickers, but Singapore is not under their coverage sadly.
Report: security flaw lets hackers pwn iPhone
John Schwartz reports in Monday’s New York Times:
Once he was there, the site injected a bit of code into the iPhone that then took over the phone. The phone promptly followed instructions to transmit a set of files to the attacking computer that included recent text messages — including one that had been sent to the reporter’s cellphone moments before — as well as telephone contacts and e-mail addresses.
iPhone’s first known exploit to be presented at Black Hat USA 2007 by Dr. Charles A. Miller from Independent Security Evaluators.
Google’s $4.6 billion plan for an open wireless Internet
As it has outlined in a letter to the FCC and numerous times on its company blogs, Google wants the agency to require that any firm that bids for rights to the 700 MHz spectrum promise to:
1. let customers download and use any software on the network; 2. let customers use any device on the network; 3. sell wireless space to any third-party wireless provider at commercial rates; 4. allow the wireless network to interconnect with other Internet service providers.
Google to offer US$4.6 billion for the 700Mhz wireless spectrum in the United States and make it open to all. The world next?
Tiny PC sips power, runs Linux
Compulab lists the following additional features and specifications for the fit-PC:
1. 40 GB hard drive
2. Dual 100 Mbps Ethernet
3. SXGA graphics controller, resolution to 1920 x 1440
4. 2 USB 2.0 high speed ports
5. Audio in/out interfaces
6. RS-232 serial port
7. Single 5V power supply
8. Dimensions — 4.7 x 4.6 x 1.6 inches (120 x 116 x 40 mm)
A 24/7 Linux box that is tiny, silent and consumes less power. Beautiful.
Update: The price of USD285 per box seems to make it less of a scam compared to the USD150 Medison Celebrity laptop. But I’m still skeptical. I bet there are people willing to pay the money to test it out. Stay tuned.
Harry Potter and the Torrent Leakages
July 21, 2007 at 12:59 pm · Filed under Commentary
What a way to debut Geekapundit on the same day as the launch of the final book in the Harry Potter series. Well, there’s absolutely no direct link between this technology-oriented weblog and the Harry Potter finale. But technology has indirectly affected, or should I say benefited, millions of Harry Potter fans and upsetted J. K. Rowling quite a bit.
For the past couple of weeks, photographs of each page of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” have already been leaked out in the form of torrent files distributed over BitTorrent networks. Of course, there have also been fake torrents floating around claiming to be the book.
Apparently, the leaker of the genuine last Harry Potter book has also left the EXIF data in the photographs. But I guessed it was accidental since the EXIF data contained the serial number of his Canon camera which means he can be traced back if he has registered his camera with Canon.
Now, the question that puzzled me is how, when and where did he managed to get a copy of the book and take the time to photograph each and every page. I guess this question will be left unanswered as millions are busily rushing to finish the book or the photographs right now.
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