Protonex fuel-cell batteries to power HULC exoskeleton for three solid days

We’re selfishly daydreaming of how we could use something like this at the next CES, but chances are that Lockheed Martin is really only fixated on boosting its bottom line by assisting the US military. The company’s HULC exoskeleton, which was originally introduced by Berkeley Bionics in 2008, is seeing a significant upgrade this week courtesy of a fuel-cell power pack from Protonex. The goal? To strap a new, more potent battery onto the Human Universal Load Carrier that will support 72+ hour extended missions. Soldiers tend to carry around a lot more gadgetry now, all of which requires more and more power; with this pack, the men and women in the field could carry fewer conventional batteries while seeing an overall boost in available juice. There’s no mention of when exactly this stuff will be rolled out en masse, but that’s a detail you’ll probably never know, anyway.

Protonex fuel-cell batteries to power HULC exoskeleton for three solid days originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft patches IE security hole, human rights activities fully resume

Ready for an update? Good. If you’re still using Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (versions 5.01 to for some inexplicable reason, there’s a patch that you should probably install on the double — that is, if you’re a hardcore human rights activist that just might end up on a Chinese hit list. All kidding aside, the devs in Redmond have broken free from their usual monthly update cycle in order to push out a patch to fix the hole that was exploited by a group of sophisticated hackers last week. Refresh that Windows Update if you’re scared, or — you know — just download one of the many other free web browsers that are far, far superior to IE.

Microsoft patches IE security hole, human rights activities fully resume originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IE security flaw exploited in recent Google attacks

IE security flaw exploited in recent Google attacks originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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3G GSM encryption cracked in less than two hours

Looks like all that GSM code-cracking is progressing faster than we thought. Soon after the discovery of the 64-bit A5/1 GSM encryption flaw last month, the geniuses at Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science went ahead and cracked the KASUMI system — a 128-bit A5/3 algorithm implemented across 3G networks — in less than two hours. If you must know, the method applied is dubbed ‘related-key sandwich attack’ where multiple values of known differentials are processed through the first seven rounds of KASUMI, then using resulting quartets that are identified sharing key differences, subkey materials can be obtained in round eight to build up the 128-bit key. Sure, it’s hardly snooping-on-the-go at this speed, but worryingly this was only an ‘unoptimized implementation… on a single PC.’ At the same time, the paper condemns the presumably red-faced GSM Association for moving from MISTY — a more computationally-expensive but much stronger predecessor algorithm — to KASUMI. Guess we’ll just have to stick with Skype.

3G GSM encryption cracked in less than two hours originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Droid security flaw makes lock screen a mere inconvenience for evil-doers

You might recall Apple having a hard time keeping its lock screen locked at one point, and it looks like we’ve got a common theme brewing here now that Android’s suffering from the same drama. Turns out that Android 2.0.1 — the build currently deployed on the Droid — suffers from a flaw whereby you can back out to a locked phone’s home screen simply by pressing the Back button after accepting an incoming call. Of course, you’d either have to know a phone’s number or wait for a call to actually take advantage of this, but we’d argue that it’s a pretty low barrier of entry. The bright side of the story, we suppose, is that the phone goes back to being locked as soon as the call ends, but then again it doesn’t take much time to peep your juicy emails. Google’s aware of the issue, so we’re thinking this’ll make it into the Droid’s next software update; we don’t have a launch window for that just yet, so in the meantime… you know, just make sure no one ever calls you and you should be good to go.

Droid security flaw makes lock screen a mere inconvenience for evil-doers originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Twittering Arduino-powered laser tripwire captures trespassers — digitally (video)

Continue reading Twittering Arduino-powered laser tripwire captures trespassers — digitally (video)

Twittering Arduino-powered laser tripwire captures trespassers — digitally (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Airport security guards kill — literally kill — a MacBook

Young American woman flies over to Jerusalem to meet some friends, see the sights, live the life. Overzealous airport security officers ask her a bunch of questions, take issue with her answers, and a few well-placed bullets later she is allowed entry into the country with a somewhat altered MacBook in tow. So what can we all learn from this incident? Firstly, back up all the data you consider important; B, Israeli policemen don’t mess about; and 3, distressed laptops look gorgeous no matter how they got there — just look at the way the glass trackpad has wrinkled up from the force of the bullet penetrating near it, it’s a borderline work of art. The young lady in question has been promised compensation, but we’re hearing she’s not the only one to experience the wrath of Israel’s finest. Flickr link below will lead you to fallout pictures from a separate incident, and we’ve got a couple more close-ups of the ravaged MacBook after the break.

[Thanks, Itai N.]

Continue reading Airport security guards kill — literally kill — a MacBook

Airport security guards kill — literally kill — a MacBook originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maplock chains GPS unit to steering wheel, dares thieves to interfere

Remember The Club? Sure you do. We can’t say that Who-Rae’s Maplock is destined to become just as goofy in the pop culture scene, but it’s certainly one of the more absurd peripherals that we’ve seen this year. Put simply, this contraption provides a locking mount for your navigation unit and a presumably snip-proof cable that locks around one’s steering wheel. We suppose the point here is to easily show pondering thieves that they should probably select another vehicle to jack, but the easier solution is to figure out a mounting setup that doesn’t involve suction cup residue. For those who’d rather be safe than sorry, the Maplock can be procured for right around $50 — just be prepared for all sorts of jeering from your car club mates. Vid’s after the break, vaquero.

Maplock chains GPS unit to steering wheel, dares thieves to interfere originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IronKey ships uber-secure D200 USB flash drives

IronKey has never been one to shy away from sensational claims, but for whatever reason, it’s announcing its newest secure drive in a rather low-key fashion. Or, somewhat so. The D200 range of USB flash drives are said to be more manageable and secure than ever, offering up the peace of mind necessary in government and enterprise scenarios. The new devices include policy enforcement, usability and field-maintenance capabilities, a dual-channel architecture for rapid transfers, the ability to double as an authentication token and a self-defense mechanism designed to resist “physical, malware and password attacks.” It’s available in 1/2/4/8/16GB capacities and should withstand most encounters with water and shock, though it’s on you to dig up the presumably lofty MSRPs.

Filed under: Storage

IronKey ships uber-secure D200 USB flash drives originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Homemade GPS puzzle box puts a modern spin on treasure hunts

We’ll readily admit that most Arduino mods tend to be exercises in creativity (and eccentricity) with little real world utility, which is why this one piqued our interest. A wedding present conceived of and built by Mikal Hart, the box you see above is set to only open in one particular geographic location, and the puzzle of it is to find out where that might be. You’re allowed 50 attempts at opening the box by hitting the button next to the LCD screen, which in turn gives you a distance from, but not direction to, your destination. What tickles us about this idea, aside from its ingenuity, is the potential to use it without the helpful hints in securing your own valuables. Check out the read link for a full shopping list of ingredients and the amusing reaction to the quirky gift.

[Via Slippery Brick]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Homemade GPS puzzle box puts a modern spin on treasure hunts originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Portable pain gun could replace Colt 45s, logic in robot-controlled future

The Pentagon has been dreaming of portable pain guns for as long as we can remember, and if it has its druthers, said fantasy could soon become a reality. The Thermal Laser System (or the IR-Lesslethal device, if you prefer) has been brewing since at least 2005, but just recently the weapon prove to testers that it could create a beam strong enough to cause alarm and pain without actually damaging the skin or retina. Think of it as a portable crowd controller (or your worst nightmare, either one). Of course, there’s still quite a bit of testing to get through before it’s actually rolled out for military or police use, and there’s the fact that leaving no marks leaves open the possibility for undocumentable abuse. Not like that would ever happen, though.

[Image courtesy of Deeper Thought]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Portable pain gun could replace Colt 45s, logic in robot-controlled future originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Security Essentials anti-virus software is now live and free

In a move that’s sure to please a few million Windows users and break the hearts of a handful of anti-virus companies, Microsoft has now finally made the non-beta version of its Security Essentials software available to the general public, and it’s not even asking that you throw a launch party to get it for free. For those not in on the beta or following Microsoft’s exciting forays into freeware, the software promises to cover all the security basics and fend off viruses, spyware and other malicious software, and Microsoft even assures us that it’ll “run quietly in the background” and only intrude on your life when an action is required. You’ll also, of course, get free updates on a regular basis, and it’ll work just fine whether you use Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 — hit up the link below to grab a copy.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Software

Microsoft Security Essentials anti-virus software is now live and free originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kwikset finally adds remote locking functionality to door locks

Kwikset’s SmartKey has been lacking in intelligence for quite awhile, but at long last, the outfit has finally added a pivotal feature here at CEDIA: true remote locking and unlocking. The new remote access control solution is being dubbed SmartCode with Home Connect — an unnecessarily lengthy way of explaining how the company’s keyless locks can now communicate wirelessly with other devices. Users can also check-in on door lock status when they aren’t automatically arming / disarming, and you can initiate customized scenes upon entrance and exit in order to more accurately pretend that you’re Prince. There’s no mention of pricing, but given that you’ll need to hit up a Control4 retailer to get your hands on this puissant technology, we’d recommend bringing the bank.

Filed under: Household

Kwikset finally adds remote locking functionality to door locks originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac OS X 10.6.1 update now live

Well, that was fast — just over week after Snow Leopard officially shipped, the first update’s on the books. Nothing major in the changelog here, but we’re told Flash has been updated to a newer, more secure version. Let us know how it goes for you, eh?

Continue reading Mac OS X 10.6.1 update now live

Filed under: Software

Mac OS X 10.6.1 update now live originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone OS 3.0 bug allows deleted emails to rise from the dead

Get ready for another big glitch in iPhone OS 3.0: it seems like the Spotlight search cache doesn’t sync message status with the mail client, so you can still pull up old messages with Spotlight if you know the subject line. Yeah, that’s not okay — we just verified that the bug exists on our phones, using both POP and IMAP. We’re not sure when the search cache finally deletes emails, but it doesn’t appear to happen quickly: Matt Janssen, who discovered the bug, says he’s been able to pull up emails three or four months old. We’ve heard whispers its fixed in iPhone OS 3.1, but until there’s a confirmed fix we’ll be using the Gmail web interface, thanks. Video after the break.

Continue reading iPhone OS 3.0 bug allows deleted emails to rise from the dead

Filed under: Cellphones

iPhone OS 3.0 bug allows deleted emails to rise from the dead originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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O2 claims iPhone security patch will hit iTunes on Saturday, Apple stays silent

According to UK carrier O2, the SMS-based iPhone security hole that Charlie Miller unveiled on Black Hat this week should be patched by this weekend. An O2 spokesperson claimed the update would be pushed through iTunes this Saturday, says BBC. Apple hasn’t made a comment yet, and it’s not perfectly clear that this will be an update for iPhones worldwide, but hopefully that’s the case — the security flaw certainly isn’t geographically limited.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

O2 claims iPhone security patch will hit iTunes on Saturday, Apple stays silent originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All Weather Cellular Camera is an all weather cellular camera

Looking to bolster your home surveillance setup with something sure to survive power outages, harsh weather conditions and / or zombie invasions? Then you may want to accept no less than this new All Weather Cellular Camera now available from Brickhouse Security, which promises to provide just about everything you’d expect from a surveillance system in an entirely self-contained unit. That includes a PIR body heat-activated nightvision camera (just 1.3-megapixels, but you can’t be too picky in these cases), 50 infrared flash bulbs, a built-in tactical laser to ensure it’s pointing at just the right spot, a CompactFlash card slot to store images in case the cellular network goes down, and a 6V battery that promises to last for four to six weeks (which can be doubled with an optional second battery), to name but a few features. Naturally, none of that comes cheap and, at $599, you may want to consider a second camera to keep an eye on the first.

Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras

All Weather Cellular Camera is an all weather cellular camera originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hitachi develops biometric payment system, uses it to sell junk food

Looks like Hitachi has made some serious headway on the biometric payment system we first heard about way back in the halcyon days of 2007. According to the Mainichi Daily News, the company is currently testing its Finger Vein Authentication System internally, with the device serving as a method of payment for vending machines and the like. Once it’s proven that employees are able to get their Koala’s March and Hi-Chew without incident, the plan is to up the ante, with high precision ID systems that combine finger vein and finger print authentication systems for military use.

Filed under: Science

Hitachi develops biometric payment system, uses it to sell junk food originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Etisalat BlackBerry update was indeed spyware, RIM provides a solution

Um, yikes? An unexpected (and unwanted) surprise struck some 145,000 BlackBerry users in the UAE this time last week, when an official looking prompt coerced many of the aforesaid Etisalat customers to follow through with a software update. Rather than bringing about performance enhancements, the SS8-built app enabled the carrier to keep tabs on customers’ messages. According to RIM:

“Etisalat appears to have distributed a telecommunications surveillance application… independent sources have concluded that it is possible that the installed software could then enable unauthorized access to private or confidential information stored on the user’s smartphone. Independent sources have concluded that the Etisalat update is not designed to improve performance of your BlackBerry Handheld, but rather to send received messages back to a central server.”

Like we said, yikes. The zaniest part is that Etisalat isn’t backing down, still assuring the world that the upgrades were “required for service enhancements.” At any rate, RIM has made remarkably clear that the update wasn’t one authorized by the company, and it’s even providing an app remover for those who’d prefer their BlackBerry to be in working order and, you know, not forwarding all their email to some dude in an Etisalat supply closet. Good on you, RIM. Bad on you, Etisalat.

[Thanks, Gerald]

Read – Confirmation of spyware
Read – RIM app remover

Filed under: Cellphones

Etisalat BlackBerry update was indeed spyware, RIM provides a solution originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Freecom’s Hard Drive Secure for the businessman paranoid

It might be a butchering of English grammar — the adjective typically goes before the noun — but the Hard Drive Secure does have a pretty unique selling point to offer. The USB 2.0 drive’s security is handled by AES-encrypted RFID keycards — swiping the card once unlocks the drive, swiping it again locks it back up. Using similar technology to London’s Oyster Card, we trust Freecom has made sure their new device is not susceptible to the Mifare hack that exposed vulnerabilities in previous RFID systems. Though not yet available to purchase, the aluminum-enclosed HDD will retail for between $119 for the 500GB version and $409 for the 2TB behemoth, while in Euroland prices will range between €99 and €349.

[Via Bit Tech]

Filed under: Storage

Freecom’s Hard Drive Secure for the businessman paranoid originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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