Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Nokia "definitely" preparing Linux-based phones, flavor unknown

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/294512251/

With Nokia's dedication to Maemo and the recent Trolltech acquisition, it's no secret that Espoo has its eyes firmly locked on the Linux prize -- but outside the whole Internet Tablet phenomenon, there hasn't been a lot of product to show for it. Looks like that's all about to change, with CFO Rick Simonson commenting this week that the company will "definitely" be releasing some Linux-based cellphones in the future, marking a pretty big move for a company with strong tradition in its long-lived Series 40 dumbphone and S60 smartphone platforms. Simonson refused to get into the nitty gritty details about what flavor of mobile Linux would be used; borrowing from its tablets might make sense, but the Android and LiMo juggernauts seem like they're going to be pretty hard to ignore as well -- not to mention that Google is said to have chatted briefly about Android with Nokia in the not-too-distant past. So what does this all mean? Is S60 Touch in danger here?

[Via Thumb Report]

Update: A closer look-see at Reuters' report (ignoring the misleading headline) indicates that Nokia has not specifically committed to rolling out Linux on phones -- rather, it has simply said that it intends to expand its use of Linux across its product portfolio. We figure that handsets are bound to get swept into the mix at some point, but technically, we could just be looking at other kinds of devices. Always room for another Internet Tablet or three, we suppose. Thanks, Eric!

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Phlashing PDOS firmware attack could permanently disable hardware

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/294598511/

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Networking

You know all that network hardware that runs quietly 24 hours a day in server rooms around the world? What if black-hats could exploit remote firmware flashing utilities to take over -- or completely destroy -- vulnerable gear? Though still theoretical, PDOS -- permanent denial-of-service -- attacks will be demonstrated by researchers from HP Security Labs at the EUSecWest security conference in London this week. "Phlashing", as it's being referred to, focuses on exploiting network-enabled firmware updates, making use of a fuzzing tool that tricks hardware into flashing anything from back-door access to a corrupt image, causing complete and permanent hardware failure. There's no reason to panic just yet (especially not when it comes to consumer devices, which typically don't support remote firmware updates), but given the amount of unattended and relatively dormant enterprise network hardware out there, this could be something for admins to seriously think about.

[Via Slashdot]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

N-trig shows off pen input-capable DuoSense multi-touch display

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/294522162/

Filed under: Displays

It seems like there isn't a week that goes by these days that we don't see another multi-touch display (homebrew or otherwise), and you can now add one more contender to the growing ranks, with N-trig set to debut its new DuoSense system at the SID International Symposium in Los Angeles this week. This one adds pen input capabilities to the usual array of multi-touch features, as well as the somewhat unique ability for multiple people to use the display simultaneously, which N-trig says makes the system ideal for gaming applications. N-trig also boasts that the technology works on "large format displays," but that apparently maxes out at a not-exceptionally-large 22-inches at the moment. Head on past the break for a video of the rig in action.

Continue reading N-trig shows off pen input-capable DuoSense multi-touch display

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

DIY'er creates 56-inch multi-touch display

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/294688812/

Filed under: Displays

It seems like the multi-touch revolution that's happening right now is really bringing out the DIY'ers -- and this latest feat of hackery is right up there with the best of them. Christopher Jette has created a massive, 56-inch multi-touch display in his spare time using a box that resembles an old rear-projection TV, 168 infrared LEDs, and some serious elbow grease. The LEDs dot the perimeter of the screen and create a field of IR light which is scattered when touched, a webcam mounted at the back of the display picks up the movement and translates it to input. If you've got some time on your hands, there are instructions available for recreating the experiment, or you can just sit back and watch it in action in the video after the break.

[Via Hack a Day]

Continue reading DIY'er creates 56-inch multi-touch display

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

$5,000 Dior phone: so upscale it doesn't require specs

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/294867819/

Filed under: Cellphones

Look, we're not Russian oil tycoons with a taste for trophy wives one-third our age. That's true. Nevertheless, no matter how hard we try, we just can't understand how spending $5,000 on these new Christian Dior phones will substantially increase our lot in life. Then again, we're afraid of robots. The new line of boutique phones manufactured in partnership with ModeLabs feature a touchscreen display, camera, and novel, mini-phone extender dubbed My Dior (pictured after the break). About the size of a USB key, My Dior is meant to clip onto the outside of your wo/man bag thus avoiding any frantic rummaging when the favorable divorce settlement call finally arrives. Sorry, that's about as detailed as the specification list gets... not that specs matter when couture is at stake.

[Via Textually]

Continue reading $5,000 Dior phone: so upscale it doesn't require specs

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments