Researchers Find Phone Apps Sending Data Without Notification - Great App Name -

DURHAM, N.C. -- Flicking through a wallpaper app with backgrounds of Mickey Mouse and a tropical waterfall, Peter Gilbert gets a plain, black and white text notification on his smartphone.

A third of the way down the screen it says, "Taint: Phone Number, IMEI, ICCID (sim card identifier)." The message alerts Gilbert that the wallpaper app has sent his phone's number and other identifying information to imnet.us. Checking online, it appears the address is a website in Shenzhen, China.

The notification came from TaintDroid, a prototype extension to the Android mobile-phone platform designed to identify apps that transmit private data. The phone-based tool monitors how applications access and use privacy sensitive data, such as location, microphone, camera and phone numbers, and provides feedback within seconds of using a newly installed app

http://news.duke.edu/2010/09/TaintDroid.html

Kundra sets new IPv6 deadlines -

FTA:

• Upgrade the servers and services the public uses, such as Web, e-mail and Domain Name System servers, to use native IPv6 by the end of fiscal 2012.
• Upgrade internal client applications that communicate with public Internet servers and supporting enterprise networks to use native IPv6 by the end of fiscal 2014.
• Designate an IPv6 transition manager by Oct. 30 as the person responsible for leading the agency’s transition activities.
• Ensure that agency procurements of networked IT comply with Federal Acquisition Regulation requirements for using the USGv6 profile and testing program for the completeness and quality of IPv6 capabilities.

One of the greatest challenges DREN faced was the lack of commercial network management tools that adequately supported IPv6, Broersma said. Many products that claimed to be IPv6-compliant lacked critical functionality and implemented the support in different ways. That was a concern echoed by industry and government representatives at the workshop.

Mohan said that when Afilias was implementing IPv6 on its networks, it found a “remarkable difference” in the way equipment processed IPv6 packets. The packets were processed in software rather than hardware, resulting in slower performance and requiring the use of banks of appliances rather than single tools to provide the performance needed.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology encountered the same problem when it was developing a technology profile for IPv6 compliance, said Doug Montgomery, manager of NIST's Internet and Scalable Systems Metrology Group.

One of the gaping holes was the lack of network security devices, he said. The USGv6 testing program is expected to help correct that by establishing a baseline of support that is required from vendors selling to the government.

http://washingtontechnology.com/Articles/2010/09/28/Kundra-sets-new-IPv6-deadlines.aspx

No more Xmarks!? No!! |

Nice piece - 

The nugget: Twitter, and other popular services and programs that don't have a business plan, should take note. Popular success doesn't mean money in the bank. Sometimes it doesn't even mean being able to keep a roof over your head.

I can only hope that someone will come along and invest in Xmarks and work out a real business plan for it. It would be a shame for this wonderful program and service to disappear.

http://m.zdnet.com/blog/networking/no-more-xmarks-no/192

From the developer of WriteRoom - PlainText Dropbox text editing for iPad & iPhone -

Simple, awesome, FREE. 

For editing text on iPad & iPhone. PlainText is a simple text editor with a paper-like user interface. Unlike the default Notes app, PlainText allows you to create and organize your documents in folders and sync everything with Dropbox.com. Requires iOS 3.0+

http://www.hogbaysoftware.com/products/plaintext

Xmarks service ends January 2011 -

Huge bummer... 

Date: September 28, 2010 6:40:47 PM EDT

Subject: PLEASE READ: Xmarks service ends January 2011

Dear Xmarks User,

We've always said we won't email you unless it's important; this is one of those occasions:

Xmarks will be shutting down our free browser synchronization services on January 10, 2011. For details on how to transition to recommended alternatives, consult this page.

For the full story behind the Xmarks shutdown, please read our blog post.

Thank you for being a part of the Xmarks community; we apologize for any inconvenience this step may cause you. We believe we have the best users in the world, and we hope your bookmarks find a new and happy home soon.

Asynchronously,

— The Xmarks Team

DigiFAIL.com - Hacking the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector

http://www.digifail.com/text/wfchack.shtml

Desperation move?

Nokia Paying $10M For Symbian Software Devs 

colordev writes "Yesterday Nokia and AT&T announced a mobile software coding contest worth $10 million in prize money. The move is intended to help Symbian compete with Android and iOS. The day before this announcement, Sony Ericsson said it would not be making any new Symbian devices and is instead focusing on Android. That left Nokia pretty much alone with Symbian, and now it wants to find new coding 'friends' to keep the platform alive. Natural selection seems to be slowly eroding Symbian's future. Is this contest too late?

Retina Wallpapers HD –

Great iPhone Wallpapers App 

Retina Wallpapers HD is one of the best wallpaper apps I've seen – and certainly the best one I've seen for iPhone 4 and high-rez images. Here's just a little slice of its App Store description: ...

National Summit on Planning & Implementing the 20 Critical Security Controls

https://1105govinfoevents.com/EventOverview.aspx?Event=CSC09

NPR.org » Seeing The Internet As An 'Information Weapon'

Interesting piece. Well worth the read (or listen).

http://m.npr.org/story/130052701

Cool -

App Store Now Allows Ringtone Making Apps & I'm Using an Old Favorite 

Well well … here's another cool result of Apple's recent changes to App Store review ab=nd acceptance policies: ringtone making apps are now allowed in the store.

My old school favorite ringtone app was iPhoneRingToneMaker from the guys at Gx-5 (used to be Efiko Software). Their latest creation (or offspring of iPhoneRingToneMaker) is called Best Ringtone Maker. I'm very glad to see it in the App Store, and I've been giving it a whirl this ...

Hmmm...

TK-421 abandons his post, brings us this flip-out QWERTY case for iPhone 

Nuu Mini Key didn't satisfy your desire for a physical keyboard on your iPhone? Try this TK-421 QWERTY case instead, which sexes up the formula with a swiveling package that hearkens back to the T-Mobile Sidekick. There's still no extra battery life to be had here, and yes, the keypad connects via Bluetooth, but we're willing to sacrifice a good bit for a totally awesome hinge and a dedicated number row. Invented, designed and sold by ThinkGeek, gadget stocking stuffer seller extraordinaire, the unit's priced at a very reasonable $50. Shame it's not slated to ship till "mid-November" and only then in limited quantities, else we'd snap up two right now. Watch that screen spin right round after the ...

Just Another iPhone Blog

iRovr Is Back & in the App Store Now 

iRovr is a social network aimed exclusively at iPhone and iOS device users. It used to be a web app back in old school iPhone days, it faded away for a time, and now it's back with a full-blown native app. ...

Behold,

The "point your iPhone at a plane and know where it's headed" app! 

I haven't downloaded this yet, just noting the buzz around the blogs today: Plane Finder AR is an iPhone augmented reality app that promises to identify the origin and destination of any plane you might point your phone toward, overhead in the sky. A quick peek at the app's entry in the iTunes store shows some very upset user reactions: the $2.99 app only works with planes carrying ADS-B equipment, and only in areas where the app developer has equipment in place to read those signals. Sounds like Australia is the only country so far with full ADS-B coverage. Again, the developer is not using FAA data, so caveat downloader. ...

Nice...

Etch A Sketch iPad Case – The Coolest Case Ever? 

Could this be the coolest iPad case ever? I think so. We all remember the days of our youth spent drooling over the glorious Etch A Sketch – a toy which allowed users to compose brilliant designs in a unique and fun way. Now, with the iPad on the scene, the Etch A Sketch has moved to one side – allowing a rather different "magical and revolutionary" device to take its place. But, that doesn't mean it's ...

Sad...

Mouse-Over Exploit Hits Twitter.com [Security]

A JavaScript exploit has allowed all kinds of not-at-all-safe-for-work sites to pop up sites and text through Twitter.com, and force a re-tweet, even if all a user does is move their mouse over a particular link. Update: It's been fixed. ...

Sweet -

VLC arrives on the iPad, iPhone version coming up! 

Filed under: Video, iPhone

VLC lovers, rejoice! Well, VLC lovers who own an iPad, anyway. Applidium has announced that VLC for iPad has been approved and is now available for download from the App Store. ...

Worth it? -

AIDACASE KeyCase Folio Deluxe for iPad Bluetooth keyboard case review 

We were expecting a flood of iPad-oriented Bluetooth keyboards to hit the second Apple announced that its tablet would support them, but it's basically been crickets so far -- except for the AIDACASE KeyCase Folio Deluxe, which we first saw hit the FCC in April and is now finally shipping. But after all the wait, is it actually worth $100 to lug this thing around with your iPad? We've been testing a review unit -- head past the break to find ...

Promising -

Parallels' Windows virtualization goes mobile with iOS app 

There's already a number of options available to virtually run Windows applications on your iPhone or iPad (even ESPN is doing it), but users of the recently released Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac now have what looks to be a particularly seamless option at their disposal. That comes in the form of Parallels Mobile, which will work on the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, and will let you access any virtual Windows machine running on a Mac that's using Parallels Desktop 6. Head on past the break to check it out in action, and go grab the app in the App Store right now -- it's free, but you'll have to shell out $80 for its desktop ...

Flipboard Updated –

Many New Improvements Made 

The popular iPad app, Flipboard (which is flippin' good, by the way), has recently received a great update which is available now in iTunes.

As our top-tipster, @Scobleizer, informs us: the update improves performance and fixes a variety of bugs. Now, up to twenty-one sections may be added to your personal Flipboard. Additionally, the new version (1.0.2) is quicker to launch and it'll auto-refresh when new content is available. ...

Lifehacker -

Record Paint Type on Light Switch Covers for Easy Touch-Up Paint Ordering [Painting] 

You spent a lot of time picking out the perfect paint for your project. Why risk losing the name and number that make it so simple to order touch-up paint? Record it on the back of the switch plate. ...

Best Buy CEO:

Apple iPad cannibalizing up to 50% of laptops

Forget netbooks, Apple's iPad is not only crushing that category, but is also making potential laptop buyers think twice about buying their next product. In a conversation with the Wall Street Journal, Best Buy CEO, Brian Dunn, said that the iPad "had cannibalized sales from laptop PCs by as much as 50%." That's a ridiculously high number, and it seems even more insane when you realize that Best Buy doesn't even have iPads in every location. That's next on the list though, as Best Buy is planning on carrying both Apple iPad models in all 1,093 stores beginning September 26th. Guess what the must-have tech gadget will be this holiday ...

Pano Updated –

Support For Retina Display Added

Pano, the iPhone application which allows users to take panoramic photos with ease, has just received a great update. The new version (4.0.4) now brings support for the Retina display, which means the app will look crisp on both the fourth-gen iPod touch and iPhone ...

iPhone App Review:

Powwownow is an essential business app 

Powwownow is just the right iPhone app to make conference calls fuss-free and efficient. With it, we can access mobile conference at no cost besides the call cost which would be part of our normal phone bill. We can schedule calls according to our need and convenience. The app makes sure that we don't miss out on any calls, for we can set automatic call ...

Quick Tip:

Using the Apple Wireless Keyboard with your iPhone, iPod, and iPad

(Image courtesy Apple, Inc.)

Back in 2007, when the original iPhone was introduced, I was rocking out my Treo 650 and had pretty much dismissed the iPhone as a serious replacement, largely because there was no physical keyboard. Of course, as most iPhone owners have found out, the soft keyboard actually does a phenomenal job of overcoming both its own inherent shortcomings and those of its users. However, for long typing tasks, I still found myself reaching for my old, trusty laptop and its full keyboard. With Apple's recent announcement of support for Bluetooth keyboards in its more recent devices, I decided to try the Apple Wireless Keyboard with my iPhone 4 to see how well it would work. ...

Beta release -

Print from the iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch with Apple's Airprint 

Apple announced that its releasing a beta version of Airprint wireless printing for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch as part of the iOS Develope Program. The service will be included in the iOS 4.2 software update in November.  

Itsy -

Itsy Is a Simple, Minimalist Twitter Application for Your Mac [Downloads] 

Mac OS X: If you're looking for a simple Twitter desktop application without the bulk, Itsy is a free, barebones option for your Mac.

Itsy is super simple. You just log in and up comes your Twitter feed. You can switch between the main feed, @ replies, and direct messages. Itsy also supports search and, of course, posting. It sits in a tiny little window on your screen and keeps out of your way. If you want to show and hide it, it has a little menubar icon to do just that. Itsy is completely free and a nice way to manage your daily Twitter needs without too much ...

Beyond FISMA: State Dept.'s Next Gen Metric - Interview with John Streufert, State Department Deputy CIO and CISO

To get a peak as to how IT security will be measured after FISMA, take a look at what's happening at Foggy Bottom.

The State Department in 2006 instituted its Risk Scoring Program, which is aimed at pinpointing and correcting the worst vulnerabilities on any particular day on any of its worldwide systems and networks.

John Streufert, the State Department deputy chief information officer and chief information security officer, says in an interview with GovInfoSecurity.com that the daily monitoring of IT vulnerabilities under Risk Scoring truly measures systems and network security as compared with the once-every-three-year assessment required by the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002. Because of Risk Scoring, overall risk on State's key unclassified network has plunged by more than 80 percent in the past year.

http://www.govinfosecurity.com/podcasts.php?podcastID=276

Lovely Apple Rumor of the Day –

FaceTime Coming to Macs and PCs

Apple plans to extend FaceTime video chat beyond the latest iPhone and iPod touch, bringing compatibility with both Macs and PCs, according to a new rumor.

French Apple site Mac4Ever reported Friday (Google translation) that Apple is working on FaceTime clients for both Mac and PC. The site claimed that the Mac version of FaceTime will be built in to its existing iChat ...

How to

Archive Twitter

How to Archive Twitter is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

A few weeks ago, I hosted the tenth – and likely final – Gnomedex conference. I was a bit depressed to find that no one had archived the hundreds of tweets that flew around the Internet with the official #gnomedex hashtag. Beth emailed me the other night to tell me that she had, indeed, archived these tweets using a new tool called The Archivist. This application is a powerful and simple way to archive and analyze all of the tweets that matter to ...

GameBone -

An Update on the Upcoming GameBone Controller Accessory

Last year we posted early details surrounding the forthcoming iPhone game controller accessory from 22moo, the GameBone, which will offer official iOS 4 support (read: no jailbreak necessary). The accessory-maker has recently posted additional details on the item to their ...

Flickr

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/charles_mangin/2528154703/

=?cp932?Q?There=81fs_Stupid_Trash_Talking,_?=

Then There's Microsoft Trash Talking 

Lots of trash talking ends up looking pretty dumb.  Then there's Microsoft trash talking, which takes dumb to a whole new level.  After all, their CEO famously predicted just before the original iPhone's launch that the there was no chance the iPhone would gain any significant market share.  ...

Get yours now -

Apple terminating free case program September 30

This afternoon, on Apple's official iPhone 4 Case Program website, the company released the following statement:

We now know that the iPhone 4 antenna attenuation issue is even smaller than we originally thought. A small percentage of iPhone 4 users need a case, and we want to continue providing them a Bumper case for free. For everyone else, we are discontinuing the free case program on all iPhone 4s sold after September 30, 2010. We are also returning to our normal returns policy for all iPhone 4s sold after September 30. Users experiencing antenna issues should call AppleCare to request a free Bumper ...

Brew Your Pictures

With Percolator

Brew Your Pictures With Percolator is a post from Chris Pirillo

I have been having a great time using Percolator on my iPhone lately. You can use the app to turn any photo into a seriously cool multi-color mosaic. Open it up and mix up new color palettes for all of your designs… and add more style to your old typography. Create new patterns for your websites, page layouts or illustrations. Heck, you can even use this in conjunction with other photo apps. The only real limits to what you can come up with are the ones created by the rock sitting on your ...

New iPod touch

has vibration motor

FCC pictures of the brand new iPod touch's internal tech show that the device has a vibrating motor inside of it. According to Apple, the motor will be used with FaceTime, but presumably, it'll work when any app calls for vibration. That should help for gaming -- neither the DS nor the PSP has any sort of vibration feedback, and that's a feature that has become more or less standard on game ...

iMovie iPhone App

Updated

The iPhone iMovie app has been updated today, to Version 1.1.  Here's what's new in this version:

• Compatible with iPod touch (4th generation).

• Ability to split video clips. ...

=?cp932?Q?What=81fs_New_in_iOS_4.1=3F_?=

Get it now!

What's New in iOS 4.1? Get it now! is a post from Chris Pirillo

Via Apple, this update contains improvements, including the following:

* Game Center:

Send and receive friend requestsInvite friends to multi-player games over the InternetPlay multi-player games by auto-matching with other playersView Leaderboards and AchievementsDiscover new games from ...

Tiniest USB drive. EVAR.

LaCie MosKeyto
USB Flash Drive
4GB $17.99
or
8GB $27.99

 
Ultra–small USB key – extends only 6 mm out of your laptop
Up to 8GB storage
Just plug it—and forget it
Secure online storage with Wuala included

http://www.lacie.com/us/products/product.htm?pid=11546

iPhone 101:

Using Ping on your iPhone

Along with the desktop version of Ping, you can also utilize Apple's new social network on your iPhone. It's actually proven to be my favorite method of using the service.

However, Apple does make it a bit difficult. At this time, you can't activate a Ping account from your phone -- it must be done through iTunes 10. Otherwise, you'll get the lovely message as seen in our screenshot gallery. Once you get Ping activated, it integrates nicely with the existing mobile iTunes. ...

Mashable - 12 iPhone Apps For Exploring the Great Outdoors

For much of the world, the beginning of fall means that warm, comfortable hiking weather is coming to an end. In other words, it's time to start saving up fresh air for a winter of avoiding the outdoors.

There are people who consider their outdoor excursions a refreshing escape from technology. And then there are iPhone users, who consider the outdoors yet another perfect venue to show off their mobile tech. 

http://bit.ly/cwJdfM

Very Cool.

iPhone 4 gets stuffed inside Canon SLR body

While it's far from the most practical of ideas, people just can't seem to stop trying to make their iPhones more SLR-like. Joining that illustrious group is one Aniebres who, typos aside, has built one of the most impressive contraptions to date. We're still waiting to see what the end results look like, but the hardware side of things looks to be surprisingly solid, with the iPhone 4 slotting in with a satisfying click, while the entire lens mechanism has been shifted over to line up with the iPhone's camera (and make room for an Apple sticker). Head on past the break for a quick video of the ...

BSOFH Interview Questions - layer8.itsecuritygeek.com

So while I was passed out last night, it seems Los Twitteros were busy
helping me out.  I complained that I was having trouble coming up with
interview questions for a new candidate, so a large number of them
went to town.  BSOFHs don't cry, but they do occasionally suffer from
an overflow of vitreous humor.  Thanks, guys.

http://layer8.itsecuritygeek.com/layer8/bsofh-interview-questions/

New Flight Tracking App

Is Simple, But Useful

Tracking departing and arriving flights has never been easier thanks to a new app from Rakapps.com.

Flight Status – Free is a universal app available now for the iPad and iPhone/iPod touch. ...