Filed under: Tips and tricks, Internet, Security, TUAW Tips

Recently, we reported on AT&T's push to make it easier for iPhone & iPod touch users to connect to their Wi-Fi Hot Spots. One of our readers, Jamie Phelps, pointed out on his blog that AT&T's Wi-Fi service is not actually a "secure connection," as is advertised in various places on their website; we had overlooked this, and mistakenly reinforced the company's shaky claim in our post.

This brings to light an important point about wireless networks and security, however. It's really easy (and sadly all too common) to hop on to an available wireless signal in your office, at the hotel, or your favorite coffee spot and not even think twice about logging in to your e-mail or checking your bank balance.

What many users don't realize is even though the server you are connecting to (i.e. your bank's website) may employ several layers of security, the connection between your computer and the wireless access point is very likely to be unsecured. Anyone who is within range of your computer can trivially monitor the traffic being sent between your computer and the access point, allowing them to see what websites you may be visiting or capture details about other services that you may be connected to. This isn't because of some gaping vulnerability or software bug, it's just an inherent part of how wireless networks work.

So, what can you do to protect yourself? Read on for a list of simple steps you can take to ensure that your wireless connection is safe and secure.

Continue reading Staying Safe: securing your wireless connection

TUAWStaying Safe: securing your wireless connection originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted under Cameras, Computers, GPS Navi, Gadgets, Monitors, Notebooks, PC Accessories, Printers, Scanners, iPod

The BenQ Joybook Lite U102 is the company’s latest netbook computer which is designed specially for students and mobile professionals. This portable mini laptop is powered by an Intel Atom N270/N280 processor and features a 10.1-inch WSVGA LED backlit display with 1024 x 600 resolution, a 1GB RAM, a 250GB HDD, a 1.3-megapixel webcam, 3G, WiFi, a 4-in-1 card reader, 3x USB ports and Windows XP OS. Sadly, there’s no word on pricing so far.

[PCLaunches via Laptop Notebook News]

Posted under Cameras, Computers, GPS Navi, Gadgets, Monitors, Notebooks, PC Accessories, Printers, Scanners, iPod

Apple released already a new iPhone Software Update to developers. The new version is iPhone 3.1 and has been released as beta to iPhone developers. There are several new features in iPhone 3.1 that have already surfaced. The iPhone 3.1 will let you sav...

Posted under Cameras, Computers, GPS Navi, Gadgets, Monitors, Notebooks, PC Accessories, Printers, Scanners, iPod

The highly anticipated Samsung Jet S8000 has finally reached Korea. This new smartphone will be available in three different versions: Samsung W850, Samsung W8500 and Samsung W8550. All three handsets are actually the same, but they have different names for the carriers they’ll be available on: SK Telecom, KTF and LG Telecom. So here are the specs, you’ll find a 3.5-inch WVGA AMOLED display, a 5MP autofocus camera, Samsung’s latest TouchWiz 2.0 UI, a media player, a DMB support, GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. The handset will be sold for 800,000 KRW ($630).

[Unwiredview via Upcoming Cell Phones]

Posted under Cameras, Computers, GPS Navi, Gadgets, Monitors, Notebooks, PC Accessories, Printers, Scanners, iPod

Are you rich and short about 16GB of storage? Buddy, have I got a product for you. The SolidAlliance Mnemosyne USB drive is a beautifully designed little object that not only looks money, but stores your deepest, chromiest secrets (or mp3s). What’s the catch, you ask? No catch! Unless you consider a price tag of $10,000 a catch.

Yes, like many pieces of excellent design (and, of course, many pieces of terrible design), the Mnemosyne is so overpriced as to be relegated to the position of status symbol. Aside from its colossal MSRP, there are some other problems. It will, of course, be a fingerprint magnet if you use it at all. And honestly, 16GB is a little skimpy for ten grand.

I’m sure they could contact Guinness if they wanted to and get the record for most expensive USB drive, but the peasants who that record would impress aren’t exactly their target demographic! HA HA HA! (rich guy laugh)

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go sail around on my solid gold schooner, the “Galleon.” Get it — galleon? HA HA HA! Collar up!

[via Akihabara News]

Posted under Cameras, Computers, GPS Navi, Gadgets, Monitors, Notebooks, PC Accessories, Printers, Scanners, iPod

Let’s be clear: it was his prerogative to put his race in the advert. I’m just repeating what I heard. But let’s also be honest. Say you wanted soccer (football) lessons. Given two identical ads on Craigslist, would you go with a guy born and raised in Brazil or some local yokel? I realize this is a sticky issue for potential Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor, but for us it’s less of a problem. The Brazil guy, am I right? Because he’s more likely to have been immersed in soccer culture from birth and to have played since childhood, developing skills people like me think only exist in Shaolin Soccer.

Thus, Mr. ByunTae’s reasoning in including his genetic makeup and upbringing in an ad for training someone at a video game. Because Korea is the be-all and end-all of Starcraft.

Sure, we’ve got our own, more official courses, but how can you resist one-on-one tutoring on such topics as:

Muta stacking
Lurker stop and stacking
Cloacked zergling
Learn Korean lango, like “chobo” “gosu” “ww” etc
Advanced micro/macro management (able to stand off 12 zerglings with just 3 zealots or fend off 18 zealots with just 4 cannons) <- EXTREME SKILL

Sounds pretty serious, and for $20-$35/hour, you’d better be serious too. I think a lot of these skills will carry over to Starcraft II as well, so you’re getting kind of a bargain here. Bay Area only, unfortunately.

I’m especially intrigued by the promise that “Korean girls will be intrigued that you’re such a good Starcraft player.” That’d be good, because my “blogger” lines are starting to wear thin on that variety.

Posted under Cameras, Computers, GPS Navi, Gadgets, Monitors, Notebooks, PC Accessories, Printers, Scanners, iPod

Got one of those Texas Instruments graphing calculators? This nifty little program for  TI-83+SE, TI-84+, and TI-84+SE calculators lets you play Nintendo Game Boy games instead of doing your math problems.

Written by Brendan Fletcher (aka “calc84maniac”), TI-Boy SE is a Game Boy emulator that runs on TI’s Z-80 based graphing calculators thanks to similarities between the CPUs of the two systems. The emulator includes three zoom modes, two sprite tracking modes, grayscale or black-and-white palettes, two-channel sound and even can save and load games. Right now it only supports a handful of games, including Tetris, Zelda – Link’s Awakening and Kirby along with homebrew games. Emulation speed is a bit choppy, but what do you expect for an Alpha 0.0.2 version number. I’m sure that TI-Boy will only get better and faster with time.

Here’s a video of an early build of TI-Boy SE running Link’s Awakening in all its greyscale glory…

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

If you’ve got a TI-8x calculator, head on over to GameboyDev and grab the installer. There’s plenty of good discussion going on over on the Omnimaga forums too.

[via Ben Heck Forums]

Posted under Cameras, Computers, GPS Navi, Gadgets, Monitors, Notebooks, PC Accessories, Printers, Scanners, iPod

Did you know you can switch tabs in Firefox by making a twisting motion with your fingers on a multi-touch surface? I did. Turns out I’ve been doing it for months — I thought I was late to the party and was too ashamed to mention it to anybody for fear of an epic internet ribbing (”What, you just figured that out?”). But no, apparently it was top secret and highly experimental. That was in the beta, though; it looks like the official version has reduced it to a hack. Fortunately, mastering this multi-touch-enabling technique will allow you to tweak your gestures, resulting in everlasting glory.

• Simply open a new tab (I’ll wait) —
• Put “about:config” in the address bar, no quotes. It’ll ask you if you’re sure. Yes, you are. You are okay.
• Ready? Okay, now type “twist” into the search box.
• Double-click on the twist right, and put “Browser:NextTab” into the box, without the quotes.
• Theeen, in twist left, put “Browser:PrevTab” without the quotes.
• You’re done! Now, I found the gesture (it applies immediately, try putting one finger down and rotating another around it) to be a bit slow to respond, so I changed that other setting, the threshold one, from its default (25) to 10. You can mess around and figure out what’s best for you.

See, tweaking is easy! If you’re afraid you’ve ruined something, just right-click (or “context menu click”) on any box you’ve modified and hit reset.

Curiosity piqued? Type “gesture” into the search box and try modifying a few of those settings. I don’t particularly like the twist, so I’m about to set tab switching to three-fingered swipes. Aren’t we just having so much fun?

[thanks to Rafael for the tip and original instructions]

Posted under Cameras, Computers, GPS Navi, Gadgets, Monitors, Notebooks, PC Accessories, Printers, Scanners, iPod

Jabra is famous for its Bluetooth headsets. This time, the company released Jabra Go 6400 and Pro 9400 Bluetooth headsets that come with a charging dock for convenience with a touchcreen display. The 6400 features a standard Bluetooth range and looks exactly like a Bluetooth headset from Jabra, meanwhile the 9400 looks like a receptionist’s headset that you can take around your house at up to a 450-foot range. Both headsets have dual-microphones for noise cancellation and the touchscreen that allows you to quickly switch between a cellphone, VoIP or landline connections. The Jabra Go 6400 and Pro 9400 Bluetooth headsets are priced at $200 each.

[Gizmodo]

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Oh boy. I’ve found a reason to charge my Pre back from the dead. ZodTTD, purveyor of iPhone emulators galore, has struck again by installing psx4all on his Palm Pre. Surprisingly enough, Zod says the Pre’s hardware runs the emulator way better than the iPhone 3GS. But it’s not all peaches and cream.

Posted under Cameras, Computers, GPS Navi, Gadgets, Monitors, Notebooks, PC Accessories, Printers, Scanners, iPod