Author: Serkadis

One of our most-solid BlackBerry connects has just dropped word that internally, RIM is starting to work on OS 6.0.

We can’t reveal details about the OS at this time, but in addition to molding what is OS 6.0, we also know that RIM is working on OS 5.2 which should debut sometime this year. Logical upgrade paths? Definitely. Let’s hope it won’t just be more evolutionary RIM madness, though. More as we get it…

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Disgruntled Italian workers received an unexpected support from Pope Benedict himself last Sunday, after his Holiness addressed the economic situation during his weekly Angelus blessing. Although, as usual, the Pope’s backing only came in the form of general, vague pieces of advice, strongly catholic workers now feel entitled to demand employers to hear the Pope’s calling.

"The economic crisis is causing the loss of many jobs and this calls for a huge sense of responsibility by everyone… (read more)

This month we have another great giveaway from one of my favorite companies, DKcat. One lucky reader will take home a sleek, handmade DKcat scratching post. Just like all DKcat products, the scratching post uses natural, durable materials that are eco-friendly, such as reclaimed wood and natural sisal rope. All of DKcat’s designs are clean and modern but also functional for kitties. The winner will get to choose one of four finish combos: chocolate + tan, blonde + tan, blonde + grey, or blonde + stripes.

EXTRA CHANCE TO WIN!

To enter the monthly giveaway, make sure you’re signed-up to receive Moderncat updates via email. If you’re already getting the updates but you’d like an EXTRA chance to win this month, please leave a comment on this post. The drawing will take place on February 28. Complete details on the monthly giveaway here. This giveaway includes shipping to the continental US. Readers outside the continental US may enter if they are willing to pay the extra shipping costs.

Continue reading Apple iPad rumor roundup: Abraham Zapruder edition

Apple iPad rumor roundup: Abraham Zapruder edition originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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American motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson has extended its bike exchange trade-in program launched last December through February 28, 2010. The incentive program offers customers who trade-in an eligible non-Harley-Davidson brand motorcycle a credit of $500 above the dealer-negotiated trade-in value for the purchase price of a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

If the bike in your garage is not the bike in your head, this offer makes it a little easier to purchase the bike of your dreams,… (read more)

Sony seems to believe in the power of pink PSPs. Not even four weeks after giving us the PSP-3000 Blossom Pink, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan today announced [JP] another pink PSP for the Japanese market. Dubbed “Jill Stuart Sweet Limited Package”, this new special edition was designed in collaboration with American fashion Jill Stuart.

Buyers will get exactly that Blossom Pink PSP linked to above, a 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo (Mark2), an AC adapter, a pouch and cloth designed by Jill Stuart, and an extra-cute box that makes this limited edition deserve its name.

The Jill Stuart Sweet Limited Package is scheduled to hit stores on March 4 for $230. It’s Japan-only, but specialized online game shops, for example Play Asia, should be able to ship the box outside Japan, too.

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Who says a guitar needs strings to rock out? The new Misa Digital Guitar has a very cool touchscreen control and sounds great.

The Misa runs on open-source Linux, so it’s geek approved. It’s essentially a MIDI controller with 24 frets and a large multifunctional touchscreen that interfaces with the software on your computer.

No strings mean no tuning. It also means a variety of musical effects can be built into the experience. As the Misa website says: “The right hand doesn’t pluck strings, it controls sound.”

Here’s a demo to show you how good it sounds:

You can check out more at Misa Digital.

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Filed under: iPhone, App Store, SDK

It’s been nearly a week now since Apple lifted the restrictions against using VoIP over 3G to place calls on the iPhone. Within hours of the withdrawal of restrictions, iCall [iTunes Link] and fring [iTunes Link] both updated their backend to allow users to place calls over a 3G connection. In neither case was it even necessary to download an updated version of the app from the App Store; both iCall and fring basically just “flipped a switch” behind the scenes that allowed VoIP over 3G. After almost a week, neither app has been pulled from the App Store, so it seems VoIP over 3G is here to stay.

What about Skype? Skype is apparently “awaiting clarification” from Apple. They want to make sure the updated terms of the iPhone OS 3.2 SDK also apply to the 3.12 SDK before they submit an update. This caution from Skype is somewhat puzzling considering at least two other apps have been merrily humming along with VoIP over 3G enabled for almost a week without any punitive measures taken against them; fring even allows users to place VoIP calls over 3G through a Skype account. We contacted Skype three days ago to get some clarification of our own, but they haven’t got back to us.

Here’s the thing, Skype guys: if the state raises the speed limit on your local highway to 70 mph, changes all the signs, and stops pulling people over when they drive faster than 60, it’s a pretty safe bet that you can drive 70 mph now. How much more clarification do you need? In the immortal words of Alan Shepard, “Why don’t you fix your little problem and light this candle?”

TUAWSkype: Dude, where’s my 3G VoIP? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Google – Associated Press ‘saga’ drags on, but the story got an interesting twist as Yahoo announced a new agreement with the news wire agency which will allow it to host AP content on its sites under new terms for an unspecified period of time. The new deal was rumored to be coming for a couple of weeks. The actual terms are a bit vague, b… (read more)

Spanish automaker SEAT will introduce at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March the new range of Ibiza Ecomotive, an updated lineup especially aimed at cutting emissions and fuel consumption. The series will be powered by a 1.2-liter TDI engine, similar to the one installed on the Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion, which will generate 75 horsepower and 180 Nm of torque.

As for fuel consumption, preliminary figures are pointing to an amazing 3.3 liters per 100 km (71.2 mpg), with emissions going as low … (read more)

After the first 2 hours of testing on Tuesday, it is still Felipe Massa who leads the pack of drivers present at the Valencia circuit. The Brazilian was immediately on pace with his Ferrari F10 in the early stages of the morning session, as he reached the 2-hour mark of today’s meeting with the best time of 1:11.722.

Coming back to testing after a disappointing first day in Valencia, Renault’s Robert Kubica was the first to jump at the top of the timing reports in the morning, improving his … (read more)

Después de las grandes presentaciones de escuderías como Ferrari o Mercedes Grand Prix, nos quedaba ver el nuevo monoplaza de Williams F1. Finalmente esta escudería ha optado por presentar directamente en pista su nuevo vehículo y la verdad es que la mayoría de aficionados quedaron asombrados con su diseño.

El nuevo Williams F32 es un monoplaza que sigue las tendencias de los demás monoplazas de la temporada 2010 en la Fórmula 1, morro alto y más alargado. Cabe destacar que cuenta con dos pequeñas entradas de aire auxiliares.

También, y siguiendo la tendencia de varios equipos, los retrovisores se han colocado en los deflectores que hay a la altura de las entradas de aire de los radiadores. Por otra parte, el primer piloto en probarlo ha sido Rubens Barrichello y no lo ha hecho nada mal.

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In a somewhat surprising move, the end of last week brought what may be the beginning of a shift in power within Porsche’s board. 69-year old Hans-Peter Porsche decided to step down following the end of the annual general meeting, while Sheikh Jassim Bin Abdulaziz Bin Jassim Al-Thani, representing Qatar Holding, will take his place in the carmaker’s supervisory board. The Sheikh will stay on the Porsche board for four years, the remainder of Hans-Peter Porsche’ appointment.

Sheikh Jassim Bin… (read more)

The premium German automotive producer BMW has decided to build a research and development (R&D) center in China, in an effort to adapt to the local buyer’ specific demands, as China Daily reports.

The R&D center will be located in the northeastern city of Shenyang. BMW is already present there, as the city is the headquarters of the company’s joint venture with its Chinese partner Brilliance China Auto. The facility will not only be used to develop products for the Chinese market, but it wi… (read more)

Depression, a mental illness that is often characterized by prolonged periods of sadness and melancholy, experts from the field of psychiatry say.

But just because one person is moping around and just generally hating the world around him or her, doesn’t mean that it’s already depression, but if this kind of behavior, the feeling of emptiness, loss of self-worth and absolutely no hope for happiness just goes on and on, then, yes, that individual is very much, indeed, depressed.

Still, there are various types of depression, from Manic or Bipolar depression – characterized by sudden and extreme changes in one’s mood wherein one minute he or she is in an elevated state of euphoria while the next minute (day or week) he or she is feeling to be in a personal hell, Postpartum depression – characterized by a prolonged sadness and a feeling of emptiness by a new mother wherein physical stress during child birth, an uncertain sense of responsibility towards the new born baby can be just some of the possible factors why some new mother go through this, Dysthimia – characterized by a slight similarity with depression, although this time, it’s been proven to be a lot less severe, but of course with any case, should be treated immediately, Cyclothemia – characterized by a slight similarity with Manic or Bipolar depression wherein the individual suffering from this mental illness may occasionally suffer from severe changes in one’s moods, Seasonal Affective Disorder – characterized by falling in a rut only during specific seasons (i.e. Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall) studies however, prove that more people actually fall in to a rut more during the WInter and Fall seasons and lastly, Mood swings, wherein a person’s mood may shift from happy to sad to angry in just a short time.

Clinical depression however, or as some might call as ‘major’ depression, is actually the medical term for depression. Actually clinical depression is more of a disorder rather than an illness since it basically covers only those who are suffering from symptoms related to depression. Clinical depression is how doctors usually refer to “depression” when giving a diagnose of their patient. It’s basically just a medical term.

However, in spite of being an actual disorder, Clinical depression may well be treated. Doctors are actually highly optimistic that their patients who are suffering from Clinical disorder will be well on their way towards good mental health as long as they treated as soon as they have been diagnosed with Clinical depression. Patients who have been seeking for treatments for Clinical depression have proven to be quite successful in their quest, given that 80 percent of actual Clinical depression patients have been treated and has somewhat found relief from their disorder.

For those who may be seeking some answers for their Clinical depression related questions, the depression section of the health center is highly recommended, as well as books on psychiatry and the internet – which can offer a lot of helpful information with regards to Clinical depression although self-medication/treatment is highly disapproved of. Clinical depression may not pose as much as a threat as the other types of depression, but it is best to leave it to the hands of professionals who can safely attend to and cure this disorder.

There are no many cars cooler then a Mercedes-Benz G-Klasse, just maybe a military version of the G-Wagon. Though this is undoubtedly true, we don’t think that coolness was one of the factors in the Australian Defence Force’s decision to order such vehicles. Either way, the Aussies have taken delivery of their first new Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon cross-country vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz locally delivered nine Austrian built vehicles, which are part of the the 1200-strong tactical fleet order placed b… (read more)

One very unfortunate man recently turned up in the emergency room at Southampton General Hospital in England with his penis stuck in a stainless steel pipe. Medics at the hospital could not get the man’s penis out because the pipe had restricted the blood flow and caused the organ to become aroused. yikes!

The local fire and rescue service finally had to be called in and firefighters used a four-and-a-half-inch metal grinder to cut the pipe and free the man’s penis. Amazingly, the penis in question was bruised and swollen, but otherwise unharmed.

The heart-wrenchingly delicate operation took about 30 minutes. No word on why or how the man got stuck in the pipe in the first place.

Just be glad this wasn’t you.

[via Telegraph.co.uk]

photo credit: foxrosser

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For years computer security experts have been preaching that users should never share the same password across their connected lives — at online banking sites, at Amazon, on their Web mail services, even on their cell phones.

Apparently, most people ignore that advice.

A new study by security firm Trusteer found that 73 percent of Web users take their online banking password and use it at other Web sites.  And about half of all consumers utilize the same password and user name at online banking sites and other sites.

"I must say I was very surprised,” said Amit Klein, chief technology officer of Trusteer. “It is surprisingly sad that such a large portion of users use their banking credentials at other sites. … It exposes those users to attacks that would otherwise be impossible. I thought that people would take banking credentials more seriously, but it turns out that in this digital age, this is not the reality."

When consumers use the same password across multiple sites, hacking becomes trivially easy. If a criminal breaks into a smaller Web site — say a site created by a local grocery store — and grabs a cache of passwords, their next step is always the major banking Web sites.  When you consider that 40 percent of U.S. consumers' checking accounts are tied up in the four largest banks, odds are good that the stolen credentials will work for in one of them.

Password overlap also creates an easy end run around sophisticated banking security technology, which is only as strong as the weakest site where the password is used. Banks might enforce strong password creation requirements, for example. But if a consumer uses a bank password it at a poorly defended small site, a hacker can break into the small site, steal the log-in information and essentially crack the bank's high-tech system.

"This is something that should be of huge concern both to banks and to users," said Klein.

Trusteer unearthed the data through use of its Rapport security software, which is designed to warn users when they are about to enter a critical banking password into a site where it doesn't belong — a phishing site, for example. The tool was used to examine the behavior of 4 million computer users during a 12-month period. During that span, the firm found that 73 percent used their online banking password on at least one non-financial Web site.

And it didn’t help much when the banks enforced strict password controls. When a bank allowed consumers to pick a user ID, 65 percent used it on other sites. When a bank assigned a customer ID, 42 percent used it at other sites and 42 percent used both the ID and the password on at least one other site.  

'They don't think it's worth the trade off'
Last year, analyst firm Gartner released a survey that reported similar results. It said two-thirds of consumers use the same one or two passwords across all Web sites they access. 

But Avivah Litan, who directed the Gartner survey, said that choice might not be as unreasonable — or as unsafe — as it seems.

"They are making a choice for convenience over security," she said. "They are using a cost-benefit equation … and they don't want to try to remember 10 different passwords for everything they do. They don't think the trade-off is worth it, honestly."

While password sharing isn't a safe practice, Litan said, complicating your life with multiple passwords isn't exactly a cure-all.

"The truth is criminals steal your passwords lots of ways, such as recording keystrokes, and if they do that, it doesn't matter whether your password is 15 characters and unique or 7 characters and the same for every site. People have figured this out," she said.

Using multiple passwords is a good idea, but Litan said it is important that consumers understand the risks that remain even if strong passwords are used.

"It is another lock on the door but a lock that is easily picked," she said. "Still, it's always better to put as many blocks in the road you can."

Large banks don't rely on simple user/password combinations to identify users anymore, she added.  Numerous technologies are used to prevent fraud through a strategy called "layered security."  Device fingerprinting of PCs is a key tool, she said. Web sites tag computer hardware by monitoring unique characteristics, such as exact processor speed or time and date settings. Sites that use device fingerprinting see fraud rates drop 15 to 20 percent, she said.

Banks also look for suspicious behavior, such as attempted transfers to unusual accounts. Another hacker giveaway: clicks through Web sites that occur at high speed, showing an automated PC — and not a person — is attempting a transaction.  Humans take, on average, about 10 seconds before they click "confirm payment."  Computers controlled by hackers racing through stolen login accounts barely wait at all.

"That's best-of-breed security," Litan said.  "If you as a bank are relying on passwords for security then you have a poor security system."

RED TAPE WRESTLING TIPS
It should be comforting to know that your user ID and password are not all that stands between a hacker and your money. Still, that's no reason to let your guard down. Your banking passwords should be handled with great care, and shouldn't be shared with other Web sites.

And remember, many Web firms that store your critical personal information do not use best-of-breed security on their back end — meaning you are still at risk.  A criminal who stole your Facebook credentials could easily wreak havoc with your life, so protect those accounts, too.

Klein concedes that the vast majority of computer users will never create unique user/password combinations for all their sites. As a more practical goal, he recommends maintaining three "families" of passwords — one for critical financial sites, a second for sites that store your personal information, and a third for generic log-ins.

"And you don’t want to mix those passwords," he said.

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Though most motorcycles are still hibernating in garages across the country, US bikers are already making plans for the summer, and the Legendary Buffalo Chip decided to help them take the best decision. With six months left until the event, preparations for the 2010 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally have already begun, and this year’s musical act lineup promises to highly entertain all the rally-goers.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees ZZ Top will be celebrating their 40th Anniversary next year an… (read more)