Posts in Mobile Phones
Shake mobile before use
John Chan | Nov 15, 2007
Ever had trouble trying to pair two Bluetooth mobile phones together so you can transfer files between them? While useful in many ways, Bluetooth pairing can sometimes be quite a chore. A couple of researchers think so, too, and have developed software to make it possible to pair two phones by shaking them together.
Using accelerometers found in the phones, two of them will be paired if they are shaken in the same way. This replaces the old method of having to key in a four-digit passkey on both devices for verification. In a video, this process is demonstrated and it also shows what happens when someone tries to do it without holding the two phones in the same hand. Spoiler: It won't work.
This is definitely a very innovative take on a problem which has fazed many. What will they think of next? Perhaps connecting to wireless hotspots by doing the funky chicken with your notebook? You never know.
New Scientist (via Productdose)
Apple patches image buffer overflow in iPhone, iPod touch
Robert Vamosi | Nov 15, 2007
Apple on Monday released a patch for the iPhone and iPod touch. The TIFF vulnerabilities associated with the patch are serious. However, in fixing the security flaws, users will no longer be able to apply Jailbreak, a software that allows for third-party applications on the iPhone. Further, Apple says the update is only available through iTunes, and will not appear in the Mac OS software update application, or on the Apple downloads site, and requires the latest version of iTunes to receive this update.
Image IO
This patch affects users of iPhone v1.0 through v1.1.1, iPod touch v1.1, and v1.1.1 and does not not affect Mac OS X v10.3.9 systems with Security Update 2006-004, Mac OS X v10.4.7 systems with Security Update 2006-004, or systems running Mac OS X v10.4.8 or later. The patch addresses vulnerabilities found in CVE-2006-3459, CVE-2006-3461, CVE-2006-3462, and CVE-2006-3465. According to Apple, "Image IO contains a version of libtiff that is vulnerable to multiple buffer overflows. By enticing a user to view a maliciously crafted TIFF image, an attacker may cause an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. This update addresses the issues by performing additional validation of TIFF images."
Apple credits Tavis Ormandy of Google's security team for reporting this vulnerability.
Nokia's most powerful camera-phone yet
Reuben Lee | Nov 14, 2007
Here's something to add to your wishlist of 5-megapixel camera-phones this Christmas. The Nokia N82, just announced today, is the candy-bar edition of the N95. Like the latter, it has almost everything you can find in mobile phones today, from onboard GPS and 5-megapixel sensor with Carl Zeiss optics to Wi-Fi/HSDPA connectivity and 30fps VGA video capture (MPEG-4). What's noteworthy here is that Nokia has upgraded the LED lights on the N95 to a Xenon flash for the N82. There's also an orientation sensor for automatic switching between portrait and landscape viewing modes. Get our first impressions of the N82 here.
While local prices will only be released closer to launch, the N82 is expected to retail for about 450 euros. It is slated for launch in Asia over the next few weeks.
HTC's GPS-enabled Touch
John Chan | Nov 14, 2007
For those who can't get enough of HTC's Touch series of handhelds, here's one more. The company has announced the Touch Cruise in Europe, its latest GPS-enabled PDA-phone that comes with the TouchFLO interface--a collection of features meant to make operating the OS easier without a stylus.
With dimensions of 110 x 58 x 15.5mm, the Cruise is almost identical in size to the Touch Dual. It doesn't have a slide-out keyboard, but the size is justified because of its full set of connectivity options including Wi-Fi and GPS--both not found in the Touch Dual. Aside from the TouchFLO interface, this device also has a scroll wheel/selector in place of a regular directional pad.
According to the European press release, the Touch Cruise will be available there starting this month. HTC was not able to confirm its price and availability in Asia at this point.
Callpod Dragon Bluetooth headset has 100+ meter range
Nicole Lee | Nov 14, 2007
Callpod has just announced the Dragon Bluetooth headset, which
claims to have 100+m range (that's 328ft for you non-metric types) plus dual-mic noise suppression technology. Like the SoundID SM1000, the Dragon also has a walkie-talkie mode that you can use if you have two of them. It also
features two reversible earwraps for comfort, plus the ability to upgrade the firmware in case there are feature updates in the future. The Dragon is rather pricey as far as headsets go, but if it delivers on all its promises, it sounds
like a good deal. It's available for US$119.99 right now from Callpod.com.
Via Crave CNET
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