New RFID Tag Could Mean the End of Bar Codes

The promise of RFID technology for some time now has been held out to retailers to make inventory and customer checkout a breeze. You may remember those "you will" commercials AT&T produced in the 90s that showed customers simply walking out of the supermarket with a basket full of groceries, and they were scanned and billed as they exited. Costs of RFID tags have prohibited the widespread implementation of such systems, as the tags currently still cost from 30-50 cents each to produce.

Researchers from Sunchon National University in Suncheon, South Korea, and Rice University in Houston have built a radio frequency identification tag that can be printed directly onto cereal boxes and potato chip bags. The tag uses ink laced with carbon nanotubes to print electronics on paper or plastic that could instantly transmit information about a cart full of groceries.

The new tag, reported in the March issue of IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, costs about three cents to print, compared to about 50 cents for each silicon-based tag. The team hopes to eventually bring that cost below one cent per tag to make the devices commercially competitive. It can store one bit of information — essentially a 1 or a 0 — in an area about the size of a business card. 

The applications of cheap RFID tags in retailing would be numerous. Stores could keep track of how old each item is, how well products sell based on in-store location, eliminate refund and exchange fraud, conduct fast, accurate store inventories, reduce shoplifting, etc. Consumers with an RFID reader at home could also keep home inventories and keep track of food freshness.
The privacy implications are concerning to many. Current grocery store reward systems already connect store purchases to individual consumers and store this data. RFID tags left active in clothing or other products could allow 'Minority Report' type individualized advertising as tag readers make assumptions about you based on what you wear and what personal electronics you carry. Such concerns have caused organizations such as EPIC to make privacy recommendations to government and industry.
Numerous other uses of cheap RFID technology has the potential to change nearly every aspect of modern life.


[via Wired]


Posted using ShareThis

TJMaxx Hacker Gets 20 Years

Remember the largest personal data theft in history? The guy that supposedly was behind it was sentenced this week to 20 years in prison. 

Albert Gonzalez, who operated under the hacker alias SoupNazi, pleaded guilty last year to slipping into the computer networks of major retailers such as TJ Maxx, BJ's Wholesale Club, Barnes & Noble, OfficeMax and Boston Market.

To pull off the caper, Gonzalez, 28, would hack into the Heartland Payment systems that handled credit card transactions for major retailers. Then the Miami resident got creative. He would cruise by stores with his laptop and infiltrate wireless Internet signals.

A Trojan Horse program would be planted in the store's network and Gonzalez would later vacuum out credit and debit numbers.

Authorities say Gonzalez operated with two co-conspirators and operated overseas as well. All told, the operation stole more than $200 million. The Secret Service estimated that the potential economic loss could be in the billions. Gonzalez personally amassed $2.8 million.

Of course, there was some fault of the retailers involved, as they were using WEP encryption, known for years prior to the data theft to be easily hacked and thus insecure, to wirelessly transmit transaction data between registers and the store office. Gonzalez and his crew were then able to repeatedly tap into the store systems this way, and learned how to login into the corporate computer system of TJX, parent company of TJ Maxx, BJ's Wholesale Club, Barnes & Noble, OfficeMax and Boston Market. Since TJX evidently was storing customer data in violation of PCI Data Security Standards, Gonzalez and crew were able to steal some 46 million customer credit cards from this company.
Amazingly, PCI standards will not ban the use of WEP in credit card systems until June 30, 2010 (although it has prohibited new systems that use WEP from being installed since March 31, 2009.)

Robert Culp Dies At 79

Numerous reports state TV and movie actor Robert Culp has died. Culp reportedly died at a local hospital where he had been rushed after hitting his head when he fell while taking a walk outside his home.

The actor was well known for several TV roles, including starring alongside Bill Cosby in the 1960s hit I Spy, then later in the 1980s as agent Bill Maxwell in The Greatest American Hero. Culp is also credited with writing and directing two episodes of TGAH and writing seven episodes of I Spy and directing one.

He was also in the 1969 film Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice and has over 150 TV show and film credits dating back to the mid 1950s.

FoxTrot Tells It Like It Is

 Fox Trot 3.21.2010

Another Password Stealing Virus Hits Facebook

(Reuters) - Hackers have flooded the Internet with virus-tainted spam that targets Facebook's estimated 400 million users in an effort to steal banking passwords and gather other sensitive information.
The emails tell recipients that the passwords on their Facebook accounts have been reset, urging them to click on an attachment to obtain new login credentials, according to anti-virus software maker McAfee Inc.
If the attachment is opened, it downloads several types of malicious software, including a program that steals passwords, McAfee said on Wednesday.
Hackers have long targeted Facebook users, sending them tainted messages via the social networking company's own internal email system. With this new attack, they are using regular Internet email to spread their malicious software.
A Facebook spokesman said the company could not comment on the specific case, but pointed to a status update the company posted on its web site earlier on Wednesday warning users about the spoofed email and advising users to delete the email and to warn their friends.
McAfee estimates that hackers sent out tens of millions of spam across Europe, the United States and Asia since the campaign began on Tuesday.
Dave Marcus, McAfee's director of malware research and communications, said that he expects the hackers will succeed in infecting millions of computers.
"With Facebook as your lure, you potentially have 400 million people that can click on the attachment. If you get 10 percent success, that's 40 million," he said.
The email's subject line says "Facebook password reset confirmation customer support," according to Marcus.

'David After Dentist' Family Hits Payday

The second most watched video of 2009 now has over 54 million views and it's own YouTube channel, website, and official Facebook page. It has since become an internet meme and has been endlessly spoofed. "Is this real life?" has been trademarked by the family and merchandising and licensing has earned them a respectable sum. They have also been able to donate $6000 to charity and has ties with Operation Smile.

It's also been an unexpected bonanza for the boy's Orlando, Florida-area family, who, despite some criticism that they exploited their child by posting his image online, has turned the one-minute, 59-second home video into a lucrative sideline.

"We embraced it," said the boy's father, David DeVore, who shot the famous clip on a Flip camera from the car's front seat. "We said we will make a family adventure out of this and see what happens. Nothing has happened that we felt uncomfortable doing."

He would not say exactly how much the family has earned from the video but said it's in the "low six figures."

[via CNN]

Nexus One Coming To All Major Carriers

With this week's announcement that Google's Nexus One would be 'coming soon' to Sprint, this completes all of the 'big four' cell carriers that the device will be available on.

The Android phone is currently available on the T-Mobile and AT&T networks, and is 'coming soon,' but officially announced for Verizon and now Sprint.

Sprint's announcement hinted that a subsidied price would be available and would work with it's Sprint Everything Data 450 $69.99 plan. However, you will not be able to walk into a Sprint store and pick up a Nexus One. From the Sprint press release:

Google's online consumer channel was created to provide an efficient way to connect online users with selected Android phones. Nexus One will not be available in any Sprint retail channels. It will be available directly from Google at google.com/phone. The online experience of Google's web store is designed with a focus on simplicity allowing consumers to match a phone with the service plan that best meets their needs.

Verizon continues to list a vague 'sometime this spring' availibility and not even a hint at plans or pricing.
Google has sold around 135,000 Nexus One smartphones since its release in January, considerably less than the Motorola Droid or the original iPhone did in their first two and a half months.

Heads in the Cloud 8 - Think of the Children!

LMSD Webcam spying case updates
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/technology/20100317_Specter_calls_Senate_hearing_on_Web_cam_issues.html
http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/88526367.html


Chatroulette-a threat to the children!
http://www.cooltidbits.net/2010/03/do-you-accept-chatroulette-or-hit-next.html

myouterspace.com

Indiana prosecuter drops Redbox case

FCC grand 10-year plan

the future of TV

Twitter @anywhere

Leo Laporte Crowd Surfing During Livestream

Leo Laporte crowd surfing while live streaming @ Diggnation from Jeremy Johnstone on Vimeo.

Leo in reportedly the first live-streamed crowdsurfing ever last night at the Shindigg.

No, Conan Is Not Joining Revision3

Last night, the internet (mostly Twitter) was abuzz with the news. Conan O'Brian was joining internet content channel Revision3, home of Kevin Rose's Diggnation, Patrick Norton and Veronica Belmont's Tekzilla and other popular shows. Or was he buying it?
Well, it's actually neither, as Brian Brushwood confirmed to Leo Laporte last night on TwiT Live at the Digg Shindigg event. 
Brian and the hosts of the NSFW show, as part of the Diggnation pre-show, encouraged the audience to join them in a Twitter hoax. Attendees were told to tweet that Conan O'Brien was joining Revision3 and to use hashtag #omgconan. Within minutes, hundreds of tweets were flooding Twitter with this very information. The tweets quickly morphed into claims that Conan appeared live on stage and announced the news himself or that the news media had called Conan and confirmed the news.
Perhaps as some sort of weird internet karma, shortly after the hoax was underway, Brian dropped his iPhone and broke the screen.

Do You 'Accept' Chatroulette or Hit 'Next'?

Chatroulette is the latest thing for parents to freak out over. Before that it was Stickam, before that, MySpace, before that, instant messaging and chat rooms.

Chatroulette very much reminds me of "The Circuit" in Logan's Run, which took the idea a step further by physically delivering the other person to you. I wonder if Andrey Ternovskiy got the idea from that movie...
The lack of having to open an account and the perceived anonymity (although your IP address is not hidden and is stored by the system for potential later use) often leads to people exposing themselves instead of having meaningful conversations.

[via Nightline]

FCC Will Propose 10-year Internet Expansion

This is what it will take to get broadband internet to all households in the US that want it. The US ranks 15th in the world for broadband internet penetration. Many areas are still only served by dialup. My dad's community was only wired for broadband two years ago. Interesting that even more broadcast spectrum is to be auctioned for this; and the idea of an internet appliance is again rearing its head. Eventually all broadcast and communication will be over IP.

(Reuters) – The Federal Communications Commission will submit a 10-year plan to Congress on Tuesday that would establish high-speed Internet as the country's dominant means of communication, The New York Times reported in Saturday editions.

The plan will likely spawn a lobbying battle between telecommunication firms and the broadcast television industry which already opposes turning over spectrum space to future mobile service use, the newspaper said.

FCC officials briefed on the plan said the commission's recommendations would include a subsidy for Internet providers to wire unserved rural areas, an auction of some broadcast spectrum to free up access for wireless devices, and development of a universal set-top box that connects to the Internet and cable service, the newspaper said.

The FCC intends to argue that the plan, some of which would require congressional action and would influence billions in federal spending, should pay for itself through the spectrum auctions, the newspaper said.

The plan looks toward a Web-connected world with nearly instant access to areas ranging from healthcare information to online classrooms, through as-yet undeveloped wireless devices, the Times said.

About one-third of Americans have no access to high-speed Internet service, choose to do without it or cannot afford it, it said.

The plan stems from the government view that broadband is becoming the dominant U.S. medium over telephone and broadcast television, the newspaper said.

"Broadband will be the indispensable platform to assure American competitiveness, ongoing job creation and innovation, and will affect nearly every aspect of Americans' lives at home, at work, and in their communities," the Times quoted FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski as saying on Friday.

Officials briefed on the plan said it would also call for a "digital literacy corps" to help teach online skills, as well as recommendations for spending $12 billion to $16 billion for a national public safety network tying together police, fire and other emergency personnel and networks.

SXSW Underway

80s Star Corey Haim Dies At 38

Corey Haim, 38, was found dead Wednesday morning, Los Angeles police have confirmed.
Reports say the actor, who had a long history of substance-abuse problems, died from an accidental overdose. Police are reporting no evidence of foul play.

Haim shot to fame in the '80s after starring in several teen films, including The Lost Boys, Lucas and License to Drive. Most notably, he collaborated numerous times with Corey Feldman, and the pair were dubbed "The Two Coreys." They starred in an A&E reality show with that name from 2007 to 2008.

Haim has struggled with drug addiction for several years. At one point, Feldman told his friend he would no longer speak to him until he got sober.

Celebrity responses from Twitter:

Alyssa Milano: “Just woke up to the sad, sad news that Corey Haim passed away. RIP sweet boy.”

Ashton Kutcher: “Rip Corey Haim ‘Childhood hero.'"

“Sister Sister” actress Tamera Mowry: “RIP Cory Haim…you were my first crush!”

Christina Applegate: “My thoughts go out to Corey’s family and friends today. So sad.”

Kevin Smith: “Lost Boy goes home: Corey Haim, dead at 38. G’bye, LUCAS. You gave hope to the weird & unlikely.”

Indiana Prosecutor Gets A Clue, Drops Whole Redbox Deal

The Indiana Prosecutor that threatened businesses leasing space to movie rental vending machines last week with a Class D felony has decided not to follow through on that.

After receiving a number of phone calls, e-mails and talking with people, Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Stan Levco said Friday he has decided not to prosecute stores over the rental of movies for mature audiences from kiosks such as redbox and moviecube.

"It's not an exact barometer — I didn't take a poll — but it just seemed pretty clear to me that the community would not be behind the prosecution of this," Levco said Friday during a news conference at his office.

"That wasn't the only factor, but it certainly was a factor."...
Levco said, normally, community sentiment is not a deciding factor in whether to prosecute a case. During the course of his research, he said, in some communities the kiosks have been removed.

"In this case, the criminal statute says the offending material must violate community standards. Originally, I didn't think this was going to attract any attention. I just thought it was a routine matter. I originally thought the way it was going to be resolved was the videos would be removed. But as I got further in, I realized that was not going to be the case."

Levco said he was first contacted about the issue in December by a representative of local video stores, and the investigation continued in January. The complainer's position was that video stores check identification to ensure that minors were not viewing the material, but the kiosks may not, Levco said.

[via Courier-Press]

Bruce Williams Signs Off Tonight

Business and finance talker and Radio Hall of Famer Bruce Williams has announced the end of his self syndicated radio show March 5th.  In a letter posted on his official website, he stated in part:

...After a great deal of thought, I have concluded, as has been said many times, “all things come to an end”, and this is true for me of my radio career. As a consequence, it is my painful chore to announce with much regret that March 5th, will be my last Network broadcast...

There have been enormous changes in our industry in the past 3 ½ decades. Those of you who have been in the business for a long period of time know full well many of the things to which I elude. Those of you running independent stations are more aware then anyone of the challenges you face. The last several years have been very difficult economically for most. There’s no question that there will be continued innovations in this enterprise and the choices are clear, adjust or leave...
I have learned “never say never”. This moment is closing a chapter of my life, which has meant a great deal to me. I have no broadcast plans. This is not to say that if someone made an overture that I would automatically say no. Unlikely, but the door is never firmly closed...

.. I never expect to retire in the traditional sense. Some people look forward to sitting around the fireplace, playing golf, etc. That has never been my ambition. I enjoy working and will continue as long as I am physically capable. One door closes another door opens. I hope this is to be the case in this instance. To be continued…..

Gratefully and Very Cordially,
Bruce H. Williams

The New Jersey native who began his radio career in 1975 and was one of the original NBC Talknet talents in 1981 along with Sally Jesse Raphael, had been self-syndicating his show in association with Rocky Mountain Radio and Global American Broadcasting.

Goodbye, my friend. I wish you well.

Why Does Indiana Hate Redbox?

This week the office of Vanderburgh County, Indiana Prosecutor Stanley Levco threatened criminal charges against retailers with DVD rental kiosks on their premises unless they remove R-rated movies and other material considered harmful to children. The office of the prosecutor cites an Indiana law prohibiting dissemination of matter harmful to minors, a Class D felony.

Any action taken against movie rental kiosks would primarily affect Redbox, with 880 machines in Indiana. Competitors Movie Cube and Blockbuster Express also operate kiosks in Indiana, but only have about 16 locations combined in the state, according to the websites of each company.

Letters sent to retailers in recent weeks by the office of Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Stanley Levco may amount to the largest crackdown yet in Indiana.
It's driven, at least in part, by the kiosks' old-school competitors -- the brick-and-mortar video stores that say they provide safeguards by requiring customers renting R-rated DVDs to show ID.
Kiosks, they say, aren't playing by the same rules, though Redbox officials say their kiosks require customers to affirm their age and are on firm legal ground.
"I'm not on a crusade," said Paul Black, an Evansville attorney who says he suggested the inquiry to Levco's office on behalf of a client who operates several video store locations. "We're just looking for a level playing field here."
Black, who declined to identify his client, said Levco's office sent letters to about a dozen stores in Vanderburgh County.
Video Buyers Group, a trade organization representing 1,700 independent video store owners, also has been in contact with Levco about his latest action against kiosks, said Jon Engen, the organization's marketing manager.

This is not the first time Redbox has had trouble in Indiana. In late 2007, Union City, Indiana officials were successful in having Redbox remove R-rated films from McDonald's locations. Then, in 2008, the city of Winchester raised the same issue with Redbox locations at Walmart.

Arguments about the appropriateness of movie ratings aside, forcing a company to carry only G-rated films would effectively drive it out of business. A quick look at box office results shows less than 10 new films were released in 2009 that were rated G. Expanding this search to PG shows about 35 more new films released in 2009. Film ratings are a result of a voluntary system put in place by the MPAA to guide parents and do not reflect or constitute law. No law states films must be rated or that retailers or theaters must abide by MPAA ratings.

Does this represent some vendetta Indiana officials seem to have against the movie vending company? Are residents of Indiana more conservative than those of the average state? Or, as suggested by the article, are Indiana officials susceptible to influence by competing brick-and-mortar video stores and their trade organizations?

In a world where any content imaginable can be almost instantly accessed in any home with an internet connection, or on your child's mobile phone or handheld video game, this is an example of officials that are stuck in decades-old thinking and are out of touch with reality.

[via Courier-Journal]

Wifi Thief Lady Calls TechGuy

I love how she keeps on about how 'it was a Linksys in my neighborhood...'
I mean, we've all been there. Moved into a new apartment, no internet hookup yet; don't want to pay for hotel wifi and find an open connection...but to intentionally leech on someone else's open wifi connection for a year and a half! This should convince you to secure your wifi if you haven't already. If not, who knows what is being downloaded or posted to the internet on your connection right now!

Heads in the Cloud - episode 7 - The Height of Insanity

DOWNLOAD OR LISTEN TO PODCAST

walmart DID remove porn from Vudu

Disasters spur twitter, ustream, skype use
http://gigaom.com/2010/02/27/use-social-media-to-track-the-chilean-earthquake/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10461062-36.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

Twitter rolling out new features?

Facebook oops

1080p flash on netbook?

Hackers targeted more than just Google
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9163158/More_than_100_companies_targeted_by_Google_hackers
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/intel-says-it-was-attacked-at-the-same-time-as-google/

Open wifi effectively would be outlawed in new UK bill
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Economy_Bill

ACTA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Counterfeiting_Trade_Agreement

Examples of border crossing stupidity

http://tkyte.blogspot.com/2007/03/crossing-border.html
http://ask.metafilter.com/29626/Woe-betide-those-at-CollegeHumorcom

Gizmo Drive
ISO loading to virtual drive letters, ISO ripping and burning
http://arainia.com/software/gizmo/overview.php?nID=4