iOS 7 makes your iPhone waterproof?

Credit: 4Chan/ The Telegraph

After seeing the ad above, would you drop your iPhone in a bucket of water? Apparently the people who tweeted:

"Whoever said iOS7 was waterproof **** you."

&

"Wtf iOS7 isn't waterproof!! Now my phone's at the bottom of the river."

did.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/10330414/iOS-7-users-destroy-iPhones-after-fake-waterproof-advert.html / fake commercial almost identical appeared Apple's Apple poster advertising image images iPhone white background accompanied neat text update iOS 7 become waterproof poster read emergency smart switch smartswitch smart-switch shut off phone smartphone smart phone phone's power supply corresponding components prevent damage iPhone's delicate circuitry explained bottom poster was a promise waterproofing waterproof water proof water proofing covered Apple's warranty policy share sharing shared social media sites user users encouraging people try new feature angry complaints appeared fooled practical joke prank started controversial forum 4Chan chequered history hosting faked material fake host hosted site came criticize criticized criticism fake screen shots posts iOS 7 /

Toxic load: blue-green algae's role in motor neuron disease

Credit: Mark Sadowski/ The Conversation

http://theconversation.com/toxic-load-blue-green-algaes-role-in-motor-neuron-disease-16041 / scientist scientists exposure blue-green algae linked increased incidence neuro degenerative neurodegenerative diseases neuro-degenerative neuro degenerative reason link mystery research published journal PLOS ONE answer algal toxin BMAA long been associated increased incidence motor neurone disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS hypothesis sceptics plausible mechanism theory team cell biologists ethnobotanists BMAA mimics mimic amino acid proteins protein L-Serine toxin amino acid body incorporates human proteins harmful low levels exposure BMAA over long periods ALS appears diagnosis death 3 years fruit bats Guam provided clues BMAA 40 years ago disease ethnobotanist Paul Cox jungles Pacific island Guam searching causes devastating neurological disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Parkinson’s dementia like-complex ALS/PDC killed nearly half adult indigenous population Chamorros /

MacGyver's phone case

Credit: IN1/ The Gadgeteer

Tools:

• blue pen
• red pen
• Phillips head screwdriver
• flat head screwdriver
• kickstand
• nail file
• tweezers
• scissors
• toothpick

This is Swiss Army Knife meets phone case. MacGyver would have loved it!

Unfortunately, iPhone only, at least for now.

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/09/25/if-macgyver-owned-an-iphone-he-would-probably-have-the-in1-case-on-it/ / smartphone smart phone case protect IN1 design designer designing designed IN1 case iPhone 5 5s Protect protects your nine useful accessories polycarbonate felt inside protect IN1 case TSA-compliant TSA compliant travel traveller traveling travelers Apple iOS device /

German group claims to have hacked Apple iPhone fingerprint scanner

Credit: Reuters

Recently, I reported on security concerns about reliance on the fingerprint scanner in the new iPhone 5s. At that time, it hadn't been hacked.

Now, just two days later:

Update: link below now broken, but yes, the fingerprint scanner was hacked – see the Reuters article.
http://istouchidhackedyet.com/

Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/23/us-iphone-hackers-idUSBRE98M01X20130923 / Reuters group German hackers crack cracking cracked iPhone fingerprint scanner Sunday two 2 days Apple Inc launched technology promise promised promises better protect devices criminal criminals snoop snooping snoopers seeking access claim verified embarrassment embarrass embarrassing Apple scanner smart phone smartphone new models Samsung Electronics Co Ltd run running Android OS operating system Google Inc. prominent iPhone security experts Reuters Chaos Computing Club CCC success succeed succeeded defeat defeated defeating Apple's Touch ID personally replicated the work Charlie Miller co-author iOS Hacker's Handbook work complete break Touch ID security secure secured new possibility attack attacking attacked attackers Apple representatives did not respond requests for comment CCC respected hack hacker hacking groups posted video website access accessing iPhone 5S fabricated print members member biometrics team had cracked new fingerprint reader few major high-tech features added latest version iPhone group targeted Touch ID knock down difficult crack fingerprints security secure Starbug Touch ID photograph photography photographing fingerprint user print printer printed printing transparent sheet create mold fake finger CCC similar processes crack vast majority fingerprint sensors market Dino Dai Zovi co-author author iOS Hacker's Handbook fool around hype over-hype make political point /

"Terminator" polymer can spontaneously self-heal in just two hours (video)

Credit: CIDETEC Centre for Electrochemical Technologies/ ExtremeTech

Cut, push together, two hours later, it's whole again!

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/166656-terminator-polymer-can-spontaneously-self-heal-in-just-two-hours#disqus_thread / self heal healing self-healing power skin powerful other contexts surrounded sensitive computer components sack sac soft material air water tight air-tight water-tight repairs could end technician suturing shut scalpel hole researcher Ibon Odriozola CIDETEC Centre for Electrochemical Technologies created polymer potential lead future material poly urea-urethane urea urethane elastomeric matrix network complex molecular interactions spontaneously cross link cross-link heal almost most any break this context word spontaneous material needs no outside intervention begin healing process catalyst extra reactant experiment experiments sample cut in half razor blade room temperature healed the cut 97% efficiency efficient just two hours reaction metathesis reaction to dub the material his terminator polymer reference Terminator 2′s 2 T-1000 apt comparison homogenous material resembles thick liquid T-1000′s interior self-healing materials requires catalyst no layering no word on how well it can heal itself over multiple separations potential technology extent life spans lift-spans some plastic parts repetitive strain often slowly acquire minute growing fractures group group’s main goal harder version formed into such parts itself polymer squishy somewhat soft research researcher researchers stretch a single piece to breaking by hand cut, not rigid enough to make parts from just yet self healing self-healing material big challenge artificial skin quickly stop up small wounds on its own potentially grants grant ability grow over time new units of the matrix could be incorporated as the material stretches and tears microscopic level graft artificial skin growing child might grow allow allows easy surgical work self-healing skin body stay shut up tight against germs germ healing mechanism proves robust enough material injected like an adhesive or a sealant impressive combination elasticity strength self healing self-healing advantage leaky window frames painful joints need of some padding stop bones from rubbing together protective coatings inventors search self healing self-healing protective coating top sheet top-sheet soak up small nicks return prior state thick piece cut video healed barely perceptible scar hope transparent coating that heals invisibly screen protectors research paper catalyst-free catalyst free room temperature room-temperature self-healing self healing elastomers based on aromatic disulfide metathesis /

Fingerprint scanner for iPhone 5s raises privacy & security concerns – update

At first glance, the fingerprint scanner on the new iPhone looks like a big step forward for phone security.

Problems with passwords & PINs (which the fingerprint scanner is intended to replace) are well known. But despite the problems of passwords, they can (& should be) replaced on a regular basis for improved security.

Your fingerprint is fixed, forever. If it is compromised, you can't change it. This has caused concerns over Apple's implementation in the new iPhone 5s.

Has the iPhone's fingerprint system been defeated yet? Not as of this writing, but get a more up to date answer at:

Update: link below now broken, but yes, the fingerprint scanner was hacked.
http://istouchidhackedyet.com/

Further discussion at the Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/fingerprint-scanner-for-iphone-5s-raises-privacy-security-concerns/2013/09/20/0992cbee-222f-11e3-966c-9c4293c47ebe_story.html / highlight highlights iPhone 5s finger print reader fingerprint scanner facing two concerns Apple cool new feature consumers consumer sale IT information technology department departments employer work company companies authority department government agencies agency employees fingerprint ID IDs unlock iPhones used for work business businesses adopt new technology lawmakers government privacy advocates raised concerns plans plan handle highly sensitive data The iPhone 5s is the first Apple device with a built-in fingerprint scanner on the home button enter entering a four-digit code user needs only to place a finger on the button to unlock the phone store data device encrypted format send sending information own servers block third-party third party apps access accessing company calls iTouch ID senate senator Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) sent letter Apple chief executive Tim Cook noting fundamentally different biometric identifiers from previous ID methods passwords secret dynamic fingerprints fingerprint public permanent tell anyone your password hack hacker hacking hacks password change wrote thumbprint thumbprint use identify impersonate technical possibilities Touch ID diagnostic information transmit transmits Apple third parties wants assurances never share fingerprint data tools tool commercial third partiesimportant question considers fingerprint data contents of communication subscriber identity Stored Communications Act particularly important content data require warrant released law enforcement, subscriber ID or number needs subpoena if Apple considers fingerprint data subscriber information company could be compelled to share national security letter respond request for comment privacy concerns, company companies run test tests list of security measures requiredemployee devices Chris Hertz, chief executive IT firm New Signature begin adding fingerprint data existing protocols security community secure Dave Frymier chief information officer Unisys discussed letting employees fingerprints form of identification thoroughly test the sensor first better company security Frymier require passwords four digit four-digit pins device devices employees often choose codes code easy to crack easy to guess Tim Hoechst chief technology officer software security firm Agilex broad appeal new fingerprint technology secure their devicesbconsumers do not even bother to put up a pass code on their phones more secure than nothing enough consumers adopt technology mobile speed adoption enterprise driven by speed of adoption by users Ojas Rege, Vice President strategy MobileIron firm help businesses manage their employees’ employee mobile devices CEO happen faster /

Kogan Full HD Action Camera - Black Edition (video)

Credit: Kogan/ PC World

Specs not quite as high as the GoPro & results not as good either, but it's a lot cheaper.

http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/review/kogan/full_hd_action_camera/525156/

http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/gopro-camera-along-for-the-ride-20130829-2sreu.html / compact fixed lens fixed-lens video camera record Full HD 1080p video at 30 frames per second 720p HD video at 60fps smoother smaller video files cost slight drop in quality Black Edition Full HD Action Camera Kogan $139 plus delivery Silver version without mounting accessories standard tripod mount $119 $20 cheaper Kogan’s action camera Swann Freestyle HD lens on a box design lens-on-a-box design Kogan’s lens offset left right no filter protection front lens getting scratched protective case mounting hardware front camera bare lens Kogan’s logo top two buttons recording video stills still photos photographs photograph camera’s sides house various outputs HDMI USB microphone microSD card slot 32GB 4GB card included back few more buttons dice way five-way navigation pad menu power playback power/playback mode toggle 1.5 inch 1.5-inch full colour color full-colour display built into in camera camera’s body optional accessory GoPro range Contour Action Cam lacks lack Black Edition bundle Kogan's Full HD Action Camera includes include variety many mount mounts two sticky mounts suction cup mount roll bar roll-bar handlebar mount helmet mount 30m 30 m meter metre waterproof 2m 2 m shock proof shock-proof case mounts internal tripod screw mounting point menu video photo quality Swann Freestyle HD lacked some features important, but Kogan has made its Action Camera good purchase niche uses dash cam dash-cam loop recording motion acrivated motion-activated recording time lapse photo modes mode compete GoPro HERO3 Contour ROAM 2 Sony’s Sony Action Cam /