Hello all,
I want to thank you for listening to my show over the past 100+ episodes. Due to some personal things, the show will be on hiatus at least until the end of the calendar year while I reconnoiter my priorities. Do not hesitate to reach out to me here, or on twitter @mbaron. The entire archive will certainly live on here at the blog in perpetuity.
Until I see you on the radio next, I’m Matthew Baron, reminding you to beware the digital hazard.
This week on the show, we speak to a number of Linux-y things, from native support of Netflix, which was a long time coming, to the new found ability to run Android apps in Chrome. There is a project underway to get a SMS based web browser off the ground for android users in third-world nations without a data plan, and Tom Wheeler has stated that 4Mbps broadband will keep rural America on the wrong side of the digital divide. We dive head first into the reason that security tools need better user experiences and the precedent a new Senate bill will place on government officials accessing emails stored on foreign servers. All that and a bit more this week on the show.
Netflix coming to Linux
http://www.themukt.com/2014/09/19/native-netflix-ubuntu-linux/
Run Android apps in Chrome
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/09/hack-runs-android-apps-on-windows-mac-and-linux-computers/
SMS based Cosmos browser
http://www.themukt.com/2014/09/16/sms-based-cosmos-browser-developing-countries/
US Senate Bill to limit access to foreign email
Coalition to better security tools
http://threatpost.com/new-initiative-simply-secure-aims-to-make-security-tools-easier-to-use
TrueCrypt getting new life?
http://www.esecurityplanet.com/open-source-security/truecrypt-getting-a-new-life.html
BitTorrent opens up Bleep secure messaging app
FCC says that 4Mbps is not fast enough for ‘broadband’
http://arstechnica.com/business/2014/09/sorry-att-and-verizon-4mbps-isnt-fast-enough-for-broadband/
Larry Ellison steps down from Oracle CEO
Science News
NASA signs SpaceX and Boeing
This week on the show, I quickly recap the Apple announcements which occurred on Tuesday, including the quick sellout of the iPhone 6+. We speak about a number of legislative and judicial announcements this week, from the coalition of tech companies that signed a letter to push the Email Privacy Bill forward, to a ruling about digitization of library books in the EU and what’s known colloquially as the ‘Yelp’ bill. T-Mobile had an August full of new customers, and we dive into some of the cool things that NASA is doing. All that and more this week!
Apple Announcements:
iPhone sells out
iWatch is a real thing, but what is it for?
US Gov. threatened Yahoo with $0.25 mill fine per day under PRISIM
Email Privacy Bill
http://cir.ca/news/email-privacy-act
California passes “Yelp” bill
EU Court rules on library book use
http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/11/libraries-can-digitize-books/
Sandisk announces 512GB SD card
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2468406,00.asp
T-Mobile adds record number of pre-paid subscribers
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/12/us-tmobile-subscribers-idUSKBN0H71PO20140912
Windows 9 leaked images
http://www.zdnet.com/windows-threshold-screenshot-leaks-whats-there-whats-not-7000033573/
Science News
Curiosity arrives at Mt. Sharp
NASA to send laser pulses at Earth
Scientists make light behave like a solid
http://www.iflscience.com/physics/crystallized-light-reveals-potential
This week on the show, we spend quite a fair amount of time on Apple, and the news of this past week, and the speculation on what will undoubtedly be the news of the week to come. The iCloud hack serves as a good Public Service Announcement for understanding how secure your personal effects actually are in the cloud. Not to be completely overshadowed, Motorola announced updated versions of the Moto X and Moto G smartphones, as well as the 360 smartwatch, and something called the Hint. We take a quick look through the latest from Nest, the home automation company, and talk about Tom Wheeler’s lofty goals for 25Mbps data speed broadband competition in the US. All that and more this week.
Apple’s iCloud Breach
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/09/fbi-apple-investigating-celebrity-photo-hacks/
iCoud and the false security of two-factor
http://www.tuaw.com/2014/09/02/think-iclouds-two-factor-authentication-protects-your-privacy/
Apple to ramp up security alerts
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/05/us-apple-cybersecurity-idUSKBN0H005N20140905
Apple to launch new iPhones and the iWatch
Moto updates the Moto X and Moto G
Actually wearable circuitry
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn26145-fabric-circuits-pave-the-way-for-wearable-tech.html
Nest pushes update to Protect
White House names Megan Smith the next CTO of the US
FCC recognizes 25Mbps as competitive ground
Dyson’s Roomba competitor
http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/dyson-robot-vacuum-leak/
Facebook Frackups:
Netflix teams with Facebook to disseminate movie recomendations
6-Bit Byte:
Ikea’s new bookbook
This week on the show Erik joins me, and it is just like old times! We talk about T-Mobile’s latest consumer oriented policy, the possible implications of the launch of the HTC One (M8) running Windows Phone. Discussion of the launch of Windows 9 turns toward human computer interfaces as we move into new Beacon “Stickers”. A little bit of security talk this week as well, it seems the NSA might be helping to harden Tor, which is actually a good thing. We hope you enjoy!
T-Mobile offering year of free data to converts
http://www.androidcentral.com/t-mobile-offering-year-free-data-sprint-att-and-verizon-converts
HTC One (M8) Windows launch
Windows 9 coming on September 30th
http://www.theverge.com/2014/8/21/6052807/windows-9-preview-press-event-september
Estimote Beacon Stickers
iPhone 6 already gets redesign
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/22/us-apple-iphone-idUSKBN0GM0N620140822
Apple to ship reversible USB cables
http://www.macrumors.com/2014/08/15/new-lightning-cable-reversible-usb/
http://www.cnet.com/news/usb-type-c-one-cable-to-connect-them-all/
NSA might be tipping off Tor developers
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-28886462
Researchers hack traffic lights
This week on the show, we discuss the net-neutrality comments the FCC received, how a smaller telco hopes to shape the wireless industry in Africa, and how Amazon is going to lock horns with Square. We take a quick glance at Twitter’s aim to better it’s anti-abuse policies, as well as Apple’s diversity report. The main focus is on Wired’s piece on Snowden, how the FCC hopes to crack down on spying, and what is the best protection you can get right now when it comes to securing your online breadcrumbs. Lastly, I look forward to the 100th show, which is coming up next week.
A look at the FCC’s open internet comments
Twitter vows to improve policies
YouTube updates TV app
http://www.engadget.com/2014/08/14/youtube-tv-app/
Africell aims to disrupt telco giants in Africa
Snowden, and his legacy
http://www.wired.com/2014/08/edward-snowden/
Tor for the rest of us, device demoed at Def Con
New FCC task force for illegal use of cellular data collection
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/08/11/feds-to-study-illegal-use-of-spy-gear/
Amazon going after Square and PayPal
http://www.engadget.com/2014/08/13/amazon-square-rival/
Apple releases diversity numbers
Apple’s renewed focus on iPad
This week on the show, we discuss Sprint’s withdrawl from the T-Mobile purchase, how Samsung and Apple haven’t really gotten past their petty money issues, and Wikimedia Foundation’s list of pages removed from Google results in the EU. I spend a deal of time ranting about Lyft’s latest idea, which lead to the affirmation as the title of the show. Switching gears, we highlight a doctoral student here at CMU for her work humanizing robots of the future, and praise Yahoo and Google for promising compatible end-to-end email encryption in 2015. Don’t miss the supermoon tonight, but if you do, you can catch an encore early in September. All that and more this week!
Sprint withdraws T-Mobile bid
http://www.engadget.com/2014/08/05/sprint-tmobile/
Samsung and Apple drop legal disputes (outside US)
http://www.theverge.com/2014/8/5/5973485/samsung-and-apple-dropping-legal-disputes-outside-the-us
Lyft launching carpooling service
http://thenextweb.com/apps/2014/08/06/lyft-launches-carpooling-strangers-service-lyft-line/
CMU Spotlight: the humanization of robots
http://www.businessinsider.com/heather-knight-social-robotics-paper-2014-8
Public Wi-Fi in Russia to require personal info
WarKetteh: using household pets for wifi recon
http://www.wired.com/2014/08/how-to-use-your-cat-to-hack-your-neighbors-wi-fi/
Homeland security contractor hacked
http://boingboing.net/2014/08/06/major-homeland-security-contra.html
Yahoo to team with GMail for end-to-end email encryption
http://www.cnet.com/news/yahoo-teams-up-with-google-on-encrypted-webmail/
Wikipedia reveals ‘right-to-be-forgotten’ removed links
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-28672121
6-Bit Byte:
Disney can turn anything into a spinning top
http://www.engadget.com/2014/08/09/disney-tops/?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000595
Science News:
Supermoon tonight!
This week seems a little formulaic on the show. We follow up on the gender diversity stories from last week, eBay is beating Twitter and Google, our blood boils with revelations about the insecurity of the ubiquitous USB flash drives, and new policies and requests coming out of Russia, including registering popular online bloggers. Tor warned us this week of a possible attack in early July aiming to deanonymize users, and then we jump into product announcements. Apple will buy Swell, the podcasting app, Google is rolling out support for Hangouts for businesses, and there is a new player aiming to buy (part of) T-Mobile USA. All that and more this week!
eBay’s gender diversity
http://www.engadget.com/2014/08/01/ebay-gender-diversity/?ncid=rss_truncated
BadUSB: USB is no longer safe
http://www.zdnet.com/badusb-big-bad-usb-security-problems-ahead-7000032211/
Russia begins registering bloggers
http://gigaom.com/2014/08/01/the-registration-of-russian-bloggers-has-begun/
Russia asks Apple to submit code review
FISA court owns Verizon stock
UK’s ruling on ‘Right to be Forgotten’
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2014-07/30/right-to-be-forgotten-is-wrong
Tor warns of attack to deanonymize users
http://www.securityweek.com/tor-warns-attack-attempting-deanonymize-users
Apple to buy Swell
http://recode.net/2014/07/27/apple-to-buy-radio-app-swell-for-30-million/
Google Hangouts for business
http://recode.net/2014/07/30/google-sends-hangouts-to-work-enhances-chromebox-for-meetings/
Amazon going after Square
Iliad offer $15bill for majority of T-Mobile
6-bit Byte
HP contracts with Gilt for smartwatch
http://techcrunch.com/2014/08/01/hps-gilt-exclusive-smartwatch-puts-fashion-first/?ncid=rss
Hilton to replace keys with your smartphone
http://www.theverge.com/2014/7/28/5944499/smartphones-will-unlock-doors-at-hilton-hotels
Science News:
Scientists investigate radio bursts from space
http://boingboing.net/2014/07/29/scientists-investigate-radio-w.html#more-321393
This week on the show, I talk briefly about the reparations that Sony is paying out as a result of the 2011 PlayStation Network hack, how Amazon has quite a bit of cash flow, and what Apple’s Public Beta of OSX Yosemite might mean for the desktop experience. We dive into why Twitter, Google and Facebook having a 70/30 gender split in their workforce might not be as evil as you might think, how judges don’t seem to understand how warrants work, and the fact that Apple just patented a wristwatch. I also freely admit that I’m no lawyer.
Sony to pay for PSN hack in 2011
Less than one-third of Twitter employees are women
Amazon misses sales projections, still rakes in lots of money
Amazon announces Amazon Wallet, aiming to transition into offline point-of-sale transactions?
Judge’s warrant could undermine personal email security
http://www.dailydot.com/politics/gmail-warrant-probable-cause-judge/
Deaf advocacy groups don’t want Verizon’s accessibility argument against net-neutrality to stand
OSX Yosemite Public Beta released this week
http://www.macworld.com/article/2454516/with-yosemite-public-beta-apples-more-open-than-ever.html
Apple granted broad patent for the iTime wristwatch
Science News
You could have a Terabyte of memory in your phone
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/529386/super-dense-computer-memory/
Japan’s Prime Minister wants a robot Olymics in 2020 alongside Tokoyo games
http://www.theverge.com/2014/7/22/5927879/japan-pm-shinzo-abe-wants-robot-olympics-2020
This week on the program, we start off by talking about technology that needlessly makes life ‘simpler’, Keurig’s new anti-copying K-Cup system and GE’s foray into Phillip’s smartphone controlled lighting market. Nielsen reports what we already suspected, that streaming is taking market control from downloads, at least in the US, and Google’s anti-webspan chief, Matt Cutts is taking leave for a few months. After talking about DARPA’s emergency response robot challenge, we go into examples of things that are threats to the open internet by 2025, misuse of the ECJ’s ‘right to be forgotten’, and revelations about how little you have to do for the NSA to follow up on your internet traffic. You also might want to steer clear of Facebook, especially if your mood is volatile. All this and more this week!
Download This Week’s Episode
Keurig’s DRM for Coffee
http://www.theverge.com/2014/6/30/5857030/keurig-digital-rights-management-coffee-pod-pirates
GE to get into the smart lights market
http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/01/ge-link/?ncid=rss_truncated
Music Streaming continues market hold
http://techcrunch.com/2014/07/03/streaming-is-killing-downloads/
What will kill the free internet by 2025
http://www.theverge.com/2014/7/3/5868359/free-internet-2025-pew-report
Google’s anti-spam chief to take some time off
DARPA sets finals for robotics challenge
BBC doesn’t want Merrill Lynch article to be ‘forgotten’
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-07-03/the-bbc-doesnt-want-to-be-forgotten-by-google
Goldman Sachs got Google to delete a ‘sensitive’ email
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/03/us-google-goldman-leak-idUSKBN0F729I20140703
Simple file encryption
http://www.wired.com/2014/07/minilock-simple-encryption/
NSA targeting any private conscious individuals
http://daserste.ndr.de/panorama/aktuell/nsa230_page-1.html
Facebook Frackups:
Privacy Group files over Facebook’s mood experiment
http://www.ibtimes.com/privacy-group-files-complaint-ftc-over-facebook-mood-experiment-1619126
the digital hazard 