Find Our Latest Video Reviews on YouTube!
If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It’s free!
In the United Kingdom, Labour MP Tom Harris is asking Parliment to consider his 10-Minute Rule Bill, which asks that, among other things, the maximum sentence for hacking is raised from 6 months to 2 years, and that jail terms for unauthorized modification of computer material be between 5 - 10 years. The bill also asks that a specific law be created against “denial of service attacks”, where a flood of emails is used to overload and crash a computer system. Harris believes that harsher penalties are needed against computer crimes in order for courts and prosecutors to take them seriously, and uses the example of an Exeter University student that hacked into a US Government laboratory’s computer network, but was only ordered to do 200 hours of community service.
The media like to imagine that hacking, virus-proliferation and denial-of-service attacks using email are the product of bright but lonely, socially challenged teenagers sitting in their bedrooms. This is an outdated, inaccurate and, I think, dangerous notion. Those who regularly and increasingly hold website operators to ransom are more likely to be members of an organised crime syndicate than the school computer club.
Read More 
| BBC News
Advertisement
The forums over at nwizard are abuzz with the possibility of a Nintendo wireless router for the Revolution, which would allow it - and the Nintendo DS - to connect to the Internet. The specs are rumored to have the router connect via USB 2.0 to a users computer and rebroadcast their internet connection. I’m not sure how this differs from standard routers - I’ll be interested to see how it’s priced compared to non-Nintendo branded gear.
Read More | NWizards
In quite possibly the strangest corporate cross-promotion ever Papa John’s is now offering a free (after rebate) Blackberry 7100g phone to customers who place an online order for Pizza, drinks, and a side. A two-year service agreement is required so it sounds like a fairly standard cellular deal to me. What I don’t get is what the link between hot, fresh, cheesy pizza, and cutting edge wireless devices.
Read More | Wireless IQ
Latest Gear Live Videos
In releasing OS 10.4 (Tiger) Apple certainly managed to present Windows XP with some serious competition. Deeply integrated features like Spotlight and Dashboard brought it head and shoulders above many other operating systems. Like all operating systems it had a few flaws (of which this editor noticed the WiFi issues the most) but luckily Apple announced the 10.4.2 update today which should fix the majority of the problems encountered so far. Updates include:
- File sharing using AFP and SMB/CIFS network file services
- Single sign-on authentication and reliable access to Active Directory servers
- Autologin for managed user accounts
- AirPort and wireless access
- Core Graphics, Core Audio, Core Image, including updated ATI and NVIDIA graphics drivers
- Finder updates including finding on Kind and using Slideshow
- Synchronizing your iDisk with .Mac
- Installation reliability
- Managing Dashboard widgets
- Address Book, Automator, iCal, iChat, Mail, Safari, and Stickies applications
- Compatibility with third party applications and devices
Check your Software Update panel for the goods! I did and so far I’m quite happy (other than the install failed the first time, but I think there was a download glitch). This update is one of the rare OSX updates that requires a restart.
Read More | Mac OS 10.4.2 information
Less than a week after tragedy struck the city of London, a Windows virus is being distributed through an e-mail that claims to have amateur footage filmed minutes after one of the bombs exploded in the London Underground subway system. The letter reportedly looks like a newsletter from CNN, with the subject line reading, “TERROR HITS LONDON”. The body of the letter tells the reader to click on the attached file, “London terror moovie.avi”, to view the amateur footage.
Anyone clicking on the file will not be shown a video. Instead their PC will be infected by the as yet un-named Trojan. Next time the compromised machine is started, it will report in to the virus creator and become part of a spam-sending zombie network. Because it relies on people clicking on the attachment, the malicious program can affect Windows 2000, 95, 98, Me, NT, XP and Windows Server 2003.
Read More | BBC News
Microsoft New Remote Keyboard and Wireless Desktop
Posted by Rob Stevens Categories: Home Entertainment, Peripherals,
Microsoft’s Hardware division unveiled some fun new products today. First up is the Remote Keyboard for Windows XP Media Center Edition, designed for those of you that want a wireless keyboard with Media Center-specific functions to help replace that remote control. It’s got a 30-foot wireless range, and a key lock to prevent accidental activation. The media keys are backlit, to aid controlling the media center in a darkened room. It’s even got a pointer nub and mouse buttons (on opposite sides of the keyboard) so that you can mouse-around without putting down the keyboard. No word on whether or not it is popcorn or soda proof, but I doubt it. MSRP is $104.95, but expect it to hit stores around $99.95.
The other new keyboard is an update to Microsoft’s Wireless Desktop package. The Wireless Desktop 5000 has keys dedicated to photo editing, and the mouse features Microsoft’s new “High Definition” optical technology (which we assume is simply a higher scan rate for the mouse, aiding in precision). The keyboard has the same “comfort curve” as the Wireless Desktop Comfort Edition that was released last year. Finally, Microsoft’s Digital Image Standard 2006 software is bundled in, so you can get started putting mustaches on your grandmother right away. It should retail for the same price as the Remote Keyboard.
Read More | Microsoft Entertainment Hardware
Swag…and a Quick Update! Live from MacWorld Expo
Posted by Kristin Wenzel Categories: Accessories, Features, Misc. Tech,
Oh yes, there’s swag. I scored a bunch of pens (my favorite is my shiny brushed aluminum M Audio pen!) and saw a ton of awesome stuff. I might even check out of the convention early and go back to the hotel to do my writeup, after nabbing a bunch of business cards to remind me of what’s new and cool. But first, a quick list of what’s hot:
Mac-cessories for Girls
Ladies, ever get tired of having to ditch your girly handbag or swanky purse because there wasn’t somewhere for your iPod or laptop? Well, fear not. There’s a slew of products out that not only feature pod-storage, but pod windows! That’s right, you can show off your iPod, or just get quick access to it, without digging through your bag. And Toscano has a whole line of feminine laptop cases that won’t cramp your style or look like a backpack or briefcase, while still allowing you to tote around your PowerBook or iBook.
Funny Shirts
Best shirt design of the day goes to the “Mac to the Future!” shirt - yes, it looks like the “Back to the Future” logo. Hilarious. I think I’m going to get one for my boyfriend, the biggest Mac geek on the planet.
Custom iPod, PowerBook, and Macintosh decor
Need your iPod engraved? How about a custom etching on the case of your PowerBook? I found a place that will do it for you, and does a damn good job of it too. These designs are totally sweet and they do custom work. More when I get back to the hotel and do my big writeup, but if you want a custom look for your Mac, Etch a Mac does great work.
iPod Everything
So. Many. iPod Accessories.
Whoa.
Over and out!
Live from MacWorld Expo: “A Line of Powerbooks!”
Posted by Kristin Wenzel Categories: Announcements, Features, PC / Laptop,
iBooks. TiBooks. Powerbooks. I’ve never seen so many portable Apple Computers in one place. I’m sitting outside the exhibition hall waiting for the Expo to start and everyone here is absorbed in their personal slice of Mac Heaven. Every car parked outside has an Apple logo affixed somewhere, every backpack has an iPod cord trailing to headphones. I’ve seen more iPod Shuffles than I can count. The last time I experienced anything of the sort was the OS X 10.4 Tiger release! People are lined up to get inside, waiting for what mysterious goodies await inside.
A random passerby summed it up best:
“Dude, it’s like… look. A line of PowerBooks!”
And here’s the kicker - I took the subway from my hotel to the convention center… and even the subway trains are covered with colorful iPod logo advertisements.
Yes, it seems like Boston has become Cupertino for the week — and with this weather (Dashboard says 70 degrees and climbing) it’d be an easy mistake to make. More when I get inside. This is crazy. In a good way!
Have you ever tried to access a website from your mobile phone only to find that the site wasn’t phone friendly? That problem will soon become a thing of the past, as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has approved the suffix .mobi to be used for mobile phone friendly websites. Many powerful mobile phone makers and operators lobbied for the suffix, in hope that it will encourage websites to create mobile phone sites and in turn cause consumers to upgrade their phones to those with Internet access. You can look for the new .mobi websites to be out next year, featuring limited memory and bandwidth fit for a small screen.
Read More | PC Magazine
This week’s release list is topped by Clint Eastwood’s latest masterpiece of film-making – Million Dollar Baby. This great film is full of drama, emotion and great acting. If this type of movie is right up your alley then go ahead and add this one to your collection, if not, then there’s plenty of TV on DVD available for your viewing and purchasing pleasure. From TV classics to today’s hit animated series there’s something for everyone’s taste on this week’s line up.
Million Dollar Baby ~ Clint Eastwood
Cry Baby Director’s Cut ~ Johnny Depp
A Very Long Engagement ~ Audrey Tautou
The Nanny - The Complete First Season ~ Fran Drescher
Tales from the Crypt - The First Season ~ John Herzfeld
Unfaithfully Yours (Criterion Collection) ~ Rex Harrison
The Best of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe ~ Marsh Lamore
Night Moves ~ Gene Hackman
Sealab 2021 - Season 3 ~ Harry Goz
Titus Season 1 & 2 ~ Christopher Titus
Hercules The Legendary Journeys - Season 6 ~ Kevin Sorbo
Love at First Bite ~ George Hamilton
Teen Witch ~ Dorian Walker
The Best of the Original Mickey Mouse Club ~ R.G. Springsteen
Max Dugan Returns ~ Jason Robards
Bill & Ted’s Most Excellent Collection ~ Keanu Reeves
The Chronicles of Narnia ~ C.S. Lewis
Le Notti Bianche - Criterion Collection ~ Maria Schell
Advertisement
© Gear Live Inc. {year} – User-posted content, unless source is quoted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Public Domain License. Gear Live graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, videos, articles, blogs, forums, scripts and other service names are the trademarks of Gear Live Inc.