Freecom’s Hard Drive Secure: RFID keycard required

Posted by Mark Rollins Categories: Storage

Since we live in an age of personal security, it is important that the valuable information on our hard drives is locked down under lock and key.  Fortunately, Freecom has released the Hard Drive Secure.

The Hard Drive Secure is a compact and portable external hard drive that can only be accessed with the use of an AES-encrypted RFID keycard.  Passing the card through the reader gives the user access to their data in just seconds, while maintaining that extra level of security.

Read More | Freecom

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Ladybag Alerts You to Missing Keys

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Clothing, Design, Misc. Tech

Students at Canada’s Simon Fraser University have come up with an idea to remind you if you forgot your cell phone, keys, or other important items before you leave your home or office. Utilizing RFID technology, they have created the Ladybag. The handbag reacts by showing what is missing on its LED display. Taking it one step further, the bag reflects emotions via sensors. Grab its sides and it shows a happy face. Play with the zipper and it shows nervousness. While we are not sure that we like the second attribute, we can’t wait until this prototype is picked up by an enterprising backer.

Read More | Ladybag Project

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RFID Tagged Disks May Put a Halt to Piracy

Posted by Brian Viele Categories: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Movies, Rumors

Movie makers are planning to begin to use RFID tags embedded within media to prevent playing of pirated disks.  The technology will be applicable to DVD’s, HD-DVD’s and Blu-Ray disks.  Essentially, the system will read the ID tag to ensure the disk is authentic, which will require the unit 1) To be able to read RFID tags and 2) To be able to connect to some database to retrieve valid ID tags. All of this is going to be, of course, at the consumer’s expense.

I have a few issues with this upcoming system.  First of all, there will undoubtedly be ways to rip and re-burn the video into some generic form that will not require the player to scan the RFID.  Otherwise, it will make recording home movies and such impossible, so it doesn’t totally rid the potential of pirated media.  Additionally, when these new security measures come into affect, people with older systems that do not have the RFID capability will be forced to upgrade in order to view the new releases.  At $500 a pop for the low-end Blu-Ray and HD-DVD players today, I find it obscene to expect consumers to purchase a new device to incorporate new anti-piracy technology that likely will not be totally effective. Unless U-Tech, IPICO or the movie makers decide to upgrade consumers current equipment for free, I don’t think many people will find this a great idea.

Read More | VNUNet

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