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Britain makes camera that ’sees’ under clothes

By Reuters
LONDON--A British company has developed a camera that can detect weapons, drugs or explosives hidden under people's clothes from up to 25 meters away in what could be a breakthrough for the security industry.

The T5000 camera, created by a company called ThruVision, uses what it calls "passive imaging technology" to identify objects by the natural electromagnetic rays--known as Terahertz or T-rays--that they emit.

The high-powered camera can detect hidden objects from up to 80 feet away and is effective even when people are moving. It does not reveal physical body details and the screening is harmless, the company says.

The technology, which has military and civilian applications and could be used in crowded airports, shopping malls or sporting events, will be unveiled at a scientific development exhibition sponsored by Britain's Home Office on Wednesday and Thursday.

"Acts of terrorism have shaken the world in recent years and security precautions have been tightened globally," said Clive Beattie, the chief executive of ThruVision. "The ability to see both metallic and nonmetallic items on people out to 25 meters is certainly a key capability that will enhance any comprehensive security system."

While the technology may enhance detection, it may also increase concerns that Britain is becoming a surveillance society, with hundreds of thousands of closed-circuit television cameras already monitoring people countrywide every day.

ThruVision came up with the technology for the T5000 in collaboration with the European Space Agency and from studying research by astronomers into dying stars.

The technology works on the basis that all people and objects emit low levels of electromagnetic radiation. Terahertz rays lie somewhere between infrared and microwaves on the electromagnetic spectrum and travel through clouds and walls.

Depending on the material, the signature of the wave is different, so that explosives can be distinguished from a block of clay and cocaine is different from a bag of flour.

Source: CNET

Google: We didn’t help the NSA (or did we?)

Posted by Chris Soghoian

Google is now the first of the major search engines and e-mail providers to make a firm statement on the issue of the National Security Agency’s wholesale surveillance of Internet content.

Google has stated it didn’t help the NSA search your e-mails. More specifically the company denies participating in the NSA’s Terrorist Surveillance Program. But the company’s carefully worded denial might not be enough to reassure savvy readers.

The Wall Street Journal recently revealed the true extent of the NSA’s surveillance system:

“According to current and former intelligence officials, the spy agency now monitors huge volumes of records of domestic e-mails and Internet searches.”

This builds on what we learned the previous week, when The Washington Post revealed that the primary motivation for the White House’s wiretapping immunity demands is to protect those firms that assisted with illegal, mass-scale surveillance of e-mail traffic.

Google has now taken the interesting step to become the first major Internet company to deny helping the NSA. In an on-the-record e-mail with a company spokesperson on Friday, I was told that:

“Google was not part of the NSA’s Terrorist Surveillance Program.”

Is that enough to reassure you?

If Google was obligated to give up search/e-mail records, it is likely that this request would be made via a Patriot Act authorized National Security Letter. A recent Journalarticle confirmed as much, stating that the information gained from National Security letters ended up in the gigantic NSA databases. But recipients of those letters may not be allowed to tell anyone about it, and may in fact be forced to lie.

The owner of an ISP who received one of these secret orders explained the significant restrictions placed upon him in a letter to The Washington Post back in 2007.

Under the threat of criminal prosecution, I must hide all aspects of my involvement in the case–including the mere fact that I received an NSL–from my colleagues, my family and my friends. When I meet with my attorneys I cannot tell my girlfriend where I am going or where I have been. I hide any papers related to the case in a place where she will not look. When clients and friends ask me whether I am the one challenging the constitutionality of the NSL statute, I have no choice but to look them in the eye and lie.

If this poor gentleman had to lie to his girlfriend and family, it’s possible that Google, if it did receive a FBI National Security Letter, might be placed in a similar position.

Careful wording

My original question to Google was, “Is Google sharing ‘huge volumes’ of search records with the government?” I never asked about the NSA’s Terrorist Surveillance Program specifically.

As Salon’s Glenn Greenwald has explained, the Bush administration has been very careful with its use of the term “Terrorist Surveillance Program.” Many snooping activities, some of which were clearly illegal, do not come under this definition. Simply put, Google could have handed over a copy of every search request and every e-mail sent by a Gmail user to the U.S. government and it would still be able to quite correctly deny participating in the Terrorist Surveillance Program.

In any case, on January 17, 2007, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announced that the Terrorist Surveillance Program would not be reauthorized by the president, but would be subjected to quasi-judicial oversight. So the Terrorist Surveillance Program, at least by that name, no longer exists, and Google could be actively handing over millions of e-mails, while the statement made by its PR people would be completely true.

Continued concerns

What if Google’s PR people are telling the truth? What if Google really didn’t help the NSA, and that the spooks are collecting millions of search records via wiretaps placed on the Internet backbone?

It’s worth pointing out that Google has stood up to the feds when they demanded search records a couple years back–but this was the DOJ, not the NSA.

The problem remains that Google is not doing a single thing to protect its customers from this kind of large-scale surveillance. While the company supports SSL-encrypted Webmail sessions, it does little to advertise it, and has taken no steps to turn it on by default.

However, the biggest problem is search. Google offers no way for its customers to search the Internet without an evil ISP (such as AT&T) from snooping in on the traffic. Google could very easily enable SSL search sessions, but has not taken any steps to do so.

When asked about the webmail security problem, and which steps customers should take to protect their search traffic from snooping Internet service providers, Google’s spokesperson directed me to the company’s much ridiculed YouTube Privacy channel.

I spent a few minutes browsing through the channel, but couldn’t find any specific advice on protecting myself from illegal wiretaps and government surveillance. YouTube seems to be a great place to find videos of skateboarding dogs, but not such a great source of privacy tips.

For those of you who care more about your privacy than cute YouTube videos, I highly recommend the Tor anonymous web proxy, as well as the Customize Google Firefox browser extension.

Source: CNET

See: Innovation at Google Video

Nokia Unveils ‘Morph’ Concept Mobile Phone

By: Cosmin Vasile, Communications News Editor

Nokia Research Center and the University of Cambridge unveiled today – Morph, a joint nanotechnology concept. The newly developed concept was launched recently alongside the “Design and the Elastic Mind” exhibition, on view from February 24 to May 12, 2008, at The Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Morph is a concept that demonstrates how future mobile devices might be stretchable and flexible, allowing the user to transform their mobile device into radically different shapes. It demonstrates the ultimate
functionality that nanotechnology might be capable of delivering: flexible materials, transparent electronics and self-cleaning surfaces.

Dr. Bob Iannucci, Chief Technology Officer, Nokia, commented: “Nokia Research Center is looking at ways to reinvent the form and function of mobile devices; the Morph concept shows what might be possible”.

Dr. Tapani Ryhanen, Head of the NRC Cambridge UK  laboratory, Nokia, commented: “We hope that this combination of art and science will showcase the potential of nanoscience to a wider audience. The research we are carrying out is fundamental to this as we seek a safe and controlled way to develop and use new materials.”

Professor Mark Welland, Head of the Department of Engineering’s Nanoscience Group at the University of Cambridge and University Director of Nokia-Cambridge collaboration added: “Developing the Morph concept with Nokia has provided us with a focus that is both artistically inspirational but, more importantly, sets the technology agenda for our joint nanoscience research that will stimulate our future work together.”

The partnership between Nokia and the University of Cambridge was announced in March, 2007 – an agreement to work together on an extensive and long term programme of joint research projects. NRC has established a research facility at the University’s West Cambridge site and collaborates with several departments – initially the Nanoscience Center and Electrical Division of the Engineering Department – on projects that, to begin with, are centered on nanotechnology.

Elements of Morph might be available to integrate into handheld devices within 7 years, though initially only at the high-end. However, nanotechnology may one day lead to low cost manufacturing solutions, and offers the possibility of integrating complex functionality at a low price.

Source: Softpedia

See: Nokia Morph Video

iPhone Buyout Offer in Germany

By: Victor Mihailescu

It was widely expected that the introduction of an official unlocked iPhone, due to European laws, would have a big impact on the dynamics of the market, but despite the unlocking coming earlier than expected, the big boom has only just arrived.

German mobile virtual network operator Debitel has announced that it will be offering a 600 Euro rebate to
people who buy an unlocked iPhone from T-Mobile Germany but sign a contract with them instead. Considering that T-Mobile sells the locked iPhone for 399 Euro, this rebate effectively eliminates the cost of getting an unlocked iPhone, and gives users the freedom to use it on the carrier that better suits their needs.

Considering that Debitel sells airtime it buys from T-Mobile and rivals Vodafone, O2, and E-Plus in Germany, users will be able to use whatever carrier they prefer. “We are happy to offer iPhone buyers the freedom of choice that customers are entitled to expect from a service provider,” said Oliver Steil, Debitel’s marketing chief.

In one swift move, Debitel has essentially eliminated any advantage T-Mobile might have had because of their partnership with Apple, and the company has no qualms with paying the difference as long as it gets them new subscribers. The company will start offering contracts starting at 40 Euro a month for 200 minutes, cheaper than T-Mobile’s base offering of 49 Euro for only half the minutes. Customers that opt for using the Vodafone, E-Plus and O2 networks will – of course – not benefit from Visual Voicemail, but all other features of the iPhone will function properly.

What is amazing about Debitel is not only the offer they are coming out with, but the frankness with which they are doing it. They are clearly offering to buy you out of the T-Mobile contract, and not sugar coating it in any way. This could be a seriously nasty development for Apple, as Debitel won’t be sharing any revenue with them, and they stand to lose a lot of potential customers who prefer the more competitive service plans or network coverage. It will also be interesting to see if this move is mirrored in France, where it could be even more popular if the unlocked version of the iPhone will indeed sell for “significantly less” than in Germany.

Source: Softpedia

Amazing! Exciting Hidden Game in Google Earth! Flight Simulator!

Fly over your favorite location

By: Bogdan Popa

When Google released the 4.2 version of Google Earth, the fans from all around the world were absolutely

amazed by the Sky function which brings a new perspective for the available imagery. As you probably

heard, Google Sky allows you to analyze the starts and the galaxies straight from your computer. Soon after that, it was discovered that Google offers many more hidden functions through the downloadable mapping tool but it never mentioned them. For example, the search giant updated the placemarks icons, replacing the old ones with newer and more attractive imagery.

But, there is something that you would never expect to see in Google Earth: the Mountain View company implements a flight simulator, an exciting game that allows you to fly over your favorite location and enjoy the collection of photos offered by the application. All you need to do is press open Google Earth and press Ctrl + Alt + A if you’re a Windows user or Cmd + Option + A if you have a Mac. Instantly, a pop-up that allows you to choose from two aircraft should be opened. As you can see by yourself, you can fly using an F16 airplane or a SR22, “a high-performance four-seat propeller airplane,” as the description states.

Then, you’re required to choose your start position: your current view, your last position in flight simulator (supposing that you used the function before) or you can take off straight from an airport. In addition, you can control the airplane with a joystick in order to become a better pilot.

What’s most interesting is that Google Flight Simulator was actually a hidden function but, once you discover and run it for the first time, it will be included in the ‘Tools’ menu of Google Earth.

This is it for now, have a nice flight without nausea or headaches. For a complete list of shortcuts for the game, visit this website.

Source: Softpedia

Ubuntu Mobile

 Introducing Ubuntu Mobile – full Internet, no compromise

Ubuntu Mobile is an Ubuntu edition that targets an exciting new class of computers called Mobile Internet Devices.
Ubuntu Mobile, based on the world’s most popular Linux distribution, and MID hardware from OEMs and ODMs, are redefining what can be done in mobile computing.

Ubuntu Mobile, a fully open source project, gives full Internet, with no compromise. Custom options may include licensed codecs and popular third-party applications.
Full Web 2.0/AJAX fidelity, with custom options of Adobe Flash®, Java, and more
Outstanding media playback so you can enjoy videos, music and photos with superior quality and easy navigation
A suite of applications that work seamlessly to meet every need of a digital parent, student or anyone who is on-the-go
Facebook®, MySpace®, YouTube®, Dailymotion®, 3D games, GPS, maps, in short, the full Web 2.0 experience delivered into your hands as a compact and powerful device that’s easy and fun to use

The product of Canonical collaboration with Intel® and the open source community, Ubuntu Mobile is the software that makes it all possible.

Just the right stuff

Ubuntu Mobile just works, and it works just right.
Just the right applications provide an uncompromised Web 2.0 experience: Web browsing, email, media, camera, VoIP, instant messaging, GPS, blogging, digital TV, games, contacts, dates/calendar, simple software updates… and lots more.
All unnecessary complexity in the user experience is eliminated.

Finger friendly, touch driven

Ubuntu Mobile is finger friendly, with no stylus needed. You drive Ubuntu Mobile with touch. Simply tap the screen or drag a finger to make gestures for intuitive navigation and control.
Tap an application with your finger to launch it, and tap menus and buttons to use them.
Swipe a web page to pan up, down or sideways.
Swipe a video, photo, song or thumbnail page to move to the next or the previous one.

Leveraging the MID

MIDs typically have the following features and attributes:
Small size/form factor
4 to 7 inch touch screen
Physical and/or virtual keyboard
Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth, GPS, WiMAX
2GB to 8GB Flash or disk storage, 256MB+ memory/512MB+ recommended
OpenGL 3D
USB, camera, head phone jack, speakers, microphone

Customizable

Ubuntu Mobile is highly flexible and customizable. It is an ideal platform for the kind of product differentiation that reaches target users and penetrates key markets.

User interface in HTML, Flash, Clutter, Python with GTK, C/C++ with GTK and Java

Different application sets for different products or configurations

Integration with popular Web 2.0 sites

Internationalization and translation support to meet market requirements

Custom sets of licensed media codecs and third-party proprietary software for commercial partners

Custom engineering

OEMs, ODMs, operators and developers can customize Ubuntu Mobile to their desired look and feel and offer just the right capabilities to meet their specific requirements. Canonical can assist through its Custom Engineering program.

For information about Canonical custom engineering services, email mobile@canonical.com.

Community

The Ubuntu Mobile community includes many individuals and organizations and always welcomes new participants and partners.

Places to get started:

For information about Ubuntu Mobile, see http://wiki.ubuntu.com/MobileAndEmbedded

For information about Intel’s MID Linux Moblin project, see http://moblin.org

More information

For more information about Ubuntu Mobile, download the datasheet.

Source: Ubuntu

Google to Launch Its Operating System Next Week

By: Bogdan Popa, Security and Search Engines Editor

A while ago, the Internet world talked about a potential GooglePhone, especially created to fight with the Apple iPhone. At that time, the Mountain View company avoided commenting on the speculation; the only thing mentioned was that Google will remain a software firm and not a hardware one. So no GooglePhone; but in the meantime, the search giant released several new mobile flavors of its products. Take the example of Gmail, Google Search, YouTube, Google Calendar. Now, what do you understand from this: Google remains a software company, but it develops mobile versions of its products? That’s right, Google wants to conquer the mobile software industry but how else can you do it if not through a mobile operating system?

The most recent rumors sustain that the Mountain View company prepares a mobile operating system that is scheduled to be released very soon, maybe sometimes next week. The folks from Engadget claim that it might be entirely based on a Linux platform, because several Googlers are quite experienced in this domain. “At Google, Andy’s team has developed a Linux-based mobile device OS (no surprise) which they’re currently shopping around to handset makers and carriers on the premise of providing a flexible, customizable system — with really great Google integration, of course,” Ryan Block from Engadget wrote.

Obviously, the entire operating system would be bundled with Google’s technologies such as search, YouTube or Gmail. Actually, I think it would probably contain all sorts of shortcuts to allow the handheld owner to access the Google services in a matter of seconds if an Internet connection is available.

But the main question is: which mobile companies will implement the operating system into their devices? As you might know, Google signed deals with some famous phone producers such as Samsung, but there is no evidence that the Mountain View company might bring the OS on their devices. In fact, the entire operating system might be only pure speculation

Source: Softpedia

Computer Intelligence Will Outpace the Human Brain By 2030

 By: Bogdan Botezatu, Hardware Editor

The computers will become more intelligent than the human beings within the next 20 years, if the computer industry keeps up with the actual progress. Scientific futurologists claim that the next 50 years will bring 32 times more technical progress than the entire 20th century.

One of the most important achievements of the next 20 years will be artificial intelligence that will reach the human capacities. American computer guru Ray Kurzweil claims that the machines will rapidly become more intelligent than humans. The apocalyptic scenarios are out of discussion, and Dr. Kurzweil claims that their intelligence will be put to work in order to solve some of the most challenging problems of the 21st century.

Kurzweil is one of the computing pioneers that could be called a technology prophet. He is deeply related to multiple fields of computing, such as optical character recognition, optical storage and automatic speech recognition. The future he described is made of machines that are able to learn how to communicate, teach and replicate among themselves.

“The paradigm shift rate is now doubling every decade, so the next half century will see 32 times more technical progress than the last half century. Computation, communication, biological technologies – for example, DNA sequencing – brain scanning, knowledge of the human brain, and human knowledge in general are all accelerating at an ever-faster pace, generally doubling price-performance, capacity and bandwidth every year,” Kurzweil claimed.

While modern computing is based on two-dimensional chips built out of silicon. However, researcher are looking for viable alternatives that would allow them to achieve chips using biological molecules, as they are able to get miniaturized way beyond the metal-based processors.

“Three-dimensional, molecular computing will provide the hardware for human-level ’strong artificial intelligence’ by the 2020s. The more important software insights will be gained in part from the reverse engineering of the human brain, a process well under way. Already, two dozen regions of the human brain have been modelled and simulated,” he said.
It is true that the human brain cannot be compared to a, say, storage server, because it can not match the machine in memory speed and capacity, but it has the unique abilities of associating and interconnected pieces of information, to perform estimations and plan.

“Once non-biological intelligence matches the range and subtlety of human intelligence, it will necessarily soar past it because of the continuing acceleration of information-based technologies, as well as the ability of machines to instantly share their knowledge,” Dr Kurzweil said.

Source: Softpedia

AMD Starts Shipping Its Tri-Core Toliman Processors

By: Bogdan Botezatu, Hardware Editor

AMD has just started shipping its latest processor offering, comprised of triple-core Phenom processors, also known as Tolimans. At the moment, the chip manufacturer is only shipping the chips to OEM vendors and system integrators, but they are not available through AMD’s retail channels yet.

The chips are 65-nanometer processors that will power AM2+ motherboards supporting HyperTransport 3. They will be included in the Phenom X3 product family, comprised of quad-core chips that come with one of the cores disabled.

The chips are alleged to come with 2MB of L3 cache, but the chip manufacturer declined to offer further details about the processors’ technical specifications. However, top-tier PC vendors including Dell and Hewlett-Packard have already announced tri-core Phenom-powered computing systems.

For instance, Dell has listed the technical specifications of its OptiPlex 740 business desktop systems, that will come with a tri-core CPU featuring 1.5 MB of L2 cache and 2MB of shared L3 cache. Dell’s tri-core update to the OptiPlex 740 family will start shipping during the second quarter of the year.

Hewlett-Packard is currently working on a desktop system powered by the Phenom 8600B tri-core processor that is alleged to reach core frequencies of 2.3 GHz. The 8600B chip will also feature 1.5 MB of L2 cache and 2MB of shared L3 cache.

UK-based PC vendor Mesh Computer has already unveiled its tri-core CPU-powered desktop systems. Both the Matrix XXX Plus and the Matrix XXX Pro computer models are built around the same AMD’s Phenom 8600 tri-core processor.

Advanced Micro devices is touting its new tri-core offering as being a better choice than dual-core chips, as the third core will bring additional horsepower in performing mundane, yet CPU cycles-consuming tasks, such as antivirus scanning. However, there are a few problems that need AMD’s attention. First of all, the tri-cores will be built on the already buggy B2 silicon stepping, that will require a BIOS patch in order to work normally. This means that the chip will lose 15 percent of its computing power to ensure its stability.

Previous rumors claim that the three-core processors will be available to OEM vendors only, so it’s going to be a long time until you see boxed versions of the Phenom 8400 running at 2.3GHz and the 8600 running at 2.3 GHz.

Source: Softpedia