Researchers at Georgia Tech and MIT have developed a proof of concept to demonstrate that it is possible to record a computer user’s keystrokes using an iPhone 4’s accelerometer. The researchers developed a method to accurately translate the vibrations from typing on a keyboard picked up by the device’s accelerometer when placed on a desk near a PC. Though they warn that hackers could potentially use their method to eavesdrop on a user’s keystrokes, they believe the actual threat is quite low.

The method, detailed in a paper titled “(sp)iPhone: Decoding Vibrations From Nearby Keyboards Using Mobile Phone Accelerometers,” works by interpreting pairs of keystrokes in successive order. According to principal researcher Patrick Traynor, assistant professor at Georgia Tech’s School of Computer Science, the method can't reliably pinpoint single keystrokes. But by characterizing the successive strokes as left-right, right-left, left-left, or right-right, and then whether the pair is nearer or further away form the device, the pairs can be statistically analyzed to represent probably letter pairs. Then those pairs can be compared to a dictionary.

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Researchers can keylog your PC using your iPhone’s accelerometer

[vidthumb http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/lifehacker/2011/10/icecreamsandwichfirstlook.jpg] Google just unveiled their new Nexus phone, the Galaxy Nexus, along with a preview of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, coming to phones next year. Here’s a look at the creamy new update to the Android operating system. More

Google just unveiled their new Nexus phone, the Galaxy Nexus, along with a preview of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, coming to phones next year. Here’s a look at the awesome new update. More

Continue reading Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich now official, includes revamped design, enhancements galore

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich now official, includes revamped design, enhancements galore originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Traditional hard drives are hitting a capacity wall—they simply can't physically fit any more data onto their discs. However, a researcher at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) has discovered a way to significantly sextuple that capacity—using common table salt. More

Continue reading Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich now official

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich now official originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The CardSharp 2 from Iain Sinclair is a folding utility knife that turns into a credit-card object when it’s not in use, suitable for storing in your wallet. It’s a clever little design, unlike a lot of credit-card tools that leave you with a rectangle of plastic in one hand and a tool in the other, the “card” folds around to become the handle.

(via Red Ferret)

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Folding utility knife that fits in your wallet

The high-definition pride of your living room may not want to hear it, but it looks like ultra high-definition TV (or UHDTV) has now taken another step towards reality. While shop-floor products remain years away, experts in the ITU Study Group on Broadcasting Service have made several agreements on technical standards for your (next?) next TV purchase. Increasing pixel count in future sets is also expected to improve viewing angles on glasses-free 3D, which needs more dots to work its lenticular magic. 33 megapixels sounds like it should be enough to work with.

Ultra HDTV technical standards agreed on, more pixels is a good thing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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