Author: kenmay

Sony Creating Sulfur-Based Batteries With 40% More Capacity Than Li-Ion

MojoKid writes: Since the original iPhone was released in 2007, we have seen some incredible advances in smartphone processing power along with a wealth of feature improvements like faster Wi-Fi and cellular speeds and larger, higher resolution displays. However, battery technology, for the most part, hasn’t kept up. There are a few major battery suppliers but Sony is currently an underdog, commanding just 8 percent of the market for compact lithium-ion batteries. Its three largest competitors — Samsung (SDI), Panasonic and LG Chem — each command around 20 percent of the market. In an effort to change that, Sony is developing a new type of battery chemistry that can boost runtimes by 40 percent compared to lithium-ion batteries of the same volume. Sony’s batteries use a sulfur compound instead of lithium compounds for the positive electrodes, reportedly allowing for much great energy density. Sulfur batteries can also supposedly be made 30 percent smaller than traditional lithium-ion cells while maintaining the same run times. The company is now working to ensure that the new battery chemistry is safe enough for commercial use. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Sony Creating Sulfur-Based Batteries With 40% More Capacity Than Li-Ion

We’re One Step Closer to Being Able to Regrow a Lost Tooth

We’re one step closer to being able to regrow a lost tooth, thanks to a new study showing it’s possible to grow multiple teeth from a single root. These teeth can then be implanted to become fully functional. Thus far it has only been tested in rats, but it could lead to a potential revolution in human dental care. Read more…

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We’re One Step Closer to Being Able to Regrow a Lost Tooth

LifeLock Agrees To Pay $100 Million Fine In Settlement With FTC

New submitter dasgoober writes: Lifelock has agreed to pay $100 million to settle charges that it failed to properly protect user data, the F.T.C. announced on Thursday. This is the second settlement between the company and federal authorities. In 2010, the F.T.C. charged the company with failing to provide strong security measures for personal data. “This settlement demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to enforcing the orders it has in place against companies, including orders requiring reasonable security for consumer data, ” F.T.C .Chairwoman Edith Ramirez said in a statement. “The fact that consumers paid Lifelock for help in protecting their sensitive personal information makes the charges in this case particularly troubling.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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LifeLock Agrees To Pay $100 Million Fine In Settlement With FTC

‘Unauthorized Code’ In Juniper Firewalls Could Decrypt VPN Traffic

m2pc writes: Ars Technica reports that Juniper Networks firewalls have been discovered to include “unauthorized code” inserted into their ScreenOS software. Juniper has has published an advisory addressing the matter, with instructions to patch the affected devices. From the Ars article: “NetScreen firewalls using ScreenOS 6.2.0r15 through 6.2.0r18 and 6.3.0r12 through 6.3.0r20 are affected and require immediate patching. Release notes published by Juniper suggest the earliest vulnerable versions date back to at least 2012 and possibly earlier. … The first flaw allows unauthorized remote administrative access to an affected device over SSH or telnet. Exploits can lead to complete compromise. ‘The second issue may allow a knowledgeable attacker who can monitor VPN traffic to decrypt that traffic, ‘ the advisory said.” The rogue code was discovered during a recent internal source code review conducted by Juniper. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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‘Unauthorized Code’ In Juniper Firewalls Could Decrypt VPN Traffic

Here’s the cool thing that happens when you pour molten aluminum inside polymer water balls

The Backyard Scientist filled a tank to the brim with water balls, which are little polymer beads that expand to slimy squishy balls when soaked in water, and then poured in molten aluminum to create some wild designs. It’s cool because with all the different ways the molten aluminum can move within a vat filled with balls, each pour results in a totally different design. Read more…

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Here’s the cool thing that happens when you pour molten aluminum inside polymer water balls

You Can Break Into a Linux System by Pressing Backspace 28 Times. Here’s How to Fix It

Hitting a key over and over again actually works for once. Two security researchers in Spain recently uncovered a strange bug that will let you into most Linux machines just by hitting the backspace key 28 times. Here’s how to fix it and keep your data protected. Read more…

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You Can Break Into a Linux System by Pressing Backspace 28 Times. Here’s How to Fix It

Pandora has to pay higher royalties starting in 2016

Pandora and similar services like iHeartRadio and SiriusXM will have to give a bigger part of their earnings to music labels starting January 1st next year. The Copyright Royalty Board has ruled that online radio stations have to pay labels 17 cents per 100 song plays by non-subscribers and 22 cents per 100 plays by subscribers. Pandora’s rate used to begin at 14 cents per 100 plays, and even then it was never profitable — in fact, it had to pay over $400 million in royalties in 2014, which was already 44 percent of its revenue. Pandora’s chief executive Brian McAndrews seems to be OK with the price increase, though. In a statement, he said : “This is a balanced rate that we can work with and grow from. This decision provides much-needed certainty for both Pandora and the music industry.” The ones who sound unhappy with the decision are the music labels, which wanted a much, much higher royalty hike. Record label representative SoundExchange was pushing for a heftier 25 cents per 100 song plays, causing Pandora investors to panic. The company’s stocks plummeted before the Royalty Board’s decision came out, and then it rose by 22 percent during after-hours trading. SoundExchange’s spokesperson told The New York Times : “It’s only fair that artists and record labels receive a market price when their music is used. We believe the rates set by the C.R.B. do not reflect a market price for music and will erode the value of music in our economy.” The group says it will review the decision and consider its options, which means it’ll likely continue to demand a higher royalty rate. Hopefully, that doesn’t translate to more expensive monthly fees for Pandora One in the future. [Image credit: Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Pandora Media] Source: The LA Times , TechCrunch , Copyright Royalty Board , The Washington Post

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Pandora has to pay higher royalties starting in 2016

Clear Ceramic Makes This Filter 10x Tougher Than Your Usual Lens Protector

This protective lens filter might look like any other, but it’s got an invisible secret. Making use of a new kind of clear ceramic, it’s ten times tougher than most conventional protective filters, so is virtually guaranteed to keep yours lens perfectly safe. Read more…

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Clear Ceramic Makes This Filter 10x Tougher Than Your Usual Lens Protector

Shelfie Lets You Download Ebooks and Audiobooks by Snapping Photos of Your Physical Copies

Shelfie, formerly known as BitLit , already lets you take a photo of the physical books you own and get matching ebook copies. Now they’re throwing audiobooks into the mix, so you can listen to the books on your bookshelf too. Read more…

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Shelfie Lets You Download Ebooks and Audiobooks by Snapping Photos of Your Physical Copies

iPhone Hacker Geohot Builds Self-Driving Car AI

An anonymous reader writes: George Hotz, known for unlocking early iPhones and the PlayStation 3, has developed an autonomous driving system in his garage. “Hotz’s approach isn’t simply a low-cost knockoff of existing autonomous vehicle technology. He says he’s come up with discoveries—most of which he refuses to disclose in detail—that improve how the AI software interprets data coming in from the cameras.” The article has a video with Hotz demonstrating some basic autonomous driving similar to what Tesla rolled out earlier this year. He’s clearly brimming with confidence about what the system can accomplish with more training. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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iPhone Hacker Geohot Builds Self-Driving Car AI