security – Page 202

First US Public Library With No Paper Books Opens In Texas

cold fjord writes “Bexar Country in Texas has opened a new $2.3 million library called BiblioTech. It doesn’t have physical books, only computers and e-reader tablets. It is the first bookless public library system in the U.S. The library opened in an area without nearby bookstores, and is receiving considerable attention. It has drawn visitors from around the U.S. and overseas that are studying the concept for their own use. It appears that the library will have more than 100, 000 visitors by year’s end. Going without physical books has been cost effective from an architecture standpoint, since the building doesn’t have to support the weight of books and bookshelves. A new, smaller library in a nearby town cost $1 million more than Bexar Country’s new library. So far there doesn’t appear to be a problem with returning checked out e-readers. A new state law in Texas defines the failure to return library books as theft.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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First US Public Library With No Paper Books Opens In Texas

Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 Pass 10% Market Share, Windows XP Falls Below 30%

An anonymous reader writes “With the release of Windows 8.1 to the world in October, Microsoft ended 2013 with two full months of availability for its latest operating system version. While Windows 8.1 is certainly growing quickly and eating into Windows 8s share, the duo has only now been able to pass 10 percent market share, while Windows 7 seems to be plowing forward unaffected. The latest market share data from Net Applications shows that Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 made steady progression in December 2013, gaining a combined 1.19 percentage points (from 9.30 percent to 10.49 percent). More specifically, Windows 8 gained 0.23 percentage points (from 6.66 percent to 6.89 percent), while Windows 8.1 jumped 0.96 percentage points (from 2.64 percent to 3.60 percent).” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 Pass 10% Market Share, Windows XP Falls Below 30%

Postal Service Starting To Use Mobile Point of Sale Tech

An anonymous reader writes “The U.S. Postal Service is conducting a pilot test of mobile point of sale technology in 50 facilities, using a modified iPod device and printers. During the holiday season, the 50 facilities testing mPOS processed more than 102, 000 transactions using the technology.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Finnish HIV Vaccine Testing To Begin

First time accepted submitter ultranova writes with news of a new phase in trials for an HIV vaccine. From the article: “Some 1, 000 patients throughout France and Switzerland will take part on the trials, with the first phase involving hundreds of HIV sufferers. Participant numbers will increase as the program progresses. … According to Reijonen, the GTU technology developed by FIT Biotech is also suitable for use as a preventive HIV vaccine, however, he says that such a drug is still ten years away.The central idea behind HIV vaccine development is the use of genetic immunization. Genes are introduced into the body in order to generate a controlled immune response against HIV. Gene Transport Unit (or GTU) technology refers to FIT Biotech’s patented method by which genes can be safely introduced into the body.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Finnish HIV Vaccine Testing To Begin

4.6 Million Snapchat User Names and Phone Numbers Leaked (Check Yours)

Oh dear. In an inauspicious start to 2014 for both Snapchat and its users, a website appears to have published user name and phone number information for 4.6 million accounts. Read more…

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4.6 Million Snapchat User Names and Phone Numbers Leaked (Check Yours)

Build a Motorized Convertible Standing Desk from IKEA Storage Cabinets

We’ve seen a lot of standing desks, including those made from IKEA parts, but artist/designer Kelli Anderson managed to make one of the nicest convertible options yet. With IKEA storage furniture, Google Sketchup, and help from some friends, she was able to make this simple and stunning workspace with plenty of room for everything—regardless of how she wanted to work. Read more…

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Build a Motorized Convertible Standing Desk from IKEA Storage Cabinets

The NSA Has Crazy Good Backdoor Access to iPhones

We already knew that the NSA had developed a taste for intercepting packages to put backdoors in electronics . Now, it turns out that those hacks provide it with almost complete access to the iPhone , too. Read more…

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The NSA Has Crazy Good Backdoor Access to iPhones

PC Plus Packs Windows and Android Into Same Machine

jones_supa writes “At the mammoth Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in early January, it is expected that multiple computer makers will unveil systems that simultaneously run two different operating systems, both Windows and Android, two different analysts said recently. The new devices will introduce a new marketing buzzword called PC Plus, explained Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies. ‘A PC Plus machine will run Windows 8.1 but will also run Android apps as well’, Bajarin wrote recently for Time. ‘They are doing this through software emulation. I’m not sure what kind of performance you can expect, but this is their way to try and bring more touch-based apps to the Windows ecosystem.’ Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, suggests that PC Plus could get millions of consumers more comfortable with Android on PCs. ‘Just imagine for a second what happens when Android gets an improved large-screen experience. This should scare the heck out of Microsoft.'” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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PC Plus Packs Windows and Android Into Same Machine

Convicted Spammer Jeffrey Killbride Flees Prison

An anonymous reader writes with this news from California: “According to the article, ‘Officials at the Federal Bureau of Prisons say an inmate escaped from a minimum security area of the federal prison in Lompoc. Prison officials say Jeffrey Kilbride, 48, was discovered missing at around 1:30 p.m. on Friday….A search is reportedly underway. Prison officials say Kilbride was serving a 78-month sentence for conspiracy and fraud. He was due to be released on December 11, 2015.'” Here’s why Killbride was in prison. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Convicted Spammer Jeffrey Killbride Flees Prison

60% of Americans Unaware of Looming Incandescent Bulb Phase Out

Lucas123 writes “Even though production of 75W and 100W incandescent lamps were phased out earlier this year, many U.S. consumers remain blissfully unaware of The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, an energy efficiency standard that requires an initial 30% reduction in energy use for screw-in bulbs. By 2020, the federal standard requires bulbs to use 65% less energy. According to a new survey, only 40% of Americans are aware that incandescent bulbs are being phased out. However, the federal regulations are about to impact the most popular bulbs of all — 40W and 60W lamps. As of Jan. 1, 2014, the bulbs will no longer be produced. A significant portion of those who are aware of the phase out have been hoarding the bulbs in anticipation of the ban.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Ken May

Tag: security