Video Daily: Angry former employee shuts down 100 cars remotely
Omar Ramos-Lopez, an angry ex-employee of the Texas Auto Center in Austin took out his revenge on his former employer by remotely shutting down 100 cars, using the company’s computer system.
After hacking into the vehicle immobilization system, Lopez either deactivated the starters of the cars, or activated the horns, leaving them honking all night.
80 of those affected complained to the company about missing school, work, or of having to get their car towed, or repaired.
The system, run by Pay Technologies (PayTeck) is only supposed to be used if a car owner fails to pay their loan or lease obligations.
Lopez was arrested and charged with breach of computer security.
Amazon intros Kindle software for Mac
Amazon has introduced the Mac version of its Kindle software today, expanding the platforms on which it is available to include PCs, Macs, the Kindle device, iPhones and BlackBerrys.
The software is available for free via Amazon, and lets users purchase and read e-books on their computers. Amazon offers 450,000 titles via the Kindle Store.
Additionally, Amazon said an iPad Kindle app would be available in April.
Despite selling a standalone e-reader device, Amazon says e-book sales are much more profitable, so Kindle sales are not top priority. However, Amazon remains the market leader for e-book sales and e-readers.
Xbox 360 to add USB storage support this year
Joystiq is reporting today that “USB Mass Storage Device Support” should hit the Xbox 360 console sometime within 2010, most likely with the upcoming Spring 2010 dashboard update.
Citing a document written by a “senior software development engineer,” the support will allow gamers to save and consequently load game data from USB devices, a much wanted feature.
With the support available, gamers can download Arcade games, DLC or other content right to their storage device, although it is unclear what capacity cards will be made available (minimum must be 1GB and max must be 16GB). The source also claims that “installation of a full disc-based title” is also a possibility, although the disc will still need to remain in the tray, for authentication purposes.
In regards to the minimum and maximum posted above, the document says: “The system partition occupies 512 MB of space, and by default the consumer partition occupies the remainder of the device capacity, or 16 GB, whichever is smaller.”
HTC responds to Apple patent violation accusations
Earlier this month, Apple sued rival smartphone maker HTC over violations of patents related to the iPhone, accusing HTC of infringing on up to 20 patents relating to the popular smartphone’s hardware and user interface.
Taking its time in doing so, HTC has responded today, vowing to fight the charges.
“HTC disagrees with Apple’s actions and will fully defend itself. HTC strongly advocates intellectual property protection and will continue to respect other innovators and their technologies as we have always done,” said HTC CEO Peter Chou, via a press release. “We will continue to embrace competition through our own innovation as a healthy way for consumers to get the best mobile experience possible.”
If Apple succeeds in the case, they will get an injunction on HTC, barring the company from importing and selling any of their infringing devices in the U.S. The company is also seeking monetary damages.
Google rejected on ‘Nexus One’ trademark
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has denied Google’s application to trademark “Nexus One.”
For Google, the rejection is not yet final, giving the search giant a chance to submit more evidence as well as new arguments.
“Registration of the applied-for mark is refused because of a likelihood of confusion with the mark in U.S. Registration No. 3554195,” wrote the USPTO.
No. 3554195 is a trademark of the word “Nexus” that was registered years ago by Integra Telecom, an 11-state wireline phone provider.
For their part, Integra thanked the USPTO for protecting its trademark and says they hope to work out a deal with Google. Adds John Nee, Integra’s vice president of corporate communications: “Google hasn’t contacted us since the PTO issued its objection but we hope we can work together to achieve our respective business goals.”
Five fails to secure Freeview HD bandwidth
The UK broadcasting regulator has rejected Channel Five’s request for capacity on Freeview’s Multiplex B. Ofcom was not convinced that Five was fully committed to HD broadcasting. Under the rules, the bandwidth will now be allocated to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
Ofcom has to assign Freeview HD capacity to non-commercial broadcasters if the bandwidth is not being used by commercial broadcasters. Five was unable to clearly inform Ofcom of when it will begin broadcasting HD or how it plans to maintain a daytime HD schedule.
Ofcom is believed to have been planning to give the bandwidth to Channel 4 or S4C instead, but both also failed to commit to a service that would meet Ofcom’s requirements.
Five will now have to wait until 2012 when Ofcom will again allow commercial broadcasters for pitch for HD capacity.
Sky to send 3D TVs to pubs in UK
Sky has purchased 15,000 3D televisions from LG Electronics and plans to install them in pubs around the country to promote its 3D broadcasts. Back in January, Sky broadcast a Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United and held screenings of the event in nine pubs to show off the technology.
The broadcaster is set to launch a 3D service for wide use in the UK in April, while consumer electronics manufacturers are pushing out new 3D flat-panel televisions. The industry hopes that growing interest in 3D movies in theaters will spur interest in 3D TV at home.
Sky hopes that showing football matches and other sports events in pubs in 3D will generate some interest in it. LG also benefits from the deal in that its televisions are being promoted as part of Sky’s demonstrations.
Terrorists love Facebook
Okay, while the headline may be a bit sensationalist, according to the new 2010 Digital Hate Report, terrorists and racists are increasingly turning to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to lure children.
The report is released annually by the Simon Wiesenthal Center for Tolerance, and it “aims to assist law enforcement, public officials, educators, parents and the news media to better grasp the scope of hate.”
2010DHR is based on 11,500 “problematic” sites, forums, Twitter posts and social networks and the report has found that “hate-filled” language is increasing in social networks, as well as offensive and “disturbing” video footage.
More disturbing, was the increase in “how-to” posts for suicide terrorists, including bomb making and laser technology. Terrorists are using social networks to brainwash young children into “hate-filled Islamic fundamentalist zombies,” some as young as six years old.
Android Market tops 30,000 apps
Google has told MobileCrunch today that the Android Market has reached a new milestone, 30,000 applications.
The company last reported figures in December of last year, claiming 16,000 apps.
Although they would not include numbers on paid versus free, stat site AndroLib says the ratio is about 39 percent to 61 percent, with free in the clear lead.
In comparison, the Apple app store has about 150,000 apps currently available, with both markets growing very quickly.
Nexus One for AT&T now available from Google
Google has just introduced a new version of their Nexus One smartphone which supports 3G data speeds for AT&T customers in the US and Rogers customers in Canada.
The initial version of the phone offered by Google was already compatible with AT&T’s network. However, data speed was limited because the frequency used for 3G data transmission by AT&T and Rogers wasn’t supported.
So far the new model is available only through Google’s web store. No plans have been announced to offer a subsidized version.
A CDMA version of the Nexus One, designed to work on Verizon’s network, is expected very soon.
