Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

var digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/apple/Are_iPhone_3Gs_developing_cracks’; In what appears to be an increasingly common problem, hairline cracks are beginning to form on Apple’s new iPhone 3G. While most of the cracks are reportedly affecting the white model, this is likely due to the increased visibility of the dark fracture on the white case as opposed to any differences in materials between the white and black units. At the moment, the issue seems largely cosmetic and doesn’t appear to interfere with the operation of the phone. Now bust out the magnifying glass and let us know if you’re seeing the same.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read — MacRumors forum
Read — Apple Discussions

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Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

DeviceVM’s SplashTop “instant-on” OS is based on Linux, even though it’s locked down to only run IM, Skype, media software, and Firefox, and you know what that means — it’s already been hacked wide open. Yep, the clever kids at the Phoronix forums have managed to open up the BIOS-based OS and make it do all kinds of tricks, including run other programs and boot other machines off a flash drive. The hacks are still a little complex, but with ASUS shipping tons of ExpressGate-enabled mobos and laptops and HP’s support in the Voodoo Envy 133, we’d there’s a one-click unlocker in the wild fairly soon. Anyone brave enough to install it on their machines?

[Thanks, george85]

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Filed under: Networking

Like having control of your connection to the internet? Don’t tell Dan Kaminsky that — the researcher has developed a method of DNS attack utilizing typical D-Link or Linksys routers that can allow hackers to gain command of your gear. The winner-takes-all maneuver, which is called a “DNS rebinding attack,” functions by putting JavaScript into play that fools your browser into altering your router’s configuration, thus letting the operator remotely administer the device. The concept isn’t water-tight, as it takes advantage of easily-guessable router admin passwords, though Kaminsky says the enabling bug exists as a “core issue” for browsers. The attack will be showcased at tomorrow’s RSA security conference, where it’s hoped the demonstration will raise awareness about router security vulnerability. In the meantime, we suggest you change that default password.

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

The title pretty much says it all here, folks. Just a few months after SlySoft revealed a beta of its AnyDVD HD software which obliterated BD+, v6.4.0.0 has finally arrived and proudly possesses the ability to “remove BD+ protection from Blu-ray Discs.” Among the other changes is an option to enable / disable BD+ removal, a fix for seeing a black display with some BD discs and other minor DVD-related tweaks. Brimming with excitement? Hit up the read link below — your next download awaits.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

They’ve finally, really done it. Your good friends in the hacking community have apparently come up with a solution to get you Vista — should you want it — activation free. According to a report, there’s now a cracked, full version of Vista floating around that totally circumvents that cumbersome and costly activation process. The crack supposedly stems from OEMs (and end users) that were fed up with that process, and somehow persuaded Microsoft to pull an up-up-down-down maneuver and make the OS work, sans activation. The software utilizes System-Locked Pre-Installation 2.0, embeds OEMs BIOS files (signed by Microsoft), and passes all of the company’s Windows Genuine Advantage checks. Of course, maybe it’s possible that the folks in Redmond care more about users adopting Vista than they care about them paying for it. Nah, probably not.

[Via Techdirt]

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We’re going out on a limb here and assuming that precisely no one is surprised, but yes, another e-voting machine has proven totally incapable of resisting even the most unsophisticated of hacks. Not long after California Secretary of State Debra Bowen okayed the use of systems that failed prior security audits provided they make a few last minute attempts to appear invulnerable, a security penetration team revealed that an ES&S test system was no better than the rest. Reportedly, Red Team researchers were able to circumvent physical blocks with little effort, and they were even able to access internal files by making a quick and dirty change to the BIOS and booting it up with an external memory device. Needless to say, this deceased horse has been bludgeoned quite enough, but if you’re interested in seeing a dozen pages of epic failure, the read link has got you covered. [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via ArsTechnica, image courtesy of USA Today]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Regardless of what those oh-so-knowledgeable analysts had to say, we all knew this day was coming. Yep, that highly-touted, totally “impenetrable” copy protection technology known as BD+ has officially been brought to its knees, and it’s not at all surprising to hear that we have SlySoft to thank. The AnyDVD 6.1.9.6 beta has quite a comical change log too, and aside from noting that users now have the ability to backup their BD+ movies and watch titles sans the need for HDCP-compliant equipment, it also includes a candid note to Twentieth Century Fox informing the studio that its prior assumptions about BD+’s effectiveness were apparently incorrect. You know the drill, hit the read link below to try ‘er out.

[Thanks, Aaron]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

We haven’t broken down the minutes and seconds or anything, but we’re fairly certain that July 10th wasn’t exactly ten years ago. Nevertheless, the so-called “impenetrable” BD+ DRM scheme has reportedly already been subverted, and it’s no shock to hear that the folks behind SlySoft had a hand in it. Regrettably, there’s not a lot of details beyond that just yet, but according to the outfit’s CEO, the software is ready to rock and should be released before the end of 2007. Chalk (yet another) one up to the hackers.

[Via HighDefDigest, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

For all you fanatics on the edge of your seat over the iPhone v1.1.1 hacking situation, there’s some good news on the horizon. According to Erica Sadun — one of the soldiers heading up the fight to break Apple’s stranglehold — the iPhone / iPod touch dev team have indeed managed to Jailbreak the new update. Apparently, the general-use tool hasn’t made a showing yet, but baby steps have been taken, and the goods are sure to follow. So what can you expect? Third party apps are working, but will probably need to be recompiled due to the new frameworks, Springboard won’t recognize DisplayOrder.plist (included apps now seem to be hard-coded into the Springboard app), you can activate the phone with third-party workarounds, and the Mobile Terminal and BSD suite work, as well as ARM-compiled command-line utilities. Of very interesting note: Erica says that the new firmware references both Nike and a radio, and that the devs are taking up a fund to buy a cake and deliver it to Apple, courtesy of “the Crazy Ones.” She says the Jailbreak isn’t “ready for prime time,” and based on this info we tend to agree, but if you really want the full scoop, truck over to TUAW and check out the info for yourself.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!