CrunchGear |  |
- OnStar Amends Its Terms Of Service To Allow For Tracking Without Consent
- Nvidia Reveals Kal-El’s Secret Fifth Core For Ultra-Low-Power Tasks
- Video: Developer Uses Lego Robot To Test Out iPad 2 Camera App
- Apple Donates Refurbed Original iPads To Teach For America Teachers
- DockBoss+ Connects Your Phone Or PMP To Any iPod-Compatible Speaker
- HP Board Mulls Firing New CEO
- Canon Gets In On The AirPrint Fun, Allows For iOS Printing On A Three Printers
- Hey, Did You Happen To See The Nerdiest Watch In The World?
- Apple’s iPhone 5 Makeover Won’t Carry Over To The Next-Gen iPod Touch
- Video: Kawasaki’s Power-Assist Robot Suit Helps Humans Lift Heavy Objects
- RadioShack To Start Selling The Nook And Nook Accessories On October 3rd
- Report: Next Apple Media Event Is October 4th, To Star Tim Cook And The iPhone 5
| OnStar Amends Its Terms Of Service To Allow For Tracking Without Consent Posted: 21 Sep 2011 06:13 PM PDT  Vehicle assistance service OnStar has always struck me as slightly creepy, but I can appreciate its utility unfamiliar locations and emergency situations. And the notion of a company tracking your location constantly is apparently as reassuring to some as it is disturbing to me. But I doubt even those optimistic souls would find it reassuring to learn that OnStar now reserves the right to record your location, speed, and so on “for any purpose, at any time” to “any third party” provided the information is anonymized. The changes to the TOS (noted by Jonathan Zdziarski, and also reported at Reuters) were announced this week and, to be fair to OnStar, sent to their subscribers in full. And the major changes are right there on top (PDF). But that’s cold comfort to anyone concerned with their privacy. Sharing anonymized information isn’t anything new for users of online services. Unless you actually opt out, it’s likely that most of the stuff you use online is being tracked, and that data sold in some way or another. Most companies are careful about anonymizing data, but not all data can be anonymized. A GPS record is rather hard to decouple from identity, since an intact record of a day or a week will plainly yield home and workplace locations, among other things. Cross reference that with the data they now sell to “credit card processors and/or third parties we contract with who conduct joint marketing initiatives with OnStar,” and you’ve got a nice little database of easily identifiable individuals going. It should be noted that there’s some tension here regarding what’s private and what’s public information — certainly it can easily be found out from voting, property, and tax records where someone lives and works. And the make and model of your vehicle is easily discernible by anyone nearby. But that’s a misleading way to think about it; customers agree to the TOS with the implicit understanding that their location and speed would be used for the services they pay for, and if necessary shared with law enforcement. Not only now does the TOS essentially say that as long as they take your name off it, they can sell your data to literally anyone who wants it, but they now will also continue to collect that data even if you don’t use OnStar. Again, to give OnStar credit, they say right away that you can totally deactivate their data connection by telling a representative that you want to. Hopefully the opt-out process is as easy as they say. But it’s a little odd that a company with whom you have no connection other than a piece of hardware in your car should want or be able to access that information. If you’re really intent on being invisible to them, search for OnStar and your vehicle make and model to find where the GPS unit is, and simply disconnect it. To be honest, this really isn’t such a big deal, but it’s always discouraging to see companies with sensitive data taking the route of companies like ISPs and carriers, whose data handling practices are highly suspect. Furthermore, the legitimacy of the data sharing relies on the effective anonymization of this GPS data, and they have not convinced me that they are doing this effectively. If you have OnStar, this might be a good time to question whether the utility of the service really outweighs the potential for abuse. Update: five minutes after posting this, I was contacted by OnStar, who wishes to make clear that “OnStar has and always will give our customers the choice in how we use their data. We've also been very open with our customers about changes in services and privacy terms.” I agree with the latter, but clearly the former is not true. Customers appear to have a choice between using the service and not using the service; subsequently what data is collected and how it is used appears to be entirely OnStar’s decision.
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| Nvidia Reveals Kal-El’s Secret Fifth Core For Ultra-Low-Power Tasks Posted: 21 Sep 2011 04:19 PM PDT  There has been a lot of whispering about Nvidia’s next-generation Tegra chip, code-named Kal-El (Superman’s Kryptonian name, for the uninitiated), since it was first detailed on a roadmap back in Februrary. But it hasn’t shown up quite yet in any actual handsets or tablets, though we’re told it has been adopted by the majors and will have its debut soon. Nvidia today released some new information about the SoC that confirms Tegra’s status as the brand to beat in the mobile computing world. Turns out it’s not quad-core, it’s penta-core. And the “companion core” is designed to take over while all the others go to sleep. As you have probably suspected, load balancing and optimizing processor use is important to the battery life of many devices. The screen is usually a bigger draw, but with demand for CPU- and GPU-intensive content rising, the portion of a battery used for that processing is as well. But when you’re not playing games or watching HD movies on your phone, those high-power cores don’t operate as efficiently as one designed for low-power, low-priority tasks. So Nvidia put another one on the die, a low-power optimized core, that takes over for mundane things like notification monitoring while the phone is inactive, low-bandwidth stuff like e-reading, and so on. Nvidia explains it all in this handy diagram, though be on the watch for self-congratulatory jargon (“console-class gaming” isn’t an industry standard term): It’s a bit like having a city car and a hot rod in your garage. You don’t want to drive your Aston Martin in bumper-to-bumper traffic. That’s why you have a Civic too, or perhaps a Leaf. Same here. Why use ten times the CPU power necessary to perform a simple task? You can read the rest in Nvidia’s whitepaper (PDF), but take it with a grain of salt, because TI might have some tricks up its sleeve, and even Intel might be creeping up.
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| Video: Developer Uses Lego Robot To Test Out iPad 2 Camera App Posted: 21 Sep 2011 01:40 PM PDT  So what happens when you’ve just built this awesome camera app but your client wants you to manually test it out like… 10,000 times? You have two options: you can spend the rest of your earthly days pressing shutter, save, and repeating the process orrrr you can just build yourself a robot finger out of Legos. Simple enough, yes? It sure seemed to be for the guys over at Pheromone Labs. After their client asked for between 10,000 to 15,000 manual load tests of the application they built, the team figured a little ingenuity would save loads of time and energy, reports TUAW. Ingredients: a Lego Mindstorm kit and a few capacitive styluses. Easy as that. While the end-product (video below) is more exciting than you’d assume, none seem more pleased with it than Jon Masse, a member of the developer team and the one who blogged about the experience.
Granted, Pheromone Labs’ robotic finger is much less intense than this seemingly useless life-sized robotic hand, but then again the automatic picture taker actually has purpose. And is thus human*. *JK The Robot (English version) from Pheromone Lab on Vimeo.
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| Apple Donates Refurbed Original iPads To Teach For America Teachers Posted: 21 Sep 2011 11:50 AM PDT  It’s always nice to see mega-brand corporations give a little something back. For the most valuable company in the world, Apple, it’s only fitting that what they give back would be one of the more valued devices on the market: the first generation iPad. Last spring after the iPad 2 was announced, first-gen iPad owners were told they could return their old tablet to an Apple retail location and it would be donated to low-income teachers working with the organization Teach For America. If you aren’t already familiar with it, Teach For America is a program that takes some of the brightest college grads in the country, gives them a quick five-week training course, and then sends them into the more impoverished districts across the country to be teachers. This is meant to help them better understand the achievement gap in the U.S. So why Teach For America? Well, besides the fact that it’s a smart organization that has the potential to make a difference, Steve Jobs’ wife, Laurene Powell sits on the TFA board of directors, reports Fortune. We’re not sure just how many first-gen iPads Apple actually collected during the initiative, but it was enough to make sure every one of the 8,000+ TFA corps members got their very own. Though it’s a great start, one iPad per classroom seems a bit ineffective. However, one teacher from St. Louis found that her kids would get work done more efficiently if they knew that they could play with the iPad when they finished. A pretty smart implementation of the device with just one per classroom, but hopefully they’ll be adding the iPad 2 to their collections once the rumored iPad 3 makes its debut. Started by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, Apple has expanded from computers to consumer electronics over the last 30 years, officially changing their name from Apple Computer, Inc. to Apple, Inc. in January 2007. Among the key offerings from Apple’s product line are: Pro line laptops (MacBook Pro) and desktops (Mac Pro), consumer line laptops (MacBook) and desktops (iMac), servers (Xserve), Apple TV, the Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server operating systems, the iPod (offered with...
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| DockBoss+ Connects Your Phone Or PMP To Any iPod-Compatible Speaker Posted: 21 Sep 2011 10:56 AM PDT  One end of this cable connects Apple’s proprietary 30-pin connector and the the other end connects to an audio jack or mini USB port. You can then hook up any PMP or phone to any set of Apple speakers, thereby turning what once was an iPod-only party into one that supports Archos, Android, and anything else you can think of. It will be available for $30 on September 28th and should help folks who may want to send sound to their Bose SoundDocks or built-in car iPod docks. While the utility is limited, I do love the name: DockBoss. When I read it, I imagine the guy from the JEGS commercial is screaming it in an echo chamber.
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| Posted: 21 Sep 2011 08:49 AM PDT  Rumor has it that HP isn’t quite happy with Leo Apotheker’s plans for the company and that he may be fired less than a year after taking the job. As you’ll recall, Apotheker’s background is in SAP and massive business apps and, because when you have a hammer everything looks like a nail, he figured HP could make all sorts of cash selling the same software to businesses while killing and spinning off various parts of their hardware business. As Dan Frommer writes:
According to Bloomberg, eBay CEO Meg Whitman is in the running for the position. HP’s stock has dropped by nearly half since Apotheker came to power, from $42 to $22 and the investors expressed “near universal opposition” to his acquisition of Autonomy Corp., an information management company.
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| Canon Gets In On The AirPrint Fun, Allows For iOS Printing On A Three Printers Posted: 21 Sep 2011 08:15 AM PDT  AirPrint allows for iOS printing on a select number of HP printers. Well, that list just got a little more competitive thanks to a Canon. This marks the first non-HP option for AirPrint. Previously, users had the choose of HP laser printers or HP all-in-ones or, you know, HP photo printers. Now, the PIXMA MG8220, MG6220 or MG5320 all support wireless iOS printing, which makes the world a better place. Canon also announced that from here on out, AirPrint will be supported on the majority of PIXMA inkjet printers. This follows Epson’s release stating that its Printers would be AirPlay-friendly in the near future as well. Next up, hopefully, is universal wireless print support for Android devices. Hopefully. Maybe. Probably not. Canon Inc. is a multinational corporation that specialises in the manufacture of imaging and optical products, including cameras, photocopiers, steppers and computer printers. Its headquarters are located in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan.
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| Hey, Did You Happen To See The Nerdiest Watch In The World? Posted: 21 Sep 2011 07:09 AM PDT  No? Well here it is: it’s the Click watch and it’s a standard digital timekeeper with either DIP switches or a tiny rotating switch that you use to set the features. Thats right – you need a small stylus or paperclip to look at the date on this thing. I get a kick out of nearly everything about this watch except that I can’t imagine when anyone would wear this in real life. The band looks like an IDE cable and it comes in multiple colors and styles including midnight black (for those late night LAN parties). It costs about $150-$175 and is available now at Watchismo.
As aBlogToRead notes, these features are for when you “really want to step it into Comic Con mode.”
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| Apple’s iPhone 5 Makeover Won’t Carry Over To The Next-Gen iPod Touch Posted: 21 Sep 2011 06:58 AM PDT  In the past few months, have you felt like something’s missing? Apple’s new Fall release strategy has made it seem like someone just knocked Christmas right off the calendar, and so of course we’re all thinking: “You’ve made me wait, Apple — this better blow my mind.” Well, have hope for the iPhone 5 because apparently the next-gen iPod touch isn’t much to get excited about. According to sources from MacRumors as well as separately leaked info from a Concord Securities analyst, many of the hardware changes we’ll be seeing on the long-anticipated iPhone 5 won’t be showing up on the next iPod touch. We’ve been expecting (based of course on rumors, speculation, and minor leaks) that the iPhone 5 may perhaps be a bit wider, with a larger edge-to-edge display, a thinner body, and an 8-megapixel shooter. The sources claim that none of this will carry over to the iPod touch, but instead the next-gen device will come out in a white model as well as black. The sources also said that an oleophobic coating would be added to the display to keep it smudge-free, along with an enhanced ambient light sensor. The sources expect the next-gen PMP to be announced alongside the iPhone 5, which we expect to go down on October 4. Past that, the next iPod touch should be pretty similar to its predecessor, which begs the question: What’s going to happen to the iPod touch line? Standard Apple procedure has always been to launch their latest and greatest iPhone in the Summer, with the next-gen iPod touch following along in the Fall. With rumors that this generation might not get the full makeover, and the dual-launch strategy being imminent, it’s possible that Apple is slowing things down with the iPod touch. Though sales aren’t bad per se, the iPod touch isn’t flying off shelves like it used to. Started by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, Apple has expanded from computers to consumer electronics over the last 30 years, officially changing their name from Apple Computer, Inc. to Apple, Inc. in January 2007. Among the key offerings from Apple’s product line are: Pro line laptops (MacBook Pro) and desktops (Mac Pro), consumer line laptops (MacBook) and desktops (iMac), servers (Xserve), Apple TV, the Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server operating systems, the iPod (offered with...
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| Video: Kawasaki’s Power-Assist Robot Suit Helps Humans Lift Heavy Objects Posted: 21 Sep 2011 06:16 AM PDT  Japanese tech powerhouse Kawasaki is working on the so-called Power Assist Suit, a wearable robot that helps humans carry objects weighing 30-40kg without any effort from the muscles. The suit is actually one of quite a few similar models currently available in Japan. The Kawasaki robot features a total of four motors in the parts covering the hips and knees (see picture below). The control unit and lithium battery are placed in the part placed around the lower back. According to Kawasaki, the self-supporting robot is designed in a way that wearers don’t feel the weight of the suit itself when moving around. The Power Assist Suit can be adjusted to the length of the wearer’s legs and doesn’t take more than a minute to put on and off, Kawasaki promises. The company wants to commercialize the robot after testing it out in its own factories for one to two years. Here’s a video that shows a human walking around with the Power Assist Suit:
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| RadioShack To Start Selling The Nook And Nook Accessories On October 3rd Posted: 21 Sep 2011 05:56 AM PDT  The full line of Nook wares are hitting Radio Shack stores and RadioShack.com beginning October 3. The Nook will join the Kindle and a dozen generic ereaders within the 3,000 Radio Shack locations and select franchises throughout the US. These stores will carry both the Nook Touch and the Nook Color along with a likely stunted line of accessories. The increased Nook distribution comes as Amazon is expected to unveil a completely new line of Kindle readers, which will likely hit the same Radio Shack stores slightly after the Nook gets comfortable. But even with new goods coming from Amazon, an additional 3,000 more retail locations is a timely win for Barnes & Noble. With the huge Christmas season just ramping up, the Nook readers will hit the de facto mall electronic store just in time. The Kindle recently hit Radio Shack stores back in June. With the addition of the Nook line, Radio Shack joins the exclusive club of retailers to offer both of the popular ereaders. The nook is an electronic book reader produced by Barnes & Noble and runs on the Android platform. The nook will compete with the Amazon Kindle, Sony Reader, and other readers. It is said to include Wi-Fi and AT&T 3G wireless connectivity, a six inch E Ink display, and a separate, smaller color touchscreen that serves as the primary input device. The device will also have a MicroSD slot for extra storage. The nook has a user replaceable battery...
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| Report: Next Apple Media Event Is October 4th, To Star Tim Cook And The iPhone 5 Posted: 21 Sep 2011 05:16 AM PDT  After months of leaks and speculation, it seems as if Apple is finally ready to unveil its next iPhone. AllThingsD pegs the announcement date as October 4th, which falls in line with most of the previous rumors concerning the next iPhone’s fall rollout. With Steve Jobs gone, his hand-groomed successor Tim Cook is expected to take over the dog and pony show. Apple’s future likely hinges more on his on-stage presence than just a piece of hardware. Steve Jobs is a masterful salesman. He previously used his keynote addresses to show the world why they wanted his latest toy. He would pull the product out of his pocket, pull back a black sheet or simply stand in front of a massive screen and, even for just a few moments, make the most mundane feel life-changing. That was the power of Steve Jobs: his passion alone drove sales. Surely if Steve likes it, then we will, countless Apple loyalists said after each Applenote. But Tim’s in charge now. He’s at the helm of Apple’s massive machine and to delegate the role of chief Apple spokesperson to anyone else would undercut his own role completely. During Steve Jobs’ medical leave, Phil Schiller took over the keynotes for Macworld and WDC, but per AllThingsD’s source, Tim is going to take the stage and announce the next iPhone. It is, after all, his company now and he has massive New Balances to fill. Tim should have some help, though. Steve Jobs rarely did keynotes alone. Expect department heads and marketing people to play wingman and help Tim Cook along. October 4th. That’s (reportedly) the day that Apple will move into the Tim Cook era with a little help from the iPhone 5. Started by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, Apple has expanded from computers to consumer electronics over the last 30 years, officially changing their name from Apple Computer, Inc. to Apple, Inc. in January 2007. Among the key offerings from Apple’s product line are: Pro line laptops (MacBook Pro) and desktops (Mac Pro), consumer line laptops (MacBook) and desktops (iMac), servers (Xserve), Apple TV, the Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server operating systems, the iPod (offered with... Timothy D. Cook is Apple's CEO, who took over from Steve Jobs on 25 August 2011. In his previous position as COO, Cook was responsible for all of the company’s worldwide sales and operations, including end-to-end management of Apple's supply chain, sales activities, and service and support in all markets and countries. He also headed Apple’s Macintosh division and played a key role in the continued development of strategic reseller and supplier relationships, ensuring flexibility in response to an...
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