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Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 gets firmware hack for higher quality HD video recording
The Panasonic GH1 can do some great video for its size, thanks to that fancy micro four-thirds optical setup, but it's been held back the low bitrates it uses when recording. Now some enterprising hacker named "Tester 13" has reversed engineered the GH1's firmware and unlocked the true power of the camera (much like Magic Lantern has done for the 5D Mark II). In fact, the main trouble now is that Tester 13's firmware uncovers too many options: users are trying out different configurations to maximize quality without bumping into the camera's buffer limitations. The current flavors of choice include 50Mbps MJPEG at 1080p (the stock camera caps out at 720p in MJPEG), to be augmented by 32Mbps AVCHD when the crazy high-end MJPEG causes the camera to buffer overflow. It's all very technical and video-nerds-only in theory, but results speak for themselves: check out a sample video after the break. And try out the new firmware if you dare. [Thanks, Steve]
Apple keyboard gets hacked like a ripe papaya, perp caught on video
As far as Apple is concerned, the Black Hat 2009 hackers conference didn't end soon enough. Having promptly patched the iPhone vulnerability, Cupertino is facing another security hole, this time in its keyboards. A hacker going by the pseudonym of K. Chen has come up with a way, using HIDFirmwareUpdaterTool, to inject malicious code into the keyboard's firmware. While it's not yet possible to perform this hack remotely, the fact it occurs at the firmware level means no amount of OS cleanser or anti-virals will remedy it -- which might be a bit of a bother to MacBook owners who can't simply swap to an uninfected keyboard. Panic is hardly advisable, as Chen is collaborating with Apple on a fix, but if you want to be freaked out by his simple keylogger in action, hit up the video after the break.
Canon firmware hack unlocks features on DIGIC II-based cameras
This hack has been floating around the internets for a little while now, but it looks like Canon users have just recently begun to catch on to its charms, and its fairly significant benefits. For those not up to speed, the so-called CHDK firmware hack promises to unlock several advanced features of Canon's DIGIC II processor, not the least of which is support for RAW shooting, something normally reserved for higher-end cameras. Other hidden features including a live histogram, a "Zebra mode," a DOF calculator, and even a calendar, text reader, and games, among other things. While the hack should work with any DIGIC II-based camera "in theory," there's apparently only eight cameras that are officially supported, including the A610, A620, A630, A640, A700, A710, S2 IS, and the S3 IS. Of course, as with any firmware hack, you should proceed at your own risk, but those daring enough can find all the information they need by hitting up the read link below.[Via Gadget Lab]
