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New malware can live inside any USB device undetected
It turns out that the stalwart USB thumbstick, or any universal serial bus device, isn't as trustworthy as once thought. A pair of security researchers has found we need to worry about more than just malware-infected files that are stored portable drives, and now need to guard against hacks built into our geek-stick's firmware according to Wired. The proof-of-concept malware Karsten Nohl and Jakob Lell have created is invisible and installable on a USB device and can do everything from taking over a user's PC to hijacking the DNS settings for your browser. Or, if it's installed on a mobile device it can spy on your communications and send them to a remote location, similar to the NSA's Cottonmouth gadgets. If those don't worry you, perhaps that the "BadUSB" malware can infect any USB device -- including keyboards -- and wreak havoc, will. What's more, a simple reformat isn't enough to disinfect either, and the solution that Lell and Nohl suggest goes against the core of what many of us are used to doing.
IntelliPaper SwivelCards: Business cards with brains
TUAW usually doesn't talk about crowdfunding campaigns until they're live, but in the case of IntelliPaper SwivelCards, I thought I'd make an exception. The company is hoping to launch a Kickstarter campaign later this month and sent me a pack of their business cards to try out. What's so special about the cards? Well, they fold origami-like into a USB drive with a tiny amount of capacity -- Get Info showed it to be about 5.1MB -- that can hold a link to custom landing web pages, Dropbox folders, or even screen sharing software for demonstrations and presentations. Here's a video explaining how it works: What's impressive about the SwivelCards is not just the technology -- printing a USB drive onto paper -- but the fact that it enables those who hand out the cards to pull up analytics on exactly who has actually looked at the information. Having brought home a gaggle of USB flash drives from trade shows that usually have tons of empty space and a few marketing brochures on them, I think this is a great idea. Rather than wasting a perfectly good USB drive, just give the person an inexpensive paper business card that contains a clickable link to those same marketing materials. I did notice one oddity in the video and on the card -- a QR code. This makes sense, since it's quite easy to use any one of a number of iOS apps to read those codes from an iPhone or iPad since those devices don't have USB ports. So for mobile devices, the QR code serves the same purpose as the linked and configurable file on the USB drive. If you're interested in backing the SwivelCards Kickstarter campaign once it goes live, be sure to visit swivelcard.info and sign up to be notified.
Belkin's MIXIT Lightning to USB cables: A better Lightning cable?
You might think that there's not much you can do to improve on the standard old Lightning to USB cables that you get with new iPhones and iPads, but you're wrong. For one thing, the plastic-coated standard Apple cables have a tendency to fray and crack, the plastic shells can crack if the cables are dropped, and the plain white exterior just doesn't match Jony Ive's design sensibilities. Belkin went to the drawing board and came back with MIXIT Lightning to USB cables. Today I'm taking a quick look at the Metallic Cables (US$24.99 for 6-inch, $29.99 for 4-foot) designed for the iPhone 5s. Specifications Type: USB to Lightning Length: 6 inches or 4 feet (15 or 122 cm) Colors: Space Gray, Silver, Gold MFi-certified by Apple Aluminum tips, braided cable Design Highlights Hey, a USB to Lightning cable isn't all that exciting, but the MIXIT cables immediately demonstrate some advantages: first, the cable has a nice braided surface that flexes more easily than a plastic sheath will, hopefully keeping the cables from cracking or splitting for a longer prior of time. Next, they're in colors that match your iPhone 5s. I know that sounds like another non-big deal, but I am so bored of plain white and black (or sometimes pink or orange) plastic cables. These just look a lot classier, and if they happen to accentuate just how sweet that iPhone 5s looks, so much the better. The Lightning end of the cable has a plastic end that is slightly larger than that of the standard Apple cable; I think it makes it a bit easier to grab. The USB end is pretty much identical to the Apple cable in both width and length. Functionality Highlights Are you kidding me? It's a USB to Lightning cable. Plug it in, it works. It's no faster or slower, but it does look better. And if it happens to last a bit longer than the standard Apple cable because of the construction, then it's worth the money. Frankly, the stress-relief plastic on the Apple cables is longer, although that on the Belkin cables has a larger diameter. Speaking of price, the 4-foot Belkin MIXIT cable is the same price as Apple's 2 meter (over 6 foot long) cable. Apple's boring white cable is $19.99 in the 1 meter length, $29.99 in the 2 meter length. If you're just looking for cheap and don't care about the looks, I'd recommend heading over to Monoprice where you can get perfectly serviceable and inexpensive USB to Lightning cables for less than what you'd spend for either the Belkin MIXIT or Apple units. The 6-inch cable is really quite overpriced. I use a similar short cable for charging my iPhone while I'm sitting at my desk; I bought it for $12 at Monoprice. Conclusion Pricey and good-looking, like me. If you're looking for a Lightning to USB cable that's a bit more stylish than your average one, then you're going to love Belkin's MIXIT Metallic Cables. If price is more important than looks, then these are not the cables you're looking for. Move along. Rating: 2-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible
New littleBits modules make the Synth Kit more powerful and versatile
Click 'em together, make some noise. Littlebits are like Lego for music nerds (like us). That's fun and all, but currently, once you've built your mini-modular synth creation, there isn't really much else you can do with it. That won't be the case for much longer though, as three new modules are coming along to spice things up. We are raising the ceiling of complexity of what you can do with littleBits, adding wireless control, programmability, and now audio control to allow you to make sophisticated electronics in a fraction of the time and cost, allowing for whole new experiences. -- Ayah Bdeir (Founder, littleBits) A new MIDI block lets you hook into music making software like Ableton or Logic, while the CV block means you can connect your littleBits to older/analog gear. If you just want to play with sound, a USB I/O module will let you pipe the littleBits' audio directly into your PC. No word on price, but expect to see them come to market in time for the (now noisier) holidays.
Apple swapping older European iPhone chargers due to overheating risk
Apple recently launched a takeback program for faulty, third-party iPhone chargers, but should've looked inside its own glass house first. It has just issued an advisory that Apple-branded iPhone USB adapters sold between October 2009 and September 2012 could pose a safety risk by overheating. The affected model number "A1300" came with European versions of the iPhone 3Gs, 4 and 4s. The good news is that you can get it replaced free of charge with a redesigned adapter (A1400) at an Apple Store, authorized service provider or through Apple technical support. Apple has a full list of the affected countries (including most of Europe but not the UK), along with information about how to swap it at a dedicated support page. In case you've already purchased a third-party replacement adapter, Apple will also give you a full refund. Update: Apple has told us that it voluntarily introduced the program, meaning it's not a recall per se. We've update the post's headline to reflect that, and Apple's full statement is below. Apple has voluntarily introduced a program for customers to exchange the Apple 5W European USB Power Adapter which came with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S models through September 2012, because in rare cases the adapter may overheat and pose a safety risk. For full program details, visit http://www.apple.com/support/usbadapter-european/.
Jimi: A brilliant little innovation for iMac owners
The late great rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix was an innovator, doing things with amplifier feedback that had never been done before and changing the sound of rock music forever. Now design firm Bluelounge has given Jimi's name to a nifty little innovation that makes life easier for owners of the newer slim unibody iMacs. While it won't have as lasting an impact on history of the world as Jimi Hendrix's music did, the Jimi USB Port Extension (US$14.95) at least gives iMac users something to be thankful for every time they want to plug in a USB cable. Jimi is cleverly designed to transition the vertical USB port on the back of the iMac to a horizontal USB port that pokes out from the bottom of your computer. Rather than blindly fumbling around trying to plug something into a port on the iMac, it's right at your fingertips at the bottom of the display. Jimi is unobtrusive and works on all four USB 3.0 ports on the 21.5" iMac slim unibody and the three leftmost (as viewed from the back of the computer) USB 3.0 ports on the 27" iMac slim unibody. There's really not much more to be said about this little J-shaped port extender, other than if you have one of the late 2012 or newer iMacs, you need to buy at least one Jimi. The first time that you use it and don't have to grope the back of your iMac trying to find a port, you'll thank me. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible
NYT: NSA embeds radio transmitters to access offline computers from miles away
Tonight's fun NSA revelation comes courtesy of the New York Times, reporting on an agency program to access and alter data on computers that aren't connected to the internet. Cherry picked from the NSA's tool kit of developments -- often used to bug equipment before it reaches the intended destination -- the technology described relies on a circuit board or USB device (called Cottonmouth I) installed on a PC that communicates wirelessly with a base station nearby. The base station itself has already been described by security expert Jacob Appelbaum; codenamed Nightstand, it's capable of hacking WiFi networks from up to eight miles away and retrieving or inserting data as necessary. The programs described are not exactly up to date, and the NYT's experts suggest recent developments are focused on making the US less dependent on physical access to do its hacking. Like the Dropoutjeep software created to attack iPhones, we're told these techniques are designed for use in places like Iran and China. Still, with an estimated 100,000 or so installations it probably wouldn't hurt to give your USB ports and internal expansion slots a once-over just in case.
Native Union's Jump charging cable can juice up your devices on the go
It only took a little over 24 hours for Native Union's Jump, a charging cable with a built-in battery pack for juicing up on the go, to reach its funding on Kickstarter. Still, the company hasn't abandoned its booth here at CES to go out and celebrate, so we dropped in and laid some paws on the accessory. In case you need a recap, Jump consists of a central hub which contains an 800mAh battery, one braided cable with a Lightning adapter (or micro-USB) at the end, and another with a USB plug. The hardware is lightweight, easily pocketable and feels quite sturdy. Even the cords themselves feel like they can withstand a significant amount of wear and tear. While at first sight, the cables might appear as if they retract, they simply wrap around the central box and fit into small grooves. stretched from end to end, the contraption measures up at roughly 18 inches in length. On the face of the gadget sit a trio of lights that indicate the built-in battery level when a button on its rear is pressed. Not only does the device feel solid, but it's also quite smart. When plugged in, it'll make sure the gear you've connected will be charged up before topping off its own battery. While Jump will be available for $50 when it launches in May, you can snag it now through its already-successful Kickstarter campaign for $40.
Native Union's Jump is a charging cable with a little built-in battery
We've covered a few cool Native Union accessories before, but this one easily beats them all in terms of thoughtfulness. The Jump, which is debuting at CES, appears to be a Lightning or micro-USB cable that goes through a little cable wrapper, which is intentionally designed to fit into your trousers' tiny coin pocket. The fun part is that this gray pebble also packs 800mAh of battery juice (with 1A current output), so it's good for emergency use. But that's not all! You can use the Jump as a normal cable to charge up your phone, and when the latter is full, the intelligent circuitry -- which had been a tough challenge for Native Union -- diverts the power to the Jump's own battery. To put it simply: you're hitting two birds with one stone here. No need to remind yourself to plug in your portable battery separately at night. The Jump has just been launched as a Kickstarter project, and you can grab one now for as low as $30 (it's a limited offer, of course). Want more? Just add $35 for every additional Jump. Expect this handy little gadget to ship some time in May.
Korg outs two new USB audio interfaces for serious digital sounds
Most of what we tend to see from Korg involves the creation of new sounds, but the firm's just announced its new AudioGate USB DAC that promises to improve the audio files you already have. There's a choice of two hardware interfaces depending on your budget/requirements -- the DS-DAC-100 and the DS-DAC-100m. Both sport quarter-inch stereo outputs, while the DS-DAC-100 (the one without the "m") also comes with XLR and RCA connections. The main selling point being that Mac and Windows users can use the interfaces in conjunction with Korg's AudioGate 3 software to output sound in DSD with a sample rate of upto 5.6MHz. Fancy some of that? Then you only have to wait until March, when both models will be available for either $600 or $350 depending on your connectivity requirements.
LaCie partners with Christofle on Sphère: a silver-plated limited-edition hard drive
Last year at CES, LaCie unveiled the Philippe Starck-designed Blade Runner to grab the attention of those who prefer their storage gadgets to be extra dapper. This time around, the outfit has teamed up with French silversmith Christofle on Sphère. The globe-influenced external hard drive is silver-plated and touts a 1TB capacity. File transfers are sorted via a USB 3.0 connection that doubles as the device's power supply. Just like its predecessor, the shiny Sphère is going to be in short supply when it arrives later this quarter with a $490 price tag, ready to upgrade the look of that workstation. We were able to take a closer look at the Sphère just ahead of the proper start of CES 2014. Despite what appears to be a weighty silver shell, the drive is quite light. The shiny exterior may double as a mirror in a pinch, but mucking it up with fingerprints will happen quickly. Aside from the branding inscriptions on the front and the iconic blue light, there aren't any other details aside from a cable slot around back on the unit's black base. Of course, less is more definitely applies here.
Samson's Go Mic: A capable and compact microphone for podcasting
As many of my TUAW TV Live pals and my co-workers at TUAW know very well, my wife and I love to travel. Since I need to stay productive while we're on the road, I've gotten into the habit of trying to do a lot of blogging from an iPad, and it works very well. When it comes to the podcasting chores for the Daily Update, I've usually left those for one of my teammates while I'm traveling. Due to changes in both our podcast feed and host recently, that wasn't going to be a viable option for a trip I'm on, so I had to find a way to record the podcast on the iPad with the best possible quality. Fortunately, just before I left on my trip a book editor I'm working with sent me a Samson Go Mic (US$89.99 MSRP, available for $39.99 from a number of online sources) to use while recording sound snippets for an enhanced ebook. It has worked so well that I felt a review was in order. The Go Mic is designed to clip onto the top of a laptop screen, and it works just as well clipped onto the top of an iPad propped up by a Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover The mic swivels on a small ball mount, so you can orient it into a number of positions while it's clipped to a screen or your iPad. The Go Mic uses a USB to mini-USB cable for connectivity, and for connecting it to the iPad Air I found a combination of the Camera Connection Kit USB adapter and Lightning to 30-pin Dock Connector adapter worked perfectly. [No word yet if it works with the iPad Lightning USB Camera Adapter, which in theory would provide the same signal path as the combo Steve tried. -Ed.] The Go Mic has a switch that moves between omnidirectional and cardioid pickup patterns. For recording something like a podcast, the cardioid setting works well as it is very directional. If you're recording a group of people, the omni setting is perfect. There's also a center position on the switch that basically mutes the mic quite a bit – I discovered that by accident when a recording came out very quiet and I found that the switch was in the mute position. I found the sound quality to be pretty decent for a small, pocket-sized microphone that fits into its own little carrying case. While I won't say it was as crisp and clean as the audio from my usual podcasting mic (a Blue Microphones Spark Digital), it's a lot more portable and doesn't raise eyebrows in airline security lines. Samson also makes the Meteor Mic ($149.99, available for $69.99 from many sources) that comes with a built-in folding tripod. I have to say that I really prefer the Go Mic, as the microphone ends up being closer my big mouth while recording. While I started recording the podcast on the road in GarageBand for iPad, I found out from a listener that for some reason the audio playback was dropping out completely about three-quarters of the way through the recording. I decided that it would be a good idea to look at some alternative podcast recording apps. Fortunately, the good folks who make the BossJock app ($9.99) were kind enough to come to my rescue with their great software, and I was up and running the next day with a podcast that played back perfectly. I'll be writing up a review of BossJock in the near future. Hats off to Samson for making an extremely portable microphone that still offers a lot of capability at a bargain price.
EU may force Apple to change Lightning connector
EU lawmakers today agreed to a draft regulation stating that all consumer electronics manufacturers must use a common standard battery charger device. While the law may not take effect until 2017 or after, that means that Apple -- which uses its own Lightning adapter rather than the micro-USB connectors adopted by most other smartphone and tablet manufacturers -- would be forced to change its connector standard. The draft legislation could be voted on as soon as March 2014, at which time it will need to be turned into national laws by each EU state. Manufacturers will have another year after state adoption to comply, which means that 2017 is about the earliest that Apple might have to change the Lightning connector. However, this entire situation -- which was brought on by consumer advocates -- might be a moot point. A new USB connector, under design by one of the original USB architects, Ajay Bhatt, is being considered for adoption and would provide a reversible plug similar to the Lightning connector. This new standard will be called the Type C USB connector, and it might be well worth Apple's investment in time and money to influence the design to be compatible with Lightning. Other changes are included in the draft legislation, including common rules for radio equipment including mobile phones and data modems, as well as forcing manufacturers to register products prior to market release. A similar registration program is already in place in the United States, where the Federal Communications Commission must approve products prior to sale.
Next-gen USB connector will be smaller and reversible
In order to squeeze the ultra-fast 10Gbps USB 3.1 standard into the next gen of slim devices, the USB 3.0 Promoter group has just announced the USB Type-C connector. It'll be similar in size to existing USB 2.0 Micro-B connectors, while bringing USB 3.1 speeds and other distinct advantages over current cables. For starters, the new design will be reversible like Apple's Lightning ports, meaning at long last you won't have to worry about which end goes up. In addition, Type-C will bring scalable power charging and the ability to support future USB standards. The downside is that it won't be compatible with existing connectors, but if we don't have to do the flippy dance to insert a phone cable anymore, we'll take that trade-off in a New York minute.
Microsoft pulls offline USB updating instructions for Xbox One [Update: Microsoft responds]
Microsoft pulled its support page that instructed users how to update their Xbox One systems offline using a USB drive. We've included an image of the cached support page above, which is no longer available to view. The Xbox Support page instructed Xbox One owners with a two gigabyte USB stick to download one of two compressed update files to their computers, then unzip them to the root of the USB drive. The process then had owners holding the bind and eject buttons while turning their consoles on, releasing the two buttons once they hear two start-up tones. According to the now-unavailable support page, that last step told the Xbox One to search for an update from a USB drive, a procedure that isn't part of the system's initial booting process. We've contacted Microsoft for comment. Update: A Microsoft spokesperson tells Joystiq that "the site was not an alternative way to take the Day One update and customers still need to connect to Xbox Live for the update. Because of the complexity of this customer support process we've actually removed the page and we will work with customers directly to make sure they have a smooth experience."
Updating an Xbox One with a USB stick is a three-step process
Much like the PS4, prospective Xbox One owners can download the system's day-one update early to a USB stick. The process is listed on Microsoft's support page as an "emergency offline update" procedure, and boils down to a few simple steps. Those looking to update their systems offline will need a USB stick with at least two gigabytes of space on it, and will need to format it as NTFS on their computers. After checking their OS version on their Xbox One consoles, they can then download one of two compressed files to their computer from the Xbox support page, unzip them and copy the contents to the root of the USB stick. Given that the system isn't out yet and players can't check for their OS version, those looking to get a head start on the process will need to account for that missing nugget of information. After setting up their USB stick, the next step is to power off and unplug your Xbox One, plug the power cord back in after 30 seconds then hold the bind and eject buttons while turning the system on. The console will emit two power-up tones after 10-15 seconds, at which point owners can release the two buttons and wait for the system to automatically restart, completing the update process. Microsoft says the button combination forces the console to search for a USB drive update, which isn't the default chain of operations when the Xbox One normally boots up. Check out our living review of the Xbox One for more about the console ahead of its launch on Friday. [Thanks, Dylan!]
Plan ahead: Install PS4 firmware v1.5 to a USB stick right now
If you're getting a PS4 this Friday, here's a handy tip: Copy the necessary version 1.5 firmware update onto a USB stick and install it on your console that way. It's probably not the best idea to try and access Sony's servers while swarms of other people are trying to do the same thing on launch day. Simply head over to this PlayStation page and download the firmware. Then go into your USB stick and create a "PS4" folder and an "UPDATE" folder inside of that. Now it's simply a matter of copying the 308MB in files over to your USB stick and you're good to go. Speaking of launch, today our PS4 review went live, as did reviews on some of the more high-profile launch games like Killzone: Shadow Fall, Knack, Resogun and Contrast. We'll continue to roll out coverage on the launch of the PS4, so keep an eye on this link for new content as it's made available.
The seven big little details we love about the PlayStation 4 (so far)
Having spent the last year using the PlayStation 4 at trade shows and press events, we've got a fairly good idea of how games look and play on the parallelogram-shaped game box. The questions that remain largely revolve around living with the device: can it quickly switch between apps and games? how stable is online play? is voice chat clear? That kinda thing. We can't answer every query just yet, but we did spend the morning at Sony's NYC review event getting a better idea of the intricacies of the PlayStation 4. Below we've shared our favorite highlights, from party chat on a system level across all apps, to the "Play as a guest" feature -- head below and dive in with us.
Elgato Thunderbolt Drive+ SSD earns its 'plus' tag through USB 3.0 and brisk speeds
Elgato was on the vanguard of external storage when it launched its Thunderbolt SSD early last year, but flash drives have clearly evolved since then. To catch up, the company has just released its much improved Thunderbolt Drive+. What does that plus sign get you? USB 3.0 support, for a start -- you can now plug into just about any Mac or Windows PC, not just those with Thunderbolt ports. The Drive+ is also much faster than its ancestor, transferring data at up to 420 MB/s, and bakes in resistance to both dust and water. The new SSD isn't cheap when it starts at $500 for 256GB, but it may be just the ticket for those who want compatibility, speed and toughness in one box.
Dell's Project Ophelia Android stick shows up at the FCC as Wyse Cloud Connect
The summer passed without signs of Dell's Project Ophelia Android stick, but it at last appears to be getting close. The thin client has just surfaced at the FCC branded as the (now expected) Wyse Cloud Connect. While there's no mention of software in the filing, the hardware info reveals an MHL-capable HDMI connector, Bluetooth, 802.11n WiFi, a microSD card slot and USB ports for both power and peripherals. There aren't any clues as to when Cloud Connect will ship. However, the company promises device demos at the Dell World conference in mid-December -- we'll hopefully get more launch details by that point.