Tag Archives: Google

Chinese Hackers Who Exploited Google Found U.S Government Data Too

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After falling victim of cyber attack from China back in 2010, Google had disclosed to the public about its discovery that the attack was highly sophisticated and a breach to intellectual property.  While the method of hacking wasn’t elaborated at that time, an investigation was launched which gained some notable results.  It turns out that the attack did not only expose the vulnerable nature of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer but also revealed its main target of penetrating the information database of the US Intelligence.  These findings totally negate earlier claims that the attacks were targeting the Gmail user accounts of human rights advocates.

8a6ff google china img1 Chinese Hackers Who Exploited Google Found U.S Government Data Too

At the initial stage of the attack, only a few important individuals were targeted and were led to install malware which paved the way for hackers to infiltrate several other networks aside from Google.  The hackers were smart enough to know very well their desired targets and what they wanted from them.  After successfully leading their targets to click a malware-infested link or file on the Internet Explorer, they were able to gain access to sensitive and confidential intellectual property.

The Washington Post has expressed that the amount of stolen information is not yet clear.  However, they have admitted that the breached database contain information on thousands of court orders in the US which revolve around the country’s surveillance measures.  Once the subjects of surveillance are identified, the hackers can find a way to destroy valuable information and help these subjects avoid investigation by getting them out of the country.

Other sites have also claimed that they were victims of cyberattacks and all of them are blaming the attacks on the Chinese government.  Apple, Facebook, The Wall Street Journal, and others all claimed that their sites were also hacked.  The Wall Street Journal, in particular, has divulged that their journalists were targeted for espionage by the Chinese government.

The Pentagon has released a report which has claimed that the government and military of China have been exercising cyberespionage on a wide scale which has targeted the US government and business-related computer networks as well.

While all evidences are pointing towards China, the Chinese government vehemently denied its involvement with any forms of hacking or cyberespionage.

(source)

Google H840 Might Become Nexus Q 2G, Leaked From FCC

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Google’s Nexus Q was designed as a media player that can stream video and music content from a smart phone, tablet and the Internet to the TV. Sadly, it had a short lived run. However, it appears that Google might have a new media player on its hands. Called the Google H840, the device made an appearance recently at the FCC and is being hailed as the next-gen version of the Nexus Q.

5a68b Google H840 Google H840 Might Become Nexus Q 2G, Leaked From FCC

Details about the new product are very few on the ground; there are no drawings, photos, manuals or specs found on the FCC site and this might be due to a confidentiality request on Google’s end. But it’s been reported that the H840 works as a media player with an external power source, more or less confirming that the device isn’t a new tablet or smartphone from Google. Aside from that, the only thing that’s clear about the device is that its model number is H2G2-42, which is quite a nice ode to Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

There wasn’t any mention of a Nexus Q iteration at the just concluded Google I/O but there have been rumors that Google might have some surprises in store on June 10. It will be quite a coup if Google does unveil the H840, a new Nexus 4 and the Android 4.3 while Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference is ongoing, and a lot of consumers will undoubtedly be eagerly waiting to see if it happens.

How Steve Jobs Felt About Products Like Google Glass (Circa 2007)

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d0520 Google Glasses Thumb How Steve Jobs Felt About Products Like Google Glass (Circa 2007)

With all of the talk around wearable computing lately, most notably Google’s Project Glass, many might wonder how Steve Jobs would have felt about Google Glass, and the potential for Apple to enter that market with a competing product. Jeff Soto recalls a moment from his time as an Audio Test Engineer at Apple that could provide some food for thought on what Steve might think of Google Glass and similar projects.

d0520 Google Glass 1024x576 How Steve Jobs Felt About Products Like Google Glass (Circa 2007)

From an article on Soto’s blog, I AM NOT A ROBOT, entitled Steve Jobs’ Take on Google’s Project Glass:

As soon as I saw the video for Google’s Project Glass I instantly recalled a funny story from my time at Apple. I was once at a Town Hall meeting in Cupertino where Steve Jobs commented on this type of wearable computing. An Apple employee in the audience asked Steve a question to the extent of: “How can we reach out to our leadership if we have a really good idea”. Steve immediately put him on the spot and made him pitch the idea in front of everyone there. An opportunity to pitch Steve Jobs. What?

The employee proceeded to pitch an idea about glasses you can wear that display various types of information. A heads up display a’la terminator cyborg vision if you will. He continued to explain how he wished he had a way to see projected information while he perhaps went for a run outside. Keep in mind this is happening in a room filled with a lot of people.

Steve immediately shot his idea down and told the guy that he would probably trip and fall if that were the case. Steve also suggested he should get a girlfriend so he has someone to keep him company while running. I can not watch this Project Glass video without recalling this moment. So if you’re wondering what Steve would think about Project Glass, that’s pretty much it.

Update: I had a few people ask me when this happened. If I remember correctly this was during the summer of 2007.

The referenced YouTube video is as follows:

d0520 QrF5 9PnIe8 How Steve Jobs Felt About Products Like Google Glass (Circa 2007)

Meta 1 Headset Lets You Play 3D Objects Like Google Glasses

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The Meta 1 3D Headset is a futuristic pair of glasses that enables you to connect virtual reality with the real world. If you’re a 3D virtual reality fanatic and you’ve always wanted to play around the technology while at the same time keep in touch with reality, the headset is definitely a must try.

fbbf8 meta 1 ar headset Meta 1 Headset Lets You Play 3D Objects Like Google Glasses

The 3D headset is now an official Kickstarter project and hopes to raise 100 grand in pledges at least within 30 days. Its ‘meta’ technology is the brainchild of Meron Gribetz who is a fan of augmented reality himself. He’s a computer and neuro science major from Columbia University.

The terms ’augmented’ and ‘virtual’ reality may be interchangeable and confused with one another but that’s understandable as we have already heard those words when Google Glass was announced several months ago. While both glasses offer unique viewing experiences, we must take note however that they are actually different in various ways.

For one thing, Google Glass features a small display which allows you to see alerts and read different information such as train schedule, guide to a bookstore section, and even the distance between you and a friend that you are meeting up. On the other hand, the Meta 1 3D headset doesn’t give you such information and instead lets you play around virtual 3D objects and mix these objects with your physical world.

The 3D headset is still in the development stage which explains why the Kickstarter project is meant for a dev kit of the Meta 1. The size may not be as compact as the Google Glass and the frames seemed uncomfortable to wear because of its squared shape. It’s probably better to just wear it inside the house as the headset is mounted with a 3D webcam which may attract a lot of public attention and perhaps arouse suspicious feelings from anti-terrorist individuals.

The goal for making the Meta 1 3D headset is to create HUDs that are akin to the ones seen in Minority Report and Iron Man. In the future however, developers would unite and create various apps for the headset. Until then, we have enough time to think of several possibilities that we can do with the 3D headset once it hits the market.

(source)