jeffmoses.com

2012-02-12T11:12:00.002-05:00

The RCA USB Wall Plate Charger Adds USB Ports to Your Wall Outlets, No Wiring Required [Stuff We Like]

2012-02-12T11:06:00.000-05:00

The RCA USB Wall Plate Charger Adds USB Ports to Your Wall Outlets, No Wiring Required [Stuff We Like]:

The A/C adapters that come with your gadgets only charge one device at a time, and you need to buy extras if you want some permanently stashed in your go bag. The $20 RCA USB Wall Plate Charger turns one of your wall outlets into two USB ports, for a mini charging station anywhere in your home. More »

Make Portable Coffee Bags for Better Coffee Anywhere [Coffee]

2012-02-12T11:04:00.000-05:00

Make Portable Coffee Bags for Better Coffee Anywhere [Coffee]:

If you're sick of using generic instant coffee at work or out camping, Instructables user claven20 suggests making your own portable coffee bags using tea bags for delicious coffee no matter where you are. More »

Google Drive cloud storage service launching soon, says WSJ

2012-02-09T19:08:00.000-05:00

Google Drive cloud storage service launching soon, says WSJ:

Google Drive, a long rumored cloud storage offering from the search giant, is apparently set to be launched soon, according to the Wall Street Journal. Unfortunately, that window is still a vague "weeks or months," but it is said to be a free service for basic storage with "large amount[s] of files" coming at an additional fee. The service would take on services like DropBox and Box.net directly, possibly undercutting the popular web storage and sync solution on price. In addition to syncing files between your computers and Google's servers, Google Drive service would also presumably integrate with Google Docs and other Google services. Google also offers those services to business customers, and Google Drive is also said to play a...

iPad 3 announcement coming in March

2012-02-09T08:49:00.000-05:00

iPad 3 announcement coming in March:

AllThingsD is reporting that Apple is going to hold their now annual iPad introduction event in the first week of March.

Convert AAA Batteries Into AA Batteries with Tin Foil [Macgyver Tips]

2012-02-03T18:36:00.000-05:00

Convert AAA Batteries Into AA Batteries with Tin Foil [Macgyver Tips]:

If you run out of a charge on a pair of AA batteries but have some AAAs laying around, reddit user Its738PM suggests using a strip of tin foil to convert the AAA battery into a AA battery. More »

41,000-strong Kelihos botnet back from the dead

2012-02-03T18:26:00.001-05:00

41,000-strong Kelihos botnet back from the dead:

The 41,000-computer botnet known as Kelihos (or Hlux, depending on who you ask), temporarily disabled by Microsoft and Kaspersky Lab in September, is back — and will likely keep coming back until the botnet master is found. A blog post by Kaspersky Lab’s Maria Garnaeva states that while the sinkholing strategy originally used to take down Kelihos provided a quick fix, “It is not very effective if the botnet’s masters are still at large.” Changes in the encryption and packaging of the botnet's messages mean that the original sinkholing approach is no longer effective, a new sinkhole would have to take these changes into account, and if the botnet master has a list of active router IPs, he or she can just push out another update...

Apple’s iTV launch reportedly hampered by display availability

2012-02-03T18:26:00.000-05:00

Apple’s iTV launch reportedly hampered by display availability:

Apple has been widely rumored to be readying a Siri-enabled television for release this year, but a new report claims component availability issues will prevent the highly anticipated “iTV” from launching in the first half. Citing unnamed sources within Apple’s supply chain, DigiTimes on Friday reports that Sharp, rumored to have been contracted to supply display panels for Apple’s debut HDTV, is not yet ready to ship the indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) panels Apple will use in its iTV. According to the site’s sources, upcoming HDTV models from Samsung and LG will occupy much of the OLED panel capacity during the first half, so Apple has chosen to instead utilize IGZO panels. Sharp is reportedly not yet ready to mass produce its latest IGZO panels, however, and Apple’s iTV launch may have been pushed to the second half as a result. Apple’s iOS-powered iTV will reportedly support apps and feature voice controls powered by Siri as well as access to on-demand content through iTunes.

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The Psychology of Fanboyism

2012-02-03T18:22:00.000-05:00

The Psychology of Fanboyism:

Hypocrisy is one of the only things we absolutely despise in other people yet staunchly defend in ourselves. That’s the very definition of the word. Of course we can rationalize our own hypocritical behavior because we understand why we’re behaving a certain way.

What does this have to do with fanboyism? Let me tell you about how I became an Android enthusiast (ok, fanboy) and you’ll understand.

Tinkerability

Ever since I chose to use IBM compatible PC’s as a youngster, I’ve had an almost irrational feeling of negativity toward Apple as a company. Even back then I understood that the more open PC architecture was more in line with my way of thinking. I wanted to be able to open up my own computer and tinker with it, and the PC platform allowed for that. Apple, on the other hand, owned everything from the hardware to the software to the level of “tinkerability” with its more closed, proprietary system.

This closed system allowed Apple to develop a more highly polished end product since they didn’t have to worry about being compatible with anything other than themselves. From this walled garden arose a symbol of solid usability, security, and style. For many, that’s more than enough. For me, it was too rigid and limited. Tinkerability factor close to zero.

iWon’t. Ever.

In 2007, all my friends and co-workers were getting iPhones and praising its simplicity and usability. It irritated me, mostly because I knew they were right and their phones were way better than my Windows Mobile Moto Q9c. But I would not budge on principal alone. In my head, Apple was evil and I would never give in, ever. So, for a little while I was running around with a sub par phone experience telling myself that it was perfectly functional and totally usable. The growing iPhone fanaticism was also really getting on my nerves and added greatly to my negativity toward Apple and iPhones.

My Hero

Then, in October of 2009, Sprint released the HTC Hero and my life changed. Sure, I had seen the G1 before, but it felt unpolished and, frankly, too “bricky” for my tastes. But the Hero sparked something in me that I can only now see as a reaction to my disdain for anything from Cupertino. Suddenly, I felt there was a true competitor to Apple’s dominance in the smartphone market. And since it was the ONLY viable competitor, I literally jumped at the chance to get on board. So much so that I over-swung and became exactly what I hated most about the iPhone scene…a fanboy. I wear Android shoes. I have several Android t-shirts. I have Android figurines and wind up toys. I have a stuffed Android, Android notebooks, a laptop sleeve, an Android bumper sticker…the list goes on. I even design my own Android products! Yes, I’m an Android Fanboy in every sense of the word.

Passion and Warfare

I have no problem with my fanaticism since I don’t see it as anything but the expression of my enjoyment of the platform. But if I mentally reverse it and I think about an iPhone user in my place, I have a hard time with it. I know it sounds ridiculous. They have just as much right as I do to express their devotion to their platform of choice. Who am I to judge them?

Urban Dictionary defines fanboyism as “the collective outlook and behavior of a group of people concerning a subject…which when challenged results in an antagonistic, passionate, and unreasoned response.” Because of the disproportionate amount of devotion to a fanboy’s subject of choice, any opposing viewpoint is magnified and seen as a challenge to what they hold dear. This is human psychology. Our brains are just wired this way. From a neutral 3rd party’s point of view, both sides are exactly the same…both hypocritical and defensive, and both simply protecting what they feel passionately about. Sometimes our fanaticism can run so deep that our hatred of opposing beliefs becomes irrational. This is how wars get started.

Recognizing You Have a Problem

It’s only recently that I’ve come to realize that I’m just as bad as the hipsters I mentally berated. Both sides of this issue have every right to feel what they feel. Sure, I’ll still never buy an Apple product, but I have nothing against those who do. I still participate in jab sessions with iPhone friends and co-workers, but it’s all just good-natured ribbing. Besides, we all know in the end that Android rules and everything else drools. Fact.

Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

Somebody's watching: how a simple exploit lets strangers tap into private security cameras

2012-02-03T18:20:00.001-05:00

Somebody's watching: how a simple exploit lets strangers tap into private security cameras:

Last week, a blog called Console Cowboys exposed a security vulnerability in some models of Trendnet home security cameras. Following the instructions on the site, thousands of streaming personal IP cameras can be accessed. Links to the compromised feeds spread quickly on message boards like Reddit and 4chan, where the adolescent quest for the surreptitiously-viewed nipple kicked into high gear.

Of course, nudity was found: a woman taking off her pajamas in her bedroom, a young mother standing next to a baby crib at night. Screenshots were made and posted to 4chan for teenage boys to ogle. These cameras were purchased by people who believed they would be making their home or workplace more secure. Instead, they became victims of an...

These Are the Five Repeating Home Maintenance Tasks You Probably Forget To Do [Household]

2012-02-03T18:20:00.000-05:00

These Are the Five Repeating Home Maintenance Tasks You Probably Forget To Do [Household]:

Whether you're renting or you own a home, it's easy to let repeated tasks of home maintenance slip your mind. Over on Apartment Therapy they've outlined the five repeating home maintenance tasks most people forget and a simple way to remind yourself to do them. More »

See the other side of Earth in NASA's new photograph

2012-02-03T18:19:00.000-05:00

See the other side of Earth in NASA's new photograph:

North and South Americans have seen their continents from space in 2012, and now NASA has released a second "Blue Marble" image, this time centered on Africa and Asia. Like the first, it's a composite of several images taken by the Suomi NPP satellite, which orbits Earth from 512 miles above it. Since that's too close to view earth from the perspective seen here (which shows the Earth as it would look like from 7,918 miles away), six different orbits were combined into one photograph.

Since it was posted last week, the first shot of Earth from space in 2012 has become one of the most popular images on Flickr, with around 3.3 million views as of today. The original Blue Marble picture, taken in 1972 by the crew of Apollo 17, is one of the...

Alienware X51 review

2012-02-03T18:18:00.000-05:00

Alienware X51 review:

Do you identify yourself as a PC gamer? Or do you prefer consoles, perhaps? Truth be told, there's not a lot separating the two these days. With notable exceptions, today's top games are built for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, and unless you can't live without the likes of Mario, Solid Snake or Master Chief, you'll likely pick based on the controller you prefer, graphical fidelity, and the distance you sit from your screen. Inevitably, tradeoffs have to be made. There's a lot to be said for vegging out on the couch after work with a good game, but consoles don't often play nice with mouse and keyboard, and don't usually render games at true 1080p. Meanwhile, the gaming PCs that can are typically huge and bulky.

That's why Alienware's X51 is so...

The Best Calendar App for Linux [Linux App Directory]

2012-02-03T18:17:00.000-05:00

The Best Calendar App for Linux [Linux App Directory]:

Linux users have a few calendar programs to choose from, but none of them are particularly spectacular—in fact, most of them aren't very good at all. As such, we're bending the rules of the App Directory and recommending that you use the awesome Google Calendar webapp for all your scheduling needs. More »

CCleaner for Mac Comes Out of Beta, Adds New Browser and Disk Cleaning Features [Mac Downloads]

2012-02-01T17:25:00.000-05:00

CCleaner for Mac Comes Out of Beta, Adds New Browser and Disk Cleaning Features [Mac Downloads]:

Mac OS X: CCleaner for Mac has been in beta for awhile, but now Mac users can enjoy the final version of our favorite Windows utilities. If you're a little starved for disk space or just want to engage in some early Spring cleaning on your Mac, CCleaner is now finished, stable, and ready to help you out. More »

How to Build a (Nearly) Hack-Proof Password System with LastPass and a Thumb Drive [Video]

2012-01-25T12:04:00.000-05:00

How to Build a (Nearly) Hack-Proof Password System with LastPass and a Thumb Drive [Video]:

It seems like every day there's news that a new site or service has been hacked. The intruders make off with usernames and passwords, and even if they're encrypted the service forces users to change them. This week it was DreamHost, and last week it was Zappos. More »

Article: Western Digital hard drive prices rose 47 percent after Thai floods

2012-01-24T13:16:00.001-05:00

Western Digital hard drive prices rose 47 percent after Thai floods
http://www.theverge.com/2012/1/24/2729692/western-digital-prices-thailand-floods

(Sent from Flipboard)

JeffMoses.com

Building tomorrow's car today: the self-driving vehicle nears the mainstream

2012-01-23T09:15:00.000-05:00

Building tomorrow's car today: the self-driving vehicle nears the mainstream:

The notion of a self-driving car has been steadily foregrounded since Google's autonomous vehicles were noted by the New York Times in 2010. Wired's Tom Vanderbilt takes an extensive look at the technology as a logical extension of the features we already enjoy — and the potential it has to change the notions of driving and car ownership. Multiple manufacturers including BMW, Audi, and Toyota are all working on their own versions of computer-controlled driving systems, with Alan Taub, vice president of research and development for General Motors, predicting the technology will be a standard feature by 2020. While it seems futuristic on the surface, we already live in a world where computer-assisted blind spot warnings, cruise control,...

Chaotic Moon Labs' Board of Awesomeness - YouTube

2012-01-20T22:33:00.000-05:00

Chaotic Moon Labs' Board of Awesomeness - YouTube: ""

Could OLED Displays With Solar Panels Lead to Self-Sustained Smartphones?

2012-01-20T22:18:00.000-05:00

I have wondered why this hasn't been an option all along. I mean, how hard is it to make the back of a smartphone solar?

Could OLED Displays With Solar Panels Lead to Self-Sustained Smartphones?:

Now that the push into HD displays, quad-core processors and 4G LTE radios is in full swing a lot of manufacturers are looking into ways of making their device’s battery life last more than a couple of hours. We told you about how Samsung was going to look at tweaking radios for better battery life, Motorola is releasing phones with giant 3300mAh batteries and so on. Well others are looking into more efficient smartphones in a completely different direction.

Arman Ahnood, a researcher for the London Centre for Nanotechnology has a prototype that uses solar cells to collect wasted energy from OLED displays. Relying on an array of solar panels that both surround and sit beneath the display, the system averages 11 percent energy capture efficiency that peaks at 18 percent efficiency. Before you scoff at that realise that there is still room for improvement.

According to Ahnood, only 36 percent of light generated is projected outward. Right now, this system is able to generate five milliwatts of additional power on a 3.7 inch screen but it shows considerable promise for the future. So while we may have a while before this becomes a mainstay in our phones it’s nice to see that the battery life issue is finally being addressed. Hit the source to read in detail about this upcoming technology.

Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

$35 Raspberry Pi Model B computer shows off AirPlay capabilities [video]

2012-01-20T22:15:00.000-05:00

These little things could be great for the hacker community. I would love to see some other options though. Perhaps a VGA port for video along with mini HDMI, Bluetooth support and and Standard SD card for loading custom firmware/OS's.... Might as well put usb on the list too...

$35 Raspberry Pi Model B computer shows off AirPlay capabilities [video]:

Not long ago we published a story about Raspberry Pi, a $35 Linux-based single board computer that is still in development. Now, a Model B version of the device is being demoed and it shows off the small computer’s AirPlay streaming capabilities. The video shows one of Raspberry Pi’s developers using an iPad to stream a video clip to the Raspberry Pi Model B device using AirPlay without a hitch. The developers behind the tiny and affordable computer have said they hope the gadget will eventually be used in schools, although it’s still unclear when the company will begin shipping devices to consumers. A video of Model B working seamlessly with AirPlay follows after the break.

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Apple Escalates Android Attack, Fires at Samsung's Galaxy Nexus

2012-01-20T20:45:00.000-05:00

Apple Escalates Android Attack, Fires at Samsung's Galaxy Nexus:

Two important developments today in Apple’s legal spat with Samsung.

First, a German court handed the South Korean company a setback, rejecting one of the seven patent infringement claims it had brought against Apple. In the court’s view, Samsung’s claim that Apple violates this particular patent, which relates to 3G/UMTS wireless standard, isn’t valid, though the presiding judge hasn’t yet explained why that’s the case.

Far more interesting is this second bit of news coming out of the German courts today. Evidently, Apple has decided to assert its slide-to-unlock patent against Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus. This is the first time Apple has fingered the Nexus as an infringing device, and its decision to do so appears to be a significant escalation of the company’s campaign against Android. Not only is the Galaxy Nexus one of Samsung’s hero smartphones, it’s also Google’s Android 4.0 reference device.

In fact, it’s the only smartphone shipping with Android 4.0 right now. In other words, it’s the latest “pure Google” phone. Which is noteworthy.

“Judging by the first three weeks of 2012, Apple’s intellectual property assertions against Android continue to escalate,” patent analyst Florian Mueller told AllThingsD. “Samsung appears to be no less determined to fight. Apple’s supplemental infringement contentions targeting the Android 4.0 lead device are an unequivocal signal to Google that Apple doesn’t shy away from a frontal assault.”

A few favorite wallpapers

2012-01-20T20:13:00.002-05:00

Acer chairman eyes MacBook Air-like ultrabooks for PC growth

2012-01-20T07:36:00.000-05:00

Who will make the best macbook air crappy knockoff this year?

Acer chairman eyes MacBook Air-like ultrabooks for PC growth:

Acer chairman JT Wang on Thursday reaffirmed the company’s dedication to the new “ultrabook” market, further distancing his company from the low-margin netbooks that have dominated its PC lineup in the past. Following the success of Acer’s first-generation ultrabook — the Aspire S3 reportedly shipped between 250,000 and 300,000 units during its first quarter of availability — Acer plans to launch new ultrabook models in both the second and third quarters this year. According to DigiTimes, Wang estimates that Windows and Intel-powered ultrabooks will account for between 25% and 35% of the company’s PC sales in 2012. Wang expects notebook shipment volume to slide between 10% and 15% sequentially in the first quarter, however he expects full-year shipments to grow 10% compared to 2011. While sales in the U.S. and Europe are likely to remain relatively slow according to Acer, the company projects strong sales in Brazil, the Philippines, Thailand and other Southeast Asia markets.

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Father of Microsoft Windows NT joins Xbox team

2012-01-20T07:35:00.000-05:00

What is microsoft up to?

Father of Microsoft Windows NT joins Xbox team:

Dave Cutler, who has been called the “father of Windows NT” has joined Microsoft’s Xbox team. “Dave is one of our brightest minds and is currently working on projects that will help advance our goals in the consumer space as we continue to grow the Xbox from a game-centric console to a complete home entertainment device,” a Microsoft spokesperson told ZDNET‘s Mary Jo Foley, who confirmed the move recently. Reportedly, Cutler will be tasked with taking Xbox “beyond a gaming platform” which could mean Cutler will work on creating the rumored Xbox 720 set-top box experience. In July, we exclusively reported that Microsoft will unveil the Xbox 720 during the E3 trade show later this year.

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