Tech Remedy

Apple Rumored to Have Ordered 7.85″ Displays…iPad Mini?

apple, cool stuff, Hardware, news, tablets 5 Responses »

Oct 182011

iPad Mini?

There are a few rumors floating around that Apple might be planning to release an iPad Mini in 2012. The rumors range from a smaller form-factor tablet to a tablet the same size as the iPad with a much lower price point. To top off the rumors, suppliers have leaked information that Apple has ordered some 7.85-inch touch displays. Well, that is interesting! With Amazon’s announcement of the Amazon Kindle Fire, Apple might be scrambling to maintain its place at the top of tablet mountain. One of my chief complaints about the iPad is its size. It’s not very useful for carrying around with you.

The rumor that Apple will release an iPad with the same form-factor and cheaper hardware is also interesting. To make something as popular as the iPad more affordable would certainly be a huge selling point. My dream is still a completely open and unlocked Android Tablet in the 7-inch to 8-inch display size at a decent price. The Huawei tablets come the closest to what I want, but something with Honeycomb would be great. We will see what happens and will continue to keep our readers informed.

Steve Jobs Wikipedia Entry

apple, computer humor, cool stuff, iPhone, Mac 1 Response »

Oct 172011

Oh man…this is terrible and awesome at the same time. It appears that someone made an edit to Steve Jobs’ Wikipedia entry comparing him to his own products. Very clever…I doubt it stayed up for very long!

click image to enlarge

ICMP with IPv4 vs. IPv6: How secure? (just a little food for thought)

cool stuff, Network Security, news No Responses »

Oct 172011

Fancy Graphic!

Co-Authored by “Beef Supreme”.

Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) is a required protocol tightly integrated with IP. ICMP messages, delivered in IP packets, are used for out-of-band messages related to network operation or mis-operation. Of course, since ICMP uses IP, ICMP packet delivery is unreliable, so hosts can’t count on receiving ICMP packets for any network problem. Internet Protocol security (IPsec) uses cryptographic security services to protect communications over Internet Protocol (IP) networks.

IPv4 uses a 32-bit addressing structure, which means that 4.3×10^9 addresses (2^32) are theoretically possible, although as we know many addresses are reserved for alternate usage. IPv4 addresses are divided into 4 octets, although they are more commonly expressed in dot decimal notation, for example 192.168.0.1. IPv4 addresses are divided into 5 classes, A through E, and each class is assigned to a certain type of business or client or type of usage. IPv4 addresses are commonly converted to website or domain names, which requires the use of DNS, or Domain Name Systems, to translate between numeric IP addresses and their corresponding domain names.

By contrast, IPv6 is a relatively recent standard. It uses 128-bit addressing, which means that a theoretical 3.4×10^38 addresses are possible under this scheme (2^128). To put that in perspective, the standard subnet in IPv6 contains 2^64 number of IP addresses, or the square of the total number of IPv4 addresses possible. IPv6 addresses are written as 8 groups of 4 hexadecimal digits separated by colons and still makes use of classes and DNS.
So, why do we need all of this change? Are we worried about security with the new IPv6 standards? According to Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel, technology grows at an exponential rate. Moore’s Law, as it is now know, says that the number of transistors on a chip doubles every two years. This theorem has also carried over to other areas of technology growth. Technology guru Ray Kurzweil says that all technological change follows an exponential curve, an idea he fleshes out in the Law of Accelerating Returns, and it has been very apt for IP addressable devices as well. In fact, the last blocks of IPv4 addresses will be allocated by the end of this year, meaning that we exhausted the pool in just 22 years.

IPv6 has other advantages as well, other than just more addresses. Due to the exponentially larger address pool, IPv6 will allow the continued roll out and development of packet-switched technologies into areas of the world which are not currently supported. It will allow billions of new devices to be connected quickly and easily, everything from smartphones and tablets to your new car. It has built-in support for mobile devices through Mobile IP. It is also more secure than IPv4 because it has been designed from day 1 to incorporate IPsec from end to end, with a much more robust ICMP standard.

With regard to technology, IPv6 is different from IPv4 in two major ways. The first is that the ping sweep or port scan, when used to examine the hosts on a subnet, are much more difficult to complete in an IPv6 network. The second is that new multicast addresses in IPv6 would not enable a hacker to find a certain set of key systems (routers, servers, etc.) without some degree of difficulty. Beyond these two differences, sweep techniques via ICMP in IPv6 are the same as in IPv4. Additionally, IPv6 networks are even more dependent on ICMP to function properly. A network that ordinarily required only the sending of 256 scan probes now requires sending more than 18 quintillion scan probes to cover an entire subnet. But even at a scan rate of 1 million probes per second (more than 400 Mbps of traffic), it would take more than 28 years of constant scanning to find the first active host, assuming the first success occurs after iterating through 50 percent of the first 1.8 quadrillion addresses. If we assume a more typical subnet with 100 active hosts, that number jumps to more than 28 centuries of constant 1-million-packet-per-second scanning to find that first host on that first subnet of the victim network. So, with the newer ICMP standards, the limitations are generally with the IP traffic flow and not the coding itself, making IPv6 a more secure option in addressing scheme.

I love being a student (>.<) Really.

Network Security, news 1 Response »

Oct 122011

Thank You Steve

So.
Here’s a little something different, in the wake of the passing of Steve Jobs, and the product wars between Amazon and Apple.
The following are actual posts I wrote for one of my classes (online portion) I’m taking this semester. We have to discuss cybersecurity topics weekly for grading and to share ideas about the current state of cyber security tech in general, so I figured I could provide some entertainment, especially since I have been so ridiculously occupied to not have written anything in quite a while. Enjoy.
________________________________________________________
The question:

A recent security report has identified three “tectonic forces” of change: the technologic shift (the proliferation of mobile and connected devices), the economic shift (the virtualization of operations), and the demographic shift (the role of collaboration and social networks). Each of these forces can have a significant impact on IT security. Use the Internet to research these changes and how they could impact security. Summarize your research/findings as your forum post.
______________________________________________________________
My response:
Cisco’s 2010 report on the tectonic forces of change presents many points for consideration. I am going to start with the demographic aspect of this concept. Social networking and similar forums are fast becoming the chic, en vogue method of connecting people in this day and age of instant gratification. Only the newest, hippest, slickest method of status updates, media and photo sharing seem to be keeping the interest of the public. In relation to security, there are thousands of opportunities for privacy and security to be compromised. Some examples are as innocent as advertisers farming our personal data via Facebook, grocery shopping club memberships, or our Twitter feed in order to find more opportunities to make money. Or they could be as dire as brute force attacks directly on any account we have to log into for access, such as our Netflix, Amazon or ESPN Insider. It gets even worse for those who are not as experienced or internet –savvy, because they are more likely to click on pop-ups, post information without realizing the potential risks.
The economic shift is definitely leaning towards virtualization of major computer and network operations. As companies grow, and more people are conducting business online – the need for more power, more bandwidth, more access points grows along with them. Cloud computing and virtual machines are a growing trend. Google Inc. and Microsoft’s Azure are examples of popular cloud services, which would enable businesses to operate with less hardware, from more places and wider collaboration. Which also presents wider security risks, as the need to increase cloud security expands daily, almost hourly.
The technological shift has a great example that occurred earlier this year – the last block of IPv4 addresses were released for distribution, making the need for IPv6 addressing active. This means with so many active URLs and web addresses being used and introduced daily, more people going mobile with smartphones, laptops, tablets & Blackberry units, the opportunity for attacking the networks and the circles of access surrounding these points becomes wider. IT security needs are constantly changing more to human error than tech hardware error – Google’s previously unhackable Chromium platform and the “CR-48” cloud laptop project was in fact, hacked in April 2011, after the DefCon black hat/white hat challenge to do so was presented. Not long after, the Apple Mac OS platform was also hacked, exploiting several vulnerabilities in the iPhone and Snow Leopard software code from people who were attempting to jailbreak their cell & internet access points from their iPhones to use carriers other than AT&T and Verizon.
________________________________________________________
Question:
Why is the speed of attacks making the challenge of keeping computers secure more difficult?

My response:
Most cybercrime attack teams or individuals have lots of free time to dedicate themselves to finding new ways to break down security, or are able to network and gain the latest tools and scripts to concentrate their efforts, so if there are a 1000 attackers working on exploiting a breach on 1000 different computers, it has been estimated that it would need 10 IT security techs working against every 1 attacker or something really ridiculous like that – forgive me, I forget the exact proportions, but that is the general idea.
___________________________________________________________
Question:
Discuss why delays in patching are making information security more difficult.

My response:
Because most developers are on a fast pace to release software to keep up with retail demands and profit margins, often times the code is not fully tested for security integrity, so that the patches come post-release – however, the hackers & attackers anticipate that lag time and are able to focus exclusively on breaking through the vulnerabilities immediately.
____________________________________________________

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/vpndevc/security_annual_report_mid2010.pdf

Review of Amazon’s Wi-Fi, 6″ E Ink Display Kindle

cool stuff, Hardware, news, Uncategorized 7 Responses »

Oct 122011

Kindle 6" E Ink with WiFi via Amazon.com

After years of wonderful reading with my 2nd Generation Kindle, I thought it was time to upgrade to the latest version. Why, you ask? The $79 price tag was enough to convince me to give it a go.

My first thoughts when opening the box were, “Wow, it’s so very thin and small!” Without the keyboard, this thing is tiny! I immediately went to plug it in and noticed that there was no wall plug. Not to worry, I’m a nerd and my house has USB ports in the electrical outlets. Turns out they no longer come with the power adapter, although you can purchase it for $19.99 or $9.99 if it’s on sale. Kind of lame, but heck, it keeps the price point down a bit.

Setup

As with the other Kindles, the setup is a breeze, and it walks you through each step. While going through this process I noticed how much sharper the new E Ink display is on this device. I thought it was great on my 2nd Gen Kindle, but there is really no comparison. In just a few moments, I had transferred the books from my old device.

It was during the setup that I noticed that it uses WiFi instead of the 3G Wireless that my 2nd Gen had, which didn’t require searching for WiFi hotspots and connecting to networks. It just did it all automagically. So far this isn’t a big deal as I get most of my books from the Library Website or Amazon via my desktop computer or iPad. I’ll come back and comment on this at a later date if I notice that it’s beginning to be a burden…just something to keep in mind.

Suprises

With the setup out of the way, I decided to let it sleep and fully charge. That is when I noticed my screensaver. It wasn’t Jane Austin, it wasn’t James Joyce, no, it wasn’t even those fun fishies…it was an ad! Turns out that that $79 Kindle has advertisements as the screensaver as well as a small banner on the bottom of your home screen. At first I was a bit miffed that I fell for this, so I went online to see where I went wrong. Turns out the version without “special offers” is $109. Now, $109 is still pretty a pretty darn good price, but I’ve mentioned before that I’m a cheap S.O.B., so upon learning this I reassured myself that I did the right thing. After all, that extra $30 was pretty much what I spent on my cover, so it’s all good. Honestly, I’m so desensitized to being bombarded with online ads, that it really doesn’t bother me. As long as they don’t start putting their “special offers” within the books I’m reading, I’ll be fine.

Functionality

It’s basically the same as the previous versions except it doesn’t have a keypad. Instead, if you need to use the keypad, there’s a button you press to deploy the on-screen keypad, and you use the 5-way controller to select letters. I hardly ever used the keypad, and so far, I don’t miss it. The page turning buttons are quite thin and located more on the edge of the device rather than on the front. At first this was awkward for me, but after reading a few chapters I got used to it.

Reading on it is still a little strange since it’s so thin and small, but each time I do, I notice the differences from my old Kindle less and less. I think once my cover arrives, it will give the device the sturdy feel that I’m used to.

Aesthetic

One thing I love-Love-LOVE about this new Kindle is how symmetrical it is. Instead of reading “Amazon Kindle” on the top of the device, it just says, “kindle.” Directly below it are the four buttons—back, keypad, menu, and home—with the 5-way controller separating them. The page-turning buttons are located on the sides, a forward and backward button on both the left and right sides of the device. The sleek brushed metal color is also a nice touch.

Overall

Coming from the 2nd Gen, I am very happy with this purchase. It’s smaller, lighter, and the display is wonderful. I know it’s the same 6″ display, but I swear it looks bigger on this one! Must be my pride in the new device clouding my vision. I’d say that if you already have the 3rd Gen, or “Kindle Keyboard” as it’s referred to, you won’t notice that much of a difference—aside from the omitted keyboard. If you have a 1st or 2nd Gen Kindle and are looking for something smaller and lighter to carry around, this just might be for you. There is also the Kindle Touch, but that won’t be released until November 21st. If you buy one of these devices, keep in mind they have the option of coming with or without “Special Offers.”

Google Challenges Netflix with Movie Streaming on Youtube

cool stuff, featured, google, movies, news, web 3 Responses »

Oct 072011

Youtube Movies

With all of the current customer frustration with Netflix, it comes as no surprise that Google is throwing their hat in the streaming movie ring. Youtube is now offering pay per stream video rentals. There’s a library of free movies as well! What does this mean for the streaming movie industry? Well, for one, it helps consumers a lot. Competition always helps consumers! The more choices we have, the better! Now, just get it on my Xbox 360 and I’ll be sold!

I want to hear from you guys. What do you currently use to stream video? Hulu? Netflix? Something else? Do you prefer to pay a flat monthly for unlimited streaming or would you consider a pay per stream service? As always, I look forward to hearing from you guys!

Doh! Is Greed the End of the Line for the Simpsons?

cool stuff, humor, news 15 Responses »

Oct 062011

The Simpsons, America's Favorite Crackers

I’m hearing this talk about pay disputes between the actors and Fox possibly being the end of The Simpsons if an agreement isn’t reached soon. My first reaction is, “Dear God, no!” Then I thought about it…so what if The Simpsons did end?

I was only six bright little years old when The Simpsons debuted on The Tracey Ullman Show, and eight when the show premiered on Fox. I remember it well because I was very excited to see this cartoon that was on at night! Listen kids, primetime cartoons were few and far between in those days! Must I remind you that this was before Seth Macfarlane and Trey Parker! Le sigh…back to my memories of The Simpsons…I thought the show was great from the start. “Eat my shorts!” ‘Nuf said. My parents…not so much. They didn’t think it was a good show for me and my brother to watch, so we only caught it every so often. That is until my folks realized that this show wasn’t going anywhere, and it really wasn’t all that bad. I basically grew up with this show, and after the “Cosby Thursday Night Head-to-Head” it became a Sunday night ritual that I continue with my husband today.

So here we are, 22 years later, and the show is still on the air. The stories aren’t as good, and the episodes aren’t as memorable, but I still love it. It’s something I’m used to having, and I like familiar comfortable routines in my life. That isn’t always a good thing.

How many perfectly great shows have jumped the shark, yet still push through till they are a hot mess of stupid that you watch in horror as it gets so bad that it even embarrasses you? Ahem…The Office? Let’s not let The Simpsons turn into that. The only humane thing to do is let it go out with dignity. Maybe it’s time that the creators think of a way to put this one down with grace, so it doesn’t end up a sad afterthought…ahem…Friends…

I can’t believe I’m even saying this, but I’d rather see the show go down like the powerhouse of funny and cleverness that it once was than to be forced down by stupid pay disputes.

There, I said it. What do you think?

Apple Co-Founder, Steve Jobs, Dies at 56

apple, Mac, news 1 Response »

Oct 052011

It still works...

We here at TechRemedy are sad to report that Steve Jobs, Co-Founder of Apple Computers has died at age 56 from a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Over the years, Steve Jobs has impressed, confused, infuriated, and intrigued me a million times over. No matter where you stand in the Apple Vs. Windows or iOS Vs. Android debates, it is truly a sad moment. Steve Jobs was paramount in completely changing the world. His impression will be left until the end of humanity.

What I loved the most about Steve Jobs was his ability to place all the focus on what computers could do, rather than focus on HOW computers do what they do. As a tech and gear head, I was always more interested in the latter, but his vision helped put computers and smartphones in the hands of people who otherwise never would purchase one.

So here’s to you Steve Jobs…a creative visionary with a positive genius for simultaneously inspiring and infuriating the masses of humanity. Your mark will last forever and you will be missed.

RIP Steve Jobs

iPhone 4S: The Blade of Betrayal Lodged In Humanity’s Spleen

android, apple, cool stuff, Hardware, iPhone, news, smart phones No Responses »

Oct 052011

Yesterday was Apple’s big iPhone 5 release event. The only problem was that it completely lacked an iPhone 5! Behold, the iPhone 4S!

iPhone 4....S

Hmmm…it looks an awful lot like the iPhone 4…in fact, it looks EXACTLY like the iPhone 4! But Apple…how are pretentious people supposed to display that they are better than all the iPhone 4 people now? Well, suck it up suckers…you’ll have to wait for the iPhone 5 for that! So, why did Apple do this to us? Why did they cover our mouths in our sleep while slowly pushing a sword into our backs? The answer is simple…marketing.

Let’s say that X number of people were planning on buying an iPhone 5. Now that the iPhone 4S is coming out first, there will certainly be Y number of people who get the 4S. And then when the iPhone 5 comes out, Z number of people will get one. The formula is simple. Y + Z > X.

DAMN YOU APPLE! Just you wait…the lines will still be wrapped around the mall for the 4S…and then the 5….and then the iPhone 5S…and onward for the rest of our lives. So get used to it. Of course you could always just switch to an Android phone!

Don’t forget to circle me on Google+!

Update

Check out our iPhone 5 rumors post!

5 Features The iPhone 5 MUST Have

apple, cool stuff, Hardware, iPhone, smart phones 4 Responses »

Oct 042011

iPhone 5 Launch

Let’s get right down to it. If Apple wants to defeat the rest of the mobile phone world, the new iPhone 5 will need to step up the game! Here are 5 features that the iPhone 5 absolutely must have if Apple wants to pound the competition.

5. Larger Display
iPhone users are starting to notice those large screen Android phones out there and they want their beloved Apple to follow suit. Come on Apple, bring us the display!

4. More Efficient Battery
A phone should last all day. That is all I need to say about that!

3. HD Video Camera
The iPhone 5 would appeal to a much larger group if the video recording capabilities of the phone were increased greatly. HD…at least 720p, preferably 1080p!

2. Dual Core Processor
Android phones have blasted past iPhones as far as hardware is concerned and it’s time for Apple to catch back up. A screaming fast dual core processor would help a lot!

1. 4G
Yes. The iPhone 5 needs to have 4g capability. Any phone trying to compete for the top spot in the world of smartphones, MUST have 4g!

Can you think of any more features that the iPhone 5 should have? Let me know in the comments!

Update

Check out our iPhone 5 Rumors post!

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Apple Rumored to Have Ordered 7.85″ Displays…iPad Mini?

Steve Jobs Wikipedia Entry

ICMP with IPv4 vs. IPv6: How secure? (just a little food for thought)

I love being a student (>.<) Really.

Review of Amazon’s Wi-Fi, 6″ E Ink Display Kindle

Google Challenges Netflix with Movie Streaming on Youtube

Doh! Is Greed the End of the Line for the Simpsons?

Apple Co-Founder, Steve Jobs, Dies at 56

iPhone 4S: The Blade of Betrayal Lodged In Humanity’s Spleen

Update

5 Features The iPhone 5 MUST Have

Update

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