Thursday, May 23, 2013

Hackers Stole $45 Million From ATMs

Atm-hackAlex-fitzpatrick By Alex Fitzpatrick2013-05-09 22:23:45 UTC

Federal prosecutors have accused eight people of being part of a global "cybercrime organization" said to be responsible for the theft of $45 million from ATMs around the world. Seven of the eight suspects have been arrested, while authorities say the eighth was reportedly murdered in the Dominican Republic last month.

The eight suspects are accused of comprising the global heist's New York cell, stealing $2.8 million from area ATMs. They're suspected of working with hackers who twice broke into credit card processing companies' computer systems, stole ATM card data and bypassed the withdrawal limits on the accounts. The technique is known as an "unlimited operation," as the thieves can grab a potentially unlimited amount of cash.

"As charged in the indictment, the defendants and their co-conspirators participated in a massive 21st century bank heist that reached across the Internet and stretched around the globe," said United States Attorney Loretta E. Lynch in a statement.

"In the place of guns and masks, this cybercrime organization used laptops and the Internet," continued Lynch. "Moving as swiftly as data over the Internet, the organization worked its way from the computer systems of international corporations to the streets of New York City, with the defendants fanning out across Manhattan to steal millions of dollars from hundreds of ATMs in a matter of hours."

Authorities believe the cell withdrew their share of the cash on two separate occasions — once in December and another time in February.

The December operation targeted a credit card processor in the United Arab Emirates and involved 4,500 ATM transactions in approximately 20 countries. The New York cell is accused of carrying out 750 of those transactions and grabbing almost $400,000. The February operation hit a credit card processor in Oman with the New York cell accused of stealing $2.4 million in that instance through nearly 3,000 ATM withdrawals.

The eight New York suspects have been charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud, money laundering conspiracy and money laundering. If found guilty, the defendants each face up to 10 years behind bars for money laundering and another 7.5 years for each of the other three charges.

Image via Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

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Posted by Chris Holman at 11:09 PM 0 comments
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Type A Machines previews aluminum-framed Series 1 Pro 3D printer

Type A Machines previews aluminum-framed Series 1 Pro 3D printer data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20575259' !== '') ? 'bsd:20575259' : ''; var postID = '20575259'; var modalMNo = '93319229', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"brian-heater", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("10000057",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319229", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93308280", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Type A Machines previews aluminum-framed Series 1 Pro 3D printerBypostedMay 20th, 2013 at 6:37 AM 0

Image

If you've navigated through the endless sea of 3D printers at this weekend's Maker Faire, you may well have caught a glimpse of the Series 1 Pro, the latest offering from San Francisco-based Type A Machines. The printer, which is still in the "engineering concept" phase, trades its predecessor's wood frame for a more solid aluminum version. The WiFi-compatible device has a build volume of about 18 liters, according to the company, and will be available in the third quarter of this year. That's the printer up top, pictured alongside Mark II, a little robot printed on the original Series One. Down below, you'll find a short press release.

Show full PR text

Type A Machines introduces the Series 1 Pro

At Maker Faire Bay Area 2013, Type A Machines is excited to present their latest product innovation, which will push the limits of 3D printing and will open up new breakthroughs in terms of usability.

The Series 1 Pro Engineering Concept is a high strength all aluminum frame using a professional grade linear guide system. Maintaining the open core design of the Series 1, the Series 1 Pro will be fully wifi compatible.

Further improving the reliability and performance already available in the Series 1, the Series 1 Pro Engineering Concept has a build volume of approximately 18 liters.
The Series 1 Pro is expected to be available in Q3 of 2013.

It was unveiled this morning at Type A Machines' booth #204 in the Expo Hall, and it was presented by Type A Machines' CEO Kevin Rowney during his speech on MakerShed stage.

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State Department Compels Gunsmith to Remove 3D-Printed Gun Files

The-liberator-3d-gunLorenzo-f-bicchireai By Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai2013-05-09 21:59:50 UTC

Cody Wilson, the mind behind the "Liberator," the world's first 3D-printed handgun, said he didn't know what would happen once he upload the blueprints for the gun online.

Now he does.

The Department of State, through its Office of Defense Trade Controls Compliance, forced Wilson to take down the online blueprints for the "Liberator" and all the other 3D-printed weapon parts that he has made available online. In a letter to Wilson, the State Department argues that by uploading the files, Wilson and his company, Defense Distributed, may have run afoul of export control laws, as first reported by Forbes.

In the letter, the State Department asked Wilson to take the blueprints down while it establishes whether the files comply with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, or ITAR. The letter states that technical data regulated under ITAR includes "blueprints, drawings, photographs, plans, instructions or documentation," and that "disclosing (including oral or visual disclosure) or transferring technical data to a foreign person, whether in the United States or abroad, is considered an export."

Wilson promptly complied with the order, taking down the files and posting a disclaimer on DefCad, Defense Distributed's online weapons blueprint repository.

"DEFCAD files are being removed from public access at the request of the U.S. Department of Defense Trade Controls. Until further notice, the United States government claims control of the information," the disclaimer reads.

He also announced the decision on Twitter.

For Wilson, this is just the beginning of the battle. And while he obviously didn't like it, he admitted he didn't have a choice but to comply.

"It's the first shot. It's like, 'look, stop,'" Wilson told Mashable in a phone interview. "And you know what? You gotta do that when they say that, it's the Department of State for crying out loud."

While Wilson took down the files from DefCad, that doesn't mean people can't download the "Liberator" or Defense Distributed's previous releases anymore. The Liberator's blueprint file was download over 100,000 times since Monday, and it remains out there, elsewhere on the Internet.

“I didn't expect them to assert authority on the front end. I didn't expect them to say, 'Take it down and then we'll see if you can do it,'” Wilson said. "But it's OK [...] It's all over the Pirate Bay, it's in the Internet, there are mirrors of it. We've taken all the files down from public access, but the Internet has it safely."

Apart from taking down the files, the letter will force Wilson to request permission to re-release any of the files that were uploaded, as well as any future blueprints or designs. And in case the Department of State says the files are subject to export laws, he might have to get a license, which could take months. "For all intents and purposes, realistically speaking, DefCad won't be serving files for a long time," he said.

Wilson likens this situation to what happened with PGP, a cryptography software created by Philip Zimmermann. In the '90s, Zimmermann was investigated for having published his software online. At the time, cryptography was an export-controlled technology, just like weapons. In the end, and after much public outcry, though, the case was dropped.

Wilson argues that just like with PGP, this is not just about cryptography or guns, this is about much more.

"The future of distributed technologies in the Internet is that no one has control of the information," he told Mashable. "This is more than guns now, man, this is about the Internet, this is about information." Information that he thinks should be free and information over which he thinks the government shouldn't have any control.

Meanwhile, legislators continue responding to the situation with renewed calls for legislation. Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), who has proposed legislation to renew the Undetectable Firearms Act, which bans the manufacturing of plastic guns, released a statement Thursday: "We still need to pass my legislation, the Undetectable Firearms Modernization Act, to give local law enforcement officials the tools they need to prosecute people who would make plastic firearms using the files that have already been downloaded 100,000 [times]."

Also on Thursday, California state Senator Leland Yee announced legislation to stop the spread of 3D-printed guns.

As Wilson put it, this is just the beginning. "Looks like we're gonna have a battle early about the future of the Internet," he said.

State Dept Defense Distributed Letter (Redacted) by Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai

Image courtesy of Defense Distributed

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Posted by Chris Holman at 7:19 PM 0 comments
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Insert Coin: Linkbot modular robotic platform lets you quickly build a bot, skills

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In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.

Insert Coin Linkbot

Everybody loves robots, but the initial ardor for building one can quickly be snuffed out by the complex reality of actually programming it to do anything. That's where Linkbot comes in, a new project from the Barobo team that brought us the Mobot. It's designed as a modular system that can be expanded infinitely with accessories like a camera mount, gripper, and wheels, thanks to three separate mounting surfaces -- which also have standard #6-32 screw attachment holes on the mounting plate to attach personality-enhancing cutouts. Despite the expansion potential, though, it can still be used right out of the box to do robotics without touching a lick of code. That's thanks to several built-in modes like BumpConnect, which permits wireless connections between the modules by touching them together; and PoseTeach, to program complex motions by hand in a similar (but less time-consuming) manner to stop-motion animation techniques.

For those who want to step it up a notch, the system lets you go far past basic mech fun. The Linkbot itself has two rotating hubs with absolute encoding, along with an accelerometer, buzzer, multicolored LCD and ZigBee wireless system with a 100m line-of-sight range. There are also optional breakout and Bluetooth boards to connect sensors like range finders, IR proximity sensors, photo detectors and thermostats. The outfit's BaroboLink software for Mac, PC or Linux is included to program the Arduino-compatible bot in several languages as well, and can even translate previously created PoseTeach motions into computer routines. So far, the company has created working prototypes and even shipped them to local schools, so if you're interested, you can pledge a minimum $129 toward the company's $40,000 target to grab one. That'll net you a Linkbot, two wheels, the BaroboLink software, access to the MyBarobo community -- and hopefully a jolt to your robotics confidence.

Previous project update: Enthusiastic developers have propelled the Meta 1 close to its $100,000 goal, having glommed $87,000 worth of the kits in only two days.

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Huawei CEO Says Company Isn't Conspiring With Chinese Government

Huawei1Samantha-murphy By Samantha Murphy2013-05-09 15:02:44 -0700

After not talking to the media for 25 years, founder and CEO of Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei Ren Zhengfei told reporters Thursday it is not working with the Chinese government to spy on the United States.

Huawei has been under fire since a 2012 report from the U.S. House Intelligence Committee accused it along with ZTE of being a national security risk for providing information about the United States to the Chinese government. The report said the companies did not comply with an investigation on its practices.

Zhengfei has denied those claims, according to Reuters: "Huawei has no connection to the cybersecurity issues the U.S. has encountered in the past, current and future."

"Huawei equipment is almost non-existent in networks currently running in the U.S. We have never sold any key equipment to major U.S. carriers, nor have we sold any equipment to any U.S. government agency," he added.

The news comes as Huawei left the U.S. market in April, citing "geopolitical reasons."

“Huawei and ZTE seek to expand in the United States, but as a result of our investigation, we do not have the confidence that these two companies with their ties to the Chinese government can be trusted with infrastructure of such critical importance,” House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) said.

Image via Aaron tam/AFP/Getty Images

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Posted by Chris Holman at 3:35 PM 0 comments
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Photos of a new Samsung Galaxy S 4 emerge, could it be the Active?

Photos of a new Samsung Galaxy S 4 emerge, could it be the Active? data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20576423' !== '') ? 'bsd:20576423' : ''; var postID = '20576423'; var modalMNo = '93312529', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"cellphones",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"michael-gorman", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-13f",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93312529", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93312530", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Photos of a new Samsung Galaxy S 4 emerge, could it be the Active? MobileBypostedMay 20th, 2013 at 12:57 PM 0

Photos of a new Samsung GS 4 emerge, could it be the Acitve

A stock GS4 may look virtually indistinguishable from its predecessor, but it looks like Samsung's got a new variant of its flagship phone that'll bring it some much-needed visual flair. The folks at GSM Arena unearthed photos of a GT-I9295 model (allegedly called the GS4 Active) sporting a bright red shell with black inserts at the top and bottom and a trio of physical buttons on its chin. If the results returned by the AnTuTu benchmark are to be believed, the phone's equipped with standard GS4 fixins: a quad-core CPU clocked at 1.9Ghz and an Adreno 320 GPU (aka, a Snapdragon 600 SoC) and a 1920 x 1080 display. Naturally, there's no word on pricing, carrier support or an arrival date, but there are a couple more photos of the handset at the source.

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Posted by Chris Holman at 1:28 PM 0 comments
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Netflix Makes iOS Binge-Viewers Happy With New Update

Netflix-televisionCmac By Christina Warren2013-05-09 17:32:25 UTC

Netflix has added its slick post-play feature to its iOS apps.

The feature was originally introduced last August for the web player, PS3 and Xbox 360 and it allows users to watch more content automatically without having to tinker with the remote or user interface.

When watching a TV show, the next episode automatically cues up and will start as soon as the current episode ends. This is awesome when binge watching episodes of your favorite series — or of a newly discovered favorite.

For movies, users get a choice of three movie recommendations that can be selected for easy, fast playback. Movies don't start automatically, so you don't have to worry abut getting sucked into something you don't want to watch.

We can't help but think that the roll out of post-play is tied indirectly with the upcoming fourth season of Arrested Development. That's a show plenty of fans (myself included) are sure to binge-watch in quick succession.

Netflix isn't the only company that is dabbling with the idea of continuous watching. Hulu Plus has had a continuous watch feature in place for quite some time across its apps.

While Netflix hasn't updated the Apple TV to support post-play, we hope it's just around the corner. To get post-play for your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, update your Netflix app [iTunes link] or download it from the App Store.

Do you binge watch TV shows on Netflix? Let us know in the comments.

Mashable composite, image courtesy of iStockphoto, shaunl, Netflix
Image courtesy of Netflix, composite and screenshot by Christina Warren, Mashable

Topics: Apps and Software, iOS apps, Media, Mobile, netflix, post-play, Tech, Television if(window.pageChanged) window.omni({"channel":"tech","content_type":"article","top_channel":"tech","content_source_type":"Internal","content_source_name":"Internal","author_name":"Christina Warren","age":"0","pub_day":9,"pub_month":5,"pub_year":2013,"pub_date":"05/09/2013","isPostView":true,"post_lead_type":"Default","topics":"Apps and Software,iOS apps,Media,Mobile,netflix,post-play,Tech,Television,Uncategorized"}); metaData = {"link":[["canonical","http://mashable.com/2013/05/09/netflix-post-play-ios/"],["image_src","http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA1LzA5LzJjL25ldGZsaXh0ZWxlLjFjODIzLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTcyMHg3MjAjCmUJanBn/332db7c4/6f5/netflix-television.jpg"]],"meta_property":[["og:url","http://mashable.com/2013/05/09/netflix-post-play-ios/"],["og:title","Netflix Makes iOS Binge-Viewers Happy With New Update"],["og:type","article"],["og:site_name","Mashable"],["og:image","http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA1LzA5LzJjL25ldGZsaXh0ZWxlLjFjODIzLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTcyMHg3MjAjCmUJanBn/332db7c4/6f5/netflix-television.jpg"],["og:article:published_time","2013-05-09T17:32:25Z"],["og:article:modified_time","2013-05-09T17:32:38Z"]],"meta_name":[["description","Netflix updated its iOS app to support continuous playback of TV shows and movies."],["keywords",["netflix","ios-apps","uncategorized","media","tv","tech","apps-software","mobile","post-play"]],["twitter:title","Netflix Makes iOS Binge-Viewers Happy With New Update"],["twitter:description","Netflix has added its slick post-play feature to its iOS apps. The feature was originally introduced last August for the web player, PS3 and Xbox 360 and it allows users to watch more content automati..."],["twitter:image","http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA1LzA5LzJjL25ldGZsaXh0ZWxlLjFjODIzLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTU2MHg3NTAKZQlqcGc/e6c22b0d/6f5/netflix-television.jpg"],["twitter:site","@mashable"],["twitter:url","http://mashable.com/2013/05/09/netflix-post-play-ios/"],["twitter:creator","@mashable"],["twitter:card","photo"],["twitter:image:width","560"],["twitter:image:height","750"]],"short_url":[["short_url","http://on.mash.to/12h6oUh"]]};

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Want Those Snapchats Back? That'll Be $300

Snapchat2Chris-taylor-de1238cf88 By Chris Taylor2013-05-09 19:14:29 -0700

In the digital world, few things are ever truly deleted or destroyed. Not if you have the money to get them back.

That's why one company is making hay out of a new service Thursday that offers to recover Snapchats — those supposedly self-destructing pics beloved by teens and twentysomethings — from the recipient's phone. For a cool $300 to $500 per device.

The utility is obvious: this pricey service is for lawsuits, for seriously disapproving (and well-off) parents, and quite possibly for blackmail purposes. Our only question: what took them so long?

For now, the service is only available for Android phones. But the company in question, Utah-based Decipher Forensics, is working feverishly to add iOS capability. Which, considering that most of the 150 million Snapchats sent per day hail from iPhones, is where the real money is.

SEE ALSO Snapchat CEO: Delete is the Default

The fact that it works is no fault of Snapchat itself, which does delete your pics from its servers the second it sends them out. And it does delete the picture on the recipient's phone so thoroughly that you can't even get at it with root access to the device.

What it can't do is overwrite all the spare space on your device. So unless its hard drive is very close to full, or the snapchat was sent a long time ago, chances are a painstaking digital detective is going to be able to reconstruct the photo from all those free-floating 1s and 0s.

"The average person cannot turn on their phone and find these pictures," admits Decipher Forensics in its press release — which rather belies its attention-grabbing title, "Decipher Forensics Exposes that Snapchats are Actually Saved on Your Phone."

In other words, what this company is offering is similar to the service you'll get at an established data retrieval company such as Drive Savers, which retrieves digital information from damaged computers in clean rooms over a period of days or weeks.

The only question in both cases is: how much is the data worth to the recipient?

So think carefully, snapchatters, before you send that next shot. Consider whether it is so outrageous, or so illegal, that your recipient might consider ponying up the cash to preserve it for all time.

Image via iStockphoto, greg801

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Alt-week 5.16.13: bug eyes, robo-cops and fake flowers

Alt-week 5.16.13: bug eyes, robo-cops and fake flowers data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20572314' !== '') ? 'bsd:20572314' : ''; var postID = '20572314'; var modalMNo = '93319231', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"science",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"james-trew", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-13c",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319231", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93310027", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Alt-week 5.16.13: bug eyes, robo-cops and fake flowers AltBypostedMay 18th, 2013 at 5:30 PM 0

Alt-week takes a look at the best science and alternative tech stories from the last seven days.

Altweek 51613

If we're to find a common thread in this week's collection of stories, it'd be nature's guiding hand. How it inspires science, how we seek to imitate it, and how unnatural the future of policing could be. This is alt-week,

Altweek 51613

There's a dystopian future we all fear. But it's not one that usually involves Brazil and soccer. News, then, that military robots could be used to patrol the 2014 World Cup in the samba-state might catch many of us by surprise. iRobot, maker of the decidedly non-threatening (and more aptly named) Roomba, has secured a contract to provide security technology (in the form of its somewhat more menacing 510 PackBot) to the Brazilian government, including for the large sporting event. How the PackBots will be deployed, exactly, isn't made clear -- but it's likely they'd be pulling surveillance duties at the very least. Though we'd argue that telly-watching soccer fans are more worried at the sight of a noisy vacuum cleaner than anything else.

Altweek 51613

Researchers at NC State University have developed a nanostructure that could improve solar panel efficiency. The inspiration? A moth's eye. If you ever wondered what causes the rainbow effect when gasoline leaks onto a wet car park floor, then the answer is thin-film interference. This phenomenon causes light to reflect off the water, back through the fuel, taking a slightly different route. The resulting "interference" creates the rainbow. This same process can make thin-film solar cells, or electronics, reflect light causing them to be less efficient. Dr. Chih-Hao Chang at NC State explains how the eye of a moth has evolved so that it doesn't reflect light -- a design they were able to imitate in a nanostructure, thus stemming thin-film interference. The material essentially resembles a dense sheet of nanostructure cones with a second thin-film on top. This configuration was found to reflect 100 times less light than a regular thin-film. At this stage it's hard to estimate potential efficiency gains a commercial product could deliver, but the team is focusing on scaling it up, in order to find out.

Altweek 51613

If a scientist tells you they've created something in a beaker, what might you expect? Some tissue, a cluster of fungal spores? Whatever it is, the likelihood is that you weren't thinking "beautiful flowers." However, that's exactly what a team at Harvard University has created. Or, more accurately, flower-like sculptures. Technically these are crystals, but without the harsh, jagged edges we've come to associate with them. The blossoming structures are created by tweaking chemical gradients in fluid (in said beakers). Similar processes also occurs in nature, such as the formation of shells. The Harvard team experimented with different chemical reactions until it found the right combination that allowed them to control how the crystals grow. The research helps understand how complex shapes can form in nature, as well as the effects chemical changes in the environment can have.

Seen any other far-out articles that you'd like considered for Alt-week? Working on a project or research that's too cool to keep to yourself? Drop us a line at alt [at] engadget [dot] com.

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Posted by Chris Holman at 9:24 AM 0 comments
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Facebook Home Hits 'About 1 Million' Downloads, Looks to the Future

Facebook_home1Emily-7d5b1d3e6b By Emily Price2013-05-09 19:19:28 UTC

Four weeks ago, Facebook launched Facebook Home, a launcher for Android that brings the social network's experience front and center.

The company on Thursday invited a small group of reporters to its campus to discuss Facebook Home, its successes and challenges, and what we can expect to see added to the platform in the future.

“We’re at just about 1 million downloads on Home,” Facebook's Director of Mobile Engineering Cory Ondrejka told the group, a number which he says is about where Facebook wanted to be at this time. He didn't, however, share how many of those 1 million downloads were currently active users of the app. The company says the number will be important to them in the future. Right now it is focusing on the engagement level of those current active users, however many there happen to be.

“This is the first product for us that has focused on mobile best,” Ondrejka said.

Mobile best is different than Facebook’s focus on "mobile first." Home is the first product the company has created with an intention to make mobile better than the experience you might get elsewhere.

“We’re doing a relatively slow roll out intentionally,” says Ondrejka, so Facebook can learn from early adopters, and make changes as necessary.

From that slow roll out –- and reviews in Google Play — Facebook has learned a bit about what people love about the launcher, and what’s missing.

“We’ve spent a lot of time digging through the one star ratings,” says Ondrejka.

Ondrejka says there are two major features that weren’t in Home at launch that people really think the launcher needs. The first is folders, and the second is docks. Facebook has fixes to both issues in the works, with plans to release those features in future updates.

During the event, we were given a quick look at what that feature will look like when it is released.

Another growth point for Facebook with Home is its "chat heads" feature. Users believe the feature is great for continuing a conversation, but not as useful when it comes to starting one. To help alleviate that issue, Facebook is planning to add a new buddy list from Facebook home where users can pull out a list of their friends to initiate a conversation.

Facebook Home is currently only officially available on the HTC One X or One X+, Samsung’s Galaxy S III, or the Galaxy Note II. The app also comes pre-loaded on the HTC First from AT&T. Facebook says the app has also been sideloaded onto over 10,000 unsupported devices by industrious Android users.

Facebook Home is currently sitting at a 2.2 star rating in Google Play.

Facebook Home will be updated monthly starting today with primarily a bug-fixing update and is scheduled to receive another update July 11. The features shown off today will be released in the coming months.

What features do you hope to see in Facebook Home in the future? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Thumbnail Image Courtesy Facebook; Interior Pics Mashable

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Nintendo 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro review: just like the original, but bigger

Nintendo 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro review: just like the original, but bigger data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20573342' !== '') ? 'bsd:20573342' : ''; var postID = '20573342'; var modalMNo = '93309291', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"peripherals",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"sean-buckley", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("10000655",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93309291", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93309294", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Nintendo 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro review: just like the original, but biggerBypostedMay 19th, 2013 at 4:00 PM 0

Nintendo 3DS Circle Pad Pro review: just like the original, but bigger

Nintendo seems to have a knack for repeat performances. Nintendo DS? Quickly supplanted by the DS Lite -- and the DSi didn't last too long either before it was succeeded by the DSi XL. Even the 3DS saw a revision, when it was supersized last summer. These redesigns typically don't change more than the device's size, but when the 3DS XL was announced, some gamers were left wanting. Didn't the original 3DS get an accessory specifically to address the lack of a second analog pad? Why didn't Nintendo take the opportunity to add dual-analog controls? Well, if that happened, Nintendo couldn't release an encore Circle Pad Pro accessory, could it? Let's take a look at the 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro and see what's changed.3DS XL Circle Pad Pro See all photos 30 Photos

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HardwareImage

The 3DS XL isn't a small device to begin with, but docking it in the Circle Pad Pro will destroy any illusions you had about being able to stuff it in your pocket. Seated in the second-stick cradle, the rig measures 7.5 inches wide and 4.5 inches deep. It's almost two inches thick, and suitably huge. Fortunately, it bears the extra bulk better than its predecessor: the original Circle Pad Pro turned a fairly portable device into an unwieldy mess. The XL variant only makes the device slightly larger by comparison. It's still notably hefty, but the effect is simply less of a nuisance thanks to the more sizable host device. The 3DS XL is already too big for the average pair of jeans -- what's an extra inch?

It looks better than the old model, too, with a wedge-like shape that tapers down towards the front of the cradle. The backside features an engraved Nintendo logo and two lightly bulging grips. Besides the obvious starboard analog stick, there isn't much to the accessory's front: a recessed area for the console, a few rubber nubs to hold it in place and an IR emitter to communicate with the 3DS. There's also a screw-secured AAA battery compartment, mimicking the original model's unfortunate requirement for its own power source. All in all, it's lightweight and comfortable to use, despite its size.

Installation and useImage

Installation instructions are conveniently printed in the cradle's recessed area, illustrating a simple two-step procedure: drop the 3DS in from front to back. Following the diagram produces a satisfying click, with the 3DS XL locking into place. Pretty simple. Using it in-game sometimes requires a little more effort -- Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, for instance, needed us to dive into the game's pause menu to activate the accessory. Other games, such as Resident Evil: Revelations, automatically detected the Circle Pad Pro and reacted accordingly. The device can also be calibrated using the in-game menus, and some titles even include a vague battery life tool: "The Circle Pad Pro still has plenty of battery remaining," Kingdom Hearts told us. Okay, then.

If you're familiar with how the original accessory affects gameplay, you won't find anything new here -- games don't play any differently on the new Circle Pad Pro than they did on the old one. Even so, we're still impressed by how much of a difference a second analog stick can make. Playing Kingdom Hearts with the peripheral echoes the feel (and superior camera control) of its home console origins, and Kid Icarus: Uprising uses the accessory to unlock a special left-handed control scheme. Some games even feel broken without the accessory -- in Resident Evil: Revelations, the player can only move and shoot simultaneously if they are using the Circle Pad Pro. It changes how the player approaches the game.

We were surprised to find how comfortable the Circle Pad Pro was, enough so that it's worth using even for games that don't utilize its second analog pad. The accessory's thick body provides a sturdy grip for gamers with larger hands, leaving us less prone to cramping during long play sessions. Despite the new analog stick's jutting right-hand shelf, we were still able to reach all of the handheld's native buttons with ease. The unit's extra weight could get tiring if held in the wrong position, but overall we found the Circle Pad Pro-equipped 3DS XL to be more ergonomic than the stock offering. The analog pad itself feels great too, mirroring the 3DS' own slide pad perfectly.

Image

Unfortunately, the 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro fails to make the most out of being a second-generation accessory. That is, it didn't fix any of its predecessor's mistakes. The Circle Pad's cradle blocks the 3DS' game card slot, SD card, stylus and wireless toggle switch. These are items that 3DS owners use on a regular basis: changing games, using the touch screen and disabling WiFi to save battery life. Undocking the handheld to perform any of these functions is cumbersome and frustrating, and we can't imagine why Nintendo didn't use the accessory's second iteration to fix the faults of the original. It's a crippling oversight, transforming an otherwise novel and useful accessory into an occasional nuisance.

Wrap-upDNP Nintendo 3DS Circle Pad Pro review just like the original, but bigger

In the end, the 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro is little more than a larger, slightly more comfortable version of its predecessor. It's a niche device designed only to work with a handful of games. It doesn't improve on the old design in any significant fashion, but it does offer some fringe benefits thanks to the 3DS XL's larger size. In the end, it works as advertised, providing a solid second analog input for games that support it. So, is it worth the $20 asking price? Well, that depends -- do you play Monster Hunter?

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Posted by Chris Holman at 5:49 AM 0 comments
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New Bill Legalizing Cellphone Unlocking Introduced in House

Cell-phone-unlockingAlex-fitzpatrick By Alex Fitzpatrick2013-05-09 19:05:58 UTC

A new bill making it legal to unlock your cellphone or other mobile device has arrived in the House of Representatives.

The Unlocking Technology Act of 2013 would also make it legal to circumvent digital rights management (DRM) locks to use protected content in a way that doesn't violate copyright law and to develop and sell cellphone unlocking software. It was introduced Thursday by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and backed by co-sponsors Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). Lofgren and Polis in particular have earned a reputation for being closely involved in technology policy issues.

The Unlocking Technology Act comes after an intense lobbying effort spearheaded by copyright activists Sina Khanifar and Derek Khanna. Their campaign to legalize unlocking began in January, when the Librarian of Congress failed to include unlocking in an updated list of exemptions to the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Written in 1988, the DMCA made it illegal to create or sell software for circumventing anti-piracy locks on digital content. It also made it illegal to circumvent those locks to use protected content regardless of whether the intended use was a violation of existing copyright law. The Librarian of Congress is authorized to update a list of exemptions to the DMCA once every three years.

While several unlocking bills have been floated over the past four months, the Unlocking Technology Act comes with Khanifar and Khanna's seal of approval.

"This legislation substantively addresses the concerns of 114,000 Americans when they signed our White House petition which resulted in the White House reversing and endorsing phone unlocking," wrote Khanna in an e-mail referencing a petition the pair opened to call attention to the issue. "It's really quite an amazing step forward. Not only does it completely legalize unlocking cellphones, but goes the extra step of amending Section 1201 of the DMCA," said Khanifar in a separate email.

The White House responded to the pair's petition in March, announcing its support for legalizing unlocking and thus signaling the president would sign an unlocking bill should one reach his desk. Outgoing FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski later said the ban raises "concerns."

Digital rights activists are applauding the Unlocking Technology Act.

"This bipartisan bill not only makes it clear that consumers can, of course, unlock their phones without fear of legal repercussions; it also addresses a longstanding problem with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)," said Sherwin Siy, Vice President of Legal Affairs for Public Knowledge, in a statement.

Owners of a mobile device might choose to unlock their device for several reasons. It's most commonly done to switch a mobile phone from the wireless service on which it was originally sold to another service. Globe trekkers also favor unlocked cellphones as it's easy to drop a new SIM card into unlocked devices to get them working in a new country.

The full text of the Unlocking Technology Act, which will be debated by the House Judiciary Committee, is embedded below. Should it be once again legal to unlock a cellphone? Share your thoughts in the comments.

H.R. 1892 Unlocking Technology Act of 2013

Image via Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Topics: congress, dmca, Politics, unlocking, U.S., US & World if(window.pageChanged) window.omni({"channel":"us-world","content_type":"article","top_channel":"us-world","content_source_type":"Internal","content_source_name":"Internal","author_name":"Alex Fitzpatrick","age":"0","pub_day":9,"pub_month":5,"pub_year":2013,"pub_date":"05/09/2013","isPostView":true,"post_lead_type":"Default","topics":"congress,dmca,Politics,Uncategorized,unlocking,U.S.,US & World"}); metaData = {"link":[["canonical","http://mashable.com/2013/05/09/cellphone-unlocking-bill/"],["image_src","http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA1LzA5LzE0L2NlbGxwaG9uZXVuLjgwZDQ3LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTcyMHg3MjAjCmUJanBn/1037304e/0ec/cell-phone-unlocking.jpg"]],"meta_property":[["og:url","http://mashable.com/2013/05/09/cellphone-unlocking-bill/"],["og:title","New Bill Legalizing Cellphone Unlocking Introduced in House"],["og:type","article"],["og:site_name","Mashable"],["og:image","http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA1LzA5LzE0L2NlbGxwaG9uZXVuLjgwZDQ3LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTcyMHg3MjAjCmUJanBn/1037304e/0ec/cell-phone-unlocking.jpg"],["og:article:published_time","2013-05-09T19:05:58Z"],["og:article:modified_time","2013-05-09T19:06:07Z"]],"meta_name":[["description","A new bill making it legal to unlock your cellphone or other mobile device was introduced Thursday in the House of Representatives."],["keywords",["dmca","congress","uncategorized","unlocking","us-world","politics","us"]],["twitter:title","New Bill Legalizing Cellphone Unlocking Introduced in House"],["twitter:description","A new bill making it legal to unlock your cellphone or other mobile device has arrived in the House of Representatives. The Unlocking Technology Act of 2013 would also make it legal to circumvent digi..."],["twitter:image","http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA1LzA5LzE0L2NlbGxwaG9uZXVuLjgwZDQ3LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTU2MHg3NTAKZQlqcGc/7d972155/0ec/cell-phone-unlocking.jpg"],["twitter:site","@mashable"],["twitter:url","http://mashable.com/2013/05/09/cellphone-unlocking-bill/"],["twitter:creator","@mashable"],["twitter:card","photo"],["twitter:image:width","560"],["twitter:image:height","750"]],"short_url":[["short_url","http://on.mash.to/147bv9u"]]};

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Yahoo to acquire Tumblr in $1.1 billion cash deal

Yahoo to acquire Tumblr in $1.1 billion cash deal data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20575207' !== '') ? 'bsd:20575207' : ''; var postID = '20575207'; var modalMNo = '93319229', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"internet",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"zach-honig", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("10000057",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319229", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93308280", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Yahoo to acquire Tumblr in $1.1 billion cash dealBypostedMay 19th, 2013 at 12:30 PM 0

Yahoo to acquire Tumblr in $11 billion cash deal

That cat's out of the bag a day early, it seems. Yahoo's board has approved a $1.1 billion cash deal to purchase the blogging site Tumblr, according to The Wall Street Journal. We were expecting Yahoo to announce the acquisition during tomorrow's NYC media event -- CEO Marissa Mayer may instead use the last-minute gathering to detail the company's plans for integrating the popular platform. It's unclear how Yahoo intends to utilize its latest procurement, but with a 10-figure price tag now public, we can only imagine that Tumblr will be put to good use. We'll be covering tomorrow afternoon's event live, so stay tuned for more details from New York City.

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Coach's Confused Tweet Takes Twitter to Task

MuschampgettySam-laird By Sam Laird2013-05-10 02:04:33 UTC

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our insular little social media world, we need an outsider to put things back in perspective and remind us of the bigger picture.

This time, that accidental hero is University of Florida football coach Will Muschamp. Here's what he had to tweet earlier this week:

Muschamp's not exactly a Twitter power user, having posted just over 250 messages since joining way back in 2011. But he pretty much hits the nail on the head here. As one respondent put with characteristic Internet hyperbole:

How else has social media changed our perceptions of what were once common symbols and phrases? Give us your best examples in the comments.

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

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Posted by Chris Holman at 12:42 AM 0 comments
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