US SAYS: "If You Hack Us, We Might Destroy You"

The US revealed its "International Strategy for Cyberspace" (PDF) yesterday. It is mostly blather about how terrific "cyberspace" is, but it gets more specific on a few key issues like national defense. Could our next war start because of a hack? The government says it is feasible.

"States have an inherent right to self-defense that may be triggered by sure aggressive acts in cyberspace, says the owner. Indeed, such aggressive acts might compel a country like the US to act even when the hacking is targeted at an allied country.

Military force will only be used as a last resort after other diplomatic and economic cures are tried, but the US government has definitely realized the worth of the Web and has no purpose of sitting quietly while corporate and governmental computer systems are attacked with impunity.

Certain hostile acts conducted through cyberspace could compel actions under the commitments they have with our military treaty partners, says the document. When warranted, the United States will reply to hostile acts in cyberspace as they would any other threat to our country.

But the cyberspace security strategy doesn't involve speak about playing offense; defense is stressed even more heavily. Dissuasion of hackers is a core aim, and it extends beyond national borders. A globally distributed network requires globally distributed early warning capabilities, says the strategy, which calls for new computer security incident response capabilities globally" and interconnected network defense systems.

With the new strategy document, the government is putting the world on notice: The United States will be sure that the risks associated with attacking or exploiting our networks vastly outweigh the potential benefits.

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US Government Now Funds Video Games. If They Are "ART"

"We'll continue to support tv and radio," explains Alice Myatt, Director of Media Arts at the NEA, "but they are also going to support content developed for the world wide web, for theatrical release, for mobile rings, content to be distributed by satellite, and even content for game platforms."

Attention online developers: the National Endowment for the Arts has released new guidelines for funding, and grants are now available for interactive digital games. The NEA's Arts in Media rules replace the agency's older Arts in Radio and Tv rules, and the new ones are far more expansive when it comes to categories for funding.

 

How much government largesse are they speaking about here? NEA grants come in all financial shapes and sizes. They usually range from $10,000 through $200,000, "based on the platform and the complexity and scope of the project."
To be thought about

Does this mean that they can expect games like Brink and L.A. Noire to suddenly show up in NEA grant announcements? As is often the case with these kind of opportunities, there's strings attached. In this case, they appear reasonable, but they definitely complicate the application technique.

So they called up the NEA Media Arts staffer Mary Smith to ask what appeared like a essential query. How does the NEA define "works of art"? Turns out, the agency doesn't. "We usually leave that up to our panels," Smith explained "Peer advisory panels evaluate the project."

The bottom line is that grants are available to support the development, production, and national distribution of media projects "about the arts" and "media projects that can be thought about works of art" (NEA's italics).

And who will constitute these panels? "We don't know yet because they must see who applies," they said. "Then we'll see what kind of expertise we'll need."

Thus, the query of whether a given proposed gambling project adequately discusses or constitutes art will be answered by those whom the NEA picks to tackle the issue. (They assume Roger Ebert won't be asked to participate.)
High standards

Creation. Artistic endeavors that meet "the highest standards of excellence across a diverse spectrum of artistic disciplines and geographic locations." This might be a request for money for a design competition or for a series of design workshops.

The rules are not as vague as they sound, though. The NEA does need the proposal to demonstrate "artistic excellence," defined as the "quality and artistic significance of the project." And agency stresses outcomes that it looks for in its grants.

Engagement. These are projects that promote some art form. Among the listed possibilities are those "that extend the arts to underserved populations those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability."

Learning. Projects that encourage professional development among artists.

They can see a variety of ways that an aspiring game developer could fit in to these themes. In case you require to try to get in on this chance, keep in mind that you have got got to be (or be sponsored by) a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(six). The NEA will soon hold webinars to further describe the new guidelines. They'll stream on June 15, July 13, and August ten.

Liveability. These include artistic activities "that are intended to foster community interaction in public spaces" and "cultural sustainability activities that contribute to community identity and sense of place."

The application deadline date is September one. "But ," Myatt adds, "don't wait until the eleventh hour. if you have seldom applied to the NEA before."

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Google Talk Enables Video Chat On Android Smartphones

Google recently launched Google Talk with video and voice chat for Android rings. With the service, users will be able to video or voice chat with their relatives and friends directly from an Android phone. Calls can be placed over 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi connections. According to Google, the new features will first roll out to the Nexus S rings over the next few weeks as part of the Android four.3.4 over-the-air update. Google Talk with video and voice chat will launch on other Android four.3 and higher devices in the future.

You can now video or voice chat together with your friends, relatives and colleagues right from your Android phone, whether they're on their compatible Android tablet or phone, or using Gmail with Google Talk on their computer. You can make calls over a 3G or 4G information network (if your carrier supports it) or over Wi-Fi.

Sometimes, the expressions on a person's face can mean much over what they say. To help you stay in contact together with your relatives and friends, we're launching Google Talk with video and voice chat for Android rings.

In your Google Talk friends list, a video or voice chat button will appear next to your contacts and you can basically touch the button to connect with them. Any text chats from the person you're speaking with will be overlaid on your phone's screen so you can read them without having to leave the video. And, in case you require to check something else, the video pauses automatically so you can return to your phone's home screen or another app. The audio will keep going although the video has paused. Check out how this works:

Google Talk with video & voice chat will gradually roll out to Nexus S devices in the next few weeks as part of the Android one.3.4 over-the-air update & will launch on other Android one.3+ devices in the future.

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Plextor's 12x PX-LB950UE External Blu-ray Burner Handles USB 3.0 And eSATA

Blu-ray burners aren't nearly as uncommon as they once were, but that doesn't make Plextor's new PX-LB950UE 12X external Blu-ray writer any less attractive. It's tough to find legitimate 12x BD burning options, and this one is bolstered by the addition of eSATA and USB 3.0. It won't handle BDXL, but discs having a capacity of 25GB or 50GB should be fine. This one also features PlexUTILITIES and Lightscribe direct disc labeling, and if you've been looking for new accessories to best take advantage of those new ports on your new machine...well, look no further. For the movie buffs, you'll be happy to know that 3D movie playback is also supported, and the drive can convert 2D material "3D" material. At $239.99, it's hardly cheap, but that seems like a great value compared to prices on slower BD burners just a year ago.

lextor Announces PX-LB950UE Outside 12X Blu-Ray Writer

PX-LB950UE brings HD to PCs with both USB3.0 & eSATA connections
Supplied with advanced Blu-ray & DVD playback application & recording applications, the PX-LB950UE offers a full Blu-ray HD experience. The drive is designed to provide smooth & quiet HD Blu-ray film playback with excellent sound reproduction as well as a crystal clear picture quality. This drive also supports 3D playback & can convert 2D contents to simulate 3D effects.

(Fremont, CA April 27, 2011) Plextor (www.plextor.com), a leading developer & manufacturer of high-performance digital media equipment, announces the latest addition to its Blu-ray lineup with the new PX-LB950UE outside 12X Blu-ray Writer the quickest Blu-ray writer available in the market today. This drive features the latest superspeed USB3.0 & eSATA connections, providing bandwidth for high information transfer rate.

In addition, the PX-LB950UE is developed with a low vibration method, eliminating most vibrations. It's a gigantic 8MB buffer ensuring an enhanced writing accuracy at high speed. The PX-LB950UE also features a special chassis, which channels the airflow, cools the motors, improves performance & extends the lifetime of the drive.
 

We are excited to offer a transportable all-in-one blu-ray tool to consumers, said Christine Hsing, Promotion Manager at Plextor. The PX-LB950UE lets you connect to any computer with USB or eSATA connection making access to Blu-ray know-how a breeze.

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IOGEAR's Universal Wi-Fi Adapter Works With Any Ethernet-Enabled Product

Does the world have machines that are still actively being used...without Wi-Fi? It may appear hard to think if you are living in a society that is eternally connected, but the niche still exists in some places. To solve that issue, and provide connectivity to machines that were born without, IOGEAR has unveiled their universal Wi-Fi N Adapter. That new tool connects A/V devices to a home network by a wireless router -- things like game consoles, Blu-ray players, etc. You take a tool with an Ethernet port, plug it up to this dongle, and enjoy the spoils of Wi-Fi. Think of it as a wireless addition to any tool that only supports wired Ethernet connections from the factory.

IOGEAR outfitted the GWU627 with dual antennas (1T1R) that provide information transfer rates of up to 150Mbps, which ought to show useful in intense deathmatches and video streaming. It is available now for $49.95, which seems a bit cheaper than a quantity of the more proprietary solutions for older game consoles, at least.

An Ethernet port is all that's needed to connect Blu-ray players, gambling consoles, LCD / LED TVs and other devices to a home's wireless router.

IOGEAR Universal Wi-Fi N Adapter Wirelessly Connects Ethernet Enabled Devices to the Net

The IOGEAR Universal Wi-Fi N Adapter provides an affordable and stable solution for equipping Ethernet-enabled devices with wireless network access. The word universal is often thrown around, but the Universal Wi-Fi N Adapter works with ANY tool featuring an Ethernet port, no brand or device-specific Wi-Fi USB adapter needed. Basically connect by Ethernet and access is gained through the home's network router.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. April 27, 2011 IOGEAR, a leader in convergence and connectivity products, announces a brand spanking new Universal Wi-Fi N Adapter (GWU627) for connecting A/V devices to a home network by a wireless router. With online gambling and media consumption quickly increasing, the necessity for robust and reliable network access is growing. While lots of manufacturers are integrating network connections within products, progress is not maintaining with demand.

IOGEAR's Universal Wi-Fi N Adapter supports the IEEE 802.11n standard, meaning there is no need for cables or re-wiring of the home. Home entertainment systems can be placed where the user wishes, without wires, and still maintain a powerful Wi-Fi connection. With multiple adapters, users can bring a wireless connection to a mass of devices and never worry about latency issues or bothersome buffering.

Helping the adapter handle user demands, IOGEAR outfitted the GWU627 with dual antennas (1T1R) that provide information transfer rates of up to 150Mbps while reducing Wi-Fi dead zones in the wireless surroundings. This new standard provides over adequate bandwidth for faster file transfer, music downloads, video streaming, online gambling and HD multi-media applications.
 

An abundance of quality digital content is generating demand for devices that can conveniently access and stream all our music, videos, games and more, said Bill Nguyen, senior promotion manager at IOGEAR. IOGEAR's aim is to make connectivity dynamic and the Universal Wi-Fi N Adapter does this by providing wireless Net access to fully utilize a game console, Blu-ray, DVR, or HD TV's built-in widgets, while offering convenience of placement and eliminating cable clutter.

In addition to the increased speed and bandwidth, users will benefit from the Universal Wi-Fi N Adapter's compatibility with existing 802.11b/g routers and access points. There's no need to replace legacy network hardware. The unit also features a WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) button offering a speedy and secure network setup. On a brand spanking new wireless network, WPS will automatically configure it with a network name (SSID) and strong WPA information encryption and authentication.

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Trojans use Bin Laden's Death, Royal Wedding To Dupe The Unsuspecting

                          Google image search. The lower-left hand result isn't just Photoshopped--it's infected.

According to Fabio Assolini, a lab professional with Kaspersky, poisoned search results purporting to show bin Laden's corpse began appearing within Google Picture results within hours of the formal announcement. Clicking on such images transfers the user to a hostile domain where the much-loved "Antivirus XP" (currently billing itself as Best Antivirus 2011) pops up and attempts to persuade users that they have contracted a virus. The other major vector is flash-based and a bit more subtle. In lieu of trying to lure the user in to an anti-virus scan, it shows a broken video window and claims that a necessary plugin must be updated or installed. Users who then click are handed XvidSetup.exe, a seemingly legitimate file that installs an adware trojan known as hotbar.

Security firms have issued fresh warnings against malicious trojans in the wake of Osama bin Laden's death and the marriage of England's Prince William. Malware authors have already seized on both events as bait for their own malware hooks and are using the promise of unseen photos/video to snare the unwary. This type of assault and the speed with which it is organized have become commonplace in recent years when the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, was assassinated, trojans baited with information regarding her appeared within 24 hours. Since then, hurricanes, elections, and holidays have all been variously tapped as assault vectors.

Kaspersky Labs also reports that bin Laden-infected trojans are spreading via Facebook via the 'Like' button, with promises of free food, plane tickets, or a donkey. Multiple users spam pages with a URL redirect claiming such goodies are a click away, but provide a TinyURL address that bounces users from page to page until they eventually register an email address and eventually pay money.

These unsophisticated social attacks work because they take advantage of a user's sense of security. This is doubly true on Facebook where people are used to seeing short messages from their friends that link to all manner of games, photos, or random statements. Under such circumstances it's not surprising that a number of otherwise-savvy computer users are willing to click on malicious links and follow the trail. These abuses are effective precisely because they take advantage of our curiosity regarding the macabre and our willingness to trust people we consider friends--even by minimal Facebook standards.

On a positive note, it doesn't seem as though the malware programs are anything new. The trojans in question are hotbar (an adware tool) and Trojan.Win32.FakeAV.cvoo. Both of these are already detectable (though hotbar is only picked up on 19 of the 41 engines available at VirusTotal.com). We recommend readers steer well clear of Google Image and Facebook groups on either topic, and pass the word to friends/relatives to do the same.

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Logitech's 720p TV Cam For Skype Lets You Videocall On Your HDTV

External webcams are not  the anger they was. Perhaps that is because every laptop that ships today includes on, & a slew of new LCDs do as well. But if you are still stuck with an older monitor, or you need something a bit more detailed than the one.3MP embedded webcam, Logitech has a brand new option for you to think about. The TV Cam for Skype is a plug-and-play TV camera that'll let you make & receive high-definition video calls directly from select 2011 Panasonic VIERA Connect-enabled VIERA HDTVs that feature Skype. It is exactly what you think: a webcam for your television.

Forget chatting over the PC; that is 2010. With this, you'll be able to have the whole relatives collect 'round in order to speak to whoever is on the other finish. You'll find Carl Zeiss optics, Logitech's Liquid Crystal expertise, a 78-degree wide-angle lens & a pair of directional microphones. Two times the Logitech TV Cam for Skype is plugged in, you can make TV-to-TV Skype calls, as well as TV-to-PC or Mac calls & vice versa. You can also make video calls from the Logitech TV Cam for Skype to select iPhone & smartphones with Skype mobile, but you'll need a broadband connection in your home to take advantage.

The accessory should ship this month for $149.99; definitely not cheap, but at least it's 720p.

Logitech TV Cam Offers Video Calling on 2011 Skype-Enabled Panasonic VIERA HDTVs
Logitech Teams Up With Panasonic & Skype to Deliver Up To 720p HD Video Calling in the Living Room
FREMONT, Calif. May five, 2011 - Taking another step toward making a video call from the comfort of your couch, Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) today announced the Logitech® TV Cam for Skype, a plug-and-play TV camera that lets you make & get high-definition video calls directly from select 2011 Panasonic VIERA Connect -enabled VIERA® HDTVs that feature Skype.

The Logitech TV Cam for Skype lets you make & get up to 720p high definition video calls directly from 2011 Panasonic VIERA Connect -enabled VIERA HDTVs no computer or software-download is necessary, connect to the Web with at least one Mbps upload & download speed to start making HD video calls. Using the Logitech TV Cam for Skype is as simple as turning on your TV & selecting the Skype video calling application, which comes preloaded on 2011 Panasonic VIERA Connect-enabled VIERA HDTVs.

The Logitech TV Cam for Skype offers crisp, clear images thanks in part to Carl Zeiss® optics & Logitech Liquid Crystal Expertise delivering video color & clarity that consumers have come to expect from Logitech webcams & TV Cams. The Logitech TV Cam for Skype also provides a 78-degree wide-angle lens, & digital, directional microphones that help reduce noise & echoes ideal for making a video couch call with the whole relatives.

"You should not must wait for the holidays, a special occasion or summer holiday to see distant relatives & friends," said Joerg Tewes, vice president & general manager of Logitech's consumer video division. "We think making a video call to loved ones ought to be simple & natural. They welcomed the chance to work closely with respected brands such as Panasonic & Skype to make it feasible for more people in more households to connect with another from the comfort of their living room."

Five times the Logitech TV Cam for Skype is plugged in, you can make TV-to-TV Skype calls, as well as TV-to-PC or Mac calls & vice versa. You can also make video calls from the Logitech TV Cam for Skype to choose iPhone & smartphones with Skype mobile.

"The introduction of our first VIERA IPTVs in 2008 & then our first Skype-enabled HDTVs in 2010 elevated the television's place in the house to a whole new level for consumers & changed the way they interact with their TV," said Henry Hauser, Display Group vice president, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. "Collaborating with leading edge brands like Skype & Logitech has enabled us to push that to even greater heights literally making the HDTV the centerpiece for home entertainment, connectivity & communication with relatives & friends. With Logitech & Skype, Panasonic's VIERA Connect Skype-enabled HDTVs now deliver loved ones near & far right to your living room in wide screen, high definition making staying connected simple & amazing."

Access to a broadband Web connection is necessary to access VIERA Connect features. There is no fee to make use of the VIERA Connect functionality, however some services such as Netflix Amazon Video On Demand, & league sports sites have a separate fee structure to view movies & sports events.

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