Geekly Update - 16 May 2011

The AskBobRankin Geekly Update

The Kajimoto Laboratory at the University of Electro-Communications has developed a Kiss Transmission Device which employs rotating plastic tubes that can be manipulated with the tongue. "Oh, were you kissing me? I thought I was drinking a milk shake."

Mozilla is resisting a "request" from the Department of Homeland Security to remove the MafiaaFire addon, which helps to circumvent the seizure of domain names.

The New Yorker is counting on its readers to save it from magazine doom with an iPad app. They are offering monthly digital subscriptions for at $5.99 a month or $59.99 per year. I'll keep reading it at the dentist's office as long as I can...

Naked Security has advised against viewing an Osama Execution video on Facebook. I wonder if it's okay to view it on Myspace...?

Graham Cluley, consultant for Sophos security, says that hackers run dictionary attacks against those who use one word passwords. He says that the most secure would be a sentence like "Fred And Wilma Like To Have Ham And Eggs For Dinner" which turns into "F&WL2HH&E4D" and suggests using more than one password.

Microsoft has purchased Skype for $8.5 billion in a move designed to support both companies. Look for Skype to get in on the Xbox and Windows Phone while also finding a place in Outlook, Lync and other non-Microsoft platforms.

Here's a scary thought. Security company CSIS has reported that the ZeuS/Zbot source code is available to wannabe attackers. They found it on several sites and actually tested it to see if it worked and, lo and behold, it did.

At Google's I/O this week they announced several new upcoming ad-ons for Android, including some that will turn your phone or other device into a media center for your home. Music Beta by Google, a service that allows downloading of music, is an offering that includes playlist creations and cloud storage.

Also unveiled from Google were Chromebooks, instant Internet devices that save data in the cloud, with prices starting at $349.99. Available in mid-June, you get instant online access with no need of virus protection, automatic updates, and tons of apps. Back in the day, we called these "dumb terminals".

Demonstrating once again the power of the Interweb, a UK man who lives in Japan created the e-book "2:46: Aftershocks: Stories from the Japan Earthquake" that has already raised $25,000 for the Japan Red Cross. The book is available on demand and contains pictures, artwork and essays from those who are living through the crisis.