Hardware Hacking: "MacBook Pro Thunderbolt 2 Sonnet III-D GTX 780 Ti

Link for Youtube http://youtu.be/G0M05rJkTQY

Link with details:  http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/6689-%5Bguide%5D-2013-15-macbook-pro-gtx780ti%4020gbps-tb2-sonnet-echo-express-iii-d-win8.html

Anandtech article:  http://www.anandtech.com/show/7987/running-an-nvidia-gtx-780-ti-over-thunderbolt-2

Very Interesting!

Something I have been interested in since Thunderbolt came out, though I don't think it is going to be practical enough for me.

I've decided for my needs & wants the new (2014) 14" Razer Blade laptop makes lot more sense http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-systems/razer-blade/ & http://www.anandtech.com/show/7858/razer-announces-the-new-razer-blade-14-qhd-with-gtx-870m what I am saving up to get as replacement for my Windows 7 laptop.

Still think external GPU, specially combined with docking station or high res monitor & docking connector (something like Apple's Thunderbolt display, but with 4K, and external GPU(s) to game on it) makes a lot of sense.

Problem is most people just want cheap netbook or a tablet.

Plus, since many (most?) gamers either make their own machines or have friends build them a gaming rig, I doubt the companies that could reasonably make dock with external GPU would ever be able to make profit.

TT

Windows Phone 8 T-mobile & Lumia Black update on Lumia 521

If you haven't heard, Lumia has new update/upgrade for all Lumia Windows Phone 8 (WP8 for short) devices getting rolled out.

It is called Lumia Black, official link http://www.nokia.com/global/windows-phone-black-update/.

Yesterday it became available for Lumia 521, which is the T-mobile specif version of the Lumia 520.

WP8 devices revice both OS updates from Microsoft, and firmware updates from device manufacture.  Lumia Black is a firmware update.

Today I updated my Lumia 521, it took about 3 minutes for download on my WiFi, but 5+ minutes for install prep stage.

Then several minutes for reboot & final installation, sorry I didn't get more precise times dealing with IRL issues.

First call I made, using WiFi calling,phone did random reboot!

Made me laugh pretty hard, but random reboot are pretty common with this device.  At least weekly, often more frequent than that.

Call was made & worked fine after reboot.

Internet browsing seems a little snappier than prior to Lumia Black update.

Native Podcast app seems to be working fine.

If anyone has any questions, leave a comment & I'll do my best to answer.

Nearing end of my year long use of Lumia 521, to better learn the major phone OS I am planning to switch to Android later this year, already had lot of experience with Blackberry (old Pearl & newer Bold).

Have almost year of experience with iOS on a 5th generation iPod Touch, plus I provide tech support for my girlfriend who has been using an iPhone 5s since Fall 2013.

Lumia Black:

• GSM Arena http://blog.gsmarena.com/nokia-lumia-black-software-update-features-overview/
• Nokia http://www.nokia.com/global/windows-phone-black-update/

Lumia 521 & 520 specs:

• GSM Arena http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_lumia_520-5322.php
• Windows Phone Central http://forums.wpcentral.com/nokia-lumia-521/224841-521-t-mobile-specs-users-guide.html

General WP8 Resources:

• WP8 Update history http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/how-to/wp8/basics/windows-phone-8-update-history
• Microsoft guide to WP8 http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/how-to/wp8/basics/stop-my-screen-from-rotating

PC Perspective Podcast is live

Well as alive as they ever get.

Stream:  http://www.pcper.com/live/

PC Perspective is very good source for Hardware reviews and information.

Their website is http://www.pcper.com/ or you can just Google pcper.

DIY Hardware Controller for OBS, Xsplit, & Wirecast from PC Perspective

"Here is a quick demo of the hardware switching/tally interface I have been developing that works with Wirecast, Xsplit, and OBS!" ~About blurb for this Youtube http://youtu.be/X0osoJy35Ec

Full article at PC Perspective http://www.pcper.com/reviews/General-Tech/DIY-Control-Surface-Wirecast-and-Xsplit

Looks like a useful alternative to TriCaster, especially if your budget doesn't stretch to buying TriCaster!


PC Perspective links:

• Twitter https://twitter.com/pcper
• Stream (weekly podcasts & special events) http://www.pcper.com/live/
• Youtube Channel http://www.youtube.com/user/pcper?feature=watch
• Podcast http://www.pcper.com/podcast
• Webpage http://www.pcper.com/

PC Perspective Podcast live

Stream:  http://www.pcper.com/live/

Main site http://www.pcper.com/

Good hardware show & site!

Nerd Gear: Anandtech reviews entire Intel 525 SSD line

They test 30 GB- 240 GB, I am actually interested in the small ones for couple projects I am thinking about for my home network experiments.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6725/the-full-intel-ssd-525-review-30gb-60gb-120gb-180gb-240gb-tested

Security & Hacking: Project Ophelia PC on USB Stick

Official links:  http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/secure/2013-01-08-dell-wyse-ultra-compact-cloud-client.aspx or http://www.wyse.com/about/press/release/2377

Articles:
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/01/is-dell-looking-to-kill-pcs-with-project-ophelia/
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9236035/A_new_computer_that_defies_category
http://www.infoworld.com/t/thin-clients/meet-ophelia-dells-50-plug-in-cloud-based-pc-challenger-211031

Not sure if this makes sense for business or not, it is intended for thin clients, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thin_client.  There are Pros and Cons to that approach, way real old school computers were used.

[Personally I think a dispersed mesh network of powerful but very small devices is the more likely future of computing, but that is topic for another day.]

Project Ophelia has a lot of applications for Pen Testing or Hacking though IMO. 

You might need to Hack the device a bit, but note while it is using Android to start with, they are planning on offering it with various OS's if I understand correctly.

According to some of the news articles, they are aiming at $50 price, so it would be cheap.

According to the ComputerWorld article (though not sure where they got the info, CES maybe?) specs are as follows:  "The device will run Android OS Jelly Bean, have 8GB of memory to support applications, music, video and presentations, and a microSD slot up to 32GB of storage."

Security & Hacking: "Cisco Linksys Remote Preauth 0day Root Exploit "

From DefenseCode http://blog.defensecode.com/2013/01/defensecode-security-advisory-upcoming.html

"Exploit shown in this video has been tested on Cisco Linksys WRT54GL, but other 

Linksys versions/models are probably also affected.

Cisco Linksys is a very popular router with more than 70,000,000 routers sold.

That's why we think that this vulnerability deserves attention.

According to our vulnerability disclosure policy, the vulnerability details will be

disclosed in following 2 weeks on http://www.defensecode.com/, BugTraq and

Full Disclosure."

Related:

• BugTraq http://www.securityfocus.com/
  
• Full Disclosure http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/

Security & Hacking: USB Stick Pen Tool that emulates Keyboard

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/blogs/2012/12/04/the-usb-stick-that-turns-into-a-keyboard/

 I find this hardware very interesting, I wonder if they got the idea from Yubikey?

http://www.yubico.com/faq/why-does-the-yubikey-act-as-a-keyboard/

Not mentioned in the PC Pro article, but rather in the Yubikey link, it mentions that even USB ports that are shut down to USB flashdrives will run Yubikey, since it looks like a Keyboard to the computer.

I suspect this USB stick hack would work in the same situations, were USB ports are locked down to USB flashdrives, the computer would see a keyboard.

So the hack would still work.

Giving you remote access.

Think Social Engineering attacks, or working as part of cleaning crew, would allow easy placement of device like this.

 Speaking of Cleaning Crew or Custodians, how many companies care enough about security to pay good wages to keep good, vetted, in house custodians vs using a contractor?

Or even if they use in house custodians, still tends to be a low pay, low status job, with a lot of turnover, and generally low standards for hire.

Random Wikipedia of the Day (RWotD): Multics OS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multics

Very interesting.


I'll admit lot of my Random Wikipedia posts are not truly random, lot of them result from Drunken Walk research (beyond Black Belt level Google Fu).

See also:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_%28computer_security%29
• http://www.multicians.org/
• http://web.mit.edu/multics-history/

Security & Hacking: "Killing the Computer to Save It"

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/30/science/rethinking-the-computer-at-80.html

Great story, via Bruce Schneier's post.

Computer Desk of the Week

I am starting new series of blog posts, want to highlight some Computer Desk layouts, Computer Desk of the Week (CDotW).

If you have a setup you would like mentioned Tweet me, @cliffsesport, or post a comment with info.

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=168583

An impressive build, liquid cooling, custom wood desk, with glass top, so Desk is also the computer case.

Matching Wood Speakers.