Archive for September 2, 2016

OS X Updates Patch Remote Infiltration Exploit…. INSTALL THEM NOW

Posted in Commentary with tags on September 2, 2016 by itnerd

If you’re a Mac user, you likely got a prompt to update your software with a security update in the last 24 hours. If I were you, I’d install them because they patch a remote infiltration exploit. In other words, someone could hack into your Mac. These are the same exploits that were patched on the iOS platform in a surprise update last week. If you’re interested, you can get the full details of what was patched in Safari 9.1.3 here if you are running OS X Mavericks, and here if you are running El Capitan or Yosemite. Compare that to the security notes for iOS 9.3.5 and you see there are similarities. Seeing as an attacker can intercept information from a variety of third-party apps and services, including Gmail, Facebook, Skype, WeChat, and more, you need to install these updates right now to protect yourself. 

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New Drones from Parrot Announced

Posted in Commentary with tags on September 2, 2016 by itnerd

Two new high-tech and playful Minidrones enrich the Parrot drone family:

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Parrot Swing: the first plane Minidrone with vertical take-off, passing from the quadricopter mode to plane mode in a wink for wild races!

Parrot Mambo: the transforming drone with connected accessories to catch objects, throw projectiles or light up the dark!

This new generation of miniaturized robots introduces:

  • A dedicated gamepad, Parrot Flypad1, for more intense and precise piloting and a connection stabilized to long distance.
  • A dedicated application, FreeFlight Mini2, offering numerous improvements including off-line access to the Minidrones settings.

On top of that, Parrot has launched a FPV pack for its Bebop 2 leisure drone. The objective: To offer an immersive experience accessible for everyone with high-tech, intuitive and easy-to-transport products.

  • Availability: September 2016
  • MSRP: $179 CAN (Parrot Swing + Parrot Flypad)
  • MSRP: $159 CAN (Parrot Mambo with 2 accessories)

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Parrot Bebop 2: Powerful, with impressive stability and maneuverability, Bebop2 is a compact, robust, stable and lightweight (500 gr) video drone.

Parrot Cockpitglasses: the FPV headset that uses your smartphone and plunges you into the heart of the footage captured by Bebop 2’s frontal camera, and displays the telemetric flight data.

Parrot Skycontroller 2: the new Wi-Fi, lightweight and compact remote control with customizable joysticks and buttons offers up to 2km extended reach.

  • Availability: September 2016
  • MSRP: CAN $899 (Parrot Bebop 2 + Parrot Cockpitglasses + Parrot Skycontroller 2)
  • MSRP (FPV pack only): CAN $479 (Parrot Cockpitglasses + Parrot Skycontroller 2)

 

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Husqvarna Launches Virtual Reality (VR) Chainsaw Limbing and VR Chainsaw Championship

Posted in Commentary with tags on September 2, 2016 by itnerd

Today, for all chainsaw fans around the world, Husqvarna releases the first Virtual Reality (VR) chainsaw game – Husqvarna Limberjack. Via Valve’s platform Steam, the game is now available to download world-wide for anyone that wants to test their limbing skills and compete for the new world championship title.

The Husqvarna VR experience brings the player to a beautiful mountainside with a lake where the player has to use a Husqvarna 359 chainsaw to remove 24 branches from a 2.7 meter long log. The player needs to pick up the chainsaw and remove the branches as accurately and quickly. Just like a professional logger, the player needs to limb fast, and with precision. If branches are not removed properly, the player will need to go back and re-do, losing time.

The exhilarating game includes a local as well as a global high score list, making it fun to compete both in groups at home and online against other VR limberjacks around the world.

At the end of each month, Husqvarna will announce the best Limberjack player in the world for the month, and in August 2017, the twelve best Limberjack players will be invited to a the world championships final in Sweden.

Limbing is a difficult and time consuming part of professional logging that requires good technique. It refers to the process of removing branches from a fallen tree before the log is transported away. Husqvarna Limberjack is inspired by one of the five disciplines from the World Logging Championship, a bi-annual competition that gathers the best 150 best loggers from around the world. The current world record in real limbing is less than 9 seconds. To learn how to limb in the real world, read more here.

The game is optimized for HTC Vive and can be downloaded for free on Steam and also available via www.limberjackVR.com.

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