Breaking with the recent stream of bad news, disk drive manufacturers Fujitsu, Hitachi, and Seagate Technologies all announced encrypting hard drives over the past few weeks.

The three disk drive amigos announced a number of new models featuring things like 256-bit encryption, 500GB of capacity, and up to 16MB of disk-based cache memory. As far as availability goes, all three vendors will offer multiple encrypting hard drive models in 2009.

Users should anticipate a whole bunch of new PCs featuring encrypting hard drives in 2009. As this happens, security professionals should:

?? Embrace the technology. Attention IT, you are looking at the future here. In a few years, almost all hard drives will be “encryption ready.” This means that you need a plan for a graceful migration from software to hardware over time. Make sure your software vendor is prepared ASAP to support hardware-based encryption management chores (i.e. configuration management, key management, etc.).

?? Push vendors on Trusted Computing Group (TCG) storage encryption standard support. Fujitsu, Hitachi, and Seagate were all extremely influential in developing TCG storage encryption, a feature-rich standard with secure APIs and a wide range of use cases. To maximize future flexibility, make sure that software and hardware encryption vendors are familiar with and support this standard. This will help prevent vendor lock-in and help drive new innovation.

?? Examine ways to use the Trusted Platform Module (TPM). Every PC ships with a TPM security chip with a unique identification number, but few organizations use this functionality. Why? Software functionality has been a bear to administer in the past. As encrypting drives become ubiquitous, this techno traffic jam will likely ease. Keep your eyes open for software support from endpoint security and encryption management vendors.

?? Not wait for Intel vPro. This is not to diss Intel; I actually like the potential of the vPro architecture. That said, encryption is just one feature in vPro. It can do a lot of other cool things for configuration management, vulnerability scanning, and power management. As for full-disk encryption, my bet is that disk-based encryption will arrive sooner and be cheaper and simpler to use than chip-based encryption. Intel and the disk guys will figure this out over the long-term, but it is certainly not worth delaying purchases while awaiting hardware detente.

Hardware-based encryption will protect system-resident data and help solve another thorny problem: data erasure. When a system is ready for the scrap heap, simply delete the encryption key and voila, the data is unreadable. This may be the biggest benefit of all.

source:CNET

Here are some of the changes since Beta 2 (over 160 changes in total):

* Numerous style improvements and refinements.
* All admin notices now go under the page title.
* PHP Notice fixes.
* Dashboard widget options now properly save.
* Menu fixes.
* New design for Quick Edit.
* Canonical feed URL fixes.
* Walker fixes.
* An update for Hello Dolly.
* Plugin installer updates.
* Numerous font updates.
* Updated login logo.
* Switch position of “Save Draft” and “Preview” buttons in publish module.
* File upload support for MS Office 2007+ file formats.
* Media upload buttons won’t show if the user doesn’t have the upload capability.
* Canonical redirects only do yes-www or no-www redirection for domains.
* Shift-click checkbox range selection improvement.
* Add New User page now separate.
* Tag suggest only suggests tags (not other taxonomy terms).
* QuickPress shows “Submit for Review” if user cannot publish.
* Private posts/pages, and password-protected posts/pages are rolled into new “Visibility” section of publish module.

If you have already installed Beta 1 or Beta 2, you can update to Beta 3 via the Tools -> Update menu. If you have problems, or if this is your first time in the 2.7 beta ring, you can download and upgrade the old fashioned way.

Download Wordpress 2.7 Beta 3

StreamDrag is a Music search engine which let you find your musics and allows you to make playlist and listen on it. Sorry, There is no download link!

Ok, now we continue to the second part of T-Mobile G1-Google Phone Full Reviews. If you missed the first part, you can still read it here. Apart from before, the call quality was awesome on the G1-Google Phone (some callers couldn’t detect that we’re on a cellular phone), the G1-Google Phone’s speakerphone was loud & clear, and the dialer app is efficient and user friendly (T-Mobile’s myFaves feature is now supported).

Messaging options on the G1-Google Phone are abundant—just about all that’s missing is full-on Exchange support, which will come once an enterprising developer fills the void. Alright, but how’s G1-Google Phone 3G reception? If you’re in New York, you probably had no trouble getting a 3G signal, both in Manhattan and Brooklyn—indeed, 3G reception on the G1-Google Phone was better than on Apple iPhone 3G. Remember that T-Mobile only recently launched its own 3G network, and it’ll only be live in about 21 cities by the end of the month. The G1-Google Phone will work on EDGE technologies-Beside that, you can always having a connectivity to the internet via Wi-Fi (wireless networks).

The G1-Google Phone’s internet browser is one of the best browser on a phone, although it isn’t 100 percent perfect. Huge size pages rendered more or less perfectly, but you can’t pinch or double-tap the non-multitouch screen to zoom in or out; but you must tap on twin virtual magnifying glasses at the bottom of the G1-Google Phone’s screen. Also, scrolling gets to be a bit choppy on larger websites, and because the G1-Google Phone lacks an accelerometer, you’ll have to open the keypad or tap a menu option to turn the screen to a landscape orientation mode. As additional, G1-Google Phone’s trackball is great for clicking on Website links, you can switch between browser windows, and save or copy URLs—this is a feature that was missing on the Apple iPhone.

The built-in GPS on the G1-Google Phone managed to pinpoint our location to within about a third of a block or so when we was outside. However: If you’re indoors, the G1-Google Phone’s map application can’t locate you unless you’ve got 3G mode turned off. And as with the Apple iPhone, the GPS-equipped G1-Google Phone won’t do guided turn-by-turn directions.

Like its Maps application, the G1-Google Phone’s music player isn’t nearly as slick as the Apple iPhone’s, but it does well. Song’s playback controls are easy to use, album art gets displayed, the typical repeat and shuffle modes are present and accounted for, and you can create playlists on the spot. Songs will play in the back, and if a call comes in, the G1-Google Phone automatically pauses your music and starts where it left off once you hang up. There’s also an Amazon application that lets you shop and download MP3s directly over the phone’s microSD cards up to 16GB are supported currently. One ’serious’ problem here: There’s no 3.5mm headphone jack (and no stereo Bluetooth/A2DP support, which is also missing from the great Apple iPhone), so you’ll have to use the dinky earbuds that come in the G1-Google Phone box or grab a mini USB-to-3.5mm adapter though…

Ever heard the G1-Google Android Phone? or T-Mobile G1?
Android-powered G1-Google Phone is the first touchscreen smartphone we’ve seen that’s a real Apple iPhone competitor—and a great one. While it lacks the Apple iPhone’s shine and polish, the G1-Google Phone got the goodness from the peppy, easy-to-use Android OS (operating system), not to say the open-source thing that’ll probably lead to a explosion of inventive applications. Valued from usd $179 and set to ship from October 22 (you can pre-order it here), it’s no shock the G1-Google Phone is already a big hit.

First, the HTC-built G1-Google Phone isn’t much to look at. G1-Google Phone available in black and brown, this G1-Google Phone’s 4.6 by 2.16 by 0.62-inch handset isn’t nearly as hot as the Apple iPhone, and at 5.6 ounces it’s nearly a full ounce heavier than Apple iPhone. The 3.17-inch touchscreen slides up and over to reveal the space of QWERTY keypad beneath, while below the screen you’ll find 5 button keys—Menu, Call, Home, Back, and End—and a small-sized trackball. A volume tuner is on the right side of the G1-Google Phone, while the camera shutter is on its left. But something seems missing here: A direct physical “silent mode” key (instead, you must press and hold the Power button and select the Silent option).

The G1-Google Phone’s QWERTY keypad, it’s something of a bit disappointment. The keypad as a whole is plenty roomy (with dedicated number keys, as well as separate period, comma, and “@” buttons), but the keys felt slippery; also, while the backlighting (which turns on automatically depending on the level of ambient light) is quite effective in the dark, it makes the keys devilishly difficult to make out in low- to medium-light situations.

Another complaint of G1-Google Phone—because the G1 lacks a virtual keys, you must slide open the QWERTY keypad any time you need to enter any text—even just your ZIPcode or a user name. Quite little annoying huh. By the way, the G1-Google Phone scores great marks with its easy-to-use Android-powered interface, which (like the Apple iPhone’s) begins and ends with a multi-paned home screen with some icons.

This G1-Google Phone also displayed a status bar along the top of the home page (and on every Android page). The bar contains a battery life indicator, the time, signal strength, and pops up with alerts for new e-mail, SMS messages, missed calls, and voice mails. Maybe this is a feature that Apple should steal.

Google G1-Android is, of course about Google, and the first thing you do with the G1 is sign in with your Gmail login account. This G1-Google Phone automatically syncs up all your Gmail messages, contacts, Google calendar events & almost everything, and they’ll stay synced whenever you’re in Wi-Fi (wireless hotspot) or cell range.

Don’t forget to read the part 2 of [T-Mobile G1-Google Phone Full Reviews] in the next post!

Blogging is evolving, to encompass the world of social networking and connect to the rest of the web, merging publishing with community. Movable Type users know this better than anyone, since they get first and best access to the coolest social publishing features.

Today marks another milestone, as our own David Recordon joined Mark Zuckerberg onstage at Facebook’s F8 conference to demonstrate a live, working implementation of Facebook Connect for Movable Type. Facebook Connect is a powerful new initiative from Facebook that lets you bring your Facebook profile and social graph to other applications and websites while still giving you full control over privacy. We’ve shown off (and will soon release for download) a free, open source plugin for Movable Type that enables Facebook Connect on any MT-powered site.

Simply put, this is another huge leap forward in the effort to make the personal web more open.

Read more http://www.sixapart.com/blog/2008/07/facebook-connects-with-movable.html

Adobe Air is a runtime environment to build rich internet applications that can be deployed to the desktop application and run across operating systems. AIR applications can run offline, and then activate other functionalities or upload data when an internet connection becomes available. An example is eBay Desktop which allows sellers to complete a listing offline and then upload it when an internet connection established.

Snippely: Snippely is a basic text and code organizational tool. Instead of storing bits of code, quick notes, and memos in text files all over your hard drive, this application will let you save and organize “snippets” in one convenient location. A snippet is a collection of one or more pieces of code and notes. Snippets are stored in groups for organization and quick retrieval.

Web Snapshot: The easiest way to take screenshot of a website. Enter the Url and Press Snap. Or Drag&Drop it from your browser. Click on the Thumnails to Save.

Icon Generator: Icon Generator is a little application that lets you generate a CS3 or Web 2.0 style icon, only 3 step. Pick color, type characters, and save it. Just create 4 different sizes of the icon.

Pixus: Measure it does it with Firefox, but it is limited to browser only. Pixus will let you to measure anything that you see on your screen

Flickr Flipper: Flickr Flipper allows you to search for Flickr photos and also search for photos from specific Flickr users. It uses Papervision to display the photos one at a time and even allows you to download the photo to your computer. Currently it only returns up to 100 photos of your search.

Google Analytics Reporting Suite: The Google Analytics Reporting Suite brings Google Analytics to the desktop, with a host of features that help you understand how your website is performing and where you can improve. From tracking your visitors, referrals and campaigns to viewing your AdWords ROI metrics, the Google Analytics Reporting suite is a must-have for every web business.

Kuler Desktop: The kuler desktop brings Adobe’s color theme web application to the desktop. You can download themes as ASE (Adobe Swatch Exchange) files to your desktop, or quickly copy as hex values to your clipboard.

Klok: Klok is a tool intended to be used by individuals, who have a need to track the time they spend on projects, tasks or anything else for that matter.

(via Gabfire design tips)

Time to face the music, folks — 18.4-inches is the new 17-inch. Sony’s recently unveiled VAIO AW is undoubtedly going toe-to-toe with HP’s new HDX 18t, and while both will garner all sorts of stares from onlookers, it appears that the VGN-AW190 may have an edge in terms of extras. For starters, this unit’s Adobe RGB-compatible display will be mighty impressive to those who dabble in photos to make ends meet, and the included RAM, CPU and Blu-ray drive were all smiled upon. Strangely enough, Sony tossed in a pathetically slow 4,200RPM hard drive to put a damper on overall performance, but that — along with the $3k+ sticker — was the only real weak spot. Overall, critics found that this machine would likely suit graphic designers and photographers quite well, but the average joe / jane may not appreciate the pricey extras enough to make it worthwhile. (Via Engadget)

Sure, we’ve seen projects like SplashTop boot a stripped Linux build quickly, but Intel engineers at the recent Linux Plumbers Conference took things a little farther last Thursday, starting up modified versions of Fedora and Intel’s own Moblin Linux on an SSD-equipped Eee PC in just five seconds. That’s all the way to an idle CPU and disk, not cheating and starting a window manager while background services thrash in the background, mind you — and it’s fast enough that the splash screen was removed from both distros. The changes are being sent back to the Moblin and Fedora trunks, but if you’re curious, a detailed overview of the changes awaits at the read link.

[Via SlashGear]