• more about #authentication
    Monty: A philosophical question: If no one buys the Shuffle, does it matter? more »
    Kaiser-Machead: I've decided that if I want a small flash-based accessory player for more rigorous outdoor activity, I will get a Sony Walkman, which sells for $50 fo... more »
    Jrsy Devil's Advocate®: Hmmm, the Kool-Aid tastes a bit sour apple flavor now. Perhaps it's losing some of its potency... more »
    Hyman Decent: [O]nly people who Apple "like" are going to get this tech and make compatible headphones-but it's likely that Apple likes almost anybody with the mone... more »
    Kaiser-Machead: Beware, Apple, for this sort of behavior will eventually have even the most enthuzed of fanbois raging. You can lock the docks, you can wall your app ... more »
    vladdybear: lol its prolly GPS chip that let Apple know where all the shuffles are being shuffled. more »
    Serolf Divad: OK, now that's evil. Holding the line on .99 cent music doesn't give you a license to spread evil in all other areas, Mr. Jobs. more »
    danger the pirate: headline should read: Confirmed: iPod shuffle blows. more »
    kakarotthemonkey: That's very shady. I wonder how all the Apple fanboys will twist this around and make it look cool and hip. more »
    OMG! Ponies!: Somewhere in the EU, a bureaucrat is drafting an antitrust complaint to send to Cupertino. more »
  • #ipodshuffle

    Confirmed: Your iPod Shuffle Earbuds Need Proprietary Chip to Function

    We followed up on iLounge and BBGadgets' finds this weekend about rumors that the iPod Shuffle has an authentication chip in its headphone controller in order to work with the new control scheme. It does. Updated More »
  • #worldofwarcraft

    World of Warcraft Getting a Hardware Authenticator Tool

    The hacking and account stealing has gotten so bad on World of Warcraft that Blizzard has decided to release a hardware authenticator to make sure when you log in, you're actually not some dude in China who looks like me. (Unless you are.) The authenticator costs $6.50, and will spit out a six-digit code—much like the Paypal security key—that you enter into your account when you log in. You can use that one authenticator to any number of accounts, so if your whole family plays, you'll only have to pay once. [Blizzard via Wow Insider - Photo of Consumerist's Popken]
  • #software

    Internet Explorer 7 Marketshare Lagging, WGA Check Going Away

    Despite the fact that IE7 ships with every copy of Vista and is a free download for every Windows XP user, the browser only has a marketshare of 20-27 percent. Contrast that with Firefox's 17% share, according to one site, and things are looking dour for Microsoft. So what do they do? No, not improve the browser. They remove the WGA check on the download, which previously required users to have a legit copy of Windows XP before installing. Is this going to dramatically increase usage? We'll see. [Ars Technica]
  • #writtenup

    Dynahand Software Complicates Logins Without Adding Security

    Almost every website you visit these days lets you create an account of some sort to personalize your experience. Remembering all those username/password combos can get tedious and lead to weak, reused passwords that jeopardize your security. Enter Dynahand, a new form of online authentication that requires you to identify your own handwriting from a group instead of typing in a password. But is it worth it? I don't buy it. More »
  • #review

    UPEK Eikon Fingerprint Reader Hands-On (It Works With Firefox!)

    It's been a while since we last found a fingerprint reader we really liked. The previous champion—the lovely Cylon-red Microsoft Fingerprint Reader—was demoted to just Windows login duty (and eventually abandoned altogether) because of its lack of Firefox support. The Eikon? It supports Firefox. That's just one of the reasons why this Upek Digital Privacy Manager USB Fingerprint Reader shines. More »
  • #gadgets

    Pen-One Fingerprint Pen Steals Your Identity

    What's the point of a pen that can take your signature when you sign? Imagine your credit card being stolen, but if the person who's signing gets their fingerprint taken when they sign, you'll have a record of who the thief was. A stupid example for sure, but there are other, more important uses for the device. Some that take advantage of its authentication features: More »
  • #peripherals

    Snappy Face Recognizer For Computer Authentication

    Because fingerprint readers are so 2003, the Snappy Face Recognizer uses your unique natural handsomeness as a password to log into your computer. The 1.3 megapixel camera snaps a few shots of you to compare to whenever you try and authenticate on your machine. More »
  • #peripherals

    Jiris Iris Scanner

    Are fingerprint readers old hat for you now? Try the Jiris JCP1000 from Jiristech, which uses your iris as authentication. Program in your eye—either one is fine, unless you're a pirate—and the Jiris will pick up your eye signature in a second. The included software also encrypts and decrypts your files. More »