Phone Junkie

Sony has announced "mofiria," a biometric technology that relies on the unique vein pattern in fingers to authenticate users. Apparently, this method is more accurate than traditional fingerprint techniques.

"mofiria" uses a unique method where a CMOS sensor diagonally captures scattered light inside the finger veins, making a plane layout possible. As a result, a small and more flexible design can be realized in building this technology into mobile devices.

The vein pattern is extracted from the captured finger vein image, and data from the pattern is compressed into the size of one-tenth to store in memory, which makes it possible for the data to be stored on a mobile device. Sony's unique algorithm achieves fast and easy operation. The vein pattern is quickly and accurately extracted from the captured finger vein image without a fixed finger position, as the position of a placed finger is automatically and simultaneously corrected. As a result, the authentication accuracy is less than 0.1% for the FRR (False Rejection Rate), less than 0.0001% for the FAR (False Acceptance Rate), and processing time for identification takes only about 0.015 sec*1 using a personal computer CPU and about 0.25 sec*2 when using a mobile phone CPU.

Sony plans to promote the "mofiria" technology for use in mobile devices, gateway security systems and solution services. Sony will aim for commercializing this technology within the 2009 fiscal year.

I don't know about you, but that crazy looking finger in the illustration makes this technology sort of frightening to me. [Sony and Slashphone]

Crackulous, a program for pirating apps from the iPhone App Store, was just released. Great for cheapskates, terrible for independent developers trying to make a living. Updated: 4:35pm

You'll need to jailbreak your phone to get in on the fun, obviously, but the entire process seems relatively simple if you're looking to get on board.

However, since many of these apps will need to phone home, they'll be letting Apple and the app makers know exactly who you are and what dirty deeds you're committing, right? There's a good chance nothing bad will happen to you, but you probably don't want to risk getting your phone locked down or your account shut off because you're too cheap to pay for Fieldrunners. Just give the developers the money they deserve, OK?

Update: I just had this absolutely ludicrous exchange with the creator of Crackulous. You can't make this shit up.

Subject: INACCURATE: Crackulous article

Crack Ulous Mon, Feb 2, 2009 at 4:14 PM
To: adam@gizmodo.com

Adam, you are linking to a pirated version of the app. Please link to REMOVED (the official Crackulous site) instead of supporting the pirates in the crackulous article. Thanks.

Adam Frucci Mon, Feb 2, 2009 at 4:16 PM
To: Crack Ulous

Are you serious? This isn't a joke? You're seriously trying to stop
an app designed to pirate apps from being pirated?

Crack Ulous Mon, Feb 2, 2009 at 4:21 PM
To: Adam Frucci

No but I need people to support my work... I deserve appreciation.

Adam Frucci Mon, Feb 2, 2009 at 4:23 PM
To: Crack Ulous

But the people who have legit apps that Craculous will help pirate
don't? You honestly don't see the irony here?

Crack Ulous Mon, Feb 2, 2009 at 4:24 PM
To: Adam Frucci

Yes.. but Adam, all I ask is that you link to REMOVED in your article because some people still buy and support. Some people in the scene appreciate my work. Is it too much to ask? :)

Adam Frucci Mon, Feb 2, 2009 at 4:34 PM
To: Crack Ulous

No.

Crack Ulous Mon, Feb 2, 2009 at 4:35 PM
To: Adam Frucci

Ok if you could please do that I would be very appreciative. Thanks.

Update #2: The jackass above was a developer trying to screw over the people behind Crackulous. He wasn't the real developer, nor was he a scammer. He made no money from this. Moral of the story is still this: don't pirate apps. And this guy is a douche.

[FunkySpaceMonkey via Hackulous]

It's not your imagination. There's an AT&T data outage currently smiting parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Yep, AT&T is headquartered in Texas, so insert irony tag here. UPDATED.

Update 2: Everything should be cool now.

Update: Here's the official blurb: "Due to a cable cut, some AT&T customers in South Texas are currently not able to access data services from their wireless devices. All voice services are operating normally, and 2G data services began to restore about 2:30 p.m. CT after traffic was rerouted."

T-Mobile is allowing qualified customers to purchase headsets and accessories in four-month interest-free installments. You know the economy is bad when you are buying cellphone cases in installments.

The Equipment Installment Plan applies to both current and new customers and comes without any additional finance fees, interest charges or start-up fees. So, if money is tight but you have been dying to get your hands on a G1, this might be the way to do it. [T-Mobile]

The WSJ speculates that given where the axe is falling at Motorola, not only is their "high-end phone strategy" in danger, but they could be completely ditching Windows Mobile. Officially, Moto says, "nuh uh." [WSJ]

Philips has announced a new Xenium device known as X520, which provides power backup using standard lithium AAA batteries. Philips is not really renowned for making high end mobile devices but it does introduce devices that provide more battery power than any other mobile devices available in the market. The X520 itself supports up to 8 hours of talk time and up to a month of standby time but thanks to a new technology called 'Backupower', it can provide up to 2.5 hours of additional talk time and up to one week of additional standby time with a standard lithium AAA .........