The Guy Who Flew Thousands of Passengers As a Fake Pilot [Airplanes]

The Guy Who Flew Thousands of Passengers As a Fake Pilot [Airplanes]:

This is Thomas Salme, a maintenance engineer who became a Boeing 737 pilot by flying a few nights in a flight simulator and printing a fake airliner pilot license. Amazingly enough, he flew passengers for thirteen years without any incidents.

Thirteen years of back and forth from Sweden to everywhere else in Europe. Nobody noticed until a couple of months ago, when Salme was caught by the police as he was getting ready for take off. He was in the cockpit of a Boeing 737, with 101 passengers at Amsterdam's Schipol airport. He admits that it was all a crazy idea:

" I got the crackpot idea to apply as a co-pilot at a real airline so I made myself a Swedish flying permit with a logo out of regular white paper. It wasn't laminated, and looked like something I'd made at home. It was surprisingly easy. The documents look different everywhere in Europe. An Italian airline doesn't know what a Swedish licence looks like. And you can forge all the IDs you need. I'd train there for two or three hours at a time—at least 15 to 20 times over one and a half years. "

Despite putting the lives of thousands at risk, Salme only got fined a couple thousand dollars and was banned from flying for a year. Thinking twice about it, it's kind of reasonable. Despite being crazy enough to pull such a stunt, it's not entirely his fault. After all, how can a company and the flight agencies involved be so absolutely inept? How can they accept a simple printout and put a random guy in the cockpit of a passenger plane without running any background checks? A simple computer search would have probably turned out enough information to stop this from the beginning. I can imagine Frank Abagnale Jr. pulling this stunt in the 60s, but now? There are no excuses.

If anyone needs to be nailed, that's the useless authorities that make us follow all kinds of stupid security procedures to get into an airplane, but can miserably fail to check the identity and qualification of the pilots flying the plane.

Obama Caught Lip-Syncing

Staying in Control of Your Facebook Logins

Staying in Control of Your Facebook Logins:

At Facebook, we're constantly working on new ways to protect you from scams and help you keep your account and information secure. Today, we're announcing some new tools and systems designed to keep the bad guys out and keep you abreast of suspicious activity so you can quickly take action to correct it.

We've always devoted significant time and effort to security. We've built technical systems that operate behind the scenes to quickly detect and block suspicious behavior, delete phony posts and messages, and return compromised accounts to their rightful owners. Most of these systems are invisible to the average person who uses Facebook. Very few people will ever experience a security issue on Facebook, which means that most of you have probably never noticed these systems at work. Rest assured that these systems are there, though, protecting you and your friends.

Login Notifications

Over the last few weeks, we've been testing a new feature that allows you to approve the devices you commonly use to log in and then to be notified whenever your account is accessed from a device you haven't approved. This feature is now available to everyone.

To try it out, go to the Account Settings page and click on the link next to 'Account Security' at the bottom of the page. If you select the option to receive notifications for logins from new devices, when you log in, you'll be asked to name and save the various devices you use to access Facebook.

For example, you can save your home computer, your school or work computer, and your mobile phone. Once you've done this, whenever someone logs in to your account from a device not on this list, we'll ask the person to name the device.

We'll also send you an immediate email notification - and if you want, a text message - so that you're always up to speed on how your account is being accessed. This notification will provide steps on how to reset your password and remove the device, so you can quickly secure your account if it's being accessed from a device you don't recognize.

We're not aware of any other service that does this, and we encourage you to try it out.

Blocking Suspicious Logins

We've also built a new system to block suspicious logins before they happen. When we see that someone is trying to access your account from an unusual device, we'll ask the person to answer an additional verification question to prove his or her identity as the real account owner. For example, we might ask the person to enter a birth date, identify a friend in a photo or answer a security question if you've previously provided one. These questions are designed to be easy for you, and hard for a bad guy, and we've already seen some great results.

Once you've confirmed your identity, you'll have the opportunity to review recent logins on your account and reset your password if you see logins that you don't recognize.

You won't go through this flow often. We'll only ask you to prove your identity on the rare occasion that we notice something different. If you're ever asked to go through this flow, that's just Facebook's site integrity team saying 'Hi' and that we're here to help you protect your account.

We're confident that these new tools and systems will do a lot to prevent unauthorized logins and the nuisance they can cause. As always, though, the first line of defense is you. We need you to help by practicing safe behavior on Facebook and wherever you go online.

Be careful where you enter your password, and don't download suspicious-looking software. We've posted more tips and information on how to be safe on our Facebook Security Page, so check it out and 'Like' it for ongoing updates.

Lev Popov, a software engineer on Facebook's site integrity team, is keeping track of his Facebook logins."

Pentax Unleashes Rainbow DSLR on Japan

Pentax Unleashes Rainbow DSLR on Japan:

Pentax has unveiled a new “Rainbow” version of the K-x DSLR camera. The limited edition camera will only be available in Japan through Tower Records starting on July 23, 2010.

Only 1,000 of these units will be made, and each one will set you back ¥74,800 (~$800). Aside from the funky colors, the technical specifications of this camera are exactly the same as other K-x DSLRs:

The camera is part of a 2010 campaign with a “Rainbow” theme by Tower Records that also includes footwear, t-shirts, and backpacks.

Selling strange looking cameras is nothing new to Pentax — they already allow you to customize your colors, and last year they released a limited edition “robotic” themed camera.

Facebook Faceoff: “Like” vs. “Become a Fan”

Facebook Faceoff: “Like” vs. “Become a Fan”:

A month ago, Facebook began phasing out the Facebook Fan Page, changing the action of “becoming a fan” to “liking.” The change was part of a broader plan to spread the Like button across the web and to lower the barrier for users to become connected with brands.

Not everyone “likes” Facebook’s small but important wording change, though. Now that we’ve had a month to digest the changes that the social network has implemented with Facebook Pages, we wanted to ask you: which wording do you prefer?

The debate between “like” and “fan” is the subject of this week’s Web Faceoff, our weekly poll series pitting two web apps against each other. Do you like the change, or are you loyal to the fan page until the end of time?

Cast your vote in the poll below. You have until 12:00 PM PT on Friday to cast your ballot. Don’t forget to leave your reasoning in the comments!

ARKKI solar boat targets environmentalists

ARKKI solar boat targets environmentalists:

If you're going to buy a boat, why not make it a green one as well? That's what the ARKKI solar boat is all about - it comes with 153 square meter of interior space and 100 square meter of deck space, boasting solar panels to help it maintain uninterrupted power when cruising at speeds of 6 to 8 knots. Measuring 31.6 meters in length and 15.5 meters wide, this boat was made out of reinforced concrete and natural fiber composites, resulting in a stable and rigid form factor that ought to stand up to all four seasons without batting an eyelid.

Canadians drop gloves, punch US in face over piracy list

Canadians drop gloves, punch US in face over piracy list: "


Once again, Canada appears near the top of the US government's 2010 'Special 301' piracy watchlist. And once again, the Canadians are angry about being classed with China and Russia as the worst places on earth for intellectual property law.

Michael Geist, a prominent Canadian academic at the University of Ottawa law school, slams the report for 'bullying' and being long on rhetoric but short on facts. According to Geist, Canada's reputation as a piracy haven simply isn't accurate:

This Sofa Wants To Be A Punching Bag [Design]

This Sofa Wants To Be A Punching Bag [Design]:

I love this sofa. It's comfy, looks stylish, and takes a good beating. Or at least I hope the thing can take having its stuffing beaten out when it apparently doubles as a punching bag. More »

Google reportedly preparing to intro TV software next month

Google reportedly preparing to intro TV software next month:

The Google TV—or rather, Google's software for set-top boxes—is one step closer to reality, according to sources speaking to the Wall Street Journal. Google is reportedly preparing to announce the software at next month's Google I/O conference, where developers may be able to get their feet wet writing applications for the platform, though the sources cautioned that Google might back off on the announcement if it's not quite ready by then.

Google's TV plans have yet to be officially confirmed, though they have been rumored for at least a month now. Consistent with the company's strategy in other areas, Google isn't expected to be involved in manufacturing set-top boxes; rather, the company is supposedly developing a version of Android that would be especially conducive to the big screen. Third-party developers would then be able to write their own apps for the devices, giving more openness and flexibility to people's TV watching habits.

According to the WSJ, hardware makers like Sony, Intel, and Logitech are interested in rolling out devices that work with Google's software. On top of that, Google is reportedly in the process of testing a sort of 'television search' with the Dish Network, which allows users to search for content on the Internet and from Dish's programming.

We're still left a little unsure of how well the Google TV project will succeed, given the fact that there are already a handful of other set-top boxes available (and some of them for pretty cheap). However, if the UI is good and the developer community gets on board, there's potential for this device (or, more likely: devices) to fill a small gap in the market. After all, there are few set-top boxes right now that aren't full-blown HTPCs, but still give developers the freedom to develop their own apps, and their growing familiarity with Android—thanks to the mobile world—would certainly help.

5 Ways That Cars Are Getting Smarter

5 Ways That Cars Are Getting Smarter:

In the emerging Internet of Things, everyday objects are becoming networked. Recently we looked at smart clothing, today we explore the world of smart cars. From Formula One to cheap family cars, all kinds of vehicles are utilizing sensors and advanced technology nowadays. While some of the features we discuss below aren't connected to the Internet, yet, all of them are using sensors. And so we can easily imagine the day when most cars are connected to the network.

We begin our post looking at the state of the art in car sensor technology: Formula One manufacturer McLaren's 300 live, simultaneous data streams. We end with a look at family car Alhambra's more humble sensor technology. In between we have the latest from Chrysler, General Motors and Ford.
300 Sensors on a Formula One Car:

The latest McLaren Formula One car, as driven by current world champion Jenson Button, relies on feedback during the race from 300 data streams - via miniaturized sensors on the car and the driver. This data tells Button's team how well he and his car are performing. This system is called "live telemetry" and it sends data such as the heart rate of the driver and the fuel level in the car.

This same technology is now being implemented in healthcare. Explained the Times Online:

"If we can track the heart rate of an elite athlete, why not also track the heart rate of a patient recovering from a heart attack?

If, for instance, a patient is released from hospital having suffered a heart problem, the McLaren technology can employ wireless sensors the size of sticking plasters that will send, via the internet to the doctor or clinician responsible, a continuous record of the patient's heart rate and electrocardiogram, the graph that monitors the heartbeat."

NASA Technology in Chrysler Cars

Perhaps in a bid to out-do Formula One, Chrysler is tapping into space travel technology!

According to a recent press release from NASA, it is partnering with Chrysler to "use technologies originally developed for human spaceflight to enhance future vehicles and adapt advanced automotive technology for use in space." The two organizations will share information about mobility systems, wireless technologies, robotics, energy storage, radar, materials engineering, and battery systems.

Chrysler said that it plans to use NASA's research in surface navigation sensors for backup warning systems, lane departure warning systems and adaptive cruise control.

GM's Augmented Reality Car

In an article entitled What You'll See In The Future, AOL Auto looks at the latest advances in car cameras and sensors. Side-view cameras, currently available on some up-market vehicles, can be used to assist parking and as "advanced systems that help spot vehicles in your blindspots." Sensors on the side of the car are also used for lane departure warning systems, which "monitor lane lines and alert a driver when he or she inadvertently crosses those lines."

Another use for external cameras and sensors, writes AOL Auto's Frank Filipponio, is forward vision enhancement. Last month ReadWriteWeb wrote about a new General Motors technology that will bring AR to car windshields and provide a heads-up-display (HUD) experience. Here's a video showcasing this "enhanced vision system" of General Motors:

Ford's Voice Controlled Car

Last week we reported on the latest update to Ford's Sync system, a voice-controlled connectivity system. Sync allows drivers to use voice commands to do things like place a call or control their music playlists.

With Sync AppLink, Ford introduced a new platform that allows developers to offer voice controls for their mobile apps on Sync-enabled cars. The first Sync-enabled applications, which will be available later this year, are Pandora, Stitcher, and Orangatame's OpenBreak Twitter app. The first car to feature this new service will be the 2011 Ford Fiesta.

Opposite End of Car Spectrum: The Alhambra

To show that even cheaper models of cars are getting sensor technology, let's look at the latest model of the Alhambra - a Spanish MPV car (Multi-Purpose Vehicle). The Alhambra was described by British car guide Whatcar? as "cheap to buy, comfy for seven and good to drive."

The latest model comes with "bi-xenon headlamps with adaptive control and full beam assistant." This works via a sensor, which "detects oncoming vehicles and automatically dips the beam."

Another new feature is "the park/steer assistant, which autonomously manoeuvres the Alhambra into tight parking spaces - even perpendicular to the direction of travel."

While the Alhambra may sound humble compared to Formula One's sensor technology, or Chrysler's deal with NASA, it shows that even the most basic of cars is using sensors - which will inexorably lead to an Internet of Things.
Let us know in the comments what you're driving and if it uses sensor technology.