Impulses Archive

  • California Cool Cars regs put the kibosh on radio, cellphone, and GPS reception

    California Cool Cars regs put the kibosh on radio, cellphone, and GPS reception

    Posted on October 13, 2009 | No Comments

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    We've seen plenty of tech over the years meant to mitigate our destruction of the environment -- from greener autos to Grateful Dead-themed cellphones -- most of which don't really ask us to tone down our consumer impulses all that much. But how about these new "Cool Cars" regulations recently adopted by the California Air Resources Board? By the year 2016, all autos sold in the state must have windows that prevent 60 percent of the sun's energy from entering the vehicle. To achieve this, windows are given a coat of glazing that contains microscopic specs of reflective metal oxide -- which will seriously hamper reception for your GPS, cellphone, and (this is of special interest to Engadget readers) white collar criminal-style work release ankle bracelet. As you can imagine, companies like Garmin are fuming -- although we suppose that if they play this right they can make a killing in the external car antenna business. It just goes to show you -- when it comes to environmental catastrophe, everyone's a victim.

    [Via AutoBlog]

    California Cool Cars regs put the kibosh on radio, cellphone, and GPS reception originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Type much? Watch out for data-thieving lasers and power outlets

    Type much? Watch out for data-thieving lasers and power outlets

    Posted on July 12, 2009 | No Comments
    hamburglarArticles like this make me glad I lead a relatively boring life and rarely type anything interesting enough to steal (or even read?) into my computer. Hackers will demonstrate a couple new methods of data theft at Black Hat USA 2009 in Vegas later this month. Both methods involve reading which individual keyboard keys are struck from afar. One method reads the impulses through electrical outlets and the other uses a laser shined on a flat surface of the computer to detect the minute wobble generated when each key is struck.

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