Software : Blip: Android app can be used to hijack a plane

Blip: Android app can be used to hijack a plane
Updated: Twitter's music app is real, according to Ryan Seacrest
Draw Something to become a celebrity-laden, C4 game show called Draw It!
Google lets Brits become local cartographers with Map Maker tool

Blip: Android app can be used to hijack a plane

Posted:

A security consultant has demonstrated how a specially developed Android app can be used to take control of a commercial aircraft.

Presenting at the Hack in the Box security forum in Amsterdam, Hugo Teso has demonstrated how an app he has developed can extract important information from aircraft systems, and can even be used to control the aircraft; either by uploading a new flight plan or by remotely adjusting the plane's steering wheel.

Trained as a commercial pilot, Teso says that several systems on planes are unencrypted and insecure, and that once he had access to these systems he could control the plane once it was put into auto-pilot mode. Luckily for the unsuspecting passengers and crew, he also loses control once the pilot switches back to manual controls.

Of course, he hasn't conducted a live test on a passenger plan to date. Instead he has opted for replicating an aircrafts system in his lab.

This information comes at an interesting time given that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US is considering an overhaul of regulations that currently restrict how and when passengers can use electronic devices, such as mobile phones, during flights. Many expected these regulations to relax, but perhaps Mr Teso will present the FAA with new objections.

Via Computerworld

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Updated: Twitter's music app is real, according to Ryan Seacrest

Posted:

Update: The acquisition announcement may spill nicely into a formal Twitter Music announcement, according to a Thursday evening report.

Sources speaking with AllThingsD said Twitter plans to launch the standalone Twitter Music app Friday, while another source noted the app is coming to coincide with the start of the popular Coachella music festival, which gets underway in California this weekend.

That source said Music's launch may not necessarily happen Friday.

According to the publication, the app suggests artists and songs based on a "number of personalized signals," including followed Twitter accounts. Users will apparently be able to listen to song clips from within the app, use third-party services like iTunes and SoundCloud, plus watch music videos thanks to Vevo.

Original article...

We Are Hunted on Thursday announced that it's ditching its independence and joining Twitter, making good on a report from last month that said such a deal had happened.

Twitter backed up the news with a welcome tweet to the online music discovery service.

Though wearehunted.com will be shut down along with all user accounts, the crew at WAH will "continue to create services that will delight you, as part of the Twitter team," its website read, though it failed to outline what these new, delightful services will look like. It did leave us with this:

"There's no question that Twitter and music go well together. Artists turn to Twitter first to connect with fans, and people share and discover new songs and albums every day. We can't wait to share what we've been working on at Twitter."

Tweets confirm Music app?

Last month's report dropped "Twitter Music" as the name for a purported Twitterific tune app, and this purchase looks to be part of the social network's master plan to break into the music biz.

What's been said about Twitter Music is that it pulls recommendations based on Twitter followers, emerging artists and from selections tagged with a #NowPlaying hashtag.

It's also believed that users won't need to have Twitter accounts to use the service but will serve as a standalone iOS app. However, none of these features are confirmed.

Despite the lack of a formal announcement from either company, the web caught a tweet from none other than professional talker Ryan Seacrest that basically confirms the app's existence.

He also tweeted a musician with some of the app's details: "lovin the app...shows what artists are trending, also has up and coming artists..."

We Are Hunted Tweet

What's more, the We Are Hunted Twitter account tweeted @RyanSeacrest the above message, and CC'ed the @twittermusic account.

Twitter Music took the time to retweet Seacrest's blast, continuing the spread of app appreciation and apparent confirmation.

Why bother with an official announcement when you can rely on the host of "American Idol" to give you public props?

Draw Something to become a celebrity-laden, C4 game show called Draw It!

Posted:

The hugely-popular Draw Something mobile app is about to take over our television screens with a tea-time game show on Channel 4 called Draw It!

According to a report from Marketing Week, the new show will feature two teams, made up of a celebrity and a member of the public, who'll attempt to win gold coins and cash prizes by drawing out clues.

To round off the show there'll be a nail-biting final round against the clock where the celebs will team up with the winning contestant, while viewers will also be able to play along at home.

Draw It! will be produced by Victory Television after the broadcaster struck a deal with international rights distributor Sony Pictures Television, which is licensing the game from social gaming kingpin Zynga.

The Chase is on

The deal will bring in some much needed cash for Zynga, which owns Draw Something after paying an estimated £117m to acquire its developer OMGPOP last year.

The Pictionary-inspired (to put it politely) was a huge hit during its peak around a year ago.

The game, which allows cross-platform play over Facebook, iOS and Android, was downloaded 35m times in around six weeks following its launch, convincing Zynga to stump up the big bucks.

Its popularity has waned in the last few months, but that didn't stop Zynga selling the rights to Hasbro for the board-based version of the game.

Channel 4 has not stated when the show will begin to air, but it's going to have to go some if it wants to challenge the king of all tea-time quiz shows The Chase on ITV.

Google lets Brits become local cartographers with Map Maker tool

Posted:

UK-based Google Maps users can now add new roads, hiking trails or points of interest to the service, after the company extended the reach of its Map Maker tool.

The browser-based offering relies on the local knowledge of users to improve the quality, contemporaneousness and overall accuracy of the Google Maps service.

Brits can now go to Google.com/MapMaker and enrich their own locale by adding their favourite shopping locations, natural beauty sports or even town and village boundaries.

All additions users make to their neighbourhood will be vetted by Google before becoming an official part of the Google Maps ecosyste.

Other users also have the opportunity to review and offer feedback on changes made in their neighbourhood.

Credible local expertise

Launching the UK Map Maker tool, the company said: "Google invites Brits to share and update Google Maps by using their local knowledge and credible local expertise, by helping to update their favourite shops in London's Soho Square, or Corfe Castle, improve driving directions to St Ives in Cornwall, drawing from their knowledge about world-famous tourist destinations or useful updates of the streets of their hometown.

"Google Map Maker will make the maps of the UK more comprehensive and accurate than ever before."

The service had been available in the US since 2011 and was first launched in India in 2008.

Have you tried Map Maker to improve your hood? Share your experiences in the comments section below.

Yahuui Blog

Friday, April 12, 2013