Acer’s Spin 7 convertible will support sub-6 and mmwave 5G

After a busy week of news, Acer isn’t quite done. The company has announced its Spin 7 convertible laptop, which is one of the first to use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2. It supports both types of 5G, mmWave and sub-6, though it’s not the first not...

Xerox Parc Computer Chip Self-Destructs in 10 Seconds

Xerox PARC Self-Destructing CPU

PARC engineers must be huge fans of the Mission: Impossible franchise if they developed a self-destructing CPU. This way, sensitive information can no longer be compromised, as the computer chip can blow itself up on command.

Previously known as Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated), the R&D subsidiary specialized in hardware systems and IT took a challenge that DARPA initially made for IBM last year: to create a self-destructing computer chip. Made out of heavily stressed Gorilla Glass, the CPU shatters in certain situations. The triggering factors range from heat to radio waves, and I assume that multiple triggers can be implemented so if one fails another succeeds.

As mentioned before, DARPA actually asked IBM to develop self-destructing hardware last year, with obvious applications in the military. PARC took the dare and unveiled the self-destructing chip at the DARPA Wait, What? event last week. When it comes to protecting sensitive information on computers, encryption is rarely sufficient, and hackers can be quite resourceful nowadays. Because of that, the physical destruction of the mediums carrying the sensitive data is mandatory.

“We take the glass and we ion-exchange temper it to build in stress,” explained PARC scientist Gregory Whiting in an interview with PC World. The report includes further details on how exactly the CPU self-destructs: “The glass was stressed to breaking point by heat. When a circuit was switched on, a small resistor heated up and the glass shattered into thousands of pieces. Even after it broke up, stress remained in the fragments and they continued breaking into even smaller pieces for tens of seconds afterwards.”

For proper protection, the self-destructing CPU would have to be irreplaceable. On top of that, it would have to damage some of the surrounding hardware, so that nothing gets compromised. For the military, the development of such self-destructing hardware can only be good news, but the general public has already started making jokes on this, stating that the Xbox 360 could do this as well, or asking how long it will take until such self-destructing glass makes its way into sunglasses. That would definitely be a great way of taking out targets, assuming that the technology doesn’t fall into the wrong hands, in the first place.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the Boeing Black self-destructing smartphone, or FreedomPop’s Snowden phone that makes a priority out of your privacy.

Via: BGR

Demand For Larger Screen Size To Drive Corning’s Display Technology Business In 2014


Corning’s revenues from its display business are expected to increase in the coming year driven by growing demand for larger displays in TVs, mobile devices and tablets. Revenues from its display...
    






Corning’s Gorilla Glass now used in more than 1.5 billion devices


Behind the huge success of Samsung's Galaxy devices lies a secret - Gorilla Glass. Without it, we wouldn't be seeing Galaxies outlasting drop tests, and even hammer tests. The genius behind the glass...
    


Gorilla Glass 3 Coming: Even Gorillas Have Trouble Breaking It

Okay, I made that part about gorillas up, but it’s easy to forget the usefulness of Gorilla Glass. A lot of the smartphones and tablet people use everyday are covered in this durable material. That’s one of the reasons that the screen on your phone won’t break if you drop inadvertently. Granted, it won’t protect your phone from any drops, but I’ve been quite happy at how scratch-resistant it is.

gorilla glass 3 corning

And while it’s not actually shatterproof, Gorilla Glass is far more durable than ordinary glass. Now, Corning has revealed that a new version, simply called Gorilla Glass 3. The new glass will be unveiled at CES 2013 and it’s supposed to be even more durable than the previous generation.

gorilla glass 3 corning mirror

There are already many devices covered in Gorilla Glass 2, and I’m hopeful that most of the ones I use next year will be covered in Gorilla Glass 3, assuming that it really does make them less likely to crack and shatter.

HTC 8X review: Windows Phone 8’s compact flagship

HTC 8X Review Windows Phone 8's compact flagship

It feels like forever since Microsoft announced Windows Phone 8 back in June, but the mobile OS is finally here and with it comes the inaugural volley of compatible handsets. The first one to cross our desks is the global, unlocked version of HTC's Windows Phone 8X, a device we first saw in September. Unlike other current flagships, this phone breaks the bigger-is-better trend by providing a full set of high-end specs in a relatively compact package -- combining a 4.3-inch 720p Super LCD 2 display, Qualcomm dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor and NFC in a sleek and colorful package. Does the 8X have what it takes to carry the Windows Phone 8 torch? Is this a bona fide flagship despite its reduced footprint? Has HTC designed a better handset than its existing Android superphone, the One X? Find out in our review after the break.

Continue reading HTC 8X review: Windows Phone 8's compact flagship

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HTC 8X review: Windows Phone 8's compact flagship originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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