CDC: Nearly half of American homes no longer have landlines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new survey Tuesday, showing that nearly half of all American households now use only cell phones rather than older landlines. In total, 47 percent of the 21,000 households queried were c...

Samsung creates F2FS file system for NAND flash storage, submits it to the Linux kernel

Samsung creates F2FS file system for NAND flash storage, submits it to the Linux kernel

Has the lack of NAND flash storage-optimized file systems been bugging you? Then you've got something in common with Samsung, which has developed F2FS (or "Flash-Friendly File-System") for the memory of choice for mobile devices and its specific "internal geometry." It's based on a log-structured method, but tackles problems associated with older file systems intended mainly for retro, spinning-disk storage. The company isn't keeping its hard work behind lock-and-patent either -- it's gone open-source and submitted the file system to the Linux kernel, meaning you could see it implemented in Android hardware of the future. It's nice to see Sammy contributing code for the greater good, and if you've got the skills to understand it, a low-down of F2FS is available at the source below.

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Samsung creates F2FS file system for NAND flash storage, submits it to the Linux kernel originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Oct 2012 11:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is the Modem World: I hate passwords

Each week Joshua Fruhlinger contributes This is the Modem World, a column dedicated to exploring the culture of consumer technology.

This is the Modem World I hate passwords

I get it: The Internet is a dangerous place. People want my stuff. There are bad people out there, yadda yadda yadda.

But the password requirements and security verification processes in place are Kafkaesque, mind-bending, and straight-up annoying.

Every time I need to access my online mortgage account, I am forced to reset my password because, without fail, I enter the wrong one three times. I couldn't tell you what my Apple ID is because it has an even itchier verification trigger finger, especially when you have more than one device accessing the same account. Get it wrong on one, and all your devices are borked.

Continue reading This is the Modem World: I hate passwords

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This is the Modem World: I hate passwords originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 18:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Insert Coin: Rowdy Robot creates Bluetooth 4.0 beacons that activate automatic alerts

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.

Insert Coin: Rowdy Robot creates Bluetooth 4.0 beacons that activate automatic alerts

It's no secret that Bluetooth 4.0 is energy efficient, but now a startup called Rowdy Robot wants to use it for something rather less predictable than monitoring heart palpitations during your Tour de France training. A network of little beacons ("tōds") interacts with your iPhone or iPad and lets you receive movement-triggered alerts: like when your kid wanders too far, or when they finally return home after hanging out with the corner cartel. Many uses will be similar to NFC tags, but with the advantage of a vastly greater range of up to 500ft -- plus a single beacon can last for years on a single battery. Of course, it could also work with location-based services, triggering automatic updates as you pedal past the Arc de Triomphe -- but none of this will happen unless you check out the video after the break and help Rowdy Robot meet their $50,000 target.

Continue reading Insert Coin: Rowdy Robot creates Bluetooth 4.0 beacons that activate automatic alerts

Insert Coin: Rowdy Robot creates Bluetooth 4.0 beacons that activate automatic alerts originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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