LEDs are used for a long time for all kinds of data communications applications ranging from wireless IR remote controls and IrDA to wired fiber optics communication. There has been many years ago also ideas on optical wireless LANs based on infrared, but they faded quickly. But now when LED lights are becoming very popular →
Whatever assurances have been given about the security of GSM cellphone calls, forget about them now. Breaking GSM With a $15 Phone … Plus Smarts article tells that a pair of researchers demonstrated a start-to-finish means of eavesdropping on encrypted GSM cellphone calls and text messages, using only four sub-$15 telephones as network “sniffers,” a →
Ethernet link speeds of 100 megabits per second or even 1 Gbit/s per second are typical in today’s LANs. When everything is wired to Ethernet LAN very many LAN connections are needed and they consume some power. And the faster the Ethernet connection is, typically more power it consumes. IEEE Spectrum Energy-Efficient Ethernet article tells →
The challenge of protecting today’s systems from transient threats is more complex than ever before. As semiconductor manufacturers introduce new wireline transmission devices built on smaller CMOS geometries, more circuit protection challenges are emerging. CommsDesign article System level transient voltage protection–Five in-depth answers to ESD questions gives answers to important questions that can ensure that →
EU Chews on Web Cookies article tells on Europe’s effort to regulate online “cookies”. The effort to regulate online “cookies” is crumbling, exposing how tough it is to curb the practice of tracking Internet users’ movements on the Web. EU officials see themselves as leaders on consumer-safety issues. European Union last year passed a law →
Very much hyped Mobile TV seems to be doomed. Mobile TV bubble has been busted. Consumer uptake had never met expectations for the mobile TV service. There has been very much worldwide Mobile TV subscriber uptake than projected by many. Separate mobile TV broadcasting networks seems to be doomed to demise in most markets. DVB-H →
Everybody seems to be saying that you can’t charge Apple devices with normal USB power supplies. You need a special power supply from Apple or approved by Apple. I saw this kind of discussion at slashdot some time ago. Usually, device makers need to sign a confidentially agreement with Apple if they want to say →
NetFPGA is a FPGA based line-rate, flexible, and open platform for research, and classroom experimentation. I found the address of this page because one of the blog comments had link to this web site. Looks interesting. The NetFPGA platform promises that it enables researchers and instructors to build working prototypes of high-speed, hardware-accelerated networking systems. →
Toolkit: A Look at the Gear That Experts Use to Spy on Spies is an interesting article. Kevin Murray heads one of the most sophisticated surveillance-detection firms according to the article. Wired asked Murray about the bevy of gizmos he and his staff use to sniff out corporate espionage. →
Power-line networking has been increasing in popularity at some areas but the success does not become without problem. Power line tech could crash aircraft and shut down the Archers article says that an extensive study commissioned by Ofcom concludes that power line networking could crash airplanes and block Radio 4 in UK. According to the →