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Bottom-Feeding Jeweler Unveils Despicable Diamond iPad for $20,000

We all know the wait for the iPad, at least in the U.S., will be over on April 3, right? Wrong. True connoisseurs know they need to wait until June 1, when Mervis Diamond Importers will unleash the hideous and despicable Diamond iPad on the world. It’s a bejeweled and bedazzled monstrosity boasting 11.43 carats [...]

iPhone App Magnets To Appify Your Fridge

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If – like me – your fridge is black, then these shiny iPhone app fridge magnets from Jailbreak Collective will look very smart indeed displayed on the door.
Just 13 bucks gets you a set of these icon almost-replicas. I say almost because if you look carefully, you’ll see they’re not identical to the Apple originals. [...]

Which iPad To Buy? Get the 32GB iPad With Wi-Fi + 3G. Here’s Why.

If you’re in the market for an iPad — and you know you are, because it’s killer — you’re probably wondering which model to buy.
Naturally, you’re looking at the cheapest $499 iPad, which has Wi-Fi only, but you’re thinking you might also want 3G. After all, you can pay-as-you-go for data, and who knows when you [...]

Is Apple Selling 20K iPads an Hour?

Did you buy an iPad when Apple began pre-sales this morning? If so, you weren’t alone. Indeed, Apple may have sold 20,000 iPads per hour, leading one commentator to suggest the Cupertino, Calif. company was earning $10 million per hour on its new tablet device.
The estimate comes from Andrew Erlichson, CEO of Phanfare, a photo [...]

Patent Filing Describes Our Biometric Security Future

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Apple filed for patents last September that suggest the company may be working on biometric security technology together with optical and voice recognition software to enhance traditional password security for its devices.

According to a report published for the first time this week, the patent filing describes methods for embedding sensors beneath touchscreens and trackpads to recognize fingerprints and vein patterns; device cameras and microphones would authenticate retinal patterns or facial features and recognize a user’s distinctive voice. There is even a suggestion of collecting DNA samples to recognize a user’s genetic sequence. Biometrics could also be context-sensitive and detect the shape of a user’s ear before allowing a call to go through, for example.

Makes that neural interface revolution seem a little more likely, doesn’t it?

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About the author

Lonnie Lazar

Lonnie Lazar is a writer, musician, web designer attorney. He writes about Apple for Cult of Mac and Mac|Life, and about VoIP and telecommunications for Voxilla. Follow Lonnie on Twitter @LonnieLazar, join the Cult of Mac on Facebook, and find Lonnie's photos on Flickr.

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4 comments

    Did you notice the terminal app?
    And what is Blocks?

    Apple patents are getting creepier each day!

    Looks like they have a bunch of creative people playing all day.

    Apple appears to be forward-thinking, not necessarily in philosophical harmony with the technology. In fact, if Apple finds these concepts as intrusive as many of us (d0), their patents may actually hold the implementation back. Realistically there has to be a tipping point where the licensing fees will force Apple’s hand or create economic impetus to develop rival systems, but it could delay it.

    Personally, I refuse to do any biometric identification, down to the electronic signature pads. Once any of this info is stored by a single device, it’s stored everywhere. How do you claim it’s not your signature on a deed transferring your house to the next Stanford or Madoff? They have a document with your signature, finger print and retina scan. You’ll have to pay dearly to prove you didn’t sign it over.

    The simplest defense is not participate. When Home Depot requires an electronic signature, I just get creative, using everything from Barney Rubble to Sarah Palin (insert your own “cartoon character” joke here). When I sign bank or legal documents I carry my trusty “non-repro blue” pen. It’s invisible to many scanners. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best I can do.

    Once they start requiring biometrics for voting I quit. Yes, it’s reactionary, but also necessary. I don’t care if it’s as innocuous as your iPod. Fight this any way you can, or both your security and democracy dies with it.

    Cool but unnecessary for daily function. Not worth an upgrade from my 3g.

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