|GadgetsDreams|

Nelum OS  is a light and fast live-installable Linux distribution family offering three separate releases. "Nelum" means "lotus" in Sinhalese, the language of Sri Lanka, according to developer Ostro Leka. The distro is a brand-new entry to the land of Linux, with its initial release posted earlier this month. It is an unusual twist on what you usually see with a Linux release. For example, the virtual desktops can be changed simply by scrolling the mouse wheel or finger scrolling the touchpad. All three flavors of Nelum Linux rely on Openbox as the window manager. Each version is based on a different Ubuntu version. Openbox is a very speedy windows manager that doubles as a desktop environment. It lacks a convenient setup panel. Instead, you have to edit a config file. Out of the box, Openbox is quick and simple to use. Nelum Openbox 32-bit is based on Debian Sid. Future releases will be rolling based on standard mainstream Linux operating systems. ...

The U.S. departments of   Justice   and   Homeland Security   on Monday announced they were investigating reports that a hacker broke into government computer systems and stole sensitive information about employees at the agencies. The hacker posted stolen information for about 9,000 DHS employees online Sunday and made public data on 20,000 FBI employees Monday. "We are looking into the reports of purported disclosure of DHS employee contact information," DHS said in a statement provided to TechNewsWorld by spokesperson S.Y. Lee. "We take these reports very seriously; however, there is no indication at this time that there is any breach of sensitive or personally identifiable information," the department added. A DOJ spokesperson wasn't immediately available for comment for this story. The department was investigating "unauthorized access of a system operated by one of its components containing employee contact information," DOJ spokesperso...

This week, we discover a padlock unlocked with the power of a fingerprint, a powered standing desk, and a smart mirror. As ever, these are not reviews, and the ratings indicate only how much I'd like to try each item or consign them to the shadows forever. Padlock Prints Tapplock  is a padlock that unlocks when you press your finger against a sensor to let it read your print. There are other smart padlocks on the market you can unlock using your smartphone via Bluetooth, though there are a couple of points that help Tapplock stand out. First, the price for backers of the crowdfunding campaign is reasonable, at US$29 for the basic version and $49 for the larger model. Second, what you get for that larger model is compelling, since it can charge your phone if you're in a bind. The battery on that one lasts up to three years on a single charge, while the basic version has a six-month battery life. Meanwhile, Tapplock apparently can recognize your fingerprint and ...

SOMEONE in Cuba wants to know about AC/DC. The query pops up on a screen in Atlanta. After a quick web search, the answer is on its way back to Cuba. Next up: a request for the English translation of a Spanish phrase. Launched last week, Cuba Intercambio is an email-based service that connects Cubans to people who act as their online proxies. The service exists because Cuba’s internet provision is one of the most restricted anywhere, and expensive to access. Only 5 per cent of the population is hooked up to the web, although the state telecoms company has announced that it will begin offering home broadband access. But censorship could still make even a Google search impossible for most. However, many people in Cuba have access to the national email system, so Amy Bruckman and her colleagues at the Georgia Institute of Technology built Cuba Intercambio around that. It receives users’ queries by email and puts them up on a Facebook group. Anyone outside Cuba canlook up...

Vaio on Wednesday announced Phone Biz, a Windows 10 mobile phone. The device doesn't have a SIM, leaving users free to select their own carriers. The Phone Biz lets users easily access corporate apps, Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft Exchange, as well as the Azure cloud, according to Vaio. The OS is synced with the latest version of Windows 10. Users can manage settings from the same Microsoft account as their PCs. The Phone Biz incorporates Microsoft's Continuum feature, which lets users connect phones to TVs or monitors, if they want to work on a larger screen. The Phone Biz supports single sign-on and connection speeds of up to 225 Mbps. The position and size of tiles are customizable, and the phone comes with the Cortana digital assistant. The phone can use encryption or a virtual private network. It includes built-in GPS and supports remote data erase and remote locking. Admins can change users' access to apps and data remotely. The Phone Biz will...

Keybase last week announced the alpha release of the Keybase app for the iPhone with a cryptographically secure file mount. Users can write data in an automatically created folder in this format: /keybase/public/username. Files written in the folder are signed automatically and appear as plain text files on computers. The folder prevents server-side and man-in-the-middle attacks, according to Keybase. Files stream in on demand; there is no syncing as there is in Dropbox, Google Drive and Box. Shared folders are encrypted using keys specific to the device of the person sharing them. If the device is lost, so is the private data. Until the phone app is ready, users have to make a paper key, which is a full-powered private key that can be used to provision and rekey. Participation is by invitation only. The system "is a lot less complex than PGP keys and far harder to compromise, particularly with man-in-the-middle exploits," observed Rob Enderle, princ...

Google on Wednesday announced that it has chosen Kirkland, Washington, as the next location to test its self-driving cars. It picked Kirkland as the third test city to give the cars more experience driving in new environments, traffic patterns and road conditions, the company said. Google has conducted testing mainly at or near its campus in Mountain View, California. Last year it expanded to Austin, Texas. Its self-driving cars have racked up 1.4 million miles, the company said, adding that people in Kirkland soon may be able to catch a glimpse of the latest test vehicle, a Lexus RX450h. The move to Kirkland will allow the autonomous team to experience different -- notably wetter -- conditions, while the area outside of Seattle is known for its winding roads and quick changes in elevation, according to Google. Real-World Conditions Testing in varied weather and road conditions is considered crucial in the development of autonomous vehicles. "Google ha...