So, what does that security vulnerability do on a Samsung Galaxy Nexus running stock Android JellyBean 4.1.1?

Thanks to Mikeybear to highlighting this one for me on Facebook and Dylan Reeve for a nifty testing tool and an example.. It seems that some Samsung Android handsets have a vulnerability that allows invoking USSD codes from a browser with minimal user interaction.

Not seeing anything about my particular handset, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, I decided to test it out.

Apple updates iOS6 mobile Safari to support file uploads - another reason why I choose Android

Apple has added another "revolutionary" feature to iOS6. The ability to upload from the phone via a web form.

iOS6 for Developers - see the Safari/Webkit section

Do we really need printers at home?

After not having a printer for four years - I don't really miss it. I think there's technology that we're accustomed to that we only feel we "need" because we're used to it.

My first week's experience using Myki

Victoria (the state in which I live) has an electronic ticketing system called Myki (pronounced "My Key") which revolves around a proximity/RFID card which one can charge online or at dedicated terminals. The general idea is on all supported public transport services, one "touches on" with their card upon entering a ticketed area, and then "touches off" upon leaving said area.. at each point the system should advise if the process was successful and whether you're currently covered for the trip... They're still working out bugs, it seems.

Technology turnover - how often do you really have to upgrade?

I like tech gadgets, I really do. The idea that in my hand I can hold a device (my Nokia N95) that is several orders of magnitude more powerful and can store more data than the entire computing setup I grew up with (TRS-80 + 5.25" Floppy drive) is pretty mind boggling when you sit down and think about it. When I was younger, Dad had one of the first mobile phones I'd ever seen in person - and it was only "mobile" in the sense that it was hard wired to a car..... "DAAAAD - your car's ringing!" (Mrrmm... 'horn alert')

Looking at the progression from there to now, however, I do wonder whether perhaps we too rapidly deprecate equipment before its useful life is expended.

Let's look at two specific examples...

Changing Ubuntu Natty 11.04 grub default booting operating system

Recently an acquaintance's computer needed significant repair. It had been used by several of his immediate family and some of them had downloaded significant amounts of dubious materials from dubious sources resulting in virus infection and system slowdown. I reinstalled a fresh copy of Windows XP + Ubuntu 11.04, dual booting, on the basis that both provided for his needs, namely office applications, email and internet. Ubuntu, as similar as its interface is to Windows from a basic perspective, was not to his taste, so I had to change the default boot order of Grub.

Spam.. it's not just for email anymore..

Spam is definitely not just for email these days. Behold the brilliance of this dumb spambot (or would you call it a spimbot) pushing out (Warning, spim script contains sexual references):