Researchers crack biometric security with Play-Doh

Using fake fingerprints, researchers in New York State have managed to break nearly all the biometric identification systems they tested. Headed by Clarkson University associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Stephanie C Schuckers, they used fake fingers made by taking casts of live fingers and using the molds to create copies in Play-Doh. The 60 fake fingers were then tested and were successfully authenticated by the combination of the fingerprint readers and their accompanying software in nine out of every ten attempts. ...more

Anyone can write code

A Cambridge-based programmer claims to have come up with a piece of software that will allow you to write a computer program using everyday language. The New Scientist tells how Bob Brennan has developed the programming kit that can turn a number of pre-programmed commands into machine code. Brennan says that his program can cut development time and uses a store of logical rules to generate the final code. ...more

OS X Server upgraded

Apple has released version 10.1 of its OS X Server software, designed to deliver, "system-wide performance enhancements, increase reliability and substantially faster file transfer times". Apple lists the major improvements as: System-wide performance enhancements that increase reliability, launch server-side applications faster, speed printing times, increase administration response and reduce file transfer times; the latest advancements from the Open Source community, with the most reliable releases of Apache, Samba, PHP, MySQL, Tomcat and OpenSSL; RAID support for disk striping (RAID-0) and disk mirroring (RAID-1) allowing flexible storage configuration, data redundancy and improved disk read performance; A new release of QuickTime Streaming Server, version 3. ...more

Sony puts 23.3GB on CD-sized disc

Sony has unveiled a new blue laser optical storage drive capable of storing 23.3GB on a disc the size of a CD. The drive can write data at 9MB/sec write-once or rewriteable discs, which are held in cartridges to protect both the surface of the disc and the drive mechanism. ...more

PlayStation fan changes name, loses grip on sanity

If you were ever worried that you were spending far too much time sitting in front of your TV, gamepad in hand, Lara's butt cheeks squatting in your face, worry not. At least you're not as addicted to the world of console gaming as 23-year-old Carl Lindley, aka the Reverend PlayStation 2. The obsessive Manchester-based gamer, recently dumped by his long-suffering girlfriend Anna, for spending too much time playing with the console, has officially changed his name by deed poll and now plans to build a 15ft 'church' in his back garden in order to properly worship the new love in his life. ...more