Technology – Page 2 – Penn Points Online

Smart Phones Spy on Their Owners

By Julia Norton and Jena Lacock –

Cell phones are devices that people trust with their private information. They feel comfortable sending personal text messages to their friends and do not seem to fear the possibility of someone else having access to those messages.

However, there is a hidden application hidden on millions of smart phones around the world. This application is called Carrier IQ.

Smart phones, such as the iPhone and Blackberry, contain software that records what users do, called Carrier IQ (photo courtesy of: news.cnet.com).

Carrier IQ can log practically everything you do on your cell phone including text messages, websites visited, places you go, key strokes and much more. It is software that is completely hidden in your phone with no warning of its existence.

Most people had no idea their phone had been recording this information all along and many of them are shocked to say the least.

“I feel violated,” said Penn Manor senior Alex Lombardo. “Everyone lies and cheats, so I don’t trust Carrier IQ.”

Although this software might sound like a bad idea, companies are using this information in order to discover why calls are dropped and any problems the particular phone might be having with its performance. While they have access to cell phone users’ personal information, they claim to only use this to improve the phones.

Knowing this, people are still not okay with being spied on.

“I think it is good that Carrier IQ can help with network problems, but I do not like how it can collect my information,” said Eliza Smith, Penn Manor junior. “The whole thing makes me scared and nervous. I am not very familiar with security laws, but there should definitely be something against that.”

Penn Manor junior, Natasha Polaski thinks this software could be used to solve more than connection problems.

“They could use that information for police reports,” she said. Even though she sees valid uses for it, she is still not totally comfortable with it. “It makes me feel like I do not have any privacy.”

iPhone users may not have as much to worry about as other smart phone users.

Grant Paul, a security researcher, wrote on his blog, “[Up] through and including iOS 5, Apple has included a copy of Carrier IQ on the iPhone.”

The device is controlled by the diagnostics and usage setting on these phones. It appears that it is possible to turn Carrier IQ off through those settings.

Grant Paul also wrote that he is almost positive this software does not have any access to text messages or browsing history on iPhones. With such a high number of smart phone owners having iPhones, this may put many peoples’ minds at ease.

Carrier IQ is a hidden application that has been invented to fix multiple issues such as connection issues and software glitches. Even though this software only exists to improve the usage of cell phones all over the world, most people are uncomfortable with the idea of it.

Sony’s Vita Loaded With Extras

By Jacob Harvey-

Touch screen and a multitude of features are becoming the standard for new devices and the Vita is no exception.

July 7, 2010 the Wall Street Journal made a report about a new hand-held mobile gaming system that was under production by Sony to replace their PSP. Ever since then more and more information about the new device has been pouring out onto the web.

According to GameInformer magazine it comes standard with a 5″ OLED touch screen with dual thumb sticks and a touch pad on the rear of the device. The Vita provides connectivity to both Blu-Tooth and Wifi standard, with an optional ability to get it to connect to a 3G provider.

The rear touch pad is the feature that has caught most people’s eye because there isn’t a screen associated with the pad it is just placed there to add more variety to the games being released on it and give more options for video game and people trying to make apps for the Vita.

Vita is facing serious competition in the hand-held market though. Between Nintendo with their DS line and Apple with all of their mobile devices featuring download-able games. Though Sony has the competition, they are already a big name in the hand-held market with their PSP which is supposed to be replaced by the Vita.

“I think that the Vita is Sony’s attempt to delve into the app market and try to compete and steal some profit from Apple with their ever expanding app store,” Said Matt Scheuing a history teacher in Penn Manor, “I wonder if they are trying to reduce the visual price of game’s to make them similar to app prices,” Scheuing added.

The Vita not only provides gamers with a new mobile system that performs about the same as the original Xbox and a four core processor which is probably about the same size or larger than the processor in your standard desktop computer. It also has apps that help the user get connected to social media and friends. Twitter, Skype, and Facebook apps have already been announced for the Vita.

The Vita also already has an exciting line-up of upcoming titles to be released for it such as Uncharted Golden Abyss, Hot Shots Golf Next, Little Big Planet, and even a Call Of Duty title has been mentioned.With all of these title’s and accessories already being released Vita should be a shoe in for one of the best mobile devices made to date.

However with all the positive features the Vita supplies people are still skeptic about Sonys’ new mobile device.

“I think it will be terrible, but then again so has every single hand-held released since the Game Boy Color,” Said senior Ryland Overly.

With all of these neat new features though how reliable is the Vita which is showing features that have never been heard of before for a hand-held system. Some people in Penn Manor are actually curious as to how well this device will hold up through some of the wear and tear they will be going through in people’s pockets and bags.

“I feel like there will be a ton of issues with the Vita because it seems that the more technology crammed into devices the faster they completely break or just stop working there are just too many new things in it I think,” Said senior Logan White.

With all these extra’s the Vita seems set up to really impress which they will need to do to try to surpass the Nintendo 3DS that has 3D capabilities over the Vita. With all the Vita’s added features though it should be able to hold its own in the hand-held gaming category.

Google’s Top Secret Lab of the Future Run by Robots

By Chris Fleming –

Google X is the secret lab where 100 futuristic ideas are brewing.

Unimaginable inventions are being played around with by Google employees.

Google has their own workshop where certain employees and other well-qualified people they specifically chose have the chance to work on wild new inventions.

According to the New York Times, Google is being so secretive about what information is released that some of their own employees do not even know what projects are in progress. Also, even though most of the projects being worked on are far from actual development and use, one is supposedly going to be released by the end of this year.

Rodney Brooks, a professor at MIT’s computer science and artificial intelligence lab and founder of Heartland Robotics said,”Google is collecting the world’s data, so now it could be collecting the solar system’s data,” referring to Google’s fantasy of space elevators. According to the New York Times, in theory, they aim for rocket-less space travel along a cable anchored to Earth with these space elevators.

Crazy, huh?

An anonymous person dealing with the projects said that Google’s project of a car without a driver may be more than just an exotic idea. Google is thinking about making a business out of it and producing those cars here in the States. This project will take time and, if it does develop, will be years down the road.

Photo courtesy to cyber-space-war.blogspot.com

Robots seem to be the main ingredient in many of Google’s wishful ideas. These types of robots are trying to be set up to take care of humans or even go to work for us. People familiar with this type of robotics have been hired by Google from well known places such as Microsoft, Nokia Labs, MIT and New York University.

According to pcworld.com, Google X is also working on programs for the Android phone so users could possibly turn on a light bulb or coffee maker on at the touch of a button from their phone. Imagine just laying in your nice warm bed and when your alarm goes off, you grab your phone and start making a hot cup of joe without barely moving a muscle.

Google X has the potential to change Google, or life as we know it. But it sounds like they are being very careful with how they provide money for these outrageous projects.

“There are a few small, speculative projects happening at any one time, but we are very careful stewards of shareholders’ money,” said Mr. Page, with Google.

A couple of cost worthy errors could severely hurt Google, financially.

Students at Penn Manor seem pretty excited about the new projects and have a few suggestions for Google X labs.

“I would want Google to make a time machine, I think that would be pretty sweet,” said Alex Sorce.

“Google should make a cat translator, I’m always very curious on why my cat is ‘meowing’,” said senior Brian Le.

“A machine that would make using the TV a lot easier, like a computer,” said Troy Diffenderfer.

“A time machine would be awesome,” said Ryland Overly.

“I’d probably invent something that would organize things like an app that would, like, make everything in my life easy to remember and like give me time lines and stuff, ” said senior Abby Buckwalter.

Abby, uh, it’s called the iPhone. Just saying.

“An idea generator would be fun,” said Junior Suarez.

“I would want something that makes any food you want whenever you want it,” said Devin Sanchez.

“A flying car would be sweet,” said senior Em Sisson.

“Hmm, I don’t know, a solar powered car or something like that would be cool,” said senior Ashley Richards.

“I would like for a robot that looks exactly like me an does 100 percent everything for me so I could lay in my bed and sleep all day, to be invented,” said senior Brad Kruger.

Google X and its technological advances will be on our radar in the years to come.

PETA Even Gets its Paws on Mario

By Julia Norton –

Mario is an amusing video game character created by Nintendo that has been around since 1981. He can be seen in over 200 video games today and has served as harmless entertainment for people of all ages. However, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has begun to see it differently.

Mario wearing a bloody tanooki suit on PETA's website. Photo courtesy of: exophrine.com

PETA is more than disgruntled with the recently released game, Super Mario 3D Land for the Nintendo 3DS, where the popular character can be seen wearing a tanooki suit.

Tanooki are Japanese raccoon dogs that are commonly hunted for their fur. Mario wears the skin of a tanooki in order to fly throughout the game.

On their website PETA explains, “When on a mission to rescue the princess, Mario has been known to use whatever means necessary to defeat his enemy – even wearing the skin of a raccoon dog to give him special powers.

“Tanooki may be just a suit in the game, but in real life tanuki are raccoon dogs who are skinned alive for their fur. By wearing a Tanooki, Mario is sending the message that it is OK to wear fur,” says PETA.

A graphic and alarming video can be seen on their site of multiple tanooki being beaten, tortured and killed. By posting this video, PETA hopes to enlighten people about how these animals are treated and that it is unnecessary to kill them. They want people to understand the severity of this issue and realize that it is not something that should be joked about in a video game or anywhere else.

Also on the website, PETA has created a graphic version of the Mario game where the character can be seen wearing a disgusting, bloody suit with the head of a dead tanooki. The tanooki can be seen running after Mario, hairless, attempting to reclaim his fur. Anyone can go onto the website and play the fun, yet terribly disturbing, game.

“When people learn that millions of innocent animals are beaten, boiled, hanged, and electrocuted for their fur every year; that each fur coat, each piece of fur lining or fur trim, and each fur cat toy represents the intense suffering of dozens of animals; and that furriers intentionally mislabel the fur of cats and dogs as fur from other species or as faux fur—then every decent human being will want to go fur-free,” the organization writes on the controversy of wearing fur.

While PETA sees this as a totally legitimate thing to make an issue out of, some people see it differently.

“I think PETA is filled with [idiots],” said one Penn Manor senior who wishes to remain anonymous. “They probably have good motives with everything they do, but they definitely tend to cross boundaries and exaggerate everything.”

Whether people view this as PETA taking it too far or not, the skinning of tanooki is not an issue that should be taken lightly.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

By Andrew Morales and Chris Fleming –

Skyrim, The fifth installment of the Elder Scrolls series brings forth a vast world with a wide variety of possibilities.

Oblivion, the game before Skyrim, had amazing reviews and some people seemed to be addicted to it.

“Oblivion was amazing, I still even play it once in a while even though it came out so long ago,” said senior Liam Kline.

“I used to play Oblivion 24/7,” said Bob Warfel.

But others thought differently.

“I could never get into playing Oblivion, but the newer one, Skyrim, is supposed to be really good and I’ve heard it got amazing reviews,” said senior Alex Sorce.

The new Elder scrolls is a RPG (role playing game) that sets you off as the last living dragonborn, a mortal who is born with the soul of a dragon. As a dragonborn you have the ability to absorb the power of a dragon after it is killed and learn special skills called dragon shouts.

Skyrim starts off with you being detained, and transported to a village. After arriving, you are removed from a cart where two other prisoners are also being held. A guard is reading off the names of the prisoners but you are not listed. At this time he asks you your name.

After being asked your name you are taken to a character creation screen where you can choose from a variety of races. The customization options in this game are more visually appealing than those in oblivion. Facial features are very in-depth and battle scars and war paint can be added to give your character an edgy look.

After creating your character, you listen to the chatter of guards and the roar of a dragon can be heard in the distance. Moments later, the village you are at is being bombarded by fiery breath and you are able to make a quick escape. Soon after, you find yourself running through a cave learning basics and getting a feel for combat.

Skyrim also has a new feature, unscripted dragons. Meaning that during your unimaginable quest, you are bound to run into a dragon sooner or later. The only thing the dragons will not be able to do is harm the main cities. The dragons are huge and able to shoot fire or ice at your character.

“The games free roam is unbelievable,” said senior Nick Zell,” So much freedom to do anything you please. Also, the dragons are supposed to be able to do endless things and if your fighting enemies in the woods a dragon could easily interrupt you.”

“The new combat style seems pretty sweet and you can now combine two spells together to make a single strong spell,” said Zell.

“Skyrim seems pretty legit,” said senior Jake Mercado.

New features to the combat system include the ability to dual-wield one handed weapons, use a different spell in each hand, and a melee hit with the bow.

“I’m pretty excited to play it, the games before them were always fun,” said senior WIll Downs.

“This game is awesome. I got it last night and played it for three hours straight,” said senior Aaron Sellers,” I know that I will end up playing this game a lot.”

As you level up skills in Skyrim, from crafting to combat, you gain experience to your overall level. When you do level-up you unlock points that can be spent on perks that enhance individual skills. Perks can be a big buffer to how you play. If you put perks into the archery skill for example, you can get bonuses such as a zoom feature and upgraded damage with a bow. This doesn’t limit your options. It actually gives players a chance to specialize in their play style.

The World of Skyrim is huge and very detailed. The Bethesda team definitely worked very hard to create such a place. The game has over 300 hours of game play to keep you busy and keep the experience fresh.

iCloud Brings Ease to Sharing Technology

By Frank Herr-

On very few occasions does the the advancement of technology lead to strides in simplicity. But along with apple’s 200+ updates and features, which comprise the new iOS 5 format, iCloud is light years beyond its time.

Cloud storage is essentially an online network that stores information on virtual pools of storage and are usually hosted by third person parties, such as Apple. Apple’s version, aptly dubbed ‘iCloud,’ has been anticipated for its months of development, leading up to its recent introduction.

Photo Courtesy of www.americansongwriter.com

This feature allows information such as data, photos, contacts and apps to be shared between all iOS devices. For instance, when a picture is taken with an iPhone, iCloud allows this photo to be stored on all similar devices, running with iOS 5 simultaneously. With virtually no effort, it is now possible to store all Apple content on all Apple devices.

“I think that it is a great innovation that apple has made for its products. It’s easy to use and allows you to basically share allow of your files between any of your apple devices whether it be an iPhone, iPad or iMac,” said Matt Noll, pleased with the capabilities of the new program.

Although there are various ‘cloud’ formats which rival apple’s take on the concept, none offer the effectiveness and simplicity associated with iCloud.

Apple has hyped their cloud service up for almost a year now and after boasting its capabilities while still in development, only 10.96 percent of users believe it to be what they had anticipated. The majority of folks are still blown away with the smooth, clean operation of the addition to apple’s futuristic arsenal.

As always, Apple has continued to delight its audience with its array of features. From apps such as ‘Rate a Fart’ to ‘iCloud,’ never before has it been more appropriate to say “there’s an app for that.”

Wii Are Penn Manor – Gamers Critique New System

By Kevin Holton –

Will YOU be buying the new Wii U?

Nintendo’s all new, sleek design has made some Penn Manor students quiver with excitement while others couldn’t care less.

“Its not worth the money because there’s not much of a difference between the Wii and the Wii U,” said Brady Charles, a Penn Manor junior.

Nintendo has unveiled information about their new game console that will be released sometime in 2012. The new system introduces an all new controller with a 6.2” built in touch screen. The Wii U is unlike any other game system.

“I’m excited to try the touch screen,” said Penn Manor junior Jaun Cubano.

The all new Wii U will completely change the way video games are played. Photo courtesy of gizmag.com

According to Nintendo, the controller shares some of the features of the Nintendo 3ds and can show exactly what is on the tv screen along with different views that cant be seen on the TV screen. The controller also has motion sensors so you can move your hands or your whole body to change your view on the screen.

While the controller is the most significant new feature of the Wii U, its not the only one.

“I think it will be a lot better then the first Wii,” said Penn Manor senior Alex Cummins.

The Wii U will also be able to produce full 1080p HD quality which will be a giant step forward. The console will still be able to support original Wii games and controls but original games will not deliver the High-Definition quality.

The Wii U will allow players to save there game progress or anything from the console onto a flash drive or an SD memory card. The disks will also be smaller in size then a normal DVD.

While the new system is still in production, Nintendo feels it will be a success although some Penn Manor students are still not sure..

“I’m anxious to see how it turns out, so well see,” said Penn Manor Senior Matt Noll.

iPhone 4S Excitement for Some, Disappointment to More

By Chris Fleming and Andrew Morales –

Even with all the new bells and whistles featured on the new iPhone, students don’t seem to be too thrilled about it.

“The iPhone 4 is good enough for me,” said senior Aaron Sellers. “They’re probably going to make another one in a year or two anyway, so there is no need to be psyched.”

“The only new thing about the iPhone 4S is the S added onto the end,” said Senior Alex Sorce. “The new phone isn’t a big deal to me.”

Despite some students’ skepticism, the new phone still has much to offer.

With the added dual core A5 chip, the phone will run up to two times faster and the graphics up to seven times faster.

Also, according to the Apple site, the new phone is supposed to have an 8 mega pixel camera and have 1080p HD video recording. Not only will the mega pixels help the photo quality, but so will the five precision elements which transform incoming light to add to the quality to make the lighting of the picture just right.

You’ll also be able to access the photo app from the lock screen so you can take quick pictures. Just press the camera app and then press the volume up bottom to snap the picture.

icloud — This is the iCloud logo. Courtesy of www.businessweb designcharlotte.com

Siri, featured on the iPhone 4S, will allow the user to actually ask questions to the phone and it will reply with a serious and accurate answer. According to the Apple site, when Siri is asked questions it uses other apps on the phone to figure out your answer based on location, even if you’re just hungry.

Let’s say you want pizza. Simply ask Siri if there are any good pizza places around here and it will reply based on your location and provide a list of pizza places nearby. Also, Apple said on its website that Siri is proactive. Meaning that it keeps questioning you until you’re satisfied.

iCloud, also featured on the new phone, gives the user the capability to access a newly purchased song or T.V. show from iTunes on any of their devices. They can even look up old purchases from iTunes without syncing.

According to msnbc.com, the iPhone will now be on Sprint’s network as well, allowing more people to have the opportunity they’ve been waiting for. The price for the phone will be $199 with a two year contract. The price of the original iPhone 4 will also drop to $99 dollars with a two year contract.

“As soon as they come out, if there’s no line, I’ll get one,” said Penn Manor tech teacher Matthew Soto.

Steve Jobs Leaves Behind Legacy, Questions

By Sarah Schaeffer –

Last Wednesday, a visionary passed away, leaving behind not only a legacy, but questions regarding its future.

Co-founder and CEO of Apple Steve Jobs’ struggle with pancreatic cancer was no secret, however the loss still left many in shock, wondering where the future of Apple may lie.

“[Jobs] looked at design and development as a poet and as an artist,” said Shawn Canady, technology integration coordinator at Penn Manor.

“Apple and Steve Jobs were so entwined,” said Charlie Reisinger, Penn Manor’s head of technology, “Apple might lose that edge.”

“The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented,” said President Barack Obama in a statement commemorating the life and loss of Jobs.

Jobs made modern technology more accessible to the public as it began to grown and change, said Canady. This being one of the reasons Jobs left behind a major legacy.

Jobs began his work with Apple in the 1970s, walking with the developing technology to its future. Jobs can be credited for his work on revolutionary devices such as the Apple II (a large, word-processing macintosh computer) and, more recently, the iPod, iPad and iPhone 4s, revealed one day before his death.

The loss of Jobs may be synonymous with the loss of such outstanding creativity, according to Reisinger, but Reisinger still sees success in Apple’s future.

“Apple will definitely move on,” said Reisinger. “Steve Jobs set Apple up so they wouldn’t suffer without him.”

An iSad logo, celebrating Steve Jobs. Photo courtesy of gadget.featster.

“I don’t think it will change,” said senior Becca Hess. “[Jobs] set up such an expectation. Just because [Jobs died] doesn’t mean Macs won’t have the same high standard to live up to.”

“It’s amazing how many people depend on [Jobs’] products in everyday life,” said senior Aaron Alleman. “[Apple] won’t change, they just don’t have the same image now that they don’t have Steve Jobs as a figurehead.”

Reisinger also mentioned a “deep pipeline of undisclosed products” which Apple may have in store from Jobs’ work before his illness.

Even in the short time that has passed, many icons and logos have been popping up around the web in memory of Jobs, including the Mac apple with a tear, an inverted apple with Jobs’ silhouette on the side and a frowning “Finder” face. These “iSad” tributes are only a small sample of the world’s reactions to this unfortunate loss.

“Very few people in this world are game-changing visionaries. [Jobs] was one of those people,” said Canady.

High School Library Offers High-Tech QR Codes

By Alicia Ygarza and Amber Brenner –

There’s nothing fun about typing out a website URL, especially when it’s a long URL. Nobody enjoys their web browser telling them that the website they gruelingly typed doesn’t exist. Or, even worse, when you accidentally mistype something and the URL does exist, but it’s not anywhere close to what you were searching for.

Japan has been holding a secret to getting rid of the problem for a while. The idea made a pit stop in Europe before circulating to the US, where it has trickled down to Penn Manor, thanks to the new high school librarian.

“I found out about QR codes by reading a magazine. I thought they were interesting so I looked into them,” commented Diane Bounds, the librarian. “QR codes started in China and since they were using bar codes for so long and ran out, they created QR codes.”

A QR Code (which stands for “Quick Response”) is a high-tech bar code. Instead of being a one-dimensional picture of simple lines, it is a 2D “bar code.”

A simple way to think about it is as a print-based link. By using a smart phone, or even an iPod touch with a camera, a person can take a picture of the QR code and be immediately taken to an embedded link.

But the ingenious codes don’t stop there. QR Codes can also contain things such as a phone number, a text message or a picture.

Jules — Julie Ault and Lexsander Gonsalez marvel in the wonder of QR Codes

“I use QR codes personally because in magazines you can get coupons. If QR codes are available, I’ll use them. They’re a nice way to share resources. [Shawn] Canady [technology support] was the one who decided to connect them to fireside book-chats,” said Bounds.

QR codes can be found along windows in the library. You can even create your own QR code to share online.

For more information, or to create your own QR code, you can visit www.QRstuff.com.

All you have to do is choose your data type, meaning what you want the code to hold information for. The choices include plain text, website URLs, phone numbers, email addresses or messages, contact information, event information, Google Maps locations and links to social networking pages, iTunes pages and YouTube videos.

After you’ve chosen your data type, you enter the “content” you want. For instance, you could create a code to send secret messages to people that you know have QR readers. You type the message, then select your desired output method. You can download the image to your desktop, print the code or send it in an email to a friend.

Stop by the library to learn more.