To make matters even worse, the author of this “proof of concept” has also published the presentation and code in a PDF that’s free to download for anyone on the planet. The vuln is undoubtedly enticing to hackers, some of which are likely to create one or more exploits for the flaw in question. To better understand how this discovery has turned into a potential security issue, we offer you a few excerpts from the published document.

For ethical reasons, the firmware modification we describe is benign. The firmware is modified so that the LED under the CAP S LOC K key of the keyboard will flash momentarily when the keyboard is first plugged into a system. However, malicious payloads can be developed by individuals with mal-intent.

Since the LED is active-low on pin P2.7 which corresponds to register 0×02 on the microcontroller, we searched the unobfuscated firmware image for instructions of the form MOV reg[0x02], expr which start with the opcodes 0×62 0×02. We found the sequence 0×62 0×02 0×80 in block 0×0c which did in fact turn out to be the instruction MOV reg[0x02],0×80. The final checksum for the entire firmware image was 0×4e41b. By replacing 0×80 by 0×00, the new checksum is 0×4e39b and so 0xe41b in the last block has to be replaced by 0xe39b.

As a proof-of-concept, the following edited gdb session performs the changes mentioned above and demonstrates code execution on an Apple Aluminum keyboard.

The rest of the description can be found here.

“The new iPhone OS 3.0 is a major software release packed with incredible new features and innovations for iPhone customers and developers alike. It will keep us years ahead of the competition,” said Philip Schiller (Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing) back in March, when the company previewed the first developer beta of iPhone OS 3.0.

The OS 3.0 software update contains more than 100 new features for both iPhone and iPod touch users, including Cut, Copy and Paste, MMS (available later this summer, only for the 3G model), Spotlight Search, landscape keyboard for Mail, Messages, Notes and Safari, expanded parental controls for TV shows, movies and apps from the App Store, video-recording and editing capabilities, the ability to capture and send audio recordings on the go with the new Voice Memo app, the ability to wirelessly download movies, TV and audio programs, Stereo Bluetooth and P2P support, as well as an enhanced version of iTunes. Students will be able to download learning materials on the go, using iTunes U.

iPhone users can download the new iPhone OS 3.0 software for free, while iPod touch customers must purchase the software update for $9.95 (US). The appropriate method to download and install the new OS version is by connecting your device to iTunes on your computer. Wait for the application to recognize it and choose “Check for Update.” iTunes should automatically find the new software and download it for you, after which the installation process begins. Users can also download the iPhone1,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw and the iPhone1,2_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw files for future use.

It is almost same in the shape but it has some new features added including the the camera of the new iphone is upgraded to 3 megapixel with auto focus, Tap to focus, Video recording, VGA up to 30 fps with audio and lot more other features listed below

New Features Added with To iPhone 3G S

- 3MP camera with autofocus, auto exposure, automatic white balance, low light sensitivity, macro mode, photo and video geotagging

- 3.5-inch Multi-Touch display with 480 x 320 pixels resolution at 163 ppi

- Records high-quality VGA video at 30 frames per second with video recording built in

- Voice Control enables make call as well as play music with users voice

- Assisted GPS and Digital compass with google Maps for finding location quickly and precisly

- HSDPA, Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR connectivity

- Intelligent Keyboard delivers fast, better and more precise typing experience

- Cut, copy and paste words and photos, even between applications installed on your iphone

- Added new Voice Memos application

- Improved battery life

- It has Built-in Nike + iPod support

- Will Be Available in white or black color, till July 19 in US

You can see the detailed features of New iPhone 3G S on this technical specifications and feature page.

Connoisseurs (console players) needn’t any updates as far as the game’s plot goes, but iPhone and iPod touch owners might be interested in knowing that Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles takes place in Jerusalem, 1191 AD – the time when the Third Crusade between the Crusaders and Saracens was tearing the Holy Land apart.

As the iTunes description reveals, players jump in the shoes of Altaïr, a Master Assassin sent by the Order of the Assassins on a quest to find “The Chalice,” an object of such power that it can end the Crusades, depending on which camp owns it. Players are tasked with stealing The Chalice from the Templars before someone offers them the right price for it, thus determining the fate of the Holy Land.

The title offers a rich gameplay and a well-balanced mix of stealth, action, and puzzles, according to Gameloft. Fully 3D-rendered historical environments of the Crusade’s Middle East are also key elements of the game. Main features, as listed over at the iTunes App Store, include:

– Master the assassin’s skills to benefit from a wide range of acrobatic moves and perform impressive combo attacks, mixing sword skills and kicks.
– Choose your fighting tactics based on six weapons for both close combat and long-range attacks: swords, daggers, grappling hooks, and bombs.
– Skill-based mini-games put your patience & dexterity to the test: perform pickpocket maneuvers to carefully steal precious items from the crowd and make informants speak.
– Unique dramatic tension on iPhone, intensified by 3D cinematic cutscenes and characters’ voices.
– Collect orbs to upgrade health and weapons.

Download Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles via iTunes ($9.99)

Apple has posted / updated a Support document online outlining the particularities of rebuilding your iPhoto library. Last modified this weekend, the knowledge base article contains (rebuilding) instructions for users of iPhoto 6 or later.

According to Apple, “iPhoto includes a feature that allows you to rebuild the currently selected iPhoto library. Sometimes rebuilding the library may resolve issues such as the library appearing to be unreadable, missing photos, or other issues related to reading the iPhoto library structure,” the company explains.

The document continues with an important note advising users to back up their existing iPhoto Library folder before using the rebuild feature. According to Apple, “a backup allows you to restore the iPhoto Library if anything unexpected happens during the rebuild that prevents the library from rebuilding correctly.”

Also noteworthy is that, before performing a rebuild, you should install any iPhoto updates by using Software Update. Apple claims it’s possible for a software update to resolve your issue, therefore you may not need to rebuild. “It’s also a good idea to search Apple’s Support Page for your specific iPhoto symptom before doing a rebuild, just in case there is a more specific article or relevant solution,” Apple adds.

On the other hand, if you’re sure rebuilding is what you need to do, Apple outlines these exact steps for you to get the job done properly, and safely. To rebuild the iPhoto library:

- Quit iPhoto if it is open.
- Hold down the Command and Option keys on the keyboard.
- Open iPhoto.
- Keep the keys held down until you are prompted to rebuild the library.
- A dialog will appear with rebuild options. Select the options you want to use.
- Click Rebuild to begin the rebuild process. This may take a few minutes to complete.

The Mac maker then goes to offer a few guidelines to determine which options to choose in the rebuild dialog. Visit Apple here for those principles and more information on how to rebuild your iPhoto library.

“People familiar with the matter say Apple Developer Connection members and other high-profile software makers could receive the first test builds of the software prior to the start of the weekend,” AppleInsider reveals. “The first seedings will almost certainly arrive by the middle of next week,” the site notes, citing the same sources.

Apple’s latest maintenance update for Leopard, Mac OS X 10.5.4 was released on June 30, just a month after the first beta build had been seeded to the Apple developer community. The update included a major patch that fixed some issues with Adobe’s Creative Suite 3.0, but also contained references to the MobileMe service replacing .Mac. The MobileMe requirements list revealed that users would need to run Mac OS X 10.5.4 with iTunes 7.7 in order to benefit from the new features. The same requirements list also noted that 10.4.11 users would be able to use the service too, but not to the extent of Leopard users.

Recent rumors about an upcoming, touch-based Apple portable have given rise to speculation on the MacBook-hardware-upgrade front. Apple’s plans for an overhaul are said to include Intel Centrino 2 chips, 16:9 screens, which come in slightly bigger sizes: 14 inch and 15. 6 inch with different resolutions, and a 45nm processor to extend battery life. However, this is the first time that speculation surfaces on OS updates occurring in parallel with hardware upgrades.

While Apple is almost certainly revamping its MacBook line, a new Leopard update is most likely in order as well. As soon as the first seed notes for Mac OS X 10.5.5 emerge, clues to a possible release date are likely to be spotted as well. Just as the AppleInsider post reveals, next week would be a good time to keep an eye out for said documentation.

Now I know what you are thinking but you’d be wrong… On the first day all three machines repulsed attacks on the operating systems and via a network connection. The Mac Air laptop was the first to fall, however, two minutes into the start of the second day’s session. This was after the judges relaxed the rules to allow the hackers to attack browser and email vulnerabilities. The security loophole turned out to be an undisclosed flaw in the Safari browser, which allowed the team to gain control of the machine and access files. Apple have been informed and the hackers pledged to secrecy

The next to go was Vista, but it held out until the third day, after the judges once again changed the rules, this time by allowing hackers to target any popular piece of software. This time they managed to find a previously unknown loophole in Adobe Flash. By the end of the contest the only survivor was a Sony Vaio laptop running Ubuntu