Month: August 2019

Rocket Report: China discovers grid fins, NASA acknowledges Starship program

Also, another no-no for Momo.

The Electron launch vehicle is ready to soar.

Enlarge / The Electron launch vehicle is ready to soar. (credit: Rocket Lab)

Welcome to Edition 2.09 of the Rocket Report! This week, we've got a few highs but more lows—including small-rocket launch failures in Australia and Japan. We've also got some interesting news about a large reinsurance company backing out of the market after some recent, high-profile aerospace failures.

As always, we welcome reader submissions, and if you don't want to miss an issue, please subscribe using the box below (the form will not appear on AMP-enabled versions of the site). Each report will include information on small-, medium-, and heavy-lift rockets as well as a quick look ahead at the next three launches on the calendar.

China experiments with grid fins. The launch of a Long March 2C from Xichang last week included a first use of grid fins by China, SpaceNews reports. The fins are intended to minimize the threat posed by the spent first stage to populated areas downrange. This two-stage rocket has a lift capacity of 1.25 tons to low Earth orbit. For this launch, the rocket's interstage section included four grid fins that strikingly resemble those used to guide SpaceX Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy boosters back to landing areas.

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New York: Polizei nutzt Fotos von Minderjährigen zur Gesichtserkennung

In New York nutzt die Polizei eine Datenbank mit Bildern auch von Minderjährigen mit einer Gesichtserkennungs-Software. Der Einsatz ist umstritten. Andere Städte verbieten ihren Behörden die Technik generell. (Gesichtserkennung, Applikationen)

In New York nutzt die Polizei eine Datenbank mit Bildern auch von Minderjährigen mit einer Gesichtserkennungs-Software. Der Einsatz ist umstritten. Andere Städte verbieten ihren Behörden die Technik generell. (Gesichtserkennung, Applikationen)

DISH Sues ‘Pirate’ IPTV Providers Including Two Already ‘Seized’ By ACE

DISH Network and NagraStar have filed yet another lawsuit targeting several ‘pirate’ IPTV providers in the United States. Interestingly, two of the named suppliers – TVStreamsNow and OneStepTV – have already handed their domains over to the Alliance For Creativity and Entertainment.

Source: TF, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, torrent sites and more. We also have VPN reviews, discounts, offers and coupons.

Threats of legal action backed up by litigation was once regular news in the torrent site arena but as streaming has begun to take over, particularly among more casual pirates, it’s IPTV grabbing most of the headlines.

DISH Networks is rapidly becoming one of the most litigious companies around and this week, in collaboration with partner NagraStar – a joint venture between Dish Network and Kudelski – it added yet another anti-IPTV lawsuit to its growing roster.

Filed in a New Jersey federal court, the suit targets individuals and companies said to be behind what appears to be at least six IPTV providers and/or brands.

“Defendant [Wilmey] Jimenez created and operates and/or operated unauthorized pirate television streaming services under various brand names including BimoTV, TVStreamsNow, OneStepTV, IbexTV, and MagnumStreams,” the complaint reads.

“Defendant [Fernandez Manuel] DaRocha created and operates and/or operated unauthorized pirate television streaming services under the brand name SolTV, and Defendant DaRocha also uses SoITV to provide unauthorized and pirated programming content to Defendant Jimenez, which Defendant Jimenez then retransmits.”

The heart of the complaint centers around the unlicensed distribution of DISH’s programming. The company says that it believes that the defendants worked in concert with others with similar aims and this is where things begin to get a little tangled.

DISH claims that Jimenez and DaRocha “have a history in trafficking in similar piracy streaming services”, claiming that they sold access to the now-defunct SetTV, the IPTV provider that was ordered to settle with DISH for an eye-watering $90 million.

Previously, SetTV was also sued by the Alliance For Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a case that ended in a $7.6m default judgment just this week. There are some interesting ACE cross-overs in this case too.

While the domain of BimoTV appears to have disappeared out of use, the same cannot be said about those previously linked to TVStreamsNow and OneStepTV. As reported here in May and July, those domains are already in the hands of the MPAA. They display a copyright infringement warning before diverting to ACE’s website, which is also operated by the MPAA.

While unconfirmed by any official sources, this type of domain ‘seizure’ behavior usually points to some kind of settlement, in this case potentially with ACE and/or the MPAA. DISH is not a member of ACE, however, which suggests that settling with one group doesn’t grant immunity from another.

Unlike other cases involving IPTV providers, the DISH lawsuit isn’t based in copyright law. The company alleges violations of the Federal Communications Act (FCA) while demanding a permanent injunction to prevent the defendants from receiving and redistributing DISH content, and selling/distributing subscriptions and any associated reception devices.

DISH also requests an order to have the defendants’ social media pages removed, along with any advertising for the ‘pirate’ IPTV services. DISH further demands that their websites are handed over to the broadcaster. Of course, the company wants damages on top, which could reach $100,000 for each violation of the FCA. Very big numbers indeed.

The complaint can be obtained here (pdf)

Source: TF, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, torrent sites and more. We also have VPN reviews, discounts, offers and coupons.

Neuralink: Das ganze Upload-Thema ist Science Fiction

Elon Musk hat bei der Vorstellung des BCI seines Unternehmens Neuralink vollmundige Ankündigungen gemacht, was mit dem System in Zukunft alles möglich sei. Wir haben einen Hirnforscher gefragt, was von solchen Versprechungen zu halten ist. Ein Intervie…

Elon Musk hat bei der Vorstellung des BCI seines Unternehmens Neuralink vollmundige Ankündigungen gemacht, was mit dem System in Zukunft alles möglich sei. Wir haben einen Hirnforscher gefragt, was von solchen Versprechungen zu halten ist. Ein Interview von Werner Pluta (BCI, KI)

New advanced malware, possibly nation sponsored, is targeting US utilities

Dear Engineer. You failed your licensing exam. Open this document to learn more.

New advanced malware, possibly nation sponsored, is targeting US utilities

(credit: Maëlick / Flickr)

A new piece of advanced espionage malware, possibly developed by nation-supported attacker, targeted three US companies in the utilities industry last month, researchers from security firm Proofpoint reported on Thursday.

Employees of the three unnamed companies, a Proofpoint reported, received emails purporting to come from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. This non-profit group develops, administers, and scores examinations used in granting licenses for US engineers. Using the official NCEES logo and the domain nceess[.]com, the emails said that the recipients failed to achieve a passing score on a recent exam. The attached Word document was titled Result Notice.doc.

(credit: Proofpoint)

Malicious macros embedded into the document attempted to install a package of full-featured malware Proofpoint calling LookBack. Components included a remote-access trojan written in C++ and a proxy tool for communicating with a command and control server. Once LookBack is installed, it gives attackers a full range of capabilities that include:

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Projekt Jedi: US-Regierung pausiert Milliardenprojekt mit Trumps Hilfe

Dass das Cloud-Projekt Jedi an Amazon gehen sollte, ist fast sicher gewesen. Jetzt hat die US-Regierung die Ausschreibung gestoppt und prüft sie auf Fairness. An dieser Entscheidung soll US-Präsident Donald Trump beteiligt gewesen sein. (Amazon, IBM)

Dass das Cloud-Projekt Jedi an Amazon gehen sollte, ist fast sicher gewesen. Jetzt hat die US-Regierung die Ausschreibung gestoppt und prüft sie auf Fairness. An dieser Entscheidung soll US-Präsident Donald Trump beteiligt gewesen sein. (Amazon, IBM)

88SS132x: Marvell hat drei PCIe-Gen4-SSD-Controller

Mit der 88SS132x-Serie bringt Marvell drei SSD-Controller mit PCIe-Gen4-Unterstützung: Das Topmodell nutzt vier Kanäle sowie Lanes und LPDDR4X-Cache, die beiden anderen verwenden weniger Bahnen oder keinen DRAM. (Marvell, Speichermedien)

Mit der 88SS132x-Serie bringt Marvell drei SSD-Controller mit PCIe-Gen4-Unterstützung: Das Topmodell nutzt vier Kanäle sowie Lanes und LPDDR4X-Cache, die beiden anderen verwenden weniger Bahnen oder keinen DRAM. (Marvell, Speichermedien)

Agones: Google will Game-Server in der Cloud orchestrieren

Google startet eine Alpha-Phase seiner Cloud Game Server. Der Dienst basiert auf dem Open Source Projekt Agones, nutzt die Container-Plattform Kubernetes und ist in Kooperation mit Ubisoft entstanden. (Cloud Computing, Server)

Google startet eine Alpha-Phase seiner Cloud Game Server. Der Dienst basiert auf dem Open Source Projekt Agones, nutzt die Container-Plattform Kubernetes und ist in Kooperation mit Ubisoft entstanden. (Cloud Computing, Server)

Razer Viper: Razers Gaming-Maus mit optischen Switches wiegt 69 Gramm

Wie die Urversion der Viper ist auch die neue Razer Viper eine symmetrische Gaming-Maus für Links- und Rechtshänder. Sie wiegt 69 Gramm und verwendet optische Switches. Diese sollen schneller schalten und länger halten. Das hat allerdings seinen Preis….

Wie die Urversion der Viper ist auch die neue Razer Viper eine symmetrische Gaming-Maus für Links- und Rechtshänder. Sie wiegt 69 Gramm und verwendet optische Switches. Diese sollen schneller schalten und länger halten. Das hat allerdings seinen Preis. (Razer, Eingabegerät)

Mixer: Microsoft hat Ninja gekauft

Tschüss Twitch: Der vor allem für Streams von Fortnite bekannte Influencer Tyler “Ninja” Blevins streamt ab sofort bei Mixer, dem zu Microsoft gehörenden Videoportal. Möglicherweise wird sich Ninja dort auch um Halo kümmern. (Microsoft, Halo)

Tschüss Twitch: Der vor allem für Streams von Fortnite bekannte Influencer Tyler "Ninja" Blevins streamt ab sofort bei Mixer, dem zu Microsoft gehörenden Videoportal. Möglicherweise wird sich Ninja dort auch um Halo kümmern. (Microsoft, Halo)