That time a bot invaded Thingiverse and created weird new 3D objects

Some called it art, some called it spam—and some thought it might be a new life form.


Shiv Integer is a bot whose entire purpose in life is to create bizarre objects for 3D printers. It has been living for several months on 3D printer project site Thingiverse, posting objects cobbled together out of dozens of other objects listed on the site. The results are art or spam, depending on your perspective. Last month, artists Matthew Plummer-Fernandez and Julien Deswaef finally came out as the humans behind Shiv Integer, showcasing the results of the bot's work at an event called (appropriately) The Art of Bots in London's Somerset House.

Taken on its own terms, Shiv Integer's work is fanciful and amusing. Each piece looks like a mutant gadget, possibly unprintable, often with one recognizable item merging into another one. The best part is that even the names of the objects are a random salad of words taken from other objects on Thingiverse, creating inadvertent absurdist poetry like "quick cat near a jaw," "disc on top of an e-juice golf," "automatic event adapter," and "customizable damage mask." The bot is known to post several times per day, and in the "about" section of the entry it always credits users whose objects it has repurposed (the bot only works with objects that have been CC licensed for remixing).

Artists Plummer-Fernandez and Julien Deswaef explain the idea behind their project:

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Seattle’s sanitation workers can no longer pry through trash without a warrant

Citing stronger state privacy rights, judge allows only “plain view” searches.

(credit: Zena C)

A Washington county judge has ruled that the city of Seattle’s warrantless searches of garbage violated the state’s constitution.

In her 14-page order, King County Judge Beth Andrus found in favor of eight Seattle residents whose trash was searched by sanitation workers. The workers were operating under a city ordinance that allowed them to inspect trash for possible violations of a city composting law. Violators could be fined $1 if they mistakenly put food waste into their regular garbage rather than organic waste bins.

The ruling turned on whether these inspections amounted to a privacy violation. The order, which was handed down last week, illustrates that states are able to grant more rights than those interpreted by the Supreme Court.

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Microsoft: SQL Server 2016 steht ab dem 1. Juni bereit

In wenigen Wochen wird Microsoft die Entwicklung des SQL Servers 2016 abschließen. Er wird in vier Versionen angeboten werden, wobei die Developer Edition kostenlos sein soll. (SQL, Microsoft)

In wenigen Wochen wird Microsoft die Entwicklung des SQL Servers 2016 abschließen. Er wird in vier Versionen angeboten werden, wobei die Developer Edition kostenlos sein soll. (SQL, Microsoft)

Microsoft starts putting Win32 apps into the Windows Store (thanks to Project Centennial)

Microsoft starts putting Win32 apps into the Windows Store (thanks to Project Centennial)

Microsoft has released tools that allow developers of desktop Windows programs to convert their software into Universal Windows Platform apps that can be distributed through the Windows Store. And it looks like the company is practicing what it preaches, because a handful of Microsoft utilities have started showing up in the Windows Store.

What kind of utilities? WordPad, Character Map, Paint, and Windows Fax and Scan. Exciting, I know.

Still, these apps, discovered by @h0x0d (Walking Cat) are some of the first available for download from the Windows Store that seem to have been converted using Microsoft’s Project Centennial tools.

Continue reading Microsoft starts putting Win32 apps into the Windows Store (thanks to Project Centennial) at Liliputing.

Microsoft starts putting Win32 apps into the Windows Store (thanks to Project Centennial)

Microsoft has released tools that allow developers of desktop Windows programs to convert their software into Universal Windows Platform apps that can be distributed through the Windows Store. And it looks like the company is practicing what it preaches, because a handful of Microsoft utilities have started showing up in the Windows Store.

What kind of utilities? WordPad, Character Map, Paint, and Windows Fax and Scan. Exciting, I know.

Still, these apps, discovered by @h0x0d (Walking Cat) are some of the first available for download from the Windows Store that seem to have been converted using Microsoft’s Project Centennial tools.

Continue reading Microsoft starts putting Win32 apps into the Windows Store (thanks to Project Centennial) at Liliputing.

Samsung Smart Home flaws let hackers make keys to front door

Don’t rely on SmartThings for anything security related, researchers warn.

Computer scientists have discovered vulnerabilities in Samsung's Smart Home automation system that allowed them to carry out a host of remote attacks, including digitally picking connected door locks from anywhere in the world.

The attack, one of several proof-of-concept exploits devised by researchers from the University of Michigan, worked against Samsung's SmartThings, one of the leading Internet of Things (IoT) platforms for connecting electronic locks, thermostats, ovens, and security systems in homes. The researchers said the attacks were made possible by two intrinsic design flaws in the SmartThings framework that aren't easily fixed. They went on to say that consumers should think twice before using the system to connect door locks and other security-critical components.

"All of the above attacks expose a household to significant harm—break-ins, theft, misinformation, and vandalism," the researchers wrote in a paper scheduled to be presented later this month at the 2016 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy. "The attack vectors are not specific to a particular device and are broadly applicable."

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Oculus Rift sales launch on Best Buy’s website [updated]

Follows “extremely limited quantities,” in-store demos at some Best Buy locations May 7.

If you want to get your hands on a Rift ASAP, better plan to camp out at Best Buy

Update, May 25, 2:40 p.m. EDT: Following the Oculus Rift's limited launch at Best Buy's physical locations, the virtual reality headset has now gone live at the retailer's web site. In-store pick-up is not available, so interested shoppers will want to rush to the site and pick a shipping option should they want a headset with estimated delivery as soon as June 3rd—which may still be quicker than trying to buy from Oculus's own site. We imagine this availability will be gone almost as quickly as this update goes live.

Original report, May 2, 2:20 p.m. EDT: The Oculus Rift virtual reality headset will be available for demonstration and purchase at select Best Buy stores starting May 7 (and for purchase through Amazon and Microsoft Stores online starting at 9am Pacific on May 6). That means walk-in customers at brick-and-mortar stores will be able to get their headset well before many who pre-ordered the system directly from Oculus months ago.

While Oculus started taking Rift pre-orders in January and officially started shipping the units in March, many early pre-orders have seen their shipping date estimates slip amid production delays. In April, Oculus admitted that an "unexpected component shortage" meant early adopters could have to wait an extra month or two from initial estimates to receive their units. Orders placed on the Oculus site right now are slated for August delivery.

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Asus Transformer Book Flip TP201 leaks depict a minor convertible laptop update

Asus Transformer Book Flip TP201 leaks depict a minor convertible laptop update

About a year after Asus introduced a low-cost 11.6 inch convertible notebook called the Transformer Book Flip TP200, it looks like the company has a new model called the TP201 on the way.

A number of European retail websites are showing listings for the new laptop, which will likely be unveiled at the Computex trade show in June. And they all paint a picture of a convertible laptop that looks a lot like last year’s model.

Continue reading Asus Transformer Book Flip TP201 leaks depict a minor convertible laptop update at Liliputing.

Asus Transformer Book Flip TP201 leaks depict a minor convertible laptop update

About a year after Asus introduced a low-cost 11.6 inch convertible notebook called the Transformer Book Flip TP200, it looks like the company has a new model called the TP201 on the way.

A number of European retail websites are showing listings for the new laptop, which will likely be unveiled at the Computex trade show in June. And they all paint a picture of a convertible laptop that looks a lot like last year’s model.

Continue reading Asus Transformer Book Flip TP201 leaks depict a minor convertible laptop update at Liliputing.

Craig Wright loudly claims “I am Satoshi Nakamoto,” but few believe his “proof”

Digital signature appears copied, but Wright has a few respected supporters.

An Australian man named Craig Wright told the world today he is "Satoshi Nakamoto," the man who created Bitcoin. Yet despite Wright's stunning declaration and the fact that it's backed by some of the most famous names in Bitcoin, others continue to cry foul.

Wright gave interviews and demonstrations to the BBC, GQ magazine, and The Economist, and he published his own blog post claiming the name of Satoshi Nakamoto. He has convinced Gavin Andresen, former lead Bitcoin developer, as well as former Bitcoin Foundation director Jon Matonis.

Wright was first identified as the possible creator of bitcoin in December, but he hid from public view at that time.

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Congressmen think FCC’s set-top box plan is just like “Popcorn Time”

Theoretical concerns about piracy put pressure on Tom Wheeler’s cable box plans.

(credit: Descrier)

The Federal Communications Commission proposal to boost competition in the cable TV set-top box market is facing opposition from some members of Congress who claim the plan will lead to copyright violations.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and ranking Democrat John Conyers (D-Mich.) described their concerns in a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler Thursday, as noted by Politico. The letter echoes arguments made by cable lobbyists and some groups representing copyright holders.

"Creators have shared concerns that under the FCC's proposed rule, future set-top boxes or their replacements could purposely be designed to distribute pirated content obtained from sources that primarily offer stolen content," Goodlatte and Conyers wrote.

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Deals of the Day (5-02-2016)

Deals of the Day (5-02-2016)

Looking for a deal on a convertible laptop with a 13.3 inch touchscreen display, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of solid state storage? How about two deals?

Best Buy is selling a Spectre x360 laptop for $900, while the Microsoft store has a Dell Inspiron model for about $150 less.

Both should offer strong performance, but the key differences  are that the Spectre notebook measures 0.6 inches thick, weighs 3.2 pounds, and has a 2560 x 1440 pixel display while Dell’s model has a 1080p screen, measures 0.75 inches thick, and weighs 3.4 pounds.

Continue reading Deals of the Day (5-02-2016) at Liliputing.

Deals of the Day (5-02-2016)

Looking for a deal on a convertible laptop with a 13.3 inch touchscreen display, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of solid state storage? How about two deals?

Best Buy is selling a Spectre x360 laptop for $900, while the Microsoft store has a Dell Inspiron model for about $150 less.

Both should offer strong performance, but the key differences  are that the Spectre notebook measures 0.6 inches thick, weighs 3.2 pounds, and has a 2560 x 1440 pixel display while Dell’s model has a 1080p screen, measures 0.75 inches thick, and weighs 3.4 pounds.

Continue reading Deals of the Day (5-02-2016) at Liliputing.