Cell Phones and Clocks

Cheap Eavesdropper Device

Almost a decade ago the 64-Bit A5/1 encryption used on GSM based networks was cracked. However, equipment to eavesdrop costs upwards of $100000 which is out of reach for a number of people or companies. A company in the US have claimed that they can make a similar device that can drop in on conversations for just $1000 which is a huge saving.
The device is just theoretical at the moment, but theory seems to indicate that 30 minutes would be sufficient to crack GSM encryption. This is a huge increase in time over the more expensive device which is capable of cracking the codes in just 30 seconds.
This advance in technology should not make you quake in your boots though as the $1000 device is still pretty much concept at the moment and by the time it does make it out, no doubt changes to the algo’s could be made which means they have to start cracking it from the start.
It is unclear if this effects USIM cards also. Only mention of GSM SIM cards is mentioned.

Van Der Led WM2 GSM Watch

This mobile phone watch actually looks like it might be good to wear. Most of the other mobile phone watches just look a little chunky and awkward.
This particular model has a 1.3 inch display which is capable of showing 260k colours. The screen is also touch screen. On the communications side the radio is a quad-band GSM which allows it to work in most countries. Also Bluetooth is built in allowing you to use a headset for answering and making calls. Storage for music and video is on the 1Gb of built in memory. Files can be transferred via USB to and from your PC.
For making calls you can use the build in keypad on the wrist strap.
The mobile phone watch does come with a fairly hefty price tag of $471 when it is launched on Monday, but I assume that price is for a fully unlocked phone which can be used most places around the globe.

Remember how Dick Tracy used his watch as a communicator? Considering the last incarnation of Dick Tracy came out in 1990, I’m not surprised if you don’t. Let’s try this one: Remember when Michael Knight used his watch to talk to KITT? I’m sure anyone eighteen years of age or younger has no idea what I’m talking about.
Well, here’s a wrist communicator that anyone from any generation can understand: the Van Der Led WM2 Watchphone. I have only three words to say about this: “Yeah, baby, yeah!”
After all, science fiction writers have envisioned communication devices on our watches for years. Isn’t it about time that someone made it into reality by putting a cellular phone on a watch?
This Van Der Led WM2 watchphone is a quad band GSM, and it has some very interesting features including a 260K TFT touchscreen, an FM tuner, stereo Bluetooth, and USB data transmission. It has a stand-by time of 240 hours, and a talk time of up to 300 hours. I was surprised to hear that it even has a 1.3 Megapixel camera,
but will not be available until next week on the Van Der Led site.