Yaniv Shaked and Avishai Wool have written a report about the security flaws in Bluetooth that they have uncovered (investigated).

Abstract:
This paper describes the implementation of an attack on the Bluetooth security mechanism. Specifically, we describe a passive attack, in which an attacker can find the PIN used during the pairing process. We then describe the cracking speed we can achieve through three optimizations methods. Our fastest optimization employs an algebraic representation of a central cryptographic primitive (SAFER+) used in Bluetooth. Our results show that a 4-digit PIN can be cracked in less than 0.3 sec on an old Pentium III 450MHz computer, and in 0.06 sec on a Pentium IV 3Ghz HT computer.

* Cracking the Bluetooth PIN1

Barb Dybwad wrote at engadget: “Calisto Medical has wrapped up a successful clinical trial of the Glucoband glucose monitor, a wristwatch device that uses proprietary technology to non-invasively measure blood glucose levels in the body. It uses a bio-electromagnetic resonance technique to continuously monitor glucose levels after an initial measurement, with the results viewable on an integrated LCD screen in the watch. So, if your phone or Gameboy doesn’t already do this for you, you can strap on the Glucoband for all your ubiquitous glucose monitoring needs.”

* Glucoband wristwatch continuously monitors your glucose levels – Engadget

/. Cory R writes “Neil Gershenfeld is an MIT professor and the director of MIT’s Center for Bits and Atoms where he teaches a course called “How to Make (almost) Anything.” In his book FAB: The Coming Revolution on Your Desktop — From Personal Computers to Personal Fabrication, Gershenfeld describes the current state of personal fabrication tools and the surprising impact that these tools have when made available to everybody from MIT students to villagers in India in the form of Fab Labs. Lots of fabrication techniques and some technologies are discussed including those that are still only in development today. The pace of development seems to be accelerating and as the capabilities of the tools advance, Gershenfeld predicts one day he will be able to drop the word “almost” from the title of his course.” Read on for the rest of Cory R’s review.

Slashdot | Fab

Roland Piquepaille writes on his weblog: The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute is one of the largest genomics data centers in the world. In “The Hum and the Genome“, the Scientist writes about the IT infrastructure needed to handle the avalanche of data that researchers have to analyze. With its 2,000 processors and its 300 terabytes of storage, the data center uses today about 0.75 megawatts (MW) of power at a cost of €140,000 per year (about $170K). But the data center will need more than a petabyte of storage within three years, and its yearly electricity bill will reach €500,000 (more than $600K) for about 1.4 MW, enough to power more than a thousand homes. Read the full article, and see diagrams at the weblog.

* Roland Piquepaille’s Technology Trends | Decoding the Genome Needs Superpower

/. News for nerds writes “The Cell processor from Sony, Toshiba and IBM, has been known as the chip that powers the upcoming PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, but except for that very little is known about how it’s applied to a real use. This time, at LinuxTag 2005 from 22nd to 25rd June 2005, at Messe- und Kongresszentrum Karlsruhe, Germany, Arnd Bergmann of IBM will speak

about the Cell Processor programming model under Linux, and the Linux kernel in the first Cell Processor-based workstation computer, which premieres at Linuxtag 2005.”

* Slashdot | Linux For Cell Processor Workstation