APRIL FOOLS: HTC Adds RFID to Star Trek and All Future Models

[Mike Temporale]

HTC has entered a new market by adding full RFID support in your Smartphone. From what we've been told, they are also going to be selling RFID add-ons for your car, home, and office. One add-on will be bundled for free with your device. The other devices will sell for between $10 and $20. The leaked document we received outlines car products like a RFID enabled car security system with ignition kill switch, and a 20GB MP3/WMA car stereo. The home products list a RFID deadbolt lock, and something for the kitchen called LadyCanCookR42, which appears to be a RFID robot that will cook all your meals and clean the dishes too! In all the cases the product will not work unless you have the Smartphone within 10 feet of the product. Once you're within the range, the phone will automatically launch a control application for that device. In the case of the car, you can actually start your car and turn on the AC while you're standing beside the car!

I didn't expect to see technology like this for another 5 or 10 years. HTC is certainly looking to become the name to beat in Windows Mobile hardware. I just hope they can produce a good solid car security system, or the pair up with someone that has a little more experience in this area.
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"I have no special talents, I am only passionately curious" - Albert Einstein

[Jerry Raia]

What about a lawn mower?
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[BlackJack] [8525] [Treo 700wx]

[xultar]

I refuse to play these silly games.
But since we are,
A really good one would have been to announce that AKU2 was out for the 2125.



But it would have been so cruel. SWEET, funny as hell but cruel.

[Edgar]

YIKES! I hope I can rip out the RFID tagging.

RFID has nearly zero security measures as implemented today. You can get a slightly modified transciever and if close enough to grandma's rice sized chip in her arm you can read all her information. Just stand next to her for 15 seconds in line at the grocery and get the info

It can also be used to track a person - ala "Mr Davis, you went through the Holland Tunnel at 9pm, right after killing Mr Jones - your Toll transponder reported it" etc. We all know and understand this - geez its in all the technology news and they supposedly are addressing it.

Before I trust RFID to unlocking my home/car/etc without a key or keypad pin I want more security. Its already somewhat used in autos - BMW, Lexus, Honda and others have RFID tags embedded in the car key, it takes both a key and the tag to start the car. Lincoln Mercury has a tag with a keypad. Soem are already moving towards keyless/pad less "your car knows you" technology. Heck the Exxon transponders for paying for gas and items in the store are sent with low encryption - their only safety is that you have to be within 2-5 feet (or closer) to their transceiver. Thus I still use my cc or cash.

I see RFID war driving coming with boosted signals on modified transceivers.

Get out your aluminum foil hat people - they're coming after us! They will read your mind and wreck terrible horrible results on all of us! The old thought was we would all have barcode tattoos on our foreheads - now its rice sized capsules embedded in your forearm.

-Edgar

BTW Jerry, Honda demo'ed a riding lawn mower two years ago in their Ohio plant that started "securly" via handheld RFID tag - not embedded in your arm but I suppose it could have been.

PPS Mike I hate you! You got me You aren't too far off with this one though, they are, afterall, doing it in Japan already or a form of it.

Diatribe on RFID stands as written.

[Mike Temporale]