Crave

(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)

Alex Kochis, Microsoft's director of Genuine Windows, posted a blog late Thursday addressing the "leak of a special product key" of Windows 7 RTM (release to manufacturers). This confirmed the rumor on Tuesday that an ISO file of Windows 7 RTM sent to Lenovo that contains a master key--a number used to verify the authenticity of the software--was leaked to the Internet.

According to the blog, "The key is for use with Windows 7 Ultimate RTM product that is meant to be preinstalled by the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) on new PCs to be shipped later this year. As such, the use of this key requires having a PC from the manufacturer it was issued to. We've worked with that manufacturer so that customers who purchase genuine copies of Windows 7 from this manufacturer will experience no issues validating their copy of Windows 7. At the same time we will seek to alert customers who are using the leaked key that they are running a non-genuine copy of Windows. It's important to note that no PCs will be sold that will use this key."

This means the hacked key will still work, though it will likely be identified, presumably when the computer with this version of the hacked Windows 7 OS installed connects to download updates from Microsoft.

Kochis said Windows 7 includes an improved capability to detect activation exploits and it should be able to alert the customer when the leaked version or other hacks are used to install Windows 7 on a PC.

He added, "Our primary goal is to protect users from becoming unknowing victims, because customers who use pirated software are at greater risk of being exposed to malware as well as identity theft. Someone asked me recently--and I think it's worth noting here--whether we treat all exploits equally in responding to new ones we see. Our objective isn't to stop every "mad scientist" that's out there from dabbling; our aim is to protect our customers from commercialized counterfeit software that impacts our customers' confidence in knowing they got what they paid for."

Personally, I don't see what Microsoft can do now that the key and the ISO is out in the wild, other than wait for a system installed with that copy of Windows 7 to connect to its update servers. In the meantime, it can issue another key to OEMs to make sure they don't use they leaked key and hope that consumers will buy its genuine product and, of course, pay the full price for it.

It's safe to say that we probably have to wait for a service pack of the operating system to be sure that this leak is fully addressed. In the meantime, this leaked key could still pose a big problem if the hackers are able to alter the ISO and sell it as counterfeit retailed package of the OS. In this case, customers will only find out that they don't have an genuine copy, if they ever do, when it's too late.

(Credit: Gamespot)

A few months ago I mentioned that America's Army--the free, downloadable first-person shooter sponsored by the U.S. Army--would be receiving an upgrade this year. Well, the time is nigh.

If you hurry the time may be nigher than you think. FilePlanet has beta keys for America's Army 3--the Unreal Engine 3 powered, latest version of the America's Army franchise. They only have a limited amount, and it's first-come, first-served. Although I don't actually know how fast they're going.

Note that you must be a FilePlanet subscriber to be eligible for the key. So if you are, stop reading and click on that FilePlanet link in the previous paragraph and get your war on!

So..much...neon.

(Credit: Thingiverse)

We've seen keyboards integrated into pants before (in this edition of DO NOT CRAVE), but we're willing to give it another chance because Brooklynite Zach Hoeken actually made these himself.

Zach spawned the keyboard pants idea at Sunday's Fashion Hacking Day sponsored by NYC Resistor, a collective that brings hackers together to share knowledge and collaborate on creative projects. Instead of throwing away a flexible silicone keyboard he had lying around the house, he decided to cut it in half and sew it onto a pair of shants.

Hoeken lists the required tools and outlines a basic six-step process to making your own keyboard pants on his blog, but we still can't understand why someone would want to walk around in this things (I don't even think nerdy girls will want to get anywhere close to that spacebar).

Nevertheless, we applaud Zach's DIY mentality and encourage him to get to work on the Nike high tops from "Back to the Future 2" as soon as possible.

I promise this is the last time you'll hear about my keys.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

When my colleague Dong Ngo introduced us to the LaCie key-shaped USB drive back in March, the timing could not have been better, as I had just ended yet another frustrating relationship with a keychain-based USB key.

I've gotten into the habit of keeping a USB drive attached to my keys in the past year. Moving into a new laptop on the average of twice a week, I got tired of re-downloading all the software I'd want on a just-unboxed laptop, and decided to create a package of must-have install files, including FireFox, AVG Free, Open Office, etc.

President Obama's BlackBerry 8830 is getting the super-secure treatment.

(Credit: Research In Motion)

After months of waiting, President Obama will soon get his super-secure BlackBerry.

The Washington Times newspaper reported Thursday that the presidential BlackBerry 8830 is "in the final stages of development by the National Security Agency." The agency is still testing the encryption software to ensure it's up to snuff. And the president could have his new device in a matter of months.

A Washington, D.C.-based company, Genesis Key, developed the software called SecureVoice that will be used to secure the high-security BlackBerry. Research In Motion, the maker of the BlackBerry, has also been involved in development, the Washington Times said.

Since the inauguration in January, President Obama, who vowed security officials would have to pry his BlackBerry out of his hands, has been using a cumbersome work-around to communicate with key members of his staff and close aides.

The CleanKey keyboard.

(Credit: Devlin Electronics)

A friend of mine once spilled coffee on her computer keyboard and then took it to a sink to clean that muck off with soap and water. She ended up having to get a new keyboard. Now I know what I should get her.

Devlin Electronics is offering a new keyboard that you can wash with water without harming the circuit board inside.

The surface of the keyboard is sealed to make cleaning easy.

(Credit: Delvin Electronics)

Dubbed "CleanKey," the keyboard is waterproof and fully submersible, even when it's still plugged in. You can also quickly wipe the surface, which is sealed and has no crevices for dust (and bacteria) to hide, as traditional keyboards do.

Devlin Electronics designed the keyboard mostly for health care institutions and schools, where illness can spread through shared computer equipment, such as keyboards and mice. The CleanKey was inspired by numerous studies highlighting the potential health risks of computer keyboards, which are said to be frequently dirtier than the average toilet seat.

Devlin Electronics also designs computer mice that have similar attributes, allowing for quick cleanups and disinfection.

Personally, I just wonder what it's like to type on one of these keyboards. Hygiene aside, once you've put a layer of protection on, things won't feel as real as they are supposed to anymore.

The CleanKey products are only available by order and it's unclear how much they cost.

LaCie's three key shaped USB thumbdrives

LaCie recently introduced three key-shaped USB-storage devices, including two USB drives--the itsKey and the iamaKey--and one USB microSD card reader, the PassKey.

I got my hands on the iamaKey today and loved it. The drive is about the same shape and size as a small house key and is literally as tough as a nail, but it looks much better than a nail.

LaCie's three new USB storage devices.

(Credit: LaCie)

Designed by 5.5 Designers, the award-winning studio that focuses on research and consulting, the iamaKey and the two others look stylish and can fit conveniently in a pocket or on a key ring.

All three key-shaped devices are built with sturdy metal, making their surfaces tough. Additionally, the Gold SIP connector on the iamaKey is both water- and scratch-resistant. It sure is the thinnest and toughest flash drive I've ever seen.

I found one design flaw, however. The iamaKey has a transparent little lid that covers the drive's connector. The lid needs to be removed when the drive is in use, but is not attached to the drive in anyway, which means it can easily slip through a crack and disappear. However, the lid is only for aesthetic purposes.

Both the itsaKey and the iamaKey store up to 8GB of flash memory. The Passkey, on the other hand, is a microSD card reader that lets you use your memory card as a handy USB drive. Or you can also use it as a card reader on the go. All of these keys feature USB 2.0 with throughput speed up to 480Mbps.

These new and sleek USB storage devices work with both Macs and Windows and are available now starting at $9.99.

According to Outdustry, iTunes gift cards have been pirated, and China's biggest C2C online shopping site, Taobao, is the platform used to sell the cards.

(Credit: Taobao)

Chinese hackers have figured out a way to generate iTunes gift card keycode numbers and help themselves to songs from Apple's music store. The hackers have been selling pirated $200 iTunes gift cards on Taobao for as little as 17.9 RMB, or just $2.60--a savings of almost 99 percent!