On The Radar

1. Reason to visit Google+

   North Korean Internet stance will affect its “physical world,” “economic growth”

   Eric Schmidt blogs about his trip to the country, full of Linux and restrictions.

   by Nathan Mattise - Jan 20, 10:00 pm UTC

2. The Alpha and the Mega

   Kim Dotcom’s new file locker “Mega” opens to the public

   Reports of massive traffic to the site backed up by some slow registrations.

   by Megan Geuss - Jan 19, 8:31 pm UTC

3. Week in Review

   Take a crack at it: The top 10 stories you may have missed this week

   Our risk assessment meter was peaking this week.

   by Ars Staff - Jan 19, 3:07 pm UTC

4. Deactivated Mark of the beast

   After refusing any ID (even without RFID), Texas student kicked out of school

   Attorneys appealed to Fifth Circuit to prevent this injunction, and lost.

   by Cyrus Farivar - Jan 19, 12:50 am UTC

5. FADE TO BLACK

   Red October espionage platform unplugged hours after its discovery

   Command servers and domains that targeted governments around the world go dark.

   by Dan Goodin - Jan 18, 11:50 pm UTC

6. Still the world's #1 browser

   Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 edges a bit closer to prime time

   The latest private test build will be the last.

   by Peter Bright - Jan 18, 9:15 pm UTC

7. Cyber Spiral

   Air Force’s cyber commander says Iran is next big ’Net menace

   Iran seen as growing threat after Stuxnet; Air Force wants more cyberwarriors.

   by Sean Gallagher - Jan 18, 8:43 pm UTC

8. JAVA STILL VULNERABLE

   Critical Java vulnerabilities confirmed in latest version

   “Complete Java security sandbox bypass” found in emergency fix released Sunday.

   by Dan Goodin - Jan 18, 8:13 pm UTC

9. Ars Editor’s Picks The web worth reading.

   1. Carmen Ortiz’s Sordid Rap Sheet WhoWhatWhy
   2. Chipmaker Races to Save Stephen Hawking’s Speech as His Condition Deteriorates Scientific American
   3. ‘We thought we'd sell 1,000’: The inside story of the Raspberry Pi ZDNet

10. pressure building

    Senator demands answers on Swartz prosecution from Obama’s top lawyer

    Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) suspects the Swartz case may have been retaliation.

    by Joe Mullin - Jan 18, 7:50 pm UTC

11. Rumors and leaks

    Leaked images hint that the LG Optimus Pro has a 1080p display

    Rumored handset also features bigger battery to power up all those pixels.

    by Florence Ion - Jan 18, 6:20 pm UTC

12. we can print it

    You can 3D-print your own case if you have a Nokia Lumia 820

    Nokia releases 3D print files for custom smartphone cases.

    by Casey Johnston - Jan 18, 5:55 pm UTC

13. The Week's Top Stories

    1. Help! I've got Windows 8 and I miss my Start menu!
    2. International Space Station set to receive blow-up extension
    3. Surprise! Walmart’s unlimited iPhone 5 data plan not so unlimited
    4. On Facebook, users can no longer hide from search results
    5. eBay fraud and me: My absolutely ridiculous experience
    6. Time Warner, net neutrality foes cry foul over Netflix Super HD demands
    7. Mega-Launch: a fake FBI raid, dancing girls—oh, and human rights!
    8. FBI to ACLU: Nope, we won't tell you how, when, or why we track you

14. PASSWORDS UNDER ASSAULT

    Google looks to kill the password using tiny cryptographic card

    Search giant experiments with YubiKey card to automatically log in users.

    by Dan Goodin - Jan 18, 5:45 pm UTC

15. No cold calls, please

    Judge: Tim Cook should answer for Apple's role in “do not poach” deals

    Civil lawsuit following 2010 DoJ bust-up could be granted class-action status.

    by Chris Foresman - Jan 18, 5:38 pm UTC

16. Ut emam est amare

    Dealmaster Friday: Screens, screens, everywhere there’s screens

    See clearly with an 23” IPS monitor or blow your eyes out with a 65" plasma TV.

    by Lee Hutchinson - Jan 18, 4:45 pm UTC

17. Pass the Jelly Beans

    Jelly Bean update gives select Samsung tablets some refined sugar

    The Wi-Fi Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and 7.0 and the Galaxy Note 10.1 all get an update.

    by Andrew Cunningham - Jan 18, 4:13 pm UTC

18. suspicious package

    All backscatter “pornoscanners” to be removed from US airports

    Rapiscan's machines are out, but its millimeter-wave competitors are staying.

    by Lee Hutchinson - Jan 18, 2:30 pm UTC

19. top brass

    Low-profile owner of NZ Web domain company tapped as Mega CEO

    Instra execs are investors in Mega—but Kim Dotcom is merely an "advisor."

    by Joe Mullin - Jan 18, 2:17 pm UTC

20. I've (not) got the power

    Save the world by not giving out unwanted free phone chargers

    UK operator O2 says that 82 percent of customers don't actually want the free charger.

    by Peter Bright - Jan 18, 4:25 am UTC

21. We're down with XBMC

    Third party launches “end-user friendly” XBMC release for Android

    "Friendly" release includes hardware accelerated video decoding.

    by Florence Ion - Jan 18, 2:25 am UTC

22. you have 15 seconds to comply

    On Facebook, users can no longer hide from search results

    All profiles must contribute to the greater good of socially-fueled search.

    by Casey Johnston - Jan 18, 1:25 am UTC

23. Q who?

    Google finally lists Nexus Q as not for sale on Google Play

    Can you say "sayonara" to something that never really existed?

    by Florence Ion - Jan 18, 12:20 am UTC

24. Legal Eagles

    House bill wants $5,000 fine for video games without ESRB rating

    Act would also prohibit selling AO- and M- rated games to minors.

    by Kyle Orland - Jan 17, 10:10 pm UTC

25. Mega gigabytes

    Kim Dotcom’s Mega: 50GB free, no promises on getting old files back

    Legal hassles preventing return of old Megaupload files.

    by Jon Brodkin - Jan 17, 8:30 pm UTC

26. no dice

    Porn-trolling failure: Prenda Law can’t ditch unhappy judge

    Judge had a legitimate concern about copyright troll abusing subpoena powers.

    by Joe Mullin - Jan 17, 8:15 pm UTC

27. Paper covers rock, get it?

    VIA’s tiny Android-powered ARM motherboard gets a pair of upgrades

    Rock and Paper will run you $79 and $99; both run Ice Cream Sandwich.

    by Andrew Cunningham - Jan 17, 7:10 pm UTC

28. Beyond Buttons

    How Google will let you control your Google Glass

    A new patent solves the problems of buttonless, touchscreen-less smart glasses.

    by Casey Johnston - Jan 17, 6:55 pm UTC

29. Wii-Boo!

    Game delays make Wii U’s post-launch lineup look even worse

    Players will have to wait longer for Pikmin, Wario, and more.

    by Kyle Orland - Jan 17, 6:40 pm UTC

30. Thinkpad meets Chromebook

    Lenovo’s new Thinkpad X131e Chromebook can take licking, keep ticking

    But the rugged new Chromebook's price reverses the trend toward cheaper hardware.

    by Andrew Cunningham - Jan 17, 6:30 pm UTC

31. Paging Bruce Willis

    European Space Agency ponders asteroid-smashing mission

    Would fly a probe directly into a near-Earth object at 6.25km/s.

    by Lee Hutchinson - Jan 17, 5:45 pm UTC

32. Stealing is stealing?

    Swartz prosecutor: “This office’s conduct was appropriate”

    Carmen Ortiz says she offered Swartz six months in prison.

    by Timothy B. Lee - Jan 17, 3:48 pm UTC

33. Jumping on the bandwagon

    PC maker Asus reportedly eyeing Windows Phone 8

    Microsoft-powered phones could join manufacturer's Windows PCs and tablets.

    by Andrew Cunningham - Jan 17, 3:09 pm UTC

34. I Spy

    FBI to ACLU: Nope, we won't tell you how, when, or why we track you

    In the wake of the Jones decision, FBI refuses to release search-related memos.

    by Cyrus Farivar - Jan 17, 12:35 am UTC