Terrafugia's TF-X, you don't need an airstrip to drive/fly this

When was the last time you were stuck in traffic and wished you could press a button on the dashboard, turn your car into a helicopter and soar away from the rush-hour snarl at, say, 200 miles per hour? Yesterday, perhaps?

With so much talk these days about the seemingly imminent arrival of fully-automated, self-driving cars in showrooms, people might not realize how close we are to parking flying cars in our driveways. At least that's how Terrafugia Inc. sees it. The Woburn, Massachusetts, company has been working on flying-car projects for a decade and has revealed a design that takes off vertically — eliminating the need for airports altogether.

terrafugia.com

Terrafugia TF-X

Terrafugia chief executive Carl Dietrich told TODAY.com the TF-X is still a concept, but building such a machine would be possible with current off-the-shelf technology. The vehicle reflects the latest developments in self-driving cars and the probable future of increasingly automated airborne personal transport, but is most likely a decade or more away, Dietrich said.

RELATED: 'Back to the Future Part II' writer talks about his 2015 predictions

The TF-X — unveiled at AirVenture, an aviation industry gathering in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, last week — is called the TF-X and uses battery-powered rotor blades to lift off and moves into forward flight using a gasoline-powered propeller-like fan for thrust. It carries four people and cruises at 200 mph and flies to a destination that the driver punches into its navigation system.

Operating the TF-X will not require a pilot's license because the craft will fly itself. As with autonomous cars, small aircraft that fly themselves are considered safer than those operated by humans.

So far Terrafugia is showing computer-generated videos and scale models of the TF-X, a revised version of a vehicle it first revealed in 2013.

For now, though, Terrafugia is betting on its slightly more conventional Transition, a flying car with folding wings and traditional manual controls that is close to gaining Federal Aviation Administration approval and could go on sale in a year or two.

Terrafugia

Terrafugia’s Transition

The Transition has already been through years of flight and road testing and appears to work well. Terrafugia said it has dozens of deposits from customers who want one. Still, it remains unclear whether it can succeed where others have failed. Past attempts at marketable flying cars, including the Fulton Airphibian and Waterman Aerobile, never caught on, mainly because of design limitations that tend to plague any airplane-car combination.

RELATED: Who pays more at car dealerships: men or women?

"A flying car is such a compromise that it doesn't do a good job as a car or as an airplane," said Bob van der Linden, curator of aeronautics at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The museum has an Airphibian, an Aerobile and a Stout Skycar in its collection.

"It's cheaper to own a good airplane and a good car," van der Linden said.

Waterman Aerobile

Fulton Airphibian FA-3-101

Skycar

Lexus to unveil gravity defying hoverboard.

The year 2015 marks a number of pop-culture movie anniversaries, like 30 years since "The Breakfast Club" and 40 since "Jaws" premiered. But for fans of the "Back to the Future" film franchise, this was supposed to be the year of the hoverboard.

Lexus

Hoverboard designed by Lexus.

Michael J. Fox's Marty McFly character time-traveled to 2015 in "Back to the Future II" and famously rode a gravity-defying skateboard to elude the bad guys. So, where are the hoverboards that were supposed to be here by now? Car maker Lexus says it will reveal the answer Aug. 5.

RELATED: Forget driverless cars: Flying vehicles are almost here

The luxury unit of Toyota said it has been working on the vehicle for about 18 months and in June said it was getting close to completing a version that it could demonstrate to the public. Video and still images so far show the sleek, metal-and-bamboo board floating above the surface of a skate park but have yet to show anyone actually riding it.

A Lexus spokesman said that a riding demonstration could be a highlight of next week's unveiling but declined to comment further. (Last fall, a video of skateboarder Tony Hawk trying a similar technology with Kickstarter-backed Hendo Hover went viral.)

RELATED: A real-life hoverboard and 5 more sci-fi wonders you can buy now

The board uses magnetic levitation to move while suspended above the ground. Well, maybe "ground" is the wrong word. The board needs a metal surface to levitate, so it doesn't look like commuters will be riding them to work anytime soon.

Windows 10's Error 0xC004C003 during fresh Install

By now, a lot of eligible Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 users might have downloaded and installed Windows 10 on their PCs, while some are still waiting in line for Microsoft Corporation to show some mercy and send them the download invite. However, there are some cases where an upgrade to Windows 10 did not work smoothly and users had to resort to different ways of installing a fresh copy of Windows 10.

If you had to go through the ISO route to download and install Windows 10 and managed to successfully install it, then great job. However, for those unlucky users who ran into a couple of issues and strange error codes such as the 0xC004C003, then don't be alarmed because we have the fix

What is 0xC004C003?

The error message code 0xC004C003 refers to issues with Windows activation. According to Microsoft’s community forums, this usually happens when the product key that a user enters doesn’t work and therefore Windows could not be activated. The user can then try to contact Microsoft support or buy a new key from the company.

Why does it happen?

Users upgrading from Windows 7 or 8.1 to Windows 10 receive a generic key which activates automatically once the user is online. If the user took the upgrade path first and then heads for a clean install of Windows 10, then that key is automatically re-used once the installation is complete. Users can skip the product key box which pops up during the clean Windows 10 installation. There is no point in entering the previous invalid key of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 during the installation process.

The 0xC004C003 pops up for users who have not taken the upgrade path from Windows 7 or 8.1 to Windows 10. Such users are tired of waiting for the upgrade to arrive and in order to skip the line, they download the ISO file and head for the fresh install. When prompted with the serial key box, users generally enter their Windows 7 or 8 key, which fails to pass the activation stage as users aren’t provided with a Windows 10 key when they download.

What to do and How do you make it work?

If you did not go through the upgrade route from Windows 7 or 8.1, then you are technically out of luck. The only way to get Windows 10 is to purchase a new key for the OS. If your’e faced with the 0xC004C003 error code and do not have the key, then purchasing is one option and the other is installing the old Windows 8 or 7 again, and wait for the upgrade to make your way. Microsoft is trying to provide upgrades as quickly as possible and with the numbers going up to 67 million devices already running Windows 10, yours might be up soon.

However, there are certain users who took the upgrade path from Windows 7 or 8.1 to Windows 10 and it just fine, but when they decided to do a clean install, they were presented with 0xC004C003 error as well. For them, it is recommended to not enter their Windows 7 or 8 serial key as it will not work. Such users would not need to purchase the key.

Microsoft Support staff is claiming that there is an issue with the activation servers. There are too many requests and the server is overloaded. The best remedy provided is to wait a while and try the activation process again. The previous key is not blocked or invalid and is genuine, the server just happens to be busy at the moment.

A couple of users claim that the waiting part did indeed resolve the issue and Windows 10 activated automatically. Users can also utilize the command prompt to find out whether their Windows is activated or not.

Head to the Command Prompt – Make sure to run it as administrator – Type slmgr.vbs /ato – Hit enter and wait for the Windows Script Host to show you whether its activated or not. Some users claim that it doesn’t work the first time and after several attempts, they eventually got through and Windows 10 was activated. If you find another solution to this problem, please mention it in the comments below.

Apps you'll love on Windows 10

Windows 10 is now up and running, with Microsoft having rolled out free updates to Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 users. If you haven’t already updated, you might want to look out for the update that should have landed by now on your system.

In case you have updated, you would want to download these apps to ensure that you make the best out of the new operating system.

The arrival of Windows 8 marked the arrival of the Store as well, offering a number of apps, encompassing several categories. While the store has been retained in Windows 10, Microsoft has shaken things up rather significantly. Among the changes, a number of apps have been renamed, while others have been enhanced to offer better performance levels.

We have put together a list of the best app available on Windows 10 that you ought to try. Feel free to check out more on Windows 10 in-case you wish to get a better know-how of the operating system.

Here’s the list:

Maps

You can now navigate around the world with the new Windows 10 Maps app, and never get lost. The new app offers 3D cities, street side panoramas, with spectacular 360-degrees views of a number of locations.

The app has been overhauled, designed with the integration of HERE, and Bing maps. A new interface serves you, and you can now use the app by addressing Cortana. Also, the app now offers real-time traffic updates, and turn-by-turn navigation.

You can also download maps for offline use on your system. All you need to do is go to Settings, followed by System, and Offline Maps. Thereafter, you can download region-wide maps based on your location.

Photos

Just as you would expect, the Photos app has been redesigned for the new operating system, making it much more pleasing to the eye. A new interface has been introduced along with a handful of new features, making it just the kind of app users could have asked for.

The app lets you organize your photos in the way you want; keywords, location, date, or albums. Some of the albums are generated automatically, such as the ones with screenshots, or for the photos you have edited.

Like most other apps, Photos has also been integrated with Cortana; all you need to do is say, “Hey Cortana, show me photos from winters,” and all your photos taken along the period should land right before you.

The app also offers basic editing tools in-case you aren’t too pleased with the photos. Apart from the simple cropping and rotating tools, only a handful of options are available; Basic fixes, Filters, Light, Color, and Effects.

Mail

The new Mail app in Windows 10 would remind you of Microsoft Word on the first glance, thanks to the developers having redesigned the app. With that said, you are going to love the app as it offers merely everything you could ask for, and without causing you too much trouble.

The app has been overhauled, with deleting or archiving email being easier than ever. Again, the app has been integrated with Cortana, which inevitably means that Cortana has a lot more to offer than you would probably expect off it.

Replying, Setting Flag, and Syncing have all been made easier when you compare to how things were in Windows 8.1. Also, the Calendar app lies in the bottom-left corner of your screen. Hence, switching between apps shouldn’t be a problem either.

It may take you a while to set up your email on the app, given the time you may take to get accustomed to the new interface, but rest assured, it would be worth your time.

Calendar

The Calendar app also got a redesign, following which you can sync your calendar to multiple social-media accounts, such as Facebook, Twitter, etc.

The interface is plain, yet beautiful, with the app itself being very easy to use. You can change the settings and check your upcoming week’s scheduled, or everything lined-up for the upcoming month.

Designed to work hand-in-hand with Cortana, you can use your voice-assistant to set up reminders for you, or provide you details regarding upcoming events. Not only does Cortana set up reminders, it can also help you search for a specific event through your calendar, or add new events.

The app also sends out popup notifications on your home screen just as an event is about to start, with option to Snooze, or Dismiss.

Movies & TV

The Movies & TV app is another built-in service in Windows 10 that allows you to play your own movies, or rent them. You could either have movies downloaded on your system, or run them via CD. The service also allows you to import your own video collection.

The Windows Store, serving home to hundreds and thousands of new and old movies, allows you to make purchases, or get the content on rental basis. Likewise, TV shows are available on the store, with the offerings based on the region you reside in.

Also, the app has been designed to sync between devices. Hence, you can start watching on one device, and finish it off on another.

Note that once you minimize the Movies & TV app, the video, rather than being paused, or being played in the background, would stop altogether.

Groove Music

Groove Music makes its mark as the music app in Windows 10, taking over from the app that was called Xbox Music in the previous Windows.

The app is home to millions of songs encompassing thousands of artists, albums, and genres. Discover new music by searching playlists, or listen to radio stations.

The app allows you to have your own Collection, i.e. organize all your music just the way you want. You could store all your music to OneDrive, following which it would be accessible from anywhere. Also, you can go for the Premium version of the app, which should remove the in-app advertisement, and land you features that wouldn’t otherwise have been available.

The app has also landed on the Google Play Store, available for free download. Along with the name, the interface has also changed from the Xbox’s classic-green theme to an all-black for Groove.

In case you missed the post about Android's Stagefright Vulnerability

Security researchers have found that 95% of Android devices running version 2.2 to 5.1 of operating system, which includes Lollipop and KitKat, are vulnerable to a security bug, affecting more than 950 Million Android smartphones and tablets.

Almost all Android smart devices available today are open to attack that could allow hackers to access the vulnerable device without the owners being aware of it, according to Joshua Drake, vice president of platform research and exploitation at security firm Zimperium.

The vulnerability actually resides in a core Android component called "Stagefright," a multimedia playback library used by Android to process, record and play multimedia files such as PDFs.

A Text Message Received...Your Game is Over

The sad news for most of the Android users is that the fix will not help Millions of Android users that owned older versions of the operating system that Google no longer supports, opening doors for hackers to perform Stagefright attack.

Drake has developed and published a scary exploit that uses a specially crafted text message using the multimedia message (MMS) format.

All a hacker needs is the phone number of the victim’s Android device. The hacker could then sends the malicious message that will surreptitiously execute malicious code on the vulnerable device with no end user action, no indication, nothing required.

"These vulnerabilities are extremely dangerous because they do not require that the victim take any action to be exploited," reads the Zimperium blog post published Monday.

"Unlike spear-phishing, where the victim needs to open a PDF file or a link sent by the attacker, this vulnerability can be triggered while you sleep. Before you wake up, the attacker will remove any signs of the device being compromised, and you will continue your day as usual—with a trojaned phone."

Stagefright: Scary Code in the Heart of Android

The same vulnerability can also be exploited using other attack techniques, such as luring victims to malicious websites.

Drake will present his full findings, including six additional attack techniques to exploit the vulnerability, at Black Hat security conferencein Las Vegas on on August 5 and DEF CON 23on August 7, where he is scheduled to deliver a talk titled, Stagefright: Scary Code in the Heart of Android.

Almost all Android devices containing Stagefright are in question. According to Drake, all versions of Android devices after and including version 2.2 of the operating system are potentially vulnerable, and it is up to each device manufacturer to patch the devices against Stagefright attack.

When will I expect a Fix?

Google has patched the code and sent it to device manufacturers, but devices require over-the-air updates from companies such as Samsung or Motorola to update their customers' phones.

Given the shaky history of handset manufacturers and carriers rolling out security patches, it is not known how long the companies will take to update vulnerable Android devices against Stagefright attack.

However, Silent Circle has patched the issue in its Blackphone, as has Mozilla, which uses Stagefright code in Firefox OS.

New Android Vulnerability Could Crash your Phones Badly

Bad week for Android. Just days after a criticalStagefright vulnerability was revealed in the widely popular mobile platform, another new vulnerability threatens to make most Android devices unresponsive and practically unusable to essential tasks.

Security researchers at Trend Micro have developed an attack technique that could ultimately crash more than 55 percent of Android phones, almost making them completely unresponsive and useless to perform very basic functions, including to make or receive calls.

The dangerous security flaw affects any device running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and later, including the latest Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, potentially putting hundreds of millions of Android users vulnerable to hackers.

The flaw surfaced two days after Zimperium researchers warned that nearly 950 Million Android phones can be hijacked by sending a simple text message. Dubbed Stagefright, the vulnerability is more serious because it required no end-user interaction at all to be exploited.

How to Exploit the Flaw?

A hacker can exploit the vulnerability in two ways:

Through a Malicious Android AppThrough a Specially-Crafted Web Site

Most easy way to exploit the flaw is to lure a vulnerable Android phone to a booby-trapped website. Presumably, in this case, the phone can be revived by just restarting it.

However, the vulnerability if exploited by amalicious app can cause a long-term impact on the phone, according to a blog postpublished Wednesday by a researcher from security firm Trend Micro.

The malicious app can be designed in such a way that every time the phone is turned on, the app automatically start, causing the operating system to crash shortly after each restart.

This makes the device unresponsive, mute and useless, meaning no ringtone, message tone, or notification sounds will be heard. Neither the user can even receive or make calls.

Root Cause of the Vulnerability

The vulnerability actually resides in themediaserver service used by Android to index media files located on the Android phone.

"[mediaserver] service cannot correctly process a malformed video file using the Matroska container (usually with the .mkv extension)," Trend Micro researcher Wish Wu wrote. "When the process opens a malformed MKV file, the service may crash (and with it, the rest of the operating system)."

Researchers have also developed a proof-of-concept (PoC) malicious app that exploits the flaw. You can watch the given video that shows the exploit in work.

Security researchers reported the vulnerability to Google's security team in late May, but the team failed to patch the issue after classifying it as a low-level vulnerability.

United Airlines Hacked by Sophisticated Hacking Group

A group of China-backed hackers believed to be responsible for high-profile data breaches, including the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the insurance giant Anthem, has now hit another high-profile target – United Airlines.

United detected a cyber attack into its computer systems in May or early June; Bloombergreported, citing some unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

The same sources say that the hackers responsible for the data breach in United's systems are the same group of China-backed hackers that successfully carried out several other large heists, including the United States'Office of Personnel Management and the health insurer Anthem Inc.

Dangerous Intentions: United Airlines Data Breach

The stolen data includes manifests, which contain information on flights' passengers and their origins and destinations, meaning that the hackers have "data on the movements of Millions of Americans."

Since United Airlines is the world's second-largest airline and major contractor for U.S. government travel, experts say that the vast cache of information could be used to track the movements of specific government or military officials.

Bloomberg also speculated that the combination of security-clearance recordsfrom OPM, insurance records from Anthem, and now travel records from United, could be used by hackers to blackmail Americans working in defense and intelligence.

United Airlines didn't immediately respond to the comment.

Although the recent data breach in United Airlines strongly suggests the company toimprove its cyber security, United already launched a bug bounty program in May in an effort to find security holes in its products.

Two weeks ago, United paid two hackers more than 1 Million frequent-flyer miles each for finding multiple security vulnerabilities in the Airline's IT system.