By "undocumented features" for the New Internet Computer, I am thinking of
capabilities that the vendor does not document for this device. It is
marketed as a simple to use Internet appliance and the NIC people keep the
documentation very limited.
They don't describe what's inside the box hardwarwise or the details of
the underlying software on the bootable CD-Rom. But no big problem. It
become a fun project to explore this black box.
Yes, telneting or some other modes of remote connection to a Linux system
would be a good way to start expanding what can be done on the NIC box.
Another test us to mount the CD-Rom in a Linux system and explore the CD.
Perhaps burn a modified image that includes some nice tools.
The fascinating hacks can go on and on.
One of th ereal nice things about the NIC boxes is that they can be
treated as cash & carry implements rather than the extensively licensed
"do notopen to explore under the risk of DMCA lawsuits or prosecutions."
Basically, as long as one doesn't pirate the NIC system in the traidtional
sense and one doesn't expect NIC to maintain warranties or liabilities
when one opens up the box to explore, it's OK. {Alright, the NIC legal
statemetns don't say this but as I look over the way the system is
designed and generally used, it seems to be free of various legal
tripwiures that are beginning to appear in various products.)
On Fri, 31 Aug 2001, A V Flinsch wrote:
> On Friday 31 August 2001 11:02 am, J.D. Abolins wrote:
...
> > that is based upon Linux. I'd like to get some more [quite legal]
> > hack-time with the device to better demo some undocumented features
> > such as how it can be hooked into a home network and run programs from
>
> Undocumented? I would imagine all you ned to do is telnet & export your
> display.
J.D. Abolins
Meyda Online -- Infosec & Privacy Studies
Web: http://www.meydabbs.com
