Gizmodo Australia » codes

The Konami Code Works on Facebook

Brian Lam — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:55:59 +0000

Geekologie’s found that if you log into facebook, type in the Konami code outside of a text box and hit enter, the site fills with Star Trek ish lens flares. [Geekologie]

Today’s Quantum Code Clue Is The Toughest Yet

Nick Broughall — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:01:33 +0000

If you’ve been trying to crack the Quantum Code (and you should be), today’s clue is one of the toughest challenges yet. It involves actually going out to meet the shady information dealer Vaughn — in person.

He’ll be waiting to meet you between 11:30 and 2:30 today. Where will he be waiting? Well, you’ll have to scan the code above and find out.

And if you can’t make it there to meet him yourself, you should hit the Quantum Central forums to recruit an associate to help you. Remember, this is a national competition, and only through hard work, teamwork and some rather clever code-cracking will you be able to have a real shot at the $15K Sony prize pack.

It’s the most dangerous mission yet. But Danger always was your middle name, wasn’t it?

[Quantum Code comp on Giz]

Fourth Quantum Clue Code Available, Discuss In Quantum Central

Nick Broughall — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:48 +0000

Clue number Four has just gone live in the Quantum Code promotion, so scan the QR code above to start your daily codecracking.

And remember to use our Quantum Central forums to try and collude with other Australians to try and crack the code: Remember, this is a nationwide contest, although the entry computer is located in Sydney. If you are interstate, maybe you could share one of the digits you’ve cracked with a Sydneysider for a percentage of that $15,000 Sony prize pool. $15K is a lot of gear, after all.

[Quantum Code on Giz and Quantum Central]

Crack the Quantum Code With This Handy QR Code Guide

Nick Broughall — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:00:47 +0000

So we’ve been pushing QR codes pretty hard here on Giz this year – what with our comp to win a PS3 a few months ago and now with Sony’s Quantum Code competition. But in case you’re wondering how the hell you decode a QR code, we’ve put together a little guide for you here, which should help everyone solve the next clue in the Quantum Code.If you’re a NextG customer, you may have the easiest route to decoding QR codes out of everybody – you can quickly and easily download some QR decoding software through Telstra’s MyPlace portal, depending on your handset. The compatible phones are: The HTC Diamond, Nokia E51, Nokia N95 Gold, Nokia 6120 Classic, Sony Ericsson W760, Sony Ericsson Z750i and the Samsung U900T. If you don’t own one of these handsets, don’t despair – there are other ways out there.

For iPhone owners, head onto the App Store and check out Barcode. It’s free, and relatively easy to use, although it can be a bit temperamental at times.

For Nokia owners, Nokia have their own QR code reader available here. It doesn’t work with every Nokia phone, but the also list a heap of other programs that could work with your handset. Keep in mind that your phone needs to have a camera for the software to work.

A whole heap of Sony Ericsson phones can use the Java-based Qode software available here (you’ll need to go via your mobile’s browser).

If you use a Windows Mobile device, there are a few different options, but the quickest and easiest is probably to check out Quickmark (it’s a Taiwanese site, but there are pictures and English on the screen). Pick your handset and download the software.

If you just want to decode from your PC, well that’s possible too. Save the QR code as a greyscale bmp image on your PC, then go here. Browse for the image and enjoy the results.

Of course there are countless other ways to decode QR codes. If in doubt, try a google search for your handset and “QR code”. Or if you know of some really solid QR code software we haven’t mentioned, tell us about it in comments. Then go and decode that Quantum code – we need a Gizmodian to win that $15K worth of Sony kit…

Discuss Clues In The Quantum Code Forums

Nick Broughall — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:11:35 +0000

So now that the first Quantum Code clue is live, you may have solved it and been wondering anything from “what the hell does that mean?” to “what next?” Well, the answer is to check out our Quantum Code forum.

Once there, you can discuss with other code-crackers the latest developments in the competition. You can collude, coerce and contrive ways to get others to help you solve the clues to crack the code, or you can just ask for help. This will be a nationwide competition, so you may need to get interstate Gizmodians to help you with certain clues so that you can stand a chance to crack the code.

So hit the forums and begin the discussion!

[Quantum Code on Giz]

1st Quantum Code Clue Is Live

Nick Broughall — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:48:43 +0000

We gave you guys a heads up on this last week, and now the first clue is available for the Quantum Code. What is the Quantum Code? How do you crack the Quantum Code? What do you get if you actually do crack the Quantum Code?

All these questions – and more – will be answered when you scan the QR code above and follow the link. And while you’re working with Constance Newlove to solve the Quantum Code, tell her G’day from Gizmodo – from what I hear, she’s a big fan.

[Quantum code on Giz]

The Quantum Code Is Coming

Nick Broughall — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:00:00 +0000

It’s all a bit hush-hush at the moment, but Sony Australia’s got a pretty exciting promotion headed your way in the next few days.

It’s called the Quantum Code, and involves Sony prizes, Gizmodo readers and a rather fetching young thing named Constance Newlove.

Check out the spiel from Sony, then scan the QR code above for more information. And you can check out a teaser of the promotion after the jump.

A locked safe, containing secrets that could change the world forever. A global network of arms dealers, terrorists and villains. And a mysterious seven digit code called the QUANTUM CODE.

Be prepared for mystery, drama and intrigue. In your search for the QUANTUM CODE, your missions will be challenging and unpredictable – and the results could change your life forever.

Scan the QR code for the first in a series of intriguing clues, brought to you by Sony Australia. Keep your eyes peeled for new developments on this exciting competition.

For a preview of the challenge that lies ahead, click on the attached trailer and stay tuned for more information…

Thanko’s Code-Padlocked USB Thumbdrive Protector is Brilliantly Flawed

Kit Eaton — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:31:00 +0000

Here’s something to put a smile on your face on a non-descript Wednesday morning: Thanko’s new Code-Padlock USB protector. Does it use some funky encryption, or a digital keypad interface? No: it uses a physical code-padlocked lid that stops you from plugging in a thumbdrive if you can’t work out the three-digit code. Brilliant, except that a thief will just steal the whole thing and work out the code at their leisure. So it must be aimed at stopping “casual eyes” accessing files you’d rather keep to yourself. Ah… ones with lots of pink pixels—it all becomes clear. You can of course lock up other USB devices, but you’d have to be working in a really mean office environment to need to do that. Yours for about US$9. [Akhabaranews]

WW2 code-breaker behemoth Colossus was beaten …

Addy Dugdale — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:23:57 +0000

WW2 code-breaker behemoth Colossus was beaten by amateur Joachim Schuth in yesterday’s code-cracking challenge. Bonn-based Schuth had written his own suite of software specially for the challenge. [BBC Online]

Colossus Back to Crack Codes After a 60-Year Absence

Addy Dugdale — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:36:30 +0000

Colossus, the code-breaking computer used to decipher German messages during World War Two, has been put back together. Over six decades after the 10 truck-sized devices were dismantled, one has been rebuilt. Today, two teams of code-breakers, one using the Colossus, another using modern technology, are going head-to-head as they attempt to unscramble messages sent from Paderborn, in Germany.Tony Sale, the man behind Colossus’ restoration, had just a few old photos to go on when he started on the project 14 years ago. One of the reasons that the machine, which contains over 2,000 valves, is so fast, is because it was a single-purpose processor rather than one with multiple uses, like modern computers. Of the two teams, he is unsure which one will win the Cipher Challenge.

“A virtual Colossus written to run on a Pentium 2 laptop takes about the same time to break a cipher as Colossus does,” he said. The original machine could break codes in a matter of hours, and was instrumental in the Allies’ eventual victory, shortening the war by an estimated 18 months.

“It was extremely important in the buildup to D-Day,” reckons Mr Sale. “It revealed troop movements, the state of supplies, state of ammunition, numbers of dead soldiers—vitally important information for the whole of the second part of the war.” Today’s messages will be scrambled using a Lorenz SZ42 machine, the same used by German high command back in the ’40s. [BBC News and 24 Hour Museum]