Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Other Uses for MySmart Pads?

Posted by Cliff on from the not-necessarily-what-the-manufactuerer-intended dept.

TVgeek asks: "Has anyone out there hacked apart one of those MySmart pads? Out of the box, it's nothing more than hardware spyware (spyhardware? hardspyware?) but you can pick them up at Best Buy for like $4, and it does have an integrated smartcard reader/writer. If nothing else, there's a nice membrane switch in there, too..."

20 comments

  1. MySmart pads? by Shadowcaster · · Score: 1

    Never heard of them myself.. but then I don't get to Best Buy often. Any links to info and/or pictures? Thanks.

    1. Re:MySmart pads? by Trinn · · Score: 1, Informative

      Check out The Homepage for some info. They appear to be just a pad with a smartcard reader in it...and chances are with a little R.E. (a la the CueCat), they could be converted into something quite nice.

      Just my $0.02

    2. Re:MySmart pads? by Shadowcaster · · Score: 1
      Thanks. It looks like it *could* have possibilities, if that's a real smartcard reader/writer in there and not some questionably useful proprietary thing. It certainly doesn't look useful as a mouse pad - it appears to be just too damned small.

      Out of the box, though, I'd say that it is the cliche AOLer's wet dream. :)

    3. Re:MySmart pads? by Shadowcaster · · Score: 1

      Ok. Maybe I'm doing something wrong here (doubtful), but I can't download the software for the thing. The download link is "javascript:startInstall()", I have Javascript turned on. The only thing I can figure is that it wants IE, which I'd rather pull all my teeth out than use. :) If anyone could mirror it, I'm really curious what it is..

    4. Re:MySmart pads? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Funny, neither can I (using IE4). The first time it tried to autoinstall (no way!) now it just won't load at all. I think you'll have to look at the page source, they seem to be using javascript to force you to install it directly.

      And the flash demo keeps hanging.

      In fact why is this even a slashdot story.. I think it really belongs on websitesthatsuck.com!

  2. A link to explain... by schwap · · Score: 2, Informative
    ... some of the motivation behind this technology. Imagine being able to 'easily' use the smart-card you may, or may not, have to purchase things on the web.

    Where There's A Web, There's A Way

  3. Re:related question by adolf · · Score: 2

    I think Gillette still gives away razors to all who ask, although I don't seem to recall them being in any sort of frantic financial turmoil at any point.

    -

    --
    Kid-proof tablet..
  4. What? by tunah · · Score: 1

    Maybe a link please? Am I the only one who has no idea what these things are?

    --
    Free Java games for your phone: Tontie, Sokoban
    1. Re:What? by zcat_NZ · · Score: 2, Informative
      It's already been mentioned; www.mysmart.com, I guess you're reading at '1' and nobody has modded it up yet..

      (moderators; If you're going to mod me down as 'redundent' please at least wait until the original mention of this url has been modded up a bit :)

      --
      455fe10422ca29c4933f95052b792ab2
  5. Measure of linux's success by tunah · · Score: 1

    Forget market share, we will know linux is successful when people make linux compatible mousepads. First mousepad I've seen that requires windows 98+ and 100MB of HD space :)

    --
    Free Java games for your phone: Tontie, Sokoban
  6. Why, you can... by Mononoke · · Score: 3, Funny
    • Go horseback riding
    • Go waterskiing
    • Go hiking...
    Oh, wait! That's Tampax pads.

    Nevermind.

    --
    NetInfo connection failed for server 127.0.0.1/local
  7. Echo, Echo... by DRACO- · · Score: 2, Informative

    You may want to see what people thought about this same subject back on August 4 when MySmart was first posted. Any Alternative Uses For The MySmart Pad? posted by timothy on Sat August 04, 08:11 AM. DRACO-

    --
    Consider yourself blessed if you are sneezed on by a dragon and only get wet, it could have been a fireball.
  8. linux-hacker.net forums by jpmkm · · Score: 2, Informative

    Keep an eye on the forums at linux-hacker.net. This is where the original IOpener hack was, and the forum is full of people reverse engineering internet appliances and game consoles. I'm sure the mysmart pad will come up pretty soon if it's not already on there.

  9. Here it is by 1Oman · · Score: 2, Informative

    I couldnt find it on Best Buys Site but HERE it is at comp USA.

  10. An ISP in the UK uses these. by jpmkm · · Score: 1

    Freeserve has these, which look very similar to the mysmart pads.
    BTW, I was just at Best Buy and they didn't have any of the mysmart pads. I might try CompUSA later because they supposedly have them too.

  11. Previous slashdot article. by jpmkm · · Score: 2, Informative

    This article that was on slashdot back in August has a bit of good information.

  12. MUD client by Gothmolly · · Score: 2

    If I read this all correctly, you can program the buttons to do certain things. Why not use it for fast text-based data entry? As a MUDder, I'd like the ability to "enter gate, go up, open trapdoor, go up, close trapdoor" in 1 keystroke.

    --
    I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
  13. Re:related question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think the point was that if a sizable group of people decided to, say, burn razors to heat their homes, the sell-the-razors-at-a-loss strategy would turn on Gillette pretty quick.

    By looking for alternative uses for the razor, you're subverting the profit-making scheme. (Whether you think this is ok or not is, of course, up to you.)

  14. Technical Info and schematics for MySmartPad by Dr.+Ion · · Score: 2, Informative

    I had one of these and dorked around with it a little.

    From what I can tell, it was probably designed by MOTO based on their Cypress CY7C63413-PC reference design. You can find detailed information (and schematics) in the MO1001 PDF Document at their web page.

    Used for its intended purpose, it's a total joke and destined for the Clearance bin. It's an aweful mousepad, and the card doesn't add anything over what any user already has.

    As a USB ISO-7816 card reader with some buttons, it's more interesting, but I wasn't able to figure out how to talk to the card directly. In theory, it should be able to communicate with GSM SIM cards (with an adapter), Satellite TV cards, some student id cards, etc.

    Maybe the Flying Butt Monkeys are tired of :CueCats and want a new toy?