[Cryptography] Kindle as crypto hardware

[ianG]

On 11/12/13 09:22 AM, Russ Nelson wrote:
> John Gilmore writes:
>   > What ever happened to those old Java-rings or iButtons with the 1-wire
>   > interface?  They were designed for almost exactly this application.


Yes, designed but never demanded.  This is the old /design a better 
smartcard moustrap and they'll beat a pathway to your door/.  And yes, 
the iButton was basically a variant on the smartcard.

People want their iToy to do everything.  When contemplating a smartcard 
or an iButton, the thought was either that (A) you plug your thing into 
the network (ATM, POS, etc) and it would work, or (B) you would plug 
your thing into your own personal device (laptop, iPhone, Android or 
Palm Pilot for those who remember).

Case A succeeded in a thing called Chip&PIN but the lead time was 
decades and the rollout cost is in the billions.  So it only happens in 
a totally controlled market.  I'm not even sure it has reached US of A yet.

Case B never succeeded because a system that did it all on the personal 
device always wins in the marketplace over a system that requires two 
devices.

iang


>   > (Touch the ring to a point on a device or wall, it authenticates or
>   > decrypts.  No UI beyond that, except for initial programming.)
>
> They cancelled the product, but still have information about it on
> their website:
> http://www.maximintegrated.com/products/ibutton/jibkit/javaringfaq.cfm
>
> There are some for sale on EBay right now, $29 "More than 10 available".
>