Mozilla Aims To Make Passwords Obsolete

Mozilla is working on a project that could eliminate the need for passwords and the sign-up/verification processes on websites. Mozilla’s BrowserID is an experimental way of logging in to websites. BrowserID uses the verified email protocol and aims to offer a streamlined user experience. After a user proves ownership of an email address, they will be able to use that address with BrowserID to sign in to websites quickly and easily—no passwords or further verification of your email address are necessary.

Introducing BrowserID: A better way to sign in

Jul 14, 2011 — by millsd

Today we’re excited to announce BrowserID: an experimental new way of signing into websites. Our goal with BrowserID was to design something safe and easy for users and the developers. We’d love for you to try it out and let us know what you think.

Why BrowserID?

For a Web developer, creating a new application always involves an annoying hurdle: how do users sign in? An email address with a confirmation step is the classic method, but it demands a user’s time and requires the user to take an extra step and remember another password. Outsourcing login and identity management to large providers like Facebook, Twitter, or Google is an option, but these products also come with lock-in, reliability issues, and data privacy concerns.

With BrowserID, there is a better way to sign in. BrowserID implements the /verified email protocol/, which offers a streamlined user experience. A user can prove their ownership of an email address with fewer confirmation messages and without site-specific passwords.

BrowserID is:

• Easy to use

Users gain a streamlined one-click experience that feels the same on any site they visit. Developers save time by deploying BrowserID, eliminating the need to implement email verification. Check out the links at the end of the post for more information.

• Secure

BrowserID implements the Verified Email Protocol, which is designed with security in mind. Sites get proof of ownership using public key cryptography—but don’t worry, we have a verification service so you can get started without writing a single line of crypto code.

• Cross-browser

BrowserID will work on all modern browsers, including recent versions of IE, and on mobile browsers!

• Decentralized

Anyone with an email address can sign in with BrowserID, and email providers can implement BrowserID support to make the system even easier for their users.

• Even better on future browsers

Although the prototype is implemented entirely in HTML and JavaScript, the system is designed to seamlessly integrate into future browsers. Check out our mockups for an idea of the kind of experience that is possible.

• Respects user privacy

Unlike other sign-in systems, BrowserID does not leak information back to any server (not even to the BrowserID servers) about which sites a user visits.

BrowserID is highly experimental and we’re still iterating, today we’re happy to announce the launch of a prototype for community review. We’d love for you to try it out and let us know what you think. To get started check out the quick tutorial and demo site.

We look forward to hearing your feedback! Check out browserid.org. File bugs on github. Join our mailing list, or simply tweet and include the #browserid tag.

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Nook2Android turns Nook into full Android tablet

Nook2Android can turn the color Nook into a full-fledged Android tablet.

(Credit:
Nook2Android)

Barnes Noble Nook Color owners now have a new option that can turn their e-readers into full-fledged
Android
tablets.

Sold by a company called Nook2Android, a SanDisk microSD card preloaded with Android 2.3 Gingerbread and the Android Market essentially transforms Nook Color readers into Android tablets.

Available in three sizes and prices ($34.99 for 8 gigabytes, $49.99 for 16 GB, and $89.99 for 32GB), the SD card plugs directly into the Nook, letting the device boot into Android mode. A boot menu gives users the choice of loading Android or the Nook operating system, while removing the card will automatically transform the Nook back into its normal e-reader state.

In Android mode, Nook owners can use the built-in Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n to surf the Web and run various preinstalled apps, such as Gmail, Facebook, and Pandora, according to Nook2Android. Apps can be downloaded and installed directly from the Android Market. The company also promises that using the cards won’t affect the Nook’s internal memory or void the warranty from BN.

All three flavors of the card are being sold through Amazon. Although Nook2Android has picked up only a small number of user reviews at Amazon thus far, most of the people who have chimed in seem happy with it. Nook2Android also offers a FAQ page to answer questions from owners and potential buyers.

Until now, Nook Color owners eager to convert their devices into Android tablets have had to turn to various unofficial hacks, some of which have even been selling on eBay. Just like Nook2Android’s solution, the hacks have consisted of microSD cards running some flavor of Android, including a preview version of Honeycomb.

But since Nook2Android is sold through Amazon and supported by a 14-day money-back guarantee, it seems the better and safer option at this point for Nook owners eager for a taste of Android.

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