Oops, McCain Camp Sells Phone With Info

Problem with IM software at fault, RIM urges upgrade

(AP) - BlackBerry email service in North America was restored this morning following its second outage in less than a week. Research In Motion said the root cause of the 8-hour lapse is still under review, but a flaw in two recently released versions of its BlackBerry Messenger instant messaging software appears to be the culprit. RIM has also provided a new version of BlackBerry Messenger (version 5.0.0.57) and is encouraging anyone who downloaded or upgraded the software since Dec. 14 to upgrade to this latest version, which resolves the issue. More»

(NEWSER) - Todd Palin says the $150,000 spending spree that outfitted his wife during last fall’s campaign was “out of our control,” the AP reports. “You come into a campaign late,” he told Men’s Journal. “You put all your trust into the team.” At least his Secret Service detail had a good time. “They liked cruising around with me,” describing trips to “the Arctic Cat snowmachine factory” and a NASCAR race. “Rough duty, hanging out with me.” More»

Spy-proof smartphone tech means Obama won't have to give up beloved 'BarackBerry'

(NEWSER) - Security agents aren't going to have to pry the BlackBerry out of Barack Obama's hands after all, Marc Ambinder reports in the Atlantic. A government agency has added super-encryption technology to a standard BlackBerry, which the president will be allowed to use for routine and personal messages. It's not known if the tech-addicted president already has the device. More»

Campaigning made him feel 'dirty'

(NEWSER) - Joe the Plumber, a sidekick of John McCain's presidential campaign who came to represent the common man, now says he was "appalled" by the Republican candidate, Politico reports. Plumber Joe Wurzelbacher, who appeared at campaign stops with McCain, told a conservative radio show host his up-close look at presidential politics made him feel "dirty." But, he insisted, “Sarah Palin is absolutely the real deal." More»

High sensitivity makes presidential e-mailing unlikely

(NEWSER) - As president, Barack Obama will likely have to make the ultimate sacrifice: giving up his beloved BlackBerry. Obama and the device were literally attached at the hip during the campaign, and email was his main link to everything from political memos to White Sox updates, the New York Times reports. But security concerns and the fact that all presidential communications must be on the record may force him to surrender the BlackBerry. More»