Any dedicated bitcoin storage hardware yet?
Topic: Standalone Dedicated Bitcoin Device (Read 2517 times)
I meant software.
Where are we at with this?
Any dedicated bitcoin storage hardware yet?
We are at stand-alone hardware that doesn't reline on a local blockchain. ( http://ecdsa.org/electrum/ ) Any dedicated bitcoin storage hardware yet?
what exactly is stopping someone from stealing the so-called mobile bitcoin wallet?
@electricmucus, and how per se would such a device "connect to the bitcoin network"? you're adding in some type of network connectivity now
network connectivity would be provided by the shop, I think there is some extension to the rfid specification which makes 2-way communication possible. SSL could be used for additional security (would increase the power usage of the device though)@electricmucus, and how per se would such a device "connect to the bitcoin network"? you're adding in some type of network connectivity now
About theft of such a device, well as it would be a replacement for cash you would need to take care of it and never keep all your savings in it. A pin code could be employed but wouldn't stop a skilled and well equipped thief.
what exactly is stopping someone from stealing the so-called mobile bitcoin wallet?
@electricmucus, and how per se would such a device "connect to the bitcoin network"? you're adding in some type of network connectivity now
@electricmucus, and how per se would such a device "connect to the bitcoin network"? you're adding in some type of network connectivity now
Mjbmonetarymetals, that looks awesome 
But I just had an inspiration of how such a device should rather work and much easier.
Imagine a tiny, fast, but very efficient microprocessor consuming only 10-20 milliwatt. Provide it with a rfid antenna and one button.
Lets say you want to use bitcoins for instant payments. You get your bill and hold your device against the rfidterminal, the chip powers up, connects to the bitcoin network and sends the required amount provided by the host.
Such a device would cost only cents when mass produced and would be as simple to operate as it can get while providing the most security possible. The only hurdle would be to get the machine to be efficient enough to run as a passive rfid client and a mechanism to rapidly send bitcoins in such a way to get some form of instant confirmations.
But I just had an inspiration of how such a device should rather work and much easier.
Imagine a tiny, fast, but very efficient microprocessor consuming only 10-20 milliwatt. Provide it with a rfid antenna and one button.
Lets say you want to use bitcoins for instant payments. You get your bill and hold your device against the rfidterminal, the chip powers up, connects to the bitcoin network and sends the required amount provided by the host.
Such a device would cost only cents when mass produced and would be as simple to operate as it can get while providing the most security possible. The only hurdle would be to get the machine to be efficient enough to run as a passive rfid client and a mechanism to rapidly send bitcoins in such a way to get some form of instant confirmations.
Something that has 1GB of storage,
microsdcards are cheapinternet connectivity
gprs, wlan or even bluetooth while probably the most expensive part still doesn't cost enough to make it invalueable.a CPU
A cortex-m3 is like 3$input device and display
Doesn't have to be fancy, the cheapest option would suffice. Look at those cashless supermarket terminal boxes. Something like that in a smaller formfactor would be appropriate.Wait, that's the 90's.
You are dealing with a device which would need to provide security, smartphones, tablets and the like are all prone to the same security risk you have on a desktop machine, in magnitude possibly between a windows box and *nix desktop.That's not good enough.
Something that has 1GB of storage, internet connectivity, a CPU, input device and display, but can only do one thing? Can I carry it around along with my phone, day planner, calculator, alarm clock, gameboy, CD player, camera, camcorder, GPS, and dictation machine? Wait, that's the 90's.
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If only we could find a way to slip it under our skin...
Somebody needs to develop a hardware device whose only purpose in life is to connect to a network and send/receive/store bitcoins. Don't cha think?
Something that has 1GB of storage, internet connectivity, a CPU, input device and display, but can only do one thing? Can I carry it around along with my phone, day planner, calculator, alarm clock, gameboy, CD player, camera, camcorder, GPS, and dictation machine? Wait, that's the 90's.
You should check out this thread about creating a Bootable USB Wallet. Basically, you plug it into your computer and you boot up into a different operating system which is isolated from the normal one the machine runs (read: secure). You can plug this USB into any machine, yours or a friends, or a public terminal, restart, and it works the same. I haven't used it, but it looks like a step in the right direction.
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/howto-create-a-bootable-usb-bitcoin-wallet-in-4-easy-steps-36663
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/howto-create-a-bootable-usb-bitcoin-wallet-in-4-easy-steps-36663
Right! I actually have an offline wallet using a similar method (different distro though) I have linuxcoin on my list of things to check out.
Now what would be needed is a micro computer about the size of a thumbdrive that runs the software dedicated to sending bitcoins. It would need wifi or bluetooth and a method of input to tell how many to send (and password entry). Voice activation would be the bees knees.
Long story short we take a smart phone and make it dedicated.
You should check out this thread about creating a Bootable USB Wallet. Basically, you plug it into your computer and you boot up into a different operating system which is isolated from the normal one the machine runs (read: secure). You can plug this USB into any machine, yours or a friends, or a public terminal, restart, and it works the same. I haven't used it, but it looks like a step in the right direction.
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/howto-create-a-bootable-usb-bitcoin-wallet-in-4-easy-steps-36663
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/howto-create-a-bootable-usb-bitcoin-wallet-in-4-easy-steps-36663
BitCyanide capsule. Communicates with MtGox servers via wireless internet connection. Kept in the mouth at all time, with optional suppository version. When the price drops below a certain value - Say, $0.1 - it releases the contents and you die quickly and painlessly. This will let thousands of spergs avoid the shame of admitting that bitcoin was a worthless ponzi scam all along and not the currency of the futureTM
I'm still rooting for a Bitcoin Watch 
this one looks good - a wi-fi only android "smartphone", but with no phone components included so its sort of an android mini-tablet
http://www.gadgetking.com/2011/09/06/samsung-set-to-release-wi-fi-only-galaxy-s-3-6/
Until somebody makes a bitcoin-only device, thats perfect!http://www.gadgetking.com/2011/09/06/samsung-set-to-release-wi-fi-only-galaxy-s-3-6/
I wonder if one of them camera memory cards that connect to WiFi to upload your pictures automatically can be re-engineered.
A literal wallet device with an RF scanner that can read the new bar codes so users wont need to type in the btc address just point, scan, give a number to send and click.
Android Tablet with a App designed for this would probably be the best. With Apple it would get taken off the marketplace in a heartbeat.
Quote from: JohnnyCashout
you can do this now with an android device, an unused phone for example. without cell phone service you just can't make calls, apps still work fine via wifi and there is already a functional bitcoin wallet for android
Do you have an idea which Android device is ideal for this?Which device is the most 'bare-bones'?
It will ONLY be used for btc transactions and storage.
this one looks good - a wi-fi only android "smartphone", but with no phone components included so its sort of an android mini-tablet
http://www.gadgetking.com/2011/09/06/samsung-set-to-release-wi-fi-only-galaxy-s-3-6/
you can use a WiFi tablet, if you want
What about those prepaid sim cards? You can even get them for free with some carriers.
The flash rom on there could be used to store the wallet, should be fairly easy to develop something like this, it wouldn't be apocalypse proof but it would provide enough privacy for regular use and could even utilize tor.
The flash rom on there could be used to store the wallet, should be fairly easy to develop something like this, it wouldn't be apocalypse proof but it would provide enough privacy for regular use and could even utilize tor.
Depending on the risk tolerance, these will vary from air gap-only dedicated systems to hybrid ewallet services like BitcoinJS / Webcoin.
A bootable USB configuration with any old PC seems to be a decent solution at this point.
- https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/howto-create-a-bootable-usb-bitcoin-wallet-in-4-easy-steps-36663
A bootable USB configuration with any old PC seems to be a decent solution at this point.
- https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/howto-create-a-bootable-usb-bitcoin-wallet-in-4-easy-steps-36663
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