Quasar IV Project Update: August 25, 2014
Dear Quasar Community Members,
As a tech security company we continue to innovate with privacy as our main focus. Many have asked why we are implementing biometrics into the Quasar and the answer shouldn’t be too surprising. Since the early days of the smartphone we’ve seen Bluetooth, GPS, WiFi and other electronic components come to fruition. However, with the continual addition of sensors you are exposing more back doors to digital intruders. For instance, you may have heard that a gyroscope sensor may be hacked to become an ‘always-on’ speaker? This is where Quatrix comes into the picture. Unlike other biometrics processes QSAlpha uses Quatrix to encrypt your fingerprint data via your own private key and locked within the Quasar. QSAlpha will never, at any time, transmit that data to the cloud nor will it be shared with any government institutions. In addition, we have been in the lab rigorously experimenting with various side-channel-attacks and making sure there will be no leaks whatsoever.
Quasar will be the world’s first true Cipherphone, a new genre of handheld device to lead the next generation of mobile internet. The integration of biometrics with Quatrix secures transactions with banking institutions, auction sites, e-commerce sites and many more.
What is a Cipherphone?
Cipherphone – “A hybrid security communication device utilizing bio-metrics and asymmetric encryption tailored for mobile commerce.”
In the next few months QSAlpha will be releasing videos, photos and specs of various components contributing to the improved Quasar IV. Some of the technologies mentioned above may not be realized on the first Quasar but you can certainly expect it to happen in the near future. Did we mention liquid metal? We have a major announcement coming so stay tuned!
Lastly, QSAlpha has dedicated resources to monitor the impact of various new components on battery life. We want you to know that there will be improvements to current battery technology and the Quasar may just be in time to use it. We won’t sacrifice battery life for fancy components unless we have ways to counter the power drain. Many worried the new 2K screen will drain a battery like loco, we have already looked into it.
Thanks for your continuous support.
Team QSAlpha
Project Update for the Quasar IV
Dear Quasar Community of Supporters,
The last few months have been exceedingly difficult for Team QSAlpha as we have hit a few bumps on the engineering side of things. We have been trying very hard to obtain the latest SoC (system on a chip) reference design and due to the size of our company there’s a limitation as to the type of SoC we may obtain.
While the Quasar IV will not be released this month, we have been improving the design and this is the final specification:
Quasar IV
LTE
MSM8974AC
3GB RAM
64GB/128GB
2K – 2560×1440 Sharp Screen – 5.5”
Sapphire Screen (yes, you read that right!)
Biometrics (fingerprint)
Due to the upgrade of various components, the overall cost of the Quasar IV will increase slightly when it goes to market. This will not affect or increase the cost for anyone who has already made a pre-order for any model of the Quasar IV. And due to this increase we have decided to not accept any more pre-orders before the actual shipment date. For those of you who have requested a refund we kindly ask for your patience and your request will be honored.
Regarding the QuaWorks Activators: Several were delivered to a Beta testing group to work alongside a team of QS Alpha developers and during this testing phase some issues were uncovered that we considered to be unfavorable. This has ultimately led us to rethink our strategy with QuaWorks and discontinue development of the Activator itself. In its place will be a more secure solution that we will announce in the near future.
Lastly, we apologise for the silence in the past few months as we have been working very hard in order to meet our goals. This was not intended to make anyone upset or for you to lose your trust in our team. Please understand that developing a device of this quality with the highest level of security that we can offer has taken longer than we originally expected. We will be making at least one announcement each month from now on and we are excited that we are now at a place to move the project forward. If you do need immediate assistance please open a ticket at the QSAlpha Support Portal.
Thanks to all for your patience and support,
Steve Chao – QSAlpha
Quasar IV Update
Dear Quasar IV supporters,
We have been working non-stop the last two quarters testing the Quasar IV and design for the upcoming Quasar V. In February this year we encountered difficulties optimizing the phone’s reception and antenna arrangement. Having tried hard to resolve these issues throughout February, March and most of April, we finally came to the conclusion that the dual camera module on the back of the Quasar IV requires a complete redesign. As a result, Team QSAlpha has decided to rearrange the rear design of the Quasar IV, changing the positions of the i/o ports and reverting to a single rear camera module. This re-design means that we have to move the final shipping date to the end of July 2014 instead of May 2014.
We’ve also made some exciting updates to the Quasar IV. We are upgrading the original Snapdragon 800 to Snapdragon 805 – a quad core 2.5GHz processor. The Quasar IV 64GB version will come with 3GB of RAM and the Quasar IV 128GB version will come with 4GB of RAM (To be confirmed early May). There will be no changes to the 4G aspects of the phone. In addition, for those of you who have purchased the Quasar IV prior to April 18th 2014, we will give a special voucher for a free Quasar V and free shipping.
In June we will be asking you to submit your wish list for the Quasar V. This is a chance for you as a member of the Quasar Community to peek into the grand design process of a Cipherphone and offer your suggestions. During that time we will be inviting a few supporters to visit our manufacturer located in Shenzhen, China, to witness the production of the Quasar V.
Also we have prepared 2 Quasar Suites (QuaWorks software + Micro SDCard with Quatrix) for each purchaser of a Quasar IV to date. Please send your updated mailing address and email address to us at and we will despatch the suite early May 2014
Last but not least, as we count down to the Quasar IV launch, please feel free to download this MP3 of the Quasar IV Score Quasar: Original Score
Thanks for your patience and continued support. We really appreciate it.
Steve Chao
CEO QSAlpha
Cryptography History At Patent Trial
Whitfield Diffie and Newegg lawyer Alan Albright. [picture credit: Joe Mullin]
“We’ve heard a good bit in this courtroom about public key encryption,” said Albright. “Are you familiar with that?”
“Yes, I am,” said Diffie, in what surely qualified as the biggest understatement of the trial.
“And how is it that you’re familiar with public key encryption?”
“I invented it.”
Very good read.
Company Profile: Shane Remington, CTO
Shane Remington – CTO of QSAlpha
In the first of an ongoing series designed to show you the people that make up the QSAlpha team, we asked them a few questions. First up. Shane Remington.
Name and Title?
Shane Remington, CTO
What’s a day like for you?
Very busy, full of challenges and excitement. I’m sure that loving what I do has a lot to do with keeping the stress levels to a minimum. And to balance it all out I make sure to unplug and get outside during the day and exercise.
What excites you most about this project?
Aside from the obvious thrill of working with hardware and software prototypes, I’d say the most exciting aspect of this project is working with the many driven, like minded team members of QSAlpha. When things need to get accomplished and everyone is firing on all cylinders, like a well oiled machine, it makes me proud and energized to be included in this dedicated and talented group.
Were you always interested in technology? As a kid? How did you get here?
Prior to personal computing I was very much in love with electronics, especially audio equipment. When the first DOS machines started popping up I’d tinker with Commodore 64 and Amiga which eventually led to heavy involvement with dial-up BBS. When I saw the film ‘War Games’ in 1983, I pretty much knew where I was heading
What’s the biggest challenge in your job?
I’d have to say the biggest challenge in working with QSAlpha is that there are so many amazing things going on for us as a new company that I forget to stop and take a break! And as a natural busy-body, I sometimes need to be reminded to step outside for a few minutes during the workday.
What motivates you to do this?
I have always been driven by finding solutions to problems. I’m not the type who solves one complex issue with my team and then takes a vacation. As soon as one objective is accomplished I’m ready for the next and the next. Challenges and meaningful work motivates me, and that makes me happy.
Sneak Peek: The QuaWorks Activator
Good morning from QSAlpha!
We’ve been working diligently not only with the Quasar IV Cipherphone, we’re also very busy developing QuaWorks. Most notably, we’re putting the finishing touches on the QuaWorks Activator which will provide most Android handsets, with an available micro SD card slot, a comprehensive suite of applications protected with our Quatrix technology.
Yesterday afternoon we received a few prototype packaging options that we will use for future retail displays and for shipping. We’ll be reviewing not only the packaging but everything that will go inside the box to get you jump started using QuaWorks!
For those asking: Yes. For those that pledged on IndieGoGo, the first 100 pledges to the campaign to be exact, are still getting a Free QuaWorks Activator! We’re still getting the loose ends together and as soon as we’re ready to ship them out you’ll get a personal email as well as an announcement here on the QSAlpha blog and the Newsletter. Subscribing to QSAlpha is the sure fire way to make sure you hear it first!
Thanks to everyone for their ongoing support,
Team QSAlpha
Quasar IV Pre-Order to begin on November 5th
Quasar IV in Silver White
QSAlpha is proud to announce that we will be accepting pre-orders for the Quasar IV Cipherphone 64GB and 128GB versions with three color options. The pre-order period will go from Tuesday November 5, 2013 [Noon, Eastern Time USA] until March 31, 2014, and the phones will be delivered in May 2014.
Limited Time Offer: In the first 72 hours of the pre-order period we will make available the Quasar IV 64GB version, any color of your choice, for $495 which is a $100 savings from its normal $595 price.
Make sure to preview the “Pre-Order” Page for details
Click here for all Quasar IV technical specs.
Thanks again for all of your support.
Team QSAlpha
QuaWorks Activators Available Free To Everyone Who Pledges The Quasar IV Cipherphones On Indiegogo
Dear Quasar IV Supporters,
To thank you for all your support, and to allow you to get your hands on our Quatrix trusted-authentication technology now and understand how it works, we are making 5,000 QuaWorks Activators available free to everyone who pledges the Quasar IV Cipherphones level from the Indiegogo perks. Additionally, the first 100 backers of our Indiegogo campaign will receive a free QuaWorks Activator, no matter what level pledge.
Why are we doing this? We’re showing you that we have the technology now and that it works. We’re showing you the level of commitment we have already made and continue to make to this project. Within 3 weeks of the Indiegogo campaign ending, we will be shipping out these chips. When you receive your QuaWorks Activator, insert it into the SD card slot of your existing Android handset (please make sure it is Android 4.0+). Each user of the QuaWorks Activator will then have access to the QuaWorks ecosystem, with the following applications:
- QuaMail: Encrypts the mail, which remains encrypted as it passes through your normal POP3 or IMAP mail server/service provider before being decrypted by another QuaWorks user.
- QuaContact: Encrypts all the contacts held on your phone.
- QuaMessage: All SMS messages can be encrypted when sent between two QuaWorks users or sent as normal messages to other phone contacts.
- QuaDisk: Upload all your files to be stored and encrypted on the cloud, with an unprecedented level of free secured storage (60GB) or store them encrypted locally on the QuaWorks-Activator (4GB).
- QuaPhone: Allows fully encrypted VoIP and cellular conversations between two different QuaWorks users.
The QuaWorks Activator works with popular smartphones currently on the market. Once you insert the QuaWorks Activator into your phone – whether it’s a Samsung Galaxy S3 or S4 or the Sony Experia Z or any other phone and model – that phone transforms into a Cipherphone.
When you receive your Quasar IV Cipherphone next year, you will also receive a new QuaWorks Activator with 4GB of extra storage. This is in addition to the promised 128GB of cloud and 64GB/128GB of on-board memory. You can then choose to pass your existing QuaWorks Activator (or your phone) to a friend or colleague, giving them the security of QuaWorks and the ability to have direct encrypted contact with you.
This is a great way of getting you up and using the technology as soon as possible.
Thank you.
Steve Chao
Founder and CEO
QSAlpha
Quasar IV is Going Into Production
All of us at QSAlpha thank all of you for your support! Without it, we would not be able to tell you the following exciting news:
Yes, we’re making the phone!
Because of the Indiegogo campaign, we have received support from various vendors and companies who are as excited about the Quasar IV as all of us are. We are in production with one of the world’s largest consumer electronics OEM manufacturers and are committed to developing and producing the most secure and private smartphone on the market.
Your feedback and excitement, the enthusiasm from our partners and vendors, the buzz that the campaign created in the media – all these things made this possible, and let us know that the Quasar IV is the smartphone the world is waiting for.
You can continue to support the phone, and your privacy by subscribing to QSAlpha. All indiegogo contributors will automatically be added to a purchase list. When the phone is ready, you will be notified on how to reserve the phone.
We live in interesting times, and with more and more corporations and individuals looking to make sure their information is private and secure, we believe our encryption and platform will be the obvious choice for many industries.
We will begin shipping the Quasar IV Cipherphones in Q2 2014. Again, thank you for believing and supporting the Quasar IV from QSAlpha.
Steve Chao
Founder and CEO
QSAlpha
Using Quantum Physics to Block Hackers
QSAlpha was featured today in the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFGate article titled Using Quantum Physics to Block Hackers.
“QSAlpha, a San Francisco phone designer, is in the midst of raising money to build a heavily fortified smartphone that it claims will be impervious to the snooping and identity theft of black-hat hackers. The company plans to release the Quasar IV next year and claims the encryption techniques on the device are completely unbreakable.”
Click here to Read the full story on SFGate