Gadgets, gizmos, and thingamajigs: 10 stories not to miss from this week

Gadgets, gizmos, and thingamajigs: 10 stories not to miss from this week:
Amazon's big announcement was the high-profile tech news of the week, and we gave you two articles on the specs of Amazon's new HD Fire and Paperwhite Kindle. Apple also confirmed its September 12 event, which seems very likely to bring the announcement of a new iPhone (follow along with next week's Apple event as it happens on Ars' liveblog, starting at 10am PDT on September 12). Ars also analyzed the state of Windows Phone 8, which seem to be leaning on an ecosystem that's lagging behind the hardware built for the OS.
This week wasn't all about new devices though. Going on a camping trip? X-marks the spot? You'll want to check out our article on gear for rugged use, which will save you from having to MacGyver a radio from a pinecone if you get stranded.

• Trading popular files on BitTorrent? You'll be spotted within 3 hours
  
  And popular blocklists don't protect file-sharers from unwanted scrutiny.


• First look: Windows Server 2012 brings the cloud down to earth
  
  Microsoft's next-generation server platform offers mostly gain, little pain.


• Welcome to the jungle: The best tech when going off the grid
  
  Solar panel backpacks, key-shaped USBs—Ars offers 10 items for the wild under $500


• Widely used fingerprint reader exposes Windows passwords in seconds
  
  If your laptop uses software from UPEK, it's exposing your Windows password.


• Apple confirms September 12 event: "It's almost here"
  
  Stay tuned for our live coverage at 10am PDT on September 12.


• Valve is "jumping in" to the computer hardware market
  
  Job listing cites "frustration" and "lack of innovation" as deciding factors.


• 50 years to orbit: Dream Chaser's crazy Cold War backstory
  
  The reusable mini-spaceplane is back from the dead—again—and prepping for space.


• Where oh where is Windows Phone 8?
  
  The hardware appears to be ready. What's going on with the software?


• Amazon shows off Kindle Fire HD with 4G LTE for $499, WiFi for $299
  
  For $50 per year, customers get 250MB of data per month on the 4G LTE version.


• Amazon's new $119 Kindle Paperwhite e-reader comes with front-lit screen
  
  Paperwhite technology makes the new screen higher-contrast than before.

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