Gregarius » BetaNews.Com » septembre 3, 2014

BetaNews.Com (20 non lus)

Twitter CEO says it's your own fault you see tweets from people you don't follow

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 11:43pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Many Twitter users have become frustrated by a problem with the social network. Increasing numbers of people are finding that they see tweets from people they do not follow. Twitter CEO, Dick Costolo, has an explanation: it's your own fault. He's not talking about promoted tweets or anything like that, but tweets that have been favorited by people you follow. The explanation came over the weekend in a couple of tweets in which Costolo put the appearance of such tweets down to users' impatience.

Freelance science writer Katie Mack pointed out that Twitter feeds now include "random tweets from people others follow, ads, other people's favs". Costolo replied:

@AstroKatie you only see favorites if you pull-to-refresh 2x and there have been no new tweets from accounts you follow either time....

— dick costolo (@dickc) August 31, 2014

All clear? No? Costolo expands on his reponse:

@AstroKatie ...2x request for more content is a strong signal that person wants more content. So the goal is to respond to that well.

— dick costolo (@dickc) August 31, 2014

So you refresh your feed twice in quick succession because you need to feed your tweet addiction. But Twitter doesn't let the fact that the people you follow have not provided any more content to deliver to you stop it. Rather than admitting defeat, Twitter will show you tweets that your followees have favorited -- because no one could just wait a little longer for something new that they might actually want to read, could they?
Hey, do you know that Sony also has new Android flagships?

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 8:35pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

With all eyes on Samsung, which just unveiled Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge and Gear VR, I am genuinely surprised that Sony has decided to showcase its new flagship Xperia devices on the same day as its South Korean rival. Why? Because Samsung commands more attention from the tech media, due to its Android pack leader position. And that can only leave Sony fighting for scraps.

Nonetheless, mere hours after Samsung's Unpacked 2014 Episode 2, Sony took the wraps off its new Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Compact and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. Oh, there's an Xperia E3 too, which is designed to compete in the low-end market, like Nokia Lumia 530. But, let's talk about the premium Xperias now, which are far more intriguing.

Sony is not shying away from offering flagship-worthy hardware in a smaller-than-usual body, proof being that it is replacing Z1 Compact with Z3 Compact as its new, well, compact flagship. The latter features a 4.5-inch IPS display with a resolution of 720 by 1,280, is powered by a 2.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with 2 GB of RAM, and has a 20.7 MP main camera sporting a large sensor (1/2.3") and high ISO capabilities (up to 12,800 ISO -- the highest of any smartphone, apparently), just to name a few of its main features.

Speaking of the main camera, it has a wide-angle lens, of 25 mm in full-frame terms. Needless to say, as Sony says, you can fit a lot in the frame with it (if, of course, that's your goal; otherwise, you can digitally zoom in at up to 8x). Video recording happens in 4K, with stabilization (likely of the software kind). The secondary camera is a 2.2 MP unit, which can take 1080p video and, also, stills; it's capable of ISO 3200, which makes it fine for light light use (for a secondary camera, that is). On paper, it looks like Xperia Z3 Compact will make some photography fans happy.

Here is what else you should know about it. Xperia Z3 Compact is IPX5 and IPX8-rated, which means it's waterproof (not water-resistant like other devices), and, as Sony calls it, "dust tight" thanks to its IP6X rating. You can keep it under water at less than 1.5 meter deep for up to 30 minutes at it will be fine. That's great for taking it in the pool, assuming all of its port flaps are closed.

It also supports 4G LTE cellular networks (naturally), has 16 GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot (supports cards up to 128 GB in size), Bluetooth 4.0, and NFC. Xperia Z3 Compact plays well with Sony's PlayStation 4, and offers Sony's branded apps and user interface on top of Android 4.4 KitKat.

It weighs 129 grams, and measures 127.3 x 64.9 x 8.64 mm. It will be available this fall, in black, green, orange and white. There are no details surrounding pricing now, but expect it to cost less than its bigger brother, Xperia Z3.

Xperia Z3 is nearly identical to Xperia Z3 Compact, except for a couple of -- very important -- differences. First of all, it's much heavier and bigger at 152 grams and 146.5 x 72 x 7.3 mm, respectively, thanks to its larger 5.2-inch IPS display which boasts a higher resolution of 1,080 by 1,920. Those are to be expected from a typical Android flagship in 2014. It also packs more RAM at 3 GB, and a bigger 3,100 mAh battery. It will be available around the same time as Xperia Z3 Compact, in black, copper, silver green and white. But, the core recipe remains the same as far as the rest is concerned, which is a good thing.

Much of this can also be said about Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. It may have an 8-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1,200 by 1,920, an 8.1 MP main camera, a 4,500 mAh battery, but the rest of the hardware is shared with Xperia Z3. It is, of course, heavier and larger than the smartphone, at 280 grams and 213 x 123 x 6.4 mm. Availability is slated for this fall, in black and white only.

The common denominator between Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Compact and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is the gorgeous design and, as it's easy to point out, the surprise lack of a better Snapdragon 805 processor, like Galaxy Note 4 has. Despite that shortcoming, Sony must be commended for nicely combining premium materials, like glass, to deliver some of the best looking smartphones and tablets around. Too bad they didn't get their chance to truly shine today.
4chan uses the fallout from the Fappening to introduce DMCA policy

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 7:05pm CEST par Mark Wilson

4chan is notorious at the best of times -- if indeed the site can be associated with such times -- but the Fappening phenomenon has been seen by many as a new low. Apple is undertaking an investigation into what happened to numerous iCloud accounts, but fingers have been pointed at the site where the celebrity photos first appeared. It could be entirely coincidental, but 4chan -- as noted by TorrentFreak -- has just introduced a DMCA policy for the first time in its controversial history. No announcement has been made, but the timing is certainly interesting.

Head over to 4chan's legal page, and you can read through the site's new DMCA policy in full. It explains that content may be removed from the site if it is deemed to contravene copyright law. As the celebrities involved in the recent photo leaks should be able to claim ownership of the copyright of images of them -- or, failing that, the person who took the photos could do so -- it would seem reasonable to assume that 4chan is responding directly to the criticism leveled at it.

What the DMCA policy means is that complainants now have a new point of contact if they want to request the removal of any content. The designated DMCA can be contacted by post at an address in Wilmington, DE, but the policy recommends "sending notices via e-mail for quickest response". Anyone getting in touch must show that the material they would like to have removed "is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law".

4chan's new policy, as well as the way content expires on the site, should work in conjunction to help ensure that dubious content does not reappear, or, if it does, it doesn't stick around for long. But the spread of the celebrity photos across the internet shows that it does not really matter where content first appears -- if there is interest in it, it will spread. Well over a million people have download the images via torrent sites, and there's little that can be done to stem this flow of traffic.
Logitech introduces cross-platform keyboard for phones, tablets and computers

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 6:15pm CEST par Alan Buckingham

Many people these days have multiple devices -- a computer, smartphone and tablet is not unusual in any home. Desktops require a separate keyboard, while the other two rely on an on-screen model, which can be annoying at times. Now Logitech wants to solve that issue with one solution for all platforms.

The Logitech Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard K480 can work with up to three different devices. A switch allows for movement between each, with a holder for your smartphone or tablet. It's a full-size desktop keyboard though, so users shouldn't feel cramped, as they did with previous tablet and handset keyboards.

"Perfect for today’s multi-taskers, the Logitech Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard K480 easily connects to your device through Bluetooth and allows you to type in comfort on a full-size desk keyboard with a familiar layout. With a choice of two color schemes, the keyboard is designed to blend into your home decor without sacrificing style", Logitech announces.

The K480 keyboard retails for $49.99 and is available now direct from Logitech. It's compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and even Chrome OS. You'll need to be running a fairly modern version of each operating system -- Windows 7 and iOS 5 (at least) for instance. You'll also need two AAA batteries, though it ships with them pre-installed to get you started.
Toshiba's 7-inch Encore Mini is one of the most affordable Windows tablets yet

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 6:02pm CEST par Mark Wilson

The tablet market is saturated with cheap Android devices, but there's also a growing number of Windows-powered slates pushing down the average price. The Toshiba Encore Mini is a 7-inch device unveiled at IFA 2014 today and it comes with a price tag of just $119.99.

While this is already a low price, it's possible that retailers will drop the price even further when it ships around September 17. Don’t let the price point fool you -- this is not a Windows RT device; you get fully fledged Windows 8.1. But, of course, compromises have been made.

The quad-core Intel Atom Z3735G processor is backed up by just 1GB RAM, and the multi-touch screen has a resolution of just 1024 x 600. Internal storage is limited to 16GB, but there is a microSD slot that can be used to boost this. There is, of course, wireless connectivity and the ubiquitous front and rear cameras. The specs may be nothing to get too excited about, but the price is enticing, particularly with the Toshiba name attached.

Microsoft's decision to scrap licensing fees for Windows on smaller devices will have helped to drive down the price as much as the corner-cutting, and the Encore Mini is a good investment as a "spare" tablet, or a device to throw in a bag and take on trips. The tablet comes bundled with a one year subscription to Office 365 Personal, and includes 1TB of storage on OneDrive, adding further appeal.
Too poor to own an aircraft? Don't worry, a new app will let you hire a private jet

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 5:55pm CEST par Wayne Williams

JetMe is a new app for iOS (Android coming soon) that wants to be like Uber or Airbnb, except instead of letting you book a ride or a place to stay, it lets you book a private jet.

I know what you’re thinking -- why book a private jet when you can just use your own aircraft -- but believe it or not, there are some people who don’t have their own planes (because they prefer to travel by yacht, for example). For those people, JetMe might be the perfect solution.

In all seriousness, there are benefits to booking a private jet, including avoiding other people, and the hassle of getting to the gate, and the cost of private jet flights are often on par with business class airline tickets.

The free app lets travelers search for, book, and pay for private jet flights (the full price is shown in the app) and there are no membership fees, costs for facilities, managers, brokerage and handling companies, and non-automated order processing costs to worry about.

Private jets often immediately return to their point of origin in order to avoid expensive airport parking fees, and JetMe aims to take advantage of these low load or "empty leg" flights, something it describes as a "win-win for travelers and jet owners".

At the moment, JetMe only allows you to book flights from the San Francisco Bay Area to Greater Los Angeles Area, but more cities will be added shortly.

"You don’t have to be a rock star to fly like one," says Yuriy Romanyukha, CEO, JetMe. "When the idea for JetMe struck, the other founders and I sealed ourselves in our apartment and worked tirelessly, the whole time envisioning how we could deliver affordable luxury air travel experiences better than any service out there so far. Twelve hours later, the sun was coming up, and we had our prototype. Now we’re open for business, with plans to expand across the United States and beyond, including back to our native Ukraine, JetMe’s birthplace".

If you can’t afford to hire a private jet by yourself, there are options for sharing the flight with other passengers and saving up to 50 percent of the cost.

iPhone owners can grab the app now. Android and web versions will be available shortly.
Mystery fake cellphone towers discovered across America

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 5:54pm CEST par Ian Barker

Fake mobile phone 'towers' dotted across the US could be listening in on unsuspecting smartphone users according to recent reports. And -- tin foil hats on, everyone -- nobody knows who's behind them.

Security company ESD America discovered 17 of the fakes called 'interceptors' whilst testing its secure Android phone. The towers can attack devices via the baseband chips that allow them to communicate with their networks and can, says ESD, eavesdrop or even install spyware.

These fakes use known technology and have existed in China for several years according to 360 Safe which has uncovered fakes masquerading as carriers, banks and other organizations to send SMS messages.

ESD America CEO Les Goldsmith told Popular Science magazine, "Interceptor use in the US is much higher than people had anticipated," Goldsmith says. "One of our customers took a road trip from Florida to North Carolina and he found 8 different interceptors on that trip".

The technology used targets the 'baseband' of the phone which sits in between the cellular network and the phone's OS. Baseband attacks are difficult to carry out as the technical details of the chips are closely guarded and the equipment needed is relatively expensive -- around $100,000.

"What we find suspicious is that a lot of these interceptors are right on top of US military bases." Says Goldsmith. "Whose interceptor is it? Who are they, that's listening to calls around military bases? Is it just the US military, or are they foreign governments doing it? The point is: we don't really know whose they are".

Documents leaked by Edward Snowden have revealed that the NSA has the ability to carry out baseband attacks to, for example, remotely activate a device's microphone. A similar type of attack is used by the 'stingray' devices employed by law enforcement agencies.

So, should you be worried that your weird neighbor is building a 50ft mast in his backyard? Maybe, although it's likely that these fake towers aren't permanent physical installations but something more mobile.

At the moment no one knows who's behind the fakes and the cost of something like a GSMK Cryptophone needed to detect them is thought to be around $3,500 dollars.

It's perhaps best just to assume, as many of us have been doing for years, that nothing you do on a mobile device is ever completely secure. In the meantime your conspiracy theories about who might be behind these fake towers are welcome below.

Image Credit: mikeledray / Shutterstock
Hands-on and first impressions of the Galaxy Note 4, Edge and Gear VR

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 5:11pm CEST par Brian Fagioli

Today, Samsung was expected to reveal the Galaxy Note 4, which it did; however, it was not done there. No, the company shocked the tech community with two other products, the Galaxy Note Edge and Galaxy Gear VR. The Edge is similar to the Note 4, but offers a screen that wraps around the edge of the device (hence, the name) to offer a unique second-screen-like experience.

While the Galaxy Edge (and Adam Levine) is what made the journalists in attendance gasp, the Galaxy VR was accepted mildly. This is not entirely surprising, as it is arguably nothing more than Google Cardboard, but in a more high-end chassis. You see, the VR simply holds the Galaxy Note 4 in front of your face and positions lenses in front of your eyes. Cardboard knock-off or not, it was an intriguing product that had me smiling like a child on Christmas morning.

The line to try the Galaxy Gear VR was very long and I was forced to sign a waiver, in case I was injured or killed. Excessive, sure, but I signed my rights away anyway. Truth be told, I scribbled some illegible nonsense, and the guy did not seem to mind.

Once it was my turn, I ran to the seat to get started. The Samsung guy put the VR on my face and headphones on my ears. On the screen was a Coldplay concert -- the band surrounded by an audience. As I turned my head and looked up and down, the device made it seem like I was really there. After 30 seconds or so, my brain was convinced that it was seeing Coldplay live. Samsung has a real winner on its hands with the VR.

The real star of the show was the Galaxy Edge. As you can see in the video below, it is a beautiful device, with a world-class display. The big selling point, however, is the screen that goes around the edge. While I am sure pundits will proclaim it to be a gimmick, I think this has the potential to be very useful. Of course, its success is dependent on developers embracing it.

The Note 4 is sort of the "odd man out". Don't get me wrong, it is a great device -- the best Galaxy Note ever, but it is not clear why it needs to exist with the Edge. Couldn't the wrap-around edge just be a feature of the Note 4? In other words, the Galaxy Edge should be the Galaxy Note 4. Samsung seems to have taken the excitement out of the Note, and ultimately, it may confuse consumers. Take a look at the below video and see how similar both phones are.

Overall, all three new devices are amazing. Both new Galaxy phones are well-made and feel great in the hand. Best of all though, the screens are gorgeous. Samsung has one-upped LG for the time being, and the firm has once again established itself as the company with the best Android handset.

What do you think of the new Samsung devices? Tell me in the comments.
Employees opt to stick with consumer file sharing tools at work

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 4:45pm CEST par Ian Barker

Most of us prefer to stay with familiar consumer file syncing and sharing tools at work rather than use the alternatives provided by the IT department.

This is the finding of new research by global analyst company Ovum. The survey of 5,187 full-time employees shows that 89 percent are using consumer products and only nine percent are happy with the commercial tools on offer from their companies.

Of those that have adopted the technology 29 percent are using three or more different products in order to get their work done. However, 44 percent still aren't using file sharing products at all, relying on email or flash drives to move data around.

Richard Edwards, principal analyst at Ovum, says, "These figures paint an anarchic picture of file sharing and document-centric collaboration within the workplace, and support Ovum's thesis that while there may be an enterprise file sync and share solution to address almost every business need, there is no product that meets them all".

Ovum’s report, Selecting an Enterprise File Sync and Share Product, looks at 19 different offerings from vendors of all sizes, including Box, Citrix, Dropbox, Egnyte, EMC, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Salesforce.com, and WatchDox.

"No commercial product is dominating the workplace," says Edwards. "The wide-scale use of Dropbox among knowledge workers highlights the power and impact of IT consumerization, while the pervasiveness of Google Drive and Apple iCloud demonstrates the effects that mobile devices are having on the enterprise. And of course Microsoft is omnipresent in this market too".

The number of products competing for this market indicates the importance which vendors attach to it and the fact that each offers a slightly different approach. Edwards concludes, "As always, the challenge for CIOs and IT managers is to identify the solution that best meets the organization's current and future requirements, with regard to a broad set of employee roles and business use cases. Herein lies the problem, as no single product on the market today offers everything that a large enterprise is likely to need".

Image Credit: megainarmy / Shutterstock
LinkedIn introduces data export option and new security features

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 4:44pm CEST par Mark Wilson

LinkedIn, the social network for professionals looking to stay connected, today introduces a few new features to give users greater control over their accounts. Like Google, Facebook, Yahoo and other online services, it is now possible to check which devices you are signed in on. This is not just something that satisfies a curiosity; the ability to terminate unrecognized sessions means that should you spot that you’re still signed in on a computer you're not using, you can remotely sign out of it -- more importantly, it also makes it possible to boot out anyone who has gained unauthorized access to your account.

You can head to the Settings page of your account and click the See where you are logged in link -- alternatively, you can jump straight to the session management page. The page shows a list of all of the sessions that are currently active and provides details such as the associated IP address, the browser that's in use, and the approximate location of the session. Spot something that you don’t recognize or looks a little untoward? Just hit the Sign out link. You can also sign out of all sessions in one fell swoop if you prefer.

This is a helpful security feature, and the security theme continues in an updated email format. When you make a change to your account, LinkedIn sends out an email to verify that it was you who made the change. Going forward, these emails will also include session information to help users confirm that the email -- as well as the change -- is genuine.

The final option LinkedIn unveils today is the ability download information about your account. This is something that other social networks have offered for some time now, and LinkedIn's take on things is very much what you would expect. In a few clicks you can download all of the information associated with your account including your status updates, activity logs, and search history. On the Settings page of your account, switch to the Account tab and click Request an archive of your data -- or you can just jump straight to the page. Plan ahead if you want your data, though -- the download could take up to 72 hours to prepare.
Meet Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 4:34pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

Samsung is single-handedly responsible for creating the phablet category three years ago with the original Galaxy Note. Back then, big smartphones were believed to be nothing more than a niche, with no chance of ever enjoying mainstream approval. At first, I was actually one of the non-believers. But, as every Galaxy Note iteration has proved time and time again, consumers are actually quite fond of the idea of touching a big screen day in and day out.

But, the phablet market has changed dramatically since the original Galaxy Note was released, with more and more Android vendors competing for a slice of the pie. Heck, even Nokia got in on the action, representing Windows Phone, late last year with Lumia 1520 and Lumia 1320. Despite the increased competition, Samsung continues to be viewed as the pack leader, thanks in no small part to the dedicated features its flagship phablets pack. So, what does this year's Galaxy Note has in store?

First of all, we are looking at two Galaxy Notes, actually. There is the successor of the popular Galaxy Note 3, which is called Galaxy Note 4 as expected, and, alongside it, Galaxy Note Edge. (Samsung also announces Gear VR today, at Unpacked 2014 Episode 2.)

Right off the bat, it's easy to notice that Galaxy Note 4 is much nicer looking than any of its past predecessors. It resembles a bigger Galaxy Alpha, which is no bad thing as far as this writer is concerned. The so-called "soft texture back cover" is preserved from Galaxy Note 3.

As expected and predicted, Galaxy Note 4 makes use of a 5.7-inch QHD Super AMOLED display. That gives it a resolution of 1,440 by 2,560 and a pixel density of 515 ppi (pixels per inch). The screen is 2.5D, which means it has a curve to it.

Inside, there is either a 2.7 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor or an octa-core Exynos 5 Octa 5433 processor, the latter of which is made up of four cores running at 1.9 GHz and four cores running at 1.3 GHz. No matter which one you end up getting, there is 3 GB of RAM on board. My guess is that European and US markets will get the former processor, with Samsung's own processor to be used in a restricted number of markets.

Samsung claims the Galaxy Note 4's battery will be able to be charged to 50 percent in just 30 minutes. It has also increased in size, over its predecessor, to 3,220 mAh (20 mAh larger than in Galaxy Note 3). That said, battery life should be 7.5 percent better, despite the minimal capacity increase. The ultra power-saving mode is present, carried over from Galaxy S5.

As far as imaging is concerned, Galaxy Note 4 packs a 16 MP main camera with optical image stabilization, and a 3.7 MP secondary camera, with a wide F1.9 aperture, which, unsurprisingly, is advertised as great for selfies. Samsung claims, in the presentation, that it has made it easy to take a selfie, but, I think, LG's implementation in G3 is faster still.

Samsung also claims that it has improved noise cancellation and recording quality, thanks to Galaxy Note 4's new microphones. That should lead to better-sounding videos and audio recordings. Naturally, videos can be recorded in 4K.

In the storage department, we are looking at 32 GB of internal memory. There is a microSD card slot which can increase the capacity by a further 64 GB. Oh, and thanks to a partnership with Dropbox, users also get 50 GB of free cloud storage.

S Pen also sees some improvements over its counterpart from Galaxy Note 3, as it now touted to feel closer to a "real pen". Samsung has increased the sensitivity to make this happen. There is a smart select feature which can be triggered by S Pen, to, for instance, allow users to more easily capture details on the display.

Connectivity-wise, Galaxy Note 4 is compatible with 4G LTE cellular networks, supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, offers Bluetooth 4.1 LE (Low Energy), Infrared, NFC (Near Field Communication), and GPS with Glonass and Baidu support, as the main usual suspects.

Galaxy Note 4 also totes fingerprint and UV sensors, the former of which is a feature Samsung first introduced on Galaxy S5 earlier this year. The latter will alert users when it's time step out of the sunlight, to protect themselves from radiation, while the former adds an extra security feature for users to leverage.

The operating system of choice is Android 4.4 KitKat. There is a new user interface, obviously, which is, again, much nicer looking than before. Samsung has added new customization options, which, among other things, allow users to change the appearance and functionality of the lockscreen. There are improvements for multitasking, which make it easier for users to shrink apps' windows to see more information on the display.

Galaxy Note 4 comes in at 153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5 mm and weighs 176 grams. That makes it slightly taller, narrower, thicker and heavier than Galaxy Note 3, which measures 151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3 mm and weighs 168 grams.

Samsung says Galaxy Note 4 will be available next month, in October, in Blossom Pink, Bronze Gold, Charcoal Black and Frost White. There are no official details concerning pricing at this stage. You can expect to see the usual accessories alongside it.

What About Galaxy Note Edge?

Samsung labels Galaxy Note Edge as a version of Galaxy Note 4 with a curved, edge display. It's basically the same hardware underneath, with a couple of twists. The main display is slightly smaller, at 5.6-inches, but the resolution is the same. It will be available in a single processor configuration, which uses the aforementioned Qualcomm chip. The battery is also smaller, at 3,000 mAh. Galaxy Note Edge is also slightly different in size, coming in at 151.3 x 82.4 x 8.3 mm and weighing 174 grams. Here's how it looks.

Samsung says Galaxy Note Edge will be available later this year, in Charcoal Black and Frost White.
Easy Solutions adopts DMARC to fight phishing attacks

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 3:16pm CEST par Ian Barker

Phishing attacks attempting to steal user credentials have become a common occurrence in recent years and made people wary of trusting anything they receive in email.

Fraud protection specialist Easy Solutions is aiming to help restore that trust by adopting the DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) specification to allow its customers to improve productivity and speed detection of phishing sites.

A DMARC industry group was formed in 2012 by a number of technology, financial service, media and retail companies. Its aim is to fight email fraud, helping email senders and receivers work together to better secure emails and protect users and businesses from abuse.

Using the DMARC technical specification email senders can authenticate legitimate messages and exchange information with email receivers about how to handle unauthenticated traffic by monitoring, quarantine or deletion.

The technology has been implemented by major email providers including Google and Microsoft, as well as large financial institutions and retailers, such as Amazon, Apple, Bank of America, eBay, Facebook, FedEx and more.

"Fraudulent email and orchestrated attacks have eroded trust in email as a communications medium to such an extent that it is nearly impossible for major financial institutions, retailers and marketers to authentically communicate with their customers," says Daniel Ingevaldson, CTO of Easy Solutions. "DMARC shows great promise, not only for securing email channels and reducing the amount of fraudulent or spoofed email but also for improving threat intelligence around targeted attacks. DMARC gives banks, retailers and other institutions the power to effectively project their own policy to the world on how fraudulent email is handled. We are pleased to offer our customers the ability to leverage this emerging standard to improve the health of email communication, reducing the asymmetry they face in this battle against fraudsters".

You can find out more about Easy Solution's fraud protection platform and how it can help businesses stay safe across a variety of channels and platforms on the company's website.

Photo Credit: Ivelin Radkov/Shutterstock
VMWare Fusion 7 promises OS X Yosemite support and optimization, better connectivity with Windows 8.1

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 2:29pm CEST par Nick Peers

VMware has launched VMWare Fusion 7.0, a major new version of its virtualization software for Macs. Version 7 adds support for OS X Yosemite and improves compatibility with Windows 8.1 guests.

The new release also shows off a new look, designed to fit in with Yosemite on its launch, plus promises improved performance, better connectivity with peripherals and Retina display optimizations.

The new build has been designed to blend in with the forthcoming OS X Yosemite (while retaining backwards compatibility with both Mountain Lion and Mavericks), and comes with the promise of a "cleaner and more refined" look when running Windows virtual machines.

In addition to working in OS X Yosemite, Fusion 7 also allows users to run OS X Yosemite virtual machines.

The new build also more tightly integrates Windows 8.1 into the Yosemite desktop by allowing users to run Windows Store apps side-by-side with OS X applications. Access to store apps is also extended to adding shortcuts to the OS X Launchpad, Applications folder and Dock (when running Windows in Unity mode).

VMWare Fusion 7 also promises to better harness the latest Haswell processors thanks to an optimized 64-bit engine and better use of multi-core processors, meaning that virtual machine performance should be much closer to that of a native machine.

Version 7 rounds off its improvements with Retina Display optimizations that extend to Windows virtual machines. Now users can run Windows across both Retina and non-Retina displays with a near seamless experience.

The new release is accompanied by a new Pro build that promises dual GPU optimization, virtual network management and better support for cloned virtual machines.

VMWare Fusion 7.0 is available now as a free trial download for Macs running OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion) or later. It can be purchased for $69.99 (upgrades from version 5 or 6 are $49.99). VM Fusion Pro costs $149.99 ($79.99 upgrade).
ASUS unveils the Android Wear-powered ZenWatch

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 2:22pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

It does not matter if smartwatches have yet to catch on with consumers. The big players in the mobile industry are just getting started announcing their efforts. ASUS is the latest to reveal its Android Wear-based device, which it calls ZenWatch.

ZenWatch, which is ASUS's first wearable according to the company, is designed as a companion device to smartphones running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean or newer, meaning that, like other devices in this category, it cannot do much without being paired to one. It runs the ZenUI user interface on top of Android Wear, which offers dedicated apps and a custom, rather elegant, design, among other features.

To show that ZenWatch is different than your run of the mill smartwatch, ASUS says it is "much more than a sophisticated timepiece", as it gives users a bunch of so-called "smart features" like Find My Phone, Cover to Mute and Remote Camera, and integrates with the company's own smartphones.

And, what do you know, ZenWatch is also advertised as a "fully-featured wellness manager" -- whatever that means -- because it features an app called Wellness, which allows users to see their "wellness statistics" (a fancy way of saying activity stats), which include steps, activity duration, burned calories and so on.

There is no word on how much ZenWatch will cost, based on the information ASUS provides in the press release, but expect it to cost roughly the same as its main competitors, from fellow manufacturers LG and Samsung. A less than $200 price is not out of the question, however.
EXIF ReGenerate fixes hundreds of image time stamps with a click

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 2:20pm CEST par Mike Williams

Take a picture with a digital camera and it’ll normally be tagged with the date and time, often useful later when searching or organizing your images.

If the camera clock is wrong, though, all your photos will have the wrong EXIF time stamp, and they’ll stay that way until someone notices.

As the images will always be out by a consistent amount then you could try to solve this later by figuring out the day/ hour/ minute offset, and manually adding it to/ subtracting it from each image in turn.

Alternatively, you might just use EXIF ReGenerate to run the necessary calculations and update all your photos with a click.

The program requires installation, unfortunately, which seems a little pointless for something you might use once only. But at least there’s no adware or other payload you’ll regret later.

If you want to adjust every image, though, this doesn’t matter much. Just click Select All (or press Ctrl+A) and they’ll all be checked.

Next, find an image where you’re confident you know the correct time it was taken, then click Set, give it a new date and time, click Adjust > Close.

EXIF ReGenerate now calculates the time offset for that image, and clicking "Apply to all" (the green "tick" icon on the toolbar) adjusts the EXIF time stamp in all your selected images by the same amount.

Its interface is poor, and we wish the program was portable, but EXIF ReGenerate did work for us, quickly fixing an entire folder of mis-tagged photos. If you have an EXIF emergency then it’s (just about) worth a look.
Watch the Galaxy Note 4 launch here LIVE

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 2:07pm CEST par Wayne Williams

Samsung is set to announce the Galaxy Note 4 at its Unpacked 2014 Episode 2 press event today. Mihaita Bamburic has already covered what to expect from the new Android phablet and you can read his predictions here.

The new device will likely be powered by a much faster processor, and offer a higher screen resolution (but ship with the same 5.7-inch display size found on the Galaxy Note 3), and better quality front and rear cameras.

Samsung will be unveiling the device at simultaneous events in Beijing, Berlin and New York, and our own Brian Fagioli will be reporting directly from the NYC event.

If you want to be the first to find out about the new device, the good news is Samsung will be livestreaming the event, and you can watch it here.

Proceedings start at 9am EDT/6am PDT/2pm BST.
Say goodbye to invites -- OnePlus One will go up for pre-order

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 5:00am CEST par Barclay Ballard

OnePlus has announced that it will soon be launching a pre-order system for its elusive smartphone, the OnePlus One.

The handset, which offers a premium Android experience for just $299 (£230) is currently only available via a random invite system.

This means that anyone wishing to own the handset can only do so if they are invited by a current owner of a OnePlus One phone or by entering contests and promotional events hosted on the OnePlus Forums or social media channels.

However, a company spokesperson announced during a Reddit AMA that the device could become more readily available.

"We are working on a pre-orders system, we were initially aiming for September but it's been slightly delayed, hopefully we'll be ready to launch it in October".

While this is no guarantee that there will be sufficient numbers of handsets to meet the demand, it does look like acquiring the smartphone will, at least, be a simpler process.

While the handset officially launched four months ago, users have found it harder than expected to get their hands on the device.

Aside from the invite-only system, the smartphone's release has also been delayed by a software error and a failure to comply with EU font regulations.

If fans do manage to get their hands on the device, they are likely to be impressed by the top-line specs and affordable price tag. The OnePlus One boasts a 5.5-inch HD display and a Snapdragon 801 CPU for half the price of the Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
Buy your next Dell computer using Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or LinkedIn

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 3:15am CEST par Brian Fagioli

Social media is a necessary evil for many. Even if you want to stay away from services like Facebook, staying in contact with friends and family may keep you tethered. I have tried to get away from Facebook many times, but much like Al Pacino in Godfather 3, "Just when I thought I was out...they pull me back in!" However, I do rather enjoy services like Twitter and Google+.

Regardless of your opinion of social media, there is one thing you cannot deny -- accessing other sites with your social media login credentials is very convenient. The idea of creating a unique username and password for every site you visit is foreign to many younger internet users. Today, Dell announces that it too is jumping on the bandwagon, by letting customers sign in and buy computers with their social media credentials.

"Today we're extending the social sign-in capabilities you see here on Dell's community sites to our commerce site in the U.S. to make shopping on Dell.com even easier. Following on the heels of our adding bitcoin as a purchase option, this is yet another example of how our Dell Commerce Services team is constantly innovating to provide a more intuitive experience on Dell.com", says Laura Thomas, Chief Blogger, Dell.

Thomas further explains, "you can rest assured the login process will be easier without compromising your security -- guarding your personal information is our top priority. We have built-in data protection, by limiting the user profile data that is retrieved from social media sites to the barest minimum and making sure your personal data is not shared with third parties".

Sorry, even if you sign in with your social media credentials, you still have to pay with real money. Still, it is a rather cool new feature, that should make the shopping experience easier for first-time Dell shoppers. Unfortunately, it is limited to Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn -- for now.

Best of all, it is reassuring to know that the computer manufacturer has security in mind. Of course, no one is forcing you to shop at Dell this way, so if you are anti-social-media, you can still create a Dell account.

Image Credit: NAS CRETIVES / Shutterstock
Samsung will introduce a soundbar to match its curved TVs

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 2:15am CEST par Barclay Ballard

Samsung is unveiling the world's first TV-matching curved soundbar, the HW-H7500/H7501.

The device is being introduced for this year's IFA event, and is designed to complement the firm's range of curved television sets.

The release is part of Samsung's "Total Curved Solution" and aims to complement the aesthetic design of the TV. The curved soundbar can be wall-mounted and can also be easily installed under the set, replacing the TV stand, without the need to drill separate holes in the wall.

The soundbar has a width of 42mm and a curvature radius of 4,200mm, replicating the Samsung Curved UHD TV. The new product will be compatible with both the 55 and 65 inch curved television sets.

Robert King, vice president of consumer electronics at Samsung UK and Ireland, said that the new device helps the firm meet its aim of providing an immersive experience for consumers.

"As the market leader in curved technology, Samsung strives to create the most complete home entertainment experience -- whether that's watching the latest 4K content on our Curved UHD TVs, immersing yourself in incredible surround sound or listening to the latest music throughout your home", he said.

The curved soundbar will feature 8.1 channel support with two speaker units on each side. Users will be able control the soundbar via their Samsung TV remote controls and wirelessly through TV SoundConnect.

The company also announced the launch of the latest addition to its Wireless Audio Multiroom line, the M3.

Similar to the M5 and M7, the M3 offers a more compact and affordable option for users looking to enjoy the multiroom experience.

There is currently no word on the release date or price range for the curved soundbar or the M3, but further details are expected before the end of the year.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
Google Enterprise becomes Google for Work -- all workers now welcome!

Publié: septembre 3, 2014, 1:42am CEST par Brian Fagioli

When you hear terms like "Enterprise" and "Corporate", you immediately think of large office buildings, fancy men in suits and billions of dollars in revenue. However, we do not all work under such naming constraints. Hell, we do not even always work in the traditional sense. Whether you babysit, contribute time at a local church or develop a home budget, you are working -- even if you do not get paid. In other words, work gets done outside of the enterprise.

So, to name a product "Enterprise", really limits the appeal. Quite frankly, that word is very intimidating to the average person, so it makes sense to not use it. Today, Google wisely rebrands Google Enterprise as Google for Work. Believe it or not, sometimes a name change makes all the difference.

"Work today is very different from 10 years ago. Cloud computing, once a new idea, is abundantly available, and collaboration is possible across offices, cities, countries and continents. Ideas can go from prototype to development to launch in a matter of days. Working from a computer, tablet or phone is no longer just a trend -- it's a reality. And millions of companies, large and small, have turned to Google’s products to help them launch, build and transform their businesses, and help their employees work the way they live. In other words, work is already better than it used to be", says Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman, Google.

Schmidt further explains, "technology for the workplace isn't just about a better way of doing business. It's about empowering anyone, whether they're a developer with an idea in their basement or a baker with a better cupcake or a company with thousands of employees, to have an impact. We never set out to create a traditional 'enterprise' business -- we wanted to create a new way of doing work. So the time has come for our name to catch up with our ambition. As of today, what was called Google Enterprise is now, simply, Google for Work".

It is appreciated that Google recognizes how diverse the world is when it comes to work. Sure, larger Enterprise customers are probably the bread and butter now, but as time marches on, individuals and small businesses may be a more profitable focus. Either way, a less scary name is always a good thing and symbolic gestures are sometimes the most important.

Image Credit: dragon_fang / Shutterstock