News for today's 2018

Apple's iTunes accounts for 75% of global digital music market, worth $6.9B a year

12:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUVv9y6lvlx9V0N-Vcpv0u3mSe76I9fBLwe1OZp6iRwmoYvaGDkOra_PFOPL28bUuPdZetnVEAQ8VaAdVlwXJO9vTOwD9970OrSZdiPJj5n9JGF7klg6znmDSFVMFaOi26hjSSK4HrpE/s1600/13.06.20-iTunes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUVv9y6lvlx9V0N-Vcpv0u3mSe76I9fBLwe1OZp6iRwmoYvaGDkOra_PFOPL28bUuPdZetnVEAQ8VaAdVlwXJO9vTOwD9970OrSZdiPJj5n9JGF7klg6znmDSFVMFaOi26hjSSK4HrpE/s1600/13.06.20-iTunes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>After Apple published numbers for iTunes TV show and music downloads on Wednesday, Asymco's Horace Dediu broke down the stats to reveal the online storefront rakes in some $6.9 billion each year, or roughly 75 percent of all digital music sales.</b><br /><br />According to Dediu, the average iTunes account holder spends about $12 per year on music, reports Billboard (via AllThingsD), and with 575 million active users, Apple's annual revenue hits $6.9 billion.<br /><br />The publication notes that the IFPI set the trade value of the global digital music market in 2012 at $6.9 billion, which is about 35 percent of the $16.5 billion for all recorded music. To extrapolate consumer spending, Billboard assumes labels net 60 percent of the retail price, resulting in a digital market worth $9.3 billion.<br /><br />That means Apple's $6.9 billion account for about 75 percent of the $9.3 billion global digital music market. The remaining slice of the pie is divvied up to streaming music services like Pandora and retailers like Amazon.<br /><br />Apple, however, recently announced its own Internet radio streamer in iTunes Radio, an ad-supported service that has built-in links to purchase songs directly from the iTunes store. As the feature has yet to roll out to the public, it remains to be seen whether Apple's system will be competitive with already established apps.

Apple Apple's iTunes accounts for 75% of global digital music market, worth $6.9B a year

After Apple published numbers for iTunes TV show and music downloads on Wednesday, Asymco's Horace Dediu broke down the stats to reveal ...

Rumor: Samsung slashes smartphone part orders for first time in company history

11:57 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sivG4HC6KhyuZ0M5_YS04MXMsuHP4Zh_lSSe9YW9a1pgSeUdGt84OnkD8oMwAITuLY51mjf8piAZDALMInhTNVWywT39TOKn1eXIZ5GOhIzguFioWDAfa5Ezg74NFUQeai7OorpB068/s1600/gs4-ratioed-130613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sivG4HC6KhyuZ0M5_YS04MXMsuHP4Zh_lSSe9YW9a1pgSeUdGt84OnkD8oMwAITuLY51mjf8piAZDALMInhTNVWywT39TOKn1eXIZ5GOhIzguFioWDAfa5Ezg74NFUQeai7OorpB068/s1600/gs4-ratioed-130613.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>A new report out of Korea claims Apple's chief rival Samsung is slashing orders for new smartphone parts, marking the first time the company has done so in its history.</b><br /><br />Samsung allegedly plans to cut production of its new flagship Galaxy S4 handset by between 10 and 15 percent, according to ETNews.com, which cited anonymous sources. The company reportedly plans to build 6.5 million Galaxy S4 units in the month of July, which would be half the number it build in May.<br /><br />The company allegedly saw a "warning light" this month, when inventory began to back up as Galaxy S4 sales slowed. That's apparently prompted the company to cut orders heading into the month of July.<br /><br />In addition, the company also apparently plans to retire its previous-generation Galaxy S3 handset sooner than originally anticipated, the report said.<br /><br />Rumors of disappointing sales of the Galaxy S4 have persisted for weeks now. They became so prevalent that the company's chief executive was compelled to comment on the matter last week, suggesting that Galaxy S4 sales have been "fine," without giving specific numbers.<br /><br />Both Apple's iPhone 5 and Samsung's Galaxy S4 compete in the high-end smartphone segment — a market that industry watchers believe could be reaching saturation. That's helped to fuel speculation that Apple could launch a new low-end iPhone this year to target customers who prefer unsubsidized handsets that are not tied to a new two-year service contract.

Apple Rumor: Samsung slashes smartphone part orders for first time in company history

A new report out of Korea claims Apple's chief rival Samsung is slashing orders for new smartphone parts, marking the first time the com...

Users report Wi-Fi connectivity issues with Apple's new 802.11ac MacBook Airs

11:54 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigo4zH03vT6xDF57JaKDq3dSOMukwlkPaUZo0uPyomFcVJcqMenwT1NraGl8xgp2tYoCKuRzqdNSUGNLbG8jQQR97_AU0Lk4rnh_h1Vd7_DTFE6qqcNY6KIF7tMrxpaIvvVZSa9QGt9MY/s1600/89u3489348943-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigo4zH03vT6xDF57JaKDq3dSOMukwlkPaUZo0uPyomFcVJcqMenwT1NraGl8xgp2tYoCKuRzqdNSUGNLbG8jQQR97_AU0Lk4rnh_h1Vd7_DTFE6qqcNY6KIF7tMrxpaIvvVZSa9QGt9MY/s1600/89u3489348943-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>Some early adopters of Apple's latest MacBook Air models have found their new thin-and-light notebook will unexpectedly and repeatedly drop its wireless connection.</b><br /><br />A growing thread on the Apple Support Communities website details the connectivity problems being experienced by numerous users. The problems appear to apply to both the 11- and 13-inch varieties of the recently updated notebook lineup.<br /><br />In addition, an anonymous source from an Apple retail store in London said to Gizmodo that their store has had complaints about wireless connectivity for the new MacBook Airs that are "well above average."<br /><br />In the thread on Apple's official site, users say they're experiencing the problems across a range of routers, including Apple's own AirPort accessories. Users say they can initially connect to a Wi-Fi network, but that connection will drop after a short period of use.<br /><br />At the moment, there doesn't appear to be an available solution that addresses the problems seen by all users, though some have had success with various routers or even different placement of the MacBook Air.<br /><br />The updated MacBook Air lineup launched last week at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference. In addition to faster 802.11ac connectivity, the notebooks also feature Intel's latest Haswell processors, helping to enable battery life as great as 12 hours.<br /><br />The new MacBook Airs are also priced $100 less than their predecessors, with the new low-end $999 11-inch model packing 128 gigabytes of flash storage. Readers can always find the lowest prices on Mac notebooks in AppleInsider's Mac Price Guide.

Apple Users report Wi-Fi connectivity issues with Apple's new 802.11ac MacBook Airs

Some early adopters of Apple's latest MacBook Air models have found their new thin-and-light notebook will unexpectedly and repeatedly d...

Apple's fingerprint sensor encapsulation tech could be headed for future iPhone

11:52 AM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdbA82Ef4Qp2ylQ7FBXkZ7lTTl8yGAqvLGfFPcG0TTfHQ13otbtT0LglfPcpW4QrZKX8J4FzT7eXud7jph7XTlfxTQQ4mzxDD4w895IkVdjxtknKwlU-fI1h2dXzMe1PpV0R348UZra8/s1600/13.06.20-Fingerprint-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdbA82Ef4Qp2ylQ7FBXkZ7lTTl8yGAqvLGfFPcG0TTfHQ13otbtT0LglfPcpW4QrZKX8J4FzT7eXud7jph7XTlfxTQQ4mzxDD4w895IkVdjxtknKwlU-fI1h2dXzMe1PpV0R348UZra8/s1600/13.06.20-Fingerprint-1.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><b>The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday published an Apple filing for a unique encapsulation structure which holds both a fingerprint sensor and its conductive bezel, allowing for a smaller, more protective final component suitable for a mobile device.</b><br /><br />Apple's patent application, filed in February and titled "Integrally molded die and bezel structure for fingerprint sensors and the like," describes a unitary encapsulation structure that protects a delicate biometric array, while still allowing for a portion of the sensor and bezel to be exposed or thinly coated with a protective seal. While the filing is for a "strip" type sensor, the technology can feasibly be applied to other fingerprinting methods.<br /><br />As noted in the filing, current electrical-based sensors are formed in a package containing the die, which holds a semiconductor and said sensors along with related circuitry. Because of the small die size, secondary structures like a lead frame and wires are needed to make an electrical connection between the die and the printed circuit board on which it is situated. These structures are then encased in an encapsulation material to protect the intricate wirebonding and other internal components from damage.<br /><br />Because such sensors can only operate within a certain threshold distance between a user's fingerprint and the die, many encapsulation methods leave the package uncovered.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Xhm3lhfixxflpc6Hls8T7tjLtm2rKF_aQStQL18wXXBf3wETEvqYDNYV41t6fkx1dm__4bRIWydu6gRUjrUNU78DvkYGXLLP1ItatQGR97umKvIxXWGhE7MvH-UjDwkb42e8ohJMC1A/s1600/13.06.20-Fingerprint-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Xhm3lhfixxflpc6Hls8T7tjLtm2rKF_aQStQL18wXXBf3wETEvqYDNYV41t6fkx1dm__4bRIWydu6gRUjrUNU78DvkYGXLLP1ItatQGR97umKvIxXWGhE7MvH-UjDwkb42e8ohJMC1A/s1600/13.06.20-Fingerprint-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />In one embodiment, the sensor assembly includes a substrate like a PCB or ceramic structure with a region specifically designed to receive a die assembly, as well as regions for holding bezels. The encapsulation structure is molded from a resin or plastic and is injected in such a way as to leave the top portion of the die and bezel parallel or nearly coplanar. These structures can be either partially exposed, or covered with a thin layer of material to protect it from the elements.<br /><br />In addition to the above embodiments, the filing notes that the bezels can be provided with visual indicators and possibly a light source.<br /><br />The invention would prove to be of substantial value if Apple were to deploy a fingerprint reader in a future iteration of the iPhone, as the tech would allow for a small, reasonably durable component that can withstand everyday wear and tear.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUq2WbBLKuHGs64BqEAnJylCaeMA4Ngd_Kz3IroWUf6rl3JFx9uIKQ8QOFQWlGqmWofczUUiwBd2sP7rYzF-2LQ-gmwiyggdhlIaOepfTnZd1e7hpCYsz93pYDmFH8rJ8IWA4nktgAMg/s1600/13.06.20-Fingerprint-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUq2WbBLKuHGs64BqEAnJylCaeMA4Ngd_Kz3IroWUf6rl3JFx9uIKQ8QOFQWlGqmWofczUUiwBd2sP7rYzF-2LQ-gmwiyggdhlIaOepfTnZd1e7hpCYsz93pYDmFH8rJ8IWA4nktgAMg/s1600/13.06.20-Fingerprint-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Apple is widely rumored to be incorporating fingerprint scanning technology into its next-generation iOS devices, with the forthcoming "iPhone 5" being a prime candidate. Rumors and speculation were sparked by the company's 2012 acquisition of biometrics firm Authentec.<br /><br />Interestingly, Apple's filing cites multiple patents and patent applications on fingerprint biometrics owned by STMicroelectronics, one of the world's largest semiconductor companies. Besides sensors and embedded processing solutions, the firm also supplied Apple with the three-axis gyroscope found in the iPhone 5.

Apple Apple's fingerprint sensor encapsulation tech could be headed for future iPhone

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday published an Apple filing for a unique encapsulation structure which holds both a fingerpri...

Pegatron CEO: Apple's 'low-cost iPhone' will not be cheap

11:47 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxLxn7NNZMFjIm0cBZ9cBfcJro6y6uxDbiGdgZxUlVsLCFQ3M1Rv4JpQUlwFWJIWkQKTLyxjQR-03C8ouiD2dxufXkmKqyL4bRJM-VeAE2pARlscBCND3JlgRZmkHEKf_6Cq_7lqhOFQ/s1600/renders-130618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxLxn7NNZMFjIm0cBZ9cBfcJro6y6uxDbiGdgZxUlVsLCFQ3M1Rv4JpQUlwFWJIWkQKTLyxjQR-03C8ouiD2dxufXkmKqyL4bRJM-VeAE2pARlscBCND3JlgRZmkHEKf_6Cq_7lqhOFQ/s1600/renders-130618.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>Speaking at his company's shareholders meeting on Thursday, Pegatron CEO T.H. Tung said Apple's much rumored low cost iPhone won't be a budget offering, seemingly confirming speculation that the handset will be sold as a higher-end middle tier device. </b><br /><br />The executive said products currently on the market can carry a number of names, but "cheap" is not one that should be associated with Apple's less expensive iPhone. He went on to say that, compared to feature phones, smartphones are increasingly offering more value for the price.<br /><br />The statements appear to confirm previous reports that Pegatron is handling at least a portion of the as-yet-unannounced iPhone's manufacture. A report in May claimed Pegatron is reportedly preparing to hire some 40,000 workers sometime in the second half of 2013, adding fuel to the low-cost iPhone fire.<br /><br />Analysts and media sources are divided as to which of Apple partners will be responsible for the majority of production, with some claiming Foxconn is to pull most of the burden.<br /><br />KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in March said the two companies will nearly split manufacturing duties for the low-cost version, while Pegatron would take on a bigger share of continued iPhone 4 and 4S production.<br /><br />On Wednesday, AppleInsider offered a first look at 3D renderings of so-called "iPhone Lite," which were made by a well-known third-party case maker from schematics it received. If the blueprints are authentic, the new design boasts curved edges and a slightly thicker frame than the current iPhone 5, which is in line with previous rumors.

Apple Pegatron CEO: Apple's 'low-cost iPhone' will not be cheap

Speaking at his company's shareholders meeting on Thursday, Pegatron CEO T.H. Tung said Apple's much rumored low cost iPhone won'...

15 Kooky USB Hubs

8:18 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ldSgrpkwZpO4n4gluEpfrbu4loxy7q8wkcswndIWnd_ecT6Ur1PV9vXDj_2wvJm6RAtYJlUtwqA1tL5yNlp6DmN8d3wS4cp2SUvVxTMOp7pmFN1jFNbryZxtgSaTPNGXS2p9xF85ULs/s1600/Toaster%252520USB%252520Hub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ldSgrpkwZpO4n4gluEpfrbu4loxy7q8wkcswndIWnd_ecT6Ur1PV9vXDj_2wvJm6RAtYJlUtwqA1tL5yNlp6DmN8d3wS4cp2SUvVxTMOp7pmFN1jFNbryZxtgSaTPNGXS2p9xF85ULs/s1600/Toaster%252520USB%252520Hub.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />"I have too many USB ports," said no one, ever.<br /><br />From smartphones and notebook-thin laptops to USB necklaces and "smart socks," our lives are becoming increasingly in sync with all things digital. But as companies come up with new and exciting gadgets, we're running out of space to use them.<br /><br />In this list, we bring you 15 of the coolest and most creative USB hubs to ensure that you never run out of space to connect your electronic lifelines. You'll find a poodle, a skull, a toaster and even a 24-port monster USB hub to maximize your technological prowess.

15 Kooky USB Hubs

"I have too many USB ports," said no one, ever. From smartphones and notebook-thin laptops to USB necklaces and "smart socks,...

Watch: Tesla Shows Off 90-Second Battery Swapping

8:17 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqJ3RDTcMKQKU593IZ8EM-DWBHZXBxlf_jLCajG-So4EwFDM6qxnkdaLEjEDnmYeHHwLsFO18ky9NLWoV8RCd9UEjpQ4DyrL5Q398MRUIy02g51nAA2udYsGmhLWWYFWJ-WBujR_CRPs/s1600/tesla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqJ3RDTcMKQKU593IZ8EM-DWBHZXBxlf_jLCajG-So4EwFDM6qxnkdaLEjEDnmYeHHwLsFO18ky9NLWoV8RCd9UEjpQ4DyrL5Q398MRUIy02g51nAA2udYsGmhLWWYFWJ-WBujR_CRPs/s1600/tesla.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Tesla Motors has designed its Model S to be capable of fast battery swapping, which can ultimately prove to be a better solution than charging the car battery.<br /><br />According to Tesla, swapping a battery in the Model S takes about 90 seconds, and the driver never has to get out of the car. The process is as simple as driving the car onto a designated spot, where a platform rises up from the ground, removes the depleted battery and installs a new one. <br /><br />Now, Tesla has demonstrated the battery-swapping capabilities of the Model S on video. The clip shows a comparison between filling up a regular gas guzzler and exchanging the battery on the model S, which happens in about 90 seconds. In fact, Tesla manages to exchange the battery on another Model S in the time it takes to fill up a regular, gasoline-powered car.

Watch: Tesla Shows Off 90-Second Battery Swapping

Tesla Motors has designed its Model S to be capable of fast battery swapping, which can ultimately prove to be a better solution than chargi...

Hands On With the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom

8:15 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxqEWE-tQhd_vUkkj8n0biu8pNpc9S8aG5QIuHg5lnIBwNy68yw6fTLmKeKl1-YP3iNdI_exR1T5FpvHgWD3DUf_jlCoNywpuiB-CYe3ob5NK4Sa5XK4iRugmxPU9KRhVbZPQcbmxH9k/s1600/Samsung%2520Livestream%2520Product%2520Release,%2520June%25202013%2520(25%2520of%252033).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxqEWE-tQhd_vUkkj8n0biu8pNpc9S8aG5QIuHg5lnIBwNy68yw6fTLmKeKl1-YP3iNdI_exR1T5FpvHgWD3DUf_jlCoNywpuiB-CYe3ob5NK4Sa5XK4iRugmxPU9KRhVbZPQcbmxH9k/s1600/Samsung%2520Livestream%2520Product%2520Release,%2520June%25202013%2520(25%2520of%252033).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is for anyone who wants better photos from their phone, but doesn't want to add too much bulk. Handling it at a product demo in New York City today, I was surprised about how small the device is, and it did a decent job of capturing images of distant objects with a minimum of blur due to camera shake.<br /><br />While the S4 Zoom is small and light for a 16-megapixel point-and-shoot camera, it's definitely bulkier than your typical smartphone. The lens in back adds about a half-inch to the thickness when retracted, and the bottom of the phone has some extra chunk to provide a grip when using it as a camera. Size-wise, it's somewhere between the GS4 Mini (both have a 4.3-inch screen) and the Galaxy Camera.<br /><br />At 10x zoom, you need some serious image stabilization to get anything other than blurry shots, and the S4 Zoom did a good job helping me capture decently sharp images of the faces of people who were several feet away from me. It couldn't work miracles — I still had to hold steady to avoid blur, but it performed better than expected.<br /><br />The Zoom has an interesting (literal) twist: When you rotate the lens dial while doing anything in Android, a circular menu appears. From it, you can keep twisting to select from different camera modes, some of which are customizable. If you like shooting macro shots often, you can make that one of the options, and the dial provides a quick way to open the camera directly in that mode.<br /><br />The S4 Zoom also benefits from the Galaxy Camera family (which now includes the Galaxy NX): The onscreen manual controls are great, and you also get an app that suggests things close by that are photo-worthy.

Hands On With the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is for anyone who wants better photos from their phone, but doesn't want to add too much bulk. Handling it at...

Remote Brake Lights Warn of Danger Before You Can See It

8:13 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhnbeglHKxhGuhgjqZmnCuUH5fM2ASEQqYBt5dQTpdVNatm0mSl9x0tJg_eIG7_LBHjj58kZTt-UEUbDDa9psOWvtLk8NkDNoKENsIGycRsGbQwzZxZuId39bwAlmSVc4I-_jY3Np7Fs/s1600/brake-lights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhnbeglHKxhGuhgjqZmnCuUH5fM2ASEQqYBt5dQTpdVNatm0mSl9x0tJg_eIG7_LBHjj58kZTt-UEUbDDa9psOWvtLk8NkDNoKENsIGycRsGbQwzZxZuId39bwAlmSVc4I-_jY3Np7Fs/s1600/brake-lights.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Ford is working on remote brake lights that wirelessly warn drivers, who see a dashboard light illuminate when there's danger ahead.<br /><br />It's easy to see the brake lights of a panic-stopping car right in front of you, but what if that car ahead is around a corner, over a hill or driving through a dense fog or rainstorm? Ford is testing technology that can warn you of such danger, part of its Safe Intelligent Mobility (SIM) research project that involves 20 futuristic systems that could make cars safer.<br /><br />he remote brake-light system would be particularly adept at avoiding chain reaction collisions, where a car far ahead of you comes to a sudden stop and multiple cars can't stop in time to avoid a multi-car collision. With this brake light on your dashboard, you'll be warned of panic stops before you become directly involved in their aftermath.<br /><br />Car-to-car communication is a crucial link in the development of self-driving vehicles. Companies such as Google have already developed extremely smart cars that can drive themselves, but the safety of such systems will be even closer to perfection if cars can communicate their intent with each other.<br /><br />Ford is not the only company working on these types of communication. For instance, Mercedes announced on Thursday that its first car-to-car communication system would launch this year. Company representatives wrote in a press release that the Mercedes technology would enhance existing smart driver-assist technologies such as adaptive cruise control, adding the ability to receive information about road conditions and accidents. <br /><br />Ford's field testing of its SIM tech took place in Frankfurt, Germany, with what Ford said was 500 test drivers in 120 vehicles. According to Ford, those test subjects spent more than 41,000 hours on public roads and on a closed track testing the technology.

Remote Brake Lights Warn of Danger Before You Can See It

Ford is working on remote brake lights that wirelessly warn drivers, who see a dashboard light illuminate when there's danger ahead. It&...

AT&T's Pantech Flex gets Jelly Bean update

8:09 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PhdsJLeHO2fGVJBZBDJp2zQ1XEmpKlzE1gO2GaK2q4z1LmhTybHa2iZWU3O8mnMocksDHW7BK9Jb0cj0gAhUvK6aO3Y9-YAH84kyTlm5sGtqzZDWbSFpeqcKl7X2uTsAFAx2GWtmhkQ/s1600/pantech-flex-front_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PhdsJLeHO2fGVJBZBDJp2zQ1XEmpKlzE1gO2GaK2q4z1LmhTybHa2iZWU3O8mnMocksDHW7BK9Jb0cj0gAhUvK6aO3Y9-YAH84kyTlm5sGtqzZDWbSFpeqcKl7X2uTsAFAx2GWtmhkQ/s1600/pantech-flex-front_0.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><br />AT&T today announced that its Pantech Flex is receiving an over-the-air update to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. That means you'll be able to get things like Google Now, the latest Google Voice Search and better accessibility features, too, with options for external Braille input and output, and Bluetooth and gestures for the visually impaired. <br /><br />Plus you get those fancy Jelly Bean notifications that the kids are all talking about. AT&T says those with the Flex should receive a text message alerting them to the update.

AT&T's Pantech Flex gets Jelly Bean update

AT&T today announced that its Pantech Flex is receiving an over-the-air update to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. That means you'll be abl...

Hands-on with the LG Optimus F3

8:07 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSsVo27jQj_b0MlxVOooJL49gNIjN5KCimOLT6Mybi1idl-gVHZoW_mo0K6aCF4Ftwf9T3pNAatgaukRfi90X1HzbHND2KLLslS9gpOA_kY0fedwLbAfC7ypm1MbANKTNw8pgOn48qTw/s1600/optimus_f3_hero_new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSsVo27jQj_b0MlxVOooJL49gNIjN5KCimOLT6Mybi1idl-gVHZoW_mo0K6aCF4Ftwf9T3pNAatgaukRfi90X1HzbHND2KLLslS9gpOA_kY0fedwLbAfC7ypm1MbANKTNw8pgOn48qTw/s1600/optimus_f3_hero_new.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Sprint was on hand at last night's Pepcom showcase to highlight its next cream-of-the-entry-level-crop, the LG Optimus F3, available now for a mere $30 on contract. It's undoubtedly a starter phone, designed specifically with the blind and visually impaired thanks to its bundled Google TalkBack software. With extensive text-to-speech capabilities, the F3 is the go-to device for those looking for a budget-conscious, entry-level-friendly handset.<br /><br />The F3 packs a 4-inch WVGA display, a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, and Gorilla Glass 2, with a 2,650 mAh battery and Android 4.1 thrown in to spice up the spec sheet -- a bit under whelming for the power user yet totally respectable for the first-time buyer. I've said it once and I'll say it a million times: entry-level devices are becoming more and more capable, and the Optimus F3 is very much a well-made, albeit bottom-rung LG device.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagwonj2DDpkbtfH1oO2I5mnZiArPa1T2sXGE6HA0MBBXd75MUTU9vrZwofLeK55gJTJRzDLVd8Pb0IeiqMgWwUSiL5IIbJUYTkCcSRMU6KYYii5FjiW76ydyTbXCRa3dWuIqIhRUyubk/s1600/optimus_f3-1_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagwonj2DDpkbtfH1oO2I5mnZiArPa1T2sXGE6HA0MBBXd75MUTU9vrZwofLeK55gJTJRzDLVd8Pb0IeiqMgWwUSiL5IIbJUYTkCcSRMU6KYYii5FjiW76ydyTbXCRa3dWuIqIhRUyubk/s1600/optimus_f3-1_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />The Optimus F3 ships in both silver and purple and is available now in Sprint stores and on sprint.com for $29 with a two year contract.  Shots of the device can be found after the break.<br /><br />

Hands-on with the LG Optimus F3

Sprint was on hand at last night's Pepcom showcase to highlight its next cream-of-the-entry-level-crop, the LG Optimus F3, available now...

Behold, the Samsung Galaxy S4 in red

8:04 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zc06E4Ue8cxbhdfO0fd0zz54IQu3XvfRvngTQd-CXm0y-xWXkBG6FBBsCZ1oOVh7Hj4M6f9M04_HYivhZQCqXj9QnR9SA87nQyWtFeM2cvp_n5MQfl6gJyk200hRCXPXp9q3gpbhMQI/s1600/galaxy-s4-red-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zc06E4Ue8cxbhdfO0fd0zz54IQu3XvfRvngTQd-CXm0y-xWXkBG6FBBsCZ1oOVh7Hj4M6f9M04_HYivhZQCqXj9QnR9SA87nQyWtFeM2cvp_n5MQfl6gJyk200hRCXPXp9q3gpbhMQI/s1600/galaxy-s4-red-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Samsung didn't stop with just a handful of new devices today -- the company also gave its flagship best seller, the Galaxy S4, a new paint job. Five of them, actually.<br /><br />Among the colors introduced is Red Aurora, which reps had in tow at tonight's Pepcom event here in New York. It's a welcome addition to the standard black and white, and along with the purple, pink, and brown versions also introduced today, just about every taste should be satisfied.<br /><br />The red paint job is well done, and for now, appears to be limited to AT&T availability in the U.S. That could change, of course, but no word on when just yet. If you're in the market for an S4 and appreciate some color in your life, it might be worth holding out for the additions.

Behold, the Samsung Galaxy S4 in red

Samsung didn't stop with just a handful of new devices today -- the company also gave its flagship best seller, the Galaxy S4, a new pai...

LG headed to New York City on Aug. 7

8:02 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cxoYLTRxIM7qkBU7Dplhyu2ZFUvo8dOExFPB4recgedoIZzl3YxRHC1VU5lLFnoNyV1qX53T5Yye3AYsft4IfheWSbqBTqpG5B0Dtq33mf7ra1VtXBEC0ZZRKZUhA0_ytaZStIF3LPk/s1600/androidcentral-bugdroid-lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cxoYLTRxIM7qkBU7Dplhyu2ZFUvo8dOExFPB4recgedoIZzl3YxRHC1VU5lLFnoNyV1qX53T5Yye3AYsft4IfheWSbqBTqpG5B0Dtq33mf7ra1VtXBEC0ZZRKZUhA0_ytaZStIF3LPk/s1600/androidcentral-bugdroid-lg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />LG just dropped a little something in our inbox, giving advance warning of an "international media event" going down Aug. 7 in New York City. We're suckers for international media events, especially if they're in our backyard.<br /><br />What to expect? There's a pretty good possibility we'll see that "successor" to the Optimus G that both LG and Qualcomm were teasing just yesterday, with its Snapdragon 800 processor in tow.

LG headed to New York City on Aug. 7

LG just dropped a little something in our inbox, giving advance warning of an "international media event" going down Aug. 7 in New...

Pakistan, Afghanistan trade accusations at UN over extremist havens

3:57 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdZuW1qVbHsObjfo449vK6ZF3KiggoKwvRWoeTkNrwondSyjGmpU6RZE-j4UtEKxkwwKGHxilJdnftmU0a_WDVwHIVmjjMHs15kLWuue-4tQdZd4g7Wh90cB7m6V5V3i8jwdmRsq_gQQ/s1600/51c35b406f44d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdZuW1qVbHsObjfo449vK6ZF3KiggoKwvRWoeTkNrwondSyjGmpU6RZE-j4UtEKxkwwKGHxilJdnftmU0a_WDVwHIVmjjMHs15kLWuue-4tQdZd4g7Wh90cB7m6V5V3i8jwdmRsq_gQQ/s1600/51c35b406f44d.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>UNITED NATIONS: Afghanistan and Pakistan traded accusations in the UN Security Council on Thursday over the whereabouts of extremists on their porous border as the United Nations described increased tensions between the neighbors as “unfortunate and dangerous.”</b><br /><br />Afghanistan's UN envoy, Zahir Tanin, told a council debate on the situation in Afghanistan that “terrorist sanctuaries continue to exist on Pakistan's soil and some elements continue to use terrorism as an instrument of foreign policy.”<br /><br />Pakistan's UN ambassador, Masood Khan, said “terrorists operate on both sides of the porous border” and that many attacks against Pakistan were planned on Afghan soil. He said aggressive policing and border surveillance were needed.<br /><br />“We must not allow terrorists to manipulate and divide the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Khan told the council. <br /><br />“When President Karzai meets our leadership he's most gracious, engaging, he's a statesman, but when he talks to the media he says things which inflame sentiment and that's most unhelpful and destabilising,” Khan said. “We have given very restrained responses.”<br /><br />Pakistan's military played a key role in convincing Afghan Taliban leaders to hold talks with the United States, US and Pakistani officials said, although Afghan anger at fanfare over the opening of the Taliban's Qatar office this week has since delayed preliminary discussions.<br /><br />“We were talking to multiple interlocutors behind the scenes and we have been asking them to participate in these talks, (telling them) that we think the war should come to an end,” Khan told Reuters.

Pakistan, Afghanistan trade accusations at UN over extremist havens

UNITED NATIONS: Afghanistan and Pakistan traded accusations in the UN Security Council on Thursday over the whereabouts of extremists on the...

Brazil in turmoil as thousands take to the streets

3:53 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhfthY0YD5bCFMvvMzd9XTtBhJyHn2MWGLXMB_Ootq9JwXUd85XBjPw1-b1UqBC7rC3_dEgI9iaNjNFjjcyiBtio-hBistbMSYHOlnCXcI582YwDTRpp-9Pwe0Nx7CSzIl6vLGq4UiJ4/s1600/51c3ddc9bce95.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhfthY0YD5bCFMvvMzd9XTtBhJyHn2MWGLXMB_Ootq9JwXUd85XBjPw1-b1UqBC7rC3_dEgI9iaNjNFjjcyiBtio-hBistbMSYHOlnCXcI582YwDTRpp-9Pwe0Nx7CSzIl6vLGq4UiJ4/s1600/51c3ddc9bce95.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>SAO PAULO: Demonstrators took to the streets once again across Latin America's biggest country in a new wave of protests that have mobilized hundreds of thousands of people denouncing poor public services and government corruption.</b><br /><br />The biggest of the more than 80 protests appeared to hit Rio de Janeiro, where tens of thousands of people waving flags and carrying banners blocked several streets and avenues in a peaceful demonstration. Police cordoned off the area around Rio's iconic Maracana Stadium, worried that protesters would try to disrupt the Confederations Cup soccer match under way inside.<br /><br />Crowds also gathered in dozens of other towns as well on the main street of Brazil's biggest city, Sao Paulo, marking a week since protests first erupted there over a hike in subway and bus fares. The demonstrations have since ballooned into a national phenomenon, with many middle-class Brazilians hitting the streets to decry a spectrum of everyday problems amid a commodities-fueled economic boom. <br /><br />In the northeastern city of Salvador, police shot tear gas canisters and rubber bullets to disperse a small crowd of protesters trying to break through a police barrier blocking one of the city's streets. One woman was injured in her foot. Elsewhere in Salvador some 5,000 protesters gathered in Campo Grand Square. <br /><br />Despite the energy on the street, many protesters said they were unsure how the movement would win real political concessions. People in the protests held up signs asking for everything from education reforms to free bus fare. They've also denounced the billions of public dollars spent on stadiums in advance of the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics to be held in Rio. <br /><br />Several city leaders have already accepted protester demands to revoke an increase in bus and subway fares in the hopes that anti-government anger cools. In Sao Paulo, where demonstrators blocked Paulista Avenue, organizers said they would turn their demonstration into a party celebrating the lower transit fares. But many believe the protests are no longer just about bus fares and have become larger cries for systemic changes. That message went to the heart of Brazilian power, the capital of Brasilia, which saw its largest demonstration yet with 20.000 people gathered in the Esplanada dos Ministerios, the government center.<br /><br />The crowd marched down the enormous plaza with signs highlighting different causes and rainbow flags defending gay rights. Many also denounced a pending bill in Brazil's Congress that would allow psychologists to treat homosexuality as an illness. Police formed a barrier in front of Congress to keep protesters from climbing on the roof of the building as they did Monday, when 10,000 protesters filled the capital.

Brazil in turmoil as thousands take to the streets

SAO PAULO: Demonstrators took to the streets once again across Latin America's biggest country in a new wave of protests that have mobil...

Obama to nominate Jim Comey as next FBI chief on Friday: official

3:51 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VhJkCzQVJQCdyltBBhAP4D_DsaZSc5nRZ2mHzOIxCt0YokNw99q2SOX8UYTtJYBhyphenhyphenQPPWWDxtYzU9O_DcbcxDKcIcE1LwFv9ml6SHea68YovStliNZy0vFN2R3uonW9Ca4HP1hm2FFk/s1600/51c36b543620e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VhJkCzQVJQCdyltBBhAP4D_DsaZSc5nRZ2mHzOIxCt0YokNw99q2SOX8UYTtJYBhyphenhyphenQPPWWDxtYzU9O_DcbcxDKcIcE1LwFv9ml6SHea68YovStliNZy0vFN2R3uonW9Ca4HP1hm2FFk/s1600/51c36b543620e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama will nominate Jim Comey to be the next FBI director on Friday, picking a former Justice Department official who has deep experience in the US battle against terrorism, a White House official said on Thursday.</b><br /><br />If confirmed by the Senate, Comey, a Republican, would replace FBI Director Robert Mueller, who has led the agency since just before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Mueller is expected to step down this fall.

Obama to nominate Jim Comey as next FBI chief on Friday: official

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama will nominate Jim Comey to be the next FBI director on Friday, picking a former Justice Department offici...

Yahoo addresses privacy concerns over recycled user IDs

3:46 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheu5bRlVSoRPNibY8iavcSSWsith6eIAT8NBGdO8BUTsKFrwNl6VkYJvl82uIBDipgLKB9c-QZuWWpWac6D__0mslK6aCCMO5Ysst7zDi0kA8uQVKRHmeZTFq-hI-Znta5YvMtYUBMBQ/s1600/2014-06-20-image-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheu5bRlVSoRPNibY8iavcSSWsith6eIAT8NBGdO8BUTsKFrwNl6VkYJvl82uIBDipgLKB9c-QZuWWpWac6D__0mslK6aCCMO5Ysst7zDi0kA8uQVKRHmeZTFq-hI-Znta5YvMtYUBMBQ/s1600/2014-06-20-image-10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Last week Yahoo revealed plans to reset and re-issue inactive user IDs. The idea here is to once again make available desirable Yahoo IDs that have long since gone unused. It sounds like a win-win for everybody involved as users could get a shot at their preferred ID while Yahoo gets to do some house cleaning and gain some publicity in the process.<br /><br /> Yahoo noted that any ID that has been inactive for over a year will be subject to deactivation and ultimately made available again. Using that premise, let’s say you own two e-mail accounts: one for everyday use and another that’s simply given out when you create a new account online (your Yahoo account) for activation purposes.<br /><br />Most would agree that this is a pretty common practice as it routes unnecessary or potentially spammy messages to the latter account, keeping your main inbox nice and tidy. Now let’s also say that it’s been slightly longer than a year since you last logged into your Yahoo account and you somehow happened to miss this bit of news from Yahoo in the media.<br /><br /> It seems like a plausible scenario but Yahoo has you covered, or so they say. In a statement released on the matter, Yahoo said they are confident in their ability to free up desirable namespace in a way that is safe and secure. Here’s how.<br /><br />First, Yahoo points out that the vast majority of inactive Yahoo IDs don’t have a mailbox associated with them. Furthermore, all accounts will be purged of any previous user data before being made available again.<br /><br />Also, the company will initiate a 30-day grace period between deactivation and making the ID available to someone else. During that time, Yahoo will send bounce back e-mails to senders notifying them of the deactivation as well as send notifications to merchants, e-commerce sites, financial institutions, social networks, email providers and other online properties on your behalf.

Security Yahoo addresses privacy concerns over recycled user IDs

Last week Yahoo revealed plans to reset and re-issue inactive user IDs. The idea here is to once again make available desirable Yahoo IDs th...

AMD details first ARM-based server chip, codenamed "Seattle"

3:44 AM Tukiyooo 0

Late last year, following months of speculation, AMD finally revealed plans to build low-power server chips based on the ARM architecture. The move marked an interesting shift for the company in its attempt to challenge Intel’s dominance of the steadily growing data center market. AMD’s first 64-bit ARM-based chip isn’t expected to arrive until sometime in the second half of 2014 but this week the company offered up a few early details.<br /><br />Codenamed Seattle, the upcoming server part will be built around ARM's 64-bit Cortex-A57 and a 28nm manufacturing process. It will be made available in an 8-core configuration initially, with a 16-core variant to follow later, and is expected to reach clock speeds of at least 2GHz. Performance-wise, AMD says Seattle should be between 2 and 4 times faster than its Opteron X-Series with improvements in compute per watt.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zq74AUVSyn2BuBQj6U-sgEvuDqa8S-PDPPcUENLozS1MbJ1LfF5wZbsPfsGQWEZDgzVQX3fhZsEKdUGzmPKvAKbMCZibhaDvh07VRoLI5ro38s7ZSBYTdL5mgnzo0SgWWoO796sW9So/s1600/2014-06-20-image-12.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zq74AUVSyn2BuBQj6U-sgEvuDqa8S-PDPPcUENLozS1MbJ1LfF5wZbsPfsGQWEZDgzVQX3fhZsEKdUGzmPKvAKbMCZibhaDvh07VRoLI5ro38s7ZSBYTdL5mgnzo0SgWWoO796sW9So/s1600/2014-06-20-image-12.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Other features mentioned in AMD’s presentation include 128GB DRAM support, extensive offload engines for better power efficiency and reduced CPU loading, server calibre encryption and compression, and legacy networking including integrated 10GbE. This will also be the first AMD processor to utilize its Freedom Fabric technology for high-density low-power servers, acquired from SeaMicro last year.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5ZHy5tRZJKmwe2nYeXmJarI0yTtlV5pqsuClLSkh5ruSFJeqY5eMTDUhwVxrQ4XfeIeCynwt3s6ZrGUBlx6KllTVn4DQQy2-K5i-rqmXUEhSEkMSoF2nEDQVxjOtgytDgranZ0KlPOs/s1600/2014-06-20-image-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5ZHy5tRZJKmwe2nYeXmJarI0yTtlV5pqsuClLSkh5ruSFJeqY5eMTDUhwVxrQ4XfeIeCynwt3s6ZrGUBlx6KllTVn4DQQy2-K5i-rqmXUEhSEkMSoF2nEDQVxjOtgytDgranZ0KlPOs/s1600/2014-06-20-image-11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />AMD is confident ARM designs will win out in the long run and expects the architecture to have double digit market share by 2016. That doesn’t mean they are abandoning their x86 roots anytime soon, however. The company also plans release the “Berlin” and “Warsaw” x86 processor lines in the first half of 2014.

Security AMD details first ARM-based server chip, codenamed "Seattle"

Late last year, following months of speculation, AMD finally revealed plans to build low-power server chips based on the ARM architecture. T...

Researchers crack iOS-generated hotspot passwords in 24 seconds

3:41 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFX993MB3HMRVl2r3nS-V6OOPUg8QP2r1So6wMDbpaFtxWJmmookpIgo6-L1WUq0EwmZVZrjvOHrK3LqV6t7EvKuihad2JeqtOeSW-XmPbAfVlJPyagFXqfPOwvPBB0_h0maTyzeJIeto/s1600/lock-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFX993MB3HMRVl2r3nS-V6OOPUg8QP2r1So6wMDbpaFtxWJmmookpIgo6-L1WUq0EwmZVZrjvOHrK3LqV6t7EvKuihad2JeqtOeSW-XmPbAfVlJPyagFXqfPOwvPBB0_h0maTyzeJIeto/s1600/lock-1.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><br /> If you're an iPhone or iPad owner who uses hotspot mode but never bothered to change the seemingly-random password suggested by iOS, now is definitely a good time. German researchers have discovered (pdf) the passwords iOS issues can be easily predicted, allowing them to be cracked in as little as one minute using consumer hardware.<br /><br />The algorithm iOS uses to generate hotspot keys takes a dictionary word, adds a couple of numbers and voila -- an easily memorable password is born. The problem though, is despite the endless variety of words available in the English language, iOS draws its password inspiration from a narrow selection of just 1,842 words.<br /><br /> The second issue is certain words appear several times more frequently than other words. For example, out of nearly 2,000 words, "suave" had a 1-in-125 chance of being used. Meanwhile, "macaws" -- the tenth most-likely word to be used -- appeared 1-in-345 times. Knowing iOS' preferred word selection allows brute force crackers to start with the most common ones first, further reducing the time needed.<br /><br />A PC armed with a Radeon HD 6990 GPU was able to crack the average iPhone hotspot in 52 seconds while four Radeon HD 7970s yielded an average of just 24 seconds. GPUs are favored amongst crackers for their ability to perform massively parallell computations.<br /><br /> Of course, Apple doesn't have a monopoly on devices with easily cracked hotspot passwords. Windows Phone and some Android handsets don't fare much better.<br /><br />Windows Phone, for example, auto-generates hotspot passwords consisting of eight numbers. This means you already know what the password could be, making Windows Phone susceptible to brute force attacks. More research may reveal an additional weakness though, which could narrow that selection of 10^8 possibilities down to something even more tractable.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Android's default password generator conjures sufficiently strong passwords, but some vendors have taken the liberty of greatly reducing its effectiveness. "Android-based models of the smartphone and tablet manufacturer HTC are even shipped with constant default passwords consisting of a static string (1234567890)" researchers noted.

Security Researchers crack iOS-generated hotspot passwords in 24 seconds

If you're an iPhone or iPad owner who uses hotspot mode but never bothered to change the seemingly-random password suggested by iOS, no...

ArtRage review

3:34 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQbjiHwyf__xlYaD-7BUhLyJd9Uf1feInJh3jK9o1WOwzJ70M-25VlGD-WVKdA4CCQlD20xCPVQaCXqyI6K1aKbZcc5gkI4yu5RZC6Mtu_cGalZOMhMH3dwKZaZt5ioLiWdpbXRv48M8/s1600/Art_Rage_thumb.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQbjiHwyf__xlYaD-7BUhLyJd9Uf1feInJh3jK9o1WOwzJ70M-25VlGD-WVKdA4CCQlD20xCPVQaCXqyI6K1aKbZcc5gkI4yu5RZC6Mtu_cGalZOMhMH3dwKZaZt5ioLiWdpbXRv48M8/s1600/Art_Rage_thumb.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Painting is fun. Unfortunately, software for painting often gets a bad rep: I don't mean image-editing (Photoshop), but actual painting (Microsoft Paint). But Microsoft Paint is at the very bottom of the painting totem pole, often associated squiggly-looking Rage Guy memes. More modern tools like SpeedyPainter and Corel Painter Lite show that creating beautiful, natural-looking art using a computer is possible, and doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. ArtRage joins these accessible tools with its own touch-friendly interface and an attractive £25 price tag.<br /><br />ArtRage's interface is simple to pick up, with most functions in easy reach. I tested it with a simple stylus and one of the new breed of touchscreen-enabled laptops, the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13. Radial toolbars at the bottom two corners of the screen let me quickly switch tools and adjust colors without fiddling with menus. Other tools show up as floating panels, which are easy to drag and resize using large, comfortable grippers, and automatically wink out of existence as you paint near them. You can pan, zoom, and rotate the canvas with two fingers, making for a very natural workflow. While most of the interface is touch-friendly, it's not all quite there yet: Adjusting layer opacity still requires the keyboard, for example.<br /><br /><b>ArtRage: friendly interface, simple tools</b><br />Once you get used to the friendly interface and simple tools, it's time to start playing around with some of the more creative features. Symmetry makes it possible to create interesting, kaleidoscope-like drawings, while stencils and rulers let you constrict your work in interesting ways, for a more accurate, geometric look. Stencils and rulers are made to look like physical objects lying on top of your canvas: You can drag them around and resize them, but they look like pieces of plastic or metal. ArtRage supports layers, too, and you can blur individual layers, adjust their blend modes, change their textures, and more.<br /><br />When zooming in for detail work, it often helps to keep the big picture in mind. When watching videos made with SpeedyPainter, I noticed just how often artists would zoom in and out, again and again, to get a sense of how the work is progressing. ArtRage helps avoid this by offering a feature called Views. A View works like a little Polaroid snap of your painting that lies on top of your canvas while you zoom in to work on the details. Just like a physical Polaroid, you can drag the View around and rotate it. Unlike its real-world counterpart, you can also change a View's size, and zoom in or out on its contents. The same concept is used to show pieces of scrap canvas or other files for referenc.

Reviews ArtRage review

Painting is fun. Unfortunately, software for painting often gets a bad rep: I don't mean image-editing (Photoshop), but actual painting ...

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