At least 100 Indian websites have been defaced by
Pakistani hackers over the last two days.
The hacked websites include those of Chennai Medical
College Hospital and Research Centre (www.cmchrc.ac.in)
and singer Daler Mehndi (www.dalermehndi.com), said
Mirza Faizan, member of the Global Cyber Security
Response Team (GCSRT), Bangalore. Several index files of
government websites too were targeted, he said.
The hacked websites not only carried anti-India messages
and pictures under Pakistan Zindabad headline, but also
derogatory statements against Prime Minister Narendra
Modi.
The anti-India statements referred to the Kashmir issue and
the exchange of fire on the India-Pakistan border.“So
Indian Kids What You Think You’ve Become Hero by
Redfacing a Simple Site of PPP Which Already Have [SIC]
Been Hacked Several Times”, read the message posted on
some of the hacked websites.
The present round of cyber war between India and Pakistan
began after Indian hackers defaced the website of the
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) following its leader Bilawal
Bhutto’s remarks on Kashmir.
Pakistani hackers, who retaliated by targeting the website
of the Press Club of India, have continued their offensive on
other Indian websites.
Friday 10 October 2014
Pakistani hackers deface Indian websites
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi
On his maiden trip to India, Facebook co-founder and
one of the world’s youngest billionaires Mark
Zuckerberg on Friday called on Prime Minister
Narendra Modi to discuss digital expansion in the
country.
Zuckerberg, who arrived here on Thursday, met Modi
this evening but neither the Prime Minister’s Office nor
Facebook disclosed details of the meeting.
Coming soon: Operate your smartphone with gestures
Scientists at ETH Zurich have developed a new app enabling users to operate their smartphone with gestures. One has to now hold the phone in one hand and move the other in the air above its built-in camera making gestures that resemble sign language.
Sometimes you move your index finger to the left, sometimes to the right. You can spread out your fingers, or imitate a pair of pliers or the firing of a pistol.
By mimicking the firing of a pistol, for example, a user can switch to another browser tab, change the map's view from satellite to standard, or shoot down enemy planes in a game. Spreading out your fingers magnifies a section of a map or scrolls the page of a book forwards. All this gesturing wizardry is made possible by a new type of algorithm developed by Jie Song, a master's student in the working group headed by Professor Otmar Hilliges.
The program uses the smartphone's built-in camera to register its environment. It does not evaluate depth or colour. The information it does register — the shape of the gesture, the parts of the hand — is reduced to a simple outline that is classified according to stored gestures. The program then executes the command associated with the gesture it observes. The program also recognizes the hand's distance from the camera and warns the user when the hand is either too close or too far away.
The program currently recognizes six different gestures and executes their corresponding commands.
Although the researchers have tested 16 outlines, this is not the app's theoretical limit. What matters is that gestures generate unambiguous outlines.
The researchers presented the app to an audience of industry professionals at the UIST symposium in Honolulu recently.
"Many movement-recognition programs need plenty of processor and memory power," explains Hilliges, adding that their new algorithm uses a far smaller portion of computer memory and is thus ideal for smartphones. He believes the application is the first of its kind that can run on a smartphone. The app's minimal processing footprint means it could also run on smart watches or in augmented-reality glasses.
He is convinced that this new way of operating smartphones greatly increases the range of interactivity. The researcher's objective is to keep the gestures as simple as possible, so that users can operate their smartphone effortlessly.
He says gesture control will not replace touchscreen control, but supplement it. "People got used to operating computer games with their movements." Touchscreens, Hilliges reminds us, also required a very long adjustment period before making a big impact in consumers' lives.
LG G Watch, Samsung Gear Live now available on Google Play Store in India
LG G Watch is available for purchase at a price of Rs 14,999 with deliveries starting July 8. The watch is available in Black Titan and White Gold colours.
Samsung Gear Live is also listed at Rs 15,900 with a 'coming soon' tag.
Samsung's Gear Live and LG's G Watch are the first devices to adopt the new Google software specifically designed for wearables. Both watches can be used with any Smartphone running Android 4.3 and above.
LG G Watch sports a 1.65-inch IPS LCD(280x280p) display. It is also powered by a 1.2 GHz Processor and 512MB RAM, and comes with 4GB internal storage. It has a 400mAh battery. LG G Watch comes with changeable straps, accelerometer, gyroscope and compass, and is dust and water resistant(IP67).
Samsung Gear Live sports a 1.63-inch Super AMOLED(320x320p) display. It is powered by a 1.2 GHz Processor and 512MB RAM, and comes with 4GB internal storage. It has a 300mAh battery and features a heart rate monitor. Gear Live comes with changeable straps, accelerometer, gyroscope and compass, and is dust and water resistant(IP67).
The smartwatches are equipped with Google's voice recognition service and can perform simple tasks including checking email, sending text messages and carrying out an online search at users' voice command.
The two devices cannot make phone calls by themselves but can be connected to many of the latest Android-based smartphones, the South Korean companies said in separate statements.
LG G Watch is available online for pre-order in 12 countries including the United States, France and Japan. It will be available in 27 additional markets including Brazil and Russia in early July.
Samsung introduced its Android-based Galaxy Gear smartwatch last year but it was given a lukewarm reception by consumers.
The second edition, Gear 2, was unveiled in February and based on Samsung's own Tizen softwear in a move to break free of its heavy reliance on Google's Android platform.
Samsung's arch rival Apple is believed to be set to launch its own smartwatch soon, while Google is moving towards a wide consumer launch of its eyewear Google Glass later this year.
Chinese smartphone maker Huawei also unveiled a connected watch called TalkBand.
Global smartwatch sales are expected to grow this year by more than 500% from 1.9 million units in 2013, according to the market researcher Strategic Analytics.
With Agency Inputs
Xbox One vs PlayStation 4: Which one should you buy?
Specifications
This time around, both consoles have similar technology under the hood. The PlayStation 4 has a 1.6GHz custom x86 8-core processor, very similar to the Xbox One's 8-core CPU at 1.75GHz; both use AMD's Jaguar architecture. What makes a big difference, as always, is the RAM. While both have 8GB RAM, the PlayStation 4 has faster GDDR5 RAM clocked at 5500MHz with a 256-bit memory bus. On the other hand, Xbox One has 8GB DDR3 RAM, like the one you have in your PC, clocked at 2133MHz. The numbers do seem to tip in the PlayStation 4's favour.
Winner: PlayStation 4, with powerful RAM
Graphics
What's gaming without great graphics. While both systems use the same AMD Radeon GPU, a lot of reputable sources have dissected both Xbox One and Playstation 4 to find the Sony console packing a lot more GPU power with 1152 GPU cores at 800MHz as compared to Xbox One's 768 shader cores and at 852MHz (which Microsoft revised from 800MHz).
Couple PS4's core superiority with the GDDR5 RAM above and there's a lot more power in there for new technologies to take advantage of. While all games will look impressive on both consoles, in the long term, as graphic engines get more and more complex, the PS4 will be able to last this cycle longer.
Winner: Again, PlayStation 4, with more GPU power
Style/form factor
Last console war, Xbox 360 came out with an impressive design that made the PS3 pale in comparison. While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the form factor winner this time clearly is the PlayStation 4. With its sleek unique slant design, the PS4 just looks beautiful on your console table, without taking too much of space. Xbox One does have nice minimalist aesthetics, but the console itself is massive without factoring in the gigantic power brick and the large Kinect unit. Again, this round may go to the PlayStation, but it purely depends on your aesthetic taste.
Tie: You pick what you like, though the PS4 takes a lot less space
Controller
Nintendo Wii showed the world that there are more fun ways to control games, making the controller go beyond just a piece of plastic with buttons. The Xbox One controller is sadly just an updated version of the Xbox 360 controller, which was excellent in its own right, but for a new generation, there should be more. The new controller does look good, and packs an IR sensor for Kinect.
In terms of innovation, Sony's DualShock 4 controller leads in features, with a small touch pad in the center, a clearly defined options button and an instant share button for those Twitch and social share moments. In addition to that, it updates the sixaxis, and sports a light in the centre for motion sensing.
Win: Playstation 4's feature packed DualShock 4
Microsoft's Kinect is a groundbreaking innovation with a host of good games like Dance Central, as well as a lot of health and fitness games utilizing it. Microsoft has shown off some truly jaw dropping, foot-pumping games during E3 this year. While PlayStation 4 does have a camera similar to Kinect as well as a few things like Project Morpheus VR glasses in the works, the Kinect definitely seems a lot more exciting.
Win: Kinect
Games
While all games generally make it to all platforms including PC, both Microsoft and Sony are pulling out all the stops in the exclusive game department. So far Sony's exclusives have been middling at best with Infamous and Killzone putting on a decent show. Though with BloodBorne and Uncharted 4 in the pipeline, the PS4 has a fighting chance.
Xbox One, apart from the really good Kinect lineup, has Sunset Overdrive, Forza and the eyeball searingly good Quantum Break. There are also timed exclusives, where Xbox One scored the new Rise of the Tomb Raider and PS4 got the beautiful No Mans Sky, a game that will take you 5 billion years to see all of it.
Tie: Again, it depends on what games you're looking forward to
Service and failure
With the Xbox service, Microsoft has always been spot on with warranty, with quick console replacements, even though the Xbox 360 failure rate was pretty high with the accursed Red Ring of Death, the bane of every gamer. PlayStation 3 had a better run, though Sony's service has always been a bit spotty.
There have been reports constantly coming in from PlayStation 4 owners about their dealings with Sony service when getting their console replacements, which seem to take ages. The PlayStation 4 has seen a few cases in terms of failure, mostly in the Blu Ray failure department. Nevertheless, the replacements do arrive eventually. Going by Xbox 360's failure rate, new Xbox One owners should keep their warranty cards safely.
Tie: Post the experiences you had with Sony or Microsoft, whether good or bad, and hopefully it should help prospective buyers. It could also work as a wake up call to both console giants to up their service game.
Price
Xbox One is priced at Rs 45,990 with Kinect and the PlayStation 4 retails at Rs 39,999, the same as the Xbox One without Kinect. You can get the PS4 a bit cheaper as various online sites like Snapdeal and Flipkart run discounts periodically. If you do plan on going in for an Xbox One, make sure you pick up the one with Kinect for a little bit more.
Conclusion
Out of the seven points illustrated, PlayStation 4 seems the logical winner, winning three of the points and the Xbox bagging just one. The rest are ties that depend upon what games you want to play and which console you like the best in looks. Though the PlayStation 4 leads in specs, the Kinect more than makes up for it, bridging the power gap with sheer magical fun, but at a bit of a price jump. You could either choose one, both or use that money to build a killer gaming PC.
Xbox One India launch: All you need to know
The hardware
Let's take a look at what's running under the hood of Microsoft's latest console.
Optical drive: Blu-Ray/DVD
Game DVR: Yes, Upload Studio
HDCP encryption: No for games
RAM: 8GB DDR3
Flash memory: 8GB flash memory
CPU: 8-core AMD custom CPU operating at frequency of 1.75GHz
GPU: Durango graphics processor operating at frequency of 853MHz
Storage: 500GB hard drive non-replaceable (external hard drive support available)
Second screen: SmartGlass app on Android, iOS, Windows Phone and Windows 8
Cloud storage: Yes
Mandatory game installs: Yes
Required internet connection: No
Backwards compatibility: None
Cross-game chat: Skype, Party Chat
Motion control: Kinect 2
Voice commands: Yes (through Kinect 2)
Subscription service: Xbox Live required for online play
USB: USB 3.0 x3
Live streaming: Yes, with Twitch.TV
Networking: Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi
A/V hookups: HDMI input and output (4K support)
API: DirectX 11.2
Mouse and keyboard support: Yes
Games out now
A console is only as good as the games available on it, and here's a quick look at some of the exclusive Xbox One games that will be available at launch.
Dead Rising 3 (Now available on PC) Ryse: Son of Rome (Coming soon to PC)
The Fighter Within Forza Motorsport 5
Killer Instinct Kinect Sports Rivals Zoo Tycoon
Plants Vs Zombies: Garden Warfare (Now available on PC and PS4)
Forza Horizon 2 (30th September 2014)
Sunset Overdrive (31st October 2014) Halo: The Master Chief Collection (14th November 2014) Quantum Break (2015)
Rise of the Tomb Raider (Timed exclusive)
Halo 5: Guardians (2015) Scalebound (2015)
Ori and the Blind Forest (2015)
Crackdown 3 (2015)
Indian pricing
So you've made up your mind, and you wish to purchase the Xbox One? Here are the Indian prices of everything from hardware to software to first party accessories that are expected at launch.
Hardware
Xbox One Console (with Kinect): Rs 45,990
Bundled games: FIFA 15, Dance Central Spotlight DLC
Xbox One console (without Kinect) - Rs 39,990
Bundled games: FIFA 15
Launch games
Destiny: Rs 4,299
Kinect Sports Rivals: Rs 4,199
Watch Dogs: Rs 3,750
Forza Horizon 2: Rs 4,299 Forza Motorsport 5: Rs 4,199
Dead Rising 3: Rs 4,199
Ryse: Son of Rome: Rs 4,199 Battlefield 4: Rs 2,950 The Crew: Rs 3,499
Assassin's Creed Unity: Rs 3,499
Fighter Within: Rs 1,383
GTA V: Rs 3,499
The Evil Within: Rs 4,299
Just Dance 2015: Rs 2,999
Tom Clancy's The Division: Rs 3,499
Call of Duty: Ghosts: Rs 3,994
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag: Rs 4,524
Far Cry 4 (Limited Edition): Rs 3,499
Forza Motorsport 5 (Limited Edition): Rs 6,328
NBA 2K15: Rs 2,999
PES 2015: Pro Evolution Soccer: Rs 3,499
WWE 2K15: Rs 2,999
Evolve: Rs 3,499
Titanfall - Rs 3,816
FIFA 14: Rs 4,241
Plants Vs Zombies: Garden Warfare: Rs 3,128
Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Rs 3,135
Alien: Isolation: Rs 3,499
Angry Birds: Star Wars: Rs 2,353
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (Limited Edition): Rs 8,151
Call of Duty: Ghosts Hardened Edition: Rs 5,834
Dying Light: Rs 3,499
Electronic Arts Madden NFL 25: Rs 2,738
Just Dance 2014: Rs 3,999
Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham: Rs 2,499
Lego Movie Video Game: Rs 5,467
Mad Max: Rs 3,499
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes: Rs 3,499
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor: Rs 3,499
NBA 2K14: Rs 4,000
NBA Live 14: Rs 1,962
Need For Speed Rivals: Rs 3,211
Rayman Legends: Rs 4,187
Shape Up: Rs 2,999
Thief: Rs 3,995
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition: Rs 4,032
Zoo Tycoon: Rs 3,519
Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition: Rs 8,998
Accessories
Xbox One Wireless Controller: Rs 3,999
Xbox One Play And Charge Kit: Rs 1,899
Xbox One Media Remote: Rs 1,899
Xbox One Chat Headset: Rs 3,013
Xbox One Stereo Headset: Rs 5,999
Xbox Live 3 Month Gold Card: Rs 867
Xbox Live 1 Month Gold Card: Rs 360
FAQ with Anshu Mor, Xbox India head
IGN India had the chance to catch up with Anshu Mor, head of Xbox in India to fire off some quick pre-launch questions. Feel free to share your doubts or questions in the comments below and we'll try and get them answered and added to this FAQ.
What apps will be available in the Indian marketplace at launch?
Initially, fans will get access to Skype, YouTube, Internet Explorer, OneDrive, Media Player preview, SmartGlass, GameDVR, Upload and Upload Studio. Twitch, Machinima, IGN, and a number of other apps will also be available at launch. We'll have a more complete list to share in the coming months including some very exciting local entertainment content based around movies and music.
Which apps will work without Kinect?
Xbox One with Kinect delivers the full all-in-one games and entertainment experience. As Kinect enables voice and gesture controls, some of these premium features on Xbox One are impacted with Kinect:
System Navigation: Kinect enables voice and gesture controls for navigating the menu. Without Kinect, users must take extra steps to launch and/or Snap apps. Games must be launched manually via pins or from the Games and Apps area. Biometric sign-in is disabled as well.
Games: Certain games that have optional Kinect features, such as head tracking in Forza Motorsport 5, will obviously be disabled without Kinect.
App functionality: Many apps are streamlined with Kinect. Twitch, Game DVR and Upload benefit from simple voice commands for broadcasting and recording gameplay and Natural Voice (where available) search is enabled through Bing. Without Kinect, users must take extra steps to access certain functions. Other features are disabled without Kinect, including video calls on Skype.
TV integration: Kinect enables users to control their TVs and set-top boxes via voice and HDMI-In. Without Kinect, users cannot turn paired TVs on and off via voice or change the volume.
Any plans to partner up with local providers?
We have no announcements to make right now on any local partnership. The HDMI Pass Thru for Set Top Box's would be available from Day 1 across all providers.
What kind of after sales service can Indian gamers expect from MS regarding the Xbox One? Are you offering international warranty for the Xbox One?
Gamers would be delighted to get the same after sales service for which we are well known. Our customer support process remains the same.
India will not offer international warranty, so any Xbox One console bought from outside India would not carry warranty in India. Since Xbox One is exclusively available on Amazon in India, it makes it simple for our consumers to buy from there and be assured of Warranty Support.
Now that the Xbox One is launching soon, any plans for a price drop on the Xbox 360?
There are no announcements on make right now on any price drop for Xbox 360.
Why distribute only through Amazon? Does this also mean no physical demo units of Xbox One will be available throughout the country?
Amazon is our partner of choice to drive a delightful buying experience on the Xbox Platform for our fans. Amazon India offers Indian gamers a single destination that provides access to the complete portfolio of games and accessories along with an extremely easy purchase mechanism thanks to Amazon's experienced and reliable delivery service.
That being said, you will see Xbox One demo units across the country. In fact we are committed to expand our experiential strategy to places that are frequented by our target audience.
Asus launches Chromebox in Indiastarting
launched Chromebox, a compact home or office computer
that runs on Chrome OS, in India.
"There has been an increase in demand for small form
factor mini and home theatre PCs and the Chromebox
would be a great alternative for such applications," Asus
country head-component business Vinay Shetty told
reporters here.
The product has the latest Haswell processors and
supports 4K ultra high definition video playback. Besides,
it also has built in virus protection system and updates
automatically.
"With Intel's latest Haswell processors and 4K ultra high
definition video playback and running Google's Chrome
OS, the Chromebox is a great new device for customers
looking for a mini PC," Shetty said. The Chromebox works
right out of the box with apps for work, play and
communicating online or offline, he said.
The product comes in three models ranging between Rs
21,000 and Rs 58,000. The three models are - Asus
Chromebox CN60 (Celeron) at Rs 21,000, Asus Chromebox
CN60 (Core i3) at Rs 36,500 and Asus Chromebox CN60
(Core i7) at Rs 58,000.
The company will initially make these products available
in its 40 exclusive stores across the country.
"We have around 112 exclusive stores in the country and
in the first phase, we will make the products available in
40 stores. Besides, it will also be available through online
platform. If the acceptability of the product grows, we will
also sell them through large formats," he said.
Explaining the features of the product, Shetty said,
"Chromebox boots up in a flash and instantly syncs with
Chrome across all the devices so you can bring the
bookmarks, preferences and extensions with you. With
100GB of free Google Drive space free for two years one
can access all the data and files in the cloud by logging
into their Google account."
The box comes with high performance 802.11 b/g/n dual-
band wireless, four USB 3.0 ports for fast data transfer,
HDMI and DisplayPort for connecting to the latest displays
and HDTVs, including support for dual displays and an SD
card reader for easily accessing stored photos and
documents, he said.
Instagram more popular among teenagers than Facebook, Twitter: Study
A new survey by an investment bank and
asset management firm, Piper Jaffray, revealed that 9 out
of 10 American teenagers use social media and consider
Instagram as the most popular site.
In the survey, analysts examined how kids' social media
preferences have changed over the last six months. They
found that Instagram has become even more popular, with
76% of teens currently saying they use it — up 7% since
last spring, CBS News reported.
Twitter ranked second, used by 59% of teens. Facebook
came in third, but saw its popularity decline significantly.
Just 45% of teens surveyed said they use the world's
biggest social network; its popularity has plummeted by
27% since last spring.
Pinterest and Tumblr each claimed a little over 20%.
Another 20% of teens said they use other social networks,
not named in the survey but likely including some popular
anonymous messaging services and the disappearing-
message app Snapchat.
Here's how to hide, secure data on iPhones, iPads and Galaxy devices
Apple got a lot of attention last week when it
released a new privacy policy along with a declaration that
police can't get to your password-protected data.
Essentially, your photos, messages and other documents
are automatically encrypted when you set up a passcode,
with or without a fingerprint ID to unlock the phone. Apple
says it cannot bypass that passcode, even if law
enforcement asks.
Google says it will also encrypt data by default in an
upcoming Android update. The option has been there, but
many people don't know about it or bother to turn it on.
Apple, Google and other tech companies have been trying
to depict themselves as trustworthy stewards of personal
information following revelations that the National
Security Agency (NSA) has been snooping on emails and
other communications as part of an effort to identify
terrorists. Apple is also trying to reassure customers
about its commitment to security and privacy after
hackers broke into online accounts of celebrities who had
personal photos stored on Apple's iCloud service.
Beyond setting up passcodes, some phones have
additional tools for hiding or securing sensitive photos
and documents stored on the phone, particularly if you
need to lend or show your phone to someone.
Here's a closer look at some of those options:
Apple's iPhones and iPads
In the latest software update for mobile devices, iOS 8,
Apple offers an easier way to hide photos from your
collection in the Photos app. Simply press down on the
photo or the thumbnail of it and tap "Hide."
However, the photo will still appear in individual albums,
including a new one called "Hidden." You can go there to
unhide hidden photos.
So why bother? This feature is mainly useful when you
want to let people glance through your entire collection of
photos. That could be when you're sitting with a friend in
the same room or making a presentation before a large
audience. You can hide embarrassing or incriminating
photos such as naked selfies _ as long as you remain in
control of the device. If you hand it to a friend and walk
out, your friend can browse through the albums section.
Samsung's Galaxy devices
The Galaxy S5 phone introduced a private mode. You turn
it on in the settings, under "Private Mode" in the
Personalization section.
You then go through your phone to mark certain content
as private. With photos, for instance, just go to the Gallery
app and select the photos or albums you want to keep
private. Then hit the menu icon for the option to "Move to
Private." This also works with selected video, music,
audio recordings.
After you've marked your files as private, you need to go
back to the settings to turn Private Mode off. Think of that
setting as the door to a vault. Turning it on opens the door
and lets you move stuff in and out. Turning it off closes
and locks the door. It's the opposite of what you might
think: Private Mode needs to be off for your content to be
secure.
Once locked, it is as though the content never existed. No
one will know what's inside the vault, or whether there's
even anything inside. To unlock the vault, you need your
passcode or fingerprint ID.
The private-mode feature is also part of Samsung's
Galaxy Tab S tablets and the upcoming Galaxy Note
phones.
LG G3
LG's flagship phone has a guest mode. You can lend a
phone to a friend without giving your friend access to
everything. You can even set a separate unlock code for
the guest, so that you don't have to give out yours.
Look for "Guest mode" in the settings under the General
tab. You then specify which apps your guest can access.
For instance, you might want to give access to the phone,
alarm clock and music, but you might want to block email
and texts.
In some cases, guests have limited access to your
content. With the Gallery app, your collection of photos
won't generally appear unless they are in the "Guest
album." Guests can take photos, too, and have them
appear there. On the other hand, if you enable access to
the Photos app, your guest gets everything. Likewise,
there are no restrictions with email or texts if you allow
access to those apps.
I recommend logging in as a guest — with the alternative
code — to verify what's available after you pick the apps
to allow.
Beyond the guest mode, the G3 lets you lock certain
images in the Gallery app during normal use, similar to
what the Galaxy devices offer.
The bigger picture
These tips touch only the surface of what you can do to
protect your privacy.
For instance, these apply only to data stored on the
device. For files stored on internet-based storage services
such as iCloud and Dropbox, you'll want to make sure you
have a strong password and turn on a second layer of
protection, often known as two-step verification.
You'll also want to pay attention to what data you're
sharing through apps.
On iPhones with iOS 8, for instance, you can enable a
private browsing mode when surfing the Web using Safari.
Click on the tab view on the lower right corner and hit
"Private."
With iOS, you can also choose which apps can know your
location and when, such as all the time or only when the
app is actively running. Go to the "Location Services"
settings under "Privacy." Unfortunately, it tends to be all
or nothing with Android. You can turn off location services,
but that affects all apps, including maps and others that
might need your location.
4.93 million Gmail accounts hacked: Check if yours is safe
A Russian hacker has posted the usernames
and passwords of 4.93 million Google accounts, leading to
a lot of anxiety among users whether or not their accounts
are safe.
If you want to check if your Google account, which is the
gateway to your Gmail, Plus, Drive, Hangout, YouTube
accounts as well, has been compromised, then simply
click this link and provide your Gmail ID.
In case you do not want to provide your email ID on this
website, you can hide the last three characters of the
username, for example abc***@gmail.com instead of
abcdef@gmail.com. The website will then display all the
Google usernames that start with 'abc'.
In case your password has been hacked, then immediately
change it by answering the security questions that you set
while signing up. Also, enable two-step verification for
your account in Settings.
Even if your account has not been compromised, it is
advisable to enable two-step verification.
This week's news that a Russian crime ring has
amassed some 1.2 billion username and password
combinations makes now a good time to review ways
to protect yourself online.
The hacking misdeeds were described in a New York
Times story based on the findings of Hold Security, a
Milwaukee firm that has a history of uncovering
online security breaches.
Hold Security, called the data "the largest known
collection of stolen internet credentials." Hold's
researchers did not identify the origins of the data
or name the victim websites, citing nondisclosure
agreements. The company also said it didn't want to
name companies whose websites are still vulnerable
to hacking, according to the NYT report.
If there's reason to believe any of your passwords
might have been compromised, change them
immediately. One of the best things you can do is to
make sure your passwords are strong. Here are
seven ways to fortify them:
Facebook keen to join Digital India programme
World’s biggest social network Facebook wants to
connect more people to Internet in India which
accounts for the third largest online user base globally
after China and the US but has a very low Internet
penetration growth rate.
On his first visit to India, Facebook CEO and co-founder
Mark Zuckerberg today met Telecom Minister Ravi
Shankar Prasad to discuss expanding reach of Internet
including by using alternate technology.
After an about hour long meeting, Prasad told reporters
that meeting was fruitful and Facebook has shown
interest in joining Digital India programme of India.
“Connecting more than a billion people with Internet is
not only going to improve lives of people in India but
helping innovation and imagination of Indian people
will help turn around the world and we are very
excited in opportunities in India,” Zuckerberg said.
According to sources, Facebook requested Prasad to
establish single point contact in his ministry for the
alternate technology to which the minister immediately
agreed.
“We have dedicated some officials from my ministry to
work closely with Facebook on their proposals to
expand digital services in the country,” Prasad said.
A ministry official said Joint Secretary Telecom and
Joint Secretary IT will be single point contact for
Facebook for their projects so that the modalities
related to their alternate technology is expeditiously
worked out.
Facebook is also in process to launch applications on
utility services for which customer may not have to pay
any Internet charges as the company is doing in
Zambia in partnership with Indian telecom major
Airtel.
“Zuckerberg said that they are almost ready to launch
service as they have done in Zambia with Airtel.
Minister has assured them of full support,” the official
said.
Prasad has asked Facebook CEO to partner in National
Optical Fibre Network program which aim to connect
2.5 lakh village panchayats by high speed broadband
by 2017 to which Zuckerberg has agreed.
“Minister asked them to play role in retailing of
broadband services once NOFN is ready. They have
said that they will build business with new
entrepreneurs in the country,” the official said.
Facebook in India has over 100 million active users.
The company recently acquired mobile messaging
application WhatsApp which adds to its reach in the
country.
HTC quietly launches the One M8 Eye, but don't get too excited
n the run up to the HTC Desire Eye announcement we saw
rumours suggesting a One M8 moniker may also be in the
mix. Turns out, those reports were correct.
HTC has taken the covers off yet another handset - this time
in the form of the HTC One M8 Eye - which looks pretty
much identical to its flagship namesake.
In fact, the only difference between this and the five-star
HTC One M8 is the fact the Taiwanese firm has ditched the
4MP UltraPixel camera on the rear and replaced it with a
13MP lens.
More of the same
The Duo camera remains, with a second depth of field
sensor on the rear allowing you to perform tricks such as
background defocus.
The One M8 Eye inherits the Eye Experience software from
the Desire Eye, but apart from that its business as usual for
this M8 spin-off.
But there's some bad news if the One M8 Eye has caught
your eye: it's only been launched in China (where it will go
on sale on October 15) and it looks unlikely that it'll make
its way out of Asia.
Google Nexus 9 by HTC Tipped to Launch on October 15
A new report claims that Google's next Nexus tablet will be
called Nexus 9, will be manufactured by HTC, and will be
launched on October 15. It added that the tablet is expected
to be priced at a premium price compared to previous
generation Nexus tablets.
The Bright Side of News has learned from its sources that
Google's HTC-made Nexus 9 tablet will indeed launch on
October 15, in-line with an earlier report, and will be priced
at $399 (Rs. 24,500 approximately). About the premium
price tag of the alleged Nexus 9, BSN notes that Google is
aiming to "bring a premium quality device to market at an
affordable price."
Additionally, the report tips that the rumoured Nexus 9 will
go on sale starting November 3, while will go up for pre-
orders beginning October 15. The report also claims that
Google for the first time in order to offer its new Nexus
tablet to a broader audience will make the device available
at most major retailers online. However, the report only
names B&M, one of UK's retailers, while also suggesting
that the company will place mini-kiosks at select Best Buy
stores.
Further, the report suggests that the alleged Nexus 9 will
indeed be powered by Nvidia's Tegra K1 SoC, corroborating
recent leaks .
It also points to an excerpt from Nvidia's blog (from
August), "And for hard-core Android fans, take note that
we're already developing the next version of Android - "L" -
on the 64-bit Tegra K1." The blog further cements the fact
that the Nexus 9 will pack Nvidia's chipset.
On Thursday, one of HTC's executives 'confirmed' that the
yet-to-be-launched Nexus 9 would mark "HTC's
commitment" to tablet market after almost three years. He
also went on to suggest that the next Nexus tablet featuring
an 8.9-inch display would be released in Taiwan by end of
2014 or Q4.
Facebook's New Layout for Android and iOS Highlights Most-Liked Photos
Facebook on Thursday has started rolling out a new layout
for the Photos section on its Android and iOS apps, and has
also added a new 'Uploads' tab.
The new design in the Facebook app (first reported by
Techcrunch), now shows a new collage-style design in the
Photos section and in the new Uploads tab, enlarging the
most-liked images among them. Due to the automatic
selection method that highlights these images based on the
number of likes, there is no way for the user to un-highlight
these photos.
As we mentioned, Facebook has also included a new
'Uploads' tab that shows all the user's uploaded photos at
one place unlike Albums, where images are along with all
other images in different folders. Additionally, the cover
photo thumbnail for each folder is now bigger as well in
Albums.
The feature is now rolling out to users without an app
update, says Facebook via Techcrunch. The report includes
that Facebook has no plans of bringing this feature to the
Web layout.
Last month, Facebook had updated the News Feed to show
more timely stories from Friends and Pages. One part of the
update had included the way Facebook will show timely
content higher-up in the News Feed based on trending
topics. It means that when a friend or connected Page posts
about something that is currently a hot topic of
conversation on Facebook, it will more likely appear higher
up in News Feed.
The second part of the update for News Feed was based on
the liking or commenting on a post. With the update, the
company had suggested that it will "begin looking at when
people are choosing to like, comment and share."
So, "if people are engaging with the post right after it is
posted, and not as much a few hours later, this suggests
that the post was most interesting at the time it was posted,
but potentially less interesting at a later date. Based on this
signal it is more likely to appear higher in News Feed earlier
on and lower at a later date."
Japan court orders Google to delete data
A Japanese court has ordered Google to delete search
results linking the claimant to a crime he did not commit,
the latest in a series of rulings around the world on what
search engines should tell users.
The Tokyo District Court this week placed a provisional
order that Google delete about half of 237 entries that
appear after the plaintiff's name is entered, the Asahi
Shimbun newspaper and other local media reported.
The man requested the injunction in June, arguing that
these search results suggest he was involved in a crime and
that this constitutes a threat to his current way of life and
compromises his privacy, the Asahi said.
The ruling comes after the EU's top court said in May that
individuals have the right to ask Google to delete personal
data produced by its search engine.
Individuals have a right "to be forgotten", under certain
circumstances when their personal data becomes outdated
or inaccurate, the European Court of Justice said.
In the Japanese injunction, some of the search results
"infringe personal rights", Judge Nobuyuki Seki said in the
court documents, according to reports.
"Google, which manages the search engine, has the
obligation to delete them," it said.
"The man received tangible damage from the search results,
which give the impression that he is a bad man," it said.
It is believed to be the first legal decision in Japan ordering
the operator of a search engine to remove search results,
although there were earlier rulings on aspects of Google's
"autocomplete" function.
"We've just received the order, so we are reviewing the
order," a company spokesman told AFP, adding they were
studying options, including an appeal.
He added that the company does comply with legal take-
down notices.
In April last year, a Japanese court told Google it had to de-
link words in its autocomplete function to prevent the
search engine suggesting criminal acts when users typed
one man's name.
But the appeals court Tokyo High Court in January
overturned the lower court's decision.
Xiaomi Mi3 won't sell in India any more, Redmi Note coming soon
The soon to be launched Mi4 has replaced
the Mi3 on the production lines. Xiaomi is
also concentrating on the Redmi Note for
now.
The much talked about Xiaomi Mi3 has gone out of
production in India. According to company VP Hugo Barra ,
the Mi3 has been replaced by the Xiaomi Mi4 in the
production lines, which is supposed to launch in India by
the end of the year or early 2015. The company will still
offer some units of the Mi3 in the coming few months, but
no more full fledged sales for the Mi3 will be organised. The
company will presumably finish up the inventory that it
currently has, while preparing for the Mi4.
Point in fact, Xiaomi recently sent emails to Mi3
customers who have tried to purchase the device more than
five times unsuccessfully. The Mi3 was automatically added
to their carts on Flipkart and a mail was sent informing
them of the same. Xiaomi will continue to sell the devices
for some more time, but no new units are being produced.
The device will be replaced by the Mi4 as the flagship in
country.
Meanwhile, Xiaomi is preparing to bring out its Redmi Note
smartphone in India. Barra said that the device should be
coming soon and the company is working on the final steps
required. In addition, Barra also mentioned that Xiaomi has
solved the heating issues in the Redmi 1S smartphone,
which led to performance issues. Xiaomi will be pushing an
OTA update soon, which will rectify the heating issues and
consequent performance drop in the device.
Lastly, in what should be good news for Xiaomi aficionados,
Barra said that the company will be bringing more units of
its products. According to him, Xiaomi flash sales should
last more than just a few seconds from now on. The
company recently sold about one lakh units of the Redmi 1S
during Flipkart’s Big Billion Day sale.
Airtel Launches 'Public Wi-Fi' Service in 17 Locations in Hyderabad
Bharti Airtel and Telangana government on Friday launched
'Public Wi-Fi' at 17 locations in Hyderabad where users of
smartphone, tablets and other Wi-Fi-enabled devices can
connect to Internet.
Venkatesh Vijayraghavan, CEO, Bharti Airtel - Andhra
Pradesh and Telangana - said here that people in the 17
locations can avail public Wi-Fi and enjoy Internet services
of up to 750MB per day per user.
Information Technology Minister, Telangana, K T Rama Rao
said that currently the government is trying to rope in other
service providers to engage them in offering similar
services.
"This is just a beginning. We will come to a position where
the entire city (Hyderabad) will be Wi-Fi enabled in about
four months. Tendering process is going on. The entire 700
square kilometres of Hyderabad city will be covered under
Wi-Fi soon," the Telangana minister said in a press
conference in Hyderabad.
Vijayraghavan said that optic fibre technology has been
used for the public Wi-Fi service. Though the speed of
Internet will be 40Mbps, the same will depend on number of
users utilising the service per location at once, he said.
Airtel is in the process of working out tariff for the services
and other modalities, the CEO added.
( Also Read: Ericsson to Partner Bharti Airtel on 4G LTE
Network )
This initiative is a part of the government's broader agenda
of allowing citizens to experience a host of web
opportunities making Hyderabad a leading digital city, Rao
said.
On an average, around 40,000 commuters, commercial
establishments and visitors can benefit from the service.
Enabling public access to superior Wi-Fi technology across
the city is at the heart of Telangana government's efforts to
promote greater digital inclusion for the citizens, therefore
making Hyderabad a 'Global Smart City', the minister said.
Users with any valid Indian mobile number can easily
access the public Wi-Fi at all the 17 locations by switching
'Wi-Fi' on, on their devices. On selecting the public Wi-Fi, a
One-Time password (OTP) will be sent to their mobile
number.
They can then connect the Wi-Fi post authentication of the
password and enjoy Internet services, Vijayraghavan added
HTC RE Camera Begs the Question: Do You Really Need It?
Everywhere you look, people are using smartphones and
tablets to snap pictures and record video of concerts,
speeches or even their kids' ballet recitals - and instantly
share the experiences with friends and family. At many
events, people aren't even looking at the stage; they are
watching through their screens.
HTC thinks there's a better way - and they're betting you
won't mind carrying around an extra device about the size
of a small candy bar. With the new RE camera gripped
discreetly in your hands, you can take stills and video while
still experiencing the event directly - not through a screen
or viewfinder.
No more annoying people behind you by blocking their
views with your phone or tablet. (In fact, no one may realize
you're recording at all. Hmm. HTC says the RE will at least
make a sound when you take a picture or start recording.)
The RE marks HTC's effort to expand beyond smartphones.
Its flagship HTC One smartphone earns high praise from
users and tech reviewers but the company's global market
share is tiny compared with Apple's and Samsung's.
According to IDC, HTC's market share was less than 2
percent in the second quarter, the latest period available.
How do I use it?
The camera, which will hit stores in about a month,
resembles a miniature submarine periscope. It's about four
inches long; its diameter is about the same as a quarter's.
One quick press snaps a 16-megapixel still image, while a
long press starts video recording at 1080p high definition.
You can transfer images wirelessly to your phone or an
online storage account.
Would-be filmmakers can attach the RE to tripods and other
accessories. The camera is waterproof, so you can leave it
outside for time-lapse video. ( Apple added the time-lapse
feature to iPhones in its iOS 8 software update, but you
can't use your phone for other things while you take the
video.)
How much does it cost?
For $199 you get just 8 gigabytes of storage, but you can
add up to 128 gigabytes more with a microSD card.
Any drawbacks?
There's no display or viewfinder. You point the device
toward the stage and hope you're not cutting anyone off.
You can use a companion smartphone app as a viewfinder,
but that defeats the point of not needing to have your phone
out while enjoying an event.
What else is coming from HTC?
Next month HTC is launching a new mid-range smartphone
called the Desire Eye . The phone's front camera will match
the 13 megapixels found on the rear, meaning sharper
selfies and videoconferencing than what smartphones
typically offer. The front camera also will use face detection
to keep subjects in focus and permit voice commands such
as "cheese!" to snap the shot. HTC plans to bring many of
these features to its high-end HTC One devices, too,
through free software updates.
The 5.2-inch Desire Eye will be available in early November
through AT&T. No details on price yet.
HTC also is launching a free app for iPhones and non-HTC
Android phones that lets users create a highlights video.
Current HTC phones have a Zoe feature that automatically
grabs images taken on a given day and stitches them
together into a video, complete with music.
The free app "allows us to get HTC in more people's hands
without having to make them do a smartphone change
immediately," says Jason Mackenzie, president of HTC
America. "So the next time that customer is buying a
smartphone, they now have been introduced to HTC."
Facebook keen to expand reach in India
World's biggest social network Facebook wants to connect
more people to internet in India which accounts for the third
largest online user base globally after China and the US but
has a very low internet penetration growth rate.
On his first visit to India, Facebook CEO and co-founder
Mark Zuckerberg met Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar
Prasad to discuss expanding reach of internet including by
using alternate technology.
After an about hour long meeting, Prasad told reporters that
meeting was fruitful and Facebook has shown interest in
joining Digital India program of India.
"Connecting more than a billion people with internet is not
only going to improve lives of people in India but helping
innovation and imagination of Indian people will help turn
around the world and we are very excited in opportunities in
India," Zuckerberg said.
According to sources, Facebook requested Prasad to
establish single point contact in his ministry for the
alternate technology to which the minister immediately
agreed.
"We have dedicated some officials from my ministry to work
closely with Facebook on their proposals to expand digital
services in the country," Prasad said.
A ministry official said Joint Secretary Telecom and Joint
Secretary IT will be single point contact for Facebook for
their projects so that the modalities related to their
alternate technology is expeditiously worked out.
Facebook is also in process to launch applications on utility
services for which customer may not have to pay any
internet charges as the company is doing in Zambia in
partnership with Indian telecom major Airtel.
"Zuckerberg said that they are almost ready to launch
service as they have done in Zambia with Airtel. Minister
has assured them of full support," the official said.
Prasad has asked Facebook CEO to partner in National
Optical Fibre Network program which aim to connect 2.5
lakh village panchayats by high speed broadband by 2017
to which Zuckerberg has agreed.
"Minister asked them to play role in retailing of broadband
services once NOFN is ready. They have said that they will
build business with new entrepreneurs in the country," the
official said.
Facebook in India has over 100 million active users. The
company recently acquired mobile messaging application
WhatsApp which adds to its reach in the country.
Book traces journey of Satya Nadella
Microsoft needs to drop its immense focus on the operating
system and concentrate on the mobile, Cloud and
connected device world, suggests a new book which traces
the journey of its new CEO Satya Nadella.
The Windows-centric strategy may have placed Microsoft in
good stead through its inception and till the early 2000s but
the company's inordinate dependence of Windows has
created for Microsoft an elephant of sorts that it has lately
found difficult to ride, writes Jagmohan S Bhanver in
"Nadella: The Changing Face of Microsoft".
The book, published by Hachette India, is an insightful
account of Nadella and what his appointment as the third
CEO of Microsoft means for the future of the technology
industry.
"The almost-total fascination with Windows and the
predominance of the OS have repeatedly deterred
innovation since the emphasis has stayed on 'how to make
Windows more profitable' rather than 'how to make
Windows more innovative'," the book says.
According to the author, in Windows 8 Microsoft has
endeavoured to address some of the issues it is facing by
offering a single OS that works for laptops, desktops,
tablets and phones.
"However, this too leaves something to be desired, as the
touch interface is not altogether remarkable on the desktop
and the laptop. What is needed is to bring innovation to the
device and the OS to offer a smart phone that makes it easy
and delightful for the customer to use," Bhanver, who is an
executive coach to CEOs, says.
Given that the next battle for supremacy is likely to be
fought in the Cloud platform, he suggests that Nadella could
draw a leaf out of Google's strategy to create innovative
Cloud services that could be used in everyday life.
"If Microsoft starts to see itself as a platform for Cloud
services and focuses on providing enterprises and
developers with the best tools and platform for developing
Cloud services, it can become 'the' platform for Cloud
services over the next few years," the author says.
The book also describes how the appointment of Nadella as
CEO of Microsoft Corp. has sent waves of curiosity,
speculation and expectation through the tech world at home
and abroad.
Larger 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro production delayed, owing to iPhone 6 Plus demand
Apple suppliers have delayed the production of a
larger iPad to early next year, the Wall Street Journal
(WSJ) reported, citing people familiar with the
matter.
The suppliers had planned to start producing the
larger screen tablet in mass volume beginning in
December, but have been struggling to produce
enough new iPhones to keep up with demand, the
WSJ said. According to sources who spoke to the
paper, the major demand for iPhone 6 Plus which
comes with a 5.5-inch display is quite high and the
volumes produced so far have been unsatisfactory.
Foxconn Technology, which assembles iPhones and
iPads, has 200,000 workers in China already putting
together new iPhones and making items such as
metal casings, the Journal said.
Apple is expected to launch the new iPads at an
event on October 16. The event invite has already
been sent out.
Asian suppliers expect Apple’s larger tablet to have
a 12.9-inch liquid-crystal-display screen with a
resolution similar to the iPad Air launched in October
last year, the WSJ said. Apple is struggling as far as
sales figures of its 10-inch iPads and 7.9-inch iPad
Mini goes. Apple sold close to 13.2 million iPads in
Q2 of 2014, which is again less than the 16.3 million
sold in Q2 of 2014, and less than the 14.6 million
iPads sold in Q3 of 2013. According to Apple’s own
data, the iPad saw a negative growth of 9 percent on
units and negative growth of 8 percent on revenue,
year-on-year. There are even rumours stating that
gold would be used as a choice of colour in the
upcoming iPads.
Data research firm IDC said in August that it
expected tablet sales to slow globally in 2014. Apple
was not immediately available for comment.
The company said it sold more than 10 million of its
new iPhones in the first weekend they were available
in September. Pre-orders have started in India as
well. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have been
listed at Rs 53,500 and Rs 62,500, respectively. The
64GB version of the iPhone 6 is priced at Rs 62,500
and the 128GB version will sell for Rs 71,500. The
64GB version of the larger Apple iPhone 6 Plus is
priced at Rs 71,500 and the 128GB variant of the
phone will sell for Rs 80,500.
(With inputs from Reuters)