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First 3D Printed Rifle Test Fired

Missed all the controversy surrounding 3D printed weapons and their potentially disastrous effects or not, depending on who you’re asking? Rest assured, for we now have what is believed to be the world’s first 3D printed rifle being successfully test fired.
Well, okay, maybe not 100 percent successfully, given that its barrel split after it fired the first round, but it did fire instead of just blowing up, so that should count for something. The rifle, named the Grizzly, is shown in action in a video posted on YouTube.

The video was uploaded by a user named ThreeD Ukulele, who apparently is passionate about creating 3D models of musical instruments and especially, you guessed it, of the ukulele. The clip shows the Grizzly clamped to a workbench and a man, who is presumably the YouTube user, firing it from a safe distance, with a piece of string.
The rifle, printed with a Stratasys Dimension 1200es, fires a .22 caliber bullet, but the detachable barrel and the receiver that houses the guns’ operating parts are cracked in the process.
The Grizzly was obviously inspired by the Liberator – the world’s first 3D printed pistol which was successfully test fired a couple of months ago, triggering a massive wave of criticism and leaving U.S. authorities in disarray over how to stop 3D printed weaponry from spreading. The answer, of course, is that they cannot be stopped, given that the blueprints for the Liberator were made available

MediaTek Releases 8 Core Processor

It seems to have been the case for a long time now that Android hardware manufacturers have suffered from an obsessive focus on specs. They have battle rage over clock rates, processor cores, megapixels, resolution, etc. These performance specs keep increasing in size and power and may seem to be innovative, however, these higher specs do not necessarily mean a better real world experience.

MediaTek have hailed a new processor calling it a “true” octo core. The Taiwanese chip manufacturer’s processor will be the first of its kind if they can manage to push it out before rival Samsung’s anticipated new line of octa-cores. The processor designed by MediaTek has 8 separate A7 cores and is capable of using all 8 simultaneously. The Samsung chip, named Exynos 5 octa, is currently found in some Asian and European market S4 variants and has been criticized for not being a “true” octa-core. It uses ARM’s big/little architecture to switch between four A15 and four A7 chips depending on the processing need required at any given time. The Exynos 5 was designed in an attempt to improve the battery life. The big/little design is an innovative concept that should have delivered the combination of a phone with incredible performance with an acceptable battery life. Unfortunately, however, Samsung did not exactly do a sterling job of coding Android and Touchwiz to work with it and the resultant S-lag and decreased battery life has left a poor taste with customers.

Companies such as MediaTek have come into the fore. The small chip-maker has had modest success manufacturing processors for phone-makers like GooPhone, the infamous copier of IOS and Android devices alike. MediaTek has yearnings to get into bigger and more profitable markets. An octa-core processor made cheaply might be enough to get them there. You can have the best processor in the world, but if you have a poorly optimized Operating System you will still have lag. Even worse, because high end processors draw more power you will constantly be tethering yourself to a wall just to keep up and running.

NASA Fails in Cloud Computing Security

The space agency NASA has been increasingly moving data to the cloud but according to a new report from the agency’s Office of the Inspector General, NASA needs to work on strengthening its information technology security practices.
“We found that weaknesses in NASA’s IT governance and risk management practices have impeded the Agency from fully realizing the benefits of cloud computing and potentially put NASA systems and data stored in the cloud at risk,” the report reads.

In 2009 Nasa began its own private cloud computing at a data center called Nebula, located at the Ames Research Center but in 2012 the agency decided to move its data to public clouds due to more reliability and lower costs.
However since moving data NASA has had difficulties in meeting the proper security requirements. For example the agency has been moving data into public clouds without notifying the Agency’s Office of Chief Information Officer. It has also been working with contractors that did not “fully address” cloud computing IT secuirty risks. More than 100 of Nasa’s internal and external Web sites did not have proper security controls.
“This occurred because the Agency OCIO lacked proper oversight authority, was slow to establish a contract that mitigated risks unique to cloud computing, and did not implement measures to ensure cloud providers met Agency IT security requirements,” the report reads.
Going forward, Nasa plans to dedicate more of its $1.5 billion annual IT budget on cloud computing. Within the next five years the agency is planning to have up to 75 percent of its new IT programs begin in the cloud and 100 percent of the agency’s public data stored in the cloud.
“As NASA moves more of its systems and data to the cloud, it is imperative that the Agency strengthen its governance and risk management practices to safeguard its data while effectively spending its IT funds,” reads the report.

What to Look Forward to in Android 4.3

Not long after Android 4.3 Jelly Bean was officially announced by Google, smartphone manufacturers started to make their own related announcements. Sony, in particular, gave a short list of phones that will run on the newest Android version. Of course, you do not have to buy a new phone just to run Android 4.3 – some existing models will have the capability to upgrade when the time comes. (If you want to use that as an excuse, though, there’s nothing stopping you!)

But, what’s Android 4.3 Jelly Bean all about? Is it really worth getting excited about it?
While Android 4.3 is merely an update to the current version – not a whole new operating system – there are some things to look forward to.
For Users

Bluetooth Smart – the bottom line is that this feature will allow us to connect external devices to Android 4.3 gadgets. Smartwatches, fitness trackers, and all those little gizmos will have no issues connecting to your Android 4.3 Jelly Bean device. Also known as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
Restricted profiles – this is most useful for devices which have multiple users. After all, not all of us have the luxury of having one device per person. With this feature, you can create profiles which have highly controlled access. Parents, are you thinking what I’m thinking?
Dial Pad auto complete – auto complete can be a pain, but this feature will make it easier to call your contacts.

Developers

OpenGL 3 – developers will look forward to this as they will have an easier time creating awesome apps – as a standard feature.
Better profiling tools – developers can tweak their apps so they are faster and perform better
DRM – for media content providers, the new DRM feature will be a welcome one. Not sure for certain users!

Nokia’s “Treasure Tags” Help You Find Lost Keys

There is nothing more frustrating than losing your keys, but thanks to Nokia that might no longer be a problem. According to sources the firm is planning to launch a “Treasure Tag” accessory that is able to track items using Bluetooth and NFC with a Lumia Windows phone.
Apparently the device will be a small, squarish shape that has an attached loop so it can be hooked onto your key ring. The Treasure Tag is a proximity sensor that uses a combination of Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC to link up to your phone.

The Treasure Tag will pair to a Lumia phone via NFC and then uses Bluetooth 4.0 to track it. It is one of the first devices to use Bluetooth Low Energy support, meaning the Tag can always be on. This new Bluetooth Low Energy will be available as part of Nokia’s Amber update as they make Bluetooth 4.0 available to their Windows phones.
Once the device has been connected with your phone, then an app will display the location of the Treasure Tag on a map. As long as you are close enough, you will be able to press a button on the Tag that will sound a notification alarm on your phone. So far though, it not clear whether the device will update its location periodically.
Once Nokia roll out Bluetooth 4.0, it is planning to introduce a host of new accessories make use of this new feature.
So it could be the time that we see smart tags take off and you won’t need to worry about losing keys; that is if you don’t lose your phone!

1. rm -rf / = Will Delete Everything.
Explanation:
rm : Removes the files.
-rf : This Command will Run rm and will delete all files and folders without promting you
/ : This command will tell rm to start from root directory ie: all files on your computer including removable Drives.

2. :(){ :|: & };: = This Line Looks Simple but its Dangerous
It Defines Shell Function that will Create New Copies Of Itself . This Process will Continue and Freeze Your Computer. It Can also be Called as Danial-of-Server Attack.

Open a Command Prompt window and leave it open. Close all open programs.
Click Start, Run and enter TASKMGR.EXE
Go to the Processes tab and End Process on Explorer.exe.
Leave Task Manager open.
Go back to the Command Prompt window and change to the directory the AVI (or other undeletable file) is located in.
At the command prompt type DEL where is the file you wish to delete.
Go back to Task Manager, click File, New Task and enter EXPLORER.EXE to restart the GUI shell.
Close Task Manager.

Or you can try this

Open Notepad.exe

Click File>Save As..>

Google Asked to Remove 100 Million Links to “Piracy” Websites in 2013

Since January 2013, Google has received requests to remove more than 100 million links to web pages that are considered to be in breach of copyright laws.
This is proof that publishers are determined to stamp out internet piracy, especially when you consider that the number of requests has doubled compared to 2012.
However critics feel that this approach of removing links is flawed.

“As soon as you take down one page another pops up in its place,” says Mark Mulligan, a technology analyst at Midia Consulting. “It’s like playing Whac-A-Mole.”
“This is because file sharing has become very decentralised – there’s no central server you can just shut down.”
The editor of Torrentfreak.com, Ernesto van der Sar said that, “If people want to pirate they can always find a way to do so.”
Since 2012, Google has been publishing all its takedown requests in a Transparency Report. The number of requests has risen sharply, as right holders put the reporting system to its full use.
Most of the website domains are person-to-person file-sharing services, such as Fenopy.eu, extratorrent.com, torrenthound.com, filestube.com and bittorrent.com.
The major copyright owners that make the most takedown requests are the British Recorded Music Industry (BPI), the Recording Industry Association of America and film studios, such as Warner Brothers.
A spokesperson for the BPI said: “BPI removes around one million links every week to music hosted on the internet without the artist’s knowledge or permission.
“This process is one of many initiatives undertaken by the industry to help to create breathing space for more than 70 legal music services in the UK that strive to promote and reward musicians.”

Piracy Prevention

British internet providers were ordered to block access to EZTV and YIFY Torrents in a UK court ruling last week, after the sites were found to be carrying out internet piracy on a mass scale.
There is an increasing number of web sites that are now blocked to UK web users because they aid piracy. These include the Pirate Bay, Kickass Torrents, H33Y, Fenopy, Movie2K and Download4all.

Sony Phones That Will Have Android 4.3

Android 4.3 Jelly Bean is finally out of the bag, much to the delight of Android enthusiasts. In a press event held last July 24, Google unveiled the highly anticipated mobile operating system, and not too surprisingly, it also announced that the OS will be launched on the new Nexus 7. The new tablet will be thinner, with a hi-res screen (of course), and will cost about $230 – that depends where you get it, of course. Owners of existing Android devices will have the opportunity to update their gadgets to Android 4.3 over the air. These gadgets include the first-gen Nexus 7, the Nexus 4, the Nexus 10, and the Galaxy Nexus.

The good news is that other brands are also going for the Android 4.3, Sony included.
Sony might have had received a lot of criticism in the past, but it sure is not going anywhere – at least not if the big boys in that camp have anything to do with it. With the new Android OS being announced, it is interesting and heartening to hear that Sony is actually joining that bandwagon for sure.
Less than a day after the unveiling of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, Sony made an official announcement that some of their devices are going to run on the OS. These devices are as follows:

Xperia Z
Xperia ZL
Xperia ZR
Xperia Tablet Z
Xperia SP
Xperia Z Ultra

You’ll have to be a tad patient when it comes to other details such as the WHEN, but you can follow @SonyMobileNews for timely news regarding the topic.
In the meantime, if you own an Xperia ZR and/or an Xperia Tablet Z, you only have a couple of days – or maybe a little more; Sony says early August – to wait for Android 4.2 to be available for your device/s. Also, take note that software rollouts are dependent on the market and the carrier, so don’t be too disappointed if you have to wait longer than others.

10 Tips for Project Management Prosperity

When it comes to project management, there are many challenges to keep each project on track and within budget. There are several factors to consider, as well as internal and external elements that may cause a project to derail. However, by taking a few precautions and having an excellent plan in place, you can lead your project to success. Here are 10 project management tips and tricks to help ensure your project will move along smoothly:

Tip 1: Nail Down Project Details

Before you ever start the project, make sure that it is based on a solid foundation and that you have the buy-in from all key stakeholders. Understand their interests and expectations and be aware of how they will determine whether or not the project is successful. You will also need to ensure that the project scope is distinctly identified, including the roles and responsibilities of the various project team members. Develop the project plan and verify that the goals of the key elements are clearly defined and closely aligned. You should also establish measurable and trackable success criteria, including accomplishing tasks on schedule, achieving budget targets, confirming product functionality is satisfactory to the customer, and ensuring government and/or industry regulations are met. Take care of all the details to lay the groundwork for your project’s success.

Tip 2: Identify Project and Team Requirements

Once you have a strong plan in place, you can start implementing it by assembling an effective project team. As noted in an article released by ITToolkit.com, “The project team is a working unit of individual parts, sharing a common goal, achieved through the structured application of combined skills.” The article also states that, “The first step to team success begins with initial organization: to assemble and organize available resources capable of working together as a whole through the integration of individual skills, talents and personalities.” As a project manager, you’ll need to align those skills, talents and personalities with the appropriate project needs. Make sure that each individual working on the project is clear about their task and what they are providing upon completion.

You Can Now Pre-Order Geeksphone Peak+

There is no shortage of smartphone choices today, and in fact, even the briefest look at what is on the table just might make you dizzy with all the brands and models available. Of course, there are fan boys and fan girls who will staunchly defend their preferred OS, no matter what. If you are quite open to crossing over to the other side – sides, for that matter, here’s something that might catch your eye: the Geeksphone Peak+.

You Can Now Pre-Order Geeksphone Peak+

The Geeksphone Peak+ is one of the newest phones sporting Firefox OS. This device is supposed to be the first smartphone in this line that is totally geared toward the average consumer, understandably feeding the surrounding hype.
We already know that Geeksphone is all about bringing the Open Web to smartphone users. They highlight features such as Freedom, Community, and Support – elements that make the brand attractive to those who value what they think more than what manufacturers dictate.
With the Peak+, things might just get a little more interesting.

The specs
Open standards and code and community is all good, but we do want to know the hard numbers, don’t we?
The Geeksphone Peak+ has a 4.3-inch qHD display and a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon CPU. As for the memory, it has 1 GB of RAM (the minimum these days, if you think about it). It has 4GB of storage, which you can expand via the microSD slot. It has a rear camera (8 megapixels).
Those figures in themselves are nothing to get excited about, but the phone will run on Firefox OS 1.1, which makes the boot time faster, as well as present fewer bugs. Here’s a detail: it comes with 25 GB of cloud storage!
If you have GBP149 to spare, or if you really want to try this phone out, you can pre-order here.

15 Handy Excel tips, tricks and techniques

Getting the most from Excel is a vocation – there are books bigger than concrete blocks on the subject.
If you're dedicated enough to read one or two, the passage to an Excel black belt is assured – as is the loss of weeks or maybe months of your life.
Instead, try our Excel tips – they should ensure you're getting more from Excel in next to no time.

1. Master the clipboard pane
The clipboard can be very useful when using Excel, as you often need to cut or copy and paste information from one part of a sheet to another, or between different sheets and workbooks. The chances are that you'll need to repeatedly copy and paste different items at different times, depending on the complexity of the task in hand.
You can make this easier by opening the clipboard pane as it enables you to handle multiple clipboard items at the same time. On the Home tab of the ribbon, click the arrow button to the bottom right of the Clipboard group to toggle it open or closed.

2. Open ribbon dialogs

You'll find similar buttons in the bottom right of numerous different ribbon groups on various different tabs. Clicking one will open a related dialog that includes each of the tools in that group,

Flipboard Arrives On Your Desktop

Flipboard has arrived on your desktop as a Web-based version of the Flipboard program went live on Tuesday, bringing the motion loved by millions, the flip, to their desktop PC’s. The new app means anyone can view, share and “flip” their magazine content online, a vision that is closer to the company’s beginning.

“Being able to take all that and bring it to the desktop and go back to our earliest roots is kind of cool,” Founder Mike McCue said as he showed off the sleek new Web app, which looks like Flipboard’s existing mobile applications. Thinking of the desktop as Flipboard’s first choice for a platform is a novel idea now, given the company’s reputation for taking a huge gamble on the iPad in the company’s early days. McCue presented the app to investors using a slideshow demo because Apple had not even released the iPad hardware yet. But when co-founder Evan Doll and McCue and dreamed up Flipboard in 2010, it was originally suppose to be an online service, however, the technology just wasn’t there yet. McCue said it would not have looked the way he wanted it to, like a nicely laid out magazine you could browse through. ”And then I started hearing these rumors about this tablet from Apple and as the rumors increased, I said we’re just going to wait,” he said. The team started making cardboard models of what they thought the iPad would look like. They were like empty shells that could be inserted with slides of what Flipboard would look like. And when Apple did make it’s announcement, the Flipboard team watched (the late) Apple CEO Steve Jobs’s speech

ISP’s To Block Porn Unless You Opt In

Pornographic websites will be automatically blocked by Internet service providers (ISPs) in the UK unless the account holder chooses to opt in, Prime Minister David Cameron announced today, according to the BBC.
As part of new measures aimed at protecting “the innocence of our children”, Online search engines such as Google and Bing will be required to block illegal content. Filtering Software will be applied by ISP’s to both new and existing customers by the end of 2013. They will be automatically on if you switch to a new company, but you’ll be contacted by your existing provider to ask whether you want to turn it on, reports the BBC.

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre are to be given greater powers, including the ability to examine file-sharing networks, but the exact extent of this surveillance has not yet been fully announced. A database of banned images depicting the sexual abuse of children will also be used by police investigators to track paedophiles. This is further to a parliamentary inquiry last year which recommended stronger filters to block pornography, including opting in to see adult sexual images.
Mr Cameron warned that access to online pornography was “corroding childhood” and the Prime Minister also called for some “horrific” internet search terms to be “blacklisted”, meaning they would automatically bring up no results on internet search engines. He told the BBC he expected a “row” with service providers who, he said in his speech, were “not doing enough to take responsibility” despite having a “moral duty” to do so. He also warned he could have to “force action” by changing the law and that, if there were “technical obstacles”, firms should use their “greatest brains” to overcome them.
In theory, this move should allow people to stop their children accessing pornographic imagery on any device they pay for, as long as it was registered in their parent’s name. Exactly how ISPs and phone networks will decide what is classed as pornographic and what isn’t (that’s not really difficult, is it?) and how they’ll prevent users from getting around the filters, is yet to be announced.

Timer Coalescing Improves Mac Battery Life In Mavericks

Of the many advanced technologies being introduced in OS X Mavericks, one of the most useful, for Mac laptop users, is the new Timer Coalescing feature. It’s an energy-saving technique that promises to extend battery life on your MacBook, by forcing the laptop’s CPU into a low-power mode whenever it’s available. OS X will use this technique to make the most of your CPU downtime, and that means battery life will last much longer. A lot of the time your CPU isn’t doing anything, not just when you’re away from your keyboard etc, this even happens when you’re working.

Managing The CPU
In the space of a few seconds, your CPU will spike in activity many times. This is not only because of the different applications you’re running, but also because of all the other housekeeping tasks needed to keep the OS running. In between those moments, your Mac’s CPU enters an idle state, where it’s not doing much. To wake from that idle state requires power and using power means the battery of your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro won’t last as long. Currently in Mountain Lion and earlier revisions of OS X, your Mac isn’t doing this efficiently. In essence, that means that power is getting wasted, and your Mac laptop is draining its battery faster than it should to be. That’s because many of those low-level operations are spread apart, over milliseconds, but it adds up pretty quickly. Timer Coalescing changes that by grouping together those operations, so instead of constantly flickering between an idle state and operation, the CPU stays idle for longer. It may only stay idle for a fraction of a second, compared to a few milliseconds, but over minutes and hours, that idle state adds up. The net result is that your Mac’s CPU uses a great deal less power.
In testing, Apple compared Mountain Lion and a development build of Mavericks running on a production MacBook Air. They discovered that Timer Coalescing can reduce CPU activity by a staggering 72 percent! The way Timer Coalescing works means you won’t notice any difference in performance. The operating system is just grouping together the tasks that need to happen to make it run more efficiently. And there’s nothing you need to do to get it working, it’s built right in to the OS. However, Apple has a nifty interactive graphic on its web site that will show you how Timer Coalescing works.
We all want a longer lasting battery life and a longer lasting charge and this neat new feature will make some headway into these issues. Well done Apple!

Logins & Email Addresses Stolen As Ubuntu Forums Hacked

Ubuntu Forums suffered a massive data breach on Saturday said Canonical,the company behind the Linux open-source based operating system.
An announcement was posted on the main forum page confirming the breach and reassured users that their team were working to restore normal operations.

The post said “every user’s local username, password and email address” from their database was stolen. Users who share passwords across sites were advised to change them.
“Ubuntu One, Launchpad and other Ubuntu/Canonical services are not affected by the breach,” the open-source company stated.
It is estimated that 1.82 million people use the forum, with more than 1.96 million threads.
The site was defaced on Saturday afternoon according to social media reports. Hackers altered the main page to include an image of a Twitter handle “Sputn1k_“, which directs to an accunt with just five tweets and double-digit followers. The account did not follow any other user when the hack took place.
The image also pointed out a “shoutout” to the Twitter user @rootinabox, however the link pointed only to a website that appears not to be associated with the account holder.
There has been much criticism of this hack, with on user saying “You must feel proud defacing a site by volunteers. They dedicate time and effort to make a free distro. Worst kind of ‘hacker’.”

There used to be a time when Motorola phones were all the rage. I remember saving up religiously to get my hands on the Razr, but those days seem like a dream now. Then Google upped the stakes. With the much talked about Moto X event to be held on the 1st of August, consumers and tech pundits alike are all abuzz about the latest to come from one of the oldest mobile phone brands.

So what we need to know about the Moto X?
Rumors and speculation abound, as is usually the case, so let’s make things easier for everyone by putting them in a neat bundle a week before the event.
The Moto X is the first handset to be released by the company since Google bought it.

That’s the leaked image of the Moto X that has been making the Internet rounds, thanks to @evleaks. That is not a bad-looking device, although that dot at the bottom throws me off. As for the specs, the new Motorola phone is rumored to have a Qualcomm dual-core Snapdragon chip with an Adreno GPU, 2GB RAM, and 16GB of internal storage.

Made – well, assembled – in the USA.
That ought to strike the right chord with some people. Google has made it clear that their Fort Worth plant is the birthplace of Moto X units. That being said, the new phone is said to be around 4.5 inches (or maybe 4.7) with a 1280 x 720 resolution OLED display. Additionally, it is probably going to run on Android 4.3. And, if you’re a fan of sapphire glass screens (as opposed to Gorilla Glass), then the Moto X scores another point.
Users who rely heavily on their phones for photography won’t have anything revolutionary to look forward to, but a decent 10-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front camera should not disappoint.

More juice!
The rumored 2,200mAh battery of the Moto X is what makes things interesting. While that is smaller than what the Samsung Galaxy S4 has, Google has not been quiet about planning on giving users the experience of not running out of juice in the middle of the day. Combined with other power-saving features, the Moto X batter might just last you an entire day. A dream, it may seem, but it doesn’t hurt to hope!

How much?
You didn’t really expect to receive that information at this point, did you?

Ubuntu Edge Phone Needs $32m In Funding

Canonical are seeking to raise $32m through the crowdfunding site Indiegogo in order to launch a handset pre-installed with Ubuntu operating system software.
The amount of money it needs to raise is significantly more than any other crowd-financed project before it. Indiegogo’s current funding record is $1,665,380, which was raised for a scheme to build a Star-Trek style Tricorder medical scanning device.
On Tuesday, the Ubuntu Edge phone had received $3,295,000 worth of pledges but due to the terms of the campaign, they only receive the cash if they attract pledges for the full amount.

Ubuntu Edge Phone

Canonical say that their Ubuntu Edge phone is different from any other smartphone operating system because it can run the same desktop applications as a PC installed with its software.
When the handset is being used as a mobile, then programs look like standard phone apps. But the phone can be docked with a monitor, causing the user interface to change to that of a desktop application. The operating system also supports apps written in the HTML5 web language, although they will run at slower speeds.

Large Price Tag

In order to secure one of the Ubuntu Edge handsets, backers need to commit $600 on day one or $830 on the remaining days of the crowdfunding campaign.
Defending the sum, Canonical’s founder Mark Shuttleworth said that enthusiasts would receive a “Formula 1″ device.
He said The new handsets will have substantially more Ram than a typical high-end phone,”
“I would describe today’s devices as being more useful as a thin client… offloading most of the processing to the cloud. What we’re interested in is the next generation, giving you enough horsepower to actually have the full desktop experience powered by the phone.”
As well as 4GB of RAM, Canonical have also promised 128GB of storage and to make the handset’s 4.5-inch screen from the touch substance sapphire crystal.
The Ubuntu Edge will be made by an Asian manufacturer who already produces mobile handsets but Mr Shuttleworth declined to name which company it was. He did however admit that due to the large Indiegogo funding goal, they were at risk of not receiving any money at all for the project.
“We’re very sanguine we may not hit the green light level,” he said. “But I think the timing for a record attempt like this is very good – there’s a sense the mobile industry has become constrained in its ability to deliver innovation.
“If you’re focusing on very high volume markets there’s a lot of risk to you in introducing a new technology to a device that you want to sell 40 or 50 million units.”
Canonical’s campaign will run until 21 August.

ConceptNet 4 AI System as Smart as a 4-Year-Old

Mainstream culture teaches us that artificial intelligence systems are incredibly bright and able to outsmart many human beings. And if we take a look at trivia game master Watson or the Deep Blue program that managed to beat Gary Kasparov at chess, we will most likely agree with what we’re told.
So you will be surprised to learn that one of the top AI systems in use at the moment, called ConceptNet 4, actually has the IQ of a four-year-old and considerably less common sense.

It seems we’re still a long way from developing artificial intelligence as smart as HAL. And that’s a good thing, right?

ConceptNet 4 was subjected to a standard IQ test for children by researchers with the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). The AI system was developed by MIT and it works based on commonsense knowledge pooled from facts gathered from thousands of people across the worldwide web.
The AI system scored a similar result to a 4-year-old child, but it fared a lot better than any preschooler in some portions of the test. ConceptNet 4 had very good results in vocabulary and similarity recognition rests, but scored badly when it came to answering “why” questions.
The explanation is that while machines are very good at processing vast databases and collections of facts, they cannot be programmed yet to intuit the surrounding world without having a solid base of so-called implicit facts (obvious things we don’t even know we know) and being able to compute those facts into a commonsense response.
More specifically, an AI system knows water’s point of boiling or freezing, but it may not implicitly know that when it reaches those temperatures, the water is hot or cold, whereas a 4-year-old will know these things.
UIC scientists hope the results of the study will make it easier to identify ways of further improving the intelligence of AI systems. While we may still be a long way from programs such as 2001: A Space Odyssey’s HAL, researchers are working to develop an AI that would be able to answer comprehension questions like an eight-year-old would.
What do you think of the project? If successful, what would you like to see an ultra-smart AI system used for?

Google has also added text-to-speech support for all variations of English, French, Japanese, Spanish, German, Italian and Korean. Another feature is that the toolbar controls are now always available when using the voice search feature. In addition, this update brings full-screen browsing to the iPad and it has the ability to access your browsing history from the menu. The supported list of apps currently includes Google Maps, YouTube, Google+, and Google Drive and Google says more apps are “coming soon.”

A week after Chrome 28 on the desktop and Chrome 28 for Android, Google have announced the release of Chrome 28 for iOS. You can download the latest version now directly from Apple’s App Store.
Among the new features Google is adding is the option to open links in other Google apps, this is also the biggest change to this release on Apple’s mobile platform. After you sign in to Chrome, you can sign in to other Google apps with a single tap and you can now have Chrome open links in other Google apps. This basically means if you stumble upon a Google Maps link while browsing in Chrome, you can either open up the Web version of the service, or launch the corresponding iOS app.
Data Compression Technology
DCS or Data Cost Savings is the experimental data compression service which is meant to help you save bandwidth, load pages faster, and browse more securely on your phone and tablet by optimizing the pages you visit. Google had first introduced the feature in Chrome 26 beta and when Chrome 27 beta was released, it was turned on by default and let you see your data savings by going to “Bandwidth Management” in Settings and enabling “Reduce Data Usage.” In Chrome 28 beta, the feature included a graph to show your estimated bandwidth savings: Now that both mobile versions of Chrome have the feature in their stable releases, we would expect this will arrive shortly. Google would not say why it took this length of time for these improvements to be implemented.

The full Chrome 28.0.1500.12 for iOS change log is as follows:
Interoperability with other Google Apps. Option to open links for YouTube, Maps, G+ and Drive in the app instead of the browser. Full-screen on iPad. Access to browser history Enhancements to voice search. Text-to-speech for all variations of English, Spanish, German, Italian, French, Japanese, and Korean. Toolbar controls are always available when using voice search. Data cost savings: Reduce data usage and speed up page load times. View data savings in Bandwidth Management settings. This feature is being rolled out and will be available to all users over time. Stability / security improvements and bug fixes.
As with all new browsers, we wholeheartedly suggest you give them a try as you never know, you might make a switch!

Intel To Launch A Lower Power Chip For Servers

Intel Corp has announced that it will be launching a low-power version of its server processors in a bid to expand into the data center with energy efficient-chips based on smartphone technology.
At an event on Monday with industry analysts and the media, Intel said it planned to offer a low-power version of the powerful Xeon processor with built-in features that will include connectivity and memory.

Intel are possibly trying to stay ahead of the competition from companies like Advanced Micro Devices, Applied Micro Circuits Corp and other smaller rivals, who are all trying to topple Intel from being the top chipmaker. Rival companies are working on components designed with low-power smartphone techonolgy licensed from ARM Holdings.
“Intel’s announcements demonstrate they will try to defend their turf against ARM-based servers and specialty processors,” said Pat Moorhead, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy. “Up until today, it was a bit of a guessing game for Intel that today has at least 95-percent server market share.”
Intel dominates the PC and server markets but has been slow in designing chips for the mobile market. This new announcement shows how CEO Brian Krzanich is willing to make major changes in how the company tackle different markets.
Diane Bryant is in charge of Intel’s data center business, she has said the new component will launch next year and will be based on the upcoming Broadwell version of Intel’s Xeon high-performance chips.
Data centers that combine lots of low-power chips instead of a few heavy-duty processors, will hopefully provide more power but for less money and use less electricity.
Intel are moving to integrate more features like memory and graphics onto its chips. It is known as “system on chips and is already used in smartphones and tablets. The company is also starting to produce “system on chips” for laptops.

Trying to gauge whether your computer is running as fast as it could be is usually like trying to tell how much your kids have grown. Usually speed losses are incremental and not noticed individually - but going through a checklist for speeding up your computer can make an amazing difference to your experience. Here are some simple steps to speed up computer performance that everyone can use.

Free up disk space

1. Remove junk files

You don't even have to click a "Save" button once while using your computer to accumulate junk files. Simply checking emails, setting your computer to hibernate or surfing the web will build up junk files on your computer. One way to clean them up and speed up your computer is to run the Windows inbuilt "Disk Cleanup" utility. To do that go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Disk Cleanup. You can also get third party programs that can find and delete even more junk files. These include:

Auslogics BoostSpeed
Wise Disk Cleaner Pro

2. Remove duplicate files
You may not realize how many duplicate files you have accumulated on your system! Even people

Google Glass has been getting a lot of hype, and rightly so. The era of wearable tech is dawning, and it is only to be expected that Google will lead the way in this regard. Of course, once the idea is out there, you can’t expect other innovative minds to join the fray and offer alternatives. That’s where GlassUp comes into the picture.

GlassUp is currently a project running on Indiegogo. It’s basically a potential Google Glass alternative, serving as a second screen for your smartphone. What are some practical uses of GlassUp? Here are a few.

Meet GlassUp: Your Google Glass Alternative

Emails, text messages, Facebook updates, tweets, RSS, calendar events, incoming calls
Breaking news, weather, stock exchange, sport results
Real time feedback display for running, biking, sailing, action sports
Turn by turn directions to riders (motorcycles, bikes,..)
Aid for hearing impaired
Translations display when talking in different languages
Patients’ body data to a surgeon
Instructions to workers in warehousing or maintenance
Teleprompter for public speaking
Subtitles at the movies (for hearing impaired and for different languages)
Details about works of art at a museum
Gaming

Those things are more than enough to get me interested, although to be honest, I am not quite convinced aesthetic-wise.

Still, the makers of GlassUp do offer tantalizing packages for backers of the campaign. For example, you can get a prescription version of the device. That was actually something I was asking about Google Glass – obviously for people like me who are blind without glasses. (One can argue the use of contact lenses, but this added feature sweetens the deal.)
Additionally, backers can band together to get GlassUp for cheaper. The Early Bird Bulk Order gives you 10 items for only $1500. If you’ve got enough friends, that is an awesome deal. In fact, we’re rounding up people in my circle to get this!
Want to know more? Check out the video below and visit GlassUp on Indiegogo.

Pricing 179200/- on flipkart.com as on 22/7/13

Expand to see the specs

* Best Ideal notebook for apple lovers.

* Price may vary by time

*Editor Pick

QR Code Hacks Google Glass

Another security weakness has been found with Google Glass. Using a QR code, security analysts at Lookout were able to force the Glass device to perform certain actions, such as sharing a user’s screen or joining wireless networks, without the user’s knowledge.
Google Glass is set to automatically process any QR code that the device’s camera detects; this is to help achieve the minimalistic design and interface. The moment Glass recognizes the command that the QR code contains, Glass executes it. All a hacker has to do is create malicious QR codes that commands Glass to do any number of actions. This is where Lookout created a QR code that forced Glass to initiate a Glass-cast, which is what a Google Glass user can see with a device connected via Bluetooth, without the user knowing. Theoretically, this could allow a hacker to completely spy on everything someone sees, including personal information and data, such as an ATM PIN or another secure data password.

Lookout pointed out to PC Mag that this is not too threatening as it first appears to be, as a hacker would need physical access to a pair of Google Glass in order to pair a device with Bluetooth. The hacker would also have remain pretty close to the user to keep getting the feed.
The QR code designed to force Glass to connect to Wi-Fi network, however, is a much more troubling problem. A hacker could monitor everything a user does with Glass while connected that network or even hack the device completely. For those of you unfamiliar with QR codes, they are those squares with black pixels that can be scanned with a smartphone or similar device. These are becoming more and more common on advertisements. A hacker could create one, print and copy it and post the copies anywhere. Someone could easily be tricked into scanning the code and giving up control of their Glass. Finding security issues has been an important part of the Explorer Edition of Google Glass and Google has been quick to fix these issues. In other news; another hacker successfully jail broke Google Glass a few months ago in May and pointed out some very serious security flaws that Google was able to address. Just two weeks after Lookout presented this QR code vulnerability to Google, the company updated Glass to prevent the device from automatically executing a command. Still, Google did not see QR codes as a potential avenue for an attack. Users should only scan a code if they know what it is going to do, right? Try telling the auto feature of QR scanning in Glass that!

Skymouse Recognizes Fingertip Gestures

The mouse is one of those computer accessories that did not change much over the years: it became less bulky, it turned optical and eventually wireless. But its core concept remained virtually the same.
This new Kickstarter project called Skymouse changes the desktop mouse for good, by literally placing cursor control on the tips of your fingers.

Skymouse Recognizes Fingertip Gestures

So how does this work? Developed by Los Angeles based designer Eliott Ephrati, the Skymouse system practically turns your fingers into the mouse.
The system uses an infrared camera and LEDs to track the movement of your fingers. Well, not actually of your fingers, but of the four pointers you have to wear on your fingertips. An algorithm then translates these movements into direction and velocity commands to the on screen cursor.

Windows Phone 8 to Get Vine, Path & Flipboard

Windows users have a lot to look forward to these days. Not too long ago, Nokia unveiled its new high end phone the Lumia 1020, which has a ridiculously high resolution camera. While it probably won’t be the go-to phone of the average Windows Phone user, the device will certainly have its takers. Then there is the news of Surface RT price cuts. Those two things alone make it good times to be on the Windows side.

For Windows Phone 8 users, there’s even more reason to smile: new apps – which have already proven to be popular on other platforms – are coming. And, unlike the Game of Thrones Starks’ house mantra about winter, the chances are that the wait for these apps are not going to be as tedious and tortuous. The user experience on a Windows Phone 8 might just be a totally different matter, though.

Facial Recognition Method Reads Vein Patterns

Facial recognition methods are generally regarded as a pretty reliable method of biometric identification, but if you’ve seen one too many Mission: Impossible episodes, you’ll know that they are not by any means failproof.
However, a new facial recognition method developed by researchers with India’s Jadavpur University brings a unique take on traditional facial ID system: it can identify someone based on their face’s blood vessel patterns.

Facial Recognition Method Reads Vein Patterns

Apparently vein patterns are as unique as one’s fingerprint, but a lot tougher to duplicate, so security specialists have begun looking at ways of using these patterns for identification systems for a while now. Many palm and fingerprint scanners on the market are already able to analyze vein patterns, even from a distance, with the help of infrared technology.
The same kind of technology was used by Indian scientists when developing their facial vein pattern identification system.

Microsoft Hint Skype Calls Can Be Intercepted & Handed to The NSA

A recent statement by Microsoft on the National Security Agency (NSA), indirectly hints that any communication via Skype could be intercepted and given to the NSA.
In a blog post the company said it “[assumes] that all calls, whether over the Internet or by fixed line or mobile phone, will offer similar levels of privacy and security.”

skype privacy

In other words, Skype calls are no different to traditional phone calls made by a landline or cellphone. So the U.S goverment, through the PRISM program, can force Microsoft to hand over any Skype communication; something which they have always denied is technically possible.
Privacy researcher Ashkan Soltani says “They’re implying that until they can say more, all they’re going to say is ‘don’t assume Skype is different.’”

Structuring Your Talk:

Preparing a talk always takes far longer than you anticipate. Start early!

Write a clear statement of the problem and its importance.
Research. Collect material which may relate to the topic.
Tell a story in a logical sequence.
Stick to the key concepts. Avoid description of specifics and unnecessary details.
If you are making a series of points, organize them from the most to the least important. The less important points can be skipped if you run short of time.
Keep your sentences short, about 10-20 words each is ideal. This is the way people usually talk.
Strive for clarity. Are these the best words for making your point? Are they unambiguous? Are you using unfamiliar jargon or acronyms?

Preparing Your Slides:

Presentation Design

Let the picture or graphics tell the story - minimize the use of text.
Don’t overload your slides with too much text or data.
FOCUS. In general, using a few powerful slides is the aim.
Type key words in the PowerPoint Notes area listing what to say when displaying the slide. The notes are printable.

First Download 3 Softwares :-

1. Download Port Scanner

2. Download rDOS

3. Download Ip Hiding tool

Follow these steps:

1: First of all you need to know the IP address of the website you

want to crash. Use ping command in windows to get the ip address of

the website.

open CMD and enter ping "www.website.com" see the snap Now

you have the IP address of the website.

2: Now use Port scanner to

check whether PORT 80 is open or not. If PORT 80 is not open choose another website to hack

otherwise you can’t crash this website.

3: Now open your rDos. Enter

your victims ip that you got from step 1.It will ask you for the port to attack use port 80 that’s why we scanned to make sure that 80 was open! If it is closed it will not work.

REQUIREMENTS

• PC Running Windows xp
• Windows XP CD

HOW TO DO THAT ?

• Place Windows XP cd in your CD/DVD drive.
• Then Go to Start > Run
• Type in sfc /scannow
• Now your XP will run fine.

Many friends of me ask where can I download a software which can keep my RAM free?
And I found these software are nothing but using some lines of code which can be implemented by using notepad or any editor tool. So if any one does not have any software, you can use it by doing the following things which I am going to mention.

Steps to Clean Your RAM Using Notepad:

Step 1: Open Notepad

Step 2: Type FreeMem=Space(10240000000)

Step 3: Save it as “CLEANER.VBS” in any location you like.

Step 4: You can edit the code and write 512 instead of 1024if you own a 512mb RAM or change to anything you like.

Step 5: Run it !

After this final step your RAM will be free.

Google Releases OEM Patch For Major Android Security Flaw

In a follow up to our recent report regarding how an Android Security Bug was found to let hackers gain system access, Google has released a fix to its Android original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s) for this bug, named: Android security bug 8219321 as unearthed by Bluebox Security in February this year. The flaw was confirmed from Google’s Android Communications Manager, Gina Scigliano, she said “a patch has been provided to our partners.” She also mentioned “Some OEMs, like Samsung, are already shipping the fix to the Android devices.”

The flaw in question will allow a hacker to turn a legitimate app into malicious files by modifying APK code without breaking the app’s cryptographic signature. In response to this, Google has already modified its Play Store’s app entry process to scan for the exploit so apps that have been modified using this vulnerability can no longer be distributed via the Play Store. Bluebox Security discovered the hole in Android’s code, which it claims could potentially affect 99 percent of Android devices, back in February and informed Google at that time. (but only made it public recently). Samsung’s Galaxy S4 was named then as one Android device that had already been patched, so it seems likely that this model is the device Gina Scigliano referred to when she cited Samsung as a manufacturer already shipping a fix. The problem for Android users is that even though Google has now in fact released a fix to its OEMs, they still have to wait for the maker of their particular handset to implement and ship the fix. This also poses another question, how long before their particular carrier tests it? Having to wait around to receive updates is a byproduct of the freeness and fragmentation of the Android sphere, still, it does not sound like this particular Android flaw has been widely exploited thus far. Scigliano has told ZDNet: “We have not seen any evidence of exploitation in Google Play or other app stores via our security scanning tools. Google Play scans for this issue and Verify Apps provides protection for Android users who download apps to their devices outside of Play.” But just because it has not been widely exploited yet, does not mean it will not be…does it?

Surface RT Prices Go Down

Microsoft is really not doing that well in the tablet scene, is it? While it has been quite busy trying to make waves – launching specialty stores inside Best Buy, for example – no one can ignore the fact that Surface tablets are just not catching on as much as iPads and even Samsung tablets. We’ve also heard noise about the Microsoft Surface Mini, but from the looks of things, the company could use a boost.

The latest news is that Surface RT prices are being slashed. Or have been slashed.
This is, of course, good news to who can’t (or won’t) deviate from using Windows. The new prices are as follows:

Surface RT 32GB – $349.99
Surface RT 64GB – $449.99
Surface RT 32GB with Touch Cover – $449.99
Surface RT 64GB with Touch Cover – $549.99

Slashed or not, those amounts are not that small that one would immediately jump at the chance. After all, there are other tablets within the same price range that may be more attractive.
Here’s additional good news, if you have an affinity for the Surface RT: Microsoft is offering the tablet for only $199 – but only to schools (K-12 and universities). This promo ends August 31.
While the initial reaction may be that the Surface RT price slashing is an act of desperation, it seems that there is another practical reason for Microsoft doing so – something that other companies do as well: they are going to release updated versions of the Surface RT and Surface Pro.
The Verge caught a particular slide presented during the Worldwide Partner Conference last week, which showed something of a teaser for the upgraded versions. New accessories, new accessory colors, Haswell processors – these are some of the possible upgrades we are going to see.

The upgraded devices are probably not going to see the light of day till next year, so it’s rather early for the Surface RT price takedown, don’t you think?

Want Some Privacy? Get A Typewriter!

The Russian government has decided to purchase new typewriter equipment. According to the Russian procurement service website, the Federal Guard Agency has ordered 486,000 Roubles worth of electric typewriters.
Could it be they feel this is the solution to privacy issues? Well to put it more into context, the amount spent on this equipment equates to $15,000, about 20 typewriters.

So to be fair they are not overhaluing their whole system for documenting the country’s goings-on but what is interesting is that according to a source for Russia’s Izvestiya newspaper; the Defense ministry, the Emergencies ministry and the “special services” are already using non-electronic devices to produce documents. Even President Putin is supposedly receiving some correspondence this way.
“After scandals with the distribution of secret documents by WikiLeaks and the exposes by Edward Snowden,” the anonymous source explained, “it has been decided to expand the practice of creating paper documents” — especially because each document can be traced back to its unique typewriter signature.
So if you are concerned about security, maybe a typewriter could be the answer. Some Brooklyn-based writers told the New York Times how much they love using typewriters. Users love the fact that they don’t have the delete key to fall back on, that they have to commit to their thoughts. They also don’t have to worry about recharging the device!
Would you consider using a typewriter? Tell us your thoughts.

Meet the new inbox

New customizable tabs put you back in control so that you can see what's new at a glance and decide which emails you want to read and when.

Windows 8.1 Carries New Features

In view of endless debate over Windows 8 and the confusion because of its new features, Windows took a little while to come back with a worthy answer. With its newer version, Windows 8.1, it has few things to present to its critics.

Windows 8.1 Carries New FeaturesThe Return of the Windows Start Button
While this feature was always a part of Windows since its beginning, no one liked the idea of Windows 8 not having this feature. The Windows button in Windows 8 only looks different and has touch capability, but it can be accessed when you press the Windows key on your keyboard.

Users did not like this, and so, Windows has placed the button where it is more visible. It’s believed that users will like this for more than one reason. They’ll know it’s there because they can see it, and they will also have the option of using the touch screen option.

Windows Also Introduced the Hands-Free Mode
Windows has created a brilliant array of apps that has pleased most users. It has even created recipe apps that collect recipes from top chefs so that you can learn how to cook great meals. However, how would you read through the recipes and flip pages when your hands are full of cooking materials?
Well, you don’t have to touch your screen with Windows 8.1 if you have your web cam on. All you need to do is wave your hand over your page on screen, and the page will turn. Your web-cam will pass on the signal via the Hands-free app.

Universal Search
Previously, the ‘search’ option on the right side of your screen always existed, but it was never quite visible. Now you can do so much more with it because it is Universal, and allows you to search Bing as well as your folders, applications, and files, in one box.

You Now Have Updated and New Apps
Similar to the smartphone and the tablet, Windows 8 and 8.1 both have apps. These apps are quite different from the regular ones you come across, and they are available through your touch-screen. Microsoft has offered you the ability to use your computer as a tablet because these items are available on your touch-screen.
Windows deserves much credit for designing them, and they are all highly useful. To name a few, there is a scientific calculator, a Health and Fitness application that can monitors your exercise and diet, a Reading List, where you can save your reading material and updates for current apps.

Windows Now Gives You 3-D Printer Support
Microsoft claims Windows 8.1 is the first operating system that functions smoothly with desktop 3-D printers such as the Solidoodle and Makerbot. These 3-D printers will use an API and a driver, similar to that of a 2-D printer.
All these new features have been pleasing Windows lately, and Windows seems to be getting things right. All the criticism that they faced in recent months will lose its intensity with each user trying out 8.1

Mozilla’s Smartphone OS Launches in Spain

One of the world’s leading Internet browser providers has joined the smartphone business with a new operating system. Mozilla’s smartphone OS was officially released in Spain.
First details about the operating system emerged at the Barcelona Mobile World Congress in February and Mozilla has just released the first two smartphones equipped with the new Firefox operating system.

Mozilla’s Smartphone OS Launches in Spain

The two smartphones, a ZTE Open and an Alcatel OneTouch Fire, are only available in Spain for the time being. Mozilla partnered with Telefonica on the project, which aims at making available a series of more affordable smartphones to the general public.
The phones will retail for 69 euros or about $90. Pre-paid versions also come with 30 euros worth of credit. Both models will be equipped with standard smartphone features such as phone calls, text messaging, email, maps, camera and Firefox web browsing.
Each of the phones has 512MB internal memory and is provided with a microSD card slot to increase storage space. The smartphones do not feature HD screens, but are equipped with 1 GHz Qualcomm processors and Ardeno 200 graphics cards.
The Firefox OS is open source and developed using HTML5, which Mozilla hopes will appeal to web developers who can easily use the system to create their own apps.
It is not yet known when the Mozilla OS smartphones will be available for U.S. consumers. For the time being, Mozilla is marketing the phones on emerging markets such as Poland, Spain, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil, markets where the new OS will be a significantly more affordable option than the more expensive iPhones or last generation Android powered devices.
Mozilla executives acknowledge that it will be difficult for the Firefox OS to find success on a market that is 90% dominated by Android and iOS together, but are confident that the low price point and open-source features will make it a popular choice among those loking for an alternative to traditional smartphone operating systems.
What do you think are Mozilla’s chances to succeed? Would you like to try out a Firefox OS smartphone?

Jelly Bean Overtakes Gingerbread

Jelly Bean is now used on just under 38% of all active Android devices. The latest figures show which versions of Android are actually being used in the real world, have been published by Google. This new data shows that Android 4.x, which includes Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly bean, runs on over 61% of devices, while Jelly Bean itself (Android 4.1 and Android 4.2) runs on just under 38% of devices.

jellybeanovertakesgingerbread

This is the first time that Jelly Bean has taken the lead from the Gingerbread operating system, which has stayed active even though it has been superseded several times. However, Gingerbread’s use is in decline, at the beginning of this year Android 2.3 was running on just under half of all active Android devices and Jelly Bean had just a 10% share. Ice Cream Sandwich was popular with just under 30% usage. If we skip forward six months in time, now Jelly Bean is king having taken the lion share from Gingerbread and Ice Cream Sandwich.
Google generates these numbers based on “data collected during a 14-day period ending on July 8, 2013″ and use Google’s new counting method. Since April 2013, the data now contains the number of devices that are used to visit the Google Play Store, rather than any device that simply checked-in to Google servers. Google have said that this is a more accurate way to count the users who are actually active in the Android sphere. As for the rest of the field Android 2.1 and 2.2 are still used on 4.5 % of devices while Android 1.6 Donut and Android 3.2 Honeycomb barely register at less than 1% (0.1%). The reason for Gingerbread’s longevity is likely because of its low system requirements. It is still possible to buy low end Smartphones running Gingerbread today. Since it can run on devices with only 256MB of memory and it doesn’t need a very fast GPU then for emerging markets it is still a very viable option. How long it will remain that way is unclear, however the fact that Jelly Bean has finally taken the lead coupled with Android 4.x runs on over 61% of active devices, it seems that the end is almost upon Gingerbread…Ah well, it had a good run.

Google Whitespace Broadband

Google has been granted official permission to develop its plans in the USA to use portions of the unused television broadcasting spectrum for broadband Internet access. This method is typically used for remote areas where traditional cable hookups cost far too much money.
White Space Database called “TV white space,” are those unused broadcasting frequencies that have been eyed up in the last several years as a potential way to distribute broadband Internet to users who can’t get it because they live too far away from cities and towns where appropriate communication infrastructure and facilities exist.

Google Whitespace Broadband

Google has been seeking certification from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to become a certified database administrator for those segments of TV white space across the United States of America. That final certification from the FCC has now been confirmed as Google’s database of white space has recently been accepted by the commission, according to a post by Alan Norman, principal of Google’s Access team, on the Official Google.org Blog on June 28th 2013. This certification of Google as a database administrator means that the company will be able to provide information to service providers about which areas of the TV white band will be available for providing Internet use.
“This is an exciting step forward,” wrote Norman. “With FCC certification, we can do more to help make spectrum available. We are ready to work with leaders in the wireless industry – those developing certified devices that can talk to a database – to help them gain access to TV White spaces spectrum to help bring new technologies and services to market…Our database has already helped to show that there is available spectrum out there – if you know where to look,” wrote Norman. “For example, we used the database to help visualise available spectrum in Cape Town, South Africa, and Dakar, Senegal and with spectrum-sharing enabled by a database, multiple users can share spectrum, accessing what they need when they need it, and allowing others to use it when they don’t.”
Google’s white spaces database is available for public viewing on the Google Spectrum Database Web page. In March 2013, Google launched a trial white space project in South Africa where the company wants to see if it can use the same idea to bring Internet access to more communities inside the developing nation. The idea for utilizing the unused TV white space is not new and originally came about way back in 2008, when Google saw it as a possible way to push internet access to rural areas in the United States where getting such service was difficult and extremely expensive.
Google often work on projects that aim to expand the availability of Internet access around the world. Here i reported last month that the company announced that it is experimenting with a series of high-altitude balloons over New Zealand to build a high-speed Internet network that could be used to bring affordable internet service to distant locations around the world for the first time. The experiment, called Project Loon, is being called a high-tech way to create internet connections for two-thirds of the people in the world who currently don’t have internet access due to high costs and the difficulty of stringing connections in rural and distant parts of our planet.
Whitespace internet access is yet another way we can begin to explore all the rich features of our current technologies and stretch out what we can from it, maybe one day we will be able to use our old smartphones as matter/anti matter transporters?…

Android Security Bug Found: Hackers Gain System Access

Researchers in the security field at Bluebox Security, have found a bug in the Android operating system, which allows them to create malicious apps (appearing to be genuine with correct digital signatures). Digital signatures allow any piece of data, including an app, to be checked to see that it is genuine. But, because of this bug in Android, it is possible to create a fake app and digitally sign it so it looks like a real app from an author, including massive companies such as Google, Samsung, HTC and Sony etc.

Since the digital signatures of companies like Google and hardware manufacturers like Samsung, can be faked, it is possible to create a system app which has system access to the device in question. These system apps, which have what is known as ’System UID access’ can perform any function on the phone including modifying system-level parameters and system-level software. If such an app is installed on an Android mobile phone, the user would be totally vulnerable to a plethora of attacks including password sniffing and key logging.

The researchers at Bluebox Security informed Google about the flaw called Android security bug 8219321 way back in February 2013 and they now plan to reveal details of the security issue at an upcoming security conference. Theoretical security flaws exist in almost every piece of software including Microsoft Windows Phone, Android and iOS. The change from theoretical to real can be a long but not impossible. The question is, is there any real danger to current Android users. The answer is in a grey area. Bluebox Security says that the bug is present in 99% of all Android devices and they are correct. Until Google releases a patch and the manufacturers release updates then the majority of Android devices remain exposed! However, the key with any vulnerability is how easy is it to exploit? As always, users who download apps from third party sites including, but not limited to, torrents and media sharing sites are in the most danger as the most common way for hackers to spread malware is to upload a copy of popular software that has been modified to include malicious code.

If hackers discover the secrets to the Bluebox Security method of altering an app without breaking its cryptographic signature, then apps with system level access could be installed on any version of Android from 1.6 to 4.2, (even those which have not been rooted). For users who only use the official Google Play Store, then the chances of malware infection in this manner are very small indeed. It is unlikely that hackers will be able to get one of these apps into Google Play and we can assume that since Google has known about this bug for five months, then it has already implemented safeguards into the app store upload process to block said apps from appearing online.
As has been said countless times before, only download from Google Play or the Amazon App Store for security reasons if nothing else!