IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 4/27/2015

Google send mystery device through FCC, the next version of Glass?
Google might not be pushing along with the first generation of its Glass product, but it looks like the company is still working on something Glass-like, by sending in a new "smart BLE" device through to the FCC for approval.

The A4R-CAP1 device has a few things that let us know it's a new wearable, such as the digital FCC label below looking just like the Glass interface cards, something that you see when you swipe across. This shows us that we should expect a touchstrip of some kind, just as Google Glass featured.

We could see another device that uses Glass-like navigation, but I think we're going to see the next iteration of Glass shown off at Google I/O in a couple of months time, what do you think?


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Gabe Newell says "our goal is to make modding better" through Steam
Gabe Newell has taken to Reddit to talk about Valve's new modding policy, where our Lord and Savior took many questions regarding the controversial paid mod subject. Newell said that Valve's goal is now to make modding better for both creators, and gamers.

Newell said: "Our goal is to make modding better for the authors and gamers. If something doesn't help with that, it will get dumped. Right now I'm more optimistic that this will be a win for authors and gamers, but we are always going to be data driven". The boss of Valve also explained why the company used Skyrim as their first title under the new policy, where he said: "Skyrim is a great example of a game that has benefitted enormously from the MODs. The option for paid MODs is supposed to increase the investment in quality modding, not hurt it".

He continued: "About half of Valve came straight out of the MOD world. John Cook and Robin Walker made Team Fortress as a Quake mod. Ice frog made DOTA as a Warcraft 3 mod. Dave Riller and Dario Casali we Doom and Quake mappers. John Guthrie and Steve Bond came to Valve because John Carmack thought they were doing the best Quake C development. All of them were liberated to just do game development once they started getting paid. Working at Waffle House does not help you make a better game".

Newell's comments get more interesting as the questions flow, where he explained that Valve loves mods and PCs open nature, and that is why Valve exists. Newell talks about the reason behind Valve's decision to support paid mods, where he says: "Our view of Steam is that it's a collection of useful tools for customers and content developers. With the Steam workshop, we've already reached the point where the community is paying their favorite contributors more than they would make if they worked at a traditional game developer. We see this as a really good step. The option of MOD developers getting paid seemed like a good extension of that".

There's much more on this subject at the source, which you can check out here.


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Samsung's refreshed Gear VR for the Galaxy S6, S6 edge on sale May 8
With the new Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge handsets now on the market, Samsung is preparing the release of its new Gear VR Innovator Edition headset.

The new Gear VR will work with the new Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge handsets, with pre-orders now open. Samsung will be releasing it as the "Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6" and will be made available through Samsung's own website, and through Best Buy in the United States starting on May 8.

The previous iteration of Gear VR worked only on the larger Galaxy Note 4 smartphone, and retailed for $199. The new Gear VR will be priced at $199, too.


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Project Cars 2 is rumored to already be in development
Project Cars has been delayed a few times now, but it will be released on May 8 for the Xbox One, PS4 and PC, with news floating out already that Slightly Mad Studios is already working on a sequel to the driving game. We already know that Project Cars will be one of the best looking games on the market, with support for virtual reality headsets, and up to triple 4K monitor setups.

The news is coming from Slightly Mad Studios' boss, Ian Bell, where he referred to Project Cars as a 'Destiny-like' experience. He took to the World of Mass Development forums, where he said: "A very short update for now as I'm jet-lagged to hell and back but the good news is that we will be continuing the WMD setup for pCARS2. We will open new forum sections when the game (pCARS1) ships to support the new users and you WMD experts will all have access and we'd greatly appreciate your assistance advising new users".

Bell continued: "I'll be implementing a new non-profit return form of WMD for pCARS2 (to avoid the FSA hassle) and will set a purchase time limit of 2-3 months for those who want to take part. Following this, involvement will be closed. The tiers won't have the higher cost options that we currently have (probably capped at 100 pounds with excellent benefits) and those who want to approach me personally to invest in the new game can do so providing it's at or above 50k.

I planned to release the above information with a new web page explaining the details of each purchase tier but we're insanely busy and haven't found the time. I'm aware though that I promised an update so here it is. In short, we want to continue and extend the community involvement in the pCARS brand which has proven to be so very effective and we want to ensure this great community lives on and thrives into the future".


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Criminals receiving bitcoin ransom payments converting money fast
Cybercriminals launching ransomware attacks typically demand immediate payment with very little paper trail - and that often means relying on bitcoin transactions. However, the anonymity of bitcoins is now being overlooked due to the volatility of the cryptocurrency, with hackers converting the funds quickly.

The cyber group responsible for infecting users across the world with Cryptolocker likely made over $3 million before it was targeted by investigators. Besides pre-paid cash cards, bitcoins - which were once valued at more than $1,100 each, but now worth less than $250 - make it less appealing for money laundering behavior.

"I've seen this discussion in underground forums among Russian criminals," said Etay Maor, senior fraud prevention strategist of IBM Security, in a statement to The Register. "They use Bitcoin for the money laundering part and take payment with it, but they'll move it out almost immediately. Most of them won't keep bitcoins - they don't like the valuations Bitcoin has - so they just use it as a layer of obfuscation, and move it to a different form of money."

Cybercriminals launching ransomware attacks are finding success in victimizing business users, typically pairing the custom malware with a spear-phishing attempt.


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LG's G4 should cost around $800, a little more than the Galaxy S6 edge
LG is so close to the official unveiling of its G4 smartphone, where we're receiving details on the handset slowly. The latest is pricing, with LG setting the price of the G4 smartphone at around $800.

At $800, it's an expensive handset, far more expensive than the Nexus 5 at under half its price when it debuted (made by LG). The Galaxy S6 and S6 edge are $800+ handsets, but LG is packing a serious punch with the G4. We have a 5.5-inch QHD (2560x1440) display, a super-fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor (six cores), and more.

We know to expect a seriously good rear-facing camera, too.


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Lenovo's new K80 smartphone features 4GB of RAM, 4000mAh battery
Lenovo has just announced its latest handset, the K80, which will feature some surprising specifications. First off, we have a 5.5-inch 1080p display, which in this QHD world, isn't that great.

It is backed up by an Intel Atom processor, with a 1.8GHz clock speed and 64-bit. We also have 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, and a huge 4000mAh battery. On the rear, Lenovo has provided a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with OIS, with the entire smartphone coming in at just 8.5mm thick.

Android 5.0 Lollipop powers the Lenovo K80 handset, with the Chinese manufacturer pricing it at $290. It will be available in China at first on April 30, with a second model to follow with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.


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Vin Diesel announces 'Fast & Furious 8' with an April 2017 release
With Fast & Furious 7 making over $1 billion and counting, it should come as no surprise that Vin Diesel has announced that Fast & Furious 8 will be released on April 14, 2017.

Diesel announced the news at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, where he said: "We're going to make the best movie you've ever seen". If the last Furious movie made $1 billion, what do you think the new one will make?


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Cybersecurity market receiving strong boost from increasing VC funds
Venture capitalists are pouring money into cybersecurity companies, with high-profile data breaches still capturing headlines. Security companies supported by VCs in the United States generated a massive $1.77 billion in 2014, a figure higher than the previous record of $1.62 billion generated in 2000, according to statistics.

There is increased flexibility in the cybersecurity sector, with companies providing protection to consumers, corporations, hardware infrastructure, software, and specialized niche services.

As the Internet of Things (IoT) generates headlines for its beneficial flexibility for consumers, there is an underlying concern related to connected security. "It's a huge threat," said Alex Doll, founder of the TenEleven Ventures capital firm focusing on information security, in a statement to the Wall Street Journal. "It's great that everything is connected, but all that data is one click away" from being hacked.

Smaller security firms also are being acquired by larger companies at a fast rate, as more businesses appreciate the need for better cybersecurity platforms. Excitement regarding the booming cybersecurity market was prevalent at RSA, with a noticeable increase in vendors and companies promoting their wares.


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JAXA space agency wants to head to the moon in 2018
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) wants to launch an unmanned spacecraft to the moon in 2018, in an important first step towards a possible manned mission to the same target. Even if a manned launch doesn't occur, JAXA hopes to use collected data for a possible mission to Mars.

JAXA previously reached the moon's orbit in 2008 with the SELENE spacecraft, helping collect information about the lunar surface. The space agency hopes the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) will launch onboard the Epsilon rocket, which is a solid-fuel rocket with only one live launch.

"This is an initial step and a lot of procedures are still ahead before the plan is formally approved," said a JAXA spokesperson in front of the media. A mission to the moon could cost anywhere from $83.4 million up to $125 million, and the Japanese government is working on a proper project roadmap.

If Japan is successful, it would join the United States, China and former Soviet Union as the only countries to land a spacecraft on the moon.


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The Smart Lightbulb You Control Through Your Phone, Now 32% Off

Oh, you still use a light switch? How retro! Save 32% on the SMFX Smart Bulb at TweakTown Deals.

Dim, brighten, change the color, or turn on/off your light from your the SMFX app. The Android- and iOS-compatible bulb can be set on a timer and has multiple dimming levels and millions of colors to choose from - literally. There's even a "disco mode" that syncs up the light with music, for full atmosphere immersion. Plus, the SMFX Smart Bulb uses just 10 percent of the energy that a standard lightbulb uses, saving you major cash on your energy bills for all 40,000 hours of its life (that's 27 years of normal use).

And you thought it couldn't get any better than the Clapper. Head over to TweakTown Deals now to get the SMFX Smart Bulb for $32.99.


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Following more data breaches, consumers learning to pay attention
Continued cyberattacks against US residents rack up an impressive number of victims, with twice as many Americans reporting a breach following year-over-year statistics analysis. Unfortunately, one in five consumers say they suffered a credit score hit due to identity theft - and financial experts recommend shoppers request a credit report to check on any problems.

However, eight in 10 Americans note they have become more proactive in protecting their own personal information, as more than half of surveyed consumers aren't entirely sure if companies can keep personal data safe.

"The increase in data breaches affecting personal information has given consumers significant cause to be cautious about their activities, both online and off," said Ernie Almonte, chairman for the American Institute of CPA's National CPA Financial Literacy Commission, in a statement published by MoneyWatch.

"Data breaches have the potential to seriously affect consumer finances and wreak havoc on their credit scores."


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US government cracking down, says 'no more free passes' to hackers
The United States government understands it is a prime target for cybercriminals across the world, especially organized crime and state-sponsored hackers trying to conduct cyberespionage. John Carlin, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, spoke during RSA about the mentality of teaching foreign actors "that it is not okay to steal from American companies."

Even though the NSA has sophisticated cyberespionage capabilities, the government didn't pay enough attention to keeping critical infrastructure secure. The government is trying to catch up and will make changes, but is ready to put political and economic pressure on select governments for their cyber actions.

However, there are more aggressive tactics possible, including the indictment of five senior leaders of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in China last year - and economic sanctions placed on North Korea for its reported involvement in hacking Sony.

However, Carlin understands that it is still extremely difficult to identify and punish cybercriminals from overseas: "These are hard cases to prove up - but they're not impossible."


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Federal government trying to compete with private sector for workers
The US government wants to improve its cybersecurity and recruit skilled workers, but is struggling because of lackluster recruitment programs leading to an underwhelming cybersecurity labor pool, according to the Partnership for Public Service and Booz Allen Hamilton.

In 2014, there were almost 70,000 cyber intrusions that negatively impacted the governments' networks and systems, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported earlier in the year.

"Our interconnected world requires a seamless team of cyber defenders to protect our networks," according to the report. "Those defenders must be able to operate quickly and collaboratively in ways that cut across both private and public organizations."

As cyberattacks from criminals overseas become more sophisticated, the US government also must fight with the private sector for skilled workers - Silicon Valley is currently in a hiring frenzy, including many security-related positions. Entry-level software engineers in the private sector make anywhere from $8,000 to $14,000 more than the public sector - and that number can jump up to $33,000+ difference for senior-level workers.


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Elephone to release smartphone with both Android 5.0 and Windows 10
The world of smartphones is about to be blown open by Chinese smartphone manufacturer Elephone, which is poised to release a new handset in June which will run two operating systems: Android 5.0 Lollipop, and Windows 10.

The new smartphone will feature a 5.5-inch 2560x1440 display, 4GB of RAM, fingerprint security, a 21-megapixel rear-facing camera with a Sony IMX 230 sensor, and a 3800mAh battery. The processor will be a 64-bit capable chip, with two versions of the handset being made available. One of them will feature the cheaper MediaTek processor, while the other will be powered by an Intel processor.


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OAXIS Bento Close-Contact Induction Wireless Speaker Review

Introduction

Winning the Germany iF product design award at MWC 2014, it's no denying that the OAXIS Bento is great to look at. Utilizing close contact technology to pick up your phone speaker and then broadcasting it in a 360-degree radius, the technology and idea is great, but does it perform as you would expect?

All portable speakers contain the main issue of lacking bass to combat and here's hoping the Bento doesn't also fall monstrously short in this aspect too.

Specifications

With two 40mm drivers powered by 2 x 2.5 watt amplifiers playing in stereo sound, this product offers you a frequency response of 80Hz - 20KHz.

It will pick up music played by your device through the close contact technology located within, explained on their website as working by utilizing electromagnetic induction sensors to capture the 'magnetic waves' made by your phones speaker and amplifying them through its 360-degree sound design. Charged through Micro-USB, you can also connect your phone via an Aux 3.5mm jack.

The internal battery is 1,000 mAh and will provide you with a claimed six hours of continuous play.

Pricing & Availability

The OAXIS Bento is not available on Amazon, but we found another online store at the time of writing listing it for $62.79 with free shipping. This puts the speaker in the middle ground of most others, under products like the Braven BRV-X and LUXA 2 Groovy W, but over the Braven Mira and the amazing sub-$30 Etekcity T12.

What's in the box?

Coming with the usual package of a 3.5mm aux cable and micro-USB charging cable, it's good to see that the aux is once again longer than the frustratingly-short two-inch inclusions that have become quite common in recent times.

Unfortunately, there's no carry bag included in the package, it's something that I believe is a necessity in this day and age, only realistically adding around $3 to the asking price. Most people are buying these types of speakers for travel and use in different climates, I think a carry bag is a handy 'just in case' inclusion.
... Read the rest in your browser!



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Acer Launches World's First Curved Monitor with NVIDIA G-SYNC Technology
Acer today announced the 34-inch curved 21:9 ultra-wide Acer XR341CKA monitor, the world's first curved monitor with NVIDIA® G-SYNC�, providing an immersive gaming experience with minimal stutters and screen tears. DTS sound, 2x7W speakers, a zero-frame design with a futuristic aluminum base and ambient lighting options create an exciting entertainment experience with style.

The Acer XR341CKA features a curved 21:9 UltraWide QHD (3440 x 1440) resolution IPS display panel with a 178-degree viewing angle, providing an immersive experience in games and entertainment with a broader view. It supports 100% of the sRGB color gamut, delivering accurate color reproduction desired by design professionals and photo enthusiasts for precise color matching across applications and print output.

The curved screen puts every corner of the screen at the same distance from the customer's eyes, providing a uniform viewing experience. It also presents a more immersive experience with a wider field of view and increased perceived area of peripheral vision compared to a flat display of the same size. The XR341CKA can be configured in a multi-monitor setup for an even richer gaming experience, thanks to its zero-frame design.

"Acer continues to showcase its commitment to PC gaming with the introduction of their new NVIDIA G-SYNC-enabled XR341CKA gaming monitor," said Jeff Fisher, senior vice-president of the GeForce business unit at NVIDIA. "The preferred choice of PC gamers everywhere is a GeForce GTX GPU, which when paired with NVIDIA G-SYNC technology is the only platform to deliver an ultra-smooth gaming experience across the entire spectrum of PC games."

For gamers, the XR341CKA supports multiple features that allow them to fine tune the monitor's performance, including 6-axis color adjustment enabled by NVIDIA G-SYNC, on-screen display of refresh rate, and three different aim-point icons to choose from. Users can easily identify when G-SYNC mode is on through a red ambient light at the lower edge of the monitor, of which intensity changes according to the instantaneous monitor refresh rate.

Designed with ergonomics in mind, the XR341CKA can be tilted from -5° to 35° and adjusted vertically up to 130 mm, allowing the user to adjust the monitor to the most comfortable viewing angle. It also features flicker-less technology to lessen eye fatigue for a more comfortable gaming or working experience.

The XR341CKA supports DisplayPort and HDMI inputs, and has a built-in USB 3.0 hub which supports high-speed charging of smartphones and other devices.

Pricing and Availability

The Acer XR341CKA monitor will be available in North America in September with prices starting at US$1,299, in EMEA in August with prices starting at €1,399, and in China in September with prices starting at ¥8,999. Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. To find out about availability, product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office or retailer via http://www.acer.com.

The XR341CKA was unveiled today at the next@acer press event at 4 World Trade Center in New York, where the company announced its latest devices and solutions for families, students and professionals. For more information, visit acer.com/nextatacer.


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