LinkedIn Intro called 'a dream for attackers' by security researchers

LinkedIn's Intro, an ambitious service that inserts LinkedIn profile information into your iOS emails, has been slammed by security researchers. As The New York Times reports, several researchers have spoken out against Intro, likening it to a "man-in-the-middle attack." The concerns arise from how LinkedIn adds profile information to your email. Essentially, when signing up for the service you authorize LinkedIn to scan your emails. When its server detects a person with a LinkedIn profile, it adds in data to your email and sends it to you. It's a neat trick, but it also means that a third party is scanning all your emails. In a lengthy blog post, security firm Bishop Fox describes Intro as "a dream for attackers," a viewpoint shared by Richard Bejtlich, a researcher at Mandiant that The New York Times interviewed for its report. "I don't think people who use this are seriously thinking about the implication of LinkedIn seeing and changing their email," Bejtlich tells the paper. "It just completely breaks the idea that email traffic is going where it should go and no place else." "LinkedIn had a major security breach last year" Both Bishop Fox and the NYT also raise an important point: last year, LinkedIn fell victim to perhaps the most public username and password theft in recent history. The company saw 6.4 million user accounts compromised, and it was established that the professional social network had not followed best practices when securing users' data. With privacy and security high on the public agenda following this year's NSA leaks, several researchers have raised the point that Intro makes LinkedIn a big target for government surveillance. "All data to and from your device is encrypted" There's a parallel to be drawn with LinkedIn's system, and it's one that many mobile users have benefitted from. Mobile browsers like Opera, and more recently Google Chrome, offer services that compress your browsing data. That's done by passing your data through the companies' servers before it's sent to you. Such services have also come under fire for posing a possible security issue, though they remain available. Of course, your email is private, personal, and very different from your general web browsing, but it's worth noting that LinkedIn Intro is making similar claims in regards to security. The social network says all data is encrypted to and from your device, and that your passwords, email contents, and security tokens are stored on your iPhone rather than LinkedIn's servers.

Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points

iOS and OS X: Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points The following Wi-Fi base station (or Wi-Fi router) settings are recommended for all Macs and iOS devices. These settings will help ensure maximum performance, security, and reliability when using Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi base stations are 802.11a/b/g/n access points that include AirPort Extreme Base Stations, AirPort Express, and AirPort Time Capsule. "Wi-Fi router" is a generic term and includes Wi-Fi base stations and third-party 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi access points. Before configuring or adjusting specific settings, perform the following steps: Ensure that your Wi–Fi router's firmware is up to date. If you are using a Wi–Fi base station, refer to this article for information on how to update it. Verify that all Wi–Fi devices you intend to use support the settings recommended in this article. If possible, back up your current Wi–Fi router's settings. If necessary, refer to the product documentation or manufacturer's website. Forget or remove the Wi-Fi settings for your network from any devices that connect to your Wi-Fi router. (This will prevent the devices from attempting to connect to your network with the old configuration.) You will need to reconnect these devices to your network once you've finished applying the new settings. Configure all Wi–Fi base stations on the same network with the same settings. Not doing so will cause connectivity and reliability issues. On dual-band Wi–Fi base stations, configure both bands to have the same settings unless otherwise noted below. Use the following settings for maximum performance, security, and reliability. SSID (Service Set Identifier—Wi-Fi network name) Set to Any unique name. Description The SSID, or network name, identifies your Wi-Fi network to users and other Wi-Fi devices. It is case sensitive. More details Choose a name that is unique to your network and is not shared by other nearby networks or other networks you are likely to encounter. If your router came with a default SSID (network name), it is especially important that you change it to a different, unique name. Some common default SSID names to avoid are "linksys", "netgear", "NETGEAR", "dlink", "wireless", "2wire", and "default", but there are others. If your SSID is not unique, Wi-Fi devices will have trouble identifying your network. This could cause them to fail to automatically connect to your network, or to connect to other networks sharing the same SSID. In addition, it may prevent Wi-Fi devices from using all base stations in your network (if you have more than one Wi-Fi base station), or prevent them from using all available bands (if you have a dual-band Wi-Fi base station). Hidden network Set to Disabled Description Hidden networks don't broadcast their SSID over Wi-Fi. This option may also be incorrectly referred to as a "closed" network, and the corresponding nonhidden state may be referred to as "broadcast" or "open". More details Because hidden networks don't broadcast their SSID, it is more difficult for devices to find them, which can result in increased connection time and can reduce the reliability of auto-connection. Note that hiding a network doesn't secure your Wi-Fi network, because the SSID is still available through other mechanisms. Security is enforced by a different setting (see Security below). MAC address authentication or filtering Set to Disabled Description Restricts access to a Wi-Fi router to devices with specific MAC (Media Access Control) addresses. More details When enabled, this feature allows a user to configure a list of MAC addresses for the Wi-Fi router, and restrict access to only devices with addresses that are in the list. Devices with MAC addresses not in the list will fail to associate to the Wi-Fi network. Unfortunately, device MAC addresses can be easily changed, so this cannot be relied upon to prevent unauthorized access to the network. Security should be enforced by a different setting (see Security below). Security Set to WPA2 Personal (AES) Description The security setting controls the type of authentication and encryption used by your Wi-Fi router. This setting allows you to control access to your wireless network, as well as to specify the level of privacy you'd like to have for data you send over the air. More details WPA2 Personal (AES) is currently the strongest form of security offered by Wi-Fi products, and is recommended for all uses. When enabling WPA2, be sure to select a strong password, one that cannot be guessed by third parties. If you have older Wi-Fi devices on your network that don't support WPA2 Personal (AES), a good second choice is WPA/WPA2 Mode (often referred to as WPA Mixed Mode). This mode will allow newer devices to use the stronger WPA2 AES encryption, while still allowing older devices to connect with older WPA TKIP-level encryption. If your Wi-Fi router doesn't support WPA/WPA2 Mode, WPA Personal (TKIP) mode is the next best choice. Note that the use of WEP is not recommended for compatibility, reliability, performance, and security reasons; WEP is insecure and functionally obsolete. However, if you must support legacy WEP devices and you have a newer (802.11n) Wi-Fi router, you may be able to select the WEP Transitional Security Network (WEP TSN) security mode. This mode will allow legacy WEP clients to join your network with WEP encryption while allowing newer devices to use more modern and secure encryption modes, such as WPA TKIP or WPA2 AES. If WEP TSN mode is not supported, then WEP128 with Shared Authentication should be used (with a single WEP key in key index 1). For compatibility reasons, WEP128 networks should use 13-character ASCII passwords. For reference, "None" or unsecured mode, provides no authentication or encryption. If you use this security mode, anyone will be able to join your Wi-Fi network, use your Internet connection, or access any shared resource on your network. In addition, anyone will be able to read any traffic you send over the network. For these reasons, this security mode is not recommended. Note: Due to serious security weaknesses, the WEP and WPA TKIP encryption methods are deprecated and strongly discouraged. These modes should be used only if it is necessary to support legacy Wi-Fi devices that don't support WPA2 AES and cannot be upgraded to support WPA2 AES. Devices using these deprecated encryption methods will not be able to take full advantage of 802.11n performance and other features. Due to these issues the Wi-Fi Alliance has directed the Wi-Fi industry to phase out WEP and WPA TKIP. 2.4 GHz Radio Mode Set to 802.11b/g/n Description This setting controls which versions of the 802.11a/b/g/n standard the network uses for wireless communication on the 2.4 GHz band. Newer standards (802.11n) support faster transfer rates, and older standards provide compatibility with older devices and additional range. More details Routers that support 802.11n should be configured for 802.11b/g/n for maximum speed and compatibility. Routers that only support 802.11g should be put in 802.11b/g mode, while those that support only 802.11b can be left in 802.11b mode. Different Wi-Fi routers support different radio modes, so the exact setting will vary depending on the Wi-Fi router in use. In general, enable support for all modes. Devices will then automatically select the fastest commonly supported mode to communicate. Note that choosing a subset of the available modes will prevent some devices from connecting (for example, 802.11b/g devices will be unable to connect to a Wi-Fi router in 802.11n-only mode). In addition, choosing a subset of the available modes may cause interference with nearby legacy networks, and may cause nearby legacy devices to interfere with your network. 5 GHz Radio Mode Set to 802.11a/n Description This setting controls which versions of the 802.11a/b/g/n standard the network uses for wireless communication on the 5 GHz band. Newer standards support faster transfer rates, and older standards provide compatibility with older devices and additional range. More details Routers that support 802.11n should be configured for 802.11a/n mode for maximum speed and compatibility. Routers that only support 802.11a can be left in 802.11a mode. Different Wi-Fi routers support different radio modes, so the exact setting will vary depending on the Wi-Fi router in use. In general, enable support for all modes. Devices will then automatically select the fastest commonly supported mode to communicate. Note that choosing a subset of the available modes will prevent older devices from connecting (for example, 802.11a devices will be unable to connect to a Wi-Fi router in 802.11n-only mode). In addition, choosing a subset of the available modes may cause interference with nearby legacy networks, and may cause nearby legacy devices to interfere with your network. Channel Set to Auto Description This setting controls which channel your Wi-Fi router will use to communicate. "Auto" allows the Wi-Fi router to select the best channel automatically. You can also manually select a channel. More details For best performance, choose "Auto" mode and let the Wi-Fi router select the best channel. If this mode is not supported by your Wi-Fi router, you will need to manually select a channel. You should pick a channel that is free from other Wi-Fi routers and other sources of interference. Refer to this article for information about possible sources of interference. 2.4 GHz channel width Set to 20 MHz Description Channel width controls how large a "pipe" is available to transfer data. However, larger channels are more subject to interference and more prone to interfere with other devices. A 40 MHz channel is sometimes referred to as a wide channel, with 20 MHz channels referred to as narrow channels. More details Use 20 MHz channels in the 2.4 GHz band. Using 40 MHz channels in the 2.4 GHz band can cause performance and reliability issues with your network, especially in the presence of other Wi-Fi networks and other 2.4 GHz devices. 40 MHz channels may also cause interference and issues with other devices that use this band, such as Bluetooth devices, cordless phones, neighboring Wi-Fi networks, and so on. Note that not all routers support 40 MHz channels, especially in the 2.4 GHz band. If they are not supported, the router will use 20 MHz channels. 5 GHz channel width Set to Both 20 MHz and 40 MHz Description Channel width controls how large a "pipe" is available to transfer data. However, larger channels are more subject to interference, and more prone to interfere with other devices. Interference is less of an issue in the 5 GHz band. A 40 MHz channel is sometimes referred to as a wide channel, with 20 MHz channels referred to as narrow channels. More details For best performance and reliability, enable support for both channel widths. This allows devices to use whichever width they support, which results in optimal performance and compatibility. Note that not all client devices support 40 MHz channels, so do not enable 40 MHz-only mode; devices that support only 20 MHz channels will not be able to connect to a Wi-Fi router in 40 MHz-only mode. In addition, not all routers support 40 MHz channels; a router that doesn't will use 20 MHz channels. DHCP Set to Only one DHCP server per network Description The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) assigns addresses that identify devices on your network. Once assigned, devices use these addresses to communicate with each other and with computers on the Internet. (The functionality of a DHCP server can be thought of as similar to a phone company handing out phone numbers, which customers then use to call other people). More details There should be only one DHCP server on your network. This DHCP server may be built in to your DSL or cable modem, a standalone router, or integrated with your Wi-Fi router. In any case, only one device should act as a DHCP server on your network. If more than one device has it enabled, you will likely see address conflicts and will have issues accessing the Internet or other resources on your network. NAT Set to Only enabled on your router; only one device at most should provide NAT services on the network. Description Network address translation (NAT) translates between addresses on the Internet and those on a local network. (The functionality of a NAT provider is like that of a worker in an office mail room who takes a business address and an employee name on incoming letters and replaces them with the destination office number in a building. This allows people outside the business to send information to a specific person in the building). More details Generally, NAT should only be enabled on the device acting as a router for your network. This is usually either your DSL or cable modem, or a standalone router (which may also act as your Wi-Fi router). If NAT is enabled on more than one device—"double NAT"—you will likely have trouble accessing certain Internet services, such as games, Voice Over IP (VoIP), and Virtual Private Network (VPN), and communicating across the different levels of NAT on the local network.

Connecting your ipad, iphone, ipod touch to Wi-Fi

To connect to a network Tap Settings > Wi-Fi. When Wi-Fi is on, your device will automatically search for available Wi-Fi networks: Tap the name of your desired Wi-Fi network. When your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network, a checkmark will appear to the left of the network name. The Wi-Fi logo will also appear in the status bar at the top left of your display: To connect to a password-protected network Tap Settings > Wi-Fi. When Wi-Fi is on, your device will automatically search for available Wi-Fi networks. Tap the name of your desired Wi-Fi network. A password-protected network will have a lock icon to the right of the network's name. You will be prompted to enter the password: Enter the password for the Wi-Fi network. Tap Join. Note: If tapping Join has no effect, the password you have entered is too short. If you do not know the password to the secured network, please contact your network administrator. When your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network, a checkmark will appear to the left of the network name. The Wi-Fi logo will also appear in the status bar at the top left of your display. To connect to hidden network Tap Settings > Wi-Fi. By default a hidden network will not appear in your available network list. Tap Other. Enter the exact name of the network: Tap Security to choose the security type: Note: Not all hidden networks are secure. Please check with the network administrator if necessary. Choose the appropriate security type, and then tap "< Back" in the top left. You will now be able to type the network password in the Password field. Tap Join. When your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network, a checkmark will appear to the left of the network name. The Wi-Fi logo will also appear in the status bar at the top left of the display.

iOS: How to change the language when it's set to one you don't understand

On the Home screen, locate and tap the icon that shows the image of a gear. When the following screen appears, tap the section that shows a similar gear icon. Tap General iOS 7: Locate the fifth group of settings, which contains three options. Tap the last option. Tap International iOS 6 and earlier: Locate the sixth group of settings, which contains four options. Tap the third option. On the next screen, tap the first option. Language settings Pick your language from the list and tap the bright blue icon in the upper right. [Tap Done screenshot] After a few seconds, your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch should return to the Home screen and display the language you selected.

What to do when you return or send your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch in for service

If you're going to return your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch or send it in for repair or service, be sure to follow the steps below to ensure the best experience. Please perform these steps: Sync your device with iTunes. Back up your device. Turn off iMessage: Tap Settings > Messages. Erase all the data on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch by tapping Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. If you're using iOS 7, you will be prompted to: Enter your passcode, if one is enabled. Tap Erase. Tap a second time to confirm that you want to erase your device. Enter your iCloud passcode to remove the device from your account. Remove any case or film, if present. If your iPhone or iPad has a SIM card, remove the SIM card. Note: If your iPhone or iPad has cellular service, be sure to contact your carrier to suspend service. You can also discuss which options may be available for using another cellular device while yours is being repaired. Additional Information The Contact Support webpage has further service information. When you receive the replacement device: Before you restore your device from the backup, update to the latest version of iOS. Restore your device from a previous backup, if needed. Note: iOS does not support restoring a backup from a newer version of iOS to a device using an older version of iOS.

Best Buy offering between $200 and $350 for Microsoft Surface trade-ins

As it has previously done for iPads, Best Buy is now running a trade-in promotion for Microsoft's Surface tablet. The retailer is guaranteeing that customers will receive a gift card worth at least $200 when they trade in a working Surface at a participating Best Buy location. The most Best Buy will give you is $350, so if making maximum profit is your goal, eBay or Craigslist may be a better option for offloading your current Surface ahead of Microsoft's latest hardware. Then again, these deals are never really the most lucrative path; they're an easy and quick way to get back at least some cash for an old device. To be eligible, the Surface that's being traded in must power on, be free of any water / liquid damage, and the screen can't be cracked. The gift card promotion runs through October 21st, just one day before the arrival of Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2.

iPhone 5S users report 'Blue Screen Of Death' reboots

Apple's latest iPhone 5S has an unexpected feature: the Blue Screen Of Death (BSOD). While it's typically an error found on older Windows PCs, a number of iPhone 5S users are reporting random reboots on their handsets following a BSOD. The blue screen reboots appear to be iPhone 5S specific and are largely occurring with Apple's own iWork apps that come free with all new iOS devices. Videos detailing the issue show that multitasking between apps seems to trigger the BSOD. iPhone 5S users are also reporting random reboots during device use. Apple has released iOS 7.0.2 to primarily fix lock-screen security bugs, but the latest version does not address the reboot issues. Several threads on Apple's support forums highlight the problem, and a number of Twitter users have also expressed their frustration. One workaround to alleviate the iWork-related reboots is to disable iCloud syncing for Apple's Pages, Keynote, and Numbers apps. We've reached out to Apple to comment on the blue screen reboots, and we'll update you accordingly.

Google will start using your picture to sell products to friends

Google users will soon find themselves unwittingly advertising products for the company, thanks to a massive change Google is making to its terms of service. First reported by the New York Times, the change categorizes a user's follows, comments, and +1s as "shared endorsements" for a product or service. These shared endorsements can be used to build ads across the platform, pulling in a user's profile name and photograph to help boost the ad's credibility.

Google hasn't specified what these new ads will look like, but the expanded terms of service would allow much more social information to be included in the shared endorsement. The changes will be advertised on Google's homepage and in search results, so the company hopes that users will be aware of the changes before they go into place on November 11th. Google will build ads using information from adult users, so anyone under the age of 18 will be automatically opted out. Google+ has never enjoyed the organic success of its competitors, and the enormous, potentially severe privacy implications of the change certainly aren't going to help. The new advertising model is similar to Facebook, which shows which of your friends have liked an business or service on its social networking site. As with Facebook, Google provides the ability to opt out of the new shared endorsement program. Users who have previously opted out of sharing their +1s with friends will also be opted out of the expanded shared endorsements, but for everyone else the new feature will be automatically enabled on November 11th.

Google's new 'Chromebook for everyone' is a sleek 11-inch HP laptop

At an event in New York City this morning, Google announced the new HP Chromebook 11. The Chromebook 11 is a low-cost Chrome OS laptop, with an 11-inch, 1366 x 768 pixel IPS display and Chromebook Pixel inspired design. The new laptop, which Google is selling for $279, is available to order from Google Play, Best Buy, Amazon, and direct from HP today. A 4G LTE-equipped version is planned, but pricing and availability have yet to be announced. Included with the purchase is two years of 100GB Google Drive storage, a 60-day trial of Google Play Music All Access, and 12 free sessions of GoGo in-flight internet. The design of the Chromebook 11 is quite reminiscent of the now-retired plastic MacBook. It has sleek lines and ports on only the left hand side. Google has also hidden all of speaker grills and screws, giving the design a cleaner appearance. Google is offering the laptop in black or white with Chrome-appropriate blue, red, yellow, or green accents. The black version looks almost exactly like a glossy edition of the original CR-48 reference Chromebook, with its lack of branding and clean lines. Despite its smaller size, the Chromebook 11 still packs a full-size Chrome keyboard and has a fully clickable touchpad. There is also a VGA webcam embedded into the bezel surrounding the display. Google has put the laptop's speakers beneath the keyboard — much in the same way it did with the Chromebook Pixel — which it says prevent muffled sound when you are using the device on your lap.

"Chromebook 11 offers a 'Pixel-inspired' design at a price most people can afford" Google is touting the Chromebook 11's new display, which it claims is as much as 50 percent brighter than most laptops on the market. Its IPS panel offers 176 degree viewing angles and a very wide color gamut. In our brief look at the Chromebook, we found the screen to be a perfectly fine laptop display, and the added brightness was certainly noticeable. The Chromebook 11 is plastic, but Google says that it has a magnesium frame, which makes it stronger and more rigid. The laptop is strikingly light when you pick it up — it's weighs only 2.3 pounds — but it still feels solid and well built for the most part, with only a few creaks here and there. It is powered by a dual-core Samsung Exynos 5250 processor and 2GB of RAM, and has 16GB of internal storage. It also has two Micro USB 2.0 ports and a Slimport video out port. Google expects about six hours of battery life from the Chromebook 11 with active use. Interestingly, the only way to charge the laptop is through a Micro USB port, which Google says is more convenient for many users that might be carrying around a smartphone or tablet charger with them. Google is quick to note that Chromebooks now claim as much as 25 percent of the sub-$300 laptop market, and the Samsung Chromebook has been the number one selling laptop on Amazon since its debut. The Chromebook 11 appears to offer everything that we liked about the Samsung version, but with a nicer display and design. If history is any guide, Google likely has another hit on its hands with the Chromebook 11.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite review (2013)

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite review (2013) The best ebook reader becomes both bookstore and library By David Pierce on October 7, 2013 11:00 am Email @piercedavid 109Comments Kindle Paperwhite 1024px 2 inShare Amazon won the ebook reader war. Like the iPod, the Swiffer, or Jell-O, the Kindle is just what you buy when you want what it does. Barnes & Noble and Sony went down swinging trying to compete, and Kobo and Iriver are but gnats to be swatted by the great Amazon behemoth. Last year’s $119 Kindle Paperwhite was the best ebook reader ever made, the default choice, the one I recommend to everyone without a second’s thought — and 12 months later it still is. There isn't even viable competition at this point. Yet there’s still a new Paperwhite this fall, a new $119 E Ink reader with a series of hardware upgrades and some new software as well. A few things have been changed, but this is very much the same device it was a year ago. It’s Amazon at the height of its powers, with nothing to prove and nothing to lose. The question now: when you win a market, when no one else even really puts up a fight anymore, what do you do next? In the Kindle’s case, you make sure the Paperwhite never gets stashed in a drawer somewhere, a forgotten impulse buy. You find new and clever ways to make sure people keep right on reading, and buying, books. It happened repeatedly: I would pick up a Paperwhite to test it out, read for a while, and then discover that I was holding the device I bought a year ago instead of my review unit. Only the most discerning of readers will notice the differences in hardware here: a slightly changed Kindle logo, a slightly higher-contrast screen. The only obvious change, the only way I could reliably identify one device from the other, is by the logo on the back. Where there was once a subtle, muted Kindle logo, there’s now a glossy black "Amazon" etched into the soft-touch black back. Otherwise it’s the same size, the same weight, the same months-long battery life, the same everything. It’s still comfortable, easy to use in one hand, and as handsomely understated as ever. It’s sturdy enough that you don’t need a case like the leather folio Amazon sells, but I’ve grown to love the case — with a magnetized flap that turns the device on when you open it, and a nicely rough texture, opening up the case feels like opening up a well-loved hardback. It’s wonderful. "The hardware's better, but it's not really different" P1010022-560 The new Paperwhite comes with a new, slightly more even frontlight, and a faster processor. The light is certainly better, a little whiter and spread a bit more evenly around the screen with fewer dark patches; I noticed it more than the higher-contrast E Ink display, but neither changed the experience of using the Paperwhite in any meaningful way. The light is still wonderfully versatile, dim enough to work in a totally dark room and bright enough to kill most of the glare in a well-lit room. As for the processor, I still can’t tell what’s real and what’s placebo. Page turns do seem slightly faster, especially combined with the more receptive touch screen — I found myself rarely having to swipe multiple times to turn a page, which hasn’t always been the case with Kindles. Nothing else about the Paperwhite seemed more responsive, though. Typing, scrolling through the store, even turning the device on and off all feel the same, though they are a beat faster in side-by-side tests with last year's model. They’re slow because E Ink is slow, flashing the page anytime something complex happens, but it’s never really a problem. The Paperwhite has always been a great, utilitarian device that does exactly what it’s supposed to. I still hold out hope that we’ll one day see a flexible-display Kindle or a color Kindle, but those are pipe dreams. Right now, Amazon’s built as good a reading device as is probably possible for $119. This year, Amazon’s focus isn’t hardware. It’s figured out how to build something we’ll read with, so what’s next? Figuring out how to make us read more, buy more, and get others to do the same. That’s what this year’s Paperwhite is all about. P1010054-1024 For better and for worse, the experience of using the Paperwhite remains the same. The UI is still simple and obvious, letting book covers do most of the design work. The file support is still woefully lacking — you can read PDFs and Word documents, but without EPUB support you basically can’t read any books you didn’t buy from Amazon. When we met with Kindle executives to talk about the upcoming MatchBook feature, which will let you buy a physical book and then get the Kindle version for only a few dollars more, they laid out Amazon’s vision. Print books will be more like artifacts, they told us, like vinyl records — more work, and more money, but that’s part of the appeal. Ebooks will become the commodity, like MP3s, not the perfect solution but the easiest and most common way we’ll read. "Amazon's not killing print books — it's just relegating them to art pieces" To ease that transition, Amazon’s paying close attention to how we read physical books. One common complaint about ebooks is that it’s hard to flip around, to quickly move between pages — if you read Game of Thrones or The Lord of The Rings, you're constantly consulting maps and indices lest you get lost following Frodo around Middle Earth. The new Paperwhite comes with a clever approximation of the feature: you can bookmark any page with two taps, and swipe down to find that bookmarked page in a pop-up window at any time. It takes three seconds to bring up the index or the map, and one tap to get back to your reading. As a perpetual thumb-in-the-back reader, this alone makes me want to read more on the Paperwhite. P1010010-1024 Also in the interest of helping you figure out what in the world is going on inside your book, Amazon’s great "X-Ray" feature continues to get better and better. Long-press on the name of a place, a character, or basically anything else relevant to your book, and a pop-up window shows you everything you need to know: a biography, where else that person has appeared in the book, even useful trivia. After spending three Game of Thrones books forgetting the difference between Ser Lloris and Ser Jorah, and trying to remember that Littlefinger and Lord Petyr Baelish are the same person with fairly fickle loyalties, having a quick reference guide at my fingertips was a lifesaver. If X-Ray doesn’t have your answers, you can always look up a word in the dictionary, or now on Wikipedia, all from within that pop-up. "For textbooks or anything complex, X-Ray is a lifesaver" P1010055-560 Words you look up get saved into the new Vocabulary Builder app, which serves as a repository for your literary stupidity. It’ll automatically make flash cards for the words you’re learning, and let you mark ones you’ve mastered — I finally know what "solopsistic" means, which is nice, but I don’t know that I’ll be using the app very often. These are all nice features, all designed to make the reading experience a little easier, a little simpler. (Books are hard.) But the best new feature’s coming soon: the Paperwhite will integrate with Goodreads, the social network for readers that Amazon acquired in March. Goodreads will let you share notes with your friends — a sort of social marginalia that could be really fun — or just see what your friends are reading and whether or not they like it. It’s going to make those recommendations at the bottom of the Paperwhite’s homescreen a lot more useful, and is a compelling reason for people to keep picking up their Kindles. It's also going to make my already itchy book-buying finger even more dangerous, since every book my friends recommend will be just one click away. Amazon is quickly learning to emulate what’s great about physical books, while still offering what’s uniquely possible on an ebook reader. The reading experience is still wonderfully customizable, with plenty of font and margin options, and I’m almost getting used to not having page-turn buttons thanks to the better touchscreen. But with easier reference tools and (hopefully) the first decent social network ebook readers have ever seen, digital’s more compelling than ever.

Secret Codes For Android Mobile Phones:

Secret Codes For Android Mobile Phones: 1. Complete Information About your Phone *#*#4636#*#* This code can be used to get some interesting information about your phone and battery. Usage statistics 2. Factory data reset *#*#7780#*#* This code can be used for a factory data reset. It'll remove following things: Google account settings stored in your phone System and application data and settings Downloaded applications It'll NOT remove: Current system software and bundled application SD card files e.g. photos, music files, etc. Note: Once you give this code, you get a prompt screen asking you to click on "Reset phone" button. So you get a chance to cancel your operation. 3. Format Android Phone *2767*3855# Think before you give this code. This code is used for factory format. It'll remove all files and settings including the internal memory storage. It'll also reinstall the phone firmware. Note: Once you give this code, there is no way to cancel the operation unless you remove the battery from the phone. So think twice before giving this code. 4. Phone Camera Update *#*#34971539#*#* This code is used to get information about phone camera. It shows following 4 menus: Update camera firmware in image (Don't try this option) Update camera firmware in SD card Get camera firmware version Get firmware update count WARNING: Never use the first option otherwise your phone camera will stop working and you'll need to take your phone to service center to reinstall camera firmware. 5. End Call/Power *#*#7594#*#* This one is my favorite one. This code can be used to change the "End Call / Power" button action in your phone. Be default, if you long press the button, it shows a screen asking you to select any option from Silent mode, AirPlane mode and Power off. You can change this action using this code. You can enable direct power off on this button so you don't need to waste your time in selecting the option. 6. File Copy for Creating Backup *#*#273283*255*663282*#*#* This code opens a File copy screen where you can backup your media files e.g. Images, Sound, Video and Voice memo. 7. Service Mode *#*#197328640#*#* This code can be used to enter into Service mode. You can run various tests and change settings in the service mode. 8. WLAN, GPS and Bluetooth Test Codes: *#*#232339#*#* OR *#*#526#*#* OR *#*#528#*#* - WLAN test (Use "Menu" button to start various tests) *#*#232338#*#* - Shows WiFi MAC address *#*#1472365#*#* - GPS test *#*#1575#*#* - Another GPS test *#*#232331#*#* - Bluetooth test *#*#232337#*# - Shows Bluetooth device address 9. Codes to get Firmware version information: *#*#4986*2650468#*#* - PDA, Phone, H/W, RFCallDate *#*#1234#*#* - PDA and Phone *#*#1111#*#* - FTA SW Version *#*#2222#*#* - FTA HW Version *#*#44336#*#* - PDA, Phone, CSC, Build Time, Changelist number 10. Codes to launch various Factory Tests: *#*#0283#*#* - Packet Loopback *#*#0*#*#* - LCD test *#*#0673#*#* OR *#*#0289#*#* - Melody test *#*#0842#*#* - Device test (Vibration test and BackLight test) *#*#2663#*#* - Touch screen version *#*#2664#*#* - Touch screen test *#*#0588#*#* - Proximity sensor test *#*#3264#*#* - RAM version

New Nokia Asha 501 Price, Features and Specifications

Nokia Asha 501 smartphone was recently launched by Nokia after releasing their latest Nokia Lumia 1020 in the market few months ago. Asha 501 is a low price smartphone that looks much like the Lumia phones and Nokia N9 in designs but has a low cost data consumption. The Nokia S40 comfortably curved dual SIM has amazing features and specifications which are provided below. The battery level of this Nokia product is also fantastic and last longer than expected. nokia In Nigeria here, the price of Nokia Asha 501 is between N15,000 to N16,000 but a friend of mine told me he bought his own for just N14,950. So before deciding to purchase one, why not check out the New Nokia Asha 501 dual SIM Specs and Features below. Nokia Asha 501 dual SIM Specs and Features The detailed specifications for Nokia Asha 501 Dual SIM includes: Primary camera sensor size: 3.2 MP Display size: 3'' Maximum talk time (2G): 17.0h Maximum music playback time: 56h Dual SIM: Dual Standby SIM Design1 Dimensions Height: 99.2 mm Width: 58.0 mm Thickness: 12.1 mm Weight: 98.2 g Display and User Interface Display size: 3 '' Display resolution: QVGA (320 x240) Display features: Brightness control, RGB Stripe, Nokia Glance screen, Screen double tap Display colors: High Color (18-bit/262k) Aspect ratio: 4:3 Pixel density: 133.0 ppi Display technology: LCD Transmissive Display height: 61.0 mm Display width: 46.0 mm Touch screen technology: Capacitive two-point touch Sensors: Accelerometer, Proximity sensor Keys and Input Methods User Input: Touch Operating keys: Volume keys, Power/Lock key, Back key Form factor Form factor: Monoblock touch Hardware Connectivity SIM card type: Micro SIM Dual SIM: Dual Standby SIM Charging connectors: 2.0 mm Charging Connector, Micro-USB AV connectors: 3.5 mm audio connector System connectors: Micro-USB-B USB: USB 2.0 Bluetooth: Bluetooth 3.0 Bluetooth profiles: Object Push profile (OPP) 1.1, Hands-free profile (HFP) 1.5, Headset profile (HSP) 1.1, Serial Port profile (SPP), Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP) 1.0, Service Discovery Application Profile (SDAP) Wi-Fi: WLAN IEEE 802.11 b/g/n WLAN Security: WPA2 (AES/TKIP), WPA, WEP, WPA2-Personal NFC: No NFC Data Network GSM network: 900 MHz, 1800 MHz GSM max data speed DL: EGPRS 236.8 kbps GSM max data speed UL: GPRS 85.6kbps Power Management2 Battery: BL-4U Battery capacity: 1200 mAh Battery voltage: 3.7 V Removable battery: Yes Maximum standby time (2G): 624 h Maximum talk time (2G): 17.0 h Maximum standby time with dual SIM: 26.0 days Maximum music playback time: 56h Maximum Video playback time: 14.00h Wireless charging: No Memory User data storage: In device, Memory card Expandable memory card type: MicroSD Maximum memory card size: 32 GB Software and applications Productivity features Features (Personal information Management): Recorder, Calculator, Calendar, Phonebook, Fixed Dialling Number, Notes, Alarm clock, Phonebook with integrated social networks Other Applications Game features: Java games Graphics format: JPEG, BMP, GIF89a, EXIF, PNG, GIF87a Other apps: Nokia Gift, Camera 5-in-1, The Weather Channel, Assassin's Creed III, Real Football 2013, Little Big City Software platform & User Interface Software release: Nokia Asha software platform 1.0 Communications Email and Messaging3 Email clients: Native Email Client Email protocols: SMTP, IMAP4, POP3 Email features: Multiple simultaneous email accounts, Email attachments, Viewing of email attachments Instant messaging: Nokia Chat Messaging features: Concatenated SMS for long messages, Text messaging, Unified MMS/SMS editor, Automatic resizing of images for MMS, Multimedia messaging, Conversational chat style SMS, Unified inbox for SMS and MMS Call management Features (Call Management): Call waiting, Integrated hands-free speaker, Call barring, Call forwarding, Call logs: dialled, received and missed, Call history, Conference call Supported amount of phonebooks: One integrated Phonebook Contacts: 4000 Ringtones: 32-polyphonic ringtones, Downloadable ringtones, MP3 ringtones Speech codecs: GSM FR, AMR-NB, GSM HR, GSM EFR Device security Security General Security features: Firmware update, Device lock, PIN code Sharing and Internet Browsing and Internet Internet browser capabilities: Nokia Xpress Browser Social apps: Facebook, Twitter Photo sharing: Share over Bluetooth, Facebook, Send as email attachment, Photo sharing with Slam, Twitter Video sharing: Video sharing with Slam etc. For more information on Nokia Asha 501, visit http://www.nokia.com/ I hope this info helps? feel free to share this post with your friends using the like/share buttons. you can also subscribe to my blog below for more tips delivered to your inbox. Thank you. Read more: http://www.cyracksinternetbiz.com/2013/09/new-nokia-asha-501-price-features-and.html#ixzz2h3bewZTd

HOW TO UPDATE YOUR IPHONE, IPAD, IPOD TOUCH

Apple's software updates for iOS introduce new features and improvements that let you do even more with your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Updating the software on your device is easy. This article explains how to do it in five simple steps. Update your device wirelessly (available in iOS 5 and later) 1.Ensure your device is connected to a power source. To avoid potential data costs connect your device to a Wi-Fi network. 2.Go toSettings > General > Software Update. iOS will automatically check for available updates. Available updates download automatically if your device is connected to Wi-Fi and a power source. 3.If an update is available*you can tap Download to download the update. 4.After the download has completed tap Install to update your iOS. 5.If you leave the update to download in the background, once the download has finished you will receive a notification saying an update is available for your device. Tapping Details will take you toSettings > General > Software Update. Tap Install Now to install the iOS update. If you decide to leave the installation for later Settings will display notification badge until the update has been installed. * Some iOS updates may not available as over-the-air updates. VPN or proxy connections may prevent your device from contacting the iOS update Update your device using iTunes Additional Information Tips for updating your iOS device *.Ensure that your device is backed up to iCloud or back up with iTunes before updating. Find more information about backing up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. *.If you experience an alert when updating your device with iTunes, see this article about resolving update and restore alert messages. *.When updating from iOS 4.3.x or earlier, see iOS 4: Updating your device to iOS 5 or later. Unable to update, not enough available storage When updating wirelessly, your iOS device needs enough available space to download and install the update. If "Download and Install" is grayed out or you see the message "This update requires at least x.x GB of available storage", use one of the following options to update: *.Use iTunes to download and install the update instead or *.Remove content you no longer need from your device, including: *.Movies or TV shows from the Videos app. On iPhone and iPod touch, use the "swipe to delete" gesture. On iPad, either tap Edit or tap and hold on a video, and then tap "x" to delete. *.Apps you no longer use. Tap and hold until they jiggle, and then tap the "x" to delete. *.Photos or videos you've taken with the camera. To save your content, you can transfer photos and videos from your device to a computer.

Skype attempts to whitewash wiretap concerns with improved battery life and cloud services

In 2008, Skype said it didn't have the ability to help the government wiretap calls. The reason: the company's technology relied on peer-to-peer networks rather than servers under its control. Over the past few years, though, that has started to change, with Skype moving to a new cloud infrastructure which relies more and more on the company's own servers to do the heavy lifting. There's no question that opens up new possibilities for Skype, and that's what the company is highlighting today. In an official blog post, Skype VP Mark Gillett explains how the move away from P2P allows everything from more battery life for smartphones (since they don't have to do as much computing locally) to persistent video and chat messages that you can receive even when you aren't logged in. Skype will also soon synchronize chat message status across devices, so you won't get bombarded anew each time you log in from a different machine. However, it's hard to read Skype's blog post without thinking about what the company was accused of earlier this year: helping US government agencies listen to private audio and video calls via the controversial PRISM surveillance program. If it was true in 2008 that peer-to-peer technologies made such wiretaps impossible, was it worth trading that for a little additional stability and functionality? That's an legitimate question. Privacy and utility are often at odds: the more a company knows about you, the better service it can provide. Gillett claims that the company protects privacy despite the new infrastructure. "We take our responsibilities with regard to this data seriously, and to help secure and protect it, we apply strong physical, technical and administrative security protections, only storing partial IP addresses and cryptographically hashing the Skype IDs we store to help protect our users' privacy," he writes. When pressed more directly about government access earlier this summer, Skype owner Microsoft could only say that it doesn't provide "blanket" or "direct" access to calls, leaving open the possibility of complying with valid legal requests for wiretap. "There are aspects of this debate that we wish we were able to discuss more freely," the company wrote at the time.

BlackBerry reportedly in talks with Google, Samsung, and others about potential sale

In September BlackBerry received a $4.7 billion buyout offer from Canadian holding company Fairfax Financial, but it's still pursuing possible deals with other companies — and Google may be among them. Reuters reports that BlackBerry has asked for "preliminary expressions of interest" from a number of tech companies, including the search giant, Intel, LG, Samsung, and Cisco. It's asking to hear from the companies by next week, though it's not clear which of the them, if any, will actually bid on BlackBerry, and if the bids will be for the company as a whole or for a particular portion of its business. Despite its failure in the commercial smartphone space — last month BlackBerry announced it was retreating from the market entirely — BlackBerry's patents and network products have been highlighted as areas of interest for potential buyers. The move to sell isn't a surprise either. It was reported last month that BlackBerry's board was hoping to sell the company as soon as November, and with the troubled firm recently announcing 4,500 layoffs the urgency to find a buyer is likely only increasing.

Microsoft asked HTC to put Windows Phone on its Android phones, says report

With Microsoft's Nokia acquisition raising questions over the future of third-party Windows Phone devices, Redmond has its work cut out convincing OEMs to continue to license its struggling software — and a report from Bloomberg News suggests that the software giant may have gone to extremes. According to the report, Microsoft last month asked HTC to install Windows Phone as a "separate option" on Android handsets, and offered to "cut or eliminate" the license fee as an incentive. "Redmond reportedly offered to "cut or eliminate" license fee" The talks are said to be in the preliminary stages, and the exact mechanics haven't been worked out. The report says it's unclear whether a hypothetical phone would run Windows Phone and Android concurrently, or allow users to select a default. Another possibility would be for Microsoft to propose simply converting an existing Android handset to run the Windows Phone OS, similar to the way Nokia released the Lumia 800 based on its N9 design. Microsoft appears to be sticking with its strategy of licensing software to other manufacturers, even though it will soon produce its own smartphones. Outgoing CEO Steve Ballmer reportedly visited China last week in an effort to court new third-party hardware partners; HTC, which just posted its first ever quarterly loss, is said to have no plans for future Windows Phone devices.

Apple iPhone 5s Review

Apple iPhone 5s Review – Revolution or Let Down? There’s nothing quite like the anticipation that comes before an Apple product launch, and this year was no different, with the long-awaited arrival of the iPhone 5s, alongside the cut-price 5s. Last week, we finally got our hands on the new iPhone 5s – but was it the handset we were hoping for? Our review team gives you their thoughts… Design Build quality is as good as you’d expect from Apple, and the luxury look and premium feel of the handset still put it head and shoulders above the rest of the fieldAs we’ve come to expect from the Apple ‘S’ updates, very little has changed from the iPhone 5. The 5s features the same slim, lightweight design as its predecessor, with smooth metal edges and back plate, and a shiny, polished finish. Build quality is as good as you’d expect from Apple, and the luxury look and premium feel of the handset still put it head and shoulders above the rest of the field, with only the HTC One providing any real competition. Those expecting a bigger screen will be disappointed, as the 5s comes with the same 4 inch, 326ppi display as the 5. Whilst this still looks fantastic, it’s a lot smaller than the 5 inch displays found on comparable high-end Android models. New features and upgrades On the surface, things look very similar, but with the 5s, the difference really is in the details. The home button has now been augmented to include a fingerprint scanner, which you can use to unlock the handset, and more impressively, to verify your identity for iTunes and App Store purchases. The scanning is pretty accurate, and it’s a neat feature that you’ll find yourself using more than you think. Camera wise, the 5s also boasts some small, but significant improvements. Whilst the camera itself is the same 8MP unit found on the 5, it has a brighter aperture and a bigger sensor, which help it to perform much better at night and in low light environments. Although on paper, this 8MP doesn’t stand up to other smartphones (like the 41MP camera in the latest Nokia Lumia), don’t be put off by the stats – it still takes fantastic photographs for a smart phone. Battery life feels a little bit better than the 5, but we reckon that most users will still need to charge it daily. Tech specs The iPhone 5s really starts to shine when you take a look under the bonnet. Inside, it boasts Apple’s new A7 processor, which is a dual-core 64 bit behemoth backed up by 1GB of RAM. To put things in perspective, this makes the 5S nearly twice as powerful as the 5. In practical terms, there aren’t any current apps or games that will challenge the 5s, and even graphics hungry titles run smoothly on the platform. It also makes the handset great at multitasking, and enables incredibly fast browsing for a mobile device. Whilst there are more powerful quad core Android handsets available, the iPhone 5s has more than enough to compete. This additional power will open up new possibilities for app and games developers, and we expect them to start taking advantage of it in the coming months. IOS 7 The 5s comes with Apple’s latest operating system, IOS 7, ready installed, and whilst it isn’t exclusive to the 5S (you can install it on your iPhone 4 if you want, but performance will be shaky!), it’s definitely worthy of a mention. The biggest departure from previous versions of the OS is in its overall look and feel. Whilst the layout is broadly the same, the icons have lost their 3D-effects, and been replaced with a flatter, more colourful interface. Whilst the changes are bound to split opinion, we like the new look, which provides a welcome update from previous versions, and takes some of the best bit from the Android OS. When it comes to functionality, there have been some improvements, including the ability to swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the control centre, meaning you won’t need to navigate to the phone settings as much. Folders have also been improved, so you can organise your desktop by storing many more apps in each of them. Overall, IOS 7 is simple, elegant, logical and easy to use, and well worth upgrading to if you’ve got an iPhone 4S or later. So should you buy it? Honestly, that depends on the phone you’ve got at the moment. If you’ve already got an iPhone 5, then we reckon you should probably stick with it for now. The design is the same, and whilst the 5s boasts a big power increase and a slightly better camera, it isn’t enough to justify the cost of upgrading in our book. The iPhone 5 is powerful enough to run iOS 7 just as smoothly as a 5s, and will be perfectly capable of running any applications or software launched over the next year – we reckon you should hold out for the iPhone 6. However, if you’re still running a 4S or 4, then it’s definitely worth a look. The iPhone 4 seriously struggles when running IOS 7, and whilst the 4S can handle it, there are enough new features on the 5s for it be a serious upgrade. You’ll certainly notice the speed difference, slimmer design and better camera. If you’re an Android fanboy, there’s little here that’s going to persuade you to switch sides. Whist the new IOS 7 takes more than a few elements from the Android operating system, screen size and even camera quality are still some way behind the top-end Android handsets. Conclusion Whilst you couldn’t really call the iPhone 5s a revolution, it isn’t a let down either. New feature and spec wise, it’s about what we’ve come to expect from an ‘S’ upgrade. There’s a lot to like about the 5s, and whilst there isn’t quite enough to recommend buying one if you’ve already got a 5, it’s still a fantastic smart phone, and enough to keep Apple at the top of the smartphone pecking order – for now at least… The iPhone 5s is available now, worldwide – if you’d like to get your hands on a Free iPhone 5s head over to Xpango and trade in your credits today.