Author: Abhinav Mishra

Lenovo Faces Lawsuit Over Pre-Installed Adware

A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Lenovo and Superfish, charging both companies with ‘fraudulent’ business practices. The Chinese manufacturer has confessed that they pre-loaded the Superfish adware as enraged customers have now dragged the company to court demanding an explanation. The adware gives itself total control to take over connections and declare them as trusted and secure, even when they are not secure.

The company now faces court after they admitted to installing Superfish on some of their PCs. Affected laptops include non-ThinkPad models such as G Series, U Series, Y Series, Z Series, S Series, Flex, Miix, Yoga and E Series.

Though, Lenovo has finally rectified the situation by releasing a tool to remove the pre-installed adware, however many feel the company could’ve handled the situation better by responding far earlier than they did. Microsoft and McAfee came to rescue Lenovo out of the mess it created.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Lenovo”]

We are working with McAfee and Microsoft to have the Superfish software and certificate quarantined or removed using their industry-leading tools and technologies. This action has already started and will automatically fix the vulnerability even for users who are not currently aware of the problem.

[/quote]

Lenovo’s slack attitude towards this situation could pose as a major setback to the company’s reputation and trust; affecting future sales. Meanwhile, the lawsuit has been filed in the U.S District Court for the Southern District of California. Lenovo officials have declined to make any official statements.

February 23, 2015
New HTC One M9 Images Suggest a Thicker Outer Body With Minor Design Tweaks
With nearly a week left before HTC officially reveals its flagship smartphone in Barcelona, it seems that the device is already out in the open. MobileGeeks has spotted a German listing for a smartphone that looks strikingly similar to the One M9 images that were spotted last month.

If the leaked images are authentic, we may see just one camera on the rear compared to its predecessor. Images also suggest that HTC has moved some buttons around, we may see the power button right below the volume rockers on the right, unlike the M8 where it was located on top, making it quite a task to reach at times given the size of the M8.

In addition, the BlinkFeed news stream looks slightly different suggesting the possibility of a new software. Even the phone’s outer body appears notably thicker than the One M8.

Though nothing is officially confirmed, we may be in for a few surprises in a week’s time. In the meantime, here’s what we can expect under the hood from HTC’s next flagship:
- 5-inch Display running at 1080p
- 20.7 Megapixel rear camera, 4.0 megapixel front camera with HTC’s “Ultrapixel” tech
- Android Lollipop 5.0 (with HTC Sense running on top)
- 2,840mAh battery
- 3GB of RAM
- 2Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 CPU (though some rumors point at 2.8Ghz)
February 23, 2015
Predator Might Join the Cast of Fighters of the Upcoming Mortal Kombat X

With the launch of Mortal Kombat X (MKX) almost upon us, Ed Boon and his folks at Netherealm Studios are further fueling the hype with frequent teasers and updates to MKX’s fighter roster. The game launches in April and there are still a few fighters yet to be announced.

Latest round of rumours suggest ‘Predator’ from the blockbuster movie will also be part of a DLC for the game set to launch in June. Along with this infamous sci-fi hunter, the CIA agent that was killed in the first predator movie Colonel Al Dillion will also be a part of the game. Moreover, Weathers has reportedly agreed to share his likeness for the character design which further solidifies the credibility of the report.

@noobde How bout this photo? Predator in MKX would be so sick! pic.twitter.com/aoUV5tyqWp

— A-T (@AyDashTee) July 3, 2014

Meanwhile, Ermac is the most recently confirmed Mortal Kombat character, making him the fourteenth character in the line up. It was also reported that MKX has been granted access to use Spawn, as a new deal with Warner Bros grants them limited access to Spawn for use in its games.

In addition, it is also rumored that gunslinger Erron Black will be part of the roster. Black’s revelation in the official comic book depicts him standing next to D’vorah and Kotal Khan, both being new characters and officially confirmed for the upcoming Mortal Kombat X.

Now this could be an exciting addition to the ever growing Mortal Kombat X roster of fighters. It just gets bigger and bigger as we are inching closer to the launch of the Mortal Kombat X. Who would be your dream fighter for the MKX? Post your replies in the comments below.

February 20, 2015
Pre-installed Software On Lenovo Laptops Makes Them Prone To Hacking: Report

One of the world’s largest PC manufacturer Lenovo Group is in the news for all the wrong reasons. Cyber-security experts are reporting that the Chinese manufacturer had pre-installed a virus laden software on its laptops that apparently makes its devices prone to hacking,

Users back in June reported of a pre-installed programme called Superfish that was an adware.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Robert Graham” author_title=”CEO of U.S.-based Security Research Firm Errata Security”]

Superfish was malicious software that hijacks and throws open encrypted connections, paving the way for hackers to also commandeer these connections and eavesdrop, in what is known as a man-in-the-middle attack.

[/quote]

Meanwhile, Lenovo officials in January said on a web forum that Superfish has been temporarily been removed from consumer computers. The officials though did refrain from making any official comments during the Lunar New Year holiday in China.

Security experts believe that Lenovo has been negligent, and these computers are still vulnerable even after uninstalling Superfish. The software gives itself total control to take over connections and declare them as trusted and secure, even when they are not secure. If the allegations are substantiated, it will be a major blot on the companies brand identity and may affect future sales.

February 20, 2015
Former GM Boss Says Apple Should Refrain From Making Cars

Former General Motors(GM) boss, Dan Akerson has warned Apple to stay away from manufacturing their own car, instead he advised the Cupertino based giant to focus on making in-car technology (something like CarPlay). He also suggested that profit margins on cars are relatively meager in comparison to iPhone which is practically a money minting machine.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Dan Akerson” author_title=”Fomer GM Boss”]

A lot of people who don’t ever operate in it(automobile manufacturing) don’t understand and have a tendency to underestimate. They’d better think carefully if they want to get into the hard-core manufacturing. We take steel, raw steel, and turn it into car. They have no idea what they’re getting into if they get into that.

[/quote]

Reports of Apple prepping its own electric vehicle surfaced last week. The report further stated that the Cupertino-based giant has a team of up to 1,000 employees working on a secret project code-named ‘Titan’. Anonymous sources also suggest the possibility of a car that resembles a minivan.

Meanwhile, earlier it was also reported that Apple’s market value stands at a whopping $745 billion, making it the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization, could be a factor that prompted CEO Tim Cook to venture into a new territory.

February 19, 2015
Moto Maxx Likely to Launch in India Exclusively on Flipkart

Online retailer Flipkart has teased an image which in all probability looks like a new Motorola smartphone launch in India soon. The teaser image doesn’t reveal the name of the smartphone, though it does suggest that it might be a device crammed with high-end specs. While, Flipkart has tweeted the teaser describing it only as a ‘Moto Beast’, it’s safe to assume the upcoming smartphone is likely the Moto Maxx.

There’s a Moto beast coming your way… exclusively on Flipkart. Stay tuned for more details. #MotoOnFlipkart pic.twitter.com/9FHIoJOEZH

— Flipkart (@Flipkart) February 19, 2015

In addition, the teaser image also says “Get Your Life Turbocharged. Accelerate performance, Ballistic Nylon fairing, and revving in soon.” The Moto Maxx is a global variant of the Droid Turbo that comes with a unique back panel which Motorola calls the ‘Ballistic Nylon’.

In addition to the unique back panel, the smartphone also packs a massive 3,900 mAh battery, which is compatible with Motorola’s turbo charger and is claimed to provide 8 hours of battery life in just 15 minutes of charging.

Other specs include a 5.2-inch QHD (2560×1440 pixels) display with a pixel density of 565ppi, and is powered by a 2.7GHz Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor paired with 3GB of RAM. While on the software front, it runs on Android KitKat, which has been updated to Lollipop.

In terms of optics, the smartphone has a 21-megapixel rear autofocus camera with f/2.0 aperture and dual-LED flash, 2-megapixel front camera. The smartphone comes with a massive 64GB internal storage and includes connectivity options LTE support, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.0.

February 19, 2015
Samsung Following LG WebOS’ Footsteps to Make Tizen the Next Big Thing for TVs

LG’s WebOS inclusion in TVs brought out revolutionary products. It marked the beginning of the era of smart TVs. The WebOS was well received by the tech community, and the reason is it’s snappy, engaging and a simple operating system. It seems like Samsung has understood the popularity of the WebOS and is going the LG way.

Meanwhile, Tizen OS on TV is the mini version of WebOS. Just like WebOS, Samsung’s Tizen-based TVs feature a panel at the bottom of the screen that depicts apps. The LG’s WebOS is advanced and highlights the screen shot of the ongoing programme. The Smart Hub on Tizen OS allows for seamless navigation and throws recent apps on one screen. The content can be shared from the TV to different devices, enabling users to have a multi-screen integrated experience. It provides easy and seamless navigation across videos, games and the web. Whereas on WebOS, there’s a Launcher Bar to optimize the menu and everything is right in front of you. Through the Magic Motion remote control, users can point, click, and scroll your way through the interface.

At the Samsung Thailand Forum 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand

WebOS is the heart of the TV’s user interface and with Tizen entering the game, it will take some time to make a concrete ground for itself. Samsung is leaving no stone unturned and is embedding electronic equipments with the Tizen OS. The company has announced that all forthcoming smart TVs will pack its own OS. Samsung Z1 is already running on Tizen OS, and the Korean producer has confirmed to launch Tizen-powered electronic products like refrigerators, air conditioners and washing machine in the coming future.

We will see the Tizen OS on the new SCurve TV by Samsung. If Samsung does the significant alterations, it can draw a considerable audience to its Smart Tizen TV; becoming the second favorite OS after WebOS. Samsung is, presently, showcasing its newest innovations at the Samsung Forum 2015 in Bangkok.

February 16, 2015
Lava Brings More Fuel With the Budget Iris Fuel 20 Featuring a 4400mAh Battery

Lava has added another smartphone to its fuel range with the launch of the launch of Lava Iris Fuel 20, though this time around at entry level prices. The latest addition to the Fuel series packs a mammoth 4400mAh battery that is claimed to provide a 2G talktime of 42 hours, 13 hours video playback and 35 hours of music playback.

Other specs of the Iris Fuel 20 include a 5-inch FWVGA 850×480 resolution. The smartphone sports a 1.3 GHz Dual-Core processor coupled with 512 MB of RAM, while the OS on-board is Android 4.4 KitKat. Optics on the phone include a 5MP rear camera bundled with LED flash, along with a VGA front-facing cam. The Iris Fuel 20 is also claimed to support HD video playback.

Coming to connectivity options, it supports 2G connectivity, microUSB v2.0, Bluetooth v4.0 and Wi-Fi. On the memory front, the smartphone comes with 4GB in-built storage expandable upto 32GB.

The Iris Fuel 20 will be available in white and metallic grey colour options in in retail outlets across India and leading e-commerce portals at Rs. 5,399 from next week.

February 16, 2015
Vaio Revives its Flagship Z Series with Two New Hybrids

Since parting ways with Sony, Vaio has been hinting that are things are going to change. And they possibly could as Vaio has spruced up its flagship Z series with two new hybrid laptops: the Vaio Z and Vaio Z Canvas.

The 13.3-inch Vaio Z goes up for pre-orin Japan today, with a second generation high speed SSD along with an unspecified fifth gen Core i7 Intel chipset on board, all wrapped up in an aluminium carbon outerbody shell.

Vaio executives have also stressed upon the fact that the ‘Z’ also stands for Zero. Courtesy of its aluminium carbon fibre construction, the Z weighs just a mere 1.34 kgs with a thickness of about 16.8mm. Vaio is claiming it can provide a battery backup of 15.5 hours, making it the longest lasting laptop the company has ever made. In addition, they also claim that the keyboard makes substantially lesser noise. The flagship won’t come cheap, as it is estimated to retail around $1,600.

Meanwhile, the Vaio Z Canvas which launches later in May, sports a detachable keyboard, a 12.1-inch display with a staggering resolution of 2560×1704 pixels. Other details remain sparse but there are indications the Vaio Z Canvas gets a digitized stylus as well. Though Vaio has promised that it’ll cram the Vaio Z Canvas with upto 1TB of storage.

February 16, 2015
Apple Might Be Working on an Electric Car

Electric cars seem to be the future of the way we commute, no wonder it has become a prime area of interest for Silicon Valley giants ranging from Google to NASA. According to several sources, we can add Apple to the list.

A new report suggests that Apple is prepping its own electric car. The report further states that the Cupertino-based giant has a team of up to 1,000 employees working on a secret project codenamed ‘Titan’. Anonymous sources also suggest the possibility of a car that resembles a minivan.

The report also claims that Apple has appointed executive and former Ford engineer Steve Zadesky as the head the project.

Though the journal also mentions that this could be just an R&D effort, and Apple may not complete the project. So, launching the vehicle in the market is still years way.

Meanwhile, a report from Financial Times claims that Apple has also been hiring automotive experts to work on this secret project. A LinkedIn search also suggests that atleast 46 former employees of Tesla are now working for Apple.

February 14, 2015
New Facebook Feature Allows You to Pick Who Manages Your Account After You Die

Facebook has announced a ‘Legacy Contact’ feature for its social network, signifying a person can be entitled full control to the user’s account after his death. The addition of this new feature allows a user to take control of his legacy contact, who will be able to mange their account when he/she dies.

The Legacy Contact can post on your Timeline, update your profile picture, respond to friend requests, though won’t be allowed to access your messages. They can also choose to delete the account permanently from Facebook. In addition, the Legacy Contact will be allowed to take control of someone’s account, only after they inform Facebook about the concerned user’s death.

Earlier, Facebook had offered something similar with the memorialized account feature, though did not allow family or friends of the deceased user to manage their account.

Here’s how you can activate the Legacy Contact feature on Facebook – Go to Settings, then Security and click on Legacy Contact.

You’ll be allowed to further customise the kind of access you want to give your legacy contact, and even contact them to let them know you chose them. In an event that an account remains active, a “Remembering” mention will be added above the deceased person’s name on Facebook.

February 13, 2015
Apple Reveals New Tech Which Will Further Bolster iPhone’s Camera Quality

Apple is filing for a new patent, in an attempt to further bolster the performance of its image quality. The patent has been filed for a technology called “Mirror Tilt Actuation”, that allows users to take high quality pictures even if they aren’t holding their handset steady.

Apple believes this new technology will be a further improvement over the existing OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) technology that the company used in its iPhone 6 Plus for the first time.

So, how would this work?

According to Apple Insider, the camera would include a ‘folded optics arrangement,’ in which light would enter the lens and mirror assembly through a first lens. The light would then be redirected with a mirror at a right angle, where it would be sent to the remaining movable lens elements. To compensate for a user’s hand movement and any jitters in picture taking, Apple’s camera would include an actuator for tilting the mirror according to movement of the iPhone.

Put simply, Apple wants to pull-off a mechanism in the camera that will sync the camera’s mirror with the movement of your hands to make sure the picture quality is maintained even if your hand is shaky.

February 13, 2015
Microsoft Releases Windows 10 Preview for Phones; Here is How You Can Install it
Redmond giant Microsoft has released the first preview of Windows 10 for phones. Lumia owners can now install the preview and check out what the new OS has to offer. Several prominent Windows 10 features will be available in the preview, including the new UI, new action center, custom background images on the start screen and better voice dictation.

In a blog post, Microsoft’s Gabe Aul says the company is looking for feedback.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Gabe Aul” author_title=”Microsoft”]

This preview is still very much under development and you’re going to see some rough edges. We’re sharing it with you so you can be with us at every step, and provide your feedback to help make this the best release ever.

[/quote]

Though the preview does not get the new universal apps, the new Office apps, the Spartan browser, Xbox integration, Skype in Messaging and Cortana, among other things.

We’ll hear more about Windows 10 for phones at Microsoft’s event at MWC on March 2, while the final OS launch is expected this summer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckzhX1O6Lto

How to Install the Preview
- To get the preview, you’ll need a Lumia 630, Lumia 635, Lumia 636, Lumia 638, Lumia 730, or Lumia 830.
- Make sure you back up your data.
- Go to insider.windows.com and sign up for the Windows Insider program. Then on your PC, go to the this link and click install to send the Windows 10 insider app on your phone.
- When you access the Windows Insider app on your phone, you’ll get two options – ‘fast and ‘slow’ build schedules. Microsoft says the slow schedule has improvements coming less often, hence it’ll be less buggy.
- This will be followed by a series of long downloads and restarts, and you’ll finally be running the Windows 10 Preview for phones.
Users are advised to be patient as the whole process takes a significant amount of time.
February 13, 2015
Oppo Mirror 3 Arrives in India, Priced at Rs. 16,990

Oppo today launched its latest smartphone – the Mirror 3 in India. Oppo says that the smartphone is aimed at the mid-range market and is available at a price of Rs. 16,990.

Coming to its specifications, the Oppo Mirror 3 sports a 4.7 inch HD IPS display, and is powered by a 64 bit 1.2Ghz Snapdragon 410 quad-core processor bundled with Adreno 306 GPU. It also included 1 GB of RAM, along with 8 GB of internal storage expandable upto 128 GB via microSD slot.

Other specs on the Mirror 3 include an 8MP rear camera with LED flash, 5 MP selfie cam, a 2000mAh battery, along with connectivity options like 3G support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS. It runs on Android 4.4 KitKat layered with Color UI.

The newly launched Mirror 3 will go head on against the likes of Motorola Moto G (2014), Micromax Canvas Nitro, and HTC Desire 620G.

February 12, 2015
Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Camera Will Be Super Intelligent, Claims Senior VP

The countdown to the MWC is already in full swing, with prominent manufacturers sending out teasers as to what we can expect from one of the biggest mobile conferences of the year.

Much has already been leaked about Samsung’s upcoming 2015 flagship model. Now, in a blog post on Wednesday, Samsung’s Senior VP and Head of Camera R&D Group talked about how they have been constantly working on improving the cameras used on the Galaxy Series. While talking about the camera on Galaxy smartphones, Senior VP DongHoon Jang admitted that a lot of passion and effort has been put for the release of the 2015 flagship model.

[quote text_size=”small” author=” DongHoon Jang” author_title=” Senior VP and Head of Camera R&D Group, Samsung”]

It will be intelligent and do all the thinking for users, allowing them to take amazing pictures under any conditions, without having to worry about anything more than just pressing the shutter button. It will demonstrate just how far Samsung has advanced smartphone cameras, and once again will open the creative side of our users for new ideas and new possibilities.

[/quote]

In the blog, there’s also a chart that shows camera progress over the years on the flagship Galaxy smartphones including the Galaxy S, Galaxy S II, Galaxy S III, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy S5.

In addition, Jang also stressed on the importance of the selfie cam, and duly noted that it forms an essential part of the whole eco-system. Meanwhile, a recent report suggested a 20 MP camera sensor along with OIS and a 5 MP front facing shooter on the Galaxy S6 prototype. Both cameras are likely to include sensors from Samsung.

The Korean giant is expected to launch the Samsung Galaxy S6 flagship along with the anticipated curved-display variant, rumoured to be called Galaxy S6 Edge at the Galaxy Unpacked 2015 event scheduled for March 1 in Barcelona.

February 12, 2015