Adobe Releases Another Emergency Update for Flash [Mac Blog]
Adobe today released a second security update for its Adobe Flash Player software on both Mac and Windows, addressing a threat that could allow an attacker to take control of an affected system, executing malicious code. The vulnerability (CVE–2014–0502) allowed attackers to compromise at least three nonprofit organizations according to security firm FireEye (via ArsTechnica).
This threat actor clearly seeks out and compromises websites of organizations related to international security policy, defense topics, and other non-profit sociocultural issues. The actor either maintains persistence on these sites for extended periods of time or is able to re-compromise them periodically.
This actor also has early access to a number of zero-day exploits, including Flash and Java, and deploys a variety of malware families on compromised systems. Based on these and other observations, we conclude that this actor has the tradecraft abilities and resources to remain a credible threat in at least the mid-term.
Today’s update follows a critical security update that was released just over two weeks ago, fixing the same zero-day vulnerability giving hackers complete control over compromised systems.
The vulnerability affects all Macs with Adobe Flash Player version 12.0.0.70 and earlier and Adobe recommends all users update their products to the latest of Flash. Adobe maintains a site where users can check the version of Flash installed and the up-to-date Flash software can be downloaded from Adobe’s website.
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HTC’s new flagship gets approved by the FCC
At this point, the followup to HTC’s One flagship is a lock for late March, and we’ve even been blessed with leaks that show off what the phone, codenamed M8, looks like. Now the device has made its way through the obligatory FCC approval process, and the actual design of the phone — complete with its soft curved corners — made it through without the veil of confidentiality attached. There’s nothing new here, but it at least confirms earlier leaks. In the way of additional details, it looks like this particular version of the new One will have AT&T-compatible LTE as well as a few extras (it features bands 2, 4, 5, 7 and 17), but we have a feeling that HTC will have regional variants to ensure every corner of the globe is covered with the necessary connectivity. There’s also NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, dual-band 802.11ac WiFi, and we’ll update you if we come across any other goodies as we dig. Just about a month left until the company fills in all the missing pieces.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, HTC, Google
Source: FCC
Archos intros 8-inch Helium 4G tablet, octa-core Oxygen smartphone ahead of MWC
Even though Mobile World Congress 2014 doesn’t officially kick off until February 24th, Archos has gone ahead and revealed some products it will be bringing to the event. For starters, there’s the 80 Helium 4G, an 8-inch, £230 tablet that packs a Cortex-A7 quad-core processor, 4G/LTE and Android 4.3. Additionally, Archos is also introducing a 5-inch, dual-SIM smartphone called 50c Oxygen, which features a 720p IPS display, MediaTek octa-core CPU, Jelly Bean (sorry, no KitKat here) and a 6.77-mm thick body. Archos’ 80 Helium 4G and 50c Oxygen won’t launch until later this year, but the company is indeed planning to show them off in Barcelona — and you know we’ll be there.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile
Source: Archos
Battery production, design modifications delay Tesla’s Model X SUV another year
During an interview with Bloomberg prior to Tesla’s earnings call yesterday, CEO Elon Musk discussed a few interesting tidbits. The most significant revelation is that the Model X SUV, which was first detailed in 2012 and originally set to begin production late last year, is now delayed until 2015. Musk cited several reasons for the delay, such as a need to focus on Model S distribution efforts, including expanding sales to China, along with his own personal dissatisfaction with current prototypes. Tesla also needs to boost battery production before it can roll out SUVs at a speedy enough pace to meet demand, which Musk expects will exceed Model S adoption.
Commenting on design, Musk said “it’s damn hard to make an SUV… that is beautiful and yet incredibly functional at the same time. It’s a harder design problem than the Model S.” Meanwhile, when pressed about a recent visit with Apple’s acquisitions chief, Musk did acknowledge that he has had discussions with Apple, but he said that he doesn’t plan to sell his company at this time. For now, he seems focused on completing the Model X design process and moving ahead with the firm’s giga battery factory, which would help Tesla ramp up battery production within the next few years.
Filed under: Transportation
Via: Verge
Source: Bloomberg
Archos reveals three smartphones, one tablet for MWC
Famous French brand known as Archos decided to unveil their new line-up for 2014, which will be showcased at the Mobile World Congress 2014 in Barcelona. The line-up consists of a tablet known as Archos Helium 4G, three smartphones known as 50c Oxygen, 64 Xenon and 40b Titanium. Check them out after the break.
Archos claimed that 80 Helium 4G is “industry’s first 8-inch 4G tablet under $250″. Apart from that, it comes with 4.3 Jelly Bean, 8-inch 1024 x 768 pixel display with IPS LCD technology, Qualcomm MSM8926 quad-core processor, 5 megapixel camera,1GB of RAM, and 8GB internal storage with microSD extension.
Next up is the 50c Oxygen and 64 Xenon. They are different when it comes to design but specification-wise; the only difference is that Archos 50c Oxygen works with a quad-core processor clocked at 1.7Ghz and a 5-inch display with 1280 x 720 while the Archos 64 Xenon works with a quad-core processor clocked at 1.3Ghz. 6.4-inch display with the same amount of pixels. Both will be available for $199.
And the last device is a low-end 40b Titanium, featuring a 4-inch 800 x 480 pixel display with a Mediatek dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM, a 5-megapixel camera and you will get all this in just $119. Check out the whole spec-sheet below to get a broader perspective about features of the devices.
Are you planning to grab any of them? Let us know in the comment box below.
Source: Archos
The post Archos reveals three smartphones, one tablet for MWC appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google Launches ‘Project Tango’ 3D-Mapping Smartphone
Google today launched Project Tango, an experimental smartphone and developer kit that incorporates 3D sensors able to map indoor and outdoor environments. Designed as a 5-inch phone containing custom hardware and software, the first Project Tango prototype makes more than a quarter million 3D measurements each second, tracking three-dimensional motion to create a visual 3D map of the space around itself.
Google describes Project Tango primarily as a mapping tool, automatically capturing the world around each user to provide directions, dimensions, and environmental maps.
What if you could capture the dimensions of your home simply by walking around with your phone before you went furniture shopping? What if directions to a new location didn’t stop at the street address? What if you never again found yourself lost in a new building? What if the visually-impaired could navigate unassisted in unfamiliar indoor places? What if you could search for a product and see where the exact shelf is located in a super-store?
The company also pictures Project Tango as the first step towards fully immersive augmented reality games that merge gameplay with real world locations.
Imagine playing hide-and-seek in your house with your favorite game character, or transforming the hallways into a tree-lined path. Imagine competing against a friend for control over territories in your home with your own miniature army, or hiding secret virtual treasures in physical places around the world?
According to TechCrunch, Project Tango utilizes a vision processor called the Myriad 1, from Movidius, which is incredibly power efficient compared to other 3D-sensing chips on the market. The power necessary for 3D chips to function has thus far been one of the major issues preventing the technology from being incorporated into a smartphone, but because it functions like a co-processor much like Apple’s own M7 motion co-processor, it is able to draw less power.
Project Tango’s three-dimensional mapping capabilities are similar to technology developed by PrimeSense, a company that Apple acquired last year. PrimeSense developed the technology used in Microsoft’s original Kinect and went on to create motion-sensing mobile chips capable of scanning an environment in full 3D. PrimeSense imagined the technology could be used for interactive gaming, indoor mapping, and more, much like Project Tango.
It isn’t clear how Apple plans to use PrimeSense’s technology in future devices or whether it has plans to release a smartphone that supports a 3D chip, but Project Tango demonstrates some of the potential capabilities of 3D sensing built into mobile devices that Apple could replicate should it choose to go in that direction. Apple has expressed interest in 3D indoor mapping in the past, having acquired indoor mapping company WiFiSlam in early 2013.
Google is recruiting professional developers to create apps for Project Tango and wants work to begin as soon as March. The company is distributing 200 prototype dev kits, inviting developers to describe what they would build using the technology. Google plans to give out prototype kits for developers interested in navigation/mapping, single/multiplayer games that use physical space, and new algorithms that use processing sensor data.
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Former HTC execs equip latest Kazam budget phone with LTE
Say hi to the Kazam Thunder² 4.5L Android smartphone. It’s an LTE-enabled follow-up to the original low-cost Thunder (without the “squared” sign) that launched in Europe last year. The brainchild of two HTC execs who decided to go it alone, the 4.5L offers a low-res 854 x 480 4.5-inch display, a Snapdragon 400 processor, 8GB of expandable storage, 1GB of RAM and a widely copied screen replacement promise. We’re missing the most important spec — namely, the price — but Kazam says the device should start arriving in select countries over the next few months. Meanwhile, the company has also added irksome mathematical symbols to its Thunder² 5.0 and Trooper² range, which have received minor spec bumps but are still 3G-only. Honestly, we’d normally be helpful and lay out all the details, but there’s only so many times we can press ALT-zero-one-seven-eight.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Nokia dives into game development with Modern Mayor for Windows Phone
It looks like Nokia has added game development to its repertoire as the handset maker released free-to-play Modern Mayor for WP8 Lumia devices today. The title tasks players with the mission of saving a dying town from complete ruin and returning it to its glory days. This means that you’re in charge of of all construction, keeping the town clean and donating to local charities with in-app purchases. Don’t worry though, Townhall Laura, the city publicist, is there to lend a hand. You didn’t really think the position was just a title, did you?
Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Mobile
Apple brings two-step verification for Apple ID to more countries
After discovering a huge security hole last year, Apple added an extra layer of protection for Apple ID and iCloud users in the form of two-step verification. Today it’s making the important security feature available in more countries: Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy and Spain. With two-step verification, Apple sends a special code to a trusted device like your iPhone whenever someone attempts to make changes to your account or log in for the first time on a new device. Similar to what Google does with Gmail, the extra step prevents malicious changes happening without your knowledge. It’s a simple thing to set up, and something that can save you from a whirlwind of pain should your Apple ID ever fall into the wrong hands. Those in the mentioned countries can register now on Apple’s website.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless
Via: 9to5Mac
Samsung Galaxy S5 to Come in Gold
Two days ago we reported that a tipster told Bloomberg that Samsung’s upcoming flagship phone will be sporting a 5.2-inch 2K display.
Well, rumors are surfacing every day about the Galaxy S5 hardware and specs but none of them say much about the color flavors the handset will be coming in. Evidently, besides the white, blue and black editions, Samsung is planning to add another fancy version as well. According to a leaked document from Vodafone’s database, the S5 will be be dressed in gold. Fingers crossed that this time the gold edition of the handset will be hitting the store’s shelves on the launch day and not months after, like the golden Galaxy S4.
Samsung’s Unpacked 5 event takes place in five days, so all the above will be either confirmed or denied this Monday in Barcelona.
We wonder what you guys think about the golden Galaxy S5. Will it show up along with the rest standard versions or we’ll have to wait months to get our hands on one again? Sound off in the comments below.
Source: Dropbox
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