Engadget Daily: ‘Halo 2: Anniversary,’ problems with Secret’s secrecy and more!
Today, we anticipate the visual glory of Halo 2: Anniversary, learn that a monkey can’t own photo rights, sit down without a chair, investigate problems with Secret’s anonymity and more! Read on for Engadget’s news highlights from the last 24 hours.
Filed under: Misc
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Uber drivers reportedly dealing with robberies in Los Angeles
For Uber, its rise to the top hasn’t always gone smoothly. From facing legal challenges across different parts of the world, to battling it out verbally with competitors, the ridesharing company has had to fight hard to make a name for itself. And now things have apparently taken a turn for the worse, at least for some of its drivers. According to PandoDaily, a number of Uber drivers in Los Angeles say they have been suffering from serious attacks, such as robberies at gunpoint, in recent months. The report, which cites three drivers who spoke on condition of anonymity, claims that people with bad intentions are using the Uber app to locate drivers on a map in order to rob them. While, in most cases, these criminals are looking to steal the Uber-provided phones carried by operators, PandoDaily was told someone was, at one point, the victim of a carjacking situation. Either way, the main concern here shouldn’t be the iPhones or vehicles at stake, but rather every driver’s safety. We’ve reached out to Uber for comment and will update this story if we hear back.
Filed under: Misc, Transportation
Source: PandoDaily
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Third-Party Vendor Beats Apple to Market With Reversible Lightning USB Cables
Amid rumors that Apple is developing a Lightning cable with a reversible USB connector, third-party accessory vendor Truffol has begun selling a reversible USB Lightning cable on its website, beating Apple to the punch.
Priced at $9.99, the reversible cable advertised by Truffol is designed to be inserted into a USB port in either direction, a shift from a traditional USB cable that can only be inserted in one direction. While the cable is not Apple-approved and thus not Made for iPhone (MFi) certified, Truffol has told MacRumors that its cable works with both existing iOS devices and the upcoming iPhone 6. Purchasing third-party cables is not recommended by Apple, however, as they can cause damage to iOS devices.
It is not clear whether these third-party reversible USB Lightning cables were already in development ahead of the rumors suggesting Apple was developing its own reversible solution or if they were designed in response to rumors, but their sudden availability may possibly hint at the existence of an Apple-branded reversible cable. Truffol told MacRumors that it believes the idea for the third-party reversible Lightning cables originated from “insider Apple sources.”
Rumors of an Apple-branded Lightning cable with a reversible USB connector first surfaced last week in the form of leaked images and videos, but Apple initially filed a patent application for the technology in January 2014, which became public in late July.
Video depicting alleged Apple Lightning cable with reversible USB connector
Apple may face some legal hurdles if it launches a reversible Lightning USB cable. A California company named UltraTek holds a patent for a reversible USB connector and already sells reversible USB cables through a number of different online retailers, but it is possible Apple has licensed the technology or developed a solution that is different enough not to infringe on UltraTek’s existing technology.
A second Apple patent filing that was published earlier this week suggests Apple has indeed improved on current reversible USB connector designs, as it details a cable with a flexible internal connector. Described as a flexible “tongue,” Apple’s design would allow a USB connector to flex to fit into any existing USB port regardless of insertion orientation. The flexible design may be superior to existing reversible USB designs because it allows for a thicker, sturdier middle “stalk” and a stronger connection with contacts.
It is possible that Apple’s rumored Lightning cable with a reversible USB connector might debut as soon as September, introduced alongside the iPhone 6 that’s expected to be unveiled at a September 9 media event.
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Apple Initiates iPhone 5 Battery Replacement Program
Apple has begun an iPhone 5 Battery Replacement Program, suggesting that a small percentage of iPhone 5 units may have a faulty battery that results in a shorter battery life. iPhone 5 devices exhibiting battery issues were sold between September of 2012 and January of 2013 and could be eligible for a battery replacement.
Apple has determined that a very small percentage of iPhone 5 devices may suddenly experience shorter battery life or need to be charged more frequently. The affected iPhone 5 devices were sold between September 2012 and January 2013 and fall within a limited serial number range.
If your iPhone 5 is experiencing these symptoms and meets the eligibility requirements noted below, Apple will replace your iPhone 5 battery, free of charge.
Apple says the issue affects only a “limited serial number range” and iPhone 5 users can input their serial numbers on Apple’s support site to find out whether their phones need a battery replacement. Those who do have a faulty battery can get a replacement through an Apple Authorized Service Provider, an Apple Retail Store, or through Apple Technical support.
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Over 1,000 US businesses hit with the same cyberattack as Target
Target’s massive data breach grabbed headlines right in the middle of holiday shopping that year, and the fallout continues. According to a Department of Homeland Security advisory this afternoon, the attacks that hit the red-hued retailer, along with Supervalu and UPS, are much more widespread than first reported. The so-called “Backoff” malware in various versions has actually hit more than 1,000 businesses in the States, allowing hackers to snag info from millions of credit card payments. Remote network access for contractors provides the avenue for entry, and the announcement suggests that companies have vendors take a close look at their systems for possible criminal activity. It’s also calling for businesses to put cash registers on a separate network and employ two-factor authentication to help combat would-be intruders.
[Photo credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images]
Source: The New York Times
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Twitter’s ‘Buy Now’ button may be powered by Stripe payments
Remember that illusive “Buy Now” button that briefly showed up on Twitter last month? Re/Code says it’s still on the way — and it’s backed by Stripe, a mobile payments startup. According to sources close to the outlet, merchants that want to sell products through tweets will need to sign up with Stripe’s payment platform to get started, suggesting that the startup will be the only way to pay for goods on the social network. In the past, Twitter has been rumored to be working with Fancy.com to create a “Twitter Commerce” platform, although its unclear when the company’s retail ambitions will come to fruition. Still, something is clearly in the works.
[Image credit: Andrew Burton/Getty Images]
Filed under: Internet
Source: Re/Code
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Secret’s next update will add polls and Flickr support, but limit photo uploads
If you love hanging your dirty laundry on carefully curated and symbolic images, then Secret’s next update both is — and isn’t — for you. Sometime next week, the anonymous sharing app will integrate Flickr image search, but access to the photo service’s library comes at a price: the ability to use your own photos. The update will remove the ability to upload images from your phone, with the exception of pictures taken in real-time with the Secret app itself.
It’s an odd, unexplained restriction, but privacy may have something to do with it: the update also bakes in a new system that analyzes posts for names. Secrets that contain real names will be flagged,and the user will be prompted to “re-think” their post before sharing their secret. Secrets with names will also be reviewed by real staff to ensure they don’t violate the company’s privacy policy. Finally, the update is adding a new level of interaction: polls. Secrets that feature yes or no questions will have the option of adding a simple poll feature to anonymously tally up the results. Looking for the full details? Check out Secret’s official announcement here.
Source: Medium
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AIVAnet 