Samsung’s de Grisogono Gear S2 isn’t made for peasant wrists

Baselworld is going down in Switzerland this week, which means you can expect a ton of smartwatch news. We’ve already seen a few announcements, and today Samsung revealed a super fancy version of its Gear S2. The company teamed up with jewelry and watchmaker de Grisogono for a “fashion collaboration” limited-edition smartwatch covered in gold and jewels. More specifically, the 41mm device features rose gold, over 100 black and white diamonds and a black galuchat band.

The de Grisogono version of the Gear S2 offers features froms the original device, including that rotating bezel and heart rate monitor. In addition to the library of compatible apps, this high-end version also includes two faces that closely resemble one of the watchmakers regular timepieces. You know, so you can make this look like a de Grisogono watch when you’re not checking the weather. Samsung isn’t talking pricing yet, but this Gear S2 will be available this summer. And yes, it will probably be ridiculously expensive.

Source: Samsung

BMW’s next-gen Project i focuses on autonomous driving

When BMW talks about wanting to build the most intelligent car, it’s not joking around. The automaker is kicking off a Project i 2.0 initiative that will push autonomous and networked driving technology in the same way that Project i boosted electric cars. In fact, BMW claims that it’ll “lead the field” for self-driving tech — no mean feat when seemingly everyone has similar ideas. The centerpiece is an iNext vehicle that will supposedly “set new standards” for autonomy, connectivity, EV tech, mapping and sensors.

iNext isn’t going to show until sometime early in the 2020s, but the company’s technology development isn’t standing idle in the meantime. There are plans for an upgraded i3 with extended range (through a bigger battery) this year, an open-top version of the i8 hybrid in 2018, and even a plug-in hybrid version of the Mini. In short, BMW is trying to embrace the future with open arms. It may not be the first to get there, but it’ll be near the front of the pack.

Via: Autoblog

Source: BMW

Tidal extends free trial for the updated version of Kanye’s album

By now you’ve likely heard all about how Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo will always be a Tidal exclusive. When the album first dropped, West mentioned on Twitter that he would “fix” the song “Wolves.” To make sure users who flocked to the service for the album are able to stream the new version, Tidal is extending its free trial for another 30 days. The service sent out an email to temporary users today, explaining that the updated song and a new track “Fade” were added to Pablo. However, “Fade” was already available as a part of the initial release.

This makes the second revision to the album in recent days as tweaks to “Famous” and the addition of “Frank’s Track” (originally part of “Wolves) were added as well. While the practice is unusual, it’s not too much of a surprise, especially for West who’s known for being a bit of a perfectionist. You will need to log in and re-activate your account or the extended trial will end after 14 days. Of course, this also means that you’ll be able to stream those Jay Z albums that aren’t available anywhere else as of this week.

‘AceDeceiver’ iOS Trojan Spotted in China, Bypasses Apple’s DRM Mechanism

A new iOS trojan has been found in the wild that’s able to infect non-jailbroken iOS devices through PCs without the need to exploit an enterprise certificate. Named “AceDeceiver,” the malware was discovered by Palo Alto Networks and is currently affecting iOS users in China.

AceDeceiver infects an iOS device by taking advantage of flaws in FairPlay, Apple’s digital rights management (DRM) system. According to Palo Alto Networks, it uses a technique called “FairPlay Man-in-the-Middle,” which has been used to spread pirated iOS apps in the past by using fake iTunes software and spoofed authorization codes to get the apps on iOS devices. The same technique is now being used to spread the AceDeceiver malware.

Apple allows users purchase and download iOS apps from their App Store through the iTunes client running in their computer. They then can use the computers to install the apps onto their iOS devices. iOS devices will request an authorization code for each app installed to prove the app was actually purchased. In the FairPlay MITM attack, attackers purchase an app from App Store then intercept and save the authorization code.

They then developed PC software that simulates the iTunes client behaviors, and tricks iOS devices to believe the app was purchased by victim. Therefore, the user can install apps they never actually paid for, and the creator of the software can install potentially malicious apps without the user’s knowledge.

From July of 2015 to February of 2016, three AceDeceiver iOS apps were uploaded to the official iOS App Store, posing as wallpaper apps and providing attackers with a fake authorization code to use in the AceDeceiver attacks.

A Windows iPhone management app called “Aisi Helper” that claimed to provide services like system backup and cleaning was installed by users in China, and it went on to install malicious iOS apps on connected devices offering a third-party App Store with free content as bait. The third-party App Store app requested users to input their Apple ID and password, information that was uploaded to the AceDeceiver server.

Though Apple removed the apps from the App Store in February, the attack remains active because attackers still have the authorization code, AceDeceiver only affects users in China, but Palo Alto Networks believes the AceDeceiver trojan or similar malware could spread around to additional regions. It is especially insidious as it has not been patched (and could work on older versions of iOS even when patched), installs apps automatically from an infected computer, and does not require an enterprise certificate.

An AceDeceiver third-party App Store app installed automatically on an iOS device through a computer using the Aisi Helper Malware
AceDeceiver in its current incarnation requires users to download the Aisi Helper Windows app to their computers before the malware can spread to iOS devices, so people who have downloaded this software should remove it immediately and change their Apple ID passwords. In the future, AceDeceiver can be avoided by not downloading suspicious software.

Palo Alto Networks has a full rundown of AceDeceiver, its history, and how it works on the Palo Alto Networks website. It’s well worth reading for anyone who wants more information about the malware.

Tags: Palo Alto Networks, malware
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How to stream any audio with the Amazon Echo – CNET

Sarah Tew/CNET

The Amazon Echo can stream all sorts of audio. It can read the news to you, play audio streams for major networks, stream your favorite local radio stations from iHeartRadio and it can play various forms of audio from Amazon’s own multimedia offerings, as well as Spotify.

But what if you want to listen to something that isn’t offered by the Echo out of the box? What if your favorite podcast isn’t available through Spotify? Or what if you want to watch a movie from your laptop, but you want to amplify the audio?

You can actually circumvent the official support of the Amazon Echo and stream practically any audio to the Echo using Bluetooth.

Learn how to setup the Amazon echo as a Bluetooth speaker.

Pairing via voice command

There are two ways to pair your devices with the Amazon Echo. The easiest way is by simply speaking to Alexa. Say “Alexa, pair.” This will put the Echo in Bluetooth pairing mode and make it discoverable.

From your device of choice, open Bluetooth settings. In the list of devices, you should see a device named Echo-XXX. Tap the device name to confirm the paring.

Pairing via Amazon Alexa app

Manually put the Echo in pairing mode by opening the Amazon Alexa application from your mobile device or navigating to echo.amazon.com and navigating to Settings. Find the correct Echo device at the top of the menu and select it by tapping or clicking on it. Select Bluetooth and click Pairing Mode.

When you open the Bluetooth settings, you should see the device name (Echo-XXX) in the list of discovered devices. Tap or click on the device name and confirm the connection.

Use the Amazon Echo as a Bluetooth speaker

With so many built-in options for streaming audio from the Amazon Echo, it may not seem immediately apparent why you might want to use it as a Bluetooth speaker. Currently, media streaming services that Alexa supports are your own Amazon Music library, Amazon Prime Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Audible and it can even read some of the e-books from you Kindle library.

However, if you want to stream Apple Music from your iPhone, Google Play Music from your Android device or even audio from some a local video on your computer, all you have to do is pair your device with the Echo using Bluetooth and select it as the audio output.

This means you can stream practically any audio from the Echo from any Bluetooth-compatible device.

Additionally, you can now speak to Alexa to control the audio that is playing from your external device. Speak “Alexa, pause” or “Alexa, next” and the music or audio will pause or skip to the next song.

Unpair Bluetooth devices from Echo

If you want to clear the device pairings from the Amazon Echo, you can do so by opening the Amazon Alexa app on your mobile device or navigating to echo.amazon.com and opening Settings. From there, select the device at the top of the page and click Bluetooth. When the page loads, click or tap Clear.

This removes all paired devices, which means you will need to pair any devices you want to stream from once again.

2016 Cadillac ATS-V review – Roadshow

Mar 2016

The Good Exceptional performance on the track and on the road. Aggressive, purposeful styling and a great selection of tech toys.

The Bad Interior doesn’t quite match that of its direct competition. The Cadillac User Interface, CUE, needs a performance boost.

The Bottom Line The ATS-V is a remarkable car, coming straight out of the gate and standing toe-to-toe with the best performance sedans Germany has to offer.

It’s been a long time since a certain, blue-ovaled, American car company retired the tagline “Have you driven a Ford lately?” It was simple and catchy and effective, and it might just be time to roll that out again — but for another American marque: Cadillac. If you haven’t been inside a Cadillac in some time, you might be surprised what the brand is up to.

The CTS-V was a nice statement of intent, a world-class performance sedan at a (reasonably) attainable price. Apply that same formula to the company’s compact sedan, the ATS, and the result is this: the 2016 ATS-V. It too, has its eyes on the Teutonic European establishment with Cadillac again punching above its weight — and again succeeding.

The ATS-V is a four-door, $60,465 performance sedan or $62,665 coupe that disappoints in a few respects — but you might be surprised to learn how well it impresses in others.

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The formula

Hood vents: a strong statement of intent.

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People have been putting unnecessarily big motors in comfortable, practical cars since the dawn of the automobile, but with the ATS-V, Cadillac really looked at the full picture, from wheels to brakes to suspension to aerodynamics (yes, despite that angular shape). Still, it still all starts with the motor, and there’s a good one here.

Beneath the hood of the ATS-V is a 3.6-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6. Power is delivered exclusively to the rear wheels through your choice of a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic. That auto box is the quicker of the two options, getting the car to 60 in 3.9 seconds. And it’s not bad, offering paddles on the wheel for when you feel like taking control and reasonably quick, decently responsive shifts.

Go with the manual and the sprint to 60 takes 4.2 seconds, but in exchange you get yourself a very nice feeling box. A stubby, Alcantara-wrapped lever offers short, positive throws that require a bit of muscle to engage. On top of that, the manual box offers flat-shift, so if you keep your right foot hard on the gas while accelerating you need only kick the clutch and grab the next gear. The computer automatically cuts the throttle for just enough time to keep you from bending the valves or destroying the transmission.

The car automatically rev-matches on downshifts, too, but thankfully that’s easily disabled if you want to show off those toe-heel maneuvers you’ve spent so many years perfecting.

The twin-turbos do dull the throttle response to some degree, there’s no denying that; but with such a solid rush of power it’s awfully hard to complain.

Yes, the twin-turbos do dull the throttle response to some degree, there’s no denying that; but with such a solid rush of power it’s awfully hard to complain. Get on the gas in any gear and the car seems to hunker down for just a moment before springing forward, a purposeful, guttural roar coming out of the exhaust.

Though far from quiet, among its peers — BMW’s M3 and the Mercedes-AMG C63 — the ATS-V is definitely the most restrained aurally. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing depends on the state of your hearing and how many counties you wish to disturb on spirited Sunday drives.

But this car is about much more than just power. Hustle the ATS-V around a track — I’m very happy to say that I’ve spent a lot of time doing just that — and the thing feels remarkably at home. The steering offers light feel but turn-in is very precise and brake feel solid, a good compromise between street comfort and track ability.

The car is quite balanced on the limit, and thanks to five hidden traction control modes (accessed by double-tapping the TC button), you can actually have a lot of fun while still knowing that the computer has your back. And, even if you opt to turn things all the way off, everything is so progressive and predictable that you’d have to be pretty rough on the throttle to get yourself in trouble.

On the inside

Even should you select the ($2,300) optional sport seats on your ATS-V, you’ll still find yourself sliding into a very plush, very comfortable throne. They’re decently supportive, but honestly a little too soft for properly sporty antics. Step out of the C63 or M3 and into here feels like plopping into a Lay-Z-Boy.

Google I/O 2016 invites are going out!

Check your mail.

If you registered for a general admission or academic ticket for Google I/O 2016 last week, now’s the time to check your email. Google has begun sending out the first wave of invites for the annual developer event, which runs from May 18-20 in Mountain View, Calif.

The invite email reads:

Congrats! You’ve been selected to purchase a General Admission ticket for Google I/O’16.

Google I/O is a festival for developers and technologists. During I/O, you’ll learn about our latest product innovations and dive deep into code, all while networking with your peers and Google engineers.

And that will likely mean a lot more info about Android N, which was released in developer preview form last week.

Lucky invitees will have just 24 hours to claim their spot at I/O, during which they’ll need to pony up the $900 required for a general admission ticket, or $300 for an academic pass.

In previous years Google has sent out I/O invites in waves, so if you haven’t yet received yours, fear not, it may still be coming. When all the GA and academic spots are taken, unsuccessful applicants will begin receiving the dreaded I/O rejection email.

If you can’t be in Mountain View for this year’s Google I/O, we’ll be there to bring you full coverage of everything Google announces.

Have you received your I/O invite, or are you still waiting? Shout out in the comments!

Ring introduces Video Doorbell Pro with 1080p video and more for $249

Ring has introduced the Video Doorbell Pro, its latest video-enabled doorbell. This time around, the company is offering 1080p video recording, along with advanced motion detection, night vision and cloud video recording. With the advanced motion detection, you can set parameters in which you are interested in monitoring, so you can see if there is any type of unusual activity.

Each Video Doorbell Pro will come with four different color options for the face plate, so you can use the one that best matches your house. You will need to have a preexisting doorbell for this to replace, as it will need to be wired into power. Pre-orders are now open at $249, with shipments beginning in late April.

See at Ring

Nixon’s Mission is a rugged Android Wear watch built for action

Watchmaker Nixon has announced its first Android Wear-based product, the Misssion. The rugged smartwatch is water resistant up to 100 meters or 10 ATM, and is built to withstand the elements. The Mission was built with sports like surfing, snowboarding, and skiing in mind.

The watch comes with a suite of software powered by Surfline and Snocountry, which allow the Mission to receive real-time condition information for surfing, skiing, and snowboarding. This information can be viewed at a quick glance at the Mission’s face. Nixon has also partnered with Trace, a company that specializes in tracking activity in these kinds of sports.

In addition to its water resistance, the Mission is shock resistant, and features a Corning Gorilla Glass display. It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 system-on-chip. The Mission will be available later this year in multiple colors, and Nixon will offer more than 20 band options. The watch is expected to cost around $400.

First CyanogenMod 13 release now available for a variety of devices

If you’re rooted and love to flash new ROMs, you may want to check out the first non-nightly release of CM13 from the CyanogenMod team. Initially, this release will be available for around 40 different devices, and the team is still working on pushing for more.

Depending on your current usage and state of your phone, you may need to follow some different instructions for flashing this build. From the CyanogenMod post:

We left the M release builds in the oven longer than we thought, but nothing a little graham cracker and chocolate can’t make that much better. CM13.0 brings Android 6.0.1 (r17) goodies such as the battery saving ‘doze’ functionality and new permissions model, alongside the CM features you’d expect.

This is the first non-nightly release for CM13, which means this will the first step many of you take into the world of Marshmallow. M brings along a handful of items that will pose issues if you are caught unaware, so in the interest of saving you some potential heartburn, we’re going to highlight that there are a couple of different update scenarios applicable.

If you are looking for something new to try, or have been waiting for a CM13 release to flash, now is your chance. Be sure to check out all the instructions, and remember to be careful while flashing your phones!