Google checks more than 6 billion installed apps daily for malware

Google is continuing to take Android security very seriously, and that shows in the Android Security 2015 Annual Report. Last year, Google announced a reduction of Potentially Harmful Apps (PHA) by nearly half and has kept that momentum up this year. The company now scans around 400 million devices and 6 billion installed apps each day, a huge jump from where it was in 2014.

Some of the other key takeaways from the report include:

• We protected hundreds of millions of Chrome users on Android from unsafe websites with Safe Browsing.
• Data Collection: decreased over 40% to 0.08% of installs
• Spyware: decreased 60% to 0.02% of installs
• Hostile Downloader: decreased 50% to 0.01% of installs

According to Google, fewer than 0.15% of devices that only install apps from Google Play had contact with a PHA, while 0.5% of devices that use both Google Play and outside sources to install apps had installed a harmful app. Marshmallow brings new security protection, including full disk encryption, updated permission controls and verified boot.

Last August, Google introduced the monthly public security update program, which it provides monthly code updates patching vulnerabilities that have been discovered in the OS. Google is committed to keeping Android devices safe and looks forward to engaging with the ecosystem to keep it going through 2016 and beyond.

Samsung Galaxy Note 6 camera could let in 17 per cent more light, at least

Samsung is reportedly working on a new camera for its smartphones that will blow away the competition. The camera, which could appear in the Galaxy Note 6, will be more like a stand-alone camera than a smartphone snapper.

Samsung has quietly been moving staff and resources from its NX camera division to its smartphone team for some time now. The result, according to Photo Rumours’ sources, is a new smartphone camera that will pack in a 1/1.7-inch sensor.

At the moment the team is working on a new 1/2.3-inch sensor that will work with an f/1.4 aperture. That aperture alone should mean a hefty 17 per cent more light allowed into the sensor. Then on top of that there is the fact the sensor will be bigger, meaning even more light detected.

Baring in mind how good the Galaxy S7 camera already is, that’s a big jump. This should make for excellent low light and fast moving scene photography.

So the plans to aim for a 1/1.7-inch sensor, with between 18 and 24-megapixels, are very exciting indeed. Don’t expect to see this later version until next year at the earliest. But in the short term we may see the 1/2.3-inch sensor with f/1.4 aperture in the Galaxy Note 6 soon.

READ: Samsung Galaxy Note 6 release date, rumours and everything you need to know

Mammalian embryos can grow in space

An experiment aboard China’s Shijian 10 (SJ-10) satellite has proven that mammalian embryos can develop in space, according to the country’s state-ran media. SJ-10, the country’s recoverable spacecraft, left Earth on April 6th carrying 19 experiments, including 6,000 embryos inside a sealed, microwave-sized container. China’s scientists wanted to know if they’d grow as they would here on Earth. After all, if we want our descendants to colonize space, we must first be sure that our species can reproduce outside our planet.

China Daily, an English-language newspaper in the Asian country, says the spacecraft sent back data and images taken from within the chamber housing the specimens every four hours. One of the photos it posted was captured four hours before SJ-10 blasted off, while the other showing the embryos in their more advanced blastocyst stage was captured 80 hours after it left Earth.

Since it’s a short experiment, we still don’t know if the embryos would have grown properly to produce live mice. SJ-10’s lead researcher Duan Enkui says, however, that while we have a ways to go before becoming a spacefaring species, we at least know now that “the most crucial step in our reproduction” is possible outside the planet.

Shijian 10’s re-entry capsule has just landed in Mongola carrying 11 of the 19 experiments. The other eight are still in orbit aboard the other half of the spacecraft. Despite spending 12 days in orbit, the embryos are frozen in the blastocyst stage you see below, as the scientists used chemicals to prevent them from developing any further. Authorities will ship the blastocysts to Beijing, where they will be studied and compared to embryos that developed here at home.

Images of China’s Shijian-10 space science re-entry capsule landing at 08:30 UTC today pic.twitter.com/Bk5JdDCUi8

— Andrew Jones (@AJ_FI) April 18, 2016

[Image credit: ChinaDaily (in-line embryo pictures)]

Source: ChinaDaily, Spaceflight Now, CC-TV, ChinaDaily (2)

Drone flights will be banned during Obama’s visit to London

Drones have been banned in parts of London while Barack Obama visits the UK this week. An advisory published by the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) and regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), has put restrictions on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other aircraft from Thursday evening on April 21st until the morning of Sunday April 24th. It’s part of Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin’s “overarching security plan” to keep the US president and First Lady safe while on British soil.

According to the bulletin, drone flights will not be permitted between 9pm on Thursday and 10:30am on Sunday over three separate areas. The first stretches from Haringey in the north of London down to Purley in the south, while the second aims to cover the skies when the Obamas join the Queen for launch at Windsor Castle as part of her 90th birthday celebrations. The final restriction in place between London and Stansted Airport. During those four days, drones or any other form of small aircraft will not be allowed to fly below 762 metres (2,500 feet).

While similar rules have been put in force for other important occasions and high-profile events, the presidential visit comes just days after a drone struck a British Airways plane preparing to land at Heathrow Airport. London police believe a UAV was flying flying at approximately 1,700 feet when it struck BA727 shortly after midday on Sunday. It’s currently appealing for any witnesses who may have seen a pilot operating the drone in or around Richmond Park.

A crude illustration of the areas covered by the ban.

Via: The Telegraph

Source: NATS (PDF)

VR porn to be offered as room service in Las Vegas

For decades, people have been renting naughty movies to watch in the privacy of their hotel rooms. Now, with virtual reality becoming more prevalent, one company is experimenting with a combination of the two — VR porn room service. To realise this X-rated dream, porn studio VR Bangers has teamed up with AuraVisor, a British company that crowdfunded its first headset on Indiegogo and Kickstarter last year. The complete package will soon be trialled in Las Vegas hotels, cost $19.99 a pop, and offer a few different scenarios for people to choose from.

VR Bangers already supports a variety of platforms, including the Oculus Rift and Samsung’s Gear VR. The AuraVisor is potentially a good fit because it’s cheap and doesn’t require a tethered smartphone. The headset is, essentially, a self-contained Android device running a modified version of Google’s mobile OS. It has a 5-inch 1080p display and a 100-degree field of view, with access to a custom VR store that’s linked to the Google Play marketplace. Such a setup should appeal to customers, especially business folk, who want to leave no trace of their VR escapades on their phone.

In each film, VR Bangers says you’ll be able to “see your hotel room replicated in the VR headset.” We’re guessing that means each scene was shot in a generic hotel room that gives off a Las Vegas vibe. Such an approach is meant to make the experience feel more realistic, as if a lady or gentleman of the night has actually knocked on your door. Saucy. We’re not sure exactly when, or where, it’ll be available for rental on the Strip — in the meantime, hoteliers will just have to leave you to your own devices.

Nokia’s Ozo camera now broadcasts live VR

Now that live virtual reality is hitting the mainstream, you need a camera to make it happen, don’t you? Nokia is happy to help. It’s creating a live VR broadcasting option for its Ozo camera that will show 360-degree video as it happens, complete with spatial audio. You aren’t likely to use this yourself when it costs about $60,000 to get an Ozo, but it’ll be a big deal for streaming providers and other broadcasters that want to experiment with VR. It’ll reach a handful of partners in the spring, and should be widely available this summer.

Nokia is making it easier to produce VR of all kinds, too. Its Ozo Creator tool is arriving for free this month with VR stitching, taking the headaches out of creating seamless videos. There’s also a VR player developer kit (coming later in the spring) that will help bring VR playback to your apps. Companies will need to take up the Ozo before you notice a difference, but don’t be surprised if immersive videos are that much more widespread in the near future.

Source: Nokia

Apple reportedly hires former Tesla engineering VP

Apple and Tesla have been known to swap employees on the regular, especially with development for Project Titan ramping up in Cupertino. It seems Tim Cook & Co. are it again, this time reportedly nabbing former Tesla VP of Vehicle Engineering Chris Porritt to work on “special projects.” It’s pretty easy to connect the dots between hiring an auto engineer an Apple’s own car aspirations. Electrek reports that Porritt is the latest former Tesla employee to make the leap to Apple, filling a senior position with someone who has experience with EVs and served as Aston Martin’s chief engineer.

Reports surfaced a few months ago that Project Titan lead Steve Zadesky left Apple. If that was true, it appear Porritt could be the new department chief. He’s got the experience to fill the role too, having worked on Aston Martin’s One-77 supercar,DB9 and V12 Zagato. At Tesla, he reportedly worked both the Model S, Model X and Model 3 chassis. Porritt joins a number of folks with automotive experience who Apple hired in recent months, including engineers from Mercedes.

Last year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk jokingly called Apple the “Tesla graveyard” based on the company’s habit for hiring the automaker’s former engineers. Musk hasn’t been above returning the favor, as Tesla has also haired folks who worked in Cupertino at some point. And now that Apple is working on a vehicle of its own, chances are the employee swapping isn’t going to stop anytime soon.

Source: Electrek

Apple Begins Selling Apple Watch Hermès Bands Separately in Online Store

Following an announcement earlier in the month, Apple today began selling the higher-end Apple Watch Hermès bands separately in its online store. Before today, the only way to get a band from the French lifestyle accessory brand was to buy an Apple Watch collection which included either the Single Tour, Double Tour, or Cuff bands, ranging between $1,100 and $1,500.

Now those who already have an Apple Watch can splurge on the Hermès bands, and choose from an array of new colors including sapphire blue, peacock blue, white and orange. The color options do vary by casing size and band design, however. For the $340 Single Tour bands, the 42mm size is offered in sapphire blue, deer brown, fire orange and black, while 38mm users have additional choices of white and peacock blue.

The $490 Double Tour option is aimed at smaller wrists and is available only in 38mm option, but in two regular and long strap lengths. The regular length will be available in white, peacock blue, sapphire blue, tin gray, deer brown and fire orange, while the longer length band comes in deer brown. The $690, 42mm-only Cuff band is still being sold in just the deer brown color option.

Apple has updated its Apple Watch band storefront to include the Hermès collection, but the new page has a few bugs and broken images and links, so users can’t fully purchase the bands separately as of yet. Apple began selling the Apple Watch Hermès collections on its website in January, which was an online expansion of its previous exclusivity to select boutique retailers and Apple Store locations. Since the new bands are being sold separately from an Apple Watch, it also appears users who purchase a band only won’t get the Hermès exclusive Apple Watch clock face.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 2
Tag: Apple Watch Hermès
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)
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Apple Releases First Software Update for Brand New 12-Inch MacBook

Less than two hours after announcing the new 12-inch MacBook, which has yet to become available for purchase online, Apple has released the first software update for the notebook.

Apple’s website says the Bluetooth update for the 12-inch MacBook (Early 2016) improves compatibility with third-party Bluetooth devices, and is recommended for all users.

The software update is a 157.8MB download and requires OS X El Capitan 10.11.4.

Related Roundup: Retina MacBook
Tag: Bluetooth
Buyer’s Guide: MacBook (Don’t Buy)
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Parents should not let their kids play Hitman and here’s why

Getting the most from videogames with your family is no easy matter. Games are complex, long and offer a range of experiences not always evident from the first few minutes.

However, with a little research you can find the right games to play and easily avoid experiences that you consider not suitable.

Hitman serves as an interesting example in this respect. It’s a PEGI 18 rated game, which means the Games Rating Authority rates it as only suitable for those 18 and over. Therefore the game cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 18 in a shop.

However, there are some games rated highly by authorities that you might allow your older kids to play – depending on their maturity and understanding of the material.

Hitman isn’t one of those. As good as it is, it is not a game for children.

READ: Hitman review: Agent 47’s regaled return

You might consider caving in to a 13 year-old’s demands to download the latest Hitman game, which is available as an episodic download for Xbox One, PS4 and PC. And those pleas might intensify when the second episode appears online soon. But while it is a superb game for adults, it is a prime example of where the ratings are spot on so you need to think again.

To actually understand the experience offered by Hitman some more details are helpful.

Hitman is of the action adventure stealth genre. Here players control the central character, Agent 47, in various assassination missions. They play from a third-person perspective and use a variety of weapons and strategies to complete each level – guns, garrottes, traps, explosives and poison can all be used.

As with previous titles in the series, this game’s story revolves around Agent 47’s work for the mysterious International Contracts Agency (or ICA) and his handler Diana Burnwood. The PlayStation version also has a set of exclusive missions called The Sarajevo Six.

Carefully examine the ratings

The game receives its PEGI 18 rating for “motiveless violence against innocent characters” and “strong language”.

More information on this is published by the Games Ratings Authority (GRA) that states “Agent 47 can beat, shoot or strangle anyone in the game”. Also it is “possible to kill a large number of people at one time as Agent 47 shoots into crowds” causing people “to run away in panic or crouch on the floor with their hands on their heads”. The GRA also highlights that Agent 47 can kill people by “strangling them, as they struggle and kick their legs, until they fall unconscious” or “snap their neck while they are incapable of running or defending themselves”.

The strategic game-play and violent action could be seen therefore as a gratuitous murder simulator by some, although the attraction of the game-play leans more towards acting out a James Bond style role than Jack the Ripper.

The game offsets some of the violence by making it clear that each target is a bad or evil individual. It’s still quite disturbing stuff – particularly when dispatching people by strangling them or snapping a henchman’s neck before stuffing their body in a dustbin to acquire their uniform as a disguise.

While some games’ story and strategic elements are a veneer or excuse for violent gun rampages, Hitman stays true to its assassination genre. If players stray too far from stealth or employ the wrong strategy they are soon stopped in their tracks.

It’s worth also noting that our criticism isn’t of the game itself – which is actually excellent. We’re just warning you to think again if you are considering allowing a child to play it. It’s most definitely not a game for children but maybe something for older family members to enjoy once the kids are in bed.

At internetmatters.org parents can find all the advice they will need to keep their children safe online. Designed specifically for parents, the site offers a wealth of up-to-date, unbiased information and advice about how to deal with online safety. Parents can learn about the latest issues and technologies, get great tips on how to talk about online safety with their children and get the best advice on dealing with issues and taking action. Created with experts, Internet Matters provides detailed information, but also signposts to best-in-class resources from individual expert organisations. Our goal is to ensure parents can always access the information that they need, in a format that is clear and concise.