Trading card maker Topps hit by security breach in 2016

Topps, the iconic maker of Star Wars, Frozen and various sports-related trading cards, has just notified its customers of security breaches that happened earlier this year. In it, the company has admitted that one or more intruders infiltrated its system and “may have gained access to [customers’] names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, debit or credit card numbers, card expiration days and card verification numbers.” Topps said it didn’t find out about the intruders until October 12th, but anyone who bought items through its website from June 30th to that date could be affected. Upon discovering the breaches, it worked with a security firm to fix the vulnerability the hackers exploited and to fortify its system.

Back in June, Chris Vickery from the MacKeeper Security Research Center talked about stumbling across databases containing user data from Bunt, Huddle and Kick, three of Topps’ mobile apps. He said he sent multiple emails to the company, but they were all ignored. It’s unclear if he was talking about the same breaches, but it’s best to take precautions all the same. Topps is offering a year’s worth of identity theft protection to anyone whose data might be compromised. If you purchased anything from the company within the timeframe it mentioned, check out Topps’ email for full details before December 31st next year.

Via: BBC

Source: Sports Collectors Daily, MacKeeper

Welcome to leak season

Welcome to leak season. Enjoy the ride.

It’s the end of the year, which means cold weather in North America, hangovers for the festivity-goers, and beginning of what we inside the baseball diamond refer to as “leak season.” It’s slippery during leak season, so bring some salt.

There’s a cycle in tech media that resolves in an arc: the early inklings of a story that, initially vapor, builds and eventually coalesces into something tangible. We hear rumors that begin in an ephemeral state, eventually casting themselves in prescient rays of light that you can see but not touch. Over the months, the light hardens and becomes more coherent — photos, videos, specs — as the thing’s release date approaches.

The early inklings of a story that, initially vapor, builds and eventually coalesces into something tangible.

Given that CES begins in just a few days, it’s the perfect time to remind you that leak season is in full swing and, like snowfalls in the northern hemisphere, the severity ebbs and flows as we approach spring. Over the past few days, we’ve seen (and reported on) various aspects of phones that will likely be released in 2017: the Galaxy S8, the LG G6, the HTC whatever. We take leaks seriously, and, internally, debate the credulity of each one before reporting. We also judge the reliability of the source, too, the past success of which also dictates whether we follow the story down the proverbial rabbit hole.

At the same time, we also receive leaks, and have to decide whether or not, in the interest of protecting our sources, we publish the information. Of course, there’s a business benefit to posting leaks, since the intensity of public interest in pre-release hardware often outweighs (at times dramatically) the equivalent once it has been announced. This is doubly true of devices from manufacturers like Motorola, HTC, Sony and others that have small, loyal followings: the discourse is often hopeful and the communities disproportionately loud, which tends to die down in the weeks and months following availability.

The main issue I see around leaks today is that there are no consequences for getting it wrong. Many publications weave snippets or glances of an outer casing or a spec sheet into a cohesive narrative, large swaths of which is incorrect. But once the product is announced, and gets into people’s hands, all is forgiven and forgotten, and we move onto the next cycle. This is nothing new, but it’s worth keeping these points in mind as we move into leak season in earnest.

Be skeptical of what you see. Much of what you see out there is either partially or entirely incorrect, and while we’re not going to point at individual leaks or sources, I’d encourage you to maintain a healthy amount of skepticism while you enjoy what should be, for all intents and purposes, a piece of entertainment.

Have a happy and healthy new year, and we’ll see you in 2017!

Tesla’s big Autopilot update reaches a handful of cars

Tesla didn’t roll out its Enhanced Autopilot in mid-December as initially reported, but it is giving drivers something right before 2016 comes to a close. Elon Musk has revealed that the new Autopilot software is reaching about 1,000 HW2-era (that is, October and beyond) cars, with the rest of the HW2 fleet getting it the following week if there are no problems. The P100D performance update should hit on January 5th, too, so you’ll have an extra treat if you splurged on a recent Model S or X.

Be prepared to wait if you’re part of the majority that isn’t using HW2, though. Musk expects that Autopilot update to arrive in late January. While the delay is somewhat understandable when newer vehicles have upgraded sensor hardware, it also suggests that you may need to get used to gaps between updates for different models — especially as Tesla rolls out hardware-specific features.

HW2 Autopilot software uploading to 1000 cars this eve. Will then hold to verify no field issues and upload to rest of fleet next week.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 31, 2016

Source: Elon Musk (Twitter 1), (2), (3)

Six drones that do good for people and the planet

When the general public first learned about drones, the context was largely related to military applications and spy tactics, so the unmanned aircraft were cast with a bad rap. Years later, a number of creative technologists have found ways to use drones to help people, animals, and the environment. Drones are being used to protect endangered animals from poachers in Africa, to beam internet access to parts of the world never before served, and even as remote flying builders. Drones are helping humans work on projects – from the curious to the comical – that wouldn’t have been possible without the small autonomous aircraft. Read on to learn about some of the most amazing ways drones are helping people and the planet.

Fighting drought with cloud-seeding drones

While humans may never figure out a way to control the weather, there have been many attempts to influence it. Cloud seeding, the practice of sprinkling silver iodide into clouds to promote rainfall, has traditionally been done by small airplanes, but the job can be made a lot easier thanks to drones. In Nevada, one such experiment took place earlier this year, funded in part by the state government. Cloud-seeding drones were flown at altitudes up to 400 feet and equipped with silver iodide flares to shoot into the clouds. While it’s unlikely the team was able to make it rain, using drones to deliver potentially rain-inducing measures could catch on in places like Nevada and California, where widespread droughts have been destroying agriculture for years.

Protecting animals with poacher-defense drones

In Africa, poachers have caused populations of many species to shrink and wildlife authorities have struggled to protect the animals. Elephants and rhinos are among the most threatened, and one group of conservationists in Zimbabwe is using drones to monitor poaching activities and add an extra layer of defense for the highly sought after animals. The drones monitor Hwange National Park, covering much larger swaths of land from the air than rangers could do on foot. In addition to providing broader coverage, drones can fly and record at night – a time when many poachers sneak into protected areas to poison wildlife water supplies.

Delivering emergency medicine with ambulance drones

A Japanese toy company is an unlikely source for a life-saving medical aid, but that’s exactly what happened when RC helicopter maker Hirobo unveiled its HX-1 in 2013. The tiny, unmanned electric rescue helicopter was designed to withstand severe weather conditions while traveling to hard-to-reach locations. With a steep price tag starting around $80,000 each, the HX-1 could be outfitted to transport donor blood or organs, deliver medical supplies, and collect site data. Any of those tasks could save lives, and an ambulance drone can be a lot faster and more efficient than a human team.

Connecting the world with internet-beaming drones

Facebook promised an internet-beaming drone for a long time before the social media company’s Aquila aircraft finally soared in the Arizona sky this past June. On its first test flight, the large solar-powered drone flew for a whopping 96 minutes before touching down safely. Aquila is unique because of its size: its wingspan rivals that of a Boeing 737. Despite its span, the Aquila drone soared with ease and the Facebook Connectivity Lab is improving the design now. In the future, internet-beaming equipment will be added so the drone can provide connectivity in off-grid areas.

Responding to remote Africa with drone airport

Earlier this year world-renowned architecture firm Foster + Partners unveiled plans for a Droneport that will deliver emergency supplies to remote areas in East Africa. The project is essentially an airport for unmanned flying vehicles, and it can serve drones of various sizes while doubling as a community hub for everything from medical supplies to electronic equipment and spare parts. This isn’t just a design, though. The first three buildings of the project are expected to be completed by 2020.

Remote building with drone robots

Drones are, essentially, flying robots. They can be programmed with specific navigation and flight patterns, and depending on their equipment, can perform any number of tasks – all with very little human interaction. In one of the most elaborate applications for the technology we’ve seen, a team of autonomous drones built a 24-foot-long rope bridge that is strong enough for humans to walk on. The project proves that flying robots may have a strong future career in a number of industries.

Keep your phone safe in the car with this $10 magnetic car mount!

One of your resolutions for 2017 should definitely be to keep your phone out of your hands when you are driving, and this awesome magnetic car mount makes that so much easier. Anker’s magnetic car mount is a simple way to keep your phone out of your hands but still in view so you can use it for navigation, music streaming and more. The strong magnet allows it to work universally with just about any phone, so it won’t matter how often you switch you can use it with any device you have with you that day.

This $20 discount isn’t likely to last very long, so you’re going to want to pick one up sooner than later. Something like this makes for a great investment for each car you own, so be sure to grab a couple to keep your loved ones safe on the road.

See at Amazon

Pros and cons: Our quick verdict on Lenovo’s Phab 2 Pro

Lenovo’s Phab 2 Pro has a mouthful of a name and a somewhat bland design. But what might seem like a forgettable phone really isn’t: This massive 6.4-inch handset is the first available phone with Google’s “Tango” 3D mapping technology. But while Tango feels magical when it works, bugs and hiccups periodically dampen the experience. Indeed, as is the case with many first-generation technologies, you’re better off waiting for refinements — that is, unless you’re the sort of early adopter who needs to be on the bleeding edge. (And if you are, the $499 asking price is reasonable considering how much flagship phones typically cost.)

The problem is, once you set aside Tango (which itself isn’t perfect), you’re left with one lackluster phone. Though well-constructed, the design isn’t memorable, while the cameras and custom software are downright lousy. The possibly too-big screen will also be a deal-breaker for some. Basically, then, as cool as Tango is, you’re better off waiting for the technology to improve, and for a wider variety of devices to support it.

The best of Engadget 2016: Editors’ picks

We’ll come right out and say it: 2016 wasn’t the greatest year by any standards. In particular, divisive politics and celebrity death seemed to cast a long shadow over the last 12 months. There was the occasional ray of light poking through the clouds though. Especially in technology, which is what brings us all together here at Engadget. Over the last year, we’ve tried to bring you as many of those uplifting stories (even if they are bittersweet) as possible, to provide a little respite from 2016’s emotional hailstorm. Here you’ll find what Engadget’s staff thinks are some of the best picks from the year. In the meantime, we’ll see you in 2017!

Terrence O’Brien

That Dragon, Cancer and shooting the “enemy”

The Engadget team has published a lot of great work this year. I’ve had the pleasure of editing everything from ambitious 4,000 word features, to clever 500 word editorials, but only one story has ever actually brought tears to my eyes. So, for that Aaron, thank you (I think). I’ll never forget how hard it is to edit 10 point font on a laptop while crying.

Movies and TV have a long history of painting Muslims (and in particular Arab Muslims) with a broad, unflattering brush. Not surprisingly, video games have fallen into the same sad routine. But games might prove even more problematic, since it asks people to become active participants, rather than just observers. As developer Rami Ismail pointed out to Nicole Lee, “That’s Call of Duty, over and over. Shoot all the Arabs… Muslim blood is the cheapest in the world.”

James Trew

The “Uber for blowjobs”

When we think about how technology impacts our lives, it’s easy to focus on the convenience it brings. In 2016, we can order room service with a voice command, or frolic on the beach (or is it run for our lives?) while a drone takes our holiday snaps. It’s certainly an amazing time to be alive. The real impact of technology, for me, though, is when it shines a light on the darker corners of the human condition.

Earlier this year, I met and interviewed Pia Poppenreiter, who raised eyebrows with her (definitely not prostitution) “paid dating” service. Poppenreiter’s “Ohlala” commoditized the most basic emotional need — companionship. Unsurprisingly this “dating on demand” business model elicited mixed feelings, raising questions of morality, desire and maybe the true cost of convenience.

Kerry Davis

AI is genderless, until it isn’t

This year, as part of our AI Week, we dug into why so many of our gadgets’ “personalities” skew female, and how that could harm society; something that ended up being very eye-opening. From Cortana developers to proud feminists who abhor calling AI “she,” we learned a lot about gender, and its representation in technology.

I personally was also touched by the “Superhumans” video series showing the people who suffered debilitating injuries and are fighting to get fuller lives back with exoskeleton suits and the like. Engadget’s series following some of them at the first International Cyborg competition is a shining example of what can be achieved when technology is used to meaningfully improve people’s lives.

Dan Cooper

The future is sexy

Back in 2015, I was fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to try out Kiiroo’s teledildonic sex kit that enables you to have sex across the internet. I found it quite underwhelming when I tried to make an electronic bedroom dance with my wife. I was delighted — and a little gobsmacked — to read my boss follow in my footsteps, albeit with a slight twist.

Rather than attempting to make love to someone else, he decided to place himself at the heart of a robotic threesome. Not only was it brave, it also served as a little protest at the heteronormativity of so many pieces of sex tech.

Jessica Conditt

Even when artificial, intelligence is complicated

I’ve been thinking about the complex relationship between the mind and technology since I was a senior in high school. That’s when I wrote the prologue of my first novel, a near-future science-fiction story about the world’s first brain-transplant patient.

Neuropsychology is fascinating to me — it was my major for a hot minute in college — but even though I’d researched its components for years, I’d never shared my thoughts about the technological singularity as a journalist. I felt vulnerable writing this editorial for AI Week, which is why I’m so glad I did it.

Nick Summers

Shooters with scientific sound design

While I love video game music, I rarely think about sound design. The atmosphere created when hailstones rattle against the roof of a dilapidated factory. The tension you feel when a tree branch snaps in a seemingly empty forest. Back in October, Tim dived into Gears of War 4 and the sounds that were achieved with a Microsoft technology called Triton.

It’s a fascinating read, explaining a technical part of video game development in a way that anyone can understand. I’m not a huge fan of the roadie-run franchise, but this piece made me want to check out The Coalition’s handiwork.

Billy Steele

Shooters with scientific sound design

What’s the level below casual gamer? Whatever you call that, it’s what I am. I’m interested, but it’s not something I spend a lot of time doing. However, I do have a soft spot for Gears of War as it was one of the few games besides Call of Duty, NCAA Football and a few others that really kept my attention.

As more of an audio/music nerd, Tim’s feature on how Microsoft made the sound in the latest Gears so good is a deep dive into a crucial part of every game. In this case, the effort put in to make sure hallways don’t sound like bathrooms makes all the difference.

Aaron Souppouris

Superhumans and fighting depression

I loved watching Superhumans, our video series about the world’s first cyborg games. But it’s one of Mona Lalwani’s accompanying essays that stayed with me longest. In it, she looked into the lives of two competitors, both left paralyzed by accidents, that were competing in a cycling event thanks to tech.

Another important story came from Jessica Conditt, who reported on a nonprofit organization working to support those in the gaming industry that are living with depression. It’s an undercovered, highly stigmatized topic, and Jess’ article offers a beacon of hope for those that struggle with mental health issues.

Devindra Hardawar

Foreseeing cyberwarfare

You can trace a direct line from Stuxnet — the brainchild of the US and Israel to attack Iran’s nuclear program — to Russia’s hacking of this year’s presidential election. Stuxnet was the first major cyberattack from a nation state, and it led to subsequent attacks from Iran, North Korea and others.

In his most recent documentary, Zero Days, Alex Gibney breaks down the inside story of Stuxnet and why it’s necessary for countries to discuss cyberwarfare. I didn’t realize it at the time, but my chat with Gibney and Symantec researchers Eric Chien and Liam O’Murchu ended up being my most prescient interview this year.

Mat Smith

The world’s crappiest robot

My favorite report was on Hebocon, a competition to find the world’s crappiest robot. Held in London, most of the robots were low-tech and poorly-made. One was literally a sex toy on wheels. I laughed, I cried, I took as many photos and gifs as I could.

You should definitely watch our video series on the Cybathlon. Mona and our video team covered the world’s fist cyber games in Switzerland, where augmented athletes competed using exoskeletons, arm prosthetics, brain-computer interfaces and more. The competition’s purpose was to push the field of bionic-assistive technology to do more for the people who need it — to drag it forward. I can’t wait to see what happens next year, or even five years from now.

Cherlynn Low

Games can make you feel uncomfortable

I joined Engadget in June this year, so really this pick is my favorite from the past six months. In my time here, I’ve loved every single piece I’ve written equally — they’re all my children — so I decided to avoid showing bias by picking someone else’s.

I really enjoyed Jess Conditt’s amazing piece on What Remains of Edith Finch that drew me in with a compelling headline but that managed to avoid being sensational in its handling of a sensitive topic. I’m a casual gamer and a huge fan of the horror genre, and Jess’ story made me really want to check out the game to see if it’s as calmly macabre as she describes.

Tim Seppala

Home town props and post-election fallout

My favorite piece to write this year was one where I was able to combine a love of my home state (and Detroit) into a story that touched on the broader implications of an android-filled future (no not Google’s Android). Also, it was a nice chance to break away from typical E3 preview coverage, and dig into something a little deeper.

As for the work of my colleagues, Aaron knocked this story about the follow-up to Resogun out of the park. Not just in terms of writing, but also reporting and layout. Not much else needs to be said. Likewise Jess did a great job covering the fascinating connection between earthquake science and predicting elections, and of course, our coverage on the fake news debacle that followed.

Nathan Ingraham

Underground hip-hop and the end of the universe

Jess’s feature on the collision of hip-hop and nerd culture is exactly the kind of story I love seeing on Engadget. It’s not about gadgets and on its face it isn’t a story that screams “technology,” but it’s a profile of a movement that wouldn’t exist without the geek culture that sprung up around technology. I had never heard about or thought about this sort of music before, and any story that opens my eyes a little to something I didn’t know about before in such an entertaining way is worth a read.

Nicole Lee

Pink or Bluetooth?

Everything needs to have an app, right? Well, not to me. Back in January at CES, I learned about a Bluetooth-enabled pregnancy test and, well, got a little upset that something so inexorably personal was now part of the “Internet of Things” movement. I thought it was opportunistic and completely unnecessary (even if it does work on smartphones and tablets!). Almost a year later, and I still feel the same way.

Robbie Baldwin

Everything is hacked

The United States is currently up in arms over the possibility that Russia hacked our democratic process. “How could such a thing happen?” I’ve heard people utter a version of this again and again. The reality is that this is nothing new (just look at the US involvement in Latin America in the 1980s).

During Def Con this year security researcher Chris Rock laid out just how simple it is to undermine the political status quo; regime change no longer requires guns and military. A few well placed articles, some hacked email and/or bank accounts and you’re on your way to a bold and frightening new world. AKA 2017.

Christopher Trout

Screw everything

Our editors and producers did some truly thought-provoking work this year. There was Jess Conditt’s exploration of AI’s limits, Mona Lalwani’s in-depth look at the world’s first cyborg olympics, Aaron Souppouris’ very personal essay about “That Dragon, Cancer,” Cherlynn Lowe’s first-person exploration of Donald Trump’s potential effect on immigration and Daniel Cooper’s heartfelt shift to daddy blogging. But I’m shallow and I love to see things fall apart. So 2016 was basically my year.

Our social media expert Nicole Lee took Snapchat to task for its racist filters, Edgar Alvarez called out the Kardashians for pimping products on Instagram, Andrew Tarantola attended a pathetic Pokemon crawl and our managing editor, Dana Wollman, braved the world of smart tampons. All this is to say, please keep fucking up because we do great work when you do.

Oh, and how could I forget the dick bidet. Say it with me: D I C K B I D E T! Happy New Year!

What Do You Want to See From Apple in 2017?

We’ve covered what we expect to see from Apple in 2017 based on the rumors that are circulating so far in our recent What to Expect post.

On the horizon are a new iPhone 8 with a radically redesigned body and an edge-to-edge display, a revamped iPad Pro also potentially with an edge-to-edge display, long-awaited iMac updates, and new software, but there’s always the chance there’s a wildcard update or new product in the works that will surprise us all.

A redesigned Apple TV, a new home hub, and augmented reality smart glasses are all products that are rumored to be in the works with no prospective release date. We want to hear from the MacRumors community — what are you expecting or hoping to see Apple release in 2017?

Are there specific features you’re hoping Apple will implement in iOS 11, tvOS 11, watchOS 4, or macOS 10.13? Popular wishlist items from last year included a dark mode for iOS, home screen widgets, and a customizable control center.

Let us know what you want to see in the comments, and make sure to check our our What to Expect post for the latest rumors. Apple’s plans for 2017 will likely become more clear in the early months of the year, and as always, we’ll be covering all of the rumors in-depth here at MacRumors.

The MacRumors forums are also always a rich resource for talking about upcoming products and rumors, and with the biggest iPhone change in years set to happen in 2017, our forums are the place to be for lively discussions.

We’d also like to thank all of our readers and our forum members for making MacRumors the absolute best source for Mac news and advice on the web. We wouldn’t be here without you, and we look forward to another rumor-packed year.
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