Twitter’s next anti-abuse measure cordons off ‘offensive’ profiles

Twitter is taking another step toward curtailing abuse on the platform. But, it seems like the microblogging service is being a tad overzealous. Now, rather than just marking certain attached media as potentially offensive, it’s doing so for entire profiles. Mashable first noticed it with tech analyst Justin Warren’s profile. Everything was greyed out (header and profile pictures included) with a message reading:

“Caution: This profile may include sensitive content. You’re seeing this warning because they tweet sensitive images or language. Do you still want to view it?”

Warren wasn’t notified of the change, but he jokingly said that maybe it was because “Americans struggle with swearing as punctuation.”

Twitter tells TechCrunch that a profile will be flagged based on your individual settings. Meaning, if you have the box checked that you’re cool with seeing potentially offensive material, you likely won’t see any of these greyed out profiles. I have that box checked, for instance, and Warren’s timeline was totally accessible to me.

We’ve reached out to Twitter for more information and will update this post should it arrive.

Update: A Twitter spokesperson responded saying that this is a test as part of the company’s efforts to make the site feel safer. No further explanation was given for what will lead to a profile being flagged or how widespread the test is, but we were given a few links to peruse regarding sensitive media.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Mashable

Telltale’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ game premieres this spring

Telltale Games announced it’s working with Marvel on a Guardians of the Galaxy game last year. Now, we’re getting a sneak peek at the episodic adventure, along with details about its launch date and voice cast.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series will premiere this spring on console, PC and mobile devices. It’ll also be available at retail as a special season pass disc. There’s no word yet on what the episodes or season pass will cost, but other Telltale series like The Walking Dead and Batman are typically between $25-30.

The story revolves around an artifact of unspeakable power the Guardians all desire for their own reasons, as does the series’ unnamed female villain. So, it’s basically like the plot of the first movie, although it seems likely the game won’t tie-in with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actors who portrayed the Guardians on the big screen won’t be reprising their roles. Instead, the series will feature the voice talents of Friday Night Lights actor Scott Porter (Star-Lord), The Young and the Restless’ Emily O’Brien (Gamora), veteran voice actor Nolan North (Rocket), Watch Dogs’ Brandon Paul Eells (Drax) and The Wolf Among Us’ Adam Harrington (Groot).

Telltale will offer more details about the game during a PAX East panel in Boston on March 10th. One week later, fans at SXSW can play an early version of the first episode during a premiere event at the Paramount Theater where audience members will be able to control the game’s story from their seats using their mobile devices.

Via: Polygon

Source: Telltale Games

‘Many’ Android exploits in WikiLeaks CIA files are already fixed

Apple isn’t the only company scrambling to reassure the public that it has fixed most of the CIA exploits revealed in WikiLeaks’ latest disclosure. Google tells CNET it’s “confident” that security patches and safeguards already protect you against “many” of the exploits in both Android and the Chrome web browser. The internet giant will also “implement any further necessary protections” for flaws that have yet to be patched.

The statement isn’t completely shocking, as some of WikiLeaks’ data goes back as far as 2013. Even if you have an older Android phone, there’s a chance that Google patched at least some of the security holes in an update you received a long time ago. The problem, as you may know, is that Android vendors are inconsistent in delivering operating system updates, let alone Google’s monthly security patches. There’s a chance that older devices will remain vulnerable simply because their manufacturer ended support too soon or decided to skip a relevant security update.

The good news: WikiLeaks has offered to cooperate with tech companies wanting to plug any remaining CIA holes. Provided Assange and crew live up to their end of the bargain, Google will breathe a little easier. It won’t have to worry so much about its own flaws as it will convincing its hardware partners to step up their security efforts.

Source: CNET

Contact your Senator with a fax-sending bot

The rallying cry to contact your member of Congress is louder than ever these days, but actually reaching them isn’t very easy. Even if they accept email, they’re far more likely to acknowledge a faxed message — but who actually has a fax machine in the 21st Century? Thankfully, you no longer need one to get your point across. A volunteer group has launched Resistbot, an automated system that turns your cellphone’s text messages into faxes to your representatives and senators. Once you’ve offered your name and ZIP code, you just have to type in a message to send it to the appropriate officials. Your first message will go to your senators, but the bot will eventually collect info that helps you reach the House.

As you might have gathered from the name, Resistbot was designed by those who oppose President Trump’s administration. However, the team stresses that it won’t tell you what to say. Form messages are “totally ignored” by Congress as it is, the developers note. In that sense, Resistbot isn’t so much a partisan tool as a general-purpose facilitator. So long as you’re not hung up on the name, this should help you voice any concern to your state reps, regardless of where you sit on the political spectrum.

Via: Recode

Source: Resistbot, Product Hunt

Apple may have ditched on-site California training for new ‘Genius’ hires

Why it matters to you

It may be worth asking for senior Geniuses to repair your hardware in the future, if new hires lack much hands-on experience.

Apple will reportedly be replacing its longstanding Cupertino, California, campus training system for new Apple store ‘Geniuses’ with in-store, self-guided training. Web-based seminars are replacing hands-on, guided training, suggesting future new employees may have far less real world experience than their predecessors.

Traditionally, Apple has invited newly hired Apple store Geniuses to its Cupertino headquarters, where its mock Genius Bar featured test Macs for them to practice standard repairs on. Considered a life-changing experience by many who partook in it, the training trip was considered somewhat of a rite of passage for new hires, but that may not be possible in the future.

Although not confirmed by Apple, sources close to the matter cited by MacRumors, say that all training for new Genius Bar employees in the future will be handled in-store. They won’t even have much in the way of hands-on repair experience either, with much of the new training regimen based on reference materials and self-guided seminars.

More: Steve Jobs hated the idea of the Genius Bar, according to Apple Store creator

The concern, among the source and analysts, is that this could result in Apple products being repaired by people who have never actually opened up a Mac before. While we think it’s perfectly possible to build your own PC with a little help, when it comes to professional repairs, most people would prefer an expert — or a ‘Genius’ — to be involved, not someone whose experience may be lacking.

The only caveat to this story is that it may only be a temporary measure. Apple is currently constructing its ‘spaceship’ campus and it may be that once it is finished at a later date this year, that training will be moved there on a permanent basis.

For now, though, it seems like some Geniuses may not be quite as well-trained as their more experienced coworkers.

Great deal! These are our three favorite tech bargains on Amazon today

Thursday’s Amazon Goldbox deals feature some standout computing bargains, including a Lenovo convertible laptop, a Chromebook, and a Wi-Fi access point. Score savings of up to 50 percent off, with prices slashed to as low as $60. Read on to see today’s best Amazon tech deals.

More: 6 Awesome Laptop Deals You Should Check Out Now

Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga 11E-G3 Convertible

The Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga 11E-G3 Convertible is powerful, durable, and flexible, converting from a laptop to a tablet seamlessly. It boasts an Intel N3160 Quad-Core 1.6GHz processor and SATA 128GB solid-state drive for a smooth and fast computing experience. It also has 4 GB DDR3 memory for quick multitasking power, and comes with 64-bit Windows 10 Home Edition preinstalled. 

The machine undergoes military-specific testing to ensure its lasting power. This includes testing for high pressure, humidity, vibration, temperature shock, fungus, and dust. It features a rubber bumper around the top cover that absorbs the force of side bumps and corners that are 50 percent stronger to reduce potential damage if it’s dropped at an angle. The laptop is even durable enough to withstand drops from up to 90 centimeters. Finally, it features an 11.6-inch HD LED-backlit touchscreen IPS display with 1366 x 768 resolution that showcases movies and games in stunning clarity.

The Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga 11E-G3 Convertible normally retails for $479, but is currently discounted to $280 on Amazon today only, offering you a $199 (42 percent) discount.

$280 on Amazon

TP-Link AC1200 Wireless Wi-Fi Access Point

Improve the Wi-Fi around your home or office with the TP-Link AC1200 Wireless Wi-Fi Access Point, which is currently discounted by 50 percent on Amazon. The access point has advanced 3 x 3 MIMO technology and AC1200 Wi-Fi, making it perfect for large homes or offices, restaurants, stores, and more.

The device features EAP Controller Software that allows for centralized control of your access points and network scaling without the need for a dedicated IT staff. The software automatically detects unconfigured EAPs, and will configure them remotely. All TP-Link EAPs are compatible with the auto-configuration feature, meaning you can invest in as many as you need, and they can all be controlled from one central location. The software allows you to easily monitor statistics, create a captive portal, manage traffic, map and run a free and customized site survey, upgrade and reboot your system, and even scale your network. The captive portal improves network security while providing the administrative tools needed to create a secure and intuitive authentication experience for Wi-Fi guests.

The Wi-Fi device boasts a load balance feature that keeps your Wi-Fi running smoothly by distributing network traffic across multiple EAPs, so a single device is never burdened or overloaded with data. With 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, the access point delivers up to 1300 Mbps of Wi-Fi speed, allowing more devices to be connected to your wireless network at once while keeping the network running smoothly.

The TP-Link AC1200 Wireless Wi-Fi Access Point normally retails for $120, but is currently discounted to $60 on Amazon for a limited time, providing a $60 (50 percent) discount.

$60 on Amazon

ASUS Chromebook C300SA 13.3 Inch

The Asus Chromebook C300SA 13.3-Inch is an affordable solution for those who want a laptop that can easily be used on the go. Chrombooks normally retail for less than standard computers, and this model is no exception — it is currently discounted to $199 on Amazon.

This Chrombook has a power-efficient Intel Celeron 1.6GHz Dual-Core N3060 processor and 4GB 1866MHz DDR3 memory, which provide noticeable speed and power. Super-portable, the Chrombook weighs less than 3 pounds, but boasts a 10-hour battery life, making it ideal to carry with you all day long without the need to find an outlet. It also comes with the latest and fastest 802.11ac Wi-Fi to deliver high-speed connectivity. Chromebooks purposely don’t come with much storage to keep the machines fas,t but you do have some options with multiple I/O ports ranging from an SD Card to a USB 3.0. The built-in HDMI port enables you to connect to a larger-screen TV to share photos or stream movies. The machine has an LCD display with 1366 x 768 resolution. 

The Asus Chromebook CS300SA 13.3-Inch normally retails for $229, but is currently discounted to only $199 on Amazon, saving you $30 (13 percent).

$199 on Amazon

ZTE ZMax Pro 2: News and rumors

Why it matters to you

ZTE showed the world how to build an ultra-cheap smartphone that could still hold its own against much more expensive heavy hitters.

At just $100, ZTE’s unbelievably inexpensive yet fully-featured ZMax Pro was one of the great tech bargains of 2016. Between its 6-inch Full HD display, octa-core processor, tasteful, understated design, long-lasting battery, and fingerprint sensor, the ZMax Pro fended off competition from Motorola, Huawei, and Asus to immediately become one of our favorite budget phones when it debuted last summer.

Unfortunately, it was only available on smaller carriers like Cricket Wireless. Still, it appears ZTE is preparing a follow-up to the price-conscious phablet. Although we are still in the early stages, here is everything we know about the ZMax Pro’s successor.

More: ZTE ZMax Pro review

Specs

The ZMax Pro was so disruptive precisely because it boasted midrange internals with a price tag more befitting of a feature phone than a smartphone. Thanks to an entry on GFXBench for a device named “ZTE Z986,” we have reason to believe the next ZMax Pro will at least hold true to the hardware end of the deal.

The first phone’s internal name was Z981, so while it isn’t definite the specs in question relate to the Pro 2 — ZTE hasn’t officially announced a new product in the line. The contents of the benchmark indicate the kind of reasonable performance gains expected in a successor.

That would mean another octa-core system-on-chip, but clocked at 2.0 GHz, instead of the 1.5 GHz of the original ZMax Pro’s Snapdragon 617. Combined with an Adreno 506 GPU, up from the previous Adreno 450, the spec sheet seems to indicate the ZMax Pro 2 could ship with a Snapdragon 825. The rest of the details — 2GB of RAM, a 6-inch, 1080p display, as well as 13- and 5-megapixel cameras at the back and front, are dead-ringers for the first ZMax Pro, supporting the claim that this is indeed the Pro 2 we are looking at here.

More: ZTE Axon 7 mini review

Additionally, the device is said to be running Android 7.1.1 Nougat “ZTE Edition,” referring to the manufacturer’s skin over the operating system. We found ZTE’s spin on Android unobtrusive and very close to stock on the previous ZMax Pro, though more recent devices, like the Axon 7 Mini, feature an updated rendition of the company’s MiFlavor UI with more pronounced design tweaks.

This article will be updated as more information becomes available.

Apple is strictly enforcing its rules against third-party app update services

Why it matters to you

Your iPhone could get that little bit safer thanks to Apple’s stricter enforcement of long-existing rules regarding the App Store.

Apple is getting increasingly strict about the App Store, and is set to start seriously enforcing a few rules that it has had from the beginning. Apple has never officially allowed developers to use non-App Store mechanisms to update their apps, however to date it has largely looked the other way when developers do so. According to AppleInsider, however, that’s no longer the case.

Developers have begun receiving notices from Apple telling them to remove any offending code before the next update. According to Apple, that code violates two rules. However, some developers note that Apple is now interpreting those rules in a “more narrow way.” The rules themselves include section 3.3.2 of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement, and the App Store Review Guideline 2.5.2.

More: Apple, LG rise in U.S. smartphone market share as Samsung falters, report says

Rollout.io will perhaps be most affected by the new rules. The service is a popular iOS troubleshooting and update tool, and it allows developers to “push code-level exchanges” to their iOS apps. That’s largely used for fixing bugs and updating data, without developers having to go through the lengthy Apple update approval process.

The move makes sense for Apple. If developers are able to circumvent Apple’s approval process, it can leave apps open to being hacked — which is obviously a problem for Apple, which has created a sense of unhackability on its devices. According to Apple, forbidden update frameworks can leave apps open to man-in-the-middle attacks, which can “pose a serious security vulnerability to users.”

AppleInsider also theorizes about why the changes are coming now. The stricter enforcement comes just days after WikiLeaks released documents suggesting the CIA had developed exploits for iOS — so it’s possible that this enforcement could close up some of those exploits. Whether that’s the actual reasoning or not, the fact is that the new enforcement of the rule will make iOS a slightly safer operating system.

AMD’s next Zen-based high-end desktop CPU family code-named ‘Pinnacle Ridge’

Why it matters to you

Here is a brief glimpse into what AMD has in the works as a follow-up to its recent Ryzen desktop processor launch.

Now that the Ryzen cat is out of AMD’s bag, the company is already hinting to a refresh of its Zen processor core architecture in another family of desktop CPUs. Code-named Pinnacle Ridge, the new family is expected to go retail in early 2018 after an official unveiling at the end of 2017. Pinnacle Ridge will be based on the architecture AMD currently dubs as Zen 2.

In a recent Reddit Ask Me Anything, AMD CEO Lisa Su said the company already has a list of features it wants to add to the Zen core architecture in the upcoming “Zen 2” refresh and into “Zen 3” for even more performance gains over the current Zen-based Ryzen “Summit Ridge” desktop chips. It’s part of the learning curve when developing a new product.

More: Close to the Metal ep. 33: Ryzen is here, but is AMD really back?

Instead of building upon its previous Excavator processor core architecture (2015), AMD started from scratch with Zen. That brought a 52 percent gain in Instructions Per Cycle over the previous architecture, meaning processors based on Zen can execute more instructions per clock cycle than the previous architecture. A clock cycle is the period between the two adjacent pulses of the CPU’s electronic oscillator.

That said, Zen 2 is expected to provide even more performance gains of up to 15 percent over Zen 1 and another 15 percent better performance with Zen 3. Based on Su’s Reddit statement, the company may not go with new names for its Zen architecture refreshes like it did with Bulldozer. The company introduced the Bulldozer architecture in 2011 followed by a refresh in 2012 called Piledriver, Steamroller in 2014, and Excavator in 2015.

Right now, very little is known about the Zen 2 refresh and the resulting Pinnacle Ridge processors. However, based on the projected numbers, Zen 2 is expected to see a performance leap of around 65 percent in Instructions Per Cycle over Excavator, and around 80 percent better performance with Zen 3. Adding to those gains would be process node improvement, compatibility with faster DDR4 memory, and so on.

Meanwhile, AMD is still rolling out its Zen-based carpet. The company’s first three eight-core Ryzen 7 desktop processors for enthusiasts are available now, with the 1800X model costing $500, the 1700X model costing $400, and the 1700 costing $330. AMD will follow up with the Ryzen 5 1600X and the Ryzen 5 1500X in the second quarter of 2017, and then 12 more processors throughout 2017.

AMD also plans to release APUs based on its Zen processor core architecture as well. Codenamed as Raven Ridge, these Ryzen-branded all-in-one chips are scheduled to appear in the second half of 2017 packing graphics cores based on AMD’s upcoming Vega GPU architecture. Pricing for the Raven Ridge chips is expected to be under $250.

As a refresher, AMD’s most recent APU family is the seventh-generation A-Series based on its Excavator core architecture. This new family of APUs arrived in  September, so expect AMD’s Zen-based Ryzen APUs to hit the mobile scene this fall.

Google is bringing native add-on support to Gmail

Why it matters to you

You could soon do a whole lot more straight from Gmail — such as build invoices without even having to leave the service.

Gmail could soon get a whole lot functional. Google will now allow developers to create add-ons for Gmail, which will work directly in Gmail instead of as a Chrome extension. What that means is that they’ll be usable all across the web and on multiple different types of devices.

For now, however, the new feature will primarily be for enterprises. The company is working with Intuit, Salesforce, and Prosperworks. According to Google, the add-ons will depend on context, so they may or may not show up depending on the content of the email that you’re replying to. Currently, add-ons for Gmail are only available as a developer preview.

More: Google bumped up Gmail’s incoming attachment limit to 50MB

The new Intuit Gmail add-on will perhaps be the most useful, and it allows users like QuickBooks small business customers to quickly and easily generate invoices straight from Gmail itself.

The fact that Google is at least thinking about add-ons for Gmail suggests that we could soon see the feature roll out on a wider scale. Not only that, but as developers start building add-ons, they could become more and more useful for the general consumer. For now, however, keep in mind that they’re enterprise-focused.

“They’re built on a powerful framework, which makes it easy for developers to trigger workflows based on email content,” said Google in a blog post announcing the new feature. “Say a Gmail user receives an email from a sales lead, and wants to add that contact to her CRM solution. With Gmail Add-ons, she can enter the contact’s required info and look up their account in that CRM system without leaving Gmail.”

It’s also important to note that, at least for now, there won’t be an add-on marketplace where you can get these Gmail add-ons. Instead, according to a report from The Verge, companies will need to partner with Google to get access to the functionality. It’s very possible that will change in the future though.