CNN: Email ‘Prankster’ catfished White House personnel

Ready for another story about political emails? CNN reports tonight that a person described as a “prankster” from the UK emailed several White House officials and successfully fooled them into believing he was a colleague. That included a message claiming to be from senior adviser Jared Kushner to Homeland Security advisor Tom Bossert, which teased out a response from Bossert that included his personal email address. The emailer tweets under the handle SINON_REBORN, where he has posted screenshots of the emails.

Reince (me) giving @Scaramucci something to think about. He never replied haha pic.twitter.com/hutjACmogR

— EMAIL PRANKSTER (@SINON_REBORN) August 1, 2017

He also catfished (ex) White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci multiple times during his brief stint. In an email the day after Reince Priebus resigned as chief of staff, the individual pretended to be Priebus, and apparently got a response from Scaramucci saying “You know what you did. We all do. Even today. But rest assured we were prepared. A Man would apologize.” He also managed to fool Huntsman himself, but was unable to pull one over for long on Arthur Schwartz, a friend of Scaramucci’s, or Eric Trump Jr., who said: “I have sent this to law enforcement who will handle from here.”

The ease with which he was able to communicate with White House personnel remains troubling, however, since, as CNN notes, these kinds of fake emails are a key component to the type of spear phishing attack that hit John Podesta. Within the last day, Wikileaks has posted emails purported to be from the campaign of French president Emanuel Macron, while the White House and State Department email systems have previously been breached.

Source: CNN

HomePod Firmware Suggests iPhone 8 Split Status Bar, Tap to Wake and No Touch ID Under Display

Firmware for the as-of-yet unreleased HomePod has provided a wealth of information on the speaker itself and the upcoming iPhone 8, thanks to developers like Steven Troughton-Smith who have spent time digging into the code.

Troughton-Smith shared a few new prospective iPhone 8 features and predictions this evening, once again sourced from the HomePod firmware, giving us even more insight into the radically redesigned iPhone Apple plans to release in 2017.

An iPhone glyph discovered yesterday in the HomePod firmware, which is believed to be representative of the iPhone 8 design
First and foremost, Troughton-Smith has seen no indication that there are features related to under-display Touch ID functionality in the iPhone 8, and he does not believe that such a feature will be included in the device.

For what it’s worth… I’ve seen nothing to suggest an ultrasound under-the-display Touch ID here. Looks like not this year. Quash that one

— Steve T-S (@stroughtonsmith) August 1, 2017

Initial iPhone 8 rumors suggested Apple was working to put Touch ID under the display as the iPhone 8 features an edge-to-edge design with no Home button, but that may not have panned out due to rumored production difficulties. Current information suggests Apple may instead replace Touch ID with a new facial recognition system, and there are indeed several references to infrared face detection in the firmware.

The iPhone 8 is expected to have an edge-to-edge design with thin bezels at the top and the sides, but there will be a blocked out area for the front-facing camera and the new sensors that will enable facial recognition. According to Troughton-Smith and developer Jeffrey Grossman, there are references to new “split” options for the visual provider system for UIStatusBar, suggesting status bar information like connection strength, battery, Bluetooth, and the time may be displayed on either side of the sensor/camera area, for a streamlined status bar at the top of the device.

Troughton-Smith says the new status bar “seems a lot more complex and powerful in design,” and could even be interactive in some way.

Some interesting related strings (I’m guessing you’ve come across these) pic.twitter.com/Go5ZVFlzea

— Jeffrey Grossman (@Jeffrey903) August 1, 2017

Along with details on the split status bar and the lack of references to Touch ID, Troughton-Smith has also found information suggesting the iPhone 8 could potentially support a “tap to wake” feature. Tap to Wake is a feature built into some Windows-based Lumia smartphones, allowing the screen to be activated with a double tap, something Apple could use as an alternative to a Home button for waking up an iPhone.

In regard to the Home button, it appears to be called the “Home Indicator” in the firmware, and according to Troughton-Smith, Apple has “no qualms about hiding it in certain contexts.” Rumors have suggested that while there will be no physical Home button, there could be an on-screen function area that houses a virtual Home button and other controls. Based on what Troughton-Smith says, this virtual area may be able to be hidden for things like full-screen apps and videos.

The virtual home button seems to just be called the ‘home indicator’ — looks like the OS has no qualms about hiding it in certain contexts

— Steve T-S (@stroughtonsmith) August 1, 2017

As a last little tidbit, Troughton-Smith says ARKit and Photos are getting new functionality that goes with the front-facing camera with depth sensing features, such as “ARFaceAnchor.”

There are details about the iPhone 8 within the HomePod firmware because HomePod will run a version of iOS. The firmware that Apple released corresponds to iOS 11.0.2, a future update that will be introduced sometime after iOS 11 launches in the fall alongside new iPhones.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
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Logitech PowerPlay review

Logitech is making a name for itself in the PC gaming market. We’ve seen high quality products pass through our hands over the last few years, and as of late, the company’s Logitech G brand has become somewhat of a staple in esports, which demands nothing but the best for high-performance, high-precision gaming.

Yet the Logitech G brand aims to be innovative, too. Lurking in the background over the past three years was a secret product designed to push the envelope even further. The team set out to eliminate the cord tethering mice to PCs, and has done just that.

The result? Logitech’s  $100 PowerPlay Wireless Charging System. It includes the PowerPlay base, a PowerCore module, the hard mouse mat, the cloth mouse mat, and a 6-foot braided USB cord. The mice tested in this review are sold separately.

We had a chance to test Logitech’s PowerPlay system prior to its launch. The provided press-only kit included not only the kit, but also two of Logitech’s compatible PC gaming mice.

So, does it work?

This is no simple mouse mat

The first component, the PowerPlay Charging Base, is quite large, measuring 13.54 inches wide and 12.60 inches deep. The base is only 2mm thick, and you can clearly see the flat, wireless charging antennas embedded within when viewing at just the right angle. In the top-left corner you’ll find the small, attached control module, which is responsible for providing wireless connectivity, and sending power to the antennas.

Kevin Parrish/Digital Trends

Kevin Parrish/Digital Trends

Kevin Parrish/Digital Trends

Kevin Parrish/Digital Trends

These embedded antennas are what create a vertical energy field based on electromagnetic resonance. The field doesn’t reside over the entire surface of the charging base, but instead occupies the middle three-quarters. This field has a height of up to 4mm from the surface of the base, so the mat must remain within a specific thickness, or else the mouse won’t charge. So, not all mouse mats will work with the PowerPlay system.

PowerPlay charges the mouse battery while providing wireless connectivity.

The pre-production package sent to us included two mouse mats. One had a cloth surface measuring 2mm thick, and the other had a hard (but bendable) surface measuring 3mm thick. The included mats were specifically designed for the charging base, but any mouse mat can be used on the PowerPlay system. However, Logitech says that unapproved mats can degrade the power field.

As for the control module, it connects to a PC through a six-foot-long, removable USB cable. Like many Logitech G products, this cable has a three-prong connector. One attaches to the control module’s USB port, and two serve as anchors for stability. The module includes an illuminated Logitech G logo that can be customized through the company’s desktop software. There’s also an LED that stays fully lit during the charging process, and half-lit when the pad is connected to the module but on standby (not charging).

The second component of the PowerPlay system is the kit’s included PowerCore module. It’s about as large as a silver dollar, and fits into the PowerCore port on the bottom of a compatible mouse by “snapping” into place via magnets. The module includes embedded antennas that pick up the energy generated from the charging pad, and converts that energy into a voltage that’s used to recharge the peripheral’s internal battery. The included magnets not only serve as an anchor for the module, but also serves as contacts for passing the electrical current from the module to the rechargeable battery.

A slow, steady charge

The PowerCore module takes 12 to 14 hours to fully charge a dead battery if the mouse isn’t in full use. If you’re using the mouse, then the recharge rate is five times that amount. If the mouse battery is completely dead, then it can’t be used for up to five minutes as the pad sends a charge to the module to revive the battery.

Kevin Parrish/Digital Trends

The best solution, it seems, is to fully charge the mouse battery using a USB cable, and then rely on the charging pad to keep the battery sustained at a high level. Thus, when you’re sleeping at night, the charging pad can max out the battery capacity.

The Logitech G team set out to eliminate the cord for good, and has done just that.

According to Logitech, the PowerPlay module charges the mouse battery up to 95 percent, and then restarts when the battery reaches 80 percent capacity. The only way to determine the charging process state is via the LED on the charging base’s control module, which dims when on standby, and brightens when charging. The LED only lights up when the PowerCore module contacts the charging pad’s electromagnetic field.

Whether the system’s charging speed matters will depend on how you use the mouse. It’s not ideal if you move one mouse for use off the PowerPlay base, and then return. Stick to the base, though, and you’ll never run out of juice. That’s a boon for gamers, who are always worried about how long a mouse will last.

However, keep in mind that the PowerPlay system can only charge one mouse at a time. It also cannot be used on a surface that conducts energy, like a metal table. The base itself is hard to keep clean too, as the rubbery surface tightly clings to dust and other funk that falls away from humans. The included cloth mat can be just as bad.

What about the compatible mice?

Right now, there are only two compatible units: the G903 ($150) and the G703 ($100). The G903 is the more “elite” version of the two, sporting nine programmable buttons. The G903 is ambidextrous in nature, as it comes with a second pair of removable side buttons to accommodate left-handed gamers. These two buttons are held in magnetically, and stored in a padded case with a hard shell.

This case also comes equipped with a USB dongle if you’re not using the charging pad. There’s an included weight that can be slipped into the PowerCore port’s cap if the module isn’t installed. This weight is the size of a silver dollar, and helps anchor the mouse during movement for PC gamers who like “heavy” peripherals.

Kevin Parrish/Digital Trends

The G903 also has an illuminated Logitech G logo supporting 16.8 million colors, which can be customized through Logitech’s desktop software. There are three set LED strips, too, that display the current DPI setting. This may be somewhat confusing at first, because the mouse provides five customizable settings ranging from 200 to 12,000 DPI.

Opting for the more affordable G703 requires sacrifice. It only includes five programmable buttons (outside the DPI cycling buttons), and is built only for right-handed gamers. However, there are two customizable lighting zones – the Logitech G logo, and a thin strip circling the mouse wheel’s perimeter. Its sensitivity ranges from 200 to 12,000 DPI as well, and a single DPI cycling button supports four customizable levels.

PowerPlay is expensive, but it works

Logitech is pushing innovation forward with the launch of its PowerPlay platform. It charges the mouse battery while providing wireless connectivity in the process, so the only tether is the one between the PC and Logitech’s charging pad.

Unsurprisingly, it does have a few rough edges. Logitech’s PowerPlay is essentially new territory for desktop-based wireless charging. We hope the second version will have faster recharge times, and a larger charging field.

Yet, even with the potential for improvement, PowerPlay seems worthwhile. It’s a wonderful novelty. You don’t need this – but it’s incredibly convenient and, finally, makes it possible to play PC games wirelessly without worrying about the battery’s charge.

BLU phones no longer on sale from Amazon following renewed security worries

Another security scare has big consequences.

U.S.-based phone company BLU is back in hot water as Amazon has suspended sales of its phones citing concerns over the security of the software loaded on the phones. Amazon says the move is in response to a “potential security issue,” though it’s not immediately clear if it stems from the same security worry uncovered in apps pre-loaded on BLU phones late last year.

Most people probably don’t have any specific brand affinity for BLU’s phones, but it has made some of the cheapest Android devices available on Amazon, which has driven sales as it competes in the ultra-low-end segment. BLU has even partnered with Amazon for a “Prime Exclusive” device that was sold with lock screen ads at a steep discount — just $60. At the time of the previous security scare it was apparently determined BLU had things under control enough to keep the phones on sale — but now Amazon is pulling the plug 8 months later.

Amazon’s provided the following statement to CNET:

Because security and privacy of our customers is of the utmost importance, all BLU phone models have been made unavailable for purchase on Amazon.com until the issue is resolved.

The interesting part about this whole thing is how long it took Amazon to put a halt on sales, particularly if this is indeed a continuation of the same issue from November last year. With Amazon’s reputation on the line in that it’s selling co-branded Prime Exclusive versions of BLU phones, it’s surprising that it wouldn’t have at least temporarily paused sales while this was ongoing. Now, Amazon is now directing customers to BLU for inquiries on their phones, and continuing to sell other Prime Exclusive phones from the likes of Motorola, Nokia and Alcatel.

It isn’t likely that anyone will be too upset by not seeing a BLU phone available on Amazon alongside the many other Prime Exclusive devices, but for those who bought one throughout 2017 there are bigger questions as to how big this security hole is and how responsible BLU will be in addressing it.

Galaxy Note 8 render bridges the gap between Note 7 and S8

The Galaxy Note 8 shows up in a convincing render, and it looks like a squarer, taller Galaxy S8.

We are just over three weeks from the unveiling of the Galaxy Note 8. We know this because Samsung has itself admitted it.

And while we’ve already seen fairly convincing renders of the upcoming S Pen-enhanced flagship, Evan Blass of Twitter’s @evleaks has most recently given us the best look at the phone yet.

Samsung Galaxy S8 next to the rumored Galaxy Note 8.

Here you can see the front of the phone in what looks like a press render, conveniently laid out next to the Galaxy S8. You can see the Note 8 is ever so much taller, and appropriately squarer for the brand. It bridges the gap between the Galaxy Note 7 and the Galaxy S8.

Samsung Galaxy Note8 (in Midnight Black) pic.twitter.com/QZii9xFarQ

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 31, 2017

The Note 8 is also expected to share a similar spec sheet to the Galaxy S8, including the popular Snapdragon 835 / Exynos 8895 combination that has been so well received this year. But Samsung intends to give the Note 8 slightly more memory, with 6GB of RAM and a 128GB storage option. On the camera side, Samsung’s first dual camera setup is expected to debut on the Note 8, with two 12MP sensors with lenses of different focal lengths and both optically stabilized.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8: What we know so far

What do you think of the Galaxy Note 8 so far? Let us know in the comments below!

College football player loses scholarship over his YouTube channel

YouTube views can translate into serious dollars, but if you’re a student athlete, you may want to think twice about trying to earn money on the platform. A football player for the University of Central Florida has lost his place in the team, and hence his scholarship, due to his YouTube channel. UCF kicker Donald De La Haye runs “Deestroying,” which has over 90,000 subscribers and has amassed 5 million views, thus far. It’s not the channel itself that cost him his scholarship, though — it’s the fact that he has athletics-related videos on a monetized account.

The NCAA saw his videos as a direct violation to its rule that prohibits student athletes from using their status to earn money. UCF’s athletics department negotiated with the association, since De La Haye sends the money he earns from YouTube to his family in Costa Rica. The association gave him two choices: he can keep the account monetized, but he has to stop referencing his status as a student athlete and move the videos wherein he does. Or, he has to stop monetizing his account altogether. Since De La Haye chose not to accept either option, he has been declared inelegible to play in any NCAA-sanctioned competition, effectively ending his college football career.

UCF kicker @Deestroying has been ruled ineligible for not accepting the terms of a NCAA waiver in relation to monetizing his YouTube videos. pic.twitter.com/lIRmuoRDnC

— Brandon Helwig (@UCFSports) July 31, 2017

The NCAA has defended its decision in a statement, stating that De La Haye “could have continued playing football for the university and earn money from non-athletic YouTube videos” based on the deal it cut with UCF. It sounds like De La Haye firmly stands by his decision, though. Despite initially showing his dismay on Twitter and YouTube, he criticized the NCAA and advised his followers to “always stand up for what [they] believe in.” He also told Sports Illustrated last month that he feels “like it’s about time for things to be changed,” since the associated created its rules before the time of social media and video platforms.

There are SO many things wrong with the NCAA. Exhibit A right here

— Donald (@Deestroying) July 31, 2017

All I wanted was to keep inspiring and motivating others through my content. Didn’t know it would cost me my education.

— Donald (@Deestroying) July 31, 2017

Source: Sports Illustrated, NBC Sports, CBS Sports

Take an early look at the Galaxy Note 8 in ‘Midnight Black’

While the Galaxy Note 8 won’t launch until August 23rd, noted leaker Evan Blass aka EVLeaks has just posted a full render of the device in its Midnight Black color. Closely matching renders seen before, it takes the Infinity Design seen in Samsung’s well-received Galaxy S8 and S8+ and stretches it across a larger frame. The event invite promised we’d “Do Bigger Things,” but other than the usual Note features like a stylus it’s hard to say exactly what will be special about this phone — other than a slightly smaller battery to avoid last year’s explosive issues.

Samsung Galaxy Note8 (in Midnight Black) pic.twitter.com/QZii9xFarQ

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 31, 2017

Source: Evan Blass (Twitter)

Spider silk could be the secret weapon for helping repair nerve damage

Why it matters to you

Spider silk could help treat nerve damage by training new nerves where to grow.

Spiders may have an invaluable role to play in repairing extensive nerve injuries, according to Christine Radtke, a professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery at Austria’s MedUni Vienna/Vienna General Hospital. In trials, Radtke has been using the impressively strong spider silk of the golden orb-weaver spider from Tanzania to help heal extensive nerve injuries of more than five centimeters in length.

“Spider silk is very strong, but also very elastic, which aren’t common properties to find together,” Radtke told Digital Trends.

The microsurgical technique Radtke has helped develop involves filling veins with spider silk as a sort of longitudinal guide structure. “If you’re missing a piece of nerve so that there is a gap, the remaining nerve will have to cross it by growing,” she continued. “However, in order for the nerve to find the right way to grow it needs a guidance structure. Unfortunately, most materials have the effect of inhibiting nerve growth. Spider silk, on the other hand, is a material that nerves love. They will attach to it, and then follows the fibers directly. It’s like a rose trellis.”

In an animal trial, this technique was shown to be capable of repairing nerve damage of distances up to six centimeters, in such a way that the nerve grew back correctly over nine months. During this time, the spider silk guidance structure broke down naturally, without causing any kind of negative reaction.

There have been recent examples of researchers developing artificial spider silk in labs, but Radtke said that none of the artificial silks the team has investigated have been as effective at enhancing regeneration as the real thing. There may be no reason to resort to the fake stuff, either. Even with just 21 spiders in her lab, Radtke said she can harvest 200 meters of spider silk in 15 minutes — without this in any way harming the spiders. Several hundred meters of silk are necessary in order for a six-centimeter nerve injury to be bridged. Over time, Radtke hopes to increase her number of spiders to 50.

“We’ve carried out animal trials, so we know that this is working,” she said, concerning the next step for the research. “Now we need certification for our silk, which is what we’re in the process of achieving right now.”

Best iOS app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time

Everyone likes apps, but sometimes the best ones are a bit expensive. Now and then, developers put paid apps on sale for free for a limited time, but you have to snatch them up while you have the chance. Here are the latest and greatest iOS app deals available from the iOS App Store.

These apps normally cost money and this sale lasts for a limited time only. If you go to the App Store and it says the app costs money, that means the deal has expired and you will be charged. 

Media Clouds

Do you want save your MP3 files and videos from the cloud to play offline? Media Clouds could be the best app for you.

Available on:

iOS

Weight Tracker

Weight Tracker provides a quick and easy way to enter and track your weight. It uses HealthKit to save and store your weight information.

Available on:

iOS

My Parking

With My Parking, you’ll always know where your car is located and which path to take to get to it. The app featuers a simple user interface, and will help you record your parking spot with a single tap.

Available on:

iOS

CamCard

CamCard is the easiest app to use to manage and exchange business cards, and offers a perfect fit for sales people, entrepreneurs, business developers, and marketing experts.

Available on:

iOS

Baby+

New baby? Track your baby’s development, and save those special moments forever. Get the supportive Baby App for moms and dads alike.

Available on:

iOS

Timetrack.io

Spending only a few minutes a day on this app, you will get daily, weekly, and monthly statistics in the form of diagrams and graphs. Using this data, you’ll be able to control and manage your time.

Available on:

iOS

T-Mobile will say goodbye to its revamped Windows app in late August

Why it matters to you

If you’re a T-Mobile customer with a device operating on Windows 10, you will only be able to access the T-Mobile app until the end of August.

T-Mobile confirmed it will be ending support for its Windows mobile app only a year after revamping it, Neowin reports. The news was brought to users through the carrier’s Windows app itself, explaining it will no longer be supported starting August 25.

For users still on the app, they will receive a message that reads, “Thanks for being an awesome T-Mobile customer! We’re always finding new ways to provide you with the best experience possible. Unfortunately, our Windows app will no longer be supported beginning 8/25/2017. Moving forward, you’ll be able to manage your account at My.T-Mobile.com.”

The latest phone to be launched with Windows 10 was the Alcatel Idol 4S in November, with support for Continuum, Cortana, and the finger sensor for Windows Hello. Alcatel’s virtual reality headset that came bundled with the device also worked with the Windows variant.

Ending support for the Windows app comes shortly after the T-Mobile stopped selling the Alcatel Idol 4S — marking the end of the Uncarrier offering any Windows phones at all. For those interested in the phone, Alcatel’s official website redirects you to unlocked versions of the device available through Amazon.

Only a few weeks ago, Microsoft also ended support for Windows Phone 8.1 and announced that it will not receive any future updates. With the end of the 8.1 operating system, Windows 10 is the remaining active platform for the few devices able to run it. According to AdDuplex, about 76.3 percent of phones running Windows are still on 8.1. with only 17 percent on Windows 10.

Analysts add it is likely that users are abandoning these devices for Android and iOS. Even though T-Mobile redesigned the Windows version of its app to be up to speed on both the iPhone and Android — including a new user interface and additional features — it clearly still was not enough.

Windows 10 is also most likely on its way by fall 2018. While Microsoft combined the Windows Phone brand with Windows 10 in 2016, the Creators Update did not include any extreme feature additions for the devices. The operating system also lacks apps available on both the Google Play Store or Apple’s App store, and the only updates seem to be bug fixes or security patches.