Do you miss Windows Movie Maker? Don’t get caught up in this scam

Scammers have been taking advantage of the continuing demand for Microsoft’s classic editing software, Windows Movie Maker, by releasing a version that tries to scam users to pay for core features. It has proven to be an effective tactic, too, reflected in the fact that the domain name hosting the scam version of the software is now being listed at the top of Google results when searching for the application.

Microsoft announced the end of support for several of its Windows Essentials 2012 applications at the end of 2016, but when it did so in early 2017, that didn’t stop people from wanting to use them. One of those pieces of software was Windows Movie Maker, a bare-bones but effective video editing tool. Although it was replaced by Windows Story Remix, demand is still high for Movie Maker and that has led a number of scammers to make their move.

The scam, in this case, stems from a website that appears at the top of Google results when searching for the software. We won’t link or name it here, but suffice it to say that on first glance, it looks somewhat legitimate. Indeed the application that you can download if you visit the site is a functioning version of Movie Maker. Where it differs though, as WeLiveSecurity explains, is that attempting certain functions prompts the software to block them, and indicate that you need to pay to unlock all features.

If the user attempts to pay for them, they’ll be directed back to the scam site, where a payment of $30 (a 25-percent discount!) is requested. The site even offers “free technical support and software upgrades,” though that seems unlikely.

Some security software is picking up on this scam, designating it as malware Win32/Hoax.MovieMaker, and earlier this month it was even cropping up as one of the most commonly detected malware items in the world. That suggests that this scam may be quite widespread, despite the legacy nature of the software.

If you want to avoid this scam, letting Windows Movie Maker rest as a defunct piece of software would be your best bet. There are plenty of alternatives, such as Microsoft’s own recently released replacement, Windows Story Remix. At the very least though, be wary of sites offering paid for versions of previously free software, and make sure you’re running one of the best antivirus solutions.

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T-Mobile wants you to donate $2 million of its money this #GivingTuesday

As the holiday season approaches, so too does the most generous time of year. On November 28, generous and socially minded companies and individuals the world over will be able to participate in #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving. And to help everyone give just a little more is T-Mobile, which has set aside $2 million to be donated to nonprofits selected by its users.

In 13 days, T-Mobile will leverage its perennially popular T-Mobile Tuesdays app to give customers $2 not to spend at Dunkin Donuts, Panda Express, or one of the other retailers often found on the platform, but rather to donate. Folks with the T-Mobile Tuesdays app will be able to give that money to one of four charities — the American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Club of America, Feeding America, or Team Rubicon.

And T-Mobile’s offer actually isn’t limited to T-Mobile customers. In fact, anytime anyone tweets #GivingTWOgether on November 28, the Bellevue, Washington-based carrier has pledged to donate yet another $2 to be split evenly among each of the four charities, up to $100,000. And if you work for T-Mobile directly, you’ll find an extra $28 in your Giving Account on the morning of November 28 that you can donate to any charity, whether it’s one of the aforementioned four options or not.

“This has been a tough year for so many, and on this #GivingTuesday, you get to give back the way that matters most to you,” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile. “In 2017, T-Mobile employees, together with T-Mobile Foundation matching, have already given more than $2 million to charity, and with your help, we’re going to double that!”

So what will your $2 donation do? If you select the Boys & Girls Club of America, your generosity will help provide 40 minutes of homework support to after-school youth. $2 given to the American Red Cross will result in a comfort kit to someone impacted by a disaster, whereas a donation to Feeding America promises to allow food to be distributed to a family in need. And finally, Team Rubicon will use the donations that it receives to give clean water filtration kits to families affected by a natural disaster.

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Moment makes the iPhone X even better with new lenses and cases

From user reviews to standardized tests and the specs list alone, the iPhone X is shaping up to have the best built-in camera Apple has designed yet — and those capabilities will soon be expandable. On November 15, Moment announced three new accessories for the iPhone X; a battery photo case, a photo case, and a new set of lenses. With the smartphone having launched only this fall, the Moment accessories are among the first iPhone X lenses.

The new iPhone X case allows users to attach Moment Lenses to the camera, as well as to a wrist strap. Like the company’s earlier cases, the iPhone X case comes in a minimalist black design or with a wood accent.

While the first case follows earlier designs, Moment is also launching a battery case. With a launch not planned until the spring of 2018, full details on the case aren’t available, but Moment says the case will include wireless QI charging. Like the non-electric photo case, the battery case can also attach Moment lenses to the rear camera, but adds longer shooting times with the extra battery built into the case.

Moment is also launching four new smartphone lenses to pair with the iPhone X using those cases, including a wide angle lens, telephoto lens, super fisheye lens, and a new macro lens. Moment says the new wide angle is the best wide lens it has made to date. The lens captures a view two times wider than the built-in lens without edging into fisheye distortion territory.

While the wide angle goes two times wider, Moment’s new tele lens offers a 2x optical zoom. The 60mm lens uses the same glass as earlier versions, but swaps out a metal body for a more durable design. The lens works with a number of different camera systems and can be used on either lens for the dual camera iPhones, offering a 4x zoom when placed over the iPhone’s zoom lens.

Both the new macro lens and the new fisheye use a new mount design for a more secure attachment to the Moment cases. The macro lens allows mobile photographers to shoot as close as one inch from the subject for up-close detail, while the fisheye offers a 170-degree field of view.

“Moment for iPhone X will be the most advanced gear we’ve ever made for mobile photography,” said Marc Barros, Moment CEO. “When we started this journey four years ago, we believed the phone would become the camera of the future, and bringing Moment to the new Apple iPhone X is like a dream come true.”

The lenses are available now with list prices between $90 and $100, while the iPhone X case begins shipping on Decembr 5 for $30. The battery case for the iPhone X is still in the prototype stage, with shipping expected next spring.

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Prints photos in seconds with the Polaroid Insta-Share Printer Moto Mod

The Polaroid Insta-Share Printer is the newest Moto Mod made to work with Moto Z series phones. It allows you to instantly print small photos directly from your camera as well as social media sites including Facebook, Instagram, and Google Photos.

Moto Mods provide additional features and functionality to Moto Z phones by using the phone as the primary hardware to operate them. The mods connect to the phone via a series of contact points on the back of Moto Z phones and stay in place with strong magnets. The Polaroid Insta-Share Printer is the latest Moto Mod following the recent release of the Moto Mod with Amazon Alexa smart speaker.

The Polarid Insta-Share printer allows users to keep a compact photo printer on them at all times.The Mod uses a special paper called Zink Zero-Ink Paper to print photos, meaning the images are smudge-proof and there are no ink cartridges to refill. The mod prints two-inch by three-inch images within seconds and the paper has an adhesive back for people looking for stickers.

Several different printing options are available with the Polaroid Insta-Share Printer as well. Borderless photos can be printed directly from your camera or social media accounts. You can also edit photos to include different borders within the app.

Motorola first released its Z-series phones in 2016. A collection of mods, made specifically for Moto Z series phones were also introduced at the same time. Since the initial release of the Moto Z line, Motorola has partnered with well-known companies like JBL, Amazon, and Hasselblad to produce more than a dozen different mods including, speakers, battery backups, and cameras.

Verizon will be the first store to carry the Polaroid Insta-Share Printer, with sales beginning on Friday, November 17. Other retailers including Best Buy, B&H, Fry’s, and New Egg will begin selling the Mod on December 13. Motorola plans to sell the Mod internationally within the next few months.

The Polaroid Insta-Share Printer will be priced at $200. Zink Zero-Ink Paper will be sold separately.

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This $44 accessory creates an iPhone 360 camera, no batteries required

Capturing a 360 view requires (for the most part) at least two lenses and two sensors. While a number of companies are bringing the tech to mobile by launching an add-on with two built-in cameras, one startup is asking, what about the two cameras the iPhone already has? Fusion is a lens system that turns the front and rear-facing cameras into wide-angle views, then stitches those images together with an app, effectively creating an iPhone 360 camera.

Because the Fusion is lens only and doesn’t need to integrate its own cameras, the lens and app could very well be one of the cheapest 360 solutions for the iPhone on the market, with an expected retail price of $69 and Indiegogo discounts bringing that cost down even further.

The Fusion, compatible with the iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8 and 8 Plus, adds two wide angle lenses to both the front and back cameras. By widening the view from the built-in cameras, the iPhone can then see in 360 degrees. The Fusion app then stitches those two images together into a 6K resolution shot.

Because there’s no actual camera to power up, the Fusion doesn’t need batteries. The 1.4-ounce system just slides over the top of the iPhone to align the add-on lenses with the iPhone’s built-in cameras.

The Fusion app uses real-time stitching, which means users can still preview the shot before shooting. The app also supports brightness adjustments and a self-timer. Snapping a photo is a one-touch control despite the involvement of both cameras and the app includes that scrollable 360 view, as well as tiny planet, panorama, or virtual reality shooting modes. Sharing to Facebook, Twitter, and Whatsapp is built-in, and while Instagram doesn’t yet support 360, users can share a square format little planet shot on Instagram, too.

By using hardware already built into the iPhone, the Fusion adds 360 photos for a significant price drop from the other add-on cameras on the market. The catch? The Fusion is only for shooting still photos and time-lapses; the company makes no mention of video capabilities. The lens also isn’t compatible with the iPhone X yet, but the company says it plans to launch an X version once the lens system can be fully tested with Apple’s new flagship smartphone.

Fusion is in the production stage, and is being developed by the Hong Kong-based company NoMatterWhat Technologies, the same group behind the Spincle 360 app. The company has taken to Indiegogo to raise funds for production, and the Fusion has already reached the $10,000 goal after just two days. The campaign remains open for another month and if production and the final stages of the product are successful, backers can pick up the 360 lens system for as low as $44 with estimated shipping in February 2018.

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The first laptop packing AMD’s Ryzen-branded chip displayed at Best Buy

AMD CEO Lisa Su recently jumped on Twitter to show herself standing in front of Best Buy holding one of the first laptops to sport a Ryzen-branded APU. This is an all-in-one chip consisting of AMD’s Ryzen processor cores based on its new “Zen” design, and its Radeon graphics cores based on its new “Vega” design. The company announced two APUs at the end of October and now laptops are starting to appear packing these new chips.

The Ryzen-based device now available at Best Buy is the HP Envy x360 15z convertible 2-in-1 based on AMD’s Ryzen 5 2500U chip. Here are the specifications for AMD’s new APU:

Ryzen CPU cores:
4
Ryzen CPU threads:
8
Base speed:
2.0GHz
Boost speed:
3.6GHz
Vega 8 GPU cores:
512 (8 compute units)
Vega boost speed:
Up to 1,100MHz
L1 cache (per core):
64K instruction cache
32K data cache
L2 cache (per core):
512K
L3 cache (shared):
4MB
Power usage:
12W to 25W configurable
15W nominal

The chip is a big deal for AMD, as the company nearly started from scratch when it designed its Zen CPU architecture. AMD set out to maximize performance per watt for a lower price tag and achieved just that as seen in the desktop processor space. For example, the fastest Ryzen processor currently on the market, a 16-core chip for enthusiasts, costs $730 less than a similar processor with near-identical performance sold by Intel.

Adding to the Zen aspect is AMD’s latest Vega graphics chip architecture that officially hit the market just months ago in the Radeon RX Vega 64 ($499) and Vega 56 ($399) add-in cards for desktops. They target Nvidia’s high-end GeForce GTX 1080 ($549) and GTX 1070 ($399) cards to provide better performance for the same price. Of course, AMD’s add-in cards pack insanely more GPU cores than what you see in the company’s APU products, but AMD is pushing the same ideal on laptops without a discrete, stand-alone graphics chip.

As for the new HP Envy x360 15z convertible 2-in-1 laptop with AMD’s new Ryzen 5 APU, here are the specifications and price shown on Best Buy:

Screen size:
15.6 inches
Screen type:
In-Plane Switching with Touch
Screen resolution:
1,920 x 1,080
Processor:
AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
Graphics:
Integrated
Memory:
8GB DDR4 at 2,400MHz
Storage:
1TB hard drive (7,200RPM)
Audio:
2x speakers
Camera:
HP Wide Vision FHD IR camera
Connectivity:
Wireless AC (867Mbps)
Bluetooth 4.2
Ports:
1x HDMI 2.0a
2x USB Type-A (3.1 Gen1)
1x USB Type-C (3.1 Gen1)
1x SD card reader
1x Headphone/microphone combo
Battery:
3-cell Lithium-ion 55.8 WHr (up to 9 hours)
Dimensions:
14.16 x 9.8 (D) x 0.77 (H) inches
Weight:
4.75 pounds
Price:
$750

You can also purchase the new Envy x360 with AMD’s APU directly from HP with a starting price of $800. The company doesn’t serve up a model with 8GB of system memory, but instead starts you at 12GB (1x 4GB and 1x 8GB). Other options you can configure include M.2 NVMe SSDs with capacities ranging from 256GB to 1TB, and a choice between Windows 10 Home and Pro.

For HP customers not willing to jump on Team AMD’s bandwagon, the company serves up the “15t” version packing eighth-generation Intel Core processors too.

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Browse the internet privately for life for just $43

Protecting our information and identity online is paramount in our world where online activity is become more and more prevalent as time goes on. Whether that information is a credit card number, banking information, or even your search history, you don’t want anyone being able to track your browsing habits — both for safety and simple privacy. But the normal internet connection you get from your service provider isn’t as secure as some people would like.

A VPN is your solution to keeping your online habits private. Using a “virtual private network,” you get the functionality, security, and management that the VPN service provides in order to keep safe and discreet online. VPNs aren’t just for privacy; you can use local VPNs in order to get resident online pricing for things like flights, hotels, and more.

VPN Unlimited is one such VPN provider that can help you access the web safely and securely. A lifetime subscription generally retails for $499.99, but at Android Central Digital Offers, you can get yours for $42.50. All you have to do is use code GIFTSHOP15 and you’ll get 15% off our already discounted price of $49.99.

VPN Unlimited gives you secure access to public Wi-Fi networks, unlimited bandwidth, an unlimited high-speed connection, a growing selection of global services in over 50 countries, fast server switching, as well as ad blocking, malware protection, and tracker blocking. If you value your online privacy and flexibility, then subscribe to a VPN. And why not pick up a lifetime subscription for $42.50. Just make sure you use code GIFTSHOP15 at check out!

See at Android Central Digital Offers

Vinci 2.0 are standalone sports headphones with Alexa built in

Vinci 2.0 are wireless workout headphones that can access Alexa, Spotify, and more – all without needing your phone.

Last year, you might have caught Mr. Mobile’s hands-on look at the Vinci 1.5. Vinci 1.5 was a set of wireless over-the-ear headphones, but it managed to stand out with a built-in display and support for a wide array of apps – including Alexa, Spotify, Google Play Music, and plenty more. Since then, Inspreo Inc. is ready to tackle the idea of standalone headphones once more with the Vinci 2.0.

So, what’s different between the Vinci 2.0 and last year’s 1.5? For starters, the design has received a drastic overhaul. The over-the-ear design is gone in favor of a neckbud one – not unlike LG’s Tone headphones. However, the difference between Vinci 2.0 and any LG Tone accessory is that the Vinci is a completely standalone device that doesn’t require a smartphone to function.

There are two displays on the Vinci 2.0 (one on either side), and each one will allow you to interact with the UI and see information for what’s taking place on the headphones. Additionally, you can perform an array of gestures by moving your hand over the Vinci 2.0 to change the volume, skip to the next song, or pause/play whatever you’re listening to.

The whole system is powered by a quad-core Cortex A7 processor, and this is combined with support for Wi-Fi, 3G cellular, and Bluetooth connectivity options. Amazon’s Alexa is also built-into Vinci 2.0, and when you combine the above tech with it, you can make phone calls, listen to songs on Spotify, call an Uber, track your workouts, catch up on the latest news, and so much more – all without ever having to pair your phone.

Vinci 2.0 is trying to be the perfect workout compain for people that hate running with their phone.

Vinci 2.0 can track an array of different workout activities, including hiking, jogging, weight lifting, and others, and the built-in heart-rate sensor allows you to get a more precise reading on how much you’re actually pushing yourself.

The Vinci 2.0 is available now on Kickstarter, and you’ll be able to choose between the Vinci 2.0 Lite, Pro, and Super. The Lite model lacks the display and noise-canceling features found on the Pro and Super models, and the Super takes the lead over the Pro by offering double the storage (32GB versus 16GB) and swaps out a dual-mic array for a bone conducting one.

The final retail price for the Lite, Pro, and Super will be $149, $289, and $399, respectively, but if you act fast during the Kickstarter campagin, you’ll be able to save as much as 55%.

See at Kickstarter

Amazon reportedly nixed plans for its own live TV service

Amazon was working on plans to launch a streaming bundled TV service that would feature both broadcast and cable networks, though that’s been on hold since the spring, according to Bloomberg. However, now we know why this endeavor was scrapped: money. People close to the issue told Reuters that Amazon believes it will be unable to make money on this kind of bundled cable service.

The service would have bundled both broadcast and basic cable channels, competing with the likes of Hulu and Sling’s live TV options. However, talks for this kind of “skinny bundling” apparently wasn’t producing satisfactory results. While the bundle had 140 TV and digital networks on board, it was unable to reach agreement with some of the most popular TV channels.

The problem here is the way cable bundling works; media firms often require providers to accept less popular cable channels along with those that are most in demand. Amazon refused to play along with this standard industry practice. According to Reuters, Amazon also asked for discounts based on subscriber numbers, which media firms were unwilling to provide. Additionally, Amazon decided that cable bundling “did not necessarily indicate the direction the TV business will eventually go.” Perhaps Amazon’s top brass believes that true a la carte TV service is the way of the future.

This doesn’t mean Amazon’s efforts at skinny bundling is dead, and Amazon Channels, its current option for tacking on channels a la carte, is still alive and well. We’re currently in a period of transformation of the TV landscape, and Amazon appears to be willing to wait it out to see what happens. As television viewing shifts increasingly to online platforms, Amazon’s user base will likely make the company an attractive proposition for struggling media companies.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Reuters

iPhone X Shipping Estimates Improve to 2 to 3 Weeks in United States and Canada

Shipping estimates for the iPhone X have improved to 2 to 3 weeks in the United States and Canada, up from the previous 3 to 4 week shipping estimates that have been available since early November.

The new 2 to 3 week shipping estimates for North America follow improved shipping estimates in countries across Europe and Asia Pacific.

iPhone X models ordered today in the United States and Canada will now arrive well ahead of the holidays, in early December, making them available for holiday gifts.

Along with improving shipping estimates for devices purchased now from the online Apple Store, Apple has also been sending out iPhone X pre-orders more quickly than expected. Many MacRumors readers who had late November or December shipping estimates after ordering have already received their devices or are expecting them soon.

Apple retail stores are also receiving regular shipments and customers who check stock on Apple.com early in the morning and use stock-tracking tools like iStockNow have been able to make purchases with no wait time.

The iPhone X was in short supply at launch and pre-orders for the device sold out within just a few minutes, but Apple has been working hard to ramp up supply to get orders out to all customers over the holidays.

Related Roundup: iPhone XBuyer’s Guide: iPhone X (Buy Now)
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