Need a rugged Oreo smartphone without (too many) compromises? Try the Poptel P10
As Samsung, Apple and even the likes of OnePlus push out flagship smartphones with ever-larger price tags, it's little wonder that people are increasingly seeking out cheaper alternatives. Where there's demand, supply follows, so there's no end of choice when it comes to handsets that pack a punch without breaking the bank.
It's possible -- probable, even -- that you've not heard of Poptel, but the Poptel P10 is a phone that's worthy of a second look. No, it's not a flagship-killer. No, it's not anything even approaching a competitor for the iPhone X or Samsung Galaxy Note9. But it is a highly capable dual-SIM phone which is waterproof, dustproof and shockproof, that boasts good looks, a slim design, and a pair of decent cameras.
Zorin OS 12.4 Linux distribution is here -- switch from Microsoft Windows 10 now!
I'm not a Microsoft "hater" at all. With that said, I am not a fan of the state of Windows 10. The privacy issues alone are a reason to avoid the operating system, but that is hardly the only concern. For instance, Microsoft has been pre-loading tiles for games like Candy Crush and other apps -- a move that shows major disrespect towards its customers. Not to mention, the "Insiders" program is just a way for the company to get free beta testing -- Microsoft is all too happy to treat Windows 10 users as guinea pigs. It is all very shameful.
These days, if someone asks my advice on buying a computer, I recommend purchasing a Mac, Chromebook, or PC with a traditional desktop Linux distribution, such as Ubuntu. If you are happy with your current computer, but hate Windows 10, installing a Linux distro is very easy nowadays. I often suggest that Windows switchers try Zorin OS as it has a familiar interface. Today, that excellent operating system reaches version 12.4.
Finance remains top target for phishing attacks as scammers exploit GDPR
New figures from Kaspersky Lab show that more than a third (35.7 percent) of phishing attempts in the second quarter of 2018 attempts were related to financial services via fraudulent banking or payment pages.
The IT sector was second hardest hit, with 13.83 percent of attacks targeting technology companies, a 12.28 percent increase compared to Q1.
Turkey to boycott US electronics as Trump implements ZTE and Huawei ban
Donald Trump has signed the Defense Authorization Act into law which imposes a watered-down ban on ZTE and Huawei products by the US government and IT contractors. The ban also covers a number of other Chinese telecoms manufacturers.
There has been much to-ing and fro-ing about whether these sanctions would actually be introduced, but now and for the next two years they will be in place -- something Huawei denounces as "ineffective, misguided, and unconstitutional". But while this latest bill signing sees Trump wielding his power, the president will be unimpressed by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan -- the president of Turkey -- saying his country will boycott US electronics.
New application helps developers avoid vulnerable GitHub code
We reported last week on a new tool to help spot vulnerabilities present in active open source systems.
To prevent problems from being introduced into new systems, open source governance specialist Sonatype is launching a tool to enable developers to identify and avoid using open source components that have known vulnerabilities.
The Alldocube X is a low-cost 'Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 killer'
The big news from Samsung recently was the launch of the Galaxy Note9 smartphone, but the company also launched an Android tablet in the form of the Galaxy Tab S4. Starting at $649, the tablet may be beyond the reach of many people, but the Alldocube X is a cheap alternative.
This 10.5-inch Super AMOLED tablet started life as an Indiegogo campaign, and it was 180 percent funded in just 24 hours. Priced at $269 and due for release in October, the Alldocube X is billed as a 'Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 killer' -- but can it live up to this incredibly bold claim?
Thanks to copyright issues, Classic Shell replacement Classic Start is no more… but it's not bad news
Classic Shell was around for years before finding fame following Microsoft’s ill-conceived idea to make Windows 8 without a Start button or menu. It remained popular even after the Start menu made an official return in Windows 8.x and then Windows 10.
Development of Classic Shell was sadly ended in 2017, but not before the developer open sourced it. Classic Start arrived last month, picking up where Classic Shell left off, but potential copyright issues mean it is no more.
Macally releases 'XKEYLED' full-size USB wired backlit keyboard for Apple Mac
When you own a Mac, there aren't many keyboards from which to choose. True, any USB or Bluetooth keyboard should work, but most are designed for Windows -- they are not labeled for macOS keys such as "function" and "command."
Apple's own keyboards are excellent, but not everyone likes the style. Not to mention, they are wildly expensive. Hilariously, Apple even charges a premium for the black models. Seriously, the company makes you pay more because of the color. Thankfully, there are some third parties that make quality Mac accessories that are more affordable. One such company, Macally, today announces a no-nonsense USB membrane keyboard designed for macOS. Called "XKEYLED," it features backlit keys for typing in the dark.
Google is tracking your location even when you tell it not to
An investigation by the Associated Press has found that Google is tracking the location of Android and iPhone users even when privacy settings supposedly explicitly stop this from happening.
The AP concedes that "for the most part, Google is upfront about asking permission to use your location information", but its investigation -- the findings of which were confirmed by researchers from Princeton -- showed that Google services recorded user data even when Location History was disabled.
As Fortnite comes to Android, HyperX releases gaming microSD cards
Fortnite is a gaming phenomenon like the world has never seen before. Sure, there have been plenty of popular games before it, but Fortnite is a different beast -- its fans are extremely passionate about it. It generates insane amounts of money for its developer, Epic Games, too.
The game is coming to Android as a temporary Samsung exclusive, but then, it will become available to other devices too. Apparently, fans cannot wait, as they are searching for the game anyway, and sadly, installing fake versions. For phones that support expandable storage via microSD, HyperX today releases new gaming cards -- perfectly timed for Fortnite. Of course, it is also a great option for Nintendo Switch.
How you can be hacked via your fax machine
Unless you are in regular touch with the 1980s it's probably a while since you gave much thought to using fax machines.
Even then you might think your biggest worry would be a paper jam. But new research from Check Point released at Def Con in Las Vegas reveals organizations and individuals could be hacked via their fax machines, using newly discovered vulnerabilities in the communication protocols used in tens of millions of fax devices globally.
How to add amazing live wallpaper (with or without sound) to Windows, and even create your own
Windows has been capable of displaying animated wallpaper for years, and when done right the effect is nothing less than stunning.
RainWallpaper, from Deviant Art, lets you browse a large collection of live wallpapers, sorted into categories like Featured, Landscape, Animi, Game, Space, HiTech, Pet and Animal, and Plants. You can download and apply any that take your fancy, or make your own in seconds.
Campfire leak: Google could bring Windows 10 support to Chromebooks, Boot Camp-style
Google could be about to add Windows 10 support to a range of Chromebooks, according to a new leak.
The appearance earlier in the year of a new project called Campfire showed that Google was working on bringing Windows 10 support to Pixelbooks. But now it seems that the option to dual boot Chrome OS and Windows 10 could spread to a wider range of Chromebooks.
Over 10,000 vulnerabilities disclosed this year so far
2018 looks like it's on track to be another record year for vulnerabilities, with over 10,000 disclosed in the half year to June.
The newly released 2018 mid-year VulnDB QuickView report from Risk Based Security shows that 16.6 percent of the reported vulnerabilities received CVSSv2 (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) scores of between 9.0 and 10.0, which is a drop from previous years. However, the severity of the vulnerabilities disclosed still remains significant.
Google Play shows warning to anyone searching for Fortnite APKs
The arrival of Fortnite on Android has not only been eagerly awaited, but also steeped in controversy. In addition to making the game a Samsung exclusive (for a few days, anyway), Epic Games decided to bypass Google Play and host APK downloads on its own servers.
But this isn't going to stop people looking for Fortnite in the Play Store. Google is well aware of this, and that there is the potential for fake, scam apps to appear, tricking users into downloading something malicious. As such, the company is taking action, and is showing a warning to anyone who searches for Fortnite in Google Play.
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