Latest Technology News

Samsung starts rolling out Android 6.0 Marshmallow for Galaxy S6

Android 6.0 Marshmallow has reached only a small number of Android users since its debut in early-October of last year. Google's latest numbers place it at just 1.2 percent distribution share. Aside from a limited number of handsets that arrive with Marshmallow on board, the other reason why Android 6.0 has such a small reach is the fact that upgrades are only available for very few popular handsets.

Samsung is now changing that, as today it announces that the much-awaited Android 6.0 Marshmallow update has finally started to roll out, with its Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge flagships being the first devices to get it.

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Microsoft Lumia 650 is an affordable Windows 10 Mobile device, but does a missing feature make it a fail?

When Microsoft purchased Nokia's handset business, it was viewed by many as a way to stop the Finnish company from defecting from Windows Phone. In other words, Microsoft may have thrown money at a problem to prevent embarrassment. Since the purchase, Lumia hardware has been fairly beautiful and affordable, but sales have continued to be abysmal, while Windows 10 Mobile has seen delays.

Despite dark skies in Lumia Land, today Microsoft cranks out yet another handset. The Lumia 650 body is aluminum, and at $199, the phone is affordable too. Unfortunately for Microsoft fans, there is a huge catch that, for many, could make this business-focused smartphone worthless.

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Mazar Bot malware can root and wipe Android smartphones

Security experts are warning about a new malware attack that targets Android users. Mazar Bot is delivered via SMS, is able to gain root access to devices, installs software including Tor, and can even go as far as completely wiping a victim's phone.

Mazar Bot was discovered by Heimdal Security whose researchers analyzed a text message that had been found sent to random numbers. The message purports to provide a link to an MMS, but in fact tricks recipients to install the malicious mms.apk -- Mazar Android BOT in disguise.

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App stores to generate over $100bn in revenue in five years

Streaming video service Hang w/ shares its profits with users -- others take note!

When apps first came to smartphones, it completely changed the ways users interacted with their devices. Mobile phones went from being just phones that could make calls and send short messages to devices that resembled miniature computers.

Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store saw a dramatic rise in the number and quality of the apps they offered almost instantly. For many users, apps have become commonplace and they no longer hold our interest or excitement as they once did.

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According to eHarmony, Millenials are also seeking love for Valentine's Day

Sex preferences of millions of online daters leaked to dark web

Online dating is big business these days, though not everyone thinks it's such a great idea. Security has to be kept in mind -- if you're meeting someone in person it's best to do so in a public place. With that said, it can also be great for someone who suddenly finds themselves single later in life.

That demographic includes millenials, a group of people born in the 1980's, though there are no exact dates to define it. According to a recent report, this group of people have become rather prominent on dating sites, or at least on one.

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Image Color Analyzer tells all about picture palettes

Artists and photographers often need a clear understanding of the colors used in an image, but standard photo editor tools like the histogram do little to help.

Image Color Analyzer is a free Android app designed to deliver a clearer view of an image palette.

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AMD Zen processors will have 32 cores and Symmetrical Multi-Threading

We seem to have hit something of a ceiling when it comes to the raw speed of processors; things are now progressing rather more slowing than they have been. Attention has now turned to other areas, such as the number of cores. Dual-core, quad-core, and octo-core CPUs are now quite common, but AMD's upcoming processor -- codenamed 'Zen' -- will feature no fewer than 32 cores.

We already knew that Zen would have 'a lot' of cores, but a CERN engineer has now revealed not only how high this figure is, but more details of the processor. But this is not a true 32-core processor -- AMD is using a little trickery to up the numbers.

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How much do you know about telemetry and privacy in Windows 10... and how much do you care?

Privacy concerns about Windows 10 have existed since the moment the operating system was released. Endless virtual column inches have been spawned from fears about the telemetry features Microsoft employs, and a small cottage industry has sprung up creating tools that disable 'spying' features. But for all of the words that have been spilled, how much does the average user know -- or indeed care -- about privacy issues, data collection and the like?

There's one thing that just about everyone can agree on: Microsoft did a terrible job of communicating information about data collection in Windows 10. We also know that the mere existence of data collection features has irked a lot of people. Microsoft listened to enterprise users and made it possible to completely disable telemetry in Windows 10 Enterprise, but the same courtesy has not been extended to home users. Are you bothered by this?

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King Arthur is back on Facebook after falling foul of Real Name policy

For many, Arthurian legend is just that: legend. But for others, it is very real. One such person is King Arthur -- or Rev Arthur Uther Pendragon to give him his full title -- was recently kicked off Facebook as the social network did not believe he was using his real name.

But now the king is back. Having proved his identity, the once and future king (Rex Quondam Rexque Futuris) has had his account restored under his legal name of Arthur Uther Pendragon. King Arthur is not the first person to cross swords with Facebook's real name policy, and he certainly won't be the last.

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Pay for piracy? uTorrent's latest plan is banking on it

Believe it or not, people download movies and music illegally. This may not be earth-shattering news to anyone, as it has been going on for a long time, most famously with things like Napster and The Pirate Bay. These days it has become more sophisticated and turned into a real business for the torrent sites.

Now the popular service uTorrent is instituting a new pay plan. No, you don't have to pay, but the service hopes to give those who do a better experience.

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What I like about Apple iPad Pro [fourth in a series]

Day 10, and it's difficult to wonder where nearly two weeks went. Yet here I am with iPad Pro, and more settled than last weekend, when griping about how the tablet frustrates me.

I want to start by discussing Apple's Smart Keyboard, which is a $169 accessory that I recommend for everyone who doesn't plan on using fingers and Pencil as primary, ah, utensils. Typing is amazingly smooth and accurate. The keys present terrific travel, without requiring too much force while still giving plenty of tactile response. Shocked best describes my reaction to the experience. Sometimes what's missing brings something more: Ommission of the trackpad, which either is brilliant conception or Apple chief designer Jony Ive and team getting goddamn lucky.

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Court rules it is not illegal for GCHQ to hack computers

Privacy International has lost a court case that questioned the legality of GCHQ's hacking operations. The UK-based privacy and human rights charity launched a legal campaign after Edward Snowden revealed the spying and surveillance that was being carried out by the NSA and GCHQ.

In the course of the case, GCHQ admitted for the first time that it was involved in hacking devices and computers not only in the UK, but around the world. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) ruled that activities such as the installation of keyloggers, the remote activation of microphones and cameras, and the use of malware by the intelligence agency is entirely legal.

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Everything you need to know about SIM swap scams

In today’s mobile-centric world, using mobile phones for Internet banking is standard practice for most people, but do customers know they could be at risk of a new type of scam?

SIM swap fraud, where scammers cancel and re-activate new SIM cards to hack into bank accounts, is reportedly on the rise.

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PSA: Time to switch to Google Photos as Picasa shuts down

Google Photos shown on Chromebook, Android smartphone and tablet

It has been a long time coming, but when 15 March rolls around Google will no longer support the desktop Picasa app -- and this is just the start of the shutdown. Picasa is being gradually shuttered in favor of Google Photos as the search giant focuses its energy on a single photo service.

So what does this mean for Picasa fans? Well, the good news is that there's nothing to do in terms of migrating content from one service to another. Picasa Web Album content can be viewed, edited and shared through Google Photos, but if you don't want to migrate then it will be archived from 1 May.

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It's too easy to breach a bank

I arrived onsite to suite 102 -- the bank’s corporate headquarters -- around 9:40 am. I was impersonating a local utility worker -- with all the garments like a hardhat, clipboard, obnoxious yellow vest, and some old Timberland work boots. I played the part well.

When I approached the suite I saw a giant glass entrance into the main office of the bank with a secretary minding the entrance and questioning visitors. I also noticed employees were entering and exiting an unmarked door at the end of the hallway -- no cameras to be seen. I proceeded slowly past the main entrance and then ran to catch the secured door as it was closing behind an unsuspecting employee. I was in!

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