Be Rewarded From Bing Rewards For Staying Up To Date On The Latest Technology

Staying up-to-date on the latest in tech is a reward all of its own. However, earning prizes and gifts can make it all that much cooler. After-all, what geek out there doesn't like to get a freebie just for browsing the latest tech and gaming news or searching for their favorite tech gadgets?

With the Bing Rewards program you can do just that, and the cool part is the rewards are fairly geeky as well. You can earn points towards gift cards from geek favorites like GameStop, Hulu Plus and Amazon or get points for Xbox Live subscriptions and sweepstakes entries for Xbox games or a Microsoft Surface 2.

For you gamers looking for the latest news and trailers from your favorite Games Bing offers videos from several of your favorite site. With E3 just wrapping up you might want to checkout some of the latest news. Head over to Bing and search E3 2014 Games and you'll see an abundance of great videos and related search suggestions!

For those geeks like ourselves that are into tech news I suggest visiting Bing's Science and Technology News page. Here you'll see not only the latest news, but trending topics from around the web. Just remember each search offers you a chance at more Bing Rewards

Here’s how to make the most out of the Bing Rewards service:

1. Visit Bing.com to sign-up! You can sign up for the service by linking a Facebook or Microsoft account.
2. Earn credits by browsing the Web with Bing, referring friends and completing offers. Currently, you get one credit per every two Bing searches you perform, with a daily limit of 15 credits for using a PC and 10 credits if you use the mobile search.
3. Choose a reward and set your goals. Each reward requires a set number of points before you can make your redemption. Once you have a goal track and manage your credits. Your credit balance can always be seen at the top right of the screen when browsing on Bing.
4. Click Redeem from the dashboard to claim prizes. There are loads of options available with more and more being added all the time. Current rewards range from Starbucks and Fandango gift cards to Hulu Plus subscriptions and Xbox 360 sweepstakes entries. You can even donate your credits to a few of your favorite charities.

Did you know: Microsoft recently celebrated Bing's fifth birthday? Microsoft launched Bing on June 3rd 2009 and has been working to polish the site and services ever since!



I'm required to disclose a sponsored partnership between our site and Bing. I have been compensated in exchange for this post in the form of payment, product or experiences.

Track What Your Chrome Apps & Extensions Are Doing With Your Information

What is a browser these days without all those handy extensions and add-ons? Pretty boring if you ask me! Browser extensions have become a major part of the browsing experience and off a quick easy was to enhance your browser capabilities, functionality, looks and even feel.

However, some extensions ask for broad permissions that allow access to sensitive data such as browser cookies or history. Some may even go well beyond that! For those that have always wondered what information their Google Chrome add-ons and extensions access, we now have an easy tool that will give us just that!

Last year, Google introduced the Chrome Apps & Extensions Developer Tool, which provides an improved developer experience for debugging apps and extensions. The newest version of the tool, which became available today, will allow any geek or power user that wants full details on any of their installed Chrome apps or extensions to see the precise actions that they performing.

Once you’ve installed the Chrome Apps & Extensions Developer Tool, it will start locally auditing your extensions and apps as you use them. For each app or extension, you can see historical activity over the past few days as well as real-time activity by clicking the “Behavior” link. The tool highlights activities that involve your information, such as reading website cookies or modifying web sites, in a privacy section. You can also search for URLs to see if an extension has modified any matching pages.

For developers, if you’re debugging an app or extension, you can use the “Realtime” tab to watch the stream of API calls as an extension or app runs. This can help you track down glitches or identify unnecessary API calls.

Source: Official Chromium Blog

Google Maps Lets You Explore 12 World Cup Stadiums

With the 2014 World Cup set to kickoff in just a few short days, Google has added an update to Google Maps and street view allowing football (aka soccer) fanatics the chance to  explore the sights and culture of this year’s football tournament from the comforts of home.

Rua Professor Eurico Rabelo - Maracanã, RJ

Starting today you can explore all 12 stadiums and the iconic painted streets, one of Brazil’s tournament traditions, in Street View—a digital legacy of the 2014 games for years to come. In addition to the stadiums and painted streets, images from hundreds of sites across Brazil, including Iguaçu National Park and St. Michael of the Missions, are also now available on Google Maps. If what you see in Brazil whets your appetite, you can also explore new Latin American imagery in Peru, Chile, Colombia and Mexico.

For those of you lucky enough to have tickets to the amazing festivities Google reminds you not to forget to pack Google Maps for mobile.

• Transit: With Google Maps transit available in all 12 host cities, Brazilians and visitors alike can rest assured they can make it to the stadium and other destinations routing the best path by bus or train.
• Indoor Maps: Make your way through more than 100 venues across Brazil, including airports, shopping malls and, yes, tournament stadiums with Indoor Maps.
• Turn-by-turn navigation: Zip through Brazil from Point A to Point B with Google Maps for mobile, giving you the most accurate traffic info, including real-time incident reports from Waze, and voice-guided directions.

Source: Google Lat Long Blog

Google Now Voice Commands Every Android User Needs to Know

Using voice commands to control your phone has been around for several years now. Still we see and hear from the average Android smartphone user that they have no idea how to use them or what they can do.

Google has worked hard to integrate more and more commands into the Google Now service and it has become a central part of the Android operating system. With tons of recent improvements the Google Now service has quickly made it easier than ever to control your phone just by speaking to it!

Thank to the team over at Phandroid we now have a great comprehensive list filled with all of the voice commands that you need to know to get the most out of voice commands on your smartphone. The list features all the basic functions such as snapping a picture, going to a website, checking voicemail or opening email, along with more complicated tasks such as giving you translations for English phrases into different languages and converting English measurements to the metric system.

Here are just a few examples from the full Phandroid list we use on a day to day basis.

• Go to [WebSiteName.com]
• Call [Contact Name]
• Send Text/Email to [Username - Subject]
• Listen to [Song Title]

There are plenty more and don’t forget, many if not all of these commands should work just as well with Google Glass and Google’s web voice search, as well. For more details and a quick how to, be sure to check out Phandroid’s full video below.

Spring Cleaning and Organizing Made Easier With Your Intel 2in1

Organizing your daily life around the changing seasons can always be a challenge. However equipped with the right technology those challenges are easy overcome.

With spring in the air and summer quickly ushering it's way in there are plenty of things to do around a busy house or office. Warmer weather means a change in apparel, a change in goods and services used and for many spring cleaning. Keep track of those tasks can be a real challenge. Today we will discuss a few ideas that will keep you on track!

Create a checklist and check it twice!

A checklist goes a long way to helping you stay on track. Take the time to sit down and build a list of tasks you want to accomplish, things you need to buy and things to put away or take out for the season. I suggest creating more than a few lists and keeping track of them on a portable device. This is where a portable #Intel2in1 comes in handy. You can use the keyboard for typing out the long lists and the on-screen keyboard and touchscreen for when you are on the go.

There are several apps out there that will fit the bill. However, I suggest using Google Docs. This way you can sync your lists between all of your devices and always have it with you on the go.

Start with and stick to the BASICS!

Now that you hopefully have your checklist started you should have a good idea of what you want to accomplish. For most one of the biggest parts of spring cleaning is getting rid of clutter that you don't need. Here is another area the right tech can save the day!

Schedule and maintain your spring cleaning
Use the technology at your fingertips to make a schedule and stick to it. For many getting started is the hardest part of all. Create a schedule, sync it to your calendars (and to the team if you have one) and make sure you set alerts and get on the ball. Make it a priority!

Organize your junk: Putting that mess away
I you could see the office of most geeks and tech bloggers on most days you'd know that there are always new products, new packages and new toys laying around. One thing I learned a long time ago was there may be a place for everything, but not everything will ever find its place. This is why I now have a two step process.

First I create labels for all my boxes, storage bins and everything else I can label. Anything that is in a drawer, cabinet or storage closet is also cataloged during the cleaning process. We won't tally every last screw, but being able to create a document or Excel that details what it in storage room 2 goes a long way!

Second I chart the clutter. You'd be surprised how much it helps to snap a photo or two of the area you just organized. This is another area our #Intel2in1 comes in handy. Not only can we snap photos but I've even on occasion used the Digital Pen to create small diagrams or added notes of where we packed things away.

Sale off the clutter
Garage sales are a thing of the past. With a camera, a #2in1 tablet, a couple apps and some creativity you'll be up and selling your unwanted stuff in no time! We suggest snapping a few pictures then editing them using the touchscreen or even better adding some creative art working using the Digital Pen. Then you can post your items to Craigslist, eBay or Amazon. Since you have your portable tablet staying updated on the items that you have listed should be a breeze.

Stay on top of your services
When the seasons change so do your service needs. Hot weather often means needing an AC tune up, oil change, additional lawn services and more. It is always good to maintain a good contact list with the right people to call if the need arises. It is also helpful to note dates of past services as there are many things that need to be done annually, semi-annually or within certain other parameters.


Final thoughts
Technology certainly makes doing most of the tedious tasks much easier. Though I would say have the right technology just makes it that much more fun. Being the geeks we are we use as much tech as we can to take as much pain out of the process as possible. For us our #2in1 just happens to be the best option for everything involved. We love having a full keyboard or the longer typing sessions, camera for snapping pictures and full access to any of our apps we might need. If you want to checkout a few options click here to learn more about Intel 2 in 1. 

#spon: I'm required to disclose a relationship between our site and Intel This could include Intel providing us w/content, product, access or other forms of payment.

iPhones Being Held For Ransom, Possible iCloud "Hack" To Blame

Over the past several days reports of iOS devices being locked via 'Find My iPhone' and held for ransom have been mounting and as of yet no one can explain what is going on or how the hackers gained access to the iCloud accounts.

Reports initially began to trickle in earlier this week, when Australian newspaper The Age discovered Tweets and forum posts from owners of Apple devices from across Australia. Users were reporting receipt of a Find My iPhone message indicating their iPhones and other iOS devices gad been remotely locked by "Oleg Pliss". The message, seen below, is demanding payment of a US$100 ransom via PayPal to unlock affected devices.

It now appears as though the issue is much more widespread and encompassing! The original Apple Support community page has grown to include 27 pages (at post time) of iOS devices owners posting reports similar problems.

Of course the first thing people assume when they see their locked device is that somehow, Apple is to blame. It must be a vulnerability in iCloud, right? When asked to comment Ben Grubb from the Sydney Morning Herald got this response from Apple.

The blanket generic response "we take security seriously" statement doesn't mean much. Apple is denying any compromise of iCloud and implying that weak user credentials are to blame. This may in fact be case! We know from numerous reports that people often make very bad password choices. However, their response is dismissive and does little to reassure a customer.

So how is this iCloud hack being propagated?

At this time no one really knows for sure, and Apple sure isn't saying.The only statement issued so far follow those Mr. Grubb recieved:

In full, Apple said: "Apple takes security very seriously and iCloud was not compromised during this incident. Impacted users should change their Apple ID password as soon as possible and avoid using the same user name and password for multiple services. Any users who need additional help can contact AppleCare or visit their local Apple Retail Store."

The ransom may just be the beginning!

Locking a users iPhone or iPad and asking for $100 could just be the start of something far grater. If the hackers truly have full access to someone's iCloud account there is much, much more potential than just a small ransom.

For starters, most people use iClouds automatic back-up feature to keep their device contents in Apple's cloud. An attacker with control over someone's iCloud has full access to those contents and the ability to restore one of these backups to their own device. This means they get the victim's photos, videos, documents, iMessages, email stored on the device and basically any conceivable digital asset the victim has on their iPhone or iPad. It's a very large collection of extremely personal data.


There is also the potential and very real threat of stalking victims or using their location data. Find My iPhone present the location data of each device the hackers have on a map. Clearly that creates the potential for a serious invasion of privacy, particularly when you consider that families often have multiple devices under the one iCloud account.

In addition to the above threats we are hearing that it's not just iDevices connected to iCloud that have been breached. According to a few reports we've already seen Macs impacted as well. This opens the door to a whole new level of intrusions and data leaks.

The hard reality is that our digital lives are so intrinsically chained together across otherwise independent devices that a breach of a common service like iCloud can have very broad-reaching ramifications.

PlayStation Plus Members Get Access To Up To 6 Free Games Each Month

Sony is making some major changes to the way the way the company offers up free PlayStation Plus games. The new program, announced today, will kick off in June and will offer PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita users the ability to download two free titles from the PlayStation Store each month.

June will bring six new free games to Plus members. PS4 owners will get Trine 2: Complete Story, the puzzle platformer from Frozenbyte, and PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate, the twin-stick shooter from Q-Games. On PS3, Plus subscribers will be treated to Visual Concepts' NBA 2K14 and Sanzaru Games' Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. And PS Vita owners will receive Renegade Kid's Mutant Mudds Deluxe and Engine Software's port of Re-Logic's Terraria.

Checkout June's free titles in the video below:

Starting in July, every title in the Instant Game Collection will be available the first Tuesday of the month, and will be free for the month, until the first Tuesday of the following month, taking the guesswork out of how long the game will be available for free. In the coming weeks, you’ll see that several of the titles that have had a nice, long stint in the Instant Game Collection will be phased out, so if you’re new to the service and haven’t had a chance to download all of the titles available through PS Plus — or if you’ve been thinking about subscribing but haven’t yet — now is the perfect time to get all the great games available with PS Plus.

Protip: you don’t have to download the game to your hard drive (or memory card) to gain the entitlement — you can also go to the web store, add them to your cart and check out. Once the game says “Purchased” below it when you’re logged in, you’ll be set for the future as long as you’re a PS Plus member.

Source: PlayStation Blog

Registry Hack Extends Windows XP Updates [Update]

Thanks to a newly found registry hack Windows XP may live on! The hack first reported by BetaNews and later confirmed by ZDNet is fairly simple and only requires a short piece of code, making it easy for just about any user to perform.

The hack works by making a few minor changes in the registry of a Windows XP machine and works by basically tricking the automatic update servers at Microsoft into thinking the OS is Windows Embedded POSReady 2009. The OS is based on Windows XP Service Pack 3 and it will continue to get security updates from Microsoft until April 2019.

To apply the hack, create a text file with a .reg extension and the contents below:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\WPA\PosReady]
"Installed"=dword:00000001

Run it by double-clicking in Windows Explorer. After this is done you'll be able to launch and run Windows Update. It should be noted that there’s no way of knowing how long this trick will work -- Microsoft could update their servers to put a stop to it at any moment. Also, because you’re installing updates for a system other than Windows XP, there’s the possibility that not all updates will work as intended. But for those still wanting to squeeze a little extra life out of their Windows XP machine it may be worth a shot.

Update: Microsoft has issued the warning below to users that this hack may cause serious functionality issues, as well as not fully protecting a users XP machine. Definitely use caution if you try this at home!

"We recently became aware of a hack that purportedly aims to provide security updates to Windows XP customers. The security updates that could be installed are intended for Windows Embedded and Windows Server 2003 customers and do not fully protect Windows XP customers," a Microsoft spokesperson told ZDNet. "Windows XP customers also run a significant risk of functionality issues with their machines if they install these updates, as they are not tested against Windows XP. The best way for Windows XP customers to protect their systems is to upgrade to a more modern operating system, like Windows 7 or Windows 8.1."

eBay Hit By Security Breach, Users Prompted To Change Passwords

Earlier this week eBay was hit by a security breach that has prompted the company to issue a warning to all users to change their passwords! The company has reported that Cyberattackers compromised a 'small number' of employee log-in credentials, allowing unauthorized access to eBay's corporate network, and databases that contain user information.

eBay officials stated that the database contained encrypted passwords and other non-financial data. However, it was added that confidential personal information was also compromised. According to the report the database, which was originally compromised between late February and early March, included eBay customers’ name, encrypted password, email address, physical address, phone number and date of birth. However, the database did not contain financial information or other confidential personal information.

After conducting extensive tests on its networks, the company said it has no evidence of the compromise resulting in unauthorized activity for eBay users, and no evidence of any unauthorized access to financial or credit card information, which is stored separately in encrypted formats. However, changing passwords is a best practice and will help enhance security for eBay users.

How to change your eBay password

After a bit of criticism over the difficulties users faced with finding the right page to change their passwords eBay has simplified the process a bit. However, changing your password still requires a bit more work than most sites. For starters you need to find the right page, located here. Then the company requires a two step process. First they'll either send you a text, phone call or email.

Assuming you selected the email option, eBay sends you a Reset Your Password message. Click the link in the email. That link brings you to a page where you can enter your new eBay password. If you picked the text option instead, eBay displays a form to enter a PIN and texts you that PIN. Type the PIN in the appropriate field on that form, and the page to enter your new password appears.

Why Changing Your eBay Password Still Isn't Enough

Given the personal information acquired by the breach, changing your eBay password alone isn't good enough. As with most data breaches we see attackers will use that personal information to the fullest extent. So we are likely to see several phishing attempts based on the attack along side several targeted, or 'spearphishing' attacks.

It’s not that difficult for would be attackers to put together a seemingly legitimate email that appears to come from a legitimate business — maybe it won’t be from eBay, but scammers will contact you and impersonate a person or companies you trust as a way of getting you to click on malicious links and share information they can use to commit financial fraud. Given this added threat is extremely important to stay vigilant. Don't blindly open emails and click links. Double check site credentials and make sure they are secured sites before entering any passwords.


Source: eBay Press Release

D-Link Wants To Add A Little Color To Your Home Network

Most home networking devices look, well, pretty blah! Your choices in colors don't vary much and you might as well forget anything that adds a splash of style. For us geeks that generally isn't an issue as we typically prefer functionality over form any day. However, for the typical user, style can be a concern.

Enter D-Link and their new line of AC750 Wi-Fi Routers (DIR-818LW). This new batch of consumer friendly home routers feature a cylinder form factor and promise to 'Bring Color To Your Life' with four different colors to choose from: Red, Teal, Black and White.

"Wi-Fi routers have never had the reputation of being the most aesthetically pleasing products in the home, and we set out to change that with our color routers," said Daniel Kelley, vice president of marketing, D-Link Systems, Inc.

D-Link says the new routers are perfect for any house looking for a reliable and strong home network ideal for HD video streaming, online gaming and multiple user activities. In addition with the free mydlink Lite app, users can easily manage their network remotely and see what websites are being visited, block unwanted connections and set up automatic email alerts when unauthorized connections are made on any iPhone, iPad or Android device.

D-Link AC750 Wi-Fi Router Features

• Next Generation AC750 Technology – increased speed, range and reliability ensure strong whole-home coverage 
• Fast Gigabit Ports – four 10/100/1000 Gigabit ports provide high-speed wired connectivity
• Dual Band Performance – up to 433Mbps on the 5GHz band and 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band for maximum throughput with less Wi-Fi interference 
• Backward Compatibility – works with existing Wi-Fi devices 
• mydlink Cloud Services – remotely monitor your network using your smartphone or tablet
• SharePort – stream content from a connected USB drive to multiple mobile devices with a free mobile app

Availability and Pricing
The new line of D-Link AC750 Wi-Fi Routers (DIR-818LW) is now available in four colors (red, teal, black, and white) for $79.99 exclusively at Amazon.com through May. Detailed specifications are available online at www.dlink.com/colorrouter.

You can look for our review in the coming weeks, until then additional information about the new routers from D-Link can be found here.

Microsoft Unwraps Surface Pro 3 With Massive 12-inch Screen

Microsoft may be the underdog in the tablet and smartphone wars. However, that hasn't stopped the company from trying. Earlier today the company unveiled its latest offering, the third generation of the company's Surface Pro tablets, the Surface Pro 3.

The new 2 in 1 devices are Microsoft's most powerful, thinnest and lightest Surface Pro yet. They will feature a 12-inch ClearType Full HD screen with 2,160-by-1,440 resolution, your choice of 4th-generation Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors as well as up to 8GBs of RAM and up to a 512GB SSD drive. All in a packed that weighs just 1.76 pounds and is 0.36 inches thin, which according to Microsoft makes it 30 percent thinner than an 11-inch MacBook Air.

The Surface Pro 3 is both a “full PC and a brilliant tablet,” says Panos Panay, Microsoft corporate vice president for Surface Computing, who unveiled the new Surface at a live event in New York City.

In addition to the new tablet Microsoft also announce a new line of Surface accessories like the improved Surface Pro Type Cover, which will take Surface Pro 3 from tablet to laptop in a snap. The new premium Surface Pen with pressure sensitivity to enable a more natural writing experience, while a full-size USB 3.0 port, microSD card reader and Mini DisplayPort allow for quick file transfers and easy connections to a range of peripherals.

Additional optional accessories, include a new Docking Station for Surface Pro 3 and a Surface Ethernet Adapter, to build a Surface Pro 3 that has all the features and capabilities of a complete laptop.

The Surface Pro 3 will go on sale tomorrow, starting at $799 for the Core i3 version with 4GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD. Core i5 and Core i7 versions will set you back $999 and $1549 respectively. The range-topping model will set you back $1,949 and gives you a Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. More information on Surface can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/surface.

Source: Microsoft Newsroom, Microsoft Surface Blog

Apple Sued Over iMessage Deactivation Failure

A former iPhone user has filed a suit against Apple due to issues with iMessages not forwarding SMS text messages to her new Samsung smartphone. Adrienne Moore says that she was forced to use Apple's iMessage system on her Apple iPhone 4 when her phone was updated to iOS 5. Resulting in issues receiving her text messages once she decided to leave Apple behind.

The problems for Moore began when she decided to dump her iPhone 4 for a brand spanking new Samsung Galaxy S5. Since then, Moore says that iMessage is still sending messages from other iPhone users to her deactivated iPhone 4, but is not forwarding them to her new Galaxy S5. To make matters worse, those sending messages to Moore were never informed that their messages were not reaching her.

Apple warns users that are moving their old SIM card and/or phone number to a non-iOS device to make sure to shut down iMessages before the actual move is made. However, rarely do customers receive that warning directly from sales reps. Nor do they receive adequate instructions as to how to disable their iMessage account. Without completely removing the number associated with iMessages other iOS devices will continue to send messages through the iMessages for up to 45 days before giving up.

An issues that so far, Apple has been unable or unwilling to fix!

Moore contends that she and other former iPhone users were not made aware of this. As a result, she and others missed "countless messages" which caused "irreparable harm." Moore seeks to broaden the suit to class-action status under California's unfair competition law, arguing that iMessage is not allowing customers of wireless carriers to have their contract fulfilled, by restricting the distribution of text messages.

Apple has not commented formally on the issue, but its customer support has been acknowledging the problem while unable to fix it.

If you want to transfer your SIM card or phone number to a device that doesn't support iMessage: Go to Settings & Messages and turn off iMessage. Apple has also said you can also text STOP to 48369 and that should remove it. However, be aware that neither method is immediate and can take several days to complete.More details can be found via this customer support page which instructs users how to turn off iMessage.

Source: Scribd via Bloomberg

FCC Vote Puts The First Nail In Net Neutrality's Coffin

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today voted in favor of advancing a hotly debated proposal that would allow for broadband providers to charge additional amounts towards companies that wish to offer 'priority access' to users. Opening the possibility of Internet service providers charging Web sites for higher-quality delivery of their content.

The proposal brought forth by FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler proposal would allow internet service providers such as Comcast or Verizon to charge individual Web sites or services such as Netflix additional fees for the guarantee of higher bandwidth. Offering those companies tat do pay flawless service.

After weeks of public outcry over the proposal, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said the agency would not allow for unfair, or "commercially unreasonable," business practices. He wouldn't accept, for instance, practices that leave a consumer with slower downloads of some Web sites than what the consumer paid for from their Internet service provider. Wheeler stated his proposal, would consider the slowing of broadband connections by providers to be unreasonable and prohibited.

"When a consumer buys specified capacity from a network provider, he or she is buying open capacity, not capacity where the network provider can prioritize for their own profit purposes," he said. "Simply put, when a consumer buys a specified bandwidth, it is commercially unreasonable, and thus a violation of this proposal, to deny them the full connectivity and the full benefits that connection enables."

The proposal is not a final rule, but the vote on Thursday is a significant step forward on a controversial idea that has invited fierce opposition from consumer advocates, Silicon Valley heavyweights, and Democratic lawmakers. The FCC will now open the proposal to a total 120 days of public comment. Final rules, aimed for the end of the year, could be rewritten after the agency reviews the public comments.

We highly suggest that the public get involved and voice their concerns! You can send your comments to the FCC via this page: http://www.fcc.gov/comments. You may also email your comments to openinternet@fcc.gov.

California Passes Smartphone Kill Switch Bill, Why You Should Care!

Over the past few years we've seen carriers willing to do next to nothing to protect consumers from lost or stolen cellphones. Up until recently the only minor protection a consumer had was the newly enacted stolen phone database, which has seemingly done little to deter thieves as we've seen smartphone thefts continue to rise at alarming rate.

On Thursday, California legislators took steps toward becoming one of the first states in the country to pass laws requiring smartphones to feature stronger anti-theft technology. The California Senate approved a measure that would require every smartphone sold in California to include a so-called kill switch that allows victims of theft to disable a stolen device. The bill fines retailers between $500 and $2,500 for selling smartphones without a kill switch.

While many may argue that most smatphones have software with the ability to track a lost or stolen phone and many even include the ability to remotely wipe those devices. A kill switch, or reactivation lock could take those measures to an even greater level, one that could offer even more protection than that of a carrier's IMEI blocking.

If implemented correctly (and I'll admit that is a major IF) just knowing their would be victims have phones that can't full fledged kill switches could be a major deterrent to would be thieves. Who would steal a phone if you know for certain it could never be used again and could be locked and wiped immediately?

Just how bad is smartphone theft?

About 3.1 million phones were stolen in the U.S. in 2013, nearly double the number of thefts from the previous year, according to Consumer Reports. That totals more than $5 Billion dollars worth of stolen cellphones that need to be replaced world wide each year. Think that isn't bad? Smartphone theft also account for roughly 30% of all crimes in major US cities.

Checkout the infographic below for more!

Mute Those Annoying Tweets With The New Twitter Mute Feature

We've all got them, you know those annoying friends on our social media feeds that over share everything! Thanks to a new Twitter feature you can now block those friends while not offending them by totally un-friending them.

The new Twitter Mute feature, which Twitter announced early today in blog post, allows you to avoid seeing tweets from people you'd rather not engage. Leaving them the ability to see your tweets and retweets just as if you were still a happy follower.

"In the same way you can turn on device notifications so you never miss a tweet from your favorite users, you can now mute users you'd like to hear from less," Twitter wrote in its blog post. "Muting a user on Twitter means their tweets and retweets will no longer be visible in your home timeline, and you will no longer receive push or SMS notifications from that user."

People will still be able to see, "re-tweet," or comment on Twitter posts of those who have muted them, but the person doing the muting will not be looped into the activity.

To mute a user from a Tweet on your iOS or Android device or on Twitter for web tap more and then mute @username. To mute someone from their profile page, tap the gear icon on the page and choose mute @username.

Amidst User Feedback Mozilla Dumps New Tab Ad Placement In Firefox

Earlier this year Mozilla revealed a new plan to place advertisements in the Firefox 'New Tab' page until the user has begun browsing. A plan which, we feel, rightfully met with enough negative feedback that it has caused the company to change course and explore options for other features in the Firefox new tab page.

In a blog post, Mozilla's vice president of Firefox Johnathan Nightingale wrote:

A few months ago Darren posted about some experiments we wanted to do with the new tab page. It didn’t go over well. A lot of our community found the language hard to decipher, and worried that we were going to turn Firefox into a mess of logos sold to the highest bidder; without user control, without user benefit.

That’s not going to happen. That’s not who we are at Mozilla.

While it appears as though this plan was foiled by strong user feedback the company hinted that we may still see some new changes. Nightingale added that Mozilla will still be experimenting with other features in the Firefox new tab page in its pre-release channels.

According to the posting the company plans to test a mix of their own sites and other useful sites on the Web as well as potentially adding in a few layout changes. Nightingale suggested that these tests are,"purely to understand what our users find helpful and what our users ignore or disable." Stating that for now at least these tests are not about revenue and none will be collected. He did however leave the door open to future revenue generation through "sponsorship" which may come down the road.

New Android Ransomware Demands Payment To Unlock Phone

Security researchers have discovered a new piece of Android malware that depends a hefty payment to re-enable basic phone functions on an infected device and settle a supposed "fine" of about $300 for illegally viewing pornography.

According to the Ars Technica report the 'ransomware', dubbed Android-Trojan.Koler.A, uses the infected phone's geolocation functions to tailor a false security warnings to whatever country a victim happens to reside in. The screenshots, originally obtained by Bitdefender, shows the malicious software invoking an FBI warning which is the notice that's displayed on infected phones connecting from a US-based IP address.

Android Ransomware via Ars Technica

"The ransomware's main component is a browser view that stays on top of all other applications, Bitdefender Senior E-Threat Analyst Bogdan Botezatu wrote in an e-mail to Ars. "You can press Home and go to the homescreen, but a timer would bring it back on top in about 5 seconds. I managed to uninstall it manually by swiftly going to applications and dragging the icon on the Uninstall control, but it only works if the application icon is on the first row. Otherwise, one wouldn’t have the necessary time to drag it to the top, where the uninstall control is located."

The malicious Android software is automatically downloaded when users visit unspecified pornography sites using their Android phones. The site side-loads an APK file claiming to be video player used for premium access. To be infected, a user must change Android settings to allow out-of-market apps and then manually install the APK. According to the report the social engineering trick has already claimed at least 68 victims in the past six hours—40 in the United Arab Emirates, 12 in the UK, six in Germany, five in the US, and the rest in Italy and Poland.

Google Maps Update Adds New Features

Google has been busy of late adding loads of new features to several of the company's mobile applications. The latest app to see a slew of new updates is Google Maps.

A few of the more useful features we found are the addition of offline map viewing with a new “Save map to use offline” feature. A new smart lane selection feature, so as Google says you'll never miss an exit again and Uber integration. Now, as long as you have the Uber app installed on your device, when you check public transit and walking directions, Uber will appear as an additional option with an estimated time.

One addition that we see as potentially helpful for all of us party geeks, are the new filters options. Here you can browse through restaurants, bars and hotels by opening hours, rating, price, and more—where available—to find just what you’re looking for, right when you need it. For those of you that are always misplacing their cars there is also a new option to save locations for later making it easier for you to track down the car or a recently visited location after a night on the town.

Check the official Google announcement for more details on the update, which is available now for your iOS and Android devices.

Teardown Suggests $1500 Google Glass Cost Just $80 to Make

Google Glass might be one of the hottest things on the market today. With many geeks clamoring to plop down their hard earned cash to get their hands on the hottest thing in wearable tech. However, you might be surprised to learn that you are paying a hefty premium to be an early adopter!

According to teardown.com, which you guessed it had a chance to teardown the device, the Google Glass comes with a bill of materials of just $79.78. That is $80 just for the parts to make a $1500 device!

Now lets face it w are all accustomed to mark-ups for various items. Most of our $600+ smartphones only cost a fraction of that price to actually build. And let's keep in mind much of that price is associated with R&D, marketing, development and other various costs associated with a new platform, apps and services.

We’re talking about millions of developer hours here. But that is still a pretty heft mark-up considering that many of the Glass hardware components are already in use in modern smartphones. The same goes for the software which is a modified version of Android and the company’s existing voice recognition technology combined.

Google has not revealed how many units it has sold, but up until a one-day sale in April, sales which have been limited to invites had been estimated in the 10,000 range. If it cost $10 million to develop the product and start up initial manufacturing, that would be $1,000 per unit, and the engineering and design costs could run much higher. This also wouldn't include other fees like those associated with licensing to use the intellectual property rights that Google doesn't directly own.

On the plus side though is just how affordable it is to manufacture the devices. That fact alone should give geeks everywhere a glimmer of hope that at some point in the not that distant future, the Glass will cost no more than few hundred bucks, making it much more affordable for the masses.

Microsoft Issues Internet Explorer Security Fix, Includes Windows XP One Last Time!

In light of recent news coverage over the last few days about a highly publicized vulnerability in Internet Explorer (IE) Microsoft has issued an emergency patch for the company's browser, which despite the end of support even includes Windows XP users.

"The security of our products is something we take incredibly seriously, so the news coverage of the last few days about a vulnerability in Internet Explorer (IE) has been tough for our customers and for us," said Adrienne Hall, general manager with the company's Trustworthy Computing section on a Microsoft tech blog.

The fix, which went live today at 10 a.m. PDT, is coming outside of Microsoft's usual monthly security update cycle and is a direct response to ongoing attacks of a security vulnerability that plagued all version of Internet Explorer. The security flaw allowed malicious hackers to get around security protections in the Windows operating system. They then can be infected when visiting a compromised website.

Today's update is being pushed out via automatic updates for those with the featured enabled. If for some reason you aren't running automatic updates you can click the “Check for Updates” button on the Windows Update portion of your Control Panel to manually get the update process going.

Even though Windows XP is no longer supported by Microsoft the company has decided to give users a reprieve and update their systems as well. Stating:

Even though Windows XP is no longer supported by Microsoft and is past the time we normally provide security updates, we’ve decided to provide an update for all versions of Windows XP (including embedded), today.  We made this exception based on the proximity to the end of support for Windows XP.  The reality is there have been a very small number of attacks based on this particular vulnerability and concerns were, frankly, overblown.  Unfortunately this is a sign of the times and this is not to say we don’t take these reports seriously.  We absolutely do.

Despite making today’s patch available for XP users as well, Microsoft still recommends users upgrade to new versions of Windows, Windows 7 or 8. Security experts, including U.S. CERT, recommended that users avoid using the maligned browser until a patch was made available. It is also recommended that even if you aren't running Internet Explorer as your main browser that you still install the update as it is always vital to keep your entire system patched to the fullest possible extent.

Star Wars: Episode VII Cast Features Mix of Old Favorites and New Faces

Big news in the geeky world of sci-fi today, as the cast for Star Wars: Episode VII has been officially announced. The latest installments with comprise a star studded cast featuring several of our log time favorites, alongside a plethora of new additions!

J.J. Abrams will helm the first installment in the third trilogy of Star Wars. Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga. Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker will reprise their original roles in the all new film.

Director J.J. Abrams says, "We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud."

The movie, is set to begin filming shortly and is expected to be released Dec. 18, 2015. While the storyline and plot has yet to be reviled what we do know is that it is set 30-35 years after the leave off from the1983's Return of the Jedi.

Source: StarWars.com

The Department of Homeland Security Issues Internet Explorer Warning

Amidst ongoing reports that a recently discovered zero-day exploit is being used to attack financial and defense organizations in the US via Internet Explorer 9, 10, and 11. The US Department of Homeland Security has issued a warning urging everyone to stop using IE until the exploit is patched!

US-CERT is aware of active exploitation of a use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer. This vulnerability affects IE versions 6 through 11 and could lead to the complete compromise of an affected system.

US-CERT recommends that users and administrators enable Microsoft EMET where possible and consider employing an alternative web browser until an official update is available.

For more details, please see VU#222929.

The vulnerability, which was first discovered over the weekend has been confirmed by numerous sources an advisory issued by Microsoft to be currently active in 'limited attacks' in the wild. While all versions of the web browser, IE 6 through 11, are affected by the vulnerability, attacks are currently targeting IE versions 9, 10 and 11, according to security firm FireEye, which first reported the flaw Friday.

The attack leverages a previously unknown "use after free" vulnerability -- data corruption that occurs after memory has been released -- and bypasses both Windows DEP (data execution prevention) and ASLR (address space layout randomization) protections, according to FireEye.

While the Microsoft security advisory offers some suggested actions there was no word as to when we'll see a patch from for the flaw. Given that we feel the best course of action would be to stop using Internet Explorer entirely and switch to Google's Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or another browser of choice (not one back-boned by IE of course).

In a separate set of attacks, security researchers have also warned of an active campaign that was targeting a critical vulnerability in fully patched versions of Adobe's ubiquitous Flash media player. These attacks threatened not only Windows based PCs but OS X and Linux as well causing Adobe too issue an emergency update.

The vulnerability was fixed in the newly released Flash Player 13.0.0.206 for Windows and Mac and Flash Player 11.2.202.350 for Linux. The Flash Player versions bundled with Google Chrome, Internet Explorer 10 on Windows 8 and Internet Explorer 11 on Windows 8.1, will get the fix automatically through the respective update mechanisms of those browsers.

Have A Bad iPhone 5 Sleep/Wake Button? Apple Will Fix It For Free

An 'unknown issue' that has reportedly been plaguing what Apple calls "a small percentage" of the company's previous-generation smartphones as forced Apple into action resulting in free repairs for qualifying customers.

Apple said on its user-support page that "iPhone 5 models manufactured through March 2013 may be affected by this issue," in which the button, also known as a sleep/wake mechanism, stops functioning or works only intermittently.

Those affected by the bug that wish to have their phones serviced simply need to enter your device's serial number on the user support page that Apple has specially set up for dealing with this issue. Once you qualify — and we're not quite sure what criteria Apple is looking for in the "verify serial number" process, other than perhaps being phones from a certain release date or time frame - then you'll be able to drop your phone off at your nearest Apple Repair Center or mail it in to have it fixed.

Replacement of the sleep/wake button will have to be done at an Apple Repair Center. Giving users two options —carry-in or mail-in. Unfortunately the replacement process takes approximately 4-6 days from the time your iPhone is received at the repair center until it is returned to you. So expect to be without your beloved iPhone for up to six days as the Apple crew fixes it up. (If you require a loaner during the time that your iPhone is being serviced, participating Apple Retail Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers MAY have iPhone 5 models (16GB only) available.)

Before sending your iPhone off for repairs you'll need to remove any cases, turn off 'Find my iPhone' and back up all your data as Apple is requesting that all customers erase all of the content and settings on their devices. Additionally, Apple has noted that if you are running iOS 6, your iPhone will need to be upgraded to iOS 7 after the sleep/wake button mechanism is replaced.

6 Legitimate Ways To Watch TV Online For Free

Over the last couple of years millions of Americans have ditched their cable plans in favor of online streaming services like Netflix and iTunes. While these services are great most would agree that free or even lower cost alternatives would be ideal. Here are the tops 6 options we've found for watching our favorite shows online, 100% free and totally within the letter of the law!

Network Websites

Perhaps the most often overlooked by my fellow geeks out there is the fact that all of the major over-the-air networks, like NBC, ABC and CBS, will post episodes of recently aired TV shows to their respective websites. In addition to OTA networks several major cable channels now offer full episodes of their shows via their own sites as well. Generally, network sites only host a handful of the most recent episodes and don’t include episodes from previous seasons.

Hulu

Hulu, unless you've been hiding under a rock recently you've likely already been using Hulu, or at the very least you already know the name. Sure the site does have commercials, but if you’re looking for free shows, you usually have to sit through advertising of some form anyway. The upside is that Hulu features shows from a wide variety of networks so there is always a little something for everyone. One major downside to Hulu is that you can't yet get it on the go. You'll need a Hulu Plus subscription to use it on your mobile device.

Update: According to a post on the Hulu blog, the site will offer free streaming on mobile devices starting this summer. The specific shows that will be available weren’t mentioned, and Hopkins added that mobile device streaming will require new licensing deals.

YouTube

YouTube is often looked at as a user generated content only site. However they have been working over the past several years to add a great library of content. You can not only find full episodes of some of the more mainstream content but you'll also find some great indie-style shows. For those looking for full length movies, YouTube has you covered there. You can checkout the movies section for a great list of free movies, most you may have never heard of!

Crackle

Perhaps one of the best options for geeks looking to stream content on the go is Crackle. The service features a great mobile app that supports almost any device out there. Unfortunately it doesn’t offer a huge variety of stuff to watch, and there are ads to deal with. However, Crackle features some of our favorite full TV series alongside some of our favorite cult movies that you might want to check out.

LiveStation

LiveStation is a must for new geeks! The site compiles live news feeds from networks from around the world in one place. Some of the news streams that LiveStation offers include Al Jazeera, Sky News, Reuters, BBC, and more–all for free. Image and audio quality are generally good, but in our experience, it took a few moments to load streams. For those that need their news fix on the go they also have a great set of apps for mobile content.

TV.com

TV.com offers users a bit more of a social hub than just a video steaming site. The site features more of a blog type feel with news, reviews and community style content. However, if you look past all that and hit the “Videos” tab, you’ll find full episodes of recently aired network shows. It’s a lot like Hulu, but with less variety and fewer commercials. There’s no need to fret about any legal issues either: the site is run by CBS Interactive, and don't let that detract you either. There is still plenty of content from none CBS stations

Honorable mention goes to the BBC iPlayer which streams content from up to 250 programs from the British Broadcasting Corporation. BBC iPlayer does restrict streaming to the UK-only, but setting up a proxy to get past those restrictions is relatively easy.

I know we've probably overlooked several great sources out there since these are just the few that we've used recently. If you have some sites that we've overlooked that you think we should checkout, please feel free to comment below with your suggestions! 

Geeks Work Hard and Play Harder

Being a tech blogger, social media guru and overall geek in general is loads of work. Technology changes at break-neck speeds and unfortunately in the 'always on, always connected' era never rests. So it should come at no surprise that we work hard. That however comes with a wonderful upside, we get to play hard as well.

There are always new gadgets to checkout, new sites and services to review, conferences and meetings and then of course the occasional LAN party or hack-fest to keep us busy. The great upside to that is access to some of the newest and best tech on the market, without which I doubt I could get through this hustled life unscathed.

With the many devices I have available to me the one that I always have in my geeks toolbox is my #Intel2in1. I've found, after much trial and error, that trying to fulfill my daily requirements was going to be more than most devices could handle. So I have decide an #2in1 device best suited my overall needs. It is portable enough for on the go use, yet still fill all the functionality and productivity requirement of the demanding geek lifestyle.

Being a blogger means needing something that not only hands the fast paced on the go lifestyle but something that meets our rigorous productivity needs when typing out articles or reviews. While being a geek means needing a device that can handle the demands of a few games, some photo editing and maybe even a few more demanding tasks.

Over the course of the next few weeks I'll be putting my new device to the stress test that is the everyday life of a blogger. Which will be followed by a post with a comprehensive review sharing my hands on experience. So be sure to check back for more!


#spon: I'm required to disclose a relationship between our site and Intel This could include Intel providing us w/content, product, access or other forms of payment.

4 Great Green Technologies to Celebrate Earth Day

Environmental Advocate Shares Affordable Gadgets that Shrink Your Footprint – and Your Bills

Just as intended, the 44th annual celebration of Earth Day is surrounded by talk of our environment, our impact on it and what we can do to better live in harmony with it.

“We’re seeing more and more people who realize that, if each of us does what we can every day, collectively, we can have a tremendous impact,” says Lynda Chervil, a thought leader and green technology advocate whose new book, “Fool’s Return,” (http://lyndachervil.com/), mirrors real-life efforts to develop sustainable energy sources.

“All the people carrying reusable grocery sacks, people who’ve quit the plastic water bottle habit, folks heating their pools or houses with solar panels – that’s what we should be celebrating this Earth Day.”

This year’s March Gallup Environment poll found that 42 percent of Americans believe the outlook for the environment has improved, up from only 26 percent in 2008.

Chervil, who studies the science behind green technology, says environmental awareness has ramped up production of affordable goods that can shrink individuals’ carbon footprints. She shares four devices she says would make a nice gift for Mother Earth on her day:

•  HybridLight Solar Flashlight:  These flashlights never need batteries, can be charged from any light source, and they always work. The 120 lumens model will burn for eight hours on one charge. HybridLight’s flashlights are so reliable, the Boy Scouts’ Utah National Parks Council endorse them – and they come with a lifetime guarantee. For every 10 hours of use, 100 HybridLight flashlights avert 60 pounds of toxic battery landfill waste. An added very cool note – HybridLights has a mission to light up corners of the world with little or no electricity. Recently, the company supplied everyone in a Kenyan village with their own flashlight.  Cost: Prices start at less than $20.
•  Bedol Water Alarm Clock: Imagine a water-powered alarm clock that’s loud enough to scare you out of bed! Bedol’s water clocks run strictly on tap water – no batteries, no nothing else. The energy comes from a natural reaction between the water and two metal plates. The smallest clocks in the line run for six to 12 weeks before the display begins to fade, indicating that the water needs to be changes. Occasionally, you also need to clean the metal plates with vinegar. Just in time for Earth Day, Bedol is launch it’s 12-by-15-inch wall-mount water clock! Cost: Prices start at $19.
•  iGo Green Power Smart Wall:  We’ve all heard of the “vampires” in our homes that suck up power whether we’re using them or not – everything from coffee pots to laptops. Stem the bleeding with this surge protector that cuts the suck by up to 85 percent. The unit, which plugs into the wall, has four outlets, two of which are always on. The other two automatically power down when the attached appliance is not in use. Cost: Prices start at about $12.
•  Pama Eco Navigator Satellite Navigation system:  This GPS system also saves gasoline by providing you with the most energy-efficient routes to your destinations, and feedback on your car’s performance, so you can adjust your driving habits to improve your gas mileage. It also saves all your routes, so you can assess their fuel efficiency. Cost: Watch for pricing and availability on Amazon.

“Most of these items are not only budget priced, they save you money in batteries, electricity and fuel,” Chervil says. “Not only are you doing something great for the planet when you use green technology, you’re taking a load off your wallet.”

About Lynda Chervil

Lynda Chervil is the author of “Fool’s Return,” http://lyndachervil.com/, a new novel that incorporates valuable life lessons in a page-turning tale that touches on technology, the green movement, and other aspects of contemporary society. She graduated from New York University with a master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications and has extensive experience in consumer and commercial banking and has held positions in new business development, sales management and executive leadership. Chervil seeks to push the limits of established understanding by exploring alternative forms of spiritual healing, and, through creative writing, to expand the narrative of cutting-edge energy technology to promote sustainability.

Samsung Brings SideSync Phone-PC Mirroring App To All Users

Ever wanted to access files or view and control your phone directly from your PC? Well now you have a new option. Samsung has made the company's SideSync software, which allows Galaxy device users to mirror their devices to a PC, available for all Windows users.

The App, which was previously launched alongside Samsung ATIV laptops and desktops and was limited to use on those devices, allows Galaxy device owners running SideSync 3.0 to use their PC’s keyboard and mouse effortlessly with the phone.

With SideSync an image of the phone appears as a resizeable window on the screen, so users can launch apps or view content, even drag-and-drop files between the two devices. You can also copy and paste text, or type on the phone using the PC's keyboard.

To run the latest version of SideSync you have a Galaxy phone or tablet with the SideSync 3.0 installed, currently Samsung says that is limited to the Note 3, Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note Pro and Tab Pro line-up running Android KitKat and above. If you own one of these devices and you want to checkout the app or want more information you can grab that from Samsung's website.

Viruses and Malware On Your Smart TV May Soon Be A Reality

Security researchers warn that today's connected devices might soon become tomorrow's targets for hackers, viruses and malware.

Speaking to the Telegraph about the future of computer security in the wake of Heartbleed, Eugene Kaspersky, the chief executive of Kaspersky Labs warns consumers that as the Internet of Things expands more devices will be targeted by malware and viruses.

“The threats will diversify to mobile phones and to the home environment, such as through televisions, which are now connected to the Internet,” said Kaspersky.

Each year there are millions of attacks the thing we know. Like our Microsoft Windows equipped PCs, mobile phones running both Android, and Apple’s iOS.

Kaspersky warns, "More and more engineers are developing software for Android. All the systems are vulnerable and I am afraid it is very possible to see the scenario of bad guys developing malware for iOS. Technically, it is possible to infect millions of devices. Internet-enabled TV sets use both Android and Linux."

While Kaspersky admits that the company hasn't seen anyone produce a successful virus for a television set he believes it will happen stating that the company already has a product for mobile and we a prototype for TV. He said that it was only “a question of time” before a smart TV virus appeared in the wild.

Most Smart TVs on the market today run a version of Android similar to that found on any Android based smartphone. With the popularity of the connected devices growing, and the likely introduction of a new Apple TV soon which will likely grow the market even more. Smart TVs and other connected devices that for now have little to no security in place may soon become the next easy target on the web.

Apple Offering Developers 'Second Chance' At Unclaimed WWDC Tickets

If you weren't one of the lucky lottery winners for your chance to get tickets to this year's Apple Worldwide Developers Conference don't despair just yet. According to several reports, Apple is directly contacting developers, asking them if they'd like to purchase any unclaimed tickets to WWDC that may become available.

According to 9to5Mac, Apple has been reaching out to developers who didn't win to give them a chance to purchase unclaimed tickets. When the first invitations for WWDC passes went out on April 7, the company indicated that those who initially won a chance at tickets under the new lottery system had exactly one week to purchase their tickets. 

At the time Apple made no indications as to what might happen to those extra tickets remaining unclaimed from anyone that didn't take advantage of their lottery win by 8 p.m. ET on April 14. It would however, stand to reason that Apple would take advantage of any unclaimed tickets to make nice with developers and offer them a chance at attending the widely popular event. 

At this time it is uncertain how Apple is determining who to invite or how many of the new WWDC invites it will offer up. What we do know is that those lucky developers who receive an email about purchasing one of the new WWDC tickets made available have exactly 24 hours from receipt the email to make the buy. If they don't, we can only assume that Apple's going to offer up their ticket to the next person in line, and so on and so forth.


The event will be held at San Francisco's Moscone Center West from June 2 to 6. The $1600 tickets generally sale out in minutes, so this year, the company moved to a lottery format to open up attendance and ease concerns many long time developers have had.



 

This Weekend Only Get 30 PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita For $1 Each

This weekend only Sony has dropped the prices of more than 30 games for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita--ranging from older $6 PlayStation Classics to $20 PS3 games--to $1. This promotion doesn't require a PlayStation Plus membership or anything of the sort; from now until Monday, April 21 at 7 a.m., everyone is free to take advantage of this $1 deal.

Gamer can get classic titles like Braid, Everyday Shooter, Gotham City Impostors, Plants vs Zombies, Retro City Rampage, Super Stardust HD, Tokyo Jungle and more for just $0.99 each. Click here and check out the full lineup which includes the following games:

• Back to the Future: The Game - Full Series 
• Blast Factor
• Braid
• Crash Bandicoot
• Crash Bandicoot 2
• Crash Bandicoot 3: WARPED
• Crash Commando
• CTR: Crash Team Racing
• echochrome ii
• Everyday Shooter (PS3 and PS Vita)
• Gex: Enter the Geko
• Gotham City Impostors
• Jurassic Park: The Game - Full Season
• Plants vs Zombies
• Red Faction
• Red Faction 2
• Red Faction: Battlegrounds
• Retro City Rampage (PS3 and PS Vita)
• Retro/Grade
• Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse
• Spyro: The Dragon
• Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage
• Spyro: Year of the Dragon
• Stuntman: Ignition
• Super Stardust HD
• Tales of Monkey Island
• Tokyo Jungle
• Urban Trial Freestyle (PS3 and PS Vita)
• When Vikings Attack (PS3 and PS Vita)
• World Gone Sour

Google Glass Goes Onsale To Everyone April 15th

Google Glass is all the rage with many tech geeks clamoring to be added to the wait list to get their hands on the hottest thing in tech. Unfortunately until now the device has only had limited been availability to the general public. So far, the face-mounted computers have been sold only to Google "Explorers," the company's name for early adopters. At first only developers could buy Glass, but Google slowly expanded the program to include regular people.

If like most you've been dying to try out Google Glass then Tuesday will be your lucky day. Google is opening sales of Glass for one day only to any adult in the United States who wants one of the devices. In true sale fashion, Google is throwing in free frames or sunglasses for those first-time customers and the supply is limited. Sales start at 9 a.m. ET on April 15, but people can sign up now with Google to receive a reminder.

Here’s the details direct from Google:

Next Tuesday, April 15th at 6am PDT, we’re opening up some spots in the Glass Explorer Program. Any adult in the U* can become an Explorer by visiting our site and purchasing Glass for $1500 + tax – and it now comes with your favorite shade or frame, thanks to feedback from our current Explorers. The number of spots available is limited, so mark your calendar if you want to get in. You can find us on Tuesday at: http://google.com/glass/start/how-to-get-one

If you have the extra $1500 laying around or if you are expecting that big tax refund, this might be the ultimate tax day relief. Personally I've been holding out in hopes that the prices would come down, or we'd see someone else enter the market.

So Long Windows XP You'll Be Missed: Microsoft Officially Terminates Support for Windows XP

A mere twelve and a half years after its launch, Microsoft has finally pulled the plug on Windows XP officially ending any further support for the long lived and much beloved operating system. The OS lived far longer than Microsoft had ever hoped. Reaching new heights with the failed launch of Windows Vista and still holding a strong market share even after Windows 7 and Windows 8 were launched.

Mainstream support for Windows XP ended five years ago, in April 2009, and since then, the company has been providing ‘extended support’ for the OS. Today, April 8, 2014, marks the official end of the extended support phase for Windows XP (and also for Office 2003) – from today, Microsoft will no longer offer free security patches, updates or fixes of any kind to users of Windows XP across the globe, including consumers and businesses alike.

Although Microsoft officially ends its support for Windows XP today, there is no for mass panic to spread out across the web. Your computer will not immediately shut itself down, or spontaneously self-destruct. In fact, most of you probably won’t notice any real difference at all. The main risk here is that, according to most security researchers hackers are waiting at the gates with exploits that could soon be launched to target the masses of Windows XP computers that are still accessing the web worldwide.

For those of you, like myself, that still have at least one Windows XP based machine on their network there are still a few options for securing your machines and keeping them safe. However, those options are slowly fading away, with many companies slowing ending support for aging OS.

I still have Windows XP what are my options now?

Windows XP will no longer be a viable long term option. At some point every company out there that hasn't already ended support will. For the short term you'll want to at the very least find a good security suite and malware detector. Microsoft will continue to provide basic security protection for Windows XP through its Security Essentials suite and the anti-malware Malicious Software Removal Tool; both of these will continue to be updated through to July 14, 2015. However, a third party option may still be in order. You'll also want to make sure all of your current applications, plugins ect are fully patched and updated.

Short of all that you'll want to start looking for a long term solution. This would require either upgrading to a newer Windows based OS, perhaps buying a new computer or taking the plunge and checking out something entirely different altogether. There are several great Linux distributions out there that are extremely user friendly. There is also the option of Google’s streamlined Chrome OS, which is available on notebooks and desktops that might feel more familiar to XP users.

Either way you go you would be much better off taking the leap sooner rather than later!

Did You Catch The Premiere of Mike Judge’s ‘Silicon Valley’?

While I'm sure most of my fellow geeks were glued to the TV watching the season four premiere of Game of Thrones, there was a second equally geeky show that premiered immediately following. Mike Judge’s new half-hour show that takes on the tech scene, Silicon Valley debuted right after Game of Thrones on HBO.


The new show follows the lives of 6 would be Silicon Valley programmers, played by as they try to make it big in the tech world. In case you missed it, HBO is offering the first episode free on YouTube. Just click below to check it out!

Did you checkout the ‘Silicon Valley’ premiere? Share your thoughts about the new show with us in a comment below.

Apple Announces WWDC Dates For June 2-6, Adds New Ticket Lottery System

Apple today announced that it will hold its wildly popular Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) June 2 through June 6 at San Francisco’s Moscone West. The event which features conferences and developers forums  will allow lucky tickets holders an inside glimpse into the future of iOS and OS X

The 2014 WWDC will feature more than 100 technical sessions, over 1,000 Apple engineers, hands-on labs to help developers integrate new technologies and fine tune their apps, as well as the Apple Design Awards which showcase the best apps from the past year.

WWDC 2014 activities include:

• More than 100 technical sessions presented by Apple engineers on a wide range of topics for developing, deploying and integrating the latest iOS and OS X technologies;
• more than 1,000 Apple engineers supporting over 100 hands-on labs and events to provide developers with code-level assistance, insight into optimal development techniques and guidance on how they can make the most of iOS and OS X technologies in their apps;
• the latest innovations, features and capabilities of iOS and OS X, and how to enhance an app’s functionality, performance, quality and design;
• the opportunity to connect with thousands of fellow iOS and OS X developers from around the world—last year more than 60 countries were represented;
• a new series of get togethers for attendees focused on particular topics with special guest speakers and activities; 
• engaging and inspirational lunchtime sessions with leading minds and influencers from the worlds of technology, science and entertainment; and
• Apple Design Awards which recognize iPhone, iPad and Mac apps that demonstrate technical excellence, innovation and outstanding design.

Unlike in years past, tickets for WWDC 2014 will not be sold in a first-come-first-served fashion, a move that  seeks to eliminate the mad rush of the past, when tickets sold out so quickly many developers only heard about their availability after the supply had been exhausted.

Developers can apply for tickets via the WWDC website (developer.apple.com/wwdc) now through Monday, April 7 at 10:00 a.m. PDT, and tickets will be issued to attendees through random selection. Developers will know their status by Monday, April 7 at 5:00 p.m. PDT. There will also be 200 Student Scholarships available, giving students around the world the chance to earn a free ticket (developer.apple.com/wwdc/students). This year the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and its alliance partners will help promote scholarships to female engineers and coders.