Showing posts with label Tech News. Show all posts

Meet Cirrus7 Nimbini – The Most Beautiful Ubuntu PC Ever Made

cirrus7-nimbini-ubuntu-windows
Cirrus7 Nimbini reminds us that beautiful PCs are possible. This laser-cut aluminum PC from German PC manufacturer Nimbini is company’s smallest PC ever. Back in the year 2014, Ubuntu-powered Cirrus7 Nimbus won the renowned Red Dot design award. Earlier this week, Cirrus7 unveiled their latest offering – Cirrus7 Nimbini.
This Broadwell NUC motherboard powered PC is made out of laser-cut aluminum layers to deliver a silent and fanless performance. You will have an option to choose from Windows and Ubuntu operating systems. With the Cirrus7 Nimbini, you’ve got the option of preistalled Ubuntu 14.04 LTS or Ubuntu 15.04.
The Cirrus7 Nimbini is available in a cheaper “kit” module or as a complete assembled package. This new 150 x 150 x 87mm NUC comes as a kit that will allow DIY enthusiasts to tweak and play with the design. The kit comes in 90 parts and it will save on costs.
The Nimbini also includes the much awaited 28W Iris Graphics i7 one with stellar cooling. The Broadwell processors will range from i3 to i7 and the housing will have space for an additional 2.5 inch drive.
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The connector that will be found on Cirrus7 Nimbini are:
  • 4 – USB 3.0 (2 front, 2 back)
  • 2 – Mini Displayport
  • Ethernet
  • Audio jack
The Cirrus7  Nimbini is expected to become available for pre-order very soon and will be shipping to you from mid-may. Pricing of the system is yet to be revealed.

This code can hack nearly 90 percent of credit card readers in circulation

This code can hack nearly 90 percent of credit card readers in circulation

Shocking : A cyber security firm found 90% of credit card readers currently use the same password from 1990 till date.

This is a facepalm moment for the credit card issues and retailers. Nearly all credit card readers in United States are still using the default password which can be easily hacked into by cyber criminals.
The passcode, set by default on credit card machines since 1990, has been exposed for so long there’s no sense in trying to hide it. It’s either 166816 or Z66816, depending on the machine.
Using either of the two passwords, an attacker can gain complete control of a store’s credit card readers, potentially allowing them to hack into the machines and steal customers’ payment data. No wonder big retailers like Target and Home Depot keep on losing our credit card data to hackers.
Researchers at Trustwave, a cybersecurity firm were quite flummoxed to find that retailers still use decades old passwords for credit card readers. Trustwave executive, Charles Henderson explained that armed with these passwords, hackers can gain administrative access to the card readers and infect them with malware that steals credit card data. Henderson presented his findings at last week’s RSA cybersecurity conference in San Francisco at a presentation called “That Point of Sale is a PoS.”
Device makers sell machines to special distributors. These vendors sell them to retailers. But no one thinks it’s their job to update the master code, Henderson told CNNMoney.
“No one is changing the password when they set this up for the first time; everybody thinks the security of their point-of-sale is someone else’s responsibility,” Henderson said. “We’re making it pretty easy for criminals.”
To arrive at the conclusion, Trustwave researchers studied the credit card terminals at more than 120 retailers nationwide. Henderson stated that these terminals included major clothing and electronics stores, as well as local retail chains however he did not name specific retailers.
According to Trustwave majority of the machines in operation in the US are manufactured by Verifone but they found the same issue to be present in all major terminal makers.
A spokesman for Verifone said that a password alone isn’t enough to infect machines with malware. The company said, until now, it “has not witnessed any attacks on the security of its terminals based on default passwords.” As an afterthought the spokesperson added that Verifone said retailers are “strongly advised to change the default password.”
The fault however lies with the retailers as they should be securing their own machines. Consider one case Henderson investigated recently. A nasty keystroke-logging spy software ended up on the computer a store uses to process credit card transactions. It turns out employees had rigged it to play a pirated version of Guitar Hero, and accidentally downloaded the malware.
“It shows you the level of access that a lot of people have to the point-of-sale environment,” he said. “Frankly, it’s not as locked down as it should be.”

10 Interesting Facts About Video Games

10 Interesting Facts about Video Games

Interesting fun facts about video games that every hardcore gamer should know

A quick look at Video Game history before we begin with interesting facts about video games. Yes, video game history is all we are going to talk about in this article, bringing the best facts about video games.
Video gaming goes back to early 1950’s with the inventions of simulations, and artificial intelligence programs and simple games to begin with for computer science research.
However video games gained real popularity with the introduction of arcade video games, gaming consoles and home computer games in 1970s and 1980s. since then the video gaming world has evolved so much to see eight generations of video game consoles passing by with latest generation including Nintendo’s “Wii U” , Microsoft’s “Xbox One” , and Sony’s “PlayStation 4″.
1. Facts about Nintendo’s Mario Series
Image: DonkeyKong
Image: DonkeyKong
Mario was created by the Nintendo’s Japanese video game designer, Shigeru Miyamoto and is the best selling video game franchise of all time.
The character (Mario) first debuted as “Jumpman” in the arcade game Donkey Kong on July 9, 1981.
Mario in this game is a carpenter who has a pet ape named Donkey Kong, who later escapes and kidnaps Jumpman’s girlfriend. the game is all about to take the role of jumpman and to rescue the girl.
The character was later on renamed as Mr. Video Game and finally as Mario on the name of  the landlord of Nintendo’s first warehouse Mr. Mario Segale. the character mario has been present in more than 200 games.
2. The first coin operated video games1108984894
Arcade games or coin operated video games are usually installed in public business premises, such as restaurants, bars, and particularly amusement arcades. The first coin operated pinball machines emerged in 1930’s however the golden era for coin operated video games started in the late 1970s to the mid-1990s.
Space Invaders, Galaxian , Pac-Man , Battlezone , Defender and Bosconian were few of the most popular Arcade games of all times.
3. Game Controller or Input devices for Video Games Joystick_-_Microsoft_Sidewinder_3D_Pro
A game controller is a device to control the game by providing inputs to control the character or an object in the game.
The earlier primary input for video games has been handheld controllers and since then it has evolved to cameras to detect motions , speakers or microphones for voice commands touch screens and more.
4. The Sony PlayStation
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The Sony PlayStation was originally brought as a CD add-on to the Super Nintendo (a partnership between Nintendo and Sony). But Sony later decided to develop the playstation as a complete gaming console of its own after it started facing problems with licensing.
The original PlayStation was released on December 3, 1994. The PlayStation, was the first video game console to ship 100 million units within 9 years and 6 months after its initial launch.
5. Cheating in Video Games using cheatcodes
Cheatcodes, yes they have existed in video games for almost their entire history. Cheatcodes usually provide advantage to the gamer providing ease in the game.
The first cheat codes were put in place for play testing purposes. Playtesters had to rigorously test the mechanics of a game and introduced cheat codes to make this process easier.
6. Rovio’s Angry birdsRedBird
Rovio’s Angry Birds mobile game took only 35 days to do what telephone took 75 years, Internet took 4 years and Facebook 3.5 Years in order to reach 50 million users.
The game was first released for Apple’s iOS devices in December 2009 and since October 2010, 12 million copies of the game were purchased from Apple’s App Store.
The game was later released for Android, Symbian, Windows platform, gaming consoles and PC’s.
The original Angry Birds has been called “one of the most mainstream games out right now”, “one of the great runaway hits of 2010″, and “the largest mobile app success the world has seen so far”.
7. Pac-Man220px-Pac-man
Pac-Man is an arcade game created by Namco and was released in Japan on May 22, 1980.
Toru Iwatani the man who developed Pac-Man earlier said that the idea about this game came into his mind while he was eating a pizza. he repeatedly stated that the character’s shape was inspired by a pizza missing a slice. however he later confirmed that this was only the half fact and the character design was also inspired by the Japanese character for mouth, Kuchi.
8. Nintendo’s Gameboy sold more than 100 million units worldwide and is the worlds most successful game system ever.
9. Konami code 
Konami code or the gamers code is a set of cheat code which is present in most of theUntitledKonami games and some other games too.
The code was first released in the 1986 with shooting games of Konami however it gained popularity by the Nintendo Entertainment system version of contra named as “Contra Code” and “30 Lives Code”, the code provided a full set of power-ups to the player.
10. The Nintendo GameCube’s proprietary disc held 1.5 gigabytes of data which is 190 times more than what an N64 game cartridge could hold.
Hope you like reading about some rare facts about video games. Do drop in comments about what you think is a fact to remember from video gaming.

Micromax Canvas Tab P690 Android tablet with 3G and voice calling launched for Rs 8,999

Micromax Canvas Tab P690 Android tablet with 3G and voice calling launched for Rs 8,999

Micromax Canvas Tab P690 Android Tablet With 3G Support, 8-Inch Display Launched at Rs. 8,999

Micromax has offered a new budget to its Canvas Tab fleet,called the Micromax Canvas Tab P690, the slate is priced at Rs 8,999, and will be available via major brick-and-mortar stores and on e-commerce websites starting June 7th.
The Canvas Tab P690 with 8-inch HD (1280 x 800 pixels) display , runs on a 1.8 Ghz quad-core 4th gen Intel Atom processor with 1GB RAM and 8GB ROM with support for up to 32GB microSD cards.
The device runs Android 4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box and is upgradable to Android Lollipop. For imaging, the Canvas Tab P690 offers a 5MP(with HD video recording support) autofocus rear shooter and a 2MP front snapper. Connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, and GPS. It features a 4000mAh battery that’s rated to deliver up to 180 hours of standby time.
The Tab has really slim bezels, diamond cut edges and an unique metallic grey finish on a 7.8mm thin body, weighing 318 gms.Powered by a 4000 mAh battery, Micromax claims to offer a battery life of more than 180 hours on stand-by mode.
The Canvas Tab P690 is also being bundled with six free e-books on Kindle, a Saavn premium subscription for three months, a free six-month premium subscription to Truecaller, and access to unlimited movies for a month on Hello TV. To stay connected, users can access 3G, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Connectivity, voice call support as well as OTG cable support.
As Micromax said, its “ONE TAB FITS ALL” on the block. Go & grab it.

TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR WIFI CONNECTIVITY

Here are some common ways to boost your WiFi signal:

The Perfect Spot for your Router

Router Placement
Just because the router looks dirty or outdated does not mean you hide it behind the desk or dressing table. In order to get the best signal, it must be put in a place that has minimum obstruction and is free of any walls. For example, the best place would be the living room because of the huge area. An elevated area would prove to be an advantage too.

Switching the Channel

WLAN-Channel-interference
Neighbouring WiFi signals tend to interfere with your own WiFi signals, thus leading to the degrading of the network. WiFi routers operate on different channels, and you would want to adjust your channel on to the one with minimum interference. The most common channels for wireless networking are channel 1,6 and 11.

The more, the merrier

wifi router
Most WiFi routers come with two fixed antennas, which are obviously not strong enough to send signals to the distant corners of the house. Adding a booster antenna can solve this problem. With three antennas in place, it comfortably covers large areas, throughout entire homes or offices.

Avoid Interfering Devices

Wifi
Devices like cell phones, cordless phones, microwaves can often interfere with your signal. Suggestions would be to move the router as far as you can from the interfering appliances.
For example, a microwave operates at the same frequency as one of the WiFi access points, thus reducing efficiency and capacity of your access by 50%.

Install a Wireless Repeater or Booster

wireless repeater
Attaching a wireless Booster will boost the strength of your wireless network. But, if you need to boost the range too, connect a wireless Repeater. These devices allow you to communicate with specific SSID or repeat the signal with the same or a different name, thus providing enhanced coverage and strength, without having an Ethernet cable to connect to the access points. The greatest benefit is it works like an extended signal provider, without requiring additional wiring. Both attachments are very cheap in cost.

Xiaomi to send 100,000 banned Redmi Note 3G Phones back to Hong Kong

Xiaomi to send 100,000 banned Redmi Note 3G Phones back to Hong Kong

Legal battle between Ericsson and Xiaomi likely to end after Xiaomi agrees to return 100,000 banned Redmi Note 3G Phones from India

On Monday, in a relief to Xiaomi, the Delhi High Court on Monday allowed the Chinese smartphone maker to return its Redmi Note 3G handsets on whose sale has been banned in India due to a patent dispute filed by Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson.
Justice Mukta Gupta who was on the vacation bench finalized this judgement, and asked Xiaomi to return over 100,000 3G handsets to their point of origin in Hong Kong, after Swedish telecom Ericsson agreed to the arrangement.
The Court also directed Xiaomi to keep a proper inventory of the handsets, which are currently lying unused with Flipkart through which the Chinese company sells its phones under an exclusive arrangement.
Advocate Ajit Warrier, appearing on behalf of the Chinese firm, said its phones like Redmi Note, which run on a MediaTek processor, have been forbidden from sale in India by the high court. He further said that the company was only allowed by the court to sell its Qualcomm chipset-based phones. As a result, the other variety of phones are lying unused with Flipkart.
Redmi 1S, Mi 3, Mi 4 and Mi 4i which are equipped with Qualcomm chips are also very popular brands of Xiaomi.
The Delhi High Court in December 2014 had asked Xiaomi to stop selling of all their mobile phones. However, later Xiaomi filed a plea, and proved that only their Redmi 3G phones are using the Media Tek chip.
The legal battle between Ericsson and Xiaomi is expected to come to an end with Xiaomi agreeing to the decision of returning the banned 3G phones to Hong Kong.

How to Record iPhone screen without Jailbreak

More than a billion people on this world have iPhones and iPads. Demand for the Apple devices are increasing very much these days. Many people Jailbreak their devices only because they need to record their iPhone screens. But why to void the warranty of your device for a simple task which can be even done without Jailbreak.
Record-iPhone-and-iPad-screen-without-Jailbreak
Yes, this is possible. Now you can record your iPhone screen without the need to Jailbreak your device. This method is very simple, you just need to follow the steps discussed below.

Steps to Record iPhone and iPad screen without Jailbreak


  1. Open the Safari browser using your iOS device.
  2. Open the website Emu4iOS.net.
  3. From this website, download the Shou App to your device.
  4. Launch the Shou app on your device.
  5. After opening the app, signup using your facebook or google account.
  6. After you sign up and login, there will be 2 options available in this app. Start Broadcasting & Start Recording.
  7. You can also adjust orientation, quality and timing of the video.
  8. Click on start recording to start capturing the screen of your iPhone without the need to Jailbreak. When you start recording, a red dot will start showing up, which means recording.
  9. To stop the recording, click on the red dot at the top of the screen.
  10. Congratulations, you successfully recorded the screen of your iOS device without Jailbreak.

Intel and Toshiba Make 3D SSD With 10TB Capacity at Lower Prices

3d-ssd-intel-toshiba-nand-
The future solid state drives are going to be much richer in terms of storage capacity. SSDs have also suffered from the price factor which acts as a disadvantage for them. Intel and Micron have said that new solid state drives with storage capacity as large as 10 TB will be in the market next year. On the other hand Toshiba has separately developed same kind of “3D NAND” technology to support more data storage.
As a result, flash storage devices and SSDs will get cheaper and larger in capacity. Let’s know more about both companies’ inventions one by one:

Intel and Micron:

Intel and Micron has unveiled new 3D NAND flash memory technology that will provide three times more storage capacity than existing NAND technologies. The new 3D NAND technology uses floating gate cells that make it the highest density flash device.
This tech enables a gum stick-sized SSDs with approx. 3.5 TB storage. The standard 2.5-inch SSDs will have more than 10TB capacity.
In this 3D NAND technology, data storage cells are stored vertically with extraordinary accuracy to create storage devices with 3 times more capacity. Intel and Micron used a floating gate cell design which is refined after years of research.3d-ssd-intel-toshiba-nand
Apart from reduced costs and high capacities, new 3D SSD will be faster. They will support new sleep mode that will result in low energy consumption by switching off the power supply to inactive NAND die.

Toshiba:

Toshiba has announced that it has created world’s first 48-layer NAND 3D SSD. Tokyo bases Toshiba Corporation is calling this BiCS- a 2-bit-per-cell 16GB device.
World's First 48-layer BiCS - Toshiba
World’s First 48-layer BiCS – Toshiba
The BiCS uses 48-layer stacking process that improves reliability and speed. Toshiba was the company that invented flash memory and has the 15nm NAND cells which are the smallest in the world.
Right now company is gearing up for its mass production and giving out samples to the companies.
These new developments made by Micron and Intel, and Toshiba will take about one year to reach the market. These 3D SSDs will give a tough time to the existing players and will provide better speeds and more storage at cheaper rates to users

Tips to stay safe on the Internet

Today, we are constantly connected to the Internet either through a desktop PC, laptop, tablet or mobile phone.It has become easier than ever for government authorities, businesses and also hackers to track your movements online. An example is the use of tracking cookies by social media giant Facebook, which trace your IP address and Internet history in order to tailor the ads to you specifically. Here is an example of the kind of data that is collected:
anon_privacynet-100401693-orig

We will show you the methods and techniques to browse the Internet care free, for peace of mind.

The best way to surf the web is anonymously using something called a proxy. When using a proxy your web browser doesn’t contact the website directly it goes through a proxy first masking your IP address. There are several methods to achieve this, you can configure your web browser to do so or use alternative software. First of all we will show you how to configure your web browser:

For Firefox:
1: Open Mozilla Firefox
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2: Click Firefox tab
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3:Click Options

imageedit_10_8098497994
4: Access Connection Settings. Click the Advanced tab, then the Network tab, then Settings
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5: Chose the manual proxy configuration option. In the HTTP proxy field, enter your proxy server IP address. In the port field, enter your port number.
imageedit_12_4916609242
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6:Click Ok to complete

Within Internet explorer the technique is a little different:

1: Open up Internet Explorer
imageedit_16_5490733917
2: Click on the Tools menu in the upper-right corner, and select Internet Options.
imageedit_18_4424017369
3:Click connections
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4:Click Lan settings
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5: Check “Use a proxy server for your LAN,” then enter your proxy IP address and port number.
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6: Click Ok
Finally below is the technique within Google Chrome.
1: Open Google Chrome
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2:Click on the options menu on the top right hand side
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3: Click on settings
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4: Click “Show advanced settings at the bottom of the drop down menu
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5: Then click change proxy settings
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6: Click Lan Settings, click on the Proxy server for your LAN” and enter your proxy settings.

google-chrome-proxy-settings

Step 7 click ok and save your new settings.

You can also use third party proxies, there a large list of them available on the Internet to choose from.  Simply search for proxies on your desired search engine.

Google’s New Operating System for IoT (Brillo Project)


 The Internet of Things devices are the future of technology and the gadgets based upon that will be the driving wheels of our lives. Different companies are trying their best to make a mark on this new and fast-growing market. Few weeks ago, Microsoft launched Windows 10 IoT Core along with the easy installation and support for Raspberry Pi and Arduino. Walking on the same line, Google aims to power the Internet of Things devices.
According to the Information, Google is working on an operating system that will work on IoT devices. This homegrown streamlined OS is called Brillo and will make its debut at Google’s I/O Developers Conference this month.

This new IoT OS is expected to be released under the Android segment as the Information reports that the company is developing the software with the help of the Android unit of the company.
This will work on low-power and low memory devices and couple possibly run on 32 or 64MB RAM. The lower memory devices will show a steep decline from the current min 512MB memory devices.
Currently, few details are available about Brillo but all the secrets about this new IoT operating system from Google will be soon revealed when Google I/O will kick off on 28 May. With new and intelligent devices equipped with this IoT OS, the devices could become more productive and efficient.
Apart from Brillo IoT OS, the technology company is also expected to announce Android M – the next major update to its Android operating system at the I/O conference.
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