All Eyes May Be on Security in Samsung's S5

Mobile device security is a major issue for the enterprise as the BYOD trend gains momentum, because personally owned mobile devices increasingly are being used to access enterprise systems and cloud-based data, according to the Cloud Security Alliance. The leading mobile threat is data loss from lost, stolen or decommissioned devices, it found. Information-stealing mobile malware is second.

RRumors that Samsung will include iris-recognition technology in its forthcoming Galaxy S5 smartphone, widely expected to be launched in April, were given a boost on Thursday through a Bloomberg interview of Lee Young Hee, executive vice president of Samsung Mobile.

People are "fanatical" about iris recognition technology and Samsung is "studying the possibility," Lee said, but he would not confirm its implementation in the S5.

The S5 will be paired with the successor of the company's Galaxy Gear smartwatch, which has not fared as well as hoped.

The chances of Samsung's implementing iris-scanning technology are fairly good as smartphone manufacturers keep introducing innovative security features in their ongoing battle for market share.

"We're seeing a race among manufacturers, particularly between Samsung and LG in Android phones, which are inherently secure, and between Apple, BlackBerry and Samsung on the others," Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group, told TechNewsWorld. "Samsung has been particularly aggressive."

The Galaxy S5's Rumored Specs

The S5 reportedly will have a metal frame, unlike the plastic mold used in earlier models.

There is speculation that Samsung is working on a Quad HD screen, which has a display resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels -- four times as many as in the 720p HDTV video standard.

Samsung reportedly began production of a 5.25-inch QHD display for the S5 back in December.

The S5 will trail behind China's 6-inch Vivo Xplay 3S smartphone, which was released with a QHD display in December.

Everything Old Is New Again

Reports that Samsung might implement iris scanning in the Galaxy S5 first surfaced in October.

Patentbolt in November published Samsung's patent application on iris scanning, which gave credence to the rumors.

Many Asians do not have sufficient melanin pigments in their eyes to use a general flash for illumination in iris scanning, so a separate built-in infrared ray source of illumination is necessary, Patentbolt said. That would increase the weight and bulk of a mobile device.

Samsung's technology gets around this by using a proximity sensor.

The company's patent application illustrates a smartphone that includes standard features such as a camera, light-emitting and a light-receiving units, and a power supply. It also includes an illustration of an iris-sensing unit.

The input unit may be a soft button, a virtual button, or an icon of a touchpad or touchscreen; a keyboard; a microphone; or an action or gesture sensor.

Samsung's patent was filed in the U.S. in Q2 2013, and in Korea one year earlier, Patentbolt said.

Samsung and Smartphone Security

Samsung's earlier effort to provide security for mobile devices in the enterprise, the Knoxservice, has been troubled.

Initially scheduled to be preloaded with the Galaxy S4, which was unveiled in March, Knox's launch was pushed back to the end of 2013. Then security researchers discovered a critical vulnerability in the devices that made it easy to intercept data communications.

That caused the U.S. Department of Defense, which had approved Knox-based mobile devices for deployment on its networks in May, to investigate the claims of vulnerability.

"Samsung has this nasty habit of bringing out stuff before it's ready, like the Galaxy Gear, so the first implementation [of iris recognition] will likely be problematic," Enderle remarked. "It will either be insecure or won't work properly."

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Samsung's New Galaxy S5 Might Ship Bathtub-Ready

ot everyone wants to go swimming with their smartphone -- but everyone wants a smartphone that can survive the occasional dunk or deluge. Samsung may fulfill that desire with its Galaxy S5, expected to appear next week at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Neither rain nor snow nor a sudsy kitchen sink or bubbly bathtub would do it in. Still a good idea to keep the toilet lid down, though.

 all the Samsung Galaxy S5 rumors to hit this week, the one that had me sit up straight and pay close attention is the rumor that the new Galaxy S5 may be both waterproof and dustproof.

This is a big deal, because it would be the first major flagship smartphone with wide and popular distribution to be waterproof.

Of course, Samsung last year offered the Galaxy S4 Active, which was a variant of its regular Galaxy S4. The Active version had a slightly bigger case and was IP67 certified: It could withstand a 30-minute submersion down to about 3 feet of water.

Unfortunately, you could still void the warranty if the unit actually failed and water seeped inside, killing your Galaxy S4 Active and leaving you high and dry with no recourse other than shelling out for a new phone.

In fact, there were some reports of Galaxy S4 Active units failing under normal, expected underwater use, which surely didn't help launch sales to true outdoor enthusiasts.

Still, the Galaxy S4 Active was a fine start, and while Sony's Xperia ZR and Z1S are also "waterproof," they aren't nearly as influential as the Samsung Galaxy line.

Bring It to the Bathtub, Baby!

While having a truly waterproof smartphone that you actually could snorkel with -- shooting photos and video of turtles and fish -- would be particularly fantastic, I'm not holding my breath.

For most people, simply being able to use their smartphone in the rain or snow would be a great leap forward. I once dropped an iPhone in a kitchen sink filled with soapy water. Although I snatched it out in time to save its life, my blood pressure skyrocketed while I frantically performed the smartphone equivalent of CPR.

Similarly, drinks get spilled on tables -- and at bars -- and who wants to be the clumsy guy who destroys a US$600 smartphone that belongs to the girl you just met?

Have you ever tried reading an e-book in the bathtub? Old-school paper is a lot less risky. Even so, all those nooks and crannies in smartphones and their cases could use a good dunking every now and then just to wash off the germs.

At the very least, it would be nice for active people who exercise with their smartphones -- just putting a smartphone in a front pants pocket and then hiking can introduce enough moisture from vaporous sweat to void your warranty.

A mostly waterproof smartphone is about peace of mind.

The Rumor and Ramifications

The waterproof rumor comes courtesy of reports from two tech news sites in Samsung's home country: ZDNet Korea and ET News.

Because this rumor comes just days before Samsung's big "Unpacked" product announcement -- set for Monday at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona -- I'm inclined to give it a high chance of being true.

As for effects on the industry, this possible feature carries more weight than a snappier processor, better camera, or even a Samsung fingerprint sensor. Why? Everyone wants their smartphone to be essentially waterproof.

Not only would it add pressure to other Android competitors, it could become an interesting advancement over Apple. After all, if Apple is so obsessed with amazing industrial design, why can't it create a waterproof iPhone, too?

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Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Review (2014 Edition)

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Full Review

When it comes to modern technologies and mobile device innovations, I think we will all agree that Samsung always manages to surprise us. In recent years the company has turned into the main leader on the market of mobile devices. Their main purpose has always been to impress their customers and bring mobile device productivity to a whole new level. Today, Samsung are among the most powerful smartphone and tablet manufacturer.

Last year when the company released their new Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, we all fell in love with it. But the truth is that we have always though Samsung can do much better. And we were right! This time they have decided to hit the market with something much more impressing. Here is a short review of the newGalaxy Note 10.1 Edition 2014. It has plenty of new improvements and innovations and we are absolutely sure that this time, Samsung will manage to blow their competitors away. Here are some of its main features.

he new Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet has a lot of changes. One of the main differences is its new design, which has a thin elegant frame and a better 10-inch Super clear LCD display with WQXGA (2560×1600) resolution. Also, the processor of the tablet has been significantly improved – it is a quad-core, but with an operating frequency of 2,3 GHz. In terms of the RAM, Samsung offer us the impressing 3GB. There is no doubt that the company has a decent reason to advertise the significant improvement in terms of the device’s performance. But these are just a small part of the new improvements.

The new interface allows users to organize their favorite resources much easier. They can use a “dashboard” which will give them quick and easy access to their data content. According to Samsung, the multitasking options of the device are also worth our attention: with the so-called Multi Window function, users can start one and the same application more than once; they can use the improved S Pen stylus to drag and drop content from one window to another. The Pen Window option gives consumers the opportunity to outline the screen window to any size and immediately enter their favourite applications such as YouTube or calculator. The tablet also includes the upgraded features of GALAXY Note S Pen – Action Memo, Scrapbook, Screen Write and S Finder.

The new Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 offers content from Samsung’s partners. This improves the features of entertainment, productivity and creativity of the device. Another great thing about the device is in terms of the security. If you have some important documents, videos or personal pictures, you can store them in a special security section. This way you will never have to worry that someone can get access to your personal information in case of a hacker attack. Furthermore, if you run your own business, you can store there your company’s applications and information, eg. corporate emails, contacts and calendars. The device gives you a huge number of options. It will be available in two colors – Jet Black and Classic White.

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WhatsApp Shows How Phone Carriers Lost Out on $33 Billion

Facebook Inc. (FB)’s $19 billion purchase of mobile-messaging startup WhatsApp Inc. is a stark reminder of how much money phone carriers are losing out on as competitors let users text and chat at no charge.

Free social-messaging applications like WhatsApp cost phone providers around the world -- from Vodafone Group Plc (VOD) toAmerica Movil SAB (AMXL) and Verizon Communications Corp. -- $32.5 billion in texting fees in 2013, according to research from Ovum Ltd. That figure is projected to reach $54 billion by 2016.

As more customers have switched to smartphones with betterInternet access, people are relying more on applications such as WhatsApp to communicate. Instant-messaging services have taken off outside the U.S. where carriers don’t throw unlimited texting into voice and data plans. The rise of these applications has offered a cheaper source of communication, especially for correspondence between different countries, undercutting the texts that had once been a key source of income for carriers worldwide.

“The trend has been that messaging is eating away into that revenue, in some countries more than others, and that trend will continue,”Chetan Sharma, an independent wireless analyst in Issaquah,Washington, said in an interview. “The impact of free messaging has been felt worldwide. WhatsApp has clearly been the cream of the crop.”

Representatives for Newbury, England-based Vodafone, Mexico City-based America Movil and Overland Park, Kansas-basedSprint Corp. (S) didn’t respond to requests for comment on the impact from free messaging applications. A representative for Dallas-based AT&T Inc. (T)declined to comment.

WhatsApp Growth

The Bloomberg World Telecommunications Index of 89 companies rose 0.6 percent today.

Facebook, the world’s largest social network, said this week that it’s buying WhatsApp in a deal that values each of its 450 million active monthly users at $42. Free for the first year and 99 cents annually thereafter, WhatsApp is almost always cheaper than texting, especially across national borders.

With a particularly strong following in Europe, India and Latin America, the service is rapidly displacing traditional text messaging as the preferred method for young people to stay in touch on mobile devices. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s 29-year-old chief executive officer, said he expects WhatsApp to reach more than 1 billion people worldwide in the next few years.

Texting Decline

WhatsApp, Rebtel, Viber, KakaoTalk and other services use the Internet to send data instead of a cellular network, allowing users to send text, multimedia and voice messages for free, or close to it.

As free services continue to gain in popularity, U.S. text-messaging revenue will decline 3 percent to 4 percent this year from $21 billion in 2013, Sharma estimated. Globally, carriers’ texting revenues will peak by 2016 and then start to drop as well, he said.

The apps have eroded such revenue for several years and were a big reason why U.S. carriers began to include unlimited SMS in many of their service plans, Roger Entner, an analyst at Dedham, Massachusetts-based Recon Analytics LLC, said in an interview. The first SMS, or short message service, text was sent over Vodafone’s network in 1992.

“The wireless carriers were very concerned that WhatsApp and others would intermediate them,” Entner said. “So the wireless carriers found the most consumer-friendly solution -- they gave it away, too. And that took away the incentive to join WhatsApp.”

Mexico Popularity

However, carriers in other parts of the world still charge high fees for texts, and their revenue will be affected as WhatsApp’s popularity spreads, Entner said.

In Mexico, for instance, almost 90 percent of all instant messaging goes through WhatsApp, according to Ernesto Piedras, director of the Competitive Intelligence Unit, a telecommunications consulting firm based in Mexico City.

“From about a year and a half ago, WhatsApp use in Mexico has become overwhelming,” he said in an interview. “It’s convenient to use, and the more people have it, the more people use it.”

Six to eight years ago, phone companies in Mexico generated about 15 percent of their revenue from text messaging, Piedras said. Now it’s less than half of that.

WhatsApp also had an impact in Holland, where carrier Royal KPN NV (KPN) didn’t offer free texts as a part of its bundles, Mark Little, a London-based consumer analyst at Ovum, said in an interview.

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Microsoft Said to Cut Windows Price 70% to Counter Rivals

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) is cutting the price of Windows 8.1 by 70 percent for makers of low-cost computers and tablets as they try to fend off cheaper rivals like Google Inc. (GOOG)’s Chromebooks, people familiar with the program said.

Manufacturers will be charged $15 to license Windows 8.1 and preinstall it on devices that retail for less than $250, instead of the usual fee of $50, said the people, who asked not to be named because the details aren’t public. The discount will apply to any products that meet the price limit, with no restrictions on the size or type of device, the people said.

Stronger competition from Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Google cut revenue last quarter at Microsoft’s devices and consumer licensing division, which includes Windows software, as the computer industry posted its biggest annual decline on record. By offering incentives for PC makers to sell cheaper models, Microsoft may be able to increase its share of the growing $80 billion tablet market and stave off Chromebooks, notebooks that run Google’s operating system.

Microsoft, which named Satya Nadella as chief executive officer earlier this month, is seeking to speed up development and introduction of new devices. It won’t require products that use the cheaper licensing to complete logo certification, a process that verifies hardware compatibility, one of the people said. Devices aren’t required to be touch-screen compatible, they said.

Julia Kelly-Echeverio, a spokeswoman for Microsoft, declined to comment yesterday.

Slower Adoption

Microsoft said earlier this month that it has sold more than 200 million licenses of Windows 8 since the program went on sale in October 2012, a slower rate of adoption than the previous Windows 7.

While the regular Windows list price was $50, some of the largest global computer makers paid closer to $30 after incentives such as marketing funds provided by Microsoft, the people said. Products that receive discounted license fees won’t be eligible for such marketing support and incentives, one of the people said.

Global computer shipments fell a record 10 percent last year and are forecast to continue to decline this year as tablets and smartphones lure consumers away from traditional desktop and notebook designs, according to data from market research firm IDC. Tablet sales volume -- dominated by Apple and Google, whose operating systems account for 95 percent of that market -- will climb an average 16 percent through to 2017.

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Facebook CEO Raises Profile With $19 Billion Purchase

Mark Zuckerberg’s latest deal shows how high he’ll go, and how fast he’ll move, to keep Facebook Inc. (FB)growing by buying out the competition.

The world’s largest social network agreed Feb. 19 to acquire mobile-messaging startup WhatsApp Inc. for as much as $19 billion, with Zuckerberg, Facebook’s co-founder and chief executive, settling on the terms after five days of talks.

It would be the biggest purchase yet for Facebook and the most expensive for an Internet company in more than a decade. It gives WhatsApp, which has about 50 workers, roughly the same valuation as Gap Inc. (GPS), with about 136,000 employees, and more than half the market value of microblogging service Twitter Inc. (TWTR)

The deal shows how determined Zuckerberg is to bolster growth and court mobile users, even at the risk of raising concerns about the price he’s willing pay. Facebook shares rose yesterday, suggesting that may not be an issue in this case.

“He’s clearly laying his reputation on the line as a dealmaker,” saidCarl Howe, an analyst at Yankee Group. “And $19 billion is just a crazy valuation.

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The Evolution of Search And The Demise of SEO

There is no question that search is evolving faster today than at anytime in the past seven years since Google rolled out it’s  “Big Daddy” infrastructure update. With Panda, Penguin and most recently, the EMD (exact match domain) Update, the search landscape has changed dramatically in the last two years. As a result, those voices foretelling the death of SEO have gotten louder.

There is something funny about these predictions, though. They are not new.

As far back as the pre-Google days of 1997, Richard Hoy wrote, “I submit that search engines are dying. In fact, I would say they are dead already and just don’t know it yet – gone the way of the reciprocal link exchange and the “you have a cool page” award as an effective promotional tool. A victim of their own success. “

Twelve years later, Robert Scoble stated, “The writing is on the wall. Small business marketing is moving away from focusing on SEO. Why do I say that? Because, well, Google and Bing are changing the rules so often and are getting so good at figuring out the real businesses that deserve to be on pages.”

To which Danny Sullivan, who has been writing about search engines since 1995, wrote in his 2009 response to Scoble, “if SEO hasn’t died in the 12 years since it was first predicted, it isn’t going away any time soon.”

Danny, of course, was right. Yes, the rules are changing quickly, but that doesn’t make SEO obsolete, on life support, or dead.

A Definition Of Terms

Socrates said “the beginning of wisdom is a definition of terms”, so let’s look at some definitions from three different perspectives.

Popular with those who believe SEO is dead or dying is this definition put forth by Ken Krogue, who wrote in Forbes Magazine: “So by definition even the word Search Engine Optimization (SEO) means to “game” the Google search engines (and others) to get your valuable content ranked higher than it would be if left alone to the forces of the Web.”

Here is how three undisputed experts in the search world define SEO:

Danny Sullivan, SearchEngineLand.com: “SEO, for the record, is the activity of ensuring you are well listed in any search results that are offered to a user for free.”

Rand Fishkin, SEOMoz.com: “SEO is the combination of tactics and strategies, including, but not limited to, optimization of information architecture, usability, content focus, audience targeting, design, development, keyword research, keyword placement, link building, social media marketing and any other online or offline branding/marketing elements that support the goal of receiving more traffic from search engines”

Aaron Wall, SEOBook.com: “SEO is the art and science of publishing and marketing content in a way that brings significant profitable and targeted traffic to your website.”

Last, and maybe most importantly is how a search engine define SEO:

Matt Cutts, Google: “Essentially it just means trying to make sure your pages are well-represented within the search engines. And there’s plenty…an enormous amount of white-hat, great quality stuff you can do as a search engine optimizer.”

Matt went on to say, “But our goal is to make sure we return the best possible search results we can. And a very wonderful way that search engine optimizers can help is by cooperating and trying to help search engines find pages better. So SEO is not spam. SEO can be enormously useful.”

Here is the entire video where Matt answers the question, “Does Google consider SEO to be spam?“

Your Quotes Are Old. It’s All Social Now.

Social is a big part, no doubt. Bing is using Facebook data on the right side of their results and Google‘s personalized search is influenced by one’s various social connections with Google+. However, social is in its infancy as the search engines are still figuring out how best to use it. Here is video of Matt Cutts at SMX Advanced in Seattle  discussing links vs social signals.?

As Matt says, links are not going away anytime soon, and as an agent or broker vying to get greater search engine exposure for your web site, that is significant.  Over the next few weeks we will examine in greater detail how links are still a valuable commodity online and how they impact your real estate SERPS.

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5 Pitfalls You Will Want To Avoid When Implementing New Software For Your Business

Technology is an important part of modern business and companies are constantly looking for the best ways to perform essential tasks. If you have a business, you have to look for the best technology that will ensure that you remain competitive in your industry. Any company that is still stuck in the past, doing things the same way they have been done for decades, truly risks losing out. Technology enhances efficiency by allowing tasks to be completed faster and more accurately.

There are many technology systems and software programs available and it is important to look for the best ones for every situation. Before you buy software, you should carry out research so that you avoid making costly mistakes. Many businesses face problems when implementing new systems because they fail to plan before investing in the systems. You can avoid falling into the same problems by doing your homework. Following are some of the pitfalls you should look out for:

Not knowing what you are getting

One common mistake that businesses make is not knowing exactly what they are getting themselves into. They sign up for services without establishing what they are buying. This is a common problem especially when companies hire IT service providers.

They fail to understand the terms of the agreement and they end up paying more than they have expected, certainly not lesser than they thought! It is very important to read the agreement and understand every clause, and the terms and conditions before you sign anything.

Failing to consult within the company

Another common mistake that people make is to invest in systems without finding out the needs of the company. Make sure that you avoid making a unilateral decision by consulting all the departments that will use the systems. The system should allow information to be passed easily between departments to avoid issues. The wrong system can actually do more harm than good. It is important for all the department heads to agree on systems that will benefit the entire organization.

Paying more than is necessary

When you do not know what is available in the market, you are likely to end up paying more than you should. Many companies make the mistake of overpaying for software services because they do not understand exactly what they are getting. Many service providers offer payment plans that look good on the onset because you do not have to pay much initially. However, the monthly, quarterly or annual payments often turn out to be quite exorbitant and you can end up overpaying. This is dangerous because you can discover that you do not have adequate funds to continue paying for the service.

Failing to research the options adequately

One way that many businesses often end up with systems that they do not need is by failing to research the options available. By failing to research what is available, you can end up investing in software that does not have the features you need. Before you buy any system, you should start by identifying exactly what you need. You should never buy software until you know exactly how it will improve your current situation. The reason to invest in new technology is so that you can get a better way to perform essential functions. It is also important to note that improvements in technology means that something new and more advanced is always round the corner.

Failing to get a service level contract

It is very important to ensure that you look for a vendor who offers an acceptable quality of service. Consider your specific needs so that you ensure that you are getting the services you require. Some service providers offer service level agreements as part of the contract but others do not. This should be an important factor when you are considering where to buy the system. Make sure that you look for a software vendor who will meet your requirements and find out the penalties for failure to keep the agreement.

When buying software, find out how the system performs and establish if you need to provide training for your employees. By researching on the service provider, you can find out their level of performance and the quality of service. This will help you to avoid disappointments in the future. Also, make sure that you take into account all the hidden costs before making the investment.

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New and Affordable Technology is Making Communication Easier

Ever since the introduction of the telephone in the late 19th century, technology has gradually made it easier and more affordable than ever to communicate with one another. In the early 90s, however, the game changed entirely with the introduction of the Internet.

Now that millions of computers were interconnected, mankind could communicate in a brand new way that was not only more efficient, but far more affordable. Today, advances in both online and phone technology continue to make communication easy and affordable. Needless to say, Alexander Graham Bell would be proud!

E-MAIL

One of the first ways the Internet allowed people to communicate was through e-mail. For the first time ever, we were able to send completely digital correspondence in a way that could be easily read, stored, indexed, and even printed. Although it came at a heavy loss to the postal service, it completely revolutionized the way we communicate. No longer did we have to manual delivery mail, spreadsheets, or files! They could all be sent and received virtually.

To this day, e-mail is one of the most affordable methods of communication for anyone with an Internet connection. With many websites offering free web-based mail, it’s never been easier to use!

Technology is making communication easier

INSTANT MESSAGING

Now that mail and documents could be sent through the wires, the next big step was to digitize conversation. This was achieved with instant messaging that originally involved downloading some form of software and communicating with people on a list of contacts. Although many forms of instant messaging still use this format, it’s evolved into other forms: With live online chat rooms and instant messaging features built into many major web services, we’re now able to communicate online almost as efficiently as we do in real life; and it’s usually free!

INTERNET PHONE

Unlike traditional telecommunications that necessitate telephone lines or devoted wireless networks, the Internet is able to provide a connection in a multitude of ways. In fact, today we can even use cellular networks to get online, making the Internet more accessible than ever before. With the affordable functionality of the Internet alongside the ability to record and send voices through the computer, Internet-based phone services soon became exceeding popular. Unlike normal phone plans that usually require contracts and impose location and minute-based limitations, the Internet allows us to connect with people from all over the world for one low price: The cost to connect.

As many people find talking online far cheaper than paying hundreds of dollars a month for pricey international calls, Internet phone services are becoming increasingly popular.

VIDEO CHAT

With the advanced inter-connectivity and features of the Internet coupled with the ability to send both sound and video in real time between computers, it was online a matter of time until video chat was developed. Today, Internet users have access to a wide range of free video chat programs. These have the same affordable benefits as Internet phone services do, but with the added bonus of being able to communicate virtually face-to-face.

CELL PHONES

Although often not quite as cheap as Internet-based services, cell phones are still the leaders of modern telecommunication. With many smart phones offering phone, text messaging, Internet access, and much more, we’re now able to use and access all of the previously mentioned technologies – e-mail, instant messaging, etc. – through convenient and sleek devices.

However, not all cell phones have these features; for the time being, those that do can be expensive. The cell phone itself, however, is still an incredible technological advancement that allows us to communicate from almost anywhere. With some prepaid cell phones going for as little as $10, they continue to be one of the most convenient and affordable ways to keep in touch.

As technology continues to develop, new and cheaper ways of communicating become available to billions of people all over the world. While technology has at times hindered communication, with new advances, communication technology can bring people closer than ever before.

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Macs Are No Longer Immune To Malware / Viruses

The time of malware/virus free Macs has permanently passed us. It seems that most Mac users believe that they are invulnerable to attack; the reasoning is that Macs have such a low market share that there is no reason to target and attack them. While true, it is also a rapidly growing market share that hasn’t gone unnoticed by hackers. The entire IOS is under attack, even iPhones and iPads are not safe either.

Apple has outpaced the growth of the PC industry for 23 straight quarters, making Apple products a very compelling target for hackers. The main vulnerability comes from Java programs, using drive-by-download methods infecting your Mac just by visiting websites, and the new web standard HTML 5. As HTML 5 comes to be malware will actually infect and run in your browser without you knowing, it will most likely be used to attack other computers to cover the hacker’s tracks and make you look like the culprit. This is a scary and sobering fact that should not be overlooked.

Many of the same infections affecting PC computers are moving to the Mac market. Scare-ware as previously mentioned on our site is becoming more prevalent affecting up to 600,000 computers this year, with 98% being Mac computers. One of the biggest threats to the Mac OS has been termed flashback; it poses as the Adobe flash installer program infecting your computer. If you don’t have it already download X project from the Apple App Store, in the newer versions of the Mac OS is a built-in malware scanner. Now is the time to take action, you need-you have to protect your Mac.

Although hackers have realized that Macs are great targets, Apple has begun stepping its game up and is beginning to beat the security drum. The new version and all future versions of Mac OS will have tightened security with a feature called gatekeeper. Gatekeeper is a new protection tool which you need, to help keep you safe, it requires all developers to register with Apple and have their applications verified and signed by Apple before their release to the general public. When installing software on your Mac make sure to use Apple signed software unless you specifically know where the software is coming from. iAntivirus is a great free app which you can find on the App Store developed by Norton a trusted security company, you can and should download it to seamlessly scan your system for any possible threats.

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How To Secure Your Wireless Network The Right Way

Wireless networks have become the norm for most households and businesses. The problem is the majority of WiFi networks are not setup properly, and attackers take advantage of naive users, steal their Internet service, or even spy and collect personal information.

Just because you have a wireless password set, does not necessarily mean you are secured. It’s important to use a strong encryption method with a very robust, long, and unique password. Here are some tips on common practices to secure your network.

USE WPA/WPA2 AND AVOID WEP

Use WPA or WPA2 for your password encryption. It doesn’t matter if you use TKIP or AES, as long as you are using WPA/WPA2 for your password. WEP is outdated and very insecure. The average attacker can crack any WEP protected network in 5 minutes, even if you use a 128 or 256 bit key.

USE A STRONG PASSWORD

It’s important to use a password that is long, unique, and robust. The password should be at least 15 characters, have upper and lower case letters, numbers, and characters. Make the password something nobody else on earth would likely ever use.

Attackers use software than can guess thousands of passwords per second. They will usually feed it through a gigantic list of common passwords, or commit a “brute-force” attack, where they guess every combination of characters. In some cases the attacker can use multiple computers and servers to crack the password so that they can guess millions of passwords per second. Having a long and robust password will stop attackers in their tracks.

USE HTTPS WHENEVER POSSIBLE, AND AVOID PROTOCOLS THAT ARE UNENCRYPTED

When browsing the web, if sending or receiving something sensitive, make sure the site’s URL has https:// instead of http://. If you use an e-mail program like Outlook or Thunderbird, ensure that you have your e-mail account setup with encryption.

MAC ADDRESS FILTERING AND HAVING A HIDDEN SSID ISN’T SECURE

A lot of users will have an open network or use a WEP password and for protection they use mac address filtering or hide the network SSID. These methods will stop the casual user, but it’s very easy for an attacker to circumvent both methods. It’s best to use a very strong WPA/WPA2 password. Adding extra security measures won’t hurt, but shouldn’t be relied upon for high security.

The best way to configure your wireless network is by typing the local IP number of the router into your web browser. In Windows you can go to the command prompt and type: “ipconfig”, and write down the IP address located next to “Default Gateway”. You then open your web browser and type in the IP number into your browser, just as if it was a website. Consult your router manual for more information including the default password.

BEWARE OF ROGUE NETWORKS

It’s very easy for an attacker to setup a Wifi network with the same SSID (wireless name) as yours. They then use software to kick you off your network, and have you auto-connect to their Rogue network. Attackers can only do this if the network is open or if they have the wireless password. The best way to prevent being a victim of a Rouge network attack (Also called a Man in the Middle Attack), is to use a very strong WPA/WPA2 password.

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The Top 5 Antivirus Programs I Should know

While the internet offers us entertainment, education and fun, it is also rife with dangers in the form of malware and virus. Prevention is better than cure so to start off with make sure your computer’s firewalls stay erected and virus software is regularly updated. Stay away from sites with compromised content and do not download applications or screensavers that do not come from trusted sites.

Security threats become especially serious when we consider the amount of money transactions taking place on the internet, via online shopping, bank affairs and money transfers. Apart from basic care, here is some additional and effective help. Here, in no particular order, is our pick for the top 5 Antivirus software available right now.

1. Avast!7 Free Antivirus

Consistently rated the best antivirus software, you couldn’t possibly not have heard of Avast! It gives you firewalls, shields and online protection from virus, all in a super simple user interface. You can run this program alongside other programs of similar nature ( use the ‘compatible’ option) but make sure you install this before the rest.

2. Microsoft Security Essentials

An essential for computers that run on Windows, this security software is free and runs on the idea of real-time assistance. That means the program runs as you work, eliminating any viruses and threats to your system. Besides this, Microsoft Security Essentials will also warn you of issues in the form of a pop-up on your screen. You can choose your course of action thereafter. This way you are aware of what site or online program is safe and what is not.

3. Avira Free Antivirus 2012

It seems like every word in the name of this software brings good news! This software is easy to install and run and is a upgrade on the basic system scan. You can rid your system of worms, viruses and trojans and use the AntiBot tool to fight off hackers. The only hitch perhaps is the lack of some essentials that every antivirus needs, but it is free so there is no harm in a trial, right?

4. Panda Antivirus Pro 2012

A program named after a peaceable and cuddly animal can’t be bad, can it? But despite its soft and fuzzy name, this is a program that means serious business. Not just the average user, but also businesses dealing in the nasty business of malware have rated this program very highly. Use the Panda firewall for the best protection for your computer and rest assured. This expert knows its job very well.

5. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2012

Another colossal presence in the world of antivirus software, Bitdefender is a winner across the board. It is especially useful in phishing and social media issues, trojans, spyware and viruses. No matter the origin of the threat- offline or via email or chat, this defender, defends. It is especially effective in scanning on traffic reaching you from online.

It’s heartening to know that tough viruses have tough opponents. Do exercise caution in all your system work and ensure that your device and therefore all your content is protected by the best antivirus software on offer.

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How Does Samsung’s Series 7 Gamer Fare in the Gaming Laptop Market?

Samsung has long been known as a company that churns out laptops with respectably functional laptop parts housed in sleek-looking casings. With the company’s entry into the gaming laptop market, however, it seemed to have done a complete 180.

The Samsung Series 7 Gamer desktop replacement is as powerful as one expects a gaming laptop to be; and it’s certainly more powerful than most of what Samsung has been producing. Surprisingly, though, the laptop isn’t really much to look at. In fact, many might even be tempted to call it dull, or even downright ugly.

Still, looks aren’t everything, as the saying goes; and the Series 7 certainly has a lot of everything else. Check out its laptop component specs: A 2.3 GHz  Intel Core i7-3610QM processor, 16 GB of 1,333 MHz DDR3 RAM, 1.5 TB of hard drive space working at 7,200 rpm, and of course its powerhouse part, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M dedicated graphics card. Upgraded Samsung replacement laptop parts aren’t provided for consumers, but with that much power under this beast, it really doesn’t need them.

The laptop also has two USB 2.0 ports, two more USB 3.0s, a Blu-ray optical drive, an SD card reader, Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and a slot each for VGA, HDMI, and DisplayPort.

All these laptop parts come with a seemingly hefty price tag; $1,899 to be exact. Enough to give one a heart attack, to be sure; but stacked against other desktop replacements, the Series 7 is actually reasonably priced. Out of all the gaming laptops currently competing, Samsung’s is the only which I can confidently say gives you what you pay for.

It could do with a little fixer-upper in the looks department, though, as previously stated. Apart from the shiny finish and the tapered edges, it doesn’t look all that different from those old-school box-type laptops.

Lifting up its screen might make you think twice, though. Placed above its keyboards is a dashboard-style control panel that has three LED-enhanced circles. The one on the left lets you adjust the volume, while the one on the right lets you turn the laptop on or off. The middle one though isn’t manipulable. Rather, it’s an indicator that lights up when the laptop goes into Game Mode; and is also appropriately labeled the “Turbo” circle, just to give it that amped-up feel. The panel also has three indicators that show whether audio muting, Wi-Fi connectivity, and/or keyboard back lighting are activated.

To the right of the panel is a knob that modifies which mode the laptop is in, of which there are four: “Green Mode,” “Library Mode” (which just mutes the audio and nothing else), the default “Balanced Mode,” and the aforementioned “Game Mode.” Needless to say, that last mode is where you’ll truly see what the Series 7 has to offer.

Furthering the laptop’s gaming feel is a keyboard that doesn’t feature the now-ubiquitous Chiclet-style keys. Instead, it emulates the feel of desktop keyboards by having the edges of the keys tapered. Also, the all-important-to-gaming SWAD keys are backlit a cool orange to differentiate them from the blue light of the rest.

The Series 7’s screen is what really showcases the laptop’s capabilities. Measuring 17.3 inches diagonally, it can display the full 1080p hi-def resolution, making images pop out with pristine sharpness and color contrast. The laptop also gives a wide viewing angle range, letting you boast your Series 7 to a roomful of people should you have the urge.

The Samsung Series 7 Gamer, like other current gaming laptops, is released on the heels of the latest NVIDIA GPUs, Intel processors, and the first games out of the gate in the current video game season. It may not look as pretty as the other desktop replacements, but it can certainly display pretty graphics with the best of them.

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Internet Faxing! I Didn’t Know You Could Do That!

The newest electronic fax systems are an innovative and dependable way to send documents quickly and securely. It combines the method of faxing with the modern email system, having advantages over both traditional faxing and email.

Advantages of Electronic Faxes

The core advantage of using an electronic Fax over traditional faxing is its capability for privacy and security. In a world where the security of documents is of paramount importance, an electronic Fax delivers a tested solution to the problem of confidential documents left lying in fax machines for any passing observer to see. Documents can also be securely stored online for free.

It’s also an ideal system for those working on the move. There is no need to wait to get to the office to send faxes when they can simply be sent and received via email. Depending on the service you use, you will be able to send your electronic fax from your iPhone, iPad and Android apps.

While it seems relatively simple, it’s best to pick from the bigger companies in the field, to ensure that you have a reliable, easy-to-use system. Getting a dependable system is a must and I have been looking at one of the biggest, eFax, used by around 11 million customers in 46 countries per day. This kind of consistent delivery is what I am looking for in the service, if itisn’t something I can rely on, I would want to find something that I can.

Electronic faxes are a low cost method compared to traditional faxing, eliminating the need for bulky and expensive fax machinery as well as paper, toner and a devoted telephone line . It is the perfect system for paperless offices and for any business, whether it is small, medium or large, wanting to cut back on unnecessary overheads.  If you are reluctant to cut the cord, make sure that you take advantage of any free trial offers so that you can try the system for a month before you consign the old fax machine to the bin.

Using an electronic fax

Electronic fax systems are easy to use. Any device that can be connected to the internet, such as a PC, laptop or smart phone, can send and receive faxes to and from fax machines. You can access your faxes as PDF or TIF attachments via a designated email account and they can be accessed away from the office anywhere an internet connection is available .

Sending faxes is just as simple and, if you pick the right service, you might also have the option to select your fax number from a wide range of local, non-geographic and freephone numbers based in cities worldwide. You get a number that is yours to keep and it can follow you anywhere that there is an internet connection. A basic account might provide up to 10 fax numbers assigned to your business, with the larger corporate accounts providing additional numbers for larger businesses. It is possible to port your existing fax number to your new electronic fax system, so that people sending and receiving faxes to your number can simply continue sending documents as they would to a traditional fax machine.

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How your electronics will break and how to prevent it from happening.

You own a laptop. Your friends own laptops. Chances are everyone in your family owns a laptop. They’re simply amazing devices and make everyone’s lives better. But at some point the inevitable act-of-god freak accident occurs where your beloved electronic goes whirling to the floor and cracks into pieces, and you instantly being to panic thinking of what critical information (or funny bookmarks) you just lost. Sounds dramatic? It is. But it’s also the most common way your laptop, or any electronic device for that matter, will fail.

Take a step back for a second and remember that these devices are designed for consumers. Electronics these days are built following tens of thousands of standards. Have to pass near-infinite amounts of reliability tests. Have to be checked, tested, retested, and finally certified. Everything is built for reliability. This is all important because reliability is one of the main competitive advantages, nobody wants to buy something that will break down, and no manufacturer wants to produce something that will be recalled by the millions. As a result, modern electronics are incredibly reliant and robust. If handled properly they can last many years if not decades.

This might sound strange, don’t electronics break down all the time? Sure they do. As hard as manufacturers try to make their devices immune to all sorts of shock, electrostatic discharge, and fluctuating temperatures, it’s unfortunately impossible to make them immune to people.

We humans seem find all sorts of creative ways to destroy our electronics. From dropping them onto ceramic tiles in the kitchen, to running over them with a car, to submerging them in all sorts of delicious tasty liquid. If it’s possible, we’ll eventually do it. And not just once. Many many times.

It’s for these reasons that the overwhelming majority of consumer electronics fail not because of “poor design” but rather because intense abuse by the consumer himself. The number 1 repair job for all repair shops is replacing cracked screens and LCD’s for all sorts of devices that have been dropped. Or replacing various plugs because someone ripped the cord out and broke them. Or drying out the device and hoping it turns back on after being covered in chocolate milk. Compared to these instances, it’s relatively rare to find an actual failure where the device was at fault. Most cell phones for instance almost never fail without being dropped and cracked.

Although this may sound ominous and depressing, there is good news. If you follow a few common-sense safety precautions, you can successfully keep your electronics alive for many years. Always carry your Laptop with both hands, or better yet keep it closed while being carried. Be extremely gentle with any mechanical plugging and unplugging, anything mechanical is most likely to break. And keep all liquids as far away from your device as possible. Don’t drink anything. You might get away with it for a year or two, but it will eventually come to bite you, which is might be in the worst possible moment. Keep your electronics safe and handle them properly, and there is no reason they won’t last you many many years.

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How Low Can You Go ??

Laptops have always been the traditional selling juggernauts of Black Fridays past, and this year is looking to be no different. Although expected to face stiff competition from that other class of portable PCs (tablets, for those not in the know), great deals and the fact that laptops are just that functionally robust are sure to give them the edge when all is said and done.

The following are prospects of what to expect in this year’s upcoming Black Friday laptop shopping spree.

Desktop Replacements: High-End Specs at Low Low Prices

Also called (rightly or otherwise) “gaming laptops,” desktop replacements are more often than not expected to hit retail price tags beyond the $1,000 mark due to the high-end hardware they carry. Surprisingly however, this year has seen some releases tagged at just under $800. For comparison’s sake, $800 was the Black Friday 2011 discount price for this laptop class.

If patterns stay true, we could be looking at desktop replacements that could drop to as low as $525 come November 23rd. With laptop components like quad-core i7s, powerful APUs and/or dedicated GPUs, and a minimum of 8 GB of RAM, gaming enthusiasts can expect some rather sweet deals.

Budget Laptops: Drilling Holes Below Rock Bottom?

The previous Black Friday event had budget laptops sold for as low as $180; and some of these were even 15”-16” computers. While these laptops aren’t exactly powerhouses, at that price range, they are liable to get their fair share of the market, especially among the casual computer user crowd.

Going below $180 could prove to be a real challenge, so don’t get your hopes up too high. Still, wouldn’t it be great if we could score laptops for $170?

Thin-and-Lights: Staying Strong

15-inchers embedded with Intel’s latest Ivy Bridge processors have proven to be great sellers in the laptop market. These CPUs give laptops extra horsepower beyond those expected of mid-range portable PCs; and their integrated graphics aren’t too shabby either. Overall, they’re everything most casual users could ever need (or want) in their laptops.

Even better, Ivy-endowed laptops have seen great price drops since this summer, going with discounts as low as 27%; that’s roughly $400 for a machine that’s initially priced at $550 or so. And if past Black Fridays are any indication, we may see these prices drop even lower to $360.

Ultraportables: Popularity Resurgence

When Apple’s MacBook Air came out this year with a redesigned build, consumer interest was reignited, and the ultraportable market was suddenly rife with competition again.

With Ivy Bridge processors sporting more-than-adequate graphics processing power (and with some even having dedicated GPUs of their own), a lot of ultras are nearing the power levels of the bigger laptop types while still retaining their travel-friendly chassis.

Summer price drops brought some ultraportables down to $500, possibly indicating that $400 ultras at this year’s Black Friday isn’t such a stretch. If there ever was a time to own one of these babies, that time would be now.

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