E FUN adding three new devices to 2-in-1 Windows tablets to portfolio

Michael Hatamoto | Mobile Devices | Jan 3, 2015 2:04 PM CST

CES 2015 - Tablet maker E FUN will add new models to its growing 2-in-1 Nextbook lineup running Microsoft Windows 8.1, as a 10.1", 11.6" and 12.5" models will be shown off during the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

The devices have a quad-core Intel Atom CPU, dual camera, 2GB DDR3L RAM, 32GB/64GB internal storage, Bluetooth 4.0, 2-megapixel front-facing and rear-facing cameras, micro USB port, mini-HDMI port, audio jack, and a removable magnetic POGO keyboard.

"We are extremely excited to build on the great success we had launching our first tablets with Windows in the fourth quarter of last year," said Jason Liszewski, managing director and VP of sales for E FUN, in a press statement. "Our first 2-in-1 tablet with Windows and powered by Intel was one of the best selling devices by volume throughout the holiday season."

Continue reading: E FUN adding three new devices to 2-in-1 Windows tablets to portfolio (full post)

'The Interview' is no laughing matter for North Korean defectors

Michael Hatamoto | Internet & Websites | Jan 3, 2015 1:29 PM CST

"The Interview" might prove to be popular among Western movie watchers, but is no laughing matter for defectors that successfully escaped North Korea.

Following Sony's decision to release the movie after all, the community of 20,000+ North Korean defectors living in South Korea were quick to watch it. However, they seemed unimpressed with the crude humor that is laced throughout the movie, despite mentions of concentration camps, rampant starvation, and an overly-controlling government regime.

"Every defector I know has seen the movie," said Kim Sung-Min, a defector that created the anti-Pyongyang Free North Korea Radio Station, in a statement to the media. "We've talked a lot about this flick over the past week, and we simply did not understand why it gives foreigners laughs."

Continue reading: 'The Interview' is no laughing matter for North Korean defectors (full post)

Arbor Solution to show off 10.1" Rugged Android, octo-core tablet

Michael Hatamoto | Mobile Devices | Jan 3, 2015 12:41 PM CST

Arbor Solution will publicly unveil the Gladius 10 tablet during CES 2015, with the octa-core Cortex A7-powerede device designed to withstand a beating. The mobile device will have a $1,030 MSRP, but certainly wasn't created towards consumers.

The device has a 10.1" TFT high-definition LCD display (1280x800), integrated barcode scanner, quad-core ARM Mali 3D GPU, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, 2-megapixel front-facing camera and 13-megapixel rear-facing camera. The tablet also includes GPS, assisted GPS and e-compass navigational systems, micro-USB, microSD, mini-HDMI port and two SIM card slots.

"Mobile technology is quickly changing the way work and business is conducted today," said Brian Yurkiw, vice president of Arbor Solution, in a press statement. "The key to success, along with a smaller design and advanced features, is durability and connectivity. Our new Gladius 10 rugged tablet is especially designed to withstand drops, vibrations, dirt, and water and can operate across a very wide temperature range. In other words, it is durable and ready for whatever it encounters in a mobile work application."

Continue reading: Arbor Solution to show off 10.1" Rugged Android, octo-core tablet (full post)

Expert: Cybercriminals will only advance their attack strategies

Michael Hatamoto | Hacking, Security & Privacy | Jan 3, 2015 12:29 PM CST

Cybersecurity experts believe 2015 will be another busy year, as sophisticated attacks against users and businesses continue. Criminals will rely on working attacks to compromise victims, while also working to advance their weapons, making them harder to spot.

"Hackers are a diverse bunch, from lone wolves, to nation-state cyber warriors and organized cybercrime rings," said Joe Caruso, founder, CEO and CTO of the cybersecurity Global Digital Forensics (GDF) firm, in a press release. "But one thing they all have in common is they are more than willing to let it ride on a winning horse until it quits paying off. SO expect the favorites, phishing and spear-pshing, RATs (Remote Access Tools), ransomware, watering hole attacks and other third-party compromises, to keep getting ridden hard in 2015."

Numerous point-of-sale (POS) data breaches and the cyberattack against Sony Pictures should serve as painful reminders as to the importance of proper cybersecurity - but won't lead to decision makers acting urgently enough, many security specialists warn. As such, companies need to become proactive in conducting cybersecurity audits, and then following through to improve security protocols - in an attempt to make it more difficult for successful attacks to occur.

Continue reading: Expert: Cybercriminals will only advance their attack strategies (full post)

A glimpse at North Korea's Red Star 3 desktop operating system

Michael Hatamoto | Software & Apps | Jan 3, 2015 7:04 AM CST

The outside world doesn't know what type of computer hardware and software is used in North Korea, but there have been recent glimpses of what the reclusive government utilizes. Former Google executive Will Scott visited the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, and purchased a copy of the "Red Star 3" desktop operating system.

North Korea previously relied on Microsoft Windows for desktop PCs, but developed its own Red Star 3 OS. The OS looks strikingly similar to the Apple Mac OS X operating system - past versions of North Korean-made software closely mimicked Windows.

As the world begins to learn more about Bureau 121, the elite North Korean cyber hacking unit, there is still very little known about technology usage in the country. Internet use is heavily restricted, and is aimed towards military and government use - and for the elite of the country.

Continue reading: A glimpse at North Korea's Red Star 3 desktop operating system (full post)

It's possible hackers still have access and control to SPE computers

Michael Hatamoto | Hacking, Security & Privacy | Jan 2, 2015 5:14 PM CST

Sony Pictures Entertainment was compromised in a big way by the Guardians of Peace hacker group, and there is uncertainty if the hackers were properly removed from the company's network. SPE could be back to enjoying a fully operational network within the next two months if security holds, but would face lingering problems if hackers still have backdoors into the network.

"It took me 24 or 36 hours to fully understand that this was not something we were going to be able to recover from in the next week or two," Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton said in a statement published by the Wall Street Journal. The company began using an old fleet of BlackBerry smartphones to communicate and conduct day-to-day business, following the data breach.

Since being released on Christmas, "The Interview" has collected more than $18 million in digital and box-office revenue - and has proven popular among Internet pirates. However, Lynton and other executives continue to apologize to movie actors and other industry bigwigs following leaked email conversations.

Continue reading: It's possible hackers still have access and control to SPE computers (full post)

Blizzard's Battle.net servers are experiencing more login issues

Chris Smith | Gaming | Jan 2, 2015 3:58 PM CST

It's been a tough few months of connection and lag issues for Blizzard. If you're trying to login to their Battle.Net service to play any game they have on offer, it might be worth giving it a few hours.

As confirmed on their Customer Service Twitter account, Blizzard's login servers are experiencing connection issues and are developing long queues for users. Even more unfortunate for them was commenting on a time they expect the servers to be operational - four hours ago they stated a 90-minute wait, followed by a Tweet two hours ago claiming only 60 minutes until the servers are operational.

As you can see, their latest Tweets simply tells everyone to stay posted for updates, here's hoping they will be fixed soon.

Continue reading: Blizzard's Battle.net servers are experiencing more login issues (full post)

Unsolicited 'Alien' sequel art released by director Neill Blomkamp

Ben Gourlay | Celebrities & Entertainment | Jan 2, 2015 3:41 PM CST

Young South African director Neill Blomkamp, whose vision has bought to life the edgy science fiction films 'District 9' and 'Elysium' and who was attached to directed the mooted 'Halo film has released via his Instagram account some spectacular concept art for a presumably abandoned 'Alien' sequel. Whilst the account is unverified, there's little doubt that the page is not genuine as it also shared via his Twitter account, which has been active for five years.

In two separate annotated posts, Blomkamp is keen to distance rights holder Twentieth Century Fox from his efforts, saying "this has nothing to do with the studio. I just feel like I might do something else instead. In which case why not show some work.. they didn't really even know I was working on it ha", but the concept art, which includes some tantalising looks at an appropriately aged and battle weary Ripley and Hicks from James Cameron's 'Aliens', and an alien morphed Ripley wouldn't have been a fascinating project indeed. If you continue in his account you'll even see Blomkamp with Sigourney Weaver herself, in an image posted at the start of last year. Interesting...

If you're reading this Fox - give this man another look. I'm sure that the 'Prometheus' universe can co-exist with the Alien universe, especially since Ridley Scott has indicated he will move even further away from it in the sequel.

Continue reading: Unsolicited 'Alien' sequel art released by director Neill Blomkamp (full post)

ODG wants to show off augmented reality smart glasses to consumers

The Osterhout Design Group (ODG) has unveiled a consumer-oriented version of its Smart Glasses system, providing a lighter and smaller version than its military-grade counterpart. The headset will be unveiled later this year and should have a retail price tag less than $1,000.

However, the headset will still be able to show high-definition video, record video, utilize a 3D graphics overlay, and provide line-of-sight directions for wearers. The headset runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 CPU, Wi-Fi, global navigation satellite system, Bluetooth, and custom-built orientation sensors.

"Our Smart Glasses are proving their worth in some of the world's toughest environments and we look forward to bringing our innovative technology closer to everyday customers," said Ralph Osterhout, Ostherout Design Group founder and CEO, in a press statement. "At ODG, we're working to change the world of computing by changing the way we interact, connect, and explore information, and I am happy to introduce the next step on this journey."

Continue reading: ODG wants to show off augmented reality smart glasses to consumers (full post)

Following data breach, US government hits North Korea with sanctions

Michael Hatamoto | Business, Financial & Legal | Jan 2, 2015 2:06 PM CST

The United States has issued new economic sanctions against North Korea, as Pres. Obama and lawmakers look for methods to retaliate against North Korea. Even with increasing pressure stating otherwise, the FBI and Obama Administration still believes North Korea is directly involved in bringing down Sony Pictures, ahead of the launch of "The Interview."

Here is what White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest noted in a press statement: "This (executive order) is a response to the Government of North Korea's ongoing provocative, destabilizing, and repressive actions and policies, particularly its destructive and coercive cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment."

This reportedly is the first step by the Obama Administration, though could be nothing more than a symbolic effort - North Korea endures heavy sanctions, so any additional sanctions could end up being meaningless. However, the newest sanctions will target the Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation, Reconnaissance General Bureau and Korea Tangun Trading Corporation, in an effort to hurt the government's intelligence and arms dealing sectors.

Continue reading: Following data breach, US government hits North Korea with sanctions (full post)

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