A new version of the "FLocker" Ransomware has now the ability to infect and lock down your Smart TVs

After targeting hospitals, universities, and businesses, Ransomware has started popping up on Smart TV screens.

Using multiple devices that run on one platform makes life easier for a lot of people. However, if a malware affects one of these devices, the said malware may eventually affect the others, too. This appears to be the case when we came across an Android mobile lock-screen ransomware, known as “FLocker,” that is capable of locking smart TVs as well.


A new version of the Frantic Locker (better known as FLocker) Ransomware has now the ability to infect and lock down your Smart TV,Smartwatch, Smart fridge, or any Internet-connected smart device until you pay up the ransom.

Researchers at Trend Micro have discovered the updated version of FLocker that is capable of locking Android smartphones as well as Smart TVs.

Originally launched in May 2015, the FLocker ransomware initially targeted Android smartphones with its developers constantly updating the ransomware and adding support for new Android system changes.

Here's what the new version of FLocker does to your Android-powered Smart TVs:

• FLocker locks the device's screen.
• Displays a fake notice from United States Cyber Police or other law enforcement agency, accusing potential victims of crimes they did not commit.
• Demands $200 worth of iTunes gift card as Ransom to unlock the infected TV.
• Trend Micro says the malware is configured to deactivate itself in some regions including Russia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Belarus.

However, if FLocker detects devices outside these countries, the malware will wait for 30 minutes before requesting admin privileges for the device. If the victim rejects the request, FLocker freezes the screen, faking a system update.

"The C&C [command and control] then delivers a new payload misspelled.apk and the ‘ransom’ HTML file with a JavaScript (JS) interface enabled," Trend Micro said. "This HTML page has the ability to initiate the APK installation, take photos of the affected user using the JS interface, and display the photos taken in the ransom page."

Although the new variant of FLocker does not encrypt files on the infected device, it has the capability of stealing data from the device, including contacts, the phone number, device information and location data.
Trend Micro's report does not make it clear that how FLocker infects smart TVs, but it does note that typically ransomware infection arrives via SMSes or malicious links.

Therefore, you should be wary while browsing the Internet, and receiving text messages or emails from unknown sources.

How to Remove FLocker from Your Smart TV?
Moreover, if your Android smart TV gets infected, you should contact the device vendor (phone carrier or TV merchant), or if you are kind of technical, you can remove the ransomware after removing its device admin privileges.

"Users can connect their device with a PC and launch the ADB shell and execute the command 'PM clear %pkg%'," Trend Micro said. "This kills the ransomware process and unlocks the screen. Users can then deactivate the device admin privilege granted to the application and uninstall the app."

For securing mobile devices, we advise installing security software in their smart devices to protect it from malicious apps and threats. Trend Micro Mobile Security and Trend Micro Mobile Security Personal Edition protects users from this ransomware and other related threats. Trend Micro Mobile Security Personal Edition is available on Google Play.
 
This isn't the first time when ransomware has targeted Smart TVs. In the past, it was evident how smart TV got attacked with the ransomware also Internet of Things devices being remotely controlled by the attacker.
 


source: Trend Micro,

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White Hat Hackers uncovered 138 Bugs in U.S Defense Systems bug bounty program

The "Hack the Pentagon" bug bounty program by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) has been successful with more than 100 vulnerabilities uncovered by white hat hackers in Pentagon infrastructure.

HackerOne’s Department of Defense (DoD) “Hack the Pentagon” pilot--the first ever U.S. Government commercial Bug Bounty program.


In March, the Defense Department launched what it calls "the first cyber Bug Bounty Program in the history of the federal government," inviting hackers to take up the challenge of finding bugs in its networks and public faced websites that are registered under DoD.

Around 1,400 whitehat (ethical) hackers participated in the Hack the Pentagon program and were awarded up to $15,000 for disclosures of the most destructive vulnerabilities in DoDs networks, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said at a technology forum on Friday.

"They are helping us to be more secure at a fraction of the cost," Carter said. "And in a way that enlists the brilliance of the white hatters, rather than waits to learn the lessons of the black hatters."

The Hack the Pentagon program, hosted on bug bounty platform HackerOne, was opened between April 18 and May 12, 2016. All participants were required to qualify a background check.
Although hackers and bug hunters were permitted to hack the agency's web properties, critical and highly sensitive systems of the Pentagon were out of bounds for the bounty program.

When the Hack the Pentagon was initially announced in March, Carter said he believed this effort would "strengthen our digital defenses and ultimately enhance our national security."


Program Overview Statistics

•     Total registered participants: 1,410
•     Total reports submitted: 1,189
•     Unique valid reports: 138
•     Average bounty amount: $588
•     Total bounties paid: $71,200

The most common vulnerability type reported was Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), followed by Information Disclosure and Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF).

The most severe vulnerability submitted and the highest awarded was a SQL Injection.

source: HackerOne

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Hack Facebook Account Just by Knowing their Phone Numbers Using SS7

Pare marunong kaba mag hack ng Facebook? The question that always ask..Researchers have just proven by taking control of a Facebook account with only the target's phone number and some hacking skills.

Hackers with skills to exploit the SS7 network can hack your Facebook account. All they need is your phone number.

Yes, your Facebook account can be hacked, no matter how strong your password is or how much extra security measures you have taken.

The weaknesses in the part of global telecom network SS7 not only let hackers and spy agencies listen to personal phone calls and intercept SMSes on a potentially massive scale but also let them hijack social media accounts to which you have provided your phone number.

SS7 or Signalling System Number 7 is a telephony signaling protocol that is being used by more than 800 telecommunication operators worldwide to exchange information with one another, cross-carrier billing, enabling roaming, and other features.

However, an issue with the SS7 network is that it trusts text messages sent over it regardless of their origin. So, malicious hackers could trick SS7 into diverting text messages as well as calls to their own devices.
All they need is the target’s phone number and some details of the target’s device to initiate the silent snooping.


How to Hack Any Facebook Account:
The attacker first needs to click on the "Forgot account?" link on the Facebook.com homepage. Now, when asked for a phone number or email address linked to the target account, the hacker needs to provide the legitimate phone number.
The attacker then diverts the SMS containing a one-time passcode (OTP) to their own computer or phone, and can login to the target’s Facebook account.

The researchers from Positive Technologies, who recently showed how they could hijack WhatsApp and Telegram accounts, now gave the demonstration of the Facebook hack using similar tricks, Forbes reported.
SS7 has long been known to be vulnerable, despite the most advanced encryption used by cellular networks. The designing flaws in SS7 have been in circulation since 2014 when the team of researchers at German Security Research Labs alerted the world to it.

Watch the video demonstration that shows the hack in action.


The issue affects all Facebook users who have registered a phone number with Facebook and have authorized Facebook Texts.

Besides Facebook, researchers’ work shows that any service, including Gmail and Twitter, that uses SMS to verify its user accounts has left open doors for hackers to target its customers.
Although the network operators are unable to patch the hole sometime soon, there is little the smartphone users can do.

• Do not link your phone number to social media sites, rather rely solely on emails to recover your Facebook or other social media accounts.
• Use two-factor authentication that does not use SMS texts for receiving codes.
• Use communication apps that offer "end-to-end encryption" to encrypt your data before it leaves your smartphone over your phone's standard calling feature.

However, the important thing to note is that the issue has actually nothing to do with Facebook security or other website's security, instead it is the weakness in the telecom network.

Activist and former mayoral candidate Deray Mckesson was the latest to have his account taken over, with an attacker deciding to claim Deray supports Donald Trump. According to Mckesson, this happened even though the hacker didn't have his password, and he had two-factor authentication turned on for his account. In this case, the hacker went a step further, by hijacking his phone number with the help of Verizon customer service. Read More click Here.

" Recommend turning on two-factor authentication, called Login Approvals, in your Facebook security settings. Doing this will disable recovery via SMS on your account so even if someone has your phone number, they'll still need your password to access your account."

source : Forbes,Thomas Fox-Brewster (YouTube),

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326 People visited US Government Websites from a PlayStation 3

The US government’s Digital Analytics Program (with some help from roving web-development squad 18F) released some pretty cool data sets on who’s visiting the government’s various websites. You can see which website is most popular (USPS!) and which operating system people tend to be using (Windows!) and new combinations of who's visiting what with what. It's basically the kind of data you get when you own a website. 18F decided to make it public since I guess technically all the data belongs to the American people anyway. Public service!

Chrome is the most popular browser, no surprise, but it also turns out people have been connecting to government sites in some pretty janky ways. According to the web browser spreadsheet, the PlayStation 3 browser logged 326 visits to government sites yesterday alone. The PlayStation Vita, basically a Game Gear with Wi-Fi, came in just behind it, with 307. Netscape logged 172 separate visits on the same day, more than eight years after the developers discontinued support.

That’s bananas! I’m not sure what chain of life decisions and cascading URLs leads a person to visit the postal service website from a PlayStation Vita, but it seems like a terrible result for everyone involved. If you are reading this on a PlayStation Vita, please stop! Put the Vita down and make your way to a less nonsensical device.

And if you ever meet a web developer and they seem rude or touchy or mean, just remember they may have spent all day figuring out how a website will render on a gaming console that was released in 2006.

SOURCE : ANALYTICS.USA.GOV

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Start fresh with a clean install of Windows 10 Insiders (build 14342 or later)

Microsoft announce a new tool that lets you start fresh with a clean installation of Windows.  Use this tool to install a clean copy of the most recent version of Windows, and remove apps that came pre-installed or that you installed on your PC.  Though I have my own technique to do ISO from Windows ESD : Check out my tutorial click Here.

This tool is currently only available to Windows Insiders, and will only work on recent Windows 10 Insider Preview released builds (build 14342 or later).

The tool gives novice users a slightly easier way to do a clean install than the "Media Creation Tool," but unlike that app, doesn't let you download your own ISO. Given the fact that most Insiders will prefer the Media Creation Tool, Refresh Windows seems more at mainstream users in an upcoming Windows 10 release. Should you wish to use it, you'd better back up any content, apps and other personal data, despite the fact that you have the option to keep your personal files.

My printscreen of Refresh Windows  "Media Creation Tools

The preview build also includes new languages for handwriting recognition and a keyboard shortcut to access the Feedback Hub. You get numerous fixes and improvements for PCs, like better notifications from your phone to your PC with Cortana and reduced battery drain when using Edge. Windows Mobile customers also get a slew of fixes.

Before you begin, please make sure you have the following:

• An internet connection to download the tool and the Windows image.  Note that the image is about 3GB and Internet service provider fees may apply.
• Sufficient data storage available on your PC.
• Your PC is currently on the Windows 10 Insider Preview Home or Pro edition.  (32-bit or 64-bit processor (CPU)) For the latest system requirements, check out the Windows 10 Specifications page.
• Reminder – like your current Windows Insider Preview installation, trying out an early build (and an early new tool) like this can be risky. That's why we recommend that you don't install the preview on your primary home or business PC. Unexpected PC crashes could damage or even delete your files, so you should back up everything.  See the Windows Insider Preview FAQ for more details.

Also, please note the following conditions for the Preview version of this tool:

• During the Windows 10 Anniversary Update Insider Preview period, this tool will install a clean copy of Windows 10 from a recent Insider Preview Fast released build.  The build installed by this tool is not guaranteed to be the latest build available to Insiders, and at times may install a Windows 10 build that is older that you had previously.  Should this apply when you use the tool, you will be unable to keep your personal files, and will be notified during Windows Setup, with the option to cancel.  After the clean installation, you can set your Windows Insider Program settings to rejoin your desired Insider Preview ring and get the latest build for that audience.  Note that in the future, more recent builds will be made available as the clean installation target, including the official Anniversary Update after it is released.  If you are in the Insider Slow audience and do not want to have a build installed that has not yet reached Insider slow, you should not use this tool.
• Using this tool will remove ALL applications that do not come standard with Windows, including other Microsoft applications such as Office. It will also remove most pre-installed applications such as OEM applications, support applications, and drivers. The tool does not give you the option to recover removed applications automatically and you will need to manually reinstall any applications you wish to keep.   After the clean installation is completed, if you experience any missing drivers, go to Settings > Update & security >Windows Update to download the latest device drivers.  We also recommend that you visit your PC manufacturer's website for info about updated drivers.
• During this preview period, we cannot guarantee your digital licenses, digital content associated with applications, or other digital entitlements for applications will be carried through after using the tool, which may impact your ability to use paid-for apps or apps-related content.  For this reason, we don’t recommend installing the preview on any PC where you wish to ensure all of your applications and application-related content (including Microsoft applications such as Office) remain properly installed and licensed.
• Currently, the following 3 languages are supported: English (EN-US), Chinese (ZH-CN) and Japanese (JA-JP)

Ready to start fresh with a clean installation of Windows?

Download tool now

Follow these instructions to perform a clean installation of Windows 10 Anniversary Update Insider Preview:
Warning: Be sure to back up any data you want to keep before you begin and do not perform this on any PC that has applications you wish to keep.  See the Windows Insider Preview FAQ for more details.
 

1. Run the tool
2. Review and Accept the License Terms.  Declining the License Terms will exit the tool
3. Choose what you want to keep.  If you want to keep your personal files, choose the Keep personal files only option -or-If you want to remove everything, choose the Nothing option.                                                                       Warning: Regardless of your selection at this step, this tool will perform a clean installation of Windows.  All applications that came with or were manually installed on your PC will be removed, including paid applications.  Apps that come standard with Windows 10 (Mail and Edge for example) will be preserved. 
4. Select the Install button to start the clean installation.  The rest of the process will be automatic, but you can cancel if needed while the Windows 10 Setup dialog is still shown, until your PC reboots.

Note:
The tool will download to start installing Windows 10 automatically.
If you chose to Keep personal files only, and the build of Windows 10 currently installed is more recent than the build available through this tool, you will later be prompted to choose to keep Nothing, and can cancel if desired.
All steps are automated with buttons greyed out. You can close the tool to cancel the operation if needed.
You can reinstall your Windows Apps that are available in the Store using your Microsoft Account.

And that’s it!  As always – thank you for being Windows Insiders and make sure to send us feedback on any issues you run into in the Feedback Hub and post questions in the forums including “start fresh” in the post title.  We’re looking forward to hearing from you.

source: Microsoft,

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Change has come to PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications, Inc. - new logo designs

The two companies formally unveiled their largely identical new logo designs, which symbolize the powerful convergence of PLDT and Smart, combining fixed and wireless technologies to serve individual and enterprise customers.


The logos were unveiled during an event held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel called “It’s A New Day for PLDT-Smart.” 

In line with the rebrand and change in logo is the change in the company’s name, from “Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company” to “PLDT Inc.” This reflects the telecom giant’s shift towards data-driven services.

PLDT and its various subsidiaries such as Voyager Innovation and Talas Data Intelligence are also developing and offering digital and financial technology services that offer the Group’s customers higher levels of efficiencies and convenience.

“Rather than allow ourselves to be disrupted by new technologies, we are disrupting ourselves. We have embarked on a digital pivot to enable us to serve the increasing needs of our people's digital lifestyle and the country's growing digital economy," said PLDT and Smart Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan.

“We shall lead the digital revolution by embracing the smart life within the organization, pursuing digital innovations and enabling our customers to go digital in their own ways. The biggest winners will be our customers who will have a growing range of choices at their fingertips,” Pangilinan stressed.

 

CHANGE HAS ARRIVED. PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications Inc. unveiled these new logos yesterday at their “It’s a New Day for PLDT-Smart,” held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. Photo courtesy of PLDT News Center.

What's the meaning of the new logos?

The new logo symbolizes the powerful convergence of PLDT and Smart, combining fixed and wireless technologies to serve individual and enterprise customers.

The new PLDT and Smart logo is shaped like a triangle with the three sides representing the Company's business pillars - exceptional people, meaningful innovations, and our valuable customers.

The triangle is also the symbol for Delta, the fourth letter in the Greek alphabet, which stands for “Change”.

"Taken together, these three pillars create tremendous energy that will enable our customers to achieve their limitless potential. The triangle’s three sides support each other. Thus, an inherent strength flows harmoniously among the sides to sustain the structure," Pangilinan said.

The new logo replaces the iconic 33-year old PLDT logo which was formed through a repetition of the abstract figure of the telephone receiver to complete four sides. Smart has also changed its logo.


MVP -defines PLDT and Smart 'Change'
 
Mr. Manny V. Pangilinan - Chairman of PLDT - on Twitter, "Exceptional people. A daring digital pivot. Meaningful innovations that are changing lives, again. [Embracing digital makes sense -- especially in an emerging economy the Telco is central to digital transformation of society.] [...] Let us go back 18 years when First Pacific invested in PLDT and 23 years in Smart; The Telco now so different from Telco then. PLDT-Smart's story is also the story of our people. Borderless. Immersed in change. Empowered like never before. #ANewDay indeed for PLDT-Smart."

This year alone, the Group has allocated P43 billion for capital expenditures. Around $100 million more in capex will likely be earmarked, following the acquisition of the telecoms business of San Miguel Corp. which included the utilization of the so-called digital dividend, the 700 MHz frequency band.

source: PLDT News Center,

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Bulacan 22.5-hectare Solar Power Plant can power as much as 10,000 homes

Bulakenyos will have the means to take advantage of the solar energy as the United Nations announced its $400 million Solar Power Plant constructed in the province of Bulacan.

SAN ILDEFONSO, Bulacan - Photovoltaic cells covering some 22.5 hectares are installed here, capable of generating as much as 15 megawatts (MW) of electricity, enough to supply 10,000 homes.

Bulacan Solar Energy Corporation has an array of 8,760 solar panels, whose energy conversion translates to displacing "12,000 tons of carbon monoxide emissions" every year, according to Engineer Salvador Antonio Castro, president.

The company, Castro disclosed, aims to develop 500 megawatts of generating capacity from clean and renewable solar energy over the next five years.

Bulacan Solar Energy Corporation's photovoltaic farm in San Ildefonso, Bulacan. Photographed by Chad de Guzman, InterAksyon.

The project was financed with 40 percent equity contribution from Armstrong Asset Management of Singapore, regarded as the biggest clean energy fund in Southeast Asia.

"They're very much interested in our whole portfolio, so we fully expect to continue working with them," Castro said, even as he declined to name local investors in this undertaking.

BULACAN’S OWN. Second District Congressman Gavini “Apol” C. Pancho receives a certificate of appreciation from the Provincial Government of Bulacan headed by Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado for being the guest speaker in the 117th Anniversary of the Inauguration of Malolos Congress held at the historic Barasoain Church September 15,2015. Also in the photo are (L-R) Board Member Felix Ople, Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando and Hon. Gion Gounet, UN ambassador on Goodwill.(bulacan gov.ph)

Expansion
The company wants to expand its solar farms in phases: a 40MW plant adjacent to the current one, and a 45MW solar farm a kilometer away, to complete their first 100MW solar energy project.

The solar farms will traverse Barangays Casalat, Pasong Bangkal, and Sapang Dayap.

Power plants of this nature take about three years for design development and three more years for construction. The trick is to cluster small plants (5 to 10 MW) and large plants (20MW and more) to rationalize infrastructure investment in electricity transmission.

The company has also made solar rooftop technology available to commercial and institutional organizations, and is looking into the expansion of hydroelectric power plants in the order of 100 megawatt, such as the run-off river project in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental currently in development.

"Hydro [power plants] are very site-specific. You cannot develop a project out of flatland. Obviously you need a lot of rainfall, you need a lot of rainforest cover for the watershed, and that typically happens in the mountains."

Each hydro project is estimated to cost around US$300 to 400 million.

Tariff policies
The company is waiting the new round of Feed-In Tariff (FIT) policies under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (Republic Act 9513), which regulates the production and distribution of renewable energy.

Castro adds that expansion depends on the issuance of FIT, the imposed tariff rates, and energy production quota: "You've probably heard of the different dates, some as early as July, some as late as December, and, until such time that we really understand what the next round of FIT is, then we're just planning so that we'll be ready for that time."

"If we can increase the feed-in tariff allocation for solar energy, then that is exactly what the Philippines needs. I understand that there are a lot of people advocating that, and that's very important," Castro added.

Click and watch the video posted by Chad de Guzman of TV5 Interaksyon, below:




Source: interaksyon.com,bulacan.gov.ph,

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Microsoft is going into the legal weed business by teaming with startup "Kind" on plant tracking apps

The software — a new product in Microsoft’s cloud computing business — is meant to help states that have legalized the medical or recreational use of marijuana keep tabs on sales and commerce, ensuring that they remain in the daylight of legality.The two companies will create Azure-powered cloud apps that track plants from "seed to sale," helping legal dealers comply with laws. The decision to enter the trade was probably not taken lightly by Microsoft, as most corporations still won't touch it with a ten-foot bong. However, the software giant is based in Washington state, where it's perfectly legal to sell pot, and sees the potential for profits.

But until now, even that boring part of the pot world was too controversial for mainstream companies. It is apparent now, though, that the legalization train is not slowing down: This fall, at least five states, including the biggest of them all — California — will vote on whether to legalize marijuana for recreational use.

Marijuana buds marketed by rapper Snoop Dogg on display in a dispensary south of downtown Denver. (David Zalubowski / AP)

So far, only a handful of smaller banks are willing to offer accounts to companies that grow or sell marijuana, and Microsoft will not be touching that part of the business. But the company’s entry into the government compliance side of the business suggests the beginning of a legitimate infrastructure for an industry that has been growing fast and attracting lots of attention, both good and bad.

“We do think there will be significant growth,” said Kimberly Nelson, the executive director of state and local government solutions at Microsoft. “As the industry is regulated, there will be more transactions, and we believe there will be more sophisticated requirements and tools down the road.” - Microsoft's Kimberly Nelson tells the NYT. 

"As the industry is regulated, there will be more transactions, and we believe there will be more sophisticated requirements and tools down the road." Twenty-five states in the US have legalized pot, either for medical or recreational use, and five more are voting this year to approve it, including California and Nevada. That's created a kind of (Acapulco) gold rush in Silicon Valley, with startups sprouting everywhere.
 
Microsoft’s baby step into the business came through an announcement on Thursday that it was teaming up with a Los Angeles start-up, Kind, that built the software the tech giant will begin marketing. Kind — one of many small companies trying to take the marijuana business mainstream — offers a range of products, including A.T.M.-style kiosks that facilitate marijuana sales, working through some of the state-chartered banks that are comfortable with such customers.

Microsoft will not be getting anywhere near these kiosks or the actual plants. Rather, it will be working with Kind’s “government solutions” division, offering software only to state and local governments that are trying to build compliance systems.

But for the young and eager legalized weed industry, Microsoft’s willingness to attach its name to any part of the business is a big step forward.

“Nobody has really come out of the closet, if you will,” said Matthew A. Karnes, the founder of Green Wave Advisors, which provides data and analysis of the marijuana business. “It’s very telling that a company of this caliber is taking the risk of coming out and engaging with a company that is focused on the cannabis business.”

David Dinenberg, the founder and chief executive of Kind, said it had taken a long time — and a lot of courting of big-name companies — to persuade the first one to get on board.

“Every business that works in the cannabis space, we all clamor for legitimacy,” said Mr. Dinenberg, a former real estate developer in Philadelphia who moved to California to start Kind. “I would like to think that this is the first of many dominoes to fall.”

The software giant is based in Washington state, where it's perfectly legal to sell pot, and sees the potential for profits.

However, corporate America still sees weed as a turnoff -- it's been difficult for legal pot dealers to get loans from banks, for example. To push it into the mainstream, businesses will need to ensure they comply with laws so that the industry doesn't become a bad scene. "The goal of this relationship is to leverage each company's resources to provide state, county, and municipalities with purpose built solutions for [cannabis seed to sale] technology," Kind said.


source: New York Times,

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A Driverless Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100 103EX CAR

In a decidedly lavish announcement, luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce says its new Vision Next 100 car has been designed for "the most discerning and powerful patrons in the world."

"Our vision, in its purest form," the company wrote, "is to create the automotive equivalent of haute couture. This is the future of luxury mobility."

"Rolls-Royce 103EX is our first ever vision vehicle, and embodies just one of the endless possibilities that awaits. A personalised icon for the future, providing a sanctuary of calm in an ever-faster world. The pinnacle of effortless autonomous travel, gliding silently through the cities of tomorrow. This is our VISION NEXT 100."

At more than 19 feet long (or, about 8 inches longer than a Chevrolet Suburban) luxury mobility definitely doesn't include street parking or speed bumps, but that's beside the point: "The very size of the Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 announces the importance of its precious cargo," Rolls-Royce explained.

And it does so in appropriately over-the-top fashion. When the car arrives at its destination, driven by an unseen AI/chauffeur named Eleanor, the glass canopy pops up and the side door swings open as a red light illuminates, rolling out a virtual red carpet at the the passenger's feet.

Rolls-Royce’s chief executive, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, poses next to the Vision Next 100. Photograph: Getty

"Thus, as in Botticelli's 'Birth of Venus'," the company wrote without a hint of irony, "our guest is framed and ready to step gracefully into the limelight and greet their audience."

The interiors are similarly elaborate: without that famous Rolls 12-cylinder engine, the massive body is cavernous enough to hold massive Grand Tourer suitcases. Because car owners will no longer have a need for a personal driver, the front seat is replaced with a "beautifully textured, ivory-coloured luxurious throne upon which our passengers are conveyed." In other words: you'll be sitting on a silk loveseat.

While the tech specs are scarce in Rolls' announcement (it is, after all just a concept for now), the Guardian reports the Vision Next 100 will hit the streets in the appropriately futuristic date of "sometime in the 2040s." Until then, you can experience the interiors for yourself in a sparkly, 360-degree YouTube video. The height of luxury.

Enter 103EX: an effortless virtual reality 360° experience



Source: Rolls-Royce, The Guardian,

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Turtle Beach's HyperSound Glass - glass-based speakers prototype

Turtle Beach's HyperSound Glass is one of the most impressive tech demos I've seen in years.The broad pitch used to sell the concept is pretty easy to grasp. With traditional speakers, sound travels out like light from a lamp: It's directed, for sure, but not focused. HyperSound is more like a flashlight: a concentrated "beam" of sound, which is only fully audible in front of the "speaker," a piece of glass.

To achieve this trick, HyperSound starts by creating audio in the ultrasound spectrum -- sound waves at a higher frequency than the human hearing range. By the time they reach your ears, those waves are entirely audible, of course.

The demo had a piece of glass laid over a monitor, connected to a MacBook Pro via a receiver box that does the audio processing.

"Around six feet in front of the setup was a couch, where I was instructed to sit. From my position, Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean" came through crystal clear. The glass outputs a tinny, but listenable sound -- akin to the output of a tweeter, rather than balanced speaker. When I moved to the side of the room, I could still hear the sound, but it was very quiet. My ears were also convinced the sound was coming from the couch: It sounded as though someone had left a cellphone gently playing music on it."  -Aaron Souppouris

HyperSound tech is already in use in a single product from Turtle Beach, albeit without glass. The HyperSound Clear 500p is designed to help the hard-of-hearing watch television. It's a pair of ultrasonic speakers that are meant to be positioned directly towards a listener, allowing them to better hear high-frequency audio (i.e., dialog) while others watching the television listen to the regular output of the TV.

Turtle Beach hopes its Glass prototype will spark a conversation on what can be done with the tech. The company floated a few ideas: the glass on a car dashboard giving the driver -- and only the driver -- instructions, or something simpler like a TV, smartphone or laptop having the equivalent of an audio privacy mode. For TV watching, which is by the far the most appealing of the concepts to me, you'd need to nestle a mid-range speaker by the listener. The company was very clear that this is a proof of concept for glass-based speakers, and that any commercial product is many years away. 

source: Engadget,

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SIG Bluetooth 5: Quadruple the range, double the speed soon!

Kirkland, Washington – June 16, 2016 – The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) announced that its next release, coming late 2016 to early 2017, will be called Bluetooth 5 and will include significantly increased range, speed, and broadcast messaging capacity. Extending range will deliver robust, reliable Internet of Things (IoT) connections that make full-home and building and outdoor use cases a reality. Higher speeds will send data faster and optimize responsiveness. Increasing broadcast capacity will propel the next generation of “connectionless” services like beacons and location-relevant information and navigation. These Bluetooth advancements open up more possibilities and enable SIG companies – now at an all-time high of 30,000 member companies – to build an accessible, interoperable IoT.

“Bluetooth 5 will transform the way people experience the IoT by making it something that happens simply and seamlessly around them,” said Mark Powell, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG. “Increasing operation range will enable connections to IoT devices that extend far beyond the walls of a typical home, while increasing speed supports faster data transfers and software updates for devices. And now with the ability to broadcast a much richer set of information, Bluetooth 5 will make beacons, location awareness, and other connectionless services an even more relevant part of an effortless and seamless IoT experience”

Bluetooth 5, projected for release in late 2016 to early 2017, will quadruple range and double speed of low energy connections while increasing the capacity of connectionless data broadcasts by 800 percent. It achieves all this alongside its industry-leading power performance. With the major boost in broadcast messaging capacity, the data being transferred will be richer, more intelligent. This will redefine the way Bluetooth devices transmit information, moving away from the app-paired-to-device model to a connectionless IoT where there is less need to download an app or connect the app to a device.

More than 371 million Bluetooth enabled beacons are projected to ship by 2020, according to Patrick Connolly, Principal Analyst at ABI Research. With eight times the broadcast messaging capacity, Bluetooth 5 will further propel the adoption and deployment of beacons and location-based services in the home automation, enterprise, and industrial markets. In scenarios where contextual awareness like navigation and pin-point location are crucial – such as hassle-free airport navigation experiences, asset tracking of warehouse inventory, emergency response, even smart city infrastructure that helps the visually impaired be more mobile – Bluetooth 5 will send custom information people actually find useful in that moment without connection and application barriers.

Added Powell, “Today, there are 8.2 billion Bluetooth products in use, and the enhancements in Bluetooth 5 and planned future Bluetooth technical advancements mean that Bluetooth will be in more than one-third of all installed IoT devices by 2020. The drive and innovation of Bluetooth will ensure our technology continues to be the IoT solution of choice for all developers. ”

The addition of the Bluetooth SIG’s 30,000th member company shows that more and more companies are choosing Bluetooth as both the technology and the organization that will help them develop IoT products and services with the best consumer experiences and help bring those products and services to market faster and more successfully. Membership has grown over 11 percent since the end of 2015, now reaching a record-high with its 30,000th member, Blossom Group. The startup, which is building infrasound and low-frequency noise relaxation products, is just the latest validation that companies of all sizes and verticals are joining the SIG because the organization is working in collaboration with its members to advance the technology and make the world smarter, safer, better, and more enjoyable. 

“Implementing Bluetooth as our wireless technology and joining the SIG organization was the obvious choice to ensure our products’ success,” said Luke Sanger, CEO and co-founder of Blossom Group. “Bluetooth has the ubiquity of a trusted wireless communication platform and a great history of supporting market trends and working with developers and members to produce ground-breaking products and applications. We know Bluetooth will stay ahead of the game by working with its members and embracing technological advancements – from power efficiency to IoT connectivity – to push the limits of innovation.”

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About Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
Bluetooth is the global wireless standard for simple, secure connectivity. Propelled by a global community of more than 30,000 companies, Bluetooth serves to unify, harmonize, and drive innovation in the vast range of connected devices all around us. Through collective creation and shared technical standards, Bluetooth simplifies, secures and enriches the technology experience of users worldwide.


Source: Bluetooth SIG

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Chinese firm called Burley claims Apple copied its design for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus

After the iTunes Movies and iBooks Store ban back in April, the previous generation of iPhones have recently been accused of infringing the design patent of some random Chinese company's "100C" smartphone under the "100+" brand. Don't laugh, because the Beijing Intellectual Property Office has since ordered Apple to stop selling its iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in Beijing, with the reason being the general consumers won't be able to tell the "minute differences" between Apple's design and the 100C. No, really.

Previously, a company called Burley to Beijing Intellectual Property Office, the company is the patent number ZL201430009113.9, the name "mobile phone (100C)" design patent of the patentee. The company believes that the complex company affiliated stores offering for sale and sale of two mobile phones iPhone6 ​​and iPhone6 ​​Plus design violated the rights enjoyed by its own request Beijing Intellectual Property Bureau ordered Apple and multiplexing companies to stop offering for sale and above sales practices.


May 10 this year, according to the Beijing Municipal Intellectual Property Office, "after the patent administrative enforcement measures" the case and render a "patent infringement dispute settlement decision. 

Burley/Li Bais 100+  100C from TENNA

Beijing Intellectual Property Office that, after comparison, Apple's iPhone6 ​​iPhone6 ​​Plus and two phones with Li Bai's "mobile phone (100C)" Although there are a number of differences, but belong to the average consumer is difficult to notice small difference, it should be recognized no significant difference between the two, involved falling within the scope of patent protection.

　　Accordingly, the Beijing Intellectual Property Office under the provisions of "People's Republic of China Patent Law" Article 60, that "...... unwilling to consult or the consultation fails, the patentee or interested party may bring a suit before a people's court to be requesting the administrative authority for patent affairs processing patent administrative department ...... the infringement established, it may order the infringer to immediately stop the infringement ...... "decision, and ordered Apple to stop selling the company to stop complex offering for sale and sale infringing products.


Of course, Apple and its distribution partner aren't having any of this, so they have initiated an administrative litigation to reverse the ban. But given Apple's previous failed attempt in China, they're going to need a lot of luck to win this fight.

In addition, due to the current Beijing Intellectual Property Court trial of the case is the first instance procedure, if the losing party may continue to appeal, so the Beijing Intellectual Property Court verdict, does not necessarily lead to the allegedly infringing Apple's two phones banned in Beijing legal consequences. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus continue to be sold in China currently, pending the outcome of the administrative action filed by Apple.



Source: Beijing Morning Post, TENAA (for the image)

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