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Category: smartphone

Meet Apple Pay, Apple’s new mobile payment system

Apple has plunged into the world of mobile payments with the introduction of Apple Pay. This new service is integrated in the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch. The payment service is designed to allow users to scan tickets, buy merchandise, and even engage in other payment actions by waving their mobile device at the reader.

With Apple Pay, you may no longer need to carry your credit or debit cards around as you can have all of them stored in your Passbook.

How it Works

With the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, you don’t even have to open an app to use the service, simply place your finger on Touch ID and hold your phone near the contactless reader. You do not have to look at the screen as a subtle beep and vibration tells you that the information was sent successfully.

For the Apple Watch, hold the face of your Apple watch near the contactless reader and double click the button that is just below the digital crown. You will know your information was sent successfully when you feel a gentle pulse and a beep. This feature will become active in early 2015.

How to Setup

Setting up is easy as all your debit and credit card info can be stored in your Passbook. To get started, you can add the debit or credit card from your iTunes a/c to Passbook by entering the security code of your card.

Use the iSight Camera to add new card information. You could even type it in manually if you wish. The first card you add becomes your default payment card, but you can always change this by going to Passbook settings and choosing another card to be your default.

Security

Every time you add a card to your Passbook, a unique Device Account Number is created and encrypted. This number is then stored safely in a secure element on your iPhone or Apple Watch. Apple does not store these numbers in their servers. When you are making a payment, the Device Account Number, together with a dynamic transaction-specific security code are used to process your payment. This therefore means that your actual debit or credit card numbers never get to be transmitted with payments or shared with merchants.

In case you lose your iPhone, you could always wipe it clean or put it in Lost Mode using Find My iPhone.

You will be able to use Apple Pay in over 220,000 stores that accept contactless payments.

September 11, 2014
Apple introduces Apple Watch

During the iPhone 6 launch yesterday, Apple announced the Apple Watch, which is its first incursion into the world of wearable tech. The Apple Watch is a smartwatch with a rectangular face, swappable bands, sapphire glass, inductive charging, rotating digital crown, and a heartbeat sensor.

You will have an opportunity to choose between 6 different straps, including a leather loop, a sport band, stainless steel strap and a classic leather buckle that is easy to adjust.

The watch will also be available in 2 different sizes and 3 different collections, including the Watch Edition, Watch, and Watch Sport.

Of course, the Apple Watch will only work in conjunction with an iPhone, so you will have to own a relatively new model starting with iPhone 5.

Revolutionary you think?

During the launch, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook said “We love to make new products that improve people’s lives. We love to make things that allow our users to make things that they could never have imagined.” He also added that the Apple Watch will redefine what people expect from its category.

How Different is it from the iPhone?

Cook stressed that they did not just take the iPhone and transformed it into a watch. Take the Pinch to Zoom for instance, this wouldn’t work on a watch and for that matter, Apple has a small dial on the side of the watch known as the digital crown. Pressing the dial takes you to the home screen which you can personalize.

They also introduced the digital touch that allows users to quickly share a sketch that is drawn on the watch’s face. Since the watch doesn’t have a keyboard, the digital touch allows you to still communicate relatively complex ideas using sketches.

It is also important not to forget the basic function of the watch – it’s a timepiece. The watch is able to keep unfailingly precise time of 50 milliseconds of the global standard time.

You can also receive and send texts from the watch. You will feel a gentle tap whenever you get a message and you can also send out quick replies. There are customizable animated emoji too.

The watch is also your intelligent fitness companion as it will provide you with a complete report of you day’s physical activity. This includes the number of steps taken, the frequency, and quality as well. Your Activity App will simply display your fitness level in 3 rings that show your progress and thus provide you with all the motivation you need to exercise more and keep fit.

The Apple Watch retail price will start at $349 and will be available early 2015.

September 10, 2014
Apple Announces iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

Apple has just announced iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, two new models with 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch Retina HD displays, and packed with some new technologies in an all-new thin design.

iPhone 6 features a 4.7-inch display with 1334 x 750 resolution (38 percent more viewing area than iPhone 5s), while iPhone 6 Plus features an even bigger 5.5-inch display with 1920 x 1080 resolution (88 percent more viewing area and nearly three times the pixels than iPhone 5s.)

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus include: the A8 chip with second generation 64-bit architecture; improved iSight and FaceTime HD cameras; ultrafast wireless technology VoLTE and Apple Pay, a new mobile payment system:

Users can pay securely and conveniently in stores by simply holding the phone near the contactless reader while keeping a finger on Touch ID; there is no need to unlock your iPhone or launch an app.

With Apple Pay, you can also make one-touch purchases within apps, without having to enter credit card or shipping information. All payment information is kept private, encrypted and stored securely in the Secure Element, a chip inside the new iPhones.

Both models include the M8 motion coprocessor that gathers motion data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, compass and the new barometer, which senses air pressure to provide relative elevation.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus include iOS 8 with new Messages and Photos features, QuickType keyboard, a new Health app, Family Sharing and iCloud Drive.

Pricing and Availability

iPhone 6 comes in gold, silver or space gray, and will be available in the US for $199 for the 16GB model, $299 for the 64GB model and for $399 for a new 128GB model (with a two-year contract).

iPhone 6 Plus comes in the same colors and will be available in the US for $299 for the 16GB model, $399 for the 64GB model and $499 for the new 128GB model (with a two-year contract.)

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will be available in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK beginning on Friday, September 19, and customers can pre-order both models beginning on Friday, September 12.

September 10, 2014
6 Essential Public WiFi Security Tips

There are many risks associated with using a free WiFi network to browse sites that house private information. It’s quite easy to scan a public WiFI network to get a list of all the IPs currently connected. Once a snooper has that list, there’s a large amount of things they can do with that information. They can, for example, install software on your computer which can then be used to capture confidential information such as usernames and passwords, credit card numbers, even emails or search history.

SaferVPN assembled their 6 fundamental tips for staying safe on public WiFi:

1. Turn off sharing

Uncheck all the boxes (music, photos, printers, etc.) from the Homegroup section of Network and Internet Settings on a PC and from Sharing under System Preferences on a Mac.

2. Use anti-malware / antivirus

This applies to much more than public WiFi alone – you should always protect your computers and mobile devices from malicious attacks. It’s not much different than getting your annual flu shot. There are some great free and paid solutions out there. PC Magazine has a nice unbiased list of their favorites here.

3. Use HTTPS

General rule of thumb: don’t enter sensitive information (credit card numbers, social security number, even a password) on pages that don’t have https at the very beginning of the URL (the full address you see towards the top of your screen). If you are just browsing around, playing a game or catching up on the news, having https won’t matter as much.

4. Protect your passwords

If you use the same password for every site, or if you password is featured in the dictionary, you’ve got a problem. In fact, a password’s lifespan really shouldn’t exceed more than 6 to 12 months. But how do you manage all of these unique passwords? Apps like 1password or LastPass will do it for you.

5. Enable a firewall

This is a quick an easy task that can be accomplished on both Windows and Mac that prevents undesired web traffic from entering (or exiting) your computer. This adds an extra layer of security and can be used to prevent computers from accessing certain sites and content. You can learn how to configure your firewall here.

6. Confirm the network name

Before you try to connect to the WiFi at your local Starbucks, make sure the network is actually called Starbucks and not something suspicious like Stars and Bucks. On top of that, it’s very easy to assign any name to a network so think before you click as there may be more than one “Hotel_WiFi-Guest”. Always gotta be on the look-out for the little things.

Source: SaferVPN

August 26, 2014
Apple and IBM partner to bring a ‘new class’ of business iPhone and iPad apps to enterprise
Apple and IBM announced yesterday an exclusive partnership to transform enterprise mobility through a ‘new class’ of business apps – MobileFirst for iOS that will bring IBM’s big data and analytics capabilities to iPhone and iPad.

The partnership aims to ‘address key industry mobility challenges’ by creating:
- a new class of more than 100 industry-specific enterprise solutions including native apps, developed exclusively from the ground up, for iPhone and iPad;
- unique IBM cloud services optimized for iOS, including device management, security, analytics and mobile integration;
- new AppleCare® service and support offering tailored to the needs of the enterprise; and
- new packaged offerings from IBM for device activation, supply and management.
As part of the agreement, IBM will also sell iPhones and iPads with the industry-specific solutions to business clients worldwide.

Specifically, the two companies are working together to deliver the following elements of enterprise mobile solutions:

– Mobile solutions that transform business: The companies will collaborate to build IBM MobileFirst for iOS Solutions—a new class of “made-for-business apps” targeting specific industry issues or opportunities in retail, healthcare, banking, travel and transportation, telecommunications and insurance, among others, that will become available starting this fall and into 2015.

– Mobile platform: The IBM MobileFirst Platform for iOS will deliver the services required for an end-to-end enterprise capability, from analytics, workflow and cloud storage, to fleet-scale device management, security and integration.

– Mobile service and support: AppleCare for Enterprise will provide IT departments and end users with 24/7 assistance from Apple’s customer support group, with on-site service delivered by IBM.

– Packaged service offerings: IBM is introducing IBM MobileFirst Supply and Management for device supply, activation and management services for iPhone and iPad, with leasing options.
July 16, 2014
Samsung Launches 4 Affordable Android 4.4 KitKat Galaxy Smartphones

Samsung has recently launched four new reasonably priced smartphones: the Galaxy Core II, Galaxy Ace 4, Galaxy Star 2, and Galaxy Young 2. Although Samsung has not yet revealed the availability or pricing details of the smartphones, they are already hyped as ‘affordable’.

All the newly launched Samsung smartphones run out-of-the-box android 4.4 KitKat. Further, all these smartphones with the exception of the Galaxy Ace 4 are dual SIM devices. According to Samsung Tomorrow, the Galaxy Ace 4 has been launched in LTE and 3G variants which both come with a slightly diverse set of specifications.

The Galaxy Ace 4 (3G) weighs 123.8grams; packs 1500mAh batteries with 512MB RAM backed by a 1GHz dual-core processor and comes with dimensions of 121.4×62.9×10.8mm; while the Galaxy Ace 4 LTE comes in 121.4×62.9x11mm dimensions weighing 130.3 grams. It packs a 1GB RAM powered by 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 1800mAh batteries. The two variations however have a few common specifications including a VGA front and a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 4-inch WVGA TFT display.

The Samsung Galaxy Core II is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, with 768MB of RAM an in-built storage of 4GB with an expandable storage support of 64GB, 2000mAh batteries and a 4.5-inch WVGA TFT display. This smartphone also has connectivity options including 3G, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi b/g/n and a Micro-USB. Weighing 138 grams and 130.3x68x9.8mm in dimensions, the Galaxy Core II comes in colour variations of white and black.

The Samsung Galaxy Young 2 has an in-built 4GB storage which can expand further to 32GB via microSD card, backed by 512MB of RAM, a 1GHz single-core processor and packs a 1300mAh battery. It also has a fixed-focus 3-megapixel rear camera with connectivity options including GLONASS, 3G, A-GPS, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 and Micro-USB. This smartphone comes in charcoal and white colour variants.

Finally, there is the Samsung Galaxy Star 2 which comes with a 512MBRAM, powered by a 1GHz SC6815A single-core Spreadtrum and a 3.5-inch HVGA display. With an in-built 4GB storage expandable up to 32GB with a microSD card, this smartphone also incorporates a Wi-Fi b/g/n; Bluetooth 4.0 as well as Micro-USB connectivity options and packs 1300mAh batteries.

July 10, 2014
Sony Xperia Z2 US Release Date set for mid-August

@evleaks in his post further revealed that the release date for the Sony Xperia Z2 in the US is projected to be in the mid-part of the subsequent quarter. This would mean that, the Xperia Z2 also codenamed “Sony Sirius Viv” is most likely to be availed in the market by mid-august. The new Sony’s flagship is rumored to be coming to Verizon.

According to @evleaks, the cause of the delay owes to the fact that the very specific variant that is said to support LTE- advanced is mandated to go through testing and certification.

The Japanese technological colossal has not yet given an official date of release for the launch of Sony Xperia Z2 in the US, which is set to arrive through the Big Red brand.

Back in April, Sony had a revealed the availability of the unlocked version of the Xperia Z2 in the US through its online market stores this summer. However, according to Android Authority, the much anticipated phone is not accessible- at least not yet.

According to the reports on Christian Post, the Sony Xperia Z2 specifications include a 3 GB RAM with a 2.3 GHz quad core snapdragon 801 procesor and Adreno 330 GPU. For display, this top smartphone is fortified with an LED Live Color 5.2 inch full HD display with a 1920 X 1080p screen resolution. Other specifications of this handset include a 4K audiovisual capture, 3200 mAh battery, digital clamor annulling technology, a dust and water proof body, Sony features assimilated in an Android 4.4 KitKat and a 4G LTE sustenance.

Check back with us for further information on the Sony Xperia Z2.

June 23, 2014
3D Amazon smartphone to be released this Wednesday?

It is the tradition in the tech industry for companies to hype new releases on YouTube. According to one such YouTube video, Amazon is set to release an unidentified device this Wednesday, June 18^th.

According to 2013 reports from the Wall Street Journal, Amazon will be releasing a smartphone that has the capability to display 3D images. The user will not have to wear the special glasses characteristic of 3D displays.

The report quoted anonymous sources familiar with the product who stated that the smartphone display will use retina-tracking technology. This will give users images that seem to float on the screen, just like a hologram. You will be able to view the images from all angles in three-dimensions.

In the video, you see people looking in awe at the product that is outside its frame. One person is heard saying, “It moved with me!”

The release of the teaser led to speculations that the tech giant is set to release a smartphone that will allow it to compete with other tech giants like Google and Apple. These tech giants have been competing in many fronts and it is not surprising that Amazon will want a piece of the lucrative smartphone industry.

According to May 2014 reports by BGR, the new Amazon smartphone is expected to respond to the movements of the user such that it changes the info displayed when tilted from one side to the next.

Amazon has not acknowledged the launch, but neither have they denied it.

June 16, 2014
LG Launching Laser-Focus Enabled G3 Smartphone

LG has announced the launch its new laser-focus enabled 3G smartphone during the global launch event held in London. This laser-auto-focus technology enables the camera an Android-powered device to focus even in dimly lit areas and to also quickly capture moving objects. LG3’s laser auto focus feature enables the device to focus in 0.276 of a second.

(more…)

June 10, 2014
New enterprise solutions in iOS 8

Not more than 48 hours ago, Apple announced the introduction of the much awaited iOS 8, which comes with a number of improvements. Interesting to note is the Enterprise that is build on the new IT model that has significantly improved the way users are informed on how their devices are managed, configured and restricted.

Stronger Security

Even more interesting to note is the fact that iOS 8 comes with an upgraded and even more powerful Enterprise-grade security. Apple has expanded data protection to more apps and upgraded their mail encryption technology, too.

In addition to third-party apps and mail protection, iOS 8 now also offers passcode protection to other apps like Contacts, Reminders, Notes, Calendar, and Messages.

Users can also opt to use the S/MIME feature to encrypt and sign individual messages. This in turn ensures greater mail messages security.

New Productivity and Time Saving Features

With iOS 8, users can create and save automatic email replies that help save time. They can also manage busy inboxes by flagging messages, marking them as unread or read for better organization. Users can also designate certain mails as VIP so that they are sent directly to the VIP box for priority purposes. It is also possible to set the mailbox to mark external addresses in red for security purposes.

Using the calendar, users can also view meeting availability of their colleagues and friends. The calendar is able to show our friends availability and when setting a meeting, we can therefore put it in a time that is most convenient to everyone.

iOS 8 also gives us the power to push PDF, iBooks, and ePub documents to user devices using MDM (mobile device management) tools. We can also remove the materials remotely when you no longer need them.

Finally, with iOS 8 we can wirelessly connect our iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch to Apple TV (peer-to-peer connection), without having to first connect to the organization’s network. This then means that we can share or present our work even when offline.

June 4, 2014