Technology

The Google Pixel comes with the Trusted Voice feature, which allows owners to unlock the smartphone by saying "OK Google." The feature sounds cool, but it has been flagged as a potential security issue. (Photo : Google)

The Google Pixel comes with a feature that allows users to unlock the smartphone using a voice command. Named Trusted Voice, users only need to say "OK Google" to access their device if the feature is activated.

While Trusted Voice sounds cool, security researchers have flagged the feature as a potential issue due to the multitude of ways that it can be used against the owner of the Google Pixel.

How Hackers Can Trick Trusted Voice

TrustedSec and Binary Defense Systems founder Dave Kennedy discovered that he could use a recording of his voice to unlock his Google Pixel through the feature. This presents the vulnerability of an attacker to breach the lock of a Google Pixel device by acquiring a recording of the voice of the smartphone owner, having him or her say the words "OK" and "Google" and then editing the recording to combine the two words.

In addition, hackers who are savvy with audio tools could be able to mimic a user's voice from scratch to bypass the lock of a Google Pixel smartphone. Law enforcement would also be able to access the contents of the device bylegally requiring subjects to say "OK Google" to unlock the Google Pixel, according to George Washington University law professor Orin Kerr.

Perhaps the greater risk gassociated with Trusted Voice on the Google Pixel, however, is the fact that it is enabled by default on the smartphone. The feature can be found on other Android smartphones, but it was not activated by default, with users having to go into the Settings menu of their devices to turn it on.

How To Protect YourselfWith the Google Pixel, the Trusted Voice feature is a part of the setup process of acquiring a new unit. There is the option for users to disable the feature right during setup, but it is entirely possible that excited users will simply activate the feature in a hurry to start using the Google Pixel.

For users to protect themselves from the security problems presented by Trusted Voice, there is no choice but to deactivate the feature no matter how cool it is to be able to unlock the Google Pixel using a voice command.

To deactivate Trusted Voice, users will need to go to the Settings menu of the Google App, access the Voice menu and disable "OK Google" detection. This would force users to unlock the Google Pixel using the boring but ultimately much safer methods of either a PIN or a password.

In other news, if you are one of the eager Google Pixel customers who are affected by shipment delays, Google might be offering you $50 worth of Google Play credit.

Tech

Unlocking The Google Pixel With A Voice Command Sounds Cool, But It Is A Security Problem: Here's How To Protect Yourself By Aaron Mamiit

Unknown Friday 4 November 2016

Motorola wants everyone to "skip the sevens," particularly the iPhone 7. To do just that, it launched a video that shows off how it convinces "Apple loyalists" to switch to the Moto Z and its Moto Mods. (Photo : Paul Zimmerman | Getty Images)

Motorola is urging everyone to "skip the sevens" in part of its latest campaign, convincing "Apple loyalists" that the recently launched iPhone 7 is far from an innovation compared with the Moto Z and its Moto Mods.

In the video, the smartphone maker gathered a group of people and asked them what they thought of the Cupertino brand's flagship.

The participants weren't really impressed with the new iteration of the iPhone, saying that there wasn't really any difference with the previous model and noting that it only got an improved processor and a better camera. After that, the host of the assembly brought out an "iPhone prototype" and proceeded to show off the accessories that can be attached on the back of the handset. Needless to say, it was the Moto Z and three of its Moto Mods, not any kind of Apple-branded smartphone, but the focus group wasn't aware of that.

Long story short, everyone was more than fascinated with the Moto Insta-Share Projector, the JBL SoundBoost Speaker and the Incipio offGRID Power Pack and they were more or less shocked after it was revealed that the smartphone was in fact not an upcoming iPhone or anything like that.

The Video "Moto Mods Presents: Skip The Sevens (Focus Groups)"

For the curious, here's the video itself:

On an interesting note, just how did these people manage to avoid knowing about the Moto Z and the Moto Mods? At any rate, that adds a touch of mystery to the whole shindig.

The Video "Moto Mods Presents: Skip The Sevens (Focus Groups)"

For the curious, here's the video itself:

Motorola Convinces 'Apple Loyalists' That The Moto Z Is Better Than The iPhone 7 Thanks To Moto Mods

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Motorola's launching a developer contest for its modular-esque line of accessories called the Moto Mods. If you have any ideas for the next big Moto Mods accessory, now's your chance to have it fully realized. (Photo : Motorola | Indiegogo)

Motorola's own version of the modular smartphone, or at least a respectable semblance of it, is made possible by the Moto Mods, a series of accessories that can latch onto the back of compatible Motorola smartphones that add extra functionality.

These devices have so far been unexplored despite Motorola's marketing push, struggling to bleed beyond being a "concept" accessory instead of a legitimate, mainstream innovation for smartphones out in the market today. But with the help of a new developer competition on the horizon, coupled with Motorola's Moto Mods Development Kit, or MDK, all bets are now off in terms of what's possible, now that everyone's ideas are involved.

"We are invested in the future of the Moto Mods ecosystem and we want to empower developers to dream, build and fund their own Moto Mods," writes Motorola in a blog post.

Right now, there are Moto Mods that turn your Motorola smartphone into a beefed up Hasselblad camera, a short-throw video projector, a JBL Soundboost Speaker, or a smartphone with an extra battery pack. Motorola wants that list to grow, and they're enlisting the help of anyone who's interested and capable of developing their own Moto Mods accessory.

Motorola Teams Up With Indiegogo

The Moto Mods campaign will be a joint collaboration between Motorola and Indiegogo. Users can enter the developer contest until the end of January next year"No matter if you're a one-person startup or an experienced development firm, we want to hear your ideas for redefining what a smartphone can do," reads the Indiegogo campaign page.

Anyone interested may submit their ideas for a Moto Mods accessory. Finalists will be selected by a panel of industry leaders. Winners will receive a trip to Chicago to meet with the executive development team behind the Moto Mods to further discuss their winning concepts.

How To Join The Moto Mods Contest

There are two entry points to the developer contest. The first is the simpler one of the two. Go to the campaign's submission page, fill up the form and elucidate your idea or plan for your accessory. Motorola will review your qualification status and if successful, they'll hand out a free MDK and a free Moto Z phone so you can begin constructing your prototype.

The other way is geared for the more experienced developers out there. In December, Motorola's holding a Moto Mods Hackathon in New York and in San Francisco in January. Buy tickets for the program and you can build your prototype directly inside the event with professional in-person help.

The grand prize winners will automatically be invited to pitch their ideas at the Motorola HQ by March next year.

Once you have managed to build a prototype of your Moto Mods accessory, you can now launch an Indiegogo campaign to fund further development. Ten finalists will be picked by the panel to pitch their ideas, with an engineering roundtable prepared to fine-tune the winners' prototypes.

The winners will then go on to meet with Verizon Ventures and Lenovo Capital, with the chance to have their custom Moto Mods accessory distributed by Verizon nationwide. Motorola will also promote and distribute winning Moto Mods online.

Do you have a compelling and innovative idea for the next Moto Mod? Feel free to take a shot at it!

Motorola Wants You To Think Up The Next Moto Mods: Here's How To Join The Competition

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Microsoft rolled out the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14959 to the Fast Ring and it has a neat treat: the Unified Update Platform (UUP), which aims to make updates smaller and more seamless. (Photo : Craig Barritt | Getty Images)

Microsoft's latest Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14959 gives a sneak peek at how the Unified Update Platform (UUP) is shaping up, with lighter and smaller updates.

So far, Windows 10 updates have been anything but light and users have been complaining about too many updates that take too long to install. With its upcoming UUP, Microsoft will shrink future OS updates and make them more seamless, requiring less processing power.

The UUP basically consists of a number of behind-the-scenes changes that will cut the size of Windows 10 update files, reduce the required processing power for an update and streamline updates on Windows smartphones.

One of the most major changes UUP will bring to the table will have Windows Update deliver only the updates that are actually relevant to the device.

"We have converged technologies in our build and publishing systems to enable differential downloads for all devices built on the Mobile and PC OS," Microsoft explains. "A differential download package contains only the changes that have been made since the last time you updated your device, rather than a full build."

UUP is currently in testing with the latestWindows Insider test build 14959 that rolled out on Thursday, hitting the Fast Ring for both mobile and PC.

According to Microsoft, PC users can expect to see roughly 35 percent smaller updates when shifting from one major Windows update to another. The company aims to support this for feature updates that will roll out after theWindows 10 Creators Update, if the Insider testing goes smoothly.

Windows Insiders running beta OS builds on their PCs, meanwhile, should get the new update sometime later this year, while those using HoloLens or devices running Windows 10 IoT Insider builds should get the update soon after.

It remains to be seen whether UUP will actually solve at least the main issues surrounding Windows 10 updates, but Microsoft says that's the plan. The company says it's working on making updates more seamless and give users more control over when to install updates. At the same time, Microsoft also wants to make updates less demanding in terms of local processing, which should in turn translate to improved battery performance.If the general public, i.e. non-Insiders will get the treat after the Creators Update, this means sometime in the latter half of next year.

That should give Windows Insiders ample time to test out the feature so that Microsoft can smooth over any wrinkles ahead of the general release. In the meantime, Microsoft will roll out a patch on Nov. 8 to fix a zero-day Windows vulnerability Google publicly disclosed earlier this week.

As always, we'll keep you up to date with any major developments that unfold.

Tech

Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14959 Brings Good News: Microsoft Making Future Windows Updates Smaller And Lighter By Alexandra Burlacu

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Niantic released Daily Bonuses for "Pokémon GO," an incentives system for players who'll play the game on a daily basis. Experience Points, Stardust and additional items are rewarded for players who do certain activities in the game daily. (Photo : Niantic)

Four months ago, Pokémon GO's initial warm welcome bled with maximum popularity, penetrating even the bulk of reputable news outlets on television because of the overwhelming hype. The craze was visible and the accompanying frenzy cemented it atop the charts in the App Store and the Google Play Store.

That is until a surge of users withdrew from the augmented reality-capable game by Niantic because of a number of issues that deserve their own separate article. The global success ofthe game has waned considerably, and even more so now that winter is in the offing.

While it's easy to fault Niantic for its increasingly prohibitive measures that turned many users sour, the developers do make up for its disappointing shortcomings by releasing piecemeal updates in an attempt to avoid fans from jumping ship. Most recently, it released a Halloween update for the game which shot it back up the charts. Now, it seems that apart from newPokémon egg icons and improved gym training, Niantic is set to release Daily Bonuses to keep users playing on a daily basis, too.

How Daily Bonuses Work

With the new Daily Bonuses, users are given 500 experience points and 600 Stardust for catching one Pokémon per day. If you successfully do it for one week straight, then you get an added bonus of 2,000 XP and 2,400 Stardust. Additionally, daily visits to a PokéStop and daily Photo Disc spins will net you 500 XP alongside a number of additional items. Do this for a whole week and you get an extra 2,000 XP and a greater number of additional items.

With these new bonuses in place, more low-level casual players can at least play the game on a daily basis in order to enjoy some progress, without the troublesome measure of taking over the nearest gym for a brief period before rapidly claiming coins.

Will Niantic Bring Back The Tracker?

While these bells and whistles Niantic keeps throwing at Pokéemon GO players might cause brief delight, the biggest issue is still clear as day: the lack of a tracker.

"Seriously, Niantic, bring it back," Android Police's Michael Crider said, and many other voices unarguably join him in unison. ThePokémon GO tracker was even featured in the popular prelaunch trailer, and it initially was available in the first two weeks of the game's launch until Niantic pulled it abruptly. The company has promised to bring it back, a pledge all-too tainted with vagueness and uncertainty. Pokémon GO's daily active users has been on a steady decline because of the lack of a proper tracker, rendering many players searching for encounters without aim or hint. Now that popular third-party trackers have shut down, players are finding more reasons to head out the door and resign from the game altogether. We'll see if daily bonuses get those players back again.

Culture

'Pokémon GO' To Get Daily Bonuses: Here's What To Expect By Carl Velasco

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For those who impatiently anticipate "Watch Dogs 2" as it nears its mid-November launch, Ubisoft has uploaded a new video showcasing the Season Pass. The $39.99 expansion pack contains a number of new missions, customization and more. (Photo : Ubisoft US | YouTube)

A new video uploaded by Ubisoft officially showcases in full detail what users are going to get if they avail the Season Pass for Watch Dogs 2, due for release mid-November for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 with a PC release after.

Fans have long awaited for the release of the much-anticipated sequel to Watch Dogs since its E3 unveiling in June this year.

The upcoming game's Season Pass will cost $39.99, coming with extra features, new co-op modes, new difficulty levels, an eclectic array of cosmetic options, new vehicles and new stories to immerse players in Watch Dogs 2's massive open world. Three major content packs come with the Season Pass, alongside added customization options and new co-op modes and returning characters, which will be released after the game's launch.

T-Bone Returns

Raymond "T-Bone" Kenney is making an appearance in Watch Dogs 2, lugging along his signature "tropical trucker-hobo" look. The T-Bone Bundle brings over T-Bone's truck and outfit, alongside the co-op play called Mayhem, introducing a new enemy archetype armed with advanced weaponry. The T-Bone bundle will be available for PS4 beginning Dec. 13.

The Jammer

The new Season Pass will also include the Jammer, an enemy archetype armed with the technology able to hunt the player down in elite co-op missions available in the Human Conditions content, which brings over three new world stories that pack hours of content mainly involving the player in uncovering underground scandals embedded in San Francisco's science and medicine industries.

Human Conditions will be available early 2017.

No Compromise

Our protagonist Marcos Holloway jockeys with the Russian Mafia in No Compromise that peels off San Francisco's veneer to unravel the more lurid and hazardous turfs of the city. Included in this content is a new co-op mode called Showdown where only the best players are left alive. Like Human Conditions, No Compromise will be available early 2017.

The Zodiac Killer

Someone's littering around the Bay Area calling himself the "Zodiac Killer," leaving a trail of messages for Marcus to decipher. The Zodiac Killer mission will include new outfits, cars, a drone skin and a new weapon. The Zodiac Killer will be available this winter.

Watch Dogs 2 Goes Psychedelic

The combination of San Francisco, hippies and a groovy weapon make for some potentially wacky and funky banner moment for Watch Dogs 2's more colorful side, a nice respite from the game's high-octane, gritty and austere atmosphere.

Tech Times previously reported that Watch Dogs 2 will not have AR mini games, a slight disappointment, but the hefty Season Pass builds upon and extends the already immersive and vast open world of the game. And as sort of a retooling of its tried and tested but waning formula for open worlds, Ubisoft is encouraging the player to explore the world instead of being forced to unlock maps piece by piece.

For the uninitiated, Watch Dogs 2 is a third-person open world action-adventure set in San Francisco. Players navigate the city through Marcus Holloway, a hacker who aims to tear down the city's advanced surveillance system. The bulk of Watch Dogs 2's gameplay are filled by missions, and each successful one increases the follower count of DedSec, a hacking group Holloway is part of.

The Season Pass will come bundled with the Gold Edition of Watch Dogs 2. For those unable to get the Gold Edition, the Season Pass will be sold separately for $39.99. Watch Dogs 2 hits shelves Nov. 15 for Xbox One and PS4, with a two-week delay for PC, which arrives on Nov. 29.

Culture

'Watch Dogs 2' Season Pass Contents Revealed: $40 Gives You New Outfits, Stories And More By Carl Velasco

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Apple Watch is poised to get HD photo and video capture functionality through the upcoming CMRA band. It equips the wearable with rear-facing 8-megapixel camera and a 2-megapixel selfie module. (Photo : CMRA)

Apple is not expected to outfit the Apple Watch with a camera anytime soon, but today, owners of the Apple Watch Series 2 could have not just one but two shooters in their smartwatches by way of a camera-equipped strap.

The innovation was launched by startup called Glide, which counts erstwhile Apple Watch engineer Shawn Greening as cofounder. The company is calling its product the CMRA band and is being sold with a unique charging dock that can power both the strap and the smartwatch at the same time.

Based on the promotional video released, the dual camera technology is cleverly positioned to simulate smartphone shooters. One camera is front-facing or outward-facing, capturing the action before the user while the other acts as a selfie shooter. The former sports an 8-megapixel sensor capable of capturing HD photo and video, while the self-facing module has a 2-megapixel Sony sensor.

The CMRA band, which will retail for $249, is significantly more expensive than the conventional straps being peddled for the Apple Watch, but if you preorder it now, you get $100 off, which is a 40 percent price cut. That is already quite a steal especially whenpremium and limited editions straps retail for as much as $689 at the Apple online store.

Glide has not released an exact release date, but those who preorder the CMRA band today will be able to get it in the spring of 2017. If you are interested to purchase a set, a preorder has a maximum cap of three bands, which is unfortunate because there are four colors available. There are two size variants, covering the 38 mm and 42 mm Apple Watch models.

With the release of the CMRA band and how it effectively addressed concerns about the bulk of additional camera module, Apple could be pressured to explore the same technology in the next-generation Apple Watch, which is not entirely far-fetched. The company certainly has time on its side, as the Apple Watch 3 is projected to roll out late 2017 or early 2018.

Tech