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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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 Gets Rear, Front Cameras Thanks To Glide's CMRA Band: Selfies, Video Calls And More From Your Wrist By Chris Loterina

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

Apple Watch Gets Rear, Front Cameras Thanks To Glide's CMRA Band: Selfies, Video Calls And More From Your Wrist By Chris Loterina

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Facebook's Internet.org Now Helps 40 Million People Get Online By Sumit Passary

Internet.org now assists 40 million people in 49 countries around the world get online. Facebook and six other companies started the initiative in 2014 to bring affordable internet access to people in less-developed countries. (Photo : Carl Court | Getty Images)

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed that its Internet.org now helps millions of people around the world access the internet.

On Wednesday, Nov. 2 Facebook announced its third quarter financial results and Zuckerberg also took the opportunity to reveal the company's efforts in bringing affordable internet access to less-developed countries.

Zuckerberg also laid down the company's plans for the next decade and he confirmed that connectivity is one of main areas of focus in this period. "Through our efforts with Internet.org, we've connected 40 million people based on our best estimate," said Zuckerberg. "And we're making good progress with our Express WiFi program, which empowers entrepreneurs to build a business by providing their community with access to the internet."

Internet.org Grows 166 Percent Year-Over-Year

Internet.org is an initiative started by Facebook and six other companies in 2014. The initiative has been criticized for violating net neutrality but it has grown at a great pace since 2014. Internet.org started with 3 million users and in 2015 the number went up to 15 million. In May this year the figure reached 25 million. Reportssuggest that the program has seen a growth of 166 percent year-over-year. Free Basics, a carrier-subsidized app and part of Internet.org, is driving internet connectivity. Facebook wants its satellites and solar-powered drones to bring internet access to many remote areas. Internet.org is targeting people who are unable to afford data plans in their regions, or those who have no access to the internet.

Internet.org is currently available in 49 countries and rumors are also surfacing that Facebook may launch the service in the United States soon.

Facebook is one of the most popular social networking services available in the world. Facebook has millions of users across the globe and the company can get more users by solving connectivity issues.

Facebook's Plan For The Next 10 Years

During the Q3 2016 earnings call, Zuckerberg also revealed that Facebook's other areas of focus in the next 10 years will be on artificial intelligence, augmented reality and virtual reality. Zuckerberg revealed that about 25 percent of Facebook teams are using AI in their work. The company has made improvements to its AI, which can now efficiently filter misleading stories and News Feeds. Facebook's AI is also being used to find terrorist publicity on the social network.

Zuckerberg says that Facebook's AI is in the early stages of development and the company is continuously working to improve content quality of what people view and share on Facebook.

The Facebook founder and CEO also announced that Oculus is doing great and the company is investing another $250 million to improve VR content.

Tech

Facebook's Internet.org Now Helps 40 Million People Get Online By Sumit Passary

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Android Dominates Q3, Powers 88 Percent Of Smartphones Shipped In The Quarter: iOS Far Behind At 12 Percent By Aaron Mamiit

  Google's Android is pulling away further from Apple's iOS in the global smartphone market. According to Strategy Analytics, 87.5 percent of smartphones shipped in the third quarter are powered by Android. (Photo : Android)

In the fierce battle between mobile operating systems, it seems that Google's Android is pulling away from Apple's iOS in the global market.

According to a research report from Strategy Analytics, Android dominated the third quarter as 87.5 percent of smartphones shipped in the period were powered by Google's mobile operating system, an increase compared with last year's third quarter when Android smartphones made up 84.1 percent of shipments.

Android Smartphone Shipments

The report stated that smartphone shipments reached 375.4 million units worldwide in the months of June to September, increasing 6 percent compared with 354.2 million units shipped in the corresponding quarter of last year. This represents the fastest growth rate of the industry for a year, as supported by emerging markets in Asia, the Middle East and Africa with relatively low smartphone penetration. The growth of the smartphone industry comes along with the growth of Android, which acquired market share from all other rival operating systems.

In the third quarter, there were 328.6 million Android smartphones shipped, a 10.3 percent increase compared with the 298.0 million units sold in the third quarter of 2015. In comparison, iOS devices saw shipments decrease by 5.2 percent to 45.5 million units from 48.0 million units year over year, with smartphones powered by all other operating systems declining by a massive 84.1 percent to 1.3 million units in the third quarter compared with 8.2 million units in the same quarter last year. 

iOS Market Share

The market share of iOS for the third quarter is down to 12.1 percent from 13.6 percent in the third quarter last year, while the market share of all other operating systems decreased from 2.3 percent to a miniscule 0.3 percent. The adoption of iOS remains at its lowest point since the middle of 2014.

According to Strategy Analytics director Woody Oh, the leadership of Android looks to be "unassailable" now, as its user-friendly software and low-cost services have remained attractive to both smartphone manufacturers and customers worldwide.

Oh pointed out several challenges that Google will face, including the increasing number ofAndroid smartphones in the market, the low number of Android device manufacturers that are making profit and how the Google Pixel will directly compete with these companies that helped propel Android into dominance.

The Google Pixel comes with Android 7.1 Nougat, which is the latest version of the operating system. Older smartphones in the Nexus line of Google are said to be receiving the update to upgrade their operating system to Android 7.1 Nougat soon, though a specific release date has not yet been confirmed.

Tech

Android Dominates Q3, Powers 88 Percent Of Smartphones Shipped In The Quarter: iOS Far Behind At 12 Percent By Aaron Mamiit

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Galactic Encounter Results In 'Nearly Naked' Supermassive Black Hole By Dianne Depra

When galaxies collide, the larger one comes out on top. In the case of one galactic encounter, the smaller galaxy's supermassive black hole survived but was left nearly naked. (Photo : Bill Saxton, NRAO/AUI/NSF)

With the Very Long Baseline Array telescope, astronomers were able to spot the remnants of a cosmic encounter involving two galaxies, one larger than the other.

Based on their observations, the smaller galaxy was left with a nearly naked supermassive black hole fleeing at more than 2,000 miles per second, leaving a trail of debris behind.

James Condon and colleagues estimate the galaxies to be part of a galaxy cluster situated more than 2 billion light-years away from planet Earth. The encounter itself occurred millions of years ago and left the smaller galaxy stripped of almost all its gas and stars. After passing through the larger galaxy, the smaller of the two dwindled in size to just about 3,000 light-years across. For reference, theMilky Way is about 100,000 light-years across.

When Two Galaxies Collide

Originally, the astronomers were looking for supermassive black hole pairs orbiting each other. Specifically, they were looking forsupermassive black holes that are not galaxy centers, which is a sign of two galaxies merging. It is thought that larger galaxies attain their size by consuming their companion galaxies. When two galaxies get close enough, their black holes orbit each other before eventually merging"We've not seen anything like this before,"said Condon of fleeing black hole.

As part of their original goal, the astronomers sought to capture high-resolution images of more than 1,200 galaxies using the VLBA. These galaxies have been identified previously by sky surveys carried out with infrared as well as radio telescopes and, based on the researchers' observations, nearly all have supermassive black holes at their centers.

However, one object from a galaxy cluster called ZwCl 8193 stood out. Known as B3 1715+425, this object was a supermassive black hole enveloped by a galaxy fainter and much smaller than what the astronomers expected. Additionally, it was speeding away from a larger galaxy's core, leaving ionized gas in its wake.

From this, the researchers concluded that the object, a nearly-naked supermassive black hole, was what remained of a galaxy that passed through one much larger than it was. They also said B3 1715+425 will lose more of its mass along the way and stop making new stars.   According to Condon, the speeding remnant will probably be invisible in about a billion years. Given this idea, there could be more objects left over from earlier encounters between galaxies in the universe that can no longer be detected today.

This doesn't deter Candon and his colleagues though. They said they will keep looking, taking advantage of the high-quality images they can get from the VLBA.

The VLBA Telescope

Dedicated in 1993, the VLBA is part of the Long Baseline Observatory, which is a National Science Foundation facility. It features 10 dish antennas, each 25 meters in diameter, scattered from St. Croix in the Caribbean to Hawaii. When all the 10 antennas are working together, they result in a single telescope with the highest resolution available to astronomers today.

Science

Galactic Encounter Results In 'Nearly Naked' Supermassive Black Hole By Dianne Depra

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New MacBook Pro 2016 Doesn't Have Enough Ports? OWC's Thunderbolt 3 Dock Has Got You Covered By Carl Velasco

OWC is offering a timely recourse for the lack of ports in the new MacBook Pro models Apple unveiled last week. With the Thunderbolt 3 Dock, you'll get 13 ports in one dock, including an SD card reader, a Gigabit Ethernet port and much more. (Photo : OWC Digital)
          
             Apple's new MacBook Pro lineup features no other type of port except a headphone jack and two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports for the base model, and four for the more expensive Touch Bar-spawning 13-inch and 15-variants.  

The decision to erase traditional USB ports, an SD card slot and even the beloved MagSafe charging port has left many users scratching their heads. Apple sure has a proclivity for stripping away conventional ports, as with the absence of a headphone jack in its latest flagship, the iPhone 7.

Potential customers who plan on buying the new MacBook Pro models may not be entirely hopeless, however, that is if they're willing to shell out a few dollars to buy OWC'sThunderbolt 3 Dock, a omnibus-like dock outfitted with 13 different ports, allowing the MacBook Pro to connect with previously incompatible devices using only one dock instead of separate adapters that only have one function.    The Thunderbolt 3 Dock connects to a Mac using an included 0.5 meter, or almost 20-inch Thunderbolt cable. It can support two 4K external displays, up to six USB devices, an optical line out, a FireWire device and finally, an SD card, to the uproarious glee of photographers whose primary gear largely involves SD cards for storage.

There's not much to go in terms of the dock's aesthetics. OWC seems to have prioritized function over form with the Thunderbolt 3 Dock. That's not to say the device looks awful. It's a simple rectangular bi-colour brick with a multitude of ports on its back, and an SD card reader, a headphone jack and a USB 3.1 port on its front.     

(Photo : OWC Digital)

The positioning of the USB port in the front is an extremely handy way to connect a user's iPhone, because, yes, the iPhone doesn't natively connect to the new MacBook Pro. You're gonna need a separate adapter just to do that, which is very cumbersome and counterintuitive. Two Apple devices that can't readily integrate is such a blow to Apple's marketing, one that usually boasts a product that "just works."

There is also a S/PDIF port on the back for lossless digital audio signal transfers, a Gigabit Ethernet port, a mini DisplayPort and two Thunderbolt 3 ports.

The dock supports video pass-through up to 4K at 60 Hz thanks to the Intel DSL6540 Thunderbolt 3 controller inside the dock. Multiple lighting devices can also be daisy-chained together.   The Thunderbolt 3 Dock will require a power supply in order to fully operate. OWC are currently taking preorders for the device, which starts at $279, $20 less than its retail price. The device is expected to ship February next year. You can go to OWC's website and choose from three different preorder locations in the United States.

Apple has recently been the target of criticism following its decision to do away with ports in its new products, a trend that seems staunchly unwelcome by pundits and consumers alike because of the problems they create instead of solve.

"We know we made good decisions about what to build into the new MacBook Pro and that the result is the best notebook ever made, but it might not be right for everyone on day one,"said Phil Schiller, Apple's senior VP for Worldwide Marketing, in response to the criticism.

New MacBook Pro 2016 Doesn't Have Enough Ports? OWC's Thunderbolt 3 Dock Has Got You Covered By Carl Velasco

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Samsung new smart watch

Samsung Gear S3 Preorder Begins Nov. 6, Release Date On Nov. 18 In The US: Prices Start At $350

By Vincent Lanaria.  The Samsung Gear S3 is about to roll out this November, with preorders kicking off in the same month. Here's what you need to know before then, from the price to the Frontier and Classic variants. (Photo : Samsung)

Unveiled at IFA 2016, the Samsung Gear S3 is finally going up for preorder and shipping out to the public.

As it turns out, reports about the wearable launching in the United States mid-November were true.

Gear S3 Preorder Details, Release Date And Price

Right off the bat, preorders for the Gear S3 start on Nov. 6, but AT&T is getting ahead of the competition by accepting preorders earlier than the rest on Nov. 4. As for the release date, it's set to start shipping out on Nov. 18, and just to be clear on that, it's also expected to hit the shelves on that day.

The starting price of both the Classic and Frontier is $349.99, but that shouldn't come as much of a surprise to some, as Best Buy did jump the gun when it posted listings of the two before the official details made rounds online.  However, pricing hasn't been exactly cleared up just yet, as it will most likely depend on the carrier.

That said, AT&T offers it for $49.99 with a two-year contract when it's bought with a Galaxy smartphone on AT&T Next or AT&T Next Every Year. The carrier is also putting it up for grabs for $17.50 a month for 20 months.

Gear S3 Classic vs. Frontier: What's The Difference?

With the Gear S3 nearing launch, the burning question is probably about the difference between the Classic and Frontier.

Long story short, the Frontier is the rugged version, while the Classic could be called elegant. That's the obvious distinction between them, but the former has an advantage of sorts: it has an option that comes with LTE support, which could come in handy in emergencies. It should be mentioned that the LTE option was somewhat expected on the Frontier, as it does seem geared toward those who spend a lot of time outdoors.

Other than those factors, the two are more or less the same. Running on Tizen-based wearable OS, they both have GPS function, 1.3-inch displays that are topped off with a Gorilla Glass SR+ to prevent scratches, stainless steel bodies with an IP68 certification for dust and water resistance and the same Exynos processors under the hood.

What's more, they both house 4 GB of storage, 786 MB of RAM and 380 mAh batteries that are touted to last up to three days.

As a first for smartwatches, they also bring MST technology to the table, and that means they'll have built-in Samsung Pay support.

Wrapping Up The Samsung Wearable

The Gear S3 Frontier and Classic are designed to cater to every customer's needs — in a wearable, at least — and they are pretty big improvements from the Gear S2 lineup.

"Consumers are increasingly recognizing the benefits of a smartwatch that operates even without their phone. With the LTE capability of Gear S3 it is easy to make or receive phone calls and read or reply to texts and notifications, so they can stay connected while leaving their phone behind," Gary Riding, Samsung America's senior vice president of product marketing, says.

Will you be nabbing the Gear S3 Classic or the Frontier? Feel free to drop by our comments section below and let us know.  

Samsung new smart watch

Unknown Thursday 3 November 2016

Apple

Apple AirPods Release Date: Wireless Earbuds On Track To Ship Before End Of 2016

By Anu Passary. The release of the wireless earbuds from Apple, the AirPods, may have been delayed beyond its initial late October

deadline. But the accessory is on track to ship before the year's end. (Photo : Stephen Lam | Getty Images)

Apple AirPods Release Date: Wireless Earbuds On Track To

Ship Before End Of 2016

By Anu Passary | Nov 03, 2016 07:38 PM EDT

The svelte-looking AirPods, unveiled at the Apple keynote in September, got most people

talking for all sorts of reasons. Now, these overly hyped earbuds have been delayed, although

they will ship within this year.

AirPods, the wireless earphones from Apple, quickly made it to the wishlist of iDevice lovers,especially those who were looking to buy the iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus. However, the

accessory is yet to make its way to consumers.

Despite the hiccups, whatever they might be, Apple fans will be pleased to learn that the

AirPods — which Tim Cook claims do not fall off even when dancing — will reach device owners

this year and not by January 2017.     

At the time of launch, Apple did not give an exact date when the AirPods would be made

available, merely stating that the accessory would hit the shelves sometime in late October.

However, the product release was delayed as confirmed by the company: "we don't believe in

shipping a product before it's ready, and we need a little more time before AirPods are ready for

our customers."A rumor courtesy of supply chain sources in China purports that the AirPods would not make its

way to retail shelves before January 2017, which hinted at Apple encountering problems with

the peripherals.

But the latest tip off from industry insiders would be welcomed by consumers as they might

soon be able to lay their hands on the $159 AirPods, which can reportedly last 5 hours on a

single chargeThe fact that retail sources have affirmed that they have a few demo pairs for customers and are

"ready to go any time," simply awaiting the green light from Apple, is a positive sign. This

suggests that the launch of the AirPods might be sooner than we estimate.

An educated guess is that Apple might launch the wireless AirPods ahead of the holiday

shopping season for people looking to buy the earbuds as a gift. However, we need to wait and

watch when the AirPods, featuring the W1 chip, will finally be made available.

Tech

Apple

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