SuccessHacks

A major Windows bug — and Microsoft isn’t happy

2016-11-01T01:04:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, Monday, Google’s Threat Analysis group disclosed a critical vulnerability in Windows in a public post on the company’s security blog. The bug itself is very specific — allowing attackers to escape from security sandboxes through a flaw in the win32k system — but it’s serious enough to be categorized as critical, and according to Google, it’s being actively exploited. As a result, Google went public just 10 days after reporting the bug to Microsoft, before a patch could be coded and deployed. The result is that, while Google has already deployed a fix to protect Chrome users, Windows itself is still vulnerable — and now, everybody knows it.

Google’s disclosure provides only a general description of the bug, giving users enough information to recognize a possible attack without making it too easy for criminals to replicate. Exploiting the bug also depends on a separate exploit in Adobe Flash, for which the company has also released a patch. Still, simply knowing that the bug exists will likely spur a lot of criminals to look for viable ways to exploit it against computers that have yet to update Flash.

First reached by VentureBeat, Microsoft harshly criticized the disclosure. “Today’s disclosure by Google puts customers at potential risk,” a Microsoft spokesperson said. “We recommend customers use Windows 10 and the Microsoft Edge browser for the best protection.”

The brief grace period is in accordance with a policy Google put in place in 2013, allowing critical vulnerabilities to be disclosed only seven days after they’re reported to the vendor. At the time, a number of researchers criticized the policy as overly harsh, arguing that seven days was not enough time to properly respond to a complex vulnerability. This is the first major invocation of the policy in the three years since it was put in place, although Google’s engineers defended it as necessary given the active exploitation of the bug.

“We encourage users to verify that auto-updaters have already updated Flash — and to manually update if not,” Google’s post recommends, “and to apply Windows patches from Microsoft when they become available.”

Source: theverge.com

Samsung Galaxy S5 Fingerprint feature handson

2014-02-26T20:01:00.001-08:00

Samsung didn't shed many details about the fingerprint scanner on its new Galaxy S5 smartphone, but here is a detail setup and how it works.
First, the basics. Samsung's sensor is on the bottom portion of the screen, not integrated into the home button as originally thought. To unlock the phone with your finger, you swipe along the glowing path about half an inch from the bottom of the phone, going down and over the home button.
Setup took just a few minutes, after swiping your finger eight times along the sensitive portion of the screen to fully read yourprint. You're able to register only three profiles, for your own fingers or for someone else's.
The swiping area seems like it's pretty limited to a narrow, vertical strip. That means your finger has to be more or less vertical to succeed, which also means that you will probably need to hold the Galaxy S5 with one hand while unlocking it with the other. You may chose your index finger.
Scanning for prints worked pretty well, but you may experience some misfires if your finger wasn't correctly aligned or if you moved too quickly. If you do error out, you can also access the phone through a 4-digit backup PIN.
Overall, I like Samsung's approach to biometric unlocking, and it's something I'd use, especially if I were going to buy products through PayPal's fingerprint-scanning verification program. Check out the gallery below.

Mt.Gox site disappears, Bitcoin future in doubt

2014-02-26T18:56:00.000-08:00

What was once the world's largest trading platform for bitcoins is now a blank page.
The Bitcoin-trading website Mt.Gox was taken offline late Monday, putting at risk millions of dollars put there by investors who gambled on the digital currency. The exchange also deleted all of its tweets, and Mt.Gox CEO Mark Karpeles resigned from the Bitcoin Foundation's board of directors on Sunday.

Mt.Gox CEO Mark Karpeles has resigned from the Bitcoin Foundation, the currency's top advocacy group.

The news frightened Bitcoin investors elsewhere, knocking the price down about 3% to $490 -- its lowest level since November.
For now, there's no telling what's behind the shutdown. Mt.Gox did not respond to requests for comment.
However, an unverified document called "Crisis Strategy Draft" that is being circulated online claims Mt.Gox has lost 744,408 of its users' bitcoins, worth nearly $367 million. It also claims Mt.Gox is planning to rebrand itself as Gox.
Share your story at the comments section below: Do you have bitcoins?
Mt.Gox has been mired in problems ever since Feb. 7, when it halted withdrawals from its trading accounts. The company's computer programmers hadn't accounted for a quirk in the way Bitcoin works, allowing cyber attackers to dupe Mt.Gox with a scheme resembling receipt fraud. When Mt.Gox discovered it was under attack, it stopped any investors from pulling their money out of their trading platform -- but it has yet to allow them access to their money.
By the time trading at Mt.Gox was halted entirely late Monday, the price of a Bitcoin there had dropped significantly, to $130. Meanwhile it was trading for more than four times that on other exchanges.
Late on Monday, several other Bitcoin exchanges sought to reassure investors and took a harder line with Mt. Gox.
"This tragic violation of the trust of users of Mt.Gox was the result of one company's abhorrent actions and does not reflect the resilience or value of Bitcoin and the digital currency industry," the groups said in a statement.
The executives who signed the joint statement cast Mt.Gox's downfall as the typical industry evolution that weeds out bad actors.

Although Mt.Gox's shutdown was unexpected, its piling troubles were no surprise.
Evan Rose, president of Bitcoin ATM company Genesis, said that the kinds of problems seen at Mt.Gox and other exchanges show that Bitcoin is in flux.
"The people running the systems right now are not necessarily business men," Rose said. "For the most part, they're people who came into this digital project without grasping the value or risk of it. The ecosystem is maturing, but it's a little scary for everyone involved."

Did you have money on Mt.Gox? What about on other exchanges? Have you lost faith in Bitcoin -- or are you sticking with it? We want to hear about your experience at the comments section below.

The 100 Best Jobs In 2014

2014-02-23T14:11:00.000-08:00

US News has released its list of the 100 best jobs in 2014, and the No. 1 job on the list is: software developer.

The work is meaningful, touching every aspect of our lives. It pays well. It is in demand in all parts of the country and doesn't require a lot of grad school to get started.
Software developers (sometimes called programmers) get paid an average $90,060, with the top 10 percent earning $138,880, according to the latest stats available from the Labor Department.
Plus, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts there will be nearly 140,000 brand-new software development jobs created before 2022,
says the US News study.
If you can't be a software developer, your next bet is computer systems analyst, which is a job that deals with tech design, troubleshooting and analysis. The systems analyst role is morphing into something called a "data scientist," a new job title in huge demand thanks to the big data trend. A data scientist helps companies munch through massive amounts of information — like tweets, news articles and sales stats — to find business insights.
A computer systems analyst earns $83,800 on average, and $122,090 on the high end. Pay for this job will increase as demand skyrockets. The BLS predicts a whopping 24.5 percent growth for this job by 2022.
Both of these jobs are better than being a dentist or a doctor, US News says. In fact, here's the Top 5 best jobs, according to the report:
No. 1: Software developer
No. 2: Computer systems analyst
No. 3: Dentist
No. 4: Nurse practitioner
No. 5: Pharmacist
No. 6: Registered Nurse
No. 7: Physical Therapist
No. 8: Physician / Doctor
No. 9: Web Developer
No. 10: Dental Hygienist

Check out the entire list >

9 Mind-Blowing Facts about the Brain

2014-02-22T23:07:00.000-08:00

1. Your Brain is More Active When You Sleep

Night-time is the right time for your brain to process all the activity that has occurred during the day – that's why scientists think we dream (no one is really sure why). Some believe it's a way to process the complex emotions and interactions of our daily lives, others think it's just a way to zero-out information, much like a computer. A recent study showed it may help us alleviate trauma. People with higher IQs tend to dream more, and a nap during the day has proven to make people more energized and focused on their work. Tell that to your boss.

2. 100,000 Miles of Blood Vessels in the Brain

There are also a hundred billion neurons that comprise the brain – as many as in the entire galaxy – all in a squishy mass about the size of a cantaloupe. Using about 17% of your body's energy and 20% of its oxygen, while only containing 2% of its mass, the brain produces between 10-23 watts of power when awake -- enough to light a bulb. Made of 75% water, your noodle has over 100 trillion synapses that connect those neurons and enough “space” to hold the entire Enclyclopedia Britannica fivefold, or 1,000 terrabytes of information. And the Cheech and Chong myth isn't true; you do use your entire brain, even when high.

3. They Saved Einstein's Brain

When Albert Einstein died in 1955, they didn't just save a lock of his crazy white hair, they carved out his whole melon. Dr. Thomas Harvey performed the brainectomy a mere seven-and-a-half hours after Einstein's death, purportedly for scientific research. Then it vanished. It wasn't until 1978 that an intrepid journalist named Steven Levy tracked down Dr. Harvey in Wichita, Kansas, where the good doctor admitted he still had the brain, sliced in 240 pieces and bobbing in two mason jars filled with formaldehyde.

4. The Brain Feels No Pain

"Relax, this won't hurt a bit..."

There are no pain receptors in the brain. That's why surgeons can perform brain surgery on a patient why they are still awake. This helps them ensure that the delicate procedure doesn't screw up any vision or motor control functions – and also it looks really freaky. Why do we feel pain? Because a nociceptor, a sensory receptor, sends signals to the spinal cord and brain alerting us to danger. Couldn't they just send a card?

5. "Inception" is Real

It turns out, there is something called Lucid Dreaming, where a person could control the outcome of a dream while in a sleep-like state. It has its roots in ancient Tibetian Buddhism, where aspirants would practice “Dream Yoga” – doing incredible feats of dexterity during sleep, reminding themselves of the illusory nature of existence. The term was first coined by Frederik (Willem) van Eeden in the 1880s, but the concept didn't take hold until the late 1960s. Nowadays, Lucid Dreaming is all the rage, with plenty of resources online to begin the training process. It has a lot of potential – not only allowing you to conquer your nightmares but also finally have sex with the Girl Next Door.

6. Highest IQ? Kim Ung-yong with 210

Born March 8, 1972, Ung-young already understood algebra at 8 months old. By the time he was 2, he was fluent in 4 languages. He began attending university at 4, and graduated at 15. But Ung-young isn't just a smarty-pants, he is also a gifted painter and poet. Nowadays he lives in S. Korea and presumably has time to do all the things he never had a chance to do… like have a childhood.

7. There Are Differences Between the Right and Left Brain

The brain is split up into two symmetrical hemispheres. While they do work together, the left brain favors more rational, analytical thinking, while the right is more visually and conceptually oriented. They also work in opposites – you stub your left toe and the “pain” is processed on the right side. And they put right-side-up whatever is upside-down – the image in your eyes is actually received inverted and the brain corrects it. But here's the REALLY weird thing – even if you were to lose one-half of your brain, you would be able to survive without it. Well, maybe that's not so weird – look at all those politicians!

8. Men's Brains are 10% Bigger

So there you go – concrete proof that men are smarter than women. But before you go patting yourselves on the back, dudes, note that although women's brains are smaller, they have more nerve cells and connectors and work more efficiently than men's. And, true to the stereotype, they tend to process on the more “emotional” left side of the brain, while men process on the “logical” right. Also, an area known as the straight gyrus, responsible for nurturing, feminine traits, is proportionately larger in women. Does this mean there ARE indeed brain-related differences between the sexes? You WOULD think that, wouldn't you?! Typical…

9. Does Size Really Matter?

Research has been mixed on the subject of brain size and intelligence – Albert Einstein's brain was only 1,230 grams, while the average adult male brain weighs 1,400. (An unusually large amount of glial cells are attributed to his smarts.) Another study shows that the bigger the person's head, the smarter they are, while those with pointier heads show less intelligence. That can't be true – look at the above photo…

How to reclaim your email when LinkedIn’s Intro shuts down

2014-02-08T04:28:00.000-08:00

LinkedIn’s attempt to wedge itself into iPhone users’ emails is being “shut down”—a euphemism for killed—as part of the professional network’s effort to focus “on fewer things.” But LinkedIn’s Deep Nishar said the company is still focused on email, so maybe its Intro product is going away because it was a little creepy.

Intro launched in October as a way for LinkedIn to go beyond its own walls and be where you spend all your time: your email inbox. Intro placed a card with LinkedIn profile information in every email you received in the iOS Mail app, so if a stranger reached out to you by email, you could see their professional information and add them to your LinkedIn network.

Sounds like an easy way to verify if a stranger’s email is worth responding to, right? Well, security experts took LinkedIn to task for the tech behind Intro—LinkedIn acted as a middleman between you and the sender, rerouting emails to its own server to place the Intro card inside each message.
LinkedIn defended Intro, claiming that all information was fully encrypted and deleted from LinkedIn’s servers immediately. The network also never stored unencrypted email usernames or passwords or read the content of messages that passed between users.
It’s unclear if the controversy influenced LinkedIn’s decision to drop Intro, but Nishar said LinkedIn will “continue to look for ways to bring this kind of functionality to our members through existing partnerships.” It’s notable that Rapportive, a similar LinkedIn tool for Gmail users, was spared the wood-chipper.
If you installed Intro, there’s some bad news: Not only is the tool going away, but you have to uninstall it from your iPhone settings or your email will just stop working. As in, you won’t be able to send or receive emails at all. Removing Intro and restoring your old settings requires a little bit of effort. To uninstall: Settings > General > Profiles > Tap to remove all profiles that start with “Intro.”
Then you have to restore your regular account. Under Settings, tap Mail, then tap the account you want to restore and switch it back on. Remember, you have until March 7 to get your email situation squared away.

HTC UK creates Gramohorn II for HTC One

2013-11-22T06:26:00.000-08:00

We’ve seen some crazy speaker ideas in our time but the Gramohorn II designed by Justin Wolter by commission of HTC UK is one of the cookiest. It’s a dock that features two horns (like on an old-timey gramophone, hence the name) that is designed specifically for the stereo BoomSound speakers on the HTC One.

HTC UK is using the Gramohorn II to kick off its “Here’s To Creativity” campaign. Strange that there’s no room for the BoomBass Speaker, but still it’s an interesting design piece, which goes well with the uniquely designed HTC One.

Anyway, there are two versions of the Gramohorn II – a plaster-based and a metal-based. The plaster one gives you a choice of 25 colors and it will set you back £999 ($1600/€1200). There will be 100 pieces made.

The metal one is more premium and comes in three finishes – Silver, Gold and Wheat Penny (all matte). Only 10 pieces will be made of each color, so they are fairly exclusive and have a price to match – £4999 ($8000/€6000).

If you want to order one, you should throw in £20 for delivery to the UK and Ireland, £40 for Europe and £80 for the rest of the world. The lead time on the plaster Gramohorn II’s is 3-4 weeks, the lead time on the metal ones is 2-3 weeks.

In case you were wondering about the ‘II’ in the name, the original Gramohorn (also designed by Wolter) was a single horn for the iPhone.

Official Instagram beta app hits Windows Phone

2013-11-21T00:02:00.003-08:00

A earlier promised, the popular photo sharing app Instagram is now available for Windows Phone 8 devices. The app is now ready to download from the Windows Phone Store although it’s still a beta version so you can try it at your own risk.

The application is not a completely finished product. In order to bring it to the market as quickly as possible, the developers have released it without support for video capture and uploading.

There are other missing features too. They include the inability to tag people in photos, as well as view maps from geotagged photos.

To make up for the missing features, Instagram for Windows Phone 8 has been optimized to support Live Tiles with data refresh. More importantly, the developer team will continue to fine-tune the app until it is fully on par with its Android and iOS counterparts at which point the final version should debut.

You can download the Instagram beta app for Windows Phone by hitting the Download link below. Feel free to drop us a line with your impressions in the comments section.

DOWNLOAD

Corel DRAW X3, X4 and X5 crashes on Open, Save As, Export. A.R.M. error.

2013-08-05T06:18:00.003-07:00

CorelDraw has been in the graphic design business for a while now. Considering that still X3 was decent compared to 11 and 12 and also that X5 is pretty good considering Corel’s history.

Nevertheless I, and probably you too have to use and maintain it. I had the following problem on a fresh installation of Windows XP SP3: every time I wanted to export, save as or open a drawing Corel Draw X4 would crash regularly with it’s darned Crash Wizard.I tried applying the patches found on the Corel support page but it didn’t help. After some digging I found that it’s a problem related to the Common Dialogue function found in comdlg32.

You must launch regedit (ALT+R or START->RUN and type regedit and press enter) and go to:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\comdlg32]
and change NoFileMru from 0×00000001 to 0×00000000

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ComDlg32]
"NoFileMru"=dword:00000000

If on your computer it’s already 0 it’s worth trying the other way around, just remember to set it back if it doesn’t help.

UPDATE: Users are reporting the same problem of crashing with Corel X5 and Windows XP.

Am I the only one thinking Corel is getting crapier and crapier by the version? Well not really, updating this article now, after some time I feel that x4 is really an improvement over the x3.

UPDATE: Some users reported the same problem on other Windows versions.

I hope this will save your situation. Let us know of your experience in the comments.

Sony Xperia ZR Lets You Shoot Full HD Videos Underwater

2013-05-13T01:36:00.000-07:00

Sony's new Android smartphone, the Sony Xperia ZR, has a trait not often seen in today's high-range smartphones: it can be submerged 5 feet deep under water. Bear in mind that, for both devices, this specifically means "fresh water," meaning you probably shouldn't take it with you for that ocean dive, but it's still a very nice feature to have, especially with the summer approaching.

The camera lets you shoot full HD videos, and the device's Exmor RS image sensor lets you take HDR photos and videos, all of which could result in some stunning underwater footage if you're not scared to get a little wet. Sony Xperia ZR will become available globally (in black or white) in Q2 2013 at a yet-undisclosed price.

BlueStack App Player brings Android to the Desktop

2013-05-09T11:21:00.001-07:00

BlueStacks App Player lets you run apps from your phone fast and fullscreen on Windows and Mac.

Over 5 million people around the world use top apps like Angry Birds Space, Kik Messenger, Where's My Water and more on their laptops with BlueStacks. It took 10 engineers two years to build the complex "LayerCake" technology that enables this to happen – but you get to experience it free while in beta. You can download App Player now at BlueStacks.com

If you’re not familiar with BlueStacks, the software basically allows you to run Android apps on AMD-powered desktops running Windows 7 or Windows 8.
The software will even let you run Android apps on Mac OS X. Of course, this may not be the perfect solution to run Android apps on your computer, but it definitely has a lot of potential to become even better than it already is.

BlueStacks has been in beta status for a little over a year now, and has hit a whopping 10 million downloads mark, which is a quite an impressive feat.

10 million downloads is quite a milestone, and it seems to have surprised everyone in the company. In fact, BlueStacks CEO Rosen Sharma said the team tried to predict where the software would be in its first year. It turns out that the employee closest to the massive milestone only guessed a couple hundred thousand.

BlueStacks’ senior VP of marketing noted that downloads are different from users actually using the software on a regular basis. That’s very true, but the number of active users was described as “spooky high”, which is no doubt a testament to all the hard work that was put in the software.

Celebrations aside, BlueStacks is working on a Jelly Bean version of the app, and according to AllThingsD, it should be releasing in the near future.

RUMOR: $1 billion Facebook move for Waze

2013-05-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

The latest deal talk in Silicon Valley on Waze is an eye-popping, $1 billion price tag that’s hard to ignore.

Facebook is said to be gearing up to buy its way further into the mobile and location-based space by purchasing the popular social traffic and navigation app, which is based in Israel. The two companies are said to be discussing a deal worth between $800 million and $1 billion, according to multiple reports in the Israeli press. Israeli newspaper CAlcAlist reports that both companies have signed a term sheet, and that Facebook is doing due diligence.

Waze and Facebook spokespeople aren’t commenting, and Waze CEO Noam Bardin could not be reached for a comment.

The company currently has a store-front-style office in Palo Alto (occupying what used to be a Radio Shack), but the majority of the workforce are based in Israel. The company was founded in 2007 and has raised $67 million in venture funding from the likes of Kleiner Perkins, Blue Run Venures and Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing. If such a deal were to go through it would be highly-lucrative exit for all concerned.

This isn’t the first time Waze has been the subject of acquisition talk, though. Six months ago reports swirled that Apple wanted to buy the company for approximately $400 million plus $100 million in incentives, while Waze itself was pushing for $750 million. No deal manifested, though it made sense that Apple might want to use Waze’s community of users to improve its own, much-criticized Maps product.

Waze has been touted as a Facebook for drivers. Its biggest strength has been in creating a system that allows drivers to share traffic updates with the app. If a user gets stuck in traffic, they post an update and other drivers are routed away from the scene. The company meanwhile builds up its mapping data by tracking users – the more users it has, and the more they share, the more accurate Waze maps become. The company claims to have more than 47 million active users, up from the 20 million it reported in July last year.

If such an acquisition were to mirror Facebook’s purchase of Instagram, Waze might continue to operate as an independent service, with perhaps more integration with Facebook features such as Facebook Check In.

Waze’s big challenge till now has been building out its location based ad network, which it only launched late last year. By January 2013 the company had struck ad deals with a few big names including AT&T and Taco Bell, so that whenever Waze driver found themselves stationary on a journey (at a stop light, or parked) an ad from one of the companies popped up on the screen. In January of this year the company was still a long ways off from being profitable.

Interestingly, Waze made a subtle appearance last month at Facebook’s launch of Home, a free launcher that integrates Android phones more deeply with Facebook features. During the announcement, screenshots of Facebook Home featured Waze as one of the apps on the phone’s home screen. “We are honored to receive this kind of recognition from Facebook,” Waze said in a blog post at the time.

2014 Boston Marathon is coming on

2013-04-17T05:07:00.001-07:00

The Boston Athletic Association has vowed that the world’s oldest annual marathon, the Boston Marathon, will be held as scheduled next year. This was after after Monday’s race was interrupted when two bombs exploded near the finish line, leaving three spectators dead and nearly 180 maimed or bloodied.
“The Boston Marathon is a deeply held tradition — an integral part of the fabric and history of our community,” BAA executive director Tom Grilk said Tuesday afternoon in a statement. “We are committed to continuing that tradition with the running of the 118th Boston Marathon in 2014.”

Competitors passed under the Boston Marathon banner at the finish line.

With race officials busy working with federal, state, and city investigators, checking with medical staffers at local hospitals, and helping runners locate their belongings, it was unclear whether the thousands of entrants who were prevented from finishing the race would be offered a place in next year’s race without having to qualify again.

“Right now we are still focused entirely on meeting the needs of people who run this year,” Grilk told the Globe. “We certainly will address those issues and all of the other issues that will come up with the utmost care. Today is not the day for that.”

Monday’s truncated event marked the third time in six years that a major American marathon was either halted or canceled. The 2007 Chicago race, during which one runner died and more than 300 others were picked up by ambulances amid brutal 88-degree October heat, was stopped after 3 and a half hours, with the remaining competitors prevented from continuing past the midway point. And last year’s New York City Marathon was scrubbed two days beforehand amid the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. New York offered its 47,500 registrants either a refund or a guaranteed place in either the 2013, 2014, or 2015 races or in last month’s half-marathon, with half of them choosing a deferred entry.

Among the thousands of runners who never reached the finish was Amby Burfoot, the 1968 champion who was marking the 45th anniversary of his triumph by running with two friends.

“We had already started our celebration of another completed Boston Marathon,” Burfoot noted in his report for Runner’s World, where he is Editor-at-Large. But like many others, he and his companions were kept from making the 90-degree turn onto Hereford Street that leads to the final straightaway on Boylston.

Finishing the race not only provides personal fulfillment validated by an official time but also a beribboned medal emblazoned with the BAA’s signature unicorn head. Runners who picked up their personal effects Tuesday were given medals whether or not they’d completed the race.

“We have not denied anyone a medal who came to pick up their belongings who felt they deserved one,” said Grilk. “It would have been callous to deny a medal to anybody who honored us by coming here.”

Boston Bombs were pressure cookers hidden in backpacks - Investigators

2013-04-16T11:22:00.001-07:00

Investigators believe the bombs at the Boston Marathon were shrapnel-studded pressure cookers, hidden in backpacks and set off by timing devices, law enforcement officials say on Tuesday.

An explosion goes off near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15. Two explosions struck the marathon
as runners crossed the finish line on Monday, witnesses said, injuring an unknown number of people on
what is ordinarily a festive day in the city

The disclosure came as authorities pleaded with spectators from the race to send photos and video that may shed light on who set off the blasts, killing three people and injuring at least 176.

The top FBI official in Boston vowed to go “to the ends of the earth” to find those responsible. But a day after the explosions, President Barack Obama said authorities still did not know whether the attack was foreign or domestic, the work of a group or an individual, or what the motive might be.

Runners continue to run towards the finish line as
the second explosion detonates.

Law enforcement officials told reporters that the explosives were classified as low — meaning that they traveled at under 3,300 feet per second. That is not enough to create a blast wave, which can kill people from air compression and blow out faraway windows, but it is enough to propel shrapnel a great distance.

A pressure cooker, in its everyday use, speeds cooking by creating a tight seal and building pressure inside the pot. Converting it to a bomb sheaths the explosives in a metal casing, which blows apart when the bomb is detonated and adds to the shrapnel already packed inside.

In 2010 the pressure cooker was one of the three devices that was to be used in an attempted bomb attack in Times Square. In the Boston bombings, informal public efforts sprang up almost immediately to scour the mass of photos and video already posted on Twitter, Facebook and other sites for clues. Authorities added their own call for help, hoping that in an era of ever-present smartphones, race fans might be holding evidence without even knowing it.“There has to be hundreds, if not thousands, of photographs, videos and other observations that were made down at that finish line yesterday,” said Timothy Alben, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. “You might not think it’s significant, but it might have some value to this investigation.”

So go ahead and load those pictures and videos if you have any.

FaceBook Home - Coming April 12

2013-04-04T11:08:00.002-07:00

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg today unveiled a new way to integrate its network on Android devices. This tool called Facebook Home, involves a rethinking of how Facebook exists on Android phones, Zuckerberg said, putting people first instead of apps.

"You're going to be able to turn your Android phone into a great social device," Mark Zuckerberg said at the unveiling. "Our phones today are designed around apps, not people. We want to flip that around."

Facebook Home will put updates from the social network right on the home screen via a feature called Cover Feed similar to HTC One's live Flipboard-like interface. Content from Facebook takes up the entire screen, with no navigation or "chrome" whatsoever. Apps are still there, accessed through a launcher that is accessible by swiping up.

Another novel feature is Chatheads, a way to

manage conversations with friends. People you're interacting with via Facebook Messenger appear as pop-up heads on the margin as opposed to intrusive notifications. Chatheads work with Facebook Messenger and SMS, but not third-party messaging apps.

Android users who have the most recent Facebook app will see a prominent link asking users if they want to download Facebook Home. It downloads as a separate app. It'll be available on April 12 for selected phones.

Facebook says Home will be available for phones first and a tablet version would come at a later date. Facebook Home is optimized for the HTC One and One X, and the Samsung Galaxy S III, Galaxy S 4 and Note II.

Galaxy S4 vrs HTC One

2013-04-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

Running over the entire spec sheet of each phone will take too long - both droids are impressively armed - so instead we'll just list the differences. Here's how one is better than the other and vice versa.

Samsung Galaxy S4 over HTC One

Bigger screen; works with gloves and air gestures
Higher resolution camera - 13MP vs. 4MP
Newer Android version - 4.2.2 vs. 4.1.2
Multi-window multitasking
Higher clock speed chipset
Expandable storage
User-replaceable battery of higher capacity
Additional sensors (barometer, thermometer, hygroscope)
Exclusive software features
Smaller, thinner, lighter

HTC One over Samsung Galaxy S4

Brilliant-looking aluminum unibody
Optical Image Stabilization, image sensor with 2µm pixel size
HTC Zoe, BlinkFeed
Front mounted stereo speakers, Beats Audio
FM Radio

Looking at the two lists above, you'd think the Samsung Galaxy S4 has the upper hand. It's not that simple - not all bullet points have the same weight. For example, we'll take the sleek aluminum unibody over a hygroscope any day of the week. And the megapixel debate for the two cameras will probably take a huge chunk of this article to resolve.

But let's look at the schools of thought behind the two phones. The Samsung Galaxy S4 is the power user's heaven with settings, tweaks and toggles scattered all over the place - with all the proper hardware support too. TouchWiz is familiar and intuitive enough so regular users will not be lost, but they might miss out on some of the more exotic features of the Galaxy S4.

The HTC One is quite the opposite - it aims to make things simple. Zoe looks impressive, but require nothing of the user, it's all done automagically. The Optical Image Stabilization and Beats Audio similarly work behind the scenes to enhance the experience.

Ashton Kutcher plays Steve Jobs

2013-03-26T10:55:00.002-07:00

Here is Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs

A new promo photo for the upcoming independent film about Steve Jobs depicts Ashton Kutcher bearing an uncanny resemblance to the former Apple CEO, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in October 2011.

The image and a deeper synopsis of the flick — titled jOBS was released by the Sundance Institute.

"The true story of one of the greatest entrepreneurs in American history, jOBSchronicles the defining 30 years of Steve Jobs' life," stated the synopsis. "jOBS is a candid, inspiring and personal portrait of the one who saw things differently."

jOBS premiered at the Sundance Film Festival as the closing night film in January. The promo image shows Jobs on desk during his early Apple days:

Samsung Galaxy S4 - A quick preview

2013-03-25T12:15:00.000-07:00

Number 4 was unveiled few days ago to set a new kind of fever brewing, after briefly easing some of the pre-announcement tension. Carriers are tripping over themselves to secure deals, while customers have been forming mile-long virtual queues at stores already taking preorders. We were impressed at the announcement event, and the S4 looks quite comfortable with the weight of expectations.

Here are some images:

Samsung Galaxy S4 Features at a glance:

General: Optional 2G/3G/LTE connectivity
Form factor: Touchscreen bar phone
Dimensions: 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9mm, 130 g
Display: 4.99" 16M-color Super AMOLED HD capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (441ppi)
Chipset: Exynos 5410 Octa / Snapdragon 600
CPU: 1.6 GHz Quad-core ARM Cortex-A15 and 1.2 GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 / 1.9GHz Krait 300
GPU: PowerVR SGX 544MP3 / Adreno 320
RAM: 2GB
OS: Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
Memory: 16/32GB/64GB storage, microSD card slot
Still camera: 13 megapixel auto-focus camera, face detection, touch focus and image stabilization, Dual Shot, Cinema Photo; 2MP front facing camera, video-calls
Video camera: Full HD (1080p) video recording at 30fps
Connectivity: Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, standard microUSB port with MHL features (TV Out, USB host), GPS receiver with A-GPS and GLONASS, 3.5mm audio jack, NFC, Infrared port
Battery: 2600 mAh
Misc: TouchWiz UI, Impressively rich video/audio codec support, built-in accelerometer, Smart stay and Smart rotation eye-tracking, Smart pause, Smart scroll, S Health, Air Gestures, humidity sensor, temperature sensor

And the Powerball Winner is ..............

2013-03-21T13:39:00.003-07:00

Unfortunately ..........or fortunately there is no Powerball winner for Wednesday night's Powerball drawing. Why?... Lotto officials say no ticket matched all the numbers.

This simple means a bigger jackpot for the rest of you for next drawing on Saturday. The current $320 million jackpot could swell before then. This jackpot is the sixth highest in history, according to Iowa lottery officials, but explain that it could still grow depending on sales at the end of each day.

Since early February this year, no one has won the Powerball jackpot.

Therefore all those wannabe millionaires who played Powerball in the hopes of winning the $260 million jackpot will be at work today after none of them matched all the numbers from Wednesday night’s drawing.

Saturday’s jackpot has now swelled to a robust $320 million, which could easily rise before the weekend. The cash option for the jackpot right now is an estimated $198.3 million.

Wednesday night’s Powerball was the 12th consecutive drawing with no winner. In case you were wondering, the numbers were 13, 14, 17, 43, 54 and the Powerball was 15.

How much money can you make from your Twitter Favourites?

2013-03-21T12:07:00.000-07:00

Swedish company Flattr is attempting to use social 'approval' buttons to allow readers to reward content producers. Think in terms of Twitter's Favorite button or an Instagram Like. Facebook likes are not yet part of this service though.

The process is simple:

Sign up to Flattr and pay in a monthly donation to your account
Link up your social accounts to the service
Use social as you normally do
At the end of the month, your monthly donation is divided up between all the sites you liked or Favorited that month (minus 10% for Flattr)

A slight catch of course is that the blog or user you liked has to be a Flattr member as well.

Flattr is a micropayment system - more specifically, a microdonation system
that allows content creators to tap into their fans and followers for financial support. It’s a Twitter Fav button with real meaning ie. money on top.

Monetizing content online has been a very long-standing question. Advertising has been the dominant means of making money online. Flattr has implemented the online equivalent of "tip" allowing online user to leave micropayments to owners of contents that they enjoy or like.

Obviously users have control over how much money they deposit into the system each month, but it does nonetheless provide a new angle to their liking behaviors. Of course, with Twitter tightening down on how applications use their ecosystem, it remains to be seen how they'll respond to this kind of service, especially with their drive to further monetize their platform.

News Anchor's Romantic Turn on Live TV

2013-03-20T11:58:00.002-07:00

News anchor Jillian Pavlica of WZDX in Huntsville, Ala., got a romantic surprise during her broadcast.

5 stylish iPad cases for smart people

2013-03-20T11:49:00.000-07:00

Do you always have trouble with choosing the best case for your iPad. If you are an iPad user who still finds the need for pen and notepad on the go, then we have the right picks for you. This is a collection of modern iPad cases enhances with old-fashioned paper. Let us know if this appeals to you in the comments.

1. Booqpad

In a range of colors each Booqpad ships with a 50-sheet A5 notepad. There is also a holder for a pen or stylus and business card slots. The Booqpad ranges from $49.95. The design is a perfect mix of past

and future.

2. Sena Florence Portfolio

The Florence Portfolio is a simple and functional design for the The new iPad. It is perfect for those who prefer to have their essentials and iPad at at the same time. The Striking Florence portfolio case has its middle section complete with a notepad and a stylus pen. It come s at a cost of $119.95

3. Moleskin Tablet Cover with Volant notebook

This new hybrid tools designed for making it easier the simultaneous use of paper and a Tablet Cover, iPad compatible. The Covers are combined with blank notebook pages. They are conceived as analog-digital ultra-portable workstations for the contemporary nomads. Its cost is $89.95

4. Filofax Flex iPad Case

With a removable notebook and pen holder, Filofax describes its Flex case range as "perfectly pairing technology and paper." The price for this smooth personal organiser is $75.

5. Kensington Folio Trio Mobile Workstation

The Folio Trio boasts of a removable three-ring binder as well as space for a letter sized notepad. It is priced at $79.99.

Growing Younger

2012-10-15T10:54:00.000-07:00

Retired PE teacher Johanna Quaas, from Leipzig, Germany, is the world’s oldest gymnast.
Aged 86, she only began training in her fifties — but has won 11 major championships.

Johanna Quaas, 86, from Leipzig only began to train at gymnastics in her 50s and is now recognised as the world's Oldest Gymnast. In the last 30 years Johanna has won 11 major championships. To keep in shape for competition, Joanna has a strict exercise regime that involves a combination of gym workouts, running, and yoga. Johanna says that it's 'a great feeling to be in the Guinness World Records book. I hope the record inspires others to realise it's never too late to try something new.'

The Tallest Dog

2012-10-04T09:44:00.000-07:00

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS 2013

Just look at the size of this dog. Zeus is a 3-year-old Great Dane from Michigan and measures an incredible 111.8 cm (44 in) from foot to withers: the same size as a donkey. Standing on hind legs, Zeus stretches to 7 ft 4 in and towers over his owner Denise Doorlag. Denise said: 'Zeus is an awesome dog,' says owner Denise. 'The only downside is that everything costs more; the food, medicines, transport. We had to get a van to be able to transport him, and if he steps on your foot- he leaves bruises.'
Zeus breaks the record of previous record-breaking pooch Giant George, who is 1-inch shorter, which makes Zeus the tallest dog ever recorded in history.

Google Affiliate Ads for Blogger now in the UK!

2012-10-01T11:30:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, Google launched the Google Affiliate Ads for Blogger in the US and added new enhancements in June. A lot of positive results and promising feedback has been received, and Google has announced last week that this gadget is now available to Blogger users in the UK!

To refresh your memory, Google Affiliate Ads for Blogger is a gadget that makes it easy for Blogger users to insert an affiliate ad into a blog post and earn a commission when someone clicks the link and makes a purchase on the advertiser’s site.

Here is a quick refresher video for you:

I you are a Blogger user, here’s how to get started:

If you’re a Blogger user in the UK (or the US), go to the Earnings tab in Blogger and sign up for AdSense if you don’t already have an account.
Once you have an AdSense account, you may see the Google Affiliate Ads for Blogger gadget when you write a new blog post.*
Write a new post and select a relevant affiliate ad from the 'Advertise Products' gadget.
Publish your post, and voilà! You may earn a commission when someone clicks your affiliate ad and makes a purchase.

Participating UK advertisers:
Advertisers including Bestbathrooms.com, Cheapsuites.co.uk, Crooked Tongues, Diamond Manufacturers, eFlorist, Hudsonreed.com, Perfume Click and The Snugg have already come on board, and more are joining every day.

Advertisers interested in participating in Google Affiliate Ads for Blogger can reach out to the Google Affiliate Network account team or contact them if you’re not already working with them.