Hasta La Gadget!

We all know that DMCA notices are kinda dumb, but this is ridiculous: a single takedown request from Pearson, a textbook publisher, took down 1.45 million education blogs in one fell swoop. More »

The Asus Padfone took 12 months to arrive on the market after it was first announced. Now, for multi-tasking device lovers everywhere, there’s a new version of the smartphone powered tablet—and it seems to want to show off its insides. More »

Friday, the Internet Crime Complaint Center, more commonly known as IC3, released a warning concerning mobile malware. This warning comes in response to the growing number of malware that targets Android, potentially leaving users’ data and devices vulnerable. Following the warning is a series of safety tips aimed at helping consumers keep their mobile devices malware-free.

The report states, “The IC3 has been made aware of various malware attacking Android operating systems for mobile devices. Some of the latest known versions of this type of malware are Loozfon and FinFisher.” The report goes on to describe two pieces of malware. Loozfon steals information, while FinFisher is spyware that, once installed, can be used to monitor and take remote control of the mobile device it infects.

Back in August, Kaspersky Labs reported that malware targeting Android increased threefold in Q2 of 2012, with 14,900 new malicious programs added to its database. According to the report, nearly half of the items added to its database were “multi-functional trojans” that mined contact info from infected phones, such as names and phone numbers. Backdoor trojans accounted for 18% of the threats detected.

What can you do to help safeguard your Android device from malware? IC3 recommends turning off features on the phone that aren’t needed to “minimize the attack surface of the device,” using encryption, reviewing app publishers and reviews before downloading, and understanding the permissions you give an app, among a few others. The report recommends using a passcode as a first layer of security, and changing the settings so that the passcode is enabled after the phone is idle for a few minutes. While all the tips are fairly straight-forward, it’s good to keep them in mind.

[via CNET]

IC3 warns Android users about malicious malware is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Well look at this! Our lucky buddies over at Engadget Chinese managed to get an early hands-on with the brand-spanking new PadFone 2 from ASUS. As we mentioned earlier, the bulkiness of the original model is totally gone and we’re still blown away by the combo’s new weight. But first, the phone: in our hands, it really just feels like an enlarged version of the original PadFone, especially with the ripple pattern on the back, as well as the plastic chin at the bottom along with the slightly tapered aluminum bezel. We do love the new and larger Super IPS+ screen, which is much sharper than the old PenTile Super AMOLED display, and it no doubt has better outdoor performance as well. Additionally, the Android soft keys are no longer virtual — you can access them below the screen at any time, and we dig that.

While docking the phone into or pulling it out of the PadFone Station is hardly a challenge, there’s some sort of magic that keeps the phone tucked into the bay no matter how hard our pals shook the tablet upside down (please don’t try this at home) — the geared rubber grip along the two sides of the bay are somehow responsible for this. The back of the PadFone Station has a rubbery texture that’s essentially identical to its predecessor’s, making it just as comfortable to hold, but only time will tell how durable the coating is. Software-wise it’s just as snappy on the tablet as it is on the phone, and we noticed the switch between phone mode and tablet mode is now a tad quicker as well. It’ll probably be easier to see once we have our English hands-on video, so stay tuned.

Update: We’ve finally managed to upload our hands-on video — it’s right after the break. Watch how we kept shaking the PadFone Station upside down and the phone still stayed inside its bay (again, don’t do this at home, kids!). Also, we have a demo of the phone’s Instant Dictionary feature. It’s very handy.

Update 2: We’ve just been informed that the magical grip mechanism in the docking bay took over two years to develop. Nice one, ASUS!

Continue reading ASUS PadFone 2 hands-on in Taipei (updated with video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, ASUS

ASUS PadFone 2 hands-on in Taipei (updated with video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 04:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Most device vibration technology is used as pure feedback — either confirmation that you’ve pressed something or that you’ve come across an obstacle. If a prototype developed by Nokia Research and the Helsinki Institute of Information Technology ever translates to production, however, it’ll be as much a part of personal phone conversations as a soft voice or a cheeky text message. The modified N900 attaches a resistor that responds to a squeeze at four different pressure levels, and doles that out during a traditional or Skype-based call as a vibration on the other end. As you’d imagine, the aim is to give family, friends and lovers the closest they’ll get to a hug (or the occasional frustration) when the distance is just too great for an in-person visit. Don’t hold your breath for an extra-lovable Lumia anytime soon: there’s no mention of any near-term production plans, and any adoption would require a platform switch just to get started. But if we ever see “reach out and touch someone” become a lot more than a slogan, we’ll know where it came from.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Nokia

ForcePhone from Nokia Research, HIIT sends positive vibes with a squeeze originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 03:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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