Google Calendar Gets Smarter, Helps You Stay Up To Date

Google Calendar Gets Smarter, Helps You Stay Up To DateThe folks over at Google have been doing pretty well when it comes to making sure that you are able to keep track of all your appointments in a precise and concise manner, thanks to the introduction of Google Calendar for quite some time already. Needless to say, it makes perfect sense then, for the Google Calendar team to deliver updates so that it will be even more powerful and to help you make your life all the more efficient. Having said that, the new bunch of improvements have arrived just in time, especially when you consider that most of us would be experiencing a rather crazy holiday season that is set to happen in slightly more than a couple of weeks’ time.

For instance, you can now have a far more precise idea on knowing where you would go with Google Maps autocomplete, where creating events in Google Calendar would be a whole lot more speedy. Since Google Calendar will ensure that addresses get the autocomplete treatment even as you type, you would be able to save time when adding locations to your events. Apart from that, your mates can just click on the “map” link before heading out, hence arriving at the correct destination. [Press Release]

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    2 Million Passwords Compromised After Botnet Infection Spree

    2 Million Passwords Compromised After Botnet Infection SpreeJust how good is the security of your computer? Do you have really, really strong passwords, so much so that it is virtually impossible to crack them even with brute force computing? Well, you know what they say about security – a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. In one of the more recent security snafus to date, more than two million passwords have been posted online after a botnet managed to successfully infect thousands of machines, while relying on a keylogger to obtain those passwords. These passwords do not hail from a particular online service, but rather, will include Yahoo!, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and others.

    We do know that out of the 2 million passwords which have been leaked online, around 300,000 of those happen to be passwords of Facebook accounts. Security firm TrustWave have reason to believe that the botnet, known as Pony, had managed to infect thousands of computers, and could even be in action still as you read this. After analyzing the data, Trustwave picked up something interesting – more than 15,000 instances of a password being ‘123456’ made up part of the compromised passwords, now how about that? Malware is always tough to look out for, don’t you think so?

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  • 2 Million Passwords Compromised After Botnet Infection Spree original content from Ubergizmo.

        



    ASUS VivoPC Windows 8-Powered Home Theater PC Now Available

    ASUS VivoPC Windows 8 Powered Home Theater PC Now Available

    ASUS unveiled its Windows 8-powered home theater PC earlier this year at Computex, which made many who want to have their home theater equipped with a Windows 8 machine giddy with excitement over the device. If you were one of the many who were extremely excited about the ASUS VivoPC, then you’ll be happy to know it’s now available for purchase starting at $320. (more…)

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  • ASUS VivoPC Windows 8-Powered Home Theater PC Now Available original content from Ubergizmo.

        



    Mint Financial App Now Available On Windows 8.1, Windows Phone

    Mint Financial App Now Available On Windows 8.1, Windows Phone

    If you take your finances serious enough where you want to receive a weekly report on all of the nonsense you purchased for yourself, then you’re probably familiar with Mint. Mint has been keeping tabs on the spending habits of its users for several years now with applications available on iOS and Android. We’re sure Windows and Windows Phone users also enjoy saving money, which is why Mint is happy to announce a Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone application has just been released. (more…)

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  • Mint Financial App Now Available On Windows 8.1, Windows Phone original content from Ubergizmo.

        



    Cherry Announces MX RGB Keyboard Switches

    Cherry Announces MX RGB Keyboard SwitchesKeyboards come in all shapes and sizes, with some preferring the rubber domed or scissored keyboard switches where the typing is typically quieter and “softer”. Others prefer mechanical keyboards where the there is more tactile and auditory feedback, both of which can either prove to be immensely satisfying or extremely annoying. For the most part, Cherry is the company that manufactures these switches for mechanical keyboards, where the switches range from Blue, Brown, Red, or Black. The company has recently announced that they will be teaming up with Corsair to launch a new set of switches and keyboards come 2014 which they will be debuting at CES 2014. (more…)

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    New USB Type-C Connector Announced, Will Be Smaller And Reversible

    New USB Type C Connector Announced, Will Be Smaller And ReversibleWe’ve all heard the running joke where there is a 50% chance of plugging in a USB plug the right way, but most of the time we tend to get it wrong on the first try. Well it looks like that could soon be changing as it has been announced that work is being done to create a new generation of USB plugs that will not only be compatible with current connectors, but will be both smaller and reversible, meaning just like Apple’s Lightning connector, you will be able to plug it in regardless which side is up (or down). The new connector is currently known as Type-C and will be an addition to the existing USB 3.1 specification.

    While it is unclear as to what the final design will look like, it is expected to be around the size of a Micro USB plug and will be finalized in 2014. The goal of this new design is said to improve ease of use as well as allow for thinner devices, which in a way is what Apple did when they introduced the Lightning connector for its iOS devices, allowing the company to create even thinner devices than before. In order to ensure that USB chargers out there are rendered completely useless, the USB 3.0 Promoter Group will include a specification for adapters and cables to ensure compatibility, at least for now until it becomes the new standard.

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  • New USB Type-C Connector Announced, Will Be Smaller And Reversible original content from Ubergizmo.

        



    Li/S Batteries Gain Double The Capacity Of Li-ion Batteries

    Li/S Batteries Gain Double The Capacity Of Li ion BatteriesOne of the modern “problems” that mobile devices suffer from is this – the lack of battery power, or rather, a capacity that is not enough to get the job done throughout a busy day. Sure, scientists have worked hard to make sure that the popular li-ion battery has made some gains in its performance, capacity and charge times, but here we are with the possibility of a new breakthrough with the implementation of Li/S batteries that are said to feature double the capacity of li-ion batteries.

    Apart from that, the new Li/S batteries are also touted to do away with them nasty conflict minerals from the construction process. This is made possible thanks to a team over at Berkeley Lab, where the battery researchers that were led by Elton Cairns managed to work on an improved lithium/sulfur (Li/S) cell which will deliver a long cycle life and a high discharge rate simultaneously – a first of its kind, all without breaking the bank and retaining the lightweight characteristic of Li/S batteries. So far, initial tests point to the Berkeley Lab Li/S cell boast of an estimated specific energy of nearly 500 Wh/kg, which is over twice the amount that existing Li-ion cells have.

    The big question is this, when will the consumer electronics industry be able to adopt such battery technology on a mass scale? [Research Paper (PDF Link)]

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    Prototype Malware Spreads Via Audio Signals

    Prototype Malware Spreads Via Audio SignalsThe digital world has its fair share of benefits, but do be aware that there are also dangers and pitfalls to look out for as well. Computer viruses as well as malware have evolved over the years, that even the mobile platform is not spared. Well, researchers have come up with another way that would certainly prove to be a headache for network administrators everywhere – through the creation of a proof-of-concept software which will be able to spread from one machine to another using audio signals via integrated speakers and microphones. This would certainly put a dent to the notion that computers that remain isolated from a network cannot be infected by malware.

    I guess with this research, it would mean the reliability of the “air gap” is no longer a surefire security measure used to ensure that sensitive information remains well protected. Inaudible audio signals were transmitted in small amounts of data over covert channels, with distances touching 65 feet even. So much for a missing Internet connection being enough of a deterrent against malware. The researchers behind this proof-of-concept did warn that attackers could arm the malware with keyloggers so that sensitive information can be recorded. They shared, “The concept of a covert acoustical mesh network renders many conventional security concepts useless, as acoustical communications are usually not considered.” Now what, an isolated computer to be placed in a sound-proof room?

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  • Prototype Malware Spreads Via Audio Signals original content from Ubergizmo.

        



    Ptch Joins Yahoo!

    Ptch Joins Yahoo! What happens when you are a large company, and have money to spare and yet want to fend off all of the little biters that swarm below you, who hope to get a piece of the action as well? Well, you either develop new technologies and advancements to stay ahead of the curve, or if you see something that you like below you, how about dangling a tempting carrot and hoping that they will bite? Yahoo! is in the news yet again, and they have just acquired the Dreamworks-backed social-video app Ptch. According to Ptch, this integration of their technology will be implemented so that Yahoo’s photo and video platforms will be improved, and you have until January 2, 2014 to download your creations from the website or app.

    When the calendar turns to January 3, you would be all out of luck then, since that is when Ptch would close down. Ptch’s made a statement after news of the acquisition broke out, saying, “We launched Ptch just over a year ago. Our passion and our mission was to give you the best way to make and share beautiful movies made from the photos and videos on your phone. Well, someone noticed! Today, we’re excited to announce that Ptch will be joining Yahoo! As part of the Yahoo team, we’ll be able to focus our efforts and leverage our technology to make Yahoo’s photo and video platforms the best in the world. As part of this transition, Ptch will shut down on January 2, 2014. Until then, you can download your ptches on ptch.com or save them to your camera roll from the Ptch app on your phone.” [Press Release]

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  • Ptch Joins Yahoo! original content from Ubergizmo.

        



    Chrome OS Camera App To Get Video Recording And Picture Sync

    Chrome OS Camera App To Get Video Recording And Picture SyncWe have reliable information that Google is right now developing an update to their Chrome OS camera app which will see the introduction of new features, where among them would include support for video recording, not to mention being able to upload what you have just recorded directly to YouTube or Google Plus. Oh yeah, did we mention, there will also be an option for one to perform a synchronization of your photos regardless of the number of Chrome devices that you own.

    Of course, those features will not be available right there and then, but we are pleased to note that the initial build of this new Chrome OS camera app is already available for download from the Chrome Web Store for select users. As for the rest of the people who have yet to see it, patience is the key card to play here, since it ought to make its way to the masses pretty soon. It must be noted that majority of the devices which run on Chrome OS happen to be laptops which will come with front-facing webcams, and hence this camera app should not be seen as a solution to capture high resolution movies that would impress anyone, but rather, for impromptu moments when you do not have a better choice to capture a photo other than your mobile device.

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  • Chrome OS Camera App To Get Video Recording And Picture Sync original content from Ubergizmo.