Category: Tech

Learn How to Improve Your Apple Watch Security. #AppleWatch #Security

In case you have an iPhone and still do not wear an Apple Watch, then it is almost true this gadget is at the top of your wish list. First released back in 2015, Apple Watch evolved from a gadget that deeply relied on pairing with your iPhone to an intelligent and autonomous IoT device.

The latest version of Apple Watch is widely used to stay informed of social messages, pay for goods, manage a smart home, track your workout, monitor your health, and do plenty of other awesome things. It delivers really a seamless user experience. 

At the same, it stores a lot of your private data. It is in your best interest to safeguard it from evil eyes. Your text messages, your credit card details for Apple Pay, and your emails are just a few examples of what needs to be protected.

Although most people do know that they need to protect this sensitive data, the overall awareness of the watchOS built-in security mechanisms is not as high. 

This post will bridge the gap by providing you important tips to be sure your personal data stays safe even in a worst-case scenario.

Passcode Lock

Setting up a passcode is the most effective way to avoid unauthorized access to your device and its data.

If you do not implement this mechanism from the start, you may do it at any later point:

  1. Open the Apple Watch app on your paired smartphone
  2. Go to My Watch
  3. Press Passcode

Your passcode must be at least four digits long. You can also set a much more secure variant by entering up to 10 digits.

This process can also be done on the Apple Watch:

  1. Click Settings
  2. Tap Passcode
  3. Click Turn Passcode On
  4. Enter your code

It is important that the Apple Watch passcode does not match the passcode set on your iPhone. This way you will steer away from a single point of failure.

You are not obliged to enter the passcode every time you unlock the Watch (as opposed to the Passcode Lock feature on iPhones.) Your watch comes with a Wrist Detection function that automatically locks it once you take it off. The device will ask for the passcode when you put it on or restart the gadget.

To make things even easier, there is also the Unlock with iPhone feature. It is available from the Watch app on your iPhone. Once this feature is enabled, the watch will unlock whenever you unlock the smartphone.

Data Self-Destruction

To give your security an extra boost, you may set the number of unsuccessful unlock attempts after which personal data gets deleted from the device. By default, there is a one-minute delay after incorrect passcodes are entered six times in a row.

Although setting the device to erase all data may be like a scorched-earth tactic, it can really save you if an evil-minded person puts his on your device. 

On the other hand, this could be a serious problem. You may forget the passcode and quickly exceed the limit of wrong login attempts. Only having a backup to restore your data can save you in this scenario. It is recommended to use the Erase Data function only after weighing up all the pros and cons.

Activation Lock

Sometimes Apple Watches get stolen, sometimes people simply misplace it. Any security mechanism enabled beforehand is really a cold comfort as you may never see your digital pal again. However, you can always prevent your data from being obtained by third parties. Activation Lock does the trick. It makes the smartwatch completely useless for anybody who finds or steals it. Please mind it requires watchOS 2 or above.

Once enabled, Activation Lock just “bricks” the device. No malefactor will be able to unpair it from your iPhone or pair it with his phone or deactivate the geolocation function (unless he knows your Apple ID and password.)

In case the Find My feature is enabled, Activation Lock turns on automatically. Just check it one more time to be sure it is up and running:

  1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone
  2. Go to My Watch
  3. Tap the “i” icon
  4. In case Find My is listed there – it means the feature enabled

The good side of this function is that it does not require an Internet connection.

Lost Mode

As mentioned above, the Find My iPhone option has got your Apple Watch covered so that you can find your lost device. It is strange now, but the first generation of Apple Watch did not have the GPS module. So, its whereabouts could not be determined this way.

Starting with Apple Watch Series 2, the gadget was equipped with the GPS module but still relied on its paired iPhone to be found.

Beginning with Series 3, Apple Watch boasts LTE connectivity and so users can benefit from Find My feature to locate it based on signals from nearby cell towers. You do not even need to use the iPhone to find the Apple Watch. This option is available on iCloud.com.

Find My option provides another feature called Lost Mode. It permits to specify a short message to be displayed on the screen of the Apple Watch. In case some kind people find it, they may read your email address or phone number and contact you. Lost Mode is also good as it blocks Apple Pay on your smartwatch.

Screen Notifications

With so much of our data being collected by online services these days, and so many phishing attacks, privacy becomes our top priority. Many of you may want to hide personal messages and notifications from curious friends or snoops. Thankfully, Notification Privacy is one more remarkable feature available on watchOS. To turn it on:

  • Go to the Watch app on your iPhone
  • Click My Watch
  • Go to Notifications
  • Slide the Notification Privacy toggle to the right

From now on, the Apple Watch will still let you know there is a new message, but no actual details will be shown on the screen. To see the actual message, just tap the alert.

Conclusion

Not only does Apple Watch help you be well-organized and stay connected at all times, but it also goes with quite a few security features that protect your personal data and privacy from various attacks targeting Apple devices. Although some people fail to apply these simple security mechanisms, it is never too late to do it and enjoy both security and convenience.

David Balaban is a computer security researcher with over 17 years of experience in malware analysis and antivirus software evaluation. David runs Privacy-PC.com and MacSecurity.net projects that present expert opinions on contemporary information security matters, including social engineering, malware, penetration testing, threat intelligence, online privacy, and white hat hacking. David has a strong malware troubleshooting background, with the recent focus on ransomware countermeasures. https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-balaban/

First look at the Jam Audio TWS EXEC and TWS Athlete. #JamAudio #TrueWireless

Free from wires, free from worries, TWS Athlete and TWS Exec true wireless earbuds provide total freedom and isolation from the noises around you.  Each new release to JAM Audio’s true wireless collection of under £100 earbuds deliver a full set of features to prove you don’t need to spend a fortune to get professional, true wireless freedom.

Today we take you through them and a give you a first look at the new products on offer to suit several lifestyles and people at an affordable price, Any questions feel free to hit us up over the next week or two whilst we test run them. Need more info in the interim please go here

 

A world-first in Dublin as @UPS and @DubCityCouncil innovate to reinvent sustainable last mile deliveries. #Cycling #Walking #Logistics

An innovative walking and cycle based system designed to optimise deliveries in city centres has launched in Dublin. Operating out of mini urban distribution centres and combining powered e-Walkers and e-Quad cycles, this model allows for last mile deliveries that don’t add to local emissions or congestion, enabling a step change in the way goods are delivered in busy city locations.

Funded by Dublin City Council, Enterprise Ireland and Belfast City Council, the unique solution was developed as part of a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) challenge that sought new approaches to optimising deliveries. Participating in the challenge enabled Fernhay, an innovative design and manufacturing consultancy, to develop the new zero emissions delivery solutions for global logistics carrier, UPS, to trial.

The e-walker and e-Quad operate from “urban package eco hubs” that UPS has introduced around the city. The eco-hubs take in larger consignments of deliveries and redistribute them to walkers and cyclers using removable Cube containers. There are already two of these mini distribution centres up and running in Dublin which has facilitated the removal of five diesel vehicles from the road, reducing carbon emissions by up to 45%.

Speaking at the launch, Owen Keegan, Dublin City Council Chief Executive, said: “collaboration is key to tackling the challenges facing our city right now so we are very happy to see our Transportation Department and Smart City programme working with innovative partners such as Fernhay and UPS to address last mile deliveries. This solution helps the city adapt to the Covid-19 situation by enabling foot and bike deliveries and discouraging the return of congestion.”

“It is really exciting to be piloting this in Dublin –the first city to test the Fernhay eWalker. As cities reopen for business after the Covid-19 shutdowns, those looking for ways to keep goods moving while minimising the return of congestion and pollution, should take note.” – said Frances Fernandes, Director, Fernhay.

She explained: “Fernhay’s eWalker and eQuad are part of a wider system that enable key workers to deliver groceries, medicine and parcels without the use of vans. Cities are facing huge change to respond to ‘social distancing’ with pavements widened outside shops and roads narrowed to make more space for walking and cycling. Our system offers a clean and viable option and rethinks how cities can support last mile deliveries now and in the future.”

UPS International Sustainability Director, Peter Harris, said: “This is about reimagining last mile logistics. Cities need solutions that eliminate emissions and congestion and this system achieves that. But it goes further. The ability to load the box that the eWalker and the eQuad carry anywhere within our network will help UPS operate more efficiently. Taking this concept of removable containers, long since practiced in long haul freight, into the urban environment is a game changer and furthers UPS’s long-standing commitment to bring its customers sustainable solutions.”

Finally, Tom Kelly, Head of Innovation, Enterprise Ireland, said: “We are happy to support this challenge which delivers benefits both for Dublin citizens and the innovative technology companies that are helping the City Council address the issue and public impacts of last mile delivery. The SBIR programme is unique in providing public sector bodies and innovative companies the opportunity to work together to develop innovative solutions to big problems, such as optimising deliveries in cities”.

The UPS/ Fernhay partnership won SBIR support because it encourages safer, cleaner, more pedestrian friendly urban environments, and for its potential replicability in other contexts. As pressure mounts to ditch diesel and switch to sustainable, this dynamic consolidation and redistribution model is already contributing to emerging conversations on urban mobility and liveable cities. Other carriers have registered interest in operating similar systems in Dublin, and Belfast are assessing learnings from the initiative for potential applicability there. Last mile deliveries may never be the same again.

The Nokia 5.3 now available in Ireland. #Nokia

The Nokia 5.3 is the latest device to go on sale here in Ireland following the 5310 and 1.3  in which there has been lost of interest on site but we will be still waiting a while for the top of the crop 8.3 5G. The 5.3 comes in at €179.99 on Argos and €194 with Littlewoods and no surprise there with the extra few quid thrown on there for good measure.

Featuring a number of Nokia smartphone firsts for phenomenal value, the Nokia 5.3 comes with a quad camera, the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 Mobile Platform and the signature two-day battery life. The AI-powered quad-camera helps capture the perfect shot no matter where you are, even in dim light, thanks to Night Mode. Wide-angle and macro lenses help you capture close-ups, or wide, scenic shots. And with its large 6.55” screen, the Nokia 5.3 helps make the most out of streaming your favourite shows and playing games all day long. The Nokia 5.3 has a durable yet stunning, Nordic-inspired design, comes with Android 10 and gives fans faster access to Google Assistant via the dedicated button.

First look at the Jabra Evolve 2 85 #Jabra #Evolve2 #Tech #Office #WFM

Jabra recently announced a range of new headsets for professionals and we have the all new Evovle 2 85 in with us we are currently wrapping up our Evolve 2 65 review so stay tuned for that. This headset in particular was something I have been looking forward to because I have the 85h which for me have been the best headphones I have tested in the last few months, Given there is rivals out there some of which never arrived these take the champions spot for me.

The Evolve 2 85 is a hybrid version if you will which gives the user the ability to use both in office or for personal use which is great with a mic arm that folds aways out of sight you would not even notice it,this is important because you could save alot of money here shifting between headsets and they are ideal for my personal environment and many others out there,these offer comfort and an overear experience killing all the outside world,again something I like.

The Evovle 2 offers Digital Hybrid ANC and ten microphones in total, including two microphones in the fully integrated boom-arm and eight in the ear cups. Users can enjoy up to 37 hours wireless battery life, 40MM speakers for immersive music, and an integrated busy light with 360-degree view on both ear cups. The headset has been developed to take full advantage of the latest in audio chipset technology, enabling the Evolve2 85 to be one step ahead in battery life, solid connectivity and audio processing. Also, the sleek Evolve2 85 is designed with both the office environment and ‘on-the-go’ professional in mind, which ensures the headset can be worn regardless of where you’re working.

Feel free to ask any questions in the interim whilst I test these out but for now on a quick test I am impressed and would not expect any different from Jabra. Evolve2 85 STEREO MSRP £382 MSRP (£416 MSRP with desk stand for charging)

Find out more about Jabra at www.jabra.co.uk/evolve

Top New Technologies for Students. #Tech #Students

Are you looking for the most innovative and promising technologies in education? Discover top technologies for students here in this post. 

Technologies are changing the world at railway speed. Education is one of the fields that faces lots of drastic changes. Now, students are getting opportunities to use the most modern methods of learning, enjoy remote education, and benefit from using a whopping number of various advanced educational services. In this post, we’ve collected a list of the most innovative technologies for students that are likely to change the industry within the shortest terms.

Adaptive Learning

Currently, most students get similar academic assignments regardless of their academic performance. Crowds of learners find the tasks to be extremely difficult. Many of them are constantly wondering “Can someone do my homework for me?”, as well as “Is there anyone who can write my college paper for me?” Most of the students are searching for help online and are often feeling desperate with completing tons of tasks within the shortest terms. 

Adaptive learning is designed to help students learn at their own pace. For example, you might be able to pass tests easily but fail to write excellent essays. This way, the system will identify your strengths and weaknesses to offer the most relevant tasks to boost your skills. As a result, you will get instructions on how to write academic papers or discover some topics for essays. Generally, the educational system will soon be able you track your learning behaviors and provide you with the best assignments for your needs. 

3d Technologies 

3d printing is currently gaining incredible popularity. Using this type of printers allows students to elevate their creativity to a higher level, get hands-on experience, and make the entire process of education more productive. Students can implement their ideas, create innovative solutions, and just give shape to their outstanding imagination. 

Artificial Intelligence 

AI is likely to transform the entire system of education. Although artificial intelligence is one of the most discussable trends, it is hitting lots of fields, including education. This type of learning will provide students with more immersive learning and will give lots of new opportunities to remember important facts easily. Medical students are likely to benefit from this feature the most – learners will be able to watch operations in real-time and better understand the human body. 

Cloud Services 

Being one of the most widely used services, cloud computing is now incredibly popular among millions of students. Learners can have access to different files, lectures, and courses from any device anytime. This makes the process of learning incredibly convenient and easy. Moreover, it brings communication between students to the next level. Now, young learners can effortlessly edit the same document or work on the same project simultaneously. Moreover, teachers get easy access to their completed assignments, enjoying a more flexible process of sharing knowledge. By the way, cloud technologies are still evolving. 

All in all, the number of technologies that can change the future of education is just amazing. Moreover, the new alternatives might also soon appear on the market. Keep in touch with the latest trends and apps in education to make your learning process easier and more comfortable. 

 

YOGSCAST GAMES Announces the Tiny Teams Festival Celebrating Indie Development From 9-15 August. #Gaming #Yogacast #Indie

Yogscast Games and the Yogscast network today announced the first ever Tiny Teams Indie Festival, shining a spotlight on games from indie micro-studios. The Tiny Teams Festival will be broadcast live on Steam and Twitch.tv/yogscast from 9-15 August 2020.

The Tiny Teams festival will be hosted by Yogscast Games’ Head of Publishing Ben Edgar and feature developer interviews, gameplay streams and trailers of dozens of games from one to three-person indie development teams. The Tiny Teams Festival will also celebrate a selection of classic indies with Steam Store discounts of up to 50% off through the week and culminate in an awards show  at 5pm BST on 15th August highlighting the most fun, weird and exciting games profiled during the week.

“At Yogscast Games we’re all about indie games that are as fun to watch as they are to play,” said Yogscast Games’ Head of Publishing Ben Edgar. “With the first-ever Tiny Teams Festival we want to shine a spotlight on some fantastic games and teams that could otherwise slip under the radar in a hugely busy year of gaming. We’re looking forward to sharing some of the coolest, weirdest and most fun upcoming indies starting 9 August.”

The full event program will be announced in early August. Developers who would like to be featured in the Tiny Teams Festival can submit their game for consideration at the Yogscast.games site. The deadline for submissions is 27th July.

Black Desert Console receives new class, Hashashin, as a timed exclusive. #PearlAbyss #BlackDesert

Pearl Abyss announced today that adventurers who play Black Desert on console can look forward to playing a brand new class coming later this month. Hashashin is the 19th character to be added to the popular MMORPG and will be playable on console very soon as a timed exclusive.

Hashashin is Aal’s warrior, who can manipulate sandstorms with the power of the native Valencian god. For example, he has a skill that allows him to imbue the memory of a specific place in a sandstorm which allows him to instantly move to that place, given that he is not too far away. He can also create sandstorms to chase enemies or ambush them from above. As a desert dweller, he can travel slightly faster in the desert and has mildly higher resistance to desert diseases compared to other classes. He engages in melee combat with the Shamshir sword as his main weapon.

Starting today, adventurers can pre-create their Hashashin in Black Desert’s famed character creator. Those who do can look forward to some nice rewards like Inventory +4 Expansion Coupon, Secret Book of Old Moon, Blessed Message Scroll, and Black Cloaked Cat.

Sony boosts full-frame lens line-up with launch of 12-24mm G Master,the world’s widest zoom with a constant F2.8 aperture

Sony has announced an exciting new addition to its full-frame lens line-up with the introduction of the FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM (model SEL1224GM) Large-aperture Ultra-wide Zoom lens. This compact and versatile lens is ideal for shooting landscapes, starry skies and architecture while providing extra mobility for active sports shooters who want to use ultra-wide angles. As part of Sony’s flagship G Master series lenses, users can be completely confident that it delivers outstanding image quality up to an ultra-wide 12mm angle of view with F2.8 constant aperture, combined with beautiful bokeh effects.

The introduction of the FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM means that the F2.8 range of Sony’s G Master series lenses now extends all the way through from 12mm to 200mm and at 12mm, offers the world’s widest zoom at F2.8. At this focal length, it is possible to emphasise distance and create dynamic perspectives that are beyond the scope of the human eye, opening the door to new avenues of creative expression.

“We are tremendously excited about the introduction of the FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM as we believe that photographers and videographers using the Sony’s Alpha system will fall in love with this lens”, said Yann Salmon-Legagneur, Director of Product Marketing, Digital Imaging, Sony Europe. “It is important for us to continue to push boundaries in the industry and by extending our range of G Master constant F2.8 lenses out to 12mm with such a technology-packed and high performing lens, we are excited to see the results of the new creative opportunities it offers.” 

The FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM benefits from a rich and innovative construction that delivers outstanding corner-to-corner image quality throughout the entire zoom range. It features three extremely precise XA (extreme aspherical) elements including the largest XA element ever made for an α™(Alpha™) lens. These XA elements, with the addition of a further aspherical element, effectively suppress astigmatism, coma and field curvature right out to the image edges. Furthermore, three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements plus two Super ED glass elements, powerfully quell chromatic aberration and combine to deliver corner-to-corner clarity whilst minimising colour fringing.

A floating focus mechanism divides the lens’s focus group into two independently controllable groups. It is extremely effective at ensuring both outstanding close-up performance and maximum sharpness at any distance as it divides the lens’s focus group into two independently controllable groups. It also helps realise a constant 0.28-metre minimum focusing distance throughout the zoom and because it is an internal focus lens, its length remains constant and its centre of gravity varies very little, so it is always optimally balanced in the hand.

The signature bokeh effects of Sony’s G Master series lens have been achieved through the fine tuning of the lens’s spherical aberration characteristics during both the design and manufacturing process. At the same time, the extremely high surface precision of the lens’s XA elements effectively suppresses onion-ring effects and, in combination with a 9-blade circular aperture, further enhances its exquisite bokeh.

The FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM employs four original high-speed, high-thrust XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motors to ensure that it is compatible with the speed performance of both current and future camera bodies. With two for each of the lens’s focus groups, autofocus is fast and precise and new control algorithms maximise the response of the XD Linear Motor system while achieving flawless synchronisation between the two focus groups. A further benefit is that operation is extremely quiet with minimal vibration.

A brand-new Nano AR Coating II that can be evenly applied to large lens elements or highly curved element surfaces has been used for the first time on the FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM. It suppresses internal reflections, minimises flare and ghosting for clear, crisp imagery and despite the lens’s wide angle of view, Nano AR Coating II maintains high clarity and contrast throughout the entire image, even in difficult light.

Moviemaking

The constant F2.8 maximum aperture at all focal lengths ensures that exposure is stable when zooming. In turn, this means that shutter speed and ISO sensitivity can remain consistent whilst shooting movies. The creative opportunities afforded by shooting movies at a 12mm angle of view with F2.8 constant aperture in full-frame are boundless, however, when used on an APS-C camera or with a Super 35 angle of view, the wide end of the zoom range becomes equivalent to 18mm, providing a very useful zoom range for moviemaking.

Professional Control

Weighing only 847 grams, the FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM offers numerous features for full professional control of shots. These include a customisable focus-hold button, focus-mode switch, zooming ring and focusing ring that are positioned for easy operation whilst shooting. The Linear Response MF ensures that the focus ring responds directly to the most subtle adjustments when focusing manually so control feels immediate and precise. It is dust and moisture resistant and the front lens element features a fluorine coating that repels water, oil, and other contaminants, while making it easier to wipe off any fingerprints from the lens surface. The rear filter holder accommodates standard sheet-type ND, colour correction and other filters for expanded expressive capability. A cutting template for sheet filters is supplied.

Pricing and Availability

The FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM is available in Europe from August 2020, priced at approximately £2,900 / €3,300.

For full product details, please visit https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/camera-lenses/sel1224gm